Description of the Notes

The following description of the terms of the notes supplements and modifies the description of the general terms and provisions of debt securities and the indenture set forth in the accompanying prospectus, which you should read in conjunction with this prospectus supplement. In addition, we urge you to read the indenture relating to the notes because they will define your rights as holders of the notes. If the description of the terms of the notes in this prospectus supplement differs in any way from that in the accompanying prospectus, you should rely on the information contained in this prospectus supplement. You may obtain copies of the indenture upon written request to the trustee or with the SEC at the addresses set forth under “Where You Can Find More Information.”

The Indenture

The notes are to be issued under an indenture, dated as of July 23, 2009, between Ecopetrol, as issuer, and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee, registrar, paying agent and transfer agent (the “indenture”), between Ecopetrol, as issuer, and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee, registrar, paying agent and transfer agent. The following summary of certain provisions of the indenture and the notes does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, reference to the provisions of the indenture, including the definitions of certain terms contained in the indenture. The terms of the notes include those stated in the indenture and those made part of the indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”). The notes are subject to all such terms, and holders of notes are referred to the indenture and the Trust Indenture Act for a statement thereof. Capitalized terms not defined in this section of the prospectus supplement have meanings as set forth in the indenture.

General

The 2018 notes

The indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of senior debt securities which may be issued under the indenture and provides that Ecopetrol may issue senior debt securities from time to time in one or more series. The senior debt securities which Ecopetrol may issue under the indenture are collectively referred to in this prospectus supplement as the “senior notes”.

The 2018 notes due September 18, 2018, which are referred to in this prospectus supplement as the “2018 notes”, will constitute a single series of senior notes under the indenture. The 2018 notes will be unsecured senior obligations of Ecopetrol. Ecopetrol may “reopen” the note series and issue additional notes of the same series.

The 2018 notes will bear interest at the rate per annum shown above from the date of original issuance or from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, payable semiannually on March 18 and September 18 of each year, each of which is referred to in this prospectus supplement as an “interest payment date”, commencing on March 18, 2014 to the persons in whose names the notes are registered at the close of business on the fifteenth calendar day preceding the interest payment date. Interest payable at maturity will be payable to the person to whom principal will be payable on that date. Interest on the 2018 notes will be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. The maturity date for the 2018 notes is September 18, 2018. If any interest payment date or maturity date would be otherwise a day that is not a business day, the related payment of principal and interest will be made on the next succeeding business day as if it were made on the date the payment was due, and no interest will accrue on the amounts so payable for the period from and after the interest payment date or the maturity date, as the case may be, to the next succeeding business day. A “business day” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in New York, New York are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close. The 2018 notes will not be subject to any sinking fund.

In the case of amounts not paid by Ecopetrol under the 2018 notes, interest will continue to accrue on such amounts, to the extent permitted by applicable law, at a default rate equal to 1.0% in excess of the interest rate on the 2018 notes, from and including the date when such amounts were due and owing and through and including the date of payment of such amounts by Ecopetrol.

The 2023 notes

The indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of senior debt securities which may be issued under the indenture and provides that Ecopetrol may issue senior debt securities from time to time in one or more series. The senior debt securities which Ecopetrol may issue under the indenture are collectively referred to in this prospectus supplement as the “senior notes”.

The 2023 notes due September 18, 2023, which are referred to in this prospectus supplement as the “2023 notes”, will constitute a single series of senior notes under the indenture. The 2023 notes will be unsecured senior obligations of Ecopetrol. Ecopetrol may “reopen” the note series and issue additional notes of the same series.

The 2023 notes will bear interest at the rate per annum shown above from the date of original issuance or from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, payable semiannually on March 18 and September 18 of each year, each of which is referred to in this prospectus supplement as an “interest payment date”, commencing on March 18, 2014 to the persons in whose names the notes are registered at the close of business on the fifteenth calendar day preceding the interest payment date. Interest payable at maturity will be payable to the person to whom principal will be payable on that date. Interest on the 2023 notes will be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. The maturity date for the 2023 notes is September 18, 2023. If any interest payment date or maturity date would be otherwise a day that is not a business day, the related payment of principal and interest will be made on the next succeeding business day as if it were made on the date the payment was due, and no interest will accrue on the amounts so payable for the period from and after the interest payment date or the maturity date, as the case may be, to the next succeeding business day. A “business day” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in New York, New York are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close. The 2023 notes will not be subject to any sinking fund.

In the case of amounts not paid by Ecopetrol under the 2023 notes, interest will continue to accrue on such amounts, to the extent permitted by applicable law, at a default rate equal to 1.0% in excess of the interest rate on the 2023 notes, from and including the date when such amounts were due and owing and through and including the date of payment of such amounts by Ecopetrol.

The 2043 notes

The indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of senior debt securities which may be issued under the indenture and provides that Ecopetrol may issue senior debt securities from time to time in one or more series. The senior debt notes which Ecopetrol may issue under the indenture are collectively referred to in this prospectus supplement as the “senior notes”.

The 2043 notes due September 18, 2043, which are referred to in this prospectus supplement as the “2043 notes”, will constitute a single series of senior notes under the indenture. The 2043 notes will be unsecured senior obligations of Ecopetrol. Ecopetrol may “reopen” the note series and issue additional notes of the same series.

The 2043 notes will bear interest at the rate per annum shown above from the date of original issuance or from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, payable semiannually on March 18 and September 18 of each year, each of which is referred to in this prospectus supplement as an “interest payment date”, commencing on March 18, 2014 to the persons in whose names the notes are registered at the close of business on the fifteenth calendar day preceding the interest payment date. Interest payable at maturity will be payable to the person to whom principal will be payable on that date. Interest on the 2043 notes will be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. The maturity date for the 2043 notes is September 18, 2043. If any interest payment date or maturity date would be otherwise a day that is not a business day, the related payment of principal and interest will be made on the next succeeding business day as if it were made on the date the payment was due, and no interest will accrue on the amounts so payable for the period from and after the interest payment date or the maturity date, as the case may be, to the next succeeding business day. A “business day” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in New York, New York are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close. The 2043 notes will not be subject to any sinking fund.

In the case of amounts not paid by Ecopetrol under the 2043 notes, interest will continue to accrue on such amounts, to the extent permitted by applicable law, at a default rate equal to 1.0% in excess of the interest rate on the 2043 notes, from and including the date when such amounts were due and owing and through and including the date of payment of such amounts by Ecopetrol.

The 2018 notes, together with the 2023 notes and the 2043 notes, are collectively, or individually as the context requires, referred to in this section as the “notes”.

General Covenants

The indenture does not contain any provision that would limit the ability of Ecopetrol and its subsidiaries to incur indebtedness or to substantially reduce or eliminate Ecopetrol’s assets or that would afford the holders of the notes protection in the event of a decline in Ecopetrol’s credit quality or a takeover, recapitalization or highly leveraged or similar transaction involving Ecopetrol. In addition, subject to the limitations set forth under “Description of the Debt Securities—Merger and Consolidation” in the accompanying prospectus, Ecopetrol may, in the future, enter into certain transactions, including the sale of all or substantially all of its assets or the merger or consolidation of Ecopetrol, that would increase the amount of Ecopetrol’s indebtedness or substantially reduce or eliminate Ecopetrol’s assets, which may have an adverse effect on Ecopetrol’s ability to service its indebtedness, including the notes.

Additional Amounts

In the event that, as a result of certain changes in law affecting Colombian withholding taxes, Ecopetrol becomes obliged to pay Additional Amounts (as defined below), the notes will be redeemable, as a whole but not in part, at Ecopetrol’s option at any time at 100% of their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any. See “Description of the Debt Securities—Withholding Tax Redemption” in the accompanying prospectus.

Change of Control

We are required to make an offer to purchase all or any portion of notes outstanding held by holders upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Repurchase Event (as defined in the accompanying prospectus) at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount of the notes so purchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon and any Additional Amounts to but excluding the date of such purchase.

Book-Entry Issuance

Each book-entry note will be represented by one or more global notes in fully registered form, registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company, which is referred to in this prospectus supplement as “DTC” or the “depositary”, or its nominee. Beneficial interests in the global notes will be shown on, and transfers thereof will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC and its participants. See “Description of the Debt Securities—Form, Denomination and Registration” in the accompanying prospectus.

Book-entry notes may be transferred or exchanged only through the depositary. See “Description of the Debt Securities—Form, Denomination and Registration”. Registration of transfer or exchange of certificated notes will be made at the office or agency maintained by Ecopetrol for this purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, currently the office of the trustee at 101 Barclay Street, 4 East, New York, New York 10286. Neither Ecopetrol nor the trustee will charge a service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange of notes, but Ecopetrol may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may he imposed in connection with the transfer or exchange (other than exchanges pursuant to the indenture not involving any transfer).

Government Responsibility

Despite the Republic of Colombia’s ownership interest in Ecopetrol, the Nation is not and will not be responsible for Ecopetrol’s obligations under the senior debt securities, including the notes, or the indenture.

Payments

Ecopetrol will make payments of principal, and premium, if any, and interest on book-entry notes through the trustee to the depositary. See “Description of the Debt Securities—Form, Denomination and Registration” in the accompanying prospectus. In the case of certificated notes (which will only be issued in the circumstances described below under “Description of the Debt Securities—Form, Denomination and Registration” in the accompanying prospectus), Ecopetrol will pay the principal and premium, if any, due on the maturity date in immediately available funds upon presentation and surrender by the holder of the notes at the office or agency maintained by Ecopetrol for this purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, currently the office of the trustee at 101 Barclay Street, 4 East, New York, New York 10286. Ecopetrol will pay interest due on the maturity date of a certificated note to the person to whom payment of the principal and premium, if any, will be made. Ecopetrol will pay interest due on a certificated note on any interest payment date other than the maturity date by check mailed to the address of the holder entitled to the payment as the address shall appear in the note register of Ecopetrol. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a holder of US$10.0 million or more in aggregate principal amount of certificated notes will be entitled to receive interest payments, if any, on any interest payment date other than the maturity date by wire transfer of immediately available funds if appropriate wire transfer instructions have been received in writing by the trustee not less than 15 calendar days prior to the interest payment date. Any wire transfer instructions received by the trustee will remain in effect until revoked by the holder. Any interest not punctually paid or duly provided for on a certificated note on any interest payment date other than the maturity date will cease to be payable to the holder of the new note as of the close of business on the related record date and may either be paid (1) to the person in whose name the certificated note is registered at the close of business on a special record date for the payment of the defaulted interest that is fixed by Ecopetrol, written notice of which will be given to the holders of the notes not less than 30 calendar days prior to the special record date, or (2) at any time in any other lawful manner.

All monies paid by Ecopetrol to the trustee or any paying agent for the payment of principal of, and premium and interest on, any new note which remains unclaimed for two years after the principal, premium or interest is due and payable may be repaid to Ecopetrol and, after that payment, the holder of the new note will look only to Ecopetrol for payment.

Form, Denomination and Registration

See “Description of the Debt Securities—Form, Denomination and Registration” in the accompanying prospectus.

Information Relating to the Depositary. The following is based on information furnished by the depositary:

The depositary will act as the depositary for the notes. The notes will be issued as fully registered senior notes registered in the name of Cede & Co., which is the depositary’s partnership nominee. Fully registered global notes will be issued for the notes, in the aggregate principal amount of the issue, and will be deposited with the depositary. For further information on the depositary, see “Description of the Debt Securities—Information Relating to the Depositary” in the accompanying prospectus.

Certain Covenants

The indenture provides that the covenants set forth below are applicable to Ecopetrol.

Payment of Principal and Interest .  Ecopetrol will duly and punctually pay the principal of and any premium and interest and other amounts (including any Additional Amounts in the event withholding and other taxes are imposed in Colombia) on the notes in accordance with the notes and the indenture.

Maintenance of Corporate Existence .  Ecopetrol will maintain its corporate existence and take all reasonable actions to maintain all rights, privileges and the like necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of business, activities or operations, unless the Board of Directors determines (based on appropriate shareholder authorization, if necessary) that preserving Ecopetrol’s corporate existence is no longer desirable in the conduct of Ecopetrol’s business and is not disadvantageous in any material respect to holders.

Ranking . Ecopetrol will ensure that the notes will at all times constitute its general senior, unsecured and unsubordinated obligations and will rank pari passu , without any preferences among themselves, with all of its other present and future unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of Ecopetrol that constitute External Indebtedness (other than obligations preferred by statute or by operation of law).

Statement by Officers as to Default and Notices of Events of Default . Within 10 days (or promptly with respect to certain events of default relating to Ecopetrol’s insolvency and in any event no later than 10 days) after Ecopetrol becomes aware or should reasonably become aware of the occurrence of any default or event of default under the indenture or the notes, it will notify the trustee in writing of the occurrence of such default or event of default.

Provision of Financial Statements and Reports . In the event that Ecopetrol files any financial statements or reports with the SEC or publishes or otherwise makes such statements or reports publicly available in Colombia, the United States or elsewhere, Ecopetrol will furnish a copy of the statements or reports to the trustee within 15 days of the date of filing or the date the information is published or otherwise made publicly available.

Ecopetrol will provide, together with each of the financial statements delivered as described in the preceding paragraph, an officer’s certificate stating (i) that a review of Ecopetrol’s activities has been made during the period covered by such financial statements with a view to determining whether Ecopetrol has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its covenants and agreements under this indenture; and (ii) that no event of default, or event which with the giving of notice or passage of time or both would become an event of default, has occurred during that period or, if one or more have actually occurred, specifying all those events and what actions have been taken and will be taken with respect to that event of default or other event.

Delivery of these reports, information and documents to the trustee is for informational purposes only and the trustee’s receipt of any of those will not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including Ecopetrol’s compliance with any of its covenants under the indenture (as to which the trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on officer’s certificates).

Limitation on Liens . Ecopetrol will not, and will not permit any Material Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create, incur or assume any Lien, except for Permitted Liens, to secure the payment of Indebtedness of Ecopetrol or any Material Subsidiary, unless effective provision is made whereby the notes (together with, if Ecopetrol shall so determine, any other Indebtedness ranking equally with the notes, whether then existing or thereafter created) are secured equally and ratably with (or prior to) such Indebtedness (but only for so long as such Indebtedness is so secured).

The foregoing limitation on Liens shall not apply to the creation, incurrence or assumption of the following Liens (“Permitted Liens”):

1.          Liens arising by operation of law, such as merchants’, maritime or other similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of business or Liens in respect of taxes, assessments or other governmental charges that are not yet delinquent or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;

2.          Liens arising in the ordinary course of business in connection with Indebtedness maturing not more than one year after the date on which that Indebtedness was originally incurred and which is related to the financing of export, import or other trade transactions;

3.          Liens resulting from the deposit of funds or evidences of Indebtedness in trust for the purpose of discharging or defeasing Indebtedness of Ecopetrol or any Material Subsidiary;

4.          Liens on assets or property of a Person existing at the time such Person is merged into, consolidated with or acquired by Ecopetrol or any Material Subsidiary or becomes a Material Subsidiary; provided that any such Lien is not incurred in contemplation of such merger, consolidation or acquisition (unless such Lien was created to secure or provide for the payment of any part of the purchase price of such property or assets) and does not secure any property of Ecopetrol or any Material Subsidiary other than the property and assets subject to such Lien prior to such merger, consolidation or acquisition;

5.          Liens existing as of the date of the indenture;

6.          Liens securing Indebtedness (including in the form of Capitalized Lease Obligations and purchase money Indebtedness) incurred for the purpose of financing the cost (including without limitation the cost of design, development, site acquisition, construction, integration, manufacture or acquisition) of real or personal property (tangible or intangible) which is incurred contemporaneously therewith or within 180 days thereafter; provided (i) such Liens secure Indebtedness in an amount not in excess of the cost of such property (plus an amount equal to the reasonable fees and expenses incurred in connection with the incurrence of such Indebtedness) and (ii) such Liens do not extend to any property of Ecopetrol or any Material Subsidiary other than the property for which such Indebtedness was incurred;

7.          Liens to secure the performance of statutory and common law obligations, bids, trade contracts, judgments, surety or appeal bonds, performance bonds or other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business;

8.          Liens to secure the notes;

9.          Liens granted in favor of Ecopetrol and/or any Wholly Owned Subsidiary to secure Indebtedness owing to Ecopetrol or such Wholly Owned Subsidiary;

10.        Legal or equitable encumbrances deemed to exist by reason of the inclusion of customary negative pledge provisions in any financing document of Ecopetrol or any Subsidiary;

11.        Liens securing Internal Indebtedness;

12.        Any Lien in respect of Indebtedness representing the extension, refinancing, renewal or replacement (or successive extensions, refinancings, renewals or replacements) of Indebtedness secured by Liens referred to in clauses (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9) and (10) above; provided that the principal of the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the principal of the Indebtedness secured thereby immediately prior to such extension, renewal or replacement, plus any accrued and unpaid interest or capitalized interest payable thereon, reasonable fees and expenses incurred in connection therewith, and the amount of any prepayment premium necessary to accomplish any refinancing; and provided, further, that such extension, renewal or replacement shall be limited to all or a part of the property (or interest therein) subject to the Lien so extended, renewed or replaced (plus improvements and construction on such property);

13.        Pledges and deposits made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations;

14.        Easements, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way and similar encumbrances on real property imposed by law or arising in the ordinary course of business that do not secure any monetary obligations and do not materially detract from the value of the affected property or interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of Ecopetrol or any of its Subsidiaries;

15.        Liens arising out of governmental concessions or licenses held by Ecopetrol or any of its Subsidiaries; and

16.        Liens in respect of Indebtedness the principal amount of which in the aggregate, together with all other Liens not otherwise qualifying as Permitted Liens pursuant to another part of this definition of Permitted Liens, does not exceed 15% of Ecopetrol’s Consolidated Total Assets. For purposes of this covenant, the value of any Lien securing Indebtedness will be computed on the basis of the lesser of (i) the outstanding principal amount of such secured Indebtedness and (ii) the higher of (x) the book value or (y) the Fair Market Value of the property securing such Indebtedness.

Repurchase of Notes upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event .  Ecopetrol must commence, within 30 days of the occurrence of a Change of Control Repurchase Event, and consummate an offer to purchase (“Offer to Purchase”) all notes then outstanding, at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the notes on the date of repurchase, plus accrued interest (if any) to the date of purchase. Ecopetrol is not required to make an Offer to Purchase following a Change of Control Repurchase Event if a third party makes an Offer to Purchase that would be in compliance with the provisions described in this covenant if it were made by Ecopetrol and such third party purchases (for the consideration referred to in the immediately preceding sentence) the notes validly tendered and not withdrawn. Prior to the mailing of the notice to holders commencing such Offer to Purchase, but in any event within 30 days following any Change of Control Repurchase Event, Ecopetrol covenants to (i) repay in full all indebtedness of Ecopetrol that would prohibit the repurchase of the notes pursuant to such Offer to Purchase or (ii) obtain any requisite consents under instruments governing any such indebtedness of Ecopetrol to permit the repurchase of the notes. Ecopetrol shall first comply with the covenant in the preceding sentence before it repurchases notes upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event pursuant to this covenant.

We will comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 of the Exchange Act and other applicable securities laws or regulations in connection with making an offer to purchase notes upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Repurchase Event. To the extent that the provisions of any applicable securities laws or regulations conflict with provisions of this covenant, we will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached our obligations under this covenant by virtue of our compliance with such securities laws or regulations.

There can be no assurance that Ecopetrol will have sufficient funds available at the time of any Change of Control Repurchase Event to make the repurchases of notes required by the foregoing covenant (as well as by any covenant contained in other securities of Ecopetrol which might be outstanding at the time).

Additional Amounts . Pursuant to the indenture, all payments to be made in respect of the notes are to be made free and clear of, and without deduction or withholding for or on account of, any taxes imposed or levied by or on behalf of Colombia or any political subdivision or authority of or in such jurisdiction having the power to tax (“Taxes”, and such jurisdictions, “Taxing Jurisdiction”), except to the extent such Taxes are imposed by applicable law. In the event that any Taxes are required by applicable law to be deducted or withheld from any payment required to be made in respect of the notes or otherwise under the indenture, then the amount of such payment shall be increased by an amount as may be necessary such that such payment is made, after withholding or deduction for or on account of such Taxes, in an amount equal to the amount that would have been received by the applicable recipient(s) in respect of such payment had no such Taxes (including any Taxes payable in respect of such Additional Amounts) been required to be so deducted or withheld (any such amounts, “Additional Amounts”). Furthermore, the amount of any Taxes required to be withheld or deducted from any payment made in respect of the notes or otherwise under the indenture shall be withheld or deducted from such payment (as increased by any Additional Amounts) and paid to the Taxing Jurisdiction imposing such Taxes in accordance with applicable law. Notwithstanding the preceding sentences, no such Additional Amounts will be payable in respect of:

(i).         any Tax assessed or imposed by any Taxing Jurisdiction to the extent that such Tax would not have been assessed or imposed but for the applicable recipient or beneficial owner of such payment having a present or former connection with the Taxing Jurisdiction (including, without limitation, such holder being or having been a citizen or resident thereof or having been engaged in a trade or business or present therein or having, or having had, a permanent establishment therein), other than solely by reason of the applicable recipient’s participation in the transactions effected by the indenture and the receipt of payments thereunder (including under the notes);

(ii).        any estate, inheritance, gift, personal property, sales, use, excise, transfer or other similar Tax imposed with respect to such payment;

(iii).       any such Taxes that would not have been imposed but for the failure of the applicable recipient or beneficial owner of such payment to comply with any certification, identification, information, documentation or other reporting requirement to the extent (a) such compliance is required by applicable law or an applicable treaty as a precondition to exemption from, or reduction in the rate of deduction or withholding of, such Taxes and (b) at least 30 days before the first payment date with respect to which the obligor with respect to a payment shall apply this clause (3), such obligor shall have notified such recipient in writing that such recipient will be required to comply with such requirement;

(iv).        any Tax imposed on a payment on the notes required to be made pursuant to Council Directive 2003/48/EC of the Council of the European Union on the taxation of savings income in the form of interest payments (or any European Union Directive otherwise implementing the conclusions of the ECOFIN Council Meeting of 26 and 27 November 2000) or any law implementing or complying with, or introduced in order to conform to, any such Directive;

(v).         any tax imposed as a result of any note being presented for payment (where presentation is required) more than 30 days after the relevant payment is first made available for payment to the applicable recipient (except to the extent that such recipient would have been entitled to Additional Amounts had the note been presented during such 30-day period);

(vi).        any Tax payable other than by withholding or deduction from payments of principal or of interest on the note; or

(vii).       any combination of the circumstances described in clauses (i) through (vi);

nor will any Additional Amounts be paid with respect to any payment to a recipient who is a fiduciary, partnership, limited liability company or any Person other than the sole beneficial owner of such payment to the extent that a beneficiary or settlor with respect to such fiduciary or a member of such partnership, limited liability company or a beneficial owner would not have been entitled to the Additional Amounts had such beneficiary, settlor, member or beneficial owner been in the place of such recipient.

Ecopetrol will provide the trustee upon its request with documentation reasonably satisfactory to it evidencing the payment of Taxes in respect of which Ecopetrol has paid any Additional Amounts. Copies of such documentation will be made available to the applicable recipients upon written request therefor to the trustee.

The obligation to pay Additional Amounts will survive the repayment of the notes and the sale or transfer of the notes (or beneficial interests therein) by any investor.

In addition, Ecopetrol shall pay any and all other Taxes (“Other Taxes”) imposed by the relevant taxing authority imposing such Other Taxes in accordance with applicable law, excluding any such Other Taxes imposed by any jurisdiction outside of Colombia. As used herein, Other Taxes shall mean any and all stamp, documentary or similar taxes, or any other excise or similar levies that arise on account of any payment to be made under any note or from the execution, delivery, registration, recording or enforcement of the notes and the indenture (other than any Taxes paid in accordance with the first paragraph of “—Additional Amounts”).

Optional Redemption

We will not be permitted to redeem the notes before their stated maturity, except as set forth below. The notes will not be entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund – meaning that we will not deposit money on a regular basis into any separate account to repay your notes. In addition, except as set forth above under “—Repurchase of Notes upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event”, you will not be entitled to require us to repurchase your notes from you before the stated maturity.

Optional Redemption with “Make-Whole” Amount

We will have the right to redeem any of the 2018 notes, the 2023 notes or the 2043 notes, as the case may be, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time prior to their maturity, at our option, on at least 30 days’ but not more than 60 days’ notice, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of the 2018 notes, the 2023 notes or the 2043 notes, as the case may be, to be redeemed and (2) the sum of the present values of each remaining scheduled payment of principal and interest thereon (exclusive of interest accrued to the date of redemption) discounted to the redemption date on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 40 basis points with respect to the 2018 notes, 45 basis points with respect to the 2023 notes or 50 basis points with respect to the 2043 notes, plus in each case accrued interest on the principal amount of the 2018 notes, the 2023 notes or the 2043 notes, as the case may be, to be redeemed and any Additional Amounts to but excluding the date of redemption.

“ Treasury Rate ” means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per annum equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to maturity or interpolated maturity (on a day count basis) of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date.

“ Comparable Treasury Issue ” means the United States Treasury security or securities selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having an actual or interpolated maturity comparable to the remaining term of the notes to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of a comparable maturity to the remaining term of such notes.

“ Independent Investment Banker ” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by us.

“ Comparable Treasury Price ” means, with respect to any redemption date (1) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation or (2) if we obtain fewer than four such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.

“ Reference Treasury Dealer ” means Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC or their affiliates which are primary United States government securities dealers and two other leading primary United States government securities dealers in New York City reasonably designated by us; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a primary United States government securities dealer in New York City (a “Primary Treasury Dealer”), we will substitute therefore another Primary Treasury Dealer.

“ Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation ” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the Independent Investment Banker, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to us by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 3:30 pm New York time on the third business day preceding such redemption date.

On and after the redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on the notes or any portion of the notes called for redemption (unless we default in the payment of the redemption price and accrued interest). On or before the redemption date, we will deposit with the trustee money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and (unless the redemption date shall be an interest payment date) accrued interest to the redemption date on the notes to be redeemed on such date. If less than all of the notes are to be redeemed, the notes to be redeemed shall be selected by the trustee by such method as the trustee shall deem fair and appropriate.

Withholding Tax Redemption

The notes may be redeemed at Ecopetrol’s election, in whole but not in part on any date, by the giving of notice as provided herein under “—Notices”, at a price equal to the outstanding principal amount thereof, together with any Additional Amounts and accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date, if, as a result of any change in, or amendment to, laws or treaties (or any regulation or rulings promulgated thereunder) of Colombia or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein or any change in the official application, administration or interpretation of such laws, treaties, regulations or rulings in such jurisdictions, Ecopetrol is or will become obligated to pay any Additional Amounts on the notes, if such change or amendment is announced and becomes effective on or after the issuance of the notes and such obligation cannot be avoided by taking commercially reasonable measures available to Ecopetrol; provided, however, that no such notice of redemption shall be given earlier than 90 days prior to the earliest date on which Ecopetrol would be obligated to pay such Additional Amounts.

Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each holder of the notes to be redeemed. Prior to the giving of notice of redemption of such notes pursuant to the indenture, Ecopetrol will deliver to the trustee an officer’s certificate and a written opinion of recognized Colombian counsel independent of Ecopetrol and its Affiliates to the effect that all governmental approvals necessary for it to effect such redemption have been or at the time of redemption will be obtained and in full force and effect, and that Ecopetrol has or will become obligated to pay such Additional Amounts as a result of such change, amendment, application, administration or interpretation. On the redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on the notes that have been redeemed.

Open Market Purchases

Ecopetrol or any of its Subsidiaries may at any time purchase any note in the open market or otherwise at any price.

Merger and Consolidation

Ecopetrol may not consolidate with or merge into, or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets and the properties and assets of its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) as an entirety to, any entity or entities (including limited liability companies) unless (1) the successor entity or entities, each of which shall be organized under the laws of Colombia or of the United States or a State thereof, shall assume by supplemental indenture all the obligations of Ecopetrol under the notes and the indenture (including the obligation to pay the Additional Amounts) and such successor entity or entities delivers certain certificates, opinions of counsel and other documents to the trustee, (2) if the other entity is organized under the laws of a country other than the United States, a state thereof or Colombia, Ecopetrol indemnifies holders against any tax, assessment or governmental charge or other cost resulting from the transaction, (3) prior to and immediately after giving effect to the transaction or series of transactions, no default or event of default shall have occurred and be continuing, (4) Ecopetrol delivers certain certificates, opinions of its counsel and other documents to the trustee and (5) if, as a result of such transaction, properties or assets of Ecopetrol would become subject to an encumbrance which would not be permitted by the terms of the notes, Ecopetrol or the successor entity or entities shall take such steps as are necessary to secure such notes equally and ratably with all indebtedness secured thereunder. Thereafter, all such obligations of Ecopetrol shall terminate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prohibit Ecopetrol from selling, assigning, transferring, leasing, conveying or otherwise disposing of any of Ecopetrol’s Subsidiaries at the date of the indenture or any interest therein or any assets thereof.

Events of Default

The term “event of default” means any one of the following events with respect to the notes:

1.          default in the payment of any interest on any note, or any Additional Amounts payable with respect thereto, when the interest becomes or the Additional Amounts become due and payable, and continuance of the default for a period of 30 days;

2.          default in the payment of the principal of or any premium on any note, or any Additional Amounts payable with respect thereto, when the principal or premium becomes or the Additional Amounts become due and payable at their maturity, upon redemption or otherwise;

3.          the notes, the indenture, or any part of those documents, ceases to be in full force and effect or binding and enforceable against Ecopetrol or it becomes unlawful for Ecopetrol to perform any material obligation under any of the foregoing documents to which it is a party;

4.          Ecopetrol contests the enforceability of the notes or the indenture, or denies that it has liability under any of the foregoing documents to which it is a party;

5.          default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of Ecopetrol in the indenture or the notes and continuance of the default or breach for a period of 60 days (inclusive of any cure period contained in any such covenant or other term for compliance thereunder) after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to Ecopetrol by the trustee or to Ecopetrol and the trustee by the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding senior debt securities of the series, a written notice specifying the default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that the notice is a “Notice of Default” under the indenture;

6.          any event of default as defined in any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued, or by which there may be secured or evidenced, any External Indebtedness of Ecopetrol, other than the notes, or any Material Subsidiary of Ecopetrol, whether the External Indebtedness now exists or shall hereafter be created, shall occur and shall result in such External Indebtedness in aggregate principal amount (or, if applicable, with an issue price and accreted original issue discount) in excess of US$50.0 million (or its equivalent in another currency) becoming or being declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise become due and payable;

7.          the entry by a court having competent jurisdiction of one or more final and non-appealable judgments or final decrees against Ecopetrol or a Material Subsidiary involving in the aggregate a liability (not paid or fully covered by insurance) of US$50.0 million (or its equivalent in another currency) or more, and all such judgments or decrees have not been vacated, discharged or stayed within 180 days after the date set for payment;

8.          Ecopetrol stops paying or admits that it is generally unable to pay its debts as they become due or passes a resolution to dissolve;

9.          the entry by a court having competent jurisdiction of:

(a)          a decree or order for relief in respect of Ecopetrol in an involuntary proceeding under Bankruptcy Law, which decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 180 consecutive days;

(b)          a decree or order in an involuntary proceeding under Bankruptcy Law adjudging Ecopetrol to be insolvent, or approving a petition seeking a similar relief under Bankruptcy Law in respect of Ecopetrol, which decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 180 consecutive days; or

(c)          a final and non-appealable order appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee or other similar official of Ecopetrol or of any substantial part of the property of Ecopetrol or ordering the winding up or liquidation of the affairs of Ecopetrol;

10.         the commencement by Ecopetrol of a voluntary proceeding under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law or of a voluntary proceeding seeking to be adjudicated insolvent or the consent by Ecopetrol to the entry of a decree or order for relief in an involuntary proceeding under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law or to the commencement of any insolvency proceedings against it, or the filing by Ecopetrol of a petition or answer or consent seeking relief under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law, or the consent by Ecopetrol to the filing of the petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee or similar official of Ecopetrol or any substantial part of the property of Ecopetrol or the making by Ecopetrol of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the taking of corporate action by Ecopetrol in furtherance of any such action; and

11.         a general moratorium is agreed or declared in respect of any Indebtedness of Ecopetrol.

If an event of default with respect to the notes at the time outstanding (other than an event of default specified in clause (9) or (10) above) occurs and is continuing, then the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding notes may declare the principal of the notes, to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to Ecopetrol (and to the trustee if given by the holders), and upon any declaration the principal shall become immediately due and payable. If an event of default specified in clause (9) or (10) above occurs, all unpaid principal of and accrued interest on the notes shall become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the trustee or any holder of any note.

At any time after a declaration of acceleration or automatic acceleration with respect to the notes has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the trustee, the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding notes, by written notice to Ecopetrol and the trustee, may rescind and annul the declaration and its consequences if:

1.          Ecopetrol has paid or deposited with the trustee a sum of money sufficient to pay all overdue installments of any interest on and Additional Amounts with respect to all the notes and the principal of and any premium on the notes which have become due otherwise than by the declaration of acceleration and interest on the notes; and

2.          all events of default with respect to the notes, other than the nonpayment of the principal of, any premium and interest on, and any Additional Amounts with respect to the notes which shall have become due solely by the acceleration, shall have been cured or waived.

No rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.

Meetings of Noteholders

See “Description of the Debt Securities—Meeting of Noteholders” in the accompanying prospectus.

Modification and Waiver

See “Description of the Debt Securities—Modification and Waiver” in the accompanying prospectus.

Listing

Ecopetrol intends to apply to have the notes approved for listing on the NYSE.

Notices

All notices regarding the notes shall be valid if that notice is given to holders of notes in writing and mailed to each holder of notes. 

While the notes are represented by the global notes deposited with the depositary, notices to holders may be given by delivery to the depositary, and such notices will be deemed to be given on the date of delivery to the depositary. The trustee will also mail notices by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to each registered holder’s last known address as it appears in the security register that the trustee maintains. The trustee will only mail these notices to the registered holder of the notes. You will not receive notices regarding the notes directly from us unless we reissue the notes to you in fully certificated form.

Notices will be deemed to have been given on the date of mailing or of publication as aforesaid or, if published on different dates, on the date of the first such publication.

Unclaimed Amounts

Any money deposited with the trustee or paying agent or held by Ecopetrol, in trust, for the payment of principal, premium, interest or any Additional Amounts, that remains unclaimed for two years after such amount becomes due and payable shall be paid to Ecopetrol on its request or, if held by Ecopetrol, shall be discharged from such trust. The holder of the notes will look only to Ecopetrol for payment thereof, and all liability of the trustee, paying agent or of Ecopetrol, as trustee, shall thereupon cease.

Certain Definitions

See “Description of the Debt Securities—Certain Definitions” in the accompanying prospectus.

Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

See “Description of the Debt Securities—Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance” in the accompanying prospectus.

Currency Indemnity

Ecopetrol has agreed that, if a judgment or order made by any court for the payment of any amount in respect of any notes is expressed in a currency (the “judgment currency”) other than U.S. Dollars (the “denomination currency”), Ecopetrol will indemnify the relevant holder against any deficiency arising from any variation in rates of exchange between the date as of which the denomination currency is notionally converted into the judgment currency for the purposes of the judgment or order and the date of actual payment. This indemnity will constitute a separate and independent obligation from Ecopetrol’s other obligations under the indenture, will give rise to a separate and independent cause of action, will apply irrespective of any indulgence granted from time to time and will continue in full force and effect notwithstanding any judgment or order for a liquidated sum or sums in respect of amounts due in respect of the relevant note or under any judgment or order described above.

Governing Law

The indenture and the notes will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York except that the laws of Colombia will govern all matters relating to authorization and execution of the indenture and the notes.

Submission to Jurisdiction; Agent for Service of Process

Ecopetrol will submit to the jurisdiction of any federal or state court in the City of New York, Borough of Manhattan for purposes of all legal actions and proceedings instituted in connection with the notes or the indenture. Ecopetrol has appointed Corporation Service Company (CSC), 1133 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 3100, New York, New York 10036 as its authorized agent upon which service of process may be served in any such action relating to the notes or the indenture.

Regarding the Trustee

The trustee is permitted to engage in other transactions with Ecopetrol and its subsidiaries from time to time; provided that if the trustee acquires any conflicting interest it must eliminate the conflict upon the occurrence of an event of default, or else resign.

Ecopetrol may at any time remove the trustee at its office or agency in the City of New York designated for the foregoing purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations.

No Personal Liability of Shareholders, Officers, Directors, or Employees

The indenture provides that no recourse for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any of the notes or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of Ecopetrol in such indenture, or in any of the notes or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any shareholder, officer, director, employee or controlling person of Ecopetrol or of any successor thereof.

Taxation

DESCRIPTION OF THE SECURITIES

Description of the Ordinary Shares evidenced by American Depository Shares

JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as depositary or the Depositary will issue the ADSs. Each ADS will represent an ownership interest in 20 shares which will be deposited with the custodian, as agent of the Depositary, under the deposit agreement among ourselves, the Depositary and yourself as an ADR holder. In the future, each ADS will also represent any securities, cash or other property deposited with the Depositary but which they have not distributed directly to you. Unless specifically requested by persons depositing shares, all ADSs will be issued on the books of our Depositary in book-entry form and periodic statements will be mailed to you which reflect your ownership interest in such ADSs. In our description, references to ADRs shall include the statements you will receive which reflects your ownership of ADSs.

The Depositary’s office is located at 4 New York Plaza, New York, NY 10004.

You may hold ADSs either directly or indirectly through your broker or other financial institution. If you hold ADSs directly, by having an ADS registered in your name on the books of the Depositary, you are an ADR holder. This description assumes you hold your ADSs directly. If you hold the ADSs through your broker or financial institution nominee, you must rely on the procedures of such broker or financial institution to assert the rights of an ADR holder described in this section. You should consult with your broker or financial institution to find out what those procedures are.

As an ADR holder, we will not treat you as a shareholder of ours and you will not have any shareholder rights. Colombian law governs shareholder rights. Because the Depositary or its nominee will be the shareholder of record for the shares represented by all outstanding ADSs, shareholder rights rest with such record holder. Your rights are those of an ADR holder. Such rights derive from the terms of the deposit agreement to be entered into among us, the Depositary and all registered holders from time to time of ADSs issued under the deposit agreement. The obligations of the Depositary and its agents are also set out in the deposit agreement. Because the Depositary or its nominee will actually be the registered owner of the shares, you must rely on it to exercise the rights of a shareholder on your behalf. The deposit agreement and the ADSs are governed by New York law.

The following is a summary of the material terms of the deposit agreement. Because it is a summary, it does not contain all the information that may be important to you. For more complete information, you should read the entire deposit agreement and the form of ADR which contains the terms of your ADSs. You can read a copy of the deposit agreement which is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. See “Where You Can Find More Information” for information on how to obtain a copy.

Share Dividends and Other Distributions

How will I receive dividends and other distributions on the shares underlying my ADSs?

We may make various types of distributions with respect to our securities. The Depositary has agreed to pay to you the cash dividends or other distributions it or the custodian receives on shares or other deposited securities, after converting any cash received into U.S. dollars and, in all cases, making any necessary deductions provided for in the deposit agreement. You will receive these distributions in proportion to the number of underlying securities that your ADSs represent.

Except as stated below, to the extent the Depositary is legally permitted, it will deliver such distributions to ADR holders in proportion to their interests in the following manner:

We have no obligation to file a registration statement under the Securities Act in order to make any rights available to ADR holders.

If the Depositary determines that any distribution described above is not practicable with respect to any specific ADR holder, the Depositary may choose any practicable method of distribution for such ADR holder, including the distribution of foreign currency, securities or property, or it may retain such items, without paying interest on or investing them, on behalf of the ADR holder as deposited securities, in which case the ADSs will also represent the retained items.

Any U.S. dollar will be distributed by checks drawn on a bank in the United States for whole dollars and cents. Fractional cents will be withheld without liability and dealt with by the Depositary in accordance with its then current practices.

The Depositary is not responsible if it decides that it is unlawful or impractical to make a distribution available to any ADR holders.

There can be no assurance that the Depositary will be able to convert any currency at a specified exchange rate or sell any property, rights, shares or other securities at a specified price, nor that any of such transactions can be completed within a specified time period.

Deposit, Withdrawal and Cancellation

How does the Depositary issue ADSs?

The Depositary will issue ADSs if you or your broker deposits shares or evidence of rights to receive shares with the custodian and pay the fees and expenses owing to the Depositary in connection with such issuance.

Shares deposited with the custodian must be accompanied by certain delivery documentation, including instruments showing that such shares have been properly transferred or endorsed to the person on whose behalf the deposit is being made.

The custodian will hold all deposited shares for the account of the Depositary. ADR holders thus have no direct ownership interest in the shares and only have such rights as are contained in the deposit agreement. The custodian will also hold any additional securities, property and cash received on or in substitution for the deposited shares. The deposited shares and any such additional items are referred to as “deposited securities.”

Upon each deposit of shares, receipt of related delivery documentation and compliance with the other provisions of the deposit agreement, including the payment of the fees and charges of the Depositary and any taxes or other fees or charges owing, the Depositary will issue an ADR or ADRs in the name or upon the order of the person entitled thereto evidencing the number of ADSs to which such person is entitled. All of the ADSs issued will, unless specifically requested to the contrary, be part of the Depositary’s direct registration system, and a registered holder will receive periodic statements from the Depositary which will show the number of ADSs registered in such holder’s name. An ADR holder can request that the ADSs not be held through the Depositary’s direct registration system and that a certificated ADR be issued.

How do ADR holders cancel an ADS and obtain deposited securities?

When you turn in your ADSs at the Depositary’s office, or when you provide proper instructions and documentation in the case of direct registration ADSs, the Depositary will, upon payment of certain applicable fees, charges and taxes, deliver the underlying shares at the custodian’s office or effect delivery by such other means as the Depositary deems practicable, including transfer to an account of an accredited financial institution on your behalf. At your risk, expense and request, the Depositary may deliver deposited securities at such other place as you may request.

The Depositary may only restrict the withdrawal of deposited securities in connection with:

This right of withdrawal may not be limited by any other provision of the deposit agreement.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the deposit agreement, holders of ADSs who are non-residents of Colombia, who withdraw deposited securities to or for their own account or the account of a non-resident third party whether or not with the purpose of selling or causing to be sold such deposited securities in Colombia simultaneously with such withdrawal, will be subject to applicable Colombian rules and regulations, including without limitation Colombia’s International Investment Statute as well as any taxes applicable thereby, as in effect from time to time. Neither we nor the Depositary or the custodian shall have any liability or responsibility whatsoever under the deposit agreement or otherwise for any action or failure to act by any Holder relating to its obligations under Colombian tax law or Colombian Foreign Investment Law or any other Colombian law or regulation relating to foreign investment in Colombia in respect of a withdrawal or sale of deposited securities, including, without limitation, any failure by any holder to comply with a requirement to register such investment prior to such withdrawal, or any failure by any holder to report foreign exchange transactions to the Colombian Central Bank, as the case may be.

Record Dates

The Depositary may fix record dates for the determination of the ADR holders who will be entitled (or obligated, as the case may be):

All the above are subject to the provisions of the deposit agreement.

Voting Rights

How do I vote?

If you are an ADR holder and the Depositary asks you to provide it with voting instructions, you may instruct the Depositary how to exercise the voting rights for the shares which underlie your ADSs. After receiving voting materials from us, the Depositary will notify the ADR holders of any shareholders’ meeting or solicitation of consents or proxies. This notice will state such information as is contained in the voting materials and describe how you may instruct the Depositary to exercise the voting rights for the shares which underlie your ADSs and will include instructions for giving a discretionary proxy to a person designated by us. For instructions to be valid, the Depositary must receive them in the manner and on or before the date specified. The Depositary will try, as far as is practical, subject to the provisions of and governing the underlying shares or other deposited securities, to vote or to have its agents vote the shares or other deposited securities as you instruct. The Depositary will only vote or attempt to vote as you instruct. The Depositary will not itself exercise any voting discretion. Furthermore, neither the Depositary nor its agents are responsible for any failure to carry out any voting instructions, for the manner in which any vote is cast or for the effect of any vote.

There is no guarantee that you will receive voting materials in time to instruct the Depositary to vote and it is possible that you, or persons who hold their ADSs through brokers, dealers or other third parties, will not have the opportunity to exercise a right to vote. The holders will be solely responsible for any exercise of the voting rights of the deposited shares represented by the deposited securities by the ADSs, if such vote is made pursuant to the procedure described in the deposit agreement.

Reports and Other Communications

Will I be able to view our reports?

The Depositary will make available for inspection by ADR holders any written communications from us which are both received by the custodian or its nominee as a holder of deposited securities and made generally available to the holders of deposited securities. We will furnish these communications in English when so required by any rules or regulations of the SEC.

Additionally, if we make any written communications generally available to holders of our shares, including the Depositary or the custodian, and we request the Depositary to provide them to ADR holders, the Depositary will mail copies of them, or, at its option, English translations or summaries of them to ADR holders.

Fees and Expenses

What fees and expenses will I be responsible for paying?

The Depositary may charge each person to whom ADSs are issued, including, without limitation, issuances against deposits of shares, issuances in respect of share distributions, rights and other distributions, issuances pursuant to a stock dividend or stock split declared by us or issuances pursuant to a merger, exchange of securities or any other transaction or event affecting the ADSs or deposited securities, and each person surrendering ADSs for withdrawal of deposited securities in any manner permitted by the deposit agreement or whose ADRs are cancelled or reduced for any other reason, US$5.00 for each 100 ADSs (or any portion thereof) issued, delivered, reduced, cancelled or surrendered, the case may be. The Depositary may sell (by public or private sale) sufficient securities and property received in respect of a share distribution, rights and/or other distribution prior to such deposit to pay such charge.

The following additional charges shall be incurred by the ADR holders, by any party depositing or withdrawing shares or by any party surrendering ADSs or to whom ADSs are issued (including, without limitation, issuance pursuant to a stock dividend or stock split declared by the Company or an exchange of stock regarding the ADRs or the deposited securities or a distribution of ADSs), whichever is applicable:

We will pay all other charges and expenses of the Depositary and any agent of the Depositary (except the custodian) pursuant to agreements from time to time between us and the Depositary. The fees described above may be amended from time to time.

Our Depositary has agreed to reimburse us for certain expenses we incur that are related to establishment and maintenance of the ADR program, including investor relations expenses and exchange application and listing fees. Neither the Depositary nor we can determine the exact amount to be made available to us because (i) the number of ADSs that will be issued and outstanding, (ii) the level of fees to be charged to holders of ADSs and (iii) our reimbursable expenses related to the ADR program are not known at this time. The Depositary collects its fees for issuance and cancellation of ADSs directly from investors depositing shares or surrendering ADSs for the purpose of withdrawal or from intermediaries acting for them. The Depositary collects fees for making distributions to investors by deducting those fees from the amounts distributed or by selling a portion of distributable property to pay the fees. The Depositary may collect its annual fee for Depositary services by deduction from cash distributions, or by directly billing investors, or by charging the book-entry system accounts of participants acting for them. The Depositary may generally refuse to provide services to any holder until the fees and expenses owing by such holder for those services or otherwise are paid.

Payment of Taxes

ADR holders must pay any tax or other governmental charge payable by the custodian or the Depositary on any ADS or ADR, deposited security or distribution. If an ADR holder owes any tax or other governmental charge, the Depositary may (i) deduct the amount thereof from any cash distributions, or (ii) sell deposited securities and deduct the amount owing from the net proceeds of such sale. In either case, the ADR holder remains liable for any shortfall. Additionally, if any tax or governmental charge is unpaid, the Depositary may also refuse to effect any registration, registration of transfer, split-up or combination of deposited securities or withdrawal of deposited securities (except under limited circumstances mandated by securities regulations). If any tax or governmental charge is required to be withheld on any non-cash distribution, the Depositary may sell the distributed property or securities to pay such taxes and distribute any remaining net proceeds to the ADR holders entitled thereto.

By holding an ADR or an interest therein, you will be agreeing to indemnify us, the Depositary, its custodian and any of our or their respective Directors, employees, agents and affiliates against, and hold each of them harmless from, any claims by any governmental authority with respect to taxes, additions to tax, penalties or interest arising out of any refund of taxes, reduced rate of withholding at source or other tax benefit obtained in respect of, or arising out of, your ADSs.

Reclassifications, Recapitalizations and Mergers

If we take certain actions that affect the deposited securities, including (i) any change in par value, split-up, consolidation, cancellation or other reclassification of deposited securities or (ii) any recapitalization, reorganization, merger, consolidation, liquidation, receivership, bankruptcy or sale of all or substantially all of our assets, then the Depositary may choose to:

If the Depositary does not choose any of the above options, any of the cash, securities or other property it receives will constitute part of the deposited securities and each ADS will then represent a proportionate interest in such property.

Amendment and Termination

How may the deposit agreement be amended?

We may agree with the Depositary to amend the deposit agreement and the ADSs without your consent for any reason. ADR holders must be given at least 30 days notice of any amendment that imposes or increases any fees or charges (other than stock transfer or other taxes and other governmental charges, transfer or registration fees, cable, telex or facsimile transmission costs, delivery costs or other such expenses), or otherwise prejudices any substantial existing right of ADR holders. If an ADR holder continues to hold an ADR or ADRs after being so notified, such ADR holder is deemed to agree to such amendment. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if any governmental body or regulatory body should adopt new laws, rules or regulations which would require amendment or supplement of the deposit agreement or the form of ADR to ensure compliance therewith, we and the Depositary may amend or supplement the deposit agreement and the ADR at any time in accordance with such changed laws, rules or regulations, which amendment or supplement may take effect before a notice is given or you otherwise receive notice. No amendment, however, will impair your right to surrender your ADSs and receive the underlying securities, except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable law.

How may the deposit agreement be terminated?

The Depositary may, and shall at our written direction, terminate the deposit agreement and the ADR by mailing notice of such termination to the registered holders of ADRs at least 30 days prior to the date fixed in such notice for such termination; provided, however, if the Depositary shall have (i) resigned as Depositary under the deposit agreement, notice of such termination by the Depositary shall not be provided to registered holders unless a successor Depositary shall not be operating under the deposit agreement within 45 days of the date of such resignation, and (ii) been removed as Depositary under the deposit agreement, notice of such termination by the Depositary shall not be provided to registered holders of ADRs unless a successor Depositary shall not be operating under the deposit agreement on the 90 ^th day after our notice of removal was first provided to the Depositary. After termination, the Depositary’s only responsibility will be (i) to deliver deposited securities to ADR holders who surrender their ADRs, and (ii) to hold or sell distributions received on deposited securities. As soon as practicable after the expiration of six months from the termination date, the Depositary will sell the deposited securities which remain and hold the net proceeds of such sales, without liability for interest, in trust for the ADR holders who have not yet surrendered their ADRs. After making such sale, the Depositary shall have no obligations except to account for such proceeds and other cash. The Depositary will not be required to invest such proceeds or pay interest on them.

Limitations on Obligations and Liability to ADR holders

Limits on our obligations and the obligations of the Depositary; limits on liability to ADR holders and holders of ADSs

Prior to the issue, registration, registration of transfer, split-up, combination, or cancellation of any ADRs, or the delivery of any distribution in respect thereof, the Depositary and its custodian may require you to pay, provide or deliver:

The issuance of ADRs, the acceptance of deposits of shares, the registration, registration of transfer, split-up or combination of ADRs or the withdrawal of shares, generally or in particular instances, when the ADR register or any register for shares is closed or when any such action is deemed advisable by the Depositary; provided that the ability to withdraw shares may only be limited under the following circumstances: (i) temporary delays caused by closing transfer books of the Depositary or our transfer books or the deposit of shares in connection with voting at a shareholders’ meeting, or the payment of dividends, (ii) the payment of fees, taxes, and similar charges, and (iii) compliance with any laws or governmental regulations relating to ADRs or to the withdrawal of shares.

The deposit agreement expressly limits the obligations and liability of the Depositary, ourselves and our respective agents. Neither we nor the Depositary nor any such agent will be liable if:

Neither the Depositary nor its agents have any obligation to appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit or other proceeding in respect of any deposited securities or the ADRs. We and our agents shall only be obligated to appear in, prosecute or defend any action, suit or other proceeding in respect of any deposited securities or the ADRs, which in our opinion may involve us in expense or liability, if indemnity satisfactory to us against all expense (including fees and disbursements of counsel) and liability is furnished as often as may be required. The Depositary and its agents may fully respond to any and all demands or requests for information maintained by or on its behalf in connection with the deposit agreement, any registered holder or holders of ADRs, any ADSs or otherwise to the extent such information is requested or required by or pursuant to any lawful authority, including without limitation laws, rules, regulations, administrative or judicial process, banking, securities or other regulators.

Additionally, none of us, the Depositary or the custodian shall be liable for the failure by any registered holder of ADRs or beneficial owner therein to obtain the benefits of credits on the basis of non-U.S. tax paid against such holder’s or beneficial owner’s income tax liability. Neither we nor the Depositary shall incur any liability for any tax consequences that may be incurred by holders or beneficial owners on account of their ownership of ADRs or ADSs.

The Depositary will not be responsible for failing to carry out instructions to vote the deposited securities or for the manner in which the deposited securities are voted or the effect of the vote. In no event shall we, the Depositary or any of our respective agents be liable to holders of ADSs or interests therein for any indirect, special, punitive or consequential damages.

The Depositary may own and deal in deposited securities and in ADSs.

Disclosure of Interest in ADSs

To the extent that the provisions of or governing any deposited securities may require disclosure of or impose limits on beneficial or other ownership of deposited securities, other shares and other securities and may provide for blocking transfer, voting or other rights to enforce such disclosure or limits, you agree to comply with all such disclosure requirements and ownership limitations and to comply with any reasonable instructions we may provide in respect thereof. We reserve the right to request you to deliver your ADSs for cancellation and withdrawal of the deposited securities so as to permit us to deal with you directly as a holder of deposited securities and, by holding an ADS or an interest therein, you will be agreeing to comply with such instructions.

Books of Depositary

The Depositary or its agent will maintain a register for the registration, registration of transfer, combination and split-up of ADRs, which register shall include the Depositary’s direct registration system. You may inspect such records at such office during regular business hours, but solely for the purpose of communicating with other holders in the interest of business matters relating to the deposit agreement. Such register may be closed from time to time, when deemed expedient by the Depositary or when requested by us.

The Depositary will maintain facilities to record and process the issuance, cancellation, combination, split-up and transfer of ADRs. These facilities may be closed from time to time, to the extent not prohibited by law.

Pre-release of ADSs

The Depositary may issue ADSs prior to the deposit with the custodian of shares (or rights to receive shares). This is called a pre-release of the ADS. A pre-release is closed out as soon as the underlying shares (or rights to receive shares from us or from any registrar, transfer agent or other entity recording share ownership or transactions) are delivered to the Depositary. The Depositary may pre-release ADSs only if:

In general, the number of pre-released ADSs will not evidence more than 30% of all ADSs outstanding at any given time (excluding those evidenced by pre-released ADSs). However, the Depositary may change or disregard such limit from time to time as it deems appropriate. The Depositary may retain for its own account any earnings on collateral for pre-released ADSs and its charges for issuance thereof.

Appointment

In the deposit agreement, each holder and each person holding an interest in ADSs, upon acceptance of any ADSs (or any interest therein) issued in accordance with the terms and conditions of the deposit agreement will be deemed for all purposes to:

Description of the Preferred Shares

We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials a description of the preferred shares which may be offered under this prospectus.

Description of the Debt Securities

This is a summary of the material terms of the debt securities which we may offer pursuant to this prospectus and the indenture dated July 23, 2009 among Ecopetrol and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee. Because this is a summary, it does not contain the complete terms of the debt securities and the indenture, and may not contain all the information that you should consider before investing in the debt securities. A copy of the indenture has been filed as an exhibit to our registration statement on Form F-4 filed with the SEC on August 31, 2009. We urge you to closely examine and review the indenture itself. See “Where You Can Find More Information” for information on how to obtain a copy. You may also inspect a copy of the indenture at the corporate trust office of the trustee, which is currently located at 101 Barclay Street, 4 East, New York, New York 10286.

The applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials may also add, update or change the description of the debt securities contained in this prospectus. You should carefully read this prospectus, any prospectus supplement or other offering materials before you invest in any of our securities, including our debt securities.

General

The indenture does not limit the aggregate principal amount of senior notes which may be issued under the indenture and provides that Ecopetrol may issue senior notes from time to time in one or more series. The senior notes which Ecopetrol may issue under the indenture are collectively referred to in this prospectus as the “debt securities”.

The debt securities will be unsecured senior obligations of Ecopetrol. Ecopetrol may “reopen” the note series and issue additional notes of the same series.

The debt securities will bear interest at the rate per annum set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement from the date of original issuance of such debt securities. Interest payable will be paid on the dates set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, each such date being an “interest payment date”, to the persons in whose names the debt securities are registered at the close of business on the fifteenth calendar day preceding the interest payment date. Interest payable at maturity will be payable to the person to whom principal will be payable on that date. The maturity date for the debt securities will be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. If any interest payment date or maturity date would be otherwise a day that is not a business day, the related payment of principal and interest will be made on the next succeeding business day as if it were made on the date the payment was due, and no interest will accrue on the amounts so payable for the period from and after the interest payment date or the maturity date, as the case may be, to the next succeeding business day. A “business day” means a day other than a Saturday, Sunday or other day on which banking institutions in New York, New York are authorized or obligated by law, regulation or executive order to close.

In the case of amounts not paid by Ecopetrol under the debt securities, interest will continue to accrue on such amounts, to the extent permitted by applicable law, at a default rate equal to 1.0% in excess of the interest rate on the debt securities, from and including the date when such amounts were due and owing and through and including the date of payment of such amounts by Ecopetrol.

The indenture does not contain any provision that would limit the ability of Ecopetrol and its Subsidiaries to incur indebtedness or to substantially reduce or eliminate Ecopetrol’s assets or that would afford the holders of the debt securities protection in the event of a decline in Ecopetrol’s credit quality or a takeover, recapitalization or highly leveraged or similar transaction involving Ecopetrol. In addition, subject to the limitations set forth under “—Merger and Consolidation”, Ecopetrol may, in the future, enter into certain transactions, including the sale of all or substantially all of its assets or the merger or consolidation of Ecopetrol, that would increase the amount of Ecopetrol’s indebtedness or substantially reduce or eliminate Ecopetrol’s assets, which may have an adverse effect on Ecopetrol’s ability to service its indebtedness, including the debt securities.

Except as otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, each book-entry note will be represented by one or more global notes in fully registered form, registered in the name of The Depositary Trust Company, which is referred to in this prospectus as “DTC” or the “depositary”, or its nominee. Beneficial interests in the global notes will be shown on, and transfers thereof will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC and its participants. See “—Form, Denomination and Registration”. Except in the limited circumstances described in this prospectus, book-entry notes will not be exchangeable for debt securities issued in fully registered form (“certificated notes”).

Except as otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, in the event that, as a result of certain changes in law affecting Colombian withholding taxes, Ecopetrol becomes obliged to pay Additional Amounts (as defined below), the debt securities will be redeemable, as a whole but not in part, at Ecopetrol’s option at any time at 100% of their principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any. See “—Withholding Tax Redemption”. In addition, we will have the right at our option to redeem any of the debt securities in whole or in part at a redemption price equal to the Make-Whole Amount (as defined below).

Except as otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, we are required to make an offer to purchase all or any portion of outstanding debt securities held by holders upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Repurchase Event (as defined below) at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount of the debt securities so purchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon and any Additional Amounts to but excluding the date of such purchase.

Book-entry notes may be transferred or exchanged only through the depositary. See “—Form, Denomination and Registration”. Registration of transfer or exchange of certificated notes will be made at the office or agency maintained by Ecopetrol for this purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, currently the office of the trustee at 101 Barclay Street, 4 East, New York, New York 10286. Neither Ecopetrol nor the trustee will charge a service charge for any registration of transfer or exchange of debt securities, but Ecopetrol may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may he imposed in connection with the transfer or exchange (other than exchanges pursuant to the indenture not involving any transfer).

Despite the Republic of Colombia’s ownership interest in Ecopetrol, the Nation is not responsible for Ecopetrol’s obligations under the senior debt securities or the indenture.

Payments

Ecopetrol will make payments of principal, and premium, if any, and interest on book-entry notes through the trustee to the depositary. See “—Form, Denomination and Registration”. In the case of certificated notes (which will only be issued in the circumstances described below under “Form, Denomination and Registration”), Ecopetrol will pay the principal and premium, if any, due on the maturity date in immediately available funds upon presentation and surrender by the holder of the debt securities at the office or agency maintained by Ecopetrol for this purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, currently the office of the trustee at 101 Barclay Street, 4 East, New York, New York 10286. Ecopetrol will pay interest due on the maturity date of a certificated note to the person to whom payment of the principal and premium, if any, will be made. Ecopetrol will pay interest due on a certificated note on any interest payment date other than the maturity date by check mailed to the address of the holder entitled to the payment as the address shall appear in the note register of Ecopetrol. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a holder of U.S.$10.0 million or more in aggregate principal amount of certificated notes will be entitled to receive interest payments, if any, on any interest payment date other than the maturity date by wire transfer of immediately available funds if appropriate wire transfer instructions have been received in writing by the trustee not less than 15 calendar days prior to the interest payment date. Any wire transfer instructions received by the trustee will remain in effect until revoked by the holder. Any interest not punctually paid or duly provided for on a certificated note on any interest payment date other than the maturity date will cease to be payable to the holder of the new note as of the close of business on the related record date and may either be paid (1) to the person in whose name the certificated note is registered at the close of business on a special record date for the payment of the defaulted interest that is fixed by Ecopetrol, written notice of which will be given to the holders of the debt securities not less than 30 calendar days prior to the special record date, or (2) at any time in any other lawful manner.

All monies paid by Ecopetrol to the trustee or any paying agent for the payment of principal of, and premium and interest on, any new note which remains unclaimed for two years after the principal, premium or interest is due and payable may be repaid to Ecopetrol and, after that payment, the holder of the new note will look only to Ecopetrol for payment.

Form, Denomination and Registration

Except as otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the debt securities will be issued in book-entry form in minimum denominations of U.S.$1,000 and integral multiples of U.S.$1,000 in excess thereof.

So long as the depositary, which initially will be DTC, or its nominee is the registered owner of a global note, the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, will be the sole holder of the debt securities represented by the global note for all purposes under the indenture. Except as otherwise provided in this section, the beneficial owners of the global notes representing the debt securities will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of certificated notes and will not be considered the holders of the debt securities for any purpose under the indenture, and no global note representing the book-entry notes will be exchangeable or transferable. Accordingly, each beneficial owner must rely on the procedures of the depositary and, if the beneficial owner is not a participant of the depositary, then the beneficial owner must rely on the procedures of the participant through which the beneficial owner owns its interest in order to exercise any rights of a holder under the global notes or the indenture. The laws of some jurisdictions may require that certain purchasers of debt securities take physical delivery of the debt securities in certificated form. Such limits and laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a global note representing the debt securities.

The global notes representing the debt securities will be exchangeable for certificated notes of like tenor and terms and of differing authorized denominations aggregating a like principal amount, only if the depositary notifies us that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for the global notes, the depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, we in our sole discretion determine that the global notes shall be exchangeable for certificated notes, or there shall have occurred and be continuing an event of default under the indenture with respect to the debt securities.

Upon any exchange, the certificated notes shall be registered in the names of the beneficial owners of the global notes representing the debt securities, which names shall be provided by the depositary’s relevant participants (as identified by the depositary) to the trustee.

Because of time zone differences, the securities account of a Euroclear or Clearstream Banking participant purchasing a beneficial interest in a global note from a depositary participant will be credited during the securities settlement processing day, which must be a business day for Euroclear or Clearstream Banking, as applicable, immediately following the depositary’s settlement date. Credit of a transfer of a beneficial interest in a global note settled during that processing day will be reported to the applicable Euroclear or Clearstream Banking participant on that day. Cash received in Euroclear or Clearstream Banking as a result of a transfer of a beneficial interest in a global note by or through a Euroclear or Clearstream Banking participant to a depositary participant will be received with value on the depositary’s settlement date but will be available in the applicable Euroclear or Clearstream Banking cash account only as of the business day following settlement in the depositary.

Information Relating to the Depositary. The following is based on information furnished by the depositary:

The depositary will act as the depositary for the debt securities. The debt securities will be issued as fully registered senior debt securities registered in the name of Cede & Co., which is the depositary’s partnership nominee. Fully registered global notes will be issued for the debt securities, in the aggregate principal amount of the issue, and will be deposited with the depositary.

The depositary is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a “banking organization” within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a “clearing corporation” within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a “clearing agency” registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. The depositary holds securities that its participants deposit with the depositary. The depositary also facilitates the settlement among participants of securities transactions, including transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry changes to participants’ accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of senior debt securities certificates. Direct participants of the depositary include securities brokers and dealers, including the initial purchasers of the debt securities, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. The depositary is owned by a number of its direct participants, including the initial purchasers of the debt securities and by the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., the American Stock Exchange, Inc., and the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Access to the depositary’s system is also available to indirect participants, which includes securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a direct participant, either directly or indirectly. The rules applicable to the depositary and its participants are on file with the SEC.

Purchases of debt securities under the depositary’s system must be made by or through direct participants, which will receive a credit for the debt securities on the depositary’s record. The ownership interest of each beneficial owner, which is the actual purchaser of each new note, represented by global notes, is in turn to be recorded on the direct and indirect participants’ records. Beneficial owners will not receive written confirmation from the depositary of their purchase, but beneficial owners are expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the transaction, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the direct or indirect participants through which the beneficial owner entered into the transaction. Transfers of ownership interests in the global notes representing the debt securities are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of participants acting on behalf of beneficial owners. Beneficial owners of the global notes representing the debt securities will not receive certificated notes representing their ownership interests therein, except in the limited circumstances described above.

To facilitate subsequent transfers, all global notes representing the debt securities which are deposited with, or on behalf of, the depositary are registered in the name of the depositary’s nominee, Cede & Co. The deposit of global notes with, or on behalf of, the depositary and their registration in the name of Cede & Co. effect no change in beneficial ownership. The depositary has no knowledge of the actual beneficial owners of the global notes representing the debt securities; the depositary’s records reflect only the identity of the direct participants to whose accounts the debt securities are credited, which may or may not be the beneficial owners. The participants will remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on behalf of their customers.

Conveyance of notices and other communications by the depositary to direct participants, by direct participants to indirect participants, and by direct and indirect participants to beneficial owners will be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time.

Neither the depositary nor Cede & Co. will consent or vote with respect to the global notes representing the debt securities. Under its usual procedure, the depositary mails an omnibus proxy to Ecopetrol as soon as possible after the applicable record date. The omnibus proxy assigns Cede & Co.’s consenting or voting rights to those direct participants to whose accounts the debt securities are credited on the applicable record date (identified in a listing attached to the omnibus proxy).

Principal, premium, if any, and/or interest payments on the global notes representing the debt securities will be made to the depositary. The depositary’s practice is to credit direct participants’ accounts on the applicable payment date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on the depositary’s records unless the depositary has reason to believe that it will not receive payment on the date. Payments by participants to beneficial owners will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in “street name”, and will be the responsibility of the participant and not of the depositary, the trustee or Ecopetrol, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Payment of principal, premium, if any, and/or interest to the depositary is the responsibility of Ecopetrol or the trustee, disbursement of the payments to direct participants will be the responsibility of the depositary, and disbursement of the payments to the beneficial owners will be the responsibility of direct and indirect participants.

The depositary may discontinue providing its services as securities depositary with respect to the debt securities at any time by giving reasonable notice to Ecopetrol or the trustee. Under such circumstances, in the event that a successor securities depositary is not obtained, certificated notes are required to be printed and delivered.

Ecopetrol may decide to discontinue use of the system of book-entry transfers through the depositary or a successor securities depositary. In that event, certificated notes will be printed and delivered.

Although the depositary, Euroclear and Clearstream Banking have agreed to the procedures described above in order to facilitate transfers of interests in the global notes among participants of the depositary, Euroclear and Clearstream Banking, they are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform these procedures, and these procedures may be discontinued at any time. Neither the trustee nor Ecopetrol will have any responsibility for the performance by the depositary, Euroclear or Clearstream Banking or their respective participants or indirect participants of their respective obligations under the rules and procedures governing their operations.

Trading. Transfers between participants in the depositary will be effected in the ordinary way in accordance with the depositary’s rules and operating procedures, while transfers between participants in Euroclear and Clearstream Banking will be effected in the ordinary way in accordance with their respective rules and operating procedures.

The information in this subsection “—Form, Denomination and Registration” concerning the depositary, Euroclear and Clearstream Banking and their respective book-entry systems has been obtained from the depository, Euroclear and Clearstream Banking but Ecopetrol takes responsibility solely for the accuracy of its extraction of this information.

Certain Covenants

The indenture provides that the covenants set forth below are applicable to Ecopetrol.

Payment of Principal and Interest .  Ecopetrol will duly and punctually pay the principal of and any premium and interest and other amounts (including any Additional Amounts in the event withholding and other taxes are imposed in Colombia) on the debt securities in accordance with the debt securities and the indenture.

Maintenance of Corporate Existence .  Ecopetrol will maintain its corporate existence and take all reasonable actions to maintain all rights, privileges and the like necessary or desirable in the normal conduct of business, activities or operations, unless the Board of Directors determines (based on appropriate shareholder authorization, if necessary) that preserving Ecopetrol’s corporate existence is no longer desirable in the conduct of Ecopetrol’s business and is not disadvantageous in any material respect to holders.

Ranking . Ecopetrol will ensure that the debt securities will at all times constitute its general senior, unsecured and unsubordinated obligations and will rank pari passu, without any preferences among themselves, with all of its other present and future unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of Ecopetrol that constitute External Indebtedness (other than obligations preferred by statute or by operation of law).

Statement by Officers as to Default and Notices of Events of Default . Within 10 days (or promptly with respect to certain events of default relating to Ecopetrol’s insolvency and in any event no later than 10 days) after Ecopetrol becomes aware or should reasonably become aware of the occurrence of any default or event of default under the indenture or the debt securities, it will notify the trustee in writing of the occurrence of such default or event of default.

Provision of Financial Statements and Reports . In the event that Ecopetrol files any financial statements or reports with the SEC or publishes or otherwise makes such statements or reports publicly available in Colombia, the United States or elsewhere, Ecopetrol will furnish a copy of the statements or reports to the trustee within 15 days of the date of filing or the date the information is published or otherwise made publicly available.

Ecopetrol will provide, together with each of the financial statements delivered as described in the preceding paragraph, an officer’s certificate stating (i) that a review of Ecopetrol’s activities has been made during the period covered by such financial statements with a view to determining whether Ecopetrol has kept, observed, performed and fulfilled its covenants and agreements under this indenture; and (ii) that no event of default, or event which with the giving of notice or passage of time or both would become an event of default, has occurred during that period or, if one or more have actually occurred, specifying all those events and what actions have been taken and will be taken with respect to that event of default or other event.

Delivery of these reports, information and documents to the trustee is for informational purposes only and the trustee’s receipt of any of those will not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including Ecopetrol’s compliance with any of its covenants under the indenture (as to which the trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on officer’s certificates).

Limitation on Liens . Ecopetrol will not, and will not permit any Material Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create, incur or assume any Lien, except for Permitted Liens, to secure the payment of Indebtedness of Ecopetrol or any Material Subsidiary, unless effective provision is made whereby the debt securities (together with, if Ecopetrol shall so determine, any other Indebtedness ranking equally with the debt securities, whether then existing or thereafter created) are secured equally and ratably with (or prior to) such Indebtedness (but only for so long as such Indebtedness is so secured).

The foregoing limitation on Liens shall not apply to the creation, incurrence or assumption of the following Liens (“Permitted Liens”):

1. Liens arising by operation of law, such as merchants’, maritime or other similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of business or Liens in respect of taxes, assessments or other governmental charges that are not yet delinquent or that are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;

2. Liens arising in the ordinary course of business in connection with Indebtedness maturing not more than one year after the date on which that Indebtedness was originally incurred and which is related to the financing of export, import or other trade transactions;

3. Liens resulting from the deposit of funds or evidences of Indebtedness in trust for the purpose of discharging or defeasing Indebtedness of Ecopetrol or any Material Subsidiary;

4. Liens on assets or property of a Person existing at the time such Person is merged into, consolidated with or acquired by Ecopetrol or any Material Subsidiary or becomes a Material Subsidiary; provided that any such Lien is not incurred in contemplation of such merger, consolidation or acquisition (unless such Lien was created to secure or provide for the payment of any part of the purchase price of such property or assets) and does not secure any property of Ecopetrol or any Material Subsidiary other than the property and assets subject to such Lien prior to such merger, consolidation or acquisition;

5. Liens existing as of the date of the indenture;

6. Liens securing Indebtedness (including in the form of Capitalized Lease Obligations and purchase money Indebtedness) incurred for the purpose of financing the cost (including without limitation the cost of design, development, site acquisition, construction, integration, manufacture or acquisition) of real or personal property (tangible or intangible) which is incurred contemporaneously therewith or within 180 days thereafter; provided (i) such Liens secure Indebtedness in an amount not in excess of the cost of such property (plus an amount equal to the reasonable fees and expenses incurred in connection with the incurrence of such Indebtedness) and (ii) such Liens do not extend to any property of Ecopetrol or any Material Subsidiary other than the property for which such Indebtedness was incurred;

7. Liens to secure the performance of statutory and common law obligations, bids, trade contracts, judgments, surety or appeal bonds, performance bonds or other obligations of a like nature incurred in the ordinary course of business

8. Liens to secure the debt securities;

9. Liens granted in favor of Ecopetrol and/or any Wholly Owned Subsidiary to secure Indebtedness owing to Ecopetrol or such Wholly Owned Subsidiary

10. Legal or equitable encumbrances deemed to exist by reason of the inclusion of customary negative pledge provisions in any financing document of Ecopetrol or any Subsidiary;

11. Liens securing Internal Indebtedness;

12. Any Lien in respect of Indebtedness representing the extension, refinancing, renewal or replacement (or successive extensions, refinancings, renewals or replacements) of Indebtedness secured by Liens referred to in clauses (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (9) and (10) above; provided that the principal of the Indebtedness secured thereby does not exceed the principal of the Indebtedness secured thereby immediately prior to such extension, renewal or replacement, plus any accrued and unpaid interest or capitalized interest payable thereon, reasonable fees and expenses incurred in connection therewith, and the amount of any prepayment premium necessary to accomplish any refinancing; and provided, further, that such extension, renewal or replacement shall be limited to all or a part of the property (or interest therein) subject to the Lien so extended, renewed or replaced (plus improvements and construction on such property);

13. Pledges and deposits made in the ordinary course of business in compliance with workers’ compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security laws or regulations;

14. Easements, zoning restrictions, rights-of-way and similar encumbrances on real property imposed by law or arising in the ordinary course of business that do not secure any monetary obligations and do not materially detract from the value of the affected property or interfere with the ordinary conduct of business of Ecopetrol or any of its Subsidiaries;

15. Liens arising out of governmental concessions or licenses held by Ecopetrol or any of its Subsidiaries; and

16. Liens in respect of Indebtedness the principal amount of which in the aggregate, together with all other Liens not otherwise qualifying as Permitted Liens pursuant to another part of this definition of Permitted Liens, does not exceed 15% of Ecopetrol’s Consolidated Total Assets. For purposes of this covenant, the value of any Lien securing Indebtedness will be computed on the basis of the lesser of (i) the outstanding principal amount of such secured Indebtedness and (ii) the higher of (x) the book value or (y) the Fair Market Value of the property securing such Indebtedness.

Repurchase of Debt securities upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event .  Ecopetrol must commence, within 30 days of the occurrence of a Change of Control Repurchase Event, and consummate an offer to purchase (“Offer to Purchase”) all debt securities then outstanding, at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the debt securities on the date of repurchase, plus accrued interest (if any) to the date of purchase. Ecopetrol is not required to make an Offer to Purchase following a Change of Control Repurchase Event if a third party makes an Offer to Purchase that would be in compliance with the provisions described in this covenant if it were made by Ecopetrol and such third party purchases (for the consideration referred to in the immediately preceding sentence) the debt securities validly tendered and not withdrawn. Prior to the mailing of the notice to holders commencing such Offer to Purchase, but in any event within 30 days following any Change of Control Repurchase Event, Ecopetrol covenants to (i) repay in full all indebtedness of Ecopetrol that would prohibit the repurchase of the debt securities pursuant to such Offer to Purchase or (ii) obtain any requisite consents under instruments governing any such indebtedness of Ecopetrol to permit the repurchase of the debt securities. Ecopetrol shall first comply with the covenant in the preceding sentence before it repurchases debt securities upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event pursuant to this covenant.

We will comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 of the Exchange Act and other applicable securities laws or regulations in connection with making an offer to purchase debt securities upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Repurchase Event. To the extent that the provisions of any applicable securities laws or regulations conflict with provisions of this covenant, we will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached our obligations under this covenant by virtue of our compliance with such securities laws or regulations.

There can be no assurance that Ecopetrol will have sufficient funds available at the time of any Change of Control Repurchase Event to make the repurchases of debt securities required by the foregoing covenant (as well as by any covenant contained in other securities of Ecopetrol which might be outstanding at the time).

Additional Amounts . Pursuant to the indenture, all payments to be made in respect of the debt securities are to be made free and clear of, and without deduction or withholding for or on account of, any taxes imposed or levied by or on behalf of Colombia or any political subdivision or authority of or in such jurisdiction having the power to tax (“Taxes”, and such jurisdictions, “Taxing Jurisdiction”), except to the extent such Taxes are imposed by applicable law. In the event that any Taxes are required by applicable law to be deducted or withheld from any payment required to be made in respect of the debt securities or otherwise under the indenture, then the amount of such payment shall be increased by an amount as may be necessary such that such payment is made, after withholding or deduction for or on account of such Taxes, in an amount equal to the amount that would have been received by the applicable recipient(s) in respect of such payment had no such Taxes (including any Taxes payable in respect of such Additional Amounts) been required to be so deducted or withheld (any such amounts, “Additional Amounts”). Furthermore, the amount of any Taxes required to be withheld or deducted from any payment made in respect of the debt securities or otherwise under the indenture shall be withheld or deducted from such payment (as increased by any Additional Amounts) and paid to the Taxing Jurisdiction imposing such Taxes in accordance with applicable law. Notwithstanding the preceding sentences, no such Additional Amounts will be payable in respect of:

(i). any Tax assessed or imposed by any Taxing Jurisdiction to the extent that such Tax would not have been assessed or imposed but for the applicable recipient or beneficial owner of such payment having a present or former connection with the Taxing Jurisdiction (including, without limitation, such holder being or having been a citizen or resident thereof or having been engaged in a trade or business or present therein or having, or having had, a permanent establishment therein), other than solely by reason of the applicable recipient’s participation in the transactions effected by the indenture and the receipt of payments thereunder (including under the debt securities);

(ii). any estate, inheritance, gift, personal property, sales, use, excise, transfer or other similar Tax imposed with respect to such payment;

(iii). any such Taxes that would not have been imposed but for the failure of the applicable recipient or beneficial owner of such payment to comply with any certification, identification, information, documentation or other reporting requirement to the extent (a) such compliance is required by applicable law or an applicable treaty as a precondition to exemption from, or reduction in the rate of deduction or withholding of, such Taxes and (b) at least 30 days before the first payment date with respect to which the obligor with respect to a payment shall apply this clause (3), such obligor shall have notified such recipient in writing that such recipient will be required to comply with such requirement;

(iv). any Tax imposed on a payment on the debt securities required to be made pursuant to Council Directive 2003/48/EC of the Council of the European Union on the taxation of savings income in the form of interest payments (or any European Union Directive otherwise implementing the conclusions of the ECOFIN Council Meeting of 26 and 27 November 2000) or any law implementing or complying with, or introduced in order to conform to, any such Directive;

(v). any new note presented for payment (where presentation is required) more than 30 days after the relevant payment is first made available for payment to the applicable recipient (except to the extent that such recipient would have been entitled to Additional Amounts had the new note been presented during such 30-day period);

(vi). any Tax payable other than by withholding or deduction from payments of principal or of interest on the new note; or

(vii). any combination of the circumstances described in clauses (i) through (vi);

nor will any Additional Amounts be paid with respect to any payment to a recipient who is a fiduciary, partnership, limited liability company or any Person other than the sole beneficial owner of such payment to the extent that a beneficiary or settlor with respect to such fiduciary or a member of such partnership, limited liability company or a beneficial owner would not have been entitled to the Additional Amounts had such beneficiary, settlor, member or beneficial owner been in the place of such recipient.

Ecopetrol will provide the trustee upon its request with documentation reasonably satisfactory to it evidencing the payment of Taxes in respect of which Ecopetrol has paid any Additional Amounts. Copies of such documentation will be made available to the applicable recipients upon written request therefor to the trustee.

The obligation to pay Additional Amounts will survive the repayment of the debt securities and the sale or transfer of the debt securities (or beneficial interests therein) by any investor.

In addition, Ecopetrol shall pay any and all other Taxes (“Other Taxes”) imposed by the relevant taxing authority imposing such Other Taxes in accordance with applicable law, excluding any such Other Taxes imposed by any jurisdiction outside of Colombia. As used herein, Other Taxes shall mean any and all stamp, documentary or similar taxes, or any other excise or similar levies that arise on account of any payment to be made under any new note or from the execution, delivery, registration, recording or enforcement of the debt securities and the indenture (other than any Taxes paid in accordance with the first paragraph of “—Additional Amounts”).

Optional Redemption

Except as otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, we will not be permitted to redeem the debt securities before their stated maturity, except as set forth below. The debt securities will not be entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund-meaning that we will not deposit money on a regular basis into any separate account to repay your debt securities. In addition, except as set forth above under “—Repurchase of Debt securities upon a Change of Control Repurchase Event”, you will not be entitled to require us to repurchase your debt securities from you before the stated maturity.

Optional Redemption with “Make-Whole” Amount

We will have the right at our option to redeem any of the debt securities in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time prior to their maturity, on at least 30 days’ but not more than 60 days’ notice, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (1) 100% of the principal amount of such debt securities and (2) the sum of the present values of each remaining scheduled payment of principal and interest thereon (exclusive of interest accrued to the date of redemption) discounted to the redemption date on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus a certain make-whole amount be set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement (the “Make-Whole Amount”), plus in each case accrued interest on the principal amount of the debt securities to the date of redemption.

“ Treasury Rate ” means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per annum equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to maturity or interpolated maturity (on a day count basis) of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date.

“ Comparable Treasury Issue ” means the United States Treasury security or securities selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having an actual or interpolated maturity comparable to the remaining term of the debt securities to be redeemed that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of a comparable maturity to the remaining term of such debt securities.

“ Independent Investment Banker ” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by us.

“ Comparable Treasury Price ” means, with respect to any redemption date (1) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation or (2) if we obtain fewer than four such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such quotations.

“ Reference Treasury Dealer ” means the financial institutions named as such in the applicable prospectus supplement or their affiliates which are primary United States government securities dealers and two other leading primary United States government securities dealers in New York City reasonably designated by us; provided, however, that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a primary United States government securities dealer in New York City (a “Primary Treasury Dealer”), we will substitute therefore another Primary Treasury Dealer.

“ Reference Treasury Dealer Quotation ” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the trustee, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to us by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 3:30 pm New York time on the third business day preceding such redemption date.

On and after the redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on the debt securities or any portion of the debt securities called for redemption (unless we default in the payment of the redemption price and accrued interest). On or before the redemption date, we will deposit with the trustee money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and (unless the redemption date shall be an interest payment date) accrued interest to the redemption date on the debt securities to be redeemed on such date. If less than all of the debt securities are to be redeemed, the debt securities to be redeemed shall be selected by the trustee by such method as the trustee shall deem fair and appropriate.

Withholding Tax Redemption

The debt securities may be redeemed at Ecopetrol’s election, in whole but not in part on any date, by the giving of notice as provided herein under “—Notices”, at a price equal to the outstanding principal amount thereof, together with any Additional Amounts and accrued and unpaid interest to the redemption date, if, as a result of any change in, or amendment to, laws or treaties (or any regulation or rulings promulgated thereunder) of Colombia or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein or any change in the official application, administration or interpretation of such laws, treaties, regulations or rulings in such jurisdictions, Ecopetrol is or will become obligated to pay any Additional Amounts on the debt securities, if such change or amendment is announced and becomes effective on or after the issuance of the debt securities and such obligation cannot be avoided by taking commercially reasonable measures available to Ecopetrol; provided, however, that no such notice of redemption shall be given earlier than 90 days prior to the earliest date on which Ecopetrol would be obligated to pay such Additional Amounts.

Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each holder of the debt securities to be redeemed. Prior to the giving of notice of redemption of such debt securities pursuant to the indenture, Ecopetrol will deliver to the trustee an officer’s certificate and a written opinion of recognized Colombian counsel independent of Ecopetrol and its Affiliates to the effect that all governmental approvals necessary for it to effect such redemption have been or at the time of redemption will be obtained and in full force and effect, and that Ecopetrol has or will become obligated to pay such Additional Amounts as a result of such change, amendment, application, administration or interpretation. On the redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on the debt securities that have been redeemed.

Open Market Purchases

Ecopetrol or any of its Subsidiaries may at any time purchase any new note in the open market or otherwise at any price.

Merger and Consolidation

Ecopetrol may not consolidate with or merge into, or sell, assign, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets and the properties and assets of its Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) as an entirety to, any entity or entities (including limited liability companies) unless (1) the successor entity or entities, each of which shall be organized under the laws of Colombia or of the United States or a State thereof, shall assume by supplemental indenture all the obligations of Ecopetrol under the debt securities and the indenture (including the obligation to pay the Additional Amounts) and such successor entity or entities delivers certain certificates, opinions of counsel and other documents to the trustee, (2) if the other entity is organized under the laws of a country other than the United States, a state thereof or Colombia, Ecopetrol indemnifies holders against any tax, assessment or governmental charge or other cost resulting from the transaction, (3) prior to and immediately after giving effect to the transaction or series of transactions, no default or event of default shall have occurred and be continuing, (4) Ecopetrol delivers certain certificates, opinions of its counsel and other documents to the trustee and (5) if, as a result of such transaction, properties or assets of Ecopetrol would become subject to an encumbrance which would not be permitted by the terms of the debt securities, Ecopetrol or the successor entity or entities shall take such steps as are necessary to secure such debt securities equally and ratably with all indebtedness secured thereunder. Thereafter, all such obligations of Ecopetrol shall terminate. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prohibit Ecopetrol from selling, assigning, transferring, leasing, conveying or otherwise disposing of any of Ecopetrol’s Subsidiaries at the date of the indenture or any interest therein or any assets thereof.

Events of Default

The term “event of default” means any one of the following events with respect to the debt securities:

1. default in the payment of any interest on any note, or any Additional Amounts payable with respect thereto, when the interest becomes or the Additional Amounts become due and payable, and continuance of the default for a period of 30 days;

2. default in the payment of the principal of or any premium on any note, or any Additional Amounts payable with respect thereto, when the principal or premium becomes or the Additional Amounts become due and payable at their maturity, upon redemption or otherwise;

3. the debt securities, the indenture, or any part of those documents, ceases to be in full force and effect or binding and enforceable against Ecopetrol or it becomes unlawful for Ecopetrol to perform any material obligation under any of the foregoing documents to which it is a party;

4. Ecopetrol contests the enforceability of the debt securities or the indenture, or denies that it has liability under any of the foregoing documents to which it is a party;

5. default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty of Ecopetrol in the indenture or the debt securities and continuance of the default or breach for a period of 60 days (inclusive of any cure period contained in any such covenant or other term for compliance thereunder) after there has been given, by registered or certified mail, to Ecopetrol by the trustee or to Ecopetrol and the trustee by the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding senior debt securities of the series, a written notice specifying the default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that the notice is a “Notice of Default” under the indenture;

6. any event of default as defined in any mortgage, indenture or instrument under which there may be issued, or by which there may be secured or evidenced, any External Indebtedness of Ecopetrol, other than the debt securities, or any Material Subsidiary of Ecopetrol, whether the External Indebtedness now exists or shall hereafter be created, shall occur and shall result in such External Indebtedness in aggregate principal amount (or, if applicable, with an issue price and accreted original issue discount) in excess of U.S.$50.0 million (or its equivalent in another currency) becoming or being declared due and payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise become due and payable;

7. the entry by a court having competent jurisdiction of one or more final and non-appealable judgments or final decrees against Ecopetrol or a Material Subsidiary involving in the aggregate a liability (not paid or fully covered by insurance) of U.S.$50.0 million (or its equivalent in another currency) or more, and all such judgments or decrees have not been vacated, discharged or stayed within 180 days after the date set for payment;

8. Ecopetrol stops paying or admits that it is generally unable to pay its debts as they become due or passes a resolution to dissolve;

9. the entry by a court having competent jurisdiction of:

(a) a decree or order for relief in respect of Ecopetrol in an involuntary proceeding under Bankruptcy Law, which decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 180 consecutive days;

(b) a decree or order in an involuntary proceeding under Bankruptcy Law adjudging Ecopetrol to be insolvent, or approving a petition seeking a similar relief under Bankruptcy Law in respect of Ecopetrol, which decree or order shall remain unstayed and in effect for a period of 180 consecutive days; or

(c) a final and non-appealable order appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee or other similar official of Ecopetrol or of any substantial part of the property of Ecopetrol or ordering the winding up or liquidation of the affairs of Ecopetrol.

10. the commencement by Ecopetrol of a voluntary proceeding under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law or of a voluntary proceeding seeking to be adjudicated insolvent or the consent by Ecopetrol to the entry of a decree or order for relief in an involuntary proceeding under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law or to the commencement of any insolvency proceedings against it, or the filing by Ecopetrol of a petition or answer or consent seeking relief under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law, or the consent by Ecopetrol to the filing of the petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee or similar official of Ecopetrol or any substantial part of the property of Ecopetrol or the making by Ecopetrol of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the taking of corporate action by Ecopetrol in furtherance of any such action; and

11. a general moratorium is agreed or declared in respect of any Indebtedness of Ecopetrol.

If an event of default with respect to the debt securities at the time outstanding (other than an event of default specified in clause (9) or (10) above) occurs and is continuing, then the trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities may declare the principal of the debt securities, to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to Ecopetrol (and to the trustee if given by the holders), and upon any declaration the principal shall become immediately due and payable. If an event of default specified in clause (9) or (10) above occurs, all unpaid principal of and accrued interest on the debt securities shall become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the trustee or any holder of any note.

At any time after a declaration of acceleration or automatic acceleration with respect to the debt securities has been made and before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by the trustee, the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities, by written notice to Ecopetrol and the trustee, may rescind and annul the declaration and its consequences if:

1. Ecopetrol has paid or deposited with the trustee a sum of money sufficient to pay all overdue installments of any interest on and Additional Amounts with respect to all the debt securities and the principal of and any premium on the debt securities which have become due otherwise than by the declaration of acceleration and interest on the debt securities; and

2. all events of default with respect to the debt securities, other than the nonpayment of the principal of, any premium and interest on, and any Additional Amounts with respect to the debt securities which shall have become due solely by the acceleration, shall have been cured or waived.

No rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right consequent thereon.

Meetings of Noteholders

A meeting of noteholders may be called by the trustee, Ecopetrol or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities at any time and from time to time, to make, give or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other actions provided by the indenture to be made, given or taken by holders of debt securities. The meeting shall be held at such time and at such place in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York or in such other place as the trustee shall determine. Notice of every meeting of noteholders, setting forth the time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be given not less than 21 nor more than 180 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.

The persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities shall constitute a quorum for a meeting. Any resolution presented to a meeting at which a quorum is present may be adopted only by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities. Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of holders of debt securities duly held in accordance with the indenture shall be binding on all the holders of debt securities, whether or not such holders were present or represented at the meeting.

Modification and Waiver

Modification and amendments of the indenture may be made by Ecopetrol and the trustee with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities affected thereby; provided, however, that no modification or amendment may, without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt securities affected thereby:

1. change the stated maturity of the principal of, or any premium or installment of interest on, or any Additional Amounts with respect to, any note;

2. reduce the principal amount of, or the rate of interest on, or any Additional Amounts with respect to, or any premium payable upon the redemption of, any note;

3. change the redemption provisions of any note or adversely affect the right of repayment at the option of any holder of any note;

4. change any obligation to pay the Additional Amounts described under “Certain Covenants —  Additional Amounts”;

5. change the place of payment or the coin or currency in which the principal of, any premium or interest on or any Additional Amounts with respect to any note is payable;

6. impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or after the stated maturity of any note (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the redemption date or, in the case of repayment at the option of any holder, on or after the date for repayment);

7. reduce the percentage in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities, the consent of whose holders is required in order to take certain actions;

8. reduce the requirements for quorum or voting by holders of debt securities as provided in the indenture;

9. modify any of the provisions in the indenture regarding the waiver of past defaults and the waiver of certain covenants by the holders of debt securities except to increase any percentage vote required or to provide that certain other provisions of the indenture cannot be modified or waived without the consent of the holder of each note affected thereby; or

10. modify any of the above provisions.

The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the debt securities may, on behalf of the holders of all debt securities, waive compliance by Ecopetrol with certain restrictive provisions of the indenture. The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities may, on behalf of the holders of all debt securities, waive any past default and its consequences under the indenture with respect to the debt securities, except a default:

The indenture contains provisions permitting Ecopetrol and the trustee, without the consent of any holders of the debt securities, to enter into a supplemental indenture, among other things, for purposes of curing any ambiguity or correcting or supplementing any provisions contained in the indenture or in any supplemental indenture or making other provisions in regard to the matters or questions arising under the indenture or any supplemental indenture as the Board of Directors of Ecopetrol deems necessary or desirable and which does not adversely affect the interests of the holders of debt securities in any material respect. Ecopetrol and the trustee, without the consent of any holders of the debt securities, may also enter into a supplemental indenture to establish the forms or terms of any series of senior debt securities.

Notices

All notices regarding the debt securities shall be valid if that notice is given to holders of debt securities in writing and mailed to each holder of debt securities.

While the debt securities are represented by the global note deposited with the common depositary, notices to holders may be given by delivery to the depositary, and such notices will be deemed to be given on the date of delivery to the depositary. The trustee will also mail notices by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to each registered holder’s last known address as it appears in the security register that the trustee maintains. The trustee will only mail these notices to the registered holder of the debt securities. You will not receive notices regarding the debt securities directly from us unless we reissue the debt securities to you in fully certificated form.

Notices will be deemed to have been given on the date of mailing or of publication as aforesaid or, if published on different dates, on the date of the first such publication.

Unclaimed Amounts

Any money deposited with the trustee or paying agent or held by Ecopetrol, in trust, for the payment of principal, premium, interest or any Additional Amounts, that remains unclaimed for two years after such amount becomes due and payable shall be paid to Ecopetrol on its request or, if held by Ecopetrol, shall be discharged from such trust. The holder of the debt securities will look only to Ecopetrol for payment thereof, and all liability of the trustee, paying agent or of Ecopetrol, as trustee, shall thereupon cease.

Certain Definitions

The following are certain of the terms defined in the indenture:

“ Affiliate ” means, as applied to any Person, any other Person directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under direct or indirect common control with, such Person. For purposes of this definition, “control” (including, with correlative meanings, the terms “controlling”, “controlled by” and “under common control with”), as applied to any Person, means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

“ Bankruptcy Law ” means (a) Colombian Law 550 of 1999 and Law 1116 of 2006, or the equivalent laws that may replace them in the future, and (b) any bankruptcy, insolvency or debtor relief statute, law or decree of the United States of America or any other jurisdiction where Ecopetrol has (i) assets that account for 10% or more of Consolidated Total Assets or (ii) as of the date of determination, operations that account for 10% or more of Ecopetrol’s consolidated revenues based on its most recent consolidated balance sheet prepared in accordance with Colombian Government Entity GAAP.

“ Board of Directors ” means the Board of Directors of Ecopetrol or any executive committee thereof, if duly authorized by the Board of Directors and under Colombian law to act with respect to the indenture.

“ Capitalized Lease Obligation ” of any Person means any obligation of such Person to pay rent or other amounts under a lease with respect to any property (whether real, personal or mixed) acquired or leased (other than leases for transponders) by such Person and used in its business that is required to be accounted for as a liability on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with Colombian Government Entity GAAP and the amount of such Capitalized Lease Obligation shall be the amount so required to be accounted for as a liability.

“ Change of Control ” means an event or series of events that results in (i) the direct or indirect sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of Ecopetrol and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any “person” (as that term is used in Section 13(d) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), (ii) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of Ecopetrol or (iii) the Republic of Colombia ceasing to be the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of a majority in the aggregate of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of Ecopetrol.

“ Change of Control Repurchase Event ” means the occurrence of both a Change of Control and a Rating Downgrade Event.

“ Colombian Government Entity GAAP ” means accounting principles for Colombian state-owned entities issued by the National Accounting Office (Contaduría General de la Nación) and other applicable legal provisions in effect from time to time.

“ Consolidated Total Assets ” means, at any date, the total amount of assets of Ecopetrol, as of the end of the last period preceding such date for which a balance sheet is prepared and published in accordance with applicable law, on a consolidated basis as determined in accordance with Colombian Government Entity GAAP.

“ External Indebtedness ” means Indebtedness other than Internal Indebtedness.

“ Fair Market Value ” means, with respect to any asset or property, the price which could be negotiated in an arm’s-length transaction, for cash, between an informed and willing seller under no compulsion to sell and an informed and willing buyer under no compulsion to buy. Fair Market Value shall be determined by the Board of Directors of Ecopetrol, acting in good faith and evidenced by a resolution delivered to the trustee.

“ Fitch ” means Fitch Ratings Ltd.

“ Indebtedness ” of any Person means, without duplication:

(1) any indebtedness of such Person (i) for borrowed money or (ii) evidenced by a note, debenture or similar instrument (including a purchase money obligation) given in connection with the acquisition of any property or assets, including securities;

(2) any guarantee by such Person of any indebtedness of others described in the preceding clause (1); and

(3) any amendment, renewal, extension or refunding of any such indebtedness or guarantee.

“ Internal Indebtedness ” means any Indebtedness payable to Colombian residents in Colombian pesos.

“ Lien ” means any mortgage, pledge, lien, hypothecation, security interest or other charge or encumbrance on any property or asset including, without limitation, any equivalent created or arising under applicable law.

“ Material Subsidiary ” means a Subsidiary of Ecopetrol which on any given date of determination accounts for more than 10% of Ecopetrol’s Consolidated Total Assets.

“ Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investors Services Inc.

“ Person ” means an individual, a corporation, a partnership, a limited liability company, an association, a trust or any other entity or organization, including a government or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof.

“ Rating Agency ” means (1) each of Fitch, Moody’s and S&P; and (2) if any of Fitch, Moody’s or S&P ceases to rate the debt securities or fails to make a rating of the debt securities publicly available for reasons outside of our control, a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Rule 15c3-1(c)(2)(vi)(F) under the Exchange Act, selected by us as a replacement agency for Fitch, Moody’s or S&P, as the case may be.

“ Rating Downgrade Event ” means the rating on the debt securities is lowered from their rating then in effect by any of the Rating Agencies on any date from the date of the public notice of an arrangement that could result in a Change of Control until the end of the 60-day period following public notice of the occurrence of a Change of Control (which period shall be extended so long as the rating of the debt securities is under publicly announced consideration for possible downgrade by any of the Rating Agencies).

“ S&P ” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of McGraw-Hill, Inc.

“ Subsidiary ” means any corporation, association, limited liability company, partnership or other business entity of which a majority of the total voting power of the capital stock or other interests (including partnership interests) entitled (without regard to the incurrence of a contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers, or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by (i) Ecopetrol, (ii) Ecopetrol and one or more of its Subsidiaries or (iii) one or more Subsidiaries of Ecopetrol.

“ Voting Stock ” means, with respect to any Person, capital stock of any class or kind ordinarily having the power to vote for the election of directors, managers or other voting members of the governing body of such Person.

“ Wholly Owned ” means, with respect to any corporate entity, any Person of which 100% of the outstanding capital stock (other than qualifying shares, if any) having by its terms ordinary voting power (not dependent on the happening of a contingency) to elect the board of directors (or equivalent controlling governing body) of that Person, is at the time owned or controlled directly or indirectly by that corporate entity, by one or more wholly-owned Subsidiaries of that corporate entity or by that corporate entity and one or more wholly-owned Subsidiaries.

Discharge, Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance

Ecopetrol may discharge certain obligations to holders of any series of senior debt securities that have not already been delivered to the trustee for cancellation and that either have become due and payable or will become due and payable within one year (or scheduled for redemption within one year) by irrevocably depositing or causing to be deposited with the trustee, in trust, funds specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the holders in U.S. Dollars or Government Obligations, which is defined below, in an amount sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the trustee, to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the senior debt securities with respect to principal (and premium, if any) and interest to the date of the deposit (if the senior debt securities have become due and payable) or to the maturity thereof, as the case may be.

The indenture provides that, unless the provisions of the “Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance” section thereof are made inapplicable in respect of any series of senior debt securities of or within any series pursuant to the “Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series” section thereof, Ecopetrol may elect, at any time, either:

Defeasance or covenant defeasance, as the case may be, shall be conditioned upon the irrevocable deposit by Ecopetrol with the trustee, as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the holders of the debt securities, of (i) an amount in Dollars, in which such senior debt securities, together with all interest appertaining thereto, are then specified as payable at their stated maturity, or (ii) an amount of Government Obligations, which is defined below, applicable to such senior debt securities and the interest appertaining thereto, which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in accordance with their terms will provide money, or a combination thereof in an amount, in any case, sufficient, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof delivered to the trustee, to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness on the senior debt securities with respect to principal (and premium, if any) and interest to the date of the deposit (if the senior debt securities have become due and payable) or to the maturity thereof, as the case may be.

Such a trust may only be established if, among other things,

“ Government Obligations ” means securities which are:

and which are not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer or issuers thereof, and shall also include a depositary receipt issued by a bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any Government Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of or any other amount with respect to any Government Obligation held by the custodian for the account of the holder of the depositary receipt; provided that (except as required by law) the custodian is not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of the depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian with respect to the Government Obligation or the specific payment of interest on or principal of or any other amount with respect to the Government Obligation evidenced by the depositary receipt.

In the event Ecopetrol effects covenant defeasance with respect to any senior debt securities and the senior debt securities are declared due and payable because of the occurrence of any event of default other than an event of default with respect to the “Limitations on Liens” covenant contained in the indenture (which sections would no longer be applicable to the senior debt securities after the covenant defeasance) or with respect to any other covenant as to which there has been covenant defeasance, the amount in the foreign currency in which the senior debt securities are payable, and Government Obligations on deposit with the trustee, will be sufficient to pay amounts due on the senior debt securities at the time of the stated maturity but may not be sufficient to pay amounts due on the senior debt securities at the time of the acceleration resulting from the event of default. However, Ecopetrol would remain liable to make payment of the amounts due at the time of acceleration.

Currency Indemnity

Ecopetrol has agreed that, if a judgment or order made by any court for the payment of any amount in respect of any debt securities is expressed in a currency (the “judgment currency”) other than U.S. Dollars (the “denomination currency”), Ecopetrol will indemnify the relevant holder against any deficiency arising from any variation in rates of exchange between the date as of which the denomination currency is notionally converted into the judgment currency for the purposes of the judgment or order and the date of actual payment. This indemnity will constitute a separate and independent obligation from Ecopetrol’s other obligations under the indenture, will give rise to a separate and independent cause of action, will apply irrespective of any indulgence granted from time to time and will continue in full force and effect notwithstanding any judgment or order for a liquidated sum or sums in respect of amounts due in respect of the relevant note or under any judgment or order described above.

Governing Law

The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York except that the laws of Colombia will govern all matters relating to authorization and execution of the indenture and the debt securities.

Submission to Jurisdiction; Agent for Service of Process

We will submit to the jurisdiction of any federal or state court in the City of New York, Borough of Manhattan for purposes of all legal actions and proceedings instituted in connection with the debt securities or the indenture. We have appointed Corporation Service Company (CSC), 1133 Avenue of the Americas, Suite 3100, New York, New York 10036 as our authorized agent upon which service of process may be served in any such action relating to the debt securities or the indenture.

Regarding the Trustee

The trustee is permitted to engage in other transactions with Ecopetrol and its subsidiaries from time to time; provided that if the trustee acquires any conflicting interest it must eliminate the conflict upon the occurrence of an event of default, or else resign.

Ecopetrol may at any time remove the trustee at its office or agency in the City of New York designated for the foregoing purposes and may from time to time rescind such designations.

No Personal Liability of Shareholders, Officers, Directors, or Employees

The indenture provides that no recourse for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any of the debt securities or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of Ecopetrol in such indenture, or in any of the debt securities or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any shareholder, officer, director, employee or controlling person of Ecopetrol or of any successor thereof.

Description of Guaranteed Debt Securities

We will set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement or other offering materials a description of the guaranteed debt securities which may be offered under this prospectus.

LEGAL MATTERS

Unless otherwise indicated in a supplement to this prospectus, Shearman & Sterling LLP, our United States counsel, will pass upon the validity under New York law of the securities and prietocarrizosa will pass upon certain legal matters governed by Colombian law with respect to the securities.

EXPERTS

Our consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2012 and 2011 and for the two years ended December 31, 2012, incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the 2012 Annual Report, have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of KPMG Ltda., an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm, as experts in auditing and accounting. KPMG Ltda., is registered with the Central Public Accountants Board in Colombia.

Our consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2010 and for the year ended December 31, 2010, incorporated in this prospectus by reference to the 2012 Annual Report, have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers Ltda., an independent registered public accounting firm, given on the authority of said firm, as experts in auditing and accounting. PricewaterhouseCoopers Ltda., is registered with the Central Public Accountants Board in Colombia.

The summary reports of Ryder Scott, DeGolyer and MacNaughton and Gaffney, Cline & Associates, independent petroleum engineering consultants, referenced in the 2012 Annual Report, which is incorporated by reference herein, have been referenced in reliance upon the authority of the firms as experts in estimating proved oil and gas reserves.

DOCUMENTS ON DISPLAY

We file reports, including this prospectus, with the SEC under the Securities Act. The Company will provide to each person, including any beneficial owner, to whom a prospectus is delivered, a copy of any or all of the information that has been incorporated by reference into the prospectus but not delivered with the prospectus. Such information will be provided upon written or oral request at no cost to the requester by writing to Ecopetrol, S.A., Carrera 13 No. 36-24, Bogota, Republic of Colombia or by calling (571) 234-4000.

You may read and copy all or any portion of this registration statement or other information in the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F. Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the operation of the public reference room. Any filings we make are also available to the public over the Internet at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov and at our website at www.ecopetrol.com.co. (This URL is intended to be an inactive textual reference only. It is not intended to be an active hyperlink to our website. The information on our website, which might be accessible through a hyperlink resulting from this URL, is not and shall not be deemed to be incorporated into this registration statement.)

Ecopetrol S.A.

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PROSPECTUS

July 26, 2013

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