Acquisitionreported
Aquila Investment Group buys Sarasota's Success Group International from Direct Energy
What happened. Direct Energy sold Success Group International, the Sarasota-based best-practices and buying organization for independent residential contractors, to Aquila Investment Group, a vehicle formed by former Direct Energy/Clockwork executive Rebecca Cassel with her husband Lon Cassel plus SGI member-contractor and employee investors. SGI comprises AirTime 500 (HVAC), Plumbers' Success International, Electricians' Success International and Roofers' Success International. Direct Energy had acquired SGI as part of its 2010 purchase of Sarasota-based Clockwork Home Services. Trade coverage said the Sarasota headquarters and existing staff stayed in place and members kept the same training, pricing guides, management systems and SuccessWare 21 access. Terms were not disclosed. A follow-up ACHR News item in May 2014 described the AirTime 500 division specifically as sold to executive and member investors.
Parties
- Company
- Success Group International · Sarasota, Sarasota County
- Buyer
- Aquila Investment Group
- Price
- Not disclosed
The name on the truckSuccess Group International
Sarasota, Sarasota County
Operating ownerAquila Investment Group
Sarasota, FL
What this kind of deal tends to mean for customers and staff: pricing · sales pressure · technicians · the exit clock.
Sources Reported — credible press
- ACHR News (2014-04-25) — trade press. Primary announcement.
- Plumbing & Mechanical (2014-04-25) — trade press. Independent trade confirmation.
- Contractor Magazine (2014-04-25) — trade press. Names Rebecca Cassel as principal of the buyer.
- ACHR News (2014-05-19) — trade press. Follow-up on the AirTime 500 division.
- ACHR News (2021-01-01) — trade press. Directory entry under Direct Energy recording the 2014 SGI sale to Aquila Investment Group, Sarasota.
Researcher notes: Four independent trade outlets plus the ACHR News historical directory carry the same facts, but no primary press release or filing was located, so this is marked reported rather than verified. Only Tampa Bay-region ownership change of an HVAC/plumbing/electrical-sector business found in trade press for the entire 2010-2015 window.
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