Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

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BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019
Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract]  
BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
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, include all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations, comprehensive income, cash flows and changes in equity 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 results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2019 are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2019 or any other future period. Certain prior period amounts have been reclassified to conform with the current year presentation. 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, 2018.
We have two reportable segments - the Mining and Pelletizing segment and the Metallics segment. Unless otherwise noted, discussion of our business and results of operations in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q refers to our continuing operations.
As more fully described in the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, in 2018 we committed to a course of action leading to the permanent closure of the Asia Pacific Iron Ore mining operations. As a result of our exit, management determined that our Asia Pacific Iron Ore operating segment met the criteria to be classified as held for sale and a discontinued operation under ASC Topic 205, Presentation of Financial Statements. As such, all Asia Pacific Iron Ore operating segment results are classified within discontinued operations. Refer to NOTE 13 - DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS for further information.
Basis of Consolidation
The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include our accounts and the accounts of our wholly-owned subsidiaries, including the following operations as of September 30, 2019:
Name
 
Location
 
Business Segment
 
Status of Operations
Northshore
 
Minnesota
 
Mining and Pelletizing
 
Active
United Taconite
 
Minnesota
 
Mining and Pelletizing
 
Active
Tilden
 
Michigan
 
Mining and Pelletizing
 
Active
Empire
 
Michigan
 
Mining and Pelletizing
 
Indefinitely Idled
Toledo HBI
 
Ohio
 
Metallics
 
Construction Stage

Intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated upon consolidation.
Equity Method Investments
Our 23% ownership interest in Hibbing is recorded as an equity method investment. As of September 30, 2019 and December 31, 2018, our investment in Hibbing was $14.0 million and $15.4 million, respectively, classified as Other liabilities in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position.
Foreign Currency
Our financial statements are prepared with the U.S. dollar as the reporting currency and the functional currency of all subsidiaries is the U.S. dollar. In August 2018, management determined that there were significant changes in economic factors related to our Australian subsidiaries. The change in economic factors was a result of the sale and conveyance of substantially all assets and liabilities of our Australian subsidiaries to third parties, representing a significant change in operations. As such, the functional currency for the Australian subsidiaries changed from the Australian dollar to the U.S. dollar, requiring all remaining Australian denominated monetary balances to be remeasured through the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Operations.
As a result of the liquidation of the Australian subsidiaries' assets, the historical impact of foreign currency translation recorded in Accumulated other comprehensive loss in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position of $228.1 million was reclassified and recognized as a gain in Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018. Refer to NOTE 13 - DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS for further information regarding our Australian subsidiaries.
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, 2018 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.