UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, DC 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

C URRENT R EPORT

P URSUANT TO S ECTION  13 OR 15(d)

OF T HE S ECURITIES E XCHANGE A CT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 23, 2016

 

 

HECLA MINING COMPANY

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   1-8491   77-0664171

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

6500 North Mineral Drive, Suite 200

Coeur d’Alene, Idaho 83815-9408

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

(208) 769-4100

(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

N/A

(Former name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 


Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On February 23, 2016, Hecla Mining Company (the “Company”) entered into an Equity Distribution Agreement (the “Agreement”) with BMO Capital Markets Corp. (“BMOCM”). Pursuant to the terms of the Agreement, the Company may offer and sell shares of common stock, par value $0.25 par value (the “Shares”), having an aggregate offering price of up to $75,000,000 from time to time through or to BMOCM. Sales of the Shares, if any, would be made by means of ordinary brokers’ transaction, as otherwise agreed between the Company and BMOCM or to BMOCM as principal. BMOCM will receive from the Company a commission equal to 2% of the gross sales proceeds of the Shares sold.

The Shares are registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), pursuant to the Company’s shelf registration statement (File No. 333-209652) (the “Registration Statement”) on Form S-3, which was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 23, 2016.

The Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and agreements of the Company, and customary obligations of the parties and termination provisions. The Agreement is filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K, and the description of the Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to such exhibit.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

  (d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

1.1    Equity Distribution Agreement, dated as of February 23, 2016, by and among Hecla Mining Company and BMO Capital Markets Corp.
5.1    Opinion of K&L Gates LLP
23.1    Consent of K&L Gates LLP (contained in Exhibit 5.1)


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

Dated: February 23, 2016     Hecla Mining Company
    By:   /s/ David C. Sienko
      David C. Sienko
      Vice President & General Counsel

EXHIBIT 1.1

HECLA MINING COMPANY

Common Stock, $0.25 par value per share

EQUITY DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

February 23, 2016

BMO Capital Markets Corp.

3 Times Square

New York, New York 10036

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Hecla Mining Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), confirms its agreement (this “Agreement”) with BMO Capital Markets Corp., a Delaware corporation (“BMOCM”), with respect to the issuance and sale from time to time by the Company of shares (the “Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, $0.25 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), having an aggregate offering price of up to $75,000,000 (the “Maximum Amount”) through or to BMOCM, as sales agent or principal, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Agreement.

The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-209652) for the registration of the Shares (the “registration statement”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Rules and Regulations”). The Registration Statement (as defined below) sets forth the material terms of the offering, sale and plan of distribution of the Shares and contains additional information concerning the Company and its business. Except where the context otherwise requires, the term “Registration Statement” means the registration statement, as amended at the time of the registration statement’s effectiveness for purposes of Section 11 of the Act, as such section applies to BMOCM, including (i) all documents filed as a part thereof or incorporated, or deemed to be incorporated, by reference therein and (ii) any information contained or incorporated by reference in a prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations, to the extent such information is deemed, pursuant to Rule 430B or Rule 430C of the Rules and Regulations, to be part of the registration statement at the effective time. Except where the context requires, the term “Basic Prospectus” means the prospectus dated February 23, 2016, filed as part of the Registration Statement, including the documents incorporated by reference therein as of the date of such prospectus. Except where the context otherwise requires, the term “Prospectus Supplement” means the most recent prospectus supplement relating to the Shares, to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations on or before the second business day after the date hereof (or such earlier time as may be required under the Act), in the form furnished by the Company to BMOCM in connection with the offering of the Shares. Except where the context otherwise requires, the term “Prospectus” means the Prospectus Supplement (and any additional prospectus supplement prepared in accordance with the last sentence of Section 3(bb) and filed

 

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in accordance with the provisions of Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations), together with the Basic Prospectus attached to or used with the Prospectus Supplement. “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(g). Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus shall, unless otherwise stated, be deemed to refer to and include the documents, if any, incorporated, or deemed to be incorporated, by reference therein (the “Incorporated Documents”), including, unless the context otherwise requires, the documents, if any, filed as exhibits to such Incorporated Documents. Any reference herein to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus shall, unless stated otherwise, be deemed to refer to and include the filing of any document under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Exchange Act”) on or after the initial effective date of the Registration Statement or the date of the Basic Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus or such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, and deemed to be incorporated therein by reference.

The Company confirms its agreement with BMOCM as follows:

1. Sale and Delivery of the Shares.

(a) Agency Transactions. On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company and BMOCM agree that the Company may issue and sell through BMOCM, as sales agent for the Company, the Shares (an “Agency Transaction”) as follows:

(i) The Company may, from time to time, propose to BMOCM the terms of an Agency Transaction by means of a telephone call (confirmed promptly by electronic mail in a form substantially similar to Exhibit A hereto (an “Agency Transaction Notice”)) from any of the individuals listed as authorized representatives of the Company on Schedule 1 hereto (each, an “Authorized Company Representative”), such proposal to include: the trading day(s) for the New York Stock Exchange (the “Exchange”) (which may not be a day on which the Exchange is scheduled to close prior to its regular weekday closing time) on which the Shares are to be sold (each, a “Trading Day”); the maximum number of Shares that the Company wishes to sell in the aggregate and on each Trading Day; and the minimum price at which the Company is willing to sell the Shares (the “Floor Price”).

(ii) If such proposed terms for an Agency Transaction are acceptable to BMOCM, it shall promptly confirm the terms by countersigning the Agency Transaction Notice for such Agency Transaction and emailing it to an Authorized Company Representative.

(iii) Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, BMOCM shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to sell all of the Shares designated in, and subject to the terms of, such Agency Transaction Notice. BMOCM shall not sell any Share at a price lower than the Floor Price. The Company acknowledges and agrees with BMOCM that (x) there can be no assurance that BMOCM will be successful in selling all or any of such Shares, (y) BMOCM shall incur no liability or obligation to the Company or any other person or entity if it does not

 

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sell any Shares for any reason other than a failure by BMOCM to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable law and regulations to sell such Shares as required under this Agreement and (z) BMOCM shall be under no obligation to purchase any Shares on a principal basis pursuant to this Agreement (except in the case of a Principal Transaction (as defined below) pursuant to this Agreement and the relevant Terms Agreement (as defined below)).

(iv) The Company, acting through an Authorized Company Representative, or BMOCM may, upon notice to the other party hereto by telephone (confirmed promptly by electronic mail), suspend an offering of the Shares; provided , however , that such suspension shall not affect or impair the parties’ respective obligations with respect to the Shares sold hereunder prior to the giving of such notice.

(v) If the terms of any Agency Transaction as set forth in an Agency Transaction Notice contemplate that the Shares shall be sold on more than one Trading Day, then the Company and BMOCM shall mutually agree to such additional terms and conditions as they deem necessary in respect of such multiple Trading Days, and such additional terms and conditions shall be binding to the same extent as any other terms contained in the relevant Agency Transaction Notice.

(vi) BMOCM, as sales agent in an Agency Transaction, shall not make any sales of the Shares on behalf of the Company, pursuant to this Agreement, other than (x) by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions that qualify for delivery of the Prospectus in accordance with Rule 153 of the Rules and Regulations and meet the definition of an “at the market offering” under Rule 415(a)(4) of the Rules and Regulations and (y) such other sales of the Shares on behalf of the Company in its capacity as agent of the Company as shall be agreed by the Company and BMOCM in writing.

(vii) The compensation to BMOCM for sales of the Shares in an Agency Transaction with respect to which BMOCM acts as sales agent hereunder shall be in the form of commissions equal to 2.0% of the gross sales proceeds of the Shares sold pursuant to this Section 1(a) of this Agreement. BMOCM shall provide written confirmation to the Company (which may be provided by email to an Authorized Company Representative) following the close of trading on the Exchange on each Trading Day on which Shares are sold in an Agency Transaction under this Agreement, setting forth (i) the number of Shares sold on such Trading Day, (ii) the gross sales proceeds received from such sales and (iii) the net offering proceeds (being the gross sales proceeds for such sales less the commission payable for such sales) (the “Net Offering Proceeds”).

(viii) Settlement for sales of the Shares in an Agency Transaction pursuant to this Agreement shall occur on the third Trading Day (or such earlier day as is industry practice for regular-way trading) following the date on which such sales are made (each such day, an “Agency Settlement Date”). On each Agency Settlement Date, the Shares sold through BMOCM in Agency Transactions for settlement on such date shall be issued and delivered by the Company to BMOCM against payment by BMOCM to the Company of the Net Offering Proceeds from the sale of such Shares. Settlement for all such Shares shall be effected by free delivery of the Shares by the Company or its transfer agent to BMOCM’s or its

 

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designee’s account ( provided that BMOCM shall have given the Company written notice of such designee prior to the relevant Agency Settlement Date) at The Depository Trust Company or by such other means of delivery as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties hereto, which in all cases shall be freely tradable, transferable, registered shares in good deliverable form, in return for payment in same-day funds delivered to the account designated by the Company. If the Company, or its transfer agent (if applicable), shall default on its obligation to deliver the Shares on any Agency Settlement Date, the Company shall (i) hold BMOCM harmless against any loss, claim, damage, or expense (including, without limitation, reasonable legal fees and expenses), as incurred, arising out of or in connection with such default by the Company and (ii) pay BMOCM any commission or other compensation to which it would otherwise be entitled absent such default. If BMOCM shall default on its obligation to deliver the Net Offering proceeds on any Agency Settlement Date, BMOCM shall hold the Company harmless against any loss, claim, damage, or expense (including, without limitation, reasonable legal fees and expenses), as incurred, arising out of or in connection with such default by BMOCM.

(b) Principal Transactions. If the Company wishes to issue and sell the Shares other than as set forth in subsection (a) of this Section 1 (each, a “Principal Transaction”), the Company will notify BMOCM of the proposed terms of such Principal Transaction. If BMOCM, acting as principal, wishes to accept such proposed terms (which it may decline to do for any reason in its sole discretion) or, following discussions with the Company, wishes to accept amended terms, BMOCM and the Company will enter into an agreement in substantially the form of Exhibit B hereto (each, a “Terms Agreement”) that sets forth the terms of such Principal Transaction, including, without limitation, the time, date and place of delivery of and payment for the Shares to be sold pursuant to such Principal Transaction (each of such date and each Agency Settlement Date, a “Settlement Date”). The terms set forth in a Terms Agreement shall not be binding on the Company or BMOCM unless and until each of the Company and BMOCM has executed such Terms Agreement accepting all of such terms. The commitment of BMOCM to purchase the Shares pursuant to any Terms Agreement shall be deemed to have been made on the basis of the representations and warranties of the Company herein contained and shall be subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth. In the event of a conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of any Terms Agreement, the terms of such Terms Agreement shall control.

(c) Maximum Number of Shares. Under no circumstances shall the Company propose to BMOCM, or BMOCM effect, a sale of Shares in an Agency Transaction or a Principal Transaction pursuant to this Agreement if such sale would (i) cause the aggregate gross sales proceeds of the Shares sold pursuant to this Agreement to exceed the Maximum Amount, (ii) cause the number of Shares sold to exceed the number of shares of Common Stock available for offer and sale under the then effective Registration Statement or (iii) cause the number of Shares sold pursuant to this Agreement to exceed the number of Shares authorized from time to time to be issued and sold pursuant to this Agreement by the Company’s board of directors (“Company Board”), or a duly authorized committee thereof, and notified to BMOCM in writing.

(d) Regulation M. If either party hereto has reason to believe that the exemptive provisions set forth in Rule 101(c)(1) of Regulation M under the Exchange Act are not satisfied with respect to the Company or the Shares, it shall promptly notify the other party and sales of Shares under this Agreement shall be suspended until that or other exemptive provisions have been satisfied in the judgment of each party hereto.

 

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(e) Black-out Periods. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, no sales of Shares shall take place, the Company shall not request the sales of any Shares that would be sold and BMOCM shall not be obligated to sell or offer to sell any Shares, during any period in which the Company’s insider trading or similar policy, as it exists on the date of this Agreement, would prohibit the purchase or sale of Common Stock by persons subject to such policy, or during any other period in which the Company is, or could be reasonably deemed to be, in possession of material non-public information with respect to the Company.

(f) Continuing Accuracy of Representations and Warranties. Any obligation of BMOCM to use its commercially reasonable efforts to sell the Shares on behalf of the Company as sales agent shall be subject to the continuing accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company herein, to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the continuing satisfaction of the conditions specified in Section 4 of this Agreement.

2. Representations and Warranties of the Company . The Company represents and warrants to, and covenants with, BMOCM as follows:

(a) Effectiveness of Registration.  The Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto have become effective. The Company has responded to all requests, if any, of the Commission for additional or supplemental information. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, are contemplated or threatened by the Commission. (i) At the time of filing the Registration Statement, (ii) at the time of the most recent amendment thereto for purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or form of prospectus) and (iii) at the time the Company or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c) of the Rules and Regulations) made any offer relating to the Shares in reliance on the exemption of Rule 163 of the Rules and Regulations, the Company was and is a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations. The Registration Statement is an “automatic shelf registration statement”, as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations, and the Shares, since their registration on the Registration Statement, have been and remain eligible for registration by the Company on an “automatic shelf registration statement.” The Company has not received from the Commission any notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) of the Rules and Regulations objecting to use of the automatic shelf registration statement form and the Company has not otherwise ceased to be eligible to use the automatic shelf registration statement form.

(b) Accuracy of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus. (i) At the respective times the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto became effective, (ii) at each deemed effective date with respect to BMOCM pursuant to Rule 430B(f)(2) under the Act, (iii) as of each Time of Sale (as defined below), (iv) at each Settlement Date and (v) at all times during such period as the Prospectus is

 

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required by law to be delivered (whether physically, deemed to be delivered pursuant to Rule 153 or through compliance with Rule 172 of the Rules and Regulations or any similar rule) in connection with sales of the Shares (the “Prospectus Delivery Period”), the Registration Statement complied and will comply in all material respects with the Act and the Rules and Regulations, and did not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. As of each Time of Sale and each Settlement Date and at all times during the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, complied and will comply in all material respects with the Act and the Rules and Regulations, and, together with all of the then issued Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Basic Prospectus (including any amendment thereto) complied when so filed in all material respects with the Rules and Regulations, and the Prospectus (including the Basic Prospectus included therein) delivered to BMOCM for use in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement is identical to the electronically transmitted copy thereof filed with the Commission on EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T. The foregoing representations and warranties and agreements in this subsection (b) do not apply to any statements contained in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to BMOCM furnished in writing to the Company by BMOCM specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), which constitutes the information set forth in Schedule 2 hereto, as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to time during the term of this Agreement as mutually agreed upon by the parties hereto. “Time of Sale” means, (i) with respect to an Agency Transaction, the time of BMOCM’s initial entry into contracts with investors for the sale of such Shares and (ii) with respect to a Principal Transaction, the time of sale of such Shares.

(c) Documents Incorporated by Reference. The Incorporated Documents, at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the Commission, conformed and will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and, when read together with the other information in the Prospectus, at the time the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto become effective, as of each Time of Sale and each Settlement Date and at all times during the Prospectus Delivery Period, will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, the Company makes no representation or warranty or agreement with respect to the information set forth in Schedule 2 hereto.

(d) Company Not Ineligible Issuer . (i) At the time of filing the Registration Statement, (ii) at the earliest time that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) of the Rules and Regulations) of the Shares and (iii) at the date hereof, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer” (as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations).

(e) Free Writing Prospectuses.   Any free writing prospectus that the Company is required to file pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Rules and Regulations has been, or

 

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will be, filed with the Commission in accordance with the requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations. Each free writing prospectus that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Rules and Regulations or that was prepared by or on behalf of or used or referred to by the Company complies or will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations. Each free writing prospectus, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the offer and sale of the Shares or until any earlier date that the Company notified or notifies BMOCM, did not, does not and will not include any material information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus. Except for the Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, the Company has not prepared, used or referred to, and will not, prepare, use or refer to, any free writing prospectus.

(f) Due Incorporation; Subsidiaries . The Company has been duly incorporated, is validly existing as a corporation and is in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation. The Company has full corporate power and authority to own or lease all the assets owned or leased by it and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. The Company is duly licensed or qualified to do business in and in good standing as a foreign corporation in all jurisdictions in which the nature of the activities conducted by it or the character of the assets owned or leased by it makes such licensing or qualification necessary, except to the extent that the failure to be so licensed or qualified or be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, properties, assets, condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations or capitalization of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (a “Material Adverse Effect”). Each subsidiary of the Company, other than those subsidiaries which would not, individually or in the aggregate, constitute a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Item 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X (each such “significant subsidiary” is referred to herein as a “subsidiary” and collectively as “subsidiaries”) has been duly incorporated, is validly existing as a corporation or limited liability company and is in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation. Each subsidiary of the Company has full corporate or limited liability company power and authority to own or lease all the assets owned or leased by its and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. Each subsidiary of the Company is duly licensed or qualified to do business in and in good standing as a foreign corporation in all jurisdictions in which the nature of the activities conducted by it or the character of the assets owned or leased by it makes such licensing or qualification necessary, except to the extent that the failure to be so licensed or qualified or be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(g) Capitalization. As of the date hereof, the authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company is as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus under the caption “Capitalization.” The outstanding shares of Common Stock and any other outstanding capital stock of the Company have been, and the Shares will be when issued in accordance with this Agreement (in the case of an Agency Transaction) or a Terms Agreement (in the case of a Principal Transaction), duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and will not be subject to any preemptive, first refusal, or similar right. The description of the Common Stock included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus is complete and accurate in all material respects. Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company does not have

 

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outstanding any options to purchase, or any rights or warrants to subscribe for, or any securities or obligations convertible into, or any contracts or commitments to issue or sell, any shares of capital stock of the Company or of any subsidiary of the Company or any such warrants, convertible securities or obligations. Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, all of the outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests of each subsidiary owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable (except, in the case of any foreign subsidiary, for directors’ qualifying shares) and are owned directly or indirectly by the Company free and clear of any lien, charge, encumbrance, security interest, restriction on voting or transfer or any other claim of any third party.

(h) Financial Statements. (i) The consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries (including the related notes thereto) and schedules included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable, and present fairly the financial condition of the Company and its subsidiaries as of the date(s) indicated and the results of their consolidated operations and the changes in their consolidated cash flows for the periods specified; such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby, except as otherwise disclosed in the financial statement footnotes, and the supporting schedules included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus present fairly the information required to be stated therein; the other financial information included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus has been derived from the accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries and presents fairly the information shown thereby; and the pro forma financial information and the related notes thereto included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus have been prepared in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the assumptions underlying such pro forma financial information are reasonable and are included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.

(ii) Independent Accountant. The accountants (the “Accountants”) who have reported on such financial statements and schedules are independent accountants with respect to the Company as required by the Act and the Rules and Regulations and by Rule 3600T of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board during the periods covered by the financial statements on which they reported contained in and incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

(i) Accounting System. The Company and each subsidiary of the Company (i) make and keep accurate books and records and (ii) maintain internal accounting controls that provide reasonable assurance that: (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets; (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (D) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.

 

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(j) No Material Adverse Changes.  Since the date of the most recent financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there has not been and will not have been a material adverse change in the business, properties, condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations or capitalization of each of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, arising for any reason whatsoever (a “Material Adverse Change”).

(k) Investment Company. The Company is not, and after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Shares and the use of the proceeds therefrom as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus will not be, an “investment company” or an “affiliated person” of, or “promoter” or “principal underwriter” for, an “investment company,” as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

(l) Litigation. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there are no actions, suits or proceedings pending, or to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against or affecting, the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective officers in their capacity as such, before or by any federal or state court, commission, regulatory body (including, without limitation, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) and the Exchange), administrative agency or other governmental body, in each case whether domestic or foreign, wherein an unfavorable ruling, decision or finding would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any authorization, approval, order, license, certificate, franchise or permit. Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there are no pending investigations known to the Company involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries by any governmental agency having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or their respective businesses or operations.

(m) Necessary Licenses, Compliance with Laws and Regulations and Performance of Obligations and Contracts. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has (i) all governmental and other regulatory licenses, permits, consents, orders, approvals and other authorizations necessary to carry on its business as described in the Prospectus, including, without limitation, environmental assessment certificates, water licenses, land tenures, rezoning or zoning variances (“Permits”), (ii) complied in all material respects with all laws, regulations and orders applicable to it and its business and (iii) performed all material obligations required to be performed by it, and is not in default in any material respect, under any material indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, voting trust agreement, loan agreement, bond, debenture, note agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument (individually, a “Contract” and collectively, “Contracts”) to which it is a party or by which its property is bound or affected. To the best knowledge of the Company, no other party under any Contract to which it or its subsidiaries is a party is in default in any respect thereunder or has given written, or, to the knowledge of the officers and directors of the Company, oral, notice to the Company, its subsidiaries or any of their respective officers or directors of such other party’s intention to terminate, cancel or refuse to renew any Contract. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries is not in violation of any

 

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provision of its certificate of incorporation or by-laws. The disclosure included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus concerning the effects of federal, state, local and foreign laws, rules and regulations on the business of each of the Company and its subsidiaries as currently conducted is correct in all material respects and does not omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(n) No Consent of Governmental Body Needed.  No consent, approval, authorization, license, registration, qualification, or order of, or any filing or declaration with, any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, agency or body is required in connection with the authorization, issuance, transfer, sale or delivery of the Shares by the Company, in connection with the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company or in connection with a Terms Agreement or the taking by the Company of any action contemplated hereby or thereby, except as have been obtained under the Act and such as may be required by the Exchange, under state securities or Blue Sky laws or the by-laws and rules of FINRA in connection with the purchase and distribution by BMOCM of the Shares to be sold by the Company hereby or thereby.

(o) Agreement Duly Authorized and No Breach of Obligations or Charter. The Company has full corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and each Terms Agreement. This Agreement has been, and any Terms Agreement will have been, duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and this Agreement constitutes, and any Terms Agreement will constitute, a valid and binding agreement of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with the terms hereof or thereof, as the case may be, except as the enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally or general equitable principles. The execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement and any Terms Agreement and the performance of this Agreement and any Terms Agreement, the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, and the application of the net proceeds from the offering and sale of the Shares to be sold by the Company in the manner set forth in the Prospectus under “Use of Proceeds” do not and will not (i) violate the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company or (ii) result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the assets of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company pursuant to the terms or provisions of, or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or give any other party a right to terminate any of its obligations under, or result in the acceleration of any obligation under any Contract to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties is bound or affected, or violate or conflict with any judgment, ruling, decree, order, statute, rule or regulation of any court or other governmental agency or body applicable to the business or properties of the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

(p) Title to Real and Personal Property. The Company and each of its subsidiaries has good and marketable title to all properties and assets described, or described in documents incorporated by reference, in the Prospectus as being owned respectively by it, free and clear of all liens, charges, encumbrances or restrictions, except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or as are not material to the business of the Company

 

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or its subsidiaries. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has valid, subsisting and enforceable leases for the properties described, or described in documents incorporated by reference, in the Prospectus as leased by it, with such exceptions as are not material and do not materially interfere with the use made of such properties by the Company and its subsidiaries.

(q) Documents Described in Registration Statement.  There is no document or Contract of a character required to be described or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement that is not described or filed as required. All such documents and Contracts described or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement were duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company or the relevant subsidiary of the Company, any such Contract constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Company or such subsidiary of the Company and is enforceable against the Company or such subsidiary of the Company in accordance with the terms thereof, except as the enforcement may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally or general equitable principles.

(r) intentionally omitted .

(s) No Price Stabilization or Manipulation. Neither the Company nor any of its directors, officers or controlling persons has taken, directly or indirectly, any action intended to cause or result in, or which might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, or which has constituted, stabilization or manipulation, under the Act or otherwise, of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares.

(t) No Registration Rights. No holder of securities of the Company has rights to register any securities of the Company because of the filing of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the transactions contemplated hereby, except for rights that have been duly waived by such holder, have expired or have been fulfilled by registration prior to the date of this Agreement.

(u) Stock Exchange Listing. Prior to the first Settlement Date hereunder, the Shares will be duly authorized for listing on the Exchange, subject only to notice of issuance.

(v) Labor Matters. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is involved in any labor dispute except where the dispute would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, and, to the knowledge of the Company, no such dispute is threatened.

(w) Taxes. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has filed all federal, state and foreign income and franchise tax returns and has paid all taxes required to be filed or paid by it and, if due and payable, any related or similar assessment, fine or penalty levied against it. The Company has made adequate charges, accruals and reserves in the applicable financial statements referred to in subsection (h) of this Section 2 in respect of all material federal, state and foreign income and franchise taxes for all periods as to which the tax liability of the Company has not been finally determined.

 

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(x) Insurance.  Each of the Company and its subsidiaries carries, or is covered by, insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as it believes is adequate for the conduct of its business and the value of its properties and is customary for companies engaged in similar industries, and all such insurance is in full force and effect. The Company has no reason to believe that it and its subsidiaries will not be able to (i) renew their existing insurance coverage as and when such policies expire or (ii) obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct their business as currently conducted and at a cost that would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has been denied any insurance coverage which it has sought or for which it has applied.

(y) Defined Benefit Plans. No plan maintained or contributed to by the Company that is subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”) (an “ERISA Plan”) (or any trust created thereunder) has engaged in a “prohibited transaction” within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) that would reasonably be expected to subject the Company or any of its subsidiaries to any material tax penalty on prohibited transactions or that has not adequately been corrected. Each ERISA Plan is in compliance in all material respects with all reporting, disclosure and other requirements of the Code and ERISA as they relate to such ERISA Plan, except for any noncompliance that would not reasonably be expected to result in the imposition of a material tax or monetary penalty. With respect to each ERISA Plan that is intended to be “qualified” within the meaning of Section 401(a) of the Code, either (i) a determination letter has been issued by the Internal Revenue Service stating that such ERISA Plan and the attendant trust are qualified thereunder or (ii) the remedial amendment period under Section 401(b) of the Code with respect to the establishment of such ERISA Plan has not ended and a determination letter application will be filed with respect to such ERISA Plan prior to the end of such remedial amendment period. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has ever completely or partially withdrawn from a “multiemployer plan,” as defined in Section 3(37) of ERISA.

(z) Title to Intellectual Property. Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, each of the Company and its subsidiaries owns, is licensed or otherwise has adequate rights to use Company technology (including, without limitation, patented, patentable and unpatented inventions and unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures), designs, processes, trademarks, trade secrets, know how, copyrights and other works of authorship, computer programs and technical data and information (collectively, the “Intellectual Property”) that are material to its business as currently conducted. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any written threat of or notice of infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any Intellectual Property.

(aa) intentionally omitted .

(bb) intentionally omitted .

(cc) Related Party Transactions. There are no business relationships or related party transactions involving the Company or any other person required to be described in the Prospectus that have not been described or incorporated therein by reference. Without limiting

 

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the generality of the immediately preceding sentence, no relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company or any of its subsidiaries on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders, customers or suppliers of the Company on the other hand, that is required to be described in the Prospectus and that is not so described or incorporated therein by reference. There are no outstanding loans, advances (except for advances for business expenses in the ordinary course of business) or guarantees of indebtedness of any director or executive officer of the Company, or to or for any family member or affiliate of any director or executive officer of the Company, in violation of applicable laws, including Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act.

(dd) Environmental Matters. Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and except as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) each of the Company and its subsidiaries is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable federal, provincial, state, municipal and local laws, statutes, ordinances, by-laws and regulations and orders, directives and decisions rendered by any ministry, department or administrative or regulatory agency, domestic or foreign (collectively, the “Environmental Laws”) relating to the protection of the environment, occupational health and safety or the processing, use, treatment, storage, disposal, discharge, transport or handling of any pollutants, contaminants, chemicals or industrial, toxic or hazardous wastes or substances (the “Hazardous Substances”), (ii) the Company and its subsidiaries have all permits, licenses, authorizations and approvals required under any applicable Environmental Law and are each in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license, authorization or approval, (iii) there are no pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, notices of noncompliance or violation, investigation or proceedings relating to any Environmental Law against the Company or any of its subsidiaries and (iv) there are no events or circumstances that would reasonably be expected to form the basis of an order for clean-up or remediation, or an action, suit or proceeding by any private party or governmental body or agency, against or affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries relating to Hazardous Substances or any Environmental Laws.

(ee) No Prohibition on its Subsidiaries from Paying Dividends or Making Other Distributions. No subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on its capital stock, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances from the Company or from transferring any of its property or assets to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company, except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

(ff) Controls and Procedures.

(i) Disclosure Controls and Procedures.   The Company has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act), that are designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its subsidiaries, if any, is made known to the Company’s principal executive officer and its principal financial officer by others within those entities and such disclosure controls and procedures are effective in all material respects to perform the functions for which they were established except as disclosed in the Registration Statement or Prospectus.

 

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(ii) Internal Control Over Financial Reporting and Internal Accounting Controls . The Company maintains “effective internal control over financial reporting,” as defined in, and in compliance with, Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act, and a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability; (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (D) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.

(iii) No Material Weakness in Internal Controls.   Since the end of the Company’s most recent audited fiscal year, there has been (A) no material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and (B) no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

(iv) No Deficiencies . The Company is not aware of (A) any significant deficiency in the design or operation of its internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data or any material weaknesses in internal controls; or (B) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal controls.

(gg) Off-Balance Sheet Transactions. Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there are no material off-balance sheet transactions (including, without limitation, transactions related to, and the existence of, “variable interest entities” within the meaning of Financial Accounting Standards Board Accounting Standards Codification Topic 810), arrangements, obligations (including, without limitation, contingent obligations) or any other relationships with unconsolidated entities or other persons that may have a material current or future effect on the Company’s financial condition, changes in financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures, capital resources, or significant components of revenues or expenses.

(hh) Audit Committee. The Company Board has validly appointed an audit committee whose composition satisfies the requirements of Section 10A of, and Rule 10A-3 under, the Exchange Act, and the Company Board and/or the audit committee has adopted a charter that satisfies the requirements of Section 10A of, and Rule 10A-3 under, the Exchange Act. The audit committee has reviewed the adequacy of its charter within the past twelve months. Neither the Company Board nor the audit committee has been informed, nor is any director of the Company aware, of (i) any significant deficiency in the design or operation of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting which is reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial data or any material weakness in the Company’s internal controls; or (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees of the Company who have a significant role in the Company’s internal controls.

 

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(ii) Sarbanes-Oxley. The Company is, and after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Shares will be, in compliance in all material respects with all applicable effective provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

(jj) Accurate Disclosure . The statements included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus under the captions “Material United States Tax Considerations to Non-U.S. Holders,” and “Description of Capital Stock,” and the statements in the Registration Statement under Items 14 and 15 thereof, insofar as such statements contain descriptions of the terms of statutes, rules, regulations or legal or governmental proceedings, or contracts or other documents, are fair and accurate in all material respects.

(kk) No Unlawful Contributions or Payments. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, nor any director or officer of the Company or its subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any agent, employee or representative of the Company or its subsidiaries, affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or its subsidiaries, has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made or taken an act in furtherance of an offer, promise or authorization of any direct or indirect unlawful payment of corporate funds or benefit to any foreign or domestic government or regulatory official or employee, including, without limitation, of any government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, the U.K. Bribery Act 2010, or any applicable law or regulation implementing the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, or committed an offense under any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption laws; or (iv) made, offered, agreed to, requested or taken an act in furtherance of any unlawful bribe or other unlawful benefit, including, without limitation, any rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful or improper payment or benefit. The Company has instituted, maintained and enforced, and will continue to maintain and enforce policies and procedures designed to promote and ensure compliance with all applicable anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws.

(ll) Compliance with Anti-Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, those of the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by Title III of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act), and the applicable money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions in which the Company and its subsidiaries conduct business, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental or regulatory agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”), and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

 

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(mm) No Conflicts with Sanctions Laws . Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, nor any director or officer of the Company or its subsidiaries, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any agent, employee or representative of the Company or its subsidiaries, affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or its subsidiaries is currently the subject or target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. government (including, without limitation, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”) or the U.S. Department of State and including, without limitation, the designation as a “specially designated national” or “blocked person”), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor is the Company or any of its subsidiaries located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject or the target of Sanctions, including, without limitation, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Syria and Crimea (each, a “Sanctioned Country”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering of the Shares hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, (i) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business with any person that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject or the target of Sanctions, (ii) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business in any Sanctioned Country or (iii) in any other manner that will result in a violation by any person (including any person participating in the transaction, whether as agent, principal, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions. For the past five years, the Company and its subsidiaries have not knowingly engaged in, are not now knowingly engaged in, and will not engage in, any dealings or transactions with any person that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject or the target of Sanctions or with any Sanctioned Country.

(nn) Brokers and Finders . Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is party to any contract, agreement or understanding with any person (other than this Agreement) that would reasonably be expected to give rise to a valid claim against the Company, any subsidiary of the Company or BMOCM for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or like payment in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares.

(oo) Forward-Looking Statements . No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith.

(pp) Reporting Issuer . The Company is a “reporting issuer” (as such term is defined in applicable Canadian securities legislation) in each province in Canada.

(qq) Mining Rights . Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Greens Creek unit, the Lucky Friday unit, the Casa Berardi unit and the San Sebastian unit, each as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (collectively, the “Material Properties”), are the only material resource properties in which the Company or its subsidiaries have an interest; the Company, directly or through its subsidiaries, holds either

 

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freehold title, mining leases, mining concessions, mining claims, exploration permits, prospecting permits or participant interests or other conventional property or proprietary interests or rights, recognized in the jurisdiction in which the Material Properties are located, in respect of the ore bodies located on the Material Properties under valid, subsisting and enforceable title documents or other recognized and enforceable agreements or instruments, sufficient to permit the Company or any of its subsidiaries to explore for and exploit the minerals relating thereto; all leases or claims and permits relating to the Material Properties have been validly located and recorded in accordance with all applicable laws and are valid and subsisting, except where failure to so locate or record would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; the Company and its subsidiaries have all necessary surface rights, access rights and other necessary rights and interests relating to the Material Properties granting the Company or one or more of its subsidiaries the right and ability to explore for and exploit minerals, ore and metals for development and production purposes as are appropriate in view of the rights and interest therein of the Company and its subsidiaries, with only such exceptions as do not materially interfere with the current use made by the Company or its subsidiaries of the rights or interest so held, and each of the proprietary interests or rights and each of the documents, agreements and instruments and obligations relating thereto referred to above is currently in good standing in all respects in the name of the Company or one of its subsidiaries; except as disclosed in the Registration Statement or Prospectus, the Company and its subsidiaries do not have any responsibility or obligation to pay any material commission, royalty, license, fee or similar payment to any person with respect to the property rights thereof as to the Material Properties.

(rr) Assessments . With respect to the Material Properties, all assessments or other work required to be performed in relation to the material mining claims and the mining rights of the Company and its subsidiaries in order to maintain their respective interests therein, if any, have been performed to date, and all such mining claims and mining rights are in good standing in all respects.

(ss) Material Property Reports . The Company made available to the respective authors thereof prior to the issuance of all of the applicable technical reports relating to the Material Properties (the “Reports”), for the purpose of preparing the Reports, as applicable, all information requested, and no such information contained any misrepresentation as at the time the relevant information was made available. The Reports accurately and completely set forth all material facts relating to the Material Properties, and since the date of preparation of the Reports there has been no change that would disaffirm or materially change any aspect of the Reports.

Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to BMOCM or to counsel for BMOCM shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company, as the case may be, to BMOCM as to the matters covered thereby.

3. Agreements of the Company . The Company covenants and agrees with BMOCM as follows:

(a) Amendments and Supplements to the Registration Statement,   the Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus. The Company shall not, during the Prospectus Delivery Period, amend or supplement the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or

 

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any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus (other than (i) any amendment or supplement which does not relate to the sale of the Shares and (ii) any reports and any preliminary or definitive proxy statement or information statement required to be filed pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act), unless a copy of such amendment or supplement thereto (or such document) shall first have been submitted to BMOCM within a reasonable period of time prior to the filing or, if no filing is required, the use thereof and BMOCM shall not have reasonably objected thereto in good faith, unless the Company shall have determined based upon the advice of counsel that such amendment, supplement or filing is required by law.

(b) Material Misstatements or Omissions and Other Compliance with Applicable Law.   If, after the date hereof and during the Prospectus Delivery Period, any event or development shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it shall be necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, or to file any document in order to comply with the Act or the Exchange Act, in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if in the reasonable opinion of counsel to the Company or counsel to BMOCM it is otherwise necessary to amend or supplement the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus or to file any document in order to comply with the Act or the Exchange Act, including, without limitation, in connection with the delivery of the Prospectus, the Company shall promptly (i) notify BMOCM of any such event, development or condition (and confirm such notice in writing) and (ii)(x) prepare (subject to subsections (a) and (g) of this Section 3) an amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, necessary in order to make the statements in the Prospectus or such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as so amended or supplemented, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or so that the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with the Act or the Exchange Act, (y) file with the Commission such amendment, supplement or document in order to comply with the Act or the Exchange Act (and use commercially reasonable efforts to have such amendment or supplement declared effective as soon as possible) and (z) furnish at its own expense to BMOCM as many copies as BMOCM may reasonably request of such amendment, supplement or document.

(c) Notifications to BMOCM.  The Company shall notify BMOCM promptly, and shall confirm such notice in writing, (i) when any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective, (ii) of any request by the Commission for an amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus or for additional information, (iii) of the commencement by the Commission or by any state securities commission of any proceedings for the suspension of the qualification of any of the Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction or of the initiation, or the threatening, of any proceeding for that purpose, including, without limitation, the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose or the threat thereof, (iv) of the happening of any event during the Prospectus Delivery Period that in the judgment of the Company makes any statement made in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus untrue or that requires the

 

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making of any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading and (v) of receipt by the Company or any representative of the Company of any other communication from the Commission relating to the Company, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus or any preliminary prospectus. If at any time the Commission shall issue any such stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the withdrawal of such order at the earliest possible moment. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to comply with the provisions of and make all requisite filings with the Commission pursuant to Rules 424(b), 430A, 430B, 430C and 462(b) of the Rules and Regulations and to notify BMOCM promptly of all such filings.

(d) Executed Registration Statements.  Upon reasonable notice and request, the Company shall furnish to BMOCM, without charge, a signed copy of the Registration Statement and of any post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules, and all exhibits thereto (including any document filed under the Exchange Act that is deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Prospectus).

(e) intentionally omitted .

(f) Prospectus. The Company shall furnish to BMOCM, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto as BMOCM may reasonably request (to the extent not previously delivered or filed on the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system or any successor system thereto) via electronic mail in “.pdf” format and, at BMOCM’s request, to furnish copies of the Prospectus to the Exchange and each other exchange or market on which sales of the Shares were or are expected to be effected, in each case, as may be required by the rules or regulations of the Exchange or such other exchange or market. The Company consents to the use of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto by BMOCM during the Prospectus Delivery Period. If BMOCM is required to deliver, under the Act (whether physically, deemed to be delivered pursuant to Rule 153 or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Act or any similar rule), a prospectus relating to the Shares after the nine-month period referred to in Section 10(a)(3) of the Act, or after that time a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement is required pursuant to Item 512(a) of Regulation S-K under the Act, then, upon the request of BMOCM, and at the Company’s own expense, the Company shall prepare and deliver to BMOCM as many copies as BMOCM may request of an amended Registration Statement or amended and supplemented Prospectus complying with Item 512(a) of Regulation S-K or Section 10(a)(3) of the Act, as the case may be.

(g) Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses.   The Company represents and agrees that it has not made and, unless it obtains the prior consent of BMOCM (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), shall not make, any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations, which is required to be retained by the Company under Rule 433 of the Rules and Regulations; provided that the prior written consent of BMOCM hereto shall be deemed to have been given in respect of each of the free writing prospectuses set forth in Schedule 3 hereto. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by BMOCM is herein referred to as a “Permitted Free

 

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Writing Prospectus.” The Company represents and agrees that (i) it has treated and shall treat, as the case may be, each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations and (ii) it has complied and shall comply, as the case may be, with the requirements of Rules 164 and 433 of the Act applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including, without limitation, in respect of timely filing with the Commission, legending and record keeping. The Company agrees not to take any action that would result in BMOCM or the Company being required to file pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Rules and Regulations a free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of BMOCM that BMOCM otherwise would not have been required to file thereunder.

(h) Registration Statement Renewal Deadline.   If, immediately prior to the third anniversary of the initial effective date of the Registration Statement relating to the Shares (the “Renewal Deadline”), any of the Shares remain unsold by BMOCM, the Company shall prior to the Renewal Deadline (i) file, if it has not already done so (subject to subsection (a) of this Section 3), a new shelf registration statement relating to the Shares, in a form satisfactory to BMOCM, (ii) use commercially reasonable efforts to cause such registration statement to be declared effective within 60 days after the Renewal Deadline (if the Company is not then eligible to file an automatic shelf registration statement) and (iii) take all other action necessary or appropriate to permit the public offering and sale of the Shares to continue as contemplated herein and in the expired registration statement relating to the Shares. References herein to the Registration Statement relating to the Shares shall include such new shelf registration statement.

(i) Notice of Inability to Use Automatic Shelf Registration Statement Form.   If, at any time when the Shares remain unsold by BMOCM, the Company receives from the Commission a notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) of the Rules and Regulations or otherwise ceases to be eligible to use the automatic shelf registration statement form, the Company shall promptly notify BMOCM.

(j) Compliance with Blue Sky Laws.  The Company shall cooperate with BMOCM and counsel therefor in connection with the registration or qualification (or the obtaining of exemptions therefrom) of the Shares for the offering and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as BMOCM may request, including, without limitation, the provinces and territories of Canada and other jurisdictions outside the United States, and to continue such registration or qualification in effect so long as necessary under such laws for the distribution of the Shares; provided , however , that in no event shall the Company be obligated to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or to take any action which would subject it to general service of process in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject (except service of process with respect to the offering and sale of the Shares).

(k) Delivery of Financial Statements . During the period of five years commencing on the later of the date hereof and the effective date of the Registration Statement for the distribution of the Shares, the Company shall furnish to BMOCM copies of such financial statements and other periodic and special reports as the Company may from time to time distribute generally to the holders of any class of its capital stock, and shall furnish to BMOCM a copy of each annual or other report it shall be required to file with the Commission, provided, if such financial statements or reports are filed with EDGAR, such requirement shall be deemed satisfied.

 

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(l) Availability of Earnings Statements. The Company shall make generally available to holders of its securities and BMOCM an earnings statement satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act (including Rule 158 of the Rules and Regulations).

(m) Reimbursement of Certain Expenses.  Whether or not any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company shall pay, or reimburse if paid by BMOCM, all costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement, including, without limitation, costs and expenses of or relating to (i) the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement and exhibits to it, each preliminary prospectus, each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (including the filing fees payable to the Commission relating to the Shares within the time required by Rule 456 of the Rules and Regulations), (ii) the preparation and delivery of certificates representing the Shares, (iii) the printing of this Agreement, (iv) furnishing (including costs of shipping, mailing and courier) such copies of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, and all amendments and supplements thereto, as may be requested for use in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares by BMOCM, (v) the listing of the Shares on the Exchange, (vi) any filings required to be made by BMOCM with FINRA, and the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel for BMOCM in connection therewith, (vii) the registration or qualification of the Shares for offer and sale under the Act and the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions designated pursuant to subsection (j) of this Section 3, including the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel to BMOCM in connection therewith, and, if requested by BMOCM, the preparation and printing of preliminary, supplemental and final Blue Sky or Legal Investment memoranda, (viii) counsel to the Company, (ix) The Depository Trust Company and any other depositary, transfer agent or registrar for the Shares, (x) the Accountants, (xi) the marketing of the offering by the Company, including, without limitation, all costs and expenses of commercial airline tickets, hotels, meals and other travel expenses of officers, employees, agents and other representatives of the Company, (xii) all reasonable out-of-pocket fees, disbursements and other charges of BMOCM incurred in connection with the offering, excluding the fees and disbursements of counsel to BMOCM, and (xiii) all fees, costs and expenses for consultants used by the Company in connection with the offering; provided, however, that BMOCM shall be responsible for any transfer taxes on resale of Shares by BMOCM and fees of BMOCM’s counsel other than as specifically provided above or elsewhere in this Agreement.

(n) No Stabilization or Manipulation. The Company shall not at any time, directly or indirectly (including, without limitation, through the subsidiaries), take any action intended to cause or result in, or which might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, or which will constitute, stabilization or manipulation, under the Act or otherwise, of the price of the shares of Common Stock to facilitate the sale or resale of any of the Shares.

(o) Use of Proceeds. The Company shall apply the net proceeds from the offering and sale of the Shares to be sold by the Company in the manner set forth in the Prospectus under “Use of Proceeds.”

 

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(p) Clear Market. The Company shall not offer to sell, sell, pledge, hypothecate, contract or agree to sell, purchase any option to sell, grant any option for the purchase of, lend, or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock or warrants or other rights to acquire shares of Common Stock or any other securities of the Company that are substantially similar to the Common Stock or permit the registration under the Act of any shares of the Common Stock, subject to the exceptions set forth below, in each case (other than as excepted) without giving BMOCM at least three business days’ prior written notice specifying the nature and date of such proposed transaction. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may (i) register the offering and sale of the Shares through BMOCM pursuant to this Agreement, (ii) issue shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of an option or warrant or the conversion of a security outstanding on the date hereof and referred to in the Prospectus, (iii) register and issue shares of Common Stock or options to purchase Common Stock granted pursuant to existing employee benefit plans of the Company or other employee benefit arrangements duly authorized by the Company Board and the stockholders of the Company, including without limitation the issuance of and registration for resale of any capital stock or other securities issued for the benefit of the Company’s pension plans, or (iv) register and issue shares of Common Stock pursuant to any non-employee director stock plan, dividend reinvestment plan or stock purchase plan of the Company. If notice of a proposed transaction is provided by the Company pursuant to this subsection (p), BMOCM may suspend activity of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement for such period of time as may be requested by the Company or as may be deemed appropriate by BMOCM.

(q) Stock Exchange Listing.  The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Shares to be listed on the Exchange and to maintain such listing.

(r) Additional Notices . The Company shall notify BMOCM immediately after it shall have received notice or obtained knowledge of any information or fact that would alter or affect any opinion, certificate, letter or any other document provided to BMOCM pursuant to Section 4 below.

(s) Representation Date Certificates . Upon commencement of the offering of the Shares under this Agreement (and upon the recommencement of the offering of the Shares under this Agreement following the termination of a suspension of sales hereunder), and each time that (i) the Registration Statement or the Prospectus is amended or supplemented (other than a prospectus supplement relating solely to the offering of securities pursuant to the Registration Statement other than the Shares), (ii) there is filed with the Commission any document incorporated by reference into the Prospectus (other than a Current Report on Form 8-K), unless BMOCM shall otherwise reasonably request, (iii) there is filed with the Commission any document (other than an annual report on Form 10-K or a quarterly report on Form 10-Q), which contains financial information required under Regulation S-X or financial information filed with the Commission on Form 8-K under Item 9.01, and (iv) Shares are delivered to BMOCM pursuant to a Terms Agreement (such commencement date, any such recommencement date, if applicable, and each such date referred to in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) above, a “Representation Date”), to furnish or cause to be furnished to BMOCM forthwith a certificate dated and delivered as of such date, in form reasonably satisfactory to BMOCM, to the effect that the statements contained in the certificates referred to in subsection (c) of Section 4 are true

 

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and correct as of the Representation Date, as though made at and as of such time and modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the time of delivery of such certificate.

(t) Company Counsel Legal Opinions . Within five Trading Days of each Representation Date, the Company shall cause to be furnished to BMOCM, dated as of such date and addressed to BMOCM, in form and substance satisfactory to BMOCM, (i) the written opinion of K&L Gates LLP, or other counsel reasonably satisfactory to BMOCM, as described in subsection (d) of Section 4, to the effect set forth in Exhibit C hereto but modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the time of delivery of such opinion and (ii) the written opinion of David C. Sienko, General Counsel of the Company, as described in subsection (d) of Section 4, to the effect set forth in Exhibit D hereto but modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the time of delivery of such opinion; provided, however, the Company shall not be required to furnish to BMOCM more than one opinion per calendar quarter from outside counsel to the Company. In lieu of delivering such opinions for dates subsequent to the commencement of the offering of the Shares under this Agreement such counsel may furnish BMOCM with a letter (a “Reliance Letter”) to the effect that BMOCM may rely on a prior opinion delivered under this subsection (t) to the same extent as if it were dated the date of such letter (except that statements in such prior opinion shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented as of such subsequent date).

(u) Comfort Letters . Within five Trading Days of each Representation Date, the Company shall cause the Accountants to deliver to BMOCM the comfort letter(s) described in subsection (f) of Section 4.

(v) Due Diligence . The Company shall reasonably cooperate with any reasonable due diligence review requested by BMOCM or its counsel from time to time in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby or any Terms Agreement, including, without limitation, at each Representation Date or otherwise as BMOCM may reasonably request, providing information and making available documents and appropriate corporate officers of the Company and representatives of the Accountants for one or more due diligence sessions with representatives of BMOCM and its counsel.

(w) Reservation of the Shares . The Company shall reserve and keep available at all times, free of preemptive rights, Shares for the purpose of enabling the Company to satisfy its obligations hereunder.

(x) BMOCM Trading . Subject to BMOCM’s compliance with Regulation M and prohibitions on buying or selling securities while in possession of material non-public information, the Company hereby consents to BMOCM trading in the Common Stock for BMOCM’s own account and for the account of its clients at the same time as sales of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement.

(y) Deemed Representations and Warranties . The Company hereby agrees that each acceptance by it of an offer to purchase Shares hereunder shall be deemed to be (i) an

 

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affirmation to BMOCM that the representations and warranties of the Company contained in or made pursuant to this Agreement are true and correct as of the date of such acceptance as though made at and as of such date (except for those representations and warranties that speak as of a particular date, which shall be true and correct as of such date) and (ii) an undertaking that such representations and warranties will be true and correct as of the Time of Sale and the Settlement Date for the Shares relating to such acceptance as though made at and as of each of such dates (except for those representations and warranties that speak as of a particular date, which shall be true and correct as of such date and except that such representations and warranties shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the date of such acceptance, such Time of Sale or such Settlement Date, as the case may be).

(z) intentionally omitted .

(aa) Offer to Refuse to Purchase . If to the knowledge of the Company any condition set forth in subsection (a) of Section 4 shall not have been satisfied on the applicable Settlement Date, the Company shall offer to any person who has agreed to purchase Shares from the Company as the result of an offer to purchase solicited by BMOCM the right to refuse to purchase and pay for such Shares.

(bb) Exchange Act Reports . The Company shall, subject to subsection (a) of this Section 3, (i) timely file all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of the Prospectus and for the duration of the Prospectus Delivery Period and (ii) disclose in its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and in its annual report on Form 10-K a summary detailing, for the relevant reporting period, the number of Shares sold through or to BMOCM under this Agreement, the net proceeds received by the Company from such sales and the compensation paid by the Company to BMOCM with respect to such sales. In lieu of compliance with the requirement set forth in clause (ii) of the immediately preceding sentence, the Company may prepare a prospectus supplement with such summary information and, at least once a quarter and subject to subsection (a) of this Section 3, file such prospectus supplement pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act (and within the time periods required by Rule 424(b) and Rule 430A, 430B or 430C under the Act).

4. Conditions of the Obligations of BMOCM . The obligations of BMOCM hereunder are subject to (i) the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company on the date hereof, on each Representation Date and as of each Time of Sale and Settlement Date, in reference to the Registration Statement and Prospectus as amended and supplemented as of each such date, (ii) the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and (iii) the following additional conditions:

(a) No Stop Orders, Requests for Information and No Amendments. (i) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall be pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Commission, and the Company shall not have received from the Commission any notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) of the Act objecting to use of the automatic shelf registration statement form, (ii) no order suspending the qualification or registration of the Shares under the securities or Blue Sky laws of any jurisdiction shall be in effect and no

 

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proceeding for such purpose shall be pending before or threatened or contemplated by the authorities of any such jurisdiction, and (iii) any request for additional information on the part of the staff of the Commission or any such authorities shall have been complied with to the satisfaction of the staff of the Commission or such authorities.

(b) No Material Adverse Changes. Since the date of the most recent financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there shall not have been a Material Adverse Change.

(c) Officer s Certificates. BMOCM shall have received, on each Representation Date, one or more accurate certificates, dated such date and signed by an executive officer of the Company, in form and substance satisfactory to BMOCM, to the effect set forth in clauses (a) and (b) above and to the effect that:

(i) each signer of such certificate has carefully examined the Registration Statement, the Prospectus (including any documents filed under the Exchange Act and deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Prospectus) and each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, if any;

(ii) as of such date neither the Registration Statement, the Prospectus nor any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

(iii) each of the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement are, as of such date, true and correct (except for those representations and warranties that speak as of a particular date, which shall be true and correct as of such date); and

(iv) each of the covenants and agreements required herein to be performed by the Company on or prior to such date has been duly, timely and fully performed and each condition herein required to be complied with by the Company on or prior to such date has been duly, timely and fully complied with.

(d) Opinions of Counsel to the Company. BMOCM shall have received, within five Trading Days of each Representation Date, dated such date and addressed to BMOCM, (i) an opinion of K&L Gates LLP or other counsel reasonably satisfactory to BMOCM, to the effect set forth in Exhibit C hereto or a Reliance Letter where applicable, subject to the proviso set forth in Section 3(t), and (ii) an opinion of David C. Sienko, General Counsel of the Company, to the effect set forth in Exhibit D hereto, or a Reliance Letter where applicable.

(e) Opinion of Counsel to BMOCM. BMOCM shall have received, on Representation Date, an opinion of Andrews Kurth LLP, outside counsel for BMOCM, dated such date and addressed to BMOCM, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to BMOCM.

 

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(f) Accountants’ Comfort Letter. BMOCM shall have received, on each Representation Date, letters dated such date and addressed to BMOCM, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to BMOCM, (i) confirming that the Accountants are an independent registered public accounting firm within the meaning of the Act, the Exchange Act and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, (ii) stating, as of such date, the conclusions and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to sales agents in connection with registered “at the market” offerings with respect to the audited and unaudited financial statements and certain other financial information contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (the first such letter, the “Initial Comfort Letter”) and (iii) in the case of any such letter after the Initial Comfort Letter, updating the Initial Comfort Letter with any information that would have been included in the Initial Comfort Letter had it been given on such date and modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, as amended or supplemented to the date of such letter.

(g) Due Diligence . The Company shall have complied with all of its due diligence obligations required pursuant to subsection (v) of Section 3.

(h) Compliance with Blue Sky Laws. The Shares shall be qualified for sale or confirmed as exempt from such qualification in such states and jurisdictions as BMOCM may reasonably request, including, without limitation, the provinces and territories of Canada and other jurisdictions outside the United States, and each such qualification shall be in effect and not subject to any stop order or other proceeding on the relevant Representation Date.

(i) Stock Exchange Listing. The Shares shall have been duly authorized for listing on the Exchange, subject only to notice of issuance at or prior to the applicable Settlement Date.

(j) Regulation M . The Common Stock shall be an “actively-traded security” excepted from the requirements of Rule 101 of Regulation M under the Exchange Act by subsection (c)(1) of such rule.

(k) Additional Certificates.  The Company shall have furnished to BMOCM such certificate or certificates, in addition to those specifically mentioned herein, as BMOCM may have reasonably requested as to the accuracy and completeness at each Representation Date of any statement in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any documents filed under the Exchange Act and deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Prospectus, as to the accuracy at such Representation Date of the representations and warranties of the Company herein in reference to the Registration Statement and Prospectus as amended and supplemented as of each such date, as to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder, or as to the fulfillment of the conditions concurrent and precedent to the obligations hereunder of BMOCM.

5. Indemnification .

(a) Indemnification of BMOCM. The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless BMOCM, the directors, officers, employees, counsel and agents of BMOCM and each

 

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person, if any, who controls BMOCM within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act from and against any and all losses, claims, liabilities, out-of-pocket expenses and damages (including, without limitation, any and all investigative, legal and other out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred in connection with, and any amount paid in settlement of, any action, suit or proceeding between any of the indemnified parties and any indemnifying parties or between any indemnified party and any third party, or otherwise, or any claim asserted), to which they, or any of them, become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, liabilities, expenses or damages arise out of or are based on (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including any information deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rules 430A, 430B or 430C, as applicable, including all documents incorporated therein by reference, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, (iii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any materials or information provided to investors by, or with the advance written approval of, the Company in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Shares, including any roadshow or investor presentations made to investors by the Company (whether in person or electronically) or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or (iv) any breach of or inaccuracy in the representations and warranties in Section 2(a); provided , however , that the Company shall not be liable to the extent that such loss, claim, liability, expense or damage is based on an untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance on and in conformity with the information set forth in Schedule 2 hereto. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability that the Company might otherwise have.

(b) Indemnification of the Company.  BMOCM shall indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the directors, officers, employees, counsel and agents of the Company and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to BMOCM, but only insofar as losses, claims, liabilities, expenses or damages arise out of or are based on any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance on and in conformity with information set forth in Schedule 2 hereto. This indemnity will be in addition to any liability that BMOCM might otherwise have.

(c) Indemnification Procedures. Any party that proposes to assert the right to be indemnified under this Section 5 shall, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action against such party in respect of which a claim is to be made against an indemnifying party or parties under this Section 5, notify each such indemnifying party of the commencement of such action, enclosing a copy of all papers served, but the omission so to notify such indemnifying party shall not relieve the indemnifying party from any liability that it may have to any indemnified party under the foregoing provisions of this Section 5 unless, and only to the extent that, such omission prejudices the defense of such claim or results in any material increase

 

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in the liability which the Company has under this indemnity. If any such action is brought against any indemnified party and it notifies the indemnifying party of its commencement, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in and, to the extent that it elects by delivering written notice to the indemnified party promptly after receiving notice of the commencement of the action from the indemnified party, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense of the action, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party, and after notice from the indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the defense, the indemnifying party will not be liable to the indemnified party for any legal or other expenses except as provided below and except for the reasonable costs of investigation subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense. The indemnified party will have the right to employ its own counsel in any such action, but the fees, expenses and other charges of such counsel will be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the employment of counsel by the indemnified party has been authorized in writing by the indemnifying party, (ii) the indemnified party has reasonably concluded (based on advice of counsel) that there may be substantive legal defenses available to it or other indemnified parties that are materially different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party, (iii) a conflict or potential conflict exists (based on advice of counsel to the indemnified party) between the indemnified party and the indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying party shall not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party) or (iv) the indemnifying party has not in fact employed counsel to assume the defense of such action within a reasonable time after receiving notice of the commencement of the action, in each of which cases the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnifying party or parties. It is understood that the indemnifying party or parties shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of more than one separate firm admitted to practice in such jurisdiction at any one time for all such indemnified party or parties. All such fees, disbursements and other charges shall be reimbursed by the indemnifying party promptly as they are incurred. An indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any action or claim effected without its written consent (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed). No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of each indemnified party (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any pending or threatened claim, action or proceeding relating to the matters contemplated by this Section 5 (whether or not any indemnified party is a party thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising or that may arise out of such claim, action or proceeding.

(d) Contribution. In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in circumstances in which the indemnification provided for in the foregoing paragraphs of this Section 5 is applicable in accordance with its terms but for any reason is held to be unavailable from the Company or BMOCM, the Company and BMOCM shall contribute to the total losses, claims, liabilities, expenses and damages (including, without limitation, any investigative, legal and other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with, and any amount paid in settlement of, any action, suit or proceeding or any claim asserted, but after deducting any contribution received by the Company from persons other than BMOCM, such as persons who control the Company within the meaning of the Act, officers of the Company who signed the Registration Statement and directors of the Company, who also may be liable for contribution) to which the

 

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Company and BMOCM may be subject in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and BMOCM, on the other hand. The relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and BMOCM, on the other hand, shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the sum of (i) the total compensation paid to BMOCM pursuant to subsection (a)(vii) of Section 1 (in the case of one or more Agency Transactions hereunder) and (ii) the underwriting commissions actually received by BMOCM as set forth on the cover page of the Prospectus (in the case of one or more Principal Transactions pursuant to Terms Agreements). If, but only if, the allocation provided by the foregoing sentence is not permitted by applicable law, the allocation of contribution shall be made in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in the foregoing sentence but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and BMOCM, on the other hand, with respect to the statements or omissions which resulted in such loss, claim, liability, expense or damage, or action in respect thereof, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations with respect to such offering. Such relative fault shall be determined by reference to whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or BMOCM, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim, liability, expense or damage, or action in respect thereof, referred to above in this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include, for purpose of this subsection (d), any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), BMOCM shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the sum of (i) the total compensation to BMOCM pursuant to subsection (a)(vii) of Section 1 (in the case of one or more Agency Transactions hereunder) and (ii) the underwriting commissions received by BMOCM as set forth on the cover page of the Prospectus (in the case of one or more Principal Transactions pursuant to Terms Agreements), and no person found guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this subsection (d), any person who controls a party to this Agreement within the meaning of the Act will have the same rights to contribution as that party, and each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement will have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to the provisions hereof. Any party entitled to contribution, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action against such party in respect of which a claim for contribution may be made under this subsection (d), will notify any such party from whom contribution may be sought, but the omission so to notify will not relieve the party from whom contribution may be sought from any other obligation it may have under this subsection (d). No party will be liable for contribution with respect to any action or claim settled without its written consent (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld).

(e) Survival. The obligations of the Company under this Section 5 shall be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to any affiliate of BMOCM and each person, if any, who controls BMOCM or any such affiliate within the meaning of the Act; and the obligations of BMOCM under this Section 5 shall be in addition to any liability which it may otherwise have and shall

 

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extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each officer and director of the Company and to each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act. The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section 5 and the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of BMOCM, (ii) acceptance of any of the Shares and payment therefor or (iii) any termination of this Agreement.

6. Termination .

(a) The Company may terminate this Agreement in its sole discretion at any time upon giving written notice to BMOCM. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to the other party, except that (i) with respect to any pending sale, the obligations of the Company, including, without limitation, in respect of compensation of BMOCM, shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination; and (ii) the provisions of Sections 2, 3 (except that if no Shares have been previously sold hereunder or under any Terms Agreement, only subsection (m) of Section 3), 5 and subsections (c), (e) and (h) of Section 7 shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination. In the case of any sale by the Company pursuant to a Terms Agreement, the obligations of the Company pursuant to such Terms Agreement and this Agreement may not be terminated by the Company without the prior written consent of BMOCM.

(b) BMOCM may terminate this Agreement in its sole discretion at any time upon giving written notice to the Company. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to the other party, except that (i) with respect to any pending sale, the obligations of the Company, including, without limitation, in respect of compensation of BMOCM, shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination; and (ii) the provisions of Sections 2, 3 (except that if no Shares have been previously sold hereunder or under any Terms Agreement, only subsection (m) of Section 3), 5 and subsections (c), (e) and (h) of Section 7 shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination. In the case of any purchase by BMOCM pursuant to a Terms Agreement, BMOCM may, by written notice to the Company, terminate its obligations pursuant to such Terms Agreement at any time prior to or on the Settlement Date if, since the time of execution of the Terms Agreement or the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus:

(i) trading of any securities of the Company shall have been suspended on the Exchange;

(ii) trading generally shall have been suspended or limited on or by, as the case may be, the Exchange, or minimum or maximum prices shall have been generally established on the Exchange;

(iii) a general banking moratorium shall have been declared by any of federal, New York or Delaware authorities;

(iv) there shall have been a declaration of a national emergency or war by the United States or there shall have occurred such a material adverse change in general economic, political or financial conditions, including, without limitation, as a result of terrorist

 

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activities after the date hereof (or the effect of international conditions on the financial markets in the United States), or any other calamity or crisis shall have occurred, the effect of any of which is such as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to market the Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated by the Prospectus; or

(v) if there shall have been a Material Adverse Change.

(c) This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect until the earliest to occur of (i) termination of this Agreement pursuant to subsection (a) or (b) of this Section 6 or otherwise by mutual written agreement of the parties and (ii) such date that the aggregate gross sales prices of the Shares sold pursuant to this Agreement (including, without limitation, one or more Terms Agreements pursuant hereto) equals the Maximum Amount, in each case except that (i) with respect to any pending sale, the obligations of the Company, including, without limitation, in respect of compensation of BMOCM, shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination; and (ii) the provisions of Sections 2, 3 (except that if no Shares have been previously sold hereunder or under any Terms Agreement, only subsection (m) of Section 3), 5 and subsections (c), (e) and (h) of Section 7 shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.

(d) Any termination of this Agreement shall be effective on the date specified in the notice of termination; provided that such termination shall not be effective until the close of business on the date of receipt of such notice by BMOCM or the Company, as the case may be. If such termination shall occur prior to the Settlement Date for any sale of Shares, such sale shall settle in accordance with the provisions of Section 1 (in the case of an Agency Transaction) or in accordance with the relevant Terms Agreement (in the case of a Principal Transaction).

7. Miscellaneous .

(a) Notices. Notice given pursuant to any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and, unless otherwise specified, shall be mailed, hand delivered or telecopied (i) if to the Company, at the office of the Company, 6500 North Mineral Drive, Suite 200, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho 83815-9408, Attention: Chief Executive Officer, with a copy at the same address to the attention of the General Counsel, or (ii) if to BMOCM, at the offices of BMO Capital Markets Corp., 3 Times Square, New York, New York 10036, Attention: ECM, with a copy to the Legal Department. Any such notice shall be effective only upon receipt. Any notice under Section 5 may be made by telecopy or telephone, but if so made shall be subsequently confirmed in writing (which, with respect to the Agency Transactions contemplated by Section 1 only, may include, in the case of BMOCM, electronic mail to any Authorized Company Representative, and in the case of the Company, electronic mail to BMOCM).

(b) No Third Party Beneficiaries. The Company acknowledges and agrees that BMOCM is acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length contractual counterparty to the Company with respect to the offering of Shares contemplated hereby (including in connection with determining the terms of the offering) and not as a financial advisor or a fiduciary to the Company or any other person. Additionally, BMOCM is not advising the Company or any other person as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting or regulatory matters in any jurisdiction. The Company shall consult with its own advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible

 

31


for making its own independent investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated hereby, and BMOCM shall have no responsibility or liability to the Company with respect thereto. Any review by BMOCM of the Company, the transactions contemplated hereby or other matters relating to such transactions will be performed solely for the benefit of BMOCM and shall not be on behalf of the Company.

(c) Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations, warranties and agreements of the Company contained herein or in certificates or other instruments delivered pursuant hereto (including, without limitation, any Terms Agreement) shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of BMOCM or any of their controlling persons and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Shares hereunder.

(d) Disclaimer of Fiduciary Relationship . The Company acknowledges and agrees that (i) the purchase and sale of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement, including the determination of the terms of the offering and any related commissions, is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and BMOCM, on the other hand, (ii) in connection with the offering contemplated by this Agreement and the process leading to such transaction, BMOCM owes no fiduciary duties to the Company or its securityholders, creditors, employees or any other party, (iii) BMOCM has not assumed nor will it assume any advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to the offering of the Shares contemplated by this Agreement or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether BMOCM or its affiliates has advised or is currently advising the Company on other matters) and BMOCM has no obligation to the Company with respect to the offering of the Shares contemplated by this Agreement except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement, (iv) BMOCM and its affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Company and (v) BMOCM has not provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offering contemplated by this Agreement and the Company has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate.

(e) Governing Law.  THIS AGREEMENT AND EACH TERMS AGREEMENT, AND ANY DISPUTE, CLAIM OR CONTROVERSY ARISING UNDER OR RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT OR SUCH TERMS AGREEMENT, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED ENTIRELY WITHIN SUCH STATE. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably submits for purposes of any action arising from this Agreement or any Terms Agreement brought by the other party hereto to the jurisdiction of the courts of New York State located in the Borough of Manhattan and the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.

(f) Counterparts . This Agreement and each Terms Agreement may be signed in two or more counterparts with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.

(g) Survival of Provisions Upon Invalidity of Any Single Provision. In case any provision in this Agreement or any Terms Agreement shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.

 

32


(h) Waiver of Jury Trial. Each of the Company and BMOCM hereby irrevocably waives any right it may have to a trial by jury in respect of any claim based upon or arising out of this Agreement, any Terms Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby or thereby.

(i) Titles and Subtitles. The titles of the sections and subsections of this Agreement and any Terms Agreement are for convenience and reference only and are not to be considered in construing this Agreement or such Terms Agreement.

(j) Entire Agreement. Other than the terms set forth in each Transaction Notice delivered hereunder and each Terms Agreement executed and delivered pursuant hereto, this Agreement embodies the entire agreement and understanding between the parties hereto and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings relating to the subject matter hereof. Neither this Agreement nor any Terms Agreement may be amended or otherwise modified or any provision hereof waived except by an instrument in writing signed by BMOCM and the Company.

[ Signature page follows ]

 

33


Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement between the Company and BMOCM.

 

Very truly yours,
HECLA MINING COMPANY
By:  

/s/ David C. Sienko

  Name:   David C. Sienko
  Title:   Vice President & General Counsel

 

Confirmed as of the date first above mentioned:
BMO CAPITAL MARKETS CORP.
By:  

/s/ Michael Anderson

  Name:   Michael Anderson
  Title:   Managing Director


SCHEDULE 1

AUTHORIZED COMPANY REPRESENTATIVES

Phillips S. Baker, Jr. (CEO), James A. Sabala (SVP & CFO) and Carolyn Turner (Treasurer)


SCHEDULE 2

INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY BMOCM

BMOCM’s name and the statement that BMOCM will not engage in any transactions that stabilize the price of the Common Stock appearing in the last sentence of the first paragraph under the caption “Plan of Distribution” in the Prospectus Supplement.


SCHEDULE 3

ISSUER FREE WRITING PROSPECTUSES

None.


EXHIBIT A

[Company Letterhead]

[            ], 20[    ]

BMO Capital Markets Corp.

3 Times Square

New York, New York 10036

VIA EMAIL

TRANSACTION NOTICE

Ladies and Gentlemen:

The purpose of this Transaction Notice is to propose certain terms of the Agency Transaction entered into with BMOCM under, and pursuant to, that certain Equity Distribution Agreement between the Company and BMOCM, dated February 23, 2016 (the “Agreement”). Please indicate your acceptance of the proposed terms below. Upon acceptance, the particular Agency Transaction to which this Transaction Notice relates shall supplement, form a part of, and be subject to, the Agreement. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Agreement.

The terms of the particular Agency Transaction to which this Transaction Notice relates are as follows:

 

Trading Day(s) on which Shares may be Sold:

   [            ], 20[    ], [            ],
20[     ] … [            ], 20[    ]

Maximum Number of Shares to be Sold in the Aggregate:

   [                ]

Maximum Number of Shares to be Sold on each Trading Day:

   [                ]

Floor Price:

   USD[    .    ]

[ Remainder of Page Intentionally Blank ]


Very truly yours,
HECLA MINING COMPANY
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

Accepted and agreed as of
the date first above written:
BMO CAPITAL MARKETS CORP.
By:  

 

Name:  
Title:  

 

2


EXHIBIT B

HECLA MINING COMPANY

Common Stock

TERMS AGREEMENT

[            ], 20[    ]

BMO Capital Markets Corp.

3 Times Square

New York, New York 10036

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Hecla Mining Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, in the Schedule hereto and in the Equity Distribution Agreement, dated February 23, 2016 (the “Equity Distribution Agreement”), between the Company and BMO Capital Markets Corp. (“BMOCM”), to issue and sell to BMOCM [                ] shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.25 per share (the “Purchased Shares”)[, and, solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments, to grant to BMOCM the option to purchase an additional [                ] shares of such common stock (the “Additional Shares”)]. Capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Agreement.

[BMOCM shall have the right to purchase from the Company all or a portion of the Additional Shares as may be necessary to cover over-allotments made in connection with the offering of the Purchased Shares at the same purchase price per share to be paid by BMOCM to the Company for the Purchased Shares. This option may be exercised by BMOCM at any time (but not more than once) on or before the thirtieth day following the date of this Terms Agreement, by written notice to the Company. Such notice shall set forth the aggregate number of Additional Shares as to which the option is being exercised, and the date and time when the Additional Shares are to be delivered (such date, the “Option Settlement Date”); provided , however , that the Option Settlement Date shall not be earlier than the Settlement Date (as set forth in the Schedule hereto) nor earlier than the second business day after the date on which the option shall have been exercised nor later than the fifth business day after the date on which the option shall have been exercised. Payment of the purchase price for the Additional Shares shall be made at the Option Settlement Date in the same manner and at the same office as the payment for the Purchased Shares.]

Each of the provisions of the Equity Distribution Agreement not specifically related to the solicitation by BMOCM, as agent of the Company, of offers to purchase Shares in Agency Transactions is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and shall be deemed to be part of this Terms Agreement to the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in full herein.

An amendment to the Registration Statement, or a supplement to the Prospectus, as the case may be, relating to the Purchased Shares [and the Additional Shares], in the form heretofore delivered to BMOCM, is now proposed to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.


Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the Schedule hereto and subject the terms and conditions of the Equity Distribution Agreement incorporated herein as provided in the second immediately preceding paragraph, the Company agrees to issue and sell to BMOCM, and BMOCM agrees to purchase from the Company, the Purchased Shares at the time and place and at the purchase price set forth in the Schedule hereto.

[ Remainder of Page Intentionally Blank ]

 

2


If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us a counterpart hereof, whereupon this Terms Agreement, including those provisions of the Equity Distribution Agreement incorporated herein by reference, shall constitute a binding agreement between BMOCM and the Company.

 

HECLA MINING COMPANY
By:  

 

  Name:  
  Title:  

 

Accepted and agreed as of
the date first above written:
BMO CAPITAL MARKETS CORP.
By:  

 

  Name:  
  Title:  

 

3


Schedule to Terms Agreement

[Price to Public:

USD[    .    ] per share]

Purchase Price by BMOCM:

USD[    .    ] per share

Method of and Specified Funds for Payment of Purchase Price:

[By wire transfer to a bank account specified by the Company in same day funds.]

Method of Delivery:

[To BMOCM’s account, or the account of BMOCM’s designee, at The Depository Trust Company via DWAC in return for payment of the purchase price.]

Settlement Date:

[            ], 20[    ]

Closing Location:

[                    ]

Documents to be Delivered:

The following documents referred to in the Equity Distribution Agreement shall be delivered as a condition to the closing (which documents shall be dated on or as of the date of the Terms Agreement to which this Scheduled is annexed):

 

    the officer’s certificates referred to in Section 4(c);

 

    the legal opinions referred to in Section 4(d) and (e), or Reliance Letter(s) as applicable;

 

    the “comfort letter” referred to in Section 4(f); and

 

    such other documents as BMOCM shall reasonably request.

[Indemnity:

[                    ]] 1

[Lockup:

In addition to, and without limiting the generality of, the covenant set forth in Section 3(p) of the Equity Distribution Agreement, [                    ].]

 

4

Exhibit 5.1

 

LOGO

February 23, 2016

Hecla Mining Company

6500 N. Mineral Drive, Suite 200

Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special counsel to Hecla Mining Company, a Delaware corporation (the “ Company ”), in connection with (i) the registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-              ) (such registration statement, including the documents incorporated by reference therein, the “ Registration Statement ”) of the Company, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 23, 2016, and (ii) the Prospectus Supplement dated February 23, 2016 (the “ Prospectus ”) of the Company, filed with the Commission relating to the issuance and sale by the Company of shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.25 per share (the “ Shares ”), having an aggregate offering price of up to $75,000,000 in accordance with that certain Equity Distribution Agreement, dated as of February 23, 2016, among the Company and BMO Capital Markets Corp. (“BMOCM”), as sales agent or principal (the “ Distribution Agreement ”).

You have requested our opinion as to the matters set forth below in connection with the Registration Statement. For purposes of rendering that opinion, we have examined the Registration Statement, the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, and Bylaws, and the corporate action of the Company that provides for the issuance of the Shares, and we have made such other investigation as we have deemed appropriate. We have examined and relied upon certificates of public officials and, as to certain matters of fact that are material to our opinion, we have also relied on a certificate of an officer of the Company. In rendering our opinion, we also have made the assumptions that are customary in opinion letters of this kind, including that : (1) the Company will have sufficient authorized and unissued shares of Common Stock at the time of each issuance of a Share pursuant to the Distribution Agreement to provide for such issuance, (2) the Shares will be evidenced by appropriate certificates, duly executed and delivered or the Company’s Board of Directors will adopt a resolution, providing that all Shares shall be uncertificated in accordance with Section 158 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ DGCL ”) prior to their issuance, (3) the issuance of each Share will be duly noted in the Company’s stock ledger upon its issuance, and (4) the Agreement constitutes the valid and binding agreement of the parties thereto, enforceable against the parties thereto in accordance with its terms. We have not verified any of those assumptions.

Our opinion set forth below is limited to the DGCL, and reported judicial decisions interpreting the DGCL.

Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that the Shares are duly and validly authorized for issuance by the Company and, when issued and delivered by the Company and paid for pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.


 

Hecla Mining Company

6500 N. Mineral Drive, Suite 200

Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815

Page 2

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as Exhibit 5.1 to the Company’s current report filed on Form 8-K filed on February 23, 2016 and to the incorporation by reference of this opinion in the Registration Statement, and to the reference to our firm under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus. In giving our consent we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the 1933 Act or the rules or regulations thereunder. This opinion is expressed as of the date hereof, and we disclaim any undertaking to advise you of any subsequent changes in the facts stated or assumed herein or any subsequent changes in law.

Yours truly,

/s/ K&L Gates LLP