Exclusive Interview Bruno Bich, chairman of the Board

and Mario Guevara, CEO INTERVIEW BY CHRISTOPHE VIDAL

“With BIC® products, consumers always get more for their money,” Chairman of the Board Bruno Bich tells us. With the economy still in difficult times, the Group, under the leadership of Mario Guevara, has managed excellent results in 2010.

What’s their secret weapon?

Sales up by 5.9%* in 2010, than we ended 2010, thanks Providing consistent quality an increase of 36.7% in Group to enhanced competitive in our products throughout net income, what is your positions. the world, wherever they are analysis of BIC’s progress manufactured, combined with compared to 2009? How do you still manage to the right price, is the key. Our

come out ahead given the constant goal is to satisfy our Mario Guevara: We had continuing difficult economic customers (retailers) and our particularly good results in situation? consumers by offering products 2010 for consumer products; that meet their everyday growth there was even stronger Bruno Bich: When times needs or their desires. The than we expected. I’m proud of are tough, we perform even experience of our customers every category and what they throughout the world have accomplished (Stationery, and the relationships Lighters, Shavers and that we have forged Promotional Products). Across The repeated satisfaction with them are also a real every geographic area our source of strength. teams have adapted to shifts in of our consumers is the And all of this is the market, and we have gained market shares in our three foundation of our brand's

coordinated by top‑quality management.

categories in both developed strength. At BIC, employees and developing countries. have the opportunity to At the same time, Bruno BICH take on responsibilities, we have managed to improve grow their careers the efficiency of our production better! (smiling) We’re used and flourish. This is reflected tools and increase profitability. to fighting competitors in their engagement to BIC. We started 2011 stronger who are bigger than we are.

*on a comparative basis.

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