AIP, MGX and BlackRock's GIP Close Acquisition of Aligned Data Centers

Transaction reflects Aligned Data Centers’ enterprise valuation of approximately $40 billion

Closing marks the deployment of one of the largest private investments ever made in digital infrastructure, anchoring a global strategy to build the advanced compute capacity required to power the future of technological innovation

DALLAS & NEW YORK & ABU DHABI--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Partnership (“AIP”), MGX, and BlackRock’s Global Infrastructure Partners (“GIP”) (collectively, the “Consortium”), today successfully completed their previously announced acquisition of 100% of the equity in Aligned Data Centers (“Aligned” or the “Company”) from private infrastructure funds managed by Macquarie Asset Management and its co-invest partners. The transaction, which represents Aligned’s enterprise value of approximately $40 billion, stands as one of the largest private investments made to date in digital infrastructure.

Aligned is one of the largest and fastest-growing data center developers globally, with a portfolio spanning 51 campuses and more than 6.4GW of operational and planned capacity. Aligned’s current deployments reflect the essential role digital infrastructure plays in American reindustrialization and technological leadership, with assets concentrated in key Tier I digital gateway regions including Northern Virginia, Chicago, Dallas, Ohio, Phoenix and Salt Lake City, as well as São Paulo, Querétaro and Santiago. The Company is globally recognized for its patented cooling technologies that materially reduce water usage and enhance the energy efficiency of data center deployments for its customers and communities. Aligned’s Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Schaap, and the existing management team will continue to lead the Company, which will remain headquartered in Dallas, Texas.

The Consortium’s partners provide Aligned with strengths spanning the entire advanced compute ecosystem and the digital and energy infrastructure that underpins it, combining strategic insight into the technologies defining the next era of AI; deep experience investing in, owning and operating complex infrastructure at scale; and a supportive partnership model and the long-term capital required for Aligned to scale its platform while maintaining its customer and community focus and operational independence.

With the Consortium’s support, Aligned will continue:

• Delivering meaningful value to the communities in which the Company operates by creating local jobs and investing in local workforce development, revitalizing legacy sites, diversifying local tax bases, and enhancing grid resilience;

• Expanding the Company’s footprint to deliver cutting-edge infrastructure to support the complex digital requirements of a growing customer base; and

• Innovating next-generation, sustainable digital infrastructure that meets high-density digital demands and serves as the backbone for U.S. technological leadership.

AIP was established to mobilize long-term capital at scale and convene global technology leaders in support of next-generation AI infrastructure. The transaction is AIP’s first investment and an important step toward its initial target of mobilizing and deploying $30 billion of equity capital, with the potential to support up to $100 billion of total investment, including debt. In connection with the closing, the Consortium has also committed an additional $5 billion of growth capital to fund Aligned's continued expansion and scale-up of AI-ready capacity.

About Aligned Data Centers

Aligned Data Centers delivers sustainable, ultra-efficient, and adaptive infrastructure for the world’s most demanding technology workloads. Fueled by over 50 patents for award-winning, water- and energy-saving cooling technology and a commitment to responsible development, our facilities underpin the digital applications society relies on every day. Aligned is committed to the communities we serve, transforming industrial sites into technology hubs, generating local jobs, and fostering widespread skilled workforce development. For more information, visit www.aligneddc.com.

About AIP

The AI Infrastructure Partnership (AIP) was established to accelerate investment in next-generation AI infrastructure and advance the innovation needed to power the future of AI. AIP aims to mobilize $30 billion of equity capital from investors, asset owners, and corporations, with the potential to reach $100 billion including debt financing.

About MGX

MGX is a technology investment company focused on accelerating the development and adoption of AI and advanced technologies through world-leading partnerships globally. MGX invests in sectors where AI can deliver value and economic impact at scale, including infrastructure, semiconductors, software, tech-enabled services, life sciences, and automation. For more information, visit www.mgx.ae.

About Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a Part of BlackRock

Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a part of BlackRock, is a leading infrastructure investor that specialises in investing in, owning and operating some of the largest and most complex assets across the energy, transport, digital infrastructure and water and waste management sectors. GIP’s scaled platform has over $200 billion in assets under management. For more information, visit www.global-infra.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements, including statements regarding the expected benefits of the transaction, the future plans, strategy and growth of Aligned Data Centers, anticipated capital deployment by AIP, and expectations regarding demand for AI infrastructure. These statements reflect current expectations and assumptions and are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. The parties undertake no obligation to update any forward-looking statement except as required by law.