Sherlock4000 (talk | contribs) m Verifiability problems: restricted (subscription only) link, and anonymous sources used for claim (making it innuendo, be it in the FT or not). Let's stick to official statements. |
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The relationship between YPF and the government became difficult.<ref name=mw>{{cite news|title=Battle for YPF doesn’t favor Spain’s Repsol|url=http://articles.marketwatch.com/2012-04-17/commentary/31354148_1_nationalization-reserves-president-cristina-fernandez|accessdate=20 April 2012|newspaper=Marketwatch|author=Jim Jelter|date=17 April 2012|accessdate=20 April 2012}}</ref> Argentine international energy trade recorded an imbalance of US$3 billion in 2011, the first negative figure since 1987.<ref name=info>{{cite web|url=http://www.infonews.com/2012/04/16/politica-18075-cristina-presento-un-proyecto-para-la-expropiacion-de-las-acciones-de-ypf.php|title=Cristina presentó un proyecto para la "expropiación" de las acciones de YPF|work=Info News|date=16 April 2012|accessdate=20 April 2012|language=Spanish}}</ref> Market analysts and Repsol blamed the decline in exploration and production on government controls on exports and [[mineral exploration|prospecting lease]] awards, and [[price control]]s on domestic oil and gas.<ref name=deal>{{cite web|url=http://www.thedeal.com/content/energy/ypf-expropriation-endorsed-by-argentine-senate.php#ixzz1tY5a5QSr|title=YPF expropriation endorsed by Argentine Senate|work=The Deal Pipeline|date=26 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Argentina's YPF cuts computer links with Repsol|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/22/us-argentina-ypf-repsol-idUSBRE83L07920120422|accessdate=2 May 2012|newspaper=Reuters|date=22 April 2012}}</ref> Investment in exploration at YPF as a percentage of profits had been far below those in most other Repsol subsidiaries, however;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/suplementos/cash/17-5831-2012-03-04.html|title=Cash|work=Página/12|date=4 March 2012|language=Spanish}}</ref> political risks and government intervention, including price controls, have discouraged foreign investment in oil production in Latin America.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Global Oil Market: Risks And Uncertainties|year=2006|isbn=978-0-89206-479-3|page=126}}</ref> President [[Cristina Fernández de Kirchner]] raised YPF frequently in speeches during March 2012, claiming that underinvestment and excessive [[dividend]]s at the firm had caused declines in output.<ref name=20m/> Governors in six fossil-fuel producing [[Provinces of Argentina|provinces]] subsequently revoked YPF leases representing a fifth of its oil production.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/economia/2-191710-2012-04-12.html|title=Poco a poco, YPF se va quedando sin pozos|work=Página/12|language=Spanish|date=12 April 2012|accessdate=20 April 2012}}</ref> |
The relationship between YPF and the government became difficult.<ref name=mw>{{cite news|title=Battle for YPF doesn’t favor Spain’s Repsol|url=http://articles.marketwatch.com/2012-04-17/commentary/31354148_1_nationalization-reserves-president-cristina-fernandez|accessdate=20 April 2012|newspaper=Marketwatch|author=Jim Jelter|date=17 April 2012|accessdate=20 April 2012}}</ref> Argentine international energy trade recorded an imbalance of US$3 billion in 2011, the first negative figure since 1987.<ref name=info>{{cite web|url=http://www.infonews.com/2012/04/16/politica-18075-cristina-presento-un-proyecto-para-la-expropiacion-de-las-acciones-de-ypf.php|title=Cristina presentó un proyecto para la "expropiación" de las acciones de YPF|work=Info News|date=16 April 2012|accessdate=20 April 2012|language=Spanish}}</ref> Market analysts and Repsol blamed the decline in exploration and production on government controls on exports and [[mineral exploration|prospecting lease]] awards, and [[price control]]s on domestic oil and gas.<ref name=deal>{{cite web|url=http://www.thedeal.com/content/energy/ypf-expropriation-endorsed-by-argentine-senate.php#ixzz1tY5a5QSr|title=YPF expropriation endorsed by Argentine Senate|work=The Deal Pipeline|date=26 April 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Argentina's YPF cuts computer links with Repsol|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/22/us-argentina-ypf-repsol-idUSBRE83L07920120422|accessdate=2 May 2012|newspaper=Reuters|date=22 April 2012}}</ref> Investment in exploration at YPF as a percentage of profits had been far below those in most other Repsol subsidiaries, however;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/suplementos/cash/17-5831-2012-03-04.html|title=Cash|work=Página/12|date=4 March 2012|language=Spanish}}</ref> political risks and government intervention, including price controls, have discouraged foreign investment in oil production in Latin America.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Global Oil Market: Risks And Uncertainties|year=2006|isbn=978-0-89206-479-3|page=126}}</ref> President [[Cristina Fernández de Kirchner]] raised YPF frequently in speeches during March 2012, claiming that underinvestment and excessive [[dividend]]s at the firm had caused declines in output.<ref name=20m/> Governors in six fossil-fuel producing [[Provinces of Argentina|provinces]] subsequently revoked YPF leases representing a fifth of its oil production.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pagina12.com.ar/diario/economia/2-191710-2012-04-12.html|title=Poco a poco, YPF se va quedando sin pozos|work=Página/12|language=Spanish|date=12 April 2012|accessdate=20 April 2012}}</ref> |
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[[File:Incautación de YPF.jpg|thumb|left|[[Cristina Fernández de Kirchner]] announces the bill to nationalize YPF.]] |
[[File:Incautación de YPF.jpg|thumb|left|[[Cristina Fernández de Kirchner]] announces the bill to nationalize YPF.]] |
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Citing Brazilian oil giant [[Petrobras]] as an example, the president ultimately announced the introduction of a bill on April 16, 2012, for the partial [[renationalisation]] of YPF: the state would purchase a 51% share, with the national government controlling 51% of this package and ten provincial governments receiving the remaining 49%. Planning Minister [[Julio de Vido]] was appointed to head the [[Federal intervention]], replacing CEO Sebastián Eskenazi.<ref name=info/> Repsol YPF CEO Antonio Brufau, Spanish Prime Minister [[Mariano Rajoy]], and other Spanish officials objected to the nationalisation, accusing the Argentine government of driving down YPF shares ahead of the announcement (market price of the shares declined by over half from February to April). Responses included a diplomatic offensive by Rajoy in other countries in the region,<ref name=Spain>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17739204|title=YPF Repsol: Spain warns Argentina of strong response|work=BBC News|date=17 April 2012|accessdate=20 April 2012}}</ref> assurances by Industry Minister [[José Manuel Soria]] of "clear and decisive" Spanish government measures,<ref name=bloomberg>{{cite web|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-04-16/spain-pledges-decisive-action-against-argentina-over-ypf-seizure.html|title=Spain pledges decisive action against Argentina over YPF seizure|work=Bloomberg News|author=Emma Ross-Thomas and Ben Sills|date=17 April 2012|accessdate=20 April 2012}}</ref> Foreign Minister [[José García-Margallo y Marfil]]'s admonition that Argentina had "shot itself in the foot" by damaging [[Argentina-Spain relations|relations with Spain]]<ref name=Spain/> (adding that such a move would make Argentina a "[[pariah state|pariah]]"),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/14/business/global/spain-warns-argentina-about-ypf-takeover.html|title=Spain warns Argentina about YPF takeover|work=The New York Times|author=Raphael Minder|date=13 April 2012|accessdate=20 April 2012}}</ref> and other threats.<ref name=reuters>{{cite web|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/17/spain-argentina-ypf-idUSL2E8FHD9420120417|title=Incensed Spain threatens Argentina after YPF seizure|publisher=Reuters|date=17 April 2012|accessdate=20 April 2012|author=Tracy Rucinski and Julien Toyer}}</ref> Argentine Economy Minister [[Hernán Lorenzino]] claimed that [[asset stripping]] at YPF had financed Repsol's expansion in other parts of the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ambito.com/noticia.asp?id=633578|title=Repsol vació YPF para su expansión en otros países|work=Ámbito Financiero|date=19 April 2012|language=Spanish}}</ref> |
Citing Brazilian oil giant [[Petrobras]] as an example, the president ultimately announced the introduction of a bill on April 16, 2012, for the partial [[renationalisation]] of YPF: the state would purchase a 51% share, with the national government controlling 51% of this package and ten provincial governments receiving the remaining 49%. Planning Minister [[Julio de Vido]] was appointed to head the [[Federal intervention]], replacing CEO Sebastián Eskenazi.<ref name=info/> Repsol YPF CEO Antonio Brufau, Spanish Prime Minister [[Mariano Rajoy]], and other Spanish officials objected to the nationalisation, accusing the Argentine government of driving down YPF shares ahead of the announcement (market price of the shares declined by over half from February to April). Responses included a diplomatic offensive by Rajoy in other countries in the region,<ref name=Spain>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17739204|title=YPF Repsol: Spain warns Argentina of strong response|work=BBC News|date=17 April 2012|accessdate=20 April 2012}}</ref> assurances by Industry Minister [[José Manuel Soria]] of "clear and decisive" Spanish government measures,<ref name=bloomberg>{{cite web|url=http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-04-16/spain-pledges-decisive-action-against-argentina-over-ypf-seizure.html|title=Spain pledges decisive action against Argentina over YPF seizure|work=Bloomberg News|author=Emma Ross-Thomas and Ben Sills|date=17 April 2012|accessdate=20 April 2012}}</ref> Foreign Minister [[José García-Margallo y Marfil]]'s admonition that Argentina had "shot itself in the foot" by damaging [[Argentina-Spain relations|relations with Spain]]<ref name=Spain/> (adding that such a move would make Argentina a "[[pariah state|pariah]]"),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/14/business/global/spain-warns-argentina-about-ypf-takeover.html|title=Spain warns Argentina about YPF takeover|work=The New York Times|author=Raphael Minder|date=13 April 2012|accessdate=20 April 2012}}</ref> and other threats.<ref name=reuters>{{cite web|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/17/spain-argentina-ypf-idUSL2E8FHD9420120417|title=Incensed Spain threatens Argentina after YPF seizure|publisher=Reuters|date=17 April 2012|accessdate=20 April 2012|author=Tracy Rucinski and Julien Toyer}}</ref> Argentine Economy Minister [[Hernán Lorenzino]] claimed that [[asset stripping]] at YPF had financed Repsol's expansion in other parts of the world.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ambito.com/noticia.asp?id=633578|title=Repsol vació YPF para su expansión en otros países|work=Ámbito Financiero|date=19 April 2012|language=Spanish}}</ref> According to The [[Financial Times]] Spanish executives of YPF were "hunted down" by Argentine officials; armed guards used "physical violence and threats".<ref>{{cite news|title=Repsol threatens any planned YPF investors|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/775a7eac-8b0d-11e1-bc84-00144feab49a.html#axzz1sn9afLQu|accessdate=22 April 2012|newspaper=FT|date=22 April 2012}}</ref>. |
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The Chinese state oil concern, [[Sinopec]], was reported to have been in talks to buy out Repsol's share in YPF - a potential deal scuttled by the Argentine announcement.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/18/us-sinopec-repsol-idUSBRE83H0AA20120418|author=Charlie Zhu and Jim Bai |date=18 April 2012|accessdate=20 April 2012 |title=Argentine move to seize YPF spoils Sinopec deal|work=Reuters}}</ref> Both Repsol and YPF shares fell sharply before and after the announcement,<ref name=mw/> and the cost of insuring Argentine government bonds against default rose,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.economist.com/node/21553070|date=19 April 2012|title=Argentina’s energy industry: Fill ’er up|work=[[The Economist]]|accessdate=20 April 2012}}</ref> as did those of Spain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20120416-702041.html|title=Spanish Debt Insurance Costs At Fresh Record On Economic Concerns|work=Wall Street Journal|date 16 April 2012}}</ref> Repsol Chairman Brufau estimated the company’s potential loss at €5.7 billion (US$7.5 billion).<ref name=bloombiz>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-04-19/repsol-required-to-buy-back-eskenazi-family-s-25-percent-ypf-stake|title=Repsol Must Buy Eskenazi YPF Stake in '08 Deal|publisher=''Bloomberg Business Week''|date=20 April 2012|accessdate=20 April 2012|author=Ben Sills and David Voreacos}}</ref> |
The Chinese state oil concern, [[Sinopec]], was reported to have been in talks to buy out Repsol's share in YPF - a potential deal scuttled by the Argentine announcement.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/18/us-sinopec-repsol-idUSBRE83H0AA20120418|author=Charlie Zhu and Jim Bai |date=18 April 2012|accessdate=20 April 2012 |title=Argentine move to seize YPF spoils Sinopec deal|work=Reuters}}</ref> Both Repsol and YPF shares fell sharply before and after the announcement,<ref name=mw/> and the cost of insuring Argentine government bonds against default rose,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.economist.com/node/21553070|date=19 April 2012|title=Argentina’s energy industry: Fill ’er up|work=[[The Economist]]|accessdate=20 April 2012}}</ref> as did those of Spain.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20120416-702041.html|title=Spanish Debt Insurance Costs At Fresh Record On Economic Concerns|work=Wall Street Journal|date 16 April 2012}}</ref> Repsol Chairman Brufau estimated the company’s potential loss at €5.7 billion (US$7.5 billion).<ref name=bloombiz>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessweek.com/news/2012-04-19/repsol-required-to-buy-back-eskenazi-family-s-25-percent-ypf-stake|title=Repsol Must Buy Eskenazi YPF Stake in '08 Deal|publisher=''Bloomberg Business Week''|date=20 April 2012|accessdate=20 April 2012|author=Ben Sills and David Voreacos}}</ref> |
Revision as of 17:59, 3 May 2012
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Company type | Sociedad Anónima |
---|---|
BCBA: YPFD | |
Industry | Petroleum and natural gas |
Founded | (1922) |
Headquarters | , |
Area served | Argentina |
Key people | Julio de Vido (State minister) |
Products | Oil and gas exploration and production, natural gas and LNG trading and transportation, oil refining, petrochemistry |
Services | Fuel stations |
Revenue | ![]() |
![]() | |
Total assets | US$ 12.9 billion (12/2011)[1] |
Number of employees | 14,000[2] |
Website | www.ypf.com |
Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales (YPF; English: "Treasury Petroleum Fields") (BCBA: YPFD) is an Argentine oil company.
Founded in 1922 under President Hipólito Yrigoyen's administration, it became the first oil company in the world to become vertically integrated.[2] Its founder and first director was Enrique Mosconi, who advocated economic independence and starting in 1928, nationalization of oil resources. The latter, however, was never achieved due to a 1930 military coup against Yrigoyen backed by foreign oil trusts.[3] YPF was privatized in 1993 and bought by the Spanish firm Repsol in 1999; the resulting merger produced Repsol YPF. The renationalization of 51% of the firm was initiated in 2012 by President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.[4]
History
Early development
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/YPF.svg/140px-YPF.svg.png)
The company, specializing in the exploration, production, refining and commercialisation of petroleum, had its origin in 1907, when oil was discovered near the city of Comodoro Rivadavia in Chubut. Following World War I, oil had become an important resource, leading to struggles between rival powers to gain control of it.
YPF was created by President Hipólito Yrigoyen on June 3, 1922. It was the first entirely state-run oil company in the world (the second being the French Compagnie française des pétroles (CFP, French Company of Petroleum), created in 1924 by the conservative Raymond Poincaré).[5] YPF's creation was followed by the creation of Yacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales Bolivianos (YPFB), as well as the Uruguayan ANCAP (Administración Nacional de Combustibles, Alcohol y Portland, 1931) and the Brazilian Petrobras, created in 1953 by Getúlio Vargas. The first director of YPF was General Enrique Mosconi.
YPF bought its first tanker in the United States in 1923, and built not only several extracting facilities, but whole towns and cities, such as Comodoro Rivadavia; Caleta Olivia in Santa Cruz; Plaza Huincul in Neuquén; and General Mosconi in Salta. Bolstered by production in Comodoro Rivadavia, the firm produced 2.2 million barrels in its first year of operation (1922); this represented over three quarters of domestic production and nearly a fourth of Argentina's oil consumption that year. Contracts signed in 1923 with Bethlehem Steel allowed YPF to begin the production of gasoline and kerosene.[6]
Mosconi, who had previously been in charge of the Aeronautics division of the Army, proposed to Joaquín Corvalán, governor of Salta Province, exploitation of Salta's oil by the YPF, offering him 13% royalties for the province.[7] Corvalán, allied with the Standard Oil of New Jersey, rejected Mosconi's proposal, however, referring to the concept of "provincial autonomy". This refusal led Mosconi to evolve in favor of the nationalization of oil supplies in order to strengthen Argentina's independence.[7]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a1/YPF_workers_working_on_well_128%2C_1923.jpg/220px-YPF_workers_working_on_well_128%2C_1923.jpg)
The first YPF oil refinery was inaugurated in December 1925 in Ensenada, and was at the time the tenth largest in the world.[8] According to Mosconi, this spawned the beginning of "the mobilization of all sorts of resistances and obstacles" from the oil trusts, in particular from Standard Oil, which was one of the most influential foreign companies in Argentina, with presence in Comodoro Rivadavia, Jujuy and Salta.[8]
The Chamber of Deputies approved a law on September 28, 1928, establishing a state monopoly on oil.[9] The monopoly, however, was not absolute, being limited to oil exploration, exploitation and transport, but excluding selling and imports.[9] Private firms opposed themselves to the law project, refusing to pay a 10% royalty.[10] The bill was supported by President Marcelo Torcuato de Alvear but was ultimately blocked by the conservatives in the Senate.
Oil nationalization became an important theme of Yrigoyen's electoral campaign of 1928, although the Yrigoyenistas focused their criticism on Standard Oil of New Jersey, abstaining themselves from attacking British Empire interests, to whom Argentina's economy was closely linked (in particular Royal Dutch Shell).[10]
Following Yrigoyen's victory in the 1928 elections, YPF, still directed by Enrique Mosconi, reduced oil prices in May 1929, leading to the cheapest petroleum in the world[10] and to an important increase in YPF's sales compared to its rival private companies, forcing them to also lower their prices.[10] Mosconi also reduced the price of kerosene and agrochemicals to contribute to the development of the interior regions of Argentina.[10] YPF produced 5.5 million barrels by 1929, and though its share of domestic output had declined to 58% (from 77% in 1923) amid a sharp rise of Esso and Royal Dutch Shell production in Chubut, the firm now covered a third of the nation's oil market. A partnership with distributor Auger & Co. signed in 1925 resulted in a network of over 700 filling stations selling 178 million liters (47 million gallons) by 1930 – an 18% market share. Company revenues in 1930 reached US$25 million.[6]
The Petroleum Institute (Instituto del Petróleo) was created on December 30, 1929, and directed by Ricardo Rojas, the rector of the University of Buenos Aires. Foreseeing conflicts with US private companies, Mosconi proposed an agreement with the Soviet state company Amtorg, which was to allow Argentina to import 250,000 tons of petroleum each year, paid by trade with leather, wool, tannin and mutton.[11] The agreement was to be made official in September 1930, along with the complete nationalization of oil resources;[11] but on September 6, 1930, Yrigoyen was deposed by a military coup headed by General José Félix Uriburu, and the project was withdrawn.
Energy self-sufficiency
The coup was lobbied for chiefly by Standard Oil, whose interests in Salta Province and neighboring Bolivia conflicted with those of YPF.[3] The subsequent Concordance regime supported YPF, however, and its role as the nation's leading oil distillates retailer was bolstered by a 1936 agreement with the Automóvil Club Argentino (ACA) to supply a chain of ACA service stations. Oil production by YPF continued to grow, and soon eclipsed private production: from just over 5 million barrels (37% of the total) in 1934, production grew to 15 million in 1945 (67%).[6] The development of the nation's sizable natural gas resources also originated largely from YPF. Drawing from an initiative by YPF director Julio Canessa, President Juan Perón ordered gas flared by YPF oil extraction captured and the staple nationalized, thus establishing the sister firm Gas del Estado (State Gas) in 1946. The nation's first gas compressor and what at the time was the world's longest gas pipeline were completed by 1949, leading to a fifty-fold increase in natural gas production.[12] Oil production at YPF rose to over 23 million barrels (82% of the nation's total) by 1953.[6]
Consumption nearly doubled, however, and whereas in 1945 60% of the nation's oil was domestic, by 1953 60% was imported. Oil imports by then had risen to US$300 million, or over one fourth of total merchandise imports.[13] Perón had made economic nationalism a policy centerpiece. YPF was granted an exemption from steep oil import tariffs levied on private firms, and Article 40 of the Constitution of 1949 stipulated the nationalization of all energy and mineral resources. The deteriorating oil deficit led Perón to court foreign investment in the sector as early as 1947, however, when an oil drilling contract was signed by YPF with U.S. firm Drilexco.[14] Total exploration doubled, and significant reserves in Salta Province were developed.[15] A more controversial joint venture with Standard Oil of California was signed in 1955 for the eventual production of up to 56 million barrels a year.[14] These initiatives were opposed by much of the Army, the opposition UCR, and among others Perón's point man on national oil policy, YPF head Julio Canessa, who was dismissed. The venture ended following Perón's overthrow in September.[16]
An erstwhile critic of both the Drilexco and Standard Oil contracts, President Arturo Frondizi enacted policies in 1958 which granted foreign firms rental contracts by YPF over new wells to foster exploration and production. A key part of the developmentalist economic policy advanced by Frondizi, this policy was made with the caveat that oil and gas resources themselves would be renationalized. Thirteen contracts were signed with mainly U.S. firms, whereby each contractor would earn 40% of the revenues produced from the new wells.[17] Private production, which had virtually ceased, grew to become one third of the nation's total. YPF itself benefited by way of a royalty bonanza, which financed record investments. These in turn led a doubling of YPF production to 65 million barrels; including the private sector, Argentina's oil production thus nearly tripled to 98 million barrels by 1962, and despite higher consumption, imports fell to merely one sixth of total demand.[13]
These contracts created a controversy referred to by Frondizi himself as the "oil battle," and were ultimately cancelled by President Arturo Illia in 1963 over concerns that YPF would be deprived of adequate returns for its exploration investments;[13] of the foreign firms which had taken part in the 1958 bids, only Amoco remained.[15] The cancellations cost US$50 million in indemnity payments, though they proved fortuitous after the company's discovery of the Puesto Hernández field in 1965. Puesto Hernández, near Rincón de los Sauces, Neuquén Province, was later declared the "national energy capital" due to its having at the time around half of Argentina's reserves of oil and natural gas.[18] This discovery allowed YPF output to rise by 50% between 1965 and 1968 to 95 million barrels, its share of the nation's oil output growing from two-thirds to three-fourths.[15] New oil field rental contracts were signed following a 1967 policy change enacted by President Juan Carlos Onganía which had the goal of achieving self-sufficiency in oil by 1975.[17] Regaining its monopoly on oil imports in 1971 (which still averaged around 15 million barrels), YPF retained a majority of production (75%), as well as refining and distribution (60%), of petroleum in Argentina. The firm operated 7 refineries and 3,000 service stations by 1977, while production reached 118 million barrels.[15]
Decline and privatisation
Perón's return to Argentina and to the presidency in 1973 was followed by the addition of nearly 20,000 employees (YPF employed 53,000 by 1976).[15] It also coincided with the 1973 oil shock, however, and the US$470 million in added oil import costs combined with larger payrolls to erase profits in 1974, while production declined slightly.[13] The dictatorship installed in a March 1976 coup initially presided over a revitalization and streamlining of YPF. Output increased by 20% and its finances were returned to profitability following a wave of layoffs that returned employment levels to around 35,000 by 1979.[15] The death in a helicopter crash of the firm's director, Raúl Ondarts, and the appointment of General Guillermo Suárez Mason in 1981 was followed by a period of severe mismanagement, however. Powerful as head of the First Army Corps (which committed many of the "Dirty War" atrocities), Suárez Mason installed many of his hard-line Army Intelligence colleagues in managerial posts at YPF.[19] They in turn diverted large quantities of fuel into the director's newly established company Sol Petróleo, a dummy corporation used by Suárez Mason and his appointees for embezzlement as well as to divert funds to the Contras[20] and the fascist organization P2 (to which the director belonged).[21]
Suárez Mason had YPF borrow heavily not only to cover such asset stripping but also at the behest of Economy Minister José Alfredo Martínez de Hoz, whose bid for currency strength and policy of financial deregulation required a sharp rise in foreign debt to maintain.[22] YPF debts thus rose 142-fold during Suárez Mason's tenure,[21] at the end of which in 1983 the company recorded a US$6 billion loss (the largest in the world at the time).[23]
President Carlos Menem initiated the privatization of many of the firm's refineries, filling stations, pipelines, and oil fields in 1991, netting US$1.5 billion by 1993. Employment was slashed to under 13,000 (65%), while losses in the order of US$200 million yearly[24] were reversed;[25] with revenues of US$3.9 billion in 1992, YPF remained the 365th largest firm in the world.[26] An 80% stake in YPF itself was sold in July 1993 for US$3 billion in cash, plus US$2 billion in debt retirement. The national and provincial governments retained a 25% share (including the golden share, held by the former).[26] The new CEO, José Estenssoro, further streamlined the company while expanding its reach outside Argentina, acquiring Maxus Energy Corporation of Dallas for US$740 million in 1995. Estenssoro died in a plane crash in Ecuador, where Maxus maintained wells, in May of that year.[27] His policy of high exploration investments was maintained by his successor, Nells León, and reserves expanded by 50% while production rose from 109 million barrels in 1993 to a record 190 million in 1998;[25] of the latter total, 32 million were produced by Maxus operations in Ecuador and elsewhere.[28]
Repsol acquisition
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/76/Repsol-YPF_Tower_Skyhigh.jpg/170px-Repsol-YPF_Tower_Skyhigh.jpg)
Madrid-based multinational corporation Repsol purchased 98% of YPF in 1999 in two stages: a 15% share sold by the national government for US$2 billion, and a further 83% for over US$13 billion including all remaining public sector shares (10%, equally divided between the nation and the provinces) as well as most of the outstanding investor shares.[26] The union of the two companies took on the name Repsol YPF; YPF would represent 40% of the new firm's reserves and over 50% of its production.[29]
The Petersen Group (property of the Eskenazi family of Buenos Aires) entered into a partnership with Repsol in 2007 by acquiring a 15% stake in YPF; the group bought another 10% of the company for US$1.3 billion on May 4, 2011. A majority of the firm's shares (58%) remained under the control of Repsol, while 16% remained in private portfolios; the Argentine Government retained the golden share.[30]
Renationalisation
The relationship between YPF and the government became difficult.[31] Argentine international energy trade recorded an imbalance of US$3 billion in 2011, the first negative figure since 1987.[32] Market analysts and Repsol blamed the decline in exploration and production on government controls on exports and prospecting lease awards, and price controls on domestic oil and gas.[33][34] Investment in exploration at YPF as a percentage of profits had been far below those in most other Repsol subsidiaries, however;[35] political risks and government intervention, including price controls, have discouraged foreign investment in oil production in Latin America.[36] President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner raised YPF frequently in speeches during March 2012, claiming that underinvestment and excessive dividends at the firm had caused declines in output.[37] Governors in six fossil-fuel producing provinces subsequently revoked YPF leases representing a fifth of its oil production.[38]
![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/ab/Expropiaci%C3%B3n_de_YPF.jpg/220px-Expropiaci%C3%B3n_de_YPF.jpg)
Citing Brazilian oil giant Petrobras as an example, the president ultimately announced the introduction of a bill on April 16, 2012, for the partial renationalisation of YPF: the state would purchase a 51% share, with the national government controlling 51% of this package and ten provincial governments receiving the remaining 49%. Planning Minister Julio de Vido was appointed to head the Federal intervention, replacing CEO Sebastián Eskenazi.[32] Repsol YPF CEO Antonio Brufau, Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, and other Spanish officials objected to the nationalisation, accusing the Argentine government of driving down YPF shares ahead of the announcement (market price of the shares declined by over half from February to April). Responses included a diplomatic offensive by Rajoy in other countries in the region,[39] assurances by Industry Minister José Manuel Soria of "clear and decisive" Spanish government measures,[40] Foreign Minister José García-Margallo y Marfil's admonition that Argentina had "shot itself in the foot" by damaging relations with Spain[39] (adding that such a move would make Argentina a "pariah"),[41] and other threats.[42] Argentine Economy Minister Hernán Lorenzino claimed that asset stripping at YPF had financed Repsol's expansion in other parts of the world.[43] According to The Financial Times Spanish executives of YPF were "hunted down" by Argentine officials; armed guards used "physical violence and threats".[44].
The Chinese state oil concern, Sinopec, was reported to have been in talks to buy out Repsol's share in YPF - a potential deal scuttled by the Argentine announcement.[45] Both Repsol and YPF shares fell sharply before and after the announcement,[31] and the cost of insuring Argentine government bonds against default rose,[46] as did those of Spain.[47] Repsol Chairman Brufau estimated the company’s potential loss at €5.7 billion (US$7.5 billion).[48]
The largest minority shareholder, the Petersen Group, who had financed their initial purchase of 15% of the stock with a vendor’s loan from Repsol for €1.5 billion.[2] The 2008 agreement required Repsol to buy back shares owned by the Group and to assume the loan should the Madrid-based firm lose majority control of YPF.[48] Sebastián Eskenazi indicated however that the group would forego this option.[49]
Argentinean Deputy Economy Minister Axel Kicillof rejected Repsol's initial demands for payment of US$10.5 billion for a controlling stake in YPF, citing debts of nearly US$9 billion.[50] The book value of YPF was US$4.4 billion at the end of 2011;[1] its total market capitalization on the day of the announcement was US$10.4 billion.[42] The Senate of Argentina approved the takeover on April 26 with 63 votes in favor of the measure, three opposing it and four abstentions.[33]
Operations
The company remained the largest in its sector in Argentina despite declining production, operating 52% of the nation's refinery capacity in three facilities and 1,600 filling stations.[51] Its sales of gasoline and other motor fuels totaled 12.15 billion liters (3.21 billion gallons) in 2011, 57% of the national market in these.[52]
Oil production in Argentina peaked in 1998 at 308 million barrels and declined steadily afterward, reaching 209 million in 2011. Natural gas production also declined, from 52 billion m³ in 2004 to 45.5 billion.[53][54] The company's production of oil had fallen by 43% between 1998 and 2011, and of natural gas by 37% from its high in 2004.[55] Oil exploration fell from 30 wells in 1998 to 8 in 2010 (French energy firm Total S.A. overtook YPF as the leading oil driller in Argentina).[56] YPF shares of total output fell 8 points to 34% in oil, and 12 points to 23% in natural gas; its declines in output represented 54% of lost oil production and 97% in the case of natural gas.[53] The company's oil production had declined by a further 7%, and gas by 9%, during 2011.[54]
YPF announced the discovery in November 2011 of a 30,000 km² (11,600 mi²) unconventional oil field, Vaca Muerta, with recoverable reserves of up to 927 million barrels.[37] Its reserves of crude and natural gas, not including the new shale finds, fell 60% and 67% respectively between 1999 and 2011.[25][52]
The firm's new headquarters, the Repsol-YPF tower, was designed by César Pelli and inaugurated in 2008.
Company statistics
Year | Petroleum output (million barrels) |
Natural gas output (billion cu ft) |
Petroleum reserves (million barrels) |
Natural gas reserves (billion cu ft) |
New exploratory wells[56] |
Net revenue (million USD) |
Profits after tax (million USD) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1992 | 101 | 493 | 1029 | 10918 | 17 | 4094 | 271 |
1993-95 | 130 | 423 | 1136 | 8965 | 82 | 4445 | 693 |
1996-98 | 182 | 490 | 1458 | 9812 | 34 | 5854 | 758 |
1999-2001 | 173 | 606 | 1592 | 10472 | 13 | 7806 | 842 |
2002-04 | 154 | 631 | 1255 | 7923 | 11 | 5974 | 1455 |
2005-07 | 127 | 651 | 677 | 4739 | 14 | 8544 | 1527 |
2008-10 | 111 | 544 | 601 | 3805 | 7 | 10531 | 1219 |
2011[52] | 100 | 441 | 583 | 3695 | n.a. | 13795[1] | 1289[1] |
Notes:[25] unless specified. Three year periods are averages. Output data after 1995 includes overseas Maxus unit. Exchange rate from IMF.
References
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- ^ a b Felipe Pigna, 2006, p.153
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- ^ a b c César V. Herrera and Marcelo García (23 January 2003). "A 10 años de la privatización de YPF" (in Spanish). Centro Regional de Estudios Económicos de la Patagonia Central. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
- ^ Calvin Sims (5 May 1995). "José Estenssoro, 61, Who Led Oil Privatization in Argentina". The New York Times. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
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- ^ "YPF representa cerca de la mitad de la producción y de las reservas de Repsol". El Periódico (in Spanish). 16 April 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
- ^ "El Grupo Petersen ejerció la opción y aumentó 10% su participación en YPF". InfoBae (in Spanish). 4 May 2011. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
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- ^ a b "YPF Repsol: Spain warns Argentina of strong response". BBC News. 17 April 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
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- ^ a b Tracy Rucinski and Julien Toyer (17 April 2012). "Incensed Spain threatens Argentina after YPF seizure". Reuters. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
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- ^ "Spanish Debt Insurance Costs At Fresh Record On Economic Concerns". Wall Street Journal.
{{cite web}}
: Text "date 16 April 2012" ignored (help) - ^ a b Ben Sills and David Voreacos (20 April 2012). "Repsol Must Buy Eskenazi YPF Stake in '08 Deal". Bloomberg Business Week. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
{{cite web}}
: Italic or bold markup not allowed in:|publisher=
(help) - ^ "Eskenazi Said to Tell Brufau YPF Buyback Pact Won't Be Used". San Francisco Chronicle. 26 April 2012.
- ^ "Kicillof advirtió: No vamos a pagar lo que Repsol quiera". Clarín (in Spanish). 17 April 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
- ^ "Argentina frena expropiación de YPF". Perú 21 (in Spanish). 15 April 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
- ^ a b c "YPF y Argentina" (PDF) (in Spanish). Repsol YPF. 17 April 2012.
- ^ a b "El proyecto para nacionalizar YPF". El Mundo (in Spanish). 16 April 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
- ^ a b "La caída en la producción de petróleo es la más grande desde 1946". La Política Online (in Spanish). 29 February 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
- ^ "El debate por los hidrocarburos". Tiempo Argentino (in Spanish). 8 April 2012. Retrieved 20 April 2012.
- ^ a b "Subexploración y Sobreexplotación" (PDF). Centro de Investigación y Formación de la República Argentina. March 2012.