Year-end report for 1999

YEAR-END REPORT FOR 1999 Profit after net financial items SEK 1,550 M (616) and earnings per share of SEK 8.60 M (4.20) Profit after net financial items (excluding non comparable items) SEK 974 M (599) and earnings per share (excluding non comparable items) of SEK 6.35 (4.05) 51 percent of Distribution sector divested Acquisition of Invensys AVS Program with right to repurchase up to 10 percent of shares proposed Proposed dividend of SEK 3.25 (2.00) GROUP Net sales The Group's net sales for 1999 totaled SEK 23,345 M (25,041). The decrease was due to the divestment during the year of most of the operations within the Other Activities sector and the sale on November 30, 1999, of 51 percent of the Distribution sector. The Group's Industrial sector posted a 12-percent increase in net sales to SEK 8,701 M, primarily as a result of acquisitions but also through organic growth, mainly in the Trelleborg Automotive business area. Earnings Group operating profit for the year totaled SEK 1,551 M (736). Non comparable items amounted to SEK 576 M. The divestment of 51 percent of the Distribution sector generated a gain of about SEK 950 M. The divestments made within the Other Activities Sector earlier during the year, primarily the holdings in BPA and Sorb Industri, contributed a gain of about SEK 300 M. Provisions of SEK 259 M for the restructuring program in the Industrial sector and the write-down of real estate in an amount of SEK 210 M, closure costs of SEK 170 M in the Other Activities sector and costs for other restructuring items totaling SEK 35 M are included among non comparable items. The Group's financial net was an expense of SEK 1 M. The financial net was positively affected by exchange-rate gains. Cash inflow in connection with the sale of 51 percent of the Distribution sector generated a positive financial net during December. Profit after financial income and expense amounted to SEK 1,550 M (616). Excluding non comparable items, profit for the year amounted to SEK 974 M, compared with SEK 599 M in 1998, an improvement of approximately 63 percent. Tax charges for the year totaled SEK 543 M, of which SEK 316 M was be made available. At the end of the year, the equity/assets ratio was 66.4 percent (54.3). At year-end, shareholders' equity per share totaled SEK 78.50 and the return on shareholders' equity was 10 percent (4.5). The Group's holding of common stock in Boliden was spun off to shareholders in accordance with the decision taken at the 1999 Annual General Meeting. This corresponded to SEK 6.45 per Trelleborg share. ------------------------------------------------------------ Please visit http://www.bit.se for further information The following files are available for download: http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/02/14/20000214BIT00640/bit0001.doc http://www.bit.se/bitonline/2000/02/14/20000214BIT00640/bit0002.pdf