PARIS (Standard&Poor's) May 14, 2008--Standard&Poor's Ratings Services said today that French electricity incumbent Electricité de France S.A. (EDF; AA-/Stable/A-1+) has limited financial flexibility for substantial debt-funded acquisitions within its current ratings, taking into account €35 billion of planned capital expenditures between 2008 and 2010. Nevertheless, the ratings remain unchanged so far by EDF's apparent interest in U.K. nuclear operator British Energy Group PLC (BE; BB/Negative/--), reflecting the uncertainties regarding any such bid and its final form and conditions. In particular, the U.K. government could require any new owner of BE to sell assets or stakes in the company in order to have a number of parties involved in nuclear new build in the U.K. If EDF
