Total and L'Oréal today notified the French Financial Markets Authority (A.M.F.) and Sanofi-Synthélabo of their decision not to renew beyond 2nd December 2004 the agreement between the two groups that has been in force since 9th April 1999.

Total and L'Oréal, whose cooperation has contributed to the success of Sanofi-Synthélabo, remain keenly interested in the continuing positive development of the company.

The current stakes of Total and L'Oréal in Sanofi-Synthélabo are 24.4% and 19.5% respectively.