China's Ministry of Commerce Grants Clearance for Merger of BMP Sunstone and Sanofi-aventis Subsidiary

NEW YORK, Jan. 27, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia-FirstCall/ -- BMP Sunstone Corporation (Nasdaq: BJGP) announced today that China's Ministry of Commerce granted clearance for the transaction in which sanofi-aventis (EURONEXT: SAN; NYSE: SNY) will acquire all outstanding shares of BMP Sunstone Corporation.  The acquisition is structured as a merger of BMP Sunstone and a wholly-owned subsidiary of sanofi-aventis.  As previously announced, sanofi-aventis offered to purchase BMP Sunstone for cash consideration of USD 10.00 per share, or a total of approximately USD 520.6 million, on a fully diluted basis.  BMP Sunstone's board of directors has unanimously approved the transaction.

Under the terms of the merger agreement, completion of the transaction is subject to approval of the merger by BMP Sunstone's stockholders. Stockholders controlling approximately twenty-two percent of BMP Sunstone's shares on a fully diluted basis and seventeen percent on an undiluted basis have committed to vote in favour of the transaction.  The transaction is expected to close during the first quarter of 2011.

About BMP Sunstone

BMP Sunstone Corporation is a specialty pharmaceutical company that is building a proprietary portfolio of branded pharmaceutical and healthcare products in China. Through Sunstone the Company manufactures leading pediatric and women's health products sold in pharmacies throughout the country. The Company also markets a portfolio of products under exclusive multi-year licenses into China, primarily focused on women's health and pediatrics, as well as provides pharmaceutical distribution services through subsidiaries in Beijing and Shanghai. BMP Sunstone's main office is in Beijing, with a U.S. office in Plymouth Meeting, PA.

Important Additional Information for Investors and Stockholders of BMP Sunstone Corporation

In connection with the proposed merger, BMP Sunstone Corporation ("BMP") has filed a proxy statement and other related documents with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").  BMP and its directors, executive officers and other members of its management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from its stockholders in connection with the proposed merger.  Information concerning BMP participants is set forth in the proxy statement and related documents filed with the SEC.  Stockholders of BMP are advised to read these documents and any other documents relating to the merger that are filed with the SEC when they become available because they contain important information.  Stockholders of BMP may obtain copies of these documents for free, when available, at the SEC's website at www.sec.gov.  These and such other documents may also be obtained for free from BMP at: 600 W. Germantown Pike, Suite 400, Plymouth Meeting, Pennsylvania.

Forward-Looking Statements for BMP Sunstone

This press release contains forward-looking statements relating to the expectations regarding the timing of closing. Although BMP Sunstone management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, investors are cautioned that forward-looking information and statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond BMP Sunstone's control, that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from the timing expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information. These risks and uncertainties include among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, future clinical data and analysis, including post marketing, decisions by regulatory authorities, such as the FDA, as well as those discussed or identified in BMP Sunstone's public filings with the SEC. Other than as required by applicable law, BMP Sunstone undertakes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information or statements.

SOURCE BMP Sunstone Corporation