[David T. Davis] said during a deposition taken Friday that [E. Claiborne Robins Jr.] notified Rorer's general counsel of Sanofi's interest in Robins on Dec. 15 -- about a month after the concept of a Sanofi investment was raised and two days before Sanofi made an oral offer to Robins' board. The oral offer called for a controlling interest in Robins, not just its pharmaceutical and international divisions.

In preparation for Thursday's hearing, Rorer's and other lawyers have been asking questions about events leading up to Sanofi's Dec. 17 offer. Rorer also wants to ask questions about the days immediately thereafter to learn whether Sanofi was coached into revising its bid so Robins' board could accept it over two others, but that line of questioning apparently would require [Robert R. Merhige Jr.]'s approval.

(Rorer has not sought to question the Robins president. But [James C. Roberts] said Robins Jr. told him he told the Sanofi people at the outset of the meeting that he could do no more than listen to what Sanofi had to say because of the restrictions in the Rorer agreement.) The next step was a Nov. 16 meeting over lunch in New York. It was there, Davis said, that the concept of a joint venture in Robins' pharmaceutical and international divisions was raised. Davis said Dr. [Robert S. Murphey] and H. Arvid Johnson, Robins' general counsel, assured him before attending the meeting that it was at Sanofi's request and not in violation of the Rorer agreement.