Core Viewpoint - Kodiak Gas Services is acquiring Distributed Power Solutions (DPS) for $675 million, aiming to expand into distributed power generation and address the growing demand for behind-the-meter power solutions, particularly from data centers [3][4][6]. Acquisition Details - The acquisition will add a fleet of 384 MW of distributed power equipment, including turbines and reciprocating engines, enhancing Kodiak's flexibility across various applications [1][6]. - The total cost of the transaction, including estimated fees and expenses, is approximately $690 million, with a valuation of about 7.4 times DPS's expected 2026 adjusted EBITDA [3][5]. Strategic Rationale - Kodiak's management views DPS as an ideal asset base for entering the distributed power market, which has been under study for some time [2][4]. - The acquisition is expected to be accretive to both discretionary cash flow and earnings, while allowing Kodiak to maintain its commitment to shareholder returns [2][6]. Market Context - The U.S. power market is at an inflection point, with electricity demand for data centers expected to double by 2035, accounting for over 50% of U.S. power demand growth during that period [9][11]. - Grid interconnection delays are pushing large power consumers toward on-site generation, with estimates indicating that over 40% of data centers expected to be online by 2035 will not connect to the grid [10][11]. Customer Exposure - Approximately two-thirds of DPS's active fleet is currently contracted to data centers, with a multi-year agreement in place for primary power to a large data center operator in Virginia, achieving 99.9% reliability [8][6]. - Kodiak is also involved in behind-the-meter microgrid projects, indicating a growing pipeline of additional data center opportunities [8][6]. Financing and Capital Allocation - Kodiak plans to finance the acquisition with approximately $590 million drawn from its ABL facility and $100 million in stock, equating to about 2.4 million shares [5][19]. - The company aims to honor its balance sheet while maintaining a disciplined capital approach, with expectations for organic investment returns in power and compression to outweigh share repurchases [16][14].