- Funding to support Aligned’s pipeline of new builds and acquisitions across the US and Canada.
- Move reflects sustained investor appetite for large-scale data-centre infrastructure.
What happened: Blackstone injects capital into Aligned expansion
Blackstone Infrastructure Partners will invest US$1bn in Aligned Data Centers, adding to earlier commitments and underscoring private equity’s appetite for digital infrastructure. The deal, disclosed by Capacity Media, strengthens Aligned’s balance sheet as it pursues new campuses in high-demand markets.
Colt Technology Services has confirmed that a cyberattack forced sections of its network offline, interrupting connectivity for enterprise clients across Europe. According to TechRadar Pro, the incident began on 12 August and took key systems offline for several days. DataCenter Dynamics further reports the incident affected internal portals and indicates possible targeting of management systems.
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Why it’s important
Private equity money keeps flowing into digital infrastructure. But the size of these latest deals has sparked doubts about how sustainable the returns will be. AI demand has pushed valuations for data-centre firms higher. At the same time, profit margins are being squeezed by rising energy bills and tighter rules. Blackstone’s US$1bn commitment shows confidence. Yet investors want more than words — they expect proof that new campuses can be built on time, within budget, and with a steady supply of power.
For Aligned, the cash injection gives it more weight against rivals like Equinix and Digital Realty. Still, the hurdles are clear. It must secure renewable energy contracts, steer complex planning approvals, and show that its facilities can withstand pressure as local grids reach capacity. Without progress on those points, the billion-dollar funding may build shiny sites that look good in announcements but turn out to be much harder to run profitably once they go live.
