May 18, 2010. /Lesprom Network/. Mayr-Melnhof Group's 1Q consolidated sales amounted to Euro 439.2 million, which is 14.4% above the previous year’s level of Euro 384 million, company said in a statement received by Lesprom Network. With an operating margin of 9.2% profitability could be maintained on previous year’s level. The operating profit was improved by 12.6% or Euro 4.5 million to Euro 40.2 million, to which cartonboard converting contributed the bigger share. Financial income amounted to Euro 0.8 million while financial expenses were Euro -0.6 million. At Euro 39 million, profit before tax was 7.7% above previous year’s level (1Q 2009: Euro 36.2 million). Income tax expense reached Euro 11.2 million. The effective Group tax rate therefore amounted to 28.7%. The Group thus generated a profit for the period of Euro 27.8 million, representing an increase of 4.9% in comparison to last year’s result of Euro 26.5 million. The Mayr-Melnhof Group is the world-leader in coated recovered cartonboard and Europe’s leading manufacturer of folding cartons. Mayr-Melnhof’s operations are entirely concentrated on the core business areas which are managed in two operative segments MM-Karton and MM-Packaging.