Saudi Arabia formally starts IPO of oil firm Saudi Aramco
Associated PressDHAHRAN, Saudi Arabia — Saudi Arabia formally began an initial public offering Sunday of a sliver of oil giant Saudi Aramco after years of delay, hoping international and local investors will pay billions of dollars for a stake in the kingdom’s crown jewels. Saudi Aramco also has proven liquid reserves of 226.8 billion barrels, the largest of any company in the world and “approximately five times larger” than those held by the five oil giants, according to the firm’s IPO documents. That’s led to a clamoring from investors for Saudi Aramco stock since Prince Mohammed announced plans in 2016 for a two-phase IPO of 5% of the firm in the kingdom and abroad. “There’s still no clarity in what they’re trying to look at.” Based on that, Saudi Arabia may choose to rely on local investors to push up the price of the stock, Raja said.