
YPF acquires strategic assets in Vaca Muerta for USD 500 million
The Argentine oil company acquired a 45% stake in the La Escalonada and Rincón de la Ceniza blocks
YPF has reached an agreement with Total Austral to acquire 100% of the shares of Vaca Muerta Inversiones S.A.U., a company that holds a 45% stake in the unconventional blocks La Escalonada and Rincón de La Ceniza, located in the heart of Vaca Muerta, in the province of Neuquén. The remaining stake is split between Shell Argentina (45%) and Gas y Petróleo del Neuquén (G&P, 10%).
The total amount of the transaction is USD 500 million, subject to adjustments based on the company's cash flows between January 2025 and the closing date. The agreement was signed on August 6, 2025 and is subject to the fulfillment of certain precedent conditions.
Key assets with concessions until 2051
The acquired blocks have valid unconventional exploitation concessions until 2051, consolidating them as key assets for the company's long-term strategy.

La Escalonada is a high-quality crude oil producing block, which will allow YPF to increase its current production and generate synergies within the so-called Vaca Muerta North Hub.
Rincón de La Ceniza is located in the wet gas window of the formation and represents a strategic piece for the development of the Argentina LNG project, which aims to position the country as a global exporter of liquefied natural gas.
Towards a world-class YPF

This transaction is part of YPF's transformation process, which seeks to optimize its asset portfolio and strengthen its position as a world-class operator in the development of unconventional resources.
With this purchase, YPF strengthens its role as a leading player in Argentine energy development, aiming for greater production, operational efficiency, and foreign currency generation through large-scale international projects.
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