2007 BIC snapshots › 31

2007 BIC Snapshots
2007 BIC Snapshots
>
A history
>
A group
>
3 core businesses:
stationery, lighters,
shavers
>
A worldwide presence
Gaining the trust of millions of consumers…
Portrait of a corporate vision
BIC is a world market leader in the product
categories of stationery, lighters and shavers.
For over 50 years, BIC has designed and
manufactured simple, inventive, reliable products
for everyone, everywhere in the world.
Deeply committed to the reputation
of its brand, BIC continuously improves
the performance of its classic products
and innovates in its three core
product categories.
Different brands have joined the
BIC family, adding fresh know-how,
but the basic idea always remains
the same – draw a colored line, produce
a flame, provide a shave… simple
and safe – without any worry and
at an affordable price.
2007 BIC Snapshots
No.1
No.2
No.1
No.2
3.2
worldwide
for ballpoint pens
worldwide
for stationery products
worldwide
for branded pocket lighters
worldwide
in volume and in value
for one-piece shavers
in the major marketplaces
million
outlets
Each day,*
throughout the world,
consumers
choose to buy
in million euro
2006
2007
Net sales
1,448
1,456
Gross profit
710
715
million
BIC® stationery products
Income from operations
254
256
Normalized income from operations(1)
259
254
million
BIC® lighters
Group net income
170
173
71
77
million
BIC® shavers
Employees
8,512
8,576
* Basis 220 days.
24
5
10
Capital expenditure
(1) Excluding USA restructuring and real estate gains.
€1,456 million
OTHER PRODUCTS
MIDDLE EAST,
AFRICA AND ASIA
6%
6%
SHAVERS
LATIN
AMERICA
18%
19%
+ 4,7%
AT CONSTANT
EXCHANGE RATES
2007 NET SALES
BY CATEGORY
LIGHTERS
27%
2007 NET SALES
NORTH AMERICA
AND OCEANIA
STATIONERY
2007 NET SALES
BY GEOGRAPHY
49%
EUROPE
32%
…has been our challenge – and our pride – for over 50 years.
43%
2007 BIC Snapshots
>
Lightweight,
long-lasting products
>
Quality and
safety for all
>
Safe, clean
factories
“Behind the scenes” for products as simple as a ballpoint pen…
Focus on our strengths
2 km
of writing for
a BIC® Cristal®
ballpoint pen
2007 BIC Snapshots
Ready for every test
3,000
lights for
a Maxi BIC®
lighter
> Lightweight,
long-lasting products
As shown in user tests, BIC® products are long lasting
yet lightweight, because they are made with just the right
amount of raw materials.
> Quality
10
days of
shaving for
a BIC Comfort 3®
shaver
and safety for all
BIC strives to offer the best quality possible for each
of its products, from the simplest to the most elaborate.
Consumer safety is also a top priority.
> Innovations
backed
by a history of success
BIC continuously improves its performance for the three
classic product categories while ingenious innovations
expand the BIC® product range. That is how BIC® Cristal®
nowadays writes even faster, thanks to new gel inks,
and why each year the BIC® Maxi lighter is available
in new decorative designs. Barbecue and candle lighters
complete the lighter range. As for BIC® triple-blade
shavers, they have conquered men and women alike
who appreciate the benefits and choice of colors offered
by products such as BIC® Soleil®.
… a marker, a coloring pencil, a lighter, or a shaver…
Focus on our strengths
Production under the microscope
> Cutting-edge
technology
BIC develops its own manufacturing processes
in order to ensure consistent quality – to within
a micron – for each of the millions of products
that leave its factories daily. Its mass production
runs are in fact typical of this kind of precision.
For instance, the ball in the tip of a ballpoint pen
that measures 0.5 to 1.2 mm in diameter, is set
into place to within a micron. A BIC® lighter can
be composed of up to 26 different parts and
the edge of a BIC® shaver blade is 2,000 times
finer than a human hair.
> Safe,
clean factories
BIC manufactures 88 percent of its products
in its own factories. Its 24 main factories (of which
17 produce stationery products, 4 produce lighters
and 3 produce shavers) are for the most part located
in Europe and in North and Latin America. They are
all organized and managed in a way that ensures
respect for the BIC Group’s commitments in terms
of quality, safety and social responsibility.
2007 BIC Snapshots
BIC FACTORIES
STATIONERY
LIGHTERS
SHAVERS
BIC has manufacturing expertise
in writing instruments for
more than 55 years; 35 years
for lighters and shavers.
>A
myriad of quality tests,
50 for each lighter alone
BIC carries out tests all along its production lines.
For its writing instruments, an example is the verification
of consistency in line width, length and writing comfort.
BIC® lighters undergo more than 50 individual, automatic
checks and each one meets or exceeds the requirements
of the international safety norm, ISO 9994. For their part,
shavers must pass 23 different tests.
… hides a wealth of know-how and new ideas…
2007 BIC Snapshots
Key business achievements:
>
Europe
>
North America and Oceania
>
Latin America
>
Africa, Middle East, Asia
… as well as numerous BIC manufacturing processes.
World tour in images
The BIC boy was an exceptional supporter
at the Rugby World Cup.
> Europe
BIC® Cristal® Gel, BIC® Kids and BIC® Select™ were the
champions of a very successful back-to-school season.
New European legislation now imposes a childresistant system for lighters and prohibits the sale
of novelty lighters. In addition, conformity with
the international lighter safety standard, ISO 9994,
is mandatory. BIC adheres to these new regulations
and communicates on the subject of safety for
its lighters. BIC® shavers have been widely featured
in the triple-blade section of stores everywhere.
After a remarkable debut in the U.S. for the BIC® Soleil®
System/Clic shaver, this first shaver from BIC with
cartridge refills made its entry into British bathrooms.
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The very “select” range,
BIC® Select™ (automatic
pencils, ballpoint pens,
fountain pens and rollerball
pens with refills) offers
a fountain of gift ideas
With its magazine, BICareful™,
all at a BIC price.
delivered to 200,000 tobacconists
in Europe, BIC reports on evolving
legislation and safety issues
that concern lighters.
+ 6.7%
€460.4 million
AT CONSTANT
EXCHANGE RATES
of BIC group net sales
2007 NET SALES
2007 BIC Snapshots
> North
America
and Oceania
In a sluggish economy, BIC® stationery products
won market share, in particular during the
back-to-school season. One of the new stars
was the range of permanent markers, BIC® Mark-it®.
New decorative lighter cases and the range
of multi-purpose lighters caught the attention
of a growing number of Americans.
Shavers also turned a new page. A communication
campaign supported the launch of the refillable
triple-blade BIC® Soleil® shaver for women.
In the U.S., an advertising
campaign, doubled notoriety
for the BIC® Soleil® brand
in 9 months.
Lovers of arts and craft appreciate the wide choice
in colors from permanent markers in the BIC® Mark-it®
range. Thanks to these markers, they can let their
artistic talent express itself freely and also find plenty
of new ideas on the Web site at www.bicmarkit.com.
BIC Graphic expanded its product
range and now offers promotional bags
from Atchison to its customers.
€641.3 million
+ 3%
43%
AT CONSTANT
EXCHANGE RATES
of BIC group net sales
2007 NET SALES
To keep the promise of a well-known and respected brand…
World tour in images
> Latin
A bbroad range
of products displayed
in Latin American
stores during the
st
bback-to-school season.
America
The acquisition of PIMACO expanded the BIC stationery
product range. It also strengthened local distribution
through the integration of PIMACO points of sale.
In the lighter marketplace, BIC concentrated
on new case designs, while also increasing
communications about safety.
A comical TV commercial, with the title Naufrago
(“I am shipwrecked”), was broadcast on Brazilian
television and added a touch of fun to the launch
of the BIC Comfort 3® Action shaver.
The Web site developed in support of the BIC® Tuning
limited series lighters allowed fans to “tune up”
the way their dream car might look.
Th k to
Thanks
t a BIC Comfort
C f t 3®
shaver, the castaway
in Naufrago, BIC’s latest
TV commercial in Brazil,
enjoys a close shave.
Little does he know what
the future beholds…
Ac
Acquired
in 2006, PIMACO
is now integrated with BIC.
Th
Thanks
to this new range
of labels and sticky notes,
co
consumers
“jot down and
pa
paste
up” their ideas with
q
quality
BIC® products.
+ 9.4%
€269.9 million
AT CONSTANT
EXCHANGE RATES
19%
of BIC group net sales
2007 NET SALES
2007 BIC Snapshots
In Sri Lanka where BIC® products
have been present for decades,
the brand is also synonymous
with quality and reliability.
In Africa, BIC promotes tourist regions
in each country with new ranges
of limited series lighters.
> Middle
East
and Africa
BIC developed its sales of value-added stationery
products in a region historically dominated
by BIC® Cristal® ballpoint pens. With these
new opportunities, communications focused
on different ranges under the BIC® brand
during the back-to-school season.
> Asia
BIC increased its presence in most Asian countries.
The successful launch of BIC® Reaction™ ballpoint
and rollerball pens, along with Valor™ and
SGC fountain pens from Sheaffer ®, supported
the high-end image of the brand.
€84.5 million
6%
of BIC group net sales
2007 NET SALES
… BIC continuously innovates.
– 4.3%
AT CONSTANT
EXCHANGE RATES
2007 BIC Snapshots
>
Major innovations
>
Acquisitions and developments
>
Communications
>
Commitment to
sustainable development
For more than three years, the company has led…
New horizons
Practical and strong, this new
kind of packaging protects BIC®
Kids Evolution™ colored pencils
and BIC® Kids Kid Couleur
felt-tip pens in school bags
and is useful on desktops
as a pencil holder.
With its rollerball point design,
the new BIC® Easy Clic™
rollerball pen refills like
an Easy Clic™ fountain pen.
It is available in classic designs
or in limited series, such as
LuluCastagnette* for young girls.
New multi-purpose
BIC® lighters in green
or black are a “must”
around the house
or in the backyard.
> Products
what’s new?
Like each year before, new products extended
the different ranges and contributed to making
daily life a little easier. This was the case for new
retractable, permanent marker pens, BIC® Reaction™
gel ink rollerball pens and BIC® multi-purpose lighters.
Other products made fashion statements, such as limited
series BIC® lighters. With the acquisition of PIMACO,
a leading brand of labels and sticky notes, new daily
activities are possible with BIC.
With a discreet and elegant
chrome look, the new series
of BIC® Metal™ lighter cases
can be used repeatedly
with BIC® mini-lighters.
* www.lulucastagnette.com
2007 BIC Snapshots
> Communication
-
what’s new?
First launched in France in 2006
(with www.assuralecrit.com) and then in Italy,
viral marketing is back with www.3fineslames.com.
Other Web sites have conquered the public,
such as www.penspinningacademy.com,
and in Europe and Brazil, www.bictuning.eu
and www.bictuning.com.br present the
BIC® Tuning limited series lighters.
In Madrid, an interior design
studio, enPieza!, created the BIC
chandelier. Entirely made of BIC®
Cristal® pens, it is available
in several sizes and has
already created much
enthusiasm in the world
of contemporary design.
BIC starred on French television
with its Easy Clic™ TV commercial.
Another TV commercial about
BIC® lighters and new child-resistant
regulations was broadcast
throughout Europe.
… a global approach to sustainable development.
New horizons
> Environment
In France, BIC gave
away 350,000 pocket
ashtrays during the
first half of 2008.
-
what’s new?
Lightweight and long lasting, BIC® products are
the choice for any consumer who wants to protect
the environment. BIC continues to build this product
concept and is proud of its sustainable development
program launched over three years ago.
BIC measures the environmental impact of its products,
improves the Carbon footprint of its factories and
shipping activities, plus launches many relevant
initiatives for its products.
BIC Graphic USA
launched a new range,
BIC® Ecolutions™,
which includes writing
instruments and sticky
notes made from
recycled materials.
BIC Sport designed O’pen BIC, a dingy acknowledged
by the “Bateau Bleu©” (blue boat) award at the Paris Boat
Show. This award encourages innovative technologies that
contribute to the protection of the environment.
2007 BIC Snapshots
BIC® Evolution™ graphite
pencils are made up of 46%
recycled materials and
in Japan, BIC® Orange™
ballpoint pens are made from
75.83% recycled materials.
Shareholders’ review
1.35
PUBLIC
32.7%
1.30
0.90(1)
0.80
2003
2004
1.15
CAPITAL
OWNERSHIP
AS OF DECEMBER 31,
2007
2005
2006
BICH FAMILY,
INCLUDING MBD
43.5%
ARNHOLD AND
S. BLEICHROEDER
ADVISERS. LLC
2007
5.2%
DIVIDEND PER SHARE IN €
SILCHESTER
INTERNATIONAL
INVESTORS
12.9%
TREASURY
STOCK
1.2%
MRS ÉDOUARD
BUFFARD
4.5%
(1) A special dividend of €1.00 per share
was paid for year 2004.
PUBLIC
21.6%
BIC SHARE KEY FIGURES
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Highest
44.66
39.45
38.60
51.30
57.00
60.12
Lowest
27.21
26.10
33.71
37.10
46.08
47.07
69,189
53,892
41,525
59,685
73,570
89,656
in euros
Average daily volume
ARNHOLD AND
S. BLEICHROEDER
ADVISERS. LLC
5.3%
VOTING RIGHTS
AS OF DECEMBER 31,
2007
SILCHESTER
INTERNATIONAL
INVESTORS
12.8%
MRS ÉDOUARD
BUFFARD
5.8%
BICH FAMILY,
INCLUDING MBD
54.5%
SOCIÉTÉ BIC - 92611 Clichy Cedex (France)
www.bicworld.com
Design and production: W PRINTEL
Photos credit: Getty Images, BIC Group library, All rights reserved
Illustrations: Hello