Saudi Aramco raises $26b in world’s biggest share sale

State-owned oil giant Saudi Aramco has raised a record $25.6bn (£19.4bn) in its initial public offering in Riyadh.

The share sale was the biggest to date, surpassing that of China's Alibaba which raised $25bn in 2014 in New York.

Aramco relied on domestic and regional investors to sell a 1.5 per cent stake after lukewarm interest from abroad.

The IPO will value it at $1.7tn when trading begins - short of its $2tn target, but making it the most valuable listed company in the world.

The share sale is at the heart of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's plans to modernise the Saudi economy and wean it off its dependence on oil. The country urgently needs tens of billions of dollars to fund megaprojects and develop new industries.

Aramco has found the journey to its public offering testing.

It initially sought to raise $100bn on two exchanges - with a first listing on the kingdom's Tadawul bourse, and then another on an overseas exchange such as the London Stock Exchange.

But it scaled back its plans after foreign investors raised concerns about climate change, political risk and a lack of corporate transparency.

International institutions also baulked at the firm's $1.7tn valuation, prompting Aramco to pull marketing roadshows in New York and London.

Instead, it focused its marketing efforts on Saudi investors and wealthy Gulf Arab allies. Saudi banks also offered citizens cheap credit to bid for the shares following a nationwide advertising campaign.

 

Saudi Aramco raises $26b in worlds biggest share sale

State-owned oil giant Saudi Aramco has raised a record $25.6bn (19.4bn) in its initial public offering in Riyadh. The share sale was the biggest to date, surpassing that of Chinas Alibaba which raised $25bn in 2014 in New York. Aramco relied on domestic and regional investors to sell a 1.5 per cent stake after lukewarm interest from abroad. The IPO will value it at $1.7tn when trading begins - short of its $2tn target, but making it the most valuable listed company in the world. The share sale is at the heart of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmans plans to modernise the Saudi economy and wean it off its dependence on oil. The country urgently needs tens of billions of dollars to fund megaprojects and develop new industries. Aramco has found the journey to its public offering testing. It initially sought to raise $100bn on two exchanges - with a first listing on the kingdoms Tadawul bourse, and then another on an overseas exchange such as the London Stock Exchange. But it scaled back its plans after foreign investors raised concerns about climate change, political risk and a lack of corporate transparency. International institutions also baulked at the firms $1.7tn valuation, prompting Aramco to pull marketing roadshows in New York and London. Instead, it focused its marketing efforts on Saudi investors and wealthy Gulf Arab allies. Saudi banks also offered citizens cheap credit to bid for the shares following a nationwide advertising campaign.