Exhibit 10.9
Execution Copy
TAX SHARING
AGREEMENT
Among and Between
Cheniere Energy,
Inc.
AND
Sabine Pass LNG,
L.P.
Dated as of November 9,
2006
TAX SHARING
AGREEMENT
This Tax Sharing Agreement (the
“ TSA ”) entered into as of the 9
th
day of November, 2006,
to be effective as set forth in Section 6.1 of this TSA,
between Cheniere Energy Inc. (“ Cheniere ”) a
Delaware corporation with its principal office at 717 Texas Avenue,
Suite 3100, Houston Texas 77002, and Sabine Pass LNG, L.P., a
Delaware limited partnership and its direct and indirect
subsidiaries (Sabine Pass LNG, L.P., together with its
subsidiaries, the “ Partnership ”), which may be
collectively referred to hereinafter as the “ Parties
” and individually as a “ Party
.”
PREAMBLE
WHEREAS, the revised franchise tax
imposed by the State of Texas under Chapter 171 of the Texas Tax
Code (“Franchise Tax”), generally effective for returns
due on or after January 1, 2008, requires taxable entities
that are part of an affiliated group engaged in a unitary business
to report as a combined group;
WHEREAS, Cheniere owns a controlling
interest in the Partnership within the meaning of Texas Tax Code
§171.0001(8) and expects to file Combined Returns for the
combined group that includes Cheniere and the Partnership;
and
WHEREAS, the Parties believe that
the apportionment and allocation of the Franchise Tax between
Cheniere and the Partnership is desirable.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Parties to this
TSA, for good and valuable consideration, agree as
follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS
In addition to any defined terms
which may have their meanings ascribed to them elsewhere in this
TSA, the following defined terms shall have the following
meanings:
“ Combined Return
” means a Franchise Tax return which reflects combined
reporting that includes each of Cheniere’s and the
Partnership’s reportable separate company Taxable Margin that
is required to be apportioned among and between multiple taxing
jurisdictions.
“ Combined Return Year
” means, with respect to the Franchise Tax, a period for
which Cheniere and the Partnership are required to file a Combined
Return.
“ Combined Tax
Liability ” means, for any Combined Return Year, the
Franchise Tax liability computed in accordance with Chapter 171 of
the Texas Tax Code and shown on Cheniere’s Combined Return,
taking into account all credits to which Cheniere is entitled under
the Franchise Tax.
“ Indenture ” means the
Indenture dated as of November 9, 2006 among the Partnership,
the Guarantors (as defined therein) and The Bank of New York, as
trustee.
“ IRS ” means the
Internal Revenue Service.
“ Other Unitary Taxes
” means a combined, consolidated or unitary state or local
tax other than the Franchise Tax based upon or measured by net
income, gross margins, gross receipts, or other similar tax
attributes on an apportioned basis.
“ Other Unitary Return
” means a tax return which reflects combined, consolidated or
unitary reporting of Cheniere and the Partnership in respect of
Other Unitary Taxes.
“ Pro Forma Separate
Company Tax Liability ” means, for any tax year, the
Partnership’s separate company Franchise Tax liability
computed by the Partnership in accordance with Chapter 171 of the
Texas Tax Code prepared on a stand-alone basis that includes only
the reportable Taxable Margin of the Partnership, without regard to
any temporary credits provided by Texas Tax Code §171.111. In
arriving at its Pro Forma Separate Company Tax Liability, the
Partnership shall be bound by any tax elections and shall adopt the
same tax accounting methods that are elected and adopted by
Cheniere in the determination of the Combined Tax Liability for
such period.
“ Separate Return Year
” means, with respect to the Franchise Tax, a year which is
not a Combined Return Year.
“ Taxable Margin
” has the meaning set forth in Section 171.101 of the
Texas Tax Code.
“ Taxing Authority
” means, with respect to the Franchise Tax, the Texas
Comptroller of Public Accounts or, with respect to any Other
Unitary Tax, the governmental entity or political subdivision,
agency, commission or authority thereof that imposes such Other
Unitary Tax, and the agency, commission or authority charged with
the assessment, determination or collection of such Other Unitary
Tax for such entity or subdivision.
ARTICLE II
FILING OF COMBINED
RETURNS
2.1 Filing of Combined Returns
and Payment of Tax .
(a) Cheniere shall prepare and
timely file all required Combined Returns and such applications for
extension of time to file such Combined Returns and shall timely
pay the Combined Tax Liability. The Partnership agrees to furnish
to Cheniere all information as Cheniere may from time to time
reasonably request that is necessary to allow Cheniere to timely
file all required Combined Returns. The Partnership agrees to
execute all election forms and other documents which may be
necessary or appropriate to evidence such elections or otherwise as
Cheniere may from time to time reasonably request.
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(b) Cheniere shall be authorized to
and shall undertake the following actions in connection with a
Combined Return, including, without limitation:
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(i)
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taking any and
all action necessary or incidental to the preparation and filing of
a Combined Return;
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(ii)
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making
elections and adopting accounting methods;
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(iii)
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filing all
extensions of time, including extensions of time for payment of
tax;
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(iv)
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filing claims
for refund or credit; giving waivers or bonds;
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(v)
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managing audits
and other administrative proceedings conducted by any Taxing
Authority;
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(vi)
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executing
closing agreements, settlement agreements, offers in compromise,
and all other documents;
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(vii)
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obtaining
administrative rulings; and
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(viii)
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contesting
(both administratively and judicially) the proposal of adjustments
to tax liability and the assessment of any deficiency.
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(c) Cheniere shall determine the tax
consequences to the Partnership of any audits, administrative or
judicial proceedi