Vertiv Completes $1.45 Bn UIG Acquisition to Boost AI Data Center Power Infrastructure

UIG’s proven team and proprietary technology add microgrid controls, onsite generation orchestration, microgrid-specific switchgear and behind-the-meter power architecture to Vertiv’s portfolio

Extends Vertiv’s power and cooling portfolio from grid interconnect to chip, independent of any single generation technology or supplier

Vertiv Holdings Co. (NYSE: VRT) (“Vertiv”), a global leader in critical digital infrastructure, announced its wholly-owned subsidiary, Vertiv Corporation, has completed its acquisition of Utility Innovation Holdings, Inc., which operates as UtilityInnovation Group (“UIG”) for approximately $1.45 billion in upfront cash. The transaction includes additional contingent consideration of up to $1.15 billion in cash based on achieving certain earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (“EBITDA”) targets over 12- and 24-month periods.

At the approximately $1.45 billion purchase price, the acquisition represents approximately 13x expected UIG 2027 EBITDA. The EBITDA multiple is anticipated to be significantly lower if the full earnout is paid. Vertiv expects the acquisition to be accretive to adjusted earnings per share in the first year following completion.

UIG is a leader in microgrid solutions, advanced power controls and behind-the-meter power architecture design for data centers. The acquisition extends Vertiv upstream to the grid interconnect, adding microgrid controls, onsite generation and energy storage orchestration, and behind-the-meter power architecture. These capabilities are expected to help data center operators secure power faster as grid constraints increasingly limit AI infrastructure deployment.

“We are pleased to welcome the UIG team to Vertiv,” said Vertiv CEO Giordano Albertazzi. “As AI data center operators work to accelerate deployment in an increasingly power-constrained environment, access to power has become a critical competitive advantage. With UIG now part of Vertiv, we can extend our capabilities upstream to the utility interconnect and onsite power sources, creating a coordinated solution, from behind-the-meter power generation to chip, that helps customers achieve faster time to power without tying them to a single generation technology or supplier.”

The Vertiv and UIG combination is expected to give customers greater flexibility in how they source, manage and scale power as data center requirements evolve by:

• Accelerating access to power to ease or eliminate dependence on utility interconnection timelines, 
• Enabling Behind the Meter (BTM) site capacity to scale beyond what the grid alone can provide, and
• Providing a single accountable relationship from grid interconnect through rack-level infrastructure.

“UIG is excited to advance its mission to solve the power constraints that are slowing AI data center development,” said Sidney Hinton, Founder and CEO of UIG. “As part of Vertiv, we will be able to bring our microgrid and behind-the-meter power expertise to a broader set of customers globally, helping accelerate deployment of the critical infrastructure needed to support the growth of AI.”

J.P. Morgan Securities LLC acted as financial advisor to Vertiv, and Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC served as legal counsel. Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC acted as financial advisor to UIG, and Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP served as legal counsel.

For more information about Vertiv’s end-to-end portfolio of power and thermal management systems, infrastructure solutions and lifecycle services, visit Vertiv.com.

JSW Group to Invest Up to ₹50,000 Crore in West Bengal Across Power, Ports and Cement

The JSW Group has unveiled plans to invest up to ₹50,000 crore in West Bengal, reinforcing its long-term commitment to the state's industrial development. The proposed investments will span key sectors including power generation, ports, cement, steel and power systems, positioning West Bengal as a major destination for industrial and infrastructure expansion.

The announcement follows discussions between Sajjan Jindal, Chairman of the JSW Group, and Suvendu Adhikari, Chief Minister of West Bengal, regarding future investment opportunities in the state.

JSW's proposed ₹50,000 crore commitment comes amid renewed investor interest in West Bengal, with major business groups including Adani, Reliance, L&T and Amul either announcing investments or exploring expansion opportunities in the state.

Major Focus on Power Sector Expansion

A significant portion of the proposed investment is expected to be directed towards power projects. The group is already developing a 1,600 MW thermal power plant at Salboni in Paschim Medinipur and plans to establish a second 1,600 MW unit, substantially expanding power generation capacity in the state.

According to reports, investments in the power sector could account for nearly ₹40,000 crore of the overall commitment, making it one of the largest private-sector power investments in eastern India.

Port Infrastructure to Receive Major Boost

JSW is also strengthening its presence in maritime infrastructure. JSW Infrastructure is investing around ₹1,500 crore to modernise facilities and operations at the Kolkata Dock System, aimed at improving cargo handling efficiency and logistics capabilities.

The group has also expressed interest in opportunities related to the proposed deep-sea port project at Dadanpatrabar, which could further enhance West Bengal's connectivity and trade potential.

Cement and Industrial Development Plans

Beyond power and ports, the investment roadmap includes expansion across cement and steel businesses. JSW already operates cement and steel facilities in West Bengal and plans to leverage its existing industrial footprint to support future growth.

The proposed investments are expected to strengthen the state's manufacturing ecosystem, create employment opportunities and attract ancillary industries around major industrial hubs. This expectation is an industry assessment based on the scale of the announced projects and is not specifically quantified in the reported plans.

Strengthening West Bengal's Industrial Ecosystem

The proposed ₹50,000 crore investment marks one of the largest industrial commitments currently under consideration in West Bengal. With focus areas spanning power generation, port modernisation, cement production and steel manufacturing, the initiative underscores the growing confidence of large corporate groups in the state's industrial prospects.

As JSW advances its expansion plans, the projects are likely to play an important role in enhancing West Bengal's infrastructure capacity and supporting long-term economic development.

L&T Ships First Steam Generator for Haryana Nuclear Power Plant Ahead of Schedule, Boosting India’s Nuclear Energy Drive

Marking yet another milestone in India’s civil nuclear energy programme, L&T Heavy Engineering has despatched a Steam Generator to the Gorakhpur Haryana Anu Vidyut Pariyojana (GHAVP), located in Fatehabad district, Haryana.

The Steam Generator was ceremonially flagged off from L&T’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility at Hazira in Gujarat, in the presence of NPCIL Chairman & Managing Director Mr Bhuwan Chandra Pathak, Director (Technical) Mr Rajesh Veeraraghavan along with other senior officials of NPCIL and L&T.

This is first of the four Steam Generators that L&T is manufacturing for GHAVP and is meant for its Unit 3 & 4. Notably, the Steam Generator has been despatched seven months ahead of schedule, reinforcing L&T’s reputation for excellence and reliability in nuclear manufacturing.

GHAVP 3&4 are a part of the ten indigenous 700 MWe Pressurised Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) being set up in the country in fleet mode by NPCIL.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, NPCIL CMD Mr Pathak said:

With a remarkable technology transformation, L&T Heavy Engineering has enhanced both speed and quality of its execution. This is a strong indication of industry preparedness in manufacturing of critical equipment for nuclear power plants and will go a long way to achieve the target of 100 GWe by 2047

Mr Anil V Parab, Whole-time Director and Senior EVP (Heavy Engineering and Construction Equipment & Industrial Product Design Development, L&T) said: “Heavy Engineering continues to be the industry trendsetter in the manufacture of critical nuclear components. With end-to-end capability as one-stop-shop solution provider, L&T will be a major contributor to India’s 100 GWe nuclear programme of Viksit Bharat - 2047”.

L&T set a global benchmark by delivering a Steam Generator in just 33 months. L&T has till date delivered 5 steam generators for the 10 X 700 MWe fleet programme.

Background:

Larsen & Toubro is a USD 30 billion Indian multinational engaged in EPC Projects, Hi-Tech Manufacturing, and Services, operating across multiple geographies. A strong, customer–focussed approach and the constant quest for top-class quality have enabled L&T to attain and sustain leadership in its major lines of business for eight decades.

Can India’s Power Infrastructure Keep Up with Its Digital Ambitions?

India’s data center industry is experiencing an unprecedented growth trajectory, driven by rapid digitalization, the rollout of 5G networks, AI adoption, and increasing cloud demand. Industry forecasts estimate that the country’s data center capacity will rise from around 1.4 gigawatts today to over 9 gigawatts by 2030. This surge translates into data centers potentially consuming roughly 3% of India’s total electricity by that year, up from less than 1% currently. Expanding hyperscale and colocation facilities in metros like Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Delhi, alongside rising secondary hubs in tier 2 and 3 cities, underline the vast scale and geographic diversification of this growth.

Power Infrastructure Challenges Unique to the Digital Era

Vikas Srivastava, Director-Product Management, Product Development/Engineering, Vertiv

Data centers require uninterrupted, high-quality power that traditional grids, especially beyond metropolitan areas, often struggle to provide. Frequent outages, voltage instability, and limited grid capacity plague many emerging digital hubs in smaller cities and rural areas. Moreover, the scale of power demand from mega data centers rivals that of large industrial operations, placing additional strain on local utilities and transmission infrastructures. Maintaining uptime for critical digital services requires a fundamental rethink of power supply, distribution, and resilience strategies tailored to these demanding environments.

Decentralized, Intelligent Power Ecosystems as the Future

To address these challenges, the industry should pivot toward self-sustained power ecosystems. This entails integrating microgrids, hybrid energy sources including renewables augmented by battery energy storage systems, and real-time power optimization technologies. Decentralized power distribution architectures reduce dependency on unstable grids, enabling edge locations such as rural data nodes, telecom towers, and smart factories to operate autonomously with high reliability. Intelligent infrastructure monitoring and AI-driven energy management can further optimize load distribution, predictive maintenance, and increase energy efficiency across interconnected digital sites.

Sustainability and Policy Enablement

India’s ambitious renewable energy targets aim for 500 gigawatts of renewable capacity by 2030, and government incentives such as data center policies and production-linked incentives are catalyzing the integration of green power into digital infrastructure. Operators are increasingly leveraging rooftop solar, wind power, and advanced cooling technologies to reduce carbon footprints. Notably, energy storage initiatives backed by viability gap funding have accelerated battery storage adoption, crucial for bridging supply-demand gaps and mitigating renewables’ intermittency.

Strategic Enterprise Investment and Advanced Solutions

While policy frameworks set the stage, private sector leadership is paramount. Investors and operators are scaling infrastructure with modular, scalable power units capable of operating in extreme ambient conditions prevalent across India. Technologies such as high-efficiency uninterruptible power supplies, AI-based monitoring platforms, and hybrid grid-storage combinations ensure consistent power quality and resilience. These advancements also embrace operational flexibility, allowing data centers to dynamically adjust to fluctuations in demand and supply, reducing total cost of ownership and sustainability risk.

The symbiotic growth of India’s digital economy and power infrastructure faces complex challenges requiring innovative, integrated approaches. Developing decentralized, intelligent, and green power systems tailored to the evolving needs of data centers, supported by proactive investment and enabling policies, will be critical. Successfully navigating these challenges will ensure India’s digital ecosystems remain robust and adaptive, securing its place as a global technology powerhouse in the decade ahead.

Reference Links:

• https://www.jll.com/en-in/insights/market-dynamics/india-data-centers
• https://ieefa.org/resources/indias-power-hungry-data-centre-sector-crossroads
• https://www.jll.com/en-in/newsroom/indias-data-centre-capacity-to-reach-18-gw-by-2027