- Profit after financial items increased to SKr 2,409 million (1998: 2,338). The profit for the fourth quarter amounted to SKr 631 million, compared with SKr 620 million for the third quarter.
- The profit for the year after tax amounted to SKr 1,814 million (2,504), which corresponds to earnings per share of SKr 20.40 (28.20). The return on equity was 10.6 per cent (14.4).
- Net turnover amounted to SKr 20,508 million (22,676).
- The Board proposes to pay an ordinary dividend of SKr 11 (10) per share
- The Board also intends to propose that the ordinary Annual General Meeting resolves to distribute 35 per cent of the total number of shares in Modo Paper AB to the shareholders in connection with the exchange listing of this company that is planned for the spring.
- The date of the ordinary Annual General Meeting is being postponed to April 12 from the previously announced date of March 23.
- The Board has proposed that the company's name be changed to Holmen Aktiebolag. Provided an Extraordinary General Meeting on February 10 resolves in favour of this change, it is intended that the Group should be called Holmen.
- Demand for newsprint and magazine paper remained strong. Holmen Paper's deliveries during the fourth quarter were high with full capacity utilisation. Prices in local currencies remained stable after a slight reduction at the start of the year.
- Demand for paperboard rose. Iggesund Paperboard's deliveries declined during the fourth quarter as a result of production disturbances following the rebuild of the Workington mill. This had a negative effect of just over SKr 100 million on the result. Price increases have been announced with effect from the beginning of 2000.