Sanofi-Aventis’s dividends increase 6.3 pc

Sanofi-Aventis has announced a 6.3 per cent increase in dividend payouts per share compared to 12 months previously.

On April 17th, the general meeting approved the company’s financial statements for the year ending December 31st 2008 during a conference at the Palais des Congres in Paris.

A dividend of 2.20 euros (1.9 pounds) per share was agreed and will be payable on April 28th.

Meanwhile, the business has also announced two acquisitions in recent days.

The Paris-listed firm has signed an agreement to merge with BiPar Sciences ? a privately held biopharmaceutical company held in the US ? and the deal is expected to close in the second quarter of this year.

Sanofi-Aventis has also disclosed details relating to the acquisition of Medley, which is the third largest firm in its field in Brazil.

The former asserted the deal would “reinforce its number one ranking among pharmaceutical companies in Brazil”.

Subject to conditions, the transaction ? that values Medley at 500 million euros – is expected to be complete by June.