Gator Air Conditioning
HVAC · Sarasota, Sarasota County
About the company
Residential and light-commercial HVAC contractor with more than two decades of service in the Sarasota, Bradenton and Tampa markets, led by president James Romagnola. Services included heating, cooling and indoor air quality testing backed by a six-month guarantee.
Ownership history
- Acquisition Del-Air Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical (backed by Astara Capital Partners)
What changed after the sale
Del-Air CEO Rick Rogers said the expanded presence 'strengthens our footprint across Florida.' President James Romagnola said the combination would 'broaden our opportunities and serve more people,' indicating leadership continuity. Del-Air is majority-owned by Astara Capital Partners. Sell-side advisor JTW Advisors announced the deal separately in February 2025.
Only sourced observations are listed. Customers and employees can add what they saw.
Who really profits
Money paid to Gator Air Conditioning now flows to Del-Air Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical (Sanford, FL), and from there to its investors — Astara Capital Partners — whose funds are ultimately owed returns by their limited partners. Central Florida's largest single-brand residential HVAC contractor, employee-owned through an ESOP for roughly 20 years before Astara Capital Partners recapitalized it in November 2022 as the first platform investment out of Astara's newly raised fund, leaving the company debt-free. Del-Air runs seven Florida locations including Tampa, and unlike the multi-brand roll-ups it expands by folding acquisitions into the Del-Air name (for example Gator Air Conditioning in 2025 and Simpson Air). Astara installed a new CEO (Rick Rogers) and COO (Faizzy Saghir) at close.
Capital events at the platform level: 2022-11-08 recap — Astara Capital Partners completes an investment in Del-Air, its first platform out of a newly raised fund; the ~20-year ESOP is bought out and the company emerges debt-free. Rick Rogers named CEO, Faizzy Saghir COO..
Read more: why prices rise after a sale · debt, exits and the 5-year clock.
Same owner, different name
Other Tampa Bay brands controlled by Del-Air Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical. Getting a "second opinion" from one of these is not a second opinion.
Simpson Air
Frequently asked
Who owns Gator Air Conditioning?
Gator Air Conditioning is owned by Del-Air Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical, a private-equity platform headquartered in Sanford, FL, whose capital has come from Astara Capital Partners. The sale was announced February 21, 2025; the company still operates under its original name.
Is Gator Air Conditioning private equity owned?
Yes. Gator Air Conditioning is part of Del-Air Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical, which is backed by Astara Capital Partners. See the buyer profile for the capital structure.
Is Gator Air Conditioning locally owned?
Not in the sense most homeowners mean. Control sits with Del-Air Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical in Sanford, FL, although the local brand name is still used.
When was Gator Air Conditioning sold?
February 21, 2025 (announcement date).
Did Gator Air Conditioning change its name after the sale?
No. Keeping the acquired brand name is standard practice for platforms; it preserves customer trust and reviews while ownership changes behind it.
Sources Verified — primary document
- PR Newswire (2025-02-21) — press release. Date, Sarasota/Bradenton/Tampa markets, 20+ years, James Romagnola, Astara ownership, quotes
- PR Newswire (2025-02-04) — press release. Sell-side advisor announcement of the same transaction
- Del-Air (2025-03-05) — company site. Buyer's own post about the acquisition
- Contracting Business (2025-02-24) — trade press. Trade coverage
Researcher notes: The advisor release (Feb 4) predates the platform release (Feb 21); the deal record uses the platform announcement date.
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