By Linda Karlsson
Today Schibsted’s presented its Q4 2011 results, which showed operating revenue of NOK 3.7 billion ($629 million U.S.), an increase of 4 percent compared to the same period in 2010. The EBITDA was NOK 549 million ($93 million U.S.), compared to NOK 562 million in Q4 2010, which implies an unchanged EBITDA margin of 15 percent.

“We are happy to present the results achieved by Schibsted Media Group in Q4 2011, showing growth and stable earnings. The result achieved is at the same level as that reported in Q4 2010, despite the slowdown in the major advertising markets in Norway and Sweden,” CEO Rolv Erik Ryssdal said.

The online classifieds operations showed an 18 percent growth and an improved margin for the so-called established activities (classifieds sites that are profitable). The Scandinavian sites Finn.no, Blocket.se and Bytbil.com all achieved an underlying growth of 19 percent. Revenue for Leboncoin.fr increased 68 percent in Q4. The website now has more traffic than Ebay.fr and is one of the biggest classifieds sites in Europe.

Subito.it in Italy and Willhaben.at in Austria also strengthened their positions.

Read complete media statement here.

“We continue to develop online classifieds in new markets. This is a strategy we believe will result in future value-creation. This is proven by our new initiatives in Italy and Austria. These two initiatives reported a profit in Q4 2011 and are entering 2012 as market leaders,” Rolv Erik Ryssdal said.

As of Q1 these sites therefore go from being operations in investment phase, to operations in the established phase of profitable classifieds. According to Rolc Erik Ryssdal the company expects these two sites to contribute positively to the 2012 EBITDA.

Even the Spanish classifieds sites grew in Q4 (six percent).

“I don’t know many companies that can grow in the Spanish market today,” Rolv Erik Ryssdal commented.

Schibsted has set the ambitious goal to become world-wide leader of online classifieds within three to five years. The company thinks the existing portfolio will be an excellent base for growth opportunities. In Sweden, for instance, money was invested to help Schibsted’s flagship site Blocket.se gain market share in the classifieds verticals jobs and properties.

As regarding to investments in new businesses, the company said it would keep up this development on the same level as in 2011 or even somewhat higher. One of the most recent launches is Bomnegocio.com, a Brazilian site built on the same platform as Swedish Blocket. It was launched in the summer of 2011.