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As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 3, 2004

Registration No. 333-            



UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933


CHENIERE ENERGY, INC.
(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  95-4352386
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

717 Texas Avenue, Suite 3100
Houston, Texas 77002
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

WARRANT TO PURCHASE COMMON STOCK
(Full Title of the Plan)


Don A. Turkleson
Chief Financial Officer
Cheniere Energy, Inc.
717 Texas Avenue, Suite 3100
Houston, Texas 77002
(713) 659-1361

(Name and address of agent for service)


Copy to:

Geoffrey K. Walker
Andrews Kurth LLP
600 Travis, Suite 4200
Houston, Texas 77002
(713) 220-4757


CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE


Title of securities
to be
registered

  Amount
to be
Registered

  Proposed maximum
offering price
per share

  Proposed maximum
aggregate
offering price(1)

  Amount
of
registration fee


Common Stock, par value $.003 per share   170,000 shares   $17.42   $2,961,400   $375.21

(1)
Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee pursuant to Rule 457(c) and (h) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, based upon the average of the high and low prices per share of the Registrant's common stock on the American Stock Exchange on August 30, 2004.





PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

        Information required by Part I of Form S-8 to be contained in a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), is not required to be filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and is omitted from this Registration Statement in accordance with the explanatory note to Part I of Form S-8 and Rule 428 under the Securities Act.


PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3.    Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

        The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" information into this Registration Statement, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is deemed to be part of this Registration Statement, except for any information superseded by information in this Registration Statement.

        The following documents filed by us with the SEC (File No. 001-16383) are incorporated herein by reference:

        Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration

1


Statement to the extent that a statement contained in this Registration Statement or in any other subsequently filed document which also is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.


Item 4.    Description of Securities.

        The class of securities to be offered is registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act.


Item 5.    Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

        The validity of the shares of common stock registered in this Registration Statement on Form S-8 has been passed upon for the Registrant by Andrews Kurth LLP whose opinion is attached to the Registration Statement as Exhibit 5.1. Geoffrey K. Walker, a partner in Andrews Kurth LLP, owns 5,000 shares of common stock of the Registrant.


Item 6.    Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

        Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or DGCL, authorizes a corporation to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, other than an action by or in the right of the corporation, because such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or other enterprise, against expenses, including attorneys' fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reason to believe his conduct was unlawful. Similar indemnity is authorized for such persons against expenses, including attorneys' fees, actually and reasonably incurred in defense or settlement of any such pending, completed or threatened action or suit by or in the right of the corporation if such person acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and provided further that, unless a court of competent jurisdiction otherwise provides, such person shall not have been adjudged liable to the corporation. Any such indemnification may be made only as authorized in each specific case upon a determination by the stockholders or disinterested directors that indemnification is proper because the indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct.

        Our restated certificate of incorporation and amended and restated by-laws provide for indemnification of our directors, officers, employees and other agents to the extent and under the circumstances permitted by the DGCL.

        Section 145 of the DGCL further authorizes a corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise, against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the corporation would otherwise have the power to indemnify him. We maintain policies insuring our officers and directors against certain liabilities for actions taken in such capacities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.


Item 7.    Exemption from Registration Claimed.

        Not applicable.

2




Item 8.    Exhibits.

        The following exhibits have been filed as part of this Registration Statement and are specifically incorporated by reference:


4.1

 

Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Cheniere Energy, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Cheniere's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2004, as filed with the SEC on August 10, 2004 (SEC File No. 001-16383))

4.2

 

Amended and Restated By-laws of Cheniere Energy, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Cheniere's Registration Statement on Form S-8 as filed with the SEC on January 30, 2004 (SEC File No. 333-112379))

4.3

 

Specimen Common Stock Certificate of Cheniere Energy, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Cheniere's Registration Statement on Form S-1 as filed with the SEC on August 27, 1996 (SEC File No. 333-10905))

5.1

 

Form of Opinion of Andrews Kurth LLP regarding legality of common stock

10.1

 

Warrant to Purchase Common Stock issued April 16, 2003 by Registrant to Charif Souki (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Cheniere's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q/A as filed with the SEC on May 26, 2004 (SEC File No. 001-16383))

23.1

 

Consent of Andrews Kurth LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)

23.2

 

Consent of UHY Mann Frankfort Stein & Lipp CPAs, LLP

23.3

 

Consent of KPMG LLP

23.4

 

Consent of Hein & Associates LLP

23.5

 

Consent of Sharp Petroleum Engineering, Inc.

23.6

 

Consent of Ryder Scott Company

24.1

 

Power of Attorney relating to subsequent amendments (included on the signature page to this Registration Statement)


Item 9.    Undertakings.

3


4



SIGNATURES

        The Registrant.    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Houston, State of Texas, on this 3rd day of September, 2004.

    CHENIERE ENERGY, INC.
       
    By: /s/  CHARIF SOUKI      
    Name: Charif Souki
    Title: President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board


POWER OF ATTORNEY

        KNOW ALL PERSONS BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears below constitutes and appoints Don A. Turkleson as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and re-substitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and other documents in connection therewith, with the Commission, granting unto said attorney-in-fact and agent, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done in connection therewith, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorney-in-fact and agent or any of them, or of their substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities and on the dates stated.

        The Plan.    Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the capacities indicated on this 3rd day of September, 2004.

Name and Signature
  Title
  Date

 

 

 

 

 
/s/  CHARIF SOUKI      
Charif Souki
  President, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board (Principal Executive Officer)   September 3, 2004

/s/  
WALTER L. WILLIAMS      
Walter L. Williams

 

Vice Chairman of the Board and Director

 

September 3, 2004

/s/  
DON A. TURKLESON      
Don A. Turkleson

 

Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer)

 

September 3, 2004
         

5



/s/  
CRAIG K. TOWNSEND      
Craig K. Townsend

 

Vice President and Controller (Principal Accounting Officer)

 

September 3, 2004

/s/  
NUNO BRANDOLINI      
Nuno Brandolini

 

Director

 

September 3, 2004

/s/  
KEITH F. CARNEY      
Keith F. Carney

 

Director

 

September 3, 2004

/s/  
PAUL J. HOENMANS      
Paul J. Hoenmans

 

Director

 

September 3, 2004

/s/  
DAVID B. KILPATRICK      
David B. Kilpatrick

 

Director

 

September 3, 2004

/s/  
J. ROBINSON WEST      
J. Robinson West

 

Director

 

September 3, 2004

6



EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.

  Description

4.1

 

Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Cheniere Energy, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Cheniere's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the fiscal quarter ended June 30, 2004, as filed with the SEC on August 10, 2004 (SEC File No. 001-16383))

4.2

 

Amended and Restated By-laws of Cheniere Energy, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Cheniere's Registration Statement on Form S-8 as filed with the SEC on January 30, 2004 (SEC File No. 333-112379))

4.3

 

Specimen Common Stock Certificate of Cheniere Energy, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Cheniere's Registration Statement on Form S-1 as filed with the SEC on August 27, 1996 (SEC File No. 333-10905))

5.1

 

Form of Opinion of Andrews Kurth LLP regarding legality of common stock

10.1

 

Warrant to Purchase Common Stock issued April 16, 2003 by Registrant to Charif Souki (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Cheniere's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q/A as filed with the SEC on May 26, 2004 (SEC File No. 001-16383))

23.1

 

Consent of Andrews Kurth LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)

23.2

 

Consent of UHY Mann Frankfort Stein & Lipp CPAs, LLP

23.3

 

Consent of KPMG LLP

23.4

 

Consent of Hein & Associates LLP

23.5

 

Consent of Sharp Petroleum Engineering, Inc.

23.6

 

Consent of Ryder Scott Company

24.1

 

Power of Attorney relating to subsequent amendments (included on the signature page to this Registration Statement)



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PART I INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
PART II INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
SIGNATURES
POWER OF ATTORNEY
EXHIBIT INDEX