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U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D. C. 20549
FORM 12b-25
NOTIFICATION OF LATE FILING
(Check One): [ ] Form 10-K [ ] Form 20-F [X] Form 11-K
[ ] Form 10-Q [ ] Form N-SAR
For Period Ended: December 31, 1996
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[ ] Transition Report on Form 10-K
[ ] Transition Report on Form 20-F
[ ] Transition Report on Form 11-K
[ ] Transition Report on Form 10-Q
[ ] Transition Report on Form N-SAR
For the Transition Period Ended:
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Nothing in this form shall be construed to imply that the
Commission has verified any information contained herein.
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If the notification relates to a portion of the filing checked
above, identify the Item(s) to which the notification relates:
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PART I - Registrant Information
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Full name of registrant Hecla Mining Company
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Former name if applicable
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Address of principal executive office
6500 Mineral Drive
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City, State and Zip Code Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 83814-8788
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PART II - Rules 12b-25 (b) and (c)
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If the subject report could not be filed without unreasonable
effort or expense and the registrant seeks relief pursuant to Rule
12b-25(b), the following should be completed. (Check box if
appropriate)
[X] (a) The reasons described in reasonable detail in Part III of
this form could not be eliminated without u nreasonable
effort or expense;
[X] (b) The subject annual report, semi-annual report, transition
report on Form 10-K, 20-F, 11-K or Form N-SAR, or portion
thereof will be filed on or before the fifteenth calendar
day following the prescribed due date; or the subject
quarterly report or transition report on Form 10-Q, or
portion thereof will be filed on or before the fifth
calendar day following the prescribed due date; and
[X] (c) The accountant's statement or other exhibit required by
Rule 12b-25(c) has been attached if applicable.
PART III - Narrative
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State below in reasonable detail the reasons why Form 10-K, 20-F,
11-K, 10-Q, N-SAR or the transition report or portion thereof could
not be filed within the prescribed time period.
Form 11-K of the Hecla Mining Company Capital Accumulation Plan
(Plan) pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, cannot be filed by the required deadline of 180 days
following the Plan's fiscal year end, due to the lack of a
completed audit report from the Plan's external auditor. The
Plan's external auditor is unable to issue its opinion on the
Plan's financial statements due to the lack of availability of the
report under Statement of Auditing Standard No. 70, REPORTS ON THE
PROCESSING OF TRANSACTIONS BY SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS from the Plan's
new trustee, Copper Mountain Trust Corporation which was appointed
trustee in 1996. The auditors have contacted Copper Mountain Trust
Corporation regarding the availability of the Statement of Auditing
Standard No. 70 report, and it is anticipated that the report will
be available by July 11, 1997. The completion of the statement of
Auditing Standard No. 70 report by July 11, 1997, will allow the
auditors to complete their audit report, and for the Company to
meet the extended filing deadline for Form 11-K of July 15, 1997.
Please see the letter (attached hereto as an exhibit) from Coopers
& Lybrand L.L.P., external auditor, regarding reasons why the audit
report cannot be issued.
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PART IV - Other Information
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(1) Name and telephone number of person to contact in regard
to this notification
Stanley E. Hilbert (208) 769-4106
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(Name) (Area Code) (Telephone Number)
(2) Have all other periodic reports required under section 13
or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or section 30 of
the Investment Company Act of 1940 during the preceding 12 months
or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file
such report(s) been filed? If the answer is no, identify
report(s).
[X] Yes [ ] No
(3) Is it anticipated that any significant change in results
of operations from the corresponding period for the last fiscal
year will be reflected by the earnings statements to be included in
the subject report or portion thereof?
[ ] Yes [X] No
If so: attach an explanation of the anticipated change, both
narratively and quantitatively, and, if appropriate, state the
reasons why a reasonable estimate of the results cannot be made
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HECLA MINING COMPANY
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(Name of Registrant as specified in charter)
Has caused this notification to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
Date June 30, 1997 By /s/ Stanley E. Hilbert
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Stanley E. Hilbert
Corporate Controller
(Chief Accounting Officer)
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Rule 12b-25(c) Exhibit
[COOPERS & LYBRAND LOGO]
June 19, 1997
Mr. Jack Stilwell
Hecla Mining Company
6500 Mineral Drive
Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 83814-8788
Dear Mr. Stilwell:
We are unable to complete the audit of the Hecla Capital
Accumulation Plan (the Plan) as of and for the years ended
December 31, 1996 and 1995 prior to your June 30, 1997 filing
deadline due to the timing of the report under Statement of
Auditing Standard No. 70, "Reports on the Processing of
Transactions by Service Organizations" from Copper Mountain Trust
Corporation (Copper Mountain). We have contacted Copper Mountain
and they anticipate having their review report substantially
completed by July 11, 1997. Assuming Copper Mountain's review
report is completed as anticipated, we will be able to complete our
audit of the Plan prior to July 15, 1997.
Sincerely,
/s/ R. Gregory Hougham
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R. Gregory Hougham
Engagement Partner
