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Related Party Transactions (Notes)
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3 Months Ended |
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Mar. 31, 2015
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| Related Party Transactions [Abstract] | |
| Related Party Transactions |
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
LNG Terminal Capacity Agreements
Terminal Use Agreement
SPL obtained approximately 2.0 Bcf/d of regasification capacity under a TUA with Sabine Pass LNG as a result of an assignment in July 2012 by Cheniere Investments of its rights, title and interest under its TUA with Sabine Pass LNG. SPL is obligated to make monthly capacity payments to Sabine Pass LNG aggregating approximately $250 million per year, continuing until at least 20 years after SPL delivers its first commercial cargo at the Liquefaction Project.
In connection with this TUA, SPL is required to pay for a portion of the cost (primarily LNG inventory) to maintain the cryogenic readiness of the regasification facilities at the Sabine Pass LNG terminal. During the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, we recorded expenses of $17.8 million and credits of $0.2 million, respectively, as operating and maintenance expense related to this obligation.
Cheniere Investments, SPL and Sabine Pass LNG entered into the terminal use rights assignment and agreement (“TURA”) pursuant to which Cheniere Investments has the right to use SPL’s reserved capacity under the TUA and has the obligation to make the monthly capacity payments required by the TUA to Sabine Pass LNG. However, the revenue earned by Sabine Pass LNG from the capacity payments made under the TUA and the loss incurred by Cheniere Investments under the TURA are eliminated upon consolidation of our financial statements. We have guaranteed the obligations of SPL under its TUA and the obligations of Cheniere Investments under the TURA.
In an effort to utilize Cheniere Investments’ reserved capacity under the TURA during construction of the Liquefaction Project, Cheniere Marketing has entered into an amended and restated variable capacity rights agreement with Cheniere Investments (the “Amended and Restated VCRA”) pursuant to which Cheniere Marketing is obligated to pay Cheniere Investments 80% of the expected gross margin of each cargo of LNG that Cheniere Marketing arranges for delivery to the Sabine Pass LNG terminal. We recorded no revenues—affiliate from Cheniere Marketing during the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively, related to the Amended and Restated VCRA.
Cheniere Marketing SPA
Cheniere Marketing has entered into an amended and restated SPA with SPL to purchase, at Cheniere Marketing’s option, any LNG produced by SPL in excess of that required for other customers at a price of 115% of Henry Hub plus $3.00 per MMBtu of LNG.
Services Agreements
As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, we had $21.8 million and $27.3 million of advances to affiliates, respectively, under the services agreements described below. During the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, we recorded general and administrative expense—affiliate of $21.6 million and $27.2 million, respectively, and operating and maintenance expense—affiliate of $4.8 million and $4.4 million, respectively, under the services agreements described below.
Cheniere Partners Services Agreement
We have entered into a services agreement with Cheniere Terminals, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cheniere, pursuant to which Cheniere Terminals is compensated a quarterly non-accountable overhead reimbursement charge of $2.8 million (adjusted for inflation) for the provision of various general and administrative services for our benefit. In addition, we reimburse Cheniere Terminals for all audit, tax, legal and finance fees incurred by Cheniere Terminals that are necessary to perform the services under the agreement.
Sabine Pass LNG O&M Agreement
Sabine Pass LNG has entered into a long-term operation and maintenance agreement (the “Sabine Pass LNG O&M Agreement”) with Cheniere Investments pursuant to which Sabine Pass LNG receives all necessary services required to operate and maintain the Sabine Pass LNG receiving terminal. Cheniere Investments is compensated a fixed monthly fee of $130,000 (indexed for inflation) under the Sabine Pass LNG O&M Agreement, and is entitled to a bonus equal to 50% of the salary component of labor costs in certain circumstances to be agreed upon between Sabine Pass LNG and Cheniere Investments at the beginning of each operating year. In addition, Sabine Pass LNG is required to reimburse Cheniere Investments for its operating expenses, which consist primarily of labor expenses. Cheniere Investments provides the services required under the Sabine Pass LNG O&M Agreement pursuant to a secondment agreement with a wholly owned subsidiary of Cheniere.
Sabine Pass LNG MSA
Sabine Pass LNG has entered into a long-term management services agreement (the “Sabine Pass LNG MSA”) with Cheniere Terminals, pursuant to which Cheniere Terminals manages the operation of the Sabine Pass LNG receiving terminal, excluding those matters provided for under the Sabine Pass LNG O&M Agreement. Cheniere Terminals is compensated a monthly fixed fee of $520,000 (indexed for inflation) under the Sabine Pass LNG MSA.
SPL O&M Agreement
SPL has entered into an operation and maintenance agreement (the “Liquefaction O&M Agreement”) with Cheniere Investments pursuant to which SPL receives all of the necessary services required to construct, operate and maintain the Liquefaction Project. Before the Liquefaction Project is operational, the services to be provided include, among other services, obtaining governmental approvals on behalf of SPL, preparing an operating plan for certain periods, obtaining insurance, preparing staffing plans and preparing status reports. After the Liquefaction Project is operational, the services include all necessary services required to operate and maintain the Liquefaction Project. Before the Liquefaction Project is operational, in addition to reimbursement of operating expenses, SPL is required to pay a monthly fee equal to 0.6% of the capital expenditures incurred in the previous month. After substantial completion of each Train, for services performed while the Liquefaction Project is operational, SPL will pay, in addition to the reimbursement of operating expenses, a fixed monthly fee of $83,333 (indexed for inflation) for services with respect to such Train. Cheniere Investments provides the services required under the Liquefaction O&M Agreement pursuant to a secondment agreement with a wholly owned subsidiary of Cheniere.
SPL MSA
SPL has entered into a management services agreement with Cheniere Terminals pursuant to which Cheniere Terminals manages the construction and operation of the Liquefaction Project, excluding those matters provided for under the Liquefaction O&M Agreement. The services include, among other services, exercising the day-to-day management of SPL’s affairs and business, managing SPL’s regulatory matters, managing bank and brokerage accounts and financial books and records of SPL’s business and operations, entering into financial derivatives on our behalf and providing contract administration services for all contracts associated with the Liquefaction Project. SPL pays a monthly fee equal to 2.4% of the capital expenditures incurred in the previous month. After substantial completion of each Train, SPL will pay a fixed monthly fee of $541,667 for services with respect to such Train.
CTPL O&M Agreement
CTPL has entered into an amended long-term operation and maintenance agreement (the “CTPL O&M Agreement”) with Cheniere Investments pursuant to which CTPL receives all necessary services required to operate and maintain the Creole Trail Pipeline. CTPL is required to reimburse the counterparty for its operating expenses, which consist primarily of labor expenses. In November 2013, the CTPL O&M Agreement was assigned by Cheniere Energy Partners GP, LLC to Cheniere Investments. Cheniere Investments provides the services required under the CTPL O&M Agreement pursuant to a secondment agreement with a wholly owned subsidiary of Cheniere.
CTPL MSA
CTPL has entered into a management services agreement with Cheniere Terminals pursuant to which Cheniere Terminals manages the modification and operation of the Creole Trail Pipeline, excluding those matters provided for under the CTPL O&M Agreement. The services include, among other services, exercising the day-to-day management of CTPL’s affairs and business, managing CTPL’s regulatory matters, managing bank and brokerage accounts and financial books and records of CTPL’s business and operations and providing contract administration services for all contracts associated with the liquefaction facilities. CTPL pays a monthly fee equal to 3.0% of the capital expenditures to enable bi-directional natural gas flow on the Creole Trail Pipeline incurred in the previous month.
LNG Lease Agreement
In September 2011, Cheniere Investments entered into an agreement in the form of a lease (the “LNG Lease Agreement”) with Cheniere Marketing that enables Cheniere Investments to supply the Sabine Pass LNG terminal with LNG to maintain proper LNG inventory levels and temperature. The LNG Lease Agreement also enables Cheniere Investments to hedge the exposure to variability in expected future cash flows of the LNG inventory. Under the terms of the LNG Lease Agreement, Cheniere Marketing funds all activities related to the purchase and hedging of the LNG, and Cheniere Investments reimburses Cheniere Marketing for all costs and assumes full price risk associated with these activities.
As a result of Cheniere Investments assuming full price risk associated with the LNG Lease Agreement, LNG inventory purchased by Cheniere Marketing under this arrangement is classified as LNG inventory—affiliate, which is included in other—affiliate on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. This amount is recorded at cost and subject to lower of cost or market (“LCM”) adjustments at the end of each period. LNG inventory—affiliate cost is determined using the average cost method. Recoveries of losses resulting from interim period LCM adjustments are made due to market price recoveries on the same LNG inventory—affiliate in the same fiscal year and are recognized as gains in later interim periods with such gains not exceeding previously recognized losses. Gains or losses on the sale of LNG inventory—affiliate and LCM adjustments are recorded as revenues on our Consolidated Statements of Operations. As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, we had no LNG inventory—affiliate recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheets under the LNG Lease Agreement.
Agreement to Fund Sabine Pass LNG’s Cooperative Endeavor Agreements (“CEAs”)
In July 2007, Sabine Pass LNG executed CEAs with various Cameron Parish, Louisiana taxing authorities that allow them to collect certain annual property tax payments from Sabine Pass LNG from 2007 through 2016. This ten-year initiative represents an aggregate commitment of up to $25.0 million and Sabine Pass LNG will make resources available to the Cameron Parish taxing authorities on an accelerated basis in order to aid in their reconstruction efforts following Hurricane Rita. In exchange for Sabine Pass LNG’s advance payments of annual ad valorem taxes, Cameron Parish will grant Sabine Pass LNG a dollar-for-dollar credit against future ad valorem taxes to be levied against the Sabine Pass LNG terminal starting in 2019. In September 2007, Sabine Pass LNG entered into an agreement with Cheniere Marketing, pursuant to which Cheniere Marketing would pay Sabine Pass LNG additional TUA revenues equal to any and all amounts payable under the CEAs in exchange for a similar amount of credits against future TUA payments it would owe Sabine Pass LNG under its TUA starting in 2019. In June 2010, Cheniere Marketing assigned its TUA to Cheniere Investments and concurrently entered into a variable capacity rights agreement (“VCRA”), allowing Cheniere Marketing to utilize Cheniere Investments’ capacity under the TUA after the assignment. In July 2012, Cheniere Investments entered into the Amended and Restated VCRA with Cheniere Marketing in order for Cheniere Investments to utilize during construction of the Liquefaction Project the capacity rights granted under the TURA. Cheniere Marketing will continue to fund the CEAs during the term of the Amended and Restated VCRA and, in exchange, Cheniere Marketing will receive the benefit of any future credits.
On a consolidated basis, these advance tax payments were recorded to other non-current assets, and payments from Cheniere Marketing that Sabine Pass LNG utilized to make the ad valorem tax payments were recorded as a long-term obligation. As of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, we had $22.1 million and $19.6 million, respectively, of other non-current assets resulting from Sabine Pass LNG’s ad valorem tax payments and non-current liabilities—affiliate resulting from these payments received from Cheniere Marketing.
Contracts for Sale and Purchase of Natural Gas and LNG
Sabine Pass LNG is able to sell and purchase natural gas and LNG under agreements with Cheniere Marketing. Under these agreements, Sabine Pass LNG purchases natural gas or LNG from Cheniere Marketing at a sales price equal to the actual purchase price paid by Cheniere Marketing to suppliers of the natural gas or LNG, plus any third-party costs incurred by Cheniere Marketing in respect of the receipt, purchase and delivery of natural gas or LNG to the Sabine Pass LNG terminal. As a result, Sabine Pass LNG records the purchases of natural gas and LNG from Cheniere Marketing to be utilized as fuel to operate the Sabine Pass LNG terminal as operating and maintenance expense.
Sabine Pass LNG recorded operating and maintenance expense of $1.6 million and $0.5 million for natural gas purchased from Cheniere Marketing under these agreements in the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively. Sabine Pass LNG recorded revenues—affiliate of $1.3 million and zero for natural gas sold to Cheniere Marketing under these agreements in the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Tug Boat Lease Sharing Agreement
In connection with its tug boat lease, Sabine Pass Tug Services, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Sabine Pass LNG (“Tug Services”), entered into a tug sharing agreement with a wholly owned subsidiary of Cheniere to provide its LNG cargo vessels with tug boat and marine services at the Sabine Pass LNG terminal. Tug Services recorded revenues—affiliate of $0.7 million pursuant to this agreement in each of the three months ended March 31, 2015 and 2014.
State Tax Sharing Agreements
In November 2006, Sabine Pass LNG and Cheniere entered into a state tax sharing agreement. Under this agreement, Cheniere has agreed to prepare and file all state and local tax returns which Sabine Pass LNG and Cheniere are required to file on a combined basis and to timely pay the combined state and local tax liability. If Cheniere, in its sole discretion, demands payment, Sabine Pass LNG will pay to Cheniere an amount equal to the state and local tax that Sabine Pass LNG would be required to pay if its state and local tax liability were computed on a separate company basis. There have been no state and local taxes paid by Cheniere for which Cheniere could have demanded payment from Sabine Pass LNG under this agreement; therefore, Cheniere has not demanded any such payments from Sabine Pass LNG. The agreement is effective for tax returns due on or after January 1, 2008.
In August 2012, SPL entered into a state tax sharing agreement with Cheniere. Under this agreement, Cheniere has agreed to prepare and file all state and local tax returns which SPL and Cheniere are required to file on a combined basis and to timely pay the combined state and local tax liability. If Cheniere, in its sole discretion, demands payment, SPL will pay to Cheniere an amount equal to the state and local tax that SPL would be required to pay if SPL’s state and local tax liability were calculated on a separate company basis. There have been no state and local taxes paid by Cheniere for which Cheniere could have demanded payment from SPL under this agreement; therefore, Cheniere has not demanded any such payments from SPL. The agreement is effective for tax returns due on or after August 2012.
In May 2013, CTPL entered into a state tax sharing agreement with Cheniere. Under this agreement, Cheniere has agreed to prepare and file all state and local tax returns which CTPL and Cheniere are required to file on a combined basis and to timely pay the combined state and local tax liability. If Cheniere, in its sole discretion, demands payment, CTPL will pay to Cheniere an amount equal to the state and local tax that CTPL would be required to pay if CTPL’s state and local tax liability were calculated on a separate company basis. There have been no state and local taxes paid by Cheniere for which Cheniere could have demanded payment from CTPL under this agreement; therefore, Cheniere has not demanded any such payments from CTPL. The agreement is effective for tax returns due on or after May 2013.
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