INTERIM REPORT, JANUARY - JUNE 2008

Highlights
(For table see attached file)

* A strong second quarter 2008 with 7% volume growth. Continued high growth in Asia, as well as North and South America. Group volume growth in the first half-year: 6%.

* Operating income for the first half-year was MSEK 428 (363), up 18% year on year, positively affected by MSEK 33 of sales of CO2 emission rights and price increases from the first quarter. Unfavourable effect of a weaker USD and higher pricing on raw materials and input goods.

* Income before tax for the first half-year was MSEK 418 (332), up 26% year on year. Income before tax excluding sales of emission rights was up 16% year on year.

* Cash flow from operating activities for the first half-year was MSEK 331 (88).

* After the end of the reporting period, Höganäs announced its acquisition of Kobe Steel’s North American iron powder operation and that Kobe Steel is discontinuing the production of metal powder (approximately 40 000 tons 2007) in North America.

CONSOLIDATED NET SALES

First half-year 2008
Net sales were MSEK 3 175 (2 931), an 8% increase of which volume growth was 6%. Apart from volume growth, the sales gains involved price increases and higher metal price surcharges on scrap, but were offset by lower metal price surcharges on nickel and currency effects of -4%, mainly due to a weaker USD compared to 2007.
Höganäs’ volumes remained robust in Asia, North and South America. Höganäs continued to win market shares on a declining market in North America.
Weaker demand and a strong EUR limited Höganäs’ volume growth in Europe in the first half-year.

Second quarter 2008
Net sales were MSEK 1 592 (1 518), a 5% increase. Volume growth was 7%, implying that net sales growth was offset by lower metal price surcharges and currency effects.



Volume growth in the second quarter was similar to the first quarter. A comparison of volume growth with the previous year indicates that Europe was somewhat stronger and South America somewhat weaker in the second quarter compared to the figures for the first quarter. In South America, this was not due to Höganäs losing market share, but that the second quarter 2007 was a very robust quarter in volume terms. The improvement in sales volumes in Europe between the first and second quarters was driven by increased sales to Russia.

CONSOLIDATED EARNINGS

First half-year 2008
Operating income was MSEK 428 (363), positively affected by better gross income and more positive other operating items compared to the previous year.

Gross income was MSEK 666 (624), positively affected by increased sales volumes and price increases on all markets, and to a limited extent, also by a high nickel price surcharge in Japan in the first quarter.

Gross income was adversely affected by USD depreciation and higher costs for scrap and energy. Metal prices were more stable in the first half-year 2008 than in the corresponding period of 2007, even if volatility increased in the second quarter of 2008. This meant that metal inventory gains were down by the order of MSEK 15 on the corresponding period of 2007, when nickel and copper prices rose sharply. Moreover, metal hedges maturing in the first half-year 2008 generated MSEK 2, which were MSEK 20 in the corresponding period of 2007.

Research and development expenses were lower in the period year on year, because MSEK 7 was capitalized. The change in selling and administrative expenses on the previous year was mainly due to a re-classification of expenses.

Other operating income and operating expenses were MSEK 44 (22), including MSEK 33 of sales of CO2 emission rights, earnings of MSEK 23 on currency forward contracts, exchange rate differences of MSEK -15 and a MSEK 3 income statement item from the sale of the facility in Jacarei, Brazil. Apart from MSEK 19 of earnings on currency forward contracts, sales of CO2 emission rights of MSEK 3, and insignificant exchange rate differences also affected the previous year.

Operating margin was 13.5% (12.4).

Income before tax was MSEK 418 (332). Income after tax was MSEK 315 (245) or SEK 9.06 per share (7.04). The effective tax rate was 24.6% (26.2).

Second quarter 2008
Operating income was MSEK 232 (175). Gross income was MSEK 340 (323), positively affected, mainly by increased sales volumes, by a price increase effect from the first quarter, and by MSEK 23 (5) metal hedge gains. However, USD depreciation and increasing costs for scrap and energy exerted significant negative earnings effects.

Nickel prices fell sharply in the second quarter 2008, while copper prices were more stable. This had some earnings effect late in the second quarter, when a positive effect was apparent in the Components business area, while a negative effect arose in the Consumables business area. Metal inventory gains were down significantly on the corresponding period of 2007, when significant inventory gains were secured because of a sharp increase in nickel and copper prices. The main metal inventory gains in 2008 were on cobalt and chrome.
Other operating income and operating expenses were MSEK 38 (-4), which include MSEK 33 (1) of sales of CO2 emission rights, earnings from currency forwards contracts of MSEK 10 (2) and currency differences of MSEK -5 (-7).

Income before tax was MSEK 227 (160). Income after tax was MSEK 170 (119).

GROUP HIGHLIGHTS

Second quarter

Automatic redemption procedure
Pursuant to a resolution by the Annual General Meeting (AGM) an automatic redemption procedure was conducted in the second quarter. For each share held, shareholders received one redemption share, redeemed against SEK 15 cash. The resolution meant that in addition to cash dividends, MSEK 522 was disbursed to shareholders.

Previous quarter 2008

New managers for Asia and India
Per Engdahl became head of Höganäs Asia, including the Japanese, Chinese, Taiwanese, South Korean subsidiaries and the South-East Asian markets, on 1 January 2008. Per Engdahl was previously Vice President of Sales & Business Development of the Höganäs group.
Srini V. Srinivasan took up his position as Managing Director of Höganäs India Ltd. on 2 January 2008. He joined Höganäs from GKN Sintermetals Ltd. India, where he was Managing Director.

Consolidation of Brazilian operation
In February 2008, Höganäs sold its facility at Jacarei, São Paulo, and will be concentrating all its Brazilian operations on Mogi das Cruzes. Its production, technical support centre and sales office will be relocated in October 2008. This will result in enhanced efficiency, reduced costs and reduced capital employed.

BUSINESS AREAS
Höganäs has two business areas: Components and Consumables. Components encompasses all powder where value is added to create components. Consumables covers those powders used in processes such as preparing metals, as supplements to chemical processes, surface coatings and food additives.
Components
The net sales of the Components business area were MSEK 2 369 (2 139), an 11% increase year on year. Sales volumes grew by 7%. Market progress was positive in Asia and South America. However, as expected, the market was weaker in North America and Europe. There was a slight decline in sales volumes in Europe, apart from Russia, which increased sharply. In North America, Höganäs won market share on a continued declining market. However, sales volumes were significantly weaker in the second quarter than in the first quarter 2008. Volume growth in Asia remained strong. Growth in Japan continued in the second quarter, and Höganäs re-established double-digit growth in Korea in the second quarter, after volume contraction in the first quarter resulting from inventory adjustments by major customers.

Operating income was MSEK 266 (193), a 38% improvement. Operating margins were 11.2% (9.0), mainly the result of price increases. Profits were also affected negatively by sharp USD depreciation compared to the first half-year 2007. A steady increase in the cost of scrap and input goods exerted a negative earnings effect, because the compensation for metal price surcharges is subject to some delay. However, for the same reason, the fall in nickel prices exerted a small-scale positive effect late in the period.

Consumables
Net sales were MSEK 806 (792) a 2% increase on 2007. Volumes increased by 3% year on year, which means that net sales growth was offset by lower metal price surcharges and currency effects. Due to sharp volume increases in the fourth quarter 2007 in Europe and Asia of 17%, early-2008 was weak on most markets. However, in the second quarter, volume growth was 8% year on year. Sales volumes reduced in Europe, but this was mainly due to significant quantities of scrap being sold in the first half-year 2007, which was not the case in 2008.

Operating income was MSEK 106 (151) in the period. The negative variation from the previous year was mainly sourced from significant metal inventory gains on nickel, and improved metal hedge gains in the first half-year 2007. Year-2008 earnings have also been reduced by USD depreciation. The main positive variation was from price increases. The operating margin was 13.2% (19.1), significantly stronger than the 8.7% achieved in the second half-year 2007.

PROFITABILITY
Return on capital employed was 17.0% (16.9) in the period and return on equity was 20.2% (17.8).

FINANCIAL POSITION AND CASH FLOW
The equity/assets ratio was 42.9% at the end of the period, against 53.3% at year-end 2007. Shareholders’ equity per share was SEK 66.70, against SEK 79.50 at the beginning of the financial year.

Consolidated financial net debt was MSEK 1 430 at the end of the period, up MSEK 513 since the previous year-end due to cash dividends and share redemption. Net financial income and expenses were MSEK -10 (-31). Reduced utilization of credit facilities, lower interest rates in the US, earnings on interest swaps and interest income on short-term investments affected net financial income and expenses positively in the first half-year 2008.

Cash flow from operating activities was MSEK 331 (88). The change in working capital reduced cash flow in the period by MSEK -105. Investments in fixed assets were MSEK 165 (78). Financing activities affected cash flow by MSEK -245 (27) due to cash dividends and redemption procedure, which was partly financed through increased utilization of credit facilities.

SIGNIFICANT EVENTS AFTER THE END OF THE REPORTING PERIOD
On 10 July, Höganäs announced that its subsidiary North American Höganäs would be acquiring Kobe Steel’s North American iron powder operation. This agreement means that Kobelco Metal Powder of America, Inc. (“KOMPA”), a subsidiary of Kobe Steels Ltd. USA, will transfer production and marketing to North American Höganäs. KOMPA is expected to discontinue production in spring 2009, after a transitional period when customers are transferred to products produced by North American Höganäs.
To facilitate this transfer of customers, Kobe Steel and North American Höganäs are incorporating a new company which will be called KHTech, Inc. This joint venture will provide technical and sales support mainly to KOMPA’s Japanese customers in the US, but also to their other current North American customers. North American Höganäs will own two-thirds of KHTech and Kobe Steel the remaining one-third.

SIGNIFICANT RISKS AND UNCERTAINTY FACTORS
The group’s and parent company’s significant risk and uncertainty factors include business risks in the form of high exposure to the automotive industry. Financial risks, primarily currency risks and metal price risks, are additional. No other significant risks are considered to have arisen in addition to those reviewed in Höganäs’ Annual Report 2007, with Note 31 offering a detailed review of the group’s and parent company’s risk exposure and risk management.

HUMAN RESOURCES
Höganäs had 1 578 employees at the end of the period, against 1 591 as of 1 January.

OUTLOOK 2008
The financial turbulence that began in autumn 2007 and has continued in 2008 renders forecasts for the immediate future highly uncertain. One likely scenario is that weaker market progress in North America will persist in 2008. The trend towards smaller and more fuel-efficient cars in North America will continue to restrain the growth of press powder. Positive progress of the European and South American powder market will slow somewhat. Growth in Asia will continue.
Metal prices and exchange rates are expected to remain volatile in 2008, which may have a short-term effect on profit performance.

PARENT COMPANY

Net sales and earnings
Parent company net sales were MSEK 1 846 (1 710), an 8% increase. Sales to group companies were MSEK 799 (751).
Higher turnover was due to increased sales volumes and price increases.

Operating income was MSEK 203 (144) in the period. Excluding earnings from currency forward contracts, income was MSEK 180 (125). Parent company income was positively affected by volume expansion and price increases, and negatively affected by volatile metal prices and currency fluctuations in USD.

Financial position
Investments in fixed assets were MSEK 68 (52). Parent company liquid funds were MSEK 36 at the end of the period, against MSEK 35 at the beginning of the financial year.

Significant transactions with related parties
The parent company exerts a controlling influence over its subsidiaries. The supply of services and products between group companies is subject to business terms and market prices. There were MSEK 799 (751) of sales of goods to related parties, while purchases of goods from related parties were MSEK 43 (76).

Outstanding receivables from related parties were MSEK 1 425 (1 531) at the end of the period, and liabilities to related parties were MSEK 463 (336). The parent company had guarantees of MSEK 204 (101) in favour of subsidiaries. MSEK 20 (10) of dividends were received from subsidiaries.


(For complete interim report see attached file)