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Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents (Notes)
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12 Months Ended |
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Dec. 31, 2014
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| Cash and Cash Equivalents [Abstract] | |
| Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents |
RESTRICTED CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Restricted cash and cash equivalents consist of funds that are contractually restricted as to usage or withdrawal and have been presented separately from cash and cash equivalents on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Restricted cash and cash equivalents include the following:
Sabine Pass LNG Senior Notes Debt Service Reserve
Sabine Pass LNG has consummated private offerings of an aggregate principal amount of $1,665.5 million, before discount, of 7.50% Senior Secured Notes due 2016 (the “2016 Sabine Pass LNG Senior Notes”) and $420.0 million of 6.50% Senior Secured Notes due 2020 (the “2020 Sabine Pass LNG Senior Notes”). Collectively, the 2016 Sabine Pass LNG Senior Notes and the 2020 Sabine Pass LNG Senior Notes are referred to as the “Sabine Pass LNG Senior Notes.” Under the indentures governing the Sabine Pass LNG Senior Notes (the “Sabine Pass LNG Indentures”), except for permitted tax distributions, Sabine Pass LNG may not make distributions until certain conditions are satisfied, including: (i) there must be on deposit in an interest payment account an amount equal to one-sixth of the semi-annual interest payment multiplied by the number of elapsed months since the last semi-annual interest payment, and (ii) there must be on deposit in a permanent debt service reserve fund an amount equal to one semi-annual interest payment. Distributions are permitted only after satisfying the foregoing funding requirements, a fixed charge coverage ratio test of 2:1 and other conditions specified in the Sabine Pass LNG Indentures.
As of both December 31, 2014 and 2013, we classified $15.0 million as current restricted cash and cash equivalents for the payment of current interest due. As of both December 31, 2014 and 2013, we classified the permanent debt service reserve fund of $76.1 million as non-current restricted cash and cash equivalents. These cash accounts are controlled by a collateral trustee and, therefore, are shown as restricted cash and cash equivalents on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
Sabine Pass Liquefaction Reserve
In July 2012, Sabine Pass Liquefaction entered into a construction/term loan facility in an amount up to $3.6 billion (the “2012 Liquefaction Credit Facility”). During 2013, Sabine Pass Liquefaction entered into four credit facilities aggregating $5.9 billion (collectively, the “2013 Liquefaction Credit Facilities”), which amended and restated the 2012 Liquefaction Credit Facility. Under the terms and conditions of the 2012 Liquefaction Credit Facility Sabine Pass Liquefaction was required, and under the 2013 Liquefaction Credit Facilities Sabine Pass Liquefaction is required, to deposit all cash received into reserve accounts controlled by a collateral trustee. Therefore, all of Sabine Pass Liquefaction’s cash and cash equivalents are shown as restricted cash and cash equivalents on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
During 2013, Sabine Pass Liquefaction issued an aggregate principal amount of $2.0 billion, before premium, of 5.625% Senior Secured Notes due 2021 (the “2021 Sabine Pass Liquefaction Senior Notes”), $1.0 billion of 6.25% Senior Secured Notes due 2022 (the “2022 Sabine Pass Liquefaction Senior Notes”) and $1.0 billion of 5.625% Senior Secured Notes due 2023 (the “2023 Sabine Pass Liquefaction Senior Notes”). During 2014, Sabine Pass Liquefaction issued an aggregate principal amount of $2.0 billion of 5.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2024 (the “2024 Sabine Pass Liquefaction Senior Notes” and collectively with the 2021 Sabine Pass Liquefaction Senior Notes, the 2022 Sabine Pass Liquefaction Senior Notes and the 2023 Sabine Pass Liquefaction Senior Notes, the “Sabine Pass Liquefaction Senior Notes”) and additional 2023 Sabine Pass Liquefaction Senior Notes (the “Additional 2023 Sabine Pass Liquefaction Senior Notes”) in an aggregate principal amount of $0.5 billion, before premium.
As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, we classified $155.8 million and $192.1 million, respectively, as current restricted cash and cash equivalents held by Sabine Pass Liquefaction for the payment of current liabilities related to the Sabine Pass Liquefaction Project and $457.1 million and $867.6 million, respectively, as non-current restricted cash and cash equivalents held by Sabine Pass Liquefaction for future Sabine Pass Liquefaction Project construction costs.
CTPL Reserve
In May 2013, CTPL entered into a $400.0 million term loan facility (the “2017 CTPL Term Loan”). As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, we classified $24.9 million and $20.5 million, respectively, as current restricted cash and cash equivalents held by CTPL for the payment of current liabilities and $11.3 million and $81.4 million, respectively, as non-current restricted cash and cash equivalents held by CTPL because such funds may only be used for modifications of the 94-mile Creole Trail Pipeline, which interconnects the Sabine Pass LNG terminal with a number of large interstate pipelines, in order to enable bi-directional natural gas flow and for the payment of interest during construction of such modifications. The restricted cash reserved to pay interest during construction is controlled by a collateral agent, and can only be released by the collateral agent upon satisfaction of certain terms and conditions.
See Note 9—Long-Term Debt for additional details about our long-term debt.
Other Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents
As of December 31, 2014 and 2013, $250.1 million and $351.0 million, respectively, of cash and cash equivalents were held by Sabine Pass LNG, Cheniere Partners, and Cheniere Holdings that were restricted from use by Cheniere. In addition, as of December 31, 2014 and 2013, $35.9 million and $19.4 million, respectively, had been classified as current restricted cash and cash equivalents, and as of both December 31, 2014 and 2013, $6.3 million had been classified as non-current restricted cash and cash equivalents on our Consolidated Balance Sheets due to various other contractual restrictions.
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