Consortium to buy Aligned Data Centres for $40b to rev up AI expansion

• Partnership to bring together capital and expertise to deliver essential AI infrastructure while creating attractive investment opportunities.
• Partnership boasts prominent financial backers, including the Kuwait Investment Authority and Temasek, emphasising AIP’s vision to mobilise large-scale capital and shape the AI ecosystem.

MGX, the Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Partnership (AIP), and BlackRock’s Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP)—together forming a powerful consortium—have unveiled their plan to acquire all outstanding equity in Aligned Data Centres.

The seller, private infrastructure funds managed by Macquarie Asset Management and its co-invest partners, will transfer full ownership to the consortium. This blockbuster transaction values Aligned at an estimated $40 billion, underscoring the immense significance of next-generation cloud and AI infrastructure in today’s digital age.

About AIP and its ambitions

AIP, established through collaboration with BlackRock, GIP (as part of BlackRock), MGX, Microsoft, and NVIDIA, is dedicated to expanding AI-related infrastructure and fueling global economic growth powered by artificial intelligence.

Bayo Ogunlesi, Chair and CEO of GIP, reinforced that Aligned’s adaptable platform, combined with AIP’s capital, will build innovative, resilient communities and drive transformative global growth.

The partnership boasts prominent financial backers, including the Kuwait Investment Authority and Temasek, emphasising AIP’s vision to mobilise large-scale capital and shape the AI ecosystem.

Larry Fink, Chair and CEO of BlackRock as well as AIP, highlighted the transformative role of AI in the economy and emphasised that the partnership brings together capital and expertise to deliver essential AI infrastructure while creating attractive investment opportunities.

Aligned’s meteoric rise

In just under a decade, Aligned has cemented its status as a global leader in the data centre sector. Designing, developing, and operating advanced campuses, the company serves major hyperscalers, cloud innovators, and leading enterprises.

Its impressive portfolio consists of 50 data campuses and a combined capacity exceeding five gigawatts, with locations spanning strategic digital gateways such as Northern Virginia, Chicago, Dallas, Phoenix, Ohio, Salt Lake City, São Paulo, Querétaro, and Santiago.

Ahmed Yahia Al Idrissi, CEO of MGX and AIP Vice Chairman, pointed to AI’s reengineering effect on the global economy and stressed the foundational importance of scaled computing infrastructure.

Operational excellence and innovations

Aligned attributes its robust growth to operational excellence and a forward-thinking management team. Their solutions—Gigascale, Build-to-Scale, and Multi-Tenant Enterprise—feature patented technologies in air, liquid, and hybrid cooling, ensuring adaptability even for energy-intensive AI workloads in regions with limited power availability.

The company’s strong supply chain, strategic partnerships, and proactive land acquisition strategies support its mission to set industry standards for efficiency and reliability.

Financial strength remains a cornerstone of Aligned’s business, allowing agility and sustained expansion. Following the acquisition, Aligned will continue to be headquartered in Dallas, Texas, retaining its leadership under CEO Andrew Schaap and his team.

Consortium’s strategic strengths

This historic investment merges the unique expertise of three premier players:

• AIP’s capacity to orchestrate large-scale strategic partnerships and mobilize significant capital.
• MGX’s specialised focus on global AI and advanced technology investments.
• GIP’s proven track record of operating large, complex infrastructure assets worldwide.

With the consortium’s strategic and financial support, Aligned is positioned to accelerate its reach, pioneer new data centre solutions, and meet the ballooning demand for cutting-edge digital infrastructure fueling AI’s growth.

For AIP, this marks its inaugural investment, advancing toward a target of deploying $30 billion in equity, and up to $100 billion with debt included. Aligned’s established customer relationships, presence in high-value digital markets, and experienced management team make it an ideal anchor for AIP’s vision to build the backbone of the world’s AI infrastructure.

Andrew Schaap, CEO of Aligned, celebrated the partnership as a catalyst to advance sustainable, scalable digital infrastructure for tomorrow’s economy—leveraging the global reach and resource depth of its new backers.

Subject to regulatory and customary approvals, the deal is anticipated to close in the first half of 2026. The current leadership will stay on board, ensuring continuity and expertise as Aligned enters a new phase of expansion.