Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. (“Cheniere Partners”) (NYSE
American: CQP) today announced its financial results for third
quarter 2023.
HIGHLIGHTS
- During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023,
Cheniere Partners generated revenues of $2.1 billion and $7.0
billion, net income of $791 million and $3.3 billion, and Adjusted
EBITDA1 of $793 million and $2.6 billion, respectively.
- With respect to the third quarter of 2023, Cheniere Partners
declared a cash distribution of $1.03 per common unit to
unitholders of record as of November 6, 2023, comprised of a base
amount equal to $0.775 and a variable amount equal to $0.255. The
common unit distribution and the related general partner
distribution will be paid on November 14, 2023.
- Reconfirming full year 2023 distribution guidance of $4.00 -
$4.25 per common unit.
2023 FULL YEAR DISTRIBUTION GUIDANCE
2023
Distribution per Unit
$ 4.00
-
$ 4.25
SUMMARY AND REVIEW OF FINANCIAL RESULTS
(in millions, except LNG data)
Three Months Ended September
30,
Nine Months Ended September
30,
2023
2022
% Change
2023
2022
% Change
Revenues
$
2,128
$
4,976
(57
)%
$
6,978
$
12,485
(44
)%
Net income
$
791
$
(514
)
nm
$
3,348
$
(13
)
nm
Adjusted EBITDA1
$
793
$
1,471
(46
)%
$
2,576
$
3,480
(26
)%
LNG exported:
Number of cargoes
100
103
(3
)%
310
311
—
%
Volumes (TBtu)
359
366
(2
)%
1,117
1,124
(1
)%
LNG volumes loaded (TBtu)
362
363
—
%
1,118
1,123
—
%
Net income (loss) was approximately $791 million and $3.3
billion for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023,
respectively, as compared to approximately $(514) million and $(13)
million in the corresponding 2022 periods. The favorable changes
were primarily due to non-cash favorable changes in fair value of
commodity derivatives (further described below).
Adjusted EBITDA1 decreased by approximately $678 million and
$904 million during the three and nine months ended September 30,
2023, respectively, as compared to the corresponding 2022 periods.
The decrease in Adjusted EBITDA was primarily due to lower
regasification revenues driven by the early termination of one of
our terminal use agreements in 2022, as well as decreased total
margins per MMBtu of LNG delivered.
Substantially all derivative gains (losses) are attributable to
the recognition at fair value of our long-term Integrated
Production Marketing (“IPM”) agreement with Tourmaline Oil
Marketing Corp. (“Tourmaline”), a natural gas supply contract with
pricing indexed to the Platts Japan Korea Marker (“JKM”). Our IPM
agreement is structured to provide stable margins on purchases of
natural gas and sales of LNG over the life of the agreement and has
a fixed fee component, similar to that of LNG sold under our
long-term, fixed fee LNG sale and purchase agreement (“SPA”).
However, the long-term duration and international price basis of
our IPM agreement makes it particularly susceptible to fluctuations
in fair market value from period to period. In addition, accounting
requirements prescribe recognition of this long-term gas supply
agreement at fair value each reporting period on a mark-to-market
basis, but do not currently permit mark-to-market recognition of
the associated sale of LNG, resulting in a mismatch of accounting
recognition for the purchase of natural gas and sale of LNG. As a
result of continued moderation of international gas price
volatility and declines in international forward commodity curves
during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, we
recognized approximately $217 million and $1.5 billion,
respectively of non-cash favorable changes in fair value
attributable to the Tourmaline IPM agreement.
During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023, we
recognized in income 362 TBtu and 1,118 TBtu of LNG, respectively,
loaded from the SPL Project, none of which was related to
commissioning activities.
___________________________ 1 Non-GAAP financial measure. See
“Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures” for further details.
Capital Resources
As of September 30, 2023, our total available liquidity was
approximately $2.3 billion. We had cash and cash equivalents of
approximately $499 million. In addition, we had current restricted
cash and cash equivalents of $35 million, $1.0 billion of available
commitments under the Cheniere Partners Revolving Credit Facility,
and $716 million of available commitments under the Sabine Pass
Liquefaction, LLC (“SPL”) Revolving Credit Facility.
Recent Key Financial Transactions and Updates
In July 2023, SPL redeemed $1.4 billion of SPL’s 5.75% Senior
Secured Notes due 2024 (the “2024 SPL Senior Notes”) using the
proceeds from Cheniere Partners’ issuance of $1.4 billion aggregate
principal amount of 5.95% Senior Notes due 2033 in June 2023.
In September 2023, SPL redeemed $50 million in principal amount
of the 2024 SPL Senior Notes with cash on hand.
SABINE PASS OVERVIEW
We own natural gas liquefaction facilities consisting of six
liquefaction Trains, with a total production capacity of
approximately 30 million tonnes per annum (“mtpa”) of LNG at the
Sabine Pass LNG terminal in Cameron Parish, Louisiana (the “SPL
Project”).
As of October 26, 2023, approximately 2,270 cumulative LNG
cargoes totaling approximately 155 million tonnes of LNG have been
produced, loaded, and exported from the SPL Project.
SPL Expansion Project
We are developing an expansion adjacent to the SPL Project with
a potential production capacity of up to 20 mtpa of LNG (the “SPL
Expansion Project”). In May 2023, certain of our subsidiaries
entered the pre-filing review process with the Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) under the National Environmental
Policy Act, and in April 2023, executed a contract with Bechtel to
provide the Front-End Engineering and Design for the SPL Expansion
Project.
DISTRIBUTIONS TO UNITHOLDERS
In October 2023, we declared a cash distribution of $1.03 per
common unit to unitholders of record as of November 6, 2023,
comprised of a base amount equal to $0.775 ($3.10 annualized) and a
variable amount equal to $0.255, which takes into consideration,
among other things, amounts reserved for annual debt repayment and
capital allocation goals, anticipated capital expenditures to be
funded with cash, and cash reserves to provide for the proper
conduct of the business. The common unit distribution and the
related general partner distribution will be paid on November 14,
2023.
INVESTOR CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST
Cheniere Energy, Inc. will host a conference call to discuss its
financial and operating results for third quarter 2023 on Thursday,
November 2, 2023, at 10 a.m. Eastern time / 9 a.m. Central time. A
listen-only webcast of the call and an accompanying slide
presentation may be accessed through our website at
www.cheniere.com. Following the call, an archived recording will be
made available on our website. The call and accompanying slide
presentation may include financial and operating results or other
information regarding Cheniere Partners.
About Cheniere Partners
Cheniere Partners owns the Sabine Pass LNG terminal located in
Cameron Parish, Louisiana, which has natural gas liquefaction
facilities consisting of six liquefaction Trains with a total
production capacity of approximately 30 mtpa of LNG. The Sabine
Pass LNG terminal also has operational regasification facilities
that include five LNG storage tanks, vaporizers, and three marine
berths. Cheniere Partners also owns the Creole Trail Pipeline,
which interconnects the Sabine Pass LNG terminal with a number of
large interstate and intrastate pipelines.
For additional information, please refer to the Cheniere
Partners website at www.cheniere.com and Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2023, filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission.
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In addition to disclosing financial results in accordance with
U.S. GAAP, the accompanying news release contains a non-GAAP
financial measure. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure
that is used to facilitate comparisons of operating performance
across periods. This non-GAAP measure should be viewed as a
supplement to and not a substitute for our U.S. GAAP measures of
performance and the financial results calculated in accordance with
U.S. GAAP, and the reconciliation from these results should be
carefully evaluated.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains certain statements that may include
“forward-looking statements.” All statements, other than statements
of historical or present facts or conditions, included herein are
“forward-looking statements.” Included among “forward-looking
statements” are, among other things, (i) statements regarding
Cheniere Partners’ financial and operational guidance, business
strategy, plans and objectives, including the development,
construction and operation of liquefaction facilities, (ii)
statements regarding Cheniere Partners’ anticipated quarterly
distributions and ability to make quarterly distributions at the
base amount or any amount, (iii) statements regarding regulatory
authorization and approval expectations, (iv) statements expressing
beliefs and expectations regarding the development of Cheniere
Partners’ LNG terminal and liquefaction business, (v) statements
regarding the business operations and prospects of third-parties,
(vi) statements regarding potential financing arrangements, and
(vii) statements regarding future discussions and entry into
contracts. Although Cheniere Partners believes that the
expectations reflected in these forward-looking statements are
reasonable, they do involve assumptions, risks and uncertainties,
and these expectations may prove to be incorrect. Cheniere
Partners’ actual results could differ materially from those
anticipated in these forward-looking statements as a result of a
variety of factors, including those discussed in Cheniere Partners’
periodic reports that are filed with and available from the
Securities and Exchange Commission. You should not place undue
reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as
of the date of this press release. Other than as required under the
securities laws, Cheniere Partners does not assume a duty to update
these forward-looking statements.
(Financial Tables
Follow)
Cheniere Energy Partners,
L.P.
Consolidated Statements of
Operations
(in millions, except per unit
data)(1)
(unaudited)
Three Months Ended
Nine Months Ended
September 30,
September 30,
2023
2022
2023
2022
Revenues
LNG revenues
$
1,564
$
3,130
$
5,085
$
8,577
LNG revenues—affiliate
515
1,376
1,745
3,268
LNG revenues—related party
—
—
—
4
Regasification revenues
34
455
101
591
Other revenues
15
15
47
45
Total revenues
2,128
4,976
6,978
12,485
Operating costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding items shown
separately below)
682
4,739
1,598
10,445
Cost of sales—affiliate
2
104
20
166
Cost of sales—related party
—
—
—
1
Operating and maintenance expense
211
189
680
550
Operating and maintenance
expense—affiliate
38
39
120
118
Operating and maintenance expense—related
party
14
18
44
45
General and administrative expense
2
3
8
3
General and administrative
expense—affiliate
20
23
66
70
Depreciation and amortization expense
166
160
500
469
Other
4
—
6
—
Other—affiliate
1
—
1
—
Total operating costs and expenses
1,140
5,275
3,043
11,867
Income (loss) from operations
988
(299
)
3,935
618
Other income (expense)
Interest expense, net of capitalized
interest
(205
)
(222
)
(620
)
(641
)
Loss on modification or extinguishment of
debt
(4
)
—
(6
)
—
Interest and dividend income
12
7
39
10
Total other expense
(197
)
(215
)
(587
)
(631
)
Net income (loss)
$
791
$
(514
)
$
3,348
$
(13
)
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per
common unit(1)
$
1.19
$
(1.49
)
$
5.53
$
(1.36
)
Weighted average basic and diluted number
of common units outstanding
484.0
484.0
484.0
484.0
______________________________
(1)
Please refer to the Cheniere Energy
Partners, L.P. Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
September 30, 2023, filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Cheniere Energy Partners,
L.P.
Consolidated Balance
Sheets
(in millions, except unit
data) (1)
September 30,
December 31,
2023
2022
ASSETS
(unaudited)
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents
$
499
$
904
Restricted cash and cash equivalents
35
92
Trade and other receivables, net of
current expected credit losses
287
627
Trade receivables—affiliate
167
551
Advances to affiliate
141
177
Inventory
131
160
Current derivative assets
34
24
Margin deposits
—
35
Other current assets, net
60
50
Total current assets
1,354
2,620
Property, plant and equipment, net of
accumulated depreciation
16,341
16,725
Operating lease assets
83
89
Debt issuance costs, net of accumulated
amortization
17
8
Derivative assets
111
28
Other non-current assets, net
166
163
Total assets
$
18,072
$
19,633
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS’
DEFICIT
Current liabilities
Accounts payable
$
50
$
32
Accrued liabilities
641
1,378
Accrued liabilities—related party
5
6
Current debt, net of discount and debt
issuance costs
349
—
Due to affiliates
42
74
Deferred revenue
151
144
Deferred revenue—affiliate
1
3
Current operating lease liabilities
11
10
Current derivative liabilities
294
769
Other current liabilities
5
5
Total current liabilities
1,549
2,421
Long-term debt, net of discount and debt
issuance costs
15,600
16,198
Operating lease liabilities
74
80
Finance lease liabilities
15
18
Derivative liabilities
1,731
3,024
Other non-current liabilities
52
—
Other non-current
liabilities—affiliate
24
23
Partners’ deficit
Common unitholders’ interest (484.0
million units issued and outstanding at both September 30, 2023 and
December 31, 2022)
647
(1,118
)
General partner’s interest (2% interest
with 9.9 million units issued and outstanding at both September 30,
2023 and December 31, 2022)
(1,620
)
(1,013
)
Total partners’ deficit
(973
)
(2,131
)
Total liabilities and partners’
deficit
$
18,072
$
19,633
______________________________
(1)
Please refer to the Cheniere Energy
Partners, L.P. Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
September 30, 2023, filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures
Regulation G Reconciliations
Adjusted EBITDA
The following table reconciles our Adjusted EBITDA to U.S. GAAP
results for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2023 and
2022 (in millions):
Three Months Ended September
30,
Nine Months Ended September
30,
2023
2022
2023
2022
Net income (loss)
$
791
$
(514
)
$
3,348
$
(13
)
Interest expense, net of capitalized
interest
205
222
620
641
Loss on modification or extinguishment of
debt
4
—
6
—
Interest and dividend income
(12
)
(7
)
(39
)
(10
)
Income (loss) from operations
$
988
$
(299
)
$
3,935
$
618
Adjustments to reconcile income (loss)
from operations to Adjusted EBITDA:
Depreciation and amortization expense
166
160
500
469
Loss (gain) from changes in fair value of
commodity derivatives, net (1)
(361
)
1,610
(1,861
)
2,393
Other
—
—
2
—
Adjusted EBITDA
$
793
$
1,471
$
2,576
$
3,480
______________________________
(1) Change in fair value of commodity
derivatives prior to contractual delivery or termination
Adjusted EBITDA is commonly used as a supplemental financial
measure by our management and external users of our Consolidated
Financial Statements to assess the financial performance of our
assets without regard to financing methods, capital structures, or
historical cost basis. Adjusted EBITDA is not intended to represent
cash flows from operations or net income as defined by U.S. GAAP
and is not necessarily comparable to similarly titled measures
reported by other companies.
We believe Adjusted EBITDA provides relevant and useful
information to management, investors and other users of our
financial information in evaluating the effectiveness of our
operating performance in a manner that is consistent with
management’s evaluation of financial and operating performance.
Adjusted EBITDA is calculated by taking net income (loss) before
interest expense, net of capitalized interest, depreciation and
amortization, and adjusting for the effects of certain non-cash
items, other non-operating income or expense items and other items
not otherwise predictive or indicative of ongoing operating
performance, including the effects of modification or
extinguishment of debt, impairment expense and loss on disposal of
assets, and changes in the fair value of our commodity derivatives
prior to contractual delivery or termination. The change in fair
value of commodity derivatives is considered in determining
Adjusted EBITDA given that the timing of recognizing gains and
losses on these derivative contracts differs from the recognition
of the related item economically hedged. We believe the exclusion
of these items enables investors and other users of our financial
information to assess our sequential and year-over-year performance
and operating trends on a more comparable basis and is consistent
with management’s own evaluation of performance.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231101984297/en/
Cheniere Partners Investors Randy
Bhatia, 713-375-5479 Frances Smith, 713-375-5753 Media Relations Eben Burnham-Snyder, 713-375-5764
Bernardo Fallas, 713-375-5593
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