Apr 11, 2011. /Lesprom Network/. Gascogne continued its reconfiguration in 2010, focusing on development in strategic growth segments, with a high barrier to entry and high profitability. 2010 sales were Euro 454.9 million, compared with Euro 438.8 million in 2009, continually improving quarter upon quarter, as the company said in a press release received by Lesprom Network. EBITDA was Euro 23.8 million and Euro 26.8 million excluding scheduled plant stoppage, compared with Euro 23.1 million in 2009. EBITDA was up by 3% (+18% in the second half of the year), thus demonstrating the effectiveness of the results improvement strategy. This progress was the result of a rise in costs Euro 24.7 million and in volumes Euro 5.1 million, the positive impact of the coating machine Euro 1.2 million, which more than compensated for the rise in raw material prices Euro 20.5 million, investment start-up costs Euro 4 million, other one-off costs Euro 2.8 million and the impact of plant stoppage Euro 3 million. Underlying operating profit was Euro 1.3 million and Euro 1.7 million excluding scheduled plant stoppage, compared with Euro 0.2 million in 2009, following an increase of Euro 2.6 million in amortization and a decrease of Euro 0.4 million in net operating provisions. CEO Francois Vittoz affirms: “Despite an unprecedented economic crisis and storm, over the last few years, Gascogne has managed to lower its break-even point by 20%, reduce net debt by more than 40% and improve its gross margin by almost 6 points. At the same time, the strategic options implemented to position the Group in the innovative products market and highprofitability growth market segments, achieved their objectives. These segments now represent 25% of sales and 45% of EBITDA with high growth objectives over the next few years. Due to the Group’s competitive supply of wood through stocks built up, the structural improvement of the specialist paper and industrial sack markets and the ramp-up of investments, Gascogne is confident about its future and figures for the first few months of 2011 are positive. Very serious about sustainable development, Gascogne has set itself a target to increase sales and to make a marked improvement to its operational performance, over the next few years." Gascogne is an international company. It has five complementary and fully integrated divisions focused on generating value in specific market segments: Wood, Paper, Sacks, Laminates, Distribution.