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 Repsol-YPF Tower inPuerto Madero, 2010 | |
| Company type | Sociedad Anónima |
|---|---|
| BCBA:YPFD NYSE: YPF MERVAL component | |
| Industry | Petroleum and natural gas |
| Founded | June 3, 1922; 103 years ago (1922-06-03)[1] |
| Founder | Government of Argentina (Hipólito Yrigoyen's administration)[2] |
| Headquarters | , |
Area served | Argentina |
Key people | Horacio Daniel Marín(president) |
| Products | Petroleum Natural gas Petrochemicals |
| Services | Fuel stations LNG transportation Oil refining |
| Revenue |  US$18.75 billion(2022)[3] |
| US$2.23 billion(2022)[3] | |
| Total assets | US$25.9 billion(2022)[3] |
| Owner | Government of Argentina (51%) |
Number of employees | 23,471[3] |
| Parent | Secretary of Energy |
| Website | ypf.com |
YPF S.A. (Spanish pronunciation:['i'pe'efe],[4] formerlyYacimientos Petrolíferos Fiscales; English: "Fiscal Oilfields") is avertically integrated, majoritystate-ownedArgentine energy company, engaged inoil andgas exploration and production, and the transportation, refining, and marketing of gas and petroleum products. In the 2020Forbes Global 2000, YPF was ranked as the 1360th largest public company in the world.[5]
Founded in 1922 under PresidentHipólito Yrigoyen's administration, YPF was the first oil company established as astate enterprise outside of the Soviet Union, and the first state oil company to becomevertically integrated.[6][7]
YPF's first director wasEnrique Mosconi, who took up his charge in 1922, remaining there until 1930.[8] During his run on the company, Mosconi advocatedeconomic independence and starting in 1928,nationalization of oil supplies; the latter, however, was never achieved due to a1930 military coup against Yrigoyen backed by, among others, foreign oil interests.[9]
YPF was privatized under presidentCarlos Menem and was bought by the Spanish firmRepsol in 1999; the resulting merged company was called Repsol YPF.
Therenationalization of 51% of the firm was initiated in 2012 by PresidentCristina Fernández de Kirchner.[10] The government of Argentina eventually agreed to pay $5 billion compensation to Repsol.[11]
The company, specializing in the exploration, production, refining and commercialization of petroleum, had its origin in 1907, when oil was discovered near the city ofComodoro Rivadavia inChubut. FollowingWorld War I, oil had become an important resource, leading tostruggles between rival powers to gain control of it.
YPF was created byPresident of ArgentinaHipólito Yrigoyen on 3 June 1922.[1] It was the first entirely state-run oil company in the world, the second being the FrenchTotal founded in 1924 by the conservative Prime MinisterRaymond Poincaré.[12] YPF's creation was followed by the creation ofANCAP inUruguay (1931),YPFB inBolivia (1936),Pemex inMexico (1938),ENAP inChile (1950), andPetrobras inBrazil (1953). Mosconi served as YPF's first director.
YPF bought its firsttanker in the United States in 1923, and built not only several extracting facilities, but whole towns and cities, such as Comodoro Rivadavia;Caleta Olivia inSanta Cruz;Plaza Huincul inNeuquén; andGeneral Mosconi inSalta. 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 withBethlehem Steel allowed YPF to begin the production of gasoline andkerosene.[13]
Mosconi, who had previously been in charge of the Aeronautics division of theArmy, proposed to Joaquín Corvalán, governor of Salta Province, the exploitation of Salta's oil by YPF, offering 13% royalties for the province.[14] Corvalán, allied with theStandard 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 thenationalization of oil supplies in order to strengthen Argentina's independence.[14]
The first YPFoil refinery was inaugurated in December 1925 inLa Plata, and was at the time the tenth largest in the world.[15] According to Mosconi, this spawned the beginning of "the mobilization of all sort of resistance and obstacles" from the oiltrusts, in particular from Standard Oil, which was one of the most influential foreign companies in Argentina, with a presence in Comodoro Rivadavia,Jujuy, andSalta.[15]
TheChamber of Deputies approved a law on 28 September 1928, establishing astate monopoly on oil.[16] The monopoly, however, was not absolute, being limited tooil exploration, exploitation and transport, but excluding selling and imports.[16] Private firms opposed themselves to the law project, refusing to pay a 10% royalty.[17] The bill was supported by PresidentMarcelo Torcuato de Alvear but was ultimately blocked by the conservatives in theSenate.
Oil nationalization became an important theme of Yrigoyen's electoral campaign of 1928, although theYrigoyenistas focused their criticism on Standard Oil of New Jersey, abstaining themselves from attackingBritish Empire interests, to which Argentina's economy was closely linked (in particularRoyal Dutch Shell).[17]
Following Yrigoyen's victory in the1928 elections, YPF, still directed by Enrique Mosconi, reduced oil prices in May 1929, leading to the cheapest petroleum in the world[17] and to an important increase in YPF's sales compared to its rival private companies, forcing them to also lower their prices.[17] Mosconi also reduced the price ofkerosene andagrochemicals to contribute to the development of the interior regions of Argentina.[17] 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 ofEsso 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.[13]
The Petroleum Institute (Instituto del Petróleo) was created on 30 December 1929, and directed byRicardo Rojas, the rector of theUniversity of Buenos Aires. Foreseeing conflicts with US private companies, Mosconi proposed an agreement with theSoviet state companyAmtorg, which was to allow Argentina to import 250,000 tons of petroleum each year, paid by trade with leather,wool,tannin andmutton.[18] The agreement was to be made official in September 1930, along with the complete nationalization of oil resources;[18] but on 6 September 1930, Yrigoyen was deposed bya military coup headed by GeneralJosé Félix Uriburu, and the project was withdrawn.
The coup was lobbied for chiefly by Standard Oil, whose interests in Salta Province and neighboringBolivia conflicted with those of YPF.[9] The subsequentConcordance regime supported YPF, however, and its role as the nation's leading oil distillates retailer was bolstered by a 1936 agreement with theAutomóvil 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%).[13] The development of the nation's sizable natural gas resources also originated largely from YPF. Drawing from an initiative by YPF director Julio Canessa, PresidentJuan Perón ordered that the gas flared off in YPF oil extraction should instead be captured, and sold by a state company, thus establishing the sister firmGas del Estado ("State Gas") in 1946. The nation's firstgas compressor and what at the time was the world's longestgas pipeline were completed by 1949, leading to a fifty-fold increase in natural gas production.[19] Oil production at YPF surpassed 25 million barrels (84% of the nation's total) by 1955.[13]
This gain was partly offset by a 40% drop in private-sector output, however, such that overall oil production rose by only one-third during the Peronist decade while annual consumption nearly doubled to 70 million barrels. The nation's oil supply thus shifted from 60% domestic in 1945, to 60% imported by 1954. Oil imports by 1955 rose to US$300 million, or over one fourth of total merchandise imports.[20] Perón had madeeconomic nationalism a policy centerpiece. YPF was granted an exemption from steep oilimport 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 courtforeign investment in the sector as early as 1947, however, when anoil drilling contract was signed by YPF with U.S. firm Drilexco.[21] Total exploration doubled, and significant reserves inSalta Province were developed.[22] A more controversial joint venture withStandard Oil of California was signed in 1955 for the eventual production of up to 56 million barrels a year.[21] These initiatives were opposed by much of theArmy, the oppositionUCR, and among others Perón's point man on national oil policy, YPF head Julio Canessa, who was dismissed. The venture ended followingPerón's overthrow in September.[23]
An erstwhile critic of both the Drilexco and Standard Oil contracts, PresidentArturo 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 thedevelopmentalist 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.[24] 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.[20]
These contracts created a controversy referred to by Frondizi himself as the "oil battle," and were ultimately cancelled by PresidentArturo Illia in 1963 over concerns that YPF would be deprived of adequate returns for its exploration investments;[20] of the foreign firms which had taken part in the 1958 bids, onlyAmoco remained.[22] The cancellations cost US$50 million in indemnity payments, though they proved fortuitous after the company's discovery of thePuesto Hernández field in 1965. Puesto Hernández, nearRincón 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.[25] 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.[22] New oil field rental contracts were signed following a 1967 policy change enacted by PresidentJuan Carlos Onganía which had the goal of achieving self-sufficiency in oil by 1975.[24] 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.[22]
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).[22] It also coincided with the1973 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.[20] Thedictatorship installed in aMarch 1976 coup initially presided over a revitalization and streamlining of YPF. Output increased by 20% and its finances initially improved following a wave of layoffs that returned employment levels to around 35,000 by 1979.[22]
The military government was openly hostile to YPF's paramount position in the oil industry, however. The company lost money every year after 1975 and by 1981 was US$4.1 billion in debt. YPF losses resulted, at least in large part, from policy decisions beyond its control. Government policy after 1976 kept oil prices well below inflation, with the consequence that costs increased faster than income. YPF also bore an extremely heavy tax burden, as 68.4% of its revenues were paid as tax to the national and provincial governments, as well as a long list of state agencies that included the National Energy Fund, the National Highway Council, and the Provincial Road Fund. Another serious drain resulted from the failure of other state enterprises such asArgentine Railways andthe national airline to pay YPF for their fuel in full and on time. These intergovernmental accounts represented 20% of YPF's sales and were as much as ten years in arrears. The tax policy of the military government followed the same path as its civilian predecessors, a path that regarded YPF as a convenient source of funds to ease the country's chronic and serious fiscal deficit position.[26]
The death in a helicopter crash of the firm's director, Raúl Ondarts, and the appointment of GeneralGuillermo Suárez Mason in 1981 was followed by a period of severe mismanagement, moreover. 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.[27] They in turn diverted large quantities of fuel into the director's newly established companySol Petróleo, adummy corporation used by Suárez Mason and his appointees forembezzlement as well as to divert funds to theContras[28] and the fascist organizationP2 (to which the director belonged).[29]
Suárez Mason had YPF borrow heavily not only to cover suchasset stripping but also at the behest of Economy MinisterJosé Alfredo Martínez de Hoz, whose bid forcurrency strength and policy offinancial deregulation required a sharp rise inforeign debt to maintain.[30] YPF debts thus rose 142-fold during Suárez Mason's tenure,[29] at the end of which in 1983 the company recorded a US$6 billion loss (the largest in the world at the time).[31]
YPF nonetheless remained the 365th largest firm in the world,[32] with sales of over US$4 billion in 1992.[33] Argentine PresidentCarlos Menem initiated theprivatization of YPF through an IPO on the New York and other stock exchanges on 28 June 1993, at a value of US$3 billion for stock equal to a 45% share in the company. During the 18 months prior to the IPO, YPF underwent a massive restructuring process led by its new CEO José Estenssoro, who had been appointed by President Menem. The staff of YPF was reduced from 52,000 to 10,600 through layoffs agreed with unions and outsourcing of services to companies established by former YPF employees during the restructuring process. The financial bottom line for the company was increased from a loss about $1 billion in 1991 (although the accounting system at the time could not accurately compute actual profit) to a profit of $1 billion in 1993, and the underlying value of YPF was increased from about US$2 billion to the US$9 billion after privatization.[33][34]
Estenssoro stayed on as CEO, and further streamlined the company while expanding its reach outside Argentina, acquiring Maxus Energy Corporation ofDallas for US$740 million in 1995. Estenssoro died in a plane crash inEcuador, where Maxus maintained wells, in May of that year.[35][36][37] 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;[38] of the latter total, 32 million were produced by Maxus operations in Ecuador and elsewhere.[39]
Madrid-basedmultinational corporationRepsol 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.[32] 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.[40]
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 4 May 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.[41] In 2014, Repsol exited the Argentine market, giving up its stake in YPF.[42]
Argentine international energy trade recorded an imbalance of US$3 billion in 2011, the first negative figure since 1987,[43] and the relationship between YPF and the government became difficult.[44] Investment in exploration at YPF as a percentage of profits had been far below those in most other Repsol subsidiaries.[45] Market analysts and Repsol blamed the decline in exploration and production on government controls on exports andprospecting lease awards, andprice controls on domestic oil and gas.[46][47] Political risks and government intervention, including price controls, have discouraged foreign investment in oil production in Latin America in general.[48] PresidentCristina Fernández de Kirchner raised YPF frequently in speeches during March 2012, claiming that underinvestment and excessivedividends at the firm had caused declines in output.[49] Governors in six fossil-fuel producingprovinces subsequently revoked YPF leases representing a fifth of its oil production.[50]
Citing Brazilian oil giantPetrobras as an example, the president announced the introduction of a bill on 16 April 2012, for therenationalization of YPF: the national government would purchase a controlling 51% share, with ten provincial governments receiving the remaining 49%. Planning MinisterJulio de Vido was appointed to head theFederal intervention, replacing CEO Sebastián Eskenazi.[43] Repsol YPF CEO Antonio Brufau, Spanish Prime MinisterMariano 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). Economy MinisterHernán Lorenzino claimed in turn thatasset stripping at YPF had financed Repsol's expansion in other parts of the world.[51]
Responses included a diplomatic offensive by Rajoy in other countries in the region,[52] assurances by Industry MinisterJosé Manuel Soria of "clear and decisive" Spanish government measures,[53] Foreign MinisterJosé García-Margallo y Marfil's admonition that Argentina had "shot itself in the foot" by damagingrelations with Spain,[52] and other threats.[54][55]
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.[56] Both Repsol and YPF shares fell sharply before and after the announcement,[44] and the cost of insuring Argentine government bonds against default rose,[57] as did those of Spain.[58] Repsol Chairman Brufau estimated the company's potential loss at €5.7 billion (US$7.5 billion).[59]
The largest minority shareholder, the Petersen Group, had financed their initial purchase of 15% of the stock with avendor's loan from Repsol for €1.5 billion.[6] 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.[59] Sebastián Eskenazi indicated however that the group would forgo this option.[60]
TheSenate of Argentina approved the takeover on 26 April with 63 votes in favor of the measure, three opposing it and four abstentions.[46] TheChamber of Deputies in turn approved the bill on 4 May with 208 votes out of 257 and six abstentions. The president signed the renationalization into law on 5 May.[61]Miguel Galluccio, an Argentinepetroleum engineer with experience at both YPF and at oilfield services leaderSchlumberger as president of its production management division inLondon, was appointed CEO.[62]
Argentine Deputy Economy MinisterAxel Kicillof rejected Repsol's initial demands for payment of US$10.5 billion for a 57% stake in YPF (the state sought 51%), citing debts of nearly US$9 billion.[63] Thebook value of YPF was US$4.4 billion at the end of 2011;[64] its totalmarket capitalization on the day of the announcement was US$10.4 billion.[55] Repsol officials submitted the matter to the World BankICISD for arbitration.[65] The Argentine government and Repsol reached agreement in principle on compensation in November 2013, and on 25 February 2014, Repsol announced final agreement that the Argentine government would provide Repsol with guaranteed Argentine government bonds of varying maturities, the nominal amount varying to assure that Repsol would in fact receive US$5 billion in compensation for the 51% of YPF nationalized.[66]
YPF also acquired a controlling stake inMetrogas (the nation's largest gas distributor) in November 2012.[67] A joint exploratory venture for the development oftight oil andshale gas at theVaca Muerta field was signed withChevron Corporation on 16 July 2013.[68] Following its renationalization, rapidly risinginvestment levels at YPF have been funded mostly viainternal financing, by Chevron, and by the periodic issuance of high-yield corporate bonds.[69] These bond issuances were raised to US$1.5 billion per series in April 2015, as demand surged to US$4 billion.[70]
In December 2019, the recently inaugurated PresidentAlberto Fernández putGuillermo Nielsen in charge of YPF.[71] Nielsen was replaced byPablo Gerardo González in January 2021.[72]
President-electJavier Milei stated afterhis election in 2023 that YPF was one of the state-controlled companies that he planned to privatize.[73]
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.[74] Its sales of gasoline and other motor fuels totaled 12.15 billion liters (3.21 billion gallons) in 2011, accounting for 57% of the national market.[75]
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.[76][77] 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.[78]Oil exploration fell from 30 wells in 1998 to 8 in 2010 (French energy firmTotal S.A. overtook YPF as the leading oil driller in Argentina).[79]
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.[76] The company's oil production had declined by a further 7%, and gas by 9%, during 2011.[77] Production declines of 6% annually under Repsol were reversed following the renationalization, however. Amid sharp increases in profitability and investment,[80][81] output in 2013 rose by 3.4% in oil and a 2.2% in gas,[82] and a further 8.7% and 12.5% in oil and gas, respectively, during 2014.[83]
YPF announced the discovery in November 2011 of an 8071 km2unconventional oil field,Vaca Muerta, with recoverable reserves of 22.8 billion barrels of oil equivalent, and potential to extend to an area of up to 30,000 km2 (11,600 mi2).[49] Its reserves of crude and natural gas, not including the newshale finds, fell 60% and 67% respectively between 1999 and 2011.[38][75]
The firm's new headquarters, theRepsol-YPF Tower, was designed byCésar Pelli and inaugurated in 2008.
| Year | Petroleum output (million barrels) | Natural gas output (billion cu ft) | Petroleum reserves (million barrels) | Natural gas reserves (billion cu ft) | New exploratory wells[79] | 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[75] | 100 | 441 | 583 | 3695 | n.a. | [64] 13795 | [64] 1289 |
Notes:[38] unless specified. Three year periods are averages. Output data from 1995 to 2011 includes Maxus Energy and other overseas units, typically around 20% of YPF's worldwide total. Exchange rate from IMF.
* excludes Maxus Energy.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
