Private equity firm buys area HVAC business

ST. PETERSBURG — Aria Capital Investments Inc., based in Lutz, is the new owner of Air Quality Control, continuing a trend of private equity firms investing in HVAC companies.

Based in St. Petersburg, Air Quality Control was founded nearly 40 years ago by Joe Renda and his late brother, Larry Renda. The company is a Carrier Factory Authorized dealer and a TECO People’s Gas contractor, according to a press release about the deal, which was negotiated by St. Pete-based Aberdeen Advisors.

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

“I feel very good handing off Air Quality Control to this new ownership team, and I’m confident the company will continue to offer the highest level of expertise and customer service,” Renda states in the release.

Aria Capital Investments principals Rick Vassallo and Victor Pagano, in the release, say they plan to build on the strong relationships that Air Quality Control has maintained with its clientele. 

“As a full-service mechanical company, we plan to grow in all facets of the business while maintaining the exceptional quality that our customers have come to expect,” Vassallo states.