Replies to post #325 on The Rising Influence of Rising Affluence

[DewDiligence]

CLF Acquires 100% Stake in Wabash Mines

[This deal is yet another indication that the recession is over. The deal price is $88M in cash; CLF already owned 26.8% of Wabash, an iron-ore production company in eastern Canada, via a JV with US Steel and ArcelorMittal.]

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Cliffs-Natural-Resources-to-bw-727889044.html?x=0&.v=1

›Cliffs Natural Resources to Exercise Right of First Refusal and Acquire Partners' 73.2% Interest in Wabush Mines

$88 Million Deal Will Provide Four Million Tons of Incremental Iron Ore Pellet Production Capacity for Seaborne Market; Over 50 Million Tons of Additional Reserves

9:15 am EDT, Monday October 12, 2009

CLEVELAND--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. (NYSE: CLF ) (Paris: CLF) today announced that it plans to exercise its right of first refusal and acquire U.S. Steel Canada’s 44.6% interest and ArcelorMittal Dofasco’s 28.6% interest in the Wabush Mines joint venture.

On Oct. 9, Consolidated Thompson Iron Mines Ltd. (TSX Venture: CLM) announced an agreement with Wabush Mines’ other two joint venture partners, U.S. Steel Canada (44.6%) and ArcelorMittal Dofasco (28.6%), to acquire their interests for approximately $88 million in cash. Under the terms of the Wabush Mines partnership, Cliffs has a right of first refusal to acquire each of U.S. Steel Canada’s and ArcelorMittal Dofasco’s interest. By exercising its right of first refusal, Cliffs is entitled to receive the same terms and conditions contained in the agreement with Consolidated Thompson and thus increase its ownership stake of Wabush Mines to 100%. With Wabush Mines’ 5.5 million tons of rated capacity, acquisition of the 73.2% [the portion not already owned by CLF] will increase Cliffs’ North American Iron Ore rated equity production capacity by approximately 4.0 million tons. [CLF was already including a pro rata share of Wabash’s production capacity in its own capacity figure, so the capacity boost is 4.0M tons rather than 5.5.M.]

Cliffs indicated that, since Wabush Mines began operation in 1965, Cliffs has been the managing partner, and, as a result, the transaction carries no integration risk. In addition, Cliffs is thoroughly familiar with the unique attributes, opportunities and challenges of Wabush Mines’ assets, including the ore body and transportation system. The Company has approximately 770 employees at Wabush Mines and the hourly workforce is represented by The United Steelworkers.

Donald J. Gallagher, Cliffs Natural Resources’ president, North American business unit, said, "Cliffs is enthusiastic about the opportunity to own 100% of Wabush Mines. Our commercial team has had great success marketing the blast furnace pellets produced there to a diverse customer set, including steelmakers in North America, Europe and Asia. Wabush also has an excellent operating team that understands how to run mines and a dedicated and skilled workforce.”

At Dec. 31, 2008, Wabush Mines had 75 million tons of proven reserves (iron ore pellet equivalent) and over the previous five years has produced between 3.8 million and 5.2 million tons of iron ore pellets annually. It produced 4.2 million tons of pellets in 2008. Wabush Mines includes the Scully Iron Ore Mine near Wabush, Newfoundland, Labrador; the pellet plant and port facilities at Point Noire, Quebec; and integrated rail facilities. In addition, Wabush Mines owns an equity position in an electricity generation utility in Newfoundland that provides power for its mining operations.

Completion of the transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including receipt of requisite regulatory approval and the execution of definitive agreements. Closing is expected to occur in the fourth quarter of 2009.

ABOUT CLIFFS NATURAL RESOURCES INC.

Cliffs Natural Resources is an international mining and natural resources company. 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. With core values of environmental and capital stewardship, our colleagues across the globe endeavor to provide all stakeholders operating and financial transparency as embodied in the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) framework. Our Company is organized through three geographic business units:

The North American business unit is comprised of six iron ore mines owned or managed in Michigan, Minnesota and Eastern Canada, and two coking coal mining complexes located in West Virginia and Alabama. The Asia Pacific business unit is comprised of two iron ore mining complexes in Western Australia and a 45% economic interest in a coking and thermal coal mine in Queensland, Australia. The South American business unit includes a 30% interest in the Amapá Project, an iron ore project in the state of Amapá in Brazil. Over recent years, Cliffs has been executing a strategy designed to achieve scale in the mining industry and focused on serving the world’s largest and fastest growing steel markets.‹

[DewDiligence]

Lots of catching up to do here, as several NR companies reported earnings this week. I’ll have more to say later, but for now one thing stands out: CLF continues to defy the laws of gravity!