Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. Reports Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year 2015 Results

CLEVELAND, Jan. 27, 2016 /PRNewswire/ --

• Achieves fourth-quarter Adjusted EBITDA¹ of $76 million
• Realizes significant year-over-year cost savings
  • U.S. Iron Ore cash production costs³ decrease 23 percent to $45 per ton in the fourth quarter
  • Asia Pacific Iron Ore cash production costs³ decrease 40 percent to $26 per ton in the fourth quarter

Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. (NYSE: CLF) today reported fourth-quarter and full-year results for the period ended December 31, 2015.

Fourth-quarter 2015 consolidated revenues of $476 million decreased 54 percent from the prior year's fourth-quarter revenues of $1.0 billion. Cost of goods sold decreased by 44 percent to $433 million compared to $774 million reported in the fourth quarter of 2014.

For the fourth quarter of 2015, the Company recorded a net loss of $58 million compared to a net loss of $1.4 billion recorded in the prior-year quarter. The Company recorded a net loss attributable to Cliffs' common shareholders of $60 million, or $0.39 per diluted share, compared to a net loss attributable to Cliffs' common shareholders of $1.3 billion, or $7.19 per diluted share recorded in the fourth quarter of 2014.

For the fourth-quarter 2015, adjusted EBITDA¹ was $76 million. Cliffs noted that this figure includes idle expenses of $30 million related to previously announced production curtailments. Excluding these idle expenses associated with the United Taconite, Northshore and Empire mines, Cliffs' adjusted EBITDA¹ would have been $106 million.

Full-Year Consolidated Results

Full-year 2015 consolidated revenues of $2.0 billion decreased 40 percent from the prior year's revenues of $3.4 billion. Cost of goods sold decreased by 29 percent to $1.8 billion compared to $2.5 billion reported in 2014.

For the full-year 2015, the Company recorded a net loss of $748 million compared to a net loss of $8.3 billion recorded in the prior year. The Company recorded a full-year net loss attributable to Cliffs' common shareholders of $788 million, or $5.13 per diluted share, compared to a net loss attributable to Cliffs' common shareholders of $7.3 billion, or $40.36 per diluted share recorded in 2014.

Lourenco Goncalves, Cliffs' Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "Despite the severely negative impacts of global iron ore and domestic steel prices, in 2015 we achieved substantial cost reductions in all areas of the business." He added, "On top of an outstanding year of operating performance, we checked a number of boxes in line with our U.S. pellet-centric strategy, most recently with the full divestiture of our North American Coal business."

The following table provides a summary of adjusted EBITDA¹ by operating segment:

Cliffs' fourth-quarter 2015 interest expense was $60 million, a 25 percent increase when compared to a fourth-quarter 2014 expense of $48 million. The increase was primarily driven by the issuance of secured notes during the first quarter of 2015. The Company noted that of the $60 million recorded, $51 million is cash with the remaining $9 million a non-cash expense.

U.S. Iron Ore

U.S. Iron Ore pellet sales volume in the fourth quarter of 2015 was 4.5 million tons, a 42 percent decrease when compared with 7.8 million tons sold in the fourth quarter of 2014. The decrease was driven principally by the termination of a customer contract, lower demand from U.S. mills and higher sales in the comparable quarter in the prior year from the delayed start-up of the 2014 shipping season.

Cash production cost per ton³ in U.S. Iron Ore was $45.36, down 23 percent from $58.96 in the prior year's fourth quarter. The decrease was driven by lower employment costs, reduced maintenance and repair costs, and year-over-year lower energy rates.

Asia Pacific Iron Ore

Fourth-quarter 2015 Asia Pacific Iron Ore sales volume of 2.9 million was flat compared to the fourth quarter of 2014.

Cash production cost per ton³ in Asia Pacific Iron Ore was $25.76, down 40 percent from $42.79 in the prior year's fourth quarter. The decrease was driven by reduced mining and haulage costs, lower headcount, and favorable foreign exchange variances of $5 per ton.

Debt and Cash Flow

Total debt at the end of the fourth quarter of 2015 was $2.7 billion, versus a comparable $2.8 billion at the end of the fourth quarter of 2014. Fourth quarter cash and cash equivalents totaled $285 million, compared to $271 million at the end of the fourth quarter of 2014.

At the end of the fourth quarter of 2015, Cliffs had net debt⁴ of $2.4 billion, compared to $2.6 billion of net debt⁴ at the end of the fourth quarter of 2014.

Capital expenditures during the quarter were $26 million, which is a 49 percent decrease compared to $51 million in the fourth quarter of 2014. Full-year 2015 capital expenditures were $83 million, a 71 percent reduction compared to $284 million in the prior year.

Cliffs also reported depreciation, depletion and amortization of $35 million in the fourth 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 U.S. Iron Ore table further assumes full-year hot-band steel pricing of approximately $450 per short ton. The Company notes that this estimate is based on its customers' realized prices and not an index or spot market price. In 2015, the customers' realized price was approximately $40 per ton higher than the U.S. Domestic Midwest Hot Rolled Coil Steel Index. In terms of sensitivity, for every $50 per ton change in the customers' hot-rolled steel prices, Cliffs U.S. Iron Ore revenue realizations per ton would be expected to change by $2.25 if steel prices increase, and $1.75 if steel prices decrease.

The table below provides certain Platts IODEX averages for 2016 and the corresponding full-year realization for the U.S. Iron Ore and Asia Pacific Iron Ore segments.

U.S. Iron Ore Outlook (Long Tons)

For 2016, Cliffs expects full-year sales volume of approximately 17.5 million tons from its U.S. Iron Ore business. In order to reduce pellet inventory levels and generate cash flow from working capital, the Company currently plans to produce approximately 16 million tons of iron ore pellets.

Cliffs' full-year 2016 U.S. Iron Ore cash production cost per ton³ expectation is $50 - $55. The Company's cash cost of goods sold per ton³ expectation is $55 - $60, representing a reduction of $5 from the previously disclosed 2016 cash costs of goods sold per ton³ expectation of $60 - $65.

Cliffs anticipates depreciation, depletion and amortization to be approximately $7 per ton for full-year 2016.

Labor Update

The Company remains in active negotiations with the United Steelworkers and is committed to reaching a fair and equitable agreement. The current contract has been extended by mutual agreement of both parties. The contract extension covers approximately 2,200 USW-represented workers at Cliffs' Empire and Tilden mines in Michigan, and its United Taconite and Hibbing Taconite mines in Minnesota.

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

Cliffs' full-year 2016 Asia Pacific Iron Ore expected sales and production volume is approximately 11.5 million tons. The product mix is expected to contain 50 percent lump and 50 percent fines.

Based on a full-year average exchange rate of $0.69 U.S. Dollar to Australian Dollar, the Company is expecting a full-year 2016 Asia Pacific Iron Ore cash production cost per ton³ of $25 - $30. Cliffs' cash cost of goods sold per ton³ expectation is expected to be $30 - $35. Cliffs indicated that for every $0.01 change in this exchange rate on a full-year basis, the Company's cash cost of goods sold is impacted by approximately $6 million.

Cliffs anticipates depreciation, depletion and amortization to be approximately $2 per ton for full-year 2016.

The following table provides a summary of Cliffs' 2016 guidance for its two business segments:

SG&A Expenses and Other Expectations

Full-year 2016 SG&A expenses are expected to be approximately $95 million, a $15 million reduction from the full-year 2015 expense. Cliffs also notes that of the $95 million expectation, approximately $30 million is considered non-cash.

The Company expects full-year 2016 interest expense to be approximately $240 million, of which approximately $205 million is cash interest. Consolidated full-year 2016 depreciation, depletion and amortization is expected to be approximately $145 million.

Capital Budget Update

Cliffs expects full-year 2016 capital expenditures to be $50 million, a significant reduction compared to 2015 expenditures of $83 million. The reduction is driven by the divestiture of the remaining coal assets as well as spending discipline exhibited in the U.S. Iron Ore business.

Conference Call Information

Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. will host a conference call this morning, January 27, 2016, 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. 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 statements that constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws. As a general matter, forward-looking statements relate to anticipated trends and expectations rather than historical matters. Forward-looking statements are subject to uncertainties and factors relating to Cliffs' operations and business environment that are difficult to predict and may be beyond our control. Such uncertainties and factors may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These statements speak only as of the date of this release, and we undertake no ongoing obligation, other than that imposed by law, to update these statements. Uncertainties and risk factors that could affect Cliffs' future performance and cause results to differ from the forward-looking statements in this release include, but are not limited to: trends affecting our financial condition, results of operations or future prospects, particularly the continued volatility of iron ore prices; availability of capital and our ability to maintain adequate liquidity, in particular considering borrowing base reductions from the sale of non-core assets such as North American Coal; continued weaknesses in global economic conditions, including downward pressure on prices caused by oversupply or imported products, including the impact of any reduced barriers to trade, reduced market demand and any change to the economic growth rate in China; our ability to reach agreement with our iron ore customers regarding any modifications to sales contract provisions, renewals or new arrangements; uncertainty relating to restructurings in the steel industry and/or affecting the steel industry; our ability to maintain appropriate relations with unions and employees and enter into or renew collective bargaining agreements on satisfactory terms; the impact of our customers reducing their steel production or using other methods to produce steel; 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 process; our ability to successfully identify and consummate any strategic investments and complete planned divestitures; our ability to successfully diversify our product mix and add new customers beyond our traditional blast furnace clientèle; 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; the impact of price-adjustment factors on our sales contracts; changes in sales volume or mix; our actual levels of capital spending; our actual economic iron ore reserves or reductions in current mineral estimates, including whether any mineralized material qualifies as a reserve; 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 laws and 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; 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 or costs, environmental liabilities, employee-benefit costs and other risks of the mining industry; and the risk factors identified in Part I - Item 1A of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. 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 idle costs, 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 measure 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 this measure 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.