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Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents
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9 Months Ended |
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Sep. 30, 2013
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| Restricted 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.
Amounts that are designated as restricted cash and cash equivalents are contractually restricted as to usage or withdrawal and will not become available to us as cash and cash equivalents. For these amounts, we have presented increases and decreases as "Investments in (uses of) of restricted cash and cash equivalents" in our Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows. These amounts that represent non-cash transactions within our Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows present the effect of sources and uses of restricted cash and cash equivalents as they relate to the changes to assets and liabilities in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. This presentation does not impact the total amount of operating, investing or financing cash flows related to these items, however , they are presented on a gross basis within each of those categories so as to reconcile the change in non-cash activity that occurs on the balance sheet from period to period.
Restricted cash and cash equivalents include the following:
Sabine Pass LNG Senior Notes Debt Service Reserve
Sabine Pass LNG, L.P. ("Sabine Pass LNG") has consummated private offerings of an aggregate principal amount of $1,665.5 million, before discount, of Senior Secured Notes due 2016 (the "2016 Notes") and $420.0 million of Senior Secured Notes due 2020 (the "2020 Notes") (See Note 8—"Long-Term Debt"). Collectively, the 2016 Notes and the 2020 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 that 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 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 September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, we classified $53.0 million and $17.4 million, respectively, as current restricted cash and cash equivalents for the payment of interest due within twelve months. As of both September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, 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.
Liquefaction Reserve
In July 2012, Sabine Pass Liquefaction closed on a $3.6 billion senior secured credit facility (the "2012 Liquefaction Credit Facility"). In February and April 2013, Sabine Pass Liquefaction entered into $2.0 billion, before premium, of Senior Secured Notes due in 2021 (the "2021 Sabine Pass Liquefaction Senior Notes") and $1.0 billion of Senior Secured Notes due in 2023 (the "2023 Sabine Pass Liquefaction Senior Notes" and collectively with the 2021 Sabine Pass Liquefaction Senior Notes, the "Sabine Pass Liquefaction Senior Notes"). In May 2013, Sabine Pass Liquefaction closed four credit facilities aggregating $5.9 billion (collectively the "2013 Liquefaction Credit Facilities"), which amended and restated the 2012 Liquefaction Credit Facility. See Note 8—"Long-Term Debt". Under the terms and conditions of the 2012 Liquefaction Credit Facility and the 2013 Liquefaction Credit Facilities, Sabine Pass Liquefaction is required to deposit all cash received into collateral 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. As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, we classified $133.5 million and $75.1 million, respectively, as current restricted cash and cash equivalents held by Sabine Pass Liquefaction for the payment of current liabilities related to the Liquefaction Project, and $665.1 million and $196.3 million, respectively, as non-current restricted cash and cash equivalents held by Sabine Pass Liquefaction for future Liquefaction Project construction costs.
CTPL Reserve
In May 2013, CTPL entered into a $400.0 million term loan facility (the "CTPL Credit Facility"). As of September 30, 2013, we classified $23.5 million and $87.2 million as current and non-current restricted cash and cash equivalents, respectively, held by CTPL because such funds may only be used for modifications of the Creole Trail Pipeline in order to enable bi-directional natural gas flow and for the payment of interest during construction of such modifications.
Other Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents
As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, $339.9 million and $419.3 million, respectively, of cash and cash equivalents were held by Sabine Pass LNG and Cheniere Partners that are considered restricted to Cheniere. As of September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, $28.0 million and $8.5 million, respectively, had been classified as current restricted cash and cash equivalents on our Consolidated Balance Sheets due to various other contractual restrictions. As of both September 30, 2013 and December 31, 2012, $0.5 million had been classified as non-current restricted cash and cash equivalents due to various other contractual restrictions on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.
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