A group of leading investors, including BlackRock, Nvidia, Microsoft, as well as MGX from Abu Dhabi and Elon Musk’s startup xAI, has entered into a significant agreement to acquire one of the key data center operators — Aligned Data Centers. The deal is valued at $40 billion and marks the first in the history of the AI Infrastructure Partnership, established in 2024.
This is reported by Business • Media
Aligned’s Capabilities and Strategic Goals of the Deal
Aligned Data Centers operates nearly 80 facilities in the U.S. and Latin America, providing a total capacity of approximately 5 GW. The company not only owns state-of-the-art data centers but also possesses land assets with access to energy resources in key markets. Its clients include well-known companies such as Nutanix and Datto.
In 2024, Aligned attracted over $12 billion in investments, making it one of the most attractive companies in this sector. According to plans, the investments from the new consortium are aimed at expanding computing capabilities to support the growing demands of artificial intelligence.
The AI Infrastructure Market and Investors’ Plans
Experts believe that this deal demonstrates a growing interest among major investors in infrastructure for artificial intelligence. According to Morgan Stanley estimates, global spending on data centers for AI is expected to exceed $400 billion by 2025.
According to available data, OpenAI has already secured agreements with major chip manufacturers, including Nvidia, AMD, and Broadcom, for a capacity of up to 26 GW, equivalent to the energy consumption of 20 million American households. Other tech giants like Meta, Amazon, and Alphabet are actively expanding their AI centers, including Prometheus and Hyperion, which together could reach a capacity of 5 GW.
Aligned’s portfolio includes not only ready-to-use infrastructure facilities but also land assets with strategic access to energy resources. According to BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, these investments will help create the necessary infrastructure for the future development of AI.
The deal highlights the “strength of the artificial intelligence ecosystem,” bringing together the largest market players.
Investors, including the Kuwait Investment Authority and Temasek, plan to raise up to $100 billion in capital, including through loans, for the further development of AI Infrastructure Partnership projects. Following the completion of the deal, expected in the first half of 2026, Aligned’s headquarters will remain in Dallas, and the company will continue to be led by Andrew Schaap.
The development of infrastructure for artificial intelligence is becoming one of the key investment areas in the technology market. Recently, Google announced a $24 billion investment in AI infrastructure development in the U.S. and India.