Fibre Excellence's Saint‑Gaudens pulp plant given final reprieve before liquidation

The Toulouse commercial court confirmed the judicial liquidation of Fibre Excellence's Saint‑Gaudens paper‑pulp factory but ordered a continuation of activity to give an industrial candidate time to submit a takeover offer. A deadline of 24 August has been set for the prospective buyer—identified as the Alsatian group Soprema, which has partnered with Belgian paper firm VPK Group and energy provider Engie—to file a formal proposal and a €2 million deposit. If no acceptable offer is received, the liquidation will become effective on 15 September.

The Tarascon plant of the same group has already been liquidated, putting 270 workers out of work. The Saint‑Gaudens site, which employs several hundred staff, has been kept alive after the court judged it “irremediably compromised”. Union delegate Sébastien Oustric welcomed the reprieve, saying, “We are satisfied with this stay; we breathe a little better.” Regional authorities in Occitanie and Haute‑Garonne have pledged €5 million each to support the rescue.

The decision leaves a narrow window for negotiations and a possible rescue of the plant, but the future of the site remains uncertain.