BIC: FULL YEAR 2025 RESULTS

Core Insights - BIC faced a challenging year in 2025, with net sales of €2,090 million, a decrease of 0.9% at constant currency and 4.7% on a comparative basis, primarily due to difficulties in the US market [2][11] - The company reported an adjusted EBIT of €283 million, down from €343 million in 2024, resulting in an adjusted EBIT margin of 13.6% [3][44] - Adjusted EPS fell to €4.74 from €6.15 in 2024, while free cash flow generation was resilient at €222 million compared to €271 million in the previous year [4][9] Financial Performance - Q4 2025 net sales were €495 million, reflecting a 1.1% increase at constant currency but a 2.3% decline on a comparative basis [2][11] - The gross profit margin for FY 2025 was 48.8%, down from 50.2% in FY 2024, influenced by higher raw material costs and unfavorable currency fluctuations [12][11] - Non-recurring items for FY 2025 amounted to €127 million, significantly higher than €53 million in 2024, primarily due to the disposal of Cello activities in India and the discontinuation of certain product lines [14][11] Strategic Actions and Leadership - A renewed governance and executive leadership team has been established to guide BIC's next phase of growth, with initial strategic actions launched in H2 2025 to streamline the portfolio [5][6] - The integration of Tangle Teezer has been successful, achieving double-digit growth in its first year within BIC [6] - The company is focused on simplifying and transforming its organization to drive sustainable profitable growth and long-term value creation [7][10] Shareholder Returns - BIC announced an ordinary dividend of €2.40 per share for FY 2025, representing a total payout of approximately €98 million with a pay-out ratio of 51% [8] - A renewed share buyback program of up to €40 million is planned for execution in 2026 [8] Market Performance by Division - The Human Expression division saw net sales decline by 9.6% for FY 2025, primarily due to poor performances in Latin America and the US [25][26] - The Flame for Life division experienced a 10.8% decrease in net sales for FY 2025, negatively impacted by weak performance in North and Latin America [33][36] - The Blade Excellence division reported a 10.8% increase in net sales for FY 2025, driven by the strong performance of Tangle Teezer [37][39]