The firms announced on Wednesday that a group of investors, including Nvidia, Microsoft, BlackRock, and Elon Musk’s xAI, have agreed to pay $40 billion to acquire Aligned Data Centers.
Aligned, which is owned by Macquarie Asset Management, plans and runs data campuses and centers in North and South America.
In what will be the biggest global data center transaction to date, MGX of Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, BlackRock’s Global Infrastructure Partners, and members of the Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Partnership, or AIP, will purchase 100% of the company’s shares.
To speed up investment in AI infrastructure, BlackRock, MGX, Microsoft, and Nvidia formed AIP in September 2024. Temasek, xAI, and the Kuwait Investment Authority have joined as new participants.
With the Aligned agreement, AIP makes its first investment and moves closer to its $30 billion equity capital deployment target.
Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock and Chairman of AIP, stated, “With this investment in Aligned Data Centers, we further our goal of delivering the infrastructure necessary to power the future of AI, while offering our clients attractive opportunities to participate in its growth.”
Businesses that specialize in artificial intelligence have been rushing to construct the infrastructure they anticipate being required to satisfy the rising demand for the technology.
Big data centers and computer transactions are being made by companies like OpenAI, Nvidia, CoreWeave, and Oracle, which will demand previously unheard-of levels of power and financing.
The sizable buildings that hold the gear and technology required for performing heavy AI workloads and training models are known as data centers.
Aligned has more than 5 gigawatts of active and projected capacity, and it now runs 50 campuses.
The Aligned deal is still pending regulatory clearances and other customary closing requirements, but it is anticipated to close late next year.
