SHAREHOLDERS’ LETTER N°42
BIC Group’s Shareholders' Letter of June 2018.
Dear Shareholders,
I am honored by the trust the Board of Directors has given me. I take over Bruno’s position, a talented and passionate man who managed with a master’s touch an international worldwide-known group, serving its clients, employees and shareholders. I am proud to be part of a new page in BIC’s history, and to follow the steps of a man who has so well embodied the Group’s values during these last twenty-five years.
Pierre Vareille, Chairman of the Board
It is with great pride and sense of responsibility that I take over my father’s position.
BIC is a solid group because we have always been able to “honor the past” while “inventing the future.” In my new role, I plan to build on our historical strengths: our industrial tools, our products, our brand and most of all, our teams.
In a continually changing environment, consumer behavior is rapidly transforming, and we need to anticipate and react quickly and efficiently. I am confident in the Group’s ability to face these new challenges. We will continue to “invent the future” and adapt to new trends such as evolving consumer behavior, Asia’s ever-increasing commercial trade, Africa’s development while at the same time preserving our planet’s resources.
These challenges also represent incredible growth opportunities, and encourage us to improve our operational efficiency even further. To succeed, we will, among other things, acquire new talents in innovation, digitalization, and logistics. I know that I can count on the strong support and commitment from our 15,000 team members worldwide. Altogether, with boldness and respect for the BIC values that have defined us from the very beginning, we will reinvent BIC, without betraying it.
Gonzalve Bich, Chief Executive Officer
2018 FIRST QUARTER PERFORMANCE
1st Quarter 2018
(1) Comparative basis: at constant currencies and constant perimeter. Figures at constant perimeter exclude the impacts of acquisitions and/or disposals that occurred during the current year and/or during the previous year, until their anniversary date.
1st Quarter 2018 on a comparative basis(1) (in %)
(1) Comparative basis: at constant currencies and constant perimeter. Figures at constant perimeter exclude the impacts of acquisitions and/or disposals that occurred during the current year and/or during the previous year, until their anniversary date.
In % of Net Sales
(2) Normalized: means excluding non-recurring items (for more information, please refer to the 2018 First Quarter Results press release).
SOCIÉTÉ BIC Annual General Meeting was held on Wednesday, May 16, 2018 in Clichy ( 92 ) under the chairmanship of Bruno Bich, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer.
The Shareholders’ Meeting approved the payment, from May 30, 2018, of an ordinary dividend amount of 3.45 euros per share, and all the proposed resolutions.
Composition of the Board of Directors following the Annual General Meeting of May 10, 2018
• Pierre Vareille, Chairman of the Board (Independent)
• Gonzalve Bich, Chief Executive Officer and Director
• John Glen, Director, Chairman of the Audit Committee (Independent)
• Elizabeth Bastoni, Director, Chairman of the Compensation Committee, Chairman of the Nominations, Governance and CSR Committee (Independent)
• Vincent Bedhome, Director representing the employees, Member of the Compensation Committee
• François Bich, Director
• Marie-Pauline Chandon-Moët, Director
• Mario Guevara, Director
• Candace Matthews, Director, Member of the Audit Committee, Member of the Nominations, Governance and CSR Committee (Independent)
• Marie-Henriette Poinsot, Director, Member of the Compensation Committee, Member of the Nominations, Governance and CSR Committee
• Société MBD, Director, represented by Édouard Bich, Member of the Audit Committee.
NEWS
IN INDIA, BIC CELLO LEADS AN EXPERIMENT ON STRESS DURING EXAM PERIOD IN A SCHOOL
Launched in March by BIC Cello, India’s leading manufacturer of writing instruments, the short film, “Surprise Test” aimed at illustrating the change of perception of parents during exam period after having taken themselves the same exam. This experiment took place in a high school in Mumbai, highlighting the crucial role that parents play during exam period. “We at Cello Pens, understand the kind of stress that students go through during exams.” explains Tanveer Khan, Director – Marketing, BIC Cello. While setting expectations for their children’s sake, parents at times unknowingly put pressure on their children before exams, adding to their overall stress. “Their encouraging words have a great impact on children’s minds and hearts. Encouragement boosts their confidence and helps the child perform better.”
LAUCHING OF “I SHAVE FOR ME” CAMPAIGN FOR BIC® SOLEIL® BALANCE™ IN THE U.S.
To support the U.S. launch of BIC® Soleil® Balance™ – a two-in-one women's shaver with five moveable blades and two moisture bars with Shea Butter– the company launched the new “I shave for me” campaign. Leading the campaign is a digital commercial that focuses on optimism and female empowerment. It showcases women in everyday situations, including having to wear an unflattering bridesmaid dress at a friend’s wedding, taking a boxing class or just watching a movie at home in sweatpants, all of whom are more confident because they shave for themselves.
The commercial can be seen on digital platforms including YouTube, Hulu, and on BIC® Soleil®'s Facebook and Instagram channels.
BIC SHAVE CLUB: SHARE YOUR SUPPORTER’S LOOK WITH THE OPERATION, “SHAVE FOR FUN”
This summer, the BIC Shave Club will launch an operation as part of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. Organized in France and the United Kingdom from June 14th to July 15th, the "Shaving for Fun" contest will challenge consumers to share their fan’s look – team of France/team of England, on BIC Shave Club website and Facebook page. For every shared photo, €1/£1 will be donated to a charity association in both countries. A jury will select the most popular picture to win a home cinema, and a drawing test will give the opportunity to win 50 shaving boxes. Get ready to play!
BIC SWEDEN LAUNCHES A CAMPAIGN PROMOTING BIC® MEGALIGHTER MULTI-PURPOSE LIGHTER IN PARTNERSHIP WITH “MASTERCHEF”
In the Nordics, BIC is building on new culinary trends to position BIC® Megalighter as a premium brand. In Sweden, BIC has partnered with the cooking show Masterchef. The cooperation includes associated rights for instore materials, product placement. A strong media campaign was set up to promote this partnership and to increase proximity with targeted consumers. Several cooking videos were created and published onto BIC’s partner’ channels, on MyBicLighter facebook page and in pre-roll. In addition, an online competition was set up to engage more interactively with consumers.
View the videos: Mudcake and Kaffedrink
#BICTEMPTATIONS WINS BEST MARKETING AWARD OF THE YEAR AT EOPA 2018
The European Office Product Awards (EOPA) is a prestigious annual event rewarding innovation, ingenuity, and the ability to evolve and transform the office supply industries. This year, at the 17th edition organized in Amsterdam, BIC® won the Marketing Campaign of the Year award with the #BICtemptations digital campaign. The judges recognized BIC came up with a great contemporary marketing campaign that generated impressive results.
The #BICtemptations campaign was a real marketing success which resulted in 25 million video views. Building on this success, #BICtemptations Season 2 is coming back for the next Back to School!
BIC POLAND WINS THE GAZELLE OF BUSINESS 2017 AWARD
BIC Poland has been awarded with the Gazelle of Business Award during the 18th edition of this Polish ranking. The Gazelle of Business prize is a known and prestigious award in the business sector in Poland, and it has been awarded yearly since 2000 to the most dynamic small and medium companies in the sector.
The project is organized jointly by nine economy related newspapers and juries rate the companies’ achievements, developments and dynamics.
GREAT SUCCESS FOR THE BIC COLLECTION
BIC presented its contemporary art collection to the public for the first time, at the CENTQUATRE-PARIS (France). An unprecedented exhibition of more than 150 artistic works, from drawing to photography to sculpture, bringing together artists from all over the world who have been inspired by BIC®. Artistic performances were also programmed.
The exhibition, held from April 14th to May 27th, welcomed more than 30,000 visitors. A month and a half during which the event was very present in the media, with significant press releases, on blogs and on social networks.
LIMITED EDITION ITEMS OF THE BIC COLLECTION SHOP ARE ON SALE
The exhibition catalogue, “the BIC Collection” and a selection of limited edition items related to the exhibition were available at the BIC Collection Shop, located at the CENTQUATRE-PARIS during the exhibition.
These objects are also available online on the following website www.bicartshop.com
BIC SOUTH AFRICA INVITES THE “PEN ART MASTER” CONTEST WINNERS
At the end of 2017, BIC South Africa held a Pen Art Master Competition on Facebook, where fans were encouraged to share their artworks created with BIC® pens. In March 2018, the top three winners were invited to the BIC offices in Johannesburg. It was a filled-with-fun day during which the winners enjoyed a factory and a warehouse tour. Later on, the winners and 200 team members shared a cake featuring the artworks from the top three winners.
BIC South Africa is looking forward to 2018 Art Master competition and taking it to a new level!
BIC COMMITS BY 2025 WITH ITS NEW PROGRAM, WRITING THE FUTURE, TOGETHER
Through its new 7-year program, BIC wants to build on its long-standing involvement and accelerate its engagements for sustainable development by pledging to five commitments:
#1 Fostering sustainable innovation in BIC® products. By 2025, the environmental and/or societal footprint of BIC® products will be improved.
#2 Acting against climate change. By 2025, BIC will use 80% renewable electricity.
#3 Committing to a safe work environment. By 2025, BIC aims for zero accidents across all operations.
#4 Proactively involving suppliers. By 2025, BIC will work responsibly with its strategic suppliers to ensure the most secure, innovative and efficient sourcing.
#5 Improving lives through education. By 2025, BIC will improve learning conditions for 250 million children, globally.
NATIONAL YOUTH DAY IN FRANCE: MORE THAN 430 YOUNG PEOPLE DISCOVERING BIC AND ITS ACTIVITIES
The 7th edition of the National Youth Day gave the opportunity to more than 60,000 young people between 15 and 25 years old, on March 29 this year, to be in contact with the world of work throughout France.
BIC was partner of the event and met with middle and high-school students during school interventions. Thirteen classes from 8th grade to “BTS” level (an advanced technician’s certificate) had the opportunity to visit four of BIC’s sites: BIC shaver factory at Longueil Sainte Marie ( 60 ), BIC pen factory at Montévrain ( 77 ), Clichy headquarter ( 92 ) and BIC Technologies in Clichy ( 92 ). These actions made them discover the richness and diversity of the Group’s activities, and enabled them to have a first contact with a company during their internship research.
2017 PUBLICATIONS ARE AVAILABLE
Find all BIC Group publications on our website:
• The 2017 Annual Report, entitled “Made To” (more details on the Annual Report’s new format in the next article)
• The 2017 Registration Document
• The 2017 Sustainable Development Report
#MADETO: BIC’S NEW ANNUAL REPORT INSTALLS A YEAR-LONG CONVERSATION… WHICH LASTS!
BIC is made to last and so is its fresh new Annual Report! This year, we’ve decided on an ongoing, year-long conversation with you. In the shape of a web release throughout the year, the 2017-18 report will come to life developing eight main topics during eight months.
Made responsibly, made to last, made close to you, made to be loved. But also made for everyone, made for tomorrow, made with passion, made with excellence…
From April to December discover and rediscover our new year-long releases via informative videos, key figure animations, interactive games on this website and our social media: Twitter, Instagram, Linked in and Youtube.
To stay tuned on the next date of the release “Made to…”, subscribe to this exciting new report, and follow us on BIC social media.
COMPANY’S DETAILS
• Limited company Capital: 178,072,592.84 euros
• Divided into 46,615,862 shares of common stock, par value 3.82 euros
LISTED ON: EURONEXT PARIS
ISIN : FR0000120966
Mnemonic: BB
Continuous quotation 552.008.443 registered in Nanterre, France
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