Mitsubishi in Advanced Talks to Acquire Aethon Energy for About $8 Billion

Mitsubishi Corp. is in advanced negotiations to acquire the U.S. shale production and pipeline assets of Aethon Energy Management for about $8 billion, or roughly ¥1 trillion, according to people familiar with the talks. If completed, the transaction would be the largest acquisition in the Japanese trading house’s history and would significantly expand its exposure to North American natural-gas production and infrastructure. Discussions are continuing and could still fall apart, the sources said.