Part of Saudi Aramco’s Shares May Be Offered For International Investors

Aramco, the Saudi Arabian state owned oil company, may offer a potential share to international investors. The kingdom also confirms that its oil reserves are not for selling.

The World's ever known largest oil business is still considering all options in any future public offering including the sale of shares internationally. The company isn't considering for selling its oil reserves.

The economic value of Saudi Aramco will be offered in the IPO and not its oil reserve. The oil reserve belongs to the state and hence only the ability of the company to produce economic resources from those reserves, reports Bloomberg quoting Khalid Al- Falih, Chairman of Aramco while addressing an interview in Davos, Switzerland aired on Al Arabiya television.

Aramco pumps all of Saudi crude oil production which is 10.25 MMbpd (Million Barrels of oil per day). Saudi Aramco's share will be offered to the local and international investors in two ways. One route is full initial public offering while another is to list some of its subsidiaries, reports World Oil citing an Aramco statement as the source.

Aramco's crude reserve has been estimated at around 265 billion barrel which is around 15% of the global oil deposits. If it goes for IPO, will be the first listed company valuing $1 trillion or more, analysts predict, according to a report published by Reuters.

Saudi Aramco has been considered as the major instrument of the kingdom's oil policy. Analysts presume its massive size and surrounding confidentiality may pose as hurdles to any sort of listing to the parent firm. However, the analysts also believe, Saudi Arabia is considering for selling shares in refining ventures with foreign oil firms.

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has raised prices for feedstock to petrochemical makers this year as part of reforms to reduce state spending and narrow down the budgetary deficits. The kingdom believes, even with the increase, local industries still pay lower feedstock prices compared to international market.

The oil rich country Observes, oil prices are recovering this year even though inventories remain higher. Oil demand has grown last year with the doubled pace that observed in 2014. Accordingly, KSA will keep raising oil production at a rate of at least 1.2 MMbpd this year.

Saudi Arabia is considering all means for making initial public offerings of Aramco. The offer may be placed in two ways- either full initial public offering or to list some of its subsidiaries. However, Khalid Al- Falih, Chairman of Aramco has hints that only the economic value of Aramco will be offered for IPO while the oil reserves will be owned by the kingdom as earlier. But larger size and sorrounding confidentiality may pose as hurdles for listing of the parent company.