Interim Report January-June 2007


Interim Report January-June 2007

                    Quarter              January-June      Full year
MSEK          2-07     1-07     2-06     2007     2006          2006

Net turnove  4 662    4 787    4 661    9 449    9 240        18 592
Operating
profit         529      634      485    1 162    1 104         2 303
Profit
after tax      329      397      303      726      709         1 459
Earnings per
share, SEK     3.9      4.7      3.6      8.6      8.4          17.2
Return on      8.2      9.7      7.5      9.0      8.8           9.0
equity, %



•  The Group's net turnover for January-June 2007 amounted to MSEK 9 449
(January-June 2006: 9 240). 

•  Profit after tax was MSEK 726 (709).

•  Earnings per share amounted to SEK 8.6 (8.4). Return on equity was 9.0%
(8.8).

•  The operating profit was MSEK 1 162 (1 104). The result was favourably
affected by higher newsprint prices, while it was adversely affected by higher
costs of wood and recovered paper and extensive maintenance and rebuilding
stops.

The operating profit for the second quarter amounted to MSEK 529, which was MSEK
105 lower than in the first quarter. The result was adversely affected by costs
and loss of production associated with maintenance stops, as well as by lower
deliveries. 

•  Demand for newsprint in Europe was stable during the second quarter. Holmen
Paper's deliveries declined by 2% in relation to the first half-year of 2006. On
average, the prices of Holmen Paper's products were approximately 4% higher than
in the same period of the previous year.

The market situation for virgin fibre board in Europe was strong during the
second quarter. Iggesund Paperboard's deliveries remained at a high level but
were 1% lower than in the first half-year of 2006. Prices were increased towards
the end of the second quarter. 



For further information please contact:
Magnus Hall, President and CEO, tel +46 8 666 21 33
Anders Almgren, CFO, tel +46 8 666 21 16
Christer Lewell, Public Relations Director, tel +46 8 666 21 15.

Attachments

08152138.pdf