Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. Reports First Quarter 2015 Results

HOUSTON, April 30, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. ("Cheniere Partners") (NYSE MKT: CQP) reported a net loss of $178.7 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015, compared to a net loss of $69.7 million for the same period in 2014. 

Significant items for the three months ended March 31, 2015 were a loss of $126.7 million, compared to a loss of $38.3 million for the comparable 2014 period. Significant items for the three months ended March 31, 2015 related to losses on early extinguishment of debt related to the write-off of debt issuance costs by Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC ("SPL") in connection with the refinancing of a portion of its credit facilities in March 2015, derivative losses due primarily to changes in long-term LIBOR during the respective periods, and development expenses primarily for the fifth and sixth natural gas liquefaction trains ("Trains") we are developing through SPL at the Sabine Pass LNG terminal adjacent to the existing regasification facilities (the "Liquefaction Project").

General and administrative expense (including affiliate) decreased by $5.4 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015, compared to the corresponding 2014 period, primarily due to a decrease in management fees incurred under certain management service agreements with wholly owned subsidiaries of Cheniere Energy, Inc. ("Cheniere"). SPL is required to pay monthly fees to an affiliate of Cheniere based upon the capital expenditures incurred in the previous month for construction of the first four Trains at the Liquefaction Project. Operating and maintenance expense (including affiliate) increased by $23.1 million for the three months ended March 31, 2015, compared to the corresponding 2014 period, primarily due to costs incurred in order to maintain the cryogenic readiness of the regasification facilities at the Sabine Pass LNG terminal.

Recent Significant Events

• In March 2015, SPL issued an aggregate principal amount of $2.0 billion of 5.625% Senior Secured Notes due 2025. Net proceeds from the offering are being used to pay a portion of the capital costs associated with the construction of the first four Trains of the Liquefaction Project.
• In April 2015, we received authorization from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC") to site, construct and operate Trains 5 and 6 of the Liquefaction Project.

Liquefaction Project Update

We continue to make progress on the Liquefaction Project, which is being developed for up to six Trains, each with an expected aggregate nominal production capacity of approximately 4.5 million tonnes per annum ("mtpa").

The Trains are in various stages of development.

• Construction on Trains 1 and 2 began in August 2012, and as of March 31, 2015, the overall project completion percentage for Trains 1 and 2 was approximately 87.2%, which is ahead of the contractual schedule. Based on our current construction schedule, we anticipate that Train 1 will produce LNG as early as late 2015.
• Construction on Trains 3 and 4 began in May 2013, and as of March 31, 2015, the overall project completion percentage for Trains 3 and 4 was approximately 62.6%, which is ahead of the contractual schedule. We expect Trains 3 and 4 to become operational in late 2016 and 2017, respectively.
• Trains 5 and 6 are under development. We have entered into SPAs for approximately 3.75 mtpa in aggregate that commence with the date of first commercial delivery for Train 5.  We have received authorizations from the U.S. Department of Energy ("DOE") to export 503 Bcf per year of LNG volumes from Trains 5 and 6 to free trade agreement ("FTA") countries. Authorization to export LNG to non-FTA countries is pending. In April 2015, we received FERC authorization to site, construct, and operate Trains 5 and 6.

We will contemplate making a final investment decision to commence construction of Trains 5 and 6 based upon, among other things, entering into EPC contracts, entering into acceptable commercial arrangements, receiving all regulatory approvals and obtaining adequate financing. We expect to commence construction on Train 5 upon receiving all regulatory approvals and obtaining financing followed by Train 6 upon entering into acceptable commercial arrangements and obtaining financing.

Distributions to Unitholders

We estimate that the annualized distribution to common unitholders for fiscal year 2015 will be $1.70 per unit.

We will pay a cash distribution per common unit of $0.425 to unitholders of record as of May 1, 2015, and the related general partner distribution on May 15, 2015.

Cheniere Partners owns 100 percent of the Sabine Pass LNG terminal located on the Sabine Pass deep water shipping channel less than four miles from the Gulf Coast. The Sabine Pass LNG terminal includes existing infrastructure of five LNG storage tanks with capacity of approximately 16.9 billion cubic feet equivalent (Bcfe), two docks that can accommodate vessels with nominal capacity of up to 266,000 cubic meters and vaporizers with regasification capacity of approximately 4.0 Bcf/d.

Cheniere Partners is developing natural gas liquefaction facilities at the Sabine Pass LNG terminal adjacent to the existing regasification facilities. Cheniere Partners plans to construct over time up to six natural gas Trains, which are in various stages of development. Each Train is expected to have a nominal production capacity of approximately 4.5 mtpa. The overall project completion percentage of Trains 1 and 2 is approximately 87.2% as of March 31, 2015. The overall project completion percentage of Trains 3 and 4 is approximately 62.6% as of March 31, 2015. Cheniere Partners is developing Trains 5 and 6 and received FERC authorization to site, construct, and operate Trains 5 and 6 in April 2015. Cheniere Partners has entered into six third-party LNG SPAs that in the aggregate equate to 19.75 mtpa and commence with the date of first commercial delivery of Trains 1 through 5 as specified in the respective SPAs. Cheniere Partners has placed documentation pertaining to the Liquefaction Project, including the applications and supporting studies, on its website located at http://www.cheniere.com.

For additional information, please refer to the Cheniere Partners website at www.cheniere.com and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

This press release contains certain statements that may include "forward-looking statements." All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included herein are "forward-looking statements." Included among "forward-looking statements" are, among other things, (i) statements regarding Cheniere Partners' business strategy, plans and objectives, including the construction and operation of liquefaction facilities, (ii) statements regarding expectations regarding regulatory authorizations and approvals, (iii) statements expressing beliefs and expectations regarding the development of Cheniere Partners' LNG terminal and liquefaction business, (iv) statements regarding the business operations and prospects of third parties, (v) statements regarding potential financing arrangements, and (vi) statements regarding future discussions and entry into contracts. Although Cheniere Partners believes that the expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are reasonable, they do involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties, and these expectations may prove to be incorrect. Cheniere Partners' actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors, including those discussed in Cheniere Partners' periodic reports that are filed with and available from the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Other than as required under the securities laws, Cheniere Partners does not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements.

(Financial Tables Follow)

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SOURCE Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P.