MGX, AIP, and BlackRock's Global Infrastructure Partners close $40 billion acquisition of Aligned Data Centres, one of the largest AI-ready data center platform deals.

The infrastructure needed to power artificial intelligence is attracting investment on a scale once associated with major energy and telecommunications projects. Abu Dhabi-based MGX, the Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Partnership (AIP), and BlackRock's Global Infrastructure Partners have completed a $40 billion acquisition of Aligned Data Centres, acquiring 100 per cent of the company from private infrastructure funds managed by Macquarie Asset Management and its co-investment partners.

The transaction ranks among the largest private investments completed in digital infrastructure. The consortium has also committed a further $5 billion in growth capital to expand Aligned's data centre network and increase capacity available for AI workloads.

Aligned is one of the world's largest and fastest-growing data centre developers, operating 51 campuses with more than 6.4 gigawatts of operational and planned capacity. Its portfolio is concentrated across major digital markets in the United States, including Northern Virginia, Chicago, Dallas, Ohio, Phoenix and Salt Lake City. The company also operates and develops assets in São Paulo, Querétaro and Santiago, giving the consortium exposure to growing digital infrastructure demand across North and Latin America.

Data centres provide the computing power needed by AI models, cloud platforms and other digital services. Aligned has developed patented cooling technologies designed to reduce water consumption and improve energy efficiency of its facilities, addressing the increasingly advanced cooling systems required as demand for computing capacity rises.

This acquisition represents the first investment completed by the Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Partnership, established to bring together technology companies and long-term investors to fund the next generation of AI infrastructure. AIP is initially targeting $30 billion in equity commitments, with the potential to support as much as $100 billion of investment when debt financing is included.

Aligned Chief Executive Officer Andrew Schaap and the current management team will continue to lead the company from its Dallas, Texas headquarters, maintaining operational independence. MGX and the other consortium members will provide long-term capital for growth while enabling the company to expand its footprint and build additional AI-ready capacity. Growth plans include redevelopment of older sites, local job creation, workforce training and investments intended to improve electricity grid resilience in the communities where Aligned operates.