June 2, 2009
EXHIBIT 10.3
June 2, 2009
STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL
Hecla Mining Company
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx 000
Coeur d’Xxxxx, XX 00000-0000
| Attn: | Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx |
Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer
Dear Xx. Xxxxxx:
This letter (the “Agreement”) constitutes the agreement between Hecla Mining Company (the “Company”) and Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx, LLC (“Xxxxxx”) that Xxxxxx shall serve as the exclusive placement agent (the “Services”) for the Company, on a “best efforts” basis, in connection with the proposed offer and placement (the “Offering”) by the Company of 17,391,302 shares (the “Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.25 per share (the “Common Stock”) and Series 4 warrants (the “Warrants”) to purchase up to 12,173,913 shares of Common Stock (the “Warrant Shares”, and together with the Warrant and the Shares, the “Securities”). The terms of the Offering and the Securities shall be mutually agreed upon by the Company and the investors and nothing herein implies that Xxxxxx would have the power or authority to bind the Company or an obligation for the Company to issue any Securities or complete the Offering. The Company expressly acknowledges and agrees that Xxxxxx’x obligations hereunder are on a reasonable best efforts basis only and that the execution of this Agreement does not constitute a commitment by Xxxxxx to purchase the Securities and does not ensure the successful placement of the Securities or any portion thereof or the success of Xxxxxx with respect to securing any other financing on behalf of the Company.
A. Fees and Expenses. In connection with the Services described above, the Company shall pay to Xxxxxx the following compensation:
1. Placement Agent’s Fee. The Company shall pay to Rodman a cash placement fee (the “Placement Agent’s Fee”) equal to 4% of the aggregate purchase price paid by each purchaser (“Purchaser”) of Securities that are placed in the Offering. The Placement Agent’s Fee shall be paid at the closing of the Offering (the “Closing”) from the gross proceeds of the Securities sold.
2. [Reserved].
3. Expenses. In addition to any fees payable to Xxxxxx hereunder, but only if an Offering is consummated, the Company hereby agrees to reimburse Xxxxxx for all reasonable travel and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with Xxxxxx’x engagement, including the reasonable fees and expenses of Xxxxxx’x counsel. Such reimbursement shall be limited to $25,000 without prior written approval by the Company and shall be paid at the Closing from the gross proceeds of the Securities sold.
Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx, LLC 0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Tel: 000 000 0000 Fax: 000 000 0000 xxx.xxxx.xxx Member: FINRA, SIPC
B. Term and Termination of Engagement. The term (the “Term”) of Xxxxxx’x engagement will be for the period of 30 days, or, if sooner, until the consummation of the Offering. The engagement may be terminated by either party at any time upon 5 days’ prior written notice. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the provisions concerning confidentiality, indemnification, contribution and the Company’s obligations to pay fees and reimburse expenses contained herein will survive any expiration or termination of this Agreement.
C. Fee Tail. Reference is made to that certain engagement letter, dated December 10, 2008 by and between the Company and Xxxxxx (“December Engagement”). Xxxxxx hereby waives Section 1(A)(2)(C) of the December Engagement solely as it relates only to this Offering and agrees that any fees payable on account of Purchasers subject to the December Engagement shall be paid pursuant to Section A(1) hereunder as it relates to this Offering. Any subsequent offerings by the Company, other than this Offering, shall be first subject to Section 1(A)(2)(C) of the December Engagement and then to this clause X. Xxxxxx shall be entitled to a Placement Agent’s Fee, calculated in the manner provided in Paragraph A, with respect to any public or private offering or other financing or capital-raising transaction of any kind (“Tail Financing”) to the extent that, Xxxxxx is not otherwise receiving a fee therefore and such financing or capital is provided to the Company by investors whom Xxxxxx had introduced, directly or indirectly, to the Company during the Term and who invested in the Offering, if such Tail Financing is consummated at any time within the 12-month period following the expiration or termination of this Agreement (the “Tail Period”).
D. Use of Information. The Company will furnish Rodman such written information as Xxxxxx reasonably requests in connection with the performance of its services hereunder. The Company understands, acknowledges and agrees that, in performing its services hereunder, Xxxxxx will use and rely entirely upon such information as well as publicly available information regarding the Company and other potential parties to an Offering and that Xxxxxx does not assume responsibility for independent verification of the accuracy or completeness of any information, whether publicly available or otherwise furnished to it, concerning the Company or otherwise relevant to an Offering, including, without limitation, any financial information, forecasts or projections considered by Xxxxxx in connection with the provision of its services.
E. Confidentiality. In the event of the consummation or public announcement of any Offering, Xxxxxx shall have the right to disclose its participation in such Offering, including, without limitation, the placement at its cost of “tombstone” advertisements in financial and other newspapers and journals. Xxxxxx agrees not to use any confidential information concerning the Company provided to Xxxxxx by the Company for any purposes other than those contemplated under this Agreement.
F. Securities Matters. The Company shall be responsible for any and all compliance with the securities laws applicable to it, including Regulation D and the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and Rule 506 promulgated thereunder, and unless otherwise agreed in writing, all state securities (“blue sky”) laws. Xxxxxx agrees to cooperate with counsel to the Company in that regard.
G. Indemnity.
1. In connection with the Company’s engagement of Xxxxxx as placement agent, the Company hereby agrees, to the extent permitted by law, to indemnify and hold harmless Xxxxxx and its affiliates, and the respective controlling persons, directors, officers, shareholders, agents and employees of any of the foregoing (collectively the “Indemnified Persons”), from and against any and all claims, actions, suits, proceedings (including those of shareholders), damages, liabilities and expenses incurred by any of them (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel), as incurred, (collectively a “Claim”),
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that are (A) related to or arise out of (i) any actions taken or omitted to be taken (including any untrue statements made or any statements omitted to be made) by the Company in connection with the Offering, or (ii) any actions taken or omitted to be taken by any Indemnified Person in connection with the Company’s engagement of Xxxxxx in connection with the Offering, or (B) otherwise relate to or arise out of Xxxxxx’x activities on the Company’s behalf under Xxxxxx’x engagement in connection with the Offering, and the Company shall reimburse any Indemnified Person for all reasonable expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) as incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with investigating, preparing or defending any such claim, action, suit or proceeding, in which any Indemnified Person is, or is threatened to be, a party. The Company will not, however, be responsible for any Claim, that is finally judicially determined to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of any person seeking indemnification for such Claim. The Company further agrees that no Indemnified Person shall have any liability to the Company for or in connection with the Company’s engagement of Xxxxxx except for any Claim incurred by the Company as a result of such Indemnified Person’s gross negligence or willful misconduct.
2. The Company further agrees that it will not, without the prior written consent of Xxxxxx, which will not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or denied, settle, compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any pending or threatened Claim in respect of which indemnification may be sought hereunder (whether or not any Indemnified Person is an actual or potential party to such Claim), unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional, irrevocable release of each Indemnified Person from any and all liability arising out of such Claim.
3. Promptly upon receipt by an Indemnified Person of notice of any complaint or the assertion or institution of any Claim with respect to which indemnification is being sought hereunder, such Indemnified Person shall notify the Company in writing of such complaint or of such assertion or institution, but failure to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company from any obligation it may have hereunder, except and only to the extent the Company is materially prejudiced or disadvantaged thereby. If the Company so elects or is requested by such Indemnified Person, the Company will assume the defense of such Claim, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person and the payment of the fees and expenses of such counsel. In the event, however, that legal counsel to such Indemnified Person reasonably determines that having common counsel would present such counsel with a conflict of interest or if the defendant in, or target of, any such Claim, includes an Indemnified Person and the Company, and legal counsel to such Indemnified Person reasonably concludes that there may be legal defenses available to it or other Indemnified Persons different from or in addition to those available to the Company, then such Indemnified Person may employ its own separate counsel to represent or defend him, her or it in any such Claim and the Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel. If the Company fails timely or diligently to defend, contest, or otherwise protect against any Claim, the relevant Indemnified Party shall have the right, but not the obligation, to defend, contest, compromise, settle, assert crossclaims, or counterclaims or otherwise protect against the same, and shall be indemnified hereunder by the Company therefor, including without limitation, for the reasonable fees and expenses of its counsel and all amounts paid as a result of such Claim or the compromise or settlement thereof. In addition, with respect to any Claim in which the Company assumes the defense, the Indemnified Person shall have the right to participate in such Claim and to retain his, her or its own counsel therefor at his, her or its own expense.
4. The Company and Xxxxxx agree that if any indemnity sought by an Indemnified Person hereunder is held by a court to be unavailable for any reason then (whether or not Xxxxxx is the Indemnified Person), the Company and Xxxxxx shall contribute to the Claim for which such indemnity is held unavailable in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits to the Company, on the one hand, and Xxxxxx on the other, in connection with Xxxxxx’x engagement referred to above, subject to the limitation that in no event shall the amount of Xxxxxx’x contribution to such Claim exceed the
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amount of fees actually received by Xxxxxx from the Company pursuant to Xxxxxx’x engagement. The Company hereby agrees that the relative benefits to the Company, on the one hand, and Xxxxxx on the other, with respect to Xxxxxx’x engagement shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as (a) the total value paid or proposed to be paid or received by the Company or its stockholders as the case may be, pursuant to the Offering (whether or not consummated) for which Xxxxxx is engaged to render services bears to (b) the fee paid or proposed to be paid to Xxxxxx in connection with such engagement.
5. The Company’s indemnity, reimbursement and contribution obligations under this Agreement (a) shall be in addition to, and shall in no way limit or otherwise adversely affect any rights that any Indemnified Party may have at law or at equity and (b) shall be effective whether or not the Company is at fault in any way, provided that the Company will not be responsible for any claim that is finally, judicially determined to have resulted from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of any person seeking indemnity, reimbursement or contribution for such claim.
H. Limitation of Engagement to the Company. The Company acknowledges that Xxxxxx has been retained only by the Company, that Xxxxxx is providing services hereunder as an independent contractor (and not in any fiduciary or agency capacity) and that the Company’s engagement of Xxxxxx is not deemed to be on behalf of, and is not intended to confer rights upon, any shareholder, owner or partner of the Company or any other person not a party hereto as against Xxxxxx or any of its affiliates, or any of its or their respective officers, directors, controlling persons (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), employees or agents. Unless otherwise expressly agreed in writing by Xxxxxx, no one other than the Company is authorized to rely upon this Agreement or any other statements or conduct of Xxxxxx, and no one other than the Company is intended to be a beneficiary of this Agreement. The Company acknowledges that any recommendation or advice, written or oral, given by Xxxxxx to the Company in connection with Xxxxxx’x engagement is intended solely for the benefit and use of the Company’s management and directors in considering a possible Offering, and any such recommendation or advice is not on behalf of, and shall not confer any rights or remedies upon, any other person or be used or relied upon for any other purpose. Xxxxxx shall not have the authority to make any commitment binding on the Company. The Company, in its sole discretion, shall have the right to reject any investor introduced to it by Xxxxxx. The Company agrees that it will perform and comply with the covenants and other obligations set forth in the purchase agreement and related transaction documents between the Company and the investors in the Offering, and that Xxxxxx will be entitled to rely on the representations, warranties, agreements and covenants of the Company contained in such purchase agreement and related transaction documents as if such representations, warranties, agreements and covenants were made directly to Xxxxxx by the Company.
I. Limitation of Xxxxxx’x Liability to the Company. Xxxxxx and the Company further agree that neither Xxxxxx nor any of its affiliates or any of its their respective officers, directors, controlling persons (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act), employees or agents shall have any liability to the Company, its security holders or creditors, or any person asserting claims on behalf of or in the right of the Company (whether direct or indirect, in contract, tort, for an act of negligence or otherwise) for any losses, fees, damages, liabilities, costs, expenses or equitable relief arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the Services rendered hereunder, except for losses, fees, damages, liabilities, costs or expenses that arise out of or are based on any action of or failure to act by Xxxxxx or its affiliates or any of their respective officers, directors, controlling persons (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act), employees or agents that are finally judicially determined to have resulted solely from the gross negligence or willful misconduct of Xxxxxx.
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J. Governing Law. This 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 fully performed therein. Any disputes that arise under this Agreement, even after the termination of this Agreement, will be heard only in the state or federal courts located in the City of New York, State of New York. The parties hereto expressly agree to submit themselves to the jurisdiction of the foregoing courts in the City of New York, State of New York. The parties hereto expressly waive any rights they may have to contest the jurisdiction, venue or authority of any court sitting in the City and State of New York. In the event of the bringing of any action, or suit by a party hereto against the other party hereto, arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the party in whose favor the final judgment or award shall be entered shall be entitled to have and recover from the other party the costs and expenses incurred in connection therewith, including its reasonable attorneys’ fees. Any rights to trial by jury with respect to any such action, proceeding or suit are hereby waived by Xxxxxx and the Company.
K. Notices. All notices hereunder will be in writing and sent by certified mail, hand delivery, overnight delivery or fax, if sent to Xxxxxx, to the address set forth on the first page hereof, fax number (000) 000-0000, Attention: General Counsel, and if sent to the Company, to the address on the first page hereof, fax number (000) 000-0000, Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer. Notices sent by certified mail shall be deemed received five days thereafter, notices sent by hand delivery or overnight delivery shall be deemed received on the date of the relevant written record of receipt, and notices delivered by fax shall be deemed received as of the date and time printed thereon by the fax machine.
L. Miscellaneous. This Agreement shall not be modified or amended except in writing signed by Xxxxxx and the Company. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of both Xxxxxx and the Company and their respective assigns, successors, and legal representatives. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of Xxxxxx and the Company, and supersedes any prior agreements, with respect to the subject matter hereof. If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be invalid or unenforceable in any respect, such determination will not affect such provision in any other respect, and the remainder of the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts (including facsimile or .pdf counterparts), each of which shall be deemed an original but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
X. Xxxxxx Representations. Xxxxxx represents, warrants and agrees to and with the Company that Xxxxxx is registered or licensed with the Commission as a broker-dealer and is a member of FINRA, and that all appropriate registrations, licenses or filings have been made on its behalf in connection with its status as a registered or licensed broker-dealer. Xxxxxx agrees to maintain the appropriate regulatory registrations and filings throughout the term of this Agreement. Neither Xxxxxx nor any of its principals or affiliates have been the subject of any administrative, civil or criminal actions within the past five (5) years preceding the date hereof that could be material to an investor’s decision to purchase Shares.
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In acknowledgment that the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding reached by Xxxxxx and the Company, please sign in the space provided below, whereupon this letter shall constitute a binding Agreement as of the date indicated above.
| Very truly yours, | ||
| XXXXXX & XXXXXXX, LLC | ||
| By | /s/ Xxxx Xxxxx | |
| Name: | Xxxx Xxxxx | |
| Title: | Sr. Managing Director | |
| Accepted and Agreed: | ||
| HECLA MINING COMPANY | ||
| By | /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |
| Name: | Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx | |
| Title: | Senior Vice President and CFO | |
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