OREANDA-NEWS. Fitch Ratings has placed Southern Natural Gas Company (SNG) on Rating Watch Positive following the announcement that Southern Company (SO; 'A-'/Stable Outlook) will purchase a 50% stake in the natural gas pipeline system from Kinder Morgan Inc. (KMI; 'BBB-'/Stable Outlook). Fitch currently rates SNG as follows:

--Long-Term Issuer Default Rating (IDR) 'BBB-';
--Senior unsecured rating 'BBB-'.