NEWS FROM AROUND BATA WORLD WEEKLY DIGEST. Bata World Digest March 10, 2017 INTERVIEWS. Q & A with Alejandro Lopez

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1 WEEKLY INTERVIEWS Q & A with Alejandro Lopez Alejandro Lopez, corporate finance and Group treasury director, recently checked in with Bata World News. Read on for a behind-the-scenes look at what a Bata executive does. BATA IN THE NEWS PRODUCT CORPORATE Bata in the News: Heritage Projects Create a Stir in Thailand Bata Awards Winner Discovers Latest Trends at Milan Fair Zambia Celebrates Female Staff for International Women's Day BCP Thailand Honors Volunteers After a Successful Year Bata Malaysia Holds Annual Chinese New Year Celebrations Africa South Asia Bata Group Bata Zimbabwe Upgrades Stores in its Hometown Love is in the Air for Bata India For International Women s Day, Thoughts from Bata Women in Management Bata Zimbabwe Focuses Attention on Loyalty Club Expansion

2 INTERVIEWS Q & A with Alejandro Lopez Alejandro Lopez, corporate finance and Group treasury director, recently checked in with Bata World News. Read on for a behind-thescenes look at what a Bata executive does. You joined Bata nine years ago. Why is it still exciting to come in to work? Wow. Nine years already! It has been an incredible ride. First of all, I am really excited to work for the best-known footwear brand in the world. It is important for me to work for a company that I believe in, and our company has done a great job sharing with millions of customers around the world how passionate we are about shoes. Bata is a large company where you can learn an awful lot. You get to see the good, the bad and the ugly. From my experience with Bata I can tell you that it is an extremely interesting company with its cultural and market diversity. People working in the organization have many possibilities to innovate, share their knowledge and work with people of diverse origins. It is very inspiring for the employees. For all these reasons, and certainly because I enjoy what I do and have fun, it is still exciting to come in to work. What do you find most rewarding about your role? The most rewarding aspect for me is providing the organization with the best service possible. My position requires me to work and build relationships with people within Bata but also with external professionals. All these contacts are very enriching and always bring new ideas or requests. What is at the top of your work agenda right now? We have many interesting projects in the pipeline. The biggest challenge at the moment is to provide the organization with the fuel to support business growth globally and support the centralization of core business functions. We are heading in the right direction, and this will certainly help our Group achieve its strategic ambitions. What are a few things you are constantly monitoring as corporate finance and Group treasury director? Given today s changing market conditions and dynamics, forex risk management practices are also at the top of the agenda, particularly around approaches used to hedge risks in the different countries where we operate. The priority of my team is to help our operations to mitigate earnings volatility and define the appropriate hedging strategy. How do you liaise with Bata colleagues around the world? I had the privilege to attend the Bata Forum in Italy last year. It was a great opportunity to meet Bata colleagues from all the countries around the world. With the tools we have today, it is very easy to communicate with our global operations by meeting virtually using video conference systems or Skype. By traveling internationally, I am often called to meet physically, which is the best way to interact with local teams and feel part of the business. Which Bata Core Value do you most identify with? I would say Be Bold, Count on Me and Exceed Customer Expectations. My objective is still the same as when I joined the company in 2008, to help the Group to sell more shoes and improve its financial performance. To reach this goal, the corporate team needs to work closely with operations in order to provide the best service, which ultimately leads to increased satisfaction for all stakeholders. What is the best advice you have received during your Bata career so far? I have heard a lot of recommendations and sometimes good advice. I would say: Trust is hard to build, easy to lose. Which is your personal favorite Bata shoe?

3 BATA IN THE NEWS Bata in the News: Heritage Projects Create a Stir in Thailand On March 2, a Thai newspaper hyped the arrival of several Bata Heritage collections in the country. The Nation s Footwear Takes a Bow describes two standout collections Bata Bullets x Julien David and Bata Tennis x Astro Boy and the excitement around them in Bangkok. Read on for the latest buzz around these projects. Arriving in Bangkok just in time for summer, popular footwear brand Bata is today unveiling its limited edition Bata Heritage canvas shoes at Siam Discovery. To bring more style to the feet, the brand has teamed up with French designer Julien David to create the Bata Bullets x Julien David multicolored low-top sneakers as a tribute to the NBA team Baltimore Bullets, which made the original Bata Bullet model popular in street fashion. Made with organic cotton canvas for the uppers and lining, David keeps a classic silhouette and gives the shoes a modern look by adding six graphic designs inspired by Hokusai s "The Great Wave" wood print. Also on sale are the Bata Tennis x Astro Boy canvas shoes featuring prints of the much-loved 1950s manga character Astro Boy, originally created by Osamu Tezuka and now re-rendered by the Japanese designer Hiroaki Ohya. There are three styles. The Atom Born design takes fans back to the day when Astro was created, the Toe Face style has the robot s half face on the rubber toe cap, and the Flying City theme renders Astro Boy on the side of the shoes. To track the arrival of these coveted sneakers, check out the Bata Thailand page on Facebook.

4 PRODUCT Bata Awards Winner Discovers Latest Trends at Milan Fair Ben Isa, sport category collection manager for Bata Indonesia, won the Bata Award for Product in 2016, for his Magnetico project, a magnetic-fastening mechanism for school shoes. The innovative product design earned him a trip to Milan, to the MICAM international footwear fair, which took place from... MICAM is Italy's leading international footwear fair, promoted by the Association of Italian Footwear Manufacturers, and is held twice a year in Milan, at the Rho Fiera expo center. After his trip, Bata World News spoke to Isa, to hear his thoughts on the event, and what he gained from his visit. How was your experience in Italy at MICAM? I had an exciting experience. The MICAM fair was very big and very crowded, very different from the usual footwear fairs in Indonesia. Also, the city of Milan was inspiring: the people seem to breathe fashion, especially at the fair, just like a catwalk. I had the company of the APAC regional team: Mr. Roberto Longo, Mr. Imran Malik, Mr. Paolo Grassi, Mr. Pierluigi Pontecorvo, Mr. Feliz Pang and Mrs. Jennifer Lee. As they are more experienced in attending the MICAM fair, I received valuable guidance, and the team organized a very nice dinner to celebrate the award. Which current or future trends captured your attention the most? The trends on show were for the Autumn/Winter season, which is not a season in Indonesia, as we only have a summer and a rainy season. So the overall trend captured my attention, especially the boots. What innovations regarding the shoe industry did you see during your visit? I think the most interesting thing that I saw was the 3-D-printed shoe. There were also some brands that used unconventional designs, which was quite interesting. What was the most useful insight you obtained from the trip? It was an eye-opener. The fair showcased high-quality footwear and great designs in a very disciplined way. The presence of high-end Italian brands and European brands among the exhibitors showed many inspiring products. What do you think about the Bata Awards initiative? How would you like to see it take place in the future? The initiative is excellent, as with this kind of reward it provided extra motivation for Bata people to think outside the box and create the best output for the company. It will only improve the company as a whole. The award should be a regular occurrence, and maybe the categories could be expanded to recognize other achievements in other departments such as Finance, HR, CSR, Manufacturing and so on.

5 CORPORATE Zambia Celebrates Female Staff for International Women's Day Every year, on March 8, the world celebrates International Women's Day, a day designed to give recognition to women's achievements and the vital role that women play in every society. The theme for this year's event was "Be Bold for Change," and Bata Zambia once again held its own event in celebration of its female members of staff, who play a vital role in the company. The festivities, which took place at the company's head office on March 07, were designed to highlight the contribution of the company s female employees. Prosper Bachi, country manager of Bata Zambia, opened the celebrations by giving a speech, in which he recognized and appreciated the role women play in a variety of situations. He particularly highlighted women s roles as givers and nurturers of life, and the fact that their contribution to the well-being of society makes a big difference, through even the smallest actions. At the end of the event, Bachi presented all the company's female employees with some chitenge fabric, as well as T-shirts and pairs of Bata Juliana shoes. Following the presentation, the women of Bata Zambia shared a meal with the company's management team in the staff canteen. Octavia Bwalya, merchandise manager at Bata Zambia, commented: "It was a great surprise and pleasure to have been recognized and appreciated as Bata women. We really appreciate the kind gesture by the Bata management to acknowledge the important role we play as women in every place we are found. We are very happy and feel greatly appreciated."

6 STORE Bata Zimbabwe Upgrades Stores in its Hometown At Bata Zimbabwe, the retail team recently worked alongside the engineering department to complete a mammoth task: refurbishing three Bata stores in 16 days in time to reopen the stores to customers on Feb. 12. The stores are located in Gweru, the city that has been the company s home base since 1... Under the direction of country manager Ehsan Zaman, the refurbishment and modernization of the Gweru stores followed the organization s 2017 business strategy: providing a top-notch shopping experience to customers and regaining market share by ensuring all retail operations are streamlined for effectiveness and cost efficiency. The renovations all included expansion of the selling areas, which was necessary due to Bata Zimbabwe s improved production capacity and the significant growth of inhouse product lines. Alongside the increase of the sales floors, the stores also saw the revamping of their lighting systems, repainting of furniture and walls, defined segmentation and the addition of trendy lifestyle posters. Productdriven POP have helped to significantly improve communication to customers and provide a clear brand story. All the newly renovated stores showcase the latest Bata collections, reflecting the company s emphasis on merchandising over the past year. In addition, the recently trained workforce is enthused by the new changes and motivated to ensure targets are met. The three stores were originally opened between 1978 and Gweru 1 is located along the busiest street in the city. This City store has enjoyed a 289 percent boost in sales floor area, ensuring that it can now comfortably accommodate a larger customer base without sacrificing the intended shopping experience. New furniture was also introduced and the merchandise rearranged for better flow. The reorganization of the store will allow it to accommodate over 600 lines. Following these renovations, the store has enjoyed excellent business, performing at 110 percent. The selling area of Gweru 2, a Family B store, has jumped from 79 to 160 square meters. Located in the thick of the trading corner of the city, this store caters to an array of customers in the trading district as well as travelers. With these renovations lending it a new ambience, it has become an anchor store in the trading district. Gweru 3 was the first store to be built in the city. Located near the central city clock, this store enjoys the advantages of a prime location. The facelift has reengaged residents, who are checking out what Bata has to offer. District sales manager Patrick Gumbo said, I am very pleased with the renovations and the great work done by the team. The overall store ambience is now unmatched in the city and has unequivocally refreshed the atmosphere and piqued the interest of the general population. The combination of modern lifestyle posters and new furniture have significantly improved the shopping experience to our valued customers. The new layout will allow us to display more lines of merchandise for our customers to easily view, many thanks to an increase in our local production. Further, the increased sales areas will contribute more to the decongestion of the sales floor during busy periods. Retail operations manager Gibson Muzambe added, The stores are looking great after the renovations, and our customers are going to enjoy and experience the best shopping atmosphere in Gweru. These renovations were long overdue, so it gives us a renewed energy and allows us to reintroduce ourselves to the community.

7 CORPORATE Love is in the Air for Bata India Every Valentine s Day, couples are faced with the problem of what to buy for their partners. This year, in order to resolve the dilemma, Bata India planned a Valentine s Day promotion that focused on the experiences that such couples are actively looking for. The Valentine s Day promotion was planned with the aim of increasing sales in India s top 100 Bata stores. The promotion spanned the length and breadth of the country, with particular focus on cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Chandigarh, Pune and Hyderabad. The campaign lasted for an entire week, culminating on Valentine s Day, and was publicized with a range of promotional materials at purchase points, such as standees, easels, danglers, coupons and fun gifts. Customers were given a choice between movie tickets, pizza meals and coffee cards from some of the most popular restaurants and multiplexes in the country, when making purchases of a certain minimum value, helping to make their gift even more special. Bata India's customers were clearly in a loving mood, as the promotion saw a footfall increase of 40,000 compared to figures from the previous weekend. Rajeev Gopalakrishnan, President South Asia, commented: The message of Shop. Pick. Love. across top Bata stores resonated well with the customers, and led to a great response to this offer. Additionally, the experiences extended to customers were in the true spirit of Valentine's Day, where everyone wants to spend time with their better half.

8 BCP / SUSTAINABILITY For International Women s Day, Thoughts from Bata Women in Management March 8 is International Women s Day, a day dedicated to celebrating the achievements of women. For the occasion, Bata World News interviewed three longtime Bata executives who have climbed to the top of the ladder in their companies: Barbara Franceschetto, managing director of Bata Italy; Linet K... International Women s Day celebrates the economic, political and social achievements of women. In your experience as a successful woman, how Bata has helped to facilitate this? Kiguru: There have been many areas where Bata as a company has contributed significantly toward women's achievements. First, talent acquisition. Over the past decade and beyond, I have seen Bata recruit young, qualified career women into all departments, including merchandising, finance and IT. Second, through the Bata Children s Program and, by extension, sustainability, we have, for example, provided sanitary pads to schoolgoing girls, hence contributing to education and better hygiene. Third, speaking on behalf of several women in senior management, including myself, the organization has facilitated the development of our careers by providing opportunities for growth, training and cohesive peer teambuilding. Lastly, the Bata organization s structure is built on several positive cultural qualities, including that of gender equity. I personally cannot recall a time when performance was ever measured, adversely or otherwise, based on my gender. Franceschetto: Working in Bata means being part of a big family. The company has always focused on the value of people. Thomas J. Bata claimed: "We believe that the fundamental vitality and strength of our organization lies in our people," and it's just like that! If you prove to have the will, determination and aspiration to grow and get involved, Bata offers a wide range of career opportunities. Mier: During all these years working in Bata, the organization has contributed to my career, not only training me for the different positions that I ve held, but always giving me new challenges and opportunities that I accepted with a lot of motivation. What is your biggest influence or icon? Mier: I cannot say I have a favorite one, an "icon." I follow news and publications of some amazing women that for sure contribute to the gender, having been pioneers in their fields, such as Sheryl Sandberg and Anne-Marie Slaughter, but to be honest I also follow news about some excellent male executives. Talking about women, I admire women that are fighters in life in general, who have a combination of strength and positivism to face challenges. Bata gave me the opportunity to meet some great ones. From top executives in external meetings and training to woman in our stores to our Aquarella catalog sales team, there are tremendous stories of women succeeding despite adverse situations. I think this day is about all of them. Kiguru: Generally, I could say that the Bata work ethic nurtures creativity and has challenged me to think differently and outside the box to achieve results. Specifically, over the years my greatest impetus has come from working with a plethora of good leaders and managers. This was accompanied by my innate passion to nurture change in the products, systems and teams I have worked with, as well as being inspired by a father who believes that in life the sky is the limit. Franceschetto: I do not have a specific icon as a reference. Good influencers are all those people and experiences that somehow make you increase your knowledge and bring out the hidden potential within yourself, setting you in front of ambitious challenges and putting it to the test. Based on your own experience, what advice would you give to women considering pursuing a career in your field? Franceschetto: I believe the key ingredient for success, not only professionally, but in any field, is enthusiasm. In order to work with enthusiasm it is fundamental do something you really like. For this reason the advice I feel to give first is: Do what you like! Follow your dreams! And do it with all the passion and willpower you are capable of. These are the main requirements to reach any goal and feel less fatigue! Mier: I would say that in our field the world has changed quite a bit in the last years: there are many opportunities for woman

9 FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMEN S DAY, THOUGHTS FROM BATA WOMEN IN MANAGEMENT working in retail and even more in the fashion industry. Some advice would be: don t allow yourself to be locked in one box. Learn about everything, be well prepared, be courageous and enjoy what you are doing. Kiguru: In four words: "You can do it!"

10 BCP / SUSTAINABILITY BCP Thailand Honors Volunteers After a Successful Year The Bata Children s Program (BCP) Thailand recently showed appreciation for their volunteers with the support of Eugenio Olabe, country manager of Bata Thailand. Jan. 19 was designated as Volunteer Day at the company. The BCP committee held its first meeting of the year at the head office in Bangkok, and they recapped each of the six activities carried out in 2016 and their results. It was a fruitful year for the volunteers, who initiated new activities, such as tree planting, and saw for themselves the potential of BCP in the country. At the end of the meeting, the gathered group had a surprise visit from Olabe. He gave them words of encouragement and said he appreciated the energy and hard work they put into volunteering. He presented each committee member with a certificate to recognize their heartfelt efforts toward the growth of the program. The day was also an opportunity to welcome two new committee members: designer Vijittra Vi and Thanawat Wongkongpat, a new hire in the human resources department. They promise to be energetic and helpful BCP volunteers. I actually love to join in company activities, and this is a good opportunity to be a part of the BCP team. I will do my best, Vi said. The BCP team is looking forward to building on their past successes and continuing to explore opportunities to contribute through the program.

11 CORPORATE Bata Malaysia Holds Annual Chinese New Year Celebrations Chinese New Year is a time when all Malaysians come together to celebrate the nation s Chinese roots, and of course the first day of the Chinese lunar calendar, which this year honors the year of the Rooster. In keeping with tradition, Bata Malaysia celebrated the event on February 21, with a spectacular lion dance performance at Meara Bata in Selangor, as the lion is a symbol of power, wisdom and good fortune. After the lion dance performance, Bata staff then proceeded to the Qliq hotel in Damansara Verdana, where they enjoyed a traditional lunch. During the meal, Paolo Grassi, country manager of Bata Malaysia, spoke to those present about the company's hopes for the new year. Grassi commented: "According to the company s tradition we celebrate the Chinese New Year, as it is an auspicious occasion for a joyful celebration, and an opportunity for building closer ties between the team here at Bata Malaysia." Grassi then continued by highlighting his belief that Bata Malaysia is in a good position to achieve its vision and targets, and that in 2017, it will be able to surpass even the excellent results the company achieved in In keeping with the fun, festive spirit, the lunch also featured a variety of games for participants, such as a lion-dance competition, awards for best-dressed staff, as well as the celebration of several birthdays.

12 Powered by TCPDF ( MARKET TRENDS Bata Zimbabwe Focuses Attention on Loyalty Club Expansion In order to compete effectively in the marketplace and meet customer needs, it is vital to keep pace with current trends in terms of technology. To this end, Bata Zimbabwe has been developing its Bata Club loyalty program, which has the potential to give the company a sustainable competitive advanta... After passing 50,000 members last summer, Zimbabwe's Bata Club now boasts over 205,000 members. The company has found that the loyalty scheme is one of the most beneficial marketing tactics, and is helping not only to increase sales, but also develop a brand image that customers see as a community rather than a corporation. The program serves a dual function, as it incentivizes new clients to return after purchasing Bata products, and also ensures that existing loyal clients still feel valued. It is very likely that once a customer starts redeeming rewards, their enthusiasm rises. Bata Zimbabwe is taking advantage of this new opportunity to improve its sales and make an impact on the marketing strategies implemented by the company. The loyalty program is helping significantly with this endeavor, as it seeks to attract new customers and highlight the quality of Bata products. Constant engagement with customers also helps to improve customer service and ensure that Bata brands are at the top of consumers' minds when it comes to footwear. Takudzwa Brian Matongo, e-commerce and Bata Club coordinator for Zimbabwe, commented: The Bata Club has been a catalyst in increasing brand awareness, and we are very excited with the success we have had so far and the opportunity we have of expanding our membership base. We have learnt that, not only does a loyalty program provide a practical, hard reason for continuing to buy the accumulation of points toward a reward but it also provides information about the customers that allows their needs to be met more efficiently and effectively.