Regulatory
Press release
3 May 2005, 13:00 CET

Interim report January-March 2005

Quarter Full year 2005 2004 2004 I IV I 2004 Net turnover, MSEK 1 739 1 753 1 820 7 159 Operating profit, MSEK 66 161 255 781 Operating margin, % 4 9 14 11 Profit after financial items, MSEK 49 146 235 707 Net profit, MSEK 35 107 169 509 Earnings per share, SEK 0.68 2.07 3.13 9.66 2005 compared with the same period in 2004 · Net turnover amounted to MSEK 1,739 (1,820). · Net profit was MSEK 35 (169). · Earnings per share were SEK 0.68 (3.13). · Market remains weak, with no opportunities to compensate for higher costs. · Operating profit was MSEK 66 (255). The fall was mainly due to changed exchange rates, higher wood costs and one-off costs of MSEK 40. · Operating profit, excl profit from currency hedging, amounted to MSEK 60 (181). Programme started for cost reductions in Billerud’s organisation Outlook for full year 2005 · Important cost increases for wood, chemicals and energy. · Currency changes having a negative impact of MSEK 300. · Given the present market situation, operating profit for the full year 2005 is expected to be around MSEK 200. For further information in connection with this report, please contact: Peter Davidson, acting President and CEO, +46 8 553 335 00 or +46 70 524 0434 and Nils Lindholm, CFO, +46 8 553 335 00 or +47 70 217 5225 Billerud’s acting CEO Peter Davidson will present the Financial Statement live at a press conference at 10 a.m. on Wednesday 4 May. Location: Spårvagnshallarna, Birger Jarlsgatan 57 A, Stockholm. The press conference will be transmitted live at www.billerud.se