BRATTLEBORO, VERMONT — FiberMark, Inc. (AMEX:FMK) today reported a net loss of $102.9 million, or $14.57 per share, for the third quarter ended September 30, 2003, compared with net income of $1.1 million, or $.16 per share, for the same quarter last year. Third quarter 2003 results included a $92.3 million goodwill write down, a non-cash charge equal to $13.06 per share.

In accordance with SFAS 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” we performed our annual impairment review as of September 30, 2003. Based on the current and projected financial performance of the company’s North American operations and an independent appraisal of the fair market value of assets and liabilities, the carrying value of goodwill for all acquired entities located in North America was reduced to zero.

Additionally, the company recorded a pre-tax restructuring charge of $1.7 million, or $.24 per share, for severance expense, as announced in July. Approximately $5.4 million of the third quarter loss, or $.76 per share, was due to the full reserve against tax benefits on U.S. net operating losses recorded in the quarter. In the third quarter of 2002, there were no reserves against tax benefits that were recognized on the company’s U.S. pre-tax loss.

The company also consummated a new $85 million credit facility November 12, 2003, which provides a significant increase in available cash for capital expenditures, working capital and general corporate purposes. The new credit facility, provided by GE Capital, is secured by substantially all of FiberMark’s U.S. accounts receivable, inventory and equipment, excluding certain equipment at our Quakertown, Penn., and Warren Glen, N.J. facilities that secure two separate term loans, and is also secured by specific foreign assets. The facility also provides borrowing capacity based on the level of profitability of FiberMark’s German businesses. As of September 30, FiberMark’s pro forma unused borrowing capacity under the new facility was $51.8 million compared with $28.8 million on the former credit facility and the capital expenditure sub-facility. A portion of the proceeds from the new facility will be used to pay off the former credit facility as well as related transaction costs. Berenson & Company acted as a financial advisor to FiberMark in connection with this financing. Further details on the credit facility will be provided in the company’s Form 10-Q filing November 14, 2003.

Net sales for the third quarter of 2003 were $93.7 million compared with $97.6 million in the same quarter in 2002, a decline of 4%. Sales from German operations were $42.1 million compared with $37.7 million, an increase of 12%. Excluding the translation effects of a stronger euro, which accounted for $5.1 million in sales for the third quarter compared with the prior year quarter, sales from German operations declined 2%. North American operations sales were $51.5 million compared with $59.9 million, a 14% decline.

For the first nine months of 2003, the company reported a net loss of $116.9 million, or $16.54 per share, compared with net income of $4.1 million, or $.58 per share, for the prior-year period. The absence of tax benefits on U.S. net operating losses recorded in the first nine months of 2003 accounted for approximately $14.9 million, or $2.11 per share, of the period loss. In the first nine months of 2002, tax benefits were recognized on the company’s U.S. pre-tax loss. Sales for the nine-month 2003 period were $302.5 million compared with $299.9 million in 2002, a 1% increase. Sales for German operations were $138.3 million in the first nine months of 2003 compared with $112.3 million in the same period last year, an increase of 23%. Excluding the translation effects of a stronger euro, which accounted for $22.7 million in sales for first nine months of 2003 compared with the prior year period, sales from German operations increased 3%. North American operations sales in 2003 were $164.1 million compared with $187.5 million in 2002, a 13% decline.

“Third quarter sales were positively impacted by German operations, boosted by foreign exchange translation benefits, as well as market share gains in automotive filter media and tape base,” said Alex Kwader, chairman and chief executive officer, adding that the company’s German operations had exceptionally strong results in the corresponding 2002 period. “Our German operations completed an equipment upgrade during the third quarter in its transportation filtration business, which entailed an extended production shutdown. Although the shutdown reduced third quarter sales by approximately $1.5 million, early in the fourth quarter we have already generated expected production rate increases for this filtration business,” Kwader said. “The decline in North American operations was primarily due to continued economic weakness, lower cost substitutes and discontinued business related to product line divestitures and facility closures, particularly in technical specialties.” The December 2002 sale of most of the company’s North American industrial filter media business accounted for $1.1 million of the decline.

“Higher energy costs negatively impacted results,” Kwader added, “as well as an increase in downtime in the face of weaker North American sales and our German equipment upgrade. On a sequential basis, operating performance improved, with modest efficiency gains in our New Jersey operations, despite a significant increase in downtime driven by lower demand and aggressive inventory reduction efforts and product trial activity related to facility consolidations,” Kwader said. However, these gains were more than offset by lower sales volume and increased downtime in the company’s seasonally weakest quarter.

As expected, FiberMark began trading of its common stock on the American Stock Exchange (AMEX), effective August 8, 2003.

FiberMark, headquartered in Brattleboro, Vt., is a leading producer of specialty fiber-based materials for industrial and consumer needs worldwide, operating 11 facilities in the eastern United States and Europe.

Products include filter media for transportation and vacuum cleaner bags; base materials for specialty tapes, electrical and graphic arts applications, wallpaper, building materials and sandpaper and cover/decorative materials for office and school supplies, publishing, printing and premium packaging.

This press release contains forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ depending on the economy and other risk factors discussed in the company’s Form 10K filed with the SEC March 31, 2003, and accessible on the company’s Web site.