In one of the largest digital infrastructure deals on record, a high-powered investment group backed by BlackRock and Abu Dhabi-based AI fund MGX finalized its $40 billion takeover of Plano-based Aligned Data Centers.

The investor group—operating as the Artificial Intelligence Infrastructure Partnership (AIP)—acquired 100% of the data center operator’s equity from private infrastructure funds managed by Macquarie Asset Management and its co-investment partners. Following the transaction, the buyers committed an additional $5 billion in growth capital to accelerate Aligned’s expansion.

The acquisition marks the first major deployment for AIP, a coalition formed to mobilize capital for high-density computing infrastructure. Other major partners supporting the partnership include Microsoft and Nvidia. AIP aims to direct $30 billion in equity toward AI digital infrastructure, with the potential to reach $100 billion including debt.

Anchoring the AI Boom in North Texas

Aligned Data Centers ranks among the world’s fastest-growing digital infrastructure developers, boasting 51 campuses and over 6.4 gigawatts of operational and planned capacity across North and South America.

Despite the massive shift in ownership, Aligned will retain its headquarters in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Chief Executive Officer Andrew Schaap and the current leadership team will continue to run daily operations.

“When we hear about AI, we think about these West Coast companies… this investment shows that the foundational layer supporting AI and technological growth is happening right here in our backyard in Texas,” Schaap said, highlighting the state’s central role in powering modern compute workloads.

Aligned currently employs 144 workers and operates four major facilities across D-FW, including an ongoing campus expansion in Mansfield.

D-FW Leads the Global Data Center Race

The landmark transaction underlines North Texas’ rising status as the world’s premier data center hub. According to Cushman & Wakefield’s 2026 Global Data Center Market Comparison, Dallas-Fort Worth ranked as the top primary market globally, surpassing long-standing tech corridors in Northern Virginia and Atlanta.

Several factors drive the region’s dominance:

• Favorable Power and Land Availability: Abundant real estate and localized power solutions make rapid scaling feasible.
• Massive Planned Capacity: D-FW currently maintains more than 10 gigawatts of planned compute capacity.
• Pro-Business Climate: Texas’ regulatory environment continues to attract long-term corporate infrastructure capital.

With $5 billion in new funding secured, Aligned plans to expand its presence across key North American and Latin American markets to meet surging demand for artificial intelligence and cloud computing capacity.