Quarter   January-September Full year
    SEKm 3-14 2-14 3-13 2014 2013 2013
Net turnover 3 956 3 946 3 939 11 983 12 293 16 231
Operating profit excl.
items affecting comparability
522 351 326 1 262 871 1 209
Operating profit 522 351 326 1 262 731 1 069
Profit after tax 385 250 207 912 481 711
Earnings per share, SEK 4.6 3.0 2.5 10.9 5.7 8.5
Return on equity, % 7.4 4.8 4.1 5.8 3.1 3.4
Cash flow before
investing activities
738 484 567 1 762 1 567 2 011
Debt/equity ratio 0.29 0.31 0.31 0.29 0.31 0.29
  • Operating profit was SEK 1 262 million (January–September 2013: 731). The improvement in profit is due to higher prices for printing paper and sawn timber, a weaker Swedish krona and reduced production costs for paperboard. Profit for the previous year was impacted by items affecting comparability of SEK -140 million.
  • Operating profit for the third quarter was SEK 522 million, which was SEK 171 million higher than in the second quarter owing to good paperboard production and seasonally low costs.
  • Profit after tax amounted to SEK 912 million (481), which corresponds to earnings per share of SEK 10.9 (5.7).
  • The market situation for paperboard during the quarter was stable, but it was weak for printing paper. The market situation for sawn timber weakened as a result of the high level of supply on the market.

   
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-September 2014 in accordance with Chapter 17 of the Swedish Securities Market Act (2007:528). The information was distributed to the media for publication at 12.00 CET on Thursday, October 23, 2014.
 
This is a translation of the Swedish interim report of Holmen Aktiebolag (publ.). In the event of inconsistency between the English and the Swedish versions, the Swedish version shall prevail.