Groupe SEB Takes Full Control of Maharaja Whiteline

Regulatory News:

Groupe SEB (Paris:SK) is pleased to announce that an agreement has been finalized with its Indian partner to acquire the remaining 45% stake of Maharaja Whiteline. After the acquisition of 55% of the capital in December 2011, Groupe SEB will thus hold 100% of the company.

This full acquisition confirms Groupe SEB’s ambition to expand in India and quickly accelerate Maharaja Whiteline’s growth especially via a strong pipeline of innovative products, supported by Groupe SEB’s world-known expertise, and a strengthened relationship with its distribution partners.

Mr Sunil Wadhwa, who was formerly CEO and Managing Director of Usha International Ltd, will remain Chief Executive Officer.

About Maharaja Whiteline:

Created in 1976 and developed by Harish Kumar, Maharaja Whiteline has its roots in northern and western India. It is one of the major players, with a portfolio covering several families of small domestic appliances. In particular, Maharaja Whiteline is an established brand name in mixer grinders and juicer mixer grinders. Backed by a network of 500 distributors, Maharaja Whiteline is present in over 26,000 sales outlets. The company operates a plant in Baddi, Himachal Pradesh and employs around 350 people.

www.groupeseb.com

The world leader in small domestic equipment, Groupe SEB operates in nearly 150 countries with a unique portfolio of top brands including Tefal, Rowenta, Moulinex, Krups, Lagostina, All-Clad, and Supor, marketed through multi format retailing. Selling some 200 million products a year, it deploys a long-term strategy focused on innovation, international development, competitiveness and service to clients. Groupe SEB has nearly 25,000 employees worldwide.