Nvidia, Microsoft, xAI and BlackRock part of $40 billion deal for Aligned Data Centers
News Summary
A consortium comprising Abu Dhabi’s MGX, BlackRock’s Global Infrastructure Partners, and members of the Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Partnership (AIP) has agreed to acquire Aligned Data Centers for $40 billion. Aligned, owned by Macquarie Asset Management, designs and operates data centers and data campuses across North and South America. AIP was formed in September 2024 by BlackRock, MGX, Microsoft, and Nvidia to accelerate investment in AI infrastructure, with the Kuwait Investment Authority, xAI, and Temasek joining as additional participants. The Aligned deal marks AIP’s first investment and a step towards its goal of deploying $30 billion of equity capital. Aligned currently operates 50 campuses with over 5 gigawatts of operational and planned capacity. The transaction is expected to close late next year, subject to regulatory approvals.
Background
The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) technology is driving unprecedented demand for high-performance computing and storage infrastructure. Companies like OpenAI, Nvidia, CoreWeave, and Oracle are aggressively pursuing data center and computing deals, requiring immense capital and power. Data centers are the large facilities that house the hardware and equipment necessary to run large AI workloads and train models. Against this backdrop, the Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Partnership (AIP) was formed in September 2024 by BlackRock, MGX, Microsoft, and Nvidia to combine capital and technological prowess, accelerating investment in critical AI infrastructure. This acquisition of Aligned Data Centers is a strategic move to meet this burgeoning demand.
In-Depth AI Insights
What does this $40 billion acquisition signal about the current state and future trajectory of AI infrastructure investment? - This deal indicates that the demand for physical computing infrastructure has become a critical bottleneck amid the rapid advancement of AI, triggering a global