Cheniere Energy, Inc. Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Long-Term Debt

Long-Term Debt

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2015

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Long-term Debt

LONG-TERM DEBT

As of June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, our long-term debt consisted of the following (in thousands):



	Interest	June 30,			December 31,
	Rate	2015			2014
Long-term debt
2016 SPLNG Senior Notes	7.500%	$	1,665,500		$	1,665,500
2020 SPLNG Senior Notes	6.500%	420,000			420,000
2021 SPL Senior Notes	5.625%	2,000,000			2,000,000
2022 SPL Senior Notes	6.250%	1,000,000			1,000,000
2023 SPL Senior Notes	5.625%	1,500,000			1,500,000
2024 SPL Senior Notes	5.750%	2,000,000			2,000,000
2025 SPL Senior Notes	5.625%	2,000,000			—
2015 SPL Credit Facilities (1)	(2)	—			—
2021 Cheniere Convertible Unsecured Notes	4.875%	1,028,953			1,004,469
2025 CCH Holdco II Convertible Senior Notes	11.000%	1,003,667			—
2045 Cheniere Convertible Senior Notes	4.250%	625,000			—
CTPL Term Loan	(3)	400,000			400,000
2015 CCH Credit Facility (4)	(5)	1,705,000			—
Total long-term debt		15,348,120			9,989,969
Long-term debt premium (discount)
2016 SPLNG Senior Notes		(6,651		)	(8,998		)
2021 SPL Senior Notes		9,457			10,177
2023 SPL Senior Notes		6,745			7,088
2021 Cheniere Convertible Unsecured Notes		(180,862		)	(189,717		)
2045 Cheniere Convertible Senior Notes		(320,083		)	—
CTPL Term Loan		(1,932		)	(2,435		)
Total long-term debt, net		$	14,854,794		$	9,806,084


(1)	Matures on the earlier of December 31, 2020 or the second anniversary of the completion date of Trains 1 through 5 of the SPL Project.

(2)

Variable interest rate, at SPL’s election, is LIBOR or the base rate plus the applicable margin. The applicable margins for LIBOR loans range from 1.30% to 1.75%, depending on the applicable 2015 SPL Credit Facility, and the applicable margin for base rate loans is 1.75%. Interest on LIBOR loans is due and payable at the end of each LIBOR period, and interest on base rate loans is due and payable at the end of each quarter.


(3)	Variable interest rate, at CTPL’s election, is LIBOR or the base rate plus the applicable margin. CTPL has historically elected LIBOR loans, for which the applicable margin is 3.25% and is due and payable at the end of each LIBOR period.


(4)	Matures on the earlier of May 13, 2022 or the second anniversary of the completion date of the first two Trains of the CCL Project.

(5)

Variable interest rate, at CCH’s election, is LIBOR or the base rate plus the applicable margin. The applicable margins for LIBOR loans are 2.25% prior to completion of the first two Trains of the CCL Project and 2.50% on completion and thereafter. The applicable margins for base rate loans are 1.25% prior to completion of the first two Trains of the CCL Project and 1.50% on completion and thereafter. Interest on LIBOR loans is due and payable at the end of each applicable interest period, and interest on base rate loans is due and payable at the end of each quarter.

For the three months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, we incurred $241.2 million and $140.4 million of total interest cost, respectively, of which we capitalized and deferred $155.7 million and $96.6 million, respectively, of interest cost, including amortization of debt issuance costs, primarily related to the construction of the first four Trains of the SPL Project. For the six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, we incurred $421.9 million and $269.0 million of total interest cost, respectively, of which we capitalized and deferred $276.8 million and $184.9 million, respectively, of interest cost, including amortization of debt issuance costs, primarily related to this construction.

SPLNG Senior Notes

Under the SPLNG Indentures, except for permitted tax distributions, SPLNG may not make distributions until certain conditions are satisfied as described in Note 2—Restricted Cash. During the six months ended June 30, 2015 and 2014, SPLNG made distributions of $199.6 million and $173.0 million, respectively, after satisfying all the applicable conditions in the SPLNG Indentures.

SPL Senior Notes

In March 2015, SPL issued an aggregate principal amount of $2.0 billion of the 2025 SPL Senior Notes, for which borrowings accrue interest at a fixed rate of 5.625%. The terms of the 2025 SPL Senior Notes are governed by the same common indenture with the other SPL Senior Notes. In connection with the closing of the sale of the 2025 SPL Senior Notes, SPL entered into a Registration Rights Agreement dated March 3, 2015 (the “2025 SPL Registration Rights Agreement”). Under the terms of the 2025 SPL Registration Rights Agreement, SPL has agreed, and any future guarantors of the 2025 SPL Senior Notes will agree, to use commercially reasonable efforts to file with the SEC and cause to become effective a registration statement within 360 days after March 3, 2015 with respect to an offer to exchange any and all of the 2025 SPL Senior Notes for a like aggregate principal amount of debt securities of SPL with terms identical in all material respects to the respective 2025 SPL Senior Notes sought to be exchanged (other than with respect to restrictions on transfer or to any increase in annual interest rate), and that are registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Under specified circumstances, SPL has also agreed, and any future guarantors will also agree, to use commercially reasonable efforts to cause to become effective a shelf registration statement relating to resales of the 2025 SPL Senior Notes. SPL will be obligated to pay additional interest if it fails to comply with its obligations to register the 2025 SPL Senior Notes within the specified time periods.

2015 SPL Credit Facilities

In June 2015, SPL entered into the 2015 SPL Credit Facilities with commitments aggregating $4.6 billion. The 2015 SPL Credit Facilities are being used to fund a portion of the costs of developing, constructing and placing into operation Trains 1 through 5 of the SPL Project. Borrowings under the 2015 SPL Credit Facilities may be refinanced, in whole or in part, at any time without premium or penalty; however, interest rate hedging and interest rate breakage costs may be incurred. As of June 30, 2015, SPL had $4.6 billion of available commitments and no outstanding borrowings under the 2015 SPL Credit Facilities.

SPL incurred $89.9 million of debt issuance costs in connection with the 2015 SPL Credit Facilities. In addition to interest, SPL is required to pay insurance/guarantee premiums of 0.45% per annum on any drawn amounts under the covered tranches of the 2015 SPL Credit Facilities. The 2015 SPL Credit Facilities also require SPL to pay a quarterly commitment fee calculated at either: (1) a rate per annum equal to 40% of the applicable margin, multiplied by the average daily amount of the undrawn commitment, or (2) 0.70% of the undrawn commitment, depending on the applicable 2015 SPL Credit Facility. The principal of the loans made under the 2015 SPL Credit Facilities must be repaid in quarterly installments, commencing with the earlier of June 30, 2020 and the last day of the first full calendar quarter after the completion date of Trains 1 through 5 of the SPL Project. Scheduled repayments are based upon an 18-year amortization profile, with the remaining balance due upon the maturity of the 2015 SPL Credit Facilities.

The 2015 SPL Credit Facilities contain conditions precedent for borrowings, as well as customary affirmative and negative covenants. The obligations of SPL under the 2015 SPL Credit Facilities are secured by substantially all of the assets of SPL as well as all of the membership interests in SPL on a pari passu basis with the SPL Senior Notes.

Under the terms of the 2015 SPL Credit Facilities, within 90 days of the closing date, SPL is required to hedge not less than 65% of the variable interest rate exposure of its projected outstanding borrowings, calculated on a weighted average basis in comparison to its anticipated draw of principal.

2013 SPL Credit Facilities

In May 2013, SPL entered into the 2013 SPL Credit Facilities to fund a portion of the costs of developing, constructing and placing into operation Trains 1 through 4 of the SPL Project. As of December 31, 2014, SPL had no outstanding borrowings under the 2013 SPL Credit Facilities. In June 2015, the 2013 SPL Credit Facilities were replaced with the 2015 SPL Credit Facilities.

In March 2015, in conjunction with SPL’s issuance of the 2025 SPL Senior Notes, SPL terminated approximately $1.8 billion of commitments under the 2013 SPL Credit Facilities. This termination and the replacement of the 2013 SPL Credit Facilities with the 2015 SPL Credit Facilities in June 2015 resulted in a write-off of debt issuance costs and deferred commitment fees associated with the 2013 SPL Credit Facilities of $7.3 million and $96.3 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2015, respectively.

Convertible Notes

2021 Cheniere Convertible Unsecured Notes

In November 2014, we issued an aggregate principal amount of $1.0 billion Convertible Unsecured Notes due 2021 (the “2021 Cheniere Convertible Unsecured Notes”) on a private placement basis in reliance on the exemption from registration provided for under section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act and Regulation S promulgated thereunder. The 2021 Cheniere Convertible Unsecured Notes accrue interest at a rate of 4.875% per annum, which is payable in kind semi-annually in arrears by increasing the principal amount of the 2021 Cheniere Convertible Unsecured Notes outstanding. One year after the closing date, the 2021 Cheniere Convertible Unsecured Notes will be convertible at the option of the holder into our common stock at the then-applicable conversion rate, provided that the closing price of our common stock is greater than or equal to the conversion price on the conversion date. The initial conversion price was $93.64 and is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain specified events. We have the option to satisfy the conversion obligation with cash, common stock or a combination thereof.

Under GAAP, certain convertible debt instruments that may be settled in cash upon conversion are required to be separately accounted for as liability (debt) and equity (conversion option) components of the instrument in a manner that reflects the issuer’s non-convertible debt borrowing rate. We determined that the fair value of the debt component was $808.8 million and the residual value of the equity component was $191.2 million as of the issuance date. As of June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, the carrying value of the equity component was $195.7 million and $191.5 million, respectively. The debt component is accreted to the total principal amount due at maturity by amortizing the debt discount. The effective rate of interest to amortize the debt discount was approximately 9.1% and 9.2% as of June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively, and the remaining period over which the debt discount will be amortized was 5.9 years as of June 30, 2015. As of June 30, 2015, the if-converted value of the 2021 Cheniere Convertible Unsecured Notes did not exceed the principal balance.

2025 CCH Holdco II Convertible Senior Notes

In May 2015, CCH HoldCo II issued $1.0 billion aggregate principal amount of 11% Senior Secured Notes due 2025 (the “2025 CCH Holdco II Convertible Senior Notes”) on a private placement basis in reliance on the exemption from registration provided for under section 4(a)(2) of the Securities Act. The 2025 CCH Holdco II Convertible Senior Notes were issued pursuant to the amended and restated note purchase agreement entered into among CCH HoldCo II, EIG Management Company, LLC, The Bank of New York Mellon, the Company and the note purchasers. The $1.0 billion principal of the 2025 CCH Holdco II Convertible Senior Notes will be used to partially fund costs associated with Stage 1 of the CCL Project and the Corpus Christi Pipeline. The purchasers have made commitments, which will expire on May 1, 2016, to acquire an additional $500 million of 2025 CCH Holdco II Convertible Senior Notes (the “Second Phase Funding”) upon satisfaction of incremental customary conditions precedent related to the construction of Stage 2 of the CCL Project. The 2025 CCH Holdco II Convertible Senior Notes bear interest at a rate of 11.0% per annum, which is payable quarterly in arrears. Prior to the substantial completion of Train 2 of the CCL Project if the Second Phase Funding has not occurred, and to the substantial completion of Train 3 of the CCL Project following the occurrence of the Second Phase Funding, interest on the 2025 CCH Holdco II Convertible Senior Notes will be paid entirely in kind. Following this date, the interest generally must be paid in cash; however, a portion of the interest may be paid in kind under certain specified circumstances. The 2025 Convertible Notes are secured by a pledge by us of 100% of the equity interests in CCH HoldCo II, and a pledge by CCH HoldCo II of 100% of the equity interests in Cheniere CCH HoldCo I.

At our option, the outstanding 2025 CCH Holdco II Convertible Senior Notes are convertible into our common stock on or after the later of (1) 58 months from May 1, 2015, and (2) the substantial completion of Train 2 of the CCL Project and any 2025 CCH Holdco II Convertible Senior Notes issued in connection with the Second Phase Funding will be convertible on or after the substantial completion of Train 3 of the CCL Project (in each case, the “Eligible Conversion Date”). The conversion price for 2025 CCH Holdco II Convertible Senior Notes converted at our option is the lower of (1) a 10% discount to the average of the daily volume-weighted average price (“VWAP”) of our common stock for the 90 trading day period prior to the date on which notice of conversion is provided, and (2) a 10% discount to the closing price of our common stock on the trading day preceding the date on which notice of conversion is provided. At the option of the holders, the 2025 CCH Holdco II Convertible Senior Notes are convertible on or after the six-month anniversary of the applicable Eligible Conversion Date at a conversion price equal to the average of the daily VWAP of our common stock for the 90 trading day period prior to the date on which notice of conversion is provided. Conversions are also subject to various limitations and conditions. As of June 30, 2015, the value of the 2025 CCH Holdco II Convertible Senior Notes if converted at the holders’ option did not exceed the principal balance.

2045 Cheniere Convertible Senior Notes

In March 2015, we issued $625.0 million aggregate principal amount of 4.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2045 (the “2045 Cheniere Convertible Senior Notes”) to certain investors through a registered direct offering. The 2045 Cheniere Convertible Senior Notes were issued with an original issue discount of 20% and accrue interest at a rate of 4.25% per annum, which is payable semi-annually in arrears. We have the right, at our option, at any time after March 15, 2020, to redeem all or any part of the 2045 Cheniere Convertible Senior Notes at a redemption price payable in cash equal to the accreted amount of the 2045 Cheniere Convertible Senior Notes to be redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to such redemption date. The conversion rate will initially equal 7.2265 shares of our common stock per $1,000 principal amount of the 2045 Cheniere Convertible Senior Notes, which corresponds to an initial conversion price of approximately $138.38 per share of our common stock. The conversion rate is subject to adjustment upon the occurrence of certain specified events. We have the option to satisfy the conversion obligation with cash, common stock or a combination thereof.

We determined that the fair value of the debt component of the 2045 Cheniere Convertible Senior Notes was $304.3 million and the residual value of the equity component was $195.7 million as of the issuance date, excluding debt issuance costs. As of June 30, 2015, the carrying value of the equity component was $194.1 million. The debt component is accreted to the total principal amount due at maturity by amortizing the debt discount. The effective rate of interest to amortize the debt discount was approximately 9.4% as of June 30, 2015, and the remaining period over which the debt discount will be amortized was 29.7 years. As of June 30, 2015, the if-converted value of the 2045 Cheniere Convertible Senior Notes did not exceed the principal balance.

Interest expense, before capitalization, related to the 2021 Cheniere Convertible Unsecured Notes, the 2025 CCH Holdco II Convertible Senior Notes and the 2045 Cheniere Convertible Senior Notes (together, the “Convertible Notes”) consisted of the following (in thousands):



	Three Months Ended June 30,				Six Months Ended June 30,
	2015		2014		2015		2014
Interest per contractual rate	$	33,603	$	—	$	47,542	$	—
Amortization of debt discount	7,116		—		13,714		—
Amortization of debt issuance costs	601		—		615		—
Total interest expense related to the Convertible Notes	$	41,320	$	—	$	61,871	$	—

CTPL Term Loan

As of June 30, 2015, CTPL had borrowed the full amount of $400.0 million available under the CTPL Term Loan. The CTPL Term Loan matures in 2017 when the full amount of the outstanding principal obligations must be repaid. The outstanding balance may be repaid, in whole or in part, at any time without premium or penalty.

2015 CCH Credit Facility

In May 2015, CCH entered into the 2015 CCH Credit Facility, which is being used to fund a portion of the costs associated with the development, construction, operation and maintenance of the CCL Project. The total commitment under the 2015 CCH Credit Facility is approximately $11.5 billion, comprising approximately $8.4 billion linked to Stage 1 of the CCL Project and the Corpus Christi Pipeline and approximately $3.1 billion linked to Stage 2 of the CCL Project. Borrowings under the 2015 CCH Credit Facility may be refinanced, in whole or in part, at any time without premium or penalty; however, interest rate hedging and interest rate breakage costs may be incurred. As of June 30, 2015, CCH had $6.7 billion of available commitments and $1.7 billion of outstanding borrowings under the 2015 CCH Credit Facility.

CCH incurred $289.8 million of debt issuance costs in connection with the 2015 CCH Credit Facility. In addition to interest, CCH will incur a commitment fee at a rate per annum equal to 40% of the margin for LIBOR loans, multiplied by the outstanding undrawn debt commitments. The principal of the loans made under the 2015 CCH Credit Facility must be repaid in quarterly installments, commencing on the earlier of (1) the first quarterly payment date occurring more than three calendar months following project completion and (2) a set date determined by reference to the date under which a certain LNG buyer linked to the last Train to become operational is entitled to terminate its SPA for failure to achieve the date of first commercial delivery for that agreement. Scheduled repayments will be based upon a 19-year tailored amortization, commencing the first full quarter after the project completion and designed to achieve a minimum projected fixed debt service coverage ratio of 1.55x.

The 2015 CCH Credit Facility contains conditions precedent for borrowings, as well as customary affirmative and negative covenants. The obligations of CCH under the 2015 CCH Credit Facility are secured by a first priority lien on substantially all of the assets of CCH and its subsidiaries and by a pledge by CCH HoldCo I of its limited liability company interests in CCH.

Under the terms of the 2015 CCH Credit Facility, within 90 days of the closing date, CCH is required to hedge not less than 65% of the variable interest rate exposure of its senior secured debt.

SPL LC Agreement

In April 2014, SPL entered into a $325.0 million senior letter of credit and reimbursement agreement (the “SPL LC Agreement”) that it uses for the issuance of letters of credit for certain working capital requirements related to the SPL Project. SPL pays (1) a commitment fee in an amount equal to an annual rate of 0.75% of an amount equal to the unissued portion of letters of credit available pursuant to the SPL LC Agreement and (2) a letter of credit fee equal to an annual rate of 2.5% of the undrawn portion of all letters of credit issued under the SPL LC Agreement. If draws are made upon any letters of credit issued under the SPL LC Agreement, the amount of the draw will be deemed a loan issued to SPL. SPL is required to pay the full amount of this loan on or prior to the business day immediately succeeding the deemed issuance of the loan. These loans accrue interest at a rate of 2.0% plus the base rate as defined in the SPL LC Agreement. As of June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, SPL had issued letters of credit in an aggregate amount of $72.9 million and $9.5 million, respectively, and as of both June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, no draws had been made upon any letters of credit issued under the SPL LC Agreement.

Fair Value Disclosures

The following table (in thousands) shows the carrying amount and estimated fair value of our long-term debt:



	June 30, 2015				December 31, 2014
	Carrying Amount		Estimated Fair Value		Carrying Amount		Estimated Fair Value
2016 SPLNG Senior Notes, net of discount (1)	$	1,658,849	$	1,745,939	$	1,656,502	$	1,718,621
2020 SPLNG Senior Notes (1)	420,000		435,750		420,000		428,400
2021 SPL Senior Notes, net of premium (1)	2,009,457		2,049,646		2,010,177		1,985,050
2022 SPL Senior Notes (1)	1,000,000		1,027,500		1,000,000		1,020,000
2023 SPL Senior Notes, net of premium (1)	1,506,745		1,493,561		1,507,089		1,476,947
2024 SPL Senior Notes (1)	2,000,000		1,982,500		2,000,000		1,970,000
2025 SPL Senior Notes (1)	2,000,000		1,960,000		—		—
2015 SPL Credit Facilities (2)	—		—		—		—
2021 Cheniere Convertible Unsecured Notes, net of discount (3)	848,091		1,054,059		814,751		1,025,563
2025 CCH Holdco II Convertible Senior Notes (3)	1,003,667		928,591		—		—
2045 Cheniere Convertible Senior Notes, net of discount (4)	304,917		470,706		—		—
CTPL Term Loan, net of discount (2)	398,068		400,000		397,565		400,000
2015 CCH Credit Facility (2)	1,705,000		1,705,000		—		—


(1)	The Level 2 estimated fair value was based on quotations obtained from broker-dealers who make markets in these and similar instruments based on the closing trading prices on June 30, 2015 and December 31, 2014, as applicable.


(2)	The Level 3 estimated fair value approximates the principal amount because the interest rates are variable and reflective of market rates and the debt may be repaid, in full or in part, at any time without penalty.


(3)	The Level 3 estimated fair value was calculated based on inputs that are observable in the market or that could be derived from, or corroborated with, observable market data, including our stock price and interest rates based on debt issued by parties with comparable credit ratings to us and inputs that are not observable in the market.


(4)	The Level 1 estimated fair value was based on unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical liabilities that we had the ability to access at the measurement date.