Saeco International Group Appoints Mark Buss as President/CEO & General Manager - Americas

Gaggio Montano, Italy - December 1, 2008 - Saeco International Group announces the appointment of Mark J.
Buss to the newly created position of President/CEO & General Manager-Americas.

This position has been created to capture and capitalize on the growing synergies of the United States, Canada,
Brazil and Argentina where Saeco has strong subsidiaries whose leaders will report to Buss, along with the group’s
vibrant export markets in the region. Mr. Buss will work out of the Saeco USA headquarters in Cleveland, Ohio.

“This will give our side of the Atlantic a single voice with our European counterparts which will help to accelerate
our growth potential,” said Buss who also noted that his appointment “…is one of a series of recent geographic
realignments of the Saeco worldwide leadership team, reflecting the growing importance of the company’s
business growth strategies beyond its very strong European base.”

Mark Buss was previously President, MB Consulting a firm he founded in January 2005 specializing in domestic
and international expansion. Mr. Buss has more than 25 years of experience in consumer products including sales,
marketing, business development, strategic planning, M&A, and manufacturing finance. His global business career
encompasses Consumer Products (Durables and Personal Care), Housewares, OTC Pharmaceuticals, Tobacco
and Wine. Previously, he was Vice President, International at Hamilton Beach Brands, from 1997 to 2004 and was
Vice President, Business Development for Seymour Housewares Company from 1993 to 1997. Buss held various
general management roles with Bristol-Myers Squibb in Europe, from 1985 to 1993 and was with Philip Morris Cos.
Inc., from 1979 to 1985. He is Past President-Housewares Export Council of North America of the International
Housewares Association from 2001-2004. Mr. Buss was appointed to the Board of Directors of the small appliance
market innovator EuroPro headquartered in West Newton, Massachusetts in August of 2007 and is on the Gerson
Lehrman Group’s Council of Experts in their Consumer Goods and Services area.

For more information call Saeco at 1-440-528-2000 ext.105