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  5. > How to buy sanofi-aventis shares
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How to buy sanofi-aventis shares

There are different ways in which you can buy sanofi-aventis shares:

  • Sanofi-aventis ADRs 
    • Sanofi-aventis shares are listed on the Euronext-Paris and are also available on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in the form of American Depositary Shares (ADS). JPMorgan acts as a depositary of our ADSs and issues American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) for these shares entitling the shareholder to all dividends and capital gains. To purchase sanofi-aventis ADRs, shareholders may contact a licensed stockbroker or may buy directly from our ADR depository bank, JPMorgan, through a Direct Purchase Plan (further information about our ADR program).
         
  • Sanofi-aventis ordinary shares
    • Open a securities account with the financial intermediary of your choice (such as a bank) so that you can place stock market orders. You can then place an order to buy sanofi-aventis shares by mail, fax or telephone or over the Internet; the precise method will vary according to which financial intermediary you use. Your sanofi-aventis shares will be recorded in your securities account as “bearer” shares, or (at your request) as “administered registered” shares. 
         
    • Contact sanofi-aventis directly via BNP Paribas Securities Services, whom we have appointed as our agent to manage fully registered shares. Just send a request by mail to BNP Paribas Securities Services, who will send you a brokerage services agreement. Once you have signed this agreement, you will be given a confidential code that you can use to carry out transactions by mail, fax or telephone, or over the Internet.      

To find out more about bearer shares, administered registered shares and fully registered shares:  

How to place an order

To buy or sell sanofi-aventis shares, you must place an order with your financial intermediary or with BNP Paribas Securities Services. Your order must be worded as clearly as possible and include the following details: 

  • Company name: sanofi-aventis (SAN)
  • ISIN code: FR0000120578
  • Type of transaction: buy or sell
  • Quantity of shares to be bought or sold
  • Period of validity of the order: 
    • Good-for-day: the order may only be executed on the day on which it is placed.
    • Good-till-specified: the order remains on the market until the specified date (no more than one year after the date on which the order was placed)
    • Good-till-cancelled: the order remains valid for 365 days.      
  • Settlement method: cash or deferred settlement – sanofi-aventis shares are eligible for the Euronext deferred settlement service (service de règlement différé – SRD)
  • The price, depending on the type of order placed.      
 

Types of order

Limit order
The shareholder specifies the maximum price (for a buy order) or the minimum price (for a sell order). The order will not be executed if the specified limit is not reached.

Market-to-limit order
The buy or sell order is executed as soon as it is received on the market at the best available price.

Market order
The buy or sell order does not specify a price limit. Market orders take precedence over market-to-limit and limit orders, and are executed at the best possible price at the time the order is recorded.

Stop orders
There are two types of stop order: a stop loss order and a stop limit order. In a stop loss order, the shareholder sets a price limit at which the order becomes a market order (at or above the specified price in the case of a buy order, at or below the specified price in the case of a sell order). In a stop limit order, the shareholder sets a second limit: a maximum price in the case of a buy order, and a minimum price in the case of a sell order.  

Transaction costs

Brokerage fees
Financial intermediaries charge a brokerage fee on every transaction, though the amount varies from one intermediary to another. If you hold fully registered shares, you enjoy a preferential brokerage fee rate.

Bank commission
The commission charged on your transactions will vary from one financial intermediary to another. If you place orders relating to fully registered shares, you pay a reduced rate of commission.

Stock exchange tax
French stock exchange tax (impôt de Bourse) is charged at 0.3% on transactions of more than €7,668 and at 0.15% on transactions of more than €153,000. Relief of €23 is granted on the tax payable on each transaction, and the amount of tax payable is capped at €610.  

© sanofi-aventis 2004-2008 | Legal notice | Update: July 11, 2008