Note 21
Subsequent events
Oil price volatility
Beginning in early April 2025, international crude oil prices experienced a significant decline, driven by a combination of geopolitical tensions and macroeconomic concerns. As of March 31, 2025, the Brent crude oil price was approximately US$ 74 per barrel. However, during the first week of April, Brent fell by more than 20%, reaching levels below US$ 60 per barrel, the lowest level since mid-2021. Following this initial decline, oil prices partially recovered, and during the second half of April, Brent fluctuated between US$ 60 and US$ 68 per barrel.
This abrupt downturn was primarily triggered by escalating trade tensions between the United States and major global trading partners, notably China, following the U.S. administration’s announcement of increased import tariffs. These actions intensified concerns about a potential global economic slowdown, thereby weakening the outlook for oil demand. Concurrently, certain OPEC+ members unexpectedly increased production in early April, further exacerbating the downward pressure on international crude oil benchmarks.
The Group is actively monitoring the recent volatility in international crude oil prices and its potential implications on the business. While the ultimate impact of these developments cannot be determined at this stage, the Group has included a sensitivity analysis in Note 36 to its annual consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2024, that illustrates its approach to assessing the potential effects of changes in key macroeconomic assumptions on the recoverable value of its assets.
Currency risk management contracts
In April 2025, GeoPark entered into new derivative financial instruments (zero-premium collars) with local banks in Colombia, for a notional amount of US$ 30,000,000 (allocated at US$ 5,000,000 per month during the second half of 2025). The objective of these instruments is to mitigate potential currency fluctuations and protect the Group’s exposure to the Colombian Peso arising from its regular business operations.
Appointment of new Chief Executive Officer
On April 24, 2025, GeoPark announced the appointment of Felipe Bayon as its new Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and a member of the Board of Directors, effective June 1, 2025.
Mr. Bayon is recognized as one of the most effective energy executives in Latin America with more than three decades of accomplishments in the international oil and gas industry. From 2017 to 2023, Mr. Bayon was CEO of Ecopetrol, one of the most important energy groups in Latin America, where he led 18,000 employees, oversaw production of approximately 700,000 boepd and revenues of over US$ 30 billion, and delivered record financial, operational, and safety results. He is a proven and disciplined dealmaker who brought Ecopetrol into the unconventional Permian Basin in the U.S. in partnership with Oxy, a project that grew from 0 to ca. 150,000 bpd gross in 4 years, into the Brazilian ultra-deep water pre-salt play in partnership with Shell, as well as into a leading position in the Latin American power transmission sector and focused investments in renewable energies, water management, and nature-based climate solutions.
Mr. Bayon is a mechanical engineer who began his career in 1991 with Shell in field operations and projects and then moved to BP where he worked for 21 years in increasingly important operational and management roles in Colombia, Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, the U.S. and the U.K., including his tenure as CEO of Pan American Energy, one of the leading private hydrocarbon producers in Argentina, from 2005 to 2010. Mr. Bayon has served on multiple Boards of Directors across the energy, utilities, education, and technology sectors.