Abu Dhabi’s MGX is part of a consortium that plans to acquire 100 per cent of the equity in Aligned Data Centres 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 enterprise value of approximately US$40 billion for Aligned.
MGX joins $40bn AI infrastructure deal
MGX is joined in the investment by the Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Partnership (AIP) and BlackRock’s Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP).
AIP was founded by BlackRock, GIP, MGX, Microsoft, and Nvidia to expand capacity of AI infrastructure and help shape the future of AI-driven economic growth. Kuwait Investment Authority and Temasek are
AIP’s financial anchor investors.
Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Aligned has become one of the largest and fastest-growing data centre companies globally. It designs, builds, and operates cutting-edge data campuses and data centres for the world’s premier hyperscalers, neocloud, and enterprise innovators.
The company will remain headquartered in Dallas and will continue to be led by CEO Andrew Schaap and its existing leadership team.
Aligned’s portfolio includes 50 campuses and more than 5 gigawatts of operational and planned capacity. These are located in key Tier 1 digital gateway regions across the US and Latin America, including Northern Virginia, Chicago, Dallas, Ohio, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, Sao Paulo (Brazil), Queretaro (Mexico), and Santiago (Chile).
Ahmed Yahia Al Idrissi, Managing Director and CEO of MGX and Vice Chairman of AIP, commented: “We are entering a new era in which AI will fundamentally reengineer our economies and enable accelerated growth. Computer infrastructure at scale will be foundational to that progress.
“Our investment in Aligned Data Centres 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.”
Aligned’s rapid expansion has been fuelled by strong execution and operating capabilities. The company has consistently met hyperscalers’ complex requirements, and its 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, even in energy-constrained regions.
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 new investment will equip Aligned with the capital and strategic support needed to accelerate growth and meet the rising demand for scalable, sustainable digital infrastructure.
The transaction is AIP’s first investment and an important step towards its initial target of mobilising and deploying US$30 billion of equity capital, with the potential of reaching US$100 billion, including debt.
Larry Fink, Chairman and CEO of BlackRock and Chairman of AIP, added: “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 mobilising 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.”
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 centre infrastructure.”
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