Shearman & Sterling advised Osaka Gas and its U.S. subsidiary Osaka Gas USA Corporation (OGUSA) in connection with OGUSA’s joint venture with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group through its U.S. subsidiary, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries America, Inc. (MHIA), to acquire the 15.7 MWdc Brighter Future Solar Farm project in Caldwell County, North Carolina from the project developer Oriden LLC., a fully owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Power Americas, Inc.

The project is expected to commence operation by the end of 2021 and will sell 100% of its output under a 25-year power purchase agreement to Blue Ridge Energy, a member-owned electric cooperative serving northwest North Carolina.

OGUSA is a wholly owned subsidiary of Osaka Gas Co., Ltd. The company focuses on three core businesses: the Freeport LNG liquefaction project, shale gas development and power generation.

The Shearman & Sterling team was led by partner Karl Pires (Tokyo-Mergers & Acquisitions) and associates Rena Katsuyama (New York-Mergers & Acquisitions), Yuki Shirato, Masashi Shimojo and Takako Shigetomi (all Tokyo-Mergers & Acquisitions).