Natural gas exporter Venture Global seeks $2.3bn in IPO

Venture Global Inc is seeking to raise $2.3bn in what would be the largest US initial public offering by an energy firm since 2013.

The Arlington, Virginia-based company plans to market 50mn shares for $40 to $46 each, according to a filing Monday with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

At the top of the price range, Venture Global’s offering would be the largest energy-sector IPO in the US since Plains GP Holdings LP raised $2.9bn in 2013.

A top-priced offering would give Venture Global a market value of $110bn based on the outstanding shares listed in its filing.

The planned listing would add to growing momentum in the US IPO market. First-time share sales raised nearly $43bn last year, a 64% increase on 2023’s volume yet still below the average in the decade before the pandemic, data compiled by Bloomberg show.

Venture Global had net income of $756mn in the nine months ended September 30 on revenue of $3.4bn, versus net income of $3.6bn on revenue of $6.3bn in the same period in 2023, according to the filing.

LNG is expected to play an increasingly central role in global energy markets in the years ahead, as nations seek a cleaner-burning alternative to oil and coal. The US’s position as the world’s largest supplier of the fuel is poised to grow even stronger, as President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House and pushes to ease regulations that could make LNG exports terminals easier to build.

The company has been exporting gas from its Calcasieu Pass facility since 2022 and sent its first shipment from Plaquemines LNG, located outside New Orleans, in December. With Plaquemines fully operational, Venture Global is set to become the second-largest LNG producer in the US, behind Cheniere Energy Inc.

Venture Global is attempting to build out a more integrated supply chain than some of its peers. It has secured capacity at facilities in the UK and Greece, where its LNG would be re-gasified and sent to end users, a strategy would allow it to win greater market share, according to its filings.

Pending arbitration claims against Venture Global in cases by eight separate companies, including some oil majors, total as much as $5.9bn, Bloomberg News has reported. The claims allege the company has not delivered gas to customers at Calcasieu Pass that signed up for long-term contracts. A Venture Global spokesperson said the cases have no contractual or other basis.

The company’s Class A shares will offer investors one vote per share, while founders Robert Pender and Michael Sabel will retain control of the company with Class B shares, which offer 10 votes each, the filings show.

The offering is being led by Goldman Sachs Group Inc, JPMorgan Chase & Co and Bank of America Corp. The company plans for its shares to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol VG.