Commodity risk
GFL entered into a series of swap contracts to partially hedge our exposure of diesel fuel purchases in Canada and certain areas in the U.S.The fair value of the agreements represented an asset of approximately $5.4 million as at December 31, 2021 which is included in our net derivative instruments ($3.7 million as at December 31, 2020). GFL recognized an expense for changes in the fair value of the fuel contracts within its consolidated statements of operations of $NaN for the year ended December 31, 2021 ($1.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2020).
GFL markets a variety of recyclable materials, including cardboard, mixed paper, plastic containers, glass bottles and ferrous and aluminum metals. GFL owns and operates recycling operations and sells other collected recyclable materials to third parties for processing before resale. To reduce GFL’s exposure to commodity price risk with respect to recycled materials, it has adopted a pricing strategy of charging collection and processing fees for recycling volume collected from third parties. In the event of a change in recycled commodity prices, a 10% change in average recycled commodity prices from the average prices that were in effect would have had a $14.7 million and $6.7 million impact on revenues for the year ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively.
Capital management
GFL defines capital that it manages as the aggregate of its shareholders’ equity and long-term debt net of cash.
GFL makes adjustments to its capital based on the funds available to GFL in order to support the ongoing operations of the business and in order to ensure that the entities in GFL will be able to continue as going concerns, while maximizing the return to stakeholders through the optimization of the debt and equity balances.
GFL manages its capital structure, and makes adjustments to it in light of changes in economic conditions. In order to maintain or modify the capital structure, GFL may arrange new debt with existing or new lenders, or obtain additional financing through other means.
Management reviews its capital management approach on an ongoing basis and believes that this approach, given the size of GFL, is reasonable. There were no changes in GFL’s approach to capital management during the year ended December 31, 2021, and year ended December 31, 2020.
21. COMMITMENTS
As at December 31, 2021, GFL had letters of credit totaling approximately $199.5 million outstanding ($133.8 million as at December 31, 2020), which are not recognized in the Annual Financial Statements. Interest expense in connection with these letters of credit was $3.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 ($3.8 million for the year ended December 31, 2020).
As at December 31, 2021, GFL had issued performance bonds totaling $1,748.1 million ($1,697.4 million as at December 31, 2020).
22. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Included in due to related party is a non-interest bearing unsecured promissory note payable to Josaud Holdings Inc., an entity controlled by Patrick Dovigi. The note matures on January 1, 2023 and is payable in equal semi-annual instalments of $3.5 million. The remaining principal outstanding on the note payable was $10.5 million as at December 31, 2021 ($17.5 million as at December 31, 2020).
Also included in due to related party is an interest bearing unsecured promissory note issued on March 5, 2020 payable to Sejosa Holdings Inc., an entity controlled by Patrick Dovigi. The note matures on March 5, 2025, is payable in equal semi-annual instalments of $2.9 million and bears interest at market rate. The remaining principal outstanding on the note payable was $20.3 million as at December 31, 2021 ($26.1 million as at December 31, 2020).