[CLSTR]
< Back to situations

Monitor this situation.

[SITUATION] · [QUIET] · [BUSINESS]

10 clusters · 21 sources · 85 days · First seen · Last updated

Soprema submits takeover bid for Saint-Gaudens plant

Overview

Following the liquidation of Fibre Excellence’s Tarascon plant, the Toulouse commercial court has granted a final reprieve to the Saint‑Gaudens site. On 24 August 2026, the Alsatian group Soprema, in partnership with VPK Group and Engie, submitted a formal takeover bid for the Saint‑Gaudens facility, which employs approximately 270 workers.

This submission follows a period of intense instability. After the company entered judicial recovery in April 2026, various rescue attempts failed, including a €90 million proposal from financier Matthieu Pigasse that was rejected by the court on 27 July. The rejection of Pigasse’s bid, which the government deemed “not at the level” required, had previously led to worker occupations and the confirmed liquidation of the Tarascon site.

To support the Saint‑Gaudens rescue, regional authorities in Occitanie and Haute‑Garonne have each pledged €5 million. The commercial court has scheduled a verdict for 8 September, with a final deadline of 3 September for any potential improvements to the Soprema offer. While the submission has provided some relief, the future of the plant remains contingent on the court’s upcoming decision.

Entities

Fibre Excellence · Matthieu Pigasse · Soprema · CGT 31 · Alexandre Ducouret

Timeline

  1. 19 days ago

    [BUSINESS] 4 sources
    Soprema submits takeover bid for Fibre Excellence site in Saint-Gaudens

    Soprema has submitted a takeover bid for the Fibre Excellence plant in Saint-Gaudens, France, aiming to save 270 jobs. A court verdict is expected on September 8.

  2. about 1 month ago

    [BUSINESS] 9 sources
    Fibre Excellence's Saint‑Gaudens pulp plant given final reprieve before liquidation

    Fibre Excellence's Saint‑Gaudens pulp plant faces liquidation but gets a stay until 24 Aug for a Soprema‑led takeover; liquidation finalises on 15 Sep if no offer, while the Tarascon plant is already closed.

  3. about 2 months ago

    [BUSINESS] 4 sources
    Fibre Excellence offer rejected, 670 jobs jeopardized

    French court rejects Matthieu Pigasse’s €90 million bid for Fibre Excellence, threatening 670 jobs at its Saint‑Gauden and Tarascon plants.

  4. about 2 months ago

    [BUSINESS] 3 sources
    Fibre Excellence faces liquidation, workers occupy plants as rescue offer deadline looms

    French pulp producer Fibre Excellence, under judicial recovery, sees workers occupy its Saint‑Gaudens plant while a rescue bid by financier Mathieu Pigasse seeks a court extension; liquidation threatens 660 job

  5. 2 months ago

    [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    French government readies €5 million loan to back Fibre Excellence rescue

    France will offer up to €5 million in loan support for Fibre Excellence if investor Matthieu Pigasse presents a viable takeover, after the firm entered judicial recovery and its shareholder refused further fund

  6. 3 months ago

    [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    Fibre Excellence paper pulp maker seeks state aid as investor Matthieu Pigasse steps in

    CGT leader Sophie Binet urges the French state to back the rescue of fibre‑pulp producer Fibre Excellence as financier Matthieu Pigasse prepares a takeover, pending court approval in early July.

  7. 3 months ago

    [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    Fibre Excellence pulp maker files for bankruptcy in France

    Fibre Excellence, France’s biggest pulp maker, entered bankruptcy over bio‑energy subsidy impacts, risking thousands of forestry jobs and prompting calls for government aid.

  8. 3 months ago

    [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    Fibre Excellence faces court hearing as unions warn of job losses

    France's Fibre Excellence, in judicial recovery with 670 staff, faces a mid‑June court hearing; unions and regional leaders warn the state’s lack of support could end two pulp plants and threaten thousands of‑a

  9. 3 months ago

    [BUSINESS] 2 sources
    Fibre Excellence faces liquidation threat as French government questions investor

    Fibre Excellence, France's last pulp maker employing 670 staff, faces liquidation as the government says its takeover lacks a real industrial investor; unions warn its loss could jeopardise a sector supporting

  10. 3 months ago

    [BUSINESS] 5 sources
    Fibre Excellence submits takeover offer for its two remaining French paper mills

    Fibre Excellence filed a takeover bid with the Toulouse court to acquire its two remaining French pulp mills, preserving 670 jobs; the proposal, backed by regional authorities, is currently the only offer.

Sources

7fm.be · androididee.nl · bienpublic.com · cemachampi.blogs.sudouest.fr · dis-leur.fr · environmentalpaper.org · estrepublicain.fr · force-ouvriere.fr · information.tv5monde.com · la-croix.com · ladepeche.fr · ledauphine.com · lesinguliersete.fr · lopinion.com · news-24.fr · notretemps.com · objectifgard.com · sudradio.fr · taiwanlegacy.com · upday.com · wwf.ch

This summary has been updated 3 times: see revision history