Mesabi Trust (MSB)

[Enterprising Investor]

Announcement of Mesabi Trust Distribution (1/12/24)

The Trustees of Mesabi Trust (NYSE:MSB) declared a distribution of thirty-seven cents ($0.37) per Unit of Beneficial Interest payable on February 20, 2024 to Mesabi Trust Unitholders of record at the close of business on January 30, 2024. This compares to no distribution declared for the same period last year.

The Trustees’ announcement today of a thirty-seven cents ($0.37) per Unit distribution, as compared to no distribution announced by the Trust at the same time last year, is primarily attributable to the restart of Northshore operations in April 2023, and to an increase in the total royalties received by the Trust in October 2023, as compared to the total royalties received by the Trust in October 2022. In particular, the Trust’s receipt of total royalty payments of $5,666,254 on October 30, 2023 from Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (“Cliffs”), the parent company of Northshore Mining Company (“Northshore”), was higher than the total royalty payments of zero dollars ($0.00) received by the Trust from Cliffs in October 2022.

The distribution announced today also reflects that, until July 30, 2023, the Trust had received no royalties in the Trust’s three previous fiscal quarters, as well as the current continuing uncertainties related to previous announcements by Cliffs about its intention to continue to treat Northshore as a swing operation. Accordingly, the Trustees’ decision announced today also reflects their determination to maintain an appropriate level of reserves in order to make adequate provision to meet current and future expenses and present and future liabilities (whether fixed or contingent) that may arise in the future.

The Trustees have received no specific updates on Cliffs’ plans for the current year concerning Northshore iron ore operations. The Trustees’ distribution announcement today also takes into account numerous other factors, including uncertainties resulting from Cliffs’ prior announcements to increase the use of scrap iron in its vertical supply chain planning, the potential volatility in the iron ore and steel industries generally, national and global economic uncertainties, the cost and expense related to the Trust’s pending arbitration against Northshore and Cliffs, further potential disturbances from global unrest and the potential impacts from future outbreaks of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Quarterly royalty payments from Northshore for iron ore production and shipments during the fourth calendar quarter, which are payable to Mesabi Trust under the royalty agreement, are due January 30, 2024, together with the quarterly royalty report. After receiving the quarterly royalty report, Mesabi Trust plans to file a summary of the quarterly royalty report with the Securities and Exchange Commission in a Current Report on Form 8-K.

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240112127153/en/Mesabi-Trust-Press-Release