The year in brief

2017

Net SALES, sek M

4,348 (3,870)

UNDERLYING OPERATING result, SEK M 1)

82 (33)

Q1

Net SALES, sek M

 

1,138 (978)

Underlying Operating result, SEK M 1)

30 (9)

Important events

  • Rising prices and underlying margin improvements.
  • Gradually rising prices resulted in inventory gains of SEK 16 M (-9).
  • Tonnage growth in business area Sweden & Poland by 7% and in business area Finland & Baltics by 11%.
  • Operating activities generated a positive cash flow of SEK 37 M (51).
  • Daniel Fäldt assumed the position as CFO.

Q2

Net Sales, sek M

 

1,147 (1,047)

Underlying Operating result, SEK M 1)

21 (21)

Important events

  • Rising prices gave inventory gains of SEK 8 M (10).
  • Operating activities generated cash flow of SEK -49 M (36), which was largely due to higher inventories and accounts receivable resulting from increases in steel prices.
  • The sale of a property in Ostrava was completed and the liquidation of the company in Slovakia is ongoing.
  • Items affecting comparability of SEK -42 M affected the quarter relating to BE Group Produktion Eskilstuna, Lecor stålteknik and ArcelorMittal BE Group SSC AB.

Q3

Net Sales, sek M

 

968 (892)

Underlying Operating result, SEK M 1)

22 (10)

Important events

  • Strongly improved underlying operating result.
  • The price increase on steel levelled out and gave inventory losses of SEK -3 M.
  • The closure of operations in Eskilstuna was essentially completed.

Q4

Net Sales, sek M

 

1,095 (953)

Underlying Operating result, SEK M 1)

9 (-7)

Important events

  • Higher demand in our main markets and higher price levels contributed to the positive trend.
  • Tonnage growth of 11% in business area Sweden & Poland while business area Finland & Baltics was in line with previous year.
  • The distribution units are improving and the production units, mainly in Norrköping, also developed strongly.
  • The increasing price trend generated inventory gains of SEK 6 M (11).
  • Cash flow from operating activities was SEK 10 M (3).

1) Operating profit/loss (EBIT) before items affecting comparability (see Note 7 and 8) and adjusted for inventory gains and losses (deductions for gains and additions for losses).

Key data 2017 2016
Tonnage, thousands of thonnes 363 374
Net sales, SEK M 4,348 3,870
Operating result, SEK M 57 16
Operating margin, % 1.3 0.4
Underlying operating result 1) 82 33
Result after tax, SEK M 24 -20
Result per share, SEK 1.87 -1.56
Return on capital employed, % 4.2 1.2
Net debt/equity ratio, % 1) 60 73
Cash flow from operating activities, SEK M 95 78
Average number of employees 700 739

1) Part of BE Group´s alternative performance measures which you can read more about in the tabs Alternative performance measures and Financial definitions.

Sales by business solution
(previous year)
Sales by product area
(previous year)