Record 51 Billion Deal Signals AI Infrastructure Gold Rush

A Record Breaking Deal in the AI Gold Rush

The race to secure the foundational infrastructure for artificial intelligence has reached a new peak. In a landmark transaction valued at US$40 billion (S$51.8 billion), an influential investor group has acquired Aligned Data Centers, one of the world's largest data centre operators. This deal, the biggest ever in the data centre sector, underscores the urgent and massive demand for AI-ready computing power as companies worldwide scramble to gain a competitive edge.

The Power Players Behind the Acquisition

Driving this monumental purchase is the AI Infrastructure Partnership, a consortium formed in 2024 featuring a who's who of global finance and technology. The group includes Singapore’s Temasek, investment giant BlackRock, tech titans Microsoft and Nvidia, the Kuwait Investment Authority, Abu Dhabi-based fund MGX, and even Elon Musk’s start-up, xAI. This acquisition marks the partnership's first major deal.

"With this investment in Aligned Data Centers, we further our goal of delivering the infrastructure necessary to power the future of AI," stated BlackRock CEO Larry Fink, who also chairs the AI Infrastructure Partnership. The group has an initial goal of deploying US$30 billion in equity, with the potential to reach US$100 billion including debt.

Who is Aligned Data Centers

Founded in 2013 and based in Texas, Aligned Data Centers has become a major beneficiary of the AI spending boom. The company manages or is developing 78 data centres across 50 campuses in the US and South America. With over 5 gigawatts of operational and planned capacity, Aligned is a critical player in the digital infrastructure landscape. Its customers include prominent tech firms like Nutanix and Datto. The company's value is further enhanced by its significant land portfolio, which provides access to near-term power capacity in key markets.

The Soaring Demand for AI Infrastructure

This acquisition is the latest in a series of big-ticket deals fueled by the AI boom. According to Morgan Stanley estimates, major tech companies like Alphabet, Amazon.com, Meta, and Microsoft are on track to spend a staggering US$400 billion on AI infrastructure in 2025 alone.

This trend is exemplified by recent deals from OpenAI, the start-up at the heart of the AI boom, which may cost over US$1 trillion to secure the necessary computing capacity from chipmakers. Meanwhile, Meta Platforms is constructing its own multi-gigawatt AI data centres, such as Prometheus and Hyperion, to meet its massive needs.

What This Means for the Future

Experts see the deal as a clear indicator of the rising value of data centre assets. "They’re looking at rapid expansion to meet AI demand and optimise for it," said Joe Tigay, a portfolio manager at Nvidia shareholder Equity Armor Investments. The strength of the consortium itself speaks volumes. Hendi Susanto, portfolio manager at Gabelli Funds, noted, "All the major parties in that consortium, they are showing the strength of the AI ecosystem.”

Following the deal's closure, expected in the first half of 2026, Aligned Data Centers will continue to operate from its headquarters in Dallas, Texas, under its current CEO, Andrew Schaap.