UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
x QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2010
OR
¨ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to .
Commission File Number: 1-8944
CLIFFS NATURAL RESOURCES INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
Ohio | 34-1464672 | |
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) | |
200 Public Square, Cleveland, Ohio | 44114-2315 | |
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrants Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (216) 694-5700
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
YES x NO ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
YES x NO ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See definitions of large accelerated filer, accelerated filer and smaller reporting company in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer x Accelerated filer ¨ Non-accelerated filer ¨ Smaller reporting company ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
YES ¨ NO x
The number of shares outstanding of the registrants Common Shares, par value $0.125 per share, was 135,459,499 as of October 26, 2010.
The following abbreviations or acronyms are used in the text. References in this report to the Company, we, us, our and Cliffs are to Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. and subsidiaries, collectively. References to A$ or AUD refer to Australian currency, C$ to Canadian currency and $ to United States currency.
Abbreviation or acronym |
Term | |
Amapá |
Anglo Ferrous Amapá Mineração Ltda. and Anglo Ferrous Logística Amapá Ltda. | |
ArcelorMittal USA |
ArcelorMittal USA Inc. | |
ASC |
FASB Accounting Standard Codification | |
AusQuest |
AusQuest Limited | |
CAWO |
Cliffs Australian Washplant Operations Pty Ltd | |
CLCC |
Cliffs Logan County Coal LLC | |
Cockatoo |
Cockatoo Island Joint Venture | |
Consent Order |
Administrative Order by Consent | |
DEP |
Department of Environmental Protection | |
Directors Plan |
Nonemployee Directors Compensation Plan, as amended and restated 12/31/2008 | |
Dodd-Frank Act |
Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act | |
Empire |
Empire Iron Mining Partnership | |
EPA |
United States Environmental Protection Agency | |
Exchange Act |
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 | |
FASB |
Financial Accounting Standards Board | |
FMSH Act |
Federal Mine Safety and Health Act 1977 | |
F.O.B. |
Free on board | |
Freewest |
Freewest Resources Canada Inc. | |
GAAP |
Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States | |
Hibbing |
Hibbing Taconite Company | |
ICE Plan |
Amended and Restated Cliffs 2007 Incentive Equity Plan | |
INR |
INR Energy, LLC | |
Ispat |
Ispat Inland Steel Company | |
LIBOR |
London Interbank Offered Rate | |
LTVSMC |
LTV Steel Mining Company | |
MMBtu |
Million British Thermal Units | |
MPSC |
Michigan Public Service Commission | |
MRRT |
Minerals Resource Rent Tax | |
MSHA |
Mine Safety and Health Administration | |
Northshore |
Northshore Mining Company | |
NRD |
Natural Resource Damages | |
Oak Grove |
Oak Grove Resources, LLC | |
OPEB |
Other postretirement benefits | |
Pinnacle |
Pinnacle Mining Company, LLC | |
PPACA |
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act | |
PRRT |
Petroleum Resource Rent Tax | |
PSCR |
Power Supply Cost Recovery Plan | |
Reconciliation Act |
Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act | |
RTWG |
Rio Tinto Working Group | |
SEC |
United States Securities and Exchange Commission | |
SMM |
Sonoma Mine Management | |
Sonoma |
Sonoma Coal Project | |
Spider |
Spider Resources Inc. | |
Tilden |
Tilden Mining Company L.C. | |
Tonne |
Metric ton (equal to 1,000 kilograms or 2,205 pounds) | |
TSR |
Total Shareholder Return | |
United Taconite |
United Taconite LLC | |
U.S. |
United States of America | |
VNQDC |
2005 Voluntary NonQualified Deferred Compensation Plan | |
Wabush |
Wabush Mines Joint Venture | |
WEPCO |
Wisconsin Electric Power Company |
1
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION
CLIFFS NATURAL RESOURCES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
STATEMENTS OF UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED OPERATIONS
(In Millions, Except Per Share Amounts) |
||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended September 30, |
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|||||||||||||||
2010 | 2009 | 2010 | 2009 | |||||||||||||
REVENUES FROM PRODUCT SALES AND SERVICES |
||||||||||||||||
Product |
$ | 1,287.2 | $ | 669.9 | $ | 3,074.9 | $ | 1,444.1 | ||||||||
Freight and venture partners cost reimbursements |
58.8 | (3.5) | 183.1 | 77.4 | ||||||||||||
1,346.0 | 666.4 | 3,258.0 | 1,521.5 | |||||||||||||
COST OF GOODS SOLD AND OPERATING EXPENSES |
(869.5) | (563.2) | (2,216.8) | (1,387.6) | ||||||||||||
SALES MARGIN |
476.5 | 103.2 | 1,041.2 | 133.9 | ||||||||||||
OTHER OPERATING INCOME (EXPENSE) |
||||||||||||||||
Selling, general and administrative expenses |
(68.1) | (28.4) | (164.3) | (83.6) | ||||||||||||
Casualty recoveries |
- | - | 3.3 | - | ||||||||||||
Royalties and management fee revenue |
2.8 | (0.2) | 7.7 | 3.5 | ||||||||||||
Gain on sale of assets |
- | 1.0 | 2.6 | 1.5 | ||||||||||||
Miscellaneous - net |
(22.0) | 4.9 | (22.1) | 19.3 | ||||||||||||
(87.3) | (22.7) | (172.8) | (59.3) | |||||||||||||
OPERATING INCOME |
389.2 | 80.5 | 868.4 | 74.6 | ||||||||||||
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE) |
||||||||||||||||
Gain on acquisition of controlling interests |
2.1 | - | 28.4 | - | ||||||||||||
Changes in fair value of foreign currency contracts, net |
32.5 | 8.8 | 24.8 | 84.8 | ||||||||||||
Interest income |
3.3 | 1.9 | 8.4 | 7.7 | ||||||||||||
Interest expense |
(17.3) | (10.0) | (40.8) | (29.3) | ||||||||||||
Other non-operating income (expense) |
(0.3) | 0.2 | 6.9 | (0.6) | ||||||||||||
20.3 | 0.9 | 27.7 | 62.6 | |||||||||||||
INCOME FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND EQUITY INCOME (LOSS) FROM VENTURES |
409.5 | 81.4 | 896.1 | 137.2 | ||||||||||||
INCOME TAX BENEFIT (EXPENSE) |
(115.7) | (1.9) | (278.0) | 14.6 | ||||||||||||
EQUITY INCOME (LOSS) FROM VENTURES |
3.6 | (20.9) | 8.4 | (55.6) | ||||||||||||
NET INCOME |
297.4 | 58.6 | 626.5 | 96.2 | ||||||||||||
LESS: LOSS ATTRIBUTABLE TO |
||||||||||||||||
NONCONTROLLING INTEREST |
- | (0.2) | (0.1) | (0.7) | ||||||||||||
NET INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO CLIFFS SHAREHOLDERS |
$ | 297.4 | $ | 58.8 | $ | 626.6 | $ | 96.9 | ||||||||
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO CLIFFS SHAREHOLDERS - BASIC |
$ | 2.20 | $ | 0.45 | $ | 4.63 | $ | 0.79 | ||||||||
EARNINGS PER COMMON SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO CLIFFS SHAREHOLDERS - DILUTED |
$ | 2.18 | $ | 0.45 | $ | 4.60 | $ | 0.78 | ||||||||
AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES (IN THOUSANDS) |
||||||||||||||||
Basic |
135,345 | 130,840 | 135,280 | 123,045 | ||||||||||||
Diluted |
136,213 | 131,736 | 136,098 | 123,768 | ||||||||||||
CASH DIVIDENDS DECLARED PER SHARE |
$ | 0.14 | $ | 0.04 | $ | 0.3675 | $ | 0.1675 |
See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
2
CLIFFS NATURAL RESOURCES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
STATEMENTS OF UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL POSITION
(In Millions) | ||||||||
September 30,
2010 |
December 31, 2009 |
|||||||
ASSETS | ||||||||
CURRENT ASSETS |
||||||||
Cash and cash equivalents |
$ | 969.4 | $ | 502.7 | ||||
Accounts receivable |
214.1 | 103.5 | ||||||
Inventories |
308.5 | 272.5 | ||||||
Supplies and other inventories |
131.5 | 102.7 | ||||||
Derivative assets |
208.6 | 51.5 | ||||||
Deferred and refundable taxes |
101.1 | 61.4 | ||||||
Other current assets |
89.7 | 66.9 | ||||||
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS |
2,022.9 | 1,161.2 | ||||||
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, NET |
3,897.7 | 2,592.6 | ||||||
OTHER ASSETS |
||||||||
Investments in ventures |
525.3 | 315.1 | ||||||
Goodwill |
199.8 | 74.6 | ||||||
Intangible assets, net |
178.7 | 114.8 | ||||||
Deferred income taxes |
62.1 | 151.1 | ||||||
Other non-current assets |
192.4 | 229.9 | ||||||
TOTAL OTHER ASSETS |
1,158.3 | 885.5 | ||||||
TOTAL ASSETS |
$ | 7,078.9 | $ | 4,639.3 | ||||
LIABILITIES | ||||||||
CURRENT LIABILITIES |
||||||||
Accounts payable |
$ | 214.4 | $ | 178.9 | ||||
Accrued expenses |
233.7 | 155.8 | ||||||
Deferred revenue |
75.7 | 105.1 | ||||||
Taxes payable |
42.1 | 41.2 | ||||||
Other current liabilities |
124.1 | 89.4 | ||||||
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES |
690.0 | 570.4 | ||||||
POSTEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT LIABILITIES |
477.1 | 445.8 | ||||||
LONG-TERM DEBT |
1,713.0 | 525.0 | ||||||
BELOW-MARKET SALES CONTRACTS |
185.7 | 153.3 | ||||||
ENVIRONMENTAL AND MINE CLOSURE OBLIGATIONS |
194.4 | 124.3 | ||||||
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES |
163.1 | 70.8 | ||||||
OTHER LIABILITIES |
204.3 | 212.7 | ||||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES |
3,627.6 | 2,102.3 | ||||||
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES |
||||||||
EQUITY | ||||||||
CLIFFS SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY |
||||||||
Common Shares - par value $0.125 per share |
||||||||
Authorized - 224,000,000 shares; |
||||||||
Issued - 138,845,469 shares (2009 - 134,623,528 shares); |
||||||||
Outstanding - 135,436,999 shares (2009 - 130,971,470 shares) |
17.3 | 16.8 | ||||||
Capital in excess of par value of shares |
875.1 | 695.4 | ||||||
Retained Earnings |
2,550.1 | 1,973.1 | ||||||
Cost of 3,408,470 common shares in treasury (2009 - 3,652,058 shares) |
(18.6) | (19.9) | ||||||
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) |
13.0 | (122.6) | ||||||
TOTAL CLIFFS SHAREHOLDERS EQUITY |
3,436.9 | 2,542.8 | ||||||
NONCONTROLLING INTEREST |
14.4 | (5.8) | ||||||
TOTAL EQUITY |
3,451.3 | 2,537.0 | ||||||
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY |
$ | 7,078.9 | $ | 4,639.3 | ||||
See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
3
CLIFFS NATURAL RESOURCES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES STATEMENTS OF UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOWS |
(In Millions) | ||||||||
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
||||||||
2010 | 2009 | |||||||
CASH FLOW FROM OPERATIONS |
||||||||
OPERATING ACTIVITIES |
||||||||
Net income |
$ | 626.5 | $ | 96.2 | ||||
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided (used) by operating activities: |
||||||||
Depreciation, depletion and amortization |
239.5 | 172.7 | ||||||
Changes in deferred revenue |
(73.0) | (29.3) | ||||||
Deferred income taxes |
71.8 | (21.4) | ||||||
Foreign exchange loss (gain) |
10.1 | (25.0) | ||||||
Income tax uncertainties |
(3.3) | 59.0 | ||||||
Equity (income) loss in ventures (net of tax) |
(8.4) | 55.6 | ||||||
Derivatives and currency hedges |
(167.8) | (180.9) | ||||||
Gain on acquisition of controlling interests |
(28.4) | - | ||||||
Other |
27.5 | 14.7 | ||||||
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |
||||||||
Receivables and other assets |
(71.5) | (36.5) | ||||||
Product inventories |
15.2 | (14.3) | ||||||
Payables and accrued expenses |
(7.2) | (96.2) | ||||||
Net cash provided (used) by operating activities |
631.0 | (5.4) | ||||||
INVESTING ACTIVITIES |
||||||||
Acquisition of controlling interests, net of cash acquired |
(971.5) | - | ||||||
Purchase of property, plant and equipment |
(150.1) | (95.8) | ||||||
Investments in ventures |
(182.2) | (79.1) | ||||||
Investments in marketable securities |
(5.0) | (3.9) | ||||||
Redemption of marketable securities |
15.3 | 5.4 | ||||||
Proceeds from sale of assets |
0.9 | 23.8 | ||||||
Net cash used by investing activities |
(1,292.6) | (149.6) | ||||||
FINANCING ACTIVITIES |
||||||||
Net proceeds from issuance of common shares |
- | 347.3 | ||||||
Borrowings under credit facility |
450.0 | 278.4 | ||||||
Repayments under credit facility |
(450.0) | (276.2) | ||||||
Net proceeds from issuance of senior notes |
1,388.0 | - | ||||||
Repayment of term loan |
(200.0) | - | ||||||
Common stock dividends |
(49.9) | (20.4) | ||||||
Other financing activities |
(25.5) | (4.8) | ||||||
Net cash provided by financing activities |
1,112.6 | 324.3 | ||||||
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH |
15.7 | 11.6 | ||||||
INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS |
466.7 | 180.9 | ||||||
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD |
502.7 | 179.0 | ||||||
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD |
$ | 969.4 | $ | 359.9 | ||||
See notes to unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
4
CLIFFS NATURAL RESOURCES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
September 30, 2010
NOTE 1 BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with SEC rules and regulations and in the opinion of management, contain all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly, the financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Management bases its estimates on various assumptions and historical experience, which are believed to be reasonable; however, due to the inherent nature of estimates, actual results may differ significantly due to changed conditions or assumptions. The interim results are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009.
The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include our accounts and the accounts of our wholly-owned and majority-owned subsidiaries, including the following significant subsidiaries:
Name |
Location |
Ownership Interest |
Operation | |||
Northshore |
Minnesota | 100.0% | Iron Ore | |||
United Taconite |
Minnesota | 100.0% | Iron Ore | |||
Wabush |
Canada | 100.0% | Iron Ore | |||
Tilden |
Michigan | 85.0% | Iron Ore | |||
Empire |
Michigan | 79.0% | Iron Ore | |||
Asia Pacific Iron Ore |
Western Australia | 100.0% | Iron Ore | |||
Pinnacle |
West Virginia | 100.0% | Coal | |||
Oak Grove |
Alabama | 100.0% | Coal | |||
CLCC |
West Virginia | 100.0% | Coal | |||
Freewest |
Canada | 100.0% | Chromite | |||
Spider |
Canada | 85.0% | Chromite |
Intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated upon consolidation.
On January 27, 2010, we acquired all of the outstanding shares of Freewest, a Canadian-based mineral exploration company, for C$1.00 per share, thereby increasing our ownership interest in Freewest to 100 percent. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as of and for the period ended September 30, 2010 reflect the acquisition of the remaining interest in Freewest since that date. At December 31, 2009, our ownership in Freewest represented approximately 12.4 percent of its outstanding shares; we did not exercise significant influence, and the investment was classified as an available-for-sale security. Refer to NOTE 7 ACQUISITIONS AND OTHER INVESTMENTS for further information.
We acquired the remaining 73.2 percent interest in Wabush on February 1, 2010, thereby increasing our ownership interest to 100 percent. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as of and for the period ended September 30, 2010 reflect the acquisition of the remaining interest in Wabush since that date. At December 31, 2009, our 26.8 percent ownership interest in Wabush was accounted for as an equity method investment. Refer to NOTE 7 ACQUISITIONS AND OTHER INVESTMENTS for further information.
5
During the second quarter of 2010, we commenced a formal cash offer to acquire all of the outstanding common shares of Spider, a Canadian-based mineral exploration company, for C$0.19 per share. On July 6, 2010, all of the conditions to acquire the remaining common shares of Spider had been satisfied or waived. Consequently, we owned approximately 85 percent of Spider as of September 30, 2010 and have obtained majority ownership of the Big Daddy chromite deposit located in Northern Ontario. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as of and for the period ended September 30, 2010 reflects our 85 percent ownership interest in Spider. Prior to the acquisition date, our ownership in Spider represented approximately four percent of its issued and outstanding shares; we did not exercise significant influence, and the investment was classified as an available-for-sale security. Effective October 7, 2010, we completed the acquisition of the remaining shares of Spider through an amalgamation, bringing our ownership percentage to 100 percent as of that date. Refer to NOTE 7 ACQUISITIONS AND OTHER INVESTMENTS for further information.
On July 30, 2010, we acquired all of the coal operations of privately-owned INR, and since that date, the operations acquired from INR have been conducted through our wholly-owned subsidiary known as CLCC. CLCC is a producer of high-volatile metallurgical and thermal coal located in southern West Virginia. The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as of and for the period ended September 30, 2010 reflect our 100 percent ownership interest in CLCC since the date of acquisition. Refer to NOTE 7 ACQUISITIONS AND OTHER INVESTMENTS for further information.
The following table presents the detail of our investments in unconsolidated ventures and where those investments are classified on the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009. Parentheses indicate a net liability.
(In Millions) | ||||||||||||
Investment |
Classification |
Interest Percentage |
September 30, 2010 |
December 31, 2009 |
||||||||
Amapá |
Investments in ventures | 30 | $ | 456.6 | $ | 272.4 | ||||||
AusQuest |
Investments in ventures | 30 | 23.4 | 22.7 | ||||||||
Cockatoo |
Investments in ventures | 50 | 33.8 | 9.1 | ||||||||
Wabush (1) |
Other liabilities | 100 | - | (11.4) | ||||||||
Hibbing |
Other liabilities | 23 | (7.7) | (11.6) | ||||||||
Other |
Investments in ventures | 11.5 | 10.9 | |||||||||
$ | 517.6 | $ | 292.1 | |||||||||
(1) | On February 1, 2010, we acquired U.S. Steel Canadas 44.6 percent interest and ArcelorMittal Dofascos 28.6 percent interest in Wabush, thereby increasing our ownership interest in Wabush from 26.8 percent as of December 31, 2009 to 100 percent as of September 30, 2010. Refer to NOTE 7 ACQUISITIONS AND OTHER INVESTMENTS for further information. |
Our share of the results from Amapá and AusQuest are reflected as Equity income (loss) from ventures on the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Operations. Our share of equity income (loss) from Cockatoo and Hibbing is eliminated against consolidated product inventory upon production, and against cost of goods sold and operating expenses when sold. This effectively reduces the cost of our share of the mining ventures production to its cost, reflecting the cost-based nature of our participation in these unconsolidated ventures.
6
Through various interrelated arrangements, we achieve a 45 percent economic interest in Sonoma, despite the ownership percentages of the individual components of Sonoma. We own 100 percent of CAWO, 8.33 percent of the exploration permits and applications for mining leases for the real estate that is involved in Sonoma (Mining Assets) and 45 percent of the infrastructure, including the construction of a rail loop and related equipment (Non-Mining Assets). CAWO is consolidated as a wholly-owned subsidiary, and as a result of being the primary beneficiary, we absorb greater than 50 percent of the residual returns and expected losses of CAWO. We record our ownership share of the Mining Assets and Non-Mining Assets and share in the respective costs. Although SMM does not have sufficient equity at risk and accordingly qualifies as a variable interest entity, we are not the primary beneficiary of SMM. Accordingly, we account for our investment in SMM in accordance with the equity method.
Retrospective Adjustments
During the third quarter of 2010, we retrospectively recorded adjustments to the Wabush purchase price allocation back to the date of acquisition that occurred during the first quarter of 2010. Therefore, the financial statements for the three months ended March 31, 2010 have been retrospectively adjusted for these changes, resulting in a decrease to Income From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes and Equity Loss from Ventures of $34.3 million and a decrease to Net Income Attributable to Cliffs Shareholders of $25.0 million, respectively, on the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Operations. The adjustments resulted in a decrease to basic and diluted earnings per common share of $0.18 per common share, respectively. In addition, Retained Earnings on the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position as of March 31, 2010 has been decreased by $25.0 million for the effect of these retrospective adjustments. Accordingly, such amounts are reflected in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and excluded from the three months ended September 30, 2010. Refer to NOTE 7 ACQUISITIONS AND OTHER INVESTMENTS for additional information.
Significant Accounting Policies
A detailed description of our significant accounting policies can be found in the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2009, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC. There have been no material changes in our significant accounting policies and estimates from those disclosed therein.
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Effective January 1, 2010, we adopted the consolidation guidance for variable interest entities, amended in June of 2009. The amendment was issued in response to perceived shortcomings in the consolidation model that were highlighted by recent market events, including concerns about the ability to structure transactions under the current guidance to avoid consolidation, balanced with the need for more relevant, timely, and reliable information about an enterprises involvement in a variable interest entity. The amendments include: (1) the elimination of the exemption for qualifying special purpose entities, (2) a new approach for determining who should consolidate a variable interest entity, (3) changes to when it is necessary to reassess who should consolidate a variable interest entity, and (4) additional disclosures of information related to a companys interest in a variable interest entity. The new guidance was effective January 1, 2010 for calendar year-end companies. The adoption of this amendment did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
7
In January 2010, the FASB amended the guidance on fair value to add new requirements for disclosures about transfers into and out of Levels 1 and 2 and separate disclosures about purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements relating to Level 3 measurements. It also clarifies existing fair value disclosures about the level of disaggregation and about inputs and valuation techniques used to measure fair value. The amendment also revises the guidance on employers disclosures about postretirement benefit plan assets to require that disclosures be provided by classes of assets instead of by major categories of assets. The new guidance is effective for the first reporting period beginning after December 15, 2009, except for the requirement to provide the Level 3 activity of purchases, sales, issuances, and settlements on a gross basis, which will be effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2010, and for interim periods within those fiscal years. We adopted the provisions of guidance required for the period beginning January 1, 2010; however, adoption of this amendment did not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements.
In February 2010, the FASB issued amended guidance on subsequent events to remove the requirement to disclose the date through which an SEC filer has evaluated subsequent events. The amended guidance was effective upon issuance. We adopted this amendment as of the interim period ended March 31, 2010.
NOTE 2 SEGMENT REPORTING
Our companys primary operations are organized and managed according to product category and geographic location: North American Iron Ore, North American Coal, Asia Pacific Iron Ore, Asia Pacific Coal, Latin American Iron Ore, Ferroalloys and our Global Exploration Group. The North American Iron Ore segment is comprised of our interests in six North American mines that provide iron ore to the integrated steel industry. The North American Coal segment is comprised of our five metallurgical coal mines and one thermal coal mine that provide metallurgical coal primarily to the integrated steel industry and thermal coal primarily to the energy industry. The Asia Pacific Iron Ore segment is located in Western Australia and provides iron ore to steel producers in China and Japan. There are no intersegment revenues.
The Asia Pacific Coal operating segment is comprised of our 45 percent economic interest in Sonoma, located in Queensland, Australia. The Latin American Iron Ore operating segment is comprised of our 30 percent Amapá interest in Brazil. The Ferroalloys operating segment is comprised of our recently acquired chromite deposits in Northern Ontario, Canada. Our Global Exploration Group was established in 2009 and is focused on early involvement in exploration and development activities to identify new world-class projects for future development or projects that add significant value to existing operations. The Asia Pacific Coal, Latin American Iron Ore, Ferroalloys and Global Exploration Group operating segments do not meet reportable segment disclosure requirements and therefore are not separately reported.
We evaluate segment performance based on sales margin, defined as revenues less cost of goods sold and operating expenses identifiable to each segment. This measure of operating performance is an effective measurement as we focus on reducing production costs throughout the Company.
8
The following table presents a summary of our reportable segments for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009:
(In Millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended September 30, |
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2010 | 2009 | 2010 | 2009 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues from product sales and services: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
North American Iron Ore |
$ | 865.8 | 64% | $ | 428.2 | 64% | $ | 2,037.9 | 63% | $ | 879.3 | 58% | ||||||||||||||||||||
North American Coal |
126.1 | 9% | 37.9 | 6% | 323.4 | 10% | 125.2 | 8% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Asia Pacific Iron Ore |
298.2 | 22% | 165.3 | 25% | 767.1 | 24% | 405.4 | 27% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other |
55.9 | 5% | 35.0 | 5% | 129.6 | 3% | 111.6 | 7% | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total revenues from product sales and services |
$ | 1,346.0 | 100% | $ | 666.4 | 100% | $ | 3,258.0 | 100% | $ | 1,521.5 | 100% | ||||||||||||||||||||
Sales margin: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
North American Iron Ore |
$ | 303.8 | $ | 89.5 | $ | 621.8 | $ | 108.1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
North American Coal |
(17.8) | (15.5) | (5.4) | (63.4) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Asia Pacific Iron Ore |
169.7 | 27.1 | 382.5 | 67.4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other |
20.8 | 2.1 | 42.3 | 21.8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sales margin |
476.5 | 103.2 | 1,041.2 | 133.9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other operating expense |
(87.3) | (22.7) | (172.8) | (59.3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other income (expense) |
20.3 | 0.9 | 27.7 | 62.6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity income (loss) from ventures |
$ | 409.5 | $ | 81.4 | $ | 896.1 | $ | 137.2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Depreciation, depletion and amortization: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
North American Iron Ore |
$ | 28.2 | $ | 24.0 | $ | 81.3 | $ | 56.0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
North American Coal |
19.6 | 8.4 | 42.6 | 26.9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Asia Pacific Iron Ore |
31.0 | 22.3 | 97.2 | 81.5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other |
5.6 | 3.3 | 18.4 | 8.3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total depreciation, depletion and amortization |
$ | 84.4 | $ | 58.0 | $ | 239.5 | $ | 172.7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Capital additions (1): |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
North American Iron Ore |
$ | 37.5 | $ | 13.7 | $ | 69.3 | $ | 35.2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
North American Coal |
28.1 | 4.2 | 42.0 | 16.7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Asia Pacific Iron Ore |
10.4 | 17.7 | 30.6 | 90.6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other |
7.5 | 1.3 | 12.3 | 8.2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total capital additions |
$ | 83.5 | $ | 36.9 | $ | 154.2 | $ | 150.7 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
(1) Includes capital lease additions.
A summary of assets by segment is as follows:
(In Millions) | ||||||||
September 30, 2010 |
December 31, 2009 |
|||||||
Segment Assets: |
||||||||
North American Iron Ore |
$ | 2,152.1 | $ | 1,478.9 | ||||
North American Coal |
1,594.0 | 765.0 | ||||||
Asia Pacific Iron Ore |
1,753.5 | 1,388.2 | ||||||
Other |
693.8 | 300.0 | ||||||
Total segment assets |
6,193.4 | 3,932.1 | ||||||
Corporate |
885.5 | 707.2 | ||||||
Total assets |
$ | 7,078.9 | $ | 4,639.3 | ||||
9
NOTE 3 ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE
The following presents the detail of our Accounts receivable on the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009:
(In Millions) | ||||||||||||||||
September 30, 2010 | ||||||||||||||||
Segment |
Trade Accounts Receivable |
Provisionally Priced Accounts Receivable |
Associated Accounts Receivable |
Total Accounts Receivable |
||||||||||||
North American Iron Ore |
$ | 92.7 | $ | 1.8 | $ | - | $ | 94.5 | ||||||||
North American Coal |
35.3 | - | - | 35.3 | ||||||||||||
Asia Pacific Iron Ore |
67.8 | - | - | 67.8 | ||||||||||||
Other |
14.2 | - | 2.3 | 16.5 | ||||||||||||
Total |
$ | 210.0 | $ | 1.8 | $ | 2.3 | $ | 214.1 | ||||||||
(In Millions) | ||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2009 | ||||||||||||||||
Segment |
Trade Accounts Receivable |
Provisionally Priced Accounts Receivable |
Associated Accounts Receivable |
Total Accounts Receivable |
||||||||||||
North American Iron Ore |
$ | 18.8 | $ | - | $ | 0.8 | $ | 19.6 | ||||||||
North American Coal |
27.9 | - | - | 27.9 | ||||||||||||
Asia Pacific Iron Ore |
39.3 | - | - | 39.3 | ||||||||||||
Other |
15.8 | - | 0.9 | 16.7 | ||||||||||||
Total |
$ | 101.8 | $ | - | $ | 1.7 | $ | 103.5 | ||||||||
The amount reported as provisionally priced accounts receivable as of September 30, 2010 represents current derivative assets related to provisional pricing agreements with certain of our North American Iron Ore customers. The classification of the derivatives within Accounts receivable reflects the amount we have provisionally agreed upon with our customers until a final price settlement is reached and represents the amount we have invoiced for shipments made to such customers and expect to collect in cash in the short-term to fund operations. The incremental difference between the provisional price agreed upon with our customers and our estimate of the ultimate price settlement for the current year is classified as current Derivative assets on the Statement of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position as of September 30, 2010. Refer to NOTE 4 DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES for further information.
10
NOTE 4 DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES
The following table presents the fair value of our derivative instruments and the classification of each on the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009:
(In Millions) |
||||||||||||
Derivative Assets |
||||||||||||
September 30, 2010 |
December 31, 2009 |
|||||||||||
Derivative Instrument |
Balance Sheet |
Fair Value |
Balance Sheet |
Fair Value |
||||||||
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments under ASC 815: |
||||||||||||
Foreign Exchange Contracts |
Derivative assets (current) |
$ | 26.2 | Derivative assets (current) |
$ | 4.2 | ||||||
Other non-current assets | 2.9 | - | ||||||||||
Customer Supply Agreements |
Derivative assets (current) |
45.8 | Derivative assets (current) |
47.3 | ||||||||
Deposits and miscellaneous | 15.9 | |||||||||||
Provisional Pricing Arrangements |
Derivative assets (current) |
136.6 | - | |||||||||
Accounts receivable |
1.8 | - | ||||||||||
Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments under ASC 815 |
$ | 213.3 | $ | 67.4 | ||||||||
Total derivatives |
$ | 213.3 | $ | 67.4 | ||||||||
There were no derivative instruments classified as a liability as of September 30, 2010 or December 31, 2009.
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments
Foreign Exchange Contracts
We are subject to changes in foreign currency exchange rates primarily as a result of our operations in Australia. Foreign exchange risk arises from our exposure to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates because our reporting currency is the United States dollar, but the functional currency of our Asia Pacific operations is the Australian dollar. Our Asia Pacific operations receive funds in United States currency for their iron ore and coal sales. We use forward exchange contracts, call options, collar options and convertible collar options to hedge our foreign currency exposure for a portion of our sales receipts. United States currency is converted to Australian dollars at the currency exchange rate in effect at the time of the transaction. The primary objective for the use of these instruments is to reduce exposure to changes in Australian and United States currency exchange rates and to protect against undue adverse movement in these exchange rates. Effective July 1, 2008, we discontinued hedge accounting for these derivatives, but continue to hold these instruments as economic hedges to manage currency risk.
We entered into additional foreign exchange contracts during the first nine months of 2010, and as of September 30, 2010, we had outstanding exchange rate contracts with a notional amount of $305 million in the form of call options, collar options, and forward exchange contracts with varying maturity dates ranging from October 2010 to January 2012. This compares with outstanding exchange rate contracts with a notional amount of $108.5 million as of December 31, 2009.
11
As a result of discontinuing hedge accounting, the instruments are prospectively marked to fair value each reporting period through Changes in fair value of foreign currency contracts, net on the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Operations. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, the change in fair value of our foreign currency contracts resulted in net gains of $32.5 million and $24.8 million, respectively, based on the Australian to U.S. dollar spot rate of 0.97 at September 30, 2010. This compares with net gains of $8.8 million and $84.8 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009, based on the Australian to U.S. dollar spot rate of 0.88 at September 30, 2009. The amounts that were previously recorded as a component of Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) are reclassified to earnings and a corresponding realized gain or loss is recognized upon maturity of the related contracts. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, we reclassified gains of $3.2 million from Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) related to contracts that matured during the year, and recorded the amounts as Product revenues on the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Operations in each respective period. Gains of $2.9 million and $12.8 million, respectively, were reclassified to earnings for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009. As of September 30, 2010, approximately $0.7 million of gains remains in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) related to the effective cash flow hedge contracts prior to de-designation. We estimate the remaining $0.7 million will be reclassified to Product revenues in the next 12 months upon maturity of the related contracts.
We have subsequently elected hedge accounting for certain types of our foreign exchange contracts that we will be entering into subsequent to September 30, 2010.
Customer Supply Agreements
Most of our North American Iron Ore long-term supply agreements are comprised of a base price with annual price adjustment factors, some of which are subject to annual price collars in order to limit the percentage increase or decrease in prices for our iron ore pellets during any given year. The price adjustment factors vary based on the agreement but typically include adjustments based upon changes in international pellet prices, changes in specified Producers Price Indices including those for all commodities, industrial commodities, energy and steel. The adjustments generally operate in the same manner, with each factor typically comprising a portion of the price adjustment, although the weighting of each factor varies based upon the specific terms of each agreement. The price adjustment factors have been evaluated to determine if they contain embedded derivatives. The price adjustment factors share the same economic characteristics and risks as the host contract and are integral to the host contract as inflation adjustments; accordingly, they have not been separately valued as derivative instruments.
Certain supply agreements with one North American Iron Ore customer provide for supplemental revenue or refunds based on the customers average annual steel pricing at the time the product is consumed in the customers blast furnace. The supplemental pricing is characterized as an embedded derivative and is required to be accounted for separately from the base contract price. The embedded derivative instrument, which is finalized based on a future price, is marked to fair value as a revenue adjustment each reporting period until the pellets are consumed and the amounts are settled. We recognized $25.1 million and $93.4 million, respectively, as Product revenues on the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, related to the supplemental payments. This compares with Product revenues of $17.0 million and a reduction to Product revenues of $4.7 million, respectively, for the comparable periods in 2009. Derivative assets, representing the fair value of the pricing factors, were $45.8 million and $63.2 million, respectively, on the September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position.
12
Provisional Pricing Arrangements
In 2010, the worlds largest iron ore producers began to move away from the annual international benchmark pricing mechanism referenced in certain of our customer supply agreements, resulting in a shift in the industry toward shorter-term pricing arrangements linked to the spot market. We have reached final pricing settlement with the majority of our North American Iron Ore customers through the third quarter of 2010. However, we are still in the process of assessing the impact a change to the historical annual pricing mechanism will have on certain of our larger existing North American Iron Ore customer supply agreements, and negotiations are still ongoing with these customers. As a result, we have recorded certain shipments made in the first nine months of 2010 on a provisional basis until final settlement is reached. The pricing provisions are characterized as freestanding derivatives and are required to be accounted for separately once the product is shipped. The derivative instrument, which is settled and billed once final pricing settlement is reached, is marked to fair value as a revenue adjustment each reporting period based upon the estimated forward settlement until prices are actually settled. We recognized $229.2 million and $960.7 million, respectively, as Product revenues on the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 under these pricing provisions. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, $455.7 million of these revenues have been realized due to the pricing settlements that occurred with the majority of our North American customers during the third quarter of 2010. In addition, the amounts recognized in revenue include $15.3 million resulting from an upward revision of our estimated forward price settlement during the third quarter of 2010, of which $8.3 million related to shipments made during the first six months of the year. Product revenues for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 also include revenue adjustments related to provisional pricing arrangements with our Asia Pacific Iron Ore customers, which were recorded as Derivative assets as of March 31, 2010 and subsequently settled during the second quarter of 2010. Settlement resulted in an increase in Product revenues of $36.7 million on the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 related to shipments made in the first quarter of 2010. For the nine months ended September 30, 2009, we recognized a reduction in Product revenues of $28.2 million based on the estimated forward settlement of the 2009 annual international benchmark price until it actually settled. We did not alter our estimate of the benchmark price during the third quarter of 2009; therefore, there was no impact on revenue related to provisional pricing adjustments for the three months ended September 30, 2009.
As of September 30, 2010, we have recorded approximately $136.6 million as current Derivative assets on the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position related to our estimate of final pricing in the current year with our North American Iron Ore customers. This amount represents the incremental difference between the provisional price agreed upon with our customers and our estimate of the ultimate price settlement for the current year. As of September 30, 2010, we also have derivatives of $1.8 million classified as Accounts receivable on the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position to reflect the amount we have provisionally agreed upon with our customers until a final price settlement is reached. Refer to NOTE 3 ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE for additional information. In 2009, the derivative instrument was settled in the fourth quarter upon settlement of the pricing provisions with each of our customers, and is therefore not reflected on the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position at December 31, 2009.
13
We are currently in discussions with certain of our customers regarding how our supply agreements will take into account the move away from annual benchmark pricing. Additionally, we currently have arbitrations pending relating to the price adjustment provisions of two supply agreements. These discussions and arbitrations may result in changes to the pricing mechanisms used with our various customers and could impact sales prices realized in current and future periods. In the event that we are unsuccessful in defending our position, the retroactive revised pricing for 2010 sales under one of the supply agreements could have a material impact on our consolidated results of operations. The outcome and timing of the arbitrations are uncertain and could extend beyond 2010.
The following summarizes the effect of our derivatives that are not designated as hedging instruments, on the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009:
(In Millions) |
||||||||||||||||||
Derivative Not Designated as Hedging Instruments |
Location of Gain/(Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivative |
Amount of Gain/ (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivative |
||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended September 30, |
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|||||||||||||||||
2010 | 2009 | 2010 | 2009 | |||||||||||||||
Foreign Exchange Contracts |
Product Revenues |
$ | 3.3 | $ | 1.4 | $ | 8.8 | $ | 2.1 | |||||||||
Foreign Exchange Contracts |
Changes in fair value of foreign |
32.5 | 8.8 | 24.8 | 84.8 | |||||||||||||
Customer Supply Agreements |
Product Revenues |
25.1 | 17.0 | 93.4 | (4.7) | |||||||||||||
Provisional Pricing Arrangements |
Product Revenues |
229.2 | - | 960.7 | (28.2) | |||||||||||||
United Taconite Purchase Provision |
Product Revenues |
- | 29.9 | - | 106.5 | |||||||||||||
Total |
$ | 290.1 | $ | 57.1 | $ | 1,087.7 | $ | 160.5 | ||||||||||
Refer to NOTE 9 FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS for additional information.
NOTE 5 INVENTORIES
The following table presents the detail of our Inventories on the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009:
(In Millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
September 30, 2010 | December 31, 2009 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Segment |
Finished Goods |
Work-in Process |
Total Inventory |
Finished Goods |
Work-in Process |
Total Inventory |
||||||||||||||||||
North American Iron Ore |
$ | 186.1 | $ | 28.5 | $ | 214.6 | $ | 172.7 | $ | 18.4 | $ | 191.1 | ||||||||||||
North American Coal |
20.5 | 11.4 | 31.9 | 14.9 | 1.4 | 16.3 | ||||||||||||||||||
Asia Pacific Iron Ore |
31.0 | 16.3 | 47.3 | 28.6 | 31.7 | 60.3 | ||||||||||||||||||
Other |
10.9 | 3.8 | 14.7 | 1.6 | 3.2 | 4.8 | ||||||||||||||||||
Total |
$ | 248.5 | $ | 60.0 | $ | 308.5 | $ | 217.8 | $ | 54.7 | $ | 272.5 | ||||||||||||
NOTE 6 MARKETABLE SECURITIES
In July 2010, we sold substantially all of our held-to-maturity portfolio for approximately $15.6 million, resulting in a realized loss of $0.1 million. The majority of our held-to-maturity securities were due to mature by the end of 2010 and the decision to sell was made in order to increase the availability of cash for the funding of certain strategic transactions, including the acquisitions of Spider and CLCC.
14
At September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, we had $86.6 million and $81.0 million, respectively, of marketable securities classified as available for sale. Marketable securities classified as available-for-sale are stated at fair value, with unrealized gains and losses included in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). The cost, gross unrealized gains and losses and fair value of securities classified as available-for-sale at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 are summarized as follows:
(In Millions) | ||||||||||||||||
September 30, 2010 | ||||||||||||||||
Gross Unrealized | Fair | |||||||||||||||
Cost | Gains | Losses | Value | |||||||||||||
Equity securities |
||||||||||||||||
(without contractual maturity) |
$ | 41.0 | $ | 45.6 | $ | - | $ | 86.6 | ||||||||
(In Millions) | ||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2009 | ||||||||||||||||
Gross Unrealized | Fair | |||||||||||||||
Cost | Gains | Losses | Value | |||||||||||||
Equity securities |
||||||||||||||||
(without contractual maturity) |
$ | 35.6 | $ | 46.1 | $ | (0.7) | $ | 81.0 |
NOTE 7 ACQUISITIONS AND OTHER INVESTMENTS
We allocate the cost of acquisitions to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed based on their estimated fair values. Any excess of cost over the fair value of the net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill.
Wabush
We acquired entities from our former partners that held their respective interests in Wabush on February 1, 2010, thereby increasing our ownership interest to 100 percent. Our full ownership of Wabush has been included in the condensed consolidated financial statements since that date. The acquisition date fair value of the consideration transferred totaled $103 million, which consisted of a cash purchase price of $88 million and a working capital adjustment of $15 million. With Wabushs 5.5 million tons of production capacity, acquisition of the remaining interest has increased our North American Iron Ore equity production capacity by approximately 4.0 million tons and has added more than 50 million tons of additional reserves. Furthermore, acquisition of the remaining interest has provided us additional access to the seaborne iron ore markets serving steelmakers in Europe and Asia.
Prior to the acquisition date, we accounted for our 26.8 percent interest in Wabush as an equity-method investment. We initially recognized an acquisition date fair value of the previous equity interest of $39.7 million. We initially recognized a gain of $47.0 million as a result of remeasuring our prior equity interest in Wabush held before the business combination. The gain was recognized in the first quarter of 2010 and was included in Gain on acquisition of controlling interests in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2010.
15
In the months subsequent to the initial purchase price allocation, we further refined the fair values of the assets and liabilities acquired. Additionally, we also continued to ensure our existing interest in Wabush was incorporating all of the book basis, including amounts recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). Based on this process the acquisition date fair value of the previous equity interest was adjusted to $25.7 million. The gain resulting from the remeasurement of our prior equity interest, net of amounts previously recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) of $20.3 million, was adjusted to $12.7 million.
Under the business combination guidance in ASC 805, prior periods, beginning with the period of acquisition, are required to be revised to reflect changes to the original purchase price allocation. In accordance with this guidance, we have retrospectively recorded the adjustments to the fair value of the acquired assets and liabilities and the resulting Goodwill and Gain on acquisition of controlling interests back to the date of acquisition. Accordingly, such amounts are reflected in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and excluded from the three months ended September 30, 2010. We adjusted the preliminary purchase price allocation for the acquisition of Wabush in the third quarter of 2010 as follows:
(In Millions) | ||||||||||||
Initial Allocation |
Revised Allocation |
Change | ||||||||||
Consideration |
||||||||||||
Cash |
$ | 88.0 | $ | 88.0 | $ | - | ||||||
Working capital adjustments |
15.0 | 15.0 | - | |||||||||
Fair value of total consideration transferred |
103.0 | 103.0 | - | |||||||||
Fair value of Cliffs equity interest in Wabush held prior to acquisition of remaining interest |
39.7 | 25.7 | (14.0) | |||||||||
$ | 142.7 | $ | 128.7 | $ | (14.0) | |||||||
Recognized amounts of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed |
||||||||||||
ASSETS: |
||||||||||||
In-process inventories |
$ | 21.8 | $ | 21.8 | $ | - | ||||||
Supplies and other inventories |
43.6 | 43.6 | - | |||||||||
Other current assets |
13.2 | 13.2 | - | |||||||||
Mineral rights |
85.1 | 84.4 | (0.7) | |||||||||
Plant and equipment |
146.3 | 147.8 | 1.5 | |||||||||
Intangible assets |
66.4 | 66.4 | - | |||||||||
Other assets |
16.3 | 16.3 | - | |||||||||
Total identifiable assets acquired |
392.7 | 393.5 | 0.8 | |||||||||
LIABILITIES: |
||||||||||||
Current liabilities |
(48.1) | (48.1) | - | |||||||||
Pension and OPEB obligations |
(80.6) | (80.6) | - | |||||||||
Mine closure obligations |
(39.6) | (53.4) | (13.8) | |||||||||
Below-market sales contracts |
(67.7) | (67.7) | - | |||||||||
Deferred taxes |
(20.5) | (23.2) | (2.7) | |||||||||
Other liabilities |
(8.9) | (8.9) | - | |||||||||
Total identifiable liabilities assumed |
(265.4) | (281.9) | (16.5) | |||||||||
Total identifiable net assets acquired |
127.3 | 111.6 | (15.7) | |||||||||
Preliminary goodwill |
15.4 | 17.0 | 1.6 | |||||||||
Total net assets acquired |
$ | 142.7 | $ | 128.7 | $ | (14.0) | ||||||
The significant changes to the purchase price allocation from the initial allocation were due primarily to the allocation of deferred taxes between the existing equity interest in Wabush and the acquired portion, and additional asset retirement obligations noted related to the Wabush operations.
16
Of the $66.4 million of acquired intangible assets, $54.7 million was assigned to the value of a utility contract that provides favorable rates compared with prevailing market rates and will be amortized on a straight-line basis over the five-year remaining life of the contract. The remaining $11.7 million was assigned to the value of an easement agreement that is anticipated to provide a fee to Wabush for rail traffic moving over Wabush lands and will be amortized over a 30-year period.
The $17.0 million of preliminary goodwill resulting from the acquisition was assigned to our North American Iron Ore business segment. The goodwill recognized is primarily attributable to the mines port access and proximity to the seaborne iron ore markets. None of the goodwill is expected to be deductible for income tax purposes.
Refer to NOTE 8 GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND LIABILITIES for further information.
Our consolidated results of operations include incremental revenue and sales margin of $329.6 million and $180 million, respectively, related to the acquisition of the remaining interest in Wabush since the date of acquisition.
We are in the finishing stages of completing the purchase price allocations for the acquisition of Wabush, including managements final evaluation of the fair value allocated to the various assets acquired and assumed liabilities. We are also in the process of completing the evaluation of deferred taxes created by acquiring the tax basis of the former owners of Wabush. We expect to finalize the purchase price allocation for the acquisition of Wabush in the fourth quarter of this year.
Freewest
During 2009, we acquired 29 million shares, or 12.4 percent, of Freewest, a Canadian-based mineral exploration company focused on acquiring, exploring and developing high-quality chromite, gold and base-metal properties in Canada. On January 27, 2010, we acquired all of the remaining outstanding shares of Freewest for C$1.00 per share, including its interest in the Ring of Fire properties in Northern Ontario Canada, which comprise three premier chromite deposits. As a result of the transaction, our ownership interest in Freewest increased from 12.4 percent as of December 31, 2009 to 100 percent as of the acquisition date. Our full ownership of Freewest has been included in the condensed consolidated financial statements since the acquisition date. The acquisition of Freewest is consistent with our strategy to broaden our geographic and mineral diversification and allows us to apply our expertise in open-pit mining and mineral processing to a chromite ore resource base that could form the foundation of North Americas only ferrochrome production operation. The planned mine is expected to produce 1 million to 2 million tonnes of high-grade chromite ore annually, which would be further processed into 400 thousand to 800 thousand tonnes of ferrochrome. Total purchase consideration for the acquisition was approximately $185.9 million, comprised of the issuance of 0.0201 of our common shares for each Freewest share, representing a total of 4.2 million common shares or $173.1 million, and $12.8 million in cash. The acquisition date fair value of the consideration transferred was determined based upon the closing market price of our common shares on the acquisition date.
17
Prior to the acquisition date, we accounted for our 12.4 percent interest in Freewest as an available-for-sale equity security. The acquisition date fair value of the previous equity interest was $27.4 million, which was determined based upon the closing market price of the 29 million previously owned shares on the acquisition date. We recognized a gain of $13.6 million in the first quarter of 2010 as a result of remeasuring our ownership interest in Freewest held prior to the business acquisition. The gain is included in Gain on acquisition of controlling interests in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2010.
The following table summarizes the consideration paid for Freewest and the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date. The fair value estimates were made in the first quarter of 2010 and remain unchanged as of September 30, 2010. We are in the process of conducting a valuation of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed related to the acquisition, most notably, mineral lands and deferred taxes, and the final allocation will be made when completed. Accordingly, allocation of the purchase price is preliminary and subject to modification in the future.
(In Millions) | ||||
Consideration |
||||
Equity instruments (4.2 million Cliffs common shares) |
$ | 173.1 | ||
Cash |
12.8 | |||
Fair value of total consideration transferred |
185.9 | |||
Fair value of Cliffs ownership interest in Freewest held prior to acquisition of remaining interest |
27.4 | |||
$ | 213.3 | |||
Recognized amounts of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed |
||||
ASSETS: |
||||
Cash |
$ | 7.7 | ||
Other current assets |
1.4 | |||
Mineral rights |
252.8 | |||
Marketable securities |
12.1 | |||
Total identifiable assets acquired |
274.0 | |||
LIABILITIES: |
||||
Accounts payable |
(3.3) | |||
Long-term deferred tax liabilities |
(57.4) | |||
Total identifiable liabilities assumed |
(60.7) | |||
Total identifiable net assets acquired |
$ | 213.3 | ||
As our fair value estimates remain unchanged from the first quarter of 2010, there were no changes to the purchase price allocation from the initial allocation reported for the period ended September 30, 2010. We expect to finalize the purchase price allocation for the acquisition of Freewest in the fourth quarter of this year.
Our consolidated results of operations were not materially impacted by the acquisition of Freewest since the date of acquisition.
18
Spider
During the second quarter of 2010, we commenced a formal cash offer to acquire all of the outstanding common shares of Spider, a Canadian-based mineral exploration company, for C$0.19 per share. As of June 30, 2010, we held 27.4 million shares of Spider, representing approximately four percent of its issued and outstanding shares. On July 6, 2010, all of the conditions to acquire the remaining common shares of Spider had been satisfied or waived, and we consequently acquired all of the common shares that were validly tendered as of that date. When combined with our prior ownership interest, the additional shares acquired increased our ownership percentage to 52 percent on the date of acquisition, representing a majority of the common shares outstanding on a fully-diluted basis. Our 52 percent ownership of Spider was included in the condensed consolidated financial statements since the July 6, 2010 acquisition date, and Spider was included as a component of our Ferroalloys operating segment. The acquisition date fair value of the consideration transferred totaled a cash purchase price of $56.9 million. Subsequent to the acquisition date, we extended the cash offer to permit additional shares to be tendered and taken up, thereby increasing our ownership percentage in Spider to 85 percent as of September 30, 2010. Effective October 6, 2010, we completed the acquisition of the remaining shares of Spider through an amalgamation, bringing our ownership percentage to 100 percent as of that date. As noted above, through our acquisition of Freewest during the first quarter of 2010, we acquired an interest in the Ring of Fire properties in Northern Ontario, which comprise three premier chromite deposits. The Spider acquisition allowed us to obtain majority ownership of the Big Daddy chromite deposit, based on Spiders ownership percentage in this deposit of 26.5 percent.
Prior to the acquisition date, we accounted for our four percent interest in Spider as an available-for-sale equity security. The acquisition date fair value of the previous equity interest was $4.9 million, which was determined based upon the closing market price of the 27.4 million previously owned shares on the acquisition date.
The acquisition date fair value of the 48 percent noncontrolling interest in Spider was estimated to be $51.9 million, which was determined based upon the closing market price of the 290.5 million shares of noncontrolling interest on the acquisition date.
The following table summarizes the consideration paid for Spider and the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date. We are in the process of conducting a valuation of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed related to the acquisition, most notably, mineral lands and deferred taxes, and the final allocation will be made when completed. Accordingly, allocation of the purchase price is preliminary and subject to modification in the future.
19
(In Millions) | ||||
Consideration |
||||
Cash |
$ | 56.9 | ||
Fair value of total consideration transferred |
56.9 | |||
Fair value of Cliffs ownership interest in Spider held prior to acquisition of remaining interest |
4.9 | |||
$ | 61.8 | |||
Recognized amounts of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed |
||||
ASSETS: |
||||
Cash |
$ | 9.0 | ||
Other current assets |
4.5 | |||
Mineral rights |
31.0 | |||
Total identifiable assets acquired |
44.5 | |||
LIABILITIES: |
||||
Other current liabilities |
(5.2) | |||
Long-term deferred tax liabilities |
(2.7) | |||
Total identifiable liabilities assumed |
(7.9) | |||
Total identifiable net assets acquired |
36.6 | |||
Preliminary Goodwill |
77.1 | |||
Noncontrolling interest in Spider |
(51.9) | |||
Total net assets acquired |
$ | 61.8 | ||
The $77.1 million of preliminary goodwill resulting from the acquisition was assigned to our Ferroalloys business segment. The preliminary goodwill recognized is primarily attributable to obtaining a controlling interest in Spider. None of the goodwill is expected to be deductible for income tax purposes. Refer to NOTE 8 GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND LIABILITIES for further information.
Our consolidated results of operations were not materially impacted by the acquisition of Spider since the date of acquisition.
CLCC
On July 30, 2010, we acquired all of the coal operations of privately-owned INR, and since that date, the operations acquired from INR have been conducted through our wholly-owned subsidiary known as CLCC. Our full ownership of CLCC has been included in the condensed consolidated financial statements since the acquisition date, and the subsidiary is reported as a component of our North American Coal segment. The acquisition date fair value of the consideration transferred totaled $774.5 million, which consisted of a cash purchase price of $757 million and a working capital adjustment of $17.5 million.
CLCC is a producer of high-volatile metallurgical and thermal coal located in southern West Virginia. CLCCs operations include two underground continuous mining method metallurgical coal mines and one open surface thermal coal mine. The acquisition includes a metallurgical and thermal coal mining complex with a coal preparation and processing facility as well as a large, long-life reserve base with an estimated 68 million tons of metallurgical coal and 51 million tons of thermal coal. This reserve base increases our total global reserve base to over 175 million tons of metallurgical coal and over 57 million tons of thermal coal. This acquisition represents an opportunity for us to add complementary high-quality coal products to our existing operations and provides certain advantages, including among other things, long-life mine assets, operational flexibility, and new equipment. When combined with our current coal production in West Virginia, Alabama and Queensland, Australia, we estimate 2011 global equity production capacity of approximately 9 million tons at a split of approximately 7 million tons of metallurgical coal and 2 million tons of thermal coal.
20
The following table summarizes the consideration paid for CLCC and the estimated fair values of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date. We are in the process of completing certain valuations of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed related to the acquisition, most notably, tangible assets, deferred taxes and goodwill, and the final allocation will be made when completed. Accordingly, the provisional measurements noted below are preliminary and subject to modification in the future.
(In Millions) | ||||
Consideration |
||||
Cash |
$ | 757.0 | ||
Working capital adjustments |
17.5 | |||
Fair value of total consideration transferred |
$ | 774.5 | ||
Recognized amounts of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed |
||||
ASSETS: |
||||
Production inventories |
$ | 20.0 | ||
Other current assets |
11.8 | |||
Land and mineral rights |
640.3 | |||
Plant and equipment |
111.1 | |||
Deferred taxes |
16.5 | |||
Intangible assets |
7.5 | |||
Other non-current assets |
0.8 | |||
Total identifiable assets acquired |
808.0 | |||
LIABILITIES: |
||||
Current liabilities |
(22.8) | |||
Mine closure obligations |
(2.8) | |||
Below-market sales contracts |
(32.6) | |||
Total identifiable liabilities assumed |
(58.2) | |||
Total identifiable net assets acquired |
749.8 | |||
Preliminary goodwill |
24.7 | |||
Total net assets acquired |
$ | 774.5 | ||
Of the $7.5 million of acquired intangible assets, $5.4 million was assigned to the value of in-place permits and will be amortized on a straight-line basis over the life of the mine. The remaining $2.1 million was assigned to the value of favorable mineral leases and will be amortized over the corresponding mine life.
The $24.7 million of preliminary goodwill resulting from the acquisition was assigned to our North American Coal business segment. The preliminary goodwill recognized is primarily attributable to the addition of complementary high-quality coal products to our existing operations and operational flexibility. None of the preliminary goodwill is expected to be deductible for income tax purposes. Refer to NOTE 8 GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND LIABILITIES for further information.
Our consolidated results of operations include incremental revenue and sales margin of $45.5 million and $2.5 million, respectively, related to the acquisition of CLCC since the date of acquisition.
With regard to each of the acquisitions discussed above, pro forma results of operations have not been presented because the effects of these business combinations, individually and in the aggregate, were not material to our consolidated results of operations.
21
NOTE 8 GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS AND LIABILITIES
Goodwill
The following table summarizes changes in the carrying amount of goodwill allocated by reporting unit for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and the year ended December 31, 2009:
(In Millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
September 30, 2010 | December 31, 2009 (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
North American Iron Ore |
North American Coal |
Asia Pacific Iron Ore |
Other | Total | North American Iron Ore |
Asia Pacific Iron Ore |
Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Beginning Balance |
$ | 2.0 | $ | - | $ | 72.6 | $ | - | $ | 74.6 | $ | 2.0 | $ | - | $ | 2.0 | ||||||||||||||||
Arising in business combinations |
17.0 | 24.7 | - | 77.1 | 118.8 | - | 68.3 | 68.3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Impact of foreign currency translation |
- | - | 6.4 | 6.4 | - | 4.3 | 4.3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Ending Balance |
$ | 19.0 | $ | 24.7 | $ | 79.0 | $ | 77.1 | $ | 199.8 | $ | 2.0 | $ | 72.6 | $ | 74.6 | ||||||||||||||||
(1) Represents a 12-month rollforward of our goodwill by reportable segment at December 31, 2009.
The increase in the balance of goodwill as of September 30, 2010 includes the preliminary assignment of $17.0 million to goodwill based on the revised purchase price allocation for the acquisition of the remaining interest in Wabush. In addition, the goodwill balance as of September 30, 2010 increased due to the preliminary assignment to goodwill in the third quarter of 2010 of $77.1 million and $24.7 million, respectively, related to the acquisition of a controlling interest in Spider and acquisition of CLCC. The balance of $199.8 million and $74.6 million at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively, is presented as Goodwill on the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position. Refer to NOTE 7 ACQUISITIONS AND OTHER INVESTMENTS for additional information.
Goodwill is not subject to amortization and is tested for impairment annually or when events or circumstances indicate that impairment may have occurred.
Other Intangible Assets and Liabilities
Following is a summary of intangible assets and liabilities as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009:
(In Millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
September 30, 2010 | December 31, 2009 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Classification |
Gross Carrying Amount |
Accumulated Amortization |
Net Carrying Amount |
Gross Carrying Amount |
Accumulated Amortization |
Net Carrying Amount |
||||||||||||||||||||
Definite lived intangible assets: |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Permits |
Intangible assets, net | $ | 129.6 | $ | (14.0) | $ | 115.6 | $ | 120.3 | $ | (8.2) | $ | 112.1 | |||||||||||||
Utility contracts |
Intangible assets, net | 54.7 | (7.4) | 47.3 | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||
Easements |
Intangible assets, net | 11.7 | (0.3) | 11.4 | - | - | - | |||||||||||||||||||
Leases |
Intangible assets, net | 5.4 | (2.8) | 2.6 | 3.1 | (2.8) | 0.3 | |||||||||||||||||||
Unpatented technology |
Intangible assets, net | 4.0 | (2.2) | 1.8 | 4.0 | (1.6) | 2.4 | |||||||||||||||||||
Total intangible assets |
$ | 205.4 | $ | (26.7) | $ | 178.7 | $ | 127.4 | $ | (12.6) | $ | 114.8 | ||||||||||||||
Below-market sales contracts |
Other current liabilities | $ | (70.9) | $ | 7.5 | $ | (63.4) | $ | (30.3) | $ | - | $ | (30.3) | |||||||||||||
Below-market sales contracts |
Below-Market Sales Contracts | (258.3) | 72.6 | (185.7) | (198.7) | 45.4 | (153.3) | |||||||||||||||||||
Total below-market sales contracts |
$ | (329.2) | $ | 80.1 | $ | (249.1) | $ | (229.0) | $ | 45.4 | $ | (183.6) | ||||||||||||||
22
The intangible assets are subject to periodic amortization on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives as follows:
Intangible Asset |
Useful Life (years) | |
Permits |
15 - 28 | |
Utility contracts |
5 | |
Easements |
30 | |
Leases |
1.5 - 4.5 | |
Unpatented technology |
5 |
Amortization expense relating to intangible assets was $5.8 million and $14.1 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, and is recognized in Cost of goods sold and operating expenses on the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Operations. Amortization expense relating to intangible assets was $2.4 million and $7.2 million, respectively, for the comparable periods in 2009. The estimated amortization expense relating to intangible assets for the remainder of 2010 and each of the five succeeding fiscal years is as follows:
(In Millions) | ||||
Amount | ||||
Year Ending December 31 |
||||
2010 (remaining three months) |
$ | 3.1 | ||
2011 |
18.2 | |||
2012 |
18.2 | |||
2013 |
17.3 | |||
2014 |
17.3 | |||
2015 |
6.2 | |||
Total |
$ | 80.3 | ||
The below-market sales contracts are classified as a liability and recognized over the remaining terms of the underlying contracts, which range from 3.5 to 8.5 years. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 we recognized $22.9 million and $34.7 million, respectively, in Product revenues related to the below-market sales contracts, compared with $10.1 million and $20.2 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2009. The following amounts will be recognized in earnings for the remainder of 2010 and each of the five succeeding fiscal years:
Amount | ||||
Year Ending December 31 |
||||
2010 (remaining three months) |
$ | 20.1 | ||
2011 |
58.3 | |||
2012 |
48.8 | |||
2013 |
45.3 | |||
2014 |
23.0 | |||
2015 |
23.0 | |||
Total |
$ | 218.5 | ||
23
NOTE 9 FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The following represents the assets and liabilities of the Company measured at fair value at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009:
(In Millions) | ||||||||||||||||
September 30, 2010 | ||||||||||||||||
Description |
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets/Liabilities (Level 1) |
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) |
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) |
Total | ||||||||||||
Assets: |
||||||||||||||||
Cash equivalents |
$ | 496.8 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 496.8 | ||||||||
Derivative assets |
- | 138.4 | (1) | 45.8 | 184.2 | |||||||||||
Marketable securities |
86.6 | - | - | 86.6 | ||||||||||||
Foreign exchange contracts |
- | 29.1 | - | 29.1 | ||||||||||||
Total |
$ | 583.4 | $ | 167.5 | $ | 45.8 | $ | 796.7 | ||||||||
(1) | Derivative assets include $1.8 million classified as Accounts receivable on the Statement of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position as of September 30, 2010. Refer to NOTE 3 ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE and NOTE 4 DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES for further information. |
(In Millions) | ||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2009 | ||||||||||||||||
Description |
Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets/Liabilities (Level 1) |
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) |
Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) |
Total | ||||||||||||
Assets: |
||||||||||||||||
Cash equivalents |
$ | 376.0 | $ | - | $ | - | $ | 376.0 | ||||||||
Derivative assets |
- | - | 63.2 | 63.2 | ||||||||||||
Marketable securities |
81.0 | - | - | 81.0 | ||||||||||||
Foreign exchange contracts |
- | 4.2 | - | 4.2 | ||||||||||||
Total |
$ | 457.0 | $ | 4.2 | $ | 63.2 | $ | 524.4 | ||||||||
We had no financial instruments measured at fair value that were in a liability position at September 30, 2010 or December 31, 2009.
Financial assets classified in Level 1 at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 include money market funds and available-for-sale marketable securities. The valuation of these instruments is determined using a market approach, taking into account current interest rates, creditworthiness, and liquidity risks in relation to current market conditions, and is based upon unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets in active markets.
The valuation of financial assets classified in Level 2 is determined using a market approach based upon quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets, or other inputs that are observable for substantially the full term of the financial instrument. Level 2 securities primarily include derivative financial instruments valued using financial models that use as their basis readily observable market parameters. At September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, such derivative financial instruments include substantially all of our foreign exchange hedge contracts. The fair value of the foreign exchange hedge contracts is based on forward market prices and represents the estimated amount we would receive or pay to terminate these agreements at the reporting date, taking into account creditworthiness, nonperformance risk, and liquidity risks associated with current market conditions.
24
The Level 2 derivative assets at September 30, 2010 also consist of freestanding derivatives related to certain supply agreements with our North American Iron Ore customers. As a result of a recent shift in the industry toward shorter-term pricing arrangements that are linked to the spot market and elimination of the annual benchmark system, we are in the process of discussing the terms of certain of our customer supply agreements and have recorded certain shipments made during the first nine months of 2010 on a provisional basis until final settlement is reached. The pricing provisions are characterized as freestanding derivatives and are required to be accounted for separately once the product is shipped. The derivative instrument, which is settled and billed once final pricing settlement is reached, is marked to fair value as a revenue adjustment each reporting period. During the third quarter of 2010, we revised the inputs used to determine the fair value of these derivatives to include 2010 published pricing settlements realized by other companies in the industry. Prior to this change, the fair value was primarily determined based on significant unobservable inputs to develop the forward price expectation of the final price settlement for 2010. Based on these changes to the determination of the fair value, we transferred $161.8 million of derivative assets from a Level 3 classification to a Level 2 classification within the fair value hierarchy during the third quarter of 2010. The fair value of our derivatives is determined using a market approach and takes into account current market conditions and other risks, including nonperformance risk.
The derivative financial asset classified within Level 3 at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 includes a derivative instrument embedded in certain supply agreements with one of our North American Iron Ore customers. The agreements include provisions for supplemental revenue or refunds based on the customers annual steel pricing at the time the product is consumed in the customers blast furnaces. We account for this provision as a derivative instrument at the time of sale and mark this provision to fair value as a revenue adjustment each reporting period until the product is consumed and the amounts are settled. The fair value of the instrument is determined using a market approach based on an estimate of the annual realized price of hot rolled steel at the steelmakers facilities, and takes into consideration current market conditions and nonperformance risk.
Substantially all of the financial assets and liabilities are carried at fair value or contracted amounts that approximate fair value. We had no material financial assets or liabilities measured at fair value on a non-recurring basis at September 30, 2010 or December 31, 2009.
We recognize any transfers between levels as of the beginning of the reporting period, including both transfers into and out of levels. There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy as of September 30, 2010. As noted above, there was a transfer from Level 3 to Level 2 as reflected in the table below. The following represents a reconciliation of the changes in fair value of financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009.
25
(In Millions) | ||||||||||||||||
Derivative Assets | ||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended September 30, |
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|||||||||||||||
2010 | 2009 | 2010 | 2009 | |||||||||||||
Beginning balance |
$ | 238.9 | $ | 25.4 | $ | 63.2 | $ | 76.6 | ||||||||
Total gains (losses) |
||||||||||||||||
Included in earnings |
25.1 | 17.0 | 824.9 | (4.7) | ||||||||||||
Included in other comprehensive income |
- | - | - | - | ||||||||||||
Settlements |
(56.4) | (1.6) | (680.5) | (31.1) | ||||||||||||
Transfers out of Level 3 |
(161.8) | - | (161.8) | - | ||||||||||||
Ending balance - September 30 |
$ | 45.8 | $ | 40.8 | $ | 45.8 | $ | 40.8 | ||||||||
Total gains (losses) for the period included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains or losses on assets and liabilities still held at the reporting date |
$ | 25.1 | $ | 17.0 | $ | 93.4 | $ | (4.7) | ||||||||
Gains and losses included in earnings are reported in Product revenues on the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009.
The carrying amount and fair value of our long-term receivables and long-term debt at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009 were as follows:
(In Millions) | ||||||||||||||||
September 30, 2010 | December 31, 2009 | |||||||||||||||
Carrying Value |
Fair Value |
Carrying Value |
Fair Value |
|||||||||||||
Long-term receivables: |
||||||||||||||||
Customer supplemental payments |
$ | 22.3 | $ | 19.3 | $ | 21.4 | $ | 17.5 | ||||||||
ArcelorMittal USA - Ispat receivable |
34.2 | 41.4 | 38.3 | 45.7 | ||||||||||||
Other |
7.6 | 7.6 | - | - | ||||||||||||
Total long-term receivables (1) |
$ | 64.1 | $ | 68.3 | $ | 59.7 | $ | 63.2 | ||||||||
Long-term debt: |
||||||||||||||||
Senior notes - $1 billion |
$ | 990.2 | $ | 1,025.9 | $ | - | $ | - | ||||||||
Senior notes - $400 million |
397.8 | 431.0 | - | - | ||||||||||||
Senior notes - $325 million |
325.0 | 357.6 | 325.0 | 332.9 | ||||||||||||
Term loan |
- | - | 200.0 | 200.0 | ||||||||||||
Customer borrowings |
4.0 | 4.0 | 4.6 | 4.6 | ||||||||||||
Total long-term debt |
$ | 1,717.0 | $ | 1,818.5 | $ | 529.6 | $ | 537.5 | ||||||||
(1) Includes current portion. |
The terms of one of our North American Iron Ore pellet supply agreements require supplemental payments to be paid by the customer during the period 2009 through 2013, with the option to defer a portion of the 2009 monthly amount up to $22.3 million in exchange for interest payments until the deferred amount is repaid in 2013. Interest is payable by the customer quarterly, and payments began in September 2009 at the higher of 9 percent or the prime rate plus 350 basis points. As of September 30, 2010, we have a receivable of $22.3 million recorded in Other non-current assets on the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position reflecting the terms of this deferred payment arrangement. This compares with a receivable of $21.4 million recorded as of December 31, 2009. The fair value of the receivable of $19.3 million and $17.5 million at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively, is based on a discount rate of 4.7 percent, which represents the estimated credit-adjusted risk-free interest rate for the period the receivable is outstanding.
26
In 2002, we entered into an agreement with Ispat that restructured the ownership of the Empire mine and increased our ownership from 46.7 percent to 79 percent in exchange for the assumption of all mine liabilities. Under the terms of the agreement, we indemnified Ispat from obligations of Empire in exchange for certain future payments to Empire and to us by Ispat of $120 million, recorded at a present value of $34.2 million and $38.3 million at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. The fair value of the receivable of $41.4 million and $45.7 million at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively, is based on a discount rate of 3.3 percent, which represents the estimated credit-adjusted risk-free interest rate for the period the receivable is outstanding.
The fair value of long-term debt was determined using quoted market prices or discounted cash flows based upon current borrowing rates. The term loan and revolving loan are variable rate interest debt and approximate fair value. See NOTE 10 DEBT AND CREDIT FACILITIES for further information.
NOTE 10 DEBT AND CREDIT FACILITIES
The following represents a summary of our long-term debt as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009:
($ in Millions) |
||||||||||||||||||||
September 30, 2010 |
| |||||||||||||||||||
Debt Instrument |
Type | Average Annual Interest Rate |
Final Maturity |
Face Amount |
Total Long-Term Debt |
|||||||||||||||
$1 Billion Senior Notes: |
||||||||||||||||||||
$500 Million 4.80% 2020 Senior Notes |
Fixed | 4.80 % | 2020 | $ | 500.0 | $ | 498.9 | (4) | ||||||||||||
$500 Million 6.25% 2040 Senior Notes |
Fixed | 6.25 % | 2040 | 500.0 | 491.3 | (4) | ||||||||||||||
$400 Million Senior Notes |
Fixed | 5.90 % | 2020 | 400.0 | 397.8 | (3) | ||||||||||||||
$325 Million Private Placement Senior Notes: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Series 2008A - Tranche A |
Fixed | 6.31 % | 2013 | 270.0 | 270.0 | |||||||||||||||
Series 2008A - Tranche B |
Fixed | 6.59 % | 2015 | 55.0 | 55.0 | |||||||||||||||
$600 Million Credit Facility: (1) |
||||||||||||||||||||
Revolving loan |
Variable | - % | 2012 | 600.0 | - | (2) | ||||||||||||||
Total |
$ | 2,325.0 | $ | 1,713.0 | ||||||||||||||||
December 31, 2009 |
||||||||||||||||||||
Debt Instrument |
Type | Average Annual Interest Rate |
Final Maturity |
Face Amount |
Total Long-Term Debt |
|||||||||||||||
$325 Million Private Placement Senior Notes: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Series 2008A - Tranche A |
Fixed | 6.31 % | 2013 | $ | 270.0 | $ | 270.0 | |||||||||||||
Series 2008A - Tranche B |
Fixed | 6.59 % | 2015 | 55.0 | 55.0 | |||||||||||||||
$800 Million Credit Facility: |
||||||||||||||||||||
Term loan |
Variable | 1.43 % | 2012 | 200.0 | 200.0 | |||||||||||||||
Revolving loan |
Variable | - % | 2012 | 600.0 | - | (2) | ||||||||||||||
Total |
$ | 1,125.0 | $ | 525.0 | ||||||||||||||||
27
(1) The $200 million term loan was repaid in full on March 31, 2010.
(2) As of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, no revolving loans were drawn under the credit facility; however, the principal amount of letter of credit obligations totaled $63.1 million and $31.4 million, respectively, reducing available borrowing capacity to $536.9 million and $568.6 million, respectively.
(3) As of September 30, 2010 the $400 million senior notes were recorded at par value of $400 million less unamortized discounts of $2.2 million, based on an imputed interest rate of 5.98 percent.
(4) As of September 30, 2010 the $500 million 4.80 percent 2020 senior notes and the $500 million 6.25 percent 2040 senior notes were recorded at par values of $500 million less unamortized discounts of $1.1 million and $8.7 million, respectively, based on imputed interest rates of 4.83 percent and 6.38 percent, respectively.
The terms of the private placement senior notes and the credit facility each contain customary covenants that require compliance with certain financial covenants based on: (1) debt to earnings ratio and (2) interest coverage ratio. As of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, we were in compliance with the financial covenants related to both the private placement senior notes and the credit facility.
$1 Billion Senior Notes Offering
On September 20, 2010, we completed a $1 billion public offering of senior notes consisting of two tranches; a 10-year tranche of $500 million aggregate principal amount at 4.80 percent due October 1, 2020, and a 30-year tranche of $500 million aggregate principal amount at 6.25 percent due October 1, 2040. Interest is fixed and is payable on April 1 and October 1 of each year, beginning on April 1, 2011, for both series of senior notes until maturity. The senior notes are unsecured obligations and rank equally with all of our other existing and future senior unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. There are no subsidiary guarantees of the interest and principal amounts.
A portion of the net proceeds from the senior notes offering was used for the repayment of the $350 million borrowings outstanding under our credit facility, which we repaid on September 22, 2010. Other uses of the net proceeds may include general corporate purposes, including funding of capital expenditures and acquisitions. Pending other uses, we may also invest the net proceeds from the offering in short-term marketable securities.
The senior notes may be redeemed any time at our option after 30 days but within no more than 60 days of notice to the holders of the applicable series of notes. The senior notes are redeemable at a redemption price equal to the greater of (1) 100 percent of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed and (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the notes to be redeemed, discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis at the treasury rate plus 35 basis points with respect to the 2020 senior notes and 40 basis points with respect to the 2040 senior notes, plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption. In addition, if a change of control triggering event occurs with respect to the notes, we will be required to offer to purchase the notes at a purchase price equal to 101 percent of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase.
The terms of the senior notes contain certain customary covenants; however, there are no financial covenants.
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$400 Million Senior Notes Offering
On March 17, 2010, we completed a $400 million public offering of senior notes due March 15, 2020. Interest at a fixed rate of 5.90 percent is payable on March 15 and September 15 of each year, beginning on September 15, 2010, until maturity on March 15, 2020. The senior notes are unsecured obligations and rank equally with all of our other existing and future senior unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness. There are no subsidiary guarantees of the interest and principal amounts.
A portion of the net proceeds from the senior notes offering was used for the repayment of our $200 million term loan under our credit facility, which we repaid on March 31, 2010, as well as the repayment of our share of Amapás remaining debt outstanding of $100.8 million on May 27, 2010. In addition, we used the remainder of the net proceeds to help fund the acquisitions of Spider and CLCC during the third quarter of 2010.
The senior notes may be redeemed any time at our option after 30 days but within no more than 60 days of notice to the note holders. The senior notes are redeemable at a redemption price equal to the greater of (1) 100 percent of the principal amount of the notes to be redeemed and (2) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the notes to be redeemed, discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption. In addition, if a change of control triggering event occurs, we will be required to offer to purchase the notes at a purchase price equal to 101 percent of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of purchase.
The terms of the senior notes contain certain customary covenants; however, there are no financial covenants.
Short-term Facilities
On March 31, 2010, Asia Pacific Iron Ore entered into a new A$40 million ($38.8 million) bank contingent instrument facility and cash advance facility to replace the existing A$40 million multi-option facility. The facility, which was subsequently renewed until June 30, 2011 and which is renewable annually at the banks discretion, provides A$40 million in credit for contingent instruments, such as performance bonds and the ability to request a cash advance facility to be provided at the discretion of the bank. As of September 30, 2010, the outstanding bank guarantees under this facility totaled A$20.5 million ($19.9 million), thereby reducing borrowing capacity to A$19.5 million ($18.9 million). We have provided a guarantee of the facility, along with certain of our Australian subsidiaries. The facility agreement contains customary covenants that require compliance with certain financial covenants: (1) debt to earnings ratio and (2) interest coverage ratio, both based on the financial performance of the Company. As of September 30, 2010, we were in compliance with these financial covenants.
Latin America
During the second quarter of 2010, Amapá repaid its total project debt outstanding, for which we had provided a several guarantee on our 30 percent share. Repayment of our share of the total project debt outstanding consisted of $54.2 million and $100.8 million repaid on February 17, 2010 and May 27, 2010, respectively. Upon repayment, our estimate of the aggregate fair value of the outstanding guarantee of $6.7 million was reversed during the second quarter of 2010 through Equity income (loss) from ventures in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Operations. The fair value was estimated using a discounted cash flow model based upon the spread between guaranteed and non-guaranteed debt over the period the debt was expected to be outstanding.
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Debt Maturities
Maturities of debt instruments based on the principal amounts outstanding at September 30, 2010, total $270 million in 2013, $55 million in 2015 and $1.4 billion thereafter.
Refer to NOTE 9 FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS for further information.
NOTE 11 LEASE OBLIGATIONS
We lease certain mining, production and other equipment under operating and capital leases. The leases are for varying lengths, generally at market interest rates and contain purchase and/or renewal options at the end of the terms. Our operating lease expense was $6.2 million and $18.1 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, compared with $5.1 million and $19.1 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2009.
Future minimum payments under capital leases and non-cancelable operating leases at September 30, 2010 are as follows:
(In Millions) | ||||||||
Capital Leases |
Operating Leases |
|||||||
2010 (October 1 - December 31) |
$ | 7.8 | $ | 6.1 | ||||
2011 |
30.9 | 20.1 | ||||||
2012 |
29.6 | 16.8 | ||||||
2013 |
23.8 | 16.6 | ||||||
2014 |
23.3 | 12.1 | ||||||
2015 and thereafter |
73.1 | 17.3 | ||||||
Total minimum lease payments |
188.5 | $ | 89.0 | |||||
Amounts representing interest |
45.7 | |||||||
Present value of net minimum lease payments |
$ | 142.8 | (1) | |||||
(1)The total is comprised of $21.3 million and $121.5 million classified as Other current liabilities and Other liabilities, respectively, on the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position at September 30, 2010. |
|
NOTE 12 ENVIRONMENTAL AND MINE CLOSURE OBLIGATIONS
We had environmental and mine closure liabilities of $201.6 million and $132.3 million at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively. The following is a summary of the obligations as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009:
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(In Millions) | ||||||||
September 30, 2010 |
December 31, 2009 |
|||||||
Environmental |
$ | 13.8 | $ | 14.5 | ||||
Mine closure |
||||||||
LTVSMC |
17.1 | 13.9 | ||||||
Operating mines: |
||||||||
North American Iron Ore |
117.3 | 56.9 | ||||||
North American Coal |
34.4 | 30.3 | ||||||
Asia Pacific Iron Ore |
13.1 | 11.4 | ||||||
Other |
5.9 | 5.3 | ||||||
Total mine closure |
187.8 | 117.8 | ||||||
Total environmental and mine closure obligations |
201.6 | 132.3 | ||||||
Less current portion |
7.2 | 8.0 | ||||||
Long-term environmental and mine closure obligations |
$ | 194.4 | $ | 124.3 | ||||
Environmental
Our environmental liability of $13.8 million and $14.5 million at September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively, primarily relates to the Rio Tinto Mine Site, an historic underground copper mine located near Mountain City, Nevada, where tailings were placed in Mill Creek, a tributary to the Owyhee River. Site investigation and remediation work is being conducted in accordance with a Consent Order between the Nevada DEP and the RTWG, composed of Cliffs, Atlantic Richfield Company, Teck Cominco American Incorporated, and E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company. In recognition of the potential for an NRD claim, the parties are actively pursuing a global settlement that would include the EPA and encompass both the remedial action and the NRD issues. In 2009, the RTWG entered into an allocation agreement to resolve differences over the allocation of any negotiated remedy, under which we are obligated to fund 32.5 percent of the contemplated insured fixed-price cleanup (IFC). In the event an IFC is not implemented, the RTWG has agreed on allocation percentages, with Cliffs being committed to fund 32.5 percent of any remedy. We have an environmental liability of $9.3 million and $9.5 million recorded on the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position as of September 30, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively, related to this issue. We believe our current reserve is adequate to fund our anticipated portion of the IFC. While a global settlement with the EPA has not been finalized, we expect an agreement will be reached in 2010.
Mine Closure
Our mine closure obligations are for our five consolidated North American operating iron ore mines, our six operating North American coal mines, our Asia Pacific operating iron ore mines, the coal mine at Sonoma and a closed operation formerly known as LTVSMC.
The accrued closure obligation for our active mining operations provides for contractual and legal obligations associated with the eventual closure of the mining operations. The accretion of the liability and amortization of the related asset is recognized over the estimated mine lives for each location. The following represents a rollforward of our asset retirement obligation liability related to our active mining locations for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and the year ended December 31, 2009:
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(In Millions) | ||||||||
September 30, 2010 |
December 31, 2009 (1) |
|||||||
Asset retirement obligation at beginning of period |
$ | 103.9 | $ | 86.8 | ||||
Accretion expense |
9.1 | 6.8 | ||||||
Exchange rate changes |
1.5 | 3.6 | ||||||
Revision in estimated cash flows |
- | 6.7 | ||||||
Acquired through business combinations |
56.2 | - | ||||||
Asset retirement obligation at end of period |
$ | 170.7 | $ | 103.9 | ||||
(1) Represents a 12-month rollforward of our asset retirement obligation at December 31, 2009. |
NOTE 13 PENSIONS AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS
The following are the components of defined benefit pension and OPEB expense for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009:
Defined Benefit Pension Expense
(In Millions) | ||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended September 30, |
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|||||||||||||||
2010 | 2009 | 2010 | 2009 | |||||||||||||
Service cost |
$ | 3.5 | $ | 4.2 | $ | 12.5 | $ | 10.7 | ||||||||
Interest cost |
12.7 | 12.2 | 38.3 | 32.0 | ||||||||||||
Expected return on plan assets |
(13.2) | (10.6) | (39.3) | (27.9) | ||||||||||||
Amortization: |
||||||||||||||||
Prior service costs |
1.0 | 1.3 | 3.1 | 3.2 | ||||||||||||
Net actuarial losses |
5.1 | 7.1 | 17.0 | 20.1 | ||||||||||||
Net periodic benefit cost |
$ | 9.1 | $ | 14.2 | $ | 31.6 | $ | 38.1 | ||||||||
Other Postretirement Benefits Expense
(In Millions) | ||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended September 30, |
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|||||||||||||||
2010 | 2009 | 2010 | 2009 | |||||||||||||
Service cost |
$ | 2.2 | $ | 1.8 | $ | 5.4 | $ | 4.1 | ||||||||
Interest cost |
5.4 | 5.5 | 16.1 | 14.2 | ||||||||||||
Expected return on plan assets |
(3.2) | (2.3) | (9.7) | (6.8) | ||||||||||||
Amortization: |
||||||||||||||||
Prior service costs |
0.4 | 0.4 | 1.3 | 1.3 | ||||||||||||
Net actuarial losses |
3.1 | 1.2 | 6.5 | 6.3 | ||||||||||||
Net periodic benefit cost |
$ | 7.9 | $ | 6.6 | $ | 19.6 | $ | 19.1 | ||||||||
We made pension contributions of $36.1 million and $16.1 for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively. OPEB contributions were $17.4 million and $14.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
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NOTE 14 STOCK COMPENSATION PLANS
Employees Plans
On May 11, 2010, our shareholders approved and adopted an amendment and restatement of the 2007 ICE Plan to increase the authorized number of shares available for issuance under the plan and to provide an annual limitation on the number of shares available to grant to any one participant in any fiscal year of 500,000 common shares. As of September 30, 2010, our ICE Plan authorized up to 11,000,000 of our common shares to be issued as stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted shares, restricted share units, retention units, deferred shares, and performance shares or performance units.
For the outstanding plan year agreements, each performance share, if earned, entitles the holder to receive a number of common shares within the range between a threshold and maximum number of shares, with the actual number of common shares earned dependent upon whether the Company achieves certain objectives and performance goals as established by the Compensation and Organization Committee (Committee) of the Board of Directors. The performance share grants vest over a period of three years and are intended to be paid out in common shares. Performance is measured on the basis of two factors: 1) relative TSR for the period, as measured against a predetermined peer group of mining and metals companies, and 2) three-year cumulative free cash flow. The final payout varies from zero to 150 percent of the performance shares awarded. The restricted share units are subject to continued employment, are retention based, will vest at the end of the performance period for the performance shares, and are payable in shares at a time determined by the Committee at its discretion.
On March 8, 2010, the Committee approved a grant under our shareholder approved ICE Plan for the performance period 2010-2012. A total of 367,430 shares were granted under the award, consisting of 272,700 performance shares and 94,730 restricted share units. During the second quarter of 2010 additional shares were granted under the ICE Plan, consisting of 17,755 performance shares and 13,015 restricted share units, restricted stock and retention units. On September 7, 2010 and September 13, 2010, an additional 2,000 restricted shares and 20,500 restricted shares, respectively, were granted under the ICE Plan.
The performance shares awarded under the ICE Plan to the Companys Chief Executive Officer on December 17, 2009 and March 8, 2010 of 67,009 shares and 18,720 shares, respectively, met the aggregate value added performance objective under the award terms as of September 30, 2010. The number of shares paid out under these particular awards at the end of each incentive period will be determined by the Committee based upon the achievement of certain other performance factors evaluated solely at the Committees discretion and may be reduced from the 67,009 shares and 18,720 shares granted. These other performance factors are in addition to the aggregate value added performance objective. As a result of this uncertainty, a grant date has not yet been determined for this award for purposes of measuring and recognizing compensation cost.
Upon the occurrence of a change in control, all performance shares, restricted share units, restricted stock and retention units granted to a participant will vest and become nonforfeitable and will be paid out in cash.
Determination of Fair Value
The fair value of each performance share grant is estimated on the date of grant using a Monte Carlo simulation to forecast relative TSR performance. A correlation matrix of historic and projected stock prices was developed for both the Company and its predetermined peer group of mining and metals companies. The fair value assumes that performance goals will be achieved.
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The expected term of the grant represents the time from the grant date to the end of the service period. We estimated the volatility of our common stock and that of the peer group of mining and metals companies using daily price intervals for all companies. The risk-free interest rate is the rate at the grant date on zero-coupon government bonds, with a term commensurate with the remaining life of the performance plans.
The following assumptions were utilized to estimate the fair value for the 2010 performance share grants:
Period (1) |
Grant Date |
Average Term (Years) |
Expected |
Risk-Free |
Dividend Yield |
Fair Value |
Fair Value | |||||||
First Quarter | $ 60.17 | 2.82 | 94.6% | 1.28% | 0.59% | $ 36.28 | 60.30% | |||||||
Second Quarter | $56.12 - $74.02 | 2.82 | 94.6% | 1.28% | 0.59% | $33.84 - $44.63 | 60.30% |
(1) | Performance shares were granted during the first quarter of 2010 on March 8, 2010 and during the second quarter of 2010 on April 6, April 12, April 26, May 3, and June 14, 2010. |
The fair value of the restricted share units is determined based on the closing price of the Companys shares on the grant date. The restricted share units granted under the Plan vest over a period of three years.
Nonemployee Directors
On May 11, 2010, an annual equity grant was awarded under our Directors Plan to all Nonemployee Directors elected or re-elected by the shareholders as follows:
Date of Grant | Unrestricted Equity |
Restricted Equity |
Deferred Equity | |||
May 11, 2010 | 3,963 | 7,926 | 1,321 |
The Directors Plan provides for an annual equity grant, which is awarded at the time of our Annual Meeting of Shareholders each year to all Nonemployee Directors elected or re-elected by the shareholders. The value of the equity grant is payable in restricted shares with a three-year vesting period from the date of grant. The closing market price of our common shares on our Annual Meeting date is divided into the equity grant to determine the number of restricted shares awarded. Effective May 1, 2008, Nonemployee Directors received an annual retainer fee of $50,000 and an annual equity award of $75,000. The Directors Plan offers the Nonemployee Director the opportunity to defer all or a portion of the Annual Directors Retainer fees, Chair retainers, meeting fees, and the Equity Grant into the Compensation Plan. A Director who is 69 or older at the equity grant date will receive common shares with no restrictions.
NOTE 15 INCOME TAXES
Our tax provision for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 was $115.7 million and $278 million, respectively. The tax provision for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 includes $24.1 million of expense for discrete items primarily related to expense associated with the PPACA and the Reconciliation Act, which were both signed into law in March 2010. The effective tax rate for the first nine months of 2010 is approximately 31 percent. Our 2010 expected effective tax rate for the full year is approximately 28.1 percent before discrete items, which reflects benefits from deductions for percentage depletion in excess of cost depletion related to U.S. operations as well as benefits derived from operations outside the U.S., which are taxed at rates lower than the U.S. statutory rate of 35 percent.
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As of September 30, 2010, our valuation allowance against certain deferred tax assets increased by $31.9 million from December 31, 2009 primarily related to ordinary losses of certain foreign operations for which future utilization is currently uncertain, Wabush asset retirement obligation reserves for which the realizability for tax purposes is uncertain, as well as a tax basis greater than book basis on certain foreign assets.
As of September 30, 2010, cumulative undistributed earnings of foreign subsidiaries included in consolidated retained earnings continue to be indefinitely reinvested in international operations. Accordingly, no provision has been made for U.S. deferred taxes related to future repatriation of these earnings, nor is it practicable to estimate the amount of income taxes that would have to be provided if we concluded that such earnings will be remitted in the future.
At January 1, 2010, we had $75.2 million of unrecognized tax benefits. If the $75.2 million was recognized, $74.2 million would impact the effective tax rate. It is reasonably possible that up to $16 million of foreign tax benefits could be recognized within one year of September 30, 2010 due to the expiration of statutes of limitation. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010, we accrued an additional $0.5 million and $1.8 million, respectively, of interest relating to the unrecognized tax benefits.
Tax years that remain subject to examination are years 2007 and forward for the United States, 1993 and forward for Canada, and 1994 and forward for Australia.
NOTE 16 CAPITAL STOCK
Shareholder Rights Plan
On March 9, 2010, our Board of Directors approved the redemption of the rights accompanying our common shares. The rights were issued pursuant to the terms of the Shareholder Rights Plan that was adopted in October 2008. The redemption of the rights effectively terminated the Shareholders Rights Plan. The redemption price of $0.001 per right was paid as part of the common share dividend on June 1, 2010 to shareholders of record as of May 14, 2010. Accordingly, $0.001 of the $0.14 quarterly dividend was allocated to pay the redemption price of the rights.
Dividends
On May 11, 2010, our Board of Directors increased our quarterly common share dividend from $0.0875 to $0.14 per share. The increased cash dividend was paid on June 1, 2010 and September 1, 2010 to shareholders on record as of May 14, 2010 and August 13, 2010, respectively.
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NOTE 17 COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
The following are the components of comprehensive income for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009:
(In Millions) | ||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended September 30, |
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|||||||||||||||
2010 | 2009 | 2010 | 2009 | |||||||||||||
Net income attributable to Cliffs shareholders |
$ | 297.4 | $ | 58.8 | $ | 626.6 | $ | 96.9 | ||||||||
Other comprehensive income: |
||||||||||||||||
Unrealized net gain on marketable securities - net of tax |
14.5 | 7.8 | 0.3 | 13.1 | ||||||||||||
Foreign currency translation |
145.8 | 79.9 | 101.5 | 209.4 | ||||||||||||
Amortization of net periodic benefit cost - net of tax |
19.3 | 5.1 | 37.0 | 23.0 | ||||||||||||
Unrealized gain on interest rate swap - net of tax |
- | 0.5 | - | 1.0 | ||||||||||||
Reclassification of net gains on derivative financial instruments into net income |
- | (2.9) | (3.2) | (12.8) | ||||||||||||
Total other comprehensive income |
179.6 | 90.4 | 135.6 | 233.7 | ||||||||||||
Total comprehensive income |
$ | 477.0 | $ | 149.2 | $ | 762.2 | $ | 330.6 | ||||||||
NOTE 18 EARNINGS PER SHARE
A summary of the calculation of earnings per common share on a basic and diluted basis follows:
(In Millions) | ||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended September 30, |
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|||||||||||||||
2010 | 2009 | 2010 | 2009 | |||||||||||||
Net income attributable to Cliffs shareholders |
$ | 297.4 | $ | 58.8 | $ | 626.6 | $ | 96.9 | ||||||||
Weighted average number of shares: |
||||||||||||||||
Basic |
135.3 | 130.8 | 135.3 | 123.0 | ||||||||||||
Employee stock plans |
0.9 | 0.9 | 0.8 | 0.8 | ||||||||||||
Diluted |
136.2 | 131.7 | 136.1 | 123.8 | ||||||||||||
Earnings per common share attributable to Cliffs shareholders - Basic |
$ | 2.20 | $ | 0.45 | $ | 4.63 | $ | 0.79 | ||||||||
Earnings per common share attributable to Cliffs shareholders - Diluted |
$ | 2.18 | $ | 0.45 | $ | 4.60 | $ | 0.78 | ||||||||
NOTE 19 COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Purchase Commitments
During the third quarter of 2010, our Board of Directors approved a capital project at our Koolyanobbing Operation in Western Australia. The project is expected to increase the production capacity at the Koolyanobbing Operation to approximately 11 million tonnes annually. The improvements consist of enhancements to the existing rail infrastructure and upgrades to various other existing operational constraints. The expansion project requires a capital investment of approximately $234 million, of which approximately $34 million has been committed, that will be required to meet the timing of the proposed expansion. As of September 30, 2010, $4 million in capital expenditures had been expended related to this commitment. Of the committed capital, expenditures of approximately $15 million are scheduled to be made in both 2011 and 2012, respectively.
36
In the third quarter of 2010, we incurred capital commitments related to an expansion project at our Empire and Tilden mines in Michigans Upper Peninsula. As of September 30, 2010, the project has been approved for capital investments on equipment of approximately $111 million, of which $72 million has been committed, and is expected to allow the Empire mine to produce at three million tons annually through 2014 and increase Tilden mine production by an additional two million tons annually. As of September 30, 2010, no capital expenditures had yet been made related to this project. Of the committed capital, expenditures of approximately $4 million and $68 million are scheduled to be made in 2010 and 2011, respectively.
In 2010, we incurred a capital commitment for the construction of a new portal closer to the coal face at our Oak Grove mine in Alabama. The portal, which requires a capital investment of approximately $29 million, of which $20 million has been committed, will significantly decrease transit time to and from the coal face, resulting in among other things, improved safety, greater operational efficiency, increased productivity, lower employment costs and improved employee morale. As of September 30, 2010, capital expenditures related to this purchase were approximately $7 million. Remaining committed expenditures of $13 million are scheduled to be made throughout the remainder of 2010.
In 2008, we incurred a capital commitment for the purchase of a new longwall plow system for our Pinnacle mine in West Virginia. The system, which requires a capital investment of approximately $90 million, will replace the current longwall plow system in an effort to reduce maintenance costs and increase production at the mine. As of September 30, 2010, capital expenditures related to this purchase were approximately $55 million. Remaining expenditures of approximately $17 million and $18 million are scheduled to be made in 2010 and 2011, respectively.
Contingencies
Litigation
We are currently a party to various claims and legal proceedings incidental to our operations. If management believes that a loss arising from these matters is probable and can reasonably be estimated, we record the amount of the loss, or the minimum estimated liability when the loss is estimated using a range, and no point within the range is more probable than another. As additional information becomes available, any potential liability related to these matters is assessed and the estimates are revised, if necessary. Based on currently available information, management believes that the ultimate outcome of these matters, individually and in the aggregate, will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position or results of operations. However, litigation is subject to inherent uncertainties, and unfavorable rulings could occur. An unfavorable ruling could include monetary damages or an injunction. If an unfavorable ruling were to occur, there exists the possibility of a material adverse impact on the financial position and results of operations of the period in which the ruling occurs, or future periods. However, we believe that any pending litigation will not result in a material liability in relation to our consolidated financial statements.
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NOTE 20 CASH FLOW INFORMATION
A reconciliation of capital additions to cash paid for capital expenditures for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 is as follows:
(In Millions) | ||||||||
Nine Months Ended September 30, | ||||||||
2010 | 2009 | |||||||
Capital additions |
$ | 154.2 | $ | 150.7 | ||||
Cash paid for capital expenditures |
150.1 | 95.8 | ||||||
Difference |
$ | 4.1 | $ | 54.9 | ||||
Non-cash accruals |
$ | 4.1 | $ | 7.6 | ||||
Capital leases |
- | 47.3 | ||||||
Total |
$ | 4.1 | $ | 54.9 | ||||
Non-cash investing activities for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 include the issuance of 4.2 million of our common shares valued at $173.1 million as part of the purchase consideration for the acquisition of the remaining interest in Freewest. Non-cash items for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 also include gains of $28.4 million primarily related to the remeasurement of our previous ownership interest in Freewest and Wabush held prior to each business acquisition. Refer to NOTE 7 ACQUISITIONS AND OTHER INVESTMENTS for further information.
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ITEM 2. | MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS |
Managements Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (MD&A) is designed to provide a reader of our financial statements with a narrative from the perspective of management on our financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and other factors that may affect our future results. We believe it is important to read our MD&A in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009 as well as other publicly available information.
Overview
Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. traces its corporate history back to 1847. Today, we are an international mining and natural resources company. A member of the S&P 500 Index, we are the largest producer of iron ore pellets in North America, a major supplier of direct-shipping lump and fines iron ore out of Australia, and a significant producer of metallurgical coal. Our companys operations are organized according to product category and geographic location: North American Iron Ore, North American Coal, Asia Pacific Iron Ore, Asia Pacific Coal, Latin American Iron Ore, Ferroalloys and our Global Exploration Group.
Over recent years, we have been executing a strategy designed to achieve scale in the mining industry and focused on serving the worlds largest and fastest growing steel markets. In North America, we operate six iron ore mines in Michigan, Minnesota and Eastern Canada, five metallurgical coal mines located in West Virginia and Alabama and one thermal coal mine located in West Virginia. Our Asia Pacific operations are comprised of two iron ore mining complexes in Western Australia, serving the Asian iron ore markets with direct-shipping fines and lump ore, and a 45 percent economic interest in Sonoma, a coking and thermal coal mine located in Queensland, Australia. In Latin America, we have a 30 percent interest in Amapá, a Brazilian iron ore project. Other projects under development include a biomass production plant in Michigan and Ring of Fire chromite properties in Ontario, Canada.
39
Despite an extremely challenging economic environment throughout most of 2009, the gradual signs of improvement that began to emerge later in the year have gained momentum throughout the first three quarters of 2010. The strengthening recovery and improving outlook for 2010 is characterized by increasing steel production, higher demand and rising prices. Global crude steel production, a significant driver of our business, was up approximately 22 percent from the comparable period in 2009, with even greater production increases in some areas, including China, where the economy has grown at an annual rate of nearly 12 percent during the first nine months of 2010.
Our consolidated revenues for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 increased to $1.3 billion and $3.3 billion, respectively, with net income per diluted share of $2.18 and $4.60, respectively. This compares with revenues of $666.4 million and $1.5 billion, respectively, and net income per diluted share of $0.45 and $0.78, respectively, for the comparable periods in 2009. Based on the signs of marked improvement in customer demand, we have increased production at most of our facilities in order to meet increases in demand. In Asia Pacific, the demand for steelmaking raw materials remained strong throughout the first nine months of 2010 primarily led by demand from China. Higher sales volumes in North America during the quarter and year-to-date periods are also attributable to increased sales of iron ore pellets, as well as metallurgical and thermal coal made available through our acquisitions of Wabush and CLCC during the first and third quarters of 2010. Earlier this year, the worlds largest iron ore producers began to move away from the annual international benchmark pricing mechanism referenced in certain of our customer supply agreements, resulting in a shift in the industry toward shorter-term pricing arrangements linked to the spot market. We finalized quarterly pricing arrangements with our Asia Pacific Iron Ore customers and reached final pricing settlement with the majority of our North American customers through the third quarter of 2010, reflecting significant increases over 2009 prices for the first nine months of 2010. However, we are still in the process of assessing the impact a change to the historical annual pricing mechanism will have on certain of our larger existing North American Iron Ore customer supply agreements, and negotiations are still ongoing with these customers. As a result, we have recorded certain shipments made during the first nine months of 2010 on a provisional basis until final settlement is reached on 2010 pricing, which is expected to increase significantly over final prices reached in 2009.
Results in the current year reflect continued strong performance at our operations around the world and improved pricing for our products. Our strong cash flow generation and positive outlook for our business are allowing us to resume our focus on investments in our assets which will enable us to continue to pursue strategic objectives and enhance our long-term operating performance, while also providing us with greater confidence and the ability to increase our cash payouts to shareholders. In May 2010, our Board of Directors increased our quarterly common share dividend from $0.0875 to $0.14 per share. We have also continued to strengthen our balance sheet and enhance financial flexibility, including the completion of two public debt offerings for $400 million and $1 billion in the first and third quarters of 2010, respectively, the net proceeds of which have been used for repayment of a portion of our debt obligations and have been or may be used for the funding of other strategic transactions and acquisitions.
40
Growth Strategy and Strategic Transactions
Through the first nine months of 2010, we continued to increase our operating scale and presence as an international mining and natural resources company by expanding both geographically and through the minerals we mine and market. We have taken proactive measures to position ourselves to take advantage of opportunities as the market improves. The long-term outlook remains strong and we are now focusing on our growth projects with sustained investment in our core businesses. Our growth in North America, as well as acquisitions in minerals outside of iron ore and coal, illustrates the execution of this strategy. In the first quarter of 2010, we successfully executed our growth strategy by acquiring full ownership of Wabush and Freewest. During the third quarter of 2010, we acquired all of the coal operations of privately-owned INR and increased our ownership interest in Spider to 85 percent. Effective October 6, 2010, we completed the acquisition of the remaining shares of Spider, bringing our ownership percentage to 100 percent as of that date. These acquisitions have allowed us to increase production capacity and add additional reserves at our North American Iron Ore and North American Coal businesses, gain additional access to the seaborne iron ore markets serving steelmakers in Europe and Asia, and further broaden our geographic and mineral diversification.
We also expect to achieve growth through early involvement in exploration and development activities by partnering with junior mining companies, which provide us low-cost entry points for potentially significant reserve additions. We have established a global exploration group, led by professional geologists who have the knowledge and experience to identify new world-class projects for future development or projects that add significant value to existing operations.
Results of Operations Consolidated
Following is a summary of our consolidated results of operations for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009:
(In Millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended September 30, |
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
2010 | 2009 | Variance Favorable/ (Unfavorable) |
2010 | 2009 | Variance Favorable/ (Unfavorable) |
|||||||||||||||||||
Revenues from product |
$ | 1,346.0 | $ | 666.4 | $ | 679.6 | $ | 3,258.0 | $ | 1,521.5 | $ | 1,736.5 | ||||||||||||
Cost of goods sold and |
(869.5) | (563.2) | (306.3) | (2,216.8) | (1,387.6) | (829.2) | ||||||||||||||||||
Sales Margin |
$ | 476.5 | $ | 103.2 | $ | 373.3 | $ | 1,041.2 | $ | 133.9 | $ | 907.3 | ||||||||||||
Sales Margin % |
35.4% | 15.5% | 19.9% | 32.0% | 8.8% | 23.2% | ||||||||||||||||||
41
Revenue from Product Sales and Services
Sales revenue for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 increased $679.6 million and $1.7 billion, respectively, over the comparable periods in 2009. The increase in sales revenue was primarily due to higher sales volumes and pricing related to our North American business operations. Sales volumes nearly doubled at North American Iron Ore during the first nine months of 2010 when compared with the same period last year, and sales volume for North American Coal was 109 percent higher than the comparable prior year period. Improving market conditions throughout the first nine months of 2010 have led to increasing production in the North American steel industry, and in turn higher demand for iron ore and metallurgical coal. Higher sales volumes during the quarter and year-to-date periods were also attributable to increased sales of Wabush pellets, made available through our acquisition to obtain full ownership of the mine in early February 2010, and increased sales of metallurgical and thermal coal, made available through our acquisition of CLCC during the third quarter of 2010.
Higher sales prices have also contributed to the increase in our consolidated revenue for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010. A recent shift in the industry toward shorter-term pricing arrangements that are linked to the spot market and elimination of the annual benchmark system has caused us to reassess and, in some cases, renegotiate the terms of certain of our supply agreements, primarily with our North American Iron Ore and Asia Pacific Iron Ore customers. We finalized quarterly pricing arrangements with our Asia Pacific Iron Ore customers for the first six months of 2010, with most of our customers moving to a daily spot price mechanism in the third quarter of 2010. The increase in 2010 pricing is on average a 78 percent and 91 percent increase for lump and fines, respectively. Pricing for the third quarter of 2010 was settled at slightly higher average increases over 2009 of 109 percent and 108 percent for lump and fines, respectively. In North America, we reached final pricing settlement with the majority of our North American Iron Ore customers through the third quarter of 2010. We are still in the process of assessing the impact a change to the historical annual pricing mechanism will have on certain of our larger existing customer supply agreements, and have recorded certain shipments made during the first nine months of 2010 on a provisional basis to reflect the estimated increases in prices until final settlement is reached on 2010 pricing. During the third quarter of 2010, we increased our estimate of final price settlement to reflect an average increase of 96.5 percent over 2009 prices, resulting in additional revenue being recognized during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010. Refer to Impact of Pricing Adjustments below for additional information.
Impact of Pricing Adjustments
Third-quarter results in 2010 include additional revenue related to final pricing settlement with the majority of North American Iron Ore customers and additional revenue related to an upward revision of our estimated final price settlement for certain of our larger customers where pricing has not yet been settled through the third quarter of 2010. The table below reflects the impact of the adjustments recorded in the third quarter of 2010 related to shipments made during the first half of the year. As the revisions resulted in price increases in 2010, these adjustments had a favorable impact on results reported for the third quarter of 2010. We did not settle pricing or alter our estimated settlement during the third quarter of 2009; therefore there was no impact on revenue related to such adjustments for the three months ended September 30, 2009. The retroactive impact on our consolidated results for the three months ended September 30, 2010 is set forth in the following table:
42
(In millions, except per share data) | Three Months Ended September 30, 2010 |
|||
Product revenues |
$ | 12.7 | (1) | |
Operating income (loss) |
12.7 | |||
Net income attributable to Cliffs shareholders |
8.3 | |||
Earnings per common share attributable to Cliffs shareholders - Diluted |
$ | 0.06 | ||
(1)Approximately $8.3 million of the revenue adjustment relates to upward revisions of our estimated final price settlement for certain of our larger customers where pricing has not yet been settled, and $4.4 million relates to the impact of pricing settlements reached with the majority of our customers during the third quarter of 2010. |
|
Refer to Results of Operations Segment Information for additional information regarding the impact of specific factors that impacted revenue during the period.
Cost of Goods Sold and Operating Expenses
Cost of goods sold and operating expenses for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 increased 54 percent and 60 percent, respectively, over the comparable prior year periods. The increase for both the third quarter and first nine months of 2010 is primarily attributable to higher costs at both our North American and Asia Pacific business operations as a result of higher sales volume, partially offset by lower idle expense at our North American businesses as a result of higher production levels in 2010 to meet increasing customer demand. Costs were also negatively impacted in the first nine months of 2010 by approximately $65.2 million related to unfavorable foreign exchange rates compared with the first nine months of 2009, $26.3 million of inventory step-up and amortization of purchase price adjustments related to the accounting for the acquisition of the remaining interest in Wabush and $91 million related to higher profit-sharing, increased fringe benefit rates and higher royalty expenses at our North American Iron Ore operations.
Refer to Results of Operations Segment Information for additional information regarding the impact of specific factors that impacted our operating results during the period.
Other Operating Income (Expense)
Following is a summary of other operating income (expense) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009:
(In Millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended September 30, |
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
2010 | 2009 | Variance Favorable/ (Unfavorable) |
2010 | 2009 | Variance Favorable/ (Unfavorable) |
|||||||||||||||||||
Selling, general and |
$ | (68.1) | $ | (28.4) | $ | (39.7) | $ | (164.3) | $ | (83.6) | $ | (80.7) | ||||||||||||
Casualty recoveries |
- | - | - | 3.3 | - | 3.3 | ||||||||||||||||||
Royalties and management |
2.8 | (0.2) | 3.0 | 7.7 | 3.5 | 4.2 | ||||||||||||||||||
Gain on sale of other assets |
- | 1.0 | (1.0) | 2.6 | 1.5 | 1.1 | ||||||||||||||||||
Miscellaneous - net |
(22.0) | 4.9 | (26.9) | (22.1) | 19.3 | (41.4) | ||||||||||||||||||
$ | (87.3) | $ | (22.7) | $ | (64.6) | $ | (172.8) | $ | (59.3) | $ | (113.5) | |||||||||||||
43
Selling, general and administrative expenses in the third quarter and first nine months of 2010 increased $39.7 million and $80.7 million, respectively, over the same periods in 2009. The increase is partially due to higher variable compensation costs in each period of $11.3 million and $21.5 million, respectively, as well as additional expense of $3.7 million and $18.3 million for the quarter and year to date, respectively, related to a performance royalty for our investment in Sonoma. We also incurred $2.5 million and $8.9 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2010, respectively, related to our involvement in exploration activities, as our global exploration group focuses on identifying new world-class projects for future development or projects that add significant value to existing operations. In addition, we incurred costs of $7.1 million and $9.4 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2010, respectively, primarily related to feasibility study costs of $1.2 million, drilling costs of $1.5 million, and other project expenses of $2.4 million associated with our recently acquired Ferroalloys operating segment.
Miscellaneous net losses of $22 million and $22.1 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2010, respectively, primarily relate to foreign exchange losses on our Australian bank accounts that are denominated in United States dollars, as a result of the increase in exchange rates during the current year from A$0.90 at December 31, 2009 to A$0.97 at September 30, 2010. In each of the comparable prior year periods, we had gains of $4.9 million and $19.3 million, respectively, primarily related to exchange rate gains on foreign currency transactions related to loans denominated in Australian dollars, as a result of the increase in exchange rates during the prior year from A$0.69 at December 31, 2008 to A$0.88 at September 30, 2009.
Other income (expense)
Following is a summary of other income (expense) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009:
(In Millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended September 30, |
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|||||||||||||||||||||||
2010 | 2009 | Variance Favorable/ (Unfavorable) |
2010 | 2009 | Variance Favorable/ (Unfavorable) |
|||||||||||||||||||
Gain on acquisition of |
$ | 2.1 | $ | - | $ | 2.1 | $ | 28.4 | $ | - | $ | 28.4 | ||||||||||||
Changes in fair value of |
32.5 | 8.8 | 23.7 | 24.8 | 84.8 | (60.0) | ||||||||||||||||||
Interest income |
3.3 | 1.9 | 1.4 | 8.4 | 7.7 | 0.7 | ||||||||||||||||||
Interest expense |
(17.3) | (10.0) | (7.3) | (40.8) | (29.3) | (11.5) | ||||||||||||||||||
Other non-operating income (expense) |
(0.3) | 0.2 | (0.5) | 6.9 | (0.6) | 7.5 | ||||||||||||||||||
$ | 20.3 | $ | 0.9 | $ | 19.4 | $ | 27.7 | $ | 62.6 | $ | (34.9) | |||||||||||||
44
As a result of acquiring the remaining ownership interests in Freewest and Wabush during the first quarter of 2010, our year-to-date results were impacted by realized gains of $26.3 million primarily related to the increase in fair value of our previous ownership interest in each investment held prior to the business acquisition. The fair value of our previous 12.4 percent interest in Freewest was $27.4 million on January 27, 2010, the date of acquisition, resulting in a gain of $13.6 million being recognized in the first nine months of 2010. The fair value of our previous 26.8 percent equity interest in Wabush was $25.7 million on February 1, 2010, resulting in a gain of $12.7 million also being recognized in the first nine months of 2010. During the third quarter of 2010, the fair value of our previous equity interest in Wabush was further refined from the initial estimate completed in the first quarter of 2010 and we continued to ensure that our previous equity interest in Wabush was incorporating all of the book basis. These adjustments resulted in a reduction to the gain of $34.3 million, which was recognized retrospectively as of the acquisition date and reflected in Other income (expense) for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. Refer to NOTE 7 ACQUISITIONS AND OTHER INVESTMENTS for further information.
The impact of changes in the fair value of our foreign currency contracts on the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Operations is due to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates during the third quarter and first nine months of 2010. The favorable changes in fair value of our foreign currency contracts of $32.5 million and $24.8 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 relates to the Australian to U.S. dollar spot rate of A$0.97 as of September 30, 2010, which increased from the Australian to U.S. dollar spot rate of A$0.90 as of December 31, 2009. The changes in the spot rates are correlated to the appreciation of the Australian dollar relative to the United States dollar during the reporting period. In addition, we entered into additional foreign exchange contracts during the first nine months of 2010 resulting in the amount of outstanding contracts in our foreign exchange hedge book increasing from $108.5 million at December 31, 2009 to $305 million at September 30, 2010. During the nine months ended September 30, 2010, approximately $153.5 million of outstanding contracts matured, resulting in a cumulative net realized gain of $10.5 million since inception of the contracts. The following table represents our foreign currency derivative contract position as of September 30, 2010:
($ in Millions) | ||||||||||||||||
Contract Maturity |
Notional Amount | Weighted Average Exchange Rate |
Spot Rate | Fair Value | ||||||||||||
Contract Portfolio (excluding AUD Call Options) (1): |
||||||||||||||||
Contracts expiring in the next 12 months |
$ | 230.0 | 0.86 | 0.97 | $ | 23.3 | ||||||||||
Contracts expiring in the next 13 to 24 months |
45.0 | 0.89 | 0.97 | 2.9 | ||||||||||||
Total |
$ | 275.0 | 0.86 | 0.97 | $ | 26.2 | ||||||||||
AUD Call Options (2) |
||||||||||||||||
Contracts expiring in the next 12 months |
$ | 30.0 | 0.88 | 0.97 | $ | 2.9 | ||||||||||
Total |
$ | 30.0 | 0.88 | 0.97 | $ | 2.9 | ||||||||||
Total Hedge Contract Portfolio |
$ | 305.0 | $ | 29.1 | ||||||||||||
(1) | Includes collar options and forward exchange contracts. |
(2) | AUD call options are excluded from the weighted average exchange rate used for the remainder of the contract portfolio due to the unlimited downside participation associated with these instruments. |
Income Taxes
Our tax rate is affected by recurring items, such as depletion and tax rates in foreign jurisdictions and the relative amount of income we earn in our various jurisdictions. It is also affected by discrete items that may occur in any given year, but are not consistent from year to year. The following represents a summary of our tax provision and corresponding effective rates for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009:
45
(In Millions) | ||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended September 30, |
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
|||||||||||||||
2010 | 2009 | 2010 | 2009 | |||||||||||||
Income tax benefit (expense) |
$ | (115.7 | ) | $ | (1.9 | ) | $ | (278.0 | ) | $ | 14.6 | |||||
Effective tax rate |
28.3 | % | 2.0 | % | 31.0 | % | (11.0 | )% |
Our tax provision for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 was an expense of $115.7 million and $278 million, respectively, compared with an expense of $1.9 million and a benefit of $14.6 million, respectively, for the comparable prior year periods.
The PPACA and the Reconciliation Act were signed into law in March 2010. As a result of these two acts, tax benefits available to employers that receive the Medicare Part D subsidy are reduced beginning in years ending after December 31, 2012. Since the acts were signed into law during the first quarter of 2010, ASC 740 Income Taxes, required the effect of the tax law change to be recorded as a component of tax expense related to continuing operations during that period. The income tax effect related to the acts for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 was a reduction of $16.1 million to the deferred tax asset related to the postretirement prescription drug benefits computed after the elimination of the deduction for the Medicare Part D subsidy beginning in taxable years ending after December 31, 2012.
A reconciliation of our expected tax rate to the actual rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009 is as follows:
Nine Months Ended September 30, |
||||||||
2010 | 2009 | |||||||
U.S. statutory rate |
35.0% | 35.0% | ||||||
Increases/(Decreases) due to: |
||||||||
Impact of tax law change |
1.8 | - | ||||||
Percentage depletion |
(7.4) | (10.4) | ||||||
Impact of foreign operations |
(3.4) | (15.9) | ||||||
Valuation allowance |
3.4 | 16.1 | ||||||
Tax uncertanties |
0.7 | - | ||||||
Other items - net |
0.9 | (0.8) | ||||||
Effective income tax rate including discrete items |
31.0 | 24.0 | ||||||
Discrete items |
(2.7) | (35.0) | ||||||
Effective income tax rate without discrete items |
28.3% | (11.0)% | ||||||
The difference in the effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 compared with the same period in 2009 is primarily a result of the mix of U.S. and foreign pre-tax book income or loss and the corresponding U.S. tax benefits from percentage depletion.
Discrete items relate to expense resulting from the acts signed into law in March 2010, expense related to prior year U.S. and foreign provisions recognized in the current year and interest related to unrecognized tax benefits.
The valuation allowance of $120.9 million against certain deferred tax assets as of September 30, 2010 relates primarily to ordinary losses of certain foreign operations, Wabush asset retirement obligation reserves for which the realizability for tax purposes is uncertain, and to tax basis greater than book basis on certain foreign assets.
46
For the full year 2010, we expect an effective tax rate of approximately 28.1 percent before discrete items, which reflects benefits from deductions for percentage depletion in excess of cost depletion related to U.S. operations as well as benefits derived from operations outside the U.S., which are taxed at rates lower than the U.S. statutory rate of 35 percent. See NOTE 15 INCOME TAXES for further information.
Equity Income (Loss) from Ventures
Equity income (loss) from ventures is primarily comprised of our share of the results from Amapá and AusQuest, for which we have a 30 percent ownership interest in each. The equity income from ventures of $3.6 million and $8.4 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2010 respectively, primarily represents our share of the operating results of our equity method investment in Amapá. Such results consist of income of $4.5 million and $11.4 million for each respective period in 2010. Amapá was modestly profitable through the first nine months of 2010 and is expected to continue to improve operating performance through the fourth quarter of 2010. During the first nine months, we recorded income of $4.6 million related to the reversal of certain accruals during the second quarter of 2010. In addition, during the second quarter of 2010, Amapá repaid its total project debt outstanding, for which we had provided a several guarantee on our 30 percent share. Upon repayment of the project debt, our obligations under the provisions of the guarantee arrangement have been relieved, and our estimate of the aggregate fair value of the outstanding guarantee of $6.7 million was reversed through Equity income (loss) from ventures for the nine months ended September 30, 2010. Modestly profitable operating results combined with the reversal of the debt guarantee and certain accruals resulted in income for the third quarter and first nine months of 2010 related to our investment in Amapá. This compares with equity losses related to Amapá of $19.9 million and $53.8 million, respectively, for the same periods in 2009. The negative operating results in the prior year are primarily due to slower than anticipated ramp-up of operations and product yields.
Results of Operations Segment Information
Our company is organized and managed according to product category and geographic location. Segment information reflects our strategic business units, which are organized to meet customer requirements and global competition. We evaluate segment performance based on sales margin, defined as revenues less cost of goods sold and operating expenses identifiable to each segment. This measure of operating performance is an effective measurement as we focus on reducing production costs throughout the Company.
North American Iron Ore
Following is a summary of North American Iron Ore results for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009:
(In Millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended | Change due to | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
September 30, | Idle cost/Production | Freight and | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2010 | 2009 | Rate | Volume | volume variance | reimbursements | change | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues from product sales and services |
$ | 865.8 | $ | 428.2 | $ | 216.7 | $ | 161.1 | $ | - | $ | 59.8 | $ | 437.6 | ||||||||||||||
Cost of goods sold and operating expenses |
(562.0) | (338.7) | (73.0) | (111.3) | 20.8 | (59.8) | (223.3) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Sales margin |
$ | 303.8 | $ | 89.5 | $ | 143.7 | $ | 49.8 | $ | 20.8 | $ | - | $ | 214.3 | ||||||||||||||
Sales tons |
7.6 | 5.6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Production Tons (1): |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total |
9.1 | 4.6 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cliffs share of total |
7.0 | 4.3 |
(1) | Long tons of pellets (2,240 pounds). |
47
Sales margin for North American Iron Ore was $303.8 million for the third quarter of 2010, compared with a sales margin of $89.5 million for the third quarter of 2009. The improvement over last year is attributable to an increase in revenue of $437.6 million, partially offset by an increase in cost of goods sold and operating expenses of $223.3 million. The increase in revenue is a result of improvements in both pricing and sales volumes during the third quarter of 2010, which caused revenue to increase $216.7 million and $161.1 million, respectively, over the same period in 2009. Sales volumes for the three months ended September 30, 2010 increased 36 percent at North American Iron Ore when compared with the same period last year primarily due to additional sales of Wabush pellets that were made available through our acquisition of the remaining 73.2 percent interest in February 2010 and an overall increase in customer demand as a result of improving market conditions during the current period.
Increases in sales prices also contributed to higher revenue levels in the third quarter of 2010, resulting in an increase over the prior year quarter of approximately $216.7 million. The increase in pricing is attributable to higher demand in the current year as the market continues to strengthen. There has been a recent shift in the industry toward shorter-term pricing arrangements that are linked to the spot market and elimination of the annual world pellet pricing mechanism referenced in certain of our supply contracts. We reached final pricing settlement with the majority of our North American Iron Ore customers through the third quarter of 2010, reflecting an average increase of 96.5 percent over 2009 prices. However, we are still in the process of assessing the impact a change to the historical annual pricing mechanism will have on certain of our larger existing North American Iron Ore customer supply agreements and have recorded certain shipments made in the third quarter of 2010 under such contracts on a provisional basis to reflect the estimated increases in iron ore prices until final settlement is reached on 2010 pricing. During the third quarter of 2010, such estimates were revised from the 90 percent increase reported in the first six months of 2010 based on new information becoming available and reflect an average increase of 96.5 percent above 2009 prices, compared with a settled price decrease in 2009 of 48.3 percent below 2008 prices. The upward revision of our estimated price settlement resulted in $15.3 million of higher revenues during the third quarter of 2010, of which $8.3 million related to shipments made during the first six months of the year. Revenue in the current period also included $25.1 million related to supplemental contract payments compared with $17.0 million in the third quarter of 2009. The increase between periods relates to the estimated rise in average annual hot band steel pricing for one of our North American Iron Ore customers. The increase in revenue was partially offset by lower prices realized for sales under one of our customer supply agreements that is currently in arbitration. Given the early stage of the arbitration, as discussed below, and the uncertainty regarding its outcome as of September 30, 2010, the prices realized for sales under this contract in the current year do not reflect the estimated increase in 2010 iron ore pricing.
We are currently party to two arbitration demands that were filed in relation to the pricing provisions referenced in the supply contracts for two of our largest customers. One arbitration relates to amendments of the supply contracts made necessary by changes in the world pellet pricing mechanism in 2010, specifically the move away from annual benchmark prices. In the event that we are unsuccessful in defending our position, the retroactive revised pricing for 2010 sales under the supply agreement could have a material impact on our consolidating operating results. The other arbitration relates to a price reopener provision in the customer supply agreement and whether we are entitled to such a reopener for 2010. We are currently awaiting a ruling from the arbitration panels. However, the outcome of such arbitrations may result in changes to the pricing mechanisms used, as well as the estimates reported for the current period, and therefore, could impact sales prices realized in current and future periods. Refer to Part II Item 1, Legal Proceedings, for additional information.
48
Cost of goods sold and operating expenses in the third quarter of 2010 increased $223.3 million over the prior year quarter primarily due to higher sales volume as noted above, which resulted in cost increases of $111.3 million. Additionally, our cost rate for the current period increased $73.0 million, mainly due to $37 million of unfavorable production cost drivers, such as higher profit-sharing, fringe benefit rates, royalty expenses and normal operating costs when compared to the prior period. The additional costs were a result of resuming normal operating and spending levels in the current year. In addition, our cost rate increased $7.8 million related to the amortization of Wabush purchase price adjustments and $4.6 million due to unfavorable foreign exchange rates. The prior period results also included approximately $29 million of favorable adjustments to inventory cost rates as a result of taking incremental tonnage nominations at our Tilden and Wabush mines where our cost for the incremental tonnage only reflected the variable production costs and the other mine owners absorbed the associated fixed costs. The increase was partially offset by a reduction in idle expense of $20.8 million due to increased production as a result of improving market conditions in the current year. Idle costs in the third quarter of 2009 were significantly higher due to production curtailments during the period.
Following is a summary of North American Iron Ore results for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009:
(In Millions) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nine Months Ended | Change due to | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
September 30, | Idle cost/Production | Freight and | Total | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
2010 | 2009 | Rate | Volume | volume variance | reimbursements | change | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues from product sales and services |
$ | 2,037.9 | $ | 879.3 | $ | 343.8 | $ | 722.7 | $ | - | $ | 92.1 | $ | 1,158.6 | ||||||||||||||
Cost of goods sold and operating expenses |
(1,416.1) | (771.2) | (134.7) | (493.9) | 75.8 | (92.1) | (644.9) | |||||||||||||||||||||
Sales margin |
$ | 621.8 | $ | 108.1 | $ | 209.1 | $ | 228.8 | $ | 75.8 | $ | - | $ | 513.7 | ||||||||||||||
Sales tons |
18.6 | 9.9 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Production Tons (1): |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Total |
22.9 | 13.5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cliffs share of total |
18.3 | 11.1 | (2) |
(1) | Long tons of pellets (2,240 pounds). |
(2) | Includes 0.6 million tons allocated to Cliffs due to re-nominations by Cliffs partners at Tilden and Wabush. |
Sales margin for North American Iron Ore was $621.8 million for the first nine months of 2010, compared with a sales margin of $108.1 million for the first nine months of 2009. The improvement over last year is attributable to an increase in revenue of $1.2 billion, partially offset by an increase in cost of goods sold and operating expenses of $644.9 million. The increase in revenue is a result of improvements in both pricing and sales volumes, which caused revenue to increase $343.8 million and $722.7 million, respectively, over the same period in 2009. Sales volumes for the nine months ended September 30, 2010 nearly doubled at North American Iron Ore when compared with the same period last year primarily due to an overall increase in customer demand as a result of improving market conditions during the current period and additional sales of Wabush pellets that were made available through our acquisition of the remaining 73.2 percent interest in February 2010. The year-to date results included 2.4 million incremental sales tons related to the acquisition of the remaining interest in Wabush, resulting in $329.6 million in sales during the reporting period.
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The increase in pricing for the first nine months of 2010 is attributable to higher demand in the current year as the market continues to strengthen. As noted in our quarterly discussion above, we reached final pricing settlement with the majority of our North American Iron Ore customers through the third quarter of 2010. However, we are assessing the impact a recent change to the historical annual pricing mechanism will have on certain of our larger North American Iron Ore customer supply agreements and have recorded certain shipments made in the first nine months of 2010 under such contracts on a provisional basis to reflect the estimated increases in iron ore prices until final settlement is reached on 2010 pricing. During the third quarter of 2010, such estimates were revised from the 90 percent increase reported in the first six months of 2010 based on new information becoming available and reflect an average increase of 96.5 percent above 2009 prices, compared with a settled price decrease in 2009 of 48.3 percent below 2008 prices. The upward revision of our estimated price settlement resulted in $15.3 million of higher revenues during the third quarter of 2010. Revenue in the current period also included $93.4 million related to supplemental contract payments compared with a reduction to revenue of $4.7 million in the third quarter of 2009. The increase between periods relates to the estimated rise in average annual hot band steel pricing for one of our North American Iron Ore customers.
Cost of goods sold and operating expenses in the first nine months of 2010 increased $644.9 million or 84 percent from the prior year period primarily due to higher sales volume as discussed above, which resulted in cost increases of $493.9 million. Of this amount, the acquisition of the remaining interest in Wabush contributed to $149.6 million of the cost increase. In addition, our cost rate for the quarter increased $134.7 million, mainly due to $26.3 million of inventory step-up and amortization of purchase price adjustments related to our acquisition of Wabush, a $4.6 million unfavorable foreign exchange rate variance, and $91 million of unfavorable production cost variances, including higher profit-sharing, increased fringe benefit rates and higher royalty expenses, partially offset by improved fixed cost leverage associated with higher production at our mines. Approximately $10.7 of the inventory step-up was recognized in the first quarter of 2010 and was associated with the pelletizing and sale of acquired in-process inventory that occurred during that period in conjunction with our acquisition of the remaining interest in Wabush. As such, the expense will not be recurring at this level in the future. The prior period results also included approximately $29 million of favorable adjustments to inventory cost rates as a result of taking incremental tonnage nominations at our Tilden and Wabush mines as previously noted. The overall increase in cost was partially offset by $75.8 million related to lower idle expense due to increased production as a result of improving market conditions in the current year.
Production
Based on signs of marked improvements in customer demand that continued throughout the first nine months of 2010, we have increased production at most of our facilities and have called employees back to work in order to ensure we are positioned to meet increases in demand. During the first nine months of 2010, Empire, Tilden and United Taconite were operating at full capacity. Northshore was operating three of its furnaces, with the fourth restarted in September. Wabush was operating two of its three furnaces with Cliffs taking all of the tonnage since acquiring full ownership on February 1, 2010. The shutdown at Hibbing, which began in May 2009, ended April 1, 2010.
Prior year production levels were impacted by production curtailments and temporary facility shutdowns, which were executed in response to the economic downturn and production slowdowns in the steel industry.
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North American Coal
Following is a summary of North American Coal results for the three months ended September 30, 2010 and 2009:
(In Millions, except tonnage) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Change due to | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Three Months Ended | Idle cost/ Production |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
September 30, | CLCC | volume | Freight and | Total | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2010 (1) | 2009 | Rate | Volume | acquisition | variance | reimbursements | change | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Revenues from product sales and services |
$ | 126.1 | $ | 37.9 | $ | 23.2 | $ | 17.1 | $ | 45.5 | $ | - | $ | 2.4 | $ | 88.2 | ||||||||||||||||
Cost of goods sold and operating expenses |
(143.9) | (53.4) | (41.6) | (14.4) | (43.0) | 10.9 | (2.4) | (90.5) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sales margin |
$ | (17.8) | $ | (15.5) | $ | (18.4) | $ | 2.7 | $ | 2.5 | $ | 10.9 | $ | - | $ | (2.3) | ||||||||||||||||
Sales tons (in thousands) |
977 | 343 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Production tons (in thousands) (2) |
869 | 294 |
(1) Results include CLCC since the July 30, 2010 acquistion date.
(2)Tons are short tons (2,000 pounds).
We reported a sales margin loss for North American Coal of $17.8 million for the third quarter of 2010 compared with a sales margin loss of $15.5 million for the same period last year. Revenue for the third quarter of 2010 was $88.2 million higher than the comparable period in 2009 due to increases in both sales volume and prices. North American Coal sold 977 thousand tons during the third quarter of 2010 compared with 343 thousand tons during the same period in 2009, as a result of improving market conditions in the current year and 457 thousand tons of additional sales related to the acquisition of CLCC during the third quarter of 2010. The increase in North American Coal sales volume resulted in an increase in revenues of $62.6 million over the comparable prior year period, of which $45.5 million was related to the acquisition of CLCC. Sales prices were also higher during the current year, reflecting increases in steel demand and the associated raw material prices. The increase in our current year contract rates caused revenue for the third quarter of 2010 to increase $23.2 million over the comparable prior year period.