Three month report January - March 2003

First quarter of 2003 compared to 2002
# Order bookings rose by 10 percent to SEK 33.7 billion. Adjusted for currency rate effects, however, the increase was 22 percent. Order backlog rose by 2 percent from year-end 2002 to SEK 140.9 billion. Adjusted for currency rate effects, however, the increase was 5 percent.
# Operating income rose to SEK 720 M (234). Capital gains on the sale of properties amounted to SEK 488 M (40).
# Income after financial items rose to SEK 540 M (112).
# Cash flow from business operations before taxes paid and financing rose to SEK 1,083 M (–1,276).
# Interest-bearing net debt rose by SEK 357 M from year-end 2002 to SEK 9,387 M, including SEK 1,285 M as the effect of changes in accounting principles for pensions (RR 29).