Sanofi-Aventis - MRRS Decision
Headnote
Issuer and other entity entered into merger agreement providing for merger of other entity with and into the issuer -- all assets and liabilities of the other entity were transferred to the issuer and the other entity subsequently dissolved -- other entity previously obtained four exemption orders in connection with offering of its securities to its employees -- issuer seeking variation of the previous exemption orders to reflect occurrence of merger
Applicable Ontario Statutory Provisions
Securities Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. S.5, as am., s. 144
March 30, 2005
IN THE MATTER OF
THE SECURITIES LEGISLATION OF
BRITISH COLUMBIA, ALBERTA, SASKATCHEWAN, MANITOBA,
ONTARIO, QUÉBEC, NEW BRUNSWICK, NOVA SCOTIA
AND NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR
(THE JURISDICTIONS)
AND
IN THE MATTER OF
THE MUTUAL RELIANCE REVIEW SYSTEM
FOR EXEMPTIVE RELIEF APPLICATIONS
AND
IN THE MATTER OF
SANOFI-AVENTIS
(THE FILER)
MRRS DECISION DOCUMENT
Background
The local securities regulatory authority or regulator (the Decision Maker) in each of the Jurisdictions has received an application from the Filer for a decision under the securities legislation of the Jurisdictions (the Legislation) for the following variation to decision documents previously issued by the Decision Makers:
(i) in paragraphs (b) and (c) of the operative section of the 2001 Leveraged Plan Decision (defined below), deleting references to the word "Shares" and replacing them with the words "shares of sanofi-aventis";
(ii) in paragraphs (c) and (d) of the operative section of the 2002 Decision (defined below), deleting the word "Shares" and replacing them with the words "shares of sanofi-aventis"; and
(iii) in paragraphs (c) and (d) of the operative section of the 2003 Decision (defined below), deleting the word "Shares" and replacing them with the words "shares of sanofi-aventis".
(collectively, the Amendment Relief)
The Filer has also applied for a further decision under the Legislation for the following variation of a decision document previously issued by the Decision Makers (other than the Decision Makers in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador):
(iv) in paragraph (c) and(d) of the 2001 Classic Plan Decision (defined below), deleting the word "Shares" and replacing those words with "shares of sanofi-aventis".
(the Classic Plan Amendment Relief)
Under the Mutual Reliance Review System for Exemptive Relief Applications
(a) the Ontario Securities Commission is the principal regulator for this application, and
(b) this MRRS decision document evidences the decision of each Decision Maker.
Interpretation
Defined terms contained in National Instrument 14-101 Definitions have the same meaning in this decision unless they are otherwise defined in this decision.
Representations
This decision is based on the following facts represented by the Filer:
2. The Filer is a corporation formed under the laws of the Republic of France. The shares of the Filer are listed on Euronext and on the New York Stock Exchange (in the form of American Depositary Shares). The Filer is not and has no current intention of becoming a reporting issuer (or equivalent) under the Legislation.
3. In 2004, the Filer acquired a controlling majority of the share capital and voting rights of Aventis S.A. (Aventis) through a public tender offer and Aventis became a majority owned subsidiary of the Filer. The Filer also changed its name from Sanofi-Synthélabo SA to sanofi-aventis.
4. The Filer and Aventis entered into a merger agreement dated October 14, 2004 providing for the merger of Aventis with and into the Filer, with the Filer continuing as the surviving company. The merger took effect on December 31, 2004. In the merger, all of the assets and liabilities of Aventis were transferred to the Filer, and Aventis was dissolved.
5. Previously, Aventis had conducted global employee offerings (Offerings) whereby shares of Aventis were issued to French collective employee shareholding vehicles (a fonds commun de placement d'entreprise or FCPE, but each referred to here as a Fund) which were registered and approved by the French Autorité des marchés financiers. In exchange for the contribution of Aventis shares to a Fund on behalf of the participants, each participant was issued units (Units) of the relevant Fund. The Funds are not and have no current intention of becoming reporting issuers (or equivalent) under the Legislation.
6. In connection with the global employee offering, Aventis previously obtained from the Decision Makers the following decisions:
(a) In the Matter of Aventis S.A. dated March 20, 2001 (the 2001 Leveraged Plan Decision) granted by the Decision Maker in each of the Jurisdictions;
(b) In the Matter of Aventis S.A. dated November 29, 2001 (the 2001 Classic Plan Decision) granted by the Decision Maker in each of the Jurisdictions other than New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador;
(c) In the Matter of Aventis S.A. dated April 18, 2002 (the 2002 Decision) granted by the Decision Maker in each of the Jurisdictions; and
(d) In the Matter of Aventis S.A. September 19, 2003 (the 2003 Decision) granted by the Decision Maker in each of the Jurisdictions.
(collectively, the Previous Decision Documents)
7. As described in the Previous Decision Documents, Units are subject to a hold period of approximately five years (the Lock-Up Period), subject to certain exceptions prescribed by French law (such as early release on death or termination of employment). At the end of the Lock-Up Period, Canadian participants are permitted to continue to hold their Units or redeem their Units in consideration for the underlying Aventis shares. The terms of some of the Offerings also allow Canadian participants to redeem their Units for a cash payment equal to the then market value of the Aventis shares represented by their Units.
8. As a result of the tender offer and merger described above, the Funds now hold shares of the Filer instead of Aventis shares.
9. The Filer wishes to vary the Previous Decision Documents to permit the Units to be redeemed for Filer's shares and to allow the first trade of these shares by Canadian participants.
10. It is not expected that there will be any market for the shares or the Units in Canada. The Units are not listed on any exchange.
11. As of the date hereof, Canadian participants do not and will not beneficially own (which term, for the purposes of this paragraph, is deemed to include all shares of the Filer held by the Funds on behalf of Canadian Participants) more than 10 per cent of the Filer's shares and do not represent more than 10 per cent of the total number of holders of the Filer's shares as shown on the books of the Filer.
12. The Filer is in compliance with, and will continue to comply, with the remaining terms and conditions of the Previous Decision Documents.
Decision
Each of the Decision Makers is satisfied that the test contained in the Legislation that provides the Decision Maker with the jurisdiction to make the decision has been met.
The decision of the Decision Makers under the Legislation is that the Amendment Relief is granted, provided that the Filer continues to comply with all terms and conditions contained in the 2001 Leveraged Plan, 2002 Decision and the 2003 Decision, except as varied by this decision.
The further decision of the Decision Makers (other than those in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland and Labrador) under the Legislation is that the Classic Plan Amendment Relief is granted, provided that the Filer continues to comply with all terms and conditions contained in the 2001 Classic Plan Decision, except as varied by this decision.