Exhibit 99.1
CHENIERE ENERGY, INC. NEWS RELEASE
Cheniere Energy Reports Third Quarter 2008 Results
Houston, Texas – November 07, 2008 – Cheniere Energy, Inc. (NYSE Alternext: LNG) reported a net loss of $67.4 million, or $1.42 per share (basic and diluted), for the third quarter of 2008 compared with a net loss of $53.5 million, or $1.14 per share (basic and diluted), during the corresponding period in 2007. Results are reported on a consolidated basis with Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. (NYSE Alternext: CQP) as Cheniere Energy, Inc. holds a 90.6% ownership interest.
Losses from operations were $39.1 million for the third quarter of 2008 compared to $47.3 million for the third quarter of 2007. This decrease of $8.2 million primarily resulted from lower LNG receiving terminal and pipeline development expenses of $8.5 million, lower general and administrative expenses of $5.0 million and an increase in marketing and trading gains of $3.1 million. These decreases and gains were partially offset by increased repair and maintenance expense of $2.8 million related to Hurricane Ike and increased depreciation expense of $5.3 million quarter over quarter as the Sabine Pass terminal was placed into service during the quarter.
Cash and Cash Equivalents
Restricted cash and cash equivalents and treasury securities at September 30, 2008 was $578.0 million of which $127.3 million was held at the parent level and $450.7 million was held at Cheniere Energy Partners. Restricted cash held by Cheniere includes approximately $120.1 million for a reserve account for payments under Cheniere Marketing LLC’s TUA with the Sabine Pass LNG receiving terminal. This reserve requirement is to be reduced to one quarter of payments (approximately $63 million) by the third quarter of 2009.
Restricted cash held by Cheniere Energy Partners included approximately $54.9 million reserved by Sabine Pass LNG for interest payments on its senior secured notes, $82.4 million in a permanent debt service account, $43.4 million as a reserve for distributions to Cheniere Partners’ common unit holders and $270.0 million for construction, other expenses and distributions as allowed per the indenture. In September 2008, Sabine Pass LNG completed an additional issuance of $183.5 million of its senior secured notes due 2016.
Unrestricted cash and cash equivalents at September 30, 2008 was $128.3 million of which the majority was held by Cheniere Energy, Inc. Cheniere estimates remaining cash expenditures for the Creole Trail pipeline to be $11.0 million from October 2008 through completion.
In August 2008, a subsidiary of Cheniere Energy, Inc. closed a $250 million senior secured convertible loan agreement. Proceeds were used to repay the $95.0 million bridge loan obtained in May 2008, fund a reserve account for payments under Cheniere Marketing LLC’s TUA with the Sabine Pass LNG receiving terminal and for general corporate purposes.
Sabine Pass Terminal
During the quarter, construction of the initial 2.6 Bcf/d of sendout capacity and 10.1 Bcf of storage capacity at the Sabine Pass terminal was completed and the terminal was placed into service. There are a few outstanding work items that the contractor needs to complete in order for the terminal to be fully commissioned and the terminal may need to obtain and process additional LNG to complete the testing.
In September, Hurricane Ike struck the Texas and Louisiana coasts resulting in minimal impact to the in-service portion of the terminal, damage to the temporary facilities and salt water exposure to some stored construction materials associated with the 1.4 Bcf/d expansion still under construction. The temporary facilities have been replaced and the damaged construction materials are being refurbished or replaced as required. Cheniere expects that the majority of the costs will be recoverable under its insurance
policies. The project was approximately 84% complete at quarter end and the remaining construction is still expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2009.
Cheniere Energy, Inc. is developing a network of three LNG receiving terminals and related natural gas pipelines along the Gulf Coast of the United States. Cheniere is pursuing related business opportunities both upstream and downstream of the terminals. Cheniere is also the founder and holds a 30% limited partner interest in a fourth LNG receiving terminal. Additional information about Cheniere Energy, Inc. may be found on its web site at www.cheniere.com.
For additional information, please refer to the Cheniere Energy, Inc. Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2008, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
This press release contains certain statements that may include “forward-looking statements” within the meanings of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. 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’s business strategy, plans and objectives and (ii) statements expressing beliefs and expectations regarding the development of Cheniere’s LNG receiving terminal and pipeline businesses. Although Cheniere 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’s 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’s 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 does not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements.
(Financial Table Follows)
Cheniere Energy, Inc.
Selected Financial Information
(in thousands) (1)
| Three Months Ended September 30, |
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|||||||||||||||
| 2008 | 2007 | 2008 | 2007 | |||||||||||||
| Revenues |
$ | 4,100 | $ | 394 | $ | 6,491 | $ | 9 | ||||||||
| Operating costs and expenses |
||||||||||||||||
| LNG receiving terminal and pipeline development expenses |
1,522 | 10,071 | 10,803 | 26,357 | ||||||||||||
| LNG receiving terminal and pipeline operating expenses |
4,163 | — | 4,579 | — | ||||||||||||
| Exploration costs |
5 | 659 | 98 | 1,032 | ||||||||||||
| Oil and gas production costs |
115 | 82 | 323 | 250 | ||||||||||||
| Depreciation, depletion and amortization |
7,220 | 1,952 | 12,837 | 4,541 | ||||||||||||
| General and administrative expenses |
29,933 | 34,904 | 79,976 | 85,101 | ||||||||||||
| Restructuring charges |
287 | — | 78,851 | — | ||||||||||||
| Total operating costs and expenses |
43,245 | 47,668 | 187,467 | 117,281 | ||||||||||||
| Loss from operations |
(39,145 | ) | (47,274 | ) | (180,976 | ) | (117,272 | ) | ||||||||
| Derivative gain |
14,692 | — | 2,325 | — | ||||||||||||
| Loss from equity method investments |
— | (191 | ) | (4,800 | ) | (191 | ) | |||||||||
| Loss on early extinguishment of debt |
(10,716 | ) | — | (10,716 | ) | — | ||||||||||
| Interest expense, net |
(36,801 | ) | (28,027 | ) | (78,051 | ) | (80,383 | ) | ||||||||
| Interest income |
3,535 | 20,990 | 17,940 | 66,695 | ||||||||||||
| Other income (expense) |
(33 | ) | 3 | (103 | ) | (181 | ) | |||||||||
| Income tax benefit |
— | — | — | — | ||||||||||||
| Minority interest |
1,025 | 1,045 | 4,694 | 2,203 | ||||||||||||
| Net loss |
$ | (67,443 | ) | $ | (53,454 | ) | $ | (249,687 | ) | $ | (129,129 | ) | ||||
| Net loss per common share—basic and diluted |
$ | (1.42 | ) | $ | (1.14 | ) | $ | (5.29 | ) | $ | (2.48 | ) | ||||
| Weighted average number of common shares outstanding—basic and diluted |
47,492 | 46,728 | 47,200 | 51,974 | ||||||||||||
Cheniere Energy, Inc.
Selected Financial Information
(in thousands) (1)
| September 30, 2008 |
December 31, 2007 |
|||||||
| (Unaudited) | ||||||||
| Cash and Cash Equivalents |
$ | 128,337 | $ | 296,530 | ||||
| Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents |
394,433 | 228,085 | ||||||
| Other Current Assets |
18,096 | 75,997 | ||||||
| Non-Current Restricted Cash, Cash Equivalents and Treasury Securities |
183,561 | 542,148 | ||||||
| Property, Plant and Equipment, Net |
2,137,938 | 1,645,112 | ||||||
| Debt Issuance Costs, Net |
59,502 | 44,005 | ||||||
| Goodwill |
76,844 | 76,844 | ||||||
| LNG Held for Commissioning |
16,595 | — | ||||||
| Other Assets |
34,010 | 53,578 | ||||||
| Total Assets |
$ | 3,049,316 | $ | 2,962,299 | ||||
| Current Liabilities |
$ | 117,391 | $ | 173,101 | ||||
| Long-Term Debt |
3,152,161 | 2,757,000 | ||||||
| Deferred Revenue |
38,500 | 40,000 | ||||||
| Other Liabilities |
7,263 | 8,637 | ||||||
| Minority Interest |
261,186 | 285,675 | ||||||
| Stockholders’ (Deficit) Equity |
(527,185 | ) | (302,114 | ) | ||||
| Total Liabilities and Stockholders’ (Deficit) Equity |
$ | 3,049,316 | $ | 2,962,299 | ||||
| (1) | Please refer to the Cheniere Energy, Inc. Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2008, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
CONTACTS:
Investors: Christina Cavarretta, 713-375-5100
Media: Diane Haggard, 713-375-5259
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