Key Takeaway: Moody's downgraded Southern Water to junk status, citing financial and operational underperformance, compounding the broader issues facing the UK water sector.
Southern Water Ltd’s credit rating was downgraded to junk by Moody’s, with a warning of potential further cuts due to its weak performance history and financial challenges. This downgrade impacts the company’s ability to raise the £4 billion in new debt and £650 million in equity required for its capital plans.
The UK water industry is facing heightened scrutiny due to concerns over chronic leaks, sewage spills, and high-interest rates. Southern Water, which supplies over two million people in England, could face severe penalties from the regulator Ofwat, which may limit funds for essential upgrades. Following the downgrade, Southern Water’s 2026 bonds dropped 2.7 pence to around 85 pence on the pound.
Despite the rating cut, Southern Water assured customers that services would continue unaffected, highlighting its strong liquidity. The company recently raised £300 million in private placement debt, with one tranche yielding nearly 10%, underscoring the high costs the company faces as it seeks to increase customer bills by 84% between 2025 and 2030—significantly above the industry average hike of 40%.
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