A long way to go for Aramco
The successful initial domestic listing of Saudi Aramco cannot disguise potential challenges—not least security and geopolitical threats—facing the IPO further down the line
Oil producing heavyweight Saudi Aramco auctioned an additional 450mn shares on 12 January via a greenshoe option— the provision in an underwriting agreement that grants the underwriter the right to sell investors more shares than initially planned by the issuer if the demand for a security issue proves higher than expected. The move drove up the value of its December 2019 IPO, already a world record, to $29.4bn for 1.725pc of the company sold. Yet the spectacular success of the auction, which surprised many observers, has been clouded by spiralling regional tensions which drove Aramco’s share price down in early January 2020, even as the value of international oil companies (IOCs) briefly s
Also in this section
23 July 2025
The country’s energy minister explains in an exclusive interview how the country is taking a pragmatic and far-sighted approach to energy security and why he has great confidence in its oil sector
23 July 2025
Gas is unlikely to assume a major role in Albania’s energy mix for years to come, but two priority projects are making headway and helping to establish the sector
22 July 2025
The gas-hungry sector is set for rapid growth, and oil majors and some of the world’s largest LNG firms are investing in ammonia production and export facilities, though much depends on regulatory support
22 July 2025
Next year’s WPC Energy Congress taking place in April in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia will continue to promote the role of women in the energy sector, with a number of events focusing on the issue.
