Shareholders in Manchester’s electricity system operator, Electricity North West, are reportedly considering selling the business.
According to Reuters, several stakeholders in the network operator, which caters for roughly five million people in the northwest, are looking to sell their shares in the company.
This includes investment fund Equitix, which owns 40%, sources cited by Reuters said.
Japan's Kansai Electric Power Co. also holds a 40% stake, with the two heading up a consortium of owners.
A sale of stakes in the business would value Electricity North West in the region of £3.5 billion to £4.0 billion, according to sources.
This includes debt of £1.8 billion, with a March 2023 update placing Electricity North West’s regulatory asset value at £2.2 billion.
Electricity North West was approached for comment.