#USA #Infrastructure #Great Lakes #Vertiv #Edinboro

Vertiv's Strategic Move to Acquire Great Lakes Data Racks

In a significant development within the tech infrastructure industry, Vertiv Holdings Co. (NYSE: VRT), a prominent global provider of critical digital infrastructure solutions, has announced its decision to acquire Great Lakes Data Racks for a substantial $200 million. This strategic acquisition, which is anticipated to close in the third quarter of 2025, aims to enhance Vertiv's market leadership in the high-density integrated infrastructure sector.

About Great Lakes Data Racks

Founded in 1985 and based in Edinboro, Pennsylvania, Great Lakes specializes in designing and manufacturing highly customized data rack enclosures, seismic cabinets, and integrated cabinet solutions for data centers. With a robust manufacturing presence in both the U.S. and Europe, Great Lakes has established itself as a key player in providing innovative solutions tailored to meet the demanding needs of the digital infrastructure landscape.

Financial Insights

The acquisition price of Great Lakes equates to approximately 11.5 times the expected earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) for 2026, factoring in cost synergies and cross-selling potential. This strategic move signals Vertiv's commitment to bolstering its capabilities in delivering pre-engineered, AI-ready rack solutions designed for a variety of market segments, including enterprise, edge computing, colocation, and hyperscale AI computing environments.

Expanding Capabilities and Value Proposition

Gio Albertazzi, CEO of Vertiv, emphasized the importance of this acquisition as it positions Vertiv as a premier technology solutions provider within the critical white space market. He stated, "Great Lakes is a leading rack manufacturer with an extensive portfolio of high-end rack solutions essential in an increasingly demanding high-density AI infrastructure environment."

The integration of Great Lakes' advanced manufacturing techniques and innovative designs with Vertiv's existing product lines is expected to yield substantial benefits for customers. These benefits include:

• - Consolidated Infrastructure Sourcing: Streamlining product offerings to reduce complexity and enhance sourcing efficiency.
• - Faster Deployment: With pre-engineered solutions, deployment times for critical infrastructure can be significantly shortened.
• - Enhanced Operational Efficiency: The factory integration of Vertiv's power and cooling solutions is designed to improve overall system performance.
• - Improved Scalability: The acquisition will allow Vertiv to better address the growing needs for AI and edge computing applications.
• - Comprehensive Global Support: Vertiv's extensive service network ensures clients receive exceptional support throughout the lifecycle of their infrastructure products.

Anticipated Regulatory Approvals

As with any significant acquisition, the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including the acquisition of the necessary regulatory approvals mandated under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976. Vertiv is optimistic that this acquisition will receive the required approvals in a timely manner, paving the way for a successful integration and expanded offerings under the Vertiv brand.

Conclusion

This acquisition strengthens Vertiv's position in the digital infrastructure market, enabling the company to offer a more comprehensive set of products and services tailored to meet modern business demands. As technology continues to evolve, the demand for reliable, innovative infrastructure solutions will only grow. With the addition of Great Lakes Data Racks, Vertiv is poised to lead the charge in developing future-ready solutions that cater to the complexities of next-generation AI technologies. For those interested in exploring Vertiv's full range of solutions, more information is available on their official website at Vertiv.com.