Regulatory
Press release
21 Oct 2002, 13:33 CET

Interim Report January-September 2002

Interim Report January-September 2002 · Market demand continued to be good. Price rises for Billerud's packaging paper were implemented during the third quarter, with full impact on results in the fourth quarter. · The operating profit in the third quarter reached MSEK 354, up 41% on the previous quarter. The operating profit for the January-September period was MSEK 873, 16% down on the same period last year. · Results in the final quarter are expected to be at around the same level as the third quarter. Volumes will fall due to the major stoppage planned at Gruvön. · Production efficiency and delivery capability continued to be good. A maintenance stoppage was performed at Karlsborg during the third quarter. Deliveries during the first nine months of the year reached 987 000 tonnes, 10% up on the same period last year. · Currency hedging boosted results for the first nine months of the year by MSEK 185, of which MSEK 95 was in the third quarter. · Return on capital employed during the most recent 12-month period was 24%. · Billerud has bought back 4.83 million of its own shares, making a total of MSEK 441, which is equal to the available limit for share buy- back. · Following the dividend and the buyback of shares amounting to MSEK 661, good cash flow has helped to keep the debt/equity ratio unchanged during the first nine months of 2002. A telephone conference in English will be held at 6 p.m. CET, call +44 20 8240 8246 at 17.55 CET ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/10/21/20021021BIT00680/wkr0001.doc The full report http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/10/21/20021021BIT00680/wkr0002.pdf The full report