2024-10-14 09:07:00
The Ministers of Economy and Industry are meeting this Monday morning at the Sanofi production site in Lisieux. The laboratory would like to sell it to an American fund.
First baptism of fire for Antoine Armand and Marc Ferracci. The Minister of Economy and his Minister delegate for Industry, Marc Ferracci, are on Monday morning in Lisieux, in the factory where Sanofi produces its famous Doliprane. The French laboratory announced last week its intention to sell Opella, its non-prescription medicines business, to the American fund CD&R. In its portfolio: four drugs considered strategic by the State, including Doliprane.
Since Thursday evening the government”taken note» of Sanofi’s decision. But the protests, on Friday and this weekend, by parliamentarians from all sides who accused the government of selling out French health sovereignty, led it to be more incisive towards CD&R and Sanofi. On Monday, in Lisieux, the two ministers expressed their red lines, specifying the commitments they would like to see formalized with the taking over of the American fund. “This is an important sale for the French pharmaceutical market» notes Bercy.
Behind the scenes discussions
Among the commitments it asks from CD&R are the maintenance of Opella’s headquarters in France, as well as the maintenance of jobs. It is also about ensuring that the French do not lack Doliprane, as happened in 2022, when there was a triple epidemic of influenza, covid and bronchiolitis. The molecules currently produced and distributed in France must continue to be so. In recent years Sanofi has started a process of relocating the production of Doliprane, which must be continued. “It is about ensuring that the agreements signed between Sanofi and the Seqens company, which has invested to relocate the production of the active ingredient Doliprane to France, are maintained and respected.» specifies Bercy.
Behind the scenes, this topic has been discussed for several weeks. The dossier was also followed at the Elysée, where Alexis Kohler met the two funds candidate for the takeover. But it is from now on, once Sanofi has chosen CD&R, that they can be formalized. In its toolbox, the state has the procedure for screening foreign investments, which allows it to impose conditions on a potential foreign buyer. “There is a prior authorization procedurewe explain to Bercy. In the absence of authorization the operation cannot be carried out.».
The government wants to put on a belt and suspenders by also signing a tripartite agreement with Sanofi and the purchasing fund”,which will have its own dedicated formalism“. In both cases, financial sanctions could be imposed in the event of failure to comply with the commitments undertaken. BPI could also enter the capital of Opella, together with Sanofi, which will remain a shareholder, and CD&R. “This trace is one of the possible control methods but it is not the only one» explains Bercy. CD&R, for its part, says it is ready to lead these discussions.
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