BlackRock’s GIP Nears $40-B Deal to Buy Aligned Data Centers

Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) is in advanced talks to acquire Macquarie-backed Aligned Data Centers, targeting a major beneficiary of the AI spending boom in what would be one of the year’s biggest deals, according to people familiar with the matter, Bloomberg News reported, citing Ryan Gould, Michelle F. Davis, Matthew Monks, and Manuel Baigorri.

GIP has also been eyeing other major takeovers, including a potential acquisition of power company AES Corp. (Photo: Global Infrastructure Partners)

Aligned could be valued at about $40 billion in the transaction, said one of the sources.

An agreement could be announced within days, they added, asking not to be identified because the information is private.

MGX, an AI investment company established by sovereign wealth fund Mubadala Investment Co., is also involved in the talks and would invest independently as part of the transaction, one of the people said. Mubadala has already invested separately in Aligned.

GIP has also been eyeing other major takeovers, including a potential acquisition of power company AES Corp., on expectations that the sector will benefit from surging electricity demand from facilities running AI applications.

AES has an enterprise value of about $38 billion, including debt. GIP, now part of BlackRock Inc., has not yet reached a final agreement for Aligned Data Centers, and some details might still change—or the talks could end without a transaction, the people said.