#Saudi Aramco gets first credit ratings ahead of bond debut | Reuters

Saudi Aramco gets first credit ratings ahead of bond debut | Reuters:

Saudi Aramco, the world’s top oil producer, has been rated A+ by Fitch and A1 by Moody’s in its first-ever credit ratings, ahead of the state oil giant’s first global bond sale and following 2018 earnings that dwarfed those of international oil majors.

Aramco will start meeting international bond investors this week for its debut in the international capital markets, opening its books to investor scrutiny for the first time. Given Aramco is fully state owned, its ratings are in line with the credit rating of Saudi Arabia.

Aramco generated earnings before interest, tax and depreciation (EBITDA) of $224 billion in 2018, Fitch said on Monday, surpassing ExxonMobil, the world’s largest listed oil firm.