Attached files

file filename
8-K/A - FORM 8-K/A - HECLA MINING CO/DE/hl20140129_8ka.htm

 

Exhibit 99.1

 

 

 

  

NEWS RELEASE

 

 

HECLA REPORTS PRELIMINARY 2013 PRODUCTION RESULTS OF

8.9 MILLION OUNCES OF SILVER AND 120,000 OUNCES OF GOLD

An increase of 39% and 116%, respectively, over 2012;

Expect 9.5 to 10 million ounces of silver and 180,000 ounces of gold production in 2014 1

 

For Release: January 29, 2014

 

COEUR D'ALENE, IDAHO -- Hecla Mining Company (NYSE:HL) today announced preliminary production results¹ for the fourth quarter and full year 2013.  

 

 

FOURTH QUARTER AND 2013 PRODUCTION HIGHLIGHTS 

Production

Fourth Quarter 2013

2013

Silver

2.5 million ounces - up 9% over Q3/13 and 20% over Q4/12

8.9 million ounces - up 39% over 2012 and upper end of 8-9 million ounce guidance

Gold

47,108 ounces - up 27% over Q3/13 and 203% over Q4/12

119,989 ounces - up 116% over 20122

Greens Creek

1.8 million ounces of silver - down 12% from Q4/12

7.4 million ounces of silver - up 16% over 2012

Lucky Friday

642,224 ounces of silver - up 34% over Q3/13

1.5 million ounces of silver

Casa Berardi

32,386 ounces of gold - up 38% over Q3/13

62,532 ounces of gold 

 

 

“During the fourth quarter Hecla achieved significant milestones with Greens Creek continuing its strong production, Lucky Friday back to normalized operations and Casa Berardi improving production and costs,” said Phillips S. Baker, Jr., Hecla’s President and CEO. “We look forward to strong, low-cost production from our three mines in 2014, remaining focused on reducing risk, increasing consistency of mine production and extending mine life. We have $212 million in cash at the end of 2013, and plan to spend within Adjusted EBITDA in 2014, which should allow us to maintain our strong financial position.”

 

Hecla expects to report its full fourth quarter and 2013 financial results on February 19, 2014. 

 

 

 

 

 


(1) See cautionary statement regarding preliminary statements at the end of this release.
(2) Increase in gold production due primarily to acquisition of Aurizon Mines Ltd. on June 1, 2013.

 

Hecla Mining Company • 1-800-432-5291• hmc-info@hecla-mining.com

 

 
1

 

 

OPERATIONS OVERVIEW 

Average consolidated fourth quarter cash cost, after by-product credits, per silver ounce3 was $7.33, compared to $3.45 in the same period in 2012, due largely to the addition of Lucky Friday production and higher silver production at Greens Creek relative to by-product metal production. The following table provides the production and cost per ounce summary on a consolidated basis for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2013 and 2012:

 

     

Fourth Quarter Ended

   

Twelve Months Ended

 
     

December 31,

2013

   

December 31,

2012

   

December 31,

2013

   

December 31,

2012

 

PRODUCTION SUMMARY

                         

Silver -

Ounces produced

    2,488,722       2,081,328       8,919,728       6,394,235  
 

Payable ounces sold

    2,088,650       1,538,162       8,019,299       5,430,252  

Gold -

Ounces produced

    47,108       15,563       119,989       55,496  
 

Payable ounces sold

    40,861       10,828       104,489       43,133  

Lead -

Tons produced

    9,347       5,848       30,374       21,074  
 

Payable tons sold

    7,601       3,945       25,432       15,733  

Zinc -

Tons produced

    16,417       15,584       61,406       64,249  
 

Payable tons sold

    11,117       12,583       42,509       50,895  
                                   

Cash cost, before by-product credits, per silver ounce1

  $ 28.05     $ 28.16     $ 28.56     $ 32.55  

By-product credits per silver ounce

  $ (20.72

)

  $ (24.71

)

  $ (21.72

)

  $ (29.85

)

                                 

Cash cost, after by-product credits, per silver ounce1

  $ 7.33     $ 3.45     $ 6.84     $ 2.70  
                                 

Cash cost, before by-product credits, per gold ounce1

  $ 827.70     $     $ 954.98     $  

By-product credits per gold ounce

  $ (3.46

)

  $     $ (4.19

)

  $  
                                 

Cash cost, after by-product credits, per gold ounce1

  $ 824.24     $     $ 950.79     $  

 

 

(1)

Non-GAAP measure. See the attached schedule for a reconciliation to GAAP. Cash cost, after by-product credits, per silver and gold ounce, for the fourth quarter and year end 2013 are considered preliminary and could change based on final audited financial results.

 

Greens Creek Silver Mine - Alaska

 

Greens Creek produced silver at a cash cost, after by-product credits, per silver ounce of $5.15 in the fourth quarter of 2013 and $4.42 for the full year 2013, compared to $3.45 and $2.70 per silver ounce in the fourth quarter of 2012 and full year 2012, respectively. The higher costs in 2013 reflected higher silver production relative to by-product metal production. The mill operated at an average of 2,206 tons per day in 2013, which is the highest daily average since the mine began operations in 1989.

 

Lucky Friday Silver Mine - Idaho  

  

The Lucky Friday mine, which re-opened in February 2013 after 14 months of rehabilitation and enhancement, produced silver at a cash cost, after by-product credits, per silver ounce of $13.59 in the fourth quarter and $19.21 for the full year 2013. Costs were higher than anticipated due in part to slower production ramp-up and severe winter weather in December preventing 10 days of production. The mill throughput rate averaged 827 tons per day in the fourth quarter.

 

 

 

 


 

(3)

Cash cost, after by-product credits, per silver and gold ounce is a non-GAAP measurement, a reconciliation of which to cost of sales and other direct production costs and depreciation, depletion and amortization (GAAP) can be found at the end of this release. Cash cost, after by-product credits, per silver and gold ounce, for the fourth quarter and year end 2013 are considered preliminary and could change based on final audited financial results.

 

Hecla Mining Company • 1-800-432-5291• hmc-info@hecla-mining.com

 

 
2

 

 

Casa Berardi Gold Mine - Quebec

 

The Casa Berardi mine, acquired June 1, 2013, produced gold in the fourth quarter at a cash cost, after by-product credits, per gold ounce of $824, compared to $1,155 and $1,067, in the second and third quarters of 2013, respectively, and compared to guidance for the fourth quarter of $950 per gold ounce. For the seven-month period under Hecla ownership, the mine produced gold at a cash cost, after by-product credits, per gold ounce of $951.

 

The increased gold production and lower costs during the year were due in part to the development of new, higher grade stopes in the 118 and 113 Zones. The mill throughput rate averaged 1,974 tons per day in the fourth quarter. 

 

2014 Guidance

 

For the full year 2014, based on current metals prices, the Company expects:

 

 

Mine

 

2014E Silver

Production (Moz)

 

2014E Gold

Production (oz)

 

Cash cost, after by-product

credits, per silver/gold ounce1

Greens Creek

6.5 – 7.0

55,000

$6.00

Lucky Friday

3.0

n/a

$9.00

Casa Berardi

n/a

125,000

$900 per gold oz

Company-wide

9.5 – 10.0

180,000

N/A

 

2014E capital expenditures (excluding capitalized interest)

$150 million

2014E pre-development and exploration expenditures

$18 million

 

(1)

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.

 

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 Regarding Preliminary Results

All measures of the Company's fourth quarter and 2013 financial results and condition contained in the news release, including sales and costs, are preliminary and reflect the Companys expected 2013 results as of the date of the news release. Actual reported fourth quarter and 2013 results are subject to management's final review as well as audit by the Company's independent registered accounting firm and may vary significantly from those expectations because of a number of factors, including, without limitation, additional or revised information and changes in accounting standards or policies or in how those standards are applied.

 

  

Hecla Mining Company • 1-800-432-5291• hmc-info@hecla-mining.com

 

 
3

 

 

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Statements

Statements made or information provided in this news release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities laws. Words such as “may”, “will”, “should”, “expects”, “intends”, “projects”, “believes”, “estimates”, “targets”, “anticipates” and similar expressions are used to identify these forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information include statements or information regarding estimates of full year 2013 production, sales and costs, anticipated production and production cost targets, cost reductions and efficiencies at the Company’s mines, anticipated liquidity, capital projects, anticipated positive future cash flow, commencement of operation of the #4 Shaft at Lucky Friday, and anticipated capital expenditures, pre-development expenditures and exploration expenditures for 2013. The material factors or assumptions used to develop such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information include that 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, to which the Company’s operations are subject.

 

Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, anticipated, expected or implied. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, metals price volatility, volatility of metals production and costs, litigation, regulatory and environmental risks, operating risks, project development risks, political risks, labor issues, ability to raise financing and exploration risks and results. Refer to the Company's Form 10-K and 10-Q reports for a more detailed discussion of factors that may impact expected future results. The Company undertakes no obligation and has no intention of updating forward-looking statements other than as may be required by law.

 

For further information, please contact:

 

800-HECLA91 (800-432-5291)

Investor Relations               

Email: hmc-info@hecla-mining.com

Website: http://www.hecla-mining.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hecla Mining Company • 1-800-432-5291• hmc-info@hecla-mining.com

 

 
4

 

 

Production Data

 

 

   

Fourth Quarter Ended

   

Twelve Months Ended

 
   

December 31,

 2013

   

December 31,

2012

   

December 31,

2013

   

December 31,

2012

 

GREENS CREEK UNIT

                               

Tons of ore milled

    205,307       215,819       805,322       789,569  

Mining cost per ton

  $ 69.45     $ 69.28     $ 68.43     $ 64.05  

Milling cost per ton

  $ 31.62     $ 30.26     $ 33.92     $ 29.35  

Ore grade milled - Silver (oz./ton)

    12.52       13.14       13.04       11.13  

Ore grade milled - Gold (oz./ton)

    0.12       0.11       0.12       0.12  

Ore grade milled - Lead (%)

    3.20       3.48       3.33       3.49  

Ore grade milled - Zinc (%)

    8.41       8.31       8.47       9.35  

Silver produced (oz.)

    1,841,081       2,081,328       7,448,347       6,394,235  

Gold produced (oz.)

    14,722       15,563       57,457       55,496  

Lead produced (tons)

    4,959       5,848       20,114       21,074  

Zinc produced (tons)

    14,637       15,584       57,614       64,249  

Cash cost, after by-product credits, per silver ounce (1)

  $ 5.15     $ 3.45     $ 4.42     $ 2.70  

Capital additions (in thousands)

  $ 11,971     $ 17,936     $ 57,119     $ 62,184  

LUCKY FRIDAY UNIT

                               

Tons of ore processed

    76,128             174,331        

Mining cost per ton

  $ 86.76     $     $ 100.49     $  

Milling cost per ton

  $ 23.57     $     $ 29.74     $  

Ore grade milled - Silver (oz./ton)

    9.06             8.99        

Ore grade milled - Lead (%)

    6.07             6.19        

Ore grade milled - Zinc (%)

    2.80             2.69        

Silver produced (oz.)

    642,224             1,459,000        

Lead produced (tons)

    4,388             10,260        

Zinc produced (tons)

    1,780             3,793        

Cash cost, after by-product credits, per silver ounce (1)

  $ 13.59     $     $ 19.21     $  

Capital additions (in thousands)

  $ 13,077     $ 18,713     $ 55,902     $ 55,998  

CASA BERARDI UNIT

                               

Tons of ore milled

    184,897             387,608        

Mining cost per ton

  $ 118.47     $     $ 127.56     $  

Milling cost per ton

  $ 22.87     $     $ 23.02     $  

Ore grade milled - Gold (oz./ton)

    0.19             0.18        

Ore grade milled - Silver (oz./ton)

    0.032             0.036        

Silver produced (oz.)

    5,417             12,381        

Gold produced (oz.)

    32,386             62,532        

Cash cost, after by-product credits, per gold ounce (1)

  $ 824.23     $     $ 950.79     $  

Capital additions (in thousands)

  $ 17,216     $     $ 40,050     $  

 

 

(1) 

Cash cost, after by-product credits, per 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.

  

 

Hecla Mining Company • 1-800-432-5291• hmc-info@hecla-mining.com

 

 
5

 

 

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Measures to GAAP

(Unaudited)

 

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:

 

 

   

Total, Greens Creek and Lucky Friday

 
   

Three Months Ended
December 31,

   

Twelve Months Ended
December 31,

 
   

2013

   

2012

   

2013

   

2012

 

By-product value, all silver properties:

                               

Zinc

  $ 20,765     $ 19,940     $ 77,616     $ 84,087  

Gold

    15,491       22,200       66,907       75,860  

Lead

    15,205       9,293       48,973       30,969  

Total by-product credits

  $ 51,461     $ 51,433     $ 193,496     $ 190,916  
                                 

By-product credits per silver ounce, all silver properties

                               

Zinc

  $ 2.33     $ 2.24     $ 8.71     $ 13.15  

Gold

    1.74       2.49       7.51       11.86  

Lead

    1.71       1.04       5.50       4.85  

Total by-product credits

  $ 5.78     $ 5.77     $ 21.72     $ 29.86  

 

By-product credits included in our presentation of cash cost, after by-product credits, per gold ounce for our Casa Berardi Unit include:

 

   

Casa Berardi

 
   

Three Months Ended
December 31,

   

Twelve Months Ended
December 31,

 
   

2013

   

2013

 

Silver by-product value

  $ 112     $ 262  

Silver by-product credits per gold ounce

  $ 3.46     $ 4.19  

 

 

 

 

 

Hecla Mining Company • 1-800-432-5291• hmc-info@hecla-mining.com

  

 
6

 

  

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):

 

 

   

Total, Greens Creek and Lucky Friday

 
   

Three Months Ended

December 31,

   

Twelve Months Ended

December 31,

 
   

2013

   

2012

   

2013

   

2012

 

Total cash cost, before by-product credits (1)

  $ 69,673     $ 58,608     $ 254,460     $ 208,178  

By-product credits

    (51,461

)

    (51,433

)

    (193,496

)

    (190,916

)

Cash cost, after by-product credits

    18,212       7,175       60,964       17,262  

Divided by silver ounces produced

    2,483       2,081       8,907       6,394  

Cash cost, before by-product credits, per silver ounce

  $ 28.05     $ 28.16     $ 28.56     $ 32.55  

By-product credits per silver ounce

  $ (20.72

)

  $ (24.71

)

  $ (21.72

)

  $ (29.85

)

Total cash cost, after by-product credits, per ounce

  $ 7.33     $ 3.45     $ 6.84     $ 2.70  

Reconciliation to GAAP:

                               

Total cash cost, after by-product credits

  $ 18,212     $ 7,175     $ 60,964     $ 17,262  

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    16,468       12,381       63,098       43,522  

Treatment costs

    (20,769

)

    (21,145

)

    (76,824

)

    (73,355

)

By-product credits

    51,461       51,433       193,496       190,916  

Change in product inventory

    (4,085

)

    (3,343

)

    (246

)

    (1,381

)

Suspension-related costs

                       

Reclamation and other costs

    727       562       2,100       663  

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

  $ 62,014     $ 47,063     $ 242,588     $ 177,627  

 

 

   

Greens Creek Unit

 
   

Three Months Ended

December 31,

   

Twelve Months Ended

December 31,

 
   

2013

   

2012

   

2013

   

2012

 

Total cash cost, before by-product credits (1)

  $ 50,906     $ 58,608     $ 203,496     $ 208,178  

By-product credits

    (41,425

)

    (51,433

)

    (170,563

)

    (190,916

)

Cash cost, after by-product credits

    9,481       7,175       32,933       17,262  

Divided by silver ounces produced

    1,841       2,081       7,448       6,394  

Cash cost, before by-product credits, per silver ounce

  $ 27.65     $ 28.16     $ 27.32     $ 32.55  

By-product credits per silver ounce

  $ (22.50

)

  $ (24.72

)

  $ (22.90

)

  $ (29.85

)

Total cash cost, after by-product credits, per ounce

  $ 5.15     $ 3.45     $ 4.42     $ 2.70  

Reconciliation to GAAP:

                               

Total cash cost, after by-product credits

  $ 9,481     $ 7,175     $ 32,933     $ 17,262  

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    14,149       12,381       55,265       43,522  

Treatment costs

    (16,766

)

    (21,146

)

    (67,341

)

    (73,355

)

By-product credits

    41,425       51,433       170,563       190,916  

Change in product inventory

    (5,133

)

    (3,343

)

    159       (1,381

)

Reclamation and other costs

    634       563       1,947       663  

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

  $ 43,790     $ 47,063     $ 193,526     $ 177,627  

 

 

 

 

 

Hecla Mining Company • 1-800-432-5291• hmc-info@hecla-mining.com 

 

 
7

 

 

 

   

Lucky Friday Unit (2)

 
   

Three Months Ended

December 31,

   

Twelve Months Ended

December 31,

 
   

2013

   

2012

   

2013

   

2012

 

Total cash cost, before by-product credits (1)

  $ 18,766     $     $ 50,964     $  

By-product credits

    (10,036

)

          (22,933

)

     

Cash cost, after by-product credits

    8,730             28,031        

Divided by silver ounces produced

    642             1,459        

Cash cost, before by-product credits, per silver ounce

  $ 29.22     $     $ 34.93     $  

By-product credits per silver ounce

  $ (15.63

)

  $     $ (15.72

)

  $  

Total cash cost, after by-product credits, per ounce

  $ 13.59     $     $ 19.21     $  

Reconciliation to GAAP:

                               

Total cash cost, after by-product credits

  $ 8,730     $     $ 28,031     $  

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    2,319             7,833        

Treatment costs

    (4,002

)

        $ (9,482

)

     

By-product credits

    10,036             22,933        

Change in product inventory

    1,048           $ (405

)

     

Suspension-related costs (2)

                       

Reclamation and other costs

    92             153        

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

  $ 18,223     $     $ 49,063     $  

 

 

 

   

Casa Berardi Unit (3)

 
   

Three Months Ended

December 31,

   

Twelve Months Ended

December 31,

 
   

2013

   

2012

   

2013

   

2012

 

Cash cost, before by-product credits (1)

  $ 26,806     $     $ 59,717     $  

By-product credits

    (112

)

          (262

)

     

Cash cost, after by-product credits

    26,694             59,455        

Divided by gold ounces produced

    32.39             62.53        

Cash cost, before by-product credits, per gold ounce

  $ 827.70     $     $ 954.98     $  

By-product credits per gold ounce

  $ (3.46

)

  $     $ (4.19

)

  $  

Cash cost, after by-product credits, per gold ounce

  $ 824.24     $     $ 950.79     $  

Reconciliation to GAAP:

                               

Cash cost, after by-product credits

  $ 26,694     $     $ 59,455     $  

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    11,435             18,029        

Treatment costs

    (143

)

          (268

)

     

By-product credits

    112             262        

Change in product inventory

    (723

)

          (3,766

)

     

Reclamation and other costs

    60             142        

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

  $ 37,435     $     $ 73,854     $  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hecla Mining Company • 1-800-432-5291• hmc-info@hecla-mining.com 

 

 
8

 

 

 

 

   

Total, All Locations

 
   

Three Months Ended

December 31,

   

Twelve Months Ended

December 31,

 
   

2013

   

2012

   

2013

   

2012

 

Reconciliation to GAAP:

                               
                                 

Cash cost, after by-product credits

  $ 44,906     $ 7,175     $ 120,419     $ 17,262  

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

    27,903       12,381       81,127       43,522  

Treatment costs

    (20,912

)

    (21,145

)

    (77,092

)

    (73,355

)

By-product credits

    51,573       51,433       193,758       190,916  

Change in product inventory

    (4,809

)

    (3,343

)

    (4,012

)

    (1,381

)

Reclamation and other costs

    787       562       2,243       662  
                                 

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

  $ 99,448     $ 47,063     $ 316,443     $ 177,626  

 

 

(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)

Production was temporarily suspended at the Lucky Friday Unit during 2012 as work was performed to rehabilitate the Silver Shaft, the primary access from surface to the underground workings at the Lucky Friday mine. Care and maintenance income and expense related to the suspension of production at the Lucky Friday have been excluded from the calculation of cash cost, before by-product credits for the three- and twelve-month periods ended December 31, 2013 and 2012.

 

 

(3)

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hecla Mining Company • 1-800-432-5291• hmc-info@hecla-mining.com 

 

 

9