Aligned Data Centers in Ashburn, Virginia.
A group of artificial intelligence investors led by asset management giant BlackRock has agreed with US-based Aligned Data Centers to purchase them for $40 billion.
This transaction, spearheaded by the AI Infrastructure Partnership, is meant to fuel the expansion and development of next-generation cloud infrastructure. According to a recent announcementAIP was founded last year by BlackRock’s Global Infrastructure Partners, Abu Dhabi MGX, Microsoft, Nvidia and the Kuwait Investment Authority, with anchor investments from Singapore state holding company Temasek and Kuwait Investment Authority.
Aligned is owned by managed funds from Australia’s Macquarie Asset Management and has 50 data centre campuses with over 5 gigawatts in operational and planned capacity throughout the US and Latin America. The deal, which is being billed the largest data centre deal ever, dwarfs the $16.1 billion enterprise valuation of Asia Pacific platform AirTrunk when it was acquired last year by Blackstone and Canada Pension Plan Investment Board.
Larry Fink, Chairman and CEO of BlackRock, and chairman of AIP, said that this partnership would bring together leading companies to mobilise private capital and accelerate AI innovation in order to drive global economic growth. With this investment in Aligned Data Centers we further our goal to deliver the infrastructure needed to power the future AI, while also offering our clients attractive ways to participate in its development. The $40 billion deal was expected to close this monthafter receiving regulatory approvals.
Larry Fink, Chairman and CEO of BlackRock, and chairman of the AI Infrastructure Partnership.
According to the announcement, the transaction is AIP’s first investment, and marks a move towards an initial goal of mobilising and devoting $30 billion in equity capital with the potential to reach $100 billion, including debt.
Investors praised Aligned, a Texas-based company, for its strong customer relationships, presence at strategic digital hubs, and proven management team. They also praised the company’s patented cooling system, which supports high-density AI workloads even in regions with limited energy. The company will remain headquartered in Dallas, under the leadership Andrew Schaap.
Schaap stated that with AIP, MGX, and GIP’s global presence, extensive resources, and deep expertise in AI, energy, and finance, they are able to scale faster, innovate more, and redefine what is possible in sustainable data center infrastructure. Rapid Growth
Macquarie Asset Management invested in Aligned’s first facility in Dallas in April 2018, through the Macquarie Infrastructure Partners IV Fund, and acquired an additional stake via Macquarie Infrastructure Partners V in July 2020. During Macquarie’s ownership, Aligned went from two facilities in Dallas in Phoenix with 85 Megawatts of operational capability to over 5GW in operational and planned capacity across 50 data centers in the US and Mexico, Brazil Chile and Colombia. Ben Way, Macquarie Asset Management head, said: “This transaction demonstrates Macquarie Asset Management’s ability to consistently identify and find opportunities which create value for our partners and clients.”
“The scaling up of Aligned Data Centers to 50 locations in seven years is representative our approach to working together with great companies and team to support their rapid expansion and deliver positive impacts.”
