Hecla Mining Company Form 10-Q for period ended September 30, 2007

 
 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

 

x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2007

 

Commission file number 1-8491

 

HECLA MINING COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

77-0664171

(State or other jurisdiction of

(I.R.S. Employer

incorporation or organization)

Identification No.)

 

 

6500 Mineral Drive, Suite 200

 

Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

83815-9408

(Address of principal executive offices)

(Zip Code)

 

208-769-4100

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months, and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes x.  

No o.

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large Accelerated Filer o.

Accelerated Filer x.

Non-Accelerated Filer o.

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).

Yes o.  

No x.

 

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

 

Class

 

Shares Outstanding November 7, 2007

Common stock, par value
$0.25 per share

 

120,668,552


 
 



Hecla Mining Company and Subsidiaries

 

Form 10-Q

 

For the Quarter Ended September 30, 2007

 

I N D E X*

 

Page

PART I - Financial Information

 

 

 

Item 1 – Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets –
September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006

 

 

3

Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Operations and Comprehensive Income –
Three Months Ended and Nine Months Ended - September 30, 2007 and 2006

4

 

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows –
Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007 and 2006

5

 

 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

6

 

 

Item 2 – Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Conditions and Results of Operations

21

 

 

Item 3 – Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk

39

 

 

Item 4 – Controls and Procedures

40

 

 

PART II

 

 

 

Item 1 – Legal Proceedings

41

 

 

Item 1A – Risk Factors

41

 

 

Item 6 – Exhibits

41

 

*Certain items are omitted as they are not applicable.

 

 

-2-





PART I – FINANCIAL INFORMATION

 

Item 1.

Financial Statements

 

Hecla Mining Company and Subsidiaries

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)

(In thousands, except shares)

 

 

 

September 30,
2007

 

December 31,
2006

 

 

 

ASSETS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents

 

$

120,925

 

$

75,878

 

Short-term investments and securities held for sale

 

 

73,866

 

 

25,455

 

Accounts and notes receivable:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trade

 

 

21,669

 

 

19,497

 

Other, net

 

 

6,696

 

 

7,150

 

Inventories, net

 

 

18,273

 

 

22,305

 

Deferred income taxes

 

 

15,029

 

 

11,822

 

Restricted cash

 

 

3,194

 

 

 

Other current assets

 

 

2,308

 

 

3,454

 

Total current assets

 

 

261,960

 

 

165,561

 

Investments

 

 

9,242

 

 

6,213

 

Restricted cash and investments

 

 

15,110

 

 

21,286

 

Properties, plants and equipment, net

 

 

125,602

 

 

125,986

 

Other non-current assets

 

 

24,807

 

 

27,223

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total assets

 

$

436,721

 

$

346,269

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LIABILITIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Current liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

$

22,756

 

$

24,238

 

Accrued payroll and related benefits

 

 

12,948

 

 

15,036

 

Accrued taxes

 

 

2,822

 

 

5,678

 

Current portion of accrued reclamation and closure costs

 

 

10,935

 

 

7,365

 

Total current liabilities

 

 

49,461

 

 

52,317

 

Accrued reclamation and closure costs

 

 

98,257

 

 

58,539

 

Other non-current liabilities

 

 

11,975

 

 

10,685

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities

 

 

159,693

 

 

121,541

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitments and contingencies (Notes 2 and 5)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Preferred stock, $0.25 par value, authorized 5,000,000 shares;
157,816 shares issued, liquidation preference - $7,891

 

 

39

 

 

39

 

Common stock, $0.25 par value, authorized 400,000,000 shares;
issued 2007 – 120,540,757 shares, and
issued 2006 – 119,828,707 shares

 

 

30,166

 

 

29,957

 

Capital surplus

 

 

519,767

 

 

513,785

 

Accumulated deficit

 

 

(282,970

)

 

(327,522

)

Accumulated other comprehensive income

 

 

10,666

 

 

8,900

 

Less treasury stock, at cost; 2007 – 81,375 common shares, and
2006 – 57,333 common shares

 

 

(640

)

 

(431

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total shareholders’ equity

 

 

277,028

 

 

224,728

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

 

$

436,721

 

$

346,269

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the interim consolidated financial statements.

 

-3-





Hecla Mining Company and Subsidiaries

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Unaudited)

(Dollars and shares in thousands, except for per-share amounts)

 

 

 

Three Months Ended

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30, 2007

 

September 30, 2006

 

September 30, 2007

 

September 30, 2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sales of products

 

$

49,228

 

$

50,414

 

$

162,473

 

$

147,145

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cost of sales and other direct production costs

 

 

22,288

 

 

25,696

 

 

85,312

 

 

76,322

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

 

5,947

 

 

10,346

 

 

21,288

 

 

27,017

 

 

 

 

28,235

 

 

36,042

 

 

106,600

 

 

103,339

 

Gross profit

 

 

20,993

 

 

14,372

 

 

55,873

 

 

43,806

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other operating expenses:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General and administrative

 

 

3,117

 

 

2,601

 

 

10,753

 

 

9,482

 

Exploration

 

 

5,426

 

 

6,058

 

 

13,311

 

 

15,056

 

Pre-development expense

 

 

 

 

2,240

 

 

1,027

 

 

5,689

 

Depreciation and amortization

 

 

28

 

 

196

 

 

251

 

 

743

 

Other operating expense

 

 

37

 

 

683

 

 

1,336

 

 

1,877

 

Gain on sale of properties, plants and equipment

 

 

(47

)

 

(31

)

 

(63,874

)

 

(4,451

)

Provision for closed operations and environmental matters

 

 

3,176

 

 

906

 

 

49,579

 

 

2,503

 

 

 

 

11,737

 

 

12,653

 

 

12,383

 

 

30,899

 

Income from operations

 

 

9,256

 

 

1,719

 

 

43,490

 

 

12,907

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other income (expense):

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Gain on sale of investments

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

36,416

 

Interest and other income

 

 

2,183

 

 

1,117

 

 

5,840

 

 

2,808

 

Net foreign exchange loss

 

 

(3

)

 

(1,264

)

 

(6,126

)

 

(1,334

)

Interest expense

 

 

(133

)

 

(189

)

 

(575

)

 

(552

)

 

 

 

2,047

 

 

(336

)

 

(861

)

 

37,338

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income before income taxes

 

 

11,303

 

 

1,383

 

 

42,629

 

 

50,245

 

Income tax benefit (provision)

 

 

1,182

 

 

(382

)

 

2,336

 

 

(1,635

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

 

12,485

 

 

1,001

 

 

44,965

 

 

48,610

 

Preferred stock dividends

 

 

(138

)

 

(138

)

 

(414

)

 

(414

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income applicable to common shareholders

 

$

12,347

 

$

863

 

$

44,551

 

$

48,196

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

12,485

 

$

1,001

 

$

44,965

 

$

48,610

 

Reclassification of gain on sale of marketable securities included in net income

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

(36,422

)

Unrealized holding gains on investments

 

 

4,014

 

 

1,435

 

 

8,912

 

 

17,930

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comprehensive income

 

$

16,499

 

$

2,436

 

$

53,877

 

$

30,118

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Basic and diluted income per common share after preferred dividends

 

$

0.10

 

$

0.01

 

$

0.37

 

$

0.40

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – basic

 

 

120,440

 

 

119,483

 

 

120,218

 

 

119,146

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding – diluted

 

 

120,975

 

 

119,869

 

 

120,811

 

 

119,561

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the interim consolidated financial statements.

 

-4-





Hecla Mining Company and Subsidiaries

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

(In thousands)

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended

 

 

 

September 30, 2007

 

September 30, 2006

 

Operating activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net income

 

$

44,965

 

$

48,610

 

Non-cash elements included in net income:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

 

21,547

 

 

27,760

 

Gain on sale of investments

 

 

 

 

(36,416

)

Gain on disposition of properties, plants and equipment

 

 

(63,872

)

 

(4,451

)

Provision for inventory obsolescence

 

 

1,091

 

 

1,342

 

Gain on sale of royalty interests

 

 

 

 

(341

)

Provision for reclamation and closure costs

 

 

46,221

 

 

261

 

Stock-based compensation

 

 

3,149

 

 

2,202

 

Benefit from deferred taxes

 

 

(3,207

)

 

 

Other non-cash charges, net

 

 

 

 

266

 

Change in assets and liabilities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Accounts and notes receivable

 

 

(1,617

)

 

(4,667

)

Inventories

 

 

2,684

 

 

1,827

 

Other current and non-current assets

 

 

3,562

 

 

15

 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 

 

(447

)

 

1,852

 

Accrued payroll and related benefits

 

 

(1,903

)

 

2,984

 

Accrued taxes

 

 

(2,855

)

 

572

 

Accrued reclamation and closure costs and other non-current liabilities

 

 

(2,329

)

 

(2,158

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash provided by operating activities

 

 

46,989

 

 

39,658

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Investing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Additions to properties, plants and equipment

 

 

(28,421

)

 

(20,115

)

Proceeds from sale of investments

 

 

 

 

57,441

 

Proceeds from disposition of properties, plants and equipment

 

 

45,048

 

 

4,368

 

Purchase of equity securities

 

 

(181

)

 

 

Decrease (increase) in restricted investments

 

 

2,981

 

 

(729

)

Purchase of short-term investments

 

 

(87,959

)

 

(43,060

)

Maturities of short-term investments and securities held for sale

 

 

64,170

 

 

28,210

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities

 

 

(4,362

)

 

26,115

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Financing activities:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Common stock issued under stock option plans

 

 

3,042

 

 

2,452

 

Dividends paid to preferred shareholders

 

 

(414

)

 

(414

)

Purchase of treasury shares

 

 

(208

)

 

(313

)

Borrowings on debt

 

 

 

 

4,060

 

Repayments on debt

 

 

 

 

(7,060

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

 

 

2,420

 

 

(1,275

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

 

 

45,047

 

 

64,498

 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

 

 

75,878

 

 

6,308

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 

$

120,925

 

$

70,806

 

 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the interim consolidated financial statements.

 

-5-





Hecla Mining Company and Subsidiaries

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 

Note 1.

Basis of Preparation of Financial Statements

 

In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited interim financial statements and notes to interim consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring items, necessary to present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Hecla Mining Company and its consolidated subsidiaries (“we” or “our” or “us”). These unaudited interim consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and related footnotes as set forth in our annual report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006, as it may be amended from time to time.

 

The results of operations for the periods presented may not be indicative of those which may be expected for a full year. Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted as permitted by GAAP.

 

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities as of the date of the financial statements, the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period and the disclosures of contingent liabilities. Accordingly, ultimate results could differ materially from those estimates.

 

Note 2.

Cash, Short-term Investments, Investments and Restricted Cash

 

Cash

 

At September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, we held the U.S. dollar equivalent of approximately $31.2 million and $21.6 million, respectively, denominated in Venezuelan Bolívares at the official exchange rate of 2,150 Bolívares to $1.00. Additionally, we are required to convert into Venezuelan currency the proceeds of Venezuelan exports made over the past 180 days, or approximately $8.1 million, over the next six months. Exchanging our cash held in local currency into U. S. dollars can be done through specific governmental programs that have been limited and slow, or through the use of negotiable instruments at conversion rates that are higher than the official rate (parallel rate) on which we would likely incur foreign currency losses. Although we are currently making appropriate applications through the Venezuelan government, our cash balances denominated in the Venezuelan Bolívar may continue to grow and any conversions may result in losses when and if in the future we decide to distribute money outside Venezuela. In the third quarter of 2007, we converted Bolívares at the equivalent of $1.0 million at the parallel exchange rate to $0.5 million through negotiable instruments, incurring foreign exchange losses on the difference. In the first nine months of 2007, we converted Bolívares at the equivalent of $30.8 million at the parallel exchange rate to $17.5 million through negotiable instruments, incurring foreign exchange losses on the difference. Approximately $11.0 million of the conversion losses for the first nine months of 2007 were incurred on the repatriation of cash from Venezuela, and are included in net foreign exchange loss on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations. Additional losses of approximately $0.5 million and $2.3 million for the third quarter and first nine months of 2007, respectively, are related to conversions of Bolívares for the payment of expatriate payroll and other U.S. dollar-denominated goods and services, and are included in the cost of sales and other direct production costs and exploration amounts reported on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations. At November 8, 2007, the open market exchange rate was approximately Bolívares 6,200 to $1.00.

 

-6-





Short-term Investments and Securities Held for Sale

 

Investments at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006 consisted of the following (in thousands)

 

 

 

September 30,
2007

 

December 31,
2006

 

Adjustable rate securities

 

$

22,600

 

$

20,350

 

Marketable equity securities (cost $18,903)

 

 

24,622

 

 

 

Government and agency securities

 

 

18,789

 

 

 

Variable rate demand notes

 

 

7,855

 

 

5,105

 

 

 

$

73,866

 

$

25,455

 

 

Adjustable rate securities, agency securities and variable rate demand notes are carried at amortized cost. However, due to the short-term nature of these investments, the amortized cost approximates fair market value. The $24.6 million marketable equity securities balance at September 30, 2007 represents 8.2 million shares of Great Basin Gold, Inc. stock, of which 7.9 million were transferred to us upon the sale of the Hollister Development Block gold exploration project interest to Great Basin Gold in April 2007. Marketable equity securities are carried at fair market value. See Note 12 for further discussion on the Hollister sale.

 

Non-current Investments

 

At September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, the fair market value of our non-current investments was $9.2 million and $6.2 million, respectively. The cost of these investments, representing equity securities, was approximately $1.1 million and $1.3 million, respectively.

 

Restricted Cash and Investments

 

Various laws and permits require that financial assurances be in place for certain environmental and reclamation obligations and other potential liabilities. Restricted investments primarily represent investments in money market funds and bonds of U.S. government agencies. These investments are restricted primarily for reclamation funding or surety bonds and were $18.3 million at September 30, 2007, and $21.3 million at December 31, 2006, including $8.8 million restricted for reclamation funding for the Greens Creek joint venture at September 30, 2007. In June 2007, we received proceeds from the Venezuelan government of $4.3 million (plus interest) that we posted in 2004 to prevent an embargo related to an income tax matter questioned by Venezuelan taxing authorities. For further discussion, see Venezuelan Litigation in Note 5. In October 2007, we received notice that $1.2 million in restricted cash in the U.S. would be released, and accordingly reclassified this amount from non-current to current restricted cash at September 30, 2007.

 

Note 3.

Income Taxes

 

For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, we recorded $1.2 million and $2.3 million, respectively, of income tax benefit. For the three months ended September 30, 2007, the net tax benefit of $1.2 million is primarily from the recognition of foreign tax credit available to reduce US income taxes paid for 2006 and payable for 2007, partially offset by current tax expense for U.S. alternative minimum tax and foreign withholding taxes payable. For the nine months ended September 30, 2007, the total tax benefit of $2.3 million includes the reversal of valuation allowance of $3.2 million on net deferred tax assets recorded in the second quarter of 2007. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2006, we recorded $0.4 million and $1.6 million tax provisions, respectively, primarily for U.S. alternative minimum tax and foreign withholding taxes payable.

 

-7-





We reassessed our estimate of the realization of our net deferred tax assets as of September 30, 2007, in accordance with SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes”. The adjustment made for utilization of the deferred tax assets through September 30, 2007 was approximately equivalent to the net change in the valuation allowance for the revised estimates of realizability. The net result of the quarterly amortization and the change in the valuation allowance was nil. The balance of the deferred tax assets at September 30, 2007 remains the same as the previous quarter, $15 million.

 

The income tax provisions for the three and nine months of 2007 and 2006 vary from the amounts that would have resulted from applying the statutory income tax rate to pretax income, primarily due to utilization of U.S. tax net operating loss carry-forwards.

 

On January 1, 2007, we adopted FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes (“FIN 48”). FIN 48 prescribes a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the recognition and measurement of tax positions taken, or expected to be taken, on income tax returns. FIN 48 also provides guidance on de-recognition of income tax assets and liabilities, classification of current and deferred income tax assets and liabilities, and accounting for interest and penalties associated with tax positions. No FIN 48 change occurred to produce a significant impact on our results of operations or financial position for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2007.

 

Note 4.

Inventories

 

Inventories consist of the following (in thousands):

 

 

 

September 30,
2007

 

December 31,
2006

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Concentrates, doré, bullion, metals in
transit and other products

 

$

8,344

 

$

10,009

 

Materials and supplies

 

 

9,928

 

 

12,296

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

18,272

 

$

22,305

 

 

The Central Bank of Venezuela maintains regulations concerning the export of gold from Venezuela, under which we are currently required to sell 15% of our production within the country. In the third quarter and first nine months of 2007 approximately 8,099 and 39,417 ounces, respectively, had been sold in the local market, representing 55% of the total ounces sold at our La Camorra segment for each of those periods. Approximately 14,314 and 50,245 gold ounces were sold in Venezuela during the third quarter and first nine months of 2006, representing 40% and 42% of total ounces sold for those periods.

 

-8-





We have recorded a provision for materials inventory impairment at our Mina Isidora location in Venezuela of $0.9 million, at September 30, 2007, for inventory value that we do not expect to consume over the current remaining known life of the operation.

 

Note 5.

Commitments and Contingencies

 

Bunker Hill Superfund Site

 

In 1994, we, as a potentially responsible party under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980 (“CERCLA”), entered into a Consent Decree with the Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and the State of Idaho concerning environmental remediation obligations at the Bunker Hill Superfund site, a 21-square-mile site located near Kellogg, Idaho (the “Bunker Hill site”). The 1994 Consent Decree (the “Bunker Hill Decree” or “Decree”) settled our response-cost responsibility under CERCLA at the Bunker Hill site. Parties to the Decree included us, Sunshine Mining and Refining Company (“Sunshine”) and ASARCO Incorporated (“ASARCO”). Sunshine subsequently filed bankruptcy and settled all of its obligations under the Bunker Hill Decree.

 

In 1994, we entered into a cost-sharing agreement with other potentially responsible parties, including ASARCO, relating to required expenditures under the Bunker Hill Decree. ASARCO is in default of its obligations under the cost-sharing agreement and consequently in August 2005, we filed a lawsuit against ASARCO in Idaho State Court seeking amounts due us for work completed under the Decree. Additionally, we have claimed certain amounts due us under a separate agreement related to expert costs incurred to defend both parties with respect to the Coeur d’Alene River Basin litigation in Federal District Court, discussed further below. After we filed suit, ASARCO filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in United States Bankruptcy Court in Texas in August 2005. As a result of this filing, an automatic stay is in effect for our claims against ASARCO. We are unable to proceed with the Idaho State Court litigation against ASARCO because of the stay, and have asserted our claims in the context of the bankruptcy proceeding.

 

In December 2005, we received notice that the EPA allegedly incurred $14.6 million in costs relating to the Bunker Hill site from January 2002 to March 2005. The notice was provided so that we and ASARCO might have an opportunity to review and comment on the EPA’s alleged costs prior to the EPA’s submission of a formal demand for reimbursement, which has not occurred as of the date of this filing. We reviewed the costs submitted by the EPA to determine whether we have any obligation to pay any portion of the EPA’s alleged costs relating to the Bunker Hill site. We were unable to determine what costs we will be obligated to pay under the Bunker Hill Decree based on the information submitted by the EPA. We requested that the EPA provide additional documentation relating to these costs. In September 2006, we received from the EPA a certified narrative cost summary, and certain documentation said to support that summary, which revised the EPA’s earlier determination to state that it had incurred $15.2 million in response costs. The September 2006 notice stated that it was not a formal demand and invited us to discuss or comment on the matter. In the second quarter of 2007, we were able to identify and quantify certain costs submitted by the EPA for which we believe it is probable that we may have liability within the context of the Decree. Accordingly, in June of 2007, we estimated the range of our potential liability to be between $2.7 million and $6.8 million, and accrued the minimum of the range, as we believed no amount in the range was more likely than any other. We will continue to assess the materials relating to the alleged costs sent to us and to discuss the matter with the EPA. If we are unable to reach a satisfactory resolution, we anticipate exercising our right under the Bunker Hill Decree to challenge reimbursement of the alleged costs. However, an unsuccessful challenge would likely require us to further increase our expenditures and/or accrual relating to the Bunker Hill site.

 

-9-





The accrued liability balance at September 30, 2007 relating to the Bunker Hill site was $4.1 million. The liability balance represents our portion of the remaining remediation activities associated with the site, our estimated portion of a long-term institutional controls program required by the Bunker Hill Decree, and potential reimbursement to the EPA of costs allegedly incurred by the agency as described in the notice to us. We believe ASARCO’s remaining share of its future obligations will be paid through proceeds from an ASARCO trust created in 2003 for the purpose of funding certain of ASARCO’s environmental obligations, as well as distributions to be determined by the Bankruptcy Court. In the event we are not successful in collecting what is due us from the ASARCO trust or through the bankruptcy proceedings, because the Bunker Hill Decree holds us jointly and severally liable, it is possible our liability balance for the remedial activity at the Bunker Hill site could be $18.5 million, the amount we currently estimate to complete the total remaining obligation under the Decree, as well as potential reimbursement to the EPA of costs allegedly incurred by the agency at the Bunker Hill site. There can be no assurance as to the ultimate disposition of litigation and environmental liability associated with the Bunker Hill Superfund site, and we believe it possible that a combination of various events, as discussed above, or otherwise, could be materially adverse to our financial results or financial condition.

 

Coeur d’Alene River Basin Environmental Claims

 

Coeur d’Alene Indian Tribe Claims

 

In July 1991, the Coeur d’Alene Indian Tribe (“Tribe”) brought a lawsuit, under CERCLA, in Federal District Court in Idaho against us, ASARCO and a number of other mining companies asserting claims for damages to natural resources downstream from the Bunker Hill site over which the Tribe alleges some ownership or control. The Tribe’s natural resource damage litigation has been consolidated with the United States’ litigation described below. Because of various bankruptcies and settlements of other defendants, we are the only remaining defendant in the Tribe’s Natural Resource Damages case.

 

U.S. Government Claims

In March 1996, the United States filed a lawsuit in Federal District Court in Idaho against certain mining companies, including us, that conducted historic mining operations in the Silver Valley of northern Idaho. The lawsuit asserts claims under CERCLA and the Clean Water Act, and seeks recovery for alleged damages to, or loss of, natural resources located in the Coeur d’Alene River Basin (“Basin”) in northern Idaho for which the United States asserts it is the trustee under CERCLA. The lawsuit claims that the defendants’ historic mining activity resulted in releases of hazardous substances and damaged natural resources within the Basin. The suit also seeks declaratory relief that we and other defendants are jointly and severally liable for response costs under CERCLA for historic mining impacts in the Basin outside the Bunker Hill site. We have asserted a number of defenses to the United States’ claims.

 

-10-





In May 1998, the EPA announced that it had commenced a Remedial Investigation/ Feasibility Study under CERCLA for the entire Basin, including Lake Coeur d’Alene, as well as the Bunker Hill site, in support of its response cost claims asserted in its March 1996 lawsuit. In October 2001, the EPA issued its proposed clean-up plan for the Basin. The EPA issued the Record of Decision (“ROD”) on the Basin in September 2002, proposing a $359.0 million Basin-wide clean up plan to be implemented over 30 years and establishing a review process at the end of the 30-year period to determine if further remediation would be appropriate.

During 2000 and 2001, we were involved in settlement negotiations with representatives of the United States, the State of Idaho and the Tribe. These settlement efforts were unsuccessful. However, we have resumed efforts to explore possible settlement of these and other matters, but it is not possible to predict the outcome of these efforts.

Phase I of the trial on the consolidated Tribe’s and the United States’ claims commenced in January 2001, and was concluded in July 2001. Phase I addressed the extent of liability, if any, of the defendants and the allocation of liability among the defendants and others, including the United States. In September 2003, the Court issued its Phase I ruling, holding that we have some liability for Basin environmental conditions. The Court refused to hold the defendants jointly and severally liable for historic tailings releases and instead allocated a 31% share of liability to us for impacts resulting from these releases. The portion of damages, past costs and clean-up costs to which this 31% applies, other cost allocations applicable to us and the Court’s determination of an appropriate clean-up plan are to be addressed in Phase II of the litigation. The Court also left issues on the deference, if any, to be afforded the United States’ clean-up plan, for Phase II.

The Court found that while certain Basin natural resources had been injured, “there has been an exaggerated overstatement” by the plaintiffs of Basin environmental conditions and the mining impact. The Court significantly limited the scope of the trustee plaintiffs’ resource trusteeship and will require proof in Phase II of the litigation of the trustees’ percentage of trusteeship in co-managed resources. The United States and the Tribe are re-evaluating their claims for natural resource damages for Phase II. Such claims may be in the range of $2.0 billion to $3.4 billion. We believe we have limited liability for natural resource damages because of the actions of the Court described above. Because of a number of factors relating to the quality and uncertainty of the United States’ and Tribe’s natural resources damage claims, we are currently unable to estimate what, if any, liability or range of liability we may have for these claims.

Two of the defendant mining companies, Coeur d’Alene Mines Corporation and Sunshine Mining and Refining Company, settled their liabilities under the litigation during 2001. We and ASARCO (which, as discussed above, filed for bankruptcy in August 2005) are the only defendants remaining in the United States’ litigation. Phase II of the trial was scheduled to commence in January 2006. As a result of ASARCO’s bankruptcy filing, the Idaho Federal Court vacated the January 2006 trial date. We anticipate the Court will schedule a status conference to address rescheduling the Phase II trial date once the Bankruptcy Court rules on a motion brought by the United States to declare the bankruptcy stay inapplicable to the Idaho Federal Court proceedings. The Company does not currently have an opinion as to when the Court might rule.

 

-11-





In 2003, we estimated the range of potential liability for remediation in the Basin to be between $18 million and $58 million and accrued the minimum of the range, as we believed no amount in the range was more likely than any other amount at that time. In the second quarter of 2007, we determined that the cash payment approach to estimating our potential liability used in 2003 was not reasonably likely to be successful, and changed to an approach of estimating our liability through the implementation of actual remediation in portions of the Basin. Accordingly, we finalized an upper Basin cleanup plan, including a cost estimate, and reassessed our potential liability for remediation of other portions of the Basin, which caused us to increase our estimate of potential liability for Basin cleanup to the range of $60.0 million to $80.0 million. Accordingly, in June 2007, we recorded a provision of $42.0 million, which increased our total liability for remediation in the Basin from $18.0 million to $60.0 million, the low end of the estimated range of liability, with no amount in the range being more likely than any other amount. The liability is not discounted, as the timing of the expenditures is uncertain, but is expected to occur over the next 20 to 30 years.

In expert reports exchanged with the defendants in August and September 2004, the United States claimed to have incurred approximately $87.0 million for past environmental study, remediation and legal costs associated with the Basin for which it is alleging it is entitled to reimbursement in Phase II. In a July 2006 Proof of Claim filed in the ASARCO bankruptcy case, the EPA increased this claim to $104.5 million. A portion of these costs is also included in the work to be done under the ROD. With respect to the United States’ past cost claims, as of September 30, 2007, we have determined a potential range of liability for this past response cost to be $5.6 million to $13.6 million, with no amount in the range being more likely than any other amount.

Although the United States has previously issued its ROD proposing a clean-up plan totaling approximately $359.0 million and its past cost claim is $87.0 million, based upon the Court’s prior orders, including its September 2003 order and other factors and issues to be addressed by the Court in Phase II of the trial, we currently estimate the range of our potential liability for both past costs and remediation (but not natural resource damages as discussed above) in the Basin to be $65.6 million to $93.6 million (including the potential range of liabilities of $60.0 million to $80.0 million for Basin cleanup, and $5.6 million to $13.6 million for the United States’ past cost claims as discussed above), with no amount in the range being more likely than any other number at this time. Based upon GAAP, we have accrued the minimum liability within this range, which at September 30, 2007, was $65.6 million. It is possible that our ability to estimate what, if any, additional liability we may have relating to the Basin may change in the future depending on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, information obtained or developed by us prior to Phase II of the trial and its outcome, and, any interim court determinations. There can be no assurance as to the outcome of the Coeur d’Alene River Basin environmental claims and we believe it possible that a combination of various events, as discussed above, or with other events could be materially adverse to our financial results or financial condition.

Insurance Coverage Litigation

In 1991, we initiated litigation in the Idaho District Court, County of Kootenai, against a number of insurance companies that provided comprehensive general liability insurance coverage to our predecessors and us. We believe the insurance companies have a duty to defend and indemnify us under their policies of insurance for all liabilities and claims asserted against us by the EPA and the Tribe under CERCLA related to the Bunker Hill site and the Basin. In 1992, the Idaho State District Court ruled that the primary insurance companies had a duty to defend us in the Tribe’s lawsuit. During 1995 and 1996, we entered into settlement agreements with a number of the insurance carriers named in the litigation. Prior to 2007, we have received a total of approximately $7.2 million under the terms of the settlement agreements. Thirty percent of these settlements were paid to the EPA to reimburse the U.S. Government for past costs under the Bunker Hill Decree. Litigation is still pending against one insurer with trial suspended until the underlying environmental claims against us are resolved or settled. The remaining insurer in the litigation, along with a second insurer not named in the litigation, is providing us with a partial defense in all Basin environmental litigation. As of September 30, 2007, we have not recorded a receivable or reduced our accrual for reclamation and closure costs to reflect the receipt of any potential insurance proceeds.

 

-12-





Independence Lead Mines Litigation

In March 2002, Independence Lead Mines Company (“Independence”), notified us of certain alleged defaults by us under a 1968 lease agreement relating to the Gold Hunter area (also known as the DIA properties) of our Lucky Friday unit. Independence alleged that we violated the “prudent operator obligations” implied under the lease by undertaking the Gold Hunter project and violated certain other provisions of the Agreement with respect to milling equipment and calculating net profits and losses. Under the lease agreement, we have the exclusive right to manage, control and operate the DIA properties. Independence holds an 18.52% net profits interest under the lease agreement that is payable after we recoup our investments in the DIA properties. In addition, after we recoup our investment, Independence has two years within which to elect to convert its net profits interest into a working interest.

 

In June 2002, Independence filed a lawsuit in Idaho State District Court seeking termination of the lease agreement and requesting unspecified damages. Trial of the case occurred in late March 2004. In July 2004, the Court issued a decision that found in our favor on all issues and subsequently awarded us approximately $0.1 million in attorneys’ fees and certain costs, which Independence has paid. In August 2004, Independence filed its Notice of Appeal with the Idaho Supreme Court. Oral arguments were heard by the Idaho Supreme Court in February 2006. In April 2006, the Idaho Supreme Court ruled in our favor on all of Independence’s claims.

 

In December 2006, Independence filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the District of Idaho seeking monetary damages and injunctive relief. Independence alleges that the April 2006 decision by the Idaho Supreme Court violated their civil rights and their constitutional right to due process, and also alleges that we engaged in mail fraud and securities fraud during the term of the lease. We moved to dismiss the lawsuit, and in September 2007, the Court granted our motion to dismiss all claims in the complaint, and the case was dismissed in its entirety. In October 2007, Independence filed a Notice of Appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.

 

In January 2007, Independence filed an action in Idaho State District Court for Shoshone County seeking rescission of the lease based upon the theory of mutual mistake. We responded to the lawsuit with a motion to dismiss. In May 2007, the court issued a decision that found in our favor and dismissed the plaintiff’s complaint on the merits and with prejudice. In addition, the court awarded us costs and attorney’s fees. Independence has appealed the judgment against it to the Idaho Supreme Court.

Creede, Colorado, Litigation

In February 2007, Wason Ranch Corporation (“Wason”) filed a complaint in Federal District Court in Denver, Colorado, against us, Homestake Mining Company of California, and Chevron USA Inc. (successor in interest to Chevron Resources Company) (collectively the “defendants”). The suit alleges violations of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (“RCRA”) by each of the defendants. In May 2007, Wason amended its complaint to add state tort law claims against us and defendant Ty Poxon. The suit alleges damage to Wason’s property by each defendant. The suit also alleges violations of the Clean Water Act (“CWA”) by us and Homestake Mining Company of California. The suit alleges that the defendants are past and present owners and operators of mines and associated facilities located in Mineral County near Creede, Colorado, and such operations have released pollutants into the environment, including the plaintiff’s property, in violation of RCRA and CWA. The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief to abate the alleged harm and an unspecified amount of civil penalties for the alleged violations. We intend to vigorously defend this lawsuit. We believe that the ultimate outcome of this matter is not likely to have a material effect on the results of our operations or financial position.

 

-13-





Venezuela Litigation

Our wholly owned subsidiary, Minera Hecla Venezolana, C.A. (“MHV”) was involved in litigation in Venezuela with SENIAT, the Venezuelan tax authority, concerning alleged unpaid tax liabilities that predate our purchase of the La Camorra mine from Monarch Resources Investments Limited (“Monarch”) in 1999. Pursuant to our Purchase Agreement, Monarch assumed defense of and responsibility for the pending tax case in the Superior Tax Court in Caracas. In April 2004, SENIAT filed with the Third Superior Tax Court in Bolívar City, state of Bolívar, an embargo action against all of MHV’s assets in Venezuela to secure the alleged unpaid tax liabilities. In order to prevent the embargo, in April 2004, MHV made a cash deposit with the Court for the dollar equivalent of approximately $4.3 million, at exchange rates in effect at that time. In June 2004, the Superior Tax Court in Caracas ordered suspension and revocation of the embargo action filed by SENIAT, although the Court retained the $4.3 million pending settlement of the tax liabilities.

In October 2005, MHV, Monarch and SENIAT reached a mutual agreement to settle the case. The terms of the agreement provided that MHV would pay approximately $0.8 million in exchange for release of the alleged tax liabilities. MHV paid the $0.8 million in August 2006. This agreement was validated by the Tax Court that was hearing the case in March 2007. In a separate agreement, Monarch agreed to reimburse MHV for all amounts expended in settling the case, including response costs, through a reduction in MHV’s royalty obligations to Monarch. In June 2007, the Tax Court released to MHV the deposit plus interest. MHV subsequently paid $0.8 million to Monarch in settlement of MHV’s royalty obligations less the legal costs and fees that Monarch was obligated to pay in accordance with the prior settlement. This matter is now resolved.

 

La Camorra Concession Notice

By letter dated October 15, 2007 the Company’s subsidiary, Minera Hecla Venezolana, C.A. (“MHV”), received notice from the Venezuelan Ministry for Basic Industries and Mining that it would commence administrative proceedings that it said could lead to the revocation of MHV’s La Camorra concession (“Notice”). The Notice said it was based upon the alleged exhaustion of the gold reserves at the La Camorra concession and upon the alleged non-payment of an extraction tax. Hecla has ongoing mining operations at Mina Isidora that process ore at the La Camorra mill and has had, and plans to continue to have, independent contractors that extract ore from the La Camorra concession. The Company and MHV disagree with the assertions in the Notice. We plan to contest the Notice vigorously and, based upon what we know at present, believe that we have strong legal grounds in our favor.

La Camorra Shaft Construction Arbitration

During 2005, we disputed certain costs pertaining to the construction of the production shaft at the La Camorra mine. Pursuant to the construction agreement, we submitted the matter to arbitration. The contractor claimed $7.0 million of construction costs owed, and we claimed approximately $2.9 million in damages against the contractor for various claims and back charges. In 2006 the parties participated in non-binding mediation but were unable satisfactorily to resolve the matter. In January 2007, the parties met and resolved the matter, resulting in a dismissal of the arbitration and all claims by each party against the other. This matter is now resolved.

 

-14-





Mexico Litigation

In Mexico, our wholly owned subsidiary, Minera Hecla, S.A de C.V., currently is involved in two cases in the State of Durango, Mexico, concerning the Velardeña mill. The Velardeña mill processed ore from our now closed San Sebastian mine, and the mill currently is on care and maintenance. In the first case, we are interveners in a commercial action by a creditor to the prior owner of the mill. In that litigation, the creditor to the prior mill owner seeks to demonstrate that he has an ownership interest in the mill arising out of an allegedly unpaid prior debt. We are contesting this action, and deny the fact that plaintiff has an ownership interest in the mill. We take this position for a number of reasons, including the fact that the mill was sold to us prior to plaintiff’s obtaining his alleged ownership interest.

In the second matter, a civil action involving Minera Hecla that is in a different court within the State of Durango, the same creditor as in the first case claims that his ownership of the Velardeña mill relates back to the time he allegedly performed the work on which the debt was based, rather than the time that he filed his lien relating to the debt, which was after the mill was sold to us. Recently, the judge in this matter excused himself from the trial of the case, and transferred the case to a court with a different jurisdiction within the State of Durango. We are contesting the transfer to this court, as well as the position of the creditor.

The basis for our defense in the above matter is that we have a judicially determined valid bill of sale for the Verardeña mill. Thus, we believe that the claims of the creditor and his successors are without merit, and that Minera Hecla is the sole owner of the Velardeña mill. We intend to zealously defend our ownership interest. Although there can be no assurance as to the outcome of these proceedings, we believe that an adverse ruling will not have a material adverse effect on our results from operations or financial position.

Other Commitments

Our contractual obligations as of September 30, 2007 included approximately $1.1 million for various capital projects at the Greens Creek and La Camorra units. Total contractual obligations at September 30, 2007 also included approximately $2.7 million related to ore transportation and other non-capital cost commitments at the La Camorra unit and approximately $0.2 million for commitments relating to non-capital items at Greens Creek (our 29.73% share). In addition, our commitments relating to open purchase orders at September 30, 2007 included approximately $1.1 million and $1.0 million, respectively, for various capital items at the Lucky Friday and Greens Creek units, and approximately $0.5 million and $0.2 million, respectively, for various non-capital costs.

 

-15-





Other Contingencies

We are subject to other legal proceedings and claims not disclosed above which have arisen in the ordinary course of our business and have not been finally adjudicated. Although there can be no assurance as to the ultimate disposition of these other matters, we believe the outcome of these other proceedings will not have a material adverse effect on our results from operations or financial position.

 

Note 6.

Income per Common Share

 

We are authorized to issue 400,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.25 par value per share, of which 120,540,757 shares were issued and outstanding at September 30, 2007.

 

For the three and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, there were no material differences between basic and fully diluted earnings per share. The following table reconciles weighted average common shares used in the computations of basic and diluted earnings per share for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 (in thousands, except per-share amounts):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

 

Net
Income

 

Weighted
Average
Shares

 

Per-Share
Amount

 

Net
Income

 

Weighted
Average
Shares

 

Per-Share
Amount

 

Income before preferred stock dividends

 

$

12,485

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

1,001

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less: Preferred stock dividends

 

 

(138

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(138

)

 

 

 

 

 

Basic income applicable to common shareholders

 

 

12,347

 

120,440

 

$

0.10

 

$

863

 

119,483

 

$

0.01

 

Effect of dilutive securities

 

 

 

535

 

 

 

 

 

386

 

 

 

Diluted income per common share

 

$

12,347

 

120,975

 

$

0.10

 

$

863

 

119,869

 

$

0.01

 

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

 

 

Net
Income

 

Weighted
Average
Shares

 

Per-Share
Amount

 

Net
Income

 

Weighted
Average
Shares

 

Per-Share
Amount

 

Income before preferred stock dividends

 

$

44,965

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

48,610

 

 

 

 

 

 

Less: Preferred stock dividends

 

 

(414

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

(414

)

 

 

 

 

 

Basic income applicable to common shareholders

 

 

44,551

 

120,218

 

$

0.37

 

$

48,196

 

119,146

 

$

0.40

 

Effect of dilutive securities

 

 

 

593

 

 

 

 

 

415

 

 

 

Diluted income per common share

 

$

44,551

 

120,811

 

$

0.37

 

$

48,196

 

119,561

 

$

0.40

 

 

Diluted income per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 exclude the potential effects of outstanding shares of our convertible preferred stock, as their conversion and exercise would have no effect on the calculation of dilutive shares.

 

-16-





Options to purchase 1,475,181 shares of our common stock, along with 23,835 restricted share unit awards, were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share in the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2007 because the exercise price of the options and share units exceeded the average price of our stock during the periods. Similarly, in the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2006, 1,672,800 options were excluded.

 

Note 7.

Business Segments

 

We are organized and managed by four segments, which represent our operating units and various exploration targets: the Lucky Friday unit, the Greens Creek unit, the La Camorra unit and various exploration activities in Venezuela, and the San Sebastian unit and various exploration activities in Mexico. General corporate activities not associated with operating units and their various exploration activities, as well as idle properties, are presented as “other.” We consider interest expense, interest income and income taxes general corporate items, and these items are therefore not allocated to our segments.

 

The following tables present information about reportable segments for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2007

 

2006

 

Net sales to unaffiliated customers:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lucky Friday

 

$

20,512

 

$

13,356

 

$

59,344

 

$

34,581

 

Greens Creek

 

 

19,298

 

 

15,899

 

 

57,997

 

 

43,809

 

La Camorra

 

 

9,418

 

 

21,159

 

 

45,132

 

 

67,800

 

San Sebastian

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

955

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

49,228

 

$

50,414

 

$

162,473

 

$

147,145

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Income from operations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lucky Friday

 

$

10,118

 

$

4,518

 

$

29,247

 

$

11,843

 

Greens Creek

 

 

9,566

 

 

7,271

 

 

29,812

 

 

20,827

 

La Camorra

 

 

(1,647

)

 

852

 

 

(8,157

)

 

5,117

 

San Sebastian

 

 

(2,689

)

 

(2,504

)

 

(6,857

)

 

(1,674

)

Other

 

 

(6,092

)

 

(8,418

)

 

(555

)

 

(23,206

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

9,256

 

$

1,719

 

$

43,490

 

$

12,907

 

 

The following table presents identifiable assets by reportable segment as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006 (in thousands):

 

 

 

September 30,
2007

 

December 31,
2006

 

 

 

 

 

Identifiable assets:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Lucky Friday

 

$

47,827

 

$

33,118

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Greens Creek

 

 

76,161

 

 

71,560

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

La Camorra

 

 

89,160

 

 

105,912

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

San Sebastian

 

 

4,575

 

 

4,558

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Other

 

 

218,998

 

 

131,121

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

$

436,721

 

$

346,269

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

-17-





Note 8.

Employee Benefit Plans

 

We sponsor defined benefit pension plans covering substantially all U.S. employees. Net periodic pension cost (income) for the plans consisted of the following for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 (in thousands):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

Pension Benefits

 

Other Benefits

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2007

 

2006

 

Service cost

 

$

227

 

$

186

 

$

2

 

$

4

 

Interest cost

 

 

849

 

 

757

 

 

15

 

 

45

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

 

(1,505

)

 

(1,334

)

 

 

 

 

Amortization of prior service cost

 

 

115

 

 

92

 

 

(1

)

 

(2

)

Amortization of net (gain) loss

 

 

(6

)

 

12

 

 

(15

)

 

(12

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net periodic benefit cost (income)

 

$

(320

)

$

(287

)

$

1

 

$

35

 

 

 

 

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

 

 

Pension Benefits

 

Other Benefits

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2007

 

2006

 

Service cost

 

$

682

 

$

559

 

$

5

 

$

13

 

Interest cost

 

 

2,547

 

 

2,270

 

 

45

 

 

135

 

Expected return on plan assets

 

 

(4,515

)

 

(4,002

)

 

 

 

 

Amortization of prior service cost

 

 

346

 

 

275

 

 

(2

)

 

(5

)

Amortization of net (gain) loss

 

 

(19

)

 

34

 

 

(44

)

 

(39

)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Net periodic benefit cost (income)

 

$

(959

)

$

(864

)

$

4

 

$

104

 

 

We do not expect to contribute to the pension plans during 2007.

 

Note 9.

Share-Based Compensation Plans

 

On January 1, 2006, we adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 (revised 2004), “Shared-Based Payment” (“SFAS No. 123R”), which requires the measurement of the costs of employee services received in exchange for an award of an equity instrument based on the grant-date fair value of the award.

 

On May 3, 2007, the board of directors granted, under already existing plans, 559,500 stock options vesting on the grant date. The grant-date exercise price of the stock options is $8.66. The options expire 5 years after grant.

 

We measure the fair value of compensation cost for stock options issued pursuant to our plans using the Black-Scholes options pricing model. Stock option grants generally vest immediately, however, grants to individual executives upon hiring vest over a defined service period, with cost amortized over that period. The fair value of the stock options granted during 2007 was estimated using the following assumptions:

 

Grant Date

 

Expected Life

 

Expected
Volatility

 

Risk-Free
Interest Rate

 

Grant Date
Fair Value per
Option

May 03, 2007

 

3.10 years

 

45%

 

4.61%

 

$3.11

 

 

-18-





On May 3, 2007, the board of directors also granted 42,880 restricted stock units that vested on June 15, 2007, and 114,300 restricted stock units that vest in May 2008.

 

Share-based compensation expense for stock option and restricted stock unit grants recorded in the first nine months of 2007 totaled $3.1 million, up from $2.2 million in the same period last year. The increase resulted from a larger pool of employees receiving share-based compensation, along with a higher price for our stock that increased the fair values of grants. Grants were not material in the third quarters of 2007 or 2006.

 

Note 10.

Long-term Debt and Credit Agreement

 

In September 2005, we entered into a $30.0 million revolving credit agreement for an initial two-year term, with the right to extend the facility for two additional one-year periods, on terms acceptable to us and the lenders. In September 2006, we amended and extended the agreement one year, and the agreement was extended for an additional year in September 2007. Amounts borrowed under the credit agreement will be available for general corporate purposes. We have pledged our interest in the Greens Creek Joint Venture, which is held by Hecla Alaska LLC, our indirect wholly owned subsidiary, as collateral under the credit agreement. The interest rate on the agreement is either 2.25% above the London InterBank Offered Rate or an alternate base rate plus 1.25%, and includes various covenants and other limitations related to our indebtedness and investments, as well as other information and reporting requirements. We make quarterly commitment fee payments equal to 0.75% per annum on the sum of the average unused portion of the credit agreement. At September 30, 2007, we did not have an outstanding balance under the credit agreement, and were in compliance with our covenants.

 

Note 11.

Developments in Accounting Pronouncements

 

In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities”, which permits entities to choose to measure many financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value. Unrealized gains on items for which the fair value option has been elected are to be reported in earnings. SFAS 159 will become effective as of the beginning of the first fiscal year that begins after November 15, 2007. We have not yet determined the effect that adoption of SFAS 159 may have on our results of operations or financial position.

 

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS no. 157, “Fair Value Measurements, which will become effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007, and interim periods within those fiscal years. SFAS 157 establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosure about fair value measurements, but does not require any new fair value measurements. We have not yet determined the effect that adoption of SFAS 157 may have on our results of operations or financial position.

 

-19-





Note 12.

Hollister Sale

 

In April 2007, we completed the sale of our interest in the Hollister Development Block gold exploration project in Nevada to our former partner, Great Basin Gold, Inc., for $45 million in cash and $15 million in Great Basin Gold common stock, based on the average closing share price for the 20 trading days prior to the announcement of the transaction. The number of shares of Great Basin Gold stock transferred to Hecla was 7,930,214, which had a current value of $18.6 million as of the close of market on April 18, 2007, the last price prior to the closing of the transaction. We spent approximately $31.6 million to develop an underground ramp and conduct underground exploration at Hollister toward meeting the requirements of an earn-in agreement with Rodeo Creek Gold, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Great Basin Gold, and most of these costs were treated as exploration and pre-development expense as incurred. As a result of the sale, we recognized a pre-tax gain of $63.8 million in the second quarter of 2007.

 

Note 13.

Change in Functional Currency for Venezuelan Operations

 

Effective January 1, 2007, we implemented a change in the functional currency for our Venezuelan operations from the U.S. dollar to the Bolívar, the national currency in Venezuela. We believe that significant changes in the economic facts and circumstances affecting our Venezuelan operations indicate that a change in the functional currency is appropriate, under the provisions of FASB Statement No. 52 (“SFAS 52”). In accordance with SFAS 52, the balance sheet for our Venezuelan operations was recalculated as of January 1, 2007, so that all assets and liabilities are translated at the current exchange rate of 2,150 Bolívares to $1.00, the fixed, official exchange rate. We have used the official exchange rate pursuant to guidance from the American Institute of Certified Public Accountant’s s International Practices Task Force. As a result, the dollar value of non-monetary assets, previously translated at historical exchange rates, has been significantly reduced, with a translation adjustment recorded to equity as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income. The functional currency change resulted in a reduction of approximately $7.2 million in the carrying value of net assets, with a translation adjustment for the same amount recorded to the opening balance of accumulated other comprehensive income, which is included as a component of shareholders’ equity on our balance sheet. Further discussion of the functional currency change, including a summary of how the functional currency indicators listed in SFAS 52 have been affected by recent changes in the economic facts and circumstances influencing our Venezuelan operations, can be found in Note 17 – Subsequent Events of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in our annual report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

 

Note 14.

Asset Retirement Obligations

 

The following is a reconciliation at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, of the total liability for asset retirement obligations, which are a part of our $109.2 million and $65.9 million accrued reclamation and closure costs, respectively (in thousands):

 

 

2007

 

 

2006

 

Balance, January 1

$

9,921

 

 

$

9,212

 

Changes in obligation due to changes in reclamation plans

 

1,363

 

 

 

528

 

Accretion expense

 

306

 

 

 

326

 

Payment of reclamation

 

(76

)

 

 

(145

)

Balance, end of period

$

11,514

 

 

$

9,921

 

 

 

-20-





Item 2.      Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

 

Certain statements contained in this Form 10-Q, including in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk, are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provided for under Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Our forward-looking statements include our current expectations and projections about future results, performance, results of litigation, prospects and opportunities. We have tried to identify these forward-looking statements by using words such as “may,” “will,” “expect,” “anticipate,” “believe,” “intend,” “feel,” “plan,” “estimate,” “project,” “forecast” and similar expressions. These forward-looking statements are based on information currently available to us and are expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. However, our forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause our actual results, performance, prospects or opportunities to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements.

 

These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, those set forth under Part I, Item 1A – Risk Factors in our annual report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006. Given these risks and uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements. All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to Hecla Mining Company or to persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. Except as required by federal securities laws, we do not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

Overview

 

Hecla Mining Company has provided precious and base metals to the U.S. economy and worldwide since its incorporation in 1891. We discover, acquire, develop, produce, and market silver, gold, lead and zinc. In doing so, we intend to manage our business activities in a safe, environmentally responsible and cost-effective manner.

 

We produce both metal concentrates, which we sell to custom smelters, and unrefined gold bullion bars (doré), which may be sold as doré or further refined before sale to precious metals traders. We are organized and managed into four segments that encompass our operating units and significant exploration interests:

 

The Lucky Friday unit;

 

The Greens Creek unit;

 

The La Camorra unit and various exploration activities in Venezuela; and

 

The San Sebastian unit and various exploration activities in Mexico.

 

The map below shows the locations of our operating units and our exploration projects, as well as our corporate offices located in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho and Vancouver, British Columbia. We sold our interest in the Hollister Development Block in April 2007 (For further discussion, see Note 12 of Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)).

 

-21-






 

Our current business strategy is to focus our financial and human resources in several areas:

 

Expanding our proven and probable reserves, and production capacity, at operating or formerly-operating properties;

 

Investing in the generation of new exploration projects in the vicinities of four world-class mining districts we believe to be under-explored and under-invested, which are: North Idaho’s Silver Valley in the historic Coeur d’Alene Mining District, the world’s most prolific silver-producing district near Durango, Mexico, Alaska’s Admiralty Island located offshore of Juneau, and the geologically rich gold mining region in eastern Venezuela; and

 

Seeking opportunities to capitalize on the recent increase in investment in mining properties and companies through acquisition.

 

We believe our growth plans are credible due to our financial capability, which includes:

 

Cash balance of $120.9 million and current investments of $73.9 million at September 30, 2007;

 

Two effective shelf registration statements with the Securities and Exchange Commission. One allows us to sell common stock, preferred stock, warrants and debt securities as needed in order to raise capital for potential acquisitions and for general corporate purposes. The other allows us to issue up to $175.0 million in common stock and warrants in connection with business combination transactions; and

 

A $30.0 million revolving credit agreement, with no amount outstanding at September 30, 2007.

 

Our estimate for 2007 silver production is approximately 6.0 million ounces, and remains unchanged from our previous estimate, as of June 30, 2007. Our 2007 gold production estimate has been revised to a range of 110,000 to 115,000 ounces, which is a decrease from our previous estimate, as of June 30, 2007, of 115,000 to 120,000 ounces.

 

-22-





Results of Operations

 

For the third quarter and first nine months of 2007, we recorded income applicable to common shareholders of $12.3 million and $44.6 million ($0.10 and $0.37 per common share, respectively), compared to income applicable to common shareholders of $0.9 million and $48.2 million ($0.01 and $0.40 per common share) during the same periods in 2006. The following factors resulted in the improved results for the third quarter of 2007, and positively impacted the results for the first nine months of 2007, compared to the same periods in 2006:

 

 

Increased gross profit at our Lucky Friday and Greens Creek units, by $5.7 million and $2.6 million, respectively, for the third quarter of 2007, and by $17.4 million and $9.1 million, respectively, for the first nine months of 2007, compared to the same 2006 periods (see The Lucky Friday Segment and The Greens Creek Segment sections below).


 

Increased average prices for silver, gold and lead for the third quarter of 2007, and for all metals produced at our operations during the first nine months of 2007, compared to the same 2006 periods, as illustrated by the following table:

 

 

 

Three months ended September 30,

 

Nine months ended September 30,

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2007

 

2006

 

Silver – London PM Fix ($/ounce)

 

$

12.70

 

$

11.70

 

$

13.12

 

$

11.22

 

Gold – London PM Fix ($/ounce)

 

$

681

 

$

622

 

$

666

 

$

601

 

Lead – LME Final Cash Buyer ($/pound)

 

$

1.43

 

$

0.54

 

$

1.07

 

$

0.53

 

Zinc – LME Final Cash Buyer ($/pound)

 

$

1.46

 

$

1.53

 

$

1.56

 

$

1.35

 

 

The sale of our interest in the Hollister Development Block gold exploration project in April 2007, which resulted in a pre-tax gain of $63.8 million, also had a positive impact on our results reported for the first nine months of 2007, compared to the same 2006 period (See Note 12 of Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for further discussion).

 

The factors above, which positively impacted our 2007 operating results for the third quarter and first nine months of 2007, compared to the same 2006 periods, were partially offset by decreased gross profit at our La Camorra unit, by $1.7 million and $14.4 million, respectively, for the third quarter and first nine months of 2007, compared to the same periods in 2006 (see The La Camorra Segment section below).

 

The following factors also contributed to the decrease in income applicable to common shareholders for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, compared to the first nine months of 2006:

 

 

An increase of $44.7 million in our accrued current estimated liabilities for environmental remediation in Idaho’s Coeur d’Alene Basin and the Bunker Hill Superfund Site. During the second quarter of 2007, we finalized a proposed multi-year clean-up plan for the upper portion of the Coeur d’Alene Basin, together with an estimate of related costs to implement the plan. Based on that work and a reassessment of our other potential liabilities in the Basin, we increased our accrual for remediation in the Basin by $42 million. We also accrued an additional $2.7 million for the remaining Bunker Hill Superfund Site work. For additional discussion, see Bunker Hill Superfund Site and Coeur d’Alene River Basin Environmental Claims in Note 5 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).

 

The sale of our investment in Alamos Gold, Inc. in January 2006, for $57.4 million in cash proceeds, generating a pre-tax gain of $36.4 million.

 

The sale of our Noche Buena gold exploration property in Mexico during April 2006, generating a $4.4 million pre-tax gain.

 

-23-





The Lucky Friday Segment

 

The following is a comparison of the operating results and key production statistics of our Lucky Friday segment (dollars are in thousands, except for per ounce amounts):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2007

 

2006

 

Sales

 

$

20,512

 

$

13,356

 

$

59,344

 

$

34,581

 

Cost of sales and other direct production costs

 

 

(8,932

)

 

(7,559

)

 

(26,344

)

 

(19,451

)

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

 

(1,016

)

 

(997

)

 

(2,930

)

 

(2,489

)

Gross profit

 

$

10,564

 

$

4,800

 

$

30,070

 

$

12,641

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tons of ore milled

 

 

72,592

 

 

72,713

 

 

241,011

 

 

202,140

 

Silver ounces produced

 

 

661,511

 

 

737,450

 

 

2,317,741

 

 

2,106,367

 

Lead tons produced

 

 

4,032

 

 

4,339

 

 

13,630

 

 

12,025

 

Zinc tons produced

 

 

1,606

 

 

2,061

 

 

5,711

 

 

4,467

 

Silver ounces per ton

 

 

9.89

 

 

10.96

 

 

10.46

 

 

11.41

 

Lead percent

 

 

6.03

 

 

6.46

 

 

6.15

 

 

6.52

 

Zinc percent

 

 

3.22

 

 

3.53

 

 

3.16

 

 

3.28

 

Total cash cost per silver ounce (1)

 

$

(2.38

)

$

3.88

 

$

(0.28

)

$

4.69

 

 

 

(1)

A reconciliation of this non-GAAP measure to cost of sales and other direct production costs and depreciation, depletion and amortization, the most comparable GAAP measure, can be found below in Reconciliation of Total Cash Costs (non-GAAP) to Costs of Sales and Other Direct Production Costs and Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization (GAAP).

 

The $5.8 million and $17.4 million increases in gross profit for the third quarter and first nine months of 2007, compared to the same 2006 periods, respectively, resulted primarily from higher average silver and lead prices and $1.2 million in credits received during the third quarter due to renegotiation of smelter contracts, partially offset by lower ore grades. Operating results reported for the first nine months of 2007 were also positively impacted by increased zinc prices and higher production, compared to the same period in 2006. Full production on the 5900 level expansion was reached in the fourth quarter of 2006, and approximately 613,000 and 2,172,000 ounces of silver were mined from the 5900 level expansion area during the third quarter and first nine months of 2007, respectively. Upgrades to the mill completed in 2006 have resulted in operating efficiencies, that, when coupled with the increased production from the 5900 level, resulted in a 19% increase in tons of ore milled for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2007, compared to the same period in 2006. However, eight and a half days of mill operation were lost during the third quarter of 2007 due to plugged tailing lines, resulting in tons of ore milled for the third quarter of 2007 that were substantially equal to production for the same 2006 period.

The 160% and 106% improvements in total cash costs per silver ounce in the third quarter and first nine months of 2007, respectively, compared to the same 2006 periods, are attributed to higher lead and zinc by-product credits resulting primarily from increased average lead prices, and also higher zinc prices and increased production for both metals for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, compared to the same period in 2006. Mining at wider strike lengths and wider faces at the Lucky Friday has allowed us to take advantage of the high base metal prices. Ore was mined at greater widths to include stringers that give us access to zinc that otherwise would not be mined. This results in an economic benefit, but also temporarily lowers the silver grade below life-of-mine reserve levels, as anticipated, and delays some silver production to later periods. Increased productivity and lower transportation costs, due to increased production from the 5900 level, have also contributed to the improved total cash cost per ounce. While value from lead and zinc is significant, we believe that identification of silver as the primary product, with zinc and lead as by-products, is appropriate because:


 

Silver accounts for a higher proportion of revenue than any other metal and is expected to do so in the future;

 

The Lucky Friday unit is situated in a mining district long associated with silver production; and

 

The Lucky Friday unit generally utilizes selective mining methods to target silver production.

 

-24-





We periodically review our proven and probable reserves to ensure that reporting of primary products and by-products is appropriate. Because we consider zinc and lead to be by-products of our silver production, the values of these metals have offset increases in operating costs due to their increased average prices.

 

The Greens Creek Segment

 

The following is a comparison of the operating results and key production statistics of our Greens Creek segment (dollars are in thousands, except for per ton and per ounce amounts, and reflect our 29.73% share):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2007

 

2006

 

Sales

 

$

19,297

 

$

15,899

 

$

57,997

 

$

43,809

 

Cost of sales and other direct production costs

 

 

(6,840

)

 

(6,218

)

 

(20,832

)

 

(16,475

)

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

 

(2,303

)

 

(2,120

)

 

(6,533

)

 

(5,842

)

Gross profit

 

$

10,154

 

$

7,561

 

$

30,632

 

$

21,492

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tons of ore milled

 

 

58,384

 

 

53,116

 

 

161,204

 

 

156,509

 

Silver ounces produced

 

 

679,884

 

 

758,865

 

 

2,073,435

 

 

1,893,709

 

Gold ounces produced

 

 

5,614

 

 

4,704

 

 

14,963

 

 

13,182

 

Zinc tons produced

 

 

5,021

 

 

4,142

 

 

13,574

 

 

12,369

 

Lead tons produced

 

 

1,697

 

 

1,672

 

 

4,688

 

 

4,483

 

Silver ounces per ton

 

 

15.54

 

 

18.05

 

 

16.62

 

 

15.79

 

Gold ounces per ton

 

 

0.141

 

 

0.128

 

 

0.135

 

 

0.124

 

Zinc percent

 

 

9.65

 

 

8.87

 

 

9.45

 

 

9.08

 

Lead percent

 

 

3.72

 

 

3.96

 

 

3.68

 

 

3.69

 

Total cash cost per silver ounce (1)

 

$

(7.42

)

$

(2.61

)

$

(5.15

)

$

(2.08

)

 

 

(1)

A reconciliation of this non-GAAP measure to cost of sales and other direct production costs and depreciation, depletion and amortization, the most comparable GAAP measure, can be found below in Reconciliation of Total Cash Costs (non-GAAP) to Costs of Sales and Other Direct Production Costs and Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization (GAAP).      

 

The 34% and 43% increases in gross profit during the third quarter and first nine months of 2007, respectively, compared to the same 2006 periods, were primarily the result of higher average metals prices, partially offset by increased production costs resulting from the use of contract labor due to a shortage of qualified miners, and higher diesel prices.

 

The Greens Creek operation is partially powered by diesel generators, and production costs have been significantly affected by increasing fuel prices. Infrastructure has been installed that allows hydroelectric power to be supplied to Greens Creek by Alaska Electric Light and Power Company (“AEL&P”), via a submarine cable from North Douglas Island, near Juneau, to Admiralty Island, where Greens Creek is located. AEL&P had agreed to supply power to Greens Creek, however, low lake levels and increased demand in the Juneau area have combined to decrease power available to Greens Creek. As a result, it is unlikely that Greens Creek will obtain significant utility power until 2009.

 

-25-





The Greens Creek joint venture maintains a restricted trust for future reclamation funding. The balance of the restricted cash account was $29.7 million at September 30, 2007, of which our 29.73% portion was $8.8 million, and $28.6 million at December 31, 2006, of which our 29.73% portion was $8.5 million.

 

The 184% and 148% improvements in total cash cost per ounce for the third quarter and first nine months of 2007, respectively, compared to 2006, are attributable to increased zinc, lead and gold by-product credits, as third quarter 2007 lead and gold prices, as well as 2007 year-to-date zinc, lead and gold prices, have continued to exceed prices during the same 2006 periods, partially offset by higher production costs. While value from zinc, lead and gold by-products is significant, we believe that identification of silver as the primary product is appropriate because:

 

 

We have historically presented Greens Creek as a producer primarily of silver, based on the original analysis that justified putting the project into production, and believe that consistency in disclosure is important to our investors regardless of the relationships of metals prices and production from year to year;

 

Metallurgical treatment maximizes silver recovery;

 

The Greens Creek deposit is a massive sulfide deposit containing an unusually high proportion of silver; and

 

In most of its working areas, Greens Creek utilizes selective mining methods in which silver is the metal targeted for highest recovery.

 

We periodically review our proven and probable reserves to ensure that reporting of primary products and by-products is appropriate. Within our cost per ounce calculations, because we consider zinc, lead and gold to be by-products of our silver production. Therefore, the increased prices of these metals offset increases in operating costs.

 

The La Camorra Segment

 

The following is a comparison of the operating results and key production statistics of our Venezuelan operations, which include the La Camorra mine and mill, a custom milling business and Mina Isidora (dollars are in thousands, except per ton and per ounce amounts):

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2007

 

2006

 

Sales

 

$

9,418

 

$

21,159

 

$

45,132

 

$

67,800

 

Cost of sales and other direct production costs

 

 

(6,516

)

 

(11,919

)

 

(38,137

)

 

(39,490

)

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

 

(2,627

)

 

(7,229

)

 

(11,824

)

 

(18,686

)

Gross profit (loss)

 

$

275

 

$

2,011

 

$

(4,829

)

$

9,624

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tons of ore processed

 

 

21,982

 

 

57,647

 

 

120,040

 

 

173,026

 

Gold ounces produced

 

 

17,624

 

 

38,636

 

 

70,649

 

 

114,656

 

Gold ounces per ton

 

 

0.834

 

 

0.684

 

 

0.611

 

 

0.695

 

Total cash cost per gold ounce (1)

 

$

538

 

$

380

 

$

521

 

$

359

 

 

 

(1)

A reconciliation of this non-GAAP measure to cost of sales and other direct production costs and depreciation, depletion and amortization, the most comparable GAAP measure, can be found below in Reconciliation of Total Cash Costs (non-GAAP) to Costs of Sales and Other Direct Production Costs and Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization (GAAP).      

 

-26-





The reduction in gross profit for the third quarter and first nine months of 2007, compared to the same periods in 2006, primarily resulted from:

 

 

Escalating labor, commodity and transportation costs. The higher transportation costs are related to haulage of ore mined from Mina Isidora and ore purchased from small third-party mining operations to our milling facility located approximately 70 miles from Mina Isidora.

 

Suspension of operations at the La Camorra mine, at which we reached the end of known mine life in June 2007.

 

The operating results reported for the La Camorra unit for the first nine months of 2007, compared to the same 2006 period, were also impacted by:

 

 

Decreased production from Mina Isidora due to a temporary suspension of operations there during the second quarter of 2007. A road blockade in early May disrupted access to Mina Isidora and impacted gold production. The issues with the community and a small number of employees resulting in the blockade have been resolved, which primarily consisted of Hecla continuing its program of improving local infrastructure. Operations at the mine were restored at the beginning of the third quarter, and gold doré pours resumed in August 2007.

 

Reduced production from the La Camorra mine due to mining at greater depths, lower productivity, lower gold grades, and reduced reserves. We reached the end of the currently known mine life at the La Camorra mine in June 2007, and production from the La Camorra unit has transitioned primarily to Mina Isidora.

 

$1.3 million in expense recognized during the first nine months of 2007 related to voluntary termination of personnel at the La Camorra mine.

 

In order to mine more efficiently at greater depths and potentially develop further proven and probable reserves, we made the decision in 2003 to construct a production shaft at the La Camorra mine, which was placed into service during the third quarter of 2005. However, proven and probable ore reserves continued to decrease at the La Camorra mine since 2005, as it exhibited lower ore grades, and no significant results have been returned from drilling in the La Camorra vicinity. As a result, reduced production levels from the La Camorra mine continued, and we reached the end of the known mine life there in June 2007. Depreciation expense related to the shaft has negatively affected gross profit for the La Camorra unit since it was commissioned, and continued to do so until the shaft was depreciated to its salvage value in the second quarter of 2007. We have applied for permits in order to continue exploration activity on concessions surrounding the La Camorra mine during 2007, however, no permits have been issued to us at this time. We will continue to assess the carrying value of assets at the La Camorra unit, and failure to obtain the permits necessary to continue exploration on concessions near the La Camorra mine may cause us to reduce the carrying value of certain assets there.

 

Improvement in the total cash cost per ounce at the La Camorra unit is anticipated during the fourth quarter of 2007, due to higher gold grades at Mina Isidora, partially offset by the use of a more expensive mining method due to the dip of the vein, and increased ore transportation costs.

 

-27-





Functional Currency for Venezuelan Operations

 

Effective January 1, 2007, we implemented a change in the functional currency for our Venezuelan operations from the U.S. dollar to the Bolívar, the national currency in Venezuela. We believe that significant changes in the economic facts and circumstances affecting our Venezuelan operations indicate that a change in the functional currency is appropriate, under the provisions of FASB Statement No. 52 (“SFAS 52”). The functional currency change resulted in a reduction of approximately $7.2 million in the carrying value of net assets, with a translation adjustment for the same amount recorded to the opening balance of accumulated other comprehensive income. Further discussion of the functional currency change can be found in Note 13 of Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).

 

Business Risks in Venezuela

 

Currency and Related Risks

 

The Venezuelan Criminal Exchange Law imposes strict criminal and economic sanctions on the exchange of Venezuelan currency with other foreign currency under false pretenses. Approvals for foreign currency exchange are limited and we are evaluating opportunities to minimize our exposure to devaluation. As a consequence, our cash balances denominated in Bolívares, at the official rate of 2,150 Bolívares to $1.00, that are maintained in Venezuela have increased from a U.S. dollar equivalent of approximately $21.6 million at December 31, 2006, to $31.2 million at September 30, 2007. Additionally, during the next six months we are required to convert into Venezuelan currency the proceeds from Venezuelan export sales made over the past 180 days, or a total value of approximately $8.1 million. During the first nine months of 2007, we exchanged the U.S. dollar equivalent of approximately $30.8 million at the official exchange rate of 2,150 Bolívares to $1.00 for approximately $17.5 million, at an average open market exchange rate of Bolívares 3,793 to $1.00, incurring a foreign exchange loss for the difference. In the third quarter of 2007, we converted Bolívares at the equivalent of $1.0 million at the parallel exchange rate to $0.5 million through negotiable instruments, incurring foreign exchange losses on the difference. Approximately $11.0 million of the conversion losses for the first nine months of 2007 were incurred on the repatriation of cash from Venezuela, and are included in net foreign exchange loss on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations. Additional losses of approximately $0.5 million and $2.3 million for the third quarter and first nine months of 2007, respectively, are related to conversions of Bolívares for the payment of expatriate payroll and other U.S. dollar-denominated goods and services, and are included in the cost of sales and other direct production costs and exploration amounts reported on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations. Although we are making the appropriate applications through the Venezuelan government, our cash balances denominated in the Venezuelan Bolívar may continue to grow and any future conversions or devaluation of the Bolívar may result in further losses when and if in the future we decide to distribute money outside Venezuela. At November 8, 2007, the open market exchange rate was approximately Bolívares 6,200 to $1.00.

 

SENIAT Litigation

 

Our wholly owned subsidiary, Minera Hecla Venezolana, C.A. (“MHV”) was involved in litigation in Venezuela with SENIAT, the Venezuelan tax authority, concerning alleged unpaid tax liabilities that predate our purchase of the La Camorra mine from Monarch Resources Investments Limited (“Monarch”) in 1999. Pursuant to our Purchase Agreement, Monarch assumed defense of and responsibility for the pending tax case in the Superior Tax Court in Caracas. In April 2004, SENIAT filed with the Third Superior Tax Court in Bolívar City, state of Bolívar, an embargo action against all of MHV’s assets in Venezuela to secure the alleged unpaid tax liabilities. In order to prevent the embargo, in April 2004, MHV made a cash deposit with the Court for the dollar equivalent of approximately $4.3 million, at exchange rates in effect at that time. In June 2004, the Superior Tax Court in Caracas ordered suspension and revocation of the embargo action filed by SENIAT, although the Court retained the $4.3 million pending settlement of the tax liabilities.

 

-28-





In October 2005, MHV, Monarch and SENIAT reached a mutual agreement to settle the case. The terms of the agreement provided that MHV would pay approximately $0.8 million in exchange for release of the alleged tax liabilities, and paid the $0.8 million in August 2006. This agreement was validated by the Tax Court that was hearing the case in March 2007. In a separate agreement, Monarch agreed to reimburse MHV for all amounts expended in settling the case, including response costs, through a reduction in MHV’s royalty obligations to Monarch. In June 2007, the Tax Court released to MHV the deposit plus interest. MHV subsequently paid $0.8 million to Monarch in settlement of MHV’s royalty obligations less the legal costs and fees that Monarch was obligated to pay in accordance with the prior settlement. This matter is now resolved.

 

La Camorra Concession Notice

 

By letter dated October 15, 2007 the Company’s subsidiary, Minera Hecla Venezolana, C.A. (“MHV”), received notice from the Venezuelan Ministry for Basic Industries and Mining that it would commence administrative proceedings that it said could lead to the revocation of MHV’s La Camorra concession (“Notice”). The Notice said it was based upon the alleged exhaustion of the gold reserves at the La Camorra concession and upon the alleged non-payment of an extraction tax. Hecla has ongoing mining operations at Mina Isidora that process ore at the La Camorra mill and has had, and plans to continue to have, independent contractors that extract ore from the La Camorra concession. The Company and MHV disagree with the assertions in the Notice. We plan to contest the Notice vigorously and, based upon what we know at present, believe that we have strong legal grounds in our favor.

 

Other

 

Although we believe we will be able to manage and operate the La Camorra unit and related exploration projects successfully, there is continued uncertainty in Venezuela relating to political, regulatory, legal enforcement, security and economic matters, as well as export and exchange control. This uncertain state of affairs could affect our operations, including by changes in policy or demands of governmental agencies or their officials, litigation, labor stoppages, industry nationalization, seizures of assets, relationships with small mining groups in the vicinity of our mining operations, and impacting our supplies of oil, gas and other goods. As a result, there can be no assurance we will be able to operate without interruptions to our operations, and any such occurrences, if significant, could have a material adverse effect on our results from operations or financial position.

 

The San Sebastian Segment

 

We reached the end of the known mine life on the Francine and Don Sergio veins at the San Sebastian unit during the fourth quarter of 2005. However, significant exploration efforts have continued during 2006 and 2007 at the Hugh Zone and other exploration targets located on or near the San Sebastian property, where we now hold 340 square miles of contiguous concessions. We incurred $2.2 million and $5.2 million in exploration expenses during the third quarter and first nine months of 2007, respectively, compared to $1.7 million and $4.2 million in the same periods for 2006.

 

-29-





The San Sebastian mine and Velardeña mill are currently on care-and-maintenance status as we continue exploration efforts. Sales reported for the first quarter of 2006 totaling $0.9 million represent final settlement payments received on prior period dorè shipments.

 

Corporate Matters

 

Other significant variances affecting our results for the third quarter and first nine months of 2007, as compared to the same periods in 2006, were as follows:

 

 

Higher general and administrative expenses, by $0.5 million and $1.3 million for the three and nine month-periods ended September 30, 2007, respectively, primarily the result of increased staffing and incentive compensation expenses.

 

Overall decreases in exploration expense of $0.6 million and $1.7 million for the third quarter and first nine months of 2007, respectively, due primarily to the sale of the Hollister Development Block project (see the Note 12 of Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for further information), partially offset by increased costs for exploration activity at our San Sebastian unit in Mexico, the addition of our new office in Vancouver, British Columbia, and an exploration program to generate new projects underway in North Idaho’s Silver Valley.

 

Lower pre-development expense, by $2.2 million and $4.7 million for the third quarter and first nine months of 2007, respectively, as a result of the Hollister sale discussed in Note 12 of Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).

 

Net foreign exchange losses decreased by $1.3 million for the third quarter of 2007 and increased by $4.8 million for the first nine months of 2007, compared to the same 2006 periods. The net foreign exchange losses for the first nine months of 2007 primarily resulted from the repatriation of cash from Venezuela, partially offset by $4.1 million in transaction gains on local gold sales in Venezuela.

 

Increases in the provision for closed operations and environmental matters of $2.3 million and $47.1 million for the third quarter and first nine months of 2007, respectively, compared to the same 2006 periods. A $1.2 million adjustment to increase the accrual related to the idle Republic mine site, in the State of Washington, and idle property expenses recognized during the third quarter of 2007 relating to the La Camorra mine, as we reached the end of the known mine life there in June 2007, were the primary causes of the third quarter increase, and also contributed to the increase for the first nine months of 2007. The year-to-date increase also includes a $44.7 million adjustment to increase the accruals relating to the Coeur d’Alene Basin and Bunker Hill Superfund Site, as discussed further in the Results of Operations section above.

 

Increased interest income, by $1.0 million for the third quarter and $3.0 million for the first nine months of 2007, due to higher invested cash and investment balances and higher interest rates.

 

Income tax benefits of $1.2 million and $2.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007, compared to income tax provisions of $0.4 million and $1.6 million for the same 2006 periods. See Note 3 of Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for further discussion.

 

-30-





Reconciliation of Total Cash Costs (non-GAAP) to Cost of Sales and Other Direct Production Costs and Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization (GAAP)

 

The tables below present reconciliations between non-GAAP total cash costs to cost of sales and other direct production costs and depreciation, depletion and amortization (GAAP) for our silver operations (the Lucky Friday and Greens Creek units) and gold operations (the La Camorra unit only), for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 (in thousands, except costs per ounce).

 

Total cash costs include all direct and indirect operating cash costs related directly to the physical activities of producing metals, including mining, processing and other plant costs, third-party refining and marketing expense, on-site general and administrative costs, royalties, and mining production taxes, net of by-product revenues earned from all metals other than the primary metal produced at each unit. Total cash costs provide management and investors an indication of net cash flow, after consideration of the realized price received for production sold. Management also uses this measurement for the comparative monitoring of performance of our mining operations period-to-period from a cash flow perspective. “Total cash cost per ounce” is a measure developed by gold companies in an effort to provide a comparable standard, however, there can be no assurance that our reporting of this non-GAAP measure is similar to that reported by other mining companies.

 

Cost of sales and other direct production costs and depreciation, depletion and amortization, is the most comparable financial measure calculated in accordance with GAAP to total cash costs. The sum of the cost of sales and other direct production costs and depreciation, depletion and amortization for our silver and gold operating units in the tables below is presented in our Condensed Consolidated Statement of Income and Comprehensive Income (Unaudited).

 

 

 

Combined Silver Properties

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2007

 

2006

 

Total cash costs (1)

 

$

(6,615

)

$

881

 

$

(11,314)

 

$

5,928

 

Divided by ounces produced

 

 

1,341

 

 

1,496

 

 

4,391

 

 

4,000

 

Total cash cost per ounce produced

 

$

(4.91

)

$

0.59

 

$

(2.58

)

$

1.48

 

Reconciliation to GAAP:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total cash costs

 

$

(6,615

)

$

881

 

$

(11,314

)

$

5,928

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

 

3,318

 

 

3,117

 

 

9,463

 

 

8,331

 

Treatment and freight costs

 

 

(7,684

)

 

(9,177

)

 

(23,792

)

 

(24,193

)

By-product credits (1)

 

 

30,772

 

 

21,520

 

 

82,298

 

 

54,234

 

Change in product inventory (2)

 

 

(750

)

 

506

 

 

(161

)

 

718

 

Reclamation and other costs

 

 

50

 

 

49

 

 

145

 

 

146

 

Cost of sales and other direct
production costs and
depreciation, depletion and amortization (GAAP)

 

$

19,091

 

$

16,896

 

$

56,639

 

$

45,164

 

 

 

-31-





 

 

Lucky Friday Unit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2007

 

2006

 

Total cash costs (1)

 

$

(1,575

)

$

2,859

 

$

(641

)

$

9,876

 

Divided by silver ounces produced

 

 

662

 

 

737

 

 

2,318

 

 

2,106

 

Total cash cost per ounce produced

 

$

(2.38

)

$

3.88

 

$

(0.28

)

$

4.69

 

Reconciliation to GAAP:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total cash costs

 

$

(1,575

)

$

2,859

 

$

(641

)

$

9,876

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

 

1,016

 

 

997

 

 

2,930

 

 

2,489

 

Treatment and freight costs

 

 

(3,251

)

 

(3,942

)

 

(10,581

)

 

(10,220

)

By-product credits (1)

 

 

13,776

 

 

8,678

 

 

37,743

 

 

20,049

 

Change in product inventory

 

 

(24

)

 

(39

)

 

(195

)

 

(267

)

Reclamation and other costs

 

 

6

 

 

3

 

 

18

 

 

14

 

Cost of sales and other direct
production costs and depreciation,
depletion and amortization (GAAP)

 

$

9,948

 

$

8,556

 

$

29,274

 

$

21,941

 

 

 

 

Greens Creek Unit

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2007

 

2006

 

Total cash costs (1)

 

$

(5,040

)

$

(1,978

)

$

(10,673

)

$

(3,948

)

Divided by silver ounces produced

 

 

679

 

 

759

 

 

2,073

 

 

1,894

 

Total cash cost per ounce produced

 

$

(7.42

)

$

(2.61

)

$

(5.15

)

$

(2.08

)

Reconciliation to GAAP:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total cash costs

 

$

(5,040

)

$

(1,978

)

$

(10,673

)

$

(3,948

)

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

 

2,302

 

 

2,120

 

 

6,533

 

 

5,842

 

Treatment and freight costs

 

 

(4,433

)

 

(5,235

)

 

(13,211

)

 

(13,973

)

By-product credits (1)

 

 

16,996

 

 

12,842

 

 

44,555

 

 

34,185

 

Change in product inventory

 

 

(726

)

 

545

 

 

34

 

 

78

 

Reclamation and other costs

 

 

44

 

 

46

 

 

127

 

 

132

 

Cost of sales and other direct
production costs and depreciation,
depletion and amortization (GAAP)

 

$

9,143

 

$

8,340

 

$

27,365

 

$

22,316

 

 

 

 

La Camorra Unit (3)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2007

 

2006

 

Total cash costs (1)

 

$

9,681

 

$

14,073

 

$

35,405

 

$

39,844

 

Divided by ounces produced

 

 

18

 

 

37

 

 

68

 

 

111

 

Total cash cost per ounce produced

 

$

538

 

$

380

 

$

521

 

$

359

 

Reconciliation to GAAP:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Total cash costs

 

$

9,681

 

$

14,073

 

$

35,405

 

$

39,844

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

 

2,627

 

 

7,229

 

 

11,824

 

 

18,686

 

Treatment and freight costs

 

 

(630

)

 

(445

)

 

(2,130

)

 

(4,127

)

By-product credits (1)

 

 

120

 

 

555

 

 

1,849

 

 

1,980

 

Change in product inventory

 

 

(2,363

)

 

(2,492

)

 

(899

)

 

1,619

 

Reduction in labor cost (4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,280

 

 

 

Shutdown related costs at Mina Isidora (5)

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,708

 

 

 

Reclamation and other costs

 

 

(291

)

 

226

 

 

(76

)

 

173

 

Cost of sales and other direct
production costs and depreciation,
depletion and amortization (GAAP)

 

$

9,144

 

$

19,146

 

$

49,961

 

$

58,175

 

 

 

-32-





 

 

Total, All Properties

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Months Ended September 30,

 

Nine Months Ended September 30,

 

 

 

2007

 

2006

 

2007

 

2006

 

Total cash costs (1)

 

$

3,066

 

$

14,954

 

$

24,091

 

$

45,772

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 

 

5,945

 

 

10,346

 

 

21,287

 

 

27,017

 

Treatment and freight costs

 

$

(8,314

)

$

(9,622

)

$

(25,922

)

$

(28,320

)

By-product credits (1)

 

 

30,892

 

 

22,075

 

 

84,147

 

 

56,214

 

Change in product inventory (2)

 

$

(3,113

)

$

(1,986

)

$

(1,060

)

$

2,337

 

Reduction in labor cost (4)

 

 

 

 

 

 

1,280

 

 

 

Shutdown-related costs at Mina Isidora (5)

 

 

 

 

 

 

2,708

 

 

 

Reclamation and other costs

 

 

(241

)

 

275

 

 

69

 

 

319

 

Cost of sales and other direct
production costs and depreciation,
depletion and amortization (GAAP)

 

$

28,235

 

$

36,042

 

$

106,600

 

$

103,339

 

 

 

(1)

Includes all direct and indirect operating cash costs related directly to the physical activities of producing metals, including mining, processing and other plant costs, third-party refining and marketing expense, on-site general and administrative costs, royalties and mining production taxes, net of by-product revenues earned from all metals other than the primary metal produced at each unit.

 

 

(2)

The change in product inventory for the nine months ended September 30, 2006 includes approximately $905,000 related to San Sebastian cost of sales during the first quarter of 2006 for prior period doré shipments.

 

 

(3)

Costs per ounce of gold are based on the gold produced by the La Camorra mine and our Block B concessions, including Mina Isidora, only. During the quarters and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, a total of 181 and 934 ounces, and 2,882 and 3,366 ounces of gold, respectively, were produced from third-party mining operations located near the La Camorra mine and Block B concessions. The revenues from these gold ounces were treated as a by-product credit and included in the calculation of gold costs per ounce. Included in total cash costs for the three and nine months ending September 30, 2007 and 2006, were the costs to purchase the ore of approximately $0.2 million and $0.6 million, respectively, and $1.9 million and $2.0 million, respectively.

 

 

(4)

Incentives have been offered at the La Camorra mine for voluntary reduction of the workforce. During the nine months ended September 30, 2007, these costs of sales and other direct production costs of $1.3 million were not included in the determination of total cash costs for gold operations. See further discussion of our workforce reduction plan in The La Camorra Segment section above.

 

 

(5)

Operations at the Mina Isidora mine in Venezuela were closed during a portion of the second quarter of 2007 when a small group of local residents blocked Hecla employees from accessing the mine. See The La Camorra Segment section above for more information. Costs of sales and other direct production costs and depreciation, depletion, and amortization totaling $2.7 million were incurred during the second quarter of 2007, and were not included in the total cash costs for gold operations.

 

-33-





Financial Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Our liquid assets include (in millions):

 

 

 

September 30,
2007

 

December 31
2006

 

Cash and cash equivalents held in U.S. dollars

 

$

89.8

 

$

54.4

 

Cash and cash equivalents held in foreign currency

 

 

31.2

 

 

21.5

 

Short-term debt securities

 

 

49.2

 

 

25.4

 

Current marketable equity securities

 

 

24.6

 

 

 

Non-current marketable equity securities

 

 

9.2

 

 

6.2

 

Total cash, cash equivalents and investments

 

$

204.0

 

$

107.5

 

 

 

We generated $45.1 million in cash flow in the first nine months of 2007, compared to $64.5 in the comparable period of last year. Significant reasons for lower cash flow in 2007 include:

 

 

Receipt of $45.0 million for the divestment of the Hollister project this year versus $61.8 million related to the sale of equity securities last year.

 

 

Investment in adjustable rate securities of $23.8 million during the first nine months of this year versus $14.9 million during the same period last year.

 

 

Additions to properties, plants, and equipment that have exceeded last year’s levels by $7.6 million.

 

The above decreased year-on-year cash flows have been partly offset by:

 

 

Net income (adjusted for non-cash elements) in the first nine months of 2007 that exceeded last year’s level by $10.7 million.

 

 

Repayment last year of a $3.0 million then-outstanding balance on our revolving credit facility.

 

In addition to the foregoing changes in cash and cash equivalents, our liquidity has been boosted by:

 

 

Receipt of stock, valued at $18.6 million upon acquisition, in Great Basin Gold upon the sale of our interest in the Hollister Development Block.

 

 

Appreciation totaling $8.9 million in the value of marketable securities held by us.

 

 

Increase of $23.9 million in short-term debt securities held by us.

 

 

Release of a cash deposit of approximately $4.3 million previously held by the Tax Court in Venezuela, resulting in a reclassification from non-current restricted cash and investments to cash and cash equivalents. For further discussion, see Venezuela Litigation in Note 5 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).

 

Our current ratio at September 30, 2007 was 5.3 to 1, up from 3.2 to 1 at December 31, 2006. The change was attributable primarily to growth in our cash and current investment balances resulting from cash flow from operations and asset sales in the first three quarters of the year, as well as to payment of liabilities accrued at December 31, 2006 for resolution of La Camorra shaft arbitration, incentive compensation, and income taxes.

 

-34-





We believe that cash flow generated from operations, existing cash and investments, potential equity offerings, sales of assets that have already occurred, and our $30.0 million credit facility will be sufficient to finance capital requirements, exploration, general corporate activities, and acquisition or capital improvement opportunities.

 

Our cash balance at September 30, 2007 included $31.2 million held in local currency in Venezuela (based on the official exchange rate of 2,150 Bolívares = $1.00), with approximately $8.1 million scheduled for transfer to the Central Bank of Venezuela for export sales over the last 180 days. In the first nine months of 2007, we converted Bolívares at the equivalent of $30.8 million at the official exchange rate to $17.5 million through negotiable instruments, at conversion rates that are higher than the official rate (parallel rate), incurring foreign exchange losses on the difference. In the third quarter of 2007, we converted Bolívares at the equivalent of $1.0 million at the parallel exchange rate to $0.5 million through negotiable instruments, incurring foreign exchange losses on the difference. Approximately $11.0 million of the conversion losses for the first nine months of 2007 were incurred on the repatriation of cash from Venezuela, and are included in net foreign exchange loss on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations. Additional losses of approximately $0.5 million and $2.3 million for the third quarter and first nine months of 2007, respectively, are related to conversions of Bolívares for the payment of expatriate payroll and other U.S. dollar-denominated goods and services, and are included in the cost of sales and other direct production costs and exploration amounts reported on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations. At November 8, 2007, the open market exchange rate was approximately Bolívares 6,200 to $1.00. Approvals for foreign currency exchange continue to be limited and our ability to convert Bolívares to U.S. dollars is likewise limited. For a more detailed discussion, see Note 2 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) and The La Camorra Segment above.

 

Operating Activities

 

Cash provided by operating activities totaled $47.0 million in the first nine months of 2007, up from $39.7 million in the same period last year. The increase in cash provided by operating activities was due to a $10.5 million increase in net income, adjusted for non-cash elements. The effect of higher income was offset partly by a $2.8 million increase in working capital and other assets and liabilities in the first nine months of 2007 versus a $0.4 million decrease in the comparable period last year. These changes included:

 

 

Liabilities accrued at December 31, 2006 for resolution of La Camorra shaft arbitration, incentive compensation, and income taxes were paid in the first quarter of 2007.

 

 

Inventories decreased by $2.7 million in the first nine months of 2007 versus $1.8 million in the comparable 2006 period due to suspension of operations the La Camorra mine in Venezuela and a significant shipment from Greens Creek at the end of the third quarter of 2007. Income tax payments in Venezuela have totaled $3.5 million in 2007, which includes a prepayment of $1.0 million for 2007 taxes.

 

 

Offsetting the above cash requirements, accounts receivable increased by a lesser amount in the first nine months of 2007 versus the same period last year due to the timing of receipts from smelters for Lucky Friday and Greens Creek concentrates. Accounts receivable increased in both periods due to rising metals prices.

 

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Investing Activities

 

Investing activities used $4.6 million cash in the first three quarters of 2007, while providing $26.1 million in the same period last year. The chief differences between the years include:

 

 

Lower proceeds from asset sales in 2007. In 2007, we received $45.0 million for the sale of our interest in the Hollister Development Block. In 2006, we received $61.8 million from asset sales, including the sale of Alamos stock and our Noche Buena property.

 

 

Increased investment in capital projects. Costs in 2007 have exceeded those in 2006 by $8.3 million, primarily as a result of investment at our Lucky Friday mine.

 

 

Increased investment in short-term investments. In the first nine months of 2007, our investments in short-term treasury instruments increased by $23.8 million, while in the same period last year, similar investments increased by $14.9 million.

 

 

Partly offsetting the above uses of cash, we received proceeds from the Venezuelan government for cash posted in 2004 to prevent an embargo related to an income tax matter. For further discussion, see the discussion of Venezuelan Litigation in Note 5. Commitments and Contingencies of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).


Financing Activities

 

Net cash provided by financing activities totaled $2.4 million in the first nine months of 2007, a difference of $3.7 million from $1.3 million used in the same period last year. The largest difference was payment in 2006 of balances on our revolving credit line. In addition, the proceeds from common stock issued under stock option plans were higher this year than last as a result of higher exercise prices for our stock.              

 

Contractual Obligations and Contingent Liabilities and Commitments

The table below presents our fixed, non-cancelable contractual obligations and commitments primarily related to our outstanding purchase orders and certain capital expenditures and lease arrangements as of September 30, 2007 (in thousands):

 

 

 

Payments Due By Period

 

 

 

Less than
1 year

 

1-3 years

 

4-5 years

 

More than
5 years

 

Total

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchase obligations (1)

 

$

3,632

 

$

 

$

 

$

 

$

3,632

 

Long-term debt (2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Commitment fees (2)

 

 

225

 

 

225

 

 

 

 

 

 

450

 

Contractual obligations (3)

 

 

4,012

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4,012

 

Operating lease commitments (4)

 

 

1,051

 

 

2,261

 

 

268

 

 

 

 

3,580

 

Total contractual cash obligations

 

$

8,920

 

$

2,486

 

$

268

 

$

 

$

11,674

 

 

 

(1)

Consist of open purchase orders of approximately $1.5 million at the Lucky Friday unit, $1.2 million at the Greens Creek unit (our 29.73% portion) and $0.8 million at the La Camorra unit. Included in these amounts are approximately $1.1 million and $1.0 million related to various capital projects at the Lucky Friday and Greens Creek units, respectively.

 

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(2)

In September 2005, we entered into a $30.0 million revolving credit agreement subject to an interest rate of 2.25% above the London InterBank Offered Rate or an alternate base rate plus 1.25%. There was no outstanding balance under the credit agreement at September 30, 2007. Each quarter, we pay a commitment fee at an annual rate of 0.75% of the unused balance. See Note 10 of Notes to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for more information.

 

 

(3)

Includes approximately $1.1 million for various capital projects at the Lucky Friday, Greens Creek and La Camorra units. Total contractual obligations at September 30, 2007 also included approximately $2.7 million related to ore transportation and other non-capital cost commitments at the La Camorra unit and approximately $0.2 million for commitments relating to non-capital items at Greens Creek (our 29.73% share).

 

 

(4)

We enter into operating leases in the normal course of business. Substantially all lease agreements have fixed payment terms based on the passage of time. Some lease agreements provide us with the option to renew the lease or purchase the leased property. Our future operating lease obligations would change if we exercised these renewal options and if we entered into additional operating lease arrangements.

 

We maintain reserves for costs associated with mine closure, land reclamation and other environmental matters. At September 30, 2007, our reserves for these matters totaled $109.2 million, for which no contractual or commitment obligations exist. Future expenditures related to closure, reclamation and environmental expenditures are difficult to estimate, although we anticipate we will make expenditures relating to these obligations over the next 30 years. For additional information relating to our environmental obligations, see Note 5. Commitments and Contingencies of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).

 

At September 30, 2007, we had no existing off-balance sheet arrangements, as defined under SEC regulations, that have or are reasonably likely to have a current or future effect on our financial condition, revenues or expenses, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures or capital resources that is material to investors.

Critical Accounting Estimates

 

Our significant accounting policies are described in Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in our annual report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006. As described in Note 1, we are required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and related disclosures of assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses. Our estimates are based on our experience and our interpretation of economic, political, regulatory, and other factors that affect our business prospects. Actual results may differ significantly from our estimates.

 

We believe that our most critical accounting estimates are related to future metals prices, obligations for environmental, reclamation and closure matters, and mineral reserves, as they require us to make assumptions that were highly uncertain at the time the accounting estimates were made, and changes in them are reasonably likely to occur from period to period. Management has discussed the development and selection of these critical accounting estimates with the Audit Committee of our board of directors, and the Audit Committee has reviewed the disclosures presented below. In addition, there are other items within our financial statements that require estimation, but are not deemed to be critical. However, changes in estimates used in these and other items could have a material impact on our financial statements.

 

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Future Metals Prices

 

Metals prices are key components in estimates that determine the valuation of some of our significant assets and liabilities, including properties, plants and equipment, deferred tax assets, and certain accounts receivable. As shown below under Part II, Item 1A. – Risk Factors, metals prices have been historically volatile. While average prices for all four metals we produce have increased for four consecutive years, we have recorded impairments to our asset carrying value because of low prices in the past, and we can offer no assurance that prices will remain at their current levels or higher.

Processes supporting valuation of our assets and liabilities that are the most significantly affected by prices include analyses of asset carrying values, depreciation, and deferred income taxes. On at least an annual basis – and more frequently if circumstances warrant – we examine the carrying values of our assets, our depreciation rates, and the valuation allowances on our deferred tax assets. In our analyses of carrying values and deferred taxes, we apply several pricing views to our forecasting model, including current prices, forward-curve prices, and historical prices (see Mineral Reserves, below, regarding prices used for reserve estimates). Using applicable accounting guidance and our view of metals markets, we use the most likely outcome to determine whether the values of our assets are fairly stated, and to determine the level of valuation allowances on our deferred tax assets.

Future metals prices also affect our assessment of recoverability of certain accounts receivable. We hold accounts receivable from various mining cooperatives in Venezuela from whom we purchase custom ores and sands, as we, in turn, provide custom milling services, financing and technical assistance to them. Our assessment of gold prices helps us to assess the future profitability of the cooperatives, which allows us to establish the level of recoverability of receivables from the cooperatives.

 

Obligations for Environmental, Reclamation and Closure Matters

 

The most significant liability on our balance sheet is for accrued reclamation and closure costs. We have conducted considerable remediation work at sites in the United States for which remediation requirements have not been fully determined, nor have they been agreed between us and various regulatory agencies with oversight over the properties. We have estimated our liabilities with the advice of counsel and in accordance with appropriate accounting guidance. On at least an annual basis – and more frequently if warranted – management reviews our liabilities with our Audit Committee. However, the range of liability proposed by the plaintiffs in environmental proceedings considerably exceeds the liabilities we have recognized. If substantial damages were awarded in excess of our accruals, our financial results or condition could be materially adversely affected.

 

Mineral Reserves

 

Critical estimates are inherent in the process of determining our reserves. Our reserves are affected largely by our assessment of future metals prices, as well as by engineering and geological estimates of ore grade, accessibility and production cost. Metals prices are estimated at long-term averages, as described in Part I, Item 2. – Property Descriptions in our annual report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006. Our assessment of reserves occurs at least annually, and periodically utilizes external audits.

 

Reserves are a key component in valuation of our properties, plants and equipment. Reserve estimates are used in determining appropriate rates of units-of-production depreciation, with net book value of many assets depreciated over remaining estimated reserves. Reserves are also a key component in forecasts, with which we compare future cash flows to current asset values to ensure that carrying values are reported appropriately. Reserves represent a culmination of many estimates, and are not guarantees that we will recover the indicated quantities of metals.

 

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Item 3.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

We believe there has been no material change in our market risk since the end of our last fiscal year. In the normal course of business, we also face risks that are either nonfinancial or nonquantifiable (see Part I, Item 1A – Risk Factors in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006).

 

Cash

 

Exchange control regulations in Venezuela have limited our ability to repatriate cash and receive dividends without substantial cost. At September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, we held the U.S. dollar equivalent of approximately $31.2 million and $21.6 million, respectively, denominated in the Venezuelan Bolívar at the rate of 2,150 Bolívares to $1.00. Additionally, during the next six months we are required to convert into Venezuelan currency the proceeds of Venezuelan export sales made over the past 180 days, or approximately $8.1 million. Exchanging our cash held in local currency into U.S. dollars can be done through specific governmental programs, or through the use of negotiable instruments at conversion rates that are higher than the official rate (parallel rate) on which we have incurred and may incur additional foreign currency losses. In the third quarter of 2007, we converted Bolívares at the equivalent of $1.0 million at the parallel exchange rate to $0.5 million through negotiable instruments, incurring foreign exchange losses on the difference. During the first nine months of 2007, we exchanged the U.S. dollar equivalent of approximately $30.8 million at the parallel exchange rate of 2,150 Bolívares to $1.00 for $17.5 million at open market exchange rates, incurring a foreign exchange loss for the difference. Approximately $11.0 million of the conversion losses for the first nine months of 2007 were incurred on the repatriation of cash from Venezuela, and are included in net foreign exchange loss on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations. Additional losses of approximately $0.5 million and $2.3 million for the third quarter and first nine months of 2007, respectively, are related to conversions of Bolívares for the payment of expatriate payroll and other U.S. dollar-denominated goods and services, and are included in the cost of sales and other direct production costs and exploration amounts reported on the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations. Although we are making appropriate applications through the Venezuelan government, our cash balances denominated in Venezuelan Bolívares may continue to grow and any future conversions may result in further losses when and if we decide to distribute money outside Venezuela.

 

Short-term Investments  

 

Our September 30, 2007 short-term investments of $49.2 million, consisting of variable rate demand notes, adjustable rate securities and agency securities, were subject to changes in market interest rates and were sensitive to those changes. Our short-term investments were subject to a weighted-average interest rate of 5.15% and mature over the next twelve months.

 

-39-





Commodity-Price Risk Management

 

At times, we use commodity forward sales commitments, commodity swap contracts and commodity put and call option contracts to manage our exposure to fluctuation in the prices of certain metals which we produce. Contract positions are designed to ensure that we will receive a defined minimum price for certain quantities of our production. We use these instruments to reduce risk by offsetting market exposures.

 

Interest-Rate Risk Management

 

At September 30, 2007, we had no debt outstanding. However, our revolving credit facility, if used, would be subject to changes in market interest rates. For additional information regarding our $30.0 million revolving credit facility, see Note 10 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).

 

Venezuelan Currency Exchange Rates

 

Effective January 1, 2007, we implemented a change in our functional currency for our Venezuelan operations from the U.S. dollar to the Bolívar, the local currency in Venezuela. As a result of this change, the U.S. dollar-equivalent value of the non-monetary assets of our Venezuela operations would fluctuate with a change in the official exchange rate of the Bolívar. Implementation of the functional currency change, using the current exchange rate of 2,150 Bolívares to $1.00, resulted in a reduction to net assets of approximately $7.2 million, with a translation adjustment for the same amount recorded to the opening balance of accumulated other comprehensive income. A 10% increase in the official exchange rate would result in an additional reduction to net assets of approximately $4.8 million.

 

Item 4.

Controls and Procedures

 

An evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as required by Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, our CEO and CFO concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of September 30, 2007, in ensuring them in a timely manner that material information required to be disclosed in this report has been properly recorded, processed, summarized and reported. There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended September 30, 2007, that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

 

Internal control systems, no matter how well designed and operated, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even a system which is determined to be effective cannot provide absolute assurance that all control issues have been detected or prevented. Our systems of internal controls are designed to provide reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation.

 

-40-





PART II – OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

Item 1.

Legal Proceedings

 

For information concerning legal proceedings, refer to Note 5 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited), which is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.

 

Item 1A.

Risk Factors

 

For information concerning currency and related risks in Venezuela, refer to the La Camorra Segment discussion in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, which is incorporated by reference into this Item 1A. There are no other material changes to the Risk Factors set forth in Part I, Item 1A in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

 

Item 6.

Exhibits

 

See the exhibit index to this Form 10-Q for the list of exhibits.

 

Items 2, 3, 4, and 5 of Part II are not applicable and are omitted from this report.

 

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

 

 

 

HECLA MINING COMPANY

 

 

(Registrant)


Date:  November 8, 2007

 

By:

/s/   Phillips S. Baker, Jr.

 

 

 

Phillips S. Baker, Jr., President and
Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

 


Date:  November 8, 2007

 

By:

/s/   Lewis E. Walde

 

 

 

Lewis E. Walde, Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer

 





Hecla Mining Company and Wholly Owned Subsidiaries

Form 10-Q – September 30, 2007

Index to Exhibits

 

 

3.1

Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant as amended to date. Filed as exhibit 3.1 to Registrant’s Quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2007 (File No. 1-8491), and incorporated herein by reference.

 

3.2

By-Laws of the Registrant as amended to date. Filed as exhibit 3.2(b) to Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2006 (File No. 1-8491), and incorporated herein by reference.

 

4.1(a)

Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock of the Registrant. Filed as exhibit 4.1(a) to Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2006 (File No. 1-8491), and incorporated herein by reference.

 

4.1(b)

Certificate of Designations, Preferences and Rights of Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock of the Registrant. Filed as exhibit 4.1(b) to Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2006 (File No. 1-8491), and incorporated herein by reference.

 

10.1

Employment Agreement dated July 9, 2007, between Hecla Mining Company and Don Poirier, incorporated by reference herein to exhibit 10.1 to Registrant’s Quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2007 (File No. 1-8491). Registrant has substantially identical agreements with each of Messrs. Phillips S. Baker, Jr., Ronald W. Clayton, Philip C. Wolf, Lewis E. Walde, Michael H. Callahan, Dean W. McDonald and Ms. Vicki Veltkamp. (1)

 

10.2

Indemnification Agreement dated July 9, 2007, between Hecla Mining Company and Don Poirier, incorporated by reference herein to exhibit 10.7 to Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2006 (File No. 1-8491).

 

10.3

Third Amendment to Credit Agreement effective September 12, 2007, by and among Hecla Limited (formerly known as Hecla Mining Company), as Borrower, The Bank of Nova Scotia, as the Administrative Agent for the Lenders and NM Rothschild & Sons Limited, as the Technical Agent for the Lenders. Filed as exhibit 10.5 to the Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on September 14, 2007 (File No. 1-8491), and incorporated herein by reference.

 

31.1

Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*

 

31.2

Certification pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*

 

32.1

Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*

 

32.2

Certification pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.*

___________________

 

 

(1)

Indicates a management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.

 

* Filed herewith