HZ info,The acquisition revives a historic Italian brand that revolutionized the industry and meets the expectations of the most demanding consumers with a proposal that combines design and healthy living.

Promoting Italian craftsmanship and national industry while safeguarding a brand that has shaped the history of decorative finishes: with this objective, San Marco Group has acquired Oikos, a company of excellence based in Romagna that now joins Italy’s leading group in the production of architectural paints and coatings.

The transaction, finalized through a definitive award in a public auction held at the Tribunal of Forlì, marks a turning point after a prolonged period of difficulty for the Gatteo Mare (FC)-based company. It is part of a growth strategy that positions San Marco Group as a key player in the national market. The Group, which closed 2025 with revenues of €127.3 million, up 4% compared to 2024, further strengthens its ability to serve premium and decorative segments in Italy, where it operates four production facilities. Internationally, the Group already has subsidiaries in the USA, Germany and Norway, as well as production sites in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Russia.

Founded in 1984, Oikos pioneered the transformation of paint from a purely technical product into a design element. The company distinguished itself by elevating decorative wall finishes from an artisanal niche to an organized industrial system, codifying replicable effects and training entire generations of applicators. In the 1990s, Oikos achieved unprecedented success with the launch of Multidecor, a revolutionary product capable of recreating wallpaper-like effects. The company also educated the market through the creation of “Decor Centers”: specialized hubs with a recognizable format and dedicated services that generated margin and added value.

“This acquisition stems from our determination to protect the excellence of Italian manufacturing from those who merely ‘shop’ in Italy without the intention of preserving the identity and extraordinary know-how that define us,” said Pietro Geremia, President and CEO of San Marco Group. “Oikos has a distinguished history that deserves respect and promotion. Our priority today is to thoroughly assess every asset in order to build a relaunch plan based on industrial, organizational and procurement synergies aimed at creating medium- and long-term value. We want to convey maximum confidence to stakeholders, customers and suppliers: Oikos once again becomes part of a serious, solid and fully Italian industrial project.”

The Romagna-based company will undergo a revitalization process designed to unlock its full potential. The strategy will continue to place strong emphasis on indoor health and living well-being—historical pillars of the brand—which, starting from a distinctive range of water-based solutions, has built a strong and recognizable identity in the world of Healthy & Sustainable Interior Living.

The acquisition is consistent with San Marco Group’s multi-brand model, which integrates distinct and complementary identities to serve different target segments without overlap. The newly acquired company will maintain its dedicated commercial structure and entirely Italian production at its Gatteo Mare (FC) facility, employing approximately 100 people and serving more than 50 countries worldwide. At the peak of its success, Oikos achieved revenues of €36 million and worked with over 600 customers.

KPMG assisted San Marco Group in the transaction with a team composed of Federico Bonanni (Partner), Mirella Mori (Senior Manager) and Sara Zambolin (Senior Consultant). The company was also supported by the law firm Gianni & Origoni, with a team led by Partner Luigi Maraghini Garrone for M&A matters, involving Partner Luca Jeantet for restructuring aspects and Partner Emanuele Panattoni for labour-related matters.