Simpson Air
HVAC · Tampa, Hillsborough County · Founded 1999 by Simpson family (Gary Simpson; Paige Simpson led at time of sale)
About the company
Tampa-area air conditioning and heating company founded in 1999, marketed as 'The Coolest Guys,' serving Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, Hernando, Manatee and Sarasota counties. Acquired by Astara Capital-backed Del-Air in December 2023.
Ownership history
- Acquisition Del-Air Heating, Air Conditioning, Plumbing & Electrical (backed by Astara Capital Partners)
What changed after the sale
Del-Air said Simpson Air would keep its identity while gaining access to Del-Air's plumbing, electrical and indoor-air-quality lines - an explicit cross-sell expansion of the customer base. Paige Simpson described the deal as 'an evolution in our customer and employee-focused journey.' Del-Air chairman Chad Barton (Astara) also commented, tying the deal to the platform's new-construction strategy.
Only sourced observations are listed. Customers and employees can add what they saw.
Who really profits
Money paid to Simpson Air 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.
Gator Air Conditioning
Frequently asked
Who owns Simpson Air?
Simpson Air 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 December 1, 2023; the company still operates under its original name.
Is Simpson Air private equity owned?
Yes. Simpson Air 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 Simpson Air 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 Simpson Air sold?
December 1, 2023 (announcement date).
Did Simpson Air 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
- PRWeb (2023-12-01) — press release. Date, 1999 founding, six-county service area, Astara majority ownership, quotes, service expansion
- PrivSource (2026-09-09) — other. Deal database entry confirming date and Astara backing
- Del-Air (2026-09-09) — company site. Buyer's own Simpson Air page
See something wrong? Request a correction — we publish our corrections log.
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