(Source: MARKETWIRE)

Just Energy Income Fund (TSX: JE.UN) -
Highlights for the three months ended September 30, 2009 included:
- Sales (seasonally adjusted) of $562.1 million, up 46% year over
year.
- Gross margin (seasonally adjusted) of $107.5 million, up 74% year
over year (43% per unit).
- Distributable cash after gross margin replacement of $52.3 million
($0.39 per unit), 50% year over year (26% per unit).
- Distributable cash after all marketing expenses of $41.3 million
($0.31 per unit), up 19% per unit.
- Net income of $110.7 million ($0.82 per unit) which includes the
impact of the mark-to-market gain on financial instruments.
- Addition of 430,000 long term customers through the Universal
Energy Group acquisition.
- Gross customer additions through marketing of 140,000, the highest
quarter in the history of Just Energy.
- Net customer additions of 36,000 up from 9,000 marketed additions
in Q2 F2009 and 11,000 in Q1 F2010.
- Continued strong GEO product sales with penetration of 41% of new
customers taking an average of 78% GEO supply.
- Expect to declare a Special Distribution of $0.10 to $0.15 on
December 31.
Just Energy Second Quarter Fiscal 2010 Results
Just Energy Income Fund announced its results for the three months
and six months ended September 30, 2009.
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Three Months ended September 30, F2010 Per Unit F2009 Per Unit
($ millions except per Unit)
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Sales(1) $562.1 $4.19 $386.2 $3.47
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Gross Margin(1) 107.5 $0.80 61.8 $0.56
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Distributable Cash(1)
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- After Margin Replacement 52.3 $0.39 34.8 $0.31
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- After all Marketing Expense 41.3 $0.31 28.4 $0.26
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Net Income (Loss) 110.7 $0.82 (924.0) $(8.31)
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Distributions 42.8 $0.32 34.6 $0.31
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(1) Seasonally adjusted
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Six Months ended September 30, F2010 Per Unit F2009 Per Unit
($ millions except per Unit)
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Sales(1) $994.7 $8.04 $788.0 $7.12
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Gross Margin(1) 182.3 1.47 121.5 $1.10
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Distributable Cash(1)
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- After Margin Replacement 94.5 $0.76 65.8 $0.59
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- After all Marketing Expense 77.4 $0.63 58.7 $0.53
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Net Income (Loss) 213.3 $1.72 (889.8) $(8.04)
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Distributions 77.9 $0.63 68.3 $0.62
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(1) Seasonally adjusted
Just Energy has completed a strong quarter of growth. A highlight was
the smooth merger of our business with that of our most recent
acquisition, Universal Energy Group. The second quarter results are
the first that consolidate the Universal business and they
demonstrate the accretion inherent in that transaction.
Operating measures showed strong results with growth in all key
financial measures. There were two reasons for this, accretion from
the acquisition of Universal Energy Group ("Universal") and very
successful marketing by our team of independent sales
contractors.
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Operat
ing Measure Q2 F2010 Growth Q2 F2010 Growth
Year over Year per Unit
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Sales(1) 46% 21%
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Gross Margin(1) 74% 43%
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Distributable Cash after
Margin Replacement 50% 26%
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Distributable Cash after
Marketing 46% 19%
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Customers 29% 19%
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(1)Seasonally adjusted
Just Energy acquired Universal and its 430,000 long term customers by
issuing 16% of the Fund's total units to Universal shareholders.
Accordingly, growth of more than 16% year over year would be
accretive. The table above shows Just Energy's growth which for the
second quarter, exceeds 16%. The first column shows nominal year over
year growth and the second shows growth per unit which better shows
actual accretion. Overall, our growth is higher than 16% in every
category.
To date, the merger of Universal operations is proceeding smoothly.
The consolidation of administrative functions and elimination of
overlap is well underway and synergies will be achieved of $10
million in general and administrative cost savings. The combination
of our two sales forces is also ahead of expectations with few key
sales contractors lost in the transition. Early results from the
merged National Home Services water heater division have also been
strong.
The tables shown earlier detail the operating results of the Fund for
the three and six months ended September 30, 2009. Margin per
customer remained strong aided by newly added customer margins of
$204 per year, reflecting the very strong take-up of the Green Energy
Option product.
The numbers include operating losses at Terra Grain Fuels, the
ethanol plant acquired as part of the Universal acquisition, and the
start up of National Home Services, our water heater sales and rental
business. Both these businesses are expected to be self financing by
fiscal year end which should enhance our growth in future periods.
Distributable cash has grown less than gross margin due to the onset
of significant cash tax on the Fund's growing US operations and
Universal. Just Energy is actively looking for opportunities to
minimize this impact.
To view the "Customers Added Through Marketing" graph, please visit
the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/je1106.pdf
The Universal acquisition was not the only driver of growth in the
second quarter. Management's efforts to reenergize our salesforce
over the past year continue to be successful. Gross customer
additions of 140,000 achieved by our sales forces was the strongest
quarter in the history of Just Energy.
Net customer additions through marketing for the quarter were 36,000,
again the highest total of any recent quarter. While this was up more
than 200% versus the comparable quarter of fiscal 2009 and Q1 of
fiscal 2010, it was adversely affected by continued high attrition in
foreclosure impacted US natural gas markets. There was a small
improvement in this attrition for the quarter moving from an
annualized 31% to an annualized 28% and management is hopeful that
this trend will continue. Attrition in our other markets was in line
with company targets.
Sales of Green Energy Option ("GEO") electricity and natural gas
products continue to be a major success. Year to date, 41% of our new
customers have elected green supply taking, on average, 78% of their
consumption through GEO.
In regards to the second quarter, CEO Ken Hartwick noted: "For the
second consecutive quarter, Just Energy has delivered substantial
growth in the face of a continued deep recession. This is the seventh
consecutive year of double digit growth for our company."
Mr. Hartwick added: "Recently acquired Universal Energy has shown its
potential as a contributor to our future growth. Merging the two
operations has been a tremendous challenge to our team and I want to
congratulate them on the success of their efforts to date."
"Our other main success was marketing. We signed more customers in
the second quarter than any quarter in the history of the company.
Combining this with higher margins on these new customers driven by
very strong take up of our GEO product, it is difficult not to be
optimistic about the future of Just Energy."
Chair Rebecca MacDonald added: "We have provided guidance that per
unit growth in gross margin and distributable cash will be 5% to 10%
in fiscal 2010. We are maintaining this forecast at this point in
time, despite the fact that the first six months have seen growth of
34% and 29% respectively. The Universal acquisition brought with it
145,000 customers in markets where we will not operate or with short
term contracts which we do not expect to renew. These customers
generated margin of approximately $9.5 million in the second quarter
which will not continue in future periods. Further, there will be
more merger realization costs for the remainder of the year.
Universal is an accretive transaction but the true accretion will not
be seen until fiscal 2011."
"The growth we have noted in the second quarter is another step
toward our goal of growing our cash flow by the 2011 trust tax
conversion date with the expectation that a converted Just Energy
would be able to pay $1.24 in dividends replacing the more heavily
taxed $1.24 distribution. This cannot be assured but we continue to
be optimistic that it is a realistic expectation. It appears clear
that we will need another special distribution to offset
undistributed profits for calendar 2009. We expect that this
distribution will be in the range of $0.10 to $0.15 per unit and will
be paid early next year." The Fund
Just Energy's business involves the sale of natural gas and/or
electricity to residential and commercial customers under long-term
fixed-price and price-protected contracts. By fixing the price of
natural gas or electricity under its fixed-price or price-protected
program contracts for a period of up to five years, Just Energy's
customers offset their exposure to changes in the price of these
essential commodities. Just Energy, which commenced business in 1997,
derives its margin or gross profit from the difference between the
fixed price at which it is able to sell the commodities to its
customers and the fixed price at which it purchases the associated
volumes from its suppliers.
The Fund also offers "green" products through its Green Energy Option
(GEO) program. The electricity GEO product offers the customer the
option of having all or a portion of his or her electricity sourced
from renewable green sources such as wind, run of the river hydro or
biomass. The gas GEO product offers carbon offset credits which will
allow the customer to reduce or eliminate the carbon footprint for
their home or business. Management believes that these products will
not only add to profits, but also increase sales receptivity and
improve renewal rates.
In addition, through National Home Services, the Fund sells and rents
high efficiency and tankless water heaters and produces and sells
wheat-based ethanol through its subsidiary Terra Grain Fuels.
Non GAAP Measures
Adjusted net income (loss) represents the net income (loss) excluding
the impact of mark-to-market gains (losses) arising from Canadian
GAAP requirements for derivative financial instruments on our future
supply positions. Just Energy ensures that customer margins are
protected by entering into fixed-price supply contracts. In
accordance with GAAP, the customer margins are not marked-to-market
but there is a requirement to mark-to-market the future supply
contracts. This creates unrealized gains (losses) depending upon
current supply pricing volatility. Management believes that these
short-term mark-to-market non-cash gains (losses) do not impact the
long-term financial performance of the Fund.
Management also believes the best basis for analyzing both the Fund's
operating results and the amount available for distribution is to
focus on amounts actually received ("seasonally adjusted").
Seasonally adjusted analysis applies solely to the Canadian gas
market (excluding Alberta and B.C.). Just Energy receives payment
from the LDCs upon delivery of the commodity not when the customer
actually consumes the gas. Seasonally adjusted analysis eliminates
seasonal commodity consumption variances and recognizes amount
available for distribution based on cash received from the LDCs.
Forward-Looking Statements
The Fund's press releases may contain forward-looking statements
including statements pertaining to customer revenues and margins,
customer additions and renewals, customer attrition, customer
consumption levels, distributable cash and treatment under
governmental regulatory regimes. These statements are based on
current expectations that involve a number of risks and uncertainties
which could cause actual results to differ from those anticipated.
These risks include, but are not limited to, levels of customer
natural gas and electricity consumption, rates of customer additions
and renewals, rates of customer attrition, fluctuations in natural
gas and electricity prices, changes in regulatory regimes and
decisions by regulatory authorities, competition and dependence on
certain suppliers. Additional information on these and other factors
that could affect the Fund's operations, financial results or
distribution levels are included in the Fund's annual information
form and other reports on file with Canadian securities regulatory
authorities which can be accessed through the SEDAR website at
www.sedar.com or through the Fund's website at www.justenergy.com.
MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS ("MD&A") - November 5, 2009
Overview
The following discussion and analysis is a review of the financial
condition and results of operations of Just Energy Income Fund ("Just
Energy" or the "Fund") for the three and six months ended September
30, 2009 and has been prepared with all information available up to
and including November 5, 2009. This analysis should be read in
conjunction with the unaudited interim consolidated financial
statements for the three and six months ended September 30, 2009, as
well as the audited consolidated financial statements and related
MD&A for the year ended March 31, 2009, contained in the Fund's 2009
Annual Report. The financial information contained herein has been
prepared in accordance with Canadian Generally Accepted Accounting
Principles ("GAAP"). All dollar amounts are expressed in Canadian
dollars. Quarterly reports, the annual report and supplementary
information can be found under "reports and filings" on our corporate
website at www.justenergy.com. Additional information can be found on
SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
Just Energy is an open-ended, limited-purpose trust established under
the laws of the Province of Ontario to hold securities and to
distribute the income of its directly or indirectly owned operating
subsidiaries and affiliates: Just Energy Ontario L.P., Just Energy
Manitoba L.P., Just Energy Quebec L.P., Just Energy (B.C.) Limited
Partnership, Just Energy Alberta L.P. ("JE Alberta"), Alberta Energy
Savings L.P. ("AESLP"), Just Energy Illinois Corp. ("JEIC"), Just
Energy New York Corp. ("JENYC"), Just Energy Indiana Corp., Just
Energy Texas L.P., Just Energy Exchange Corp. ("JEEC"), Universal
Energy Corp., Universal Gas and Electric Corp., Commerce Energy, Inc.
("Commerce"), National Energy Corp. ("NEC") operating under the trade
name of National Home Services ("NHS"), Newten Home Comfort L.P.
("NHCLP"), and Terra Grain Fuels Inc. ("TGF"), collectively, the
"Just Energy Group".
Just Energy's business involves the sale of natural gas and/or
electricity to residential and commercial customers under long-term
fixed-price and price-protected contracts. By fixing the price of
natural gas or electricity under its fixed-price or price-protected
program contracts for a period of up to five years, Just Energy's
customers offset their exposure to changes in the price of these
essential commodities. Just Energy, which commenced business in 1997,
derives its margin or gross profit from the difference between the
fixed price at which it is able to sell the commodities to its
customers and the fixed price at which it purchases the associated
volumes from its suppliers. In addition, through NEC and NHCLP, the
Fund sells and rents high efficiency and tankless water heaters. TGF,
an ethanol producer, operates an ethanol facility in Belle Plaine,
Saskatchewan.
The Fund also offers "green" products through its Green Energy Option
("GEO") program. The electricity GEO product offers the customer the
option of having all or a portion of their electricity sourced from
renewable green sources such as wind, run of the river hydro or
biomass. The gas GEO product offers carbon offset credits which will
allow the customer to reduce or eliminate the carbon footprint for
their home or business. Management believes that these new products
will not only add to profits, but also increase sales receptivity and
improve renewal rates.
Forward-looking information
This MD&A contains certain forward-looking information statements
pertaining to customer additions and renewals, customer consumption
levels, distributable cash and treatment under governmental
regulatory regimes. These statements are based on current
expectations that involve a number of risks and uncertainties which
could cause actual results to differ from those anticipated. These
risks include, but are not limited to, levels of customer natural gas
and electricity consumption, rates of customer additions and
renewals, fluctuations in natural gas and electricity prices, changes
in regulatory regimes and decisions by regulatory authorities,
competition and dependence on certain suppliers. Additional
information on these and other factors that could affect the Fund's
operations, financial results or distribution levels are included in
the Fund's annual information form and other reports on file with
Canadian security regulatory authorities which can be accessed on our
corporate website at www.justenergy.com or through the SEDAR website
at www.sedar.com.
Policy Change
Effective July 1, 2008, the Fund changed its practice from treating
future supply hedging positions as hedges for accounting purposes.
Accordingly, all mark to market adjustments for supply contracts are
reflected in the consolidated statements of operations. In the view
of management, the previous practice offered no greater clarity for
the financial statement user and was very labour intensive and costly
to produce. The new accounting practice consolidates all the
unrealized, non-cash changes in value of future supply into a single
line on the consolidated statements of operations. The Fund's MD&A
reports the adjusted net income excluding all non-cash mark to market
adjustments for all supply-related derivative instruments and the
related tax effect. The expected future net margin is set based on
the derivative instruments and is effectively unchanged with
commodity market movements. Given commodity volatility and the size
of the Fund, the annual swings in mark to market on these positions
can be in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
Just Energy believes that the result of this practice change and the
associated MD&A disclosure is that actual period operating results
will be more transparent for investors.