london july 18 reuters  from britain to sweden and france debtladen firms are starting to feel the strain from high inflation and interest rates heres a snapshot of some european companies whose financial woes are now in the spotlight 1 thames water ricrickmbwtuul significance britains biggest water supplier size of debt 14 billion pounds 1833 billion whats at stake the uk government is considering temporary state ownership if thames water cannot raise more funds to drive its turnaround action taken since last year thames water has asked shareholders for an extra 1 billion pounds of investment on top of the 500 million pounds they provided in march to strengthen its balance sheet and fund the necessary upgrade of ageing infrastructure the firm said earlier in july shareholders would provide 750 million pounds  but warned it would need an extra 25 billion pounds between 20252030 deadlines to watch by oct2  england and waless largest water companies must provide the regulator with their business plans for 20252030 2 casino casppa significance frances sixthbiggest food retailer by market share employs more than 50000 people in france size of debt 64 billion euros 719 billion in net debt whats at stake casino faces 3 billion euros of debt repayments in the next two years with rating agencies moodys and standard  poors warning a default is likely the holding company through which veteran entrepreneur jeancharles naouri controls casino is also heavily indebted action taken in may casino started courtbacked talks with creditors in june it asked interested parties to table offers entailing at least 900 million euros of new money to fund a relaunch czech billionaire daniel kretinsky is the frontrunner to take over casino after rival bidders 3f holding pulled out of the race kretinsky submitted a revised offer over the weekend proposing a 12 billion euro equity injection and the conversion of close to 5 billion euro debt into equity deadlines to watch casino aims to secure an agreement with creditors by july 27 3 sbb sbbbst significance one of swedens largest commercial landlords size of debt 81 billion swedish crowns 795 billion whats at stake sbb has been fighting for survival since its shares plunged in may on concern over its financial position and the refinancing of its debt pile its problems together with worries about a weakening economy and rising interest rates have hurt swedens crown the firm scrapped a planned rights issue after its credit rating was downgraded to junk in may sweden meanwhile is investigating whether sbb broke accounting rules in its 2021 annual report action taken sbb is looking to find a buyer for all or parts of its business to improve its finances it has sold almost all of its stake in property company heba hebabst  and plans to sell the remaining 51 of its education subsidiary educo to brookfield deadlines to watch sbb aims to reach an agreement for the educo stake sale by end july 4 celsa significance spains largest private industrial company employs 4500 staff in spain size of debt close to 3 billion euros whats at stake the 2020 covid crisis affected celsas business due to lockdowns and difficulty obtaining raw materials leading to a 364 million euros loss while performance has since improved creditors argue the company is in default and its equity is worthless action taken creditors in september submitted a restructuring plan under a new insolvency law that would see them cutting the debt by around 129 billion euros and taking control of the firm but shareholders are contesting their valuation as they try to retain control of the group deadlines to watch following a sixday court hearing in july a barcelona judge is expected to rule on the restructuring plan in september 1  07638 pounds 1  08895 euros 1  101947 swedish crowns