Blue Origin founder Jeff Bezos said Wednesday that Blue Origin is likely to pursue an initial public offering in the coming years. He made this remark from Blue’s Exploration Park facility on Merritt Island while speaking on Fox News Channel’s “Special Report with Bret Baier.” He put the timing at “several years from now.”

Dave Limp, Blue Origin’s chief executive, reportedly told his staff the company had no immediate plans for an IPO, aligning with Bezos’s comments that any IPO would come in the future.

The comments follow Blue Origin’s first outside funding round. The company sought $10 billion starting in July, with Coatue Management anchoring the round at roughly $4 billion. At the time, it was reported that the round valued Blue Origin at $140 billion. Bezos said he has personally invested $28 billion since founding the company in 2000.

What It Means For Employees

According to outside reports, Blue Origin employees do get stock options, but the plan works differently than most. Under the original plan, options paid out only in an IPO or sale of the company, and the (London) Financial Times reported those options began expiring without any payout.

A revised plan, briefed to staff this spring, sets a strike price of $9.50 per share, and the options are cash-settled rather than conveying ownership. Business Insider reported that once options are exercised during a liquidity event such as an IPO, sale, or some funding rounds, Blue Origin immediately repurchases the shares and alone decides whether a funding round qualifies.

It is also reported that employees who join a competitor within 18 months of leaving forfeit all their options, and options expire 18 months after departure if no liquidity event has occurred. CEO Dave Limp told staff in the spring that outside funding could be used to help employees exercise options. Blue Origin has not said publicly whether the $10 billion round qualifies.

This report was assembled using third-party sources, as Blue Origin did not respond to our request for comment by the time of publication. If you are a Blue Origin employee and would like to offer corrections or additions, we will be happy to include them in this article.