AMENDMENT NO. 3 TO SCHEDULE 13G
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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13G

Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. 3)1

Sanofi — Aventis
(Name of Issuer)
Shares, nominal value 2 euros
(Title of Class of Securities)
80105N 10 52
(CUSIP Number)
December 31, 2005
(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement)

Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this Schedule is filed:

     o Rule 13d-1(b)

     o Rule 13d-1(c)

     þ Rule 13d-1(d)

1The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

2 This CUSIP number applies to the Issuer’s American Depositary Shares, each representing one-half of one ordinary share.

Persons who respond to the collection of information contained in this form are not required to respond unless the form displays a currently valid OMB control number.

 
 

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SIGNATURE
EX-99.A: IDENTIFICATION AND CLASSIFICATION OF THE SUBSIDIARY

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CUSIP No.
  
80105N 10 5 

 

           
1   NAMES OF REPORTING PERSONS:
Total S.A.
   
  I.R.S. IDENTIFICATION NOS. OF ABOVE PERSONS (ENTITIES ONLY): 
   
     
2   CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (SEE INSTRUCTIONS):
  (a)   o
  (b)   o
     
3   SEC USE ONLY:
   
   
     
4   CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION:
   
  France
       
  5   SOLE VOTING POWER:
     
NUMBER OF   178,476,513 (of which 141,492,335 shares carry double voting rights) (see Item 4)
       
SHARES 6   SHARED VOTING POWER:
BENEFICIALLY    
OWNED BY   - 0 -
       
EACH 7   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER:
REPORTING    
PERSON   178,476,513 (see Item 4)
       
WITH: 8   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER:
     
    - 0 -
     
9   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON:
   
  178,476,513
     
10   CHECK IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (9) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES (SEE INSTRUCTIONS):
   
  o
     
11   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (9):
   
  12.74% (based on the number of shares reported by the Issuer as being outstanding as of December 31, 2005); percent of voting rights,
19.58% (based on the number of voting rights reported by the Issuer as being outstanding as of December 31, 2005)
     
12   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON (SEE INSTRUCTIONS):
   
  HC

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Item 1(a).   Name of Issuer:
 
            
    Sanofi — Aventis
 
            
Item 1(b).   Address of Issuer’s Principal Executive Offices:
 
            
    174, avenue de France
75013 Paris
France
 
            
Item 2(a), (b) and (c).   Name of Person Filing; Address of Principal Business Office or, if None, Residence; and Citizenship:
 
            
     This statement is being filed by Total S.A., a company organized under the laws of France. Total S.A.’s principal business is oil, gas and chemicals. The address of Total S.A.’s principal business and office is 2, place de la Coupole, La Défense 6, 92078 Paris La Défense Cedex, France.
 
            
Item 2(d).   Title of Class of Securities:
 
            
    Shares, nominal value 2 euro
 
            
Item 2(e).   CUSIP Number:
 
            
    80105N 10 5
 
            
Item 3.   If this Statement is Filed Pursuant to Rule 13d-1(b), or 13d-2(b) or (c), Check Whether the Person Filing is a:
 
            
 
  (a)   o   Broker or Dealer registered under Section 15 of the Exchange Act.
 
  (b)   o   Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Exchange Act.
 
  (c)   o   Insurance company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Exchange Act.
 
  (d)   o   Investment company registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act.
 
  (e)   o   An investment advisor in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(E).
 
  (f)   o   An employee benefit plan or endowment fund in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F).
 
  (g)   o   A parent holding company or control person in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(G).
 
  (h)   o   A savings association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act.
 
  (i)   o   A church plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act.
 
  (j)   o   Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(l)(ii)(J).
 
            
Item 4.   Ownership
 
            
     As of December 31, 2005, Total S.A. beneficially owned the following shares indirectly through its subsidiary Elf Aquitaine:
     
Amount beneficially owned:
   178,476,513
Percent of class:
   12.74%; percent of voting rights, 19.58%
Number of shares as to which such person has:
    
 
    
Sole power to vote:
   178,476,513 (of which 141,492,335
 
   shares carry double voting rights)
Shared power to vote:
   -0-
Sole power to dispose of:
   178,476,513
Shared power to dispose of:
   -0-

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Item 5.
  Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class.
 
    
     If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of securities, check the following [ ].
 
    
Item 6.
  Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person.
 
    
 
  Not Applicable.
 
    
Item 7.
  Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company.
 
    
     Of the 178,476,513 shares being reported hereunder, Total S.A. indirectly has the power to vote and dispose of 178,476,473 shares being reported on hereunder through one subsidiary identified in Exhibit A attached hereto, and the remaining 40 shares through certain other persons.
 
    
Item 8.
  Identification and Classification of Members of the Group.
 
    
 
  Not applicable.
 
    
Item 9.
  Notice of Dissolution of the Group.
 
    
 
  Not applicable.
 
    
Item 10.
  Certifications.
 
    
 
  Not applicable.
SIGNATURE
     After reasonable inquiry and to the best of the undersigned’s knowledge and belief, the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.
         
  TOTAL S.A.
 		  
  By:   /s/ Charles Paris de Bollardière    
    Name:   Charles Paris de Bollardière   
    Title:   Treasurer   
 
Date: February 14, 2006