VOL. XXXI

NO. 2

19-OCTOBER-1987

SAUDI ARABIA

Reports of Possible Saudi Acquisition of 49% Stake in Exxon's EuropeanOperations Lack Substance

According to MEES soundings, there appears to be little or no substance inlast week's media reports about serious negotiations between Saudi Arabia andExxon regarding acquisition by the Kingdom of a 49% stake in the company'sdownstream refining and marketing operations in Europe.

It is true that, at a meeting with representatives of the four Aramcocompanies in...