"We have reviewed our ratings on Russian corporations in the commodity exports, telecommunications, and infrastructure and utility sectors. We are consequently lowering our ratings on 14 companies and subsidiaries, affirming the ratings on 10 companies and subsidiaries, and revising several outlooks to negative" S&P said in a statement.
Other corporations affected by various downgrades include Rosneft, Gazprom Neft, Transneft, Novatek and MTS.
Earlier this month, S&P lowered Russia's sovereign ratings to "junk" status from a "good" BBB- to a "speculative" BB+ with negative outlook. Two other rating agencies, Fitch and Moody’s also downgraded Russia's government bond rating.
The Chinese Dagong Global rating agency, in turn, has given Russian energy giant Gazprom this week the "AAA" long-term issuer credit rating for both local and foreign currencies, with a stable outlook.
