Former Olympic sailor, Enrico Chieffi is the new CEO of Slam

Milan, 6th August 2021 – VAM Investments, a private equity holding company specialised in buyouts and growth capital controlled by Francesco Trapani, helmed by CEO and shareholder Marco Piana and participated in by Tages, has just completed its acquisition of household Italian sportswear brand SLAM S.p.A., a Genovese company founded in 1979 that produces high-quality, technical fabrics and apparel designed for sailing.

Vam Investments has nominated Enrico Chieffi as Slam's new Chief Executive Officer. Chieffi, who will also be entering into the company as a shareholder, represented Italy in the Olympics during the Los Angeles games in 1984, taking part in the 470 class. The following year, he won the world title in the same class. Enrico was tactician onboard the Moro di Venezia for the 28th edition of the America's Cup in San Diego (USA) in 1992, winning the Louis Vuitton Cup. After returning to racing in the Olympic classes, he won the Star class world title in 1996. Two years later, Chieffi began developing a managerial career on land, while still playing an active role in the yachting world, first as Vice President of Nautor's Swan and now as a Senior Advisor. He has also continued to compete in regattas, and win, throughout these years, claiming the European Star class championship a few months ago in May this year. Enrico Chieffi, supported by the company's new financial and strategic partner, is now at the helm of a new phase of development and growth for Slam, aimed at unleashing the brand's true potential, a potential that has remained dormant over the last few years.

Since its creation in 1979, the Slam brand has become a world-renowned name when it comes to technical, innovative, high-performing products that stand out for their unmistakable style tailored to athletes and sea enthusiasts. Over time, Slam has been chosen by many champion athletes, teams and yacht clubs as their strategic partner and sponsor: in 2005, Russell Coutts, the world's number one sailor, became the face of the company and provided key support in the development of key, innovative products using cutting-edge fabrics; in 2010, Coutts and Slam won the America's Cup with BMW Oracle Racing while in 2012 the yachting world's eyes shifted to the Volvo Ocean Race, where Slam partnered with Franck Cammas on Groupama, achieving another important victory in the famous race around the world, considered to be one of the most gruelling challenges on the planet. Slam is also technical partner for sailors of many nationalities across Olympic classes such as the 49ers and Nacra 17 along with Paralympians including Davide Di Maria in the 2.4 category. Slam is currently partnered with the Yacht Club de Monaco, has continued to collaborate for a long time with the Costa Smeralda Yacht Club as official licensee for the brands Maxi Yacht and Swan Cup; Slam is also technical partner for the Young Azzurra project and for a number of the Mediterranean's most prestigious regattas such as the Rolex Giraglia and the Rolex Capri Sailing Week.

Enrico Chieffi, new Chief Executive Officer of SLAM.com: "in a way, as is the case for all sailors of my generation, I grew up with SLAM. An Italian brand that can count on worldwide recognition and respect, having clothed athletes taking part in the sailing world's most important challenges, from the Olympics to the America's Cup to racing around the world. It is truly an honour for me to become a part of this company with the aim to achieve what this brand and this company deserve to achieve. I am also immensely proud to stay on as Senior Advisor at the Nautor Group, a place I have called home for 23 years of my professional career, a career that, alongside my previous experience as a professional sailor, has defined my story across the world of sailing".

Marco Piana, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of VAM Investments: "We are thrilled to see this operation take place because Slam is a crown jewel of Italian industry that has made history when it comes to technical sportswear tailored to sailors, a brand that is to this day an iconic name, synonymous with quality and innovation".

Raffaele Negri, Finsea: "Slam has always been a project we have felt a strong attachment to, being ourselves entrepreneurs, fans of sailing and from Genoa; for a while we had been looking for a partner that could develop its potential even further and effectively build on what has already been achieved so far. We are certain that VAM Investments is the best example of this".