** Shares of data center equipment maker Vertiv VRT.N up 1.8% at $196.28 premarket

** VRT says entered into a deal to acquire PurgeRite from Milton Street Capital for about $1 bln in cash

** The deal has potential additional consideration of up to $250 mln in cash, based on achieving certain 2026 performance metrics

** PurgeRite is a provider of mechanical flushing, purging and filtration services for data centers

** Up to last close, VRT had gained ~70% this year

(Reporting by Arnav Mishra in Bengaluru)

((Arnav.Mishra@thomsonreuters.com;))