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A consortium backed by BlackRock and Abu Dhabi investment fund MGX has committed an additional USD 5 billion in growth capital to Aligned Data Centers after completing its USD 40 billion acquisition of the US-based data centre operator from Macquarie Asset Management. The investment forms part of the consortium's broader strategy to expand digital infrastructure supporting artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing. Aligned Data Centers currently operates or is developing 51 data centre campuses with more than 6.4 gigawatts (GW) of operational and planned capacity globally. The consortium plans to deploy USD 30 billion in equity initially, with total investments potentially reaching USD 100 billion, including debt.
A consortium backed by BlackRock and Abu Dhabi-based investment fund MGX has committed an additional USD 5 billion in growth capital to Aligned Data Centers following the completion of its USD 40 billion acquisition of the company from Macquarie Asset Management. The announcement was made in the past week as investors continue to increase funding for digital infrastructure supporting artificial intelligence (AI) applications.
The consortium had agreed to acquire Aligned Data Centers last year as demand for large-scale computing infrastructure accelerated amid the rapid adoption of AI technologies. The latest capital commitment is intended to support the company's expansion as hyperscale cloud providers and technology firms continue to increase investment in data centre capacity.
Founded in 2013, Texas-based Aligned Data Centers develops and operates facilities serving hyperscale cloud computing companies and enterprise customers. According to the company, it currently has 51 data centre campuses with more than 6.4 gigawatts (GW) of operational and planned capacity across its global portfolio.
Andrew Schaap, who has served as Chief Executive Officer of Aligned Data Centers since 2017, will continue to lead the company following the completion of the acquisition.
The investor consortium stated that it intends to deploy an initial USD 30 billion in equity capital, with the overall investment programme having the potential to reach USD 100 billion, including debt financing. The additional USD 5 billion announced after the transaction closes will contribute towards expanding Aligned's infrastructure and supporting future growth.
The acquisition reflects the increasing volume of investment flowing into the global digital infrastructure sector as demand for computing capacity continues to rise. The growing adoption of generative AI platforms and cloud-based services has prompted technology companies and infrastructure investors to accelerate the development of data centres capable of supporting high-performance computing workloads.
Data centre operators have become a key focus for institutional investors as artificial intelligence applications require significant processing power, storage capacity and energy infrastructure. This has led to increased investment in facilities designed to serve hyperscale cloud providers and AI-driven businesses.
The acquisition of Aligned Data Centers and the subsequent capital commitment underline the continued expansion of the global data centre sector, with investors positioning themselves to support the infrastructure requirements of AI, cloud computing and other data-intensive digital services.
Source - Reuters
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