Interim Report January - June 2008

Solid sales and profit growth in the second quarter 2008

· Order intake increased by 12 ¹⁾ per cent to 4 016 MSEK (3 651).
· Net sales increased by 13 ¹⁾ per cent to 3 904 MSEK (3 516).
· Operating earnings increased by 22 per cent to 734 MSEK (601). Earnings were adversely affected by exchange rate movements of -56 MSEK.
· Earnings before taxes increased by 18 per cent to 657 MSEK (555). Earnings were adversely affected by exchange rate movements of -58 MSEK.
· Net earnings, excluding non-recurring items, increased by 17 per cent to 566 MSEK (483). Including non-recurring items, net earnings increased by 11 per cent.
· Earnings per share, before dilution, increased by 10 per cent to 2.12 SEK (1.92).
· The polymers business was listed as a separate company, Hexpol AB, on OMX Nordic Exchange Stockholm, and was de-consolidated from Hexagon as of 1 June.

¹⁾ Adjusted to fixed exchange rates and a comparable group structure (organic growth).