BlackRock-MGX consortium commits $5bn for Aligned Data Centres after closing acquisition

A consortium led by BlackRock, MGX, and the Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Partnership (AIP) has committed $5 billion to expand Aligned Data Centres following the completion of a $40 billion acquisition. The deal marks one of the largest transactions in the data centre industry, positioning the newly formed ownership group to scale Aligned's operations globally. The acquisition was finalized after months of negotiations, with the consortium purchasing the company from Australian asset manager Macquarie Asset Management and other co-investors. The acquisition brings together three major players in the tech and financial sectors. BlackRock's Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) joined forces with MGX, a private investment firm backed by Abu Dhabi's Mubadala Investment Company and G42, and AIP, a new entity focused on advancing AI infrastructure. Together, they have acquired control of Aligned Data Centres, a leading provider of hyperscale data centres with a presence in North America, Latin America, and South America. The transaction was announced publicly last year, but the final terms were confirmed recently through official statements from the involved parties. Aligned currently operates 51 data centre campuses across strategic locations such as northern Virginia, Chicago, Dallas, Ohio, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, São Paulo, Querétaro, and Santiago. These sites collectively offer over 6.4 gigawatts of operational and planned capacity, making Aligned one of the largest providers of colocation and cloud services in the region. The company is recognized for its innovative cooling systems, which reduce water consumption while improving energy efficiency, a critical factor in meeting the rising demand for sustainable data infrastructure. The $5 billion investment from the consortium will be used to fund Aligned's ongoing expansion efforts, including the development of new facilities and the enhancement of existing ones. According to the companies, the investment reflects confidence in Aligned's ability to meet the evolving needs of customers requiring high-performance computing resources. The leadership structure of Aligned will remain unchanged, with CEO Andrew Schaap and the current management team continuing to oversee day-to-day operations from the company's headquarters in Dallas, Texas. MGX has emerged as a dominant force in the AI investment landscape, having raised $49 billion for its AI-focused fund, far exceeding its initial target of $45 billion. This growth underscores the firm's increasing influence in shaping the future of artificial intelligence. MGX has previously invested in major AI firms such as Anthropic, OpenAI, and Binance, demonstrating a broad strategy that spans both traditional and emerging technologies. Its involvement in the latest acquisition further cements its position as a key player in the global data infrastructure market. The Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Partnership (AIP), established in 2024, plays a central role in the consortium. Designed to accelerate investment in next-generation AI infrastructure, AIP aims to mobilize $30 billion in equity capital initially, with the potential to grow to $100 billion through additional debt financing. This initiative aligns with the broader goal of ensuring that AI development is supported by robust physical infrastructure capable of handling the computational demands of advanced algorithms and models. As the data centre industry continues to evolve, the partnership between BlackRock, MGX, and AIP signals a shift toward greater collaboration between financial institutions, sovereign wealth funds, and technology innovators. With the combined resources and expertise of these entities, Aligned Data Centres is poised to play a pivotal role in the global digital economy, providing the foundational infrastructure necessary for the next wave of technological advancements.