The IntercontinentalExchange announced that its initial public offering of 16 million shares of common stock will be priced at US$26 a share.

The energy exchange intends to use the net proceeds from the IPO for general corporate purposes, including expanding and diversifying the company’s product and service offerings, and the repayment in full of outstanding long-term debt of $13 million. Of the total offering, ICE is selling 2.5 million shares, the other 13.5 million are being sold by existing shareholders. ICE will not receive any of the proceeds from the sale of shares by the selling shareholders.

The company’s shares are to commence trading today on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “ICE”. “ICE’s listing is a significant milestone for the company and the energy trading community,” said chairman and CEO Jeffrey Sprecher. “We take great pride in the role we have played in bringing electronic trading to the global energy futures and over-the-counter markets, and we are pleased to be listing on the NYSE.”

The underwriters have an option to purchase up to an additional 2.4 million shares from the selling shareholders, at the public offering price, less the underwriting discounts and commissions to cover over-allotments.

Morgan Stanley & Co. Inc. and Goldman, Sachs & Co. are joint book-running managers of the offering, with William Blair & Company, Sandler O’Neill & Partners, L.P. and SG Corporate & Investment Banking serving as co-managers.