Vertiv to buy Utility Innovation for $1.45 billion; shares fall
BUZZ-Vertiv to buy Utility Innovation for $1.45 billion; shares fall ** Shares of digital infrastructure provider Vertiv VRT.N fall 1.72% to $251.34 premarket
** VRT to buy data centre microgrid and power control solutions provider Utility Innovation Group for about $1.45 billion in cash
** Deal includes additional consideration of up to $1.15 billion in cash, based on achieving certain earnings targets
** VRT expects deal to accelerate time to power data centers and expand potential in power-constrained data centers
** Demand for microgrids and onsite power systems rise as data center operators continue to seek alternatives to constrained utility grids amid an AI-driven boom in power demand
** Deal expected to close in Q4 2026
** 29 of 32 brokerages rate the stock "buy" or above, 3 "hold"; median PT at $337 - data compiled by LSEG
** As of last close, stock up 58% YTD
(Reporting by Miraanta Lowrance in Bengaluru)