UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 6-K

 

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 UNDER
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the month of May, 2021

 

Commission File Number 001-34175

 

ECOPETROL S.A.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

N.A.

(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

 

COLOMBIA

(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

 

Carrera 13 No. 36 – 24
BOGOTA D.C. – COLOMBIA
(Address of principal executive offices)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

 

Form 20-F x      Form 40-F ¨

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1)

 

Yes ¨      No x

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7)

 

Yes ¨      No x

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this form is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

 

Yes ¨      No x

 

If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b): 82- N/A

 

 

 

 

 

 

Exhibits

 

Exhibit 99.1 – English translation of the Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 and at March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 as filed with the Superintendency of Finance (Superintendencia Financiera de Colombia).

 

2

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

  Ecopetrol S.A.
   
  By: /s/ Felipe Bayón Pardo
    Name: Felipe Bayón Pardo
    Title: Chief Executive Officer

 

Date: May 28, 2021

 

3

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

 

 

 

Index

Consolidated condensed interim statements of financial position 2
Consolidated condensed interim statements of profit or loss 3
Consolidated condensed interim statements of other comprehensive income 4
Consolidated condensed interim statements of changes in equity 5
Consolidated condensed interim statements of cash flows 6
1.    Reporting entity 7
2.    Basis of presentation 7
3.    Significant accounting judgments and estimates 8
4.    Accounting policies 8
5.    New standards and regulatory changes 9
6.    Cash and cash equivalents 10
7.    Trade and other receivables, net 10
8.    Inventories, net 11
9.    Other financial assets 11
10.    Taxes 12
11.    Other assets 17
12.    Investments in associates and joint ventures 18
13.    Property, plant and equipment 19
14.    Natural and environmental resources 20
15.    Right-of-use assets 21
16.    Impairment of non-current assets 21
17.    Loans and borrowings 22
18.    Trade and other payables 23
19.    Provisions for employees benefits 24
20.    Accrued liabilities and provisions 25
21.    Equity 31
22.    Revenue from contracts with customers 33
23.    Cost of sales 34
24.    Administrative, operation and project expenses 35
25.    Other operating (expenses) income, net 35
26.    Financial result, net 36
27.    Risk management 36
28.    Related parties 39
29.    Segments information 41
30.    Relevant events (Unaudited) 44
Exhibit 1 - Consolidated companies, associates and joint ventures (Unaudited) 45

1

 

Ecopetrol S.A.

(Figures expressed in millions of Colombian pesos)

Consolidated condensed interim statements of financial position

 

 

    Note     March 31, 2021     December 31, 2020  
             (Unaudited)          
Assets                        
 Current assets                        
 Cash and cash equivalents     6       6,687,543       5,082,308  
 Trader and other receivables, net     7       7,004,609       4,819,092  
 Inventories, net     8       6,407,625       5,053,960  
 Other financial assets     9       506,110       2,194,651  
 Tax assets     10       4,591,246       3,976,295  
 Oher assets     11       1,827,665       1,664,036  
              27,024,798       22,790,342  
 Assets held for sale             51,175       44,032  
 Total current assets             27,075,973       22,834,374  
                         
 Non-current assets                        
 Trader and other receivables, net     7       773,782       676,607  
 Other financial assets     9       887,289       877,008  
 Investments in associates and joint ventures     12       3,172,876       3,174,628  
 Property, plant and equipment     13       68,430,919       66,508,337  
 Natural and environmental resources     14       32,768,283       31,934,158  
 Right-of-use-assets     15       347,569       377,886  
 Intangibles             564,010       555,043  
 Non-current tax assets     10       10,462,206       10,035,161  
 Goodwill             1,353,802       1,353,802  
 Other assets     11       1,095,871       1,090,115  
 Total non- current assets             119,856,607       116,582,745  
 Total assets             146,932,580       139,417,119  
                         
Liabilities                        
 Liabilities Currents                        
 Loans and borrowings     17       5,206,883       4,923,346  
 Trade and other payables     18       9,737,724       8,449,041  
 Provisions for employee benefits     19       2,122,685       2,022,137  
 Tax liabilities     10       1,241,463       1,243,883  
 Accrued liabilities and provisions     20       1,124,539       1,221,109  
 Derivative financial instruments             5,564       3,714  
 Other liabilities             491,605       388,057  
              19,930,463       18,251,287  
Liabilities related to non-current assets             32,714       31,156  
 Total Liabilities Currents             19,963,177       18,282,443  
 Non-current liabilities                        
 Loans and borrowings     17       44,687,148       41,808,408  
 Trade and other payables     18       16,062       21,064  
 Provisions for employee benefits     19       10,903,847       10,401,530  
 Tax liabilities     10       1,249,238       1,269,098  
 Accrued liabilities and provisions     20       11,337,730       11,206,621  
 Other liabilities             623,458       608,685  
 Total non-current liabilities             68,817,483       65,315,406  
 Total liabilities             88,780,660       83,597,849  
                         
Equity                        
 Subscribed and paid in capital     21.1       25,040,067       25,040,067  
 Additional paid-in capital     21.2       6,607,699       6,607,699  
 Reserves     21.3       10,624,229       9,635,136  
 Other comprehensive income     21.5       7,901,375       7,859,992  
 Retained earnings             4,351,144       2,952,356  
 Equity attributable to Company’s shareholders             54,524,514       52,095,250  
 Non-controlling interest             3,627,406       3,724,020  
 Total equity             58,151,920       55,819,270  
 Total liabilities and equity             146,932,580       139,417,119  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated condensed interim financial statements.

 

/s/ Felipe Bayón Pardo   /s/ Javier Leonardo Cárdenas Laiton   /s/ Víctor Hugo Rodríguez Vargas
Felipe Bayón Pardo   Javier Leonardo Cárdenas Laiton   Víctor Hugo Rodríguez Vargas
President   Accountant   Statutory Auditor
    T.P. 116770-T   T.P. 57851-T
        Appointed by Ernst & Young Audit S.A.S.

 

 

 

 

Ecopetrol S.A.

(Figures expressed in millions of Colombian pesos, except for the earnings per share, expressed in Colombian pesos)

Consolidated condensed interim statements of profit or loss 

 

 

          Three-month period ended March 31,  
    Note     2021     2020  
          (Unaudited)  
Revenue from contracts with customers     22       17,205,974       15,071,966  
Cost of sales     23       (10,512,020 )     (11,286,823 )
Gross profit             6,693,954       3,785,143  
                         
Administration expenses     24       (555,362 )     (540,609 )
Operation and project expenses     24       (606,641 )     (518,760 )
(Impairment) recovery of non-current assets, net     16       2,405       (1,207,941 )
Other operating (expenses) income, net     25       (21,029 )     (19,562 )
Operating income             5,513,327       1,498,271  
                         
Financial result, net     26                  
Financial income             61,827       362,001  
Financial expenses             (834,625 )     (1,014,207 )
Foreign exchange gain (loss)             120,868       (13,390 )
              (651,930 )     (665,596 )
Share of profits of associates and joint ventures     12       53,247       (609 )
Profit before income tax expense             4,914,644       832,066  
                         
Income tax expense     10       (1,536,730 )     (351,918 )
Net profit for the period             3,377,914       480,148  
Net profit attributable to:                        
 Owners of parent             3,085,925       132,894  
 Non-controlling interest             291,989       347,254  
              3,377,914       480,148  
Basic earnings per share (pesos)             75.1       3.2  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated condensed interim financial statements.

 

/s/ Felipe Bayón Pardo   /s/ Javier Leonardo Cárdenas Laiton   /s/ Víctor Hugo Rodríguez Vargas
Felipe Bayón Pardo   Javier Leonardo Cárdenas Laiton   Víctor Hugo Rodríguez Vargas
President   Accountant   Statutory Auditor
    T.P. 116770-T   T.P. 57851-T
        Appointed by Ernst & Young Audit S.A.S.

 

(GRAPHIC)  

 

 

Ecopetrol S.A.  

(Figures expressed in millions of Colombian pesos) 

Consolidated condensed interim statements of other comprehensive income

 

 

          Three-month period ended March 31,  
    Note     2021     2020  
          (Unaudited)  
Net income of the period             3,377,914       480,148  
Other comprehensive income:                        
Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss (net of tax):                        
Unrealized loss on hedges:                        
 Cash flow hedge for future exports             (171,697 )     (601,616 )
 Hedge of a net investment in a foreign operation             (1,415,681 )     (3,583,383 )
 Cash flow hedge with derivative instruments             (51,279 )     (169,214 )
 Foreign currency translation:                        
 Foreign currency translation             2,460,036       8,384,282  
 Realized other comprehensive income for joint venture sales     26       (361,728 )     -  
              459,651       4,030,069  
Items that will not be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss (net of tax):                        
Remeasurement loss on defined benefit plans             (355,451 )     (386,179 )
              (355,451 )     (386,179 )
 Other comprehensive income             104,200       3,643,890  
 Total comprehensive income             3,482,114       4,124,038  
                         

Comprehensive net profit attributable to:

                       
 Owners of parent             3,127,308       3,386,845  
 Non-controlling interest             354,806       737,193  
              3,482,114       4,124,038  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated condensed interim financial statements.

 

/s/ Felipe Bayón Pardo   /s/ Javier Leonardo Cárdenas Laiton   /s/ Víctor Hugo Rodríguez Vargas
Felipe Bayón Pardo   Javier Leonardo Cárdenas Laiton   Víctor Hugo Rodríguez Vargas
President   Accountant   Statutory Auditor
    T.P. 116770-T   T.P. 57851-T
        Appointed by Ernst & Young Audit S.A.S.

 

 

 

 

Ecopetrol S.A.

(Figures expressed in millions of Colombian pesos)

Consolidated condensed interim statements of changes in equity

 

 

    Note     Subscribed
and paid-in
capital
    Additional
paid-in
capital
    Reserves     Other
comprehensive
income
    Retained
earnings
(losses)
    Equity
attributable to
Company’s
shareholders
    Non-
controlling
interest
    Total Equity  
Balance as of December 31, 2020           25,040,067       6,607,699       9,635,136       7,859,992       2,952,356       52,095,250       3,724,020       55,819,270  
Net income           -       -       -       -       3,085,925       3,085,925       291,989       3,377,914  
Release of reserves   21.3       -       -       (5,066,156 )     -       5,066,156       -       -       -  
Dividends declared   21.4       -       -       -       -       (698,984 )     (698,984 )     (431,997 )     (1,130,981 )
Change of participation in controlled companies           -       -       -       -       940       940       (4,600 )     (3.660 )
Capital restitution           -       -       -       -       -       -       (14,823 )     (14,823 )
Appropriation of reserves                                                                      
Legal           -       -       168,808       -       (168,808 )     -       -       -  
Fiscal and mandatories   21.3       -       -       509,082       -       (509,082 )     -       -       -  
Occasional   21.3       -       -       5,377,359       -       (5,377,359 )     -       -       -  
Other comprehensive income                                                                      
Non-realized loss on hedging instruments:                                                                      
Cash flow hedge for future exports           -       -       -       (171,697 )     -       (171,697 )     -       (171,697 )
Hedge of a net investment in a foreign operation           -       -       -       (1,415,681 )     -       (1,415,681 )     -       (1,415,681 )
Cash flow hedge with derivative instruments           -       -       -       (34,522 )     -       (34,522 )     (16,757 )     (51,279 )
 Foreign currency translation                                                                      
Foreign currency translation           -       -       -       2,380,462       -       2,380,462       79,574       2,460,036  
Realized other comprehensive income for joint venture sales   26       -       -       -       (361,728 )     -       (361,728 )     -       (361,728 )
Actuarial valuation loss           -       -       -       (355,451 )     -       (355,451 )     -       (355,451 )
Balance as of March 31, 2021 (Unaudited)           25,040,067       6,607,699       10,624,229       7,901,375       4,351,144       54,524,514       3,627,406       58,151,920  
                                                                       
Balance as of December 31, de 2019           25,040,067       6,607,699       3,784,658       6,464,144       14,515,762       56,412,330       3,931,792       60,344,122  
Net income           -       -       -       -       132,894       132,894       347,254       480,148  
Release of reserves           -       -       (540,826 )     -       540,826       -       -       -  
Dividends declared           -       -       -       -       (7,401,005 )     (7,401,005 )     (687,224 )     (8,088,229 )
Change of participation in controlled companies and others           -       -       -       -       -       -       (3 )     (3 )
Appropriation of reserves                                                                      
Legal           -       -       1,325,148       -       (1,325,148 )     -       -       -  
Fiscal and mandatories           -       -       509,082       -       (509,082 )     -       -       -  
Occasional           -       -       4,557,074       -       (4,557,074 )     -       -       -  
Other comprehensive income                                                                      
Non-realized loss on hedging instruments:                                                                      
Cash flow hedge for future exports           -       -       -       (601,616 )     -       (601,616 )     -       (601,616 )
Hedge of a net investment in a foreign operation           -       -       -       (3,583,383 )     -       (3,583,383 )     -       (3,583,383 )
Cash flow hedge with derivative instruments           -       -       -       (125,914 )     -       (125,914 )     (43,300 )     (169,214 )
Foreign currency translation           -       -       -       8,127,651       -       8,127,651       256,631       8,384,282  
Actuarial valuation loss           -       -       -       (386,179 )     -       (386,179 )     -       (386,179 )
 Balance as of March 31, de 2020 (Unaudited)           25,040,067       6,607,699       9,635,136       9,894,703       1,397,173       52,574,778       3,805,150       56,379,928  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated condensed interim financial statements.

 

/s/ Felipe Bayón Pardo   /s/ Javier Leonardo Cárdenas Laiton   /s/ Víctor Hugo Rodríguez Vargas
Felipe Bayón Pardo   Javier Leonardo Cárdenas Laiton   Víctor Hugo Rodríguez Vargas
President   Accountant   Statutory Auditor
    T.P. 116770-T   T.P. 57851-T
        Appointed by Ernst & Young Audit S.A.S.

 

 

 

 

Ecopetrol S.A.

(Figures expressed in millions of Colombian pesos)

Consolidated condensed interim statements of cash flows

 

 

          Three-month period
ended March 31,
 
    Note     2021     2020  
            (Unaudited)  
Cash flows provided by operating activities:            
Net profit for the period             3,377,914       480,148  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:                        
Income tax     10       1,536,730       351,918  
Depreciation, depletion and amortization             2,302,096       2,229,611  
Foreign exchange loss, net     26       240,860       13,390  
Realized gain on other comprehensive income in joint ventures sale     26       (361,728 )     -  
Finance cost of loans and borrowings     26       558,778       485,456  
Finance cost of post-employment benefits and abandonment costs     26       233,295       213,708  
Disposal of exploratory assets and dry wells     14       132,677       14,238  
Loss on sale or disposal of assets             (9,532 )     (5,649 )
(Recovery) loss for impairment of long-term assets     16       (2,405 )     1,207,941  
Los for impairment of short-term assets     25       15,525       668  
Loss on valuation of financial assets             21,576       46,691  
(Gain) loss on equity method     12       (53,247 )     609  
Loss on hedge ineffectiveness     27.3       8,285       12,409  
Realized loss on foreign exchange cash flow hedges     22       66,390       127,743  
Net change in operational assets and liabilities:                        
Trade and other receivables             (1,952,085 )     1,322,179  
Inventories             (1,242,533 )     160,923  
Trade and other payables             (76,599 )     (1,948,484 )
Tax assets and liabilities             (517,189 )     (366,215 )
Provisions for employee benefits             (69,562 )     596  
Provisions and contingencies             (98,424 )     (134,032 )
Other assets and liabilities             (21,132 )     (456,333 )
              4,089,690       3,757,515  
Income tax paid             (1,156,386 )     (1,185,087 )
Net cash generated by operating activities             2,933,304       2,572,428  
Cash flow from investing activities:                        
Investment in property, plant and equipment     13       (849,886 )     (822,992 )
Investment in natural and environmental resources     14       (1,568,822 )     (2,619,074 )
Acquisitions of intangibles             (18,241 )     (11,383 )
Sales of other financial assets             1,712,944       2,493,669  
Interests received     26       23,836       88,086  
Proceeds from sales of assets             8,328       7,714  
Net cash used in investment activities             (691.841 )     (863,980 )
Cash flow used in financing activities:                        
Acquisition of loans and borrowings             4,242       26,095  
Loan payments             (67,039 )     (81,410 )
Interest payments             (478,082 )     (480,580 )
Lease payments (loans and interest)     15       (70,067 )     (64,239 )
Dividends paid             (168,084 )     (425,807 )
Net cash used in financing activities             (779,030 )     (1,025,941 )
Exchange difference in cash and cash equivalents             142,802       1,038,911  
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents             1,605,235       1,721,418  
Cash and cash equivalent at the beginning of the period             5,082,308       7,075,758  
Cash and cash equivalent at the end of the period     6       6,687,543       8,797,176  

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated condensed interim financial statements. 

 

/s/ Felipe Bayón Pardo   /s/ Javier Leonardo Cárdenas Laiton   /s/ Víctor Hugo Rodríguez Vargas
Felipe Bayón Pardo   Javier Leonardo Cárdenas Laiton   Víctor Hugo Rodríguez Vargas
President   Accountant   Statutory Auditor
    T.P. 116770-T   T.P. 57851-T
        Appointed by Ernst & Young Audit S.A.S.

 

 

 

 

Ecopetrol S.A.

Notes to consolidated condensed interim financial statements

March 31, 2021

(Figures expressed in millions of Colombian pesos, unless otherwise stated)

 

 

1. Reporting entity

 

Ecopetrol S.A. is a mixed economy company, with a commercial nature, formed in 1948 in Bogotá – Colombia, headquarters of the Ecopetrol Business Group. Its corporate purpose is to develop commercial or industrial activities arising from or related to the exploration, production, refining, transportation, storage, distribution, and selling of hydrocarbons, their by-products and associated products on its own or through its subsidiaries (hereafter “Ecopetrol”, the “Company” or Ecopetrol Business Group).

 

An 11.51% of Ecopetrol S.A.’s shares are publicly traded on the Stock Exchanges of Colombia and New York, USA. The remaining shares (88.49% of the total outstanding shares) are owned by the Colombian Ministry of Finance and Public Credit.

 

The address of the main office of Ecopetrol S.A. is Bogotá – Colombia, Carrera 13 No. 36 - 24.

 

2. Basis of presentation

 

2.1 Statement of compliance and authorization of financial statements

 

The financial information contained in this report has been prepared in accordance with “IAS 34- Interim financial reporting”. These financial statements do not include all information and disclosures required in the annual financial statements and therefore should be read in conjunction with the Company’s annual consolidated financial statements and notes, issued as of December 31, 2020 included in the “Integrated Sustainable Management Report”.

 

The consolidated condensed interim financial statements are unaudited and in the management opinion, include all necessary adjustments for a fair presentation of the results of each period.

 

Ecopetrol Business Group prepares its financial statements based on the principles and accounting standards and financial information accepted in Colombia (NCIF, as its acronym in Spanish), regulated in Decree 2420 of 2015, and amended by Decrees 2496 of 2015, 2131 of 2016, 2170 of 2017, 2483 of 2018, 2270 of 2019 and 1432 of 2020. These standards are based on the International Financial Reporting Standards - IFRS and its Interpretations issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) and other applicable legal provisions for supervised entities and / or controlled by the General Accounting Office of the Nation, which may differ in some respects from those established by other Government control bodies.

 

The financial information presented herein has been prepared in accordance with the accounting policies expected to be used in the preparation of the consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2021, which do not differ significantly from those used in the previous year.

 

These financial statements were approved by the Company’s Management on April 21, 2021.

 

2.2 Considerations and effects of Covid-19

 

As mentioned in the Consolidated Financial Statements as of December 31, 2020, since the beginning of the pandemic in Colombia, the Group has taken the measures to ensure the sustainability of the business in an environment of low prices, prioritizing the opportunities to cash generation with better equilibrium prices, maintaining growth dynamics with a focus on executing strategic asset development plans and preserving the value of assets through investments that provide reliability, integrity and continuity to the current operation in refineries, transportation systems and production fields.

 

During the first quarter of 2021, the behavior of crude oil and products prices has shown a recovery due to the maintenance of supply, given fact that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has a preponderant factor to keep the market balanced. In terms of demand, vaccination campaigns began in several countries around the world, increasing the expectations of a sustained recovery, taking Brent to an average of 61.3 USD/Bl (2020 - 50.8 USD / Bl). 

   7

 

Ecopetrol S.A.

Notes to consolidated condensed interim financial statements

March 31, 2021

(Figures expressed in millions of Colombian pesos, unless otherwise stated)

 

 

The Group will continue monitoring the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic and the markets to determine the need to implement subsequent stages of the intervention plan and will continuously review the indicators of impairment of long-lived assets and investments in companies.

 

2.3 Reclassifications

 

For presentation purposes, The Group reclassified some items in the comparative figures as of March 31, 2020. They do not represent an impact on the items in the statement of financial position, profit or loss, comprehensive income, changes in equity or cash flows.

 

2.4 Basis of consolidation

 

For presentation purposes, these consolidated condensed interim financial statements were prepared by consolidating all companies set out in Exhibit 1, in which Ecopetrol exercises control, directly or indirectly.

 

The subsidiaries are consolidated from the date on which control is obtained until the date on which it ceases.

 

The Guajira association contract business combination is pending to close, it is expected to be completed during the second quarter of 2021. 

 

3. Significant accounting judgments and estimates

 

The preparation of the financial statements requires that the Company’s Management makes estimates to quantify some of the assets, liabilities, income, expenses and commitments. These estimates have been determined based on the best available information on the facts analyzed. Changes to these estimates are recognized prospectively in the period in which the estimate is revised.

 

In the course of 2021, there have been no changes in the significant accounting estimates and judgments used in the preparation of the financial statements as of December 31, 2020. 

 

4. Accounting policies

 

The Group’s main accounting policies are described in the accounting policies section of the annual report with a cut-off date of December 31, 2020 and they have been applied consistently for the period comprising these condensed interim condensed financial statements, except for the adoption of new standards effective as of January 1, 2021.

 

The interim financial statements do not include all the information and disclosures required in the annuals, and therefore should be read in conjunction with the separate financial statements December 31, 2020.

   8

 

Ecopetrol S.A.

Notes to consolidated condensed interim financial statements

March 31, 2021

(Figures expressed in millions of Colombian pesos, unless otherwise stated)

 

 

5. New standards and regulatory changes

 

5.1 New standards adopted by the Group, effective as of January 1, 2021

 

Reform to the benchmark interest rate phase 2: In August 2020, IASB published this draft, which complements the one issued in 2019 and focuses on the effects on the financial statements when a company replaces the benchmark interest rate above for an alternative reference rate. The modifications in this phase refer to changes in contractual cash flows, hedge accounting and risk disclosures.

 

Benchmark interest rates such as interbank offer rates (IBOR) have an important role in global financial markets, being “LIBOR” one of the most used by various companies for corporate debt and derivative instruments trading, among others. The G20 asked the Financial Stability Board (FSB) to carry out a review of the main benchmark interest rates. As a result of the review, LIBOR and other rates are expected to be replaced with new ones that give greater confidence to the markets in general.

 

Within the accounting analysis, Ecopetrol established that the contractual cash flows of financial assets or liabilities measured at amortized cost would change as a result of the IBOR reform; however, it is expected that this change will not have an application impact on the financial statements, given the exceptions provided by the amendment where it is established that, if the modification occurs as a direct consequence of the interest rate reform and the new rate is economically equivalent to the previous basis, the entity will not have to make a re-estimate of future interest payments. Monthly financial expenses will be measured at the new interest rate without implying a remeasurement in the rate that could affect the current cost of the financial asset and/or financial liability.

 

Effective January 1, 2022 with early adoption in 2021:

 

IAS 16 - Property, plant and equipment: amendment that determine the prohibition to deduct from the cost of property, plant and equipment the sales revenue of goods produced, while the company prepares the asset for its intended use. The Ecopetrol Business Group is assessing the application of the amendment to IAS 16 in sales to third parties of the extensive production tests; disclosing separately the amounts of income and costs related to the items produced.

 

For said adoption, the accumulated effect of the income obtained from extensive tests in the projects in force as of January 1, 2020 must be reflected as the starting point on the first day of the comparative year.

 

It is worth mentioning that in order to apply the said amendments (interest rate reform, Phase 2 and IAS 16), it is necessary that they be incorporated into the accounting regulations in Colombia by decree, in order to collect the accounting effects and avoid differences between the current regulations in Colombia and the Standards issued by IASB.

 

5.2 New standards issued by the IASB that will enter into force in future periods

 

Effective as of January 1, 2022 or later periods:

 

IFRS 3 - Business combinations: a reference from the standard to the Conceptual Framework was updated.

 

IAS 37 - Provisions, Liabilities and Contingent Assets: in which it details the costs that an entity must include when determining whether a contract is onerous.

 

Annual improvement cycle 2018-2020 that involves adjustments to IFRS 1, IFRS 9, IAS 41 and IFRS 16.
   9

 

Ecopetrol S.A.

Notes to consolidated condensed interim financial statements

March 31, 2021

(Figures expressed in millions of Colombian pesos, unless otherwise stated)

 

 

Amendment to IAS 1 - Classifications of liabilities as currents or non-current effective as of January 1st, 2023 as well as the following limited scope amendments.

 

Amendments to IAS 1 - Presentation of financial statements. Companies should disclose material information about their accounting policies and apply the concept of materiality to disclosures of accounting policies.

 

Amendments to IAS 8 - Accounting policies, changes in accounting estimates and errors. Clarifies how companies should distinguish changes in accounting policies from changes in accounting estimates.

 

The Group is constantly monitoring changes in local accounting regulations in order to assess the possible impacts that the new standards issued by the international organization may generate in their adoption in Colombia. 

 

6. Cash and cash equivalents

 

    March 31,     December 31,  
    2021     2020  
    (Unaudited)          
Banks and corporations     5,999,117       4,215,518  
Short-term investments     688,191       866,606  
Cash     235       184  
      6,687,543       5,082,308  

 

As of March 31, 2021, restricted resources were included for $72,584 (December 31, 2020 for $ 13,679), mainly destined for the exclusive payment of capital and interest on loans incurred by Oleoducto Bicentenario de Colombia S.A.S.

 

The fair value of cash and cash equivalents approximates their carrying amount due to their short-term nature (less than three months) and their high liquity. 

 

7. Trade and other receivables, net

 

    March 31,     December 31,  
    2021     2020  
    (Unaudited)          
Current                
 Customers                
 Foreign     2,832,300       2,021,070  
 Domestic     1,913,903       1,913,106  
 Related parties (Note 28)     104,930       105,048  
 Employee loans     96,359       97,723  
 Industrial services     48,628       39,651  
 Fuel price stabilization fund (1)     1,672,404       319,927  
 Others (2)     336,085       322,567  
      7,004,609       4,819,092  
                 
Non-current                
 Employee loans     465,139       474,693  
 Domestic customers     56,339       51,955  
 Others     252,304       149,959  
      773,782       676,607  

 

(1) Corresponds to the application of Resolution 180522 of March 29, 2010 and other regulations that modify and add it (Decree 1880 of 2014 and Decree 1068 of 2015), which establishes the procedure to recognize the subsidy for refiners and importers of motor gasoline current and ACPM, and the methodology for calculating the net position (value generated between the parity price and the regulated price, which can be positive or negative).
   10

 

Ecopetrol S.A.

Notes to consolidated condensed interim financial statements

March 31, 2021

(Figures expressed in millions of Colombian pesos, unless otherwise stated)

 

 

(2) Corresponds mainly to crude oil loan agreements in transportation systems.

 

The carrying amounts of trade and other receivables approximate their fair value.

 

8. Inventories, net

 

    March 31,     December 31,  
    2021     2020  
    (Unaudited)          
Crude     2,172,478       1,719,426  
Fuels and petrochemicals     2,105,546       1,407,297  
Materials for goods production     2,129,601       1,927,237  
      6,407,625       5,053,960  

  

9. Other financial assets

  

    March 31,     December 31,  
    2021     2020  
    (Unaudited)          
Assets measured at fair value through profit or loss                
 Investment portfolio – Local currency     346,959       474,535  
 Investment portfolio – Foreign currency     1,013,376       2,494,124  
      1,360,335       2,968,659  
                 

Assets measured at fair value through other comprehensive income

    1,227       732  
Assets measured at amortized cost     4,016       3,391  
Hedging instruments     27,821       98,877  
      1,393,399       3,071,659  
                 
Current     506,110       2,194,651  
Non-current     887,289       877,008  
      1,393,399       3,071,659  

 

Fair value:

 

    March 31,     December 31,  
    2021     2020  
    (Unaudited)          
Level 1     2,670       5,273  
Level 2     1,386,713       3,062,995  
      1,389,383       3,068,268  

 

There were no transfers between hierarchy levels during the periods.

 

For the process of establishing levels of the fair value for investments, in addition to the information used for valuation, other relevant aspects are also considered, such as the issuer rating, investment rating and issuer risk analysis performed by the Group, thus making it possible to establish the appropriate hierarchy level for investments.

   11

 

Ecopetrol S.A.

Notes to consolidated condensed interim financial statements

March 31, 2021

(Figures expressed in millions of Colombian pesos, unless otherwise stated)

 

 

10. Taxes

 

10.1 Current tax assets and tax liabilities

 

    March 31,     December 31,  
    2021     2020  
    (Unaudited)          
Current tax assets                
 Income tax (1)     2,084,485       1,823,027  
 Credit tax balance (2)     1,689,118       1,311,693  
 Advances and other taxes (3)     817,643       841,575  
      4,591,246       3,976,295  
                 
Non-current tax assets                
Deferred tax     10,064,385       9,637,340  
Income tax     397,821       397,821  
      10,462,206       10,035,161  
Current tax liabilities                
 Income tax     864,811       811,197  
 National tax and surtax on gasoline     153,557       137,710  
 Industry and commerce tax     73,341       161,813  
 Carbon tax     29,542       64,091  
 Value added tax     57,432       5,607  
 Other taxes (4)     62,780       63,465  
      1,241,463       1,243,883  
Non-current tax liabilities                
Deferred tax     1,022,389       1,042,250  
Income tax (5)     226,849       226,848  
      1,249,238       1,269,098  

 

(1) Includes credit tax balances for income tax mainly of Ecopetrol S.A., the tax discount for value added tax (VAT) incurred in the acquisition of real productive fixed assets, in accordance with the laws 1943 of 2018 and 2010 of 2019 - Tax reform and the 50% of the industry and commerce tax paid in the year.

 

(2) It mainly contains the balance value in favor of VAT in Ecopetrol S.A., among others.

 

(3) Includes the potential tax discount for value added tax (VAT) incurred in the acquisition of real productive fixed assets, in accordance with the articles 83 of Law 1943 of 2018 and 95 of Law 2010 of 2019 - Financing Law and Economic Growth Law and tax advances.

 

(4) It mainly contains the balance value in favor of VAT, among others.

 

(5) Mechanism of taxes paid through projects regulated by article 238 of Law 1819 of 2016 - Tax reform, which established it as a form of payment of income tax for the years 2017, 2018 and 2019. In compliance with the said article, in May 2018, 2019 and 2020, the Group companies recognized an asset and a liability for the value of the projects awarded for each tax term.
   12

 

Ecopetrol S.A.

Notes to consolidated condensed interim financial statements

March 31, 2021

(Figures expressed in millions of Colombian pesos, unless otherwise stated)

 

 

10.2 Income tax

 

In accordance with Law 2010/2019 (Tax Reform) the tax provisions applicable in Colombia for the taxable year 2021 are the following:

 

- The general rate of income tax applicable to national companies, permanent establishments and foreign entities will be 31%.

 

- For the years 2020 and 2021, the applicable rate for purposes of calculating the income tax under the presumptive income system will be 0.5% and 0%, respectively, of the taxpayer’s net worth from the immediately previous year.

 

- Companies located in the free zone are taxed at a rate of 20%. If the company located in the free zone has a Legal Stability Contract (hereinafter, CEJ), the income tax rate will continue to be 15% during the term of said contract. This is the case of Refinería de Cartagena S.A.S. (“Reficar”) and Esenttia Masterbatch Ltda. (“Esenttia MB”).

 

- For the taxable year 2021, the Group has companies that settle on liquid income at the 31% rate, companies in the free zone, that pay the 15% rate (they have CEJ) and others with foreign income with rates from other countries.

 

- The tax depreciation systems are adjusted to the accounting ones and it establishes a limit to the annual depreciation percentage based on the table established in Law 1819 of 2016. On the other hand, the amortization of oil investments will be made based on technical production units as it is done in accounting.

 

- The expenses of acquisition of exploration rights, geology and geophysics, exploratory drilling, among others, will be capitalized for tax purposes until the technical feasibility and commercial viability of extracting the resource are established.

 

- Tax losses generated as of January 1, 2017 may be offset by the liquid income generated in the following 12 years.

 

- Pursuant to article 290 of Law 1819 of 2016, excesses of presumptive income over liquid income generated before 2017 in income tax and CREE that have not been compensated, are subject to offset to the application of a formula contained in said article and subject to the term established in article 189 of the Tax Statute.

 

Statute of limitation of review for tax returns

 

As of 2017, the general statute of limitation of tax returns is 3 years from the date of their expiration or from the date of their filing, when they have been filed out of time. For Group Companies that are subject to compliance with transfer pricing regulations, the Law 2010 of 2019 established that the term of their firmness will be 5 years, for the declarations that are presented as of January 1, 2020.

 

With respect to those statements in which balances are presented in favor, the statute of limitation will be 3 years, from the date of submission of the return or compensation request.

 

The tax returns in which tax losses are compensated will be final 6 years from the date of their filing. Those declarations in which tax losses are settled, the term is 12 years and if the losses are offset in the last 2 years, of the 12 allowed, their term will extend up to 3 more years, from the year of their compensation.

 

Tax returns that present tax losses can be reviewed by the tax authorities within six (6) years following the filing and / or correction date.

 

Income tax returns for taxable years 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2019 and CREE for taxable years 2014, 2015, and 2016 of Group Companies are subject to acceptance and review by of the tax authorities.

   13

 

Ecopetrol S.A.  

Notes to consolidated condensed interim financial statements 

March 31, 2021

(Figures expressed in millions of Colombian pesos, unless otherwise stated) 

 

 

Income tax expense

 

    Three-month period ended March 31,  
    2021     2020  
    (Unaudited)  
Current     1,046,925       1,073,324  
Current – Previous periods     (195 )     (1,958 )
Deferred     490,024       (719,467 )
Deferred – Previous periods     (24 )     19  
Income tax expense     1,536,730       351,918  

 

Reconciliation of the income tax expenses

 

For interim periods, and in compliance with IAS 34, the income tax for the period is recognized by applying the effective tax rate projected for the year to the pre-tax accounting profit of the period of closing.

 

The effective tax rate as of March 31, 2021 is 31.27%; the variation of 7.20% against the rate as of December 31, 2020 (38.47%) is mainly due to the projected profit at the end of each year, the effect of the adjustment for exchange rate difference in the companies of the business group that are functional currency dollar and the effect and the effect of group companies with losses that have a different nominal rate than their parent company.

 

The Group’s strategy is not to make fiscal decisions with aggressive or risky positions that may put into question its tax returns.

 

Deferred income tax

 

    March 31,     December 31,  
    2021     2020  
    (Unaudited)          
Deferred tax assets (1)     10,064,385       9,637,340  
Deferred tax liabilities     (1,022,389 )     (1,042,250 )
      9,041,996       8,595,090  

 

(1) The increase presented in the deferred tax asset during 2021, was generated mainly by the effect of foreign exchange in loans. Although the current conditions due to the COVID 19 pandemic and other external factors, the financial projections of the Group Companies let to conclude that in the future enough fiscal profits will be generated that will allow their recoverability within the terms established in the current fiscal regulations.

 

 

 14

 

Ecopetrol S.A.  

Notes to consolidated condensed interim financial statements 

March 31, 2021

(Figures expressed in millions of Colombian pesos, unless otherwise stated) 

 

 

The detail of deferred taxes assets and liabilities is as follows:

 

    March 31,     December 31,  
    2021     2020  
    (Unaudited)          
Deferred tax assets and liabilities                
 Loss carry forwards (1)     3,385,864       4,513,071  
 Provisions (2)     3,191,263       3,186,495  
 Employee benefits (3)     2,044,105       1,874,242  
 Borrowings and other financial liabilities (4)     1,743,191       818,271  
 Accounts payable     652,846       (10,266 )
 Other liabilities     120,861       75,092  
 Loans receivable     80,065       73,523  
 Inventories     43,668       99,775  
 Accounts receivable     39,936       110,320  
 Right-of-use assets     5,568       1,014  
 Investments and derivative instruments     (13,298 )     42,463  
 Intangibles     (24,699 )     (26,466 )
 Other assets     (28,017 )     (40,343 )
 Deferred charges     (51,478 )     (35,569 )
 Goodwill     (294,203 )     (294,203 )
 Property, plant and equipment (5)     (1,853,676 )     (1,792,329 )
Total     9,041,996       8,595,090  

 

(1) The reduction compared to December 2020 mainly corresponds to the fact that the deferred tax associated with tax losses and excess presumptive income for Ecopetrol was offset based on the results and projections for the year.

 

(2) Corresponds to non-taxable accounting provisions, mainly the abandonment provision for wells.

 

(3) Actuarial calculations for health, pensions, education, pension bonuses and other long-term benefits to employees.

 

(4) The variation mainly corresponds to the exchange rate for financial liabilities of Ecopetrol S.A.

 

(5) For fiscal purposes natural resources and property, plant and equipment have a useful life and a depreciation and amortization calculation methodology different from those that are determined under international accounting standards. Under NCIF (Accounting and Financial Information Standards accepted in Colombia), the useful life is determined by a technical analysis. This difference translates into a different depreciation base for accounting and tax purposes. Within this item the amount of tax is included for occasional gains of 10% on land, as well as the application of the income tax rate of 31% and 30% for the other assets.

 

The Group offset tax assets and liabilities only if it has a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets and liabilities; and in the case of deferred tax assets and liabilities, to the extent that they also correspond to income taxes required by the same tax jurisdiction and by the same tax authority.

 

Recognized asset deferred tax

 

The deferred tax asset recognized in the consolidated financial statements corresponds to $ 9,041,996, mainly composed of the items indicated in “Detail of deferred tax Assets and Liabilities”.

 

The deferred tax asset for tax losses corresponds to $ 3,385,864, composed of: Ecopetrol USA Inc. for $1,773,419, Refinería de Cartagena for $ 1,587,894, Ecopetrol Permian LLC $ 10,903 and Invercolsa $ 13,648.

 

Non-recognized asset deferred tax

 

The deferred tax asset related to the tax losses generated by the companies Andean Chemicals Ltd for $1,852, and the excess of presumptive income of Hocol Petroleum Company (“HPL”) for $12,077, Andean Chemicals Ltd for $4,332 and Refinería de Cartagena S.A.S for $227,680 are not recognized, since the Management has assessed and reached the conclusion that under a conservative position it is not probable that the deferred tax asset related to these tax losses and presumptive income excesses will be recoverable in the short term.

 

 

 15

 

Ecopetrol S.A.  

Notes to consolidated condensed interim financial statements 

March 31, 2021

(Figures expressed in millions of Colombian pesos, unless otherwise stated) 

 

 

If the Group had been recognized the unrecognized deferred tax asset, the profit for the year ended March 31, 2021 would has increased by $ 245,941.

 

The movements of deferred tax assets and liabilities to income for the years ended March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020:

 

    March 31,     December 31,  
    2021     2020  
    (Unaudited)          
Opening balance     8,595,090       7,848,339  
 Deferred tax recognized in profit or loss     (490,000 )     807,036  
 Deferred tax recognized in other comprehensive income (a)     936,906       (60,285 )
Closing balance     9,041,996       8,595,090  

 

(a) The following is the composition of the income tax recorded against other comprehensive income:

 

March 31, 2021 (Unaudited)   Base     Deferred tax     Total  
Actuarial valuation gains     (507,787 )     152,336       (355,451 )
Cash flow hedging for future crude oil exports     (245,281 )     73,584       (171,697 )
Hedge of a net investment in a foreign operation     (2,022,401 )     606,720       (1,415,681 )
Hedge with derivative instruments     24,296       15,425       39,721  
Currency translation     -       88,841       88,841  
      (2,751,173 )     936,906       (1,814,267 )

 

December 31, 2020   Base     Deferred tax     Total  
Actuarial valuation gains     137,459       (41,238 )     96,221  
Cash flow hedging for future crude oil exports     198,017       (66,265 )     131,752  
Hedge of a net investment in a foreign operation     (520,490 )     156,147       (364,343 )
Hedge with derivative instruments     (20,391 )     (17,546 )     (37,937 )
Currency translation     -       (91,383 )     (91,383 )
      (205,405 )     (60,285 )     (265,690 )

 

Deferred tax (assets) unrecognized liabilities

 

As of March 31, 2021, no deferred tax assets are recognized on the difference between the accounting and tax bases associated with investments in associates and joint ventures of the Group, since as it was documented, the Group considers the exceptions established in the accounting regulations.

 

 

 16

 

Ecopetrol S.A.  

Notes to consolidated condensed interim financial statements 

March 31, 2021

(Figures expressed in millions of Colombian pesos, unless otherwise stated) 

 

 

11. Other assets

 

    March 31,     December 31,  
    2021     2020  
    (Unaudited)          
Current                
Advanced payments to contractors and suppliers     598,162       503,698  
 Partners in joint operations (1)     565,443       534,145  
 Prepaid expenses     386,961       369,979  
 Trust funds (2)     240,657       218,158  
 Related parties (Note 28)     5,798       7,093  
 Other assets     30,644       30,963  
      1,827,665       1,664,036  
Non-current                
 Abandonment and pension funds (3)     391,978       405,376  
 Trust funds (2)     353,173       338,067  
 Employee benefits (4)     228,397       221,658  
 Advanced payments and deposits     54,392       54,392  
 Judicial deposits and judicial attachments     42,799       42,672  
 Other assets     25,132       27,950  
      1,095,871       1,090,115  

 

(1) Corresponds to the net value of cash calls and cutbacks generated in relation to the operations carried out with partners through Exploration and Production (E&P) contracts, Technical Evaluations (TEA) contracts and agreements entered in to with the National Hydrocarbons Agency of Colombia (ANH), as well as through association contracts and other types of contracts.

 

(2) It mainly includes the resources invested in a trust destined to taxes paid through social and infrastructure projects, payment mechanism for 2019- and 2020-income tax, constituted in compliance with article 238 of Law 1819 of 2016 - Tax Reform.

 

(3) Corresponds to Ecopetrol’s share in trusts established to support costs of abandonment of wells and dismantling of facilities as well as the payment of future retirement pensions in some association contracts.

 

(4) Corresponds to the benefit of lower interest rates on employee loans, granted by Ecopetrol.

 

 

 17

 

Ecopetrol S.A.  

Notes to consolidated condensed interim financial statements 

March 31, 2021

(Figures expressed in millions of Colombian pesos, unless otherwise stated) 

 

 

12. Investments in associates and joint ventures

 

12.1 Composition and movements

 

    March 31,     December 31,  
    2021     2020  
    (Unaudited)        
Joint ventures                
Equion Energía Limited     1,695,549       1,642,735  
Offshore International Group (1)     -       613,258  
Ecodiesel Colombia S.A.     42,331       51,672  
      1,737,880       2,307,665  
Less impairment:                
 Equion Energía Limited     (314,460 )     (314,460 )
 Offshore International Group (1)     -       (609,826 )
      1,423,420       1,383,379  
Associates                
Gases del Caribe S.A. E.S.P.     1,481,169       1,512,629  
Gas Natural del Oriente S.A. E.S.P.     134,826       143,893  
Gases de la Guajira S.A. E.S.P.     68,957       69,518  
E2 Energía Eficiente S.A. E.S.P.     35,837       35,614  
Extrucol S.A.     25,540       26,996  
Serviport S.A.     8,541       8,541  
Sociedad Portuaria Olefinas     3,127       2,599  
      1,757,997       1,799,790  
Less impairment: Serviport S.A.     (8,541 )     (8,541 )
      1,749,456       1,791,249  
      3,172,876       3,174,628  

 

(1) On January 19, 2021, by signing the share purchase agreement with one of the subsidiaries of De Jong Capital LLC., as the buyer, Ecopetrol formalized the disposal of the entire participation in the equity in Offshore International Group (OIG), in which it had a participation of 50%. This operation generated the following impacts on the results of the period: profit from the sale of assets for $4,923 and the realization of other comprehensive income for $361,728 (Note 26).

 

Movement of investments in associates and joint ventures:

 

    Associates     Joint ventures     Total  
Balance as of December 31, 2020     1,791,249       1,383,379       3,174,628  
Equity method recognized in:                        
     Profit or loss     40,801       12,446       53,247  
     Equity     131       46,076       46,207  
Dividends decreed     (83,049 )     (15,000 )     (98,049 )
Transfers     -       (3,481 )     (3,481 )
Others     324       -       324  
Balance as of March 31, 2021 (Unaudited)     1,749,456       1,423,420       3,172,876  

 

 

 18

 

Ecopetrol S.A.

Notes to consolidated condensed interim financial statements

March 31, 2021

(Figures expressed in millions of Colombian pesos, unless otherwise stated)

 

 

13. Property, plant and equipment

 

The movement of property, plant and equipment for the period ended March 31, 2021 with its corresponding depreciation and impairment, has been as follows:

 

    Plant and
equipment
    Pipelines,
networks
and lines
    Work in
progress
    Buildings     Lands     Others     Total  
Cost                                                        
Balance as of December 31, 2020     51,044,227       37,141,694       7,484,523       8,412,469       4,112,826       2,692,461       110,888,200  
Additions/capitalizations     198,285       173,609       400,307       17,557       482       59,646       849,886  
Reduction of abandonment cost (Note 20)     -       (17,399 )     -       -       -       -       (17,399 )
Capitalized financial interests     7,857       6,818       16,158       1,157       32       3,807       35,829  
Exchange differences capitalized     206       179       424       30       1       100       940  
Disposals     (57,560 )     (1,708 )     (27 )     (571 )     -       (2,958 )     (62,824 )
Foreign currency translation     2,215,502       790,784       55,331       96,608       115,642       49,840       3,323,707  
Reclassifications/transfers     (256,143 )     28,986       38,126       12,445       -       (20,980 )     (197,566 )
Balance as of March 31, 2021 (Unaudited)     53,152,374       38,122,963       7,994,842       8,539,695       4,228,983       2,781,916       114,820,773  
                                                         
Accumulated depreciation and impairment losses

                                                       
Balance as of December 31, 2020     (21,182,611 )     (17,558,024 )     (1,023,456 )     (3,628,724 )     (78,549 )     (908,499 )     (44,379,863 )
Depreciation expense     (582,129 )     (372,046 )     -       (93,003 )     -       (27,353 )     (1,074,531 )
Impairment loss     2,423       -       -       18       -       -       2,441  
Disposals     57,161       1,421       -       464       -       2,489       61,535  
Foreign currency translation     (754,988 )     (334,834 )     (695 )     (31,718 )     (2,468 )     (24,851 )     (1,149,554 )
Reclassifications/transfers     179,197       (24,273 )     5,311       (7,121 )     -       (2,996 )     150,118  
Balance as of March 31, 2021 (Unaudited)     (22,280,947 )     (18,287,756 )     (1,018,840 )     (3,760,084 )     (81,017 )     (961,210 )     (46,389,854 )
Balance as of December 31, 2020     29,861,616       19,583,670       6,461,067       4,783,745       4,034,277       1,783,962       66,508,337  
Balance as of March 31, 2021 (Unaudited)     30,871,427       19,835,207       6,976,002       4,779,611       4,147,966       1,820,706       68,430,919  

 

Ecopetrol Business Group performs an impairment test in December of each year or when circumstances indicate that the carrying value of its assets may be above the recoverable amount. The key assumptions for determining the recoverable value of cash generating units were disclosed in the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2020.

   19

 

Ecopetrol S.A.

Notes to consolidated condensed interim financial statements

March 31, 2021

(Figures expressed in millions of Colombian pesos, unless otherwise stated)

 

 

14. Natural and environmental resources

 

The movement of natural resources and the environment for the period ended March 31, 2021, with corresponding amortization, calculated based on production units, and impairment has been as follows:

 

    Oil and gas
investments
    Assets retirement
obligations
    Exploration and
evaluation
    Total  
Cost                                
Balance as of December 31, 2020     65,367,278       7,231,850       8,867,894       81,467,022  
Additions /capitalizations (1)     358,536       (26,653 )     1,236,939       1,568,822  
Disposals and dry wells (2)     -       -       (132,677 )     (132,677 )
Capitalized financial interests     12,274       -       15,946       28,220  
Exchange differences capitalized     322       -       419       741  
Foreign currency translation     856,233       38,762       240,964       1,135,959  
Reclassifications/transfers     169,924       1,322       (2,336 )     168,910  
Balance as of March 31, 2021 (Unaudited)     66,764,567       7,245,281       10,227,149       84,236,997  
                                 
Accumulated amortization                                
Balance as of December 31, 2020     (46,106,147 )     (2,981,449 )     (445,268 )     (49,532,864 )
Amortization del period     (613,286 )     (549,190 )     -       (1,162,476 )
Foreign currency translation     (609,591 )     (18,112 )     -       (627,703 )
Reclassifications/transfers     (203,241 )     -       57,570       (145,671 )
Balance as of March 31, 2021 (Unaudited)     (47,532,265 )     (3,548,751 )     (387,698 )     (51,468,714 )
                                 
Balance as of December 31, 2020     19,261,131       4,250,401       8,422,626       31,934,158  
Balance as of March 31, 2021     19,232,302       3,696,530       9,839,451       32,768,283  

 

(1) It mainly includes: a) Ecopetrol Permian $685,127 for investments made in drilling of wells and construction of facilities executed in Rodeo, b) Ecopetrol S.A. $746,800 mainly Cantagallo, Casabe, Castilla, Chichimene and Rubiales fields and c) Hocol $86,542 in Mamey-3 and Pintado wells.

(2) It mainly includes the Moyote well by Ecopetrol México for $ 109,566 and Ecopetrol S.A. which mainly includes the Alqamari-1 and Nafta-1 wells for $13,158.

 

Ecopetrol Business Group performs an impairment test in December of each year or when circumstances indicate that the carrying value of its assets may be above the recoverable amount. The key assumptions for determining the recoverable value of cash generating units were disclosed in the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2020.

   20

 

Ecopetrol S.A.

Notes to consolidated condensed interim financial statements

March 31, 2021

(Figures expressed in millions of Colombian pesos, unless otherwise stated)

 

 

15. Right-of-use assets

 

     Right-of-use assets          
    Lands and
buildings
   

Plant and

equipment

    Vehicles     Right-of-
use assets
    Lease
liabilities
 
Balance as of December 31, 2020     93,472       133,939       150,475       377,886       1,055,200  
Additions     9,170       4       -       9,174       9,174  
Amortization of the period     (4,440 )     (11,721 )     (21,523 )     (37,684 )     -  
Remeasurements     2,495       782       (2,846 )     431       (114 )
Disposals     (195 )     -       -       (195 )     (2,901 )
Finance cost     -       -       -       -       12,656  
Repayment of borrowings and interests     -       -       -       -       (70,067 )
Exchange difference     (144 )     (3,057 )     1,158       (2,043 )     25,066  
Balance as of March 31, 2021 (Unaudited)     100,358       119,947       127,264       347,569       1,029,014  

 

16. Impairment of non-current assets

 

The unprecedented crisis observed during the first half of 2020, caused by the simultaneous shock on supply (oil price war) and demand (COVID-19), and impacted the macroeconomic reference variables with the greatest effect in 2020.

 

Given this situation, the Group carried out an impairment analysis for as of March 31, 2020, adjusting the assumptions used as follows:

 

- Oil price - Brent: The price was adjusted for the first year (2020) going from US $ 55.61/Bl to US $ 40.00/Bl, the medium and long-term curve was maintained as it was used for the end of 2019. The quality differentials and refining margins were adjusted at this new price. In the case of Offshore International Group the price was US $ 42.00/Bl associated with the quality of its crudes.

 

- Discount rates: were updated with the macroeconomic variables after the price war began, for the exploration and production segment were used 5.47%, refining 5.46%, Ecopetrol America 7.79% and Offshore International Group 7.21%. The volatility of the market variables used to calculate the weighted average cost of capital could generate significant variations in discount rates.

 

The following is the result of the impairment assessment that was carried out as of March 31, 2020 (unaudited):

 

    Three-month period ended  
    March 31, 2020  
    (Unaudited)  
Impairment loss (recovery)        
Exploration and production     (518,173 )
Refining and petrochemicals     (689,781 )
Transport and logistics     13  
      (1,207,941 )

 

As of March 31, 2021, it was not considered to recognize additional impairment to the one already registered as of December 31, 2020 due to the behavior of crude oil and product prices during the first quarter of 2021 as a result of the recovery of supply, given that the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) was a preponderant factor in keeping the market balanced and because of the recovery in demand, mainly thanks to the vaccination campaigns that started in several countries of the world, fueling the expectations of a sustained recovery. The main impairment movement in 2021 is attributable to the recovery of materials for $2,405 in Refinería de Cartagena S.A.S. and Cenit.

   21

 

Ecopetrol S.A.

Notes to consolidated condensed interim financial statements

March 31, 2021

(Figures expressed in millions of Colombian pesos, unless otherwise stated)

 

 

17. Loans and borrowings

 

17.1 Composition of loans and borrowings

 

    Interest rate*     March 31,     December 31,  
    2021     2020     2021     2020  
                (Unaudited)        
Local currency                            
Bonds   6.5 %   6.4 %     1,075,874       1,084,461  
Syndicate loans   5.7 %   5.6 %     758,275       811,079  
Lease liabilities (1)   6.6 %   6.6 %     806,405       836,489  
Commercial loans and others   3.6 %   6.3 %     301,892       312,408  
                  2,942,446       3,044,437  
Foreign currency                            
Bonds (2)   6.0 %   6.0 %     36,475,619       33,944,548  
Commercial loans   3.6 %   3.6 %     8,881,943       8,247,012  
Loans from related parties (Note 28)                 1,371,414       1,277,046  
Lease liabilities (1)   6.1 %   6.1 %     222,609       218,711  
                  46,951,585       43,687,317  
                  49,894,031       46,731,754  
Current                 5,206,883       4,923,346  
Non-current                 44,687,148       41,808,408  
                  49,894,031       46,731,754  

 

* Weighted average effective interest rate for the end of each period.

 

(1) Corresponds to the present value of the payments to be made during the term of the operating leases of pipelines, tanks, real estate and vehicles, recognized as a result of the adoption of IFRS 16 – Leases. See Note 15.

(2) The variation was generated by the increase in the exchange rate by $ 246 per dollar.

 

17.2 Fair value

 

Fair value of loans and borrowings corresponds to $53,532,269 and $52,721,790 as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.

 

For fair value measurement, local currency bonds were valued using Precia reference prices, while bonds in U.S. dollars, were valued using Bloomberg. Regarding the other financial obligations for which there is no market benchmark, a discount to present value technique was used. These rates incorporate market risk through some benchmarks (Libor, DTF) and the Group’s credit risk (spread).

   22

 

Ecopetrol S.A.

Notes to consolidated condensed interim financial statements

March 31, 2021

(Figures expressed in millions of Colombian pesos, unless otherwise stated)

 

 

17.3 Maturity profile

 

The following is the maturity profile of loans and borrowings as of March 31, 2021:

 

    Up to 1 year     1 - 5 years     5-10 years     > 10 years     Total  
Local currency                              
Bonds     66,017       351,838       366,343       291,676       1,075,874  
Syndicate loans     239,091       519,184       -       -       758,275  
Lease liabilities     164,512       339,031       269,798       33,064       806,405  
Commercial loans and others     70,729       231,163       -       -       301,892  
      540,349       1,441,216       636,141       324,740       2,942,446  
Foreign currency                                        
Bonds     2,049,009       15,664,100       13,117,630       5,644,880       36,475,619  
Syndicate loans     1,149,900       4,659,986       632,320       -       6,442,206  
Commercial loans     35,572       2,404,165       -       -       2,439,737  
Lease liabilities     60,639       155,263       6,707       -       222,609  
Loans from related parties     1,371,414       -       -       -       1,371,414  
Balance as of March 31, 2021 (Unaudited)     4,666,534       22,883,514       13,756,657       5,644,880       46,951,585  
      5,206,883       24,324,730       14,392,798       5,969,620       49,894,031  

 

17.4 Loans designated as hedging instrument

 

As of March 31, 2021, the Group designated US$9,517 million of foreign currency debt as a hedging instrument of which, USD$8,217 million is used to hedge the net investment in foreign operations with the US dollar as their functional currency and US$1,300 million is used to hedge the cash flows of future crude oil exports. See Note 27 - Risk Management.

 

18. Trade and other payables

 

    March 31,     December 31,  
    2021     2020  
    (Unaudited)          
Current                
Dividends payable (1)     1,172,083       223,571  
Suppliers     6,715,867       6,491,909  
Partners’ advances     653,141       497,898  
Various creditors     333,129       331,333  
Withholding tax     449,584       462,429  
Insurance and reinsurance     193,040       240,803  
Deposits received from third parties     96,243       84,436  
Related parties (Note 28)     67,033       72,316  
Agreements in transport contracts (2)     52,017       37,941  
Hedging operations (3)     5,587       6,405  
      9,737,724       8,449,041  
                 
Non-current                
Deposits received from third parties     843       1,109  
Various creditors     15,219       19,955  
      16,062       21,064  

 

(1) The General Shareholders’ Meeting of Ecopetrol S.A. held on March 26, 2020, decreed dividends on the 2020 profit for $698,984 (2020: $7,401,005). The payment date was April 22, 2021, for 100% of the shareholders.
   23

 

Ecopetrol S.A. 

Notes to consolidated condensed interim financial statements 

March 31, 2021 

(Figures expressed in millions of Colombian pesos, unless otherwise stated)

 

 

(2) Corresponds to the value of the debt for agreements in transportation contracts for pipelines. These values are calculated in the volumetric compensation for quality and other inventory management agreements.

 

(3) Corresponds to the payable account for the settlement of swap contracts acquired to hedge the risk of crude export prices.

 

The carrying amounts of trade and other payables approximate their fair value, due to its short-term nature.

 

19. Provisions for employees benefits

 

    March 31,     December 31,  
    2021     2020  
      (Unaudited)          
Post-employment benefits                
Healthcare     7,252,507       7,193,527  
Pension     3,330,885       2,819,985  
Education     477,509       485,792  
Bonds     382,399       342,669  
Other plans     102,829       104,428  
Termination benefits - Voluntary retirement plan (1)     675,314       713,407  
      12,221,443       11,659,808  
Social benefits and salaries     716,382       674,080  
Other long-term benefits     88,707       89,779  
      13,026,532       12,423,667  
Current     2,122,685       2,022,137  
Non-current     10,903,847       10,401,530  
      13,026,532       12,423,667  

 

(1) It includes the obligation for the new voluntary retirement plan, on which Ecopetrol made offers to a part of its workers during 2020, to which 421 workers have accepted. This plan was approved at the end of 2019 by the Company’s Board of Directors and includes the retirement of employees from January 2020 until December 2023, through 4 modalities: Compliance with the work cycle (pension), Retirement Plan A (Rent), Retirement Plan B (Bonus) and Enhanced Compensation.

 

The following table shows the movement in profit and loss and in other comprehensive income for the periods ended March 31:

 

    Three-month period ended March 31,  
    2021     2020  
    (Unaudited)  
Profit or loss                
Interest expense, net     161,931       150,386  
Service cost     29,509       29,526  
      191,440       179,912  
Other comprehensive income                
Pension and bonds     (507,787 )     (551,709 )
Others     -       25  
      (507,787 )     (551,684 )
 Deferred tax     152,336       165,505  
      (355,451 )     (386,179 )
 

 

 24

 

Ecopetrol S.A. 

Notes to consolidated condensed interim financial statements 

March 31, 2021 

(Figures expressed in millions of Colombian pesos, unless otherwise stated)

 

 

19.1 Plan assets

 

Plan assets are represented by the resources held by pension trusts for the payment of the pension liabilities and pension bonds; what concerns health and education are the responsibility of Ecopetrol. The destination of the resources of the pension trusts, as well as their yields, cannot be changed of destination or returned to the Company until all the obligations are fulfilled. The balance of plan assets is $12,666,930 and $13,214,772 as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. 63,1% (2020 - 23,3%) are level 1 of fair value and 36,9% (2020 – 76,7%) are under level 2.

 

20. Accrued liabilities and provisions

 

   

Abandonment

and dismantling

costs

    Litigations    

Environmental 

Contingencies
and others

    Total  
Balance as of December 31, 2020     11,239,325       118,139       1,070,266       12,427,730  
Update in abandonment costs     (17,399 )     -       -       (17,399 )
Additions (recoveries)     (29,239 )     1,863       35,177       7,801  
Uses     (78,716 )     (1,374 )     (26,136 )     (106,226 )
Financial cost     71,980       -       -       71,980  
Foreign currency translation     69,404       231       8,478       78,113  
Transfers     1,203       -       (933 )     270  
Balance as of March 31, 2021 (Unaudited)     11,256,558       118,859       1,086,852       12,462,269  
Current     851,871       50,229       222,439       1,124,539  
Non-current     10,404,687       68,630       864,413       11,337,730  
      11,256,558       118,859       1,086,852       12,462,269  

 

20.1 Abandonment and dismantling costs

 

The abandonment and dismantling obligation represents the Group’s future obligation to restore environmental conditions to a level similar to that existing before the start of projects or activities, as described in Note 4.13 of the financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2020. As these relate to long-term obligations, the liability is determined based on expected future payments discounted to present value at a rate indexed to the Group’s financial obligations, considering the timing and risks relating to this obligation.

 

20.2 Environmental contingencies and other

 

Corresponds mainly to obligations of environmental compensation and forced investment of 1% for the use, exploitation or affectation of natural resources imposed by national, regional and local environmental authorities. The obligation of forced investment of no less than 1% applies to all projects that requires an environmental license and that involves the use of water taken directly from surface or underground natural sources, either for human consumption, recreation, irrigation or any other activity, in accordance with the provisions of the Law 99 of 1993, article 43, Decree 1900 of 2006, Decrees 2099 of 2017 and 075 and 1120 of 2018 and article 321 of Law 1955 of 2019 in relation to the projects that Ecopetrol develops in the regions.

 

The National Government, through the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, issued in December 2016 and in January 2017 Decrees 2099 and 075, through which it modifies the Single Regulatory Decree of the environment and sustainable development sector, Decree 1076 of 2015, in related to forced investment of not less than 1%. The decrees included modifications and guidelines regarding the geographical scope for the execution of activities for the fulfillment of the obligation, investment lines and the calculation of the base for the settlement of the obligations. Likewise, June 30, 2017 was defined as the maximum date to modify the Investment Plans that are in execution.

 

 

 25

 

Ecopetrol S.A. 

Notes to consolidated condensed interim financial statements 

March 31, 2021 

(Figures expressed in millions of Colombian pesos, unless otherwise stated)

 

 

In 2019, Law 1955/2019 was issued, which in its Article 321, defined the items to carry out the liquidation of the forced investment of no less than 1 and established all those holders of an environmental license who have pending investments to the date of promulgation of said Law, to update the value of the settlement base of the investment of 1% within the defined period, either by accepting the percentage of increase according to the year of start of activities authorized in the environmental license, or by the formula defined in the first paragraph of the said article. Therefore, Ecopetrol carried out the recertification of the settlement base and the acceptance of the percentage of updating of the investment values ​​of 1% in more than 90 environmental licenses, generating a lower provision for this obligation. Currently, ANLA has ruled through resolutions on 75% of the requests submitted in relation to article 321 of Law 1955. Ecopetrol has filed an appeal for reconsideration with ANLA in most cases, which are under review by this authority.

 

20.3 Contingencies

 

Oleoducto Bicentenario de Colombia S.A.S.

 

During July 2018, the carriers Frontera Energy Colombia Corp. (Frontera), Canacol Energy Colombia S.A.S. (Canacol) and Vetra Exploración y Producción Colombia S.A.S. (Vetra and, together with Frontera and Canacol, the Carriers) sent letters to Oleoducto Bicentenario de Colombia S.A.S. (Bicentenario) alleging there were early termination rights under the Ship-or-Pay Transport Agreements entered by each of them and Bicentenario in 2012 (the Transport Agreements). Bicentenario has rejected the terms of the letters, noting that there is no option for early termination and reiterating to the Carriers that the Transport Agreements are current and therefore the Carriers must fulfill their obligations under the Transport Agreements in a timely fashion.

 

Under Bicentenario’s understanding that the Transport Agreements remain current and that the Carriers are in violation of their obligations under such agreements, Bicentenario declared the Carriers delinquent because of their failure to pay for transport service under the agreements. Consequently, Bicentenario executed the standby letters of credit posted as guarantee for the Transport Agreements.

 

On October 19, 2018, Bicentenario notified Frontera of the existence of a “Dispute” pursuant to Clause 20 of the respective Transport Agreement and moved to the party dispute settlement stage as provided for in such clause. Such discussions ended without an agreement on December 19, 2018. On January 28, 2019, Bicentenario filed an Arbitration Claim against Frontera in accordance with the arbitration clause of the Transportation Agreement to claim any compensation, indemnification or other restitution deriving from the alleged early termination of said agreements. Similarly, on November 1, 2018, Bicentenario notified Vetra and Canacol of the existence of a “Dispute” pursuant to Clause 20 of the respective Transport Agreement and moved to the party dispute settlement stage as provided for in each such respective clause. Such discussions ended without agreement on March, 2019. For more details on this matter, see section “Bicentenario, Cenit and Frontera Settlement Agreement” below.

 

Cenit Transporte y Logística de Hidrocarburos S.A.S. (“Cenit”)

 

In 2018, the Company filed an arbitration claim against Grupo Frontera for: - The improper termination of the transportation contracts for the Caño Limón Coveñas Pipeline. Cenit considers that the amounts owed by Frontera for this concept as of December 31, 2020, are $ 334,583.

 

The abovementioned fees dispute was at the root of the opposition manifested by Frontera Group against the application of the fees defined by the Ministry of Mines and Energy for the period 2015-2019. The rate differential amounts to $ 110,254 which was placed by Frontera in a trust fund, whilst the balance of the debt according to Cenit’s accounting records on the same date are $ 99,734, thus evidencing that the amounts receivable are funded.

 

Frontera has not paid the component of the fee related to the abandonment fund to which Cenit considers they are entitled by virtue of the application of resolutions 31480 and 31661 issued by the Ministry of Mines and Energy. Frontera Energy Group owed $ 9,663 in connection therewith.

 

 

 26

 

Ecopetrol S.A. 

Notes to consolidated condensed interim financial statements 

March 31, 2021 

(Figures expressed in millions of Colombian pesos, unless otherwise stated)

 

 

Bicentenario, Cenit and Frontera Settlement Agreement:

 

On November 17, 2020, Cenit, Bicentenario and Frontera reached an agreement, for the joint filing of a petition for a binding settlement which, upon completion and approval by the competent Colombian court, will resolve all the disputes pending among them, related to the Caño Limón – Coveñas pipeline, and will terminate all the pending arbitration proceedings related to such disputes. This transaction eliminates any uncertainty related to the potential outcomes of the disputes, thus protecting the interests of all the parties and those of their stakeholders and create new business opportunities for the parties involved. The settlement arrangement includes a full and final mutual release upon closing of all present and future amounts claimed by all parties in respect of the terminated transportation contracts for the Bicentenario and Caño Limón – Coveñas pipelines. Frontera will also enter into new transportation contracts with Cenit and Bicentenario.

 

Frontera will also enter into new transportation contracts with Cenit and Bicentenario. Frontera will transfer to Cenit its 43.03% stake in Bicentenario´s shareholdings. The new ship or pay commitment is projected to be approximately 3,900 bbls/day, based on the current oil price, for a term of five years subject to adjustments, at a current fee of $11.5/bbl. Frontera will not have to make payments for oil it may have to ship through alternate pipelines. These contracts will allow Cenit and Bicentenario to obtain payment of certain amounts included in the settlement, during the term of the contracts. The arrangement is conditional upon certain regulatory approvals, including approval of the settlement arrangement as a conciliation under Colombian law, which requires an opinion from the Attorney General’s Office (Procuraduría General de la Nación) which was issued on March 24, 2021 and approval of the Administrative Tribunal of Cundinamarca. As of the date of this report the final approval by the Administrative Tribunal of Cundinamarca was pending.

 

Bicentenario, Cenit and Canacol Settlement Agreement:

 

On October 30, 2020 Cenit and Canacol reached an agreement to settle all their disputes. The settlement arrangement includes a full and final mutual release upon closing of all present and future amounts claimed by all parties in respect of the terminated transportation contracts for the Caño Limón – Coveñas pipelines. On November 18, 2020 the competent arbitration tribunal approved the conciliation agreement entered into by Cenit and Canacol, according to which Canacol was obliged to transfer all its outstanding shares in Bicentenario to Cenit. Additionally, as part of the settlement, Canacol entered into new transportation contracts with Cenit. These contracts will allow Cenit to obtain payment of certain amounts included in the settlement, during the term of the contracts. On the other hand, on March 8, 2021 Bicentenario and Canacol reached an agreement to settle all their disputes. The agreement established a formula that seeks to end all contractual obligation disputes between the parties and settle all the outstanding obligations between the companies. Approval of the conciliation between Bicentenario and Canacol is still pending as of the date of this report.

 

Bicentenario, Cenit and Vetra Settlement Agreement:

 

On November 23, 2020, Cenit and Vetra reached an agreement to settle all their disputes. The settlement arrangement includes a full and final mutual release upon closing of all present and future amounts claimed by all parties in respect of the terminated transportation contracts for Caño Limón – Coveñas pipelines. On February 18, 2021 the competent arbitration tribunal approved the conciliation agreement entered into by Cenit and Vetra, according to which Vetra is obliged to transfer all its outstanding shares in Bicentenario to Cenit and to make a cash payment for the remaining balance of the amounts included in the settlement.

 

On the other hand, on January 13, 2021 Bicentenario and Vetra reached an agreement to settle all their disputes. The agreement established a formula that seeks to end all contractual obligations between the parties and settle all the outstanding obligations between the companies. Approval of the conciliation between Bicentenario and Vetra is still pending as of the date of this report.

 

 

 27

 

Ecopetrol S.A. 

Notes to consolidated condensed interim financial statements 

March 31, 2021 

(Figures expressed in millions of Colombian pesos, unless otherwise stated)

 

 

Refinería de Cartagena S.A.S.

 

On March 8, 2016, Reficar filed a request for arbitration with the International Chamber of Commerce (the “ICC”) against Chicago Bridge & Iron Company NV, CB&I (UK) Limited and CBI Colombiana SA (jointly, “CB&I”), concerning a dispute related to the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction Agreements entered into by and between Reficar and CB&I for the expansion of the Cartagena Refinery in Cartagena, Colombia. Reficar is the Claimant in the ICC arbitration and seeks no less than USD$2 billion.

 

On May 25, 2016, CB&I filed its Answer to the Request for Arbitration and the preliminary version of its counterclaim against Reficar, for approximately USD $ 213 million. On June 27, 2016, Reficar filed its reply to CB&I’s counterclaim denying and disputing the declarations and relief requested by CB&I.

 

On April 28, 2017, Reficar filed its non-detailed claim and, on the same date, CB&I submitted its Statement of Counterclaim increasing its claims to approximately USD$116 million and COP$387,558 million, including USD $ 70 million for a letter of credit compliance. On March 16, 2018, CB&I submitted its Exhaustive Statement of Counterclaim further increasing its claims to approximately USD$129 million and COP$432,303 million (including in each case interest), and also filed its Exhaustive Statement of Defense to Reficar’s claims. On this same date, Reficar filed its Exhaustive Statement of Claim seeking, among others, USD$ 139 million for provisionally paid invoices under the Memorandum of Agreement (“MOA”) and Project Invoicing Procedure (“PIP”) Agreements and the EPC Contract.

 

El 28 de junio de 2019, Chicago Bridge and Iron Company (CB&I) presentó respuesta a la defensa no detallada de Reficar por la demanda de reconvención, actualizando el valor de su reclamación aproximadamente USD $137 millones y COP$503,241 millones, incluyendo intereses. Asimismo, CB&I presentó su defensa detallada a la demanda de Reficar.

 

On June 28, 2019, On June 28, 2019, Chicago Bridge and Iron Company (CB&I) submitted its reply to the Non-Exhaustive Statement of Defense to Counterclaim increasing its claims to approximately USD$137 million and COP$503,241 million, including interests. Likewise, CB&I presented its detailed defense to Reficar’s claim.

 

Reficar filed its reply to CB&I’s Non-Exhaustive Statement of Defense and its Exhaustive Statement of Defense to CB&I’s counterclaim, updating its claim for provisionally paid invoices under the MOA and PIP Agreements and the EPC Contract to approximately USD$ 137 million.

 

In relation to this matter, as of December 31, 2020 there is a balance of approximately USD $ 122 million, in invoices paid by Reficar to CB&I, under the PIP and MOA Agreements of the EPC contract, whose supports provided to date by CB&I do not show acceptance by AMEC Foster Wheeler - PCIB.

 

In January 2020, McDermott International Inc. – CB&I parent company – commenced a bankruptcy case under title 11 of the United States Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. Faced with this situation, Refinería de Cartagena has taken actions to protect its interests and has a group of experts with whom it will continue to evaluate other measures it may adopt in this new circumstance.

 

Because of the initiation of the reorganization process, the arbitration was suspended until July 1, 2020, as described below.

 

On January 21, 2020, Comet II BV, the successor in interest to Chicago Bridge & Iron Company NV, commenced bankruptcy case under title 11 of the United States Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. Before the beginning of the insolvency process of Comet II BV, an automatic suspension of the initiation or continuation of any action, process or execution of judgment or award against Comet II BV became effective, which suspended the arbitration. On January 23, 2020, Comet II B.V. obtained an order from the Bankruptcy Court permitting it to, in its discretion, modify the automatic stay to permit it to proceed with litigation or other contested matters. On March 14, 2020, the Bankruptcy Court entered an order confirming a plan of reorganization, and the order provides for the stay against the arbitration to end upon the earlier of the effective date of the plan or August 30, 2020.- whichever would occur first. On June 30, 2020, McDermott International Inc. notified the occurrence of the effective date of the reorganization plan, for which the suspension of arbitration was lifted on July 1, 2020.

 

 

 28

 

Ecopetrol S.A. 

Notes to consolidated condensed interim financial statements 

March 31, 2021 

(Figures expressed in millions of Colombian pesos, unless otherwise stated)

 

 

On May 6, 2020, the Superintendence of Companies ordered the judicial liquidation of CBI Colombiana SA, one of the defendants in the CB&I arbitration. On October 22, 2020, Reficar requested its recognition as a creditor of CBI Colombiana SA, up to the maximum amount of its claims in the arbitration. On January 15, 2021, the liquidator of CBI Colombiana SA accepted Reficar’s request.

 

On September 22, 2020, the tribunal scheduled the start of the hearings for May 2021. The outcome of the arbitration remains uncertain until such time as the arbitration ruling is issued.

 

Investigations of control entities

 

Prosecutor’s Office:

 

To date, 3 legal proceedings are being carried out arising from the events related to the expansion and modernization project of the Refinería de Cartagena.

 

Proceeding 1 – No. 110016000101201600023 - MOA - PIP y EPC

 

This process is being carried out against some prior members of the Refinería de Cartagena Board of Directors, Refinería de Cartagena ex workers, Chicago Bridge and Iron Company (CB&I) workers and the Reficar Statutory Auditor between 2013 and 2015; for the crimes of undue interest in the conclusion of contracts, misappropriation in favor of third parties, illicit enrichment of individuals in favor of third parties and ideological falsehood in public document.

 

On May 31, 2018, the Accusation Formulation Hearing was installed; however, on this date the jurisdiction of the judge in the case was challenged. For this reason, it was only possible to start it on November 29, 2018. On August 22, 2019, the accusation hearing ended and Refinería de Cartagena and Ecopetrol S.A. were officially recognized as victims.

 

On November 25, 2019, the preparatory hearing for the trial was installed, and on November 4, 2020 a hearing was arranged in which the judge of the case manifested an impediment that was resolved by the Superior Court of Bogotá, by means of an order of December 16, February 2021, declaring it unsupported and maintaining jurisdiction in the same court. To date, the process is in place to develop the hearing.

 

Proceeding 2 - No. 110016000101201800132 Business line

 

This process is carried out for the crimes of aggravated unfair administration, obtaining a false public document, against previous members of the Board of Directors of Refinería de Cartagena and an ex-president of this company. On August 5, 2019, the Accusation Formulation Hearing was installed and Refinería de Cartagena and Ecopetrol S.A. were officially recognized as victims. On November 18, 2019, the preparatory trial hearing was installed and it is currently being developed.

 

Proceeding 3 – No. 110016000101201800134 – Subscription of contract PMC - Foster Wheeler

 

This process is carried out for the crime of entering into a contract without legal requirements, against two ex-workers of the Refinería de Cartagena, who acted as ex-president in property and ex-president in charge, for the period for which the accusation is made. On January 27, 2020, the accusation hearing was held and on March 11, 2020, the preparatory hearing for the trial was set up and Refinería de Cartagena and Ecopetrol S.A. were officially recognized as victims. Currently the process is in place to develop the hearing.

 

 

 29

 

Ecopetrol S.A. 

Notes to consolidated condensed interim financial statements 

March 31, 2021 

(Figures expressed in millions of Colombian pesos, unless otherwise stated)

 

 

Office of the Comptroller General:

 

Financial Audit for the 2018 period

 

The Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic carried out a financial audit of the Refinería de Cartagena between January 28, 2020 and May 20, 2020. The Final Audit Report indicates (i) that the budget execution is reasonable, since the budget was prepared and executed in accordance with the applicable regulations, (ii) that the internal financial control was efficient, because it is adequate and the controls are effective against the risks that are inherent, (iii) that the opinion accounting is negative, since the Office considered that the financial statements “do not present reasonably in all important aspects, the financial situation as of December 31, 2019” and leave 3 findings of an administrative nature. Considering the above, the Office did not expire the fiscal account for the 2019 period.

 

On February 1, 2021, the Financial Audit was installed for 2020, which is scheduled to conclude on May 2021.

 

Fiscal Responsibility Processes

 

Through Order No. 773 of June 5, 2018, the Office of the Comptroller General issued an order to file and impute fiscal responsibility within the process # PRF-2017-00309_UCC-PRF-005-2017 and impute responsibility to:

 

i.         Nine (9) ex-members of the Board of Directors of Refinería de Cartagena 

ii.        Five (5) ex-workers of Refinería de Cartagena 

iii.       One (1) ex-worker of Ecopetrol 

iv.       Five (5) contractor companies that provided their services during the execution of the expansion and modernization project of the Refinería de Cartagena and, 

v.        Four (4) insurance companies and two (2) reinsurers, as a civilly responsible third party.

 

Additionally, in the order it was required to form an independent process in relation to the event that generates the late entry into operation of the refinery, which gives rise to a loss of profit; that is, the net profit not received by Reficar.

 

On April 26, 2021, the CGR issued a first instance ruling with fiscal responsibility for changes 2 and 3 that were made to the expansion and modernization project of the Refinería de Cartagena for a value of COP$2.9 billion in solidarity and as a gross fault against:

 

i.         Seven (7) ex-members of the Board of Directors of Refinería de Cartagena 

ii.        Five (5) ex-workers of Refinería de Cartagena 

iii.       Four (4) contractor companies that provided their services during the execution of the expansion and modernization project of the Refinería de Cartagena and, 

iv.       Four (4) insurance companies.

 

This decision is subject to appeals for reconsideration before the authority that issued the ruling and the appeal in face of the Fiscal and Penalty Chamber. Once it is firm, it will be sent to the Council of State for the automatic control of legality.

 

Refinería de Cartagena and Ecopetrol are not part of these processes.

 

As of the date of this report, the financial statements continue to adequately disclose the Group’s financial and operational situation in all material aspects and its internal controls remain in force and therefore the ruling does not generate any impact on the companies.

 

 

 30

 

Ecopetrol S.A. 

Notes to consolidated condensed interim financial statements 

March 31, 2021 

(Figures expressed in millions of Colombian pesos, unless otherwise stated)

 

 

21. Equity

 

21.1 Subscribed and paid-in capital

 

Ecopetrol’s authorized capital is $36,540,000, and is divided in 60,000,000,000 ordinary shares, of which 41,116,694,690 have been subscribed, represented by 11.51% (4,731,906,273 shares) of non-government entities and people, and 88.49% (36,384,788,417 shares) held by Government entities. The value of the reserve shares amounts to $11,499,933 comprised by 18,883,305,310 shares. As of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, subscribed and paid-in capital is $25,040,067. There is no potential dilution of shares.

 

21.1 Additional and paid-in capital

 

It mainly corresponds to: (i) surplus with respect to its nominal value derived from the sale of shares upon capitalization in 2007, for $4,457,997, (ii) $31,377 the value generated by the process of placing the shares on the secondary market, arising from the calling of guarantees from debtors in arrears, according to the provisions of Article 397 of the Code of Commerce, (iii) surplus over nominal value arising from the sale of shares awarded in the second round, which took place in September 2011, in the amount of $2,118,468, and (iv) additional paid-in capital receivable of $(143).

 

21.2 Equity reserves

 

    March 31,     December 31,  
    2021     2020  
      (Unaudited)          
Legal reserve     4,737,788       4,568,980  
Fiscal and statutory reserves     509,082       509,082  
Occasional reserves (1)     5,377,359       4,557,074  
Total     10,624,229       9,635,136  

 

(1) Ecopetrol’s General Meeting of Shareholders, held on March 26, 2021, approved the 2020 profit distribution project and recognized a reserve of $5,377,359 (2020; $4,557,074) in order to support the Company’s financial sustainability and flexibility in development of your strategy.
 

 

 31

 

Ecopetrol S.A. 

Notes to consolidated condensed interim financial statements 

March 31, 2021 

(Figures expressed in millions of Colombian pesos, unless otherwise stated)

 

 

The movement of the equity reserves is the following:

 

    March 31,     December 31,  
    2021     2020  
      (Unaudited)          
Opening balance     9,635,136       3,784,658  
Release of reserves     (5,066,156 )     (540,826 )
Appropriation of reserves     6,055,249       6,391,304  
Closing balance     10,624,229       9,635,136  

 

21.3 Retained earnings and payment of dividends

 

The Group distributes dividends based on Ecopetrol’s separate financial statements prepared under International Financial Reporting Standards accepted in Colombia (NCIF, as its acronym in Spanish).

 

The General Meeting of Shareholders of Ecopetrol S.A. made on March 27, 2021, decreed dividends on the profit for 2020, for a value of $698,984 ($7,401,005 in 2020).

 

21.2 Other comprehensive income

 

The following is the composition of the other comprehensive results attributable to the shareholders of the parent company, net of deferred income tax:

 

    March 31,     December 31,  
    2021     2020  
      (Unaudited)          
Foreign currency translation (1)     13,992,021       11,973,287  
Hedges of a net investment in a foreign operation     (2,910,607 )     (1,494,926 )
Loss on defined benefit obligation     (2,616,440 )     (2,260,989 )
Cash flow hedging - Future crude oil exports     (575,108 )     (403,411 )
Cash flow hedging – Derivative financial instruments     9,610       44,132  
Other movements     1,899       1,899  
      7,901,375       7,859,992  

 

(1) Includes the realization of other comprehensive income for $ 361,728 from the sale of the participation in the capital stock of Offshore International Group (OIG).
 

 

 32

 

Ecopetrol S.A.

Notes to consolidated condensed interim financial statements

March 31, 2021

(Figures expressed in millions of Colombian pesos, unless otherwise stated)

 

  

22. Revenue from contracts with customers

 

   

Three-month period ended

March 31,

 
    2021     2020  
    (Unaudited)  
National sales                
 Mid-distillates (1)     3,180,475       3,205,574  
 Gasolines and turbo fuel (1)     2,728,741       2,189,127  
 Services     792,154       940,865  
 Natural gas     736,038       782,520  
 Plastic and rubber     367,595       174,771  
 Fuel gas service     169,836       -  
 L.P.G. and propane     168,978       94,151  
 Asphalts     156,455       136,140  
 Polyethylene     92,283       43,443  
 Aromatics     61,290       57,753  
 Crude     40,955       69,580  
 Fuel oil     10,951       18,017  
 Other income – Gas contracts (2)     924       27,648  
 Other products     108,130       152,323  
      8,614,805       7,891,912  
Foreign sales                
 Crude     6,738,757       5,659,717  
 Diesel     918,483       716,852  
 Fuel oil     476,084       260,067  
 Plastic and rubber     396,686       325,841  
 Natural gas     9,666       5,526  
 L.P.G. and propane     8,400       4,494  
 Cash flow hedging – Reclassification to profit or loss (Note 27.3)     (66,390 )     (127,743 )
 Other products     109,483       335,300  
      8,591,169       7,180,054  
      17,205,974       15,071,966  

 

(1) Includes the value corresponding to the application of Decree 180522 of March 29, 2010, and other standards that modify and add (Decree 1880 of 2014 and Decree 1068 of 2015), which establishes the procedure to recognize the subsidy for refiners and importers of ordinary motor gasoline and ACPM, and the methodology for calculating the net position (value generated between the parity price and the regulated price, which can be positive or negative). As of March 31, 2021, the value recognized by price differential corresponds to COP$1,350,106 (2020: ($83,759)).

 

(2) Corresponds to the income on the participation in the profits of gas sales, according to the agreement signed between Ecopetrol and Hocol (considering the assets purchase agreement signed with Chevron to acquire the stake owned by the latter in the Guajira Association as of May 1, 2020), for the extension of the association contract for the exploitation of gas in La Guajira. Prior to this acquisition, the agreement was signed between Ecopetrol and Chevron since 2004.
 33

 

Ecopetrol S.A.

Notes to consolidated condensed interim financial statements

March 31, 2021

(Figures expressed in millions of Colombian pesos, unless otherwise stated)

 

 

23. Cost of sales

 

   

Three-month period ended

March 31,

 
    2021     2020  
    (Unaudited)  
Variable costs                
 Imported products (1)     3,196,077       3,214,701  
 Depreciation, depletion and amortization     1,569,584       1,455,085  
 Purchases of crude in associations and concessions     1,854,924       1,172,776  
 Hydrocarbon purchases - ANH (2)     1,114,903       961,357  
 Gas royalties in cash     296,430       200,870  
 Hydrocarbons transportation services     229,365       210,347  
 Electric energy     244,948       322,687  
 Processing materials     205,757       219,788  
 Purchases of other products and gas     171,457       193,851  
 Services contracted in association     56,763       75,846  
 Others (3)     (1,132,792 )     123,713  
      7,807,416       8,151,021  
Fixed cost                
 Depreciation and amortization     667,807       697,685  
 Labor costs     558,104       600,310  
 Maintenance     502,916       592,684  
 Contracted services     369,521       424,343  
 Contracted services in associations     263,152       359,717  
 Taxes and contributions     148,165       175,106  
 Materials and operating supplies     118,501       128,399  
 Hydrocarbon transport services     18,103       104,941  
 General costs (4)     58,335       52,617  
      2,704,604       3,135,802  
      10,512,020       11,286,823  

 

(1) The imported products correspond mainly to ACPM and diluent to facilitate the transport of heavy crude oil.

 

(2) It corresponds to the purchases of crude oil from royalties that Ecopetrol makes to the National Agency of Hydrocarbons (ANH) derived from the national production.

 

(3) Corresponds to: i) result of the process of use and valuation of core inventories, ii) measurement at net realizable value (VNR) and iii) other charges that can be capitalized to projects. The variation corresponds to the recovery of international indicators that affects the valuation.

 

(4) Includes the transfer to operating expenses of the costs related to the Barranca refinery units without production due to the decrease in loading capacity due to the health emergency.
 34

 

Ecopetrol S.A.

Notes to consolidated condensed interim financial statements

March 31, 2021

(Figures expressed in millions of Colombian pesos, unless otherwise stated)

 

 

24. Administrative, operation and project expenses

 

   

Three-month period ended

March 31,

 
    2021     2020  
    (Unaudited)  
Administration expenses                
 Labor expenses (1)     269,427       258,175  
 General expenses     250,601       239,294  
 Taxes     21,318       24,869  
 Depreciation and amortization     14,016       18,271  
      555,362       540,609  
Operation and project expenses                
 Exploration expenses     168,053       37,649  
 Taxes     110,725       117,830  
 Commissions, fees, freights and services     97,785       161,110  
 Labor expenses     75,297       83,115  
 Depreciation and amortization     50,689       58,570  
 Fee for regulatory entities     35,473       26,280  
 Maintenance     32,675       24,143  
 Others     35,944       10,063  
      606,641       518,760  

  

(1) It includes since 2020 the recognition of the new voluntary retirement plan for 421 workers.

  

25. Other operating (expenses) income, net

 

   

Three-month period ended

March 31,

 
    2021     2020  
    (Unaudited)  
Provisions expenses     (37,760 )     (33,717 )
Impairment loss of current assets     (15,525 )     (668 )
Gain (loss) on disposal of assets     5,905       (4,722 )
Other income     26,351       19,545  
      (21,029 )     (19,562 )
 35

 

Ecopetrol S.A.

Notes to consolidated condensed interim financial statements

March 31, 2021

(Figures expressed in millions of Colombian pesos, unless otherwise stated)

 

 

26. Financial result, net

 

   

Three-month period ended

March 31,

 
    2021     2020  
    (Unaudited)  
Finance income                
 Results from financial assets     30,989       264,479  
 Yields and interests     23,836       88,086  
 Gain on derivatives valuation     2,014       -  
 Dividends     -       22  
 Other financial income     4,988       9,414  
      61,827       362,001  
Financial expenses                
 Financial cost of loans and borrowings (1)     (558,778 )     (485,456 )
 Financial cost of other liabilities (2)     (233,295 )     (213,708 )
  Results from financial assets     (27,724 )     (276,477 )
  Other financial expenses     (14,828 )     (38,566 )
      (834,625 )     (1,014,207 )
Foreign exchange loss, net                
Foreign exchange loss     (240,860 )     (13,390 )
Realized gain of other comprehensive income
         from the sale of joint ventures
    361,728       -  
      120,868       (13,390 )
      (651,930 )     (665,596 )

 

(1) As of March 31, 2021 interest were capitalized in natural resources and property, plant and equipment for $64,049 (2020 - $63,806).

 

(2) It includes the financial expense for the updating of the liability for abandonment costs, and the interest, net of post-employment benefits and other long-term employee benefits.

 

27. Risk management

 

27.1 Exchange rate risk

 

The Group operates mainly in Colombia and makes sales in the local and international market, for this reason, it is exposed to exchange rate risk. The impact of fluctuations in exchange rates, especially the peso / U.S exchange rate. United States dollar, has been material.

 

As of March 31, 2021, the Colombian peso depreciated 7% from a closing rate as of December 31, 2020 of $ 3,432.50 to $3,678.62 pesos per U.S. dollar.

 

When the Colombian peso depreciates against the U.S. dollar, exports revenue increase when converted to pesos; likewise, imported goods, and interest on foreign debt denominated in the U.S. dollars become more expensive.

 36

 

Ecopetrol S.A.

Notes to consolidated condensed interim financial statements

March 31, 2021

(Figures expressed in millions of Colombian pesos, unless otherwise stated)

 

 

The book values of financial assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currency are presented in the following table:

 

    March 31,     December 31,  
(USD$ Millions)   2021     2020  
    (Unaudited)          
Cash and cash equivalents     391       197  
Other financial assets     875       1,164  
Trade receivables and payables, net     354       203  
Loans and borrowings     (11,856 )     (11,814 )
Other assets and liabilities, net     219       277  
Net liability position     (10,017 )     (9,973 )

  

Of the total net position, USD$(10,017) million correspond to net liabilities of companies with the Colombian peso functional currency, of which USD $ (9,517) correspond to loans used as hedging instruments whose valuation is recognized in other comprehensive income, the valuation for exchange difference of the remaining net liabilities for USD$(423) million affect the profit or loss statement. Likewise, USD$(77) million of the net position correspond to monetary assets and liabilities of Group companies with a functional currency different from the Colombian peso, whose valuation is recognized in the profit or loss statement.

 

27.2 Sensitivity analysis for exchange rate risk

 

The following is the effect that a variation of 1% and 5% would have in the exchange rate of Colombian pesos against the U.S. United States dollar, related to the exposure of financial assets and liabilities in foreign currency as of March 31, 2021:

 

Scenario/ variation in the
exchange rate
   

Effect on income

before taxes +/-

   

Effect on other

comprehensive income +/-

 
  1 %     18,833       350,099  
  5 %     91,941       1,750,496  

 

27.3 Cash flow hedge for future exports

 

In order to express in the financial statements the effect of the natural hedge existing between exports and debt, understanding that the exchange rate risk materializes when exports are made, on September 30, 2015, the Board of Directors designated the sum of USD $5,440 million of Ecopetrol’s debt as a hedge instrument for its future income from crude exports, for the period 2015 - 2023, in accordance with IFRS 9 - Financial Instruments.

 

In accordance with Resolution 509 of 2015 of the General Accounting Office of the Nation, this accounting policy for recognition of hedges was adopted by Ecopetrol as of January 1, 2015.

 

The following is the movement of this non-derivative hedging instrument: 

 

    March 31,     December 31,  
(USD$ Millions)   2021     2020  
      (Unaudited)          
Opening balance     1,300       1,300  
 Reassignment of hedging instruments     134       1,230  
 Realized exports     (134 )     (1,230 )
Closing balance     1,300       1,300  
 37

 

Ecopetrol S.A.

Notes to consolidated condensed interim financial statements

March 31, 2021

(Figures expressed in millions of Colombian pesos, unless otherwise stated)

 

 

The following is the movement in the other comprehensive income:

 

    March 31,     December 31,  
    2021     2020  
    (Unaudited)          
Opening balance     403,411       535,163  
 Exchange difference     319,956       201,968  
 Realized exports (Note 22)     (66,390 )     (390,206 )
 Ineffectiveness     (8,285 )     (9,779 )
 Deferred tax (Note 10)     (73,584 )     66,265  
Closing balance     575,108       403,411  

 

The expected reclassification of exchange differences accumulated in other comprehensive income to profit or loss is as follows:

 

Year     Before taxes     Taxes     After taxes  
2021 (Apr-Dec)       242,607       (75,208 )     167,399  
2022       327,443       (98,233 )     229,210  
2023       251,532       (73,034 )     178,499  
        821,582       (246,475 )     575,108  

 

27.4 Hedge of a net investment in a foreign operation

 

The Board of Directors approved the application of hedge accounting of net investment from June 8, 2016. The measure seeks to reduce the volatility of non-operating income due to the exchange difference. The hedge of a net investment applies to a portion of the investments the Company has in foreign currency, in this case in subsidiaries with the US dollars as their functional currency, using as hedging instrument a portion of the Company’s debt denominated in U.S. dollars.

 

Ecopetrol designated as hedged items its net investments in Oleoducto Central S.A. (Ocensa), Ecopetrol América LLC., Hocol Petroleum Ltd. (HPL) and Refinería de Cartagena S.A.S. (Reficar); and as a hedging instrument a portion of its debt denominated in US dollars in a total amount equivalent to USD$5,200 million.

 

During 2019 and 2020 Ecopetrol S.A. expanded this hedge to include investments in Ecopetrol Permian LLC and Ecopetrol Brasil in the designation. At the end of December 31, 2020, the amount of this hedge is USD$7,249.

 

During 2021, the Company made an extension for USD$968 million to add a greater amount in Reficar. The total value hedged on March 31, 2021 is USD$8,217 million.

 

The following is the movement in the other comprehensive income:

 

    March 31,     December 31,  
    2021     2020  
    (Unaudited)          
Opening balance     1,494,926       1,130,583  
 Exchange difference     2,022,401       520,490  
 Deferred tax (Note 10)     (606,720 )     (156,147 )
Closing balance     2,910,607       1,494,926  
 38

 

Ecopetrol S.A.

Notes to consolidated condensed interim financial statements

March 31, 2021

(Figures expressed in millions of Colombian pesos, unless otherwise stated)

 

 

27.5 Capital management

 

The main objective of Ecopetrol Business Group’s Capital Management is to ensure a financial structure that will optimize the Company’s cost of capital, maximize the returns to its shareholders and allow access to financial markets at a competitive cost to cover is financing needs.

 

The following is the leverage index over the periods reported:

 

    March 31,     December 31,  
    2021     2020  
    (Unaudited)          
Loans and borrowings (Note 17)     49,894,031       46,731,754  
Cash and cash equivalents (Note 6)     (6,687,543 )     (5,082,308 )
Other financial assets (Note 9)     (1,393,399 )     (3,071,659 )
Net financial debt     41,813,089       38,577,787  
Equity (Note 21)     58,151,920       55,819,270  
Leverage (1)     41.83 %     40.87 %

  

(1) Deuda financiera neta / (Deuda financiera neta + Patrimonio)

   

28. Related parties

 

The balances with associated companies and joint ventures as of March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 are as follows:

 

   

Accounts

receivable

    Other
assets
   

Accounts

payable

   

Loans

payable

    Other liabilities  
Joint ventures                                        
Equion Energía Limited (1)     1,495       5,798       19,218       1,371,414       9  
Ecodiesel Colombia S.A.     16,178       -       42,786       -       1  
Associates                                        
Gases del Caribe S.A. E.S.P.     68,457       -       -       -       -  
Gas Natural del Oriente S.A. E.S.P.     12,084       -       4,003       -       -  
Gases de la Guajira S.A. E.S.P.     912       -       -       -       -  
Extrucol S.A.     1,597       -       289       -       -  
E2 Energía Eficiente S.A. E.S.P.     4,207       -       360       -       -  
Serviport S.A.     -       -       377       -       -  
Balance as of March 31, 2021 (Unaudited)     104,930       5,798       67,033       1,371,414       10  
Current     104,930       5,798       67,033       1,371,414       10  
      104,930       5,798       67,033       1,371,414       10  
      (Note 7)       (Note 11)       (Note 18)       (Note 17)          
 39

 

Ecopetrol S.A.

Notes to consolidated condensed interim financial statements

March 31, 2021

(Figures expressed in millions of Colombian pesos, unless otherwise stated)

 

  

   

Accounts

receivable

   

Loans

receivable

   

Other

assets

   

Accounts

payable

   

Loans

payable

    Other liabilities  
Joint ventures                                                
Equion Energía Limited (1)     1,950       -       7,093       32,335       1,277,046       1,663  
Ecodiesel Colombia S.A.     1,345       -       -       35,632       -       1  
Offshore International Group Inc (2)     -       97,300       -       -       -       -  
Associates                                                
Gas Natural del Oriente S.A. E.S.P.     -       -       -       1,858       -       -  
Extrucol S.A.     -       -       -       279       -       -  
E2 Energía Eficiente S.A. E.S.P.     4,453       -       -       1,264       -       -  
Serviport S.A.     -       -       -       948       -       -  
Balance as of December 31, 2020     7,748       97,300       7,093       72,316       1,277,046       1,664  
Current     7,748       97,300       7,093       72,316       1,277,046       1,664  
      7,748       97,300       7,093       72,316       1,277,046       1,664  
      (Note 7)       (Note 7)       (Note 11)       (Note 18)       (Note 17)          

 

Loans payable:

(1) Deposits held by Equion in Ecopetrol Capital AG.

 

Loans receivable:

(2) Savia Perú S.A. Loan granted by Ecopetrol S.A. This company is no longer part of the Business Group. See Note 12.

 

The main transactions with related parties for the three-month period ended March 31, are detailed as follows:

 

    2021     2020  
    Sales and Services     Purchases of product and other     Sales and Services     Purchases of product and other  
    (Unaudited)     (Unaudited)  
Joint ventures                                
Equion Energía Limited     7,803       21,114       16,701       118,479  
Ecodiesel Colombia S.A.     7,093       116,694       1,792       73,852  
Offshore International Group Inc     -       -       1,093       -  
      14,896       137,808       19,586       192,331  
Associates                                
Gas Natural del Oriente S.A. E.S.P.     -       5,931       -       -  
Extrucol S.A.     -       248       -       -  
E2 Energía Eficiente S.A. E.S.P.     13,107       670       -       -  
      28,003       144,657       19,586       192,331  
 40

 

Ecopetrol S.A.

Notes to consolidated condensed interim financial statements

March 31, 2021

(Figures expressed in millions of Colombian pesos, unless otherwise stated)

 

  

29. Segments information

 

The description of the business segments can be seen in Note 4.19 of the consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2020.

 

The following segment information is reported based on the information used by the Board of Directors, as the top party responsible for strategic and operational decisions of these business segments. The performance of the segments is based primarily on an analysis of income, costs, expenses and results for the period generated by each segment, which are regularly monitored.

 

The information disclosed in each segment is presented net of transactions among the Ecopetrol Business Group.

29.1 Statement of profit or loss by segment

 

The following presents the consolidated statement of profit and loss by segment for the periods of three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020:

 

    Three-month period ended March 31, 2021 (Unaudited)  
   

Exploration

and

Production

    Refining and Petrochemicals     Transportation and Logistics     Eliminations     Total  
Third party sales     7,628,318       8,845,089       666,450       66,117       17,205,974  
Inter-segment sales     5,588,173       835,754       2,141,661       (8,565,588 )     -  
Revenue     13,216,491       9,680,843       2,808,111       (8,499,471 )     17,205,974  
Costs of sales     (8,918,755 )     (9,250,614 )     (778,556 )     8,435,905       (10,512,020 )
Gross profit     4,297,736       430,229       2,029,555       (63,566 )     6,693,954  
Administration expenses     (360,394 )     (141,444 )     (104,660 )     51,136       (555,362 )
Operation and projects expenses     (320,078 )     (226,117 )     (78,694 )     18,248       (606,641 )
Impairment of non-current assets     -       1,614       791       -       2,405  
Other operating income (expenses), net     (22,541 )     2,889       (1,362 )     (15 )     (21,029 )
Operating income     3,594,723       67,171       1,845,630       5,803       5,513,327  
Financial result, net                                        
Financial income     119,434       6,242       8,424       (72,273 )     61,827  
Financial expenses     (575,090 )     (262,178 )     (62,088 )     64,731       (834,625 )
Foreign exchange (loss) gain, net     (36,668 )     (35,405 )     192,941       -       120,868  
      (492,324 )     (291,341 )     139,277       (7,542 )     (651,930 )
Share of profit of associates and joint ventures     6,787       46,460       -       -       53,247  
Income before tax     3,109,186       (177,710 )     1,984,907       (1,739 )     4,914,644  
Income tax     (976,947 )     32,738       (592,521 )     -       (1,536,730 )
Net profit (loss) for the period     2,132,239       (144,972 )     1,392,386       (1,739 )     3,377,914  
Net profit (loss) attributable to:                                        
Group owners of parent     2,152,847       (187,223 )     1,122,040       (1,739 )     3,085,925  
Non-controlling interest     (20,608 )     42,251       270,346       -       291,989  
      2,132,239       (144,972 )     1,392,386       (1,739 )     3,377,914  
Supplementary information                                        
Depreciation, depletion and amortization     1,623,915       384,828       293,353       -       2,302,096  
Impairment of non-current assets     -       (1,614 )     (791 )     -       (2,405 )
 41

 

Ecopetrol S.A.

Notes to consolidated condensed interim financial statements

March 31, 2021

(Figures expressed in millions of Colombian pesos, unless otherwise stated)

 

  

    Three-month period ended March 31, 2020 (Unaudited)  
   

Exploration

and

Production

    Refining and Petrochemicals     Transportation and Logistics     Eliminations     Total  
Third party sales     6,421,748       7,850,453       773,583       26,182       15,071,966  
Inter-segment sales     4,061,733       437,289       2,410,910       (6,909,932 )     -  
Revenue     10,483,481       8,287,742       3,184,493       (6,883,750 )     15,071,966  
Costs of sales     (8,936,273 )     (8,231,193 )     (891,899 )     6,772,542       (11,286,823 )
Gross profit     1,547,208       56,549       2,292,594       (111,208 )     3,785,143  
Administration expenses     (351,579 )     (147,216 )     (91,454 )     49,640       (540,609 )
Operation and projects expenses     (246,396 )     (244,480 )     (89,316 )     61,432       (518,760 )
Impairment of non-current assets     (518,173 )     (689,781 )     13       -       (1,207,941 )
Other operating income (expenses), net     (30,729 )     1,385       9,795       (13 )     (19,562 )
Operating income     400,331       (1,023,543 )     2,121,632       (149 )     1,498,271  
Financial result, net                                        
Financial income     364,315       26,550       50,157       (79,021 )     362,001  
Financial expenses     (714,572 )     (285,663 )     (93,142 )     79,170       (1,014,207 )
Foreign exchange (loss) gain, net     199,057       (854,833 )     642,386       -       (13,390 )
      (151,200 )     (1,113,946 )     599,401       149       (665,596 )
Share of profit of associates and joint ventures     (51,315 )     50,719       (13 )     -       (609 )
Income before tax     197,816       (2,086,770 )     2,721,020       -       832,066  
Income tax     (48,305 )     511,718       (815,331 )     -       (351,918 )
Net profit (loss) for the period     149,511       (1,575,052 )     1,905,689       -       480,148  
Net profit (loss) attributable to:                                        
Group owners of parent     170,723       (1,611,683 )     1,573,854       -       132,894  
Non-controlling interest     (21,212 )     36,631       331,835       -       347,254  
      149,511       (1,575,052 )     1,905,689       -       480,148  
Supplementary information                                        
Depreciation, depletion and amortization     1,510,053       1,040,991       939,014       -       3,490,058  
Impairment of non-current assets     518,173       689,781       (13 )     -       1,207,941  
 42

 

Ecopetrol S.A.

Notes to consolidated condensed interim financial statements

March 31, 2021

(Figures expressed in millions of Colombian pesos, unless otherwise stated)

 
29.2 Sales by product

 

    Sales by product - Segments  
    Three-month period ended March 31, 2021 (Unaudited)  
   

Exploration

and

Production

    Refining and Petrochemicals     Transportation and Logistics     Eliminations     Total  
National sales                                        
Mid-distillates     -       3,192,638       -       (12,163 )     3,180,475  
Gasolines and turbo fuels     -       3,180,356       -       (451,615 )     2,728,741  
Services     26,596       39,923       2,808,111       (2,082,476 )     792,154  
Natural gas     962,376       -       -       (226,338 )     736,038  
Plastic and rubber     -       367,595       -       -       367,595  
Fuel gas service     -       171,590       -       (1,754 )     169,836  
Asphalts     3,773       152,682       -       -       156,455  
L.P.G. and propane     111,785       62,510       -       (5,317 )     168,978  
Crude     5,396,046       -       -       (5,355,091 )     40,955  
Aromatics     -       61,290       -       -       61,290  
Polyethylene     -       92,283       -       -       92,283  
Other income – Gas contracts (1)     924       -       -       -       924  
Fuel oil     5,284       5,667       -       -       10,951  
Other products     4,757       468,090       -       (364,717 )     108,130  
      6,511,541       7,794,624       2,808,111       (8,499,471 )     8,614,805  
Foreign sales                                        
Crude     6,738,757       -       -       -       6,738,757  
Diesel     -       918,483       -       -       918,483  
Plastic and rubber     -       396,686       -       -       396,686  
Fuel oil     -       476,084       -       -       476,084  
Gasolines and turbo fuels     -       -       -       -       -  
Natural gas     9,666       -       -       -       9,666  
L.P.G. and propane     8,400       -       -       -       8,400  
Cash flow hedging – Reclassification to
profit or loss (Note 27.4)
    (66,390 )     -       -       -       (66,390 )
Other products     14,517       94,966       -       -       109,483  
      6,704,950       1,886,219       -       -       8,591,169  
      13,216,491       9,680,843       2,808,111       (8,499,471 )     17,205,974  
 43

 

Ecopetrol S.A.

Notes to consolidated condensed interim financial statements

March 31, 2021

(Figures expressed in millions of Colombian pesos, unless otherwise stated)

 

 

 

    Sales by product - Segments  
    Three-month period ended March 31, 2020 (Unaudited)  
    Exploration
and
Production
    Refining and
Petrochemicals
    Transportation
and Logistics
    Eliminations     Total  
National sales                                        
Mid-distillates     -       3,187,608       -       (2,795 )     3,184,813  
Gasolines and turbo fuels     -       2,658,128       -       (364,481 )     2,293,647  
Services     40,320       147,501       3,184,476       (2,431,432 )     940,865  
Natural gas     846,686       116,356       -       (180,522 )     782,520  
Plastic and rubber     -       174,771       -       -       174,771  
Fuel gas service     -       -       -       -       -  
Asphalts     5,613       130,527       -       -       136,140  
L.P.G. and propane     60,712       33,439       -       -       94,151  
Crude     3,943,187       -       -       (3,873,607 )     69,580  
Aromatics     -       57,753       -       -       57,753  
Polyethylene     -       43,443       -       -       43,443  
Other income – Gas contracts     27,648       -       -       -       27,648  
Fuel oil     1,903       16,114       -       -       18,017  
Other products     7,929       175,307       -       (30,913 )     152,323  
      4,933,998       6,740,947       3,184,476       (6,883,750 )     7,975,671  
Recognition of price differential     -       (83,759 )     -       -       (83,759 )
      4,933,998       6,657,188       3,184,476       (6,883,750 )     7,891,912  
Foreign sales                                        
Crude     5,659,688       29       -       -       5,659,717  
Diesel     -       716,852       -       -       716,852  
Plastic and rubber     -       325,841       -       -       325,841  
Fuel oil     -       260,067       -       -       260,067  
Gasolines and turbo fuels     -       -       -       -       -  
Natural gas     5,526       -       -       -       5,526  
L.P.G. and propane     4,494       -       -       -       4,494  
Cash flow hedging – Reclassification to profit or loss     (127,743 )     -       -       -       (127,743 )
Other products     7,518       327,765       17       -       335,300  
      5,549,483       1,630,554       17       -       7,180,054  
      10,483,481       8,287,742       3,184,493       (6,883,750 )     15,071,966  

 

30. Relevant events (Unaudited)

 

- On March 25, 2021, the Board of Directors of Ecopetrol S.A., within the framework of the potential transaction that would allow the Company to acquire 51.4% of the shareholding that the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit currently has in ISA, approved the creation of a Special Committee that will act as a support body of this, on a temporary basis, to evaluate the valuation of ISA, the price range and/or the price of the potential transaction and make the necessary recommendations to the Board of Directors.
   44

 

Ecopetrol S.A.

Notes to consolidated condensed interim financial statements

March 31, 2021

(Figures expressed in millions of Colombian pesos, unless otherwise stated)

 

 

Exhibit 1 - Consolidated companies, associates and joint ventures (Unaudited)

 

Company   Functional
Currency
 

Ownership

Interest

Ecopetrol

  Activity   Country/
Domicile
 

Geographic
area

of operations

  Net equity  

Profit (loss)

for the period

 

Total

Assets

  Total
Liabilities
 
Subsidiaries                                      
Refinería de Cartagena S.A.S.   U.S. Dollar   100%  

Hydrocarbons refining, marketing and distribution

  Colombia   Colombia   19,288,263   (173,914 ) 31,393,430   12,105,167  
Cenit transporte y logística de hidrocarburos S.A.S.   Colombian
peso
  100%  

Storage and transportation through hydrocarbon pipelines

  Colombia   Colombia   12,859,770   1,188,865   16,821,733   3,961,963  
Ecopetrol Global Energy S.L.U.   U.S. Dollar   100%   Investment vehicle   Spain   Spain   10,493,183   (121,286 ) 10,493,431   248  
Oleoducto Central S. A. - Ocensa   U.S. Dollar   72,65%  

Pipeline transportation of crude oil

  Colombia   Colombia   3,791,696   593,668   6,539,015   2,747,319  
Hocol Petroleum Limited.   U.S. Dollar   100%   Investment vehicle   Bermuda   Bermuda   3,622,806   171,431   3,622,968   162  
Ecopetrol América LLC.   U.S. Dollar   100%   Hydrocarbons exploration and exploitation  

United States

of America

 

United States

of America

  2,531,121   42,907   2,972,481   441,360  
Hocol S.A.   U.S. Dollar   100%   Hydrocarbons exploration and exploitation  

Cayman

Islands

  Colombia   2,813,087   171,526   4,235,784   1,422,697  
Esenttia S.A.   U.S. Dollar   100%  

Commercialization polypropylene resins

  Colombia   Colombia   2,018,387   32,290   2,603,869   585,482  
Ecopetrol Capital AG   U.S. Dollar   100%  

Collection of surpluses from, and providing funds to, companies of the Ecopetrol Business Group

  Switzerland   Switzerland   2,058,914   50,762   8,088,577   6,029,663  
Oleoducto Bicentenario de Colombia S.A.S.   Colombian
peso
  55,97%   Pipeline transportation of crude oil   Colombia   Colombia   1,685,216   63,617   3,591,323   1,906,107  
Andean Chemicals Ltd.   U.S. Dollar   100%   Investment vehicle   Bermuda   Bermuda   1,422,366   15,618   1,422,630   264  
Oleoducto de los Llanos Orientales S. A. - ODL   Colombian
peso
  65%   Pipeline transportation of crude oil   Panama   Colombia   684,638   99,361   1,433,316   748,678  
Inversiones de Gases de Colombia S.A. Invercolsa S.A.   Colombian
peso
  51,88%   Holding with investments in transportation and distribution companies of natural gas and LPG in Colombia   Colombia   Colombia   670,945   63,964   1,365,829   694,884  
Black Gold Re Ltd.   U.S. Dollar   100%   Reinsurer of Ecopetrol and its subsidiaries   Bermuda   Bermuda   902,402   4,477   1,096,849   194,447  
Oleoducto de Colombia S. A. – ODC   Colombian
peso
  73%   Pipeline transportation of crude oil   Colombia   Colombia   336,642   92,046   720,588   383,946  
   45

 

Ecopetrol S.A.

Notes to consolidated condensed interim financial statements

March 31, 2021

(Figures expressed in millions of Colombian pesos, unless otherwise stated)

 

 

 

Company   Functional
Currency
 

Ownership

Interest

Ecopetrol

  Activity   Country/
Domicile
 

Geographic
area

of operations

  Net equity  

Profit (loss)

for the period

 

Total

Assets

  Total
Liabilities
 
Ecopetrol USA Inc.   U.S. Dollar   100%   Hydrocarbons exploration and exploitation   United States
of America
  United States
of America
  8,784,675   33,610   8,802,486   17,811  
Ecopetrol Permian LLC.   U.S. Dollar   100%   Hydrocarbons exploration and exploitation   United States
of America
  United States
of America
  4,480,002   (388 ) 4,503,908   23,906  
Ecopetrol Oleo é Gas do Brasil Ltda.   Brazilian real   100%   Hydrocarbons exploration and exploitation   Brazil   Brazil   1,626,024   (28,746 ) 1,670,558   44,534  
Esenttia Masterbatch Ltda.   Colombian
peso
  100%   Manufacture of polypropylene compounds and masterbatches   Colombia   Colombia   214,240   58,641   447,079   232,839  
Ecopetrol del Perú S. A.   U.S. Dollar   100%   Hydrocarbons exploration and exploitation   Peru   Peru   56,739   (63 ) 58,959   2,220  
ECP Hidrocarburos de México S.A. de C.V.   U.S. Dollar   100%   Offshore exploration   Mexico   Mexico   25,348   (125,890 ) 94,768   69,420  
Ecopetrol Costa Afuera S.A.S.   Colombian
peso
  100%   Offshore exploration   Colombia   Colombia   12,669   (687 ) 32,123   19,454  
Ecopetrol Energía S.A.S   E.S.P.   Colombian
peso
  100%   Energy supply service   Colombia   Colombia   14,190   1,529   102,860   88,670  
Esenttia Resinas del Perú SAC   U.S. Dollar   100%   Commercialization polypropylene resins and masterbatches   Peru   Peru   8,924   2,127   59,904   50,980  
Topili Servicios Administrativos S de RL De CV.   Mexican
peso
  100%   Specialized management services   Mexico   Mexico   13   (5 ) 17   4  
Kalixpan Servicios Técnicos S de RL De CV.   Mexican
peso
  100%   Specialized services related to oil and gas industry   Mexico   Mexico   15   (6 ) 22   7  

 

Joint ventures                                      
Equion Energía Limited   U.S. Dollar   51%   Hydrocarbons exploration and exploitation   United
Kingdom
  Colombia   2,602,531   13,231   2,736,689   134,158  
Ecodiesel Colombia S.A. (1)   Colombian
peso
  50%   Production, commercialization and distribution of biofuels and oleochemicals   Colombia   Colombia   114,662   11,317   187,436   72,774  
   46

 

Ecopetrol S.A.

Notes to consolidated condensed interim financial statements

March 31, 2021

(Figures expressed in millions of Colombian pesos, unless otherwise stated)

 

 

 

Company   Functional
Currency
 

Ownership

Interest

Ecopetrol

  Activity   Country/
Domicile
 

Geographic
area

of operations

  Net equity  

Profit (loss)

for the period

 

Total

Assets

  Total
Liabilities
 
Associates                                      
Gases del Caribe S.A. E.S.P. (1)   Colombian
peso
  25,40%   Natural gas distribution and commercialization.   Colombia   Colombia   541,919   52,491   2,162,729   1,620,810  
Gas Natural del Oriente S.A. E.S.P. (2)   Colombian
peso
  17,91%   Natural gas distribution and commercialization.   Colombia   Colombia   119,917   36,087   208,077   88,160  
Gases de la Guajira S.A. E.S.P. (1)   Colombian
peso
  5,36%   Natural gas distribution and commercialization.   Colombia   Colombia   58,669   3,231   175,490   116,821  
Colombiana de Extrusión S.A. – (1) Extrucol S.A.   Colombian
peso
  18,16%   Production of Polyethylene pipes and accessories.   Colombia   Colombia   40,020   743   71,487   31,467  
E2 Energía Eficiente S. A. E.S.P. (1)   Colombian
peso
  9,92%   Energy services, supply, optimization, development, renewal and innovation of energy resources and infrastructure.   Colombia   Colombia   30,449   826   92,144   61,695  
Serviport S.A. (3)   Colombian
peso
  49%   Services to support the loading and unloading of oil trucks, supply of equipment for the same purpose, technical inspections and load measurements   Colombia   Colombia   17,430   568   45,457   28,027  
Sociedad Portuaria Olefinas y Derivados S.A. (1)   Colombian
peso
  50%   Construction, use, maintenance, adaptation and administration of port facilities, ports, private docks or service to the general public.   Colombia   Colombia   5,096   (10)   8,072   2,976  

 

(1) Information available as of February 28, 2021.

(2) Information available as of December 31, 2020.

(3) Information available as of September 30, 2020. The investment is totally impaired.

   47