There have been numerous twists and turns regarding the future of the two Fibre Excellence (FE) market pulp plants located in the South of France over the summer. Here is an update on the situation. On July 27, the bid submitted by Combat Holding (owned by Matthieu Pigasse) was rejected by the Toulouse Commercial Court. Consequently, the liquidation of the Tarascon site was ordered. In mid-September, tensions regarding the safety and security of this plant—classified as a “Seveso Low-Tier” site—escalated, as state authorities (via ADEME) requisitioned the facility to prevent any environmental or safety-related issues.
In contrast, regarding the Saint-Gaudens plant, the Toulouse Commercial Court granted a three-month extension on September 15 to allow the takeover bid to be refined. Faced with the urgency of the situation, Carole Delga—President of the Occitanie region and a key figure in this matter—had even called for the “temporary nationalization of the site” on September 2. Her request was unsuccessful. Subsequently, on September 8, the Court received a bid from the region itself, acting through its Regional Agency for Strategic Investments (ARIS). This bid is based on an industrial and financial plan involving approximately €90 million in investment: €30 million to restart the site and €60 million to diversify into fluff pulp production.
“We have demonstrated that there are industrial players ready to believe in FE’s future,” stated Carole Delga. “Our ambition is clear: to get this plant running and bolster pulp production in France… while preparing for the site’s future through the diversification of its activities.” “We have several industrial players at the table, including the company Soprema and the Alliance Forêt Bois, who wish to take part in this new venture.”
Furthermore, a major European group is expected to handle the “pulp” operations, while Soprema—which posted a €2 million guarantee in late July to demonstrate its interest in the project—plans to develop other activities there. Indeed, the core of the takeover plan hinges on finding a paper industry operator capable of running the plant.
The three-month extension granted by the Commercial Court will allow potential investors to finalize their bids; these must be submitted by noon on October 22, with a decision expected on December 15. In the meantime, the State and the Occitanie region have pledged to fund continued operations. The State has mobilized €2 million to cover the period up to September 30, and the Occitanie region has allocated €3.5 million to cover the period from October to mid-December. This funding will ensure that operating costs are met, the industrial facilities are preserved, and jobs are maintained. The lead investor is reportedly a Portuguese manufacturer—wishing to remain anonymous—that visited the plant in early September.
Valérie Lechiffre
