Rudlin Consulting

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Mitsubishi HC to invest in acquisitions of European wind and solar power plants

The Japanese leasing company Mitsubishi HC (shareholders include Mitsubishi Corp. and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group) will take a 50% stake by August 2026 in a British company set up by Canadian company Brookfield. The first phase will involve spending around 400 million euros ($461 million) to acquire 20 wind and solar power plants in the U.K., France, Finland and three other European countries. This is in response to artificial intelligence driving up demand for electricity.

JR East have acquired vending machine business of Petrie Gough Ltd

Japanese railway company JR East have newly acquired the vending machine business of Petrie Gough Limited (UK), which operates approximately 800 units operating at major UK airports, including Heathrow, Gatwick, and Luton, bringing its total portfolio to around 1,800 machines.

Kanadevia will build a biogas plant on the Italian island of Sicily

Japanese industrial and engineering corporation Kanadevia, formerly Hitachi Zosen, will build a biogas plant on the Italian island of Sicily. Hitachi Zosen acquired Inova in 2010 and as a result its European headquarters are in Switzerland. In 2025, Kanadevia acquired two plants in the U.K. that convert food waste and agricultural residues into biomethane supplied as city gas.

Obayashi Group to acquire 100% of shares of UK’s Multiplex

Japan’s Obayashi Group, one of the country’s five largest construction companies, has announced it will acquire 100% of the shares of UK-headquartered contractor Multiplex from previous owner Brookfield, an investment firm.

Reported to cost $540m, the deal will see Obayashi Group diversify into the Australian market, which it has identified as growing due to population increases, urban development and a stable economy. Obayashi says it will leverage Multiplex’s track record in office and mixed-use developments in the UK and also expand into Canada.

Portuguese drone startup Tekever plans to build a manufacturing base for defense drones in Japan.

Japanese trading house Marubeni will be Tekever’s sales agent in Japan to help develop a customer base. https://asia.nikkei.com/business/aerospace-defense-industries/european-startup-to-make-defense-drones-in-japan-export-across-asia

Japanese rare-earth recycling project to set up plant in France

A rare-earth recycling plant is to be set up in France with the aim of lessening dependence on China – with support from state-run Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security and Japanese gas company Iwatani.

Ukraine Japan reconstruction fund

Ukraine is hoping to set up reconstruction fund with Hitachi, Toshiba, Mitsubishi Heavy involving aid and long-term loans from the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation.

Japan – France consultation framework on AI

The Japanese government has signed up to a consultation framework for developing AI with France that is not dependent on USA or China to go with the ones already signed with the UK, Brazil, India, Malaysia.