The Spanish government condemned Argentina’s announcement over the expropriation of YPF, calling it a “discriminatory” and “arbitrary” decision, and stated that it will adopt any measures deemed necessary to defend the interests of Repsol and every other Spanish company.
Argentine president Cristina Fernandez has sent a draft bill to her lawmakers in Congress that would allow the government to take a controlling stake in local oil and gas giant, YPF SA at the expense of its two largest shareholders, newspaper Clarin reported Thursday.
Amidst the cross-fire between the Argentine government and Repsol-YPF oil giant, Spain’s Industry, Energy and Tourism Minister José Manuel Soria, warned on Thursday that “any sign of hostility” against Spanish companies “will be considered as a hostile sign against Spain and its government, and will bring consequences.”
Shares in Argentina's biggest energy company YPF plunged 5.6% in Buenos Aires on Wednesday while the company's US-listed shares were 5% lower in New York.
China National Offshore Oil Corporation, CNOOC, could prove to be the solution for the ongoing clash between the Argentine government and Spain’s Repsol which holds a majority stake in YPG, Argentina’s main oil and gas company.
Repsol's chairman Antonio Brufau has asked for a meeting with officials from the Argentine government, which investors fear could seize control of the Spanish oil major's unit in Argentina, YPF.
Argentina’s Planning Minister Julio de Vido denied a report by Buenos Aires newspaper Clarin that the government is working on a plan to use state-controlled pensions Anses to buy a stake in oil corporation YPF, he said in a statement.
Shares in Argentina's biggest energy company, YPF plummeted on Tuesday because of growing investor fear over a possible government plan to seize control of the oil firm.
The Argentine government has made the decision to take control of leading energy company YPF and is discussing whether to renationalize it or intervene in its administration, a newspaper reported on Saturday.
The Economist argues that with the latest legislation, the Argentine central bank has lost its legal independence and become the piggy bank of President Cristina Fernandez government.