OPA BIC

Being unpredictable has its advantages. But now I knew exactly what to do.

The name Gillette is not American. It is French in origin — the pronunciation soft, almost grazing the word, never guttural. Just a family that at the end of the eighteenth century emigrated from France to America, found the help of relatives, and built what came after.

So what would I have done with the proceeds from the transfer of Gillettenarrative — if not bring back to grandfather Gillette’s house that portion of France that rightfully belonged to him, and that he had perhaps lost, or perhaps never known at all?

I would have launched a tender offer to acquire BIC France.

Backed by the knowledge that the French government is historically protectionist — but would never have allowed P&G to execute the same operation, given the risk of creating a global market monopoly.

I would have closed blade and razor production. Consumers would have returned naturally to the known place where razors are sold. Mother Gillette would have seen the benefits immediately. And I would have given grandfather back his share of glory — wherever he happens to be now. As for the pens and the remaining product lines, I would have built a company tied to the editorial world — not merely producing and selling writing instruments, but embedding them inside a publishing system connected to every author on earth who had no interest in Amazon.

And then we would have measured ourselves on the open market. By the capabilities of everyone involved. And the world would have seen what those with genuine corporate culture can do — versus those who simply had the luck to find space inside a void that was never announced.

Frega: someone you would never expect to exist. And yet he is real.

Nando

P.S.

Why discontinue razor and blade sales — even knowing that BIC holds an exceptionally high unit volume, despite its low added value?

For one reason only: Grandfather Gillette. And that is all.