Ecolab moves into AI data centre cooling with $4.75bn CoolIT deal

20th Mar 2026 12:57

(Sharecast News) - Ecolab on Friday said it was buying CoolIT Systems for $4.75bn as it looks to cash in on the boom in artificial intelligence data centres.

Owned by funds managed by KKR, CoolIT designs and manufactures liquid cooling systems such as coolant distribution units, cold plates and direct-to-chip technologies used by hyperscale and colocation operators. Its customers include chipmakers such as Nvidia and AMD.

"AI is transforming the demands on data centers, and liquid cooling is one of the critical technologies that makes advanced computing possible," said Ecolab CEO Christophe Beck.

"By bringing together CoolIT's engineered cooling technologies with Ecolab's expertise in water, chemistry and digital service, we can provide our customers a complete cooling solution that improves performance and reliability while reducing water and energy use."

CoolIT is expected to generate about $550m, Ecolab said, adding that it would fund the deal via new debt.

Ecolab expects first quarter 2026 adjusted diluted earnings per share in the $1.69 to $1.71 range, rising 13% to 14% compared with adjusted diluted earnings per share of $1.50 a year ago.

For the full-year 2026, excluding the impact of CoolIT, Ecolab continues to expect adjusted diluted earnings per share in the $8.43 to $8.63 range, rising 12% to 15% compared with adjusted diluted earnings per share of $7.53 in 2025.

Reporting by Frank Prenesti for Sharecast.com