Interim report

Interim Report Nine months ended September 30, 1998 * Earnings increase 14%. Strong third quarter. * Earnings after financial items totaled SEK 1,178 M (1,035) for the nine-month period, an increase of SEK 143 M, compared with the corresponding period of 1997. * Earnings totaled SEK 624 M in the third quarter and were higher than income in the second quarter of 1998 and the third quarter of 1997. * Fragmented market situation: business is increasing in Sweden, Finland, the United States and Africa; stable in Denmark and the United Kingdom, but declining in Norway and Russia. * The Gyproc Group business area was sold in October. Scancem recorded a one- time capital gain of slightly more than SEK 0.9 billion on the divestment. * Earnings for the full year 1998, excluding nonrecurring items, are expected to be higher than last year's income, which totaled SEK 1.35 billion. The full report as word- and pdf-files is now available at http://www.bit.se ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1998/10/20/19981020BIT00260/9moneng.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1998/10/20/19981020BIT00260/9moneng.pdf