European Utilities' Credit Ratings May Fall, S&P Says
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European utilities' credit ratings are ``under pressure'' as acquisitions and regulatory changes threaten to hurt the companies' creditworthiness, Standard & Poor's Ratings Services said today in a research report.
Purchases driven by efforts to gain market share are the factor most likely to lower their credit ratings, S&P analyst Hugues De La Presle said today in a telephone interview. Increased regulation from national authorities and the European Union may also reduce utilities' ability to repay debt, the analysts said.