Translink Corporate Finance teams in Poland and Italy advised Kotniz (Białystok, Poland) – a leading European producer of stainless steel and aluminum components for sailing boats, motor yachts, and mega-yachts – on the acquisition of a majority stake in Metalstyle, a company based in Carasco (Genoa, Italy), active in providing stainless steel and aluminum solutions for the nautical sector.

This strategically significant acquisition will foster close collaboration between Kotniz and Metalstyle, two privately owned companies with a long- standing presence in the marine sector. By sharing experience and best practices, they will expand their product offerings and customer base.

To ensure business continuity, the current management, led by Luca Biagi, Commercial & General Manager, will be retained. In recent years, Biagi has enabled Metalstyle to carve out an important role as a partner of major players in the shipbuilding industry.

Through this transaction, Kotniz’ objective is to leverage substantial growth prospects by extending production and customer reach into Western Europe. At the same time, Kotniz intends to capitalise on Metalstyle’s established relationships, expertise, and know-how in catering to the Italian market.

Having analysed the notable achievements and strategic market position of Metalstyle, Kotniz is confident in the substantial value and potential synergies that joint partnership could unlock.

Sebastian Nietupski, CEO and owner of Kotniz, said, “Finalising this transaction and entering the Italian market is a key milestone in Kotniz’s growth strategy, establishing the “Golden Marine Triangle” (Poland, Portugal, Italy). The partnership unlocks significant growth potential, operational synergies, and a strong European presence. I deeply value the professionalism and commitment of the Translink team, who expertly guided the process from identifying targets to the smooth execution of the transaction and the securing of favourable financing. What I appreciated most was the collaboration between the Italian and Polish teams, which was crucial in navigating cultural and business differences.”

This merger creates a group with a total revenue of €33 million, 475 employees, and five state of the art plants across Europe, covering an area of over 17.5 thousand square meters and producing over 200,000 products annually. The strategic goal is to reach total revenue of €50 million in five years, establishing a stable platform for future development and a solid network of suppliers spread across the region.

Maciej Cieślak, Managing Partner at Translink Poland, said, “I am very pleased that after eight months of intense and trustworthy collaboration, we successfully guided Kotniz in acquiring Metalstyle. This strategic acquisition will foster close cooperation between these two long-established, privately-owned marine industry leaders. The transaction reaffirms our capability to support family businesses in international expansion through high-value acquisitions, achieved through full mutual trust, commitment, and the owners’ courageous decision to reach this significant milestone.”

“At Translink, we prioritise win-win deals. This transaction not only opens up significant growth opportunities for both companies, but also strengthens the joint Group’s ability to navigate current macroeconomic challenges. With strong growth in the European marine sector over the past two years, and potential future market volatility, this collaboration will help build a more stable and resilient Group. The Italian market, with its rich tradition and local expertise, is becoming an increasingly attractive option for foreign investors,” Matteo Paggi, Managing Partner at Translink Italy, added.