The Schibsted consolidated accounts for the year 1997 were approved at the Schibsted Board Meeting held today. The key figures for 1997 and corresponding figures for 1996 are:

 
                              1997         1996       Change 
(NOK mill.) 
	 
Total revenues       5 359.9       4 569.2     17.3 % 
Operating result        644.7         578.0      11.6 % 
Net financial items      86.0            5.3	 
Pre-tax profit             728.2        579.2      25.7 % 
Net profit                  487.9         401.2      21.6 % 
 
EPS (NOK)                 7.05           5.79     21.6 % 
CFPS (NOK)             10.00           9.50       5.3 % 

A dividend of NOK 1.75 for 1997 (NOK 1.50 for 1996) will be proposed to the Annual Shareholders` Meeting to be held on May 7.

The Board will also propose to the Annual Shareholders` Meeting that a mandate be given enabling the company to pursue a share buy-back program, according to the rules under the new Company Act.

Schibsted’s accounts and annual statement are available on the Internet on Schibsted’s home site, with the address: http://www.schibsted.no

Full year presentation: http://www.huginonline.no/SCH/PRES/sch97pres_e.pdf