SEC Comment Letter for Cheniere Energy, Inc. (LNG) (CIK 0000003570) (LNG) — Dec 15, 2016
Cheniere Energy, Inc. (LNG) (CIK 0000003570)
Date: Dec. 15, 2016 · CIK: 0000003570 · Accession: 0000000000-16-105068
AI Filing Summary & Sentiment
Reasoning
File numbers found in text: 333-192373
Letter
Mail Stop 3561 December 15 , 2016 Michael J. Wortley Chief Financial Officer Cheniere Energy, Inc. 700 Milam Street, Suite 1900 Houston, TX 77002
Re: Cheniere Energy, Inc. Cheniere Energy Partners LP Holdings, LLC Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. Sabine Pass Liquefaction , LLC Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2015 Form 10 -Q for the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2016 Filed February 19, 2016 and November 3, 2016 Forms 8 -K filed January 15, 2016 and February 24, 2016 File No s. 1-16383, 1-36234 , 1-33366, and 333-192373
Dear Mr. Wortley :
We have reviewed your filing an d have the following comments. In some of our comments, we may ask you to provide us with information so we may better understand your disclosure.
Please respond to these comments within ten busine ss days by providing the requested information or advis e us as soon as possible when you will respond. If you do not believe our comments apply to your facts and circumstances, please tell us why in your response.
After reviewing your response to these comments, we may have additional comments.
Form 10 -K for Fiscal year Ended December 31, 2015
Cheniere Energy , Inc.
Summary of Crit ical Accounting Estimates Goodwill, page 56
1. Please clarify if you performed a quantitative analysis of goodwill impairment for fiscal 2015. If so, please disclose the percentage by which fair value exceeded carrying value as of the date of the most recent test.
Michael J. Wortley Cheniere Energy, Inc. December 15 , 2016 Page 2
Consolidated Balance Sheets, page 64
2. Please tell us why your issued and outstanding share amounts are the same even though you have shares held in the treasury.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows , page 6 8
3. We note total share -based co mpensation stated in Note -13 Share -Based Compensation, does not agree to amounts disclosed in the statement of cash flows for fiscal year 2015. Please advise or revise.
4. Please tell us the nature of the other, net and other line items included in net cas h used in operating activities and investing activities. Also, tell us your consideration of separately presenting material amounts include in those line items.
Note 5 – Property, Plant and Equipment, page 78
5. Please disclose actual depreciation expense for each year presented. Refer to ASC 360 - 10-50-1. Also, please explain why the changes in the accumulated depreciation accounts from December 31, 2014 to December 31, 2015 do not equal the amount of depreciation and amortization disclosed on the state ments of operations and cash flows.
Cheniere Energy Partners , LP
Selected Financial Data, page 40
6. It appears you inadvertently omitted net loss per common unit for fiscal year 2014. Please advise or revise. Refer to Item 301 of R egulation S -K.
Note 1 5 – Net Income (Loss) Per Common Unit, page 89
7. We note your disclosure that t he impact of the beneficial conversion feature is also included in earnings per unit for t he years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 . Please tell us how the amounts are included in the loss per unit and why you did not include a line item in your reconciliations for the years presented related to the amortization of the beneficial conversion feature. Additionally, tell us why no amort ization of the beneficial conversion feature is shown in your consolidated statements of partners’ equity for fiscal years 2014 and 2013.
Michael J. Wortley Cheniere Energy, Inc. December 15 , 2016 Page 3
Cheniere Energy Partners LP Holdings , LLC
Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Accounting for Investment in Cheniere Partners, page 31
8. Please provide us with your calculations of the change s in the suspended loss account from 2014 to 2015.
Cheniere Energy , Inc.
Form 10 -Q for the Quarter ly Period Ended September 30, 2016
9. Please disclose the n ature of the impairment charge and the facts and circumstances that resulted in your conclusion to record the amount.
Cheniere Energy , Inc., Cheniere Energy Partners LP Holdings, LLC, and Sabine Pass Liquefaction , LLC
Forms 8 -K filed January 15, 2016 an d February 24, 2016
10. You disclose a non -GAAP liquidity measure pre -tax CEI cash flow per share and pre -tax CEI cash flow per share (no CMI sales) which is inconsistent with Question 102.05 of the updated Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations related to Non -GAAP Measures issued May 17, 2016. Please tell us your consideration of the guidance in your presentation of these measures.
We remind you that the company and its management are responsible for the accuracy and adequacy of their disclosures, notwithstanding any review, comments, action or absence of action by the staff.
You may contact Tony Watson, Accountant, at (202) 551 -3318 or Donna Di Silvio , Accountant, at (202) 551 -3202 if you have questions regarding comments on the financial statements and related matters. You may contact me at (202) 551 -3344 with any other questions.
Sincerely,
/s/ William H. Thompson
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Mail Stop 3561 December 15 , 2016 Michael J. Wortley Chief Financial Officer Cheniere Energy, Inc. 700 Milam Street, Suite 1900 Houston, TX 77002 Re: Cheniere Energy, Inc. Cheniere Energy Partners LP Holdings, LLC Cheniere Energy Partners, L.P. Sabine Pass Liquefaction , LLC Form 10-K for the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2015 Form 10 -Q for the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2016 Filed February 19, 2016 and November 3, 2016 Forms 8 -K filed January 15, 2016 and February 24, 2016 File No s. 1-16383, 1-36234 , 1-33366, and 333-192373 Dear Mr. Wortley : We have reviewed your filing an d have the following comments. In some of our comments, we may ask you to provide us with information so we may better understand your disclosure. Please respond to these comments within ten busine ss days by providing the requested information or advis e us as soon as possible when you will respond. If you do not believe our comments apply to your facts and circumstances, please tell us why in your response. After reviewing your response to these comments, we may have additional comments. Form 10 -K for Fiscal year Ended December 31, 2015 Cheniere Energy , Inc. Summary of Crit ical Accounting Estimates Goodwill, page 56 1. Please clarify if you performed a quantitative analysis of goodwill impairment for fiscal 2015. If so, please disclose the percentage by which fair value exceeded carrying value as of the date of the most recent test. Michael J. Wortley Cheniere Energy, Inc. December 15 , 2016 Page 2 Consolidated Balance Sheets, page 64 2. Please tell us why your issued and outstanding share amounts are the same even though you have shares held in the treasury. Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows , page 6 8 3. We note total share -based co mpensation stated in Note -13 Share -Based Compensation, does not agree to amounts disclosed in the statement of cash flows for fiscal year 2015. Please advise or revise. 4. Please tell us the nature of the other, net and other line items included in net cas h used in operating activities and investing activities. Also, tell us your consideration of separately presenting material amounts include in those line items. Note 5 – Property, Plant and Equipment, page 78 5. Please disclose actual depreciation expense for each year presented. Refer to ASC 360 - 10-50-1. Also, please explain why the changes in the accumulated depreciation accounts from December 31, 2014 to December 31, 2015 do not equal the amount of depreciation and amortization disclosed on the state ments of operations and cash flows. Cheniere Energy Partners , LP Selected Financial Data, page 40 6. It appears you inadvertently omitted net loss per common unit for fiscal year 2014. Please advise or revise. Refer to Item 301 of R egulation S -K. Note 1 5 – Net Income (Loss) Per Common Unit, page 89 7. We note your disclosure that t he impact of the beneficial conversion feature is also included in earnings per unit for t he years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013 . Please tell us how the amounts are included in the loss per unit and why you did not include a line item in your reconciliations for the years presented related to the amortization of the beneficial conversion feature. Additionally, tell us why no amort ization of the beneficial conversion feature is shown in your consolidated statements of partners’ equity for fiscal years 2014 and 2013. Michael J. Wortley Cheniere Energy, Inc. December 15 , 2016 Page 3 Cheniere Energy Partners LP Holdings , LLC Note 2 – Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Accounting for Investment in Cheniere Partners, page 31 8. Please provide us with your calculations of the change s in the suspended loss account from 2014 to 2015. Cheniere Energy , Inc. Form 10 -Q for the Quarter ly Period Ended September 30, 2016 9. Please disclose the n ature of the impairment charge and the facts and circumstances that resulted in your conclusion to record the amount. Cheniere Energy , Inc., Cheniere Energy Partners LP Holdings, LLC, and Sabine Pass Liquefaction , LLC Forms 8 -K filed January 15, 2016 an d February 24, 2016 10. You disclose a non -GAAP liquidity measure pre -tax CEI cash flow per share and pre -tax CEI cash flow per share (no CMI sales) which is inconsistent with Question 102.05 of the updated Compliance and Disclosure Interpretations related to Non -GAAP Measures issued May 17, 2016. Please tell us your consideration of the guidance in your presentation of these measures. We remind you that the company and its management are responsible for the accuracy and adequacy of their disclosures, notwithstanding any review, comments, action or absence of action by the staff. You may contact Tony Watson, Accountant, at (202) 551 -3318 or Donna Di Silvio , Accountant, at (202) 551 -3202 if you have questions regarding comments on the financial statements and related matters. You may contact me at (202) 551 -3344 with any other questions. Sincerely, /s/ William H. Thompson William H. Thompson Accounting Branch Ch ief Office of Consumer Products