Saudi automotive services firm Petromin revives $1b IPO plan

Company working with Saudi National Bank and Moelis & Co. on planned offering

Saudi Arabian automotive services firm Petromin is reviving plans for its initial public offering in the kingdom that could raise as much as $1 billion, according to people familiar with the matter.

The company, which is also the Middle East’s oldest lubricants firm, is working with Saudi National Bank and Moelis & Co. on the planned offering, the people said, asking not to be identified as the information isn’t public.

Details of the deal, such as its size and timing, may change, the people said. More banks may also be added to the syndicate, they said.

Al Dabbagh Group, a familyowned conglomerate with interests from automobiles to real estate and food, bought a 49 per cent stake in Petromin in 2013 from India’s Hinduja Group. The Saudi firm has since considered both an IPO and a stake sale for Petromin, Bloomberg News has reported. Hinduja was also planning an IPO of the company in 2010, but that deal never materialised.

Representatives for Petromin, Al Dabbagh and SNB didn’t respond to requests for comment. A representative for Moelis declined to comment.

Petromin was formed by royal decree in 1968 as a joint venture between Saudi Aramco and Exxon Mobil.

Eight business verticals

Jeddah-based Petromin was formed by royal decree in 1968 as a joint venture between Saudi Aramco and Exxon Mobil. It now operates eight business verticals including car dealerships, fleet solutions, fuel stations, lubricants and auto parts, according to its website.

Aramco listed its own baseoils refining unit — known as Luberef — late last year in a deal that raised $1.3 billion.