10-Q 1 clf-201793010xq.htm 10-Q
Table of Contents
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-Q
☒ QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2017
OR
☐ TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to .
Commission File Number: 1-8944
CLEVELAND-CLIFFS INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Ohio |  | 34-1464672
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization) |  | (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
200 Public Square, Cleveland, Ohio |  | 44114-2315
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) |  | (Zip Code)

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (216) 694-5700
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
YES ☒ NO ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
YES ☒ NO ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer | ☒ |  | Accelerated filer | ☐
Non-accelerated filer | ☐ | (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) | Smaller reporting company | ☐
|  |  | Emerging growth company | ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
YES ☐ NO ☒
The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s common shares, par value $0.125 per share, was 296,510,023 as of October 20, 2017.

Table of Contents

TABLE OF CONTENTS
|  |  | Page Number
DEFINITIONS |  | 1 |
PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION |  |  |
| Item 1. | Financial Statements |  |  |
|  | Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 |  | 2 |
|  | Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Operations for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 |  | 4 |
|  | Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the Three and Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 |  | 5 |
|  | Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Cash Flows for the Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 |  | 6 |
|  | Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements |  | 7 |
| Item 2. | Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations |  | 36 |
| Item 3. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk |  | 57 |
| Item 4. | Controls and Procedures |  | 58 |
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION |  |  |
| Item 1. | Legal Proceedings |  | 59 |
| Item 1A. | Risk Factors |  | 59 |
| Item 2. | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds |  | 59 |
| Item 4. | Mine Safety Disclosures |  | 60 |
| Item 5. | Other Information |  | 60 |
| Item 6. | Exhibits |  | 61 |
Signatures |  | 62 |

Table of Contents
DEFINITIONS
The following abbreviations or acronyms are used in the text. References in this report to the “Company,” “we,” “us,” “our” and “Cliffs” are to Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. and subsidiaries, collectively. References to “A$” or “AUD” refer to Australian currency, “C$” or "CAD" to Canadian currency and “$” to United States currency.

Abbreviation or acronym |  | Term
A&R 2015 Equity Plan |  | Amended and Restated Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. 2015 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan
ABL Facility |  | Syndicated Facility Agreement by and among Bank of America, N.A., as Administrative Agent and Australian Security Trustee, the Lenders that are parties hereto, Cleveland-Cliffs Inc., as Parent and a Borrower, and the Subsidiaries of Parent party hereto, as Borrowers dated as of March 30, 2015, as amended
Adjusted EBITDA |  | EBITDA excluding certain items such as extinguishment/restructuring of debt, foreign currency exchange remeasurement, impacts of discontinued operations, severance and contractor termination costs and intersegment corporate allocations of SG&A costs
ArcelorMittal |  | ArcelorMittal (as the parent company of ArcelorMittal Mines Canada, ArcelorMittal USA and ArcelorMittal Dofasco, as well as, many other subsidiaries)
ALJ |  | Administrative Law Judge
ASC |  | Accounting Standards Codification
ASU |  | Accounting Standards Updates
Bloom Lake Group |  | Bloom Lake General Partner Limited and certain of its affiliates, including Cliffs Quebec Iron Mining ULC
Canadian Entities |  | Bloom Lake Group, Wabush Group and certain other wholly-owned Canadian subsidiaries
CCAA |  | Companies' Creditors Arrangement Act (Canada)
Dodd-Frank Act |  | Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act
DR-grade |  | Direct Reduction-grade
EBITDA |  | Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization
Empire |  | Empire Iron Mining Partnership
Exchange Act |  | Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
FASB |  | Financial Accounting Standards Board
Fe |  | Iron
FERC |  | Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
FMSH Act |  | U.S. Federal Mine Safety and Health Act 1977, as amended
GAAP |  | Accounting principles generally accepted in the United States
HBI |  | Hot briquetted iron
Hibbing |  | Hibbing Taconite Company, an unincorporated joint venture
Koolyanobbing |  | Collective term for the operating deposits at Koolyanobbing, Mount Jackson and Windarling
Long ton |  | 2,240 pounds
LTVSMC |  | LTV Steel Mining Company
Metric ton |  | 2,205 pounds
MISO |  | Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc.
MMBtu |  | Million British Thermal Units
MSHA |  | U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration
Monitor |  | FTI Consulting Canada Inc.
Net ton |  | 2,000 pounds
Northshore |  | Northshore Mining Company
OPEB |  | Other postretirement employment benefits
Platts 62% Price |  | Platts IODEX 62% Fe Fines Spot Price
SEC |  | U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission
SG&A |  | Selling, general and administrative
Securities Act |  | Securities Act of 1933, as amended
SSR |  | System Support Resource
Tilden |  | Tilden Mining Company L.C.
TSR |  | Total Shareholder Return
United Taconite |  | United Taconite LLC
U.S. |  | United States of America
U.S. Steel |  | U.S Steel Corporation and all subsidiaries
Wabush Group |  | Wabush Iron Co. Limited and Wabush Resources Inc., and certain of its affiliates, including Wabush Mines (an unincorporated joint venture of Wabush Iron Co. Limited and Wabush Resources Inc.), Arnaud Railway Company and Wabush Lake Railway Company
2015 Equity Plan |  | Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. 2015 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan

1

Table of Contents
PART I

Item 1. | Financial Statements

Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. and Subsidiaries

| (In Millions)
| September 30, 2017 |  | December 31, 2016
ASSETS |  |  |
CURRENT ASSETS |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 260.8 |  |  | $ | 323.4 |
Accounts receivable, net | 63.9 |  |  | 128.7 |
Inventories | 207.7 |  |  | 178.4 |
Supplies and other inventories | 92.5 |  |  | 91.4 |
Derivative assets | 89.5 |  |  | 33.1 |
Loans to and accounts receivable from the Canadian Entities | 51.9 |  |  | 48.6 |
Other current assets | 24.8 |  |  | 21.0 |
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS | 791.1 |  |  | 824.6 |
PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT, NET | 993.8 |  |  | 984.4 |
OTHER NON-CURRENT ASSETS | 138.4 |  |  | 114.9 |
TOTAL ASSETS | $ | 1,923.3 |  |  | $ | 1,923.9 |

(continued)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
2

Table of Contents
Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. and Subsidiaries - (Continued)

| (In Millions)
| September 30, 2017 |  | December 31, 2016
LIABILITIES |  |  |
CURRENT LIABILITIES |  |  |
Accounts payable | $ | 102.0 |  |  | $ | 107.6 |
Accrued expenses | 109.4 |  |  | 123.3 |
Accrued interest | 21.7 |  |  | 40.2 |
Contingent claims | 50.0 |  |  | — |
Derivative liabilities | 9.3 |  |  | 0.5 |
Other current liabilities | 125.1 |  |  | 119.5 |
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES | 417.5 |  |  | 391.1 |
PENSION AND POSTEMPLOYMENT BENEFIT LIABILITIES | 254.3 |  |  | 280.5 |
ENVIRONMENTAL AND MINE CLOSURE OBLIGATIONS | 205.4 |  |  | 193.9 |
LONG-TERM DEBT | 1,689.4 |  |  | 2,175.1 |
OTHER LIABILITIES | 189.8 |  |  | 213.8 |
TOTAL LIABILITIES | 2,756.4 |  |  | 3,254.4 |
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (REFER TO NOTE 18) |  |  |
EQUITY |  |  |
CLIFFS SHAREHOLDERS' DEFICIT |  |  |
Preferred Stock - no par value |  |  |
Class A - 3,000,000 shares authorized |  |  |
Class B - 4,000,000 shares authorized |  |  |
Common Shares - par value $0.125 per share |  |  |
Authorized - 600,000,000 shares (2016 - 400,000,000 shares); |  |  |
Issued - 301,886,794 shares (2016 - 238,636,794 shares); |  |  |
Outstanding - 296,503,284 shares (2016 - 233,074,091 shares) | 37.7 |  |  | 29.8 |
Capital in excess of par value of shares | 3,913.2 |  |  | 3,347.0 |
Retained deficit | (4,517.2 | ) |  | (4,574.3 | )
Cost of 5,383,510 common shares in treasury (2016 - 5,562,703 shares) | (236.2 | ) |  | (245.5 | )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (30.8 | ) |  | (21.3 | )
TOTAL CLIFFS SHAREHOLDERS' DEFICIT | (833.3 | ) |  | (1,464.3 | )
NONCONTROLLING INTEREST | 0.2 |  |  | 133.8 |
TOTAL DEFICIT | (833.1 | ) |  | (1,330.5 | )
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND DEFICIT | $ | 1,923.3 |  |  | $ | 1,923.9 |

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
3

Table of Contents
Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Operations
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. and Subsidiaries

| (In Millions, Except Per Share Amounts)
| Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine Months Ended September 30,
| 2017 |  | 2016 |  | 2017 |  | 2016
REVENUES FROM PRODUCT SALES AND SERVICES |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Product | $ | 627.5 |  |  | $ | 508.6 |  |  | $ | 1,552.3 |  |  | $ | 1,237.0 |
Freight and venture partners' cost reimbursements | 70.9 |  |  | 44.7 |  |  | 177.0 |  |  | 118.0 |
| 698.4 |  |  | 553.3 |  |  | 1,729.3 |  |  | 1,355.0 |
COST OF GOODS SOLD AND OPERATING EXPENSES | (538.2 | ) |  | (467.9 | ) |  | (1,328.3 | ) |  | (1,147.2 | )
SALES MARGIN | 160.2 |  |  | 85.4 |  |  | 401.0 |  |  | 207.8 |
OTHER OPERATING INCOME (EXPENSE) |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Selling, general and administrative expenses | (24.6 | ) |  | (31.1 | ) |  | (77.8 | ) |  | (81.8 | )
Miscellaneous - net | (5.9 | ) |  | (19.6 | ) |  | 3.0 |  |  | (16.9 | )
| (30.5 | ) |  | (50.7 | ) |  | (74.8 | ) |  | (98.7 | )
OPERATING INCOME | 129.7 |  |  | 34.7 |  |  | 326.2 |  |  | 109.1 |
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSE) |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest expense, net | (28.9 | ) |  | (48.7 | ) |  | (103.1 | ) |  | (156.2 | )
Gain (loss) on extinguishment/restructuring of debt | (88.6 | ) |  | (18.3 | ) |  | (165.4 | ) |  | 164.1 |
Other non-operating income | 0.8 |  |  | 0.1 |  |  | 2.3 |  |  | 0.4 |
| (116.7 | ) |  | (66.9 | ) |  | (266.2 | ) |  | 8.3 |
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES | 13.0 |  |  | (32.2 | ) |  | 60.0 |  |  | 117.4 |
INCOME TAX BENEFIT | 7.6 |  |  | 7.1 |  |  | 6.8 |  |  | 1.7 |
INCOME (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS | 20.6 |  |  | (25.1 | ) |  | 66.8 |  |  | 119.1 |
INCOME (LOSS) FROM DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS, NET OF TAX | 32.3 |  |  | (2.7 | ) |  | (13.6 | ) |  | (0.6 | )
NET INCOME (LOSS) | 52.9 |  |  | (27.8 | ) |  | 53.2 |  |  | 118.5 |
LOSS (INCOME) ATTRIBUTABLE TO NONCONTROLLING INTEREST | 0.5 |  |  | 2.0 |  |  | 3.9 |  |  | (23.5 | )
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO CLIFFS SHAREHOLDERS | $ | 53.4 |  |  | $ | (25.8 | ) |  | $ | 57.1 |  |  | $ | 95.0 |
EARNINGS (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO CLIFFS SHAREHOLDERS - BASIC |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Continuing operations | $ | 0.07 |  |  | $ | (0.11 | ) |  | $ | 0.25 |  |  | $ | 0.51 |
Discontinued operations | 0.11 |  |  | (0.01 | ) |  | (0.05 | ) |  | — |
| $ | 0.18 |  |  | $ | (0.12 | ) |  | $ | 0.20 |  |  | $ | 0.51 |
EARNINGS (LOSS) PER COMMON SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO CLIFFS SHAREHOLDERS - DILUTED |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Continuing operations | $ | 0.07 |  |  | $ | (0.11 | ) |  | $ | 0.24 |  |  | $ | 0.51 |
Discontinued operations | 0.11 |  |  | (0.01 | ) |  | (0.05 | ) |  | — |
| $ | 0.18 |  |  | $ | (0.12 | ) |  | $ | 0.19 |  |  | $ | 0.51 |
AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES (IN THOUSANDS) |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basic | 296,079 |  |  | 206,279 |  |  | 285,771 |  |  | 186,454 |
Diluted | 301,075 |  |  | 206,279 |  |  | 290,512 |  |  | 188,471 |

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
4

Table of Contents
Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. and Subsidiaries

| (In Millions)
| Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine Months Ended September 30,
| 2017 |  | 2016 |  | 2017 |  | 2016
NET INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO CLIFFS SHAREHOLDERS | $ | 53.4 |  |  | $ | (25.8 | ) |  | $ | 57.1 |  |  | $ | 95.0 |
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Changes in pension and other post-retirement benefits, net of tax | 7.5 |  |  | 7.1 |  |  | 18.9 |  |  | 19.0 |
Unrealized net gain (loss) on foreign currency translation | 0.5 |  |  | 0.9 |  |  | (13.6 | ) |  | 2.6 |
Unrealized net gain (loss) on derivative financial instruments, net of tax | — |  |  | 0.7 |  |  | — |  |  | (2.6 | )
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME | 8.0 |  |  | 8.7 |  |  | 5.3 |  |  | 19.0 |
OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE NONCONTROLLING INTEREST | (5.7 | ) |  | (0.9 | ) |  | (1.1 | ) |  | (2.2 | )
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO CLIFFS SHAREHOLDERS | $ | 55.7 |  |  | $ | (18.0 | ) |  | $ | 61.3 |  |  | $ | 111.8 |

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
5

Table of Contents
Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Cash Flows
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. and Subsidiaries

| (In Millions)
| Nine Months Ended September 30,
| 2017 |  | 2016
OPERATING ACTIVITIES |  |  |
Net income | $ | 53.2 |  |  | $ | 118.5 |
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided (used) by operating activities: |  |  |
Depreciation, depletion and amortization | 66.3 |  |  | 88.9 |
(Gain) loss on extinguishment/restructuring of debt | 165.4 |  |  | (164.1 | )
(Gain) loss on deconsolidation | 16.3 |  |  | (3.2 | )
Gain on derivatives | (47.5 | ) |  | (22.6 | )
Other | 19.0 |  |  | 31.6 |
Changes in operating assets and liabilities: |  |  |
Receivables and other assets | 68.9 |  |  | 137.5 |
Inventories | (26.1 | ) |  | 21.6 |
Payables, accrued expenses and other liabilities | (108.8 | ) |  | (136.1 | )
Net cash provided by operating activities | 206.7 |  |  | 72.1 |
INVESTING ACTIVITIES |  |  |
Purchase of property, plant and equipment | (78.9 | ) |  | (45.8 | )
Other investing activities | (5.5 | ) |  | 6.3 |
Net cash used by investing activities | (84.4 | ) |  | (39.5 | )
FINANCING ACTIVITIES |  |  |
Proceeds from issuance of senior notes | 1,057.8 |  |  | — |
Debt issuance costs | (12.0 | ) |  | (5.2 | )
Net proceeds from issuance of common shares | 661.3 |  |  | 287.6 |
Repurchase of debt | (1,720.7 | ) |  | (301.0 | )
Repayment of equipment loans | — |  |  | (95.6 | )
Borrowings under credit facilities | — |  |  | 105.0 |
Repayment under credit facilities | — |  |  | (105.0 | )
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest | (105.0 | ) |  | — |
Distributions of partnership equity | (53.0 | ) |  | (52.5 | )
Other financing activities | (17.0 | ) |  | (19.3 | )
Net cash used by financing activities | (188.6 | ) |  | (186.0 | )
EFFECT OF EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES ON CASH | 3.7 |  |  | 0.4 |
DECREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS | (62.6 | ) |  | (153.0 | )
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT BEGINNING OF PERIOD | 323.4 |  |  | 285.2 |
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS AT END OF PERIOD | $ | 260.8 |  |  | $ | 132.2 |

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements.
6

Table of Contents
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. and Subsidiaries
Notes to Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
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 (loss) and cash flows 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, 2017 are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2017 or any other future period. 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, 2016.
We report our results from continuing operations in two reportable segments: U.S. Iron Ore and Asia Pacific Iron Ore.
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, 2017:

Name |  | Location |  | Ownership Interest |  | Operation |  | Status of Operations
Northshore |  | Minnesota |  | 100.0% |  | Iron Ore |  | Active
United Taconite |  | Minnesota |  | 100.0% |  | Iron Ore |  | Active
Tilden 1 |  | Michigan |  | 100.0% |  | Iron Ore |  | Active
Empire 1 |  | Michigan |  | 100.0% |  | Iron Ore |  | Indefinitely Idled
Koolyanobbing |  | Western Australia |  | 100.0% |  | Iron Ore |  | Active
1 During the third quarter of 2017, our ownership interest in Tilden and Empire changed. Refer to the Noncontrolling Interests section below for additional information.

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, 2017 and December 31, 2016, our investment in Hibbing was $6.1 million and $8.7 million, respectively, classified as Other liabilities in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position.
Noncontrolling Interests
During the third quarter of 2017, our ownership interest in Empire increased to 100% as we reached an agreement to distribute the noncontrolling interest net assets for $132.7 million to ArcelorMittal, in exchange for its interest in Empire. The net assets were agreed to be distributed in three installments of approximately $44.2 million, the first of which was paid upon the execution of the agreement and the remaining distributions are due in August 2018 and August 2019. Upon payment of the first installment, we assumed ArcelorMittal's 21% interest and have reflected this ownership percentage change in our unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements as of and for the period ended September 30, 2017. We accounted for the increase in ownership as an equity transaction, which resulted in a $16.0 million decrease in equity attributable to Cliffs' shareholders and a $116.7 million decrease in Noncontrolling interest.
During the third quarter of 2017, we also acquired the remaining 15% equity interest in Tilden owned by U.S. Steel for $105.0 million. With the closing of this transaction, we now have 100% ownership of the mine. We accounted for the increase in ownership as an equity transaction, which resulted in an $89.1 million decrease in equity attributable to Cliffs' shareholders and a $15.9 million decrease in Noncontrolling interest.
7

Table of Contents
Foreign Currency
Our financial statements are prepared with the U.S. dollar as the reporting currency. The functional currency of our Australian subsidiaries is the Australian dollar. The functional currency of all other international subsidiaries is the U.S. dollar. The financial statements of our Australian subsidiaries are translated into U.S. dollars using the exchange rate at each balance sheet date for assets and liabilities and a weighted average exchange rate for each period for revenues, expenses, gains and losses. Translation adjustments are recorded as Accumulated other comprehensive loss. Income taxes generally are not provided for foreign currency translation adjustments. To the extent that monetary assets and liabilities, including short-term intercompany loans, are recorded in a currency other than the functional currency, these amounts are remeasured each reporting period, with the resulting gain or loss being recorded in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Operations. Transaction gains and losses resulting from remeasurement of short-term intercompany loans are included in Miscellaneous - net in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Operations.
The following represents the transaction gains and losses resulting from remeasurement for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016:

|  | (In Millions)
|  | Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine Months Ended September 30,
|  | 2017 |  | 2016 |  | 2017 |  | 2016
Remeasurement of short-term intercompany loans |  | $ | 0.1 |  |  | $ | 0.2 |  |  | $ | 16.7 |  |  | $ | 0.5 |
Remeasurement of cash and cash equivalents |  | (1.1 | ) |  | (1.1 | ) |  | (2.8 | ) |  | 0.3 |
Other remeasurement |  | (1.4 | ) |  | 0.6 |  |  | (2.7 | ) |  | (2.0 | )
Net impact of transaction gains (losses) resulting from remeasurement |  | $ | (2.4 | ) |  | $ | (0.3 | ) |  | $ | 11.2 |  |  | $ | (1.2 | )

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, 2016 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.
8

Table of Contents
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Issued and Not Effective
In August 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities. The new standard simplifies hedge accounting through changes to both designation and measurement requirements. For hedges that qualify as highly effective, the new standard eliminates the requirement to separately measure and record hedge ineffectiveness resulting in better alignment between the presentation of the effects of the hedging instrument and the hedged item in the financial statements. ASU No. 2017-12 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years; the ASU allows for early adoption in any interim period after issuance of the update. We are currently assessing the impact this ASU will have on the consolidated financial statements.
In March 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-07, Compensation - Retirement Benefits (Topic 715): Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost. The new standard requires the service cost component of pension and other postretirement benefit expenses to be included in the same line item as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by employees, with the other components of net benefit cost to be presented in the income statement separately from the service cost component and outside a subtotal of income from operations. The guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017. The adoption of ASU No. 2017-07 in the first quarter of 2018 will impact the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Operations by changing our classification of the components of pension and OPEB costs; however, it will not impact our Net Income (Loss). The following represents the estimated impact from the adoption of ASU No. 2017-07 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017:

|  | ($ in Millions)
|  | Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
|  |  |  | Estimate
Financial Statement Line Impacted |  | As Reported |  | Adoption of ASU No. 2017-07 |  | As Adjusted
Cost of goods sold and operating expenses |  | $ | (1,328.3 | ) |  | $ | 1.3 |  |  | $ | (1,327.0 | )
Selling, general and administrative expenses |  | $ | (77.8 | ) |  | $ | (5.8 | ) |  | $ | (83.6 | )
Miscellaneous - net |  | $ | 3.0 |  |  | $ | (1.2 | ) |  | $ | 1.8 |
Operating income |  | $ | 326.2 |  |  | $ | (5.7 | ) |  | $ | 320.5 |
Other non-operating income |  | $ | 2.3 |  |  | $ | 5.7 |  |  | $ | 8.0 |
Net Income (Loss) |  | $ | 53.2 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 53.2 |

In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases. The new standard requires lessees to recognize a right-of-use asset and a lease liability on the balance sheet for all leases except for short-term leases. For lessees, leases will continue to be classified as either operating or finance leases in the income statement. We plan to adopt the standard on its effective date of January 1, 2019. The new standard must be adopted using a modified retrospective approach and requires application of the new guidance at the beginning of the earliest comparative period presented. We are currently finalizing our implementation plan, compiling an inventory of existing leases and evaluating the effect the updated standard will have on our consolidated financial statements and related disclosures.
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenues from Contracts with Customers. The new revenue guidance broadly replaces the revenue guidance provided throughout the Codification. The core principle of the revenue guidance is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Reporting entities must prepare new disclosures providing qualitative and quantitative information on the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. New disclosures also include qualitative and quantitative information on significant judgments, changes in judgments, and contract acquisition assets. We plan to adopt the standard on its effective date of January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective transition method. As of September 30, 2017, we have completed the evaluation of the new standard and the related review and assessment of substantially all existing contracts with our customers. We determined that revenue will generally be recognized upon delivery for our U.S. Iron Ore customers, which is earlier than under the current guidance. Current guidance requires us to recognize revenue when title transfers which is generally the point at which we receive payment. However, the total amount of revenue recognized during the year should remain substantially the same as
9

Table of Contents
under current GAAP. We do not anticipate any significant changes in the timing and pattern of revenue recognition for our Asia Pacific Iron Ore contracts. Based on our analysis to date, we anticipate the primary impact of the adoption on our consolidated financial statements will be the additional required disclosures around revenue recognition in the notes to the consolidated financial statements.
NOTE 2 - SEGMENT REPORTING
Our continuing operations are organized and managed according to geographic location: U.S. Iron Ore and Asia Pacific Iron Ore. Our U.S. Iron Ore segment is a major supplier of iron ore pellets to the North American steel industry from our mines and pellet plants located in Michigan and Minnesota. The Asia Pacific Iron Ore segment is located in Western Australia and provides iron ore to the seaborne market for Asian steel producers. There were no intersegment revenues in the first nine months of 2017 or 2016.
We evaluate segment performance based on sales margin, defined as revenues less cost of goods sold and operating expenses identifiable to each segment. Additionally, we evaluate performance on a segment basis, as well as a consolidated basis, based on EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA. These measures allow management and investors to focus on our ability to service our debt as well as illustrate how the business and each operating segment are performing. Additionally, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA assist management and investors in their analysis and forecasting as these measures approximate the cash flows associated with operational earnings.
The following tables present a summary of our reportable segments for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, including a reconciliation of segment sales margin to Income from Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes and a reconciliation of Net Income (Loss) to EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA:

| (In Millions)
| Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine Months Ended September 30,
| 2017 |  | 2016 |  | 2017 |  | 2016
Revenues from product sales and services: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Iron Ore | $ | 596.7 |  |  | 85 | % |  | $ | 428.3 |  |  | 77 | % |  | $ | 1,354.2 |  |  | 78 | % |  | $ | 975.5 |  |  | 72 | %
Asia Pacific Iron Ore | 101.7 |  |  | 15 | % |  | 125.0 |  |  | 23 | % |  | 375.1 |  |  | 22 | % |  | 379.5 |  |  | 28 | %
Total revenues from product sales and services | $ | 698.4 |  |  | 100 | % |  | $ | 553.3 |  |  | 100 | % |  | $ | 1,729.3 |  |  | 100 | % |  | $ | 1,355.0 |  |  | 100 | %
Sales margin: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Iron Ore | $ | 157.2 |  |  |  |  | $ | 66.5 |  |  |  |  | $ | 349.8 |  |  |  |  | $ | 149.7 |  |  |
Asia Pacific Iron Ore | 3.0 |  |  |  |  | 18.9 |  |  |  |  | 51.2 |  |  |  |  | 58.1 |  |  |
Sales margin | 160.2 |  |  |  |  | 85.4 |  |  |  |  | 401.0 |  |  |  |  | 207.8 |  |  |
Other operating expense | (30.5 | ) |  |  |  | (50.7 | ) |  |  |  | (74.8 | ) |  |  |  | (98.7 | ) |  |
Other income (expense) | (116.7 | ) |  |  |  | (66.9 | ) |  |  |  | (266.2 | ) |  |  |  | 8.3 |  |  |
Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes | $ | 13.0 |  |  |  |  | $ | (32.2 | ) |  |  |  | $ | 60.0 |  |  |  |  | $ | 117.4 |  |  |

10

Table of Contents

| (In Millions)
| Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine Months Ended September 30,
| 2017 |  | 2016 |  | 2017 |  | 2016
Net Income (Loss) | $ | 52.9 |  |  | $ | (27.8 | ) |  | $ | 53.2 |  |  | $ | 118.5 |
Less: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest expense, net | (28.9 | ) |  | (48.7 | ) |  | (103.1 | ) |  | (156.2 | )
Income tax benefit | 7.6 |  |  | 7.1 |  |  | 6.8 |  |  | 1.7 |
Depreciation, depletion and amortization | (21.5 | ) |  | (26.8 | ) |  | (66.3 | ) |  | (88.9 | )
EBITDA | $ | 95.7 |  |  | $ | 40.6 |  |  | $ | 215.8 |  |  | $ | 361.9 |
Less: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain (loss) on extinguishment/restructuring of debt | $ | (88.6 | ) |  | $ | (18.3 | ) |  | $ | (165.4 | ) |  | $ | 164.1 |
Foreign exchange remeasurement | (2.4 | ) |  | (0.3 | ) |  | 11.2 |  |  | (1.2 | )
Impact of discontinued operations | 32.3 |  |  | (2.7 | ) |  | (13.6 | ) |  | (0.6 | )
Severance and contractor termination costs | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (0.1 | )
Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 154.4 |  |  | $ | 61.9 |  |  | $ | 383.6 |  |  | $ | 199.7 |
EBITDA |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Iron Ore | $ | 168.9 |  |  | $ | 61.1 |  |  | $ | 381.8 |  |  | $ | 196.6 |
Asia Pacific Iron Ore | 2.3 |  |  | 21.2 |  |  | 54.9 |  |  | 69.6 |
Other | (75.5 | ) |  | (41.7 | ) |  | (220.9 | ) |  | 95.7 |
Total EBITDA | $ | 95.7 |  |  | $ | 40.6 |  |  | $ | 215.8 |  |  | $ | 361.9 |
Adjusted EBITDA: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Iron Ore | $ | 174.2 |  |  | $ | 65.3 |  |  | $ | 399.8 |  |  | $ | 208.6 |
Asia Pacific Iron Ore | 4.9 |  |  | 23.7 |  |  | 61.7 |  |  | 73.2 |
Other | (24.7 | ) |  | (27.1 | ) |  | (77.9 | ) |  | (82.1 | )
Total Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 154.4 |  |  | $ | 61.9 |  |  | $ | 383.6 |  |  | $ | 199.7 |

11

Table of Contents

| (In Millions)
| Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine Months Ended September 30,
| 2017 |  | 2016 |  | 2017 |  | 2016
Depreciation, depletion and amortization: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Iron Ore | $ | 16.5 |  |  | $ | 18.8 |  |  | $ | 49.6 |  |  | $ | 65.1 |
Asia Pacific Iron Ore | 3.3 |  |  | 6.3 |  |  | 11.3 |  |  | 19.2 |
Other | 1.7 |  |  | 1.7 |  |  | 5.4 |  |  | 4.6 |
Total depreciation, depletion and amortization | $ | 21.5 |  |  | $ | 26.8 |  |  | $ | 66.3 |  |  | $ | 88.9 |
Capital additions: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Iron Ore | $ | 19.2 |  |  | $ | 25.8 |  |  | $ | 70.9 |  |  | $ | 39.5 |
Asia Pacific Iron Ore | 0.8 |  |  | 0.2 |  |  | 1.6 |  |  | 0.2 |
Other | 7.1 |  |  | 0.4 |  |  | 7.1 |  |  | 4.8 |
Total capital additions 1 | $ | 27.1 |  |  | $ | 26.4 |  |  | $ | 79.6 |  |  | $ | 44.5 |
1 Includes cash paid for capital additions of $78.9 million and $45.8 million and an increase in non-cash accruals of $0.7 million and a decrease in non-cash accruals of $1.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively.

A summary of assets by segment is as follows:

| (In Millions)
| September 30, 2017 |  | December 31, 2016
Assets: |  |  |
U.S. Iron Ore | $ | 1,467.2 |  |  | $ | 1,372.5 |
Asia Pacific Iron Ore | 139.4 |  |  | 155.1 |
Total segment assets | 1,606.6 |  |  | 1,527.6 |
Corporate | 316.7 |  |  | 396.3 |
Total assets | $ | 1,923.3 |  |  | $ | 1,923.9 |

NOTE 3 - INVENTORIES
The following table presents the detail of our Inventories in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:

| (In Millions)
| September 30, 2017 |  | December 31, 2016
Segment | Finished Goods |  | Work-in Process |  | Total Inventory |  | Finished Goods |  | Work-in Process |  | Total Inventory
U.S. Iron Ore | $ | 151.3 |  |  | $ | 18.6 |  |  | $ | 169.9 |  |  | $ | 124.4 |  |  | $ | 12.6 |  |  | $ | 137.0 |
Asia Pacific Iron Ore | 29.4 |  |  | 8.4 |  |  | 37.8 |  |  | 23.6 |  |  | 17.8 |  |  | 41.4 |
Total | $ | 180.7 |  |  | $ | 27.0 |  |  | $ | 207.7 |  |  | $ | 148.0 |  |  | $ | 30.4 |  |  | $ | 178.4 |

12

Table of Contents
NOTE 4 - PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
The following table indicates the value of each of the major classes of our consolidated depreciable assets as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:

| (In Millions)
| September 30, 2017 |  | December 31, 2016
Land rights and mineral rights | $ | 500.7 |  |  | $ | 500.5 |
Office and information technology | 66.2 |  |  | 65.1 |
Buildings | 80.0 |  |  | 67.9 |
Mining equipment | 585.4 |  |  | 592.2 |
Processing equipment | 607.9 |  |  | 552.0 |
Electric power facilities | 57.0 |  |  | 49.4 |
Land improvements | 23.7 |  |  | 23.5 |
Asset retirement obligation | 19.6 |  |  | 19.8 |
Other | 30.4 |  |  | 28.1 |
Construction in-progress | 35.4 |  |  | 42.8 |
| 2,006.3 |  |  | 1,941.3 |
Allowance for depreciation and depletion | (1,012.5 | ) |  | (956.9 | )
| $ | 993.8 |  |  | $ | 984.4 |

We recorded depreciation and depletion expense of $21.0 million and $64.8 million in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively. This compares with depreciation and depletion expense of $25.6 million and $85.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively.
NOTE 5 - DEBT AND CREDIT FACILITIES
The following represents a summary of our long-term debt as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:

(In Millions)
September 30, 2017
Debt Instrument |  | Annual Effective Interest Rate |  | Total Principal Amount |  | Debt Issuance Costs |  | Unamortized Discounts |  | Total Debt
Unsecured Notes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
$400 Million 5.90% 2020 Senior Notes |  | 5.98% |  | $ | 88.9 |  |  | $ | (0.2 | ) |  | $ | (0.2 | ) |  | $ | 88.5 |
$500 Million 4.80% 2020 Senior Notes |  | 4.83% |  | 122.4 |  |  | (0.3 | ) |  | (0.1 | ) |  | 122.0 |
$700 Million 4.875% 2021 Senior Notes |  | 4.89% |  | 138.4 |  |  | (0.3 | ) |  | (0.1 | ) |  | 138.0 |
$1.075 Billion 5.75% 2025 Senior Notes |  | 5.75% |  | 1,075.0 |  |  | (11.2 | ) |  | (17.0 | ) |  | 1,046.8 |
$800 Million 6.25% 2040 Senior Notes |  | 6.34% |  | 298.4 |  |  | (2.4 | ) |  | (3.4 | ) |  | 292.6 |
ABL Facility |  | N/A |  | 550.0 |  |  | N/A |  |  | N/A |  |  | — |
Fair Value Adjustment to Interest Rate Hedge |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1.5 |
Long-term debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ | 1,689.4 |

13

Table of Contents

(In Millions)
December 31, 2016
Debt Instrument |  | Annual Effective Interest Rate |  | Total Principal Amount |  | Debt Issuance Costs |  | Undiscounted Interest/ (Unamortized Discounts) |  | Total Debt
Secured Notes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
$540 Million 8.25% 2020 First Lien Notes |  | 9.97% |  | $ | 540.0 |  |  | $ | (8.0 | ) |  | $ | (25.7 | ) |  | $ | 506.3 |
$218.5 Million 8.00% 2020 1.5 Lien Notes |  | N/A |  | 218.5 |  |  | — |  |  | 65.7 |  |  | 284.2 |
$544.2 Million 7.75% 2020 Second Lien Notes |  | 15.55% |  | 430.1 |  |  | (5.8 | ) |  | (85.2 | ) |  | 339.1 |
Unsecured Notes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
$400 Million 5.90% 2020 Senior Notes |  | 5.98% |  | 225.6 |  |  | (0.6 | ) |  | (0.5 | ) |  | 224.5 |
$500 Million 4.80% 2020 Senior Notes |  | 4.83% |  | 236.8 |  |  | (0.7 | ) |  | (0.2 | ) |  | 235.9 |
$700 Million 4.875% 2021 Senior Notes |  | 4.89% |  | 309.4 |  |  | (1.0 | ) |  | (0.2 | ) |  | 308.2 |
$800 Million 6.25% 2040 Senior Notes |  | 6.34% |  | 298.4 |  |  | (2.5 | ) |  | (3.4 | ) |  | 292.5 |
ABL Facility |  | N/A |  | 550.0 |  |  | N/A |  |  | N/A |  |  | — |
Fair Value Adjustment to Interest Rate Hedge |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1.9 |
Total debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ | 2,192.6 |
Less current portion |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 17.5 |
Long-term debt |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ | 2,175.1 |

$1.075 Billion 5.75% 2025 Senior Notes - 2017 Offering
On February 27, 2017, we entered into an indenture among the Company, the guarantors party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, relating to the issuance of $500 million aggregate principal amount of 5.75% Senior Notes due 2025. On August 7, 2017, we issued an additional $575 million aggregate principal amount of our 5.75% Senior Notes due 2025 (together referred to as the "5.75% Senior Notes"). The 5.75% Senior Notes were issued in private transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. Pursuant to the registration rights agreement executed as part of this offering, we agreed to file a registration statement with the SEC with respect to a registered offer to exchange the 5.75% Senior Notes for publicly registered notes within 365 days of the closing date, with all significant terms and conditions remaining the same.
The 5.75% Senior Notes bear interest at a rate of 5.75% per annum, which is payable semi-annually in arrears on March 1 and September 1 of each year, commencing on September 1, 2017. The 5.75% Senior Notes mature on March 1, 2025.
The 5.75% Senior Notes are general unsecured senior obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all of our existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness and rank senior in right of payment to all of our existing and future subordinated indebtedness. The 5.75% Senior Notes are effectively subordinated to our existing or future secured indebtedness to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness. The 5.75% Senior Notes are guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by our material direct and indirect wholly-owned domestic subsidiaries and, therefore, are structurally senior to any of our existing and future indebtedness that is not guaranteed by such guarantors and are structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities of our subsidiaries that do not guarantee the 5.75% Senior Notes.
The terms of the 5.75% Senior Notes are governed by an indenture, which contains customary covenants that, among other things, limit our and our subsidiaries' ability to create liens on property that secure indebtedness, enter into sale and leaseback transactions and merge, consolidate or amalgamate with another company. Upon the occurrence of a “change of control triggering event,” as defined in the indenture, we are required to offer to repurchase the 5.75% Senior Notes at 101% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, plus any accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the repurchase date.
We may redeem the 5.75% Senior Notes, in whole or in part, on or after March 1, 2020, at the redemption prices set forth in the indenture, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the date of redemption, and prior to March 1, 2020, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus a “make-whole”
14

Table of Contents
premium set forth in the indenture, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the date of redemption. We may also redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of the 5.75% Senior Notes on or prior to March 1, 2020 at a redemption price equal to 105.75% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the date of redemption with the net cash proceeds of one or more equity offerings.
The 5.75% Senior Notes indenture contains customary events of default, including failure to make required payments, failure to comply with certain agreements or covenants, failure to pay or acceleration of certain other indebtedness, certain events of bankruptcy and insolvency and failure to pay certain judgments. An event of default under the indenture will allow either the trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then-outstanding notes issued under the indenture to accelerate, or in certain cases, will automatically cause the acceleration of, the amounts due under the 5.75% Senior Notes. Debt issuance costs of $12.0 million were incurred related to the offering of the 5.75% Senior Notes, $11.2 million of which is included in Long-term debt in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position as of September 30, 2017.
Debt Extinguishment
The following is a summary of the debt extinguished during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and the respective gain (loss) on extinguishment for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017:

(In Millions)
|  |  |  | Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment 1
|  | Debt Extinguished |  | Three Months Ended September 30, 2017 |  | Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
Secured Notes |  |  |  |  |  |
$540 Million 8.25% 2020 First Lien Notes |  | $ | 540.0 |  |  | $ | (88.6 | ) |  | $ | (93.5 | )
$218.5 Million 8.00% 2020 1.5 Lien Notes |  | 218.5 |  |  | — |  |  | 45.1 |
$544.2 Million 7.75% 2020 Second Lien Notes |  | 430.1 |  |  | — |  |  | (104.5 | )
Unsecured Notes |  |  |  |  |  |
$400 Million 5.90% 2020 Senior Notes |  | 136.7 |  |  | — |  |  | (7.8 | )
$500 Million 4.80% 2020 Senior Notes |  | 114.4 |  |  | — |  |  | (1.9 | )
$700 Million 4.875% 2021 Senior Notes |  | 171.0 |  |  | — |  |  | (2.8 | )
|  | $ | 1,610.7 |  |  | $ | (88.6 | ) |  | $ | (165.4 | )
1 T his includes premiums paid related to the redemption of our notes of $62.4 million and $110.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively.

Debt Maturities
The following represents a summary of our maturities of debt instruments, excluding borrowings under the ABL Facility, based on the principal amounts outstanding at September 30, 2017:

| (In Millions)
| Maturities of Debt
2017 (October 1 - December 31) | $ | — |
2018 | — |
2019 | — |
2020 | 211.3 |
2021 | 138.4 |
2022 | — |
2023 and thereafter | 1,373.4 |
Total maturities of debt | $ | 1,723.1 |

15

Table of Contents
ABL Facility
As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, no loans were drawn under the ABL Facility and we had total availability of $254.2 million and $333.0 million, respectively, as a result of borrowing base limitations. As of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, the principal amount of letter of credit obligations totaled $45.0 million and $106.0 million, respectively, to support business obligations primarily related to workers compensation and environmental obligations, thereby further reducing available borrowing capacity on our ABL Facility to $209.2 million and $227.0 million, respectively.
NOTE 6 - FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS
The following represents the assets and liabilities of the Company measured at fair value at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:

| (In Millions)
| September 30, 2017
Description | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets/Liabilities (Level 1) |  | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) |  | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) |  | Total
Assets: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash equivalents | $ | 40.0 |  |  | $ | 37.0 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 77.0 |
Derivative assets | — |  |  | — |  |  | 89.5 |  |  | 89.5 |
Total | $ | 40.0 |  |  | $ | 37.0 |  |  | $ | 89.5 |  |  | $ | 166.5 |
Liabilities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative liabilities | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 9.3 |  |  | $ | 9.3 |
Total | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 9.3 |  |  | $ | 9.3 |

| (In Millions)
| December 31, 2016
Description | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets/Liabilities (Level 1) |  | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) |  | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) |  | Total
Assets: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cash equivalents | $ | 177.0 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 177.0 |
Derivative assets | — |  |  | 1.5 |  |  | 31.6 |  |  | 33.1 |
Total | $ | 177.0 |  |  | $ | 1.5 |  |  | $ | 31.6 |  |  | $ | 210.1 |
Liabilities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Derivative liabilities | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 0.5 |  |  | $ | 0.5 |
Total | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 0.5 |  |  | $ | 0.5 |

16

Table of Contents
Financial assets classified in Level 1 as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 include money market funds of $40.0 million and $177.0 million, respectively. The valuation of these instruments is based upon unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets in active markets.
The valuation of financial assets and liabilities classified in Level 2 is determined using a market approach based upon quoted prices for similar assets and liabilities in active markets or other inputs that are observable. Level 2 assets included $37.0 million of commercial paper at September 30, 2017 and $1.5 million of commodity hedge contracts at December 31, 2016.
The Level 3 assets include derivative assets that consist of freestanding derivative instruments related to certain supply agreements with one of our U.S Iron Ore customers and certain provisional pricing arrangements with our U.S. Iron Ore and Asia Pacific Iron Ore customers.
The supply agreements included in our Level 3 assets/liabilities include provisions for supplemental revenue or refunds based on the customer’s annual steel pricing or the average annual daily market price for hot-rolled coil steel at the time the product is consumed in the customer’s blast furnaces. We account for these provisions as derivative instruments at the time of sale and adjust these provisions to fair value as an adjustment to Product revenues each reporting period until the product is consumed and the amounts are settled. The fair value of the instruments are determined using a market approach with one supply agreement based on an estimate of the annual realized price of hot-rolled coil steel at the steelmaker’s facilities and the other supply agreement based on the estimate of the average annual daily market price for hot-rolled coil steel. Both estimates take into consideration current market conditions and nonperformance risk. We had assets of $84.8 million and $21.3 million at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, related to supply agreements.
The provisional pricing arrangements included in our Level 3 assets/liabilities specify provisional price calculations, where the pricing mechanisms generally are based on market pricing, with the final revenue rate to be based on market inputs at a specified point in time in the future, per the terms of the supply agreements. The difference between the estimated final revenue at the date of sale and the estimated final revenue rate at the measurement date is characterized as a derivative and is required to be accounted for separately once the revenue has been recognized. The derivative instrument is adjusted to fair value through Product revenues each reporting period based upon current market data and forward-looking estimates provided by management until the final revenue rate is determined. We had assets of $4.7 million and $10.3 million at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively, related to provisional pricing arrangements. In addition, we had liabilities of $9.3 million and $0.5 million related to provisional pricing arrangements at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.
17

Table of Contents
The following table illustrates information about quantitative inputs and assumptions for the assets and liabilities categorized in Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy:

Qualitative/Quantitative Information About Level 3 Fair Value Measurements
|  | (In Millions) Fair Value at September 30, 2017 |  | Balance Sheet Location |  | Valuation Technique |  | Unobservable Input |  | Range or Point Estimate (Weighted Average)
Provisional pricing arrangements |  | $ | 4.7 |  |  | Derivative assets |  | Market Approach |  | Management's Estimate of Platts 62% Price per dry metric ton |  | $61 - $74 ($73)
|  |  |  | Market Hot-Rolled Coil Steel Estimate per net ton |  | $580 - $660 ($625)
Provisional pricing arrangements |  | $ | 9.3 |  |  | Derivative liabilities |  | Market Approach |  | Management's Estimate of Platts 62% Price per dry metric ton |  | $61 - $74 ($73)
Customer supply agreements |  | $ | 84.8 |  |  | Derivative assets |  | Market Approach |  | Customer Hot-Rolled Steel Estimate per net ton |  | $558 - $622 ($565)
|  |  |  | Market Hot-Rolled Coil Steel Estimate per net ton |  | $580 - $660 ($625)

The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of our provisional pricing arrangements are management’s estimates of Platts 62% Price based upon current market data, index pricing and the average annual daily steel market price for hot-rolled coil steel, each of which includes forward-looking estimates determined by management. Significant increases or decreases in these inputs would result in a significantly higher or lower fair value measurement, respectively.
The significant unobservable inputs used in the fair value measurement of our customer supply agreements are the customer's future hot-rolled coil steel price that is estimated based on projections provided by the customer, analysts' projections and estimates determined by management, and the average annual daily market price for hot-rolled coil steel, each of which include forward-looking estimates determined by management. Significant increases or decreases in these inputs would result in a significantly higher or lower fair value measurement, respectively.
18

Table of Contents
We recognize any transfers between levels as of the beginning of the reporting period, including both transfers into and out of levels. There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 and no transfers into or out of Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016. The following tables represent a reconciliation of the changes in fair value of financial instruments measured at fair value on a recurring basis using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.

| (In Millions)
| Level 3 Assets
| Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine Months Ended September 30,
| 2017 |  | 2016 |  | 2017 |  | 2016
Beginning balance | $ | 72.5 |  |  | $ | 25.8 |  |  | $ | 31.6 |  |  | $ | 7.8 |
Total gains (losses) |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Included in earnings | 60.6 |  |  | 14.6 |  |  | 156.0 |  |  | 62.6 |
Settlements | (43.6 | ) |  | (12.0 | ) |  | (98.1 | ) |  | (42.0 | )
Ending balance - September 30 | $ | 89.5 |  |  | $ | 28.4 |  |  | $ | 89.5 |  |  | $ | 28.4 |
Total gains for the period included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized gains on assets still held at the reporting date | $ | 0.1 |  |  | $ | 8.2 |  |  | $ | 53.4 |  |  | $ | 24.7 |

| (In Millions)
| Level 3 Liabilities
| Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine Months Ended September 30,
| 2017 |  | 2016 |  | 2017 |  | 2016
Beginning balance | $ | (20.9 | ) |  | $ | (2.6 | ) |  | $ | (0.5 | ) |  | $ | (3.4 | )
Total gains (losses) |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Included in earnings | (19.3 | ) |  | (2.9 | ) |  | (64.9 | ) |  | (12.8 | )
Settlements | 30.9 |  |  | 2.8 |  |  | 56.1 |  |  | 13.5 |
Ending balance - September 30 | $ | (9.3 | ) |  | $ | (2.7 | ) |  | $ | (9.3 | ) |  | $ | (2.7 | )
Total gains (losses) for the period included in earnings attributable to the change in unrealized losses on liabilities still held at the reporting date | $ | 6.0 |  |  | $ | (2.7 | ) |  | $ | (14.8 | ) |  | $ | (2.7 | )

Gains and losses from derivative assets and liabilities are included in earnings and are reported in Product revenues for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.
19

Table of Contents
The carrying amount of certain financial instruments (e.g., Accounts receivable, net, Accounts payable and Accrued expenses) approximates fair value and, therefore, has been excluded from the table below. A summary of the carrying amount and fair value of other financial instruments at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 were as follows:

|  |  | (In Millions)
|  |  | September 30, 2017 |  | December 31, 2016
| Classification |  | Carrying Value |  | Fair Value |  | Carrying Value |  | Fair Value
Long-term debt: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Secured Notes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
First Senior Lien Notes —$540 million | Level 1 |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 506.3 |  |  | $ | 595.0 |
1.5 Senior Lien Notes —$218.5 million | Level 2 |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 284.2 |  |  | 229.5 |
Second Senior Lien Notes —$544.2 million | Level 1 |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 339.1 |  |  | 439.7 |
Unsecured Notes |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Senior Notes—$1.075 billion | Level 1 |  | 1,046.8 |  |  | 1,032.0 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Senior Notes—$400 million | Level 1 |  | 88.5 |  |  | 88.4 |  |  | 224.5 |  |  | 219.6 |
Senior Notes—$500 million | Level 1 |  | 122.0 |  |  | 116.9 |  |  | 235.9 |  |  | 221.1 |
Senior Notes—$700 million | Level 1 |  | 138.0 |  |  | 132.4 |  |  | 308.2 |  |  | 283.1 |
Senior Notes—$800 million | Level 1 |  | 292.6 |  |  | 249.0 |  |  | 292.5 |  |  | 234.7 |
ABL Facility | Level 2 |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Fair value adjustment to interest rate hedge | Level 2 |  | 1.5 |  |  | 1.5 |  |  | 1.9 |  |  | 1.9 |
Total long-term debt |  |  | $ | 1,689.4 |  |  | $ | 1,620.2 |  |  | $ | 2,192.6 |  |  | $ | 2,224.6 |

The fair value of long-term debt was determined using quoted market prices based upon current borrowing rates.
20

Table of Contents
Items Measured at Fair Value on a Non-Recurring Basis
The following tables present information about the financial assets and liabilities that were measured on a fair value basis at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 for the Canadian Entities. The tables also indicate the fair value hierarchy of the valuation techniques used to determine such fair value.

|  | (In Millions)
|  | September 30, 2017
Description |  | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets/ Liabilities (Level 1) |  | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) |  | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) |  | Total |  | Total Year-to-Date Gains
Assets: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loans to and accounts receivables from the Canadian Entities |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 51.9 |  |  | $ | 51.9 |  |  | $ | 3.3 |
Liabilities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Guarantees |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 31.4 |

|  | (In Millions)
|  | December 31, 2016
Description |  | Quoted Prices in Active Markets for Identical Assets/ Liabilities (Level 1) |  | Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) |  | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) |  | Total |  | Total Year-to-Date Gains (Losses)
Assets: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Loans to and accounts receivables from the Canadian Entities |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 48.6 |  |  | $ | 48.6 |  |  | $ | (17.5 | )
Liabilities: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Guarantees |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 37.2 |  |  | $ | 37.2 |  |  | $ | 0.4 |

We determined the fair value and recoverability of our Canadian investments by comparing the estimated fair value of the remaining underlying assets of the Canadian Entities to remaining estimated liabilities. We recorded the Canadian denominated guarantees at book value, which best approximated fair value, and adjusted the carrying balance on a quarterly basis based on the change in foreign exchange rates.
We previously recorded liabilities of $37.2 million related to guarantees for certain environmental obligations of the Canadian Entities, classified as Other liabilities in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position as of December 31, 2016. During the three months ended September 30, 2017, the Wabush Scully Mine was sold as part of the ongoing CCAA proceedings. As part of the transaction, we were required to fund the buyer's financial assurance shortfall of $7.7 million in order to complete the conveyance of the environmental remediation obligations to the buyer, which released us from our guarantees, and along with other current period activity, resulted in a net gain of $31.4 million included in Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, net of tax in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Operations.
To assess the fair value and recoverability of the accounts receivable from the Canadian Entities, we estimated the fair value of the underlying net assets of the Canadian Entities available for distribution to their creditors in relation to the estimated creditor claims and the priority of those claims. These underlying amounts are denominated primarily in Canadian dollars and are remeasured on a quarterly basis.
Our estimates involve significant judgment and are based on currently available information, an assessment of the validity of certain claims and estimated payments made by the Canadian Entities. Our ultimate recovery is subject to the final liquidation value of the Canadian Entities. Further, the final liquidation value and ultimate recovery of the
21

Table of Contents
creditors of the Canadian Entities, including, if any, to Cliffs and various subsidiaries, may impact our estimates of liability exposure described previously.
NOTE 7 - PENSIONS AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS
We offer defined benefit pension plans, defined contribution pension plans and OPEB plans, primarily consisting of retiree healthcare benefits, to most employees in the United States as part of a total compensation and benefits program. We do not have employee retirement benefit obligations at our Asia Pacific Iron Ore operations. The defined benefit pension plans largely are noncontributory and benefits generally are based on a minimum formula or employees’ years of service and average earnings for a defined period prior to retirement.
The following are the components of defined benefit pension and OPEB costs and credits for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016:
Defined Benefit Pension Costs

| (In Millions)
| Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine Months Ended September 30,
| 2017 |  | 2016 |  | 2017 |  | 2016
Service cost | $ | 3.4 |  |  | $ | 4.2 |  |  | $ | 12.9 |  |  | $ | 13.2 |
Interest cost | 7.9 |  |  | 7.8 |  |  | 22.9 |  |  | 22.7 |
Expected return on plan assets | (13.8 | ) |  | (13.6 | ) |  | (40.9 | ) |  | (41.0 | )
Amortization: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Prior service costs | 0.6 |  |  | 0.5 |  |  | 1.9 |  |  | 1.6 |
Net actuarial loss | 6.1 |  |  | 5.4 |  |  | 16.7 |  |  | 15.9 |
Net periodic benefit cost | $ | 4.2 |  |  | $ | 4.3 |  |  | $ | 13.5 |  |  | $ | 12.4 |

Other Postretirement Benefits Credits

| (In Millions)
| Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine Months Ended September 30,
| 2017 |  | 2016 |  | 2017 |  | 2016
Service cost | $ | 0.3 |  |  | $ | 0.4 |  |  | $ | 1.3 |  |  | $ | 1.3 |
Interest cost | 1.9 |  |  | 2.3 |  |  | 6.2 |  |  | 6.8 |
Expected return on plan assets | (4.4 | ) |  | (4.3 | ) |  | (13.3 | ) |  | (12.8 | )
Amortization: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Prior service credits | (0.8 | ) |  | (0.9 | ) |  | (2.3 | ) |  | (2.8 | )
Net actuarial loss | 0.9 |  |  | 1.7 |  |  | 3.4 |  |  | 4.5 |
Net periodic benefit credit | $ | (2.1 | ) |  | $ | (0.8 | ) |  | $ | (4.7 | ) |  | $ | (3.0 | )

Based on funding requirements, we made pension contributions of $19.7 million and $22.0 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, compared to pension contributions of $0.5 million and $0.7 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively. OPEB contributions are typically made on an annual basis in the first quarter of each year, but due to plan funding requirements being met, no OPEB contributions were required or made for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016.
22

Table of Contents
NOTE 8 - STOCK COMPENSATION PLANS
Employees’ Plans
On June 26, 2017, the Compensation and Organization Committee of the Board of Directors approved a grant under the A&R 2015 Equity Plan to the Chief Executive Officer for the performance period commencing June 1, 2017 and ending December 31, 2019. Shares granted under the awards consisted of 0.5 million restricted share units and 0.2 million performance shares.
On February 21, 2017, the Compensation and Organization Committee of the Board of Directors approved grants under the 2015 Equity Plan to certain officers and employees for the 2017 to 2019 performance period. Shares granted under the awards consisted of 0.6 million restricted share units and 0.6 million performance shares.
Restricted share units granted during 2017 are subject to continued employment, are retention based, will vest December 31, 2019, and are payable in common shares at a time determined by the Compensation and Organization Committee at its discretion.
Performance shares are subject to continued employment, and each performance share, if earned, entitles the holder to receive common shares within a range between a threshold and maximum number of our common shares, with the actual number of common shares earned dependent upon whether the Company achieves certain objectives and performance goals as established by the Compensation and Organization Committee. The performance share grants vest over the performance period. The performance awards granted have a performance condition that is measured on the basis of relative TSR for the period of January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2019 and the period of June 1, 2017 to December 31, 2019, for the February 21, 2017 and the June 26, 2017 grants, respectively, and measured against the constituents of the S&P Metals and Mining ETF Index and the SPDR S&P Metals and Mining ETF Index, respectively, at the beginning of the relevant performance period. The final payout will vary from zero to 200% of the original grant.
Determination of Fair Value
The fair value of each performance share grant is estimated on the date of grant using a Monte Carlo simulation to forecast relative TSR performance. A correlation matrix of historic and projected stock prices was developed for both the Company and our predetermined peer group of mining and metals companies. The fair value assumes that performance goals will be achieved.
The expected term of the grant represents the time from the grant date to the end of the service period for each of the plan agreements. We estimate the volatility of our common shares and that of the peer group of mining and metals companies using daily price intervals for all companies. The risk-free interest rate is the rate at the grant date on zero-coupon government bonds with a term commensurate with the remaining life of the performance period.
The following assumptions were utilized to estimate the fair value for the 2017 performance share grants:

Grant Date |  | Grant Date Market Price |  | Average Expected Term (Years) |  | Expected Volatility |  | Risk-Free Interest Rate |  | Dividend Yield |  | Fair Value |  | Fair Value (Percent of Grant Date Market Price)
February 21, 2017 |  | $ | 11.67 |  |  | 2.86 |  | 92.1% |  | 1.51% |  | —% |  | $ | 19.69 |  |  | 168.72%
June 26, 2017 |  | $ | 6.64 |  |  | 2.51 |  | 92.8% |  | 1.45% |  | —% |  | $ | 10.74 |  |  | 161.75%

NOTE 9 - INCOME TAXES
Our 2017 estimated annual effective tax rate before discrete items is approximately negative 1.7%. The annual effective tax rate differs from the U.S. statutory rate of 35% primarily due to the deductions for percentage depletion in excess of cost depletion related to U.S. operations and the reversal of valuation allowance from operations in the current year. The 2016 estimated annual effective tax rate before discrete items at September 30, 2016 was 0.4%.
23

Table of Contents
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, we recorded discrete items that resulted in an income tax benefit of $5.9 million and $5.8 million respectively. These items relate primarily to the monetization of unused AMT credits upon the filing of the 2016 U.S. federal income tax return and adjustments to reserves for uncertain tax positions. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, there were discrete items that resulted in an income tax benefit of $2.9 million and $2.2 million, respectively. These items related primarily to prior year adjustments due to a change in estimate of the 2015 net operating loss and corresponding reversal of valuation allowance and quarterly interest accrued on reserves for uncertain tax positions.
NOTE 10 - LEASE OBLIGATIONS
We lease certain mining, production and other equipment under operating and capital leases. The capital leases are for varying lengths, generally at market interest rates and contain purchase and/or renewal options at the end of the terms. Our operating lease expense was $1.8 million and $5.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, compared with $2.2 million and $6.8 million for the comparable periods in 2016.
Future minimum payments under capital leases and non-cancellable operating leases at September 30, 2017 are as follows:

| (In Millions)
| Capital Leases |  | Operating Leases
2017 (October 1 - December 31) | $ | 6.1 |  |  | $ | 1.8 |
2018 | 19.3 |  |  | 5.9 |
2019 | 10.7 |  |  | 2.9 |
2020 | 9.7 |  |  | 2.9 |
2021 | 9.0 |  |  | 3.0 |
2022 and thereafter | 0.7 |  |  | — |
Total minimum lease payments | $ | 55.5 |  |  | $ | 16.5 |
Amounts representing interest | 9.0 |  |  |
Present value of net minimum lease payments 1 | $ | 46.5 |  |  |
1 The total is comprised of $17.0 million and $29.5 million classified as Other current liabilities and Other liabilities, respectively, in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position at September 30, 2017.

NOTE 11 - ENVIRONMENTAL AND MINE CLOSURE OBLIGATIONS
We had environmental and mine closure liabilities of $216.2 million and $206.8 million at September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively. The following is a summary of the obligations as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:

| (In Millions)
| September 30, 2017 |  | December 31, 2016
Environmental | $ | 2.9 |  |  | $ | 2.8 |
Mine closure |  |  |
U.S. Iron Ore 1 | 195.0 |  |  | 187.8 |
Asia Pacific Iron Ore | 18.3 |  |  | 16.2 |
Total mine closure | 213.3 |  |  | 204.0 |
Total environmental and mine closure obligations | 216.2 |  |  | 206.8 |
Less current portion | 10.8 |  |  | 12.9 |
Long-term environmental and mine closure obligations | $ | 205.4 |  |  | $ | 193.9 |
1 U.S. Iron Ore includes our active operating mines, our indefinitely idled Empire mine and a closed mine formerly operating as LTVSMC.

Mine Closure
The accrued closure obligation for our active mining operations provides for contractual and legal obligations
24

Table of Contents
associated with the eventual closure of the mining operations. The accretion of the liability and amortization of the related asset is recognized over the estimated mine lives for each location.
The following represents a roll forward of our asset retirement obligation liability for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and for the year ended December 31, 2016:

| (In Millions)
| September 30, 2017 |  | December 31, 2016
Asset retirement obligation at beginning of period | $ | 204.0 |  |  | $ | 230.4 |
Accretion expense | 11.1 |  |  | 14.0 |
Remediation payments | (3.2 | ) |  | (2.2 | )
Exchange rate changes | 1.4 |  |  | (0.2 | )
Revision in estimated cash flows | — |  |  | (38.0 | )
Asset retirement obligation at end of period | $ | 213.3 |  |  | $ | 204.0 |

For the year ended December 31, 2016, the revisions in estimated cash flows recorded during the year related primarily to revisions in the timing of the estimated cash flows related to two of our U.S. mines. The Empire mine asset retirement obligation was reduced by $29.6 million as a result of the further refinement of the timing of cash flows and a downward revision of estimated asset retirement costs related to technology associated with required storm water management systems expected to be implemented. Additionally, during 2016, a new economic reserve estimate was completed for United Taconite, increasing salable product reserves by 115 million long tons and consequently significantly increasing the life-of-mine plan, resulting in a $9.2 million decrease in the asset retirement obligation.
NOTE 12 - GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS
Goodwill
The carrying amount of goodwill as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 was $2.0 million and related to our U.S. Iron Ore operating segment.
Other Intangible Assets
The following table is a summary of definite-lived intangible assets as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:

|  |  | (In Millions)
|  |  | September 30, 2017 |  | December 31, 2016
| Classification |  | Gross Carrying Amount |  | Accumulated Amortization |  | Net Carrying Amount |  | Gross Carrying Amount |  | Accumulated Amortization |  | Net Carrying Amount
Permits | Other non-current assets |  | $ | 78.9 |  |  | $ | (26.1 | ) |  | $ | 52.8 |  |  | $ | 78.4 |  |  | $ | (24.6 | ) |  | $ | 53.8 |

Amortization expense relating to other intangible assets was $0.5 million and $1.5 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, and is recognized in Cost of goods sold and operating expenses in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Operations. Amortization expense relating to other intangible assets was $1.2 million and $3.8 million for the comparable periods in 2016. Amortization expense of other intangible assets is expected to continue to be immaterial going forward.
25

Table of Contents
NOTE 13 - DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS
The following table presents the fair value of our derivative instruments and the classification of each in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:

|  | (In Millions)
|  | Derivative Assets |  | Derivative Liabilities
|  | September 30, 2017 |  | December 31, 2016 |  | September 30, 2017 |  | December 31, 2016
Derivative Instrument |  | Balance Sheet Location |  | Fair Value |  | Balance Sheet Location |  | Fair Value |  | Balance Sheet Location |  | Fair Value |  | Balance Sheet Location |  | Fair Value
Customer supply agreements |  | Derivative assets |  | $ | 84.8 |  |  | Derivative assets |  | $ | 21.3 |  |  |  |  | $ | — |  |  |  |  | $ | — |
Provisional pricing arrangements |  | Derivative assets |  | 4.7 |  |  | Derivative assets |  | 10.3 |  |  | Derivative liabilities |  | 9.3 |  |  | Derivative liabilities |  | 0.5 |
Commodity contracts |  |  |  | — |  |  | Derivative assets |  | 1.5 |  |  |  |  | — |  |  |  |  | — |
Total derivatives not designated as hedging instruments under ASC 815 |  |  |  | $ | 89.5 |  |  |  |  | $ | 33.1 |  |  |  |  | $ | 9.3 |  |  |  |  | $ | 0.5 |

Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments
Customer Supply Agreements
Certain supply agreements with one U.S. Iron Ore customer provide for supplemental revenue or refunds to the customer based on the customer’s average annual steel pricing or based on the average annual daily steel market price for hot-rolled coil steel at the time the product is consumed in the customer’s blast furnace. The supplemental pricing is characterized as a freestanding derivative and is required to be accounted for separately once the product is shipped. The derivative instrument, which is finalized based on a future price, is adjusted to fair value as a revenue adjustment each reporting period until the pellets are consumed and the amounts are settled.
We recognized a $54.4 million and $123.6 million net gain in Product revenues in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, related to the supplemental payments. This compares with a net gain in Product revenues of $7.1 million and $26.8 million, for the comparable periods in 2016. Derivative assets, representing the fair value of the supplemental revenue, were $84.8 million and $21.3 million as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016 in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position, respectively.
Provisional Pricing Arrangements
Certain of our U.S. Iron Ore and Asia Pacific Iron Ore customer supply agreements specify provisional price calculations, where the pricing mechanisms generally are based on market pricing, with the final revenue rate to be based on certain market inputs at a specified period in time in the future, per the terms of the supply agreements. Market inputs are tied to indexed price adjustment factors that are integral to the iron ore supply contracts and vary based on the agreement. The pricing mechanisms typically include adjustments based upon changes in the Platts 62% Price, along with pellet premiums, published Platts international indexed freight rates and changes in specified Producer Price Indices, including those for industrial commodities, fuel and steel. The pricing adjustments generally operate in the same manner, with each factor typically comprising a portion of the price adjustment, although the weighting of each factor varies based upon the specific terms of each agreement.
U.S. Iron Ore sales revenue is primarily recognized when cash is received. For U.S. Iron Ore sales, the difference between the provisionally agreed-upon price and the estimated final revenue rate is characterized as a freestanding derivative and must be accounted for separately once the provisional revenue has been recognized. Asia Pacific Iron Ore sales revenue is recorded initially at the provisionally agreed-upon price with the pricing provision embedded in the receivable. The pricing provision is an embedded derivative that must be bifurcated and accounted for separately from the receivable. Subsequently, the derivative instruments for both U.S. Iron Ore and Asia Pacific Iron Ore are adjusted
26

Table of Contents
to fair value through Product revenues each reporting period based upon current market data and forward-looking estimates provided by management until the final revenue rate is determined.
At September 30, 2017, we recorded $4.7 million as Derivative assets and $9.3 million as Derivative liabilities related to our estimate of the final revenue rate with our U.S. Iron Ore and Asia Pacific Iron Ore customers in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position. At December 31, 2016, we recorded $10.3 million as Derivative assets and $0.5 million as Derivative liabilities related to our estimate of the final revenue rate with our U.S. Iron Ore and Asia Pacific Iron Ore customers in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position. These amounts represent the difference between the provisional price agreed upon with our customers based on the supply agreement terms and our estimate of the final revenue rate based on the price calculations established in the supply agreements. As a result, we recognized a net decrease of $13.1 million and $32.9 million in Product revenues in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, related to these arrangements. This compares with a net increase of $4.5 million and $22.9 million in Product revenues for the comparable periods in 2016, respectively.
The following summarizes the effect of our derivatives that are not designated as hedging instruments in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016:

(In Millions)
Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments |  | Location of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivative |  | Amount of Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income on Derivative
|  |  |  | Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine Months Ended September 30,
|  |  |  | 2017 |  | 2016 |  | 2017 |  | 2016
Customer Supply Agreements |  | Product revenues |  | $ | 54.3 |  |  | $ | 7.1 |  |  | $ | 123.9 |  |  | $ | 26.8 |
Provisional Pricing Arrangements |  | Product revenues |  | (13.1 | ) |  | 4.5 |  |  | (32.9 | ) |  | 22.9 |
Commodity Contracts |  | Cost of goods sold and operating expenses |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (1.3 | ) |  | — |
Total |  |  |  | $ | 41.2 |  |  | $ | 11.6 |  |  | $ | 89.7 |  |  | $ | 49.7 |

Refer to NOTE 6 - FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS for additional information.
NOTE 14 - CAPITAL STOCK
Common Share Public Offering
On February 9, 2017, we issued 63.25 million common shares in an underwritten public offering. We received net proceeds of $661.3 million at a public offering price of $10.75 per common share. The net proceeds from the issuance of our common shares and our issuance of $500 million aggregate principal amount of 5.75% Senior Notes were used to redeem in full all of our outstanding 8.00% 1.5 Lien Notes due 2020 and 7.75% Second Lien Notes due 2020. The aggregate principal amount outstanding of debt redeemed was $648.6 million. Additionally, through tender offers, we purchased $422.2 million in aggregate principal amount of debt, excluding unamortized discounts and deferred charges, of our 5.90% Senior Notes due 2020, our 4.80% Senior Notes due 2020 and our 4.875% Senior Notes due 2021. During the second quarter of 2017, we redeemed $35.6 million aggregate principal amount of the 8.25% First Lien Notes due 2020 with the remaining net proceeds from our common share offering.
27

Table of Contents
NOTE 15 - SHAREHOLDERS' DEFICIT
The following table reflects the changes in shareholders' deficit attributable to both Cliffs and the noncontrolling interests, primarily related to Tilden and Empire. Cliffs owns 100% of both mines as of September 30, 2017 and 85% and 79%, respectively, as of September 30, 2016:

| (In Millions)
| Cliffs Shareholders’ Equity (Deficit) |  | Noncontrolling Interest (Deficit) |  | Total Equity (Deficit)
December 31, 2016 | $ | (1,464.3 | ) |  | $ | 133.8 |  |  | $ | (1,330.5 | )
Comprehensive loss |  |  |  |  |
Net income (loss) | 57.1 |  |  | (3.9 | ) |  | 53.2 |
Other comprehensive income | 4.2 |  |  | 1.1 |  |  | 5.3 |
Total comprehensive income (loss) | 61.3 |  |  | (2.8 | ) |  | 58.5 |
Issuance of common shares | 661.3 |  |  | — |  |  | 661.3 |
Stock and other incentive plans | 13.5 |  |  | — |  |  | 13.5 |
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest | (89.1 | ) |  | (15.9 | ) |  | (105.0 | )
Distribution of partnership equity | (16.0 | ) |  | (116.7 | ) |  | (132.7 | )
Distributions to noncontrolling interest | — |  |  | 1.8 |  |  | 1.8 |
September 30, 2017 | $ | (833.3 | ) |  | $ | 0.2 |  |  | $ | (833.1 | )

| (In Millions)
| Cliffs Shareholders’ Equity (Deficit) |  | Noncontrolling Interest (Deficit) |  | Total Equity (Deficit)
December 31, 2015 | $ | (1,981.4 | ) |  | $ | 169.8 |  |  | $ | (1,811.6 | )
Comprehensive income |  |  |  |  |
Net income | 95.0 |  |  | 23.5 |  |  | 118.5 |
Other comprehensive income | 16.8 |  |  | 2.2 |  |  | 19.0 |
Total comprehensive income | 111.8 |  |  | 25.7 |  |  | 137.5 |
Issuance of common shares | 315.2 |  |  | — |  |  | 315.2 |
Stock and other incentive plans | 10.1 |  |  | — |  |  | 10.1 |
Distributions of partnership equity | — |  |  | (48.8 | ) |  | (48.8 | )
Distributions to noncontrolling interest | — |  |  | (2.9 | ) |  | (2.9 | )
September 30, 2016 | $ | (1,544.3 | ) |  | $ | 143.8 |  |  | $ | (1,400.5 | )

28

Table of Contents
The following table reflects the changes in Accumulated other comprehensive loss related to Cliffs shareholders’ deficit for September 30, 2017 and September 30, 2016:

| (In Millions)
| Changes in Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefits, net of tax |  | Unrealized Net Gain (Loss) on Foreign Currency Translation |  | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
December 31, 2016 | $ | (260.6 | ) |  | $ | 239.3 |  |  | $ | (21.3 | )
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications | 3.3 |  |  | (12.7 | ) |  | (9.4 | )
Net loss reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss | 6.4 |  |  | — |  |  | 6.4 |
March 31, 2017 | $ | (250.9 | ) |  | $ | 226.6 |  |  | $ | (24.3 | )
Other comprehensive loss before reclassifications | (0.1 | ) |  | (1.5 | ) |  | (1.6 | )
Net loss reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss | 6.5 |  |  | — |  |  | 6.5 |
June 30, 2017 | $ | (244.5 | ) |  | $ | 225.1 |  |  | $ | (19.4 | )
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications | (18.7 | ) |  | 0.5 |  |  | (18.2 | )
Net loss reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss | 6.8 |  |  | — |  |  | 6.8 |
September 30, 2017 | $ | (256.4 | ) |  | $ | 225.6 |  |  | $ | (30.8 | )

29

Table of Contents

| (In Millions)
| Changes in Pension and Other Post-Retirement Benefits, net of tax |  | Unrealized Net Gain (Loss) on Securities, net of tax |  | Unrealized Net Gain (Loss) on Foreign Currency Translation |  | Net Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivative Financial Instruments, net of tax |  | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss
December 31, 2015 | $ | (241.4 | ) |  | $ | 0.1 |  |  | $ | 220.7 |  |  | $ | 2.6 |  |  | $ | (18.0 | )
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications | (1.5 | ) |  | (0.1 | ) |  | 4.4 |  |  | (3.4 | ) |  | (0.6 | )
Net loss reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss | 6.3 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 6.3 |
March 31, 2016 | $ | (236.6 | ) |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 225.1 |  |  | $ | (0.8 | ) |  | $ | (12.3 | )
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications | (0.4 | ) |  | — |  |  | (2.7 | ) |  | 0.1 |  |  | (3.0 | )
Net loss reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss | 6.3 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 6.3 |
June 30, 2016 | $ | (230.7 | ) |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 222.4 |  |  | $ | (0.7 | ) |  | $ | (9.0 | )
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications | (0.5 | ) |  | — |  |  | 0.9 |  |  | — |  |  | 0.4 |
Net loss reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) | 6.7 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 0.7 |  |  | 7.4 |
September 30, 2016 | $ | (224.5 | ) |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 223.3 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | (1.2 | )

30

Table of Contents
The following table reflects the details about Accumulated other comprehensive loss components related to Cliffs shareholders’ deficit for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016:

|  | (In Millions) |  |
Details about Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Components |  | Amount of (Gain)/Loss Reclassified into Income |  | Affected Line Item in the Statement of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Operations
| Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine Months Ended September 30, |
| 2017 |  | 2016 |  | 2017 |  | 2016 |
Amortization of pension and postretirement benefit liability: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Prior service credits 1 |  | $ | (0.2 | ) |  | $ | (0.4 | ) |  | $ | (0.4 | ) |  | $ | (1.2 | ) |  |
Net actuarial loss 1 |  | 7.0 |  |  | 7.1 |  |  | 20.1 |  |  | 20.4 |  |  |
Total before taxes |  | 6.8 |  |  | 6.7 |  |  | 19.7 |  |  | 19.2 |  |  |
|  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | Income tax benefit
|  | $ | 6.8 |  |  | $ | 6.7 |  |  | $ | 19.7 |  |  | $ | 19.2 |  |  |
Unrealized gain (loss) on derivative financial instruments: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Treasury lock |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 1.2 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 1.2 |  |  | Gain (loss) on extinguishment/restructuring of debt
|  | — |  |  | (0.5 | ) |  | — |  |  | (0.5 | ) |  | Income tax benefit
|  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 0.7 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 0.7 |  |  | Net of taxes
Total reclassifications for the period, net of tax |  | $ | 6.8 |  |  | $ | 7.4 |  |  | $ | 19.7 |  |  | $ | 19.9 |  |  |
1 These accumulated other comprehensive income components are included in the computation of net periodic benefit cost (credit). Refer to NOTE 7 - PENSIONS AND OTHER POSTRETIREMENT BENEFITS for further information.

NOTE 16 - RELATED PARTIES
One of our four operating U.S. iron ore mines is a co-owned joint venture with companies that are integrated steel producers or their subsidiaries. We are the manager of such co-owned mine and rely on our joint venture partners to make their required capital contributions and to pay for their share of the iron ore pellets that we produce. One of the joint venture partners is also our customer. The following is a summary of the mine ownership of the co-owned iron ore mine at September 30, 2017:

Mine |  | Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. |  | ArcelorMittal |  | U.S. Steel
Hibbing |  | 23.0 | % |  | 62.3 | % |  | 14.7 | %

During the third quarter of 2017, our ownership interest in Empire increased to 100% as we reached an agreement to distribute the noncontrolling interest net assets for $132.7 million to ArcelorMittal, in exchange for its interest in Empire. The net assets were agreed to be distributed in three installments of approximately $44.2 million, the first of which was paid upon the execution of the agreement and the remaining distributions are due in August 2018 and August 2019. The remaining two outstanding installments, each for $44.2 million, are reflected in Other current liabilities and Other liabilities in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position as of September 30, 2017. We accounted for the increase in ownership as an equity transaction, which resulted in a $16.0 million decrease in equity attributable to Cliffs' shareholders and a $116.7 million decrease in Noncontrolling interest.
As part of a 2014 extension agreement between us and ArcelorMittal, which amended certain terms of the Empire partnership agreement, distributions of the partners' equity amounts were required to be made on a quarterly basis beginning in the first quarter of 2015. These equity distributions were made through the termination of the partnership agreement on December 31, 2016. We paid $8.7 million in January 2017 related to 2016 distributions. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, we recorded distributions of $7.4 million and $48.8 million, respectively,
31

Table of Contents
under this agreement of which $41.4 million was paid as of September 30, 2016. In addition, we paid $11.1 million in January 2016 related to 2015 distributions.
During the third quarter of 2017, we acquired U.S. Steel's 15% equity interest in Tilden for $105.0 million. With the closing of this transaction, we now have 100% ownership of Tilden. We accounted for the increase in ownership as an equity transaction, which resulted in an $89.1 million decrease in equity attributable to Cliffs' shareholders and a $15.9 million decrease in Noncontrolling interest.
Product revenues from related parties were as follows:

| (In Millions)
| Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine Months Ended September 30,
| 2017 |  | 2016 |  | 2017 |  | 2016
Product revenues from related parties | $ | 265.5 |  |  | $ | 223.4 |  |  | $ | 602.4 |  |  | $ | 568.4 |
Total product revenues | $ | 627.5 |  |  | $ | 508.6 |  |  | $ | 1,552.3 |  |  | $ | 1,237.0 |
Related party product revenue as a percent of total product revenue | 42.3 | % |  | 43.9 | % |  | 38.8 | % |  | 45.9 | %

The following table presents the classification of related party assets and liabilities in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:

| (In Millions)
| Balance Sheet Location |  | September 30, 2017 |  | December 31, 2016
Amounts due from related parties | Accounts receivable, net |  | $ | 4.5 |  |  | $ | 46.9 |
Amounts due from related parties | Other current assets |  | 3.4 |  |  | — |
Customer supply agreements and provisional pricing agreements | Derivative assets |  | 88.5 |  |  | 26.8 |
Amounts due to related parties | Other current liabilities |  | (45.3 | ) |  | (8.7 | )
Amounts due to related parties | Derivative liabilities |  | (5.4 | ) |  | — |
Amounts due to related parties | Other liabilities |  | (44.2 | ) |  | — |
Net amounts due from related parties |  |  | $ | 1.5 |  |  | $ | 65.0 |

Certain supply agreements with one U.S. Iron Ore customer provide for supplemental revenue or refunds to the customer based on the customer’s average annual steel pricing or based on the average annual daily market price for hot-rolled coil steel at the time the product is consumed in the customer’s blast furnace. The supplemental pricing is characterized as a freestanding derivative. Refer to NOTE 13 - DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS for further information.
32

Table of Contents
NOTE 17 - EARNINGS PER SHARE
The following table summarizes the computation of basic and diluted earnings (loss) per share:

| (In Millions, Except Per Share Amounts)
| Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine Months Ended September 30,
| 2017 |  | 2016 |  | 2017 |  | 2016
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations | $ | 20.6 |  |  | $ | (25.1 | ) |  | $ | 66.8 |  |  | $ | 119.1 |
Loss (Income) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest | 0.5 |  |  | 2.0 |  |  | 3.9 |  |  | (23.5 | )
Net Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Attributable to Cliffs Shareholders | $ | 21.1 |  |  | $ | (23.1 | ) |  | $ | 70.7 |  |  | $ | 95.6 |
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, net of tax | 32.3 |  |  | (2.7 | ) |  | (13.6 | ) |  | (0.6 | )
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Cliffs Shareholders | $ | 53.4 |  |  | $ | (25.8 | ) |  | $ | 57.1 |  |  | $ | 95.0 |
Weighted Average Number of Shares: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Basic | 296.1 |  |  | 206.3 |  |  | 285.8 |  |  | 186.5 |
Employee Stock Plans | 5.0 |  |  | — |  |  | 4.7 |  |  | 2.0 |
Diluted | 301.1 |  |  | 206.3 |  |  | 290.5 |  |  | 188.5 |
Earnings (Loss) per Common Share Attributable to Cliffs Common Shareholders - Basic: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Continuing operations | $ | 0.07 |  |  | $ | (0.11 | ) |  | $ | 0.25 |  |  | $ | 0.51 |
Discontinued operations | 0.11 |  |  | (0.01 | ) |  | (0.05 | ) |  | — |
| $ | 0.18 |  |  | $ | (0.12 | ) |  | $ | 0.20 |  |  | $ | 0.51 |
Earnings (Loss) per Common Share Attributable to Cliffs Common Shareholders - Diluted: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Continuing operations | $ | 0.07 |  |  | $ | (0.11 | ) |  | $ | 0.24 |  |  | $ | 0.51 |
Discontinued operations | 0.11 |  |  | (0.01 | ) |  | (0.05 | ) |  | — |
| $ | 0.18 |  |  | $ | (0.12 | ) |  | $ | 0.19 |  |  | $ | 0.51 |

The diluted earnings per share calculation excludes 3.0 million shares for the three months ended September 30, 2016 related to equity plan awards that would have been anti-dilutive.
NOTE 18 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Contingencies
We are currently the subject of, or party to, various claims and legal proceedings incidental to our operations. If management believes that a loss arising from these matters is probable and can reasonably be estimated, we record the amount of the loss or the minimum estimated liability when the loss is estimated using a range, and no point within the range is more probable than another. As additional information becomes available, any potential liability related to these matters is assessed and the estimates are revised, if necessary. Based on currently available information, management believes that the ultimate outcome of these matters, individually and in the aggregate, will not have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. However, these claims and legal proceedings are subject to inherent uncertainties and unfavorable rulings could occur. An unfavorable ruling could include monetary damages, additional funding requirements or an injunction. If an unfavorable ruling were to occur, there exists the possibility of a material impact on the financial position and results of operations for the period in which the ruling occurs or future periods. However, we do not believe that any pending claims or legal proceedings will result in a material liability in relation to our consolidated financial statements.
Currently, we have recorded a liability in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position related to the following legal matters:
Michigan Electricity Matters. On February 19, 2015, in connection with various proceedings before FERC with respect to certain cost allocations for continued operation of the Presque Isle Power Plant in Marquette, Michigan, FERC issued an order directing MISO to submit a revised methodology for allocating SSR costs that identified the load serving entities that require the operation of SSR units at the power plant for reliability purposes. On September 17, 2015, FERC
33

Table of Contents
issued an order conditionally approving MISO’s revised allocation methodology. On September 22, 2016, FERC denied requests for rehearing of the February 19 order, rejecting arguments that FERC did not have the authority to order refunds in a cost allocation case and to impose retroactive surcharges to effectuate such refunds. FERC, however, suspended any refunds and surcharges pending its review of a July 25, 2016 ALJ initial decision on the appropriate amount of SSR compensation. Should FERC award SSR costs based on retroactive surcharges and the amount of SSR compensation not be adjusted, our current estimate of the potential liability to the Empire and Tilden mines is $13.6 million, based on MISO's June 14, 2016 refund report (as revised in MISO's July 20, 2016 errata refund report) for the Escanaba, White Pine and Presque Isle SSRs. On November 8, 2016, Tilden and Empire, along with various Michigan-aligned parties, filed petitions for review of FERC’s order regarding allocation and non-cost SSR issues with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. On January 27, 2017, Tilden, Empire and other appellants filed a motion to terminate further abeyance of briefing so that cost allocation issues could be heard earlier at the Court of Appeals than revenue requirement issues still pending at FERC, which motion was granted on April 4, 2017. We will continue to vigorously challenge both the amount of the SSR compensation and the imposition of any SSR costs before FERC and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. As of September 30, 2017, $13.6 million is included in our Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position as part of Accrued expenses.
CCAA Proceedings
In January 2015, the Bloom Lake Group commenced CCAA proceedings. Effective January 27, 2015, following the CCAA filing of the Bloom Lake Group, we deconsolidated the Bloom Lake Group and certain other wholly-owned subsidiaries comprising substantially all of our Canadian operations. Additionally, on May 20, 2015, the Wabush Group commenced CCAA proceedings which resulted in the deconsolidation of the remaining Wabush Group entities that were not previously deconsolidated. As a result of this action, the CCAA protections granted to the Bloom Lake Group were extended to include the Wabush Group to facilitate the reorganization or divestiture of each of their businesses and operations.
Prior to the deconsolidations, various Cliffs wholly-owned entities made loans to the Canadian Entities for the purpose of funding their operations and had accounts receivable generated in the ordinary course of business. The loans, corresponding interest and the accounts receivable were considered intercompany transactions and eliminated from our consolidated financial statements. Since the deconsolidations, the loans, associated interest and accounts receivable are considered related party transactions and have been recognized in our consolidated financial statements at their estimated fair value of $51.9 million and $48.6 million classified as Loans to and accounts receivable from the Canadian Entities in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively.
During the three months ended June 30, 2017, we became aware that it was probable the Monitor will assert a preference claim of the CCAA estate against the Company. Given that it is probable the claim will be asserted by the Monitor, we have recorded an estimated liability approximately equal to the value of the Company’s related-party claims against the CCAA estate of $50.0 million, classified as C ontingent claims in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position as of September 30, 2017 and included within Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, net of tax in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. Should the Monitor proceed to assert the claim, we believe the Monitor will demand an amount in excess of the value of Cliffs’ related-party claims against the estate. Thus, it is possible that a change in the estimated liability may occur in the future. Cliffs denies it is liable for any amount and will vigorously defend such claim.
We previously recorded liabilities of $37.2 million related to guarantees for certain environmental obligations of the Canadian Entities, classified as Other liabilities in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position as of December 31, 2016. During the three months ended September 30, 2017, the Wabush Scully Mine was sold as part of the ongoing CCAA proceedings. As part of the sale, the environmental remediation obligations were conveyed to the buyer and we were released from our guarantees, which resulted in a net gain of $31.4 million included in Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, net of tax in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Operations.
As of September 30, 2017, substantially all of the assets available to the estate have been liquidated. The CCAA proceedings are still ongoing and the Monitor is evaluating all claims into the estate including our related-party claims. Currently, there is uncertainty as to the amount of the distribution that will be made to the creditors of the estate, including, if any, to Cliffs, and whether Cliffs could be held liable for claims that may be asserted by or on behalf of the Bloom Lake Group or the Wabush Group or by their respective representatives against non-debtor affiliates of the Bloom Lake Group and the Wabush Group.
34

Table of Contents
After payment of sale expenses, taxes and repayment of the DIP financing, the net proceeds from the liquidation of assets and certain other divestitures by the Canadian Entities are currently being held by the Monitor, on behalf of the Canadian Entities, to fund the costs of the CCAA proceedings and for eventual distribution to creditors of the Canadian Entities pending further order of the Montreal Court.
NOTE 19 - SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
We have evaluated subsequent events through the date of financial issuance.
35

Table of Contents

Item 2. | Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations ("MD&A") is designed to provide a reader of our financial statements with a narrative from the perspective of management on our financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and other factors that may affect our future results. We believe it is important to read our MD&A in conjunction with our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 as well as other publicly available information.
Overview
Founded in 1847, Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. is the largest and oldest independent iron ore mining company in the United States. We are a major supplier of iron ore pellets to the North American steel industry from our mines and pellet plants located in Michigan and Minnesota. Additionally, we operate an iron ore mining complex in Western Australia. By 2020, Cliffs expects to be the sole producer of HBI in the Great Lakes region with the development of its first production plant in Toledo, Ohio. Driven by the core values of safety, social, environmental and capital stewardship, our employees endeavor to provide all stakeholders with operating and financial transparency.
The key driver of our business is demand for steelmaking raw materials from U.S. steelmakers. During the first nine months of 2017, the U.S. produced approximately 61 million metric tons of crude steel, which is up 3% when compared to the same period in 2016, or about 5% of total global crude steel production. U.S. total steel capacity utilization was approximately 75% in the first nine months of 2017, which is an approximate 3% increase from the same period in 2016. Additionally, in the first nine months of 2017, China produced approximately 639 million metric tons of crude steel, or approximately 50% of total global crude steel production. These figures represent an approximate 6% increase in Chinese crude steel production when compared to the same period in 2016. Through the first nine months of 2017, global crude steel production increased about 6% compared to the same period in 2016.
The Platts 62% Price increased 35% to an average price of $73 per metric ton for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the respective period of 2016. Additionally, the average daily U.S. Midwest market price for hot-rolled coil steel increased 19% to an average price of $623 per net ton for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. Volatility in the spot price impacts our realized revenue rates at each of our segments to varying extents as our U.S. Iron Ore contracts correlate to both the Platts 62% Price and the average annual daily market price for hot-rolled coil steel, along with other items. Our Asia Pacific Iron Ore contracts heavily correlate to the Platts 62% Price, though somewhat distorted due to the discounts attributable to the lower iron content of the ore sold there.
We recognize the volatility of iron ore supply-demand dynamics and that changes in behaviors of the major iron ore producers and/or Chinese steelmakers could either lift or put pressure on iron ore prices in the near term. During the first nine months of 2017, we were generally pleased with both the signs of supply discipline from the majors and record levels of Chinese steel production. However, if Chinese steel capacity decreases during the winter months are not counterbalanced with corresponding supply decreases, prices could face headwinds.
We have also noticed vastly improved demand for higher grade iron ore products, typically those of benchmark grade (62% iron content) and above, as Chinese mills put more emphasis on the more productive and environmentally friendly nature of these ores. Assuming the margins at Chinese mills remain strong and the government continues to clamp down on pollution, we believe that the mills will continue to favor benchmark quality ore, placing additional pricing pressure on lower quality ore.
The price for domestic hot-rolled coil steel through the first nine months of the year was 19% higher compared to the same period last year. Despite the decrease in U.S. automobile demand this year, the domestic price environment has recovered due to supply-side discipline and an improved energy sector. In addition, steel market reform in China has kept foreign steel prices high, thus making imports less attractive. As a result, we remain positive on our outlook on this market, especially given the January 2018 report deadline for the Section 232 investigation announced in April 2017. We remain confident that some level of restrictive import measure will be recommended, which could lead to more favorable market dynamics.
For the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, our consolidated revenues were $698.4 million and $553.3 million, respectively, with net income from continuing operations per diluted share of $0.07 and net loss from continuing operations per diluted share of $0.11, respectively. Net income from continuing operations was negatively impacted as a result of losses on extinguishment/restructuring of debt of $88.6 million in the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared to losses on extinguishment/restructuring of debt of $18.3 million in the three months ended September 30, 2016. Sales margin increased by $74.8 million in the three months ended September 30, 2017
36

Table of Contents
when compared to the same period in 2016, primarily driven by the increase in revenue from higher overall average realized product revenue rates across all of our operations and higher sales volumes at our U.S. Iron Ore operations.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, our consolidated revenues were $1,729.3 million and $1,355.0 million, respectively, with net income from continuing operations per diluted share of $0.24 and $0.51, respectively. Net income from continuing operations was negatively impacted as a result of losses on extinguishment/restructuring of debt of $165.4 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2017, while the nine months ended September 30, 2016 was positively impacted as a result of gains on extinguishment/restructuring of debt of $164.1 million. Sales margin increased by $193.2 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2017 when compared to the same period in 2016, primarily driven by the increase in revenue from higher overall average realized product revenue rates across all of our operations and higher sales volumes at our U.S. Iron Ore operations.
Third Quarter 2017 Recent Developments
During the third quarter of 2017, we completed an issuance of $575 million aggregate principal amount of 5.75% Senior Notes due March 1, 2025. This issuance constitutes an addition to our $500 million aggregate principal amount of 5.75% Senior Notes due March 1, 2025, issued in the first quarter of 2017. We used the net proceeds from the additional issuance to redeem all of our outstanding 8.25% Senior Notes due 2020, which was $504.4 million of aggregate principal amount.
Our ownership interest in Empire increased to 100% as we reached an agreement to distribute the noncontrolling interest net assets for $132.7 million to ArcelorMittal in exchange for its interest in Empire. The net assets were agreed to be distributed in three installments of approximately $44.2 million, the first of which was paid upon the execution of the agreement and the remaining distributions are due in August 2018 and August 2019.
We also acquired the 15% equity interest in Tilden owned by U.S. Steel for $105.0 million. With the closing of this transaction, we now have 100% ownership of Tilden, which will provide an additional 1.2 million long tons of annual pellet production capacity starting in 2018, and an additional 55 million long tons of proven and probable crude ore reserves.
We renamed the Company to its historical name Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. The name change was part of the celebration of the 170th anniversary of the Company. As we reached this milestone and looked ahead to our next era of growth in the United States, we decided to return to Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. — a name synonymous with our core U.S. iron ore business.
Business Segments
Our company’s primary continuing operations are organized and managed according to geographic location: U.S. Iron Ore and Asia Pacific Iron Ore.
Results of Operations – Consolidated
2017 Compared to 2016
The following is a summary of our consolidated results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016:

| (In Millions)
| Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine Months Ended September 30,
| 2017 |  | 2016 |  | Variance Favorable/ (Unfavorable) |  | 2017 |  | 2016 |  | Variance Favorable/ (Unfavorable)
Revenues from product sales and services | $ | 698.4 |  |  | $ | 553.3 |  |  | $ | 145.1 |  |  | $ | 1,729.3 |  |  | $ | 1,355.0 |  |  | $ | 374.3 |
Cost of goods sold and operating expenses | (538.2 | ) |  | (467.9 | ) |  | (70.3 | ) |  | (1,328.3 | ) |  | (1,147.2 | ) |  | (181.1 | )
Sales margin | $ | 160.2 |  |  | $ | 85.4 |  |  | $ | 74.8 |  |  | $ | 401.0 |  |  | $ | 207.8 |  |  | $ | 193.2 |
Sales margin % | 22.9 | % |  | 15.4 | % |  | 7.5 | % |  | 23.2 | % |  | 15.3 | % |  | 7.9 | %

37

Table of Contents
Revenues from Product Sales and Services
The increase in Revenues from product sales and services of $118.9 million or 23.4%, excluding the increase in freight and reimbursements of $26.2 million, for the three months ended September 30, 2017 from the comparable period in 2016 was driven by an increase in the realized revenue rate of 23.1% or $100.5 million from our U.S. Iron Ore operations. Additionally, increased iron ore sales volumes of 0.6 million long tons in the third quarter of 2017 compared to the same period in 2016 from our U.S. Iron Ore operations positively increased revenue by $41.5 million. These increases were offset partially by the decrease in sales volume of 0.6 million metric tons, or a decrease in revenue of $25.6 million, from our Asia Pacific Iron Ore operations for the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the prior-year period.
The increase in Revenues from product sales and services of $315.3 million or 25.5%, excluding the increase in freight and reimbursements of $59.0 million, for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 from the comparable period in 2016 was driven by an increase in realized revenue rate of 17.0% or $173.3 million and 9.6% or $35.0 million for our U.S. Iron Ore operations and Asia Pacific Iron Ore operations, respectively. Additionally, increased iron ore sales volumes of 1.9 million long tons in the first nine months of 2017 compared to the same period in 2016 from our U.S. Iron Ore operations positively increased revenue by $150.2 million. These increases were offset partially by the decrease in sales volume of 0.9 million metric tons or a decrease in revenue of $42.3 million, from our Asia Pacific Iron Ore operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the prior-year period.
Cost of Goods Sold and Operating Expenses
The increase in Cost of goods sold and operating expenses of $44.1 million or 10.4%, excluding the increase in freight and reimbursements of $26.2 million, for the three months ended September 30, 2017 from the comparable period in 2016 was primarily due to increased production cost rates across all operations that resulted in increased costs of $39.9 million and increased sales volumes from our U.S. Iron Ore operations that resulted in $31.2 million of additional costs. These increases were offset partially by lower iron ore sales volumes from our Asia Pacific Iron Ore operations during the third quarter compared to the prior-year period that resulted in lower costs of $21.4 million and incrementally lower idle costs in our U.S. Iron Ore operations of $9.4 million.
The increase in Cost of goods sold and operating expenses of $122.1 million or 11.9%, excluding the increase in freight and reimbursements of $59.0 million, for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 from the comparable period in 2016 was primarily due to increased sales volumes from our U.S. Iron Ore operations that resulted in $108.3 million of additional costs and increased production cost rates across all operations that resulted in increased costs of $93.5 million. These increases were offset partially by incrementally lower idle costs in our U.S. Iron Ore operations of $54.6 million and lower iron ore sales volumes from our Asia Pacific Iron Ore operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the prior-year period that resulted in lower costs of $34.8 million.
Refer to “Results of Operations – Segment Information” for additional information regarding the specific factors that impacted our revenue and operating results during the period.
Other Operating Income (Expense)
The following is a summary of Other operating income (expense) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016:

| (In Millions)
| Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine Months Ended September 30,
| 2017 |  | 2016 |  | Variance Favorable/ (Unfavorable) |  | 2017 |  | 2016 |  | Variance Favorable/ (Unfavorable)
Selling, general and administrative expenses | $ | (24.6 | ) |  | $ | (31.1 | ) |  | $ | 6.5 |  |  | $ | (77.8 | ) |  | $ | (81.8 | ) |  | $ | 4.0 |
Miscellaneous - net | (5.9 | ) |  | (19.6 | ) |  | 13.7 |  |  | 3.0 |  |  | (16.9 | ) |  | 19.9 |
| $ | (30.5 | ) |  | $ | (50.7 | ) |  | $ | 20.2 |  |  | $ | (74.8 | ) |  | $ | (98.7 | ) |  | $ | 23.9 |

Selling, general and administrative expenses during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 decreased by $6.5 million and $4.0 million, respectively, from the comparable periods in 2016. The favorable variance for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 was driven by $3.5 million of union signing bonuses in the
38

Table of Contents
prior-year periods, which was not repeated in the 2017 periods. In addition, external services costs decreased by $2.0 million and $4.4 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, compared to the prior-year periods. For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, these favorable variances were offset partially by HBI project spending of $2.2 million and increased employment costs of $1.0 million.
The following is a summary of Miscellaneous - net for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016:

| (In Millions)
| Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine Months Ended September 30,
| 2017 |  | 2016 |  | Variance Favorable/ (Unfavorable) |  | 2017 |  | 2016 |  | Variance Favorable/ (Unfavorable)
Foreign exchange remeasurement | $ | (2.4 | ) |  | $ | (0.3 | ) |  | $ | (2.1 | ) |  | $ | 11.2 |  |  | $ | (1.2 | ) |  | $ | 12.4 |
Management and royalty fees | 1.6 |  |  | 0.9 |  |  | 0.7 |  |  | 4.8 |  |  | 6.8 |  |  | (2.0 | )
Empire idle costs | (5.2 | ) |  | (8.2 | ) |  | 3.0 |  |  | (17.7 | ) |  | (8.2 | ) |  | (9.5 | )
Michigan Electricity Matters accrual | — |  |  | (12.4 | ) |  | 12.4 |  |  | — |  |  | (12.4 | ) |  | 12.4 |
Other | 0.1 |  |  | 0.4 |  |  | (0.3 | ) |  | 4.7 |  |  | (1.9 | ) |  | 6.6 |
| $ | (5.9 | ) |  | $ | (19.6 | ) |  | $ | 13.7 |  |  | $ | 3.0 |  |  | $ | (16.9 | ) |  | $ | 19.9 |

Miscellaneous - net improved by $13.7 million and $19.9 million, respectively, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, from the comparable periods in 2016. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, there was an incrementally favorable consolidated impact of $12.4 million related to the FERC ruling on the Michigan Electricity Matters that was recorded in the third quarter of 2016. Additionally, for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, there was an incrementally favorable impact of $12.4 million due to the change in foreign exchange remeasurement of short-term intercompany loans and cash and cash equivalents, offset partially by an increase in Empire idle costs as the mine was indefinitely idled during August 2016.
Other Income (Expense)
The following is a summary of Other income (expense) for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016:

| (In Millions)
| Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine Months Ended September 30,
| 2017 |  | 2016 |  | Variance Favorable/ (Unfavorable) |  | 2017 |  | 2016 |  | Variance Favorable/ (Unfavorable)
Interest expense, net | $ | (28.9 | ) |  | $ | (48.7 | ) |  | $ | 19.8 |  |  | $ | (103.1 | ) |  | $ | (156.2 | ) |  | $ | 53.1 |
Gain (loss) on extinguishment/restructuring of debt | (88.6 | ) |  | (18.3 | ) |  | (70.3 | ) |  | (165.4 | ) |  | 164.1 |  |  | (329.5 | )
Other non-operating income | 0.8 |  |  | 0.1 |  |  | 0.7 |  |  | 2.3 |  |  | 0.4 |  |  | 1.9 |
| $ | (116.7 | ) |  | $ | (66.9 | ) |  | $ | (49.8 | ) |  | $ | (266.2 | ) |  | $ | 8.3 |  |  | $ | (274.5 | )

Interest expense, net for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, had a favorable variance of $19.8 million and $53.1 million, respectively, versus the comparable prior-year periods, predominantly as a result of the debt restructuring activities that occurred throughout 2017. These debt restructurings resulted in a net reduction of the outstanding principal balance of our secured and unsecured senior notes and lowered our effective interest rate.
The loss on extinguishment/restructuring of debt for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was $165.4 million related to the repurchase of certain of our unsecured senior notes and the redemption in full of all of our outstanding secured notes compared to a gain of $164.1 million related to the issuance of our 1.5 Lien Notes through the exchange offer on March 2, 2016.
Refer to NOTE 5 - DEBT AND CREDIT FACILITIES for further discussion.
39

Table of Contents
Income Taxes
Our effective tax rate is impacted by permanent items, such as depletion and the relative mix of income we earn in various foreign jurisdictions with tax rates that differ from the U.S. statutory rate. It also is affected by discrete items that may occur in any given period but are not consistent from period to period. The following represents a summary of our tax provision and corresponding effective rates for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016:

| (In Millions)
| Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine Months Ended September 30,
| 2017 |  | 2016 |  | Variance |  | 2017 |  | 2016 |  | Variance
Income tax benefit | $ | 7.6 |  |  | $ | 7.1 |  |  | $ | 0.5 |  |  | $ | 6.8 |  |  | $ | 1.7 |  |  | $ | 5.1 |
Effective tax rate | (58.5 | )% |  | 22.1 | % |  | (80.6 | )% |  | (11.3 | )% |  | (1.5 | )% |  | (9.8 | )%

A reconciliation of the statutory rate to the effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 is as follows:

| (In Millions)
| Nine Months Ended September 30,
| 2017 |  | 2016
Tax at U.S. statutory rate of 35% | $ | 21.0 |  |  | 35.0 | % |  | $ | 41.1 |  |  | 35.0 | %
Increases/(Decreases) due to: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Percentage depletion | (21.6 | ) |  | (36.0 | ) |  | (21.9 | ) |  | (18.7 | )
Worthless stock deduction | — |  |  | — |  |  | (45.4 | ) |  | (38.7 | )
State taxes | 1.1 |  |  | 1.8 |  |  | 2.7 |  |  | 2.4 |
Impact of foreign operations | 3.8 |  |  | 6.3 |  |  | (0.9 | ) |  | (0.8 | )
Non-taxable income related to noncontrolling interest | 0.4 |  |  | 0.7 |  |  | (4.3 | ) |  | (3.7 | )
Valuation allowance build (reversal) on current year operations | (5.7 | ) |  | (9.4 | ) |  | 28.4 |  |  | 24.2 |
Other items - net | — |  |  | (0.1 | ) |  | 0.8 |  |  | 0.7 |
Income tax expense (benefit) and effective income tax rate before discrete items | (1.0 | ) |  | (1.7 | ) |  | 0.5 |  |  | 0.4 |
Discrete Items: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Valuation allowance (reversal) on prior year assets | — |  |  | — |  |  | (23.9 | ) |  | (20.4 | )
Tax uncertainties | (1.2 | ) |  | (1.9 | ) |  | 0.7 |  |  | 0.6 |
Prior-year adjustments made in current year | (4.6 | ) |  | (7.7 | ) |  | 21.0 |  |  | 17.9 |
Income tax benefit and effective income tax rate including discrete items | $ | (6.8 | ) |  | (11.3 | )% |  | $ | (1.7 | ) |  | (1.5 | )%

Our tax provision for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was a benefit of $6.8 million and a negative 11.3% effective tax rate compared with a benefit of $1.7 million and a negative 1.5% effective tax rate for the comparable prior-year period.
For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, we recorded discrete items that resulted in an income tax benefit of $5.9 million and $5.8 million, respectively. These items relate primarily to the monetization of unused AMT credits upon the filing of the 2016 U.S. federal income tax return and adjustments to reserves for uncertain tax positions. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, there were discrete items that resulted in an income tax benefit of $2.9 million and $2.2 million, respectively. These items related primarily to prior year adjustments due to a change in estimate of the 2015 net operating loss and corresponding reversal of valuation allowance and quarterly interest accrued on reserves for uncertain tax positions.
Our 2017 estimated annual effective tax rate before discrete items is negative 1.7%. This estimated annual effective tax rate differs from the U.S. statutory rate of 35% primarily due to the deductions for percentage depletion in excess of cost depletion related to U.S. operations and the reversal of valuation allowance from operations in the current year.
40

Table of Contents
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, net of tax
During the three months ended September 30, 2017, the Wabush Scully Mine was sold as part of the ongoing CCAA proceedings. As part of this transaction, we were required to fund the buyer's financial assurance shortfall of $7.7 million in order to complete the conveyance of the environmental remediation obligations to the buyer, which released us from our guarantees and resulted in a net gain of $31.4 million in Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax. During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, we recorded a net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax, of $13.6 million, primarily due to recording an estimated liability of $50.0 million related to the probable assertion of a preference claim against the Company which is classified as Contingent claims in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position, partially offset by the gain discussed above. We recorded a loss from discontinued operations of $2.7 million and $0.6 million, net of tax, for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016, respectively. Refer to NOTE 18 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES for additional information.
Noncontrolling Interest
During the third quarter of 2017, our ownership interest in Empire increased to 100% as we reached an agreement to distribute the noncontrolling interest net assets for $132.7 million to ArcelorMittal in exchange for its interest in Empire. The agreement had no direct impact on the Loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interest in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Operations. However, for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Empire mine was indefinitely idled resulting in a loss attributable to the noncontrolling interest of $3.9 million. In comparison, during the nine months ended September 30, 2016, the Empire mine was operating and had income of $23.5 million attributable to the noncontrolling interest.
41

Table of Contents
Results of Operations – Segment Information
We evaluate segment performance based on sales margin, defined as revenues less cost of goods sold and operating expenses identifiable to each segment. Additionally, we evaluate performance on a segment basis, as well as a consolidated basis, based on EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA. These measures allow management and investors to focus on our ability to service our debt as well as illustrate how the business and each operating segment are performing. Additionally, EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA assist management and investors in their analysis and forecasting as these measures approximate the cash flows associated with operational earnings.
EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA

| (In Millions)
| Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine Months Ended September 30,
| 2017 |  | 2016 |  | 2017 |  | 2016
Net Income (Loss) | $ | 52.9 |  |  | $ | (27.8 | ) |  | $ | 53.2 |  |  | $ | 118.5 |
Less: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Interest expense, net | (28.9 | ) |  | (48.7 | ) |  | (103.1 | ) |  | (156.2 | )
Income tax benefit | 7.6 |  |  | 7.1 |  |  | 6.8 |  |  | 1.7 |
Depreciation, depletion and amortization | (21.5 | ) |  | (26.8 | ) |  | (66.3 | ) |  | (88.9 | )
EBITDA | $ | 95.7 |  |  | $ | 40.6 |  |  | $ | 215.8 |  |  | $ | 361.9 |
Less: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain (loss) on extinguishment/restructuring of debt | $ | (88.6 | ) |  | $ | (18.3 | ) |  | $ | (165.4 | ) |  | $ | 164.1 |
Foreign exchange remeasurement | (2.4 | ) |  | (0.3 | ) |  | 11.2 |  |  | (1.2 | )
Impact of discontinued operations | 32.3 |  |  | (2.7 | ) |  | (13.6 | ) |  | (0.6 | )
Severance and contractor termination costs | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (0.1 | )
Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 154.4 |  |  | $ | 61.9 |  |  | $ | 383.6 |  |  | $ | 199.7 |
EBITDA: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Iron Ore | $ | 168.9 |  |  | $ | 61.1 |  |  | $ | 381.8 |  |  | $ | 196.6 |
Asia Pacific Iron Ore | 2.3 |  |  | 21.2 |  |  | 54.9 |  |  | 69.6 |
Other | (75.5 | ) |  | (41.7 | ) |  | (220.9 | ) |  | 95.7 |
Total EBITDA | $ | 95.7 |  |  | $ | 40.6 |  |  | $ | 215.8 |  |  | $ | 361.9 |
Adjusted EBITDA: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
U.S. Iron Ore | $ | 174.2 |  |  | $ | 65.3 |  |  | $ | 399.8 |  |  | $ | 208.6 |
Asia Pacific Iron Ore | 4.9 |  |  | 23.7 |  |  | 61.7 |  |  | 73.2 |
Other | (24.7 | ) |  | (27.1 | ) |  | (77.9 | ) |  | (82.1 | )
Total Adjusted EBITDA | $ | 154.4 |  |  | $ | 61.9 |  |  | $ | 383.6 |  |  | $ | 199.7 |

EBITDA increased $55.1 million and decreased $146.1 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, on a consolidated basis from the comparable periods in 2016. In the third quarter of 2017, EBITDA was favorably impacted by an increase in sales margin of $74.8 million compared to the prior-year period and a net gain from discontinued operations, net of tax, of $32.3 million. These increases were offset partially by an incrementally negative impact of $70.3 million from debt extinguishment/restructuring activities during the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the prior-year period. The unfavorable variance in EBITDA for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was driven primarily by an incrementally negative impact of $329.5 million from debt extinguishment/restructuring activities compared to the prior-year period, offset partially by an increase in sales margin of $193.2 million compared to the prior-year period.
42

Table of Contents
Adjusted EBITDA increased $92.5 million and $183.9 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, from the comparable period in 2016. The increase primarily was attributable to higher consolidated sales margins of $74.8 million and $193.2 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017, respectively, compared to the prior-year periods. Refer to further detail below for additional information regarding the specific factors that impacted each reportable segment's sales margin during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.
2017 Compared to 2016
U.S. Iron Ore
The following is a summary of U.S. Iron Ore results for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016:

|  | (In Millions)
|  |  |  | Changes due to: |  |
|  | Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Revenue and cost rate |  | Sales volume |  | Idle cost/production volume variance |  | Freight and reimburse-ment |  | Total change
|  | 2017 |  | 2016 |  |  |  |  |
Revenues from product sales and services |  | $ | 596.7 |  |  | $ | 428.3 |  |  | $ | 100.5 |  |  | $ | 41.5 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 26.4 |  |  | $ | 168.4 |
Cost of goods sold and operating expenses |  | (439.5 | ) |  | (361.8 | ) |  | (29.5 | ) |  | (31.2 | ) |  | 9.4 |  |  | (26.4 | ) |  | (77.7 | )
Sales margin |  | $ | 157.2 |  |  | $ | 66.5 |  |  | $ | 71.0 |  |  | $ | 10.3 |  |  | $ | 9.4 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 90.7 |

|  | (in Millions)
|  | Three Months Ended September 30, |  |  |  |
Per Ton Information |  | 2017 |  | 2016 |  | Difference |  | Percent change
Realized product revenue rate 1 |  | $ | 90.50 |  |  | $ | 73.50 |  |  | $ | 17.00 |  |  | 23.1 | %
Cash cost of goods sold and operating expense rate 1,2 |  | 60.87 |  |  | 57.37 |  |  | 3.50 |  |  | 6.1 | %
Depreciation, depletion & amortization |  | 2.81 |  |  | 3.56 |  |  | (0.75 | ) |  | (21.1 | )%
Total cost of goods sold and operating expenses rate |  | 63.68 |  |  | 60.93 |  |  | 2.75 |  |  | 4.5 | %
Sales margin |  | $ | 26.82 |  |  | $ | 12.57 |  |  | $ | 14.25 |  |  | 113.4 | %
Sales tons 3 (In thousands) |  | 5,863 |  |  | 5,287 |  |  |  |  |
Production tons 3 (In thousands) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total |  | 6,048 |  |  | 5,722 |  |  |  |  |
Cliffs’ share of total |  | 4,265 |  |  | 3,857 |  |  |  |  |
1 Excludes revenues and expenses related to domestic freight, which are offsetting and have no impact on sales margin. Revenues and expenses also exclude venture partner cost reimbursements.
2 Cash cost of goods sold and operating expense rate is a non-GAAP financial measure. Refer to "Non-GAAP Reconciliation" for reconciliation in dollars back to our consolidated financial statements.
3 Tons are long tons.

Sales margin for U.S. Iron Ore was $157.2 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared with $66.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016. Sales margin per long ton increased 113.4% to $26.82 during the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2016.
Revenue increased by $142.0 million during the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared to the prior-year period, excluding the freight and reimbursements increase of $26.4 million, predominantly due to:

• | An increase in the average year-to-date realized product revenue rate of $17 per long ton or 23.1% during the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared to the same period in the previous year, which resulted in an increase of $101 million. This is predominantly due to:

43

Table of Contents

◦ | An increase in Platts 62% Price, which positively affected the realized revenue rate by $9 per long ton or $55 million;

◦ | Higher pellet premiums, which positively affected the realized revenue rate by $5 per long ton or $31 million; and

◦ | An increase in the average annual daily market price for hot-rolled coil steel, which positively affected the realized revenue rate by $5 per long ton or $30 million.

◦ | These increases were offset partially by higher index freight rates, a component in some of our contract pricing formulas, which negatively affected the realized revenue rate by $4 per long ton or $22 million.

• | Higher sales volumes of 0.6 million long tons, which resulted in increased revenue of $42 million. This is predominantly due to:

◦ | Increased demand from a customer during the third quarter of 2017, providing additional sales volume of 0.7 million long tons, compared to the prior-year period when the customer had sufficient inventory due to the idle of one of its facilities and additional suppliers;

◦ | Increased exports as a result of advantageous market pricing during the third quarter of 2017, providing additional sales volume of 0.5 million long tons, compared to the prior-year period; and

◦ | Increased demand from a customer during the third quarter of 2017, providing additional sales volume of 0.3 million long tons, due to the customer's lack of storage space in the prior-year period.

◦ | These increases were offset partially due to engaging in no spot contracts during the third quarter of 2017, resulting in a decrease in sales volume of 0.9 million long tons compared to the prior-year period.

Cost of goods sold and operating expenses increased $51.3 million during the three months ended September 30, 2017, excluding the freight and reimbursements increase of $26.4 million, compared to the same period in 2016, predominantly as a result of:

• | Higher spending on repairs and maintenance of $15 million or $3 per long ton, higher profit sharing and benefit costs of $10 million or $2 per long ton, and higher energy rates for natural gas, diesel and electricity of $5 million or $1 per long ton; and

• | Increased sales volumes of 0.6 million long tons, which resulted in increased costs of $31 million period-over-period.

• | Partially offset by decreased costs of $9 million or $2 per long ton due to the idle of the United Taconite and Northshore mines during the prior-year period compared to the 2017 period.

44

Table of Contents
2017 Compared to 2016
U.S. Iron Ore
The following is a summary of U.S. Iron Ore results for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016:

|  | (In Millions)
|  |  |  | Changes due to: |  |
|  | Nine Months Ended September 30, |  | Revenue and cost rate |  | Sales volume |  | Idle cost/production volume variance |  | Freight and reimburse-ment |  | Total change
|  | 2017 |  | 2016 |  |  |  |  |
Revenues from product sales and services |  | $ | 1,354.2 |  |  | $ | 975.5 |  |  | $ | 173.3 |  |  | $ | 150.2 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 55.2 |  |  | $ | 378.7 |
Cost of goods sold and operating expenses |  | (1,004.4 | ) |  | (825.8 | ) |  | (69.7 | ) |  | (108.3 | ) |  | 54.6 |  |  | (55.2 | ) |  | (178.6 | )
Sales margin |  | $ | 349.8 |  |  | $ | 149.7 |  |  | $ | 103.6 |  |  | $ | 41.9 |  |  | $ | 54.6 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 200.1 |

|  | (in Millions)
|  | Nine Months Ended September 30, |  |  |  |
Per Ton Information |  | 2017 |  | 2016 |  | Difference |  | Percent change
Realized product revenue rate 1 |  | $ | 89.91 |  |  | $ | 76.82 |  |  | $ | 13.09 |  |  | 17.0 | %
Cash cost of goods sold and operating expense rate 1,2 |  | 59.86 |  |  | 57.89 |  |  | 1.97 |  |  | 3.4 | %
Depreciation, depletion & amortization |  | 3.73 |  |  | 5.74 |  |  | (2.01 | ) |  | (35.0 | )%
Total cost of goods sold and operating expenses rate |  | 63.59 |  |  | 63.63 |  |  | (0.04 | ) |  | (0.1 | )%
Sales margin |  | $ | 26.32 |  |  | $ | 13.19 |  |  | $ | 13.13 |  |  | 99.5 | %
Sales tons 3 (In thousands) |  | 13,291 |  |  | 11,343 |  |  |  |  |
Production tons 3 (In thousands) |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Total |  | 18,353 |  |  | 16,622 |  |  |  |  |
Cliffs’ share of total |  | 13,233 |  |  | 11,059 |  |  |  |  |
1 Excludes revenues and expenses related to domestic freight, which are offsetting and have no impact on sales margin. Revenues and expenses also exclude venture partner cost reimbursements.
2 Cash cost of goods sold and operating expense rate is a non-GAAP financial measure. Refer to "Non-GAAP Reconciliation" for reconciliation in dollars back to our consolidated financial statements.
3 Tons are long tons.

Sales margin for U.S. Iron Ore was $349.8 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared with $149.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Sales margin per long ton increased 99.5% to $26.32 in the first nine months of 2017 compared to the first nine months of 2016.
Revenue increased by $323.5 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to the prior-year period, excluding the freight and reimbursements increase of $55.2 million, predominantly due to:

• | An increase in the average year-to-date realized product revenue rate of $13 per long ton or 17.0% during the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to the same period in the previous year, which resulted in an increase of $173 million. This is predominantly due to:

◦ | An increase in Platts 62% Price, which positively affected the realized revenue rate by $11 per long ton or $146 million;

◦ | An increase in the average annual daily market price and customer pricing for hot-rolled coil steel, which positively affected the realized revenue rate by $6 per long ton or $78 million; and

◦ | Higher pellet premiums, which positively affected the realized revenue rate by $5 per long ton or $63 million.

45

Table of Contents

◦ | These increases were offset partially by changes in customer and contract mix and carryover pricing impacts, which negatively affected the realized revenue rate by $6 per long ton or $84 million; and

◦ | Higher index freight rates, a component in some of our contract pricing formulas, which negatively affected the realized revenue rate by $3 per long ton or $38 million.

• | Higher sales volumes of 1.9 million long tons, which resulted in increased revenues of $150 million predominantly due to:

◦ | Increased demand from a customer during the nine months ended September 30, 2017, providing additional sales volume of 1.8 million long tons, compared to the prior-year period when the customer had sufficient inventory due to the idle of one of its facilities and additional suppliers;

◦ | Additional sales volume of 1.7 million long tons to a customer in the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to the prior-year period due to timing of shipments, increased demand due to higher operational levels in the current year and higher inventory levels in the prior year; and

◦ | Increased demand from a customer during the nine months ended September 30, 2017, providing additional sales volume of 1.2 million long tons, resulting from the fourth quarter of 2015 termination of its contract, which was then reinstated and became effective during the first quarter of 2017.

◦ | These increases were offset partially due to engaging in no spot contracts with two customers during the third quarter of 2017, resulting in a decrease in sales volume of 2.1 million long tons compared to the prior-year period; and

◦ | Decreased sales from a customer due to timing and a transitioning to our Mustang pellet, resulting in a decrease in sales volume of 0.9 million long tons compared to the prior-year period.

Cost of goods sold and operating expenses increased $123.4 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2017, excluding the freight and reimbursements increase of $55.2 million, compared to the same period in 2016, predominantly as a result of:

• | Increased sales volumes as discussed above which resulted in increased costs of $108 million period-over-period; and

• | Higher spending on repairs and maintenance of $33 million or $3 per long ton, higher profit sharing and benefit costs of $22 million or $2 per long ton, and higher energy rates for natural gas, diesel and electricity of $12 million or $1 per long ton.

• | These increases were offset partially by decreased idle costs of $55 million or $4 per long ton due to the idle of the United Taconite and Northshore mines during the prior-year period.

Production
Cliffs' share of production in its U.S. Iron Ore segment increased by 19.7% in the first nine months of 2017 when compared to the same period in 2016. The increase in production volume primarily is attributable to all mining facilities fully operating compared to the various idled operations during the previous-year period. United Taconite was fully operating during the first nine months of 2017, adding an incremental 3.1 million long tons of production, compared to the previous year's production levels as a result of being idled until it was restarted again in August 2016. Secondly, Northshore added incremental tonnage of 2.0 million long tons during the first nine months of 2017, when it was substantially at full production, compared to its previous year's production tonnage when it was fully idled for the first four months of 2016. These production gains were offset partially by the indefinite idle of the Empire mine in August 2016, lowering production by 2.7 million long tons, compared to the prior-year period when the mine was operating.
46

Table of Contents
Asia Pacific Iron Ore
The following is a summary of Asia Pacific Iron Ore results for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016:

|  | (In Millions)
|  |  |  | Change due to: |  |
|  | Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Revenue and cost rate |  | Sales volume |  | Exchange rate |  | Freight and reimburse-ment |  | Total change
|  | 2017 |  | 2016 |  |  |  |  |
Revenues from product sales and services |  | $ | 101.7 |  |  | $ | 125.0 |  |  | $ | 2.3 |  |  | $ | (25.6 | ) |  | $ | 0.2 |  |  | $ | (0.2 | ) |  | $ | (23.3 | )
Cost of goods sold and operating expenses |  | (98.7 | ) |  | (106.1 | ) |  | (10.4 | ) |  | 21.4 |  |  | (3.8 | ) |  | 0.2 |  |  | 7.4 |
Sales margin |  | $ | 3.0 |  |  | $ | 18.9 |  |  | $ | (8.1 | ) |  | $ | (4.2 | ) |  | $ | (3.6 | ) |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | (15.9 | )

|  | (in Millions)
|  | Three Months Ended September 30, |  |  |  |
Per Ton Information |  | 2017 |  | 2016 |  | Difference |  | Percent change
Realized product revenue rate 1 |  | $ | 43.36 |  |  | $ | 42.87 |  |  | $ | 0.49 |  |  | 1.1 | %
Cash cost of goods sold and operating expense rate 1,2 |  | 40.54 |  |  | 33.87 |  |  | 6.67 |  |  | 19.7 | %
Depreciation, depletion & amortization |  | 1.48 |  |  | 2.25 |  |  | (0.77 | ) |  | (34.2 | )%
Total cost of goods sold and operating expenses rate |  | 42.02 |  |  | 36.12 |  |  | 5.90 |  |  | 16.3 | %
Sales margin |  | $ | 1.34 |  |  | $ | 6.75 |  |  | $ | (5.41 | ) |  | (80.1 | )%
Sales tons 3 (In thousands) |  | 2,235 |  |  | 2,799 |  |  |  |  |
Production tons 3 (In thousands) |  | 2,477 |  |  | 2,968 |  |  |  |  |
1 The information above excludes revenues and expenses related to freight, which are offsetting and have no impact on sales margin.
2 Cash cost of goods sold and operating expense rate is a non-GAAP financial measure. Refer to "Non-GAAP Reconciliation" for reconciliation in dollars back to our consolidated financial statements.
3 Tons are metric tons.

Sales margin for Asia Pacific Iron Ore decreased to $3.0 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017 compared with $18.9 million for the three months ended September 30, 2016. Sales margin per metric ton decreased 80.1% to $1.34 during the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared to the three months ended September 30, 2016.
Revenue decreased $23.1 million during the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared to the prior-year period, excluding the freight and reimbursements decrease of $0.2 million, predominantly due to:

• | Decreased sales volume of 0.6 million metric tons, or 20.2%, to 2.2 million metric tons in the third quarter of 2017, compared to the prior-year period. The decrease was driven primarily by lower production volumes, a result of operational decisions reflecting current market conditions and quality ore availability which resulted in decreased revenue of $26 million compared to the prior-year period.

• | This decrease was offset partially by an increase in average year-to-date realized product revenue of $0.49 per metric ton or 1.1% during the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared to the same period in the previous year, which resulted in an increase of $2.5 million, including the impact of foreign exchange. This increase is predominantly a result of:

◦ | An increase in the Platts 62% Price, which positively affected the realized revenue rate by $12 per metric ton or $26 million.

47

Table of Contents

◦ | This increase was offset partially by a decrease in revenue rate of $11 per metric ton or $24 million due to price and quality adjustments to meet market conditions and to compensate for varying quality ores and a reduction in iron content.

Cost of goods sold and operating expenses decreased $7.2 million during the three months ended September 30, 2017, compared to the same period in 2016, excluding the freight and reimbursements decrease of $0.2 million, predominantly as a result of:

• | Decreased sales volume of 0.6 million metric tons as discussed above which resulted in decreased costs of $21 million period-over-period.

• | This decrease was offset partially by an increase in production costs of $10 million or $5 per metric ton, predominantly due to increased mining costs driven by a higher strip ratio, higher logistic costs driven by increased freight rates, and higher administrative costs; and

• | Unfavorable foreign exchange rate variances of $4 million or $2 per metric ton.

Asia Pacific Iron Ore
The following is a summary of Asia Pacific Iron Ore results for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016:

|  | (In Millions)
|  |  |  | Change due to: |  |
|  | Nine Months Ended September 30, |  | Revenue and cost rate |  | Sales volume |  | Exchange rate |  | Freight and reimburse-ment |  | Total change
|  | 2017 |  | 2016 |  |  |  |  |
Revenues from product sales and services |  | $ | 375.1 |  |  | $ | 379.5 |  |  | $ | 35.0 |  |  | $ | (42.3 | ) |  | $ | (0.9 | ) |  | $ | 3.8 |  |  | $ | (4.4 | )
Cost of goods sold and operating expenses |  | (323.9 | ) |  | (321.4 | ) |  | (23.8 | ) |  | 34.8 |  |  | (9.7 | ) |  | (3.8 | ) |  | (2.5 | )
Sales margin |  | $ | 51.2 |  |  | $ | 58.1 |  |  | $ | 11.2 |  |  | $ | (7.5 | ) |  | $ | (10.6 | ) |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | (6.9 | )

|  | (in Millions)
|  | Nine Months Ended September 30, |  |  |  |
Per Ton Information |  | 2017 |  | 2016 |  | Difference |  | Percent change
Realized product revenue rate 1 |  | $ | 46.03 |  |  | $ | 41.99 |  |  | $ | 4.04 |  |  | 9.6 | %
Cash cost of goods sold and operating expense rate 1,2 |  | 37.98 |  |  | 33.11 |  |  | 4.87 |  |  | 14.7 | %
Depreciation, depletion & amortization |  | 1.46 |  |  | 2.21 |  |  | (0.75 | ) |  | (33.9 | )%
Total cost of goods sold and operating expenses rate |  | 39.44 |  |  | 35.32 |  |  | 4.12 |  |  | 11.7 | %
Sales margin |  | $ | 6.59 |  |  | $ | 6.67 |  |  | $ | (0.08 | ) |  | (1.2 | )%
Sales tons 3 (In thousands) |  | 7,763 |  |  | 8,705 |  |  |  |  |
Production tons 3 (In thousands) |  | 7,910 |  |  | 8,575 |  |  |  |  |
1 The information above excludes revenues and expenses related to freight, which are offsetting and have no impact on sales margin.
2 Cash cost of goods sold and operating expense rate is a non-GAAP financial measure. Refer to "Non-GAAP Reconciliation" for reconciliation in dollars back to our consolidated financial statements.
3 Tons are metric tons.

Sales margin for Asia Pacific Iron Ore decreased to $51.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared with $58.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2016. Sales margin per metric ton decreased 1.2% to $6.59 for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to the nine months ended September 30, 2016.
48

Table of Contents
Revenue decreased $8.2 million in the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to the prior-year period, excluding the freight and reimbursements increase of $3.8 million, predominantly due to:

• | Decreased sales volume of 0.9 million metric tons, or 10.8%, to 7.8 million metric tons during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the prior-year period. The decrease in tons sold was driven by lower production, as discussed below, which limited our ability to engage in short-term contract sales and resulted in decreased revenue of $42 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the prior-year period.

• | This decrease was offset partially by an increase in the average year-to-date realized product revenue rate of $4 per metric ton or 9.6% during the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared to the same period in the previous year, which resulted in an increase of $34 million, including the impact of foreign exchange. This increase is predominantly a result of:

◦ | An increase in the Platts 62% Price, which positively affected the realized revenue rate by $18 per metric ton or $141 million.

◦ | This increase was offset partially by a decrease in revenue rate of $10 per metric ton or $79 million due to price and quality adjustments to meet market competition and to compensate for varying quality ores and a reduction in iron content; and

◦ | Higher average Western Australia to China freight rates, a component in some of our contract pricing formulas, unfavorably affected the revenue rate by $3 per metric ton or $21 million.

Cost of goods sold and operating expenses decreased $1.3 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 compared to the same period in 2016, excluding the freight and reimbursements increase of $3.8 million, predominantly as a result of:

• | A decrease in sales volume of 0.9 million metric tons, which decreased costs by $35 million.

• | This decrease was offset partially by an increase in production costs of $24 million or $3 per metric ton, predominantly due to increased mining costs driven by a higher strip ratio and increased administrative costs; and

• | Unfavorable foreign exchange rate variances of $10 million or $1 per metric ton.

Production
Production at our Asia Pacific Iron Ore mining complex decreased by 7.8% or 0.7 million metric tons during the first nine months of 2017 compared to the same period in 2016 driven by operational decisions to reflect current market conditions and quality ore availability.
Liquidity, Cash Flows and Capital Resources
Our primary sources of liquidity are cash generated from our operating and financing activities. Our capital allocation decision-making process is focused on improving the strength of our balance sheet and creating financial flexibility to manage through the inherent cyclical demand for our products and volatility in commodity prices. We are focused on the preservation of liquidity in our business through maximizing the cash generation of our operations as well as reducing operating costs, aligning capital investments with our strategic priorities and the requirements of our business plan, including regulatory and permission-to-operate related projects, and managing SG&A expenses.
During the nine months ended September 30, 2017, we took action consistent with our capital allocation priorities and our stated objective of improving the strength of our balance sheet. Through the issuance of common shares in an underwritten public offering resulting in net proceeds of $661.3 million and two debt offerings for an aggregate principal amount of $1.075 billion, we extinguished $1.611 billion of our existing debt, thereby lowering our total debt by $503.2 million, decreasing our overall average interest rate to 5.71% and extending our debt maturities.
Based on our outlook for the next twelve months, which is subject to continued changing demand from steel makers that utilize our products and volatility in iron ore and domestic steel prices, we expect to generate cash from operations sufficient to meet the needs of our existing operations and to service our debt obligations. However, we do not anticipate generating cash from operations sufficient to meet the additional capital spend associated with the HBI project. We have several options available to us to address this potential shortfall, including the cash on our balance
49

Table of Contents
sheet, availability under our ABL Facility, access to capital markets or by obtaining a partner or partners for the HBI project.
Refer to “Outlook” for additional guidance regarding expected future results, including projections on sales volume and production.
The following discussion summarizes the significant activities impacting our cash flows during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 as well as known expected impacts to our future cash flows over the next 12 months. Refer to the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Cash Flows for additional information.
Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities was $206.7 million and $72.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. The increase in cash provided by operating activities in the first nine months of 2017 was primarily due to the improved operating results previously discussed related to our U.S. Iron Ore operating segment offset partially by cash outflows for working capital. The working capital change for the first nine months of 2017 versus the first nine months of 2016 was primarily driven by the timing of inventory and accounts receivable movements.
We believe we have sufficient capital resources for the next 12 months to support our operations and other financial obligations through cash generated from operations and our financing arrangements augmented by our efficient tax structure that allows us to repatriate cash from our foreign operations, if necessary. Our U.S. cash and cash equivalents balance at September 30, 2017 was $200.9 million, or approximately 77.0% of our consolidated total cash and cash equivalents balance of $260.8 million.
Investing Activities
Net cash used by investing activities was $84.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, compared with $39.5 million for the comparable period in 2016. We spent approximately $34 million and $31 million globally on expenditures related to sustaining capital during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016, respectively. Sustaining capital spend includes infrastructure, mobile equipment, environment, safety, fixed equipment, product quality and health. Additionally, during the first nine months of 2017, we spent approximately $40 million on our capital project to produce a specialized, super-flux pellet called "Mustang" at United Taconite in order to meet a customer's pellet specification requirements. We have spent a total of approximately $72 million on the project to date and expect the remaining payments of $4 million to be paid during the fourth quarter of 2017.
In alignment with our strategy to prioritize our capital allocation between liquidity management and business investment, we anticipate total cash used for capital expenditures during the next twelve months to be approximately $270 million, the vast majority of which relates to our U.S. operations. Included within this estimate is approximately $130 million related to development of the HBI production plant in Toledo, Ohio and $40 million for upgrades at the Northshore plant to enable it to produce significantly increased levels of DR-grade pellets that could be sold commercially or used as feedstock for the HBI production plant. In total, we expect to spend approximately $700 million on the HBI production plant and $75 million on the Northshore upgrades, exclusive of construction-related contingencies and capitalized interest, through 2020.
Financing Activities
Net cash used by financing activities in the first nine months of 2017 was $188.6 million, compared to $186.0 million for the comparable period in 2016. Uses of cash for financing activities during the first nine months of 2017 included the redemption of various tranches of secured and unsecured debt. We redeemed in full all of our outstanding 8.25% Senior Secured Notes due 2020, 8.00% 1.5 Lien Notes due 2020 and 7.75% Second Lien Notes due 2020 and purchased certain other outstanding senior notes through tender offers and redemptions. The total aggregate principal amount of debt redeemed and purchased, including premiums, during the first nine months of 2017 was $1.721 billion. To fund the redemptions mentioned above, we utilized cash provided by financing activities during the first nine months of 2017, which included a common share offering, generating net proceeds of $661.3 million, and the issuance of $1.075 billion aggregate principal amount of 5.75% Senior Notes due 2025, which provided further net proceeds of approximately $1.046 billion.
Additionally, we finalized an agreement to distribute the net assets of the noncontrolling interest in Empire to ArcelorMittal in exchange for its interest in Empire and made the first distribution of approximately $44.2 million. The remaining annual installments of $44.2 million are due in August 2018 and August 2019. We also acquired the remaining 15% equity interest in Tilden owned by U.S. Steel for $105.0 million.
50

Table of Contents
Net cash used by financing activities in the first nine months of 2016, included paying off the remaining balance of our Canadian equipment loans of $95.6 million, making distributions of partnership equity of $52.5 million and redeeming all of our outstanding senior notes due 2018 for $301.0 million, which was offset partially by net proceeds from the issuance of common shares of $287.6 million.
Capital Resources
The following represents a summary of key liquidity measures as of September 30, 2017 and December 31, 2016:

| (In Millions)
| September 30, 2017 |  | December 31, 2016
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 260.8 |  |  | $ | 323.4 |
Available borrowing base on ABL Facility 1 | $ | 254.2 |  |  | $ | 333.0 |
ABL Facility loans drawn | — |  |  | — |
Letter of credit obligations and other commitments | (45.0 | ) |  | (106.0 | )
Borrowing capacity available | $ | 209.2 |  |  | $ | 227.0 |
1 The ABL Facility has a maximum borrowing base of $550 million, determined by applying customary advance rates to eligible accounts receivable, inventory and certain mobile equipment.

Our primary sources of funding are cash on hand, which totaled $260.8 million as of September 30, 2017, cash generated by our business and availability under the ABL Facility. The combination of cash and availability under the ABL Facility gives us $470.0 million in liquidity entering the fourth quarter of 2017, which is expected to be adequate to fund operations, letter of credit obligations, sustaining and expansion capital expenditures and other cash commitments for at least the next 12 months.
As of September 30, 2017, we were in compliance with the ABL Facility liquidity requirements and, therefore, the springing financial covenant requiring a minimum Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of 1.0 to 1.0 was not applicable. We believe that the cash on hand and the ABL Facility provide us sufficient liquidity to support our operating, investing and financing activities. We have the capability to issue additional unsecured notes and, subject to the limitations set forth in our existing debt indentures, additional secured indebtedness, if we elect to access the debt capital markets. However, available capacity of these notes could be limited by market conditions.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
In the normal course of business, we are a party to certain arrangements that are not reflected on our Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position. These arrangements include minimum "take or pay" purchase commitments, such as minimum electric power demand charges, minimum coal, diesel and natural gas purchase commitments, minimum railroad transportation commitments and minimum port facility usage commitments; financial instruments with off-balance sheet risk, such as bank letters of credit and bank guarantees; and operating leases, which relate primarily to equipment and office space.
Market Risks
We are subject to a variety of risks, including those caused by changes in commodity prices, foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates. We have established policies and procedures to manage such risks; however, certain risks are beyond our control.
Pricing Risks
Commodity Price Risk
Our consolidated revenues include the sale of iron ore pellets, iron ore lump and iron ore fines. Our financial results can vary significantly as a result of fluctuations in the market prices of iron ore and hot-rolled coil. World market prices for these commodities have fluctuated historically and are affected by numerous factors beyond our control. The world market price that is most commonly utilized in our iron ore sales contracts is the Platts 62% Price, which can fluctuate widely due to numerous factors, such as global economic growth or contraction, change in demand for steel
51

Table of Contents
or change in availability of supply. The other important metric in our price realizations in the U.S. is the price for domestic hot-rolled coil steel, which can fluctuate due to similar factors.
Customer Supply Agreements
Certain supply agreements with one U.S. Iron Ore customer provide for supplemental revenue or refunds based on the customer’s annual steel pricing or the average annual daily market price for hot-rolled coil steel at the time the product is consumed in the customer’s blast furnaces. In the new contract that commenced in 2017, this supplemental revenue and refund data source changes from the customer's average annual steel price to an average annual daily market price for hot-rolled coil steel. At September 30, 2017, we had derivative assets of $84.8 million, representing the fair value of the pricing factors, based upon the amount of unconsumed long tons and an estimated average hot-rolled coil steel price related to the period in which the iron ore is expected to be consumed in the customer's blast furnaces, subject to final pricing at a future date. We estimate that a $75 positive or negative change in the customer's average hot-rolled coil steel price or the average daily market price for hot-rolled coil steel realized in the fourth quarter of 2017 from the year-to-date September 30, 2017 estimated average price recorded, would cause the fair value of the derivative instrument to increase or decrease by approximately $15 million, respectively, thereby impacting our consolidated revenues by the same amount.
We have not entered into any hedging programs to mitigate the risk of adverse price fluctuations.
Provisional Pricing Arrangements
Certain of our U.S. Iron Ore and Asia Pacific Iron Ore customer supply agreements specify provisional price calculations, where the pricing mechanisms generally are based on market pricing, with the final revenue rate to be based on market inputs at a specified point in time in the future, per the terms of the supply agreements. At September 30, 2017, we had derivative assets and liabilities of $4.7 million and $9.3 million, respectively, reflected as part of our U.S. Iron Ore and Asia Pacific Iron Ore segment revenue, representing the fair value of the provisional price calculations. We estimate that a positive or negative $10 change in the Platts 62% Price from the September 30, 2017 estimated price recorded would cause the fair value of the derivative instrument to increase or decrease by approximately $5 million, respectively, for our Asia Pacific Iron Ore segment. Additionally, for our U.S. Iron Ore segment, one customer's supply agreement has a pricing mechanism based on the average annual daily market price for hot-rolled coil steel in addition to the Platts 62% Price. In this case, a $75 positive or negative change in the fourth quarter 2017 average daily market price for hot-rolled coil steel from the from the year-to-date September 30, 2017 estimated average price recorded, would cause the fair value of the derivative instrument to increase or decrease by approximately $1 million, respectively, thereby impacting our consolidated revenues by the same amount. Further, we estimate that if the average Platts 62% Price during the remaining three months of 2017 is $10 higher or lower than the September 30, 2017 estimated price, this would cause the fair value of the derivative instrument to increase or decrease by approximately $14 million, respectively, for our U.S. Iron Ore segment.
We have not entered into any hedging programs to mitigate the risk of adverse price fluctuations.
Volatile Energy and Fuel Costs
The volatile cost of energy is an important factor affecting the production costs at our iron ore operations. Our consolidated U.S. Iron Ore operations consumed 12.5 million MMBtu’s of natural gas at an average delivered price of $3.57 per MMBtu, excluding the natural gas hedge impact or $3.65 per MMBtu net of the natural gas hedge impact during the first nine months of 2017. Additionally, our consolidated U.S. Iron Ore operations consumed 16.6 million gallons of diesel fuel at an average delivered price of $1.77 per gallon, excluding the diesel fuel hedge impact or $1.79 per gallon net of the diesel fuel hedge impact during the first nine months of 2017. Consumption of diesel fuel by our Asia Pacific operations was 8.5 million gallons at an average delivered price of $1.69 per gallon for the same period.
In the ordinary course of business, there may also be increases in prices relative to electrical costs at our U.S. mine sites. Specifically, our Tilden mine in Michigan has entered into large curtailable special contracts with Wisconsin Electric Power Company. Charges under those special contracts are subject to a power supply cost recovery mechanism that is based on variations in the utility's actual fuel and purchase power expenses.
Our strategy to address volatile natural gas and diesel rates includes improving efficiency in energy usage, identifying alternative providers and utilizing the lowest cost alternative fuels. An energy hedging program was implemented in order to manage the price risk of diesel and natural gas at our U.S. Iron Ore mines during the first quarter of 2017. We will continue to monitor relevant energy markets for risk mitigation opportunities and may make additional forward purchases or employ other hedging instruments in the future as warranted and deemed appropriate by management. Assuming we do not enter into further hedging activity in the near term, a 10% change from our current
52

Table of Contents
average year-to-date natural gas and diesel fuel prices would result in a change of $3 million in our annual fuel and energy cost based on expected consumption for the rest of 2017.
Valuation of Other Long-Lived Assets
Long-lived assets are reviewed for impairment upon the occurrence of events or changes in circumstances that would indicate that the carrying value of the assets may not be recoverable. Such indicators may include, among others: a significant decline in expected future cash flows; a sustained, significant decline in market pricing; a significant adverse change in legal or environmental factors or in the business climate; changes in estimates of our recoverable reserves; unanticipated competition; and slower growth or production rates. Any adverse change in these factors could have a significant impact on the recoverability of our long-lived assets and could have a material impact on our consolidated statements of operations and statement of financial position.
A comparison of each asset group's carrying value to the estimated undiscounted future cash flows expected to result from the use of the assets, including cost of disposition, is used to determine if an asset is recoverable. Projected future cash flows reflect management's best estimates of economic and market conditions over the projected period, including growth rates in revenues and costs, estimates of future expected changes in operating margins and capital expenditures. If the carrying value of the asset group is higher than its undiscounted future cash flows, the asset group is measured at fair value and the difference is recorded as a reduction to the long-lived assets. We estimate fair value using a market approach, an income approach or a cost approach. As of September 30, 2017, there were no indicators present indicative of impairment or the inability to recover the value of our long-lived assets.
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk
We are subject to changes in foreign currency exchange rates as a result of our operations in Australia, which could impact our financial condition. With respect to Australia, foreign exchange risk arises from our exposure to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates because our reporting currency is the U.S. dollar but the functional currency of our Asia Pacific operations is the Australian dollar. Our Asia Pacific operations receive funds in U.S. currency for their iron ore sales and incur costs in Australian currency. We estimate that if the average Australian dollar to U.S. dollar exchange rate during the remaining three months of 2017 is $0.05 higher or lower than the September 30, 2017 rate, this would cause our cash cost of goods sold and operating expense to increase or decrease by approximately $7 million, respectively, for our Asia Pacific Iron Ore segment.
We have not entered into any hedging programs to mitigate the risk of adverse currency fluctuations. We have suspended entering into new foreign exchange rate contracts through 2017 as we have waived compliance with our current derivative financial instruments and hedging activities policy through December 31, 2017. In the future, we may enter into additional hedging instruments as needed in order to further hedge our exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates.
Interest Rate Risk
Interest payable on our senior notes is at fixed rates. Interest payable under our ABL Facility is at a variable rate based upon the base rate plus the base rate margin depending on the excess availability. As of September 30, 2017, we had no amounts drawn on the ABL Facility.
During 2017, we issued the 5.75% Senior Notes in private transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. Pursuant to the registration rights agreement executed as part of the issuances, we agreed to file a registration statement with the SEC with respect to a registered offer to exchange the 5.75% Senior Notes for publicly registered notes within 365 days of the issue date. If we fail to satisfy our obligations under the registration rights agreement, we will be required to pay additional interest to the holders of the 5.75% Senior Notes under certain circumstances. In the event of a registration default, the interest rate will be increased by 0.25% per annum during the 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of any registration default, and such rate shall increase by 0.25% per annum at the end of each subsequent 90-day period until all registration defaults have been cured, up to a maximum additional interest rate of 1.00% per annum.
Supply Concentration Risks
Many of our mines are dependent on one source each of electric power and natural gas. A significant interruption or change in service or rates from our energy suppliers could impact materially our production costs, margins and profitability.
53

Table of Contents
Outlook
Segment Outlook

|  | 2017 Outlook Summary
Per Sales Ton Information | U.S. Iron Ore 1 |  | Asia Pacific Iron Ore 2
Cost of goods sold and operating expense rate | $70 - $75 |  | $40 - $45
Less: |  |  |
Freight and venture partners' cost reimbursements expense rate 3 | $11 |  | $3
Depreciation, depletion & amortization rate | $4 |  | $1
Cash cost of goods sold and operating expense rate | $55 - $60 |  | $36 - $41
Sales volume (million tons) | 18.5 |  | 10.5
Production volume (million tons) | 18.5 |  | 11.0
1 U.S. Iron Ore tons are reported in long tons of pellets.
2 Asia Pacific Iron Ore tons are reported in metric tons of lump and fines.
3 The freight and venture partners' cost reimbursements have offsetting amounts in revenue and have no impact on sales margin.

U.S. Iron Ore Outlook (Long Tons)
Our full-year sales and production volume expectations were each reduced by 500,000 tons to 18.5 million long tons. The reduction in sales volumes is attributable to a significant reduction in pellet nomination by a large customer, partially offset by increased export sales.
For 2018, we expect sales and production volumes of 20 million long tons, as a result of the increased capacity from the acquisition of the remaining minority interest in the Tilden mine.
Our full-year 2017 U.S. Iron Ore cash cost of goods sold and operating expense expectation is unchanged at $55 - $60 per long ton.
Asia Pacific Iron Ore Outlook (Metric Tons, F.O.B. the port)
Our full-year 2017 Asia Pacific Iron Ore sales and production volume expectations were each reduced by 500,000 metric tons, to 10.5 million metric tons of sales and 11 million metric tons of production. The reductions were driven by operational decisions reflecting current market conditions and quality ore availability.
For 2018, we expect Asia Pacific Iron Ore sales and production volumes of 11 million tons.
Due to unfavorable exchange rate movements and lower production volumes, our full-year 2017 cash cost of goods sold and operating expense expectation has been increased to $36 - $41 per metric ton. This assumes a full-year average exchange rate of $0.77 U.S. Dollar to Australian Dollar.
SG&A Expenses and Other Expectations
We are maintaining our full-year 2017 SG&A expense expectation of $110 million. We also note that of the $110 million expectation, approximately $30 million is considered non-cash.
As a result of the July refinancing transaction, our full-year 2017 interest expense was reduced by $5 million to approximately $130 million. Of this $130 million, approximately $20 million is expected to be non-cash. In 2018, we expect net interest expense to be less than $100 million.
Capital Budget Update
Our full-year 2017 capital expenditures budget has been maintained at $115 million.
54

Table of Contents
Forward-Looking Statements
This report 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 report, 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 report include, but are not limited to:

• | uncertainty and weaknesses in global economic conditions, including downward pressure on prices caused by oversupply or imported products, the impact of any reduced barriers to trade, the outcomes of recently filed and forthcoming trade cases, reduced market demand and any change to the economic growth rate in China;

• | continued volatility of iron ore and steel prices and other trends, including the supply approach of the major iron ore producers, affecting our financial condition, results of operations or future prospects, specifically the impact of price-adjustment factors on our sales contracts;

• | our level of indebtedness could limit cash flow available to fund working capital, capital expenditures, acquisitions and other general corporate purposes or ongoing needs of our business;

• | availability of capital and our ability to maintain adequate liquidity;

• | our ability to successfully conclude the CCAA process in a manner that minimizes cash outflows and associated liabilities;

• | the impact of our customers reducing their steel production due to increased market share of steel produced using other methods or lighter-weight steel alternatives;

• | uncertainty relating to restructurings in the steel industry and/or affecting the steel industry;

• | 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;

• | problems or uncertainties with productivity, tons mined, transportation, mine-closure obligations, environmental liabilities, employee-benefit costs and other risks of the mining industry;

• | our ability to reach agreement with our customers regarding any modifications to sales contract provisions, renewals or new arrangements;

• | our actual levels of capital spending;

• | our ability to successfully diversify our product mix and add new customers beyond our traditional blast furnace clientele;

• | our actual economic iron ore reserves or reductions in current mineral estimates, including whether any mineralized material qualifies as a reserve;

• | our ability to cost-effectively achieve planned production rates or levels, including at our HBI production plant;

• | our ability to successfully identify and consummate any strategic investments or development projects, including our HBI production plant;

• | our ability to obtain the investments necessary for our HBI production plant;

• | changes in sales volume or mix;

• | 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;

55

Table of Contents

• | our ability to maintain appropriate relations with unions and employees;

• | 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;

• | 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; and

• | the potential existence of significant deficiencies or material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting.

For additional factors affecting the business of Cliffs, refer to Part II – Item 1A. Risk Factors. You are urged to carefully consider these risk factors.
56

Table of Contents
Non-GAAP Reconciliation
We present cash cost of goods sold and operating expense rate per long/metric ton, which is a non-GAAP financial measure that management uses in evaluating operating performance. We believe our presentation of non-GAAP cash cost of goods sold and operating expenses is useful to investors because it excludes depreciation, depletion and amortization, which are non-cash, and freight and joint venture partners' cost reimbursements, which have no impact on sales margin, thus providing a more accurate view of the cash outflows related to the sale of iron ore. 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 GAAP. The presentation of this measure may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. Below is a reconciliation in dollars of this non-GAAP financial measure to our consolidated financial statements for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016.

|  | (In Millions)
|  | Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Three Months Ended September 30,
|  | 2017 |  | 2016
|  | U.S. Iron Ore |  | Asia Pacific Iron Ore |  | Total |  | U.S. Iron Ore |  | Asia Pacific Iron Ore |  | Total
Cost of goods sold and operating expenses |  | $ | (439.5 | ) |  | $ | (98.7 | ) |  | $ | (538.2 | ) |  | $ | (361.8 | ) |  | $ | (106.1 | ) |  | $ | (467.9 | )
Less: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Freight and reimbursements |  | (66.1 | ) |  | (4.8 | ) |  | (70.9 | ) |  | (39.7 | ) |  | (5.0 | ) |  | (44.7 | )
Depreciation, depletion & amortization |  | (16.5 | ) |  | (3.3 | ) |  | (19.8 | ) |  | (18.8 | ) |  | (6.3 | ) |  | (25.1 | )
Cash cost of goods sold and operating expenses |  | $ | (356.9 | ) |  | $ | (90.6 | ) |  | $ | (447.5 | ) |  | $ | (303.3 | ) |  | $ | (94.8 | ) |  | $ | (398.1 | )

|  | (In Millions)
|  | Nine Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine Months Ended September 30,
|  | 2017 |  | 2016
|  | U.S. Iron Ore |  | Asia Pacific Iron Ore |  | Total |  | U.S. Iron Ore |  | Asia Pacific Iron Ore |  | Total
Cost of goods sold and operating expenses |  | $ | (1,004.4 | ) |  | $ | (323.9 | ) |  | $ | (1,328.3 | ) |  | $ | (825.8 | ) |  | $ | (321.4 | ) |  | $ | (1,147.2 | )
Less: |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Freight and reimbursements |  | (159.2 | ) |  | (17.8 | ) |  | (177.0 | ) |  | (104.0 | ) |  | (14.0 | ) |  | (118.0 | )
Depreciation, depletion & amortization |  | (49.6 | ) |  | (11.3 | ) |  | (60.9 | ) |  | (65.1 | ) |  | (19.2 | ) |  | (84.3 | )
Cash cost of goods sold and operating expenses |  | $ | (795.6 | ) |  | $ | (294.8 | ) |  | $ | (1,090.4 | ) |  | $ | (656.7 | ) |  | $ | (288.2 | ) |  | $ | (944.9 | )

Item 3. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

Information regarding our Market Risk is presented under the caption Market Risks, which is included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, and in the Management's Discussion and Analysis section of this report.
57

Table of Contents

Item 4. | Controls and Procedures

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure based solely on the definition of “disclosure controls and procedures” in Rule 13a-15(e) promulgated under the Exchange Act. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, and management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.
As of the end of the period covered by this report, we carried out an evaluation under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures. Based on the foregoing, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer, concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were effective.
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting or in other factors that occurred during our last fiscal quarter that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
58

Table of Contents
PART II

Item 1. | Legal Proceedings

CCAA Proceedings. Refer to NOTE 18 - COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES of the notes to our condensed consolidated financial statements included in Item 1 of Part 1 of this report for a description of the CCAA Proceedings underway with respect to the Bloom Lake Group and the Wabush Group. Such description is incorporated by reference into this Item 1.
Mesabi Metallics Adversary Proceeding. On September 7, 2017, Mesabi Metallics Company LLC (f/k/a Essar Steel Minnesota LLC) filed a complaint against Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. in the Essar Steel Minnesota LLC and ESML Holdings Inc. bankruptcy proceeding that is pending in the United States Bankruptcy Court, District of Delaware. Mesabi Metallics alleges tortious interference with its contractual rights and business relations involving certain vendors, suppliers and contractors, violations of federal and Minnesota antitrust laws through monopolization, attempted monopolization and restraint of trade, violation of the automatic stay, and civil conspiracy with unnamed Doe defendants. Mesabi Metallics seeks, among other things, unspecified damages and injunctive relief. We believe the claims are unmeritorious and intend to vigorously defend the lawsuit.

Item 1A. | Risk Factors

Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, includes a detailed discussion of our risk factors.

Item 2. | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds

The following table presents information with respect to repurchases by the Company of our common shares during the periods indicated.
ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

Period |  | Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased 1 |  | Average Price Paid per Share (or Unit) |  | Total Number of Shares (or Units) Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs |  | Maximum Number (or Approximate Dollar Value) of Shares (or Units) that May Yet be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs
July 1 - 31, 2017 |  | 1,301 |  |  | $ | 6.92 |  |  | — |  | $ | — |
August 1 - 31, 2017 |  | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | — |  | $ | — |
September 1 - 30, 2017 |  | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | — |  | $ | — |
|  | 1,301 |  |  | $ | 6.92 |  |  | — |  | $ | — |
1 These shares were delivered to us to satisfy tax withholding obligations due upon the vesting or payment of stock awards.

59

Table of Contents

Item 4. | Mine Safety Disclosures

We are committed to protecting the occupational health and well-being of each of our employees. Safety is one of our core values and we strive to ensure that safe production is the first priority for all employees. Our internal objective is to achieve zero injuries and incidents across the Company by focusing on proactively identifying needed prevention activities, establishing standards and evaluating performance to mitigate any potential loss to people, equipment, production and the environment. We have implemented intensive employee training that is geared toward maintaining a high level of awareness and knowledge of safety and health issues in the work environment through the development and coordination of requisite information, skills and attitudes. We believe that through these policies we have developed an effective safety management system.
Under the Dodd-Frank Act, each operator of a coal or other mine is required to include certain mine safety results within its periodic reports filed with the SEC. As required by the reporting requirements included in §1503(a) of the Dodd-Frank Act and Item 104 of Regulation S-K, the required mine safety results regarding certain mining safety and health matters for each of our mine locations that are covered under the scope of the Dodd-Frank Act are included in Exhibit 95 of Item 6. Exhibits of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Item 5. | Other Information

On October 23, 2017, the Compensation and Organization Committee of the Board of Directors of Cliffs acted, pursuant to the terms of our A&R 2015 Equity Plan (and predecessor versions of the plan) and the applicable equity award agreements, to amend the terms of outstanding 2016 and 2017 restricted stock unit awards, 2017 performance shares awards and certain outstanding 2016 and 2017 cash incentive awards held by employees (collectively, the “Awards”). The amendment provides that, in general, for any holder of an Award who experiences a qualifying retirement on or after October 23, 2017, such Award will vest as to a prorated amount of the outstanding Award, with such proration based on the number of full months that the holder was employed with Cliffs or a subsidiary during the vesting period for the Award (and actual performance in the case of performance-based awards). For these purposes, a qualifying retirement means attainment of at least age 55 with five years of service.
60

Table of Contents

Item 6. | Exhibits

All documents referenced below have been filed pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 by Cleveland-Cliffs Inc., file number 1-09844, unless otherwise indicated.

Exhibit Number |  | Exhibit
3.1 |  | Amendment to Third Amended Articles of Incorporation of Cliffs, as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Ohio on August 15, 2017 (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to Cliffs' Form 8-K on August 17, 2017 and incorporated herein by reference)
4.1 |  | Indenture, dated as of February 27, 2017, among Cliffs Natural Resources Inc., the guarantors parties thereto, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, including Form of 5.75% Senior Notes due 2025 (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Cliffs' Form 8-K on August 7, 2017 and incorporated herein by reference)
4.2 |  | First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 7, 2017, among, Cliffs Natural Resources Inc., the guarantors parties thereto, and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee, including Form of 5.75% Senior Notes due 2025 (filed as Exhibit 4.2 to Cliffs' Form 8-K on August 7, 2017 and incorporated herein by reference)
4.3 |  | Joinder to Registration Rights Agreement, by and among Cliffs Natural Resources Inc., each of the Guarantors named therein and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, as Representative of the Several Initial Purchasers, dated August 7, 2017 (filed as Exhibit 4.3 to Cliffs' Form 8-K on August 7, 2017 and incorporated herein by reference)
4.4 |  | Form of Common Share Certificate (filed herewith)
31.1 |  | Certification Pursuant to 15 U.S.C. Section 7241, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, signed and dated by Lourenco Goncalves as of October 23, 2017 (filed herewith)
31.2 |  | Certification Pursuant to 15 U.S.C. Section 7241, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, signed and dated by Timothy K. Flanagan as of October 23, 2017 (filed herewith)
32.1 |  | Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, signed and dated by Lourenco Goncalves, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cleveland-Cliffs Inc., as of October 23, 2017 (filed herewith)
32.2 |  | Certification Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, signed and dated by Timothy K. Flanagan, Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer of Cleveland-Cliffs Inc., as of October 23, 2017 (filed herewith)
95 |  | Mine Safety Disclosures (filed herewith)
101.INS |  | XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH |  | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL |  | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF |  | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB |  | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE |  | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

61

Table of Contents
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

|  |  | CLEVELAND-CLIFFS INC.
|  |  | By: |  | /s/ R. Christopher Cebula
|  |  |  |  | Name: |  | R. Christopher Cebula
|  |  |  |  | Title: |  | Vice President, Corporate Controller & Chief Accounting Officer
Date: | October 23, 2017 |  |  |  |  |  |

62