D. Hari Nair

Mitsubishi Corp. is in advanced talks to buy the assets of Aethon Energy Management for close to $8 billion, people familiar with the matter said, in what would be the Japanese conglomerate’s biggest ever acquisition. Tokyo-based Mitsubishi could announce a deal with the US energy-focused investment firm in the next couple of months, according to the people. Abu Dhabi National Oil Co. had also been considering a potential transaction involving Aethon, Bloomberg News reported in April.

Spain’s largest renewable fund Qualitas Energy is the frontrunner to acquire clean-energy company Cubico Sustainable Investments, according to people with knowledge of the matter. Qualitas has emerged as the leading bidder for the business after interest from KKR & Co.’s ContourGlobal, the other remaining suitor, has cooled, the people said, asking not to be identified as the information is private. London-based Cubico is owned by Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and PSP Investments.