The Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Partnership (“AIP”), a consortium including BlackRock, Nvidia, xAI, and Microsoft, has announced plans to acquire Aligned Data Centers in a deal valued at $40 billion.
AIP was established by BlackRock, Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a division of BlackRock, MGX, Microsoft, and NVIDIA to enhance AI infrastructure capacity and influence the future of AI-based economic development. Its main financial backers include the Kuwait Investment Authority and Temasek.
As part of the deal, Aligned will remain headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and will be led by CEO Andrew Schaap.
Today, Larry Fink, Chairman and CEO of BlackRock and Chairman of AIP, told investors, “AIP is positioned to meet the growing demand for the infrastructure required as AI continues to reshape the global economy. This partnership is bringing together leading companies and mobilizing private capital to accelerate AI innovation and drive global economic growth and productivity. 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.”
Ahmed Yahia Al Idrissi, Managing Director and CEO of MGX and Vice Chairman of AIP, said, “We are entering a new era in which AI will fundamentally reengineer our economies and enable accelerated growth. Compute infrastructure at scale will be foundational to that progress. Our investment in Aligned Data Centers will direct scalable capital to an operator built for efficiency and growth, with the mission to deliver the infrastructure needed to support global AI adoption.”
Bayo Ogunlesi, Chairman and CEO of Global Infrastructure Partners, a part of BlackRock, said, “AI is reshaping every sector of the global economy. By combining Aligned’s scalable, adaptable platform with AIP’s capital and capabilities, we will build the infrastructure to support innovation at scale – creating resilient, sustainable communities and unlocking transformative growth worldwide.”
Andrew Schaap, CEO of Aligned Data Centers, said, “Partnering with the Consortium will accelerate our mission to deliver the infrastructure powering tomorrow’s digital economy. With AIP, MGX, and GIP’s global reach, extensive resources, and deep expertise across AI, energy, and finance, we are poised to scale faster, innovate further, and redefine what’s possible in sustainable data center infrastructure.”
The transaction is anticipated to close in the first half of 2026.
By CEO NA Editorial Staff
