Building Air Services, Inc.
HVAC · Pinellas Park, Pinellas County · Founded 1999
About the company
Pinellas Park-based commercial HVAC-R contractor providing service, preventive maintenance and building automation controls for commercial air conditioning, heating and refrigeration systems. It had operated for about 20 years at the time of sale and served national retail and logistics accounts including Dollar Tree, Petco, AutoNation, Office Depot, FedEx and GNC across nine states from Florida to Arizona.
Ownership history
What changed after the sale
CoolSys CEO Adam Coffey said Building Air 'shares our commitment to putting customers' needs first.' Building Air CEO Steve Boose said 'our customers will now have access to the expanded range of value-added services that CoolSys offers nationwide.' CoolSys folded the business into its light-commercial HVAC-R division and used it as its Southeast regional base; the Building Air Services consumer brand did not survive as a standalone identity.
Only sourced observations are listed. Customers and employees can add what they saw.
Who really profits
Money paid to Building Air Services, Inc. now flows to CoolSys, Inc. (Brea, CA), and from there to its investors — Ares Management Corporation — whose funds are ultimately owed returns by their limited partners. Ares Management-backed national commercial refrigeration and HVAC-R services platform serving multi-site retail, grocery and logistics customers. It rolls up regional commercial HVAC-R service contractors and integrates them into national divisions rather than preserving local brands. Building Air Services of Pinellas Park was bought in October 2019 to strengthen its light-commercial division and give it a Southeast regional base.
Read more: why prices rise after a sale · debt, exits and the 5-year clock.
Frequently asked
Who owns Building Air Services, Inc.?
Building Air Services, Inc. is owned by CoolSys, Inc., a private-equity platform headquartered in Brea, CA, whose capital has come from Ares Management Corporation. The sale was announced October 9, 2019; the original brand was retired.
Is Building Air Services, Inc. private equity owned?
Yes. Building Air Services, Inc. is part of CoolSys, Inc., which is backed by Ares Management Corporation. See the buyer profile for the capital structure.
Is Building Air Services, Inc. locally owned?
Not in the sense most homeowners mean. Control sits with CoolSys, Inc. in Brea, CA.
When was Building Air Services, Inc. sold?
October 9, 2019 (announcement date).
Did Building Air Services, Inc. change its name after the sale?
Yes — the brand was retired or merged (see notes and sources).
Sources Verified — primary document
- CoolSys (2019-10-09) — platform site. Buyer's own release; Pinellas Park HQ, 20 years, client list, nine-state territory, Coffey and Boose quotes
- ACHR News (2019-10-11) — trade press. Trade coverage; CoolSys HQ Brea, California
- PE Hub (2019-10-10) — news. Identifies CoolSys as Ares Management-backed
- ACHR News (2021-01-01) — trade press. Industry mergers directory entry: 'In 2019, Building Air Services was acquired by CoolSys' — Pinellas Park, Fla.
Researcher notes: Founded year derived from CoolSys's statement that the company had operated for 20 years as of 2019 — approximate.
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