Pranav Hotkar
Dallas - July 21, 2026 - The Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Partnership (AIP), Abu Dhabi-based investment firm MGX, and BlackRock's Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) have completed their acquisition of Aligned Data Centers, closing one of the largest private investments in digital infrastructure as investors race to expand capacity for AI and hyperscale computing. The transaction values aligned at an enterprise value of approximately USD 40 billion.
The deal transfers full ownership of Aligned from private infrastructure funds managed by Macquarie Asset Management and its co-investment partners to the consortium. In conjunction with the closing, the investors also committed an additional USD 5 billion in growth capital to accelerate Aligned's expansion across North America and international markets, underscoring the industry's push to build infrastructure capable of supporting rapidly growing AI workloads.
Founded in 2013, Aligned has become one of the world's largest data center developers, with 51 campuses and more than 6.4 GW of operational and planned capacity. The company specializes in hyperscale and build-to-scale facilities designed for cloud providers and AI-driven computing, with campuses featuring high-density power and advanced cooling technologies to support next-generation GPU deployments.
The acquisition reflects a broader surge in capital flowing into AI infrastructure as technology companies expand computing capacity to meet accelerating demand for generative AI applications. Institutional investors have increasingly targeted digital infrastructure assets, viewing data centers as long-term investments supported by growing cloud adoption, enterprise digital transformation, and the rising electricity requirements of AI workloads.
Andrew Schaap will continue to lead Aligned as Chief Executive Officer following the transaction. The consortium said the acquisition provides a platform to scale the company's development pipeline while strengthening its ability to deliver AI-ready infrastructure for hyperscale customers. The broader AIP platform has indicated plans to deploy USD 30 billion in initial equity capital, with the potential to mobilize up to USD 100 billion, including debt financing, for future AI infrastructure investments.
The closing marks another milestone in a year of record-breaking investment across the global data center sector. Growing demand for AI computing has intensified competition among infrastructure investors to secure large-scale data center platforms with established development pipelines, available power, and expansion opportunities.
For the data center industry, the transaction highlights the increasing convergence of institutional capital and AI infrastructure development. With billions of dollars being committed to new campuses, power infrastructure, and advanced computing facilities, large operators such as Aligned are expected to play a central role in supporting the next wave of hyperscale cloud and artificial intelligence deployments across global markets.
