Global law firm Ashurst has advised Sojitz Corporation (Sojitz) on its investment in Next Green Group Pty Ltd (NGG). With this investment, Sojitz intends to build an integrated energy solutions business.
Australia has the highest per capita energy consumption in the Asia-Pacific region and electricity prices are elevated by grid charges. This drives demand for energy saving services such as behind the meter (BTM) systems (which include integrated rooftop solar panels and battery storage systems) to reduce energy spend.
NGG is well-positioned to meet this demand. It is an energy retail business that provides retail electricity services to small and medium sized businesses, including the installation of solar power systems and storage batteries at commercial and industrial sites. Sojitz intends to work together with NGG to accelerate the expansion of BTM services.
The Ashurst team was led by partner Jo En Low, who was assisted by: partner Natsuko Ogawa, senior associates Alex McLeish and Rachel Werner and associates Janet Chhean, Shenaye Ralphs, and Vien Siu (Corporate transactions); partner Mike Webb, senior associate Robert Gough and associates Jayfer Joy and Irene Ma (Projects & Energy transition); partner Angie Ng, senior associate Matthew Harper and associate Danny Xie (Competition); senior associate Mohamad Ar-dati and associate Erina Higgins (Employment); partner Nina Fitzgerald and associate Rebel O'Connor (IP/Media); partner Kate Phillips and associates Vanessa Asumugha and Katherine Borg (Projects & Energy Transition); partner Geoff McGrath and associate Eshaan Kapur (Digital economy transactions); partner Alexander Dmitrenko, senior associate Dario Aloe and associate Caitlin Terrey (Dispute resolution); senior associate Matthew Loader (Real Estate); partner Scott Charaneka and associate Nandini Kaushik (Finance, Funds & Restructuring).
