RE: hedging EZMI checked this silver hedging which I was not aware of, it is actually about 61% of their silver production (about 2M ounces annually) as it is from one mine & for $3.90. This kind of sucks. From their Q3 report.
The Company has agreed to deliver all future production of silver from Zinkgruvan to Silver Wheaton, with a delivery guarantee of a minimum of 40 million ounces of silver over a 25-year period. If at the end of the 25-year period, the Company has not delivered the minimum of 40 million ounces, then it has agreed to pay to Silver Wheaton $1.00 per ounce of silver not delivered.
It should be noted that the price of silver for all silver production from Zinkgruvan going forward has been fixed by the silver sale transaction with Silver Wheaton whereby Zinkgruvan receives $3.90 cash per ounce or the market price if the market price of silver is less than $3.90 per ounce. The up-front cash payment received from Silver Wheaton in December 2004 has been deferred on the balance sheet and is realized in the income statement when the actual deliveries of silver occur.