M-real recorded operating result for 2009 of Euro -150 million

Feb 05, 2010. /Lesprom Network/. M-real reported full year 2009 sales of Euro 2,432 million (2008: 3,236). Comparable sales were up 2.8%. Operating result excluding non-recurring items Euro -150 million (-35). Operating result including non-recurring items Euro -267 million (-61), the company said in a statement received by Lesprom Network. Result before taxes excluding non-recurring items Euro -230 million (-178). Result before taxes including non-recurring items Euro -358 million (-204). Earnings per share from continuing operations excluding non-recurring items Euro -0.66 (-0.48), and including non-recurring items Euro -1.02 (-0.55). M-real's 4Q sales amounted to Euro 606 million (3Q 2009: 618). Comparable sales were down 0.6%. Operating result excluding non-recurring items Euro 7 million (-22). Operating result including non-recurring items Euro -52 million (-24). "M-real reached a positive operating result excluding non-recurring items during the final quarter of the year. The internal profit improvement measures and the gradual recovery of the market situation support the continuation of our positive profit development. The divestment of Metsä-Botnia's operations in Uruguay significantly improved our balance sheet structure and financial position. M-real's structural change to become more clearly a packaging material producer has proceeded as planned," said Mikko Helander, CEO of M-real. M-real is Europe’s leading primary fibre paperboard producer and a major paper supplier.