Shu Zhang/Reuters
Amin H. Nasser, president and chief executive officer of Saudi Arabian Oil Company
Bloomberg's Javier Blas reports that Saudi Arabia is "preparing contingency plans" for the possible delay of its state-oil behemoth's IPO by a few months, into 2019.
In a statement, Saudi Aramco said the IPO "remains on track."
Saudi Aramco CEO Amin Nasser said earlier this year that the IPO is likely to happen in the second half of 2018.
The state-oil behemonth's IPO is a priority for the kingdom's leadership as it's the centerpiece of the Saudis' diversification efforts. The kingdom wants to raise cash from the in order to finance investments that can help curtail its "addiction" to oil.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has suggested Aramco might be valued close to $2 trillion, although investors have questioned whether the company will actually be valued at that price.
Brent crude oil, the international benchmark, was up by 0.6% at $55.50 per barrel at 8:39 a.m. ET.
Check out the full story on Bloomberg.
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