News Details

Sales increase 27% over prior year; $222 million in cash and equivalents

For the Period Ended: September 30, 2014

COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Hecla Mining Company (NYSE:HL) today announced third quarter net income applicable to common shareholders of $3.5 million, or $0.01 per basic share, and a loss after adjustments applicable to common shareholders of $2.1 million, or $0.01 per share.¹ Third quarter silver production was 2.9 million ounces, a 25% increase over the prior year quarter, at a cash cost, after by-product credits, per silver ounce of $5.43.² In addition, gold production increased 15% to 42,501 ounces.

THIRD QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS AND SIGNIFICANT ITEMS

• Third quarter silver equivalent production of 7.7 million ounces, and 22.6 million silver equivalent ounces for the first nine months of 2014.³
• Sales of $135.5 million - a 27% increase over the prior year quarter.
• Adjusted EBITDA of $42.6 million⁴ - a 38% increase over the prior year quarter.
• Operating cash flow of $1.7 million, which included cash payments of $55.4 million to satisfy the remaining obligation for the Coeur d'Alene Basin litigation settlement which was almost entirely funded by proceeds received from the exercise of the remaining outstanding warrants.
• Total silver production of 2.9 million ounces, a 25% increase over the prior year quarter, at a cash cost, after by-product credits, per silver ounce, of $5.43.
• Gold production of 42,501 ounces, a 15% increase over the prior year quarter, of which 28,977 ounces were produced at Casa Berardi at a cash cost, after by-product credits, per gold ounce of $898.²
• Continued improvement at Lucky Friday with silver production increasing 19% over the second quarter of 2014 and 103% over the prior year quarter.
• Cash and cash equivalents of $222 million at September 30, 2014, unchanged from the end of the second quarter of 2014.
• Declaration of $0.0025 cash dividend on common stock under the Company's dividend policy.

“All three of our mines performed strongly in the third quarter, leading to higher production over the entire suite of metals we produce,” said Phillips S. Baker Jr., Hecla’s President and CEO. “Our significant lead and zinc production is a competitive advantage, as the diversification helps cushion revenues against weaker gold and silver prices.”

“In the first three quarters of 2014, we have done what we said we would do, operating our business within adjusted EBITDA and maintaining a solid cash position on the balance sheet. Excluding the impact of the settlement payment, we had operating cash flow of $114 million in the first nine months of 2014, up from $5.1 million in the prior year period. Over the first nine months of 2014 we increased our cash balances by $10 million, and expect to end the year with about $200 million in cash available,” Mr. Baker continued.

“We believe San Sebastian is a district that may ultimately have more than 100 million silver equivalent ounces. Our exploration success, particularly in the last six months, has extended veins and discovered the faulted offset of the Francine Vein, increasing the opportunity for further growth. Most of the newly discovered mineralization appears to be accessible from surface or a shallow ramping system and is expected to have excellent returns. Engineering will incorporate the new information in the coming months to complete the development studies,” Mr. Baker added.

FINANCIAL OVERVIEW

Net income applicable to common shareholders for the third quarter was $3.5 million, or $0.01 per basic share, compared to a net loss of $8.6 million, or $0.03 per basic share for the third quarter of 2013, and was impacted by the following items:

• Revenue increased by 27% due to improved production at the Casa Berardi gold mine, acquired on June 1, 2013, as well as higher production from the Lucky Friday.
• Net mark-to-market losses on base metal forward contracts of $0.4 million, as a result of rising base metals prices, compared to a net loss of $4.6 million in the prior year quarter.
• Lower combined exploration and pre-development expense by $3.1 million. The decrease is primarily the result of reduced discretionary spending in response to lower silver and gold prices, with the exception of the San Sebastian project in Mexico.
• Ownership of Canadian assets resulted in a $7.3 million foreign exchange gain compared to a $1.5 million loss.
• An impairment loss of $2.5 million related to certain marketable securities associated with Hecla's junior investment program.
• Lower average silver and gold prices, partially offset by higher lead and zinc prices.

Capital expenditures (excluding capitalized interest) at the operations totaled $34.4 million during the quarter, including $13.7 million at Lucky Friday, $6.7 million at Greens Creek, and $14.0 million at Casa Berardi.

Metals Prices

Average realized silver prices in the third quarter were $18.53 per ounce, compared to $22.22 per ounce in the third quarter of 2013. Realized gold prices were also lower in the third quarter compared to the same period in 2013, while realized prices for lead and zinc were higher.

Base Metals Forward Sales Contracts

The following table summarizes the quantities of base metals committed under financially settled forward sales contracts at September 30, 2014:

The contracts represent 41% of the forecasted payable zinc production at an average price of $0.98 per pound and 32% of the forecasted payable lead production at an average price of $1.05 per pound.

OPERATIONS OVERVIEW

Overview

• Lucky Friday silver production of 972,994 ounces increased 19% over the 820,786 ounces in the second quarter of 2014 and 103% over the third quarter of 2013 due to the ramp-up in production last year and higher ore grade.
• Casa Berardi gold production of 28,977 is comparable to 28,623 ounces in the second quarter and 24% higher than the prior year quarter, despite the shaft being intermittently closed over a 22-day period as part of the shaft deepening project.
• Greens Creek production of 1.9 million ounces of silver increased 12% over the 1.7 million ounces produced in the second quarter, and the mine continues to perform at the high end of its expected production range.

The following table provides the production and cash cost, after by-product credits, per silver and gold ounce summary for the third quarters and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:

The following table provides the production summary on a consolidated basis for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2014 and 2013:

Greens Creek Silver Mine - Alaska

Silver production at Greens Creek was 1.9 million ounces in the third quarter of 2014 at a cash cost, after by-product credits, per silver ounce of $3.75 compared to 1.8 million ounces at a cash cost, after by-product credits, per silver ounce $5.00¹ in the third quarter of 2013. The mill operated at an average of 2,221 tons per day (tpd) during the third quarter of 2014.

The per ounce cost was beneficially impacted by lower energy costs, higher silver production levels, and higher prices for zinc and lead, which are by-products of silver production at Greens Creek, compared to the prior year period. Energy costs were lower due to the availability of hydroelectric power, which is expected to continue through the end of the year. Mining costs per ton increased by 3% due to higher labor costs, and milling costs per ton decreased 2% due to lower energy costs in the third quarter compared to the same period in 2013.

Lucky Friday Silver Mine - Idaho

In the third quarter, Lucky Friday produced 972,994 ounces of silver at a cash cost, after by-product credits, per silver ounce of $8.71,¹ compared to 479,188 ounces at $16.50 per ounce in the third quarter of 2013. The reduction in cash cost, after by-product credits, per silver ounce was principally due to higher production resulting from both higher silver ore grade and increased throughput, and higher base metals prices. The mill operated at an average of 858 tpd for the quarter.

#4 Shaft, a key growth project, has been excavated approximately 2,600 feet to the 7500 level. The project is 73% complete and is expected to be finished in the third quarter of 2016. The total estimated completion cost of #4 Shaft is expected to be approximately $215 million, with $157 million already spent through the third quarter of 2014.

Casa Berardi Gold Mine - Quebec

The Casa Berardi mine, acquired on June 1, 2013, produced 28,977 ounces of gold in the third quarter at a cash cost, after by-product credits, per gold ounce of $898.¹ For the 16-month period ending September 30, 2014 under Hecla ownership, the mine produced 151,391 ounces of gold at a cash cost, after by-product credits, per gold ounce of 927.¹ Mill throughput averaged 2,242 tpd during the third quarter of 2014.

Lower recoveries were expected in the newly-developed, arsenopyrite-rich ore from the 118 zone. A modification of the mill was conceptualized for 2015 construction. After processing ore from this zone, a campaign of preg-rob mitigation and gravity-circuit improvement proved successful, and year-to-date recoveries are similar to those seen in 2013 (89.6% in 2014 and 90.5% in 2013). The mill modification project has been shelved. Initiatives to reduce dilution and development are continuing.

During the quarter, the West Mine Shaft deepening project reached functional completion with the removal of the bulkhead dividing the operating shaft and the deepened section. This changeover required the shaft to be intermittently closed over a 22-day period which impacted production for the quarter. Production in the fourth quarter is expected to increase as the shaft resumes normal operations, and the mine is expected to produce about 125,000 ounces of gold this year. In 2015, the Company expects to drive a drift from the newly constructed 1010 station to the 118 and 123 ore zones, facilitating materials handling, ventilation, and exploration.

EXPLORATION AND PRE-DEVELOPMENT

Exploration and pre-development expenses were $5.8 million and $0.4 million, respectively, in the third quarter of 2014. Due to additional funding at San Sebastian in Mexico, Casa Berardi and at Greens Creek, exploration expense was equal to its level in the third quarter of 2013, while pre-development expense decreased by about $3.1 million 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 $21 million.

A reserve and resource table can be found on the Company's website at www.hecla-mining.com.

San Sebastian - Mexico

The shallow in-fill and exploration drilling program on the North, Middle and Francine Veins at the San Sebastian property in Durango, Mexico continues to be successful. The Francine, Andrea, Middle and North Veins now define nearly 8 kilometers (4.9 miles) of mineralized strike length, and the recently discovered North and East Francine Veins are open along strike and at depth. The silver equivalent indicated resource of 25.9 million ounces and inferred resource of 29.5 million ounces is expected to increase in the coming months as these resources do not include the North and East Francine Veins. Engineering studies are underway to investigate potentially mining these veins both as open pits and underground, similar to the approach that Hecla used when mining the Francine Vein from 2001 to 2005.

In recent weeks the southeastern extension of the high-grade, past-producing Francine Vein was discovered east of the San Ricardo fault and is referred to as the East Francine Vein. This vein system ranges from 12.0 to 21.6 feet wide and recent intersections include 1.05 oz/ton gold and 204 oz/ton silver over 18.1 feet, as well as 1.4 oz/ton gold and 382 oz/ton silver over 11.9 feet. Drill intersections are summarized in the Assay Results Table at the end of this release.

The upper portion of the Middle, North and East Francine Veins contain near-surface, high-grade mineralization that may be suitable to open pit mining, and continued metallurgical test work and economic evaluation are underway. Recent drilling has focused on the North Vein which is parallel to and located 140 meters (460 feet) north of the Middle Vein. Drilling of the North Vein has traced the vein for over 750 meters (2,500 feet) and resulted in several wide and high-grade intercepts including 0.85 opt gold and 12.7 oz/ton silver over 8.7 feet, as well as 0.29 oz/ton gold and 13.6 oz/ton silver over 17.8 feet. This vein has been defined to a depth of over 100 meters (330 feet) and remains open along strike in both directions and at depth. Drilling has continued southeast past a splay of the San Ricardo fault that shows minor offset, and initial results suggest the resource and potential open pit could extend even further southeast.Drill intersections are summarized in the Assay Results Table at the end of this release.

As previously announced on September 11, 2014, with the success of this drilling program, the San Sebastian exploration budget has been increased by $750,000 to $3.1 million, and a total of three drills are now operating with the goal of expanding the North Vein near-surface resource further to the northwest and southeast and evaluating what is now interpreted to be the southeast extension of the Francine Vein. An inaugural resource for each of the North and East Francine Veins, as well as an updated resource for the Middle Vein, by incorporating new exploration, in-fill drilling and surface trenching, is expected in the coming months. Hecla has expanded its exploration program to focus on additional mineral occurrences known to exist in the area that could add to the resource.

Greens Creek - Alaska

At Greens Creek, definition drilling continues to upgrade the lower NWW, West Wall and Deep 200 South resources. Exploration drilling tested the upper limits of both folds of the NWW zone and confirmed the fold limbs to the north beyond the current resource. Drill intercepts of the West Wall suggest thicker and more consistent mineralization than currently modeled and intercepts, including 34.7 oz/ton silver, 0.17 oz/ton gold, 18.5% zinc and 5.6% lead over 9.6 feet, are 100 feet further down dip then the current model. Exploration drilling on the southern extension to the Deep 200 South continues to extend the high-grade, upper bench mineralization another 300 feet to the south and recent intersections include 63.6 oz/ton silver, 0.15 oz/ton gold, 5.6% zinc, and 2.6% lead over 6.6 feet, and 34.4 oz/ton silver, 0.14 oz/ton gold, 5.5% zinc, and 2.8% lead over 16.3 feet. See more complete drill assay highlights in the Assay Results Table at the end of the release. Drill intersections at the Deep 200 South continue to be very encouraging and mineralization remains open to the south.

Surface drilling of Killer Creek, which is about a mile west-northwest of the mine, was completed at the end of September and has refined the Company's knowledge of the distribution of high-grade copper, silver, lead and zinc stockwork mineralization over broad zones. Drill holes from this year’s program crossed the mine contact into the footwall argillite rocks. Within the argillites are continuous 4- to 9-foot wide banded sulfides that locally contain lead, zinc and silver-rich zones. These banded sulfides are located in the same host rocks as the Greens Creek deposit and have similar mineralization to those sulfide zones on the fringe of ore zones. Further refinement of this summer’s exploration data in the coming months will determine drilling priorities next spring.

Casa Berardi - Quebec

At Casa Berardi, four drills operating underground and one drill on surface have refined and expanded the 113, 118, 123, 124 and 140 Zones. Drilling on the upper 113 Zone from the 350 level confirmed and expanded previous resources upward past the 310 level and assay results include an impressive 1.62 oz/ton gold over 9.7 feet, and 0.88 oz/ton gold over 8.2 feet. Definition drill programs from the 800 meter level of the 118 Zone intersected 0.42 oz/ton gold over 42.3 feet and on the lower 123 Zone from the 810 meter level confirmed the expected ore trend with an intersection of 1.01 oz/ton gold over 21.0 feet.

The definition drilling program on the 124 Zone Principal from the 290 meter level continue to intersect multiple zones of sheared quartz veins and include the intersection of 0.32 oz/ton over 35.8 feet.Underground exploration drilling to the east of the 124 Zone Principal along the Casa Berardi break from the 300 level intersected strong mineralization that includes intersections of 0.46 oz/ton gold over 8.5 feet, and 0.24 oz/ton gold over 6.6 feet. Surface drilling deeper on the 140 Zone returned 0.13 oz/ton gold over 5.6 feet. There is still robust down-plunge potential extending from the high-grade areas, and a surface drill is in place to evaluate the down-plunge extensions.

Exploration drilling of the 140 Zone on the 300 meter level was following up mineralized intercepts located to the south of the Casa Berardi Break. Recent results include 0.25 oz/ton gold over 12.3 feet and 0.05 oz/ton gold over 39.4 feet. The surface drill program has resumed and one hole has been drilled south of the Casa fault on the South fault (134 Zone) and intersected a 50-foot wide corridor of quartz veining with sulfides. See more complete drill assay highlights in the Assay Results Table at the end of the release. Revised 3D models of the SW Zone are complete and are the first step to support an amended mining and exploration plan for the area.

Lucky Friday - Idaho

At Lucky Friday, definition drilling below the planned advance of 15 and 16 stopes between the 7000 and 7500 levels continued to confirm resources for conversion to reserves. Intersections of the 30 Vein include 16.4 oz/ton silver, 7.7% zinc, and 11.3% lead over 7.6 feet, and 15.1 oz/ton silver, 8.3% zinc, and 10.3% lead over 9.1 feet. See more complete drill assay highlights in the Assay Results Table at the end of the release. No major changes in ore grades or resource model shapes are anticipated based on this recent drilling, but drill holes have been extended to the south beyond 5 Vein to define the new 4 and 3 Veins.

Opinaca Property - Quebec

At the Opinaca property, located near Goldcorp's Eleanore project, field work including trenching, focused outcrop mapping and sampling, and additional till sampling following up on previous anomalies was completed at the end of September. Trenches were excavated in the Autor and D8 areas, where an iron formation intersects a shear zone, and returned intervals of 0.15 oz/ton gold over 12.3 feet and a quartz vein that graded 0.13 oz/ton gold over 5.6 feet. With the completion of this work Hecla has a 50% interest in the Wildcat claims with Everton Resources, and Hecla remains the operator. The achievement of 50% ownership of these properties and the establishment of joint ventures in which Hecla is the operator allows the continuation of systematic exploration at these prospective properties when discretionary spending is available.

San Juan Silver - Colorado

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

2014 GUIDANCE

Guidance for production, estimated cash costs, after by-product credits, and capital, exploration and pre-development expenditures for the year is unchanged. For the full year 2014, the Company expects:

COMMON STOCK DIVIDEND

TheBoard of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $0.0025 per share of common stock, payable on or about December 5, 2014, to shareholders of record on November 28, 2014. The Company's realized silver price was $18.53 in the third quarter and therefore did not satisfy the criteria for a larger dividend under the Company's dividend policy.

CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST

A conference call and webcast will be held Wednesday, November 5, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss these results. You may join the conference call by dialing toll-free 1-877-415-3178 or for international dialing 1-857-244-7321. 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, including Canadian securities laws. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation: (i) estimates of future production; (ii) estimates of the costs and completion date 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) expected availability of hydroelectric power at Greens Creek; (vii) the possibility of the following at Casa Berardi: successful initiatives to reduce dilution and development, increased production in the fourth quarter and completion of a new drift at the 1010 station in 2015; (viii) the possibility of the following at San Sebastian: strike extensions of veins, expected new resources at the North and East Francine Veins, and the discovery of new veins could add to the resources; (ix) commencement of underground rehabilitation work at San Juan Silver; and (x) expectations of year end cash balance of around $200 million. 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, 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.

Non-GAAP Measures

(Unaudited)

Reconciliation of Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits, per Ounce and 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):

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

This release refers to a non-GAAP measure of adjusted net income (loss) applicable to common stockholders and adjusted net income (loss) 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 (loss) per common share provides investors with the ability to better evaluate our underlying operating performance.

Reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) (GAAP) to Adjusted EBITDA

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 (loss) to Adjusted EBITDA: