Table of Contents

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

 

 

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

For the quarterly period ended March 31, 20212022

 

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

 

HECLA MINING COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its Charter)

 

 

Delaware

 

77-0664171

 
 

State or Other Jurisdiction of

 

I.R.S. Employer

 
 

Incorporation or Organization

 

Identification No.

 
     
 

6500 N. Mineral Drive, Suite 200

   
 

Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

 

83815-9408

 
 

Address of Principal Executive Offices

 

Zip Code

 
     

208-769-4100

Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code

 

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 ☒    .    No ☐ .

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically every Interactive Data File required to be submitted 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 such files).

Yes ☒    .    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,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act:

Large accelerated filer ☒.

Accelerated filer ☐.

Non-accelerated filer ☐.

Smaller reporting 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 ☒

Yes ☐.    No ☒.

 

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 May 4, 20215, 2022

Common stock, par value

$0.25 per share

 

535,551,426

539,049,637

 

 

 

 

Hecla Mining Company and Subsidiaries

 

Form 10-Q

 

For the Quarter Ended March 31, 20212022

 

INDEX*

 

 

Page

PART I - Financial Information 

 
  

Item 1 – Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

3
  

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive (Loss) Income (Loss) - Three Months Ended March 31, 20212022 and 20202021

3

  

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Three Months Ended March 31, 20212022 and 20202021

4

  

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - March 31, 20212022 and December 31, 20202021

5

  

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Changes in Stockholders' Equity - Three Months Ended March 31, 20212022 and 20202021

6

  

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

7

  

Forward-Looking Statements

21

20
  

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

2221

  

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

5547

  

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

5649

  

PART II - Other Information

 
  

Item 1 – Legal Proceedings

5649

  

Item 1A – Risk Factors

5649

  

Item 24 – Unregistered Sales of Securities and Use of ProceedsMine Safety Disclosures

5649

  

Item 46 – Mine Safety DisclosuresExhibits

5649

  

Item 6 – ExhibitsSignatures

57

Signatures51

58

 

 

*Items 2, 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 Statements of Operations and Comprehensive (Loss) Income (Loss) (Unaudited)

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

 

  

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 
  

Three Months Ended

 
  

March 31, 2022

  

March 31, 2021

 

Sales of products

 $186,499  $210,852 

Cost of sales and other direct production costs

  105,772   96,382 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

  35,298   47,069 

Total cost of sales

  141,070   143,451 

Gross profit

  45,429   67,401 

Other operating expenses:

        

General and administrative

  8,294   8,007 

Exploration and pre-development

  12,808   6,690 

Care and maintenance

  6,205   4,318 

Provision for closed operations and reclamation

  901   3,709 

Other operating expense

  2,463   3,648 

Total other operating expense

  30,671   26,372 

Income from operations

  14,758   41,029 

Other income (expense):

        

Interest expense

  (10,406)  (10,744)

Fair value adjustments, net

  5,965   (1,875)

Net foreign exchange loss

  (2,038)  (2,064)

Other non-operating income (expense)

  1,505   (152)

Total other expense

  (4,974)  (14,835)

Income before income and mining taxes

  9,784   26,194 

Income and mining tax provision

  (5,631)  (4,743)

Net income

  4,153   21,451 

Preferred stock dividends

  (138)  (138)

Income applicable to common stockholders

 $4,015  $21,313 

Comprehensive income:

        

Net income

 $4,153  $21,451 

Change in fair value of derivative contracts designated as hedge transactions

  (33,165)  1,832 

Comprehensive (loss) income

 $(29,012) $23,283 

Basic income per common share after preferred dividends

 $0.01  $0.04 

Diluted income per common share after preferred dividends

 $0.01  $0.04 

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic

  538,490   534,101 

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - diluted

  544,061   540,527 

Cash dividends per common share

 $0.00625  $0.00875 

 

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

 

3

 

 

Hecla Mining Company and Subsidiaries

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

(In thousands)

 

 

Three Months Ended

  

Three Months Ended

 
 

March 31, 2021

  

March 31, 2020

  

March 31, 2022

  

March 31, 2021

 

Operating activities:

  

Net income (loss)

 $18,971  $(17,185)

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

 

Net income

 $4,153  $21,451 

Non-cash elements included in net income:

 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 49,546  41,630  35,456  46,957 

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  1,643  4,529 

Stock compensation

 500  1,219 

Stock-based compensation expense

 1,271  500 

Deferred taxes

 32  (3,252) 2,234  141 

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)

Fair value adjustments, net

 (2,245) (8,623)

Foreign exchange loss

 2,280  1,755 

Other non-cash items, net

 8  (104) 483  556 

Change in assets and liabilities:

  

Accounts receivable

 (2,664) 9,955  2,779  (2,664)

Inventories

 2,120  (6,602) (5,081) 2,120 

Other current and non-current assets

 1,528  (2,642) 1,696  1,528 

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 (24,545) (11,879) (13,907) (24,545)

Accrued payroll and related benefits

 (7,995) 9,495  6,909  (7,995)

Accrued taxes

 2,031  1,332  3,754  2,031 

Accrued reclamation and closure costs and other non-current liabilities

  195   (3,203)  (3,516)  195 

Cash provided by operating activities

  37,936   4,927   37,909   37,936 

Investing activities:

  

Additions to properties, plants, equipment and mineral interests

 (21,413) (19,870) (21,478) (21,413)

Proceeds from sale of investments

 2,487  0 

Proceeds from disposition of properties, plants and equipment

  19   154  617  19 

Purchases of investments

  (10,868)  0 

Net cash used in investing activities

  (21,394)  (19,716)  (29,242)  (21,394)

Financing activities:

  

Dividends paid to common stockholders

 (4,688) (1,304)

Dividends paid to preferred stockholders

 (138) (138)

Acquisition of treasury shares

 (1,921) 0 

Dividends paid to common and preferred stockholders

 (3,509) (4,826)

Credit facility fees paid

 (82) (458) (54) (82)

Borrowings on debt

 0  679,500 

Repayments of debt

 0  (506,500)

Repayments of finance leases

  (1,881)  (1,284)  (1,695)  (1,881)

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

  (6,789)  169,816 

Net cash used in financing activities

  (7,179)  (6,789)

Effect of exchange rates on cash

 167  (1,736) 519  167 

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

 9,920  153,291  2,007  9,920 

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

  130,883   63,477   211,063   130,883 

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

 $140,803  $216,768  $213,070  $140,803 

Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:

  

Cash paid for interest

 $18,406  $13,984  $18,603  $18,406 

Cash paid for income and mining taxes

 $679  $1,980 

Significant non-cash investing and financing activities:

  

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

 $3,120  $0  $2,864  $3,120 

Accounts receivable for proceeds on exchange of investments

 $1,832  $0  $0  $1,832 

 

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

 

4

 

 

Hecla Mining Company and Subsidiaries

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)

(In thousands, except shares)

 

 

March 31,
2021

  

December 31, 2020

  

March 31,
2022

  

December 31,

2021

 

ASSETS

ASSETS

 

ASSETS

 

Current assets:

  

Cash and cash equivalents

 $139,750  $129,830  $212,029  $210,010 

Accounts receivable:

  

Trade

 35,274  27,864  33,324  36,437 

Other, net

 8,475  11,329  8,586  8,149 

Inventories:

  

Concentrates, doré, and stockpiled ore

 56,917  57,936  29,852  25,906 

Materials and supplies

 37,335  38,608  43,238  41,859 

Derivatives assets

 7,195  3,470 

Other current assets

  12,971   15,644   16,927   19,266 

Total current assets

 297,917  284,681  343,956  341,627 

Investments

 11,717  15,148  29,204  10,844 

Restricted cash and investments

 1,053  1,053  1,041  1,053 

Properties, plants, equipment and mineral interests, net

 2,320,547  2,345,219  2,298,858  2,310,810 

Operating lease right-of-use assets

 9,775  10,628  12,342  12,435 

Deferred taxes

 3,886  2,912  45,562  45,562 

Derivatives assets

 6,346  4,558 

Other non-current assets

  3,836   3,525   7,936   6,477 

Total assets

 $2,655,077  $2,667,724  $2,738,899  $2,728,808 

LIABILITIES

LIABILITIES

 

LIABILITIES

 

Current liabilities:

  

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

 $53,130  $68,516  $73,786  $68,100 

Accrued payroll and related benefits

 22,800  31,807  34,864  28,714 

Accrued taxes

 7,854  8,349  16,128  12,306 

Finance leases

 6,706  6,491 

Operating leases

 2,832  3,008 

Finance and operating leases

 8,535  8,098 

Accrued reclamation and closure costs

 6,592  5,582  10,594  9,259 

Accrued interest

 5,175  14,157  5,232  14,454 

Derivatives liabilities

 3,906  11,737  38,992  19,353 

Other current liabilities

  123   138   109   99 

Total current liabilities

 109,118  149,785  188,240  160,383 

Finance leases

 10,304  9,274 

Operating leases

 6,954  7,634 

Finance and operating leases

 18,385  17,726 

Accrued reclamation and closure costs

 113,671  110,466  103,612  103,972 

Long-term debt

 507,992  507,242  508,852  508,095 

Deferred tax liability

 149,220  144,330  140,810  149,706 

Pension liability

 28,797  44,144 

Derivatives liabilities

 43,402  18,528 

Other non-current liabilities

  4,146   4,364   7,055   9,611 

Total liabilities

  930,202   977,239   1,010,356   968,021 

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

              

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

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  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 

Common stock, $0.25 par value, 750,000,000 authorized shares; issued March 31, 2022 — 546,635,233 shares and December 31, 2021 — 545,534,760 shares

 136,657  136,391 

Capital surplus

 2,021,072  2,003,576  2,036,417  2,034,485 

Accumulated deficit

 (377,229) (391,374) (353,007) (353,651)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

 (31,057) (32,889) (61,621) (28,456)

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)

Less treasury stock, at cost; March 31, 2022 — 7,728,800 shares and December 31, 2021 - 7,395,295 shares issued and held in treasury

  (29,942)  (28,021)

Total stockholders’ equity

  1,724,875   1,690,485   1,728,543   1,760,787 

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

 $2,655,077  $2,667,724  $2,738,899  $2,728,808 

 

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, 2022

 
  

Series B

Preferred

Stock

  

Common

Stock

  

Additional

Paid-In

Capital

  

Accumulated

Deficit

  

Accumulated

Other

Comprehensive

Loss, net

  

Treasury

Stock

  

Total

 

Balances, January 1, 2022

 $39  $136,391  $2,034,485  $(353,651) $(28,456) $(28,021) $1,760,787 

Net income

  0   0   0   4,153   0   0   4,153 

Stock-based compensation expense

  0   0   1,271   0   0   0   1,271 

Incentive compensation units distributed (888,000 shares)

  0   222   (222)  0   0   (1,921)  (1,921)

Common stock ($0.00625 per share) and Series B Preferred Stock ($0.875 per share) dividends declared

  0   0   0   (3,509)  0   0   (3,509)

Common stock issued for 401(k) match (180,000 shares)

  0   44   883   0   0   0   927 

Other comprehensive income

  0   0   0   0   (33,165)  0   (33,165)

Balances, March 31, 2022

 $39  $136,657  $2,036,417  $(353,007) $(61,621) $(29,942) $1,728,543 

 

  

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 
  

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  $(368,074) $(32,889) $(23,496) $1,713,785 

Net income

  0   0   0   21,451   0   0   21,451 

Stock-based compensation expense

  0   0   483   0   0   0   483 

Common stock ($0.00875 per share) and Series B Preferred Stock ($0.875 per share) dividends declared

  0   0   0   (4,826)  0   0   (4,826)

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  $(351,449) $(31,057) $(23,496) $1,750,655 

 

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

 

6

 

Note 1.    Basis of Preparation of Financial Statements

 

The accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements of Hecla Mining Company and its subsidiaries (collectively, “Hecla”,“Hecla,” “the Company”, “we”, “our”Company,” “we,” “our,” or “us”,“us,” except where the context requires otherwise) have been prepared in accordance with the instructions to Form 10-Q and do not include all information and disclosures required annually by generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”). Therefore, this information should be read in conjunction with Hecla Mining Company’sHecla’s consolidated financial statements and notes contained in our annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 20202021 (20202021 Form 10-K”). The consolidated December 31, 20202021 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 of the results for the interim periods reported. All such adjustments are, in the opinion of management, of a normal recurring nature. Operating results for the three-month period ended March 31, 20212022 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2021.2022.

 

The 2019 novel strain of coronavirus ("(“COVID-19"19”) was characterized as a global pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020, and COVID-19 resulted in travel restrictions and business slowdowns or shutdowns in affected areas. In late March 2020, the Government of Quebec ordered the mining industry to reduce to minimum operations as part of the fight against COVID-19, causing us to suspend 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 similar order causing us to suspend our San Sebastian operations until May 30, 2020. In addition, restrictions imposed by the State of Alaska in late March caused usWe continue 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 expected production of gold at Casa Berardi by approximately 11,700 ounces, which resulted in a reduction 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 $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. At Lucky Friday and Nevada 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 first quarter of 2021.

We have takentake precautionary measures to mitigate the impact of COVID-19, including implementing operational plans and practices. As long as they are required, the operational practices implemented could continue to have an adverse impact on our operating results due to deferred production and revenues or additional costs. We incurred $0.4 million and $1.6 million in COVID-19 mitigation costs during the three months ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, respectively. 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 impact of COVID-19 on our business and financial results will also depend on future developments, including the duration and spread of the outbreak and the success of the current vaccination programs being rolled out within the markets in which we operate and the related impact on prices, demand, creditworthiness and other market conditions and governmental reactions, all of which are highly uncertain.

 

Correction of an Immaterial Error

During the first quarter of 2021 we reclassified certain state mining income taxes from Cost of sales and other direct production costs to Income and mining tax provision prospectively effective January 1, 2021. The reclassification required us to recognize previously unrecognized deferred taxes. The impact of this was an adjustment of $11.9 million to accumulated deficit at January 1, 2019 to recognize the deferred tax liability.  This adjustment resultedCertain amounts in the January 1, 2020 accumulated deficit balance presented in this Form 10-Qprior year have been reclassified to increaseconform to $365.2 million.the current year presentation.

 

 

 

Note 2.    Business Segments and Sales of Products

 

We discover, acquire and develop mines and other mineral interests and produce and market (i) concentrates, carbon material and doré containing silver, gold, lead and zinc.zinc, (ii) carbon material containing silver and gold, and (iii) doré containing silver and gold. We are currently organized and managed in five segments, which represent our operating units: thefour segments: Greens Creek, unit, the Lucky Friday, unit, the Casa Berardi unit, the San Sebastian exploration unit, and the Nevada Operations unit.Operations.

 

7

General corporate activities not associated with operating unitsmines 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.

 

7

The following tables present information about our reportable segments for the three months ended March 31, 20212022 and 20202021 (in thousands):

 

 

Three Months Ended
March 31,

  

Three Months Ended
March 31,

 
 

2021

  

2020

  

2022

  

2021

 

Net sales to unaffiliated customers:

 

Sales of products:

 

Greens Creek

 $98,409  $53,833  $86,090  $98,409 

Lucky Friday

 29,122  2,830  38,040  29,122 

Casa Berardi

 72,911  46,172  62,101  72,911 

San Sebastian

 173  9,927 

Nevada Operations

  10,237   24,163  268  10,237 

Other

  0   173 
 $210,852  $136,925  $186,499  $210,852 

Income (loss) from operations:

  

Greens Creek

 $44,600  $4,117  $34,586  $44,600 

Lucky Friday

 6,323  (8,120) 8,771  6,323 

Casa Berardi

 9,117  (3,880) (2,699) 11,706 

San Sebastian

 (2,263) 679 

Nevada Operations

 (3,140) 2,889  (12,231) (3,140)

Other

  (16,188)  (10,749)  (13,669)  (18,460)
 $38,449  $(15,064) $14,758  $41,029 

 

The following table presents identifiable assets by reportable segment as of March 31, 20212022 and December 31, 20202021 (in thousands):

 

 

March 31, 2021

  

December 31, 2020

  

March 31,

2022

  

December 31,

2021

 

Identifiable assets:

  

Greens Creek

 $609,612  $610,360  $578,565  $589,944 

Lucky Friday

 513,645  520,463  526,971  516,545 

Casa Berardi

 683,103  694,522  710,374  701,868 

San Sebastian

 41,238  42,617 

Nevada Operations

 510,514  513,309  467,092  468,985 

Other

  296,965   286,453   455,897   451,466 
 $2,655,077  $2,667,724  $2,738,899  $2,728,808 

 

8

Sales of products by metal for the three-month periods ended March 31, 20212022 and 20202021 were as follows (in thousands):

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

  

Three Months Ended

March 31,

 
 

2021

 

2020

  

2022

  

2021

 
  

Silver

 $77,760  $37,572  $66,332  $77,760 

Gold

 101,408  90,694  77,168  101,408 

Lead

 15,893  6,420  19,564  15,893 

Zinc

 29,191  17,308  35,638  29,191 

Less: Smelter and refining charges

  (13,400)  (15,069)  (12,203)  (13,400)

Sales of products

 $210,852  $136,925  $186,499  $210,852 

 

Sales of products for the first three months of 20212022 and 20202021 included a net gainsloss of $4.8 million and net gain 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.

 

8

 

 

Note 3.   Income and MiningTaxes

 

Major components of our income and mining tax (provision) benefit for the three months ended March 31, 20212022 and 20202021 are as follows (in thousands):

 

 

Three Months Ended

  

Three Months Ended

 
 

March 31,

  

March 31,

 
 

2021

  

2020

  

2022

  

2021

 

Current:

  

Domestic

 $(2,277) $(732) $(2,103) $(2,277)

Foreign

  (2,286)  (2,069)  (1,741)  (2,286)

Total current income and mining tax provision

 (4,563) (2,801) (3,844) (4,563)
  

Deferred:

  

Domestic

 319  1,250  (5,091) 896 

Foreign

  (390)  2,613   3,304   (1,076)

Total deferred income and mining tax (provision) benefit

  (71)  3,863 

Total income and mining tax (provision) benefit

 $(4,634) $1,062 

Total deferred income and mining tax provision

  (1,787)  (180)

Total income and mining tax provision

 $(5,631) $(4,743)

 

The income and mining tax (provision) benefitprovision for the three months-month periods ended March 31, 20212022 and 20202021 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 reversalnon-recognition of the valuation allowance portion related to net operating loss utilization.losses and foreign exchange gains and losses in certain jurisdictions.

 

EffectiveFor the January 1, 2021,three-month period ended March 31, 2022, we prospectively reclassified certain income based state and provincial taxesused the annual effective tax rate method to calculate the tax provision, a change from Cost of Sales and other direct production costs to Income and mining tax (provision) benefit. The income and mining tax provisionthe discrete method used for the three months-month period ended March 31, 2021, 31,2021 increased by $3.1 million due to reversal of valuation allowance in the reclassification.fourth quarter of 2021. Valuation allowances on Nevada, Mexico and certain Canadian net operating losses were treated as discrete adjustments to the annual effective tax rate method calculation, partially causing the increase in the income tax rate for the three-month period ended March 31, 2022 as compared to March 31, 2021.

 

9

 

 

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 months-month periods ended March 31, 20212022 and 20202021 (in thousands):

 

 

Three Months Ended

March 31,

  

Three Months Ended

March 31,

 
 

2021

  

2020

  

2022

  

2021

 

Service cost

 $1,455  $1,334  $1,566  $1,455 

Interest cost

 1,248  1,404  1,369  1,248 

Expected return on plan assets

 (2,313) (1,872) (3,363) (2,313)

Amortization of prior service cost

 99  29  128  99 

Amortization of net loss

  1,125   1,163   512   1,125 

Net periodic pension cost

 $1,614  $2,058  $212  $1,614 

 

9

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 gain of $1.4 million and net expense of $0.2 million for the three months-month periods ended March 31, 20212022 and 20202021, 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). income.

 

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 do not expect to be required to contribute to our defined benefit pension plans in 2021,2022, but may do so.

 

 

 

Note 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.

 

10

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,

  

Three Months Ended March 31,

 
 

2021

 

2020

  

2022

  

2021

 

Numerator

        

Net income (loss)

 $18,971  $(17,185)

Net income

 $4,153  $21,451 

Preferred stock dividends

  (138)  (138)  (138)  (138)

Net income (loss) applicable to common shares

 $18,833  $(17,323)

Net income applicable to common shares

 $4,015  $21,313 
  

Denominator

        

Basic weighted average common shares

 534,101  523,215  538,490  534,101 

Dilutive restricted stock units, warrants and deferred shares

  6,426   0 

Dilutive incentive compensation units, warrants and deferred shares

  5,571   6,426 

Diluted weighted average common shares

  540,527   523,215   544,061   540,527 
  

Basic income (loss) per common share

 $0.04  $(0.03)

Diluted income (loss) per common share

 $0.03  $(0.03)

Basic income per common share

 $0.01  $0.04 

Diluted income per common share

 $0.01  $0.04 

 

Diluted income (loss) per common share for the three months-month periods ended March 31, 20212022 and 20202021 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, 2022, the calculation of diluted income per common share included (i) 1,954,773 incentive compensation units that were unvested during the period, (ii) 1,506,950 warrants to purchase one share of common stock and (iii) 2,109,056 deferred shares that were dilutive.  For the three months ended March 31,2021, the calculation of diluted income per common share included (i) 2,863,038 restricted stockincentive compensation 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.

 

10

 

 

Note 6.    Stockholders Equity

 

Stock-based Compensation Plans

 

Stock-based compensation expense for restricted stock unit and performance-based grants to employees and shares issued to non-employee directors totaled $0.5$1.3 million and $1.2$0.5 million for the first three months of 20212022 and 2020,2021, respectively.

 

Common Stock Dividends

 

On February 18, 2021,21, 2022, our Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.00875$0.00625 per share of common stock, consisting of $0.00375 per share for the minimum dividend component of our common stock dividend policy and $0.005$0.0025 per share for the silver-linked dividend component of the policy, for a total dividend of $4.7$3.4 million paid in March 2021.2022. The realized silver price of $25.16$23.49 in the fourth quarter of 20202021 satisfied the criterion for the silver-linked dividend component of our common stock dividend policy.

 

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 

At-The-Market Equity Distribution Agreement

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. NaN shares have been sold under the agreement as of March 31,2021.

11

 

 

Note 7.    Debt, Credit Facility and Leases

 

Our debt as of March 31, 20212022 and December 31, 20202021 consisted of our 7.25% Senior Notes due February 15, 2028 ("Senior Notes"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, 20212022 and December 31, 20202021 (in thousands):

 

 

March 31, 2021

  

March 31, 2022

 
 

Senior Notes

  

IQ Notes

  

Total

  

Senior Notes

  

IQ Notes

  

Total

 

Principal

 $475,000  $38,359  $513,359  $475,000  $38,605  $513,605 

Unamortized discount/premium and issuance costs

  (6,234)  867   (5,367)  (5,324)  571   (4,753)

Long-term debt balance

 $468,766  $39,226  $507,992  $469,676  $39,176  $508,852 

 

 

December 31, 2020

  

December 31, 2021

 
 

Senior Notes

  

IQ Notes

  

Total

  

Senior Notes

  

IQ Notes

  

Total

 

Principal

 $475,000  $37,886  $512,886  $475,000  $38,051  $513,051 

Unamortized discount/premium and issuance costs

  (6,462)  818   (5,644)  (5,552)  596   (4,956)

Long-term debt balance

 $468,538  $38,704  $507,242  $469,448  $38,647  $508,095 

 

The following table summarizes the scheduled annual future payments, including interest, for our Senior Notes, IQ Notes, and finance and operating leases as of March 31, 20212022 (in thousands). The amounts for the IQ Notes are stated in U.S. dollars ("USD"(“USD”) based on the USD/Canadian dollar ("CAD"(“CAD”) exchange rate as of March 31, 2021.2022.

 

Twelve-month

period ending

March 31,

 

Senior Notes

  

IQ Notes

  

Finance Leases

  

Operating Leases

  

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  $34,438  $2,515  $6,365  $3,057 

2024

 34,438  2,499  3,643  2,002  34,438  2,515  4,881  2,528 

2025

 34,438  2,499  2,076  549  34,438  2,515  3,313  1,079 

2026

 34,438  39,045  0  525  34,438  39,295  943  1,059 

2027

 34,438  0  0  1,041 

Thereafter

  539,568   0   0   2,213   505,130   0   0   6,174 

Total

 $711,758  $49,041  $18,180  $11,691  $677,320  $46,840  $15,502  $14,938 

 

Credit Facility

 

In July 2018, we entered into a $250 million senior secured revolving credit facility which has a term ending on February 7, 2023. As of March 31, 20212022 and December 31, 2020,2021, 0 amountsborrowings were outstanding under the facility.

 

1211

 

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 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$17.3 million in letters of credit outstanding as of March 31, 2021.2022.

 

We believe we were in compliance with all covenants under the credit agreement as of March 31, 2021.2022.  

 

 

 

Note 8.    Derivative Instruments

 

General

 

Our current risk management policy provides that up to 75% 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; andhedged;

 

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; and

our planned silver and gold metals price exposure for five years into the future, with certain other limitations, may be covered under derivatives programs that would establish a floor, but not a ceiling, for prices to be realized on future metals sales. We currently do not utilize this program.

 

In addition, our risk management policy provides for (i) potential additional programs to manage other foreign currency exposures and (ii) that price exposure between the time of shipment and final settlement on silver, gold, lead and zinc contained in our concentrate shipments may be covered under derivatives programs that would establish prices to be realized on those sales.

These instruments do, however, expose us to (i) credit risk in the form of non-performance by counterparties for contracts in which the contract price exceeds the spot price of the hedged commodity or foreign currency and (ii) price risk to the extent that the spot price exceeds the contract price for quantities of our production and/or forecasted costs covered under contract positions.

 

Foreign Currency

 

Our wholly-owned subsidiaries owning the Casa Berardi and San Sebastian operations are USD-functional entities which routinely incur expenses denominated in CAD and Mexican pesos ("MXN"(“MXN”), respectively. Such expenses expose us to exchange rate fluctuations between the USD and CAD and MXN. We haveutilize a program to manage our exposure to fluctuations in the exchange rate between the USD and CAD and MXN for these subsidiaries'the impact on our future operating costs denominated in CAD. In November 2021, we initiated a similar program related to future development costs denominated in CAD, and MXN.have used a similar program, on a limited basis, related to interest payments on our IQ Notes (see Note 7). The programs utilize forward contracts to buy CAD and MXN, and eachCAD. Each contract related to operating costs is designated as a cash flow hedge.hedge, while contracts related to development and interest costs have not been designated as hedges as of March 31,2022. As of March 31, 2021,2022, we have 133146 forward contracts outstanding to buy a total of CAD$256.8276.7 million having a notional amount of USD$194.8213.3 million. The CAD contracts are related to forecasted cash operating and development costs at Casa Berardi to be incurred from 20212022 through 20242025 and have CAD-to-USD exchange rates ranging between 1.2702 and 1.3785. There were 0 outstanding contracts for MXN as of March 31,2021.1.3333.

 

12

As of March 31, 20212022 and December 31, 2020,2021, we recorded the following balances for the fair value of the contracts (in millions):

 

  

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 
  

March 31,

  

December 31,

 

Balance sheet line item:

 

2022

  

2021

 

Other current assets

 $3.9  $2.7 

Other non-current assets

  3.9   2.5 

 

Net unrealized gains of approximately $9.5$7.8 million related to the effective portion of the hedges were included in accumulated other comprehensive loss as of March 31, 2021.2022. 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 $4.8$3.7 million in net unrealized gains included in accumulated other comprehensive loss as of March 31, 20212022 will be reclassified to current earnings in the next twelve months. Net realized gains of approximately $0.6$1.1 million on contracts related to underlying operating 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 three months ended March 31, 2021.2022. NaNNet gains of approximately $0.4 million related to contracts not designated as hedges and 0 net unrealized gains or losses related to ineffectiveness of the hedges were included in current earningsfair value adjustments, net on our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income for the three months ended March 31, 2021.2022.

 

13

Metals Prices

 

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; 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 metals committed under forward sales contracts at March 31, 20212022 and December 31, 2020:2021:

 

March 31, 2021

 

Ounces/pounds under contract (in 000's)

  

Average price per ounce/pound

 

March 31, 2022

 

Ounces/pounds under contract (in 000's)

  

Average price per ounce/pound

 
 

Silver

 

Gold

 

Zinc

 

Lead

 

Silver

 

Gold

 

Zinc

 

Lead

  

Silver

 

Gold

 

Zinc

 

Lead

 

Silver

 

Gold

 

Zinc

 

Lead

 
 

(ounces)

  

(ounces)

  

(pounds)

  

(pounds)

  

(ounces)

  

(ounces)

  

(pounds)

  

(pounds)

  

(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 

2022 settlements

 1,573  5  16,976  5,732  $24.73  $1,912  $1.27  $0.97 

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  0  0  37,644  46,517  N/A  N/A  $1.31  $0.98 

2023 settlements

     41,171    N/A  N/A  $1.27  N/A  0  0  78,264  75,618  N/A  N/A  $1.30  $1.00 

2024 settlements

 0  0  64,650  23,149  N/A  N/A  $1.32  $1.01 

December 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

                                

2022 settlements

  1,814   6   13,371   4,575  $23.02  $1,812  $1.39  $0.96 

Contracts on forecasted sales

                                

2022 settlements

  0   0   57,706   59,194   N/A   N/A  $1.28  $0.98 

2023 settlements

  0   0   76,280   71,650   N/A   N/A  $1.29  $1.00 

 

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 

InEffective June 2019,November 1, 2021, we began utilizing financially-settled put optiondesignated the contracts to manage the exposure offor lead and zinc contained in our forecasted future goldshipments as hedges for accounting purposes, with gains and silver saleslosses deferred to potential declines in market prices for those metals. These putaccumulated other comprehensive loss until the hedged product ships. Prior to November 1, 2021, these contracts gave us the option, buthad 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 notbeen designated as hedges for hedge accounting purposesand were therefore marked-to-market through earnings each period. The forward contracts for silver and gold contained in our concentrate shipments have not been designated as hedges and are marked-to-market through earnings each period.  

 

1413

 

We recorded the following balances for the fair value of the forward contracts as of March 31, 20212022 and forward and put option contracts as of December 31, 20202021 (in millions):

 

 

March 31, 2021

  

December 31, 2020

  

March 31, 2022

  

December 31, 2021

 

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)

  

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 

Other current assets

 $0.3  $(0.2) $0.1  $0  $0  $0 

Current derivatives liability

 0  (3.9) (3.9) 0.1  (11.8) (11.7) 0.5  (39.5) (39.0) 0.7  (20.1) (19.4)

Other non-current liabilities

 0.4  (1.2) (0.8) 0  0  0  0.1  (43.5) (43.4) 0.4  (18.9) (18.5)

 

Net unrealized losses of approximately $63.0 million related to the effective portion of the contracts designated as hedges were included in accumulated other comprehensive loss as of March 31,2022, and are net of related deferred taxes. 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 $28.0 million in net unrealized losses included in accumulated other comprehensive loss as of March 31,2022 would be reclassified to current earnings in the next twelve months. We recognized a net loss of $4.8 million, including a $0.3 million gain transferred from accumulated other comprehensive loss, and net gain of $2.8 million and $1.7 million net gains during the first quarters of 20212022 and 2020,2021, 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 losses and gains recognized on the contracts offsetsoffset gains and losses 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 $0.6 million in net losses and $0.5 million and $7.9 millionin net gains during the first quarters of 20212022 and 2020,2021, respectively, on the contracts utilized to manage exposure to prices for forecasted future sales. The net losses and gains on these contracts are included as a separate line item under other income (expense), as they relate to forecasted future sales, as opposed to sales that have already taken place but are subject to final pricing as discussed in the preceding paragraph.  TheIncreases in zinc and lead prices resulted in the net gainloss for the first quarter of 20212022. is the result of a decrease in zinc and lead prices.

 

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 contract. As of March 31, 2021,2022, we have not posted any separate collateral related to these contracts. The fair value of derivatives in a net liability position related to these agreements was $6.4$83.2 million as of March 31, 2021,2022, which includes accrued interest but excludes any adjustment for nonperformance risk. If we were in breach of any of thesethe cross default provisions at March 31, 2021,2022, we could have been required to settle our obligations under the agreements at their termination value of $6.4$83.2 million.

 

14

 

 

Note 9.    Fair Value Measurement

Fair value adjustments, net is comprised of the following:

  

Three Months Ended

March 31,

 
  

2022

  

2021

 

(Loss) gain on derivative contracts

 $(201) $473 

Unrealized gain (loss) on investments in equity securities

  6,100   (3,506)

Gain on disposition or exchange of investments

  66   1,158 

Total fair value adjustments, net

 $5,965  $(1,875)

 

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.

 

15

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

March 31, 2021

  

Balance at

December 31, 2020

 

Input

Hierarchy Level

 

Balance at

March 31, 2022

  

Balance at

December 31, 2021

 

Input

Hierarchy Level

Assets:

            

Cash and cash equivalents:

            

Money market funds and other bank deposits

 $139,750  $129,830 

Level 1

 $212,029  $210,010 

Level 1

Current and non-current investments:

            

Equity securities – mining industry

 11,717  19,389 

Level 1

 29,204  14,470 

Level 1

Trade accounts receivable:

            

Receivables from provisional concentrate sales

 35,274  27,864 

Level 2

 33,324  36,437 

Level 2

Restricted cash balances:

            

Certificates of deposit and other bank deposits

 1,053  1,053 

Level 1

 1,041  1,053 

Level 1

Derivative contracts - current and non-current derivatives assets:

      

Metal forward and put option contracts

 4,349  381 

Level 2

Derivative contracts - other current assets and other non-current assets:

      

Metal forward contracts

 74  0 

Level 2

Foreign exchange contracts

  9,192   7,647 

Level 2

  7,829   5,207 

Level 2

Total assets

 $201,335  $186,164   $283,501  $267,177  
            

Liabilities:

            

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

      

Metal forward and put option contracts

 $4,742  $11,737 

Level 2

Derivative contracts - current and non-current derivatives liabilities:

      

Metal forward contracts

 $82,394  $37,873 

Level 2

Foreign exchange contracts

  0   19 

Level 2

  0   8 

Level 2

Total Liabilities

 $4,742  $11,756   $82,394  $37,881  

 

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 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.

 

15

Our non-current available for sale securitiesNon-current investments consist of marketable equity securities of companies in the mining industrycompanies which are valued using quoted market prices for each security. During the first quarter of 2022, we acquired equity securities of various mining companies for a total cost of $10.9 million, and disposed of mining company equity securities acquired for $2.4 million for proceeds of $2.5 million. NaN such activity occurred during the first quarter of 2021.

 

Trade accounts receivable from provisional concentrate sales are subject to final pricing and valued using quoted prices based on forward curves for the particular metal.  The embedded derivative contained in our concentrate sales is adjusted to fair market value through earnings each period prior to final settlement.

 

We use financially-settled forward contracts to manage exposure to changes in the exchange rate between USD and CAD, and MXN, and the impact on CAD-CAD-denominated operating and MXN-denominated operatingcapital costs incurred at our Casa Berardi and San Sebastian units (see Note 8 for more information). 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 salessettlement (see Note 8 for more information).  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.

 

At 16March 


Our31,2022, our Senior Notes whichand IQ Notes were recorded at their carrying value of $468.8$469.7 million and $39.2 million, respectively, net of unamortized initial purchaser discountdiscount/premium and issuance costs, had acosts. The estimated fair valuevalues of $509.7our Senior Notes and IQ Notes were $498.5 million and $40.5 million, respectively, at March 31, 2021.2022. Quoted market prices, which we consider to be Level 1 inputs, are utilized to estimate fair values of the Senior Notes. Unobservable inputs which we consider to be Level 3, including an assumed current annual yield of 6%, are utilized to estimate the fair value of the IQ Notes. See Note 7 for more information.

 

 

 

Note 10.    Commitments, Contingencies and Obligations

 

General

 

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 accrued 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 regarding the Johnny M Mine Area near San Mateo, McKinley County, New Mexico. Mining at the Johnny M Mine was conducted for a limited period of time by a predecessor of Hecla Limited, and the EPA had previously asserted that Hecla Limited may be responsible under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (“CERCLA”) for environmental remediation and past costs incurred by the EPA at the site. Under the Consent Order, 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 inIn December 2014, Hecla Limited submitted to the 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 onparties began negotiating 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 by $2.9 million 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.

 

16

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'sLimited’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"(“Superfund”) by removing the site from its emphasis list, and is working with various potentially responsible parties ("PRPs"(“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'sLimited’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. On May 2, 2022, Hecla Limited received a letter from an attorney representing a PRP notifying Hecla Limited that three PRPs will seek cost recovery and contribution from Hecla Limited under CERCLA for certain investigatory work performed by the PRPs at the SMCB site. 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 a 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 Colorado 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.

1817

 

Litigation Related to Klondex Acquisition

 

On May 24, 2019, a purported Hecla stockholder filed a putative class action lawsuit in the 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 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder and seeks, among other things, damages and costs and expenses. Specifically, the complaint alleges that Hecla, under the authority and control of the individual defendants, made certain material false and misleading statements and omitted certain material information regarding Hecla’s Nevada Operations unit.Operations. 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 lawsuitsthis lawsuit or estimate damages if plaintiffs were to prevail. We believe that these claims are without merit and intend to defend them vigorously.

Related to this class action lawsuit, Hecla has been named as a nominal defendant in a shareholder derivative lawsuit which also names as defendants certain current and past (i) members of Hecla’s board of directors and (ii) officers of Hecla. The case was filed on May 4, 2022 in the Delaware Chancery Court. In general terms, the suit alleges breaches of fiduciary duties by the individual defendants, waste of corporate assets and unjust enrichment, and seeks damages, purportedly on behalf of Hecla.

 

Debt

 

See Note 7 for information on the commitments related to our debt arrangements as of March 31, 2021.2022.

 

Other Commitments

 

Our contractual obligations as of March 31, 20212022 included approximately $2.1 million for various costs. In addition, our open purchase orders at March 31,2021 includedand commitments of approximately $4.0$7.7 million, $0.7$10.1 million, $2.8$0.2 million and $2.7$4.6 million for various capital and non-capital items at theGreens Creek, Lucky Friday, Casa Berardi Greens Creek and Nevada Operations, units, respectively. We also have total commitments of approximately $18.2$15.5 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$14.9 million relating to payments on operating leases (see Note 7 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, 2021,2022, we had surety bonds totaling $176.8$183.5 million and letters of credit totaling $20.3$17.3 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 have no basis to conclude that any or all of such contingencies will 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.

 

19

 

 

Note 11.    Developments in 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 in Future Periods

In August 2020, the FASBFinancial Accounting Standards Board ("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 address issues identified as a result of the complexity associated with applying generally accepted accounting principles forto certain financial instruments with characteristics of liabilities and equity. The update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, including interim periods within those fiscal years and with early adoption permitted. We adopted the update as of January 1, 2022, which did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements or disclosures.

18

In October 2021, the FASB issued ASU 2021-08,Business Combinations (Topic 805): Accounting for Contract Assets and ContractLiabilities from Contracts with Customers, which requires entities to recognize and measure contract assets and contract liabilities acquired ina business combination in accordance with ASC 2014-09,Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606). The update will generally result in an entity recognizing contract assets and contract liabilities at amounts consistent with those recorded by the acquiree immediately before the acquisition date rather than at fair value. The update is effective on a prospective basis for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, with early adoption permitted. We adopted the new standard effective January 1, 2022, which did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements or disclosures.

Accounting Standards Updates to Become Effective in Future Periods

In 2017, the United Kingdom’s Financial Conduct Authority ("FCA") announced that after 2021 it would no longer compel banks to submit the rates required to calculate the London Interbank Offered Rate ("LIBOR"), which have been widely used as reference rates for various securities and financial contracts, including loans, debt and derivatives. This announcement indicated that the continuation of LIBOR on the current basis would not be guaranteed after 2021. Subsequently in March 2021, the FCA announced some USD LIBOR tenors (overnight, 1 month, 3 month, 6 month and 12 month) will continue to be published until June 30, 2023. Regulators in the U.S. and other jurisdictions have been working to replace these rates with alternative reference interest rates that are evaluatingsupported by transactions in liquid and observable markets, such as the Secured Overnight Financing Rate ("SOFR"). Currently, our credit facility and certain of our derivative instruments reference LIBOR-based rates. Our credit facility contains provisions specifying alternative interest rate calculations to be employed when LIBOR ceases to be available as a benchmark and we have adhered to the ISDA 2020 IBOR Fallbacks Protocol, which will govern our derivatives upon the final cessation of USD LIBOR. ASU 2020-04,Reference Rate Reform (Topic 848): Facilitation of the Effects ofReference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting, as amended, helps limit the accounting impact from contract modifications, includinghedging relationships, due to the transition from LIBOR to alternative reference rates that are completed by December 31, 2022. We do not expect a significant impact to our financial results, financial position or cash flows from the transition from LIBOR to alternative reference interest rates, but we will continue to monitor the impact of this update on our consolidated financial statements.transition until it is completed.

Note 12. Subsequent Events

During April 2022, we invested approximately $10 million in mining company securities.

 

2019

 

 

Forward-Looking Statements

 

Certain statements contained in this Form 10-Q, including in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Quantitative and Qualitative DisclosureDisclosures 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 Risk Factors in our annual report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020.2021 (“2021 Form 10-K”). 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.

 

2120

 

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"&A”), “Hecla”,“Hecla,the Company”,“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 on2021 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

 

Established in 1891, in northern Idaho’s Silver Valley, we believe we are the oldest operating precious metals mining company in the United States andStates. We are  the largest silver producer in the United States. Our corporate offices are in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho and Vancouver, British Columbia. OurStates, producing over 40% of the United States silver 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.

Our operating properties compriseat our five business segments for financial reporting purposes: the Greens Creek operating unit on Admiralty Island in Alaska, theand Lucky Friday operating unit in Idaho, theoperations. We produce gold at our Casa Berardi operating unitoperation in Quebec, Canada, the San Sebastian operating unit in Durango, Mexico, and theGreens Creek, and at our Nevada Operations unit in northern Nevada. Sincesegment prior to suspension of operations during 2021. Based upon our operating mines are located in the United States, Canada, and Mexico,operational footprint, we believe theywe have low or relatively moderate political risk, and less economic risk thancompared to other mines located in other parts of the world. Our exploration interests are alsolocated in the United States, Canada and Mexico,Mexico. Our operating and are locatedstrategic framework is based on expanding our production and locating and developing new resource potential in historical mining districts. The map below shows the locations of our operating units, our explorationa safe and pre-development projects, as well as our corporate offices located in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and Vancouver, British Columbia.responsible manner.

 

22

First Quarter 2022 Highlights

 

a1.jpg

Operational:

Produced 3.3 million ounces of silver and 41,642 ounces of gold.  See Consolidated Results of Operations below for information on total cost of sales and cash costs and AISC, after by-product credits, per silver and gold ounce for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2022 and 2021.

Continued our trend of strong safety performance, as our All Injury Frequency Rate (“AIFR”) for the first quarter of 2022 was 1.48, 30% below the U.S. national average for MSHA's “metal and nonmetal” category and within 3% of our AIFR of 1.45 for the full year of 2021.

Continued mitigation of the impacts of COVID-19 through refinement of our operational plans and procedures to protect our workforce, operations and communities while maintaining liquidity.

Financial:

Reported sales of products of $186.5 million.

Generated $37.9 million in net cash provided by operating activities after bi-annual interest payments totaling $18.5 million on the Senior Notes and IQ Notes. See the Financial Liquidity and Capital Resources section below for further discussion.

Made capital expenditures (excluding lease additions and other non-cash items) of approximately $21.5 million, including $3.1 million at Greens Creek, $9.7 million at Lucky Friday, $7.8 million at Casa Berardi and $0.9 million at the Nevada Operations.

Generated $16.4 million in free cash flow. A reconciliation of the non-GAAP measure free cash flow to net cash provided by operating activities, the nearest GAAP measure, is included in the Reconciliation of Cash Flows From Operating Activities (GAAP) to Free Cash Flow (Non-GAAP) section below.

Returned $3.5 million, or 21% of free cash flows, to our shareholders through payment of dividends.

Spent $12.8 million on exploration and pre-development activities.

Achieved the above while increasing our cash balance to $212.0 million, which was $2.0 million higher than at December 31, 2021, with no borrowings on our revolving credit facility, as of March 31, 2022.

 

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

 

 

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;cost-effective manner;

 

optimizingmaintaining and investing in exploration and pre-development projects in the vicinities of eleven mining districts and projects we believe to be under-explored and under-invested: Greens Creek on Alaska's Admiralty Island located near Juneau; North Idaho's Silver Valley in the historic Coeur d'Alene Mining District; the silver-producing district near Durango, Mexico; in the vicinity of our Casa Berardi mine and the Heva-Hosco project in the Abitibi region of northwestern Quebec, Canada; our projects located in two districts in Nevada; our projects in northwestern Montana; the Creede district of southwestern Colorado; the Kinskuch project in British Columbia, Canada; and the Republic mining district in Washington state;

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

 

expanding our proven and probable reserves, mineral resources and production capacity at our units;properties;

 

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 Montanoreone or both of our Montana 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 orand invest in mining and exploration properties and companies.

 

We strive to achieve excellent mine safety and health performance. We seek to implement this goal by: training employees in safe work practices; establishing, following and improving safety standards; investigating accidents, incidents and losses to avoid recurrence; involving employees in the establishment of safety standards; and participating in the National Mining Association’s CORESafety program. We seek to implement reasonable best practices with respect to mine safety and emergency preparedness. We respond to issues outlined in investigations and inspections by MSHA, the Commission of Labor Standards, Pay Equity and Occupational Health and Safety in Quebec, and the Mexico Ministry of Economy and Mining and continue to evaluate our safety practices. There can be no assurance that our practices will mitigate or eliminate all safety risks. Achieving and maintaining compliance with 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 2021 Form 10-K.

2321

 

The COVID-19Since its outbreak impacted our operations in 2020, includingthe COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact our operational practices and we continue to incur incremental costs and modify our operational plans to keep our workforce safe. In 2020, the pandemic adversely impactingimpacted our expected production of gold at Casa Berardi and has continued to impact our operations in 2021.exploration drilling at Greens Creek.  We incurred additional costs of approximately $0.6$0.4 million and $1.6 million in COVID-19 mitigation costs during the first quarter ofthree months ended March 31, 2022 and 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.respectively. 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.reserves. 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 and any subsequent variants could have on our operations and financial results for the remainderrest of 2021.2022.  In our 20202021 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 and are influenced by a number of factors beyond our control (except on a limited basis through the use of derivative contracts). See Item 7. Critical Accounting Estimates in our 20202021 Form 10-K.10-K and above in Note 8 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited). The average realized prices of silver, gold, lead and zinc were higher, with the average realized price for silver lower, in the first three months of 20212022 than in the comparable period last year, as illustrated by the table in Results of Operations below. While we believe longer-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.

 

Volatility in global financial markets and other factors can pose a significant challenge to our ability to access 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 prices of (i) silver, gold, zinc and lead contained in our concentrates that have been shipped but have not yet settled, and (ii) zinc and lead that we forecast for future concentrate shipments. We have also utilized put option contracts to manage exposure to declines in the prices of silver and gold in our forecasted future sales of those metals. In addition, we have in place a $250 million revolving credit agreement, of which $20.3$17.3 million was used as of March 31, 20212022 for letters of credit, leaving approximately $229.7$232.7 million available for borrowing.

We strive to achieve excellent mine safety and health performance. We seek to implement this goal by: training employees in safe work practices; establishing, following and improving safety standards; investigating accidents, incidents and losses to avoid recurrence; involving employees in the establishment of safety standards; and participating in the National Mining Association’s CORESafety program. We attempt to implement reasonable best practices with respect to mine safety and emergency preparedness. We work with MSHA to address issues outlined in its investigations and inspections and continue 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 Item 1A. Risk Factors in our 20202021 Form 10-K and above in Note 10 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 well 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 to us as possible.

 

24

 

Consolidated Results of Operations

 

Sales of products by metal for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2022 and 2021, and 2020the approximate variances attributed to differences in metals prices, sales volumes and smelter terms, were as follows:

 

  

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 

(in thousands)

 

Silver

  

Gold

  

Base metals

  

Less: smelter

and refining

charges

  

Total sales

of products

 

Three months ended March 31, 2021

 $77,760  $101,408  $45,084  $(13,400) $210,852 

Variances - 2022 versus 2021:

                    

Price

  (2,613)  4,298   12,316   (76)  13,925 

Volume

  (8,726)  (28,453)  (2,198)  1,369   (38,008)

Smelter terms

  (89)  (85)     (96)  (270)

Three months ended March 31, 2022

 $66,332  $77,168  $55,202  $(12,203) $186,499 

22

 

The fluctuations in salesAverage market and realized metals prices for the first quarter ofthree-month periods ended March 31, 2022 and 2021 compared to the first quarter of 2020 were primarily due to the following two reasons:as follows:

 

Higher average realized prices for silver, gold, lead and zinc. These price variances are illustrated in the table below.

  

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 
   

Three months ended March 31,

 
   

2022

  

2021

 

Silver –

London PM Fix ($/ounce)

 $23.95  $26.29 
 

Realized price per ounce

 $24.68  $25.66 

Gold –

London PM Fix ($/ounce)

 $1,874  $1,798 
 

Realized price per ounce

 $1,880  $1,770 

Lead –

LME Final Cash Buyer ($/pound)

 $1.06  $0.92 
 

Realized price per pound

 $1.08  $0.92 

Zinc –

LME Final Cash Buyer ($/pound)

 $1.70  $1.25 
 

Realized price per pound

 $1.79  $1.32 

 

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 first quarterquarters of 2022 and 2021, we recorded net positive price adjustments to provisional settlements of $1.0 million and $0.6 million, compared to net positive price adjustments to provisional settlements of $2.6 million in the first quarter of 2020.respectively. 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 the first quarter of 2021.metals. See Note 8 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for more 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.

 

25

Total metals production and sales volumes for each period are shown in the following table:

 

Higher quantities of silver, gold, zinc and lead sold as a result of the timing of shipments and higher production of silver, lead and zinc. See The Greens Creek Segment,The Lucky Friday Segment, The Casa Berardi Segment, The San Sebastian Segment and The Nevada Operations Segment sections 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 
   

Three Months Ended

March 31,

 
   

2022

  

2021

 

Silver -

Ounces produced

  3,324,708   3,459,446 
 

Payable ounces sold

  2,687,261   3,030,026 

Gold -

Ounces produced

  41,642   52,004 
 

Payable ounces sold

  41,053   57,286 

Lead -

Tons produced

  10,863   10,704 
 

Payable tons sold

  9,054   8,668 

Zinc -

Tons produced

  14,946   16,107 
 

Payable tons sold

  9,947   11,027 

 

The difference between what we report as "ounces/“ounces/tons produced"produced” and "payable“payable ounces/tons sold"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 accordingpursuant 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.

 

23

Sales, total cost of sales, gross profit, Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Ounce ("(“Cash Cost"Cost”) (non-GAAP) and All-In Sustaining Cost, After By-product Credits, per Ounce ("AISC"(“AISC”) (non-GAAP) at our operating unitsoperations for the three-monthsthree-month periods ended March 31, 20212022 and 20202021 were as follows (in thousands, except for Cash Cost and AISC):

 

 

Silver

  

Gold

  

Silver

  

Gold

 
 

Greens Creek

  

Lucky Friday

  

San Sebastian

  

Total Silver

  

Casa Berardi

  

Nevada Operations

  

Total Gold

  

Greens

Creek

  

Lucky

Friday

  

Other (2)

  

Total

Silver (3)

  

Casa

Berardi

  

Nevada

Operations

  

Total

Gold

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2022:

 

Sales

 $86,090  $38,040  $  $124,130  $62,101  $268  $62,369 

Total cost of sales

  (49,638)  (29,264)     (78,902)  (62,168)     (62,168)

Gross profit (loss)

 $36,452  $8,776  $  $45,228  $(67) $268  $201 

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

 $(0.90) $6.57  $  $1.09  $1,516  $  $1,516 

AISC, After By-product Credits, per Silver or Gold ounce (1)

 $1.90  $13.15  $  $7.64  $1,810  $  $1,810 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2021:

  

Sales

 $98,409  $29,122  $173  $127,704  $72,911  $10,237  $83,148  $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)  (53,181)  (22,794)  (94)  (76,069)  (59,927)  (7,455)  (67,382)

Gross profit

 $45,228  $6,328  $79  $51,635  $10,395  $2,782  $13,177  $45,228  $6,328  $79  $51,635  $12,984  $2,782  $15,766 

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 

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

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

AISC, After By-product Credits, per Silver or Gold ounce (1)

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

 

 

(1)

A reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures to total cost of sales, and other direct production costs and depreciation, depletion and amortization, the most comparable GAAP measure, can be found below in Reconciliation of Total 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).

 

26

(2)

Includes results for San Sebastian, which was an operating segment prior to 2021.

(3)

The calculation of AISC, After By-product Credits, per Ounce for our consolidated silver properties includes corporate costs for general and administrative expense and sustaining exploration and capital costs.

 

While revenue from zinc, lead and gold by-products is significant, we believe that identification of silver as the primary product of Greens Creek and Lucky Friday and San Sebastian 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 each of these unitsoperations 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 aand Lucky Friday deposits are massive sulfide depositdeposits containing an unusually high proportion of silver; and

in most of itstheir working areas, Greens Creek utilizesand Lucky Friday utilize 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 and 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 and 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.

24

 

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 and Nevada Operations 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 2021,2022, we recorded income applicable to common stockholders of $18.8$4.0 million ($0.040.01 per basic common share), compared to a lossincome of $17.3$21.3 million ($0.030.04 per basic common share) during the first quarter of 2020.2021. The following factors contributed to the results for the first three months of 20212022 compared to the first quarter of 2020:2021:

 

 

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

 

Ramp-up costsExploration and pre-development expense increased by $6.1 million in the first quarter of 2022 compared to the first quarter of 2021. In the first quarter of 2022, exploration was primarily at Lucky Friday decreased by $8.1San Sebastian, Casa Berardi, Nevada Operations and Greens Creek. Pre-development expense for the first quarter of 2022 totaled $3.1 million compared to $0.7 million in the first quarter of 2021, comparedwith the increase for development of a decline to the first quarter of 2020 due toHatter Graben area at the return to full production startingHollister mine in the fourth quarter of 2020. See The Lucky Friday Segment section below.Nevada.

 

Lower interest expenseCare and maintenance costs increased by $5.6$1.9 million in the first quarter of 20212022 compared to the first quarter of 2020, with the decrease2021 due to suspension of production at Nevada Operations. See 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.Nevada Operations section below.

 

27

these factors was partially offset by the following:

 

 

Higher other operating expense by $2.7Fair value adjustments, net resulted in a gain of $6.0 million in the first quarter of 20212022 compared to a loss of $1.9 million the first quarter of 2020 due2021 (see Note 9 of Notes to project costs incurred to identify and implement potential operational improvements at Casa Berardi.Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for more information).

 

Provision for closed operations and environmental matters increaseddecreased by $3.2$2.8 million in the first quarter of 20212022 compared to the first quarter of 20202021 primarily due to a $2.9 million increase in the accrual for estimated costs at the Johnny M site in New Mexico in the first quarter of 2021 (see Note 10 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for more information).

 

Exploration and pre-developmentLower other operating expense increased by $3.6$1.2 million in the first quarter of 20212022 compared to the first quarter of 2020. In2021 primarily due to project costs incurred to identify and implement potential operational improvements at Casa Berardi in the first quarter of 2021, exploration was primarilypartially offset by similar project costs incurred at our San Sebastian, Casa Berardi and Nevada Operations units.

A gain on metal derivatives contracts of $0.5 millionGreens Creek in the first quarter of 2021 compared to a gain of $7.9 million in the first quarter of 2020. See Note 8 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for more information.

A net foreign exchange loss in the first quarter of 2021 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 impact of a 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 2020.2022.

 

An income and mining tax provision of $4.6$5.6 million in the first quarter of 20212022 compared to an income and mining tax benefita provision of $1.1$4.7 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 to Income and mining tax provision (see Note 3 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for more information).

 

2825

 

The Greens Creek Segment

 

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

 

Three months ended March 31,

  

Three months ended March 31,

 
 

2021

  

2020

  

2022

  

2021

 

Sales

 $98,409  $53,833  $86,090  $98,409 

Cost of sales and other direct production costs

 (38,360) (36,753) (38,218) (38,360)

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

  (14,821)  (12,429)  (11,420)  (14,821)

Total cost of sales

  (53,181)  (49,182)  (49,638)  (53,181)

Gross profit

 $45,228  $4,651  $36,452  $45,228 

Tons of ore milled

 194,080  198,804  211,687  194,080 

Production:

  

Silver (ounces)

 2,584,870  2,775,707  2,429,782  2,584,870 

Gold (ounces)

 13,266  12,273  11,402  13,266 

Zinc (tons)

 13,354  12,487  12,494  13,354 

Lead (tons)

 4,924  5,198  4,883  4,924 

Payable metal quantities sold:

  

Silver (ounces)

 2,247,274  2,093,720  1,772,391  2,247,274 

Gold (ounces)

 10,547  10,321  7,922  10,547 

Zinc (tons)

 9,097  9,652  8,092  9,097 

Lead (tons)

 3,645  3,460  3,063  3,645 

Ore grades:

  

Silver ounces per ton

 16.01  16.87  13.84  16.01 

Gold ounces per ton

 0.09  0.08  0.07  0.09 

Zinc percent

 7.62  6.89  6.56  7.62 

Lead percent

 3.06  3.12  2.76  3.06 

Total production cost per ton

 $182.61  $185.92  $192.16  $182.61 

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

 $(0.67) $5.63  $(0.90) $(0.67)

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

 $1.59  $7.90  $1.90  $1.59 

Capital additions

 $4,892  $5,510  $3,092  $1,772 

 

 

(1)

A reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures to total cost of sales, and other direct production costs and depreciation, depletion and amortization, the most comparable GAAP measure, can be found below in Reconciliation of Total 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$8.8 million increasedecrease in gross profit during the first quarter of 20212022 compared to the same 20202021 period was the result of lower sales volumes, as a result of lower ore grades and the timing of concentrate shipments, and lower average silver prices, partially offset by higher sales due to:average gold, zinc and lead prices.

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.

 

2926

 

The chart below illustrates the factors contributing to the variances in Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce for the first quarter of 20212022 compared to the first quarter of 2020:2021:

 

a2.jpgc01.jpg

 

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

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

  

Three Months Ended March 31,

 
 

2021

  

2020

  

2022

  

2021

 

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

 $18.98  $20.09  $21.82  $18.98 

By-product credits

  (19.65)  (14.46)  (22.72)  (19.65)

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

 $(0.67) $5.63  $(0.90) $(0.67)

 

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

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

  

Three Months Ended March 31,

 
 

2021

  

2020

  

2022

  

2021

 

AISC, Before By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce

 $21.24  $22.36  $24.62  $21.24 

By-product credits

  (19.65)  (14.46)  (22.72)  (19.65)

AISC, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce

 $1.59  $7.90  $1.90  $1.59 

 

The decrease in Cash Costs, After By-Product Credits, per Silver Ounce for the first quarter of 2022 compared to 2021 was primarily due to the higher by-product credits, partially offset by higher mining and milling costs. The net impact of these factors was outweighed by higher sustaining capital spending, resulting in the increase in AISC, After By-Product Credits, per Silver Ounce for the first quarter of 20212022 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.

 

3027

 

The Lucky Friday Segment

 

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

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

  

Three Months Ended March 31,

 
 

2021

  

2020

  

2022

  

2021

 

Sales

 $29,122  $2,830  $38,040  $29,122 

Cost of sales and other direct production costs

 (16,458) (2,530) (21,232) (16,458)

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

  (6,336)  (302)  (8,032)  (6,336)

Total cost of sales

  (22,794)  (2,832)  (29,264)  (22,794)

Gross profit (loss)

 $6,328  $(2) $8,776  $6,328 

Tons of ore milled

 81,071  10,219  77,725  81,071 

Production:

  

Silver (ounces)

 863,901  95,748  887,858  863,901 

Lead (tons)

 5,780  695  5,980  5,780 

Zinc (tons)

 2,753  360  2,452  2,753 

Payable metal quantities sold:

  

Silver (ounces)

 763,823  101,102  899,454  763,823 

Lead (tons)

 5,023  670  5,991  5,023 

Zinc (tons)

 1,930  184  1,855  1,930 

Ore grades:

  

Silver ounces per ton

 11.18  9.87  12.04  11.18 

Lead percent

 7.51  7.23  8.16  7.51 

Zinc percent

 3.70  3.85  3.61  3.70 

Total production cost per ton

 $181.28  $  $247.17  $190.54 

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

 $7.62  $  $6.57  $7.62 

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

 $14.24  $  $13.15  14.24 

Capital additions

 $5,912  $4,295  $9,652  $5,912 

(1)

A reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures to total cost of sales, the most comparable GAAP measure, can be found below in Reconciliation of Total Cost of Sales (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 increasesincrease in sales, gross profit ore tonnage and metals production in the first quarter of 20212022 compared to the first quarter of 20202021 was the result of a fullhigher sales volume and lead and zinc prices, partially offset by lower average silver prices.

Total production cost per ton increased by approximately 30% in the first quarter of production following2022 compared to the return to full production during the fourthfirst quarter of 2020 (discussed further below).         2021 primarily due to higher costs for labor, equipment maintenance, contractors and consumables and lower mill throughput.

 

3128

 

The chart below illustrates the factors contributing to Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce for the first quarterquarters of 2021. Total production costs2022 and Cash Cost and AISC, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce are not presented for the first quarter of 2020, as production was limited during the ramp-up after the strike and results are not comparable.2021.

 

a3.jpgc02.jpg

 

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

 

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
  

Three Months Ended March 31,

 
  

2022

  

2021

 

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

 $26.63  $24.43 

By-product credits

  (20.06)  (16.81)

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

 $6.57  $7.62 

 

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

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

  

Three Months Ended March 31,

 
 

2021

  

2022

  

2021

 

AISC, Before By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce

 $31.05  $33.21  $31.05 

By-product credits

  (16.81)  (20.06)  (16.81)

AISC, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce

  14.24  $13.15  $14.24 

 

Many of the employees at our Lucky Friday unit are represented by a union, and the current collective bargaining agreement with the union expires on January 6, 2023.

The unionized employees were on strike from March 13, 2017 until January 7, 2020, when the union ratified a new collective bargaining agreement. Salaried personnel performed limited production and capital improvements from July 2017 until the end of the strike. Re-staffing of the mine commenceddecrease in the first 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 $8.1 million in the first quarter of 2020, which include non-cash depreciation expense of $1.8 million and are reported in a separate line item on our consolidated statements of operations, with no ramp-up costs recognized in the first quarter of 2021. These ramp-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 when presented.

See Note 10for the first quarter of Notes2022 compared to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for a contingency relatedthe first quarter of 2021 was due to groundwater monitoring at the Lucky Friday mine in prior periods.higher silver production resulting from increased grades, higher by-product credits due to increased lead and zinc prices, and improved quality of concentrates. 

 

3229

 

The Casa Berardi Segment

 

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

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

  

Three Months Ended March 31,

 
 

2021

  

2020

  

2022

  

2021

 

Sales

 $72,911  $46,172  $62,101  $72,911 

Cost of sales and other direct production costs

 (36,975) (31,928) (46,322) (36,975)

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

  (25,541)  (16,397)  (15,846)  (22,952)

Total cost of sales

  (62,516)  (48,325)  (62,168)  (59,927)

Gross profit (loss)

 $10,395  $(2,153) $(67) $12,984 

Tons of ore milled

 368,403  331,618  386,150  368,403 

Production:

  

Gold (ounces)

 36,190  26,752  30,240  36,190 

Silver (ounces)

 10,675  5,934  7,068  10,675 

Payable metal quantities sold:

  

Gold (ounces)

 40,869  29,082  33,066  40,869 

Silver (ounces)

 8,715  8,423  9,054  8,715 

Ore grades:

  

Gold ounces per ton

 0.120  0.102  0.091  0.120 

Silver ounces per ton

 0.04  0.02  0.02  0.04 

Total production cost per ton

 $99.67  $102.45  $117.96  $99.67 

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

 $1,027  $1,268  $1,516  $1,027 

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

 $1,272  $1,615  $1,810  $1,272 

Capital additions

 $13,847  $8,506  $7,808  $13,847 

 

 

(1)

A reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures to total cost of sales, and other direct production costs and depreciation, depletion and amortization, the most comparable GAAP measure, can be found below in Reconciliation of Total Cost of Sales and Other Direct Production Costs and Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization (GAAP)Sales(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 increaseddecreased by $12.5$13.1 million for the first quarter of 20212022 compared to the first quarter of 20202021 primarily due to higher sales resulting from higher averagelower gold prices and volume, partially offsetproduction, due to lower ore grades, accompanied by higher total costmining costs for labor, contractors and consumables. The increase in mining costs is partially attributable to inflation and a higher portion of sales resultingdevelopment costs for the new 160 zone open pit mine being included in expense, as production from the higher sales volume. The lower gold volumepit commenced in the firstfourth 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.2021.

 

Total capital additions increaseddecreased by $5.3$6.0 million in the first quarter of 20212022 compared to the first quarter of 20202021 primarily due to growth capital costs incurred in the 2021 period for development of the new 160 zone open pit mine, partially offset by lower sustaining capital costs. We expect limited ore production from the 160 zone pit to begin in the fourth quarter of 2021.mine.

 

3330

 

The chart below illustrates the factors contributing to Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Gold Ounce for the first quarter of 20212022 compared to the first quarter of 2020:2021:

 

a4.jpgc03.jpg

 

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

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

  

Three Months Ended March 31,

 
 

2021

  

2020

  

2022

  

2021

 

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

 $1,035  $1,272  $1,521  $1,035 

By-product credits

  (8)  (4)  (5)  (8)

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

 $1,027  $1,268  $1,516  $1,027 

 

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

 

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

  

Three Months Ended March 31,

 
 

2021

  

2020

  

2022

  

2021

 

AISC, Before By-product Credits, per Gold Ounce

 $1,280  $1,619  $1,815  $1,280 

By-product credits

  (8)  (4)  (5)  (8)

AISC, After By-product Credits, per Gold Ounce

 $1,272  $1,615  $1,810  $1,272 

 

The decreaseincrease in Cash Cost and AISC, After By-product Credits, per Gold Ounce for the first quarter of 20212022 compared to the first quarter of 20202021 was primarily the result of higherlower gold production and higher mining costs. These factors along with higher exploration spending, partially offset by lower sustaining capital, resulted in the increase in AISC, After By-product Credits, per Gold Ounce also impacted by lower sustaining capital spending, partially offset by higher exploration spending.Ounce.

 

3431

 

The San Sebastian SegmentNevada Operations

 

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

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

 
  

2021

  

2020

 

Sales

 $173  $9,927 

Cost of sales and other direct production costs

  (94)  (6,827)

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     (1,473)

Total cost of sales

  (94)  (8,300)

Gross profit

 $79  $1,627 

Tons of ore milled

     35,476 

Production:

        

Silver (ounces)

     346,625 

Gold (ounces)

     2,802 

Payable metal quantities sold:

        

Silver (ounces)

  3,392   353,696 

Gold (ounces)

  47   2,824 

Ore grades:

        

Silver ounces per ton

     10.64 

Gold ounces per ton

     0.091 

Total production cost per ton

 $  $178.02 

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

 $  $6.91 

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

 $  $9.59 

Capital additions

 $  $803 

(1)

A reconciliation of this non-GAAP measure to cost of sales and other direct production costs and depreciation, depletion and amortization, the most comparable GAAP measure, can be found below in Reconciliation of 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 $1.5 million decrease in gross profit in 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 2020, and milling was completed in the fourth quarter of 2020, with exploration and evaluation activities ongoing.

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, total production costs and Cash Cost and AISC, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce.

35

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

a5.jpg

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

  

Three Months Ended March 31,

 
  

2020

 

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

 $19.67 

By-product credits

  (12.76)

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

 $6.91 

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

  

Three Months Ended March 31,

 
  

2020

 

AISC, Before By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce

 $22.35 

By-product credits

  (12.76)

AISC, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce

 $9.59 

36

The Nevada Operations Segment

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

 

Three Months Ended March 31,

  

Three Months Ended March 31,

 
 

2021

  

2020

  

2022

  

2021

 

Sales

 $10,237  $24,163  $268  $10,237 

Cost of sales and other direct production costs

 (4,822) (7,849)   (4,495)

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

  (2,633)  (9,065)     (2,960)

Total cost of sales

  (7,455)  (16,914)     (7,455)

Gross profit

 $2,782  $7,249  $268  $2,782 

Tons of ore milled

 16,459  17,298    16,459 

Production:

  

Gold (ounces)

 2,548  16,965    2,548 

Silver (ounces)

   21,455     

Payable metal quantities sold:

  

Gold (ounces)

 5,823  14,876  65  5,823 

Silver (ounces)

 6,821  25,339  6,363  6,821 

Ore grades:

  

Gold ounces per ton

 0.185  1.055    0.185 

Silver ounces per ton

   1.47     

Total production cost per ton

 $360.72  $745.14  $  $360.72 

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

 $1,416  $735  $  $1,416 

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

 $1,461  $808  $  $1,461 

Capital additions

 $89  $857  $876  $89 

 

 

(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 decrease in gross profit for the first quarter of 20212022 compared to the first quarter of 20202021 is a result of lower metals production. Duringsales volume, with the final sale of 2021 production occurring in the first quarter of 2022. Development ceased at Fire Creek in the second halfquarter of 2020, all ore mined at2019 when the Nevada Operationsdecision was stockpiled, with no ore milled and nomade to limit near-term production reported during that period.to areas of the mine where development was already completed. Mining of non-refractory ore at Fire Creek in areas where development hashad already been performed was completed in the fourth quarter of 2020. ProcessingDuring 2021, production and revenue were generated from 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 refractory ore in a bulk sample ofroaster and autoclave facility, respectively. 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 bewas placed on care-and-maintenance in the second quarter of 2021 after itsprocessing of the 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.stockpile.

 

Production was suspendedExploration activities and pre-development activities related to the Hatter Graben area at the Hollister mine in the third quarter of 2019are ongoing.  Care and at the Midas mine and Aurora mill in late-2019. Suspension-relatedmaintenance 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.

37

The chart below illustrates the factors contributing to Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, Per Gold Ounce for the first quarter of 2021 and 2020:

a6.jpg

The following table summarizes the components of Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Gold 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 Gold ounce in the first quarter of 2021 compared to the first 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 20202021 Form 10-K for a discussion of certain risks relating to our recent and ongoing analysis of the carrying value of the Nevada assets.

 

3832

 

Corporate Matters

 

Employee Benefit Plans

 

Our defined benefit pension plans, providewhile providing a significant benefit to our employees, but represent a significant liability to us. The liability recorded for the underfunded status of our plans was $29.6$5.9 million and $44.9$6.0 million as of March 31, 20212022 and December 31, 2020,2021, 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 do not expect to be required to contribute to our defined benefit pension plans in 2021,2022, 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 defined benefit pension plan provisions, and we periodically examine the plans for affordability and competitiveness. See Note 96 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in our 20202021 Form 10-K for more information.

 

Income and Mining Taxes

 

During the first quarter of 2021,2022, an income and mining tax provision of approximately $4.6$5.6 million resulted in an effective tax rate of 19.6%57.6% for that period. This compares to an income and mining tax benefitprovision of $1.1$4.7 million, or an effective tax rate of 5.8%18.1%, for the first quarter of 2020.2021. The comparability of our income and mining tax (provision) benefit and effective tax rate for the reported periods was impacted by multiple factors, primarily: (i) mining taxes; (ii) variations in our income before income taxes; (iii) geographic distribution of that income; (iv) foreign exchange rates;rates including non-recognition of foreign exchange gains and losses; (v) percentage depletion; and (vi) the non-recognition of tax assets; and (vii) the reclassification of the Alaska mine license tax effective January 1, 2021, which increased our income and mining tax provision by $3.0 million.assets. Therefore, the effective tax rate will fluctuate, sometimes significantly, period to period. For the period ended March 31, 2022, we used the annual effective tax rate method to calculate the tax provision, a change from the discrete method used for the period ended March 31, 2021, due to reversal of valuation allowance in the fourth quarter of 2021. 

 

Each reporting period we assess our deferred tax balances based on a review of long-range forecasts and quarterly activity. A valuation allowance is provided for deferred tax assets for which it is more likely than not the related tax benefits will not be realized. We analyze our deferred tax assets and, if it is determined that we will not realize all or a portion of our deferred tax assets, we will record or increase a valuation allowance. Conversely, if it is determined we will ultimately more likely than not be able to realize all or a portion 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 realize our deferred tax assets. Valuation allowances are provided on deferred tax assets in our Nevada, Mexico, and certain Canadian jurisdictions. For additional information, please see Item 1A - Risk Factors in our 20202021 10-K.

 

 

Reconciliation of Total 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 total 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, Casa Berardi and Nevada Operations units and for the Company for the three-month periods ended March 31, 20212022 and 2020.2021.

 

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 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.

 

3933

 

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Ounce is an important operating statistic that we utilize to measure each mine's operating performance. We use AISC, After By-product Credits, per Ounce 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 silver and gold mining company, we also use these statistics on an aggregate basis - aggregating the Greens Creek and Lucky Friday and San Sebastian mines to compare our performance with that of other silver mining companies, and aggregating Casa Berardi and Nevada Operations for comparison with other gold 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 and 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, and sustaining exploration and sustaining capital projects.costs. By-product credits include revenues earned from all metals other than the primary metal produced at each unit.operation. As depicted in the tables below, by-product credits comprise an essential element of our silver unitoperations' 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.  

 

34

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, their primary product, and by-product revenues earned from silver, which is a by-product at Casa Berardi and Nevada Operations. Only costs and ounces produced relating to unitsoperations 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 and 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 unitstwo operations is not included as a by-product credit when calculating the gold metrics for Casa Berardi and Nevada Operations.

 

In thousands (except per ounce amounts)

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2022

 
  

Greens

Creek

  

Lucky

Friday

  

Corporate(2)

  

Total

Silver

 

Total cost of sales

 $49,638  $29,264      $78,902 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

  (11,420)  (8,032)      (19,452)

Treatment costs

  9,096   3,677       12,773 

Change in product inventory

  6,538   (905)      5,633 

Reclamation and other costs

  (850)  (361)      (1,211)

Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits (1)

  53,002   23,643       76,645 

Reclamation and other costs

  705   282       987 

Exploration

  165      716   881 

Sustaining capital

  5,956   5,562   48   11,566 

General and administrative

          8,294   8,294 

AISC, Before By-product Credits (1)

  59,828   29,487       98,373 

By-product credits:

                

Zinc

  (28,651)  (5,977)      (34,628)

Gold

  (18,583)         (18,583)

Lead

  (7,966)  (11,836)      (19,802)

Total By-product credits

  (55,200)  (17,813)      (73,013)

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits

 $(2,198) $5,830      $3,632 

AISC, After By-product Credits

 $4,628  $11,674      $25,360 

Divided by ounces produced

  2,430   888       3,318 

Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $21.82  $26.63      $23.10 

By-product credits per ounce

  (22.72)  (20.06)      (22.01)

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $(0.90) $6.57      $1.09 

AISC, Before By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $24.62  $33.21      $29.65 

By-product credits per ounce

  (22.72)  (20.06)      (22.01)

AISC, After By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $1.90  $13.15      $7.64 

4035

 

In thousands (except per ounce amounts)

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2021

  

Three Months Ended

March 31, 2022

 
 

Greens

Creek

  

Lucky

Friday(2)

  

San

Sebastian(3)

  

Corporate(4)

  

Total

Silver

  

Casa

Berardi

  

Total

Gold

 

Total cost of sales

 $53,181  $22,794  $94     $76,069  $62,168  $62,168 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 (14,821) (6,336)      (21,157) (15,846) (15,846)

Treatment costs

 10,541  4,978       15,519  458  458 

Change in product inventory

 401  (93)      308  (563) (563)

Reclamation and other costs

  (261)  (233)  (94)     (588)  (210)  (210)

Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits (1)

 49,041  21,110       70,151  46,007  46,007 

Reclamation and other costs

 848  264       1,112  210  210 

Exploration

 123      435  558  1,394  1,394 

Sustaining capital

 4,892  5,454      10,346  7,281  7,281 

General and administrative

             8,007   8,007       

AISC, Before By-product Credits (1)

 54,904  26,828       90,174  54,892  54,892 

By-product credits:

  

Zinc

 (22,767) (4,753)      (27,520)

Gold

 (20,996)        (20,996)

Lead

  (7,020)  (9,775)        (16,795)

Silver

  (166)  (166)

Total By-product credits

  (50,783)  (14,528)        (65,311)  (166)  (166)

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits

 $(1,742) $6,582  $     $4,840  $45,841  $45,841 

AISC, After By-product Credits

 $4,121  $12,300  $     $24,863  $54,726  $54,726 

Divided by ounces produced

 2,585  864       3,449  30  30 

Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $18.98  $24.43  $     $20.34  $1,521  $1,521 

By-product credits per ounce

  (19.65)  (16.81)        (18.94)  (5)  (5)

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $(0.67) $7.62  $     $1.40  $1,516  $1,516 

AISC, Before By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $21.24  $31.05  $     $26.15  $1,815  $1,815 

By-product credits per ounce

  (19.65)  (16.81)        (18.94)  (5)  (5)

AISC, After By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $1.59  $14.24  $     $7.21  $1,810  $1,810 

 

4136

 

In thousands (except per ounce amounts)

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2021

  

Three Months Ended March 31, 2022

 
 

Casa

Berardi (5)

 

Nevada

Operations (6)

  

Total

Gold

  

Total Silver

  

Total Gold

  

Total

 

Total cost of sales

 $62,516  $7,455  $69,971  $78,902  $62,168  $141,070 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 (25,541) (2,633) (28,174) (19,452) (15,846) (35,298)

Treatment costs

 714  11  725  12,773  458  13,231 

Change in product inventory

 (47) (1,084) (1,131) 5,633  (563) 5,070 

Reclamation and other costs

 (208) (27) (235)  (1,211)  (210)  (1,421)

Cash costs excluded

    (115)  (115)

Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits (1)

 37,434  3,607  41,041  76,645  46,007  122,652 

Reclamation and other costs

 208  27  235  987  210  1,197 

Exploration

 907    907  881  1,394  2,275 

Sustaining capital

 7,758  89  7,847  11,566  7,281  18,847 

General and administrative

           8,294      8,294 

AISC, Before By-product Credits (1)

 46,307  3,723  50,030  98,373  54,892  153,265 

By-product credits:

        

Zinc

 (34,628)   (34,628)

Gold

 (18,583)   (18,583)

Lead

 (19,802)   (19,802)

Silver

  (278)    (278)      (166)  (166)

Total By-product credits

  (278)    (278)  (73,013)  (166)  (73,179)

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits

 $37,156  $3,607  $40,763  $3,632  $45,841  $49,473 

AISC, After By-product Credits

 $46,029  $3,723  $49,752  $25,360  $54,726  $80,086 

Divided by ounces produced

 36  3  39  3,318  30    

Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $1,035  $1,416  $1,059  $23.10  $1,521    

By-product credits per ounce

  (8)    (7)  (22.01)  (5)   

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $1,027  $1,416  $1,052  $1.09  $1,516    

AISC, Before By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $1,280  $1,461  $1,291  $29.65  $1,815    

By-product credits per ounce

  (8)    (7)  (22.01)  (5)   

AISC, After By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $1,272  $1,461  $1,284  $7.64  $1,810    

 

4237

 

In thousands (except per ounce amounts)

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2021

  

Three Months Ended March 31, 2021

 
 

Total Silver

  

Total Gold

  

Total

  

Greens

Creek

  

Lucky

Friday

  

Corporate

and other(2)

  

Total

Silver

 

Total cost of sales

 $76,069  $69,971  $146,040  $53,181  $22,794  $94  $76,069 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 (21,157) (28,174) (49,331) (14,821) (6,336)   (21,157)

Treatment costs

 15,519  725  16,244  10,541  4,978    15,519 

Change in product inventory

 308  (1,131) (823) 401  (93)   308 

Reclamation and other costs

 (588) (235) (823)  (261)  (233)  (94)  (588)

Cash costs excluded

     (115)  (115)

Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits (1)

 70,151  41,041  111,192  49,041  21,110    70,151 

Reclamation and other costs

 1,112  235  1,347  848  264    1,112 

Exploration

 558  907  1,465  123    435  558 

Sustaining capital

 10,346  7,847  18,193  4,892  5,454    10,346 

General and administrative

  8,007      8,007           8,007   8,007 

AISC, Before By-product Credits (1)

 90,174  50,030  140,204  54,904  26,828  8,442  90,174 

By-product credits:

  

Zinc

 (27,520)   (27,520) (22,767) (4,753)   (27,520)

Gold

 (20,996)   (20,996) (20,996)     (20,996)

Lead

 (16,795)   (16,795)  (7,020)  (9,775)     (16,795)

Silver

      (278)  (278)

Total By-product credits

  (65,311)  (278)  (65,589)  (50,783)  (14,528)     (65,311)

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits

 $4,840  $40,763  $45,603  $(1,742) $6,582  $  $4,840 

AISC, After By-product Credits

 $24,863  $49,752  $74,615  $4,121  $12,300  $8,442  $24,863 

Divided by ounces produced

 3,449  39     2,585  864     3,449 

Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $20.34  $1,059     $18.98  $24.43     $20.34 

By-product credits per ounce

  (18.94)  (7)     (19.65)  (16.81)     (18.94)

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Ounce

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

AISC, Before By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $26.15  $1,291     $21.24  $31.05     $26.15 

By-product credits per ounce

  (18.94)  (7)     (19.65)  (16.81)     (18.94)

AISC, After By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $7.21  $1,284     $1.59  $14.24      7.21 

 

4338

 

In thousands (except per ounce amounts)

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2020

  

Three Months Ended March 31, 2021

 
 

Greens

Creek

  

Lucky

Friday(2)

  

San

Sebastian

  

Corporate(4)

  

Total

Silver

  

Casa

Berardi

  

Nevada

Operations(3)

  

Total

Gold

 

Total cost of sales

 $49,182  $2,832  $8,300     $60,314  $59,927  $7,455  $67,382 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 (12,429) (302) (1,473)    (14,204) (22,952) (2,960) (25,912)

Treatment costs

 15,826  432  104     16,362  714  11  725 

Change in product inventory

 2,870  914  253     4,037  (47) (1,084) (1,131)

Reclamation and other costs

 319    (361)    (42)  (208)  185   (23)

Exclusion of Lucky Friday costs

     (3,876)        (3,876)

Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits (1)

 55,768    6,823     62,591  37,434  3,607  41,041 

Reclamation and other costs

 788    114     902  208  27  235 

Exploration

 4    767  350  1,121  907    907 

Sustaining capital

 5,510    56    5,566   7,758   89   7,847 

General and administrative

             8,939   8,939 

AISC, Before By-product Credits (1)

 62,070    7,760     79,119  46,307  3,723  50,030 

By-product credits:

  

Zinc

 (16,026)        (16,026)

Gold

 (17,197)   (4,429)    (21,626)

Lead

  (6,926)           (6,926)

Silver

  (278)     (278)

Total By-product credits

  (40,149)     (4,429)     (44,578)  (278)     (278)

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits

 $15,619  $  $2,394     $18,013  $37,156  $3,607  $40,763 

AISC, After By-product Credits

 $21,921  $  $3,331     $34,541  $46,029  $3,723  $49,752 

Divided by ounces produced

 2,776    347     3,123  36  3  39 

Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $20.09  $  $19.67     $20.04  $1,035  $1,416  $1,059 

By-product credits per ounce

  (14.46)     (12.76)     (14.27)  (8)     (7)

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $5.63  $  $6.91     $5.77  $1,027  $1,416  $1,052 

AISC, Before By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $22.36  $  $22.35     $25.33  $1,280  $1,461  $1,291 

By-product credits per ounce

  (14.46)     (12.76)     (14.27)  (8)     (7)

AISC, After By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $7.90  $  $9.59      11.06  $1,272  $1,461  $1,284 

 

4439

 

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 

45

In thousands (except per ounce amounts)

 

Three Months Ended March 31, 2020

  

Three Months Ended March 31, 2021

 
 

Total Silver

  

Total Gold

  

Total

  

Total

Silver

  

Total Gold

  

Total

 

Total cost of sales

 $60,314  $65,239  $125,553  $76,069  $67,382  $143,451 

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

 (14,204) (25,462) (39,666) (21,157) (25,912) (47,069)

Treatment costs

 16,362  600  16,962  15,519  725  16,244 

Change in product inventory

 4,037  6,888  10,925  308  (1,131) (823)

Reclamation and other costs

 (42) (423) (465)  (588)  (23)  (611)

Exclusion of Lucky Friday costs

  (3,876)     (3,876)

Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits (1)

 62,591  46,842  109,433  70,151  41,041  111,192 

Reclamation and other costs

 902  423  1,325  1,112  235  1,347 

Exploration

 1,121  776  1,897  558  907  1,465 

Sustaining capital

 5,566  9,332  14,898  10,346  7,847  18,193 

General and administrative

  8,939      8,939   8,007      8,007 

AISC, Before By-product Credits (1)

 79,119  57,373  136,492  90,174  50,030  140,204 

By-product credits:

  

Zinc

 (16,026)   (16,026) (27,520)   (27,520)

Gold

 (21,626)   (21,626) (20,996)   (20,996)

Lead

 (6,926)   (6,926) (16,795)   (16,795)

Silver

  0   (453)  (453)     (278)  (278)

Total By-product credits

  (44,578)  (453)  (45,031)  (65,311)  (278)  (65,589)

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits

 $18,013  $46,389  $64,402  $4,840  $40,763  $45,603 

AISC, After By-product Credits

 $34,541  $56,920  $91,461  $24,863  $49,752  $74,615 

Divided by ounces produced

 3,123  44     3,449  39    

Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $20.04  $1,071     $20.34  $1,059    

By-product credits per ounce

  (14.27)  (10)     (18.94)  (7)   

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $5.77  $1,061     $1.40  $1,052    

AISC, Before By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $25.33  $1,312     $26.15  $1,291    

By-product credits per ounce

  (14.27)  (10)     (18.94)  (7)   

AISC, After By-product Credits, per Ounce

 $11.06  $1,302     $7.21  $1,284    

 

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

 

(2)

The unionized employees at Lucky Friday were on strike from March 2017 until January 2020, and production at Lucky Friday had been limited from the start of the strike until the ramp-up was substantially completed in the fourth quarter of 2020. Costs related to ramp-up activities totaling $6.3 million, along with $1.8 million in non-cash depreciation expense, 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, 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, and AISC, After By-product Credits.

46

(4)

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

 

(5)(3)

InProduction was suspended at the Hollister mine in the third quarter of 2019 and at the Midas mine and Aurora mill in late March 2020,2019, and at 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, resultingMidas mill and Fire Creek mine in reduced mill throughput. Suspension-relatedmid-2021. Care and maintenance costs at Nevada Operations totaling $0.9$5.7 million and $3.6 million for the first quarterquarters of 20202022 and 2021, respectively, are reported in a separate line item on our consolidated statements of operations and excluded from the calculations of total 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.

40

 

Reconciliation of Cash Provided by Operating Activities (GAAP) to Free Cash Flow (non-GAAP)

 

The non-GAAP measure of free cash flow is calculated as net cash provided by operating activities (GAAP) less additions to properties, plants, equipment and mineral interests (GAAP). Management believes that, when presented in conjunction with comparable GAAP measures, free cash flow is useful to investors in evaluating our operating performance. The following table reconciles net cash provided by operating activities to free cash flow:

  

Three Months Ended

March 31,

 
  

2022

  

2021

 

Net cash provided by operating activities (GAAP)

 $37,909  $37,936 

Less: Additions to properties, plants, equipment and mineral interests (GAAP)

  (21,478)  (21,413)

Free cash flow

 $16,431  $16,523 

Financial Liquidity and Capital Resources

Liquidity Overview

 

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 ourmaintain an acceptable level of 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, 2021,2022, we had $139.8$212.0 million in cash and cash equivalents, of which $16.8$23.4 million was held in foreign subsidiaries' local currency denominated accounts readily convertible to U.S. dollarsthat we anticipate utilizing for near-term operating, exploration or capital costs by those foreign subsidiaries. We also have USD cash and cash equivalent balances held by our foreign subsidiaries 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):

  

March 31, 2021

  

December 31, 2020

 

Cash and cash equivalents held in U.S. dollars

 $123.0  $116.4 

Cash and cash equivalents held in foreign currency

  16.8   13.4 

Total cash and cash equivalents

  139.8   129.8 

Marketable equity securities, current and non-current

  11.7   19.3 

Total cash, cash equivalents and investments

 $151.5  $149.1 

Cash and cash equivalents increased by $10.0 millionAs discussed in the first three months of 2021 as a result of operational performance. Cash held in foreign currencies represents balances in CAD and Mexican pesos ("MXN"), with a $3.4 million increase in the first quarter of 2021 resulting from an increase in CAD held. The value of marketable equity securities decreased by $7.6 million.

On February 19, 2020,Overview above, we completed an offering of Senior Notes in the total principal amount of USD$475 million. The Senior Notes are due February 15, 2028 and bear interest at a rate of 7.25% per year from the most recent payment date to which interest has been paid or provided for.  In 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 time 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 amounts drawn at an annual rate 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. There was no amount outstanding under the revolving credit facility as of March 31, 2021, with the exception of $20.3 million utilized for letters of credit. See Note 7 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for more information on our debt arrangements.

47

We continue to address the COVID-19 outbreak and face uncertainty related to the potential additional impactimpacts 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 impactThe impacts 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, if required, 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 inNote 1012 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in our 2020 Form2021 10-K, our Boardboard of Directorsdirectors declared and paid dividends on common stock totaling $3.4 million in the first quarter of 2022 and $4.7 million in the first quarter of 2021 and $1.3 million in the first quarter of 2020.2021. Our dividend policy has a silver-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 onFor illustrative purposes only, the first quarter of 2021 realized silver price of $25.66. The table below provides an overview of the augmented silver-linkedsummarizes potential dividend policy and the increased minimum dividends.amounts under our dividend policy.

 

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 

Quarterly

Average Realized

Silver Price ($ per

ounce)

  

Quarterly Silver-

Linked Dividend ($

per share)

  

Annualized

Silver-Linked

Dividend ($ per

share)

  

Annualized

Minimum

Dividend ($

per share)

  

Annualized

Dividends per

Share: Silver-

Linked and

Minimum ($

per share)

 
$20  $0.0025  $0.01  $0.015  $0.025 
$25  $0.0100  $0.04  $0.015  $0.055 
$30  $0.0150  $0.06  $0.015  $0.075 
$35  $0.0250  $0.10  $0.015  $0.115 
$40  $0.0350  $0.14  $0.015  $0.155 
$45  $0.0450  $0.18  $0.015  $0.195 
$50  $0.0550  $0.22  $0.015  $0.235 

41

 

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.

 

Pursuant to our stock repurchase program described in Note 1012 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statementsin our 2020 Form2021 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 March 31, 20212022 and December 31, 2020,2021, 934,100 shares had 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 May 4, 2021,5, 2022, was $6.25$5.08 per share.

 

Pursuant to anour at-the-market equity distribution agreement dated February 18, (“ATM”) described in Note 12 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in our2021 10-K, 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 our share price ourand 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, 2021.2022.  

 

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.

48

Asbelieve 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 our revolving credit facility, we believe we will be able to meet our obligations and other potential cash requirements during the next 12 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; principalNotes and interest payments under our revolving credit facility; deferral of revenues,facility (if amounts are drawn); care-and-maintenance and other costs related to addressing the impactsimpact of COVID-19 on our operations; capital expenditures at our operations; potential acquisitions of other mining companies or properties; regulatory matters; litigation; potential repurchases of our common stock under the program described above; and payment of dividends on common stock, if declared by our board of directors. We currently estimate that a total of approximately $110$135 million will be spent in 20212022 on capital expenditures, primarily for equipment, infrastructure, and development at our mines, including $21.4$21.5 million already incurred as of March 31, 2021.2022. We also estimate that exploration and pre-development expenditures will total approximately $38.5$45 million in 2021,2022, including $6.7$12.8 million already incurred as of March 31, 2021.2022. Our expenditures for these items and our related plans for 20212022 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 ability to estimate revenues and costs, sources of liquidity available to us, including the revolving credit facility, and other factors. A sustained downturn in metals prices, 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. In our 2021 10-K, see Item 1A. Risk Factors - An extended decline in metals prices, an increase in operating or capital costs, mine accidents or closures, increasing regulatory obligations, or our inability to convert resources or exploration targets to reserves may cause us to record write-downs, which could negatively impact our results of operations and We have a substantial amount of debt that could impair our financial health and prevent us from fulfilling our obligations under our existing and future indebtedness.

 

  

Three Months Ended

 
  

March 31, 2021

  

March 31, 2020

 

Cash provided by operating activities (in millions)

 $37.9  $4.9 

We may defer some capital expenditures 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. We cannot assure you that such financing will be available to us.

42

Our liquid assets include (in millions):

  

March 31,

2022

  

December 31,

2021

 

Cash and cash equivalents held in U.S. dollars

 $188.6  $196.2 

Cash and cash equivalents held in foreign currency

  23.4   13.8 

Total cash and cash equivalents

  212.0   210.0 

Marketable equity securities, current and non-current

  29.2   14.4 

Total cash, cash equivalents and investments

 $241.2  $224.4 

Cash and cash equivalents increased by $2.0 million in the first three months of 2022 as a result of operational performance. Cash held in foreign currencies represents balances in CAD and MXN, with a $9.6 million increase in the first quarter of 2022 resulting from an increase in CAD held. The value of marketable equity securities increased by $14.8 million due to acquisitions of $10.9 million and stock price appreciation during the quarter.

  

Three Months Ended

 
  

March 31,

2022

  

March 31,

2021

 

Cash provided by operating activities (in millions)

 $37.9  $37.9 

 

Cash provided by operating activities in the first quarter of 2021 increased by $33.0 million2022 was substantially unchanged compared to the first quarter of 2020. The increase was due to a higher net2021, with lower income generated from higher metal sales volumes and realized prices, and lower product inventory, partiallyadjusted for non-cash items offset by lower accounts payable and accrued liabilities, the timingimpact of payment of incentive compensation related to prior-year performance and higher accounts receivable due to the timing of concentrate shipments. In the first quarter of 2021, we made interest payments on our Senior Notes and IQ Notes of $17.2 million and $0.9 million, respectively, In the first quarter of 2020, we made interest payments on our previously-outstanding 2021 Notes, upon their redemption, and revolving credit facility of $13.3 million and $0.6 million, respectively.working capital changes.

 

  

Three Months Ended

 
  

March 31, 2021

  

March 31, 2020

 

Cash used in investing activities (in millions)

 $(21.4) $(19.7)
  

Three Months Ended

 
  

March 31,

2022

  

March 31,

2021

 

Cash used in investing activities (in millions)

 $(29.2) $(21.4)

 

During the first quarter of 20212022 we invested $21.4$21.5 million in capital expenditures compared to $19.9 million in the first quarter of 2020, with the variance primarily due to increased 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 quarter of 2020, we received $469.5 million in net proceeds from the issuance of our 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 of $4.7 million and $1.3$21.4 million in the first quarter of 2021, with higher capital spending at Greens Creek and 2020, respectively,Lucky Friday offset by lower spending at Casa Berardi. In the first quarter of 2022 we acquired investments in other mining companies for a total cost of $10.9 million and recognized $2.5 million in proceeds on the sale of investments, with no such activity in the first quarter of 2021.

  

Three Months Ended

 
  

March 31,

2022

  

March 31,

2021

 

Cash used in financing activities (in millions)

 $(7.2) $(6.8)

We paid total cash dividends of $0.1 million on our Series B Preferred Stock during eachcommon and preferred stock of those periods.$3.5 million and $4.8 million in the first quarter of 2022 and 2021, respectively. We made repayments on our capital leases of $1.9$1.7 million and $1.3$1.9 million in the first quarter of 20212022 and 2020,2021, respectively.

 

49

The effect of changes in foreign exchange ratesExchange rate fluctuations between the U.S. dollar and the Canadian dollar and Mexican peso resulted in a $0.2$0.5 million increase in cash and cash equivalents in the first quarter of 20212022 compared to a decreasean increase of $1.7$0.2 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.2021.

 

43

 

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 and certain capital expenditures and lease arrangements as of March 31, 20212022 (in thousands):

 

  

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 
  

Payments Due By Period

 
  

Less than 1

year

  

1-3 years

  

4-5 years

  

More than

5 years

  

Total

 

Purchase and contractual obligations (1)

 $22,645  $  $  $  $22,645 

Commitment fees (2)

  1,496            1,496 

Finance lease commitments (3)

  6,365   8,194   943      15,502 

Operating lease commitments (4)

  3,057   3,607   2,100   6,174   14,938 

Senior Notes (5)

  34,438   68,875   68,875   505,132   677,320 

IQ Notes (6)

  2,515   5,030   39,295      46,840 

Total contractual cash obligations

 $70,516  $85,706  $111,213  $511,306  $778,741 

 

 

(1)

Consists of open purchase orders and contractual obligations of approximately $2.8$7.7 million at the Greens Creek, unit, $4.0$10.1 million at the Lucky Friday, unit, $0.7$0.2 million at the Casa Berardi unit and $2.7$4.6 million at the Nevada Operations unit.Operations.  

 

 

(2)

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

(3)

We have a $250 million revolving credit agreement under which we are required to pay a standby fee of 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.is currently undrawn. We had $20.3$17.3 million in letters of credit outstanding as of March 31, 2021.2022. The amounts in the table above assume no additional amounts will be drawn in future periods, and include only the standby fee on the current undrawn balance. For more information on our credit facility, see Note 7 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).

 

 

(4)(3)

Includes scheduled finance lease payments of $17.5 million, $0.4$13.9 million and $0.3$1.6 million (including interest), respectively, for equipment at our Greens Creek and Casa Berardi, and Nevada Operations units.respectively.  

 

 

(5)(4)

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

 

 

(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 benefit payment requirements for the 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 4 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for more information.

50

(7)(5)

On February 19, 2020, we completed an offering of $475 million in aggregate principal amount of our Senior Notes due February 15, 2028. The Senior Notes bear interest at a rate of 7.25% per year, from the original date of issuance or the most recent payment date to whichwith interest has been paid or provided for.  Interest on the Senior Notes is payable on February 15 and August 15 of each year, commencing August 15, 2020. See Note 7 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for more information.

 

 

(8)(6)

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.amount. 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 estimated costs associated with mine closure, reclamation of land and other environmental matters.  At March 31, 2021,2022, our liabilities for these matters totaled $120.3$114.2 million. Future expenditures related to closure, reclamation and environmental expenditures at our sites are difficult to estimate, although we anticipate we will incur expenditures relating to these obligations over the next 30 years. For additional information relating to our environmental obligations, see Note 10 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).

 

 

Off-Balance Sheet ArrangementsCritical Accounting Estimates

 

At March 31,There have been no significant changes to the critical accounting estimates disclosed in Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations in our 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.Form 10-K.

 

44

 

Guarantor Subsidiaries

 

Presented below are Hecla’s unaudited interim condensed consolidating financial statements as required by Rule 3-10 of Regulation S-X of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, resulting from the guarantees by certain of Hecla's subsidiaries of the Senior Notes and IQ Notes (see Note 7of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) 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 Hecla Quebec, Inc..Inc. We completed the offering of the Senior Notes on February 19, 2020 under our shelf registration statement previously filed with the SEC. We issued the IQ Notes in four equal tranches between July and October 2020.

51

 

The unaudited interim condensed consolidating financial statements below have been prepared from our financial information on the same basis of accounting as the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements set forth elsewhere in this report. Investments in the subsidiaries are accounted for under the equity method. Accordingly, the entries necessary to consolidate Hecla, the Guarantors, and our non-guarantor subsidiaries are reflected in the intercompany eliminations column. In the course 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:

 

 

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.

45

 

 

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 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 entity 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.

 

52

Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets

 

As of March 31, 2021

  

As of March 31, 2022

 
 

Parent

  

Guarantors

  

Non-

Guarantors

  

Eliminations

  

Consolidated

  

Parent

  

Guarantors

  

Non-

Guarantors

  

Eliminations

  

Consolidated

 
 

(in thousands)

  

(in thousands)

 

Assets

                    

Cash and cash equivalents

 $95,223  $16,876  $27,651  $  $139,750  $164,037  $29,638  $18,354  $  $212,029 

Other current assets

 7,378  149,096  1,763  (70) 158,167  4,798  125,786  1,343    131,927 

Properties, plants, equipment and mineral interests - net

 1,913  2,310,363  8,271    2,320,547  1,913  2,288,710  8,235    2,298,858 

Intercompany receivable (payable)

 (139,294) (367,504) 220,389  286,409    (222,013) (219,670) 214,657  227,026   

Investments in subsidiaries

 1,768,493      (1,768,493)   1,566,919      (1,566,919)  

Other non-current assets

  306,995   20,305   (121,813)  (168,874)  36,613   360,176   32,607   (116,294)  (180,404)  96,085 

Total assets

 $2,040,708  $2,129,136  $136,261  $(1,651,028) $2,655,077  $1,875,830  $2,257,071  $126,295  $(1,520,297) $2,738,899 

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

                    

Current liabilities

 $(233,794) $184,713  $5,705  $152,494  $109,118  $(410,590) $251,290  $1,714  $345,826  $188,240 

Long-term debt

 507,992  17,088  170    525,250  508,852  17,878  507    527,237 

Non-current portion of accrued reclamation

   107,055  6,616    113,671    99,899  3,713    103,612 

Non-current deferred tax liability

 15,384  168,865    (35,029) 149,220  2,937  437,077    (299,204) 140,810 

Other non-current liabilities

 26,251  5,992  700    32,943  46,088  3,661  708    50,457 

Stockholders' equity

  1,724,875   1,645,423 �� 123,070   (1,768,493)  1,724,875   1,728,543   1,447,266   119,653   (1,566,919)  1,728,543 

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

 $2,040,708  $2,129,136  $136,261  $(1,651,028) $2,655,077  $1,875,830  $2,257,071  $126,295  $(1,520,297) $2,738,899 

 

5346

 

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 

  

Three Months Ended March 31, 2022

 
  

Parent

  

Guarantors

  

Non-

Guarantors

  

Eliminations

  

Consolidated

 
  

(in thousands)

 

Sales

 $(4,770) $191,269  $  $  $186,499 

Cost of sales

  1,050   (106,822)        (105,772)

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     (35,298)        (35,298)

General and administrative

  (4,393)  (3,764)  (137)     (8,294)

Exploration and pre-development

  (146)  (10,646)  (2,016)     (12,808)

Fair value adjustments, net

  256   1,939   3,770      5,965 

Equity in earnings of subsidiaries

  4,212         (4,212)   

Other income (expense)

  11,351   (21,886)  798   (10,771)  (20,508)

Income (loss) before income and mining taxes

  7,560   14,792   2,415   (14,983)  9,784 

Income and mining tax (provision) benefit

  (3,407)  (13,006)  11   10,771   (5,631)

Net income (loss)

  4,153   1,786   2,426   (4,212)  4,153 

Preferred stock dividends

  (138)           (138)

Income (loss) applicable to common stockholders

  4,015   1,786   2,426   (4,212)  4,015 

Net income (loss)

  4,153   1,786   2,426   (4,212)  4,153 

Changes in comprehensive loss

  (33,165)           (33,165)

Comprehensive (loss) income

 $(29,012) $1,786  $2,426  $(4,212) $(29,012)

 

Unaudited Interim Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows

  

Three Months Ended March 31, 2022

 
  

Parent

  

Guarantors

  

Non-

Guarantors

  

Eliminations

  

Consolidated

 
  

(in thousands)

 

Cash flows from operating activities

 $1,891  $30,240  $18,489  $(12,711) $37,909 

Cash flows from investing activities:

                    

Additions to properties, plants, equipment and mineral interests

     (21,476)  (2)      (21,478)

Other investing activities, net

  (4,213)  (2,173)  (5,591)  4,213   (7,764)

Cash flows from financing activities:

                    

Dividends paid to stockholders

  (3,509)            (3,509)

Payments on debt

     (1,695)         (1,695)

Other financing activity

  (5,240)  10,139   (15,372)  8,498   (1,975)

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

     509   10      519 

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

  (11,071)  15,544   (2,466)     2,007 

Beginning cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents

  175,108   15,135   20,820      211,063 

Ending cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents

 $164,037  $30,679  $18,354  $  $213,070 

 

  

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 

54

 

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 risks and uncertainties, as well as summarizes the financial instruments held by us at March 31, 2021,2022, 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 Item 1A. Risk Factors of our 20202021 Form 10-K).

47

 

Metals Prices

 

Changes in the market prices of silver, gold, lead and zinc can significantly affect our profitability and cash flow. MetalMetals 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 20202021 Form 10-K ). We utilize financially-settled forward and put option contracts to manage our exposure to changes in prices for 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 all performance obligations have been completed and the transaction price can be determined or reasonably estimated. For concentrate sales, revenues are generally recorded at the time of 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 Item 1A Risk Factors A substantial or extended decline in metals prices would have a material adverse effect on us in our 20202021 Form 10-K).  At March 31, 2021,2022, metals contained in concentrate sales and exposed to future price changes totaled 2.02.1 million ounces of silver, 5,5235,476 ounces of gold, 8,83110,798 tons of zinc, and 4,5225,940 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 $8.8$11.7 million.  As discussed in Commodity-Price Risk ManagementNote 8 below,of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited), 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

 

See Note 8 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) and Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk in our 20202021 Form 10-K for a description of our commodity-price risk management program.

 

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 USD and the CAD and MXN, respectively. We have determined 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 three months ended March 31, 20212022 and 2020,2021, we recognized a net foreign exchange loss of $2.1$2.0 million and gain of $6.6$2.1 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 March 31, 20212022 would have resulted in a change of approximately $10.5$10.1 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 March 31, 20212022 would have resulted in a change of approximately $0.1 million in our net foreign exchange gain or loss.

55

 

See Note 8 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) and Note 11 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in our 20202021 Form 10-K for a description of our foreign currency risk management.

 

48

 

Item 4.    Controls and Procedures

 

An evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures as required by 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 March 31, 2021,2022, 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 March 31, 20212022 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 certain legal proceedings, refer to Note 10 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited), which is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.

 

Item 1A.  Risk Factors

 

Item 1A - Risk Factors of our annual report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 20202021 sets forth information relating to important risks and uncertainties that could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or operating results.

Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Securities and Use of Proceeds

On January 27, 2021, we issued 3,500,000 unregistered shares of our common stock to the Hecla Mining Company Pre-2005 Supplemental Excess Retirement Plan and 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.

 

56

Item 6.    Exhibits

 

Hecla Mining Company and Wholly Owned Subsidiaries

 

Form 10-Q - March 31, 20212022

 

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

Bylaws of Hecla Mining Company, as amended February 26, 2021. Filed as exhibit 3.2 to Registrant’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 September 30, 2006, and filed on November 9, 2006.

10.2

Form of Change of Control Agreement between Hecla Mining Company and Russell D. Lawlar, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015, and filed on February 23, 2016.

 

31.1

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

 

31.2

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

 

32.1

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

 

32.2

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

 

49

95

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

 

101.INS

Inline XBRL 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.

 

 

 

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

 

5750

 

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, 202110, 2022

By:

/s/ Phillips S. Baker, Jr.

   

Phillips S. Baker, Jr., President,

   

Chief Executive Officer and Director

    

Date:

May 6, 202110, 2022

By:

/s/ Russell D. Lawlar

   

Russell D. Lawlar, Senior Vice President,

   

Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

 

5851