Ecopetrol S.A. Announces Pricing of Cash Tender Offer for Any and All of its Outstanding 5.375% Notes due 2026
Rhea-AI Summary
Ecopetrol S.A. (NYSE: EC) has announced the pricing of its cash tender offer for any and all of its outstanding 5.375% Notes due 2026. The offer expires on October 16, 2024, at 5:00 p.m., New York City time. The Total Consideration for the Securities is $1,011.90 per $1,000 principal amount, based on a Fixed Spread of +45 basis points over the Reference Yield of 4.507%.
The settlement date is expected to be October 21, 2024. Ecopetrol intends to accept for payment and pay the Total Consideration for Securities validly tendered and not validly withdrawn at or prior to the Expiration Time. The offer is conditioned upon the satisfaction of certain conditions, including a Financing Condition related to a concurrent offering of new notes.
Positive
- Ecopetrol is offering to repurchase its outstanding 5.375% Notes due 2026, potentially improving its debt profile
- The tender offer price of $1,011.90 per $1,000 principal amount represents a premium for bondholders
- The company is conducting a concurrent offering of new notes, which may help refinance existing debt
Negative
- The tender offer may result in increased debt if the new notes offering yields higher interest rates
- The repurchase of notes at a premium could impact the company's cash position
Insights
This tender offer by Ecopetrol for its outstanding 5.375% Notes due 2026 is a significant financial move. The company is offering to buy back these notes at
The concurrent offering of new notes indicates a debt restructuring strategy. By replacing older, higher-interest debt with potentially lower-cost new issuance, Ecopetrol could reduce its interest expenses and extend its debt maturity profile. However, the success of this strategy depends on the terms of the new notes and market reception.
For investors, this offer presents an opportunity to cash out at a premium, but they should carefully consider the yield-to-maturity of their current holdings versus potential reinvestment options. The relatively short window for the offer (expiring today) puts pressure on bondholders to make quick decisions.
Ecopetrol's tender offer comes at a time of significant volatility in global energy markets. As Colombia's largest oil company, its financial maneuvers are closely watched by investors as indicators of the broader Latin American energy sector's health.
The company's ability to refinance its debt through this tender offer and new note issuance could be seen as a positive sign of its financial flexibility and access to capital markets. However, the need for refinancing may also raise questions about the company's cash flow and future capital needs in a challenging oil price environment.
Investors should note that while the tender offer is not conditional on a minimum participation, Ecopetrol retains the right to redeem remaining notes after the offer. This could impact the liquidity of any notes not tendered. The market's response to both the tender offer and the new note issuance will be important in assessing investor confidence in Ecopetrol and, by extension, the Colombian oil sector.
BOGOTÁ,
On October 16, 2024, by means of press release, Ecopetrol announced the postponement and extension of key dates in connection with the Offer, as follows: the new Expiration Time is at 5:00 p.m., New York City Time on October 16, 2024, the new Guaranteed Delivery Date is at 5:00 p.m., New York City Time on October 18, 2024, and the new Settlement Date is expected to be October 21, 2024.
In accordance with the above, the Offer will expire today, October 16, 2024, at 5:00 p.m.,
The following table sets forth the Total Consideration for the Securities. The Fixed Spread over the Reference Yield listed in the table below is based on the bid-side price of the Reference
Title of Securities(1) | CUSIP/ISIN Number | Outstanding | Reference Treasury | Bloomberg | Reference Yield | Fixed | Total Consideration(2) (3) | |||||||
279158 AL3 / US279158AL39 | UST | FIT4 | 4.507 % | +45 bps | ||||||||||
(1) The Securities are redeemable at par at any time on or after March 26, 2026. (2) Per (3) Excludes accrued and unpaid interest on their purchased Securities from the last interest payment date for the Securities to, but excluding, the Settlement Date (as defined below). | ||||||||||||||
In addition to the Total Consideration, holders whose Securities are accepted for purchase pursuant to the Offer, including Securities tendered by guaranteed delivery, will also receive accrued and unpaid interest on their purchased Securities from the last interest payment date for the Securities to, but excluding, the Settlement Date.
Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Offer, the settlement date is expected to be October 21, 2024 (the "Settlement Date"). On the Settlement Date, Ecopetrol expects to accept for payment and pay the Total Consideration for Securities validly tendered and not validly withdrawn at or prior to the Expiration Time or delivered by guaranteed delivery prior to 5:00 p.m.,
Following payment for the Securities accepted pursuant to the terms of the Offer, Ecopetrol currently intends (but is not obligated) to redeem all or a portion of the Securities that remain outstanding in accordance with the terms of the Indenture governing the Securities. The Offer does not constitute a notice of redemption or an obligation to issue a notice of redemption.
Tenders of Securities pursuant to the Offer may be validly withdrawn at or prior to the Expiration Time. If the Offer is further extended, tendered Securities may be withdrawn at any time before the 10th business day after commencement of the Offer. Securities subject to the Offer may also be validly withdrawn at any time after the 60th business day after commencement of the Offer if for any reason the Offer has not been consummated within 60 business days after commencement.
The Offer is conditioned upon the satisfaction or waiver by Ecopetrol of certain conditions described in the Offer to Purchase, including the Financing Condition (as defined below), but is not conditioned upon any minimum principal amount of Securities being tendered. Subject to applicable law, Ecopetrol may, at its sole discretion, waive any condition applicable to the Offer and may further extend the Offer. Under certain conditions and as more fully described in the Offer to Purchase, Ecopetrol may terminate the Offer before the Expiration Time.
The Offer is being made in connection with a concurrent offering of notes (the "New Notes") by the Company (the "Notes Offering"). The "Financing Condition" means that the Company shall have priced and closed the Notes Offering on terms satisfactory to the Company and resulting in net cash proceeds sufficient to fund the Total Consideration with respect to the Securities validly tendered at or prior to the Expiration Time (regardless of actual amount of Securities tendered), plus accrued and unpaid interest on the purchased Securities from the last interest payment date to, but excluding, the Settlement Date. The Offer is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the New Notes.
The complete terms and conditions of the Offer are set forth in the Offer to Purchase and in the related Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, which holders are urged to read carefully before making any decision with respect to the Offer.
The Offer is open to all registered holders of Securities. A beneficial owner of Securities that are held of record by a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company, or other nominee (each, a "Custodian") must instruct such Custodian to tender such Securities on the beneficial owner's behalf in a timely manner. Beneficial owners should be aware that a Custodian may establish its own earlier deadline for participation in an Offer.
Global Bondholder Services Corporation is serving as the tender agent and information agent. Requests for documents may be directed to Global Bondholder Services Corporation by telephone at +1 212-430 3774 (banks and brokers) or Toll-Free at +1 855-654-2014.
Copies of the Offer to Purchase and related Notice of Guaranteed Delivery are available at the following web address: at https://gbsc-usa.com/ecopetrol/.
BBVA Securities Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and Santander US Capital Markets LLC are serving as Dealer Managers (the "Dealer Managers") for the Offer. Questions regarding the Offer may also be directed to the Dealer Managers as set forth below:
BBVA Securities Inc. | J.P. Morgan Securities LLC | Santander US Capital Markets LLC |
1345 Avenue of the | 383 Madison Avenue | 437 Madison Avenue |
44th Floor | ||
Attention: Latin America Debt Capital Markets | Attn: Liability Management Group | |
Attn: Liability Management | Collect: (212) 834-7279 | Collect: (212) 940-1442 |
Collect: +1 (212) 728-2446 | ||
Email: AmericasLM@santander.us | ||
Email: liabilitymanagement@bbva.com |
This press release is for informational purposes only and does not constitute an offer to purchase nor the solicitation of an offer to sell any Securities. The Offer is being made only pursuant to the Offer to Purchase and related Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.
No Recommendation
None of Ecopetrol, BBVA Securities Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC, Santander US Capital Markets LLC, Global Bondholder Services Corporation, or the trustee or security registrar with respect to the Securities, nor any affiliate of any of the foregoing, has made any recommendation as to whether holders should tender or refrain from tendering all or any portion of their Securities in response to the Offer or expressing any opinion as to whether the terms of the Offer are fair to any holder. Holders must make their own decision as to whether to tender any of their Securities and, if so, the purchase price of Securities to tender. Please refer to the Offer to Purchase for a description of the offer terms, conditions, disclaimers and other information applicable to the Offer.
About Ecopetrol
Ecopetrol is a mixed-economy company, the largest company in
Disclaimer and Other Important Notices
The Company expressly reserves the absolute right, in its sole discretion, from time to time to purchase any Securities that remain outstanding after the Expiration Time through open-market or privately negotiated transactions, one or more additional tender or exchange offers or otherwise, on terms and at prices that may or may not be equal to the consideration offered in the Offer, or to exercise any of its rights, including redemption rights, under the Indenture governing the Securities.
This press release and the Offer to Purchase do not constitute an offer to purchase or the solicitation of an offer to sell Securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer or solicitation would be unlawful. In those jurisdictions where the securities, blue sky or other laws require the Offer to be made by a licensed broker or dealer, the Offer shall be deemed to be made on behalf of Ecopetrol by the Dealer Managers or one or more registered brokers or dealers licensed under the laws of such jurisdiction. If materials relating to the Offer come into a holder's possession, the holder is required by Ecopetrol to inform itself of and to observe all of these restrictions.
The Offer to Purchase has not been filed with or reviewed by the SEC, any state securities commission or any other regulatory authority, nor has any such commission or other regulatory authority passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of the Offer to Purchase or any of the accompanying ancillary documents delivered thereunder. Any representation to the contrary is unlawful and may be a criminal offense.
The Offer to Purchase will not be authorized by the Colombian Superintendency of Finance (Superintendencia Financiera de
This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the United States Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, including those related to the Offer. Forward-looking information involves important risks and uncertainties that could significantly affect anticipated results in the future, and, accordingly, such results may differ from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. Ecopetrol is not under any obligation to (and expressly disclaims any such obligation to) update forward- looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
Investor Relations
Lina María Contreras Mora
Head of Capital Markets
Carrera 13 No. 36-24, Bogotá,
e-mail: investors@ecopetrol.com.co
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SOURCE Ecopetrol S.A.
FAQ
What is the expiration date for Ecopetrol's (EC) tender offer for its 5.375% Notes due 2026?
What is the Total Consideration offered by Ecopetrol (EC) for its 5.375% Notes due 2026?
When is the expected settlement date for Ecopetrol's (EC) tender offer?
What is the Financing Condition mentioned in Ecopetrol's (EC) tender offer?
