New director, new managers of human relations … There is already change at the Doliprane factory in Lisieux (Calvados). The Sanofi site changed hands and pavilion, this Wednesday, April 2025. Opella, a subsidiary who produced Sanofi’s without prescription drugs, including Doliprane, was sold to the American investment fund CD & R against a nice check for 10 billion euros.
The announcement of this sale last fall, had arrested To the point of triggering a ministerial visit to Lisieuxmain production site for doliprane. A few months later, the operation was finalized. “Opella is now becoming a world leader independent of consumer health, marking a decisive step in Sanofi’s strategy,” said the Seller group on April 30.
“There are stressful subjects among employees,” does not hide Lino Molinaro, FO delegate of the site. “When there is a sale to an American investment fund, we know how it works,” adds Olivier Baril, his CFDT counterpart.
The BPI shareholder … up to 1.8%
Last October, during their visit, Antoine Armand, Minister of the Economy, Finance and Industrial Sovereignty and Marc Ferracci, Minister Delegate in charge of Industry, had hammered that the State was going to follow the file closely and activated to protect Lisieux and the two other French Opella factories, in Compiègne (Oise) and Amilly (Loiret). The Public Investment Bank (BPI) has thus acquired 1.8% participation in Opella (CD&R holds 50% and operational control, Sanofi retains 48.2%), thus praising a look and a public presence at the head of the entity. “When you have 1.8%, you have nothing to say. There are not many safeguards ”, nuance Olivier Baril.
Negotiations are continuing, especially on the many company agreements. A first issue for employees, who benefited from conditions and advantages under the Sanofi banner. “There are promises for 36 months,” poses Lino Molinaro. “Beyond that, we will have to fight. The trade unionists hope to “keep the achievements and good working conditions” while there are “first reflections on production lines in management, to reduce human presence on certain positions”, argues Olivier Baril.
The next discussions should focus on profit -sharing. However, according to the CFDT delegate, the massive investment for the transaction of Opella risks weighing on these fallout for employees: “Despite the profits, there is a hole and interest to pay. It is possible that we have no more profit -sharing bonus in the coming years. »»
40 million euros fine in the event of closure within five years
It is even the future of the factory that is written in time in time. During the negotiations, it was agreed by a fine of 40 million euros in the event of “economic” closure of the site within five years. As well as 100,000 euros of penalty per induced dismissal. “It’s too little, it does not bring any safety for employment,” annoys Lino Molinaro, who would have liked the state to impose more protections.
His CFDT counterpart confides not so much to fear a closure as deletions of posts, even a future resale of the brand: “The fear is that the Doliprane is sold and that one becomes a subcontractor of a firm, with consequences on employment and social skills. Especially since the Doliprane, at prices supervised in France, is not the product of the most profitable Opella, despite the benefits it gives off. A real subject in the eyes of financial logic.
The two trade unionists recognize “understanding Sanofi’s strategy, who needed fresh money to invest in research for higher added drugs”. They are also reassured by the investments made in the factory (more than 20 million euros) Lexovienne before the sale. An asset, inevitably, where other European Opella sites are aging.
The fact remains that the vagueness remains beyond the first 36-month course and, above all, at the end of the famous five years of guarantee. “We are going to accompany the new direction, we will go ahead,” promise union representatives, aware that, to exist in the new American era of Opella, the Lisieux factory will need to show itself in its best light before sailing towards the unknown.
