Antitrust officials clear Sanofi's tender offer for Chattem

PARIS Sanofi-Aventis has cleared its tender offer for Chattem with government antitrust officials, the French drug maker announced Tuesday.

Sanofi said waiting period under the Hart-Scott Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 has expired. The offer is expected to expire on Feb. 8 unless Sanofi extends it.

Sanofi originally offered to buy Chattanooga, Tenn.-based Chattem, the maker of products such as Selsun Blue and Cortizone-10, for $93.50 a share in December.