Latest News

US may get involved in Argentina dispute over $16 billion YPF judgment

The U.S. federal government said on Monday it might get associated with a disagreement over whether Argentina should quit its 51% stake in oil and gas business YPF to assist satisfy a $16.1 billion court judgment.

In a letter filed with the U.S. District Court in Manhattan, the U.S. Department of Justice said it is actively thinking about whether to submit a so-called declaration of interest, which it can file when a case touches on its sovereign interests.

Argentina is appealing U.S. District Judge Loretta Preska's. decision last September to award 2 financiers, represented by. litigation funder Burford Capital, the $16.1 billion.

The judgment emerged from Argentina's 2012 seizure of the 51%. YPF stake held by Spain's Repsol without tendering for. shares held by minority investors.

Burford is anticipated to receive 35% and 73% of the investors'. respective damages, and asked Preska in April to force Argentina. to cede the YPF stake to partially satisfy the judgment.

The Justice Department said it needs to understand whether to get. involved by Nov. 6, the day after the U.S. governmental. election, and asked Preska not to rule on the YPF stake up until it. chooses.

Argentina, Burford and YPF did not immediately respond to. ask for comment. The U.S. Lawyer's Workplace in Manhattan,. which submitted Monday's letter, did not immediately react to. comparable demands.

Burford argued in April that a turnover of the YPF stake was. validated by Argentina's several years of structuring its assets. to avoid enforcement in the nine-year-old case.

It likewise stated such a relocation was permitted under an industrial. activity exception to the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act.

Argentina rejected Burford's arguments in May, stating offering. up the stake would violate Argentine law and be an. impermissible affront to Argentine sovereignty.

YPF, on the other hand, asked Preska last month to ward off any. supposed effort by Burford to hold it accountable as Argentina's. alter ego for any of the $16.1 billion judgment.

(source: Reuters)