Sanofi Seeks to Grow OTC Consumer Healthcare Platform in the U.S. with $1.9 Billion Chattem Buy

SUGAR LAND--December 23, 2009--Reported by Annette Kreuger, Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--In the spirit of the current era of industry growth through mergers and acquisitions, drug giant sanofi-aventis (NYSE:SNY) (Paris, France) is set to buy Chattanooga, Tennessee, consumer healthcare company Chattem Incorporated (NASDAQ:CHTT) for $1.9 billion. While sanofi already has a successful international over-the-counter (OTC) and consumer brand business (non-prescription), the company has no direct presence in the United States. This will change with the acquisition of Chattem, a leading OTC and consumer healthcare product manufacturer.