AIP, MGX, and BlackRock Complete US$40B Aligned Data Centers Acquisition

The Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Partnership (AIP), together with MGX and BlackRock's Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), has completed the acquisition of 100% of Aligned Data Centers from funds managed by Macquarie Asset Management and its co-investors.

Valued at approximately US$40 billion, the transaction ranks among the largest private investments ever made in digital infrastructure, underscoring growing investor confidence in hyperscale data centers as the foundation of artificial intelligence.

The acquisition also represents AIP's first investment since the partnership was established, marking a major milestone toward its ambition of deploying US$30 billion in equity capital and catalyzing up to US$100 billion in total AI infrastructure investment, including debt financing.

Why Is This Acquisition Significant for the AI Infrastructure Market?

Artificial intelligence is rapidly increasing demand for high-performance computing infrastructure.

According to industry forecasts, global AI infrastructure spending is expected to exceed US$200 billion annually before the end of the decade, driven by hyperscale cloud providers, sovereign AI initiatives, and enterprise AI adoption.

Against this backdrop, Aligned Data Centers has emerged as one of the fastest-growing developers of AI-ready facilities worldwide.

Today, the company operates:

Metric	Value
Enterprise Value	US$40 billion
Data Center Campuses	51
Operational & Planned Capacity	6.4GW+
Headquarters	Dallas, Texas
Primary Markets	Northern Virginia, Chicago, Dallas, Ohio, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, São Paulo, Querétaro, Santiago

Its campuses are strategically located in major digital gateway markets that support hyperscale cloud providers and AI workloads requiring high-density computing.

What Makes Aligned Data Centers Different?

Unlike traditional data center operators, Aligned has developed patented cooling technologies designed to improve sustainability while supporting AI-intensive computing.

Its technology focuses on:

• Reducing water consumption
• Improving energy efficiency
• Supporting high-density AI workloads
• Lowering operational costs for hyperscale customers
• Increasing long-term infrastructure resilience

These capabilities are becoming increasingly important as AI models require significantly higher computing power than conventional cloud applications.

Andrew Schaap will continue serving as CEO, while the existing leadership team remains in place, preserving operational independence as the company scales globally.

How Will AIP Support Aligned's Expansion?

Beyond completing the acquisition, the consortium has committed an additional US$5 billion in growth capital to accelerate Aligned's expansion.

The investment will support:

• Construction of new AI-ready data center campuses
• Expansion into additional high-demand digital markets
• Increased hyperscale computing capacity
• Continued investment in sustainable infrastructure technologies
• Long-term workforce development and local job creation
• Enhanced grid resilience across host communities

The consortium also reaffirmed Aligned's commitment to revitalizing industrial sites, diversifying local tax bases, and investing in community development programs.

Who Are the Investors Behind the Consortium?

The consortium combines expertise across technology, infrastructure, and long-term capital investment.

Key participants include:

Organization	Role
Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Partnership (AIP)	AI infrastructure investment platform
MGX	Abu Dhabi-based AI and advanced technology investment company
BlackRock Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP)	Global infrastructure investor
Macquarie Asset Management	Previous owner of Aligned Data Centers

The partnership reflects increasing collaboration between global institutional investors and technology-focused capital providers seeking exposure to AI infrastructure.

Notably, MGX has emerged as one of the Middle East's most active AI investors, supporting initiatives aligned with the UAE's ambition to become a global AI hub alongside institutions such as Hub71, ADGM, and the country's sovereign AI ecosystem. The transaction also complements broader regional investments in digital infrastructure, including Saudi Arabia's AI ambitions under NEOM and the Kingdom's expanding data center ecosystem.

How Does This Fit Into AIP's Long-Term Strategy?

AIP was established to mobilize long-term institutional capital into the infrastructure required for the next generation of artificial intelligence.

Its objectives include:

• Deploying an initial US$30 billion of equity capital
• Supporting up to US$100 billion in total AI infrastructure investment
• Bringing together global technology leaders
• Accelerating advanced computing infrastructure
• Expanding energy and digital infrastructure required for AI

The acquisition of Aligned serves as the partnership's first major deployment of capital and signals growing investor conviction that data centers have become one of the most strategically important infrastructure asset classes globally.

As AI adoption accelerates across enterprises and governments, ownership of scalable, energy-efficient hyperscale infrastructure is expected to become increasingly critical to technological competitiveness.

Why Does This Matter?

The US$40 billion acquisition reflects a broader shift in global capital allocation toward AI infrastructure.

Rather than investing solely in AI software companies, institutional investors are increasingly backing the physical infrastructure—including data centers, energy systems, and advanced compute platforms—that enables large-scale AI deployment.

For the Middle East, the deal reinforces the growing influence of regional investors such as MGX in shaping global AI infrastructure while complementing initiatives led by Hub71, ADGM, and NEOM to position the region as a strategic hub for artificial intelligence.

 

 

FAQs

1. What is the Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Partnership (AIP)?
AIP is an investment partnership created to mobilize long-term capital for next-generation AI infrastructure, targeting US$30 billion in equity investments and up to US$100 billion in total deployed capital.

2. How much was Aligned Data Centers acquired for?
The consortium acquired Aligned Data Centers at an enterprise value of approximately US$40 billion, making it one of the largest private digital infrastructure transactions globally.

3. How large is Aligned Data Centers?
Aligned operates 51 data center campuses with more than 6.4GW of operational and planned capacity across North and South America.

4. Why are data centers important for artificial intelligence?
AI models require massive computing power, storage, and networking infrastructure. Hyperscale data centers provide the high-density computing environments necessary to train and deploy advanced AI systems efficiently.

5. What role does MGX play in the acquisition?
MGX is a member of the acquisition consortium alongside AIP and BlackRock's Global Infrastructure Partners. The Abu Dhabi-based investment company is expanding its portfolio of strategic AI and advanced technology investments, reinforcing the UAE's position in the global AI ecosystem.