BlackRock's GIP In Talks To Acquire Aligned Data Centers In $40 Billion Deal: Report - BlackRock (NYSE:BLK), AES (NYSE:AES)

Core Insights - BlackRock Inc.'s Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP) is in advanced talks to acquire Aligned Data Centers, potentially valuing the company at $40 billion [1][2] - The deal could be announced within days, with involvement from Abu Dhabi's Mubadala Investment Co., which has previously invested in Aligned [2] - This acquisition is part of a trend of multi-billion-dollar deals driven by the rise of AI technologies, particularly following the emergence of OpenAI's ChatGPT [2] Company Overview - Aligned Data Centers operates across the U.S. and South America, managing 50 campuses and 78 data centers [3] - BlackRock acquired GIP for approximately $12.5 billion last year, indicating a significant investment strategy in infrastructure [3] Industry Context - GIP is exploring other acquisitions, including AES Corp, as the demand for power increases due to the growth of AI and data centers [4] - The current market environment is characterized by strategic deals in the utilities sector, driven by rising energy demands [4] Market Reaction - BlackRock shares experienced a 1.71% increase on Thursday and remained flat in pre-market trading on Friday [5] - The company holds a momentum score of 72.02% and a growth rating of 36.09%, reflecting positive market sentiment [5]