From The Rio Times · Rocco Caldero · · 2m
YPF App to Sell Bonds After 1.5M Share Sales
Argentina's YPF plans to sell corporate bonds via app after 1.5M shares sold in 45 days.
In brief
Argentina's YPF plans to sell corporate bonds via app after 1.5M shares sold in 45 days. YPF will let ordinary savers buy bonds in pesos and dollars after 1.5 million shares sold through its app in 45 days. Originally reported by The Rio Times.
YPF App Launch
Argentina's state-controlled oil company YPF opened share purchases in its app without requiring traditional brokerage accounts.
Share Sales Progress
YPF sold about 1.5 million shares in 45 days through the app, averaging five shares per person.
User Numbers
The app reached 300,000 unique users who bought YPF shares, with 21,700 unique users at one million shares.
Bonds Announcement
YPF chief executive Horacio Marín announced bonds would be sold in pesos and dollars after share sales.
Why Now
Marín announced the plan on Friday 16 October 2:00pm at Rosario board of trade after online scams using YPF's name.
Bonds Details
Bonds would let ordinary savers lend directly to YPF, a step beyond share sales that began in August.
Financial Impact
The average spend per user was ARS 40,000 (about US$26) per share, totaling about ARS 12 billion.
US Investors
US holders of YPF shares see the company courting small local savers, though the sums are small next to its US$1.2 billion bond.
Why YPF Wants Small Savers
Marín said the scheme began as a response to online scams and aims to bring ordinary people into the capital market.
Bonds Not Yet Launched
No launch date, bond size, interest rate, or maturity has been announced for the bonds.
Market Context
Argentina ranks 4th in The Rio Times Latin America Power Index with 61.2 points (October 2026 edition).
Investor Competition
YPF competes with payment wallets and banks for savers' balances through its app offering QR payments and a prepaid Mastercard.
Risk for Investors
Savers should remember shares can fall and bonds carry credit risk with no bond terms published yet.
What's Next
YPF will announce bond terms, including launch date, size, interest rate, and maturity once finalized.
The takeaway
YPF will let ordinary savers buy bonds in pesos and dollars after 1.5 million shares sold through its app in 45 days.
