Aramco Said to Plan Bond Sale to Help Fund $75 Billion Dividend

• Saudi oil company may issue around $5 billion, one person said
• The dividend is crucial source of funding for Saudi government

Saudi Aramco is preparing to return to global capital markets with a bond that would help fund a $75 billion dividend commitment, according to people with knowledge of the plan.

The world’s biggest energy company has picked around 15 banks to manage a sale of Islamic debt, or sukuk, that could happen this month, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The state-controlled firm may seek to raise around $5 billion, one of the people said.

Aramco is considering a sale of both dollar and local-currency sukuk, the people said. No decision has been made and the firm may put off the deal ifmarket conditionsdeteriorate. Aramco declined to comment.

Several other state energy companies in the Persian Gulf are alsomullingEurobond sales. Qatar Petroleum may issue as much as $10 billion in the coming weeks, while Energy Development Oman is seeking to raise around $3 billion.

Profit Rising

Saudi Aramco’sprofitsoared in the first quarter amid a recovery in global oil and gas markets, though free cash flow remained too low to fully cover its dividend for the period of $18.75 billion. Almost all the firm’s payouts go to the Saudi government, which is trying to narrow abudget deficitthat widened to 12% of gross domestic product last year.

The price of oil, Saudi Arabia’s lifeblood, has doubled since October to more than $70 a barrel as major economies vaccinate their citizens and businesses reopen. The rise has also been underpinned by the OPEC+ producers’ cartel, of which Saudi Arabia isa leadingmember, reducing exports.

In response to crude’s crash early last year, Aramco slashed spending, cut jobs and opted to sell non-core assets. A U.S.-led group agreed this April to buy leasing rights over Aramco’s oil pipelines for $12.4 billion.

Aramco’s debt levels still rose substantially, mainly because of its $69 billion acquisition of chemicals maker Saudi Basic Industries Corp., a deal agreed on before the pandemic struck. Gearing -- a measure of debt as a percentage of equity -- increased from minus 5% in early 2020 to 23% by March this year, above the company’s self-imposed cap of 15%.

Capital expenditure is set to rise this year to $35 billion, but that will still be below guidance given during Aramco’s 2019 initial public offering.

The Dhahran-based firm, listed on the Saudi stock exchange, last tapped the international debt markets in November. It raised $8 billion of conventional bonds with maturities of between three and 50 years.