News Details

Higher silver and gold production; Record sales

COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Hecla Mining Company (NYSE:HL) today announced third quarter financial and operating results.

THIRD QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS AND SIGNIFICANT ITEMS (compared to Q3 2015)

• Net income applicable to common shareholders of $25.7 million, or $0.07 per share.
• Sales of $179.4 million, up 71%, a record.
• Adjusted EBITDA of $75.2 million, up 323%.¹
• Cash provided by operating activities of $87.0 million, up 225%. Includes $16 million of insurance proceeds for the Troy Mine reclamation.
• Free cash flow of $27.7 million, up $38 million.²
• Total silver production of 4.3 million ounces, up 67%.
• Gold production of 52,126 ounces, up 19%.
• Silver equivalent production of 10.3 million ounces, up 17%.³
• Last 12 months net loss of $13.7 million and adjusted EBITDA of $234 million.¹
• Net debt/adjusted EBITDA (last 12 months) of 1.4x, a 49% decline.^1,4
• Cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments of $192.4 million at September 30, 2016, up $33 million over the second quarter.
• Completed the acquisition of the Montanore project, located near the Rock Creek project.
• Reduced estimate for 2016 cash cost, after by-product credits, per silver ounce to $4.00 and increased estimate for 2016 cash cost, after by-product credits, per gold ounce to $750.⁵

"Hecla's quarterly production growth, record sales, cash provided by operating activities of $87 million and free cash flow of $28 million reflect how our commitment to invest when prices were lower allows us to now reap the benefits of having more production at higher prices," said Phillips S. Baker, Jr., Hecla's President and CEO. "This quarter was just another step towards establishing new 125-year records in 2016. Our free cash flow and strengthening balance sheet allow us to immediately invest in more innovation, exploration and high-return projects. And with the acquisition of our second large undeveloped silver project, Montanore, we expect to generate additional value in the future."

Net income applicable to common shareholders for the third quarter was $25.7 million, or $0.07 per share, compared to a net loss applicable to common shareholders of $10.0 million, or $0.03 per share, for the same period a year ago, the result mainly due to the following items:

• Sales were 71% higher than the third quarter of 2015, mainly due to 67% increase in silver production and 19% increase in gold production, as well as higher silver and gold prices.
• Cost of sales and other direct production costs and depreciation, depletion and amortization ("cost of sales") of $120.7 million was higher by 12% mainly due to San Sebastian being in commercial production.
• Cash cost, after by-product credits, per silver ounce decreased to $3.68 from $7.52, or 51% over the prior year period, mainly due to the addition of silver production at San Sebastian and higher silver production at Greens Creek and Lucky Friday.⁶
• Cash cost, after by-product credits, per gold ounce increased to $915 from $793, or 15% over the prior year period principally due to the expensing of stripping costs, which were previously capitalized, for the new East Mine Crown Pillar ("EMCP") pit.⁶
• A $2.4 million foreign exchange gain compared to a $9.1 million foreign exchange gain in the prior year period due primarily to strengthening of the Canadian dollar on deferred tax assets.
• Income tax provision of $9.5 million versus a benefit of $5.5 million in the prior year due to higher taxable income this quarter and the recording of a valuation allowance against the future benefit of U.S. net operating losses in the prior year.

Higher production and metals prices resulted in cash provided by operating activities of $87.0 million, $60.2 million higher compared to the third quarter of 2015.

Capital expenditures (excluding capitalized interest) at the operations totaled $42.0 million for the third quarter 2016. Expenditures were $17.6 million at Casa Berardi, $14.2 million at Greens Creek, $9.7 million at Lucky Friday, and $0.5 million at San Sebastian.

Metals Prices

The average realized silver price in the third quarter was $19.53 per ounce, 34% higher than the $14.54 price realized in the third quarter of 2015. The average realized gold price in the third quarter was $1,341 per ounce, 20% higher than the prior year period. Realized lead and zinc prices also increased by 10%, and 22%, respectively, from the third quarter of 2015.

Base Metals Forward Sales Contracts

There is no quantity of base metals committed under financially settled forward sales contracts for forecasted future sales at September 30, 2016.

OPERATIONS OVERVIEW

Overview

The following table provides the production, cost of sales, and cash cost, after by-product credits, per silver and gold ounce summary for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015:

The following table provides the production summary on a consolidated basis for the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015:

Greens Creek Mine - Alaska

Silver production of 2,445,328 ounces increased 22.8% and gold production of 11,988 ounces decreased 16.6% over the prior year period. Increased silver production resulted from higher grades, while gold production was lower due to slightly lower ore grades and throughput. The mill operated at an average of 2,201 tons per day (tpd) in the third quarter 2016.

The cost of sales was $58.4 million, and the cash cost, after by-product credits, per silver ounce of $4.80 decreased slightly from $4.82 in the third quarter 2015.⁶

The estimated 2016 silver production is increased to 8.5 million ounces and gold production remains unchanged at 53,000 ounces.

Lucky Friday Mine - Idaho

Silver production of 887,364 ounces was 49.8% higher than the third quarter of 2015 due to higher grades and ore throughput in the current period and ventilation repairs made in the prior year period. The mill operated at an average of 809 tpd in the third quarter 2016.

The cost of sales was $19.5 million, and the cash cost, after by-product credits, per silver ounce of $9.07, decreased from $16.60 per ounce in the third quarter of 2015.⁶ This decrease was principally due to higher silver production as a result of mining higher-grade material.

The focus of the #4 Shaft Project, having reached its final depth of 9,600 feet below surface in early May, is on equipping the shaft with steel sets, guides, skip loading facilities and electrical infrastructure. The work is proceeding as planned, with commissioning expected to begin by year end.

The estimated 2016 silver production is increased to 3.4 million ounces.

Casa Berardi - Quebec

Gold production of 31,949 ounces was 9.2% higher than the third quarter of 2015 due to higher ore throughput and mill recoveries. The mill operated at an average of 2,805 tpd in the third quarter 2016. The Company has received a permit to increase production to 1,250,000 tonnes (1,378,000 tons) per year from 1,100,000 tonnes (1,213,000 tons) per year, and with minimal changes to the plant, we have seen record production days in the third quarter over 3,400 tonnes per day (3,750 tpd).

The cost of sales was $36.3 million, and the cash cost, after by-product credits, per gold ounce of $915, increased from $793 in the third quarter of 2015 due to the expensing of stripping costs for the new EMCP pit that were capitalized in previous quarters before ore was encountered.³

The estimated 2016 gold production is unchanged from 145,000 ounces (surface and underground). The estimated 2016 cash cost, after by-product credits, per gold ounce has been increased to $750 from $700 to reflect expensing of stripping costs.

San Sebastian - Mexico

Silver production was 975,610 ounces at a cost of sales of $6.5 million, and a cash cost, after by-product credits, of ($4.03) per ounce in the third full quarter of production since reopening.⁶ The strong cash cost, after by-product credit, performance was due to the production of 8,189 ounces of gold, which is used as a by-product credit. The mill operated at an average of 437 tpd in the third quarter 2016.

The estimated production for 2016 remains unchanged from prior estimates at 4.35 million ounces of silver and 35,000 ounces of gold. The estimated 2016 cash cost, after by-product credits, per silver ounce has been reduced to ($2.00) from $1.00.

The Company is working on a plan to transition from open pit to underground mining around the end of 2017. The mill has been secured for a third year (2018) and studies are underway to incorporate recent discoveries of high-grade material into an underground mine plan.

EXPLORATION AND PRE-DEVELOPMENT

Expenditures

Exploration and pre-development expenses were $3.9 million and $0.6 million, respectively, in the third quarter of 2016. This is a decrease of $1.7 million and $1.1 million, respectively, compared to the third quarter 2015 as a result of reduced discretionary spending in exploration and pre-development expenses. Full year exploration and pre-development expenses are expected to be about $19 million.

The Company’s exploration efforts are focused on discovering high-grade deposits near its existing operations, particularly at San Sebastian, where the results continue to be encouraging. As a result of consistent exploration success over the last ten years across all projects, the level of reserves has shown a remarkable resilience despite changes in commodity prices; production has been replaced and reserves have grown steadily. A summary of this activity in the quarter is provided below.

San Sebastian - Mexico

Exploration activities at San Sebastian are focused on defining extensions to the current open pits and identifying new resources that could prolong high-margin precious metals production. Shallow drilling along strike and below the current Middle and North vein pits have cut vein extensions and in combination with past drilling show intervals of near-surface mineralization beyond the current open pits that may represent an opportunity to expand and possibly connect the Middle and North vein pits.

Drilling of the West Middle Vein approximately 1,200 to 2,400 feet west from the current Middle Vein pit has confirmed the continuity of a new zone of high-grade mineralization that is being upgraded to indicated resource category. This high-grade zone is over 1,250 feet in strike length and located about 350 to 800 feet below surface. Assay results from West Middle Vein drilling in the quarter include 0.24 oz/ton gold and 50.1 oz/ton silver over 8.6 feet, and 0.60 oz/ton gold and 149.3 oz/ton silver over 2.7 feet. This zone is currently being evaluated for potential underground mining options and shallower portions of this zone may be amenable to open pit mining. The horizontal control of dominantly oxide with some supergene mineralization is open to the west and continues to be evaluated with step-out exploration drilling.

To the east and northeast of the East Francinepit, drilling continues on silver-bearing quartz vein and breccia extensions of the East Francine Vein. Current drilling has defined a 4 to 15-foot wide vein/breccia zone that can be traced for 800 feet and is best developed at 350 to 500 feet from surface. However, recent shallow drilling has defined this vein closer to surface. Drilling also continues on a new target area referred to as the West Francine Vein that is about 3,000 feet west of previous mining at the Francine Vein. Drilling has defined a continuous vein with over 1,600 feet of strike length that varies in thickness from 2 to 16-feet wide and the vein is open in all directions. Drilling to the east will likely connect this veining with the current western extent of the Francine resource. Most of the additional 2016 exploration spending at San Sebastian is expected to follow up on results on the Middle and West Francine veins.

Casa Berardi - Quebec

During the third quarter, drilling at Casa Berardi focused on both underground 118, 121, 123, 124 and Lower Inter zone targets, and near surface targets at the 124 and 134 zones. Up to six drills have been operating underground and two on surface.

Drilling of the upper 118 Zone from the 530 level down to the 610 level has defined multiple shear zones that extend for over 1,000 feet down-plunge and include a series of continuous mineralized intervals up to 0.47 oz/ton gold with good mining widths. This zone continues to plunge to the west at depth and there is good potential to add both new reserves and resources. Drilling of the 121 Zone from the 790 level is a continuation of the high-grade 123 Zone to the west but recent drilling shows that the zone is also open both up-plunge above the 710 level with an intercept of 0.21 oz/ton over 17.4 feet and down-plunge below the 810 level with an intersection of 0.22 oz/ton gold over 24.1 feet.

Drilling of the 123 Zone from the 870 level continues to intercept high-grade mineralization, including 0.77 oz/ton gold over 7.5 feet along western vein extensions that are open to exploration. Underground exploration drilling is in progress at the west end of the mine off the 360 Drift to refine and expand four distinct mineralized zones. Recent drilling has intersected mineralization in the 104 Zone below the Lower Inter Zone.

Surface and underground drilling of the 124 Zone has identified high-grade lenses with continuity up to 350 feet of strike length. Recent drilling of the 124 Zone from the 290 level included intersections of 0.47 oz/ton gold over 4.6 feet. Surface drilling of the 134 Zone to the east of the proposed Principal pit has intersected mineralization with good continuity at and north of the Casa Berardi Fault. These broad zones of mineralization vary in width from 150 to 330 feet and intersections include 0.10 oz/ton gold over 69.6 feet and 0.11 oz/ton gold over 21.7 feet within 350 feet of surface.

Greens Creek - Alaska

At Greens Creek, definition drilling is refining the resources of the 9A, Upper Southwest, East Ore and NWW zones for expected conversion to reserves. Recent definition drilling of the 9A Zone confirmed continuity of the mineralization and refined the geometry to the south end of the resource model. Drill intersections of the 9A Zone include 21.6 oz/ton silver, 0.03 oz/ton gold, 20.7% zinc, and 7.0% lead over 15.3 feet.

Drilling of the southern portion of the NWW Zone defined mineralization of similar overall geometry as the resource model but thinner and of slightly lesser extent in places. Mineralization is present primarily along the lower fold, spanning from the fold nose to the upper limb and is represented by multiple distinct mineralized bands near the mine contact. Recent drill intersections include 55.3 oz/ton silver, 0.51 oz/ton gold, 4.1% zinc, and 2.3% lead over 10.0 feet. In addition, definition drilling of the Upper Southwest Zone around previously mined levels has identified mineralization that could be incorporated into a future mine plan. Recent drill intersections include 46.9 oz/ton silver, 0.03 oz/ton gold, 15.1% zinc, and 7.9% lead over 13.3 feet. Initial definition drilling of the East Ore Zone shows that overall the mineralization is thinner than expected compared to the model, but this drilling is now advancing into the stronger mineralized portions of the resource to the north and south. Revised resource models for the 5250, 9A, West, NWW and Deep 200 South zones are expected by the end of the year and all will likely contribute to increased reserves.

Exploration drilling of the Gallagher Zone at the southwest corner of the mine is defining a new flat-lying zone just west of the Gallagher Fault about 450 feet beneath the current Gallagher Zone resource. This drilling has also moved the location of the Gallagher fault further east than originally interpreted, allowing room into which this mineralization could be extended. Additional drilling in the near future should systematically test for the down-plunge extent of this mineralization with extensions of Gallagher exploration drillholes. Drilling of the upper limb of the Southwest Bench fold has defined an intermittent mineralized contact and lies along trend of the upper 5250 Zone and middle Southwest Zone trends of mineralization opening up a new area for possible expansion of resources.

More complete drill assay highlights from San Sebastian, Casa Berardi, and Greens Creek can be found in Table A at the end of the release.

Other Properties

At the Rock Creek and Montanore projects in Montana, validation and check assay work including the integration of data for revised resource models is nearly complete. From these revised resource models, future definition and exploration programs will be developed for implementation if the projects are successfully permitted.

2016 ESTIMATES

For the full year 2016, the Company increased its production estimates at Greens Creek and Lucky Friday. It also lowered the cash cost, after by-product credits, per silver ounce, estimate at San Sebastian and increased the cash cost, after by-product credits, per gold ounce, estimate at Casa Berardi. The Company currently estimates:

DIVIDENDS

TheBoard of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.0025 per share of common stock, payable on or about December 2, 2016, to stockholders of record on November 21, 2016. The realized silver price was $19.53 in the third quarter and therefore did not satisfy the criteria for a larger dividend under the Company's dividend policy.

The Board of Directors also declared the regular quarterly dividend of $0.875 per share on the 157,816 outstanding shares of Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock. This represents a total amount to be paid of approximately $138,000. The cash dividend is payable on or about January 2, 2017, to shareholders of record on December 15, 2016.

CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST

A conference call and webcast will be held Tuesday, November 8, at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss these results. You may join the conference call by dialing toll-free 1-855-760-8158 or for international by dialing 1-720-634-2922. 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

Founded in 1891, Hecla Mining Company (NYSE:HL) is a leading low-cost U.S. silver producer with operating mines in Alaska, Idaho, and Mexico and is a growing gold producer with an operating mine in Quebec, Canada. The Company also has exploration and pre-development properties in seven 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.

NOTES

⁽¹⁾ Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measurement, a reconciliation of which to net income (loss), the most comparable GAAP measure, can be found at the end of the release. Adjusted EBITDA is a measure used by management to evaluate the Company's operating performance but should not be considered an alternative to net income (loss), or cash provided by operating activities as those terms are defined by GAAP, and does not necessarily indicate whether cash flows will be sufficient to fund cash needs. In addition, the Company may use it when formulating performance goals and targets under its incentive program.

⁽²⁾ Free cash flow is a non-GAAP measurement used by management to analyze cash flows generated from operations. It is calculated as cash provided by operating activities (GAAP) less additions to properties, plants equipment and mineral interests (GAAP). The Company believes free cash flow is also useful as one of the bases for comparing the Company's performance with its competitors. Although free cash flow and similar measures are frequently used as measures of cash flows generated from operations by other companies, the Company's calculation of free cash flow is not necessarily comparable to such other similarly titled captions of other companies. Does not include $16 million of insurance proceeds for the Troy Mine reclamation.

⁽³⁾ Silver or gold equivalent production includes silver, gold, lead and zinc production from Lucky Friday, Greens Creek, San Sebastian and Casa Berardi converted using average realized prices for the quarter.

⁽⁴⁾ Net debt to adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measurement, a reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA and net debt to the closest GAAP measurements of net income (loss) and debt can be found at the end of the release. It is an important measure for management to measure relative indebtedness and the ability to service the debt relative to its peers. It is calculated as total debt outstanding less total cash on hand divided by adjusted EBITDA.

⁽⁵⁾ The estimates of future cash cost, after by-product credits, per silver ounce or gold ounce (non-GAAP) are made applying management’s judgment and experience to forecasted metals and prices, inventory changes, performance year to date and expectations for the remainder of the year. It is not calculated from the GAAP measure of costs of sales, which is not available, and therefore providing a reconciliation to it requires an unreasonable effort.

⁽⁶⁾ Cash cost, after by-product credits, per silver and gold ounce represents a non-GAAP measurement, a reconciliation of which to cost of sales and other direct production costs and depreciation, depletion and amortization (sometimes referred to as "cost of sales" in this release), can be found at the end of the release. It is an important operating statistic that management utilizes to measure each mine's operating performance. It also allows the benchmarking of performance of each mines versus those of our competitors. As a primary silver mining company, management also uses the statistic on an aggregate basis - aggregating the Greens Creek, Lucky Friday and San Sebastian mines - to compare performance with that of other primary silver mining companies. With regard to Casa Berardi, management uses cash cost, after by-product credits, per gold ounce to compare its performance with other gold mines. Similarly, the statistic is useful in identifying acquisition and investment opportunities as it provides a common tool for measuring the financial performance of other mines with varying geologic, metallurgical and operating characteristics. In addition, the Company may use it when formulating performance goals and targets under its incentive program.

⁽⁷⁾ Cash cost, after by-product credits, per gold ounce is only applicable to Casa Berardi production. Gold produced from Greens Creek is treated as a by-product credit against the silver cash cost.

⁽⁸⁾ Silver or gold equivalent production includes silver, gold, lead and zinc production from Lucky Friday, Greens Creek, San Sebastian and Casa Berardi converted using the following metal price assumptions: Au $1,150/oz, Ag $15/oz, Zn $0.75/lb, Pb $0.80/lb; USD/CAD assumed at 0.75, USD/MXN at $0.06.

⁽⁹⁾ 2016E refers to the Company's estimates for 2016.

Cautionary Statements to Investors on Forward-Looking Statements, including 2016 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, sales and shareholder value; (ii) the ability to convert resources to reserves at Greens Creek; (iii) guidance for 2016 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 $1,150/oz, silver at $15/oz, zinc at $0.75/lb, lead at $0.80/lb; USD/CAD assumed at 0.75, USD/MXN at $0.06$1,225/oz.); (iv) expectations regarding the development, growth and exploration potential of the Company’s projects (including the San Sebastian property); (v) expectations of growth; (vi) the ability to convert resources to reserves at Casa Berardi and to add them to the mine plan; (vii) the possibility of increasing production at Casa Berardi due to the EMCP; (viii) possible strike extensions of veins at the San Sebastian project and ability to extend the mine's life with surface or underground mining and (ix) expectation of beginning commissioning of the #4 Shaft by the end of 2016 and total estimated cost of the project. 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 2015 Form 10-K, filed on February 23, 2016 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, 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"), and for the San Sebastian Mine are contained in a technical report prepared for Hecla titled “Technical Report for the San Sebastian Ag-Au Property, Durango, Mexico" effective date September 8, 2015. Also included in these four 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 cost of sales and other direct production costs and depreciation, depletion and amortization (GAAP) to cash cost, after by-product credits 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 Cost of Sales and Other Direct Production Costs and Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization (GAAP) to Cash Cost, Before By-product Credits, per Ounce and Cash Cost, After By-product Credits, per Ounce (non-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, Lucky Friday, and San Sebastian 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 tables calculates cash cost, before by-product credits, per silver ounce and cash cost, after by-product credits, per Silver ounce (in thousands, except ounce and per ounce amounts):

The following table calculates cash cost, before by-product credits, per gold ounce and cash cost, after by-product credits, per Gold ounce (in thousands, except ounce and 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, before by-product revenues earned from all metals other than the primary metal produced at each unit.

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

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 (non-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 (loss) before the following items: interest expense, income tax provision, depreciation, depletion, and amortization expense, exploration expense, pre-development expense, acquisition 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:

Reconciliations of Net Income (Loss) and Debt to Adjusted EBITDA (last 12 months) and Net Debt (non-GAAP)

This release refers to the non-GAAP measure of net debt to adjusted EBITDA for the last 12 months (or "LTM adjusted EBITDA"), which is a measure of our ability to service our debt. Net debt is calculated as total debt, which consists of the liability balances for our Senior Notes, capital leases, and other notes payable, less the total of our cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments balances, as of the period-end date. LTM adjusted EBITDA is calculated as net income (loss) before the following items for the preceding 12-month period: interest expense, income tax provision, depreciation, depletion, and amortization expense, exploration expense, pre-development expense, acquisition 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, net debt to LTM adjusted EBITDA is useful in evaluating our level of indebtedness and ability to service our debt relative to our peers. The following table reconciles net income (loss) and debt to LTM adjusted EBITDA and net debt, and provides the calculation of net debt to LTM adjusted EBITDA:

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

This release refers to a non-GAAP measure of free cash flow, calculated as cash provided by operating activities, less additions to properties, plants, equipment and mineral interests and a one-time item for settlement of an insurance policy for reclamation of the Troy Mine. Management believes that, when presented in conjunction with comparable GAAP measures, free cash flow is useful to investors in evaluating our operating performance. The following table reconciles cash provided by operating activities to free cash flow: