Creditors of troubled London water supplier Thames Water are lining up a £1 billion cash injection by the end of the year to keep the company afloat, according to a weekend report from The Sunday Times.
It follows a statement from Thames Water on Friday that it only has cash reserves for another eight months.
Thame Water faces nationalisation if it is unable to repay its more than £15 billion worth of debt on the book.
Creditors are said to be seeking a market-based solution to avoid a forced nationalisation of the utility, which the government has shown little desire to enact.
The Sunday Times said the loans would have preferential treatment in the event of a wind up.