Paris - French pharmaceuticals giant Sanofi-Aventis said Wednesday it had surpassed expectations by posting profits of 7.186 billion euros (9.3 billion dollars) for last year, up 3.2 per cent on 2007.

Turnover rose by 3.7 per cent, to 27.568 billion euros, with sales in the United States increasing by more than 5 per cent, to 8.61 billion euros, the company said in a press statement.

New Sanofi-Aventis head Chris Viehbacher said in Paris that the firm would try to take advantage of its good results by expanding via the acquisition of small and mid-sized companies.

"There are many companies with which we could work together, either through a takeover or a partnership," he said. The goal was to increase the company's market value to about 15 billion euros, he added.

For 2009, the company expects its earnings per share to rise by around 7 per cent from the current 5.49 euros, which was an increase of more than 6 per cent over 2007.

Investors liked what they heard and bid the Sanofi-Aventis share price up by 6.14 per cent, to 46.65 euros, in midday trading on the Paris Bourse.

Sanofi-Aventis has been one of the best performers on the Paris Bourse over the past year, ceding only about 10 per cent of its value whilst the benchmark CAC 40 plunged by more than 35 per cent. (dpa)