Exhibit 10.1(f)
 
Execution Version
 
LIMITED WAIVER AND FIFTH AMENDMENT TO SECOND
 
AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT AGREEMENT
 
THIS LIMITED WAIVER AND FIFTH AMENDMENT TO SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED CREDIT
AGREEMENT (this “Fifth Amendment”), dated as of October 10, 2011, is by and
among (i) HECLA ALASKA LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, HECLA GREENS
CREEK MINING COMPANY, a Delaware corporation and HECLA JUNEAU MINING COMPANY, a
Delaware corporation (collectively, the “Borrowers”), (ii) each of the other
obligors identified as “Other Obligors” on the signature pages hereto and (iii)
each of the banks and other financial institutions identified as “Lenders” on
the signature pages hereto (the “Lenders”).
 
W I T N E S S E T H:
 
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as
of October 14, 2009 (as amended, supplemented, amended and restated or otherwise
modified prior to the date hereof, the “Existing Credit Agreement” and, as
amended by this Fifth Amendment and as the same may be further amended,
supplemented, amended or restated or otherwise modified from time to time, the
“Credit Agreement”), among the Borrowers, the Obligors party thereto, the
Lenders party thereto, and The Bank of Nova Scotia, as administrative agent for
the Lenders (in such capacity, the “Administrative Agent”), the Lenders have
made commitments to extend certain credit facilities to the Borrowers;
 
WHEREAS, pursuant to the Existing Credit Agreement, no Subsidiary of the Parent
may be designated as an Immaterial Subsidiary if such Subsidiary has assets in
excess of $2,000,000;
 
WHEREAS, on the Effective Date, Silver Hunter Mining Company, a Delaware
corporation (“Silver Hunter”) held assets in excess of $2,000,000 but was
designated by the Borrowers as an Immaterial Subsidiary;
 
WHEREAS, since the Effective Date, Hecla Mining Company formed and owns RHL
Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation  (“RHL”) and RHL holds assets in excess
of $2,000,000, and thus is a Material Subsidiary, but RHL did not execute a
supplement to the Subsidiary Guaranty;
 
WHEREAS, the Borrowers have requested that Lenders waive certain Defaults or
Events of Default that currently exist as a result of the Borrowers’ failure to
designate Silver Hunter as a Material Subsidiary and have agreed to cause Silver
Hunter to enter into each Loan Document to the extent that a Material Subsidiary
of the Parent is required to be party to such Loan Document and have agreed to
amend the Pledge Agreement to clarify that the Parent’s interests in Silver
Hunter have been pledged pursuant to such Pledge Agreement; and
 
WHEREAS, the Borrowers have requested that the Lenders agree to amend certain
other provisions of the Existing Credit Agreement as more specifically set forth
herein, in each case upon the terms and conditions contained in this Fifth
Amendment.
 
 
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NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency
of which are hereby acknowledged, and in consideration of the agreements herein
contained, the parties hereby agree as follows:
 
PART I
 
DEFINITIONS
 
SUBPART 1.1  Certain Definitions.  Unless otherwise defined herein or the
context otherwise requires, the following terms used in this Fifth Amendment,
including its preamble and recitals, have the following meanings:
 
“Administrative Agent” is defined in the recitals.
 
“Borrowers” is defined in the preamble.
 
“Credit Agreement” is defined in the recitals.
 
“Existing Credit Agreement” is defined in the recitals.
 
“Lenders” is defined in the preamble.
 
“Fifth Amendment” is defined in the preamble.
 
“Fifth Amendment Effective Date” is defined in Subpart 4.1.
 
 
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SUBPART 1.2  Other Definitions.  Unless otherwise defined herein or the context
otherwise requires, terms used in this Fifth Amendment, including its preamble
and recitals, have the meanings provided in the Credit Agreement.
 
PART II
 
AMENDMENTS TO EXISTING CREDIT AGREEMENT
 
Effective on (and subject to the occurrence of) the Fifth Amendment Effective
Date, the Existing Credit Agreement is hereby amended in accordance with this
Part II.  Except as so amended, the Existing Credit Agreement and the other Loan
Documents shall continue in full force and effect.
 
SUBPART 2.1  Amendments to Section 1.1.  Section 1.1 of the Existing Credit
Agreement is hereby amended as follows:
 
(a)           by inserting the following defined terms in the appropriate
alphabetical sequence:
 
“Fifth Amendment” means the Fifth Amendment to Credit Agreement, dated as of
October 10, 2011, among the Borrowers and the Lenders party thereto.”
 
“Fifth Amendment Effective Date” has the meaning set forth in the Fifth
Amendment.”
 
(b)           by amending and restating the definition of “Commitment Amount” to
read as follows:
 
“Commitment Amount” means, on any date, $100,000,000, as such amount may be
reduced from time to time pursuant to Section 2.2.
 
(c)           by amending and restating the definition of “Stated Maturity Date”
to read as follows:
 
“Stated Maturity Date” means, with respect to all Loans, September 30, 2014.
 
SUBPART 2.2  Amendment to Section 7.1.8.  Clause (a) of Section 7.1.8 of the
Existing Credit Agreement is hereby amended by deleting the phrase “a supplement
to the Security Agreement substantially in the form attached thereto as Annex I”
and inserting in place thereof the phrase “a supplement or amendment to the
Security Agreement in form and substance reasonably acceptable to the
Administrative Agent”.
 
SUBPART 2.3Amendment to Schedule I.  Schedule I of the Existing Credit Agreement
is hereby amended by deleting “Silver Hunter Mining Company” and inserting in
place thereof “Silver Hunter Mining Company*” in order to indicate that such
Subsidiary is a Material Subsidiary.
 
SUBPART 2.4Amendment to Schedule II.  Schedule II of the Existing Credit
Agreement is hereby amended and restated in its entirety as follows:
 
COMMITMENTS AND LENDER PERCENTAGES
 
Lender
Commitment
Percentage
The Bank of Nova Scotia
$50,000,000
50.00%
ING Capital LLC
$50,000,000
50.00%
Total
$100,000,000
100%

 
PART III
 
LIMITED WAIVER
 
SUBPART 3.1  Limited Waiver of Default.  To the extent that the Borrowers
designated Silver Hunter as an Immaterial Subsidiary by inadvertently failing to
designate Silver Hunter as a Material Subsidiary on the Disclosure Schedule on
the Effective Date, any and all Defaults or Events of Default that may have
arisen prior to the date hereof due to:
 
 
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(a)           any of the representations and warranties, with respect to Silver
Hunter and RHL (and only with respect to Silver Hunter and RHL), set forth in
Section 6.8 or Section 6.13 (but only as each of them relates to Silver Hunter
and RHL being Material Subsidiaries) being false when given at any time prior to
the date hereof are hereby waived;
 
(b)           noncompliance with the requirement to include Silver Hunter and
RHL in the updated capital, operating and exploration budgets delivered pursuant
to Section 7.1.1(l) is hereby waived;
 
(c)           noncompliance with reporting a Default under Sections 7.1.1(c) and
(d) and with reporting Material Subsidiaries are hereby waived;
 
(d)           noncompliance by Silver Hunter and RHL with Section 7.1.8 is
hereby waived;
 
(e)           noncompliance by Silver Hunter and RHL with Section 7.1.10 is
hereby waived;
 
(f)           a cross default solely caused by any Defaults listed in clauses
(a), (b), (c), (d) or (e) above that is prohibited by Section 8.1.5(a) is hereby
waived; and
 
(g)           a Default under Section 8.1.3, 8.1.4 or 8.1.10 solely as a result
of the Defaults described in clauses (a), (b), (c), (d) or (e) above are hereby
waived.
 
PART IV
AFFIRMATION AND CONSENT

SUBPART 4.1  Affirmation and Consent.  Each of the Obligors confirms that it has
received a copy of this Fifth Amendment and restates, ratifies and reaffirms
each and every term and condition set forth in the Credit Agreement and the
other Loan Documents to which it is a party, effective as of the date hereof,
after giving effect to this Fifth Amendment.
 
PART V
CONDITIONS TO EFFECTIVENESS
 
SUBPART 5.1  Amendment Effective Date.  This Fifth Amendment shall be and become
effective as of the date (the “Fifth Amendment Effective Date”) when the last of
all of the conditions set forth in this Part IV shall have been satisfied.
 
SUBPART 5.2  Execution of Counterparts of Fifth Amendment.  The Administrative
Agent shall have received counterparts satisfactory to the Administrative Agent
of this Fifth Amendment, which collectively shall have been duly executed on
behalf of each Borrower, each of the other Obligors and each Lender.
 
 
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SUBPART 5.3  Delivery of Amended and Restated Promissory Notes.  The
Administrative Agent shall have received, for the account of each Lender that
has requested a Note, such Lender’s Note duly executed and delivered by an
Authorized Officer of each Borrower.
 
SUBPART 5.4  Delivery of Supplement to Subsidiary Guaranty.  The Administrative
Agent shall have received a counterpart satisfactory to the Administrative Agent
of a supplement to the Subsidiary Guaranty, substantially in the form of Annex I
attached thereof, executed by Silver Hunter and RHL.
 
SUBPART 5.5  Delivery of Amendment to Pledge Agreement.  The Administrative
Agent shall have received a counterpart satisfactory to the Administrative Agent
of an amendment to the Pledge Agreement pursuant to which Schedule I attached
thereto is amended to include Silver Hunter and RHL.
 
SUBPART 5.6  Authority Documents.  The Administrative Agent shall have received
the following, each as an attachment to a certificate executed by an Authorized
Officer, secretary or assistant secretary of each Borrower:
 
(a)           Certificate of Incorporation, Etc.  Copies of the certificate of
incorporation or other charter or formation documents of such Borrower,
certified to be true and complete as of a recent date by the appropriate
Governmental Authority of the state of its incorporation or formation.
 
(b)           Resolutions.  Copies of resolutions of the board of directors (or
executive committee thereof) of such Borrower authorizing the execution and
delivery of the Fifth Amendment (and the amendments to the Existing Credit
Agreement contained herein), certified by an Authorized Officer of such Borrower
as of the Fifth Amendment Effective Date to be true and correct and in force and
effect as of such date.
 
(c)           Bylaws.  A copy of the bylaws of such Borrower, certified by an
Authorized Officer of such Borrower as of the Fifth Amendment Effective Date to
be true and correct and in force and effect as of such date.
 
(d)           Incumbency.  An incumbency certificate of such Borrower, certified
by a secretary or assistant secretary of such Borrower to be true and correct as
of the Fifth Amendment Effective Date, in form and substance satisfactory to
Administrative Agent.
 
(e)           Good Standings.  Copies of certificates of good standing,
existence and, as applicable, authorization to transact business, certified as
of a recent date by the appropriate Governmental Authority of the state of its
incorporation or formation.
 
 
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SUBPART 5.7  Representations and Warranties.  The representations and warranties
contained in Subpart 5.4 shall be true and correct in all material respects on
and as of the Fifth Amendment Effective Date.
 
SUBPART 5.8    Fees, Costs and Expenses, etc.  The Administrative Agent shall
have received for its own account, or for the account of each Lender, as the
case may be, costs and expenses due and payable (to the extent invoiced)
pursuant to Section 10.3 and an amendment fee for the account of each Lender as
set forth in that certain fee letter dated as of October  10, 2011, among the
Borrowers and the Lenders.
 
PART VI
 
MISCELLANEOUS
 
SUBPART 6.1  Cross-References.  References in this Fifth Amendment to any Part
or Subpart are, unless otherwise specified, to such Part or Subpart of this
Fifth Amendment.
 
SUBPART 6.2  Instrument Pursuant to Existing Credit Agreement.  This Fifth
Amendment is a Loan Document executed pursuant to the Existing Credit Agreement
and shall (unless otherwise expressly indicated therein) be construed,
administered and applied in accordance with the terms and provisions of the
Existing Credit Agreement.
 
SUBPART 6.3  References in Other Loan Documents.  At such time as this Fifth
Amendment shall become effective pursuant to the terms of Part IV, all
references in the Loan Documents to the “Credit Agreement” shall be deemed to
refer to the Credit Agreement as amended by this Fifth Amendment.
 
SUBPART 6.4  Representations and Warranties of the Obligors.  Each Obligor
hereby represents and warrants that (a) it has the requisite power and authority
to execute, deliver and perform this Fifth Amendment, (b) it is duly authorized
to, and has been authorized by all necessary action, to execute, deliver and
perform this Fifth Amendment, (c) the representations and warranties contained
in Article VI of the Credit Agreement and applicable to such Obligor and to
Silver Hunter and RHL (in their capacity as a Material Subsidiary) are true and
correct in all material respects on and as of the date hereof as though made on
and as of such date (except for those which expressly relate to an earlier date)
after giving effect to the waiver and the amendments contained herein and (d) no
Default or Event of Default exists under the Credit Agreement on and as of the
date hereof after giving effect to the waiver and the amendments contained
herein.
 
SUBPART 6.5  Counterparts.  This Fifth Amendment may be executed by the parties
hereto in several counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original
and all of which shall constitute together but one and the same
agreement.  Delivery of executed counterparts of this Fifth Amendment by
telecopy or other electronic transmission shall be effective as an original and
shall constitute a representation that an original will be delivered.
 
 
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SUBPART 6.6  Full Force and Effect; Limited Amendment.  Except as expressly
amended or waived hereby, all of the representations, warranties, terms,
covenants, conditions and other provisions of the Existing Credit Agreement and
the Loan Documents shall remain unchanged and shall continue to be, and shall
remain, in full force and effect in accordance with their respective terms.  The
waiver and amendments set forth herein shall be limited precisely as provided
for herein to the provisions expressly waived or amended herein and shall not be
deemed to be an amendment to, waiver of, consent to or modification of any other
term or provision of the Existing Credit Agreement or any other Loan Document or
of any transaction or further or future action on the part of any Obligor which
would require the consent of the Lenders under the Existing Credit Agreement or
any of the Loan Documents.
 
SUBPART 6.7  Governing Law. THIS FIFTH AMENDMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND
CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
 
SUBPART 6.8  Successors and Assigns.  This Fifth Amendment shall be binding upon
and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors
and assigns.
 
* * * * *
 
 
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Each of the parties hereto has caused a counterpart of this Fifth Amendment to
be duly executed and delivered as of the date first above written.
 

BORROWERS HECLA ALASKA LLC,    
a Delaware limited liability company
         
 
By:
Hecla Limited,       its Managing Member                     By:         Name:  
    Title:  

 
 

  HECLA GREENS CREEK MINING COMPANY,     a Delaware corporation                
 
 
By:
        Name:       Title:  

 
 

 
HECLA JUNEAU MINING COMPANY,
    a Delaware corporation                  
 
By:
        Name:       Title:  

 
 

OTHER OBLIGORS:
 HECLA MINING COMPANY,
    a Delaware corporation          
 
By:
        Name:       Title:  

 
 

 
BURKE TRADING INC.,
    a Delaware corporation                  
 
By:
        Name:       Title:  

 
 
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HECLA ADMIRALTY COMPANY,
    a Delaware corporation                  
 
By:
        Name:       Title:  

 
 

 
HECLA LIMITED,
    a Delaware corporation                  
 
By:
        Name:       Title:  

 
 

 
SILVER HUNTER MINING COMPANY,
    a Delaware corporation                  
 
By:
        Name:       Title:  

 
 

 
RHL HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation
                       
 
By:
        Name:       Title:  

 
 
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THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA, as a Lender
                 
 
By:
        Name:       Title:                    
By:
        Name:       Title:  

 
 
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ING CAPITAL LLC, as a Lender
         
 
By:
        Name:       Title:  

 

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