Fitch Affirms Ecopetrol's Local and International Ratings

BOGOTA, Colombia, Dec. 18, 2015 /CNW/ -- Ecopetrol S.A. (BVC: ECOPETROL; NYSE: EC; TSX: ECP) reports that the credit rating agency Fitch Ratings has affirmed Ecopetrol S.A.'s foreign and local currency credit ratings at 'BBB' and 'BBB+', respectively. Concurrently, Fitch has affirmed the company's national scale short and long-term ratings of 'F1+(col) and 'AAA(col). The rating outlook for all credit ratings is stable.

According to Fitch, "Ecopetrol's ratings reflect its close linkage with the Republic of Colombia, which owns 88.5% of the company, due to its strategic importance to the country."

In the report, Fitch also highlights the financial strength of Ecopetrol, stating that "Ecopetrol's reserves, stable production levels, competitive cost structure and dominant domestic market share allow the company to generate consistently strong cash flows from operations and meet its obligations in a timely manner."

The full report is available at www.fitchratings.com. A credit rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be revised or withdrawn by the rating agency at any time.

Ecopetrol is the largest company in Colombia and is an integrated oil & gas company; it is among the top 50 oil companies in the world and among the four top oil companies in Latin America. Besides Colombia - where it generates over 60% of the national production - it has exploration and production activities in Brazil, Peru & the US (Gulf of Mexico). Ecopetrol owns the largest refinery in Colombia and most of the pipeline and multi-product pipeline network in the country, and is significantly increasing its participation in bio-fuels.

This release contains statements that may be considered forward looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the U.S. Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All forward-looking statements, whether made in this release or in future filings or press releases or orally, address matters that involve risks and uncertainties, including in respect of the Company's prospects for growth and its ongoing access to capital to fund the Company's business plan, among others. Consequently, changes in the following factors, among others, could cause actual results to differ materially from those included in the forward-looking statements: market prices of oil & gas, our exploration and production activities, market conditions, applicable regulations, the exchange rate, the Company's competitiveness and the performance of Colombia's economy and industry, to mention a few. We do not intend, and do not assume any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.

For further information, please contact:                 

Head of Corporate Finance and Investor Relations
María Catalina Escobar
Phone: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]

Media Relations (Colombia)
Jorge Mauricio Tellez 
Phone: [phone] 
E-mail: [email protected]

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090209/ARM001LOGO

SOURCE Ecopetrol S.A.