BRUSSELS, Sept. 28, 2001 (paperloop.com) - La Rochette of France has reported its financial results for the first half of 2001. The company recorded a turnover of Euro 178.3 million ($163.3 million), up 3% from Euro 172.5 million in the year-earlier period. Operating income came in at Euro 23.2 million, compared to Euro 19.4 million in 2000. Net income totaled Euro 13.4 million, a 58% increase on the Euro 8.5 million posted last year. The 2000 figures are pro forma to take into account the sale of La Rochette's pulp business on October 1, 2000. The company said that its UK packaging unit, Hypac, managed to improve its results compared to the previous year, despite a mediocre economy and a difficult environment within the sector. La Rochette took a 24.3% stake in the Italian corrugated packaging firm, 4S, in July this year as part of its development strategy. La Rochette's Venizel mill in France was hit by a fire in June this year, which destroyed one of the electric drive rooms. The plant's two machines are operating normally again after being repaired. PM 2, which accounts for 30% of the mill's output, has been back online since mid-July, while PM 4, which manufactures the remaining 70% of the plant's production, came back on stream in mid-September.