Quarter      January-June Full year
SEKm 2-14 1-14 2-13 2014 2013 2013
Net turnover 3 946 4 081 4 197 8 027 8 354 16 231
Operating profit excl.
items affecting comparability
351 389 307 740 545 1 209
Operating profit 351 389 307 740 405 1 069
Profit after tax 250 276 232 526 274 711
Earnings per share, SEK 3.0 3.3 2.8 6.3 3.3 8.5
Return on equity, % 4.8 5.3 4.5 5.0 2.6 3.4
Cash flow before
investing activities
484 540 649 1 024 1 000 2 011
Debt/equity ratio 0.31 0.28 0.33 0.31 0.33 0.29
  • Operating profit was SEK 740 million (January–June 2013: 405). The improvement in profit is due to higher prices for printing paper and sawn timber, as well as reduced costs. Profit for the previous year was impacted by items affecting comparability of SEK -140 million.
     
  • In the second quarter operating profit amounted to SEK 351 million, SEK 38 million lower than in the first quarter as a result of seasonally lower hydro power production.
     
  • Profit after tax amounted to SEK 526 million (274), which corresponds to earnings per share of SEK 6.3 (3.3). Return on equity was 5.0 per cent (2.6).
     
  • The market situation for paperboard during the quarter was stable, but it weakened for printing paper. For sawn timber the market situation was good for pine, but it weakened for spruce.

  
For further information please contact:

Henrik Sjölund, President and CEO, tel. +46 8 666 21 05
Anders Jernhall, CFO, tel. +46 8 666 21 22
Ingela Carlsson, Communications Director, tel. +46 70 212 97 12

In its capacity as issuer, Holmen AB is releasing the information in this interim report for January-June 2014 in accordance with Chapter 17 of the Swedish Securities Market Act (2007:528). The information was distributed to the media for publication at 12.45 CET on Wednesday August 13, 2014.