STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Oct. 21, 2004 (PRIMEZONE) -- Interim Report:
Corporate Identity No. 556025-5001 www.billerud.com Quarter January- September 2004 2004 2003 III II III 2004 2003 Net 1 822 1 764 1 728 5 406 5 303 turnover, MSEK Operating 269 161 282 655 863 profit, MSEK Operating 15 9 16 12 16 margin, % Profit 251 140 262 596 804 after financial items, MSEK Net profit, 181 101 186 429 577 MSEK Earnings 3.46 1.91 3.28 8.09 10.03 per share, SEK
-- The operating profit in the January-September period was MSEK 655, down 24% on the same period last year, mainly due to lower prices and changed exchange rates.
-- Compared with the second quarter of 2004, the operating profit soared 67% to MSEK 269, mainly due to higher delivery volumes and lower costs.
-- The profit after financial items was MSEK 596 and the return on capital employed over the past 12-month period was 20%. Excluding the effects of currency hedging the return was 13%.
-- The operating cash flow in the January-September period was MSEK 600, of which MSEK 209 was in the third quarter.
-- Deliveries amounted to 1,019,000 tonnes, up 6% on last year. Maintenance stoppages have been completed at all of Billerud's mills.
-- The Board has decided to continue buying back the company's shares.
-- Billerud's profit after financial items is expected to be around MSEK 750 for the full year in 2004. The difference compared with the previous forecast, MSEK 800, depends on lower pulp prices.
Billerud's CEO Bert Ostlund will present the Financial Statement live at a press conference on Friday 22 October at 10.00 a.m. Location: Sparvagnshallarna, Birger Jarlsgatan 57 A, Stockholm. The press conference will be transmitted live at www.billerud.se
If you have any questions concerning this report, please contact Bert Ostlund, President & CEO, +46 8 553 335 00 or Nils Lindholm, CFO, +46 8 553 335 00 or +46 70 217 5225 E-mail: ir@billerud.com
This document is a translation of the original, published in Swedish. In cases of any discrepancies between the Swedish and English versions, or in any other context, the Swedish original shall have precedence.
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