Britain's largest water provider Thames Water suffered a blow in its battle to avoid renationalisation on Wednesday as credit rating firm Moody's downgraded its corporate family rating (CFR) and its safest tranche of debt to junk. Moody's downgraded Thames Water's CFR to Ba2 - two rungs into 'junk' rating territory - from Baa3, which is an investment grade and something water firms are supposed to maintain as part of their licence requirements. It safest tranche of debt known as senior secured "Class A" bonds were cut to Ba1, which is one notch into junk, while its riskier "Class B" bonds were dumped five notches lower at B3. Moody's said the downgrade followed this month's provisional ruling from British regulator Ofwat that Thames would not be allowed to raise prices as much as it had requested, and because of its "weakening liquidity position". "Almost certainly it will mean special administration for the company," Seaport credit analyst Satish Pulle said, adding that the downgrade had not come as a surprise.

---

Persons: Moody's, Satish Pulle Organizations: Thames, CFR, Seaport Locations: Ba2, Baa3, Thames