The Future of Doliprane: A Soap Opera in the Making
Ah, Doliprane – France’s favorite painkiller! It’s like the friend who’s always there to help, whether it’s a throbbing headache or just the collective agony of listening to Euro-pop on repeat. But now, this faithful companion is at the center of a potential corporate drama that’s more compelling than any French cinema flick you could stumble upon at 2 AM.
Recently, the future of Doliprane has mobilized not just its loyal users, but also the mayor of Lisieux, various parliamentarians, and a cadre of trade unionists. Yes, about thirty people have gotten together for a cause – and if you think about it, that’s almost enough for a proper French buffet! But instead of croissants, we have the option of an American buyer being tossed around like a hot potato. It’s enough to make a union rep choke on their baguette!
Johann Nicolas, a representative from the CGT Lisieux union, weighs in with a comment that’s definitely going to get some eyebrows raised: “Our first request is to remain Sanofi!” Now, who wouldn’t want to stay put in a comfy office chair instead of being whisked away by a corporate shark in shiny American attire? Talk about betrayal! As if the French revolution didn’t have enough emotional baggage, now we have a corporate identity crisis!
And guess what? Our French President, Emmanuel Macron, put in his two cents on the matter too. During a trip to the Paris Motor Show – where undoubtedly he was confused by the relationship between cars and paracetamol – he proclaimed that the government has “the instruments to guarantee that France is protected”. Protecting France? Is this a potential blockbuster sequel to The French Connection? Call the scriptwriters!
Antoine Armand, part of the government’s response team, has reportedly kicked off discussions that resemble a high-stakes poker game. What’s at stake? Obligations to preserve jobs in Lisieux and Compiègne, plus guarantees that Doliprane won’t become just another word in the American lexicon of “over-the-counter” remedies. I can hear it now: “Hey, can you pass me the Doliprane?” – as if it were some trendy new taco joint!
Amid hints of industrial obligations and potential public shareholding, Marc Ferracci was heard citing commitments on production volumes and research – which sounds suspiciously similar to dinner party conversations about the importance of keeping your soufflé from falling. It’s all very chef’s kiss, except when you’re staring down the barrel of job security.
It’s a delicate balancing act between health sovereignty and economic safety. Humberto de Sousa, a CFDT trade unionist, expressed genuine concern over American machinations, saying, “We don’t know if the commitments will hold if the board of directors switches to the American side”. Do we have to worry about Doliprane being shoved behind a “Coffee and Subs” counter next to a Fries ‘n’ Shake combo? The horror, the horror!
The unions aren’t letting this slide, either. They’ve organized a rally – because nothing shouts ‘let’s save our jobs’ like a political gathering hoping to attract a few notable faces (including the charismatic François Ruffin). They aim to raise awareness of supply tensions concerning paracetamol that could require a support group more than a union!
Sanofi, on the defensive, insists that this strategic split could birth a “new global champion” in consumer health, but the worry lingers like a fog on the Seine. Doliprane makes up a staggering amount of its revenue—let’s not kid ourselves, we need our dose of pain relief after a marathon day in the French workforce.
So, folks, the battle for Doliprane rages on, pitting local interests against a wave of potential American acquisition. Will our beloved French staple stand the test of time, or will it fall into the clutches of a corporate overlord who doesn’t care one iota about a headache in Lisieux? Only time, and perhaps the next French presidential election, will tell!
The future of Doliprane also mobilized the mayor of Lisieux and several parliamentarians, around thirty people, including trade unionists.
The option of an American buyer is seen “a bit like a betrayal towards France and towards all employees”, said Johann Nicolas, CGT Lisieux union representative. “Our first request is to remain Sanofi!”, he said, interviewed by AFP.
“If the government doesn’t get its hands in this, I don’t know how we’re going to get through it,” he believes.
– Macron attentive –
On the sidelines of a trip to the Paris Motor Show, President Emmanuel Macron affirmed that the government had “the instruments to guarantee that France is protected” in the perspective of a change in Opella’s capital.
Antoine Armand said he had “started discussions” with stakeholders with a view to a specific agreement on “extremely precise commitments”, which will be “accompanied by guarantees” and “sanctions”.
He also mentioned “the possibility of public shareholding and participation in governance within the framework of this agreement”.
Among the obligations required, Marc Ferracci cites “the maintenance of the industrial footprint and industrial employment” on the French production sites of Lisieux and Compiègne (Oise).
It is also a question, according to him, of “commitments on production volumes” and “on research and development” as well as the preservation of the “ecosystem of subcontractors”.
“We completely agree with the positions taken by politicians who talk about health sovereignty,” Humberto de Sousa, a CFDT trade unionist who now expects “these commitments to translate into action,” told AFP.
But “we don’t know if the commitments will hold if the board of directors switches to the American side”, he is wary, showing concern for jobs in the face of “the search for profitability of this buyer fund”.
– another gathering planned –
The unions have planned a rally for Thursday on the Compiègne factory site between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m., with the arrival of political figures, including the New Popular Front deputy François Ruffin and the LR president of Hauts-de-France Xavier Bertrand, according to the central union representative of Opella for the CFDT, Adil Bensetra.
Vigilance remains essential because the supply of paracetamol has recently experienced periods of tension.
Sanofi insists that this proposed split would allow “the creation of a new global champion, the only one based in France, in the consumer health sector”.
Opella employs 1,700 people in France. Doliprane is its second brand in terms of revenue, France only represents around 10% of the sales of this entity which achieved 5.2 billion euros in turnover in 2023.
This is “a growth project which will leave its full place for Doliprane, both in our pharmacies and in our factories”, reiterated in Lisieux, the chairman of the board of directors of Sanofi, Frédéric Oudéa.
“Sanofi wishes to be associated with this project, since we keep 50% of the capital. It is not a dry sale,” he added.
In the battle for Doliprane, the CD&R fund was in competition with an offer led by the French investment fund PAI Partners backed by international investors.
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