La Sportiva S.p.A. and Samsung Cheil to Partner On New Apparel Line

La Sportiva S.p.A., a leader in outdoor footwear, and Samsung Cheil Industries, a division of Samsung, a global leader in electronic materials, chemicals and apparel, announced today a partnership to globally distribute a new technical, outdoor apparel line under the La Sportiva trademark.

“We are excited to enter the technical apparel business with such a strong partner as Samsung”, says Lorenzo Delladio, CEO of La Sportiva S.p.A. “By launching the new apparel line in one of our most robust Asian markets, we look forward to further establishing La Sportiva’s brand presence in Korea. This expansion will facilitate increased brand visibility and accessibility across international market categories. It will also strengthen our global business model and branding message by providing an increased winter market presence to complement our well established summer business.”

The partnership combines La Sportiva’s depth of knowledge and experience in the outdoor industry with Samsung Cheil Industries’ resources and expertise in apparel research, development and manufacturing. La Sportiva will distribute this line of apparel through its international network of distributors and Samsung Cheil Industries in an effort to bring a premium line of technical apparel to the global marketplace. Through their partnership, Samsung Cheil Industries will acquire the licensing rights for this new apparel line in Korea. In addition, Samsung Cheil Industries becomes the sole authorized importer and distributor of La Sportiva branded footwear for the Korean market. Samsung Cheil Industries plans to open its first La Sportiva retail stores throughout Korea starting in 2011.

“It’s an exciting new form of business. It is our goal to bring the premium brand image that La Sportiva has established in technical footwear to the outdoor apparel category”, says Kim Sang Hyoun, Vice-President of Samsung Cheil Industries.

Building on the success of the technical footwear line in the US, La Sportiva N.A. will help to drive the direction of the global line. “The product will align with the La Sportiva brand in terms of function and use, excelling in technical mountain terrain, style and durability,“ explains Jonathan Lantz, President of La Sportiva N.A. “We are currently engaged in R&D and extensive testing of the products with the goal of debuting the line to retailers in the Fall of 2011 or Spring of 2012.”

ABOUT LA SPORTIVA

Celebrating their 82nd anniversary in 2010, La Sportiva brings a strong alpine mountaineering and climbing heritage to their line of performance footwear. This core experience enables La Sportiva to offer the most versatile technical climbing, mountaineering, Mountain Running® and trail sport shoes on the market. For more information on La Sportiva visit www.lasportiva.com.

ABOUT SAMSUNG CHEIL INDUSTRIES

In 1954, SCI was founded as a wool textile company and played a role as one of the mother companies of Samsung Group. History of SCI is the history of Korean textile industry and SCI has extended its business areas from textile to fashion covering from men’s wear to sports casual since 1980’s. SCI’s Key license brands are Nina Ricci of PUIG Group, Theory of Fast Retailing Group, Pal Zileri of Gruppo Forall, Mango and 10 Corso Como. SCI has taken various approaches to fashion business; sponsored SFDF(Samsung Fashion & Design Fund), running Milano and Shanghai subsidiaries, New York and Tokyo office. To take a leap to the future, SCI expanded its business to chemical and electronic materials. For more information on SCI, please visit www.cii.samsung.com.