Eaton beefs up data center segment with $9.5 billion Boyd Thermal deal

Core Viewpoint - Eaton is acquiring Boyd Corporation's thermal business for $9.5 billion to enhance its data center segment in response to the increasing demand driven by AI [1][4]. Group 1: Acquisition Details - The acquisition of Boyd Corporation's thermal business is part of Eaton's strategy to strengthen its position in the data center market, which is experiencing a surge in power and cooling needs [1]. - Boyd Thermal is projected to generate sales of $1.7 billion by 2026, primarily from its liquid cooling technology for data centers [2]. - The acquisition is expected to close in the second quarter of 2026 and will positively impact Eaton's adjusted earnings starting in the second year post-completion [4]. Group 2: Industry Context - The global demand for energy-intensive data centers has led to increased deal-making activity within the industry as companies aim to expand their capacity [1]. - Competitor Vertiv is also pursuing growth by acquiring PurgeRite Intermediate for approximately $1 billion to enhance its liquid cooling services [2]. - Eaton's previous acquisitions this year include Fibrebond Corporation for $1.4 billion and Resilient Power Systems, along with Ultra PCS for $1.55 billion, indicating a strong focus on expanding capabilities in the data center and EV sectors [3][4]. Group 3: Market Impact - Eaton anticipates that data center and distributed IT equipment will represent the largest share of its sales by the end of 2025, estimated at around 17% [3]. - Following the announcement of the Boyd acquisition, Eaton's shares experienced a decline of 1.7% in premarket trading [4].