UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
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FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16
UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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For the month of August 2004
Commission File Number: 001-31368
SANOFI-AVENTIS
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
174, avenue de France, 75013 Paris, FRANCE
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual
reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F [X] Form 40-F [ ]
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in
paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):______
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in
paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):______
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the
information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing the information to
the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934.
Yes [ ] No [X]
If "Yes" marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the
registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82-________
SANOFI-AVENTIS
PARIS, AUGUST 23, 2004
MANDATORY PUBLICATION PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 35 SUB-SEC. 1, 10 SUB-SEC. 3
SECURITIES ACQUISITION AND TAKEOVER ACT (WPUG) - MANDATORY OFFER
Offeror:
Sanofi-Aventis
174 avenue de France
75013 Paris
France
ISIN FR 0000120578 (WKN 920 657)
Target:
Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft
Industriepark Hoechst, Gebaude K 701
BruningstraBe 50
65926 Frankfurt am Main
Germany
ISIN DE 0005758007 (WKN 575 800)
Other Companies directly affected by the Mandatory Offer:
Aventis
Cedex 9
67917 Strasbourg
France
ISIN FR 0000130460 (WKN 925 700)
Sanofi-Aventis, a French stock corporation (SOCIETE ANONYME), hereby announces
pursuant to Sections 35 sub-sec. 1, 10 sub-sec. 3 Securities Acquisition and
Take-over Act ("WpUG") that by acquisition of the majority of the shares and
voting rights of Aventis, a French stock corporation (SOCIETE ANONYME), on 20
August 2004, it gained indirect control in the meaning of Section 29 sub-sec. 2
WpUG over Aventis' subsidiary Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft (ISIN DE 0005758007,
WKN 575 800).
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Aventis holds a total of 548,451,852 of the 559,153,690 shares of Hoechst
Aktiengesellschaft. This represents 98.09% of the registered share capital and
the voting rights in Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft.
Following the acquisition of the majority participation in Aventis these voting
rights in Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft are now attributed to Sanofi-Aventis
pursuant to Section 30 sub-sec. 1 sentence 1 no. 1 WpUG.
Through the acquisition of the majority participation in Aventis by
Sanofi-Aventis on 20 August 2004, Total, a French stock corporation (SOCIETE
ANONYME), 2 place de la Coupole, 92078 Paris La Defense Cedex, France, L'Oreal,
a French stock corporation (SOCIETE ANONYME), 14 rue Royale, 75008 Paris,
France, Tethys SAS, a French partnership limited by shares (SOCIETE PAR ACTIONS
SIMPLIFIEE), 14 rue Royale, 75008 Paris, France, Ms Liliane Bettencourt, Mr
Andre Bettencourt, Ms Francoise Bettencourt Meyers, Mr Jean-Pierre Meyers (each
of these individual shareholders with address at 14 rue Royale, 75008 Paris,
France), and Nestle S.A., a Swiss stock corporation (SOCIETE ANONYME), avenue
Nestle 55 CH-1800 Vevey, Switzerland, also gained indirect control in the
meaning of Section 29 sub-sec. 2 WpUG over Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft. The
548,451,852 shares or 98.09% of the voting rights in Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft
held by Aventis are also attributed to each of Total, L'Oreal, Tethys SAS, Ms
Liliane Bettencourt, Mr Andre Bettencourt, Ms Francoise Bettencourt Meyers, Mr
Jean-Pierre Meyers and Nestle S.A. pursuant to Section 30 sub-sec. 1 sentence 1
no. 1 WpUG.
Satisfying its obligations and the obligations of Total, L'Oreal, Tethys SAS, Ms
Liliane Bettencourt, Mr Andre Bettencourt, Ms Francoise Bettencourt Meyers, Mr
Jean-Pierre Meyers and Nestle S.A. resulting from Section 35 WpUG,
Sanofi-Aventis will make a mandatory offer to the outside shareholders of
Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft.
Subsequent to the approval by the German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority
(BUNDESANSTALT FUR FINANZDIENSTLEISTUNGSAUFSICHT) the offer document for the
mandatory offer will be published pursuant to Sections 35 sub-sec. 2, 14
sub-sec. 3 sentence 1 no. 1 WpUG on the Internet at
http://www.sanofi-aventis.com
and by public announcement of its free of charge availability.
Sanofi-Aventis reserves the right to purchase shares in Hoechst
Aktiengesellschaft outside the mandatory offer as permitted under German law,
provided such purchases shall not violate any applicable securities laws of any
other jurisdiction. The offer document and announcements posted on the internet
at http://www.sanofi-aventis.com will contain further information about any such
purchases outside the mandatory offer.
This announcement is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer
to sell securities of Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft. The offer will be contained in
the offer document which will contain additional important information.
This announcement contains forward looking statements, which may be identified,
inter alia, by words such as "intends", "anticipates", "will" or words of
similar meaning. These statements are based on the current expectations of
Sanofi-Aventis and are inherently subject to uncertainties and changes in
circumstances, many of which are outside Sanofi-Aventis' control. Actual events
could differ materially from those described in the forward looking statements.
Except as required by applicable law, Sanofi-Aventis does not undertake any
obligation to update the forward-looking statements to reflect actual results,
or any change in events, assumptions or other factors.
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This announcement was submitted to the German Federal Financial Supervisory
Authority (BUNDESANSTALT FUR FINANZDIENSTLEISTUNGSAUFSICHT; BAFIN) and to the
French Authority for Financial Markets (AUTORITE DES MARCHES FINANCIERS; AMF)
prior to the publication of this announcement pursuant to Sections 35 sub-sec.
1, 10 sub-sec. 4 WpUG and article 7 of the provision no. 2002-04 of the COB
(Commission des operations de bourse), respectively.
23 August 2004
Sanofi-Aventis (for itself and for Total, L'Oreal, Tethys SAS, Ms Liliane
Bettencourt, Mr Andre Bettencourt, Ms Francoise Bettencourt Meyers, Mr
Jean-Pierre Meyers and Nestle S.A.)
Listings of Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft, Sanofi-Aventis and Aventis in the
Federal Republic of Germany:
Hoechst Aktiengesellschaft: Official Market in Frankfurt am Main,
Over-The-Counter in Berlin-Bremen, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Hanover, Munich and
Stuttgart.
Sanofi-Aventis: Over-The-Counter in Berlin-Bremen, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt am
Main, Hamburg, Hanover, Munich and Stuttgart.
Aventis: Official Market in Frankfurt am Main, Over-The-Counter in
Berlin-Bremen, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Hanover, Munich and Stuttgart.
INVESTOR RELATIONS DEPARTMENT
PHILIPPE GOUPIT DIRECTOR OF INVESTOR RELATIONS
ARNAUD DELEPINE INVESTOR RELATIONS EUROPE
SANJAY GUPTA INVESTOR RELATIONS US
ANNE D'HALLUIN-SULZER INVESTOR RELATIONS
LOIC GONNET INVESTOR RELATIONS
CONTACTS:
EMAIL: investor-relations@sanofi-synthelabo.com
EUROPE US
TEL : + 33 1 53 77 45 45 TEL.: +1 212 551 40 18
FAX : + 33 1 53 77 42 96 FAX : +1 646 487 40 18
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Dated: August 24, 2004 SANOFI-AVENTIS
By: /s/ Marie-Helene Laimay
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Name: Marie-Helene Laimay
Title: Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer