Exhibit 4.4
Rules and Regulations of Sanofi-Aventis Stock Option Plan 2006
December 2006
STOCK OPTION SUBSCRIPTION PLAN OF SANOFI-AVENTIS
RULES OF THE 6TH PLAN
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| 1. | PARTICIPANTS |
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| 2. | DURATION OF THE PLAN |
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| 3. | STOCK OPTION EXERCISE |
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| 4. | SALE OF SHARES |
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| 5. | SHARE RIGHTS |
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| 6. | OPTION PRICE ADJUSTMENT |
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| 7. | FOREIGN PARTICIPANTS |
Free Translation of French version
December 2006
(The French version prevails)
The Board of Directors of sanofi-aventis was authorized by a General Meeting of its Shareholders held on May 31, 2005, according to Articles L.225-177 to L.225-185 and L.225-129-2 of the French Commercial Code to set up stock option purchase or subscription plans for the whole of the sanofi-aventis group. By sanofi-aventis group we mean all companies or groupings of economic interest defined by Article L.225-180 of the aforementioned code.
Following the proposal of its Chairman, the Board of Directors has laid down the following rules of the stock option subscription plan with effect from December 14, 2006.
1. PARTICIPANTS
Upon the recommendation of the Chairman of sanofi-aventis acting upon the advice of the Compensation, Appointments and Governance Committee, the grant of options to subscribe shares of sanofi-aventis to a list of identified employees and corporate officers and the number of options granted to each such participants is approved by the Board of Directors.
The rights granted are not transferable unless the options are exercised.
2. DURATION OF THE PLAN
Sanofi-aventis’ Stock Option Plan has a duration of ten years from the date of the approval of the Board of Directors on December 14, 2006. It will expire on December 14, 2016.
3. STOCK OPTION EXERCISE
The exercise of the options, also called “exercise of the options to subscribe shares” is not allowed during the first four years following the Board of Directors’ approval on December 14, 2006.
The options can be exercised, on one or more occasions as the participants see fit, at any time between December 15, 2010 and December 14, 2016 inclusive. Thereafter, the options will lapse.
Unless otherwise decided by the General Management of the Company in exceptional cases, any participant irrevocably loses his/her rights to exercise his/her options in the following cases:
– In the event of resignation before the exercise date. Revocation of option rights takes effect on the day of notice of resignation; and
– In the event of dismissal for serious or gross misconduct. Revocation of option rights takes effect on the day of notice of the dismissal.
The Company reserves the right to temporarily suspend the exercise of the options, in particular when there are certain changes in the capital structure of sanofi-aventis.
Exceptions :
3.1 If a participant retires or takes early retirement (including under the early retirement plan in connection with the Group-wide framework agreement dated December 9, 2004), at normal retirement age or earlier or later with the agreement of the Company, he keeps his/her option rights until their expiration, that is December 14, 2016.
3.2 Notwithstanding the four-year period mentioned under Article 3, Paragraph 1, if an employee becomes disabled, and such disability meets the conditions of the second and third categories as defined by Article L.341-4 of the French Social Security Code, the participant may exercise his options. The participant keeps his/her option rights until their expiration, that is December 14, 2016.
3.3 Notwithstanding the four-year period mentioned under Article 3, Paragraph 1, if an employee dies during the option period, his/her heirs can exercise the options during the six month period following the date of death.
4. SALE OF SHARES
The sale of the shares through the exercise of the options is possible from December 15, 2010.
However, any participant mentioned under article 3.2 or the heirs of a participant who has died mentioned under article 3.3 above are able to sell the corresponding shares without waiting for the end of the four year holding period.
5. SHARE RIGHTS
The participant will have rights to the shares that have been subscribed for upon exercise of the options from the first day of the year during which they have been subscribed.
If he exercises his option between 1st January and the date on which the share becomes ex-dividend for the dividend relating to the previous year, the beneficiary will not to entitled to the dividend paid in the current year relating to the previous year; he will be entitled to the dividend paid in the following year relating to the current year.
6. OPTION PRICE ADJUSTMENT
In the event of a redemption or reduction of share capital, a change in the allocation of profits, a consideration-free issue of shares, an increase in share capital by incorporation of reserves, profits or share premium, a distribution of reserves, or any issue of equity
instruments that includes subscription rights reserved for the shareholders, the exercise price and the number of shares to which an option gives right will be adjusted in order to take into account such issuance or other capital transaction.
If such a situation is covered by existing law or regulation, such law or regulation shall be applied.
If such a situation is not covered by existing law or regulation, the General Meeting of Shareholders or the Board of Directors when deciding to conduct such securities issuance or other capital transaction may adopt any measures necessary to protect the rights of the holders of the stock-options, using by analogy the rules and regulations which would govern similar cases.
7. FOREIGN PARTICIPANTS
Some specific arrangements for the exercise of subscription options will be notified to foreign participants on a case by case basis. Indeed, in some foreign countries, local regulations particularly those relating to tax and social securely require adjustments to the general terms described in these rules.
The participant employees of American companies of the Group will have the possibility to convert their ordinary shares into American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) on exercise of their options.
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