Regulatory
Press release
14 Nov 2007, 12:26 CET

Interim report January-September 2007

Submitted for publication at 12.20h on 14 November 2007

Quarter January-September
2007 2007 2006 2007 2006
III II III
Net
turnover,
MSEK 1 874 1 884 1 878 5 690 5 502

Operating
profit/
loss, MSEK 153 17 205 347 376

Operating
margin, % 8 1 11 6 7

Profit/loss
after
financial
items, MSEK 122 -9 179 264 307

Net profit/
loss, MSEK 85 -9 129 183 222

Earnings
per share,
SEK 1.65 -0.17 2.52 3.56 4.33


January-September 2007 compared with January-September 2006
· Net turnover was MSEK 5,690 (5,502).
· Net profit was MSEK 183 (222).
· Earnings per share were SEK 3.56 (4.33).
· The overall market situation remained good and demand was stable.
· Operating profit was MSEK 347 (376), down MSEK 29. The fall was mainly due to an MSEK 256 increase in wood costs, three large maintenance stops being performed compared with two last year, and a deteriorating currency situation.

Outlook for 2007
· Supply and demand are in good balance on most of the markets for Billerud’s products, and the market situation is expected to remain good for the rest of this year and the start of next year.
· Considerable increases in prices for wood materials and the changed currency situation means there is pressure to further increase prices for some qualities to historically high levels.
· Price increases have been announced for most paper products as of 1 January 2008 and for pulp from 1 November 2007, and additional measures to improve efficiency are under assessment.
· Work aimed at improving margins to meet targeted profitability levels is becoming harder due to the wood price situation.
· In the final quarter Billerud is not expecting any further increase in Billerud’s wood costs per tonne of produced product.



For further information in connection with this report, please contact:
Per Lindberg, President and CEO, +46 8 553 335 00 or +46 70 248 15 17 and
Bertil Carlsén, CFO, +46 8 553 335 00 or +46 730 211 092

Billerud’s President Per Lindberg and CFO Bertil Carlsén will present the interim report at a webcasted press conference for analysts and journalists at 3.30 p.m. on 14 November. Location: Spårvagnshallarna, Birger Jarlsgatan 57 A, Stockholm.