US LNG Pioneer Charif Souki Vows He Will Never Go Public Again

Natural gas entrepreneur Charif Souki’s latest venture will remain closely held after his previous two companies pursued public offerings.

Souki’s Phoenix Energy has so far been bankrolled by family and friends, and will be open to outside investors if they share his vision for the company, he said during an interview with Bloomberg News in New York on Tuesday. Phoenix has acquired drilling leases in the gas-rich Haynesville Shale in Louisiana and will seek to sell the fuel in liquefied form, he added.

“I don’t have a desire to ever be public again,” Souki said. “It’s very hard ...