hl20180930_10q.htm
 

 

Table of Contents

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

 

 

[X]           QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2018

 

 

Commission file number

1-8491

 

 

HECLA MINING COMPANY

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware

 

77-0664171

 
 

(State or other jurisdiction of

 

(I.R.S. Employer

 
 

incorporation or organization)

 

Identification No.)

 
         
 

6500 Mineral Drive, Suite 200

     
 

Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

 

83815-9408

 
 

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 
         

208-769-4100

(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

 

 

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

Yes XX .    No      .

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically 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 and post such files).

Yes XX .    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 definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” “smaller reporting company,” and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (check one):

Large Accelerated Filer   XX.     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 XX.

 

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

 

Class

 

Shares Outstanding November 6, 2018

Common stock, par value

$0.25 per share

 

480,199,378

 

 

 

 

Hecla Mining Company and Subsidiaries

 

Form 10-Q

 

For the Quarter Ended September 30, 2018

 

INDEX*

 

   

Page

PART I - Financial Information

 
     
 

Item 1 – Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 
     
 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017

3
     
 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive Loss - Three Months Ended and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 and 2017

4
     
 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018 and 2017

5
     
 

Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

6
     
 

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

42
     
 

Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

75
     
 

Item 4. Controls and Procedures

78
     

PART II - Other Information

 
     
 

Item 1 – Legal Proceedings

78
     
  Item 1A – Risk Factors 78
     
 

Item 2 – Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

80
     
 

Item 4 – Mine Safety Disclosures

80
     
 

Item 6 – Exhibits

80
     
 

Signatures

81

 

 

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

 

2

 

 

Part I - Financial Information

 

Item 1. Financial Statements

 

 

Hecla Mining Company and Subsidiaries

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited)

(In thousands, except shares)

 

   

September 30,

2018

   

December 31,

2017

 
          Revised  

ASSETS

 

Current assets:

               

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 60,856     $ 186,107  

Investments

          33,758  

Accounts receivable:

               

Trade

    12,947       14,805  

Taxes

    19,316       10,382  

Other, net

    7,612       7,003  

Inventories:

               

Concentrates, doré, and stockpiled ore

    42,464       29,366  

Materials and supplies

    33,624       26,100  

Other current assets

    21,510       13,715  

Total current assets

    198,329       321,236  

Non-current investments

    7,190       7,561  

Non-current restricted cash and investments

    1,010       1,032  

Properties, plants, equipment and mineral interests, net

    2,487,429       1,999,311  

Non-current deferred income taxes

    1,601       1,509  

Other non-current assets and deferred charges

    14,699       14,509  

Total assets

  $ 2,710,258     $ 2,345,158  

LIABILITIES

 

Current liabilities:

               

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

  $ 65,755     $ 46,549  

Accrued payroll and related benefits

    29,488       31,259  

Accrued taxes

    8,274       5,919  

Current portion of capital leases

    6,069       5,608  

Current portion of accrued reclamation and closure costs

    6,621       6,679  

Accrued interest

    15,044       5,745  

Other current liabilities

    1,205       10,371  

Total current liabilities

    132,456       112,130  

Capital leases

    8,638       6,193  

Accrued reclamation and closure costs

    99,314       79,366  

Long-term debt

    534,067       502,229  

Non-current deferred tax liability

    164,928       124,352  

Non-current pension liability

    44,097       46,628  

Other noncurrent liabilities

    4,689       12,983  

Total liabilities

    988,189       883,881  

Commitments and contingencies (Notes 3, 5, 8, 10, and 12)

               

SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

 

Preferred stock, 5,000,000 shares authorized:

               

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

    39       39  

Common stock, $0.25 par value, authorized 750,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 2018 — 479,909,466 shares and 2017 — 399,176,425 shares

    121,283       100,926  

Capital surplus

    1,872,946       1,619,816  

Accumulated deficit

    (223,280

)

    (218,089

)

Accumulated other comprehensive loss

    (28,183

)

    (23,373

)

Less treasury stock, at cost; 2018 — 5,226,791 and 2017 — 4,529,450 shares issued and held in treasury

    (20,736

)

    (18,042

)

Total shareholders’ equity

    1,722,069       1,461,277  

Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity

  $ 2,710,258     $ 2,345,158  

 

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

 

3

 

 

Hecla Mining Company and Subsidiaries

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive (Loss) Income (Unaudited)

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

 

   

Three Months Ended

   

Nine Months Ended

 
   

September 30, 2018

   

September 30, 2017

   

September 30, 2018

   

September 30, 2017

 
            Revised             Revised  

Sales of products

  $ 143,649     $ 140,839     $ 430,617     $ 417,662  

Cost of sales and other direct production costs

    93,609       68,358       246,918       224,537  

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    43,464       29,518       103,335       86,986  

Total cost of sales

    137,073       97,876       350,253       311,523  

Gross profit

    6,576       42,963       80,364       106,139  

Other operating expenses:

                               

General and administrative

    10,327       9,529       27,849       29,044  

Exploration

    12,411       7,255       27,609       17,622  

Pre-development

    1,195       1,757       3,615       4,061  

Research and development

    1,269       1,130       5,042       2,125  

Other operating expense

    448       134       1,767       1,590  

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

    (3,208

)

    (4,830

)

    (3,374

)

    (4,924

)

Provision for closed operations and reclamation

    1,852       2,940       4,534       5,044  

Suspension-related costs

    6,519       4,780       18,337       14,385  

Acquisition costs

    6,139             9,656       25  

Total other operating expense

    36,952       22,695       95,035       68,972  

Income from operations

    (30,376

)

    20,268       (14,671

)

    37,167  

Other income (expense):

                               

Gain (loss) on derivative contracts

    19,460       (11,226

)

    40,271       (16,548

)

Loss on disposition of investments

    (36

)

          (36

)

    (167

)

Unrealized (loss) gain on investments

    (2,207

)

    (124

)

    (2,461

)

    (73

)

Foreign exchange (loss) gain

    (2,212

)

    (4,917

)

    2,856       (10,258

)

Interest income and other (expense) income

    (346

)

    541       (294

)

    1,185  

Interest expense, net of amount capitalized

    (10,146

)

    (9,358

)

    (30,019

)

    (28,423

)

Total other expense

    4,513       (25,084

)

    10,317       (54,284

)

(Loss) income before income taxes

    (25,863

)

    (4,816

)

    (4,354

)

    (17,117

)

Income tax benefit

    2,679       5,130       1,484       17,564  

Net (loss) income

    (23,184

)

    314       (2,870

)

    447  

Preferred stock dividends

    (138

)

    (138

)

    (414

)

    (414

)

Income applicable to common shareholders

  $ (23,322

)

  $ 176     $ (3,284

)

  $ 33  

Comprehensive income:

                               

Net (loss) income

  $ (23,184

)

  $ 314     $ (2,870

)

  $ 447  

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

                      167  

Unrealized loss and amortization of prior service on pension plans

          (16

)

           

Change in fair value of derivative contracts designated as hedge transactions

    3,743       6,760       (3,533

)

    12,068  

Unrealized holding gains on investments

    3       892       13       1,483  

Comprehensive (loss) income

  $ (19,438

)

  $ 7,950     $ (6,390

)

  $ 14,165  

Basic (loss) income per common share after preferred dividends

  $ (0.05

)

  $     $ (0.01

)

  $  

Diluted (loss) income per common share after preferred dividends

  $ (0.05

)

  $     $ (0.01

)

  $  

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - basic

    452,636       398,848       417,532       396,809  

Weighted average number of common shares outstanding - diluted

    452,636       401,258       417,532       400,176  

Cash dividends declared per common share

  $ 0.0025     $ 0.0025     $ 0.0075     $ 0.0075  

 

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

 

4

 

 

Hecla Mining Company and Subsidiaries

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

(In thousands)

 

   

Nine Months Ended

 
   

September 30,

2018

   

September 30,

2017

 
            Revised  

Operating activities:

               

Net (loss) income

  $ (2,870

)

  $ 447  

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

               

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    108,814       91,255  

Loss on disposition of investments

          167  

Unrealized loss on investments

    2,461       73  

Adjustment of inventory to market value

    7,232        

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

    (3,374

)

    (4,924

)

Provision for reclamation and closure costs

    3,957       3,379  

Stock compensation

    4,672       4,943  

Deferred income taxes

    (4,637

)

    (23,467

)

Amortization of loan origination fees

    1,471       1,415  

Loss on derivative contracts

    (15,208

)

    16,718  

Foreign exchange (gain) loss

    (2,032

)

    10,520  

Other non-cash items, net

    (37

)

    (1

)

Change in assets and liabilities, net of business acquisitions:

               

Accounts receivable

    (4,424

)

    4,903  

Inventories

    (18,954

)

    (9,611

)

Other current and non-current assets

    (5,569

)

    (2,685

)

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

    12,308       (7,759

)

Accrued payroll and related benefits

    (4,207

)

    (913

)

Accrued taxes

    845       (4,469

)

Accrued reclamation and closure costs and other non-current liabilities

    (5,238

)

    (5,876

)

Cash provided by operating activities

    75,210       74,115  

Investing activities:

               

Additions to properties, plants, equipment and mineral interests

    (83,285

)

    (70,390

)

Acquisition of Klondex, net of cash and restricted cash acquired

    (139,326

)

     

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

    722       151  

Insurance proceeds received for damaged property

    4,377       5,628  

Purchases of investments

    (31,971

)

    (36,916

)

Maturities of investments

    64,895       31,169  

Net cash used in investing activities

    (184,588

)

    (70,358

)

Financing activities:

               

Proceeds from sale of common stock, net of offering costs

    3,085       9,610  

Acquisition of treasury shares

    (2,694

)

    (2,993

)

Dividends paid to common shareholders

    (3,193

)

    (2,978

)

Dividends paid to preferred shareholders

    (414

)

    (414

)

Credit availability and debt issuance fees

    (2,460

)

    (476

)

Borrowings on debt

    78,024        

Repayments of debt

    (82,036

)

    (470

)

Repayments of capital leases

    (5,992

)

    (5,065

)

Net cash used in financing activities

    (15,680

)

    (2,786

)

Effect of exchange rates on cash

    (215

)

    1,051  

Net (decrease) increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents

    (125,273

)

    2,022  

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

    187,139       171,977  

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

  $ 61,866     $ 173,999  

Significant non-cash investing and financing activities:

               

Addition of capital lease obligations

  $ 7,008     $ 6,439  

Common stock issued for the acquisition of other companies

  $ 252,544     $  

Payment of accrued compensation in restricted stock units

  $ 4,863     $ 4,240  

 

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

 

5

 

 

Note 1.    Basis of Preparation of Financial Statements

 

In the opinion of management, the accompanying unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements and notes to the unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments, consisting of normal recurring items and items which are nonrecurring, necessary to present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Hecla Mining Company and its consolidated subsidiaries (in this report, "Hecla" or "the Company" or “we” or “our” or “us” refers to Hecla Mining Company and our subsidiaries, unless the context requires otherwise).  These unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with our audited consolidated financial statements and related footnotes as set forth in our annual report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, as it may be amended from time to time.

 

The results of operations for the periods presented may not be indicative of those which may be expected for a full year.  The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC").  Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in audited financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) have been condensed or omitted pursuant to those rules and regulations, although we believe that the disclosures are adequate for the information not to be misleading.

 

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

 

On July 20, 2018, we completed the acquisition of Klondex Mines Ltd. ("Klondex"). The unaudited interim condensed consolidated financial statements included herein reflect our ownership of the assets previously held by Klondex as of the July 20, 2018 acquisition date.

 

In the third quarter of 2018, we identified errors impacting amounts reported for accumulated depreciation, depletion and amortization ("DDA") and DDA expense for our Casa Berardi unit from June 1, 2013 through June 30, 2018. Certain amounts in the condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the prior period have been revised to correct these errors. See Note 2 for more information on the errors and revisions made to amounts reported for the prior period.

 

 

Note 2. Revision of Previously Issued Financial Statements for Immaterial Misstatements

 

In the third quarter of 2018, we determined accumulated DDA and DDA expense at Casa Berardi, a business unit within our Hecla Quebec Inc. subsidiary, were understated for the periods from June 1, 2013 through June 30, 2018 as a result of errors in calculation from the date of acquisition of Casa Berardi as noted below:

 

 

 

i.

understatement of DDA by approximately $35.5 million in the aggregate over 5 1/2 years. The error in calculation resulted from the foreign exchange translation of accumulated DDA and DDA expense from Canadian dollars (“CAD”) to U.S. dollars (“USD”), which was incorrectly set up in the financial reporting system to use the average exchange rate for the respective reporting period, when the historical exchange rate should have been used. The CAD to USD exchange rate at June 1, 2013 was 0.9646 and has subsequently weakened over the intervening periods, resulting in an understatement of accumulated DDA and DDA expense during the periods from June 1, 2013 to June 30, 2018. The adjustments in the third quarter of 2018 to record the cumulative amounts related to this understatement for prior periods through June 30, 2018 were:

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet (Unaudited)

 

(in millions)

 

Credit - Accumulated DDA (recorded within properties, plants, equipment and mineral interests, net)

  $ (36.2

)

Debit - Inventories: concentrates, doré, and stockpiled ore

    1.1  

Debit - Accumulated deficit

    30.3  
         

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive (Loss) Income (Unaudited)

       

Debit - DDA expense

    5.0  

Credit - Net foreign exchange gain (loss)

    (0.2

)

Net increase to net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2018

    (4.8

)

 

 

ii.

overstatement of DDA of approximately $14.2 million in the aggregate over 5 1/2 years related to the accelerated conversion of costs from the mineral interest asset, which represents the value of the undeveloped mineral interest and is not depletable, to the mineral properties asset, which represents the value of proven and probable reserves and is depletable. The error in calculation arose from the incorrect use of fair value information available on the per ounce value at the date of acquisition and resulted in the overstatement of the proven and probable reserves asset, which is subject to depletion, and an understatement of the undeveloped mineral interest asset, both of which are categories reported within properties, plants, equipment and mineral interests, net on the balance sheet. The overstatement of the conversions to the proven and probable reserves asset during the periods from January 1, 2014 through June 30, 2018 resulted in overstatements of accumulated DDA and DDA expense in each of these periods. The adjustments in the third quarter of 2018 to record the cumulative amounts related to this overstatement for prior periods through June 30, 2018 were:

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet (Unaudited)

 

(in millions)

 

Debit - Accumulated DDA (recorded within properties, plants, equipment and mineral interests, net)

  $ 14.2  

Credit - Deferred tax liability

    (3.8

)

Credit - Accumulated deficit

    (7.7

)

         

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive (Loss) Income (Unaudited)

       

Credit - DDA expense

    (3.7

)

Debit - Income tax provision (benefit)

    1.0  

Net decrease to net loss for the nine months ended September 30, 2018

    2.7  

 

 

We assessed the materiality of the effect of the errors on our prior quarterly and annual financial statements, both quantitatively and qualitatively, in accordance with the SEC’s Staff Accounting Bulletin ("SAB") No. 99, “Materiality,” and SAB No. 108, “Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements,” and concluded the errors were not material to any of our previously issued financial statements. Consequently, we will correct these errors prospectively and revise our financial statements when the consolidated balance sheets, statements of operations and comprehensive income and cash flows for such prior periods are included in future filings (the "Revisions"). The Revisions had no net impact on our sales or net cash provided by operating activities for any period presented.

 

 

The following tables present a summary of the impact, by financial statement line item, of the Revisions for the three months ended March 31, 2017,  June 30, 2017 and September 30, 2017, the six months ended June 30, 2017, the nine months ended September 30, 2017, as of and for the year ended December 31, 2017, and for the year ended December 31, 2016: 

 

   

Three Months Ended September 30, 2017

 

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

As Previously

Reported

   

Adjustment

   

As Revised

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive (Loss) Income (Unaudited)

                       

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

  $ 28,844     $ 674     $ 29,518  

Total cost of sales

    97,202       674       97,876  

Gross profit

    43,637       (674

)

    42,963  

Income (loss) from operations

    20,942       (674

)

    20,268  

Foreign exchange (loss) gain

    (4,764

)

    (153

)

    (4,917

)

Total other (expense) income

    (24,931

)

    (153

)

    (25,084

)

(Loss) income before income taxes

    (3,989

)

    (827

)

    (4,816

)

Income tax benefit (provision)

    5,401       (271

)

    5,130  

Net income

  $ 1,412     $ (1,098

)

  $ 314  

Income applicable to common shareholders

  $ 1,274     $ (1,098

)

  $ 176  

Comprehensive income

    9,048       (1,098

)

    7,950  

Basic income per common share after preferred dividends

  $     $     $  

Diluted income per common share after preferred dividends

  $     $     $  

 

 

   

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017

 

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

As Previously

Reported

   

Adjustment

   

As Revised

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations and Comprehensive (Loss) Income (Unaudited)

                       

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

  $ 83,365     $ 3,621     $ 86,986  

Total cost of sales

    307,902       3,621       311,523  

Gross profit

    109,760       (3,621

)

    106,139  

Income (loss) from operations

    40,788       (3,621

)

    37,167  

Foreign exchange (loss) gain

    (10,909

)

    651       (10,258

)

Total other (expense) income

    (54,935

)

    651       (54,284

)

(Loss) income before income taxes

    (14,147

)

    (2,970

)

    (17,117

)

Income tax benefit (provision)

    18,377       (813

)

    17,564  

Net income

  $ 4,230     $ (3,783

)

  $ 447  

Income applicable to common shareholders

  $ 3,816     $ (3,783

)

  $ 33  

Comprehensive income

    17,948       (3,783

)

    14,165  

Basic income per common share after preferred dividends

  $ 0.01     $ (0.01

)

  $  

Diluted income per common share after preferred dividends

  $ 0.01     $ (0.01

)

  $  
                         

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

                       

Net income

  $ 4,230     $ (3,783

)

  $ 447  

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    87,634       3,621       91,255  

Foreign exchange loss (gain)

    11,171       (651

)

    10,520  

Deferred income taxes

    (24,280

)

    813       (23,467

)

Cash provided by operating activities

  $ 74,115     $     $ 74,115  

 

 

   

As of and for the Year Ended December 31, 2017

 

(in thousands)

 

As Previously

Reported

   

Adjustment

   

As Revised

 

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet

                       

Inventories: Concentrate, doré, and stockpiled ore

  $ 28,455     $ 911     $ 29,366  

Total current assets

    320,325       911       321,236  

Properties, plants, equipment and mineral interests, net

    2,020,021       (20,710

)

    1,999,311  

Total assets

    2,364,957       (19,799

)

    2,345,158  

Deferred tax liability

    121,546       2,806       124,352  

Total liabilities

    881,075       2,806       883,881  

Accumulated deficit

    (195,484

)

    (22,605

)

    (218,089

)

Total shareholders' equity

    1,483,882       (22,605

)

    1,461,277  

Total liabilities and shareholders' equity

    2,364,957       (19,799

)

    2,345,158  
                         

Consolidated Statements of Operation and Comprehensive (Loss) Income

                       

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

  $ 116,062     $ 4,537     $ 120,599  

Total cost of sales

    420,789       4,537       425,326  

Gross profit

    156,986       (4,537

)

    152,449  

Income (loss) from operations

    64,643       (4,537

)

    60,106  

Foreign exchange (loss) gain

    (10,300

)

    620       (9,680

)

Total other (expense) income

    (68,283

)

    620       (67,663

)

(Loss) income before income taxes

    (3,640

)

    (3,917

)

    (7,557

)

Income tax (provision) benefit

    (19,879

)

    (1,084

)

    (20,963

)

Net (loss) income

  $ (23,519

)

  $ (5,001

)

  $ (28,520

)

(Loss) income applicable to common shareholders

  $ (24,071

)

  $ (5,001

)

  $ (29,072

)

Comprehensive income (loss)

    (12,290

)

    (5,001

)

    (17,291

)

Basic (loss) income per common share after preferred dividends

  $ (0.06

)

  $ (0.01

)

  $ (0.07

)

Diluted (loss) income per common share after preferred dividends

  $ (0.06

)

  $ (0.01

)

  $ (0.07

)

                         

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

                       

Net (loss) income

  $ (23,519

)

  $ (5,001

)

  $ (28,520

)

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    121,930       4,537       126,467  

Foreign exchange loss (gain)

    10,828       (620

)

    10,208  

Deferred income taxes

    18,308       1,084       19,392  

Cash provided by operating activities

  $ 115,878     $     $ 115,878  

 

 

 

   

Three Months Ended March 31, 2017

 

(in thousands)

 

As Previously

Reported

   

Adjustment

   

As Revised

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operation and Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Unaudited)

                       

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

  $ 28,952     $ 1,483     $ 30,435  

Total cost of sales

    107,628       1,483       109,111  

Gross profit

    34,916       (1,483

)

    33,433  

Income from operations

    15,871       (1,483

)

    14,388  

Foreign exchange gain (loss)

    (2,262

)

    2       (2,260

)

Total other expense

    (18,108

)

    2       (18,106

)

Income (loss) before income taxes

    (2,237

)

    (1,481

)

    (3,718

)

Income tax (provision) benefit

    29,071       (271

)

    28,800  

Net income

  $ 26,834     $ (1,752

)

  $ 25,082  

Income applicable to common shareholders

  $ 26,696     $ (1,752

)

  $ 24,944  

Comprehensive income

    30,038       (1,752

)

    28,286  

Basic income per common share after preferred dividends

  $ 0.07     $     $ 0.07  

Diluted income per common share after preferred dividends

  $ 0.07     $     $ 0.07  
                         

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

                       

Net income

  $ 26,834     $ (1,752

)

  $ 25,082  

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    29,590       1,483       31,073  

Foreign exchange (gain) loss

    506       (2

)

    504  

Deferred income taxes

    (21,234

)

    271       (20,963

)

Cash provided by operating activities

  $ 38,285     $     $ 38,285  

 

 

   

Three Months Ended June 30, 2017

 

(in thousands)

 

As Previously

Reported

   

Adjustment

   

As Revised

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operation and Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Unaudited)

                       

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

  $ 25,569     $ 1,464     $ 27,033  

Total cost of sales

    103,072       1,464       104,536  

Gross profit

    31,207       (1,464

)

    29,743  

Income from operations

    3,975       (1,464

)

    2,511  

Foreign exchange gain (loss)

    (3,883

)

    803       (3,080

)

Total other income (expense)

    (11,896

)

    803       (11,093

)

Income (loss) before income taxes

    (7,921

)

    (661

)

    (8,582

)

Income tax (provision) benefit

    (16,095

)

    (271

)

    (16,366

)

Net income (loss)

  $ (24,016

)

  $ (932

)

  $ (24,948

)

Income (loss) applicable to common shareholders

  $ (24,154

)

  $ (932

)

  $ (25,086

)

Comprehensive income (loss)

    (21,138

)

    (932

)

    (22,070

)

Basic income (loss) per common share after preferred dividends

  $ (0.06

)

  $     $ (0.06

)

Diluted income (loss) per common share after preferred dividends

  $ (0.06

)

  $     $ (0.06

)

 

 

   

Six Months Ended June 30, 2017

 

(in thousands)

 

As Previously

Reported

   

Adjustment

   

As Revised

 

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operation and Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Unaudited)

                       

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

  $ 54,521     $ 2,947     $ 57,468  

Total cost of sales

    210,700       2,947       213,647  

Gross profit

    66,123       (2,947

)

    63,176  

Income from operations

    19,846       (2,947

)

    16,899  

Foreign exchange gain (loss)

    (6,145

)

    805       (5,340

)

Total other income (expense)

    (30,004

)

    805       (29,199

)

Income (loss) before income taxes

    (10,158

)

    (2,142

)

    (12,300

)

Income tax (provision) benefit

    12,976       (542

)

    12,434  

Net income (loss)

  $ 2,818     $ (2,684

)

  $ 134  

Income (loss) applicable to common shareholders

  $ 2,542     $ (2,684

)

  $ (142

)

Comprehensive income (loss)

    8,900       (2,684

)

    6,216  

Basic income (loss) per common share after preferred dividends

  $ 0.01     $ (0.01

)

  $  

Diluted income (loss) per common share after preferred dividends

  $ 0.01     $ (0.01

)

  $  
                         

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)

                       

Net income

  $ 2,818     $ (2,684

)

  $ 134  

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    56,908       2,947       59,855  

Foreign exchange (gain) loss

    5,201       (805

)

    4,396  

Deferred income taxes

    (22,113

)

    542       (21,571

)

Cash provided by operating activities

  $ 45,821     $     $ 45,821  

 

 

   

For the Year Ended December 31, 2016

 

(in thousands)

 

As Previously

Reported

   

Adjustment

   

As Revised

 

Consolidated Statements of Operation and Comprehensive (Loss) Income

                       

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

  $ 116,126     $ 7,505     $ 123,631  

Total cost of sales

    454,451       7,505       461,956  

Gross profit

    191,506       (7,505

)

    184,001  

Income (loss) from operations

    116,944       (7,505

)

    109,439  

Foreign exchange (loss) gain

    (2,926

)

    189       (2,737

)

Total other (expense) income

    (19,969

)

    189       (19,780

)

(Loss) income before income taxes

    96,975       (7,316

)

    89,659  

Income tax (provision) benefit

    (27,428

)

    (662

)

    (28,090

)

Net (loss) income

  $ 69,547     $ (7,978

)

  $ 61,569  

(Loss) income applicable to common shareholders

  $ 68,995     $ (7,978

)

  $ 61,017  

Comprehensive income (loss)

    67,576       (7,978

)

    59,598  

Basic (loss) income per common share after preferred dividends

  $ 0.18     $ (0.02

)

  $ 0.16  

Diluted (loss) income per common share after preferred dividends

  $ 0.18     $ (0.02

)

  $ 0.16  
                         

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows

                       

Net (loss) income

  $ 69,547     $ (7,978

)

  $ 61,569  

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    117,413       7,505       124,918  

Foreign exchange loss (gain)

    4,649       (189

)

    4,460  

Deferred income taxes

    2,112       662       2,774  

Cash provided by operating activities

  $ 225,328     $     $ 225,328  

 

 

Note 3.    Investments

 

Our current investments, which are classified as "available for sale" and consist of bonds having maturities of greater than 90 days were $33.8 million at December 31, 2017. We held no such investments as of September 30, 2018. During the first nine months of 2018 and 2017, we had purchases of such investments of $31.2 million and $35.3 million, respectively, and maturities of $64.9 million and $31.2 million, respectively. Our current investments at December 31, 2017 consisted of the following (in thousands):

 

   

December 31, 2017

 
   

Amortized

cost

   

Unrealized+ loss

   

Fair value

 

Corporate bonds

  $ 33,778     $ (20

)

  $ 33,758  

 

At September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, the fair value of our non-current investments was $7.2 million and $7.6 million, respectively.  Our non-current investments consist of marketable equity securities which are carried at fair value, and are primarily classified as “available-for-sale.” The cost basis of our non-current investments was approximately $7.9 million and $5.7 million at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. In the first nine months of 2018 and 2017, we acquired marketable equity securities having a cost basis of $0.8 million and $1.6 million, respectively. During the first nine months of 2018, we recognized $2.5 million in net unrealized losses in current earnings. During the first nine months of 2017, we recognized $1.5 million in net unrealized gains in other comprehensive income and $0.1 million in net unrealized losses in current earnings.

 

 

Note 4.   Income Taxes

 

Major components of our income tax provision (benefit) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 are as follows (in thousands):

 

   

Three Months Ended

   

Nine Months Ended

 
   

September 30,

   

September 30,

 
   

2018

   

2017

   

2018

   

2017

 

Current:

                               

Domestic

  $     $     $ 1     $ (12,797

)

Foreign

    80       (3,959

)

    4,250       17,491  

Total current income tax provision (benefit)

    80       (3,959

)

    4,251       4,694  
                                 

Deferred:

                               

Domestic

    (3,778

)

    1,980       (3,778

)

    (13,958

)

Foreign

    1,019       (3,151

)

    (1,957

)

    (8,300

)

Total deferred income tax provision (benefit)

    (2,759

)

    (1,171

)

    (5,735

)

    (22,258

)

Total income tax provision (benefit)

  $ (2,679

)

  $ (5,130

)

  $ (1,484

)

  $ (17,564

)

 

 

The current income tax provisions for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 vary from the amounts that would have resulted from applying the statutory income tax rate to pre-tax income due primarily to the impact of taxation in foreign jurisdictions, a valuation allowance on the majority of U.S. deferred taxes and the impact of the change in accounting method treatment of the #4 Shaft development costs in 2017.

 

As of September 30, 2018, we have a net deferred tax liability in the U.S. of $46.7 million, a net deferred tax liability in Canada of $118.1 million and a net deferred tax asset in Mexico of $1.9 million, for a consolidated worldwide net deferred tax liability of $162.9 million.

 

With the acquisition of Klondex on July 20, 2018 (see Note 14), we acquired a U.S. consolidated tax group (the "Klondex U.S. Group") that did not join the existing consolidated U.S. tax group of Hecla Mining Company and subsidiaries (“Legacy Hecla”). Under acquisition accounting, we recorded a net deferred tax liability of $50.1 million. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, we recorded a tax benefit of $3.8 million on a net tax loss of $15.2 million in the Klondex U.S. group.

 

For Legacy Hecla, we recorded a full valuation allowance in the U.S. in December 2017 as a result of U.S. tax reform. Our circumstances at September 30, 2018 continued to support a full valuation allowance in the U.S. for Legacy Hecla. In the first quarter of 2017, we received consent from the Internal Revenue Service to permit us to take a different income tax position relating to the timing of deductions for the #4 Shaft development costs at Lucky Friday. This tax accounting method change substantially revised the timing of deductions for these costs for regular tax and Alternative Minimum Tax ("AMT") relative to our projected life of mine and projected taxable income. These timing changes caused us to revise our assessment of the ability to generate sufficient future taxable income to realize our deferred tax assets, resulting in a valuation allowance release of approximately $15 million.

 

 

 

Note 5.    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.

 

 

Rio Grande Silver Guaranty

 

Our wholly-owned subsidiary, Rio Grande Silver Inc. (“Rio”), is party to a joint venture with Emerald Mining & Leasing, LLC (“EML”) and certain other parties with respect to a land package in the Creede Mining District of Colorado that is adjacent to other land held by Rio. Rio holds a 70% interest in the joint venture. In connection with the joint venture, we are required to guarantee certain environmental remediation-related obligations of EML to a third party up to a maximum liability to us of $2.5 million. As of September 30, 2018, we have not been required to make any payments pursuant to the guaranty. We may be required to make payments in the future, limited to the $2.5 million maximum liability, should EML fail to meet its obligations to the third party. However, to the extent that any payments are made by us under the guaranty, EML, in addition to other parties, has jointly and severally agreed to reimburse and indemnify us for any such payments. We have not recorded a liability relating to the guaranty as of September 30, 2018.

 

Lucky Friday Water Permit Matters

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 

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. The EPA is considering listing the entire SMCB on CERCLA’s National Priorities List in order to address perceived groundwater issues within the SMCB. The EE/CA discussed above relates primarily to contaminated rock and soil, not groundwater. In the event that the SMCB is listed as a Superfund site, or for other reasons, it is possible that Hecla Limited’s liability at the Johnny M Site, as well as any other sites within the SMCB at which predecessor companies of Hecla Limited may have been involved, will be greater than our current accrual of $5.6 million due to the increased scope of required remediation.

 

In July 2018, the EPA informed Hecla Limited that it and several other potentially responsible parties ("PRPs") may be liable for cleanup of the site or for costs incurred by the EPA in cleaning up the site. The EPA stated it has incurred approximately $9.6 million in response costs to date. Hecla Limited cannot with reasonable certainty estimate the amount or range of liability, if any, relating to this matter because of, among other reasons, the lack of information concerning the site, including the relative contributions, if any, 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, among several other viable companies, may be liable for cleanup of the site or for costs incurred by the EPA in cleaning up the site. The EPA stated in the letter that it has incurred approximately $4.5 million in response costs and estimated that total remediation costs may exceed $100 million. Hecla Limited cannot with reasonable certainty estimate the amount or range of liability, if any, relating to this matter because of, among other reasons, the lack of information concerning the site.

 

In February 2017, the EPA made a formal request to Hecla Mining Company for information regarding the Barker-Hughesville Mining District Superfund site located in Judith Basin and Cascade Counties, Montana. 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, if any, of contamination by the various PRPs.

 

Litigation Related to Klondex Acquisition

 

Following the announcement of our proposed acquisition of Klondex, Klondex and members of the Klondex board of directors were named as defendants in five putative stockholder class actions, brought by purported stockholders of Klondex, challenging the proposed merger. The lawsuits were all filed in the United States District Court for the District of Nevada, but only three cases remain, and they are captioned: Gunderson v. Klondex Mines Ltd., et al., No. 3:18-cv-00256 (D. Nev. May 31, 2018); Nelson Baker v. Klondex Mines Ltd., et al., No. 3:18-cv-00288 (D. Nev. June 15, 2018); and Lawson v. Klondex Mines Ltd., et al., No. 3:18-cv-00284 (D. Nev. June 15, 2018). The Gunderson complaint also named Hecla Mining Company and our subsidiary now known as Klondex Mines Unlimited Liability Company (“Merger Sub”) as defendants. The other two lawsuits were subsequently dismissed.

 

 

The plaintiffs generally claim that Klondex issued a proxy statement that included misstatements or omissions, in violation of sections 14(a) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Gunderson complaint also asserts a claim that the individual members of the Klondex board of directors breached their fiduciary duties of care, loyalty and good faith by authorizing the merger with Hecla for what the plaintiff asserts is inadequate consideration, an inadequate process, and with inadequate disclosures. The plaintiffs seek, among other things, to enjoin the merger, rescind the transaction or obtain rescissory damages if the merger is consummated, and recover attorneys’ fees and costs.

 

On September 21, 2018, Plaintiffs Baker and Lawson each filed motions to consolidate the remaining cases and be appointed lead plaintiff.

 

Although it is not possible to predict the outcome of litigation matters with certainty, each of Klondex, its directors, Hecla and Merger Sub believe that each of the lawsuits are without merit, and the parties intend to vigorously defend against all claims asserted.

 

In addition, on September 11, 2018, a lawsuit was filed in the Ontario (Canada) Superior Court of Justice by Waterton Nevada Splitter LLC against Hecla Mining Company, our subsidiary Klondex Mines Unlimited Liability Company and Havilah Mining Corporation, an entity that was formed to own the Canadian assets of Klondex that we did not acquire as part of the Klondex acquisition in July 2018, and of which we own approximately 13%. The lawsuit alleges that Hecla and Havilah are in breach of contract in connection with the issuance to Waterton of warrants to purchase Hecla common stock and Havilah common shares to replace warrants to purchase Klondex common shares that Waterton owned prior to the July 2018 acquisition. The lawsuit claims Hecla and Havilah issued warrants to Waterton valued at $3.7 million but that Waterton was entitled to warrants valued at $8.9 million. We believe the lawsuit is without merit and will vigorously defend it.

 

Debt

 

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

 

On March 5, 2018, we entered into a note purchase agreement pursuant to which we issued CAD$40 million (approximately USD$30.8 million at the time of the transaction) in aggregate principal amount of our Series 2018-A Senior Notes due May 1, 2021 (the “Notes”) to Ressources Québec, a subsidiary of Investissment Québec, a financing arm of the Québec government. The Notes were issued at a discount of 0.58%, and bear interest at a rate of 4.68% per year, payable on May 1 and November 1 of each year, commencing May 1, 2018. The Notes are senior and unsecured and are pari passu in all material respects with the Senior Notes, including with respect to guarantees of the Notes by certain of our subsidiaries. The net proceeds from the Notes are required to be used for development and expansion of our Casa Berardi mine.

 

See Note 10 for more information.

 

Other Commitments

 

Our contractual obligations as of September 30, 2018 included approximately $1.6 million for various costs. In addition, our open purchase orders at September 30, 2018 included approximately $0.4 million, $2.0 million, $14.2 million and $5.3 million for various capital and non-capital items at the Lucky Friday, Casa Berardi, Greens Creek and Nevada Operations units, respectively. We also have total commitments of approximately $15.7 million relating to scheduled payments on capital leases, including interest, primarily for equipment at our Greens Creek, Lucky Friday, Casa Berardi and Nevada Operations units (see Note 10 for more information). As part of our ongoing business and operations, we are required to provide surety bonds, bank letters of credit, and restricted deposits for various purposes, including financial support for environmental reclamation obligations and workers compensation programs. As of September 30, 2018, we had surety bonds totaling $181.6 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.

 

 

Note 6.    (Loss) earnings Per Common Share

 

We are authorized to issue 750,000,000 shares of common stock, $0.25 par value per share. At September 30, 2018, there were 485,136,257 shares of our common stock issued and 5,226,791 shares issued and held in treasury, for a net of 479,909,466 shares outstanding. Basic and diluted loss per common share, after preferred dividends, was $(0.05) and $(0.01) for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018, respectively. Basic and diluted income per common share, after preferred dividends, was $0.00 and $0.00 for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017, respectively.

 

Diluted (loss) income per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 excludes the potential effects of outstanding shares of our convertible preferred stock, as their conversion would have no effect on the calculation of dilutive shares.

 

For the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018, all restricted share units, deferred shares and warrants were excluded from the computation of diluted loss per share, as our reported loss for that period would cause them to have no effect on the calculation of loss per share. For the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017, the calculation of diluted income per share included dilutive (i) restricted stock units that were unvested or which vested in the respective period of 901,047 and 1,857,555, respectively, and (ii) deferred shares of 1,509,159 for each period. There were no warrants outstanding during the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017.

 

 

Note 7.    Business Segments and Sales of Products

 

We discover, acquire, develop, produce, and market concentrates and doré containing silver, gold, lead and zinc. We are currently organized and managed in five reporting segments: the Greens Creek unit, the Lucky Friday unit, the Casa Berardi unit, the San Sebastian unit and the Nevada Operations unit. The Nevada Operations unit was added as a result of our acquisition of Klondex in July 2018 (see Note 14 for more information).

 

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

 

 

The following tables present information about our reportable segments for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 (in thousands):

 

   

Three Months Ended
September 30,

   

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

 
   

2018

   

2017

   

2018

   

2017

 

Net sales to unaffiliated customers:

                               

Greens Creek

  $ 65,187     $ 61,062     $ 205,642     $ 191,250  

Lucky Friday

    (11

)

    199       8,253       20,022  

Casa Berardi

    52,850       53,989       164,501       139,524  

San Sebastian

    14,129       25,589       40,727       66,866  

Nevada Operations

    11,494             11,494        
    $ 143,649     $ 140,839     $ 430,617     $ 417,662  

Income (loss) from operations:

                               

Greens Creek

  $ 10,705     $ 16,575     $ 59,373     $ 46,107  

Lucky Friday

    (5,404

)

    (4,642

)

    (14,811

)

    (8,974

)

Casa Berardi

    (1,146

)

    2,208       3,118       (4,692

)

San Sebastian

    (2,381

)

    17,017       2,275       42,363  

Nevada Operations

    (13,741

)

          (13,741

)

     

Other

    (18,409

)

    (10,890

)

    (50,885

)

    (37,637

)

    $ (30,376

)

  $ 20,268     $ (14,671

)

  $ 37,167  

 

 

The following table presents identifiable assets by reportable segment as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 (in thousands):

 

   

September 30, 2018

   

December 31, 2017

 

Identifiable assets:

               

Greens Creek

  $ 651,814     $ 671,960  

Lucky Friday

    429,334       432,400  

Casa Berardi

    758,415       784,706  

San Sebastian

    47,352       62,198  

Nevada Operations

    539,410        

Other

    283,933       393,894  
    $ 2,710,258     $ 2,345,158  

 

 

Our products consist of both metal concentrates, which we sell to custom smelters and brokers, and unrefined bullion bars (doré), which may be sold as doré or further refined before sale to precious metals traders. Revenue is recognized upon the completion of the performance obligations and transfer of control of the product to the customer.

 

For sales of metals from refined doré, the performance obligation is met and revenue is recognized at the time of transfer of control of the agreed-upon metal quantities to the customer by the refiner, and the transaction price is known at that time. For sales of doré, the performance obligation is met, the transaction price is known, and revenue is recognized at the time of transfer of title and control of the doré containing the agreed-upon metal quantities to the customer. Refining, selling and shipping costs related to sales of doré and metals from doré are recorded to cost of sales as incurred.

 

For concentrate sales, which we currently have at our Greens Creek and Lucky Friday units, the performance obligation is met, the transaction price can be reasonably estimated, and revenue is recognized generally at the time of shipment. Concentrates sold at our Lucky Friday unit typically leave the mine and are received by the customer within the same day. However, there is a period of time between shipment of concentrates from our Greens Creek unit and their physical receipt by the customer, and judgment is required in determining when control has been transferred to the customer for those shipments. We have determined the performance obligation is met and title is transferred to the customer upon shipment of concentrate parcels from Greens Creek because, at that time, 1) legal title is transferred to the customer, 2) the customer has accepted the parcel and obtained the ability to realize all of the benefits from the product, 3) the concentrate content specifications are known, have been communicated to the customer, and the customer has the significant risks and rewards of ownership of it, 4) it is very unlikely a concentrate parcel from Greens Creek will be rejected by a customer upon physical receipt, and 5) we have the right to payment for the parcel.

 

 

Judgment is also required in identifying the performance obligations for our concentrate sales. Most of our concentrate sales involve “frame contracts” with smelters that can cover multiple years and specify certain terms under which individual parcels of concentrates are sold. However, some terms are not specified in the frame contracts and/or can be renegotiated as part of annual amendments to the frame contract. We have determined parcel shipments represent individual performance obligations satisfied at a point in time when control of the shipment is transferred to the customer.

 

The consideration we receive for our concentrate sales fluctuates due to changes in metals prices between the time of shipment and final settlement with the customer. However, we are able to reasonably estimate the transaction price for the concentrate sales at the time of shipment using forward prices for the month of settlement, and previously recorded sales and accounts receivable are adjusted to estimated settlement metals prices until final settlement with the customer. Also, it is unlikely a significant reversal of revenue for any one concentrate parcel will occur. As such, we use the expected value method to price the parcels until the final settlement date occurs, at which time the final transaction price is known. At September 30, 2018, metals contained in concentrates and exposed to future price changes totaled 1.2 million ounces of silver, 5,734 ounces of gold, 7,277 tons of zinc, and 2,447 tons of lead.  However, as discussed in Note 12, we seek to mitigate the risk of negative price adjustments by using financially-settled forward contracts for some of our sales.

 

Sales and accounts receivable for concentrate shipments are recorded net of charges for treatment, refining, smelting losses, and other charges negotiated by us with the customers, which represent components of the transaction price. Charges are estimated by us upon shipment of concentrates based on contractual terms, and actual charges typically do not vary materially from our estimates. Costs charged by customers include fixed treatment and refining costs per ton of concentrate and may include price escalators which allow the customers to participate in the increase of lead and zinc prices above a negotiated baseline. Costs for shipping concentrates to customers are recorded to cost of sales as incurred.

 

Sales of metal concentrates and metal products are made principally to custom smelters, brokers and metals traders. The percentage of sales contributed by each segment is reflected in the following table:

 

   

Three Months Ended

September 30,

   

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

 
   

2018

   

2017

   

2018

   

2017

 
                                 

Greens Creek

    45

%

    43

%

    48

%

    46

%

Lucky Friday

   

%

   

%

    2

%

    5

%

Casa Berardi

    37

%

    38

%

    39

%

    33

%

San Sebastian

    10

%

    19

%

    9

%

    16

%

Nevada Operations

    8

%

   

%

    2

%

   

%

      100

%

    100

%

    100

%

    100

%

 

 

Sales of products by metal for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 were as follows (in thousands):

 

   

Three Months Ended

September 30,

   

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

 
   

2018

   

2017

   

2018

   

2017

 
                                 

Silver

  $ 38,009     $ 43,228     $ 111,656     $ 140,662  

Gold

    82,628       73,603       233,308       203,279  

Lead

    7,552       6,373       27,469       28,093  

Zinc

    20,990       24,327       78,714       74,692  

Less: Smelter and refining charges

    (5,530

)

    (6,692

)

    (20,530

)

    (29,064

)

Sales of products   $ 143,649     $ 140,839     $ 430,617     $ 417,662  

 

 

The following is sales information by geographic area based on the location of smelters and brokers (for concentrate shipments) and location of parent companies (for doré sales to metals traders) for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 (in thousands):

 

   

Three Months Ended

September 30,

   

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

 
   

2018

   

2017

   

2018

   

2017

 
                                 

Canada

  $ 83,723     $ 79,834     $ 266,915     $ 263,268  

Korea

    35,796       27,396       110,036       75,339  

Japan

    3,301       14,419       20,971       38,513  

China

          16,695       66       32,047  

United States

    15,807       3,121       24,296       12,407  

Total, excluding gains/losses on forward contracts

  $ 138,627     $ 141,465     $ 422,284     $ 421,574  

 

 

Sales by significant product type for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 were as follows (in thousands):

 

   

Three Months Ended

September 30,

   

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

 
   

2018

   

2017

   

2018

   

2017

 
                                 

Doré and metals from doré

  $ 83,068     $ 82,764     $ 232,085     $ 219,276  

Lead concentrate

    36,728       31,548       113,211       124,553  

Zinc concentrate

    14,965       21,278       63,197       61,841  

Bulk concentrate

    3,866       5,875       13,791       15,904  

Total, excluding gains/losses on forward contracts

  $ 138,627     $ 141,465     $ 422,284     $ 421,574  

 

 

Sales of products for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 included net gains of $5.0 million and $8.3 million, respectively, on financially-settled forward contracts for silver, gold, lead and zinc contained in our concentrate sales. Sales of products for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017 included net losses of $0.6 million and $3.9 million, respectively, on the forward contracts. See Note 12 for more information.

 

 

Sales of products to significant customers as a percentage of total sales were as follows for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017:

 

   

Three Months Ended

September 30,

   

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

 
   

2018

   

2017

   

2018

   

2017

 
                                 

CIBC

    26

%

    23

%

    34

%

    24

%

Scotia

    19

%

    33

%

    13

%

    26

%

Korea Zinc

    15

%

    25

%

    22

%

    20

%

Teck Metals Ltd.

    11

%

   

%

    11

%

    10

%

Trafigura

    10

%

   

%

    3

%

    4

%

Louis Dreyfus

   

%

    12

%

   

%

    4

%

 

 

Our trade accounts receivable balance related to contracts with customers was $12.9 million at September 30, 2018 and 2017 and $14.8 million at December 31, 2017, and included no allowance for doubtful accounts.

 

We have determined our contracts do not include a significant financing component. For doré sales and sales of metal from doré, payment is received at the time the performance obligation is satisfied. The amount of consideration for concentrate sales is variable, and we receive payment for a significant portion of the estimated value of concentrate parcels within a relatively short period of time after the performance obligation is satisfied.

 

We do not incur significant costs to obtain contracts, nor costs to fulfill contracts which are not addressed by other accounting standards. Therefore, we have not recognized an asset for such costs as of September 30, 2018 or December 31, 2017.

 

The sales and income (loss) from operations amounts reported above include results from our Lucky Friday segment. The Lucky Friday mine is our only operation where some of our employees are subject to a collective bargaining agreement, and the most recent agreement expired on April 30, 2016. On February 19, 2017, the unionized employees voted against our contract offer, and on March 13, 2017 went on strike and have been on strike since that time. Production at Lucky Friday was suspended from the start of the strike until July 2017, when limited production resumed. For the first nine months of 2018 and 2017, suspension costs not related to production of $13.5 million and $11.5 million, respectively, along with $3.7 million and $2.9 million, respectively, in non-cash depreciation expense, are reported in a separate line item on our consolidated statements of operations. We cannot predict how long the strike will last or whether an agreement will be reached. As a result of the strike or other related events, operations at Lucky Friday could continue to be disrupted, which could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. If the strike continues for a further extended period or it is determined an eventual resolution is unlikely, it may be appropriate in the future to review the carrying value of properties, plants, equipment and mineral interests at Lucky Friday. Under such review, if estimated undiscounted cash flows from Lucky Friday were less than its carrying value, an impairment loss would be recognized for the difference between the carrying value and the estimated fair value. The carrying value of properties, plants, equipment and mineral interests at Lucky Friday as of September 30, 2018 was approximately $428.8 million. However, Lucky Friday has significant identified reserves and mineralized material and a current estimated mine life of approximately 22 years.

 

On April 30, 2018, we settled with the National Labor Relations Board ("NLRB") an unfair labor practice claim made by the union. As part of the settlement, Hecla Limited rescinded its last, best and final contract offer implemented in March 2017. We do not believe the settlement with the NLRB will resolve any of the key differences in the ongoing labor dispute. On May 4, 2018, we gave notice to the union that the parties to the labor dispute are at impasse, and implemented portions of our revised final offer presented in December 2017.

 

 

 

Note 8.   Employee Benefit Plans

 

We sponsor defined benefit pension plans covering substantially all U.S. employees.  Net periodic pension cost for the plans consisted of the following for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 (in thousands):

 

   

Three Months Ended

September 30,

 
   

2018

   

2017

 

Service cost

  $ 1,252     $ 1,196  

Interest cost

    1,377       1,339  

Expected return on plan assets

    (1,634

)

    (1,462

)

Amortization of prior service cost

    15       (84

)

Amortization of net loss

    931       1,033  

Net periodic pension cost

  $ 1,941     $ 2,022  

 

 

   

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

 
   

2018

   

2017

 

Service cost

  $ 3,756     $ 3,588  

Interest cost

    4,131       4,017  

Expected return on plan assets

    (4,902

)

    (4,386

)

Amortization of prior service cost

    45       (252

)

Amortization of net loss

    2,793       3,099  

Net periodic pension cost

  $ 5,823     $ 6,066  

 

For the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018, the service cost component of net periodic pension cost is included in the same line items of our condensed consolidated financial statements as other employee compensation costs, and the net expense of $0.7 million and $2.1 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). For the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2017, all components of net periodic pension cost are included in the same line items of our condensed consolidated financial statements as other employee compensation costs.

 

In April 2018 and July 2018, we made cash contributions of  $1.3 million and $1.2 million, respectively, to our defined benefit plans. In September 2018 we contributed $5.5 million in shares of our common stock. We are not required to make additional contributions to our defined benefit plans in 2018. We expect to contribute approximately $0.5 illion to our unfunded supplemental executive retirement plan during 2018.

 

 

Note 9.    Shareholders’ Equity

 

Stock-based Compensation Plans

 

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

 

In March 2018, the Board of Directors granted 1,237,369 shares of common stock to employees for payment of long-term incentive compensation for the period ended December 31, 2017. The shares were distributed in March 2018, and $4.9 million in expense related to the stock awards was recognized in the periods prior to March 31, 2018.

 

 

In June and August 2018, the Board of Directors granted the following restricted stock unit awards to employees resulting in a total expense of $7.0 million:

 

 

1,854,054 restricted stock units, with one third of those vesting in June 2019, one third vesting in June 2020, and one third vesting in June 2021;

 

96,604 restricted stock units, with one half of those vesting in June 2019 and one-half vesting in June 2020; and

 

28,721 restricted stock units that vest in June 2019.

 

An expense of $2.5 million related to the unit awards discussed above vesting in 2019 will be recognized on a straight-line basis over the twelve months following the date of the award. An expense of $2.4 million related to the unit awards discussed above vesting in 2020 will be recognized on a straight-line basis over the twenty-four months following the date of the award. An expense of $2.2 million related to the unit awards discussed above vesting in 2021 will be recognized on a straight-line basis over the thirty-six-month period following the date of the award.

 

In June 2018, the Board of Directors granted performance-based share awards to certain executive employees. The value of the awards will be based on the ranking of the market performance of our common stock relative to the performance of the common stock of a group of peer companies over the three-year measurement period ending December 31, 2020. The number of shares to be issued will be based on the value of the awards divided by the share price at grant date. The expense related to the performance-based awards will be recognized on a straight-line base over the thirty months following the date of the award.

 

Stock-based compensation expense for restricted stock unit and performance-based grants to employees and shares issued to nonemployee directors recorded in the first nine months of 2018 totaled $4.7 million, compared to $4.9 million in the same period last year.

 

In connection with the vesting of restricted stock units and other stock grants, employees have in the past, at their election and when permitted by us, chosen to satisfy their minimum tax withholding obligations through net share settlement, pursuant to which the Company withholds the number of shares necessary to satisfy such withholding obligations and pays the obligations in cash.  As a result, in the first nine months of 2018 we withheld 697,341 shares valued at approximately $2.7 million, or approximately $3.86 per share. In the first nine months of 2017 we withheld 588,240 shares valued at approximately $3.0 million, or approximately $5.09 per share.

 

Common Stock Dividends

 

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

 

Quarterly average realized silver price

per ounce

   

Quarterly dividend

per share

   

Annualized dividend

per share

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

 

 

On November 6, 2018, our Board of Directors declared a common stock dividend, pursuant to the minimum annual dividend component of the policy described above, of $0.0025 per share, for a total dividend of approximately $1.2 million payable in December 2018. Because the average realized silver price for the third quarter of 2018 was $14.68 per ounce, below the minimum threshold of $30 according to the policy, no silver-price-linked component was declared or paid. The declaration and payment of common stock dividends is at the sole discretion of our Board of Directors.

 

 

At-The-Market Equity Distribution Agreement

 

Pursuant to an equity distribution agreement dated February 23, 2016, we may issue and sell shares of our common stock from time to time through ordinary broker transactions having an aggregate offering price of up to $75 million, with the net proceeds available for general corporate purposes. The terms of sales transactions under the agreement, including trading day(s), number of shares sold in the aggregate, number of shares sold per trading day, and the floor selling price per share, are proposed by us to the sales agent. 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. The shares issued under the equity distribution agreement are registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to our shelf registration statement on Form S-3, which was filed with the SEC on February 23, 2016. As of September 30, 2018, we had sold 5,634,758 shares under the agreement for total proceeds of approximately $20.8 million, net of commissions of approximately $0.5 million. We sold 1,025,911 shares under the agreement during the third quarter of 2018 for total proceeds of $3.1 million, net of commissions of approximately $0.1 million.

 

Common Stock Repurchase Program

 

On May 8, 2012, we announced that our Board of Directors approved a stock repurchase program.  Under the program, we are authorized to repurchase up to 20 million shares of our outstanding common stock from time to time in open market or privately negotiated transactions, depending on prevailing market conditions and other factors.  The repurchase program may be modified, suspended or discontinued by us at any time. Whether or not we engage in repurchases from time to time may depend on a variety of factors, including not only price and cash resources, but customary black-out restrictions, whether we have any material inside information, limitations on share repurchases or cash usage that may be imposed by our credit agreement or in connection with issuances of securities, alternative uses for cash, applicable law, and other investment opportunities from time to time. As of September 30, 2018, 934,100 shares have been purchased at an average price of $3.99 per share, leaving approximately 19.1 million shares that may yet be purchased under the program. The closing price of our common stock at November 6, 2018, was $2.49 per share.

 

Warrants

 

As discussed in Note 14, we issued 4,136,000 warrants to purchase one share of our common stock to holders of warrants to purchase Klondex common stock under the terms of the Klondex acquisition, and all of the warrants were outstanding as of September 30, 2018. 2,068,000 of the warrants have an exercise price of $8.02 and expire in April 2032. 2,068,000 of the warrants have an exercise price of $1.57 and expire in February 2029.

 

 

Note 10.    Debt, Credit Facility and Capital Leases

 

Senior Notes

 

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

 

The Senior Notes are recorded net of a 2% initial purchaser discount totaling $10 million at the time of the April 2013 issuance and having an unamortized balance of $3.3 million as of September 30, 2018. The Senior Notes bear interest at a rate of 6.875% per year from the date of original issuance or from the most recent payment date on which interest has been paid or provided for.  Interest on the Senior Notes is payable on May 1 and November 1 of each year, commencing November 1, 2013. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, interest expense related to the Senior Notes and amortization of the initial purchaser discount and fees related to the issuance of the Senior Notes totaled $27.2 million and $26.3 million, respectively. The interest expense related to the Senior Notes for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was net of $0.9 million in capitalized interest, primarily related to the #4 Shaft project at our Lucky Friday unit which was completed in January 2017. Interest expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 also included $1.1 million in costs related to our private offering of new Senior Notes in June 2017 and concurrent tender offer to purchase our existing Senior Notes, which were not completed.

 

 

The Senior Notes are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by certain of our subsidiaries (the "Guarantors").   The Senior Notes and the guarantees are, respectively, Hecla's and the Guarantors' general senior unsecured obligations and are subordinated to all of Hecla's and the Guarantors' existing and future secured debt to the extent of the assets securing that secured debt.  In addition, the Senior Notes are effectively subordinated to all of the liabilities of Hecla's subsidiaries that are not guaranteeing the Senior Notes, to the extent of the assets of those subsidiaries.

 

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

 

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

 

Ressources Québec Notes

 

On March 5, 2018, we entered into a note purchase agreement pursuant to which we issued CAD$40 million (approximately USD$30.8 million at the time of the transaction) in aggregate principal amount of our Series 2018-A Senior Notes due May 1, 2021 (the “RQ Notes”) to Ressources Québec, a subsidiary of Investissment Québec, a financing arm of the Québec government. The RQ Notes were issued at a discount of 0.58%, or CAD$0.2 million, and bear interest at a rate of 4.68% per year, payable on May 1 and November 1 of each year, commencing May 1, 2018. The RQ Notes are senior and unsecured and are pari passu in all material respects with the Senior Notes, including with respect to guarantees of the RQ Notes by certain of our subsidiaries. The net proceeds from the RQ Notes are required to be used for development and expansion of our Casa Berardi mine. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, interest expense related to the RQ Notes, including discount and origination fees, totaled $1.1 million.

 

Credit Facilities

 

In July 2018, we entered into a $200 million senior secured revolving credit facility which replaced our previous $100 million credit facility and has a term ending on June 14, 2022, provided, however, that if we do not refinance our outstanding Senior Notes due May 1, 2021 by November 1, 2020, the term of the credit facility ends on November 1, 2020. The credit facility increased to $250 million in November 2018 upon satisfaction of certain conditions, including adding certain subsidiaries of Klondex as borrowers under the credit facility and pledging the assets of those subsidiaries as additional collateral under the credit facility. The credit facility is collateralized by the shares of common stock held in our material domestic subsidiaries and by our joint venture interests in the Greens Creek mine, all of our rights and interests in the joint venture agreement, and all of our rights and interests in the assets of the joint venture.  Below is information on the interest rates, standby fee, and financial covenant terms under our credit facility in place as of September 30, 2018:

 

Interest rates:

         

Spread over the London Interbank Offered Rate

  2.25 - 3.25%  

Spread over alternative base rate

  1.25 - 2.25%  

Standby fee per annum on undrawn amounts

    0.50%    
           

Covenant financial ratios:

         

Senior leverage ratio (debt secured by liens/EBITDA)

 

not more than 2.50:1

 

Leverage ratio (total debt less unencumbered cash/EBITDA) (1)

 

not more than 4.50:1

 

Interest coverage ratio (EBITDA/interest expense)

 

not less than 3.00:1

 

 

(1) The leverage ratio will change to 4.00:1 effective January 1, 2020.

 

 

We are also able to obtain letters of credit under the facility, and for any such letters we are required to pay a participation fee of between 2.25% and 3.25% 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 $3.0 million in letters of credit outstanding as of September 30, 2018.

 

We believe we were in compliance with all covenants under the credit agreement and no amounts were outstanding as of September 30, 2018.  We drew $47.0 million on the facility in July 2018 which we repaid in September 2018. With the exception of the $3.0 million in letters of credit outstanding, we did not have a balance drawn on the revolving credit facility as of September 30, 2018.

 

As a result of the acquisition of Klondex in July 2018 (see Note 14 for more information), we assumed Klondex's revolving credit facility balance outstanding of $35.0 million. We paid the $35.0 million balance, and the Klondex credit facility was terminated, in July 2018.

 

Capital Leases

 

We have entered into various lease agreements, primarily for equipment at our Greens Creek, Lucky Friday, Casa Berardi and Nevada Operations units, which we have determined to be capital leases.  At September 30, 2018, the total liability balance associated with capital leases, including certain purchase option amounts, was $14.7 million, with $6.1 million of the liability classified as current and the remaining $8.6 million classified as non-current. At December 31, 2017, the total liability balance associated with capital leases was $11.8 million, with $5.6 million of the liability classified as current and $6.2 million classified as non-current. The total obligation for future minimum lease payments was $15.7 million at September 30, 2018, with $1.0 million attributed to interest.

 

At September 30, 2018, the annual maturities of capital lease commitments, including interest, are (in thousands):

 

Twelve-month period ending September 30,

       

2019

  $ 6,182  

2020

    4,727  

2021

    3,543  

2022

    1,214  

2023

    9  

Total

    15,675  

Less: imputed interest

    (1,019

)

Net capital lease obligation

  $ 14,656  

 

 

 

Note 11.    Developments in Accounting Pronouncements

 

Accounting Standards Updates Adopted

 

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board ("FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2014-09 Revenue Recognition, replacing guidance currently codified in Subtopic 605-10 Revenue Recognition-Overall. The new ASU establishes a new five step principles-based framework in an effort to significantly enhance comparability of revenue recognition practices across entities, industries, jurisdictions, and capital markets. In August 2015, the FASB issued ASU No. 2015-14 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606): Deferral of the Effective Date. ASU No. 2015-14 deferred the effective date of ASU No. 2014-09 until annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2017. We adopted ASU No. 2014-09 as of January 1, 2018 using the modified-retrospective transition approach. The impact of adoption of the update to our consolidated financial statements for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 would have been a reclassification of $1.2 million in doré refining costs from sales of products to cost of sales and other direct production costs.

 

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

 

Our concentrate sales involve variable consideration, as they are subject to changes in metals prices between the time of shipment and their final settlement. However, we are able to reasonably estimate the transaction price for the concentrate sales at the time of shipment using forward prices for the month of settlement, and we then adjust the values each period until final settlement. Also, it is unlikely a significant reversal of revenue for any one concentrate parcel will occur.

 

Adoption of ASU No. 2014-09 involves additional disclosures, where applicable, concerning (i) contracts with customers, (ii) significant judgments and changes in judgments in determining the timing of satisfaction of performance obligations and the transaction price, and (iii) assets recognized for costs to obtain or fulfill contracts. See Note 7 for information on our sales of products.

 

In January 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-01 Financial Instruments - Overall (Subtopic 825-10): Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities. The guidance requires entities to measure equity investments that are not accounted for under the equity method at fair value, with any changes in fair value included in current earnings, and updates certain disclosure requirements. The update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. We adopted ASU No. 2016-01 as of January 1, 2018 using the modified-retrospective approach, with a cumulative-effect adjustment from accumulated other comprehensive loss to retained deficit on our balance sheet of $1.3 million, net of the income tax effect.

 

 

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15 Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments. The update provides guidance on classification for cash receipts and payments related to eight specific issues. The update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. We adopted this update as of January 1, 2018.

 

In November 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-18 Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash. The update requires that a statement of cash flows explain the change during the period in the total of cash, cash equivalents, and amounts generally described as restricted cash or restricted cash equivalents. The update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption permitted. We adopted this update as of January 1, 2018. Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash and cash equivalents on the condensed consolidated statement of cash flows includes restricted cash and cash equivalents of $1.0 million as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, $1.1 million as of September 30, 2017 and $2.2 million as of December 31, 2016, as well as amounts previously reported for cash and cash equivalents.

 

In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01 Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business. The update clarifies the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. The update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. We applied the applicable provisions of the update to our acquisition of Klondex in July 2018 (see Note 14), which was accounted for as a business acquisition, and will apply the applicable provisions of the update to any future acquisitions.

 

In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-07 Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Period Postretirement Benefit Cost. The update provides specific requirements for classification and disclosure regarding the service cost component and other components of net benefit cost related to pension plans. The update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. We have implemented this update effective January 1, 2018. For the full year of 2018, a total net expense of approximately $2.8 million for the components of net benefit cost, except service cost, is expected to be included in other income (expense) on our consolidated statements of operations, and not reported in the same line items as other employee compensation costs.

 

Accounting Standards Updates to Become Effective in Future Periods

 

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02 Leases (Topic 842). The update modifies the classification criteria and requires lessees to recognize the assets and liabilities on the balance sheet for most leases. The update is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, with early adoption permitted. We are currently reviewing our leases and compiling the information required to implement the new guidance. See Note 10 for information on future commitments related to our operating leases; the present value of these leases will be recognized on our balance sheet upon implementation of the new guidance. We are currently evaluating the potential impact of implementing this update on our consolidated financial statements.

 

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

 

 

 

Note 12.    Derivative Instruments

 

Foreign Currency

 

Our wholly-owned subsidiaries owning the Casa Berardi and San Sebastian mines are U.S. dollar ("USD")-functional entities which routinely incur expenses denominated in Canadian dollars ("CAD") and Mexican pesos ("MXN"), respectively, and such expenses expose us to exchange rate fluctuations between the USD and CAD and MXN. In April 2016, we initiated a program to manage our exposure to fluctuations in the exchange rate between the USD and CAD and the impact on our future operating costs denominated in CAD. In October 2016, we also initiated a program to manage our exposure to the impact of fluctuations in the exchange rate between the USD and MXN on our future operating costs denominated in MXN. The programs utilize forward contracts to buy CAD and MXN, and each contract is designated as a cash flow hedge. As of September 30, 2018, we had 94 forward contracts outstanding to buy CAD$225.1 million having a notional amount of US$174.0 million, and 30 forward contracts outstanding to buy MXN$178.5 million having a notional amount of USD$8.8 million. The CAD contracts are related to forecasted cash operating costs at Casa Berardi to be incurred from 2018 through 2022 and have USD-to-CAD exchange rates ranging between 1.2729 and 1.3315. The MXN contracts are related to forecasted cash operating costs at San Sebastian to be incurred from 2018 through 2020 and have MXN-to-USD exchange rates ranging between 19.4400 and 20.8550. Our risk management policy provides that up to 75% of our planned cost exposure for five years into the future may be hedged under such programs, and for potential additional programs to manage other foreign currency-related exposure areas.

 

As of September 30, 2018, we recorded the following balances for the fair value of the contracts:

 

 

a current asset of $1.1 million, which is included in other current assets;

 

a non-current asset of $0.7 million, which is included in other non-current assets; and

 

a current liability of $0.1 million, which is included in other current liabilities.

 

Net unrealized gains of approximately $1.5 million related to the effective portion of the hedges were included in accumulated other comprehensive loss as of September 30, 2018. 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 $0.8 million in net unrealized gains included in accumulated other comprehensive loss as of September 30, 2018 would be reclassified to current earnings in the next twelve months. Net realized gains of approximately $0.2 million on contracts related to underlying expenses which have been recognized were transferred from accumulated other comprehensive loss and included in cost of sales and other direct production costs for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. Net unrealized gains of approximately $19 thousand related to ineffectiveness of the hedges were included in gain (loss) on derivatives contracts on our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) for the nine months ended September 30, 2018.

 

Metals Prices

 

At times, we may use commodity forward sales commitments, commodity swap contracts and commodity put and call option contracts to manage our exposure to fluctuation in the prices of certain metals we produce. Contract positions are designed to ensure that we will receive a defined minimum price for certain quantities of our production, thereby partially offsetting our exposure to fluctuations in the market. Our risk management policy allows for up to 75% of our planned metals price exposure for five years into the future, with certain other limitations, to be hedged under such programs. These instruments do, however, expose us to (i) credit risk in the form of non-performance by counterparties for contracts in which the contract price exceeds the spot price of a commodity and (ii) price risk to the extent that the spot price exceeds the contract price for quantities of our production covered under contract positions.

 

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

 

 

As of September 30, 2018, we recorded the following balances for the fair value of the contracts:

 

 

a current asset of $0.3 million, which is included in other current assets; and

 

a current liability of $0.6 million, which is included in other current liabilities and is net of $0.2 million for contracts in a fair value current asset position.

 

We recognized an $8.3 million net gain during the first nine months of 2018 on the contracts utilized to manage exposure to prices of metals in our concentrate shipments, which is included in sales of products.  The net gain recognized on the contracts offsets 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 a $40.3 million net gain during the first nine months of 2018 on the contracts utilized to manage exposure to prices for forecasted future concentrate shipments. The net gain on these contracts is included as a separate line item under other income (expense), as they relate to forecasted future shipments, as opposed to sales that have already taken place but are subject to final pricing as discussed in the preceding paragraph.  The net gain for the first nine months of 2018 is the result of decreasing zinc and lead prices. During the third quarter of 2018, we settled, prior to their maturity date, contracts in a gain position for cash proceeds to us of approximately $32.8 million. As a result, there were no metals committed under contracts on forecasted sales as of September 30, 2018. This program, when utilized, is designed to mitigate the impact of potential future declines in lead and zinc prices from the price levels established in the contracts (see average price information below). When those prices increase compared to the contracts, we incur losses on the contracts.

 

The following tables summarize the quantities of metals committed under forward sales contracts at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017:

 

September 30, 2018

 

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

                                                               

2018 settlements

    1,221       6       10,362       4,685     $ 14.56     $ 1,211     $ 1.17     $ 0.94  

 

 

December 31, 2017

 

Ounces/pounds under contract (in 000's)

   

Average price per ounce/pound

 
   

Silver

   

Gold

   

Zinc

   

Lead

   

Silver

   

Gold

   

Zinc

   

Lead

 
   

(ounces)

   

(ounces)

   

(pounds)

   

(pounds)

   

(ounces)

   

(ounces)

   

(pounds)

   

(pounds)

 

Contracts on provisional sales

                                                               

2018 settlements

    1,447       5       21,550       4,740     $ 16.64     $ 1,279     $ 1.45     $ 1.11  
                                                                 

Contracts on forecasted sales

                                                               

2018 settlements

                32,187       16,645       N/A       N/A     $ 1.29     $ 1.06  

2019 settlements

                23,589       18,078       N/A       N/A     $ 1.33     $ 1.09  

2020 settlements

                3,307       2,866       N/A       N/A     $ 1.27     $ 1.08  

 

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 September 30, 2018, we have not posted any collateral related to these contracts. The fair value of derivatives in a net liability position, which includes accrued interest but excludes any adjustment for nonperformance risk, related to these agreements was $1.0 million as of September 30, 2018. If we were in breach of any of these provisions at September 30, 2018, we could have been required to settle our obligations under the agreements at their termination value of $1.0 million.

 

 

 

Note 13.    Fair Value Measurement

 

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

 

Description

 

Balance at

September 30, 2018

   

Balance at

December 31, 2017

 

Input

Hierarchy Level

Assets:

                 

Cash and cash equivalents:

                 

Money market funds and other bank deposits

  $ 60,856     $ 186,107  

Level 1

Available for sale securities:

                 

Debt securities - municipal and corporate bonds

          33,758  

Level 2

Equity securities – mining industry

    7,190       7,561  

Level 1

Trade accounts receivable:

                 

Receivables from provisional concentrate sales

    12,947       14,805  

Level 2

Restricted cash balances:

                 

Certificates of deposit and other bank deposits

    1,010       1,032  

Level 1

Derivative contracts:

                 

Foreign exchange contracts

    1,760       4,943  

Level 2

Metal forward contracts

    282        

Level 2

Total assets

  $ 84,045     $ 248,206    
                   

Liabilities:

                 

Derivative contracts:

                 

Foreign exchange contracts

  $ 136     $  

Level 2

Metal forward contracts

    604       15,531  

Level 2

Total liabilities

  $ 740     $ 15,531    

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Trade accounts receivable include amounts due to us for shipments of concentrates and doré sold to customers.  Revenues and the corresponding accounts receivable for sales of metals products are recorded when title and risk of loss transfer to the customer (generally at the time of ship loading, or at the time of customer arrival for trucked products).  Sales of concentrates are recorded using estimated forward prices for the anticipated month of settlement applied to our estimate of payable metal quantities contained in each shipment.  Sales are recorded net of estimated treatment and refining charges, which are also impacted by changes in metals prices and quantities of contained metals.  We estimate the prices at which sales of our concentrates will be settled due to the time elapsed between shipment and final settlement with the customer.  Receivables for previously recorded concentrate sales are adjusted to reflect estimated forward metals prices at the end of each period until final settlement by the customer.  We obtain the forward metals prices used each period from a pricing service.  Changes in metals prices between shipment and final settlement result in changes to revenues previously recorded upon shipment.  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 the USD and CAD and MXN, and the impact on CAD- and MXN-denominated operating costs incurred at our Casa Berardi and San Sebastian units (see Note 12 for more information). These contracts qualify for hedge accounting, with unrealized gains and losses related to the effective portion of the contracts included in accumulated other comprehensive loss, and unrealized gains and losses related to the ineffective portion of the contracts included in earnings each period. The fair value of each contract represents the present value of the difference between the forward exchange rate for the contract settlement period as of the measurement date and the contract settlement exchange rate.

 

We use financially-settled forward contracts to manage the exposure to changes in prices of silver, gold, zinc and lead contained in our concentrate shipments that have not reached final settlement.  We also use financially-settled forward contracts to manage the exposure to changes in prices of zinc and lead contained in our forecasted future concentrate shipments (see Note 12 for more information).  These contracts do not qualify for hedge accounting, and are marked-to-market through earnings each period.  The fair value of each 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.

 

Our Senior Notes, which were recorded at their carrying value of $503.2 million, net of unamortized initial purchaser discount at September 30, 2018 of $3.3 million, had a fair value of $511.4 million at September 30, 2018. Quoted market prices, which we consider to be Level 1 inputs, are utilized to estimate fair values of the Senior Notes. See Note 10 for more information.

 

 

Note 14. Acquisition of Klondex Mines Ltd.

 

On July 20, 2018, we acquired all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Klondex Mines Ltd. ("Klondex") for consideration valued at $2.24 per Klondex share (the "Arrangement"). The acquisition resulted in our 100% ownership of three producing gold mines, along with interests in various gold exploration properties, in northern Nevada. The acquisition is expected to increase our annual gold production, gives us ownership of operating gold mines and identified gold reserves and other mineralized material, and provides access to a large land package with known mineralization. Under the terms of the Arrangement, each holder of Klondex common shares had the option to receive either (i) $2.47 in cash (the “Cash Alternative”), (ii) 0.6272 of a Hecla share per Klondex share (the “Share Alternative”), or (iii) US$0.8411 in cash and 0.4136 of a Hecla share per Klondex share (the “Combined Alternative”), subject in the case of the Cash Alternative and the Share Alternative to pro-ration based on a maximum cash consideration of $153.2 million and a maximum number of Hecla shares issued of 75,276,176. Klondex shareholders also received shares of a newly formed company which holds the Canadian assets previously owned by Klondex (Havilah Mining Corporation (“Havilah”)). Klondex had 180,499,319 issued and outstanding common shares prior to consummation of the Arrangement. An additional 1,549,626 Klondex common shares were issued immediately prior to consummation of the Arrangement related to conversion of in-the-money Klondex options and certain outstanding restricted share units, resulting in a total of 182,048,945 issued and outstanding Klondex common shares at the time of consummation of the Arrangement. In connection with the Arrangement, we also issued an aggregate of 4,136,000 warrants to purchase one share of our common stock (“Hecla Warrants”) to holders of warrants to purchase Klondex common shares. Of the Hecla Warrants, 2,068,000 have an exercise price of $8.02 and expire in April 2032, and 2,068,000 have an exercise price of $1.57 and expire in February 2029. In addition, we settled share-based payment awards held by Klondex directors and employees for cash of $2.0 million. Consideration for the Arrangement was cash of $161.7 million, 75,276,176 shares of our common stock valued at $242.4 million, and issuance of the Hecla Warrants valued at $10.2 million, for total consideration of $414.2 million. The cash consideration includes $7.0 million for our subscription for common shares of Havilah and $1.5 million for settlement of certain equity compensation instruments.

 

 

The following summarizes the preliminary allocation of purchase price to the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed as of the date of acquisition (in thousands):

 

Consideration:

       

Cash payments

  $ 161,704  

Hecla stock issued (75,276,176 shares at $3.22 per share)

    242,389  

Hecla warrants issued

    10,155  

Total consideration

  $ 414,248  
         

Fair value of net assets acquired:

       

Assets:

       

Cash

  $ 12,874  

Accounts receivable

    3,453  

Inventory - supplies

    6,564  

Inventory - finished goods, in-process material and stockpiled ore

    10,302  

Other current assets

    2,583  

Properties, plants, equipment and mineral interests

    502,285  

Non-current investments

    1,596  

Non-current restricted cash and investments

    9,504  

Total assets

    549,161  

Liabilities:

       

Accounts payable and accrued liabilities

    17,270  

Accrued payroll and related benefits

    10,352  

Accrued taxes

    421  

Lease liability

    2,080  

Debt

    35,086  

Asset retirement obligation

    19,571  

Deferred tax liability

    50,133  

Total liabilities

    134,913  

Net assets

  $ 414,248  

 

We do not believe there are any specific elements of the allocation of purchase price above that are subject to change. However, the overall allocation is preliminary and is subject to change.

 

Our results for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 include sales of products of $11.5 million and a net loss of $10.1 million since the acquisition date related to the operations acquired through the Arrangement.

 

The unaudited pro forma financial information below represents the combined results of our operations as if the acquisition had occurred at the beginning of the periods presented. The unaudited pro forma financial information is presented for informational purposes only and is not indicative of the results of operations that would have occurred if the acquisition had taken place at the beginning of the periods presented, nor is it indicative of future operating results.

 

 

   

Three Months Ended

   

Nine Months Ended

 
   

September 30,

   

September 30,

 

(in thousands, except per share amounts)

 

2018

   

2017

   

2018

   

2017

 

Sales

  $ 156,731     $ 182,489     $ 543,741     $ 573,950  

Net (loss) income

    (20,735

)

    (8,877

)

    4,694       2,523  

(Loss) income applicable to common shareholders

    (20,873

)

    (9,015

)

    4,280       (2,937

)

Basic and diluted (loss) income per common share

    (0.04

)

    (0.02

)

    0.01       (0.01

)

 

The pro forma financial information includes adjustments to eliminate amounts related to the Canadian assets previously owned by Klondex, which were transferred to Havilah and not acquired by us, and costs related to the acquisition.

 

 

Note 15.    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 (the "Guarantors") of the Senior Notes and the RQ Notes (see Note 10 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; and Hecla Juneau Mining Company. By November 30, 2018, we expect to add as Guarantors our new domestic Klondex subsidiaries. We completed the initial offering of the Senior Notes on April 12, 2013, and a related exchange offer for virtually identical notes registered with the SEC on January 3, 2014. We issued the RQ Notes in March 5, 2018.

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

Separate financial statements of the Guarantors are not presented because the guarantees by the Guarantors are joint and several and full and unconditional, except for certain customary release provisions, including: (1) the sale or disposal of all or substantially all of the assets of the Guarantor; (2) the sale or other disposition of the capital stock of the Guarantor; (3) the Guarantor is designated as an unrestricted 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.

 

 

Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets

 

   

As of September 30, 2018

 
   

Parent

   

Guarantors

   

Non-Guarantors

   

Eliminations

   

Consolidated

 
   

(in thousands)

 

Assets

                                       

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 28,081     $ 6,198     $ 26,577     $     $ 60,856  

Other current assets

    15,219       42,515       79,807       (68

)

    137,473  

Properties, plants, and equipment - net

    1,920       1,246,274       1,239,235             2,487,429  

Intercompany receivable (payable)

    256,831       (222,897

)

    (138,477

)

    104,543        

Investments in subsidiaries

    1,767,234                   (1,767,234

)

     

Other non-current assets

    149,034       4,390       11,670       (140,594

)

    24,500  

Total assets

  $ 2,218,319     $ 1,076,480     $ 1,218,812     $ (1,803,353

)

  $ 2,710,258  

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

                                       

Current liabilities

  $ (79,535

)

  $ 77,328     $ 55,389     $ 79,274     $ 132,456  

Long-term debt

    534,067       4,911       137,938       (134,211

)

    542,705  

Non-current portion of accrued reclamation

          67,145       32,169             99,314  

Non-current deferred tax liability

          16,497       159,613       (11,182

)

    164,928  

Other non-current liabilities

    41,718       5,784       1,284             48,786  

Shareholders' equity

    1,722,069       904,815       862,419       (1,767,234

)

    1,722,069  

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

  $ 2,218,319     $ 1,076,480     $ 1,248,812     $ (1,833,353

)

  $ 2,710,258  

 

 

   

As of December 31, 2017

 
   

Parent

   

Guarantors

   

Non-Guarantors

   

Eliminations

   

Consolidated

 
   

(in thousands)

 

Assets

                                       

Cash and cash equivalents

  $ 103,878     $ 31,016     $ 51,213     $     $ 186,107  

Other current assets

    47,555       47,608       40,541       (575

)

    135,129  

Properties, plants, and equipment - net

    1,946       1,244,161       753,204             1,999,311  

Intercompany receivable (payable)

    287,310       (177,438

)

    (341,182

)

    231,310        

Investments in subsidiaries

    1,358,025                   (1,358,025

)

     

Other non-current assets

    14,409       7,289       9,283       (6,370

)

    24,611  

Total assets

  $ 1,813,123     $ 1,152,636     $ 513,059     $ (1,133,660

)

  $ 2,345,158  

Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity

                                       

Current liabilities

  $ (226,576

)

  $ 66,550     $ 37,671     $ 234,485     $ 112,130  

Long-term debt

    502,229       2,303       3,890             508,422  

Non-current portion of accrued reclamation

          67,565       11,801             79,366  

Non-current deferred tax liability

          10,120       124,352       (10,120

)

    124,352  

Other non-current liabilities

    53,588       5,185       838             59,611  

Stockholders' equity

    1,483,882       1,000,913       334,507       (1,358,025

)

    1,461,277  

Total liabilities and stockholders' equity

  $ 1,813,123     $ 1,152,636     $ 513,059     $ (1,133,660

)

  $ 2,345,158  

 

 

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Operations

 

   

Three Months Ended September 30, 2018

 
   

Parent

   

Guarantors

   

Non-Guarantors

   

Eliminations

   

Consolidated

 
   

(in thousands)

 

Revenues

  $ 5,020     $ 60,155     $ 78,474     $     $ 143,649  

Cost of sales

    (157

)

    (39,733

)

    (53,719

)

          (93,609

)

Depreciation, depletion, amortization

          (12,427

)

    (31,037

)

          (43,464

)

General and administrative

    (4,802

)

    (4,866

)

    (659

)

          (10,327

)

Exploration and pre-development

    (1

)

    (4,056

)

    (9,549

)

          (13,606

)

Research and development

          (444

)

    (825

)

          (1,269

)

Loss on derivative contracts

    19,460                         19,460  

Foreign exchange gain (loss)

    4,640       74       (6,926

)

          (2,212

)

Lucky Friday suspension-related costs

          (5,388

)

    (1,131

)

          (6,519

)

Acquisition costs

    (5,741

)

    (245

)

    (153

)

          (6,139

)

Equity in earnings of subsidiaries

    (54,618

)

                54,618        

Other (expense) income

    13,016       881       (5,900

)

    (19,824

)

    (11,827

)

Income (loss) before income taxes

    (23,183

)

    (6,049

)

    (31,425

)

    34,794       (25,863

)

(Provision) benefit from income taxes

    (1

)

    (18,552

)

    1,408       19,824       2,679  

Net income (loss)

    (23,184

)

    (24,601

)

    (30,017

)

    54,618       (23,184

)

Preferred stock dividends

    (138

)

                      (138

)

Income (loss) applicable to common shareholders

    (23,322

)

    (24,601

)

    (30,017

)

    54,618       (23,322

)

Net income (loss)

    (23,184

)

    (24,601

)

    (30,017

)

    54,618       (23,184

)

Changes in comprehensive income (loss)

    3,746             3       (3 )     3,746  

Comprehensive income (loss)

  $ (19,438

)

  $ (24,601

)

  $ (30,014

)

  $ 54,615     $ (19,438

)

 

 

   

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018

 
   

Parent

   

Guarantors

   

Non-Guarantors

   

Eliminations

   

Consolidated

 
   

(in thousands)

 

Revenues

  $ 8,332     $ 205,563     $ 216,722     $     $ 430,617  

Cost of sales

    245       (111,923

)

    (135,240

)

          (246,918

)

Depreciation, depletion, amortization

          (35,683

)

    (67,652

)

          (103,335

)

General and administrative

    (13,250

)

    (12,916

)

    (1,683

)

          (27,849

)

Exploration and pre-development

    (128

)

    (9,059

)

    (22,037

)

          (31,224

)

Research and development

          (2,505

)

    (2,537

)

          (5,042

)

Loss on derivative contracts

    40,271                         40,271  

Foreign exchange gain (loss)

    (9,795

)

          12,651             2,856  

Lucky Friday suspension-related costs

          (17,206

)

    (1,131

)

          (18,337

)

Acquisition costs

    (9,041

)

    (313

)

    (302

)

          (9,656

)

Equity in earnings of subsidiaries

    (31,105

)

                31,105        

Other (expense) income

    11,602       (2,512

)

    (15,801

)

    (29,026

)

    (35,737

)

Income (loss) before income taxes

    (2,869

)

    13,446       (17,010

)

    2,079       (4,354

)

(Provision) benefit from income taxes

    (1

)

    (27,755

)

    214       29,026       1,484  

Net income (loss)

    (2,870

)

    (14,309

)

    (16,796

)

    31,105       (2,870

)

Preferred stock dividends

    (414

)

                      (414

)

Income (loss) applicable to common shareholders

    (3,284

)

    (14,309

)

    (16,796

)

    31,105       (3,284

)

Net income (loss)

    (2,870

)

    (14,309

)

    (16,796

)

    31,105       (2,870

)

Changes in comprehensive income (loss)

    (3,520

)

          41       (41

)

    (3,520

)

Comprehensive income (loss)

  $ (6,390

)

  $ (14,309

)

  $ (16,755

)

  $ 31,064     $ (6,390

)

 

 

   

Three Months Ended September 30, 2017

 
   

Parent

   

Guarantors

   

Non-Guarantors

   

Eliminations

   

Consolidated

 
   

(in thousands)

 

Revenues

  $ (626

)

  $ 61,887     $ 79,578     $     $ 140,839  

Cost of sales

    687       (29,320

)

    (39,725

)

          (68,358

)

Depreciation, depletion, amortization

          (12,607

)

    (16,911

)

          (29,518

)

General and administrative

    (4,217

)

    (4,464

)

    (848

)

          (9,529

)

Exploration and pre-development

    (129

)

    (4,339

)

    (4,544

)

          (9,012

)

Research and development

          (1,130

)

                (1,130

)

Gain on derivative contracts

    (11,226

)

                      (11,226

)

Foreign exchange gain (loss)

    12,153             (17,070

)

          (4,917

)

Lucky Friday suspension costs

          (4,780

)

                (4,780

)

Equity in earnings of subsidiaries

    (7,369

)

                7,369        

Other expense

    11,041       1,202       (4,676

)

    (14,752

)

    (7,185

)

Income (loss) before income taxes

    314       6,449       (4,196

)

    (7,383

)

    (4,816

)

(Provision) benefit from income taxes

          (1,338

)

    (8,284

)

    14,752       5,130  

Net income (loss)

    314       5,111       (12,480

)

    7,369       314  

Preferred stock dividends

    (138

)

                      (138

)

Income (loss) applicable to common shareholders

    176       5,111       (12,480

)

    7,369       176  

Net income (loss)

    314       5,111       (12,480

)

    7,369       314  

Changes in comprehensive income (loss)

    7,636             1,022       (1,022

)

    7,636  

Comprehensive income (loss)

  $ 7,950     $ 5,111     $ (11,458

)

  $ 6,347     $ 7,950  

 

 

   

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017

 
   

Parent

   

Guarantors

   

Non-Guarantors

   

Eliminations

   

Consolidated

 
   

(in thousands)

 

Revenues

  $ (3,912

)

  $ 215,184     $ 206,390     $     $ 417,662  

Cost of sales

    353       (112,908

)

    (111,982

)

          (224,537

)

Depreciation, depletion, amortization

          (41,875

)

    (45,111

)

          (86,986

)

General and administrative

    (16,407

)

    (10,877

)

    (1,760

)

          (29,044

)

Exploration and pre-development

    (439

)

    (8,736

)

    (12,508

)

          (21,683

)

Research and development

          (2,125

)

                (2,125

)

Gain/(loss) on derivative contracts

    (16,548

)

                      (16,548

)

Foreign exchange gain (loss)

    22,286       (43

)

    (32,501

)

          (10,258

)

Lucky Friday suspension costs

          (14,385

)

   

 

          (14,385

)

Equity in earnings of subsidiaries

    (9,708

)

                9,708        

Other (expense) income

    24,822       (1,207

)

    (14,146

)

    (38,682

)

    (29,213

)

Income (loss) before income taxes

    447       23,028       (11,618 )     (28,974

)

    (17,117

)

(Provision) benefit from income taxes

          (9,239

)

    (11,879

)

    38,682       17,564  

Net income (loss)

    447       13,789       (23,497

)

    9,708       447  

Preferred stock dividends

    (414

)

                      (414

)

Income (loss) applicable to common shareholders

    33       13,789       (23,497

)

    9,708       33  

Net income (loss)

    447       13,789       (23,497

)

    9,708       447  

Changes in comprehensive income (loss)

    13,718             1,780       (1,780

)

    13,718  

Comprehensive income (loss)

  $ 14,165     $ 13,789     $ (21,717

)

  $ 7,928     $ 14,165  

 

 

Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows

 

   

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018

 
   

Parent

   

Guarantors

   

Non-Guarantors

   

Eliminations

   

Consolidated

 
                                         

Cash flows from operating activities

  $ (52,473

)

  $ 63,796     $ (15,107

)

  $ 78,994     $ 75,210  

Cash flows from investing activities:

                                       

Additions to properties, plants, and equipment

          (39,740

)

    (43,545

)

          (83,285

)

Acquisition of Klondex, net of cash acquired

    (139,326

)

                        (139,326

)

Other investing activities, net

    (375,495

)

    4,603       (294

)

    409,209       38,023  

Cash flows from financing activities:

                                       

Dividends paid to shareholders

    (3,607

)

                      (3,607

)

Borrowings on debt

    78,024                         78,024  

Proceeds from (payments on) debt

    (47,000

)

    (3,094

)

    (37,934

)

          (88,028

)

Other financing activity, net

    464,080       (50,409

)

    72,463       (488,203

)

    (2,069

)

Effect of exchange rates on cash

                (215

)

          (215

)

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

    (75,797

)

    (24,844

)

    (24,632

)

          (125,273

)

Beginning cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents

    103,878       32,048       51,213             187,139  

Ending cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents

  $ 28,081     $ 7,204     $ 26,581     $     $ 61,866  

 

 

   

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017

 
   

Parent

   

Guarantors

   

Non-Guarantors

   

Eliminations

   

Consolidated

 
   

(in thousands)

 

Cash flows from operating activities

  $ 35,764     $ 41,071     $ 21,435     $ (24,155

)

  $ 74,115  

Cash flows from investing activities:

                                       

Additions to properties, plants, and equipment

          (28,220

)

    (42,170

)

          (70,390

)

Acquisitions of other companies, net of cash acquired

                               

Other investing activities, net

    176       5,779       (584

)

    (5,339

)

    32  

Cash flows from financing activities:

                                       

Dividends paid to shareholders

    (3,392

)

                      (3,392

)

Proceeds from (payments on) debt

          (4,518

)

    (1,017

)

          (5,535

)

Other financing activity, net

    (44,762

)

    (21,500

)

    42,909       29,494       6,141  

Effect of exchange rates on cash

                1,051             1,051  

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

    (12,214

)

    (7,388

)

    21,624             2,022  

Beginning cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents

    113,275       26,588       32,114             171,977  

Ending cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents

  $ 101,061     $ 19,200     $ 53,738     $     $ 173,999  

 

 

 

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

 

Certain statements contained in this Form 10-Q, including in Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations and Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosure About Market Risk, are intended to be covered by the safe harbor provided for under Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  Our forward-looking statements include our current expectations and projections about future results, performance, results of litigation, prospects and opportunities, 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. – Business – Risk Factors in our annual report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, as updated in Part II, Item 1A - Risk Factors in this quarterly report and in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2018 and June 30, 2018. Given these risks and uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on our forward-looking statements.  All subsequent written and oral forward-looking statements attributable to Hecla Mining Company or to persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements.  Except as required by federal securities laws, we do not intend to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

 

 

Overview

 

Hecla Mining Company and our subsidiaries have provided precious and base metals to the U.S. and worldwide since 1891. We discover, acquire, develop, produce and market silver, gold, lead and zinc.

 

We produce lead, zinc and bulk concentrates, which we sell to custom smelters and brokers, and unrefined doré containing gold and silver, which are further refined before sale to precious metals traders.  We are organized into five segments that encompass our operating and development units:  Greens Creek, Lucky Friday, Casa Berardi, San Sebastian and Nevada Operations. The map below shows the locations of our operating units, our exploration and pre-development projects, as well as our corporate offices located in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho and Vancouver, British Columbia.

 

 

42

 

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

 

 

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

 

fully integrating the acquisition in July 2018 of Klondex Mines Ltd. ("Klondex") discussed further below, which gives us ownership of a mill, operating mines and other mineral interests in northern Nevada;

 

continuing to optimize and improve operations at our units, which includes incurring research and development expenditures that may not result in tangible benefits;

 

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

 

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

 

advance permitting of the Rock Creek and Montanore projects;

 

maintaining and investing in exploration and pre-development projects in the vicinities of seven mining districts and projects, most of which 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 newly-acquired projects in northern Nevada; the Rock Creek and Montanore projects in northwestern Montana; and the Creede district of southwestern Colorado; and

 

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

 

A number of key factors may impact the execution of our strategy, including regulatory issues and metals prices. Metals prices can be very volatile. As discussed in the Critical Accounting Estimates section below, metals prices are influenced by a number of factors beyond our control. Average market prices of gold, lead, and zinc in the first nine months of 2018 were higher than their levels from the comparable period last year, with the average silver price lower, as illustrated by the table in Results of Operations below. While we believe current global economic and industrial trends could result in continued demand for the metals we produce, prices have been volatile and there can be no assurance that current prices will continue.

 

The total principal amount of our Senior Notes due May 1, 2021 is $506.5 million and they bear interest at a rate of 6.875% per year. The net proceeds from the Senior Notes were primarily used for the acquisition of Aurizon in June 2013. In addition, in March 2018 we entered into a note purchase agreement pursuant to which we issued CAD$40 million (approximately USD$30.8 million at the time of the transaction) in aggregate principal amount of our Series 2018-A Senior Notes due May 1, 2021 (the “RQ Notes”) to Ressources Québec which have an annual coupon rate of 4.68%. The net proceeds from the RQ Notes are required to be used for development and expansion of our Casa Berardi unit. See Note 10 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for more information on our debt arrangements. As discussed in the Financial Liquidity and Capital Resources section below, we believe that we will be able to meet the obligations associated with the Senior Notes and RQ Notes; however, a number of factors could impact our ability to meet the debt obligations and fund our other projects.

 

On July 20, 2018, we completed the acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Klondex for total consideration valued at approximately $414.2 million at the time of consummation of the acquisition. See Note 14 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for more information. As a result of the acquisition, we own 100% of three producing gold mines, along with interests in various gold exploration properties, in northern Nevada. The acquisition is expected to increase our annual gold production, gives us ownership of operating gold mines and identified gold reserves and other mineralized material, and provides access to a large land package with known mineralization. We are faced with the challenge of integrating the acquisition and assuming operating responsibility for Klondex's mines and other operations. See Part II, Item 1A – Risk Factors – Operating, Development, Exploration and Acquisition Risks in our quarterly report filed on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 for risks associated with our acquisition of Klondex.

 

On June 15, 2015, we completed the acquisition of Revett Mining Company, giving us 100% ownership of the Rock Creek project, a significant undeveloped silver and copper deposit in northwestern Montana. In addition, on September 13, 2016, we completed the acquisition of Mines Management, Inc., giving us 100% ownership of the Montanore project, another significant undeveloped silver and copper deposit located approximately 10 miles from our Rock Creek project. Development of Rock Creek and Montanore has been challenged by non-governmental organizations and governmental agencies at various times, and there can be no assurance that we will be able to obtain the permits required to develop these projects. See Part II, Item 1A – Risk Factors for more information.

 

As further discussed in the Lucky Friday Segment section below, the union employees at Lucky Friday have been on strike since March 13, 2017. Production at Lucky Friday was suspended from the start of the strike until July 2017, with limited production by salaried employees commencing at that time. We cannot predict how long the strike will last or whether an agreement will be reached. We expect cash expenditures of about $1.5 million to $2.0 million per month to advance engineering and infrastructure for the restart of full production, in addition to costs related to limited interim production. As a result of the strike or other related events, operations at Lucky Friday could continue to be disrupted, which could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

 

43

 

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 the Mine Safety and Health Administration (“MSHA”) to address issues outlined in investigations and inspections and continue to evaluate our safety practices.

 

Another challenge for us is the risk associated with environmental litigation and ongoing reclamation activities. As described in Part I, Item 1A – Risk Factors of our annual report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 and above in Note 5 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.

 

Results of Operations

 

Sales of products by metal for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 were as follows:

 

   

Three Months Ended
September 30,

   

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 

(in thousands)

 

2018

   

2017

   

2018

   

2017

 

Silver

  $ 38,009     $ 43,228     $ 111,656     $ 140,662  

Gold

    82,628       73,603       233,308       203,279  

Lead

    7,552       6,373       27,469       28,093  

Zinc

    20,990       24,327       78,714       74,692  

Less: Smelter and refining charges

    (5,530

)

    (6,692

)

    (20,530

)

    (29,064

)

Sales of products

  $ 143,649     $ 140,839     $ 430,617     $ 417,662  

 

44

 

The $2.8 million and $13.0 million increases in sales of products in the third quarter and first nine months of 2018, respectively, compared to the same periods of 2017 are primarily due to:

 

 

For the third quarter of 2018, sales quantities for silver, gold, lead and zinc were higher than the same period of 2017. For the first nine months of 2018, higher gold and zinc volumes were partially offset by lower silver and lead volumes. See the 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 metal 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
September 30,

   

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 
     

2018

   

2017

   

2018

   

2017

 

Silver -

Ounces produced

    2,523,691       3,323,157       7,654,118       9,500,058  
 

Payable ounces sold

    2,588,478       2,540,817       6,993,695       8,098,652  

Gold -

Ounces produced

    72,995       63,046       191,116       171,720  
 

Payable ounces sold

    68,568       57,380       183,050       161,921  

Lead -

Tons produced

    4,238       5,370       15,387       18,426  
 

Payable tons sold

    3,986       2,936       12,599       13,612  

Zinc -

Tons produced

    12,795       14,497       42,312       43,000  
 

Payable tons sold

    9,282       8,444       30,072       29,269  

 

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

 

 

Lower average silver, gold, lead and zinc prices in the third quarter of 2018 compared to the same period in 2017. For the first nine months of 2018, average gold, lead and zinc prices were higher, while average silver prices were lower, compared to the same period of 2017. These price variances are illustrated in the table below.

 

     

Three Months Ended
September 30,

   

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 
     

2018

   

2017

   

2018

   

2017

 

Silver –

London PM Fix ($/ounce)

  $ 14.99     $ 16.83     $ 16.10     $ 17.17  
 

Realized price per ounce

  $ 14.68     $ 17.01     $ 15.97     $ 17.37  

Gold –

London PM Fix ($/ounce)

  $ 1,213     $ 1,278     $ 1,283     $ 1,251  
 

Realized price per ounce

  $ 1,205     $ 1,283     $ 1,275     $ 1,255  

Lead –

LME Final Cash Buyer ($/pound)

  $ 0.95     $ 1.06     $ 1.06     $ 1.02  
 

Realized price per pound

  $ 0.95     $ 1.09     $ 1.09     $ 1.03  

Zinc –

LME Final Cash Buyer ($/pound)

  $ 1.15     $ 1.34     $ 1.37     $ 1.26  
 

Realized price per pound

  $ 1.13     $ 1.44     $ 1.31     $ 1.28  

 

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 third quarter and first nine months of 2018, we recorded net negative price adjustments to provisional settlements of $0.6 million and $3.3 million, respectively, compared to positive price adjustments to provisional settlements of $1.2 million and $0.6 million, respectively, in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017. The price adjustments related to silver, gold, lead and zinc contained in our concentrate shipments were largely offset by gains and losses on forward contracts for those metals for each period. See Note 12 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.

 

45

 

For the third quarter and first nine months of 2018, we recorded losses applicable to common shareholders of $23.3 million ($0.05 per basic common share) and $3.3 million ($0.01 per basic common share), respectively, compared to income applicable to common shareholders of $0.2 million ($0.00 per basic common share) and $0.0 million ($0.00 per basic common share), respectively, for the third quarter and first nine months of 2017. The following factors impacted the results for the third quarter and first nine months of 2018 compared to the same periods in 2017:

 

 

Lower gross profit for the third quarter and first nine months of 2018 compared to the same periods in 2017 at our San Sebastian unit by $19.1 million and $38.9 million, respectively, and at our Lucky Friday unit by $0.2 million and $3.1 million, respectively; and a gross loss at our newly-acquired Nevada Operations unit of $7.8 million in the third quarter. Gross profit at our Greens Creek unit was lower by $6.1 million for the third quarter of 2018, but higher by $12.9 million for the first nine month of 2018, compared to the same periods of 2017. Gross profit for the third quarter of 2018 was also lower at our Casa Berardi unit compared to 2017 by $3.1 million; however, it was higher by $11.2 million for the first nine months of 2018 compared to the same period of 2017. See The Greens Creek Segment, The Lucky Friday Segment, The Casa Berardi Segment, The San Sebastian Segment, and The Nevada Operations Segment sections below.

 

Income tax benefits of $2.7 million and $1.5 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2018, respectively, compared to benefits of $5.1 million of $17.6 million, respectively, in the comparable 2017 periods. The benefit for the first nine months of 2017 includes a benefit from a change in income tax position recognized in the first quarter of 2017 relating to the timing of deduction for #4 Shaft development costs at Lucky Friday, as further discussed in Corporate Matters below.

 

Costs of $6.1 million and $9.7 million for the third quarter and first nine months of 2018, respectively, related to the acquisition of Klondex completed in July 2018.

 

Exploration and pre-development expense increased by $4.6 million and $9.5 million, respectively, in the third quarter and first nine months of 2018 compared to the same periods in 2017. In 2018, we have continued exploration work at our Greens Creek, San Sebastian and Casa Berardi units, and at our other projects in Quebec, Canada, and began exploration at our Nevada Operations unit acquired in July 2018. "Pre-development expense" is defined as costs incurred in the exploration stage that may ultimately benefit production, such as underground ramp development, which are expensed due to the lack of proven and probable reserves. Pre-development expense of $1.2 million and $3.6 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2018, respectively, was related to advancement of our Montanore and Rock Creek projects.

 

Foreign exchange net loss in the third quarter of 2018 of $2.2 million and a net gain of $2.9 million in the first nine months of 2018 versus net losses of $4.9 million and $10.3 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017, respectively. The variances are primarily related to the impact of changes in the CAD-to-USD exchange rate on the remeasurement of our net monetary liabilities in Quebec. During the first nine months of 2018, the applicable CAD-to-USD exchange rate increased from 1.2545 to 1.2945, compared to a decrease in the rate from 1.3426 to 1.2480 during the first nine months of 2017.

 

Suspension costs of $6.5 million and $18.3 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2018, respectively, compared to $4.8 million and $14.4 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017, respectively. The costs for the third quarter and first nine months of 2018 include $5.4 million and $17.2 million, respectively, related to suspension at the Lucky Friday mine resulting from the strike, which started in March 2017, and include non-cash depreciation expense of $1.4 million and $3.7 million, respectively. The costs for the 2018 periods also include $1.1 million related to curtailment of production at the Midas mine. All of the costs for the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 related to Lucky Friday and include $1.1 million and $3.3 million, respectively, for non-cash depreciation.

 

Research and development expense of $1.3 million and $5.0 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2018, respectively, compared to $1.1 million and $2.1 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017, respectively, related to evaluation and development of technologies that would be new to our operations.

 

Higher interest expense by $0.8 million and $1.6 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2018. respectively, compared to the same periods of 2017. Interest expense in the first nine months of 2017 was net of $0.9 million in capitalized interest primarily related to the #4 Shaft project, which was completed in January 2017.

 

Gains on base metal derivatives contracts of $19.5 million and $40.3 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2018, respectively, compared to losses of $11.2 million and $16.5 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017, respectively. During the third quarter of 2018, we settled, prior to their maturity date, contracts in a gain position for cash proceeds to us of approximately $32.8 million. See Note 12 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for more information.

 

46

 

The Greens Creek Segment

 

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

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

   

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 
   

2018

   

2017

   

2018

   

2017

 

Sales

  $ 65,187     $ 61,062     $ 205,642     $ 191,250  

Cost of sales and other direct production costs

    (39,735

)

    (29,320

)

    (106,883

)

    (100,799

)

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    (12,428

)

    (12,607

)

    (34,880

)

    (39,442

)

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

    (52,163

)

    (41,927

)

    (141,763

)

    (140,241

)

Gross profit

  $ 13,024     $ 19,135     $ 63,879     $ 51,009  

Tons of ore milled

    213,037       219,983       632,876       627,900  

Production:

                               

Silver (ounces)

    1,876,417       2,344,315       5,789,440       6,205,659  

Gold (ounces)

    11,559       12,563       38,396       39,289  

Zinc (tons)

    12,695       14,325       41,673       40,697  

Lead (tons)

    4,026       4,851       14,352       14,080  

Payable metal quantities sold:

                               

Silver (ounces)

    1,928,858       1,569,092       5,113,799       4,930,946  

Gold (ounces)

    11,613       7,862       33,402       30,920  

Zinc (tons)

    9,282       8,445       29,232       27,582  

Lead (tons)

    3,986       2,935       11,169       10,015  

Ore grades:

                               

Silver ounces per ton

    11.65       13.65       11.94       12.84  

Gold ounces per ton

    0.09       0.09       0.09       0.10  

Zinc percent

    6.87       7.47       7.58       7.49  

Lead percent

    2.40       2.77       2.84       2.83  

Mining cost per ton

  $ 68.76     $ 69.46     $ 69.19     $ 69.64  

Milling cost per ton

  $ 31.97     $ 31.01     $ 32.73     $ 32.38  

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

  $ 1.92     $ (0.15

)

  $ (2.22

)

  $ 0.73  

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

  $ 9.20     $ 4.47     $ 4.71     $ 5.60  

 

 

(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 $6.1 million decrease in gross profit in the third quarter of 2018 compared to the same period in 2017 is due to lower prices for all four payable metals produced, partially offset by higher sales volumes. The $12.9 million increase in gross profit during the first nine months of 2018 compared to the same 2017 period was primarily a result of higher metals sales volumes due to the timing of concentrate shipments and higher gold, zinc and lead prices, partially offset by lower silver prices.

 

47

 

The chart below illustrates the factors contributing to the variances in Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, Per Silver Ounce for the third quarter and first nine months of 2018 versus the same periods in 2017:

 

 

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

 

   

Three Months Ended
September 30,

   

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 
   

2018

   

2017

   

2018

   

2017

 

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

  $ 22.67     $ 20.75     $ 23.27     $ 22.94  

By-product credits

    (20.75

)

    (20.90

)

    (25.49

)

    (22.21

)

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

  $ 1.92     $ (0.15

)

  $ (2.22

)

  $ 0.73  

 

 

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

 

   

Three Months Ended

September 30,

   

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

 
   

2018

   

2017

   

2018

   

2017

 

AISC, Before By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce

  $ 29.95     $ 25.37     $ 30.20     $ 27.81  

By-product credits

    (20.75

)

    (20.90

)

    (25.49

)

    (22.21

)

AISC, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce

  $ 9.20     $ 4.47     $ 4.71     $ 5.60  

 

The increase in Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce for the third quarter of 2018 was due to lower silver production. The increase in AISC, After By-Product Credits, per Silver Ounce in the third quarter of 2018 was due to lower silver production and higher capital spending. The decrease in Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce in the first nine months of 2018 was primarily the result of higher by-product credits, partially offset by lower silver production. The decrease in AISC, After By-Product Credits, per Silver Ounce in the third quarter of 2018 was due to the same factors, partially offset by higher capital spending.

 

48

 

Mining and milling costs increased in the third quarter and first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017 on a per-ounce basis due primarily to lower silver production resulting from reduced silver grades.

 

Other cash costs per ounce for the third quarter and first nine months of 2018 were higher compared to 2017 due to the effect of lower silver production.

 

Treatment costs were lower in the third quarter and first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017 as a result of improved payment terms from smelters, partially offset by lower silver production. Treatment costs were also impacted by lower silver prices, as treatment costs include the value of silver not payable to us through the smelting process. The silver not payable to us is either recovered by the smelters through further processing or ultimately not recovered and included in the smelters' waste material.

 

By-product credits per ounce were lower in the third quarter of 2018 compared to the same period of 2017 due to lower gold, zinc and lead prices and production. By-product credits per ounce were higher in the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017 due to higher gold, zinc and lead prices.

 

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

 

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

 

 

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

 

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

 

metallurgical treatment maximizes silver recovery;

 

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

 

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

 

Likewise, we believe the identification of gold, lead and zinc as by-product credits is appropriate because of their lower economic value compared to silver and due to the fact that silver is the primary product we intend to produce. In addition, we 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 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.

 

49

 

The Lucky Friday Segment

 

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

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

   

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 
   

2018

   

2017

   

2018

   

2017

 

Sales

  $ (11

)

  $ 199     $ 8,253     $ 20,022  

Cost of sales and other direct production costs

    (1

)

          (5,041

)

    (12,109

)

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

                (803

)

    (2,433

)

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

    (1

)

          (5,844

)

    (14,542

)

Gross profit (loss)

  $ (12

)

  $ 199     $ 2,409     $ 5,480  

Tons of ore milled

    3,006       7,302       16,012       64,371  

Production:

                               

Silver (ounces)

    31,639       88,298       156,015       769,080  

Lead (tons)

    212       518       1,035       4,346  

Zinc (tons)

    100       172       639       2,303  

Payable metal quantities sold:

                               

Silver (ounces)

                232,867       641,004  

Lead (tons)

                1,430       3,596  

Zinc (tons)

                840       1,688  

Ore grades:

                               

Silver ounces per ton

    11.41       12.87       11.06       12.45  

Lead percent

    8.06       7.68       7.21       7.12  

Zinc percent

    3.64       3.21       4.28       3.90  

Mining cost per ton

  $     $ 150.89     $ 87.79     $ 112.60  

Milling cost per ton

  $     $ 13.15     $ 14.26     $ 22.93  

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

  $     $ 11.60     $     $ 6.58  

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

  $     $ 13.37     $     $ 12.21  

 

 

(1)

A reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures to cost of sales and other direct production costs and depreciation, depletion and amortization, the most comparable GAAP measure, can be found below in Reconciliation of Cost of Sales and Other Direct Production Costs and Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization (GAAP) to Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits and Cash Cost, After By-product Credits (non-GAAP) and All-In Sustaining Cost, Before By-product Credits and All-In Sustaining Cost, After By-product Credits (non-GAAP).

 

Gross profit decreased by $0.2 million and $3.1 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2018, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2017. The variances are primarily due to the low level of metal production in the third quarter of 2018 as a result of the ongoing strike by unionized employees starting in mid-March 2017, discussed further below, and the lack of concentrate shipments during the quarter. Silver production was also impacted by lower ore grades in the third quarter and first nine months of 2018. Gross profit for the first nine months of 2018 was also impacted by lower silver prices, partially offset by higher lead and zinc prices.

 

Mining and milling cost per ton were lower by 22% and 38%, respectively, in the first nine months of 2018 compared to the same period in 2017, as costs not directly related to mining and processing ore have been classified as suspension costs during the strike period and excluded from the calculations of mining and milling cost per ton. Mining and milling cost per ton during the strike period are not indicative of future operating results under full production.

 

50

 

The chart below illustrates the factors contributing to the variances in Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, Per Silver Ounce for the third quarter and first nine months of 2017. Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce and AISC, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce, are not presented for the third quarter and first nine months of 2018, as production was limited due to the strike and results are not comparable to those from the third quarter and first nine months of 2017, and are not indicative of future operating results under full production.

 

 

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

 

   

Three Months Ended

   

Nine Months Ended

 
   

September 30, 2017

 

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

  $ 27.44     $ 23.42  

By-product credits

    (15.84

)

    (16.84

)

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

  $ 11.60     $ 6.58  

 

 

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

 

   

Three Months Ended

   

Nine Months Ended

 
   

September 30, 2017

 

AISC, Before By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce

  $ 29.21     $ 29.05  

By-product credits

    (15.84

)

    (16.84

)

AISC, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce

  $ 13.37     $ 12.21  

 

 

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

 

51

 

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

 

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Many of the employees at our Lucky Friday unit are represented by a union, and the most recent collective bargaining agreement with the union expired on April 30, 2016. On February 19, 2017, the unionized employees voted against our contract offer, and on March 13, 2017 went on strike, and have been on strike since that time. Production at Lucky Friday was suspended from the start of the strike, until limited production by salaried personnel commenced in July 2017. Salaried personnel have continued to perform limited production and capital improvements. Suspension costs during the strike totaled $13.5 million and $11.5 million in the first nine months of 2018 and 2017, respectively, which are combined with non-cash depreciation expense of $3.7 million and $2.9 million, respectively, for those periods, in a separate line item on our consolidated statements of operations. These suspension costs are excluded from the calculation of gross profit, Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce and AISC, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce, when presented. We cannot predict how long the strike will last or whether an agreement will be reached. As a result of the strike or other related events, operations at Lucky Friday could continue to be disrupted, which could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations. If the strike continues for a further extended period or it is determined an eventual resolution is unlikely, it may be appropriate in the future to review the carrying value of properties, plants, equipment and mineral interests at Lucky Friday. Under such review, if estimated undiscounted cash flows from Lucky Friday were less than its carrying value, an impairment loss would be recognized for the difference between the carrying value and the estimated fair value. The carrying value of properties, plants, equipment and mineral interests at Lucky Friday as of September 30, 2018 was approximately $428.8 million. However, Lucky Friday has significant identified reserves and mineralized material and a current estimated mine life of approximately 22 years.

 

On April 30, 2018, we settled with the National Labor Relations Board ("NLRB") an unfair labor practice claim made by the union. As part of the settlement, Hecla Limited rescinded its last, best and final contract offer implemented in March 2017. On May 4, 2018, we gave notice to the union that the parties to the labor dispute are at impasse, and implemented portions of our revised final offer presented in December 2017.

 

See Note 5 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for contingencies related to various events occurring at the Lucky Friday mine in prior periods.

 

52

 

The Casa Berardi Segment

 

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

 

Three Months Ended
September 30,

   

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 
   

2018

   

2017

   

2018

   

2017

 

Sales

  $ 52,850     $ 53,989     $ 164,501     $ 139,524  

Cost of sales and other direct production costs

    (31,213

)

    (32,999

)

    (97,271

)

    (95,288

)

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    (20,054

)

    (16,270

)

    (54,879

)

    (43,075

)

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

    (51,267

)

    (49,269

)

    (152,150

)

    (138,363

)

Gross profit (loss)

  $ 1,583     $ 4,720     $ 12,351     $ 1,161  

Tons of ore milled

    353,840       326,145       1,052,326       949,946  

Production:

                               

Gold (ounces)

    43,981       44,141       126,880       113,209  

Silver (ounces)

    9,559       9,659       30,748       26,681  

Payable metal quantities sold:

                               

Gold (ounces)

    43,682       42,053       128,327       111,046  

Silver (ounces)

    9,026       8,725       31,530       26,952  

Ore grades:

                               

Gold ounces per ton

    0.140       0.153       0.138       0.137  

Silver ounces per ton

    0.03       0.03       0.03       0.03  

Mining cost per ton

  $ 65.97     $ 82.95     $ 72.15     $ 81.95  

Milling cost per ton

  $ 15.05     $ 16.19     $ 15.91     $ 16.28  

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

  $ 686     $ 750     $ 760     $ 858  

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

  $ 896     $ 1,091     $ 1,004     $ 1,226  

 

 

(1)

A reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures to cost of sales and other direct production costs and depreciation, depletion and amortization, the most comparable GAAP measure, can be found below in Reconciliation of Cost of Sales and Other Direct Production Costs and Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization (GAAP) to Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits and Cash Cost, After By-product Credits (non-GAAP) and All-In Sustaining Cost, Before By-product Credits and All-In Sustaining Cost, After By-product Credits (non-GAAP).

 

Gross profit decreased by $3.1 million and increased by $11.2 million for the third quarter and first nine months of 2018, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2017. The decrease for the third quarter was primarily due to lower gold production due to reduced gold grades and lower gold prices. The increase in gross profit for the first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017 was primarily due to higher gold production, due to increased mill throughput, and higher gold prices.

 

Mining costs per ton were lower by 20% and 12% and milling unit costs decreased by 7% and 2% in the third quarter and first nine months of 2018, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2017, due primarily to higher ore production.

 

53

 

The chart below illustrates the factors contributing to Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, Per Gold Ounce for the third quarter and first nine months of 2018 and 2017:

 

 

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

 

   

Three Months Ended
September 30,

   

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 
   

2018

   

2017

   

2018

   

2017

 

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

  $ 689     $ 754     $ 764     $ 862  

By-product credits

    (3

)

    (4

)

    (4

)

    (4

)

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

  $ 686     $ 750     $ 760     $ 858  

 

 

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

 

   

Three Months Ended

September 30,

   

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

 
   

2018

   

2017

   

2018

   

2017

 

AISC, Before By-product Credits, per Gold Ounce

  $ 899     $ 1,095     $ 1,008     $ 1,230  

By-product credits

    (3

)

    (4

)

    (4

)

    (4

)

AISC, After By-product Credits, per Gold Ounce

  $ 896     $ 1,091     $ 1,004     $ 1,226  

 

 

The decrease in Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Gold Ounce for the third quarter and first nine months of 2018 compared to the same periods of 2017 was primarily due to lower stripping costs, with the nine-month period also impacted by higher gold production. The same factors, along with lower capital and exploration spending, resulted in AISC, After By-product Credits, per Gold Ounce that was also lower in the third quarter and first nine months of 2018 compared to the same periods of 2017.

 

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

 

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

 

54

 

The San Sebastian Segment

 

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

 

Three Months Ended

September 30,

   

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

 
   

2018

   

2017

   

2018

   

2017

 

Sales

  $ 14,129     $ 25,589     $ 40,727     $ 66,866  

Cost of sales and other direct production costs

    (12,530

)

    (6,039

)

    (27,591

)

    (16,341

)

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    (1,795

)

    (641

)

    (3,586

)

    (2,036

)

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

    (14,325

)

    (6,680

)

    (31,177

)

    (18,377

)

Gross profit

  $ (196

)

  $ 18,909     $ 9,550     $ 48,489  

Tons of ore milled

    39,739       36,482       111,916       111,623  

Production:

                               

Silver (ounces)

    521,931       880,885       1,593,770       2,498,638  

Gold (ounces)

    3,666       6,342       12,051       19,222  

Payable metal quantities sold:

                               

Silver (ounces)

    606,550       963,000       1,571,455       2,499,750  

Gold (ounces)

    4,240       7,465       12,288       19,955  

Ore grades:

                               

Silver ounces per ton

    14.16       25.48       15.36       23.71  

Gold ounces per ton

    0.11       0.18       0.12       0.18  

Mining cost per ton

  $ 171.87     $ 35.69     $ 157.21     $ 38.70  

Milling cost per ton

  $ 65.98     $ 69.42     $ 66.16     $ 66.64  

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

  $ 12.02     $ (3.12

)

  $ 8.28     $ (3.23

)

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

  $ 16.95     $ (0.83

)

  $ 13.34     $ (0.14

)

 

 

(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 $19.1 million and $38.9 million decreases in gross profit for the third quarter and first nine months of 2018, respectively, compared to the same periods of 2017 were primarily due to lower silver and gold production, due to lower ore grades, higher mining costs and lower silver prices. The third quarter was also impacted by lower gold prices and recoveries compared the third quarter of 2017. The lower grades and higher costs are the result of transitioning from open pit to underground mining. The ore processed in the third quarter and first nine months of 2017 came from higher grade deposits mined from shallow open pits. Production from the existing open pits was substantially completed in December 2017; however, during the first half of 2018, a portion of the mill throughput came from the ore stockpiled from the open pits and smaller-scale, open pit production. In April 2017, we started development of a new underground portal and work to rehabilitate historic underground infrastructure which allows us to mine deeper portions of the deposits at San Sebastian. Limited ore production from underground began in January 2018 and continued to increase during the year. The underground ore production is expected to have lower grades and involve higher mining costs than the open pit.

 

55

 

Mining cost per ton were higher by 382% and by 306% for the third quarter and first nine months of 2018, respectively, compared to the same periods of 2017, while there were minor variances for milling costs compared to the prior year periods. The large increase in mining cost per ton was due to the transition of production from shallow open pits to underground.

 

The chart below illustrates the factors contributing to Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, Per Silver Ounce for the third quarter and first nine months of 2018 and 2017:

 

 

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

 

   

Three Months Ended
September 30,

   

Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 
   

2018

   

2017

   

2018

   

2017

 

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

  $ 20.55     $ 6.07     $ 18.01     $ 6.39  

By-product credits

    (8.53

)

    (9.19

)

    (9.73

)

    (9.62

)

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

  $ 12.02     $ (3.12

)

  $ 8.28     $ (3.23

)

 

 

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

 

   

Three Months Ended

September 30,

   

Nine Months Ended

September 30,

 
   

2018

   

2017

   

2018

   

2017

 

AISC, Before By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce

  $ 25.48     $ 8.36     $ 23.07     $ 9.48  

By-product credits

    (8.53

)

    (9.19

)

    (9.73

)

    (9.62

)

AISC, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce

  $ 16.95     $ (0.83

)

  $ 13.34     $ (0.14

)

 

 

The increase in Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce in the third quarter and first nine months of 2018 compared to the same periods of 2017 was primarily the result of lower silver production and higher mining costs due to the transition from open pit to underground mining. The same factors, along with higher exploration and capital spending, resulted in the increases in AISC, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce for the third quarter and first nine months of 2018 compared to 2017.

 

56

 

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

 

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

 

The Nevada Operations Segment

 

On July 20, 2018, we completed the acquisition of all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Klondex for total consideration of $414.2 million. See Note 14 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for more information. The acquisition gives us 100% ownership of the Fire Creek, Midas and Hollister mines, where gold is the primary metal produced, the Aurora mill, and interests in various gold exploration properties, all located in northern Nevada. The tabular information below reflects our ownership of the Nevada Operations commencing on July 20, 2018.

 

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

 

Three and Nine Months Ended
September 30,

 
   

2018

 

Sales

  $ 11,494  

Cost of sales and other direct production costs

    (10,132

)

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    (9,187

)

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

    (19,319

)

Gross profit (loss)

  $ (7,825

)

Tons of ore milled

    55,899  

Production:

       

Gold (ounces)

    13,789  

Silver (ounces)

    84,145  

Payable metal quantities sold:

       

Gold (ounces)

    9,033  

Silver (ounces)

    44,044  

Ore grades:

       

Gold ounces per ton

    0.288  

Silver ounces per ton

    2.05  

Mining cost per ton

  $ 186.12  

Milling cost per ton

  $ 70.39  

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

  $ 1,179  

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

  $ 1,932  

 

 

 

(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).

 

57

 

Cost of sales and other direct production costs for the period from July 20 to September 30, 2018 includes write-downs of the values of stockpile, in-process and finished goods inventory to their net realizable value, totaling $7.2 million.

 

The chart below illustrates the factors contributing to Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, Per Gold Ounce for the third quarter and first nine months of 2018:

 

 

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

 

   

Three and Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2018

 

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

  $ 1,268  

By-product credits

    (89

)

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

  $ 1,179  

 

 

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

 

   

Three and Nine Months Ended
September 30, 2018

 

AISC, Before By-product Credits, per Gold Ounce

  $ 2,021  

By-product credits

    (89

)

AISC, After By-product Credits, per Gold Ounce

  $ 1,932  

 

We believe the identification of silver as a by-product credit is appropriate at 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 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 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.

 

Transition and improvement activities since our acquisition of the Nevada Operations have included an increase in underground development and rehabilitation at the Fire Creek mine, progress on construction of a new tailings dam, and work to install a carbon-in-leach circuit in order to improve recoveries at the Midas mill, where ore from each of the mines is processed. In addition, we decided to curtail production at the Midas mine, and are utilizing some of the equipment and employees from that location for production and development at the Fire Creek and Hollister mines.

 

58

 

Corporate Matters

 

Employee Benefit Plans

 

Our defined benefit pension plans provide a significant benefit to our employees, but also represent a significant liability to us. The liability recorded for the funded status of our plans was $44.6 million and $47.1 million as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. In April 2018 and July 2018, we made cash contributions of  $1.3 million and $1.2 million, respectively, to our defined benefit plans. In September 2018 we contributed $5.5 million in shares of our common stock. We are not required to make additional contributions to our defined benefit plans in 2018. While the economic variables which will determine future funding requirements are uncertain, we expect contributions to continue to be required in future years under current plan provisions, and we periodically examine the plans for affordability and competitiveness. See Note 8 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for more information.

 

Income Taxes

 

On July 20, 2018, we acquired all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Klondex in a taxable stock acquisition. Klondex was a Canadian holding company which was amalgamated into our Canadian acquisition entity to form Klondex Mines Unlimited Liability Company (“KMULC”), a Canadian unlimited liability company. KMULC is the Canadian parent of a U.S. consolidated group located in Nevada. We filed an election to treat KMULC as a corporation. As a result of the Canadian parent U.S. corporate status, the Nevada U.S. consolidated group did not join the existing U.S. consolidated tax group for Hecla Mining Company and subsidiaries (“Legacy Hecla”). A net deferred tax liability of $50.1 million was recorded for the fair market value of assets acquired in excess of carryover tax basis. See Note 14 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for additional information regarding the acquisition.

 

Each reporting period we assess our deferred tax balance based on a review of long-range forecasts and quarterly activity.  We recognized a full valuation allowance on our Legacy Hecla U.S. net deferred tax assets at the end of 2017 based on results of tax law changes and maintain a full valuation allowance on Legacy Hecla net deferred tax assets at September 30, 2018. .

 

On December 22, 2017, the United States enacted tax reform legislation known as H.R. 1, commonly referred to as the “Tax Cuts and Jobs Act” (the “Act”), resulting in significant modifications to prior law. Among other changes, the Act repealed corporate Alternative Minimum Tax ("AMT") and reduced the U.S. corporate income tax rate to 21 percent. As a result of the Act, our AMT credit carryforward of $9.4 million became partially refundable through 2020 and fully refundable in 2021. Due to our U.S tax loss position, the AMT refund is classified as a long-term receivable.

 

Our net Canadian deferred tax liability at September 30, 2018 was $118.1 million, a decrease of $3.4 million from the $121.5 million net deferred tax liability at December 31, 2017. The deferred tax liability is primarily related to the excess of the carrying value of the mineral resource assets over the tax bases of those assets for Canadian tax reporting.

 

Our Mexican net deferred tax asset at September 30, 2018 was $1.9 million, an increase of $0.1 million from the net deferred tax asset of $1.8 million at December 31, 2017. A $1.6 million valuation allowance remains on deferred tax assets in Mexico.

 

59

 

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

 

The tables below present reconciliations between the most comparable GAAP measure of cost of sales and other direct production costs and depreciation, depletion and amortization to the non-GAAP measures of (i) Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits, (ii) Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, (iii) AISC, Before By-product Credits and (iv) AISC, After By-product Credits for our operations at the Greens Creek, Lucky Friday, San Sebastian, Casa Berardi and Nevada Operations units and for the Company for the three- and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017.

 

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.

 

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Ounce is an important operating statistic that we utilize to measure each mine's operating performance. We have recently started reporting AISC, After By-product Credits, per Ounce which we use as a measure of our mines' net cash flow after costs for exploration, pre-development, reclamation, and sustaining capital. This is similar to the Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Ounce non-GAAP measure we report, but also includes on-site exploration, reclamation, and sustaining capital costs. Current GAAP measures used in the mining industry, such as cost of goods sold, do not capture all the expenditures incurred to discover, develop and sustain silver and gold production. Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Ounce and AISC, After By-product Credits, per Ounce also allow us to benchmark the performance of each of our mines versus those of our competitors. As a silver and gold mining company, we also use these statistics on an aggregate basis - aggregating the Greens Creek, Lucky Friday and San Sebastian mines to compare our performance with that of silver mining companies, and aggregating Casa Berardi and Nevada Operations for comparison to 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, royalties and mining production taxes. AISC, Before By-product Credits for each mine also includes on-site exploration, reclamation, and sustaining capital costs. AISC, Before By-product Credits for our consolidated silver properties also includes corporate costs for general and administrative expense, exploration and sustaining capital projects. By-product credits include revenues earned from all metals other than the primary metal produced at each unit. As depicted in the tables below, by-product credits comprise an essential element of our silver unit cost structure, distinguishing our silver operations due to the polymetallic nature of their orebodies.

 

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

 

The Casa Berardi, Nevada Operations and combined gold properties information below reports Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Gold Ounce and AISC, After By-product Credits, per Gold Ounce for the production of gold, 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 units with the same primary product are combined to represent Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Ounce and AISC, After By-product Credits, per Ounce. Thus, the gold produced at our Casa Berardi 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 units is not included as a by-product credit when calculating the gold metrics for Casa Berardi and Nevada Operations.

 

60

 

 

In thousands (except per ounce amounts)

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2018

 
   

Greens Creek

   

Lucky Friday(2)

   

San Sebastian

   

Corporate(3)

   

Total Silver

 

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

  $ 52,163       (1 )   $ 14,325             $ 66,487  

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    (12,428

)

          (1,795

)

            (14,223

)

Treatment costs

    8,267       134       205               8,606  

Change in product inventory

    (4,480

)

          (1,549

)

            (6,029

)

Reclamation and other costs

    (965

)

    103       (458

)

            (1,320

)

Exclusion of Lucky Friday costs

          (236

)

                  (236

)

Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits (1)

    42,557             10,728               53,285  

Reclamation and other costs

    849             105               954  

Exploration

    1,771             1,982       473       4,226  

Sustaining capital

    11,029             486       704       12,219  

General and administrative

                            10,327       10,327  

AISC, Before By-product Credits (1)

    56,206             13,301               81,011  

By-product credits:

                                       

Zinc

    (20,674

)

                          (20,674

)

Gold

    (12,229

)

          (4,450

)

            (16,679

)

Lead

    (6,041

)

                          (6,041

)

Total By-product credits

    (38,944

)

          (4,450

)

            (43,394

)

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits

  $ 3,613     $     $ 6,278             $ 9,891  

AISC, After By-product Credits

  $ 17,262     $     $ 8,851             $ 37,617  

Divided by silver ounces produced

    1,876             522               2,398  

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

  $ 22.67     $     $ 20.55             $ 22.22  

By-product credits per ounce

    (20.75

)

          (8.53

)

            (18.10

)

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

  $ 1.92     $     $ 12.02             $ 4.12  

AISC, Before By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce

  $ 29.95     $     $ 25.48             $ 33.78  

By-product credits per ounce

    (20.75

)

          (8.53

)

            (18.10

)

AISC, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce

  $ 9.20     $     $ 16.95             $ 15.68  

 

61

 

In thousands (except per ounce amounts)

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2018

 
   

Casa Berardi

   

Nevada

Operations (4)

   

Total Gold

 

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

  $ 51,267     $ 19,319     $ 70,586  

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    (20,054

)

    (9,187

)

    (29,241

)

Treatment costs

    535       42       577  

Change in product inventory

    (1,303

)

    7,311       6,008  

Reclamation and other costs

    (140

)

          (140

)

Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits (1)

    30,305       17,485       47,790  

Reclamation and other costs

    138             138  

Exploration

    854       3,322       4,176  

Sustaining capital

    8,244       7,061       15,305  

General and administrative

                 

AISC, Before By-product Credits (1)

    39,541       27,868       67,409  

By-product credits:

                       

Silver

    (142

)

    (1,232

)

    (1,374

)

Total By-product credits

    (142

)

    (1,232

)

    (1,374

)

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits

  $ 30,163     $ 16,253     $ 46,416  

AISC, After By-product Credits

  $ 39,399     $ 26,636     $ 66,035  

Divided by gold ounces produced

    44       14       58  

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

  $ 689     $ 1,268     $ 827  

By-product credits per ounce

    (3

)

    (89

)

    (24

)

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

  $ 686     $ 1,179     $ 803  

AISC, Before By-product Credits, per Gold Ounce

  $ 899     $ 2,021     $ 1,167  

By-product credits per ounce

    (3

)

    (89

)

    (24

)

AISC, After By-product Credits, per Gold Ounce

  $ 896     $ 1,932     $ 1,143  

 

62

 

In thousands (except per ounce amounts)

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2018

 
   

Total Silver

   

Total Gold

   

Total

 

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

  $ 66,487       70,586     $ 137,073  

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    (14,223

)

    (29,241

)

    (43,464

)

Treatment costs

    8,606       577       9,183  

Change in product inventory

    (6,029

)

    6,008       (21

)

Reclamation and other costs

    (1,320

)

    (140

)

    (1,460

)

Exclusion of Lucky Friday costs

    (236

)

          (236

)

Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits (1)

    53,285       47,790       101,075  

Reclamation and other costs

    954       138       1,092  

Exploration

    4,226       4,176       8,402  

Sustaining capital

    12,219       15,305       27,524  

General and administrative

    10,327             10,327  

AISC, Before By-product Credits (1)

    81,011       67,409       148,420  

By-product credits:

                       

Zinc

    (20,674

)

          (20,674

)

Gold

    (16,679

)

          (16,679

)

Lead

    (6,041

)

          (6,041

)

Silver

            (1,374

)

    (1,374

)

Total By-product credits

    (43,394

)

    (1,374

)

    (44,768

)

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits

  $ 9,891     $ 46,416     $ 56,307  

AISC, After By-product Credits

  $ 37,617     $ 66,035     $ 103,652  

Divided by ounces produced

    2,398       58          

Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits, per Ounce

  $ 22.22     $ 827          

By-product credits per ounce

    (18.10

)

    (24

)

       

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Ounce

  $ 4.12     $ 803          

AISC, Before By-product Credits, per Ounce

  $ 33.78     $ 1,167          

By-product credits per ounce

    (18.10

)

    (24

)

       

AISC, After By-product Credits, per Ounce

  $ 15.68     $ 1,143          

 

63

 

In thousands (except per ounce amounts)

 

Three Months Ended September 30, 2017

 
   

Greens Creek

   

Lucky Friday(2)

   

San Sebastian

   

Corporate(3)

   

Total Silver

   

Casa Berardi (Gold)

   

Total

 

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

  $ 41,927     $     $ 6,680             $ 48,607     $ 49,269     $ 97,876  

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    (12,607

)

          (641

)

            (13,248

)

    (16,270

)

    (29,518

)

Treatment costs

    12,067       440       422               12,929       682       13,611  

Change in product inventory

    7,675       1,960       (627

)

            9,008       (288

)

    8,720  

Reclamation and other costs

    (394

)

    18       (494

)

            (870

)

    (124

)

    (994

)

Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits (1)

    48,668       2,418       5,340               56,426       33,269       89,695  

Reclamation and other costs

    666       38       117               821       123       944  

Exploration

    1,944       (2

)

    1,495       477       3,914       1,161       5,075  

Sustaining capital

    8,210       119       402       1,105       9,836       13,775       23,611  

General and administrative

                            9,529       9,529               9,529  

AISC, Before By-product Credits (1)

    59,488       2,573       7,354               80,526       48,328       128,854  

By-product credits:

                                                       

Zinc

    (27,046

)

    (293 )                     (27,339

)

            (27,339

)

Gold

    (13,907

)

          (8,088

)

            (21,995

)

            (21,995

)

Lead

    (8,067

)

    (1,102 )                     (9,169

)

            (9,169

)

Silver

                                            (161

)

    (161

)

Total By-product credits

    (49,020

)

    (1,395 )     (8,088

)

            (58,503

)

    (161

)

    (58,664

)

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits

  $ (352

)

  $ 1,023     $ (2,748

)

          $ (2,077

)

  $ 33,108     $ 31,031  

AISC, After By-product Credits

  $ 10,468     $ 1,178     $ (734

)

          $ 22,023     $ 48,167     $ 70,190  

Divided by ounces produced

    2,344       88       880               3,312       44          

Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits, per Ounce

  $ 20.75     $ 27.44     $ 6.07             $ 17.03     $ 754          

By-product credits per ounce

    (20.90

)

    (15.84

)

    (9.19

)

            (17.66

)

    (4

)

       

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Ounce

  $ (0.15

)

  $ 11.60     $ (3.12

)

          $ (0.63

)

  $ 750          

AISC, Before By-product Credits, per Ounce

  $ 25.37     $ 29.21     $ 8.36             $ 24.31     $ 1,095          

By-product credits per ounce

    (20.90

)

    (15.84

)

    (9.19

)

            (17.66

)

    (4

)

       

AISC, After By-product Credits, per Ounce

  $ 4.47     $ 13.37     $ (0.83

)

          $ 6.65     $ 1,091          

 

64

 

In thousands (except per ounce amounts)

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018

 
   

Greens Creek

   

Lucky Friday(2)

   

San Sebastian

   

Corporate(3)

   

Total Silver

 

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

  $ 141,763     $ 5,844     $ 31,177             $ 178,784  

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    (34,880

)

    (803

)

    (3,586

)

            (39,269

)

Treatment costs

    29,136       761       627               30,524  

Change in product inventory

    995       (2,182

)

    1,858               671  

Reclamation and other costs

    (2,323

)

          (1,374

)

            (3,697

)

Exclusion of Lucky Friday costs

          (3,620

)

                    (3,620

)

Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits (1)

    134,691             28,702               163,393  

Reclamation and other costs

    2,548             314               2,862  

Exploration

    2,909             6,628       1,351       10,888  

Sustaining capital

    34,694             1,119       1,338       37,151  

General and administrative

                            27,849       27,849  

AISC, Before By-product Credits (1)

    174,842             36,763               242,143  

By-product credits:

                                       

Zinc

    (80,308

)

                          (80,308

)

Gold

    (43,237

)

            (15,505

)

            (58,742

)

Lead

    (24,037

)

                          (24,037

)

Total By-product credits

    (147,582

)

          (15,505

)

            (163,087

)

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits

  $ (12,891

)

  $     $ 13,197             $ 306  

AISC, After By-product Credits

  $ 27,260     $     $ 21,258             $ 79,056  

Divided by silver ounces produced

    5,789             1,594               7,383  

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

  $ 23.27     $     $ 18.01             $ 22.14  

By-product credits per ounce

    (25.49

)

          (9.73

)

            (22.09

)

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

  $ (2.22

)

  $     $ 8.28             $ 0.05  

AISC, Before By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce

  $ 30.20     $     $ 23.07             $ 32.80  

By-product credits per ounce

    (25.49

)

          (9.73

)

            (22.09

)

AISC, After By-product Credits, per Silver Ounce

  $ 4.71     $     $ 13.34             $ 10.71  

 

65

 

In thousands (except per ounce amounts)

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018

 
   

Casa Berardi

   

Nevada

Operations (4)

   

Total Gold

 

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

  $ 152,150     $ 19,319     $ 171,469  

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    (54,879

)

    (9,187

)

    (64,066

)

Treatment costs

    1,628       42       1,670  

Change in product inventory

    (1,482

)

    7,311       5,829  

Reclamation and other costs

    (421

)

          (421

)

Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits (1)

    96,996       17,485       114,481  

Reclamation and other costs

    421             421  

Exploration

    3,374       3,322       6,696  

Sustaining capital

    27,120       7,061       34,181  

General and administrative

                 

AISC, Before By-product Credits (1)

    127,911       27,868       155,779  

By-product credits:

                       

Silver

    (491

)

    (1,232

)

    (1,723

)

Total By-product credits

    (491

)

    (1,232

)

    (1,723

)

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits

  $ 96,505     $ 16,253     $ 112,758  

AISC, After By-product Credits

  $ 127,420     $ 26,636     $ 154,056  

Divided by gold ounces produced

    127       14       141  

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

  $ 764     $ 1,268     $ 814  

By-product credits per ounce

    (4

)

    (89

)

    (12

)

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

  $ 760     $ 1,179     $ 802  

AISC, Before By-product Credits, per Gold Ounce

  $ 1,008     $ 2,021     $ 1,107  

By-product credits per ounce

    (4

)

    (89

)

    (12

)

AISC, After By-product Credits, per Gold Ounce

  $ 1,004     $ 1,932     $ 1,095  

 

66

 

In thousands (except per ounce amounts)

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018

 
   

Total Silver

   

Total Gold

   

Total

 

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

  $ 178,784       171,469     $ 350,253  

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    (39,269

)

    (64,066

)

    (103,335

)

Treatment costs

    30,524       1,670       32,194  

Change in product inventory

    671       5,829       6,500  

Reclamation and other costs

    (3,697

)

    (421

)

    (4,118

)

Exclusion of Lucky Friday costs

    (3,620

)

          (3,620

)

Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits (1)

    163,393       114,481       277,874  

Reclamation and other costs

    2,862       421       3,283  

Exploration

    10,888       6,696       17,584  

Sustaining capital

    37,151       34,181       71,332  

General and administrative

    27,849             27,849  

AISC, Before By-product Credits (1)

    242,143       155,779       397,922  

By-product credits:

                       

Zinc

    (80,308

)

          (80,308

)

Gold

    (58,742

)

          (58,742

)

Lead

    (24,037

)

          (24,037

)

Silver

            (1,723

)

    (1,723

)

Total By-product credits

    (163,087

)

    (1,723

)

    (164,810

)

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits

  $ 306     $ 112,758     $ 113,064  

AISC, After By-product Credits

  $ 79,056     $ 154,056     $ 233,112  

Divided by ounces produced

    7,383       141          

Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits, per Ounce

  $ 22.14     $ 814          

By-product credits per ounce

    (22.09

)

    (12

)

       

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Ounce

  $ 0.05     $ 802          

AISC, Before By-product Credits, per Ounce

  $ 32.80     $ 1,107          

By-product credits per ounce

    (22.09

)

    (12

)

       

AISC, After By-product Credits, per Ounce

  $ 10.71     $ 1,095          

 

67

 

In thousands (except per ounce amounts)

 

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017

 
   

Greens Creek

   

Lucky Friday(2)

   

San Sebastian

   

Corporate(3)

   

Total

Silver

   

Casa Berardi (Gold)

   

Total

 

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

  $ 140,241     $ 14,542     $ 18,377             $ 173,160     $ 138,363     $ 311,523  

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    (39,442

)

    (2,433

)

    (2,036

)

            (43,911

)

    (43,075

)

    (86,986

)

Treatment costs

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

Change in product inventory

    5,398       1,811       (192

)

            7,017       881       7,898  

Reclamation and other costs

    (1,474

)

    (163

)

    (1,089

)

            (2,726

)

    (354

)

    (3,080

)

Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits (1)

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

Reclamation and other costs

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

Exploration

    3,339       (1

)

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

Sustaining capital

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

General and administrative

                            29,044       29,044               29,044  

AISC, Before By-product Credits (1)

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

By-product credits:

                                                       

Zinc

    (72,472

)

    (4,353

)

                    (76,825

)

            (76,825

)

Gold

    (42,675

)

            (24,032

)

            (66,707

)

            (66,707

)

Lead

    (22,696

)

    (8,599

)

                    (31,295

)

            (31,295

)

Silver

                                            (450

)

    (450

)

Total By-product credits

    (137,843

)

    (12,952

)

    (24,032

)

            (174,827

)

    (450

)

    (175,277

)

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits

  $ 4,501     $ 5,062     $ (8,066

)

          $ 1,497     $ 97,139     $ 98,636  

AISC, After By-product Credits

  $ 34,734     $ 9,387     $ (352

)

          $ 76,395     $ 138,766     $ 215,161  

Divided by ounces produced

    6,206       769       2,498               9,473       113          

Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits, per Ounce

  $ 22.94     $ 23.42     $ 6.39             $ 18.62     $ 862          

By-product credits per ounce

    (22.21

)

    (16.84

)

    (9.62

)

            (18.46

)

    (4

)

       

Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Ounce

  $ 0.73     $ 6.58     $ (3.23

)

          $ 0.16     $ 858          

AISC, Before By-product Credits, per Ounce

  $ 27.81     $ 29.05     $ 9.48             $ 26.52     $ 1,230          

By-product credits per ounce

    (22.21

)

    (16.84

)

    (9.62

)

            (18.46

)

    (4

)

       

AISC, After By-product Credits, per Ounce

  $ 5.60     $ 12.21     $ (0.14

)

          $ 8.06     $ 1,226          

 

 

(1)

Includes all direct and indirect operating costs related to the physical activities of producing metals, including mining, processing and other plant costs, third-party refining and marketing expense, on-site general and administrative costs, royalties and mining production taxes, before by-product revenues earned from all metals other than the primary metal produced at each unit. AISC, Before By-product Credits also includes on-site exploration, reclamation, and sustaining capital costs.

 

(2)

The unionized employees at Lucky Friday have been on strike since March 13, 2017, and production at Lucky Friday has been limited since that time. For the first nine months of 2018 and 2017, costs related to suspension of full production totaling approximately $13.5 million and $11.5 million, respectively, along with $3.7 million and $2.9 million, respectively, in non-cash depreciation expense for those periods, 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)

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

 

(4)

The Nevada Operations were acquired on July 20, 2018 as a result of the acquisition of Klondex (see Note 14 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statement (Unaudited) for more information). Costs related to curtailment of production at the Midas mine of $1.1 million are 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 for the first quarter and first nine months of 2018.

 

68

 

Financial Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Our liquid assets include (in millions):

 

   

September 30, 2018

   

December 31, 2017

 

Cash and cash equivalents held in U.S. dollars

  $ 42.8     $ 168.0  

Cash and cash equivalents held in foreign currency

    18.1       18.1  

Total cash and cash equivalents

    60.9       186.1  

Marketable debt securities - current

          33.8  

Marketable equity securities - non-current

    7.2       7.6  

Total cash, cash equivalents and investments

  $ 68.1     $ 227.5  

 

Cash and cash equivalents decreased by $125.2 million in the first nine months of 2018. Cash held in foreign currencies represents balances in Canadian dollars and Mexican pesos, with the balance remaining consistent during the first nine months of 2018. Current marketable debt securities decreased by $33.8 million (discussed below) and non-current marketable equity securities decreased by $0.4 million (see Note 3 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for more information).

 

As further discussed in Note 14 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited), on July 20, 2018, we completed the acquisition Klondex for total consideration of approximately $414.2 million, consisting of $252.6 million for the issuance of shares of our common stock and warrants to purchase shares of our common stock and $161.7 million in cash. Klondex had cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash and cash equivalents not relating to their Canadian assets of approximately $22.4 million and $35.0 million drawn on their revolving credit facility at the time of the acquisition. We paid off the amount drawn on the Klondex revolving credit facility in July 2018.

 

As discussed in Note 10 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited), on April 12, 2013, we completed an offering of Senior Notes in the total principal amount of US$500 million, which have a total principal balance of $506.5 million as of September 30, 2018. The Senior Notes are due May 1, 2021 and bear interest at a rate of 6.875% per year from the most recent payment date to which interest has been paid or provided for.  In addition, in March 2018 we entered into a note purchase agreement pursuant to which we issued our Series 2018-A Senior Notes due May 1, 2021 (the “RQ Notes”) for total principal of CAD$40 million (approximately USD$30.8 million at the time of the transaction) to Ressources Québec. The RQ Notes bear interest at a rate of 4.68% per year. Interest on the Senior Notes and RQ Notes is payable on May 1 and November 1 of each year, commencing November 1, 2013 and May 1, 2018, respectively, and we have made all interest payments payable to date. Also, in July we entered into a new $200 million revolving credit facility, which increased to $250 million in November upon meeting certain conditions, including adding certain subsidiaries of Klondex as borrowers under the credit facility and pledging the assets of those subsidiaries as additional collateral under the credit facility. Interest is payable on amounts drawn from the revolving credit facility at a rate of between 2.25% and 3.25% over the London Interbank Offered Rate, or between 1.25% and 2.25% over an alternative base rate, with interest payable on March 31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 of each year. There were no amounts drawn on the credit facility as of September 30, 2018.

 

As further discussed in the Lucky Friday Segment section above, the union employees at Lucky Friday have been on strike since March 13, 2017, and production at Lucky Friday has been limited since that time. We cannot predict how long the strike will last or whether an agreement will be reached. As a result of the strike or other related events, operations at Lucky Friday could continue to be disrupted, which could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.

 

69

 

As discussed in Note 9 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited), in February 2016 we entered into an equity distribution agreement under which we may issue and sell shares of our common stock from time to time having an aggregate offering price of up to $75 million, with the net proceeds available for general corporate purposes. Whether or not we engage in sales from time to time may depend on a variety of factors, including share price, our cash resources, customary black-out restrictions, and whether we have any material inside information, and the agreement can be terminated by us at any time. As of September 30, 2018, we had sold 5,634,758 shares through this program for net proceeds of $20.8 million, including 1,025,911 shares during the third quarter of 2018 for net proceeds of $3.1 million.

 

Pursuant to our common stock dividend policy described in Note 9 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited), our Board of Directors declared and paid dividends on common stock totaling $3.2 million and $3.0 million in the first nine months of 2018 and 2017, respectively. On November 6, 2018, our Board of Directors declared a dividend on common stock totaling $1.2 million payable in December 2018. Our dividend policy has a silver-price-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. The declaration and payment of dividends on common stock is at the sole discretion of our board of directors, and there can be no assurance that we will continue to declare and pay common stock dividends in the future.

 

On May 8, 2012, we announced that our board of directors approved a stock repurchase program.  Under the program, we are authorized to repurchase up to 20 million shares of our outstanding common stock from time to time in open market or privately negotiated transactions, depending on prevailing market conditions and other factors.  The repurchase program may be modified, suspended or discontinued by us at any time. Whether or not we engage in repurchases from time to time may depend on a variety of factors, including not only price and cash resources, but customary black-out restrictions, whether we have any material inside information, limitations on share repurchases or cash usage that may be imposed by our credit agreement or in connection with issuances of securities, alternative uses for cash, applicable law, and other investment opportunities from time to time. As of September 30, 2018, 934,100 shares have 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. The closing price of our common stock at November 6, 2018, was $2.49 per share.

 

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

 

As a result of our current cash balances, the performance of our current and expected operations, current metals prices, proceeds from potential at-the-market sales of common stock, and availability of approximately $247 million of our $250 million revolving credit facility, we believe our cash, cash equivalents, investments, projected cash from operations, and availability of financing (including equity issuances), if needed, will be adequate to meet our obligations and other potential cash requirements during the next 12 months. Our obligations and other uses of cash may include, but are not limited to: debt service obligations related to the Senior Notes, RQ Notes and revolving credit facility (if amounts are drawn), 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 in 2018, a total of between $140 million and $145 million will be spent on capital expenditures, primarily for equipment, infrastructure, and development at our mines, including $83.3 million incurred in the first nine months of 2018.  We also estimate that exploration and pre-development expenditures will total approximately $40 million in 2018, including $31.2 million already incurred as of September 30, 2018. In addition, we expect research and development expenditures for our current projects in 2018 to total between $6 million and $10 million, including $5.0 million already incurred as of September 30, 2018. However, capital, exploration, pre-development expenditures, and research and development 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, and other factors. A sustained downturn in metals prices or significant increase in operational or capital costs, other uses of cash, or other factors beyond our control could impact our plans.

 

70

 

   

Nine Months Ended

 
   

September 30, 2018

   

September 30, 2017

 

Cash provided by operating activities (in millions)

  $ 75.2     $ 74.1  

 

Cash provided by operating activities in the first nine months of 2018 increased by $1.1 million compared to the same period in 2017 due to a lower decrease in cash from working capital and other asset and liability changes, partially offset by lower income, as adjusted for non-cash items. Working capital and other operating asset and liability changes resulted in a net cash flow decrease of $25.2 million in the first nine months of 2018 compared to a net decrease of $26.4 million in the first nine months of 2017.  The $1.2 million variance in working capital changes is primarily attributable to higher accounts payable due to the addition of the Nevada Operations and various projects in progress there and lower estimated income tax payments in Mexico. Those factors were partially offset by higher accounts receivable balances at San Sebastian and Greens Creek. The reduction in income, as adjusted for non-cash items, resulted primarily from reduced gross profit at our San Sebastian unit and a gross loss at our Nevada Operations unit since its acquisition in July, partially offset by proceeds of $32.8 million from the early settlement of base metals derivatives (see Note 12 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)).

 

   

Nine Months Ended

 
   

September 30, 2018

   

September 30, 2017

 

Cash used in investing activities (in millions)

  $ (184.6

)

  $ (70.4

)

 

We had a cash outflow of $139.3 million for the acquisition of Klondex, net of their cash balance acquired, in July 2018. During the first nine months of 2018, we invested $83.3 million in capital expenditures, not including $7.0 million in non-cash capital lease additions, an increase of $12.9 million compared to the same period in 2017 primarily due to capital projects at the newly-acquired Nevada Operations.  In the first nine months of 2018 and 2017, we purchased bonds having maturities of greater than 90 days and less than 365 days with a cost basis of $31.2 million and $35.3 million, respectively, and bonds valued at $64.9 million and $31.2 million matured during the first nine months of 2018 and 2017, respectively. We purchased marketable equity securities having a cost basis of $0.8 million and $1.6 million during the first nine months of 2018 and 2017, respectively. During the first nine months of 2018 and 2017, we received $4.4 million and $5.6 million, respectively, in insurance proceeds related to the collapse of the mill building at the Troy mine in February 2017 due to snow.

 

   

Nine Months Ended

 
   

September 30, 2018

   

September 30, 2017

 

Cash used in financing activities (in millions)

  $ (15.7

)

  $ (2.8

)

 

During the first nine months of 2018 and 2017, we received $3.1 million and $9.6 million, respectively, in net proceeds from the sale of shares of our common stock under the equity distribution agreement discussed above. We had borrowings totaling $78.0 in the first nine months of 2018, including $47 million drawn on our revolving credit facility in July 2018, which was repaid in September 2018, and $30.8 million for the issuance of the RQ Notes in March 2018. In addition to repayment of our revolving credit facility balance, in July 2018 we repaid the $35.0 million revolving credit facility balance assumed in the acquisition of Klondex. We made repayments on our capital leases of $6.0 million and $5.1 million in the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. During the first nine months of 2018 and 2017, we paid cash dividends on our common stock totaling $3.2 million and $3.0 million, respectively, and cash dividends of $0.4 million in each period on our Series B Preferred Stock. We acquired treasury shares for $2.7 million and $3.0 million in the first nine months of 2018 and 2017, respectively, resulting from our employees' elections to satisfy their tax withholding obligations related to incentive compensation paid in stock and vesting of restricted stock units through net share settlement. See Note 9 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for more information.

 

71

 

Exchange rate fluctuations between the U.S. dollar and the Canadian dollar and Mexican peso resulted in a decrease in our cash balance of $0.2 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and an increase of $1.1 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively.

 

Contractual Obligations, Contingent Liabilities and Commitments

 

The table below presents our fixed, non-cancelable contractual obligations and commitments primarily related to our Senior Notes, RQ Notes, outstanding purchase orders, certain capital expenditures, our credit facility and lease arrangements as of September 30, 2018 (in thousands):

 

   

Payments Due By Period

 
   

Less than 1 year

   

1-3 years

   

4-5 years

   

More than

5 years

   

Total

 

Purchase obligations (1)

  $ 21,891     $     $     $     $ 21,891  

Commitment fees (2)

    1,000       2,000       708             3,708  

Contractual obligations (3)

    1,593                         1,593  

Capital lease commitments (4)

    6,182       8,270       1,223             15,675  

Operating lease commitments (5)

    3,615       6,173       3,307             13,095  

Supplemental executive retirement plan (6)

    526       1,453       1,929       4,801       8,709  

Senior Notes (7)

    34,822       561,635                   596,457  

RQ Notes (8)

    1,446       33,190                   34,636  

Total contractual cash obligations

  $ 71,075     $ 612,721     $ 7,167     $ 4,801     $ 695,764  

 

 

 

(1)

Consists of open purchase orders of approximately $14.2 million at the Greens Creek unit, $0.4 million at the Lucky Friday unit, $2.0 million at the Casa Berardi unit and $5.3 million at the Nevada Operations unit.

 

 

(2)

We have a $250 million revolving credit agreement under which we are required to pay a standby fee of 0.5% per annum on undrawn amounts under the revolving credit agreement. With the exception of $3.0 million in letters of credit outstanding, there was no amount drawn under the revolving credit agreement as of September 30, 2018. The amounts above assume no amounts will be due during the agreement's term.  For more information on our credit facility, see Note 10 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).

 

 

(3)

As of September 30, 2018, we were committed to approximately $0.6 million and $1.0 million for various items at Greens Creek and Nevada Operations, respectively.

 

 

(4)

Includes scheduled capital lease payments of $7.2 million, $1.6 million, $4.8 million and $2.1 million (including interest) for equipment at our Greens Creek, Lucky Friday, Casa Berardi and Nevada Operations units, respectively.  These leases have fixed payment terms and contain bargain purchase options at the end of the lease periods (see Note 10 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for more information).

 

 

(5)

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

 

 

(6)

These amounts represent our estimate of the future funding requirements for the supplemental executive retirement plan.  See Note 8 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for more information.

 

72

 

 

(7)

On April 12, 2013, we completed an offering of $500 million in aggregate principal amount of our Senior Notes due May 1, 2021. The Senior Notes bear interest at a rate of 6.875% per year from the original date of issuance or the most recent payment date to which interest has been paid or provided for.  Interest on the Senior Notes is payable on May 1 and November 1 of each year, commencing November 1, 2013, and we have made all interest payments payable to date. Since the initial offering, we have issued an additional $6.5 million in aggregate principal amount of the Senior Notes to fund obligations under our defined benefit pension plan. See Note 10 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited) for more information.

 

 

(8)

On March 5, 2018, we entered into a note purchase agreement pursuant to which we issued CAD$40 million (approximately USD$30.8 million at the time of the transaction) in aggregate principal amount of our Series 2018-A Senior Notes due May 1, 2021 (the “RQ Notes”) to Ressources Québec, a subsidiary of Investissment Québec, a financing arm of the Québec government. The RQ Notes bear interest at a rate of 4.68% per year, payable on May 1 and November 1 of each year, commencing May 1, 2018, and we have made all interest payments payable to date.

 

We record liabilities for costs associated with mine closure, reclamation of land and other environmental matters.  At September 30, 2018, our liabilities for these matters totaled $105.9 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 5 of Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited).

 

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

 

At September 30, 2018, 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 are material to investors.

 

Critical Accounting Estimates

 

Our significant accounting policies are described in Part IV, Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in our annual report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. As described in Note 1 of our annual report, we are required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and related disclosures of assets, liabilities, revenue, and expenses. Our estimates are based on our experience and our interpretation of economic, political, regulatory, and other factors that affect our business prospects. Actual results may differ significantly from our estimates.

 

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

 

Future Metals Prices

 

Metals prices are key components in estimates that determine the valuation of some of our significant assets and liabilities, including properties, plants, equipment and mineral interests, deferred tax assets, and certain accounts receivable. Metals prices are also an important component in the estimation of reserves.  As shown under Part I, Item 1. – Business in our annual report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, metals prices have historically been volatile. Silver demand arises from investment demand, particularly in exchange-traded funds, industrial demand, and consumer demand. Gold demand arises primarily from investment and consumer demand.  Investment demand for silver and gold can be influenced by several factors, including:  the value of the U.S. dollar and other currencies, changing U.S. budget deficits, widening availability of exchange-traded funds, interest rate levels, the health of credit markets, and inflationary expectations.  Uncertainty related to the political environment in the U.S., Britain's exit from the European Union and a global economic recovery, including recent uncertainty in China, could result in continued investment demand for precious metals.  Industrial demand for silver is closely linked to world Gross Domestic Product growth and industrial fabrication levels, as it is difficult to substitute for silver in industrial fabrication.  Consumer demand is driven significantly by demand for jewelry and other retail products. We believe that long-term industrial and economic trends, including urbanization and growth of the middle class in countries such as China and India, will result in continued consumer demand for silver and gold and industrial demand for silver.  However, China has recently experienced a lower rate of economic growth which could continue in the near term. There can be no assurance whether these trends will continue or how they will impact prices of the metals we produce. In the past, we have recorded impairments to our asset carrying value because of low prices, and we can offer no assurance that prices will either remain at their current levels or increase.

 

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Processes supporting valuation of our assets and liabilities that are most significantly affected by prices include analysis of asset carrying values, depreciation, reserves, and deferred income taxes. On an annual basis - and more frequently if circumstances warrant - we examine our depreciation rates, reserve estimates, and the valuation allowances on our deferred tax assets. We examine the carrying values of our assets as changes in facts and circumstances warrant.  In our evaluation of carrying values and deferred taxes, we apply several pricing views to our forecasting model, including current prices, analyst price estimates, forward-curve prices, and historical prices (see Mineral Reserves, below, regarding prices used for reserve estimates). Using applicable accounting guidance and our view of metals markets, we use the probability-weighted average of the various methods to determine whether the values of our assets are fairly stated, and to determine the level of valuation allowances, if any, on our deferred tax assets.  In addition, estimates of future metals prices are used in the valuation of certain assets in the determination of the purchase price allocations for our acquisitions (see Business Combinations below).

 

 Sales of concentrates sold directly to customers are recorded as revenues when title and risk of loss transfer to the customer (generally at the time of shipment) using estimated forward metals prices for the estimated month of settlement. Due to the time elapsed between shipment of concentrates to the customer and final settlement with the customer, we must estimate the prices at which sales of our metals will be settled. Previously recorded sales and trade accounts receivable are adjusted to estimated settlement prices until final settlement by the customer. Changes in metals prices between shipment and final settlement result in changes to revenues and accounts receivable previously recorded upon shipment.  As a result, our trade accounts receivable balances related to concentrate sales are subject to changes in metals prices until final settlement occurs.  For more information, see part N. Revenue Recognition of Note 1 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements in our annual report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.

 

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

 

Obligations for Environmental, Reclamation and Closure Matters

 

Accrued reclamation and closure costs can represent a significant and variable liability on our balance sheet. We have estimated our liabilities under appropriate accounting guidance, and on at least an annual basis - and more frequently if warranted - management reviews our liabilities with our Audit Committee. However, the ranges of liability could exceed the liabilities recognized. If substantial damages were awarded, claims were settled, or remediation costs incurred in excess of our accruals, our financial results or condition could be materially adversely affected.

 

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Mineral Reserves

 

Critical estimates are inherent in the process of determining our reserves. Our reserves are affected largely by our assessment of future metals prices, as well as by engineering and geological estimates of ore grade, accessibility and production cost. Metals prices are estimated at long-term averages, as described in Part I, Item 2. – Properties in our annual report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. Our assessment of reserves occurs at least annually, and periodically utilizes external audits.

 

Reserves are a key component in the valuation of our properties, plants, equipment and mineral interests. Reserve estimates are used in determining appropriate rates of units-of-production depreciation, with net book value of many assets depreciated over remaining estimated reserves. Reserves are also a key component in forecasts, with which we compare future cash flows to current asset values in an effort to ensure that carrying values are reported appropriately. Our forecasts are also used in determining the level of valuation allowances on our deferred tax assets. Reserves also play a key role in the valuation of certain assets in the determination of the purchase price allocations for acquisitions. Annual reserve estimates are also used to determine conversions of mineral assets beyond the known reserve resulting from business combinations to depreciable reserves, in periods subsequent to the business combinations (see Business Combinations below).  Reserves are a culmination of many estimates and are not guarantees that we will recover the indicated quantities of metals or that we will do so at a profitable level.

 

Business Combinations

 

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

 

 

Item 3.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

 

The following discussion about our risk management activities includes forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, as well as summarizes the financial instruments held by us at September 30, 2018, which are sensitive to changes in commodity prices and foreign exchange rates and are not held for trading purposes.  Actual results could differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements.  In the normal course of business, we also face risks that are either non-financial or non-quantifiable (See Part I, Item 1A. – Risk Factors of our annual report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, as updated in Part II, Item 1A - Risk Factors in our quarterly reports filed on Form 10-Q for the periods ended March 31, 2018 and June 30, 2018 and this quarterly report filed on Form 10-Q for the period ended September 30, 2018).

 

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 Part I, Item 1A. – Risk Factors – A substantial or extended decline in metals prices would have a material adverse effect on us in our annual report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017).  At September 30, 2018, metals contained in concentrates and exposed to future price changes totaled approximately 1.2 million ounces of silver, 5,734 ounces of gold, 7,277 tons of zinc, and 2,447 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 $4.6 million.  However, as discussed in Commodity-Price Risk Management below, we utilize a program designed and intended to mitigate the risk of negative price adjustments with limited mark-to-market financially-settled forward contracts for our silver, gold, zinc and lead sales.

 

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Commodity-Price Risk Management

 

At times, we may use commodity forward sales commitments, commodity swap contracts and commodity put and call option contracts to manage our exposure to fluctuation in the prices of certain metals we produce. Contract positions are designed to ensure that we will receive a defined minimum price for certain quantities of our production, thereby partially offsetting our exposure to fluctuations in market prices. Our risk management policy allows for up to 75% of our planned metals price exposure for five years into the future, with certain other limitations, to be hedged under such programs. These instruments do, however, expose us to (i) credit risk in the form of non-performance by counterparties for contracts in which the contract price exceeds the spot price of a commodity and (ii) price risk to the extent that the spot price exceeds the contract price for quantities of our production covered under contract positions.

 

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

 

As of September 30, 2018, we recorded the following balances for the fair value of the contracts:

 

 

a current asset of $0.3 million, which is included in other current assets; and

 

a current liability of $0.6 million, which is included in other current liabilities and is net of $0.2 million for contracts in a fair value current asset position.

 

We recognized an $8.3 million net gain during the first nine months of 2018 on the contracts utilized to manage exposure to prices of metals in our concentrate shipments, which is included in sales of products.  The net gain recognized on the contracts offsets 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 a $40.3 million net gain during the first nine months of 2018 on the contracts utilized to manage exposure to prices for forecasted future concentrate shipments. The net gain on these contracts is included as a separate line item under other income (expense), as they relate to forecasted future shipments, as opposed to sales that have already taken place but are subject to final pricing as discussed in the preceding paragraph.  The net gain for the first nine months of 2018 is the result of a decline in zinc and lead prices. During the third quarter of 2018, we settled, prior to their maturity date, contracts in a gain position for cash proceeds to us of approximately $32.8 million. As a result, there were no metals committed under contracts on forecasted sales as of September 30, 2018. This program, when utilized, is designed to mitigate the impact of potential future declines in lead and zinc prices from the price levels established in the contracts (see average price information below). When those prices increase compared to the contract prices, we incur losses on the contracts.

 

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The following tables summarize the quantities of metals committed under forward sales contracts at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017:

 

 

September 30, 2018

 

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

                                                               

2018 settlements

    1,221       6       10,362       4,685     $ 14.56     $ 1,211     $ 1.17     $ 0.94  

 

 

December 31, 2017

 

Ounces/pounds under contract (in 000's)

   

Average price per ounce/pound

 
   

Silver

   

Gold

   

Zinc

   

Lead

   

Silver

   

Gold

   

Zinc

   

Lead

 
   

(ounces)

   

(ounces)

   

(pounds)

   

(pounds)

   

(ounces)

   

(ounces)

   

(pounds)

   

(pounds)

 

Contracts on provisional sales

                                                               

2018 settlements

    1,447       5       21,550       4,740     $ 16.64     $ 1,279     $ 1.45     $ 1.11  

Contracts on forecasted sales

                                                               

2018 settlements

                32,187       16,645       N/A       N/A     $ 1.29     $ 1.06  

2019 settlements

                23,589       18,078       N/A       N/A     $ 1.30     $ 1.09  

2020 settlements

                    3,307       2,866       N/A       N/A     $ 1.27     $ 1.08  

 

Foreign Currency

 

We operate or have mining interests in Canada and Mexico, which exposes us to risks associated with fluctuations in the exchange rates between the U.S. dollar ("USD") and the Canadian dollar ("CAD") and Mexican peso ("MXN"). 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 nine months ended September 30, 2018, we recognized a net foreign exchange gain of $2.9 million. Foreign currency exchange rates are influenced by a number of factors beyond our control. A 10% change in the exchange rate between the USD and CAD from the rate at September 30, 2018 would have resulted in a change of approximately $11.8 million in our net foreign exchange gain or loss. A 10% change in the exchange rate between the USD and MXN from the rate at September 30, 2018 would have resulted in a change of approximately $0.6 million in our net foreign exchange gain or loss.

 

In April 2016, we initiated a program to manage our exposure to fluctuations in the exchange rate between the USD and CAD and the impact on our future operating costs denominated in CAD. In October 2016, we also initiated a program to manage our exposure to the impact of fluctuations in the exchange rate between the USD and MXN on our future operating costs denominated in MXN. The programs utilize forward contracts to buy CAD and MXN, and each contract is designated as a cash flow hedge. As of September 30, 2018, we had 94 forward contracts outstanding to buy CAD$225.1 million having a notional amount of US$174.0 million, and 30 forward contracts outstanding to buy MXN$178.5 million having a notional amount of USD$8.8 million. The CAD contracts are related to forecasted cash operating costs at Casa Berardi to be incurred from 2018 through 2022 and have CAD-to-USD exchange rates ranging between 1.2729 and 1.3315. The MXN contracts are related to forecasted cash operating costs at San Sebastian to be incurred from 2018 through 2020 and have MXN-to-USD exchange rates ranging between 19.4400 and 20.8550. Our risk management policy allows for up to 75% of our planned cost exposure for five years into the future to be hedged under such programs, and for potential additional programs to manage other foreign currency-related exposure areas.

 

As of September 30, 2018, we recorded the following balances for the fair value of the contracts:

 

 

a current asset of $1.1 million, which is included in other current assets;

 

a non-current asset of $0.7 million, which is included in other non-current assets; and

 

a current liability of $0.1 million, which is included in other current liabilities.

 

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Net unrealized gains of approximately $1.5 million related to the effective portion of the hedges were included in accumulated other comprehensive loss as of September 30, 2018. 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 $0.8 million in net unrealized gains included in accumulated other comprehensive loss as of September 30, 2018 would be reclassified to current earnings in the next twelve months. Net realized gains of approximately $0.2 million on contracts related to underlying expenses which have been recognized were transferred from accumulated other comprehensive loss and included in cost of sales and other direct production costs for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. Net unrealized gains of approximately $19 thousand related to ineffectiveness of the hedges were included in gain (loss) on derivatives contracts on our consolidated statements of operations and comprehensive income (loss) for the nine months ended September 30, 2018.

 

 

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 September 30, 2018, in assuring them in a timely manner that material information required to be disclosed in this report has been properly recorded, processed, summarized and reported. There were no changes in our internal control over financial reporting during the quarter ended September 30, 2018 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

 

 

Item 1.    Legal Proceedings

 

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

 

Item 1A.    Risk Factors

 

Part I, Item 1A. – Risk Factors of our annual report filed on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, as updated in Part II, Item 1A. – Risk Factors in our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the periods ended March 31, 2018 and June 30, 2018, sets forth information relating to important risks and uncertainties that could materially adversely affect our business, financial condition or operating results.  Those risk factors continue to be relevant to an understanding of our business, financial condition and operating results. Certain of those risk factors have been updated in this Form 10-Q, as set forth below.

 

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Legal challenges could prevent the Rock Creek or Montanore projects from ever being developed.

 

The proposed development of our Rock Creek project has been challenged by several regional and national conservation groups at various times since the U.S. Forest Service (“USFS”) issued its initial Record of Decision (“ROD”) in 2003 approving Revett Mining Company’s plan of operation (Revett is now our wholly-owned subsidiary, named Hecla Montana, Inc.). Some of these challenges have alleged violations of a variety of federal and state laws and regulations pertaining to Revett’s permitting activities at Rock Creek, including the Endangered Species Act, the National Environmental Policy Act (“NEPA”), the General Mining Law of 1872, the Federal Land Policy Management Act, the Wilderness Act, the National Forest Management Act, the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, the Forest Service Organic Act of 1897, and the Administrative Procedure Act. Although Revett successfully addressed most of these challenges, Revett was directed by the Montana Federal District Court in May 2010 to produce a Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (“SEIS”) to address NEPA procedural deficiencies that were identified by the court, which SEIS was posted to the Federal Register on July 20, 2018. We cannot predict how possible future challenges will be resolved. Possible new court challenges in the future to the final SEIS and ROD may delay the planned development at Rock Creek. If we are successful in completing the SEIS and defending any challenges to our Rock Creek project, we would still be required to comply with a number of requirements and conditions as development progresses, failing which could make us unable to continue with development activities.

 

A joint final Environmental Impact Statement with respect to our Montanore project was issued in December 2015 by the USFS and Montana Department of Environmental Quality, and each agency issued a ROD in February 2016 providing approval for development of the Montanore project. However, private conservation groups have taken and may in the future take actions to oppose or delay the Montanore project. On May 30, 2017, the Montana Federal District Court issued Opinions and Orders in three lawsuits challenging previously granted environmental approvals for the Montanore project. The Orders overturned the approvals for the project granted by the USFS and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, and in each case remanded the ROD and associated planning documents for further review by the agencies consistent with the Court's Opinions. In June 2017, the Court vacated the agencies’ approvals for the project. As a result, additional work must be performed by the agencies to address the deficiencies in the ROD and associated planning documents identified by the Court, and new approvals must be granted, before the project may proceed beyond certain preliminary actions. In addition, in October 2018, a court in Lincoln County, Montana found that the adit (which is an underground tunnel) which we had intended to use to develop the Montanore project trespassed on certain unpatented mining claims we do not own but which the adit goes through. In the case, which dates back to 2008, the jury delivered a verdict against certain of our subsidiaries for $3,325,000. We plan to appeal the finding of trespass and the award of damages, and we believe there are strong arguments for reversal. There can be no assurance that the appeal will succeed, or that we will remain able to use the portion of the adit that travels beneath the surface of the unpatented claims we do not currently own. As a result, our ability to access, develop or operate the Montanore project is at risk.

 

Recent events in the State of Montana create additional risks with respect to permitting of the Rock Creek and Montanore projects. In March 2018, each of Hecla Mining Company and our CEO was notified by the Montana Department of Environmental Quality (“DEQ”) of alleged violations of Montana’s mine reclamation statutes and related regulations due to our CEO’s prior role as an officer of a mining company when it declared bankruptcy, together with the fact that subsequently, proceeds from that company's sureties were insufficient to fully fund reclamation at the company’s mine sites in Montana. To date, no enforcement action has been taken to revoke or deny any permits held by our subsidiaries, however, those subsidiaries have commenced litigation challenging the DEQ’s assertion. The DEQ in turn has attempted to initiate litigation against Hecla Mining Company and our CEO. It is possible that the DEQ may bring an enforcement action in the future, or the litigation may be resolved unfavorably, either of which could have the effect of delaying, increasing the costs of, or preventing exploration and development efforts at the two projects.

 

On November 6, 2018, voters in Montana rejected a ballot initiative (“I-186”) that would have required the DEQ to deny a permit for any new hardrock mines in Montana unless the reclamation plan provides clear and convincing evidence that the mine will not require perpetual treatment of water polluted by acid mine drainage or other contaminants.  Although the election results eliminate this risk in the near term, it is possible that a similar initiative will arise in the future, in Montana or other jurisdictions where we operate.

 

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Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Securities and Use of Proceeds

 

On September 12, 2018, we issued 1,870,749 unregistered shares of our common stock in a private placement to the Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan Trust in order to satisfy the funding requirements for that defined benefit pension plan. The private placement was 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 September 12, 2018. We did not receive any cash proceeds from the issuance of the shares. The shares had a value of approximately $5.0 million at the time of issuance.

 

Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures

 

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

 

Item 6.    Exhibits

 

Hecla Mining Company and Subsidiaries

Form 10-Q – September 30, 2018

Index to Exhibits

 

2.1

Amending Agreement dated as of July 5, 2018, by and among Hecla Mining Company, its wholly-owned subsidiary, 1156291 B.C. Unlimited Liability Company, and Klondex Mines Ltd. Filed as exhibit 2.1 to Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 6, 2018 (File No. 1-8491) and incorporated herein by reference.

   

3.1

Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant. Filed as exhibit 3.1 to Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 (File No. 1-8491) and incorporated herein by reference.

   

3.2

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

   

4.1

Designations, Preferences and Rights of Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock of the Registrant. Included as Annex II to Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Registrant. Filed as exhibit 3.1 to Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2018 (File No. 1-8491) and incorporated herein by reference.

   

4.2(a)

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

   

4.2(b)

Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April 14, 2014, among Hecla Mining Company, as Issuer, certain subsidiaries of Hecla Mining Company, as Guarantors thereto, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee. Filed as exhibit 4.2 to Registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-3ASR filed on April 14, 2014 (Registration No. 333-195246) and incorporated herein by reference.

   

4.2(c)

Supplemental Indenture, dated August 5, 2015, among Hecla Mining Company, as Issuer, certain subsidiaries of Hecla Mining Company, as Guarantors thereto, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust, N.A., as Trustee. Filed as exhibit 4.2(d) to Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015 (File No. 1-8491) and incorporated herein by reference.

   
4.2(d) Supplemental Indenture, dated October 26, 2016, among Hecla Mining Company, as Issuer, certain subsidiaries of Hecla Mining Company, as Guarantors thereto, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust, N.A., as Trustee. Filed as exhibit 4.2(e) to Registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 (File No. 1-8491) and incorporated herein by reference.
   

4.2(e)

Registration Rights Agreement, dated September 12, 2018, among Hecla Mining Company, as sponsor of the Hecla Mining Company Retirement Plan and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee of the Hecla Retirement Plan. Filed as exhibit 4.1 to Registrant’s S-3ASR filed September 12, 2018 (Registration No. 333-227309), and incorporated herein by reference.

   

10.1

Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of July 16, 2018, by and among Hecla Mining Company, Hecla Limited, Hecla Alaska LLC, Hecla Greens Creek Mining Company, and Hecla Juneau Mining Company, as the Borrowers, The Bank of Nova Scotia, as the Administrative Agent for the Lenders, and various Lenders. Filed as exhibit 10.1 to Registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on July 17, 2018 (File No. 1-8491) and incorporated herein by reference.

 

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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. *

   
95 Mine safety information listed in Section 1503 of the Dodd-Frank Act. *
   
99.1 Defined Contribution Basic Plan Document for the Hecla Mining Company Capital Accumulation Plan (401(k) Plan). *
   
101.INS   XBRL Instance. **
   
101.SCH  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema.**
   
101.CAL XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation.**
   
101.DEF  XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition.**
   
101.LAB XBRL Taxonomy Extension Labels.**
   
101.PRE XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation.**

 

___________________

 

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

 

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

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

 

 

     

HECLA MINING COMPANY

     

    (Registrant)

         

Date:

November 8, 2018

 

By:

/s/ Phillips S. Baker, Jr.

       

Phillips S. Baker, Jr., President,

       

Chief Executive Officer and Director

         

Date:

November 8, 2018

 

By:

/s/ Lindsay A. Hall

       

Lindsay A. Hall, Senior Vice President and

       

Chief Financial Officer

 

 

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