Billionaire investor Peter Thiel has acquired a 1% stake in an Argentine oil company with operations in the Vaca Muerta shale formation, a regulatory filing shows.
The disclosure, filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, does not specify the name of the company or the value of the stake. Vaca Muerta, one of the world's largest shale oil and gas reserves, has attracted significant investment amid Argentina's efforts to boost energy production.
The filing indicates Thiel's investment was made through his venture capital firm, Founders Fund. The transaction was completed in the second quarter, though the exact date was not disclosed. Founders Fund did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Vaca Muerta's development has been a priority for Argentina's government, which has sought foreign capital to expand infrastructure and production. The formation holds an estimated 16 billion barrels of recoverable oil and 308 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, according to official estimates.
The investment highlights growing interest from international investors in Argentina's energy sector, despite ongoing economic challenges in the country.
