| SCM Invstment Phase (EUR million) | 2010 | 2009 |
| Operating revenues |
15.3 |
13.3 |
| Operating profit (EBITDA) |
(28.1) |
(11.1) |
Schibsted Classified Media has a clear goal of building a foundation for future growth by establishing itself in new markets. This is being done by establishing businesses based mostly on the successful Swedish concept Blocket.se. Experiences from successful establishments in the core markets serve as the basis for investments in online classifieds services in new markets.
Schibsted Classified Media's businesses in the investment phase comprise activities in 18 countries altogether. While the main focus is directed on Europe, SCM has also established itself in some markets in Asia through a 50/50 joint venture.
Schibsted Classified Media increased its investments in new businesses in 2010. Overall, the negative EBITDA for the businesses in general the investment phase was EUR -28.1 million (EUR -11.1 million). The businesses had operating revenues of EUR 15.3 million (EUR 13.3 million).
Subito.it (Italy)
An online website for buying and selling all kinds of items, launched in 2007 and based on the Swedish Blocket concept and technology. Subito gained a stronger foothold in the Italian online classifieds market in 2010. The website doubled the number of new advertisements during the past year and has shown a strong trend in the number of visitors.
InfoJobs.it (Italy)
Infojobs.net in Spain owns 74 per cent of the similar website in Italy. Infojobs.it is based on the same concept and technology and was launched in 2004. The jobs website in Italy does not yet hold as strong a position as the same concept in Spain, which is due to the strong competition from other actors in the Italian jobs market. The website has experienced a good trend, however, in the numbers of customers and advertisements during the past year.
Willhaben.at (Austria)
The Austrian online classifieds website is a joint venture between SCM and Styria Medien AG. Was launched in January 2006, based on the same concept and technology as Finn.no. The website has separate verticals for cars, real estate, jobs and marketplace and is particularly strong in the real estate and marketplace verticals. The website has shown a positive trend in traffic volumes. The Schibsted ownership is 50 per cent.
Willhaben acquired 100 per cent of the shares in Car4you.at in May 2010. Car4you.at is one of Austria’s largest car websites. The acquisition is a strategic move on the way to becoming the online market leader for used cars in Austria.
Kapaza! (Belgium)
The company was established in 2003 by two entrepreneurs and was acquired by Schibsted in May 2008. Kapaza is a leading actor in the online classifieds market in Belgium, particularly strong in marketplace and cars. Kapaza migrated to a Blocket platform in June 2010.
CustoJusto.pt (Portugal)
CustoJusto.pt was started in the final quarter of 2008 and is a part of the Blocket family. The name means “fair price”. In 2010 CustoJusto.pt made good progress with respect to its competitors and this is expected to continue in 2011.
Further European roll outs
SCM continued to roll out the Blocket concept in several countries in 2009 and 2010.The websites are in the construction phase, but the goal is to gain market-leading positions in the coming years:
- AggelioPolis.gr, Greece (100%), launched in July 2009
- tori.fi, Finland (100%), launched in December 2009.
- tutti.ch, Switzerland (100%), launched in January 2010.
- jófogás.hu, Hungary (100%), launched in January 2010.
Mudah.my (Malaysia), AyosDito.ph (Philippines), Berniaga.com (Indonesia), Dinkos.com.au (Australia) (50%)
Mudah.my (the name means “simple” and “practical”) was started in Malaysia in December 2007, the first Blocket venture outside Europe. Mudah.my was developed in collaboration with Singapore Press Holdings and is today the most popular local website in Malaysia.
In cooperation with Singapore Press Holdings, SCM started AyosDito.ph in the Philippines and berniaga.com in Indonesia in 2009 and dinkos.com.au in Australia in late 2010, all members of the Blocket family.
Latin America
Through Anuntis in Spain, SCM has a number of online classified websites in Latin America, the most important of which are Autofoco.com and Segundamano.com.ar (Argentina), Infojobs.com.br and Balcao.com (Brazil) and Segundamano.com.mx (Mexico). It also operates services in Colombia.