(Bloomberg) -- Saudi Aramco is still considering a range of options to finance the acquisition of a controlling stake in the country’s largest chemical company, according to people familiar with the matter.
Aramco, the world’s largest oil producer, is undertaking due diligence on the deal -- likely to be Saudi Arabia’s biggest ever at up to $70 billion -- and will decide on a financial structure next year, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing private deliberations.
The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday that Aramco had abandoned the idea of raising a record-breaking bond to pay for the Sabic stake. Instead, the company could use a combination of syndicated loans and bonds raised on Sabic’s balance sheet, the newspaper reported. One other option under consideration: staggering payments over a period of time, it said.
Aramco declined to immediately comment on the Wall Street Journal story.
The idea of structuring the deal like a leveraged buyout, allowing Sabic’s balance to take the strain, has two advantages. One, it would significantly reduce the amount of financial disclosure required by Aramco. Second, Sabic already has a track record as a bond issuer, reducing the amount of preparatory work required.
Aramco plans to buy a stake of 70 percent in Sabic from Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, releasing up to $70 billion in cash for the sovereign wealth fund.
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