New shareholder invests in Arcoa Yachts

Shipyard to expand manufacturing site and relaunch ACM brand after $2.5m (€2m) capital injection by shareholders.

French yacht builder Arcoa has plans to expands its shipyard and re-launch the ACM brand alongside new models in the next couple of years, following a capital injection of over $2.5m (€2m) made by financial company DLJ, which acquired the shipyard in September last year.
DLJ holding is also involved in the hotel industry, cosmetics, textiles and distribution sectors.

Philippe Guglielmetti, chairman and CEO of Arcoa, told French online daily Le Journal des Entreprises that it plans to recruit 67 people by 2014. It also seeks to expand its shipyard and develop new models.

Arcoa has spent the last two years re-structuring the company and outsourcing some of its manufacturing, in a move to cope with the economic climate.

Funds provided by Arcoa’s new shareholders have also been set aside to extend its shipyard in Britany’s Lorient, by 1,500m2. The project, worth $1.9m (€1.5m), is expected to be completed by summer 2012 and operational by summer 2013.

The new manufacturing site will allow Arcoa to repatriate outsourced activities such as production of composite parts manufactured at Catlantech and hulls manufactured by Alliaura.

Two new models are in the pipeline for 2012. The yacht builder is preparing to relaunch ACM brand with the 16m Veloce 53, of which Guglielmetti said it plans to build eight per year.

Designed by Argentinean naval architect Exequiel-Cano Lanza, this yacht is set to be unveiled at the Cannes boat show in September. In 2014, a new 86 feet yacht will be presented at the same show.