Peter Thiel's Hedge Fund Buys Stake in Argentine Shale Oil Producer Vista Energy
According to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Friday, Peter Thiel's hedge fund, Thiel Macro LLC, has purchased a 1% interest in Vista Energy, an Argentine shale oil producer. This investment comprises around 1.2 million American Depositary Shares of Vista Energy, which were valued at $76 million as of June 30, making it the fund's second-largest asset after Amazon. Vista Energy, the largest independent energy firm in Argentina, extracts 160,000 barrels of oil equivalent each day from the Vaca Muerta shale formation. In the second quarter, Thiel Macro's total U.S. equity investments surpassed $400 million, including new stakes in energy firms. Earlier this year, Thiel moved to Buenos Aires and held discussions with President Javier Milei regarding economic strategies.
Key facts
- Thiel Macro LLC acquired a roughly 1% stake in Vista Energy.
- The stake consisted of about 1.2 million American Depositary Shares valued at approximately $76 million.
- Vista Energy's stock rose 5.4% in premarket trading after the filing.
- The position was Thiel Macro's second-largest disclosed holding, after Amazon.
- Vista Energy is Argentina's largest independent energy company, operating in the Vaca Muerta shale formation.
- Thiel Macro rebuilt its U.S. equity portfolio to over $400 million in Q2.
- Peter Thiel relocated to Buenos Aires and met with President Javier Milei in April.
- Milei's administration is pushing economic reforms to attract foreign investment.
Entities
Institutions
- Thiel Macro LLC
- Vista Energy
- U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
- CNBC
- Reuters
- The Globe and Mail
- Amazon
- American Electric Power
- DTE Energy
- FirstEnergy
- CMS Energy
- Vistra
Locations
- Argentina
- Buenos Aires
- Vaca Muerta
- Neuquén province
- Patagonia
Sources
- Quartz —