Cheniere Energy Reports Second Quarter 2011 Results

HOUSTON, Aug. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Cheniere Energy, Inc. ("Cheniere") (NYSE Amex: LNG) reported a net loss of $47.2 million, or $0.67 per share (basic and diluted), for the three months ended June 30, 2011, compared with net income of $85.7 million, or $1.55 per share (basic) and $0.86 per share (diluted), for the comparable 2010 period.  Included in the quarter ended June 30, 2010, is a gain on the sale of equity method investment of $128.3 million, or $2.32 per share (basic) and $1.11 per share diluted. For the six months ended June 30, 2011, Cheniere reported net loss of $87.0 million, or $1.26  per share (basic and diluted) compared to net income of $50.5 million, or $0.92 per share (basic) and $0.62 per share (diluted), during the corresponding period of 2010.  Included in the six month period ended June 30, 2010, is a gain on the sale of equity method investment of $128.3 million, or $2.33 per share (basic) and $1.16 per share diluted. Results are reported on a consolidated basis and include our 90.3 percent ownership interest in Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. ("Cheniere Partners").

Overview of Significant 2011 Events

• In January 2011, Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC ("Sabine Liquefaction") and Sabine Pass LNG, L.P. ("Sabine Pass LNG"), both wholly owned subsidiaries of Cheniere Partners, submitted an application to the FERC requesting authorization to site, construct and operate liquefaction and export facilities at the Sabine Pass LNG terminal;
• In May 2011, Sabine Liquefaction received an order from the U.S. Department of Energy ("DOE") with authorization to export domestically produced natural gas from the Sabine Pass LNG terminal as LNG to any country that has, or in the future develops, the capacity to import LNG and with which trade is permissible; and
• In June 2011, we sold 12.7 million shares of Cheniere common stock in an underwritten public offering for net proceeds of $123.3 million.

2011 Results

Cheniere reported income from operations of $16.5 million and $40.0 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively, compared to income from operations of $24.7 million and $55.7 million for the comparable periods in 2010.  Marketing and trading revenues increased $3.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011, compared to the same period in 2010, primarily due to increased other energy trading revenue in the second quarter of 2011 resulting from the arrangement entered into with JPMorgan LNG Co. ("LNGCo").

LNG terminal and pipeline development expenses increased $12.3 million and $19.9 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods in 2010 due to costs incurred to develop the liquefaction project at the Sabine Pass LNG terminal. LNG terminal and pipeline operating expenses decreased $1.9 million and $4.6 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively, compared to the corresponding periods in 2010 primarily from decreased fuel costs in 2011 as a result of efficiencies in our LNG inventory management.  Included in general and administrative expenses were non-cash compensation expenses of $5.7 million and $13.1 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively, compared to $3.2 million and $9.2 million for the comparable periods in 2010.

Interest expense, net decreased $2.4 million and $5.4 million for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2010 primarily due to debt principal repayments made during the second quarter of 2010.

Liquefaction Project

Cheniere Partners continues to make progress on its project to add liquefaction services at the Sabine Pass LNG terminal.  The project is being designed and permitted for up to four LNG trains, each with a nominal production capacity of approximately 4.0 mtpa.  We anticipate LNG export from the Sabine Pass LNG terminal could commence as early as 2015, and may be constructed in phases, with each LNG train commencing operations approximately six to nine months after the previous LNG train.

Sabine Liquefaction intends to enter into long-term contracts for at least 3.5 mtpa (approximately 0.5 Bcf/d) per LNG train, before reaching a final investment decision regarding the development of the LNG trains and is in the process of negotiating definitive agreements with a number of potential customers.

Cheniere Partners will contemplate making a final investment decision to commence construction of the liquefaction project upon, among other things, entering into acceptable commercial arrangements, receiving regulatory authorization to construct and operate the liquefaction assets and obtaining adequate financing.

Summary Liquefaction Project Timeline

Financial Update

As of June 30, 2011, we had unrestricted cash and cash equivalents of $162.6 million that will be available to Cheniere, which excludes cash and cash equivalents and other working capital available to Cheniere Partners and Sabine Pass LNG. In addition, we had restricted cash and cash equivalents of $155.4 million, which were designated for the following purposes: $96.1 million for interest payments related to the Senior Notes; $4.6 million for Sabine Pass LNG's working capital; $50.8 million for Cheniere Partners' working capital; and $3.9 million for other restricted purposes.  

As of June 30, 2011, we had $298.0 million of current debt maturities because our 2007 Term Loan is due May 31, 2012.  In order to satisfy our principal payment in May 2012, we will need to extend or retire our indebtedness, which may be accomplished by refinancing our existing indebtedness, issuing equity or other securities, selling assets or through a combination of the foregoing, which will be dependent on factors such as worldwide natural gas and capital market conditions.

Cheniere is a Houston-based energy company primarily engaged in LNG related businesses, and owns and operates the Sabine Pass LNG terminal and Creole Trail pipeline in Louisiana. Cheniere is pursuing related business opportunities both upstream and downstream of the Sabine Pass LNG terminal.  Through its subsidiary, Cheniere Partners, Cheniere has initiated a project to add liquefaction services that would transform the Sabine Pass LNG terminal into a bi-directional facility capable of liquefying natural gas and exporting LNG in addition to importing and regasifying foreign-sourced LNG. As currently contemplated, the liquefaction project would be designed and permitted for up to four LNG trains, each with a nominal production capacity of approximately 4.0 million metric tons per annum  Additional information about Cheniere Energy, Inc. may be found on its web site at www.cheniere.com.

For additional information, please refer to the Cheniere Energy, Inc. Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2011, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

This press release contains certain statements that may include "forward-looking statements" within the meanings of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included herein are "forward-looking statements." Included among "forward-looking statements" are, among other things, (i) statements regarding Cheniere's business strategy, plans and objectives and (ii) statements expressing beliefs and expectations regarding the development of Cheniere's LNG terminal and pipeline businesses, including liquefaction services. Although Cheniere 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's 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's 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 does not assume a duty to update these forward-looking statements.

SOURCE Cheniere Energy, Inc.