On September 15, 2021, the Ontario Court approved the Company’s request to establish a claims process to identify and determine claims against the Company and its subsidiaries that are subject to the ongoing Claims Procedure Order. As part of the CCAA proceedings and in accordance with the Claims procedure Order, Just Energy continues to review and determine which claims will be allowed, modified or disallowed which may result in additional liabilities subject to compromise that are not currently reflected in the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. Please see (refer to Part I, Item 1, “Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and Notes” Note 15(b) Commitments and Contingencies) of this Quarterly Report for additional information. On August 18, 2022 the Ontario Court suspended the Claims Procedure Order with (i) the barring of claims pursuant to the applicable provisions of such order remaining in effect and (ii) the Company’s ability, with the consent of the Monitor, to refer claims for adjudication for the purposes of determining entitlement to proceeds to be distributed in accordance with a transaction completed pursuant to the SISP.
Transactions with related parties
Parties are considered to be related if one party has the ability to control the other party or exercise influence over the other party in making financial or operating decisions. The definition includes subsidiaries and other persons.
PIMCO through certain affiliates became a 28.9% shareholder of the Company as part of the September 2020 Recapitalization. On March 9, 2021, certain PIMCO affiliates entered into the DIP Facility with the Company as discussed in the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements. For consideration for making the DIP Facility available, Just Energy paid a 1% origination fee, a 1% commitment fee on March 9, 2021 and a 1% amendment fee on November 16, 2021.
Off balance sheet items
The Company has issued letters of credit in accordance with its credit facility totaling CAD$123.7 million as at June 30, 2022 to various counterparties, primarily utilities in the markets it operates in, as well as suppliers.
Pursuant to separate arrangements with surety bond providers. Just Energy has issued surety bonds to various counterparties including States, regulatory bodies, utilities, and various other surety bond holders in return for a fee and/or meeting certain collateral posting requirements. Such surety bond postings are required in order to operate in certain states or markets. Total surety bonds issued as at June 30, 2022 was $39.4 million, which is 100% collateralized with letters of credit or cash collateral.
Critical accounting estimates and judgments
The Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements of Just Energy have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. Certain accounting policies require management to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues, cost of goods sold, administrative expenses, selling and marketing expenses, and other operating expenses. Estimates are based on historical experience, current information and various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. The emergence of new information and changed circumstances may result in actual results or changes to estimated amounts that differ materially from current estimates.
The following assessment of critical accounting estimates is not meant to be exhaustive. Just Energy might realize different results from the application of new accounting standards promulgated, from time to time, by various rule–making bodies.
COVID–19 IMPACT
As a result of the continued COVID–19 pandemic, we have reviewed the estimates, judgments and assumptions used in the preparation of the Interim Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements and determined that no significant revisions to such estimates, judgments or assumptions were required for the three months ended June 30, 2022.
DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND RISK MANAGEMENT
Just Energy has entered into a variety of derivative instruments as part of the business of purchasing and selling gas, electricity and JustGreen supply and as part of the risk management practice. In addition, Just Energy uses derivative instruments to manage foreign exchange, interest rate and other risks.