Here's what KBC had to say about them.

http://www.kbcpeelhunt.com/pdfs/Oil04Mar05.pdf

Venture is by a margin the cheapest of the North Sea focused E&P
companies in terms of its forward cash flow multiple. With key new
gas field development seeming to be on track, the production base
will get not only an anticipated strong addition from March but will
also derive improved asset diversity. The company has so far
significantly under-delivered in financial terms and improved market
confidence and rising profitability could make this a strong
performer in 2005.
While Venture has generally managed its primary North Sea
production and development business competently, and field
performance, with the exception of Sycamore, has been up to
expectations, the financial performance has been undermined by
events. However, delivery of the key new field developments seems
to be on track and the company should more than double production
capacity to over 45,000 barrels of oil equivalent by the end of 2005
and should achieve on average at least 30,000 boe/d in the year.
The misfortunes continued on Sycamore, with an injector well
apparently not communicating with the intended reservoir section.
This caused the company to reduce 2005 production guidance by
about 1,500 b/d to 31.0-33.0 kboe/d.
The development programme under way continues through 2006
giving a further year or two of growth in the production profile from
within the existing reserve inventory. The company therefore has
time to seek further development opportunities either within its
existing licences or by acquiring or licensing new assets.
The stock is trading close to our Core NAV estimate but is on a lower
prospective multiple of earnings (2005 PE of 7) and cash flow (P:CF
of 2.3) than any other E&P stock. The appointment of a new FD
relieves CEO Mike Wagstaff of his multiple responsibilities, which
should improve confidence in delivery.
With 50% of estimated production in 2005-2008 in the form of natural
gas, Venture offers direct exposure to the UK gas price. Moreover,
the reliability issues that have dogged the company have been in its
oil rather than gas operations.

Or the Indians, or even Dana. I think that there could be quite a few interested parties.

I agree they are a sitting duck even from the Chinese I wonder if they will announce a special dividend in the near future.

I did read somewhere about a possible 1 per share special dividend, but I think that this was just speculation and wishful thinking. With all that cash coming in and such strong earnings I think that we are due something.

I agree..

Aye...

DITTO, its nice when a plan comes together.

Just great..

All the mid cap oilers flying today - BUR, DNX, CNE, DGO - rumours of another bid, or so I read elsewhere. That, plus nodoubt the oil price going north of $61 last night. Anyone for a cold winter? Bring it on.....

disappointing lately, i think their may be trading statement soon.

positive statement today.

'2006 was a record year for Venture, both operationally and financially and we
have continued to make great progress in increasing both production and
reserves. Whilst our earnings remain leveraged to commodity prices in the short
term we continue to deliver increasing profitability underpinned by improving
realised prices and effective cost control. As we enter 2007 activity is at
record levels despite the tight market for equipment and services and we are
confident that the momentum we have established will continue.'

Preliminary results for the year ended 31st December, 2006 will be released on
17th April, 2007.

gazprom to buy a gas producer before Wimbledon
centrica or venture ?

Venture Production PLC
11 June 2007

Director/PDMR Shareholdings

Notification under DR 3.1.4(R)(1)(b):

The Company was notified on 8 June 2007 of the following sale of shares by its
Finance Director, Marie-Louise Clayton :

7 June 2007

216,268 ordinary shares of 0.4 pence each at a price of 716.42 pence per share
(0.16% of the Company's issued share capital).

8 June 2007

50,000 ordinary shares of 0.4 pence each at a price of 714.32 pence per share
(0.04% of the Company's issued share capital).

Notification under DR 3.1.4(R)(1)(a):

The Company was notified on 8 June 2007 of the following sale of 66,000 ordinary
shares by Michael James Travis, a Person Discharging Managerial Responsibility,
at a price of 700 pence per share (0.05% of the Company's issued share capital).

Directors and Management shipping shares at a rate of knots. Doesn't bode well. I'm out for now and staying out. Good luck if you continue to hold.

I think Venture are stuck in a little hole at the moment. A lot of their portfolio is gas in the southern basin. With the way gas prices have dropped this last 6 or so months they're income will have taken a big hit. I dont know too much about they're fields but i heard a rumour that they may switch off some of they're platforms in summer as it was costing them more to run them. However, gas prices have improved slightly since a few months ago.

Hep, looks like Venture have got themselves 'out of the little hole'. Moving like a Bat Out Of Hell now ! Good positive move and significant news for further growth potential.

http://moneyam.uk-wire.com/cgi-bin/articles/200707190701165073A.html

Just great.

Chart view looks great as well. 200 and 25 dma for reference.

:-)

certainly a very strong chart, but as this is not a stock i have ever followed, please can someone enlighten me as to why the sudden surge ...... am i right in thinking VPC had a mention in this week's Sunday Times along with PMO and TLW?

cynic , they were given a pot of money
200million somethings

Aren't all the energy stocks not in the same position. High energy prices. Venture will have certainly gained from the Teeside pipeline outage thats had a impact on the gas prices in the UK plus the ongoing damp cold summer we've been experiencing. This will have kept demand up a lot higher than the seasonal norm.