Ecopetrol S.A - EC STOCK NEWS

Ecopetrol S.A. (EC) announces the appointment of Nicolás Azcuénaga Ramírez as Corporate Vice President of Strategy and New Businesses, effective November 1, 2021. He replaces Juan Manuel Rojas and brings over 20 years of experience, particularly in the Oil & Gas sector. Azcuénaga has held key roles in financial management across multiple countries and was CFO for the Upstream Subsidiaries at Ecopetrol. His background includes significant transactions, enhancing the company’s strategic positioning in the market.

Ecopetrol S.A. (BVC: EC; NYSE: EC) announced a fine of COP $3,667,409,150 imposed by the National Environmental Licensing Authority (ANLA) on September 10, 2021. The fine resulted from the CPO09 Exploratory Drilling Area project in Acacías, Meta Department, where a bridge was built without proper environmental licensing. Ecopetrol respects ANLA's decision but will appeal for revocation, asserting compliance with legal regulations. The company, a leader in Colombia's energy sector, is involved in extensive hydrocarbon production and has international operations across various American basins.

Ecopetrol S.A. (NYSE: EC) has had its credit rating affirmed at Baa3 by Moody's, though the outlook has shifted from Stable to Negative. This change is attributed to increased leverage and refinancing risks related to a credit loan maturing in 2023. Despite these concerns, Moody's views Ecopetrol's recent acquisition of 51.4% in Interconexión Eléctrica S.A. ESP (ISA) as positive, expecting it to stabilize EBITDA and reduce carbon emissions relative to EBITDA moving forward.

Ecopetrol has successfully closed the acquisition of 51.4% of Interconexión Eléctrica S.A. (ISA) shares from the Colombian Ministry of Finance, fulfilling the conditions set in the August 11, 2021 contract. The total payment of COP 14,236,814,025,000 (about USD 3.67 billion) was executed at a price of COP 25,000 per share. This strategic move strengthens Ecopetrol's position in energy transmission and aligns with its commitment to energy transition, emphasizing decarbonization and diversification into low-emission sectors.

Ecopetrol S.A. announced that Standard & Poor's (S&P) has maintained its international long-term rating at BB+ and its individual credit rating at bbb-, with a stable outlook. The agency recognized the company's strategic importance to Colombia and its strong financial position within the oil and gas sector. Despite pandemic impacts, Ecopetrol has capitalized on opportunities along the value chain. S&P also commended the company's decarbonization goals and the ISA acquisition, which furthers its energy transition and diversification into regulated sectors.

Ecopetrol S.A. has received approval from the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit to secure a loan of up to US$4 billion for acquiring a 51.4% stake in Interconexión Eléctrica S.A. ESP (ISA). The loan will be sourced from major banks, including Banco Santander and Citibank, with a two-year maturity and an interest rate pegged at 3-month LIBOR + 80 basis points. This acquisition aligns with Ecopetrol's strategy to enhance its market presence. The positive response from financial institutions underscores confidence in Ecopetrol's financial health and future prospects.

Ecopetrol S.A. announces the signing of an Inter-administrative Share Purchase Agreement with the Colombian Ministry of Finance on August 11, 2021. Under this agreement, Ecopetrol will acquire 569,472,561 shares of Interconexión Eléctrica S.A. ESP (ISA), representing 51.4% of ISA's outstanding shares. The agreed purchase price is COP$25,000 per share. Following the announcement, Ecopetrol plans to conduct two conference calls on August 12, 2021, to provide additional details about the transaction and its implications.

Ecopetrol S.A. (NYSE: EC) has adopted the Financial Stability Board's Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) recommendations, enhancing its disclosure policies. The company released its inaugural specialized report for 2020, focusing on climate change risks and opportunities. This report addresses governance, strategy, risk management, and metrics. Ecopetrol is the largest company in Colombia, contributing over 60% to the nation's hydrocarbon production and operating in key international markets like the U.S., Brazil, and Mexico.

Ecopetrol reported impressive financial results for Q2 2021, achieving consolidated revenue of COP 19.4 trillion and net income of COP 3.7 trillion, marking increases of 130.3% and 1,243.8%, respectively, from the previous year. The EBITDA was COP 9.4 trillion with an EBITDA margin of 48.5%. For H1 2021, total revenues reached COP 36.7 trillion, with net income quadrupling from 2020. Enhanced operational efficiency and favorable market conditions supported these results. However, production decreased by 5.3% due to public unrest in Colombia and other challenges.