A newly formed consortium comprising the Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Partnership (AIP), MGX, and BlackRock’s Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) has announced the acquisition of Aligned Data Centers in a transaction valued at US$ 40 billion.
In a press release, Aligned Data Centers revealed that the deal involves purchasing 100 percent of the equity from private infrastructure funds managed by Macquarie Asset Management and its co-invest partners. The acquisition marks one of the largest data infrastructure transactions to date and is expected to accelerate the global expansion of next-generation cloud and AI infrastructure.
Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Aligned Data Centers operates a broad portfolio of 50 campuses across the United States and Latin America, including major digital hubs in Northern Virginia, Chicago, and São Paulo. The company’s infrastructure boasts more than 5GW of operational and planned capacity, positioning it as a key player in meeting the surging demand for scalable, sustainable digital infrastructure.
Larry Fink, Chairman and CEO of BlackRock and Chairman of AIP, said, “This partnership is bringing together leading companies and mobilizing private capital to accelerate AI innovation and drive global economic growth and productivity to power the future of AI.”
Ahmed Yahia Al Idrissi, Managing Director and CEO of MGX and Vice Chairman of AIP, added, “Our investment in Aligned Data Centers will direct scalable capital to an operator built for efficiency and growth, with the mission to deliver the infrastructure needed to support global AI adoption.”
Bayo Ogunlesi, Chairman and CEO of Global Infrastructure Partners, commented, “By combining Aligned’s scalable, adaptable platform with AIP’s capital and capabilities, we will build the infrastructure to support innovation at scale worldwide.”
Andrew Schaap, CEO of Aligned Data Centers, said “Partnering with the Consortium will accelerate our mission to deliver the infrastructure powering tomorrow’s digital economy, supported by deep expertise across AI, energy, and finance in sustainable data center infrastructure.”
AIP was established in September 2024 by BlackRock, Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), MGX, Microsoft, and NVIDIA, to accelerate investment in next-generation AI infrastructure. The consortium’s investment is expected to provide Aligned with the strategic support and capital needed to expand operations, and meet growing global demand driven by AI workloads and advanced cooling systems designed for high-density computing.
This acquisition marks AIP’s first investment, representing a significant step toward its goal of deploying US$ 30 billion in equity capital, with potential to reach US$ 100 billion including debt financing. The transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions, with completion expected in the first quarter of 2026.