Key Takeaways
- $40 billion consortium deal to acquire Aligned Data Centers
- Largest global data center acquisition in history
- Nvidia, Microsoft, BlackRock, and Elon Musk’s xAI lead investor group
- First investment by newly formed AI Infrastructure Partnership (AIP)
In a landmark move for AI infrastructure development, a powerful consortium including Nvidia, Microsoft, BlackRock, and Elon Musk’s xAI has agreed to acquire Aligned Data Centers for $40 billion. This represents the largest global data center deal ever recorded.
Historic Data Center Acquisition
The investor group, comprising Abu Dhabi’s MGX, BlackRock’s Global Infrastructure Partners, and members of the Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Partnership (AIP), will acquire 100% of Aligned’s equity. Aligned designs and operates data centers across North and South America and is currently owned by Macquarie Asset Management.
The AIP consortium was established in September 2024 by BlackRock, MGX, Microsoft, and Nvidia specifically to accelerate AI infrastructure investment. Additional participants in this deal include the Kuwait Investment Authority, xAI, and Temasek.
This acquisition marks AIP’s inaugural investment and advances the group’s objective of deploying $30 billion in equity capital toward AI infrastructure development.
“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,” Larry Fink, the CEO of BlackRock and Chairman of AIP, said in a statement.
AI Infrastructure Competition Heats Up
The massive investment comes as AI companies race to build the infrastructure needed to meet surging demand for artificial intelligence technologies. Major players including OpenAI, Nvidia, CoreWeave, and Oracle are actively securing data center and computing agreements that require substantial funding and power resources.
Microsoft-backed OpenAI has already established multiple partnerships with leading chipmakers Nvidia, AMD, and Broadcom to strengthen its AI infrastructure capabilities.
