Aramco Said to Be Still Considering Range of Options for Sabic - Bloomberg

Aramco Said to Be Still Considering Range of Options for Sabic - 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.