Société Bic — M&A Activity 2013

Sep 17, 2013

CELLO PENS:

BIC GROUP COMPLETES THE ACQUISITION OF THE REMAINING 40% OF THE LAST ENTITY AND EXERCISES ITS CALL TO INCREASE ITS STAKE TO 55%

BIC Group today announces that it has:

• closed the acquisition of 40% of the last (7th) stationery entity of Cello Group for a total amount of 3.7 bn INR (43.3 million euros¹ ),
• exercised the call option allowing to increase its ownership in Cello Pens 7 entities from 40% to 55% for approximately 2.8 bn INR (32.9 million euros¹ ). The closing of this acquisition is expected to be completed before the end of 2013.

The shareholders agreement signed on 21 January 2009 provides BIC Group with call options on the shares held by the Cello Group in Cello Pens 7 entities which allow BIC Group to increase its stake up to 90% by 2017. The Cello Group will have the ability to exercise put options against BIC Group, the first one increasing BIC's stake from 55% to 75% potentially in 2014. The price of these options is based on a formula tied to earnings.

Cello Pens is India's largest manufacturer and distributor of writing instruments with approximately 28% of India domestic pen market and a presence in Africa, Middle-East and Asia. With its broad portfolio of products and countrywide distribution network, the Cello® brand is one of the most recognized in India. For Fiscal year 2012 (end of March 2012) Cello Pens net sales were 5.5 bn INR (65.1 million euros¹ ) with an EBIT margin of 25%.

Bruno Bich, BIC Group Chairman of the Board, said: "Cello Pens brings opportunities to accelerate our Group development in India, as well as in other parts of Asia and will generate long term value."

Mario Guevara, BIC Group Chief Executive Officer, added: "The exercise of the call option allows us to increase our stake in a highly successful company focused, like we are, on delivering the highest quality products to consumers and that will contribute to BIC Group's long-term growth."

1 84.53 INR = 1 euro (13-SEP-2013 ; ECB Reference rate)

Contacts

Investor Relations: +33 1 45 19 52 26	Press: +33 1 53 70 74 48
Sophie Palliez-Capian	Priscille Reneaume
sophie.palliez@bicworld.com	preneaume@image7.fr
Katy Bettach	Isabelle de Segonzac
Katy.bettach@bicworld.com	isegonzac@image7.fr
	Claire Doligez cdoligez@image7.fr

For more information, please consult the corporate web site: www.bicworld.com

Disclaimer: This document contains forward-looking statements. Although BIC believes its expectations are based on reasonable assumptions, these statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties. A description of the risks borne by BIC appears in the section, "Risk factors" in BIC's 2011 Registration Document filed with the French financial markets authority (AMF) on March 27, 2013.

2013-2014 Agenda (all dates to be confirmed)

3rd Quarter & 9 months 2013 results	October 23, 2013	Conference call
FY 2013 results	February 12, 2014	Meeting, BIC Headquarters
1st Quarter 2014 results	April 24, 2014	Conference call
2013 Shareholders meeting	May 14, 2014	Meeting, BIC Headquarters

About BIC

BIC is a world leader in stationery, lighters, shavers and promotional products. For more than 60 years, BIC has honored the tradition of providing high-quality, affordable products to consumers everywhere. Through this unwavering dedication, BIC has become one of the most recognized brands in the world. BIC products are sold in more than 160 countries around the world. In 2012, BIC recorded net sales of 1,898.7 million euros. The Company is listed on "Euronext Paris" and is part of the SBF120 and CAC Mid 60 indexes. BIC is also part of the following SRI indexes: FTSE4Good Europe, Euronext Vigeo Europe 120, Euronext Vigeo France 20, Ethibel Excellence Europe, Gaia Index and Stoxx Global ESG Index.