Argentina: Repsol bid sows confusion

Like most emerging markets Argentina is unused to hostile takeover bids and certainly not those on the scale of Repsol's bid for YPF. To some analysts the takeover is a case of a company with a poor investment record in Latin America -- Spain's oil company Repsol - gaining control of a well-managed firm - YPF has been remodeled since privatization with a clear strategy and strong balance sheet. They warn of the dangers of leveraged takeovers.

Like most emerging markets Argentina is unused to hostile takeover bids and certainly not those on the scale of Repsol’s bid for YPF. To some analysts the takeover is a case of a company with a poor investment record in Latin America — Spain’s oil company Repsol – gaining control of a well-managed firm – YPF has been remodeled since privatization with a clear strategy and strong balance sheet. They warn of the dangers of leveraged takeovers.

The government needs the money the bid will generate but congress is huffing and puffing about monopoly.

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