8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

____________________

FORM 8-K

Current Report

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 13, 2021

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

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)
☐  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))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.25 per share	HL	New York Stock Exchange
Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, par value $0.25 per share	HL-PB	New York Stock Exchange

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

Item 8.01 Other Events

On May 13, 2021, the Company issued a news release announcing the release of its 2020 Sustainability Report. A copy of the 2020 Sustainability Report can be found on the Company’s website at www.hecla-mining.com. A copy of the news release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

Exhibit Number	Description
99.1 104	News Release, dated May 13, 2021. Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

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.

HECLA MINING COMPANY
By	/s/ David C. Sienko
	David C. Sienko
	Vice President and General Counsel

Dated: May 14, 2021

EX-99.1

NEWS RELEASE Exhibit 99.1

HECLA MINING COMPANY RELEASES 2020 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 13, 2021

COEUR D'ALENE, IDAHO -- Hecla Mining Company (NYSE:HL) today released its 2020 Sustainability Report, which comprehensively assembles the Company’s environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals, performance, and focus areas.

“The theme and title of this year’s report are Small Footprint, Large Benefit,” said Hecla President and Chief Executive Officer Phillips S. Baker, Jr. “Because our operations are low tonnage and mostly underground, they directly affect less than 3,900 acres, less than just one operation at many other mining companies. Yet we continually take steps to reduce our environmental footprint while providing long-term economic and social support to the communities where we operate.”

Hecla’s 2020 ESG Highlights:

● Achieving a 36% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from 2019

● Attaining more than our multi-year 5% energy reduction goal--76% of our line power was from hydropower

● Mobilizing and organizing operations to protect the health and safety of our workforce even before COVID-19 was deemed a pandemic, and helping address community needs, including food, supplies, and financial assistance

● Reducing our 2020 All-Injury Frequency Rate by 24% to 1.22—an 80% reduction since 2012

● Completing reclamation of the 300-acre Troy Tailings Storage Facility. As a result, the State of Montana reduced the required financial assurance by nearly $8 million

● Approving and publishing a human rights policy statement that codifies our commitment to respecting human rights

● Increasing diversity with a new director with risk management, ESG and mining expertise

● Signing a Cooperation Agreement between Hecla Quebec and the Council of the Abitibiwinni First Nation (CAFN) that ensures employment and business opportunities for CAFN

For the third year, Hecla benchmarked its performance against the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) Metals and Mining framework. The SASB metrics are included in our sustainability report and on www.hecla-mining.com. This is also the first year that Hecla reported against relevant aspects of the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).

Annual Meeting of Shareholders

For health and safety reasons due to COVID-19, Hecla’s Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be a virtual meeting and conducted via live webcast on Wednesday, May 19, 2021, at 1:00 p.m. ET. Shareholders and guests may access the webcast on Hecla’s website at www.virtualshareholdersmeeting.com/HL2021. During the meeting, Mr. Baker will highlight the Company’s Sustainability report and answer questions.

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

ABOUT HECLA

Founded in 1891, Hecla Mining Company (NYSE:HL) is the largest silver producer in the United States. In addition to operating mines in Alaska, Idaho and Quebec, Canada, the Company owns a number of exploration properties and pre-development projects in world-class silver and gold mining districts throughout North America.

For further information, please contact:

Jeanne DuPont

Senior Communications Coordinator

800-HECLA91 (800-432-5291)

Investor Relations

Email: hmc-info@hecla-mining.com

Website: www.hecla-mining.com

Hecla Mining Company ● 1-800-432-5291 ● hmc-info@hecla-mining.com  2

XML

Document And Entity Information	May 13, 2021
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity, Registrant Name	HECLA MINING COMPANY
Document, Type	8-K
Document, Period End Date	May 13, 2021
Entity, Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity, File Number	1-8491
Entity, Tax Identification Number	77-0664171
Entity, Address, Address Line One	6500 North Mineral Drive, Suite 200
Entity, Address, City or Town	Coeur d'Alene
Entity, Address, State or Province	ID
Entity, Address, Postal Zip Code	83815-9408
City Area Code	208
Local Phone Number	769-4100
Written Communications	false
Soliciting Material	false
Pre-commencement Tender Offer	false
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer	false
Entity, Emerging Growth Company	false
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Entity, Central Index Key	0000719413
CommonStock Custom [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock
Trading Symbol	HL
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
SeriesBCumulativeConvertiblePreferredStock Custom [Member]
Document Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock
Trading Symbol	HL-PB
Security Exchange Name	NYSE