GeoPark (0MDP) Risk Analysis
Risk Overview Q4, 2023
Source: the company's latest filing for the period ended Dec 31, 2023, filed Mar 27, 2024
Risk Change Over Time
- Cyber Security - Risk 1Our business could be negatively impacted by cybersecurity threats and related disruptions.
We rely on information technology systems, including systems which are managed or provided by third-party providers, to conduct our business and support our exploration, development, and production activities. We increasingly depend on digital technologies, such as applications, a cloud environment, mobile platforms, computers, and telecommunications systems. We collect, use, transmit, store, and otherwise process data using information technology systems, including systems owned and maintained by us or our third-party providers. These data include confidential information and intellectual property belonging to us or our customers or other business partners. All information technology systems are subject to disruptions, outages, failures, and security breaches or incidents. A breach or failure of our digital infrastructure, control systems, or cyber defenses, or those of our third-party providers, as a result of negligence, intentional misconduct, or otherwise, could seriously disrupt our operations. We and our third-party providers have experienced, and expect to continue to experience, cybersecurity attacks. Cybersecurity attacks may range from employee or contractor error or misuse or unauthorized use of information technology systems or confidential information, to individual attempts to gain unauthorized access to these information systems, to sophisticated cybersecurity attacks, known as advanced persistent threats, any of which may target us directly or indirectly through our third-party providers. Despite employee training and other measures to mitigate vulnerabilities, our employees have been and will continue to be targeted by parties using fraudulent "spam", "scam", "phishing" and "spoofing" emails to misappropriate information or to introduce viruses or other malware programs to our technology environment. Cybersecurity attacks are increasing in number worldwide, and the attackers are increasingly organized and well-financed, or at times supported by state actors. Our industry is subject to fast-evolving risks from cyber-threat actors, including states, criminals, terrorists, hacktivists, and insiders. To the extent artificial intelligence capabilities improve and are increasingly adopted, they may be used to identify vulnerabilities and craft increasingly sophisticated cybersecurity attacks. Vulnerabilities may be introduced from the use of artificial intelligence by us, our customers, suppliers and other business partners and third-party providers. We continuously devote significant resources to network security, data loss prevention, and other measures to protect our systems and data from unauthorized access or misuse, and we may be required to expend greater resources in the future, especially in the face of evolving and increasingly sophisticated cybersecurity threats and laws, regulations, and other actual and asserted obligations to which we are or may become subject relating to privacy, data protection, and cybersecurity. We may be unable to anticipate, prevent, or remediate future attacks, vulnerabilities, breaches, or incidents, and in some instances, we may be unaware of vulnerabilities or cybersecurity breaches or incidents or their magnitude and effects, particularly as attackers are becoming increasingly able to circumvent controls and remove forensic evidence. Cybersecurity incidents may result in business disruption; delay in the development and delivery of our products; disruption of our production processes, internal communications, interactions with customers and suppliers and processing and reporting financial results; the theft or misappropriation of intellectual property; corruption, loss of, or inability to access (e.g., through ransomware or denial of service) confidential information, trade secrets, proprietary information, personal information, and other critical data (i.e., that of our company and our third-party providers and customers); reputational damage; private claims, demands, and litigation or regulatory investigations, enforcement actions, or other proceedings related to contractual or regulatory privacy, cybersecurity, data protection, or other confidentiality obligations; diminution in the value of our investment in research, development and engineering; and increased costs associated with the implementation of cybersecurity measures to detect, deter, protect against, and recover from such incidents. Furthermore, the need for rapid detection of attempts to gain unauthorized access to our digital infrastructure, often through the use of sophisticated and coordinated means, presents a challenge we must face and any delay or failure to detect cyber incidents could compound potential harms. This could result in significant and compounding losses due to the cost of remediation and reputational consequences. Our efforts to comply with, and changes to, laws, regulations, and contractual and other actual and asserted obligations concerning privacy, cybersecurity, and data protection, including developing restrictions on cross-border data transfer and data localization, could result in significant expense, and any actual or alleged failure to comply could result in inquiries, investigations, and other proceedings against us by regulatory authorities or other third parties. Customers and third-party providers increasingly demand rigorous contractual provisions regarding privacy, cybersecurity, data protection, confidentiality, and intellectual property, which may increase our overall compliance burden. With respect to certain potential incidents, such as a cyber-attack or data breach, we are covered under a cybersecurity insurance. However, no assurances can be made as to whether the insurance policy is sufficient in coverage or amount to cover all our potential liability.
Risk Highlights Q4, 2023
Risk Word Cloud
Risk Factors Full Breakdown - Total Risks 53
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 1There are regulatory limitations on the ownership and transfer of our common shares which could result in the delay or denial of any transfers you might seek to make.
The permission of the Bermuda Monetary Authority is required, under the provisions of the Exchange Control Act 1972 and related regulations, for all issuances and transfers of shares (which includes our common shares) of Bermuda companies to or from a non-resident of Bermuda for exchange control purposes, other than in cases where the Bermuda Monetary Authority has granted a general permission. The Bermuda Monetary Authority, in its notice to the public dated June 1, 2005, has granted a general permission for the issue and subsequent transfer of any securities of a Bermuda company from and/or to a non-resident of Bermuda for exchange control purposes for so long as any "Equity Securities" of the company (which would include our common shares) are listed on an "Appointed Stock Exchange" (which would include the New York Stock Exchange). In granting the general permission the Bermuda Monetary Authority accepts no responsibility for our financial soundness or the correctness of any of the statements made or opinions expressed in this annual report. Any changes in the permission granted by the Bermuda Monetary Authority and related regulations could result in a delay or denial of any transfer of shares an investor might seek.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 2We are a Bermuda company, and it may be difficult for you to enforce judgments against us or against our directors and executive officers.
We are incorporated as an exempted company under the laws of Bermuda and our assets are substantially located in Colombia, Ecuador and Brazil. In addition, several of our directors and executive officers reside outside the United States and all or a substantial portion of the assets of such persons are located outside the United States. As a result, it may be difficult or impossible to effect service of process within the United States upon us, or to recover against us on judgments of U.S. courts, including judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the U.S. federal securities laws. Further, no claim may be brought in Bermuda against us or our directors and officers in the first instance for violation of U.S. federal securities laws because these laws have no extraterritorial application under Bermuda law and do not have force of law in Bermuda. However, a Bermuda court may impose civil liability, including the possibility of monetary damages, on us or our directors and officers if the facts alleged in a complaint constitute or give rise to a cause of action under Bermuda law. There is no treaty in force between the United States and Bermuda providing for the reciprocal recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters. However, the courts of Bermuda would recognize any final and conclusive monetary in personam judgement obtained in a U.S. court (other than a sum of money payable in respect of multiple damages, taxes or other charges of a like nature or in respect of a fine or other penalty) and would give a judgement based thereon provided that (i) the U.S. court that entered the judgment is recognized by the Bermuda court as having jurisdiction over us or our directors and officers, as determined by reference to Bermuda conflict of law rules, (ii) such court did not contravene the rules of natural justice of Bermuda, such judgment was not obtained by fraud, the enforcement of the judgment would not be contrary to the public policy of Bermuda, (iii) no new admissible evidence relevant to the action is submitted prior to the rendering of the judgment by the courts of Bermuda, and (iv) there is due compliance with the correct procedures under the laws of Bermuda. In addition, and irrespective of jurisdictional issues, the Bermuda courts will not enforce a U.S. federal securities law that is either penal or contrary to Bermuda public policy. An action brought pursuant to a public or penal law, the purpose of which is the enforcement of a sanction, power or right at the instance of the state in its sovereign capacity, will not be entertained by a Bermuda court. Certain remedies available under the laws of U.S. jurisdictions, including certain remedies under U.S. federal securities laws, would not be available under Bermuda law or enforceable in a Bermuda court, as they would be contrary to Bermuda public policy.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 3The transfer of our common shares may be subject to capital gains taxes pursuant to indirect transfer rules in Colombia.
In August 2020, the Colombian government enacted Decree 1103 that regulates the indirect transfer tax established in article 90-3 of the Colombian Tax Code. Through this regulation, the transfer of shares and assets of entities located abroad are taxed in Colombia when such transaction represents a transfer of assets located in Colombia ("Colombian Assets"). Although certain conditions and exemptions apply, corporate reorganizations shall monitor this new regulation. As we indirectly own Colombian Assets, the indirect transfer rules would apply to transfers of our common shares provided certain conditions outside of our control are met. If such conditions were present and as a result the indirect transfer rules were to apply to sales of our common shares, such sales would be subject to indirect transfer tax on the capital gain realized in connection with such sales. For a description of the indirect transfer rules and the conditions of their application see "Item 10. Additional Information-E. Taxation-Colombian tax on transfers of shares."
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 4Shareholder activism could cause us to incur significant expenses, hinder execution of our business strategy and impact our stock price.
Shareholder activism has been increasing generally and in the energy industry specifically. Investors may attempt to effect changes to our business or governance, such as with respect to climate change or otherwise, by means such as shareholder proposals, public campaigns, proxy solicitations or other means. Such actions could adversely impact us by distracting the Board and employees from core business operations, increasing advisory fees and related costs, interfering with our ability to successfully execute on strategic transactions and plans and provoking perceived uncertainty about the future direction of the business.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 5Certain shareholders have substantial influence over us and could limit your ability to influence the outcome of key transactions, including a change of control.
Certain members of our board of directors and our executive officers held 17.9% of our outstanding common shares as of March 19, 2024, holding the shares either directly or through privately held funds. As a result, these shareholders, if acting together, would be able to influence matters requiring approval by our shareholders, including the election of directors and the approval of amalgamations, mergers, or other extraordinary transactions. They may also have interests that differ from yours and may vote in a way with which you disagree, and which may be adverse to your interests. The concentration of ownership may have the effect of delaying, preventing, or deterring a change of control of our company, could deprive our stockholders of an opportunity to receive a premium for their common shares as part of a sale of our company and might ultimately affect the market price of our common shares. See "Item 7. Major Shareholders and Related Party Transactions-A. Major shareholders" for a more detailed description of our share ownership.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 6Sales of substantial amounts of our common shares in the public market, or the perception that these sales may occur, could cause the market price of our common shares to decline.
We may issue additional common shares or convertible securities in the future, for example, to finance potential acquisitions of assets, which we intend to continue to pursue. Sales of substantial amounts of our common shares in the public market, or the perception that these sales may occur, could cause the market price of our common shares to decline. This could also impair our ability to raise additional capital through the sale of our equity securities. Under our memorandum of association, we are authorized to issue up to 5,171,949,000 common shares, of which 55,327,520 common shares were outstanding as of December 31, 2023. We cannot predict the size of future issuances of our common shares or the effect, if any, that future sales and issuances of shares would have on the market price of our common shares.
- Share Price & Shareholder Rights - Risk 7An active, liquid, and orderly trading market for our common shares may not develop and the price of our stock may be volatile, which could limit your ability to sell our common shares.
Our common shares began to trade on the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE") on February 7, 2014, and as a result have a limited trading history. We cannot predict the extent to which investor interest in our company will maintain an active trading market on the NYSE, or how liquid that market will be in the future. The market price of our common shares may be volatile and may be influenced by many factors, some of which are beyond our control, including: - our operating and financial performance and identified potential drilling locations, including reserve estimates;- quarterly variations in the rate of growth of our financial indicators, such as net income per common share, net income and revenues;- changes in revenue or earnings estimates or publication of reports by equity research analysts;- fluctuations in the price of oil or gas;- speculation in the press or investment community;- sales of our common shares by us or our shareholders, or the perception that such sales may occur;- involvement in litigation;- changes in personnel;- announcements by the company;- domestic and international economic, legal and regulatory factors unrelated to our performance;- variations in our quarterly operating results;- volatility in our industry, the industries of our customers and the global securities markets;- changes in our dividend policy;- risks relating to our business and industry, including those discussed above;- strategic actions by us or our competitors;- actual or expected changes in our growth rates or our competitors' growth rates;- investor perception of us, the industry in which we operate, the investment opportunity associated with our common shares and our future performance;- adverse media reports about us or our directors and officers;- addition or departure of our executive officers;- change in coverage of our company by securities analysts;- trading volume of our common shares;- future issuances of our common shares or other securities;- terrorist acts; or - the release or expiration of transfer restrictions on our outstanding common shares.
See a full breakdown of risk according to category and subcategory. The list starts with the category with the most risk. Click on subcategories to read relevant extracts from the most recent report.
