3 November 2011 - French Sanofi (EPA:SAN) registered a business net income of approximately EUR2.4bn (USD3.3bn) for the third quarter of 2011, a decrease of 3% on the year, due to several losses of exclusive rights.

In its accounts, Sanofi uses the term business net income to designate net profit excluding one-off items.

Business operating income declined by 4% to EUR3.34bn, while revenue recorded organic growth of 10.1% to EUR8.75bn. On a reported basis, quarterly revenue improved by 5%.

In the first nine months of the year, sales rose 1.4% on a reported basis to EUR24.8bn.

Net debt expanded to EUR11.9bn at the end of September, against EUR1.5bn at the end of December 2010, on the back of partnerships and acquisitions.

The company affirmed its full-year outlook of a drop in business earnings per share (EPS) of 2%-5% at constant exchange rates compared with 2010.

Sanofi's CEO Chris Viehbacher said that the company intends to pursue its acquisition policy and that it expects a growth of over 10% in emerging markets in 2011.

(EUR1 = USD1.370)