STOCKHOLM (Standard&Poor's) June 4, 2010--Standard&Poor's Ratings Services said today that it had raised its issue ratings on the hybrid capital securities of Norway-based Eksportfinans ASA (AA/Stable/A-1+) to 'A' from 'A-'. In March 2009, for European financial institutions, Standard&Poor's widened the gap between the long-term counterparty credit rating on the issuer and the hybrid security rating to three notches in most cases, and to four or more notches in certain instances related to various factors, including the elimination of ordinary dividends by the hybrid issuer. Eksportfinans was among the issuers for which we moved to a four-notch gap, reflecting the groups' decision not to pay a final ordinary dividend for financial year 2008. Eksportfinans has
