Col Group acquired by Eaton Fiber

Eaton has agreed to acquire COL Group for an enterprise value of €500M–1.5bn. The agreement, announced on 25 September 2026, stipulates that the transaction will close in the first quarter of 2027 subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. The seller, COL Group, is being divested by Oaktree Capital Management’s Power Opportunities strategy, which originally invested in the Italian medium‑voltage specialist in 2021. Lincoln International acted as exclusive financial advisor to both Oaktree and COL. The acquisition adds COL’s SF₆‑free switchgear, grid automation technologies and modular power systems to Eaton’s European power distribution platform, expanding its manufacturing footprint across Turin, Milan, Bergamo and Catania and enhancing its engineering capacity to serve data‑center and utility customers seeking resilient power infrastructure. By integrating COL’s product portfolio, Eaton broadens its ability to meet growing demand for grid‑to‑chip power solutions and to support the electrification of power networks across the EMEA region. COL has projected sales of €250 million for 2027, underscoring the scale of the combined business. Oaktree’s focus on essential infrastructure businesses aligns with the transaction’s aim to reinforce critical medium‑voltage infrastructure in Europe. The deal reflects Eaton’s ongoing effort to deepen its presence in the European power distribution market through targeted acquisitions of technology‑rich assets.

In the past, Col Group was acquired by Oaktree Capital Management in 2021 as part of its expansion strategy.