Sanofi and CD&R Join Forces to Propel Opella’s Global Consumer Healthcare Expansion

(IN BRIEF) Sanofi and CD&R have entered exclusive negotiations for CD&R to acquire a 50% controlling stake in Opella, Sanofi’s consumer healthcare business, while Sanofi retains a significant share. The partnership aims to support Opella’s growth as a global leader in consumer healthcare, with a focus on expanding its portfolio of well-known brands like Allegra and Doliprane. The transaction, valued at approximately €16 billion, is expected to close by Q2 2025. This move allows Sanofi to focus more on its biopharmaceuticals, while CD&R will help fuel Opella’s growth in the fast-growing consumer healthcare sector.

(PRESS RELEASE) PARIS, 21-Oct-2024 — /EuropaWire/ — Sanofi and CD&R have announced an agreement to partner in advancing Opella’s ambitions in the global consumer healthcare market. The two companies have entered into exclusive negotiations, where CD&R will acquire a 50% controlling stake in Opella, while Sanofi will remain a key shareholder. This move will enable Opella, with its workforce of 11,000 people and iconic brands like Allegra and Doliprane, to grow as an independent global leader in the consumer healthcare sector. The partnership aligns with Sanofi’s strategy of focusing on innovative medicines and vaccines, while Opella will continue expanding its presence in the fast-growing healthcare market.

Opella, headquartered in France, operates across 100 countries and is the third-largest player in the over-the-counter and supplements market. This transaction is valued at €16 billion, and Bpifrance is expected to participate as a minority shareholder. The closing is anticipated for Q2 2025.

Sanofi CEO Paul Hudson expressed confidence in Opella’s future, highlighting the company’s talented team and the strong potential for growth with CD&R’s support. CD&R’s Partner, Eric Rouzier, noted that this partnership is an opportunity to leverage Opella’s brand quality and expertise, further solidifying its leadership in the consumer healthcare sector. Opella’s CEO, Julie Van Ongevalle, emphasized that this milestone will help unlock the company’s full development potential and further drive innovation in consumer healthcare.

The transaction will trigger a reclassification of Opella’s business in Sanofi’s financial statements, and the profits from Opella will be reported separately. Sanofi expects to receive a cash payment following the deal’s closure, and the proceeds will align with its existing capital allocation strategies.

About Sanofi
We are an innovative global healthcare company, driven by one purpose: we chase the miracles of science to improve people’s lives. Our team, across the world, is dedicated to transforming the practice of medicine by working to turn the impossible into the possible. We provide potentially life-changing treatment options and life-saving vaccine protection to millions of people globally, while putting sustainability and social responsibility at the center of our ambitions. Sanofi is listed on EURONEXT: SAN and NASDAQ: SNY.

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 projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, business transformations, objectives, intentions, and expectations with respect to future financial results, events, operations, services, product development and potential, and statements regarding future performance. Forward-looking statements are generally identified by the words “expects”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “intends”, “estimates”, “plans”, “potential”, “outlook”, “guidance” and similar expressions. Although Sanofi’s 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, 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, those inherent in research and development, future clinical data and analysis, including post marketing, decisions by regulatory authorities, such as the FDA or the EMA, regarding whether and when to approve any drug, device or biological application as well as their decisions regarding labelling and other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of such product candidates, the fact that product candidates if approved may not be commercially successful, the future approval and commercial success of therapeutic alternatives, Sanofi’s ability to benefit from external growth opportunities, to complete capital markets or other transactions, risks associated with developing standalone businesses and with intellectual property, as well as any related pending or future litigation and the ultimate outcome of such litigation, and other risks associated with trends in exchange and interest rates, volatile economic, political, financial and market conditions, cost containment initiatives, and the impact of pandemics or other global crises may have. More specifically regarding the transaction described above, these risks and uncertainties include among other things the possibility that the transaction will not be completed, or if completed, will not be completed in the expected timeframe, an unexpected failure to satisfy the required signing or closing conditions, or unexpected delays in meeting these requirements, the ability to obtain regulatory clearances, the possibility that the expected strategic benefits, synergies or opportunities from the transaction may not be realized, or may take longer to realize than expected, or potential adverse reactions to the proposed transaction by customers, suppliers, strategic partners or key Sanofi or Opella employees. The risks and uncertainties also include the uncertainties discussed or identified in the public filings with the SEC and the AMF made by Sanofi, including those listed under “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in Sanofi’s annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2023. Other than as required by applicable law, Sanofi does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information or statements. All trademarks mentioned in this press release are the property of the Sanofi group.

1 Non-IFRS measure.
2 Zantac 360° is included in the scope of the contemplated transaction.
3 Constant exchange rates.
4 Organic investment, M&A/business development, growing dividend, and anti-dilutive share buybacks.
5 Moody A1 (stable) and S&P AA (stable).

Sanofi and CD&R Join Forces to Propel Opella’s Global Consumer Healthcare Expansion

SEARCH 30,000+ EUROPEAN PRESS RELEASES

About EuropaWire

PRs by Dates

Industries & Countries

Archived PRs

Recent PRs

POPULAR TAGS

Links