Datalink

In the world of IT infrastructure, few companies navigated the changing landscape of the data center quite like Datalink. The Minneapolis-based company began as an integrator of open systems data storage solutions. Their business was to provide and manage the hardware, software, and services that powered the data centers of Fortune 1000 companies and public sector clients. In August 1999, Datalink went public, offering 2.6 million shares on the Nasdaq stock exchange. This move provided the capital to grow in an increasingly complex IT world where businesses were grappling with the transition to cloud computing and hyper-converged solutions. Datalink carved out a niche by helping clients modernize and optimize their data centers, making them more efficient and responsive. A significant chapter in Datalink's story was written in November 2016, when Insight Enterprises announced its intention to acquire the company. The deal, valued at approximately $258 million, saw Insight acquire Datalink for $11.25 per share. For Insight, the acquisition was a strategic move to significantly bolster its data center practice. The merger, completed in January 2017, combined Datalink's specialized data center expertise with Insight's global scale, creating a more comprehensive IT solutions provider.