Sanofi demining operation, while the employees of the two industrial sites of Compiègne (Oise, 500 jobs) and Lisieux (Calvados, 250 jobs) voted for a renewable strike. They oppose the proposed sale of Opella, the Sanofi subsidiary that makes nonprescription drugs such as Doliprane.
The president of Sanofi France therefore wanted to reassure this Friday during a press conference. “I guarantee that there will be sustainability in these sites and teams, which are strategic to Opella’s growth plans. Nothing will change,” insisted Audrey Duval.
“These are profitable, growing, recruiting sites. Lisieux is Doliprane’s flagship in France, the head of Sanofi France insisted. And the Compiègne site is equally important and strategic because it is the site certified by the American authorities. »
A speech already given to the group’s 1,700 employees without clearly convincing them. In the Oise as in Calvados, the strike which began on Thursday 17 October continued on Friday evening. The unions denounce a potential “social collapse” and deplore the group’s lack of transparency. “I hear the concerns, but we are not yet at this stage of social dialogue,” replies Audrey Duval. We are in discussion with a potential partner. »
An American fund chosen as a privileged partner
We recall that Sanofi announced a week ago that it had started “exclusive negotiations” with the American fund Clayton, Dubilier & Rice (CD&R) to sell half the capital of its subsidiary which produces the group’s consumer medicines, such as Lysopaïne, Maalox or Novanuit. The relaunch on Thursday evening by the consortium led by the French PAI changes nothing for the French pharmaceutical giant: «We have a partner identified, we are discussing it with him. »
On both sides of the political spectrum, reactions have multiplied to denounce a loss of French sovereignty. So much so that the government has joined together to ask for guarantees. Andrey Duval wanted to insist: “We will retain 50% of Opella, and therefore we will have a veto right that will allow us to play a role on strategic issues. » «The State is legitimate in asking for guarantees on the sustainability of the sites, employment and volumes. We are on his side, says the manager, who “remembers that Opella will remain based in France, with a French brand for the French. »
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