TORONTO, Aug. 29, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just Energy Group Inc. (“Just Energy” or the “Company”) (NEX:JE.H; OTC:JENGQ), a retail energy provider specializing in electricity and natural gas commodities and bringing energy efficient solutions, carbon offsets and renewable energy options to customers, today announced its first quarter results for fiscal year 2023.
Recent Developments
On August 18, 2022, the Ontario Superior Court of Justice (Commercial List) granted an Order that, among other things, (i) authorized the Company to conduct the previously announced sale and investment solicitation process (the “SISP”); (ii) approved the execution by Just Energy and certain of its affiliates of a stalking horse transaction agreement and support agreement in connection with the SISP. The Company expects the SISP process to be completed in late 2022 or early 2023. For more details on the SISP, please visit: https://investors.justenergy.com or the website of FTI Consulting Canada Inc., the monitor for the Just Energy entities under the CCAA proceedings, at http://cfcanada.fticonsulting.com/justenergy
“During the first fiscal quarter, the Company delivered both strong financial results and the highest quarterly Mass Markets net additions since the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018. While we continue to face a highly competitive retail landscape and persistently high commodity prices, our results continue to validate the Company’s strategic investment in digital marketing and direct face-to-face channels, as well as our strong focus on customer retention,” said Scott Gahn, Just Energy’s President and Chief Executive Officer.
“Our operational performance during the first quarter demonstrates our continued commitment to our customers, employees, partners, and our pursuit of growth in key markets,” added Mr. Gahn.
First Quarter FY 2023 Performance
The Company’s first fiscal quarter 2023 results and prior comparable periods are expressed in US dollars. As of March 31, 2022, the Company is considered a domestic filer instead of a foreign private issuer as defined by the Securities Exchange Commission, and now is required to prepare its consolidated financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP.
- Revenue of $570.6 million increased by 15% from the prior comparable quarter, primarily driven by an increase in Texas mass market customer base and warmer weather in Texas.
- Base EBITDA of $20.5 million increased by 9% from the prior comparable quarter, primarily driven by higher Base Gross Margin offset by higher provision for expected credit loss and administrative expenses.
- Base Gross Margin of $90.3 million increased by 11% from the prior comparable quarter, primarily driven by higher mass market volumes due to an increase in customer base and weather, partially offset by lower average realized mass market Base Gross Margin.
- Mass Markets RCE Net Adds for the quarter was a gain of 43,000 compared to a decrease of 6,000 for the prior comparable quarter, driven by an increase in customer adds and negative impact of the New York regulatory action in the prior comparable quarter.
- The Company owes $125.0 million under its DIP facility and has $847.2 million of total liabilities subject to compromise.
- The Company ended the quarter with $221.0 million of total liquidity, comprised of cash and cash equivalents.
- Net income was $160.6 million, compared to $223.9 million during the prior comparable quarter, primarily driven in both periods by unrealized mark to market gains on derivative instruments associated with supply contracts partially offset by income tax expense in the current year. Unrealized mark to market gains and losses on derivative financial instruments relate to the supply the Company has purchased to deliver in the future to existing customers at fixed contractual prices1.
1 See “Non-U.S. GAAP financial measures” in the MD&A.
| Fiscal First Quarter Financial Highlights: | |||
| For the three months ended June 30 | |||
| $ in thousands, except customer data | Fiscal 2023 | Fiscal 2022 | Change |
| Revenue | $570,586 | $496,361 | 15% |
| Base Gross Margin1 | $90,349 | $81,082 | 11% |
| Base EBITDA1 | $20,473 | $18,744 | 9% |
| Cash and cash equivalents | $220,962 | $125,755 | 76% |
| RCE Mass Markets count | 1,244,000 | 1,127,000 | 10% |
| RCE Mass Market net adds for the quarter | 43,000 | -6,000 | NMF2 |
| RCE Commercial count | 1,498,000 | 1,734,000 | -14% |
| 1 See “Non-U.S. GAAP financial measures” in the MD&A. 2 Not a meaningful figure | |||
| Fiscal First Quarter Expense Detail: | |||||||
| For the three months ended June 30 | |||||||
| ($ thousands) | Fiscal 2023 | Fiscal 2022 | Change | ||||
| Administrative expenses | $27,487 | $24,643 | 12% | ||||
| Selling commission expenses | $19,091 | $20,648 | -8% | ||||
| Selling non-commission and marketing expense | $13,381 | $11,688 | 14% | ||||
| Provision for expected credit loss | $10,450 | $6,073 | 72% | ||||
- Administrative expenses: The increase was primarily driven higher employee costs.
- Selling commission expenses: The decrease was primarily due to lower prepaid commission amortization from lower sales in prior years.
- Selling non-commission and marketing expenses: The increase was driven by investment in sales agent costs to drive customer additions and retention.
- Provision for expected credit loss: The increase was driven from the higher revenues in Texas Mass Markets.
Mass Markets Segment Performance
| Operating Highlights: | |||||
| For the three months ended June 30 | |||||
| Fiscal 2023 | Fiscal 2022 | Change | |||
| Mass Markets gross margin on added/renewed | $280/RCE | $195/RCE | 44% | ||
| Embedded Gross Margin1 ($ millions) | $857.1 | $820.8 | 4% | ||
| Total gross Mass Markets (RCE) additions | 139,000 | 81,000 | 72% | ||
| Attrition (trailing 12 months) | 16% | 18% | -11% | ||
| Renewals (trailing 12 months) | 81% | 76% | 7% | ||
1See “Non–U.S. GAAP financial measures” in the MD&A
- Average Mass Markets gross margin per RCE added or renewed: The increase was largely due to a change in channel strategy and channel mix.
- Mass Markets Embedded Gross Margin: The increase was primarily driven by growth in the Texas Mass Markets customer base.
- Mass Markets gross RCE additions: The increase was driven by the investment in digital marketing, as well as continued improvement in direct face-to-face channels.
Mass Markets RCE Summary:
| 4/1/2022 | Additions | Attrition | Failed to renew | 6/30/2022 | Change | |
| Gas | 234,000 | 12,000 | (10,000) | (6,000) | 230,000 | -2% |
| Electricity | 967,000 | 127,000 | (58,000) | (22,000) | 1,014,000 | 5% |
| Total Mass Markets RCEs | 1,201,000 | 139,000 | (68,000) | (28,000) | 1,244,000 | 4% |
Commercial Segment Performance
| Operating Highlights: | |||
| For the three months ended June 30 | |||
| Fiscal 2022 | Fiscal 2021 | Change | |
| Commercial gross margin on added/renewed | $86/RCE | $70/RCE | 23% |
| Embedded Gross Margin1 ($ millions) | $244.3 | $268.3 | -9% |
| Attrition (trailing 12 months) | 12% | 9% | 33% |
| Renewals (trailing 12 months) | 45% | 49% | -8% |
1See “Non–U.S. GAAP financial measures” in the MD&A
- Commercial Embedded Gross Margin: The decline resulted from the decrease in the customer base compared to the prior period.
Commercial RCE Summary:
| 4/1/2022 | Additions | Attrition | Failed to renew | 6/30/2022 | Change | |
| Gas | 365,000 | 13,000 | (6,000) | (8,000) | 364,000 | -% |
| Electricity | 1,189,000 | 89,000 | (65,000) | (79,000) | 1,134,000 | -5% |
| Total Commercial RCEs | 1,554,000 | 102,000 | (71,000) | (87,000) | 1,498,000 | -4% |
About Just Energy Group Inc.
Just Energy is a retail energy provider specializing in electricity and natural gas commodities and bringing energy efficient solutions, carbon offsets and renewable energy options to customers. Operating in the United States and Canada, Just Energy serves residential and commercial customers. Just Energy is the parent company of Amigo Energy, Filter Group, Hudson Energy, Interactive Energy Group, Tara Energy, and Terrapass. Visit https://investors.justenergy.com to learn more.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This press release may contain forward-looking statements, including with respect to the timing by which the Company will file the reporting documents. These statements are based on current expectations that involve several risks and uncertainties which could cause actual results to differ from those anticipated. These risks include, but are not limited to, risks with respect to the ability of the Company to continue as a going concern; the outcome of proceedings under the CCAA, including the SISP process and the timing of the completion of the SISP, the outcome of any potential litigation with respect to the February 2021 extreme weather event in Texas, the outcome of any invoice dispute with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, Inc.; the impact of the evolving COVID-19 pandemic on the Company’s business, operations and sales; uncertainties relating to the ultimate spread, severity and duration of COVID-19 and related adverse effects on the economies and financial markets of countries in which the Company operates; the ability of the Company to successfully implement its business continuity plans with respect to the COVID-19 pandemic; the Company’s ability to access sufficient capital to provide liquidity to manage its cash flow requirements; general economic, business and market conditions; the ability of management to execute its business plan; levels of customer natural gas and electricity consumption; extreme weather conditions; rates of customer additions and renewals; customer credit risk; rates of customer attrition; fluctuations in natural gas and electricity prices; interest and exchange rates; actions taken by governmental authorities including energy marketing regulation; increases in taxes and changes in government regulations and incentive programs; changes in regulatory regimes; results of litigation and decisions by regulatory authorities; competition; and dependence on certain suppliers. Additional information on these and other factors that could affect Just Energy’s operations or financial results are included in Just Energy’s Form 10K on file with U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s website at www.sec.gov or Canadian securities regulatory authorities which can be accessed through the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com or through Just Energy’s website at investors.justenergy.com.
NON-U.S. GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
The financial measures such as “EBITDA”, “Base EBITDA”, “Base Gross Margin”, “Free Cash Flow”, “Unlevered Free Cash Flow” and “Embedded Gross Margin” do not have a standardized meaning prescribed by U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (“U.S. GAAP”) and may not be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. This financial measure should not be considered as an alternative to, or more meaningful than, net income (loss), cash flow from operating activities and other measures of financial performance as determined in accordance with U.S. GAAP, but the Company believes that these measures are useful in providing relative operational profitability of the Company’s business. Please refer to “Non-U.S. GAAP financial measures in the Just Energy Full Fiscal Year 2022’s Management’s Discussion and Analysis for the Company’s definition of “EBITDA” and other non-U.S. GAAP measures.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Michael Carter
Chief Financial Officer
Just Energy
Phone: (905) 670-4440
mcarter@justenergy.com
or
Investors
Michael Cummings
Alpha IR
Phone: (617) 982-0475
JE@alpha-ir.com
Monitor
FTI Consulting Inc.
Phone: 416-649-8127 or 1-844-669-6340
justenergy@fticonsulting.com
Media
Boyd Erman
Longview Communications
Phone: 416-523-5885
berman@longviewcomms.ca
Source: Just Energy Group Inc.
Supplemental Tables:
Financial and Operating Highlights
For the three months ended June 30.
(thousands of dollars, except where indicated and per share amounts)
| % increase | |||||||||||
| Fiscal 2023 | (decrease) | Fiscal 2022 | |||||||||
| Revenue | $ | 570,586 | 15 | % | $ | 496,361 | |||||
| Base Gross Margin1 | 90,349 | 11 | % | 81,082 | |||||||
| Administrative expenses | 27,487 | 12 | % | 24,643 | |||||||
| Selling commission expenses | 19,091 | (8 | ) | % | 20,648 | ||||||
| Selling non-commission and marketing expense | 13,381 | 14 | % | 11,688 | |||||||
| Provision for expected credit loss | 10,450 | 72 | % | 6,073 | |||||||
| Reorganization Costs | 19,131 | 16 | % | 16,486 | |||||||
| Interest expense | 8,488 | (4 | ) | % | 8,831 | ||||||
| Income for the period | 160,614 | (28 | ) | % | 223,834 | ||||||
| Base EBITDA1 | 20,473 | 9 | % | 18,774 | |||||||
| RCE Mass Markets count | 1,244,000 | 10 | % | 1,127,000 | |||||||
| RCE Mass Markets net adds | 43,000 | NMF2 | (6,000 | ) | |||||||
| RCE Commercial count | 1,498,000 | (14 | ) | % | 1,734,000 | ||||||
1 See “Non–U.S. GAAP financial measures” above.
2 Not a meaningful figure.
Balance Sheet
| (thousands of dollars) | As at | As at | |||||
| June 30, | March 31, | ||||||
| 2022 | 2022 | ||||||
| Assets: | |||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 220,962 | $ | 125,755 | |||
| Trade and other receivables, net | 356,059 | 308,941 | |||||
| Total fair value of derivative instrument assets | 899,282 | 671,714 | |||||
| Other current assets | 175,581 | 131,570 | |||||
| Total assets | 1,911,371 | 1,623,814 | |||||
| Liabilities: | |||||||
| Trade and other payables | $ | 385,391 | $ | 349,923 | |||
| Total fair value of derivative instrument liabilities | 34,580 | 26,087 | |||||
| Total debt | 125,893 | 126,419 | |||||
| Total liabilities | 1,553,964 | 1,429,613 | |||||
Summary of Cash Flows
For the three months ended June 30.
(thousands of dollars)
| Fiscal 2023 | Fiscal 2022 | ||||||||||||||
| Operating activities from continuing operations | $ | 102,072 | $ | 2,603 | |||||||||||
| Investing activities from continuing operations | (3,462 | ) | (1,460 | ) | |||||||||||
| Financing activities from continuing operations | (1,657 | ) | (22,683 | ) | |||||||||||
| Effect of foreign currency translation | (1,852 | ) | 221 | ||||||||||||
| Increase (decrease) in cash | 95,101 | (21,319 | ) | ||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents – beginning of period | 128,491 | 172,666 | |||||||||||||
| Cash and cash equivalents – end of period | $ | 223,592 | $ | 151,347 | |||||||||||
