Vertiv to buy UtilityInnovation Group in deal worth up to $2.6 billion

Vertiv Holdings is acquiring UtilityInnovation Group (UIG) in an all-cash deal valued at about $1.45 billion, with potential additional consideration of up to $1.15 billion tied to EBITDA milestones, bringing the total to as much as $2.6 billion. The transaction aims to move Vertiv upstream on power management, adding microgrid controls, on-site generation, energy storage, and behind-the-meter power architecture to accelerate data-center power delivery and reliability for AI workloads. Vertiv says the deal should be accretive to earnings in the first year post-close, which is targeted for the fourth quarter of 2026, and the earnout could lift value if performance milestones are met. CEO Gio Albertazzi argues that speed from site selection to operation is the new competitive bottleneck for AI data centers, and the acquisition expands Vertiv’s portfolio from grid interconnection to source-level power orchestration. Ahead of closing, UIG’s technology and software for real-time energy management are expected to help data centers access power faster as grid constraints tighten. Market observers note the favorable valuation, roughly 13x UIG’s projected 2027 EBITDA, with the potential for lower multiples if the earnout is fully paid.