SCA Interim Report 1 January -- 30 September 2003


STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Oct. 30, 2003 (PRIMEZONE) -- SCA:


                       03:3     03:2    03:1 (1)     0309 (1)   0209 (2)
 Earnings per share, SEK       4.88     4.87    6.02      15.77    18.21
 Cash flow from current       10.70     5.56    7.45      23.17    27.93
 operations per share, SEK
 Net sales, SEK M            21,064   21,231  21,890     64,185   65,617
 Earnings after financial     1,603    1,604   1,974      5,181    6,025
 items, SEK M
 Net earnings, SEK M          1,131    1,130   1,395      3,656    4,225

(1) Including items affecting comparability, SEK 197 M before taxes and SEK 154 M after taxes.

(2) Including items affecting comparability, SEK 88 M.


 Compared with first nine months of 2002
 *  Net sales amounted to SEK 64,185 M (65,617).
 *  Earnings  after tax (net earnings) amounted  to  SEK  3,656  M
    (4,225).
 *  Earnings per share amounted to SEK 15.77 (18:21).
 *  The Group's operating profit declined by 16%, of which 9
    percentage points as a result of currency movements and 4 
    percentage points due to higher pension costs.

 Compared with second quarter of 2003
 *  Earnings per share amounted to SEK 4.88 (4.87).
 *  Group operating profit unchanged with retained margins for all
    business areas.

 Other
 *  Reorganization and rationalization measures in the European
    hygiene operations.
 *  Nomination Committee appointed.

For further information please contact:
Jan Astrom, President and CEO
phone: +46 8 788 5125 

Peter Nyquist, Senior Vice President
    Communications and Investor Relations
phone: +46 8 788 5234

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The following files are available for download:

http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2003/10/30/20031030BIT00540/wkr0001.doc

The full report

http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2003/10/30/20031030BIT00540/wkr0002.pdf

The full report