BlackRock’s Global Infrastructure Partners, UAE-based MGX, and the Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Partnership closed an acquisition of data center developer Aligned Data Centers valued at $40 billion. The buyers will purchase 100% of the equity in Aligned Data Centers, which owns over 6.4 gigawatts of operational and planned data center capacity, from Macquarie Asset Management. The deal was first announced in October, also at a $40 billion valuation. This acquisition represents AIP’s first investment, according to a July 21 press release. Aligned Data Centers will remain Dallas-headquartered, led by CEO Andrew Schaap and its existing management. AIP, GIP and MGX will also provide $5 billion in additional capital for expansion. BlackRock, Microsoft and Nvidia, along with MGX and GIP, launched the AI Infrastructure Partnership in September 2024. The partnership was established to initially mobilize $30 billion to scale AI and data technology and infrastructure. Aligned’s data center capacity is spread across 51 locations, primarily in the U.S. with others in Mexico and South America.