Kuwait to Invest as Much as $1 Billion in Saudi Aramco IPO

(Bloomberg) -- Kuwait’s government will invest as much as $1 billion in the initial public offering of Saudi Aramco as the kingdom asks regional allies to bolster the record share sale, according to people familiar with the matter.

The Kuwait Investment Authority had been reluctant to commit significant funds to the IPO, but was told by the government that a stake was in the country’s strategic interest, the people said, asking not to be identified discussing a confidential matter. Kuwait communicated its decision to Aramco on Monday.

Kuwait’s move follows Abu Dhabi, the oil-rich member of the United Arab Emirates, which has decided to invest $1.5 billion in Aramco, people familiar with the matter said last week.

Bringing in another major investor from the Gulf region will be a relief for Saudi Arabia after plans to market the IPO globally were abandoned. Aramco had high hopes of drawing in sovereign investors, including a big purchase from China, but has yet to announce any firm commitments.

Saudi Arabia is looking to raise more than $25 billion selling a 1.5% stake in the world’s largest oil producer. The institutional part of the book now has bids totaling 144 billion riyals ($38 billion), covering that part of the proposed sale 2.3 times.

While it has holdings in Kuwait, the KIA isn’t known to invest in the region. The fund has interests in ports, airports and power distribution globally.

KIA officials couldn’t be reached for comment. Saudi Aramco declined to comment.

--With assistance from Julian Lee.

To contact the reporters on this story: Matthew Martin in Dubai at mmartin128@bloomberg.net;Fiona MacDonald in Kuwait at fmacdonald4@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Will Kennedy at wkennedy3@bloomberg.net, Claudia Maedler

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