Vertiv Buys Data Center Rack PDU Vendor Geist

Vertiv, the data center and telco facility designer and builder and vendor of electrical and mechanical equipment, has agreed to acquire Geist, a top manufacturer and seller of data center rack power distribution units.

The deal will beef up Vertiv’s engineering and design capabilities, the company said in an announcement released Wednesday, pointing out Geist’s patented technologies. In addition to PDUs, Geist has a broader portfolio of data center power, cooling, monitoring, and infrastructure management products.

“This acquisition fits our strategy of adding complementary capabilities to accelerate growth in our key markets – cloud, colocation and edge,” Vertiv CEO Rob Johnson said in a statement. “By adding the Geist portfolio, we further strengthen our position in the PDU industry and add power management choices for our customers.”

Both companies are privately owned and did not disclose terms of the deal.

Based in Lincoln, Nebraska, Geist has more than 250 employees. The company’s president, Brad Wilson, will continue to manage the business, reporting to Pat Johnson, executive VP of Vertiv’s integrated rack systems unit.

Columbus, Ohio-based Vertiv, formerly Emerson Network Power, went private after being spun off by its former parent company Emerson Electric in 2016.

Related:New Owners Pushing Vertiv to “Act Like a Startup”

Announcement of the Geist deal comes one week after Vertiv announced the acquisition of Energy Labs, a maker of custom air handlers for data centers.

“These acquisitions represent a significant investment in our business and signal our intent to pursue an aggressive strategy for growth,” Johnson said.