$40 Billion AI Data Center Deal: BlackRock & Nvidia Unite
A major investment group, including BlackRock, Microsoft, and Nvidia, has made a significant move by acquiring Aligned Data Centers for $40 billion. This deal, which involves one of the world's largest data center operators, aims to enhance computing capacity for artificial intelligence (AI). With nearly 80 facilities worldwide, this acquisition marks a crucial step in meeting the growing demand for AI infrastructure.
BlackRock's CEO, Larry Fink, emphasized that this investment aligns with their mission to provide the necessary infrastructure to power the future of AI. The deal is the first of its kind for the AI Infrastructure Partnership, established last year and backed by various influential investors, including Elon Musk's startup, xAI.
The booming AI market has prompted major tech companies to invest heavily in infrastructure. According to Morgan Stanley, firms like Alphabet, Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft are projected to spend around $400 billion on AI infrastructure this year alone. This surge in investment highlights the increasing importance of data centers as vital assets for tech giants.
Aligned Data Centers, which has over 5 gigawatts of operational and planned power capacity, has been a significant player in the AI infrastructure spending boom. Earlier this year, it raised $12 billion in equity and debt, marking one of the largest private capital injections into a data center company. Notably, its clientele includes prominent companies like Nutanix and Datto, further solidifying its role in the growing AI landscape.
As the demand for AI continues to rise, the investment group, which also includes Kuwait Investment Authority and Singapore’s Temasek, has an initial target of deploying $30 billion in equity capital, with potential growth up to $100 billion when including debt. This acquisition showcases the strength and potential of the AI ecosystem and the strategic importance of data centers in supporting future innovations.
Aligned Data Centers will maintain its headquarters in Dallas, Texas, under the leadership of CEO Andrew Schaap once the deal closes in the first half of 2026. The acquisition is a testament to the rapid growth and evolution of the AI industry, positioning the involved companies to capitalize on the unprecedented demand for AI capabilities in the coming years.
