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
December 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
| COMUNICADO DE PRENSA |  |
ECOPETROL S.A. ANNOUNCES DATES FOR THE THIRD DIVIDEND PAYMENT OF 2010
Ecopetrol S.A. has announced that the third payment of COP$30 per share as ordinary dividend for 2010 will be paid from December 15, 2010. As announced in March 25 of 2010, the ex-dividend period began on November 30, 2010.
Pursuant to External Circular No. 13 of 1998 of the Securities Superintendence of Colombia, the-ex dividend period consists of the ten (10) stock market business days immediately preceding the relevant dividend payment date. Anyone buying stock during the ex-dividend period will not be entitled to the dividend. Stockholders who are registered holders of shares prior to the beginning of the ex-dividend period will be entitled to the dividend payment from that date.
The total dividend payment of COP$91 per share for 2010 was approved at the Company’s General Shareholders’ Meeting on March 25, 2010, to be paid in three installments of COP$31, COP$30 and COP$30 in the months of April, August, and December.
Bogota, December 9, 2010
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Ecopetrol is the largest company in Colombia and a vertically integrated oil company, among the 40 largest oil companies in the world and four largest in Latin America. In addition to Colombia, where it generates over 60% of the country’s production, it maintains exploration and production operations in Brazil, Peru and the United States (Gulf of Mexico). Ecopetrol owns the largest refinery in Colombia, the majority of the network of oil pipelines and multi-use pipelines and is increasing significantly its participation in biofuels.
This release contains forward-looking statements related 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 company and its continued access to capital to fund the Company’s business plan. Such forward-looking statements depend on changes in market conditions, regulations, competitive pressures, the performance of the Colombian economy and the industry, among other factors, therefore, they are subject to change without prior notice.
For more information, please contact:
Investor Relations
Alejandro Giraldo
Telephone: +571-234-5190
e-mail: investors@ecopetrol.com.co
Media Relations (Colombia)
Mauricio Tellez
Telephone: +571-2345377
Fax: +571-2344480
e-mail: mtellez@ecopetrol.com.co
Website: www.ecopetrol.com.co
Dirección de Relacionamiento con el Inversionista Tel: 2345190 – Fax: 2345648 investors@ecopetrol.com.co
www.ecopetrol.com.co
Date: December 7, 2010
| Ecopetrol S.A. | |||
| By: | /s/ Adriana M. Echeverri | ||
| Name: | Adriana M. Echeverri | ||
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer | ||