Södra has re-elected Lena Ek as Chair of its Board of Directors. Kristina Alsér and Magnus Hall were elected to the Board. The Meeting also resolved to elect Kristina Alsér and Magnus Hall as new members of the Board. The number of elected Board members is nine, all with a term of one year.

Södra’s Annual General Meeting resolved to adopt the Board’s proposal to distribute profit of SEK 1,068 million ($115,086), corresponding to 43% of profit before tax. Operating profit for 2019 totalled SEK 2,582 million ($278,232). The Board had previously decided not to apply for government funding for the furlough schemes introduced by Södra during the spring.

“Södra stands strong even in unsettled times and during the pandemic, we have continued to deliver essential products and services. As an economic association, the economy of the forest estate is always central and it is important that members can share the processing profits from last year’s deliveries to our mills. It is therefore gratifying that the AGM has resolved to pay a dividend,” said Lena Ek, Chair of Södra.

The profit distribution comprises a dividend of 10% (SEK 530 million ($57.1 million) on wood deliveries, a dividend of 8% (SEK 371 million ($40 million) on contributed capital and a bonus issue of 10% (SEK 167 million ($18 million).

Founded in 1938, Södra is Sweden’s largest forest-owner association, with 52,000 forest owners as its members.

Photo: Lena Ek