The fate of Argentina’s state-run oil company was thrown into doubt Monday as a U.S. judge ordered the cash-strapped country to give up its 51% controlling stake in YPF in partial compensation for seizing the shares of former investors during its 2012 nationalization of the energy group.

US District Judge Loretta Preska in Manhattan said on Monday that Argentina must transfer its 51% stake in YPF within 14 days to Bank of New York Mellon, and instructed the institution to transfer the shares within one business day to the plaintiffs.

A US district judge has ordered Argentina to transfer its controlling stake in state-run energy company YPF to former shareholders, escalating pressure on the country to pay a $16bn judgment stemming from its 2012 nationalisation of the group.