Genel Energy's history dates back to 2002 when it originally entered into foundational production-sharing contracts as a private company in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. It expanded significantly in September 2011 through a high-profile corporate merger between Vallares PLC—an investment vehicle co-founded by Tony Hayward and Nathaniel Rothschild—and Genel Energy International. This transaction resulted in its official listing on the London Stock Exchange under the ticker GENL. Over subsequent decades, the enterprise expanded its footprint into international exploration assets across Africa and the Middle East while navigating complex regional regulatory and export environments.