Skip to main content

Cheniere Energy Inc

For the period ended Dec 31, 2024. Filed Feb 20, 2025.

View on SEC.gov

About this filing

A company's yearly report to the SEC, with audited financial statements. It is the fullest account a company gives of its business, its finances and the risks it sees.

FY2024 · Filed Feb 20, 2025

LNG$277.95-0.6%Stored close · as of Nov 6, 2026

Extracted filing text, with the paragraph anchors used by the comparison.

See the whole filing, with its images and exhibits
Contents

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements

NOTE 1—ORGANIZATION AND NATURE OF OPERATIONS

We operatetwo natural gas liquefaction and export facilities located in Cameron Parish, Louisiana at Sabine Pass and near Corpus Christi, Texas (respectively, the“Sabine Pass LNG Terminal” and“Corpus Christi LNG Terminal”).

CQP owns the Sabine Pass LNG Terminal, which has natural gas liquefaction facilities consisting ofsix operational Trains, for a total production capacity of approximately 30 mtpa of LNG (the“SPL Project”). The Sabine Pass LNG Terminal also has operational regasification facilities that include five LNG storage tanks, vaporizers andthree marine berths. We also own and operate a 94-mile natural gas supply pipeline that interconnects the Sabine Pass LNG Terminal with several large interstate and intrastate pipelines (the“Creole Trail Pipeline”). As of December 31, 2024, we owned 100% of the general partner interest, a 48.6% limited partner interest and 100% of the incentive distribution rights of CQP.

The Corpus Christi LNG Terminal hasthree operational Trains for a total production capacity of approximately 15 mtpa of LNG, three LNG storage tanks andtwo marine berths. Additionally, we are constructing an expansion of the Corpus Christi LNG Terminal (the“Corpus Christi Stage 3 Project”) consisting ofseven midscale Trains with an expected total production capacity of over 10 mtpa of LNG. We also own an approximately 21-mile natural gas supply pipeline that interconnects the Corpus Christi LNG Terminal with several large interstate and intrastate natural gas pipelines (the“Corpus Christi Pipeline” and together with the existing assets at the Corpus Christi LNG Terminal and the Corpus Christi Stage 3 Project, the“CCL Project”).

We are pursuing expansion projects to provide additional liquefaction capacity at the SPL Project and the CCL Project (collectively, the“Liquefaction Projects”), and we have commenced commercialization to support the additional liquefaction capacity associated with these potential expansion projects. The development of these projects or other projects, including infrastructure projects in support of natural gas supply and LNG demand, will require, among other things, acceptable commercial and financing arrangements before we make a positive FID.

NOTE 2—SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Basis of Presentation

Our Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP. The Consolidated Financial Statements include the accounts of Cheniere, its subsidiaries in which we hold a controlling interest and VIEs we consolidate under certain criteria discussed further below. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

VIEs

We make a determination at the inception of each arrangement whether an entity in which we have made an investment or in which we have other variable interests is considered a VIE. Generally, an entity is a VIE if either (1) the entity does not have sufficient equity at risk to finance its activities without additional subordinated financial support from other parties, (2) the entity’s investors lack any characteristics of a controlling financial interest or (3) the entity was established with non-substantive voting rights.

We consolidate VIEs when we are deemed to be the primary beneficiary. The primary beneficiary of a VIE is generally the party that both: (1) has the power to make decisions that most significantly affect the economic performance of the VIE and (2) has the obligation to absorb losses or the right to receive benefits that in either case could potentially be significant to the VIE. If we are not deemed to be the primary beneficiary of a VIE, we account for the investment or other variable interests in a VIE in accordance with applicable GAAP.

See Note 8—Non-controlling Interests and Variable Interest Entities for additional details about our assessment of VIEs.

Non-controlling Interests

When we consolidate an entity, we include 100% of the assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses of the entity in our Consolidated Financial Statements. For those entities that we consolidate in which our ownership is less than 100%, we record a non-controlling interest as a component of equity on our Consolidated Balance Sheets, which represents the third party ownership in the net assets of the respective consolidated subsidiary. Changes in our ownership interests in an entity that do not result in deconsolidation are generally recognized within equity.

Non-controlling interests are presented in permanent equity within our Consolidated Balance Sheets unless they are redeemable at a fixed or determinable price on a fixed or determinable date at the option of the holder or upon the occurrence of an event that is not solely within our control, in which case they are presented in temporary equity. The carrying amount of the redeemable non-controlling interest is equal to the greater of (1) the carrying value of the non-controlling interest adjusted each reporting period for income or loss attributable to the non-controlling interest as well as any applicable distributions made or (2) the redemption value. Remeasurements to the redemption value of the redeemable non-controlling interest are recognized in retained earnings within the Consolidated Balance Sheets.

The portion of the net income or loss attributable to the non-controlling interests and redeemable non-controlling interest is reported as net income or loss attributable to non-controlling interests on our Consolidated Statements of Operations. See Note 8—Non-controlling Interests and Variable Interest Entities for additional details about our non-controlling interests.

Estimates

The preparation of our Consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make certain estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the Consolidated Financial Statements and the accompanying notes. Management evaluates its estimates and related assumptions regularly, including those related to fair value measurements of derivatives and other instruments, useful lives of property, plant and equipment and certain valuations including leases, asset retirement obligations (“AROs”) and recoverability of deferred tax assets, each as further discussed under the respective sections within this note. Changes in facts and circumstances or additional information may result in revised estimates, and actual results may differ from these estimates.

Fair Value Measurements

Fair value is the price that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. Hierarchy Levels 1, 2 and 3 are terms for the priority of inputs to valuation approaches used to measure fair value. Hierarchy Level 1 inputs are quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Hierarchy Level 2 inputs are inputs that are directly or indirectly observable for the asset or liability, other than quoted prices included within Level 1. Hierarchy Level 3 inputs are inputs that are not observable in the market.

In determining fair value, we use observable market data when available, or models that incorporate observable market data. In addition to market information, we incorporate transaction-specific details that, in management’s judgment, market participants would take into account in measuring fair value. We attempt to maximize our use of observable inputs and minimize our use of unobservable inputs in arriving at fair value estimates.

Recurring fair-value measurements are performed for derivative instruments, as disclosed in Note 6—Derivative Instruments, and liability-classified share-based compensation awards, as disclosed in Note 15—Share-Based Compensation.

The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and cash equivalents, trade and other receivables, net of current expected credit losses, margin deposits, accounts payable and accrued liabilities reported on the Consolidated Balance Sheets approximates fair value. The fair value of debt is the estimated amount we would have to pay to repurchase our debt in the open market, including any premium or discount attributable to the difference between the stated interest rate and market interest rate at each balance sheet date. Refer to Note 10—Debt for our debt fair value estimates, including our estimation methods.

Revenue Recognition

Revenues from the sale of LNG are recognized at a point in time when the LNG is delivered to the customer based on the delivery terms, which is the point legal title, physical possession and the risks and rewards of ownership transfer to the customer, and consists of either an FOB or DAT basis. Each individual molecule of LNG is viewed as a separate performance obligation. We allocate the contract price (including both fixed and variable fees) in each LNG sales arrangement based on the stand-alone selling price of each performance obligation as of the time the contract was negotiated. We have concluded that the variable fees meet the exception for allocating variable consideration to specific parts of the contract. As such, the variable consideration for these contracts is allocated to each distinct molecule of LNG and recognized when that distinct molecule of LNG is delivered to the customer. Because of the use of the exception, variable consideration related to the sale of LNG is not included in the transaction price.

Sales generated during the commissioning phase of a Train, which includes test activities such as production and removal of LNG from storage, are offset against the cost of construction for the respective Train, as commissioning is necessary to test the facility and bring the asset to the condition necessary for its intended use. After substantial completion of a Train is achieved, fees received for LNG volumes produced are recognized as LNG revenues.

For transactions where we receive consideration from the customer, we assess whether we are the principal or the agent in the arrangement. Arrangements where we have concluded that we act as a principal are presented within our Consolidated Statements of Operations on a gross basis, and arrangements where we have concluded that we act as an agent are presented within our Consolidated Statements of Operations on a net basis.

See Note 12—Revenues for additional information regarding our LNG revenues.

Cash and Cash Equivalents

We consider all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less to be cash equivalents.

Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents

Restricted cash and cash equivalents consist of funds that are contractually or legally restricted as to usage or withdrawal and have been presented separately from cash and cash equivalents on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Our restricted cash and cash equivalents were primarily restricted for the payment of liabilities related to the Liquefaction Projects, as required under certain debt arrangements.

Current Expected Credit Losses

Current expected credit losses consider the risk of loss based on past events, current conditions and reasonable and supportable forecasts. A counterparty’s ability to pay is assessed through a credit review process that considers contract and payment terms, the counterparty’s established credit rating and credit worthiness and other risks or available financial assurances. We calculate the allowance for credit losses under a probability-of-default method applied to pools of assets with similar risk characteristics, and reflect credit enhancements such as letters of credit and guarantees to the extent that such enhancements are contractually linked to the underlying asset and with the same counterparty. Quarterly, we evaluate whether our method continues to be appropriate based on historical collections and additional information as it becomes available and adjust our reserve as necessary. We record charges and reversals of current expected credit losses in our Consolidated Statements of Operations within the line item that corresponds to the nature of the underlying asset, primarily selling, general and administrative expense.

The following table reflects the changes in our current expected credit losses (in millions):

Year Ended December 31,
202420232022
Current expected credit losses, beginning of period$3$5$9
Charges (reversals), net1(2)(4)
Current expected credit losses, end of period$4$3$5

Inventory

LNG, natural gas and other commodity inventory are recorded at the lower of weighted average cost and net realizable value. Materials and other inventory are recorded at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Inventory is charged to expense when sold, or, for certain qualifying costs, capitalized to property, plant and equipment when issued, primarily using the weighted average method.

Property, Plant and Equipment

Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost. Expenditures for construction, acquisition, commissioning activities and costs that significantly extend the useful life or increase the functionality and/or capacity of an asset are capitalized. Expenditures for maintenance and repairs (including those for planned major maintenance projects) to maintain property, plant and equipment in operating condition are generally expensed as incurred.

Generally, we begin capitalizing the costs of LNG terminal construction once the individual project meets the following criteria: (1) regulatory approval has been received, (2) financing for the project is available and (3) management has committed to commence construction.

Generally, costs that benefit us more broadly than for a specific project are capitalized prior to a project meeting the criteria otherwise necessary for capitalization and typically include land and land acquisition costs and engineering design work.

We realize offsets to LNG terminal costs for sales of commissioning cargoes that were earned or loaded prior to the start of commercial operations of the respective Train during the testing phase for its construction.

We depreciate our property, plant and equipment using the straight-line depreciation method over assigned useful lives, except land which is not depreciated. Refer to Note 5—Property, Plant and Equipment, Net of Accumulated Depreciation for additional discussion of our useful lives by asset category. Upon retirement or other disposition of property, plant and equipment, the cost and related accumulated depreciation are removed from the account, and the resulting gains or losses on disposal are recorded in other operating costs and expenses.

Management tests property, plant and equipment for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances have indicated that the carrying amount of property, plant and equipment might not be recoverable. Assets are grouped at the lowest level for which there are identifiable cash flows that are largely independent of the cash flows of other groups of assets for purposes of assessing recoverability. Recoverability generally is determined by comparing the carrying value of the asset to the expected undiscounted future cash flows of the asset. If the carrying value of the asset is not recoverable, the amount of impairment loss is measured as the excess, if any, of the carrying value of the asset over its estimated fair value.

We didnot record any material impairments related to property, plant and equipment during the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022.

Interest Capitalization

We capitalize interest costs mainly during the construction period of our LNG terminals and related assets. Upon placing the underlying asset in service, these costs are depreciated over the estimated useful life of the corresponding assets for which interest costs were incurred, except for capitalized interest associated with land, which is not depreciated.

Derivative Instruments

We use derivative instruments to hedge our exposure to cash flow variability from commodity price and foreign currency exchange (“FX”) rate risk. Derivative instruments are recorded at fair value and included in our Consolidated Balance Sheets as current or non-current assets or liabilities depending on the derivative position and the expected timing of settlement.

We didnot have any derivative instruments designated as cash flow, fair value or net investment hedges during the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022; therefore, the changes in the fair value of our derivative instruments are recorded in earnings.

As described in Concentration of Credit Risk below, the use of derivative instruments exposes us to counterparty credit risk, or the risk that a counterparty will be unable to meet its commitments, in instances when our derivative instruments are in an asset position. Additionally, counterparties are at risk that we will be unable to meet our commitments in instances where our derivative instruments are in a liability position. We incorporate both our own nonperformance risk and the respective counterparty’s nonperformance risk in fair value measurements depending on the position of the derivative. In adjusting the fair value of our derivative contracts for the effect of nonperformance risk, we have considered the impact of any applicable credit enhancements, such as collateral postings, set-off rights and guarantees. Variation margins or other daily margining posted for exchange-traded transactions that are contractually characterized as settlement of the respective derivative position are netted against the respective derivative asset or liability positions.

We have elected to report derivative assets and liabilities under master netting arrangements with the same counterparty on a net basis. Additionally, the fair value amounts recognized as cash collateral pledged or received, such as initial margins and other collateral that are not contractually characterized as settlement of the respective derivative positions, are offset against the fair value of derivatives executed with the same counterparty under a master netting arrangement. Collateral balances not offset against a derivative position are presented on our Consolidated Balance Sheets within margin deposits. Derivative assets and liabilities not subject to master netting arrangements are presented net when we have a legally enforceable right and the intent to offset amounts with the same counterparty.

See Note 6—Derivative Instruments for additional details about our derivative instruments.

Leases

We determine if an arrangement is, or contains, a lease at inception of the arrangement. When we determine the arrangement is, or contains, a lease in which we are the lessee, we classify the lease as either an operating lease or a finance lease. Operating and finance leases are recognized on our Consolidated Balance Sheets by recording a lease liability representing the obligation to make future lease payments and a right-of-use asset representing the future right to use the underlying asset over the lease term.

Operating and finance lease right-of-use assets and liabilities are generally recognized based on the present value of minimum lease payments over the lease term. In determining the present value of minimum lease payments, we use the implicit interest rate in the lease if readily determinable. In the absence of a readily determinable implicit interest rate, we discount our expected future lease payments using the incremental borrowing rate of the relevant Cheniere entity, which can be a parent entity when the terms of the lease arrangements are significantly influenced by the parent’s credit standing. The incremental borrowing rate is an estimate of the interest rate that a given entity would have to pay to borrow on a collateralized basis over a similar term to that of the lease term. Options to renew a lease are included in the lease term and recognized as part of the right-of-use asset and lease liability when they are reasonably certain to be exercised.

We have elected practical expedients to (1) omit leases with an initial term of 12 months or less from recognition on our Consolidated Balance Sheets and (2) to combine both the lease and non-lease components of an arrangement in calculating the right-of-use asset and lease liability for all classes of leased assets.

Lease expense for operating lease payments is recognized on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Lease expense for finance leases is recognized as the sum of the amortization of the right-of-use assets on a straight-line basis and the interest on lease liabilities using the effective interest method over the lease term.

Certain of our leases also contain variable payments that are included in the right-of-use asset and lease liability only when the payments are in-substance fixed payments that are, in effect, unavoidable.

When we determine the arrangement is, or contains, a lease in which we are the lessor or sublessor, we assess classification of the lease as either an operating lease, sales-type lease or direct financing lease. All such arrangements have been assessed as operating leases and consist of sublessor arrangements in which we have not been relieved of our primary obligation under the original lease. Our sublessor arrangements are not recognized on our Consolidated Balance Sheets and we recognize income from fixed lease payments under these arrangements on a straight-line basis over the sublease term. We recognize income from variable lease payments in the period in which the changes in facts and circumstances on which the variable lease payments are based occur.

Concentration of Credit Risk

Financial instruments that potentially subject us to a concentration of credit risk consist principally of (1) derivative instruments and (2) accounts receivable and contract assets related to our long-term SPAs, each discussed further above. Additionally, we maintain cash balances at financial institutions, which may at times be in excess of federally insured levels. We havenot incurred credit losses related to these cash balances to date.

The use of derivative instruments exposes us to counterparty credit risk, or the risk that a counterparty will be unable to meet its commitments. Our commodity derivatives executed over-the-counter or through an exchange are subject to nominal credit risk as these transactions often require collateral that is returned to us (or to the counterparty) on or near the settlement date or are settled on a daily margin basis with investment grade financial institutions and are primarily facilitated by independent system operators and by clearing brokers. Payments on margin deposits, either by us or by the counterparty depending on the position, are required for non-exchange traded transactions when the value of a derivative exceeds the pre-established credit limit with the counterparty. Our FX derivative instruments are placed with investment grade financial institutions whom we believe are acceptable credit risks. We monitor counterparty creditworthiness on an ongoing basis; however, we cannot predict sudden changes in counterparties’ creditworthiness. In addition, even if such changes are not sudden, we may be limited in our ability to mitigate an increase in counterparty credit risk. Should one of these counterparties not perform, we may not realize the benefit of some of our derivative instruments.

Our contracted LNG sales are primarily under SPAs with terms exceeding 10 years. As of December 31, 2024, we had SPAs with initial terms of 10 or more years with a total of 29 different third party customers. We are dependent on the respective customers’ creditworthiness and their ability to perform under their respective agreements. While substantially all of our long-term third party customer arrangements are executed with a creditworthy parent company or secured by a parent company guarantee or other form of collateral, we are nonetheless exposed to credit risk in the event of a customer default that requires us to seek recourse.

Debt

Our debt consists of current and long-term secured and unsecured debt securities and credit facilities with banks and other lenders. Debt issuances are placed directly by us or through securities dealers or underwriters and are held by institutional and retail investors.

Debt is recorded on our Consolidated Balance Sheets at par value adjusted for unamortized discount or premium and net of unamortized debt issuance costs related to term notes. Debt issuance costs consist primarily of arrangement fees, professional fees, legal fees, printing costs and commitment fees. Costs associated with entering into a line of credit or on undrawn funds are presented as an asset and classified as current or non-current, consistent with the respective credit facility. As of December 31, 2024 and 2023, all of such costs were classified as other non-current assets, net, on our Consolidated Balance Sheets. Discounts, premiums and debt issuance costs directly related to the issuance of debt are amortized over the life of the debt and are recorded in interest expense, net of capitalized interest using the effective interest method except in the case of our credit facilities, in which discounts, premiums and debt issuance costs are amortized on a straight-line basis over the contractual term.

We classify debt on our Consolidated Balance Sheets based on contractual maturity, with the following exceptions:

We classify term debt that is contractually due within one year as long-term debt if management has the intent and ability to refinance the current portion of such debt with future cash proceeds from an executed long-term debt or equity agreement.

We evaluate the classification of long-term debt extinguished after the balance sheet date but before the financial statements are issued based on facts and circumstances existing as of the balance sheet date.

Asset Retirement Obligations

We recognize AROs for legal obligations associated with the retirement of long-lived assets that result from the acquisition, construction, development and/or normal use of the asset and for conditional AROs in which the timing or method of settlement are conditional on a future event that may or may not be within our control. The fair value of a liability for an ARO is recognized in the period in which it is incurred, if a reasonable estimate of fair value can be made. The fair value of the liability is added to the carrying amount of the associated asset. This additional carrying amount is depreciated over the estimated useful life of the asset.

Our real property lease agreements at the Sabine Pass LNG Terminal require us to surrender the LNG terminal in good working order and repair, with normal wear and tear and casualty excepted, at the expiration of the term of the leases, with such terms being up to 90 years including renewal options. We have determined that the cost to surrender the Sabine Pass LNG Terminal in good order and repair, with normal wear and tear and casualty excepted, is immaterial, thus we havenot recorded an ARO associated with the Sabine Pass LNG Terminal.

Our Creole Trail Pipeline and Corpus Christi Pipeline are subject to regulations by the FERC for proper abandonment of a pipeline, including the disconnection of the pipeline from all sources and supplies of gas and other decommissioning costs. We believe that it is not feasible to predict when the natural gas transportation services provided by the Creole Trail Pipeline or the Corpus Christi Pipeline will no longer be utilized. In addition, our right-of-way agreements associated with the Creole Trail Pipeline and the Corpus Christi Pipeline have no stipulated termination dates. We intend to operate the Creole Trail Pipeline and the Corpus Christi Pipeline as long as supply and demand for natural gas exists in the United States and intend to maintain them regularly. For these reasons, we havenot recorded an ARO associated with the Creole Trail Pipeline or the Corpus Christi Pipeline.

Share-based Compensation

We have awarded share-based compensation in the form of restricted stock shares, restricted stock units, performance stock units and phantom units, as further described in Note 15—Share-based Compensation. We initially measure share-based compensation based upon the estimated fair value of awards. The recognition period for these costs begins at the earlier of the applicable service inception date or grant date and continues throughout the requisite service period.

For equity-classified share-based compensation awards, compensation cost is recognized based on the grant-date fair value and not subsequently remeasured unless modified. For liability-classified share-based compensation awards that cash settle or include an election to be cash settled, compensation costs are remeasured at fair value through settlement or maturity. Except for awards that contain market conditions, the grant-date fair value is estimated based on our stock price on the grant date. The grant-date fair value of awards containing market conditions is estimated using a Monte Carlo model as of the grant date, which utilizes inputs such as expected stock volatility, risk-free rates and dividend yield and remains constant through the vesting period for the equity-settled component.

For awards that contain graded vesting periods, the fair value is recognized as expense (net of any capitalization in accordance with GAAP) using the straight-line basis, generally over the term of the entire award, except when modifications may require an accelerated method. For awards that contain cliff vesting periods, the fair value is recognized as expense (net of any capitalization in accordance with GAAP) using the straight-line basis over the requisite service period.

For awards with both time and performance-based conditions, we recognize compensation cost based on the probable outcome of the performance condition at each reporting period.

We account for forfeitures as they occur.

Foreign Currency

The functional currency of all of our subsidiaries is the U.S. dollar. Certain of our subsidiaries transact in currencies outside of the U.S. dollar, which gives rise to the recognition of transaction gains and losses based on the change in exchange rates between the U.S. dollar and the currency in which the foreign currency transaction is denominated. During the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, we recognized net transaction gains (losses) totaling $45 million, $(20) million and $60 million, respectively, substantially all of which related to commercial transactions executed by Cheniere Marketing, primarily consisting of Euro denominated receivables and related foreign currency hedges arising from the sale of cargoes, which are presented within LNG revenues in our Consolidated Statements of Operations with the underlying activities. The remaining transaction gains and losses are presented primarily within other income (expense), net in our Consolidated Statements of Operations.

Income Taxes

Provisions for income taxes are based on taxes payable or refundable for the current year and deferred taxes on temporary differences between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in our Consolidated Financial Statements. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are included in our Consolidated Financial Statements at currently enacted income tax rates applicable to the period in which the deferred tax assets and liabilities are expected to be realized or settled. As changes in tax laws or rates are enacted, deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted through the current period’s provision for income taxes.

A valuation allowance is recorded to reduce the carrying value of our deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that some or all of our deferred tax assets will not be realized. We evaluate the realizability of our deferred tax assets as of each reporting date, weighing all positive and negative evidence. The assessment requires significant judgment and is performed in each of our applicable jurisdictions. In making such determination, we consider various factors such as historical profitability, future projections of sustained profitability underpinned by fixed-price long-term SPAs and reversal of existing deferred tax liabilities.

We recognize the financial statement effects of a tax position when it is more likely than not, based on the technical merits, that the position will be sustained upon examination.

We account for our federal investment tax credits under the flow-through method.

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (“IRA”) imposed a 15% CAMT effective in 2023, that is based on 15% of an applicable corporation’s adjusted financial statement income. We have elected to account for the effects of the CAMT on deferred tax assets, carryforwards and tax credits in the period they arise.

Net Income or Loss Per Share

Basic net income or loss per share attributable to common stockholders excludes dilution and is computed by dividing net income or loss attributable to common stockholders during the period by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted net income or loss per share reflects potential dilution from our unvested stock and is computed by dividing net income or loss attributable to common stockholders by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period, which is increased by the number of additional common shares that would have been outstanding if the potential common shares had been issued. However, if the effect of any additional securities are anti-dilutive (i.e., resulting in a higher net income per share or lower net loss per share), they are excluded from the dilutive net income or loss computation. The dilutive effect of unvested stock is calculated using the treasury-stock method.

Refer to Note 17—Net Income per Share Attributable to Common Stockholders for additional details of the computation for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022.

Recent Accounting Standards

ASU 2023-07

In November 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-07, Segment Reporting (Topic 280), which we adopted on December 31, 2024. This guidance requires a public entity, including entities with a single reportable segment, to disclose significant segment expenses and other segment information on an annual and interim basis and provide in interim periods all disclosures about a reportable segment’s profit or loss and assets that are currently required annually. Refer to Note 20—Segment Information and Customer Concentration for the required disclosures.

ASU 2023-09

In December 2023, the FASB issued ASU No. 2023-09, Income Taxes (Topic 740). This guidance further enhances income tax disclosures, primarily through standardization and disaggregation of rate reconciliation categories and income taxes paid by jurisdiction. We plan to adopt this guidance and conform with the disclosure requirements when it becomes mandatorily effective for our annual report for the year ending December 31, 2025.

ASU 2024-03

In November 2024, the FASB issued ASU No. 2024-03, Income Statement – Reporting Comprehensive Income – Expense Disaggregation Disclosures (Subtopic 220-40): Disaggregation of Income Statement Expenses, as clarified by ASU No. 2025-01 in January 2025. This guidance requires disaggregated disclosures about certain income statement expense line items on an annual and interim basis. We continue to evaluate the impact of the provisions of this guidance on our disclosures, but plan to adopt this guidance prospectively and conform with the disclosure requirements when it becomes mandatorily effective for our annual report for the year ending December 31, 2027.

NOTE 3—TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES, NET OF CURRENT EXPECTED CREDIT LOSSES

Trade and other receivables, net of current expected credit losses, consisted of the following (in millions):

December 31,
20242023
Trade receivables
SPL and CCL$548$525
Cheniere Marketing109451
Other subsidiaries44
Other receivables66126
Total trade and other receivables, net of current expected credit losses$727$1,106

NOTE 4—INVENTORY

Inventory consisted of the following (in millions):

December 31,
20242023
Materials$226$207
LNG9388
LNG in-transit137112
Natural gas3035
Other153
Total inventory$501$445

NOTE 5—PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, NET OF ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION

Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation consisted of the following (in millions):

December 31,
20242023
Terminal and related assets
Terminal and interconnecting pipeline facilities$34,282$34,069
Land465463
Construction-in-process5,4863,480
Accumulated depreciation(7,231)(6,099)
Total terminal and related assets, net of accumulated depreciation33,00231,913
Fixed assets and other
Computer and office equipment3637
Furniture and fixtures3131
Computer software122125
Leasehold improvements4743
Other2421
Accumulated depreciation(188)(183)
Total fixed assets and other, net of accumulated depreciation7274
Assets under finance leases
Marine assets587532
Accumulated depreciation(109)(63)
Total assets under finance leases, net of accumulated depreciation478469
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation$33,552$32,456

The following table shows depreciation expense and offsets to LNG terminal costs (in millions):

Year Ended December 31,
202420232022
Depreciation expense$1,213$1,190$1,113
Offsets to LNG terminal costs (1)——204

(1)We recognize offsets to LNG terminal costs related to the sale of commissioning cargoes because these amounts were earned or loaded prior to the start of commercial operations of the respective Trains of the Liquefaction Projects during the testing phase for its construction.

Terminal and related assets

Our terminal and related assets are depreciated using the straight-line depreciation method applied to groups of LNG terminal assets with varying useful lives. The identifiable components of our terminal and related assets have depreciable lives between 6 and 50 years, as follows:

ComponentsUseful life (years)
LNG storage tanks50
Natural gas pipeline facilities40
Marine berth, electrical, facility and roads35
Water pipelines30
Regasification processing equipment30
Sendout pumps20
Liquefaction processing equipment6-50
Other10-30

Fixed Assets and Other

Our fixed assets and other are recorded at cost and are depreciated on a straight-line method based on estimated lives of the individual assets or groups of assets.

Assets under Finance Leases

Our assets under finance leases primarily consist of certain tug vessels and LNG vessel time charters that meet the criteria to be classified as finance leases. These assets are depreciated on a straight-line method over the respective lease term. See Note 11—Leases for additional details of our finance leases.

NOTE 6—DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS

We have the following derivative instruments:

commodity derivatives consisting of the following (collectively,“Commodity Derivatives”):

natural gas and power supply contracts, including those under our IPM agreements, for the development, commissioning and operation of the Liquefaction Projects and expansion projects, as well as the associated economic hedges (collectively, the“Liquefaction Supply Derivatives”); and,

LNG derivatives in which we have contractual net settlement and economic hedges on the exposure to the commodity markets in which we have contractual arrangements to purchase or sell physical LNG (collectively,“LNG Trading Derivatives”); and

FX contracts to hedge exposure to currency risk associated with cash flows denominated in currencies other than U.S. dollar (“FX Derivatives”), associated with both LNG Trading Derivatives and operations in countries outside of the United States.

The following table shows the fair value of our derivative instruments that are required to be measured at fair value on a recurring basis, distinguished by the fair value hierarchy levels prescribed by GAAP (in millions):

Fair Value Measurements as of
December 31, 2024December 31, 2023
Quoted Prices in Active Markets(Level 1)Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)TotalQuoted Prices in Active Markets(Level 1)Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)Total
Liquefaction Supply Derivatives asset (liability)$—$59$(801)$(742)$25$36$(2,178)$(2,117)
LNG Trading Derivatives asset (liability)—17—1730(20)—10
FX Derivatives asset (liability)—16—16—(17)—(17)

We value the Liquefaction Supply Derivatives and LNG Trading Derivatives using a market or option-based approach incorporating present value techniques, as needed, which incorporates observable commodity price curves, when available, and other relevant data. We value our FX Derivatives with a market approach using observable FX rates and other relevant data.

We include a significant portion of the Liquefaction Supply Derivatives as Level 3 within the valuation hierarchy as the fair value is developed through the use of internal models which incorporate significant unobservable inputs. In instances where observable data is unavailable, consideration is given to the assumptions that market participants may use in valuing the asset or liability. To the extent valued using an option pricing model, we consider the future prices of energy units for unobservable periods to be a significant unobservable input to estimated net fair value. In estimating the future prices of energy units, we make judgments about market risk related to liquidity of commodity indices and volatility utilizing available market data. Changes in facts and circumstances or additional information may result in revised estimates and judgments, and actual results may differ from these estimates and judgments. We derive our volatility assumptions based on observed historical settled global LNG market pricing or accepted proxies for global LNG market pricing as well as settled domestic natural gas pricing. Such volatility assumptions also contemplate, as of the balance sheet date, observable forward curve data of such indices, as well as evolving available industry data and independent studies.

In developing our volatility assumptions, we acknowledge that the global LNG industry is inherently influenced by events such as unplanned supply constraints, geopolitical incidents, unusual climate events including drought and uncommonly mild, by historical standards, winters and summers, and real or threatened disruptive operational impacts to global energy infrastructure. Our current estimate of volatility includes the impact of otherwise rare events unless we believe market participants would exclude such events on account of their assertion that those events were specific to our company and deemed within our control. As applicable to our natural gas supply contracts, our fair value estimates incorporate market participant-based assumptions pertaining to certain contractual uncertainties, including those related to the availability of market information for delivery points, as well as the timing of satisfaction of certain events or development of infrastructure to support natural gas gathering and transport. We may recognize changes in fair value through earnings that could significantly impact our results of operations if and when such uncertainties are resolved.

The Level 3 fair value measurements of our natural gas positions within the Liquefaction Supply Derivatives could be materially impacted by a significant change in certain natural gas and international LNG prices. The following table includes quantitative information for the unobservable inputs for the Level 3 Liquefaction Supply Derivatives as of December 31, 2024:

Net Fair Value Liability(in millions)Valuation ApproachSignificant Unobservable InputRange of Significant Unobservable Inputs / Weighted Average (1)
Liquefaction Supply Derivatives$(801)Market approach incorporating present value techniquesHenry Hub basis spread$(2.005) - $1.144 / $(0.069)
Option pricing model · International LNG pricing spread, relative to Henry Hub (2) · 90% - 410% / 197%

(1)Unobservable inputs were weighted by the relative fair value of the instruments.

(2)Spread contemplates U.S. dollar-denominated pricing.

Increases or decreases in basis or pricing spreads, in isolation, would decrease or increase, respectively, the fair value of the Liquefaction Supply Derivatives.

The following table shows the changes in the fair value of the Level 3 Liquefaction Supply Derivatives (in millions):

Year Ended December 31,
202420232022
Balance, beginning of period$(2,178)$(9,924)$(4,036)
Realized and change in fair value gains (losses) included in net income (1):
Included in cost of sales, existing deals (2)7165,685(5,120)
Included in cost of sales, new deals (3)2215(1,373)
Purchases and settlements:
Purchases (4)———
Settlements (5)6392,045605
Transfers out of level 3 (6)—1—
Balance, end of period$(801)$(2,178)$(9,924)
Favorable (unfavorable) changes in fair value relating to instruments still held at the end of the period$738$5,700$(6,493)

(1)Does not include the realized value associated with derivative instruments that settle through physical delivery, as settlement is equal to the contractually fixed price from trade date multiplied by contractual volume. See settlements line item in this table.

(2)Impact to earnings on deals that existed at the beginning of the period and continue to exist at the end of the period.

(3)Impact to earnings on deals that were entered into during the reporting period and continue to exist at the end of the period.

(4)Includes any day one gain (loss) recognized during the reporting period on deals that were entered into during the reporting period which continue to exist at the end of the period.

(5)Roll-off in the current period of amounts recognized in our Consolidated Balance Sheets at the end of the previous period due to settlement of the underlying instruments in the current period.

(6)Transferred out of Level 3 as a result of observable market for the underlying natural gas purchase agreements.

Commodity Derivatives

We hold Liquefaction Supply Derivatives which are primarily indexed to the natural gas market and international LNG indices. As of December 31, 2024, the remaining fixed terms of the Liquefaction Supply Derivatives ranged up to approximately 15 years, some of which commence or accelerate upon the satisfaction of certain events or development of infrastructure to support natural gas gathering and transport.

Cheniere Marketing has historically entered into, and may from time to time enter into, LNG transactions that provide for contractual net settlement. Such transactions are accounted for as LNG Trading Derivatives along with financial commodity contracts in the form of swaps or futures. The terms of LNG Trading Derivatives range up to approximatelyone year.

The following table shows the notional amounts of our Commodity Derivatives:

December 31, 2024December 31, 2023
Liquefaction Supply Derivatives (1)LNG Trading DerivativesLiquefaction Supply Derivatives (1)LNG Trading Derivatives
Notional amount, net (in TBtu)12,503(8)14,01949

(1)Inclusive of amounts under contracts with unsatisfied contractual conditions and exclusive of extension options that were uncertain to be taken as of both December 31, 2024 and 2023.

The following table shows the effect and location of our Commodity Derivatives recorded on our Consolidated Statements of Operations (in millions):

Gain (Loss) Recognized in Consolidated Statements of Operations
Consolidated Statements of Operations Location (1) · Year Ended December 31,
2024 · 2023 · 2022
LNG Trading DerivativesLNG revenues$(111)$139$(387)
LNG Trading DerivativesCost of sales(2)(132)(2)
Liquefaction Supply Derivatives (2)LNG revenues(3)(5)2
Liquefaction Supply Derivatives (2)Cost of sales1,3907,912(6,203)

(1)Fair value fluctuations associated with activities of our Commodity Derivatives are classified and presented consistently with the item economically hedged and the nature and intent of the derivative instrument.

(2)Does not include the realized value associated with the Liquefaction Supply Derivatives that settle through physical delivery.

FX Derivatives

Cheniere Marketing holds FX Derivatives to protect against the volatility in future cash flows attributable to changes in international currency exchange rates. The FX Derivatives are executed primarily to economically hedge the foreign currency exposure arising from cash flows expended for both physical and financial LNG transactions that are denominated in a currency other than the U.S. dollar. The terms of FX Derivatives range up to approximatelyone year.

The total notional amount of our FX Derivatives was $642 million and $789 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

The following table shows the effect and location of our FX Derivatives recorded on our Consolidated Statements of Operations (in millions):

Gain (Loss) Recognized in Consolidated Statements of Operations
Consolidated Statements of Operations Location · Year Ended December 31,
2024 · 2023 · 2022
FX DerivativesLNG revenues$41$(24)$57

The following table shows the fair value and location of our derivative instruments on our Consolidated Balance Sheets (in millions):

December 31, 2024
Liquefaction Supply DerivativesLNG Trading DerivativesFX DerivativesTotal
Consolidated Balance Sheets Location
Current derivative assets$105$32$18$155
Derivative assets1,903——1,903
Total derivative assets2,00832182,058
Current derivative liabilities(885)(15)(2)(902)
Derivative liabilities(1,865)——(1,865)
Total derivative liabilities(2,750)(15)(2)(2,767)
Derivative asset (liability), net$(742)$17$16$(709)
December 31, 2023
Liquefaction Supply DerivativesLNG Trading DerivativesFX DerivativesTotal
Consolidated Balance Sheets Location
Current derivative assets$49$92$—$141
Derivative assets863——863
Total derivative assets91292—1,004
Current derivative liabilities(651)(82)(17)(750)
Derivative liabilities(2,378)——(2,378)
Total derivative liabilities(3,029)(82)(17)(3,128)
Derivative asset (liability), net$(2,117)$10$(17)$(2,124)

Consolidated Balance Sheets Presentation

The following table reconciles the fair value of our derivative assets and liabilities on a gross basis, by contract, to net amounts as presented on our Consolidated Balance Sheets after offsetting for any balances with the same counterparty under master netting arrangements or other relevant netting criteria under GAAP that are met (in millions):

Liquefaction Supply DerivativesLNG Trading DerivativesFX Derivatives
Gross assets$3,064$42$25
Offsetting amounts(1,056)(10)(7)
Net assets (1)$2,008$32$18
Gross liabilities$(2,790)$(16)$(3)
Offsetting amounts4011
Net liabilities (2)$(2,750)$(15)$(2)
Gross assets$1,272$94$—
Offsetting amounts(360)(2)—
Net assets (1)$912$92$—
Gross liabilities$(3,095)$(110)$(17)
Offsetting amounts6628—
Net liabilities (2)$(3,029)$(82)$(17)

(1)Includes current and non-current derivative assets of $155 million and $1,903 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2024 and $141 million and $863 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2023.

(2)Includes current and non-current derivative liabilities of $902 million and $1,865 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2024 and $750 million and $2,378 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2023.

The table below shows the collateral balances that are recorded within margin deposits and not netted on our Consolidated Balance Sheets (in millions):

Year Ended December 31,
20242023
Liquefaction Supply Derivatives$18$3
LNG Trading Derivatives11015

NOTE 7—OTHER NON-CURRENT ASSETS, NET

Other non-current assets, net consisted of the following (in millions):

December 31,
20242023
Contract assets, net of current expected credit losses$325$244
Advances to service providers203175
Equity method investments129111
Goodwill7777
Debt issuance costs and deferred commitment fees, net of accumulated amortization6558
Advance ad valorem tax payments2020
Other, net8074
Total other non-current assets, net$899$759

NOTE 8—NON-CONTROLLING INTERESTS AND VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES

Substantially all of our consolidated VIEs’ assets and liabilities relate to CQP. We own a 48.6% limited partner interest in CQP, and we also own all of the 2% general partner interest and 100% of the incentive distribution rights in CQP. The remaining 49.4% non-controlling limited partner interest in CQP is held by affiliates of Blackstone Inc. and Brookfield Asset Management, Inc. (“Brookfield”) as well as the public.

CQP is a limited partnership formed by us in 2006 to own and operate the Sabine Pass LNG Terminal and related assets. Our wholly-owned subsidiary, Cheniere Partners GP, is the general partner of CQP. In 2012, CQP, Cheniere and Blackstone CQP Holdco LP (which was subsequently renamed to CQP Holdco LP, or“CQP Holdco”) entered into a unit purchase agreement whereby CQP sold 100.0 million Class B units to CQP Holdco in a private placement. The board of directors of Cheniere Partners GP was modified to include three directors appointed by CQP Holdco, four directors appointed by us andfour independent directors mutually agreed upon by CQP Holdco and us and appointed by us. In addition, we provided CQP Holdco with a right to maintainone board seat on our Board of Directors (our“Board”). A quorum of Cheniere Partners GP directors consists of a majority of all directors, including at leasttwo directors appointed by CQP Holdco, two directors appointed by us andtwo independent directors. CQP Holdco will no longer be entitled to appoint Cheniere Partners GP directors in the event that CQP Holdco’s ownership in CQP is less than 20% of outstanding common units and subordinated units.

As a holder of common units of CQP, we are not obligated to fund losses of CQP. However, our capital account, which would be considered in allocating the net assets of CQP were it to be liquidated, continues to share in losses of CQP. We have determined that Cheniere Partners GP is a VIE and that we, as the holder of the equity at risk, do not have a controlling financial interest due to the rights held by CQP Holdco. However, we continue to consolidate CQP as a result of CQP Holdco’s right to maintain one board seat on our Board which creates a de facto agency relationship between CQP Holdco and us. GAAP requires that when a de facto agency relationship exists, one of the members of the de facto agency relationship must consolidate the VIE based on certain criteria. As a result, we consolidate CQP in our Consolidated Financial Statements.

The following table presents the summarized consolidated assets and liabilities (in millions) of our consolidated VIEs, which are included in our Consolidated Balance Sheets. The assets in the table below may only be used to settle obligations of the respective VIEs. In addition, there is no recourse to us for the consolidated VIEs’ liabilities. The assets and liabilities in the table below exclude intercompany balances between the respective VIEs and Cheniere that eliminate in our Consolidated Financial Statements.

December 31,
20242023
ASSETS
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents$270$575
Restricted cash and cash equivalents12556
Trade and other receivables, net of current expected credit losses381373
Inventory154142
Current derivative assets8430
Margin deposits13—
Other current assets, net5443
Total current assets1,0811,219
Property, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation15,88016,212
Operating lease assets8081
Derivative assets9840
Other non-current assets, net206188
Total assets$17,345$17,740
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities
Accounts payable$70$69
Accrued liabilities881811
Current debt, net of unamortized discount and debt issuance costs351300
Deferred revenue120114
Current operating lease liabilities410
Current derivative liabilities250196
Other current liabilities168
Total current liabilities1,6921,508
Long-term debt, net of unamortized discount and debt issuance costs14,76115,606
Operating lease liabilities7671
Derivative liabilities1,2131,531
Other non-current liabilities17689
Total liabilities$17,918$18,805

NOTE 9—ACCRUED LIABILITIES

Accrued liabilities consisted of the following (in millions):

December 31,
20242023
Natural gas purchases$886$729
Tax-related liabilities47268
Interest costs and related debt fees214399
Compensation and benefits283266
Terminal and related asset costs272235
Other accrued liabilities5283
Total accrued liabilities$2,179$1,780

NOTE 10—DEBT

Debt consisted of the following (in millions):

December 31,
20242023
SPL:
Senior Secured Notes:
5.750% due 2024$—$300
5.625% due 20253002,000
5.875% due 20261,5001,500
5.00% due 20271,5001,500
4.200% due 20281,3501,350
4.500% due 20302,0002,000
4.746% weighted average rate due 2037 (1)1,7821,782
Total SPL Senior Secured Notes8,43210,432
Revolving credit and guaranty agreement (the “SPL Revolving Credit Facility”)——
Total debt - SPL8,43210,432
CQP:
Senior Notes:
4.500% due 20291,5001,500
4.000% due 20311,5001,500
3.25% due 20321,2001,200
5.950% due 20331,4001,400
5.750% due 20341,200—
Total CQP Senior Notes6,8005,600
Revolving credit and guaranty agreement (the “CQP Revolving Credit Facility”)——
Total debt - CQP6,8005,600
CCH:
Senior Secured Notes:
5.875% due 2025—1,491
5.125% due 20271,2011,201
3.700% due 20291,1251,125
3.788% weighted average rate due 2039 (1)2,5392,539
Total CCH Senior Secured Notes4,8656,356
Term loan facility agreement (the “CCH Credit Facility”)——
Working capital facility agreement (the “CCH Working Capital Facility”)——
Total debt - CCH4,8656,356
Cheniere:
4.625% Senior Notes due 20281,5001,500
5.650% Senior Notes due 20341,500—
Total Cheniere Senior Notes3,0001,500
Revolving credit agreement (the “Cheniere Revolving Credit Facility”)——
Total debt - Cheniere3,0001,500
Total debt23,09723,888
Current debt, net of unamortized discount and debt issuance costs (1)(351)(300)
Unamortized discount and debt issuance costs(192)(191)
Total long-term debt, net of unamortized discount and debt issuance costs$22,554$23,397

(1)Includes notes that amortize based on a fixed amortization schedule as set forth in their respective indentures.

Senior Notes

SPL Senior Secured Notes

The SPL Senior Secured Notes are senior secured obligations of SPL, ranking equally in right of payment with SPL’s other existing and future senior debt that is secured by the same collateral and senior in right of payment to any of its future subordinated debt. Subject to permitted liens, the SPL Senior Secured Notes are secured on apari passu first-priority basis by a security interest in all of the membership interests in SPL and substantially all of SPL’s assets. SPL may, at any time, redeem all or part of the SPL Senior Secured Notes at specified prices set forth in the respective indentures governing the SPL Senior Secured Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption. The series of SPL Senior Secured Notes due in 2037 are fully amortizing according to a fixed sculpted amortization schedule, as set forth in the respective indentures.

CQP Senior Notes

The CQP Senior Notes are jointly and severally guaranteed by each of CQP’s current and certain future subsidiaries other than SPL and, subject to certain conditions governing its guarantee, Sabine Pass LP (each a“Guarantor” and collectively, the “CQP Guarantors”). The CQP Senior Notes are senior obligations of CQP, ranking equally in right of payment with CQP’s other existing and future unsubordinated debt and senior to any of its future subordinated debt. In the event that the aggregate amount of CQP’s secured indebtedness and the secured indebtedness of the CQP Guarantors (other than the CQP Senior Notes or any other series of notes issued under the CQP Base Indenture) outstanding at any one time exceeds the greater of (1) $1.5 billion and (2)10% of net tangible assets, the CQP Senior Notes (except for the 2033 CQP Senior Notes and 2034 CQP Senior Notes) will be secured by a first-priority lien (subject to permitted encumbrances) on substantially all the existing and future tangible and intangible assets and rights of CQP and the CQP Guarantors, as well as the equity interests in the CQP Guarantors. The liens securing the CQP Senior Notes, if applicable, will be shared equally and ratably (subject to permitted liens) with the holders of any other senior secured obligations. CQP may, at any time, redeem all or part of the CQP Senior Notes at specified prices set forth in the respective indentures governing the CQP Senior Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption.

CCH Senior Secured Notes

The CCH Senior Secured Notes are jointly and severally guaranteed by CCH’s subsidiaries, CCL, CCP and Corpus Christi Pipeline GP, LLC (each a“CCH Guarantor” and collectively, the“CCH Guarantors”). The CCH Senior Secured Notes are senior secured obligations of CCH, ranking senior in right of payment to any and all of CCH’s future indebtedness that is subordinated to the CCH Senior Secured Notes and equal in right of payment with CCH’s other existing and future indebtedness that is senior and secured by the same collateral securing the CCH Senior Secured Notes. The CCH Senior Secured Notes are secured by a first-priority security interest in substantially all of CCH’s and the CCH Guarantors’ assets. CCH may, at any time, redeem all or part of the CCH Senior Secured Notes at specified prices set forth in the respective indentures governing the CCH Senior Secured Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption. The series of CCH Senior Secured Notes due in 2039 are fully amortizing according to a fixed sculpted amortization schedule, as set forth in the respective indentures.

Cheniere Senior Notes

The Cheniere Senior Notes are our general senior obligations and rank senior in right of payment to all of our future obligations that are, by their terms, expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Cheniere Senior Notes and equally in right of payment with all of our other existing and future unsubordinated indebtedness. The Cheniere Senior Notes are currently unsecured, but in certain instances may become secured in the future in connection with the incurrence of additional secured indebtedness by us. When required, the Cheniere Senior Notes will be secured on a first-priority basis by a lien on substantially all of our assets and equity interests in our direct subsidiaries (other than certain excluded subsidiaries), which liens rank pari passu with the liens securing the Cheniere Revolving Credit Facility. As of December 31, 2024, the Cheniere Senior Notes are not guaranteed by any of our subsidiaries. In the future, any subsidiary that guarantees any of our material indebtedness will also guarantee the Cheniere Senior Notes. We may, at any time, redeem all or part of the Cheniere Senior Notes at specified prices set forth in the indenture governing the Cheniere Senior Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption.

Below is a schedule of future principal payments that we are obligated to make on our outstanding debt at December 31, 2024 (in millions):

Years Ending December 31,Principal Payments
2025$352
20261,607
20272,889
20283,091
20292,923
Thereafter12,235
Total$23,097

Credit Facilities

Below is a summary of our committed credit facilities outstanding as of December 31, 2024 (in millions):

SPL Revolving Credit Facility (1)CQP Revolving Credit Facility (2)CCH Credit Facility (3)CCH Working Capital Facility (4)Cheniere Revolving Credit Facility (5)
Total facility size$1,000$1,000$3,260$1,500$1,250
Less:
Outstanding balance—————
Letters of credit issued224——110—
Available commitment$776$1,000$3,260$1,390$1,250
Priority rankingSenior securedSenior unsecuredSenior securedSenior securedSenior unsecured
Interest rate on available balance (6)SOFR plus credit spread adjustment of 0.1%, plus margin of 1.0% - 1.75% or base rate plus 0.0% - 0.75%SOFR plus credit spread adjustment of 0.1%, plus margin of 1.125% - 2.0% or base rate plus 0.125% - 1.0%SOFR plus credit spread adjustment of 0.1%, plus margin of 1.5% or base rate plus 0.5%SOFR plus credit spread adjustment of 0.1%, plus margin of 1.0% - 1.5% or base rate plus 0.0% - 0.5%SOFR plus credit spread adjustment of 0.1%, plus margin of 1.075% - 2.20% or base rate plus 0.075% - 1.2%
Commitment fees on undrawn balance (6)0.075% - 0.30%0.10% - 0.30%0.525%0.10% - 0.20%0.115% - 0.365%
Letter of credit fees (6)1.0% - 1.75%1.125% - 2.0%N/A1.0% - 1.5%1.075% - 2.20%
Maturity dateJune 23, 2028June 23, 2028(7)June 15, 2027October 28, 2026

(1)The obligations of SPL under the SPL Revolving Credit Facility are secured by substantially all of the assets of SPL as well as a pledge of all of the membership interests in SPL and certain future subsidiaries of SPL on apari passu basis by a first priority lien with the SPL Senior Secured Notes. The SPL Revolving Credit Facility contains customary contractual conditions for extensions of credit.

(2)The obligations under the CQP Revolving Credit Facility are jointly, severally and unconditionally guaranteed by Cheniere Investments, SPLNG, CTPL, Sabine Pass LNG-GP, LLC, Sabine Pass Tug Services, LLC and Cheniere Pipeline GP Interests, LLC.

(3)The obligations of CCH under the CCH Credit Facility are secured by a first priority lien on substantially all of the assets of CCH and its subsidiaries and by a pledge by CCH Holdco I of its limited liability company interests in CCH.

(4)The obligations of CCH under the CCH Working Capital Facility are secured by substantially all of the assets of CCH and the CCH Guarantors as well as all of the membership interests in CCH and each of the CCH Guarantors on apari passu basis with the CCH Senior Secured Notes and the CCH Credit Facility.

(5)The Cheniere Revolving Credit Facility contains a financial covenant requiring us to maintain a non-consolidated leverage ratio not to exceed 5.50:1.00 as of the end of any fiscal quarter if (i) as of the last day of such fiscal quarter the aggregate principal amount of outstanding loans plus drawn and unreimbursed letters of credit is greater than 35% of the aggregate commitments under the Cheniere Revolving Credit Facility (a “Covenant Trigger Event”) or (ii) a Covenant Trigger Event had occurred and been continuing as of the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal quarter and as of the last day of such ending fiscal quarter such Covenant Trigger Event had not ceased for a period of at least thirty consecutive days.

(6)The margin on the interest rate, the commitment fees and the letter of credit fees are subject to change based on the applicable entity’s credit rating.

(7)The CCH Credit Facility matures the earlier of June 15, 2029 ortwo years after the substantial completion of the last Train of the Corpus Christi Stage 3 Project.

Loss on Extinguishment of Debt Related to Termination of Agreement with Chevron

Our loss on modification or extinguishment of debt for the year ended December 31, 2022 includes a loss on extinguishment of prospective payment obligations of $31 million associated with a premium paid to Chevron U.S.A. Inc. (“Chevron”) to terminate a revenue sharing arrangement under the terminal marine services agreement with them. See Note 12—Revenue for further discussion of the termination of agreements with Chevron.

Restrictive Debt Covenants

The agreements governing our and our subsidiaries’ indebtedness contain customary terms and events of default and certain covenants that, among other things, may limit our and our subsidiaries’ ability to make certain investments or pay dividends or distributions. For example, SPL and CCH are restricted from making distributions under agreements governing their respective indebtedness generally until, among other requirements, appropriate reserves have been established for debt service using cash or letters of credit and a historical and projected debt service coverage ratio of at least 1.25:1.00 is satisfied. At December 31, 2024, our restricted net assets of consolidated subsidiaries were approximately $168 million.

As of December 31, 2024, each of our issuers was in compliance with all covenants related to their respective debt agreements.

Interest Expense

Total interest expense, net of capitalized interest, consisted of the following (in millions):

Year Ended December 31,
202420232022
Total interest cost$1,226$1,265$1,485
Capitalized interest(216)(124)(79)
Total interest expense, net of capitalized interest$1,010$1,141$1,406

Fair Value Disclosures

The following table shows the carrying amount and estimated fair value of our senior notes (in millions):

December 31, 2024December 31, 2023
CarryingAmountEstimatedFair Value (1)CarryingAmountEstimatedFair Value (1)
Senior notes$23,097$22,220$23,888$23,062

(1)As of both December 31, 2024 and 2023, $3.0 billion of the fair value of our senior notes were classified as Level 3 since these senior notes were valued by applying an unobservable illiquidity adjustment to the price derived from trades or indicative bids of instruments with similar terms, maturities and credit standing. The remainder of the fair value of our senior notes was classified as Level 2, based on prices derived from trades or indicative bids of the instruments.

The estimated fair value of our credit facilities approximates the principal amount outstanding because the interest rates are variable and reflective of market rates and the debt may be repaid, in full or in part, at any time without penalty.

NOTE 11—LEASES

We are the lessee of LNG vessels leased under time charters (“vessel charters”) as well as tug vessels, office space and facilities, land sites and equipment. All of our leases where we are the lessee are classified as operating leases except for certain of our vessel charters, tug vessels and equipment, which are classified as finance leases.

The following table shows the classification and location of our right-of-use assets and lease liabilities on our Consolidated Balance Sheets (in millions):

December 31,
Consolidated Balance Sheets Location20242023
Right-of-use assets—OperatingOperating lease assets$2,684$2,641
Right-of-use assets—FinancingProperty, plant and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation478469
Total right-of-use assets$3,162$3,110
Current operating lease liabilitiesCurrent operating lease liabilities$592$655
Current finance lease liabilitiesOther current liabilities4435
Non-current operating lease liabilitiesOperating lease liabilities2,0901,971
Non-current finance lease liabilitiesOther non-current liabilities486467
Total lease liabilities$3,212$3,128

The following table shows the classification and location of our lease costs on our Consolidated Statements of Operations (in millions):

Consolidated Statements of Operations Location · Year Ended December 31,
2024 · 2023 · 2022
Operating lease cost (a)Operating costs and expenses (1)$839$783$828
Finance lease cost:
Amortization of right-of-use assetsDepreciation, amortization and accretion expense535012
Interest on lease liabilitiesInterest expense, net of capitalized interest353514
Total lease cost$927$868$854
(a) Included in operating lease cost:
Short-term lease costs$16$33$122
Variable lease costs141718

(1)Presented in the appropriate line item within operating costs and expenses, consistent with the nature of our use of the asset under lease.

Future annual minimum lease payments for operating and finance leases as of December 31, 2024 are as follows (in millions):

Years Ending December 31,Operating LeasesFinance Leases
2025$708$78
202658480
202748982
202832184
202923284
Thereafter899322
Total lease payments (1)3,233730
Less: Interest(551)(200)
Present value of lease liabilities$2,682$530

(1)Does not include approximately $3.3 billion of legally binding minimum payments for leases executed as of December 31, 2024 that will commence in future periods, consisting primarily of vessel charters, with fixed minimum lease terms of up to 15 years.

The following table shows the weighted-average remaining lease term and the weighted-average discount rate for our operating leases and finance leases:

December 31, 2024December 31, 2023
Operating LeasesFinance LeasesOperating LeasesFinance Leases
Weighted-average remaining lease term (in years)7.08.86.39.7
Weighted-average discount rate (1)5.0%7.4%4.7%7.7%

(1)The weighted average discount rate is impacted by certain finance leases that commenced prior to the adoption of the current leasing standard under GAAP. In accordance with previous accounting guidance, the implied rate is based on the fair value of the underlying assets.

The following table includes other quantitative information for our operating and finance leases (in millions):

Year Ended December 31,
202420232022
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash flows from operating leases$803$720$713
Operating cash flows from finance leases353514
Financing cash flows from finance leases35287
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for operating lease liabilities (1)7136461,220
Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for finance lease liabilities (2)618473

(1)Net of $33 million reclassified from operating leases to finance leases during the year ended December 31, 2024, as a result of modifications of the underlying tug vessel leases.

(2)Net of $15 million reclassified from finance leases to operating leases during the year ended December 31, 2024, as a result of modifications of the underlying tug vessel leases.

LNG Vessel Subleases

We sublease certain LNG vessels under charter to third parties while retaining our existing obligation to the original lessor. All of our sublease arrangements have been assessed as operating leases. The following table shows the sublease income recognized in other revenues on our Consolidated Statements of Operations (in millions):

Year Ended December 31,
202420232022
Fixed income$283$446$371
Variable income395779
Total sublease income$322$503$450

As of December 31, 2024, the aggregate future annual minimum sublease payment to be received from LNG vessel subleases was $8 million and is expected to be received during the year ending December 31, 2025.

NOTE 12—REVENUES

The following table represents a disaggregation of revenue earned (in millions):

Year Ended December 31,
202420232022
Revenues from contracts with customers
LNG revenues (excluding net derivative gain (loss) below)$14,972$19,459$32,132
Regasification revenues1351351,068
Other revenues (1)307187107
Total revenues from contracts with customers15,41419,78133,307
Net derivative gain (loss) (see Note 6)(73)110(328)
Sublease income (see Note 11)322503450
Other revenues40—(1)
Total revenues$15,703$20,394$33,428

(1)Includes revenues from LNG vessel subcharters that do not qualify as leases for accounting purposes.

LNG Revenues

We have numerous SPAs with third party customers for the sale of LNG on an FOB basis (delivered to the customer at the Sabine Pass LNG Terminal or the Corpus Christi LNG Terminal, as applicable) or a DAT basis (delivered to the customer at their specified LNG receiving terminal). Our customers generally purchase LNG for a price consisting of a fixed fee per MMBtu of LNG (a portion of which is subject to annual adjustment for inflation) plus a variable fee per MMBtu of LNG generally equal to 115% of Henry Hub. The fixed fee component is the amount payable to us regardless of a cancellation or suspension of LNG cargo deliveries by the customers. The variable fee component is the amount generally payable to us only upon delivery of LNG plus all future adjustments to the fixed fee for inflation. The SPAs and contracted volumes to be made available under the SPAs are not tied to a specific Train; however, the term of each SPA generally commences upon the date of first commercial delivery of a specified Train.

We intend to primarily use LNG sourced from our Sabine Pass LNG Terminal or our Corpus Christi LNG Terminal to provide contracted volumes to our customers. However, we supplement this LNG with volumes procured from third parties. LNG revenues recognized from LNG that was procured from third parties was $280 million, $359 million and $760 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

Regasification Revenues

The Sabine Pass LNG Terminal has operational regasification capacity of approximately 4 Bcf/d. Approximately 1 Bcf/d of the regasification capacity at the Sabine Pass LNG Terminal has been reserved under a long-term TUA with TotalEnergies Gas & Power North America, Inc. (“TotalEnergies”) under which they are required to pay fixed monthly fees to SPLNG, regardless of their use of the LNG terminal, aggregating approximately $125 million annually for 20 years that commenced in 2009, which is representative of fixed consideration in the contract. A portion of this fee is adjusted annually for inflation which is considered variable consideration. Prior to its cancellation effective December 31, 2022, SPLNG also had a TUA for 1 Bcf/d with Chevron, as further described under the caption Termination Agreement with Chevron. Approximately 2 Bcf/d of regasification capacity of the Sabine Pass LNG Terminal has been reserved by SPL, for which the associated revenues are eliminated in consolidation.

Because SPLNG is continuously available to provide regasification service on a daily basis with the same pattern of transfer, we have concluded that SPLNG provides a single performance obligation to its customers on a continuous basis over time. We have determined that an output method of recognition based on elapsed time best reflects the benefits of this service to the customer and accordingly, LNG regasification capacity reservation fees are recognized as regasification revenues on a straight-line basis over the term of the respective TUAs.

In 2012, SPL entered into a partial TUA assignment agreement with TotalEnergies, whereby upon substantial completion of Train 5 of the SPL Project, SPL gained access to substantially all of TotalEnergies’ capacity and other services provided under TotalEnergies’ TUA with SPLNG. This agreement provides SPL with additional berthing and storage capacity at the Sabine Pass LNG Terminal that may be used to provide increased flexibility in managing LNG cargo loading and unloading activity and permit SPL to more flexibly manage its LNG storage capacity. Notwithstanding any arrangements between TotalEnergies and SPL, payments required to be made by TotalEnergies to SPLNG will continue to be made by TotalEnergies to SPLNG in accordance with its TUA and we continue to recognize the payments received from TotalEnergies as revenue. Costs incurred to TotalEnergies are recognized in operating and maintenance expense. During the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, SPL recorded $133 million, $132 million and $131 million, respectively, as operating and maintenance expense under this partial TUA assignment agreement.

Termination Agreement with Chevron

In June 2022, Chevron entered into an agreement with SPLNG providing for the early termination of the TUA and an associated terminal marine services agreement between the parties and their affiliates (the“Termination Agreement”), effective July 2022, for a lump sum fee of $765 million (the “Termination Fee”). Obligations pursuant to the TUA and associated agreement, including Chevron’s obligation to pay SPLNG capacity payments totaling $125 million annually (adjusted for inflation) from 2023 through 2029, terminated on December 31, 2022, upon SPLNG’s receipt of the Termination Fee in December 2022. We allocated the $765 million Termination Fee to the terminated commitments, with $796 million in cash inflows allocable to the termination of the TUA, which was recognized ratably over the July 6, 2022 to December 31, 2022 period as regasification revenues on our Consolidated Statements of Operations, and an offsetting $31 million reported, upon receipt of the Termination Fee, as a loss on extinguishment of debt on our Consolidated Statements of Operations allocable to a premium paid to Chevron to terminate a revenue sharing arrangement with them that was accounted for as debt.

Contract Assets and Liabilities

The following table shows our contract assets, net of current expected credit losses, which are classified as other current assets, net and other non-current assets, net on our Consolidated Balance Sheets (in millions):

December 31,
20242023
Contract assets, net of current expected credit losses$331$250

Contract assets represent our right to consideration for transferring goods or services to the customer under the terms of a sales contract when the associated consideration is not yet due and also include consideration paid to our customers that will reduce the amount of revenue recognized as the remaining performance obligations in the contract are satisfied. The change in contract assets as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 was primarily attributable to differences between the timing of revenue recognition and the receipt of consideration related to delivery of LNG under certain SPAs.

The following table reflects the changes in our contract liabilities, which are included in deferred revenue and other non-current liabilities on our Consolidated Balance Sheets (in millions):

Deferred revenue, beginning of period$294
Cash received but not yet recognized in revenue190
Revenue recognized from prior period deferral(166)
Deferred revenue, end of period$318

We record deferred revenue when we receive consideration, or such consideration is unconditionally due from a customer, prior to transferring goods or services to the customer under the terms of a sales contract. The change in deferred revenue as of December 31, 2024 and 2023 is primarily attributable to differences between the timing of revenue recognition and the receipt of advance payments related to delivery of LNG under certain SPAs.

Transaction Price Allocated to Future Performance Obligations

Because many of our sales contracts have long-term durations, we are contractually entitled to significant future consideration which we have not yet recognized as revenue. The following table discloses the aggregate amount of the transaction price that is allocated to performance obligations that have not yet been satisfied:

December 31, 2024December 31, 2023
Unsatisfied Transaction Price (in billions)Weighted Average Recognition Timing (years) (1)Unsatisfied Transaction Price (in billions)Weighted Average Recognition Timing (years) (1)
LNG revenues (2)$104.78$111.09
Regasification revenues0.530.73
Total revenues$105.2$111.7

(1)The weighted average recognition timing represents an estimate of the number of years during which we shall have recognized half of the unsatisfied transaction price.

(2)We may enter into contracts to sell LNG that are conditioned upon one or both of the parties achieving certain milestones such as reaching FID on a certain liquefaction Train, obtaining financing or achieving substantial completion of a Train and any related facilities. These contracts are included in the transaction price above when the conditions have been met and consideration is not otherwise constrained from ultimate pricing and receipt.

The following potential future sources of revenue are omitted from the table above under exemptions we have elected: (1) all performance obligations that are part of a contract that has an original expected duration of one year or less and (2) substantially all variable consideration under our SPAs and TUAs that is allocated entirely to a wholly unsatisfied performance obligation or to a wholly unsatisfied promise to transfer a distinct good or service that forms part of a single performance obligation when that performance obligation qualifies as a series. The amount of revenue from variable fees that is not included in the transaction price will vary based on the future prices of the underlying variable index, primarily Henry Hub, throughout the contract terms, to the extent customers elect to take delivery of their LNG, and adjustments to the consumer price index. Certain of our contracts contain additional variable consideration based on the outcome of contingent events and the movement of various indexes. We have not included such variable consideration in the transaction price to the extent the consideration is considered constrained due to the uncertainty of ultimate pricing and receipt.

The following table summarizes the percentage of variable consideration earned under contracts with customers included in the table above:

Year Ended December 31,
20242023
LNG revenues59%69%
Regasification revenues8%7%

NOTE 13—RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Below is a summary of our related party transactions, all in the ordinary course of business, as reported on our Consolidated Statements of Operations (in millions):

Year Ended December 31,
202420232022
Other revenues
Operating agreement and construction management agreement with equity method investee$9$107
Operating and maintenance expense
Natural gas transportation and storage agreements with equity method investees2499
Natural gas transportation and storage agreements with other related party (1)736272

(1)These arrangements are with a party who indirectly owns a portion of CQP’s limited partner interests.

During the year ended December 31, 2024, we sold certain physical assets to an equity method investee to support future natural gas transportation services to be provided to CCL involving such assets. We recognized the transaction as an exchange of other non-current assets totaling $34 million on our Consolidated Balance Sheets.

Below is a summary of our related party balances, all in the ordinary course of business, as reported on our Consolidated Balance Sheets (in millions):

December 31,
20242023
Trade and other receivables, net of current expected credit losses$4$3
Accrued liabilities86

NOTE 14—INCOME TAXES

The jurisdictional components of income before income taxes and non-controlling interests on our Consolidated Statements of Operations are as follows (in millions):

Year Ended December 31,
202420232022
U.S.$4,696$11,176$(1,575)
International6073,4024,669
Total income before income taxes and non-controlling interests$5,303$14,578$3,094

Income tax provision included in our reported net income consisted of the following (in millions):

Year Ended December 31,
202420232022
Current:
Federal$471$130$6
State212
Foreign8(1)11
Total current48113019
Deferred:
Federal3192,377320
State915118
Foreign2(3)2
Total deferred3302,389440
Total income tax provision$811$2,519$459

Our income tax rates do not bear a customary relationship to statutory income tax rates. A reconciliation of the federal statutory income tax rate of 21% to our effective income tax rate is as follows:

Year Ended December 31,
202420232022
U.S. federal statutory tax rate21.0%21.0%21.0%
Income not taxable to Cheniere(5.0)(3.1)(8.2)
Foreign-derived intangible income deduction(1.0)(0.7)(1.2)
Valuation allowance(0.7)—2.6
Other1.00.10.6
Effective tax rate as reported15.3%17.3%14.8%

Significant components of our deferred tax assets and liabilities are as follows (in millions):

December 31,
20242023
Deferred tax assets
Net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards
Federal$313$915
State119163
Tax Credits
CAMT carryforward383—
Other tax credits4033
Derivative instruments—98
Operating lease liabilities562550
Other306298
Less: valuation allowance (1)(110)(147)
Total deferred tax assets1,6131,910
Deferred tax liabilities
Investment in partnerships(305)(309)
Property, plant and equipment(2,459)(2,564)
Operating lease assets(548)(538)
Derivative instruments(108)—
Other(30)(18)
Total deferred tax liabilities(3,450)(3,429)
Net deferred tax liabilities$(1,837)$(1,519)

(1)Valuation allowance primarily relates to state NOL carryforward deferred tax assets and decreased by $37 million during the year ended December 31, 2024 primarily due to the reduced Louisiana corporate tax rate beginning January 1, 2025. The valuation allowance increased by $4 million and $80 million during the years ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.

NOL and tax credit carryforwards

Louisiana enacted legislation during the fourth quarter of 2024 which reduced the corporate tax rate from 7.5% to 5.5% beginning in 2025. As a result of such legislation, we remeasured our Louisiana deferred tax assets and liabilities at year end, resulting in a $43 million reduction to our Louisiana net deferred tax assets and $38 million reduction to our valuation allowance.

As of December 31, 2024, we had federal and state NOL carryforwards of approximately $1.5 billion and $2.2 billion, respectively. All of our NOLs have an indefinite carryforward period.

As of December 31, 2024, our CAMT credit carryforward has an indefinite life and our other tax credits expire between 2028 and 2034.

Our NOL and tax credit carryforwards are not subject to, nor impacted by, any prior tax ownership change. We continue to monitor public trading activity in our shares to identify potential tax ownership changes that could impact our timing and ability to utilize such attributes.

Unrecognized Tax Benefits

As of December 31, 2024, we had unrecognized tax benefits of $72 million. If recognized, $65 million of unrecognized tax benefits would affect our effective tax rate in future periods. Interest and penalties related to income tax matters are recognized as part of income tax expense. Interest recognized as part of income tax provision was $6 million and $4 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively, and cumulative accrued interest was $10 million and $4 million as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively. There wereno penalties associated with liabilities for unrecognized tax benefits recorded for the years ended December 31, 2024 and 2023. We do not expect the amount of our existing unrecognized tax benefit to significantly increase or decrease within the next 12 months.

We are subject to tax in the U.S. and various state and foreign jurisdictions and we are subject to periodic audits and reviews by taxing authorities. Federal and United Kingdom tax returns for the years after 2017 and state tax returns for the years after 2020 remain open for examination. Tax authorities may have the ability to review and adjust carryover attributes that were generated prior to these periods if utilized in an open tax year.

A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amounts of our unrecognized tax benefits is as follows (in millions):

Year Ended December 31,
20242023
Balance at beginning of the year$73$74
Reductions for tax positions of prior years(1)(1)
Balance at end of the year$72$73

NOTE 15—SHARE-BASED COMPENSATION

Our Amended and Restated 2020 Incentive Plan (the“2020 Plan”) is a broad-based incentive plan which allows for the issuance of stock options and stock appreciation rights and awards of bonus stock, phantom stock, restricted stock, restricted stock units and performance awards and other stock-based awards to employees, consultants and non-employee directors. The 2020 Plan provides for the issuance of 12.5 million shares of our common stock, of which we had 7.6 million shares available for future issuance as of December 31, 2024. Our outstanding awards as of December 31, 2024 primarily consisted of restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and performance stock units (“PSUs”).

Restricted Stock Units

RSUs are stock awards that contain a graded vesting period of up tothree years and, with the exception of awards to certain officers which contain a cash settlement option, as described in Liability-Classified Awards below, will settle in stock upon vesting subject to restrictions on transfer and to a risk of forfeiture if the recipient terminates employment with us prior to the lapse of the restrictions.

Performance Stock Units

PSUs provide for cliff vesting after a period of approximately three years with payouts dependent upon the achievement of metrics compared to pre-established performance targets over the defined performance period, including a performance condition consisting of cumulative distributable cash flow per share, and in certain circumstances, a market condition consisting of absolute total shareholder return (“ATSR”) of our common stock. All PSUs will settle in stock, with the exception of awards to certain officers which contain cash settlement features, either as granted or modified, as described in Liability-Classified Awards below.

Compensation cost attributed to the performance metric will vary due to changing estimates of units to be earned, based on expected achievement of the performance metric. The number of units that may be earned at the end of the vesting period ranges from 0% up to 300% of the target award amount.

Liability-Classified Awards

RSUs and PSUs granted to certain officers may be, as granted or modified, settled in cash in lieu of shares at the option of the officer following approval by the Compensation Committee, in order to limit the dilution from equity grants consistent with our share repurchase program under our long-term capital allocation plan, provided that we have sufficient liquidity to do so and the officers maintain certain stock ownership requirements. Notwithstanding those awards which contain a cash settlement option, PSUs granted to certain officers contain a cash settlement cap of $3 million.

During the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, we paid $109 million, $84 million and $38 million, respectively, in cash upon vesting of the liability-classified awards.

Total share-based compensation costs, net of forfeitures, consisted of the following (in millions):

Year Ended December 31,
202420232022
Share-based compensation costs before income taxes:
Equity awards$121$100$112
Liability awards10115597
Total share-based compensation222255209
Capitalized share-based compensation(7)(5)(4)
Total share-based compensation expense before income taxes$215$250$205
Tax benefit associated with share-based compensation costs$46$54$48

The table below provides a summary of activity related to our RSUs and PSUs (in millions, except for per unit information):

Restricted Stock Units · Performance Stock Units
Equity AwardsLiability AwardsEquity AwardsLiability Awards
UnitsWeighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per UnitUnitsWeighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per UnitUnitsWeighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per UnitUnitsWeighted Average Grant Date Fair Value Per Unit
Non-vested at January 1, 20241.6$123.240.2$182.150.5$124.190.6$261.24
Granted (1)0.6159.880.0214.870.2170.89——
Incremental units achieved (2)————0.1159.98——
Forfeited0.0149.36——————
Reclassifications (3)(0.1)146.670.1205.21(0.2)158.770.2271.19
Vested (4)(0.8)108.69(0.1)167.20(0.2)69.14(0.3)252.30
Non-vested at December 31, 20241.3$149.520.2$214.870.4$153.070.5$298.22

(1)The Equity Awards column for PSUs includes 0.1 million PSUs granted in 2024 to certain officers containing a cash settlement cap of $3 million.

(2)Represents incremental units recognized as a result of final performance measures or changes in estimated measures. As of December 31, 2024, there were 0.2 million PSUs that would be issued if the maximum level of performance under the target awards amount is achieved.

(3)During the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, we recognized $14 million, $86 million and $56 million, respectively, in incremental expense as a result of significant modifications involving reclassification between equity awards and liability awards, attributable toseven, six andsix employees, respectively.

(4)The total fair value of RSUs and PSUs vested was $171 million and $112 million, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 2024.

The table below provides the assumptions used in estimating the fair value of unvested awards containing market conditions as of the end of the respective periods, and for which the performance period had not yet ended:

Year Ended December 31,
202420232022
Fair value assumptions:
Dividend yield (1)—%—%—%
Expected volatility (2)(3)21.5% - 24.3%27.5% - 32.7%36.4% - 40.2%
Weighted average expected volatility22.9%29.9%38.6%
Risk-free interest rate (2)4.2% - 4.3%4.2% - 4.8%4.4% - 4.7%
Weighted average expected remaining term, in years1.51.51.4

(1)The performance stock units are entitled to dividend equivalents during the performance period. Therefore, when calculating simulated returns, we applied an annual dividend yield ofzero percent.

(2)Represents the range associated with individual vesting years.

(3)The expected volatility is based on historical and implied volatilities of our common stock price.

The total unrecognized compensation cost at December 31, 2024 relating to non-vested share-based compensation arrangements was $157 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted average period of 1.3 years.

NOTE 16—EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN

We have a defined contribution plan (“401(k) Plan”) which allows eligible employees to contribute up to 75% of their compensation up to the Internal Revenue Service maximum. We match each employee’s deferrals (contributions) up to 6% of compensation and may make additional contributions at our discretion. Employees are immediately vested in the contributions made by us. Our contributions to the 401(k) Plan were $18 million, $17 million and $16 million for of the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. We have madeno discretionary contributions to the 401(k) Plan to date.

NOTE 17—NET INCOME PER SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO COMMON STOCKHOLDERS

The following table reconciles basic and diluted weighted average common shares outstanding and common stock dividends declared (in millions, except per share data):

Year Ended December 31,
202420232022
Net income attributable to Cheniere$3,252$9,881$1,428
Weighted average common shares outstanding:
Basic228.4241.0251.1
Dilutive unvested stock0.71.62.3
Diluted229.1242.6253.4
Net income per share attributable to common stockholders—basic (1)$14.24$40.99$5.69
Net income per share attributable to common stockholders—diluted (1)$14.20$40.72$5.64

(1)Earnings per share in the table may not recalculate exactly due to rounding because it is calculated based on whole numbers, not the rounded numbers presented.

On January 28, 2025, we declared a quarterly dividend of $0.50 per share of common stock that is payable on February 21, 2025 to stockholders of record as of the close of business on February 7, 2025.

During the year ended December 31, 2022,0.3 million shares of potentially dilutive securities related to the 4.25% Convertible Senior Notes due 2045 (the“2045 Cheniere Convertible Senior Notes”) were excluded from the diluted net income per share computation because their effects would have been anti-dilutive. The 2045 Cheniere Convertible Senior Notes were redeemed or converted in cash on January 5, 2022. However, the adoption of ASU 2020-06 on January 1, 2022 required a presumption of share settlement for the purpose of calculating the impact to diluted earnings per share during the period the notes were outstanding in 2022. Such impact was anti-dilutive as a result of the reported net loss attributable to common stockholders during the 2022 period.

NOTE 18—SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAMS

The following table presents information with respect to common stock repurchased under our share repurchase program (in millions, except per share data):

Year Ended December 31,
202420232022
Total shares repurchased13.759.549.35
Weighted average price paid per share$163.72$155.50$146.88
Total cost of repurchases (1)$2,251$1,484$1,373

(1)Amount excludes associated commission fees and excise taxes incurred, which are excluded costs under the repurchase program.

As of December 31, 2024, we had approximately $3.9 billion remaining under our share repurchase program, subsequent to authorization by our Board of Directors to increase our previous authorization by $4.0 billion on June 14, 2024. Our share repurchase program authorization is effective through December 31, 2027.

NOTE 19—COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Commitments

We have various future contractual commitments which do not meet the definition of a liability as of December 31, 2024 and thus are not recognized as liabilities in our Consolidated Financial Statements. Executed contracts containing such future commitments include agreements for capital expenditures, the use of LNG vessels contracted for future delivery, natural gas transportation and storage services, goods and services necessary to operate our Liquefaction Projects and letters of credit.

CCL has a contractual commitment under a lump sum turnkey contract with Bechtel Energy Inc. (“Bechtel”) for the engineering, procurement and construction of the Corpus Christi Stage 3 Project. As of December 31, 2024, the total contract price of the EPC contract was approximately $6.0 billion, inclusive of amounts incurred under change orders, of which we had approximately $1.9 billion remaining obligations under this contract. Additionally, we had approximately $0.3 billion in contractual commitments under other construction agreements in support of our Liquefaction Projects as of December 31, 2024.

Environmental and Regulatory Matters

Our LNG terminals and pipelines are subject to extensive regulation under federal, state and local statutes, rules, regulations and laws. These laws require that we engage in consultations with appropriate federal and state agencies and that we obtain and maintain applicable permits and other authorizations. Failure to comply with such laws could result in legal proceedings, which may include substantial penalties. We believe that, based on currently known information, compliance with these laws and regulations will not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.

We are, and may in the future be, involved as a party to various legal proceedings, which are incidental to the ordinary course of business. We regularly analyze current information and, as necessary, provide accruals for probable liabilities on the eventual disposition of these matters. We recognize legal costs in connection with legal and regulatory matters as they are incurred. While the results of these litigation matters and claims cannot be predicted with certainty, we believe the reasonably possible losses from such matters, individually and in the aggregate, are not material. Additionally, we believe the probable final outcome of such matters will not have a material impact on our operating results, financial position or cash flows.

NOTE 20—SEGMENT INFORMATION AND CUSTOMER CONCENTRATION

We have determined that we operate as a single operating and reportable segment. Our executive team is organized by function, rather than legal entity or discrete financial data oversight, with no business component managers reporting to the chief operating decision maker (“CODM”), who is our president and chief executive officer. The CODM regularly analyzes financial and operational data on a single basis of segmentation at the consolidated level, consistent with our integrated service offering, in order to allocate resources and assess performance.

The measure of profit and loss regularly provided to the CODM that is most consistent with GAAP is net income attributable to Cheniere, as presented in our Consolidated Statements of Operations. This measure contributes to the CODM’s assessment of performance and resource allocation, which includes monitoring of budget versus actual results, establishing compensation and deciding on capital allocation priorities. Significant expenses regularly provided to the CODM, and included in the measure of profit and loss, are the following consolidated expenses as reported in our Consolidated Statements of Operations: (1) cost of sales, (2) operating and maintenance expense and (3) selling, general and administrative expense. Included in the measure of profit and loss is a significant noncash item of changes in the fair value of our derivative instruments, which was $1.3 billion in gains, $8.0 billion in gains and $5.7 billion in losses for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively. Interest income was $188 million, $206 million and $48 million for the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, respectively, which is included in interest and dividend income on our Consolidated Statements of Operations.

The measure of segment assets is reported on our Consolidated Balance Sheets as total assets. Substantially all of our tangible long-lived assets, which consist of property, plant and equipment, are located in the United States. Total expenditures for additions to long-lived assets is reported on our Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows.

For the years ended December 31, 2024, 2023 and 2022, we hadno customers with revenues in excess of 10% of total revenues. We hadone customer with balance of trade and other receivables and contract assets, both net of current expected credit losses, representing 20% and 13% of total trade and other receivables and contract assets, both net of current expected credit losses, as of December 31, 2024 and 2023, respectively.

The following table shows revenues from external customers attributable to the country in which the revenues were derived (in millions). We attribute revenues from external customers to the country in which the party to the applicable agreement has its principal place of business.

Revenues from External Customers
Year Ended December 31,
202420232022
United States$2,472$2,868$5,213
Singapore1,9913,4073,273
Ireland1,4311,5962,726
United Kingdom1,3172,9084,642
South Korea1,1781,5032,225
Spain1,1751,3572,226
India1,0151,1662,109
Switzerland8745341,725
China854667552
Taiwan7208281,223
Other countries2,6763,5607,514
Total$15,703$20,394$33,428

NOTE 21—SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW INFORMATION

The following table provides supplemental disclosure of substantive cash flow information (in millions):

Year Ended December 31,
202420232022
Cash paid during the period for interest on debt, net of amounts capitalized$1,075$1,032$891
Cash paid (refunded) for income taxes, net(92)11730
Non-cash investing activity:
Unpaid purchases of property, plant and equipment (1)256204181
Conveyance of property, plant and equipment in exchange for other non-current assets——17
Conveyance of other non-current assets to equity method investee in exchange for equity method investment or infrastructure support3430—
Non-cash financing activity (1):
Unpaid excise taxes on repurchase of common stock2113—
Unpaid repurchase on common stock—10—
Unpaid dividends on common stock—34

(1)Reflects unpaid portion, as of the end of each period, of assets and liabilities recognized during the respective periods.

See Note 11—Leases for supplemental cash flow information related to our leases.

ContentsView on SEC.gov

The text of this filing, as the company filed it with the SEC, without its images or exhibits. This is not investment advice.