Milbank advises YPF on $500 million acquisition of TotalEnergies oil and gas blocks

Milbank LLP is advising YPF S.A. in connection with its definitive agreement with Total Austral S.A., an affiliate of TotalEnergies, to acquire a 45% interest in Rincón La Ceniza and La Escalonada, two unconventional oil and gas blocks located in Argentina, for $500 million. Closing of the transaction is subject to the satisfaction of certain closing conditions. 

Located in the Vaca Muerta shale formation, the Rincón La Ceniza and the La Escalonada blocks are currently in a pilot development phase. Total Austral’s partners in these blocks are Gas y Petroleo de Neuquen (10%) and O&G Developments Ltd S.A (45%), owned by Shell. Argentina’s Vaca Muerta shale formation is the world’s second-largest unconventional gas reserve.

The Milbank team was led by Global Corporate/M&A partners Francisco Nuñez and Ross Shepard and associate Francisco Troconis.