More than fifty CGT union members and Fibre Excellence employees gathered outside the Toulouse commercial court on Tuesday morning, blocking access to prevent company executives from attending a hearing on the group’s future. The demonstration, organized as management prepared to defend its position before the tribunal, reflects growing anxiety over the potential liquidation of the paper manufacturer, which operates sites in Saint-Gaudens, and Tarascon.
The protesters, many wearing yellow vests, formed a peaceful picket line with a clear objective: to obstruct the tribunal’s entrance and halt proceedings they believe inevitably lead to judicial restructuring or closure. “The commercial court is not a solution. Every time a case goes there, it ends in liquidation or redress,” said Cédric Caubère, CGT representative in Haute-Garonne, according to local reporting. “We are carrying a union project with the workers and we refuse to let management defend its own before this jurisdiction.”
The blockade occurred amid confirmation from Fibre Excellence’s management that a procedure potentially leading to rapid judicial redress or liquidation had been initiated during works council meetings at both Saint-Gaudens and Tarascon sites on April 14. This followed an announcement by Indonesian shareholder Jackson Wijay on April 16 that he would no longer invest in the company’s French operations, deepening fears of insolvency.
Fibre Excellence, which acquired the Chapelle Darblay paper mill near Rouen in 2019, has faced mounting financial strain, reporting 30 million euros in losses in 2025. The company declared payment cessation on April 15, and with Wijay’s withdrawal of support, analysts and union leaders warn that the Toulouse commercial court could rule on judicial liquidation as early as April 28, effectively ending hopes of reviving the Chapelle Darblay facility.
The Chapelle Darblay site, located in Grand-Couronne, had been idled since 2019 and became the focus of a revival effort led by the Rouen Normandie Metropolis, which preempted the site in 2022. Subsequently, Veolia and Fibre Excellence committed to restarting production, supported by state-backed initiatives aimed at preserving industrial capacity in the paper sector. Yet, the deteriorating financial state of Fibre Excellence has cast doubt on those plans.
Union leaders argue that resorting to commercial court proceedings undermines worker interests and favors creditor-driven outcomes over industrial preservation. They advocate instead for a state-supported industrial project that would safeguard jobs and maintain productive capacity in France’s struggling paper manufacturing sector, which has faced declining demand and international competition for years.
The mobilization in Toulouse drew additional support as the morning progressed, with initial numbers swelling to include other CGT militants, local elected officials, and national deputies. Participants emphasized that their action was symbolic but necessary to challenge what they perceive as a biased legal framework that routinely favors liquidation over rehabilitation for industrial firms in distress.
As of Tuesday evening, no official decision had been issued by the Toulouse commercial court regarding Fibre Excellence’s status. The next scheduled hearing remains set for April 28, when judges are expected to deliberate on whether to impose judicial redress or proceed toward liquidation—a determination that will significantly affect over 500 direct employees across the Saint-Gaudens and Tarascon plants, as well as indirect workers in supply chains and regional economies dependent on the mills.
For ongoing updates on the Fibre Excellence situation, including official filings from the Toulouse commercial court and statements from the CGT federation, readers are encouraged to consult verified judicial registries and union communications channels.
What are your thoughts on the role of commercial courts in industrial rescues? Share your perspective in the comments below and help spread awareness by sharing this article with your network.