US judge will not attach Energia Argentina assets

NEW YORK Aug 19 (Reuters) - A U.S. federal judge in New York has rejected an effort to attach assets of Argentina's state-owned energy company, in connection with losses tied to the country's 2002 debt default.

According to a brief order filed on Wednesday, Judge Thomas Griesa rejected the motion by NML Capital Ltd, a New York-based affiliate of Elliot Management, to attach assets of Energia Argentina SA, also known as Enarsa.

Argentina defaulted on roughly $100 billion of sovereign debt, but many of its creditors have refused to settle their claims. NML has sued various Argentine state-owned entities, seeking to recover sums it says it is owed.

An attachment is a process to gain control of property in order to satisfy a claim or judgment.

A lawyer for NML did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

The case is NML Capital Ltd v. Energia Argentina SA et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York (Manhattan), No. 09-7013. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel; editing by Carol Bishopric)