1 JANUARY-31 DECEMBER 2011 (compared with same period a year ago) including the packaging operations held for sale

  • Net sales decreased by 1% (increased by 4% excluding exchange rate effectsdivestments) to SEK 105,750m (106,965)
  •  Operating profit excluding items affecting comparability decreased by 4% (unchanged excluding exchange rate effects) to SEK 9,224m (9,608)
  • Items affecting comparability, write-downs of goodwill, restructuring costs, etc., amounted to SEK 5,676m (931)
  • Earnings per share, including items affecting comparability, were SEK 0.78 (7.90)
  • was SEK 6,383m (7,399)
  • The Board of Directors proposes an increase in the dividend by 5%, to SEK 4.20 (4.00) per share
  • An agreement was reached after year-end to divest SCA's packaging operations, excluding the operations. Net salesoperating profit for these operations, excluding items affecting comparability, amounted to SEK 24,413m (24,234)SEK 1,486m (1,113), respectively, corresponding to earnings per share of SEK 0.73

In November 2011January 2012 SCA announced two major transactions. In November a ,in January 2012 the divestment of SCA's packaging operations, excluding the two mills in Sweden, was announced. Together these two transactions will entail major synergies, lower sensitivity to economic swingsgradually higher earnings per share.

During the financial year SCA carried out important efficiency improvement measures, stepped up the pace in its launch of new productsachieved growth in both matureemerging markets. Sales increased in all business areas,net sales for 2011, excluding exchange rate effectsdivestments, rose 4% compared with a year earlier. Growth in the hygiene operations remained good in emerging markets, where grew sales by 13%10%, respectively. To take advantage of growth opportunities in the hygiene operationsstrengthen our positions in emerging markets, during the year we carried out acquisitionsinvestments in Brazil, TurkeyRussia, among other places.

Operating profit excluding items affecting comparabilityexchange rate effects was level with the preceding year. Price increasescost savings carried out in combination with increased volumes compensated for SEK 3.2bn in higher raw material costshigher energydistribution costs. Profit for the year excluding items affecting comparabilityexchange rate effects decreased by 2% compared with the preceding year.

Net sales for the fourth quarter of 2011 excluding exchange rate effectsdivestments increased by 1%,operating profit excluding items affecting comparabilityexchange rate effects increased by 1% compared with the fourth quarter a year ago.

Compared with the third quarter, operating profit for the fourth quarter excluding items affecting comparability rose 4%, while net sales were largely unchanged. The for the hygiene operations continued to grow.

Continued good demand is expected for SCA's hygiene operations.

For further information, please contact:
Camilla Weiner, Head of Corporate Communications, +46 8 788 52 34
Johan Karlsson, Vice President Investor Relations, +46 8 788 51 30
Pär Altan, Vice President Media Relations, +46 8 788 52 37

Note
SCA discloses the information provided herein pursuant to the Securities Markets Act. This report has been prepared in both SwedishEnglish versions. In case of variations in the content between the two versions, the Swedish version shall govern. Submitted for publication on 26 January 2012, at 12.00 CET.

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