United Utilities PLC bonds - S&P announcement

United Utilities Group PLC - LEI: 2138002IEYQAOC88ZJ59

United Utilities PLC - LEI: 213800KYT12UFB2VE455

USD 250,000,000 4.55% Notes due June 2018 with ISIN US91311QAD79USD 350,000,000 5.375% Notes due February 2019 with ISIN US91311QAE52USD 400,000,000 6.875% Notes due August 2028 with ISIN US91311QAC96(the "Notes")

United Utilities PLC (the "Issuer") announces that on 4 October 2017, credit rating agency Standard & Poor's ("S&P") announced the downgrading of the Notes' credit rating from BBB+ to BBB due to changes in S&P's rating criteria regarding subordination risk in respect of the debt issues of holding companies of certain corporate issuers.

S&P's announcement has been published on 4 October 2017 at: https://www.standardandpoors.com/en_US/web/guest/ratings/press-releases

It is available to its subscribers, along with details of the revised methodology: "Reflecting Subordination Risk in Corporate Issue Ratings" published on 21 September 2017.

For further information, please contact Brendan Murphy, Treasurer, United Utilities Group Plc, on 01925 237137.

DISCLAIMER

No offer or invitation to acquire any securities is being made pursuant to this announcement. The distribution of this announcement in certain jurisdictions may be restricted by law. Persons into whose possession this announcement comes are required by each of the Issuer to inform themselves about, and to observe, any such restrictions.

Your right to access this service is conditional upon complying with the above requirement.

END.