The Licensing Company Signs BIC

Embargo October 2008
London October 2nd, 2008

The Licensing Company ( TLC) today announced its brand representation of the BIC brand on a global basis for all three world leading divisions of its business: Stationery Products, Lighters and Shavers. For more than 50 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. Over 35 million BIC products are sold every day in over 160 countries around the world. In 2007, BIC recorded net sales of 1,456 million euros. TLC's appointment comes after 12 months of strategic evaluation by BIC and TLC into the potential for brand extension, and the identification of products that will represent the core brand values of BIC, including function, reliability, quality and value. Melvin Thomas, Group Managing Director of TLC Group said ' The BIC brand is a globally recognized mark, and we are looking forward to establishing a first class brand extension campaign around the world' Billy Salha, spokesperson for BIC, commented: “The BIC vision is to offer simple, inventive and reliable choices for everyone, everywhere, every time. It is exciting for us to partner with TLC to further explore where this vision can take us”.

About TLC Ltd: The Licensing Company (TLC) specializes in creating long-term brand extension programs for some of the world's leading brands. TLC was founded in London in 1996 by Angela Farrugia and Melvin Thomas, and has a reputation of creating the most innovative, effective and successful brand extensions in the world. With offices in New York, Tokyo and Paris and Munich, TLC boasts over 2, 000 live contracts worldwide, $2 bn retail sales in 2007, 35, 000 product lines and access to over 70% of the world's consumer marketplace. TLC's portfolio includes well-established brands such as IBM, Jim Beam, Cosmopolitan, Jelly Belly and Umbro as well as the Reckitt Benckiser portfolio of brands. www.thelicensingcompany.com

About BIC BIC is a world leader in stationery, lighters and shavers. For more than 50 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 2007, BIC recorded net sales of 1,456.1 million euros. The Company is listed on “Euronext Paris”, the SBF120 and CAC Mid 100 indexes. BIC is also part of the FTSE4Good Europe Index. Visit BIC at www.bicworld.com.