Revett Mining Company, Inc. (NYSE MKT:RVM) (TSX:RVM) and Hecla Mining Company today announced that they have entered into a merger agreement pursuant to which Hecla will acquire Revett. In the proposed merger, each outstanding common share of Revett will be exchanged for 0.1622 of a common share of Hecla. Based on Hecla’s closing price of $3.23 on March 25, 2015 (the day prior to signing the agreement) this represents a 32% premium to Revett’s 20 day VWAP (volume weighted average price) through March 25, 2015. The parties currently expect the transaction to close late in the second quarter, 2015. The transaction is subject to approval by Revett shareholders and to the satisfaction of other closing conditions contained in the merger agreement.
 

Following closing of the merger, Hecla intends to continue to advance permitting of the Rock Creek project. Located in Northwest Montana, Rock Creek is considered one of the largest undeveloped silver and copper deposits in North America. Revett has reported inferred resources of 229 million ounces of silver and 2.0 billion pounds of copper. The project is approximately 50 miles north of Hecla’s Lucky Friday Mine in Idaho. A Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) is in process and the U.S. Forest Service schedule indicates that the SEIS will be issued later this year for public comment.
 

“We are acquiring Revett with an eye to the future, as Rock Creek is a world-class silver-copper deposit that we see becoming another Greens Creek,” said Phillips S. Baker, Jr., Hecla’s President and CEO. “Our experience of Greens Creek operating in a National Monument in Alaska since 1997 will be invaluable as we take a patient and persistent approach to permitting and then responsibly operating the Rock Creek Mine. Combining this operational expertise with our financial strength, and an unwavering commitment to safety and building strong community relationships, gives us confidence that we are well-positioned to move Rock Creek forward, to the benefit of all stakeholders.”
 

John Shanahan, Revett’s President and CEO, commented “Current market conditions do not allow us to maintain the Troy Mine on care and maintenance and pursue our objective of developing Rock Creek. We share similar core values with Hecla and see them as the company with the financial and technical capabilities to develop the potentially world class Rock Creek deposit in an efficient and responsible manner. We believe our shareholders, along with the communities of northwest Montana who have been so supportive in our endeavors, will benefit greatly from this merger.”
 

Following the merger, Hecla expects to close and reclaim the Troy Mine and associated facilities. The mine was placed on care and maintenance in January 2015 by Revett. The companies believe that the cost of reclamation at Troy will be borne by the current insurance backed reclamation policy that was established by Revett for that purpose.

Roman Friedrich & Company LLC is acting as financial advisor to Revett on this transaction and rendered a fairness opinion to Revett’s Board of Directors in connection with the transaction.
 
About Revett

Revett Mining Company, Inc., through its subsidiaries, owns and operates the Troy Mine in Lincoln County, Montana and permitting-stage Rock Creek project located in Sanders County, Montana, USA