Report for the first three quarters of 1999

Report for the first three quarters of 1999 *As last year, for the seasonally weak third quarter a loss was reported after financial items of SEK 201 (67) million *Profit after financial items for the first three quarters declined by SEK 1,053 million to SEK 146 (1,199) million *Cash flow during the third quarter continued to be positive and thus far this year has amounted to SEK 532 (-210) million *Consolidated Profit and Loss Account 1998 1999 1998 Oct 98- SEK millions Jan-Sept Jan-Sept Full Year Sept 99 Sales 13,528 12,294 17,835 16,601 Cost of goods sold -11,206 -10,792 -14,798 -14,384 Gross profit 2,322 1,502 3,037 2,217 Selling and administrative -1,248 -1,267 -1,727 -1,746 expenses Other net operating revenues 2 -40 -3 -45 and expenses Affiliated companies 49 4 48 3 Operating profit 1,125 199 1,355 429 Financial items 74 -53 69 -58 Profit after financial items 1,199 146 1,424 371 Tax -329 -46 -427 -144 Minority shares -18 -8 -15 -5 Profit after tax 852 92 982 222 Return on capital employed - - 11 4 before tax (%) Return on equity after tax - - 8 2 (%) Earnings per share (SEK) 7.00 0.80 8.20 2.00 Equity per share (SEK) 87.40 84.80 88.70 84.80 Equity ratio (%) 59 57 58 57 Number of shares at end of 112.11 112.11 112.11 112.11 period (million) ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/10/27/19991027BIT00430/bit0001.doc The Full Report http://www.bit.se/bitonline/1999/10/27/19991027BIT00430/bit0002.pdf The Full Report