La Sportiva North America announced today the consummation of an agreement to purchase the assets of La Sportiva USA from The North Face, Inc. of San Leandro, California. Colin Lantz, Heinz Mariacher, and Ed Sampson, the principals of La Sportiva USA prior to its 1998 sale to the North Face, formed La Sportiva North America in May 2000 in order to repurchase the assets of La Sportiva USA. La Sportiva North America plans to continue the import and distribution of La Sportiva brand footwear in North America.

La Sportiva S.p.A., one of the leaders in Mountain Specialty Footwear, manufactures high-quality mountaineering, climbing, backpacking and hiking footwear in the Dolomite Mountains of northern Italy. La Sportiva North America will be the sole distributor of La Sportiva branded footwear for Canada, U.S.A., and Mexico.

La Sportiva North America plans a seamless transition with no interruption in service to the existing network of authorized La Sportiva retail dealers and intends to continue basing its operations in Boulder, Colorado.

Immediate changes include the hiring of a new sales force and independent exhibition at the Outdoor Retailer Show (booth #901) in Salt Lake City, Utah this coming August. The company strives to provide industry leading customer service and product delivery from its warehouse and headquarters in Boulder.