YPF to split shares 1:10 in August, making investment more accessible

YPF, Argentina's primary oil company, is set to make investing in its shares significantly more accessible to smaller investors. Starting August 4, the company will implement a stock split, dividing each existing share into ten. This strategic move aims to reduce the per-share price, thereby opening the door to a broader range of investors.

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We want more Argentines to be part of YPF's growth. The stock split is a concrete step to bring the capital market closer and make investment in the company more accessible.

Currently, YPF shares trade on the New York market and are also registered with Caja de Valores in Argentina. The upcoming split will change the ratio to 1:10 for shares traded locally. Consequently, the price of an individual share on the Argentine capital market is expected to drop from around $80,700 to approximately $8,070. Investors holding YPF shares will automatically receive nine additional shares for each one they own, bringing their total to ten, without needing to take any action.

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The idea is that in the short term, the thousands of users who use the platform daily to refuel and pay at service stations will also be able to buy a share of YPF “for the price of a coffee.”

Horacio Marín, president and CEO of YPF, stated, "We want more Argentines to be part of YPF's growth. The stock split is a concrete step to bring the capital market closer and make investment in the company more accessible." In line with simplifying access to savings and investment, YPF is also developing a feature within its mobile application. This will allow the thousands of daily users, who use the app for fuel purchases, to also buy YPF shares directly through the platform.

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This type of operation, common in international markets, does not alter the market value of the company nor does it modify the relative participation of each shareholder.

Marín clarified that this type of operation, common in international markets, does not alter the company's overall market value or the relative ownership stake of shareholders. The primary goal is to lower the nominal price of the stock in the local market, fostering greater liquidity and investor participation. He also noted that the move aims to combat scams impersonating him and to align YPF's share price with those of other Argentine energy companies like Vista and Pampa Energía, which have significantly lower per-share prices.

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We want with this to reduce the scams that are being done in my name, with my face; there is no other leitmotif than that. Besides, we saw that it was the only stock in Argentina that was worth so much compared to other energy companies, like Vista or Pampa. We are updating ourselves to that.