UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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| Item 1.01 | Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement. |
CQP Senior Unsecured Revolving Credit and Guaranty Agreement
On June 23, 2023, Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. (“CQP”), a subsidiary of Cheniere Energy, Inc. (“CEI”), entered into a $1 billion Senior Unsecured Revolving Credit and Guaranty Agreement among CQP, as borrower, certain subsidiaries of CQP, as subsidiary guarantors, various lenders (the “CQP Lenders”) and issuing banks, MUFG Bank, Ltd., as coordinating lead arranger, joint bookrunner and administrative agent, and SG Americas Securities, LLC as joint bookrunner for the CQP Lenders (the “CQP Revolving Credit Facility”). The CQP Revolving Credit Facility refinances and replaces CQP’s existing revolving credit facility, dated as of May 29, 2019, to, among other things, (i) extend the maturity date thereunder, (ii) reduce the rate of interest and commitment fees applicable thereunder, and (iii) make certain other changes to the terms and conditions of the existing revolving credit facility. The CQP Lenders and their affiliates have provided and may provide, from time to time in the future, certain financial services to CQP and its affiliates, for which they may receive advisory or transaction fees, as applicable, of the nature and in amounts customary in the industry for these financial services.
Availability
100% of the CQP Revolving Credit Facility will be available to provide loans and letters of credit to CQP for the general corporate purposes of CQP and/or its subsidiaries. 100% of the aggregate amount of commitments under the CQP Revolving Credit Facility are available for the issuance of letters of credit for the account or benefit of CQP and/or its subsidiaries for general corporate purposes.
Conditions Precedent to Extensions of Credit
Advances and issuances of letters of credit under the CQP Revolving Credit Facility are subject to customary conditions precedent, including the absence of defaults and the accuracy of certain representations and warranties.
Covenants and Events of Default
The CQP Revolving Credit Facility contains no financial covenants.
The CQP Revolving Credit Facility includes representations, warranties and affirmative covenants customary for companies like CQP with lenders of the type participating in the CQP Revolving Credit Facility, including, among others, covenants relating to compliance with laws. Negative covenants are limited to conditions to the making of restricted payments, including dividends, and limitations on indebtedness, liens, fundamental changes, hedging, and affiliate transactions. These covenants are subject to certain materiality qualifiers, reasonableness standards, thresholds, grace periods and exceptions.
In addition, the CQP Revolving Credit Facility includes customary events of default (including non-payment, cross acceleration of indebtedness of CQP or certain subsidiaries of CQP in excess of $500 million, breach of representations, warranties and covenants, unsatisfied judgments in excess of $500 million, and a change of control of CQP), which are subject to customary grace periods and materiality standards.
Interest and Fees
Loans under the CQP Revolving Credit Facility will bear interest at a variable rate per annum equal to SOFR or the base rate (the highest of (a) the prime rate published in The Wall Street Journal, (b) the federal funds rate plus 0.50%, and (c) Term SOFR for an interest period of one month plus 1.00%), plus the applicable margin. The applicable margin for SOFR loans ranges from 1.125% to 2.00% per annum, and the applicable margin for base rate loans ranges from 0.125% to 1.00% per annum, in each case, based on the credit ratings then in effect assigned to loans under the CQP Revolving Credit Facility. Based on current credit ratings for CQP, the applicable margins for SOFR loans and base rate loans are 1.50% and 0.50%, respectively. Interest on SOFR loans is due and payable at the end of each SOFR period, and interest on base rate loans is due and payable at the end of each calendar quarter.
CQP will pay a commitment fee on the average daily amount of undrawn commitments at an annual rate that ranges from 0.10% to 0.30% based on the credit ratings then in effect assigned to loans under the CQP Revolving Credit Facility. Based on current credit ratings for CQP, the commitment fee on revolving commitments is 0.20%.
CQP will also pay (i) a letter of credit fee at an annual rate equal to the applicable margin for SOFR loans on the undrawn portion of all letters of credit issued under the CQP Revolving Credit Facility, and (ii) a fronting fee to each issuing bank that issues a letter of credit in an amount equal to 0.15% per annum of the daily maximum aggregate amount available to be drawn under such letter of credit issued by such issuing bank.
In connection with the CQP Revolving Credit Facility, CQP is paying fees to the CQP Lenders, as well as additional transaction fees and expenses. Annual administrative fees must also be paid to the senior facility agent and common security trustee for the CQP Revolving Credit Facility.
Maturity
The Revolving Credit Facility matures on June 23, 2028. CQP has the right to prepay any loan under the Revolving Credit Facility in whole or in part, subject to certain notice requirements.
SPL Senior Secured Revolving Credit and Guaranty Agreement
On June 23, 2023, Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC (“SPL”), a subsidiary of CEI, entered into a $1 billion Senior Secured Revolving Credit and Guaranty Agreement among SPL, as borrower, various lenders (the “SPL Lenders”) and issuing banks, MUFG Bank, Ltd., as coordinating lead arranger, the Bank of Nova Scotia, as senior facility agent and Société Générale, as common security trustee for the SPL Lenders (the “SPL Revolving Credit Facility”). The SPL Revolving Credit Facility refinances and replaces SPL’s existing revolving credit facility, dated as of March 19, 2020, to, among other things, (i) extend the maturity date thereunder, (ii) reduce the rate of interest and commitment fees applicable thereunder, and (iii) make certain other changes to the terms and conditions of the existing revolving credit facility. The SPL Lenders and their affiliates have provided and may provide, from time to time in the future, certain financial services to SPL and its affiliates, for which they may receive advisory or transaction fees, as applicable, of the nature and in amounts customary in the industry for these financial services.
In connection with the SPL Revolving Credit Facility, SPL also entered into the Fourth Amended and Restated Common Terms Agreement, among SPL and certain other parties thereto and Société Générale, as common security trustee (the “Common Terms Agreement”), which amends and restates the Third Amended and Restated Common Terms Agreement, dated as of March 19, 2020, among SPL and certain other parties thereto and Société Générale, as common security trustee.
Availability
100% of the SPL Revolving Credit Facility will be available to provide loans and letters of credit to SPL for the general corporate purposes of SPL and/or its subsidiaries. 100% of the aggregate amount of commitments under the SPL Revolving Credit Facility are available for the issuance of letters of credit for the account or benefit of SPL and/or its subsidiaries for general corporate purposes.
Conditions Precedent to Extensions of Credit
Advances and issuances of letters of credit under the SPL Revolving Credit Facility are subject to customary conditions precedent, including the absence of defaults and the accuracy of certain representations and warranties.
Covenants and Events of Default
The SPL Revolving Credit Facility contains no financial covenants.
The SPL Revolving Credit Facility includes representations, warranties and affirmative covenants customary for companies like SPL with lenders of the type participating in the SPL Revolving Credit Facility, including, among
others, covenants relating to compliance with laws. Negative covenants are limited to conditions to the making of restricted payments, including dividends, and limitations on indebtedness, liens, fundamental changes, hedging, and affiliate transactions. These covenants are subject to certain materiality qualifiers, reasonableness standards, thresholds, grace periods and exceptions.
In addition, the SPL Revolving Credit Facility includes customary events of default (including non-payment, cross acceleration of other indebtedness of SPL in excess of $500 million, breach of representations, warranties and covenants, unsatisfied judgments in excess of $500 million, and a change of control of SPL), which are subject to customary grace periods and materiality standards.
Interest and Fees
Loans under the SPL Revolving Credit Facility will bear interest at a variable rate per annum equal to SOFR or the base rate (the highest of (a) the prime rate published in The Wall Street Journal, (b) the federal funds rate plus 0.50%, and (c) Term SOFR for an interest period of one month plus 1.00%), plus the applicable margin. The applicable margin for SOFR loans ranges from 1.00% to 1.75% per annum, and the applicable margin for base rate loans ranges from 0.00% to 0.75% per annum, in each case, based on the credit ratings then in effect assigned to loans under the SPL Revolving Credit Facility. Based on current credit ratings for SPL, the applicable margins for SOFR loans and base rate loans are 1.125% and 0.125%, respectively. Interest on SOFR loans is due and payable at the end of each SOFR period, and interest on base rate loans is due and payable at the end of each calendar quarter.
SPL will pay a commitment fee on the average daily amount of undrawn commitments at an annual rate that ranges from 0.075% to 0.30% based on the credit ratings then in effect assigned to loans under the SPL Revolving Credit Facility. Based on current credit ratings for SPL, the commitment fee on revolving commitments is 0.10%.
SPL will also pay (i) a letter of credit fee at an annual rate equal to the applicable margin for SOFR loans on the undrawn portion of all letters of credit issued under the SPL Revolving Credit Facility, and (ii) a fronting fee to each issuing bank that issues a letter of credit in an amount equal to 0.15% per annum of the daily maximum aggregate amount available to be drawn under such letter of credit issued by such issuing bank.
In connection with the SPL Revolving Credit Facility, SPL is paying fees to the SPL Lenders, as well as additional transaction fees and expenses. Annual administrative fees must also be paid to the senior facility agent and common security trustee for the SPL Revolving Credit Facility.
Maturity
The SPL Revolving Credit Facility matures on June 23, 2028. SPL has the right to prepay any loan under the SPL Revolving Credit Facility in whole or in part, subject to certain notice requirements.
Collateral
The SPL Revolving Credit Facility, obligations under the interest rate protection agreements entered into in connection with the SPL Revolving Credit Facility, and SPL’s other senior secured indebtedness permitted under the Common Terms Agreement (collectively, the “SPL Secured Obligations”) are secured on a pari passu basis by a first priority lien (subject to customary permitted encumbrances and exclusions) on substantially all of the assets of SPL and certain future subsidiaries of SPL. In addition, the SPL Secured Obligations are secured by a pledge of all of the membership interests in SPL. SPL is also required to establish and maintain certain deposit accounts, which are subject to the control of the common security trustee. The loan proceeds from the SPL Revolving Credit Facility and other receipts will be deposited into these accounts, and they will hold the various reserve accounts required by the SPL Revolving Credit Facility pursuant to the existing accounts agreement. The liens securing the SPL Secured Obligations are evidenced by customary mortgage and other security documents and are subject to customary intercreditor arrangements.
| Item 2.03 | Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant. |
The information set forth under Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| CHENIERE ENERGY, INC. | ||||||
| Dated: June 26, 2023 | By: | /s/ Zach Davis | ||||
| Name: | Zach Davis | |||||
| Title: | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||||