European IPOs do not usually reach the headlines but when it is an energy company like DONG Energy of Denmark then it is a bit different and especiially so when the company clocks a valuation that makes it the biggest among IPOs in Europe this year. DONG Energy is Denmark's largest energy producing company and in addition to that it is also the largest wind energy company in the world, which is why its IPO is being closely watched by investors all across the world. According to a statement that was released by the company, that the initial public offering (IPO) that took place in Copenhagen, Denmark on Thursday gave the company a total valuation in the region of $15 billion and in the process made it the biggest IPO of the year in Europe.
The chairman of DONG Energy, Thomas Thune Anderson said, "It's a privilege to welcome all new shareholders, both the professional investors and the many Danish private investors. I see it as a vote of confidence in the management and the many talented and dedicated employees." The New York Times detailed the nuts and bolts of the share sale in a report, "The share sale is the largest initial public offering in Europe this year. Dong Energy said that it priced its offering of 72.8 million shares on Nasdaq in Copenhagen at 235 kroner a share, at the upper end of its expected range. Shares of Dong Energy rose 9 percent in trading in Copenhagen on Thursday morning."
The finance minister of Denmark, Claus Hjort Frederiksen shared his thoughts on the development as well, "As a representative of the majority shareholder, I'm pleased to see that there has been a lot of interest in becoming part of the ownership of Dong Energy - both among retail and professional investors. It gives Dong Energy a solid foundation to retain and develop its position as one of the leading green energy companies in the world."
