the government optimistic about obtaining commitments, such as maintaining production in France

The government is convinced of obtaining commitments to maintain industrial sites in France by the consumer products subsidiary of Sanofi, which the French group wants to sell to an American investment fund, the Minister for Industry declared on Sunday. , Marc Ferracci. “We will discuss these commitments within the framework of the procedure that has been introduced in recent years, which is called the foreign investment control procedure” (which possibly makes it possible to block the takeover of a foreign company, Editor’s note), he indicated on France 3. “I very sincerely think that commitments will be made, which will be very solid, both to maintain jobs and to maintain security of supply for the French” in medicine, he added.

Sanofi announced on Friday that it was negotiating with the American investment fund CD&R to cede control of its over-the-counter products subsidiary Opella, which notably produces Doliprane. This announcement aroused opposition from political leaders on all sides, some urging the government to block the operation, and concern from the chemical-energy branch of the CFDT. The commitments of Sanofi and the new investor must relate to “maintaining production sites in France” and on “maintaining research and development in France”underlined the Minister of Industry.

Marc Ferracci also indicated that he intended to go with the Minister of the Economy Antoine Armand to the Lisieux site, where Opella has a production site. “In the coming days we will go to the Lisieux site to listen to the concerns of employees and discuss these famous commitments with them”he indicated. In a column published by the Tribune Sundayall PS parliamentarians took up their pens to in turn oppose this operation: “The government must refuse the American takeover of Sanofi’s Lisieux factory, and require Sanofi to preserve national control of these activities which are essential for our sovereignty”they write.