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EQT has acquired a 42% stake in Kelda Holdings, Yorkshire Water’s parent company

One of the world’s largest private equity firms has this morning bought a major stake in Yorkshire Water.

Swedish firm EQT has acquired a 42% stake in Kelda Holdings, the parent company of Yorkshire Water. It means that the firm now has three overseas owners, with EQT joining Singaporean sovereign wealth fund GIC and Australian firm TCorp in owning Kelda Holdings.

In a statement to the Stock Exchange, Yorkshire Water described EQT as a “purpose-driven global investor with deep experience in managing long-term strategic assets and a strong track record of managing critical infrastructure”. It said the deal “signals confidence in Yorkshire Water” and its £8.3bn plan for improving the county’s water infrastructure over the next five years.

The deal comes as water companies around the UK remain under intense scrutiny over both their environmental records and overseas ownership. Last week MPs on the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee highlighted Yorkshire Water as one of the main users of bailiffs to collect debt from customers in the water industry. And last month, Yorkshire Water was fined more than £700,000 for polluting a country park stream with sewage three times in a year.

EQT was last year ranked as the second largest private equity firm worldwide based on funds raised and has a wide range of assets around the world in a number of different sectors. It said it would “work in partnership with its co-shareholders and the company’s management team to deliver sustainable operational improvements” and would also be “investing further equity” to strengthen the company’s balance sheet.

Announcing today’s deal, Yorkshire Water chief executive Nicola Shaw said: “This is a great step forward for Yorkshire Water. The EQT team will bring additional expertise to our board, and their backing is a strong vote of confidence in our plan to improve performance and the progress we have made so far.

“EQT has a long-term perspective and their team is committed to supporting the delivery of our £8.3bn investment programme. Their support, together with GIC and TCorp, will enable us to continue to execute our strategy, maintain focus on operational performance, and deliver the investment needed to improve outcomes for customers and the environment across Yorkshire.”

Kunal Koya, partner at EQT Infrastructure said: “Our strong track record as a long-term active owner of large infrastructure assets makes EQT a natural partner for Yorkshire Water. We believe that as a responsible private capital manager, EQT can play an important role in modernizing the UK’s water infrastructure, and the company’s multi-year investment plan reflects that objective.

“Together with Yorkshire Water’s existing investors, we will support the sector’s reform agenda and deliver service improvements for customers across the region and transparency for all stakeholders.”

The deal, which will depend on anti-trust approvals, has been welcomed by the Government. Investment Minister Lord Stockwood said: “I warmly welcome this commitment from a leading global infrastructure investor. EQT’s decision to invest in the UK’s regulated water sector underlines the strength of our investment environment and the trust international partners place in the UK economy. It demonstrates that the UK remains one of the world’s most attractive destinations for long‑term, sustainable investment.”

Shares in telehealth company Hims & Hers skyrocketed in premarket trading following a media report that the maker of Wegovy plans to sell the weight-loss drug on the platform, a move that would end a legal spat between the two companies.

Hims & Hers, which markets consumer drugs ranging from treatments for weight loss and erectile dysfunction in men, to treatments for menopausal symptoms in women, is set to offer Novo Nordisk’s NOVO.B 0.99%increase; green up pointing triangle blockbuster Wegovy on its platform, Bloomberg reported, citing an unnamed source.

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Oil and gas prices surged Monday as the Middle East war roils energy markets, forcing major producers to shut down output while the Strait of Hormuz remains effectively closed.

In early European trading, Brent crude climbed 11% to $103.14 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate rose 8.9% to $89.49 a barrel, trimming earlier gains on news that Group of Seven ministers are set to discuss the joint release of petroleum reserves. The global benchmarks reached their highest levels since 2022 earlier in the session, touching $119.50 and $103.67 a barrel, respectively.

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The latest surge in crude oil prices, with Brent crude once again climbing above the $100 mark, is sending shockwaves across global financial markets. As investors recalibrate strategies, the question on everyone’s mind is: how long will it take for markets to digest this oil shock?

Mark Matthews, a seasoned market strategist from Julius Baer notes, “How soon before markets begin to digest it? They are digesting it now. We can see the Asian markets. The Japanese stock market, for example, was up as much as 17% in late February; now it is flat on the year. So, we are pricing in this high oil price right now.”

When asked about the potential impact on India, Matthews said, “Last year was a very good year for markets like Japan, China, and the US, but India did not do much. So, there should not be as much downside for India. Of course, you could make the case that India uses more oil than some of those other economies or has to import more, but the Indian economy, like most economies in the world, has become more efficient in its oil usage. The pain point which used to be $80 a barrel is now probably around 100. The good news is that India is now able to buy Russian oil again, which takes some pressure off. But really, for India and the rest of the world, it all depends on how long this war lasts.”

Foreign investor sentiment toward India remains cautious but opportunistic. Matthews explains, “There was a breakout in emerging markets versus the US in February of a very long downward trend channel, it had been in place for more than maybe 15 years. But it was a false breakout because last week emerging markets went down more than the US. In general, they are more vulnerable to high oil prices. Most of the oil that goes through the Strait of Hormuz comes out here to Asia. So intuitively, if the war lasts, emerging markets, because they are primarily Asian, should underperform.”

Looking ahead to the upcoming Federal Reserve meeting, Matthews anticipates measured action. “It is premature for the Fed to react to this war in Iran, but the non-farm payroll reading for February was a loss. That would suggest they would be in favor of cutting interest rates. The market is looking for two rate cuts this year. One reason is because the Federal Reserve does not like to surprise the market. It likes the market to price in broadly what it is thinking. I do not expect one of those to necessarily be next week, but by the end of this year, there should be two.”

Regarding hedging strategies for India, Matthews points to the oil sector rather than precious metals alone. “Gold and silver have done very well, but they are vulnerable because in risk-off events of this size, people like to take profit. With oil over $100 and war not ending soon, there is a case for owning the oil sector, not just in India but globally. Longer term, even when this war ends, if Iran is not stable, the Strait of Hormuz will not be stable either, and that is responsible for about 20% of the world’s oil trade.”
He also highlighted potential central bank responses, saying, “Iran’s game plan is quite obvious. They want to get oil prices as high as possible to put pressure on the US. With high oil prices, we will see inflation, because oil feeds into many aspects of the consumer and producer price indices. Supply chain disruptions, like issues in the Suez Canal, are also inflationary. When you have inflation, it is hard to cut interest rates, and central banks might even have to raise them depending on how long the war lasts.”Finally, Matthews weighed in on China’s position in the current geopolitical landscape. “China has been very prudent in accumulating a large oil reserve—over 250 days’ worth. That is a good thing. But China is the largest buyer of Middle Eastern oil. Longer term, this could incentivize them to diversify, with Russia being an obvious option. Very few are winning in this scenario, but Russia, Norway, Kazakhstan, and Venezuela are among those benefiting.”

As global markets grapple with high oil prices, geopolitical tensions, and inflationary pressures, investors are navigating an uncertain landscape. While India’s underperformance relative to other emerging markets might cushion its downside, exposure to energy-related sectors could offer a strategic hedge in these turbulent times.