Eksportfinans - third quarter 2010

Increased activity within renewable energy - continued strong results from
underlying business 
The strong results from underlying business continued into the third quarter,
and net interest income amounted to NOK 1.1 billion in the first nine months of
2010. Eksportfinans experiences increased demand for financing from Norwegian
companies with international activities. In addition the activity is increasing
within the Company's new focus areas renewable energy and environmental-related
projects. 

- In the third quarter we see the same positive development as in the two
previous quarters of 2010. Eksportfinans strives to be a good financial partner
for the Norwegian export industry, and we are pleased to see an increased
demand for our financing products in general. We also see increased activity
within parts of the export industry, says President and CEO Gisele Marchand. 

Increased demand for Eksportfinans' products
Eksportfinans still has a solid order book for export loans to be disbursed in
the years to come. 
New disbursements of export related loans were NOK 21.2 billion in the first
nine months of 2010, compared with NOK 21.3 billion in the equivalent period in
2009. The volume of export loans outstanding was NOK 92.7 billion at 30
September 2010, compared to NOK 78.1 billion at 30 September 2009, and NOK 81.4
billion at 31 December 2009. 

The Norwegian maritime sector is still subject to strong international
competition, but a slight improvement in the market situation for this sector
is apparent in the first nine months of 2010. Norwegian ship yards have entered
into new contracts for approximately NOK 10 billion in the first nine months of
2010, compared to NOK 3 billion in the entire 2009. Eksportfinans has been
approached regarding financing of a large part of the new contracts in 2010. In
addition, the Company experiences an increased lending volume to Norwegian
companies with international activity due to competitive financing terms from
Eksportfinans. Eksportfinans also sees demand for financing of renewable energy
projects. Among others, loans to Scatec Solar for the financing of solar parks
in The Zech Republic were disbursed in the third quarter. 

Strong access to funding from the international capital markets 
Eksportfinans has good access to funding globally, and during the third quarter
the Company issued a new benchmark loan for USD 1.25 million with a 5 year
tenor. Demand was strong, and the loan was over-subscribed at the time of
issuance. Total new funding at 30 September 2010 amounted to NOK 56.2 million,
compared to NOK 43.4 million in the equivalent period in 2009. 

Results
Profit from continuing operations was NOK 177 million at 30 September 2010,
compared to negative NOK 1.0 billion in the equivalent period in 2009. Net
profit ex unrealized effects was NOK 648 million at 30 September 2010, compared
to NOK 803 million at the same time in 2009. The uncertainty in the
international capital markets has led to relatively high credit spreads in the
first nine months of 2010. This has led to high income from liquidity
placements. Eksportfinans expects this situation to be temporary. 
The complete third quarter report for 2010 is available at www.eksportfinans.no


For further information, please contact:

President and CEO Gisele Marchand, phone: +47 22 01 23 70, e-mail:
gma@eksportfinans.no 
EVP Director of Staff, Elise Lindbæk, mobile: +47 90 51 82 50, e-mail:
el@eksportfinans.no. 
Eksportfinans is the Norwegian institute for export financing owned by banks
and the Norwegian Government. It offers competitive long term financing to the
export industry.