Hecla Reports a 30% Increase in Cash Flow from Its Operations in Q3 Compared to the Same Period in 2009

27.10.2010  |  Business Wire

Hecla Mining Company (NYSE:HL) ('Hecla') today reported third quarter
financial and operational results. The company generated $41.9 million
in net cash from operating activities in the third quarter for a total
of $115.3 million for the nine months period of 2010, up from $32.3
million and $51.9 million for the same periods in 2009.

THIRD QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS

• 
  Silver production of 2.7 million ounces at a total cash cost of
  negative $1.01 per ounce¹
• 
  Adjusted net income of $29.6 million, up 31% over the same period in
  2009
  
• 
  Income of $0.06 per share after preferred dividends
  
• 
  Record revenues of $115.8 million representing a 21% increase over the
  same period in 2009
  
• 
  Record gross profit of $54 million; 40% higher than the previous record
  
• 
  Cash and cash equivalents of $217 million on hand at September 30, 2010
  
• 
  Completed the excavation of the hoist room for the proposed internal
  #4 Shaft Project at Lucky Friday
  

'Both Greens Creek and Lucky Friday had a good quarter and have
generated more net cash from operating activities so far this year,
compared to the full year of 2009, which was a record for Hecla,? said
Phillips S. Baker Jr., President and Chief Executive Officer. 'Our cash
position, strong operating performance and district size properties in
the U.S. and Mexico, position us well to fund development and capital
projects, as well as take advantage of other potential opportunities
that may arise.?

^{1. Total cash cost per ounce of silver represents non-U.S.
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) measurement. A
reconciliation of total cash costs to cost of sales and other direct
production costs and depreciation, depletion and amortization (GAAP) can
be found at the bottom of the release.}

FINANCIAL OVERVIEW

Hecla reported adjusted net income of $29.6 million in the third quarter
of 2010, compared to adjusted net income of $22.5 million in the same
period in 2009. The third quarter net income adjustment was a $13.2
million noncash loss on derivative contracts. After preferred stock
dividends, the company reported $16.4 million in income applicable to
common shareholders, or 6 cents per share, compared to $22.5 million or
10 cents per share in the same period in 2009.

Sales in the third quarter were $115.8 million compared to $95.2 million
in the same period the prior year. Precious metals prices increased
during the quarter, resulting in approximately $6.1 million in positive
adjustments to provisional sales.

During the third quarter of 2010, Hecla reported a $13.2 million noncash
loss associated with mark-to-market derivative accounting related to its
base metals hedging program, which was implemented in the second quarter
2010. The base metals hedging program is designed to reduce fluctuations
of cash flow due to changes in base metals prices and has the following
two components: 1) hedging 95% of lead and zinc contained in our
provisional concentrate sales that have shipped but not settled (gains
and losses recognized on these contracts are included in sales), and 2)
hedging up to 50% of forecasted future lead and zinc production over a
two to three year time frame. A summary of the quantities of base metals
committed at September 30, 2010 is included in Table B at the bottom of
the release.

Given the higher metals prices and increased profitability, Hecla
recorded income tax provisions of $8.1 million and $10.1 million,
respectively, for the third quarter and first nine months of 2010,
compared to income tax provisions of $0.6 million and $1.0 million,
respectively, for the third quarter and first nine months of 2009.

Financial Liquidity and Capital Resources

The company′s cash position at September 30, 2010 was $217 million, with
no debt outstanding, compared to $85 million of cash on hand and $38
million of debt at September 30, 2009.

Capital expenditures at operations for the third quarter and nine months
ended September 30, 2010 totaled $23.2 million and $49.4 million,
respectively. During the third quarter $11.4 million was spent on the
Lucky Friday #4 Shaft Project and $11.8 million was spent in sustaining
capital which included $6.6 million at Lucky Friday and $5.2 million at
Greens Creek.

Exploration expenditures for the third quarter and nine months ended
September 30, 2010 were $6.9 million and $16.2 million, respectively.
During the third quarter $2.2 million was spent at Greens Creek, $2.0
million was spent at the San Juan Joint Venture, $1.5 million was spent
at the Lucky Friday/Silver Valley, and $0.8 million was spent at the San
Sebastian property in Mexico.

Metals Prices

Realized metals prices have increased significantly compared to the same
periods in 2009. During the third quarter 2010, Hecla realized $21.45
and $1,284 per ounce of silver and gold, respectively, and $0.93 and
$0.96 per pound of zinc and lead, respectively. Realized prices for base
metals include gains and losses of base metals derivative transactions.

OPERATIONS OVERVIEW

During the third quarter 2010, Hecla produced 2.7 million ounces of
silver contributing to a total of 7.8 million ounces of silver for the
first nine months of 2010, compared to 2.7 million ounces of silver and
8.6 million ounces of silver for the same periods in the prior year.
Total cash costs were negative $1.01 per ounce of silver in the third
quarter and negative $1.92 for the first nine months of 2010 compared to
positive $0.85 and $3.00 per ounce of silver in the same periods in the
prior year. Hecla achieved record lead production of 12,453 tons in the
third quarter of 2010, compared to 11,200 tons in the same period the
prior year.

Greens Creek

The Greens Creek mine in Alaska had a strong quarter producing 1.9
million ounces of silver at a total cash cost of negative $3.05 per
ounce of silver compared to 1.8 million ounces at total cash cost of
negative $0.48 per ounce of silver in the same quarter in 2009. For the
nine months ended September 30, 2010, Greens Creek produced 5.3 million
ounces of silver at a total cash cost of negative $4.61 per ounce,
compared to 5.9 million ounces of silver at a total positive cash cost
of $1.70 per ounce last year.

The total cash cost per ounce of silver was lower in the third quarter
of 2010 compared to the same period in 2009, primarily as a result of
higher by-product credits, higher average realized prices for zinc, lead
and gold, combined with higher zinc and lead ore grades, which was
partially offset by higher production, treatment and freight costs, and
an increase in total silver ounces produced. The total cash cost
decrease for the first nine months of 2010 compared to the same period
in 2009, is mainly due to higher by-product credits and lower production
costs.

Lucky Friday

At the Lucky Friday mine in Idaho, silver production was 0.8 million
ounces at a total cash cost of $3.38 per ounce compared to 0.9 million
ounces at a total cash cost of $3.42 per ounce in the same quarter in
2009. For the first nine months of 2010, Lucky Friday produced 2.5
million ounces of silver at a total cash cost of $3.67 per ounce,
compared to 2.7 million ounces of silver at a total cash cost of $5.89
in the same period the prior year.

The third quarter total cash cost decrease of $0.04 per ounce of silver
compared to the same period in the prior year, was mainly due to higher
lead and zinc by-product credits resulting from increased average market
prices for those metals and partially offset by higher price-sensitive
production costs and taxes. For the nine months ended September 30,
2010, the $2.22 decrease in total cash cost per ounce of silver compared
to the same period in 2009, is attributable to higher by-product credits
and partially offset by costs that are sensitive to metals price
increases.

The #4 Shaft Project is progressing and Hecla believes it could increase
the mines annual silver production by approximately 50% from current
levels and could extend the mine life beyond 2030. Total estimated
capital expenditures would range between $150 and $200 million, for an
internal shaft descending from the 4900 level to the 7800 level.
Approximately $50 million of the total capital expenditures will be
spent by year end. Engineering is underway to determine the feasibility
of constructing the shaft to an ultimate depth of 8800 feet. Hecla
management currently expects to make a final technical and commercial
feasibility determination and seek final approval by the Board of
Directors for completion of the #4 Shaft Project no later than the
middle of 2011. When approved, Hecla estimates that the project would be
completed by the end of 2014. Hecla believes that our current capital
resources will allow us to proceed with the #4 Shaft Project.

PRODUCTION AND CASH COST OUTLOOK

Hecla is on track and reiterates its full-year 2010 production guidance
of between 10 and 11 million ounces of silver. Given the strong metals
price environment, the company now expects total cash cost per ounce of
silver to be approximately negative $0.50. This estimate is based on
prices for the fourth quarter averaging $1,110 per ounce of gold and
$0.80 per pound of lead and zinc.

EXPLORATION OVERVIEW

Hecla′s exploration strategy is largely focused on drill-testing targets
on its district-sized land positions surrounding existing operations or
re-emerging historic mining districts. This strategy is designed to
generate cost effective organic growth.

The 2010 exploration budget was increased to $20 million to allow for
additional underground and surface drilling at Greens Creek, drilling of
the Equity Vein structure on the San Juan Joint Venture in Colorado and
drilling, underground rehabilitation and sampling at the Noonday Vein
near the Lucky Friday mine.

Greens Creek Exploration

During the third quarter, exploration activities continued at Greens
Creek with drilling to define high-grade resources at the Northwest West
('NWW?) zone along two newly defined limbs below the current workings
and along strike for at least 400 feet. Within this more typically base
metal-rich area, there are distinct lenses that are enriched in precious
metals. Selected assay intervals are included in Table A. It is
noteworthy that the typically base-metal rich NWW Zone has some
significant intervals of precious-metal content. Definition and
exploration holes continue to refine and expand the 200 South zone.
Recent drilling continues to intersect mineralized intervals from 12 to
30 feet wide of mixed white siliceous ore and baritic ores. Assays are
pending on most of these intersections, but initial assay intervals are
included in Table A.

Surface and underground drilling continue to define the NE contact which
represents a continuation of the Greens Creek mine contact. However, it
has been folded underneath the current workings and to the east. Recent
drilling has defined mineralized intervals along the contact which has a
folded strike length of over 5,000 feet and down dip extension of 3,000
feet. Future drilling will concentrate on defining resources in the
areas where massive sulfides have been defined. Surface drilling of the
mine contact to the north at Upper Killer Creek and East Ridge defined
sulfide concentrations along the contact and assays are pending.

Lucky Friday and Silver Valley Exploration

At Lucky Friday, definition and exploration drilling from the 5500-54
Ramp station was completed to assist in reserve definition and mine
planning. Drilling has defined good grade over mining widths in the 30,
90 and 110 Veins down to the 6600 Level. Selected drilling intervals
from this area are included in Table A.

During the third quarter, the exploration activities continued to find
strong veining to the east and at depth at the Lucky Friday Extension
beyond the 2009 reserve and resource boundary. Exploration drilling from
the 5900 level has shown expansion east of the 2009 resource boundary
for the 30 Vein from the 6100 to 6600 levels, where some intermediate
veins (90 and 110 Veins) are also well developed. Drill intersections
from the 7000 to 7800 levels east of the current resource show the 30
Vein is narrow and argillite hosted, but significant mineralization does
occur in the intermediate veins (40, 90 and 110 Veins) which at this
elevation are typically in the more competent quartzite unit. Drill
intersections down to the 8000 level, below the main mineralized area,
continue to define a wide, high-grade 30 Vein, although most assays are
pending. Some assay intervals of the 30 and intermediate veins are
provided in Table A.

In the Silver Valley, the Noonday vein structures west of the Lucky
Friday mine and near the past-producing Star Mine are targeting the
up-dip continuation of mineralization above stopes that were last mined
in the late 1980′s. A number of high-grade zinc and silver veins have
been intersected in recent drilling by the two drills active on the
property. A recent program of underground sampling provides additional
definition of the veins and contributes to an up-coming resource
estimate of the Noonday veins. Initial drill intervals from both the
Noonday and Noonday Split are shown in Table A.

San Juan Joint Venture Property, Colorado

Hecla received approval of the Environmental Assessment and Five-year
Plan of Operation at the end of the second quarter, which enabled the
company to proceed with an exploration program. Three drills are
currently evaluating extensions to the past-producing Equity, Bulldog
and Amethyst veins and breccias. Recent intersections on all the targets
have sulfide-bearing breccias and veins associated with intense
alteration and silicification.

At the West Equity site, the company has cored into a +300-foot wide
system that includes both the north-south (Amethyst trend) and east-west
(Equity trend) trending veins, which indicates a broad intersection area
between the two vein systems with characteristics consistent with the
geology from previous production.

San Sebastian Property, Mexico

In Mexico, the combination of the past-producing Don Sergio mine with
the Andrea and newly discovered Pedernalillo veins represent potential
to the south of the recently producing Francine vein. These are
gold-bearing vein systems that may have the potential for near-surface
mining.

The recent intersections of precious-metal veining at Pedernalillo
suggest this newly defined vein is shallow-dipping and is distinct from
the near-by past-producing Andrea vein. Although the Don Sergio veins
were partially mined from 2002 to 2005, the remainder may be
economically viable at today′s commodity prices. Initial 3D and economic
modeling suggests the combination of the past-producing Don Sergio vein
with the Andrea vein and newly discovered Pedernalillo veins may
represent a near-surface economic target.

ABOUT HECLA

Established in 1891, Hecla Mining Company is the largest and lowest cash
cost silver producer in the U.S. The company has two operating mines and
exploration properties in four world-class silver mining districts in
the U.S. and Mexico.

Cautionary Statements

Statements made which are not historical facts, such as anticipated
payments, litigation outcome, production, sales of assets, exploration
results and plans, costs, and prices or sales performance are
'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, and involve a number of risks
and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially
from those projected, anticipated, expected or implied. These risks and
uncertainties include, but are not limited to, metals price volatility,
volatility of metals production and costs, exploration risks and
results, operating risks, project development risks, environmental and
litigation risks, political risks, labor issues and ability to raise
financing. Refer to the company's Form 10-Q and 10-K reports for a more
detailed discussion of factors that may impact expected future results.
The company undertakes no obligation and has no intention of updating
forward-looking statements other than as may be required by law.

Total Cash Cost Reconciliation

Total cash costs per ounce of silver represent non-U.S. Generally
Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) measurements. A reconciliation of
total cash costs to cost of sales and other direct production costs and
depreciation, depletion and amortization (GAAP) can be found below.