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Note 3 - Sale of Equity Interests in Rio Bravo
6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2021
Notes to Financial Statements  
Equity Method Investments and Joint Ventures Disclosure [Text Block]

Note 3 — Sale of Equity Interests in Rio Bravo

 

On March 2, 2020, NextDecade LLC closed the transactions (the “Closing”) contemplated by that certain Omnibus Agreement, dated February 13, 2020, with Spectra Energy Transmission II, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Enbridge Inc. (“Buyer”), pursuant to which NextDecade LLC sold one hundred percent of the equity interests (the “Equity Interests”) in Rio Bravo Pipeline Company, LLC (“Rio Bravo”) to Buyer for consideration of approximately $19.4 million. Buyer paid $15.0 million of the Purchase Price to NextDecade LLC at the Closing and the remainder will be paid within five business days after the date that Rio Grande has received, after a final positive investment decision, the initial funding of financing for the development, construction and operation of the Terminal. Rio Bravo is developing a proposed interstate natural gas pipeline (the “Pipeline”) to supply natural gas to the Terminal.  In connection with the Closing, Rio Grande LNG Gas Supply LLC, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company (“Rio Grande Gas Supply”), entered into (i) a Precedent Agreement for Firm Natural Gas Transportation Service for the Rio Bravo Pipeline (the “RBPL Precedent Agreement”) with Rio Bravo and (ii) a Precedent Agreement for Natural Gas Transportation Service (the “VCP Precedent Agreement”) with Valley Crossing Pipeline, LLC (“VCP”). VCP and, as of the Closing, Rio Bravo are wholly owned subsidiaries of Enbridge Inc. The Valley Crossing Pipeline is owned and operated by VCP.

 

Pursuant to the RBPL Precedent Agreement, Rio Bravo agreed to provide Rio Grande Gas Supply with firm natural gas transportation services on the Pipeline in a quantity sufficient to match the full operational capacity of each proposed liquefaction train of the Terminal. Rio Bravo’s obligation to construct, install, own, operate and maintain the Pipeline is conditioned on its receipt, no later than December 31, 2023, of notice that Rio Grande Gas Supply or its affiliate has issued a full notice to proceed to the engineering, procurement and construction contractor (the “EPC Contractor”) for the construction of the Terminal. Under the RBPL Precedent Agreement, in consideration for the provision of such firm transportation services, Rio Bravo will be remunerated on a dollar-per-dekatherm, take-or-pay basis, subject to certain adjustments, over a term of at least twenty years, all in compliance with the federal and state authorizations associated with the Pipeline.

 

Pursuant to the VCP Precedent Agreement, VCP agreed to provide Rio Grande Gas Supply with natural gas transportation services on the Valley Crossing Pipeline in a quantity sufficient to match the commissioning requirements of each proposed liquefaction train of the Terminal. VCP’s obligation to construct, install, own, operate and maintain the necessary interconnection to the Terminal and the Pipeline is conditioned on its receipt, no later than December 31, 2023, of notice that Rio Grande Gas Supply or its affiliate has issued a full notice to proceed to the EPC Contractor for the construction of the Terminal. VCP will be responsible, at its sole cost and expense, to construct, install, own, operate and maintain the tap, riser and valve facilities (the “VCP Transporter Facilities”), which shall connect to Rio Grande Gas Supply’s custody transfer meter and such other facilities as necessary in order for the Terminal to receive gas from the VCP Transporter Facilities (the “Rio Grande Gas Supply Facilities”). Rio Grande Gas Supply will be responsible, at its sole cost and expense, to construct, install, own, operate and maintain the Rio Grande Gas Supply Facilities. Under the VCP Precedent Agreement, in consideration for the provision of the commissioning transportation services, VCP will be remunerated on the same dollar-per-dekatherm, take-or-pay basis as set forth in the RBPL Precedent Agreement for the duration of such commissioning services, all in compliance with the federal and state authorizations associated with the Valley Crossing Pipeline.

 

If Rio Grande or its affiliate fails to issue a full notice to proceed to the EPC Contractor on or prior to December 31, 2023, Buyer has the right to sell the Equity Interests back to NextDecade LLC and NextDecade LLC has the right to repurchase the Equity Interests from Buyer, in each case at a price not to exceed $23 million. Accordingly, the proceeds from the sale of the Equity Interests and additional costs incurred by Buyer are presented as a non-current liability and the assets of Rio Bravo have not been de-recognized in the consolidated balance sheet at June 30, 2021.