BE Group year-end report 2012 – weak ending of the year

  · Net sales decreased by 22 percent compared with the preceding year and
amounted to SEK 998 M (1,288). Shipped tonnage decreased by 14 percent.

  · The operating result weakened to a negative SEK 42 M (positive 1) and
the underlying operating result to a negative SEK 33 M (positive 29).

  · The basic operations in Sweden show an improved gross margin and
the proportion of production services continues to rise in Finland compared
with the preceding year.

  · Following the close of the quarter, BE Group has initiated negotiations on
personnel reductions to strengthen competitiveness. These measures affect
some 140 full-time jobs in Sweden and Finland and are expected to provide
an annual cost reduction of about SEK 65 M.

  · The Board of Directors proposes that no (SEK 0.25) dividend be paid to the
shareholders for the 2012 financial year.

The President of BE Group, Kimmo Väkiparta, comments on the report for the
fourth
quarter of 2012:

“The trend over the most recent quarters, with generally weakening demand,
persisted
during the fourth quarter. We have also had a stronger seasonal dip than normal.
Tonnage
decreased by 14 percent and, combined with lower prices, this explains the drop
in results.

Despite the decline in volumes, however, the basic operations in Sweden
continued to
do well and once again showed a strong gross margin. In Finland, the proportion
of
production services rose to 48 percent, demonstrating that our investments have
been
correct. These are important signals for the future.

The process of selling the operations in the Czech Republic is in progress.
Among other
parts of Business Area CEE, it is the operations in Poland that have yet to show
profitability and we are applying additional measures there.

Going forward, the trend is difficult to assess but faintly positive. According
to our most
recent indications, demand has improved somewhat in early 2013 when we compare
with the end of 2012. Similarly, sales prices are expected to rise during the
first quarter.
Regardless of the economic trend, the ongoing program of measures will also
affect
BE Group’s competitiveness and results positively.”

For further information, please contact:

Kimmo Väkiparta, President and CEO
tel.: +46 (0)705 972 342   e-mail: kimmo.vakiparta@begroup.com

Torbjörn Clementz, CFO and Executive Vice President
tel.: +46 (0)708 690 788   e-mail: torbjorn.clementz@begroup.com

Today, at 09:00 a.m. CET, Kimmo Väkiparta and Torbjörn Clementz will comment on
development at a conference with market analysts and the press. The conference
may
be followed via webcast or by phone (see information below).

If you wish to participate via webcast and/or ask questions at the press
conference,
please copy and paste the following link into your web browser to register
online.
Please be certain to copy the full link.

http://storm.zoomvisionmamato.com/player/begroup/objects/ayd852rc/

The following telephone number can be used to participate in the presentation:
Sweden: +46 (0)8 506 307 79
UK: +44 (0)844 571 89 57
US: +1 866 682 8490

BE Group, listed on the NASDAQ OMX Stockholm exchange, is a trading and service
company in steel and other
metals. BE Group provides various forms of service for steel, stainless steel
and aluminium applications to customers
primarily in the construction and engineering sectors. In 2012, the Group
reported sales of SEK 4.6 Bn. BE Group has
approximately 900 employees in nine countries, with Sweden and Finland as its
largest markets. The head office is
located in Malmö, Sweden. Read more about BE Group at www.begroup.com