By Dominique Patton PARIS (Reuters) -French drugmaker Sanofi said on Monday it had entered exclusive talks to sell a 50% controlling stake in its consumer health business Opella to U.S. private equity firm Clayton Dubilier & Rice (CD&R).

Sanofi entered into exclusive talks to sell a controlling stake in its consumer-healthcare business Opella to Clayton Dubilier & Rice in a deal that values the business as a whole at 16 billion euros ($17.

France is considering taking a stake in Sanofi's Opella arm, said finance minister Antoine Armand, to allay concerns that the French drugmaker's plans to sell a 50% stake in Opella to a U.S. private equity firm could result in job cuts.

PARIS (Reuters) - Sanofi said on Monday it had entered exclusive negotiations for the sale of a 50% controlling stake in its consumer health business Opella to U.S. private equity firm Clayton Dubilier & Rice (CD&R).

Sanofis Exclusive Negotiations with Clayton Dubilier Rice Sanofi (NASDAQ: SNY) announced on Monday that it has entered exclusive negotiations to sell a 50% controlling stake in its consumer health division,

France will take a stake in Sanofi's Opella through the Public Investment Bank (BPI), finance minister Antoine Armand said on Sunday, confirming an information from Le Figaro newspaper that U.S. private equity firm Clayton Dubilier & Rice (CD&R) is to take a 51% stake in the company that makes of one of France's most-sold painkillers,