Cheniere Partners Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2022 Results and Introduces Full Year 2023 Distribution Guidance

Rhea-AI Summary

Cheniere Energy Partners reported strong financial results for Q4 and FY 2022, with revenues of $4.7 billion and $17.2 billion respectively. Net income surged by 396% to $2.5 billion in Q4, driven by increased LNG margins and volumes. The company declared a cash distribution of $1.07 per common unit and provided a full-year 2023 guidance of $4.00 - $4.25 per unit. Significant operational milestones include the substantial completion of Train 6 and expansion plans at the Sabine Pass LNG Terminal. Additionally, Cheniere received an investment grade rating upgrade to BBB from S&P in November 2022.

Positive

• Revenue increased by 45% in Q4 2022 compared to Q4 2021.
• Net income surged by 396% in Q4 2022 compared to Q4 2021.
• Adjusted EBITDA rose by 83% in Q4 2022 over Q4 2021.
• Declared a cash distribution of $1.07 per common unit.
• Achieved investment grade rating of BBB from S&P Global Ratings.

Negative

• Non-cash unfavorable changes in fair value of commodity derivatives impacted net income.

HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. (“Cheniere Partners”) (NYSE American: CQP) today announced its financial results for fourth quarter and full year 2022.

HIGHLIGHTS

• For the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2022, Cheniere Partners generated revenues of $4.7 billion and $17.2 billion, respectively, net income of $2.5 billion and $2.5 billion, respectively, and Adjusted EBITDA¹ of $1.6 billion and $5.1 billion, respectively.
• Declared a cash distribution of $1.07 per common unit to unitholders of record as of February 6, 2023, comprised of a base amount equal to $0.775 and a variable amount equal to $0.295. The common unit distribution and the related general partner distribution was paid on February 14, 2023.
• Introducing full year 2023 distribution guidance of $4.00 - $4.25 per common unit.
• In February and October 2022, respectively, substantial completion was achieved on Train 6 of the SPL Project (defined below) and the third marine berth at the Sabine Pass LNG Terminal.
• In November 2022, Cheniere Partners achieved its second investment grade issuer rating from S&P Global Ratings as a result of an upgrade from BB+ to BBB with a stable outlook.
• In February 2023, certain subsidiaries of Cheniere Partners initiated the pre-filing review process with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) under the National Environmental Policy Act for the SPL Expansion Project (defined below).

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 December 31,									Twelve Months Ended December 31,
		2022			2021		% Change				2022			2021		% Change
Revenues	$	4,721		$	3,257		45	%		$	17,206		$	9,434		82	%
Net income	$	2,511		$	506		396	%		$	2,498		$	1,630		53	%
Adjusted EBITDA1	$	1,591		$	868		83	%		$	5,071		$	3,076		65	%
LNG exported:
Number of cargoes		112			97		15	%			423			359		18	%
Volumes (TBtu)		407			345		18	%			1,531			1,284		19	%
LNG volumes loaded (TBtu)		410			342		20	%			1,533			1,280		20	%

Adjusted EBITDA¹ increased $0.7 billion and $2.0 billion during the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2022, respectively, as compared to the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2021. The increase in Adjusted EBITDA was primarily due to increased margins per MMBtu of LNG and increased volumes of LNG delivered. Adjusted EBITDA was also positively impacted by the recognition of the $765 million lump-sum payment made by Chevron U.S.A. Inc. (“Chevron”) throughout the six months ended December 31, 2022 related to the previously announced early termination of the Terminal Use Agreement (“TUA”) between Sabine Pass LNG, L.P. and Chevron.

Net income increased $2.0 billion and $0.9 billion during the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2022, respectively, as compared to the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2021. The increase during the three months ended December 31, 2022 was primarily due to non-cash favorable changes in fair value of commodity derivatives, increased margins per MMBtu of LNG, increased volumes of LNG delivered and the recognition of the remaining proceeds of the lump-sum payment related to the early termination of the TUA with Chevron. The increase during the twelve months ended December 31, 2022 was primarily due to increased margins per MMBtu of LNG and increased volumes of LNG delivered, the Chevron TUA payment, and was partially offset by non-cash unfavorable changes in fair value of commodity derivatives.

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 SPAs. 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, but does not currently permit fair value 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 the significant volatility in the forward JKM curves during the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2022, we recognized approximately $1.4 billion and $(0.8) billion, respectively, of non-cash favorable (unfavorable) changes in fair value attributable to the Tourmaline IPM agreement.

During the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2022, we recognized in income 410 TBtu and 1,520 TBtu, respectively, of LNG loaded from the SPL Project. Additionally, in the year ended December 31, 2022, approximately 13 TBtu of commissioning LNG was exported from the SPL Project.

BALANCE SHEET MANAGEMENT

Capital Resources

As of December 31, 2022, our total available liquidity was approximately $2.6 billion. We had cash and cash equivalents of approximately $0.9 billion. In addition, we had current restricted cash and cash equivalents of $92 million, $750 million of available commitments under our CQP Credit Facilities, and $872 million of available commitments under the Sabine Pass Liquefaction, LLC (“SPL”) Working Capital Facility.

Recent Key Financial Transactions and Updates

In November and December 2022, SPL issued an aggregate principal amount of $500 million of Senior Secured Amortizing Notes due 2037, the proceeds of which, together with cash on hand, were used to redeem the remaining outstanding amount of SPL’s 5.625% Senior Secured Notes, subsequent to the $300 million redemption in October 2022.

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 February 17, 2023, approximately 1,990 cumulative LNG cargoes totaling over 135 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 consisting of up to three natural gas liquefaction trains with an expected total production capacity of approximately 20 mtpa of LNG (the “SPL Expansion Project”). In February 2023, certain of our subsidiaries initiated the pre-filing review process with the FERC.

DISTRIBUTIONS TO UNITHOLDERS

In January 2023, we declared a cash distribution of $1.07 per common unit to unitholders of record as of February 6, 2023, comprised of a base amount equal to $0.775 ($3.10 annualized) and a variable amount equal to $0.295, 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 was paid on February 14, 2023.

INVESTOR CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST

Cheniere Energy, Inc. will host a conference call to discuss its financial and operating results for fourth quarter and full year 2022 on Thursday, February 23, 2023, at 11 a.m. Eastern time / 10 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.

_________________

1 Non-GAAP financial measure. See “Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures” for further details.

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 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, 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 Income (in millions, except per unit data)(1)
	Three Months Ended								Twelve Months Ended
	December 31,								December 31,
		2022				2021				2022				2021
Revenues
LNG revenues	$	2,926			$	2,582			$	11,507			$	7,639
LNG revenues—affiliate		1,300				594				4,568				1,472
LNG revenues—related party		—				—				—				1
Regasification revenues		477				67				1,068				269
Other revenues		18				14				63				53
Total revenues		4,721				3,257				17,206				9,434
Operating costs and expenses
Cost of sales (excluding items shown separately below)		1,441				2,112				11,887				5,290
Cost of sales—affiliate		47				22				213				84
Cost of sales—related party		—				16				—				17
Operating and maintenance expense		207				170				757				635
Operating and maintenance expense—affiliate		48				39				166				142
Operating and maintenance expense—related party		27				12				72				46
General and administrative expense		2				2				5				9
General and administrative expense—affiliate		22				21				92				85
Depreciation and amortization expense		165				140				634				557
Other		—				4				—				11
Other—affiliate		—				1				—				1
Total operating costs and expenses		1,959				2,539				13,826				6,877
Income from operations		2,762				718				3,380				2,557
Other income (expense)
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest		(229	)			(195	)			(870	)			(831	)
Loss on modification or extinguishment of debt		(33	)			(20	)			(33	)			(101	)
Other income, net		11				1				21				3
Other income—affiliate		—				2				—				2
Total other expense		(251	)			(212	)			(882	)			(927	)
Net income	$	2,511			$	506			$	2,498			$	1,630
Basic and diluted net income per common unit (1)	$	4.63			$	0.93			$	3.27			$	3.00
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. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. Consolidated Balance Sheets (in millions, except unit data) (1)
	December 31,
		2022				2021
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$	904			$	876
Restricted cash and cash equivalents		92				98
Trade and other receivables, net of current expected credit losses		627				580
Accounts receivable—affiliate		551				232
Accounts receivable—related party		—				1
Advances to affiliate		177				141
Inventory		160				176
Current derivative assets		24				21
Margin deposits		35				7
Other current assets		50				80
Total current assets		2,620				2,212
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation		16,725				16,830
Operating lease assets		89				98
Debt issuance costs, net of accumulated amortization		8				12
Derivative assets		28				33
Other non-current assets, net		163				173
Total assets	$	19,633			$	19,358
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS’ EQUITY (DEFICIT)
Current liabilities
Accounts payable	$	32			$	21
Accrued liabilities		1,378				1,073
Accrued liabilities—related party		6				4
Due to affiliates		74				67
Deferred revenue		144				155
Deferred revenue—affiliate		3				1
Current operating lease liabilities		10				8
Current derivative liabilities		769				16
Other current liabilities		5				—
Total current liabilities		2,421				1,345
Long-term debt, net of premium, discount and debt issuance costs		16,198				17,177
Operating lease liabilities		80				89
Finance lease liabilities		18				—
Derivative liabilities		3,024				11
Other non-current liabilities—affiliate		23				18
Commitments and contingencies
Partners’ equity (deficit)
Common unitholders’ interest (484.0 million units issued and outstanding at both December 31, 2022 and 2021)		(1,118	)			1,024
General partner’s interest (2% interest with 9.9 million units issued and outstanding at both December 31, 2022 and 2021)		(1,013	)			(306	)
Total partners’ equity (deficit)		(2,131	)			718
Total liabilities and partners’ equity (deficit)	$	19,633			$	19,358

_________________________
(1)	Please refer to the Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, 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 twelve months ended December 31, 2022 and 2021 (in millions):

	Three Months Ended December 31,								Twelve Months Ended December 31,
		2022				2021				2022				2021
Net income	$	2,511			$	506			$	2,498			$	1,630
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest		229				195				870				831
Loss on modification or extinguishment of debt		33				20				33				101
Other income, net		(11	)			(1	)			(21	)			(3	)
Other income—affiliate		—				(2	)			—				(2	)
Income from operations	$	2,762			$	718			$	3,380			$	2,557
Adjustments to reconcile income from operations to Adjusted EBITDA:
Depreciation and amortization expense		165				140				634				557
Loss (gain) from changes in fair value of commodity derivatives, net (1)		(1,336	)			5				1,057				(49	)
Other		—				5				—				11
Adjusted EBITDA	$	1,591			$	868			$	5,071			$	3,076

_________________________
(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 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/20230222005711/en/

Cheniere Partners

Investors

Randy Bhatia, 713-375-5479

Frances Smith, 713-375-5753

Media Relations

Eben Burnham-Snyder, 713-375-5764

Source: Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P.

FAQ

What were Cheniere Partners' financial results for Q4 2022?

Cheniere Partners generated revenues of $4.7 billion and net income of $2.5 billion in Q4 2022.

What is the cash distribution per common unit for Cheniere Partners in 2023?

Cheniere Partners has provided a distribution guidance of $4.00 - $4.25 per common unit for 2023.

What operating milestones did Cheniere Partners achieve in 2022?

Cheniere Partners completed Train 6 of the SPL Project and the third marine berth at the Sabine Pass LNG Terminal in 2022.

How did Cheniere Partners' revenues for 2022 compare to 2021?

Cheniere Partners' revenues for 2022 were $17.2 billion, an 82% increase from $9.4 billion in 2021.

What was Cheniere Partners' Adjusted EBITDA for FY 2022?

Cheniere Partners reported an Adjusted EBITDA of $5.1 billion for FY 2022.