Interim report January - March 2009

Interim report January - March 2009

First quarter of 2009 - Lower volumes and major cost adjustments in a weak
market

  Net sales declined by 24 percent to 647 MSEK (852)
  Operating profit, excluding items affecting comparability, amounted to 46
MSEK (83) 
  Operating profit amounted to a loss of 52 MSEK (profit: 83)
  Operating margin, excluding items affecting comparability, amounted to 7.1
percent (9.7) 
  The operating margin was negative during the first quarter
  Result after tax amounted to a loss of 55 MSEK (profit: 50)
  Earnings per share, excluding items affecting comparability, amounted to 0.98
SEK (profit: 1.88)
  Earnings per share amounted to a loss of 2.07 SEK (profit: 1.88)
  Operating cash flow totalled 33 MSEK (91), excluding items affecting
comparability
  Previously announced restructuring costs amounted to 98 MSEK

President's comments 
“As expected, the first quarter was extremely challenging, with a sharp decline
in demand. We continued to adapt our costs quickly and comprehensively to new
market conditions characterised by sharply lower volumes. Our sales declined by
24 percent but, as a result of rapid and comprehensive measures, our operating
profit amounted to 46 MSEK (excluding previously announced restructuring costs
related primarily to the closure of our compounding plant in Canada). This
corresponds to an operating margin of 7.1 percent (9.7). We are also working
actively to improve our market positions in a highly uncertain market climate.”

Georg Brunstam, President and CEO



For further information please contact;

Georg Brunstam
President and CEO
+46(0)708-55 12 51

Urban OttossonCFO and Investor Relations
+46(0)767-85 51 44



HEXPOL is a world-leading polymers group with strong global positions in
advanced rubber compounds (Compounding), gaskets for plate heat exchangers
(Gaskets) and wheels made of plastic and rubber materials for truck and castor
wheel applications (Wheels). Customers are primarily OEM manufacturers of plate
heat exchangers and trucks, as well as global systems suppliers to the
automotive industry. The Group is organized in two business areas, HEXPOL
Compounding and HEXPOL Engineered Products, and has about 2,200 employees in
nine countries. In 2008, HEXPOL had sales of about 3,200 MSEK. Read more at
www.hexpol.com.