BIC - 2020 Universal Registration Document

GROUP PRESENTATION, PERSPECTIVES, AND STRATEGY

Business presentation

1.5.2

RESEARCH AND INNOVATION

BIC’s Mission ( Raison d’Être ) to “create high quality, safe, affordable, essential products trusted by everyone” is central to its business model. Since its creation some 75 years ago, the Group’s vision has been to reimagine everyday essentials through new products and groundbreaking ideas, making research and innovation part and parcel of BIC’s DNA. BIC’s R&D organization ensures product quality and reliability while developing and delivering winning solutions for all consumers that build loyalty, relevance, and satisfaction. In 2020, over 230 team members were involved in research, development, and innovation. In 2020, BIC invested 1.5% of its sales in R&D. 7.6% of BIC’s Net sales are derived from innovations launched in the previous three years. By 2025, the Group expects to double the contribution of innovation to its growth and achieve 20% of Net Sales from innovation. To support this goal, BIC has decided to accelerate its patent filings strategy. In 2020, 68 patents were filed and the number of granted patents increased by more than 50% to reach 346. Innovation is an important pillar of BIC’s transformation, with the aim to enhance consumer insight capabilities and increase the pace of innovative New Product launches. This led to the creation in 2019 of the Group Insights and Innovation (GI&I) division, encompassing both Stationery and Shavers to reinvigorate BIC’s Innovation ecosystem and Brand, placing the consumer at the heart of the business. This division includes the R&D Department, which is organized around three activities: Global Development, identifies product and process ● innovation opportunities for both Stationery and Shavers; Core technologies, develops the necessary product ● specifications; New territories, identifies breakthrough innovations outside ● BIC’s current core businesses. With the launch of the “Horizon” plan in November 2020 , BIC took another step towards its goal of accelerating sustainable and consumerdriven innovation and expanding its open innovation ecosystem with the following initiatives: the creation of an in-house Data-Driven Innovation lab, aimed ● at identifying early-stage technologies and integrating them into the Group’s innovation pipeline;

the signature of a partnership with Plug&Play, one of the ● largest startup incubators globally, allows the Group to access a wide diversity of startups and talent. In Stationery , BIC continuously innovates to bring state-of-the-art writing technology to its consumers and launches an average of 20 new products each year. Some of the most recent innovations include: BIC ® Clic Stic ® PrevaGuard TM , a pen with built-in protection to ● stop bacteria growth; Erasable ink with the BIC ® Gelocity Illusion; ● Tattoo body markers with the BIC ® Bodymark; ● Writing felt-pen medium point with the BIC ® Intensity ● Medium. In Lighters , the category owns unique manufacturing processes and R&D, with a strong focus on always maintaining safety and quality. New product designs and process innovation in gas lighters are strictly controlled due to the potentially dangerous nature and widespread use of the product. Every BIC ® lighter remains a safe and reliable product throughout its life cycle – even in the event of any foreseeable misuse. In 2020, BIC launched the EZ Reach utility lighter, which combines the accessibility of pocket lighters with the multi-purpose lighters' functional benefits. It has 66% less environmental impact compared to the U140 BIC utility lighter. This innovation demonstrates the Group’s ability to increase value through category expansion, as it addresses new lighting occasions. In Shavers , 15 to 20 new products are developed annually, ranging from line extensions to new product launches. Some of the most recent innovations include: for Men: BIC ® Easy/Hybrid, BIC ® Flex 5 and BIC ® Flex 5 ● Hybrid; for Women: BIC ® Soleil Balance, BIC ® Soleil Glow ® , BIC ® Soleil ● Click 5; for Men and Women: “Made For YOU” in the US offering a ● 5blade refillable gender-neutral shaver sold online, "Us", a gender-neutral shaver sold in-store.

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• BIC GROUP - 2020 UNIVERSAL REGISTRATION DOCUMENT •

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