Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
Registration No. 333-71496
Prospectus
CHENIERE ENERGY, INC.
500,000 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
Par Value $0.003 per Share
This prospectus relates to offers and sales from time to time by Crest
Financial Limited of up to 500,000 shares of common stock of Cheniere Energy,
Inc. The securities offered by this prospectus were issued to the selling
stockholder in a transaction exempt from registration under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended. We will not receive any proceeds from such sales by the
selling stockholder.
Our common stock is traded on The American Stock Exchange under the symbol
CXY. The last reported sales price of the common stock on The American Stock
Exchange on May 30, 2002 was $1.20 per share.
Crest Financial Limited has informed Cheniere that it may sell shares from
time to time in ordinary broker's transactions or at negotiated prices. Crest
Financial Limited may effect these transactions with or through brokers or
dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or discounts.
The principal executive offices of Cheniere are located at 333 Clay Street,
Suite 3400, Houston, Texas 77002-4102.
-----------------
See Risk Factors beginning on page 6 for information
that should be considered by prospective investors.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if
this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is
a criminal offense.
The date of this prospectus is May 31, 2002.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Cheniere Energy, Inc..................................... 3
Risk Factors............................................. 6
Where you can Find More Information...................... 14
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements 15
Use of Proceeds.......................................... 15
Selling Stockholder...................................... 15
Description of Securities................................ 16
Plan of Distribution..................................... 18
Legal Matters............................................ 19
Experts.................................................. 19
2
CHENIERE ENERGY, INC.
SUMMARY
Cheniere is a Houston-based company engaged in oil and gas exploration,
development and exploitation and in the development of a liquefied natural gas
(LNG) receiving terminal business. The LNG receiving terminal business consists
of receiving deliveries of LNG from LNG ships, processing such LNG to return it
to a gaseous state and delivering such gas to pipelines for transportation to
purchasers. We have historically focused on evaluating and generating drilling
prospects using a regional and integrated approach with a large 3D seismic
database as a platform. We are currently focusing, and we expect to continue to
focus, on the development of our LNG receiving terminal business. We expect
that our active interpretation of 3D seismic data and generation of prospects
will continue, though our participation in the drilling of wells will be
accomplished through farm-out arrangements and back-in interests (a
reversionary interest in oil and gas leases reserved by Cheniere), whereby the
capital costs of such activities are borne by industry partners.
Cheniere was formed in 1996 to fund the acquisition of a proprietary 3D
seismic database along the transition zone (the area approximately 3-5 miles on
either side of the Gulf of Mexico shore line) in Cameron Parish, Louisiana. The
228-square-mile survey was acquired jointly by Cheniere and an industry partner
and initial processing was completed during 1997. Interpretation of the data
yielded drilling prospects located onshore and in the state and federal waters
of offshore Louisiana. Leasing activity occurred over identified prospects
throughout these three jurisdictions from 1998 to 2000 and continues today. We
recently purchased all rights to the database and subsequently sold the
database to a seismic data marketing firm which will sell licenses to the data
and share the proceeds of such sales with us. We have retained a license to the
entire database and will continue to utilize it in our exploration program.
To ensure continued access to high quality drilling prospects, we expanded
beyond the Cameron area and into the shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico. We
hired additional management and technical expertise and licensed 8,800 square
miles of 3D seismic data. We also made the commitment to fund the reprocessing
of the entire seismic database at a cost of approximately $8,500,000, payable
in installments beginning in October 2000 and continuing through the final
delivery of reprocessed data, which is expected to occur in 2002. The resulting
new data set will provide us with a higher resolution image of the subsurface
than has previously been available.
On September 15, 2000 we reached an agreement with Warburg, Pincus Equity
Partners, L.P., a global private equity fund based in New York, to fund
exploration and development in the shallow waters offshore Louisiana through a
newly formed private corporation, Gryphon Exploration Company (Gryphon). We
contributed to Gryphon: (i) our license to 3D seismic data covering the shallow
waters offshore Louisiana in the Gulf of Mexico; (ii) our interest in a Joint
Exploration Agreement with Samson Offshore Company; (iii) certain offshore
leases, including a prospect we were drilling offshore Louisiana, and (iv)
certain other assets, in exchange for all of the common stock of Gryphon and
cash. Warburg invested $25,000,000 and received voting preferred stock, with an
8% accruing dividend, convertible at any time, at Warburg's option, into shares
of Gryphon's common stock then aggregating 63.2% of Gryphon's common stock on
an as-converted basis. Although we currently own 100% of Gryphon's issued and
outstanding common stock, in the event that Warburg converts all or any portion
of its Gryphon preferred stock to shares of Gryphon common stock, our
percentage ownership will be significantly reduced.
We have also agreed, under certain circumstances, to contribute to Gryphon
our proportionate share of an additional investment. During 2001, Gryphon made
cash calls totaling $30,000,000 against its capital commitment of $75,000,000.
We declined to participate in such cash calls, and Warburg elected to purchase
all of our proportionate share of such cash calls. Also during 2001, we
transferred 6,740 shares of Gryphon common stock to Gryphon in connection with
the sale of licenses to certain seismic data. In March 2002, we sold an
additional 51,400 shares of our Gryphon common stock to Gryphon, subject to
certain repurchase options, thereby further reducing our interest to 13.7% on
an as-converted basis. Our ownership percentage will be further reduced if we
choose not to participate in future Gryphon cash calls.
3
We also conduct our own exploration efforts. In November 2000, we acquired
licenses to approximately 6,750 miles of 3D seismic data in the shallow waters
offshore Texas in the Gulf of Mexico in separate transactions with Seitel Data
Ltd. (Seitel) and with JEBCO Seismic, L.P. (JEBCO). The data is currently being
reprocessed. We have generated nine prospects in 2001, seven of which we have
sold to industry partners. We have retained varying interests in the wells and
plan to begin drilling them by year-end. In June and July 2001, we sold
licenses to the Seitel and JEBCO seismic data to Gryphon. Cheniere retains one
license to all of the seismic data for use in its exploration program.
We have assembled a team of professionals with experience in the LNG
business. We have identified three sites along the Texas Gulf Coast which we
believe would serve as good locations for LNG receiving terminals and we have
secured two of the sites through long-term lease option agreements. We are
presently working to obtain the appropriate permits, environmental and other
regulatory clearance to proceed with the construction of LNG receiving
terminals at one or more of these sites.
Cheniere has been publicly traded since July 3, 1996 under the name Cheniere
Energy, Inc. Our corporate offices are located at 333 Clay Street, Suite 3400,
Houston, Texas 77002, and our telephone number is (713) 659-1361.
Business Strategy
Our objective is to develop our LNG receiving terminal business and to
expand the net value of our assets by building an oil and gas reserve base in a
cost-efficient manner, through our investment in Gryphon and through
exploitation of our seismic database to facilitate identifying drilling
prospects.
The key to success in the exploration and production business is ensuring
that dollars invested add incremental reserve value. Simply put, the cost of
finding oil and gas must be less than the value received from the sale of those
reserves. In the current environment, we believe we can best add reserve value
by exploring for new reserves, as opposed to buying existing reserves.
We operate in the Gulf of Mexico region, including the coastal areas onshore
and state and federal waters offshore Texas and Louisiana. We believe that the
current industry environment presents a window of opportunity whereby oil and
gas pricing is relatively weak. Weak oil and gas pricing results in decreased
demand for drilling services and equipment, thereby causing the costs of
drilling and completing wells to be relatively low. We believe that oil and gas
prices will be stronger when the wells begin production.
We are attempting to identify and acquire prospects during this period of
opportunity. We employ a technical approach in the prospect generation and
evaluation process to manage the risk of exploration drilling. That approach
integrates 3D seismic, geologic and engineering data over large areas. Our
technical understanding is translated into prospect capture in three ways:
participation in industry prospects, farm-ins (agreements whereby a third party
owner of lease interests grants to us the right to earn an assignment of an
interest in the lease, typically by drilling one or more wells) on industry
acreage and purchase of open leases.
We operate on the Gulf of Mexico shelf (less than 300 feet of water depth)
and in adjacent onshore coastal regions. We have elected to operate in this
area because the Gulf is a proven producing area where improved technology can
help find previously undiscovered fields.
4
Technical Approach
To be successful we must drill prospects with favorable risk/reward
characteristics. The technical approach we use to generate and evaluate
drilling prospects distinguishes us from many of our competitors. The approach
is regional and integrated, and it utilizes newly reprocessed 3D seismic data.
A regional 3D seismic approach to prospecting is distinguished from a
postage stamp approach, whereby a company owns scattered patches of 3D data
coincident with its leases. The understanding gained from each postage stamp
cannot be extended laterally as a means of identifying prospective drilling
areas. Regional 3D coverage, however, provides a blanket coverage that permits
the study of all of the successes (producing fields) and all of the failures
(dry holes) as a means of determining what works and what does not in a given
area.
An interdisciplinary approach is critical in reducing the risk of dry holes.
Subsurface geology and field engineering data must be integrated together with
3D data interpretations to develop as complete a picture as is possible. This
approach is time consuming, but we have made a commitment to perform the
necessary technical work up front as a means of reducing dry hole expenditures.
Drilling Activities
In 1999, we drilled and completed two natural gas discovery wells located in
offshore Louisiana. Both wells were tied into a common platform and began
production during September 1999. We own a 30% working interest and a 45%
working interest in the two wells. During 2000, we drilled an additional
exploration well in the waters of offshore Louisiana. We assigned our interest
in this well to Gryphon, which completed the well.
LNG Receiving Terminals
We believe that the demand for natural gas in the United States over the
next five to ten years will grow at a rate that domestic exploration activities
will not be able to satisfy and that the resulting imbalance will necessitate
the importation of natural gas into the United States in the form of LNG. The
LNG receiving capacity in the United States at present is quite limited. We
believe that additional LNG receiving capacity will be required, and we have
undertaken to secure sites which we believe will be viable locations for such
facilities considering such factors as deep water access, existing pipeline
infrastructure and governmental and regulatory environments. We have identified
three such sites and have secured two of them through long-term lease options
and have an option to purchase the third site. We are presently working on
permitting and regulatory clearance to allow for construction of terminals at
one or more of these sites.
5
RISK FACTORS
We are a development stage company, and we are subject to the expenses,
difficulties and uncertainties generally associated with early stage companies.
We have a limited operating history with respect to our oil and gas
exploration activities, which were commenced in April 1996, and we have not yet
started operating any LNG receiving facilities. As a development stage company,
we face all of the risks inherent in the establishment and growth of any new
business. From our inception until the quarter ended June 30, 2000 and
subsequently, we have incurred losses and may continue to incur losses,
depending on whether we generate sufficient revenue either from producing
reserves acquired through acquisitions or drilling activities or from the
eventual commencement of LNG receiving operations. We may be unable to
implement and complete our business plan, and our business may be ultimately
unsuccessful. These factors make evaluating our business and forecasting our
future operating results difficult. Furthermore, any continued losses and any
delays in the implementation or completion of our business plan may have a
material adverse effect on our business, our results of operations, our
financial condition and the market price of our common stock.
Our future growth and profitability are highly dependent on the success of our
exploration program and the development of our LNG receiving terminal business.
The primary focus of our operations has been identifying drilling prospects,
but we are also currently focusing on developing our LNG receiving facilities.
Almost all of our assets are represented by investments to date in our
exploration program, including the seismic data related thereto. Through our
drilling in 1999 and 2000, we have established only limited proved reserves
(oil and gas reserves that geological and engineering data demonstrate with
reasonable certainty to be recoverable in future years from known reservoirs
under existing economic and operating conditions). Furthermore, we have
achieved only limited oil and gas production as of the date of this prospectus.
Our future growth and profitability therefore depend heavily on the success of
our exploration program in locating additional proved reserves and achieving
additional oil and gas production or the development of our LNG receiving
facilities. Failure to locate such additional reserves and to achieve
additional production may have a material adverse effect on our business,
results of operations and financial condition.
Failure to obtain approvals and permits from governmental and regulatory
agencies with respect to our LNG project could have a detrimental effect on the
project and on our company.
We are currently focusing on developing our LNG receiving facilities. The
transportation of LNG is highly regulated, and we have yet to obtain several
governmental and regulatory approvals and permits required in order to complete
and maintain our LNG project. We estimate that it may take two to three years
of work to obtain the approvals and permits necessary to proceed with the
construction and operation of an LNG receiving terminal. We have no control
over the outcome of the review and approval process. If we are unable to obtain
the approvals and permits, we may not be able to recover our investment in the
project. In addition, failure to obtain these approvals and permits may have a
material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial
condition.
Failure of LNG to become a competitive factor in the United States oil and gas
industry could have a detrimental effect on our ability to implement and
complete our business plan.
In the United States, due mainly to an abundant supply of natural gas, LNG
has not historically been a major energy source. Furthermore, LNG may not
become a competitive factor in the United States oil and gas industry. The
failure of LNG to become a competitive supply alternative to domestic natural
gas and other import alternatives may have a material adverse effect on our
ability to implement and complete our business plan as well as our business,
results of operations and financial condition.
6
We may not be able to obtain additional financing on terms that are acceptable
to us, which could harm our ability to conduct business.
As of December 31, 2001, we had $1,344,159 of current assets and a working
capital deficit of $530,242. Because of our low level of current assets, we may
need additional capital for a number of purposes. If we are unable to obtain
additional financing, it could significantly harm our ability to conduct our
business, including our ability to take advantage of opportunities that come
from our exploration program and our ability to construct LNG terminals. Our
needs for additional financing include the following:
. Additional capital may be required to pay for our share of costs relating
to the drilling of prospects and development of those that are successful,
to exercise lease options, and to acquire additional oil and gas leases.
The total amount of our capital needs will be determined in part by the
number of prospects generated within our exploration program and by the
working interest that we retain in those prospects.
. We may need capital to fund our pro-rata share of the capital calls by
Gryphon that are approved by Gryphon's board of directors. If we subscribe
to our pro-rata portion of such capital calls but fail to fund, we would
lose our ability to subscribe to any future capital calls and would suffer
further dilution of our holdings in Gryphon. In 2001, Gryphon made cash
calls in the aggregate amount of $30,000,000, which were funded entirely
by Warburg, in May, July and November 2001. We declined to participate in
these cash calls and our interest in Gryphon has been reduced from 36.8%
to 20.2% on an as-converted basis, as of December 31, 2001. In March 2002,
we sold 51,400 shares of our Gryphon common stock to Gryphon, subject to
certain repurchase options, thereby further reducing our interest to 13.7%
on an as-converted basis. Also in March 2002, Gryphon made a cash call for
$5,000,000 and we declined to participate. If Warburg funds the full
amount of the cash call in April 2002, as it is entitled to do, our
effective interest will be reduced to 12.7%. It is anticipated that
Gryphon will make cash calls for additional funds. Our share of such
future capital calls could total up to approximately $5,000,000. If we
elect not to fund our pro-rata portion of such capital calls, and Warburg
funds its portion, as they would be entitled to do, and as they have since
the formation of Gryphon, our ownership percentage of Gryphon's common
stock on an as-converted basis will be further reduced (as low as 8% if we
also choose not to exercise our option to repurchase all or a portion of
the 51,400 shares we sold to Gryphon in March 2002).
. As of December 31, 2001, we needed funds for the payment of a transfer fee
related to the assignment to Gryphon of its seismic license over the
Offshore Louisiana Project Area. We are obligated to pay a transfer fee of
up to $2,500,000, in ten installments of $250,000, which would become
payable one month after production commences from each of ten separate
successful wells completed by Gryphon within the data set. As of December
31, 2001, we owed $500,000 in such transfer fees, and the outstanding
balance bore interest at 18% per annum. Additionally, we needed funds for
the payment of $1,061,692 related to future deliveries of reprocessed
seismic data expected to be completed in 2002. In March 2002, we sold
51,400 shares of our Gryphon common stock to Gryphon, subject to certain
repurchase options. In exchange for the shares, Gryphon agreed to make
payment on our behalf of these existing and contingent liabilities
totaling $3,561,692.
. We will need substantial additional funds to execute our plan for
developing and implementing an LNG receiving terminal business, including
engineering, environmental, marine, regulatory, construction and legal
work, including any such work involved in permitting and FERC filings;
such costs are estimated to be approximately $8,000,000 for the two-year
period ending December 31, 2003, and include semi-annual rental payments
totaling approximately $600,000 per year to renew lease and purchase
options on potential sites for LNG receiving terminals.
Additional capital could be obtained from a combination of funding sources,
many of which may have a material adverse effect on our business, results of
operations and financial condition. These potential funding sources include:
. cash flow from operating activities, which is sensitive to prices we
receive for our oil and natural gas,
7
. borrowings from financial institutions, which may subject us to certain
restrictive covenants, including covenants restricting our ability to
raise additional capital or pay dividends,
. debt offerings, which would increase our leverage and add to our need for
cash to service such debt,
. additional offerings of our equity securities, which would cause dilution
of our common stock,
. sales of portions of our working interest in the prospects within our
exploration program, which would reduce future revenues from our
exploration program,
. sale to an industry partner of a participation in our exploration program,
which would reduce future revenues from our exploration program,
. sale of all or a portion of our producing oil and gas properties, which
would reduce future revenues,
. sale of an interest in our LNG project, which would reduce our ability to
recover our investment in the project, and
. arrangement of a business development loan from, or prepayment of terminal
use fees by, prospective sellers or purchasers of LNG.
Our ability to raise additional capital will depend on our results of
operations and the status of various capital and industry markets at the time
such additional capital is sought. Accordingly, capital may not become
available to us from any particular source or at all. Even if additional
capital becomes available, it may not be on terms acceptable to us. Failure to
obtain additional financing on acceptable terms may have a material adverse
effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.
Because of our lack of diversification, factors harming the oil and gas
industry in general, including downturns in prices for oil and gas, would be
especially harmful to us.
We are an independent energy company and are not actively engaged in any
other industry. Our revenues and profits are substantially dependent on the oil
and gas industry in general and the prevailing prices for oil and gas in
particular. Circumstances that harm the oil and gas industry in general will
have an especially harmful effect on us. Oil and gas prices have been and are
likely to continue to be volatile and subject to wide fluctuations in response
to any of the following factors:
. relatively minor changes in the supply of and demand for oil and gas;
. political conditions in international oil producing regions;
. the extent of domestic production and importation of oil in relevant
markets;
. the level of consumer demand;
. weather conditions;
. the competitive position of oil or gas as a source of energy as compared
with other energy sources;
. the refining capacity of oil purchasers; and
. the effect of federal and state regulation on the production,
transportation and sale of oil and gas.
It is likely that adverse changes in the oil market or the regulatory
environment would have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations
and financial condition, including our ability to develop and implement our LNG
project and to obtain capital from lending institutions, industry participants,
private or public investors or other sources.
8
We experience intense competition in the oil and gas industry, which may make
it difficult for us to succeed.
The oil and gas industry is highly competitive. If we are unable to compete
effectively, we will not succeed. A number of factors may give our competitors
advantages over us. For example, most of our current and potential competitors
have significantly greater financial resources and a significantly greater
number of experienced and trained managerial and technical personnel than we
do. In addition, the businesses of such competitors are in many cases more
diversified than ours. We may not be able to compete effectively with such
companies. Moreover, the oil and gas industry competes with other industries in
supplying the energy and fuel needs of industrial, commercial and other
consumers. Increased competition causing over supply and depressed prices could
have a substantially negative impact on our operating revenues.
We are subject to significant operating hazards and uninsured risks, one or
more of which may create significant liabilities for us.
Our oil and gas operations are subject to all of the risks and hazards
typically associated with the exploration for, and the development and
production of, oil and gas. In accordance with customary industry practices, we
intend to maintain insurance against some, but not all, of these risks and
losses. Moreover, we may not be able to maintain adequate insurance in the
future at rates we consider reasonable. The occurrence of a significant event
not fully insured or indemnified against could seriously harm our business,
results of operations and financial condition.
Risks in drilling operations include cratering, explosions, uncontrollable
flows of oil, gas or well fluids, fires, pollution and other environmental
risks. Our activities are also subject to perils specific to marine operations,
such as capsizing, collision and damage or loss from severe weather. These
hazards can cause personal injury and loss of life, severe damage to and
destruction of property and equipment, pollution or environmental damage and
suspension of operations.
We are subject to significant exploration risks, including the risk that we may
not be able to find or produce enough oil and gas to generate any profits.
Our exploration activities involve significant risks, including the risk
that we may not be able to find or produce enough oil and gas to generate any
profits. The wells we drill may not discover any oil or gas. Further, there is
no way to know in advance of drilling and testing whether any prospect will
yield oil or gas in sufficient quantities to make money for us. In addition, we
are highly dependent on seismic activity and the related application of new
technology as a primary exploration methodology. This methodology, however,
requires greater pre-drilling expenditures than traditional drilling
strategies. Even when fully used and properly interpreted, 3D seismic data can
only assist us in identifying subsurface reservoirs and hydrocarbon indicators,
and will not allow us to determine conclusively if hydrocarbons will in fact be
present and recoverable. If our exploration efforts are unsuccessful, our
business and financial condition will be substantially harmed.
We may not be able to acquire the oil and gas leases we need to sustain
profitable operations.
In order to engage in oil and gas exploration in the areas covered by our 3D
seismic data, we must first acquire rights to conduct exploration and recovery
activities on such properties. We may not be successful in acquiring farm-outs
(agreements whereby the owner of lease interests grants to a third party the
right to earn an assignment of an interest in the lease, typically by drilling
one or more wells), seismic permits, lease options, leases or other rights to
explore for or recover oil and gas. Both the United States Department of the
Interior and the States of Texas and Louisiana award oil and gas leases on a
competitive bidding basis. Non-governmental owners of the onshore mineral
interests within the area covered by our exploration program are not obligated
to lease their mineral rights to us except where we have already obtained lease
options. In addition, other major and independent oil and gas companies with
financial resources significantly greater than ours may bid against us for
9
the purchase of oil and gas leases. If we are unsuccessful in acquiring these
leases, permits, options and other interests, the area covered by our 3D
seismic data that could be explored through drilling will be significantly
reduced, and our business, results of operations and financial condition will
be substantially harmed.
If we are unable to obtain satisfactory turnkey contracts, we may have to
assume additional risks and expenses when drilling wells.
We anticipate that any wells drilled in which we have an interest will be
drilled by established industry contractors under turnkey contracts that limit
our financial and legal exposure. Under a turnkey drilling contract, a
negotiated price is agreed upon and the money placed in escrow. The contractor
then assumes all of the risk and expense, including any cost overruns, of
drilling a well to contract depth and completing any agreed upon evaluation of
the wellbore. Upon performance of all these items, the escrowed money is
released to the contractor.
Circumstances may arise, however, where a turnkey contract is not
economically beneficial to us or is otherwise unobtainable from proven industry
contractors. In such instances, we may decide to drill wells on a day-rate
basis. Under a day-rate drilling contract, the operator pays an agreed sum for
each day of drilling required to reach contract depth. All risk and expense of
drilling a well to total depths lies with the operator in day-rate contracts.
The drilling of such test wells would subject us to the usual drilling hazards
such as cratering, explosions, uncontrollable flows of oil, gas or well fluids,
fires, pollution and other environmental risks. We would also be liable for any
cost overruns attributable to drilling problems that otherwise would have been
covered by a turnkey contract. These liabilities, if incurred, may have a
materially adverse impact on our business and financial condition.
Existing and future United States governmental regulation, taxation and price
controls could seriously harm us.
Oil and gas operations are subject to extensive federal, state and local
laws and regulations that regulate the discharge of materials into the
environment or otherwise relate to the protection of the environment. These
laws and regulations may:
. require the acquisition of a permit before drilling commences;
. restrict the types, quantities and concentration of substances that can be
released into the environment;
. restrict drilling activities on certain lands, such as wetlands or other
protected areas; and
. impose substantial liabilities for pollution resulting from drilling and
production operations.
Failure to comply with these laws and regulations may also result in civil
and criminal fines and penalties.
Our properties, and any wastes spilled or disposed of by us, may be subject
to federal or state environmental laws that could require us to remove the
wastes or remediate contamination. For example, the Comprehensive Environmental
Response, Compensation and Liability Act ("CERCLA"), also known as the
"Superfund" law, imposes liability, without regard to fault or the original
conduct, on certain classes of persons who are considered to be responsible for
the release of a "hazardous substance" into the environment. These persons
include the owner or operator of the disposal site or sites where the release
occurred and companies that disposed or arranged for the disposal of the
hazardous substances. Under CERCLA, such persons may be subject to liability
without regard to fault for the costs of cleaning up the hazardous substances,
for damages to natural resources and for the costs of certain health studies.
In addition, it is not uncommon for neighboring landowners and other third
parties to assert claims for personal injury and property damage allegedly
caused by the release of hazardous substances.
Also, our operations may be subject to the Clean Act ("CAA") and comparable
state and local requirements. We may be required to incur certain capital
expenditures for air pollution control equipment in connection with maintaining
or obtaining permits and approvals relating to air emissions.
10
In addition, the U.S. Oil Pollution Act ("OPA") requires owners and
operators of facilities operating in or near rivers, creeks, wetlands, coastal
waters, offshore waters, and other U.S. waters to adopt and implement plans and
procedures to prevent oil spills. OPA also requires affected facility owners
and operators to demonstrate that they have at least $35 million in financial
resources to pay for the costs of cleaning up an oil spill and compensating any
parties damaged by an oil spill. Such financial assurances may be increased to
as much as $150 million if a formal assessment indicates such an increase is
warranted.
Our operations are also subject to the federal Clean Water Act ("CWA") and
analogous state laws. Among other matters, such laws may prohibit the discharge
of waters produced in association with hydrocarbons into coastal waters. To
comply with this prohibition, we may be required to incur capital expenditures
or increased operating expenses. The CWA also regulates discharges of storm
water runoff. This program requires covered facilities to obtain individual
permits, participate in a group permit or seek coverage under a general permit.
Certain of our properties may require permits for discharges of storm water
runoff. Such coverage may require us to make minor modifications to existing
facilities and operations that would not have a material effect on our
operations.
In addition, the disposal of wastes containing naturally occurring
radioactive material, which is commonly generated during oil and gas
production, is regulated under state law. Typically, wastes containing
naturally occurring radioactive material can be managed on-site or disposed of
at facilities licensed to receive such waste at costs that are not expected to
be material.
There is only limited trading in our common stock, which makes our stock more
difficult to sell than the stock of companies with more active markets.
There is only limited trading in our common stock, which makes our stock
more difficult for an investor to sell than the stock of companies with more
active markets. For the year 2001, the average daily trading volume of our
common stock on The American Stock Exchange was approximately 19,000 shares.
This offering of the common stock is unlikely to make the trading market for
our common stock any more active.
We have not paid dividends and do not expect to do so in the foreseeable
future, so our stockholders will not be able to receive a return on their
investment without selling their shares.
We have not paid dividends since our inception and do not expect to in the
foreseeable future, so our stockholders will not be able to receive a return on
their investments without selling their shares. We presently anticipate that
all earnings, if any, will be retained for development of our business. Any
future dividends will be subject to the discretion of our board of directors
and will depend on, among other things, future earnings, our operating and
financial condition, our capital requirements and general business conditions.
Our stockholders could experience dilution in the value of their shares because
of additional issuances of shares.
Any issuance of common stock by us may result in a reduction in the book
value per share or market price per share of our outstanding shares of common
stock and will reduce the proportionate ownership and voting power of such
shares. We have 45,000,000 authorized shares of stock, consisting of 40,000,000
shares of common stock, and 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock. As of December
31, 2001, approximately 67% of the shares of the common stock remained
unissued. Our board of directors has the power to issue any and all of such
shares without shareholder approval. It is likely that we will issue shares of
common stock, among other reasons, in order to raise capital to sustain
operations, and/or to finance future oil and gas exploration projects. In
addition, we have reserved 2,850,288 shares of the common stock for issuance
upon the exercise of outstanding warrants and 1,500,000 shares of the common
stock for issuance upon the exercise of stock options. As of December 31, 2001,
there were 1,741,111 issued and outstanding options to purchase common stock,
241,111 of which are conditional, upon subsequent approval by our stockholders
of an amendment to our option plan,
11
increasing the number of shares authorized for issuance under the plan from
1,500,000 to 2,000,000. To the extent that outstanding warrants and options are
exercised, the percentage ownership of common stock of our stockholders will be
diluted. Moreover, the terms upon which we will be able to obtain additional
equity capital may be adversely affected because the holders of outstanding
warrants and options can be expected to exercise them at a time when we would,
in all likelihood, be able to obtain any needed capital on terms more favorable
than the exercise terms provided by such outstanding securities. In the event
of the exercise of a substantial number of warrants and options, within a
reasonably short period of time after the right to exercise commences, the
resulting increase in the amount of the common stock in the trading market
could substantially adversely affect the market price of the common stock or
our ability to raise money through the sale of equity securities.
We depend on key personnel and could be seriously harmed if we lost their
services.
We depend on our executive officers for various activities. We do not
maintain key person life insurance policies on any of our personnel, nor do we
have employment agreements with any of our personnel. The loss of the services
of any of these individuals could seriously harm us. In addition, our future
success will depend in part on our ability to attract and retain additional
qualified personnel. We currently have 12 full-time employees.
We depend on industry partners and could be seriously harmed if they do not
perform satisfactorily, which is usually not within our control.
Because we have few employees and limited operating revenues, we are and
will continue to be largely dependent on industry partners for the success of
our oil and gas exploration projects. We could be seriously harmed if our
industry partners do not perform satisfactorily on projects that affect us. We
often have and will continue to have no control over factors that would
influence the performance of our partners.
We are controlled by a small number of principal stockholders who may exercise
a proportionately larger influence on us than our stockholders with smaller
holdings.
We are controlled by a small number of principal stockholders who may do
things that are not in the interests of our stockholders with smaller holdings.
BSR Investments, Ltd. (BSR) is an entity controlled by the mother of Charif
Souki, our chairman. BSR owns approximately 11% of our outstanding common
stock. Accordingly, it is likely that BSR will have significant influence on
the election of our directors and on our management, operations and affairs,
including the ability to prevent or cause a change in control of our company.
Anti-takeover provisions of our certificate of incorporation, bylaws and
Delaware law could adversely impact a potential acquisition by third parties
that may ultimately be in the financial interests of our stockholders.
Our certificate of incorporation, bylaws and the Delaware General
Corporation Law contain provisions that may discourage unsolicited takeover
proposals. These provisions could have the effect of inhibiting fluctuations in
the market price of our shares that could result from actual or rumored
takeover attempts, preventing changes in our management or limiting the price
that investors may be willing to pay for shares of common stock. These
provisions, among other things, authorize the board of directors to designate
the terms of and to issue new series of preferred stock, to limit the personal
liability of directors, to require us to indemnify directors and officers to
the fullest extent permitted by applicable law and to impose restrictions on
business combinations with some interested parties.
A significant portion of our value is derived from our ownership interest in
Gryphon, over which we exercise no day-to-day control.
We own 100% of the outstanding common stock of Gryphon (13.7% effective
ownership after giving effect to the conversion of Gryphon's preferred stock
outstanding at December 31, 2001 and our March 2002 sale of 51,400 shares of
our Gryphon common stock to Gryphon), and a significant portion of our value is
derived from
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this investment. We exercise significant influence over the operating and
financial policies of Gryphon, primarily through board participation. We do not
exercise control over Gryphon and therefore do not have the ability to effect a
change of control of Gryphon. Accordingly, Gryphon's management team could make
business decisions without our consent that could impair the value of our
investment in Gryphon.
We may have to take actions that are disruptive to our business strategy to
avoid registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
The Investment Company Act of 1940 requires registration for companies that
are engaged primarily in the business of investing, reinvesting, owning,
holding or trading in securities. A company may be deemed to be an investment
company if it owns investment securities with a value exceeding 40% of the
value of its total assets (excluding government securities and cash items) on
an unconsolidated basis, unless an exemption or safe harbor applies. Securities
issued by companies other than majority-owned subsidiaries are generally
counted as investment securities for purposes of the Investment Company Act.
Our equity interests in Gryphon could be counted as investment securities.
Therefore, we could be considered an investment company in the future if we do
not obtain an exemption or qualify for a safe harbor. As a result, fluctuations
in the value, or the income and revenues attributable to us from our ownership,
of interests in companies we do not control could cause us to be deemed an
investment company. Registration as an investment company would subject us to
restrictions that are inconsistent with our fundamental business strategy. We
may have to take actions, including buying, refraining from buying, selling or
refraining from selling securities or other assets, contrary to what we
otherwise deem to be in our best interest in order to continue to avoid
registration under the Investment Company Act.
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WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other
information with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You may read and copy
any of these documents at the public reference rooms maintained by the
Securities and Exchange Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.
20549, and at the following regional offices of the Securities and Exchange
Commission: New York Regional Office, 233 Broadway, New York, New York 10048,
and Central Regional Office, 1801 California Street, Suite 4800, Denver,
Colorado 80202. Please call the Securities and Exchange Commission at
1-800-SEC-0330 for further information on the public reference rooms. Our
filings are also available to the public from commercial documents retrieval
services and at the Internet website maintained by the Securities and Exchange
Commission at http://www.sec.gov.
Our common stock is quoted on The American Stock Exchange. You may also read
our reports, proxy and information statements and other information at the
American Stock Exchange, 86 Trinity Place, New York, New York 10006.
This prospectus is part of the registration statement that we filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission to register the shares of common stock
referred to above being offered. This prospectus does not contain important
information that you can find in our registration statement and in the annual,
quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other documents that we
file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The Securities and Exchange Commission allows us to incorporate by reference
the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose in this
prospectus important information to you by referring you to other documents
that have been or will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The information below is incorporated in this prospectus by reference and is an
important part of this prospectus, except where any of the information has been
modified or superseded by the information in this prospectus or in information
incorporated by reference in this prospectus. Also, information that we file
after the date of this prospectus with the Securities and Exchange Commission
will automatically be incorporated in this prospectus and update and supersede
this information. We incorporate by reference the documents listed below and
any future filings made with the Securities and Exchange Commission under
Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 until
all of the securities offered by this prospectus are sold:
. Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2001, as filed on April 1, 2002 and amended on April 23, 2002 (File No.
1-16383);
. Our definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A, as filed on April 22, 2002
(File No. 1-16383).
We will provide you, without charge, a copy of the documents incorporated by
reference in this prospectus. We will not provide a copy of the exhibits to
documents incorporated by reference, unless those exhibits are specifically
incorporated by reference into those documents. You may obtain documents
incorporated by reference in this prospectus by requesting them in writing or
by telephone from:
Cheniere Energy, Inc.
333 Clay Street, Suite 3400
Houston, Texas 77002-4102
Attn: Don A. Turkleson, Chief Financial Officer
(713) 659-1361
You should rely only on the information provided or incorporated by
reference in this prospectus. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with
different information. We are not making an offer of the shares in any state
where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume that the information in
this prospectus, in any prospectus supplement or in any document incorporated
by reference herein is accurate as of any date other than the date on the front
of those documents.
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CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a safe harbor
for forward-looking statements made by us or on our behalf. We and our
representatives may from time to time make written or verbal forward-looking
statements, including statements contained in this report and other filings
with the Securities and Exchange Commission and in reports to our stockholders.
All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this
prospectus that address activities, events or developments that we intend,
expect, project, believe or anticipate will or may occur in the future are
forward-looking statements. These statements include, among others:
. statements regarding our business strategy, plans and objectives;
. statements expressing beliefs and expectations regarding our ability to
successfully raise the additional capital necessary to meet our
obligations under our current exploration agreements;
. statements expressing beliefs and expectations regarding our ability to
secure the leases necessary to facilitate anticipated drilling activities;
. statements expressing beliefs and expectations regarding our ability to
attract additional working interest owners to participate in the
exploration and development of our exploration areas; and
. statements about non-historical year 2001 information.
These forward-looking statements are, and will be, based on management's
then current views and assumptions regarding future events.
Actual results could differ materially from estimates and other
forward-looking statements. Important factors that could affect us and cause
materially different results are discussed under the heading Risk Factors.
USE OF PROCEEDS
We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the shares offered by this
prospectus.
SELLING STOCKHOLDER
The following table sets forth information known to us with respect to
beneficial ownership of our common stock as of December 31, 2001 by the selling
stockholder. Beneficial ownership is determined in accordance with the rules
and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and generally
includes voting or investment power with respect to securities. Information
with respect to beneficial ownership is based on information as of December 31,
2001, on which we date we had outstanding an aggregate of 13,297,393 shares of
common stock. Except as indicated otherwise in the footnotes below, and subject
to community property laws where applicable, we believe based on information
furnished by the selling stockholder that the person named in the table below
has sole voting and investment power with respect to all shares of common stock
shown as beneficially owned by him. The table assumes the sale of all shares
offered hereby and no other purchases or sales of Cheniere's common stock by
the selling stockholder.
Shares
Shares Beneficially Beneficially
Owned Prior to Number of Owned After the
Offering Shares Offering
------------------ of Common --------------
Name of Selling Stockholder Number Percent Stock Offered Number Percent
--------------------------- ------- ------- ------------- ------ -------
Jamal Daniel(1)...... 500,000 3.8% 500,000 * *
--------
* Less than 1%.
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(1)Represents 500,000 shares of common stock held of record by Crest Financial
Limited, which may be attributed to Crest Investment Company, the sole
general partner of Crest Financial Limited, and to Mr. Daniel. Mr. Daniel is
the sole limited partner of Crest Financial Limited and is also the sole
stockholder of Crest Investment Company. Accordingly, Mr. Daniel is the
beneficial owner of shares of common stock owned of record by Crest
Financial Limited.
Issuance of Securities to Selling Stockholder
The 500,000 shares of common stock being registered pursuant to the
registration statement of which this prospectus is a part represent shares we
issued to the selling stockholder on June 14, 2001 in conjunction with our
purchase of Freeport LNG Terminal, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company
which holds a lease option on a site for an LNG receiving terminal in Freeport,
Texas.
DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES
We have 45,000,000 authorized shares of capital stock, consisting of
40,000,000 shares of common stock, having a par value of $0.003 per share, and
5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, having a par value of $0.0001 per share.
Common Stock
As of December 31, 2001, there were 13,297,393 shares of the common stock
outstanding. All of such outstanding shares of common stock are fully paid and
nonassessable. Each share of the common stock has an equal and ratable right to
receive dividends when, as and if declared by the board of directors out of
assets legally available therefor and subject to the dividend obligations to
the holders of any preferred stock then outstanding.
In the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the holders of
common stock are entitled to share equally and ratably in the assets available
for distribution after payment of all liabilities, and subject to any prior
rights of any holders of preferred stock that at the time may be outstanding.
The holders of common stock have no preemptive, subscription, conversion or
redemption rights, and are not subject to further calls or assessments of
Cheniere. There are no sinking fund provisions applicable to the common stock.
Each share of common stock is entitled to one vote in the election of directors
and on all other matters submitted to a vote of stockholders. Holders of common
stock have no right to cumulate their votes in the election of directors.
Preferred Stock
As of the date of this prospectus, there are no shares of preferred stock
outstanding. Preferred stock may be issued from time to time in one or more
series, and the board of directors, without further approval of the
stockholders, is authorized to fix the dividend rates and terms, conversion
rights, voting rights, redemption rights and terms, liquidation preferences and
any other rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions applicable to each
series of preferred stock. The purpose of authorizing the board of directors to
determine such rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions is to eliminate
delays associated with a stockholder vote on specific issuances. The issuance
of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible
acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could, among other things, adversely
affect the voting power of the holders of common stock and, under some
circumstances, make it more difficult for a third party to gain control of
Cheniere.
Warrants
As of December 31, 2001, we have issued and outstanding warrants to purchase
2,850,288 shares of common stock.
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Possible Anti-takeover Provisions
Our amended and restated certificate of incorporation contains provisions
that might be characterized as anti-takeover provisions. Such provisions may
render more difficult possible takeover proposals to acquire control of
Cheniere and make removal of our management more difficult.
As described above, our certificate of incorporation authorizes a class of
undesignated preferred stock consisting of 5,000,000 shares. Preferred stock
may be issued from time to time in one or more series, and our board of
directors, without further approval of the stockholders, is authorized to fix
the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions applicable to each series
of preferred stock. The purpose of authorizing the board of directors to
determine such rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions is to eliminate
delays associated with a stockholder vote on specific issuances. The issuance
of preferred stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible
acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could, among other things, adversely
affect the voting power of the holders of common stock and, under some
circumstances, make it more difficult for a third party to gain control of
Cheniere.
We are incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware. Section 203 of
the Delaware General Corporation Law prevents an interested stockholder from
engaging in a business combination with such corporation for a period of three
years from the time such stockholder became an interested stockholder unless at
least one of the following conditions is met:
. the corporation's board of directors had earlier approved either the
business combination or the transaction by which the stockholder became an
interested stockholder,
. upon attaining such status, the interested stockholder had acquired at
least 85 percent of the corporation's voting stock, not counting shares
owned by persons who are directors and also officers and certain employee
stock plans, or
. the business combination is later approved by the board of directors and
authorized by a vote of two-thirds of the stockholders, not including the
shares held by the interested stockholder.
The Delaware General Corporation Law defines an interested stockholder as a
stockholder owning 15 percent or more of a corporation's outstanding voting
stock. Cheniere is currently subject to Section 203.
In addition, BSR Investments, Ltd., an entity controlled by the mother of
Charif Souki, the chairman of our board of directors, owns approximately 11% of
the outstanding shares of our common stock. Accordingly, it is likely that BSR
Investments will have the ability to effectively prevent or cause a change in
control of Cheniere.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for the common stock is U.S. Stock Transfer
Corporation.
17
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
We have agreed to bear some expenses of registering of the shares offered by
this prospectus under federal and state securities laws.
Shares of common stock covered hereby may be offered and sold from time to
time by the selling stockholder. The selling stockholder will act independently
of Cheniere in making decisions with respect to the timing, manner and size of
each sale. The selling stockholder may sell the shares being offered by this
prospectus:
. on The American Stock Exchange, or otherwise at prices and at terms then
prevailing or at prices related to the then-current market price; or
. in private sales at negotiated prices directly or through one or more
brokers, who may act as agent or as principal, or by a combination of such
methods of sale.
The selling stockholder and any underwriter, dealer or agent who participate
in the distribution of such shares may be deemed to be an underwriter under the
Securities Act, and any discount, commission or concession received by such
persons might be deemed to be an underwriting discount or commission under the
Securities Act. We have agreed to indemnify the selling stockholder against
some liabilities arising under the Securities Act.
Any broker-dealer participating in such transactions as agent may receive
commissions from the selling stockholder and, if acting as agent for the
purchaser of such shares, from such purchaser. Usual and customary brokerage
fees will be paid by the selling stockholder. Broker-dealers may agree with the
selling stockholder to sell a specified number of shares at a stipulated price
per share, and, to the extent such a broker-dealer is unable to do so acting as
agent for the selling stockholder, to purchase as principal any unsold shares
at the price required to fulfill the broker-dealer commitment to the selling
stockholder. Broker-dealers who acquire shares as principal may thereafter
resell such shares from time to time in transactions in the over-the-counter
market, on a public stock exchange, in negotiated transactions or by a
combination of such methods of sale or otherwise. These transactions would be
either at market prices prevailing at the time of sale or at negotiated prices.
These transactions may involve crosses and block transactions and may involve
sales to and through other broker-dealers, including transactions of the nature
described above. In connection with such re-sales, the broker-dealers may pay
to or receive from the purchasers of the shares commissions computed as
described above.
Under the rules and regulations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
selling stockholder may be a person engaged in the distribution of the common
stock and may not simultaneously engage in market making activities with
respect to Cheniere for a period of five business days prior to the
commencement of the distribution. In addition, the selling stockholder will be
subject to applicable provisions, rules and regulations under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, including Regulation M, which may limit the timing of
purchases and sales of shares of common stock by the selling stockholder.
The selling stockholder may indemnify any broker-dealer that participates in
transactions involving the sale of the shares against some liabilities,
including liabilities arising under the Securities Act. Any commissions paid or
any discounts or concessions allowed to any such broker-dealer, and any profits
received on the resale of such shares, may be deemed to be underwriting
discounts and commissions under the Securities Act if any such broker-dealer
purchases shares as principal.
To comply with the securities laws of some states, if applicable, the common
stock will be sold in such jurisdictions only through registered or licensed
brokers or dealers. In addition, some states prevent the common stock from
being sold unless such shares have been registered or qualified for sale in the
applicable state or an exemption from the registration or qualification
requirement is available and is complied with.
18
Cheniere will keep this registration statement or a similar registration
statement effective until the earlier to occur of:
. the date that all securities registered under this registration statement
have been disposed of in accordance with he plan of disposition indicated
above; or
. the date that all securities registered under this registration statement
have become eligible for sale under Rule 144(k) of the Securities Act.
No sales may be made pursuant to this prospectus after the earlier of these
two dates unless Cheniere amends or supplements this prospectus to indicate
that it has agreed to extend such period of effectiveness.
LEGAL MATTERS
The validity of the shares of common stock offered hereby will be passed
upon for us by Andrews & Kurth, Mayor, Day, Caldwell & Keeton L.L.P., Houston,
Texas.
EXPERTS
The consolidated financial statements incorporated in this prospectus by
reference to Cheniere's Annual Report on Form 10-K/A and the Gryphon
Exploration Company audited financial statements included in Cheniere's Form
10-K/A for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2001, have been so incorporated
in reliance on the reports of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent
accountants, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and
accounting.
19