$40 Billion Acquisition of Aligned Data Centers Highlights Growing AI Infrastructure Demand

In a landmark transaction underscoring the escalating demand for artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure, a consortium comprising BlackRock, Nvidia, Microsoft, xAI, Abu Dhabi’s MGX, the Kuwait Investment Authority (KIA), and Singapore's Temasek has agreed to acquire Aligned Data Centers for approximately $40 billion. The deal, announced on October 15, 2025, is expected to close in the first half of 2026, pending regulatory approvals.

This acquisition marks the inaugural investment by the Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Partnership (AIP), established in September 2024 to accelerate AI infrastructure investments. The AIP plans an initial deployment of $30 billion in equity capital, with potential investments reaching up to $100 billion, including debt financing. The partnership aims to invest in new and expanded data centers to meet the growing demand for computing power, as well as energy infrastructure to create new sources of power for these facilities.

Aligned Data Centers, founded in 2013 and headquartered in Dallas, operates 50 data center campuses with over 5 gigawatts of capacity across the United States and Latin America. The company primarily serves hyperscalers, cloud providers, and large enterprises. CEO Andrew Schaap will continue to lead the company post-acquisition.

Larry Fink, Chairman and CEO of BlackRock and Chairman of the AIP, emphasized the strategic importance of the investment, stating, "With this investment in Aligned Data Centers, we further our goal of delivering the infrastructure necessary to power the future of AI."

The acquisition reflects a broader trend of significant investments in AI infrastructure. AI infrastructure spending is projected to reach $400 billion this year, driven by substantial investments from major tech companies such as Alphabet, Amazon, Meta, and OpenAI. OpenAI alone is negotiating over $1 trillion in deals for computing power from chipmakers including Nvidia and AMD.

The involvement of international investors like Abu Dhabi’s MGX, the Kuwait Investment Authority, and Singapore's Temasek highlights the global race to dominate AI infrastructure, with significant geopolitical and economic implications. The AIP's investments will primarily focus on the U.S. as well as OECD and U.S. partner countries, driving AI innovation, economic expansion, and the advancement of critical digital and energy infrastructure.

The $40 billion acquisition of Aligned Data Centers by the AIP consortium signifies a pivotal moment in the evolution of AI infrastructure. As AI technologies continue to permeate various aspects of society, the development of robust and scalable data centers becomes increasingly critical to support this growth.