Riyadh – Mubasher: Saudi Arabia has reportedly added BNP Paribas and Standard Chartered to around a dozen banks to act as co-managers for Aramco’s potential international bond issue, according to sources familiar with the matter.

The two banks, in addition to the kingdom-based Samba Financial Group, Gulf International Bank BSC, and Japan’s Mizuho Financial Group Inc. and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc are among those being hired, Bloomberg News reported on Monday, citing the sources.

The world's largest oil producer previously chose Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan Chase & Co. to lead manage the Eurobond sale.

Set to be implemented during the first six months of this year, the bookrunners of this issue are JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley with Citigroup Inc., HSBC Holdings Plc and National Commercial Bank (NCB).

Aramco is to use a part of the scheduled Eurobond sale to finance the acquisition of the Saudi Basic Industries Corporation (SABIC).