USJ-IMECO Completes RAACI Acquisition

Affiliates of USJ-IMECO Holding Company, LLC, a portfolio company of J.F. Lehman & Company (JFLCO), announced the acquisition of Robichaux Automation and Control, Inc. (RAACI). RAACI designs, assembles and integrates electrical, control and automation systems for commercial and government vessels. The company’s core systems and product offerings include a range of proprietary ship control, alarm, monitoring, propulsion, switchboard and power management systems as well as other advanced marine technologies. The company is headquartered just outside New Orleans.

USJ-IMECO is an independent provider of turnkey marine joiner, distributed and electro-mechanical systems and solutions for government and commercial customers involved in new ship construction and vessel maintenance, repair and overhaul. Headquartered in Crozet, Va. and Iron Mountain, Mich., the company employs approximately 600 people across the United States. USJ and IMECO were acquired by J.F. Lehman & Company in 2011 and 2012, respectively, and later combined into a single platform that has completed five strategic acquisitions adding both capability and geographic reach.

Tom Eccles, Chief Executive Officer of USJ-IMECO, said, " The addition of RAACI adds a highly complementary set of engineered electrical, control and automation solutions and capabilities to the USJ-IMECO platform which will ultimately allow us to better serve our customers. This acquisition also strengthens our presence in the U.S. Gulf Coast region and improves our ability to support shipyards serving the oil and gas market."

Former owners Trudy and Dennis Robichaux will continue to play key roles leading the RAACI division of USJ-IMECO. Mr. Robichaux stated, “Trudy and I believe the combination of USJ-IMECO and RAACI is in the best interest of our employees and our customers. We’ve found a true business partner in USJ-IMECO and JFLCO with extremely deep contacts and resources in the markets we serve.”

Blank Rome and Jones Day provided legal counsel to USJ-IMECO.