News Details

Third highest quarterly revenue in Company history. Updated 2014 guidance.

For the Period Ended March 31, 2014

COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Hecla Mining Company (NYSE:HL) (Hecla or the Company) today announced first quarter net income applicable to common stockholders of $11.5 million, or $0.03 per basic share, and adjusted net income applicable to common stockholders of $4.9 million, or $0.01 per basic share.¹ First quarter silver production was 2.5 million ounces at a cash cost, after by-product credits, per silver ounce of $3.83.²

FIRST QUARTER 2014 HIGHLIGHTS AND SIGNIFICANT ITEMS

• Sales of $125.8 million - 65% increase over first quarter of 2013.
• Net income applicable to common stockholders of $11.5 million, or $0.03 per basic share.
• Adjusted net income applicable to common stockholders of $4.9 million, or $0.01 per basic share.
• Operating cash flow of $30.4 million - almost triple that of first quarter of 2013.
• Adjusted EBITDA of $41.0 million³ - a 20% increase over first quarter of 2013.
• Total silver production of 2.5 million ounces at a cash cost, after by-product credits, per silver ounce of $3.83.
• Gold production of 46,268 ounces, of which 31,259 ounces were produced at Casa Berardi at a cash cost, after by-product credits, per gold ounce of $886.²
• Cash and cash equivalents of $208 million at March 31, 2014 - $4 million less than year-end 2013.
• Improved 2014 guidance for cash cost, after by-product credits, to $6.50 per silver ounce.²
• Declaration of $0.0025 cash dividend on common stock under the Company's dividend policy.
• Received the 2013 Excellence in Hard Rock Mine Reclamation Award from the Colorado Mine Land Reclamation Board.

“Hecla's first quarter demonstrates that, despite lower prices, we can grow production, revenue, cash flow, and earnings,” said Phillips S. Baker, Jr., Hecla’s President and CEO. “As we continue to execute our projects, such as the Lucky Friday #4 Shaft and the Casa Berardi optimization, we expect even more growth, particularly when metal prices increase.”

“With adjusted EBITDA of $41 million in the first quarter, and capital and exploration programs of only $34 million, we are demonstrating that we can invest in growth while operating within our adjusted EBITDA. Costs at Greens Creek are lower than expected, and we are improving Hecla's 2014 guidance for cash cost, after by-product credits, per silver ounce to $6.50,” added Mr. Baker.

⁽¹⁾ Adjusted net income applicable to common stockholders represents a non-U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) measurement. A reconciliation of net income applicable to common stockholders (GAAP) to adjusted net income applicable to common stockholders can be found at the end of the release.

⁽²⁾ Cash cost, after by-product credits, per silver and gold ounce represents a non-GAAP measurement. A reconciliation of cash cost, after by-product credits, per ounce of silver and gold to cost of sales and other direct production costs and depreciation, depletion and amortization (GAAP) can be found at the end of the release.

⁽³⁾ Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measurement, a reconciliation of which to net income (GAAP) can be found at the end of the release.

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Overview

Net income applicable to common stockholders for the first quarter increased $0.5 million to $11.5 million, or $0.03 per share, from the same period a year ago and was impacted by the following factors:

• 65% higher revenues over first quarter of 2013 due to increased gold production from the June 1, 2013 acquisition of Casa Berardi and the resumption of full production at the Lucky Friday.
• Lower realized silver, gold, lead, and zinc prices.
• Lower net gain on base metal derivative contracts of $9.5 million in the first quarter of 2014 compared to a gain of $21.5 million in the first quarter of 2013.
• Increase in interest expense of $6.1 million due to the issuance of senior notes.
• $5.3 million in Aurizon acquisition costs in first quarter of 2013 did not reoccur in 2014.
• Ownership of Canadian assets resulted in a $4.0 million foreign currency exchange gain.

Capital expenditures (excluding capitalized interest) totaled $29.1 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2014. Expenditures at Greens Creek, Casa Berardi, and Lucky Friday were $5.6 million, $12.9 million, and $10.5 million, respectively.

Metals Prices

Average realized silver prices in the first quarter of 2014 were $20.04 per ounce, 31% lower than the $28.86 price realized in the first quarter of 2013. Realized gold, lead, and zinc prices also declined 20%, 8%, and 3%, respectively, from the first quarter of 2013.

Base Metals Forward Sales Contracts

The following table summarizes the quantities of base metals committed under financially settled forward sales contracts at March 31, 2014:

The settlements represent 32% of the forecasted zinc production at an average price of $0.96 per pound and 51% of the forecasted lead production at an average price of $1.05 per pound.

OPERATIONS REVIEW

Overview

• Hecla’s quarterly silver production at the same level as before the suspension of the Lucky Friday.
• With the addition of Casa Berardi, is the second highest quarterly gold production in the past seven years.
• Greens Creek quarterly silver production of approximately 1.8 million ounces is the same as four of the last five quarters.

The following table provides the production and cash cost, after by-product credits, per silver and gold ounce summary for the first quarters ended March 31, 2014 and 2013:

⁽¹⁾ Cash cost, after by-product credits, per silver or gold ounce represent a non-GAAP measurement. A reconciliation of cash cost, after by-product credits, per ounce of silver and gold to cost of sales and other direct production costs and depreciation, depletion and amortization (GAAP) can be found at the end of the release.

⁽²⁾ Cash cost, after by-product credits, per gold ounce is only applicable to Casa Berardi production. Gold produced from Greens Creek is used as a by-product credit against the silver cash cost.

⁽³⁾ Casa Berardi mine acquired on June 1, 2013.

The following table provides the production summary on a consolidated basis for the first quarters ended March 31, 2014 and 2013:

Greens Creek Mine - Alaska

Silver production at Greens Creek was 1.8 million ounces in the first quarters of 2014 and 2013. This consistent silver production is due, in part, to the investment in capital projects that are designed to reduce the risk of the operation. The mill operated at 2,252 tons per day during the first quarter of 2014.

Power and treatment costs were lower than in the first quarter of 2013. Power costs were lower due to the availability of hydroelectric power. Lower power costs are the largest factor in a reduction of mining and milling costs per ton by 7% and 27%, respectively, in the first quarter compared to the same period in 2013. Treatment costs are less as a result of lower silver prices, as treatment costs include the value of silver retained by the smelters. The cash cost, after by-product credits, per silver ounce declined to $1.58 in the first quarter of 2014 from $5.02 in the first quarter of 2013. The Company has updated its guidance for cash cost, after by-product credits, to $5.00 per silver ounce¹ to reflect the first quarter performance and the expected utilization of more diesel-generated power over the second half of the year.

Lucky Friday Mine - Idaho

First quarter 2014 silver production at Lucky Friday was 699,605 ounces at a cash cost, after by-product credits, per silver ounce of $9.60. The Company has updated its guidance for cash cost, after by-product credits, to $9.75 per silver ounce¹ to reflect the first quarter performance. Operating cost per ton is lower than in the previous four quarters because of increased throughput.

Production recommenced in February of 2013 following completion of the rehabilitation and enhancement project at the 6,100 foot Silver Shaft, the main access to the mine, and the 5900 bypass. Historical throughput was reached in September 2013, and has continued into 2014.

#4 Shaft, a key growth project, has been excavated 2,000 feet to below the 6500 level. The project is more than 60% complete and is expected to be finished in the third quarter of 2016. The total estimated completion cost of the #4 Shaft is approximately $215 million, with $138 million having been spent through the first quarter. With the remaining work primarily limited to the actual sinking of the shaft and development of the levels, the project risks have declined. As of March 31, 2014, the #4 Shaft team has worked 864 days without a lost-time accident.

⁽¹⁾ Cash cost, after by-product credits, per silver ounce represents a non-GAAP measurement. A reconciliation of cash cost, after by-product credits, per ounce of silver and gold to cost of sales and other direct production costs and depreciation, depletion and amortization (GAAP) can be found at the end of the release.

Casa Berardi Mine - Quebec

The Casa Berardi mine, acquired from Aurizon Mines Ltd. on June 1, 2013, produced 31,259 ounces of gold in the first quarter at a cash cost, after by-product credits, per gold ounce of $886. For the seven-month period ending December 31, 2013 under Hecla ownership, the mine produced gold at a cash cost, after by-product credits, per gold ounce of $951.¹ The lower cost in the first quarter of 2014 was due in part to increased production, as mill throughput averaged 2,068 tons per day. Operating costs were negatively impacted by approximately $1.2 million, or approximately $38 per gold ounce, due to higher heating costs resulting from a propane shortage in eastern Canada and the U.S. The Company believes improved ground control has resulted in generally safer operations, as well as a reduction in waste rock generation.

Advanced engineering work is underway in an effort to increase metallurgical recoveries, better control dilution, and reduce the development necessary to maintain production. Beginning in 2015, these initiatives should positively affect revenue and cash cost, as well as reduce the capital required, with an expected life of mine financial benefit of $140 million. Additional information on these programs can be found in the April 9, 2014, Investor Day presentation on the Company's website.

Work on the West Mine Shaft deepening continues, with a focus during the first quarter on the construction of stations, a loading pocket and transfer raises. The shaft has approximately 38 meters remaining, and completion of the associated mechanical and electrical infrastructure is expected late in the third quarter of 2014, with commissioning to follow. The deeper shaft allows access to the deeper mining horizons and exploration targets.

⁽¹⁾ Cash cost, after by-product credits, per gold ounce represents a non-GAAP measurement. A reconciliation of cash cost, after by-product credits, per ounce of silver and gold to cost of sales and other direct production costs and depreciation, depletion and amortization (GAAP) can be found at the end of the release.

EXPLORATION AND PRE-DEVELOPMENT REVIEW

Expenditures

Exploration and pre-development expenses were $4.2 million and $0.4 million, respectively, in the first quarter of 2014, decreases of about $2.3 million and $4.4 million, respectively, versus the first quarter of 2013 as a result of reduced discretionary spending in response to lower metals prices. Full year exploration and pre-development expenses are expected to be about $18.0 million.

Greens Creek - Alaska

At Greens Creek, definition and exploration drilling from two drills continues to enhance the potential of Deep 200 South, a mineralization trend that extends over 3,000 feet along strike and over 1,000 feet of dip. Drilling of Deep 200 South has defined three stacked folds of high-grade mineralization that represent up to 600 feet of down-dip continuity. Drilling of the upper fold or bench mineralization had some of the widest and highest-grade intercepts in recent history at the mine. This drilling confirms the resource model and shows the upper limb of the bench fold extends about 100 feet east beyond the current model. Significant drill intersections include 27.3 oz/ton silver, 0.46 oz/ton gold, 13.7% zinc, and 6.7% lead over 28.2 feet and 52.1 oz/ton silver, 0.40 oz/ton gold, 14.8% zinc, and 7.5% lead over 4.9 feet. See more complete drill assay highlights in Table A at the end of the release. Drill intersections continue to be very encouraging and mineralization remains open to the south.

Casa Berardi - Quebec

At Casa Berardi, five drills have been operating underground.

Definition drilling of the 113 Zone confirmed and expanded previous resources upward towards the 310 level and includes an intersection of 0.87 oz/ton gold over 17.7 feet. Drilling of the 118 Zone was successful in extended lenses 118-27, 118-45, and 118-46 to the east and includes intersections such as 0.37 oz/ton gold over 58.1 feet. At the lower 118 Zone, some intercepts including 0.48 oz/ton gold over 16.4 feet represents an extension to the current resource.

Exploration drilling on the 123 Zone intersected 0.21 oz/ton gold over 3.4 feet and 0.22 oz/ton gold over 17.4 feet on the east extension of the 123-30 lens. Exploration drilling of the 124 Zone Principaleon the east extension of the 124-30 lens intersected 0.25 oz/ton over 10.4 feet on the south side of the Casa Berardi fault and appears to be open to the east. See more complete drill assay highlights in Table A at the end of the release.

Lucky Friday - Idaho

At Lucky Friday, definition drilling from the #4 Shaft 6500 Station continues to confirm resources and refine vein solids interpretation below the 15 and 16 stopes between the 6476 to 7005 levels. Intersections of the 30 Vein include 28.7 oz/ton silver, 21.4% zinc, and 6.7% lead over 16.5 feet. Other strong intersections include 36.2 oz/ton silver, 2.1% zinc, and 17.7% lead over 17.0 feet (130 Vein) and 17.5 oz/ton silver, 12.4% zinc, and 2.3% lead over 6.7 feet (50 Vein). See more complete drill assay highlights in Table A at the end of the release.

Fayolle - Quebec

Hecla is earning in a 50% interest in the Fayolle property, located in Abitibi about 81 miles southeast of Casa Berardi. Fayolle has a small, near surface, high-grade gold occurrence; however, large portions of the property remain under-explored and display geological similarities with the main deposit. Recent drilling of the Cinco intersected 0.12 oz/ton gold over 14.4 feet within a broader interval of 0.08 oz/ton over 26.9 feet. In a second hole, visible gold was observed in a vein and graded 0.48 oz/ton gold over 2.6 feet. See more complete drill assay highlights in Table A at the end of the release.

Opinaca - Quebec

A drill program investigated the Smiley and Conglo targets at the Opinaca project, which borders on and shares geologic characteristics with Goldcorp's Eleanore project. The Smiley target is based on a gold anomaly that coincides with the intersection of mineralized structures. Nine holes in the recent program intersected the targeted structure along 800 meters of strike length and encountered multiple, 5 to 10 meter-wide mineralized intervals. The Conglo area has a gold-in-till anomaly, coincident with a boulder of arsenopyrite-mineralized conglomerate. This five hole program intersected conglomerate bordered by arsenopyrite-bearing, fine-grained sediments. Assays are pending from both drill programs.

San Sebastian - Mexico

At San Sebastian in Durango, Mexico, potential extensions of the Middle, Francine and North veins to the northwest and southeast remain strongand the Middle Vein is open to depth. The combination of recent surface drill holes and trenching has defined a series of drill targets that could be the strike extensions of these veins located across the San Ricardo Fault and north of the San Sebastian mine area. These targets are expected to be evaluated with trenching and drilling in the second quarter, and may provide new resources to incorporate into the mine plan for a potential restart of production at San Sebastian.

Pre-development

Metallurgical testwork on the Middle Vein at San Sebastian is in progress to refine the metallurgical processing and mill designs. Scoping studies are determining the production viability, rate and sequencing of mining for a near surface mine that could require less capital initially and provide increased returns. Test pits are being excavated along the Middle and Andrea veins at 10-meter spacing for evaluation of overburden, vein continuity and oxidation.

At San Juan Silver in Colorado, work continues on water discharge permits and on an amendment to the 5-year Plan of Operations (POO) for surface exploration drilling. Subject to receipt of the permits and the amended POO, and improved market conditions, the Company expects to commence underground rehabilitation in order to establish drill platforms.

Recently the Company received the 2013 Excellence in Hard Rock Mine Reclamation Award from the Colorado Mine Land Reclamation Board (see April 17, 2014 news release). The award was presented at the 116th National Western Mining Conference and Exhibit. The recognition was for contemporaneous reclamation of prospecting sites at its development project near Creede in Mineral County, Colorado.

UPDATE OF 2014 GUIDANCE

Production guidance is unchanged for 2014 but estimated cash costs, after by-product credits, for the year have declined $0.50 per silver ounce to $6.50. Guidance for capital and exploration and pre-development expenditures are unchanged. For the full year 2014, based on current metals prices, the Company expects:

^{(1)2014E refers to the Company's expectations for 2014.}

(2) Metal price assumptions used for calculations: Au $1,300/oz, Ag $20/oz, Zn $0.80/lb, Pb $0.90/lb; USD/CAD assumed at par.

(3) Cash cost, after by-product credits, per silver and gold ounce represents a non-GAAP measurement. A reconciliation of cash cost, after by-product credits, per ounce of silver and gold to cost of sales and other direct production costs and depreciation, depletion and amortization (GAAP) can be found at the end of the release.

(4) Precious metals equivalent production of 20 million oz includes silver and gold production from Lucky Friday, Greens Creek and Casa Berardi converted using a 60:1 gold to silver conversion ratio.

(5) All metal equivalent production includes the equivalent in note 4 plus the zinc and lead tonnage production converted to silver using ratios of 80:1 (zinc to silver) and 90:1 (lead to silver).

DIVIDENDS

Common

TheBoard of Directors elected to declare a quarterly cash dividend of $0.0025 per share of common stock, payable on or about June 5, 2014, to stockholders of record on May 28, 2014. The realized silver price was $20.04 in the first quarter and therefore did not satisfy the criteria for a larger dividend under the Company's dividend policy.

Preferred

The Board of Directors has also elected to declare the regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.875 per share on the outstanding Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, on a total of 157,816 shares outstanding. This represents a total amount to be paid of approximately $138,000. The cash dividend is payable on July 1, 2014, to stockholders of record on June 13, 2014.

CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST

A conference call and webcast will be held Tuesday, May 6, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss these results. You may join the conference call by dialing toll-free 1-877-280-4960 or for international dialing 1-857-244-7317. The participant passcode is HECLA. Hecla's live and archived webcast can be accessed at www.hecla-mining.com under Investors or via Thomson StreetEvents Network.

ABOUT HECLA

Hecla Mining Company (NYSE:HL) is a leading low-cost U.S. silver producer with operating mines in Alaska and Idaho, and is a growing gold producer with an operating mine in Quebec, Canada. The Company also has exploration and pre-development properties in five world-class silver and gold mining districts in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, and an exploration office and investments in early-stage silver exploration projects in Canada.

Cautionary Statements to Investors on Forward-Looking Statements, including 2014 Outlook

This news release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, which are intended to be covered by the safe harbor created by such sections and other applicable laws. Such forward-looking statements may include, without limitation: (i) estimates of future production and sales, including as a result of the #4 Shaft Project; (ii) estimates of future costs and cash cost, after by-product credits per ounce of silver/gold, including the expected cost of the #4 Shaft project; (iii) guidance for 2014 for silver and gold production, cash cost, after by-product credits, capital expenditures and pre-development and exploration expenditures (which assumes metal prices of gold at $1,300/oz., silver at $20/oz., zinc at $0.80/lb. and lead at $0.90/lb. and US dollar and Canadian dollar at par); (iv) expectations regarding the development, growth and exploration potential of the Company’s projects; (v) expectations of growth; (vi) increased metals prices; (vii) expected increase of diesel power at Greens Creek; (viii) the possibility of the following at Casa Berardi as a result of engineering work underway: increase in metallurgical recoveries, better control dilution, reduction of the development necessary to maintain production, positive impacts on revenue and cash costs, reduction of required capital, and expected life of mine benefit of $140 million; (ix) possible strike extensions of veins at the San Sebastian project; and (x) commencement of underground rehabilitation work at San Juan Silver. Estimates or expectations of future events or results are based upon certain assumptions, which may prove to be incorrect. Such assumptions, include, but are not limited to: (i) there being no significant change to current geotechnical, metallurgical, hydrological and other physical conditions; (ii) permitting, development, operations and expansion of the Company’s projects being consistent with current expectations and mine plans; (iii) political/regulatory developments in any jurisdiction in which the Company operates being consistent with its current expectations; (iv) the exchange rate for the Canadian dollar to the U.S. dollar, being approximately consistent with current levels; (v) certain price assumptions for gold, silver, lead and zinc; (vi) prices for key supplies being approximately consistent with current levels; (vii) the accuracy of our current mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates; and (viii) the Company’s plans for development and production will proceed as expected and will not require revision as a result of risks or uncertainties, whether known, unknown or unanticipated. Where the Company expresses or implies an expectation or belief as to future events or results, such expectation or belief is expressed in good faith and believed to have a reasonable basis. However, such statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause actual results to differ materially from future results expressed, projected or implied by the “forward-looking statements.” Such risks include, but are not limited to gold, silver and other metals price volatility, operating risks, currency fluctuations, increased production costs and variances in ore grade or recovery rates from those assumed in mining plans, community relations, conflict resolution and outcome of projects or oppositions, litigation, political, regulatory, labor and environmental risks, and exploration risks and results, including that mineral resources are not mineral reserves, they do not have demonstrated economic viability and there is no certainty that they can be upgraded to mineral reserves through continued exploration. For a more detailed discussion of such risks and other factors, see the Company’s 2013 Form 10-K, filed on February 19, 2014 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), as well as the Company’s other SEC filings. The Company does not undertake any obligation to release publicly revisions to any “forward-looking statement,” including, without limitation, outlook, to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news release, or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. Investors should not assume that any lack of update to a previously issued “forward-looking statement” constitutes a reaffirmation of that statement. Continued reliance on “forward-looking statements” is at investors’ own risk.

Qualified Person (QP) Pursuant to Canadian National Instrument 43-101

Dean McDonald, PhD. P.Geo., Senior Vice President - Exploration of Hecla Mining Company, who serves as a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101("NI 43-101"), supervised the preparation of the scientific and technical information concerning Hecla’s mineral projects in this news release. Information regarding data verification, surveys and investigations, quality assurance program and quality control measures and a summary of sample, analytical or testing procedures for the Greens Creek Mine are contained in a technical report prepared for Hecla and Aurizon Mines Ltd. titled “Technical Report for the Greens Creek Mine, Juneau, Alaska, USA” effective date March 28, 2013, and for the Lucky Friday Mine are contained in a technical report prepared for Hecla titled “Technical Report on the Lucky Friday Mine Shoshone County, Idaho, USA” effective date April 2, 2014, and for the Casa Berardi Mine are contained in a technical report prepared for Hecla titled "Technical Report on the Mineral Resource and Mineral Reserve Estimate for the Casa Berardi Mine, Northwestern Quebec, Canada" effective date March 31, 2014 (the "Casa Berardi Technical Report"). Also included in these three technical reports is a description of the key assumptions, parameters and methods used to estimate mineral reserves and resources and a general discussion of the extent to which the estimates may be affected by any known environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing or other relevant factors. Copies of these technical reports are available under Hecla's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.

Cautionary Statements to Investors on Reserves and Resources

Reporting requirements in the United States for disclosure of mineral properties are governed by the SEC and included in the SEC'sSecurities Act Industry Guide 7, entitled “Description of Property by Issuers Engaged or to be Engaged in Significant Mining Operations” (“Guide 7”). However, the Company is also a "reporting issuer" under Canadian securities laws, which require estimates of mineral resources and reserves to be prepared in accordance with Canadian National Instrument 43-101 (“NI 43-101”). NI 43-101 requires all disclosure of estimates of potential mineral resources and reserves to be disclosed in accordance with its requirements. Such Canadian information is being included here to satisfy the Company's “public disclosure” obligations under Regulation FD of the SEC and to provide U.S. holders with ready access to information publicly available in Canada.

Reporting requirements in the United States for disclosure of mineral properties under Guide 7 and the requirements in Canada under NI 43-101 standards are substantially different. This document contains a summary of certain estimates of the Company, not only of proven and probable reserves within the meaning of Guide 7, which requires the preparation of a “final” or “bankable” feasibility study demonstrating the economic feasibility of mining and processing the mineralization using the three-year historical average price for any reserve or cash flow analysis to designate reserves and that the primary environmental analysis or report be filed with the appropriate governmental authority, but also of mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates estimated in accordance with the definitional standards of the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum referred to in NI 43-101. The terms “measured resources”, "indicated resources," and "inferred resources" are Canadian mining terms as defined in accordance with NI 43-101. These terms are not defined under Guide 7 and are not normally permitted to be used in reports and registration statements filed with the SEC in the United States, except where required to be disclosed by foreign law. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of the mineral deposits in such categories will ever be converted into proven or probable reserves. “Resources” have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence, and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of such a "resource” will ever be upgraded to a higher category or will ever be economically extracted. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of a "resource” exists or is economically or legally mineable. Investors are also especially cautioned that the mere fact that such resources may be referred to in ounces of silver and/or gold, rather than in tons of mineralization and grades of silver and/or gold estimated per ton, is not an indication that such material will ever result in mined ore which is processed into commercial silver or gold.

(1) Cash cost, after by-product credits, per silver and gold ounce represents a non-U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) measurement. A reconciliation of cash cost, after by-product credits to cost of sales and other direct production costs and depreciation, depletion and amortization (GAAP) can be found in the cash cost per ounce reconciliation section of this news release. Gold, lead and zinc produced have been treated as by-product credits in calculating silver costs per ounce. The primary metal produced at Casa Berardi is gold, with a by-product credit for the value of silver production.

Non-GAAP Measures

(Unaudited)

Reconciliation of Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits, per Ounceand Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Ounce to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)

This release contains references to a non-GAAP measure of cash cost, before by-product credits, per ounce and cash cost, after by-product credits, per ounce. Cash cost, before by-product credits, per ounce and cash cost, after by-product credits, per ounce represent non-U.S. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) measurements that the Company believes provide management and investors an indication of net cash flow. Management also uses this measurement for the comparative monitoring of performance of mining operations period-to-period from a cash flow perspective. Cash cost, before by-product credits, per ounce and Cash cost, after by-product credits, per ounce are measures developed by gold companies and used by silver companies in an effort to provide a comparable standard; however, there can be no assurance that our reporting of these non-GAAP measures is similar to those reported by other mining companies. Cost of sales and other direct production costs and depreciation, depletion and amortization are the most comparable financial measures calculated in accordance with GAAP to cash cost, before by-product credits cash cost, after by-product credits.

As depicted in the Greens Creek Unit and the Lucky Friday Unit tables below, by-product credits comprise an essential element of our silver unit cost structure. By-product credits constitute an important competitive distinction for our silver operations due to the polymetallic nature of their orebodies. By-product credits included in our presentation of cash cost, after by-product credits, per silver ounce include:

By-product credits included in our presentation of Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Gold Ounce for our Casa Berardi Unit include:

The following table calculates cash cost, before by-product credits, per ounce and cash cost, after by-product credits, per ounce (in thousands, except per-ounce amounts):

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

(2) On June 1, 2013, we completed the acquisition of Aurizon Mines Ltd., which gave us 100% ownership of the Casa Berardi mine in Quebec, Canada. The information presented reflects our ownership of Casa Berardi commencing as of that date. The primary metal produced at Casa Berardi is gold, with a by-product credit for the value of silver production.

Reconciliation of Net Income Applicable to Common Stockholders (GAAP) to Adjusted Net Income Applicable to Common Stockholders

This release refers to a non-GAAP measure of Adjusted net income applicable to common stockholders and Adjusted net income per share, which are indicators of our performance. They exclude certain impacts which are of a nature which we believe are not reflective of our underlying performance. Management believes that adjusted net income per common share provides investors with the ability to better evaluate our underlying operating performance.

Reconciliation of Adjusted EBITDA to Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP)

This release refers to a non-GAAP measure of Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("Adjusted EBITDA"), which is a measure of our operating performance. Adjusted EBITDA is calculated as net income before the following items: interest expense, income tax provision, depreciation, depletion, and amortization expense, exploration expense, pre-development expense, Aurizon acquisition costs, Lucky Friday suspension-related costs, interest and other income (expense), foreign exchange gains and losses, gains and losses on derivative contracts, unrealized gains on investments, provisions for environmental matters, stock-based compensation, and provisional price gains and losses . Management believes that, when presented in conjunction with comparable GAAP measures, Adjusted EBITDA is useful to investors in evaluating our operating performance. The following table reconciles net income to Adjusted EBITDA:

Table A- Assay Results - Q1 2014

Note: All assay intervals represent true widths of drill core with the exception of the results from Greens Creek. At Greens Creek the assay intervals represent the horizontal width because the mineralized bodies are very irregular in shape and in most cases this is the best approximation for true width.

Greens Creek (Alaska)

Lucky Friday (Idaho)

Casa Berardi (Quebec)

Fayolle (Quebec)

Hecla Mining Company
Investor Relations:
Mike Westerlund, 800-HECLA91 (800-432-5291)
hmc-info@hecla-mining.com
http://www.hecla-mining.com

Source: Hecla Mining Company