6-K 1 v200053_6-k.htm Unassociated Document
 
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549
                        
 
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16 OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

October 2010
                        
 
Commission File Number: 333-153452
                        
 
ECOPETROL S.A.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its Charter)
                        
 
Carrera 7 No. 37 – 69
BOGOTA – COLOMBIA
(Address of registrant’s principal executive offices)
                        
 
 
 Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
 
 
Form 20-F
x
Form 40-F
o
 
 Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):
 
 
Yes       
o
No
x
 
 Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):
 
 
Yes       
o
No
x
 
 Indicate by check mark whether by furnishing the information contained in this Form, the registrant is also thereby furnishing the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
 
 
Yes       
o
No
x
 
 If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):  82-      N/A   
 

 
PRESS RELEASE

Ecopetrol Announces Results for the third quarter of 2010
and the nine-month period ended Sep. 30 of 2010

 
·
Production for the Ecopetrol Corporate Group for the quarter was 632.1 MBOED, up 16.4% compared to the same period last year.
 
·
Ecopetrol S.A.’s net income for the quarter reached COL$1.7 trillion, and COL$5.6 trillion between January and September of 2010, increasing 42.7% and 57.2% respectively compared to 2009.
 
·
EBITDA margin increased to 46% during the quarter and to 44% for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010.
 
·
The hydro-treatment plant began producing diesel and gasoline according to the highest international quality standards.
 
·
A new subsidiary was incorporated for the construction of the Oleoducto Bicentenario.

BOGOTA, Oct. 26 / — Ecopetrol S.A. (BVC: ECOPETROL; NYSE: EC; BVL: EC; TSX: ECP) (“Ecopetrol” or the “Company”) announced today its unaudited unconsolidated and consolidated financial results for the third quarter of 2010 and the nine-month period ended Sep. 30, 2010, prepared and filed in accordance with the Public Accountancy Legal Framework (Regimen de Contabilidad Publica – RCP) of the Colombian General Accounting Office and in Colombian pesos (COL$).

This current report on Form 6-k is hereby incorporated by reference into the Company’s registration statement on Form F-3 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on February 12, 2010.

The table below sets forth the highlights of Ecopetrol’s financial results for the periods indicated

Highlights of Ecopetrol’s financial results

   
Unconsolidated
   
Consolidated
 
(COP$ Billion)
 
3Q 2010
   
3Q 2009
   
%
   
Nine-month
period
ended Sep
30, 2010
   
Nine-month
period
ended Sep
30, 2009
   
%
   
3Q 2010
   
3Q 2009
   
%
   
Nine-month
period
ended Sep
30, 2010
   
Nine-month
period
ended Sep
30, 2009
   
%
 
Total sales
    8,586.7       7,370.0       16.5 %     26,461.5       19,168.3       38.0 %     9,892.2       8,901.8       11.1 %     30,324.2       21,418.4       41.6 %
Operating profit
    2,865.9       2,224.1       28.9 %     8,757.3       5,377.5       62.9 %     2,767.4       2,330.3       18.8 %     8,927.2       5,493.8       62.5 %
Operating margin
    33 %     30 %             33 %     28 %             28 %     26 %             29 %     26 %        
EBITDA
    3,952.1       3,037.6       30.1 %     11,694.3       7,474.4       56.5 %     4,033.0       3,212.4       25.5 %     12,067.3       8,102.0       48.9 %
EBITDA margin
    46 %     41 %             44 %     39 %             41 %     36 %             40 %     38 %        
Net Income
    1,702.4       1,193.4       42.7 %     5,604.1       3,564.9       57.2 %     1,723.5       1,109.8       55.3 %     5,444.8       3,410.6       59.6 %
Net margin
    20 %     16 %             21 %     19 %             17 %     12 %             18 %     16 %        
Earnings per share (COP$)
    42.06       29.49               138.46       88.08                                                          

Ecopetrol’s CEO, Javier Gutierrez, said: “The third quarter’s results were very important for our strategic plan. Beside the production growth above 16%, the discovery of hydrocarbons in two exploratory wells and the acquisition of a 51% interest in BP in Colombia, are evidence that we are headed in the right direction to strengthen our E&P business.

The start in operations of the hydro-treatment plant which allows us to supply cleaner fuels with the highest international standards, the advances in the structuring of the Oleoducto Bicentenario project, and the beginning of production and transportation of biodiesel were also highlights of the quarter. As we had anticipated, today we are reporting important achievements. Another important milestone was the listing of the company’s ADR on the Toronto Stock Exchange, allowing us to continue strengthening our presence in the international capital markets. With this listing, Canadian investors with growing interest in Colombia and Ecopetrol are now able to follow our results and strategy more closely.

In summary, it was a positive quarter for the Company, which gives us confidence in achieving the goals for 2010, and accomplishing the objectives set for 2015 and 2020.”

 
1

 

 
PRESS RELEASE

Ecopetrol Announces Results for the third quarter of 2010 and
the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010

Table of Contents

I. Financial and operating results
3
     
a.
Availability of crude oil and products
3
     
b.
Ecopetrol sales volumes
4
     
c.
Price behavior
5
     
d.
Financial Results
6
     
e.
Cash flow and position
7
     
f.
Results by Segment
8
     
g.
Balance sheet
8
     
a.
Exploration
10
     
b.
Production
11
     
c.
Refining
13
     
d.
Transportation
14
     
e.
Biofuels
15
   
III. Corporate Social Responsibility
16
   
a.
Human talent and recognition
16
     
b.
Science and technology
17
     
d.
Health, Safety and Environmental Performance
17
   
IV.  Financial Results of Ecopetrol and Subsidiaries (consolidated)
18
   
V. Presentation of Results
20
   
VI. Tables
22

 
2

 

 
PRESS RELEASE

I. Financial and operating results
 
 
a.
Availability of crude oil and products

The availability of Ecopetrol crudes and products is summarized in the following table of volumes produced, purchased and imported:

Ecopetrol S.A. (does not include subsidiaries)
Gross oil and gas production
(MBOED)
 
3Q 2010
   
3Q 2009
   
%
   
Nine-month
period ended
Sep 30, 2010
   
Nine-month
period ended
Sep 30, 2009
   
%
 
Crude Oil
    498.9       412.8       20.9 %     471.9       394.1       19.7 %
Natural Gas
    98.4       96.0       2.5 %     97.5       90.4       7.9 %
Total
    597.3       508.8       17.4 %     569.4       484.5       17.5 %
 
(-) Royalties
 
(MBOED)
 
3Q 2010
   
3Q 2009
   
%
   
Nine-month
period ended
Sep 30, 2010
   
Nine-month
period ended
Sep 30, 2009
   
%
 
Crude Oil
    77.8       62.1       25.3 %     71.3       59.9       19.0 %
Natural Gas
    20.3       19.0       6.8 %     19.1       18.0       6.1 %
Total
    98.1       81.1       21.0 %     90.4       77.9       16.0 %
 
(=) Net oil and gas production
 
(MBOED)
 
3Q 2010
   
3Q 2009
   
%
   
Nine-month
period ended
Sep 30, 2010
   
Nine-month
period ended
Sep 30, 2009
   
%
 
Crude oil
    421.1       350.7       20.1 %     400.6       334.2       19.9 %
Gas natural
    78.1       77.0       1.4 %     78.4       72.4       8.3 %
Total
    499.2       427.7       16.7 %     479.0       406.6       17.8 %
 
Purchase volume (mboed)*
 
3Q 2010
   
3Q 2009
   
%
   
Nine-month
period ended
Sep 30, 2010
   
Nine-month
period ended
Sep 30, 2009
   
%
 
Crude Oil
    174.4       164.1       6.3 %     175.1       163.1       7.4 %
Refined products
    3.5       7.3       (52.1 )%     5.2       8.1       (35.8 )%
Natural Gas
    36.4       38.6       (5.7 )%     37.9       36.9       2.7 %
Total Purchases
    214.3       210.0       2.0 %     218.2       208.1       4.9 %
 
Imports volume (mbd)
 
3Q 2010
   
3Q 2009
   
%
   
Nine-month
period ended
Sep 30, 2010
   
Nine-month
period ended
Sep 30, 2009
   
%
 
Products
    48.1       41.5       15.9 %     59.5       37.5       58.7 %
 
    
3Q 2010
   
3Q 2009
   
%
   
Nine-month
period ended
Sep 30, 2010
   
Nine-month
period ended
Sep 30, 2009
   
%
 
Total available**
    761.6       679.2       12.1 %     756.7       652.2       16.0 %

* Purchase volume includes royalties from Ecopetrol and other companies
** Does not include inventories variations

The Company’s growing crude and gas production was the main source of supply for the Company’s operations increasing 17.4% from the third quarter of 2009 to the same period of 2010. In terms of purchased volumes, total purchases grew 2% and third-party crude purchases increased 6.3% compared to the third quarter of 2009.

The 15.9% growth in imports was due to 1) the purchase of diesel with very low sulphur content in order to comply with the environmental regulations before the Company’s hydro-treatment plant became operational, and 2) increased naphtha imports to act as a diluent for the transportation of heavy crude oils.

 
3

 

 
PRESS RELEASE

 
b.
Ecopetrol sales volumes

Local Sales Volume (mboed)
 
3Q 2010
   
3Q 2009
   
%
   
Nine-month
period ended
Sep 30, 2010
   
Nine-month
period ended
Sep 30, 2009
   
%
 
Crude Oil
    4.8       0.4       1,100.0 %     3.6       0.3       1,100.0 %
Natural Gas
    87.1       75.5       15.4 %     96.1       67.8       41.7 %
Gasoline
    59.3       73.5       (19.3 )%     61.8       73.9       (16.4 )%
Medium Distillates
    99.9       82.8       20.7 %     101.7       79.1       28.6 %
LPG and fuel oil
    14.5       18.9       (23.3 )%     15.2       19.7       (22.8 )%
Industrial and Petrochemical
    17.1       13.8       23.9 %     16.7       12.8       30.5 %
Total Local Sales
    282.7       264.9       6.7 %     295.1       253.6       16.4 %
 
Export Sales Volume (mboed)
 
3Q 2010
   
3Q 2009
   
%
   
Nine-month
period ended
Sep 30, 2010
   
Nine-month
period ended
Sep 30, 2009
   
%
 
Crude Oil
    303.0       248.0       22.2 %     294.0       216.4       35.9 %
Products
    54.0       40.3       34.0 %     50.7       50.7       0.0 %
Natural Gas
    5.6       23.1       (75.8 )%     2.3       24.1       (90.5 )%
Total Export Sales
    362.6       311.4       16.4 %     347.0       291.2       19.2 %
 
Sales to Free Trade Zone (mboed)
 
3Q 2010
   
3Q 2009
   
%
   
Nine-month
period ended
Sep 30, 2010
   
Nine-month
period ended
Sep 30, 2009
   
%
 
Crude Oil
    75.9       76.2       (0.4 )%     77.5       79.5       (2.5 )%
Products
    2.9       2.3       26.1 %     2.3       2.0       15.0 %
Natural Gas
    2.1       1.9       10.5 %     2.4       2.0       20.0 %
Total Sales to Free Trade Zone
    80.9       80.4       0.6 %     82.2       83.5       (1.6 )%
                                                 
Total Sales Volume
    726.2       656.7       10.6 %     724.3       628.3       15.3 %

The increase in sales shown in the table above is primarily the result of:

International market:

The most significant developments in the Company’s international sales activity during the third quarter were:

 
·
The exporting of six shipments of Castilla crude of one million barrels each.
 
·
Growth in gas exports to Venezuela.
 
·
Increase in sales to refineries in United States, from 5.5 million barrels in the third quarter 2009 to 6.4 million barrels in the same period this year.

As shown above, there was an increase in crude exports to Africa, Canada and Central and South America in the third quarter of 2010 compared to the same period in 2009. Product exports to the Caribbean and Central America were also significantly higher during the period.

Export destinations: Crudes
 
Destination
 
3Q 2010
   
3Q 2009
 
US Gulf Coast
    56.6 %     58.6 %
Far east
    12.5 %     21.6 %
Central America
    6.5 %     0.3 %
South America
    6.5 %     2.8 %
Africa
    5.5 %     2.4 %
US West Coast
    3.9 %     5.5 %
Caribbean
    3.7 %     4.2 %
Canada
    3.6 %     0.0 %
US Atlantic Coast
    1.2 %     2.4 %
Europe
    0.0 %     2.2 %
      100.0 %     100.0 %

Export destinations: Products
 
Destination
 
3Q 2010
   
3Q 2009
 
US Gulf Coast
    46.2 %     20.5 %
Far east
    23.4 %     7.2 %
Central America
    9.4 %     13.3 %
South America
    0.0 %     6.9 %
Caribbean
    3.2 %     22.2 %
US Atlantic Coast
    0.0 %     19.0 %
Europe
    17.8 %     10.9 %
      100.0 %     100.0 %

 
4

 

 
PRESS RELEASE

Local market:

Local sales increased by 6.7% in the third quarter of 2010.  Such increase was largely the result of the growth in sales of medium distillates, natural gas and industrial and petrochemical products.

Growing sales of medium distillates is the result of constraints in the supply of B100 (100% palm biofuel) to wholesalers, who had to purchase higher B2 volumes from Ecopetrol to supply the market. Additionally, there was an increase on JET fuel demand due to a lower price of this fuel in Colombia compared to the close references and a growth of frequencies in the airlines in the country.

Gasoline sales decreased during the third quarter of 2010 compared to the same period of 2009 due to a lower demand in the north coast as well as in the western region of the country. The lower demand was partially offset by the reduction in ethanol content on gasoline, which decreased from 10% to 8%, requiring additional 2% of gasoline in the blend.

In the nine month period ended September 2010, local sales represented 52% of total sales, rising 12% when compared to the same period 2009. The growth is mainly because of the higher deliveries of natural gas (80GBTU) and diesel to thermal plants (1.4 MBD).
 
 
c.
Price behavior

Average price export basket
 
3Q 2010
   
3Q 2009
   
%
   
Nine-month
period ended
Sep 30, 2010
   
Nine-month
period ended
Sep 30, 2009
   
%
 
WTI (average)
    76.2       68.3       11.6 %     77.6       57.0       36.1 %
Export crude oil basket
    69.9       62.4       12.0 %     70.7       50.4       40.3 %
Export products basket
    68.1       61.2       11.3 %     68.8       47.7       44.2 %
Natural gas basket
    4.0       3.1       29.0 %     3.8       3.4       11.8 %

Crude differentials of Ecopetrol crude oil basket in the third quarter were close to those of the same period one year ago (US$-6.3/Bl in the third quarter of 2010 vs US$-5.9/Bl in the third quarter of 2009). The price of Castilla crude has been recovering as a result of 1) improvements in refining margins, 2) the reduction in heavy crude production by OPEC countries and Mexico, and 3) the lack of supply in the market of the Canadian Cold Lake crude due to the disruption of its transport lines between the West and East coasts and to within the United States.

Product differentials increased during the third quarter 2010 compared to the third quarter of 2009 (US$-8,1/Bl in the third quarter of 2010 vs US$-7,1/Bl in the third quarter of 2009) as a result of steeper discounts on fuel oils in the international markets. However, the discount for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010 was lower than in 2009 due to the consolidation of Colombian fuel oil shipments using larger capacity tankers for transporting products to Singapore (a country with high demand and an attractive bunker price for shipping fuel).

The price of the natural gas basket rose on an increase in the price of Guajira gas, (which is the most significant gas production in respect of the Company’s gas revenue).  According to CREG (Colombian energy and gas regulatory commission) regulation this price is indexed to fuel oil prices.

 
5

 

PRESS RELEASE
 
 
d.
Financial Results

Ecopetrol S.A. (does not include subsidiaries)

Income Statement (COP$ Billion)
 
3Q 2010
   
3Q 2009
   
%
   
Nine-month
period
ended Sep
30, 2010
   
Nine-
month
period
ended Sep
30, 2009
   
%
 
Local Sales
    3,115.4       2,765.6       12.6 %     9,871.0       7,697.6       28.2 %
Export Sales*
    5,137.5       4,356.8       17.9 %     15,615.2       10,755.3       45.2 %
Sales of services
    333.8       247.6       34.8 %     975.3       715.4       36.3 %
Total Sales
    8,586.7       7,370.0       16.5 %     26,461.5       19,168.3       38.0 %
Variable Costs
    3,851.6       3,383.2       13.8 %     12,169.7       9,009.0       35.1 %
Fixed Costs
    1,415.0       1,247.4       13.4 %     4,014.4       3,298.3       21.7 %
Cost of Sales
    5,266.6       4,630.6       13.7 %     16,184.1       12,307.3       31.5 %
Gross profit
    3,320.1       2,739.4       21.2 %     10,277.4       6,861.0       49.8 %
Operating Expenses
    454.2       515.2       (11.8 )%     1,520.1       1,483.5       2.5 %
Operating Profit
    2,865.9       2,224.2       28.9 %     8,757.3       5,377.5       62.9 %
Non Operating Profit/(Loss)
    (556.4 )     (588.9 )     (5.5 )%     (1,167.4 )     (425.6 )     174.3 %
Income tax
    607.1       441.8       37.4 %     1,985.8       1,387.0       43.2 %
Net Income
    1,702.4       1,193.5       42.6 %     5,604.1       3,564.9       57.2 %
                                                 
Earnings per share (COP$)
  $ 42.06     $ 29.49       42.6 %   $ 138.46     $ 88.08       57.2 %
EBITDA
    3,952.1       3,037.6       30.1 %     11,694.3       7,474.4       56.5 %
EBITDA Margin
    46 %     41 %             44 %     39 %        
Operating Margin
    33 %     30 %             33 %     28 %        
Net Margin
    20 %     16 %             21 %     19 %        

* Sales to Free trade zones for the year 2009 were reclasified as export sales to make financial statements comparable

Ecopetrol’s net income in third quarter 2010 exceeded that of the same period one year ago, while the first nine months of 2010 also saw an increase compared to 2009. The higher net income primarily was the result of higher operating income derived from increases in volume and international prices. The increase in revenues was higher than the increase in costs which resulted in higher operating margin (33% in the third quarter of 2010 vs. 30% in the third quarter 2009). EBITDA margin was significantly higher for the quarter by 46%, and 44% cumulative for the year.

The following key factors are noted when comparing the third quarter 2010 financial results with those of last year as well as cumulative through the end of September 2010 and 2009:

 
·
Total sales increased primarily due to: 1) higher sales volume, and 2) higher crude and product prices.

 
·
Variable costs increased mainly as a result of an increase in hydrocarbon purchases, imports as well as amortization and depletion stemming from new capitalizations and greater production. The effect of the peso revaluation against the U.S. dollar had a favorable effect by reducing costs.

 
·
Fixed costs increased due to the higher contracted services both for direct as well as subsidiary operations, maintenance, well renovations and depreciations.

 
·
Operating expenses decreased due to lower exploratory expenses and projects as a result of fewer dry well recognitions,

 
·
Trade expenses increased derived from the economic recognition to customers of natural gas delivery cancellations resulting from operating and weather factors.

 
6

 

 
PRESS RELEASE

 
·
A non-operating loss of COL$556.4 billion was recorded for the third quarter primarily because of:

 
o
A loss in registered interests, according to the equity method, of COL$293 billion primarily a result of: 1) dry well recognition at Ecopetrol Brasil (COL$160 billion); 2) negative margins of the Cartagena refinery margins (COL$63 billion), and 3) recognition of exploratory expenses in Ecopetrol Peru (COL$57 billion).

 
o
Net loss of COL$128.5 billion due to the effect of the peso revaluation in the mark to market of dollar-denominated portfolio investments. However, it is important to highlight that the net position in foreign currency that resulted from the debt acquired in dollars has decreased the Company’s exposure to these exchange rate factors. The Company’s active net position in U.S. dollars at September 30, 2010 was US$511 million.

 
o
Net allowances of COL$25.6 billion, primarily in the line item “allowance of property, plant and equipment”

 
o
Net financial income of COL$98.4 billion corresponding to interest, and mark to market of the investment portfolio.

 
o
Other minor expenditures of COL$10.8 billion.
 
 
e.
Cash flow and position

Col$ Billion*
 
3Q 2010
   
3Q 2009
   
Nine-month
period ended
Sep 30, 2010
 
Initial Cash
    7,885       5,535       4,840  
Cash generated from operations (+)
    8,736       9,129       26,456  
Cash used in operations (-)
    (6,133 )     (6,058 )     (17,140 )
Capex (-)
    (1,449 )     (1,408 )     (4,164 )
Acquisitions (-)
    (1,161 )     -       (1,161 )
Dividend payments (-)
    (1,214 )     (2,938 )     (2,469 )
New debt (+)
    -       3,509       -  
Other inflows (+/-)
    358       263       968  
Fx differences (+)
    (230 )     (238 )     (538 )
Final Cash
    6,792       7,794       6,792  

*For purposes of registration, the balances in U.S. dollars are converted to pesos each month at the average exchange rate. The initial cash in each quarter is calculated at the average first month rate and final cash is calculated with the average rate of the last month of the quarter.

As of September 30, 2010, Ecopetrol registered approximately COL$6.8 trillion in its total portfolio of liquidity surpluses, equivalent to cash and investments, including investments in portfolios held to maturity of COP$118.5 billion.

The company generated COL$ 8.7 trillion in cash from operations, which is less than the COL$9.1 trillion generated the year before, mainly because in the third quarter of 2010 only COL$144 billion of subsidies were received, compared to COL$1.6 trillion in the same period of 2009.

 
7

 
  
PRESS RELEASE

 
f.
Results by Segment

Results by Segment
COP$ Billion
   
E&P
   
Refining
   
Transportation
   
Sales and Marketing
   
Eliminations
   
Ecopetrol
 
   
3Q 2010
   
Nine-
month
period
ended Sep
30, 2010
   
3Q 2010
   
Nine-
month
period
ended Sep
30, 2010
   
3Q 2010
   
Nine-
month
period
ended Sep
30, 2010
   
3Q 2010
   
Nine-
month
period
ended Sep
30, 2010
   
3Q 2010
   
Nine-
month
period
ended Sep
30, 2010
   
3Q 2010
   
Nine-
month
period
ended Sep
30, 2010
 
Domestic Sales
    2,528.8       7,228.5       2,866.0       8,968.4       787.4       2,244.9       234.4       751.2       (2,967.3 )     (8,346.7 )     3,449.3       10,846.3  
International Sales
    2,973.5       8,920.3       650.8       1,895.6       -       -       1,513.2       4,799.3       -       -       5,137.5       15,615.2  
Total Sales
    5,502.3       16,148.8       3,516.8       10,864.0       787.4       2,244.9       1,747.6       5,550.5       (2,967.3 )     (8,346.7 )     8,586.8       26,461.5  
Operating Revenues
    2,845.7       8,526.5       (209.6 )     (490.2 )     167.0       549.1       41.2       171.8       -       -       2,844.3       8,757.2  
Operating Margin
    51.7 %     52.8 %     (6.0 )%     (4.5 )%     21.2 %     24.5 %     2.4 %     3.1 %     -       -       33.1 %     33.1 %
Net Income
    1,835.4       5,769.2       (190.3 )     (613.9 )     74.8       426.0       39.3       22.7       -       -       1,759.1       5,604.0  
Net Margin
    33.4 %     35.7 %     (5.4 )%     (5.7 )%     9.5 %     19.0 %     2.2 %     0.4 %     -       -       20.5 %     21.2 %
EBITDA
    3,768.8       11,000.7       (114.6 )     (238.8 )     237.7       760.8       40.6       171.6       -       -       3,932.5       11,694.3  
Ebitda Margin
    68.5 %     68.1 %     (3.3 )%     (2.2 )%     30.2 %     33.9 %     2.3 %     3.1 %     -       -       45.8 %     44.2 %

Note: The report by segment is calculated based on transfer prices between business units, using as reference export parity prices.

Exploration and Production:

The Exploration and Production segment generated a net income of COL$1,835.4 billion in third quarter of 2010 as a result of the continued growth of the Company’s production. Net income corresponding to this segment totaled COL$5,769.2 billion in the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010. The Ebitda margin of the segment was 68.5% during the third quarter and 68.1% for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010.

Refining:

The Refining and Petrochemical segment recorded a loss of COL$190.3 billion in the third quarter of 2010 and a loss of COL$613.9 billion for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010, with an operating margin of US$-3.7/barrel. Starting September, imports of Premium Diesel decreased from 39MBD to 24MBD as a result of the commencement of operations of the hydro-treatment plant at the Barrancabermeja refinery. The Ebitda margin of the segment was -3.3% during the third quarter and     -2.2% for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010.

Transportation:

The Transportation segment generated net income of COP$74.8 billion in the third quarter of 2010 and net income of COP$426.0 billion for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010. These increases were primarily due to the increase in volumes transported, which resulted from higher volumes of crude, biodiesel and other fuels. The Ebitda margin of the segment was 30.2% during the third quarter and 33.9% for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010.

Supply and Marketing:

The Supply and Marketing segment generated net income of COP$39.3 billion in the third quarter of 2010 and net income of COP$22.7 billion for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010, mainly as a result of higher volumes traded of crude and premium diesel. The Ebitda margin of the segment was 2.3% during the third quarter and 3.1% for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010.
 
 
g.
Balance sheet
 
The following table sets forth a summary of Ecopetrol’s unconsolidated balance sheet as of the periods indicated:

 
8

 

 
PRESS RELEASE

Unconsolidated
                 
Balance Sheet (COP$ Billion)
 
As of
September 30,
2010
   
As of June 30,
2010
   
%
 
Current Assets
    11,554.3       11,278.8       2.4 %
Long Term Assets
    48,604.7       47,815.9       1.6 %
Total Assets
    60,159.0       59,094.7       1.8 %
Current Liabilities
    10,608.1       11,211.5       (5.4 )%
Long Term Liabilities
    13,127.6       13,358.1       (1.7 )%
Total Liabilities
    23,735.7       24,569.6       (3.4 )%
Equity
    36,423.3       34,525.1       5.5 %
Total Liabilities and Shareholders´ Equity
    60,159.0       59,094.7       1.8 %
                         
Debit Memorandum accounts
    85,123.2       88,299.8       (3.6 )%
Credit Memorandum accounts
    63,519.1       62,875.8       1.0 %

During the third quarter of 2010 the main variations in assets were 1) Higher mark to market due to the valuation of variable income portfolio investments, and adjustments made to fixed assets amounting to COL$210 billion; 2) Payment of the second installment of the dividend to the shareholders amounting to COL$1.2 trillion; 3) Depletion of the Company’s investment portfolio which was used for the payment of the acquisition of 51% of BP Exploration Company Colombia Limited; 4) Incorporation and capitalization of Oleoducto Bicentenario de Colombia S.A.S. for COL$306 billion, registered as an account payable; 5) Increase in property, plant and equipment of COL$804 billion, principally attributable to capitalizations associated with the start in operation of the hydro-treatment plant at the Barrancabermeja refinery.

The Company’s liabilities declined 3% in the third quarter of 2010 mainly as a result of the payment of the second installment of the dividend to the Company’s shareholders, in August 2010.

The Company’s equity increased 5.5% during the quarter mainly due to 1) recognition of the valuation surplus in property, plant and equipment investments, 2) revaluation of long-lifed assets, and 3) a decrease in the surplus from the equity method.

 
9

 

 
PRESS RELEASE

II. Aspects of the Business
 
 
a.
Exploration

Exploration in Colombia (does not include subsidiaries):

During the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010, the following exploratory drilling was carried out in Colombia:

A-3 and stratigraphic wells
Nine-month period ended Sep 30, 2010
Type of well
 
Number of
wells
   
Hydrocarbon
Presence
   
Under evaluation
   
Dry
 
A-3
 
12
   
3
   
0
   
9
 
Stratigraphic
 
8
   
4
   
0
   
4
 

Wells with hydrocarbon presence
Nine-month period ended Sep 30, 2010
Well
 
Type
 
Basin
 
Province
Quifa-6
 
A-3
 
Llanos
 
Meta
Rio Zulia West
 
A-3
 
Catatumbo
 
Norte de Santander
Oripaya
 
A-3
 
Catatumbo
 
Norte de Santander
Quifa-20x
 
Stratigraphic
 
Llanos
 
Meta
Quifa-22x
 
Stratigraphic
 
Llanos
 
Meta
Quifa-24x
 
Stratigraphic
 
Llanos
 
Meta
Quifa-26x
 
Stratigraphic
 
Llanos
 
Meta

During the third quarter of 2010, Ecopetrol concluded the drilling of two exploratory wells. The Oripaya well, of which Ecopetrol is operator with 100% participation rights, is located in Uribante Block (Catabumbo Basin – Norte de Santander Province) and has shown the presence of surface hydrocarbons. The Gouda well in the El Queso block (Valle Superior del Magdalena Basin – Tolima and Huila provinces), in which Ecopetrol is a 50% risk participant, was plugged and abandoned.

At the end of the third quarter of 2010, Ecopetrol was involved in drilling the Odin and Tinkhana wells in Valle Superior del Magdalena Basin and the Akacias well in the Llanos Basin.

Corporate Group Exploration:

International wells
Nine-month period ended Sep 30, 2010
Type of well
 
Number of
wells
   
Hydrocarbon
Presence
   
In evaluation
   
Dry
 
A-3
 
5
   
0
   
2
   
3
 

During the third quarter international exploratory activities were conducted on three wells: the Malbec and Itauna wells in Brazil, and the Runtusapa well in Peru.

 
10

 

 
PRESS RELEASE

The Malbec well was plugged and abandoned. As of September 30, 2010, the Runtusapa well was being drilled, as was the Itauna well, which showed the presence of hydrocarbons.

In Colombia, the subsidiary Hocol conducted activities on four wells during the third quarter, adding to six wells in the nine month period ended September 2010. Five of the wells were plugged and abandoned and one is still on evaluation.

Seismic:

Total seismic data acquired during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010 increased by 465% compared to the same period in 2009. 75% percent of acquired seismic in 2010 was at the international level by subsidiaries.

The following table summarizes the Company’s seismic activity:

Seismic Activity KM Eq
 
   
Jan-Sep 2010
   
Jan-Sep 2009
   
%
 
Direct
    1,295       1,443       -10 %
Joint ventures
    2,761       130    
2024
%
Association contracts
    -       627       -100 %
Hocol
    1,095       416       163 %
International
    11,022       249       4327 %
Total
    16,173       2,865       465 %

 
b.
Production

Production of Ecopetrol S.A.:

Gross production equivalent of Ecopetrol S.A. crude and gas increased 17.4% from 508.8 mboed in the third quarter of 2009 to 597.3 mboed in the third quarter of 2010, 83.5% of which was crude. Average production in the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010 reached 569.4 mboed, which represents an increase of 17.5% from the same period in 2009.  In such nine-month period, Ecopetrol’s direct production share of total production was 43%.

The following table summarizes the Company’s production per crude for the periods indicated:

Production per crude
 
    
3Q 2010
   
3Q 2009
   
%
   
Nine-month
period ended
Sep 30, 2010
   
Nine-month
period ended
Sep 30, 2009
   
%
 
Light crudes
    55.8       44.6       25.1 %     46.0       44.3       3.8 %
Medium crudes
    227.3       221.9       2.4 %     224.0       212.5       5.4 %
Heavy crudes
    215.8       146.3       47.5 %     201.9       137.3       47.1 %
Total
    498.9       412.8       20.9 %     471.9       394.1       19.7 %
 
Does not include subsidiaries

During the third quarter 2010, heavy crude accounted for 43% of total crude production compared to 35% in the same period of 2009. The increase is in line with initiatives implemented by the Company during 2010 to develop direct operations at the Castilla and Chichimene fields, and partnerships at the Rubiales and Quifa fields. In particular, Castilla’s results stood out with gross production in excess of 100 MBOD in the months of August (101 MBOD) and September (102 MBOD).

 
11

 

 
PRESS RELEASE

During the quarter, natural gas production increased to 562 MCFD compared to 548 MCFD in the same period in 2009. The nine-month period ended September 30, 2010 has shown a 7.7% increase reaching a natural gas production of 555 MCFD.

The following table summarizes the Company’s development well drilling activity for the periods indicated:

Development Wells
 
    
3Q 2010
   
3Q 2009
   
%
   
Nine-month
period ended
Sep 30, 2010
   
Nine-month
period ended
Sep 30, 2009
   
%
 
Direct
    60       38       58 %     122       105       16 %
In partnership
    155       103       50 %     400       320       25 %
Total
    215       141       52 %     522       425       23 %

During the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010, 522 wells were drilled, with an increase of 23% compared with the same period in 2009. Direct drilling activity rose by 16%. The details of drilling per region during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010 are summarized in the following table:

Development wells
 
Region
 
Direct wells
   
Asociated wells
 
Magdalena
    39       213  
Central
    74       141  
North east
    0       4  
Catatumbo Orinoquia
    0       8  
South
    9       31  
Others
    0       3  
Total
    122       400  

Costs for Ecopetrol S.A:

The lifting cost per barrel produced by Ecopetrol (including royalties) was US$7.28/BL for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010, compared to US$6.40/BL for the same period of 2009. The US$0.88/BL rise was a result of the revaluation of the Colombian peso vs. the U.S. dollar and higher costs associated with maintaining surface, subsoil and subsidiary infrastructures. The growth of the Company’s volumes produced had a favorable effect by reducing the cost.

Lifting cost calculated over barrels produced net of royalties is US$9.21/Bl for the nine month period ended September 2010, compared to US$7.71/Bl in the same period of 2009.

Corporate group:

The following table summarizes the Ecopetrol Corporate Group’s production on a consolidated basis:

 
12

 

 
PRESS RELEASE
 
Oil and gas production including royalties (mboed)
 
Ecopetrol S.A. 
 
3Q 2010
   
3Q 2009
   
%
   
Nine-month
period ended
Sep 30, 2010
   
Nine-month
period ended
Sep 30, 2009
   
%
 
Crude Oil
    498.9       412.8       20.9 %     471.9       394.1       19.7 %
Natural Gas
    98.4       96.0       2.5 %     97.5       90.4       7.9 %
Total
    597.3       508.8       17.4 %     569.4       484.5       17.5 %
 
Hocol
 
3Q 2010
   
3Q 2009
         
Nine-month
period ended
Sep 30, 2010
   
Nine-month
period ended
Sep 30, 2009
   
%
 
Crude Oil
    25.4       23.8       6.7 %     24.8       23.6       5.1 %
Natural Gas
    -       1.9       -100.0 %     1.1       1.4       (21.4 )%
Total
    25.4       25.7       -1.2 %     25.9       25.0       3.6 %
 
Savia 
 
3Q 2010
   
3Q 2009
         
Nine-month
period ended
Sep 30, 2010
   
Nine-month
period ended
Sep 30, 2009
   
%
 
Crude Oil
    6.4       5.8       10.3 %     6.5       5.6       16.1 %
Natural Gas
    1.1       1.4       -21.4 %     0.9       1.4       -35.7 %
Total
    7.5       7.2       4.2 %     7.4       7.0       5.7 %
 
Ecopetrol America INC
(K2)
 
3Q 2010
   
3Q 2009
         
Nine-month
period ended
Sep 30, 2010
   
Nine-month
period ended
Sep 30, 2009
   
%
 
Crude Oil
    1.7       1.2       41.7 %     1.7       0.7       142.9 %
Natural Gas
    0.2       0.1       100.0 %     0.2       -       100.0 %
Total
    1.9       1.3       46.2 %     1.9       0.7       171.4 %
                                                 
Total Group's production
    632.1       543.0       16.4 %     604.6       517.2       16.9 %

 
c.
Refining

Barrancabermeja refinery:

Despite the completion of scheduled maintenance in two units, through-put at the Barrancabermeja Refinery during the third quarter of 2010 was higher compared to the same period in 2009.

The following table summarizes the refinery runs at the Barrancabermeja refinery:

Refinery runs Barrancabermeja
Mbod
 
3Q 2010
   
3Q 2009
   
%
   
Nine-month
period ended
Sep 30, 2010
   
Nine-month
period ended
Sep 30, 2009
   
%
 
Barrancabermeja
    232.3       211.9       9.6 %     222.2       212.9       4.4 %

In terms of the hydro-treatment project, the diesel plant began operations in August followed by the gasoline plant in September, allowing for the delivery of clean fuels from the Company’s own production.
 
Margins and costs for Ecopetrol S.A.:

The cash operating cost of the Barrancabermeja refinery for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010 was US$5.48/BL, a decrease of US$0.07BL from the same period in 2009, resulting from 1) higher through-put, 2) lower costs generated from optimization of chemical product and fuel usage; 3) better management of planned stoppages; and 4) lower general costs.

 
13

 

 
PRESS RELEASE

Refining margin of the Barrancabermeja Refinery (average price of sold products minus average price of raw materials purchases) for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010 was US$7.29/Bl, compared to US$4.74/Bl during the same period in 2009. The increase was a result of a higher average price of the product basket (US$81.24/Bl vs. US$59.00/Bl) that offset the growth on crude oil and product purchases (diesel imports mainly) which increased from US$54.30/Bl to US$73.95/Bl. The improvement of the margin is driven by a better crack spread and a cheaper feed.

Cartagena refinery:

At the Cartagena Refinery (Reficar S.A.) through-put during the third quarter of 2010 was lower than that of the third quarter of last year as a result restrictions on the operation of the refinery’s crude unit which will undergo general maintenance during the fourth quarter of 2010.

Refinery runs Cartagena
Mbod
 
3Q 2010
   
3Q 2009
   
%
   
Nine-month
period ended
Sep 30, 2010
   
Nine-month
period ended
Sep 30, 2009
   
%
 
Cartagena
    75.7       80.1       (5.5 )%     77.7       79.1       (1.8 )%

For the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010, execution for the Development Master Plan in the Cartagena Refinery amounted to COL$690.5 billion. According to latest estimates, the mechanical end date will be February 28 of 2013.
 
 
d.
Transportation

Volumes transported:

Volume transported during the third quarter of 2010 rose by 33% compared to the same period of 2009, from 785.5 MBOD to 1,048.0 MBOD. Most of the growth was in the transportation of crude, which increased from 557.1 MBOD during the third quarter of 2009 to 792.7 MBOD during the third quarter of 2010 (42.3% increase). The growth in crude transport results from: 1) Expansion of transportation capacity of the Galan-Ayacucho 18” Pipeline; 2) Expansion of the transportation capacity of the Apiay-Porvenir oil pipelines and; 3) Optimization of the Ayacucho-Covenas 16” and Vasconia-GRB 20” pipelines. In terms of refined products, the increase in volume transported during the period reflected an increase in the transportation capacity of the Pozos Colorados-Galan 14” pipeline.

Infrastructure expansion:

The Company’s Program for Crude Extraction led to significant growth in the Company’s transportation capacity, coming mainly from 1) The Llanos Orientales region with an increase in the transport capacity of the Castilla – Apiay pipeline from 80 to 120 MBOD, 2) The Mid Magdalena Valley with an increase in the transport capacity of the Vasconia – Barrancabermeja pipeline from 140 to 160 MBOD and 3) The pumping capacity between the Ayacucho and Covenas pipeline increased from 40 to 48 MBOD.

Regarding undergoing projects, the construction of the 170,000 barrel storage tank at the Altos del Porvenir station was 40% completed; the expansion of the truck unloading facility in Ayacucho and Banadia was 56% completed; and the construction of the Andino multi-use pipeline for transporting refined hydrocarbons was 43% completed.

 
14

 

 
PRESS RELEASE

Costs:

The barrel/kilometer transport cost for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010 was COL$7.95 BKM in real terms, a decrease from the COL$8.10 BKM recorded in the same period of 2009.  This decrease results from higher volumes transported, notwithstanding greater maintenance activity and higher energy consumption (mainly resulting from oil pipeline operations).

Relevant Transportation Activities of the Group

Ocensa and ODL continued with the execution of expansion projects. Transported volumes by Ocensa during the third quarter increased significantly compared to the same period in 2009. The Porvenir-Vasconia section transported volume grew 57.1%, while the increase in the Vasconia-Coveñas section was 37.1%.

Ecopetrol incorporated the new subsidiary “Oleoducto Bicentenario de Colombia S.A.S.” in charge of the execution of the Oleoducto Bicenterario project. Interested parties will make their respective contributions and capitalize the company in the necessary amounts to start the construction. In order to meet the expected timelime, the environmental licenses for the first phase of the pipeline (section Araguaney – Banadía) were requested.
 
 
e.
Biofuels

On August 1, 2010, Ecopetrol began blending Biodiesel and Diesel (Extra and Regular) at the Barrancabermeja refinery, which resulted in the delivery of two new products B2 and B2E (2% Biodiesel and 98% Diesel) to customers.

The biodiesel is being supplied by Ecodiesel Colombia S.A. from its Biodiesel plant to the refinery’s blending unit. The biodiesel is then transported via its multi-use pipeline system positioning Colombia as the first country in Latin America to use multi-purpose lines to transport biofuel mixtures.

 
During the months of August and September 2010, Ecodiesel production was stable and the biofuel produced was of optimum quality. The operation of this project helps ensure the Ecopetrol Corporate Group’s synergies, the sustainability of Ecopetrol’s biodiesel program at the Barrancabermeja refinery, and the consolidation of Ecopetrol’s new biofuels business.

 
f.
2010 investment plan

During the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010, Ecopetrol’s organic investments totaled US$3,364 billion, a 45.5% increase from the same period in 2009. Additionally, the Company acquired a 51% interest in BP Exploration Company Colombia Limited for US$645 million, which was announced on August 3, 2010. As of September 30 the transaction is undergoing the required necessary legal authorizations process on behalf of the Colombian authorities in order to finalize the transaction.

The total amount invested during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010 reached US$4.0 billion, out of which 48% was allocated to production (US$1.9 billion), 16% to acquisitions (US$645 million), 12% to transport (US$459 million), 10% for refining and petrochemicals (US$415 million), 7% for subsidiaries (US$288 million), 4% for exploration (US$171 million) and the remaining 3% for the corporate segment and others (US$107 million).

 
15

 

 
PRESS RELEASE

III. Corporate Social Responsibility
 
 
a.
Human talent and recognition

In order to ensure the results of the work environment index, Ecopetrol continued with the execution of the necessary steps to become one of the best companies to work according to the Great Place to Work methodology. Additionally, the Company made progress in developing the technical, organizational and leadership skill of its employees.

 
16

 

PRESS RELEASE

 
b.
Science and technology

The Company’s primary achievements in science and technology during the third quarter of 2010 were:

·
Ecopetrol was one of the 51 finalists for the MAKE (Most Admired Knowledge Enterprises) award. This award recognizes the most admired worldwide companies in knowledge management.
·
Five patent requests were made in Colombia during the quarter and PCT (Patent Cooperation Treaty) international phase corresponding to the same number of innovative technologies for current application into the company. These requests are added to the 15 requests during the year, which reflects the innovation strategy of the company and its mechanism of protection of those innovative components.

 
c.
Social investment

Several social investment agreements were signed during the third quarter of 2010, bringing the total amount committed to social investment to COL$52,894 million for the year, with resources being negotiated with other entities at the rate of $1.52 for each peso invested in Ecopetrol. In this quarter we highlight the following agreements of social management: “Strengthening of Labor Opportunities Program”, Territorial connectivity program: Via Barranca” and “Environmental Preservation in the Catatumbo basin and tributaries”.

In addition, phase one of the Company’s environmental management program and phase two of the Company’s environmental emissions project began, through which the Company aims to make environmental management an active component of its strategic plan.
 
 
d.
Health, Safety and Environmental Performance

The following is a summary of the Company’s performance in the area of Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) during the third quarter of 2010:

·
Reduction in the number of environmental incidents for operational reasons to 15 during the third quarter of 2010, compared to 43 incidents in the same period of 2009.
·
Reduction in the frequency of absenteeism during the quarter due to job-related illnesses (events per one million man hours) from 0.5 in the third quarter of 2009 to 0.2 in the third quarter of 2010.
·
The combined accidental frequency rate, which measures the number of accidents per million man working hours, was 1.54 in the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010, which represents a 24% increase over the rate for the same period in 2009. In order to reduce the number of accidents the Company is adopting a cultural model based on behaviors, which aims to identify and control risks through HSE case methodologies, and implementing a training program for critical activities in order to develop HSE skills. The program also emphasizes the role of managers and leaders in reducing the number of accidents.

 
17

 

PRESS RELEASE
 
IV.  Financial Results of Ecopetrol and Subsidiaries (consolidated)1
 
For the third quarter of 2010, over 34 mboed of the 632.1 mboed of the Corporate Group’s daily production came from our subsidiary upstream companies: Hocol, Savia Peru, and Ecopetrol America Inc. Similarly, subsidiaries like Hocol, Propilco, Comai and Ecopetrol America Inc made significant contributions to the Ecopetrol Corporate group’s business and operations.

However, there are some subsidiary companies that do not yet make any financial contribution to the results of the Ecopetrol Corporate group, as these are still in a pre-operating stage or are conducting exploratory activities but do not yet have production. For the third quarter of 2010, Ecopetrol’s subsidiaries had an overall net loss which was primarily the result of the exploratory activity of Ecopetrol del Peru (Blocks 101, 134 and 158) and Ecopetrol del Brasil (well BM ES 29) and the pre-operating activities of Bioenergy.

The following tables summarize Ecopetrol’s consolidated financial results for the periods indicated:

Consolidated Income Statement*
 
   
(COP$ Billion)
 
3Q 2010
   
3Q 2009
   
%
   
Nine-
month
period
ended Sep
30, 2010
   
Nine-
month
period
ended Sep
30, 2009
   
%
 
Local Sales
    3,816.9       3,361.5       13.5 %     11,800.4       10,049.0       17.4 %
Export Sales*
    5,694.3       5,292.5       7.6 %     17,017.7       10,654.1       59.7 %
Sales of services
    381.0       247.8       53.8 %     1,506.1       715.4       110.5 %
  Total Sales
    9,892.2       8,901.8       11.1 %     30,324.2       21,418.4       41.6 %
Variable Costs
    4,739.9       4,593.6       3.2 %     14,638.9       10,284.2       42.3 %
Fixed Costs
    1,585.7       1,478.0       7.3 %     4,484.7       4,230.1       6.0 %
Cost of Sales
    6,325.6       6,071.6       4.2 %     19,123.6       14,514.3       31.8 %
Gross profit
    3,566.6       2,830.2       26.0 %     11,200.6       6,904.1       62.2 %
Operating Expenses
    799.2       499.9       59.9 %     2,273.4       1,410.3       61.2 %
  Operating Profit
    2,767.4       2,330.3       18.8 %     8,927.2       5,493.8       62.5 %
  Non Operating Profit/(Loss)
    (435.6 )     (689.5 )     (36.8 )%     (1,238.7 )     (584.1 )     112.1 %
Income tax
    599.7       532.4       12.6 %     2,131.1       1,507.7       41.3 %
Minority interest
    8.6       (1.4 )     (714.3 )%     112.6       (8.6 )     (1,409.3 )%
Net Income
    1,723.5       1,109.8       55.3 %     5,444.8       3,410.6       59.6 %
                                                 
EBITDA
    4,033.0       3,212.4       25.5 %     12,067.3       8,102.0       48.9 %
EBITDA Margin
    41 %     36 %             40 %     38 %        
Operating Margin
    28 %     26 %             29 %     26 %        
Net Margin
    17 %     12 %             18 %     16 %        
* For ilustration purposes only
** Sales to Free trade zones for the year 2009 were reclasified as export sales to make financial statements comparable
 

1 For purposes of preparing the consolidated results for third quarter 2010, in addition to Ecopetrol’s results, those of the following affiliates were included:

Ecopetrol Oleo e Gas Do Brasil, Ecopetrol America Inc, Ecopetrol del Peru S.A., ECP Global Energy, Hocol, Bioenergy S.A., Andean Chemicals Limited, Propilco S.A., Comai, ODL Finance S.A., Ecopetrol Transportation Company, Oleoducto de Colombia, Ocensa S.A., Reficar S.A. and Black Gold Re Ltd.

The consolidated financial results for the third quarter of 2009 include the following companies:  Ecopetrol Oleo e Gas Do Brasil, Ecopetrol America Inc, Ecopetrol del Peru S.A.,Hocol, Bioenergy S.A., Andean Chemicals Limited, ECP Global Energy, Propilco S.A., Comai, ODL Finance S.A., Black Gold Re Ltd., Ecopetrol Transportation Company, Oleoducto de Colombia, Ocensa S.A., and Reficar S.A.
 
 
18

 

PRESS RELEASE

Balance Sheet (COP$ Billion)
 
As of
September 30,
2010
   
As of June 30,
2010
   
%
 
Current Assets
    14,012.2       14,359.2       (2.4 )%
Long Term Assets
    49,960.7       47,922.5       4.3 %
Total Assets
    63,972.9       62,281.7       2.7 %
Current Liabilities
    11,025.2       11,957.6       (7.8 )%
Long Term Liabilities
    15,729.0       15,006.6       4.8 %
Total Liabilities
    26,754.2       26,964.2       (0.8 )%
Equity
    36,265.9       34,348.7       5.6 %
Minority interest
    952.8       968.8       (1.7 )%
Total Liabilities and Shareholders´ Equity
    63,972.9       62,281.7       2.7 %
                         
Debit Memorandum accounts
    86,525.3       89,667.0       (3.5 )%
Credit Memorandum accounts
    62,422.6       63,812.0       (2.2 )%
 
The subsidiaries that contributed the most to total sales for nine-month period ended September 30, 2010 (without taking into account eliminations) were Reficar with COL$3,549.0 billion, Hocol with COL$ 1,817.1 billion, Ocensa S.A. with COL$1,044.6 billion, and Propilco S.A. with  COL$991.1 billion.

Among subsidiaries, the highest contributors to the Group’s net income during the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010 were Ocensa with COL$292.6 billion, Hocol with COL$182.3 billion and Propilco (including Comai) with COL$43.6 billion. On the other hand, subsidiaries with the highest net losses were Ecopetrol America Inc. with a net loss of COL$266.9 billion, Ecopetrol del Brasil with a net loss of COL$182.9 billion and Ecopetrol del Peru with a net loss of COL$57.6.

Under the equity method, Offshore International Group contributed net income of COL$40.3 billion.

Consolidated Ebitda as of September 30, 2010 was COL$12,067.3 billion, which represents an Ebitda margin of 40%, driven mainly by the Corporate Group’s outstanding operating results.

In the third quarter of 2010, the subsidiaries with the highest net income were Hocol with COL$35.6 billion, and Propilco S.A with COL$9.3 billion. The subsidiaries with the highest net losses were Ecopetrol Brasil with a net loss of COL$171.1 billion and Ecopetrol del Peru with a net loss of COL$56.9 billion.

Consolidated Ebitda for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010 was COL$4,033.0 billion, and an Ebitda margin of 41%. Ebitda increase was mainly driven by the revenue growth for the Corporate Group.
 
 
19

 

PRESS RELEASE
 
V. Presentation of Results

On Wednesday, October 27, Ecopetrol’s management will hold two presentations on the Web to discuss results for the third quarter of 2010 and the nine-month period ended September 30, 2010.

In Spanish
In English
October 27, 2010
October 27, 2010
1:00 p.m. Bogota-Lima
2:30 pm Bogota-Lima
2:00 p.m. New York-Toronto
3:30 p.m. New York-Toronto
 
The webcast will be available on Ecopetrol’s website: www.ecopetrol.com.co.
 
Please access the site 10 minutes beforehand in order to download any necessary software. A copy of the webcast will remain available throughout the year following the live event.

About Ecopetrol S.A.

Ecopetrol S.A. (BVC: ECOPETROL; NYSE: EC) is the largest company in Colombia in terms of revenue, profit, assets and shareholders’ equity. Ecopetrol is Colombia’s only vertically integrated crude oil and natural gas company with operations in Colombia, Brazil, Peru and the U.S. Gulf Coast.  Its affiliates include Propilco, as well as Black Gold Re Ltda., Ecopetrol Oleo e Gas do Brazil Ltda., Ecopetrol America Inc., Ecopetrol del Peru S.A., Hocol, Andean Chemicals Limited, COMAI, Bioenergy S.A., ODL Finance S.A., ECP Global Energy, Ecopetrol Transportation Company, Ocensa S.A., Oleoducto de Colombia and Refineria de Cartagena. Ecopetrol is one of the 40 largest oil companies in the world and one of the four principal oil companies in Latin America. It is majority owned by the Republic of Colombia, and its shares are traded on the Bolsa de Valores de Colombia S.A. (BVC) under the symbol ECOPETROL, on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) through its ADR and on the Bolsa de Valores de Lima (BVL) under the symbol EC. The company divides its operations into five business segments that include exploration and production, transport, refining, petrochemicals, marketing and sale of petroleum, and corporate.
For more information on Ecopetrol, visit www.ecopetrol.com.co

Forward-looking statements

This release contains forward-looking statements relating to the prospects of the business, estimates for operating and financial results, and those related to growth prospects of Ecopetrol. These are merely projections and, as such, are based exclusively on the expectations of management concerning the future of the business and its continued access to capital to fund the Company’s business plan. Such forward-looking statements depend, substantially, on changes in market conditions, government regulations, competitive pressures, the performance of the Colombian economy and the industry, among other factors, therefore, they are subject to change without prior notice.
 
 
20

 

PRESS RELEASE

Contact information:

Investor Relations Director
Alejandro Giraldo
Telephone: +571-234-5190
Fax: +571-234-5628
E-mail: investors@ecopetrol.com.co

Media Relations (Colombia)
Jorge Mauricio Tellez
Telephone: + 571-234-4329
Fax: +571-234-4480
E-mail: mauricio.tellez@ecopetrol.com.co

 
21

 

PRESS RELEASE
 
VI. Tables

 Unaudited Income Statement
 Ecopetrol S.A.

COP$ Million
 
3Q-10
   
3Q-09
   
%
   
2Q-10
   
As of September
30, 2010
   
As of September
30, 2009
   
%
 
                                           
Income
                                               
Local Sales
    3,115,437       2,765,553       12.7 %     3,372,841       9,871,035       7,697,566       28.2 %
Export Sales
    5,137,480       4,356,821       17.9 %     5,437,495       15,615,222       10,755,334       45.2 %
Sale of Services
    333,802       247,647       34.8 %     322,847       975,252       715,383       36.3 %
Total Income
    8,586,719       7,370,021       16.5 %     9,133,183       26,461,509       19,168,283       38.0 %
Cost of Sales
                            -                          
Variable Costs
                            -                          
Purchase of Hydrocarbons
    2,085,145       1,954,898       6.7 %     2,273,654       6,525,217       5,096,133       28.0 %
Amortization and Depletion
    759,901       530,033       43.4 %     642,430       2,007,738       1,353,891       48.3 %
Imported products
    710,195       628,336       13.0 %     1,148,515       2,868,381       1,574,851       82.1 %
Transportation Cost for Refineries
    197,153       188,873       4.4 %     162,254       554,882       549,661       0.9 %
Inventories
    68,524       (65,002 )     205.4 %     114,515       5,843       (16,594 )     135.2 %
Other
    30,707       146,096       (79.0 )%     158,210       207,657       451,099       (54.0 )%
Fixed Costs
                                                       
Depreciation
    212,186       158,983       33.5 %     199,801       605,624       472,717       28.1 %
Contracted Services
    463,326       377,971       22.6 %     439,635       1,299,963       1,055,637       23.1 %
Maintenance
    250,882       221,867       13.1 %     239,121       659,068       522,045       26.2 %
Labor Costs
    238,700       233,904       2.1 %     232,742       722,737       598,178       20.8 %
Other
    249,919       254,675       (1.9 )%     255,831       727,055       649,746       11.9 %
Total Cost of Sales
    5,266,638       4,630,634       13.7 %     5,866,708       16,184,165       12,307,364       31.5 %
Gross Profits
    3,320,081       2,739,387       21.2 %     3,266,475       10,277,344       6,860,919       49.8 %
Operating Expenses
                                                       
Administration
    120,343       146,866       (18.1 )%     120,311       333,817       363,938       (8.3 )%
Selling expenses
    246,404       200,502       22.9 %     306,721       772,130       609,953       26.6 %
Exploration and Projects
    87,480       167,829       (47.9 )%     146,284       414,174       509,613       (18.7 )%
Operating Income
    2,865,854       2,224,190       28.8 %     2,693,159       8,757,223       5,377,415       62.9 %
Non Operating Income (expenses)
                                                       
Financial Income
    888,412       1,530,205       (41.9 )%     1,207,951       3,058,543       6,008,832       (49.1 )%
Financial Expenses
    (920,255 )     (1,755,377 )     47.6 %     (1,078,370 )     (3,004,504 )     (5,661,911 )     46.9 %
Non Financial Income
    138,474       119,279       16.1 %     173,142       504,426       439,833       14.7 %
Non Financial Expenses
    (370,007 )     (526,803 )     29.8 %     (474,533 )     (1,556,877 )     (1,292,186 )     20.5 %
                                                         
Income before income tax
    2,309,500       1,635,323       41.2 %     2,407,435       7,589,867       4,951,785       53.3 %
Provision for Income Tax
    607,144       441,803       37.4 %     602,437       1,985,847       1,386,995       43.2 %
Minority interest
    -       -       0.0 %     -                          
Net Income
    1,702,356       1,193,520       42.6 %     1,804,998       5,604,020       3,564,790       57.2 %
                                                         
EBITDA
    3,952,142       3,037,569       30.1 %     3,635,691       11,694,283       7,474,437       56.5 %
EBITDA MARGIN
    46 %     41 %             40 %     44 %     39 %        
EARNINGS PER SHARE
  $ 42.06     $ 29.49       42.6 %   $ 44.60     $ 138.46     $ 88.08       57.2 %

Notes
-Beginning 2010 transportation service's cost are reclasified as variable costs
- Amounts reported of purchases and imports in the third quarter of 2009 were adjusted in order to make them comparable as an effect of the assignation of price differences generated in the purchase process
- Sales to Free trade zones for the year 2009 were reclasified as export sales to make financial statements comparable
 
 
22

 

PRESS RELEASE

Unaudited Income Statement
Ecopetrol S.A. and Subsidiaries *

COP$ Million
 
3Q-10
   
3Q-09
   
%
   
2Q-10
   
As of
September 30,
2010
   
As of
September 30,
2009
   
%
 
                                           
Income
                                               
Local Sales
    3,816,906       3,361,491       13.5 %     4,102,371       11,800,425       10,048,973       17.4 %
Export Sales
    5,694,256       5,292,486       7.6 %     5,783,161       17,017,673       10,654,058       59.7 %
Sale of Services
    380,969       247,829       53.7 %     328,811       1,506,147       715,383       110.5 %
Total Income
    9,892,131       8,901,806       11.1 %     10,214,343       30,324,245       21,418,414       41.6 %
Cost of Sales
                                                       
Variable Costs
    4,739,929                                                  
Purchase of Hydrocarbons
    2,203,762       2,660,045       (17.2 )%     2,863,218       7,839,507       5,829,569       34.5 %
Amortization and Depletion
    851,846       569,576       49.6 %     783,941       2,274,092       1,463,372       55.4 %
Imported products
    1,542,964       964,901       59.9 %     1,445,074       4,095,276       2,019,117       102.8 %
Transportation Cost for Refineries
    170,523       137,049       24.4 %     171,062       553,250       497,837       11.1 %
Inventories
    (7,520 )     (99,681 )     (92.5 )%     176,537       (110,403 )     (51,273 )     115.3 %
Other
    (21,646 )     361,667       (106.0 )%     (34,137 )     (12,839 )     525,564       (102.4 )%
Fixed Costs
    1,585,695                               -       -       0.0 %
Depreciation
    325,938       441,920       (26.2 )%     170,816       762,185       1,004,143       (24.1 )%
Contracted Services
    486,868       369,474       31.8 %     431,152       1,321,754       1,078,521       22.6 %
Maintenance
    311,947       284,409       9.7 %     289,360       811,322       669,203       21.2 %
Labor Costs
    250,521       253,347       (1.1 )%     244,832       759,139       639,779       18.7 %
Other
    210,421       128,898       63.2 %     261,655       830,319       838,475       (1.0 )%
Total Cost of Sales
    6,325,624       6,071,605       4.2 %     6,803,510       19,123,602       14,514,307       31.8 %
Gross Profits
    3,566,507       2,830,201       26.0 %     3,410,833       11,200,643       6,904,107       62.2 %
Operating Expenses
                                                       
Administration
    145,654       167,060       (12.8 )%     154,387       427,495       453,572       (5.7 )%
Selling expenses
    272,691       123,736       120.4 %     321,795       855,311       405,563       110.9 %
Exploration and Projects
    380,893       209,087       82.2 %     391,249       990,579       551,160       79.7 %
Operating Income
    2,767,269       2,330,318       18.8 %     2,543,402       8,927,258       5,493,812       62.5 %
Non Operating Income (expenses)
                                                       
Financial Income
    2,272,762       3,513,002       (35.3 )%     2,410,906       6,267,295       13,695,750       (54.2 )%
Financial Expenses
    (2,419,468 )     (3,789,805 )     (36.2 )%     (2,268,341 )     (6,377,481 )     (13,422,061 )     52.5 %
Non Financial Income
    126,043       131,279       (4.0 )%     203,012       535,822       483,906       10.7 %
Non Financial Expenses
    (414,887 )     (543,935 )     (23.7 )%     (505,387 )     (1,664,319 )     (1,341,718 )     24.0 %
                                      -       -       0.0 %
Income before income tax
    2,331,719       1,640,859       42.1 %     2,383,592       7,688,575       4,909,689       56.6 %
Provision for Income Tax
    599,658       532,408       12.6 %     618,731       2,131,148       1,507,719       41.3 %
Minority interest
    8,590       (1,414 )     (707.5 )%     (2,205 )     112,560       (8,605 )     1,408.1 %
Net Income
    1,723,471       1,109,865       55.3 %     1,767,066       5,444,867       3,410,575       59.6 %
                                                         
EBITDA
    4,032,956       3,212,357       25.5 %     3,579,622       12,067,310       8,102,023       48.9 %
EBITDA MARGIN
    41 %     36 %             35 %     40 %     38 %        

Notes
* According to the Public Accounting Framework, Colombian companies only have the obligation to consolidate their financial statements at the end of each fiscal year, wherefore the quarterly figures in this report do not constitute a formal consolidation of Ecopetrol's financial statement, though they do adjust to the methodology defined for this purpose.
 
 
23

 

PRESS RELEASE

Unaudited Balance Sheet

   
Ecopetrol S.A.
   
Ecopetrol S.A. and Subsidiaries
 
   
As of September 30,
   
As of June 31,
         
As of September 30,
   
As of June 31,
   
 
 
COP$ Million
 
2010
   
2010
   
%
   
2010
   
2010
   
%
 
                                     
Assets
                                   
Current Assets
                                   
Cash and cash equivalents
    3,421,565       3,427,341       (0.2 )%     4,992,972       4,867,304       2.6 %
Investments
    606,356       1,243,708       (51.2 )%     1,201,318       1,924,788       (37.6 )%
Accounts and notes receivable
    2,529,688       2,748,775       (8.0 )%     1,915,839       2,849,060       (32.8 )%
Other
    4,996,692       3,858,983       29.5 %     5,902,032       4,718,082       25.1 %
Total Current Assets
    11,554,301       11,278,807       2.4 %     14,012,161       14,359,234       (2.4 )%
Non Current Assets
                                               
Investments
    11,000,767       11,440,259       (3.8 )%     4,271,101       4,819,758       (11.4 )%
Accounts and notes receivable
    1,281,974       1,266,844       1.2 %     1,301,625       163,680       695.2 %
Property, plant and equipment, net
    13,215,809       12,447,635       6.2 %     20,118,828       19,029,927       5.7 %
Natural and environmental properties, Net
    9,255,484       9,094,740       1.8 %     9,897,361       9,803,951       1.0 %
Resources delivered to administration
                                               
Other
    13,850,688       13,566,478       2.1 %     14,371,817       14,105,183       1.9 %
Total Non Current Assets
    48,604,722       47,815,956       1.6 %     49,960,732       47,922,499       4.3 %
Total Assets
    60,159,023       59,094,763       1.8 %     63,972,893       62,281,733       2.7 %
                                                 
Liabilities and Equity
                                               
Current Liabilities
                                               
Financial obligations
    92,703       125,422       (26.1 )%     450,403       523,299       (13.9 )%
Accounts payable and related parties
    6,745,659       7,832,596       (13.9 )%     5,026,134       5,143,659       (2.3 )%
Estimated liabilities and provisions
    1,285,328       1,341,710       (4.2 )%     1,605,487       1,682,844       (4.6 )%
Other
    2,484,428       1,911,804       30.0 %     3,943,220       4,607,796       (14.4 )%
Total Current Liabilities
    10,608,118       11,211,532       (5.4 )%     11,025,244       11,957,598       (7.8 )%
Long Term Liabilities
                                               
Financial obligations
    4,920,035       5,094,890       (3.4 )%     6,823,507       6,043,270       12.9 %
Labor and pension plan obligations
    3,036,238       2,911,912       4.3 %     3,044,303       2,920,183       4.3 %
Estimated liabilities and provisions
    3,127,080       3,127,565       (0.0 )%     3,202,488       3,201,613       0.0 %
Other
    2,044,257       2,223,756       (8.1 )%     2,658,666       2,841,507       (6.4 )%
Total Long Term Liabilities
    13,127,610       13,358,123       (1.7 )%     15,728,964       15,006,573       4.8 %
Total Liabilities
    23,735,728       24,569,655       (3.4 )%     26,754,208       26,964,171       (0.8 )%
Minoritary Interest
                            952,805       968,792       (1.7 )%
Equity
    36,423,295       34,525,108       5.5 %     36,265,880       34,348,770       5.6 %
                                                 
Total Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity
    60,159,023       59,094,763       1.8 %     63,972,893       62,281,733       2.7 %
                                                 
Memorandum Debtor Accounts **
    85,123,221       88,299,767               86,525,302       89,666,986          
Memorandum Creditor Accounts **
    63,519,144       62,875,849               62,422,642       63,812,042          

Notes
* According to the Public Accounting Framework, Colombian companies only have the obligation to consolidate their financial statements at the end of each fiscal year, wherefore the figures for interim periods  in this report do not constitute a formal consolidation of Ecopetrol's financial statement, though they do adjust to the methodology defined for this purpose.

**Under Colombian GAAP, Ecopetrol must maintain in its accounting the recording of financial information and transactions not reflected in financial statements

 
24

 

PRESS RELEASE

Unaudited Cash Flow  Statement
Ecopetrol S.A.

COP$ million
 
 
   
 
   
 
   
 
   
As of September
30,
   
As of September
30,
       
   
3Q 2010
   
3Q 2009
   
%
   
2Q 2010
   
2010
   
2009
   
%
 
Cash flow provided by operating activities:
                                               
Net income
    1,702,355       1,193,520       42.6 %     1,804,998       5,604,019       3,564,790       57.2 %
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
                                                       
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
    1,086,289       813,379       33.6 %     942,531       2,937,060       2,097,022       40.1 %
Provisions
    752,500       539,753       39.4 %     913,334       2,191,158       1,178,150       86.0 %
Net changes in operating assets and liabilities:
                                                       
Accounts and notes receivable
    (1,015,830 )     1,204,911       (184.3 )%     934,554       (701,846 )     119,182       (688.9 )%
Inventories
    72,862       (67,660 )     207.7 %     219,192       10,893       (17,317 )     162.9 %
Deferred and other assets
    (152,998 )     (308,978 )     50.5 %     (458,962 )     (575,513 )     (2,525,923 )     77.2 %
Accounts payable and related parties
    112,212       90,763       23.6 %     831,951       2,095,181       2,625,462       (20.2 )%
Taxes payable
    (175,601 )     (599,246 )     70.7 %     (1,347,745 )     (1,880,749 )     (3,441,842 )     45.4 %
Labor obligations
    20,021       35,971       (44.3 )%     (12,210 )     (6,952 )     6,825       (201.9 )%
Estimated liabilities and provisions
    (24,473 )     (18,087 )     35.3 %     391,230       358,506       (31,640 )     1,233.1 %
Cash provided by operating activities
    2,523,456       2,945,046       (14.3 )%     4,576,086       10,352,680       3,725,230       177.9 %
                                                         
Cash flows from investing activities:
                                                       
Purchase of investment securities
    (1,821,683 )     (3,741,998 )     51.3 %     (2,025,193 )     (7,439,317 )     (4,607,977 )     61.4 %
Redemption of investment securities
    2,556,856       3,508,213       (27.1 )%     1,219,327       5,944,364       9,853,692       (39.7 )%
Investment in natural and environmental resources - Reserves
    (922,366 )     (592,436 )     (55.7 )%     (759,920 )     (2,144,366 )     (1,392,662 )     54.0 %
Additions to property, plant and equipment
    (916,915 )     (939,905 )     2.4 %     (1,030,436 )     (2,698,228 )     (3,138,107 )     14.0 %
Net cash used in investing activities
    (1,104,108 )     (1,766,126 )     37.5 %     (2,596,222 )     (6,337,547 )     714,946       (986.4 )%
                                                         
Cash flows from financing activities:
                                                       
Financial obligations
    (179,524 )     3,338,500       (105.4 )%     (13,526 )     (366,510 )     5,103,200       (107.2 )%
Debts from credit and financing operations
    (28,050 )     91,295       (130.7 )%     19,655       (42,205 )     112,623       (137.5 )%
Received from associates - capitalization
    219       29,664       (99.3 )%     (826 )     556       35,063       (98.4 )%
Payment of dividends
    (1,217,769 )     (2,935,994 )     58.5 %     (1,254,644 )     (2,472,405 )     (5,962,183 )     58.5 %
Net cash used in financing activities
    (1,425,124 )     523,465       (372.2 )%     (1,249,341 )     (2,880,564 )     (711,297 )     305.0 %
                                                         
Net increase in cash and cash equivalent
    (5,776 )     1,702,385       (100.3 )%     730,523       1,134,569       3,728,879       (69.6 )%
Cash and cash equivalent at beginnig of year
    3,427,341       3,896,740       (12.0 )%     2,696,818       2,286,996       1,870,246       22.3 %
Cash and cash equivalent at end of year
    3,421,565       5,599,125       (38.9 )%     3,427,341       3,421,565       5,599,125       (38.9 )%
 
 
25

 

PRESS RELEASE

Unaudited Cash Flow  Statement
Ecopetrol S.A. and subdiaries

COP$ million
             
 
         
As of
September 30,
   
As of
September 30,
   
 
 
   
3Q 2010*
   
3Q 2009 *
   
%
   
2Q 2010 *
   
2010
   
2009
   
%
 
Cash flow provided by operating activities:
                                         
 Net income
    1,723,470       1,109,865       55.3 %     1,767,065       5,444,865       3,410,575       59.6 %
Adjustments to reconcile net income to cash provided by operating activities:
                                                       
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
    1,296,201       1,074,965       20.6 %     1,056,806       3,371,987       2,801,137       20.4 %
Provisions
    770,749       605,342       27.3 %     980,724       2,422,157       1,298,874       86.5 %
Net changes in operating assets and liabilities:
                                                       
Accounts and notes receivable
    (1,681,163 )     1,015,910       265.5 %     1,506,742       (994,746 )     867,708       (214.6 )%
Inventories
    86,979       (17,273 )     603.6 %     178,967       1,622       (212,950 )     100.8 %
Deferred and other assets
    (2,322,012 )     198,815       (1,267.9 )%     1,636,041       (576,646 )     (939,492 )     38.6 %
Accounts payable and related parties
    (126,384 )     2,529,226       (105.0 )%     848,588       2,190,041       2,939,393       (25.5 )%
Taxes payable
    1,136,885       (639,596 )     277.8 %     (2,979,625 )     (1,055,476 )     (3,372,817 )     68.7 %
Labor obligations
    23,959       418,009       (94.3 )%     (9,731 )     (7,106 )     53,694       (113.2 )%
Estimated liabilities and provisions
    (57,798 )     (32,175 )     79.6 %     464,292       479,298       297,286       61.2 %
Cash provided by operating activities
    762,637       3,890,683       (80.4 )%     5,724,095       10,005,186       7,413,837       35.0 %
                                                         
Cash flows from investing activities:
                                                       
Payment for purchase of Companies, net of cash acquired
    -       -       0.0 %     -       -       (1,082,580 )     100.0 %
Purchase of investment securities
    (1,821,683 )     (3,741,998 )     (51.3 )%     (2,025,193 )     (7,439,317 )     (4,607,977 )     61.4 %
Redemption of investment securities
    3,042,968       3,219,297       (5.5 )%     1,003,682       6,107,395       12,862,680       (52.5 )%
Investment in natural and environmental resources - Reserves
    (1,165,021 )     122,586       (1,050.4 )%     (746,399 )     (2,373,500 )     (1,430,201 )     66.0 %
Additions to property, plant and equipment
    (163,527 )     (2,684,643 )     93.9 %     (2,448,817 )     (3,531,031 )     (9,019,429 )     60.9 %
Net cash used in invesment activities
    (107,263 )     (3,084,758 )     (96.5 )%     (4,216,727 )     (7,236,453 )     (3,277,507 )     120.8 %
                                                         
Cash flows financing activities:
                                                       
Minority interest
    (15,987 )     (69,809 )     77.1 %     (83,424 )     11,494       644,735       (98.2 )%
Financial obligations
    775,569       3,494,101       (77.8 )%     247,819       1,109,153       5,801,403       (80.9 )%
Debts from credit and financing operations
    (68,227 )     99,872       (168.3 )%     87,488       13,322       (27,351 )     148.7 %
Received from associates - capitalization
    219       29,664       (99.3 )%     (826 )     556       35,063       (98.4 )%
Payment of dividends
    (1,221,279 )     (3,275,110 )     100.0 %     (1,254,628 )     (2,472,405 )     (6,317,736 )     60.9 %
Net cash used in financing activities
    (529,705 )     278,718       (290.1 )%     (1,003,571 )     (1,337,880 )     136,114       (1,082.9 )%
                                                         
Net increase in cash and cash equivalent
    125,668       1,084,643       (88.4 )%     503,798       1,430,853       4,272,444       (66.5 )%
Cash and cash equivalent at beginnig of year
    4,867,304       5,301,604       (8.2 )%     4,363,506       3,562,119       2,113,803       68.5 %
Cash and cash equivalent at end of year
    4,992,972       6,386,247       -21.8 %     4,867,304       4,992,972       6,386,247       -21.8 %

Notes
* According to the Public Accounting Framework, Colombian companies only have the obligation to consolidate their financial statements at the end of each fiscal year, wherefore the quarterly figures in this report do not constitute a formal consolidation of Ecopetrol's financial statement, though they do adjust to the methodology defined for this purpose.
 
 
26

 

PRESS RELEASE

Calculation and Reconciliation of EBITDA

Ecopetrol S.A.

COP$ Millions
 
3Q 2010
   
3Q 2009
   
%
   
2Q 2010
   
As of
September
30 2010
   
As of
September
30 2009
   
%
 
EBITDA CALCULATION
                                         
Operating income
    2,693,160       2,224,190       21.1 %     2,693,160       8,757,223       5,377,415       62.9 %
Plus: Depreciations, depletions and amortizations
    942,531       813,379       15.9 %     942,531       2,937,060       2,097,022       40.1 %
NON CONSOLIDATED EBITDA
    3,635,691       3,037,569       19.7 %     3,635,691       11,694,283       7,474,437       56.5 %
                                                         
RECONCILIATION NET INCOME TO EBITDA
    -       -       0.0 %     -       -       -       0.0 %
Net Income
    1,804,998       1,193,520       51.2 %     1,804,998       5,604,019       3,564,790       57.2 %
Depreciations, depletions and amortizations
    942,531       813,379       15.9 %     942,531       2,937,060       2,097,022       40.1 %
Financial income
    (1,207,951 )     (1,530,205 )     (21.1 )%     (1,207,951 )     (3,058,543 )     (6,008,832 )     (49.1 )%
Financial expenses
    1,078,370       1,755,377       (38.6 )%     1,078,370       3,004,504       5,661,911       (46.9 )%
Non financial income
    (173,142 )     (119,279 )     45.2 %     (173,142 )     (504,426 )     (439,833 )     14.7 %
Non financial expenses
    474,533       526,803       (9.9 )%     474,533       1,556,877       1,292,186       20.5 %
Results in subsidiaries
    113,914       (43,829 )     (359.9 )%     113,914       168,944       (79,802 )     (311.7 )%
Provision for income tax
    602,438       441,803       36.4 %     602,438       1,985,848       1,386,995       43.2 %
NON CONSOLIDATED EBITDA
    3,635,691       3,037,569       19.7 %     3,635,691       11,694,283       7,474,437       56.5 %
                                                         
Ecopetrol and Subsidiaries
 
   
   
3Q 2010
   
3Q 2009
   
%
   
2Q 2010
   
As of
September
30 2010
   
As of
September
30 2009
   
%
 
EBITDA CALCULATION
                                                       
Operating income
    2,767,268       2,330,318       18.8 %     2,543,402       8,927,257       5,493,812       62.5 %
Plus: Depreciations, depletions and amortizations
    1,296,201       1,074,965       20.6 %     1,056,806       3,371,987       2,801,137       20.4 %
Minority interest
    (30,513 )     (192,926 )             (20,586 )     (231,934 )     (192,926 )        
CONSOLIDATED EBITDA
    4,032,956       3,212,357       25.5 %     3,579,622       12,067,310       8,102,023       48.9 %
                                                         
RECONCILIATION NET INCOME TO EBITDA
    -       -       0.0 %     -       -       -          
Net income
    1,723,470       1,109,865       55.3 %     1,767,065       5,444,865       3,410,575       59.6 %
Depreciations, depletions and amortizations
    1,296,201       1,074,965       20.6 %     1,056,806       3,371,987       2,801,137       20.4 %
Financial income
    (2,272,762 )     (3,513,002 )     (35.3 )%     (2,410,905 )     (6,267,294 )     (13,695,750 )     (54.2 )%
Financial expenses
    2,419,468       3,789,805       (36.2 )%     2,268,340       6,377,480       13,422,061       (52.5 )%
Non financial income
    (126,043 )     (131,279 )     (4.0 )%     (203,011 )     (535,821 )     (483,906 )     10.7 %
Non financial expenses
    414,887       543,935       (23.7 )%     505,388       1,664,320       1,341,718       24.0 %
Minority interest on net income
    8,590       (1,414 )     (707.5 )%     (2,205 )     112,560       (8,605 )     (1,408.1 )%
Provision for income taxes
    599,658       532,408       12.6 %     618,731       2,131,148       1,507,719       41.3 %
Minority interest on Ebitda
    (30,512 )     (192,926 )             (20,587 )     (231,934 )     (192,926 )        
TOTAL EBITDA
    4,032,956       3,212,357       25.5 %     3,579,622       12,067,310       8,102,023       48.9 %
 
 
27

 

PRESS RELEASE

Subsidiaries

Exploration and Production

 
·
Hocol

Production including royalties (MBOED)
 
3Q 2010
   
3Q 2009
   
As of Sep.
2010
   
As of Sep.
2009
 
Crude Oil
    25.4       23.8       24.8       23.6  
Natural gas
    -       1.9       1.1       1.4  
Total
    25.4       25.7       25.9       25.0  
                                 
Royalties (MBOED)
 
3Q 2010
   
3Q 2009
   
As of Sep.
2010
   
As of Sep.
2009
 
Crude Oil
    2.90       3.00       2.90       3.00  
Natural gas
    0.00       0.10       0.10       0.10  
Total
    2.9       3.1       3.0       3.1  
                                 
Net Production (MBOED)
 
3Q 2010
   
3Q 2009
   
As of Sep.
2010
   
As of Sep.
2009
 
Crudo Oil
    22.50       20.80       21.90       20.6  
Natural Gas
    0.00       1.80       1.0       1.3  
Total
    22.5       22.6       22.9       21.9  

Income Statement
                       
US$ million
 
3Q 2010
   
3Q 2009
   
As of sept.
2010
   
As of sept.
2009
 
Local Sales
    5.6       8.5       22.9       26.9  
Export Sales
    675.2       564.6       1,794.2       1,278.7  
  Total Sales
    680.8       573.1       1,817.1       1,305.6  
Variable Costs
    458.0       119.1       1,185.6       729.3  
Fixed Costs
    65.8       311.2       213.5       311.2  
Cost of Sales
    523.8       430.3       1,399.1       1,040.5  
Gross profit
    157.0       142.8       418.0       265.1  
Operating Expenses
    111.5       0.3       158.1       8.8  
  Operating Profit
    45.5       142.5       259.9       256.3  
  Non Operating Profit/(Loss)
    (16.0 )     5.0       (41.4 )     (5.5 )
Income tax
    (6.1 )     50.9       36.4       81.7  
Net Income/Loss
    35.6       96.6       182.1       169.1  
                                 
EBITDA
    101.7       192.7       430.0       406.2  
EBITDA Margin
    0.1       0.3       0.2       0.3  

Balance Sheet
           
US$ million
 
As of Sep.
30, 2010
   
As of June 30,
2010
 
Current Assets
    851.9       884.3  
Long Term Assets
    1,149.1       1,115.4  
Total Assets
    2,001.0       1,999.7  
Current Liabilities
    431.8       437.6  
Long Term Liabilities
    141.4       148.1  
Total Liabilities
    573.2       585.7  
Equity
    1,427.8       1,414.0  
Total Liabilities and Shareholders´ Equity
    2,001.0       1,999.7  
 
 
28

 

PRESS RELEASE

 
·
Offshore International Group (OIG)
 
Production for Ecopetrol (MBOED)
 
3Q 2010
   
3Q 2009
   
As of sep.
2010
   
As of sep.
2009
 
Crude oil
    6.4       5.8       6.5       5.6  
Natural gas
    1.1       1.4       0.9       1.4  
Total
    7.5       7.2       7.4       7.0  
                                 
Production Royalties (MBOED)
 
3Q 2010
   
3Q 2009
   
As of sep.
2010
   
As of sep.
2009
 
Crude oil
    1.0       0.9       1.0       0.9  
Natural gas
    0.2       0.2       0.1       0.2  
Total
    1.2       1.1       1.1       1.1  
                                 
Production Net (MBOED)
 
3Q 2010
   
3Q 2009
   
As of sep.
2010
   
As of sep.
2009
 
Crude oil
    5.4       4.9       5.5       4.7  
Natural gas
    0.9       1.2       0.8       1.2  
Total
    6.3       6.1       6.3       5.9  

Income Statement
                       
US$ million
 
3Q 2010
   
3Q 2009
   
As of sept.
2010
   
As of sept.
2009
 
Local Sales
    81.4       68.8       230.2       158.0  
Sales of services
    (0.4 )     (31.9 )     0.6       2.0  
  Total Sales
    81.0       36.9       230.8       160.0  
Variable Costs
    28.2       28.8       93.6       91.2  
Fixed Costs
    11.7       (0.3 )     35.3       23.3  
Cost of Sales
    39.9       28.5       128.9       114.5  
Gross profit
    41.1       8.4       101.9       45.5  
Operating Expenses
    23.0       (3.7 )     33.2       13.9  
  Operating Profit
    18.1       12.1       68.7       31.6  
  Non Operating Profit/(Loss)
    23.5       18.4       69.0       36.8  
Income tax
    4.7       5.6       16.4       13.2  
Employee profit sharing
    0.8       1.0       3.0       2.3  
Deferred taxes
    3.0       0.3       5.0       (1.8 )
Net Income/Loss
    15.0       11.5       44.6       23.1  

Balance Sheet
           
US$ million
 
As of Sep. 30,
2010
   
As of June 30,
2010
 
Current Assets
    211.5       185.0  
Long Term Assets
    321.6       274.0  
Total Assets
    533.1       459.0  
Current Liabilities
    100.7       54.0  
Long Term Liabilities
    16.1       10.0  
Deferred taxes
    16.6       12.0  
Total Liabilities
    133.4       76.0  
Equity
    399.7       383.0  
Total Liabilities and Shareholders´ Equity
    533.1       459.0  
 
 
29

 

PRESS RELEASE

Refining & Petrochemicals

 
·
Propilco

Sales volume (tons)
 
3Q 2010
   
3Q 2009
   
As of sep.
2010
   
As of sep.
2009
 
Polypropylene
    104,655       99,675       303,005       303,615  
Polypropylene marketing for COMAI
    2,493       2,270       7,464       6,868  
Total
    107,148       101,945       310,468       310,483  

Income Statement
                       
(COP$ Billion)
 
3Q 2010
   
3Q 2009
   
As of sept.
2010
   
As of sept.
2009
 
Local Sales
    161.8       128.5       501.4       357.0  
Export Sales
    157.3       153.2       489.7       426.9  
  Total Sales
    319.1       281.7       991.1       783.9  
Variable Costs
    278.9       178.3       866.1       615.6  
Fixed Costs
    21.7       63.0       63.0       63.0  
Cost of Sales
    300.6       241.3       929.1       678.6  
Gross profit
    18.5       40.4       62.0       105.3  
Operating Expenses
    23.9       21.1       69.9       67.3  
  Operating Profit
    (5.4 )     19.3       (7.9 )     38.0  
  Non Operating Profit/(Loss)
    16.3       4.2       55.9       8.4  
Income tax
    1.6       2.5       4.4       5.0  
Net Income/Loss
    9.3       21.0       43.6       41.4  

Balance Sheet
           
COP$ Billion
 
As of Sep 30,
2010
   
As of Jun 30,
2010
 
Current Assets
    500.3       522.3  
Long Term Assets
    530.7       526.3  
Total Assets
    1,031.0       1,048.6  
Current Liabilities
    376.6       404.0  
Long Term Liabilities
    30.9       30.3  
Total Liabilities
    407.5       434.3  
Equity
    623.5       614.3  
Total Liabilities and Shareholders´ Equity
    1,031.0       1,048.6  

 
·
Reficar S.A.
 
Refinery runs (MBD)
    3Q 2010       3Q 2009    
As of sep. 2010
   
As of sep. 2009
 
Utilization %
    101.0 %     101.4 %     101.3 %     101.6 %
 
               
As of sep.
   
As of sep.
 
Sales Volume Bls
 
3Q 2010
   
3Q 2009
   
2010
   
2009
 
Local
    3,420,447       3,847,161       11,030,499       11,522,160  
International
    4,630,800       3,331,188       13,334,233       10,244,560  
Total
    8,051,247       7,178,349       24,364,732       21,766,720  
 
 
30

 

PRESS RELEASE

Income Statement
                       
(COP$ Billion)
 
3Q 2010
   
3Q 2009
   
As of sept.
2010
   
As of sept.
2009
 
Local Sales
    618.7       571.8       1,711.9       1,383.6  
Export Sales
    695.9       504.9       1,837.1       1,087.1  
  Total Sales
    1,314.6       1,076.7       3,549.0       2,470.7  
Variable Costs
    1,274.4       879.4       3,354.3       2,306.0  
Fixed Costs
    39.3       180.9       164.8       180.9  
Cost of Sales
    1,313.7       1,060.3       3,519.1       2,486.9  
Gross profit
    0.9       16.4       29.9       (16.2 )
Operating Expenses
    11.7       8.3       40.5       34.4  
  Operating Profit
    (10.8 )     8.1       (10.6 )     (50.6 )
  Non Operating income
    19.6       (32.2 )     50.4       (24.2 )
Non Operating expenses
    (48.6 )     -       (80.2 )     -  
  Non Operating Profit/(Loss)
    (39.8 )     (24.1 )     (40.4 )     (74.8 )
Income tax
    2.0       5.8       5.4       15.4  
Net Income/Loss
    (41.8 )     (29.9 )     (45.8 )     (90.2 )
 
Balance Sheet
           
COP$ Billion
 
As of Sep 30,
2010
   
As of June 30
2010
 
Current Assets
    736.7       1,048.7  
Long Term Assets
    2,639.0       2,319.2  
Total Assets
    3,375.7       3,367.9  
Current Liabilities
    933.2       884.8  
Long Term Liabilities
    17.3       16.0  
Total Liabilities
    950.5       900.8  
Equity
    2,425.2       2,467.1  
Total Liabilities and Shareholders´ Equity
    3,375.7       3,367.9  

Transportation

 
·
Ocensa
 
Transported  volumes (MBOD)
 
3Q 2010
   
3Q 2009
   
As of sep.
2010
   
As of sep-
2009
 
Cusiana-Porvenir
    53.3       60.2       53.3       61.3  
Porvenir-Vasconia
    463.7       295.1       451.0       278.5  
Vasconia-Coveñas
    269.2       196.4       272.2       190.6  
Coveñas-Export Port
    227.6       209.5       255.2       220.1  

Income Statement
                       
(COP$ Billion)
 
3Q 2010
   
3Q 2009
   
As of sept.
2010
   
As of sept.
2009
 
Sales of services
    234.2       163.9       1,044.6       509.1  
  Total Sales
    234.2       163.9       1,044.6       509.1  
Variable Costs
    171.8       141.7       485.3       425.5  
Fixed Costs
    1.1       -       1.1       -  
Cost of Sales
    172.9       141.7       486.4       425.5  
Gross profit
    61.3       22.2       558.2       83.6  
Operating Expenses
    12.4       8.9       33.7       35.8  
  Operating Profit
    48.9       13.3       524.5       47.8  
  Non Operating Profit/(Loss)
    (74.8 )     (38.5 )     (135.8 )     (82.4 )
Income tax
    (8.5 )     4.6       96.1       13.7  
Net Income
    (17.4 )     (29.8 )     292.6       (48.3 )
 
 
31

 

PRESS RELEASE

Balance Sheet
           
   
As of Sep.
   
As of June 30,
 
COP$ Billion
 
30, 2010
   
2010
 
Current Assets
    2,038.6       1,105.2  
Long Term Assets
    1,066.9       1,094.9  
Total Assets
    3,105.5       2,200.1  
Current Liabilities
    251.1       186.6  
Long Term Liabilities
    1,101.6       243.3  
Total Liabilities
    1,352.7       429.9  
Equity
    1,752.8       1,770.2  
Total Liabilities and Shareholders´ Equity
    3,105.5       2,200.1  

 
·
ODL
 
   
3Q 2010
   
3Q 2009
   
As of sep.
2010
   
As of Sep.
2009
 
Transported  volumes (MBOD)
    146.6       0.0       134.9       0.0  


Income Statement
                       
(COP$ Billion)
 
3Q 2010
   
3Q 2009
   
As of sept.
2010
   
As of sept.
2009
 
Sales of services
    50.8       -       121.7       -  
  Total Sales
    50.8       -       121.7       -  
Variable Costs
    7.6       -       18.8       -  
Fixed Costs
    37.6       -       71.2       -  
Cost of Sales
    45.2       -       90.0       -  
Gross profit
    5.6       -       31.7       -  
Operating Expenses
    2.0       (0.3 )     4.8       -  
  Operating Profit
    3.6       0.3       26.9       -  
  Non Operating Profit/(Loss)
    (9.0 )     11.9       (26.8 )     11.9  
Income tax
    (1.0 )     -       (3.0 )     -  
Net Income
    (6.4 )     12.2       (2.9 )     11.9  

Balance Sheet
           
COP$ Billion
 
As of Sep.
30, 2010
   
As of Sep. 30,
2010
 
Current Assets
    489.4       542.9  
Long Term Assets
    1,313.5       1,251.1  
Total Assets
    1,802.9       1,794.0  
Current Liabilities
    82.0       163.0  
Long Term Liabilities
    1,303.8       1,206.3  
Total Liabilities
    1,385.8       1,369.3  
Equity
    417.1       424.7  
Total Liabilities and Shareholders´ Equity
    1,802.9       1,794.0  

Bio fuels

 
·
Ecodiesel

Production (Barrels)
 
3Q 2010
   
3Q 2009
   
As of sep.
2010
   
As of sep.
2009
 
Biodiesel
    140,419.0       -       144,287.0       -  
Glycerine
    12,192.0       -       12,378.0       -  
 
 
32

 

PRESS RELEASE

Income Statement
     
       
(COP$ Billion)
 
3Q 2010
 
Domestic sales
    38.2  
  Total Sales
    38.2  
Variable Costs
    34.0  
Fixed Costs
    1.0  
Cost of Sales
    35.0  
Gross profit
    3.2  
Operating Expenses
    0.7  
  Operating Profit
    2.5  
  Non Operating Profit/(Loss)
    0.6  
Net Income
    0.6  

Balance Sheet
           
             
COP$ Billion
 
As of Sep
30, 2010
   
As of June 30,
2010
 
Current Assets
    27.0       15.5  
Long Term Assets
    107.0       106.5  
Total Assets
    134.0       122.0  
Current Liabilities
    54.0       28.3  
Long Term Liabilities
    59.0       73.1  
Total Liabilities
    113.0       101.4  
Equity
    21.0       20.6  
Total Liabilities and Shareholders´ Equity
    134.0       122.0  
 
 
33

 
 
 
 
Date:   October 26, 2010
 
 
Ecopetrol S.A.
 
       
       
 
By:
/s/ Adriana M. Echeverri
 
 
Name: 
Adriana M. Echeverri
 
 
Title: 
Chief Financial Officer