Fibre Excellence paper pulp maker seeks state aid as investor Matthieu Pigasse steps in

CGT secretary‑general Sophie Binet appealed to the French government to meet the conditions required to rescue the paper‑pulp producer Fibre Excellence. The company, which employs 670 workers directly at three sites – Saint‑Gaudens, Tarascon and Chapelle‑Darblay – faces a potential liquidation after a market‑wide rise in wood prices.

Financier Matthieu Pigasse announced readiness to join an investment offer, describing his approach as “moderate capitalism” aimed at preserving French industrial sovereignty. A revised proposal is expected by 2 July, with a commercial court hearing in Toulouse scheduled for 6 July. Regional president Carole Delga and CGT representatives welcomed the development, noting the broader impact on thousands of jobs in the French wood sector.