Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) has agreed to acquire all equity interests in Aethon III, Aethon United, and related entities and interests.

This transaction marks MC’s entry into the US shale gas business across the value chain, from upstream ownership through domestic sales and export of produced gas.

MC reached an agreement on January 16, 2026 with Aethon Energy Management and Aethon’s existing stakeholders, including Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, RedBird Capital Partners for a total equity investment of approximately $5.2 billion.

The acquisition is expected to close in the first quarter of Japan's fiscal year (April to June of 2026), subject to customary regulatory approvals.

Building on MC’s established North American energy platform—which includes upstream shale gas development with Ovintiv in British Columbia, midstream marketing and logistics through CIMA Energy in Houston, LNG exports via LNG Canada and Cameron LNG, and power generation through Diamond Generating Corporation—this acquisition further strengthens MC’s integrated energy and power business.

Aethon’s shale gas assets are primarily located in the Haynesville Shale formation, spanning Texas and Louisiana, and currently produce approximately 2.1 Bcf/d of natural gas (equivalent to about 15 million tonnes per year of LNG).

Haynesville is a major supply source of natural gas for the growing southern US market and offers favorable access to multiple LNG export terminals, including Cameron LNG, where MC holds liquefaction capacity rights under a tolling agreement.

Aethon’s natural gas is currently sold in the US southern market, and part of this volume is being considered for export as LNG to Asia, including Japan, as well as to Europe. -TradeArabia News Service