· The Group's net turnover for 2007 amounted to MSEK 19 159 (2006:
18 592).
· Profit after tax was MSEK 1 505 (1 459).
· Earnings per share amounted to SEK 17.8 (17.2). Return on equity was
9.2% (9.0).
· The Board proposes an unchanged dividend of SEK 12 per share.
· The operating profit for 2007 was MSEK 2 843 (2 303). This figure
includes a net amount of MSEK 557 in respect of items affecting
comparability from the fourth quarter, of which income of MSEK 2 100 is
due to the revaluation of forests, cost of MSEK 1 603 is a consequence
of write-down of goodwill and tangible fixed assets within Holmen Paper
and income of MSEK 60 is an effect of the reversal of an earlier write-
down within Holmen Timber. Items affecting comparability increases the
after-tax result by MSEK 36.
· The operating profit excluding items affecting comparability amounted
to MSEK 2 286 (2 303). The result was favourably affected by higher
prices, while it was adversely affected by higher costs of wood and
recovered paper, extensive maintenance and rebuilding stops, and lower
deliveries.
· The operating profit for the fourth quarter, excluding items
affecting comparability, amounted to MSEK 482, which was MSEK 160 lower
than for the third quarter. The fourth quarter was favourably affected
by higher delivery volumes, while costs increased owing to seasonal
factors. The third-quarter result included capital gains of MSEK 105 on
sale of shares.
· The market situation for newsprint in Europe improved slightly and
deliveries were high during the fourth quarter. Deliveries of newsprint
in Europe were unchanged during 2007 as a whole. Also Holmen Paper's
deliveries in 2007 were broadly unchanged. The prices of Holmen Paper's
products were on average 2% higher than in the previous year.
· The market situation for virgin fibre board in Europe was firm during
the fourth quarter. Iggesund Paperboard's products remained in good
demand, but deliveries for the full year declined by 4% due to an
extensive production stop for rebuilding. Prices were raised during the
second half of the year.
For further information please contact:
Magnus Hall, President and CEO, tel +46 8 666 21 05
Anders Almgren, CFO, tel +46 8 666 21 16
Christer Lewell, Public Relations Director, tel +46 8 666 21 15.