Exhibit
99.1
Cheniere
Energy Partners Declares Quarterly Distributions
Houston, Texas – October 21, 2009
– Cheniere Energy
Partners, L.P. (NYSE AMEX: CQP) today declared (i) a cash distribution per
common unit of $0.425 ($1.70 annualized) to unit holders of record as of
November 2, 2009, (ii) a cash distribution per subordinated unit of $0.425
($1.70 annualized) to a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cheniere Energy, Inc. and
(iii) a cash distribution of $1.4 million to its general partner. All
of these distributions are payable on November 14, 2009.
Cheniere
Energy Partners, L.P. owns 100 percent of the Sabine Pass LNG receiving terminal
located in western Cameron Parish, Louisiana on the Sabine Pass Channel. The
terminal has send-out capacity of 4.0 Bcf/d and storage capacity of 16.8
Bcf. Additional information about Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. may
be found on its website: www.cheniereenergypartners.com.
US
Income Tax Withholding on MLP Distributions Received by Non-US
Unitholders
US income
tax withholding generally applies to distributions we make to foreign unit
holders in 2009 and later years. Nominees that receive quarterly cash
distributions from us that are subject to US income tax withholding which are to
be paid to (or for the account of) any foreign person directly by such nominees
are treated as the US tax withholding agent with respect to our quarterly cash
distributions and the obligation to withhold US income tax from such
distributions will be imposed solely on such nominees. Foreign unit
holders must obtain a taxpayer identification number from the
Internal Revenue Service and submit that number to the nominee withholding agent
on a Form W8-BEN (or applicable substitute form) in order to obtain an income
tax credit in the foreign unit holder’s annual US federal income tax return for
withholding taxes paid with respect to our quarterly distributions.
We have
determined that the minimum quarterly cash distributions received by foreign
persons beginning in 2009 are subject to US income tax withholding under
applicable Internal Revenue Service guidelines. Nominees receiving
quarterly cash distributions from us on behalf of foreign persons beginning in
2009 should consider this determination in meeting their withholding tax
obligations for quarterly distributions paid beginning in the 2009 calendar
year. We will provide similar guidance to nominees on an annual basis
as required under the applicable Internal Revenue Service
guidelines.
This
press release contains certain statements that may include "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning 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 Energy Partners’ business strategy,
plans and objectives and (ii) statements expressing beliefs and expectations
regarding the development of Cheniere Energy Partners' LNG receiving terminal
business. Although Cheniere Energy 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 Energy
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 Energy 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
Energy Partners does not assume a duty to update these forward-looking
statements.
CONTACT:
Cheniere
Energy Partners, L.P.
Investors: Christina
Cavarretta, 713-375-5104
or
Media :
Diane Haggard, 713-375-5259