RIYADH/DUBAI (Reuters) — Saudi Aramco has received bids for more than three times the $10 bln it was expected to raise in a debut international bond issue, which is being watched as a gauge of potential investor interest in the oil company’s eventual initial public offering (IPO).

The demand prompted the world’s largest oil firm to market the six-part deal — which will price on Tuesday and could see Aramco raise more than $10 bln — with a smaller than expected premium to the Saudi government that owns it.

People familiar with the matter told Reuters that Aramco’s vast profits — nearly three times those of Apple last year — meant investors were willing to buy the bonds even if they end up getting a lower return than on Saudi sovereign debt.