Pacific Rubiales Announces 18% Increase to its Dividend

TORONTO, March 14, 2012 /PRNewswire/ - Pacific Rubiales Energy Corp. (TSX: PRE; BVC: PREC; BOVESPA: PREB) announced today an increase to its cash dividend to U.S.$0.11 per common share payable each quarter during 2012 from U.S.$0.093 per common share that was previously payable, representing an 18% increase in the dividend on a per share basis.  The next dividend is payable on March 30, 2012 to shareholders of record as of March 22, 2012 and to holders of Brazilian Depositary Receipts (the "BDRs") of record as of March 19, 2012.  The ex-dividend date for shareholders trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the La Bolsa de Valores de Colombia (or the Colombia Stock Exchange) as well as for those trading BDRs on the Bolsa de Valores Mercadorias e Futuros (or the Brazilian Stock Exchange) is March 20, 2012.

Ronald Pantin, Chief Executive Officer of the Company stated:  "We are pleased that our performance allows us to increase our dividend.  The increase reflects our confidence in the continued strength and momentum of our business."

For shareholders trading on the Colombian Stock Exchange, the Colombia peso equivalency shall be calculated based on the exchange rate as certified by the "Superintendencia Financiera de Colombia" on the date of monetization and will be published on the SIMEV website at the proper time.

With respect to the BDRs traded on the Brazilian Stock Exchange, the Depositary Institution in Brazil will execute the exchange agreement as of the date of the payment of the dividend to the holders of BDRs, on or about March 30, 2012, for conversion purposes. Also, the holders of BDRs registered on March 19, 2012 shall be entitled to receive the dividends from the Depositary Institution on April 5, 2012.

Subject to approval from the Board of Directors, the Company expects to continue paying a dividend on a quarterly basis at this level throughout 2012, with such decision being determined based on funds from operations, earnings, financial requirements, commodity price levels, legal requirements and other conditions existing in the future.  While a formal policy is not in place with respect to dividends, the payment of quarterly dividends will continue to be reviewed by the Board of Directors, as needed, from time to time.  Future dividends on Pacific Rubiales common shares and, consequently, BDRs, are not guaranteed.

The Company intends to designate all dividends as "eligible dividends" for purposes of the Income Tax Act (Canada) unless a notification of change is otherwise posted on the Company's website at www.pacificrubiales.com and on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Provided designation is made, the dividend will be considered an "eligible dividend" for tax purposes. An eligible dividend received by a Canadian resident individual shareholder is entitled to the enhanced dividend tax credit.

TAX CONSIDERATIONS

General

The information in this release is not intended to be an exhaustive discussion of all possible income tax consequences and considerations, but a general guideline.  It is not intended to be legal or tax advice to any particular investor or potential investor.  Investors or potential investors should consult their own tax advisors as to their particular tax consequences and reporting obligations.

The following information is provided for general information only.  Investors are encouraged to seek advice from a qualified tax advisor in their country of residence to obtain guidance with respect to appropriate tax treatment of their distributions.

For Canadian Residents

For Canadian income tax purposes, the dividend paid to shareholders of Pacific Rubiales will be a taxable dividend.  In the case of a shareholder who is an individual resident in Canada, dividends will be subject to the gross-up and credit rules contained in the Income Tax Act (Canada), and, in the case of a shareholder that is a "private corporation" or a "subject corporation" (both as defined in the Income Tax Act (Canada)), a refundable tax will apply to the amount of the dividend.  Shareholders should contact their tax advisor or their local office of the Canada Revenue Agency with respect to any questions regarding the taxation of eligible dividends.

For Colombian Residents

Dividends paid to residents of Colombia will be subject to a Canadian 25% withholding tax on 100% of the gross distribution. Under Colombian tax rules, dividends will be subject to tax. Generally a corporation resident in Colombia is subject to tax at 33% of net income and individuals are subject to tax based on a progressive table as applicable.  Amounts paid as foreign taxes may be eligible for a foreign tax credit in Colombia.  For a more detailed discussion on the logistics and tax implications, shareholders should contact their tax advisor or their local office of the Colombian tax agency (DIAN), with respect to any questions regarding the taxation of these dividends or the application of foreign tax credits. In addition, they should consult the dividend circular that will be made available on the SIMEV.

For U.S. Residents

Subject to various U.S. statutory holding period requirements, distributions made by the Company out of its current or accumulated "earnings and profits" may be considered "qualified dividend income" as defined under U.S. tax law, and thus may be taxed at the reduced tax rates applicable to long term capital gains, provided that the Company has the status of a "qualified foreign corporation" for the year ended December 31, 2011. These reduced rates may not be available to shareholders of the Company other than U.S. resident individuals.  In addition, distributions in excess of the Company's current or accumulated "earnings and profits" may reduce the U.S. tax basis of the shareholder's shares of the Company.

Pursuant to the Canada - U.S. Tax Treaty, dividends paid to residents of the United States may be subject to a 15% withholding tax on 100% of the gross distribution. Amounts paid for foreign taxes may be eligible for either a deduction for foreign taxes or a foreign tax credit in the United States; both the deduction and credit for foreign taxes are subject to numerous limitations imposed by U.S. tax law which are not discussed in this summary.

Shareholders should contact their tax advisor or their local office of the Internal Revenue Service with respect to any questions regarding the taxation of such dividend distributions.

For Brazilian Residents

Dividends paid to residents of Brazil will be subject to a Canadian 25% withholding tax on 100% of the gross distribution. In the case of a BDR holder who is an individual resident in Brazil, dividends will be subject to income tax based on a progressive table as applicable, which rates vary from 0% to 27.5%. In the case of a BDR holder that is a corporation domiciled in Brazil, dividends will subject to income tax at a rate of 34%. Amounts withheld in Canada as taxes may be eligible for a deduction in Brazil.  BDR holders should contact their tax advisor in Brazil with respect to any documents which may be necessary for this deduction and any questions regarding the taxation of eligible dividends.

Pacific Rubiales, a Canadian-based company and producer of natural gas and heavy crude oil, owns 100 percent of Meta Petroleum Corp., a Colombian oil operator which operates the Rubiales, Piriri and Quifa oil fields in the Llanos Basin in association with Ecopetrol, S.A., the Colombian national oil company, and 100 percent of Pacific Stratus Energy Corp. which operates the La Creciente natural gas field. The Company is focused on identifying opportunities primarily within the eastern Llanos Basin of Colombia as well as in other areas in Colombia and northern Peru. Pacific Rubiales has working interests in 43 blocks in Colombia, Peru and Guatemala.

The Company's common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange and La Bolsa de Valores de Colombia and as Brazilian Depositary Receipts on Brazil's Bolsa de Valores Mercadorias e Futuros under the ticker symbols PRE, PREC, and PREB, respectively.

Cautionary Note Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that the company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future (including, without limitation, statements regarding estimates and/or assumptions in respect of production, revenue, cash flow and costs, reserve and resource estimates, potential resources and reserves and the company's exploration and development plans and objectives) are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements reflect the current expectations or beliefs of the company based on information currently available to the company. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that may cause the actual results of the company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements, and even if such actual results are realized or substantially realized, there can be no assurance that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on the company. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things: uncertainty of estimates of capital and operating costs, production estimates and estimated economic return; the possibility that actual circumstances will differ from the estimates and assumptions; failure to establish estimated resources or reserves; fluctuations in petroleum prices and currency exchange rates; inflation; changes in equity markets; political developments in Colombia, Guatemala or Peru; changes to regulations affecting the company's activities; uncertainties relating to the availability and costs of financing needed in the future; the uncertainties involved in interpreting drilling results and other geological data; and the other risks disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in the company's annual information form dated March 14, 2012 filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made and, except as may be required by applicable securities laws, the company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. Although the company believes that the assumptions inherent in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein.

SOURCE Pacific Rubiales Energy Corp.