The Antal Group is born: italian excellence acquires the french company XPO
PADOVA / LA ROCHELLE, January 2026
Antal, a historic “Made in Italy” name in marine components, announces the birth of the Antal Group through the acquisition of XPO, the most authoritative technical and distribution partner on the French market.
The transaction is not only a financial move, but the natural evolution of an excellence rooted in family passion and mechanical mastery, now leading the Padova-based Company to operate directly in the beating heart of world sailing: France.
A direct technical dialogue: from the project to the desk The acquisition of XPO represents a paradigm shift in the Antal’s responsiveness.
Thanks to the La Rochelle headquarters and XPO’s longstanding expertise in the design of deck plans, Antal is no longer limited to supplying components, but increasingly becomes a strategic adviser active from the earliest phases of designing a vessel.
The merger ensures a “direct grip” on the French market — which today is home to the world’s leading sailing-yacht manufacturers — by providing, even more than in the past:
La fusione garantisce una “presa diretta” sul mercato francese — che oggi esprime i principali produttori di yacht a vela al mondo — assicurando, ancora di più di quanto già non fosse nel passato:
For Shipyards: an immediate technical interface for the development of custom solutions, reducing the time between prototyping and series production
For Customers: Broader after-sales support and technical consultancy, supported by the La Rochelle logistics hub, which ensures timely deliveries and interventions
Range synergies: Integration with Karver products and those in XPO’s retail portfolio (Tylaska, Furlerboom, Allen, Ropeye, Protect Tape and Clamcleat) enables the group to offer complete deck-equipment packages, optimized for every type of vessel, from ocean racers to superyachts.
The mentorship of a legend: Xavier Phélipon
XPO will continue to be led within the new group by its founder, Xavier Phélipon. A reference of French sailing — with a track record spanning from the America’s Cup with French Kiss to the Seoul Olympic Games — Phélipon has for decades been Antal’s technical right-hand man in France. His decision to remain as CEO and mentor provides the Antal group with technical continuity and an unparalleled depth of relationships.
Statements
ANTAL – Enrico GOMIERO (CHAIRMAN):
«Antal has always had a family spirit and what we are doing is honoring this legacy. Xavier has never been only a commercial partner; he is an integral part of our history. By working for years with Roberto Carraro, he helped create the Antal range by sailing and testing each piece. With him at our side, we are taking the first step toward a consolidation that sees us ready to write a new chapter, combining Italian quality with the momentum of international markets.»
XPO – Xavier PHÉLIPON (CEO):
«My relationship with the Carraro founding family has always made me feel at home. When I met Enrico, I found the same human approach combined with a modern strategic and managerial vision. Taking a step back in ownership in order to take a step forward in development was the right choice. Together with Antal and Karver, we are creating a synergistic and innovative entity with no precedent in the history of the sector.»
Antal : A story of family and innovation that conquers the océans
Antal’s history is the classic narrative of the finest Italian entrepreneurial genius. Founded in 1977 by Gastone Carraro, the company has been able to combine the know-how of a foundry established in 1950 with the precision of applied mechanics and a visceral love for the sea. For more than 45 years, under the leadership of the Carraro family, Antal has been the “forge of champions”, developing technical solutions capable of winning the toughest races around the globe.
Today, that same passion continues to live through the synergistic bond between two families, Gomiero and Bruno, who have chosen to invest in the brand with a shared approach: preserving the company’s family spirit while equipping it with a multinational structure. The strong managerial vision of Enrico Gomiero (built over years of experience in multinational groups) and the industrial solidity of Renato Bruno (a global player with the Bruno Generators Group) represent the pairing that today increasingly launches Antal in its climb up the global ranks.
With a widespread network in 21 countries and collaborations with the most prestigious Italian and international shipyards, the Antal Group today offers a complete catalogue of deck equipment. From small leisure boats to the most sophisticated superyachts, every Antal component carries with it the story of a company that has evolved from a workshop of excellence to a leading group, without ever ceasing to breathe in the scent of the sea
Source : ANTAL
