Table of Contents

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

QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2021

 

or

 

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from to .

Commission file number

1-8491

1-8491

 

HECLA MINING COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Charter)

 

 

Delaware

 

77-0664171

 
 

(State or other jurisdictionOther Jurisdiction of

 

(I.R.S. Employer

 
 

incorporationIncorporation or organization)Organization

 

Identification No.)

 
     
 

6500 N. Mineral Drive, Suite 200

   
 

Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

 

83815-9408

 
 

(Address of principal executive offices)Principal Executive Offices

 

(Zip Code)Code

 
     

208-769-4100

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)Telephone Number, Including Area Code

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class

Trading Symbol(s)

Name of each exchange

on which registered

Common Stock, par value $0.25 per share

HL

New York Stock Exchange

Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.25 per share

HL-PB

New York Stock Exchange

 

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 (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.

Yes XX .    No .

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§ 232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).

Yes XX .    No___.No ☐.

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company.  See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer”filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and "emerging“emerging growth company"company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (check one):Act:

Large accelerated filer   ☒.

Accelerated Filer   XX.

Accelerated Filer .

filer  ☐.

Non-Accelerated Filer . (Do not check if a smallerNon-accelerated filer  ☐.

Smaller reporting company)

Smaller Reporting Company.

company ☐.

Emerging growth company .

☐.
 

 

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. .☐.

 

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

Yes .☐.    No XX.☒.

 

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 3, 2017May 4, 2021

Common stock, par value

$0.25 per share

 

399,018,708535,551,426

 

 

 

Hecla Mining Company and Subsidiaries

 

Form 10-Q

 

For the Quarter Ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2021

 

INDEX*

 

 

Page

PART I - Financial Information

 
  

Item 1 – Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016

3
  

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive LossIncome (Loss) - Three Months Ended March 31, 2021 and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017 and 20162020

4

3

  

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - NineThree Months Ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2021 and 20162020

5

4

  

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020

5

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity - Three Months Ended March 31, 2021 and 2020

6

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

6

7

  

Forward-Looking Statements

21

 

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

30

22

  

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

59

55

  

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

62

56

  

PART II - Other Information

 
  

Item 1 – Legal Proceedings

62

56

Item 1A – Risk Factors

62

Item 4 – Mine Safety Disclosures

62

Item 6 – Exhibits

62

Signatures

63

Exhibits

64
  

*Items 2, 3 and 5 of Part II are omitted as they are not applicable.Item 1A – Risk Factors

56

 

Item 2 – Unregistered Sales of Securities and Use of Proceeds

56

Item 4 – Mine Safety Disclosures

56

Item 6 – Exhibits

57

Signatures

58

*Items 3 and 5 of Part II are omitted as they are not applicable.

 

2

 

Part I - Financial Information

 

Item 1. Financial Statements

 

Hecla Mining Company and Subsidiaries

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance SheetsStatements of Operations and Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Unaudited)

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

 

  

September 30, 2017

  

December 31, 2016

 

ASSETS

 

Current assets:

        

Cash and cash equivalents

 $172,923  $169,777 

Investments

  32,973   29,117 

Accounts receivable:

        

Trade

  6,982   20,082 

Taxes

  10,382   187 

Other, net

  9,031   9,780 

Inventories:

        

Concentrates, doré, and stockpiled ore

  38,064   25,944 

Materials and supplies

  24,663   24,079 

Other current assets

  16,317   12,125 

Total current assets

  311,335   291,091 

Non-current investments

  7,098   5,002 

Non-current restricted cash and investments

  1,076   2,200 

Properties, plants, equipment and mineral interests, net

  2,025,607   2,032,685 

Non-current deferred income taxes

  44,683   35,815 

Other non-current assets and deferred charges

  6,384   4,884 

Total assets

 $2,396,183  $2,371,677 

LIABILITIES

 

Current liabilities:

        

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 $46,847  $60,064 

Accrued payroll and related benefits

  29,085   36,515 

Accrued taxes

  5,081   9,061 

Current portion of capital leases

  5,852   5,653 

Current portion of debt

     470 

Current portion of accrued reclamation and closure costs

  6,514   5,653 

Accrued interest

  14,450   5,745 

Other current liabilities

  7,968   3,064 

Total current liabilities

  115,797   126,225 

Capital leases

  7,436   5,838 

Accrued reclamation and closure costs

  80,758   79,927 

Long-term debt

  501,917   500,979 

Non-current deferred tax liability

  122,723   122,855 

Non-current pension liability

  43,451   44,491 

Other noncurrent liabilities

  11,160   11,518 

Total liabilities

  883,242   891,833 

Commitments and contingencies (Notes 2, 4, 7, 9, and 11)

        

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

Preferred stock, 5,000,000 shares authorized:

        

Series B preferred stock, $0.25 par value, 157,816 shares issued and outstanding, liquidation preference — $7,891

  39   39 

Common stock, $0.25 par value, authorized 750,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 2017 — 399,018,708 shares and 2016 — 395,286,875 shares

  100,886   99,806 

Capital surplus

  1,617,669   1,597,212 

Accumulated deficit

  (166,602

)

  (167,437

)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

  (20,884

)

  (34,602

)

Less treasury stock, at cost; 2017 — 4,529,450 and 2016 — 3,941,210 shares issued and held in treasury

  (18,167

)

  (15,174

)

Total shareholders’ equity

  1,512,941   1,479,844 

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

 $2,396,183  $2,371,677 
  

Three Months Ended

 
  

March 31, 2021

  

March 31, 2020

 

Sales of products

 $210,852  $136,925 

Cost of sales and other direct production costs

  96,709   85,887 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

  49,331   39,666 

Total cost of sales

  146,040   125,553 

Gross profit

  64,812   11,372 

Other operating expenses:

        

General and administrative

  8,007   8,939 

Exploration

  5,951   2,530 

Pre-development

  739   535 

Other operating expense

  3,639   920 

Ramp-up and suspension costs

  4,318   12,996 

Provision for closed operations and environmental matters

  3,709   516 

Total other operating expense

  26,363   26,436 

Income (loss) from operations

  38,449   (15,064)

Other income (expense):

        

Gain on exchange of investments

  1,158   0 

Unrealized loss on investments

  (3,506)  (978)

Gain on derivative contracts

  473   7,893 

Net foreign exchange (loss) gain

  (2,064)  6,636 

Other non-operating expense

  (161)  (423)

Interest expense

  (10,744)  (16,311)

Total other expense

  (14,844)  (3,183)

Income (loss) before income and mining taxes

  23,605   (18,247)

Income and mining tax (provision) benefit

  (4,634)  1,062 

Net income (loss)

  18,971   (17,185)

Preferred stock dividends

  (138)  (138)

Income (loss) applicable to common stockholders

 $18,833  $(17,323)

Comprehensive income (loss):

        

Net income (loss)

 $18,971  $(17,185)

Change in fair value of derivative contracts designated as hedge transactions

  1,832   (19,335)

Comprehensive income (loss)

 $20,803  $(36,520)

Basic income (loss) per common share after preferred dividends

 $0.04  $(0.03)

Diluted income (loss) per common share after preferred dividends

 $0.03  $(0.03)

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic

  534,101   523,215 

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - diluted

  540,527   523,215 

Cash dividends per common share

 $0.00875  $0.0025 

 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of the interim condensed 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,

2017

  

September 30,

2016

  

September 30,

2017

  

September 30,

2016

 

Sales of products

 $140,839  $179,393  $417,662  $481,712 

Cost of sales and other direct production costs

  68,358   90,529   224,537   249,162 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

  28,844   30,179   83,365   84,592 

Total cost of sales

  97,202   120,708   307,902   333,754 

Gross profit

  43,637   58,685   109,760   147,958 

Other operating expenses:

                

General and administrative

  9,529   11,155   29,044   31,728 

Exploration

  7,255   3,859   17,622   10,171 

Pre-development

  1,757   550   4,061   1,475 

Research and development

  1,130      2,125    

Other operating expense

  134   962   1,615   2,535 

Gain on disposition of properties, plants, equipment and mineral interests

  (4,830

)

  (8

)

  (4,924

)

  (319

)

Provision for closed operations and reclamation

  2,940   2,162   5,044   4,779 

Lucky Friday suspension-related costs

  4,780      14,385    

Acquisition costs

     1,765      2,167 

Total other operating expense

  22,695   20,445   68,972   52,536 

Income from operations

  20,942   38,240   40,788   95,422 

Other income (expense):

                

(Loss) gain on derivative contracts

  (11,226

)

  7   (16,548

)

   

Loss on disposition of investments

        (167

)

   

Unrealized (loss) gain on investments

  (124

)

  49   (73

)

  488 

Foreign exchange (loss) gain

  (4,764

)

  2,375   (10,909

)

  (7,713

)

Interest and other income

  541   145   1,185   346 

Interest expense, net of amount capitalized

  (9,358

)

  (5,574

)

  (28,423

)

  (16,655

)

Total other expense

  (24,931

)

  (2,998

)

  (54,935

)

  (23,534

)

(Loss) income before income taxes

  (3,989

)

  35,242   (14,147

)

  71,888 

Income tax benefit (provision)

  5,401   (9,453

)

  18,377   (22,603

)

Net income

  1,412   25,789   4,230   49,285 

Preferred stock dividends

  (138

)

  (138

)

  (414

)

  (414

)

Income applicable to common shareholders

 $1,274  $25,651  $3,816  $48,871 

Comprehensive income:

                

Net income

 $1,412  $25,789  $4,230  $49,285 

Reclassification of loss on disposition or impairment of marketable securities included in net income

        167   1,000 

Unrealized loss and amortization of prior service on pension plans

  (16

)

         

Change in fair value of derivative contracts designated as hedge transactions

  6,760   (1,602

)

  12,068   (1,556

)

Unrealized holding gains on investments

  892   987   1,483   2,245 

Comprehensive income

 $9,048  $25,174  $17,948  $50,974 

Basic income per common share after preferred dividends

 $0.00  $0.07  $0.01  $0.13 

Diluted income per common share after preferred dividends

 $0.00  $0.07  $0.01  $0.13 

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic

  398,848   387,578   396,809   383,458 

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - diluted

  401,258   389,918   400,176   386,318 

Cash dividends declared per common share

 $0.0025  $0.0025  $0.0075  $0.0075 

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

4

Table of Contents

 

Hecla Mining Company and Subsidiaries

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

(In thousands)

 

  

Nine Months Ended

 
  

September 30, 2017

  

September 30, 2016

 

Operating activities:

        

Net income

 $4,230  $49,285 

Non-cash elements included in net income:

        

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

  87,634   83,900 

Loss on disposition of investments

  167    

Unrealized loss (gain) on investments

  73   (488

)

Gain on disposition of properties, plants, equipment, and mineral interests

  (4,924

)

  (319

)

Provision for reclamation and closure costs

  3,379   3,685 

Stock compensation

  4,943   4,814 

Acquisition costs

     1,048 

Deferred income taxes

  (24,280

)

  10,330 

Amortization of loan origination fees

  1,415   1,397 

Loss on derivative contracts

  16,718   337 

Foreign exchange loss

  11,171   7,555 

Other non-cash items, net

  (1

)

  5 

Change in assets and liabilities, net of business acquisitions:

        

Accounts receivable

  4,903   5,776 

Inventories

  (9,611

)

  (44

)

Other current and non-current assets

  (2,685

)

  (539

)

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

  (7,759

)

  2,042 

Accrued payroll and related benefits

  (913

)

  8,621 

Accrued taxes

  (4,469

)

  (2,894

)

Accrued reclamation and closure costs and other non-current liabilities

  (5,876

)

  (1,397

)

Cash provided by operating activities

  74,115   173,114 

Investing activities:

        

Additions to properties, plants, equipment and mineral interests

  (70,390

)

  (120,236

)

Acquisitions of other companies, net of cash acquired

     (3,931

)

Proceeds from disposition of properties, plants, equipment and mineral interests

  151   348 

Insurance proceeds received for damaged property

  5,628    

Purchases of investments

  (36,916

)

  (32,847

)

Maturities of investments

  31,169   7,240 

Changes in restricted cash and investment balances

  1,124   (3,900

)

Net cash used in investing activities

  (69,234

)

  (153,326

)

Financing activities:

        

Proceeds from sale of common stock, net of offering costs

  9,610   8,121 

Acquisition of treasury shares

  (2,993

)

  (4,363

)

Dividends paid to common shareholders

  (2,978

)

  (2,882

)

Dividends paid to preferred shareholders

  (414

)

  (414

)

Credit availability and debt issuance fees

  (476

)

  (107

)

Repayments of debt

  (470

)

  (1,807

)

Repayments of capital leases

  (5,065

)

  (6,328

)

Net cash used in financing activities

  (2,786

)

  (7,780

)

Effect of exchange rates on cash

  1,051   627 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

  3,146   12,635 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

  169,777   155,209 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 $172,923  $167,844 

Significant non-cash investing and financing activities:

        

Addition of capital lease obligations

 $6,439  $2,297 

Common stock issued for the acquisition of other companies

 $  $48,109 

Payment of accrued compensation in restricted stock units

 $4,240  $5,511 
  

Three Months Ended

 
  

March 31, 2021

  

March 31, 2020

 

Operating activities:

        

Net income (loss)

 $18,971  $(17,185)

Non-cash elements included in net income (loss):

        

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

  49,546   41,630 

Unrealized loss on investments

  3,506   978 

Gain on exchange of investments

  (1,158)  0 

Provision for reclamation and closure costs

  4,529   1,548 

Stock compensation

  500   1,219 

Deferred taxes

  32   (3,252)

Amortization of loan origination fees and loss on extinguishment of debt

  539   2,140 

Gain on derivative contracts

  (10,962)  (10,437)

Foreign exchange loss (gain)

  1,755   (8,066)

Other non-cash items, net

  8   (104)

Change in assets and liabilities:

        

Accounts receivable

  (2,664)  9,955 

Inventories

  2,120   (6,602)

Other current and non-current assets

  1,528   (2,642)

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

  (24,545)  (11,879)

Accrued payroll and related benefits

  (7,995)  9,495 

Accrued taxes

  2,031   1,332 

Accrued reclamation and closure costs and other non-current liabilities

  195   (3,203)

Cash provided by operating activities

  37,936   4,927 

Investing activities:

        

Additions to properties, plants, equipment and mineral interests

  (21,413)  (19,870)

Proceeds from disposition of properties, plants and equipment

  19   154 

Net cash used in investing activities

  (21,394)  (19,716)

Financing activities:

        

Dividends paid to common stockholders

  (4,688)  (1,304)

Dividends paid to preferred stockholders

  (138)  (138)

Credit facility fees paid

  (82)  (458)

Borrowings on debt

  0   679,500 

Repayments of debt

  0   (506,500)

Repayments of finance leases

  (1,881)  (1,284)

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

  (6,789)  169,816 

Effect of exchange rates on cash

  167   (1,736)

Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents

  9,920   153,291 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period

  130,883   63,477 

Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents at end of period

 $140,803  $216,768 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

        

Cash paid for interest

 $18,406  $13,984 

Significant non-cash investing and financing activities:

        

Addition of finance lease obligations and right-of-use assets

 $3,120  $0 

Accounts receivable for proceeds on exchange of investments

 $1,832  $0 

 

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

 

5
4

 

Hecla Mining Company and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)

(In thousands, except shares)

  

March 31,
2021

  

December 31, 2020

 

ASSETS

 

Current assets:

        

Cash and cash equivalents

 $139,750  $129,830 

Accounts receivable:

        

Trade

  35,274   27,864 

Other, net

  8,475   11,329 

Inventories:

        

Concentrates, doré, and stockpiled ore

  56,917   57,936 

Materials and supplies

  37,335   38,608 

Derivatives assets

  7,195   3,470 

Other current assets

  12,971   15,644 

Total current assets

  297,917   284,681 

Investments

  11,717   15,148 

Restricted cash and investments

  1,053   1,053 

Properties, plants, equipment and mineral interests, net

  2,320,547   2,345,219 

Operating lease right-of-use assets

  9,775   10,628 

Deferred taxes

  3,886   2,912 

Derivatives assets

  6,346   4,558 

Other non-current assets

  3,836   3,525 

Total assets

 $2,655,077  $2,667,724 

LIABILITIES

 

Current liabilities:

        

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 $53,130  $68,516 

Accrued payroll and related benefits

  22,800   31,807 

Accrued taxes

  7,854   8,349 

Finance leases

  6,706   6,491 

Operating leases

  2,832   3,008 

Accrued reclamation and closure costs

  6,592   5,582 

Accrued interest

  5,175   14,157 

Derivatives liabilities

  3,906   11,737 

Other current liabilities

  123   138 

Total current liabilities

  109,118   149,785 

Finance leases

  10,304   9,274 

Operating leases

  6,954   7,634 

Accrued reclamation and closure costs

  113,671   110,466 

Long-term debt

  507,992   507,242 

Deferred tax liability

  149,220   144,330 

Pension liability

  28,797   44,144 

Other non-current liabilities

  4,146   4,364 

Total liabilities

  930,202   977,239 

Commitments and contingencies (Notes 4, 7, 8, and 10)

          

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

Preferred stock, 5,000,000 shares authorized:

        

Series B preferred stock, $0.25 par value, 157,816 shares issued and outstanding, liquidation preference — $7,891

  39   39 

Common stock, $0.25 par value, 750,000,000 authorized shares; issued March 31, 2021 — 542,154,997 shares and December 31, 2020 — 538,487,415 shares

  135,546   134,629 

Capital surplus

  2,021,072   2,003,576 

Accumulated deficit

  (377,229)  (391,374)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

  (31,057)  (32,889)

Less treasury stock, at cost; March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 - 6,821,044 shares issued and held in treasury

  (23,496)  (23,496)

Total stockholders’ equity

  1,724,875   1,690,485 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 $2,655,077  $2,667,724 

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

5

Hecla Mining Company and Subsidiaries

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders’ Equity (Unaudited)

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

  

Three Months Ended March 31, 2021

 
  

Series B

Preferred

Stock

  

Common

Stock

  

Additional

Paid-In

Capital

  

Accumulated

Deficit

  

Accumulated

Other

Comprehensive

Loss, net

  

Treasury

Stock

  

Total

 

Balances, January 1, 2021

 $39  $134,629  $2,003,576  $(391,374) $(32,889) $(23,496) $1,690,485 

Net income

  0   0   0   18,971   0   0   18,971 

Restricted stock units granted

  0   0   483   0   0   0   483 

Common stock dividends declared ($0.00875 per common share)

  0   0   0   (4,688)  0   0   (4,688)

Series B Preferred Stock dividends declared ($0.875 per share)

  0   0   0   (138)  0   0   (138)

Common stock issued for 401(k) match (165,000 shares)

  0   42   1,088   0   0   0   1,130 

Shares issued to pension plans (3,500,000 shares)

  0   875   15,925   0   0   0   16,800 

Other comprehensive income

  0   0   0   0   1,832   0   1,832 

Balances, March 31, 2021

 $39  $135,546  $2,021,072  $(377,229) $(31,057) $(23,496) $1,724,875 

  

Three Months Ended March 31, 2020

 
  

Series B

Preferred

Stock

  

Common

Stock

  

Additional

Paid-In

Capital

  

Accumulated

Deficit

  

Accumulated

Other

Comprehensive

Loss, net

  

Treasury

Stock

  

Total

 

Balances, January 1, 2020, as revised (see Note 1)

  39   132,292   1,973,700   (365,186)  (37,310)  (22,967)  1,680,568 

Net loss

  0   0   0   (17,185)  0   0   (17,185)

Restricted stock units granted

  0   0   1,219   0   0   0   1,219 

Common stock dividends declared ($0.0025 per common share)

  0   0   0   (1,304)  0   0   (1,304)

Series B Preferred Stock dividends declared ($0.875 per share)

  0   0   0   (138)  0   0   (138)

Common stock issued for 401(k) match (352,000 shares)

  0   89   1,114   0   0   0   1,203 

Other comprehensive loss

  0   0   0   0   (19,335)  0   (19,335)

Balances, March 31, 2020

 $39  $132,381  $1,976,033  $(383,813) $(56,645) $(22,967) $1,645,028 

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

6

Note 1.Basis of Preparation of Financial Statements

 

In the opinion of management, theThe accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements and notes to the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring items and items which are nonrecurring, necessary to present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Hecla Mining Company and its consolidated subsidiaries (except as(collectively, “Hecla”, “the Company”, “we”, “our” or “us”, except where the context otherwise requires “we” or “our” or “us”).  These unaudited interim condensed 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, 2016, 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.  The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statementsotherwise) have been prepared pursuantin accordance with the instructions to the rulesForm 10-Q and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").  Certaindo not include all information and footnote disclosures normally included in audited financial statements prepared in accordance withrequired annually by generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to those rules. Therefore, this information should be read in conjunction with Hecla Mining Company’s consolidated financial statements and regulations, although we believe that the disclosures are adequatenotes contained in our annual report on Form 10-K for the information not to be misleading.

Certain condensedyear ended December 31,2020 (“2020 Form 10-K”). The consolidated December 31,2020 balance sheet data was derived from our audited consolidated financial statements. The information furnished herein reflects all adjustments that are, in the opinion of management, necessary for a fair statement amountsof the results for the priorinterim periods reported. All such adjustments are, in the opinion of management, of a normal recurring nature. Operating results for the three-month period have been reclassified to conform toended March 31,2021 are not necessarily indicative of the current period presentation. These reclassifications had no effect onresults that may be expected for the net income, comprehensive income, or accumulated deficit as previously reported.year ending December 31,2021.

 

The preparation2019 novel strain of financial statementscoronavirus ("COVID-19") was characterized as a global pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020, and COVID-19 resulted in conformity with GAAP requires managementtravel restrictions and business slowdowns or shutdowns in affected areas. In late March 2020, the Government of Quebec ordered the mining industry to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilitiesreduce to minimum operations as part 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.     

On September 13, 2016, we completed the acquisition of Mines Management, Inc. ("Mines Management"), giving us ownership of the Montanore project in Northwest Montana. The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements included herein reflect our ownership of the assets previously held by Mines Management as of the September 13, 2016 acquisition date.

Note 2.    Investments

Investments

Our current investments, which are classified as "available for sale" and consist of bonds having maturities of greater than 90 days and less than 365 days, had a fair value and cost basis of $33.0 million and $29.1 million at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. During the first nine months of 2017, we had purchases of such investments of $35.3 million and maturities of $31.2 million. Our current investments at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 consisted of the following (in thousands):

  

September 30, 2017

  

December 31, 2016

 
  

Amortized

cost

  

Unrealized

loss

  

Fair

value

  

Amortized

cost

  

Unrealized

loss

  

Fair

value

 

Corporate bonds

 $32,987  $(14

)

 $32,973  $22,100  $(46

)

 $22,054 

Municipal bonds

           3,727   (1

)

  3,726 

Agency bonds

            3,339   (2

)

  3,337 

Total

 $32,987  $(14

)

 $32,973  $29,166  $(49

)

 $29,117 

6

Table of Contents

At September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the fair value of our non-current investments was $7.1 million and $5.0 million, respectively.  Our non-current investments consist of marketable equity securities which are carried at fair value, and are primarily classified as “available-for-sale.” The cost basis of our non-current investments was approximately $5.7 million and $4.0 million at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. In the first nine months of 2017 and 2016, we acquired marketable equity securities having a cost basis of $1.6 million and $0.9 million, respectively. During the first quarter of 2016, we recognized an impairment chargefight against current earnings of $1.0 million, as we determined the impairment to be other-than-temporary.

Note 3.   Income Taxes

Major components of our income tax (benefit) provision for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 are as follows (in thousands):

  

Three Months Ended

  

Nine Months Ended

 
  

September 30,

  

September 30,

 
  

2017

  

2016

  

2017

  

2016

 

Current:

                

Domestic

 $  $4,123  $(12,797

)

 $4,122 

Foreign

  (3,959

)

  5,773   17,491   8,416 

Total current income tax (benefit) provision

  (3,959

)

  9,896   4,694   12,538 
                 

Deferred:

                

Domestic

  1,980   (5,723

)

  (13,958

)

  3,642 

Foreign

  (3,422

)

  5,280   (9,113

)

  6,423 

Total deferred income tax (benefit) provision

  (1,442

)

  (443

)

  (23,071

)

  10,065 

Total income tax (benefit) provision

 $(5,401

)

 $9,453  $(18,377

)

 $22,603 

As of September 30, 2017, we have a net deferred tax asset in the U.S. of $44.7 million and a net deferred tax liability in Canada of $122.7 million, for a consolidated worldwide net deferred tax liability of $78.0 million. Our ability to utilize our deferred tax assets depends on future taxable income generated from operations. In the first quarter of 2017, we received consent from the Internal Revenue Service to permitCOVID-19, causing us to takesuspend our Casa Berardi operations from March 24, 2020 until April 15, 2020 when mining operations resumed. In early April 2020, the Government of Mexico issued a different income tax position relatingsimilar order causing us to suspend our San Sebastian operations until May 30, 2020. In addition, restrictions imposed by the timingState of deductions for the #4 Shaft development costs at Lucky Friday. This tax accounting method change substantially revised the timing of deductions for these costs for regular tax and Alternative Minimum Tax ("AMT") relative to our projected life of mine and projected taxable income. These timing changes Alaska in late March caused us to revise the normal operating procedures for staffing operations at Greens Creek. These suspension orders impacted us in the first half of 2020 by curtailing our assessmentexpected production of the ability to generate sufficient future taxable income to realize our deferred tax assets, resultinggold at Casa Berardi by approximately 11,700 ounces, which resulted in a valuation allowance releasereduction in related revenue for that period. We continued to incur costs at Casa Berardi and San Sebastian while operations were suspended. At Casa Berardi and San Sebastian, suspension costs in 2020 totaled $1.6 million and $1.8 million, respectively. In addition, we incurred costs of approximately $15 million. At September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the balances of the valuation allowances on our deferred tax assets were $72$0.6 million and $100 million, respectively, primarily for net operating losses and tax credit carryforwards. The amount of the deferred tax asset considered recoverable, however, could be reduced in the near term if estimatesfirst quarter of future taxable income are reduced.

The current income tax provisions2021 and $2.3 million for the threefull year of 2020 related to quarantining employees at Greens Creek, which started in late March 2020. At Lucky Friday and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 vary fromNevada Operations, COVID-19 procedures have been implemented without a significant impact on production or operating costs. It is possible that future restrictions at any of our operations could have an adverse impact on operations or financial results beyond the amounts that would have resulted from applying the statutory income tax rate to pre-tax income due primarily to the impactfirst quarter of the change in accounting method treatment of the #4 Shaft development costs described above, the impact of taxation in foreign jurisdictions, and the Company's status as an indefinite AMT taxpayer.2021.

 

We have historically calculatedtaken precautionary measures to mitigate the provision for income taxes during interim reporting periods by applyingimpact of COVID-19, including implementing operational plans and practices. As long as they are required, the operational practices implemented could have an estimateadverse impact on our operating results due to deferred production and revenues or additional costs. We continue to monitor the rapidly evolving situation and guidance from federal, state, local and foreign governments and public health authorities and may take additional actions based on their recommendations. The extent of the annual effective tax rate ("AETR") forimpact of COVID-19 on our business and financial results will also depend on future developments, including the full fiscal year to “ordinary” pretax income or loss (excluding unusual or infrequently occurring discrete items) forduration and spread of the reporting period. We have determined that since small changesoutbreak and the success of the current vaccination programs being rolled out within the markets in estimated annual “ordinary” pre-tax income would result in significant changes inwhich we operate and the estimated AETR, the AETR method would not provide a reliable estimate for the fiscal three-related impact on prices, demand, creditworthiness and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017. Therefore, we have used a discrete effective tax rate method to calculate taxes for the fiscal three-other market conditions and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017.governmental reactions, all of which are highly uncertain.

 

7

Table

Correction of Contents

Note 4.    Commitments, Contingencies and Obligations

Generalan Immaterial Error

 

We follow GAAP guidance in determining our accrualsDuring the first quarter of 2021 we reclassified certain state mining income taxes from Cost of sales and disclosures with respectother direct production costs to loss contingencies, Income and evaluate such accruals and contingencies for each reporting period. Accordingly, estimated losses from loss contingencies are accrued by a chargemining tax provision prospectively effective January 1, 2021. The reclassification required us to income when information available priorrecognize previously unrecognized deferred taxes. The impact of this was an adjustment of $11.9 million to issuance ofaccumulated deficit at January 1, 2019 to recognize the financial statements indicates that it is probable that a liability could be incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Legal expenses associated with the contingency are expensed as incurred. If a loss contingency is not probable or reasonably estimable, disclosure of the loss contingency is madedeferred tax liability.  This adjustment resulted in the financial statements when it is at least reasonably possible that a material loss could be incurred.

Rio Grande Silver Guaranty

Our wholly-owned subsidiary, Rio Grande Silver Inc. (“Rio”), is partyJanuary 1, 2020 accumulated deficit balance presented in this Form 10-Q to a joint venture with Emerald Mining & Leasing, LLC (“EML”) and certain other parties with respectincrease to a land package in the Creede Mining District of Colorado that is adjacent to other land held by Rio. Rio holds a 70% interest in the joint venture. In connection with the joint venture, we are required to guarantee certain environmental remediation-related obligations of EML to a third party up to a maximum liability to us of $2.5$365.2 million. As of September 30, 2017, we have not been required to make any payments pursuant to the guaranty. We may be required to make payments in the future, limited to the $2.5 million maximum liability, should EML fail to meet its obligations to the third party. However, to the extent that any payments are made by us under the guaranty, EML, in addition to other parties, has jointly and severally agreed to reimburse and indemnify us for any such payments. We have not recorded a liability relating to the guaranty as of September 30, 2017.

Lucky Friday Water Permit Matters

In the past, the Lucky Friday unit experienced multiple regulatory issues relating to its water discharge permits and water management more generally. All of these issues have been resolved except for one: in December 2013, the EPA issued to Hecla Limited a request for information under Section 308 of the Clean Water Act directing Hecla Limited to undertake a comprehensive groundwater investigation of Lucky Friday’s tailings pond no. 3 to evaluate whether the pond is causing the discharge of pollutants via seepage to groundwater that is discharging to surface water. We completed the investigation mandated by the EPA and submitted a draft report to the agency in December 2015. We are waiting for the EPA’s response and we cannot predict what the impact of the investigation will be.

Hecla Limited strives to maintain its water discharges at the Lucky Friday unit in full compliance with its permits and applicable laws, however, we cannot provide assurance that in the future it will be able to fully comply with the permit limits and other regulatory requirements regarding water management.

8

Table of Contents

Johnny M Mine Area near San Mateo, McKinley County, New Mexico

In May 2011, the EPA made a formal request to Hecla Mining Company for information regarding the Johnny M Mine Area near San Mateo, McKinley County, New Mexico, and asserted that Hecla Mining Company may be responsible under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act ("CERCLA") for environmental remediation and past costs the EPA has incurred at the site. Mining at the Johnny M was conducted for a limited period of time by a predecessor of our subsidiary, Hecla Limited. In August 2012, Hecla Limited and the EPA entered into a Settlement Agreement and Administrative Order on Consent for Removal Action (“Consent Order”), pursuant to which Hecla Limited agreed to pay (i) $1.1 million to the EPA for its past response costs at the site and (ii) any future response costs at the site under the Consent Order, in exchange for a covenant not to sue by the EPA. Hecla Limited paid the $1.1 million to the EPA for its past response costs and in December 2014, submitted to EPA the Engineering Evaluation and Cost Analysis (“EE/CA”) for the site. The EE/CA evaluates three alternative response actions: 1) no action, 2) off-site disposal, and 3) on-site disposal. The range in estimated costs of these alternatives is $0 to $221 million. In the EE/CA, Hecla Limited recommended that EPA approve on-site disposal, which is currently estimated to cost $5.6 million, on the basis that it is the most appropriate response action under CERCLA. In June 2015, the EPA approved the EE/CA, with a few minor conditions. The EPA still needs to publish the EE/CA for public notice and comment, and the agency will not make a final decision on the appropriate response action until the public comment process is complete. It is anticipated that Hecla Limited will implement the response action selected by the EPA pursuant to an amendment to the Consent Order or a new order. Based on the foregoing, we believe it is probable that Hecla Limited will incur a liability for remediation at the site. In the fourth quarter of 2014, we accrued $5.6 million, which continues to be our best estimate of that liability as of the date of this report. There can be no assurance that Hecla Limited’s liability will not be more than $5.6 million, or that its ultimate liability will not have a material adverse effect on Hecla Limited’s or our results of operations or financial position.

In September 2016, Hecla Limited was served with a lawsuit filed by an individual in state court in New Mexico alleging personal injury claims of several millions of dollars arising from alleged exposure to contaminants as a result of allegedly living on land adjacent to the Johnny M Mine site.  The case was subsequently removed to federal court in New Mexico, and Hecla Limited filed a motion to dismiss. We do not yet have enough information to conclude if Hecla Limited has any liability or to estimate any loss that it may incur.

Carpenter Snow Creek and Barker-Hughesville Sites in Montana

In July 2010, the EPA made a formal request to Hecla Mining Company for information regarding the Carpenter Snow Creek Superfund site located in Cascade County, Montana. The Carpenter Snow Creek site is located in a historic mining district, and in the early 1980s Hecla Limited leased 6 mining claims and performed limited exploration activities at the site. Hecla Limited terminated the mining lease in 1988.

In June 2011, the EPA informed Hecla Limited that it believes Hecla Limited, among several other viable companies, may be liable for cleanup of the site or for costs incurred by the EPA in cleaning up the site. The EPA stated in the June 2011 letter that it has incurred approximately $4.5 million in response costs and estimated that total remediation costs may exceed $100 million. Hecla Limited cannot with reasonable certainty estimate the amount or range of liability, if any, relating to this matter because of, among other reasons, the lack of information concerning the site.

In February 2017, the EPA made a formal request to Hecla Mining Company for information regarding the Barker-Hughesville Mining District Superfund site located in Judith Basin and Cascade Counties, Montana. The Barker-Hughesville site is located in a historic mining district, and between approximately June and December 1983, Hecla Limited was party to an agreement with another mining company under which limited exploration activities occurred at or near the site. Neither the EPA nor any other party has made any claims against Hecla Limited (or Hecla Mining Company), however, it is possible that such a claim will be made in the future. Unless and until such a claim is made, Hecla Limited cannot estimate the amount or range of liability, if any, relating to this matter.

Senior Notes

On April 12, 2013, we completed an offering of $500 million aggregate principal amount of 6.875% Senior Notes due 2021. The net proceeds from the offering of the Senior Notes were used to partially fund the acquisition of Aurizon Mines Ltd. ("Aurizon") and for general corporate purposes, including expenses related to the Aurizon acquisition. Through the acquisition of Aurizon, we acquired our Casa Berardi mine and other interests in Quebec, Canada. In 2014, we completed additional issuances of our Senior Notes in the aggregate principal amount of $6.5 million, which were contributed to one of our pension plans to satisfy the funding requirement for 2014. Interest on the Senior Notes is payable on May 1 and November 1 of each year, commencing November 1, 2013. See Note 9 for more information.

9

Table of Contents

Other Commitments

Our contractual obligations as of September 30, 2017 included approximately $0.5 million for various costs. In addition, our open purchase orders at September 30, 2017 included approximately $0.3 million, $1.9 million and $20.9 million for various capital and non-capital items at the Lucky Friday, Casa Berardi and Greens Creek units, respectively. We also have total commitments of approximately $14.1 million relating to scheduled payments on capital leases, including interest, primarily for equipment at our Greens Creek, Lucky Friday and Casa Berardi units (see Note 9 for more information). As part of our ongoing business and operations, we are required to provide surety bonds, bank letters of credit, and restricted deposits for various purposes, including financial support for environmental reclamation obligations and workers compensation programs. As of September 30, 2017, we had surety bonds totaling $117.4 million in place as financial support for future reclamation and closure costs, self-insurance, and employee benefit plans. The obligations associated with these instruments are generally related to performance requirements that we address through ongoing operations. As the requirements are met, the beneficiary of the associated instruments cancels or returns the instrument to the issuing entity. Certain of these instruments are associated with operating sites with long-lived assets and will remain outstanding until closure of the sites. We believe we are in compliance with all applicable bonding requirements and will be able to satisfy future bonding requirements as they arise.

Other Contingencies

We also have certain other contingencies resulting from litigation, claims, EPA investigations, and other commitments and are subject to a variety of environmental and safety laws and regulations incident to the ordinary course of business. We currently expect that the resolution of such contingencies will not materially affect our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. However, in the future, there may be changes to these contingencies, or additional contingencies may occur, any of which might result in an accrual or a change in current accruals recorded by us, and there can be no assurance that their ultimate disposition will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

 

 

Note 5.    Earnings Per Common Share2.Business Segments and Sales of Products

 

We are authorized to issue 750,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.25 par value per share. At September 30, 2017, there were 403,548,158 shares of our common stock issueddiscover, acquire and 4,529,450 shares issueddevelop mines and held in treasury, for a net of 399,018,708 shares outstanding. Basicother mineral interests and diluted income per common share, after preferred dividends, was $0.00produce and $0.01 for the three-market concentrates, carbon material and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017, respectively. Basicdoré containing silver, gold, lead and diluted income per common share, after preferred dividends, was $0.07 and $0.13 for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2016, respectively.

Diluted income per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 excludes the potential effects of outstanding shares of our convertible preferred stock, as their conversion would have no effect on the calculation of dilutive shares.

For the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017, 3,591,697 restricted stock units that were unvested or which vested in the current period and 1,509,159 deferred shares were included in the calculation of diluted income per share. For the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2016, 4,309,440 restricted stock units that were unvested or which vested in the current period and 635,602 deferred shares were included in the calculation of diluted income per share. There were no options or warrants outstanding as of September 30, 2017 or September 30, 2016.

Note 6.    Business Segments

zinc. We are currently organized and managed in four reporting segments:five segments, which represent our operating units: the Greens Creek unit, the Lucky Friday unit, the Casa Berardi unit, and the San Sebastian exploration unit, and the Nevada Operations unit.

 

10
7

General corporate activities not associated with operating units and their various exploration activities, as well as discontinued operations and idle properties, are presented as “other.”  Interest expense, interest income and income and mining taxes are considered general corporate items, and are not allocated to our segments.

 

The following tables present information about our reportable segments for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017March 31,2021 and 20162020 (in thousands):

 

  

Three Months Ended
September 30,

  

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

 
  

2017

  

2016

  

2017

  

2016

 

Net sales to unaffiliated customers:

                

Greens Creek

 $61,061  $85,804  $191,250  $199,260 

Lucky Friday (1)

  199   26,140   20,022   70,152 

Casa Berardi

  53,990   41,131   139,524   126,614 

San Sebastian

  25,589   26,318   66,866   85,686 
  $140,839  $179,393  $417,662  $481,712 

Income (loss) from operations:

                

Greens Creek

 $16,575  $26,498  $46,107  $49,407 

Lucky Friday

  (4,642

)

  6,652   (8,974

)

  13,442 

Casa Berardi

  2,882   3,691   (1,071

)

  16,246 

San Sebastian

  17,017   18,415   42,363   58,911 

Other

  (10,890

)

  (17,016

)

  (37,637

)

  (42,584

)

  $20,942  $38,240  $40,788  $95,422 

(1) The $0.2 million in sales reported for Lucky Friday for the third quarter of 2017 represents gains on base metal derivatives contracts.

  

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 
  

2021

  

2020

 

Net sales to unaffiliated customers:

        

Greens Creek

 $98,409  $53,833 

Lucky Friday

  29,122   2,830 

Casa Berardi

  72,911   46,172 

San Sebastian

  173   9,927 

Nevada Operations

  10,237   24,163 
  $210,852  $136,925 

Income (loss) from operations:

        

Greens Creek

 $44,600  $4,117 

Lucky Friday

  6,323   (8,120)

Casa Berardi

  9,117   (3,880)

San Sebastian

  (2,263)  679 

Nevada Operations

  (3,140)  2,889 

Other

  (16,188)  (10,749)
  $38,449  $(15,064)

 

The following table presents identifiable assets by reportable segment as of September 30, 2017March 31,2021 and December 31, 20162020 (in thousands):

 

  

September 30, 2017

  

December 31, 2016

 

Identifiable assets:

        

Greens Creek

 $666,463  $681,303 

Lucky Friday

  432,752   442,829 

Casa Berardi

  814,053   806,044 

San Sebastian

  55,395   33,608 

Other

  427,520   407,893 
  $2,396,183  $2,371,677 

The sales and income (loss) from operations amounts reported above include results from our Lucky Friday segment. The Lucky Friday mine is our only operation where some of our employees are subject to a collective bargaining agreement, and the most recent agreement expired on April 30, 2016. On February 19, 2017, the unionized employees voted against our contract offer. On March 13, 2017, the unionized employees went on strike and have been on strike since that time. Production at Lucky Friday was suspended from the start of the strike until July 2017, when limited production resumed. For the first nine months of 2017, suspension costs not related to production of $11.1 million, along with $3.3 million in non-cash depreciation expense, are reported in a separate line item on our unaudited condensed consolidated statement of operations. We cannot predict how long the strike will last or whether an agreement will be reached. As a result of the strike or other related events, operations at Lucky Friday could continue to be disrupted, which could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

  

March 31, 2021

  

December 31, 2020

 

Identifiable assets:

        

Greens Creek

 $609,612  $610,360 

Lucky Friday

  513,645   520,463 

Casa Berardi

  683,103   694,522 

San Sebastian

  41,238   42,617 

Nevada Operations

  510,514   513,309 

Other

  296,965   286,453 
  $2,655,077  $2,667,724 

 

11
8

Sales of products by metal for the three-month periods ended March 31,2021 and 2020 were as follows (in thousands):

  

Three Months Ended March 31,

 
  

2021

  

2020

 
         

Silver

 $77,760  $37,572 

Gold

  101,408   90,694 

Lead

  15,893   6,420 

Zinc

  29,191   17,308 

Less: Smelter and refining charges

  (13,400)  (15,069)

Sales of products

 $210,852  $136,925 

 

Sales of products for the firstthree months of 2021 and 2020 included net gains of $2.8 million and $1.7 million, respectively, on financially-settled forward and put option contracts for silver, gold, lead and zinc contained in our sales.  See Note 8 for more information.

Note 7.3.Income and MiningTaxes

Major components of our income and mining tax (provision) benefit for the three months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 are as follows (in thousands):

  

Three Months Ended

 
  

March 31,

 
  

2021

  

2020

 

Current:

        

Domestic

 $(2,277) $(732)

Foreign

  (2,286)  (2,069)

Total current income and mining tax provision

  (4,563)  (2,801)
         

Deferred:

        

Domestic

  319   1,250 

Foreign

  (390)  2,613 

Total deferred income and mining tax (provision) benefit

  (71)  3,863 

Total income and mining tax (provision) benefit

 $(4,634) $1,062 

The income and mining tax (provision) benefit for the three months ended March 31,2021 and 2020 varies from the amounts that would have resulted from applying the statutory tax rates to pre-tax income due primarily to the impact of taxation in foreign jurisdictions and reversal of the valuation allowance portion related to net operating loss utilization.

Effective January 1, 2021, we prospectively reclassified certain income based state and provincial taxes from Cost of Sales and other direct production costs to Income and mining tax (provision) benefit. The income and mining tax provision for the three months ended March 31,2021 increased by $3.1 million due to the reclassification.

Note 4.Employee Benefit Plans

 

We sponsor defined benefit pension plans covering substantially all U.S. employees.  Net periodic pension cost for the plans consisted of the following for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017March 31,2021 and 20162020 (in thousands):

 

 

Three Months Ended

September 30,

  

Three Months Ended

March 31,

 
 

2017

  

2016

  

2021

  

2020

 

Service cost

 $1,196  $1,077  $1,455  $1,334 

Interest cost

  1,339   1,307  1,248  1,404 

Expected return on plan assets

  (1,462

)

  (1,325

)

 (2,313) (1,872)

Amortization of prior service cost

  (84

)

  (84

)

 99  29 

Amortization of net loss

  1,033   1,093   1,125   1,163 

Net periodic pension cost

 $2,022  $2,068  $1,614  $2,058 

 

The service cost component of net periodic pension cost is included in the same line items of our condensed consolidated financial statements as other employee compensation costs, and the net expense for the three months ended March 31,2021 and 2020 of $0.2 million and $0.7 million, respectively, related to all other components of net periodic pension cost is included in other (expense) income on our condensed consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss).

  

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

 
  

2017

  

2016

 

Service cost

 $3,588  $3,231 

Interest cost

  4,017   3,921 

Expected return on plan assets

  (4,386

)

  (3,975

)

Amortization of prior service cost

  (252

)

  (252

)

Amortization of net loss

  3,099   3,279 

Net periodic pension cost

 $6,066  $6,204 

 

In January 2021, we contributed $16.8 million in shares of our common stock to our supplemental executive retirement plan, and expect to contribute approximately $0.8 million during the remainder of 2021.We made cash contributionsdo not expect to be required to contribute to our defined benefit pension plans of $1.2 million in April 2017 and $5.7 million in July 2017. We expect to contribute approximately $0.4 million to our unfunded supplemental executive retirement plan during 2017.2021, but may do so.

 

 

Note 8.    Shareholders’5.Income (Loss) Per Common Share

We calculate basic income (loss) per common share on the basis of the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period. Diluted income per share is calculated using the weighted average number of shares of common stock outstanding during the period plus the effect of potential dilutive common shares during the period using the treasury stock and if-converted methods.

Potential dilutive shares of common stock include outstanding unvested restricted stock awards, performance-based share awards, stock units, warrants and convertible preferred stock for periods in which we have reported net income. For periods in which we report net losses, potential dilutive shares of common stock are excluded, as their conversion and exercise would be anti-dilutive.

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The following table represents net income (loss) per common share – basic and diluted (in thousands, except income (loss) per share): 

  

Three Months Ended March 31,

 
  

2021

  

2020

 

Numerator

        

Net income (loss)

 $18,971  $(17,185)

Preferred stock dividends

  (138)  (138)

Net income (loss) applicable to common shares

 $18,833  $(17,323)
         

Denominator

        

Basic weighted average common shares

  534,101   523,215 

Dilutive restricted stock units, warrants and deferred shares

  6,426   0 

Diluted weighted average common shares

  540,527   523,215 
         

Basic income (loss) per common share

 $0.04  $(0.03)

Diluted income (loss) per common share

 $0.03  $(0.03)

Diluted income (loss) per share for the three months ended March 31,2021 and 2020 excludes the potential effects of outstanding shares of our convertible preferred stock, as their conversion would have no effect on the calculation of dilutive shares.

For the three months ended March 31,2021, the calculation of diluted income per common share included (i) 2,863,038 restricted stock units that were unvested during the period, (ii) 1,536,615 warrants to purchase one share of common stock and (iii) 2,026,440 deferred shares that were dilutive. For the three months ended March 31,2020, all outstanding restricted stock units, warrants and deferred shares were excluded from the computation of diluted loss per share, as our reported net losses for those periods would cause their conversion and exercise to have no effect on the calculation of loss per share.

Note 6.Stockholders Equity

 

Stock-based Compensation Plans

We periodically grant restricted stock unit awards, performance-based share awards and shares of common stock to our employees and directors as part of their compensation. We measure compensation cost for restricted stock units and stock grants at the closing price of our stock at the time of grant. We measure compensation cost for performance-based grants using a Monte Carlo simulation to estimate their value at grant date. Restricted stock unit and performance-based share grants vest after a specified period with compensation cost amortized over that period. Although we have no current plans to issue stock options, we may do so in the future.

In March 2017, the Board of Directors granted 641,406 shares of common stock to employees for payment of annual and long-term incentive compensation for the period ended December 31, 2016. The shares were distributed in March 2017, and $4.2 million in expense related to the stock awards was recognized in the periods prior to March 31, 2017.

In June 2017, the Board of Directors granted the following restricted stock unit awards to employees:

775,379 restricted stock units, with one third of those vesting in June 2018, one third vesting in June 2019, and one third vesting in June 2020;

93,691 restricted stock units, with one half of those vesting in June 2018 and one-half vesting in June 2019; and

15,336 restricted stock units that vest in June 2018.

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The $1.9 million in expense related to the unit awards discussed above vesting in 2018 will be recognized on a straight-line basis over the twelve months following the date of the award. The $1.8 million in expense related to the unit awards discussed above vesting in 2019 will be recognized on a straight-line basis over the twenty-four months following the date of the award. The $1.5 million in expense related to the unit awards discussed above vesting in 2020 will be recognized on a straight-line basis over the thirty-six-month period following the date of the award.

In June 2017, the Board of Directors granted performance-based share awards to certain executive employees. The value of the awards will be based on the ranking of the market performance of our common stock relative to the performance of the common stock of a group of peer companies over the three-year measurement period ending December 31, 2019. The number of shares to be issued will be based on the value of the awards divided by the share price at grant date. The $0.6 million in expense related to the performance-based awards will be recognized on a straight-line base over the thirty months following the date of the award.

 

Stock-based compensation expense for restricted stock unit and performance-based grants to employees and shares issued to nonemployeenon-employee directors recorded intotaled $0.5 million and $1.2 million for the first ninethree months of 2017 totaled $4.9 million, compared to $4.8 million in the same period last year.2021 and 2020, respectively.

 

In connection with the vesting of restricted stock units and other stock grants, employees have in the past, at their election and when permitted by us, chosen to satisfy their minimum tax withholding obligations through net share settlement, pursuant to which the Company withholds the number of shares necessary to satisfy such withholding obligations.  As a result, in the first nine months of 2017 we withheld 588,240 shares valued at approximately $3.0 million, or approximately $5.09 per share. In the first nine months of 2016 we withheld 1,010,509 shares valued at approximately $3.5 million, or approximately $3.44 per share.

Common Stock Dividends

In September 2011 and February 2012, our Board of Directors adopted a common stock dividend policy that has two components: (1) a dividend that links the amount of dividends on our common stock to our average quarterly realized silver price in the preceding quarter, and (2) a minimum annual dividend of $0.01 per share of common stock, in each case, payable quarterly, when and if declared. For illustrative purposes only, the table below summarizes potential per share dividend amounts at different quarterly average realized price levels according to the first component of the policy:

Quarterly average realized silver price

per ounce

  

Quarterly dividend per

share

  

Annualized dividend

per share

 
$30  $0.01  $0.04 
$35  $0.02  $0.08 
$40  $0.03  $0.12 
$45  $0.04  $0.16 
$50  $0.05  $0.20 

 

On November 7, 2017, February 18, 2021, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.00875 per share of common stock, consisting of $0.00375 per share for the minimum dividend component of our common stock dividend pursuant topolicy and $0.005 per share for the minimum annualsilver-linked dividend component of the policy, described above, of $0.0025 per share, for a total dividend of $1.0$4.7 million payablepaid in December 2017. Because the averageMarch 2021. The realized silver price of $25.16 in the fourth quarter of 2020 satisfied the criterion for the third quartersilver-linked dividend component of 2017 was $17.01 per ounce, below the minimum threshold of $30 according to the policy, no silver-price-linked component was declared or paid. The declaration and payment ofour common stock dividends is at the sole discretion of dividend policy.

During May 2021, our Board of Directors.Directors approved an increase in our silver-linked dividend by $0.01 per year and approved a quarterly silver-linked dividend of $0.075 based on the first quarter of 2021 realized silver price of $25.66. The table below provides an overview of the augmented silver-linked dividend policy and the increased minimum dividends.

 

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Quarterly Average Realized Silver Price per Ounce

  

Quarterly Silver-Linked Dividend per Share

  

Annualized Silver-Linked Dividend per Share

  

Annualized Minimum Dividend

  

Annualized Dividends per Share: Silver-Linked and Minimum

 
$25  $0.0075  $0.03  $0.015  $0.045 
$30  $0.0125  $0.05  $0.015  $0.065 
$35  $0.0225  $0.09  $0.015  $0.105 
$40  $0.0325  $0.13  $0.015  $0.145 
$45  $0.0425  $0.17  $0.015  $0.185 
$50  $0.0525  $0.21  $0.015  $0.225 

 

At-The-Market Equity Distribution Agreement

Pursuant to an equity distribution agreement dated February 23, 2016, 18, 2021, we may issueoffer and sell up to 60 million shares of our common stock from time to time to or through sales agents. Sales of the shares, if any, will be made by means of ordinary brokerbrokers transactions having an aggregate offering price of up to $75 million, withor as otherwise agreed between the net proceeds available for general corporate purposes. The terms of sales transactions under the agreement, including trading day(s), number of shares sold in the aggregate, number of shares sold per trading day,Company and the floor selling price per share, are proposed by us to the sales agent.agents as principals. Whether or not we engage in sales from time to time may depend on a variety of factors, including share price, our cash resources, customary black-out restrictions, and whether we have any material inside information. The agreement can be terminated by us at any time. TheAny shares issued under the equity distribution agreement are registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to oura shelf registration statement on Form S-3, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") on February 23, 2016. As of September 30, 2017, we hadS-3. NaN shares have been sold 4,608,847 shares under the agreement for total proceeds of approximately $17.7 million, net of commissions and fees of approximately $362 thousand. Of those amounts, 1,828,760 shares were sold in the first nine months of 2017 for total proceeds of approximately $9.6 million, net of commissions and fees of approximately $196 thousand.

Common Stock Repurchase Program

On May 8, 2012, we announced that our Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program.  Under the program, we are authorized to repurchase up to 20 million shares of our outstanding common stock from time to time in open market or privately negotiated transactions, depending on prevailing market conditions and other factors.  The repurchase program may be modified, suspended or discontinued by us at any time. Whether or not we engage in repurchases from time to time may depend on a variety of factors, including not only price and cash resources, but customary black-out restrictions, whether we have any material inside information, limitations on share repurchases or cash usage that may be imposed by our credit agreement or in connection with issuances of securities, alternative uses for cash, applicable law, and other investment opportunities from time to time. As of September 30, 2017, 934,100 shares have been purchased at an average price of $3.99 per share, leaving 19.1 million shares that may yet be purchased under the program. No shares were purchased during the nine months ended September 30, 2017. The closing price of our common stock at November 3, 2017, was $4.45 per share.

Note 9.    Senior Notes, Credit Facility and Capital Leases

Senior Notes

On April 12, 2013, we completed an offering of $500 million in aggregate principal amount of our Senior Notes due May 1, 2021 in a private placement conducted pursuant to Rule 144A and Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and in 2014, an additional $6.5 million aggregate principal amount of the Senior Notes were issued to one of our pension plans. The Senior Notes were subsequently exchanged for substantially identical Senior Notes registered with the SEC. The Senior Notes are governed by the Indenture, dated as of April 12, 2013, as amended (the "Indenture"), among Hecla Mining Company ("Hecla") and certain of our subsidiaries and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as trustee. The net proceeds from the initial offering of the Senior Notes ($490 million) were used to partially fund the acquisition of Aurizon and for general corporate purposes, including expenses related to the Aurizon acquisition.

The Senior Notes are recorded net of a 2% initial purchaser discount totaling $10 million at the time of the April 2013 issuance and having an unamortized balance of $4.6 million as of September 30, 2017. The Senior Notes bear interest at a rate of 6.875% per year from the date of original issuance or from the most recent payment date on which interest has been paid or provided for.  Interest on the Senior Notes is payable on May 1 and November 1 of each year, commencing November 1, 2013. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, interest expense related to the Senior Notes, including amortization of the initial purchaser discount and fees related to the issuances of the Senior Notes, was $26.3 million and $15.2 million, respectively. The interest expense related to the Senior Notes for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 was net of $0.9 million and $12.0 million, respectively, in capitalized interest, primarily related to the #4 Shaft project at our Lucky Friday unit which was completed in January 2017. Interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 also includes $0.9 million in costs related to our proposed private offering of new Senior Notes in June 2017 and concurrent tender offer to purchase our existing Senior Notes, which were not completed.March 31,2021.

 

14
11

Note 7.Debt, Credit Facility and Leases

Our debt as of March 31,2021 and December 31,2020 consisted of our 7.25% Senior Notes due February 15, 2028 ("Senior Notes") and our Series 2020-A Senior Notes due July 9, 2025 (the “IQ Notes”). The following tables summarize our long-term debt balances, excluding interest, as of March 31,2021 and December 31,2020 (in thousands):

  

March 31, 2021

 
  

Senior Notes

  

IQ Notes

  

Total

 

Principal

 $475,000  $38,359  $513,359 

Unamortized discount/premium and issuance costs

  (6,234)  867   (5,367)

Long-term debt balance

 $468,766  $39,226  $507,992 

  

December 31, 2020

 
  

Senior Notes

  

IQ Notes

  

Total

 

Principal

 $475,000  $37,886  $512,886 

Unamortized discount/premium and issuance costs

  (6,462)  818   (5,644)

Long-term debt balance

 $468,538  $38,704  $507,242 

 

The following table summarizes the scheduled annual future payments, including interest, for our Senior Notes, are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by certain of our subsidiaries (the "Guarantors").   The SeniorIQ Notes, and finance and operating leases as of March 31,2021 (in thousands). The amounts for the guarantees are, respectively, Hecla's and the Guarantors' general senior unsecured obligations and are subordinated to all of Hecla's and the Guarantors' existing and future secured debt to the extent of the assets securing that secured debt.  In addition, the SeniorIQ Notes are effectively subordinated to allstated in U.S. dollars ("USD") based on the USD/Canadian dollar ("CAD") exchange rate as of the liabilities of Hecla's subsidiaries that are not guaranteeing the Senior Notes, to the extent of the assets of those subsidiaries.March 31,2021.

 

The Senior Notes became redeemable in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time after May 1, 2016, on the redemption dates and at the redemption prices specified in the Indenture, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of redemption.

Twelve-month

period ending

March 31,

 

Senior Notes

  

IQ Notes

  

Finance Leases

  

Operating Leases

 

2022

 $34,438  $2,499  $7,329  $3,696 

2023

  34,438   2,499   5,132   2,706 

2024

  34,438   2,499   3,643   2,002 

2025

  34,438   2,499   2,076   549 

2026

  34,438   39,045   0   525 

Thereafter

  539,568   0   0   2,213 

Total

 $711,758  $49,041  $18,180  $11,691 

 

Upon the occurrence of a change of control (as defined in the Indenture), each holder of Senior Notes will have the right to require us to purchase all or a portion of such holder's Senior Notes pursuant to a change of control offer (as defined in the Indenture), at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase, subject to the rights of holders of the Senior Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date.

Credit Facility

 

In May 2016, July 2018, we entered into a $100$250 million senior secured revolving credit facility withwhich has a three-year term which was amended in July 2017 to extendending on February 7, 2023. As of March 31,2021 and December 31,2020, 0 amounts were outstanding under the term until July 14, 2020. The credit facility is collateralized by the shares of common stock held in our material domestic subsidiaries and by our joint venture interests in the Greens Creek mine, all of our rights and interests in the joint venture agreement, and all of our rights and interests in the assets of the joint venture.  Below is information on the interest rates, standby fee, and financial covenant terms under our credit facility:facility.

 

Interest rates:

      

Spread over the London Interbank Offer Rate

  2.25-3.25% 

Spread over alternative base rate

  1.25-2.25% 

Standby fee per annum on undrawn amounts

   0.50%  

Covenant financial ratios:

      

Senior leverage ratio (debt secured by liens/EBITDA)

  not more than 2.50:1 

Leverage ratio (total debt less unencumbered cash/EBITDA)

  not more than 4.00:1 

Interest coverage ratio (EBITDA/interest expense)

  not more than 3.00:1 

12

We are also able to obtain letters of credit under the facility, and for any such letters we are required to pay a participation fee of between 2.25% and 3.25%4.00% of the amount of the letters of credit based on our total leverage ratio, as well as a fronting fee to each issuing bank of 0.20% annually on the average daily dollar amount of any outstanding letters of credit. There were $20.3 million in letters of credit outstanding as of March 31,2021.

 

We believe we were in compliance with all covenants under the credit agreement and no amounts were outstanding as of September 30, 2017.  With the exception of $2.6 million in letters of credit outstanding as of September 30, 2017, we have not drawn funds on the current revolving credit facility as of the filing date of this report.March 31,2021.

Note 8.Derivative Instruments

 

Capital LeasesGeneral

We have entered into various lease agreements, primarily for equipment at our Greens Creek, Lucky Friday, and Casa Berardi units, which we have determined to be capital leases.  At September 30, 2017, the total liability balance associated with capital leases, including certain purchase option amounts, was $13.3 million, with $5.9 million of the liability classified as current and the remaining $7.4 million classified as non-current. At December 31, 2016, the total liability balance associated with capital leases was $11.5 million, with $5.7 million of the liability classified as current and $5.8 million classified as non-current. The total obligation for future minimum lease payments was $14.1 million at September 30, 2017, with $0.8 million attributed to interest.

15

At September 30, 2017, the annual maturities of capital lease commitments, including interest, are (in thousands):

Twelve-month period

ending September 30,

    

2018

 $6,293 

2019

  4,179 

2020

  2,369 

2021

  1,260 

Total

  14,101 

Less: imputed interest

  (813

)

Net capital lease obligation

 $13,288 

Note 10.    Developments in Accounting Pronouncements

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2014-09 Revenue Recognition, replacing guidance currently codified in Subtopic 605-10 Revenue Recognition-Overall with various SEC Staff Accounting Bulletins providing interpretive guidance. The new ASU establishes a new five step principles-based framework in an effort to significantly enhance comparability of revenue recognition practices across entities, industries, jurisdictions, and capital markets. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date. ASU No. 2015-14 defers the effective date of ASU No. 2014-09 until annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017.

We have performed an assessment of the impact of implementation of ASU No. 2014-09, and do not believe it will change the timing of revenue recognition or amounts of revenue recognized compared to how we recognize revenue under our current policies. Our revenues involve a relatively limited number of types of contracts and customers. In addition, our revenue contracts do not involve multiple types of performance obligations. Revenues from doré are recognized, and the transaction price is known, at the time the metals sold are delivered to the customer. Concentrate revenues are generally recognized at the time of shipment. Concentrates sold at our Lucky Friday unit typically leave the mine and are received by the customer within the same day. There is a period of time between shipment of concentrates from our Greens Creek unit and their physical receipt by the customer. However, based on our assessment, we believe control of the concentrate parcels is generally obtained by the customer at the time of shipment.

 

Our concentrate sales involve variable consideration, as they are subjectcurrent risk management policy provides that up to changes75% of:

our future foreign currency-related operating cost exposure for five years into the future may be hedged and for potential additional programs to manage other foreign currency-related exposure areas; and

our planned lead and zinc metals price exposure for five years into the future, with certain other limitations, to be covered under derivatives programs that would establish a ceiling for prices to be realized on future metals sales.

These instruments do, however, expose us to (i) credit risk in metals prices between the timeform of shipmentnon-performance by counterparties for contracts in which the contract price exceeds the spot price of the hedged commodity or foreign currency and their final settlement. However, we are able(ii) price risk to reasonably estimate the transactionextent that the spot price exceeds the contract price for the concentrate sales at the timequantities of shipment using forward prices for the month of settlement, and we then adjust the values each period until final settlement. Also, it is unlikely a significant reversal of revenue for any one concentrate parcel will occur.our production and/or forecasted costs covered under contract positions.

 

ASU No. 2014-09 will require additional disclosures, where applicable, on (i) contracts with customers, (ii) significant judgments and changes in judgments in determining the timing of satisfaction of performance obligations and the transaction price, and (iii) assets recognized for costs to obtain or fulfill contracts. We are in the process of assessing the impact of these additional requirements on our disclosure.

In July 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-11 Inventory (Topic 330): Simplifying the Measurement of Inventory. The update provides for inventory to be measured at the lower of cost and net realizable value, and is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016. We adopted this update effective January 1, 2017, and it did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

16

In November 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-17 Income Taxes - Balance Sheet Classification of Deferred Taxes (Topic 740). The update is designed to reduce complexity of reporting deferred income tax liabilities and assets into current and non-current amounts in a balance sheet. ASU No. 2015-17 requires the presentation of deferred income taxes, changes to deferred tax liabilities and assets be classified as non-current in the statement of financial position. The update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016. We have elected to implement ASU No. 2015-17 retrospectively, and our deferred tax asset and liability balances are classified as non-current. Deferred tax assets of $12.3 million and deferred tax liabilities of $1.3 million previously classified as current as of December 31, 2016 are now classified as non-current on our condensed consolidated balance sheet.

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01 Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. The guidance requires entities to measure equity investments that are not accounted for under the equity method at fair value, with any changes in fair value included in current earnings, and updates certain disclosure requirements. The update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. Adoption will be accounted for using the modified-retrospective approach, with a cumulative-effect adjustment to our balance sheet as of January 1, 2018. At September 30, 2017, we had net unrealized gains related to equity investments of $3.2 million included in accumulated other comprehensive loss.

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02 Leases (Topic 842). The update modifies the classification criteria and requires lessees to recognize the assets and liabilities on the balance sheet for most leases. The update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the impact of implementing this update on our consolidated financial statements.

In March 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-09 Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. The update simplifies the accounting for stock-based compensation, including income tax consequences and balance sheet and cash flow statement classification of awards. The update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2016. We adopted this update effective January 1, 2017, and it did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15 Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. The update provides guidance on classification for cash receipts and payments related to eight specific issues. The update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the potential impact of implementing this update on our consolidated financial statements.

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18 Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash. The update requires that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. The update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the potential impact of implementing this update on our consolidated financial statements.

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01 Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business. The update clarifies the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. The update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. We will apply the applicable provisions of the update to any acquisitions occurring after the effective date.

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-07 Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Period Postretirement Benefit Cost. The update provides specific requirements for classification and disclosure regarding the service cost component and other components of net benefit cost related to pension plans. The update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. We are currently evaluating the potential impact of implementing this update on our consolidated financial statements.

17

In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-12 Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities. The objective of the update is to improve the financial reporting of hedging relationships to better portray the economic results of an entity's risk management activities in its financial statements, and simplify the application of existing hedge accounting guidance. The update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. We are currently evaluating the potential impact of implementing this update on our consolidated financial statements.

Note 11.    Derivative Instruments

 

Foreign Currency

Our wholly-owned subsidiaries owning the Casa Berardi and San Sebastian minesoperations are U.S. dollar ("USD")-functionalUSD-functional entities which routinely incur expenses denominated in Canadian dollars ("CAD")CAD and Mexican pesos ("MXN"), and suchrespectively. Such expenses expose us to exchange rate fluctuations between the USD and CAD and MXN. In April 2016, we initiatedWe have a program to manage our exposure to fluctuations in the exchange rate between the USD and CAD and the impact on ourMXN for these subsidiaries' future operating costs denominated in CAD. In October 2016, we also initiated a program to manage our exposure to the impact of fluctuations in the exchange rate between the USDCAD and MXN on our future operating costs denominated in MXN. The programs utilize forward contracts to buy CAD and MXN, and each contract is designated as a cash flow hedge. As of September 30, 2017,March 31,2021, we have 94133 forward contracts outstanding to buy CAD$200.1 million having a notational amounttotal of US$154.0 million, and 6 forward contracts outstanding to buy MXN$43.3CAD$256.8 million having a notional amount of USD$2.2194.8 million. The CAD contracts are related to forecasted cash operating costs at Casa Berardi to be incurred from 20172021 through 20202024 and have USD-to-CADCAD-to-USD exchange rates ranging between 1.27871.2702 and 1.3380. The1.3785. There were 0 outstanding contracts for MXN contracts are related to forecasted cash operating costs at San Sebastian for 2017 and have MXN-to-USD exchange rates ranging between 19.5910 and 21.0000. Our risk management policy provides for up to 75%as of our planned cost exposure for five years into the future to be hedged under such programs, and for potential additional programs to manage other foreign currency-related exposure areas.March 31,2021.

 

As of September 30, 2017,March 31,2021 and December 31,2020, we recorded the following balances for the fair value of the contracts:contracts (in millions):

 

a current asset of $2.8 million, which is included in other current assets; and

a non-current asset of $3.7 million, which is included in other non-current assets.

  

March 31,

  

December 31,

 

Balance sheet line item:

 

2021

  

2020

 

Current derivatives assets

 $5.0  $3.5 

Non-current derivatives assets

  4.2   4.2 

 

Net unrealized gains of approximately $6.8$9.5 million related to the effective portion of the hedges were included in accumulated other comprehensive incomeloss as of September 30, 2017.March 31,2021. Unrealized gains and losses will be transferred from accumulated other comprehensive loss to current earnings as the underlying operating expenses are recognized. We estimate approximately $2.9$4.8 million in net unrealized gains included in accumulated other comprehensive incomeloss as of September 30, 2017 wouldMarch 31,2021 will be reclassified to current earnings in the next twelve months. Net realized gains of approximately $0.4$0.6 million on contracts related to underlying expenses which have been recognized were transferred from accumulated other comprehensive loss and included in cost of sales and other direct production costs for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2017. NetMarch 31,2021. NaN net unrealized gains of approximately $2 thousandor losses related to ineffectiveness of the hedges were included in current earnings for the ninethree months ended September 30, 2017.

Metals Prices

At times, we use commodity forward sales commitments, commodity swap contracts and commodity put and call option contracts to manage our exposure to fluctuations in the prices of certain metals we produce. Contract positions are designed to ensure that we will receive a defined minimum price for certain quantities of our production, thereby partially offsetting our exposure to fluctuations in the market. These instruments do, however, expose us to (i) credit risk in the form of possible non-performance by counterparties for contracts in which the contract price exceeds the spot price of a commodity and (ii) price risk to the extent that the spot price exceeds the contract price for quantities of our production covered under contract positions.March 31,2021.

 

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13

Metals Prices

 

We are currently using financially-settled forward contracts to manage the exposure to to:

changes in prices of silver, gold, zinc and lead contained in our concentrate shipments between the time of shipment and final settlement; and

changes in prices of zinc and lead (but not silver and gold) contained in our forecasted future concentrate shipments.

The following tables summarize the quantities of silver, gold, zincmetals committed under forward sales contracts at March 31,2021 and lead contained in our concentrate shipments between the time of shipment and final settlement. December 31,2020:

March 31, 2021

 

Ounces/pounds under contract (in 000's)

  

Average price per ounce/pound

 
  

Silver

  

Gold

  

Zinc

  

Lead

  

Silver

  

Gold

  

Zinc

  

Lead

 
  

(ounces)

  

(ounces)

  

(pounds)

  

(pounds)

  

(ounces)

  

(ounces)

  

(pounds)

  

(pounds)

 

Contracts on provisional sales

                                

2021 settlements

  1,492   5   12,070   1,587  $25.48  $1,736  $1.26  $0.89 

Contracts on forecasted sales

                                

2021 settlements

        33,841   30,479   N/A   N/A  $1.20  $0.89 

2022 settlements

        53,407   42,715   N/A   N/A  $1.26  $0.96 

2023 settlements

        41,171      N/A   N/A  $1.27   N/A 

December 31, 2020

 

Ounces/pounds under contract (in 000's)

  

Average price per ounce/pound

 
  

Silver

  

Gold

  

Zinc

  

Lead

  

Silver

  

Gold

  

Zinc

  

Lead

 
  

(ounces)

  

(ounces)

  

(pounds)

  

(pounds)

  

(ounces)

  

(ounces)

  

(pounds)

  

(pounds)

 

Contracts on provisional sales

                                

2021 settlements

  1,282   4   23,314   4,905  $25.00  $1,858  $1.19  $0.90 

Contracts on forecasted sales

                                

2021 settlements

        41,577   30,876   N/A   N/A  $1.17  $0.88 

2022 settlements

        18,519      N/A   N/A  $1.28   N/A 

In addition, June 2019, we currently usebegan utilizing financially-settled forwardput option contracts to manage the exposure to changes in prices of zinc and lead (but not silver and gold) contained in our forecasted future concentrate shipments.gold and silver sales to potential declines in market prices for those metals. These put contracts gave us the option, but not the obligation, to realize established prices on quantities of silver and gold to be sold in the future. As of December 31,2020, we had put contracts that provided average floor prices of $16.50 per ounce for silver and $1,650 per ounce for gold for a total of 1.1 million silver ounces and 12,992 gold ounces. We had 0 put option contracts outstanding as of March 31,2021.

These forward and put option contracts are not designated as hedges for accounting purposes and are marked-to-market through earnings each period.  As

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We recorded the following balances for the fair value of the contracts:forward contracts as of March 31,2021 and forward and put option contracts as of December 31,2020 (in millions):

 

a current asset of $0.4 million, which is net of $0.1 million for contracts in a liability position and included in other current assets;

a current liability of $7.9 million, which is net of $0.2 million for contracts in an asset position and included in other current liabilities; and

a non-current liability of $4.0 million, which is included in other non-current liabilities.

  

March 31, 2021

  

December 31, 2020

 

Balance sheet line item:

 

Contracts in an

asset position

  

Contracts in

a liability

position

  

Net asset

(liability)

  

Contracts in

an asset

position

  

Contracts in a

liability

position

  

Net asset

(liability)

 

Current derivatives assets

 $3.3  $(1.1) $2.2  $0.2  $(0.2) $0 

Non-current derivatives assets

  2.3   (0.2)  2.1   0.5   (0.1)  0.4 

Current derivatives liability

  0   (3.9)  (3.9)  0.1   (11.8)  (11.7)

Other non-current liabilities

  0.4   (1.2)  (0.8)  0   0   0 

 

We recognized a $3.9$2.8 million and $1.7 million net lossgains during the first nine months quarters of 20172021 and 2020, respectively, on the contracts utilized to manage exposure to prices of metals in our concentrate shipments, which is included in sales of products.  The net lossgains recognized on the contracts offsets gainslosses related to price adjustments on our provisional concentrate sales due to changes to silver, gold, lead and zinc prices between the time of sale and final settlement.

 

We recognized a $16.5$0.5 million and $7.9 million net lossgains during the first nine months quarters of 20172021 and 2020, respectively, on the contracts utilized to manage exposure to prices for forecasted future concentrate shipments.sales. The net lossgains on these contracts isare included as a separate line item under other income (expense), as they relate to forecasted future shipments,sales, as opposed to sales that have already taken place but are subject to final pricing as discussed in the preceding paragraph.  The net lossgain for the first nine months quarter of 20172021 is the result of highera decrease in zinc and lead prices. This program, when utilized, is designed to mitigate the impact of potential future declines in lead and zinc prices from the price levels established in the contracts (see average price information below). When those prices increase compared to the contract prices, we recognize losses.

 

The following tables summarize the quantities of metals committed under forward sales contracts at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:

September 30, 2017

 

Ounces/pounds under contract (in 000's)

  

Average price per ounce/pound

 
  

Silver

  

Gold

  

Zinc

  

Lead

  

Silver

  

Gold

  

Zinc

  

Lead

 
  

(ounces)

  

(ounces)

  

(pounds)

  

(pounds)

  

(ounces)

  

(ounces)

  

(pounds)

  

(pounds)

 

Contracts on provisional sales

                                

2017 settlements

  1,399   5   19,070   2,535  $17.18  $1,298  $1.33  $1.07 

2018 settlements

        2,370      N/A   N/A  $1.38   N/A 

Contracts on forecasted sales

                                

2017 settlements

        441   2,866   N/A   N/A  $1.23  $1.05 

2018 settlements

        39,463   17,968   N/A   N/A  $1.27  $1.05 

2019 settlements

        14,330   8,267   N/A   N/A  $1.30  $1.07 

2020 settlements

        3,307   2,205   N/A   N/A  $1.27  $1.07 

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December 31, 2016

 

Ounces/pounds under contract (in 000's)

  

Average price per ounce/pound

 
  

Silver

  

Gold

  

Zinc

  

Lead

  

Silver

  

Gold

  

Zinc

  

Lead

 
  

(ounces)

  

(ounces)

  

(pounds)

  

(pounds)

  

(ounces)

  

(ounces)

  

(pounds)

  

(pounds)

 

Contracts on provisional sales

                                

2017 settlements

  1,295   4   19,070   7,441  $16.29  $1,172  $1.18  $0.97 
                                 

Contracts on forecasted sales

                                

2017 settlements

        35,384   17,637   N/A   N/A  $1.19  $1.03 

2018 settlements

        13,779   5,732   N/A   N/A  $1.21  $1.05 

Our concentrate sales are based on a provisional sales price containing an embedded derivative that is required to be separated from the host contract for accounting purposes. The host contract is the receivable from the sale of the concentrates at the forward price at the time of the sale. The embedded derivative, which does not qualify for hedge accounting, is adjusted to market through earnings each period prior to final settlement.

Credit-risk-related Contingent Features

 

Certain of our derivative contracts contain cross default provisions which provide that a default under our revolving credit agreement would cause a default under the derivative contracts.contract. As of September 30, 2017,March 31,2021, we have not posted any collateral related to these agreements.contracts. The fair value of derivatives in a net liability position related to these agreements was $6.4 million as of March 31,2021,which includes accrued interest but excludes any adjustment for nonperformance risk, related to these agreements was $14.4 million as of September 30, 2017.risk. If we were in breach of any derivative contractsof these provisions at September 30, 2017,March 31,2021, we could have been required to settle our obligations under the agreements at their termination value of $14.4$6.4 million.

 

Note 9.Fair Value Measurement

Accounting guidance has established a hierarchy for inputs used to measure assets and liabilities at fair value on a recurring basis. The three levels included in the hierarchy are:

Level 1: quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

Level 2: significant other observable inputs; and

Level 3: significant unobservable inputs.

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15

Note 12.    Fair Value Measurement

The table below sets forth our assets and liabilities that were accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis and the fair value calculation input hierarchy level that we have determined applies to each asset and liability category (in thousands).

 

Description

 

Balance at

September 30, 2017

  

Balance at

December 31, 2016

 

Input

Hierarchy Level

 

Balance at

March 31, 2021

  

Balance at

December 31, 2020

 

Input

Hierarchy Level

Assets:

               

Cash and cash equivalents:

               

Money market funds and other bank deposits

 $172,923  $169,777 

Level 1

 $139,750  $129,830 

Level 1

Available for sale securities:

         

Debt securities - municipal and corporate bonds

  32,973   29,117 

Level 2

Current and non-current investments:

      

Equity securities – mining industry

  7,098   5,002 

Level 1

 11,717  19,389 

Level 1

Trade accounts receivable:

               

Receivables from provisional concentrate sales

  6,982   20,082 

Level 2

 35,274  27,864 

Level 2

Restricted cash balances:

               

Certificates of deposit and other bank deposits

  1,076   2,200 

Level 1

 1,053  1,053 

Level 1

Derivative contracts:

         

Derivative contracts - current and non-current derivatives assets:

      

Metal forward and put option contracts

 4,349  381 

Level 2

Foreign exchange contracts

  6,533   27 

Level 2

  9,192   7,647 

Level 2

Metal forward contracts

  394   5,403 

Level 2

Total assets

 $227,979  $231,608   $201,335  $186,164  
               

Liabilities:

               

Derivative contracts:

         

Derivative contracts - current derivatives liabilities and other non-current liabilities:

      

Metal forward and put option contracts

 $4,742  $11,737 

Level 2

Foreign exchange contracts

 $  $5,288 

Level 2

  0   19 

Level 2

Metal forward contracts

  11,902   192 

Level 2

Total liabilities

 $11,902  $5,480  

Total Liabilities

 $4,742  $11,756  

 

Cash and cash equivalents consist primarily of money market funds and are valued at cost, which approximates fair value, and a small portion consists of municipal bonds having maturities of less than 90 days, which are recorded at fair value.

Current available-for-sale securities consist of municipal and corporate bonds having maturities of more than 90 days, which are recorded at fair value.

 

Current and non-current restricted cash balances consist primarily of certificates of deposit, U.S. Treasury securities, and other deposits and are valued at cost, which approximates fair value.

 

Our non-current available for sale securities consist of marketable equity securities of companies in the mining industry which are valued using quoted market prices for each security.

 

Trade accounts receivable include amounts due to us for shipments of concentrates, doré and precipitate sold to customers.  Revenues and the corresponding accounts receivable for sales of metals products are recorded when title and risk of loss transfer to the customer (generally at the time of loading on truck or ship).  Sales of concentrates are recorded using estimated forward prices for the anticipated month of settlement applied to our estimate of payable metal quantities contained in each shipment.  Sales are recorded net of estimated treatment and refining charges, which are also impacted by changes in metals prices and quantities of contained metals.  We estimate the prices at which sales of our concentrates will be settled due to the time elapsed between shipment and final settlement with the customer.  Receivables for previously recordedfrom provisional concentrate sales are adjustedsubject to reflect estimatedfinal pricing and valued using quoted prices based on forward metals prices atcurves for the end of each period until final settlement by the customer.  We obtain the forward metals prices used each period from a pricing service.  Changes in metal prices between shipment and final settlement result in changes to revenues previously recorded upon shipment.particular metal.  The embedded derivative contained in our concentrate sales is adjusted to fair market value through earnings each period prior to final settlement.

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We use financially-settled forward contracts to manage exposure to changes in the exchange rate between the USD and CAD and MXN, and the impact on CAD- and MXN-denominated operating costs incurred at our Casa Berardi and San Sebastian units (see Note 118 for more information). These contracts qualify for hedge accounting, with unrealized gains and losses related to the effective portion of the contracts included in accumulated other comprehensive loss, and unrealized gains and losses related to the ineffective portion of the contracts included in earnings each period. The fair value of each contract represents the present value of the difference between the forward exchange rate for the contract settlement period as of the measurement date and the contract settlement exchange rate.

 

We use financially-settled forward contracts to manage the exposure to changes in prices of silver, gold, zinc and lead contained in our concentrate shipments that have not reached final settlement.  We also use financially-settled forward and put option contracts to manage the exposure to changes in prices of silver, gold, zinc and lead contained in our forecasted future concentrate shipmentssales (see Note 118 for more information).  These contracts do not qualify for hedge accounting, and are marked-to-market through earnings each period.  The fair value of each forward contract represents the present value of the difference between the forward metal price for the contract settlement period as of the measurement date and the contract settlement metal price. The fair value of each put option contract is measured using the Black-Scholes pricing model, with inputs for the period-end metal price and assumed metal price volatility and discount rate.

 

16

Our Senior Notes, issued in April 2013, which were recorded at their carrying value of $501.9$468.8 million, net of unamortized initial purchaser discount at September 30, 2017 of $4.6 million,and issuance costs, had a fair value of $524.6$509.7 million at September 30, 2017.March 31,2021. Quoted market prices, which we consider to be Level 1 inputs, are utilized to estimate fair values of the Senior Notes. See Note 97 for more information.

 

 

Note 13.    Guarantor Subsidiaries10.Commitments, Contingencies and Obligations

 

Presented belowGeneral

We follow GAAP guidance in determining our accruals and disclosures with respect to loss contingencies, and evaluate such accruals and contingencies for each reporting period. Accordingly, estimated losses from loss contingencies are Hecla’s unaudited interim condensed consolidatingaccrued by a charge to income when information available prior to issuance of the financial statements indicates that it is probable that a liability could be incurred and the amount of the loss can be reasonably estimated. Legal expenses associated with the contingency are expensed as incurred. If a loss contingency is not probable or reasonably estimable, disclosure of the loss contingency is made in the financial statements when it is at least reasonably possible that a material loss could be incurred.

Lucky Friday Water Permit Matters

In December 2013, the Environmental Protection Agency ("EPA") issued to Hecla Limited a request for information under Section 308 of the Clean Water Act directing Hecla Limited to undertake a comprehensive groundwater investigation of Lucky Friday’s tailings pond no.3 to evaluate whether the pond is causing the discharge of pollutants via seepage to groundwater that is discharging to surface water. We completed the investigation mandated by the EPA and submitted a draft report to the agency in December 2015. We are waiting for the EPA’s response and we cannot predict what further action, if any, the agency may take.

Johnny M Mine Area near San Mateo, McKinley County and San Mateo Creek Basin, New Mexico

In May 2011, the EPA made a formal request to Hecla Mining Company for information regarding the Johnny M Mine Area near San Mateo, McKinley County, New Mexico, and asserted that Hecla Mining Company may be responsible under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act ("CERCLA") for environmental remediation and past costs the EPA has incurred at the site. Mining at the Johnny M Mine was conducted for a limited period of time by a predecessor of our subsidiary, Hecla Limited. In August 2012, Hecla Limited and the EPA entered into a Settlement Agreement and Administrative Order on Consent for Removal Action (“Consent Order”), pursuant to which Hecla Limited agreed to pay (i) $1.1 million to the EPA for its past response costs at the site and (ii) any future response costs at the site under the Consent Order, in exchange for a covenant not to sue by the EPA. Hecla Limited paid the $1.1 million to the EPA for its past response costs and in December 2014 submitted to EPA the Engineering Evaluation and Cost Analysis (“EE/CA”) for the site which recommended on-site disposal of mine-related material. In January 2021, the EPA contacted Hecla Limited to begin negotiations on a new consent order to design and implement the on-site disposal response action recommended in the EE/CA. Based on the foregoing, we believe it is probable that Hecla Limited will incur a liability for the CERCLA removal action and we have increased our accrual to $9.0 million in the first quarter of 2021 ($6.1 million at December 31, 2020) primarily representing estimated costs to begin design and implementation of the remedy. It is possible that Hecla Limited’s liability will be more than $9.0 million, and any increase in liability could have a material adverse effect on Hecla Limited’s or our results of operations or financial position.

The Johnny M Mine is in an area known as the San Mateo Creek Basin (“SMCB”), which is an approximately 321 square mile area in New Mexico that contains numerous legacy uranium mines and mills. In addition to Johnny M, Hecla Limited's predecessor was involved at other mining sites within the SMCB. The EPA appears to have deferred consideration of listing the SMCB site on CERCLA’s National Priorities List ("Superfund") by removing the site from its emphasis list, and is working with various potentially responsible parties ("PRPs") at the site in order to study and potentially address perceived groundwater issues within the SMCB. The EE/CA discussed above relates primarily to contaminated rock and soil at the Johnny M site, not groundwater and not elsewhere within the SMCB site. It is possible that Hecla Limited’s liability at the Johnny M Site, and for any other mine site within the SMCB at which Hecla Limited's predecessor may have operated, will be greater than our current accrual of $9.0 million due to the increased scope of required remediation.

17

In July 2018, the EPA informed Hecla Limited that it and several other PRPs may be liable for cleanup of the SMCB site or for costs incurred by the EPA in cleaning up the site. The EPA stated it has incurred approximately $9.6 million in response costs to date. Hecla Limited cannot with reasonable certainty estimate the amount or range of liability, if any, relating to this matter because of, among other reasons, the lack of information concerning the site, including the relative contributions of contamination by the various PRPs.

Carpenter Snow Creek and Barker-Hughesville Sites in Montana

In July 2010, the EPA made a formal request to Hecla Mining Company for information regarding the Carpenter Snow Creek Superfund site located in Cascade County, Montana. The Carpenter Snow Creek site is located in a historic mining district, and in the early 1980s Hecla Limited leased 6 mining claims and performed limited exploration activities at the site. Hecla Limited terminated the mining lease in 1988.

In June 2011, the EPA informed Hecla Limited that it believes Hecla Limited, and several other PRPs, may be liable for cleanup of the site or for costs incurred by the EPA in cleaning up the site. The EPA stated in the letter that it has incurred approximately $4.5 million in response costs and estimated that total remediation costs may exceed $100 million. Hecla Limited cannot with reasonable certainty estimate the amount or range of liability, if any, relating to this matter because of, among other reasons, the lack of information concerning the site, including the relative contributions of contamination by various other PRPs.

In February 2017, the EPA made a formal request to Hecla Mining Company for information regarding the Barker-Hughesville Mining District Superfund site located in Judith Basin and Cascade Counties, Montana. Hecla Limited submitted a response in April 2017. The Barker-Hughesville site is located in a historic mining district, and between approximately June and December 1983, Hecla Limited was party to an agreement with another mining company under which limited exploration activities occurred at or near the site.

In August 2018, the EPA informed Hecla Limited that it and several other PRPs may be liable for cleanup of the site or for costs incurred by the EPA in cleaning up the site. The EPA did not include an amount of its alleged response costs to date. Hecla Limited cannot with reasonable certainty estimate the amount or range of liability, if any, relating to this matter because of, among other reasons, the lack of information concerning past or anticipated future costs at the site and the relative contributions of contamination by various other PRPs.

Claim for Indemnification Against CoCa Mines, Inc.

In 1991, Hecla Limited acquired CoCa Mines, Inc. (“CoCa”) and its subsidiary Creede Resources, Inc. (“CRI”). CoCa and CRI previously operated in the State of Colorado, but presently have limited assets and operations. Between 2014 and 2019, a PRP alleged that CoCa and CRI are required by Rule 3-10a 1989 agreement to indemnify it for certain environmental costs and liabilities it may incur with respect to the Nelson Tunnel/Commodore Waste Rock Pile Superfund site in Creede, Colorado. In 2016, without admitting any liability, Hecla Limited, CoCa and CRI entered into a Consent Decree with the United States and the State of Regulation S-XColorado settling any regulatory liability they may have had at the site. On October 30, 2019, the PRP filed a lawsuit in Mineral County, Colorado alleging, among other things, that CoCa and CRI are in breach of contract for failure to indemnify the PRP for its liability to the U.S. under CERCLA with respect to the site. In addition, the lawsuit names Hecla Limited as a defendant in its role as the shareholder of CoCa. The PRP seeks in excess of $5 million in damages, including attorneys’ fees and costs. The lawsuit will be vigorously defended and we believe strong defenses exist against all claims made therein and, as noted above, both CoCa and CRI have limited assets with which to satisfy any claim.

18

Litigation Related to Klondex Acquisition

On May 24, 2019, a purported Hecla stockholder filed a putative class action lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York against Hecla and certain of our executive officers, one of whom is also a director. The complaint, purportedly brought on behalf of all purchasers of Hecla common stock from March 19, 2018 through and including May 8, 2019, asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as amended, resulting from and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder and seeks, among other things, damages and costs and expenses. Specifically, the guarantees by certain of Hecla's subsidiaries (the "Guarantors")complaint alleges that Hecla, under the authority and control of the Senior Notesindividual defendants, made certain material false and misleading statements and omitted certain material information regarding Hecla’s Nevada Operations unit. The complaint alleges that these misstatements and omissions artificially inflated the market price of Hecla common stock during the class period, thus purportedly harming investors. Filings with the court regarding our motion to dismiss the lawsuit were completed in the first quarter of 2021. We cannot predict the outcome of these lawsuits or estimate damages if plaintiffs were to prevail. We believe that these claims are without merit and intend to defend them vigorously.

Debt

See Note 7 for information on the commitments related to our debt arrangements as of March 31,2021.

Other Commitments

Our contractual obligations as of March 31,2021 included approximately $2.1 million for various costs. In addition, our open purchase orders at March 31,2021 included approximately $4.0 million, $0.7 million, $2.8 million and $2.7 million for various capital and non-capital items at the Lucky Friday, Casa Berardi, Greens Creek and Nevada Operations units, respectively. We also have total commitments of approximately $18.2 million relating to scheduled payments on finance leases, including interest, primarily for equipment at our Greens Creek, Lucky Friday, Casa Berardi and Nevada Operations units, and total commitments of approximately $11.7 million relating to payments on operating leases (see Note 97 for more information). As part of our ongoing business and operations, we are required to provide surety bonds, bank letters of credit, and restricted deposits for various purposes, including financial support for environmental reclamation obligations and workers compensation programs. As of March 31,2021, we had surety bonds totaling $176.8 million and letters of credit totaling $20.3 million in place as financial support for future reclamation and closure costs, self-insurance, and employee benefit plans. The Guarantors consistobligations associated with these instruments are generally related to performance requirements that we address through ongoing operations. As the requirements are met, the beneficiary of the followingassociated instruments cancels or returns the instrument to the issuing entity. Certain of Hecla's 100%-owned subsidiaries: Hecla Limited; Silver Hunter Mining Company; Rio Grande Silver, Inc.; Hecla MC Subsidiary, LLC; Hecla Silver Valley, Inc.; Burke Trading, Inc.; Hecla Montana, Inc.; Revett Silver Company; RC Resources, Inc.; Troy Mine Inc.; Revett Exploration, Inc.; Revett Holdings, Inc.; Mines Management, Inc.; Newhi Corp.; Montanore Minerals Corp.; Hecla Alaska LLC; Hecla Greens Creek Mining Company; Hecla Admiralty Company;these instruments are associated with operating sites with long-lived assets and Hecla Juneau Mining Company. We completed the initial offeringwill remain outstanding until closure of the Senior Notes on April 12, 2013,sites. We believe we are in compliance with all applicable bonding requirements and a related exchange offer for virtually identical notes registered with the SEC on January 3, 2014.will be able to satisfy future bonding requirements as they arise.

 

The unaudited interim condensed consolidating financial statements belowOther Contingencies

We also have been preparedcertain other contingencies resulting from litigation, claims, EPA investigations, and other commitments and are subject to a variety of environmental and safety laws and regulations incident to the ordinary course of business. We currently have no basis to conclude that any or all of such contingencies will materially affect our financial information on the same basisposition, results of accounting as the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements set forth elsewhere in this report. Investmentsoperations or cash flows. However, in the subsidiaries are accounted for under the equity method. Accordingly, the entries necessaryfuture, there may be changes to consolidate Hecla, the Guarantors,these contingencies, or additional contingencies may occur, any of which might result in an accrual or a change in current accruals recorded by us, and there can be no assurance that their ultimate disposition will not have a material adverse effect on our non-guarantor subsidiaries are reflected in the intercompany eliminations column. In the coursefinancial position, results of preparing consolidated financial statements, we eliminate the effects of various transactions conducted between Hecla and its subsidiaries and among the subsidiaries. While valid at an individual subsidiary level, such activities are eliminated in consolidation because, when taken as a whole, they do not represent business activity with third-party customers, vendors, and other parties. Examples of such eliminations include the following:operations or cash flows.

Investments in subsidiaries. The acquisition of a company results in an investment in debt or equity capital on the records of the parent company and a contribution to debt or equity capital on the records of the subsidiary. Such investments and capital contributions are eliminated in consolidation.

Capital contributions. Certain of Hecla's subsidiaries do not generate cash flow, either at all or sufficient to meet their capital needs, and their cash requirements are routinely met with inter-company advances from their parent companies. On at least an annual basis, when not otherwise intended as debt, the boards of directors of such parent companies declare contributions of capital to their subsidiary companies, which increase the parents' investment and the subsidiaries' additional paid-in capital. In consolidation, investments in subsidiaries and related additional paid-in capital are eliminated.

 

22
19

 

Debt. Inter-company debt agreements have been established between certain of Hecla's subsidiaries and their parents. The related debt liability and receivable balances, accrued interest expense (if any) and income activity (if any), and payments of principal and accrued interest amounts (if any) by the subsidiary companies to their parents are eliminated in consolidation.

Dividends. Certain of Hecla's subsidiaries which generate cash flow routinely provide cash to their parent companies through inter-company transfers. On at least an annual basis, the boards of directors of such subsidiary companies declare dividends to their parent companies, which reduces the subsidiaries' retained earnings and increases the parents' dividend income. In consolidation, such activity is eliminated.

Deferred taxes. Our ability to realize deferred tax assets and liabilities is considered on a consolidated basis for subsidiaries within the United States, with all subsidiaries' estimated future taxable income contributing to the ability to realize all such assets and liabilities. However, when Hecla's subsidiaries are viewed independently, we use the separate return method to assess the realizability of each subsidiary's deferred tax assets and whether a valuation allowance is required against such deferred tax assets. In some instances, a parent company or subsidiary may possess deferred tax assets whose realization depends on the future taxable incomes of other subsidiaries on a consolidated-return basis, but would not be considered realizable if such parent or subsidiary filed on a separate stand-alone basis. In such a situation, a valuation allowance is assessed on that subsidiary's deferred tax assets, with the resulting adjustment reported in the eliminations column of the guarantor and parent's financial statements, as is the case in the unaudited interim financial statements set forth below. The separate return method can result in significant eliminations of deferred tax assets and liabilities and related income tax provisions and benefits. Non-current deferred tax asset balances are included in other non-current assets on the consolidating balance sheets and make up a large portion of that item, particularly for the guarantor balances.

Separate financial statements of the Guarantors are not presented because the guarantees by the Guarantors are joint and several and full and unconditional, except for certain customary release provisions, including: (1) the sale or disposal of all or substantially all of the assets of the Guarantor; (2) the sale or other disposition of the capital stock of the Guarantor; (3) the Guarantor is designated as an unrestricted entityNote 11.Developments in accordance with the applicable provisions of the indenture; (4) Hecla ceases to be a borrower as defined in the indenture; and (5) upon legal or covenant defeasance or satisfaction and discharge of the indenture.Accounting Pronouncements

 

Accounting Standards Updates Adopted

In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU No.2019-12 Income Taxes (Topic 740): Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes. The update contains a number of provisions intended to simplify the accounting for income taxes. The update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020, with early adoption permitted. We adopted the update as of January 1, 2021, which did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements or disclosures.

Accounting Standards Updates to Become Effective December 31, 2015, Hecla Limited (our wholly owned subsidiary) sold 100% of its ownership of Hecla Alaska LLC (its wholly owned subsidiary)in Future Periods

In August 2020, the FASB issued ASU No.2020-06 Debt - Debt with Conversion and Other Options (Subtopic

470-20) and Derivatives and Hedging—Contracts in Entity’s Own Equity (Subtopic 815-40): Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity. The update is to Hecla Mining Company for consideration totaling approximately $240.8 million.  The consideration consisted of satisfaction of inter-company debt between Hecla Limited and Hecla Mining Company and an obligation by Hecla Mining Company, under certain circumstances, to fundaddress issues identified as a limited amountresult of the capital requirementscomplexity associated with applying generally accepted accounting principles for certain financial instruments with characteristics of Hecla Limitedliabilities and equity. The update is effective for up to five years.  Hecla Alaska LLC owns a 29.7331% interest infiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, including interim periods within those fiscal years and with early adoption permitted. We are evaluating the joint venture which owns the Greens Creek mine. The presentationimpact of unaudited interim condensed consolidatingthis update on our consolidated financial statements below reflects the effective date for accounting purposes of January 1, 2016.statements.

 

23
20

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets

  

As of September 30, 2017

 
  

Parent

  

Guarantors

  

Non-Guarantors

  

Eliminations

  

Consolidated

 
  

(in thousands)

 

Assets

                    

Cash and cash equivalents

 $101,061  $18,124  $53,738  $  $172,923 

Other current assets

  47,514   51,190   40,283   (575

)

  138,412 

Properties, plants, and equipment - net

  1,964   1,248,762   774,881      2,025,607 

Intercompany receivable (payable)

  461,542   (222,677

)

  (351,019

)

  112,154    

Investments in subsidiaries

  1,491,449         (1,491,449

)

   

Other non-current assets

  6,321   199,794   6,906   (153,780

)

  59,241 

Total assets

 $2,109,851  $1,295,193  $524,789  $(1,533,650

)

 $2,396,183 

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

                    

Current liabilities

 $46,720  $56,189  $38,183  $(25,295

)

 $115,797 

Long-term debt

  501,917   3,115   4,321      509,353 

Non-current portion of accrued reclamation

     61,964   18,794      80,758 

Non-current deferred tax liability

     13,349   126,280   (16,906

)

  122,723 

Other non-current liabilities

  48,273   5,363   975      54,611 

Shareholders' equity

  1,512,941   1,155,213   336,236   (1,491,449

)

  1,512,941 

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

 $2,109,851  $1,295,193  $524,789  $(1,533,650

)

 $2,396,183 

  

As of December 31, 2016

 
  

Parent

  

Guarantors

  

Non-Guarantors

  

Eliminations

  

Consolidated

 
  

(in thousands)

 

Assets

                    

Cash and cash equivalents

 $113,275  $24,388  $32,114  $  $169,777 

Other current assets

  33,950   52,400   35,537   (573

)

  121,314 

Properties, plants, and equipment - net

  2,103   1,258,890   771,692      2,032,685 

Intercompany receivable (payable)

  404,121   (222,072

)

  (307,018

)

  124,969    

Investments in subsidiaries

  1,496,787         (1,496,787

)

   

Other non-current assets

  4,186   199,957   5,337   (161,579

)

  47,901 

Total assets

 $2,054,422  $1,313,563  $537,662  $(1,533,970

)

 $2,371,677 

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

                    

Current liabilities

 $22,401  $86,730  $40,093  $(22,999

)

 $126,225 

Long-term debt

  500,979   3,065   2,773      506,817 

Non-current portion of accrued reclamation

     63,025   16,902      79,927 

Non-current deferred tax liability

     14,212   122,855   (14,212

)

  122,855 

Other non-current liabilities

  51,198   5,108   (325

)

  28   56,009 

Stockholders' equity

  1,479,844   1,141,423   355,364   (1,496,787

)

  1,479,844 

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

 $2,054,422  $1,313,563  $537,662  $(1,533,970

)

 $2,371,677 

25

 

Condensed ConsolidatingForward-Looking Statements of Operations

  

Three Months Ended September 30, 2017

 
  

Parent

  

Guarantors

  

Non-Guarantors

  

Eliminations

  

Consolidated

 
  

(in thousands)

 

Revenues

 $(626

)

 $61,887  $79,578  $  $140,839 

Cost of sales

  687   (29,320

)

  (39,725

)

     (68,358

)

Depreciation, depletion, amortization

     (12,607

)

  (16,237

)

     (28,844

)

General and administrative

  (4,217

)

  (4,464

)

  (848

)

     (9,529

)

Exploration and pre-development

  (129

)

  (4,339

)

  (4,544

)

     (9,012

)

Research and development

     (1,130

)

        (1,130

)

Loss on derivative contracts

  (11,226

)

           (11,226

)

Foreign exchange gain (loss)

  12,153      (16,917

)

     (4,764

)

Lucky Friday suspension-related costs

     (4,780

)

        (4,780

)

Equity in earnings of subsidiaries

  (6,271

)

        6,271    

Other (expense) income

  11,041   1,202   (4,676

)

  (14,752

)

  (7,185

)

Income (loss) before income taxes

  1,412   6,449   (3,369

)

  (8,481

)

  (3,989

)

(Provision) benefit from income taxes

     (1,338

)

  (8,013

)

  14,752   5,401 

Net income (loss)

  1,412   5,111   (11,382

)

  6,271   1,412 

Preferred stock dividends

  (138

)

           (138

)

Income (loss) applicable to common shareholders

  1,274   5,111   (11,382

)

  6,271   1,274 

Net income (loss)

  1,412   5,111   (11,382

)

  6,271   1,412 

Changes in comprehensive income (loss)

  7,636      1,022   (1,022

)

  7,636 

Comprehensive income (loss)

 $9,048  $5,111  $(10,360

)

 $5,249  $9,048 

  

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017

 
  

Parent

  

Guarantors

  

Non-Guarantors

  

Eliminations

  

Consolidated

 
  

(in thousands)

 

Revenues

 $(3,912

)

 $215,184  $206,390  $  $417,662 

Cost of sales

  353   (112,908

)

  (111,982

)

     (224,537

)

Depreciation, depletion, amortization

     (41,875

)

  (41,490

)

     (83,365

)

General and administrative

  (16,407

)

  (10,877

)

  (1,760

)

     (29,044

)

Exploration and pre-development

  (439

)

  (8,736

)

  (12,508

)

     (21,683

)

Research and development

     (2,125

)

        (2,125

)

Loss on derivative contracts

  (16,548

)

           (16,548

)

Foreign exchange gain (loss)

  22,286   (43

)

  (33,152

)

     (10,909

)

Lucky Friday suspension-related costs

     (14,385

)

        (14,385

)

Equity in earnings of subsidiaries

  (5,925

)

        5,925    

Other (expense) income

  24,822   (1,207

)

  (14,146

)

  (38,682

)

  (29,213

)

Income (loss) before income taxes

  4,230   23,028   (8,648

)

  (32,757

)

  (14,147

)

(Provision) benefit from income taxes

     (9,239

)

  (11,066

)

  38,682   18,377 

Net income (loss)

  4,230   13,789   (19,714

)

  5,925   4,230 

Preferred stock dividends

  (414

)

           (414

)

Income (loss) applicable to common shareholders

  3,816   13,789   (19,714

)

  5,925   3,816 

Net income (loss)

  4,230   13,789   (19,714

)

  5,925   4,230 

Changes in comprehensive income (loss)

  13,718      1,780   (1,780

)

  13,718 

Comprehensive income (loss)

 $17,948  $13,789  $(17,934

)

 $4,145  $17,948 

  

Three Months Ended September 30, 2016

 
  

Parent

  

Guarantors

  

Non-Guarantors

  

Eliminations

  

Consolidated

 
  

(in thousands)

 

Revenues

 $(4,072

)

 $116,016  $67,449  $  $179,393 

Cost of sales

     (58,844

)

  (31,685

)

     (90,529

)

Depreciation, depletion, amortization

     (19,036

)

  (11,143

)

     (30,179

)

General and administrative

  (5,355

)

  (5,469

)

  (331

)

     (11,155

)

Exploration and pre-development

  (33

)

  (1,343

)

  (3,033

)

     (4,409

)

Gain on derivative contracts

  7            7 

Acquisition costs

  (1,766

)

  1         (1,765

)

Equity in earnings of subsidiaries

  52,606         (52,606

)

   

Other expense

  (15,597

)

  1,187   1,211   7,078   (6,121

)

Income (loss) before income taxes

  25,790   32,512   22,468   (45,528

)

  35,242 

(Provision) benefit from income taxes

     (8,994

)

  6,621   (7,080

)

  (9,453

)

Net income (loss)

  25,790   23,518   29,089   (52,608

)

  25,789 

Preferred stock dividends

  (138

)

           (138

)

Income (loss) applicable to common shareholders

  25,652   23,518   29,089   (52,608

)

  25,651 

Net income (loss)

  25,790   23,518   29,089   (52,608

)

  25,789 

Changes in comprehensive income (loss)

  (615

)

     985   (985

)

  (615

)

Comprehensive income (loss)

 $25,175  $23,518  $30,074  $(53,593

)

 $25,174 

  

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016

 
  

Parent

  

Guarantors

  

Non-Guarantors

  

Eliminations

  

Consolidated

 
  

(in thousands)

 

Revenues

 $(15,866

)

 $285,277  $212,301  $  $481,712 

Cost of sales

     (154,160

)

  (95,002

)

     (249,162

)

Depreciation, depletion, amortization

     (49,521

)

  (35,071

)

     (84,592

)

General and administrative

  (17,069

)

  (13,671

)

  (988

)

     (31,728

)

Exploration and pre-development

  (191

)

  (3,990

)

  (7,465

)

     (11,646

)

Acquisition costs

  (2,160

)

  (7

)

        (2,167

)

Equity in earnings of subsidiaries

  68,727         (68,727

)

   

Other (expense) income

  15,844   8,147   (43,039

)

  (11,481

)

  (30,529

)

Income (loss) before income taxes

  49,285   72,075   30,736   (80,208

)

  71,888 

(Provision) benefit from income taxes

     (22,213

)

  (11,871

)

  11,481   (22,603

)

Net income (loss)

  49,285   49,862   18,865   (68,727

)

  49,285 

Preferred stock dividends

  (414

)

           (414

)

Income (loss) applicable to common shareholders

  48,871   49,862   18,865   (68,727

)

  48,871 

Net income (loss)

  49,285   49,862   18,865   (68,727

)

  49,285 

Changes in comprehensive income (loss)

  1,689   8   3,238   (3,246

)

  1,689 

Comprehensive income (loss)

 $50,974  $49,870  $22,103  $(71,973

)

 $50,974 

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows

  

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017

 
  

Parent

  

Guarantors

  

Non-Guarantors

  

Eliminations

  

Consolidated

 
                     

Cash flows from operating activities

 $35,764  $41,071  $21,435  $(24,155

)

 $74,115 

Cash flows from investing activities:

                    

Additions to properties, plants, and equipment

     (28,220

)

  (42,170

)

     (70,390

)

Other investing activities, net

  176   6,903   (584

)

  (5,339

)

  1,156 

Cash flows from financing activities:

                    

Dividends paid to shareholders

  (3,392

)

           (3,392

)

Proceeds from (payments on) debt

     (4,518

)

  (1,017

)

     (5,535

)

Other financing activity, net

  (44,762

)

  (21,500

)

  42,909   29,494   6,141 

Effect of exchange rates on cash

        1,051      1,051 

Changes in cash and cash equivalents

  (12,214

)

  (6,264

)

  21,624      3,146 

Beginning cash and cash equivalents

  113,275   24,388   32,114      169,777 

Ending cash and cash equivalents

 $101,061  $18,124  $53,738  $  $172,923 

  

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016

 
  

Parent

  

Guarantors

  

Non-Guarantors

  

Eliminations

  

Consolidated

 
  

(in thousands)

 

Cash flows from operating activities

 $14,525  $51,599  $61,710  $45,280  $173,114 

Cash flows from investing activities:

                    

Additions to properties, plants, and equipment

  (348

)

  (71,265

)

  (48,623

)

     (120,236

)

Acquisitions of other companies, net of cash acquired

  (3,931

)

            (3,931

)

Other investing activities, net

  (24,696

)

  (816

)

  (3,647

)

     (29,159

)

Cash flows from financing activities:

                    

Dividends paid to shareholders

  (3,296

)

           (3,296

)

Proceeds from (payments on) debt

     (7,477

)

  (658

)

     (8,135

)

Other financing activity, net

  33,335   24,522   (8,926

)

  (45,280

)

  3,651 

Effect of exchange rates on cash

        627      627 

Changes in cash and cash equivalents

  15,589   (3,437

)

  483      12,635 

Beginning cash and cash equivalents

  94,167   42,692   18,350      155,209 

Ending cash and cash equivalents

 $109,756  $39,255  $18,833  $  $167,844 

 

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’sManagement’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, including reserves and other mineralization. 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. 1A Business – Risk Factors in our annual report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.2020. 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.

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

In this Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations ("MD&A"), “Hecla”,” the Company”, “we,” “us” and “our” refer to Hecla Mining Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, except where the context requires otherwise. You should read this discussion in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements, the related MD&A and the discussion of our Business and Properties in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 ("2020 Form 10-K"), filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). The results of operations reported and summarized below are not necessarily indicative of future operating results (refer to “Forward-Looking Statements” above for further discussion). References to “Notes” are Notes included in our Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited). Throughout MD&A, all references to losses or income per share are on a diluted basis.

 

Overview

 

Hecla Mining CompanyEstablished in 1891 in northern Idaho’s Silver Valley, we believe we are the oldest operating precious metals mining company in the United States and our subsidiaries have provided preciousthe largest silver producer in the United States. Our corporate offices are in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho and base metals to the U.S. and worldwide since 1891. We discover, acquire, develop, produce and market silver, gold, lead and zinc.Vancouver, British Columbia. Our production profile includes:

 

concentrates containing silver, gold, lead and zinc, which is shipped to various smelters or sold to metal traders;

unrefined doré containing gold and silver, which is sold to refiners or further refined before sale of the metals to traders; and

carbon material containing gold and silver, which is sold to third-party processors.

 

We produce lead, zincOur operating properties comprise our five business segments for financial reporting purposes: the Greens Creek operating unit on Admiralty Island in Alaska, the Lucky Friday operating unit in Idaho, the Casa Berardi operating unit in Quebec, Canada, the San Sebastian operating unit in Durango, Mexico, and bulk concentrates, which we sell to custom smelters and brokers, and unrefined precipitate and bullion bars (doré) containing gold and silver, which are further refined before sale to precious metals traders.  We are organized into four segments that encompassthe Nevada Operations unit in northern Nevada. Since our operating mines are located in the United States, Canada, and development units:  Greens Creek, Lucky Friday, Casa Berardi,Mexico, we believe they have low or relatively moderate political risk, and San Sebastian.less economic risk than mines located in other parts of the world. Our exploration interests are also in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and are located in historical mining districts. The map below shows the locations of our operating units, our exploration and pre-development projects, andas well as our corporate offices located in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and Vancouver, British Columbia.

 

 

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

 

operating our properties safely, in an environmentally responsible manner, and cost-effectively;

continuing to optimize and improve operations at each of our units;

expanding our proven and probable reserves and production capacity at our operating properties;

conducting our business with financial stewardship to preserve our financial position in varying metals price environments;

advancing permitting of the Rock Creek and Montanore projects. We acquired Rock Creek as part of the acquisition of Revett Mining Company, Inc. ("Revett") in June 2015, and we acquired Montanore through the acquisition of Mines Management, Inc. ("Mines Management") in September 2016;

maintaining and investing in exploration and pre-development projects in the vicinities of six mining districts and projects we believe to be under-explored and under-invested: North Idaho's Silver Valley in the historic Coeur d'Alene Mining District; our Greens Creek unit on Alaska's Admiralty Island located near Juneau; the silver-producing district near Durango, Mexico; the Abitibi region of northwestern Quebec, Canada; the Rock Creek and Montanore projects in northwestern Montana; and the Creede district of Southwestern Colorado; and

continuing to seek opportunities to acquire or invest in mining properties and companies.

rapidly responding to the threats from the COVID-19 pandemic to protect our workforce, operations and communities while maintaining liquidity;

operating our properties safely, in an environmentally responsible manner, and cost-effectively;

optimizing and improving operations at our units, which includes incurring costs for new technologies and equipment that may not result in measurable benefits;

expanding our proven and probable reserves and production capacity at our units;

conducting our business with financial stewardship to preserve our financial position in varying metals price and operational environments;

advancing permitting of the Rock Creek and Montanore projects;

maintaining and investing in exploration and pre-development projects in the vicinities of seven mining districts and projects we believe to be under-explored and under-invested: North Idaho's Silver Valley in the historic Coeur d'Alene Mining District; our Greens Creek unit on Alaska's Admiralty Island located near Juneau; the silver-producing district near Durango, Mexico; the Abitibi region of northwestern Quebec, Canada; our projects in northern Nevada; the Rock Creek and Montanore projects in northwestern Montana; and the Creede district of southwestern Colorado; and

continuing to seek opportunities to acquire or invest in mining properties and companies.

 

The COVID-19 outbreak impacted our operations in 2020, including adversely impacting our expected production of gold at Casa Berardi, and has continued to impact our operations in 2021. We incurred additional costs of approximately $0.6 million in the first quarter of 2021 and $2.3 million for the full year of 2020 related to quarantining employees at Greens Creek, which started in late March 2020. See each segment section below for information on how those operations have been impacted by COVID-19. To mitigate the impact of COVID-19, we have taken precautionary measures, including implementing operational plans and practices and increasing our cash reserves through a temporary draw-down of our revolving credit facility, which has since been fully repaid. As long as they are required, the operational practices implemented could continue to have an adverse impact on our operating results due to additional costs or deferred production and revenues. There is uncertainty related to the potential additional impacts COVID-19 could have on our operations and financial results for the remainder of 2021. In our 2020 Form 10-K, see Item IA. Risk Factors - Natural disasters, public health crises (including COVID-19), political crises, and other catastrophic events or other events outside of our control may materially and adversely affect our business or financial results and COVID-19 virus pandemic may heighten other risks for information on how restrictions related to COVID-19 have recently affected some of our operations.

 

A number of key factors may impact the execution of our strategy, including regulatory issues and metals prices. Metals prices can be very volatile. As discussed in the Critical Accounting Estimates section below, metals pricesvolatile and are influenced by a number of factors beyond our control. Average marketcontrol (except on a limited basis through the use of derivative contracts). See Item 7.Critical Accounting Estimates in our 2020 Form 10-K. The average realized prices of silver, and gold were slightly lower, with prices for lead and zinc were higher in the first ninethree months of 2017 compared to2021 than in the samecomparable period last year, as illustrated by the table in Results of Operations below. While we believe currentlonger-term global economic and industrial trends could result in continued demand for the metals we produce, prices have been volatile and there can be no assurance that current prices will continue.

 

The total principal amount of our Senior Notes due May 1, 2021 is $506.5 millionVolatility in global financial markets and they bear interest atother factors can pose a rate of 6.875% per year. The net proceeds from the Senior Notes were primarily used for the acquisition of Aurizon in June 2013 (see Note 9 of Notessignificant challenge to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)). As discussed in the Financial Liquidity and Capital Resources section below, we believe that we will be able to meet the obligations associated with the Senior Notes; however, a number of factors could impact our ability to meetaccess credit and equity markets, should we need to do so, and to predict sales prices for our products. To help mitigate this challenge, we utilize forward contracts to manage exposure to declines in the debt obligationsprices of (i) silver, gold, zinc and fundlead contained in our other projects. In June 2017, we announced a private offering under Rule 144A of $500 million in Senior Notes due 2025concentrates that have been shipped but have not yet settled, and a concurrent tender offer to purchase our existing Senior Notes. Both the private offering of the notes(ii) zinc and the tender offer were abandoned in June 2017, as available terms and conditions were not sufficiently attractive to us to complete the proposed transactions. Our ability to restructure or refinance our debt will depend on the condition of capital markets and our financial condition at such time. Any refinancing of our debt could be at higher interest rates and may require us to comply with more onerous covenants, which could further restrict our business operations. There can be no assurancelead that we will be ableforecast for future concentrate shipments. We have also utilized put option contracts to restructure or refinance our debtmanage exposure to declines in the future on terms and conditions favorable to us.

On June 15, 2015, we completed the acquisition of Revett, giving us 100% ownership of the Rock Creek project, a significant undeveloped silver and copper deposit in northwestern Montana. In addition, on September 13, 2016, we completed the acquisition of Mines Management, giving us 100% ownership of the Montanore project, another significant undeveloped silver and copper deposit located approximately 10 miles from our Rock Creek project. Development of Rock Creek and Montanore has been challenged by conservation groups at various times, and there can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain the permits required to develop these projects. See Legal challenges could prevent the Rock Creek or Montanore projects from ever being developed in Part I, Item 1A. – Risk Factors in our annual report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 for more information. In May 2017, the Montana Federal District Court issued Opinions and Orders in three lawsuits challenging previously granted environmental approvals for the Montanore project. The Orders overturned the approvals for the project granted by the United States Forest Service and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and remanded the Record of Decision ("ROD") and associated planning documents for further review by the agencies consistent with its Opinions. In June 2017, the Court vacated the agencies' approvals for the project. As a result, additional work must be performed by the agencies to address the deficiencies in the ROD and associated planning documents identified by the Court, and new approvals must be granted, before the project may proceed beyond certain preliminary actions.

As further discussed in the Lucky Friday Segment section below, the union employees at Lucky Friday have been on strike since March 13, 2017. Production at Lucky Friday was suspended from the start of the strike until July 2017, with limited production by salary employees commencing at that time. We cannot predict how long the strike will last or whether an agreement will be reached. We expect to incur cash expenditures of approximately $1.0 million to $1.5 million per month to advance engineering and infrastructure for the restart of full production, in addition to costs related to limited interim production. As a result of the strike or other related events, operations at Lucky Friday could continue to be disrupted, which could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

During the third quarter of 2015, we made a development decision to mine near surface, high grade portionsprices of silver and gold deposits atin our San Sebastian project in Mexico. Ore production commenced in the fourth quarterforecasted future sales of 2015 and has continued since that time.those metals. In addition, work beganwe have in the first quarterplace a $250 million revolving credit agreement, of 2017 to develop and rehabilitate underground access which is expected to allow us to mine deeper portions$20.3 million was used as of the deposits at San Sebastian. See the San Sebastian Segment section belowMarch 31, 2021 for more information. We have generated positive cash flows at San Sebastian since the startletters of production there, and we currently believe that will continue until early or mid-2020.  However, our ability to generate positive cash flows at San Sebastian may be impacted by changes in costs, precious metals prices, or other factors, and there can be no assurance that we will be able to develop and operate San Sebastian as currently anticipated.credit, leaving approximately $229.7 million available for borrowing.

 

We strive to operate our properties safely, in an environmentally responsible mannerachieve excellent mine safety and as cost-effectively as possible.health performance. We seek to achieve safe and environmentally sound practices through extensive employeeimplement this goal by: training employees in safe work practices; establishing, following and improving safety standards with the active participation of employees;standards; investigating accidents, incidents and losses to avoid recurrence; involving employees in the establishment of safety standards; and participationparticipating in the National Mining Association’s CORESafety program. We attempt to implement reasonable best practices forwith respect to mine safety and emergency preparedness. Additionally, weWe work with the U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration (“MSHA”)MSHA to address issues outlined in its investigations and inspections and investigations, and continuallycontinue to evaluate our safety practices. Achieving and maintaining compliance with MSHA regulations will be challenging and may increase our operating costs. See Item 1A. Risk Factors - We face substantial governmental regulation, including the Mine Safety and Health Act, various environmental laws and regulations and the 1872 Mining Law in our 2020 Form 10-K.

 

Another challenge for us is the risk associated with environmental litigation and ongoing reclamation activities. As described in Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors ofin our annual report filed on2020 Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 and in Note 410 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited), it is possible that our estimate of these liabilities (and our ability to estimate liabilities in general) may change in the future, affecting our strategic plans. We are involved in various environmental legal matters and the estimate of our environmental liabilities and liquidity needs, as wellswell as our strategic plans, may be significantly impacted as a result of these matters or new matters that may arise. We strive to ensure that our activities are conducted in compliance with applicable laws and regulations and attempt to resolve environmental litigation on terms as favorable termsto us as possible.

 

 

Consolidated Results of Operations

 

Sales of products by metal for the three- and nine-monththree-month periods ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2021 and 20162020 were as follows:

 

  

Three Months Ended
September 30,

  

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

(in thousands)

 

2017

  

2016

  

2017

  

2016

 

Silver

 $43,228  $83,668  $140,662  $211,825 

Gold

  73,603   67,534   203,279   203,455 

Lead

  6,373   17,141   28,093   46,194 

Zinc

  24,327   27,469   74,692   67,840 

Less: Smelter and refining charges

  (6,692

)

  (16,419

)

  (29,064

)

  (47,602

)

Sales of products

 $140,839  $179,393  $417,662  $481,712 

  

Three Months Ended

March 31,

 

(in thousands)

 

2021

  

2020

 

Silver

 $77,760  $37,572 

Gold

  101,408   90,694 

Lead

  15,893   6,420 

Zinc

  29,191   17,308 

Less: Smelter and refining charges

  (13,400)  (15,069)

Sales of products

 $210,852  $136,925 

 

The $38.6 million and $64.1 million decreasesfluctuations in sales for the first quarter of products in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017, respectively,2021 compared to the same periodsfirst quarter of 2016 are2020 were primarily due to:to the following two reasons:

 

 

Lower quantities ofHigher average realized prices for silver, zincgold, lead and lead sold, due to lower production of those metals and the timing of concentrate shipments at Greens Creek, partially offset by higher gold volumes. See the The Greens Creek Segment,The Lucky Friday Segment, The Casa Berardi Segment, and The San Sebastian Segment sections below for more information on metal production and sales volumes at each of our operating segments. Total metals production and sales volumes for each periodzinc. These price variances are shownillustrated in the following table:table below.

 

   

Three Months Ended
September 30,

  

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 
   

2017

  

2016

  

2017

  

2016

 

Silver -

Ounces produced

  3,323,157   4,316,663   9,500,058   13,200,765 
 

Payable ounces sold

  2,540,817   4,284,842   8,098,652   12,222,084 

Gold -

Ounces produced

  63,046   52,126   171,720   170,779 
 

Payable ounces sold

  57,380   50,348   161,921   161,217 

Lead -

Tons produced

  5,370   10,411   18,426   31,840 
 

Payable tons sold

  2,936   9,967   13,612   28,380 

Zinc -

Tons produced

  14,497   14,825   43,000   50,321 
 

Payable tons sold

  8,444   13,596   29,269   37,948 

The difference between what we report as "ounces/tons produced" and "payable ounces/tons sold" is attributable to the difference between the quantities of metals contained in the concentrates we produce versus the portion of those metals actually paid for by our customers according to the terms of our sales contracts. Differences can also arise from inventory changes incidental to shipping schedules, or variances in ore grades which impact the amount of metals contained in concentrates produced and sold. The difference in payable quantities sold for the 2017 periods compared to 2016 is due mainly to timing of concentrate shipments, primarily at Greens Creek.

Lower average silver and gold prices, partially offset by higher lead and zinc prices, in the third quarter of 2017 compared to the same period in 2016. For the first nine months of 2017, average silver and gold prices varied slightly, while average lead and zinc prices were higher, compared to the same period of 2016. These price variances are illustrated in the table below.

   

Three Months Ended
September 30,

  

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 
   

2017

  

2016

  

2017

  

2016

 

Silver

London PM Fix ($/ounce)

 $16.83  $19.62  $17.17  $17.08 
 

Realized price per ounce

 $17.01  $19.53  $17.37  $17.33 

Gold

London PM Fix ($/ounce)

 $1,278  $1,335  $1,251  $1,258 
 

Realized price per ounce

 $1,283  $1,341  $1,255  $1,262 

Lead

LME Final Cash Buyer ($/pound)

 $1.06  $0.85  $1.02  $0.81 
 

Realized price per pound

 $1.09  $0.86  $1.03  $0.81 

Zinc

LME Final Cash Buyer ($/pound)

 $1.34  $1.02  $1.26  $0.89 
 

Realized price per pound

 $1.44  $1.01  $1.28  $0.89 
  

Three months ended March 31,

 
  

2021

  

2020

 

Silver –  London PM Fix ($/ounce)

 $26.29  $16.94 
Realized price per ounce $25.66  $14.48 

Gold –   London PM Fix ($/ounce)

 $1,798  $1,583 
Realized price per ounce $1,770  $1,588 

Lead –   LME Final Cash Buyer ($/pound)

 $0.92  $0.84 
Realized price per pound $0.92  $0.78 

Zinc –    LME Final Cash Buyer ($/pound)

 $1.25  $0.96 
Realized price per pound $1.32  $0.88 

 

Average realized prices typically differ from average market prices primarily because concentrate sales are generally recorded as revenues at the time of shipment at forward prices for the estimated month of settlement, which differ from average market prices.  Due to the time elapsed between shipment of concentrates and final settlement with the customers, we must estimate the prices at which sales of our metals will be settled.  Previously recorded sales are adjusted to estimated settlement metals prices each period through final settlement.  For the thirdfirst quarter and first nine months of 2017,2021, we recorded net positive price adjustments to provisional settlements of $1.2 million and $0.6 million respectively, compared to negativenet positive price adjustments to provisional settlements of $1.1$2.6 million and positive price adjustments of $0.4 million, respectively, in the thirdfirst quarter and first nine months of 2016.2020. The price adjustments related to silver, gold, lead and zinc contained in our concentrate shipments were largely offset by gains and losses on forward contracts for those metals for each period (seethe first quarter of 2021. See Note 118 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for more information).information.  The gains and losses on these contracts are included in revenues and impact the realized prices for silver, gold, lead and zinc.  Realized prices are calculated by dividing gross revenues for each metal (which include the price adjustments and gains and losses on the forward contracts discussed above) by the payable quantities of each metal included in concentrate and doré shipped during the period.

 

34
25

For the third quarter and first nine months of 2017, we recorded income applicable to common shareholders of $1.3 million ($0.00 per basic common share) and $3.8 million ($0.01 per basic common share), respectively, compared to $25.7 million ($0.07 per basic common share) and $48.9 million ($0.13 per basic common share), respectively, for the third quarter and first nine months of 2016. The following factors impacted the results for the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 compared to the same periods in 2016:

 

 

Lower gross profit forHigher quantities of silver, gold, zinc and lead sold as a result of the third quartertiming of shipments and first nine monthshigher production of 2017 compared to the same periods in 2016 at our San Sebastian unit by $0.9 millionsilver, lead and $13.8 million, respectively; Lucky Friday unit by $6.5 million and $8.0 million, respectively; and Greens Creek unit by $8.3 million and $1.3 million, respectively. Gross profit for the first nine months of 2017 was also lower at our Casa Berardi unit compared to 2016 by $15.2 million; however, it was higher by $0.6 million for the third quarter of 2017 compared to the same period of 2016.zinc. See The Greens Creek Segment, The Lucky Friday Segment, The Casa Berardi Segment, and The San Sebastian Segment and The Nevada Operations Segment sections below.below for more information on metals production and sales volumes at each of our operating segments. Total metals production and sales volumes for each period are shown in the following table:

  

Three Months Ended

March 31,

 
  

2021

  

2020

 

Silver -  Ounces produced

  3,459,446   3,245,469 
Payable ounces sold  3,030,026   2,582,279 

Gold -    Ounces produced

  52,004   58,792 
Payable ounces sold  57,286   57,103 

Lead -    Tons produced

  10,704   5,893 
Payable tons sold  8,668   4,130 

Zinc -    Tons produced

  16,107   12,847 
Payable tons sold  11,027   9,836 

The difference between what we report as "ounces/tons produced" and "payable ounces/tons sold" is attributable to the difference between the quantities of metals contained in our products versus the portion of those metals actually paid for by our customers according to the terms of our sales contracts. Differences can also arise from inventory changes incidental to shipping schedules, or variances in ore grades which impact the amount of metals contained in concentrates produced and sold.

Sales, total cost of sales, gross profit, Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Ounce ("Cash Cost") (non-GAAP) and All-In Sustaining Cost, After By-product Credits, per Ounce ("AISC") (non-GAAP) at our operating units for the three-months ended March 31, 2021 and 2020 were as follows (in thousands, except for Cash Cost and AISC):

  

Silver

  

Gold

 
  

Greens Creek

  

Lucky Friday

  

San Sebastian

  

Total Silver

  

Casa Berardi

  

Nevada Operations

  

Total Gold

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2021:

                            

Sales

 $98,409  $29,122  $173  $127,704  $72,911  $10,237  $83,148 

Total cost of sales

  (53,181)  (22,794)  (94)  (76,069)  (62,516)  (7,455)  (69,971)

Gross profit

 $45,228  $6,328  $79  $51,635  $10,395  $2,782  $13,177 

Cash Cost per silver or gold ounce

 $(0.67) $7.62  $  $1.40  $1,027  $1,416  $1,052 

AISC per silver or gold ounce

 $1.59  $14.24  $  $7.21  $1,272  $1,461  $1,284 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2020:

                            

Sales

 $53,833  $2,830  $9,927  $66,590  $46,172  $24,163  $70,335 

Total cost of sales

  (49,182)  (2,832)  (8,300)  (60,314)  (48,325)  (16,914)  (65,239)

Gross profit

 $4,651  $(2) $1,627  $6,276  $(2,153) $7,249  $5,096 

Cash Cost per silver or gold ounce

 $5.63  $  $6.91  $5.77  $1,268  $735  $1,061 

AISC per silver or gold ounce

 $7.90  $  $9.59  $11.06  $1,615  $808  $1,302 

(1)

A reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures 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 Cost of Sales and Other Direct Production Costs and Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization (GAAP) to Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits and Cash Cost, After By-product Credits (non-GAAP) and All-In Sustaining Cost, Before By-product Credits and All-In Sustaining Cost, After By-product Credits (non-GAAP).

While revenue from zinc, lead and gold by-products is significant, we believe that identification of silver as the primary product of Greens Creek, Lucky Friday and San Sebastian is appropriate because:

 

Lossessilver has historically accounted for a higher proportion of revenue than any other metal and is expected to do so in the future;

we have historically presented these units as a producer primarily of silver, based on basethe 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.

Likewise, we believe the identification of gold, lead and zinc as by-product credits at Greens Creek, Lucky Friday and San Sebastian is appropriate because of their lower economic value compared to silver and due to the fact that silver is the primary product we intend to produce. In addition, we have not consistently received sufficient revenue from any single by-product metal to warrant classification of such as a co-product.

We periodically review our revenues to ensure that reporting of primary products and by-products is appropriate. Because for Greens Creek, Lucky Friday and San Sebastian we consider zinc, lead and gold to be by-products of our silver production, the values of these metals offset operating costs within our calculations of Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce and AISC, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce.

We believe the identification of silver as a by-product credit is appropriate at Casa Berardi and Nevada Operations because of its lower economic value compared to gold and due to the fact that gold is the primary product we intend to produce there. In addition, we do not receive sufficient revenue from silver at Casa Berardi to warrant classification of such as a co-product. Because we consider silver to be a by-product of our gold production at Casa Berardi and Nevada Operations, the value of silver offsets operating costs within our calculations of Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Gold Ounce and AISC, After By-product Credits, per Gold Ounce.

For the first quarter of 2021, we recorded income applicable to common stockholders of $18.8 million ($0.04 per basic common share), compared to a loss of $17.3 million ($0.03 per basic common share) during the first quarter of 2020. The following factors contributed to the results for the first three months of 2021 compared to the first quarter of 2020:

Variances in gross profit (loss) at our operating units as illustrated in the table above. See The Greens Creek Segment,The Lucky Friday Segment, The Casa Berardi Segment, The San Sebastian Segment and The Nevada Operations Segment sections below.

Ramp-up costs at Lucky Friday decreased by $8.1 million in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the first quarter of 2020 due to the return to full production starting in the fourth quarter of 2020. See The Lucky Friday Segment section below.

Lower interest expense by $5.6 million in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the first quarter of 2020, with the decrease due to the following items in 2020: (i) interest recognized on both our 7.25% Senior Notes due February 15, 2028 ("Senior Notes") and our previously-outstanding 6.875% Senior Notes that were due in 2021 ("2021 Notes") for an overlapping period of almost one month, as the Senior Notes were issued on February 19, 2020 and the 2021 Notes were redeemed on March 19, 2020, (ii) $1.7 million in unamortized initial purchaser discount on the 2021 Notes recognized as expense upon their redemption and (iii) higher interest related to amounts drawn on our revolving credit facility.

A net loss on investments in other mining companies of $2.4 million, including a $3.6 million unrealized loss and a $1.2 million gain on exchange of investments, in the first quarter of 2021 compared to a net loss of $1.0 million in the first quarter of 2020.

Higher other operating expense by $2.7 million in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the first quarter of 2020 due to project costs incurred to identify and implement potential operational improvements at Casa Berardi.

Provision for closed operations and environmental matters increased by $3.2 million in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the first quarter of 2020 primarily due to a $2.9 million increase in the accrual for estimated costs at the Johnny M site in New Mexico (see Note 10 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for more information).

Exploration and pre-development expense increased by $3.6 million in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the first quarter of 2020. In the first quarter of 2021, exploration was primarily at our San Sebastian, Casa Berardi and Nevada Operations units.

A gain on metal derivatives contracts of $11.2$0.5 million and $16.5 million, respectively, in the thirdfirst quarter andof 2021 compared to a gain of $7.9 million in the first nine monthsquarter of 2017, with no net activity on base metal derivative contracts for the third quarter and first nine months of 2016.2020. See Note 118 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for more information.

Lucky Friday suspension costs of $4.8 million and $14.4 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017, respectively. These costs, which include $1.1 million and $3.3 million in non-cash depreciation expense, were incurred during the suspension of full production resulting from the strike, which started in March 2017.

Higher interest expense by $3.8 million and $11.8 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017, respectively, compared to the same periods of 2016. Interest expense in the first nine months of 2017 and 2016 was net of $0.9 million and $12.0 million, respectively, in capitalized interest primarily related to the #4 Shaft project, with the decrease due to completion of the #4 Shaft in January 2017. In addition, interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 included $0.9 million in costs related to our proposed private offering of new Senior Notes in June 2017 and concurrent tender offer to purchase our existing Senior Notes, which were not completed.

Exploration and pre-development expense increased by $4.6 million and $10.0 million, respectively, in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 compared to the same periods in 2016. In 2017, we have continued exploration work at our Greens Creek, San Sebastian and Casa Berardi units, and at our other projects in Quebec, Canada. "Pre-development expense" is defined as costs incurred in the exploration stage that may ultimately benefit production, such as underground ramp development, which are expensed due to the lack of proven and probable reserves. Pre-development expense of $1.8 million and $4.1 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017, respectively, was related to advancement of our Montanore and Rock Creek projects.

Net foreign exchange losses in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 of $4.8 million and $10.9 million, respectively, versus a net gain of $2.4 million in the third quarter of 2016 and net loss of $7.7 million in the first nine months of 2016. The variances are primarily related to the impact of changes in the CAD-to-USD exchange rate on the remeasurement of our net monetary liabilities in Quebec. During the first nine months of 2017, the applicable CAD-to-USD exchange rate decreased from 1.3426 to 1.2480, compared to a decrease in the rate from 1.3841 to 1.3116 during the first nine months of 2016.

Research and development expense of $1.1 million and $2.1 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017, respectively, related to evaluation and development of technologies that would be new to our operations.

Lower general and administrative expense by $1.6 million and $2.7 million, respectively, for the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 compared to the same periods of 2016 primarily due to lower accruals for incentive compensation.

Gain on disposal of properties, plants, equipment and mineral interests of $4.8 million recognized in the third quarter of 2017 primarily related to insurance proceeds received for collapse of the mill building at the Troy mine in February 2017 due to snow.

 

Income tax benefits of $5.4 million and $18.4 million, in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017, respectively, compared to provisions of $9.5 million of $22.6 million, respectively, in the comparable 2016 periods. The benefit for the first nine months of 2017 includes a benefit from a change in income tax position recognizedA net foreign exchange loss in the first quarter of 2017 relating2021 of $2.1 million versus a net gain of $6.6 million in the first quarter of 2020, with the variance primarily related to the timingimpact of deduction for #4 Shaft developmenta weakening of the Canadian dollar ("CAD") relative to the U.S. dollar ("USD") on remeasurement of our assets and liabilities in Quebec. During the first quarter of 2021, the applicable CAD-to-USD exchange rate decreased from 1.2732 to 1.2575, compared to an increase in the rate from 1.2989 to 1.4186 during the first quarter of 2020.

An income and mining tax provision of $4.6 million in the first quarter of 2021 compared to an income and mining tax benefit of $1.1 million in the first quarter of 2020.  The provision in the 2021 period is primarily the result of income in Quebec and the reclassification of certain income-based state and provincial taxes from Cost of sales and other direct production costs at Lucky Friday. See to Corporate MattersIncome and mining tax provision below (see Note 3 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for more information.information).

 

 

The Greens Creek Segment

Dollars are in thousands (except per ounce and per ton amounts)

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

  

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 
  

2017

  

2016

  

2017

  

2016

 

Sales

 $61,061  $85,804  $191,250  $199,260 

Cost of sales and other direct production costs

  (29,320

)

  (42,306

)

  (100,799

)

  (106,238

)

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

  (12,607

)

  (16,091

)

  (39,442

)

  (40,746

)

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

  (41,927

)

  (58,397

)

  (140,241

)

  (146,984

)

Gross profit

 $19,134  $27,407  $51,009  $52,276 

Tons of ore milled

  219,983   202,523   627,900   610,879 

Production:

                

Silver (ounces)

  2,344,315   2,445,328   6,205,659   7,020,688 

Gold (ounces)

  12,563   11,988   39,289   39,497 

Zinc (tons)

  14,325   12,144   40,697   42,330 

Lead (tons)

  4,851   4,803   14,080   15,236 

Payable metal quantities sold:

                

Silver (ounces)

  1,569,092   2,603,165   4,930,946   6,370,660 

Gold (ounces)

  7,862   12,364   30,920   35,883 

Zinc (tons)

  8,445   11,318   27,582   31,370 

Lead (tons)

  2,935   4,710   10,015   12,580 

Ore grades:

                

Silver ounces per ton

  13.65   15.40   12.84   14.61 

Gold ounces per ton

  0.09   0.09   0.10   0.10 

Zinc percent

  7.47   6.86   7.49   7.90 

Lead percent

  2.77   2.92   2.83   3.05 

Mining cost per ton

 $69.46  $69.66  $69.64  $69.20 

Milling cost per ton

 $31.01  $31.55  $32.38  $31.07 

Total Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, Per Silver Ounce (1)

 $(0.15

)

 $4.80  $0.73  $4.68 

All-In Sustaining Costs ("AISC"), After By-Product Credits, per Silver Ounce (1)

 $4.47  $11.02  $5.60  $10.18 

Dollars are in thousands (except per ounce and per ton amounts)

 

Three months ended March 31,

 
  

2021

  

2020

 

Sales

 $98,409  $53,833 

Cost of sales and other direct production costs

  (38,360)  (36,753)

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

  (14,821)  (12,429)

Total cost of sales

  (53,181)  (49,182)

Gross profit

 $45,228  $4,651 

Tons of ore milled

  194,080   198,804 

Production:

        

Silver (ounces)

  2,584,870   2,775,707 

Gold (ounces)

  13,266   12,273 

Zinc (tons)

  13,354   12,487 

Lead (tons)

  4,924   5,198 

Payable metal quantities sold:

        

Silver (ounces)

  2,247,274   2,093,720 

Gold (ounces)

  10,547   10,321 

Zinc (tons)

  9,097   9,652 

Lead (tons)

  3,645   3,460 

Ore grades:

        

Silver ounces per ton

  16.01   16.87 

Gold ounces per ton

  0.09   0.08 

Zinc percent

  7.62   6.89 

Lead percent

  3.06   3.12 

Total production cost per ton

 $182.61  $185.92 

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce (1)

 $(0.67) $5.63 

AISC, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce (1)

 $1.59  $7.90 

Capital additions

 $4,892  $5,510 

 

 

(1)

A reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures 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 Cost of Sales and Other Direct Production Costs and Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization (GAAP) to Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits and Cash Cost, After By-product Credits (non-GAAP) and All-In Sustaining Cost, Before By-product Credits and All-In Sustaining Cost, After By-product Credits (non-GAAP).

The $40.6 million increase in gross profit during the first quarter of 2021 compared to the same 2020 period was the result of higher sales due to:

higher realized prices for silver, gold, zinc and lead;

higher overall metals sales volumes due to the timing of concentrate shipments. Silver sales volume was higher in spite of lower silver production primarily resulting from lower grades due to normal variations in the ore body; and

lower concentrate treatment costs of $5.7 million primarily as a result of favorable changes in smelter terms, with approximately $4 million to be non-recurring.

 

36
29

The $8.3 million and $1.3 million decreases in gross profit during the third quarter and first nine months of 2017, respectively, compared to the same 2016 periods were primarily a result of lower metals sales volumes due to the timing of concentrate shipments and lower silver ore grades and recoveries, partially offset by higher mill throughput. As a result of differences in the timing of shipments, there were 13,822 tons of concentrate in inventory, including 5,991 tons of higher-valued lead concentrate, having a value of approximately $26.1 million and cost of $15.2 million at September 30, 2017, compared to 3,617 tons (including 1,355 tons of lead concentrate) having a value of approximately $4.7 million and cost of $3.9 million at September 30, 2016. Results for the third quarter of 2017 were also impacted by lower average realized prices for silver and gold, partially offset by higher prices for zinc and lead, compared to the third quarter of 2016. For the first nine months of 2017, silver and gold prices varied only slightly, while prices for zinc and lead were higher, compared to 2016. Gross profit at Greens Creek was affected by positive price adjustments to revenues of $1.0 million and $0.5 million for the third quarter and first nine months of 2017, respectively, compared to negative price adjustments of $1.0 million and positive price adjustments of $0.3 million for the third quarter and first nine months of 2016, respectively. Price adjustments to revenues result from changes in metals prices between transfer of title of concentrates to buyers and final settlements during the period. The price adjustments related to silver, gold, zinc and lead contained in concentrate shipments were net of gains and losses on forward contracts for those metals for each period. The price adjustments and gains and losses on forward contracts discussed above are included in sales.

 Mining costs per ton stayed relatively constant for the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 compared to the same periods in 2016. Milling costs per ton decreased 2% in the third quarter of 2017 compared to the same period in 2016 mainly due to higher tonnage. Milling costs per ton increased 4% for the first nine months of 2017 compared to the same period in 2016 due to an increase in power costs, partially offset by higher tonnage.

 

The chart below illustrates the factors contributing to the variances in Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, Perper Silver Ounce for the thirdfirst quarter andof 2021 compared to the first nine monthsquarter of 2017 versus the same periods in 2016:2020:

 

a2.jpg

 

The following table summarizes the components of Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce:

 

  

Three Months Ended
September 30,

  

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 
  

2017

  

2016

  

2017

  

2016

 

Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce

 $20.75  $20.15  $22.94  $20.88 

By-product credits

  (20.90

)

  (15.35

)

  (22.21

)

  (16.20

)

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce

 $(0.15

)

 $4.80  $0.73  $4.68 

  

Three Months Ended March 31,

 
  

2021

  

2020

 

Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce

 $18.98  $20.09 

By-product credits

  (19.65)  (14.46)

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce

 $(0.67) $5.63 

 

The following table summarizes the components of AISC, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce:

 

 

Three Months Ended

September 30,

  

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

  

Three Months Ended March 31,

 
 

2017

  

2016

  

2017

  

2016

  

2021

  

2020

 

AISC, Before By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce

 $25.37  $26.37  $27.81  $26.38  $21.24  $22.36 

By-product credits

  (20.90

)

  (15.35

)

  (22.21

)

  (16.20

)

  (19.65)  (14.46)

AISC, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce

 $4.47  $11.02  $5.60  $10.18  $1.59  $7.90 

 

The decrease in Cash Costs and AISC, After By-Product Credits, per Silver Ounce for the first quarter of 2021 compared to 2020 was primarily due to the higher by-product credits, lower treatment costs and reclassification of mine license tax from production costs to income and mining tax provision effective January 1, 2021.

Restrictions imposed by the State of Alaska beginning in late March 2020 in response to the COVID-19 virus pandemic, including the requirement for employees returning to Alaska to self-quarantine for 14 days (changed in June 2020 to 7 days), has caused us to revise the normal operating procedures and incur additional costs for staffing operations at Greens Creek. The changes at Greens Creek have not materially impacted our operations to date; however, restrictions could have a material impact if they continue longer than anticipated or become broader.

The Lucky Friday Segment

Dollars are in thousands (except per ounce and per ton amounts)

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 
  

2021

  

2020

 

Sales

 $29,122  $2,830 

Cost of sales and other direct production costs

  (16,458)  (2,530)

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

  (6,336)  (302)

Total cost of sales

  (22,794)  (2,832)

Gross profit (loss)

 $6,328  $(2)

Tons of ore milled

  81,071   10,219 

Production:

        

Silver (ounces)

  863,901   95,748 

Lead (tons)

  5,780   695 

Zinc (tons)

  2,753   360 

Payable metal quantities sold:

        

Silver (ounces)

  763,823   101,102 

Lead (tons)

  5,023   670 

Zinc (tons)

  1,930   184 

Ore grades:

        

Silver ounces per ton

  11.18   9.87 

Lead percent

  7.51   7.23 

Zinc percent

  3.70   3.85 

Total production cost per ton

 $181.28  $ 

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce (1)

 $7.62  $ 

AISC, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce (1)

 $14.24  $ 

Capital additions

 $5,912  $4,295 

The increases in sales, gross profit, ore tonnage and metals production in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the first quarter of 2020 was the result of a full quarter of production following the return to full production during the fourth quarter of 2020 (discussed further below).         

The chart below illustrates the factors contributing to Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce for the thirdfirst quarter and first nine months of 2017 was primarily the result of higher by-product credits, partially offset by lower silver production. The decrease in AISC, After By-Product Credits, per Silver Ounce was due to the same factors, along with lower capital spending.

Mining2021. Total production costs and milling costs increased in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 compared to 2016 on a per-ounce basis due primarily to lower silver production resulting from reduced silver grades.

Other cash costs per ounce for the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 were higher compared to 2016 due to the effect of lower silver production.

Treatment costs were lower in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 compared to 2016 as a result of improved payment terms from smelters, partially offset by lower silver production. Treatment costs were also impacted by silver price variances, as treatment costs include the value of silver not payable to us through the smelting process. The silver not payable to us is either recovered by the smelters through further processing or ultimately not recovered and included in the smelters' waste material.

By-product credits per ounce were higher in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 compared to 2016 due to higher zinc and lead prices.

The difference between what we report as "production" and "payable metal quantities sold" is attributable to the difference between the quantities of metals contained in the concentrates we produce versus the portion of those metals actually paid for by our customers according to the terms of our sales contracts. Differences can also arise from inventory changes incidental to shipping schedules, or variances in ore grades which impact the amount of metals contained in concentrates produced and sold. The difference in payable quantities sold for 2017 compared to 2016 is due mainly to timing of concentrate shipments.

While revenue from zinc, lead and gold by-products is significant, we believe that identification of silver as the primary product of the Greens Creek unit is appropriate because:

silver has historically accounted for a higher proportion of revenue than any other metal and is expected to do so in the future;

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.

Likewise, we believe the identification of gold, lead and zinc as by-product credits is appropriate because of their lower economic value compared to silver and due to the fact that silver is the primary product we intend to produce. In addition, we do not receive sufficient revenue from any single by-product metal to warrant classification of such as a co-product.

We periodically review our revenues to ensure that reporting of primary products and by-products is appropriate.  Because we consider zinc, lead and gold to be by-products of our silver production, the values of these metals offset operating costs within our calculations of Cash Cost After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce and AISC, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce.

The Lucky Friday Segment

Dollars are in thousands (except per ounce and per ton amounts)

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

  

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 
  

2017

  

2016

  

2017

  

2016

 

Sales

 $199  $26,140  $20,022  $70,152 

Cost of sales and other direct production costs

     (16,538

)

  (12,109

)

  (47,921

)

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     (2,946

)

  (2,433

)

  (8,775

)

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

     (19,484

)

  (14,542

)

  (56,696

)

Gross profit (loss)

 $199  $6,656  $5,479  $13,456 

Tons of ore milled

  7,302   74,397   64,371   216,247 

Production:

                

Silver (ounces)

  88,298   887,364   769,080   2,721,991 

Lead (tons)

  519   5,608   4,346   16,604 

Zinc (tons)

  172   2,681   2,303   7,991 

Payable metal quantities sold:

                

Silver (ounces)

     829,364   641,004   2,617,130 

Lead (tons)

     5,257   3,596   15,800 

Zinc (tons)

     2,279   1,688   6,578 

Ore grades:

                

Silver ounces per ton

  12.87   12.40   12.45   13.05 

Lead percent

  7.68   7.89   7.12   8.01 

Zinc percent

  3.21   3.85   3.90   3.94 

Mining cost per ton

 $150.89  $99.13  $112.60  $99.27 

Milling cost per ton

 $13.15  $25.99  $22.93  $24.77 

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce (1)

 $11.60  $9.07  $6.58  $9.34 

AISC, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce (1)

 $13.37  $20.22  $12.21  $21.35 

(1)

A reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures 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 Cost of Sales and Other Direct Production Costs and Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization (GAAP) to Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits and Cash Cost, After By-product Credits (non-GAAP) and All-In Sustaining Cost, Before By-product Credits and All-In Sustaining Cost, After By-product Credits (non-GAAP).

Gross profit decreased by $6.5 million and $8.0 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2016. The $0.2 million in sales reportedOunce are not presented for the third quarter of 2017 represents gains on base metal derivatives contracts. Although there was limited concentrate production during the third quarter of 2017, we have opted to defer shipments until a later period. There were 1,489 tons of concentrate in inventory at September 30, 2017. The variance in gross profit for the first nine months of 2017 was primarily due to reduced metal production resulting from the strike by unionized employees starting in mid-March 2017, discussed further below, and the lack of concentrate shipments during the third quarter. Silver and lead production was also impacted by lower ore grades in the first quarter of 2017. These factors were partially offset by higher average realized silver, lead and zinc prices realized2020, as production was limited during the first quarter of 2017, prior toramp-up after the strike.strike and results are not comparable.

 

 

Mining cost per ton was higher by 13% in the first nine months of 2017 compared to the same periods in 2016 due primarily to lower tonnage as a result of the strike discussed below. Milling cost per ton was lower by 7% in the first nine months of 2017 compared to 2016. Mining and milling cost per ton for the third quarter of 2017 are not indicative of future operating results under full production, as there was reduced mill throughput during the quarter. The mill was idle for most of the third quarter of 2017, and only operated when the limited mine production provided a sufficient ore stockpile. In addition, costs not directly related to mining and processing ore have been classified as suspension costs during the strike period, and excluded from the calculations of mining and milling cost per ton for the third quarter and first nine months of 2017.

The chart below illustrates the factors contributing to the variances in Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, Per Silver Ounce for the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 compared to the same periods of 2016:

 

The following table summarizes the components of Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce:

 

  

Three Months Ended
September 30,

  

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 
  

2017

  

2016

  

2017

  

2016

 

Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce

 $27.44  $24.26  $23.42  $22.63 

By-product credits

  (15.84

)

  (15.19

)

  (16.84

)

  (13.29

)

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce

 $11.60  $9.07  $6.58  $9.34 

Three Months Ended March 31,

2021

Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce

24.43

By-product credits

(16.81)

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce

7.62

 

The following table summarizes the components of AISC, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce:

 

  

Three Months Ended

September 30,

  

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

 
  

2017

  

2016

  

2017

  

2016

 

AISC, Before By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce

 $29.21  $35.41  $29.05  $34.64 

By-product credits

  (15.84

)

  (15.19

)

  (16.84

)

  (13.29

)

AISC, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce

 $13.37  $20.22  $12.21  $21.35 

The increase in Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce in the third quarter was the result of lower silver production due to the strike. The decrease in Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce for the first nine months of 2017 compared to the same period in 2016 was due to higher by-product credits due to higher lead and zinc prices, partially offset by lower silver production. The decrease in AISC, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 was the result of lower capital costs primarily as a result of completion of the #4 Shaft project in January 2017 and higher by-product credits, partially offset by lower silver production. During the strike period, only costs directly related to the limited production are included in the calculations of Cash Cost, After By-product Credits and AISC, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce, and suspension-related costs are excluded from those calculations.

Similar to the Greens Creek segment, the difference between what we report as “production” and “payable metal quantities sold” is due to the difference between the quantities of metals contained in the concentrates we produce versus the portion of those metals actually paid for by our customers according to the terms of our sales contracts.

While value from lead and zinc is significant, we believe that identification of silver as the primary product of the Lucky Friday unit is appropriate because:

silver has historically accounted 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.

Likewise, we believe the identification of lead and zinc as by-product credits is appropriate because of their lower economic value compared to silver and due to the fact that silver is the primary product we intend to produce. In addition, we do not receive sufficient revenue from any single by-product metal to warrant classification of such as a co-product.

We periodically review our revenues 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 offset operating costs within our calculations of Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce.

  

Three Months Ended March 31,

 
  

2021

 

AISC, Before By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce

 $31.05 

By-product credits

  (16.81)

AISC, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce

  14.24 

 

Many of the employees at our Lucky Friday unit are represented by a union, and the most recentcurrent collective bargaining agreement with the union expiredexpires on April 30, 2016. On February 19, 2017, theJanuary 6, 2023. The unionized employees voted against our contract offer. Onwere on strike from March 13, 2017 until January 7, 2020, when the unionized employees went on strike,union ratified a new collective bargaining agreement. Salaried personnel performed limited production and have been on strike since that time. Production at Lucky Friday was suspendedcapital improvements from July 2017 until the startend of the strike, until limited production by salary personnelstrike. Re-staffing of the mine commenced in July 2017. Suspension costs during the strikefirst quarter of 2020. We have substantially completed the re-staffing and ramp-up process, and the mine has returned to full production starting with the fourth quarter of 2020. Costs related to ramp-up activities totaled $3.7 million and $11.1$8.1 million in the thirdfirst quarter and first nine months of 2017, respectively. These costs are combined with2020, which include non-cash depreciation expense of $1.1$1.8 million and $3.3 million for those periods andare reported in a separate line item on our condensed consolidated statementstatements of operations.operations, with no ramp-up costs recognized in the first quarter of 2021. These suspensionramp-up costs are excluded from the calculation of gross profit, total production cost per ton, Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce and AISC, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce. We cannot predict how long the strike will last or whether an agreement will be reached. As a result of the strike or other related events, operations at Lucky Friday could continue to be disrupted, which could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.Ounce, when presented.

 

See Note 410 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for contingenciesa contingency related to various events occurringgroundwater monitoring at the Lucky Friday mine in prior periods.

 

 

The Casa Berardi Segment

 

Dollars are in thousands (except per ounce and per ton amounts)

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

  

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

  

Three Months Ended March 31,

 
 

2017

  

2016

  

2017

  

2016

  

2021

  

2020

 

Sales

 $53,990  $41,131  $139,524  $126,614  $72,911  $46,172 

Cost of sales and other direct production costs

  (32,999

)

  (25,830

)

  (95,288

)

  (74,076

)

 (36,975) (31,928)

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

  (15,596

)

  (10,465

)

  (39,454

)

  (32,563

)

  (25,541)  (16,397)

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

  (48,595

)

  (36,295

)

  (134,742

)

  (106,639

)

Total cost of sales

  (62,516)  (48,325)

Gross profit (loss)

 $5,395  $4,836  $4,782  $19,975  $10,395  $(2,153)

Tons of ore milled

  326,145   258,100   949,946   693,288  368,403  331,618 

Production:

                 

Gold (ounces)

  44,141   31,949   113,209   104,282  36,190  26,752 

Silver (ounces)

  9,659   8,361   26,681   24,034  10,675  5,934 

Payable metal quantities sold:

                 

Gold (ounces)

  42,053   30,769   111,046   100,960  40,869  29,082 

Silver (ounces)

  8,725   9,076   26,952   24,506  8,715  8,423 

Ore grades:

                 

Gold ounces per ton

  0.153   0.141   0.137   0.172  0.120  0.102 

Silver ounces per ton

  0.03   0.04   0.03   0.04  0.04  0.02 

Mining cost per ton

 $82.95  $92.17  $81.95  $90.53 

Milling cost per ton

 $16.19  $18.07  $16.28  $18.88 

Total production cost per ton

 $99.67  $102.45 

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Gold Ounce (1)

 $750  $915  $858  $750  $1,027  $1,268 

AISC, After By-product Credits, per Gold Ounce (1)

 $1,091  $1,442  $1,226  $1,243  $1,272  $1,615 

Capital additions

 $13,847  $8,506 

 

 

(1)

A reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures 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 Cost of Sales and Other Direct Production Costs and Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization (GAAP) to Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits and Cash Cost, After By-product Credits (non-GAAP) and All-In Sustaining Cost, Before By-product Credits and All-In Sustaining Cost, After By-product Credits (non-GAAP).

 

Gross profit increased by $0.6 million and decreased by $15.2$12.5 million for the thirdfirst quarter and first nine months of 2017, respectively,2021 compared to the same periods in 2016. The increase for the thirdfirst quarter wasof 2020 primarily due to increasedhigher sales resulting from higher average gold prices and volume, partially offset by higher total cost of sales resulting from the higher sales volume. The lower gold volume in the first quarter of 2020 resulted from reduced ore grades and lower production than anticipated due to a government COVID-19-related order. In late March 2020, the Government of Quebec ordered the mining industry to reduce to minimum operations as part of the fight against the COVID-19 virus, causing us to suspend our Casa Berardi operations from March 24, 2020 until April 15, 2020, when limited mining operations resumed, resulting in reduced mill throughput. As a result of the suspension of operations, gold production was negatively impacted by approximately 5,200 and 6,500 ounces in March and April 2020, respectively. Production may continue to be adversely impacted by the COVID-19 mitigation practices in place until they are no longer required. Suspension-related costs totaling $0.9 million for the first quarter of 2020 are reported in a separate line item on our consolidated statements of operations and excluded from the calculations of cost of sales and other direct production costs and depreciation, depletion and amortization, mining and milling cost per ton, and Cash Cost and AISC, After By-product Credits, per Gold Ounce.

Total capital additions increased by $5.3 million in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the first quarter of 2020 primarily due to higher ore throughput and gold grades,growth capital costs incurred for development of the new 160 zone open pit mine, partially offset by lower gold prices. The decrease in gross profit for the first nine months of 2017 compared to 2016 was primarily due to lowersustaining capital costs. We expect limited ore grades and higher stripping costs in the first half of the year, partially offset by higher ore throughput. The lower grades were due to the addition of production from the East Mine Crown Pillar ("EMCP")160 zone pit which commenced in July 2016, and underground mine sequencing. The increase in ore throughput was also a result of the addition of the EMCP pit. Grades improved in the third quarter of 2017 as higher-grade areas of the underground mine become available for production, and we expect the higher grades to continuebegin in the fourth quarter of 2017.

Mining costs per ton were lower by 10% and 9% and milling unit costs decreased by 10% and 14% in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2016 due primarily to higher ore production.2021.

 

 

The chart below illustrates the factors contributing to Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, Perper Gold Ounce for the thirdfirst quarter andof 2021 compared to the first nine monthsquarter of 2017 and 2016:2020:

 

a4.jpg

 

The following table summarizes the components of Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Gold Ounce:

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

  

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

  

Three Months Ended March 31,

 
 

2017

  

2016

  

2017

  

2016

  

2021

  

2020

 

Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits, per Gold Ounce

 $754  $920  $862  $754  $1,035  $1,272 

By-product credits

  (4

)

  (5

)

  (4

)

  (4

)

  (8)  (4)

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Gold Ounce

 $750  $915  $858  $750  $1,027  $1,268 

 

The following table summarizes the components of AISC, After By-product Credits, per Gold Ounce:

 

 

Three Months Ended

September 30,

  

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

  

Three Months Ended March 31,

 
 

2017

  

2016

  

2017

  

2016

  

2021

  

2020

 

AISC, Before By-product Credits, per Gold Ounce

 $1,095  $1,447  $1,230  $1,247  $1,280  $1,619 

By-product credits

  (4

)

  (5

)

  (4

)

  (4

)

  (8)  (4)

AISC, After By-product Credits, per Gold Ounce

 $1,091  $1,442  $1,226  $1,243  $1,272  $1,615 

 

The decrease in Cash Cost After By-product Credits, per Gold Ounce for the third quarter of 2017 compared to the same period of 2016 was primarily due to higher gold production.and AISC, After By-product Credits, per Gold Ounce was also lower in the third quarter of 2017 compared to the third quarter of 2016 due to the higher gold production, along with lower capital spending. The increase in Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Gold Ounce for the first nine monthsquarter of 20172021 compared to 2016the first quarter of 2020 was primarily the result of higher stripping costs in the first half of the year, partially offset by higher gold production.production, with AISC, After By-product Credits, per Gold Ounce wasalso impacted by lower for the first nine months of 2017 compared to 2016 due to lowersustaining capital spending, and higher gold production, partially offset by the increased stripping in the first half of the year.

The difference between what we report as "production" and "payable metal quantities sold" is mainly attributable to inventory changes incidental to the timing of sales of refined metals and shipping schedules.

We believe the identification of silver as a by-product credit is appropriate at Casa Berardi because of its lower economic value compared to gold and due to the fact that gold is the primary product we intend to produce there. In addition, we do not receive sufficient revenue from silver at Casa Berardi to warrant classification of such as a co-product. Because we consider silver to be a by-product of our gold production at Casa Berardi, the value of silver offsets operating costs within our calculations of Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Gold Ounce.higher exploration spending.

 

 

The San Sebastian Segment

 

Dollars are in thousands (except per ounce and per ton amounts)

 

Three Months Ended

September 30,

  

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

  

Three Months Ended March 31,

 
 

2017

  

2016

  

2017

  

2016

  

2021

  

2020

 

Sales

 $25,589  $26,318  $66,866  $85,686  $173  $9,927 

Cost of sales and other direct production costs

  (6,039

)

  (5,855

)

  (16,341

)

  (20,927

)

 (94) (6,827)

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

  (641

)

  (677

)

  (2,036

)

  (2,508

)

     (1,473)

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

  (6,680

)

  (6,532

)

  (18,377

)

  (23,435

)

Total cost of sales

  (94)  (8,300)

Gross profit

 $18,909  $19,786  $48,489  $62,251  $79  $1,627 

Tons of ore milled

  36,482   40,192   111,623   108,750    35,476 

Production:

                 

Silver (ounces)

  880,885   975,610   2,498,638   3,434,052    346,625 

Gold (ounces)

  6,342   8,189   19,222   27,000    2,802 

Payable metal quantities sold:

                 

Silver (ounces)

  963,000   843,238   2,499,750   3,209,788  3,392  353,696 

Gold (ounces)

  7,465   7,215   19,955   24,374  47  2,824 

Ore grades:

                 

Silver ounces per ton

  25.48   25.77   23.71   33.70    10.64 

Gold ounces per ton

  0.18   0.22   0.18   0.27    0.091 

Mining cost per ton

 $35.69  $59.49  $38.70  $83.31 

Milling cost per ton

 $69.42  $66.88  $66.64  $68.52 

Total production cost per ton

 $  $178.02 

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce (1)

 $(3.12

)

 $(4.03

)

 $(3.23

)

 $(3.40

)

 $  $6.91 

AISC, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce (1)

 $(0.83

)

 $(2.39

)

 $(0.14

)

 $(2.25

)

 $  $9.59 

Capital additions

 $  $803 

 

 

(1)

A reconciliation of thesethis non-GAAP measuresmeasure 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 Cost of Sales and Other Direct Production Costs and Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization (GAAP) to Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits and Cash Cost, After By-product Credits (non-GAAP) and All-In Sustaining Cost, Before By-product Credits and All-In Sustaining Cost, After By-product Credits (non-GAAP).

 

The $0.9$1.5 million decrease in gross profit forin the first quarter of 2021 compared to the first quarter of 2020 is primarily due to lower metal volumes. Mining at San Sebastian was completed in the third quarter of 2017 compared to2020, and milling was completed in the thirdfourth quarter of 2016 was primarily due to lower silver2020, with exploration and gold production and prices. The reduction in silver and gold production was a result of lower ore throughput and grades. The $13.8evaluation activities ongoing.

Suspension-related costs at San Sebastian totaling $0.7 million decrease in gross profit for the first nine monthsquarter of 2017 compared to2021 are reported in a separate line item on our consolidated statements of operations and excluded from the same period in 2016 was primarily due to lower silvercalculations of cost of sales and goldother direct production as a result of lower ore grades, partially offset by higher ore throughput. The ore processed in the first half of 2016 had considerably higher grades than anticipated over the mine life.costs and depreciation, depletion and amortization, total production costs and Cash Cost and AISC, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce.

 

 

The chart below illustrates the factors contributing to Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, Per Silver Ounce for the thirdfirst quarter and first nine months of 2017 and 2016:2020:

 

a5.jpg

 

The following table summarizes the components of Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce:

 

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

  

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

  

Three Months Ended March 31,

 
 

2017

  

2016

  

2017

  

2016

  

2020

 

Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce

 $6.07  $7.16  $6.39  $6.49  $19.67 

By-product credits

  (9.19

)

  (11.19

)

  (9.62

)

  (9.89

)

  (12.76)

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce

 $(3.12

)

 $(4.03

)

 $(3.23

)

 $(3.40

)

 $6.91 

 

The following table summarizes the components of AISC, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce:

 

 

Three Months Ended

September 30,

  

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

  

Three Months Ended March 31,

 
 

2017

  

2016

  

2017

  

2016

  

2020

 

AISC, Before By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce

 $8.36  $8.80  $9.48  $7.64  $22.35 

By-product credits

  (9.19

)

  (11.19

)

  (9.62

)

  (9.89

)

  (12.76)

AISC, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce

 $(0.83

)

 $(2.39

)

 $(0.14

)

 $(2.25

)

 $9.59 

The Nevada Operations Segment

Dollars are in thousands (except per ounce and per ton amounts)

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 
  

2021

  

2020

 

Sales

 $10,237  $24,163 

Cost of sales and other direct production costs

  (4,822)  (7,849)

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

  (2,633)  (9,065)

Total cost of sales

  (7,455)  (16,914)

Gross profit

 $2,782  $7,249 

Tons of ore milled

  16,459   17,298 

Production:

        

Gold (ounces)

  2,548   16,965 

Silver (ounces)

     21,455 

Payable metal quantities sold:

        

Gold (ounces)

  5,823   14,876 

Silver (ounces)

  6,821   25,339 

Ore grades:

        

Gold ounces per ton

  0.185   1.055 

Silver ounces per ton

     1.47 

Total production cost per ton

 $360.72  $745.14 

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Gold Ounce (1)

 $1,416  $735 

AISC, After By-product Credits, per Gold Ounce (1)

 $1,461  $808 

Capital additions

 $89  $857 

(1)

A reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures 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 Cost of Sales and Other Direct Production Costs and Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization (GAAP) to Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits and Cash Cost, After By-product Credits (non-GAAP) and All-In Sustaining Cost, Before By-product Credits and All-In Sustaining Cost, After By-product Credits (non-GAAP).

 

The increasedecrease in gross profit for the first quarter of 2021 compared to the first quarter of 2020 is a result of lower metals production. During the second half of 2020, all ore mined at the Nevada Operations was stockpiled, with no ore milled and no production reported during that period. Mining of non-refractory ore at Fire Creek in areas where development has already been performed was completed in the fourth quarter of 2020. Processing of the stockpiled non-refractory ore at the Midas mill commenced at the end of the first quarter of 2021, and is expected to be completed in the second quarter. In addition, third-party processing of a bulk sample of Fire Creek refractory ore commenced in the first quarter of 2021 and is expected to be completed in the second quarter. Fire Creek is expected to be placed on care-and-maintenance in the second quarter of 2021 after its remaining non-refractory ore stockpile is processed. We also expect to process an additional 10,000 tons of Fire Creek refractory ore at the third-party facility in the second half of 2021.

Production was suspended at the Hollister mine in the third quarter of 2019 and at the Midas mine and Aurora mill in late-2019. Suspension-related costs at Nevada Operations totaling $3.6 million and $4.0 million for the first quarters of 2021 and 2020, respectively, are reported in a separate line item on our consolidated statements of operations and excluded from the calculations of cost of sales and other direct production costs and depreciation, depletion and amortization, total production costs per ton and Cash Cost and AISC, After By-product Credits, per Gold Ounce.

Total production costs per ton were lower by 52% for the first quarter of 2021 compared to the first quarter of 2020, primarily due to lower mining and milling costs, as production for the 2021 period was from stockpiled bulk sample material processed at a third-party facility.

The chart below illustrates the factors contributing to Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 compared to the same periods of 2016 was primarily the result of lower by-product credits due to lower gold production and prices, partially offset by lower mining costs as a result of reduced mining of waste and the impact of lower silver production on the calculation. The same factors, along with higher exploration and capital spending, resulted in the increases in AISC, After By-product Credits, per SilverPer Gold Ounce for the thirdfirst quarter of 2021 and first nine months of 2017 compared to 2016.2020:

a6.jpg

 

The difference between what we report as "production" and "payable metal quantities sold" is mainly attributable to inventory changes incidental tofollowing table summarizes the timing of sales of refined metals and shipping schedules.

We believe the identification of gold as a by-product credit is appropriate at San Sebastian because of its anticipated lower economic value compared to silver over the life of the mine. In addition, we do not receive sufficient revenue from gold at San Sebastian to warrant classification of such as a co-product. Because we consider gold to be a by-product of our silver production at San Sebastian, the value of gold offsets operating costs within our calculationscomponents of Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Silver OunceGold Ounce:

  

Three Months Ended March 31,

 
  

2021

  

2020

 

Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits, per Gold Ounce

 $1,416  $756 

By-product credits

     (21)

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Gold Ounce

 $1,416  $735 

The following table summarizes the components of AISC, After By-product Credits, per Gold Ounce:

  

Three Months Ended March 31,

 
  

2021

  

2020

 

AISC, Before By-product Credits, per Gold Ounce

 $1,461  $829 

By-product credits

     (21)

AISC, After By-product Credits, per Gold Ounce

 $1,461  $808 

The increase in Cash Costs and AISC, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce. In additionGold ounce in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the impactfirst quarter of 2020 was due to lower gold production resulting from decreased grades and ore volume.

See Item 1A. Risk Factors - Operation, Development, Exploration and Acquisition Risks in our 2020 Form 10-K for a discussion of certain risks relating to our recent and ongoing analysis of the by-product credits from gold, Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce and AISC, After By-product Credits, per silver Ounce at San Sebastian are lower compared to our other operations due tocarrying value of the orebody being near surface and having higher precious metal grades, resulting in a lower Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce and AISC, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce.Nevada assets.

 

45
38

In the first quarter of 2017, we began construction of a new underground ramp and rehabilitation of the historical underground access. Once completed, these underground accesses should allow us to mine deeper portions of the deposits at San Sebastian, and we anticipate underground ore production to begin in the first quarter of 2018. Capital costs related to the underground development are expected to total approximately $5.0 million in 2017.

 

Corporate Matters

 

Employee Benefit Plans

 

Our defined benefit pension plans provide a significant benefit to our employees, but also represent a significant liability to us. The liability recorded for the fundedunderfunded status of our plans was $43.9$29.6 million and $44.9 million as of September 30, 2017March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2016,2020, respectively. In January 2021, we contributed $16.8 million in shares of our common stock to our supplemental executive retirement plan ("SERP"), and expect to contribute an additional approximately $0.8 million to the SERP in 2021. We made cash contributionsdo not expect to be required to contribute to our defined benefit pension plans of $1.2 million in April 2017 and $5.7 million in July 2017.2021, but we may choose to do so. While the economic variables which will determine future funding requirements are uncertain, we expect contributions to continue to be required in future years under current plan provisions, and we periodically examine the plans for affordability and competitiveness. See Note 7 9 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)in our 2020 Form 10-K for more information.

Income and Mining Taxes

 

Income Taxes

TheDuring the first quarter of 2021, an income and mining tax expense for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017 has been computed using a discreteprovision of approximately $4.6 million resulted in an effective tax rate method. We have historically calculated the provisionof 19.6% for that period. This compares to an income taxes during interim reporting periods by applyingand mining tax benefit of $1.1 million, or an estimate of the annual effective tax rate ("AETR")of 5.8%, for the full fiscal year to “ordinary” pretaxfirst quarter of 2020. The comparability of our income or loss (excluding unusual or infrequently occurring discrete items)and mining tax (provision) benefit and effective tax rate for the reporting period. However, small changes to estimated annual “ordinary” pre-taxreported periods was impacted by multiple factors, primarily: (i) mining taxes; (ii) variations in our income cause significant volatility tobefore income taxes; (iii) geographic distribution of that income; (iv) foreign exchange rates; (v) percentage depletion; (vi) the estimated AETR, due to near break-even levelsnon-recognition of pre-taxtax assets; and (vii) the reclassification of the Alaska mine license tax effective January 1, 2021, which increased our income and significant permanent differences inmining tax provision by $3.0 million. Therefore, the U.S. and Canada. Therefore, we determined that the AETR method would not provide a reliable estimate for the fiscal three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017. As a result of this change in method, an amount representing a recovery of incomeeffective tax expense reported in the first and second quarters was recorded in thisrate will fluctuate, sometimes significantly, period to period.

 

Each reporting period we assess our deferred tax assets utilizingbalances based on a review of long-range forecasts to provide reasonable assurance that they will be realized through future earnings.  We continue to have a netand quarterly activity. A valuation allowance is provided for deferred tax asset inassets for which it is more likely than not the U.S. and a netrelated tax benefits will not be realized. We analyze our deferred tax liability in Canada.

Our U.S. net deferred tax asset at September 30, 2017 totaled $44.7 million, or 2% of total assets an increase of $8.9 million from the $35.8 million net deferred tax asset at December 31, 2016. The largest component of the deferred tax assetand, if it is net operating loss carryforwards. The next largest component is reclamation costs. We have previously determined that we are an indefinite AMT taxpayer, resulting in additional valuation allowance primarily related to forecasted utilizationwill not realize all or a portion of regular net operating loss carryforwards and the effect of re-measuring temporaryour deferred tax assets, usingwe will record or increase a tax rate of 20% which differed from the previous rate of 35%. During the fourth quarter of 2016,valuation allowance. Conversely, if it is determined we determined that we were eligiblewill ultimately more likely than not be able to takerealize all or a different income tax position relating to the timing of deductions for #4 Shaft development costs at Lucky Friday. We filed with the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") a request for approval to use this method, which was approved in the first quarter of 2017. The change resulted in additional deductions of approximately $203 million and $110 million for regular tax and AMT, respectively, resulting in a current tax benefit of approximately $10.7 million for the reduction in AMT payable for 2016. In addition, this change in tax position substantially changes the timing of additional deductions for these costs for regular tax and AMT relative to our projected life of mine and projected taxable income. These timing changes caused us to change our assessmentportion of the related benefits for which a valuation allowance has been provided, all or a portion of the related valuation allowance will be reduced. There are a number of factors that impact our ability to generate sufficient future taxable income to realize our deferred tax assets, resultingassets. For additional information, please see Item 1A - Risk Factors in a valuation allowance decrease and deferred tax benefit of approximately $15.1 million in the first quarter of 2017. At September 30, 2017, we retained a valuation allowance on U.S. deferred tax assets of approximately $66 million, primarily for net operating loss carryforwards.

Our net Canadian deferred tax liability at September 30, 2017 was $122.7 million, a decrease of $0.2 million from the $122.9 million net deferred tax liability at December 31, 2016. The deferred tax liability is primarily related to the excess of the carrying value of the mineral resource assets over the tax bases of those assets for Canadian tax reporting.

We had no Mexican deferred tax asset or liability at September 30, 2017 or December 31, 2016. We expect to have unremitted earnings in Mexico by the end 2017; however, we anticipate being able to fully offset any U.S. tax impact of repatriating any Mexican earnings with foreign tax credits that are available for use under both regular tax and AMT. Accordingly, we estimate the net U.S. income tax impact of unremitted earnings to be zero. A $5.8 million valuation allowance remains on deferred tax assets in foreign jurisdictions.our 2020 10-K.

 

 

Reconciliation of Cost of Sales and Other Direct Production Costs and Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization (GAAP) to Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits and Cash Cost, After By-product Credits (non-GAAP) and All-In Sustaining Cost, Before By-product Credits and All-In Sustaining Cost, After By-product Credits (non-GAAP)

The tables below present reconciliations between the most comparable GAAP measure of cost of sales and other direct production costs and depreciation, depletion and amortization to the non-GAAP measures of (i) Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits, (ii) Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, (iii) AISC, Before By-product Credits and (iv) AISC, After By-product Credits for our operations at the Greens Creek, Lucky Friday, San Sebastian, and Casa Berardi and Nevada Operations units and for the Company for the three- and nine-monththree-month periods ended September 30, 2017March 31, 2021 and 2016.2020.

 

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Ounce and AISC, After By-product Credits, per Ounce are measures developed by precious metals companies (including the Silver Institute and/orand the World Gold Council) in an effort to provide a uniform standard for comparison purposes. There can be no assurance, however, that these non-GAAP measures as we report them are the same as those reported by other mining companies.

 

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Ounce is an important operating statistic that we utilize to measure each mine's operating performance. We have recently started reportinguse AISC, After By-product Credits, per Ounce which we use as a measure of our mines' net cash flow after costs for exploration, pre-development, reclamation, and sustaining capital. This is similar to the Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Ounce non-GAAP measure we report, but also includes on-site exploration, reclamation, and sustaining capital costs. Current GAAP measures used in the mining industry, such as cost of goods sold, do not capture all the expenditures incurred to discover, develop and sustain silver and gold production. Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Ounce and AISC, After By-product Credits, per Ounce also allow us to benchmark the performance of each of our mines versus those of our competitors. As a primary silver and gold mining company, we also use these statistics on an aggregate basis - aggregating the Greens Creek, Lucky Friday and San Sebastian mines - to compare our performance with that of other primary silver mining companies. With regard tocompanies, and aggregating Casa Berardi we use Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Gold Ounce and AISC, After By-product Credits, per Gold Ounce to compare its performanceNevada Operations for comparison with other gold mines.mining companies. Similarly, these statistics are useful in identifying acquisition and investment opportunities as they provide a common tool for measuring the financial performance of other mines with varying geologic, metallurgical and operating characteristics.

 

Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits and AISC, Before By-product Credits 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 expense, on-site general and administrative costs royalties and mining production taxes.royalties. AISC, Before By-product Credits for each mine also includes on-site exploration, reclamation, and sustaining capital costs.  AISC, Before By-product Credits for our consolidated silver properties also includes corporate costs for general and administrative expense, exploration and sustaining capital projects.  By-product credits include revenues earned from all metals other than the primary metal produced at each unit.  As depicted in the tables below, by-product credits comprise an essential element of our silver unit cost structure, distinguishing our silver operations due to the polymetallic nature of their orebodies.

 

In addition to the uses described above, Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Ounce and AISC, After By-product Credits, per Ounce provide management and investors an indication of operating cash flow, after consideration of the average price received from production. We also use these measurements for the comparative monitoring of performance of our mining operations period-to-period from a cash flow perspective.

 

The Casa Berardi, Nevada Operations and combined gold properties information below reports Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Gold Ounce and AISC, After By-product Credits, per Gold Ounce for the production of gold, itstheir primary product, and by-product revenues earned from silver, which is a by-product at Casa Berardi.Berardi and Nevada Operations. Only costs and ounces produced relating to units with the same primary product are combined to represent Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Ounce and AISC, After By-product Credits, per Ounce. Thus, the gold produced at our Casa Berardi unitand Nevada Operations units is not included as a by-product credit when calculating Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce and AISC, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce for the total of Greens Creek, Lucky Friday and San Sebastian, our combined silver properties. Similarly, the silver produced at our other three units is not included as a by-product credit when calculating the gold metrics for Casa Berardi.Berardi and Nevada Operations.

 

 

In thousands (except per ounce amounts)

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2017

  

Three Months Ended March 31, 2021

 
 

Greens

Creek

  

Lucky

Friday(2)

  

San

Sebastian

  

Corporate(3)

  

Total

Silver

  

Casa

Berardi

(Gold)

  

Total

  

Greens

Creek

  

Lucky

Friday(2)

  

San

Sebastian(3)

  

Corporate(4)

  

Total

Silver

 

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

 $41,927     $6,680      $48,607  $48,595  $97,202 

Total cost of sales

 $53,181  $22,794  $94     $76,069 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

  (12,607

)

     (641

)

      (13,248

)

  (15,596

)

  (28,844

)

 (14,821) (6,336)      (21,157)

Treatment costs

  12,067   440   422       12,929   682   13,611  10,541  4,978       15,519 

Change in product inventory

  7,675   1,960   (627

)

      9,008   (288

)

  8,720  401  (93)      308 

Reclamation and other costs

  (394

)

  18   (494

)

      (870

)

  (124

)

  (994

)

  (261)  (233)  (94)     (588)

Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits (1)

  48,668   2,418   5,340       56,426   33,269   89,695  49,041  21,110       70,151 

Reclamation and other costs

  666   38   117       821   123   944  848  264       1,112 

Exploration

  1,944   (2

)

  1,495   477   3,914   1,161   5,075  123      435  558 

Sustaining capital

  8,210   119   402   1,105   9,836   13,775   23,611  4,892  5,454      10,346 

General and administrative

              9,529   9,529       9,529              8,007   8,007 

AISC, Before By-product Credits (1)

  59,488   2,573   7,354       80,526   48,328   128,854  54,904  26,828       90,174 

By-product credits:

                             

Zinc

  (27,046

)

  (293

)

          (27,339

)

      (27,339

)

 (22,767) (4,753)      (27,520)

Gold

  (13,907

)

      (8,088

)

      (21,995

)

      (21,995

)

 (20,996)        (20,996)

Lead

  (8,067

)

  (1,102

)

          (9,169

)

      (9,169

)

  (7,020)  (9,775)        (16,795)

Silver

                      (161

)

  (161

)

Total By-product credits

  (49,020

)

  (1,395

)

  (8,088

)

      (58,503

)

  (161

)

  (58,664

)

  (50,783)  (14,528)        (65,311)

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits

 $(352

)

 $1,023  $(2,748

)

     $(2,077

)

 $33,108  $31,031  $(1,742) $6,582  $     $4,840 

AISC, After By-product Credits

 $10,468  $1,178  $(734

)

     $22,023  $48,167  $70,190  $4,121  $12,300  $     $24,863 

Divided by ounces produced

  2,344   88   880       3,312   44      2,585  864       3,449 

Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $20.75  $27.44  $6.07      $17.03  $753.70      $18.98  $24.43  $     $20.34 

By-product credits per ounce

  (20.90

)

  (15.84

)

  (9.19

)

      (17.66

)

  (3.65

)

      (19.65)  (16.81)        (18.94)

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $(0.15

)

 $11.60  $(3.12

)

     $(0.63

)

 $750.05      $(0.67) $7.62  $     $1.40 

AISC, Before By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $25.37  $29.21  $8.36      $24.31  $1,094.86      $21.24  $31.05  $     $26.15 

By-product credits per ounce

  (20.90

)

  (15.84

)

  (9.19

)

      (17.66

)

  (3.65

)

      (19.65)  (16.81)        (18.94)

AISC, After By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $4.47  $13.37  $(0.83

)

     $6.65  $1,091.21      $1.59  $14.24  $     $7.21 

 

 

In thousands (except per ounce amounts)

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2016

  

Three Months Ended March 31, 2021

 
 

Greens

Creek

  

Lucky

Friday(2)

  

San

Sebastian

  

Corporate(3)

  

Total

Silver

  

Casa

Berardi

(Gold)

  

Total

  

Casa

Berardi (5)

 

Nevada

Operations (6)

  

Total

Gold

 

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

 $58,397  $19,484  $6,532      $84,413  $36,295  $120,708 

Total cost of sales

 $62,516  $7,455  $69,971 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

  (16,091

)

  (2,946

)

  (677

)

      (19,714

)

  (10,465

)

  (30,179

)

 (25,541) (2,633) (28,174)

Treatment costs

  15,114   5,211   348       20,673   218   20,891  714  11  725 

Change in product inventory

  (10,407

)

  (46

)

  930       (9,523

)

  3,460   (6,063

)

 (47) (1,084) (1,131)

Reclamation and other costs

  2,273   (171

)

  (140

)

      1,962   (115

)

  1,847  (208) (27) (235)

Cash costs excluded

    (115)  (115)

Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits (1)

  49,286   21,532   6,993       77,811   29,393   107,204  37,434  3,607  41,041 

Reclamation and other costs

  682   165   42       889   117   1,006  208  27  235 

Exploration

  349      1,051   421   1,821   655   2,476  907    907 

Sustaining capital

  14,162   9,725   506   76   24,469   16,078   40,547  7,758  89  7,847 

General and administrative

              11,155   11,155       11,155          

AISC, Before By-product Credits (1)

  64,479   31,422   8,592       116,145   46,243   162,388  46,307  3,723  50,030 

By-product credits:

                                   

Zinc

  (17,152

)

  (4,201

)

          (21,353

)

      (21,353

)

Gold

  (13,807

)

      (10,922

)

      (24,729

)

      (24,729

)

Lead

  (6,577

)

  (9,284

)

          (15,861

)

      (15,861

)

Silver

                      (162

)

  (162

)

  (278)    (278)

Total By-product credits

  (37,536

)

  (13,485

)

  (10,922

)

      (61,943

)

  (162

)

  (62,105

)

  (278)    (278)

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits

 $11,750  $8,047  $(3,929

)

     $15,868  $29,231  $45,099  $37,156  $3,607  $40,763 

AISC, After By-product Credits

 $26,943  $17,937  $(2,330

)

     $54,202  $46,081  $100,283  $46,029  $3,723  $49,752 

Divided by ounces produced

  2,445   887   976       4,308   32      36  3  39 

Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $20.15  $24.26  $7.16      $18.06  $920.00      $1,035  $1,416  $1,059 

By-product credits per ounce

  (15.35

)

  (15.19

)

  (11.19

)

      (14.38

)

  (5.07

)

      (8)    (7)

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $4.80  $9.07  $(4.03

)

     $3.68  $914.93      $1,027  $1,416  $1,052 

AISC, Before By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $26.37  $35.41  $8.80      $26.96  $1,447.40      $1,280  $1,461  $1,291 

By-product credits per ounce

  (15.35

)

  (15.19

)

  (11.19

)

      (14.38

)

  (5.07

)

      (8)    (7)

AISC, After By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $11.02  $20.22  $(2.39

)

     $12.58  $1,442.33      $1,272  $1,461  $1,284 

 

 

In thousands (except per ounce amounts)

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017

 
  

Greens

Creek

  

Lucky

Friday(2)

  

San

Sebastian

  

Corporate(3)

  

Total

Silver

  

Casa

Berardi

(Gold)

  

Total

 

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

 $140,241  $14,542  $18,377      $173,160  $134,742  $307,902 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

  (39,442

)

  (2,433

)

  (2,036

)

      (43,911

)

  (39,454

)

  (83,365

)

Treatment costs

  37,621   4,257   906       42,784   1,774   44,558 

Change in product inventory

  5,398   1,811   (192

)

      7,017   881   7,898 

Reclamation and other costs

  (1,474

)

  (163

)

  (1,089

)

      (2,726

)

  (354

)

  (3,080

)

Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits (1)

  142,344   18,014   15,966       176,324   97,589   273,913 

Reclamation and other costs

  1,999   217   351       2,567   353   2,920 

Exploration

  3,339   (1

)

  4,984   1,307   9,629   3,029   12,658 

Sustaining capital

  24,895   4,109   2,379   2,275   33,658   38,245   71,903 

General and administrative

              29,044   29,044       29,044 

AISC, Before By-product Credits (1)

  172,577   22,339   23,680       251,222   139,216   390,438 

By-product credits:

                            

Zinc

  (72,472

)

  (4,353

)

          (76,825

)

      (76,825

)

Gold

  (42,675

)

      (24,032

)

      (66,707

)

      (66,707

)

Lead

  (22,696

)

  (8,599

)

          (31,295

)

      (31,295

)

Silver

                      (450

)

  (450

)

Total By-product credits

  (137,843

)

  (12,952

)

  (24,032

)

      (174,827

)

  (450

)

  (175,277

)

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits

 $4,501  $5,062  $(8,066

)

     $1,497  $97,139  $98,636 

AISC, After By-product Credits

 $34,734  $9,387  $(352

)

     $76,395  $138,766  $215,161 

Divided by ounces produced

  6,206   769   2,498       9,473   113     

Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $22.94  $23.42  $6.39      $18.62  $862.02     

By-product credits per ounce

  (22.21

)

  (16.84

)

  (9.62

)

      (18.46

)

  (3.97

)

    

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $0.73  $6.58  $(3.23

)

     $0.16  $858.05     

AISC, Before By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $27.81  $29.05  $9.48      $26.52  $1,229.72     

By-product credits per ounce

  (22.21

)

  (16.84

)

  (9.62

)

      (18.46

)

  (3.97

)

    

AISC, After By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $5.60  $12.21  $(0.14

)

     $8.06  $1,225.75     

In thousands (except per ounce amounts)

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2021

 
  

Total Silver

  

Total Gold

  

Total

 

Total cost of sales

 $76,069  $69,971  $146,040 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

  (21,157)  (28,174)  (49,331)

Treatment costs

  15,519   725   16,244 

Change in product inventory

  308   (1,131)  (823)

Reclamation and other costs

  (588)  (235)  (823)

Cash costs excluded

     (115)  (115)

Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits (1)

  70,151   41,041   111,192 

Reclamation and other costs

  1,112   235   1,347 

Exploration

  558   907   1,465 

Sustaining capital

  10,346   7,847   18,193 

General and administrative

  8,007      8,007 

AISC, Before By-product Credits (1)

  90,174   50,030   140,204 

By-product credits:

            

Zinc

  (27,520)     (27,520)

Gold

  (20,996)     (20,996)

Lead

  (16,795)     (16,795)

Silver

      (278)  (278)

Total By-product credits

  (65,311)  (278)  (65,589)

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits

 $4,840  $40,763  $45,603 

AISC, After By-product Credits

 $24,863  $49,752  $74,615 

Divided by ounces produced

  3,449   39     

Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $20.34  $1,059     

By-product credits per ounce

  (18.94)  (7)    

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $1.40  $1,052     

AISC, Before By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $26.15  $1,291     

By-product credits per ounce

  (18.94)  (7)    

AISC, After By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $7.21  $1,284     

 

 

In thousands (except per ounce amounts)

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2016

  

Three Months Ended March 31, 2020

 
 

Greens

Creek

  

Lucky

Friday(2)

  

San

Sebastian

  

Corporate(3)

  

Total

Silver

  

Casa

Berardi

(Gold)

  

Total

  

Greens

Creek

  

Lucky

Friday(2)

  

San

Sebastian

  

Corporate(4)

  

Total

Silver

 

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

 $146,984  $56,696  $23,435      $227,115  $106,639  $333,754 

Total cost of sales

 $49,182  $2,832  $8,300     $60,314 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

  (40,746

)

  (8,775

)

  (2,508

)

      (52,029

)

  (32,563

)

  (84,592

)

 (12,429) (302) (1,473)    (14,204)

Treatment costs

  46,069   15,323   1,193       62,585   627   63,212  15,826  432  104     16,362 

Change in product inventory

  (6,083

)

  (1,102

)

  1,743       (5,442

)

  4,212   (1,230

)

 2,870  914  253     4,037 

Reclamation and other costs

  348   (556

)

  (1,583

)

      (1,791

)

  (344

)

  (2,135

)

 319    (361)    (42)

Exclusion of Lucky Friday costs

     (3,876)        (3,876)

Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits (1)

  146,572   61,586   22,280       230,438   78,571   309,009  55,768    6,823     62,591 

Reclamation and other costs

  2,045   495   126       2,666   345   3,011  788    114     902 

Exploration

  1,368      2,349   1,286   5,003   2,280   7,283  4    767  350  1,121 

Sustaining capital

  35,199   32,203   1,494   486   69,382   48,860   118,242  5,510    56    5,566 

General and administrative

              31,728   31,728       31,728              8,939   8,939 

AISC, Before By-product Credits (1)

  185,184   94,284   26,249       339,217   130,056   469,273  62,070    7,760     79,119 

By-product credits:

                             

Zinc

  (52,104

)

  (10,685

)

          (62,789

)

      (62,789

)

 (16,026)        (16,026)

Gold

  (42,017

)

      (33,961

)

      (75,978

)

      (75,978

)

 (17,197)   (4,429)    (21,626)

Lead

  (19,598

)

  (25,485

)

          (45,083

)

      (45,083

)

  (6,926)           (6,926)

Silver

                      (409

)

  (409

)

Total By-product credits

  (113,719

)

  (36,170

)

  (33,961

)

      (183,850

)

  (409

)

  (184,259

)

  (40,149)     (4,429)     (44,578)

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits

 $32,853  $25,416  $(11,681

)

     $46,588  $78,162  $124,750  $15,619  $  $2,394     $18,013 

AISC, After By-product Credits

 $71,465  $58,114  $(7,712

)

     $155,367  $129,647  $285,014  $21,921  $  $3,331     $34,541 

Divided by ounces produced

  7,021   2,722   3,434       13,177   104      2,776    347     3,123 

Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $20.88  $22.63  $6.49      $17.49  $753.45      $20.09  $  $19.67     $20.04 

By-product credits per ounce

  (16.20

)

  (13.29

)

  (9.89

)

      (13.95

)

  (3.92

)

      (14.46)     (12.76)     (14.27)

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $4.68  $9.34  $(3.40

)

     $3.54  $749.53      $5.63  $  $6.91     $5.77 

AISC, Before By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $26.38  $34.64  $7.64      $25.74  $1,247.15      $22.36  $  $22.35     $25.33 

By-product credits per ounce

  (16.20

)

  (13.29

)

  (9.89

)

      (13.95

)

  (3.92

)

      (14.46)     (12.76)     (14.27)

AISC, After By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $10.18  $21.35  $(2.25

)

     $11.79  $1,243.23      $7.90  $  $9.59      11.06 

In thousands (except per ounce amounts)

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

2020

 
  

Casa

Berardi

  

Nevada

Operations

  

Total

Gold

 

Total cost of sales

 $48,325  $16,914  $65,239 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

  (16,397)  (9,065)  (25,462)

Treatment costs

  574   26   600 

Change in product inventory

  1,608   5,280   6,888 

Reclamation and other costs

  (97)  (326)  (423)

Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits (1)

  34,013   12,829   46,842 

Reclamation and other costs

  96   327   423 

Exploration

  691   85   776 

Sustaining capital

  8,506   826   9,332 

AISC, Before By-product Credits (1)

  43,306   14,067   57,373 

By-product credits:

            

Silver

  (100)  (353)  (453)

Total By-product credits

  (100)  (353)  (453)

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits

 $33,913  $12,476  $46,389 

AISC, After By-product Credits

 $43,206  $13,714  $56,920 

Divided by ounces produced

  27   17   44 

Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $1,272  $756  $1,071 

By-product credits per ounce

  (4)  (21)  (10)

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $1,268  $735  $1,061 

AISC, Before By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $1,619  $829  $1,312 

By-product credits per ounce

  (4)  (21)  (10)

AISC, After By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $1,615  $808  $1,302 

In thousands (except per ounce amounts)

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2020

 
  

Total Silver

  

Total Gold

  

Total

 

Total cost of sales

 $60,314  $65,239  $125,553 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

  (14,204)  (25,462)  (39,666)

Treatment costs

  16,362   600   16,962 

Change in product inventory

  4,037   6,888   10,925 

Reclamation and other costs

  (42)  (423)  (465)

Exclusion of Lucky Friday costs

  (3,876)     (3,876)

Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits (1)

  62,591   46,842   109,433 

Reclamation and other costs

  902   423   1,325 

Exploration

  1,121   776   1,897 

Sustaining capital

  5,566   9,332   14,898 

General and administrative

  8,939      8,939 

AISC, Before By-product Credits (1)

  79,119   57,373   136,492 

By-product credits:

            

Zinc

  (16,026)     (16,026)

Gold

  (21,626)     (21,626)

Lead

  (6,926)     (6,926)

Silver

  0   (453)  (453)

Total By-product credits

  (44,578)  (453)  (45,031)

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits

 $18,013  $46,389  $64,402 

AISC, After By-product Credits

 $34,541  $56,920  $91,461 

Divided by ounces produced

  3,123   44     

Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $20.04  $1,071     

By-product credits per ounce

  (14.27)  (10)    

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $5.77  $1,061     

AISC, Before By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $25.33  $1,312     

By-product credits per ounce

  (14.27)  (10)    

AISC, After By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $11.06  $1,302     

 

(1)

Includes all direct and indirect operating costs related 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,royalties, before by-product revenues earned from all metals other than the primary metal produced at each unit.  AISC, Before By-product Credits also includes on-site exploration, reclamation, and sustaining capital costs.

 

(2)

The unionized employees at Lucky Friday have beenwere on strike sincefrom March 13, 2017 until January 2020, and production at Lucky Friday hashad been limited since that time. Forfrom the first nine monthsstart of 2017, coststhe strike until the ramp-up was substantially completed in the fourth quarter of 2020. Costs related to suspension of full productionramp-up activities totaling approximately $11.1$6.3 million, along with $3.3$1.8 million in non-cash depreciation expense, for that period,in the first quarter of 2020 have been excluded from the calculations of cost of sales and other direct production costs and depreciation, depletion and amortization, Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits, Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, AISC, Before By-product Credits, Cash Cost,and AISC, After By-product Credits, AISC, Before By-product Credits, and AISC, After By-product Credits.

 

(3)

Mining at San Sebastian was completed in the third quarter of 2020, and milling was completed in the fourth quarter of 2020. Suspension-related costs at San Sebastian totaling $0.7 million for the first quarter of 2021 are reported in a separate line item on our consolidated statements of operations and excluded from the calculations of cost of sales and other direct production costs and depreciation, depletion and amortization, Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits, Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, AISC, Before By-product Credits, for our consolidated silver properties includes corporate costs for general and administrative expense, exploration and sustaining capital.AISC, After By-product Credits.

 

(4)

AISC, Before By-product Credits for our consolidated silver properties includes corporate costs for general and administrative expense, exploration and sustaining capital.

(5)

In late March 2020, the Government of Quebec ordered the mining industry to reduce to minimum operations as part of the fight against the COVID-19 virus, causing us to suspend our Casa Berardi operations from approximately March 24 until April 15, when limited mining operations resumed, resulting in reduced mill throughput. Suspension-related costs totaling $0.9 million for the first quarter of 2020 are reported in a separate line item on our consolidated statements of operations and excluded from the calculations of cost of sales and other direct production costs and depreciation, depletion and amortization, Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits, Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, AISC, Before By-product Credits, and AISC, After By-product Credits.

(6)

Production was suspended at the Hollister and Midas mines and Aurora mill in the latter part of 2019. Suspension-related costs at Nevada Operations totaling $3.6 million and $4.0 million for the first quarters of 2021 and 2020, respectively, are reported in a separate line item on our consolidated statements of operations and excluded from the calculations of cost of sales and other direct production costs and depreciation, depletion and amortization, Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits, Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, AISC, Before By-product Credits, and AISC, After By-product Credits.

 

Financial Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

We have a disciplined cash management strategy of maintaining financial flexibility to execute our capital priorities and provide long-term value to our shareholders. Consistent with that strategy, we aim to reduce our net debt and maintain sufficient liquidity to fund debt service costs, operations, capital development and exploration projects, while returning cash to stockholders through dividends and potential share repurchases.

At March 31, 2021, we had $139.8 million in cash and cash equivalents, of which $16.8 million was held in foreign subsidiaries' local currency denominated accounts readily convertible to U.S. dollars that, if repatriated, may be subject to withholding taxes. We expect that there would be no additional tax burden upon repatriation after considering the cash cost associated with the withholding taxes. We believe that our liquidity and capital resources from our U.S. operations are adequate to fund our U.S. operations and corporate activities.

Our liquid assets include (in millions):

 

 

September 30, 2017

  

December 31, 2016

  

March 31, 2021

  

December 31, 2020

 

Cash and cash equivalents held in U.S. dollars

 $146.4  $156.1  $123.0  $116.4 

Cash and cash equivalents held in foreign currency

  26.5   13.7   16.8   13.4 

Total cash and cash equivalents

  172.9   169.8  139.8  129.8 

Marketable debt securities - current

  33.0   29.1 

Marketable equity securities - non-current

  7.1   5.0 

Marketable equity securities, current and non-current

  11.7   19.3 

Total cash, cash equivalents and investments

 $213.0  $203.9  $151.5  $149.1 

 

Cash and cash equivalents increased by $3.1$10.0 million in the first ninethree months of 2017,2021 as discussed below.a result of operational performance. Cash held in foreign currencies represents balances in Canadian dollarsCAD and Mexican pesos ("MXN"), with the $12.8a $3.4 million increase in the first nine monthsquarter of 20172021 resulting from increasesan increase in both currenciesCAD held. Current marketable debt securities increased by $3.9 million (discussed below) and non-currentThe value of marketable equity securities increaseddecreased by $2.1 million (see Note 2 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for more information).$7.6 million.

 

As discussed in Note 9 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited), on April 12, 2013,On February 19, 2020, we completed an offering of Senior Notes in the total principal amount of US$500USD$475 million which have a total principal balance of $506.5 million as of September 30, 2017. The Senior Notes are due May 1, 2021February 15, 2028 and bear interest at a rate of 6.875%7.25% per year from the most recent payment date to which interest has been paid or provided for.  Interest onIn July 2020, we agreed to issue our Series 2020-A Senior Notes due July 9, 2025 (the “IQ Notes”) for CAD$50 million (approximately USD$36.8 million at the Senior Notestime of the transaction) in aggregate principal, which mature in July 2025 and bear interest at a rate of 6.515% per year. We also have a $250 million revolving credit facility, with interest is payable on May 1amounts drawn at an annual rate of between 2.25% and November 14.00% over the London Interbank Offered Rate, or between 1.25% and 3.00% over an alternative base rate. There was no amount outstanding under the revolving credit facility as of each year, commencing November 1, 2013, and we have made all interest payments payable to date.

InMarch 31, 2021, with the third quarterexception of 2015, we made a development decision to mine near surface, high grade portions$20.3 million utilized for letters of the silver and gold deposits at our San Sebastian project in Mexico and commenced ore production at the end of 2015.  As a result, San Sebastian has generated positive cash flows since the start of production there. In January 2017, we initiated work to develop and rehabilitate underground access which, upon completion, is expected to allow us to mine deeper portions of the deposits at San Sebastian. We currently anticipate San Sebastian will continue to generate positive cash flows until early or mid-2020.  However, our costs could change, and our ability to generate cash flow at San Sebastian could be impacted by changes in precious metals prices or other factors, and there can be no assurance that we will be able to develop and operate San Sebastian as anticipated.

As further discussed in the Lucky Friday Segment section above, the union employees at Lucky Friday have been on strike since March 13, 2017. Production at Lucky Friday was suspended from the start of the strike until July 2017, with limited production resuming at that time. We cannot predict how long the strike will last or whether an agreement will be reached. We expect to incur cash expenditures of approximately $1.0 million to $1.5 million per month to advance engineering and infrastructure for the restart of full production, in addition to costs related to limited interim production. As a result of the strike or other related events, operations at Lucky Friday could continue to be disrupted, which could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

As discussed in credit. See Note 87 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited), in February 2016 we entered into an equity distribution agreement under which we may issue and sell shares offor more information on our common stock from time to time having an aggregate offering price of up to $75 million, with the net proceeds available for general corporate purposes. Whether or not we engage in sales from time to time may depend on a variety of factors, including share price, our cash resources, customary black-out restrictions, and whether we have any material inside information, and the agreement can be terminated by us at any time. As of September 30, 2017, we had sold 4,608,847 shares through the at-the-market program for net proceeds of $17.7 million, including 1,828,760 shares sold in the first nine months of 2017 for total proceeds of approximately $9.6 million. In July 2017, we used $5.7 million of the proceeds from shares sold in the second quarter of 2017 to fund contributions to our defined benefit pension plans.debt arrangements.

 

We continue to address the COVID-19 outbreak and face uncertainty related to the potential additional impact it could have on our operations. It is possible that future restrictions at any of our operations could have an adverse impact on operations or financial results, including materially so, beyond 2021. We have taken precautionary measures to mitigate the impact of COVID-19, including implementing revised operational plans. As long as they are required, the revised operational practices could continue to have an adverse impact on our operating results due to deferred production and revenues or additional costs. If required, increasing or prolonged restrictions on our operations could require access to additional sources of liquidity, which may not be available to us. See Item 1A. Risk Factors - Natural disasters, public health crises, political crises (including COVID-19), and other catastrophic events or other events outside of our control may materially and adversely affect our business or financial results and COVID-19 virus pandemic may heighten other risks in our 2020 Form 10-K for information on how restrictions related to COVID-19 have affected some of our operations.

 

Pursuant to our common stock dividend policy described in Note 810 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited),in our 2020 Form 10-K, our Board of Directors declared and paid dividends on common stock totaling $3.0 million and $2.9$4.7 million in the first nine monthsquarter of 20172021 and 2016, respectively. On November 7, 2017, our Board$1.3 million in the first quarter of Directors declared a dividend on common stock totaling $1.0 million payable in December 2017.2020.  Our dividend policy has a silver-price-linkedsilver-linked component which ties the amount of declared common stock dividends to our realized silver price for the preceding quarter.  Another component of our common stock dividend policy anticipates paying an annual minimum dividend. During May 2021, our Board of Directors approved an increase in our silver-linked dividend by $0.01 per year and approved a quarterly silver-linked dividend of $0.075 based on the first quarter of 2021 realized silver price of $25.66. The table below provides an overview of the augmented silver-linked dividend policy and the increased minimum dividends.

Quarterly Average Realized Silver Price per Ounce

  

Quarterly Silver-Linked Dividend per Share

  

Annualized Silver-Linked Dividend per Share

  

Annualized Minimum Dividend

  

Annualized Dividends per Share: Silver-Linked and Minimum

 
$25  $0.0075  $0.03  $0.015  $0.045 
$30  $0.0125  $0.05  $0.015  $0.065 
$35  $0.0225  $0.09  $0.015  $0.105 
$40  $0.0325  $0.13  $0.015  $0.145 
$45  $0.0425  $0.17  $0.015  $0.185 
$50  $0.0525  $0.21  $0.015  $0.225 

The declaration and payment of dividends on common stock is at the sole discretion of our board of directors, and there can be no assurance that we will continue to declare and pay common stock dividends in the future.

 

On May 8, 2012, we announced thatPursuant to our board of directors approved a stock repurchase program.  Under the program described in Note 10 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in our 2020 Form 10-K, we are authorized to repurchase up to 20 million shares of our outstanding common stock from time to time in open market or privately negotiated transactions, depending on prevailing market conditions and other factors.  The repurchase program may be modified, suspended or discontinued by us at any time. Whether or not we engage in repurchases from time to time may depend on a variety of factors, including not only price and cash resources, but customary black-out restrictions, whether we have any material inside information, limitations on share repurchases or cash usage that may be imposed by our credit agreement or in connection with issuances of securities, alternative uses for cash, applicable law, and other investment opportunities from time to time. As of September 30, 2017,March 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, 934,100 shares havehad been purchased in prior periods at an average price of $3.99 per share, leaving 19.1 million shares that may yet be purchased under the program. We have not repurchased any shares since June 2014. The closing price of our common stock at November 3, 2017,May 4, 2021, was $4.45$6.25 per share.

Pursuant to an equity distribution agreement dated February 18, 2021, we may offer and sell up to 60 million shares of our common stock from time to time to or through sales agents. Sales of the shares, if any, will be made by means of ordinary brokers transactions or as otherwise agreed between the Company and the agents as principals. Whether or not we engage in sales from time to time may depend on a variety of factors, including share price, our cash resources, customary black-out restrictions, and whether we have any material inside information. The agreement can be terminated by us at any time. Any shares issued under the equity distribution agreement are registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to a shelf registration statement on Form S-3. No shares have been sold under the agreement as of March 31, 2021.

 

We may defer some capital investment and/or exploration and pre-development activities, engage in asset sales or secure additional capital if necessary to maintain liquidity. We also may pursue additional acquisition opportunities, which could require additional equity issuances or other forms of financing. There can be no assurance that such financing will be available to us.

 

As a result of our current cash balances, the performance of our current and expected operations, current metals prices, proceeds from potential at-the-market sales of common stock, and availability of approximately $97 million of our revolving credit facility, we believe our cash, cash equivalents, investments, projected cash from operations, and availability of financing, if needed,we will be adequateable to meet our obligations and other potential cash requirements during the next 12 months.months from the date of this report. Our obligations and other uses of cash may include, but are not limited to: debt service obligations related to the Senior Notes and IQ Notes; principal and interest payments under our revolving credit facility; deferral of revenues, care-and-maintenance and other costs related to addressing the impacts of COVID-19 on our operations; capital expenditures at our operations,operations; potential acquisitions of other mining companies or properties,properties; regulatory matters, litigation,matters; litigation; potential repurchases of our common stock under the program described above,above; and payment of dividends on common stock, if declared by our board of directors. We currently estimate a total of approximately $110 million will be spent in 2021 on capital expenditures, will total between $105primarily for equipment, infrastructure, and $110 million in 2017,development at our mines, including $70.4$21.4 million already incurred as of September 30, 2017.March 31, 2021.  We also estimate combined exploration and pre-development expenditures will total between $25 million and $30approximately $38.5 million in 2017,2021, including $21.7$6.7 million already incurred as of September 30, 2017. However, capital, exploration,March 31, 2021. Our expenditures for these items and pre-development expendituresour related plans for 2021 may change based upon our financial position, metals prices, and other considerations. Our ability to fund the activities described above will depend on our operating performance, metals prices, our costs (and our ability to estimate future costs),revenues and costs, sources of liquidity available to us, including the revolving credit facility, and other factors. A sustained downturn in metals prices, or significant increase in operational or capital costs or other uses of cash, our inability to access the credit facility or the sources of liquidity discussed above, or other factors beyond our control could impact our plans.

 

  

Nine Months Ended

 
  

September 30,

2017

  

September 30,

2016

 

Cash provided by operating activities (in millions)

 $74.1  $173.1 

  

Three Months Ended

 
  

March 31, 2021

  

March 31, 2020

 

Cash provided by operating activities (in millions)

 $37.9  $4.9 

 

Cash provided by operating activities in the first nine monthsquarter of 2017 decreased2021 increased by $99.0$33.0 million compared to the same period in 2016first quarter of 2020. The increase was due to lowera higher net income, as adjusted for non-cash items, resulting primarilygenerated from reduced gross profit at our San Sebastian, Casa Berardihigher metal sales volumes and Lucky Friday units. In addition, working capitalrealized prices, and other operating asset and liability changes resulted in a net cash flow decrease of $26.4 million in the first nine months of 2017 compared to a net increase of $11.6 million in the first nine months of 2016.  The $38.0 million variance in working capital changes is primarily attributable to (i) estimated income tax payments in Mexico in 2017, (ii) higherlower product inventory, due primarily to the timing of shipments at Greens Creek and the strike at Lucky Friday, (iii) lower accruals for incentive compensation, and (iv) reduced accounts payable at Lucky Friday due to completion of the #4 Shaft and the strike. Those factors were partially offset by lower accounts payable and accrued liabilities, the timing of payment of incentive compensation related to prior-year performance and higher accounts receivable also due to the timing of shipments at Greens Creek andconcentrate shipments. In the strike at Lucky Friday. In addition, in the thirdfirst quarter of 2016,2021, we reached a settlementmade interest payments on our Senior Notes and IQ Notes of $17.2 million and $0.9 million, respectively, In the insurance policy for reclamation at the Troy mine resulting in cash proceeds to usfirst quarter of $16.02020, we made interest payments on our previously-outstanding 2021 Notes, upon their redemption, and revolving credit facility of $13.3 million which was partially offset by payment of $6.0and $0.6 million, in August 2016 by one of our subsidiaries for settlement of its liability for response costs at a CERCLA/Superfund site.respectively.

 

  

Nine Months Ended

 
  

September 30,

2017

  

September 30,

2016

 

Cash used in investing activities (in millions)

 $(69.2

)

 $(153.3

)

  

Three Months Ended

 
  

March 31, 2021

  

March 31, 2020

 

Cash used in investing activities (in millions)

 $(21.4) $(19.7)

 

During the first nine monthsquarter of 2017,2021 we invested $70.4$21.4 million in capital expenditures not including $6.4compared to $19.9 million in non-cash capital lease additions, a decreasethe first quarter of $49.8 million compared to2020, with the same period in 2016variance primarily due to lower costs for (i) the #4 Shaft project, which was completed in January 2017, (ii) construction of the tailings facility at Greens Creek, and (iii) development of the EMCP pitincreased spending at Casa Berardi.  

  

Three Months Ended

 
  

March 31, 2021

  

March 31, 2020

 

Cash provided by (used in) financing activities (in millions)

 $(6.8) $169.8 

In the first nine monthsquarter of 2017 and 2016, we purchased bonds having maturities of greater than 90 days and less than 365 days with a cost basis of $35.3 million and $31.9 million, respectively, and bonds valued at $31.2 million and $7.2 million matured during the first nine months of 2017 and 2016, respectively. We purchased marketable equity securities having a cost basis of $1.6 million and $0.9 million during the first nine months of 2017 and 2016, respectively. During the first nine months of 2017,2020, we received $5.6$469.5 million in insurance proceeds related collapse of the mill building at the Troy mine in February 2017 due to snow. We recognized a cash outflow for the acquisition of Mines Management, net of cash acquired, of $3.9 million in September 2016. We reduced restricted cash by $1.1 million during the first nine months of 2017 as a result of replacing cash collateral for future reclamation costs with non-cash bonding. During the first nine months of 2016, we incurred an increase in restricted cash of $3.9 million related to the settlement of a CERCLA claim for response costs at a CERCLA/Superfund site by one of our subsidiaries.

  

Nine Months Ended

 
  

September 30,

2017

  

September 30,

2016

 

Cash used in financing activities (in millions)

 $(2.8

)

 $(7.8

)

During the first nine months of 2017 and 2016, we received $9.6 million and $8.1 million, respectively, in net proceeds from the saleissuance of sharesour Senior Notes and drew $210.0 million on our revolving credit facility, and had debt repayments of $506.5 million for redemption of our 2021 Notes. We had no borrowings or repayments of debt in the first quarter of 2021. We paid cash dividends on our common stock underof $4.7 million and $1.3 million in the equity distribution agreement discussed above.first quarter of 2021 and 2020, respectively, and cash dividends of $0.1 million on our Series B Preferred Stock during each of those periods. We made repayments on our capital leases of $5.1$1.9 million and $6.3 million in the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. We also made repayments of debt totaling $0.5 million and $1.8$1.3 million in the first nine monthsquarter of 20172021 and 2016,2020, respectively. During the first nine months of 2017 and 2016, we paid cash dividends on our common stock totaling $3.0 million and $2.9 million, respectively, and cash dividends of $0.4 million in each period on our Series B Preferred Stock. We acquired treasury shares for $3.0 million and $4.4 million in the first nine months of 2017 and 2016, respectively, resulting primarily from our employees' elections to utilize net share settlement to satisfy their tax withholding obligations related to incentive compensation paid in stock and vesting of restricted stock units. See Note 8 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for more information.

Exchange rate fluctuations between the U.S. dollar and the Canadian dollar and Mexican peso resulted in increases in our cash balance of $1.1 million and $0.6 million, respectively, during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.

 

The effect of changes in foreign exchange rates resulted in a $0.2 million increase in cash and cash equivalents in the first quarter of 2021 compared to a decrease of $1.7 million in the first quarter of 2020, with the variance due to strengthening of the CAD and MXN relative to the USD in the 2021 period.

 

Contractual Obligations, Contingent Liabilities and Commitments

 

The table below presents our fixed, non-cancelable contractual obligations and commitments primarily related to our Senior Notes, IQ Notes, credit facility, outstanding purchase orders, certain capital expenditures our credit facilityand lease arrangements as of September 30, 2017March 31, 2021 (in thousands):

 

  

Payments Due By Period

 
  

Less than 1

year

  

1-3 years

  

4-5 years

  

More than

5 years

  

Total

 

Purchase obligations (1)

 $23,100  $  $  $  $23,100 

Commitment fees (2)

  500   942         1,442 

Contractual obligations (3)

  471            471 

Capital lease commitments (4)

  6,293   6,548   1,260      14,101 

Operating lease commitments (5)

  2,993   2,337   1,377   159   6,866 

Supplemental executive retirement plan (6)

  444   1,061   1,439   3,730   6,674 

Senior Notes (7)

  34,822   69,644   526,813      631,279 

Total contractual cash obligations

 $68,623  $80,532  $530,889  $3,889  $683,933 

  

Payments Due By Period

 
  

Less than 1

year

  

1-3 years

  

4-5 years

  

More than

5 years

  

Total

 

Purchase obligations (1)

 $10,162  $  $  $  $10,162 

Contractual obligations (2)

  2,053            2,053 

Credit facility (3)

  1,722   1,477         3,199 

Finance lease commitments (4)

  7,329   8,775   2,076      18,180 

Operating lease commitments (5)

  3,696   4,708   1,074   2,213   11,691 

Supplemental executive retirement plan (6)

  758   1,691   2,575   6,985   12,009 

Senior Notes (7)

  34,438   68,875   68,875   539,570   711,758 

IQ Notes (8)

  2,499   4,998   41,544      49,041 

Total contractual cash obligations

 $62,657  $90,524  $116,144  $548,768  $818,093 

 

 

(1)

Consists of open purchase orders of approximately $20.9$2.8 million at the Greens Creek unit, $0.3$4.0 million at the Lucky Friday unit, and $1.9$0.7 million asat the Casa Berardi unit and $2.7 million at the Nevada Operations unit.

 

 

(2)

As of March 31, 2021, we were committed to approximately $2.1 million for various items.

(3)

We have a $100$250 million revolving credit agreement under which we are required to pay a standby fee of 0.5%between 0.5625% and 1.00% per annum on undrawn amounts and interest of between 2.25% and 4.00% over the London Interbank Offered Rate or between 1.25% and 3.00% over an alternative base rate on drawn amounts under the revolving credit agreement. There was no amount due under the revolvingWe had $20.3 million in letters of credit agreementoutstanding as of September 30, 2017, andMarch 31, 2021. The amounts in the amountstable above assume no additional amounts will be due duringdrawn in future periods, and include only the agreement's term.standby fee on the current undrawn balance. For more information on our credit facility, see Note 97 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).

 

(3)

As of September 30, 2017, we were committed to approximately $0.5 million for various items at Greens Creek. 

 

(4)

Includes scheduled capitalfinance lease payments of $2.9$17.5 million, $3.8$0.4 million and $7.4$0.3 million (including interest), respectively, for equipment at our Greens Creek, Lucky Friday and Casa Berardi units, respectively.  These leases have fixed payment terms and contain bargain purchase options at the end of the lease periods (see Note 9 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for more information).Nevada Operations units.  

 

 

(5)

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.

 

 

(6)

We sponsor defined benefit pension plans covering substantially all U.S. employees and provide certain post-retirement benefits for qualifying retired employees, along with a supplemental executive retirement plan ("SERP"). These amounts represent our estimate of the future fundingbenefit payment requirements for the supplemental executive retirement plan.next 10 years for the SERP as of March 31, 2021. However, in January 2021, we contributed $16.8 million in shares of our common stock to the SERP in order to fund future benefit payments.  We believe we will have future funding requirements related to our defined benefit pension plans and benefit payment obligations for the SERP beyond 10 years; however, such funding requirements are not fixed in nature and are difficult to estimate, as they involve significant assumptions. See Note 74 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for more information.

 

 

(7)

On April 12, 2013,February 19, 2020, we completed an offering of $500$475 million in aggregate principal amount of our Senior Notes due May 1, 2021. See Note 9 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for more information.February 15, 2028. The Senior Notes bear interest at a rate of 6.875%7.25% per year from the original date of issuance or the most recent payment date to which interest has been paid or provided for.  Interest on the Senior Notes is payable on May 1February 15 and November 1August 15 of each year, commencing November 1, 2013, and we have made all interest payments payable to date. Since the initial offering, we have issued an additional $6.5 million in aggregate principal amount of the Senior Notes to fund obligations under our defined benefit pension plans.August 15, 2020. See Note 7and Note 9 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for more information.

 

(8)

On July 9, 2020, we entered into a note purchase agreement pursuant to which we issued our IQ Notes for CAD$50 million (approximately USD$36.8 million at the time of the transaction) in aggregate principal. The IQ Notes were issued at a premium of 103.65%, or CAD$1.8 million, implying an effective annual yield of 5.74% and an aggregate principal amount to be repaid of CAD$48.2 million. The IQ Notes were issued in four equal installments of CAD$12.5 million on July 9, August 9, September 9 and October 9, 2020. The IQ Notes bear interest on amounts outstanding at a rate of 6.515% per year, payable on January 9 and July 9 of each year, commencing January 9, 2021. See Note 7 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for more information.

 

We record liabilities for costs associated with mine closure, reclamation of land and other environmental matters.  At September 30, 2017,March 31, 2021, our liabilities for these matters totaled $87.3$120.3 million. Future expenditures related to closure, reclamation and environmental expenditures at our sites are difficult to estimate, andalthough we anticipate we will incur expenditures relating to these obligations over the next 30 years. For additional information relating to certain of our environmental obligations, see Note 410 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).

 

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

At September 30, 2017,March 31, 2021, 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 would be material to investors.

 

 

Critical Accounting EstimatesGuarantor Subsidiaries

 

Our significant accounting policiesPresented below are described in Part IV, Note 1Hecla’s unaudited interim condensed consolidating financial statements as required by Rule 3-10 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in our annual report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016. As described in Note 1 Regulation S-X of the annual report, we are required to make estimatesSecurities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, resulting from the guarantees by certain of Hecla's subsidiaries of the Senior Notes (see Note 7 for more information). The Guarantors consist of the following of Hecla's 100%-owned subsidiaries: Hecla Limited; Silver Hunter Mining Company; Rio Grande Silver, Inc.; Hecla MC Subsidiary, LLC; Hecla Silver Valley, Inc.; Burke Trading, Inc.; Hecla Montana, Inc.; Revett Silver Company; RC Resources, Inc.; Troy Mine Inc.; Revett Exploration, Inc.; Revett Holdings, Inc.; Mines Management, Inc.; Newhi, Inc.; Montanore Minerals Corp.; Hecla Alaska LLC; Hecla Greens Creek Mining Company; Hecla Admiralty Company; Hecla Juneau Mining Company; Klondex Holdings Inc.; Klondex Gold & Silver Mining Co.; Klondex Midas Holdings Limited; Klondex Aurora Mine Inc.; Klondex Hollister Mine Inc; and assumptions that affectHecla Quebec, Inc.. We completed the reported amounts and related disclosuresoffering of assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses. Our estimates are basedthe Senior Notes on February 19, 2020 under 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; mineral reserves; and accounting for business combinations, as they require us to make assumptions that are highly uncertain at the time the accounting estimates are 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 estimatesshelf registration statement previously filed 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.

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. Metals prices are also an important component in the estimation of reserves.  As shown under Part I, Item 1A. – Risk Factors in our annual report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, metals prices have historically been volatile. Silver demand arises from investment demand, particularly in exchange-traded funds, industrial demand, and consumer demand. Gold demand arises primarily from investment and consumer demand.  Investment demand for silver and gold can be influenced by several factors, including:  the value of the U.S. dollar and other currencies, changing U.S. budget deficits, widening availability of exchange-traded funds, interest rate levels, the health of credit markets, and inflationary expectations.  Uncertainty related to the political environment in the U.S., Britain's exit from the European Union and a global economic recovery, including recent uncertainty in China, could result in continued investment demand for precious metals.  Industrial demand for silver is closely linked to world Gross Domestic Product growth and industrial fabrication levels, as it is difficult to substitute for silver in industrial fabrication.  Consumer demand is driven significantly by demand for jewelry and other retail products. We believe that long-term industrial and economic trends, including urbanization and growth of the middle class in countries such as China and India, will result in continued consumer demand for silver and gold and industrial demand for silver.  However, China has recently experienced a lower rate of economic growth which could continue in the near term. There can be no assurance whether these trends will continue or how they will impact prices of the metals we produce. In the past, we have recorded impairments to our asset carrying value because of low prices, and we can offer no assurance that prices will either remain at their current levels or increase. SEC.

 

 

Processes supporting valuationThe unaudited interim condensed consolidating financial statements below have been prepared from our financial information on the same basis of our assets and liabilities thataccounting as the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements set forth elsewhere in this report. Investments in the subsidiaries are most significantly affected by prices include analysis of asset carrying values, depreciation, reserves, and deferred income taxes. On at least an annual basis - and more frequently if circumstances warrant - we examine our depreciation rates, reserve estimates, andaccounted for under the valuation allowances on our deferred tax assets. We examineequity method. Accordingly, the carrying values of our assets as changes in facts and circumstances warrant.  In our evaluation of carrying values and deferred taxes, we apply several pricing viewsentries necessary to our forecasting model, including current prices, analyst price estimates, forward-curve prices, and historical prices (see Mineral Reserves, below, regarding prices used for reserve estimates). Using applicable accounting guidanceconsolidate Hecla, the Guarantors, and our viewnon-guarantor subsidiaries are reflected in the intercompany eliminations column. In the course of metals markets,preparing consolidated financial statements, we useeliminate the probability-weighted averageeffects of various transactions conducted between Hecla and its subsidiaries and among the subsidiaries. While valid at an individual subsidiary level, such activities are eliminated in consolidation because, when taken as a whole, they do not represent business activity with third-party customers, vendors, and other parties. Examples of such eliminations include the following:

Investments in subsidiaries. The acquisition of a company results in an investment in debt or equity capital on the records of the parent company and a contribution to debt or equity capital on the records of the subsidiary. Such investments and capital contributions are eliminated in consolidation.

Capital contributions. Certain of Hecla's subsidiaries do not generate cash flow, either at all or that is sufficient to meet their capital needs, and their cash requirements are routinely met with inter-company advances from their parent companies. Generally on an annual basis, when not otherwise intended as debt, the boards of directors of such parent companies declare contributions of capital to their subsidiary companies, which increase the parents' investment and the subsidiaries' additional paid-in capital. In consolidation, investments in subsidiaries and related additional paid-in capital are eliminated.

Debt.  At times, inter-company debt agreements have been established between certain of Hecla's subsidiaries and their parents. The related debt liability and receivable balances, accrued interest expense (if any) and income activity (if any), and payments of principal and accrued interest amounts (if any) by the subsidiary companies to their parents are eliminated in consolidation.

Dividends.  Certain of Hecla's subsidiaries which generate cash flow routinely provide cash to their parent companies through inter-company transfers. On at least an annual basis, the boards of directors of such subsidiary companies declare dividends to their parent companies, which reduces the subsidiaries' retained earnings and increases the parents' dividend income. In consolidation, such activity is eliminated.

Deferred taxes. Our ability to realize deferred tax assets and liabilities is considered for two consolidated tax groups of subsidiaries within the United States: The Nevada U.S. Group and the Hecla U.S. Group. Within each tax group, all subsidiaries' estimated future taxable income contributes to the ability of their tax group to realize all such assets and liabilities. However, when Hecla's subsidiaries are viewed independently, we use the separate return method to assess the realizability of each subsidiary's deferred tax assets and whether a valuation allowance is required against such deferred tax assets. In some instances, a parent company or subsidiary may possess deferred tax assets whose realization depends on the future taxable incomes of other subsidiaries on a consolidated-return basis, but would not be considered realizable if such parent or subsidiary filed on a separate stand-alone basis. In such a situation, a valuation allowance is assessed on that subsidiary's deferred tax assets, with the resulting adjustment reported in the eliminations column of the guarantor and parent's financial statements, as is the case in the unaudited interim financial statements set forth below. The separate return method can result in significant eliminations of deferred tax assets and liabilities and related income tax provisions and benefits. Non-current deferred tax asset balances are included in other non-current assets on the consolidating balance sheets and make up a large portion of that item, particularly for the guarantor balances.

Separate financial statements of the various methodsGuarantors are not presented because the guarantees by the Guarantors are joint and several and full and unconditional, except for certain customary release provisions, including: (1) the sale or disposal of all or substantially all of the assets of the Guarantor; (2) the sale or other disposition of the capital stock of the Guarantor; (3) the Guarantor is designated as an unrestricted entity in accordance with the applicable provisions of the indenture; (4) Hecla ceases to determine whether the values of our assets are fairly stated, and to determine the level of valuation allowances, if any, on our deferred tax assets.  In addition, estimates of future metals prices are usedbe a borrower as defined in the valuation of certain assets in the determinationindenture; and (5) upon legal or covenant defeasance or satisfaction and discharge of the purchase price allocations for our acquisitions (see Business Combinations below).indenture.

Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets

  

As of March 31, 2021

 
  

Parent

  

Guarantors

  

Non-

Guarantors

  

Eliminations

  

Consolidated

 
  

(in thousands)

 

Assets

                    

Cash and cash equivalents

 $95,223  $16,876  $27,651  $  $139,750 

Other current assets

  7,378   149,096   1,763   (70)  158,167 

Properties, plants, equipment and mineral interests - net

  1,913   2,310,363   8,271      2,320,547 

Intercompany receivable (payable)

  (139,294)  (367,504)  220,389   286,409    

Investments in subsidiaries

  1,768,493         (1,768,493)   

Other non-current assets

  306,995   20,305   (121,813)  (168,874)  36,613 

Total assets

 $2,040,708  $2,129,136  $136,261  $(1,651,028) $2,655,077 

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

                    

Current liabilities

 $(233,794) $184,713  $5,705  $152,494  $109,118 

Long-term debt

  507,992   17,088   170      525,250 

Non-current portion of accrued reclamation

     107,055   6,616      113,671 

Non-current deferred tax liability

  15,384   168,865      (35,029)  149,220 

Other non-current liabilities

  26,251   5,992   700      32,943 

Stockholders' equity

  1,724,875   1,645,423 �� 123,070   (1,768,493)  1,724,875 

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

 $2,040,708  $2,129,136  $136,261  $(1,651,028) $2,655,077 

Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations

  

Three Months Ended March 31, 2021

 
  

Parent

  

Guarantors

  

Non-

Guarantors

  

Eliminations

  

Consolidated

 
  

(in thousands)

 

Sales

 $2,846  $207,833  $173  $  $210,852 

Cost of sales

  559   (97,160)  (108)     (96,709)

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     (49,331)        (49,331)

General and administrative

  (3,113)  (4,779)  (115)     (8,007)

Exploration and pre-development

     (4,892)  (1,798)     (6,690)

Gain on derivative contracts

  473            473 

Equity in earnings of subsidiaries

  14,566         (14,566)   

Other (expense) income

  4,292   (18,956)  (5,102)  (7,217)  (26,983)

(Loss) income before income and mining taxes

  19,623   32,715   (6,950)  (21,783)  23,605 

Income and mining tax (provision) benefit

  (652)  (11,850)  651   7,217   (4,634)

Net income (loss)

  18,971   20,865   (6,299)  (14,566)  18,971 

Preferred stock dividends

  (138)           (138)

Income (loss) applicable to common stockholders

  18,833   20,865   (6,299)  (14,566)  18,833 

Net income (loss)

  18,971   20,865   (6,299)  (14,566)  18,971 

Changes in comprehensive income (loss)

  1,832            1,832 

Comprehensive income (loss)

 $20,803  $20,865  $(6,299) $(14,566) $20,803 

 

SalesUnaudited Interim Condensed Consolidating Statements of concentrates sold directly to customers are recorded as revenues when title and risk of loss transfer to the customer (generally at the time of shipment) using estimated forward metals prices for the estimated month of settlement. Due to the time elapsed between shipment of concentrates to the customer and final settlement with the customer, we must estimate the prices at which sales of our metals will be settled. Previously recorded sales and trade accounts receivable are adjusted to estimated settlement prices until final settlement by the customer. Changes in metals prices between shipment and final settlement result in changes to revenues and accounts receivable previously recorded upon shipment.  As a result, our trade accounts receivable balances related to concentrate sales are subject to changes in metals prices until final settlement occurs.  For more information, see part N. Revenue Recognition of Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in our annual report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.Cash Flows

 

  

Three Months Ended March 31, 2021

 
  

Parent

  

Guarantors

  

Non-

Guarantors

  

Eliminations

  

Consolidated

 
  

(in thousands)

 

Cash flows from operating activities

 $(27,033) $67,045  $652  $(2,728) $37,936 

Cash flows from investing activities:

                    

Additions to properties, plants, equipment and mineral interests

     (21,413)        (21,413)

Other investing activities, net

  (28,804)     19   28,804   19 

Cash flows from financing activities:

                    

Dividends paid to stockholders

  (4,826)            (4,826)

Payments on debt

     (1,881)         (1,881)

Other financing activity

  66,630   (38,466)  (2,170)  (26,076)  (82)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

     189   (22)     167 

Changes in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents

  5,967   5,474   (1,521)     9,920 

Beginning cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents

  89,256   12,455   29,172      130,883 

Ending cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents

 $95,223  $17,929  $27,651  $  $140,803 

We utilize financially-settled forward contracts to manage our exposure to changes in prices for silver, gold, zinc and lead.  See

Item 7A. – 3.Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk - Commodity-Price Risk Management below for more information on our contract programs.  These contracts do not qualify for hedge accounting and are therefore marked-to-market through earnings each period.  Changes in silver, gold, zinc and lead prices between the dates that the contracts are entered into and their settlements will result in changes to the fair value asset or liability associated with the contracts, with a corresponding gain or loss recognized in earnings.

Obligations for Environmental, Reclamation and Closure Matters

Accrued reclamation and closure costs can represent a significant and variable liability on our balance sheet. We have estimated our liabilities under appropriate accounting guidance, and on at least an annual basis - and more frequently if warranted - management reviews our liabilities with our Audit Committee. However, the ranges of liability could exceed the liabilities recognized. If substantial damages were awarded, claims were settled, or remediation costs incurred 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. – Properties in our annual report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016. Our assessment of reserves occurs at least annually, and periodically utilizes external audits.

Reserves are a key component in the 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 in an effort to ensure that carrying values are reported appropriately. Our forecasts are also used in determining the level of valuation allowances on our deferred tax assets. Reserves also play a key role in the valuation of certain assets in the determination of the purchase price allocations for acquisitions. Annual reserve estimates are also used to determine conversions of mineral assets beyond the known reserve resulting from business combinations to depreciable reserves, in periods subsequent to the business combinations (see Business Combinations below).  Reserves are a culmination of many estimates and are not guarantees that we will recover the indicated quantities of metals or that we will do so at a profitable level.

Business Combinations

We are required to allocate the purchase price of acquired companies to the tangible and intangible assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values at the acquisition date.  The valuation of assets acquired and liabilities assumed requires management to make significant estimates and assumptions, especially with respect to long-lived assets (including mineral assets beyond the known reserve). These estimates include future metals prices and mineral reserves, as discussed above.  Management may also be required to make estimates related to the valuation of deferred tax assets or liabilities as part of the purchase price allocation for business combinations. In some cases, we use third-party appraisers to determine the fair values and lives of property and other identifiable assets. In addition, costs related to business combinations are included in earnings as incurred, and our financial results for periods in which business combinations are pursued could be adversely affected as a result.

Item 3.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

The following discussion about our exposure to market risks and risk management activities includes forward-looking statements that involve riskrisks and uncertainties, andas well as summarizes the financial instruments held by us at September 30, 2017,March 31, 2021, which are sensitive to changes in commodity prices and foreign exchange rates and are not held for trading purposes.  Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements.  In the normal course of business, we also face risks that are either non-financial or non-quantifiable (See Part I, Item 1A. Risk Factors of our annual report filed2020 Form 10-K).

Metals Prices

Changes in the market prices of silver, gold, lead and zinc can significantly affect our profitability and cash flow. Metal prices can and often do fluctuate widely and are affected by numerous factors beyond our control (see Item 1A Risk Factors A substantial or extended decline in metals prices would have a material adverse effect on us in our 2020 Form 10-K ). We utilize financially-settled forward and put option contracts to manage our exposure to changes in prices for the year ended December 31, 2016).silver, gold, zinc and lead.

 

Provisional Sales

 

Sales of all metals products sold directly to customers, including by-product metals, are recorded as revenues when titleall performance obligations have been completed and risk of loss transfers to the customer (generallytransaction price can be determined or reasonably estimated. For concentrate sales, revenues are generally recorded at the time of shipment)shipment at forward prices for the estimated month of settlement. Due to the time elapsed between shipment to the customer and the final settlement with the customer we must estimate the prices at which sales of our metals will be settled. Previously recorded sales are adjusted to estimated settlement metals prices until final settlement by the customer.  Changes in metals prices between shipment and final settlement will result in changes to revenues previously recorded upon shipment.  Metals prices can and often do fluctuate widely and are affected by numerous factors beyond our control (see Part I, Item 1A. 1A Risk Factors A substantial or extended decline in metals prices would have a material adverse effect on us in our annual report filed on2020 Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016)10-K).  At September 30, 2017,March 31, 2021, metals contained in concentratesconcentrate sales and exposed to future price changes totaled approximately 1.52.0 million ounces of silver, 5,5365,523 ounces of gold, 9,9748,831 tons of zinc, and 1,4234,522 tons of lead.  If the price for each metal were to change by 10%, the change in the total value of the concentrates sold would be approximately $6.4$8.8 million.  However, asAs discussed in Commodity-Price Risk Management below, we utilize a program designed and intended to mitigate the risk of negative price adjustments with limited mark-to-market financially-settled forward contracts for our silver, gold, zinc and lead sales.

Commodity-Price Risk Management

 

At times, we use commodity forward sales commitments, commodity swap contractsSee Note 8 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) and commodity putItem 7A. Quantitative and call option contracts to manageQualitative Disclosures About Market Risk in our exposure to fluctuation in the prices of certain metals which we produce. Contract positions are designed to ensure that we will receive2020 Form 10-K for a defined minimum price for certain quantitiesdescription of our production, thereby partially offsetting our exposure to fluctuations in the market. Ourcommodity-price risk management policy allows for up to 75% of our planned metals price exposure for five years into the future, with certain other limitations, to be hedged under such programs. These instruments do, however, expose us to (i) credit risk in the form of possible non-performance by counterparties for contracts in which the contract price exceeds the spot price of a commodity and (ii) price risk to the extent that the spot price exceeds the contract price for quantities of our production covered under contract positions.program.

 

We are currently using financially-settled forward contracts to manage the exposure to changes in prices of silver, gold, zinc and lead contained in our concentrate shipments between the time of shipment and final settlement. In addition, we are using financially-settled forward contracts to manage the exposure to changes in prices of zinc and lead (but not silver and gold) contained in our forecasted future concentrate shipments. These contracts do not qualify for hedge accounting and are marked-to-market through earnings each period.

As of September 30, 2017, we recorded the following balances for the fair value of the contracts:

a current asset of $0.4 million, which is net of $0.1 million for contracts in a liability position and included in other current assets;

a current liability of $7.9 million, which is net of $0.2 million for contracts in an asset position and included in other current liabilities; and

a non-current liability of $4.0 million, which is included in other non-current liabilities.

We recognized a $3.9 million net loss during the first nine months of 2017 on the contracts utilized to manage exposure to prices of metals in our concentrate shipments, which is included in sales of products.  The net loss recognized on the contracts offsets gains related to price adjustments on our provisional concentrate sales due to changes to silver, gold, lead and zinc prices between the time of sale and final settlement.

We recognized a $16.5 million net loss during the first nine months of 2017 on the contracts utilized to manage exposure to prices for forecasted future concentrate shipments. The net loss on these contracts is included as a separate line item under other income (expense), as they relate to forecasted future shipments, as opposed to sales that have already taken place but are subject to final pricing as discussed in the preceding paragraph.  The net loss for the first nine months of 2017 is the result of higher zinc and lead prices. This program, when utilized, is designed to mitigate the impact of potential future declines in lead and zinc prices from the price levels established in the contracts (see average price information below). When those prices increase compared to the contract prices, we recognize losses.

The following tables summarize the quantities of metals committed under forward sales contracts at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:

September 30, 2017

 

Ounces/pounds under contract (in 000's)

  

Average price per ounce/pound

 
  

Silver

  

Gold

  

Zinc

  

Lead

  

Silver

  

Gold

  

Zinc

  

Lead

 
  

(ounces)

  

(ounces)

  

(pounds)

  

(pounds)

  

(ounces)

  

(ounces)

  

(pounds)

  

(pounds)

 

Contracts on provisional sales

                                

2017 settlements

  1,399   5   19,070   2,535  $17.18  $1,298  $1.33  $1.07 

2018 settlements

        2,370      N/A   N/A  $1.38   N/A 

Contracts on forecasted sales

                                

2017 settlements

        441   2,866   N/A   N/A  $1.23  $1.05 

2018 settlements

        39,463   17,968   N/A   N/A  $1.27  $1.05 

2019 settlements

        14,330   8,267   N/A   N/A  $1.30  $1.07 

2020 settlements

        3,307   2,205   N/A   N/A  $1.27  $1.07 

December 31, 2016

 

Ounces/pounds under contract (in 000's)

  

Average price per ounce/pound

 
  

Silver

  

Gold

  

Zinc

  

Lead

  

Silver

  

Gold

  

Zinc

  

Lead

 
  

(ounces)

  

(ounces)

  

(pounds)

  

(pounds)

  

(ounces)

  

(ounces)

  

(pounds)

  

(pounds)

 

Contracts on provisional sales

                                

2017 settlements

  1,295   4   19,070   7,441  $16.29  $1,172  $1.18  $0.97 

Contracts on forecasted sales

                                

2017 settlements

        35,384   17,637   N/A   N/A  $1.19  $1.03 

2018 settlements

        13,779   5,732   N/A   N/A  $1.21  $1.05 

Our concentrate sales are based on a provisional sales price containing an embedded derivative that is required to be separated from the host contract for accounting purposes. The host contract is the receivable from the sale of the concentrates at the forward price at the time of the sale. The embedded derivative, which does not qualify for hedge accounting, is marked-to-market through earnings each period prior to final settlement.

Foreign Currency Risk Management

 

We operate or have mining interests in Canada and Mexico, which exposes us to risks associated with fluctuations in the exchange rates between the U.S. dollar ("USD")USD and the Canadian dollar ("CAD")CAD and Mexican peso ("MXN").MXN, respectively. We have determined that the functional currency for our Canadian and Mexican operations is the USD. As such, foreign exchange gains and losses associated with the re-measurement of monetary assets and liabilities from CAD and MXN to USD are recorded to earnings each period. For the ninethree months ended September 30, 2017,March 31, 2021 and 2020, we recognized a net foreign exchange loss of $10.9 million.$2.1 million and gain of $6.6 million, respectively. Foreign currency exchange rates are influenced by a number of factors beyond our control. A 10% change in the exchange rate between the USD and CAD from the rate at September 30, 2017March 31, 2021 would have resulted in a change of approximately $11.8$10.5 million in our net foreign exchange gain or loss. A 10% change in the exchange rate between the USD and MXN from the rate at September 30, 2017March 31, 2021 would have resulted in a change of approximately $0.9$0.1 million in our net foreign exchange gain or loss.

In April 2016, we initiated a program to manage our exposure to fluctuations in the exchange rate between the USD and CAD and the impact on our future operating costs denominated in CAD. In October 2016, we also initiated a program to manage our exposure to the impact of fluctuations in the exchange rate between the USD and MXN on our future operating costs denominated in MXN. The programs utilize forward contracts to buy CAD and MXN, and each contract is designated as a cash flow hedge. As of September 30, 2017, we have 94 forward contracts outstanding to buy CAD$200.1 million having a notional amount of US$154.0 million, and 6 forward contracts outstanding to buy MXN$43.3 million having a notional amount of USD$2.2 million. The CAD contracts are related to forecasted cash operating costs at Casa Berardi to be incurred from 2017 through 2020 and have CAD-to-USD exchange rates ranging between 1.2787 and 1.3380. The MXN contracts are related to forecasted cash operating costs at San Sebastian for 2017 and have MXN-to-USD exchange rates ranging between 19.5910 and 21.0000. Our risk management policy allows for up to 75% of our planned cost exposure for five years into the future to be hedged under such programs, and for potential additional programs to manage other foreign currency-related exposure areas.

As of September 30, 2017, we recorded the following balances for the fair value of the contracts:

a current asset of $2.8 million, which is included in other current assets; and

a non-current asset of $3.7 million, which is included in other non-current assets.

Net unrealized gains of approximately $6.8 million related to the effective portion of the hedges were included in accumulated other comprehensive income as of September 30, 2017. Unrealized gains and losses will be transferred from accumulated other comprehensive loss to current earnings as the underlying operating expenses are recognized. We estimate approximately $2.9 million in net unrealized gains included in accumulated other comprehensive income as of September 30, 2017 would be reclassified to current earnings in the next twelve months. Net realized gains of approximately $0.4 million on contracts related to underlying expenses which have been recognized were transferred from accumulated other comprehensive loss and included in cost of sales and other direct production costs for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. Net unrealized gains of approximately $2 thousand related to ineffectiveness of the hedges were included in current earnings for the nine months ended September 30, 2017.

 

See Note 8 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) and Note 11 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in our 2020 Form 10-K for a description of our foreign currency risk management.

 

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 definedrequired by Securities 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, including controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by us is accumulated and communicated to our management (including our CEO and CFO), were effective as of September 30, 2017,March 31, 2021, in assuring 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, 2017March 31, 2021 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.

 

 

Part II - Other Information

 

Hecla Mining Company and Subsidiaries

 

 

Item 1.Legal Proceedings

 

For information concerning legal proceedings, refer to Note 410 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited), which is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.

 

Item 1A. Risk Factors

 

Part I, Item 1A. –1A - Risk Factors of our annual report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 20162020 sets forth information relating to important risks and uncertainties that could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or operating results.  Those risk factors continue to be relevant to an understanding

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Securities and Use of Proceeds

On January 27, 2021, we issued 3,500,000 unregistered shares of our business, financial conditioncommon stock to the Hecla Mining Company Pre-2005 Supplemental Excess Retirement Plan and operating results.the Hecla Mining Company Post-2004 Supplemental Excess Retirement Plan (together, the "SERP") in private placements in order to fund future benefit payment requirements for the SERP. The private placements were exempt from registration under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant to section 4(a)(2) of that Act. The shares were subsequently registered for resale on a registration statement on Form S-3 filed with the SEC on February 18, 2021. We did not receive any cash proceeds from the issuance of the shares. The shares had a value of approximately $16.8 million at the time of issuance.

 

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

 

The information concerning mine safety violations or other regulatory matters required by Section 1503(a) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and Item 104 of Regulation S-K is included in exhibit 95 to this Quarterly Report.

 

Item 6.    Exhibits

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

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

 

SIGNATURESItem 6.Exhibits

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 7, 2017

By:

/s/ Phillips S. Baker, Jr.

Phillips S. Baker, Jr., President,

Chief Executive Officer and Director

Date:

November 7, 2017

By:

/s/ Lindsay A. Hall

Lindsay A. Hall, Senior Vice President and

Chief Financial Officer

 

Hecla Mining Company and Wholly Owned Subsidiaries

Form 10-Q – September 30, 2017- March 31, 2021

Index to Exhibits

 

1.1

Equity Distribution Agreement, dated as of February 18, 2021, by and among Hecla Mining Company and the sales agents party thereto. Filed as exhibit 1.1 to Registrant’s Form 8-K filed on February 18, 2021 (File No. 1-8491) and incorporated herein by reference.

3.1

Restated CertificateBylaws of Incorporation of the Registrant.Hecla Mining Company, as amended February 26, 2021. Filed as exhibit 3.13.2 to Registrant'sRegistrant’s Form 8-K filed on March 1, 2021 (File No. 1-8491) and incorporated herein by reference.

10.1

Form of Indemnification Agreement, dated February 26, 2021, between Registrant and Alice Wong, and dated March 1, 2021, between Registrant and Russell D. Lawlar, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended JuneSeptember 30, 2017 (File No. 1-8491),2006, and incorporated herein by reference.filed on November 9, 2006.

 

3.210.2

BylawsForm of the Registrant as amended to date. Filed as exhibit 3.1 to Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K filed on August 22, 2014 (File No. 1-8491), and incorporated herein by reference.

4.1

Designations, Preferences and RightsChange of Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock of the Registrant. Included as Annex II to Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Registrant filed as exhibit 3.1 to Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2017 (File No. 1-8491), and incorporated herein by reference.

4.2(a)

Indenture dated as of April 12, 2013 amongControl Agreement between Hecla Mining Company as Issuer, certain subsidiaries of Hecla Mining Company, as Guarantors thereto, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee. Filed as exhibit 10.1Russell D. Lawlar, incorporated by reference to Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on April 15, 2013 (File No. 1-8491), and incorporated herein by reference.

4.2(b)

Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April 14, 2014, among Hecla Mining Company, as Issuer, certain subsidiaries of Hecla Mining Company, as Guarantors thereto, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee. Filed as exhibit 4.2Exhibit 10.2 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-3ASR filed on April 14, 2014 (File No. 1-8491), and incorporated herein by reference.

4.2(c)

Supplemental Indenture, dated August 5, 2015, among Revett Mining Company, Inc., Revett Silver Company, Troy Mine, Inc., RC Resources, Inc., Revett Exploration, Inc., and Revett Holdings, Inc., as Guaranteeing Subsidiaries, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee.  Filed as exhibit 4.2(d) to Registrant’sthe Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, (File No. 1-8491), and incorporated herein by reference.filed on February 23, 2016.

         

4.2(d)31.1

Supplemental Indenture, dated October 26, 2016, among Mines Management Inc., Newhi, Inc., Montanore Minerals Corp., as Guaranteeing Subsidiaries, and The BankCertification pursuant to Section 302 of New York Mellon Trust, N.A., as Trustee. Filed as exhibit 4.2(e) to Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 (File No. 1-8491), and incorporated herein by reference.Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. *

 

10.131.2

Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement effective May 20, 2016, by and among Hecla Mining Company, Hecla Limited, Hecla Alaska LLC, Hecla Greens Creek Mining Company, and Hecla Juneau Mining Company, asCertification pursuant to Section 302 of the Borrowers, The BankSarbanes-Oxley Act of Nova Scotia, as the Administrative Agent for the Lenders, and various Lenders. Filed as exhibit 10.1 to Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 25, 2016 (File No. 1-8491), and incorporated herein by reference.

10.2

First Amendment to Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement effective July 14, 2017, by and among Hecla Mining Company, Hecla Limited, Hecla Alaska LLC, Hecla Greens Creek Mining Company, and Hecla Juneau Mining Company, as the Borrowers, The Bank of Nova Scotia, as the Administrative Agent for the Lenders, and various Lenders. Filed as exhibit 10.2 to Registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2017 (File No. 1-8491), and incorporated herein by reference.2002. *

 

31.132.1

Certification pursuant to Section 302906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. *

 

31.232.2

Certification pursuant to Section 302906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002. *

95

Mine safety information listed in Section 1503 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.Dodd-Frank Act. *

 

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. *

95

Mine safety information listed in Section 1503 of the Dodd-Frank Act. *

101.INS

Inline XBRL Instance.Instance Document - The instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document. **

 

101.SCH

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema.**

 

101.CAL

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation.**

 

101.DEF

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition.**

 

101.LAB

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels.**

 

101.PRE

Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation.**

104

Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)

 

 

___________________


 

*          Filed herewith.

 

**          XBRL information is furnished and not filed or a part of a registration statement or prospectus for purposes of Sections 11 or 12 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, is deemed not filed for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and otherwise is not subject to liability under these sections.

 

65

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

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:

May 6, 2021

By:

/s/ Phillips S. Baker, Jr.

Phillips S. Baker, Jr., President,

Chief Executive Officer and Director

Date:

May 6, 2021

By:

/s/ Russell D. Lawlar

Russell D. Lawlar, Senior Vice President,

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

58