Venture Global LNG Inc., one of the United States’ largest suppliers of liquefied natural gas, is set to file for an initial public offering (IPO) that could raise more than $3 billion, according to insiders. The Virginia-based company is working with major banks, including Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan, and Bank of America, to coordinate the listing, although plans may still change.
If successful, the IPO would be among the world’s biggest this year. Bloomberg data shows that US exchanges have raised around $40 billion in IPOs so far in 2024—a 60% increase from last year, yet still below pre-pandemic averages.
Venture Global operates the Calcasieu Pass facility in Louisiana and is launching a second plant, Plaquemines LNG, south of New Orleans. With these, the company is poised to become the second-largest US LNG producer, trailing only Cheniere Energy Inc. Two additional projects, CP2 and Delta LNG, are in the permitting stages.
Founded in 2013 by Mike Sabel and Bob Pender, Venture Global was initially seen as an outsider in the Houston-dominated LNG sector. Calcasieu Pass began exports in 2022, though the company has delayed fulfilling long-term contracts due to technical issues, selling LNG on the spot market instead.
The company faces legal challenges, including arbitration from buyers like Shell, BP, and Sinopec, and lawsuits from former employees, one of whom claims she was prevented from exercising stock options.