FTSE 250 company Pennon Group Plc today announced that it has acquired Bournemouth Water from Singapore-based Sembcorp for a cash consideration of £100.3 million.
Pennon Group Plc is an environmental utility infrastructure company which owns South West Water Limited and Viridor Limited. The Group has assets of around £5 billion and a workforce of around 4,500 people and is based in Exeter, Devon.
South West Water provides water and sewerage services to 1.7 million customers in Devon and Cornwall, and parts of Dorset and Somerset.
The acquisition will automatically be referred to the Competition and Markets Authority.
Chris Loughlin, Pennon Group Board Director and Chief Executive of South West Water, said: “Bournemouth Water has a proud pedigree and high service standards. Like South West Water, it operates in a varied rural and urban landscape with an economy reliant on tourism and the natural environment. We look forward to building on its strengths and continuing to deliver high quality customer services with some of the lowest bills in the industry.”
Bob Taylor, Managing Director of Bournemouth Water, added: “We welcome the acquisition by the Pennon Group. South West Water has extensive knowledge of the UK water industry and was the only water and sewerage company to have been awarded ‘enhanced’ status for its business plan. We look forward to the opportunities being part of the Pennon Group will bring.”
Sembcorp Bournemouth Water 2015-20 business plan remains unchanged but today’s acquisition could lead to other improvements in services and customer bills over time. Bournemouth Water’s 11 per cent reduction in the average household bill this year will continue to be delivered as planned.
