Aramco’s 5 percent IPO—the world’s largest ever—continues to make headlines. Some analysts claim that the IPO is in danger of failing. Other sources report that the company is considering a 5 percent sale to China. New answers will likely emerge this week as many of the world’s most powerful investors, business leaders and public officials gather in Riyadh for a landmark 3-day investment summit, the Future Investment Initiative (FII). While media speculation regarding such an historic IPO is inevitable, it’s also largely pointless, because as long as Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman holds the reins of power, the Aramco IPO will continue as planned—it’s currently slated to list in the second half of 2018—and the company will be listed on the Tawakul (Saudi Stock Exchange) and one or two other international exchanges. The media skirmishes regarding an underhand sale of an Aramco stake to Chinese parties is reminiscent […]