Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. Reports First-Quarter 2015 Results

CLEVELAND, April 28, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. (NYSE: CLF) today reported first-quarter  results for the period ended March 31, 2015. Revenues were $574 million not considering the revised accounting treatment for North American Coal and the Canadian Entities, as further discussed below. In addition, adjusted EBITDA¹ was $94 million. The following table provides a summary of revenues and adjusted EBITDA¹ by operating segment.

Summary of the Revised Accounting Treatment

In January 2015, Cliffs announced that Bloom Lake General Partner Limited and certain of its affiliates, including Cliffs Quebec Iron Mining ULC (collectively, the "Bloom Lake Group") commenced restructuring proceedings in Montreal, Quebec, Canada under the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (the "CCAA"). As a result of the filing, the Company deconsolidated the Bloom Lake Group and certain other wholly-owned subsidiaries (the "Canadian Entities") effective January 27, 2015 and historical operating results related to the former Eastern Canadian Iron Ore and Ferroalloys operating segments are included in the Company's financial statements and classified within discontinued operations.

In addition, as of March 31, 2015, management has determined that the North American Coal operating segment met the criteria to be classified as held for sale. This determination was made in light of North American Coal's treatment as a non-core, non-strategic asset that the Company expects to sell. As such, all current and historical North American Coal operating segment results are included in the Company's financial statements and classified within discontinued operations. This accounting treatment has no impact on the operating plans for the remaining two mines, which the Company expects to run at an EBITDA-neutral level until a sale is concluded.

The discussion of the Company's results that follows takes into account the impact of the North American Coal and the Canadian Entities being treated as discontinued operations.

First-Quarter Consolidated Results

First-quarter 2015 consolidated revenues of $446 million decreased 28 percent from the prior year's first quarter revenues of $616 million. The 2015 and 2014 amounts each exclude the revenue contribution from North American Coal. Cost of goods sold decreased by 14 percent to $365 million compared to $426 million reported in the first quarter of 2014. Similarly, the 2015 and 2014 amounts each exclude the amount attributable to North American Coal.

For the first quarter of 2015, Cliffs recorded net income from continuing operations attributable to Cliffs' common shareholders of $167 million, or $0.94 per diluted share. These results include the gain related to extinguishment of debt, as well as income tax valuation allowances and other items. Excluding these items, Cliffs reported first-quarter adjusted net income² from continuing operations of $2 million, or $0.02 per diluted share.

Lourenco Goncalves, Cliffs' Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "Cliffs has delivered another strong quarter in the face of a challenging operating and commercial environment. The first quarter has confirmed the strength of our pricing structure in the USIO business, and our ability to continue to drive costs down in all operating segments - USIO, APIO and NAC." Mr. Goncalves added, "We are extremely pleased with the positive results of the recent refinancing exercise, and we will continue to be focused on reducing our debt and maximizing our liquidity."

Cliffs' first-quarter 2015 SG&A expenses were $29 million, a 22 percent decrease when compared to a first-quarter 2014 expense of $38 million, as a result of reduced headcount and other cost saving initiatives.

During the first quarter of 2015, miscellaneous - net income increased to $20 million and included a $14 million favorable impact from foreign currency exchange re-measurements, among other items.

First-quarter 2015 results included an income tax expense of $175 million versus an expense of $30 million reported in the previous year's comparable quarter. Of this amount, $166 million is related to the recording of valuation allowances for certain U.S. deferred tax assets. 

The deconsolidation of the Canadian Entities resulted in a pretax loss of $818 million, which was recorded in Loss from Discontinued Operations. The pretax loss includes the derecognition of the carrying value of the Canadian Entities and the recording of remaining interests at fair value. In addition, the company recorded an impairment charge related to North American Coal of $73 million, which was also included in Loss from Discontinued Operations.

During the quarter, the Company recorded a $314 million gain on extinguishment of debt. This included $181 million related to discount capture from the Company's previously announced exchange offers and previously disclosed open-market repurchases, as well as $147 million related to the accounting treatment of the new second lien notes, representing the discount between face value and fair value. This was partially offset by a $14 million charge due to write-offs of fees relating to the former revolving-credit facility.

U.S. Iron Ore pellet sales volume in the first quarter of 2015 was 2.9 million tons, a 4 percent increase when compared with 2.8 million tons sold in the first quarter of 2014. The increase was primarily driven by more favorable shipping conditions in the Great Lakes compared to the first quarter of 2014.

Cash production cost per ton³ in U.S. Iron Ore was $64.98, down 20 percent from $81.15 in the prior year's first quarter. The decrease was driven by operating improvements, mainly due to reduced energy and supply rates, increased production volumes and reduced repair and maintenance expenditures.

First-quarter 2015 Asia Pacific Iron Ore sales volume increased 15 percent to 3.0 million tons, from 2.6 million tons in 2014's first quarter. The increase was driven by a favorable first-quarter shipping schedule.

Cash production cost per ton³ in Asia Pacific Iron Ore was $36.77, down 28 percent from $50.72 in the prior year's first quarter. The decrease was driven primarily by reduced mining and administrative costs, as well as favorable exchange rate variances of approximately $5 per ton.

North American Coal sales volume in the first quarter of 2015 was 1.3 million tons, a 15 percent decrease when compared with 1.6 million tons sold in the first quarter of 2014. The decrease was primarily driven by the divestiture of Cliffs Logan County Coal, partially offset by increased sales from Pinnacle due to new customer contracts.

Cash production cost per ton³ in North American Coal was $60.18, down 25 percent from $80.02 in the prior year's first quarter. The decrease was primarily driven by higher volumes from the remaining two mines, as well as reduced staff costs, contractor spending and repairs.

Cash Flow and Liquidity

Due to the usual seasonality of the business during the first quarter, working capital adjustments drove a cash use of $236 million during the quarter.

To further supplement the Company's liquidity position, during the quarter Cliffs successfully completed an offering of $540 million aggregate principal amount of 8.25% Senior Secured Notes due March 31, 2020. From the offering of these new first lien notes, the Company received net proceeds, after the initial purchasers' discounts and the payment of fees and expenses, of approximately $491 million.

At the end of first quarter of 2015, Cliffs had net debt⁴ of $2.5 billion, compared to $2.9 billion of net debt⁴ at the end of the first quarter of 2014. There was nothing drawn on the Company's new asset-based lending facility at the end of the first quarter of 2015. Such reduction in net debt⁴ was a consequence of several actions including previously-announced exchange offers and open-market bond repurchases.

Capital expenditures during the quarter were $16 million, an 85 percent decrease compared to $103 million in first quarter of 2014. This includes capital expenditures related to North American Coal. Cliffs also reported depreciation, depletion and amortization of $33 million in the first quarter of 2015.

Outlook

Cliffs provides full-year expected revenues-per-ton ranges based on different assumptions of seaborne iron ore prices. Cliffs indicated that each different pricing assumption holds all other assumptions constant, including customer mix, as well as industrial commodity prices, freight rates, energy prices, production input costs and/or hot-band steel prices (all factors contained in certain of Cliffs' supply agreements).

The table below provides certain Platts IODEX averages for the remaining nine months and the corresponding full-year realization for the U.S. Iron Ore and Asia Pacific Iron Ore segments. The estimates consider actual Platts IODEX rates for the first quarter. Cliffs previously furnished 2015 pricing expectations on February 2, 2015. Due to favorable changes in freight rates and customer mix, partially offset by reduced steel price assumptions, the Company has since raised its revenues-per-ton expectations for U.S. Iron Ore. In addition, due to increased lump premium assumptions, revenues-per-ton expectations in Asia Pacific Iron Ore increased as well.

U.S. Iron Ore Outlook (Long Tons)

For 2015, the Company is lowering its full-year sales and production volume expectation to 20.5 million tons of iron ore pellets, reflecting currently low capacity utilization rates among U.S. steel producers, mainly attributed to heavy imported steel penetration. A majority of the tonnage removed from the outlook was priced below average realizations and was related to a higher cost of production.  Given these factors, as well as the positive impact of SG&A reductions (see "SG&A Expenses and Other Expectations") and other cost reductions, the overall impact on total EBITDA for the year is expected to be neutral-to-positive when compared to the previous forecast.

Despite the reduction in production tonnage, Cliffs is maintaining its previous cash production cost expectation³ of $55 - $60 per ton and the previous cash cost of goods sold per ton³ expectation of $60 - $65.

Depreciation, depletion and amortization for full-year 2015 is expected to be approximately $5 per ton.

Asia Pacific Iron Ore Outlook (Metric Tons, F.O.B. the port)

Cliffs is maintaining its full-year 2015 Asia Pacific Iron Ore expected sales and production volumes of  approximately 11 million tons. The product mix is expected to contain 51 percent lump and 49 percent fines. This expectation assumes no divestiture of this business in 2015, which may or may not occur.

Based on a full-year average exchange rate of $0.77 U.S. Dollar to Australian Dollar, the Company's full-year 2015 Asia Pacific Iron Ore cash production cost per ton³ expectation has been lowered to $30 - $35. Cliffs' cash cost of goods sold per ton³ expectation has been lowered to $35 - $40. This expectation reflects additional operational improvements in light of current market conditions as well as a more favorable foreign exchange rate expectation.

Cliffs anticipates depreciation, depletion and amortization to be approximately $3 per ton for full-year 2015.

North American Coal Outlook

The Company will no longer be providing detailed outlook for its North American Coal business as a result of its accounting treatment, as previously explained in this release.

The following table provides a summary of Cliffs' 2015 guidance for its two continuing business segments:

SG&A Expenses and Other Expectations

Cliffs is lowering its full-year 2015 SG&A expense expectation to $120 million, a $20 million reduction from its previous expectation of $140 million.

Cliffs no longer anticipates any spending related to exploration.

Consolidated full-year 2015 depreciation, depletion and amortization is expected to be approximately $140 million.

Capital Budget Update

Cliffs is lowering its full-year 2015 capital expenditures budget to a range of $100 - $125 million, from its previous expectation of $125 - $150 million. This reduction reflects a continued focus on reducing expenditures. The spending range includes outflows related to North American Coal and assumes no additional asset divestitures.

Conference Call Information

Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. will host a conference call tomorrow, April 29, 2015, at 10 a.m. ET. The call will be broadcast live and archived on Cliffs' website:  www.cliffsnaturalresources.com.

About Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.

Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. is a leading mining and natural resources company in the United States. The Company is a major supplier of iron ore pellets to the North American steel industry from its mines and pellet plants located in Michigan and Minnesota. Cliffs also operates an iron ore mining complex in Western Australia. Additionally, Cliffs produces low-volatile metallurgical coal in the U.S. from its mines located in Alabama and West Virginia. Driven by the core values of safety, social, environmental and capital stewardship, Cliffs' employees endeavor to provide all stakeholders operating and financial transparency. News releases and other information on the Company are available at: http://www.cliffsnaturalresources.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. Although Cliffs believes that these forward-looking statements and the underlying assumptions are reasonable, we cannot assure you that they will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and there are factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in our forward-looking statements. These risk factors include without limitation: our ability to successfully execute an exit option for our Canadian entities that minimizes the cash outflows and associated liabilities of such entities, including the Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada) process; trends affecting our financial condition, results of operations or future prospects, particularly the continued volatility of iron ore and coal prices; our actual levels of capital spending; availability of capital and our ability to maintain adequate liquidity and successfully implement our financing plans; uncertainty or weaknesses in global economic conditions, including downward pressure on prices, reduced market demand and any slowing of the economic growth rate in China; our ability to successfully identify and consummate any strategic investments and complete planned divestitures; the outcome of any contractual disputes with our customers, joint venture partners or significant energy, material or service providers or any other litigation or arbitration; the ability of our customers and joint venture partners to meet their obligations to us on a timely basis or at all; our ability to reach agreement with our iron ore customers regarding any modifications to sales contract provisions; the impact of price-adjustment factors on our sales contracts; changes in sales volume or mix; our actual economic iron ore and coal reserves or reductions in current mineral estimates, including whether any mineralized material qualifies as a reserve; the impact of our customers using other methods to produce steel or reducing their steel production; events or circumstances that could impair or adversely impact the viability of a mine and the carrying value of associated assets, as well as any resulting impairment charges; the results of prefeasibility and feasibility studies in relation to projects; impacts of existing and increasing governmental regulation and related costs and liabilities, including failure to receive or maintain required operating and environmental permits, approvals, modifications or other authorization of, or from, any governmental or regulatory entity and costs related to implementing improvements to ensure compliance with regulatory changes; our ability to cost-effectively achieve planned production rates or levels; uncertainties associated with natural disasters, weather conditions, unanticipated geological conditions, supply or price of energy, equipment failures and other unexpected events; adverse changes in currency values, currency exchange rates, interest rates and tax laws; our ability to maintain appropriate relations with unions and employees and enter into or renew collective bargaining agreements on satisfactory terms; risks related to international operations; availability of capital equipment and component parts; the potential existence of significant deficiencies or material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting; problems or uncertainties with productivity, tons mined, transportation, mine-closure obligations, environmental liabilities, employee-benefit costs and other risks of the mining industry; and other factors and risks that are set forth in the Company's most recently filed reports with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The information contained herein speaks as of the date of this release and may be superseded by subsequent events. Except as may be required by applicable securities laws, we do not undertake any obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements contained in this release.

FINANCIAL TABLES FOLLOW

¹ Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION - EBITDA AND ADJUSTED EBITDA

In addition to the consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, the Company has presented EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA on both a consolidated basis and on a segment basis, which are non-GAAP financial measures that management uses in evaluating operating performance. The presentation of these measures is not intended to be considered in isolation from, as a substitute for, or as superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The presentation of these measures may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. A reconciliation of these measures on a segment basis is provided on page 2 of the news release. A reconciliation of these consolidated measures to their most directly comparable GAAP measures is provided in the table below.

² Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION - ADJUSTED EARNINGS

In addition to the consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, the Company has presented Adjusted Net Income attributable to Cliffs' shareholders, which is a non-GAAP financial measure that management uses in evaluating operating performance. The presentation of this measure is not intended to be considered in isolation from, as a substitute for, or as superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The presentation of this measure may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. A reconciliation of this measure to its most directly comparable GAAP measure is provided in the table below.

³ Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION EXPLANATIONS

Cash production cost, non-production cash cost, and cash cost per ton are non-GAAP financial measures that management uses in evaluating operating performance. The presentation of these measures is not intended to be considered in isolation from, as a substitute for, or as superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The presentation of these measures may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies.

- Cash production cost per ton is defined as cost of goods sold and operating expenses per ton less depreciation, depletion and amortization; as well as period costs, costs of services and inventory effects per ton. 
 
- Non-production cash cost per ton is defined as the sum of period costs (including royalties), costs of services, and inventory effects per ton.

- Cash cost per ton is defined as cost of goods sold and operating expenses per ton less depreciation, depletion and amortization per ton.

⁴ NET DEBT RECONCILIATION

Net debt is a non-GAAP financial measures that management uses in evaluating financial position. The presentation of this measure is not intended to be considered in isolation from, as a substitute for, or as superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The presentation of these measures may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. Net debt is defined as long-term debt plus the current portion of short term debt, less cash and cash equivalents. A reconciliation of this consolidated measure to its most directly comparable GAAP measures is provided in the table below.

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SOURCE Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.