Ropes & Gray Represents Eversource in Acquisition of Columbia Gas of Massachusetts for $1.1 Billion

Ropes & Gray represented Eversource in its agreement to purchase the Massachusetts natural gas assets of Columbia Gas for $1.1 billion from NiSource. The acquisition will bring Columbia Gas operations in Massachusetts under local ownership by the largest energy company in New England. 

Columbia Gas currently serves 330,000 natural gas customers in more than 60 communities in Massachusetts. Eversource has 300,000 natural gas customers and 1.5 million electric customers in 51 communities across the commonwealth. Many communities that Columbia Gas serves with natural gas already receive electric service from Eversource. 

The team representing Eversource was led by mergers & acquisitions partners Thomas Fraser and Marko Zatylny (both of Boston). It included senior counsel David Mandel, benefits partner Renata Ferrari, and tax partners David Saltzman and Aaron Harsh (all of Boston).