• A consortium led by BlackRock, Nvidia, and Microsoft aims to acquire Aligned Data Centers for $40 billion.
• The deal marks the largest global data center acquisition to date.
• This investment aims to bolster infrastructure to support artificial intelligence growth.

An investment consortium comprising BlackRock, Nvidia, Microsoft, and xAI is set to acquire Aligned Data Centers for approximately $40 billion. This acquisition underscores the escalating competition within the tech sector to develop the infrastructure required for artificial intelligence (AI), as the demand for sophisticated models intensifies. The consortium, known as the Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Partnership (AIP), was formed to expedite investment in AI infrastructure, according to Reuters and AA.

The deal represents the largest global data center transaction to date and involves the complete acquisition of Aligned's equity, a company known for its design and operation of data centers across North and South America. According to reports, the consortium aims to deploy $30 billion in equity capital initially, with a potential total investment reaching $100 billion through leveraged debt, as stated by India Times and India Times.

The consortium's acquisition of Aligned Data Centers is also seen as crucial for its aim of delivering sustainable and adaptive data center solutions that will support the burgeoning demand from AI companies. Larry Fink, CEO of BlackRock, emphasized that this investment brings forth "attractive opportunities to participate in [AI's] growth" and is expected to close in the first half of 2026, pending regulatory approvals, as noted by Reuters and AA.