Aligned Data Centers Is an Industry-Leading Provider of Innovative, 
Sustainable, and Adaptive Digital Infrastructure Powering the World's 
Most Complex and Demanding Cloud and AI Workloads 
 
 
NEW YORK & ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates & DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--October 15, 2025-- 
 
   The Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Partnership ("AIP"), MGX, and 
BlackRock's Global Infrastructure Partners ("GIP") (collectively, the 
"Consortium"), today announced they will acquire 100% of the equity in 
Aligned Data Centers ("Aligned" or the "Company") from private 
infrastructure funds managed by Macquarie Asset Management and its 
co-invest partners. The transaction will fuel the expansion of 
next-generation cloud and AI infrastructure and implies an Aligned 
enterprise value of approximately $40 billion. 
 
 
   AIP was founded by BlackRock, Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a 
part of BlackRock, MGX, Microsoft, and NVIDIA to expand capacity of AI 
infrastructure and help shape the future of AI-driven economic growth. 
Its financial anchor investors include the Kuwait Investment Authority 
and Temasek. 
 
 
   In less than a decade, Aligned has evolved into one of the largest and 
fastest growing data center companies globally. The Company designs, 
builds, and operates cutting-edge data campuses and data centers for the 
world's premier hyperscalers, neocloud, and enterprise innovators. 
Aligned's portfolio includes 50 campuses and more than 5 gigawatts of 
operational and planned capacity, including assets under development, 
primarily located in key Tier I digital gateway regions across the U.S. 
and Latin America including Northern Virginia, Chicago, Dallas, Ohio, 
Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Sao Paulo (Brazil), Queretaro (Mexico), and 
Santiago (Chile). 
 
 
   Aligned's rapid expansion has been fueled by strong execution and 
operating capabilities under the leadership of Aligned's experienced 
management team. The Company has consistently met hyperscalers' complex 
requirements, working hand-in-hand with customers to stay agile and 
innovate around their evolving needs. Aligned's Gigascale, 
Build-to-Scale, and Multi-Tenant Enterprise solutions leverage patented 
and patent-pending air, liquid, and hybrid cooling systems to deliver 
maximum adaptability and support evolving high-density AI workloads, 
even in energy-constrained regions. Additionally, the Company's robust 
supply chain, strong partnerships, strategic land acquisitions, and 
energy enablement drive leading efficiency and reliability. Aligned also 
benefits from access to multiple sources of capital, providing financial 
flexibility for future growth. The Company will remain headquartered in 
Dallas, Texas and be led by CEO Andrew Schaap and Aligned's existing 
leadership team. 
 
 
   The Consortium brings deep expertise and capabilities across AI and 
digital infrastructure. This includes AIP's strategic partnership group 
and ability to form capital at scale, MGX's leading global investment 
focus on AI and advanced technologies, and GIP's long track record as a 
leading infrastructure investor with experience owning and operating 
some of the world's most complex infrastructure assets. The Consortium's 
investment will equip Aligned with the capital and strategic support 
needed to accelerate growth and meet the rising demand for scalable, 
sustainable digital infrastructure. Backed by the Consortium, Aligned 
will accelerate the expansion of its footprint, drive further innovation, 
and continue delivering next-generation data center solutions. 
 
 
   The transaction is AIP's first investment and an important step towards 
its initial target of mobilizing and deploying $30 billion of equity 
capital, with the potential of reaching $100 billion including debt. 
With Aligned's strong customer relationships, presence in key strategic 
digital hubs, and proven management team, Aligned is well positioned to 
anchor AIP's vision for the future of AI infrastructure. 
 
 
   The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2026, subject 
to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. 
 
 
   Executive Commentary 
 
 
   Larry Fink, Chairman and CEO of BlackRock and Chairman of AIP, said, 
"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." 
 
 
   About Aligned Data Centers 
 
 

Aligned Data Centers is a leading provider of sustainable, ultra-efficient and highly adaptive data center infrastructure designed to power AI innovation at scale. Fueled by over 50 patents for award-winning cooling technology and an expedited path to energy and land enablement, we support the world's most demanding AI, High-Performance Computing (HPC) and cloud workloads. Aligned is committed to the communities we serve, transforming industrial sites into technology hubs, generating local jobs and fostering widespread skilled workforce development. Aligned is Where AI Lives. For more information, visit www.aligneddc.com.

 
 
   About AIP 
 
 
   Established in September 2024 by BlackRock, Global Infrastructure 
Partners (GIP), MGX, Microsoft, and NVIDIA, AIP was created to 
accelerate investment in next-generation AI infrastructure and advance 
the infrastructure and innovation needed to power the future of AI. 
 
 
   AIP aims to mobilize $30 billion of equity capital from investors, asset 
owners, and corporations, with the potential to reach $100 billion 
including debt financing. 
 
 
   AIP has become one of the world's leading AI infrastructure platforms 
with the addition of xAI, the Kuwait Investment Authority and Temasek, 
along with Cisco as a technology partner and agreements with GE Vernova 
and NextEra Energy to help accelerate the scaling of energy solutions 
for AI data centers. 
 
 
   About BlackRock 
 
 
   BlackRock's purpose is to help more and more people experience financial 
well-being. As a fiduciary to investors and a leading provider of 
financial technology, we help millions of people build savings that 
serve them throughout their lives by making investing easier and more 
affordable. For additional information on BlackRock, please visit 
www.blackrock.com/corporate. 
 
 
   About MGX 
 
 
   MGX is a technology investment company focused on accelerating the 
development and adoption of AI and advanced technologies through 
world-leading partnerships in the United Arab Emirates and globally. MGX 
invests in sectors where AI can deliver value and economic impact at 
scale, including semiconductors, infrastructure, software, tech-enabled 
services, life sciences, and automation. For more information, visit 
www.mgx.ae. 
 
 
   About Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a Part of BlackRock 
 
 
   Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a part of BlackRock, is a leading 
infrastructure investor that specializes in investing in, owning, and 
operating some of the largest and most complex assets across the energy, 
transport, digital infrastructure, and water and waste management 
sectors. 
 
 
   GIP's scaled platform has over $189 billion in assets under management. 
We believe that our focus on real infrastructure assets, combined with 
our deep proprietary origination network and comprehensive operational 
expertise, enables us to be responsible stewards of our clients' capital 
and create positive economic impact for communities. For more 
information, visit www.global-infra.com. 
 
 
 

View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20251014427963/en/

 
 
    CONTACT:    AIP, BlackRock and Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) 
 
   Mustafa Riffat 
 
 
   mustafa.riffat@blackrock.com 
 
   MGX 
 
   Noelle Camilleri 
 
 
   communications@mgx.ae 
 
   Aligned Data Centers 
 
   Lisa Aussieker 
 
 
   communications@aligneddc.com 
 
 
 
 
 
 

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

October 15, 2025 08:00 ET (12:00 GMT)