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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 18, 2011

Registration No. 333-172638

 

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

Amendment No.1

to

Form F-4

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 

 

SANOFI-AVENTIS

(Exact name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

 

 

 

France		2834		133529324
(Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)		(Primary Standard Industrial Classification Code Number)		(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

174, avenue de France

75013 Paris, France

Tel. No.: 33-1-53-77-43-03

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of Registrant’s principal executive offices)

 

 

Gregory Irace

Chief Executive Officer

Sanofi-Aventis US LLC

55 Corporate Drive

Bridgewater, New Jersey 08807

Tel. No. +1 (908) 981-6800

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 

 

Copies to:

 

Karen Linehan Senior Vice President Legal Affairs and General Counsel sanofi-aventis 174, avenue de France 75013 Paris, France Telephone: +33 1 53 77 40 00		Michael J. Aiello, Esq. Jaclyn L. Cohen, Esq. Weil Gotshal & Manges LLP 767 Fifth Avenue New York, New York 10153 (212) 310-8000

Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: March 7, 2011.

If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

If applicable, place an X in the box to designate the appropriate rule provision relied upon in conducting this transactions:

Exchange Act Rule 13e-4(i) (Cross-Border Issuer Tender Offer)  ¨

Exchange Act Rule 14d-1(d) (Cross-Border Third-Party Tender Offer)  ¨

 

 

 

The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, or until this Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.

 

 

 

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DATED MARCH 18, 2011

The information in this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) is declared effective. This Prospectus/Offer to Exchange is not an offer to sell these securities, and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities, in any jurisdiction where the exchange offer or sale of these securities is not permitted.

Offer To Exchange Each Outstanding Share of Common Stock

of

GENZYME CORPORATION

for

$74.00 Net Per Share and One Contingent Value Right

by

GC MERGER CORP.

a wholly-owned subsidiary of

SANOFI-AVENTIS

GC Merger Corp., a Massachusetts corporation (“Purchaser”) and a direct wholly-owned subsidiary of sanofi-aventis, a French société anonyme (“Parent”), is offering to exchange each of the issued and outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.01 (the “Shares”), of Genzyme Corporation, a Massachusetts corporation (“Genzyme”), for (i) $74.00 in cash, less any applicable withholding for taxes and without interest (the “Cash Consideration”), and (ii) one contingent value right (each, a “CVR,” and, together with the Cash Consideration, the “Merger Consideration”), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange and in the related Letter of Transmittal (which collectively, as each may be amended or supplemented from time to time, constitute the “Exchange Offer”). Parent will not issue fractional CVRs in the transaction. Instead, the number of CVRs to be received by a Genzyme shareholder in exchange for that shareholder’s Shares will, after aggregating all fractional CVRs to which that shareholder is entitled, be rounded to the nearest whole number.

The Exchange Offer is being made pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of February 16, 2011, by and among Parent, Purchaser and Genzyme (the “Merger Agreement”). Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, after the Exchange Offer is completed, subject to the approval of Genzyme’s shareholders if required by applicable law, Purchaser will merge with and into Genzyme (the “Merger”). The board of directors of Genzyme (the “Genzyme Board”) has unanimously (i) determined that the Merger Agreement, the Exchange Offer and the Merger are in the best interests of Genzyme, (ii) adopted the Merger Agreement, (iii) approved the Exchange Offer and the Merger, (iv) directed that the Merger Agreement be submitted to the shareholders of Genzyme for approval, if required by applicable law, and (v) consented to the Exchange Offer and resolved to recommend acceptance of the Exchange Offer and approval of the Merger Agreement by the shareholders. The Genzyme Board unanimously recommends that Genzyme shareholders accept the Exchange Offer by tendering their Shares into the Exchange Offer.

Purchaser’s obligation to accept for exchange, and to exchange, Shares for the Merger Consideration is conditioned upon: (i) there having been validly tendered in the Exchange Offer and not properly withdrawn that number of Shares that, together with the number of Shares, if any, then owned beneficially by Parent and Purchaser (together with their wholly-owned subsidiaries), constitutes at least a majority of the total number of then-outstanding Shares on a fully diluted basis (the “Minimum Tender Condition”); (ii) (a) a registration statement on Form F-4 to register the CVRs (the “Registration Statement”) having been declared effective and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement being in effect and no proceedings for that purpose having been initiated or threatened in writing by the SEC, (b) the CVRs being issued in the Exchange Offer and the Merger having been approved for listing (subject, if applicable, to notice of issuance) for trading on the Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”) (or such other exchange(s), electronic trading networks or other suitable trading platforms as are mutually agreed by Parent and Genzyme), and (c) a contingent value rights agreement to be entered into between Parent and a trustee mutually acceptable to Parent and Genzyme (the “CVR Agreement”) having been duly executed and delivered by Parent and the trustee and being in full force and effect (the “CVR Condition”); and (iii) the other conditions described in the section of this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange entitled “The Exchange Offer—Conditions of the Exchange Offer” beginning on page 67 having been satisfied.

This Prospectus/Offer to Exchange amends and supersedes in its entirety information included in the Offer to Purchase filed with the SEC on October 4, 2010 (the “Prior Offer”).

THE EXCHANGE OFFER AND THE WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 11:59 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON FRIDAY, APRIL 1, 2011, (THE “EXPIRATION DATE”), UNLESS EXTENDED. SHARES TENDERED PURSUANT TO THE EXCHANGE OFFER MAY BE WITHDRAWN AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER, BUT NOT DURING ANY SUBSEQUENT OFFERING PERIOD.

Parent’s American Depositary Receipts trade on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbol “SNY.” Genzyme common stock trades on Nasdaq under the symbol “GENZ.”

FOR A DISCUSSION OF RISKS AND OTHER FACTORS THAT YOU SHOULD CONSIDER IN CONNECTION WITH THE EXCHANGE OFFER, PLEASE CAREFULLY READ THE SECTION OF THIS PROSPECTUS/OFFER TO EXCHANGE ENTITLED “RISK FACTORS” BEGINNING ON PAGE 17.

Neither Parent nor Purchaser has authorized any person to provide any information or to make any representation in connection with the Exchange Offer other than the information contained or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange, and if any person provides any of this information or makes any representation of this kind, that information or representation must not be relied upon as having been authorized by Parent or Purchaser.

PARENT IS NOT ASKING YOU FOR A PROXY AND YOU ARE REQUESTED NOT TO SEND A PROXY TO PARENT.

Neither the SEC nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 

The Information Agent for the Exchange Offer is:   105 Madison Avenue New York, New York 10016 (212) 929-5500 (Call Collect) or (800) 322-2885 (Toll Free) Email: tenderoffer@mackenziepartners.com		The Dealer Manager for the Exchange Offer is:   J.P. Morgan Securities LLC 383 Madison Avenue New York, New York 10179 (877) 371-5947 (Toll Free)

 

The date of this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange is March 18, 2011

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SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This Prospectus/Offer to Exchange incorporates by reference information, including important business and financial information about Parent and Genzyme from other documents that Parent and Genzyme have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). For a listing of documents incorporated by reference in this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange, please see the section entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.” This information is available for you to review at the SEC’s public reference room located at 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580, Washington, DC 20549, and through the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. You can obtain any of the documents filed by Parent or Genzyme, as the case may be, with the SEC from the SEC or, without cost, from the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. You may obtain documents filed with the SEC or documents incorporated by reference in this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange free of cost, by directing a written or oral request to the appropriate company at:

 

Genzyme Corporation 500 Kendall Street Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142 Attention: Shareholder Relations (617) 252-7500		sanofi-aventis 174, avenue de France 75013 Paris, France Attention: Investor Relations Telephone: +33 1 53 77 45 45

IN ORDER TO RECEIVE TIMELY DELIVERY OF THE DOCUMENTS, GENZYME SHAREHOLDERS MUST MAKE SUCH REQUEST NO LATER THAN MARCH 25, 2011, OR FIVE BUSINESS DAYS BEFORE THE EXPIRATION OF THE OFFER TO EXCHANGE, WHICHEVER IS LATER.

Please see “Where You Can Find More Information” on page 95.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

SUMMARY			1
SELECTED HISTORICAL CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA OF PARENT			11
SELECTED EXCHANGE RATE INFORMATION			13
SELECTED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL DATA OF GENZYME			14
SELECTED GENZYME PRICE AND DIVIDEND INFORMATION			16
RISK FACTORS			17
THE COMPANIES			22
Parent			22
Purchaser			22
Genzyme			22
BACKGROUND AND REASONS FOR THE MERGER			23
Background of the Merger			23
Reasons for the Merger			39
THE MERGER AGREEMENT			41
The Exchange Offer			41
Dissenting Shares			44
Representations and Warranties of the Parties in the Merger Agreement			45
Conduct of Business Pending the Closing of the Merger			45
No Solicitation of Acquisition Proposals; Board Recommendation			46
Employee Benefit Matters			47
Director’s and Officer’s Indemnification and Insurance			48
Further Action; Efforts			49
Other Agreements of the Parties			50
Conditions to Closing of the Merger			50
Termination of the Merger Agreement			50
Amendments			52
Specific Enforcement			52
THE EXCHANGE OFFER			53
Introduction			53
Expiration of the Exchange Offer			54
Extension, Termination and Amendment			55
Acceptance for Exchange and Exchange of Genzyme Shares; Delivery of CVRs			56
Fractional CVRs			57
Procedure for Tendering			57
Withdrawal Rights			60
Announcement of Results of the Exchange Offer			61
Certain United States Federal Income Tax Consequences			61
French Withholding Tax			63
Statutory Requirements; Approval of the Merger			63
Short-Form Merger			64
Appraisal/Dissenters’ Rights			64
Plans for Genzyme			64
Effect of the Exchange Offer on the Market for Shares; Nasdaq Listing; Registration under the Exchange Act; Margin Regulations			65
Conditions of the Exchange Offer			67
Financing of the Exchange Offer; Source and Amount of Funds			69
Certain Legal Matters; Regulatory Approvals			70
Interests of Executive Officers and Directors of Parent in the Exchange Offer			78

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Interests of Executive Officers and Directors of Genzyme in the Exchange Offer			78
Certain Relationships with Genzyme and Interests of Parent and Purchaser in the Exchange Offer			78
Fees and Expenses			79
Accounting Treatment			80
DESCRIPTION OF THE CVRS			81
CVR Agreement			81
Trust Indenture Act			81
Characteristics of the CVRs			81
Production Milestone, Approval Milestone and Product Sales Milestone Payments			81
Payment Dates			82
Issuance of CVRs			82
Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen CVRs			82
Cancellation of CVRs			83
Transferability of CVRs; Listing			83
Registration and Transfers			83
Selected Definitions Related to the CVR Agreement			83
Ranking			85
Reporting Obligations			85
Audit			85
Efforts to Achieve Milestones			86
Covenants			86
Breach			87
Amendment of CVR Agreement without Consent of CVR Holders			88
Amendment of CVR Agreement with Consent of CVR Holders			88
Purchases by Parent and Affiliates			88
Parent Purchase and Cancellation Right Upon CVR Failure Event			89
Limitations on Suits by Holders			89
Unconditional Right of Holders to Institute Certain Suits			90
Control by Holders; Removal of Trustee			90
BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SHARES			91
FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS			93
VALIDITY OF SECURITIES			94
ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES UNDER THE UNITED STATES FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS			94
EXPERTS			94
MISCELLANEOUS			94
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION			95
SCHEDULE I: DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF PURCHASER, PARENT AND CERTAIN RELATED PERSONS			I-1
ANNEX A: AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER			A-1
ANNEX B: FORM OF CVR AGREEMENT			B-1

 

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE EXCHANGE OFFER AND THE MERGER

The following questions and answers highlight selected information from this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange and may not contain all the information that is important to you. We encourage you to read this entire document carefully.

As used in this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange, unless otherwise indicated or the context requires, “Parent” or “sanofi-aventis” refers to Parent and its consolidated subsidiaries, “Purchaser” refers to GC Merger Corp., “we,” “us” and “our” refers to Parent and Purchaser, as the context indicates, and “Genzyme” refers to Genzyme Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries.

Who is offering to buy my shares of Genzyme common stock?

This offer to exchange (this “Exchange Offer”) is made by GC Merger Corp. (“Purchaser”), a Massachusetts corporation and direct wholly-owned subsidiary of sanofi-aventis (“Parent”), a French société anonyme. Purchaser was incorporated on July 29, 2010, was organized by sanofi-aventis to acquire Genzyme and has not conducted any unrelated activities since its organization. All outstanding shares of the capital stock of Purchaser are owned by sanofi-aventis. Purchaser’s principal executive offices are located at 55 Corporate Drive, Bridgewater, New Jersey 08807 and its telephone number at that address is (908) 981-5000.

Is there an agreement governing the Exchange Offer?

Yes. On February 16, 2011, sanofi-aventis and Purchaser entered into an agreement and plan of merger (the “Merger Agreement”) with Genzyme as a means to acquire all of the outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.01, of Genzyme (the “Shares”). Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, after the Exchange Offer is completed, subject to the approval of Genzyme’s shareholders if required by applicable law, Purchaser will merge with and into Genzyme (the “Merger”).

Does Genzyme’s board of directors support your offer?

Yes. The board of directors of Genzyme (the “Genzyme Board”) has unanimously (i) determined that the Merger Agreement, the Exchange Offer and the Merger are in the best interests of Genzyme, (ii) adopted the Merger Agreement, (iii) approved the Exchange Offer and the Merger, (iv) directed that the Merger Agreement be submitted to the shareholders of Genzyme for approval, if required by applicable law, and (v) consented to the Exchange Offer and resolved to recommend acceptance of the Exchange Offer and approval of the Merger Agreement by the shareholders of Genzyme.

The Genzyme Board recommends that Genzyme shareholders accept the Exchange Offer by tendering their Shares into the Exchange Offer.

Information about the recommendation of Genzyme’s Board of Directors is more fully described in Genzyme’s Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9, which is being mailed to Genzyme shareholders together with this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange and is incorporated herein by reference.

What will I receive for my Shares?

In exchange for each Share that you validly tender and do not withdraw before the expiration date of the Exchange Offer, you will receive (i) $74.00 in cash, less any applicable withholding for taxes and without interest (the “Cash Consideration”) and (ii) one contingent value right (each, a “CVR,” and, together with the Cash Consideration, the “Merger Consideration”), upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange and in the related Letter of Transmittal (which collectively, as each may be amended or supplemented from time to time, constitute the “Exchange Offer”). Sanofi-aventis will not issue

 

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fractional CVRs in the transaction. Instead, the number of CVRs to be received by a Genzyme shareholder in exchange for that shareholder’s Shares will, after aggregating all fractional CVRs to which that shareholder is entitled, be rounded to the nearest whole number.

Please see the description of the consideration payable in the Exchange Offer and the Merger “The Merger Agreement—The Exchange Offer” and “Description of the CVRs—Characteristics of the CVRs.” Please also see “Risk Factors.”

What is the CVR in this transaction?

The CVR is a contingent value right that will be issued as part of the total transaction consideration to Genzyme shareholders. In addition to receiving $74 in cash per Share, Genzyme shareholders will receive one CVR for each Share tendered in the Exchange Offer or exchanged in the Merger.

Each CVR represents the right of its holder to receive certain defined payments upon the achievement of a specified milestone related to Cerezyme and Fabrazyme production and milestones related to the regulatory approval of and net sales of Lemtrada.

What payments will be made on the CVRs?

A holder of a CVR is entitled to cash payments upon the achievement of certain milestones, based on production levels of Cerezyme^® and Fabrazyme^®, U.S. regulatory approval of Lemtrada™ (alemtuzumab for treatment of multiple sclerosis), and on achievement of certain aggregate net sales thresholds, pursuant to the terms of a Contingent Value Rights Agreement to be entered into between sanofi-aventis and a trustee mutually agreed upon between the parties (the “CVR Agreement”), as follows:

 

•

Cerezyme/Fabrazyme Production Milestone Payment. $1 per CVR, if both Cerezyme production meets or exceeds 734,600 400 Unit Vial Equivalents and Fabrazyme production meets or exceeds 79,000 35-milligram Vial Equivalents (each such measurement is defined at “Description of the CVRs—Selected Definitions Related to the CVR Agreement”) during calendar year 2011 (the “Production Milestone”).

 

•

Approval Milestone Payment. $1 per CVR upon receipt by Genzyme or any of its affiliates, on or before March 31, 2014, of the approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of Lemtrada for treatment of multiple sclerosis (the “Approval Milestone”).

 

•

Product Sales Milestone #1 Payment. $2 per CVR if Lemtrada net sales post launch exceed an aggregate of $400 million within specified periods per territory (“Product Sales Milestone #1”).

 

•

Product Sales Milestone #2 Payment. $3 per CVR upon the first instance in which global Lemtrada net sales for a four calendar quarter period are equal to or in excess of $1.8 billion. If Product Sales Milestone #2 is achieved but the Approval Milestone is not achieved prior to March 31, 2014, the milestone payment amount will be $4 per CVR (however, in such event the Approval Milestone shall not also be payable) (“Product Sales Milestone #2”).

 

•

Product Sales Milestone #3 Payment. $4 per CVR upon the first instance in which global Lemtrada net sales for a four calendar quarter period are equal to or in excess of $2.3 billion (except that no quarter in which global Lemtrada net sales were used to determine the achievement of Product Sales Milestone #1 or #2 shall be included in the calculation of net sales for determining whether Product Sales Milestone #3 has been achieved) (“Product Sales Milestone #3”).

 

•

Product Sales Milestone #4 Payment. $3 per CVR upon the first instance in which global Lemtrada net sales for a four calendar quarter period are equal to or in excess of $2.8 billion (except that no quarter in which global Lemtrada net sales were used to determine the achievement of Product Sales Milestone #1, #2 or #3 shall be included in the calculation of net sales for determining whether Product Sales Milestone #4 has been achieved) (“Product Sales Milestone #4,” and collectively with “Product Sales Milestone #1,” “Product Sales Milestone #2” and “Product Sales Milestone #3,” the “Product Sales Milestones”).

 

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No payments will be due under the CVR Agreement for any milestones achieved after the earlier of (a) December 31, 2020 and (b) the date that Product Sales Milestone #4 is paid.

Will the CVRs be tradeable and if so, where?

Yes, the CVR will be a tradeable security and is expected to be listed on the Nasdaq Capital Market.

Can I sell a CVR in the market as soon as I receive it?

Yes, each CVR holder has the right to sell his or her CVRs at any time.

Will I have to pay any fee or commission to exchange Shares?

If you are the record owner of your Shares and you tender your Shares in the Exchange Offer, you will not have to pay any brokerage fees or similar expenses or, except as otherwise provided in Instruction 6 of the Letter of Transmittal, stock transfer taxes, with respect to the exchange of Shares by Purchaser pursuant to the Exchange Offer. If you own your Shares “in street name” through a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee and your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee tenders your Shares on your behalf, your broker or such other nominee may charge a fee for doing so. You should consult your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to determine whether any charges will apply.

What are the benefits of an acquisition of Genzyme by sanofi-aventis?

Sanofi-aventis believes that the $74.00 per Share cash component of the Merger Consideration provides Genzyme shareholders with a definite return on their investment, and a premium of approximately 48% to the unaffected Share price of $49.86 on July 1, 2010, the day prior to press speculation regarding sanofi-aventis’ plans to acquire a significant U.S. biotechnology company, and a premium of approximately 41% to the volume-weighted average price of $52.67 for the one-month period ending July 22, 2010, the day prior to reports by certain press outlets that sanofi-aventis had made an informal acquisition approach to Genzyme. In addition, through the CVR, Genzyme shareholders have the opportunity to participate in any future success of Lemtrada and the production in 2011 of both Cerezyme and Fabrazyme.

Sanofi-aventis also believes that the acquisition of Genzyme will create a meaningful new growth platform in biologics and rare diseases. The acquisition expands sanofi-aventis’ footprint in biotechnology, increases sanofi-aventis’ presence in the U.S., and brings a complementary set of businesses that will round out sanofi-aventis’ product portfolio and research and development pipeline. By significantly contributing to sanofi-aventis’ goal of sustainable earnings growth, the acquisition of Genzyme will drive significant long-term value for sanofi-aventis shareholders.

What is the “Top-Up Option” and when will it be exercised?

Genzyme has granted to Purchaser an irrevocable option (the “Top-Up Option”), for so long as the Merger Agreement has not been terminated, to purchase, at a price per Share equal to the greater of (i) the closing price of a Share on Nasdaq the last trading day prior to the exercise of the Top-Up Option or (ii) the Cash Consideration, that number of newly issued Shares equal to the lowest number of Shares that, when added to the number of Shares owned by Purchaser at the time of exercise of the Top-Up Option, would constitute one Share more than 90% of all outstanding Shares. Purchaser will exercise the Top-Up Option if it owns in the aggregate at least 75% of all Shares then outstanding, and if after giving effect to the exercise of the Top-Up Option, Purchaser would own in the aggregate one Share more than 90% of the number of outstanding Shares. Please see “The Merger Agreement—The Exchange Offer—Top-Up Option.”

 

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What will happen to my employee stock options, restricted stock and/or restricted stock units in the Exchange Offer?

The Merger Agreement provides that each stock option to acquire a Share (other than through the Genzyme 2009 Employee Stock Purchase Plan (the “ESPP”)) (“Option”) that is outstanding, unvested and has an exercise price that is equal to or greater than the Cash Consideration will vest in full on March 14, 2011 (five business days after the date on which Purchaser amended the Prior Offer).

At the time of acceptance by Purchaser of valid tenders after the expiration of the Exchange Offer (the “Acceptance Time”), (i) each outstanding Option, whether or not vested, with an exercise price that is less than the Cash Consideration will be canceled and, in exchange therefor, each former holder of each such cancelled Option will be entitled to receive, for each Share subject to such Option, (a) a cash payment equal to the difference between the Cash Consideration and the exercise price of the Option, less any applicable withholding taxes and without interest, and (b) one CVR, and (ii) each outstanding Option, whether or not vested, with an exercise price that is equal to or greater than the Cash Consideration will be canceled, without any consideration therefor. Such payments, if any, shall be made as promptly as practicable following the Acceptance Time, but not later than ten business days after such date.

The Merger Agreement provides that at the Acceptance Time of the Exchange Offer, each outstanding Share of Genzyme restricted stock (“Restricted Stock”) and each outstanding Genzyme restricted stock unit (“RSU”) will vest in full, if unvested. At the Acceptance Time, each outstanding Share of Restricted Stock and each Share subject to an outstanding RSU will be canceled, and in each case, will be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration, less any applicable withholding taxes and without interest. Payment of the Merger Consideration will be made as promptly as practicable following the Acceptance Time, but not later than ten business days after such date.

Please see “The Merger Agreement—The Exchange Offer—Treatment of Options, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units and Employee Stock Purchase Plan Shares.”

Will holders of Shares be subject to United States federal income tax on the cash and CVRs received in the Exchange Offer or the Merger?

The exchange of Shares for cash and CVRs pursuant to the Exchange Offer or the Merger will be a taxable transaction for United States federal income tax purposes.

For more information regarding the amount and timing of any income, gain or loss, please see “The Exchange Offer—Certain United States Federal Income Tax Consequences.”

All holders of Shares should contact their own tax advisors to determine the particular tax consequences to them of exchanging Shares pursuant to the Exchange Offer and/or the Merger, including the application and effect of any state, local, foreign or other tax laws.

What are the most significant conditions of the Exchange Offer?

The Exchange Offer is conditioned upon, among other things:

 

•

Minimum Tender Condition. There having been validly tendered in the Exchange Offer and not properly withdrawn that number of Shares that, together with the number of Shares, if any, then owned beneficially by sanofi-aventis and Purchaser (together with their wholly-owned subsidiaries), constitutes at least a majority of the total number of then-outstanding Shares on a fully diluted basis (the “Minimum Tender Condition”).

 

•

CVR Condition. The Registration Statement having been declared effective and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement being in effect and no proceedings for that purpose having been initiated or threatened in writing by the SEC, the CVRs being issued in the Exchange Offer

 

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and the Merger having been approved for listing (subject, if applicable, to notice of issuance) for trading on Nasdaq (or such other exchange(s), electronic trading networks or other suitable trading platforms as are mutually agreed by sanofi-aventis and Genzyme), and the CVR Agreement having been duly executed and delivered by sanofi-aventis and the trustee and being in full force and effect (collectively the “CVR Condition”).

The Merger Agreement also contains other customary closing conditions of the Exchange Offer and the Merger. Please see the sections of this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange entitled “The Exchange Offer—Conditions of the Exchange Offer” and “The Merger Agreement—Conditions to Closing of the Merger.”

How long will it take to complete the proposed transaction?

We expect to complete the transaction in the second quarter of 2011.

If Purchaser acquires, pursuant to the Exchange Offer and the Top-Up Option, at least 90% of the outstanding Shares, Purchaser will be able to effect the Merger without a vote of Genzyme’s shareholders.

In the event Purchaser does not acquire at least 90% of the outstanding Shares pursuant to the Exchange Offer or otherwise and a vote of Genzyme’s shareholders is required under Massachusetts law, a significantly longer period of time would be required to effect the Merger. In such event, Genzyme will call and hold a meeting of Genzyme shareholders as promptly as reasonably practicable for the purpose of obtaining approval of the Merger by Genzyme shareholders. Any solicitation of proxies from Genzyme shareholders to approve the Merger will be made only pursuant to separate proxy materials complying with the requirements of the rules and regulations of the SEC. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Genzyme has agreed to convene a meeting of its shareholders promptly following consummation of the Exchange Offer to consider and vote on the Merger Agreement, if a shareholders’ vote is required, and sanofi-aventis and Purchaser have agreed to vote all Shares owned by them or any of their subsidiaries (including Shares acquired by Purchaser in the Exchange Offer or otherwise) in favor of the Merger.

Does sanofi-aventis have the financial resources to complete the Exchange Offer and the Merger?

Yes. Purchaser estimates that it will need approximately $21 billion to purchase all of the Shares pursuant to the Exchange Offer, to make payments in respect of outstanding in-the-money Options, RSUs and Share purchase rights and to consummate the Merger, plus related fees and expenses. Sanofi-aventis has entered into a facilities agreement with BNP Paribas, J.P. Morgan plc and Société Générale Corporate and Investment Banking (subsequently syndicated) pursuant to which credit institutions participating in the syndicate have committed to provide term loan credit facilities to sanofi-aventis in the aggregate amount of up to $15 billion in connection with the Exchange Offer and the Merger (the “Acquisition Facility”). Sanofi-aventis expects to contribute or otherwise advance funds to enable Purchaser to consummate the Exchange Offer. Sanofi-aventis expects, based upon the combination of internally available cash, debt securities issuance under existing programs and/or borrowings under the Acquisition Facility (as described at “The Exchange Offer—Financing of the Exchange Offer; Source and Amount of Funds”), to have sufficient cash on hand at the expiration of the Exchange Offer to pay the Cash Consideration for Shares tendered in the Exchange Offer and to provide funding for the Merger.

The Exchange Offer and the Merger are not subject to a financing condition.

Please see “The Exchange Offer—Financing of the Exchange Offer; Source and Amount of Funds.”

When does the Exchange Offer expire? Can the Exchange Offer be extended and, if so, under what circumstances?

The Exchange Offer is scheduled to expire at 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on April 1, 2011, which is the initial expiration date, unless further extended by Purchaser.

 

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Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, under certain circumstances, Purchaser must extend the Exchange Offer from time to time until the termination of the Merger Agreement in accordance with its terms. For instance, the Exchange Offer must be extended, subject to certain exceptions, if any of the conditions specified in “The Exchange Offer—Conditions of the Exchange Offer” are not satisfied prior to the then-scheduled expiration date of the Exchange Offer. The Purchaser will not be required to extend the Exchange Offer beyond August 16, 2011. Purchaser may also elect to provide a “subsequent offering period” for the Exchange Offer. A subsequent offering period would not be an extension of the Exchange Offer. Rather, a subsequent offering period would be an additional period of time, beginning after Purchaser has accepted for exchange all Shares tendered during the Exchange Offer, during which shareholders who did not tender their Shares in the Exchange Offer may tender their Shares and receive the same consideration provided in the Exchange Offer. We do not currently intend to include a subsequent offering period, although we reserve the right to do so.

For more information on extensions of the Exchange Offer, please see “The Exchange Offer—Extension, Termination and Amendment.”

How will I be notified if the Exchange Offer is extended?

Purchaser has retained Computershare Trust Company, N.A. to be the Exchange Agent in connection with the Exchange Offer and the Merger. If we extend the Exchange Offer, we will inform the Exchange Agent of any extension and will issue a press release announcing the extension not later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next business day after the day on which the Exchange Offer was scheduled to expire.

If we elect to provide a subsequent offering period, a public announcement of such determination will be made no later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next business day following the expiration date.

Any decision to extend the Exchange Offer will be made public by an announcement regarding such extension as described under “The Exchange Offer—Extension, Termination and Amendment.”

How do I tender my Shares?

If you hold your Shares directly as the registered owner, you can tender your Shares in the Exchange Offer by delivering the certificates representing your Shares, together with a completed and signed Letter of Transmittal and any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal, to the Exchange Agent, not later than the date and time the Exchange Offer expires. The Letter of Transmittal is enclosed with this Offer to Purchase.

If you hold your Shares in “street name” through a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, the institution that holds your Shares can tender your Shares on your behalf, and may be able to tender your Shares through the Exchange Agent. You should contact the institution that holds your Shares for more details.

If you are unable to deliver everything that is required to tender your Shares to the Exchange Agent by the expiration of the Exchange Offer, you may obtain a limited amount of additional time by having a broker, a bank or another fiduciary that is an eligible institution guarantee that the missing items will be received by the Exchange Agent by using the enclosed Notice of Guaranteed Delivery. To validly tender Shares in this manner, however, the Exchange Agent must receive the missing items within the time period specified in the notice.

For a complete discussion on the procedures for tendering your Shares, please see “The Exchange Offer—Procedure for Tendering.”

 

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Until what time can I withdraw tendered Shares?

You may withdraw previously tendered Shares at any time unless Purchaser has accepted the Shares for exchange pursuant to the Exchange Offer. Shares tendered during the subsequent offering period, if any, may not be withdrawn. For a complete discussion on the procedures for withdrawing your Shares, please see “The Exchange Offer—Withdrawal Rights.”

How do I withdraw previously tendered Shares?

To withdraw previously tendered Shares, you must deliver a written or facsimile notice of withdrawal with the required information to the Exchange Agent while you still have the right to withdraw. If you tendered Shares by giving instructions to a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, you must instruct the broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to arrange for the withdrawal of your Shares. For a complete discussion on the procedures for withdrawing your Shares, please see “The Exchange Offer—Withdrawal Rights.”

When and how will I receive the Merger Consideration in exchange for my tendered Shares?

Purchaser will exchange all validly tendered and not properly withdrawn Shares promptly after the expiration date of the Exchange Offer, subject to the terms thereof and the satisfaction or waiver of the conditions of the Exchange Offer, as set forth in “The Exchange Offer—Conditions of the Exchange Offer.” We will deliver the consideration for your validly tendered and not properly withdrawn Shares by depositing the Cash Consideration with the Exchange Agent and the CVRs with American Stock Transfer and Trust Company, LLC (the “Transfer Agent”). Both the Exchange Agent and the Transfer Agent will act as your agent for the purpose of receiving the Merger Consideration from us and transmitting such consideration to you. In all cases, an exchange of tendered Shares will be made only after timely receipt by the Exchange Agent of certificates for such Shares (or a confirmation of a book-entry transfer of such Shares as described in “The Exchange Offer—Procedure for Tendering”) and a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal and any other required documents for such Shares.

Are dissenters’ or appraisal rights available in either the Exchange Offer or the Merger?

No dissenters’ or appraisal rights are available to Genzyme shareholders in connection with the Exchange Offer.

Genzyme shareholders who do not vote “FOR” the Merger and who hold their Shares through the completion of the Merger are entitled to exercise their appraisal rights to have the fair value of their shares judicially determined pursuant to Part 13 of the Massachusetts Business Corporation Act (the “MBCA”) and paid to them in cash. Any Genzyme shareholder wishing to preserve such rights should carefully review Part 13 of the MBCA, which sets forth the procedures to be complied with in exercising and perfecting any such rights. Failure to strictly comply with the procedures set forth in Part 13 of the MBCA may result in the loss of any such appraisal rights to which such shareholder otherwise may be entitled. In light of the complexity of Part 13 of the MBCA, any Genzyme shareholders wishing to pursue appraisal rights under the MBCA with respect to the Merger should consult their legal advisors.

Please see “The Exchange Offer—Appraisal/Dissenters’ Rights.”

If I decide not to tender, how will the Exchange Offer affect my Shares?

If, pursuant to the Exchange Offer, we accept for payment and pay for at least that number of Shares that, when added to Shares then owned by sanofi-aventis, Purchaser or any of their wholly-owned subsidiaries,

 

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constitutes a majority of the outstanding Shares on a fully diluted basis, we currently intend, as soon as practicable after consummation of the Exchange Offer, to seek to have Genzyme consummate the Merger with Purchaser, pursuant to which each then outstanding Share not owned by sanofi-aventis or Purchaser (or our respective subsidiaries) or for which dissenters’ rights have been exercised would be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration.

Therefore, if the Exchange Offer and the Merger are consummated, the only difference to you between tendering your Shares and not tendering your Shares in the Exchange Offer is that you will be paid earlier if you tender your Shares in the Exchange Offer. However, if the Exchange Offer is consummated, but the Merger is not consummated, the number of Genzyme shareholders and the number of Shares that are still in the hands of the public may be so small that there will no longer be an active public trading market (or, possibly, there may not be any public trading market) for the Shares. Also, as described below, Genzyme may cease making filings with the SEC or otherwise may not be required to comply with the rules relating to publicly held companies. Please see “The Exchange Offer—Effect of the Exchange Offer on the Market for Shares; Nasdaq Listing; Registration under the Exchange Act; Margin Regulations.”

If a majority of the Shares are tendered and accepted for payment, will Genzyme continue as a public company?

If the Merger takes place, Genzyme will no longer be publicly owned. Even if the Merger does not take place, if we purchase all the tendered Shares, there may be so few remaining shareholders and publicly held Shares that the Shares will no longer be eligible to be traded on a securities exchange, there may not be a public trading market for the Shares, and Genzyme may cease making filings with the SEC or otherwise cease being required to comply with the SEC rules relating to publicly-held companies. Please see “The Exchange Offer—Effect of the Exchange Offer on the Market for Shares; Nasdaq Listing; Registration Under the Exchange Act; Margin Regulations”.

What is the market value of my Shares of Genzyme common stock as of a recent date?

On February 15, 2011, the last full day of trading before the public announcement of the Merger Agreement, the reported closing sales price of the Shares on Nasdaq was $74.30 per Share. On March 4, 2011, the last full day of trading before the amendment of our original offer to reflect the terms in the Exchange Offer, the reported closing sales price of the Shares on Nasdaq was $75.65 per Share. The Cash Consideration represents a premium of approximately 48% over the share price of $49.86 on July 1, 2010, the day prior to press speculation regarding sanofi-aventis’ plans to acquire a significant U.S. biotechnology company, and a premium of approximately 41% to the volume-weighted average price of $52.67 for the one-month period ending July 22, 2010, the day prior to reports by certain press outlets that sanofi-aventis had made an informal acquisition approach to Genzyme. Please see “Selected Genzyme Price and Dividend Information.” We encourage you to obtain a recent quotation for Shares of Genzyme common stock in deciding whether to tender your Shares.

Where can I find more information on sanofi-aventis and Genzyme?

You can find more information about sanofi-aventis and Genzyme from various sources described in the section of this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange entitled “Where You Can Find More Information.”

Whom can I talk to if I have questions about the Exchange Offer or the Merger?

You may call MacKenzie Partners, Inc., the information agent for the Exchange Offer (the “Information Agent”), at (800) 322-2885 (Toll Free) or (212) 929-5500 (Collect). Please see the back cover of this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange for additional contact information.

 

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RISK FACTORS

Before deciding whether to tender your Shares, you should carefully consider the risks related to the Exchange Offer and the CVRs described below, those described in the section entitled “Forward Looking Statements” and the other information contained in this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange and in Parent’s and Genzyme’s documents incorporated by reference herein, particularly the risk factors set forth therein, as set forth under “Where You Can Find More Information” (including the risk factors contained in Parent’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2010 and in Genzyme’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010). Because the Merger Consideration is partially comprised of CVRs, by tendering your Shares, you will be choosing to invest in the CVRs. The risks and uncertainties described below and incorporated by reference are not the only risks and uncertainties Parent may face. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to Parent, or risks that Parent currently considers immaterial could also negatively affect its business, results and operations. If any of the following risks actually occurs, Parent’s business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected, which could adversely affect the likelihood of any payments being made under the CVRs.

Risk Factors Relating to the Exchange Offer and the Merger

Genzyme will be subject to business uncertainties and contractual restrictions while the Exchange Offer and the Merger are pending.

Uncertainty about the effect of the Exchange Offer and the Merger on employees, producers, customers and other third parties may have an adverse effect on Genzyme and consequently on Parent. These uncertainties may impair Genzyme’s ability to retain and motivate key personnel until the Merger is completed and could cause customers and others that deal with Genzyme to defer purchases or other decisions concerning Genzyme or seek to change existing business relationships with Genzyme. If key employees depart because of uncertainty about their future roles or the potential complexities of integration, the combined company’s business following the Merger could be harmed.

In addition, the Merger Agreement restricts Genzyme from making certain acquisitions and taking other specified actions without the consent of Parent until the Merger occurs. These restrictions may prevent Genzyme from pursuing attractive business opportunities that may arise prior to the completion of the Merger. Please see the section entitled “The Merger Agreement—Conduct of Business Pending the Closing of the Merger” of this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange for a description of the restrictive covenants applicable to Genzyme.

Failure to complete the Exchange Offer and the Merger could negatively impact the Share price and the future business and financial results of Genzyme.

If the Exchange Offer and the Merger are not completed, the ongoing businesses of Genzyme may be adversely affected and, without realizing any of the benefits of having completed the Merger, Genzyme will be subject to a number of risks, including the following:

 

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Genzyme may be required to pay Parent a termination fee of $575 million if the Merger Agreement is terminated under certain circumstances, as described under “The Merger Agreement—Termination of the Merger Agreement—Termination Fees;”

 

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Genzyme will be required to pay its costs relating to the Exchange Offer if the Exchange Offer is not completed;

 

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under the Merger Agreement, Genzyme is subject to certain restrictions on the conduct of its business prior to completing the Merger which may affect its ability to execute certain of its business strategies; and

 

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matters relating to the Merger (including integration planning) may require substantial commitments of time and resources by Genzyme management, which could otherwise have been devoted to other opportunities that may have been beneficial to Genzyme as an independent company.

 

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In addition, Genzyme could be subject to litigation related to any failure to complete the Merger or related to any enforcement proceeding commenced against Genzyme to perform its obligations under the Merger Agreement. If the Merger is not completed, these risks may materialize and may adversely affect Genzyme’s business, financial results and market price of Genzyme common stock.

The transaction may adversely affect the liquidity and value of the Genzyme Shares not tendered.

If the Exchange Offer is completed but all Genzyme Shares are not tendered in the Exchange Offer, the number of shareholders and the number of Shares publicly held will be greatly reduced. As a result, the closing of the Exchange Offer could adversely affect the liquidity and market value of the remaining Genzyme Shares held by the public. In addition, following completion of the Exchange Offer, subject to the rules of Nasdaq, Genzyme may seek to delist the Genzyme Shares from Nasdaq. As a result of any such delisting, Genzyme Shares not tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer may become illiquid and may be of reduced value. See “The Exchange Offer—Plans for Genzyme.”

Genzyme’s executive officers and directors may have financial interests in the merger that are different from, or in addition to, the interests of Genzyme shareholders.

Executive officers and directors of Genzyme negotiated the terms of the Merger Agreement, and the Genzyme Board approved and recommended that Genzyme’s shareholders tender their Shares in the Exchange Offer. These executive officers and directors may have interests in the Exchange Offer and the Merger that are different from, or in addition to, those of Genzyme shareholders generally. These interests include, but are not limited to, the continued employment of certain executive officers of Genzyme by Parent, the treatment of equity awards held by directors and executive officers of Genzyme in the Merger (including the accelerated vesting of equity awards), the vesting and accelerated payment of certain benefits and the indemnification of former Genzyme directors and executive officers by Parent. In addition, pursuant to existing employment agreements, certain executive officers of Genzyme could receive substantial payments in connection with the Merger, and Genzyme could also be obligated to make gross-up payments to certain of those executives for the amount of certain taxes resulting from some of these payments. In considering these facts and the other information contained in this document, you should be aware of these interests. Please see “The Exchange Offer—Interests of Executive Officers and Directors of Genzyme in the Exchange Offer.”

The Merger Agreement limits Genzyme’s ability to pursue alternatives to the Merger.

The Merger Agreement provides that, subject to limited exceptions, Genzyme will not, and will cause its subsidiaries not to and will use reasonable best efforts to cause its representatives not to, directly or indirectly initiate, solicit, knowingly encourage (including by way of furnishing non-public information), knowingly facilitate or knowingly induce or take any other action designed to lead to, any inquiries or the making of any proposal that constitutes, or would reasonably be expected to lead to, the submission of any Acquisition Proposal (as defined below at “The Merger Agreement—No Solicitation of Acquisition Proposals; Board Recommendation”) or engage, enter into, continue or participate in any negotiations or discussions with respect thereto or furnish any non-public information concerning Genzyme and its subsidiaries to any person in connection with any Acquisition Proposal. The Merger Agreement also provides that Genzyme will be required to pay a termination fee of $575 million to Parent upon termination of the Merger Agreement under certain circumstances. These provisions might discourage a potential competing acquiror that might have an interest in acquiring all or a significant part of Genzyme from considering or proposing an acquisition even if it were prepared to pay consideration with a higher per Share price than the Merger Consideration, or might result in a potential competing acquiror proposing to pay a lower per Share price to acquire Genzyme than it might otherwise have proposed to pay.

 

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Risks Factors Related to the CVRs

You may not receive any payment on the CVRs.

Your right to receive any future payment on the CVRs will be contingent upon production levels of Cerezyme and Fabrazyme in 2011, the achievement by Parent and Genzyme of certain agreed upon milestones relating to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”) approval of Lemtrada for treatment of multiple sclerosis and achievement of net sales of Lemtrada in excess of the thresholds specified in the CVR Agreement within the time periods specified in the CVR Agreement. If the milestones specified in the CVR Agreement are not achieved for any reason within the time periods specified in the CVR Agreement, payments will not be made under the CVRs and the CVRs could expire valueless. Accordingly, the value, if any, of the CVRs is speculative, and the CVRs may ultimately have no value. See “Description of the CVRs.”

You will not be able to determine the amount of cash to be received under the CVRs until the achievement of certain agreed upon milestones which makes it difficult to value the CVRs.

If any payment is made on the CVR, it will not be made until the achievement of certain agreed upon milestones. As such, it may be difficult to value the CVRs, and accordingly it may be difficult or impossible for you to resell your CVRs.

The United States federal income tax treatment of the CVRs is unclear.

There is no legal authority directly addressing the United States federal income tax treatment of the CVRs. Accordingly, the amount, timing and character of any gain, income or loss with respect to the CVRs are uncertain. For example, it is possible that payments received with respect to a CVR, up to the amount of the holder’s adjusted tax basis in the CVR, may be treated as a non-taxable return of a holder’s adjusted tax basis in the CVR, with any amount received in excess of such basis treated as gain from the disposition of the CVR, or possibly another method of basis recovery may apply. Further, it is not clear whether payments made with respect to a CVR may be treated as payments with respect to a sale or exchange of a capital asset or as giving rise to ordinary income. A holder who does not sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of a CVR may not be able to recognize a loss with respect to the CVR until the holder’s right to receive CVR payments terminates. Although not entirely clear, a portion of any payment due more than six months following the consummation of the Exchange Offer or the Merger, as the case may be, with respect to a CVR may constitute imputed interest taxable as ordinary income under Section 483 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and Parent has agreed with Genzyme to determine imputed interest, if any, in accordance with Section 483 of the Code. See “The Exchange Offer—Certain United States Federal Income Tax Consequences.”

Any payments in respect of the CVRs rank at parity with Parent’s other indebtedness.

The CVRs will rank equal in right of payment to all existing and future unsecured unsubordinated indebtedness of Parent, and senior in right of payment to all subordinated indebtedness of Parent. The CVRs, however, will be effectively subordinated in right of payment to all of Parent’s secured obligations to the extent of the collateral securing such obligations. Additionally, the CVRs will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness, claims of holders of capital stock and other liabilities, including trade payables, of Parent’s subsidiaries.

As of December 31, 2010, on a combined basis (aggregating Parent and Genzyme and excluding any purchase price financing) Parent would have had no secured indebtedness and Parent’s subsidiaries would have had indebtedness of $2.1 billion.

An active public market for the CVRs may not develop or the CVRs may trade at low volumes, both of which could have an adverse effect on the resale price, if any, of the CVRs.

It is a condition to the Exchange Offer that the CVRs be approved for listing on Nasdaq or an other national securities exchange. However, there may be little or no market demand for the CVRs, making it difficult or impossible to resell the CVRs, which would have an adverse effect on the resale price, if any, of the CVRs.

 

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Holders of CVRs may incur brokerage charges in connection with the resale of the CVRs, which in some cases could exceed the proceeds realized by the holder from the resale of its CVRs. Neither Parent nor Genzyme can predict the price, if any, at which the CVRs will trade following the completion of the Merger.

Parent may repurchase the CVRs.

The CVR Agreement does not prohibit Parent or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates from acquiring the CVRs, whether in open market transactions, private transactions or otherwise, subject to requirements that Parent must publicly disclose the amount of CVRs it has been authorized to acquire and the amount it has acquired.

Parent may, under certain circumstances, purchase and cancel all of the outstanding CVRs.

Pursuant to the terms of the CVR Agreement, after the third anniversary of the product launch of Lemtrada, if the volume-weighted average CVR trading price over forty-five trading days is less than fifty cents and sales of Lemtrada in the prior four-quarter period are less than one billion dollars in the aggregate (a “Failure Purchase Eligibility Date”), Parent has the option to purchase and cancel all (but not less than all) of the outstanding CVRs at a cash redemption price equal to the volume-weighted average price paid per CVR for all CVRs traded over the forty-five trading days prior to the fifth trading day prior to the date of the notice of redemption. Neither Parent nor Genzyme can predict the price at which the CVRs may be purchased and cancelled by Parent in the future pursuant to these rights, if at all.

Because there has not been any public market for the CVRs, the market price and trading volume of the CVRs may be volatile.

Neither Parent nor Genzyme can predict the extent to which investor interest will lead to a liquid trading market in the CVRs or whether the market price of the CVRs will be volatile following the merger. The market price of the CVRs could fluctuate significantly for many reasons, including, without limitation:

 

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as a result of the risk factors listed in this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange;

 

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the inability of Genzyme to achieve Cerezyme and Fabrazyme production levels;

 

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the inability of Genzyme to obtain FDA approval of alemtuzumab for multiple sclerosis, or to sell Lemtrada at a volume and price level that will achieve the product sales milestones;

 

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for reasons unrelated to operating performance, such as reports by industry analysts, investor perceptions, or negative announcements by our customers or competitors regarding their own performance;

 

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legal or regulatory changes that could impact the business of Genzyme, or its ability to profitably sell Lemtrada; and

 

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general economic, securities markets and industry conditions.

Parent’s requirement to achieve the Lemtrada-related CVR milestones is based on “diligent efforts,” which allows for consideration of a variety of factors to determine the efforts Parent is required to take; accordingly, under certain circumstances Parent may not be required to take certain actions to achieve the Lemtrada-related CVR milestones, or may allocate resources to other projects, which would have an adverse effect on the value, if any, of the CVRs.

Parent has agreed to use diligent efforts, until the CVR Agreement is terminated, to achieve each of the Lemtrada-related CVR milestones. However, under the CVR Agreement, while the definition of “diligent efforts” does enumerate certain required actions, it allows for the consideration of a variety of factors in determining the efforts Parent is required to use to obtain regulatory approval for Lemtrada for treatment of MS and to sell Lemtrada, and it does not require Parent to take all possible actions to achieve these goals.

 

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The CVR Agreement defines “diligent efforts” as, with respect to a product, efforts of a person to carry out its obligations, and to cause its affiliates and licensees to carry out their respective obligations, using such efforts and employing such resources normally used by persons in the pharmaceutical business relating to the research, development or commercialization of a product, that is of similar market potential at a similar stage in its development or product life, taking into account issues of market exclusivity, product profile, including efficacy, safety, tolerability and convenience, the competitiveness of alternate products in the marketplace or under development, the availability of existing forms or dosages of alemtuzumab for other indications, the launch or sales of a biosimilar product, the regulatory environment and the profitability of the applicable product (including pricing and reimbursement status achieved) consistent with Parent’s publicly reported financial statements (assuming Parent will not treat royalty payments to Bayer Schering Pharma A.G. (“Bayer”) as an expense for purposes of this clause, or the achievement of milestones in such a manner, that would reduce the profitability of Lemtrada), and other relevant factors, including technical, commercial, legal, scientific and/or medical factors.

Risk Factors Relating to Parent’s Business

You should read and consider risk factors specific to Parent’s businesses that will also affect it after the acquisition, described in Item 3. Key Information – D. Risk Factors of Parent’s annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2010, which has been filed by Parent with the SEC and all of which are incorporated by reference into this document.

Risk Factors Relating to Genzyme’s Business

You should read and consider risk factors specific to Genzyme’s businesses that may also affect it after the acquisition, described in Part I, Item 1A of Genzyme’s annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010, which has been filed by Genzyme with the SEC and all of which are incorporated by reference into this document.

 

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THE COMPANIES

Parent

Parent is a société anonyme incorporated under the laws of France. Parent’s registered office is located at 174, avenue de France, 75013 Paris, France and its telephone number at that address is + 33 1 53 77 40 00. Parent’s principal U.S. subsidiary’s office is located at 55 Corporate Drive, Bridgewater, New Jersey 08807. The telephone number of Parent’s principal U.S. subsidiary’s office is (908) 981-5000. Parent is a diversified global healthcare leader focused on patient needs.

Purchaser

Purchaser is a Massachusetts corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent, incorporated on July 29, 2010. Purchaser was organized by Parent to acquire Genzyme and has not conducted any unrelated activities since its organization. All outstanding shares of the capital stock of Purchaser are owned by Parent. Purchaser’s principal executive offices are located at 55 Corporate Drive, Bridgewater, New Jersey 08807 and its telephone number at that address is (908)  981-5000.

Genzyme

Genzyme is a Massachusetts corporation with its principal offices located at 500 Kendall Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142. The telephone number for Genzyme is (617) 252-7500. Genzyme is a global biotechnology company that develops and distributes products and services focused on rare inherited disorders, kidney disease, orthopedics, cancer, transplant and immune disease. Genzyme has a substantial development program focused on these fields, as well as multiple sclerosis, cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative diseases, and other areas of unmet medical need.

 

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BACKGROUND AND REASONS FOR THE MERGER

Background of the Merger

Parent regularly considers various strategic transactions as part of its objective to be a leading diversified healthcare company focused on patient needs and its evaluation of ways in which it can enhance shareholder value.

Between February and May 2010, Parent’s management team considered and reviewed various potential options available to Parent to advance Parent’s strategic plan, including an acquisition of Genzyme. In connection with this review, they carefully analyzed Genzyme’s business and operations, including Genzyme’s manufacturing issues, based on publicly available information. During this period, Mr. Christopher A. Viehbacher, the Chief Executive Officer of Parent, periodically updated the Strategy Committee of Parent’s Board of Directors on the status of management’s review and, in particular, the strategic rationale for a potential acquisition of Genzyme. On May 17, 2010, Mr. Viehbacher advised the directors that he would contact Genzyme regarding a potential transaction.

On May 23, 2010, Mr. Viehbacher spoke with Mr. Henri A. Termeer, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Genzyme. They discussed Genzyme’s business and operations generally, as well as the manufacturing issues that Genzyme was facing. During the conversation, Mr. Viehbacher explained that he respected Genzyme’s achievements in treating rare diseases and its culture of innovation. Mr. Viehbacher explained that Parent was interested in discussing a potential transaction with Genzyme. Mr. Termeer responded that he was open to discussing a transaction between their two companies. After a brief discussion regarding a potential transaction, Mr. Termeer stated that, given the then-pending proxy contest with Carl Icahn, who was seeking to replace several of Genzyme’s directors, including Mr. Termeer at Genzyme’s annual shareholders’ meeting, scheduled for June 16, 2010, they should continue the conversation after the annual shareholders’ meeting. Mr. Viehbacher agreed and expressed to Mr. Termeer his support for Genzyme during the proxy contest, but reiterated that Parent was interested in exploring a potential transaction.

During the weeks following this call, Parent’s management team and Parent’s advisors continued to review Genzyme’s business and operations and to monitor the proxy contest and upcoming Genzyme annual shareholders’ meeting.

On June 9, 2010, Genzyme announced that it had reached a settlement with Carl Icahn. Pursuant to the settlement, the Genzyme Board appointed two directors designated by Mr. Icahn. Thereafter, on June 16, 2010, Genzyme held its annual meeting of shareholders. During an executive session of the Genzyme Board following the annual meeting, Mr. Termeer informed the members of the Board of the call that he had received from Mr. Viehbacher expressing Parent’s indication of interest in exploring a potential transaction with Genzyme.

At a regularly scheduled meeting of Parent’s Board of Directors on June 28, 2010, Mr. Viehbacher reviewed his May 23, 2010 conversation with Mr. Termeer and the results of the Genzyme annual shareholders’ meeting, including the settlement reached with Mr. Icahn. Mr. Viehbacher and the directors discussed the strategic rationale for an acquisition of Genzyme and the challenges being faced by Genzyme. Parent’s Board of Directors then considered the alternatives for moving forward with a potential transaction with Genzyme. After discussion, the Board of Directors agreed that Mr. Viehbacher should meet with Mr. Termeer in order to explore Genzyme’s interest in a potential transaction with Parent.

Later that day, Mr. Viehbacher called Mr. Termeer to set up a meeting as soon as possible to discuss a potential transaction. During the conversation, Mr. Viebacher again explained to Mr. Termeer that Parent had carefully analyzed Genzyme’s business and operations, based on publicly available information, and was interested in exploring a potential transaction with Genzyme. Mr. Viehbacher explained that Parent was the right partner for Genzyme and that a transaction with Parent would provide substantial benefits to Genzyme’s shareholders and employees as well as the physicians and patients that Genzyme serves. Mr. Viehbacher added

 

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that he had thoroughly reviewed the potential transaction with Parent’s Board of Directors, and that the Board was strongly supportive of a transaction. Messrs. Termeer and Viehbacher then discussed Genzyme’s business and operations, including certain of the challenges that Genzyme was facing, as well as the proxy contest recently waged by Carl Icahn. Mr. Viehbacher added that, given the work that already had been done by Parent and its advisors, he would expect that only a short period of very focused confirmatory due diligence would be necessary before the parties could enter into an agreement regarding the transaction. Mr. Termeer advised Mr. Viehbacher that he would get back to him regarding the proposed meeting.

After the call with Mr. Viehbacher, Mr. Termeer informed Peter Wirth, Genzyme’s Executive Vice President of Legal and Corporate Development, and Michael Wyzga, Genzyme’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, of the substance of his call with Mr. Viehbacher. On June 30 and July 1, Messrs. Termeer, Wirth and Wyzga reached out to members of Genzyme’s Strategic Planning Committee to inform them of Parent’s indication of interest.

Starting on July 2, 2010, various media outlets published rumors that Parent was contemplating acquiring a large biopharmaceutical company in the United States. After the market rumors surfaced, Mr. Termeer and Mr. Wirth scheduled a call for July 4, 2010 with representatives of Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC (“Credit Suisse”) and Goldman, Sachs & Co. (“Goldman Sachs”) to discuss the market rumors. Both Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs served as financial advisors to Genzyme during the proxy contest with Carl Icahn and in connection with the sale of its Genetic testing business and diagnostic products businesses. During the July 4 call, Mr. Termeer and Mr. Wirth asked Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs to be prepared to discuss with the Strategic Planning Committee at its next scheduled meeting on July 9, 2010 a potential transaction involving Genzyme and Parent and other strategic options potentially available to Genzyme.

On July 6, 2010, Mr. Termeer and Mr. Wirth again spoke with representatives of Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs. During this call, the parties discussed the market rumors as well as the Strategic Planning Committee’s upcoming meeting.

On July 7, 2010, Mr. Termeer informed Mr. Viehbacher that the Genzyme Strategic Planning Committee was scheduled to meet on July 9, 2010, that he could not commit to a meeting with Mr. Viehbacher before the Strategic Planning Committee meeting and that he would call Mr. Viehbacher following the meeting.

At the July 9, 2010 meeting of Genzyme’s Strategic Planning Committee, Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs discussed with the committee a potential transaction involving Genzyme and Parent and other strategic options potentially available to Genzyme. After discussion, the Strategic Planning Committee concluded that, due to Genzyme’s depressed share price as a result of manufacturing difficulties over the past year as well as Genzyme’s progress towards fixing its manufacturing issues, cost and capital efficiency initiatives, and the outlook for its new product pipeline, the likelihood of consummating a transaction at a price that would accurately reflect Genzyme’s intrinsic value and be attractive to the Genzyme shareholders was not great. The Strategic Planning Committee concluded that it was not an appropriate time for Genzyme to pursue a transaction. The Strategic Planning Committee therefore directed Mr. Termeer to decline Mr. Viehbacher’s invitation to meet to discuss a possible transaction.

On July 10, 2010, Mr. Termeer called Mr. Viehbacher. During the call, Mr. Termeer explained that the Genzyme Strategic Planning Committee had discussed a potential transaction with Parent and that the Strategic Planning Committee had decided that now was not the right time to explore a potential transaction between the parties. Therefore, Mr. Termeer did not believe that a meeting with Mr. Viehbacher would be productive. Mr. Viehbacher stated that he was surprised with the response, since Mr. Termeer had previously indicated an interest in meeting, and further, because Parent had yet to indicate any terms of a transaction, including, most importantly, the proposed purchase price. Yet, Mr. Termeer maintained that the Genzyme Board had no interest in discussing a potential transaction with Parent.

 

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On July 23, 2010, certain press outlets, including Bloomberg News and The Wall Street Journal, reported that Parent had made an informal acquisition approach to Genzyme. Later that day, in response to these market reports, Genzyme held a special meeting of its Board of Directors to discuss the rumors, during which Mr. Termeer updated the Board on the status of his communications with Parent.

On July 28, 2010, Parent’s Board of Directors again discussed with Mr. Viehbacher the proposed transaction with Genzyme and Mr. Termeer’s response. Mr. Viehbacher stated that, given the discussions with Mr. Termeer and his unwillingness even to meet to discuss a potential transaction, he proposed to send Genzyme a letter outlining the terms of Parent’s proposal to acquire Genzyme. The Board of Directors supported Mr. Viehbacher’s action plan.

On July 29, 2010, Mr. Viehbacher telephoned Mr. Termeer to advise him that Parent would be sending Genzyme a written proposal to acquire Genzyme, which would include the price per Share that Parent was prepared to pay to acquire Genzyme. Mr. Viehbacher explained that Parent was disappointed that it had to proceed in this way; however, Mr. Viehbacher added, he felt that there was no choice given Genzyme’s unwillingness to engage with Parent regarding its interest in a potential acquisition. Mr. Viehbacher also indicated that he would send a copy of the letter to Genzyme’s Board of Directors. Messrs. Termeer and Viehbacher discussed briefly Parent’s interest in a potential transaction, and Mr. Termeer requested that Mr. Viehbacher not send the letter directly to Genzyme’s directors but rather to Mr. Termeer alone. Mr. Termeer explained he would prefer to transmit the letter to the other Genzyme directors himself. Thereafter, Parent sent the following letter outlining the terms of a proposed acquisition of Genzyme for $69.00 per share in cash to Mr. Termeer:

July 29, 2010

VIA DHL AND TELECOPIER

Mr. Henri A. Termeer

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

Genzyme Corporation

500 Kendall Street

Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142

USA

Dear Henri:

As I articulated to you during several conversations, Sanofi-Aventis (“Sanofi-Aventis”) has carefully studied a potential acquisition of Genzyme Corporation (“Genzyme”) and believes that it represents a compelling opportunity for Sanofi-Aventis and our respective shareholders. In light of that, I am writing this letter to layout our proposal to you and your Board.

Genzyme has historically been a true success story in biotech, and the company has become the world leader in providing novel treatments for genetic diseases. In addition, the company built a positive reputation within the scientific community and developed strong relationships with patient advocacy groups, physicians, patients and the broader healthcare community. However, the company now faces a number of significant and well-documented challenges that were discussed thoroughly during this year’s proxy campaign. An acquisition by Sanofi-Aventis would not only position the company to overcome these challenges quickly and successfully by applying Sanofi-Aventis’ global resources and expertise to help realize and accelerate Genzyme’s business strategy, but also deliver near-term compelling value to your shareholders that takes into account the company’s future upside potential.

The proposed transaction would provide several key benefits to Genzyme, its shareholders, employees and the patients and physicians it serves:

 

•

Acceleration of Genzyme Vision: Sanofi-Aventis would put its full resources behind Genzyme to invest in developing new treatments, enhance penetration in existing markets and further expand

 

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into emerging markets. Genzyme would be able to leverage Sanofi-Aventis’ strong global footprint and its manufacturing expertise in order to address Genzyme’s manufacturing issues.

 

•

Center of Excellence: Sanofi-Aventis already recognizes the strategic importance of the greater Boston area as evidenced by the establishment of Sanofi-Aventis’ oncology and vaccines research units in Cambridge. Genzyme would become the global center for excellence for Sanofi-Aventis in orphan diseases and further increase Sanofi-Aventis’ presence in the greater Boston area.

 

•

Continuation of Genzyme legacy within Sanofi-Aventis: Genzyme’s orphan disease business would be managed as a stand-alone division under the Genzyme brand, with its own R&D, manufacturing and commercial infrastructure, similar to how Sanofi-Aventis has handled other recent transactions. Genzyme’s management and employees would play a key role within Sanofi-Aventis following the acquisition.

 

•

All-cash offer: The purchase price would be paid in cash, offering immediate and certain value for Genzyme’s shareholders. Our offer is not subject to a financing contingency.

 

•

Substantial Premium: We are prepared to pay $69 for each of the issued and outstanding shares of Genzyme. This is a premium of 38.4% over the share price as of July 1, 2010, the day prior to press speculation regarding Sanofi-Aventis’ potential acquisition plans for a large U.S. biotech company. It also represents a premium of 30.9% over the one month historical average share price through July 22, 2010, the day prior to press speculation that Sanofi-Aventis had made an approach to Genzyme.

In addition to these compelling reasons, we believe that there are many other that demonstrate why Sanofi-Aventis is the right partner for Genzyme. Sanofi-Aventis has significant expertise executing and integrating transactions, and a strong track record creating value through transactions by enhancing their performance through leveraging Sanofi-Aventis’ capabilities. Sanofi-Aventis has demonstrated that it is a good corporate partner by enabling its affiliates to maintain their distinctive culture and focus on their core strengths. Sanofi-Aventis is strong financially with a market capitalization of approximately $77 billion, revenue of approximately $38 billion and EBITDA of approximately $16 billion. From Sanofi-Aventis perspective, the proposed transaction would provide a new sustainable growth platform.

The Board of Directors of Sanofi-Aventis supports this proposal for an acquisition of Genzyme. Consummation of the proposed acquisition would be subject to satisfactory completion of confirmatory due diligence, board approvals, execution of a merger agreement and the satisfaction of customary conditions to closing.

We have completed an extensive analysis of Genzyme and have carefully considered the proposed transaction based on publicly available information. We have engaged Evercore Partners and J.P. Morgan as financial advisors and Weil Gotshal as legal counsel. In order to come to an agreement expeditiously, we are prepared to begin our confirmatory due diligence immediately and are confident that we can complete our review within three weeks.

We expect that we and our advisors would negotiate and finalize the terms of a merger agreement relating to the proposed transaction within this same period of time. We have completed a preliminary competition review relating to our two companies with the assistance of our outside antitrust counsel and we believe that the transaction would receive all necessary regulatory approvals and that it could close expeditiously.

This letter and the terms of our proposal are confidential and should not be disclosed publicly or to any third party without our prior written consent other than to the Board of Directors of Genzyme and to Genzyme’s advisors for the purpose of evaluating the proposal. Should a public disclosure become required by law or regulation, we request that you inform us of such and, to the extent lawful, consult with us on the content of any public disclosure you intend to make.

This letter constitutes a bona fide, non-binding proposal to acquire all of the outstanding shares of Genzyme. This letter does not create or constitute any legally binding obligation, liability or commitment by

 

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Sanofi-Aventis or any of our affiliates regarding the proposed transaction and there will be no legally binding agreement between us unless and until a definitive agreement is executed by Genzyme and Sanofi-Aventis.

We believe our offer is compelling to your shareholders and that our capabilities and investment in your business would bring real enhancements to all of your stakeholders. In addition, Sanofi-Aventis is uniquely well positioned to help you address the manufacturing and other challenges faced by Genzyme, and we therefore believe that it is important for you to further explore this transaction.

I am ready to meet with you in person to discuss this matter in detail at any time and I look forward to hearing back from you shortly.

Yours sincerely,

Sanofi-Aventis

By: Christopher A. Viehbacher

Chief Executive Officer

After receipt of this proposal, Genzyme convened a meeting of its Strategic Planning Committee to discuss the letter and Parent’s proposal. Representatives from Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs, and Genzyme’s legal advisor, Ropes & Gray LLP (“Ropes & Gray”), attended this meeting.

On July 30, 2010, Mr. Termeer called Mr. Viehbacher to advise him that he had received Parent’s July 29 letter, that the Genzyme Board would be meeting over the weekend to discuss the letter and that he would contact Mr. Viehbacher within a few days with respect to the letter.

On August 2, 2010, Genzyme held a meeting of the full Genzyme Board to walk the directors through Parent’s proposal, discuss a preliminary response and make plans to compile data and undertake analysis in connection with preparing a formal response. Representatives from Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs and Ropes & Gray also attended this meeting. During the meeting, a representative from Ropes & Gray described the directors’ fiduciary duties under Massachusetts corporation law in determining Genzyme’s response.

Following this meeting, Mr. Termeer sent the following letter to Mr. Viehbacher:

August 2, 2010

Mr. Christopher A. Viehbacher

Chief Executive Officer

Sanofi-Aventis

174, avenue de France

75635 Paris, Cedex 13

Dear Chris,

As I promised last week, I am getting back to you today regarding your letter of July 29, 2010. We have reviewed the contents of the letter with the Genzyme Board of Directors. The Board has authorized our financial and legal advisors to assist them in evaluating your unsolicited, non-binding proposal. After Genzyme’s Board of Directors has reviewed and considered our advisors’ analysis, I will contact you with our response.

Sincerely,

Henri A. Termeer

Chairman & CEO

Later that day, Mr. Termeer called Mr. Viehbacher to explain that Genzyme’s financial advisors, Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs, had been authorized to carefully review Parent’s proposal and to perform certain

 

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financial analyses of Genzyme to enable the Board of Directors to evaluate Parent’s proposal. Mr. Termeer stated that he understood that this work would take approximately one week.

On August 3, 2010, at Parent’s request, representatives of Evercore Group L.L.C. (“Evercore Partners”) and J.P. Morgan, Parent’s financial advisors, contacted representatives of Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs to discuss Parent’s proposal to acquire Genzyme. During the conversation, Parent’s financial advisors reiterated Parent’s request to perform limited, confirmatory due diligence. The representatives of Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs explained that they were not authorized to discuss Parent’s proposal or Parent’s requests for due diligence. Rather, they were asked to perform certain financial analyses for the Genzyme Board and Genzyme’s management team and expected that Genzyme would be in a position to respond to Parent’s proposal shortly.

On August 10, 2010, Genzyme held a meeting of the full Genzyme Board to discuss its response to Parent’s July 29 letter. At this meeting, representatives of Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs discussed with the directors financial aspects of the proposal and also reviewed the other strategic options potentially available to Genzyme and discussed a strategy for interacting with Parent. A representative from Ropes & Gray also provided legal advice with respect to responding to the proposal and aspects of Massachusetts corporation law. After discussion, the Genzyme Board unanimously concluded that Parent’s proposal materially undervalued Genzyme, was not in the best interest of Genzyme and its shareholders, and directed that the proposal be rejected. On August 11, 2010, Mr. Termeer sent the following letter to Mr. Viehbacher informing him that the Genzyme Board had rejected Parent’s proposal:

August 11, 2010

Mr. Christopher A. Viehbacher

Chief Executive Officer

Sanofi-Aventis

174, avenue de France

75635 Paris, Cedex 13

Dear Chris,

As I promised in my August 2 letter, the Genzyme Board of Directors reviewed your unsolicited, non-binding $69.00 per share proposal to acquire Genzyme. With the assistance of our financial and legal advisors, the Board unanimously rejected your offer. Without exception, each member of the Genzyme Board believes that this is not the right time to sell the Company because your opportunistic takeover proposal does not begin to recognize the significant progress underway to rectify our manufacturing challenges or the potential for our new product pipeline.

We recognize that Genzyme’s share price has been depressed as a result of manufacturing setbacks the Company experienced last year. In reaching a decision to reject your offer, the Board not only reviewed the timeline and remaining steps necessary to address the manufacturing challenges, but also the potential of our new product pipeline, in particular the outlook for our MS treatment Alemtuzumab. We are confident that these factors coupled with our newly announced discipline for deploying capital and significant opportunity to reduce costs will soon be recognized by investors.

The Board is resolute about maximizing Genzyme’s future value for our shareholders.

Sincerely,

Henri

On August 12, 2010, Mr. Termeer called Mr. Viehbacher to discuss briefly the August 11, 2010 letter. During the call, Mr. Termeer reiterated the points made in the letter. Later that day, at Parent’s request, representatives of Evercore Partners and J.P. Morgan called representatives of Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs to discuss Mr. Termeer’s August 11 letter. At that time, Parent’s financial advisors again requested that Genzyme’s management team and/or its Board of Directors meet with Parent to discuss Parent’s proposal and the best way for moving forward. The representatives of Evercore Partners and J.P. Morgan explained that Parent’s

 

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strong preference was to work together with Genzyme to negotiate the terms of a transaction that the Genzyme Board would support, and that Parent placed real value on the ability to perform very focused, confirmatory due diligence, which could be completed within two weeks. The representatives of Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs were unwilling even to discuss Parent’s proposal, as they were not given the authority to do so by Genzyme, but responded that they would request such authority and get back to Parent’s financial advisors.

On August 16, 2010, Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs spoke with Mr. Termeer and Mr. Wirth on the telephone to discuss potential alternatives for Genzyme. Mr. Wirth and Mr. Termeer asked the bankers to discuss these alternatives during a meeting of the Strategic Planning Committee the next day. Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs discussed these alternatives with the Strategic Planning Committee on August 17, 2010 and, on August 18, 2010, discussed possible strategic options for Genzyme with the full Genzyme Board. At the August 18 meeting, the full Genzyme Board discussed its general strategy moving forward. Additionally, on August 18, the independent directors of the Genzyme Board, which includes all directors except Mr. Termeer, met and decided to retain legal counsel for the independent directors.

On August 20, 2010, Genzyme’s financial advisors contacted representatives of Evercore Partners and J.P. Morgan to advise that they had been authorized by Genzyme to meet with them. Genzyme still was unwilling to have members of the Genzyme management team and/or the Board of Directors meet with Mr. Viehbacher and the Parent management team. Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs also noted that they were not authorized to in any way discuss Parent’s proposal, including the proposed purchase price, or even to provide the limited due diligence that Parent had requested. Rather, Genzyme had asked Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs to communicate to Evercore Partners and J.P. Morgan certain limited information that Genzyme believed would be significant to Parent’s valuation of Genzyme.

On August 24, 2010, Genzyme’s financial advisors and Parent’s financial advisors had a brief meeting. During the meeting, the representatives of Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs reviewed with the representatives of Evercore Partners and J.P. Morgan certain limited information regarding Genzyme’s ongoing manufacturing recovery, its value improvement program initiative and previously undisclosed clinical data on alemtuzumab for multiple sclerosis.

On August 29, 2010, Mr. Viehbacher called Mr. Termeer to inform him that Parent was sending another letter to Mr. Termeer. Parent sent Mr. Termeer and the Genzyme Board the following letter, which was made public the same day, reiterating the proposal set out in Parent’s July 29 letter:

August 29, 2010

VIA EMAIL, TELECOPIER AND DHL

Mr. Henri A. Termeer

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

Genzyme Corporation

500 Kendall Street

Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142

USA

Dear Henri

As you are aware, I have been trying to engage with you regarding a potential acquisition for the past few months. As a consequence of your unwillingness even to meet with us, we sent you a detailed, written proposal on July 29, 2010. We believe that this proposal to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Genzyme for $69.00 per share in cash is compelling for Genzyme’s shareholders and represents substantial value for them.

We are disappointed that you rejected our proposal on August 11 without discussing its substance with us. After our repeated requests, you agreed only to let our respective financial advisors hold a meeting of limited scope. Our financial advisors finally met briefly on August 24, but the meeting simply served as

 

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further confirmation that as throughout you remain unwilling to have constructive discussions. As I have mentioned to you, we are committed to a transaction with Genzyme, and, therefore, we feel we are left with no choice but to take our compelling proposal directly to your shareholders by making its terms public.

Sanofi-Aventis’ fully-financed, all-cash offer to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Genzyme’s common stock for $69.00 per share represents a very significant premium of 38% over Genzyme’s unaffected share price of $49.86 on July 1, 2010. Our offer also represents a premium of almost 31% over the one-month historical average share price through July 22, 2010, the day prior to press speculation that Sanofi-Aventis had made an approach to acquire Genzyme. Based on the analysts’ consensus estimates, this represents a multiple of 36 times 2010 EPS and 20 times 2011 EPS, which takes into account the expected recovery of Genzyme’s performance in 2011.

We believe that now is the right time for you and the Genzyme Board to consider a potential transaction that maximizes value for Genzyme’s shareholders. Genzyme has underperformed its peers for a number of years. It continues to face several significant and well-documented challenges that were discussed thoroughly during this year’s proxy campaign, and which Genzyme recently disclosed will take three to four years to resolve. An acquisition by Sanofi-Aventis would not only position Genzyme to overcome these challenges quickly and successfully by applying Sanofi-Aventis’ global resources and expertise to help realize Genzyme’s business strategy, but also deliver near-term compelling value to Genzyme’s shareholders that takes into account the company’s future upside potential.

As I explained in my July 29 letter, the proposed transaction would provide several key benefits to Genzyme, its shareholders, employees and the patients and physicians it serves, including:

 

•

Achievement of Genzyme’s Vision: Sanofi-Aventis would put its full resources behind Genzyme to invest in developing new treatments, enhance penetration in existing markets and further expand into emerging markets. Genzyme would be able to leverage Sanofi-Aventis’ strong global footprint and its manufacturing expertise in order to address Genzyme’s manufacturing issues.

 

•

Center of Excellence: Sanofi-Aventis already recognizes the strategic importance of the greater Boston area as evidenced by the establishment of Sanofi-Aventis’ oncology and vaccines research units in Cambridge. Genzyme would become the global center for excellence for Sanofi-Aventis in rare diseases and further increase Sanofi-Aventis’ presence in the greater Boston area.

 

•

Continuation of Genzyme’s Legacy within Sanofi-Aventis: Genzyme’s rare disease business would be managed as a stand-alone division under the Genzyme brand, with its own R&D, manufacturing and commercial infrastructure, similar to how Sanofi-Aventis has handled other recent transactions. Genzyme’s management and employees would play a key role within Sanofi-Aventis following the acquisition.

 

•

Fully Financed, All-Cash Premium Offer: The purchase price would be paid in cash, offering immediate, substantial and certain value for Genzyme’s shareholders. Our offer is fully financed and is not subject to a financing contingency.

As I indicated in my July 29 letter to you, in addition to these compelling reasons, we believe there are many others that demonstrate why Sanofi-Aventis is the right partner for Genzyme. Sanofi-Aventis has significant expertise executing and integrating acquisitions, and a strong track record of creating value through those acquisitions by enhancing their performance through leveraging Sanofi-Aventis’ capabilities. Sanofi-Aventis has demonstrated that it is a good corporate partner by enabling its affiliates to maintain their distinctive culture and focus on their core strengths. Sanofi-Aventis is strong financially with a market capitalization of approximately $75 billion, annual revenue of approximately $38 billion and annual EBITDA of approximately $16 billion. From Sanofi-Aventis’ perspective, the proposed transaction would provide a new sustainable growth platform.

It is our preference to work together with you and the Genzyme Board to reach a mutually agreeable transaction. As we have consistently stated, we place value on the ability to engage in a constructive dialogue and to conclude a successful outcome that would ensure a timely and smooth integration.

 

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We have engaged and have been working closely with Evercore Partners and J.P. Morgan, as lead financial advisors, and Weil Gotshal, as legal counsel. As explained in my July 29 letter, we have completed an extensive analysis of Genzyme and have carefully considered the proposed transaction on the basis of publicly available information. We do not believe that there are any regulatory or other impediments to consummation of the proposed transaction. We could complete our confirmatory due diligence and finalize the terms of a transaction in a two-week period.

Sanofi-Aventis is committed to a transaction with Genzyme. Given the substantial value represented by our offer and the other compelling benefits of a transaction, we are confident that Genzyme’s shareholders will support our proposal. We have taken the step of making this letter public, so as to explain directly to your shareholders our proposal, our actions and our commitment. Your continued refusal to enter into constructive discussions will serve only to further delay the ability of your shareholders to receive the substantial value represented by our all-cash offer. We therefore are prepared to consider all alternatives to complete this transaction. Our team and advisors are ready to meet with you and your team immediately to discuss our proposal and to move things forward expeditiously.

Yours sincerely,

Sanofi-Aventis

By: Christopher A. Viehbacher

Chief Executive Officer

cc: Board of Directors, Genzyme Corporation

After receiving this letter, on August 29, 2010 Mr. Termeer convened conference calls with Mr. Wirth, Mr. Wyzga and representatives of Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs and Ropes & Gray. Mr. Wirth informed each Genzyme director of the letter and arranged for a meeting of the Genzyme Board to determine a response. At a meeting of the Genzyme Board that afternoon, management and the directors discussed the renewed proposal and concluded that it provided no new information and no improvement on price. Accordingly, the Genzyme Board unanimously reaffirmed its rejection of Parent’s $69.00 proposal and authorized Genzyme to communicate that rejection to Parent. In addition, at the August 29 meeting of the Genzyme Board, the independent directors of the Genzyme Board—which includes all directors except Mr. Termeer—determined to retain Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz (“Wachtell, Lipton”) as legal counsel to the independent directors, and on August 30, 2010, Wachtell, Lipton was formally retained.

As directed by the Genzyme Board, Mr. Termeer sent a letter to Mr. Viehbacher on August 30, 2010, which was made public the same day:

August 30, 2010

Mr. Christopher A. Viehbacher

Chief Executive Officer

Sanofi-Aventis

174, avenue de France

75635 Paris, Cedex 13

Dear Chris,

The Genzyme board is now in receipt of your second unsolicited letter proposing to acquire the company for $69 per share in cash. This letter, received yesterday, is identical to last month’s offer. It provides no new information and no improvement in price, and therefore fails to establish a basis for engagement by the Genzyme board.

This should come as no surprise to Sanofi. On August 11, 2010, Genzyme responded to your first letter dated July 29, 2010. In our response, we stated that, “without exception, each member of the Genzyme board believes this is not the right time to sell the company, because your opportunistic takeover proposal

 

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does not begin to recognize the significant progress underway to rectify our manufacturing challenges or the potential for our new-product pipeline.” Our board met last evening in response to your second letter and unanimously confirmed those views.

As you are well aware, our bankers met with your financial advisors on August 24, 2010, and provided very useful, non-public information regarding progress the company has made to meaningfully improve its manufacturing capacity, the tremendous future upside of our multiple sclerosis drug alemtuzumab, and our outlook for significant cost reductions that will further drive our earnings growth. Moreover, last week’s public announcement that we have begun to increase the supply of Cerezyme for patients with Gaucher disease to near-normal levels, and that supplies of Fabrazyme for patients with Fabry disease will increase beginning in the fourth quarter, further illustrates the progress we are making as well as the opportunistic nature of your proposal.

Notwithstanding this information and assistance, you have not increased your price above $69 per share. You and your advisors claim you are willing to pay more but that you are unwilling to “bid against yourself.” The Genzyme board is not prepared to engage in merger negotiations with Sanofi based upon an opportunistic proposal with an unrealistic starting price that dramatically undervalues our company.

As you know, the Genzyme board includes representatives of some of our major shareholders. Our board has worked actively to understand the true value of our company and is unanimous and resolute in its commitment to maximize Genzyme’s future value for all of our shareholders.

Yours truly,

Henri A. Termeer

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

From August 30 through September 8, 2010, representatives of Parent and its financial advisors met in person and through teleconferences with a number Genzyme shareholders to discuss Parent’s proposal with the shareholders.

In advance of a September 9, 2010 special meeting of the Genzyme Board, Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs were asked to summarize different options available to Parent, as well as strategic options potentially available to Genzyme. Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs also summarized these options for the Genzyme Board during the September 9 meeting, during which Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs also described Parent’s ongoing actions, including its meetings with certain shareholders of Genzyme, as well as the reported reactions of certain of those shareholders to Parent’s proposal. The Genzyme Board then discussed the options available.

On the morning of September 16, 2010, Mr. Viehbacher called Mr. Termeer to request that they meet to discuss Parent’s proposal and the feedback that Parent was receiving from Genzyme’s shareholders. Mr. Viehbacher indicated that he had discussed Parent’s interest in Genzyme with Mr. Carl Icahn, a major shareholder of Genzyme, and that Mr. Icahn had suggested Mr. Viehbacher reach out to Mr. Termeer. After a brief discussion, Mr. Viehbacher and Mr. Termeer agreed to meet on Monday, September 20, 2010.

On September 17, 2010, Mr. Termeer informed Mr. Wirth and Mr. Wyzga of Mr. Viehbacher’s call and then also discussed the call and proposed meeting with Mr. Whitworth and Mr. Carpenter, members of the Strategic Planning Committee. Mr. Wirth subsequently discussed Mr. Viehbacher’s call with Mr. Bertolini, the remaining member of the Strategic Planning Committee, on September 18, 2010. The Strategic Planning Committee instructed Mr. Termeer that during the meeting, he should discuss the intrinsic value of Genzyme, but otherwise should listen and report back on Mr. Viehbacher’s proposal. On September 20, 2010, Mr. Termeer and Mr. Viehbacher, along with Mr. Wirth, and Jerome Contamine, Chief Financial Officer of Parent, met to discuss Parent’s proposal. During the meeting, Mr. Viehbacher explained the rationale for Parent’s proposal, including the basis for the purchase price proposed by Parent and Parent’s view on the appropriate valuation of Genzyme. He also described the meetings that Parent had with Genzyme’s shareholders, including that Genzyme’s shareholders were supportive of a transaction with Parent and, like Parent, were frustrated with Genzyme’s

 

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unwillingness even to engage with Parent in a meaningful way to discuss the proposal. Although Mr. Termeer continued to be unwilling to engage in meaningful discussions, he explained that it was the view of Genzyme’s Board of Directors that Parent’s proposal did not fully value Genzyme and its prospects. Mr. Viehbacher stated that, given Mr. Termeer’s position with respect to Genzyme’s business and operations and his public statements that, at the right price, the Genzyme Board would consider a sale of Genzyme, Mr. Termeer should engage in discussions with Parent regarding the proposal and give Parent an opportunity to conduct limited, confirmatory due diligence. In an effort to advance the discussions, at the meeting, Mr. Viehbacher suggested a number of potential ways for the companies to engage. For example, he shared with Mr. Termeer a limited information request focused on confirming Genzyme’s anticipated manufacturing recovery. Mr. Viehbacher also explained that although Parent and the market had analyzed and assessed the prospects for alemtuzumab, he was open to hearing Genzyme’s perspective, and proposed a meeting with Genzyme’s commercial team on the role that alemtuzumab could play in the evolving multiple sclerosis market. Given Mr. Termeer’s view with respect to the $69.00 per share offer price, Mr. Viehbacher asked Mr. Termeer for guidance as to the appropriate value or range of values of Genzyme. Mr. Termeer refused to provide any guidance as to value.

Mr. Termeer remained unwilling to engage in constructive discussions in this regard or to provide his perspective on what he felt was an appropriate valuation of Genzyme. During the meeting, Mr. Termeer stated that he was in no hurry, the timing for a transaction was not right, and he suggested to Mr. Viehbacher that Parent withdraw its offer and consider reinitiating contact in 2011. Mr. Termeer further stated that he understood if Mr. Viehbacher felt he had to take more immediate action and launch a tender offer. Mr. Viehbacher explained that he was disappointed with Mr. Termeer’s unwillingness to engage in constructive discussions, particularly given the response of Genzyme’s shareholders, and that Parent was left with no choice but to take its proposal directly to Genzyme’s shareholders.

The next day, on September 21, 2010, Mr. Termeer reported the full details of the meeting to the Genzyme Board. Genzyme’s legal and financial advisors discussed the options available to Parent, including the consequences of Parent launching a tender offer without the support of Genzyme’s Board.

On October 4, 2010, Mr. Viehbacher telephoned Mr. Termeer and sent the following letter to Mr. Termeer and the other members of Genzyme’s Board:

October 4, 2010

VIA E-MAIL, TELECOPIER AND DHL

Mr. Henri Termeer

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

Genzyme Corporation

500 Kendall Street

Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142

Dear Henri:

We are disappointed that you remain unwilling to have constructive discussions with us regarding our offer to acquire Genzyme Corporation. We continue to believe that our proposal is compelling for your shareholders and would provide them with immediate and substantial value that reflects the potential of Genzyme’s business and pipeline.

Subsequent to making our offer public on August 29, 2010, we met with your largest shareholders owning collectively over 50% of Genzyme’s outstanding shares. It was clear from our meetings that your shareholders are supportive of our initiative and, like us, are frustrated with your refusal to have meaningful discussions with us regarding our proposal. Your continued refusal to engage with us in a constructive manner is denying your shareholders an opportunity to receive a substantial premium, to realize immediate liquidity, and to protect against the risks associated with Genzyme’s business and operations.

 

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After several months of our repeated requests for a meeting with you, we finally met on September 20, 2010. Unfortunately, this meeting was not productive. In an effort to advance our discussions, I shared a very narrow information request focused on confirming your anticipated manufacturing recovery. Even though we and the market have analyzed and assessed the prospects for alemtuzumab, I proposed a meeting with your commercial team to understand their perspectives on the role alemtuzumab could play in the evolving multiple sclerosis market. You were unwilling to pursue either of these or any other path forward. You were also unwilling to provide us with your perspective on an appropriate valuation for Genzyme.

You have, therefore, left us no alternative but to commence a tender offer and take our offer directly to your shareholders. We strongly believe that our offer price of $69.00 per share in cash is compelling and represents substantial value for Genzyme’s shareholders.

This offer represents a premium of 38% over Genzyme’s unaffected share price of $49.86 on July 1, 2010, the day prior to the press speculation regarding Sanofi-Aventis’ potential acquisition plans for a large US biotech company. It also represents a premium of almost 31% over the one-month historical average share price through July 22, 2010, the day prior to press speculation that Sanofi-Aventis had made an approach to acquire Genzyme.

We believe that a combination of our two businesses would be beneficial to our respective shareholders and employees, and the patients and physicians we serve. Sanofi-Aventis would put its full resources behind Genzyme to invest in developing new treatments, enhance penetration in existing markets and further expand into emerging markets. Sanofi-Aventis is well positioned to help Genzyme address its manufacturing problems. Genzyme would become the global center for excellence for Sanofi-Aventis in rare diseases and this unit would be managed as a stand-alone division under the Genzyme brand, with its own R&D, manufacturing and commercial infrastructure. Genzyme’s management and employees would play a key role within Sanofi-Aventis, and the combination would further increase Sanofi-Aventis’ presence in the greater Boston area.

It remains our strong preference to work together with you to reach a mutually agreeable transaction. However, given your unwillingness to engage in constructive discussions with us, we had no choice but to commence a tender offer. Given our commitment to this transaction, we will continue to consider all alternatives for consummating an acquisition of Genzyme. We believe it is in the best interests of both companies, and our respective shareholders and other constituencies, to move forward quickly to complete this transaction. We and our advisors are available to meet with you to discuss the terms of our offer and to conclude a transaction expeditiously.

Yours sincerely,

Sanofi-Aventis

By: Christopher A. Viehbacher

Chief Executive Officer

cc: Genzyme Board of Directors

On October 4, 2010, Parent and the Purchaser commenced the Prior Offer and filed a Schedule TO and related documents with the SEC. The same day, Genzyme issued a press release urging its shareholders to take no action on the Prior Offer until the Genzyme Board made a recommendation.

On October 5, 2010, Genzyme’s Strategic Planning Committee met to discuss the terms of the Prior Offer.

From October 5 to 7, 2010, Genzyme held meetings, at which the Genzyme Board heard presentations from each of its business units, reviewed the status of its product pipeline, and reviewed Genzyme’s financial forecast and discussed with Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs financial aspects of the Prior Offer. During these meetings, the Genzyme Board reviewed the terms of the Prior Offer and considered a number of factors in connection with the Genzyme Board’s recommendation to the Genzyme shareholders regarding the Prior Offer.

 

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The Genzyme Board and its advisors discussed the process for communicating the Genzyme Board’s recommendation to the Genzyme shareholders and preparations for a future meeting at which Genzyme would present information with regard to Genzyme’s business and outlook to its shareholders.

On October 7, 2010, the Genzyme Board reviewed and confirmed the reasons for its recommendation, unanimously determined that the Prior Offer was inadequate and not in the best interests of Genzyme shareholders, and unanimously recommended that Genzyme shareholders reject the Prior Offer and not tender their Shares pursuant to the Prior Offer. Later that day, Genzyme issued a press release and filed a Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9 relating to the Prior Offer with the SEC, announcing its Board of Directors’ recommendation that shareholders of Genzyme reject the Prior Offer and not tender Shares in the Prior Offer.

On October 22, 2010, Genzyme held a meeting with investors and security analysts in New York to present its near-term financial outlook, report progress on its actions to enhance shareholder value, including its manufacturing recovery, communicate expectations for Genzyme’s late-stage pipeline, including Lemtrada, and outline the reasons why the Genzyme Board recommended against the Prior Offer. Genzyme subsequently met directly with several of its shareholders in the following days.

On November 8, 2010, Parent sent the following letter to Mr. Termeer and the other members of Genzyme’s Board:

November 8, 2010

VIA EMAIL, TELECOPIER AND DHL

Mr. Henri Termeer

Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer

Genzyme Corporation

500 Kendall Street

Cambridge, Massachusetts 02147

USA

Dear Henri,

Now that Genzyme’s third-quarter earnings have been released, you have had the opportunity to speak to shareholders regarding Genzyme’s business and prospects (including the detailed presentation to analysts and investors on October 22) and the market has had a chance to digest and react to all of this information, we would again like to request that you meet with us to discuss our proposal to acquire Genzyme. We continue to believe that our proposal is compelling for your shareholders and would provide them with immediate and substantial value that reflects the potential of Genzyme’s business and pipeline.

You have publicly disclosed that Genzyme’s Board has authorized management and the company’s advisors to “probe and evaluate alternatives” for Genzyme and its assets, including contacting third parties. We were encouraged to hear this, but to date, we have not been contacted or included in this process. We are prepared to meet with you and, if you prefer, with your advisors, at any time to discuss our respective views as to the appropriate value of Genzyme’s business and prospects and how to move this transaction process forward in a cooperative manner. As you will recall, at our meeting in September, I proposed several pathways to advance our discussions, such as providing us with some limited due diligence regarding manufacturing or arranging a meeting with your commercial team to discuss the prospects for alemtuzumab. We remain ready and willing to participate in any such meetings.

You have expressed publicly (and, we understand, directly during your conversations with Genzyme shareholders) that you are committed to maximizing shareholder returns and that you value shareholders’ voices. However, we note certain comments in your Schedule 14D-9 that appear to be inconsistent with that objective.

 

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First, you indicated that you believe that the Genzyme Board can, at any time, opt to immediately stagger the terms of its members, extending the terms of two-thirds of Genzyme’s current directors for an additional one to three years. This action would deprive shareholders of the opportunity to elect the full Genzyme Board at the 2011 annual meeting of shareholders, a right they expressly demanded. As you know, in 2006, holders of more than 85% of the outstanding shares of Genzyme common stock voted to approve an amendment to Genzyme’s Articles of Organization to provide that all directors would be elected annually. Given this, we do not believe that it would be appropriate for the Genzyme Board to disenfranchise shareholders by unilaterally staggering the terms of directors.

Second, you stated that the Genzyme Board retains the ability to adopt a “poison pill”. As you are well aware, if adopted, the poison pill would prevent Sanofi-Aventis from acquiring Genzyme, regardless of your shareholders’ support for a transaction.

Third, you indicated that the Genzyme Board may wield the Massachusetts anti-takeover statutes in a manner that would, as a practical matter, prevent Sanofi-Aventis from acquiring Genzyme without the cooperation of Genzyme’s Board, notwithstanding your shareholders’ support of a transaction.

We believe it would be inappropriate for the Board to take these defensive actions. If we are unable to have a direct dialog with you, in all fairness you should allow your shareholders the opportunity to decide for themselves whether or not to accept our proposal.

Your shareholders should know with certainty that you will not interfere with their right to benefit from our offer by taking any of the actions described above. Therefore, we ask that you take action to make the Massachusetts anti-takeover statute inapplicable to our offer and confirm that Genzyme’s 2011 annual meeting of shareholders, including the election of all directors, will be held on schedule on the fourth Thursday of May (May 26, 2011), as provided in your Bylaws.

It remains our preference to work together with you to reach a mutually agreeable transaction. We continue to believe that a transaction is in the best interests of the shareholders of both Genzyme and Sanofi-Aventis, and we look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely,

Sanofi-Aventis

By: Christopher A. Viehbacher

Chief Executive Officer

cc: Genzyme Board of Directors

Later on November 8, 2010, Mr. Termeer sent the following response letter to Mr. Viehbacher:

November 8, 2010

Mr. Christopher A. Viehbacher

Chief Executive Officer

Sanofi-Aventis

174, avenue de France

75635 Paris, Cedex 13

Dear Chris,

Since we last met, Genzyme has provided the marketplace with detailed reports on our significant progress and detailed information about our near-term plans and future prospects, including the results of an independent third party study of alemtuzumab’s revenue potential. Sanofi-Aventis, for its own purposes, has chosen to dismiss or ignore this information and stick to its opportunistic and inadequate $69.00 per share offer, even as analysts have adjusted their targets to reflect the new information we have shared and we continue to have the support of our shareholders.

 

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As we have repeatedly told Sanofi—and as our Lead Independent Director reaffirmed during our Investor Meeting—our Board is unanimous in its view that the $69.00 offer is not an appropriate starting point for the discussions Sanofi seeks. Our shareholders understand and support this position. In addition, as our Board has also made clear, we are open to a transaction that appropriately recognizes Genzyme’s intrinsic value and prospects. We will meet with Sanofi if it makes an offer that gives our Board of Directors reason to believe it will lead to that result.

Our Board is committed to taking all appropriate actions in the best interests of Genzyme and its shareholders and we have done, are doing, and will continue to do, exactly that.

Sincerely,

/s/ Henri A. Termeer

Henri A. Termeer

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

On November 8, 2010, Mr. Termeer and Mr. Viehbacher met at an industry conference. Each of Messrs. Termeer and Viehbacher expressed frustration with the lack of progress with respect to a potential transaction and acknowledged that it would be difficult to make progress in direct discussions in light of the divergence in positions on valuation. At the conclusion of their meeting, Messrs. Termeer and Viehbacher agreed to consult with their respective internal teams to determine whether it would be appropriate for the financial advisors of Parent and Genzyme to meet to discuss the parties’ respective perspectives on valuation.

Between late November 2010 and late December 2010, representatives of Evercore Partners and J.P. Morgan and representatives of Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs met to discuss the differences between Parent’s and Genzyme’s perspectives with respect to the value of Genzyme. These discussions focused on using a potential contingent value right relating to Lemtrada as part of a potential resolution of differences with respect to value. No confidential information regarding Genzyme was provided to Parent in the course of those discussions. During this period, Parent’s financial advisors reviewed and discussed with Genzyme’s financial advisors the forecast information Genzyme made publicly available in connection with its investor meetings in October.

On December 20, 2010, Genzyme held an extensive briefing on the market potential of Lemtrada for investors and analysts, during which Genzyme shared internal market research and independent, third-party analysis defining the unmet needs today in multiple sclerosis, key features of the Lemtrada profile that may address those needs and physician and payer perspectives on the future positioning and uptake of Lemtrada in the multiple sclerosis market.

In late December 2010, as the discussions regarding a contingent value right continued, representatives from both companies’ commercial teams were involved. The discussions centered around determining appropriate milestones based on regulatory approval and product sales to accurately capture the future value of Lemtrada.

The following weekend, on January 8 and 9, 2011, Mr. Viehbacher and Mr. Termeer spoke several times by telephone about the possibility of moving forward with direct discussions on the terms and conditions of a contingent value right. Mr. Viehbacher informed Mr. Termeer that he would be in Cambridge the following week on January 14, 2011 and suggested that the two men could meet at such time to discuss a potential transaction.

On January 8, 2011, representatives of Wachtell, Lipton delivered a draft contingent value rights agreement to Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP (“Weil”), counsel to Parent. Over the next few weeks, the parties and their advisors negotiated the terms of this contingent value rights agreement, including via teleconference and in face-to-face meetings. Mr. Viehbacher, Mr. Contamine, Mr. Termeer and Mr. Wirth met in Boston on January 14, 2011 to discuss certain terms of the contingent value right.

 

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On January 27 and 28, 2011, Mr. Viehbacher, Mr. Contamine, Mr. Termeer and Dr. Victor Dzau, a director of Genzyme, met to discuss the contingent value right, and Parent’s proposal to acquire Genzyme at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

On the evening of January 28, 2011, Wachtell, Lipton and Ropes & Gray, counsel to Genzyme, delivered a draft merger agreement to Weil, and a form of nondisclosure agreement. During the weekend of January 29-30, the parties negotiated the nondisclosure agreement, and began discussions concerning the possible acquisition of Genzyme by Parent.

On January 30, 2011, the Genzyme Board met to discuss the progress of discussions with Parent. At this meeting, because ongoing discussions with Parent had progressed, the Genzyme Board authorized Genzyme to enter into a confidentiality agreement with Parent and to allow Parent to conduct due diligence on Genzyme.

On January 31, 2011, the parties entered into a confidentiality agreement, to permit Parent to review non-public information regarding Genzyme.

From January 31, 2011 to February 15, 2011, representatives of Parent and its legal and other advisors reviewed certain non-public information provided by Genzyme and conducted site visits at certain Genzyme facilities. At the same time, members of Genzyme’s management and representatives of Ropes & Gray and Wachtell, Lipton, on the one hand, and members of Parent’s management and representatives of Weil on the other hand, negotiated the final terms of the Merger Agreement, the CVR Agreement and other documents.

On February 2, 2011, the Genzyme Board held a meeting to discuss the progress of discussions with Genzyme management and its advisors. On February 6, 2011, the Genzyme Board met again.

On February 15, 2011, the Parent Board held a meeting, at which representatives of Parent management were also in attendance. At this meeting, the Parent Board considered, reviewed and discussed the proposed exchange offer and merger, the contemplated issuance of contingent value rights in connection with the transaction, the Merger Agreement and other matters related to the transaction. The Parent Board then considered and discussed the terms and conditions of the draft merger agreement, the obligations Parent would incur pursuant to the transaction, the benefits expected to be derived by Parent and its shareholders and other stakeholders as a result of the transaction, the implications to Parent of the transaction and whether the transaction would be beneficial and in the commercial interest of Parent.

Following these discussions and the subsequent review and discussion among the members of the Parent Board, including consideration of the factors described below at “—Reasons for the Merger—Parent’s Reasons for the Merger,” the Parent Board unanimously voted to approve the transaction with Genzyme, to approve the Merger and the Exchange Offer and authorize entering into the Merger Agreement.

On February 15, 2011, Ropes & Gray advised Weil that Genzyme’s Board of Directors held a meeting that afternoon during which it unanimously (i) determined that the Merger Agreement, the Exchange Offer and the Merger are in the best interests of Genzyme, (ii) adopted the Merger Agreement, (iii) approved the Exchange Offer and the Merger (iv) directed that the Merger Agreement be submitted to the shareholders of Genzyme for approval, if required by applicable law and (v) consented to the Exchange Offer and resolved to recommend acceptance of the Exchange Offer and approval of the Merger Agreement by the shareholders of Genzyme. Thereafter, Genzyme, Parent and the Purchaser finalized the Merger Agreement and other documents and executed the Merger Agreement after midnight on February 16, 2011.

On February 16, 2011, prior to the opening of trading of the Shares on Nasdaq, Parent and Genzyme issued a joint press release announcing the execution of the Merger Agreement.

 

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Reasons for the Merger

Genzyme’s Reasons for the Merger

The Genzyme Board has determined, after consultation with Genzyme’s senior management, outside legal counsel and financial advisors, that the Exchange Offer and the Merger are in the best interests of Genyzme. The Genzyme Board reached such conclusion based on its belief that the Exchange Offer and Merger provide Genzyme shareholders with greater value and certainty of liquidity than if Genzyme were to remain an independent company, that the Merger is a more attractive option for Genzyme shareholders than other strategic alternatives, that the terms offered by Parent and Purchaser are favorable to those proposed by any third party and that Parent’s offer represents full and fair value for the Shares. The Genzyme Board also considered a number of other factors, including that the Merger Consideration constitutes a significant premium over current and historical trading prices of the Shares, that the structure of the Exchange Offer and Merger will allow Genzyme shareholders to receive consideration in a relatively short time frame and that the terms of the Merger Agreement and conditions to consummation of the Exchange Offer and Merger are reasonable. For more information about the recommendation of the Genzyme Board and the reasons for its recommendation, please see Genzyme’s Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9/A which is being mailed to Genzyme shareholders together with this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange and is incorporated herein by reference.

Parent’s Reasons for the Merger

The Parent Board has authorized entering into the Merger Agreement and has approved the Exchange Offer and the Merger.

In evaluating the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, including the Exchange Offer and the Merger, the Parent Board consulted with the management of Parent and outside legal and financial advisors to Parent. In determining to authorize entering into the Merger Agreement, the Parent Board considered numerous factors, including the following:

Sustainable New Platform for Growth

 

•

the belief that the acquisition of Genzyme creates a new platform for sustainable growth in the future by further increasing Parent’s biotechnology exposure and increasing its research and development pipeline of Phase II and Phase III products;

 

•

its belief that Genzyme’s product portfolio provides Parent with an immediate entry into the attractive, growing rare disease market, and its understanding of Genzyme’s strong renal, oncology and biosurgery businesses which include highly differentiated, market-leading products;

 

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its expectation that Parent’s management and manufacturing personnel can successfully assist in restoring Genzyme’s manufacturing processes to full production and restore Genzyme’s market share in the rare disease market;

 

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the belief that the acquisition of Genzyme provides an opportunity to expand Parent’s presence in the important U.S. market;

 

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its appreciation of Genzyme’s specific expertise and industry relationships, which, combined with Parent’s global presence and substantial resources, it expects will advance Parent’s sustainable growth strategy by adding a new platform and expanding its footprint in the biotechnology sector in the greater Boston biotechnology research community;

The Merger Consideration

 

•

that the Cash Consideration of $74 per Share is fixed and will not be adjusted for fluctuations in the market price of Genzyme Shares, or the overall level of the equity or currency markets;

 

•

that the CVR structure rewards both Parent and Genzyme shareholders for future manufacturing production of Cerezyme and Fabrazyme and for future success of Lemtrada, but obligates Parent to pay additional consideration only if specified production, regulatory and sales milestones are achieved;

 

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•

its belief that the transaction preserves Parent’s strong capital structure and financial strength;

 

•

its expectation that the Merger will be accretive to Parent’s business net earnings per share in the first year following closing of the Merger, and accretive to business net earnings per share in the range of €0.75 to €1.00 by 2013;

Knowledge of the Companies and the Pharmaceutical Industry

 

•

its knowledge of Parent’s own business, operations, financial condition, earnings and prospects and of its industry, as well as its understanding of Genzyme’s business, operations, financial condition, earnings and prospects, taking into account the results of its due diligence review of Genzyme;

 

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its knowledge of the current environment in the pharmaceutical industry generally, and in biopharmaceuticals more specifically, including economic conditions, competitive pressures, and the impact of these factors on the companies’ potential growth, development and strategic options;

 

•

its understanding of the complementary businesses of Parent and Genzyme, and the potential cost saving and other synergy opportunities such as an increase in the number of global customers, as well as the related potential impact on Parent’s financial results and prospects;

 

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its due diligence review of Genzyme’s manufacturing recovery and its appreciation of the risks and costs associated with returning Genzyme to full production capability and restoring compliance with FDA rules;

 

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its appreciation of the risks and costs associated with development of Lemtrada;

Other Considerations

 

•

the ability of Parent to terminate the Merger Agreement and receive a termination fee if the Genzyme Board changes or withdraws its recommendation of the Exchange Offer or the Merger, as described in “The Merger Agreement—Termination of the Merger Agreement”;

 

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its assessment of the likelihood that the Exchange Offer and the Merger will be completed in a timely manner and that the combined company would be able to successfully integrate and operate the businesses of the combined company after the Merger;

 

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its appreciation of the risks associated with integration of the businesses of Parent and Genzyme following the Merger and the potential impact of a failure to complete a successful integration on the business, financial condition, operating results and market value of Parent after the Merger;

 

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its understanding of the regulatory and other approvals required in connection with the Exchange Offer and the Merger and its expectation that such approvals would be received in a timely manner and without unacceptable conditions;

 

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its appreciation of the potential risk of diverting management focus and resources from other strategic opportunities and from operational matters while working to implement the Merger; and

 

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its appreciation of the costs and potential risk of incurring additional indebtedness to finance the Exchange Offer and the Merger.

In light of the number and wide variety of factors considered in connection with its evaluation of the transaction, the Parent Board did not consider it practical to, and did not attempt to, quantify, rank or otherwise assign relative weights to the specific factors it considered in reaching its determination. Rather, the Parent Board made its decision based on the totality of information presented to, and the investigation conducted by or at the direction of, the Parent Board. In addition, individual directors may have given different weight to different factors. Parent realizes that there can be no assurance about future results, including results considered or expected as described in the factors listed above, such as assumptions regarding potential synergies. It should be noted that this explanation of Parent’s reasoning and all other information presented in this section are forward-looking in nature and, therefore, should be read in light of the factors discussed in the section entitled “Forward Looking Statements.”

 

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THE MERGER AGREEMENT

On February 16, 2011, Parent and Purchaser entered into the Merger Agreement with Genzyme as a means to acquire all of the outstanding Shares of Genzyme. The Genzyme Board (i) determined that the Merger Agreement, the Exchange Offer and the Merger are in the best interests of Genzyme, (ii) adopted the Merger Agreement, (iii) approved the Exchange Offer and the Merger, (iv) directed that the Merger Agreement be submitted to the shareholders of Genzyme for approval, if required by applicable law, and (v) consented to the Exchange Offer and resolved to recommend acceptance of the Exchange Offer and approval of the Merger Agreement by the shareholders of Genzyme. The Genzyme Board recommends that Genzyme shareholders accept the Exchange Offer by tendering their Shares into the Exchange Offer. Information about the recommendation of Genzyme’s Board of Directors is more fully described in Genzyme’s Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9, which is being mailed to Genzyme shareholders together with this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange and is incorporated herein by reference.

The following is a summary of selected material provisions of the Merger Agreement. This summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Merger Agreement, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety and attached to this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange as Annex A. This summary may not contain all of the information about the Merger Agreement that may be important to you. We encourage you to read the Merger Agreement carefully and in its entirety, as it is the legal document governing the Merger.

The Merger Agreement has been included to provide you with information regarding its terms. The terms and information in the Merger Agreement should not be relied on as disclosures about Genzyme, Parent or Purchaser without consideration to the entirety of public disclosure by Genzyme, Parent and Purchaser as set forth in all of their respective public reports with the SEC. The terms of the Merger Agreement (such as the representations and warranties) govern the contractual rights and relationships, and allocate risks, between the parties in relation to the Exchange Offer and the Merger. In particular, the representations and warranties made by the parties to each other in the Merger Agreement have been negotiated between the parties with the principal purpose of setting forth their respective rights with respect to their obligation to close the Exchange Offer and the Merger should events or circumstances change or be different from those stated in the representations and warranties. Matters may change from the state of affairs contemplated by the representations and warranties. Genzyme, Parent and Purchaser will provide additional disclosure in their public reports to the extent that they are aware of the existence of any material facts that are required to be disclosed under federal securities law and that might otherwise contradict the terms and information contained in the Merger Agreement and will update such disclosure as required by federal securities laws.

The Exchange Offer

The Merger Agreement provides that the Exchange Offer will be conducted on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the section of this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange entitled “The Exchange Offer.” Under the Merger Agreement, Parent and Purchaser are required to amend the previously commenced cash tender offer (the “Prior Offer”) as promptly as reasonably practicable but no later than the fifteenth business day following the date of the Merger Agreement to reflect the execution of the Merger Agreement and the Merger Agreement’s terms and to increase the purchase price offered to (i) an amount in cash, without interest, equal to $74.00, and (ii) one contingent value right, or CVR, to be issued by Parent subject to and in accordance with the CVR Agreement. The CVRs and the CVR Agreement are described in more detail below, in the section of this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange entitled “Description of the CVRs.” The Merger Agreement also provides that, subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions, following consummation of the Exchange Offer, Purchaser will be merged with and into Genzyme, with Genzyme surviving such merger as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Parent.

The obligations of Parent and Purchaser to accept for exchange and to pay for any Shares tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be subject only to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions, as described in the

 

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section of this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange “The Exchange Offer—Conditions of the Exchange Offer” (such conditions, the “Offer Conditions”). Parent and Purchaser expressly reserve the right to waive any Offer Condition or modify or amend the terms of the Exchange Offer, except that, without the prior written consent of Genzyme, Purchaser will not (A) decrease the Cash Consideration, amend the terms of the CVR or CVR Agreement, or change the form of the consideration payable in the Exchange Offer, (B) decrease the number of Shares sought pursuant to the Exchange Offer, (C) amend or waive the Minimum Tender Condition or the CVR Condition (as defined below at “The Exchange Offer—Conditions of the Exchange Offer”), (D) add to the Offer Conditions, (E) modify the Offer Conditions in a manner adverse to the holders of Shares, (F) extend the expiration date of the Exchange Offer except as required or permitted by the Merger Agreement, (G) make any other change in the terms or conditions of the Exchange Offer that is adverse to the holders of Shares or (H) increase the Cash Consideration by an increment of less than $0.25.

Subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement and to the satisfaction or waiver by Purchaser of the Offer Conditions as of any scheduled expiration date, Purchaser will accept for exchange and pay for Shares validly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer promptly after such scheduled expiration date (the date and time of acceptance for exchange, the “Acceptance Time”), and Purchaser will immediately accept and promptly pay for all Shares as they are validly tendered during any subsequent offering period for the Exchange Offer in accordance with Rule 14d-11 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

Recommendation of the Genzyme Board

The Genzyme Board has unanimously (i) determined that the Merger Agreement, the Exchange Offer and the Merger are in the best interests of Genzyme, (ii) adopted the Merger Agreement, (iii) approved the Exchange Offer and the Merger (iv) directed that the Merger Agreement be submitted to the shareholders of Genzyme for approval, if required by applicable law and (v) consented to the Exchange Offer and resolved to recommend acceptance of the Exchange Offer and approval of the Merger Agreement by the shareholders of Genzyme.

Extensions of the Exchange Offer

The Merger Agreement provides that Purchaser (A) will extend the Exchange Offer for one or more periods of time of up to 10 business days per extension if at any scheduled expiration date any of the Offer Conditions are not satisfied; or (B) will extend the Exchange Offer for any period required by any rule, regulation, interpretation or position of the SEC, its staff or Nasdaq applicable to the Exchange Offer. Purchaser will not be required to extend the Exchange Offer beyond August 16, 2011.

Top-Up Option

Genzyme has granted to Purchaser an irrevocable option, for so long as the Merger Agreement has not been terminated (the “Top-Up Option”) to purchase, at a price per Share equal to the greater of (i) the closing price of a Share on Nasdaq on the last trading day prior to the exercise of the Top-Up Option or (ii) the Cash Consideration, that number of newly issued Genzyme Shares (the “Top-Up Shares”) equal to the lowest number of Shares that, when added to the number of Genzyme Shares owned by Purchaser at the time of exercise of the Top-Up Option (after giving effect to the issuance of the Top-Up Shares but excluding from Purchaser’s ownership, but not from the outstanding Shares, Shares tendered pursuant to guaranteed delivery procedures that have not yet been delivered in settlement or satisfaction of such guarantee), would constitute one Share more than 90% of all outstanding Shares (assuming the issuance of the Top-Up Shares). Purchaser, subject to certain limited conditions, will exercise the Top-Up Option if it owns in the aggregate at least 75% of all Shares then outstanding, and if after giving effect to the exercise of the Top-Up Option, Purchaser would own in the aggregate one Share more than 90% of the number of outstanding Shares.

 

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Directors After the Acceptance Time

The Merger Agreement provides that, upon the payment by Purchaser for Shares tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer representing at least a majority of the outstanding Shares on a fully diluted basis, Purchaser will be entitled to designate such number of directors, rounded up to the next whole number, on the Genzyme Board as is equal to the product of (i) the total number of directors on the Genzyme Board (after giving effect to any increase in the number of directors described in this paragraph) and (ii) the percentage that such number of Shares so purchased bears to the total number of then-outstanding Shares on a fully-diluted basis. Genzyme will, upon request by Purchaser, promptly increase the size of the Genzyme Board or use commercially reasonable efforts to seek the resignations of such number of directors as is necessary to provide Purchaser with such level of representation and will use commercially reasonable efforts to cause Purchaser’s designees to be so elected or appointed. Genzyme will use commercially reasonable efforts to cause each committee of the Genzyme Board to include persons designated by Purchaser constituting the same percentage of each such committee as Purchaser’s designees constitute on the Genzyme Board. Prior to the Effective Time, the Genzyme Board shall have at least three members who were directors as the date of the Merger Agreement, who are independent directors for purposes of the continued listing requirements of Nasdaq, and who are eligible to serve on Genzyme’s audit committee. The earlier of the Effective Time and such time as designees of Purchaser first constitute at least a majority of the Genzyme Board pursuant is referred to as the “Control Time.”

Merger; Effect on Capital Stock

The Merger Agreement provides that at the Effective Time, Purchaser will be merged with and into Genzyme. As a result of the Merger, the separate corporate existence of Purchaser will cease, and Genzyme will continue as the survivor of the Merger (the “Surviving Corporation”). The directors of Purchaser immediately prior to the Effective Time will be the initial directors of the Surviving Corporation, and the officers of Genzyme immediately prior to the Effective Time will be the initial officers of the Surviving Corporation.

Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, each Share held in the treasury of Genzyme or owned by Parent or Purchaser immediately prior to the Effective Time will be canceled and retired without any conversion thereof, and each Share held by any direct or indirect subsidiary of Genzyme or Parent (other than Purchaser) will remain outstanding (with appropriate adjustment to the number thereof to preserve the relative percentage interest in Genzyme represented by such Shares). At the Effective Time, each Share (other than Shares to be canceled or remain outstanding in accordance with the preceding sentence, and any Dissenting Shares, as defined below at “—Dissenting Shares”) by virtue of the Merger and without any action on the part of the holder thereof, will be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration, and all such Shares shall no longer be outstanding and shall automatically be canceled and cease to exist, and each holder of a Share certificate or evidence of Shares in book-entry form which immediately prior to the Effective Time represented any such Shares shall cease to have any rights with respect thereto, except the right to receive the Merger Consideration, without interest. At the Effective Time, each share of common stock of Purchaser issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time will be converted into one share of common stock of the Surviving Corporation.

Merger Without Meeting of Shareholders; Special Meeting

If Purchaser owns at least 90% of the outstanding Shares following the Exchange Offer and any subsequent offer period (including through exercise of the Top-Up Option), Purchaser will cause the Merger to become effective promptly after the consummation of the Exchange Offer, without a meeting of shareholders of Genzyme.

Unless the Merger is consummated in accordance with the foregoing paragraph, Genzyme will duly call, give notice of, convene and hold a special meeting of its shareholders promptly following the consummation of the Exchange Offer for the purpose of approving the Merger Agreement.

 

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Treatment of Options, Restricted Stock, Restricted Stock Units and Employee Stock Purchase Plan Shares

The Merger Agreement provides that each Option that is outstanding, unvested and has an exercise price that is equal to or greater than the Cash Consideration will vest on March 14, 2011 (five business days after the date on which Purchaser amended the Prior Offer). At the Acceptance Time, (i) each outstanding Option, whether or not vested, with an exercise price that is less than the Cash Consideration will be canceled and, in exchange therefor, each former holder of each such cancelled Option will be entitled to receive for each Share subject to such Option, (a) a cash payment equal to the difference between the Cash Consideration and the exercise price of the Option, less any applicable withholding taxes and without interest, and (b) one CVR, and (ii) each outstanding Option, whether or not vested, with an exercise price that is equal to or greater than the Cash Consideration will be canceled, without any consideration therefor. Such payments, if any, shall be made as promptly as practicable following the Acceptance Time, but not later than ten business days after such date.

The Merger Agreement provides that at the Acceptance Time, each outstanding Share of Restricted Stock and each outstanding RSU will vest in full, if unvested. At the Acceptance Time, each outstanding Share of Restricted Stock and each Share subject to an outstanding RSU will be canceled, and in each case, will be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration, less any applicable withholding taxes and without interest. Such payments, if any, shall be made as promptly as practicable following the Acceptance Time, but not later than ten business days after such date.

Genzyme’s ESPP will continue to be operated in accordance with its terms and past practice for each current Offering (as defined in the ESPP) (the “Current Offerings”); provided that if the Acceptance Time is expected to occur prior to the end of any of the Current Offerings, Genzyme will take all action as may be necessary to provide for Shares to be purchased in the applicable Current Offering on an earlier date in accordance with Section 5 of the ESPP (such date, the “Early ESPP Purchase Date”). The Early ESPP Purchase Date shall be prior to the Acceptance Time, and Genzyme will notify each ESPP participant in writing, prior to such Early ESPP Purchase Date, that the date during the applicable Current Offering on which his or her purchase right may be exercised has been changed to the Early ESPP Purchase Date (including for purposes of determining the per share exercise price of such purchase right pursuant to Section 4 of the ESPP) and that his or her purchase right will be exercised automatically on the Early ESPP Purchase Date, unless prior to such date, he or she has canceled his or her election to participate in the applicable Current Offering as provided in Section 10 of the ESPP. Genzyme will suspend the commencement of any future Offerings under the ESPP (excepting the Current Offerings) unless and until the Merger Agreement is terminated.

As of the Acceptance Time, Genzyme shall take all necessary actions to terminate each Company Equity Plan and the ESPP.

No Fractional Contingent Value Rights

Parent will not issue fractional CVRs in the transaction. Instead, the number of CVRs to be received by a Genzyme shareholder in exchange for that shareholder’s Shares will, after aggregating all fractional CVRs to which that shareholder is entitled, be rounded to the nearest whole number.

Dissenting Shares

The Merger Agreement provides that any Shares that are issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time and held by a dissenting Genzyme shareholder (the “Dissenting Shares”) will not be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration unless and until that shareholder will have effectively withdrawn or lost such shareholder’s right to obtain payment of the fair value of such shareholder’s Dissenting Shares under the MBCA, as determined by a Massachusetts court, and will only be entitled to such rights with respect as may be granted to such shareholder under Part 13 of the MBCA.

 

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Representations and Warranties of the Parties in the Merger Agreement

In the Merger Agreement, Genzyme has made customary representations and warranties to Parent and Purchaser, including representations relating to: Genzyme’s corporate organization and qualification; Genzyme’s articles of organization and bylaws; capitalization; corporate authority; absence of conflicts with or consents required under third-party contracts in connection with the Merger Agreement; required government approvals, filings and consents; SEC reports; financial statements; absence of undisclosed liabilities; material contracts; properties; intellectual property; compliance with law; absence of certain changes or events; absence of litigation; employee benefits plans; labor and employment matters; insurance; tax matters; environmental matters; affiliate transactions, compliance with federal securities laws; opinion of Genzyme’s financial advisors; brokers; and applicability of anti-takeover laws.

In the Merger Agreement, Parent and Purchaser have made customary representations and warranties to Genzyme, including representations relating to: corporate organization; authority; absence of conflicts with or consents required under third-party contracts in connection with the Merger Agreement; absence of litigation; compliance with federal securities laws; brokers; financing; operations of Purchaser; share ownership; vote/approval requirements of the Merger; the investigation by Parent and Purchaser of Genzyme; and agreements with directors, officers and employees of Genzyme or its subsidiaries.

Conduct of Business Pending the Closing of the Merger

The Merger Agreement provides that from the date of the Merger Agreement until completion of the Merger, Genzyme will, and cause its subsidiaries to, conduct its operations according to its ordinary course of business consistent with past practice.

The Merger Agreement provides that during the same time period, Genzyme and/or its subsidiaries are subject to customary operating covenants and restrictions, including restrictions on: amending of the articles of organization and by-laws of Genzyme; making any issuance, grant, conferral, award, delivery, sale, pledge, disposal, or encumbrance of Genzyme securities; declaring, setting aside, making, or paying dividends or distributions; making any adjustment, recapitalization, reclassification, combination, split, subdivision, redemption, purchase, or other acquisition of shares of capital stock or other equity interests of Genzyme (other than in connection with certain Shares tendered by Genzyme directors, officers, employees and former employees); making or offering to make, by merger or otherwise, acquisitions of any business, assets, or securities, or material sales, licenses, leases, encumbrances or other dispositions; entering into, materially amending, renewing, terminating or granting any release or relinquishment of any material rights under any material contract; authorizing or making significant capital expenditures; incurring new or modifying existing indebtedness; assuming, guaranteeing, or endorsing, or otherwise becoming responsible for any indebtedness of any other person; making loans, advances, or capital contributions to, or investments in, any other person outside the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice; entering into new, amending in any respect, or terminating any employee benefit plans, collective bargaining agreements or other employment agreements or arrangements with or for the benefit of any present or former officers, directors, employees; taking any action to accelerate the vesting or payment, or funding, or in any other way securing the payment of compensation or benefits under any Genzyme employee benefit plan to the extent not required by the terms of such plan as in effect on the date of the Merger Agreement or by applicable law; granting any increase in the compensation, perquisites or benefits to officers, directors, employees and consultants, subject to certain ordinary course exceptions set forth in the Merger Agreement; making material changes in accounting principles; taking certain action with respect to tax matters; settling certain legal proceedings; purchasing, redeeming or otherwise acquiring Shares or any rights, warrants or options to acquire Shares; encumbering properties or assets; failing to maintain certain intellectual property, entering into any contract that would, after giving effect to the Merger, limiting or purporting to limit in any material respect the type of business in which Parent and its subsidiaries may engage; adopting a plan or agreement of complete or partial liquidation, dissolution, restructuring, recapitalization, merger, consolidation or other reorganization of Genzyme or its subsidiaries; and agreeing to take any of the actions described in this paragraph.

 

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No Solicitation of Acquisition Proposals; Board Recommendation

The Merger Agreement provides that until the Acceptance Time, Genzyme will not, and will cause its subsidiaries not to and will use reasonable best efforts to cause its representatives not to, directly or indirectly (i) initiate, solicit, knowingly encourage (including by way of furnishing non-public information), knowingly facilitate or knowingly induce or take any other action designed to lead to, any inquiries or the making of any proposal that constitutes, or would reasonably be expected to lead to, the submission of any Acquisition Proposal (as defined below) or engage, enter into, continue or participate in any negotiations or discussions with respect thereto or furnish any non-public information concerning Genzyme and its subsidiaries to any person in connection with any Acquisition Proposal, (ii) except for a confidentiality agreement contemplated by the Merger Agreement, enter into any merger agreement, letter of intent, agreement in principle, share purchase agreement, asset purchase agreement or share exchange agreement, option agreement or other similar agreement relating to an Acquisition Proposal (an “Acquisition Agreement”) or (iii) withdraw, modify or qualify, or propose publicly to withdraw, modify or qualify, in a manner adverse to Parent or Purchaser, the recommendation of the Genzyme Board that the shareholders of Genzyme tender their Shares in the Exchange Offer (the “Genzyme Board Recommendation”) or publicly recommend the approval or adoption of, or publicly approve or adopt, or propose to publicly recommend, approve or adopt, any Acquisition Proposal (any action described in this clause (iii) being referred to as a “Change of Board Recommendation”). In the Merger Agreement, Genzyme agrees to cease and cause to be terminated any solicitation, discussion or negotiation with any person conducted prior to the date of the Merger Agreement by Genzyme, its subsidiaries or any of its representatives with respect to any Acquisition Proposal and will request the return or destruction of all confidential information provided by or on behalf of Genzyme or its subsidiaries to any such person.

Notwithstanding the foregoing restrictions, the Merger Agreement provides that at any time following the date of the Merger Agreement and prior to the Acceptance Time, if Genzyme receives a written Acquisition Proposal that the Genzyme Board believes in good faith is bona fide, and the Genzyme Board, after consultation with its financial advisors and outside legal counsel, determines in good faith that such Acquisition Proposal constitutes or would reasonably be expected to lead to or result in a Superior Proposal (as defined below) and such Acquisition Proposal did not result from a material breach of Genzyme’s obligations with respect to Acquisition Proposals, then Genzyme may, subject to certain restrictions, (A) furnish information with respect to Genzyme and its subsidiaries to the person making such Acquisition Proposal and (B) participate in discussions or negotiations regarding such Acquisition Proposal.

If Genzyme receives a written acquisition proposal that the Genzyme Board believes in good faith is bona fide, and the Genzyme Board, after consultation with its financial advisors and outside legal counsel, concludes in good faith such Acquisition Proposal constitutes a Superior Proposal, the Genzyme Board may, if it determines in good faith, after consultation with outside counsel, that the failure to take such action would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties under applicable law and, subject to payment of a $575,000,000 termination fee to Parent and to certain restrictions, effect a Change of Board Recommendation and/or, in the event such Acquisition Proposal did not result from a material breach of Genzyme’s obligations with respect to Acquisition Proposals (or, in the event such Acquisition Proposal did result from a material breach of Genzyme’s obligations with respect to Acquisition Proposals and on the next scheduled expiration date of the Exchange Offer occurring after such breach all Offer Conditions except the Minimum Tender Condition had been satisfied or waived), terminate the Merger Agreement and concurrent with such termination cause Genzyme to enter into an Acquisition Agreement with respect to such Superior Proposal.

The Genzyme Board may not effect a Change of Board Recommendation or terminate the Merger Agreement unless Genzyme has provided prior written notice to Parent specifying in reasonable detail the reasons for such action (including a description of the material terms of such Acquisition Proposal and delivering to Parent a copy of the Acquisition Agreement and other relevant documents for such Superior Proposal in the form to be entered into), at least three business days in advance of its taking such action with respect to such Superior Proposal (or if there are less than three business days prior to the then scheduled expiration date, such

 

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written notice will be provided as far in advance of the then scheduled expiration date as practicable) (the “Notice Period”). During the Notice Period, Genzyme must negotiate with Parent in good faith and take into account all changes to the terms of the Merger Agreement irrevocably proposed by Parent in determining whether such Acquisition Proposal continues to constitute a Superior Proposal. Any amendment, in any material respect, to the terms of such Superior Proposal shall require a new notice to Parent and forty-eight (48) hour extension of the Notice Period. After delivery of such written notice, Genzyme must keep Parent informed of all material developments affecting the material terms of any such Superior Proposal (and Genzyme shall provide Parent with copies of any additional written materials received that relate to such Superior Proposals).

In addition, the Genzyme Board may, at any time prior to the Acceptance Time, effect a Change of Board Recommendation in response to, with respect to Genzyme, a material event or circumstance that arises or occurs after the date of the Merger Agreement and was not, prior to the date of the Merger Agreement, reasonably foreseeable by the Genzyme Board (an “Intervening Event”) if the Genzyme Board concludes in good faith, after consultation with outside counsel that failure to take such action would be inconsistent with its fiduciary duties under applicable law, provided that the receipt, existence or terms of an Acquisition Proposal or any matter relating thereto or consequence thereof will not constitute an Intervening Event.

As used in the Merger Agreement, “Acquisition Proposal” means any offer or proposal made by a person or group at any time after the date hereof that is structured to result in such Person or group to acquiring, directly or indirectly, beneficial ownership of at least 20% of the assets of, equity interest in, or businesses of, Genzyme and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, pursuant to a merger, consolidation or other business combination, sale of shares of capital stock, sale of assets, tender offer or exchange offer or similar transaction, including any single or multi-step transaction or series of related transactions, in each case other than the Exchange Offer and the Merger.

As used in the Merger Agreement, “Superior Proposal” means an Acquisition Proposal that if consummated would result in a Person or group owning, directly or indirectly, (a) 50% or more of all classes of equity securities of Genzyme or of the surviving entity in a merger involving Genzyme or the resulting direct or indirect parent of Genzyme or such surviving entity or (b) 50% or more (based on the fair market value thereof, as determined by Genzyme Board in good faith) of the assets of Genzyme and its subsidiaries (including capital stock of the subsidiaries of Genzyme, and by means of any tender offer for the capital stock of, or any merger, consolidation, business combination, recapitalization, liquidation, dissolution, binding share exchange or similar transaction involving, any subsidiary of Genzyme), taken as a whole, that the Genzyme Board has determined (after consultation with its financial advisor and outside counsel) are superior, from a financial point of view, to the Merger Agreement, taking into account all financial, legal, regulatory and other aspects of such proposal and of the Merger Agreement (including the relative risks of non-consummation and any changes to the terms of the Merger Agreement irrevocably proposed by Parent to Genzyme), prior to the expiration of the Notice Period.

Employee Benefit Matters

The Merger Agreement provides that for the period commencing at the Control Time and ending on the first anniversary thereof, Parent will cause the Surviving Corporation and each of its subsidiaries to (i) maintain for the individuals employed by Genzyme at the Control Time and who remain employees of the Surviving Corporation during such one-year period, base compensation and target incentive compensation that is no less favorable to each such employee than such employee’s base compensation and target incentive compensation immediately prior to the Control Time, and (ii) provide benefits that are of comparable economic value in the aggregate to the benefits provided by Genzyme as of immediately prior to the Control Time (excluding, for purposes of clauses (i) and (ii), equity and equity-based compensation, retention, stay, or transaction bonuses or similar arrangements); provided, however, that nothing in this paragraph will be construed as an amendment to or prevent the amendment or termination of any particular Genzyme employee benefit plan or employee benefit plan of Parent or any of its subsidiaries or interfere with Parent’s or any of its subsidiaries’ or the Surviving Corporation’s right or obligation to make such changes as are necessary to conform with applicable law. Parent

 

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will also cause the Surviving Corporation and each of its Subsidiaries to honor all obligations and agreements relating to 2010 bonuses. In addition, during the one-year period following the Control Time, Parent will cause the Surviving Corporation to pay or cause to be paid, consistent with Genzyme’s past practice in similar circumstances, to each current employee (i) who is involuntarily terminated or (ii) in the case of any employee covered by an employment, change in control, severance or similar agreement or entitlement providing for benefits upon a voluntary termination for good reason, who terminates employment voluntarily for good reason as therein defined, severance in accordance with past practices, including with respect to bonuses.

The Merger Agreement provides that Parent will, and will cause the Surviving Corporation to, cause service rendered by current employees prior to the Control Time to be taken into account for vesting and eligibility purposes (but not for accrual purposes, except for vacation and severance, if applicable) under employee benefit plans of Parent, the Surviving Corporation and its subsidiaries, to the same extent as such service was taken into account under the corresponding Genzyme plans for those purposes (but no such credit will apply to the extent it would result in a duplication of benefits for the same period of service). For the calendar year in which the Control Time occurs, current employees will not be subject to any eligibility requirements or pre-existing condition limitations under any employee health benefit plan of Parent, the Surviving Corporation or its subsidiaries for any condition for which they would have been entitled to coverage under the corresponding Genzyme plan in which they participated prior to the Control Time except to the extent such exclusions and limitations (i) would not have been waived and (ii) were applicable to such Continuing Employee or any dependent, in each case of clauses (i) and (ii), under the applicable Genzyme plan as of the Control Time. The Merger Agreement provides that Parent will, and will cause the Surviving Corporation and its subsidiaries, for the calendar year in which the Control Time occurs, to give such current employees credit under such employee benefit plans for co-payments made and deductibles and maximum out-of-pocket limitations in respect of the year in which the Control Time occurs.

Director’s and Officer’s Indemnification and Insurance

Under the Merger Agreement, Parent will cause the Surviving Corporation’s Articles of Organization and Bylaws to contain provisions no less favorable with respect to indemnification, advancement of expenses and exculpation from liabilities of present and former directors, officers and employees of Genzyme than are currently provided in the Articles of Organization and Bylaws, which provisions will not be amended, repealed or otherwise modified in any manner that would adversely affect the rights thereunder of any such individuals until six (6) years from the Effective Time.

The Merger Agreement provides that for a period of six (6) years from the Effective Time, Parent and the Surviving Corporation will indemnify and hold harmless each present (as of the Effective Time) or former officer and director of Genzyme (each, together with such person’s heirs, executors or administrators, an “Indemnified Party” and collectively, the “Indemnified Parties”), against all obligations to pay a judgment, settlement, penalty, and reasonable expenses incurred with any proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, arbitrative or investigative, and whether formal or informal, arising out of or pertaining to any action or omission, including any action or omission in connection with the fact that the Indemnified Party is or was an officer, director, employee, fiduciary or agent of Genzyme or its subsidiaries, or of another entity if such service was at the request of Genzyme, whether asserted or claimed prior to, at or after the Effective Time, to the fullest extent permitted under applicable law. Parent’s and the Surviving Corporation’s obligations described in this paragraph shall continue in full force and effect for a period of six (6) years from the Effective Time.

Under the Merger Agreement, Genzyme may purchase by the Effective Time tail policies to the current directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies maintained at such time by Genzyme, which tail policies (i) will be effective for a period from the Effective Time through and including the date six (6) years after the Effective Time with respect to claims arising from facts or events that existed or occurred prior to or at the Effective Time, and (ii) will contain coverage that is at least as protective to such directors and officers as the coverage provided by such existing policies; provided, however, that, without the prior written consent of Parent,

 

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Genzyme may not expend therefor in excess of 300% of the amount (“Annual Amount”) payable by Genzyme for 12 months of coverage under its existing directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies. In the event Genzyme does not obtain such tail policies, then, for a period of six (6) years from the Effective Time, Parent shall maintain in effect Genzyme’s current directors’ and officers’ liability insurance policies in respect of acts or omissions occurring at or prior to the Effective Time, covering each Indemnified Party on terms with respect to such coverage and amounts no less favorable than those of such policies in effect on the date of the Merger Agreement; provided, however, that Parent may substitute therefor policies of a reputable and financially sound insurance company containing terms, including with respect to coverage and amounts, no less favorable to any Indemnified Party; provided further, however, that in satisfying their obligation described in this paragraph, Parent shall not be obligated to pay for coverage for any 12-month period aggregate premiums for insurance in excess of 300% of the Annual Amount.

Further Action; Efforts

The Merger Agreement provides that prior to the Effective Time, each of Parent, Purchaser and Genzyme will use commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable laws to consummate the Exchange Offer, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement. The parties agreed to make all filings required by applicable foreign antitrust laws with respect to the Merger as promptly as practicable.

Under the Merger Agreement, Parent agrees, and shall cause each of its subsidiaries and affiliates, to take any and all actions reasonably necessary to obtain any consents, clearances or approvals required under any federal, state, or foreign antitrust laws or to enable all waiting periods under applicable antitrust laws to expire, and to avoid or eliminate impediments under applicable antitrust laws asserted by any governmental entity, in each case, to cause the Merger to occur prior to the close of business on August 16, 2011; provided, however, Parent shall not be required to take any action if such action would, or would reasonably be expected to, have a material adverse impact on Genzyme or on Parent and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

The Merger Agreement provides that in the event that any administrative or judicial action or proceeding is instituted (or threatened to be instituted) by a governmental entity challenging the Exchange Offer or the Merger, Parent, Purchaser, and Genzyme will cooperate in all respects with each other and will use commercially reasonable efforts to contest and resist any such action or proceeding and to have vacated, lifted, reversed, or overturned any order, whether temporary, preliminary, or permanent, that is in effect and that prohibits, prevents or restricts consummation of the Exchange Offer or the Merger.

The Merger Agreement provides that prior to the Acceptance Time, each party will use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain any consents, approvals or waivers of third parties with respect to any permits, environmental permits or contracts to which it is a party as may be necessary for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement or required by the terms of any contract as a result of the execution, performance or consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement; provided, that in no event will any party be required to pay, prior to the Effective Time, any fee, penalty or other consideration to any third party to obtain any consent, approval or waiver required with respect to any such contract.

The Merger Agreement provides that to the extent the transactions contemplated by the Merger require action under the the New Jersey Industrial Site Recovery Act (“ISRA”), Genzyme will use commercially reasonable efforts to take, or cause to be taken, all actions and to do, or cause to be done, all things necessary, proper or advisable under applicable laws to consummate the Exchange Offer, the Merger under ISRA.

 

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Other Agreements of the Parties

Shareholder Litigation

Genzyme has agreed to give Parent the opportunity to participate in the defense or settlement of any shareholder litigation against Genzyme and/or its directors or executive officers relating to the Exchange Offer, the Merger Agreement and any transaction contemplated therein, whether commenced prior to or after the execution and delivery of the Merger Agreement, and has agreed not to settle or offer to settle any such litigation without the prior written consent of Parent, except for, after consultation with Parent, any settlement or offer to settle that involves solely additional disclosure with respect to Genzyme and its subsidiaries.

Financing Cooperation

The Merger Agreement provides that prior to the Acceptance Time, Genzyme shall provide, and shall cause its subsidiaries to provide, and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause its and their officers, employees and advisors, including legal and accounting, to provide reasonable cooperation requested by Parent in connection with the arrangement of the prospective financing. Genzyme agrees that, prior to the Acceptance Time, Genzyme shall either deliver to Parent a fully executed and effective waiver under the Credit Agreement, dated as of July 14, 2006 (the “Credit Agreement”), by and among Genzyme and its subsidiaries party thereto, the lenders listed therein, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, Bank of America, N.A., as syndication agent, ANB AMRO Bank N.V., Citizens Bank of Massachusetts and Wachovia Bank, National Association, as co-documentation agents, as amended on November 30, 2010, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Parent, waiving any Default (as defined in the Credit Agreement) or Event of Default (as defined in the Credit Agreement) in connection with the consummation of the Exchange Offer, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, or repay all amounts owed under the Credit Agreement, terminate the Credit Agreement and provide evidence, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Parent, of such termination.

Conditions to Closing of the Merger

The Merger Agreement provides that the respective obligations of Parent and Purchaser and Genzyme are subject to the satisfaction at or prior to the Effective Time each of the following: (i) unless the Merger is consummated pursuant to the short-form merger provisions of the MBCA, that the Merger Agreement will have been approved by a requisite vote of Genzyme shareholders, (ii) no order, injunction or decree issued by any governmental entity of competent jurisdiction preventing the consummation of the Merger will be in effect, and no statute, rule, regulation, order, injunction or decree will have been enacted, entered, promulgated or enforced (and still be in effect) by any governmental entity that prohibits or makes illegal consummation of the Merger and (iii) Purchaser will have accepted for purchase and paid for the Shares validly tendered (and not withdrawn) pursuant to the Exchange Offer.

Termination of the Merger Agreement

The Merger Agreement may be terminated and the Exchange Offer and the Merger may be abandoned:

 

(a)

by mutual written consent of Parent and Genzyme at any time prior to the Effective Time, notwithstanding approval thereof by the holders of the Shares;

 

(b)

by either Parent or Genzyme at any time prior to the Effective Time if the Acceptance Time shall not have occurred on or prior to August 16, 2011; provided, however, that this right to terminate the Merger Agreement will not be available to a party in the event that the failure of the Acceptance Time to occur on or prior to the close of business on August 16, 2011 is primarily due to the failure of such party (or a subsidiary of such party) to fulfill any of its obligations under the Merger Agreement;

 

(c)

by either Parent or Genzyme at any time prior to the Effective Time, if the Exchange Offer is terminated or withdrawn pursuant to its terms and the terms of the Merger Agreement without any

 

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Shares being purchased thereunder; provided however, that this right to terminate the Merger Agreement will not be available to a party in the event that the failure of the Shares to be purchased is primarily due to the failure of such party (or a subsidiary of such party) to fulfill any of its obligations under the Merger Agreement;

 

(d)

by either Parent or Genzyme at any time prior to the Effective Time, notwithstanding adoption of the Merger Agreement by the holders of Shares, if any court of competent jurisdiction or other governmental entity has issued a final order, decree or ruling or taken any other final action restraining, enjoining or otherwise prohibiting the Exchange Offer or the Merger and such order, decree, ruling or other action has become final and nonappealable; provided, however, that this right to terminate the Merger Agreement will not be available to a party unless such party will have used commercially reasonable efforts to oppose any such order, decree, ruling or other action or to have the same vacated or made inapplicable to the Exchange Offer or the Merger;

 

(e)

by Genzyme at any time prior to the Acceptance Time, if (i) Purchaser fails to commence the Exchange Offer in violation of the Merger Agreement, or (ii) there has been a breach or inaccuracy of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement on the part of Parent or Purchaser contained in the Merger Agreement, which breach or inaccuracy would give rise to a Purchaser Material Adverse Effect (as defined at “The Exchange Offer—Conditions of the Exchange Offer”) and which breach or inaccuracy is not capable of being cured within 20 days following receipt by Parent or Purchaser of written notice of such breach or inaccuracy or, if such breach or failure is capable of being cured within such period, it has not been cured within such period, provided, however, that the failure of any such condition to be capable of satisfaction is not the result of a material breach of the Merger Agreement by Genzyme;

 

(f)

by Genzyme at any time prior to the Acceptance Time, if concurrently Genzyme enters into an Acquisition Agreement providing for a Superior Proposal after complying with Section 6.3 (d) of the Merger Agreement described above in the third and fourth paragraphs under the heading “—No Solicitation of Acquisition Proposals; Board Recommendation”;

 

(g)

by Parent at any time prior to the Acceptance Time, if Genzyme has breached or failed to perform, in any material respect, any of its representations, warranties, covenants or agreements set forth in the Merger Agreement, which breach or failure to perform (x) would give rise to the failure of an Offer Condition (as described in the section of this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange entitled “The Exchange Offer—Conditions of the Exchange Offer”) and (y) is not capable of being cured within 20 days following receipt by Genzyme of written notice of such breach or inaccuracy or, if such breach or failure is capable of being cured within such period, it has not been cured within such period, provided, however, that the failure of any such condition to be capable of satisfaction is not the result of a material breach of the Merger Agreement by Parent or Purchaser;

 

(h)

by Parent at any time prior to the Acceptance Time, within 5 business days of a Change of Board Recommendation;

 

(i)

by Parent at any time prior to the Acceptance Time, if the Genzyme Board shall have failed to reaffirm its recommendation of the Merger Agreement and the Exchange Offer within 3 business days after receipt of any written request to do so from Parent (which request may only be made following public disclosure of an Acquisition Proposal and may only be made one time with respect to any Acquisition Proposal; provided that Parent may make such a request with respect to any Acquisition Proposal whenever it is amended in any material respect); or

 

(j)

by Parent at any time prior to the Acceptance Time, if Genzyme shall have intentionally breached, in any material respect, any of its obligations under the provisions of the Merger Agreement described under the heading “—No Solicitation of Acquisition Proposals; Board Recommendation”.

 

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Termination Fees

The Merger Agreement contemplates that a termination fee of $575,000,000 (“Termination Fee”) will be payable by Genzyme to Parent if:

 

(a)

the Merger Agreement is terminated by Genzyme to enter into an Acquisition Agreement with a third party pursuant to paragraph (f) under “—Termination of the Merger Agreement” above;

 

(b)

the Merger Agreement is terminated by Parent within five business days of a Change of Board Recommendation pursuant to paragraph (h) under “—Termination of the Merger Agreement” above;

 

(c)

the Merger Agreement is terminated by Parent because the Genzyme Board has failed to reaffirm its recommendation of the Merger Agreement and the Exchange Offer pursuant to paragraph (i) under “—Termination of the Merger Agreement” above; or

 

(d)

(i) the Merger Agreement is terminated by Parent pursuant to paragraph (b) under “—Termination of the Merger Agreement” above solely as a result of the failure to be satisfied of either of the Offer Conditions set forth at items (b) and (c) under “The Exchange Offer—Conditions of the Exchange Offer—Other Conditions” (relating to breaches of the Merger Agreement by Genzyme), or pursuant to paragraph (j) under “—Termination of the Merger Agreement” above; and

(ii) (A) at any time on or after the date of the Merger Agreement and prior to such termination a third party has made, or has announced an intention to make, an Acquisition Proposal that has not been withdrawn prior to termination, and (B) within twelve months after the date of such termination, Genzyme enters into a definitive agreement with respect to or consummates any transaction specified in the definition of “Acquisition Proposal”.

Amendments

The Merger Agreement may be amended by the parties by action taken by or on behalf of their respective Boards of Directors at any time prior to the Effective Time, whether before or after approval of the Merger Agreement by the holders of Shares; provided, however, that, (a) after Purchaser purchases any Shares pursuant to the Exchange Offer, no amendment will be made that decreases the Merger Consideration, and (b) after approval of the Merger Agreement by the holders of Shares, no amendment may be made that (i) is prohibited by the MBCA or (ii) by law or any applicable rule or regulation of any stock exchange requires the further approval of the holders of Shares. The Agreement may not be amended except by an instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto.

Specific Enforcement

The parties have agreed that irreparable damage may occur for which monetary damages would not be an adequate remedy in the event that any of the provisions of the Merger Agreement is not performed in accordance with their specific terms or are otherwise breached. Therefore, the parties have agreed that, if for any reason Parent, Purchaser or Genzyme has failed to perform its obligations under the Merger Agreement, then the party seeking to enforce the Merger Agreement against such nonperforming party under the Merger Agreement shall be entitled to specific performance and the issuance of injunctive and other equitable relief; provided that specific performance shall not be available to Parent or Purchaser in respect of any breach of, or inaccuracy contained in Genzyme’s covenants, agreements, representations and warranties in the Merger Agreement in the event that Parent receives the Termination Fee.

 

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THE EXCHANGE OFFER

Introduction

Purchaser is offering to exchange for each outstanding Share of Genzyme common stock that is validly tendered and not properly withdrawn prior to the expiration date (i) $74.00 in cash, less any applicable withholding taxes and without interest and (ii) one CVR, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange and in the related Letter of Transmittal. Parent will not issue fractional CVRs in the transaction. Instead, the number of CVRs to be received by a Genzyme shareholder in exchange for that shareholder’s Shares will, after aggregating all fractional CVRs to which that shareholder is entitled, be rounded to the nearest whole number.

The term “expiration date” means 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on April 1, 2011, unless Purchaser extends the period of time for which the Exchange Offer is open, in which case the term “expiration date” means the latest time and date on which the Exchange Offer, as so extended, expires.

The Exchange Offer is being made pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, after the Exchange Offer is completed, subject to the approval of Genzyme shareholders if required by applicable law, Purchaser will merge with and into Genzyme in the Merger. In the Merger, each remaining Share (other than Dissenting Shares and Shares owned by Parent or Genzyme (or their respective subsidiaries)) will be converted into the right to receive the same consideration as that received by Genzyme shareholders pursuant to the Exchange Offer. The Merger Agreement is more fully described in the section of this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange entitled “The Merger Agreement.”

The Genzyme Board, among other things, has unanimously (i) determined that the Merger Agreement, the Exchange Offer and the Merger are in the best interests of Genzyme, (ii) adopted the Merger Agreement, (iii) approved the Exchange Offer and the Merger, (iv) directed that the Merger Agreement be submitted to the shareholders of Genzyme for approval, if required by applicable law, and (v) consented to the Exchange Offer and resolved to recommend acceptance of the Exchange Offer and approval of the Merger Agreement by the shareholders of Genzyme. The Genzyme Board unanimously recommends that Genzyme shareholders accept the Exchange Offer by tendering their Shares into the Exchange Offer.

The Exchange Offer is subject to a number of conditions which are described in the section of this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange entitled “—Conditions of the Exchange Offer.”

The Merger Agreement further provides that, subject to certain conditions, Genzyme grants Purchaser the irrevocable option to purchase that number of newly-issued Shares equal to the lowest number of Shares that, when added to the number of Shares owned by Purchaser at the time of such exercise, constitutes one Share more than ninety percent (90%) of all outstanding Shares. Such option would only be exercisable once in whole and not in part at any time within 1 business day following the Acceptance Time or the expiration of a subsequent offering period, as applicable, but is not exercisable for more than the number of authorized but unissued (and not reserved for issuance) Shares at the time of exercise of the option.

The Merger Agreement provides that, upon the payment by Purchaser for Shares tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer representing at least a majority of the outstanding Shares on a fully diluted basis, Purchaser will be entitled to designate such number of directors, rounded up to the next whole number, on the Genzyme Board as is equal to the product of (i) the total number of directors on the Genzyme Board (after giving effect to any increase in the number of directors described in this paragraph) and (ii) the percentage that such number of Shares so purchased bears to the total number of then-outstanding Shares on a fully-diluted basis. Genzyme will, upon request by Purchaser, promptly increase the size of the Genzyme Board or use commercially reasonable efforts to seek the resignations of such number of directors as is necessary to provide Purchaser with such level of representation and will use commercially reasonable efforts to cause Purchaser’s designees to be so elected or

 

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appointed. Genzyme has also agreed to use commercially reasonably efforts to cause each committee of the Genzyme Board to include persons designated by Purchaser constituting the same percentage of each such committee as Purchaser’s designees constitute on the Genzyme Board. Prior to the Effective Time, the Genzyme Board shall have at least three members who were directors as the date of the Merger Agreement, who are independent directors for purposes of the continued listing requirements of Nasdaq, and who are eligible to serve on Genzyme’s audit committee.

The Merger is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions, including, if required by applicable law, the approval of the Merger by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares. If Parent acquires, through Purchaser pursuant to the Exchange Offer or otherwise, at least a majority of the outstanding Shares, Parent would have sufficient voting power to approve the Merger without the affirmative vote of any other shareholder of Genzyme. Genzyme has agreed, if required, to cause a meeting of its shareholders to be held as promptly as reasonably practicable following consummation of the Exchange Offer for the purposes of considering and taking action upon the approval of the Merger. Parent has agreed to vote all Shares owned by it or any of its subsidiaries in favor of the approval of the Merger. See the section of this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange entitled “The Merger Agreement.”

Genzyme has provided Purchaser with its shareholder list and security position listings for the purpose of disseminating this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange to holders of Shares. This Prospectus/Offer to Exchange and the related Letter of Transmittal will be mailed to record holders of Shares whose names appear on Genzyme’s shareholder list and will be furnished, for subsequent transmittal to beneficial owners of Shares, to brokers, dealers, commercial banks, trust companies and similar persons whose names, or the names of whose nominees, appear on the shareholder list or, if applicable, who are listed as participants in a clearing agency’s security position listing.

If you are the record owner of your Shares and you tender your Shares in the Exchange Offer, you will not have to pay any brokerage fees or similar expenses or, except as otherwise provided in Instruction 6 of the Letter of Transmittal, stock transfer taxes with respect to the exchange of Shares by Purchaser pursuant to the Exchange Offer. If you own your Shares “in street name” through a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee and your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee tenders your Shares on your behalf, your broker or such other nominee may charge a fee for doing so. You should consult your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee to determine whether any charges will apply.

As of the date of this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange, Parent beneficially owns 100 Shares, representing a de minimis percentage of the outstanding Shares as of the date of this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange. As of the date of this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange, Purchaser does not own any Shares. As of March 2, 2011, there were (i) 263,114,965 Shares of common stock of Genzyme issued and outstanding, (ii) outstanding options to purchase approximately 23,611,094 Shares, of which options to purchase approximately 23,308,817 Shares had an exercise price less than $74.00, (iii) 4,541,592 Shares of common stock issuable in respect of Genzyme’s restricted stock units, (iv) 317,456 Shares of common stock estimated to be issuable in respect of Genzyme’s employee stock purchase plan for the first quarter of 2011 and (v) 15,522 Shares issuable in respect of certain Share purchase rights. For purposes of the Exchange Offer, “fully diluted basis” assumes that all outstanding stock options are presently exercisable. At meetings of shareholders of Genzyme, each outstanding Share is entitled to one vote.

Expiration of the Exchange Offer

The Exchange Offer is scheduled to expire at 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on April 1, 2011, which is the initial expiration date, unless further extended by Purchaser. For more information, you should read the discussion below under the caption “—Extension, Termination and Amendment.”

 

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Extension, Termination and Amendment

Subject to the applicable rules of the SEC and the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement described below, Purchaser expressly reserves the right (1) to extend the period of time during which the Exchange Offer is open, (2) to delay acceptance for exchange of, or exchange of, Shares of Genzyme in order to comply in whole or in part with applicable laws (any such delay shall be effected in compliance with Rule 14e-1(c) under the Exchange Act, which requires us to pay the consideration offered or to return Shares deposited by or on behalf of shareholders promptly after the termination or withdrawal of the Exchange Offer), (3) to amend or terminate the Exchange Offer without accepting for exchange of, or exchanging, Shares of Genzyme if any of the individually subheaded conditions referred to in the section of this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange entitled “—Conditions of the Exchange Offer” have not been satisfied or if any event specified in the section of this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange entitled “—Conditions of the Exchange Offer” under the subheading “Other Conditions” has occurred and (4) to amend the Exchange Offer or to waive any conditions of the Exchange Offer, other than those dependent upon receipt of government approvals, at any time on or prior to the expiration date of the Exchange Offer, in each case by giving oral or written notice of such delay, termination, waiver or amendment to the Exchange Agent and by making public announcement thereof.

The rights reserved by Purchaser by the preceding paragraph are in addition to Purchaser’s rights set forth in the section of this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange entitled “—Conditions of the Exchange Offer.” Any such extension, delay, termination, waiver or amendment will be followed as promptly as practicable by public announcement thereof, which, in the case of an extension, will be made no later than 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on the next business day after the previously scheduled expiration date. Subject to applicable law (including Rules 14d-4(d)(i), 14d-6(c) and 14e-1 under the Exchange Act, which require that material changes be promptly disseminated to shareholders in a manner reasonably designed to inform them of such changes), and without limiting the manner in which Parent or Purchaser may choose to make any public announcement, neither Parent nor Purchaser will have any obligation to publish, advertise or otherwise communicate any such public announcement other than by issuing a press release or other announcement.

Parent and Purchaser acknowledge that Rule 14e-1(c) under the Exchange Act requires Purchaser to pay the consideration offered or return the Shares of Genzyme tendered promptly after the termination or withdrawal of the Exchange Offer.

Under the applicable rules of the SEC, if Purchaser increases or decreases the percentage of Shares being sought or increases or decreases the cash, stock or aggregate consideration to be paid for Shares pursuant to the Exchange Offer and the Exchange Offer is scheduled to expire at any time before the expiration of 10 business days from, and including, the date that notice of such increase or decrease is first published, sent or given in the manner specified below, the Exchange Offer will be extended until the expiration of 10 business days from, and including, the date of such notice. If Purchaser makes a material change in the terms of the Exchange Offer (other than a change in the price to be paid in the Exchange Offer or the percentage of Shares sought) or in the information concerning the Exchange Offer, or waives a material condition of the Exchange Offer, Purchaser will extend the Exchange Offer, if required by applicable law, for a period sufficient to allow you to consider the amended terms of the Exchange Offer. Purchaser will comply with Rule 14d-4(d)(2) under the Exchange Act in connection with material changes to the terms of the Exchange Offer. As used in this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange, a “business day” means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or a Federal holiday, and consists of the time period from 12:01 a.m. through 12:00 midnight, New York City time.

The Merger Agreement provides that if on the initial expiration date of the Exchange Offer or on any subsequent scheduled expiration date of the Exchange Offer, any of the Offer Conditions shall not be satisfied, Purchaser is required either to extend the Exchange Offer for one or more periods of time of up to ten business days per extension, or extend the Exchange Offer for any period required by any rule, regulation, interpretation or position of the SEC or Nasdaq applicable to the Exchange Offer. However, in no circumstance will Purchaser be required to extend the Exchange Offer beyond August 16, 2011.

 

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In the Merger Agreement, Parent and Purchaser expressly reserve the right to waive any Offer Condition or modify or amend the terms of the Exchange Offer, except that, without the prior written consent of Genzyme, Purchaser will not (A) decrease the Cash Consideration, amend the terms of the CVR or CVR Agreement, or change the form of the consideration payable in the Exchange Offer, (B) decrease the number of Shares sought pursuant to the Exchange Offer, (C) amend or waive the Minimum Tender Condition or the CVR Condition (as defined below at “—Conditions of the Exchange Offer”), (D) add to the Offer Conditions, (E) modify the Offer Conditions in a manner adverse to the holders of Shares, (F) extend the expiration date of the Exchange Offer except as required or permitted by the Merger Agreement, (G) make any other change in the terms or conditions of the Exchange Offer that is adverse to the holders of Shares or (H) increase the Cash Consideration by an increment of less than $0.25.

Purchaser may elect to provide a subsequent offering period of at least three business days in length following the expiration of the initial offer on the expiration date and after acceptance for exchange of the Shares tendered (we refer to this period in this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange as a “subsequent offering period”). A subsequent offering period would be an additional period of time, following the first exchange of Shares in the initial offer, during which shareholders could tender Shares not yet tendered.

During a subsequent offering period, tendering shareholders would not have withdrawal rights and Purchaser would promptly exchange and pay for any Shares tendered at the same price paid in the Exchange Offer. Rule 14d-11 under the Exchange Act provides that Purchaser may elect to provide a subsequent offering period so long as, among other things, (1) the initial period of at least 20 business days of the initial offer has expired, (2) Purchaser offers the same form and amount of consideration for Shares in the subsequent offering period as in the initial offer, (3) Purchaser immediately accepts and promptly pays for all Shares tendered during the subsequent offering period prior to its expiration, and (4) Purchaser announces the results of the Exchange Offer, including the approximate number and percentage of Shares deposited in the initial offer period, no later than 9:00 a.m., Eastern time, on the next business day after the expiration date and immediately begins the subsequent offering period. If Purchaser elects to include a subsequent offering period, it will notify shareholders of Genzyme by making a public announcement on the next business day after the expiration date consistent with the requirements of Rule 14d-11 under the Exchange Act.

Pursuant to Rule 14d-7(a)(2) under the Exchange Act, no withdrawal rights apply to Shares tendered during a subsequent offering period and no withdrawal rights apply during the subsequent offering period with respect to Shares tendered in the Exchange Offer and accepted for exchange. The same consideration will be received by shareholders tendering Shares in the initial offer period or in a subsequent offering period, if one is included. Please see the section of this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange entitled “—Withdrawal Rights.”

Acceptance for Exchange and Exchange of Genzyme Shares; Delivery of CVRs

Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Exchange Offer (including, if the Exchange Offer is extended or amended, the terms and conditions of any such extension or amendment), Purchaser will accept for exchange promptly after the expiration date all Shares validly tendered (and not withdrawn in accordance with the procedure set out in the section of this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange entitled “—Withdrawal Rights”) prior to the expiration date. Purchaser will exchange all Shares validly tendered and not withdrawn promptly following the acceptance of Shares for exchange pursuant to the Exchange Offer. If Purchaser elects to include a subsequent offering period, Purchaser will accept for exchange, and promptly exchange, all validly tendered Shares as they are received during the subsequent offering period. Please see the section of this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange entitled “—Withdrawal Rights.”

In all cases (including during any subsequent offering period), Purchaser will exchange all Shares tendered and accepted for exchange pursuant to the Exchange Offer only after timely receipt by the Exchange Agent of (1) the certificates representing such Shares or timely confirmation (a “book-entry confirmation”) of a book-entry transfer of such Shares into the Exchange Agent’s account at The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) pursuant

 

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to the procedures set forth in the section of this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange entitled “—Procedure for Tendering,” (2) the properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal, with all required signature guarantees or, in the case of a book-entry transfer, an Agent’s Message (as defined below) and (3) any other documents required under the letter of transmittal. As used in this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange, the term “Agent’s Message” means a message, transmitted by DTC to, and received by, the Exchange Agent and forming a part of the book-entry confirmation which states that DTC has received an express acknowledgment from the participant in DTC tendering the Shares that are the subject of such book-entry confirmation, that such participant has received and agrees to be bound by the letter of transmittal and that Purchaser and Parent may enforce such agreement against such participant.

For purposes of the Exchange Offer, Purchaser and Parent will be deemed to have accepted for exchange, and thereby exchanged, Shares validly tendered and not properly withdrawn as, if and when Purchaser gives oral or written notice to the Exchange Agent of Purchaser’s acceptance for exchange of such Shares pursuant to the Exchange Offer. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Exchange Offer, exchange of Shares accepted for exchange pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be made by deposit of the cash and CVRs being exchanged therefor with the Exchange Agent and American Stock Transfer and Trust Company, LLC (the “Transfer Agent”), respectively, which will act as agents for tendering shareholders for the purpose of receiving the Merger Consideration from Parent and transmitting such consideration to tendering shareholders whose Shares have been accepted for exchange. Under no circumstances will Parent or Purchaser pay interest on the Merger Consideration for Shares, regardless of any extension of the Exchange Offer or other delay in making such exchange.

If any tendered Shares are not accepted for exchange for any reason pursuant to the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer, or if certificates representing such Shares are submitted representing more Shares than are tendered, certificates representing unexchanged or untendered Shares will be returned, without expense to the tendering shareholder (or, in the case of Shares tendered by book-entry transfer into the Exchange Agent’s account at DTC pursuant to the procedure set forth in the section of this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange entitled “—Procedure for Tendering,” such Shares will be credited to an account maintained at DTC), promptly following the expiration or termination of the Exchange Offer.

Fractional CVRs

Parent will not issue fractional CVRs in the transaction. Instead, the number of CVRs to be received by a Genzyme shareholder in exchange for that shareholder’s Shares will, after aggregating all fractional CVRs to which that shareholder is entitled, be rounded to the nearest whole number.

Procedure for Tendering

In order for a shareholder to validly tender Shares, the Exchange Agent must receive prior to the expiration date the Letter of Transmittal (or a manually signed facsimile thereof), properly completed and duly executed, together with any required signature guarantees or, in the case of a book-entry transfer, an Agent’s Message in lieu of the letter of transmittal, and any other documents required by the letter of transmittal, at one of its addresses set forth on the back cover of this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange and either (1) the certificates representing tendered Shares must be received by the Exchange Agent at such address or such Shares must be tendered pursuant to the procedure for book-entry transfer described below and a book-entry confirmation must be received by the Exchange Agent (including an Agent’s Message), in each case prior to the expiration date or the expiration of the subsequent offering period, if any, or (2) the tendering shareholder must comply with the guaranteed delivery procedures described below.

The method of delivery of Share certificates and all other required documents, including delivery through DTC, is at the option and risk of the tendering shareholder, and the delivery will be deemed made only when actually received by the Exchange Agent. If delivery is by mail, registered mail with return receipt requested, properly insured, is recommended. In all cases, sufficient time should be allowed to ensure timely delivery.

 

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Book-Entry Transfer. The Exchange Agent has established accounts with respect to the Shares at DTC for purposes of the Exchange Offer within two business days after the date of this Offer to Purchase. Any financial institution that is a participant in the system of DTC may make a book-entry delivery of Shares by causing DTC to transfer such Shares into the Exchange Agent’s account at DTC in accordance with DTC’s procedures for such transfer. However, although delivery of Shares may be effected through book-entry transfer at the DTC, either the Letter of Transmittal (or a manually signed facsimile thereof), properly completed and duly executed, together with any required signature guarantees, or an Agent’s Message in lieu of the letter of transmittal and any other required documents must, in any case, be received by the Exchange Agent at one of its addresses set forth on the back cover of this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange prior to the expiration date, or the tendering shareholder must comply with the guaranteed delivery procedure described below. Delivery of documents to DTC does not constitute delivery to the Exchange Agent.

Signature Guarantees. No signature guarantee is required on the Letter of Transmittal (i) if the Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder(s) (which term, for this purpose, includes any participant in DTC’s systems whose name appears on a security position listing as the owner of the Shares) of the Shares tendered therewith, unless such holder has completed either the box entitled “Special Delivery Instructions” or the box entitled “Special Payment Instructions” on the Letter of Transmittal or (ii) if the Shares are tendered for the account of a financial institution (including most commercial banks, savings and loan associations and brokerage houses) that is a participant in the Security Transfer Agents Medallion Program or any other “eligible guarantor institution,” as such term is defined in Rule 17Ad-15 of the Exchange Act (each an “Eligible Institution” and collectively “Eligible Institutions”). In all other cases, all signatures on a Letter of Transmittal must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution. See Instruction 1 of the Letter of Transmittal. If a Share certificate is registered in the name of a person or persons other than the signer of the Letter of Transmittal, or if payment is to be made or delivered to, or a Share Certificate evidencing Shares not accepted for payment or not tendered is to be issued in, the name(s) of a person other than the registered holder(s), then the Share certificate must be endorsed or accompanied by appropriate duly executed stock powers, in either case signed exactly as the name(s) of the registered holder(s) appear on the Share certificate, with the signature(s) on such Share certificate or stock powers guaranteed by an Eligible Institution as provided in the Letter of Transmittal. See Instructions 1 and 5 of the Letter of Transmittal.

Guaranteed Delivery. If a shareholder desires to tender Shares pursuant to the Exchange Offer and the Share certificates evidencing such shareholder’s Shares are not immediately available or such shareholder cannot deliver the Share certificates and all other required documents to the Exchange Agent prior to the expiration date, or such shareholder cannot complete the procedure for delivery by book-entry transfer on a timely basis, such Shares may nevertheless be tendered, provided that all of the following conditions are satisfied:

 

•

such tender is made by or through an Eligible Institution;

 

•

a properly completed and duly executed Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, substantially in the form made available by us, is received prior to the expiration date by the Exchange Agent as provided below; and

 

•

the Share certificates (or a book-entry confirmation) evidencing all tendered Shares, in proper form for transfer, in each case together with the Letter of Transmittal (or a manually signed facsimile thereof), properly completed and duly executed, with any required signature guarantees (or, in the case of a book-entry transfer, an Agent’s Message), and any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal are received by the Exchange Agent within three trading days after the date of execution of such Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.

The Notice of Guaranteed Delivery may be delivered by overnight courier, transmitted by manually signed facsimile transmission or mailed to the Exchange Agent and must include a guarantee by an Eligible Institution in the form set forth in the form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery made available by Purchaser.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange, payment for Shares accepted pursuant to the Exchange Offer will in all cases only be made after timely receipt by the Exchange Agent of (i) certificates evidencing such Shares or a book-entry confirmation of a book-entry transfer of such Shares into

 

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the Exchange Agent’s account at DTC pursuant to the procedures set forth herein, (ii) the Letter of Transmittal (or a manually signed facsimile thereof), properly completed and duly executed, with any required signature guarantees or, in the case of a book-entry transfer, an Agent’s Message in lieu of the Letter of Transmittal and (iii) any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal. Accordingly, tendering shareholders may be paid at different times depending upon when Share certificates or book-entry confirmations with respect to Shares are actually received by the Exchange Agent.

The method of delivery of Share certificates, the Letter of Transmittal and all other required documents, including delivery through DTC, is at the option and risk of the tendering shareholder, and the delivery will be deemed made only when actually received by the Exchange Agent (including, in the case of a book-entry transfer, receipt of a book-entry confirmation). If delivery is by mail, registered mail with return receipt requested, properly insured, is recommended. In all cases, sufficient time should be allowed to ensure timely delivery.

Determination of Validity. All questions as to the validity, form, eligibility (including time of receipt) and acceptance for exchange of any tender of Shares will be determined by us, in our discretion, which determination shall be final and binding on all parties to the extent permitted by law. We reserve the absolute right to reject any and all tenders determined by us not to be in proper form or the acceptance for payment of which may, in the opinion of our counsel, be unlawful. We also reserve the absolute right to waive any defect or irregularity in the tender of any Shares of any particular shareholder, whether or not similar defects or irregularities are waived in the case of other shareholders. No tender of Shares will be deemed to have been validly made until all defects and irregularities have been cured or waived to our satisfaction. None of Purchaser, the Exchange Agent, the Dealer Manager, the Information Agent or any other person will be under any duty to give notification of any defects or irregularities in tenders or incur any liability for failure to give any such notification. Subject to any applicable legal requirements, any determination by us concerning any condition or event relating to this Exchange Offer, including the interpretation of the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer (including the Letter of Transmittal and the instructions thereto), may be challenged by Genzyme shareholders in a court of competent jurisdiction. A nonappealable determination with respect to such matter by a court of competent jurisdiction will be final and binding upon all persons.

A tender of Shares pursuant to any of the procedures described above will constitute the tendering shareholder’s acceptance of the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer, as well as the tendering shareholder’s representation and warranty to Parent and Purchaser that (1) such shareholder owns the tendered Shares (and any and all other Shares or other securities issued or issuable in respect of such Shares), (2) such shareholder has the full power and authority to tender, sell, assign and transfer the tendered Shares (and any and all other Shares or other securities issued or issuable in respect of such Shares) and (3) when the same are accepted for exchange by Purchaser, Purchaser will acquire good and unencumbered title thereto, free and clear of all liens, restrictions, charges and encumbrances and not subject to any adverse claims.

The acceptance for exchange by Purchaser of Shares pursuant to any of the procedures described above will constitute a binding agreement between the tendering shareholder, Parent and Purchaser upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Exchange Offer.

Appointment as Proxy. By executing the Letter of Transmittal as set forth above, the tendering shareholder will irrevocably appoint designees of Purchaser as such shareholder’s attorneys-in-fact and proxies in the manner set forth in the Letter of Transmittal, each with full power of substitution, to the full extent of such shareholder’s rights with respect to the Shares tendered by such shareholder and accepted for exchange by Purchaser and with respect to any and all other Shares or other securities or rights issued or issuable in respect of such Shares. All such powers of attorney and proxies will be considered irrevocable and coupled with an interest in the tendered Shares. Such appointment will be effective when, and only to the extent that, we accept for exchange Shares tendered by such shareholder as provided herein. Upon such appointment, all prior powers of attorney, proxies and consents given by such shareholder with respect to such Shares or other securities or rights will, without

 

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further action, be revoked and no subsequent powers of attorney, proxies, consents or revocations may be given by such shareholder (and, if given, will not be deemed effective). The designees of Purchaser will thereby be empowered to exercise all voting and other rights with respect to such Shares and other securities or rights, including, without limitation, in respect of any annual, special or adjourned meeting of Genzyme’s shareholders, actions by written consent in lieu of any such meeting or otherwise, as they in their sole discretion deem proper. We reserve the right to require that, in order for Shares to be deemed validly tendered, immediately upon Purchaser’s acceptance for exchange of such Shares, Purchaser must be able to exercise full voting, consent and other rights with respect to such Shares and other related securities or rights, including voting at any meeting of shareholders.

Backup Withholding. Under the “backup withholding” provisions of United States federal income tax law, the Exchange Agent may be required to withhold and pay over to the Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) a portion of the amount of any payments, including the CVRs, pursuant to the Exchange Offer. In order to prevent backup federal income tax withholding with respect to payments to certain shareholders of the Merger Consideration for Shares exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer, each such shareholder must provide the Exchange Agent with such shareholder’s correct taxpayer identification number (“TIN”) and certify that such shareholder is not subject to backup withholding by completing an IRS Form W-9 or the Substitute Form W-9 included in the Letter of Transmittal. Certain shareholders (including, among others, all corporations and certain foreign persons) may not be subject to backup withholding. If a shareholder does not provide its correct TIN or fails to provide the certifications described above or establish an exemption, the Internal Revenue Service may impose a penalty on the shareholder and payment to the shareholder pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be subject to backup withholding. All shareholders tendering Shares pursuant to the Exchange Offer who are U.S. persons (as defined for United States federal income tax purposes) should complete and sign an IRS Form W-9 or the Substitute Form W-9 included in the Letter of Transmittal to provide the information necessary to avoid backup withholding. Foreign shareholders should complete and sign the appropriate Form W-8 (a copy of which may be obtained from the Exchange Agent or from the IRS website at www.irs.gov ) in order to establish their exempt status. Such shareholders should consult a tax advisor to determine which Form W-8 is appropriate. See Instruction 8 of the Letter of Transmittal.

Withdrawal Rights

Except as otherwise provided in this section, tenders of Shares made pursuant to the Exchange Offer are irrevocable.

Shares tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be withdrawn at any time until the Exchange Offer has expired and, unless Purchaser has accepted the Shares for exchange pursuant to the Exchange Offer, may also be withdrawn at any time. If Purchaser elects to include a subsequent offering period, Shares tendered during the subsequent offering period may not be withdrawn. Please see the section of this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange entitled “—Extension, Termination and Amendment.”

For a withdrawal to be effective, a written or facsimile transmission notice of withdrawal must be timely received by the Exchange Agent at one of its addresses set forth on the back cover page of this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange. Any notice of withdrawal must specify the name of the person who tendered the Shares to be withdrawn, the number of Shares to be withdrawn and the name of the registered holder of such Shares, if different from that of the person who tendered such Shares. If certificates representing Shares to be withdrawn have been delivered or otherwise identified to the Exchange Agent, then, prior to the physical release of such certificates, the serial numbers shown on such certificates must be submitted to the Exchange Agent and, unless such Shares have been tendered by or for the account of an Eligible Institution, the signature(s) on the notice of withdrawal must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution. If Shares have been tendered pursuant to the procedure for book-entry transfer as set forth in the section of this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange entitled “—Procedure for Tendering,” any notice of withdrawal must specify the name and number of the account at DTC to be credited with the withdrawn Shares.

 

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Withdrawals of Shares may not be rescinded. Any Shares properly withdrawn will thereafter be deemed not to have been validly tendered for purposes of the Exchange Offer. However, withdrawn Shares may be re-tendered at any time prior to the expiration date (or during the subsequent offering period, if any) by following one of the procedures described in the section of this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange entitled “—Procedure for Tendering” (except Shares may not be re-tendered using the procedures for guaranteed delivery during any subsequent offering period).

All questions as to the form and validity (including time of receipt) of any notice of withdrawal will be determined by Purchaser and Parent, in their discretion, whose determination will be final and binding to the fullest extent permitted by law. None of Purchaser or Parent or any of their respective affiliates or assigns, the Dealer Manager, the Exchange Agent, the Information Agent or any other person will be under any duty to give any notification of any defects or irregularities in any notice of withdrawal or incur any liability for failure to give any such notification.

Announcement of Results of the Exchange Offer

Parent will announce the final results of the Exchange Offer, including whether all of the Offer Conditions have been fulfilled or waived and whether Purchaser will accept the tendered Shares for exchange after expiration of the Exchange Offer. The announcement will be made by a press release.

Certain United States Federal Income Tax Consequences

The following is a summary of certain (1) United States federal income tax consequences of the Exchange Offer and the Merger to shareholders of Genzyme whose Shares are tendered and accepted for exchange pursuant to the Exchange Offer or whose Shares are converted into the right to receive the Cash Consideration and CVRs in the Merger, (2) United States federal income tax considerations related to the ownership and disposition of CVRs received in the Exchange Offer or the Merger and (3) United States federal income tax consequences to holders of Shares who properly perfect appraisal rights. The discussion is for general information only and does not purport to consider all aspects of United States federal income taxation that might be relevant to holders of Shares or CVRs received in the Exchange Offer or the Merger. The discussion is based on current provisions of the Code, existing, proposed and temporary regulations thereunder and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof, all of which are subject to change, possibly with a retroactive effect. The discussion applies only to holders who hold Shares and/or who will acquire CVRs pursuant to the Exchange Offer or Merger, as applicable, as capital assets within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Code (generally, property held for investment). This discussion does not address all aspects of United States federal income taxation that may be relevant to a holder in light of such holder’s particular circumstances or that may apply to holders subject to special treatment under United States federal income tax laws (including, for example, holders who hold Shares or CVRs as part of a hedge, straddle, constructive sale or conversion transaction, holders who acquired Shares or CVRs under Genzyme’s stock incentive plans, pursuant to the exercise of employee stock options or otherwise as compensation, holders liable for the alternative minimum tax, partnerships or other pass-through entities, insurance companies, tax-exempt organizations, financial institutions and broker-dealers). This discussion applies only to a beneficial holder of Shares or CVRs which is one of the following: (i) an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States; (ii) a corporation, or other entity taxable as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes, created or organized in or under the laws of the United States, any state thereof or the District of Columbia; (iii) an estate the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source; or (iv) a trust, if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary jurisdiction over its administration and one or more U.S. persons have authority to control all of its substantial decisions, or if the trust has a valid election in effect under applicable Treasury regulations to be treated as a U.S. person. This discussion does not consider the effect of any foreign, state or local tax laws.

If an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for United States federal income tax purposes is a beneficial owner of Shares or CVRs, the tax treatment of a partner in such partnership will generally depend upon the status of

 

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the partner and the activities of the partnership. Holders of Shares or CVRs that are partnerships, and partners in such partnerships, should consult their tax advisor regarding the United States federal income tax consequences to them of the Exchange Offer, the Merger, and the ownership and disposition of CVRs.

Because individual circumstances may differ, shareholders should consult their own tax advisors to determine the applicability of the rules discussed below and the particular tax effects of the Exchange Offer and the Merger and the ownership and disposition of CVRs received in the Exchange Offer or the Merger to them, including the application and effect of the alternative minimum tax and any state, local, foreign or other tax laws and of changes in such laws.

The exchange of Shares for cash and CVRs pursuant to the Exchange Offer or the Merger will be a taxable transaction for United States federal income tax purposes. In general, a holder of Shares will recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference, if any, between (1) the sum of the amount of cash, and the fair market value of the CVRs received by the shareholder in exchange for such Shares and (2) the shareholder’s adjusted tax basis in such Shares. Gain or loss will be determined separately for each block of Shares (that is, Shares acquired at the same cost in a single transaction) tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer or exchanged pursuant to the Merger. Such gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss provided that a shareholder’s holding period for such Shares is more than one year at the time of consummation of the Exchange Offer or the Merger, as the case may be. Long-term capital gains of certain non-corporate holders, including individuals, generally are eligible for federal income taxation at preferential rates. Certain limitations apply to the deductibility of a shareholder’s capital losses. The installment method of reporting any gain attributable to receipt of a CVR will not be available because Shares are traded on an established securities market.

A holder’s initial tax basis in a CVR received in the Exchange Offer or the Merger will equal the fair market value of such CVR as determined for United States federal income tax purposes, and the holding period for such CVR will begin on the day following the date of the consummation of the Exchange Offer or the Merger, as the case may be.

There is no legal authority directly addressing the United States federal income tax treatment of the CVRs. Accordingly, the amount, timing and character of any gain, income or loss with respect to the CVRs are uncertain. For example, it is possible that payments received with respect to a CVR, up to the amount of the holder’s adjusted tax basis in the CVR, may be treated as a non-taxable return of a holder’s adjusted tax basis in the CVR, with any amount received in excess of such basis treated as gain from the disposition of the CVR, or possibly another method of basis recovery may apply. Further, it is not clear whether payments made with respect to a CVR may be treated as payments with respect to a sale or exchange of a capital asset or as giving rise to ordinary income. A holder who does not sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of a CVR may not be able to recognize a loss with respect to the CVR until the holder’s right to receive CVR payments terminates.

Although not entirely clear, a portion of any payment due more than six months following the consummation of the Exchange Offer or the Merger, as the case may be, with respect to a CVR may constitute imputed interest taxable as ordinary income under Section 483 of the Code, and Parent has agreed with Genzyme to determine imputed interest, if any, in accordance with Section 483 of the Code. The portion of any CVR payment treated as imputed interest under Section 483 of the Code generally should equal the excess of the amount of the CVR payment over the present value of such amount as of the consummation of the Exchange Offer or the Merger, as the case may be, calculated using the applicable federal rate as the discount rate. A holder of a CVR must include in its taxable income interest imputed pursuant to Section 483 of the Code using such holder’s regular method of accounting.

Upon a sale or other disposition of a CVR, a holder generally should recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference between (1) the sum of the amount of any cash received upon such sale or exchange and the fair market value of any property received upon such sale or exchange (less any imputed interest, as described below) and (2) the holder’s adjusted tax basis in the CVR. Such gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or

 

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loss if the holder has held the CVR for more than one year. Although not entirely clear, it is possible that a portion of the amount received by a holder upon the sale or other disposition of a CVR may be treated as imputed interest income, determined under the method described above.

The United Stated federal income tax treatment of the CVRs is not certain. Neither Parent nor Purchaser intends to seek a ruling from the IRS regarding the tax treatment of the CVRs and it is possible that the IRS might successfully assert that payments with respect to, or sales or other dispositions of, the CVRs should be treated differently than described above. If the IRS were to so successfully assert, the amount, timing and character of income, gain or loss realized with respect to the CVRs may be materially different than described above. You should consult your tax advisors concerning the recognition of income, gain or loss, if any, resulting from the receipt of payments, if any, with respect to, and sales or other dispositions of, the CVRs.

A shareholder whose Shares are purchased in the Exchange Offer or exchanged for cash and CVRs pursuant to the Merger is subject to information reporting and may be subject to backup withholding unless certain information is provided or an exemption applies. See “—Procedure for Tendering.”

Payments made with respect to a CVR may be subject to information reporting and backup withholding. In order to prevent backup withholding with respect to payments to certain holders of CVRs, each such holder must provide its correct TIN and certify that such holder is not subject to backup withholding by completing an IRS Form W-9 or the Substitute Form W-9 in the Letter of Transmittal. Certain holders of CVRs (including, among others, all corporations) may not be subject to backup withholding. If a holder of CVRs does not provide its correct TIN or fails to provide the certifications described above or establish an exemption, the IRS may impose a penalty on the holder and payment to the holder with respect to CVRs may be subject to backup withholding. All holders of CVRs who are U.S. persons (as defined for United States federal income tax purposes) should complete and sign an IRS Form W-9 or the Substitute Form W-9 included in the Letter of Transmittal to provide the information necessary to avoid backup withholding.

Appraisal Rights

The above discussion does not apply to holders of Shares who properly perfect appraisal rights. Generally, a holder of Shares who perfects appraisal rights with respect to such holder’s Shares will recognize capital gain or loss equal to the difference between such holder’s tax basis in those shares and the amount of cash received in exchange for those Shares.

French Withholding Tax

Parent has agreed not to withhold tax under French law on the delivery of cash or CVRs in the Exchange Offer or in the Merger or with respect to any payments made with respect to the CVRs except to the extent that withholding becomes required by reason of a change in French laws (or in the official interpretations thereof) in the future.

Statutory Requirements; Approval of the Merger

Under the MBCA, the approval of the Genzyme Board and the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding Shares may be required to approve the Merger Agreement. The Genzyme Board has unanimously adopted the Merger Agreement and approved the Exchange Offer and the Merger and, unless the Merger is consummated pursuant to the short-form merger provisions under Section 11.05 of the MBCA described below, the only remaining required corporate action by Genzyme is the approval of the Merger Agreement by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Shares. Under the Merger Agreement, if the Merger cannot be consummated pursuant to the short-form merger provisions under the MBCA, Genzyme is required to duly call, give notice of, convene and hold a special meeting of its shareholders promptly following the consummation of the Exchange Offer for the purpose of approving the Merger Agreement. If the Minimum

 

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Condition (as defined below at “—Conditions of the Exchange Offer”) is satisfied, we believe Purchaser will have sufficient voting power to cause the approval and adoption of the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby without the affirmative vote of any other Genzyme shareholders, and a special meeting of Genzyme shareholders would not be required.

Short-Form Merger

Under the MBCA, if Purchaser acquires, pursuant to the Exchange Offer, at least 90% of the outstanding Shares, Purchaser will be able to approve the Merger without the affirmative vote of Genzyme’s other shareholders. In such event, Parent and Purchaser anticipate that they will take all necessary and appropriate action to cause the Merger to become effective as soon as reasonably practicable after such acquisition, without calling or conducting a meeting of Genzyme’s shareholders. If, however, Purchaser does not acquire at least 90% of the outstanding Shares pursuant to the Exchange Offer or otherwise, a vote of Genzyme’s shareholders is required under the MBCA, and a significantly longer period of time would be required to effect the Merger. Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Genzyme has agreed to convene a meeting of its shareholders promptly following consummation of the Exchange Offer to consider and vote on the Merger, if a shareholders’ vote is required. If Purchaser acquires at least 90% of the outstanding Shares and consummates a short form merger pursuant to Section 11.05 of the MBCA, Purchaser shall notify all Genzyme shareholders of record who are entitled to assert appraisal rights, in writing, that the Merger became effective, within 10 days after consummation of the Merger. The appraisal notice will contain the information required by Section 13.22 of the MBCA, including Purchaser’s estimate of the fair value of the Shares and procedural instructions for Genzyme shareholders who wish to assert appraisal rights.

Appraisal/Dissenters’ Rights

No dissenters’ or appraisal rights are available to Genzyme shareholders in connection with the Exchange Offer.

Genzyme shareholders who do not vote “FOR” the Merger and who hold their Shares through the completion of the Merger are entitled to exercise their appraisal rights to have the fair value of their shares judicially determined by a Massachusetts court pursuant to Part 13 of the MBCA. Any Genzyme shareholder wishing to preserve such rights should carefully review Part 13 of the MBCA, which sets forth the procedures to be complied with in exercising and perfecting any such rights. Failure to strictly comply with the procedures set forth in Part 13 of the MBCA may result in the loss of any such appraisal rights to which such shareholder otherwise may be entitled.

If any holder of Shares who demands appraisal under Part 13 of the MBCA fails to perfect, or effectively withdraws or loses its appraisal rights as provided in the MBCA, the Shares of such shareholder will be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration. A shareholder’s right to exercise appraisal rights in order to determine the fair value of its Shares shall also terminate if the Merger is abandoned or rescinded, if a court having jurisdiction permanently enjoins or sets aside the Merger, or if the shareholder’s demand for payment is withdrawn with the consent of Genzyme.

In light of the complexity of Part 13 of the MBCA, any Genzyme shareholders wishing to assert appraisal rights with respect to the Merger should consult their legal advisors.

Plans for Genzyme

The purpose of the Exchange Offer and the Merger is for Parent to acquire control of, and ultimately the entire interest in, Genzyme. Parent intends, promptly following Purchaser’s acceptance for exchange and exchange of Shares in the Exchange Offer, to consummate a Merger of Purchaser with and into Genzyme. In the Merger, each remaining outstanding Share (other than Shares owned by Parent, Purchaser, Genzyme or any

 

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subsidiary of Parent or Genzyme) will be converted into the right to receive the Merger Consideration. If the Exchange Offer is successful, Parent intends to consummate the Merger as promptly as practicable.

If, and to the extent that Parent (and/or any of Parent’s subsidiaries) acquires control of Genzyme, Parent intends to conduct a detailed review of Genzyme’s business, operations, capitalization and management and consider and determine what, if any, changes would be desirable in light of the circumstances which then exist. It is expected that, initially following the Merger, the business and operations of Genzyme will, except as set forth in this offer, be continued substantially as they are currently being conducted, but Parent expressly reserves the right to make any changes that it deems necessary, appropriate or convenient to optimize exploitation of Genzyme’s potential in conjunction with Parent’s businesses in light of Parent’s review or in light of future developments. Such changes could include, among other things, changes in Genzyme’s business, corporate structure, assets, properties, marketing strategies, capitalization, management, personnel or dividend policy and changes to Genzyme’s articles of organization and bylaws.

Except as indicated in this Exchange Offer, neither Parent nor any of Parent’s subsidiaries has any current plans or proposals which relate to or would result in (1) any extraordinary transaction, such as a merger, reorganization or liquidation of Genzyme or any of its subsidiaries, (2) any purchase, sale or transfer of a material amount of assets of Genzyme or any of its subsidiaries, (3) any material change in the present dividend rate or policy, or indebtedness or capitalization of Genzyme or any of its subsidiaries or (4) any other material change in Genzyme’s corporate structure or business.

Effect of the Exchange Offer on the Market for Shares; Nasdaq Listing; Registration under the Exchange Act; Margin Regulations

Effect of the Exchange Offer on the Market for Shares of Genzyme

The exchange of Shares by Purchaser pursuant to the Exchange Offer will reduce the number of Shares that might otherwise trade publicly and will reduce the number of holders of Shares, which could adversely affect the liquidity and market value of the remaining Shares held by the public. The extent of the public market for Genzyme common stock and the availability of quotations reported in the over-the-counter market depends upon the number of shareholders holding Genzyme common stock, the aggregate market value of the Shares remaining at such time, the interest of maintaining a market in the Shares on the part of any securities firms and other factors.

Stock Quotation

Depending upon the number of Shares purchased pursuant to the Exchange Offer, the Shares may no longer meet the requirements for continued listing on Nasdaq. According to the published guidelines of Nasdaq, Nasdaq would consider disqualifying the Shares for listing on Nasdaq (though not necessarily for listing on The Nasdaq Capital Market) if, among other possible grounds, the number of publicly held Shares falls below 750,000, the total number of beneficial holders of round lots of Shares falls below 400, the market value of publicly held Shares over a 30 consecutive business day period is less than $5 million, there are fewer than two active and registered market makers in the Shares over a ten consecutive business day period, Genzyme has shareholders’ equity of less than $10 million, or the bid price for the Shares over a 30 consecutive business day period is less than $1. Furthermore, Nasdaq will consider delisting the Shares from Nasdaq altogether if, among other possible grounds, (i) the number of publicly held Shares falls below 500,000, (ii) the total number of beneficial holders of round lots of Shares falls below 300, (iii) the market value of publicly held Shares over a 30 consecutive business day period is less than $1 million, (iv) there are fewer than two active and registered market makers in the Shares over a ten consecutive business day period, (v) the bid price for the Shares over a 30 consecutive business day period is less than $1, or (vi)(A) Genzyme has shareholders’ equity of less than $2.5 million, (B) the market value of Genzyme’s listed securities is less than $35 million over a ten consecutive business day period, and (C) Genzyme’s net income from continuing operations is less than $500,000 for the most recently completed

 

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fiscal year and two of the last three most recently completed fiscal years. Shares held by officers or directors of Genzyme, or by any beneficial owner of more than 10% of the Shares, will not be considered as being publicly held for this purpose. As of March 2, 2011, there were (i) 263,114,965 Shares of common stock of Genzyme issued and outstanding, (ii) outstanding options to purchase approximately 23,611,094 Shares, of which options to purchase approximately 23,308,817 Shares had an exercise price less than $74.00, (iii) 4,541,592 Shares of common stock issuable in respect of Genzyme’s restricted stock units, (iv) 317,456 Shares of common stock estimated to be issuable in respect of Genzyme’s employee stock purchase plan for the first quarter of 2011 and (v) 15,522 Shares issuable in respect of certain Share purchase rights. If, as a result of the purchase of Shares pursuant to the Exchange Offer or otherwise, the Shares are either no longer eligible for Nasdaq or are delisted from Nasdaq altogether, the market for Shares will be adversely affected.

Margin Regulations

The Shares are currently “margin securities” under the Regulations of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve Board”), which has the effect, among other things, of allowing brokers to extend credit on the collateral of the Shares. Depending upon factors similar to those described above regarding the market for the Shares and stock quotations, it is possible that, following the Exchange Offer, the Shares would no longer constitute “margin securities” for the purposes of the margin regulations of the Federal Reserve Board and, therefore, could no longer be used as collateral for loans made by brokers.

Exchange Act Registration

The Shares are currently registered under the Exchange Act. Such registration may be terminated upon application of Genzyme to the SEC if the Shares are neither listed on a national securities exchange nor held by 300 or more holders of record. Termination of registration of the Shares under the Exchange Act would substantially reduce the information required to be furnished by Genzyme to its shareholders and to the SEC and would make certain provisions of the Exchange Act no longer applicable to Genzyme, such as the short-swing profit recovery provisions of Section 16(b) of the Exchange Act, the requirement of furnishing a proxy statement pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act in connection with shareholders’ meetings and the related requirement of furnishing an annual report to shareholders and the requirements of Rule 13e-3 under the Exchange Act with respect to “going private” transactions. Furthermore, the ability of “affiliates” of Genzyme and persons holding “restricted securities” of Genzyme to dispose of such securities pursuant to Rule 144 promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, may be impaired or eliminated. If registration of the Shares under the Exchange Act were terminated, the Shares would no longer be “margin securities” or be eligible for listing on Nasdaq. We intend and will cause Genzyme to terminate the registration of the Shares under the Exchange Act as soon after consummation of the Exchange Offer as the requirements for termination of registration are met. If registration of the Shares is not terminated prior to the Merger, the registration of the Shares under the Exchange Act will be terminated following the consummation of the Merger.

Effect on Genzyme Senior Notes.

In June 2010, Genzyme issued $500.0 million of 3.625% Senior Notes due 2015 and $500.0 million of 5.000% Senior Notes due 2020 (together, the “Senior Notes”) under an Indenture dated June 17, 2010 between Genzyme and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee, and a related first supplemental indenture (the “Senior Notes Indenture”). After completion of the Exchange Offer, Parent may (i) cause Genzyme to keep the Senior Notes outstanding, subject to complying with a requirement in the Senior Notes Indenture, if applicable, that Genzyme make an offer to purchase the Senior Notes at 101% of the principal amount of the notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, in the event of a “Change of Control Triggering Event” under, and as defined in, the Senior Notes Indenture (generally, a change of control combined with a ratings downgrade of the Senior Notes to below investment grade) or (ii) cause Genzyme to redeem the Senior Notes as permitted by the Senior Notes Indenture. The Senior Notes were issued in a private placement and are currently registered under Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. If we choose to keep the Senior Notes outstanding, we may

 

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cause Genzyme to cease filing periodic reports and other information with the SEC and providing such reports to the trustee under the Senior Notes Indenture and holders of the Senior Notes, if, when, and to the extent doing so, would be consistent with the requirements of SEC rules and regulations and the applicable provisions of the Indenture.

Conditions of the Exchange Offer

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Exchange Offer and in addition to (and not in limitation of) Purchaser’s rights and obligations to extend and amend the Exchange Offer pursuant to the Merger Agreement, Purchaser shall not be required to accept for exchange or, subject to any applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, including Rule 14e-1(c) under the Exchange Act (relating to Purchaser’s obligation to pay for or return tendered Shares after termination or withdrawal of the Exchange Offer), pay for, and may delay the acceptance for exchange of or, subject to the restriction referred to above, the payment for, any validly tendered Shares unless, immediately prior to the then applicable expiration date the following conditions have been met:

Minimum Tender Condition

There having been validly tendered in the Exchange Offer and not properly withdrawn that number of Shares that, together with the number of Shares, if any, then owned beneficially by Parent and Purchaser (together with their wholly-owned subsidiaries), constitutes at least a majority of the total number of then-outstanding Shares on a fully diluted basis (the “Minimum Tender Condition”).

CVR Condition

The Registration Statement having been declared effective and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement being in effect and no proceedings for that purpose having been initiated or threatened in writing by the SEC, (ii) the CVRs being issued in the Exchange Offer and the Merger having been approved for listing (subject, if applicable, to notice of issuance) for trading on Nasdaq (or such other exchange(s), electronic trading networks or other suitable trading platforms as are mutually agreed by Parent and Genzyme), and (iii) the CVR Agreement having been duly executed and delivered by Parent and the trustee and being in full force and effect (clauses (i)-(iii) together, the “CVR Condition”). The Merger Agreement requires Parent to execute and deliver the CVR Agreement prior to the Acceptance Time and submit an application for listing the CVRs for trading on Nasdaq and use reasonable best efforts to cause the CVRs to be approved for listing (subject to notice of issuance) for trading on Nasdaq. Parent submitted its listing application on March 9, 2011.

Regulatory Condition

Any applicable waiting period under the antitrust laws of certain jurisdictions, in respect of the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, shall have expired or been terminated.

Other Conditions

Additionally, Purchaser will not be required to accept for exchange or, subject to any applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, including Rule 14e-l(c) under the Exchange Act (relating to Purchaser’s obligation to pay for or return tendered Shares promptly after the termination or withdrawal of the Exchange Offer), to pay for any Shares tendered in connection with the Exchange Offer if, immediately prior to the then applicable expiration date, any of the following conditions exists:

 

(a)

there has been any law, decree, judgment, order or injunction, promulgated, enacted, entered, enforced, issued or amended by any governmental entity that restrains, enjoins or otherwise prohibits the making or consummation of the Exchange Offer or the Merger;

 

(b)

Genzyme has breached or failed to comply in any material respect with any of its covenants, or agreements under the Merger Agreement, and either such breach or failure to comply is not capable of being cured within twenty days following receipt by Genzyme of written notice of such breach or failure or, if such breach or failure is capable of being cured within such period, it has not been cured within such period;

 

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(c)

(i) the representations and warranties of Genzyme in the Merger Agreement that (A) since September 30, 2010, there has not been any change, development, event, occurrence, effect or state of facts that, individually or in the aggregate, has resulted in or would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect (as defined below) (B) no broker, finder, or investment banker (other than Credit Suisse and Goldman Sachs) is entitled to any fees in respect of the Exchange Offer and the Merger Agreement based on arrangements made by Genzyme or its subsidiaries shall not be true and correct in all respects (ii) the representations and warranties of Genzyme in the Merger Agreement related to Genzyme’s capitalization, authority and approval of the Genzyme Board related to the Exchange Offer and the Merger, and the exemption of the Exchange Offer and the Merger from the anti-takeover provisions of the Massachusetts General Laws (including Chapters 110C, 110D, 110F thereof) shall not be true and correct (except for de minimis inaccuracies) or as of the expiration date as though made on the expiration date (other than representations and warranties that by their terms speak as of another date, which shall not be true and correct as of such date) or (iii) all other representations and warranties of Genzyme set forth in the Merger Agreement, in each case, made as if none of such representations and warranties contained any qualifications or limitations as to “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect,” shall not be true and correct, in each case, as of the date of the Merger Agreement or as of the expiration date as though made on the expiration date (other than representations and warranties that by their terms speak as of another date, which shall not be true and correct as of such date), except where the failure of such representations and warranties to be true and correct (without giving effect to any limitation as to “materiality” or “Material Adverse Effect”) as so made, individually or in the aggregate, does not have and is not reasonably expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect on Genzyme;

 

(d)

there is pending a proceeding (other than an inquiry) by any governmental entity challenging or seeking to restrain or prohibit the consummation of the Exchange Offer, the Merger or the other transactions contemplated thereby, in which such governmental entity, in the reasonable determination of Parent, has a substantial likelihood of success and which reasonably would be expected to have a material adverse impact on Parent and Genzyme and its subsidiaries taken as a whole;

 

(e)

since the date of the Merger Agreement, there has occurred a Material Adverse Effect; or

 

(f)

the Merger Agreement has been terminated pursuant to its terms.

To the extent permitted by the rules and regulations of the SEC which require the satisfaction or waiver of conditions prior to the expiration of the Exchange Offer (or thereafter in relation to any condition dependent upon the receipt of government approvals), the foregoing conditions are for the benefit of Parent and Purchaser and, other than the Minimum Tender Condition, and the CVR Condition, may be waived by Parent or Purchaser in whole or in part at any applicable time or from time to time prior to the expiration date, in each case subject to the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement and the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC. Waiver of the Minimum Tender Condition is also subject to the consent of the Initial Lead Arrangers of the Acquisition Facility. The failure by Parent or Purchaser at any time to exercise any of the foregoing rights shall not be deemed a waiver of any such right, the waiver of such right with respect to any particular facts or circumstances shall not be deemed a waiver with respect to any other facts and circumstances, and each such right shall be deemed an ongoing right which may be asserted at any time and from time to time.

As used in the Merger Agreement, the term “Material Adverse Effect” means any state of facts, change, effect, event or occurrence that, individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, condition (financial or otherwise), operations or results of operations of Genzyme and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; provided, however, that any state of facts, changes, effects, events or occurrences will be deemed not to constitute a Material Adverse Effect to the extent resulting from (i) changes generally affecting the economy, financial or securities markets or political, legislative or regulatory conditions or changes in the industries (or therapeutic areas) in which Genzyme operates; (ii) the announcement or pendency of the Merger Agreement or the transactions contemplated in the Merger Agreement;

 

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(iii) any change in the market price or trading volume of the Shares, in and of itself; (iv) acts of war or terrorism (or the escalation of the foregoing) or natural disasters or other force majeure events; (v) changes in any laws or regulations applicable to Genzyme or applicable accounting regulations or principles or the interpretation thereof; (vi) the performance of the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby, including compliance with covenants set forth therein (excluding Genzyme operating in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice), or any action taken or omitted to be taken by Genzyme at the request or with the prior written consent of Parent or Purchaser; (vii) any legal proceedings commenced by or involving any current or former shareholders of Genzyme (on their own or on behalf of Genzyme) arising out of or related to the Merger Agreement or the transactions contemplated in the Merger Agreement; (viii) any failure by Genzyme to meet any internal or analyst projections or forecasts or estimates of revenues, earnings or other financial metrics for any period, in and of itself; and (ix) the results of any clinical trial involving the humanized antibody directed against CD52 known as alemtuzumab (the “Alemtuzumab Clinical Trial Results”) except to the extent that such results adversely affect the business of Genzyme or its subsidiaries not related to alemtuzumab; provided, however, that state of facts, changes, effects, events or occurrences referred to in clauses (i), (iv) and (v) above shall be considered for purposes of determining whether there has been or would reasonably be expected to be a Material Adverse Effect if and to the extent such state of facts, changes, effects, events or occurrences has had or would reasonably be expected to have a disproportionate adverse effect on Genzyme and its subsidiaries, as compared to other companies operating in the industries in which Genzyme and its subsidiaries operate. For the avoidance of doubt, (A) “in and of itself” means that the exceptions in clause (iii) and clause (viii) of the definition of “Material Adverse Effect” shall not exclude a determination that a state of facts, change, effect, event or occurrence underlying such change or failure has resulted in a Material Adverse Effect and (B) the exception in clause (ix) of the definition of “Material Adverse Effect” shall not exclude a determination that an effect of the Alemtuzumab Clinical Trial Results on the business of Genzyme or its subsidiaries that is not related to alemtuzumab has resulted in a Material Adverse Effect.

Financing of the Exchange Offer; Source and Amount of Funds

Amount of Funds Required

Purchaser estimates that it will need approximately $21 billion to purchase all of the Shares pursuant to the Exchange Offer, to make payments in respect of outstanding in-the-money Options, Restricted Stock and RSUs and Share purchase rights and to consummate the Merger, plus related fees and expenses. As of December 31, 2010, Parent had cash and cash equivalents in the amount of approximately €6,465 million.

Acquisition Facility

Parent has entered into a Facilities Agreement (the “Facilities Agreement”) with J.P. Morgan plc, Société Générale Corporate & Investment Banking and BNP Paribas as mandated lead arrangers (the “Initial Mandated Lead Arrangers”) and BNP Paribas, J.P. Morgan Europe Limited and Société Générale (the “Initial Lenders”), subsequently syndicated among a group of credit institutions (together with the Initial Lenders, the “Lenders”), for unsecured term loan facilities of up to US $15,000,000,000 (together, the “Acquisition Facility”):

 

•

A US $10,000,000,000 term facility (“Facility A”) maturing 18 months from October 2, 2010, the date of execution of the Facilities Agreement. The maturity of Facility A can be postponed by Parent by 6 months.

 

•

A US $5,000,000,000 amortizable term facility (“Facility B”) with final maturity at 42 months from the date of execution of the Facilities Agreement.

Facilities A and B are available until December 31, 2011. The interest rate on each facility is equal to the London Inter-Bank Overnight Rate (or LIBOR), plus an applicable margin.

The Initial Lenders have committed to provide the full amount of the loans under the Acquisition Facility and have formed a syndicate of banks that have become lenders thereunder. The Facilities Agreement contains

 

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representations and warranties customary for credit facilities of this nature, including as to the accuracy of financial statements, litigation and no conflict with material agreements or instruments. The Facilities Agreement contains certain covenants, including limitations on liens, mergers, compliance with laws and change of business. The obligation of the Lenders to lend is conditioned upon, among other things, delivery of the Exchange Offer documents and documents relating to the Merger, there being no change in control of Parent, receipt of required approvals and consents and delivery of certain financial statements.

Funding the Exchange Offer and the Merger

Amounts to be paid for the Shares properly tendered in the Exchange Offer will be funded by the Acquisition Facility and available cash at Parent at the time of the payment for the Shares, including cash generated from the issuance of commercial paper in the U.S. or France under existing programs or from the issuance of debt securities in the U.S. or European markets.

Parent expects to contribute or otherwise advance funds to enable Purchaser to consummate the Exchange Offer. Parent expects, based upon the combination of internally available cash, debt securities issuance under existing programs and/or borrowings under the Acquisition Facility, to have sufficient cash on hand at the expiration of the Exchange Offer to pay the Cash Consideration for Shares tendered in the Exchange Offer and to provide funding for the Merger.

Repayment

It is anticipated that the borrowings described above will be refinanced or repaid from funds generated internally by Parent (including, after consummation of the Merger, existing cash balances of and funds generated by Genzyme) or other sources, which may include the proceeds of the sale of debt securities. No decision has been made concerning this matter, and decisions will be made based on Parent’s review from time to time of the advisability of selling particular securities as well as on interest rates and other economic conditions.

*            *             *

A copy of the Facilities Agreement, as amended, is on file with the SEC as an exhibit to the Schedule TO. Reference is made to such exhibits for a more complete description of the terms and conditions of the Acquisition Facility, and the foregoing summary of such terms and conditions is qualified in its entirety by such exhibit.

The Exchange Offer is not conditioned upon any financing arrangements.

Certain Legal Matters; Regulatory Approvals

General

Except as described in this section, based on its examination of publicly available information filed by Genzyme with the SEC and other information concerning Genzyme and the representations made by Genzyme in the Merger Agreement, Parent is not aware of any governmental license or regulatory permit that appears to be material to Genzyme’s business that might be adversely affected by the acquisition of Shares as contemplated herein or of any approval or other action by any governmental, administrative or regulatory authority or agency, domestic or foreign, that would be required for the acquisition or ownership of Shares by Purchaser or Parent as contemplated herein. Should any such approval or other action be required, Parent currently contemplates that, except as described below under “—State Takeover Laws,” such approval or other action will be sought. While Parent does not currently intend to delay acceptance for exchange of Shares tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer pending the outcome of any such matter, there can be no assurance that any such approval or other action, if needed, would be obtained or would be obtained without substantial conditions or that if such approvals were not obtained or such other actions were not taken, adverse consequences might not result to Genzyme’s business, any of which could cause Parent to elect to terminate the Exchange Offer without the exchange of Shares thereunder under certain conditions. See “—Conditions of the Exchange Offer.”

 

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U.S. Antitrust Compliance

Under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976, as amended (the “HSR Act”), and rules and regulations promulgated thereto, certain transactions may not be consummated until specified information and documentary material (“Premerger Notification and Report Forms”) have been furnished to the Federal Trade Commission (the “FTC”), and the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice (the “Antitrust Division”) and certain waiting period requirements have been satisfied. These requirements of the HSR Act apply to the acquisition of Genzyme by Parent.

Pursuant to the requirements of the HSR Act, on October 4, 2010, Parent filed a Premerger Notification and Report Form concerning the acquisition of Genzyme by Parent with the FTC and the Antitrust Division. The applicable waiting period under the HSR Act expired at 11:59 p.m., New York City time, on October 19, 2010, without any action having been taken by the FTC or the Antitrust Division.

At any time before or after Purchaser’s acceptance for exchange of Shares pursuant to the Exchange Offer, if the Antitrust Division or the FTC believes that the acquisition of Genzyme by Parent may substantially lessen competition in any line of commerce affecting U.S. consumers, the FTC and the Antitrust Division have the authority to challenge the transaction by seeking an order in federal court enjoining the transaction or, if Shares have already been acquired, requiring disposition of such Shares or, as a condition to clearance, the divestiture of assets of Parent, Genzyme or any of their respective subsidiaries or affiliates or requiring other relief. U.S. state attorneys general and private persons may also bring legal action under the antitrust laws seeking similar relief or seeking conditions to Purchaser’s obligation to accept for exchange Shares tendered in the Exchange Offer. While Parent believes that consummation of the Exchange Offer and the Merger would not violate any antitrust laws, there can be no assurance that a challenge to the Exchange Offer or the Merger on antitrust grounds will not be made or, if a challenge is made, what the result will be. If any such action is threatened or commenced by the FTC, the Antitrust Division or any state or governmental entity, Purchaser is not obligated to consummate the Exchange Offer.

European Union Antitrust Compliance

Under Council Regulation No. 139/2004/EC (the “EC Merger Regulation”), a transaction meeting certain thresholds may not be completed before it is notified to the European Commission (the “EC”) and the EC (a) has declared that the transaction does not fall within the scope of the EC Merger Regulation, (b) has declared that the transaction is compatible with the common market, or (c) has been deemed to have declared that the transaction is compatible with the common market (an “EC Decision”). On November 29, 2010, Parent notified the EC of the proposed acquisition of Genzyme by Parent. On January 12, 2011, the EC cleared the acquisition of Genzyme by Parent unconditionally under the EC Merger Regulation.

Other Foreign Antitrust Filings.

Parent and Genzyme and certain of their respective subsidiaries conduct business in several foreign countries where regulatory filings or approvals may be required or desirable in connection with the consummation of the acquisition of Genzyme by Parent. Parent notified the acquisition of Genzyme by Parent to the relevant antitrust authorities in Brazil, Japan, and Korea.

Brazilian Antitrust Compliance. Under Law 8884 and its related resolutions administered by Antitrust Commission (“CADE”), an office of the Ministry of Finance in charge of economic affairs (“SEAE”), and an office of the Ministry of Justice (“SDE”) (collectively, the “Brazilian Antitrust Authorities”), a transaction meeting certain thresholds must be notified to the Brazilian Antitrust Authorities within fifteen business days of commencement. Under Brazilian law, there is no automatic suspension of a notified transaction pending approval by the Brazilian Antitrust Authorities. If the Brazilian Antitrust Authorities conclude that the transaction creates or strengthens a dominant position or causes a lessening or restriction of competition in Brazil, the Brazilian

 

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Antitrust Authorities could prohibit the transaction. Alternatively, they could require a remedy such as the divestiture of Shares acquired by Purchaser or, as a condition to clearance, the divestiture of substantial assets of Parent or its subsidiaries, or of Genzyme or its subsidiaries. Although Parent believes that consummation of the acquisition of Genzyme by Parent will not create or strengthen a dominant position or result in a lessening or restriction of competition in Brazil, there can be no assurance that a challenge to the Exchange Offer or the Merger will not be made or, if a challenge is made, what the result will be. Notification was submitted to the Brazilian Antitrust Authorities on October 21, 2010. SEAE, SDE and CADE have issued their non-binding decisions clearing the transaction without conditions.

Japanese Antitrust Compliance. Under Chapter 4 of the Act on Prohibition of Private Monopolization and Maintenance of Fair Trade, as amended, and the relevant provisions of the Cabinet Ordinance and Regulations for the Law (collectively, the “Antimonopoly Law”), a transaction meeting certain thresholds may not be completed before it is notified to the Japanese Fair Trade Commission (“JFTC”) and the JFTC has issued a clearance decision or has permitted the review period to expire without issuing a request for additional information or otherwise extending the review period. The purchase of Shares pursuant to the Exchange Offer constitutes a notifiable transaction under the Antimonopoly Law. Notification was submitted to the JFTC on October 27, 2010 and the review period under the Antimonopoly Law expired on November 26, 2010 without objection from the JFTC.

Korean Antitrust Compliance. Under the Monopoly Regulation and Fair Trade Act, as amended, and related rules and regulations (“MRFTA”) that have been issued by the Korea Fair Trade Commission (the “KFTC”), a transaction meeting certain thresholds is subject to review and clearance by the KFTC. The purchase of Shares pursuant to the Exchange Offer constitutes a notifiable transaction and will be subject to review, after consummation of the Exchange Offer, under the MRFTA.

Under the provisions of the MRFTA, the initial review period is 30 days, which may be extended by up to 90 days if the KFTC has serious doubts whether a notified transaction will have an anti-competitive effect in Korea.

If the KFTC concludes that the transaction has an anti-competitive effect in Korea, it could require a remedy such as the divestiture of Shares acquired by Purchaser or, as a condition to clearance, the divestiture of substantial assets of Parent or its subsidiaries, or of Genzyme or its subsidiaries. Although Parent believes that consummation of the Exchange Offer and the Merger will not have an anti-competitive effect in Korea, there can be no assurance that a challenge to the Exchange Offer or the Merger will not be made by the KFTC or, if a challenge is made, what the result will be.

State Takeover Laws

The Merger Agreement provides, among other things, that the Genzyme Board has approved the Exchange Offer, adopted the Merger Agreement and approved the Merger and, in the Merger Agreement, Genzyme has represented and warranted that Chapters 110C and 110F of the Massachusetts General Laws do not apply to Parent or Purchaser in connection with the Exchange Offer, the Merger and the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement, and Genzyme has opted out of application of Chapter 110D of the Massachusetts General Laws. Genzyme has also represented and warranted that, to its knowledge, no other state takeover statute is applicable to the Exchange Offer, the Merger or the other transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement.

Massachusetts Anti-Takeover Laws

Genzyme is incorporated under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. In general, Chapter 110F of the Massachusetts General Laws prevents an “interested stockholder” (including a person who owns or has the right to acquire 5% or more of a corporation’s outstanding voting stock) from engaging in a “ business combination” (defined to include mergers and certain other actions) with a Massachusetts corporation for a

 

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period of three years following the date such person became an interested stockholder unless, among other things, the “ business combination” is approved by the board of directors of such corporation prior to such date. In accordance with the provisions of Chapter 110F, the Genzyme Board has approved the Exchange Offer, the Merger, the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby and has taken all appropriate action so that the restrictions on business combinations set forth in Chapter 110F, with respect to Genzyme, will not be applicable to the Exchange Offer or the Merger.

Chapter 110D of the Massachusetts General Laws restricts the voting rights of shares acquired in a control share acquisition, unless, among other things, the articles of organization or by-laws of a Massachusetts corporation provide that such restrictions are inapplicable. Genzyme’s bylaws opt out of Chapter 110D, and therefore such restrictions will not be applicable to Genzyme and Purchaser by virtue of such actions.

Chapter 110C of the Massachusetts General Laws subjects an offeror to certain disclosure and filing requirements before such offeror can proceed with a “take-over bid,” defined to include any acquisition of or offer to acquire more than ten percent of the issued and outstanding equity securities of a target company. The Genzyme Board has consented to the Exchange Offer, recommended the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby to Genzyme’s shareholders, and has taken all appropriate additional action so that the Exchange Offer and the Merger will be excluded from the definition of a “take-over bid” under Chapter 110C, and its requirements will not be applicable to Parent and Purchaser.

The foregoing discussion is not a complete statement of Massachusetts law and is qualified in its entirety by reference to Chapter 110C, Chapter 110D, and Chapter 110F of the Massachusetts General Laws and the MBCA.

Going Private Transactions. The SEC has adopted Rule 13e-3 under the Exchange Act which is applicable to certain “going private” transactions and which may under certain circumstances be applicable to the Merger or another business combination following the exchange of Shares pursuant to the Exchange Offer in which Parent seeks to acquire the remaining Shares not held by Purchaser, Parent or its subsidiaries. If applicable, Rule 13e-3 would require, among other things, that certain financial information concerning Genzyme and certain information relating to the fairness of the proposed transaction and the consideration offered to minority shareholders in such transaction be filed with the SEC and disclosed to shareholders prior to consummation of such transaction. Parent believes that Rule 13e-3 should not be applicable to the Merger because it is anticipated that the Merger will be effected within one year following the consummation of the Exchange Offer and, in the Merger, shareholders will receive the same consideration per Share as paid in the Exchange Offer.

Other State Takeover Statutes

A number of states other than Massachusetts have adopted laws and regulations applicable to attempts to acquire securities of corporations that are incorporated, or have substantial assets, shareholders, principal executive offices or principal places of business, or whose business operations otherwise have substantial economic effects, in such states. In 1982, in Edgar v. MITE Corp., the Supreme Court of the United States invalidated on constitutional grounds the Illinois Business Takeover Statute which, as a matter of state securities law, made takeovers of corporations meeting certain requirements more difficult. However, in 1987, in CTS Corp. v. Dynamics Corp. of America, the Supreme Court held that the State of Indiana could, as a matter of corporate law, constitutionally disqualify a potential acquiror from voting shares of a target corporation without the prior approval of the remaining shareholders where, among other things, the corporation is incorporated, and has a substantial number of shareholders, in the state. Subsequently, in TLX Acquisition Corp. v. Telex Corp., a U.S. federal district court in Oklahoma ruled that the Oklahoma statutes were unconstitutional as applied to corporations incorporated outside Oklahoma in that they would subject such corporations to inconsistent regulations. Similarly, in Tyson Foods, Inc. v. McReynolds, a U.S. federal district court in Tennessee ruled that four Tennessee takeover statutes were unconstitutional as applied to corporations incorporated outside Tennessee. This decision was affirmed by the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. In December

 

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1988, a U.S. federal district court in Florida held in Grand Metropolitan PLC v. Butterworth that the provisions of the Florida Affiliated Transactions Act and the Florida Control Share Acquisition Act were unconstitutional as applied to corporations incorporated outside of Florida. The state law before the Supreme Court was by its terms applicable only to corporations that had a substantial number of shareholders in the state and were incorporated there.

Genzyme, directly or through subsidiaries, conducts business in a number of states throughout the United States, some of which have enacted takeover laws. Parent does not know whether any of these laws will, by their terms, apply to the Exchange Offer or the Merger and has not attempted to comply with any such laws. Purchaser reserves the right to challenge the applicability or validity of any state law purportedly applicable to the Exchange Offer and nothing in this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange or any action taken in connection with the Exchange Offer is intended as a waiver of such right.

Should any person seek to apply any state takeover law to the Exchange Offer or the Merger or other business combination between us or any of our affiliates and Genzyme, Parent will take such action as then appears desirable, which action may include challenging the applicability or validity of such statute in appropriate court proceedings. If it is asserted that one or more state takeover statutes is applicable to the Exchange Offer or the Merger or other business combination and an appropriate court does not determine that it is inapplicable or invalid as applied to the Exchange Offer or the Merger or other business combination, Parent might be required to file certain information with, or to receive approvals from, the relevant state authorities or holders of Shares, and Parent may be unable to accept for exchange or pay for Shares tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer, or be delayed in continuing or consummating the Exchange Offer or the Merger or other business combination. In such case, Parent may not be obligated to accept for exchange any Shares tendered in the Exchange Offer. See “—Conditions of the Exchange Offer.”

Litigation

On August 11, 2010, The Jerry L. & Mena M. Morelos Revocable Trust, which purported to be a Genzyme shareholder, filed a putative class action complaint against Genzyme, the Genzyme Board and Chief Financial Officer (collectively, the “Individual Defendants”) and Parent in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Case No. 1:10-cv-11356 (the “Morelos Revocable Trust Action”). The complaint alleged that the Individual Defendants were breaching their fiduciary duties to Genzyme’s public shareholders by, among other things, failing to maximize shareholder value in a potential transaction with Parent, and that Genzyme and Parent were aiding and abetting those breaches. The complaint sought, among other things, an order certifying a plaintiff class consisting of all public Genzyme shareholders, an order enjoining a potential transaction between Genzyme and Parent, and an award of attorneys’ fees and costs of litigation. On October 12, 2010, the plaintiff filed a notice of voluntary dismissal of its complaint as to Parent.

On August 16, 2010, the Chester County Employees Retirement Fund, which also purported to be a Genzyme shareholder, filed a putative class action complaint against Genzyme and the Genzyme Board in Massachusetts state court (Middlesex County), Docket No. 10-3065 (the “Chester County Action”). The complaint alleged that Genzyme’s directors were breaching their fiduciary duties to Genzyme’s public shareholders by, among other things, failing to engage in good faith negotiations with Parent or any other potential bidder to obtain the best possible offer for Genzyme and its shareholders. The complaint sought, among other things, an order certifying a plaintiff class consisting of all public Genzyme shareholders, an order enjoining Genzyme’s directors from employing defensive maneuvers or other defensive tactics to prevent Genzyme’s shareholders from receiving and accepting a valid and value-maximizing offer for their Genzyme shares, an order directing Genzyme’s directors to exercise their fiduciary duties to obtain a transaction that is in the best interests of Genzyme’s shareholders, including negotiating fully and in good faith with Parent and/or any other potential bidder, damages in an unspecified amount, and an award of attorneys’ fees and costs of litigation. On September 2, 2010, the plaintiff filed an amended complaint, which added factual allegations regarding post-August 16, 2010 events (including Parent’s August 29, 2010 non-binding proposal to acquire Genzyme and Genzyme’s rejection of the same) and sought the same relief.

 

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On August 17, 2010, Alan R. Kahn, who also purported to be a Genzyme shareholder, filed a putative class action complaint against Genzyme, the Genzyme Board and Parent in Massachusetts state court (Middlesex County), Docket No. 10-3067 (the “Kahn Action”). Like the complaint in the Morelos Revocable Trust Action, the complaint in the Kahn Action alleged that Genzyme’s directors were breaching their fiduciary duties to Genzyme’s public shareholders by, among other things, failing to maximize shareholder value in a potential transaction with Parent, and that Parent was aiding and abetting those breaches. The complaint sought, among other things, an order certifying a plaintiff class consisting of all public Genzyme shareholders, an order enjoining the potential transaction between Genzyme and Parent, damages in an unspecified amount, and an award of attorneys’ fees and costs of litigation. On September 3, 2010, the plaintiff filed a notice of voluntary dismissal of his complaint as to Parent.

On September 8, 2010, Bernard Malina, who also purported to be a Genzyme shareholder, filed a putative class action complaint against Genzyme and the Genzyme Board in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Case No. 1:10-cv-11532 (the “Malina Action”). Like the complaint in the Chester County Action, the complaint in the Malina Action alleged that Genzyme’s directors were breaching their fiduciary duties to Genzyme’s public shareholders by, among other things, failing to engage in good faith negotiations with Parent or any other bidder to obtain the best possible offer for Genzyme and its shareholders. The complaint sought, among other things, an order certifying a plaintiff class consisting of all public Genzyme shareholders, an order directing Genzyme’s directors to fulfill their fiduciary duties by cooperating with any entity or person, including Parent, having a bona fide interest in proposing a transaction that would maximize Genzyme shareholder value, damages in an unspecified amount, and an award of attorneys’ fees and costs of litigation.

On September 9, 2010, Emanuel Resendes, who also purported to be a Genzyme shareholder, filed a putative class action complaint against the Individual Defendants in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Case No. 1:10-cv-11536 (the “Resendes Action”). Like the complaints in the Chester County and Malina Actions, the complaint in the Resendes Action alleged that the Individual Defendants were breaching their fiduciary duties to Genzyme’s public shareholders by, among other things, failing to engage in good faith negotiations with Parent or any other bidder to obtain the best possible offer for Genzyme and its shareholders. The complaint sought, among other things, an order certifying a plaintiff class consisting of all public Genzyme shareholders, an order enjoining the Individual Defendants from entering into any contractual provisions that harmed Genzyme’s shareholders or prohibited the Individual Defendants from maximizing shareholder value (including any confidentiality agreement or contract designed to impede the maximization of shareholder value), an order enjoining the Individual Defendants from adopting, implementing or instituting any defensive measures that had or were intended to have the effect of making the consummation of an offer to purchase Genzyme more difficult or costly for a potential acquiror, and an award of attorneys’ fees and costs of litigation.

On September 14, 2010, William S. Field, III, Trustee U/A dated October 12, 1991 by William S. Field, Jr., who also purported to be a Genzyme shareholder, filed a putative class action complaint against Genzyme and the Individual Defendants in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Case No. 1:10-cv-11565 (the “Field Action”). Like the complaints in the Chester County, Malina and Resendes Actions, the complaint in the Field Action alleged that the Individual Defendants were breaching their fiduciary duties to Genzyme’s public shareholders by, among other things, failing to engage in good faith negotiations with Parent or any other bidder to obtain the best possible offer for Genzyme and its shareholders. The complaint sought, among other things, an order certifying a plaintiff class consisting of all public Genzyme shareholders, an order appointing an independent Genzyme special committee with full authority to (i) evaluate, negotiate and, if in Genzyme’s shareholders’ best interest, enter into a transaction with Parent or another bidder and (ii) pursue other opportunities to maximize shareholder value, damages in an unspecified amount, and an award of attorneys’ fees and costs of litigation.

On August 31, 2010, David Shade, who also purported to be a Genzyme shareholder, filed a putative class action complaint against Genzyme and the Genzyme Board in Massachusetts state court (Middlesex County),

 

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Docket No. 10-3276 (the “Shade Action”). Like the complaints in the Chester County, Malina, Resendes and Field Actions, the complaint in the Shade Action alleged that Genzyme’s directors were breaching their fiduciary duties to Genzyme’s public shareholders by, among other things, failing to engage in good faith negotiations with Parent or any other bidder to obtain the best possible offer for Genzyme and its shareholders. The complaint sought, among other things, an order certifying a plaintiff class consisting of all public Genzyme shareholders, an order enjoining Genzyme’s directors from instituting defensive measures that would inhibit their ability to maximize shareholder value, damages in an unspecified amount, and an award of attorneys’ fees and costs of litigation.

On September 2, 2010, the Louisiana Municipal Police Employees’ Retirement System, which also purported to be a Genzyme shareholder, filed a putative class action complaint against Genzyme and the Genzyme Board in Massachusetts state court (Middlesex County), Docket No. 10-3327 (the “LAMPERS Action”). Like the complaints in the Chester County, Malina, Resendes, Field and Shade Actions, the complaint in the LAMPERS Action alleged that Genzyme’s directors were breaching their fiduciary duties to Genzyme’s public shareholders by, among other things, failing to engage in good faith negotiations with Parent or any other bidder to obtain the best possible offer for Genzyme and its shareholders. The complaint sought, among other things, a declaration that the action is properly maintainable as a class action, a declaration that Genzyme’s directors were breaching their fiduciary duties to Genzyme’s public shareholders by refusing to negotiate with Parent, damages in an unspecified amount, and an award of attorneys’ fees and costs of litigation.

On October 5, 2010, the plaintiffs in the Chester County, Kahn, Shade and LAMPERS Actions filed a motion to consolidate their respective actions, which motion was granted the same day. On October 18, 2010, the plaintiffs in the consolidated state court action filed a Consolidated Class Action Complaint against Genzyme and the Genzyme Board, which, among other things, added allegations that the Schedule 14D-9 that Genzyme filed with the SEC on October 7, 2010 failed to disclose all material information and was otherwise materially misleading. The Consolidated Class Action Complaint seeks, among other things, a declaration that the action is properly maintainable as a class action, a declaration that Genzyme’s directors are breaching their fiduciary duties to Genzyme’s public shareholders by refusing to negotiate with Parent, an order requiring Genzyme’s directors to disclose all material information regarding the Schedule 14D-9, damages in an unspecified amount, and an award of attorneys’ fees and costs of litigation. On November 1, 2010, the defendants moved to dismiss the Consolidated Class Action Complaint, and, on December 6, 2010, the parties completed briefing on that motion, which was then submitted to the court for disposition.

On October 18, 2010, Warren Pinchuck, who also purported to be a Genzyme shareholder, filed a putative class action complaint against Genzyme and the Individual Defendants in the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Case No. 1:10-cv-11776 (the “Pinchuck Action”). Like the complaints in the Chester County, Malina, Resendes, Field, Shade and LAMPERS Actions, the complaint in the Pinchuck Action alleged that the Individual Defendants were breaching their fiduciary duties to Genzyme’s public shareholders by, among other things, failing to engage in good faith negotiations with Parent or any other bidder to obtain the best possible offer for Genzyme and its shareholders. The complaint further alleged that the Schedule 14D-9 that Genzyme filed with the SEC on October 7, 2010 was materially false and misleading. The complaint sought, among other things, an order certifying a plaintiff class consisting of all public Genzyme shareholders, an order enjoining the Individual Defendants from breaching their fiduciary duties to Genzyme’s public shareholders by refusing to respond to Parent in good faith and for the purpose of maximizing shareholder value, an order enjoining the Individual Defendants from initiating any anti-takeover devices that would inhibit their ability to maximize shareholder value, damages in an unspecified amount, and an award of attorneys’ fees and costs of litigation. On December 6, 2010, the plaintiff voluntarily dismissed his complaint without prejudice.

On December 17, 2010, the plaintiffs in the Morelos Revocable Trust, Malina, Resendes and Field actions filed an unopposed motion to consolidate their respective actions and to appoint lead counsel, which motion was granted on December 29, 2010. On January 18, 2011, plaintiffs in the consolidated federal court action filed an Amended Shareholder Class Action Complaint against Genzyme, the members of the Genzyme Board and its

 

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chief financial officer, alleging, among other things, that the Schedule 14D-9 that Genzyme filed with the SEC on October 7, 2010 failed to disclose all material information and was otherwise materially misleading, in violation of Section 14(e) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the Genzyme directors’ fiduciary duty of disclosure under state law. The Amended Shareholder Class Action Complaint further alleges that the Genzyme directors breached their fiduciary duties of loyalty, due care and good faith by failing to pursue discussions with Parent regarding a potential transaction between the two companies. The Amended Shareholder Class Action Complaint seeks, among other things, an order appointing an independent special committee with authority to negotiate with Parent and pursue other opportunities to maximize shareholder value, an order requiring the defendants to disclose to Genzyme’s shareholders the information allegedly omitted from or misrepresented in the Schedule 14D-9, damages in an unspecified amount, and an award of attorneys’ fees and costs of litigation. On February 16, 2011, the defendants moved to dismiss the Amended Shareholder Class Action Complaint, which motion is currently pending.

On March 2, 2011, the West Palm Beach Police Pension Fund, which also purports to be a Genzyme shareholder, filed a putative class action complaint against Genzyme, its Board of Directors, Parent and Purchaser in Massachusetts state court (Middlesex County), Docket No. 11-0682 (the “West Palm Beach Action”). The complaint in the West Palm Beach Action alleges that Genzyme and the members of its Board breached their fiduciary duties to Genzyme’s public shareholders by, among other things, failing to maximize shareholder value in conection with the Exchange Offer and the Merger, and that Parent and Purchaser aided and abetted those breaches. The complaint seeks, among other things, an order certifying a plaintiff class consisting of all public Genzyme shareholders, an order enjoining the Exchange Offer and the Merger, and an award of attorneys’ fees and costs of litigation.

On March 8, 2011, plaintiff Local No. 38 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Pension Fund (“IBEW”) in a pending shareholder derivative action in Massacusetts state court (Suffolk County) against the members of the Genzyme Board and certain Genzyme officers arising out of alleged manufacturing deficiencies at Genzyme’s Allston facility, Docket No. 10-3883 (the “IBEW Action”), filed an amended complaint, on behalf of a putative class of Genzyme shareholders, that adds claims against Genzyme, the members of its Board, certain of its officers, Parent and Purchaser relating to the Exchange Offer and the Merger. Specifically, the amended complaint in the IBEW Action, in addition to the prior derivative claims, alleges that the members of Genzyme’s Board and the named Genzyme officers breached their fiduciary duties to Genzyme’s public shareholders by, among other things, failing to maximize shareholder value in connection with the Exchange Offer and the Merger and by failing to disclose all material information in the 14D-9, and that Genzyme, Parent and Purchaser aided and abetted those breaches. The amended complaint seeks, among other things, an order certifying a plaintiff class consisting of all public Genzyme shareholders, an order appointing an independent special committee of Genzyme with full authority to evaluate the Exchange Offer and the Merger and to pursue other value maximizing opportunities for Genzyme’s public shareholders, damages in an unspecified amount, equitable relief to remedy the alleged misconduct, and an award of attorneys’ fees and costs of litigation.

On March 9, 2011, IBEW filed an emergency motion to consolidate the IBEW Action with the previously consolidated Massachusetts state court actions, and to appoint IBEW Lead Plaintiff in the new consolidated action (the “IBEW Consolidation Motion”).

On March 14, 2011, plaintiffs in the consolidated Massachusetts state court action filed an emergency motion for leave to supplement their Consolidated Class Action Complaint to add allegations that Genzyme and the members of its Board breached their fiduciary duties to Genzyme’s public shareholders by failing to disclose all material information about the Exchange Offer and the Merger in the 14D-9. The proposed supplement seeks, among other things, an order certifying a plaintiff class consisting of all public Genzyme shareholders, an order requiring the defendants to disclose all material information regarding the Exchange Offer and the Merger and to correct any materially misleading statements regarding the Exchange Offer and the Merger in the 14D-9, damages in an unspecified amount, and an award of attorneys’ fees and costs of litigation.

 

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On March 15, 2011, plaintiffs in the consolidated Massachusetts state court action filed an opposition and cross-motion to the IBEW Consolidation Motion, requesting an order consolidating the IBEW Action with the consolidated Massachusetts state court action and denying the IBEW Consolidation Motion in all respects.

Interests of Executive Officers and Directors of Parent in the Exchange Offer

Except as set forth in this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange, neither Parent nor Purchaser, nor, after due inquiry and to the best of Parent’s and Purchaser’s knowledge and belief, any of their directors, executive officers or other affiliates has any contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship with any other person with respect to any securities of Genzyme. Parent and Genzyme do not believe that the Exchange Offer and the Merger will be deemed to be a change in control impacting grants under any of their long-term incentive or stock option plans or a change in control under any change in control agreement between Parent and any of its employees.

Interests of Executive Officers and Directors of Genzyme in the Exchange Offer

In considering the recommendation of the Genzyme Board regarding the Exchange Offer and the Merger, Genzyme shareholders should be aware that certain directors and officers of Genzyme may be deemed to have interests in the Exchange Offer and the Merger that are different from or in addition to the interests shareholders of Genzyme generally. The Genzyme Board was aware of these interests and considered them, among other matters, in approving the Merger Agreement, the Exchange Offer and the Merger and recommending that Genzyme shareholders accept the Exchange Offer by tendering their Share into the Exchange Offer and, if required by applicable law, approve the Merger.

As a result of these interests, Genzyme directors and officers may have reasons for tendering their Shares and, if necessary, voting to approve the Merger that are not the same as your interests. Genzyme shareholders should consider whether these interests may have influenced these directors and officers to support or recommend the Exchange Offer and the Merger.

Information on the interests of executive officers and directors of Genzyme in the Exchange Offer and the Merger is more fully described in Genzyme’s Solicitation/Recommendation Statement on Schedule 14D-9, which is being mailed to Genzyme shareholders together with this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange and is incorporated herein by reference.

Certain Relationships with Genzyme and Interests of Parent and Purchaser in the Exchange Offer

As of the date of this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange, Parent beneficially owns 100 Shares, representing a de minimis percentage of the outstanding Shares as of such date. Parent acquired these Shares in an ordinary brokerage transaction on September 1, 2010, at a price per Share of $70.52. Except as described in this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange or Schedule I hereto, (i) none of Parent, Purchaser, or, to the best knowledge of Parent and Purchaser, any of the persons listed in Schedule I to this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange or any associate or majority-owned subsidiary of Parent or Purchaser or any of the persons so listed beneficially owns or has any right to acquire, directly or indirectly, any Shares and (ii) none of Parent, Purchaser, or, to the best knowledge of Parent and Purchaser or any of the persons or entities referred to in Schedule I hereto nor any director, executive officer or subsidiary of any of the foregoing has effected any transaction in the Shares during the past 60 days.

Except as described in this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange, none of Parent, Purchaser, or, to the best knowledge of Parent, and Purchaser, any of the persons listed in Schedule I to the Prospectus/Offer to Exchange, has any contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship with any other person with respect to any securities of Genzyme, including, but not limited to, any contract, arrangement, understanding or relationship concerning the transfer or voting of such securities, finder’s fees, joint ventures, loan or option arrangements, puts or calls, guarantees of loans, guarantees against loss, guarantees of profits, division of profits or loss or the giving or withholding of proxies.

 

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Except as set forth in this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange, none of Parent, Purchaser, or, to the best knowledge of Parent and Purchaser, any of the persons listed on Schedule I hereto, has had any business relationship or transaction with Genzyme or any of its executive officers, directors or affiliates that is required to be reported under the rules and regulations of the SEC applicable to the Exchange Offer. Except as set forth in this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange, there have been no contacts, negotiations or transactions between Parent or any of its subsidiaries or, to the best knowledge of Parent and Purchaser, any of the persons listed in Schedule I to this Offer to Purchase, on the one hand, and Genzyme or its affiliates, on the other hand, concerning a merger, consolidation or acquisition, tender offer or other acquisition of securities, an election of directors or a sale or other transfer of a material amount of assets during the past two years.

Fees and Expenses

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC is acting as Dealer Manager in connection with the Exchange Offer and it and certain of its affiliates (collectively, “JPM”) have provided certain financial advisory services to Parent in connection with the proposed acquisition of Genzyme, for which services JPM will receive customary compensation. JPM will be reimbursed for its reasonable fees and expenses, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of JPM’s counsel, incurred in connection with JPM’s engagement, and will be indemnified, along with certain related parties, against specified liabilities, including liabilities under the federal securities laws. In the ordinary course of business, JPM and its respective affiliates may actively trade or hold securities or loans of Parent and Genzyme for their own accounts or for the accounts of customers and, accordingly, JPM and/or its respective affiliates may at any time hold long or short positions in these securities or loans.

Parent has engaged Evercore Partners in connection with the Exchange Offer and the Merger and it and certain of its affiliates (collectively, “Evercore”) have provided certain financial advisory services to Parent in connection with the proposed acquisition of Genzyme, for which services Evercore will receive customary compensation. Evercore will be reimbursed for its reasonable fees and expenses, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of Evercore’s counsel, incurred in connection with Evercore’s engagement, and will be indemnified, along with certain related parties, against specified liabilities, including liabilities under the federal securities laws. In the ordinary course of business, Evercore and its respective affiliates may actively trade or hold securities or loans of Parent and Genzyme for their own accounts or for the accounts of customers and, accordingly, Evercore and/or its respective affiliates may at any time hold long or short positions in these securities or loans.

Purchaser has retained MacKenzie Partners, Inc. to be the Information Agent and Computershare Trust Company, N.A. to be the Exchange Agent in connection with the Exchange Offer and the Merger. The Information Agent may contact holders of Shares by mail, telephone, telecopy, telegraph and personal interview and may request banks, brokers, dealers and other nominees to forward materials relating to the Exchange Offer and the Merger to beneficial owners of Shares.

The Information Agent and the Exchange Agent each will receive customary compensation for their respective services in connection with the Exchange Offer and the Merger, will be reimbursed for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses and will be indemnified against certain liabilities and expenses in connection therewith, including certain liabilities under federal securities laws.

Neither Parent nor Purchaser will pay any fees or commissions to any broker or dealer or to any other person (other than to the Exchange Agent and the Information Agent) in connection with the solicitation of tenders of Shares pursuant to the Exchange Offer. Brokers, dealers, commercial banks and trust companies will, upon request, be reimbursed by Purchaser for customary mailing and handling expenses incurred by them in forwarding offering materials to their customers.

 

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Accounting Treatment

Parent will account for the Genzyme acquisition as a business combination, applying the acquisition method in accordance with IFRS 3 “Business Combinations” as revised in 2008 (“IFRS 3R”). As per IFRS 3R, the acquisition date is the date on which Parent obtains control of Genzyme. The consideration to be transferred by Parent includes cash consideration as well as contingent consideration, in the form of CVRs. In accordance with IFRS 3R, the fair value of the CVR at the acquisition date is recognized as a financial liability, as this amount reflects the obligation to pay the potential price adjustment in cash. In addition, the general principles of IFRS 3R are that the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed of Genzyme are measured at fair value at the closing date. This fair value assessment requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions, especially concerning intangible assets, property, plant and equipment, reserves and contingent liabilities, included contingencies that are remote. Any excess of the total consideration transferred over the fair value of the net assets acquired is recognized as goodwill.

 

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DESCRIPTION OF THE CVRS

CVR Agreement

The holders of the CVRs are the beneficiaries of certain rights pursuant to a contingent value rights agreement, governed by New York law, to be entered into between Parent and a trustee mutually acceptable to Parent and Genzyme prior to expiration of the Exchange Offer (the “CVR Agreement”). The following summary describes the material provisions of the CVR Agreement. This summary may not contain all of the information about the CVRs that is important to you. The form of CVR Agreement is attached to this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange as Annex B and is incorporated by reference into this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange, and we encourage you to read it carefully for a more complete understanding of the CVRs.

Trust Indenture Act

If any provision of the CVR Agreement conflicts with any provision required to be included in the CVR Agreement by any provision of the Trust Indenture Act, such required provision shall control. The terms of the CVRs include those that will be stated in the CVR Agreement and those that will be made part of the CVR Agreement by reference to the applicable provisions of the Trust Indenture Act.

Characteristics of the CVRs

The CVRs are not equity or voting securities of Parent, do not represent ownership interests in Parent and holders of the CVRs are not entitled to any rights of a shareholder or other equity or voting security of Parent, either at law or in equity. The rights of the CVR holders will be limited to those expressly provided for in the CVR Agreement.

Production Milestone, Approval Milestone and Product Sales Milestone Payments

A holder of a CVR is entitled to cash payments upon the achievement of certain milestones, based on production levels of Cerezyme^® and Fabrazyme^®, U.S. regulatory approval of Lemtrada (alemtuzumab for treatment of multiple sclerosis), and on achievement of certain aggregate Lemtrada sales thresholds, pursuant to the terms of the CVR Agreement, as follows:

 

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Cerezyme/Fabrazyme Production Milestone Payment. $1 per CVR, if both Cerezyme production meets or exceeds 734,600 400 Unit Vial Equivalents and Fabrazyme production meets or exceeds 79,000 35-milligram Vial Equivalents during calendar year 2011.

 

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Approval Milestone Payment. $1 per CVR upon receipt by Genzyme or any of its affiliates, on or before March 31, 2014, of the approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of Lemtrada for treatment of multiple sclerosis.

 

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Product Sales Milestone #1 Payment. $2 per CVR if Lemtrada net sales post launch exceed an aggregate of $400 million within specified periods per territory.

 

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Product Sales Milestone #2 Payment. $3 per CVR upon the first instance in which global Lemtrada net sales for a four calendar quarter period are equal to or in excess of $1.8 billion. If Product Sales Milestone #2 is achieved but the Approval Milestone is not achieved prior to March 31, 2014, the milestone payment amount will be $4 per CVR (however, in such event the Approval Milestone shall not also be payable).

 

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Product Sales Milestone #3 Payment. $4 per CVR upon the first instance in which global Lemtrada net sales for a four calendar quarter period are equal to or in excess of $2.3 billion (except that no quarter in which global Lemtrada net sales were used to determine the achievement of Product Sales Milestone #1 or #2 shall be included in the calculation of net sales for determining whether Product Sales Milestone #3 has been achieved).

 

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Product Sales Milestone #4 Payment. $3 per CVR upon the first instance in which global Lemtrada net sales for a four calendar quarter period are equal to or in excess of $2.8 billion (except that no quarter

 

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in which global Lemtrada net sales were used to determine the achievement of Product Sales Milestone #1, #2 or #3 shall be included in the calculation of net sales for determining whether Product Sales Milestone #4 has been achieved).

No payments will be due under the CVR Agreement for any milestones achieved after the earlier of (a) December 31, 2020 and (b)  the date that Product Sales Milestone #4 is paid.

Payment Dates

The Production Milestone Payment will be paid twenty business days following the date of achievement of the Production Milestone, but no earlier than January 3, 2012.

The Approval Milestone Payment will be paid twenty business days after the achievement of such milestone.

With respect to Product Sales Milestones, fifty days after the end of each calendar quarter, Parent is required to provide a statement of net sales of Lemtrada to the trustee that includes (i) a calculation of net sales of Lemtrada with respect to the last completed four-quarter period, (ii) notice of whether any Product Sales Milestone has been achieved and (iii) for each calendar quarter ending on or prior to December 31, 2011, the production totals for Cerezyme and Fabrazyme since January 1, 2011, reported on a quarterly basis and expressed, in the case of Cerezyme, in units of 400 unit-vial equivalents and, in the case of Fabrazyme, in units of 35-milligram unit vial equivalents, as well as notice of whether the Production Milestone has been achieved as of the end of such calendar quarter. Parent must pay any Product Sales Milestone Payment twenty business days following notice of the achievement of such milestone in the product sales statement described above.

All milestone payments shall be made to holders of record of the CVRs as of the close of business in New York City, three business days prior to the relevant payment date. Amounts payable by Parent in respect of the CVRs will be considered paid on the date due if on such date the trustee or paying agent holds money sufficient to pay all such amounts then due in accordance with the CVR Agreement. The trustee and paying agent will comply with all U.S. federal withholding requirements with respect to payments to holders of CVRs that Parent, the trustee or the paying agent reasonably believes are applicable under the Code and the treasury regulations thereunder. The consent of the CVR holder is not required for any such withholding.

Issuance of CVRs

The CVRs will be issued at the Acceptance Time to holders who have validly tendered and not withdrawn their Shares into the Exchange Offer, and following the completion of the Merger to holders of then outstanding Shares (other than Shares held by Parent, Genzyme or their respective subsidiaries, and any Dissenting Shares, as defined above at “The Merger Agreement—Dissenting Shares”). The number of CVRs to be issued will be equal to the sum of (1) the number of Shares tendered and not validly withdrawn in the Exchange Offer, (2) the number of Shares outstanding immediately prior to the completion of the Merger (other than Shares held by Parent, Genzyme or their respective subsidiaries and any Dissenting Shares) (3) any CVRs issued to holders of options and other Share purchase rights and (4) the number of Shares underlying Restricted Stock and RSUs. The CVR Agreement provides for authentication, as applicable of the CVRs by the trustee upon execution and delivery of such CVRs pursuant to the CVR Agreement. At Parent’s election, the CVRs may be issued in book-entry form.

Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen CVRs

Parent will execute, and the trustee will authenticate and deliver a new CVR certificate of like tenor and amount of CVRs, bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding if either:

 

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any mutilated CVR is surrendered to the trustee; or

 

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Parent and the trustee receive evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any CVR and there is delivered to Parent and the trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them harmless.

 

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Upon the issuance of any new CVRs, Parent may require a payment sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including the fees and expenses of the trustee).

Every new CVR issued under these circumstances will constitute an original additional contractual obligation of Parent, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen CVR shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to all benefits under the CVR Agreement and proportionately with any other CVR duly issued.

Cancellation of CVRs

All CVRs surrendered for payment, registration of transfer or exchange shall, if surrendered to any person other than the trustee, be delivered to the trustee and promptly canceled. Parent may, at any time, deliver to the trustee for cancellation any CVRs previously authenticated and delivered which Parent may have acquired in any manner, and all CVRs so delivered shall be promptly canceled by the trustee. No CVRs shall be authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any canceled CVRs.

Transferability of CVRs; Listing

The CVRs are freely transferable and any interest therein may be sold, assigned, pledged, encumbered or in any manner transferred or disposed of, in whole or in part, as long as the transfer or other disposition is made in accordance with the applicable provisions of the CVR Agreement and in compliance with applicable United States federal and state securities laws and any other applicable securities laws.

Parent has agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the CVRs to maintain a listing for trading on Nasdaq or other national securities exchange for so long as the CVRs remain outstanding. Notwithstanding its efforts, Parent may be unable to maintain the CVRs to be listed for trading.

Registration and Transfers

Parent will cause to be kept at the office of the trustee a register in which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, Parent shall provide for the registration and transfer of the CVRs.

Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any CVR at the office or agency of Parent designated by Parent, Parent shall execute, and the trustee shall authenticate and deliver, as applicable, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new CVR certificates or, at Parent’s election, evidence of book-entry CVRs, representing the same aggregate number of CVRs represented by the CVR certificate (or book-entry CVRs) so surrendered that are to be transferred and Parent shall execute and the trustee shall authenticate and deliver, as applicable, in the name of the transferor, one or more new CVR certificates (or, at Parent’s election, evidence of book-entry CVRs) representing the aggregate number of CVRs represented by such CVR certificate, if any, that are not to be transferred.

No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange of CVRs, but Parent may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any registration of transfer or exchange of CVRs.

Selected Definitions Related to the CVR Agreement

The following terms are defined in the CVR Agreement attached as Annex B to this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange included in this registration statement. For the purposes of the CVRs and CVR Agreement:

“Diligent Efforts” means, with respect to the Product (as defined below), efforts of a person to carry out its obligations, and to cause its affiliates and licensees to carry out their respective obligations, using such efforts and employing such resources normally used by persons in the pharmaceutical business relating to the research,

 

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development or commercialization of a product, that is of similar market potential at a similar stage in its development or product life, taking into account issues of market exclusivity, product profile, including efficacy, safety, tolerability and convenience, the competitiveness of alternate products in the marketplace or under development, the availability of existing forms or dosages of alemtuzumab for other indications, the launch or sales of a biosimilar product, the regulatory environment and the profitability of the applicable product (including pricing and reimbursement status achieved) consistent with Parent’s publicly reported financial statements (assuming Parent will not treat royalty payments to Bayer Schering Pharma AG (“Bayer”) as an expense for purposes of this clause, or the achievement of Milestones in such a manner, that would reduce the profitability of the Product), and other relevant factors, including technical, commercial, legal, scientific and/or medical factors. Subject to the foregoing, “Diligent Efforts” shall include, but shall not be limited to, the following: (a) making expenditures in relation to the Product that are consistent with expenditures normally made by persons in the pharmaceutical business in connection with products of similar market potential at similar stages in their development or product life; (b) implementing and maintaining appropriate Product and patient support services (including, but not limited to, risk identification and minimization programs and reimbursement support services); (c) initiating and completing all post-marketing approval commitments; (d) promptly seeking pricing approvals and/or minimally restrictive payer coverage decisions in the Major Markets (as defined below); (e) fulfilling obligations under any co-promotion agreement or arrangement with Bayer should Bayer exercise its right to co-promote the Product; (f) setting or seeking a commercial price for the Product that is consistent with the profile of the Product, including seeking premium pricing based on the effectiveness of the Product; (g) promoting the Product for all labeled multiple sclerosis indications; and (h) otherwise fulfilling the obligations of Parent and its Affiliates under Existing Licenses, including fulfilling obligations pursuant to a certain License and Purchase Agreement with Bayer, dated as of March 30, 2009, as amended, in order to maintain the rights to develop and commercialize the Product granted thereunder.

“Existing Licenses” means those licenses and related agreements (for so long as they are in effect) with respect to the Product granted by or to Genzyme or its affiliates to or from third parties (other than Parent or its affiliates) as in effect immediately prior to the consummation of the Merger.

“FDA Approval” means the issuance by the FDA of a biologics license or a supplement to an existing biologics license for a product.

“Major Market” means the United States of America, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy and Spain.

“Product” means any of: (a) the humanized antibody directed against CD52 known as alemtuzumab; (b) any molecule which comprises alemtuzumab or a fragment, variant or derivative thereof that retains the ability to bind human CD52; (c) any other CD52-binding molecule having a structure and activity similar enough to the molecules described in clauses (a) or (b) of this definition to be classified as a biosimilar (or follow-on biologic or subsequent entry biologic or the like) thereof; and (d) any product containing any of the items described in clauses (a)-(c) of this definition as an active ingredient, in each case regardless of formulation, delivery system, or dosage form, provided that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any unit of Product, to the extent sold for use in (i) oncology or (ii) transplant indications, in each of cases (i) and (ii) under the Campath^® or MabCampath^® trademarks, shall not be deemed to be “Product” for the purposes of the CVR Agreement.

“35-milligram Vial Equivalent” means a unit of production of Fabrazyme calculated as follows: (a) each vial of thirty-five (35)-milligram dosage of Fabrazyme shall equal one (1) 35-milligram Vial Equivalent; and (b) each vial of five (5)-milligram dosage of Fabrazyme shall equal one-seventh (1/7) of a 35-milligram Vial Equivalent.

“400 Unit Vial Equivalent” means a unit of production of Cerezyme calculated as follows: (a) each vial of four hundred (400) Cerezyme Unit dosage of Cerezyme shall equal one (1) 400 Unit Vial Equivalent; and (b) each vial of two hundred (200) Cerezyme Unit dosage of Cerezyme shall equal one-half (1/2) of a 400 Unit Vial Equivalent.

 

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Ranking

The CVRs will rank equal in right of payment to all existing and future unsecured unsubordinated indebtedness of Parent, and senior in right of payment to all subordinated indebtedness of Parent. The CVRs, however, will be effectively subordinated in right of payment to all of Parent’s secured obligations to the extent of the collateral securing such obligations. Additionally, the CVRs will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness, claims of holders of capital stock and other liabilities, including trade payables, of Parent’s subsidiaries.

As of December 31, 2010, on a combined basis (aggregating Parent and Genzyme and excluding any purchase price financing) Parent would have had no secured indebtedness and Parent’s subsidiaries would have had indebtedness of $2.1 billion.

Reporting Obligations

The CVR Agreement provides that Parent will file with the trustee, and make available on its website the following:

 

•

within 15 days after Parent files the same with the SEC, copies of the annual reports filed on Form 20-F, the semi-annual earnings reports furnished on Form 6-K and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such portions of the foregoing as the SEC may from time to time by rules and regulations prescribe) which Parent is required to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act;

 

•

if Parent does not file the annual reports filed on Form 20-F, the semi-annual earnings reports furnished on Form 6-K, within 45 days after June 30th of each calendar year semi-annual earnings reports and, within 90 days after each calendar year, annual financial information , in each case calculated in accordance with accounting standards applied consistently with the application of such standards in either Parent’s prior semi-annual earnings reports on Form 6-K and annual reports on Form 20-F, as applicable, or in Parent’s prior reported financial statements filed or furnished in its home jurisdiction;

 

•

copies of any quarterly financial information or earnings reports made public by Parent or made available on Parent’s website, within fifteen days after such information or reports are furnished or otherwise made public or available;

 

•

within four business days after the occurrence of the Approval Milestone, a notice stating that the milestone has occurred, the amount of the corresponding milestone payment and the applicable payment date; and

 

•

within fifty days after the end of each calendar quarter, a sales statement that includes (i) a calculation of net sales of Lemtrada with respect to the last completed four-quarter period, (ii) notice of whether any Product Sales Milestone has been achieved and (iii) for each calendar quarter ending on or prior to December 31, 2011, the production totals for Cerezyme and Fabrazyme since January 1, 2011, reported on a quarterly basis and expressed, in the case of Cerezyme, in units of 400 Unit-Vial Equivalents and, in the case of Fabrazyme, in units of 35-milligram Vial Equivalents, as well as notice of whether the Production Milestone has been achieved as of the end of such calendar quarter.

In addition, Parent is required to file with the trustee such additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by Parent with the conditions and covenants of the CVR Agreement.

Audit

Upon the written request of holders representing at least 30% of the outstanding CVRs and no more than once during any calendar year, and upon reasonable notice, Parent is required to permit an independent certified public accounting firm of nationally recognized standing (jointly agreed by such holders and Parent) to have

 

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access to such records of Parent as may be reasonably necessary to verify the accuracy of the sales statements and the figures underlying the calculations set forth in such sales statement for any period within the preceding three years that has not previously been audited.

If the independent accountant concludes that the Cerezyme/Fabrazyme Production Milestone or any Lemtrada Product Sales Milestone payment should have been paid but was not paid, Parent is required to pay such shortfall with interest from the date the milestone payment date should have occurred if Parent had given notice of achievement of such milestone at the proper time. Parent is required to pay such shortfall and interest within 60 days after the date that the holders representing at least 30% of the outstanding CVRs deliver the written report of the independent accountant to Parent. The decision of the independent certified public accountant shall be final, conclusive and binding on Parent and the CVR holders. The fees charged by the independent certified public accounting firm will be paid by Parent. The right of holders of at least 30% of the outstanding CVRs to request an audit survives the termination of the CVR Agreement for a period of one year.

Upon the expiration of three years following the end of any four-quarter sales measuring period, the calculation of net sales as set forth in the sales statement for such period shall be conclusive and binding on each CVR holder.

Parent has agreed not to, and to cause its affiliates not to, enter into any license or distribution agreement with any third party (other than Parent or its affiliates) with respect to any Product unless such agreement contains provisions that would allow the independent accountant appointed pursuant to the CVR Agreement such access to the records of the other party to such license or distribution agreement as may be reasonably necessary to perform the independent accountant’s duties under the CVR Agreement; provided that Parent and its affiliates will not be required to amend any Existing Licenses.

Efforts to Achieve Milestones

Parent has agreed to use commercially reasonable efforts to achieve the Cerezyme/Fabrazyme Production Milestone on a timely basis, and has agreed to use Diligent Efforts (as defined above) to achieve each of the Approval Milestone and the Product Sales Milestones included in the CVR Agreement.

Covenants

The CVR Agreement provides that while any CVRs remain outstanding and subject to the exceptions described below, Parent will not voluntarily liquidate, dissolve or wind up or enter into any transaction as a result of which none of Parent or any of its subsidiaries would own or control directly all or substantially all of the economic interest in the Product.

Parent agreed that it shall not merge or consolidate with or into any other person, split-off, or sell or convey all or substantially all of its assets to any person unless (a) Parent is the surviving entity of such transaction, or the successor person or the person which accepts by sale or conveyance all or substantially all of the assets of Parent (or in the case of a spin-off or split-off the person succeeding to the largest portion of the assets relating to the Product) is organized under the laws of the United States or a member of the European Union and expressly assumes the obligations of Parent under the CVR Agreement, (b) the successor person as a result of such transaction is not in breach of any obligation under the CVR Agreement, (c) in the case of a split-off or spin-off, (i) the successor person has a corporate credit rating after the transaction from either Moody’s Investor Services, Inc. or Standard & Poor’s Ratings Service that is at least as high as “A-”, “A3” or their equivalent, and (ii) Parent has certified to the trustee that to its knowledge such successor person is capable of fulfilling the obligations of the CVR Agreement.

The CVR Agreement provides that while any CVRs remain outstanding, Parent and its affiliates will not, directly or indirectly, sell, transfer, convey or otherwise dispose of their respective rights in the Product to a third

 

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party (other than Parent or its affiliates), unless (a) the transferee acquires all of Parent’s interest in the Product and assumes all of the its obligations under the CVR Agreement, (b) the transferee has a corporate credit rating from either Standard & Poor’s Ratings Service or Moody’s Investor Services, Inc. of at least “A-”, “A3” or their equivalent, (c) the transferee is either one of the top ten global pharmaceutical companies (based on annual revenues) or is a global pharmaceutical or biotechnology company with a market capitalization of at least fifteen billion dollars and a specialty sales and regulatory infrastructure comparable to that used by Parent to commercialize the Product at such time and (d) Parent has certified to the trustee that to its knowledge such successor person is capable of fulfilling the obligations of the CVR Agreement.

Breach

Each one of the following events is a breach of the CVR Agreement:

 

•

failure to pay all or any part of any CVR payment after a period of ten business days after such CVR payment shall become due and payable;

 

•

material breach in the performance, or breach in any material respect, of any other covenant or warranty in respect of the CVRs, and continuance of such breach for a period of ninety days after written notice has been given to Parent by the trustee or to Parent and the trustee by holders representing at least 30% of the outstanding CVRs specifying such breach and requiring it to be remedied;

 

•

a court having jurisdiction in the premises entering a decree or order for relief in respect of Parent in an involuntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee or sequestrator (or similar official) of Parent or for any substantial part of its property or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of ninety (90) consecutive days (for the avoidance of doubt, a mandataire ad hoc or a conciliateur or any person having a similar position may be appointed upon request of Parent, without constituting a breach of the CVR);

 

•

Parent commencing a voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, or consenting to the entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case under any such law, or consenting to the appointment of or taking possession by a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee or sequestrator (or similar official) of Parent or for any substantial part of its property, or making any general assignment for the benefit of creditors (for the avoidance of doubt, a mandataire ad hoc or a conciliateur or any person having a similar position may be appointed upon request of Parent, without constituting a breach of the CVR).

The foregoing provisions, however, are subject to the condition that if, at any time after the trustee shall have begun such suit, and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered, Parent shall pay or shall deposit with the trustee a sum sufficient to pay all amounts which shall have become due and payable (with interest upon such overdue amount at the breach interest rate specified in the CVR Agreement to the date of such payment or deposit) and such amount as shall be sufficient to cover reasonable compensation to the trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other expenses and liabilities incurred and all advances made, by the trustee, and if any and all breaches under the CVR Agreement shall have been cured, waived or otherwise remedied as provided herein, then and in every such case holders of at least a majority of the CVRs then outstanding, by act of said holders delivered to Parent and the trustee, may waive all breaches with respect to the CVRs, but no such waiver or rescission and annulment shall extend to or will affect any subsequent breach or will impair any right consequent thereof.

 

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Amendment of CVR Agreement without Consent of CVR Holders

Without the consent of any CVR holders, Parent and the trustee may amend the CVR Agreement for any of the following purposes:

 

•

to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge to the trustee as security for the CVRs any property or assets;

 

•

to evidence the succession of another person to Parent, and the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of Parent in the CVR Agreement and in the CVRs;

 

•

to add to Parent’s covenants such further covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions as its Chief Executive Officer and/or board of directors and the trustee shall consider to be for the protection of CVR holders, and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a default in any such additional covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions a breach permitting the enforcement of all or any of the several remedies provided in the CVR Agreement, provided that in respect of any such additional covenant, restriction, condition or provision, such amendment may (1) provide for a particular grace period after breach, (2) provide for an immediate enforcement upon such breach, (3) limit the remedies available to the trustee upon such breach, or (4) limit the right of the holders representing at least 30% of the outstanding CVRs to waive a breach;

 

•

to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision in the CVR Agreement or in the CVRs which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision in the CVR Agreement, provided that these provisions shall not adversely affect the interests of the CVR holders;

 

•

to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under the CVR Agreement, provided that such provisions shall not adversely affect the interests of the CVR holders;

 

•

to make any amendments or changes necessary to comply or maintain compliance with the Trust Indenture Act, if applicable; or

 

•

to make any change that does not adversely affect the interests of the CVR holders.

Amendment of CVR Agreement with Consent of CVR Holders

With the consent of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding CVRs, Parent and the trustee may make other amendments to the CVR Agreement, provided that no such amendment shall, without the consent of each holder of a CVR affected thereby:

 

•

modify in a manner adverse to the CVR holders (1) any provision contained in the CVR Agreement with respect to the termination of the CVR Agreement or the CVRs, (2) the time for payment and amount of the Production Milestone Payment, the Approval Milestone Payment or any Product Sales Milestone Payment or otherwise extend the time for payment of the CVRs or reduce the amounts payable in respect of the CVRs or modify any other payment term or payment date (except that this provision does not impair the right of Parent to purchase and cancel the CVRs as described under “—Parent Purchase and Cancellation Right Upon CVR Failure Event” below);

 

•

reduce the number of CVRs, the consent of whose holders is required for any such amendment; or

 

•

modify any of the provisions of the CVR Agreement regarding amendments to the CVR Agreement, except to increase the percentage of outstanding CVRs required for an amendment or to provide that certain other provisions of the CVR Agreement cannot be modified or waived without the consent of each CVR holder affected by such modification or waiver.

Purchases by Parent and Affiliates

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CVRs, Parent must publicly disclose the amount of CVRs which it has been authorized to acquire. Parent must also report in its annual and semi-annual reports the amount of CVRs it has acquired as of the end of the half-year or annual period reported in such annual or semi-annual report.

Parent Purchase and Cancellation Right Upon CVR Failure Event

In addition to Parent’s right to acquire CVRs described above at “—Purchases by Parent and Affiliates,” pursuant to the CVR Agreement, on or after the third anniversary of the launch of Lemtrada, and subject to certain notice requirements described below, Parent may, for a period of sixty days after the date on which the volume-weighted average CVR trading price is less than fifty cents over forty-five trading days and Lemtrada sales in the prior four-quarter period are less than one billion dollars in the aggregate (a “Failure Purchase Eligibility Date”), optionally purchase and cancel all (but not less than all) of the outstanding CVRs at a cash redemption price equal to the volume-weighted average price paid per CVR for all CVRs traded over the forty-five trading days prior to the fifth trading day prior to the to the date of the notice of purchase and cancellation. If Parent does not exercise this purchase and cancellation right within the sixty-day period, it may not exercise the right until the next instance in which a Failure Purchase Eligibility Date occurs.

In order to optionally purchase and cancel the CVRs, Parent must give a notice to the trustee at least 30 days but not more than 60 days prior to the purchase and cancellation date and a notice to each CVR holder whose CVRs are to be purchased and cancelled at least 30 days but not more than 60 days prior to the purchase and cancellation date.

The notice to the trustee must include (1) the clause of the CVR Agreement pursuant to which the redemption shall occur, (2) the purchase and cancellation date and (3) the purchase and cancellation price.

The notice to the CVR holders must include:

 

•

the purchase and cancellation date;

 

•

the purchase and cancellation price;

 

•

the name and address of the paying agent;

 

•

a statement that CVRs called for purchase and cancellation must be surrendered to the paying agent to collect the purchase and cancellation price;

 

•

a statement that unless Parent defaults in making such purchase and cancellation payment, all right, title and interest in and to the CVRs and any CVR payments will cease to accrue on and after the purchase and cancellation date;

 

•

the clause of the CVR Agreement pursuant to which the CVRs called for purchase and cancellation are being purchased and canceled; and

 

•

a statement that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP and ISIN number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the CVRs.

Limitations on Suits by Holders

Subject to the rights described in “—Audit” above, and the rights of the holders of CVRs described in “—Unconditional Right of Holders to Institute Certain Suits” below, no holder of CVRs shall have any right under the CVR Agreement to institute an action or proceeding with respect to the CVR Agreement, or for the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar official, unless: (i) the holder previously gave the trustee written notice of breach; (ii) holders of 30% of the outstanding CVRs have made a request in writing to the trustee to institute such action as trustee; and (iii) the holder has offered the trustee a reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities it may incur in such action or proceeding, and the Trustee for fifteen (15) days after receiving the notice and request has not instituted any action or proceeding and no direction inconsistent with the written request was given to the Trustee.

 

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Unconditional Right of Holders to Institute Certain Suits

Notwithstanding any other provision in the CVR Agreement or the CVR, holders of CVRs rights to receive payment of the amounts payable in respect of the CVRs on or after their respective due dates, or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, may not be impaired or affected without the consent of the holder.

Control by Holders; Removal of Trustee

Generally, holders of at least a majority of the outstanding CVRs have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any power granted to the Trustee by the CVR Agreement.

If the trustee or Parent determines that the trustee has a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, and the trustee fails to comply with its obligations to eliminate the conflicting interest or resign, after written request to that effect by the Company or any holder of CVRs, then any holder of CVRs who has been a bona fide holder for at least six months may on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the trustee and the appointment of a successor.

 

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BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SHARES

Genzyme

The following table sets forth how many Genzyme Shares are held by anyone known to Genzyme to beneficially own more than 5% of the outstanding Genzyme Shares. The information in this table is as of February 16, 2011 and is based on the most recent filings submitted to the SEC regarding ownership of Genzyme Shares and updated information provided to Genzyme by its shareholders.

 

		Shares Beneficially Owned
Name		Number				Percent
BlackRock, Inc. (1)			14,668,157				5.6	%
40 East 52nd Street
New York, NY 10022
Carl C. Icahn (2)			13,100,000				5.0	%
c/o Icahn Associates Corp.
767 Fifth Avenue, 47th Floor
New York, NY 10153

 

(1)	BlackRock, Inc. is a parent holding company, and has sole voting and dispositive power for all of the shares listed. No single client of the reporting person(s) is known to own more than 5% of the shares listed.

(2)	Information is based on a Schedule 13G filed jointly by Carl C. Icahn and certain other entities affiliated with Mr. Icahn. Mr. Icahn shares voting and dispositive power for all of the shares listed.

The following table sets forth how many Genzyme Shares are beneficially owned by Genzyme executive officers and directors and all current executive officers and directors together as a group. The information in this table is as of February 16, 2011. Unless otherwise noted, each director and executive officer has sole voting and investment power for the Genzyme Shares listed.

 

		Shares Beneficially Owned
Name		Number (1)				Percent (* indicates less  than 1%)
Scott Canute			21,050				*
Zoltan Csimma			278,644				*
Thomas DesRosier			159,747				*
James Geraghty			189,382				*
David P. Meeker (2)			322,877				*
Richard Moscicki			415,317				*
Alan Smith			406,903				*
Sandford D. Smith			242,990				*
Henri A. Termeer (3)			3,975,330				1.5	%
Peter Wirth (4)			666,505				*
Michael S. Wyzga			424,375				*
Douglas Berthiaume (5)			170,106				*
Robert Bertolini			9,500				*
Gail Boudreaux			80,000				*
Steven Burakoff			0				*
Robert Carpenter			122,935				*
Charles L. Cooney (6)			76,121				*
Victor J. Dzau (7)			83,871				*
Eric Ende			0				*
Dennis Fenton			355				*
Connie Mack III			87,421				*
Richard F. Syron			65,011				*
Ralph Whitworth (8)			10,615,748				4.0	%
All current officers and directors as a group (23 people)			18,414,188				7.0	%

 

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(1)	The shares listed include the following stock options exercisable and restricted stock units (“RSUs”) vesting within 60 days after February 16, 2011:

 

		Number of Shares Subject to Stock Options and RSUs
Scott Canute			21,050
Zoltan Csimma			265,664
Thomas DesRosier			152,589
James Geraghty			184,660
David P. Meeker			311,210
Richard Moscicki			394,487
Alan Smith			369,412
Sandford D. Smith			222,319
Henri A. Termeer			3,285,174
Peter Wirth			650,876
Michael S. Wyzga			399,900
Douglas Berthiaume			94,900
Robert Bertolini			7,125
Gail Boudreaux			75,000
Steven Burakoff			0
Robert Carpenter			91,110
Charles L. Cooney			64,110
Victor J. Dzau			76,321
Eric Ende			0
Dennis Fenton			0
Connie Mack III			82,421
Richard F. Syron			60,000
Ralph Whitworth			7,125
All current officers and directors as a group (23 people)			6,815,453

 

(2)	The stock beneficially owned by Dr. Meeker includes 621 shares held by his wife and 495 shares held by his children. Dr. Meeker disclaims beneficial ownership of all shares held by his wife and children.

(3)	The stock beneficially owned by Mr. Termeer includes 2,371 shares held by his wife and 1,256 shares held in trusts for the benefit of Mr. Termeer’s children. Mr. Termeer disclaims beneficial ownership of all shares held by his wife and the trusts.

(4)	The stock beneficially owned by Mr. Wirth includes 148 shares held in an IRA account.

(5)	The stock beneficially owned by Mr. Berthiaume includes 4,048 shares held by his wife. Mr. Berthiaume disclaims beneficial ownership of all shares held by his wife.

(6)

The stock beneficially owned by Dr. Cooney includes 7,164 shares held jointly with his wife, 240 shares held individually by his wife, 1,882 shares held by his son and 600 shares held by his grandchildren. Dr. Cooney disclaims beneficial ownership of all shares held individually by his wife, son and grandchildren.

(7)	The stock beneficially owned by Dr. Dzau includes 2,550 shares held by his wife’s trust.

(8)

Mr. Whitworth is one of the principals of Relational Investors, LLC, or “RILLC.” RILLC is the record owner of 100 shares and sole general partner, or the sole managing member of the general partner, of Relational Investors, L.P. , Relational Fund Partners, L.P., Relational Coast Partners, L.P., RH Fund 1, L.P., RH Fund 6, L.P., Relational Investors III, L.P., Relational Investors VIII, L.P., Relational Investors IX, L.P., Relational Investors X, L.P., Relational Investors XV, L.P., Relational Investors XVI, L.P., Relational Investors XX, L.P., Relational Investors XXII, L.P., Relational Investors XXIII, L.P., and Relational Investors Alpha Fund I, L.P. These limited partnerships own a total of 7,693,166 shares. An additional 2,234,482 shares are held in accounts managed by RILLC and an additional 408,500 shares are held through co-investment arrangements with Relational Investors VIII, L.P. Mr. Whitworth disclaims beneficial ownership of these securities except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein. The business address for the entities listed above is c/o Relational Investors LLC, 12400 High Bluff Drive, Suite 600, San Diego, CA 92130.

 

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FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Prospectus/Offer to Exchange may include “forward looking statements,” both with respect to Parent and Genzyme and their industry, that reflect Parent’s and Genzyme’s current views and projections with respect to future events, financial performance and financial trends affecting our businesses. Statements that include the words “expect,” “intend,” “plan,” “confident,” “believe,” “project,” “anticipate,” “will,” “may,” “estimate,” “continue” and similar statements of a future or forward looking nature identify forward looking statements. All forward looking statements address matters that involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Parent’s and Genzyme’s control. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such statements and, therefore, you should not place undue reliance on any such statements.

These and other relevant factors, including those risk factors in this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange and any other information included or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange, and information that may be contained in Parent’s and Genzyme’s other filings with the SEC, should be carefully considered when reviewing any forward looking statement. Forward looking statements include information concerning our possible or assumed future results of operations, business strategies, financing plans, competitive position, industry environment, potential growth opportunities, the effects of future regulation and the effects of competition.

The foregoing review of important factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included herein and elsewhere, including the Risk Factors included in Parent’s most recent reports on Form 20-F and Form 6-K and the risk factors included in Genzyme’s most recent reports on Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K and other documents of Parent and Genzyme on file with the SEC. Any forward looking statements made in this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange are qualified by these cautionary statements, and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments anticipated by Parent will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, Parent, Genzyme or their respective business or operations. In light of the risks and uncertainties described above, the forward looking events and circumstances described in this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange might not occur and are not guarantees of future performance. Except as required by law, Parent and Genzyme undertake no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.

 

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VALIDITY OF SECURITIES

The validity of the CVRs to be issued in connection with the Merger will be passed upon by Weil, Gotshal & Manges, French counsel to Parent, and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP, counsel to Parent.

ENFORCEABILITY OF CIVIL LIABILITIES UNDER THE

UNITED STATES FEDERAL SECURITIES LAWS

Parent is a société anonyme organized under the laws of France, and most of its directors and officers reside outside the United States. In addition, a substantial portion of its assets is located outside of the United States. As a result, it may be difficult for investors to effect service of process within the United States on such persons. It may also be difficult to enforce against them, either inside or outside the United States, judgments obtained against them in U.S. courts, or to enforce in U.S. courts, judgments obtained against them in courts in jurisdictions outside the United States, in any action based on civil liabilities under the U.S. federal securities laws. There is doubt as to the enforceability against such persons in France, whether in original actions or in actions to enforce judgments of U.S. courts, of liabilities based solely on the U.S. federal securities laws. Actions for enforcement of foreign judgments against such persons would require such persons who are of French nationality to waive their right under Article 15 of the French Civil Code to be sued only in France. We believe that no such French persons have waived such right with respect to actions predicated solely upon U.S. federal securities laws. In addition, actions in the United States under the U.S. federal securities laws could be affected under certain circumstances by the French law of July 26, 1968, as amended, which may preclude or restrict the obtaining of evidence in France or from French persons in connection with such actions. Additionally, awards of punitive damages in actions brought in the United States or elsewhere may be unenforceable in France.

EXPERTS

The consolidated financial statements of sanofi-aventis and its subsidiaries incorporated in this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange by reference from the 2010 Form 20-F, and the effectiveness of sanofi-aventis’ and its subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010, have been audited by Ernst & Young Audit and PricewaterhouseCoopers Audit, independent registered public accounting firms, as stated in their reports, which are incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2010 have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of such firms given on the authority of such firms as experts in accounting and auditing.

The Genzyme financial statements and management’s assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting (which is included in Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting) incorporated in this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange and the registration statement by reference to Genzyme’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

MISCELLANEOUS

The Exchange Offer is being made solely by this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange and the accompanying Letter of Transmittal, and any amendments or supplements thereto, and is being made to all holders of Shares. Parent is not aware of any State within the United States where the making of the Exchange Offer or the tender of Shares in connection therewith would not be in compliance with the laws of such State. If Parent becomes aware of any State in which the making of the Exchange Offer or the tender of Shares in connection therewith would not be in compliance with applicable law, Parent will make a good faith effort to comply with any such law. If, after such good faith effort, Parent cannot comply with any such law, the Exchange Offer will not be made to

 

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(nor will tenders be accepted from or on behalf of) the holders of Shares in such State. In any jurisdiction where the securities, blue sky or other laws require the Exchange Offer to be made by a licensed broker or dealer, the Exchange Offer shall be deemed to be made on behalf of Parent and Purchaser by the dealer-managers or by one or more registered brokers or dealers licensed under the laws of such jurisdiction.

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

General

Parent is subject to the information reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, applicable to foreign private issuers. As a “foreign private issuer,” Parent is exempt from the rules under the Exchange Act prescribing certain disclosure and procedural requirements for proxy solicitations, and our officers, directors and principal shareholders are exempt from the reporting and “short-swing” profit recovery provisions contained in Section 16 of the Exchange Act, with respect to their purchases and sales of shares. Parent files with the SEC an Annual Report on Form 20-F containing financial statements audited by an independent registered public accounting firm and files current reports on Form 6-K. Genzyme files annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any reports, statements or other information filed by Parent or Genzyme at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at (800) SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the Public Reference Room.

You may also obtain copies of this information by mail from the Public Reference Section of the SEC, 100 F Street, N.E., Room 1024, Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates, or from commercial document retrieval services.

The SEC maintains a website that contains reports, proxy statements, information statements and other information, including those filed by Parent and Genzyme, at http://www.sec.gov. You may also access the SEC filings and obtain other information about Parent and Genzyme through the websites maintained by Parent and Genzyme, which are http://en.sanofi-aventis.com and http://www.genzyme.com, respectively. The information contained in those websites is not incorporated by reference into this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange.

Statements contained in this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange, or in any document incorporated by reference in this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange regarding the content of any contract or other document, are not necessarily complete, and each of these statements is qualified in its entirety by reference to that contract or other document filed as an exhibit with the SEC. As allowed by SEC rules, this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange “incorporates by reference” into this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange certain information required to be included in the registration statement on Form F-4 filed by Parent to register the CVRs to be issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer and the Merger and the exhibits to the registration statement, which means that important information can be disclosed to you by referring you to other documents filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange, except for any information superseded by information in this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange. This Prospectus/Offer to Exchange incorporates by reference the documents set forth below that Parent and Genzyme have previously filed with the SEC as well as all documents filed by Parent and Genzyme pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act from the date of this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange to the expiration date of the Exchange Offer (including the expiration date of any subsequent offering period).

Parent

 

•

Parent’s Annual Report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2010.

 

•

Parent’s Current Reports on Form 6-K filed with the SEC on January 14, 2011, January 28, 2011 and February 9, 2011.

 

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You may request a copy of this filing free of charge by writing or telephoning sanofi-aventis at:

sanofi-aventis

174, avenue de France

75013 Paris, France

Attention: Investor Relations

Telephone: +33 1 53 77 45 45

Genzyme

 

•

Genzyme’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.

 

•

Genzyme’s Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on April 26, 2010.

 

•

Genzyme’s Current Reports on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on January 11, 2011, February 1, 2011, February 16, 2011 and February 18, 2011.

You may request a copy of these filings free of charge by writing or telephoning Genzyme at:

Genzyme Corporation

500 Kendall Street

Cambridge, Massachusetts 02142

Attention: Shareholder Relations

(617) 252-7500

Parent also hereby incorporates by reference any additional documents that it or Genzyme may file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act from the date of this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange to the termination of the offering. Nothing in this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange shall be deemed to incorporate information furnished but not filed with the SEC.

Any statements made in a document incorporated by reference in this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange is deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange to the extent that a statement in this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange or in any other subsequently filed document, which is also incorporated by reference, modifies or supersedes the statement. Any statement made in this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange is deemed to be modified or superseded to the extent a statement in any subsequently filed document, which is incorporated by reference in this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange, modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange.

Neither Parent nor Genzyme has authorized anyone to give any information or make any representation about the Exchange Offer or the Merger or our companies that is different from, or in addition to, that contained in this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange or in any of the materials that are incorporated into this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange. Therefore, if anyone does give you information of this sort, you should not rely on it. If you are in a jurisdiction where offers to exchange or sell, or solicitations of offers to exchange or purchase, the securities offered by this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange is unlawful, or if you are a person to whom it is unlawful to direct these types of activities, then the Exchange Offer presented in this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange does not extend to you. The information contained in this Prospectus/Offer to Exchange is accurate only as of the date of this document unless the information specifically indicates that another date applies.

For information regarding the operation of the Public Reference Room, you may call the SEC at (800) SEC-0330. These filings made with the SEC are also available to the public through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov or from commercial document retrieval services.

 

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SCHEDULE I:

DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF

PURCHASER, PARENT AND CERTAIN RELATED PERSONS

1.    DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF PURCHASER.

The name, business address, present principal occupation or employment and material occupations, positions, offices or employment for the past five years of each of the directors and executive officers of GC Merger Corp. are set forth below. During the last five years, none of the persons listed below has been (i) convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and similar misdemeanors) or (ii) a party to any judicial or administrative proceeding (except for matters that were dismissed without sanction or settlement) that resulted in a judgment, decree or final order enjoining such person from future violations of, or prohibiting activities subject to, federal or state securities laws, or a finding of any violation of federal or state securities laws. None of the directors or executive officers listed below own any Shares. The business address and phone number of each director and executive officer of GC Merger Corp. is c/o Sanofi-Aventis U.S., 55 Corporate Drive, Bridgewater, New Jersey 08807, (908) 981-5000. Unless otherwise indicated, each director and executive officer is a citizen of the United States of America.

 

NAME AND POSITION		PRESENT PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION OR EMPLOYMENT
Gregory Irace Director, Chief Executive Officer and President		Gregory Irace holds a B.S. in accounting from Albany State University (New York). He began his career at Price Waterhouse in 1980 and received his CPA in 1982. He spent 11 years at Price Waterhouse becoming a Senior Audit Manager in 1988, and a Senior Manager in the Corporate Finance Department in 1989. In 1991, he joined Sterling Winthrop Inc. as Regional Controller and in 1993 he became Director of Financial Planning and Analysis for Sanofi-Aventis Winthrop L.P. From October 1994 to January 2007, he was Chief Financial Officer of sanofi-aventis’ Pharmaceutical Operations in the United States, most recently serving as Senior Vice President, Finance and Administration and Chief Financial Officer of Sanofi-Aventis U.S. He was appointed to his present position as President and Chief Executive Officer of Sanofi-Aventis U.S. in February 2007, and is a member of sanofi-aventis’ Management Committee. In addition, he serves as a board member and/or officer of a number of sanofi-aventis’ subsidiaries.
Paul Chew Director		Paul Chew is Senior Vice President, Chief Science Officer/Chief Medical Officer, Sanofi-Aventis U.S. since March 2009. Prior to his role as Chief Science Officer/Chief Medical Officer, Paul served as President, U.S. R&D, the head of Clinical Investigations, Thrombosis Department and head of the Metabolism and Diabetes Department. Before joining the sanofi-aventis organization in 2001, Paul held numerous positions within the clinical organization at Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, including Vice President, US Medical Affairs and Executive Medical Director, Cardiovascular Development. Prior to joining the pharmaceutical industry, Paul held various positions on the staffs of the Francis Scott Key Medical Center and the Johns Hopkins Hospital, Departments of Cardiology and Radiology.   Paul holds a B.A. from Johns Hopkins University and an M.D. from The Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Following his residency, Paul completed post-doctoral and angioplasty fellowships at the Division of Cardiology at The Johns Hopkins Hospital.

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NAME AND POSITION		PRESENT PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION OR EMPLOYMENT
		Paul is a member of the American Heart Association and has published 37 articles in the area of cardiology. He is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine as a Diplomate Internal Medicine, Diplomate Subspecialty Cardiovascular Disease and holds Medical Licensure in the state of New Jersey.
Philippe Grillet Chief Financial Officer		Philippe Grillet graduated in management and economics from EM Lyon. He began his career as an external auditor and joined sanofi-aventis as Head of Consolidation for Pharma Division in 1990. He subsequently held a series of management positions in Accounting, Consolidation and Finance. He was appointed Head of Finance and Administration for Global Operations in Europe in 2003 and also assumed responsibility for Regional Business Development and Prices in 2007. He was Vice President, Finance and Administration, Europe Region from 2007 until his appointment as Vice President, Finance and Chief Financial Officer, United States and Canada Region, on August 1, 2010. In addition, he serves as a board member and/or officer of a number of sanofi-aventis’ subsidiaries.   Philippe Grillet is a citizen of France.
Richard Thomson Treasurer		Richard Thomson holds bachelor’s degrees in finance and insurance and risk management from Temple University (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania). Until January 2005, he was Vice President & Treasurer of Sanofi-Synthelabo Inc. He has been Vice President and Treasurer of Sanofi-Aventis U.S. since January 2005 and a director of Aventis Inc. since January 2005. In addition to his positions at Sanofi-Aventis U.S. and Aventis Inc., he serves as a director or as treasurer of a number of sanofi-aventis’ subsidiaries.
John Spinnato VP, General Counsel and Secretary		John Spinnato holds Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctorate degrees from the University of Dayton and an LLM from the Georgetown University Law Center. Until December 2005, he was Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Sanofi-Synthelabo Inc. From December 2005 to August 2007, he was Vice President and General Counsel of Pharmaceutical Operations at Sanofi-Aventis U.S. He has served as Vice President and General Counsel and Secretary of Sanofi-Aventis U.S. since August 2007. In addition, he serves as a board member and/or officer of a number of sanofi-aventis’ subsidiaries.

 

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2.    DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF PARENT.

The name, business address, present principal occupation or employment and material occupations, positions, offices or employment for the past five years of each of the directors and executive officers of Parent are set forth below. During the last five years, none of the persons listed below has been (i) convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations and similar misdemeanors) or (ii) a party to any judicial or administrative proceeding (except for matters that were dismissed without sanction or settlement) that resulted in a judgment, decree or final order enjoining such person from future violations of, or prohibiting activities subject to, federal or state securities laws, or a finding of any violation of federal or state securities laws. None of the directors or executive officers listed below own any Shares. The business address and phone number of each director and executive officer of Parent is c/o sanofi-aventis, 174, avenue de France, 75013 Paris, France, +33 1 53 77 40 00. Unless otherwise indicated, each director and executive officer is a citizen of France.

 

NAME AND POSITION		PRESENT PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION OR EMPLOYMENT AND EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
Serge Weinberg Chairman of the Board Director		Serge Weinberg holds a Bachelor’s degree in Law, a Graduate Degree from Institut d’Études Politiques and is a graduate of the Ecole Nationale d’Administration. He held different positions as a “sous-préfet” from 1976 to 1981, and became Chief of Staff of the French Budget Minister, Laurent Fabius, in 1981. After a position as Deputy General Manager for Finance at the French Television Channel FR3 (1982 to 1983), he became Chief Executive Officer and then Chairman of the Havas Tourisme Group from 1983 to 1987. He was then appointed CEO of Pallas Finance for three years and joined the Pinault Group (PPR) in 1990 as President of CFAO. In the Pinault Group he was appointed Chairman and CEO of Rexel from 1991 to 1995 and chaired the Management Board of the PPR Group for 10 years. In March 2005, he founded the investment firm Weinberg Capital Partners, which manages funds dedicated to LBO and real estate. Within the Weinberg Capital Partners Group he is Chairman of Weinberg Capital Partners, Financière Piasa, Piasa Holding and Corum (Switzerland), and Director of Piasa, Team Partners Group and VL Holding. He also serves as manager of Alret and Maremma, as a Member of the Supervisory Committee of Amplitude Group and Financière BFSA, as Vice Chairman and Director of Financière Poinsétia and Financière Sasa, as a Member of the Supervisory Board of Schneider Electric, and as Weinberg Capital Partners’ representative on the Board of Alliance Industrie and Sasa Industrie. Serge Weinberg was also Chairman of the Board of Accor from 2006 to 2009, Director of Alliance Industrie from 2006 to 2008, of Road Holding from 2007 to 2008 and of Rasec from 2006 to 2010, a Member of the Board of Pharma Omnium International from 2006 to 2010, a Member of the Supervisory Board of Rothschild & Cie until 2010, a Member of the Supervisory Board of Gucci Group (Netherlands) until 2010, and a Director of Fnac until 2010 and of Rothschild Concordia until 2010. He was appointed as a director of sanofi-aventis in 2009, and appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors in 2010; he also serves as Chairman of the Appointments and Governance Committee and of the Strategy Committee of sanofi-aventis.

 

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NAME AND POSITION		PRESENT PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION OR EMPLOYMENT AND EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
Christopher Viehbacher Chief Executive Officer Director Chairman, Executive Committee and Management Committee		Christopher Viehbacher is a graduate of the Queens University (Ontario, Canada) and a certified public accountant. After beginning his career at PricewaterhouseCoopers Audit, between 1988 and 2008 he acquired broad international experience in Europe, in the United States and in Canada with the GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) company. In his last position, Christopher Viehbacher was President, Pharmaceutical Operations North America, a member of the board and Co-Chairman of the Portfolio Management Board. Christopher Viehbacher has been a member of the board of PhRMA (United States) since 2007 and chairman of PhRMA since 2010, vice chairman of the board of EFPIA (Belgium) since 2010, a member of the board of directors of Research America (United States) since 2006, a member of the board of the Burroughs Wellcome Fund (United States) since 2008, and a member of the board of visitors of the Fuqua School of Business, Duke University (United States) since 2002. He is also currently a member of the board of the Business Roundtable (United States). Previously, Christopher Viehbacher served as a director of GlaxoSmithkline plc (United Kingdom) until November 2008, as a member of the board of Triangle United Way (United States) from 2003 to 2008, of Cardinal Club (United States) from 2004 to 2008 and of GlaxoSmithKline NC Foundation (United States) from 2003 to 2008. He also served as a Member of the Advisory Council of Center for Healthcare Transformation (United States) until 2010. He was appointed to his present position in 2008, and is a member of the Strategy Committee.   Christopher Viehbacher is a citizen of Germany and Canada.
Uwe Bicker Independent Director		Uwe Bicker studied chemistry and medicine in Berlin and Heidelberg. He received his doctorate degree in both fields and has been a professor at the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Heidelberg since 1983. From 1975 to 1994, he held various positions at Boehringer Mannheim (later Roche AG). In 1994, he joined the Hoechst Group to serve as a board member of the group’s subsidiary, Behringwerke AG. He also joined the Executive Board of Hoechst Marion Roussel and was named Chairman of the Executive Board of Dade Behring, Inc., Deerfield/Illinois, USA. Since 2004, he has held positions on several advisory and supervisory boards and as Vice-Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Epigenomics AG (Germany). In addition, he has served as a member of the Supervisory Board of Future Capital AG (Frankfurt, Germany), as a member of the Supervisory Board of Definiens AG (Münich, Germany) since 2004, as a director of the Aventis Foundation since 2004 and as a member of the Board of Trustees of Bertelsmann Stiftung (Bertelsman Foundation, Germany) since 2008, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Holding GmbH (Germany) and a Member of the Advisory Board of Morgan Stanley (Germany). He was first elected as a director of sanofi-aventis in 2008 and is a member of the Strategy Committee.   Uwe Bicker is a citizen of Germany.

 

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NAME AND POSITION		PRESENT PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION OR EMPLOYMENT AND EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
Robert Castaigne Director		Robert Castaigne is a graduate of the École Centrale of Lille and the École Nationale Superieure du Petrole et des Moteurs. From 1972 to May 2008, he held several positions within Total S.A., including as Chief Financial Officer and as a member of the Executive Committee from June 1994 to May 2008. He served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Total Chimie from 1996 to 2008 and of Total Nucléaire from 1992 to 2008. He also served as a director of Elf Aquitaine from 2000 to 2008, of Hutchinson from 1995 to 2008, of Total Gestion Filiales from 1994 to 2008, of Omnium Insurance & Reinsurance Company Ltd (Bermuda) from 1996 to 2008, of Petrofina (Belgium) from 1999 to 2008, of Total Upstream UK Ltd (United Kingdom) from 2005 to 2008, Total Gabon from 2003 to 2008, of Arkema from 2000 to 2006 and of Alphega (Bermuda) from 2000 to 2006. He has served as a director of Vinci since 2007, where he serves as a member of the Financial Statements Committee, as a director of Société Générale since 2009, where he serves as a member of the Audit, Internal Control and Risk Committee, and as a director of Compagnie Nationale à Portefeuille (Belgium), where he serves on the audit committee since 2008. He was first elected as a director of sanofi-aventis in 2000 and is a member of the Audit Committee.
Thierry Desmarest Director		Thierry Desmarest is a graduate of the École Polytechnique and of the École Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Paris. He held various positions at the Total group including Chairman and Chief Executive Officer from 1995 to 2007, Chairman of the Board of Directors from February 2007 to May 2010. Since May 21, 2010, he has served as honorary president of Total SA and as a Member of the Total board of directors. He presently serves as a director of L’Air Liquide, Renault SA, Renault SAS. He serves as as chairman of the Nominating and Governance Committee of Total S.A., and as a member of the Compensation Committee of Total S.A, as well as chairman of Fondation Total and l’Ecole Polytechnique (Foundations). He serves as a member of the Appointments and Governance Committee and the Compensation Committee of L’Air Liquide, and as chairman of the International Strategy Committee, a member of the Remuneration Committee and a member of the Industrial Strategy Committee of Renault SA. He also serves as a director, as a member of the Appointments and Governance Committee, and as a member of the Human Resources and Compensation Committee of Bombardier Inc. (Canada). In addition, Thierry Desmarest serves as a member of the Board of Directors of l’Ecole Polytechnique and as a director of Musée du Louvre. He was first elected as a director of sanofi-aventis in 2000 and is a member of the Compensation Committee, the Appointments and Governance Committee and the Strategy Committee.
Lord Douro Independent Director		Lord Douro is a graduate of the University of Oxford. From 1979 to 1989, he was a member of European Parliament. From 1995 to 2000, he was Chairman of Sun Life & Provincial Holdings Plc, and from 2003 to 2007 he served as Commissioner of English Heritage

 

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NAME AND POSITION		PRESENT PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION OR EMPLOYMENT AND EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
		(United Kingdom). He previously served as a member of the Compensation Committee and the Appointments Committee of Pernod Ricard. Lord Douro presently serves as chairman of Richemont Holdings UK Ltd and Kings College London (United Kingdom), as a director of Pernod Ricard, Compagnie Financière Richemont AG (Switzerland), Abengoa Bioenergy (Spain) and GAM Worldwide (United Kingdom), as an advisor of Crédit Agricole (United Kingdom), as a member of the Appointments Committee and of the Compensation Committee of Compagnie Financière Richemont AG (Switzerland), as a director of RIT Capital (United Kingdom), as chairman of the Remuneration Committee and the Conflicts Committee of RIT Capital (United Kingdom), and as a member of the Nominations Committee of RIT Capital (United Kingdom). He was first elected as a director of sanofi-aventis in 2002 and is a member of the Appointments and Governance Committee and of the Strategy Committee.   Lord Douro is a citizen of the United Kingdom.
Jean-René Fourtou Independent Director		Jean-René Fourtou is a graduate of the École Polytechnique. From 1963 to 1986, he held several positions within the Bossard group, including Chairman and CEO of the Bossard group from 1977 to 1986. From 1986 to 1999, he was the Chairman and CEO of Rhône-Poulenc, from 1999 to 2004 he was Vice Chairman of the Management Board, Vice Chairman of the Supervisory Board and member of the Strategy Committee of Aventis, and from 2002 to 2005, he was Chairman and CEO of Vivendi Universal. Jean-René Fourtou presently serves as chairman of the Supervisory Board of Vivendi and of Groupe Canal +, as a member of the Supervisory Board of Maroc Telecom (Morocco), and as a director of Axa Millésimes SAS, and of Nestlé (Switzerland). Previously, Jean-René Fourtou served as vice president and later as member of the Supervisory Board of AXA from 1990 to 2009, as director of Cap Gemini from 2005 to 2009, and as a director of NBC Universal Inc. (United States) from 2004 to 2010. He was first elected as a director of sanofi-aventis in 2004 and is a member of the Compensation Committee, the Appointments and Governance Committee and the Strategy Committee.
Claudie Haigneré Independent Director		Claudie Haigneré is a rheumatologist and holds an M.D. and a Ph.D. in science (neuroscience). In 1985, she was selected by the Centre National d’Études Spatiales (CNES) as a candidate astronaut. She was a rheumatologist at the Hôpital Cochin in Paris from 1984 to 1992, a researcher at the Neurosensory Physiology Laboratory of the CNES from 1985 to 1990, and became head of the Scientific Programs in Life Sciences at the French space agency, CNES, in 1990. She was an astronaut with the CNES, then ESA (European Space Agency), flying a space mission to the MIR space station in 1996 and a second mission to the International Space Station (ISS) in 2001. Ms Haigneré was appointed Minister for European Affairs from March 2004 to May 2005, after having

 

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NAME AND POSITION		PRESENT PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION OR EMPLOYMENT AND EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
		been Minister for Research and New Technologies from June 2002 to March 2004. From 2004 to 2005, she served as Deputy Minister for European Affairs. Until 2009, she served as Chairman of the Cité des Sciences and Palais de la Découverte. Presently, Claudie Haigneré serves as chairman of the Board of Directors of La Géode, chairman of Universcience (Cité des Sciences and Palais de la Découverte), vice president of the IAA (International Academy of Astronautics), and as director of France Telecom, of Aéro-Club de France, of Fondation de France, of Fondation CGénial and of Fondation d’Entreprise L’Oréal (Foundations). In addition, Ms. Haigneré serves as a member of Académie des Technologies, the Académie des Sports and the Académie Nationale de l’Air et de l’Espace, and as a member of the Strategy Committee of France Telecom. She was first elected as a director of sanofi-aventis in 2008 and is a member of the Compensation Committee and the Appointments and Governance Committee.
Igor Landau Director		Igor Landau is a graduate of École des Hautes Études Commerciales (HEC) and of INSEAD. He served as chief executive officer of the German subsidiary of La Compagnie du Roneo (Frankfurt) from 1968 to 1970, as a management consultant at McKinsey (Paris) from 1971 to 1975, as a various positions at the Rhône-Poulenc group from 1975 to 2004, including member of the Management Board of Aventis from 1999 to 2002, and as chairman of the management board of Aventis from 2002 to 2004. He served as director of Essilor from 2001 to 2005, and of Thomson (now called Technicolor) from 2002 to 2005. He previously served as a member of the supervisory board of Dresdner Bank (Germany) from 2003 to 2006. Presently, Igor Landau serves as chairman of the Supervisory Board of Adidas-Salomon (Germany), as director of HSBC France and of INSEAD, and as a member of the Supervisory Board of Allianz AG (Germany). He was first elected as a director of sanofi-aventis in 2004.
Christian Mulliez Director		Christian Mulliez is a graduate of the E.S.S.E.C. Business School (École Supérieure des Sciences Économiques et Commerciales). From 1984 to 2002, he held several positions within Synthélabo, and then at Sanofi-Synthélabo, including Vice President, Finance. Since 2003 he has been Executive Vice President, Administration and Finance at L’Oréal. He presently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of Regefi, and as director of DG 17 Invest, L’Oréal USA Inc., of The Body Shop International (United Kingdom) and of Galderma Pharma (Switzerland). He was first elected as a director of sanofi-aventis in 2004.
Lindsay Owen-Jones Director		Lindsay Owen-Jones holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Literature from the University of Oxford and is also a graduate of INSEAD. Since 1969, he has held several positions within the L’Oréal group, including that of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of L’Oréal from September 1988 to April 2006, and has served as its Chairman of the Board of Directors since April 25, 2006. Lindsay

 

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NAME AND POSITION		PRESENT PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION OR EMPLOYMENT AND EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
		Owen-Jones served as director of BNP Paribas from 1989 to 2005. He also served as vice president and a member of the Supervisory Board of Air Liquide from November 2001 to May 2006 and Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of Air Liquide from May 2006 to May 2009. He was a director of BNP Paribas from June 1989 to December 2005 and a director of Galderma Pharma (Switzerland) from June 1999 to May 2006. He presently serves as chairman of the board of directors of L’Oréal, as chairman of the Strategy and Implementation Committee of L’Oréal, as chairman of the board of directors of Fondation d’Entreprise L’Oréal (Foundation), as chairman of Alba Plus, L’Oréal UK Ltd (United Kingdom) and of L’Oréal USA Inc. (United States), and as a director of Ferrari S.p.A. (Italy). He was first elected as a director of sanofi-aventis in 1999 and is a member of the Compensation Committee, the Appointments and Governance Committee and the Strategy Committee.   Lindsay Owen-Jones is a citizen of the United Kingdom.
Carole Piwnica Independent Director		Carole Piwnica holds a degree in law from the Université Libre de Bruxelles and a masters in law from New York University. From 1985 to 1991, she was an attorney at Proskauer, Rose (NY) and Shearman & Sterling (Paris) with a practice focused in mergers and acquisitions. From 1991 to 1994, she served as General Counsel of Gardini & Associés. From 1994-2000, she served as Chief Executive Officer of Amylum France, then as Chairman of Amylum Group. Carole Piwnica currently serves as Chief Executive Officer of Naxos UK Ltd (United Kingdom). She also serves as Director and Chairman of the Committee of Governance, Compensation and Appointment of Eutelsat Communications, as Director of Louis Delhaize (Belgium) and Amyris Inc. (United States), and as Director, Chairman of the Corporate Responsibility Committee and member of the Compensation Committee of Aviva Plc (United Kingdom). Previously, she served as a director of Dairy Crest Plc (United Kingdom) from 2007 to 2010, as Vice-Chairman and Director of Tate & Lyle Plc (United Kingdom) from 1996 to 2006, and as and Vice-Chairman for Governmental Affairs 2000 from 2006. She also served as director of the CIAA (Confederation of the Food and Drink Industries of the European Union) from 1996 to 2006, as director of Toepfel GmbH (Germany) from 1996 to 2010, as director of Spadel (Belgium) from 1998-2004, and as a member of the Ethical Committee of Monsanto (United States) from 2006-2009. She was first elected as a director of sanofi-aventis in 2010.   Carole Piwnica is a citizen of Belgium.
Klaus Pohle Independent Director		Klaus Pohle holds a doctorate in law from the University of Frankfurt (Germany), a doctorate in economics from Berlin University (Germany) and a LLM from Harvard University. From 1966 to 1980, he held several positions within the BASF Group. From 1981 to 2003, he was deputy chief executive officer and

 

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NAME AND POSITION		PRESENT PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION OR EMPLOYMENT AND EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
		chief financial officer of Schering AG, and from 2003 to 2005 he served as Chairman of the German Accounting Standards Board. Previously, he served as president of the Supervisory Board (in 2008) and Vice-President of the Supervisory Board of Hypo Real Estate Holding AG, Munich (Germany), and as a member of the Supervisory Board of DWs investment GmbH (Germany) from 2005-2009. He is currently a professor of business administration at Berlin Institute of Technology, and also serves as a director of the Labelux Group GmbH (Switzerland) and as a director and Chairman of the Audit Committee of Coty Inc. New York (United States). He was first elected as a director of sanofi-aventis in 2004 and is Chairman of the Audit Committee.   Klaus Pohle is a citizen of Germany.
Gérard Van Kemmel Independent Director		Gérard Van Kemmel is a graduate of the École des Hautes Études Commerciales (HEC) and holds an MBA from Stanford University Graduate School of Business. From 1966 to 1995, he held several positions at Arthur Anderson/Andersen Consulting, including President of Arthur Andersen and Andersen Consulting from 1976 to 1995 and President of the board of Arthur Andersen Worldwide (1989 to 1994). From 1996 to 1997, he was advisor to the Minister of Finance and from 1997 to 2006, he held several positions at Cambridge Technology Partners (including Chief Operating Officer) and at Novell, including Europe Chairman from 2004 to 2006. Gérard Van Kemmel has been a director of Europacorp since 2008, a member of its Audit Committee and served as a director of Eurotunnel Group (operator of the Channel tunnel) from 2008 to 2010, and a director of Eurotunnel NRS Holders Company Limited (United Kingdom) between 2006 and 2010. He was first elected as a director of sanofi-aventis in 2003 and is Chairman of the Compensation Committee and serves as a member of the Audit Committee and the Appointments and Governance Committee.
Hanspeter Spek Member of the Management Committee President Global Operations Member of the Executive Committee		Hanspeter Spek graduated from business school in Germany. In 1974, he completed a management training program at Pfizer International, and then joined Pfizer RFA as a junior product manager. He served in various positions at Pfizer RFA, including as manager of the marketing division. Mr. Spek joined Sanofi Pharma GmbH, a German subsidiary of sanofi-aventis, in 1985 as Marketing Director, and served in various positions in Germany and then at sanofi-aventis in France, before being named Senior Vice President Europe following the merger with Synthélabo in 1999. He served as Executive Vice President, International Operations from October 2000, until January 2003, when he was named in charge of worldwide operations of Sanofi-Synthélabo. He was appointed Executive Vice President, Pharmaceutical Operations in August 2004 and then President, Global Operations in November 2009.   Hanspeter Spek is a citizen of Germany.

 

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NAME AND POSITION		PRESENT PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION OR EMPLOYMENT AND EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
Jérôme Contamine Member of the Management Committee Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer Member of the Executive Committee		Jérôme Contamine is a Graduate of École Polytechnique (X), and ENSAE, the national statistics and economics engineering school, affiliated with the Ministry of Finance (1982). He also graduated from the ENA—Ecole Nationale d’Administration. After 4 years at the “Cour des Comptes”, as a Senior State General Auditor, he joined Elf Aquitaine in 1988, as advisor to the Chief Financial Officer, and became Group Finance Director & Treasurer in 1991. He became the General Manager of Elf Petroleum Norway in 1995, after being named Deputy Vice President of Elf Upstream Division for Europe and the U.S. In 1999, he was appointed as a member of the taskforce for integration with Total, in charge of the reorganization of the merged entity, TotalFinaElf, and became, in 2000, Vice President Europe and Central Asia, Upstream Division of Total. The same year, he joined Veolia Environnement as CFO and Deputy General Manager. In 2003, he was appointed Vice-President Senior Executive, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Financial Director of Veolia Environnement. Jérôme Contamine was appointed Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of sanofi-aventis in March 2009.
Olivier Charmeil Senior Vice President Vaccines Member of the Executive Committee		Olivier Charmeil is a graduate of HEC (Ecole des Hautes Etudes Commerciales) and of the Institut d’Etudes Politiques in Paris. From 1989 to 1994, he worked in the Mergers & Acquisitions department of Banque de l’Union européenne. He joined Sanofi Pharma in 1994 as head of Business Development. Subsequently, he held various posts within the Group, including Chief Financial Officer (Asia) for Sanofi-Synthélabo in 1999 and Attaché to the Chairman, Jean-François Dehecq, in 2000, before being appointed as Vice President, Development within the Sanofi-Synthélabo International Operations Directorate, where he was responsible for China and support functions. In 2003, Olivier Charmeil was appointed Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Sanofi-Synthélabo France, before taking the post of Senior Vice President, Business Management and Support within the Pharmaceutical Operations Directorate. In this role, he piloted the operational integration of Sanofi-Synthélabo and Aventis. He was appointed Vice President Pharma Operations Asia Pacific in February 2006 and subsequently also had responsibility for Operations Japan and since February 2009 Asia/Pacific & Japan Vaccines. Since January 1, 2011, Olivier Charmeil has been Senior Vice President Vaccines and a member of the Executive Committee.   Mr. Charmeil is a citizen of France.
Karen Linehan Member of the Management Committee Senior Vice President Legal Affairs and General Counsel Member of the Executive Committee		Karen Linehan graduated from Georgetown University with Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctorate degrees. Prior to practicing law, Ms. Linehan served on the congressional staff of the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives from September 1977 to August 1986. Until December 1990, she was an Associate in a mid-size law firm in New York. In January 1991, she joined sanofi-aventis as Assistant General Counsel of its U.S. subsidiary. In July 1996, Ms. Linehan moved to Paris to work on international

 

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NAME AND POSITION		PRESENT PRINCIPAL OCCUPATION OR EMPLOYMENT AND EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
		matters within the Group and she has held a number of positions within the Legal Department, most recently as Vice President–Deputy Head of Legal Operations. She was appointed to her current position in March 2007.   Karen Linehan is a citizen of the United States of America and Ireland.
Philippe Luscan Member of the Management Committee Senior Vice President Industrial Affairs Member of the Executive Committee		Philippe Luscan is a graduate of the École Polytechnique and the École des Mines in Biotechnology in Paris. He began his career in 1987 as a Production Manager at Danone. In 1990, he joined the Group as Director of the Sanofi Chimie plant at Sisteron, France, and subsequently served as Industrial Director of sanofi-aventis in the United States, as Vice President Supply Chain and as Vice President Chemistry in September 2006. He was appointed to his present position effective September 2008.
Roberto Pucci Member of the Management Committee Senior Vice President Human Resources Member of the Executive Committee		Roberto Pucci has a Law degree from the University of Lausanne, Switzerland. He started his career in 1985 at Coopers & Lybrand in Geneva, Switzerland as an external auditor. He then joined Hewlett-Packard (HP) in 1987, where he held various positions in Human Resources in Switzerland and Italy including HR Manager for the European Headquarters and Human Resources Director in Italy. In 1999, he became Director, Compensation & Benefits for Agilent Technologies, a spin off from HP, and was appointed Vice President Human Resources Europe in 2003. In 2005 he moved to the United States to join Case New Holland, a subsidiary of the Fiat Group, as Senior Vice President, Human Resources, and was appointed, in 2007, Executive Vice President, Human Resources for the Fiat Group in Torino, Italy. He was appointed to his present position in October 2009.   Roberto Pucci is a citizen of Italy and Switzerland.
Elias Zerhouni Member of the Management Committee President, Global Research & Development, Medicines and Vaccines Member of the Executive Committee		After completing his initial training in Algeria, Dr. Zerhouni continued his academic career at the Johns Hopkins University and Hospital (United States) where he is currently professor of Radiology and Biomedical engineering and senior adviser for Johns Hopkins Medicine. He served as Chair of the Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Sciences, Vice Dean for Research and Executive Vice Dean of the School of Medicine from 1996 to 2002 before his appointment as Director of the National Institutes of Health of the United States of America from 2002 to 2008. Dr. Zerhouni was received as member of the US National Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Medicine in 2000. He was recently appointed as Chair of Innovation at the College de France and elected member of the French Academy of Medicine in 2010. In February 2009, sanofi-aventis named Dr. Zerhouni Scientific Advisor to the Chief Executive Officer and to the Senior Vice-President Research & Development. Since January 1, 2011, Dr. Zerhouni is President Global Research & Development and serves on the Executive Committee of sanofi-aventis.   Dr. Zerhouni is a citizen of the United States.

 

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Annex A

Execution Copy

 

 

AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER

among

SANOFI-AVENTIS,

GC MERGER CORP.

and

GENZYME CORPORATION

Dated as of February 16, 2011

 

 

 

 

 

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				Page
INDEX OF DEFINED TERMS					A-v
ARTICLE I THE OFFER					A-1
Section 1.1		The Offer.			A-1
Section 1.2		Company Consent; Schedule 14D-9.			A-3
Section 1.3		Shareholder Lists.			A-3
Section 1.4		Directors.			A-4
Section 1.5		Top-Up Option.			A-5
Section 1.6		CVRs.			A-6
ARTICLE II THE MERGER					A-7
Section 2.1		The Merger.			A-7
Section 2.2		Closing; Effective Time.			A-7
Section 2.3		Effects of the Merger.			A-8
Section 2.4		Articles of Organization; Bylaws.			A-8
Section 2.5		Directors and Officers.			A-8
Section 2.6		Special Meeting.			A-8
Section 2.7		Merger Without Meeting of Shareholders.			A-8
ARTICLE III EFFECT OF THE MERGER ON THE CAPITAL STOCK OF THE CONSTITUENT CORPORATIONS					A-8
Section 3.1		Conversion of Securities.			A-8
Section 3.2		Treatment of Equity Awards.			A-9
Section 3.3		Dissenting Shares.			A-10
Section 3.4		Surrender of Shares.			A-11
Section 3.5		Section 16.			A-12
Section 3.6		Withholding.			A-12
Section 3.7		Transfer Taxes.			A-12
ARTICLE IV REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY					A-12
Section 4.1		Organization and Qualification.			A-12
Section 4.2		Articles of Organization and Bylaws.			A-13
Section 4.3		Capitalization.			A-13
Section 4.4		Authority.			A-15
Section 4.5		No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.			A-15
Section 4.6		SEC Reports; Financial Statements; Sarbanes-Oxley; Undisclosed Liabilities.			A-16
Section 4.7		Contracts.			A-17

 

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(continued)

 

				Page
Section 4.8		Properties.			A-18
Section 4.9		Intellectual Property.			A-18
Section 4.10		Compliance.			A-19
Section 4.11		Absence of Certain Changes or Events.			A-21
Section 4.12		Absence of Litigation.			A-21
Section 4.13		Employee Benefit Plans.			A-21
Section 4.14		Labor and Employment Matters.			A-24
Section 4.15		Insurance.			A-25
Section 4.16		Tax Matters.			A-25
Section 4.17		Environmental Matters.			A-26
Section 4.18		Affiliate Transactions.			A-27
Section 4.19		Schedule 14D-9; Offer Documents; Information Statement.			A-27
Section 4.20		Opinion of Financial Advisors.			A-27
Section 4.21		Brokers; Certain Fees.			A-27
Section 4.22		Takeover Laws.			A-28
ARTICLE V REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF PARENT AND PURCHASER					A-28
Section 5.1		Organization.			A-28
Section 5.2		Authority.			A-28
Section 5.3		No Conflict; Required Filings and Consents.			A-28
Section 5.4		Absence of Litigation.			A-29
Section 5.5		Offer Documents; Schedule 14D-9; Registration Statement; Information Statement.			A-29
Section 5.6		Brokers.			A-29
Section 5.7		Availability of Funds; Financing.			A-30
Section 5.8		Operations of Purchaser.			A-30
Section 5.9		Share Ownership.			A-30
Section 5.10		Vote/Approval Required.			A-30
Section 5.11		Investigation by Parent and Purchaser.			A-31
Section 5.12		Other Agreements.			A-31
ARTICLE VI COVENANTS					A-31
Section 6.1		Conduct of Business of the Company Pending the Merger.			A-31
Section 6.2		Access to Information; Confidentiality.			A-34
Section 6.3		Acquisition Proposals.			A-34

 

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				Page
Section 6.4		Employment and Employee Benefits Matters.			A-36
Section 6.5		Directors’ and Officers’ Indemnification and Insurance.			A-37
Section 6.6		Further Action; Efforts.			A-38
Section 6.7		Information Statement; Post-Effective Amendment.			A-40
Section 6.8		Public Announcements.			A-40
Section 6.9		Approval of Compensation Actions.			A-41
Section 6.10		Conduct of Parent and Purchaser.			A-41
Section 6.11		No Control of the Company’s Business.			A-41
Section 6.12		Operations of the Purchaser.			A-41
Section 6.13		Ownership of Company Securities.			A-41
Section 6.14		Employee Information and Consultation.			A-41
Section 6.15		Shareholder Litigation.			A-41
Section 6.16		Financing Cooperation.			A-41
Section 6.17		Outstanding Stock Purchase Rights.			A-42
ARTICLE VII CONDITIONS OF MERGER					A-43
Section 7.1		Conditions to Obligation of Each Party to Effect the Merger.			A-43
ARTICLE VIII TERMINATION, AMENDMENT AND WAIVER					A-43
Section 8.1		Termination by Mutual Agreement.			A-43
Section 8.2		Termination by Either Parent or the Company.			A-43
Section 8.3		Termination by the Company.			A-43
Section 8.4		Termination by Parent.			A-44
Section 8.5		Effect of Termination.			A-44
Section 8.6		Expenses.			A-45
Section 8.7		Amendment.			A-45
Section 8.8		Waiver.			A-45