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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 26, 2021
Registration No. 333-
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
SCHEDULE B
OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
Republic of Colombia
(Name of Registrant)
Susana Pilar Berenguer Visbal
Consul General of the Republic of Colombia
in The City of New York
Consulate of Colombia
10 East 46th Street
New York, New York 10017
(Name and address of authorized agent in the United States)
Copies to:
Gregory Harrington, Esq. Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP 601 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20001 | Christopher L. Mann, Esq. Sullivan & Cromwell LLP 125 Broad Street New York, New York 10004 |
Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:
From time to time after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
The securities being registered hereby are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Release Nos. 33-6240 and 33-6424 under the Securities Act of 1933.
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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Title of Each Class of Securities to Be Registered | Amount to Be Registered | Proposed Maximum Offering Price | Proposed Maximum Offering Price (1)(2) | Amount of Registration Fee(3) | ||||
Debt Securities and / or Warrants to Purchase Debt Securities | $12,000,000,000 | 100% | $12,000,000,000 | $1,149,680.81 | ||||
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(1) | Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee. |
(2) | Exclusive of accrued interest, if any. |
(3) | $159,519.19 of the total registration fee paid by the Registrant with Registration Statement No. 333-220694 (which relates to the portion of the registration fee paid by the Registrant in connection with its $8,890,130,000 aggregate principal amount of debt securities and/or warrants previously registered under the Registrant’s Registration Statement No. 333-220694 filed on September 28, 2017) has been applied to the total registration fee to be paid with this Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 457 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. |
The Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting pursuant to said Section 8(a), may determine.
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The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. Colombia may not sell these securities until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell these securities and it is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any state where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Subject to Completion, dated February 26, 2021
PROSPECTUS
Republic of Colombia
Debt Securities
Warrants
Colombia may from time to time offer debt securities or warrants in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined at the time of sale and to be set forth in supplements to this prospectus. Colombia may sell securities having an aggregate principal amount of up to $12,000,000,000 (or its equivalent in other currencies) in the United States.
The securities will be direct, general, unconditional, unsecured and unsubordinated external indebtedness of Colombia and will be backed by the full faith and credit of Colombia. The securities rank and will rank without any preference among themselves and equally with all other unsecured and unsubordinated external indebtedness of Colombia. It is understood that this provision shall not be construed so as to require Colombia to make payments under the securities ratably with payments being made under any other external indebtedness.
The securities will contain “collective action clauses,” unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Under these provisions, which differ from the terms of Colombia’s external indebtedness issued prior to January 28, 2015, Colombia may amend the payment provisions of the securities and other reserve matters listed in the indenture with the consent of the holders of: (1) with respect to a single series of securities, more than 75% of the aggregate principal amount outstanding of such series; (2) with respect to two or more series of securities, if certain “uniformly applicable” requirements are met, more than 75% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding securities of all series affected by the proposed modification, taken in the aggregate; or (3) with respect to two or more series of securities, more than 66 2/3% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding securities of all series affected by the proposed modification, taken in the aggregate, and more than 50% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding securities of each series affected by the proposed modification, taken individually.
Colombia may sell the securities directly, through agents designated from time to time or through underwriters.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission or any other regulatory body has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
This prospectus may not be used to make offers or sales of securities unless accompanied by a prospectus supplement. You should read this prospectus and any prospectus supplement carefully. You should not assume that the information in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement or any document incorporated by reference is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front of those documents.
The date of this prospectus is , 2021.
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This prospectus is part of a registration statement that Colombia filed with the SEC under a “shelf” registration process. Under this shelf process Colombia may sell, from time to time, any of the debt securities or warrants described in this prospectus in one or more offerings up to a total U.S. dollar equivalent amount of $12,000,000,000. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the debt securities and warrants Colombia may offer under this shelf process. Each time Colombia sells securities under this shelf process, it will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain updated information about Colombia, if necessary, and specific information about the terms of that offering.
Any information contained in this prospectus may be updated or changed in a prospectus supplement, in which case the more recent information will apply. You should rely only on the information contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement.
The following documents relating to Colombia’s debt securities or warrants may contain forward-looking statements:
• | this prospectus; |
• | any prospectus supplement; and |
• | the documents incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any prospectus supplement. |
Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about Colombia’s beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current plans, assumptions, estimates and projections, and therefore you should not place undue reliance on them. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and Colombia undertakes no obligation to update publicly any of them in light of new information or future events. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Colombia cautions you that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Such factors include but are not limited to:
• | Adverse external factors, such as high international interest rates, low oil prices, a global or regional pandemic, and recession or low growth in Colombia’s trading partners. High international interest rates could increase Colombia’s current account deficit and budgetary expenditures. Low oil prices could decrease the Government’s revenues and could also negatively affect the current account. Recession or low growth in Colombia’s trading partners could lead to fewer exports from Colombia and, therefore have a negative impact on Colombia’s growth. |
• | Adverse domestic factors, such as declines in foreign direct and portfolio investment, domestic inflation, high domestic interest rates, exchange rate volatility, political uncertainty and continuing insurgency in certain regions and adverse effects of climatic events. Each of these could lead to lower growth in Colombia and lower international reserves. |
Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, Colombia will use the net proceeds from the sale of the securities for general budgetary purposes.
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This prospectus provides you with a general description of securities that Colombia may offer. Each time Colombia sells securities, it will provide a prospectus supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that offering. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information contained in this prospectus. If the information in this prospectus differs from any prospectus supplement, you should rely on the information in the prospectus supplement.
Debt Securities
Colombia will issue the debt securities under an indenture between Colombia and The Bank of New York Mellon, as trustee. Colombia has previously filed or will file the indenture (which may be supplemented from time to time), any supplements thereto and the form of debt securities with the SEC and will also file copies of these documents at the office of the trustee.
The following description is a summary of the material provisions of the debt securities and the indenture pursuant to which they are issued. Given that it is only a summary, the description may not contain all of the information that is important to you as a potential investor in these debt securities. Therefore, you should read the indenture and the form of the debt securities in making your decision on whether to invest in the debt securities.
General Terms
The prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities offered will include specific terms relating to the debt securities. These terms will include some or all of the following:
• | the title; |
• | any limit on the aggregate principal amount; |
• | the issue price; |
• | the maturity date or dates; |
• | if the debt securities bear interest, the interest rate, which may be fixed or floating, the date from which interest will accrue, the interest payment dates and the record dates for these interest payment dates; |
• | any mandatory or optional sinking fund provisions; |
• | any provisions that allow Colombia to redeem the debt securities at its option; |
• | any provisions that entitle you to early repayment at your option; |
• | the currency or currencies that you may use to purchase the debt securities and that Colombia may use to pay principal, any premium and interest; |
• | the form of debt security (global or certificated and registered); |
• | the authorized denominations; |
• | any special U.S. federal income tax considerations; |
• | any index Colombia will use to determine the amount of principal, any premium and interest payment; and |
• | any other terms of the debt securities that do not conflict with the provisions of the indenture. |
Colombia may issue debt securities in exchange for other debt securities or which are convertible into new debt securities. The specific terms of the exchange or conversion of any debt security and the debt security to which it will be exchangeable or converted will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to the exchangeable or convertible debt security.
Colombia may issue debt securities at a discount below their stated principal amount, bearing no interest or interest at a rate which at the time of issuance is below market rates. If applicable, Colombia will describe the United States federal income tax consequences and any other relevant considerations in the applicable prospectus supplement for any issuance of debt securities.
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Nature of Obligation
The debt securities constitute and will constitute direct, general, unconditional, unsecured and unsubordinated external indebtedness of Colombia and will be backed by the full faith and credit of Colombia. The debt securities rank and will rank without any preference among themselves and equally with all other unsecured and unsubordinated external indebtedness of Colombia. It is understood that this provision will not be construed so as to require Colombia to make payments under the debt securities ratably with payments made under any other external indebtedness.
Form and Denomination
Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement for an offering, Colombia will issue debt securities:
• | denominated in U.S. dollars; |
• | in fully registered book-entry form; |
• | without coupons; and |
• | in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000. |
Payment of Principal and Interest
For each series of debt securities, Colombia will arrange for payments to be made on global debt securities by wire transfer to the applicable clearing system, or to its nominee or common depositary, as the registered owner or bearer of the debt securities, which will receive the funds for distribution to the holders. See “Description of the Securities—Global Securities” below.
Colombia will arrange for payments to be made on registered certificated debt securities on the specified payment dates to the registered holders of the debt securities. Colombia will arrange for such payments by wire transfer or by check mailed to the registered holders of the debt securities at their registered addresses. So long as the trustee has received from Colombia the funds required for the payment of the amounts due in respect of the debt securities and such funds are available to holders of the debt securities in accordance with the terms of the debt securities and the indenture and holders of the debt securities are not prevented from claiming such
funds in accordance with the terms of the debt securities and the indenture, Colombia shall not be considered to have defaulted in its obligation to make payment of such amounts on the date on which such amounts become due and payable.
Any money that Colombia pays to the trustee for payment on any debt security that remains unclaimed for two years will be returned to Colombia. Holders of any debt security will thereafter look only to the Republic for any payment which a Holder may be entitled to collect. To the extent permitted by law, claims against Colombia for the payment of principal, interest or other amounts will become void unless made within five years after the date on which the payment first became due, or a shorter period if provided by law.
Additional Amounts
Colombia will make all principal and interest payments on the debt securities of each series without deducting or withholding any present or future Colombian taxes, unless the deduction or withholding is required by law. In the event that Colombia is required to make any such deductions, it will pay the holders the additional amounts required to ensure that they receive the same amount as they would have received without this withholding or deduction.
Colombia will not, however, pay any additional amounts in connection with any tax, assessment or other governmental charge that is imposed due to any of the following:
• | the holder or beneficial owner has some present or former connection with Colombia other than merely holding the debt security or receiving principal and interest payments on the debt security; |
• | the holder or beneficial owner fails to comply with any certification, identification or other reporting requirement concerning the nationality, residence, identity or connection with Colombia of the holder or beneficial owner, if compliance is required by Colombia as a precondition to exemption from the deduction; or |
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• | the holder does not present (where presentment is required) its debt security within 30 days after Colombia makes a payment of principal or interest available. |
Redemption and Repurchase
Unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement for a series of debt securities, the debt securities will not be redeemable prior to maturity at the option of Colombia or repayable before maturity at the option of the holders. Nevertheless, Colombia may at any time purchase the debt securities and hold or resell them or surrender them to the trustee for cancellation.
Negative Pledge
Colombia will agree when it issues debt securities that as long as any of those debt securities remain outstanding, it will not create or permit to exist any lien (i.e., a lien, pledge, mortgage, security interest, deed of trust or charge), other than certain permitted liens, on its present or future revenues, properties or assets to secure its public external indebtedness, unless the debt securities are secured equally and ratably. As used in this prospectus, “public external indebtedness” means:
• | all actual and contingent obligations of Colombia for borrowed money or for the repayment of which Colombia is responsible that are payable, or at the option of the holder may be payable, in any currency other than Colombian currency; and |
• | that are in the form of bonds, debentures, notes or other securities that are or were intended at the time of issue by Colombia to be quoted, listed or traded or which are ordinarily purchased and sold on any securities exchange, automated trading system, over-the-counter or other securities market, including securities eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933. |
Nevertheless, Colombia may create or permit to exist certain liens as described below:
• | liens created before the date of the indenture, including renewals or refinancing of those liens; provided, however, that any renewal or refinancing of any of those liens secures only the renewal or extension of the original secured financing; |
• | any lien on property to secure public external indebtedness arising in the ordinary course of business to finance export, import or other trade transactions, which matures, after giving effect to all renewals and refinancings, not more than one year after the date on which this type of public external indebtedness was originally incurred; |
• | liens securing public external indebtedness incurred in connection with a project financing, as long as the security interest is limited to the assets or revenues of the project being financed. “Project financing” means any financing of all or part of the acquisition, construction or development costs of any project where the provider of the financing (a) agrees to limit its recourse to the project and the revenues of the project as the principal source of repayment and (b) has received a feasibility study prepared by competent independent experts on the basis of which it is reasonable to conclude that the project will generate sufficient foreign currency income to service substantially all public external indebtedness incurred in connection with the project; |
• | liens on any asset or property, and related revenues, to secure indebtedness borrowed for the purpose of financing the acquisition, development or construction of that asset or property; |
• | any renewal or extension of the above liens that is limited to the same asset or property, and related revenues, and that secures a renewal or extension of the original secured financing; |
• | liens existing on any asset or property and any related revenues, at the time of its acquisition and any renewal or extension of the above liens that is limited to the same asset or property and related revenues and that secures a renewal or extension of the original secured financing; and |
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• | liens in addition to those permitted above, and any renewal or extension thereof; provided, that at any time the aggregate amount of public external indebtedness secured by such additional liens shall not exceed the equivalent of U.S.$14.768 billion. |
Default and Acceleration of Maturity
Each of the following shall be an event of default under a series of debt securities:
1. | Non-Payment: Colombia fails to pay any principal of or interest on any debt security of that series within 30 days of the date when the payment was due; or |
2. | Breach of Other Obligations: Colombia fails to perform any other material obligation contained in the debt securities of that series or the indenture and that failure continues for 60 days after the trustee or holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series give written notice to Colombia to remedy the failure; or |
3. | Cross Default on Direct Obligations: Colombia fails to pay when due any public external indebtedness (other than public external indebtedness constituting guaranties by Colombia) with an aggregate principal amount greater than $20,000,000 or the equivalent, and that failure continues beyond any applicable grace period or waiver; or |
4. | Cross Default on Guaranties: Colombia fails to pay when due any public external indebtedness constituting guaranties by Colombia with an aggregate principal amount greater than $20,000,000 or the equivalent, and that failure continues until the earlier of (a) the expiration of the applicable grace period or 30 days after written notice, whichever is longer, or (b) the acceleration of the public external indebtedness by any holder thereof and such acceleration shall not have been rescinded or annulled; or |
5. | Denial of Obligations: Colombia or any governmental entity of Colombia which has the legal power to contest the validity of the debt securities contests the validity of the debt securities of that series in any type of formal proceeding; or |
6. | Moratorium: Colombia declares a general suspension of payments or a moratorium on the payment of principal or interest on public external indebtedness which does not expressly exclude the debt securities of that series; or |
7. | IMF Membership: Colombia ceases to be a member of the IMF or ceases to be eligible to use the general resources of the IMF. |
If any of the events of default described above occurs and is continuing, the trustee or the holders of at least 25% of the aggregate principal amount of the debt securities of the series then outstanding may declare all the debt securities of that series to be due and payable immediately by giving written notice to Colombia, with a copy to the trustee.
Holders holding debt securities representing in the aggregate more than 50% of the principal amount of the then-outstanding debt securities of that series may waive any existing defaults and their consequences on behalf of the holders of all of the debt securities of that series if:
• | following the declaration that the principal of the debt securities of that series has become due and payable immediately, Colombia deposits with the trustee a sum sufficient to pay all outstanding amounts then due on those debt securities (other than principal due by virtue of the acceleration upon the event of default), together with interest on such amounts through the date of the deposit, as well as the reasonable fees and compensation of the holders that declared those notes due and payable, the trustee and their respective agents, attorneys and counsel; and |
• | all events of default (other than non-payment of principal that became due by virtue of the acceleration upon the event of default) have been remedied. |
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Suits for Enforcement and Limitations on Suits by Holders
If an event of default for a series has occurred and is continuing, the trustee may, in its discretion, institute judicial action to enforce the rights of the holders of that series. With the exception of a suit to enforce the absolute right of a holder to receive payment of the principal of and interest on debt securities in the manner contemplated in the indenture and the securities on the stated maturity date therefor (as that date may be amended or modified pursuant to the terms of the debt securities, but without giving effect to any acceleration), a holder has no right to bring a suit, action or proceeding with respect to the debt securities of a series unless: (1) such holder has given written notice to the trustee that a default with respect to that series has occurred and is continuing; (2) holders of at least 25% of the aggregate principal amount outstanding of that series have instructed the trustee by specific written request to institute an action or proceeding and provided an indemnity satisfactory to the trustee; and (3) 60 days have passed since the trustee received the instruction, the trustee has failed to institute an action or proceeding as directed and no direction inconsistent with such written request shall have been given to the trustee by a majority of holders of that series. Moreover, any such action commenced by a holder must be for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all holders of debt securities of that series.
Meetings and Amendments – Collective Action Clause
The debt securities will contain “collective action clauses,” which permit Colombia to amend the payment provisions and certain other “reserve matters” relating to the debt securities of a series with the consent of the holders of less than all of the affected series of debt securities. As described below, Colombia may amend such provisions of the debt securities with the consent of the holders of: (1) with respect to a single series of debt securities, more than 75% of the aggregate principal amount outstanding of such series; (2) with respect to two or more series of debt securities, if certain “uniformly applicable” requirements are met, more than 75% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all series affected by the proposed modification, taken in the aggregate; or (3) with
respect to two or more series of debt securities, more than 66 2/3% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all series affected by the proposed modification, taken in the aggregate, and more than 50% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series affected by the proposed modification, taken individually.
Colombia may call a meeting of the holders of debt securities of a series at any time regarding the indenture or the debt securities of the series. Colombia will determine the time and place of the meeting. Colombia will notify the holders of the time, place and purpose of the meeting not less than 30 and not more than 60 days before the meeting.
In addition, Colombia or the trustee will call a meeting of holders of debt securities of a series if the holders of at least 10% in principal amount of all debt securities of the series then outstanding have delivered a written request to Colombia or the trustee (with a copy to Colombia) setting out the purpose of the meeting. Within 10 days of receipt of such written request or copy thereof, Colombia will notify the trustee, and the trustee will notify the holders, of the time, place and purpose of the meeting called by the holders, to take place not less than 30 and not more than 60 days after the date on which such notification is given.
Only holders and their proxies are entitled to vote at a meeting of holders. Colombia will set the procedures governing the conduct of the meeting and if additional procedures are required, Colombia will consult with the trustee to establish such procedures as are customary in the market.
Modifications may also be approved by holders of debt securities of a series pursuant to written action with the consent of the requisite percentage of debt securities of such series. Colombia will solicit the consent of the relevant holders to the modification not less than 10 and not more than 30 days before the expiration date for the receipt of such consents as specified by Colombia.
The holders may generally approve any proposal by Colombia to modify the indenture or the terms of the debt securities of a series with the affirmative vote (if approved at a meeting of the holders) or consent (if approved by written action) of holders of
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more than 50% of the outstanding principal amount of the debt securities of that series.
However, holders may approve, by vote or consent through one of three modification methods, any proposed modification by Colombia that would do any of the following (such subjects referred to as “reserve matters”):
• | change the date on which any amount is payable on the debt securities; |
• | reduce the principal amount (other than in accordance with the express terms of the debt securities and the indenture) of the debt securities; |
• | reduce the interest rate on the debt securities; |
• | change the method used to calculate any amount payable on the debt securities (other than in accordance with the express terms of the debt securities and the indenture); |
• | change the currency or place of payment of any amount payable on the debt securities; |
• | modify Colombia’s obligation to make any payments on the debt securities (including any redemption price therefor); |
• | change the identity of the obligor under the debt securities; |
• | change the definition of “outstanding debt securities” or the percentage of affirmative votes or written consents, as the case may be, required to make a “reserve matter modification;” |
• | change the definition of “uniformly applicable” or “reserve matter modification;” |
• | authorize the trustee, on behalf of all holders of the debt securities, to exchange or substitute all the debt securities for, or convert all the debt securities into, other obligations or securities of Colombia or any other person; or |
• | change the legal ranking, governing law, submission to jurisdiction or waiver of immunities provisions of the terms of the debt securities. |
A change to a reserve matter, including the payment terms of any series of debt securities, can be made without your consent, as long as the change is approved, pursuant to one of the three following modification methods, by vote or consent by:
• | the holders of more than 75% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of a series affected by the proposed modification; |
• | where such proposed modification would affect the outstanding debt securities of two or more series, the holders of more than 75% of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding debt securities of all of the series affected by the proposed modification, taken in the aggregate, if certain “uniformly applicable” requirements are met; or |
• | where such proposed modification would affect the outstanding debt securities of two or more series, whether or not the “uniformly applicable” requirements are met, the holders of more than 66 2/3% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of all of the series affected by the proposed modification, taken in the aggregate, and the holders of more than 50% of the aggregate principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series affected by the modification, taken individually. |
With respect to any such proposed modification that would affect the outstanding debt securities of two or more series, it is understood that any such modification that does not meet the “uniformly applicable” requirements must be effected pursuant to the third bullet above and such modification that is “uniformly applicable” may be effected pursuant to either the second or third bullet, at Colombia’s option.
“Uniformly applicable” means a modification by which holders of debt securities of all series affected by that modification are invited to exchange, convert or substitute their debt securities on the same terms for (x) the same new instruments or other consideration or (y) new instruments or other consideration from an identical menu of instruments or other consideration. It
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is understood that a modification will not be considered to be uniformly applicable if each exchanging, converting or substituting holder of debt securities of any series affected by that modification is not offered the same amount of consideration per amount of principal, the same amount of consideration per amount of interest accrued but unpaid and the same amount of consideration per amount of past due interest, respectively, as that offered to each other exchanging, converting or substituting holder of debt securities of any series affected by that modification (or, where a menu of instruments or other consideration is offered, each exchanging, converting or substituting holder of debt securities of any series affected by that modification is not offered the same amount of consideration per amount of principal, the same amount of consideration per amount of interest accrued but unpaid and the same amount of consideration per amount of past due interest, respectively, as that offered to each other exchanging, converting or substituting holder of debt securities of any series affected by that modification electing the same option under such menu of instruments).
Colombia may select, in its discretion, any modification method for a reserve matter modification in accordance with the indenture and to designate which series of debt securities will be included for approval in the aggregate of modifications affecting two or more series of debt securities. Any selection of a modification method or designation of series to be included will be final for the purpose of that vote or consent solicitation. If any one or more debt securities issued under the indenture prior to September 8, 2015 are included in a proposed modification affecting two or more series of debt securities under the indenture that seeks holder approval pursuant to a single aggregated vote, that modification will be uniformly applicable (as described above) to all such series, regardless of when they were issued.
Before soliciting any consent or vote of any holder of debt securities for any change to a reserve matter, Colombia will provide the following information to the trustee for distribution to the holders of debt securities of any series that would be affected by the proposed modification:
• | a description of Colombia’s economic and financial circumstances, that are in Colombia’s opinion relevant to the request |
for the proposed modification, a description of Colombia’s existing debts and a description of its broad policy reform program and provisional macroeconomic outlook; |
• | if Colombia shall at the time have entered into an arrangement for financial assistance with multilateral and/or other major creditors or creditor groups and/or an agreement with any such creditors regarding debt relief, (x) a description of any such arrangement or agreement and (y) where permitted under the information disclosure policies of the multilateral or other creditors, as applicable, a copy of the arrangement or agreement; |
• | a description of Colombia’s proposed treatment of external debt instruments that are not affected by the proposed modification and its intentions with respect to any other major creditor groups; and |
• | if Colombia is then seeking any reserve matter modification affecting any other series of debt securities, a description of that proposed modification. |
For purposes of determining whether the required percentage of holders of the debt securities of a series has approved any amendment, modification or change to, or waiver of, the debt securities or the indenture, or whether the required percentage of holders has delivered a notice of acceleration of the debt securities of that series, debt securities will be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding and may not be counted in a vote or consent solicitation for or against a proposed modification if on the record date for the proposed modification or other action or instruction hereunder, the debt security is held by Colombia or by a public sector instrumentality, or by a corporation, trust or other legal entity that is controlled by Colombia or a public sector instrumentality, except that (x) debt securities held by Colombia or any public sector instrumentality of Colombia or by a corporation, trust or other legal entity that is controlled by Colombia or a public sector instrumentality which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the trustee the pledgee’s right so to act with respect to such debt securities and that the pledgee is not
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Colombia or a public sector instrumentality, and in case of a dispute concerning such right, the advice of counsel shall be full protection in respect of any decision made by the trustee in accordance with such advice and any certificate, statement or opinion of counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual matters or information which is in the possession of the trustee, upon the certificate, statement or opinion of or representations by the trustee; and (y) in determining whether the trustee will be protected in relying upon any such action or instructions hereunder, or any notice from holders, only debt securities that a responsible officer of the trustee knows to be so owned or controlled will be so disregarded.
As used in the preceding paragraph, “public sector instrumentality” means any department, ministry or agency of Colombia, and “control” means the power, directly or indirectly, through the ownership of voting securities or other ownership interests, by contract or otherwise, to direct the management of or elect or appoint a majority of the board of directors or other persons performing similar functions in lieu of, or in addition to, the board of directors of that legal entity.
Certain Amendments Not Requiring Holder Consent.
Colombia and the trustee may, without the vote or consent of any holder of debt securities of a series, amend the indenture or the debt securities of the series for the purpose of:
• | adding to Colombia’s covenants for the benefit of the holders; |
• | surrendering any of Colombia’s rights or powers with respect to the debt securities of that series; |
• | securing the debt securities of that series; |
• | curing any ambiguity or curing, correcting or supplementing any defective provision in the debt securities of that series or the indenture; |
• | amending the debt securities of that series or the indenture in any manner that Colombia and the trustee may |
determine and that does not materially adversely affect the interests of any holders of the debt securities of that series; or |
• | correcting a manifest error of a formal, minor or technical nature. |
Notices
Notices to the holders of debt securities will be mailed to the addresses of such holders as they appear in the register maintained by the trustee.
Further Issues of Debt Securities
From time to time, Colombia may, without the consent of holders of the debt securities of any series, create and issue additional debt securities with the same terms and conditions as those of the debt securities of that series (or the same except the amount of the first interest payment, the issue date and the issue price), provided, however, that any additional debt securities subsequently issued shall be fungible with the previously outstanding debt securities for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Additional debt securities issued in this manner will be consolidated with and will form a single series with the previously outstanding debt securities of that series.
Warrants
If Colombia issues warrants, it will describe their specific terms in a prospectus supplement. If any warrants are to be offered, Colombia will file a warrant agreement and form of warrant with the SEC. The following description briefly summarizes some of the general terms that will apply to warrants. You should read the applicable prospectus supplement, warrant agreement and form of warrant before making your investment decision.
Colombia may issue warrants separately or together with any debt securities. All warrants will be issued under a warrant agreement to be entered into between Colombia and a bank or trust company, as warrant agent. The applicable prospectus supplement will include some or all of the following specific terms relating to the warrants:
• | the initial offering price; |
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• | the currency you must use to purchase the warrants; |
• | the title and terms of the debt securities or other consideration that you will receive on exercise of the warrants; |
• | the principal amount of debt securities or amount of other consideration that you will receive on exercise of the warrants; |
• | the exercise price or ratio; |
• | the procedures for, and conditions to the exercise of, the warrants; |
• | the date or dates on which the right to exercise the warrants shall commence and expire; |
• | whether and under what conditions Colombia may terminate or cancel the warrants; |
• | the title and terms of any debt securities issued with the warrants and the amount of debt securities issued with each warrant; |
• | the date, if any, on and after which the warrants and any debt securities issued with such warrants will trade separately; |
• | the form of the warrants (global or certificated and registered or bearer), whether they will be exchangeable between such forms and, if registered, where they may be transferred and exchanged; |
• | the identity of the warrant agent; |
• | any special U.S. federal income tax considerations; and |
• | any other terms of such warrants. |
Global Securities
DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg are under no obligation to perform or continue to perform the procedures described below and they may modify or discontinue them at any time. None of Colombia, the trustee or any underwriter of
securities named in a prospectus supplement will be responsible for DTC’s, Euroclear’s or Clearstream, Luxembourg’s performance of their obligations under their rules and procedures. Additionally, none of Colombia, the trustee or any underwriter of securities named in a prospectus supplement will be responsible for the performance by direct or indirect participants of their obligations under their rules and procedures.
Colombia may issue the debt securities or warrants in the form of one or more global securities, the ownership and transfer of which are recorded in computerized book-entry accounts, eliminating the need for physical movement of securities.
When Colombia issues global securities, it will deposit the applicable security with a clearing system. The global security will be registered in the name of the clearing system or its nominee or common depositary. Unless a global security is exchanged for physical securities, as discussed below under “Description of the Securities—Certificated Securities,” it may not be transferred, except as a whole among the clearing system, its nominees or common depositaries and their successors. Clearing systems include The Depository Trust Company, known as DTC, in the United States, and Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg, in Europe.
Clearing systems process the clearance and settlement of global notes for their direct participants. A “direct participant” is a bank or financial institution that has an account with a clearing system. The clearing systems act only on behalf of their direct participants, who in turn act on behalf of indirect participants. An “indirect participant” is a bank or financial institution that gains access to a clearing system by clearing through or maintaining a relationship with a direct participant. Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg are connected to each other by a direct link and participate in DTC through their New York depositaries, which act as links between the clearing systems. These arrangements permit you to hold global securities through participants in any of these systems, subject to applicable securities laws.
Ownership of Book-Entry Securities
If you wish to purchase global securities, you must either be a direct participant or make your
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purchase through a direct or indirect participant. Investors who purchase global securities will hold them in an account at the bank or financial institution acting as their direct or indirect participant. Holding securities in this way is called holding in “street name.”
When you hold securities in street name, you must rely on the procedures of the institutions through which you hold your securities to exercise any of the rights granted to holders. This is because the legal obligations of Colombia and the trustee run only to the registered owner of the global security, which will be the clearing system or its nominee or common depositary. For example, once Colombia and the trustee make a payment to the registered holder of a global security, they will no longer be liable for the payment, even if you do not receive it. In practice, the clearing systems will pass along any payments or notices they receive from Colombia to their participants, which will pass along the payments to you. In addition, if you desire to take any action which a holder of the global security is entitled to take, then the clearing system would authorize the participant through which you hold your global securities to take such action, and the participant would then either authorize you to take the action or would act for you on your instructions.
The transactions between you, the participants and the clearing systems will be governed by customer agreements, customary practices and applicable laws and regulations, and not by any legal obligation of Colombia or the trustee.
As an owner of securities represented by a global security, you will also be subject to the following restrictions:
• | you will not be entitled to (a) receive physical delivery of the securities in certificated form or (b) have any of the securities registered in your name except under the circumstances described below under “Description of the Securities—Certificated Securities;” |
• | you may not be able to transfer or sell your securities to some insurance companies and other institutions that are required by law to own their securities in certificated form; |
• | you may not be able to pledge your securities in circumstances where certificates must be |
physically delivered to the creditor or the beneficiary of the pledge in order for the pledge to be effective; and |
• | clearing systems require that global securities be purchased and sold within their systems using same-day funds, for example by wire transfer. |
Cross-Market Transfer, Clearance and Settlement
The following description reflects Colombia’s understanding of the current rules and procedures of DTC, Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg relating to cross-market trades in global securities. These systems could change their rules and procedures at any time, and Colombia takes no responsibility for their actions or the accuracy of this description.
It is important for you to establish at the time of the trade where both the purchaser’s and seller’s accounts are located to ensure that settlement can be made on the desired value date, i.e., the date specified by the purchaser and seller on which the price of the securities is fixed.
When global securities are to be transferred from a DTC seller to a Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg purchaser, the purchaser must first send instructions to Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg through a participant at least one business day before the settlement date. Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg will then instruct its New York depositary to receive the securities and make payment for them. On the settlement date, the New York depositary will make payment to the DTC participant through which the seller holds its securities, which will make payment to the seller, and the securities will be credited to the New York depositary’s account. After settlement has been completed, Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg will credit the securities to the account of the participant through which the purchaser is acting. This securities credit will appear the next day European time after the settlement date, but will be back-valued to the value date, which will be the preceding day if settlement occurs in New York. If settlement is not completed on the intended value date, the securities credit and cash debit will instead be valued at the actual settlement date.
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A participant in Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg, acting for the account of a purchaser of global securities, will need to make funds available to Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg in order to pay for the securities on the value date. The most direct way of doing this is for the participant to preposition funds, i.e. have funds in place at Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg before the value date, either from cash on hand or existing lines of credit. The participant may require the purchaser to follow these same procedures.
When global securities are to be transferred from a Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg seller to a DTC purchaser, the seller must first send instructions to and preposition the securities with Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg through a participant at least one business day before the settlement date. Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg will then instruct its New York depositary to credit the global securities to the account of the DTC participant through which the purchaser is acting and to receive payment in exchange. The payment will be credited to the account of the Euroclear or Clearstream, Luxembourg participant through which the seller is acting on the following day, but the receipt of the cash proceeds will be back-valued to the value date which will be the preceding day if settlement occurs in New York. If settlement is not completed on the intended value date, the receipt of the cash proceeds and securities debit will instead be valued at the actual settlement date.
Certificated Securities
Colombia will only issue securities in certificated form in exchange for a global security if:
• | the depositary notifies Colombia that it is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary, is ineligible to act as depositary or, in the case of DTC, ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Colombia does not appoint a successor depositary or clearing agency within 90 days; |
• | the trustee has instituted or has been directed to institute any judicial proceeding to enforce the rights of the holders under the debt securities and has been advised by its legal counsel that it |
should obtain possession of the securities for the proceeding; or |
• | Colombia elects not to have the securities of a series represented by a global security or securities. |
In any of these cases, unless otherwise provided in the prospectus supplement for an offering, Colombia and the trustee will issue certificated securities:
• | registered in the name of each holder; |
• | without interest coupons; and |
• | in the same authorized denominations as the global securities. |
The certificated securities will initially be registered in the names and denominations requested by the depositary. You may transfer or exchange registered certificated securities by presenting them at the corporate trust office of the trustee. When you surrender a registered certificated security for transfer or exchange, the trustee will authenticate and deliver to you or the transferee a security or securities of the appropriate form and denomination and of the same aggregate principal amount as the security you are surrendering. You will not be charged a fee for the registration of transfers or exchanges of certificated securities. However, you may be charged for any stamp, tax or other governmental charge associated with the transfer, exchange or registration. Colombia, the trustee and any other agent of Colombia may treat the person in whose name any certificated security is registered as the legal owner of such security for all purposes.
If any registered certificated security becomes mutilated, destroyed, stolen or lost, you can have it replaced by delivering the security or the evidence of its loss, theft or destruction to the trustee. Colombia and the trustee may require you to sign an indemnity under which you agree to pay Colombia, the trustee and any agent for any losses they may suffer relating to the security that was mutilated, destroyed, stolen or lost. Colombia and the trustee may also require you to present other documents or proof.
After you deliver these documents, if neither Colombia nor the trustee has notice that a bona fide purchaser has acquired the security you are exchanging, Colombia will execute, and the trustee
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will authenticate and deliver to you, a substitute security with the same terms as the security you are exchanging. You will be required to pay all expenses and reasonable charges associated with the replacement of the mutilated, destroyed, stolen or lost security.
If a security presented for replacement has become payable, Colombia in its discretion may pay the amounts due on the security in lieu of issuing a new security.
Governing Law
The indenture and the securities will be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of New York unless otherwise specified in any series of debt securities; provided, that all matters related to the consent of holders and any modifications to the indenture or the debt securities will always be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of New York; provided, further, that the laws of Colombia will govern all matters relating to authorization and execution by Colombia.
Jurisdiction; Enforceability of Judgments
Colombia is a foreign sovereign. It may, therefore, be difficult for investors to obtain or enforce judgments against Colombia.
Colombia will appoint the Consul General of Colombia in The City of New York and his or her successors from time to time as its process agent for any action based on the debt securities or warrants of a series instituted in any state or federal court in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York.
Colombia will irrevocably submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of any state or federal court in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York and the courts of Colombia that sit in Bogota D.C. in respect of any action arising out of or based on the securities. Colombia will also irrevocably waive any objection to the venue of any of these courts in an action of that type. Holders of the securities may, however, be precluded from initiating actions arising out of or based on the securities in courts other than
those mentioned above. Colombia will, to the fullest extent permitted by law, irrevocably waive and agree not to plead any immunity from the jurisdiction of any of the above courts in any action based upon the securities. This waiver covers Colombia’s sovereign immunity and immunity from prejudgment attachment, post judgment attachment and execution, except as provided under (i) Articles 192, 195, 298 and 299 of Law 1437 of 2011 (Código de Procedimiento Administrativo y de lo Contencioso Administrativo); and (ii) Articles 593, 594 and 595 et al of Law 1564 of 2012 (Código General del Proceso) and Article 19 of Decree 111 of January 15, 1996, pursuant to which the revenues, assets and property of the Republic located in the Republic are not subject to execution, set-off or attachment.
Nevertheless, Colombia reserves the right to plead sovereign immunity under the U.S. Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976, as amended (the “Immunities Act”), in actions brought against it under the United States federal securities laws or any state securities laws. Colombia’s appointment of its process agent will not extend to these actions. Without Colombia’s waiver of immunity, you will not be able to obtain a United States judgment against Colombia unless the court determines that Colombia is not entitled under the Immunities Act to sovereign immunity in such action. In addition, execution upon property of Colombia located in the United States to enforce a judgment obtained under the Immunities Act may not be possible except in the limited circumstances specified in the Immunities Act.
Even if you are able to obtain a judgment against Colombia in an action under the United States federal securities laws or any state securities laws, you might not be able to enforce it in Colombia. Your ability to enforce foreign judgments in Colombia is dependent, among other factors, on such judgments not violating the principles of Colombian public order. The Head or Acting Head of the Legal Affairs Group of the General Directorate of Public Credit and National Treasury of the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit of Colombia will render an opinion on this matter in connection with each issuance of securities and/or warrants hereunder.
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Provision in National Budget
Colombia recognizes that amounts due under the securities must be paid out of appropriations provided in the national budget. Colombia will undertake that it will annually take all necessary and appropriate actions to provide for the due inclusion of such amounts in the national budget and to ensure timely payment of all amounts due.
Contracts with Colombia
In accordance with Colombian law, by purchasing the securities, you will be deemed to have waived any right to petition for diplomatic claims to be asserted by your government against Colombia with respect to your rights as a holder under the indenture and the securities, except in the case of denial of justice.
The following discussion summarizes certain United States federal and Colombian federal tax considerations that may be relevant to you if you invest in the debt securities. This summary is based on laws, regulations, rulings and decisions now in effect in the United States and on laws and regulations now in effect in Colombia and may change. Any change could apply retroactively and could affect the continued validity of this summary.
This summary does not describe all of the tax considerations that may be relevant to you or your situation, particularly if you are subject to special tax rules. You should consult your tax advisor about the tax consequences of holding debt securities, including the relevance to your particular situation of the considerations discussed below, as well as of state, local and other tax laws.
Colombian Taxation
Under current Colombian law, payments of principal and interest on the debt securities are not subject to Colombian income or withholding tax, provided that the holder of the debt securities is not a Colombian resident and is not domiciled in
Colombia. In addition, gains realized on the sale or other disposition of the debt securities will not be subject to Colombian income or withholding tax, provided that the holder of the debt securities is not a Colombian resident and is not domiciled in Colombia. There are no Colombian transfer, inheritance, gift or succession taxes applicable to the debt securities.
United States Federal Taxation
The following discussion describes the material U.S. federal income tax consequences of your purchase, ownership and disposition of a debt security. The following discussion does not describe any material U.S. federal income tax consequences attributable to investing in warrants. The discussion is based on the provisions of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), its legislative history, existing and proposed regulations promulgated by the U.S. Department of the Treasury under the Code (the “Treasury Regulations”), published rulings and judicial decisions interpreting the Code as of the date that this prospectus was issued. These laws and authorities may be repealed, revoked or modified, possibly with retroactive effect. No assurances can be given that any changes in these laws or authorities will not affect the accuracy of the discussion below. This discussion does not cover any U.S. state or local, or non-U.S. tax issues, nor does it cover issues under the U.S. federal estate or gift tax laws.
Colombia has not sought any ruling from the U.S. Internal Revenue Service (the “IRS”) with respect to the statements made and the conclusions reached in this discussion, and there can be no assurance that the IRS will agree with all of such statements and conclusions. A different treatment from that described below could adversely affect the amount, timing, and character of income, gain or loss in respect of an investment in the debt securities.
This discussion deals only with holders that (i) hold a debt security as a capital asset for U.S. federal income tax purposes (generally, property held for investment), (ii) were initial purchasers of that debt security, and (iii) acquired the debt security at its issue price. This discussion does not purport to deal with all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to a particular holder in light of
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the holder’s circumstances (for example, persons subject to the alternative minimum tax provisions of the Code). This discussion also assumes that you are not subject to any special U.S. federal income tax rules, including, among others, the special tax rules applicable to:
• | persons subject to special tax accounting rules under Section 451(b) of the Code; |
• | dealers in securities or currencies; |
• | securities traders using a mark-to-market accounting method; |
• | banks or life insurance companies; |
• | persons subject to the alternative minimum tax; |
• | United States expatriates; |
• | persons that purchase or sell debt securities as part of a wash sale for tax purposes; |
• | persons that purchase or sell debt securities as part of a hedging transaction or as a position in a straddle or conversion transaction; |
• | partnerships or other entities classified as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes, or persons holding debt securities through partnerships or other pass-through entities; |
• | U.S. Holders (as defined below) that do not use the U.S. dollar as their functional currency; or |
• | tax-exempt organizations. |
If any of these assumptions are not correct in your case, the purchase, ownership or disposition of a debt security may have U.S. federal income tax consequences to you that differ from, or are not covered in, this discussion.
If a partnership (including any entity classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes) is a beneficial owner of a debt security, the tax treatment of a partner in that partnership generally will depend on the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. Holders of debt
securities that are partnerships and partners in those partnerships should consult their own tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal income tax consequences of purchase, ownership and disposition of the debt securities.
Any special material U.S. federal income tax consequences not otherwise discussed herein, that are applicable to any particular issued debt securities, or that are applicable to any particular issued warrants, will be discussed in the applicable prospectus supplement, as necessary.
You should consult your own tax advisor concerning the U.S. federal, state, local, non-U.S. and other tax consequences to you of the purchase, ownership or disposition of a debt security.
U.S. Holders
This section applies to you if you are a “U.S. Holder,” meaning that you are the beneficial owner of a debt security and you are:
• | an individual citizen or resident of the United States for U.S. federal income tax purposes; |
• | a corporation (or other entity classified as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia; |
• | an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or |
• | a trust (A) if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary jurisdiction over your administration and one or more “United States persons” as defined in the Code (each a “U.S. Person”) have authority to control all your substantial decisions, or (B) that was in existence on August 20, 1996 and has made a valid election under the Treasury Regulations to be treated as a U.S. trust. |
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If you are not a U.S. Holder, this section does not apply to you and you should refer to “—Non-U.S. Holders” below.
Payments of Interest. Payments or accruals of stated interest on a debt security generally will be taxable to you as ordinary income. If you generally report your taxable income using the accrual method of accounting, you must include payments of interest in your income as they accrue. If you generally report your taxable income using the cash method of accounting, you must include payments of interest in your income when you actually or constructively receive them.
You must include any tax withheld from the interest payment as ordinary income even though you do not in fact receive it. You may be entitled to deduct or credit this tax, subject to applicable limits. You will also be required to include in income as interest any additional amounts paid with respect to withholding tax on the debt securities, including withholding tax on payments of such additional amounts. For purposes of the “foreign tax credit” provisions of the Code, interest (including any additional amounts) on a debt security generally will constitute “foreign source income” and will, depending on your circumstances, be categorized as “passive” or “general” category income for purposes of computing the foreign tax credit allowable to you under U.S. federal income tax laws.
Disposition of Debt Securities. If you sell or otherwise dispose of a debt security, you generally will recognize a gain or loss equal to the difference between your “amount realized” and your “adjusted tax basis” in the debt security. Your “amount realized” will be the value of what you receive for selling or otherwise disposing of the debt security, other than amounts that represent interest that is due to you but that has not yet been paid (which will be taxed to you as ordinary interest income to the extent not previously included in income). Your “adjusted tax basis” in the debt security will generally equal the amount that you paid for the debt security.
Gain or loss from the sale or other disposition of a debt security generally will be capital gain or loss, and will be long-term capital gain or loss if at the time you sell or dispose of the debt security, you have held the debt security for more than one year, or
will be short-term capital gain or loss if you have held the debt security for one year or less. Under the current U.S. federal income tax law, long-term capital gains of non-corporate taxpayers may be taxed at lower rates than items of ordinary income. Your ability to offset capital losses against ordinary income is limited. Any capital gains or losses that arise when you sell or dispose of a debt security generally will be treated as U.S. source income, or loss allocable to U.S. source income, for purposes of the foreign tax credit provisions of the Code.
Medicare Tax. A U.S. Holder that is an individual or estate, or a trust that does not fall into a special class of trusts that is exempt from such tax, will be subject to a 3.8 percent Medicare tax on the lesser of (i) the U.S. Holder’s “net investment income” (or, in the case of an estate or trust, the “undistributed net investment income”) for the relevant taxable year and (ii) the excess of the U.S. Holder’s modified adjusted gross income for the taxable year over a certain threshold (which in the case of individuals will be between $125,000 and $250,000, depending on the individual’s circumstances). A U.S. Holder’s net investment income generally will include its interest income and its net gains from the disposition of the debt securities, unless such interest income or net gains are derived in the ordinary course of the conduct of a trade or business (other than a trade or business that consists of certain passive or trading activities). If you are an individual, estate or trust, you are urged to consult your own tax advisor regarding the applicability of the Medicare tax to your income and gains in respect of your investment in the debt securities.
Information with Respect to Foreign Financial Assets. Owners of “specified foreign financial assets” with an aggregate value in excess of $50,000 on the last day of the taxable year, or $75,000 at any time during the taxable year generally may be required to file information reports with respect to such assets with their U.S. federal income tax returns. Depending on your circumstances, higher threshold amounts may apply. “Specified foreign financial assets” include any financial accounts maintained by foreign financial institutions, as well as any of the following, but only if they are held for investment and not held in accounts maintained by financial institutions: (i) stocks and securities issued by non-U.S. persons,
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(ii) financial instruments and contracts that have non-U.S. issuers or counterparties, and (iii) interests in non-U.S. entities. The debt securities may be treated as specified foreign financial assets and you may be subject to this information reporting regime. Failure to file information reports may subject you to penalties. You should consult your own tax advisor regarding your obligation to file information reports with respect to the debt securities.
Non-U.S. Holders
This section applies to you if you are a “Non-U.S. Holder,” meaning that you are a beneficial owner of a debt security and are not a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes or a “U.S. Holder” as defined above.
Payments of Interest. Subject to the discussion of backup withholding below, you generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax, including withholding tax, on interest that you receive on a debt security unless you are engaged in a trade or business in the United States and the interest on the debt security is treated for U.S. federal income tax purposes as “effectively connected” to that trade or business (or, if an income tax treaty applies, the interest is attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed place of business maintained by you within the United States). If you are engaged in a U.S. trade or business and the interest income is deemed to be effectively connected to that trade or business, you generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on that interest in the same manner as if you were a U.S. Holder. In addition, if you are a non-U.S. corporation, your interest income subject to tax in that manner may increase your liability under the U.S. “branch profits tax” currently imposed at a 30% rate (or a lower rate under an applicable tax treaty).
Disposition of Debt Securities. Subject to the backup withholding discussion below, you generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax or withholding tax on any capital gain that you realize when you sell or otherwise dispose of a debt security unless:
1. | that gain is effectively connected for U.S. federal income tax purposes to any U.S. trade or business you are engaged in (or, if an income tax treaty |
applies, the gain is attributable to a permanent establishment or fixed base in the United States); or |
2. | if you are a nonresident alien individual, you are present in the United States for 183 days or more during the taxable year in which you sell or otherwise dispose of the debt security and either (i) you have a “tax home” (as defined in the Code) in the United States during the taxable year in which you sell or otherwise dispose of the debt security, or (ii) the gain is attributable to any office or other fixed place of business that you maintain in the United States. |
If you are a Non-U.S. Holder described under (1) above, you generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax on such gain in the same manner as a U.S. Holder and, if you are a non-U.S. corporation, you may also be subject to the U.S. branch profits tax as described above. If you are a Non-U.S. Holder described under (2) above, you generally will be subject to a 30% percent tax on the gain derived from the sale or other taxable disposition of a debt security, which may be offset by certain U.S. source capital losses (notwithstanding the fact that you are not considered a U.S. resident for U.S. federal income tax purposes). Any amount attributable to accrued but unpaid interest on a debt security generally will be treated in the same manner as payments of interest made to you, as described above under “—Payments of Interest.”
Backup Withholding and Information Reporting
If you are a U.S. Holder, and unless you prove that you are exempt, information reporting requirements will apply to payments of principal and interest on a debt security to you if such payments are made within the United States. Such payments will be considered made within the United States if transferred to an account maintained in the United States or mailed to a United States address, and the amount is paid by or through a custodian or nominee that is a “U.S. Controlled Person,” as defined below. Backup withholding will apply to such payments of principal and interest if (i) you fail to provide an accurate taxpayer identification number; (ii) you fail
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to certify that you are not subject to backup withholding; (iii) you are notified by the IRS that you have failed to report all interest and dividend income required to be shown on your U.S. federal income tax returns; or (iv) you fail to demonstrate your eligibility for an exemption.
If you are a Non-U.S. Holder, you generally are exempt from these withholding and reporting requirements (assuming that the gain or income is otherwise exempt from U.S. federal income tax), but you may be required to comply with certification and identification procedures in order to establish your exemption. If you are paid the proceeds of a sale or redemption of a debt security effected at the U.S. office of a broker, you generally will be subject to the information reporting and backup withholding rules. In addition, the information reporting rules will apply to payments of proceeds of a sale or redemption effected at a non-U.S. office of a broker that is a “U.S. Controlled Person,” as defined below, unless the broker has documentary evidence that the holder or beneficial owner is not a U.S. Holder (and has no actual knowledge or reason to know to the contrary) or the holder or beneficial owner otherwise establishes an exemption. A U.S. Controlled Person is:
• | a U.S. Person; |
• | a “controlled foreign corporation” for U.S. federal income tax purposes; |
• | a non-U.S. person 50% or more of whose gross income is effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business for U.S. federal income tax purposes for a specified three-year period; or |
• | a non-U.S. partnership in which U.S. Persons hold, at any time during the non-U.S. partnership’s tax year, more than 50% of the income or capital interests or which is engaged in a U.S. trade or business. |
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules from a payment to you generally will be allowed as a refund or a credit against your U.S. federal income tax liability as long as you provide the required information to the IRS in a timely manner.
Colombia has regularly met all principal and interest obligations on its external debt for over 80 years.
Colombia may sell the debt securities and warrants in any of the following ways:
• | through underwriters or dealers; |
• | directly to one or more purchasers; or |
• | through agents. |
Each prospectus supplement will set forth:
• | the name(s) and address(es) of any underwriters |
• | or agents; |
• | the purchase price of the securities; |
• | the net proceeds to Colombia from the sale; |
• | any underwriting discounts, agent commissions or other items constituting underwriters’ or agents’ compensation; |
• | any initial public offering price and, if applicable, the auction mechanics used to determine such price; |
• | any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and |
• | any securities exchanges on which the securities may be listed. |
If underwriters are used in the sale of any securities, the underwriters will purchase the securities for their own accounts and may resell them from time to time in one or more transactions, including:
• | in negotiated transactions; |
• | at a fixed public offering price; or |
• | at varying prices to be determined at the time of sale. |
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Colombia may offer the securities to the public either through underwriting syndicates represented by managing underwriters or directly by underwriters. Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement, the obligations of the underwriters to purchase the securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent. The underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the securities if any are purchased. The underwriters may change any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers.
Underwriters may sell securities to or through dealers, and these dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agents.
Underwriters, dealers and agents that participate in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discount or commission received by them from Colombia and any profit realized on the resale of securities by them may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the Securities Act. The related prospectus supplements will identify any of these underwriters or agents and will describe any compensation received from Colombia.
Colombia may also sell the securities directly to the public or through agents designated by Colombia from time to time. The applicable prospectus supplement will name any agent involved in the offer or sale of securities and will disclose any commissions Colombia may pay to these agents. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable prospectus supplement, an agent used in the sale of securities will sell the securities on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.
Colombia may authorize agents, underwriters or dealers to solicit offers by certain specified entities to purchase the securities from Colombia under delayed delivery contracts. Purchasers of securities under delayed delivery contracts will pay the public offering price and will take delivery of these securities on a date or dates stated in the applicable prospectus supplement. Delayed delivery contracts will be subject only to those conditions set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement. The applicable
prospectus supplement will set forth the commission payable for solicitation of these delayed delivery contracts.
Colombia may offer the securities of any series to holders of other Colombian securities as consideration for the purchase or exchange by Colombia of these other outstanding securities. This offer may be in connection with a publicly announced tender, exchange or other offer for these securities or in privately negotiated transactions. This type of offering may be in addition to or in lieu of sales of securities directly or through underwriters or agents as set forth in the applicable prospectus supplement.
Colombia may agree to indemnify agents and underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments which the agents or underwriters may be required to make in respect of any of these liabilities.
Agents and underwriters may engage in transactions with or perform services for Colombia in the ordinary course of business.
Information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus which is identified as being derived from a publication of, or supplied by, Colombia or one of its agencies or instrumentalities is included on the authority of that publication as a public official document of Colombia. All other information included or incorporated by reference in this prospectus and the registration statement (of which this prospectus is a part) is included as a public official statement made on the authority of the Minister of Finance and Public Credit of Colombia.
The validity of the securities of each series will be passed upon for Colombia by the Head or Acting Head of the Legal Affairs Group of the General Directorate of Public Credit and National Treasury, and by Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP, 250 West 55th Street, New York, New York 10019-9710, United States counsel to Colombia. The validity of
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the securities of each series will be passed upon on behalf of any agents or underwriters by counsel named in the applicable prospectus supplement.
As to all matters of Colombian law, Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP will assume the correctness of the opinion of the Head or Acting Head of the Legal Affairs Group of the General Directorate of Public Credit and National Treasury. As to all matters of United States law, the Head or Acting Head of the Legal Affairs Group of the General Directorate of Public Credit and National Treasury will assume the correctness of the opinion of Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP.
The authorized representative of Colombia in the United States of America is the Consul General of the Republic of Colombia in The City of New York, whose address is 10 East 46th Street, New York, New York 10017, or such person as is designated in the applicable prospectus supplement.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
Colombia has filed a registration statement with the SEC relating to the debt securities and warrants. This prospectus does not contain all of the information described in the registration statement.
For further information, you should refer to the registration statement.
Colombia is not subject to the informational requirements of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Colombia commenced filing annual reports on Form 18-K with the SEC on a voluntary basis beginning with its fiscal year ended December 31, 1996. These reports include certain financial, statistical and other information concerning Colombia. Colombia may also file amendments on Form 18-K/A to its annual reports for the purpose of incorporating information in the Form 18-K or filing with the SEC exhibits which have not been included in the registration statement to which this prospectus and any prospectus supplements relate. When filed, this information and these exhibits will be
incorporated by reference into, and these exhibits will become part of, this registration statement.
You can request copies of these documents by writing to the SEC. You may also read and copy these documents at the SEC’s public reference room in Washington, D.C.:
SEC Public Reference
100 F Street, N.E., Room 1580
Washington, D.C. 20549
Colombia’s SEC filings are also available to the public from the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference room or log on to www.sec.gov.
The SEC allows Colombia to incorporate by reference some information that Colombia files with the SEC. Incorporated documents are considered part of this prospectus. Colombia can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The following documents, which Colombia has filed or will file with the SEC, are considered part of and incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement:
• | Colombia’s annual report on Form 18-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 filed with the SEC on September 24, 2020 (SEC File No. 033-73840); |
• | All amendments on Form 18-K/A to the 2019 annual report filed on or prior to the date of this prospectus; |
• | Any amendment on Form 18-K/A to the 2019 annual report filed after the date of this prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering of the securities; and |
• | Each subsequent annual report on Form 18-K and any amendment on Form 18-K/A filed after the date of this prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering of the securities. |
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Later information that Colombia files with the SEC will update and supersede earlier information that it has filed.
Any person receiving a copy of this prospectus may obtain, without charge and upon request, a copy of any of the above documents (including only the exhibits that are specifically incorporated by reference in them). Requests for such documents should be directed to:
Dirección General de Crédito Público y
Tesoro Nacional
Ministerio de Hacienda y Crédito Público
Carrera 8, No. 6C-38, Piso 1
Bogotá, D.C.
Colombia
Telephone: 57-1-381-2802/57-1-381-2156
Facsimile: 57-1-381-2801/57-1-381-2102
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Part II
1. The following are the estimated expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, of the issuance and distribution of the securities being registered.
Registration fee | $ | 1,149,680.81 | ||
Trustee fees and expenses | 120,000 | * | ||
Legal fees and expenses | 420,000 | * | ||
Printing expenses | 160,000 | * | ||
Other | 200,000 | * | ||
|
| |||
Total | $ | 2,049,680.81 | * |
* | Estimate |
2. The Registrant hereby agrees to furnish copies of such legal opinions as required (including the opinion of the Head or Acting Head of the Legal Affairs Group of the General Directorate of Public Credit and National Treasury of the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit of the Republic of Colombia) in connection with any offering of debt securities or warrants under this registration statement, a copy of any agreement or agreements made with any underwriters governing the sale of debt securities or warrants offered under this registration statement, a copy of the resolution of the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit authorizing each issue of debt securities or warrants offered under this registration statement and any other Colombian Governmental approvals required in connection with such issue, in post-effective amendments to this registration statement or in any report filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in this registration statement.
UNDERTAKINGS
The Registrant hereby undertakes:
(a) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:
(i) | to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933; |
(ii) | to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after the effective date of this registration statement (or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this registration statement; and |
(iii) | to include any material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in this registration statement or any material change to such information in this registration statement; |
provided, however, that the Registrant shall not be required to file a post-effective amendment otherwise required by clause (i) or clause (ii) above, if the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment is contained in any report filed under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in this registration statement.
(b) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement, relating to the securities covered thereby, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
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(c) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the offering.
(d) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a form of prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be part of this registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.
(e) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant’s annual report on Form 18-K or amendments thereto under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in this registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered thereby, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
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CONTENTS
This registration statement consists of:
(1) | The facing sheet. |
(2) | Part I consisting of the Prospectus. |
(3) | Part II consisting of pages numbered II-1 through II-6. |
(4) | The following exhibits: |
A. | Form of Underwriting Agreement. |
B. | Indenture, dated January 28, 2015, between the Republic of Colombia and The Bank of New York Mellon (includes form of Debt Securities).* |
C. | First Supplemental Indenture, dated September 8, 2015, between the Republic of Colombia and The Bank of New York Mellon** |
D. | Form of Warrant Agreement.*** |
E. | Form of Warrant.*** |
F. | Opinion of the Head of the Legal Affairs Group of the General Directorate of Public Credit and National Treasury of the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit of the Republic of Colombia. |
G. | Opinion of Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP. |
H. | Consent of Alberto Carrasquilla Barrera, Minister of Finance and Public Credit of the Republic of Colombia (included on page II-4). |
I. | Consent of the Head of the Legal Affairs Group of the General Directorate of Public Credit and National Treasury of the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit of the Republic of Colombia (included in Exhibit F). |
J. | Consent of Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP (included in Exhibit G). |
* | Filed as an exhibit to Colombia’s Registration Statement No. 333-220694. |
** | Filed as an exhibit to Colombia’s Annual Report on Form 18-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014. |
*** | To be filed concurrently with the applicable prospectus supplement, either by amendment to Colombia’s Annual Report on Form 18-K or in a post-effective amendment to this registration statement relating to a particular issue of debt securities and/or warrants. |
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(of the Registrant)
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Registrant, the Republic of Colombia, has duly caused this registration statement or amendment to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Bogotá D.C., Colombia on the 26th day of February, 2021.
*By | /s/ Alberto Carrasquilla Barrera | |
Alberto Carrasquilla Barrera | ||
Minister of Finance and Public Credit |
* | Consent is hereby given to the use of his name in connection with the information specified in this registration statement or amendment to have been supplied by him and stated on his authority. |
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SIGNATURE OF AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the undersigned, the duly authorized representative in the United States of the Republic of Colombia, has signed this registration statement or amendment in The City of New York, New York, on the 26th day of February, 2021.
By | /s/ Susana Pilar Berenguer Visbal | |
Susana Pilar Berenguer Visbal | ||
Consul General of the Republic of Colombia in The City of New York |
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EXHIBIT INDEX
* | Filed as an exhibit to Colombia’s Registration Statement No. 333-220694. |
** | Filed as an exhibit to Colombia’s Annual Report on Form 18-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2014. |
*** | To be filed concurrently with the applicable prospectus supplement, either by amendment to Colombia’s Annual Report on Form 18-K or in a post-effective amendment to this registration statement relating to a particular issue of debt securities and/or warrants. |
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