French timber products company Lefebvre has been placed under compulsory administration.
The company has suffered from falling prices in the sector since the severe storms of 1999, which caused a big influx of timber on the market.
Competition on the Chinese market from German rivals is also reported to have cost the Lefebvre e1.5m during a three-month period. The company has 330 staff and recorded a turnover of e45m in 2001.
