LONDON, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Credit rating agency Fitch onThursday downgraded Royal Dutch Shell following itsacquisition of BG Group, citing risks to its asset sales goalsto finance the $53 billion deal.
Fitch downgraded Shell's Long-term Issuer Default Rating to'AA-' from 'AA' and put it on negative outlook. Rival ratingagency Standard and Poors announced a similar downgrade earlierthis month, warning of a further possible lowering.
Shell completed on Feb. 15 the acquisition of its smallerBritish rival, making its the world's top liquefied natural gastrader and a major deep water oil producer.
The Anglo-Dutch company plans to sell $30 billion worth ofassets over the next three years in order to finance the dealand pay out dividends to shareholders.
The negative outlook reflects risks "stemming from Shellmaterially missing the targeted level of asset disposals in acompetitive market environment," Fitch said.
An expected increase in the company's debt level coupledwith low oil prices put further pressure on its outlook, Fitchsaid.
A Shell spokesperson declined to comment. Shell had warnedof possible ratings downgrades ahead of the completion of the BGdeal.
Moody's last month placed 175 oil, gas and mining companieson review for a downgrade due to a prolonged rout in globalcommodities prices that it says could remain depressed for sometime. (Reporting by Ron Bousso; editing by Susan Thomas)