Aligned Data Centers Sold for $40 Billion in Record Deal
It’s important to note that the biggest data-centre deal in history just closed, and the buyers immediately wrote another cheque. A consortium led by BlackRock and Abu Dhabi’s MGX has taken over Aligned Data Centers for $40 billion, then added $5 billion more to build faster. This clearly demonstrates the significant investment chasing AI’s physical backbone.
The Deal:
- The AI Infrastructure Partnership, MGX, and BlackRock’s Global Infrastructure Partners completed their purchase of all the equity in Aligned Data Centers.
- The deal values the Texas developer at about $40 billion, marking the largest data-centre acquisition on record.
- The seller, Macquarie Asset Management, had owned Aligned since 2018. At that time, it ran two sites and 85 megawatts of capacity; today, it spans 51 campuses and over 6.4 gigawatts, live or planned, across the US and South America.
- Another $5 billion was committed to expand Aligned’s AI-ready capacity, as reported by Bloomberg.
Behind the Investment:
- The consortium’s strategy is based on the assumption that demand for computing power will continue outpacing supply, making ownership of buildings with power and cooling a valuable asset.
- The line-up includes a who’s who of capital: AIP formed in 2024 by BlackRock, GIP, MGX, Microsoft, and Nvidia; MGX brings sovereign money backed by Abu Dhabi royal Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Mubadala, and G42; GIP, part of BlackRock, manages over $200 billion.
The Land Grab:
- Recent frenzy in digital infrastructure investments includes firms like KKR, Brookfield, and Blackstone’s $10 billion acquisition of QTS in 2021.
- Aligned’s pitch focuses on efficiency, with over 50 patents on cooling that reduce water and power use—a growing concern as vast campuses strain local grids.
- Chief executive Andrew Schaap and his team will stay on following the deal.
The Bet:
The scale of the investment is staggering, riding on the assumption that AI demand will keep climbing. If it stalls, these buildings could become an expensive wager, echoing warnings that the boom might burst. For now, the money continues to vote with its chequebook.
Story by Cristian Dina, CRO at The Next Web.