May 23 (Reuters) - Neptune Energy Chairman Sam Laidlaw is considering a potential 7 billion pound ($9.9 billion) initial public offering (IPO) for the British oil and gas company, The Times reported on Sunday. Laidlaw, who was formerly head of Centrica CNA.L, is close to appointing JP Morgan JPM.N to explore options for Neptune, including a listing or sale to a rival, the report said. Neptune Energy did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. The company was founded in 2015 with private equity backing from investors including Carlyle and CVC. Neptune this month reported first-quarter gas production of about 125,700 barrels of oil equivalent per day (boepd), in line with its expectations but down from the 139,000 boepd a year earlier.

Source: The North Africa Journal May 23, 2021 16:18 UTC