History
GeoPark bought Amerisur, found oil in Ecuador, paid down and then refinanced its debt, entered Argentina's Vaca Muerta, lost a Repsol deal, and agreed to buy Frontera's Colombian assets.
2020-2021: Buying Amerisur and reshaping the debt
GeoPark began 2020 by raising money for a purchase. On January 7 it said it would sell new senior notes, guaranteed by its Chile and Colombia subsidiaries, to pay for the already-announced takeover of Amerisur Resources Plc. On January 15 it priced US$350 million of 5.500% notes due 2027. Demand was said to exceed $2 billion, more than six times the amount offered. UK courts had approved the Amerisur deal without condition the day before.
The year itself was hard. Results released in March 2021 showed 2020 revenue of $393.7 million but a net loss of $233.0 million, after $133.9 million of impairments (asset value cut) and $52.7 million of write-offs. Cash stood at $201.9 million. Even so, GeoPark declared a quarterly dividend of $0.0205 per share ($1.25 million) and raised its 2021 work program to $130-150 million. Dividends and buybacks resumed after the downturn.
In April 2021 it turned to its older debt, launching a tender offer for up to US$255 million of its US$425 million 6.500% notes due 2024, and proposing an add-on to the 2027 notes to pay for it.
2022: Ecuador discoveries and a cleaner balance sheet
By January 2022 GeoPark reported 2021 average production of 37,602 barrels of oil equivalent a day (boepd), cash of $100 million, and $105 million of debt paid down during 2021. It planned a self-funded 2022 program of $160-180 million. Three small Argentine blocks were sold for $16 million, closing January 31.
The year's highlight was Ecuador. In January the Jandaya 1 well in the Perico block (50% held, run by partner Frontera Energy) tested at 890 boepd, the company's first discovery there. Tui 1 followed in March at 1,240 barrels of oil a day, and Yin 1 in June at a preliminary 1,600 bopd. Together the three produced about 2,800 bopd gross. Not everything worked: Urraca 1 on the CPO-5 block tested at 308 bopd with a 53% water cut.
The Brazilian Manati sale, agreed in November 2020, was not completed by its March 31 deadline, and GeoPark chose not to extend it. First-quarter revenue rose 70% to $249.2 million, with a net profit of $31.0 million. Net debt fell to $528.4 million from $573.5 million. GeoPark redeemed $45 million of the 2024 notes, raised guidance, and in June won consent from 2027 noteholders to looser terms, giving more room for dividends and buybacks. In September it said it would redeem the remaining $67.1 million of the 2024 notes.
2023-2024: Argentina and a Colombian bid
The record is quiet for 2023. Share count data show a fall from 60.2 million at the end of 2021 to 55.3 million by the end of 2023 and 51.2 million by the end of 2024, in line with the buyback program, though the beats give no specific figures.
In May 2024 GeoPark agreed with Phoenix Global Resources, a Mercuria subsidiary, to buy non-operated stakes in four Vaca Muerta blocks in Argentina: 45% in Mata Mora Norte and Sur, and 50% in Confluencia Norte and Sur. It would pay $190 million upfront and fund up to $113 million of exploration commitments, using cash and a draw on an oil prepayment facility. A $0.136 per share quarterly dividend ($7.5 million) was paid in March 2024.
In late November it agreed to buy Repsol's Colombian assets for about $530 million. Ecopetrol, however, exercised its preemptive right on the CPO-9 part on December 30.
2025-2026: Refinancing and the Frontera deal
On January 15, 2025, a partner in SierraCol exercised its own preemptive right, and GeoPark and Repsol dropped the deal entirely. Days later GeoPark refinanced. It priced US$550 million of 8.750% notes due 2030 and used the proceeds to buy back US$405.3 million of the 2027 notes, leaving about US$94.7 million. It also intended to repay up to US$152.0 million of prepayments tied to the Vaca Muerta deal. Average debt life extended to 4.6 years. By 2025's end it reported production of 28,233 boepd, above guidance, and operations had begun in two Vaca Muerta blocks.
On January 30, 2026 GeoPark agreed to buy Frontera Petroleum International Holdings B.V., holding 17 Colombian blocks, for US$375 million cash plus up to US$25 million contingent. It would also assume Frontera's US$310 million 7.875% 2028 notes and US$79 million net under a prepayment facility, funded by cash and a Vitol prepayment facility, with no new shares. As of May 2026 the deal was subject to approvals and its completion was not confirmed, and Felipe Bayon was named chief executive.
Written from the 19 story beats below (2020 to 30 Jan 2026), which come from the company's own announcements and filings.