GE Vernova to buy Trench Group for $9 billion

GE Vernova agreed to buy Trench Group for $9 billion, adding high-voltage bushings, instrument transformers and coils to its electrification business.

Utility Dive reported the agreement on Oct. 29, and the parties expect it to close in late 2027. The transaction carries roughly $5 billion in backlog and framework agreements, some of which reach into the next decade, chief executive Scott Strazik said on the company's third-quarter earnings call. Trench supplies more than 800 utility and hyperscaler customers, according to GE Vernova.

For allocators underwriting transmission, generation and data-center supply, the deal changes where lead-time risk sits. A developer buying turbines from GE Vernova and high-voltage components from Trench would negotiate both with one counterparty, and Strazik said the combination will compress delivery timelines. Trench's new North Carolina factory will be the first U.S. manufacturer of bushings rated up to 765 kV.

The price is roughly 1.8 times the $5 billion of backlog and framework agreements that comes with Trench.

"Lead times across the industry are increasingly important," Strazik said. "By bringing Trench's manufacturing footprint and capabilities inside Vernova, we expect greater visibility into production planning and improved ability to align this component supply with our customers' project schedules."

The deal is meant to boost GE Vernova's Electrification segment, which makes and sells medium- and high-voltage equipment to utilities, independent power producers, infrastructure owners and heavy power consumers. Trench already supplies GE Vernova with high-voltage direct-current equipment, so part of the purchase price buys a supplier the company already uses. Company executives said the acquisition will help GE Vernova capitalize on rising electricity demand.

Gas turbine gigawatts under contract rose to 122 GW from 116 GW last quarter, a 6 GW increase, against double-digit quarterly increases earlier in 2026. GE Vernova expects its companywide order backlog to exceed $200 billion by next quarter and at least 130 GW of gas power equipment under contract by year-end.

Strazik said he still expects growth in turbine orders and reservations in 2027, just not at the pace of the first half of 2026.

GE Vernova has been extending its electrical range all year: as Private Wealth Daily previously reported, it moved into medium-voltage UPS in August.

Closing is expected in late 2027. The next milestones are ramping Trench's North Carolina bushing plant and converting part of the $5 billion backlog into revenue.