Growing gold producer American Barrick Resources (TSE) has more than 3.4 million oz. hedged through gold loans, forward sales, options and spot deferreds. Greg Wilkins, chief financial officer, recently told a Toronto meeting of analysts that Barrick took advantage of the spike in gold prices during the third quarter to add to its hedging position.
During the summer months, gold prices topped US$400 per oz. in response to the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. The latest Middle East crisis also sent oil prices spiralling.
Of the 3.4 million oz. hedged, 860,000 oz. are in spot deferred contracts which were added during the third quarter, Wilkins said.
“Spot deferred contracts represent a new element in our hedging package,” he said. “Because of our reserve strength, we have been able to arrange unmargined trading lines that allow us to roll out spot deferred contracts well into the future. This gives us the flexibility to either take advantage of the spot deferred hedge price or the spot, whichever is higher at any point in time.”
Wilkins said Barrick can be 100% hedged until the third quarter of 1993 at about US$425 per oz. but the company’s commitments during this period are only 50% of production. At the end of 1990, the commitments drop to less than 40%.
Barrick shareholders, he said, “benefit from upward movements in the gold price not only in the short-term because we have minimized commitments but particularly in the long-term since Barrick’s long gold position is one of the longest in the world.”
Barrick is projecting total gold production this year of 565,000 oz. Operator of the Goldstrike project in Nevada, Barrick anticipates topping the million-oz. mark in 1992.
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