Âé¶¹Ö±²¥ Acquires Southern Ice Equipment Distributors

Leading Food-Service and Commercial Refrigeration Distributor in Sunbelt Markets

MIAMI,ÌýMay 05, 2025Ìý(GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —ÌýÂé¶¹Ö±²¥.Ìý(NYSE: WSO) announced that it has completed the acquisition of Southern Ice Equipment Distributors as well as two other transactions completed thus far in 2025. Terms of the transactions were not disclosed.

Founded in 1984 and based inÌýLafayette, Louisiana, Southern Ice is a leading distributor of food-service and commercial refrigeration equipment, parts and supplies, including products manufactured byÌýManitowoc Ice, a division of Pentair plc. The Company operates seven locations in key Sunbelt markets includingÌýLouisiana,ÌýMississippi,ÌýArkansas,ÌýTexas,ÌýNew MexicoÌýandÌýArizona. Southern Ice will operate under its existing name and under the direction of its current leadership team to provide continuity to customers, employees and OEM partners.

In addition to Southern Ice,ÌýÂé¶¹Ö±²¥Ìýcompleted two other acquisitions earlier in the year:

  • Lashley & Associates, a distributor of commercial supplies and custom air movement products based inÌýHouston, Texas, was purchased inÌýJanuary 2025.
  • HawkinsÌýHVAC Distributors, a distributor of HVAC equipment and supplies with locations inÌýCharlotte, North CarolinaÌýandÌýColumbia, South CarolinaÌýwas acquired inÌýApril 2025.

With these acquisitions,ÌýÂé¶¹Ö±²¥Ìýhas added 10 new locations and approximatelyÌý$47 millionÌýin annualized sales in high-growth Sunbelt markets that provide new brands, broader product offerings and expanded distribution points to better serve customers.

Albert H. Nahmad,ÌýÂé¶¹Ö±²¥’sÌýChairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented: “We are pleased to welcome these great businesses to theÌýÂé¶¹Ö±²¥Ìýfamily. We look forward to investing in their growth plans, leveraging our transformative technology platforms, and supporting customers and employees as part of our family.â€�

Âé¶¹Ö±²¥Ìýis actively seeking additional opportunities to invest and grow through acquisitions. Since entering distribution in 1989,ÌýÂé¶¹Ö±²¥Ìýhas completed 72 acquisitions, including many multi-generation, family-owned businesses. Âé¶¹Ö±²¥â€™s “buy and buildâ€� strategy can be summarized as follows:

  • Identify and partner with great businesses in the HVAC/R industry
  • Support their leadership and employees and honor their culture and legacy
  • Ask for aggressive growth plans and help them achieve their ambitions
  • Motivate teams and reaffirm an ownership culture with long-term equity
  • Deploy the industry’s most comprehensive suite of customer-focused technologies
  • Solicit and collaborate on big ideas to foster a spirit of innovation and growth

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Âé¶¹Ö±²¥Ìýoperates the largest distribution network for heating, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC/R) products with locations in theÌýU.S.,ÌýCanada,ÌýMexico, andÌýPuerto Rico, and on an export basis toÌýLatin AmericaÌýand theÌýCaribbean.ÌýÂé¶¹Ö±²¥Ìýestimates that over 375,000 owner-operators, technicians, and installers visit or call one of its 702 locations each year to get information, obtain technical support and buy products.

We focus on the replacement market, which has increased in size and importance due to the aging of installed systems, the introduction of energy efficient models and the necessity of HVAC products in homes and businesses. According to data published inÌýMarch 2023Ìýby theÌýEnergy Information Administration, there are approximately 102 million HVAC systems installed inÌýthe United StatesÌýthat have been in service for more than 10 years, most of which operate below current efficiency standards.

Accordingly,ÌýÂé¶¹Ö±²¥Ìýhas the opportunity to be a significant and important contributor toward climate change as it plays an important role to lower CO2e emissions. According to theÌýDepartment of Energy, HVAC systems account for roughly half ofÌýU.S.Ìýhousehold energy consumption. As such, replacing older systems at higher efficiency levels is a critical means for homeowners to reduce electricity consumption and their carbon footprint.

Based on estimates validated by independent sources,ÌýÂé¶¹Ö±²¥Ìýaverted an estimated 23.7 million metric tons of CO2e emissions fromÌýJanuary 1, 2020ÌýtoÌýMarch 31, 2025Ìýthrough the sale of replacement HVAC systems at higher-efficiency standards, an equivalent of removing 5.5 million gas powered vehicles annually off the road. More information, including sources and assumptions used to support the Company’s estimates, can be found atÌý.

This document includes certain “forward-looking statementsâ€� within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements may address, among other things, our expected financial and operational results and the related assumptions underlying our expected results. These forward-looking statements are distinguished by use of words such as “will,â€� “would,â€� “anticipate,â€� “expect,â€� “believe,â€� “designed,â€� “plan,â€� or “intend,â€� the negative of these terms, and similar references to future periods. These statements are based on management’s current expectations and are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances. Actual results may differ materially from these expectations due to changes in economic, business, competitive market, new housing starts and completions, capital spending in commercial construction, consumer spending and debt levels, regulatory and other factors, including, without limitation, the effects of supplier concentration, competitive conditions within Âé¶¹Ö±²¥â€™s industry, the seasonal nature of sales of Âé¶¹Ö±²¥â€™s products, the ability of the Company to expand its business, insurance coverage risks and final GAAP adjustments. Detailed information about these factors and additional important factors can be found in the documents thatÌýÂé¶¹Ö±²¥Ìýfiles with theÌýSecurities and Exchange Commission, such as Form 10-K, Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements were made.ÌýÂé¶¹Ö±²¥Ìýassumes no obligation to update forward-looking information to reflect actual results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information, except as required by applicable law.

Barry S. LoganÌý
Executive Vice President
(305) 714-4102
e-mail:Ìý

Source: Âé¶¹Ö±²¥.