Several candidates who are interested in generic versions of Sanofi, according to sources

© Reuters. SEVERAL CANDIDATES WHO ARE INTERESTED IN GENERIC VERSIONS OF SANOFI, ACCORDING TO SOURCES

LONDON/FRANKFURT (Reuters) – The laboratory of the brazilian EMS, the indian Torrent Pharma and several investment funds are bidding to take over Zentiva, a subsidiary of generics of Sanofi (PA:SASY), which could be valued up to $ 2.0 billion euros in the framework of an assignment, taught Reuters from several sources to the fact of the record.

The list according to a preset established by the French group after the closing date, at the end of January, for the submission of indicative tenders.

Sanofi hopes to conclude with a buyer before the end of the first quarter, said one of the sources, adding that the competition between the two laboratories in emerging countries and the funds could push up the final price.

A consortium formed by the Blackstone group and Nordic Capital has also been selected for the second round of betting, alongside three other equity investment funds, in essence Carlyle, BC Partners and Advent.

Sanofi, EMS, Torrent Pharma and the various funds mentioned did not want to comment.

The sale, orchestrated by Rothschild, JPMorgan (NYSE:JPM) and Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS), had been launched in October.

(Pamela Barbaglia, Arno Schütze and Dasha Afanasieva, with contributions from Matthias Blamont in Paris, Tatiana Bautzer in Sao Paulo and Noor Zainab Hussain in Bangalore, Véronique Tison for the French service)