We advised Vista Energy on the acquisition of Equinor’s assets in Vaca Muerta

Bruchou & Funes de Rioja and Beccar Varela acted as legal advisors, together with Mayer Brown and Hogan Lovells, in a series of agreements pursuant to which Vista Energy agreed to acquire from Equinor an indirect non-operating interest in the “Bandurria Sur” block and a non-operating interest in the “Bajo del Toro” block.

The transaction includes the acquisition of Equinor’s entire 30% interest in the “Bandurria Sur” block through the purchase of 100% of the share capital of Equinor Argentina S.A.U., as well as the acquisition of a 50% participating interest in the “Bajo del Toro” block concession.

Additionally, the transaction involved the simultaneous assignment by Vista Energy to YPF S.A. of an indirect 4.9% interest in the “Bandurria Sur” block and a 15% interest in the “Bajo del Toro” block.

The transaction, which represents the divestment of Equinor’s entire onshore position in the Vaca Muerta basin, is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions precedent.

Vista Energy

Bruchou & Funes de Rioja’s team advised Vista Energy on both transactions and was led by partners Javier Rodríguez Galli and Nicolás Dulce from the Oil & Gas and M&A practices, with the participation of senior associates Agustina Rocca and Federico Vicente, and associates Sofía Baldino and Josefina De la Torre. The transaction also involved José Bazán, Ramón Poliche and Lucía de Luca (Banking), Pablo Muir (Tax), Juan Zocca (Regulatory), Gabriel Lozano (Antitrust), and Manuel Olcese (Corporate).

Mayer Brown acted as Vista’s international counsel through its Houston-based team, led by partner Pablo Ferrante, with the participation of counsel Federica Castro and associate Lucía Londono.

Vista Energy’s in-house legal team was led by Rosario Maffrand.

Equinor

The Beccar Varela team advised Equinor and was led by partners Ricardo Castañeda and Jimena Vega Olmos from the Oil & Gas and M&A practices, with the participation of senior associates Delfina Carregal and Mora Mangiaterra Pizarro. The transaction also involved Santiago Montezanti (Tax), Enrique López Rivarola (Tax), and Agustín Waisman (Antitrust).

Hogan Lovells acted as Equinor’s international counsel through its New York team, led by partners Megan Ridley-Kaye (Corporate and Finance), Peter Cohen-Millstein (Corporate and Finance), and Ricardo Martinez (Corporate and Finance), with the participation of senior associate Tina Guo. The Mexico-based Hogan Lovells team also participated, led by partners Federico De Noriega (Corporate and Finance) and Ricardo Mons (Global Regulatory), together with Counsel Martin Michaus.

Equinor’s in-house legal team was led by Patrick Wilkinson, Senior Legal Counsel

YPF

YPF’s in-house legal team was led by Fernando Gómez Zanou, with the participation of Pilar Rodríguez Salto and Francisco Trigo. YPF did not retain external counsel.