---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001552781-25-000341"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "WTRG"
cik: "0000078128"
company_name: "Essential Utilities, Inc."
filed_at: "2025-10-27T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-05-17T02:16:29.297926+00:00"
event_type: "m_and_a"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.85
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.85
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# American Water to acquire Essential Utilities; Essential shareholders get 0.305 AWK shares each

## Summary
- Essential shareholders receive 0.305 shares of American Water common stock per share; implied value not disclosed.
- Termination fees: $370M payable by Essential if it terminates for superior proposal; $835M by American Water.
- Post-merger, John Griffith remains CEO of American Water; Christopher Franklin to serve as Executive Vice Chair for 2 years.
- Combined board will have 15 directors, including 5 from Essential.
- Deal expected to close by April 26, 2027, subject to shareholder approvals, regulatory approvals, and other conditions.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001552781-25-000341
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: WTRG
- cik: 0000078128
- company_name: Essential Utilities, Inc.
- filed_at: 2025-10-27T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: m_and_a
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.85
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.85
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 1.01, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/78128/000155278125000341/0001552781-25-000341-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/78128/000155278125000341/e25376_wtrg-8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001552781-25-000341
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001552781-25-000341.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001552781-25-000341.txt

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.