Fitch upgrades rating on Ukraine to ‘CC’
2022.08.18 00:54
(Reuters) – Ratings agency Fitch on Wednesday upgraded Ukraine’s rating to ‘CC’ from ‘Restricted Default’ following the country’s restructuring of external debt last week.
Ukraine’s overseas creditors backed the country’s request for a two-year freeze on payments on almost $20 billion in international bonds, which will allow it to avoid a messy debt default.
With no sign of peace or a ceasefire on the horizon nearly six months after Russia’s invasion began, holders of around 75% of the outstanding total agreed to Kyiv’s proposal.
Fitch typically does not assign outlooks for sovereigns with a rating of ‘CCC+’, or below, the agency said.
The ratings agency had cut Ukraine’s rating to restricted default on Friday as it deemed the deferral of debt payments as a completion of a distressed debt-exchange.
