Cheniere Partners Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2023 Results and Introduces Full Year 2024 Distribution Guidance
- Strong financial results for Q4 and full year 2023 with revenues of $2.7 billion and $9.7 billion.
- Net income of $906 million and $4.3 billion, and Adjusted EBITDA of $1.1 billion and $3.6 billion.
- Cash distribution of $1.035 per common unit for Q4 2023, with a 2024 distribution guidance of $3.15 - $3.35 per common unit.
- Transition to NYSE trading under the symbol 'CQP' and long-term gas supply agreement with ARC Resources U.S. Corp.
- Decrease in net income and Adjusted EBITDA compared to 2022 due to changes in fair value of derivative portfolio and lower regasification revenues.
- Maintained strong liquidity of $2.4 billion as of December 31, 2023.
- Decrease in net income and Adjusted EBITDA compared to 2022.
- Lower regasification revenues impacting financial performance.
- Challenges related to changes in fair value of derivative portfolio.
- Potential fluctuations in international gas prices affecting long-term gas supply agreements.
Insights
The reported financial results of Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. indicate a significant year-over-year increase in net income, with a jump of 70% from 2022 to 2023. However, this positive change is juxtaposed against a notable decrease in both revenues and Adjusted EBITDA, which fell by 44% and 28%, respectively. This divergence likely reflects a complex financial landscape where specific non-operational factors, such as fair value changes in derivative portfolios, have materially influenced the bottom line.
From an investor's perspective, the substantial derivative gains recognized in the reported period, largely attributed to long-term Integrated Production Marketing (IPM) agreements, present both an opportunity and a risk. The agreements' structure aims to secure stable margins over their lifespan, which may appeal to investors seeking steady returns. Nevertheless, the inherent volatility in international gas prices, which underpin these agreements, could introduce significant fluctuations in future financial reports, potentially affecting investor sentiment and the stock's performance.
The announcement of a cash distribution with a base and variable component signals a commitment to returning value to unitholders while also reflecting the company's operational performance. The introduction of full-year distribution guidance for 2024 provides a forward-looking view that may influence investor expectations regarding the company's confidence in its ability to generate consistent cash flows.
In the context of the global energy market, Cheniere Partners' agreement to purchase natural gas indexed to the Dutch Title Transfer Facility (TTF) is a strategic move. TTF is a significant European benchmark for natural gas and this linkage indicates Cheniere's engagement with the broader international market dynamics. The 15-year term of the agreement with ARC Resources U.S. Corp. reflects a long-term commitment to securing energy supplies, which is crucial given the current volatility in global energy markets.
The liquefaction capacity of 30 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) at the Sabine Pass LNG terminal, coupled with the development of the SPL Expansion Project that may add up to 20 mtpa, positions Cheniere Partners as a significant player in the LNG export market. The company's ability to leverage this capacity to meet growing global demand for LNG, especially in light of geopolitical events affecting energy supply chains, could have substantial implications for its future revenue streams and market competitiveness.
Cheniere Partners' switch from trading on the NYSE American to the NYSE could be interpreted as a strategic decision to enhance its visibility and liquidity among a broader investor base. The NYSE's larger platform may facilitate greater exposure and potentially more robust trading volumes for CQP units.
Moreover, the expansion project's progress, including entering the pre-filing review process with the FERC and contracting Bechtel for the Front-End Engineering and Design, is a critical development milestone. As the company anticipates filing an application with the FERC by the end of the first quarter of 2024, stakeholders should monitor regulatory developments closely, as they will have significant implications for the project's timeline and capital expenditure forecasts.
HIGHLIGHTS
-
During the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2023, Cheniere Partners generated revenues of
$2.7 billion $9.7 billion $906 million $4.3 billion $1.1 billion $3.6 billion -
With respect to the fourth quarter of 2023, Cheniere Partners declared a cash distribution of
$1.03 5$0.77 5$0.26 0 -
Introducing full year 2024 distribution guidance of
$3.15 $3.35 $3.10 - Cheniere Partners ceased trading on the NYSE American after market close on February 2, 2024 and commenced trading on the NYSE effective at the opening of trading on February 5, 2024. Cheniere Partners continues to trade under the symbol “CQP.”
-
In November 2023, Cheniere Partners announced that Sabine Pass Liquefaction Stage V, LLC entered into a long-term Integrated Production Marketing (“IPM”) gas supply agreement with ARC Resources
U.S. Corp., a subsidiary of ARC Resources Ltd., to purchase 140,000 MMBtu per day of natural gas at a price based on the Dutch Title Transfer Facility (“TTF”), less a fixed regasification fee, fixed LNG shipping costs and a fixed liquefaction fee, for a term of approximately 15 years commencing with commercial operations of the first train (“Train 7”) of the SPL Expansion Project (defined below). This agreement is subject to Cheniere Partners making a positive Final Investment Decision with respect to Train 7 of the SPL Expansion Project or Cheniere Partners unilaterally waiving that requirement. The liquefied natural gas (“LNG”) associated with this gas supply, approximately 0.85 million tonnes per annum (“mtpa”), will be marketed by Cheniere Marketing International LLP, a subsidiary of Cheniere Energy, Inc. (“Cheniere”) (NYSE: LNG).
2024 FULL YEAR DISTRIBUTION GUIDANCE
|
2024 |
||||
Distribution per Unit |
$ |
3.15 |
- |
$ |
3.35 |
SUMMARY AND REVIEW OF FINANCIAL RESULTS
(in millions, except LNG data) |
Three Months Ended December 31, |
|
Twelve Months Ended December 31, |
||||||||||||||
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
|
% Change |
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
|
% Change |
||||||
Revenues |
$ |
2,686 |
|
$ |
4,721 |
|
(43 |
)% |
|
$ |
9,664 |
|
$ |
17,206 |
|
(44 |
)% |
Net income |
$ |
906 |
|
$ |
2,511 |
|
(64 |
)% |
|
$ |
4,254 |
|
$ |
2,498 |
|
70 |
% |
Adjusted EBITDA1 |
$ |
1,050 |
|
$ |
1,591 |
|
(34 |
)% |
|
$ |
3,626 |
|
$ |
5,071 |
|
(28 |
)% |
LNG exported: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||
Number of cargoes |
|
115 |
|
|
112 |
|
3 |
% |
|
|
425 |
|
|
423 |
|
— |
% |
Volumes (TBtu) |
|
419 |
|
|
407 |
|
3 |
% |
|
|
1,536 |
|
|
1,531 |
|
— |
% |
LNG volumes loaded (TBtu) |
|
418 |
|
|
410 |
|
2 |
% |
|
|
1,536 |
|
|
1,533 |
|
— |
% |
Net income was approximately
Adjusted EBITDA1 decreased by approximately
Substantially all derivative gains (losses) are attributable to the recognition at fair value of our long-term IPM agreements, natural gas supply contracts with pricing indexed to international gas and LNG prices. Our IPM agreements are structured to provide stable margins on purchases of natural gas and sales of LNG over the life of the agreements and have a fixed fee component, similar to that of LNG sold under our long-term, fixed fee LNG sale and purchase agreements. However, the long-term duration and international price basis of our IPM agreements make them particularly susceptible to fluctuations in fair market value from period to period. In addition, accounting requirements prescribe recognition of these long-term gas supply agreements 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 twelve months ended December 31, 2023, we recognized approximately
During the three and twelve months ended December 31, 2023, we recognized in income 418 TBtu and 1,536 TBtu of LNG, respectively, loaded from the SPL Project, none of which was related to commissioning activities.
Capital Resources
As of December 31, 2023, our total available liquidity was approximately
Recent Key Financial Transactions and Updates
In November 2023, SPL redeemed
We own natural gas liquefaction facilities consisting of six liquefaction Trains, with a total production capacity of approximately 30 mtpa of LNG at the Sabine Pass LNG terminal in
As of February 16, 2024, approximately 2,410 cumulative LNG cargoes totaling approximately 165 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 total production capacity of up to approximately 20 mtpa of LNG (the “SPL Expansion Project”), inclusive of estimated debottlenecking opportunities. 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. By the end of the first quarter of 2024, we expect to file an application with the FERC for authorization to site, construct and operate the SPL Expansion Project.
DISTRIBUTIONS TO UNITHOLDERS
In January 2024, we declared a cash distribution of
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 2023 on Thursday, February 22, 2024, 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 will 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
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, 2023, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures
In addition to disclosing financial results in accordance with
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, |
||||||||||||
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
||||||||
Revenues |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
LNG revenues |
$ |
1,906 |
|
|
$ |
2,926 |
|
|
$ |
6,991 |
|
|
$ |
11,507 |
|
LNG revenues—affiliate |
|
730 |
|
|
|
1,300 |
|
|
|
2,475 |
|
|
|
4,568 |
|
Regasification revenues |
|
34 |
|
|
|
477 |
|
|
|
135 |
|
|
|
1,068 |
|
Other revenues |
|
16 |
|
|
|
18 |
|
|
|
63 |
|
|
|
63 |
|
Total revenues |
|
2,686 |
|
|
|
4,721 |
|
|
|
9,664 |
|
|
|
17,206 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Operating costs and expenses |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Cost of sales (excluding items shown separately below) |
|
1,123 |
|
|
|
1,441 |
|
|
|
2,721 |
|
|
|
11,887 |
|
Cost of sales—affiliate |
|
2 |
|
|
|
47 |
|
|
|
22 |
|
|
|
213 |
|
Operating and maintenance expense |
|
199 |
|
|
|
207 |
|
|
|
879 |
|
|
|
757 |
|
Operating and maintenance expense—affiliate |
|
46 |
|
|
|
48 |
|
|
|
166 |
|
|
|
166 |
|
Operating and maintenance expense—related party |
|
18 |
|
|
|
27 |
|
|
|
62 |
|
|
|
72 |
|
General and administrative expense |
|
2 |
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
10 |
|
|
|
5 |
|
General and administrative expense—affiliate |
|
23 |
|
|
|
22 |
|
|
|
89 |
|
|
|
92 |
|
Depreciation and amortization expense |
|
172 |
|
|
|
165 |
|
|
|
672 |
|
|
|
634 |
|
Other |
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
6 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Other—affiliate |
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Total operating costs and expenses |
|
1,585 |
|
|
|
1,959 |
|
|
|
4,628 |
|
|
|
13,826 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Income from operations |
|
1,101 |
|
|
|
2,762 |
|
|
|
5,036 |
|
|
|
3,380 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Other income (expense) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest |
|
(203 |
) |
|
|
(229 |
) |
|
|
(823 |
) |
|
|
(870 |
) |
Loss on modification or extinguishment of debt |
|
— |
|
|
|
(33 |
) |
|
|
(6 |
) |
|
|
(33 |
) |
Interest and dividend income |
|
8 |
|
|
|
11 |
|
|
|
46 |
|
|
|
21 |
|
Other income, net |
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
1 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Total other expense |
|
(195 |
) |
|
|
(251 |
) |
|
|
(782 |
) |
|
|
(882 |
) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Net income |
$ |
906 |
|
|
$ |
2,511 |
|
|
$ |
4,254 |
|
|
$ |
2,498 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Basic and diluted net income per common unit(1) |
$ |
1.42 |
|
|
$ |
4.63 |
|
|
$ |
6.95 |
|
|
$ |
3.27 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
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, 2023, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. |
|
Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. |
|||||||
Consolidated Balance Sheets |
|||||||
(in millions, except unit data) (1) |
|||||||
|
|
||||||
|
December 31, |
||||||
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
||||
ASSETS |
|
|
|
||||
Current assets |
|
|
|
||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ |
575 |
|
|
$ |
904 |
|
Restricted cash and cash equivalents |
|
56 |
|
|
|
92 |
|
Trade and other receivables, net of current expected credit losses |
|
373 |
|
|
|
627 |
|
Trade receivables—affiliate |
|
278 |
|
|
|
551 |
|
Advances to affiliate |
|
84 |
|
|
|
177 |
|
Inventory |
|
142 |
|
|
|
160 |
|
Current derivative assets |
|
30 |
|
|
|
24 |
|
Margin deposits |
|
— |
|
|
|
35 |
|
Other current assets, net |
|
43 |
|
|
|
50 |
|
Total current assets |
|
1,581 |
|
|
|
2,620 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation |
|
16,212 |
|
|
|
16,725 |
|
Operating lease assets |
|
81 |
|
|
|
89 |
|
Debt issuance costs, net of accumulated amortization |
|
16 |
|
|
|
8 |
|
Derivative assets |
|
40 |
|
|
|
28 |
|
Other non-current assets, net |
|
172 |
|
|
|
163 |
|
Total assets |
$ |
18,102 |
|
|
$ |
19,633 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
LIABILITIES AND PARTNERS’ DEFICIT |
|
|
|
||||
Current liabilities |
|
|
|
||||
Accounts payable |
$ |
69 |
|
|
$ |
32 |
|
Accrued liabilities |
|
806 |
|
|
|
1,378 |
|
Accrued liabilities—related party |
|
5 |
|
|
|
6 |
|
Current debt, net of discount and debt issuance costs |
|
300 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Due to affiliates |
|
55 |
|
|
|
74 |
|
Deferred revenue |
|
114 |
|
|
|
144 |
|
Deferred revenue—affiliate |
|
3 |
|
|
|
3 |
|
Current derivative liabilities |
|
196 |
|
|
|
769 |
|
Other current liabilities |
|
18 |
|
|
|
15 |
|
Total current liabilities |
|
1,566 |
|
|
|
2,421 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Long-term debt, net of discount and debt issuance costs |
|
15,606 |
|
|
|
16,198 |
|
Operating lease liabilities |
|
71 |
|
|
|
80 |
|
Finance lease liabilities |
|
14 |
|
|
|
18 |
|
Derivative liabilities |
|
1,531 |
|
|
|
3,024 |
|
Other non-current liabilities |
|
75 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Other non-current liabilities—affiliate |
|
23 |
|
|
|
23 |
|
|
|
|
|
||||
Partners’ deficit |
|
|
|
||||
Common unitholders’ interest (484.0 million units issued and outstanding at both December 31, 2023 and 2022) |
|
1,038 |
|
|
|
(1,118 |
) |
General partner’s interest ( |
|
(1,822 |
) |
|
|
(1,013 |
) |
Total partners’ deficit |
|
(784 |
) |
|
|
(2,131 |
) |
Total liabilities and partners’ deficit |
$ |
18,102 |
|
|
$ |
19,633 |
|
| ______________________ | ||
(1) |
Please refer to the Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 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 |
|||||||||||||||
|
Three Months Ended
|
|
Twelve Months Ended
|
||||||||||||
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
|
2023 |
|
2022 |
||||||||
Net income |
$ |
906 |
|
|
$ |
2,511 |
|
|
$ |
4,254 |
|
|
$ |
2,498 |
|
Interest expense, net of capitalized interest |
|
203 |
|
|
|
229 |
|
|
|
823 |
|
|
|
870 |
|
Loss on modification or extinguishment of debt |
|
— |
|
|
|
33 |
|
|
|
6 |
|
|
|
33 |
|
Interest and dividend income |
|
(8 |
) |
|
|
(11 |
) |
|
|
(46 |
) |
|
|
(21 |
) |
Other income, net |
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
(1 |
) |
|
|
— |
|
Income from operations |
$ |
1,101 |
|
|
$ |
2,762 |
|
|
$ |
5,036 |
|
|
$ |
3,380 |
|
Adjustments to reconcile income from operations to Adjusted EBITDA: |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
||||||||
Depreciation and amortization expense |
|
172 |
|
|
|
165 |
|
|
|
672 |
|
|
|
634 |
|
Loss (gain) from changes in fair value of commodity derivatives, net (1) |
|
(223 |
) |
|
|
(1,336 |
) |
|
|
(2,084 |
) |
|
|
1,057 |
|
Other |
|
— |
|
|
|
— |
|
|
|
2 |
|
|
|
— |
|
Adjusted EBITDA |
$ |
1,050 |
|
|
$ |
1,591 |
|
|
$ |
3,626 |
|
|
$ |
5,071 |
|
| __________________________ | ||
| (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
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/20240221706101/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
Source: Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P.
FAQ
What were Cheniere Energy Partners' revenues for Q4 and full year 2023?
What was the net income for Cheniere Energy Partners in Q4 and full year 2023?
What was the Adjusted EBITDA for Cheniere Energy Partners in Q4 and full year 2023?
What was the cash distribution per common unit for Cheniere Energy Partners in Q4 2023?
What is the 2024 distribution guidance per common unit for Cheniere Energy Partners?
What was the reason for the decrease in net income and Adjusted EBITDA for Cheniere Energy Partners compared to 2022?
What is Cheniere Energy Partners' total available liquidity as of December 31, 2023?
What major transition did Cheniere Energy Partners make regarding trading platforms in February 2024?
With which company did Cheniere Energy Partners enter into a long-term gas supply agreement in November 2023?
What challenges did Cheniere Energy Partners face in terms of international gas prices and long-term gas supply agreements?
