UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
________________
SCHEDULE TO
(AMENDMENT NO. 14)
Tender Offer Statement under Section14(d)(1) OR 13(e)(1)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
AVENTIS
(Name of Subject Company (Issuer))
SANOFI-AVENTIS
(Name of Filing Person (Offeror))
________________
Ordinary Shares,
nominal value EURO 3.82 per Ordinary Share
(Title of Class of Securities)
ISIN No. FR0000130460
(CUSIP Number of Class of Securities)
________________
American Depositary Shares
(each representing one Ordinary Share)
(Title of Class of Securities)
053561106
(CUSIP Number of Class of Securities)
________________
John Spinnato
General Counsel, Vice President and Secretary
Sanofi-Synthelabo Inc.
90 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10016
TEL : (212) 551-4000
(Name, address and telephone number of person authorized
to receive notices and communications on behalf of the filing person)
Copies to:
Jean-Claude Leroy David A. Katz, Esq.
Senior Vice President Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz
Sanofi-Aventis 51 West 52nd Street
174 avenue de France New York, New York 10019
75013 Paris, France (212) 403-1000
Tel : + 33 1 53 77 40 00
[ ] Check the box if the filing relates solely to preliminary communications
made before commencement of a tender offer.
Check the appropriate boxes below to designate any transactions to which this
statement relates:
[X] Third party tender offer subject to Rule 14d-1
[ ] Issuer tender offer subject to Rule 13e-4
[ ] Going private transaction subject to Rule 13e-3
[ ] Amendment to Schedule 13D under Rule 13d-2
Check the following box if the filing is a final amendment reporting the results
of the tender offer: [ ]
Sanofi-Synthelabo, a French societe anonyme, amends and supplements its
Tender Offer Statement on Schedule TO, as amended (the "Schedule TO"), filed
initially with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission on April 12,
2004 in connection with Sanofi-Synthelabo's offer to acquire (1) all ordinary
shares, nominal value (euro)3.82 per share, of Aventis, a French societe
anonyme, that are held by holders who are located in the United States and (2)
all American Depositary Shares of Aventis (each an "Aventis ADS", and each
Aventis ADS representing one Aventis ordinary share), held by holders wherever
located, pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the
definitive Prospectus, dated April 9, 2004, and the definitive Prospectus
Supplement, dated May 27, 2004 (collectively, the "Prospectus"), and the related
amended ADS Letter of Transmittal and amended Form of Acceptance (collectively
with the Prospectus, and as amended and supplemented hereby, the "Revised U.S.
Offer"). This amendment constitutes Amendment No. 14 to the Schedule TO.
Capitalized terms not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed
to them in the Schedule TO.
ITEM 1. SUMMARY TERM SHEET
Item 1 is amended and supplemented to include the following
information:
On September 7, 2004, Sanofi-Synthelabo announced that the
U.S. offer, the French offer and the German offer had expired simultaneously on
September 6, 2004 at 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time) and 23:00 hr (Central
European Summer Time).
ITEM 4. TERMS OF THE TRANSACTION
Item 4 is amended and supplemented to include the information set forth
above under Item 1, which is incorporated in this Item 4 by reference.
ITEM 12. EXHIBITS
Item 12 is amended and supplemented to include the following exhibits:
(a)(5)(xxxix) Press Release, dated September 7, 2004,
announcing closing of subsequent offering
periods in the French, U.S. and German Offers
(incorporated herein by reference to the filing
made by Sanofi-Synthelabo pursuant to Rule 425
(a) on September 7, 2004)
SIGNATURE
After due inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I
certify that the information set forth in this Schedule TO is true, complete and
correct.
SANOFI-AVENTIS
September 7, 2004 By /s/ Jean-Claude Leroy
------------------------------------
Name: Jean-Claude Leroy
Title: Senior Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer
EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION
------- -----------
(a)(1)(i) ADS Letter of Transmittal (Aventis ADSs)*
(a)(1)(ii) Notice of Guaranteed Delivery (Aventis ADSs)*
(a)(1)(iii) Letter to Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks, Trust Companies
and Other Nominees (Aventis ADSs)*
(a)(1)(iv) Letter to Clients from Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks,
Trust Companies and other Nominees (Aventis ADSs)*
(a)(1)(v) Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer Indemnification
Number on Substitute Form W-9*
(a)(1)(vi) Form of Acceptance for Aventis Ordinary Shares*
(a)(1)(vii) Technical Notice to French Financial Intermediaries and U.S.
Custodians (Aventis ordinary shares)*
(a)(1)(viii) Letter to Clients from Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks,
Trust Companies and other Nominees (Aventis ordinary shares)*
(a)(1)(ix) ADS Letter of Transmittal (Aventis ADSs) (Revised U.S.
Offer)****
(a)(1)(x) Notice of Guaranteed Delivery (Aventis ADSs) (Revised U.S.
Offer) ****
(a)(1)(xi) Letter to Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks, Trust Companies
and Other Nominees (Aventis ADSs) (Revised U.S. Offer) ****
(a)(1)(xii) Letter to Clients from Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks,
Trust Companies and other Nominees (Aventis ADSs) (Revised
U.S. Offer) ****
(a)(1)(xiii) Form of Acceptance for Aventis Ordinary Shares (Revised U.S.
Offer) ****
(a)(1)(xiv) Technical Notice to French Financial Intermediaries and U.S.
Custodians (Aventis ordinary shares) (Revised U.S. Offer) ****
(a)(1)(xv) Letter to Clients from Brokers, Dealers, Commercial Banks,
Trust Companies and other Nominees (Aventis ordinary shares)
(Revised U.S. Offer) ****
(a)(2) None
(a)(3) Not applicable
(a)(4) Prospectus, dated April 9, 2004 (incorporated herein by
reference to the filing made by Sanofi-Synthelabo pursuant to
Rule 424(b)(5) on April 12, 2004 (File no: 333-112314))
(a)(4)(ii) Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, dated May 4, 2004
(incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment
No. 1 to Sanofi-Synthelabo's Registration Statement on Form
F-4, dated May 5, 2004 (File no: 333-112314))
(a)(4)(iii) Definitive Prospectus Supplement, dated May 27, 2004
(incorporated herein by reference to the filing made by
Sanofi-Synthelabo pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5) on May 28, 2004
(File no: 333-112314))
(a)(5)(i) Press release announcing the offer for Aventis, dated January
26, 2004 (incorporated herein by reference to the filing made
by Sanofi-Synthelabo pursuant to Rule 425(a) on January 26,
2004)
(a)(5)(ii) Press release announcing commencement of U.S. offer, dated
April 12, 2004 (incorporated herein by reference to the filing
made by Sanofi-Synthelabo pursuant to Rule 425(a) on April 12,
2004)
(a)(5)(iii) Text of newspaper advertisement dated April 12, 2004 and
published in the WALL STREET JOURNAL*
(a)(5)(iv) Press release announcing the entry into an agreement with
GlaxoSmithKline regarding the divestiture of Arixtra(R),
Fraxiparine(R) and related assets, dated April 13, 2004
(incorporated herein by reference to the filing made by
Sanofi-Synthelabo pursuant to Rule 425(a) on April 13, 2004)
(a)(5)(v) Press release announcing the decision of Board of Directors of
Sanofi-Synthelabo to distribute an
EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION
------- -----------
interim dividend, dated April 15, 2004 (incorporated herein by
reference to the filing made by Sanofi-Synthelabo pursuant to
Rule 425(a) on April 15, 2004)
(a)(5)(vi) Complaint of Aventis, dated April 19, 2004, filed in the
United States District Court for the District of New Jersey**
(a)(5)(vii) Press release announcing improved friendly offer, dated April
26, 2004 (incorporated herein by reference to
Sanofi-Synthelabo's Form 6-K furnished to the SEC on April 26,
2004)
(a)(5)(viii) Presentation given by Mr. Jean-Francois Dehecq in Paris,
France at an Information Meeting announcing the improved
friendly offer (incorporated herein by reference to the filing
made by Sanofi-Synthelabo pursuant to Rule 425(a) on April 26,
2004)
(a)(5)(ix) Press release announcing the European Commission's approval of
the proposed acquisition of Aventis by Sanofi-Synthelabo,
dated April 27, 2004 (incorporated herein by reference to the
filing made by Sanofi-Synthelabo pursuant to Rule 425(a) on
April 27, 2004)
(a)(5)(x) Press release announcing the postponement of the general
meeting of Sanofi-Synthelabo shareholders, dated May 4, 2004
(incorporated herein by reference to the filing made by
Sanofi-Synthelabo pursuant to Rule 425(a) on May 4, 2004)
(a)(5)(xi) Press release announcing issuance of request for additional
information by U.S. Federal Trade Commission, dated May 5,
2004 (incorporated herein by reference to the filing made by
Sanofi-Synthelabo pursuant to Rule 425(a) on May 5, 2004)
(a)(5)(xii) Press release announcing rescheduling of general meeting of
Sanofi-Synthelabo shareholders for June 23, 2003, dated May
14, 2004 (incorporated herein by reference to the filing made
by Sanofi-Synthelabo pursuant to Rule 425(a) on May 14, 2004)
(a)(5)(xiii) Press release announcing, among other things, nominees for
election as directors of Sanofi-Synthelabo, dated May 26, 2004
(incorporated herein by reference to the filing made by
Sanofi-Synthelabo pursuant to Rule 425(a) on May 26, 2004)
(a)(5)(xiv) Press release announcing extension of U.S. offer to June 30,
2004, dated May 26, 2004, (incorporated herein by reference to
the filing made by Sanofi-Synthelabo pursuant to Rule 425(a)
on May 26, 2004)
(a)(5)(xv) Text of newspaper advertisement dated May 28, 2004 and
published in the WALL STREET JOURNAL****
(a)(5)(xvi) Press release confirming extension of U.S. offer until June
30, 2004, dated June 1, 2004 (incorporated herein by reference
to the filing made by Sanofi-Synthelabo pursuant to Rule
425(a) on June 1, 2004)
(a)(5)(xvii) Press release regarding new indications for Arixtra(R), dated
June 4, 2004 (incorporated herein by reference to the filing
made by Sanofi-Synthelabo pursuant to Rule 425(a) on June 4,
2004)
(a)(5)(xviii) Employee communication regarding the offers, published in "La
Lettre Bleue No. 2", dated June 7, 2004 (incorporated herein
by reference to the filing made by Sanofi-Synthelabo pursuant
to Rule 425(a) on June 7, 2004)
(a)(5)(xix) Press release announcing adjusted offer consideration after
confirmation of Aventis dividend, dated June 14, 2004
(incorporated herein by reference to the filing made by
Sanofi-Synthelabo pursuant to Rule 425(a) on June 14, 2004)
(a)(5)(xx) Press Release, dated June 21, 2004, announcing the draft
structure of SANOFI-AVENTIS Management Committee (incorporated
herein by reference to the filing made by Sanofi-Synthelabo
pursuant to Rule 425(a) on June 22, 2004)
(a)(5)(xxi) Press Release, dated June 22, 2004, announcing the AMF's
decision to postpone the closing date of Sanofi-Synthelabo's
Offer for Aventis until July 30, 2004 (incorporated herein by
reference to the filing made by Sanofi-Synthelabo pursuant to
Rule 425(a) on June 22, 2004)
(a)(5)(xxii) Press Release, dated June 23, 2004, confirming the extension
of the U.S. Offer, the French Offer and the German Offer
(incorporated herein by reference to the filing made by
Sanofi-Synthelabo
EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION
------- -----------
pursuant to Rule 425(a) on June 23, 2004)
(a)(5)(xxiii) Presentation given by Mr. Jean-Francois Dehecq and other
Sanofi-Synthelabo executives in Paris, France at Annual
General Meeting of Sanofi-Synthelabo shareholders on June 23,
2004 (incorporated herein by reference to the filing made by
Sanofi-Synthelabo pursuant to Rule 425(a) on June 23, 2004)
(a)(5)(xxiv) Press Release, dated June 24, 2004, announcing the results of
Annual General Meeting of Sanofi-Synthelabo shareholders
(incorporated herein by reference to the filing made by
Sanofi-Synthelabo pursuant to Rule 425(a) on June 24, 2004)
(a)(5)(xxv) Press Release, dated June 25, 2004, announcing that
Sanofi-Synthelabo and Pfizer have concluded an agreement on
the divestment of Campto(R) (Irinotecan), conditional upon
completion of Sanofi-Synthelabo's offer for Aventis
(incorporated herein by reference to the filing made by
Sanofi-Synthelabo pursuant to Rule 425(a) on June 25, 2004)
(a)(5)(xxvi) Press Release, dated July 15, 2004, announcing that the U.S.
Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Competition and Economics
has completed its review of Sanofi-Synthelabo's proposed
acquisition of Aventis (incorporated herein by reference to
the filing made by Sanofi-Synthelabo pursuant to Rule 425(a)
on July 15, 2004)
(a)(5)(xxvii) Press Release, dated July 21, 2004, announcing
Sanofi-Synthelabo's consolidated sales for the first half of
2004 (incorporated herein by reference to the filing made by
Sanofi-Synthelabo pursuant to Rule 425(a) on July 21, 2004)
(a)(5)(xxviii) Press Release, dated July 29, 2004, announcing that the U.S.
Federal Trade Commission has accepted Sanofi-Synthelabo's
consent decree (incorporated herein by reference to the filing
made by Sanofi-Synthelabo pursuant to Rule 425(a) on July 29,
2004)
(a)(5)(xxix) Press Release, dated July 31, 2004, announcing the expiration
of the tender period for Sanofi-Synthelabo's offer for Aventis
(incorporated herein by reference to the filing made by
Sanofi-Synthelabo pursuant to Rule 425(a) on August 2, 2004)
(a)(5)(xxx) Press Release, dated August 9, 2004, announcing the
provisional results of Sanofi-Synthelabo's offer for Aventis
(incorporated herein by reference to the filing made by
Sanofi-Synthelabo pursuant to Rule 425(a) on August 9, 2004)
(a)(5)(xxxi) Press Release, dated August 12, 2004, announcing the
definitive results of Sanofi-Synthelabo's offer for Aventis
(incorporated herein by reference to the filing made by
Sanofi-Synthelabo pursuant to Rule 425(a) on August 12, 2004)
(a)(5)(xxxii) English translation of text of advertisement required to be
published by Sanofi-Synthelabo in LES ECHOS on August 13,
2004, announcing the opening of the subsequent offering period
(incorporated herein by reference to the filing made by
Sanofi-Synthelabo pursuant to Rule 425(a) on August 13, 2004)
(a)(5)(xxxiii) Press Release, dated August 20, 2004, announcing the change in
name of Sanofi-Synthelabo to Sanofi-Aventis and the settlement
of the offers (incorporated herein by reference to the filing
made by Sanofi-Synthelabo pursuant to Rule 425(a) on August
20, 2004)
(a)(5)(xxxiv) Press Release, dated August 30, 2004, announcing the
appointment of Olivier Jacquesson as head of Business
Development of Sanofi-Aventis (incorporated herein by
reference to the filing made by Sanofi-Aventis pursuant to
Rule 425(a) on August 30, 2004)
(a)(5)(xxxv) Press Release, dated August 31, 2004, announcing the results
of Sanofi-Synthelabo for the first half of 2004 (incorporated
herein by reference to the filing made by Sanofi-Aventis
pursuant to Rule 425(a) on August 31, 2004)
(a)(5)(xxxvi) Presentation, dated August 31, 2004, given by representatives
of Sanofi-Aventis during a conference call for financial
analysts, institutional investors and journalists on August
31, 2004 (incorporated herein by reference to the filing made
by Sanofi-Aventis pursuant to Rule 425(a) on August 31, 2004)
(a)(5)(xxxvii) Advertisement summarizing Sanofi-Synthelabo's results for the
first half of 2004 published in the
EXHIBIT
NUMBER DESCRIPTION
------- -----------
Financial Times -- European Edition on September 3, 2004
(incorporated herein by reference to the filing made by
Sanofi-Aventis pursuant to Rule 425(a) on September 3, 2004)
(a)(5)(xxxviii) English translation of text of a required advertisement to be
published by Sanofi-Aventis in LE FIGARO on September 4, 2004
and in LES ECHOS on September 6, 2004, announcing that
Sanofi-Aventis is studying the possibility of merging Aventis
into Sanofi-Aventis (incorporated herein by reference to the
filing made by Sanofi-Synthelabo pursuant to Rule 425(a) on
September 3, 2004)
(a)(5)(xxxix) Press Release, dated September 7, 2004, announcing closing of
subsequent offering periods in the French, U.S. and German
Offers (incorporated herein by reference to the filing made by
Sanofi-Synthelabo pursuant to Rule 425(a) on September 7,
2004)
(b)(1) Credit Facility Agreement, dated 25 January 2004 (incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Registration
Statement on Form F-4 filed by Sanofi-Synthelabo (File No.
333-112314))
(b)(2) Credit Facility Agreement, dated 26 April 2004 (incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5 of the Post-Effective
Amendment No. 1 to Sanofi-Synthelabo's Registration Statement
on Form F-4, dated May 5, 2004 (File no: 333-112314))
(d)(1) Agreement, dated April 25, 2004, between Sanofi-Synthelabo and
Aventis***
(d)(2) Letter from Mr. Jean-Francois Dehecq to Mr. Igor Landau
confirming certain severance and other employment-related
benefits of Mr. Landau***
(d)(3) Amendment Agreement, dated May 19, 2004, amending Schedule 1
to the Agreement, dated April 25, 2004, between Aventis and
Sanofi-Synthelabo (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit
99.1 to Sanofi-Synthelabo's Form 6-K, dated May 21, 2004 (File
No. 001-31368))
(g) None
(h)(1) Opinion of Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz regarding certain
United States federal income tax matters (incorporated herein
by reference to Exhibit 8.1 to the Registration Statement on
Form F-4 filed by Sanofi-Synthelabo (File No. 333-112314))
(h)(2) Opinion of Linklaters regarding certain French tax matters
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 8.2 to the
Registration Statement on Form F-4 filed by Sanofi-Synthelabo
(File No. 333-112314))
--------------------
* Previously filed on Schedule TO dated April 12, 2004.
** Previously filed on Amendment No. 1 to the Schedule TO dated April 20,
2004.
*** Previously filed on Amendment No. 2 to the Schedule TO dated April 26,
2004.
**** Previously filed on Amendment No. 4 to the Schedule TO dated May 28,
2004.