|
Variable Interest Entity
|
12 Months Ended |
|---|---|
|
Dec. 31, 2013
|
|
| Variable Interest Entity [Abstract] | |
| Variable Interest Entities |
VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES
Cheniere Energy Partners
Cheniere Partners is a master limited partnership formed by us to own and operate the Sabine Pass LNG terminal and related assets. As of December 31, 2013, we indirectly owned a 47.2% limited partner interest in Cheniere Partners through our interest in Cheniere Holdings in the form of 11,963,488 common units, 45,333,334 Class B units and 135,383,831 subordinated units. We also indirectly own a 2% general partner interest and the incentive distribution rights in Cheniere Partners.
Cheniere Energy Partners GP, LLC ("Cheniere Partners GP"), our wholly owned subsidiary, is the general partner of Cheniere Partners. In May 2012, Cheniere Partners, Cheniere and Blackstone entered into the Blackstone Unit Purchase Agreement whereby Cheniere Partners agreed to sell to Blackstone in a private placement 100.0 million Class B units at a price of $15.00 per Class B unit. In August 2012, all conditions to funding were met and Blackstone purchased its initial 33.3 million Class B units, and as of December 31, 2012, Blackstone had purchased the remaining 66.7 million Class B units. At initial funding, the board of directors of Cheniere Partners GP was modified to include three directors appointed by Blackstone, four directors appointed by us and four independent directors mutually agreed by Blackstone and us and appointed by us. In addition, we provided Blackstone with a right to maintain one board seat on our board of directors. A quorum of Cheniere Partners GP directors consists of a majority of all directors, including at least two directors appointed by Blackstone, two directors appointed by us and two independent directors. Blackstone will no longer be entitled to appoint Cheniere Partners GP directors in the event that Blackstone's ownership in Cheniere Partners is less than: (i) 20% of outstanding common units, subordinated units and Class B units, and (ii) 50.0 million Class B units.
As a result of contractual changes in the governance of Cheniere Partners GP in connection with the Blackstone Unit Purchase Agreement, we have determined that Cheniere Partners GP is a variable interest entity and that we, as the holder of the equity at risk, do not have a controlling financial interest due to the rights held by Blackstone. However, we continue to consolidate Cheniere Partners as a result of Blackstone's right to maintain one board seat on our board of directors which creates a de facto agency relationship between Blackstone and us. GAAP requires that when a de facto agency relationship exists, one of the members of the de facto agency relationship must consolidate the variable interest entity based on certain criteria. As a result, we consolidate Cheniere Partners in our consolidated financial statements.
LNGCo
In 2010, Cheniere Marketing entered into various agreements ("LNGCo Agreements") with JPMorgan LNG Co. ("LNGCo") under which Cheniere Marketing agreed to develop and maintain commercial and trading opportunities in the LNG industry and present any such opportunities exclusively to LNGCo. Cheniere Marketing also agreed to provide services to LNGCo in exchange for certain fees, in connection with any LNG cargoes purchased by LNGCo. Cheniere Marketing held no ownership interest in LNGCo and did not have the authority to contractually bind LNGCo under the LNGCo Agreements. LNGCo had various operational responsibilities and unilateral participating rights to direct the activities of LNGCo that most significantly impacted LNGCo's economic performance. In June 2012, Cheniere Marketing and LNGCo terminated the LNGCo Agreements. During the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, we recognized $4.0 million and $12.0 million, respectively, of marketing and trading revenues from LNGCo under the LNGCo Agreements.
|