There's major Saudi Aramco IPO news breaking this week, and it might mean the oil company never goes public...
The Saudi government is considering two ways of selling the state-owned oil company, according to a Wall Street Journal report on Friday (Oct. 13, 2017).
And neither plan involves the record-shattering public offering that attracted investors to the Aramco IPO. With a valuation as high as $2 trillion, a 5% public offering could raise $100 billion, four times the size of the current record-high IPO of Alibaba Holding Group Ltd (NYSE: BABA).
Money Morning readers aren't surprised by the news that the IPO is in doubt. We've documented the hurdles standing in the way of the Aramco IPO, including its inflated valuation and the inexperienced 31-year-old Crown Prince behind the public offering.
There is no denying that this is a major blow to the Aramco IPO prospects. Here's what the Saudi government is considering and why the Aramco IPO is much less likely now...
The New Plan Instead of the Saudi Aramco IPO
The Saudi government is reportedly considering either selling a part of Aramco to a private buyer or listing some shares on the stock exchange in Riyadh.
Neither plan will lead to the soaring numbers that have attracted investors to the Aramco IPO process.
WSJ reported that a Chinese buyer made an offer to buy a stake in Aramco, and the Saudi government is now considering it.
The newspaper also reported that Aramco officials are considering listing shares of the company exclusively on the Saudi Arabian stock exchange. While this would still be considered an "IPO," it wouldn't have nearly the same impact of a listing on a major international stock exchange like the New York Stock Exchange or the London Stock Exchange.
And a listing in Riyadh would be a roadblock for retail investors who want to own shares of the company.
As Money Morning readers know, the Aramco IPO process has been slowed by the public disclosure rules required at the major exchanges. The Saudi government has to separate itself completely from a company it has been entangled with since 1980. Plus, financial disclosure rules could divulge Saudi state secrets about the country's oil supply.
Saudi Arabia's $100 Billion Plan to End Big Oil: Billionaires have been dumping oil stocks at a frantic pace. Click here to find out more...
A private sale to a Chinese investor, or listing shares only in Riyadh, could help the company raise money without solving this thorny problem.
But Money Morning Global Energy Strategist Dr. Kent Moors says this won't make the country the kind of money it was expecting.
"It isn't likely to provide the same capital pop," Moors said.
That's a problem for the Saudi government.
Saudi Arabia realizes it can't rely on its oil forever, and it planned to sell Aramco to raise money in an effort to diversify its economy away from oil. Saudi Arabia currently gets 90% of its revenue from oil sales. But getting less "pop" for selling off part of its "crown jewel" might not be worth it.
It's likely rumors of a private sale or a sole listing in Riyadh are just Aramco officials mulling all possible options while preparing for the IPO.
In fact, Saudi officials are now pushing back on the WSJ report. An Aramco spokesperson told CNBC on Friday that "the IPO process remains on track."
Aramco doesn't have any easy options right now, but we're continuing to follow any developments. To receive immediate updates on the Aramco IPO straight to your inbox, be sure to sign up for our complimentary Profit Alert service.
And for investors who are eager to own Saudi Aramco stock, we have an even better opportunity...
A discovery of 20 billion barrels of oil was just made in west Texas last year. The oil is worth more than $1 trillion, more than ten times the value of the Aramco public offering.
And we know of one small company in the region that could be on the verge of creating a profit windfall for early investors...
You Could Multiply Your Money 10 Times Over with American Oil Stocks
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Dr. Kent Moors has uncovered five specific conditions that could lead to oil stocks bringing their owners massive returns.
When these five conditions come together, he calls it a "Lake-Effect Profit Storm."
And they can be massively profitable for shareholders.
"I'm talking multiplying even a modest investment up to 10 times over," says Moors. "It can generate the kind of wealth unimaginable in other sectors."
He's calling it a Lake-Effect Profit Storm for a reason.
As winter rolls in up north, four distinct and specific factors must come together to create the meteorological phenomenon called a "lake-effect snowstorm."
When all four elements come together at the same time, you get insanely giant snowstorms like the 88-inch Buffalo blizzard that The Weather Channel covered nonstop.
The same holds true for oil stocks.
It can create a true Lake-Effect Profit Storm... capable of burying you in profits of at least 10 times your money.
Sometimes much, much more...
Like 40 times... 70 times... 83 times... or even 166 times your money.
Now, these historical plays are rare and hard to find, let alone win.
But Moors has found a company that could be at the center of the next Lake-Effect Profit Storm happening in the heart of the Delaware Basin.
He's even assembled a special dossier on this small company, giving you a complete, in-depth analysis of the conditions he expects will soon be driving this stock higher. Here's how you can access his special dossier, right here...
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