UAE-based technology investor MGX is reportedly in negotiations to acquire a stake in Aligned Data Centers, a company based in the United States. This potential transaction emerges amid ongoing discussions where Global Infrastructure Partners, a subsidiary of the asset management giant BlackRock, is close to finalizing its own acquisition of Aligned from investors backed by Macquarie.
In this developing situation, MGX is anticipated to make its investment independently, indicating a strategic approach towards enhancing its presence in the data center sector.
Aligned Data Centers, headquartered in Plano, Texas, boasts an impressive portfolio that includes 50 campuses and 78 data centers, as well as plans for further development both in the U.S. and South America. This highlights the company’s significant footprint in the growing data management and cloud infrastructure market.
In a related context, Mubadala, one of MGX’s foundational partners, made headlines in August 2023 with a notable investment in Aligned. This move was part of a broader strategy that also saw Mubadala take a stake in London-based Yondr Group, which focuses on developing hyperscale data centers, signifying a commitment to expanding its influence in critical infrastructure.
Recent reports have also suggested that MGX is preparing to secure a 15 percent stake in TikTok’s U.S. operations, an arrangement believed to have received backing from the White House. This aligns with MGX’s ambitious plans to raise $25 billion to accelerate its investments in artificial intelligence, as highlighted in Bloomberg’s August reports.
Since its inception in March of the previous year, MGX has quickly positioned itself as a player in the technology investment landscape, with Mubadala and G42, the UAE’s artificial intelligence investment arm, serving as its founding partners. The company is chaired by Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE national security adviser, while Mubadala CEO Khaldoon Al Mubarak holds the vice chairman position.
Furthermore, in September of last year, MGX joined the $30 billion Global AI Infrastructure Investment Partnership, which aims to build essential data centers and energy infrastructure, further reinforcing its commitment to advancing technological development in the region.
