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Cheniere Energy Inc · S-1/A · On 10/2/96

Filed On 10/2/96   ·   SEC File 333-10905   ·   Accession Number 899243-96-1283

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  As Of               Filer                 Filing     On/For/As Docs:Pgs              Issuer               Agent

10/02/96  Cheniere Energy Inc               S-1/A                  2:79                                     899243

Pre-Effective Amendment to Registration Statement (General Form)   ·   Form S-1
Filing Table of Contents

Document/Exhibit                   Description                      Pages   Size 

 1: S-1/A       Pre-Effective Amendment to Registration Statement     78    385K 
                          (General Form)                                         
 2: EX-23.4     Consent of Independent Public Accountants              1      4K 


S-1/A   ·   Pre-Effective Amendment to Registration Statement (General Form)
Document Table of Contents

Page (sequential) | (alphabetic) Top
 
11st Page
3Summary
"The Company
5Risk Factors
9United States Governmental Regulation, Taxation and Price Control
10Use of Proceeds
"Capitalization
11Market Price and Dividend Information
12Selected Financial Data
13Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
"Liquidity and Capital Resources
14Business and Properties
163-D Joint Venture Exploration Agreement
19Permit and Lease Status within the Survey AMI
21Competition and Markets
"Governmental Regulation
24Operational Risks and Insurance
26Management
28Description of Capital Stock
"Common Stock
29Preferred Stock
"Warrants
31Selling Stockholders
32Principal Stockholders
"Plan of Distribution
33Legal Matters
"Experts
34Available Information
73Item 13. Other Expenses of Issuance and Distribution
"Item 14. Indemnification of Directors and Officers
74Item 15. Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities
75Item 16. Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules
"Item 17. Undertakings
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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October 2, 1996 Registration No. 333-10905 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549 POST-EFFECTIVE AMMENDMENT NO. 1 TO FORM S-1 REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 CHENIERE ENERGY, INC. (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter) · Enlarge/Download Table DELAWARE 1382 95-4352386 (State or other jurisdiction (Primary Standard (I.R.S. Employer of incorporation or organization) Industrial Classification Code Number) Identification No.) TWO ALLEN CENTER 1200 SMITH STREET, SUITE 1710 HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002-4312 (713) 659-1361 (Address, including zip code and telephone number, including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices) WILLIAM D. FORSTER PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER CHENIERE ENERGY, INC. TWO ALLEN CENTER 1200 SMITH STREET, SUITE 1710 HOUSTON TEXAS 77002-4312 (713) 659-1361 (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service) Copies of all communications, including all communications sent to the agent for service, should be sent to: CAMILLE ABOUSLEIMAN, ESQ. DEWEY BALLANTINE 1301 AVENUE OF THE AMERICAS NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10019 (212) 259-8000 APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement. If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, check the following box: [X] If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering: [ ]_________________ If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering: [ ] _________________ If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434, please check the following box: [ ]
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PROSPECTUS 2,844,211 SHARES CHENIERE ENERGY, INC. COMMON STOCK (PAR VALUE $.003 PER SHARE) This Prospectus relates to 2,844,211 shares of issued and outstanding common stock of Cheniere Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company" or "Cheniere"), par value $.003 per share (the "Common Stock"). The Common Stock was originally issued by Cheniere to certain holders of shares of common stock of Cheniere Energy Operating Co., Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cheniere, and to an "accredited investor" (as defined in Rule 501(a) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act")), pursuant to Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act. See "Description of Capital Stock". The Common Stock (ticker symbol "CHEX") is traded on the over-the-counter market and quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board (the "Bulletin Board"). On September 27, 1996, the last reported sale price of the Common Stock on the Bulletin Board was $3.125 per share. The Common Stock has been registered for sale by Selling Stockholders (as defined herein) and may be offered by Selling Stockholders from time to time in transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions or a combination of such methods of sale, in each such case, at fixed prices which may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to prevailing market prices, or at negotiated prices. The Selling Stockholders may effect such transactions by selling shares of the Common Stock to or through broker-dealers, and such broker-dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from Selling Stockholders and/or purchasers of the Common Stock for whom such broker-dealers may act as agents or to whom they sell as principals, or both (which compensation as to a particular broker-dealer might be in excess of customary commissions). To the extent required, shares of the Common Stock, the name of the Selling Stockholder, the public offering price, the names of any such agent, dealer or underwriter, and any applicable commission or discount with respect to any particular offer will be set forth in an accompanying Prospectus Supplement. See "Selling Stockholders" and "Plan of Distribution". None of the proceeds from the sale of the Common Stock will be received by the Company. The Company has agreed, among other things, to bear all expenses (other than underwriting discounts and commissions, fees and expenses of investment bankers and brokerage commissions) incurred in connection with the registration and sale of the Common Stock covered by this Prospectus, including, without limitation, all registration, listing and qualification fees, printers and accounting fees and fees and disbursements of counsel to the Company. SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE 4 FOR A DISCUSSION OF CERTAIN FACTORS THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED IN CONNECTION WITH AN INVESTMENT IN THE SECURITIES OFFERED HEREBY. THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. The date of this Prospectus is October ___,1996
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SUMMARY The following summary is qualified in its entirety by the detailed information and financial statements and the notes thereto appearing elsewhere in this Prospectus. THE COMPANY GENERAL Cheniere Energy, Inc., a holding company ("Cheniere," together with Cheniere Operating (as defined below), the "Company"), is the owner of 100% of the outstanding common stock of Cheniere Energy Operating Co., Inc. ("Cheniere Operating"). Cheniere Operating is a Houston-based company formed for the purpose of oil and gas exploration and exploitation. The Company is currently involved in a joint exploration program which is engaged in the exploration for oil and natural gas along the Gulf Coast of Louisiana, onshore and in the shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The Company commenced its oil and gas activities through such joint program in April 1996. The Company is involved with one major project in the pre-drilling stage. The Company has entered into a joint exploration program pursuant to an Exploration Agreement between the Company and Zydeco Exploration, Inc. ("Zydeco"), an operating subsidiary of Zydeco Energy, Inc. (the "Exploration Agreement"), with regard to a new proprietary 3-D seismic exploration project in southern Louisiana (the "3-D Joint Venture"). The Company has the right to earn up to a 50% participation in the 3-D Joint Venture. The Company believes that the 3-D seismic survey (the "Survey") is the first of its size within the Transition Zone of Louisiana, an area extending a few miles on either side of the Louisiana State coastline. The Survey is to be conducted over certain areas located within a total area of approximately 255 square miles running 5 miles south and generally 3 to 5 miles north of the coastline in the most westerly 28 miles of West Cameron Parish, Louisiana (the "Survey AMI"). The 3-D Joint Venture does not currently have rights to survey the entire Survey AMI and the extent of the Survey AMI which the 3-D Joint Venture will be entitled to survey is dependent upon its ability to obtain survey permits and similar rights. Currently, the 3-D Joint Venture has permits and similar rights to survey approximately 67% of the Survey AMI and is attempting to acquire rights to Survey additional portions of the Survey AMI. There is no assurance that the 3-D Joint Venture will successfully obtain rights to survey additional portions of the Survey AMI. The 3-D Joint Venture will survey specific sections selected by it within the areas covered by such permits and rights. A seismic data acquisition contract has been signed and the 3-D Joint Venture has begun to conduct the survey. On July 26, 1996, the Company signed a Letter of Intent with Poseidon Petroleum, LLC ("Poseidon") to purchase Poseidon's 47% working interest in undeveloped reserves in the Bonito Unit of the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf, offshore Santa Barbara County, California (the "Poseidon Interest"). The parties are conducting due diligence and are negotiating a definitive purchase and sale agreement and related documentation. The transactions contemplated in the Letter of Intent may be terminated by either party upon the occurrence of certain events and there can be no assurance that the Company will successfully consummate such transactions. Moreover, if such transactions are consummated, the Company expects that development of the reserves will not occur for at least five years. There can be no assurance that the Company will successfully develop the reserves or that the reserves will yield sufficient quantities of oil and gas to be economically viable. The Company has not yet established oil and gas production, nor has it booked proven oil and gas reserves. 2
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BUSINESS STRATEGY The Company's objective is to expand the net value of its assets by growing its oil and gas reserves in a cost efficient manner. The Company intends to pursue this objective by following an integrated strategy that includes the following elements: . FOCUS ON FEW PROJECTS WITH LARGE RESERVE POTENTIAL. Louisiana Gulf Coast Transition Zone. The Company's current activities are focused within one area, the Transition Zone of Louisiana. The Company believes that the Transition Zone, including the westernmost 28 miles of Louisiana coastline that are within the Survey AMI, has significant remaining undiscovered reserves. The 3-D Joint Venture therefore plans to focus its efforts on certain areas, all located within the Survey AMI. In addition, the substantial infrastructure along the Gulf Coast and in the shallow Gulf of Mexico permits the Company to lower its operating costs compared to those in other geographic regions and facilitates the timely development of oil and gas discoveries. The Company's officers and Zydeco have extensive experience both onshore and offshore in the Gulf Coast and believe the 3-D Joint Venture is well positioned to evaluate, explore and develop properties in the area. Offshore California. The Company has signed a Letter of Intent with Poseidon to purchase Poseidon's 47% working interest in undeveloped reserves in the Bonito Unit of the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf, offshore Santa Barbara County, California. An independent reserve report is being prepared to determine an estimate of the volume of undeveloped oil and gas reserves attributable to the Poseidon Interest. The parties are conducting due diligence and are negotiating a definitive purchase and sale agreement and related documentation. The transactions contemplated in the Letter of Intent may be terminated by either party upon the occurrence of certain events and there can be no assurance that the Company will successfully consummate the transactions contemplated by the Letter of Intent with Poseidon. Moreover, if such transactions are consummated, the Company expects that development of the reserves will not occur for at least five years. There can be no assurance that the Company will successfully develop the reserves or that the reserves will yield sufficient quantities of oil and gas to be economically viable. . MAINTAIN A SIGNIFICANT WORKING INTEREST IN EACH PROJECT. The Company has the right to earn up to a 50% participation in the 3-D Joint Venture. Under the terms of the Exploration Agreement, the Company must timely meet its payment obligations to the 3-D Joint Venture in order to reach a 50% participation. The Company does not intend to be an operator in the area, but intends to maintain a significant working interest to better leverage its administrative and technical resources and to better influence operator decisions. . UTILIZE THE LATEST EXPLORATION, DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY. The Company intends to use the latest technology to enhance the efficiency and economy of its exploration, development and production efforts. These include the use of advanced 3-D seismic acquisition and processing techniques in the Survey AMI. . CONTROL OVERHEAD COSTS. The Company plans to maintain a small, but experienced working staff, and to leverage their talents by focusing on a relatively few projects which have high reserve potential in which it can obtain a high working interest, and to employ outside consultants and seek industry partners with the appropriate geographic and technical experience. Currently, the Company has no employees other than its executive officers and one administrative assistant. 3
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RISK FACTORS An investment in the common stock, par value $.003 per share, of the Company (the "Common Stock") involves a significant degree of risk. The following factors, together with the information provided elsewhere in this Prospectus, should be considered carefully in evaluating an investment in the Common Stock of the Company. FACTORS RELATING TO THE COMPANY Limited Operating History Cheniere Energy, Inc., a holding company ("Cheniere," together with Cheniere Operating (as defined below), the "Company"), is the owner of 100% of the outstanding common stock of Cheniere Energy Operating Co., Inc. ("Cheniere Operating"). The Company has a limited operating history with respect to its oil and gas exploration activities which were commenced through a joint exploration program in April 1996 by Cheniere Operating. Following a reorganization with Bexy Communications, Inc. ("Bexy"), Cheniere Operating became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Cheniere. During the fiscal year ended August 31, 1996, the Company incurred net losses of $286,819. The Company is likely to continue to incur losses during 1997, and possibly beyond, depending on whether it generates sufficient revenue from producing reserves acquired either through acquisitions or drilling activities. Limited Assets The Company has not yet established oil and gas production, nor has it booked proven oil and gas reserves. Currently, the Company's primary asset is its interest in a joint exploration program pursuant to an Exploration Agreement (the "Exploration Agreement") between the Company and Zydeco Exploration, Inc. ("Zydeco") with regard to a new proprietary 3-D seismic exploration project in Southern Louisiana (the "3-D Joint Venture"). Therefore, the Company is highly dependent on the success of the 3-D Joint Venture and the Company's ability to acquire operating assets in the future. While the Company has signed a Letter of Intent to purchase a working interest in undeveloped reserves in the Bonito Unit of the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf, offshore Santa Barbara County, there is no assurance that the Company will successfully consummate the transactions contemplated by such Letter of Intent. Moreover, if such transactions are consummated, the Company expects that development of the reserves will not occur for at least five years. There can be no assurance that the Company will successfully develop the reserves or that the reserves will yield sufficient quantities of oil and gas to be economically viable. See "Business and Properties." Need for Additional Financing The Company presently has no operating revenues and does not expect to generate substantial operating revenues in the foreseeable future. It is expected that the Company will need substantial additional capital in order to sustain operations and to timely make required payments to the 3-D Joint Venture and to holders of outstanding promissory notes of the Company. Such additional capital will also be necessary in order for the Company to acquire additional oil and gas leases, producing properties or to drill wells on potential prospects. Additional capital may be secured from a combination of funding sources that may include borrowings from financial institutions, debt offerings (which would increase the leverage of the Company and add to its need for cash to service such debt), additional offerings of the Company's equity securities (which could cause substantial dilution of the Common Stock), or sales of portions of the Company's interest in the 3-D Joint Venture (which would reduce any future revenues from the 3-D Joint Venture). The Company's ability to access additional capital will depend on its results of operations and the status of various capital markets at the time such additional capital is sought. Accordingly, there can be no assurances that capital will be available to the Company from any source or that, if available, it will be on terms acceptable to the Company. Should sufficient additional financing not be available, the Company will be unable to make required payments to the 3-D Joint Venture and/or to holders of outstanding promissory notes of the Company. See "Management Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Liquidity and Capital Resources." 4
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Timeliness of 3-D Joint Venture Payments Under the terms of the Exploration Agreement, the Company is required to make monthly payments to the 3-D Joint Venture aggregating, at least, $13 million, $5 million of which has been paid by the Company to date. The Company's potential participation in the 3-D Joint Venture could be significantly reduced in the event of a failure by the Company to make such required monthly payments when due. The Company has in the past failed to make such payments when due. While the Company has in such instances succeeded in obtaining waivers under, and amendments to, the Exploration Agreement extending the due dates for such payments, there can be no assurance that the Company will successfully obtain similar amendments should it fail to timely make required payments to the 3-D Joint Venture in the future. The Company currently does not have sufficient capital to meet its future payment obligations and there can be no assurance that the Company will successfully secure the necessary funds. See "Business and Properties - 3-D Joint Venture Exploration Agreement." Potential Acquisition of Working Interest in California Offshore Oil Reserves On July 26, 1996 the Company signed a Letter of Intent to purchase a 47% working interest in undeveloped reserves in the Bonito Unit of the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf, offshore Santa Barbara County, California. The parties are currently conducting due diligence and are in the process of negotiating a definitive purchase and sale agreement. The transactions contemplated in the Letter of Intent may be terminated by either party upon the occurrence of certain events and there can be no assurance that the Company will consummate such transactions. Moreover, if such transactions are consummated, the Company expects that development of the reserves will not occur for at least five years. There can be no assurance that the Company will successfully develop the reserves or that the reserves will yield sufficient quantities of oil and gas to be economically viable. See "Business and Properties." Lack of Liquidity of the Common Stock There is currently limited liquidity in the trading of the Common Stock. The completion of the offering of the Common Stock provides no assurance that the trading market for the Common Stock will become more active. The Company intends to apply for a Nasdaq SmallCap Market listing as soon as is practicable. There can be no assurance that the Company will qualify for such listing. Possible Issuance of Additional Shares The Company's Certificate of Incorporation authorizes the issuance of 20,000,000 shares of the Common Stock. As of September 27, 1996, approximately 50% of the shares of the Common Stock remained unissued. The Company's Board of Directors has the power to issue any and all of such shares without shareholder approval. It is likely that the Company will issue shares of the Common Stock, among other reasons, in order to raise capital to sustain operations, make required payments to the 3-D Joint Venture and/or to finance future oil and gas exploration projects. In addition, the Company has reserved 309,666 and 2/3 shares of the Common Stock for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding warrants and 319,444 and 2/3 5
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shares of the Common Stock for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options and has agreed to issue additional warrants to purchase 12,500 shares of the Common Stock. The Company has also agreed to issue 105,000 shares of the Common Stock in exchange for certain outstanding promissory notes of Cheniere Operating (See "Management Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Liquidity and Capital Resources"). Any issuance of the Common Stock by the Company may result in a reduction in the book value per share or market price per share of the outstanding shares of the Common Stock and will reduce the proportionate ownership and voting power of such shares. See "Description of Capital Stock." Dependence on Key Personnel The Company is dependent upon its executive officers for its various activities. The Company does not maintain "key person" life insurance policies on any of its personnel nor does it have employment agreements with any of its personnel. The loss of the services of any of these individuals could materially and adversely affect the Company. In addition, the Company's future success will depend in part upon its ability to attract and retain additional qualified personnel. Other than its officers, the Company has only one full-time employee, an administrative assistant. Dependence on Industry Partners The future success of the 3-D Joint Venture is largely dependent upon the experience and performance of Zydeco. As the Company has few employees and limited operating revenues, the Company will be largely dependent upon industry partners for the success of its oil and gas exploration projects for the foreseeable future. Control by Principal Stockholders William D. Forster, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and BSR Investments, Ltd. ("BSR"), an entity under the control of a member of the immediate family of Charif Souki, Secretary and a director of the Company, own in the aggregate approximately 54.3% of the outstanding Common Stock. Accordingly, Mr. Forster and BSR will be able to elect all of the directors of the Company and to control the Company's management, operations and affairs, including the ability to effectively prevent or cause a change in control of the Company. FACTORS RELATING TO THE 3-D JOINT VENTURE Ability to Obtain Permits The 3-D Joint Venture will conduct a 3-D seismic survey (the "Survey") over certain areas located within a total area of approximately 255 square miles running 5 miles south and generally 3 to 5 miles north of the coastline in the most westerly 28 miles of West Cameron Parish, Louisiana (the "Survey AMI"). The 3-D Joint Venture does not currently have rights to survey the entire Survey AMI and the extent of the Survey AMI which the 3-D Joint Venture will be entitled to survey is dependent upon its ability to obtain survey permits and similar rights. Currently, the 3-D Joint Venture has rights to survey approximately 67% of the Survey AMI and is attempting to acquire rights to survey additional portions of the Survey AMI. There can be no assurance that the 3-D Joint Venture will successfully obtain permits or rights to survey additional portions of the Survey AMI. Louisiana State Waters - Timing Risks Among certain other rights, the 3-D Joint Venture currently has the exclusive right to shoot and gather seismic data over 51,360 net acres of Louisiana State waters, located in the Western half of West Cameron Parish, Louisiana and constituting a sub-area of the Survey AMI and to nominate for lease any acreage in such State waters (the "Louisiana Seismic Permit"). The Louisiana Seismic Permit expires in August 1997, but may be extended at Zydeco's option for an additional six months to February 1998 by payment of an additional fee of $391,876.80. By December 1997, the 3-D Joint Venture is scheduled to complete the Survey, process and interpret the Survey data, nominate and bid for leases, propose and contract for drilling, and commence drilling its first set of prospects. Under the terms of the Louisiana Seismic Permit, the 3-D Joint Venture will be liable to pay penalties of $783,753.60 in the event it fails to (i) complete the acquisition of 6
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the seismic data covering the entire area subject to the Louisiana Seismic Permit or (ii) provide access to such data to the State of Louisiana in a timely manner. Under the terms of the Exploration Agreement, any such penalties payable under the Louisiana Seismic Permit shall be borne equally by Zydeco and the Company. There can be no assurance that the 3-D Joint Venture will complete its scheduled activities within the time period required under the Louisiana Seismic Permit. Failure of the 3-D Joint Venture to complete its scheduled activities within the term of the Louisiana Seismic Permit would materially and adversely affect the value of the Company's interest in the 3-D Joint Venture. See "Business and Properties - Permit and Lease Status within the Survey AMI." FACTORS RELATING TO THE OIL AND GAS INDUSTRY Operating Risks The oil and gas operations of the Company are subject to all of the risks and hazards typically associated with the exploration for, and the development and production of, oil and gas. Risks in drilling operations include cratering, explosions, uncontrollable flows of oil, gas or well fluids, fires, pollution and other environmental risks. The Company's activities are also subject to perils specific to marine operations, such as capsizing, collision, and damage or loss from severe weather. These hazards can cause personal injury and loss of life, severe damage to and destruction of property and equipment, pollution or environmental damage and suspension of operations. In accordance with customary industry practices, the Company intends to maintain insurance against some, but not all, of such risks and some, but not all, of such losses. The occurrence of a significant event not fully insured or indemnified against could materially and adversely affect the Company's financial condition and operations. Moreover, no assurance can be given that the Company will be able to maintain adequate insurance in the future at rates considered reasonable by the Company. See "Business and Properties - Operational Risks and Insurance." Exploration Risks The Company's exploration activities involve significant risks. There can be no assurance that the use of technical expertise as applied to geophysical or geological data will ensure that any well will encounter hydrocarbons. Further, there is no way to know in advance of drilling and testing whether any prospect encountering hydrocarbons in the Survey AMI by the 3-D Joint Venture will yield oil or gas in sufficient quantities to be economically viable. In addition, the Company is highly dependent upon seismic activity and the related application of new technology as a primary exploration methodology. There can be no assurance that the 3-D Joint Venture's efforts will be successful. See "Business and Properties." High Dependence upon Lease Acquisition Activities Both the United States Department of the Interior and the State of Louisiana award oil and gas leases on a competitive bidding basis and non- governmental owners of the onshore mineral interests within the Survey AMI are not obligated to lease their mineral rights to the 3-D Joint Venture except to the extent they have granted lease options to the 3-D Joint Venture. Other major and independent oil and gas companies having financial resources significantly greater than those of the 3-D Joint Venture may bid against the 3-D Joint Venture for the purchase of oil and gas leases. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the 3-D Joint Venture or any other oil and gas venture of the Company will be successful in acquiring farmouts, seismic permits, lease options, leases or other rights to explore or recover oil and gas. Consequently, the proportion of the Survey AMI which could be surveyed or subsequently explored through drilling would be reduced to the extent that the 3-D Joint Venture is not successful at such acquisitions. See "Business and Properties - Permit and Lease Status within the Survey AMI." Lack of Diversification; Oil and Gas Industry Conditions; Volatility of Prices for Oil and Gas As an independent energy company, the Company's revenues and profits will be substantially dependent on the oil and gas industry in general and the prevailing prices for oil and gas in particular. Oil and gas prices have been and are likely to continue to be volatile and subject to wide fluctuations in response to any of the following factors: relatively minor changes in the supply of and demand for oil and gas; market uncertainty; political conditions in international oil producing regions; the extent of domestic production and importation of oil in certain relevant markets; the level of consumer demand; weather conditions; the 7
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competitive position of oil or gas as a source of energy as compared with other energy sources; the refining capacity of oil purchasers; and the effect of federal and state regulation on the production, transportation and sale of oil. It is likely that adverse changes in the oil market or the regulatory environment would have an adverse effect on the Company's ability to obtain capital from lending institutions, industry participants, private or public investors or other sources. Intense Competition in Oil and Gas Industry The oil and gas industry is highly competitive. Most of the Company's current and potential competitors have significantly greater financial resources and a significantly greater number of experienced and trained managerial and technical personnel than the Company and the 3-D Joint Venture. There can be no assurance that the Company or the 3-D Joint Venture will be able to compete effectively with such firms. See "Business and Properties - Competition and Markets." Risks of Turnkey Contracts The Company anticipates that any wells established by it will be drilled by proven industry contractors under turnkey contracts that limit the Company's financial and legal exposure. However, circumstances may arise where a turnkey contract is not economically beneficial to the Company or is otherwise unobtainable from proven industry partners. In such instances, the Company may decide to drill, or cause to be drilled, the applicable well(s) on either a footage or day rate basis and the drilling thereof will be subject to the usual drilling hazards such as cratering, explosions, uncontrollable flows of oil, gas or well fluids, fires, pollution and other environmental risks. The Company would also be liable for any cost overruns attributable to downhole drilling problems that otherwise would have been covered by a turnkey contract had one been negotiated. See "Business and Properties - Operational Risks and Insurance." United States Governmental Regulation, Taxation and Price Control Oil and gas production and exploration are subject to comprehensive federal, state and local laws and regulations controlling the exploration for and production and sale of oil and gas and the possible effects of such activities on the environment. Failure to comply with such rules and regulations can result in substantial penalties and may adversely affect the Company. Present, as well as future, legislation and regulations could cause additional expenditures, restrictions and delays in the Company's business, the extent of which cannot be predicted and which may require the Company to limit substantially, delay or cease operations in some circumstances. In most, if not all, areas where the Company may conduct activities, there may be statutory provisions regulating the production of oil and natural gas which may restrict the rate of production and adversely affect revenues. The Company plans to acquire oil and gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico, which will be granted by the Federal government and administered by the U.S. Department of Interior Minerals Management Service (the "MMS"). The MMS strictly regulates the exploration, development and production of oil and gas reserves in the Gulf of Mexico. Such regulations could have a material adverse affect on the Company's operations in the Gulf of Mexico. The Federal government regulates the interstate transportation of oil and natural gas, through the Federal Energy and Regulatory Commission ("FERC"). The FERC has in the past regulated the prices at which oil and gas could be sold. Federal reenactment of price controls or increased regulation of the transport of oil and natural gas could have a material adverse affect on the Company. In addition, the Company's operations are subject to numerous laws and regulations governing the discharge of oil and hazardous materials into the environment or otherwise relating to environmental protection, including the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. These laws and regulations have continually imposed increasingly strict requirements for water and air pollution control, solid waste management, and strict financial responsibility and remedial response obligations relating to oil spill protection. The cost of complying with such environmental legislation will have a general adverse affect on the Company's operations. See "Business and Properties - Governmental Regulation." 8
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THE COMPANY Cheniere Energy, Inc., a holding company ("Cheniere," together with Cheniere Operating (as defined below), the "Company"), is the owner of 100% of the outstanding common stock of Cheniere Energy Operating Co., Inc. ("Cheniere Operating"). Cheniere Operating is a Houston-based company formed for the purpose of oil and gas exploration and exploitation. Cheniere Operating was incorporated in Delaware in February 1996 under the name FX Energy, Inc. On July 3, 1996 Cheniere Operating consummated the transactions (the "Reorganization") contemplated in the Agreement and Plan of Reorganization (the "Reorganization Agreement") dated April 16, 1996 between Cheniere Operating and Bexy Communications, Inc., a publicly held Delaware corporation ("Bexy"). Under the terms of the Reorganization Agreement, Bexy transferred its existing assets and liabilities to Mar Ventures, Inc., its wholly-owned subsidiary ("Mar Ventures"), Bexy received 100% of the outstanding shares of Cheniere Operating and the former shareholders of Cheniere Operating received approximately 8.3 million newly issued shares of Bexy common stock, representing 93% of the then issued and outstanding Bexy shares. Immediately following the Reorganization, the Original Bexy Stockholders held the remaining 7% of the outstanding Bexy stock. In accordance with the terms of the Reorganization Agreement, Bexy changed its name to Cheniere Energy, Inc. Subsequently, the Company distributed the outstanding capital stock of Mar Ventures to the original holders of Bexy common stock. The Common Stock of the Company is traded on the over-the-counter market and quoted on the OTC Bulletin Board (the "Bulletin Board") of the National Association of Securities Dealers (the "NASD") (ticker symbol "CHEX") with 10,039,594 shares outstanding as of September 27, 1996. The Company intends to apply for a Nasdaq SmallCap Market listing as soon as is practicable. The Company's principal executive offices are located at Two Allen Center, 1200 Smith Street, Suite 1710, Houston, Texas 77002. The Company's telephone number is (713) 659-1361. USE OF PROCEEDS All shares of Common Stock covered hereby are being registered for the account of the Selling Stockholders and, accordingly, the Company will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the Common Stock by the Selling Stockholders. CAPITALIZATION The following table sets forth the capitalization of the Company as of August 31, 1996. All information set forth below should be read in conjunction with the financial data of the Company and related notes that appear elsewhere in this Prospectus. · Download Table Shareholders' Equity Common Stock - $.003 Par Value Authorized 20,000,000 shares; 9,931,767 Issued and Outstanding(1) $ 29,795 Preferred Stock - Authorized 1,000,000 shares; -- None Issued and Outstanding Additional paid-in capital 5,626,840 Retained Deficit (1,230,180) ---------- Total Shareholders' Equity $4,426,455 ========== 9
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(1) In addition, (i) 209,666 and 2/3 shares of the Common Stock are reserved for issuance upon exercise of outstanding warrants to purchase Common Stock at an exercise price of $3.00 per share, (ii) 100,000 shares of the Common Stock are reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding warrants to purchase Common Stock at an exercise price of $3.125 per share, (iii) 300,000 shares of the Common Stock are reserved for issuance upon exercise of outstanding options granted by the Board of Directors to certain of the Company's executive officers, at an exercise price of $3.00 per share and (iv) 19,444 and 2/3 shares of the Common Stock are reserved for issuance upon exercise of outstanding options granted to Buddy Young, at an exercise price of $1.80 per share. MARKET PRICE AND DIVIDEND INFORMATION From 1989 through December 1993, there was no public trading market for the Bexy Common Stock. In December 1993, the common stock of Bexy began trading on the Bulletin Board. In connection with the Reorganization, the Company divested itself of the assets relating to the business of Bexy prior to the Reorganization and has shifted its focus to oil and gas exploration. Simultaneously with the Reorganization, each three outstanding shares of common stock of Bexy was converted to one share of Common Stock and the stockholders of Cheniere Operating were issued shares of Common Stock equaling approximately 93% of the then issued and outstanding shares of Bexy causing the existing stockholders of Bexy to be diluted to approximately 7%. On July 8, 1996, the Common Stock began trading on the Bulletin Board (ticker symbol "CHEX"). As the nature of the business and the Common Stock has changed as a result of the Reorganization, this section describes the market price of the Common Stock following the Reorganization on July 3, 1996. The high ask and low bid prices of the Common Stock reported on the Bulletin Board for the period from July 8, 1996 through September 27, 1996 were $6.00 and $3.00, respectively. These quotations reflect inter-dealer prices, without retail mark-up, mark-down or commission and may not reflect actual transactions. As of September 27, 1996 there were 766 record holders of the Common Stock which does not include holders who hold their shares of the Common Stock in "street name". The Company has not paid any dividends since its inception and presently anticipates that all earnings, if any, will be retained for development of the Company's business and that no dividends on its Common Stock will be declared in the foreseeable future. Any future dividends will be subject to the discretion of the Company's Board of Directors and will depend upon, among other things, future earnings, the operating and financial condition of the Company, its capital requirements and general business conditions. 10
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SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA The following income statement data and balance sheet data have been derived from the financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The financial statements of Cheniere Energy, Inc. and Subsidiary as of August 31, 1996 and for the year then ended have been audited by Merdinger, Fruchter, Rosen & Corso, P.C. This information should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes thereto and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" included elsewhere in this Prospectus. · Download Table September 1, 1995 to August 31, 1996 ------------------- Net operating revenues $ -- (Loss) from continuing operations (79,097) Loss) from continuing operations per share of common stock (0.008) (Loss) from discontinued operations (207,722) Net (loss) per share of common stock (0.03) Total Assets 5,145,310 Long-term obligations -- Total Liabilities 718,855 Total Shareholders' Equity 4,426,455 Cash dividends declared per share of common stock -- 11
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MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS Cheniere Operating was incorporated in Delaware in February of 1996 for the purpose of entering the oil and gas exploration and exploitation business, initially on the Louisiana Gulf Coast. In March of 1996, Cheniere Operating entered into discussion with Bexy Communications, Inc. ("Bexy") for a reorganization in order to give it a presence in the public market. On April 16, 1996, the Reorganization Agreement was entered into whereby the Cheniere Operating stockholders would acquire control of Bexy in consideration for the outstanding stock of Cheniere Operating. Under the terms of the Reorganization Agreement, Bexy transferred its existing assets of approximately $224,000 and its liabilities of approximately $111,000 to Mar Ventures, Inc. ("Mar Ventures"), Bexy received 100% of the outstanding shares of Cheniere Operating and the former shareholders of Cheniere Operating received approximately 8.3 million newly issued shares of Bexy common stock, representing 93% of the then issued and outstanding Bexy shares. Cheniere Operating became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bexy and the principal business became oil and gas exploration. Bexy then changed its name to Cheniere Energy, Inc. The Company distributed the outstanding capital stock of Mar Ventures to the original holders of Bexy common stock. The reorganization was accounted for as the recapitalization of Cheniere Operating and the issuance of stock for the net assets of Bexy. RESULTS OF OPERATIONS - AUDITED STATEMENTS YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 1996 The Company's operating results reflected a loss of $79,097, as there were no revenues from continuing operations. General and Administrative expenses of $73,814 comprised most of the loss. The Company incurred one time losses of $207,722 from the discontinuance of its former business in the television production and health information field. Total losses were $286,819. The Company's balance sheet reflected current assets of $1,097,980 with liabilities of $718,855. Other assets reflect an investment of $4 million in the 3-D Joint Venture. After fiscal year end, in early September 1996, the Company made an additional payment of $1 million to the 3-D Joint Venture, such that an aggregate of $5 million has been paid by the Company to the 3-D Joint Venture to date. The Company's capital reflects sales of shares net of offering expenses of $609,451 and distribution of net assets of $112,902. LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES At August 31, 1996, the Company had working capital of $379,125. Operating expenses and capitalized costs were financed by the sale of common stock and Bridge Loan (as defined below) funding as revenues have yet to be generated. It is anticipated that future liquidity requirements, including the commitment to the 3-D Joint Venture which will amount to, at least, an additional $8 million, will be met by sale of equity, further borrowings and/or sales of portions of the Company's interest in the 3-D Joint Venture. At this time, no assurance can be given that such sale of equity, further borrowings or sales of portions of the Company's interest in the 3-D Joint Venture will prove to be successful. The Company has in the past failed to timely 12
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make certain payments due to the 3-D Joint Venture. While the Company has in such instances succeeded in obtaining waivers under, and amendments to, the Exploration Agreement extending the due dates for such required payments, there can be no assurance that the Company will successfully obtain similar amendments should it fail to timely make required payments to the 3-D Joint Venture in the future. The Company currently does not have sufficient capital to meet its future payment requirements and there can be no assurance that the Company will successfully secure the necessary funds. See "Business and Properties - 3-D Joint Venture Exploration Agreement." Since its inception, the Company's primary source of financing for operating expenses and payments to the 3-D Joint Venture has been the sale of its equity securities. In May and June 1996, Cheniere Operating raised $2,883,000, net of offering costs, from the sale of shares of its common stock (which were exchanged for 2,000,000 shares of the Common Stock following the Reorganization) to "accredited investors" (as defined in Rule 501(a) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act")) pursuant to Rule 506 of Regulation D promulgated under the Securities Act ("Regulation D"). The proceeds were used to fund Cheniere Operating's initial $3 million payment to the 3-D Joint Venture. In order to finance a $1 million payment made to the 3-D Joint Venture on August 9, 1996, the Company sold Common Stock pursuant to Regulation D and Regulation S promulgated under the Securities Act ("Regulation S"). In July 1996, the Company sold 50,000 shares of the Common Stock to an "accredited investor" pursuant to Rule 506 of Regulation D and the Company received proceeds of $100,000 from such sale. In July and August 1996, the Company conducted an offering of Common Stock pursuant to Regulation S. The Company sold 508,400 shares of the Common Stock and received proceeds of $915,000, net of placement fees, from such sale. In late August 1996, the Company raised $1,000,000 from the sale of 100,000 units, each consisting of five shares of the Common Stock and a warrant to purchase one share of the Common Stock, pursuant to Regulation S. The proceeds were used to fund a $1 million payment to the 3-D Joint Venture made on September 4, 1996. In September 1996, the Company raised $260,500 from the sale of 130,250 shares of the Common Stock to "accredited investors" (as defined in Rule 501(a) promulgated under the Securities Act) pursuant to Rule 506 of Regulation D. In June 1996, Cheniere Operating borrowed $425,000 (the "Bridge Loan") through a private placement of short term promissory notes with an initial interest rate of 8% (the "Notes"). The Notes were due on September 14, 1996. In connection with the placement of the Notes, Cheniere Operating issued warrants, which following the Reorganization, were exchanged for an aggregate of 141,666 and 2/3 warrants to purchase shares of the Common Stock, to the holders of the Notes (the "Noteholders"), each of which warrants entitles the holder to purchase one share of the Common Stock at an exercise price of $3.00 per share at any time on or before June 14, 1999. The Company has satisfied all of its obligations under Notes in the aggregate principal amount of $210,000 by paying the accrued interest on such Notes and by agreeing to issue 105,000 shares of the Common Stock at a price of $2.00 per share to the holders of such Notes pursuant to Regulation D. In addition, prior to the maturity of the Notes, an individual Noteholder (the "Remaining Noteholder") purchased several outstanding Notes following which such Noteholder held Notes in the aggregate principal amount of $215,000. In connection with a modification of the Bridge Loan arrangements as between the Remaining Noteholder and the Company, Cheniere Operating has issued a new promissory note to the Remaining Noteholder with an interest rate of 13% per annum in exchange for the Notes held by him. Such new promissory note is due on January 14, 1997. The Remaining Noteholder is also entitled to receive up to 21,500 additional warrants to purchase shares of the Common Stock for each month, or partial month, any amounts remain due and payable after September 14, 1996, up to a maximum aggregate number of 86,000 such additional warrants. Such additional warrants will have an exercise price of $3.00 per share and will be exercisable for 3 years from the date of issuance. BUSINESS AND PROPERTIES GENERAL The Company is currently involved in a joint exploration program which is engaged in the exploration for oil and natural gas along the Gulf Coast of Louisiana, onshore and in the shallow waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The Company commenced its oil and gas activities in April 1996 through such joint exploration program, and since July 3, 1996 has been publicly traded under the name Cheniere Energy, Inc. The Company is involved with one major project in the pre-drilling stage. The Company entered into a joint exploration program pursuant to an Exploration Agreement dated April 4, 1996 between FX Energy, Inc., now known as Cheniere Operating, and Zydeco Exploration, Inc. ("Zydeco"), an operating subsidiary of Zydeco Energy, Inc. (the "Exploration Agreement"), with regard to a new proprietary 3-D seismic exploration project in southern Louisiana (the "3- D Joint Venture"). The Company has the right 13
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to earn up to a 50% participation in the 3-D Joint Venture. The Company believes that the 3-D seismic survey (the "Survey") is the first of its size within the Transition Zone of Louisiana, an area extending a few miles on either side of the Louisiana State coastline. The Survey is to be conducted over certain areas located within a total area of approximately 255 square miles running 5 miles south and generally 3 to 5 miles north of the coastline in the most westerly 28 miles of West Cameron Parish, Louisiana (the "Survey AMI"). The 3-D Joint Venture does not currently have rights to survey the entire Survey AMI and the extent of the Survey AMI which the 3-D Joint Venture will be entitled to survey is dependent upon its ability to obtain survey permits and similar rights. Currently, the 3-D Joint Venture has permits and similar rights to survey approximately 67% of the Survey AMI and is attempting to acquire rights to survey additional portions of the Survey AMI. There can be no assurance that the 3-D Joint Venture will successfully obtain rights to survey additional portions of the Survey AMI. The 3-D Joint Venture will survey specific sections selected by it within the areas covered by such permits and rights. See "- Permit and Lease Status Within the Survey AMI." A seismic data acquisition contract has been signed and the 3-D Joint Venture has begun to conduct the Survey. On July 26, 1996, the Company signed a Letter of Intent with Poseidon Petroleum, LLC ("Poseidon") to purchase Poseidon's 47% working interest in undeveloped reserves in the Bonito Unit of the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf, offshore Santa Barbara County, California (the "Poseidon Interest"). The parties are conducting due diligence and are negotiating a definitive purchase and sale agreement and related documentation. The transactions contemplated in the Letter of Intent may be terminated by either party upon the occurrence of certain events and there can be no assurance that the Company will successfully consummate such transactions. Moreover, if such transactions are consummated, the Company expects that development of the reserves will not occur for at least five years. There can be no assurance that the Company will successfully develop the reserves or that the reserves will yield sufficient quantities of oil and gas to be economically viable. The Company has not yet established oil and gas production, nor has it booked proven oil and gas reserves. BUSINESS STRATEGY The Company's objective is to expand the net value of its assets by growing its oil and gas reserves in a cost efficient manner. The Company intends to pursue this objective by following an integrated strategy that includes the following elements: . FOCUS ON FEW PROJECTS WITH LARGE RESERVE POTENTIAL. Louisiana Gulf Coast Transition Zone. The Company's current activities are focused within one area, the Transition Zone of Louisiana. The Company believes that the Transition Zone, including the westernmost 28 miles of Louisiana coastline that are within the Survey AMI, has significant remaining undiscovered reserves. The 3-D Joint Venture therefore plans to focus its efforts on certain areas, all located within The Survey AMI. In addition, the substantial infrastructure along the Gulf Coast and in the shallow Gulf of Mexico permits the Company to lower its operating costs compared to those in other geographic regions and facilitates the timely development of oil and gas discoveries. The Company's officers and Zydeco have extensive experience both onshore and offshore in the Gulf Coast and believe the 3-D Joint Venture is well positioned to evaluate, explore and develop properties in the area. Offshore California. The Company has signed a Letter of Intent with Poseidon to purchase Poseidon's 47% working interest in undeveloped reserves in the Bonito Unit of the Pacific Outer Continental Shelf, offshore Santa Barbara County, California. An independent reserve report is being prepared to determine an estimate of the volume of undeveloped oil and gas reserves attributable to the Poseidon Interest. The parties are conducting due diligence and are negotiating a definitive purchase and sale agreement and related documentation. The transactions contemplated in the Letter of Intent may be terminated by either party upon the occurrence of certain events and there can be no assurance that the Company will successfully consummate such transactions. Moreover, if such transactions are consummated, the Company expects that development of the reserves will not occur for at least five 14
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years. There can be no assurance that the Company will successfully develop the reserves or that the reserves will yield sufficient quantities of oil and gas to be economically viable. . MAINTAIN A SIGNIFICANT WORKING INTEREST IN EACH PROJECT. The Company has the right to earn up to a 50% participation in the 3-D Joint Venture. Under the terms of the Exploration Agreement, the Company must timely meet its payment obligations to the 3-D Joint Venture in order to reach a 50% participation. The Company does not intend to be an operator in the area, but intends to maintain a significant working interest to better leverage its administrative and technical resources and to better influence operator decisions. . UTILIZE THE LATEST EXPLORATION, DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY. The Company intends to use the latest technology to enhance the efficiency and economy of its exploration, development and production efforts. These include the use of advanced 3-D seismic acquisition and processing techniques in the Survey AMI. . CONTROL OVERHEAD COSTS. The Company plans to maintain a small, but experienced working staff, and to leverage their talents by focusing on a relatively few projects which have high reserve potential in which it can obtain a high working interest, and to employ outside consultants and seek industry partners with the appropriate geographic and technical experience. Currently, the Company has no employees other than its executive officers and one administrative assistant. THE 3-D JOINT VENTURE EXPLORATION PROJECT IN WEST CAMERON PARISH, LOUISIANA TRANSITION ZONE The Company's first exploration project is the 3-D Joint Venture, in which the Company has the right to earn up to a 50% participation, in a new proprietary 3-D seismic exploration project that the Company believes will be the largest of its kind within the Louisiana Transition Zone. The Survey AMI covers approximately 255 square miles situated onshore and offshore over the most westerly 28 miles of the shoreline in West Cameron Parish, Louisiana. The 3-D Joint Venture must obtain permits or similar rights to survey the areas located within the Survey AMI. Currently, the 3-D Joint Venture has rights to Survey 51,360 net acres of Louisiana State Waters, pursuant to an exclusive permit, and certain privately held areas which together constitute approximately 67% of the Survey AMI and is attempting to acquire rights from additional private owners. There can be no assurance that the 3-D Joint Venture will successfully obtain rights to survey additional portions of the Survey AMI. The 3-D Joint Venture intends to survey specific sections selected by it within the areas covered by its permits and similar rights. See "- Permit and Lease Status Within the Survey AMI." The Company believes that survey sites located within the Survey AMI have the potential for containing substantial undiscovered oil and gas reserves, based on the number and size of existing fields in and around the Survey AMI, the low level of historical exploration in the Survey AMI and the exploration success resulting from a speculative 3-D seismic survey shot by an independent geophysical services company in the adjacent Federal offshore area. An acquisition contract with Grant Geophysical, Inc. has been signed and the 3-D Joint Venture has begun to conduct the Survey. 3-D Joint Venture Exploration Agreement Under the terms of the Exploration Agreement, Cheniere Operating is obligated to pay 100% of the Seismic Costs (as defined below) up to $13.5 million (subject to adjustment as described in the following sentence) in accordance with a fixed schedule of monthly payments, and 50% of the excess of any such costs, to acquire a 50% working interest participation in the leasing and drilling of all Prospects (as defined below) generated by Zydeco within the Survey AMI. If premiums required for turnkey contracts cause total Seismic Costs to exceed $13.5 million, Cheniere Operating will bear 100% of Seismic Costs only up to $13 million, and Seismic Costs greater than $13 million will be borne equally by Cheniere Operating and Zydeco. "Seismic Costs" are defined in the Exploration Agreement to include the following, inter alia: acquiring and processing seismic data; turnkey contracts; legal costs; options to lease land and leases of land; 15
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and the cost of seismic permits including the seismic permit granted by the State of Louisiana discussed below. See "-Permit and Lease Status Within the Survey AMI-Offshore Area." Under the terms of the Exploration Agreement, Zydeco will perform, or cause to be performed, all of the planning, land, geologic and interpretative functions necessary to the project and will design and oversee the acquisition and processing of seismic data, interpret results, acquire leases and generate Prospects. The term "Prospect" is defined in the Exploration Agreement as a block of acreage suitable for exploration and includes the leasehold, operating, nonoperating, mineral and royalty interests, licenses, permits and contract rights relating thereto. Cheniere Operating has the right to review all data and may elect to generate its own Prospects. Neither party to the 3-D Joint Venture is permitted to sell or license the data without the other party's approval. As described above, under the terms of the Exploration Agreement, Cheniere Operating is obligated to make payments for the Seismic Costs into a joint venture account (the "Joint Venture Account"). The Exploration Agreement originally provided for an initial installment of $3 million to be paid by May 15, 1996, which was extended to June 14 1996 by agreement of the parties. Subsequent payments were due on the last day of each of the months of June 1996 through February 1997. Each of the payments was required to be in the amount of $1 million with the exception of the payments at the end of September 1996 and February 1997 which were required to be for $2 million and $1.5 million, respectively (although the February 1997 payment may be reduced to $1.0 million under certain circumstances described above). Cheniere Operating failed to timely make the $1 million payments due on June 30, 1996 and July 30, 1996. Pursuant to the Second Amendment to the Exploration Agreement dated August 5, 1996, Cheniere Operating (i) was required to make the payment originally due on June 30, 1996 on or before August 9, 1996 and such payment has been timely made and (ii) is required to make the payment originally due on July 30, 1996 on or before October 31, 1996. A failure by Cheniere Operating to make such payment on such date will be treated as a Discontinuance (as defined below). Other than as described above, all payments to the Joint Venture Account are due as scheduled, the next such payment being due on September 30, 1996. Cheniere Operating intends to make its future payments under the Exploration Agreement as and when they are due, however, neither Cheniere Operating nor the Company currently has sufficient capital to cover such payments and there can be no assurance that Cheniere Operating or the Company will successfully secure the necessary funds. In the event Cheniere Operating fails to make a scheduled payment into the Joint Venture Account within 30 days after the date such payment is due (a "Discontinuance"): (i) The obligation and right of Cheniere Operating to make such payments will terminate. Zydeco would have the right to complete the acquisition and processing of seismic data with the cooperation or assistance of other companies. In addition, Cheniere Operating's Prospect ownership interest would be limited to the total amount of its contribution to the Joint Venture Account, divided by twice the amount of funds expended for Seismic Costs, expressed as a percentage. For example, if Cheniere Operating made a total contribution of $3 million to the Joint Venture Account, prior to a Discontinuance, and total Seismic Costs were $13.5 million, Cheniere Operating's Prospect ownership interest would be limited to 11.1%; (ii) If following a Discontinuance, Zydeco contributes funds that otherwise were required to have been provided by Cheniere Operating under the terms of the Exploration Agreement, Zydeco shall be entitled to receive back such funds, together with interest thereon at the prime interest rate, from revenues attributable to Cheniere Operating's interest in any Prospect (including, without limitation, any working interest or overriding royalty interest revenues from production or front end proceeds attributable to such interest when owned by Cheniere Operating under the applicable operating agreement or proceeds from the sale or license of seismic data); (iii) Subject to (iv) immediately below, if a Discontinuance occurs, and Zydeco does not itself fund the deficient Seismic Costs, Zydeco may sell, trade, farm-out, lease, sublease or otherwise trade (collectively, a "Trade") the aggregate (i.e., both that of Zydeco and Cheniere Operating) Prospect 16
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interests to any party on arms' length terms. For this purpose the aggregate Prospect interests includes all seismic data acquired, and revenues from a Trade include seismic data sale or license proceeds. Any revenues accruing from a Trade shall be applied toward the cost of completing the project contemplated under the Exploration Agreement; and (iv) Should Cheniere Operating have funded $8,000,000 or more prior to the Discontinuance, then the parties will treat Cheniere Operating as having earned a vested Prospect ownership interest of 25%, which shall not be subject to any Trade, and any revenues from a Trade, which would in this instance cover a 75% Prospect ownership interest, shall be shared 33-1/3% by Cheniere Operating and 66-2/3% by Zydeco. Prospect Expenses (as defined below) are to be borne equally by Zydeco and Cheniere Operating; provided, however, that in the event of a Discontinuance, Cheniere Operating shall bear a percentage of the Prospect Expenses equal to its Prospect ownership interest. "Prospect Expenses" are defined in the Exploration Agreement as: lease bonuses and brokerage for leases; delay or shut in rental payments on leases or interest acquired under the Exploration Agreement; engineering costs; and certain other costs related to Prospects. If Cheniere Operating fails to pay its share of Prospect Expenses within 30 days of receipt of a bill therefor, it will be deemed to have declined to participate in the Prospect and will have no interest or liability related to the Prospect in question. In the event that Zydeco incurs a contractual liability to a third party in performing its undertakings under the Exploration Agreement, such contractual liability shall be treated as a Prospect Expense. In the event that Zydeco incurs a tort liability to a third party in performing its undertakings under the Exploration Agreement, and such liability is a result of gross negligence or willful malfeasance, such liability, and all attorneys fees and expenses relating thereto, shall be solely Zydeco's responsibility. In the event that Zydeco incurs a tort liability to a third party in performing its undertakings under the Exploration Agreement, and such liability is not a result of gross negligence or willful malfeasance, such liability, and all attorneys' fees and expenses relating thereto, shall be borne equally by the Company and Zydeco. Location and Hydrocarbon Potential of the Survey Area The Survey AMI, which contains the specific areas to be covered by the Survey, lies within a highly prolific natural gas region. Nevertheless, the Transition Zone has been relatively less explored to date as compared to exclusively onshore or offshore regions because of the relatively high cost and logistical and technical difficulties associated with conducting modern seismic surveys over the diverse environments encountered along the coast. An additional impediment has been the difficulty of negotiating with sophisticated landowners who control most of the area close to the Louisiana coastline. The paucity of modern seismic data has limited the drilling density: the spacing of exploration wells testing the primary objective section, outside of the known fields, is less than one well per five square miles. However, recent declines in the cost of supercomputing workstations which can be employed in processing and interpreting seismic data have made projects such as this Transition Zone venture technically and economically feasible. The Louisiana Transition Zone contains the Miocene Trend which has produced many of the largest oil and gas fields in the continental United States and its territorial waters. Objectives within the Miocene Trend have excellent reservoir characteristics and have historically exhibited multiple pay zones, which can allow a single strategically placed well bore to drain multiple reservoirs. Given the relatively low level of historical exploration and the high recovery factors characterizing the Louisiana Transition Zone, the Company believes that this zone has the potential for containing substantial undeveloped oil and gas reserves. Miocene age reservoirs in fields overlapping the Survey AMI have produced in excess of 3 trillion cubic feet (tcf) of natural gas. Along the northeast quadrant of the Survey AMI the Mud Lake and Second Bayou Fields have cumulatively produced more than 1.3 tcf of natural gas to date, with more than 250 billion cubic feet (bcf) having been produced from one well. In the southwestern quadrant of the Survey AMI, the West Cameron Block 17 Field in the State and Federal waters has cumulatively produced more than 980 bcf to date. Numerous other smaller, but still significant, oil and gas fields surround and overlay the area. 17
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Immediately farther offshore of the Survey AMI, a successful industry drilling program based on a spec 3-D survey provides an analogy that illustrates the potential for new discoveries in this region resulting from 3-D seismic data. In 1989, a 3-D seismic survey shot by an independent geophysical services company along the shallow Federal waters in the western part of the Western Cameron area led to 4 new field discoveries which have produced approximately 320 bcf of natural gas to date from 15 boreholes. The middle to lower Miocene reservoir section has excellent flow characteristics, as can be seen by the per well recoveries, 21 bcf of natural gas, in the area of the adjacent shoot. In addition to the volumes produced from these discoveries, additional reserves have been brought on through exploitation wells drilled into existing fields. The entire Survey AMI is located within an existing pipeline infrastructure. As a result, it will generally be quicker and less costly to develop and connect reserves found onshore and in the shallow offshore areas to markets than would be the case for reserves found in deeper water areas. The Louisiana Gulf Coast/Gulf of Mexico region enjoys easy access to the premium- priced markets of the East Coast. Permit and Lease Status Within the Survey AMI The 3-D Joint Venture will Survey only certain sections lying within the Survey AMI. The area to be covered by the Survey is dependent upon the status of permits granting the 3-D Joint Venture the right to Survey certain areas and its ability to obtain such permits or similar rights in the future. Offshore Area -- State Waters Exclusive Permit and Federal Offshore Permits. On February 14, 1996, the State of Louisiana awarded Zydeco the exclusive right (the "Louisiana Seismic Permit") to shoot and gather seismic data over the 51,360 net unleased acres of Louisiana State waters (running out to a 3 1/2 mile limit located within the Survey AMI) in the western half of West Cameron Parish. The term of the Louisiana Seismic Permit is for 18 months and may be extended at Zydeco's option for an additional 6 months by payment of an additional fee of $391,876.80. During this term Zydeco has the exclusive right to nominate blocks of acreage for leasing in the covered State waters. The Survey AMI includes an area running southward over 1 1/2 to 2 miles of Federal waters. Zydeco's seismic contractor, Grant Geophysical, Inc., has received approval from the U.S. Government to survey over 21,000 acres of Federal offshore leases located within the Survey AMI. Although Zydeco has no exclusive rights regarding leases in the Federal waters, several offshore lease blocks held by industry and covered by the Survey are scheduled to expire within the next year and may then be available for leasing. Onshore Area -- Prospective Permits, Lease Options, and Farmouts. Zydeco is in negotiations to obtain variously, farmouts, seismic permits or lease options, with owners of the mineral interests covering approximately 85,000 additional acres of privately owned lands lying under the onshore portion of the Survey AMI ("Onshore Area"). The outcome of these discussions will effect the exact delineation of the areas which will be subject to the Survey within the Survey AMI. As of this date, seismic permits or options covering portions of the Onshore Area have already been obtained.