NVIDIA, Microsoft Join BlackRock-Led Consortium to Acquire Aligned Data Centers in $40 Billion Transaction

A consortium led by BlackRock’s Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), joined by MGX, the Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Partnership (AIP), and key technology partners including NVIDIA, Microsoft, and xAI, has agreed to acquire Aligned Data Centers in a transaction valued at approximately $40 billion.

Aligned operates a growing network of more than 50 campuses across the U.S. and Latin America, that specializes in scalable and adaptive data center infrastructure designed to meet the increasing demands of artificial intelligence and cloud computing workloads.

Under the agreement, Aligned will continue to operate independently under its current CEO, Andrew Schaap. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2026, pending regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions.

The acquisition marks the first major investment under the Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Partnership, a new initiative focused on accelerating the build-out of global AI infrastructure. The AIP aims to deploy up to $100 billion in combined equity and debt financing to expand high-capacity, sustainable data center operations.

In a public statement, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink said the investment will help deliver the infrastructure necessary to power the future of AI while creating long-term value for investors. Aligned CEO Andrew Schaap added that the partnership will allow the company to scale faster, innovate further, and advance its mission to deliver sustainable, next-generation data center infrastructure.

The $40 billion transaction underscores the growing convergence between the technology and infrastructure investment sectors. With demand for compute power and efficient energy use surging worldwide, the deal represents a strategic move to secure the physical backbone of the AI economy,  from power and cooling capacity to connectivity and grid integration.