SCHEDULE 14A
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INFORMATION REQUIRED
IN PROXY STATEMENT
SCHEDULE 14A
INFORMATION
Proxy Statement
Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
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HECLA MINING
COMPANY
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(Name of Registrant as
Specified In Its Charter)
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May 26,
2010
Dear
Fellow Shareholder:
I am
writing to inform you that the Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Hecla Mining
Company was held on Friday, May 21, 2010. At the meeting, all
director nominees were elected to Hecla’s Board of Directors and the amendment
to increase the number of shares of authorized common stock, and the
ratification of BDO Seidman, LLP as Hecla’s auditor were
approved. However, we adjourned the vote on Proposal 3 – adoption of
Hecla’s 2010 Stock Incentive Plan – because not enough votes were cast on that
proposal to meet the New York Stock Exchange requirement that a majority of
outstanding shares of common stock be voted on that proposal.
On
Proposal 3, 96.3 million votes were cast. Thus, under NYSE rules, we
need an additional 24.6 million shares to vote on Proposal 3 in order for it to
be validly adopted. Of the shares of common stock that were
voted on Proposal 3, 69.6 million shares (72%) were voted “For” the proposal,
20,574,056 shares (21%) were voted “Against” the proposal, and 6,447,222 shares
(7%) were voted “Abstain.”
We will
reconvene the Annual Meeting, solely to vote on Proposal 3 (adoption of the 2010
Stock Incentive Plan), at 10:00 a.m. on June 18, 2010, at Hecla’s corporate
headquarters.
Our
records indicate that as of March 23, 2010 (“Record Date” for the Annual
Meeting) you held shares of Hecla common stock. According to our
latest records, your voting instructions for Proposal 3 have not yet been
received. Regardless of the
number of shares you may own, it is important they be represented at the
adjourned meeting for this matter to be fully considered by the
shareholders.
Because
your shares of Hecla common stock are registered in the name of your broker as
holder of record, your shares
cannot be voted unless you give your specific
instructions. For the reasons set forth in the definitive
proxy statement dated April 5, 2010, your Board of Directors unanimously
recommends that you vote “FOR” Proposal 3.
Please
use one of the following methods to promptly vote your shares:
1. Internet: Go
to the website www.proxyvote.com. Have your 12-digit control number
listed on the enclosed voting instruction form ready and follow the online
instructions. The 12-digit control number is located in the
rectangular box on the right side of your voting instruction form.
2. Telephone: Call
toll-free 1 (800) 690-6903. Have your 12-digit control number listed
on the voting instruction form ready and follow the simple
instructions.
3. Mail: Sign,
date and return your instruction form in the postage-paid return envelope
provided.
Thank you
in advance for your participation and your consideration in this very important
matter.
Sincerely,
President
and Chief Executive Officer
Hecla
Mining Company
2010-09
| |
NEWS RELEASE |
HECLA
ADJOURNS PORTION OF ITS ANNUAL MEETING UNTIL JUNE 18, 2010
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 26,
2010
COEUR D’ALENE, IDAHO -- Hecla Mining
Company (NYSE:HL) today
announced that it adjourned a portion of the annual meeting of shareholders on
Proposal 3 until June 18 to allow the holders of a majority of outstanding
shares of common stock to vote on the matter. All other matters before the
shareholders were completed at the meeting on May 21. The proposal concerns the
adoption of Hecla’s 2010 Stock Incentive Plan and the reservation of
20 million shares for the plan.
The
adjournment with respect to Proposal 3 will be until 10:00 a.m., Pacific Time,
on Friday, June 18, 2010, at Hecla’s corporate offices at 6500 North Mineral
Drive, Suite 200 in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. At that meeting, a shareholder vote on
the adoption of the 2010 Stock Incentive Plan will take place. The polls are
currently open with respect to Proposal 3 only and will remain open until 10:00
a.m., Pacific Time, on June 18, 2010. The record date for purposes of
eligibility to vote remains March 23, 2010.
As of May
21, 2010, approximately 97 million of the approximately 242 million outstanding
shares eligible to vote have been voted, with approximately 72% of votes cast in
favor of Proposal 3, 21% against and 7% abstaining. The meeting is being
adjourned for the purpose of obtaining more shareholder votes on Proposal 3 in
order to meet the New York Stock Exchange’s requirement that a majority of
outstanding common shares be voted on Proposal 3. During the pendency of the
adjourned meeting, shareholders holding shares as of the record date (March 23,
2010) who have not yet voted are encouraged to vote on Proposal 3. Brokers
cannot vote the shares on this non-routine matter, so shareholders holding
shares through a brokerage firm must vote their shares for the purposes of
receiving sufficient votes to decide this issue. Shareholders may also change
their vote by executing a new proxy.
Hecla has
filed a proxy statement pursuant to which the company is soliciting proxies in
connection with seeking shareholder approval of Proposal 3 with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). Shareholders are urged to read the proxy
statement and other relevant documents filed with the SEC.
Hecla Mining Company, headquartered in
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, mines, processes and explores for silver and gold in the
United States and Mexico. A 119-year-old company, Hecla has long been well known
in the mining world and financial markets as a quality producer of silver and
gold. Hecla's common and preferred shares are traded on the New York Stock
Exchange under the symbols “HL,” “HL-PrB” and “HL-PrC.”
Contact: Don
Poirier, vice president – corporate development, 208/769-4128
Hecla's
Home Page can be accessed on the Internet at www.hecla-mining.com.
6500 N
Mineral Drive, Suite 200 • Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 83815-9408 • 208/769-4100 • FAX
208/769-7612