Sanofi-Synthelabo's Offer for Aventis Expiration Date of Offers

Sanofi-Synthelabo's Offer for Aventis Expiration Date of Offers



PARIS, June 1  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- On June 1, 2004, the Autorite des
marches financiers (AMF) -- the French stock market regulator -- announced that
it had set June 30, 2004 as the expiration date of Sanofi-Synthelabo's (PARIS:
SAN, NYSE: SNY) revised offer for the ordinary shares of Aventis (PARIS: AVE,
FRANKFURT: AVE.ETR, NYSE: AVE).

Accordingly, Sanofi-Synthelabo confirms that the French offer and the German
offer will expire at 23:00 hr (Central European Summer Time), and the U.S.
offer will expire simultaneously at 5:00 p.m. (Eastern Daylight Time), on
Wednesday, June 30, 2004.

Sanofi-Synthelabo confirms that holders of Aventis securities may tender, or
withdraw their tendered, Aventis securities at any time until the expiration of
the offers.

In accordance with article 7 of the COB rule no. 2002-04, this press release
was transmitted to the Autorite des marches financiers (AMF) before its
publication.

Important Information:  In connection with the proposed acquisition of Aventis,
Sanofi-Synthelabo has filed a registration statement on Form F-4 (File no.
333-112314), including a prospectus and a prospectus supplement relating to the
revised offer, and will file additional documents with the SEC.  Investors are
urged to read the registration statement, including the prospectus and the
prospectus supplement relating to the revised offer, and any other relevant
documents filed with the SEC, including all amendments and supplements, because
they contain important information.  Free copies of the registration statement,
as well as other relevant documents filed with the SEC, may be obtained at the
SEC's web site at http://www.sec.gov/.  The prospectus and the prospectus
supplement relating to the revised offer and other transaction- related
documents are being mailed to Aventis security holders eligible to participate
in the U.S. offer and additional copies may be obtained for free from MacKenzie
Partners, Inc., the information agent for the U.S. offer, at the following
address: 105, Madison Avenue, New York, New York 10016; telephone: 1-(212)
929-5500 (call collect) or 1-[phone] (toll-free call); e-mail .

In France, holders of Aventis securities are requested, with respect to the
offer, to refer to the prospectus supplement (note d'information
complementaire), which has been granted visa number 04-384 by the Autorite des
marches financiers ("AMF") and which is available on the website of the AMF
(http://www.amf-france.org/) and without cost from: BNP Paribas Securities
Services, GIS-Emetteurs, Service Logistique, Les Collines de l'Arche, 75450
Paris Cedex 9 and to the recommendation statement (note d'information en
reponse) which has been granted visa number 04-510.

The public offer to holders of Aventis ordinary shares located in Germany (the
"German Offer") is being made in accordance with applicable German law and
pursuant to an offer document/sales prospectus, which is available free of
charge at BNP Paribas Securities Services, Gruneburgweg 14, D-60322 Frankfurt
am Main (Fax: 069 - 152 05 277) and on the website of the Company
(http://www.sanofi-synthelabo.com/).  Any decision to tender Aventis ordinary
shares in exchange for Sanofi-Synthelabo ordinary shares under the German Offer
must be taken exclusively with regard to the terms and conditions of the German
Offer, as well as with regard to the information included in the offer
document/sales prospectus, including any amendments thereto, issued in Germany.

The French Offer, the U.S. Offer and the German Offer are being made on
substantially the same terms and completion of these offers is subject to the
same conditions.  It is intended that the three offers will expire at the same
time.

Investors and security holders may obtain a free copy of the Form 20-F filed
with the SEC on April 2, 2004 and any other documents filed by
Sanofi-Synthelabo with the SEC at http://www.sec.gov/ as well as of the
Reference Document filed with the AMF on April 2, 2004 (No. 04-0391) at
http://www.amf-france.org/ or directly from Sanofi-Synthelabo on our web site
at: http://www.sanofi-synthelabo.com/.

   CONTACT:  Jean-Marc Podvin
             Vice President, Media Relations
             Sanofi-Synthelabo
             [phone]


DATASOURCE: Sanofi-Synthelabo



CONTACT:  Jean-Marc Podvin, Vice President, Media Relations,

Sanofi-Synthelabo, [phone]



Web site:  http://www.sanofi-synthelabo.us/ 



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