Comments on Saudi Arabia’s Aramco in Arab News, Dec 16 2020

Dr. Nasser Saidi’s comments appeared in an Arab News article titled “How Saudi Aramco IPO proved a game changer in a tumultuous year for oil” on 16th Dec 2020.
The comments are posted below.
“The first year was tumultuous for Aramco and oil producers,” economics expert Nasser Saidi told Arab News.
“Aramco has opened the path for the privatization of GCC national oil companies and of the energy infrastructure across the region,” Saidi said.
“The IPO was a game changer, part of a long-term strategy of reducing dependence on oil and gas wealth and using the proceeds to diversify the Saudi economy. Aramco is a global player, is resilient, with a clear strategy of diversifying its activities and sources of revenue, and with improved corporate governance as a result of its public listing.”



Comments on the Aramco IPO in Bloomberg, 10 Nov 2019

Dr. Nasser Saidi’s comments on the Aramco IPO (and details in its prospectus) appeared in the article titled “Saudi Aramco IPO starts November 17, offer size still pending” published by Bloomberg on 10th Nov 2019.
The full article can be accessed at: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-11-09/saudi-aramco-initial-public-offering-to-start-november-17
The comment is posted below:

‘Lack of Clarity’
“This lack of clarity in the prospectus shouldn’t alarm us as it’s a book building exercise and let’s be clear Saudi will do whatever it takes to make this IPO successful because so much hinges on it,” Nasser Saidi, president of Nasser Saidi & Associates said in an interview on Bloomberg TV on Sunday. “This is part of an overall privatization program, which has often been delayed so now we’re getting to the beginning of that program.”