Billerud’s net sales totalled 7,760 million Kronor 2009 (7,792). Net profit amounted to 165 million and operating profit to 300 million Kronor, which corresponded to a margin of four percent.In the fourth quarter of the year, Billerud’s net profit amounted to 160 million Kronor, an improvement of 124 million from the third quarter. The operating profit amounted to 231 million (64 million the third quarter), an improvement of 167 million, mainly due to improved prices, lower costs for input materials and positive currency effects. Billerud’s strong order bookings continued in the fourth quarter."We improved our performance on all fronts during the fourth quarter. We increased our operating profit to 231 million Kronor, which represents an improvement of 167 million compared with the third quarter. This corresponds to an increase in the operating margin of eight percentage points, from three to eleven percent,” said Per Lindberg, CEO of Billerud.Billerud´s balance sheet strengthened, partly through the rights issue, partly through a strengthened cash flow.“My assessment is that we are entering 2010 as a stronger company," Lindberg said.