HECLA MINING CO/DE/ 8-K

What Happened

• Hecla Mining Company (HL) filed an 8‑K on May 22, 2026 reporting results from its May 21, 2026 Annual Meeting. Shareholders approved a First Amendment to the Amended and Restated Hecla Mining Company Stock Plan for Nonemployee Directors to extend the plan expiration from May 15, 2027 to May 15, 2036 (Exhibit 10.1 filed).
• At the meeting (record date March 25, 2026; 670,565,891 shares outstanding), 524,590,027 shares were represented (78.23%). The board’s two director nominees—Rob Krcmarov and Dean R. Gehring—were elected to serve until the 2029 annual meeting. Shareholders also ratified BDO USA, P.C. as the independent registered public accounting firm for 2026 and approved, on an advisory basis, the named executive officer compensation.

Key Details

• Director Stock Plan amendment: extends expiration to May 15, 2036; First Amendment filed as Exhibit 10.1.
• Meeting turnout: 524,590,027 shares present (78.23% of 670,565,891 outstanding).
• Director elections:
  • Rob Krcmarov — For: 440,846,142; Against: 1,433,000; Abstain: 1,044,213; Broker non‑votes: 81,266,672.
  • Dean R. Gehring — For: 425,707,863; Against: 16,558,850; Abstain: 1,056,642; Broker non‑votes: 81,266,672.
• Auditor ratification: BDO USA, P.C. ratified — For: 480,303,792; Against: 42,376,233; Abstain: 1,910,002.
• Advisory vote on executive compensation: approved — For: 421,646,575; Against: 19,785,285; Abstain: 1,891,495; Broker non‑votes: 81,266,672.
• Vote on Director Stock Plan amendment: approved — For: 437,723,033; Against: 4,700,693; Abstain: 899,629; Broker non‑votes: 81,266,672.

Why It Matters

• Extending the Director Stock Plan through 2036 allows Hecla to continue granting equity-based compensation to nonemployee directors, which affects governance and director incentives going forward.
• Election of the two board nominees and ratification of BDO as auditor confirm shareholder support for current governance and oversight choices for 2026.
• The advisory approval of named executive officer pay signals shareholder backing of management compensation disclosure, though it is nonbinding.