SWAT acquires Mississippi petrochemical maintenance company

(Photography by Don Kadair) Johnny Holifield, SWAT founder

Gonzales-based industrial services company Specialty Welding and Turnarounds LLC has bought a Mississippi petrochemical maintenance business with international offices.

Specialty Welding and Turnarounds acquired Hydroprocessing Associates LLC for an undisclosed price.

Both companies have offices in California and Texas. Hydroprocessing Associates also has offices in Washington state, Germany, Singapore and Brazil.

Hydroprocessing Associates, based in Moss Point, Mississippi, is the first acquisition for Specialty Welding and Turnarounds since New York private equity firm Orix Capital Partners bought a majority stake in the company in January.

Hydroprocessing Associates was founded in 2005 to service petrochemical plant catalysts and reactors. Customers include Chevron, BP, Citgo, Phillips 66 and ExxonMobil. The company has at least 65 employees, according to its LinkedIn profile.

The deal includes subsidiary Breathing Systems Inc., which makes helmets to protect safety inspectors from airborne hazardous chemicals.

“We will now be able to provide high quality catalyst-handling services,” CEO Johnny Holifield said in a statement.

Specialty Welding and Turnarounds, with more than 200 employees and 4,000 contract professionals, operates in 14 states.