Sanofi intends to sell its equity investment in Regeneron; confirms no change to ongoing collaboration

PARIS - May 25, 2020 – Sanofi today announced its intent to sell its equity investment in Regeneron (NASDAQ: REGN) through a registered public offering and related share repurchase by Regeneron. The registered offering and share repurchase will have no impact on the ongoing collaboration between Sanofi and Regeneron.

A preliminary prospectus supplement relating to the offering of Regeneron’s shares will be filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Sanofi currently holds approximately 23.2 million shares of Regeneron’s common stock, representing approximately 20.6% ownership.

Regeneron has agreed to repurchase $5 billion of its stock from Sanofi conditional on completion of the proposed public offering. If the offering and repurchase are completed and the underwriters fully exercise their option to purchase additional shares¹, Sanofi will continue to own approximately 400,000 shares of Regeneron’s common stock, which Sanofi is retaining in support of the ongoing collaboration with Regeneron.

“Sanofi and Regeneron’s collaboration has been one of the most productive in the industry, creating significant value for both companies but more importantly, resulting in five important medicines for patients. Sanofi remains committed to continuing our collaboration with Regeneron which remains an integral part of our overall strategy, and this decision was fully aligned with Regeneron, said Paul Hudson, Chief Executive Officer, Sanofi. “The decision to divest our holdings is consistent with our efforts to enhance value creation for our shareholders. We believe the proceeds from this transaction will help further our ability to execute on our strategy to drive innovation and growth.”

Following completion of the proposed public offering and share repurchase, Sanofi will discontinue accounting for its ownership in Regeneron’s common shares under the equity method. After restatement of Sanofi previously reported non-GAAP indicator (Business Net Income) and change of its definition to exclude the effect of equity method accounting for Regeneron investment, Sanofi business EPS is expected to grow by approximately +5% in 2020 at constant exchange rate compared to 2019 restated business EPS of €5.64, which is in line with Sanofi’s 2020 business EPS growth guidance.

The Companies have had a successful and long-standing clinical and commercial collaboration dating back to 2003 that has resulted in five approved treatments to date with additional candidates currently in clinical development. Sanofi originally purchased a shareholding in Regeneron in 2004. Sanofi’s decision to sell its Regeneron common shares was made in consultation with Regeneron and the contemplated structure will allow both companies to achieve their mutual objectives.

The transaction has been approved by Sanofi and Regeneron’s Boards of Directors.

The public offering will occur simultaneously in the United States and internationally through underwriters led by BofA Securities and Goldman Sachs as joint book-running managers. 

The shares offered to the public are being offered pursuant to an existing effective shelf registration statement (including a base prospectus) that has been filed by Regeneron with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").  A preliminary prospectus supplement relating to and describing the terms of the offering will be filed by Regeneron with the SEC and will be available on the SEC website at www.sec.gov.  Alternatively, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange to send you the prospectus and the prospectus supplement, when available, if you request them by contacting: (1) BofA Securities, NC1-004-03-43, 200 North College Street, 3rd Floor, Charlotte, NC 28255-0001, Attention: Prospectus Department or by email at dg.prospectus_requests@bofa.com, or (2) Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC, Attention: Prospectus Department, 200 West Street, New York, New York 10282, via telephone: 1-866-471-2526, or via email: prospectus-ny@ny.email.gs.com.

This press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy the securities described herein, nor shall there be any offer or sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.