Aligned Data Centers Is an Industry-Leading Provider of Innovative, Sustainable, and Adaptive Digital Infrastructure Powering the World’s Most Complex and Demanding Cloud and AI Workloads
NEW YORK & ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates & DALLAS — The Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Partnership (“AIP”), MGX, and BlackRock’s Global Infrastructure Partners (“GIP”) (collectively, the “Consortium”), today announced they will acquire 100% of the equity in Aligned Data Centers (“Aligned” or the “Company”) from private infrastructure funds managed by Macquarie Asset Management and its co-invest partners. The transaction will fuel the expansion of next-generation cloud and AI infrastructure and implies an Aligned enterprise value of approximately $40 billion.
AIP was founded by BlackRock, Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a part of BlackRock, MGX, Microsoft, and NVIDIA to expand capacity of AI infrastructure and help shape the future of AI-driven economic growth. Its financial anchor investors include the Kuwait Investment Authority and Temasek.
In less than a decade, Aligned has evolved into one of the largest and fastest growing data center companies globally. The Company designs, builds, and operates cutting-edge data campuses and data centers for the world’s premier hyperscalers, neocloud, and enterprise innovators. Aligned’s portfolio includes 50 campuses and more than 5 gigawatts of operational and planned capacity, including assets under development, primarily located in key Tier I digital gateway regions across the U.S. and Latin America including Northern Virginia, Chicago, Dallas, Ohio, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Sao Paulo (Brazil), Queretaro (Mexico), and Santiago (Chile).
Aligned’s rapid expansion has been fueled by strong execution and operating capabilities under the leadership of Aligned’s experienced management team. The Company has consistently met hyperscalers’ complex requirements, working hand-in-hand with customers to stay agile and innovate around their evolving needs. Aligned’s Gigascale, Build-to-Scale, and Multi-Tenant Enterprise solutions leverage patented and patent-pending air, liquid, and hybrid cooling systems to deliver maximum adaptability and support evolving high-density AI workloads, even in energy-constrained regions. Additionally, the Company’s robust supply chain, strong partnerships, strategic land acquisitions, and energy enablement drive leading efficiency and reliability. Aligned also benefits from access to multiple sources of capital, providing financial flexibility for future growth. The Company will remain headquartered in Dallas, Texas and be led by CEO Andrew Schaap and Aligned’s existing leadership team.
The Consortium brings deep expertise and capabilities across AI and digital infrastructure. This includes AIP’s strategic partnership group and ability to form capital at scale, MGX’s leading global investment focus on AI and advanced technologies, and GIP’s long track record as a leading infrastructure investor with experience owning and operating some of the world’s most complex infrastructure assets. The Consortium’s investment will equip Aligned with the capital and strategic support needed to accelerate growth and meet the rising demand for scalable, sustainable digital infrastructure. Backed by the Consortium, Aligned will accelerate the expansion of its footprint, drive further innovation, and continue delivering next-generation data center solutions.
The transaction is AIP’s first investment and an important step towards its initial target of mobilizing and deploying $30 billion of equity capital, with the potential of reaching $100 billion including debt. With Aligned’s strong customer relationships, presence in key strategic digital hubs, and proven management team, Aligned is well positioned to anchor AIP’s vision for the future of AI infrastructure.
The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.
Executive Commentary
Larry Fink, Chairman and CEO of BlackRock and Chairman of AIP, said, “AIP is positioned to meet the growing demand for the infrastructure required as AI continues to reshape the global economy. This partnership is bringing together leading companies and mobilizing private capital to accelerate AI innovation and drive global economic growth and productivity. With this investment in Aligned Data Centers, we further our goal of delivering the infrastructure necessary to power the future of AI, while offering our clients attractive opportunities to participate in its growth.”
Ahmed Yahia Al Idrissi, Managing Director and CEO of MGX and Vice Chairman of AIP, said, “We are entering a new era in which AI will fundamentally reengineer our economies and enable accelerated growth. Compute infrastructure at scale will be foundational to that progress. 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, a part of BlackRock, said, “AI is reshaping every sector of the global economy. By combining Aligned’s scalable, adaptable platform with AIP’s capital and capabilities, we will build the infrastructure to support innovation at scale – creating resilient, sustainable communities and unlocking transformative growth 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. With AIP, MGX, and GIP’s global reach, extensive resources, and deep expertise across AI, energy, and finance, we are poised to scale faster, innovate further, and redefine what’s possible in sustainable data center infrastructure.”
About Aligned Data Centers
Aligned Data Centers is a leading provider of sustainable, ultra-efficient and highly adaptive data center infrastructure designed to power AI innovation at scale. Fueled by over 50 patents for award-winning cooling technology and an expedited path to energy and land enablement, we support the world’s most demanding AI, High-Performance Computing (HPC) and cloud workloads. Aligned is committed to the communities we serve, transforming industrial sites into technology hubs, generating local jobs and fostering widespread skilled workforce development. Aligned is Where AI Lives. For more information, visit www.aligneddc.com.
About AIP
Established in September 2024 by BlackRock, Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), MGX, Microsoft, and NVIDIA, AIP was created to accelerate investment in next-generation AI infrastructure and advance the infrastructure and innovation needed to power the future of AI.
AIP aims to mobilize $30 billion of equity capital from investors, asset owners, and corporations, with the potential to reach $100 billion including debt financing.
AIP has become one of the world’s leading AI infrastructure platforms with the addition of xAI, the Kuwait Investment Authority and Temasek, along with Cisco as a technology partner and agreements with GE Vernova and NextEra Energy to help accelerate the scaling of energy solutions for AI data centers.
About BlackRock
BlackRock’s purpose is to help more and more people experience financial well-being. As a fiduciary to investors and a leading provider of financial technology, we help millions of people build savings that serve them throughout their lives by making investing easier and more affordable. For additional information on BlackRock, please visit www.blackrock.com/corporate.
About MGX
MGX is a technology investment company focused on accelerating the development and adoption of AI and advanced technologies through world-leading partnerships in the United Arab Emirates and globally. MGX invests in sectors where AI can deliver value and economic impact at scale, including semiconductors, infrastructure, software, tech-enabled services, life sciences, and automation. For more information, visit www.mgx.ae.
About Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a Part of BlackRock
Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a part of BlackRock, is a leading infrastructure investor that specializes in investing in, owning, and operating some of the largest and most complex assets across the energy, transport, digital infrastructure, and water and waste management sectors.
GIP’s scaled platform has over $189 billion in assets under management. We believe that our focus on real infrastructure assets, combined with our deep proprietary origination network and comprehensive operational expertise, enables us to be responsible stewards of our clients’ capital and create positive economic impact for communities. For more information, visit www.global-infra.com.
