Press releases and press packs are intended to journalists, investors and shareholders.
Paris, France – October 30, 2009
Sanofi-aventis to acquire Oenobiol, French leader in nutritional beauty supplements
Sanofi-aventis (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY) announced today that it has entered
into an agreement to acquire the company Laboratoire Oenobiol
(“Oenobiol”), the French leader in nutritional, health and beauty
supplements.
Created in 1985, Laboratoire Oenobiol first
became famous with the introduction in 1989 of Oenobiol Solaire®,
a nutritional supplement that protects the skin and favours a better suntan
by activating melanin synthesis. Following this successful launch, Oenobiol
went on to develop a wide offering of nutritional supplements for skin and hair
care, as well as a range of slimming aids and products for the menopause. In
2009, Oenobiol had a turnover of 57.2 million
Euros, 85% of which was in France and 15% in other countries, primarily in Italy,
Spain, Belgium, Poland and Portugal.
“The acquisition of Oenobiol will complete and reinforce
our presence on the French market and is fully in line with sanofi-aventis’
strategy to become a global and diversified healthcare leader”, declared
Nicolas Cartier, General Manager of sanofi-aventis France. “This emblematic
brand is well-known and conveys an image of quality and trust, with a strong
scientific backing. We are very happy to welcome the women and men of Laboratoire
Oenobiol into the sanofi-aventis family, to benefit from
their skills while giving them access to sanofi-aventis’ healthcare expertise
and development resources” he added.
Dr. Marie Béjot, nutritionist and founder of Laboratoire
Oenobiol, will remain highly involved in the strategy and development
of the Oenobiol line. She will co-lead a Strategic
Committee and a Nutritional Supplement Development Committee within sanofi-aventis.
“Today more than ever, nutrition has a major role to play in preventing
disease and improving public health” said Dr. Marie Béjot. “With this
in mind, Oenobiol aims to become the European leader
in nutritional supplements for health and beauty, thanks to the synergies created
with sanofi-aventis.”
The closing of the transaction is expected to happen in the fourth quarter
of 2009, subject to the clearance of antitrust authorities.
About Oenobiol
Oenobiol was created in 1985 by a nutritionist,
Dr. Marie Béjot, who wanted to meet her patients' needs. That is how Oenobiol
Solaire®, the most well-known of the company’s products, was launched,
opening the market segment for nutritional beauty supplements. Today, Oenobiol
is the French leader in nutritional beauty supplements. In order to address
new identified needs, the company researches and develops a new range of health
products. Oenobiol supplements are scientifically approved
products and are manufactured according to pharmaceutical standards. Oenobiol
operates in France and internationally.
About sanofi-aventis
Sanofi-aventis, a leading global pharmaceutical company, discovers, develops
and distributes therapeutic solutions to improve the lives of everyone. Sanofi-aventis
is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: SAN) and in New York (NYSE: SNY).
In France, sanofi-aventis – a major and long time player in the French pharmaceuticals
industry – offers a complete range of health care products: innovative treatments,
more traditional medicines, over-the-counter drugs, generic products and vaccines.
The company plays a major economic role in France and its regions, with nearly
40 sites located across France and representing the entire drug sector, from
R&D to production, testing, logistics and sales. Sanofi-aventis is also
committed to working with other health care actors in multidisciplinary partnerships
to develop 'close to home' actions to share and transmit its knowledge to the
widest possible audience.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Forward-looking statements
are statements that are not historical facts. These statements include product
development, product potential projections and estimates and their underlying
assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives, intentions and expectations
with respect to future events, operations, products and services, and statements
regarding future performance. Forward-looking statements are generally identified
by the words “expects”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “intends”, “estimates”, “plans”
and similar expressions. Although sanofi-aventis’ management believes that the
expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, investors
are cautioned that forward-looking information and statements are subject to
various risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and
generally beyond the control of sanofi-aventis, that could cause actual results
and developments to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or
projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. These risks and
uncertainties include among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research
and development, future clinical data and analysis, including post marketing,
decisions by regulatory authorities, such as the FDA or the EMEA, regarding
whether and when to approve any drug, device or biological application that
may be filed for any such product candidates as well as their decisions regarding
labelling and other matters that could affect the availability or commercial
potential of such products candidates, the absence of guarantee that the products
candidates if approved will be commercially successful, the future approval
and commercial success of therapeutic alternatives as well as those discussed
or identified in the public filings with the SEC and the AMF made by sanofi-aventis,
including those listed under “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Statement Regarding
Forward-Looking Statements” in sanofi-aventis’ annual report on Form 20-F for
the year ended December 31, 2008. Other than as required by applicable law,
sanofi-aventis does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking
information or statements.