HII Expands Shipbuilding Capacity, Announcing Intent to Acquire South Carolina Advanced Metal Fabricator

(Goose-Creek-SC-Aerial. Photo provided.)

HII (NYSE: HII) said it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire substantially all of the assets of W International SC, LLC and Vivid Empire SC, LLC, a South Carolina-based complex metal fabricator specializing in the manufacture of shipbuilding structures, modules and assemblies.

Upon completion of the transaction, the manufacturing facility in Goose Creek, South Carolina, will operate within HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS) division.

Officials said the site will support the construction of nuclear-powered submarine and aircraft carrier modules and structures for U.S. Navy programs.

Substantially all current employees will be offered positions with HII to continue to work on site, the officials said.

“HII is committed to increasing build rates for our Navy customer, and this investment in capacity alongside the Navy will help us do that,” HII President and CEO Chris Kastner said.

The acquired assets include advanced production facilities with state-of-the-art equipment, tooling and infrastructure used to fabricate complex metal modules and structures, and are located on a leased 45-acre site with more than 480,000 square feet of manufacturing space.

The site has barge and rail access, and is located near Charleston.

The facility in Goose Creek will be known as Newport News Shipbuilding – Charleston Operations, operating within HII’s Newport News Shipbuilding division.

Current NNS Vice President and Chief Transformation Officer Matt Needy will become general manager of the site.

NNS is the nation’s designer, builder and refueler of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and one of only two shipyards capable of designing and building nuclear‐powered submarines.

The transaction is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2024, subject to the satisfaction of certain closing conditions, including receipt of regulatory approvals and required contractual modifications from its Navy customer and other third parties.

NUPI Americas Expanding Hampton County Operations

NUPI Americas Inc., a plastic fabrication company, said it is expanding its operations in Hampton County.

The company's $7 million investment will create 30 jobs, according to Gov. Henry McMaster's office.

Part of Nupi Industrie Italiane S.p.A., NUPI specializes in the manufacturing, sales, and marketing of NIRON, ELOFIT, and SMARTFLEX branded multi-layer plastic pipes and associated fittings for hot water, cold water and gasoline.

The company is based in Texas and established a warehouse and operations center in Early Branch in 2016.

Located at 314 Commerce Parkway in Early Branch, NUPI will double the size of its existing facility, expanding production capability with additional tooling and an expanded production area.

Operations are expected to be online in 2028. Those interested in joining NUPI should contact Sandra Garcia ([email protected]).  

The state's Coordinating Council for Economic Development approved job development credits related to the project.

Blue Vista Partners with Clarion to Acquire 2,787-Bed Student Housing Portfolio

Blue Vista Capital Management, LLC, a Chicago-based real estate investment management firm, in partnership with Clarion Partners, LLC, announced the acquisition of a four-property student housing portfolio from Columbus Pacific Group.  

The portfolio consists of four Class-A student housing communities totaling 855 units and serving students at Pennsylvania State University, College of Charleston, and Texas A&M University.

The properties will be managed by Blue Vista affiliate PeakMade Real Estate, one of the largest private student housing management and development companies in the U.S.

“This portfolio reflects Blue Vista’s student housing strategy of pursuing high-quality, in-demand accommodations at top-tier universities with growing student populations,” said Jason Schwartz, managing principal and co-head of Blue Vista’s Equity Group.

Details regarding the properties include:

At the College of Charleston, a 94-unit purpose-built student housing property offers 309-beds and ground floor retail located in Charleston, South Carolina.

The property consists of a 10-story building located less than half of a mile from campus, and features Class-A finishes and amenities including a pool, fitness center, dog spa and games room.

Since its founding in 2003, Blue Vista has acquired and/or developed over $3.8 billion in student housing properties, representing over 40,000 beds and approximately 90 properties across the U.S. and Canada.

The portfolio transaction was brokered by TSB Realty, with debt placement services provided by TSB Capital Advisors.

Vincent J. Delie, Jr. Named CEO of the Year

Vincent J. Delie, Jr., chairman, president and chief executive officer of F.N.B. Corporation (NYSE: FNB) and First National Bank, was named CEO of the Year by global business media outlet The CEO Magazine as part of its 2024 Executive of the Year Awards.

Delie is the first U.S. CEO to win the award.

Delie was selected as CEO of the Year from a pool of more than 500 nominees representing a swath of industries.

In announcing Delie as the winner, The CEO Magazine cited his commitment to shareholder value creation and strategic guidance in growing FNB into one of the 50 largest bank holding companies in the U.S.

During his tenure, FNB has expanded to serve seven states, including South Carolina, and Washington, D.C.; produced sustained revenue growth and greater profitability; and increased its market capitalization by nearly six times.

The company also has won more than 70 national and regional workplace and culture excellence awards, including as one of Newsweek's America's Most Admired Workplaces for 2025.

Named by Time as one of the World's Best Companies, FNB has appeared on rankings of the World's Most Influential and Innovative Companies and America's Best Banks, and has received global awards for its digital initiatives from organizations such as FinTech Futures and Celent.

Most recently, Forbes named FNB to its inaugural lists of America's Best and Most Trusted Companies.

F.N.B. Corporation, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, is a diversified financial services company operating in seven states and the District of Columbia.

FNB's market coverage spans several major metropolitan areas, including: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Baltimore, Maryland; Cleveland, Ohio; Washington, D.C.; Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham and the Piedmont Triad (Winston-Salem, Greensboro and High Point) in North Carolina; and Charleston, South Carolina.

The company has total assets of $48 billion and approximately 350 banking offices throughout Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington, D.C. and Virginia.

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