Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) is in advanced discussions to acquire Aligned Data Centers, a move that could mark one of the largest deals of the year, Bloomberg reports. The acquisition, backed by Macquarie, could value Aligned at around $40 billion, with an agreement potentially announced within days.
Mubadala Investment Co.’s AI-focused investment firm MGX is also involved in the talks, planning to invest independently as part of the potential transaction. Mubadala has previously invested in Aligned Data Centers, underscoring the strategic importance of the company’s data infrastructure operations.
GIP, which is now part of BlackRock Inc., has not reached a final agreement, and sources indicate that negotiations could still fall through or change in scope. Representatives for BlackRock, Aligned, Macquarie, and Mubadala did not immediately comment outside of regular business hours.
Aligned Data Centers, headquartered in Plano, Texas, operates 78 data centers across 50 campuses throughout the US and South America. The company has been a key player in expanding AI-related infrastructure, including participating in meetings with Trump administration officials last month on accelerating AI development and supporting the underlying data center capacity.
GIP has prior experience in the sector, having acquired Dallas-based data center firm CyrusOne with KKR & Co. in a 2021 deal valued at about $15 billion. The potential Aligned transaction would further strengthen GIP’s position in the growing data center market, which has become increasingly critical amid rising demand for cloud computing and artificial intelligence services.
In January, Aligned secured more than $12 billion in equity and debt commitments from investors, including Macquarie Asset Management, signaling robust confidence in the company’s growth trajectory. The prospective acquisition highlights continued consolidation in the data center sector and the strategic value placed on AI-ready infrastructure.
