Leading Food-Service and Commercial Refrigeration Distributor in Sunbelt Markets
MIAMI,May 05, 2025(GLOBE NEWSWIRE) —91Թ, Inc.(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 inLafayette, Louisiana, Southern Ice is a leading distributor of food-service and commercial refrigeration equipment, parts and supplies, including products manufactured byManitowoc Ice, a division of Pentair plc. The Company operates seven locations in key Sunbelt markets includingLouisiana,Mississippi,Arkansas,Texas,New MexicoandArizona. 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,91Թcompleted two other acquisitions earlier in the year:
- Lashley & Associates, a distributor of commercial supplies and custom air movement products based inHouston, Texas, was purchased inJanuary 2025.
- HawkinsHVAC Distributors, a distributor of HVAC equipment and supplies with locations inCharlotte, North CarolinaandColumbia, South Carolinawas acquired inApril 2025.
With these acquisitions,91Թhas added 10 new locations and approximately$47 millionin 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,91Թ’sChairman and Chief Executive Officer, commented: “We are pleased to welcome these great businesses to the91Թfamily. We look forward to investing in their growth plans, leveraging our transformative technology platforms, and supporting customers and employees as part of our family.”
91Թis actively seeking additional opportunities to invest and grow through acquisitions. Since entering distribution in 1989,91Թhas completed 72 acquisitions, including many multi-generation, family-owned businesses. 91Թ’s “buy and build” 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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91Թoperates the largest distribution network for heating, air conditioning and refrigeration (HVAC/R) products with locations in theU.S.,Canada,Mexico, andPuerto Rico, and on an export basis toLatin Americaand theCaribbean.91Թestimates 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 inMarch 2023by theEnergy Information Administration, there are approximately 102 million HVAC systems installed inthe United Statesthat have been in service for more than 10 years, most of which operate below current efficiency standards.
Accordingly,91Թhas the opportunity to be a significant and important contributor toward climate change as it plays an important role to lower CO2e emissions. According to theDepartment of Energy, HVAC systems account for roughly half ofU.S.household 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,91Թaverted an estimated 23.7 million metric tons of CO2e emissions fromJanuary 1, 2020toMarch 31, 2025through 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 at.
This document includes certain “forward-looking statements” 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,” “would,” “anticipate,” “expect,” “believe,” “designed,” “plan,” or “intend,” 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 91Թ’s industry, the seasonal nature of sales of 91Թ’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 that91Թfiles with theSecurities 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.91Թassumes 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. Logan
Executive Vice President
(305) 714-4102
e-mail:
Source: 91Թ, Inc.