<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000764065-17-000111.txt : 20170504
<SEC-HEADER>0000764065-17-000111.hdr.sgml : 20170504
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20170504142125
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000764065-17-000111
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	8-K
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20170504
ITEM INFORMATION:		Other Events
FILED AS OF DATE:		20170504
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20170504

FILER:

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CLIFFS NATURAL RESOURCES INC.
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000764065
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	METAL MINING [1000]
		IRS NUMBER:				341464672
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			OH
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		8-K
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-08944
		FILM NUMBER:		17813358

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		200 PUBLIC SQUARE
		STREET 2:		STE. 3300
		CITY:			CLEVELAND
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44114-2315
		BUSINESS PHONE:		216-694-5700

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		200 PUBLIC SQUARE
		STREET 2:		STE. 3300
		CITY:			CLEVELAND
		STATE:			OH
		ZIP:			44114-2315

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	CLEVELAND CLIFFS INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19920703
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>8-K
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>a20170504-8xkxclarificatio.htm
<DESCRIPTION>8-K
<TEXT>
<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd">
<html>
	<head>
		<!-- Document created using Wdesk 1 -->
		<!-- Copyright 2017 Workiva -->
		<title>Document</title>
	</head>
	<body style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;">
<div><a name="sea22a8d159154733b42e40c266239ab7"></a></div><div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><div><br></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:4px;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:4px;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:4px;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:5px;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:6px;text-align:center;font-size:14pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14pt;font-weight:bold;">FORM 8-K</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:5px;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:6px;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">CURRENT REPORT</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:12px;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">PURSUANT TO SECTION&#160;13 OR 15(d) OF THE</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:12px;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  May 4, 2017</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:5px;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:6px;text-align:center;font-size:14pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14pt;font-weight:bold;">Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:5px;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font><div style="padding-left:0px;text-indent:0px;line-height:normal;padding-top:10px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;width:89.2578125%;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;"><tr><td colspan="5"></td></tr><tr><td style="width:32%;"></td><td style="width:4%;"></td><td style="width:30%;"></td><td style="width:4%;"></td><td style="width:30%;"></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:13px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:13px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:13px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:13px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:13px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Ohio</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">1-8944</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">34-1464672</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">(State or Other Jurisdiction</font></div><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">of Incorporation)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">(Commission File Number)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">(IRS Employer</font></div><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Identification Number)</font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:13px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td colspan="2" style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:13px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">200 Public Square, Suite 3300</font></div><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Cleveland, Ohio</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">44114-2315</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">(Address of Principal Executive Offices)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">(Zip Code)</font></div></td></tr></table></div></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:12px;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Registrant&#8217;s telephone number, including area code: (216) 694-5700</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:12px;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><div style="padding-left:0px;text-indent:0px;line-height:normal;padding-top:10px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;width:93.9453125%;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;"><tr><td colspan="1"></td></tr><tr><td style="width:100%;"></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="padding-top:12px;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Not Applicable</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="padding-top:12px;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)</font></div></td></tr></table></div></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:6px;text-indent:32px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:</font><div style="padding-left:0px;text-indent:0px;line-height:normal;padding-top:10px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;width:99.609375%;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;"><tr><td colspan="2"></td></tr><tr><td style="width:6%;"></td><td style="width:94%;"></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Wingdings;font-size:10pt;">o</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Wingdings;font-size:10pt;">o</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Wingdings;font-size:10pt;">o</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Wingdings;font-size:10pt;">o</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))</font></div></td></tr></table></div></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:6px;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><div style="padding-left:0px;text-indent:0px;line-height:normal;padding-top:10px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;"><tr><td colspan="1"></td></tr><tr><td style="width:100%;"></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="padding-top:8px;text-align:justify;text-indent:24px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (Section 230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Section 240.12b-2 of this chapter).</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:middle;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:justify;text-indent:24px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Emerging growth company             </font><font style="font-family:Wingdings;font-size:10pt;">o</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:justify;text-indent:24px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">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.                    </font><font style="font-family:Wingdings;font-size:10pt;">o</font></div></td></tr></table></div></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div><br></div><div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div><a name="sd365ab4675ba486b91f3707039ebdfb1"></a></div><div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><div><br></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:8px;font-size:11pt;"><div style="padding-left:0px;text-indent:0px;line-height:normal;padding-top:10px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;"><tr><td colspan="2"></td></tr><tr><td style="width:15%;"></td><td style="width:85%;"></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;font-weight:bold;">Item 8.01.</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;font-weight:bold;">Other Events.</font></div></td></tr></table></div></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;text-indent:48px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;font-weight:bold;"></font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;">Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. ("Cliffs") is responding to articles published today by Barron&#8217;s Ben Levisohn and Axiom Capital Management&#8217;s Gordon Johnson with respect to an open market purchase of 200,000 Cliffs shares made yesterday by its Chairman, President and CEO, Lourenco Goncalves.  These comments include statements that are inaccurate and materially misleading regarding Mr. Goncalves&#8217; previous share purchases.  In particular, Barron&#8217;s and Axiom inaccurately reported that Mr. Goncalves' last open market share purchase occurred in March 2015.  In fact, Mr. Goncalves has made multiple significant open market purchases of Cliffs shares since March 2015, totaling 300,000 shares, including two purchases in May 2015 and one purchase in May 2016.  All of these purchases were reflected in Form 4&#8217;s filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission.  Both Barron&#8217;s and Axiom would have been well aware of these later trades from publicly available information at the time their comments were made.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;text-indent:48px;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;">Cliffs believes that such materially misleading misstatements are an intentional attempt to manipulate Cliffs&#8217; share price to support the &#8220;bearish&#8221; position Mr. Johnson&#8217;s firm Axiom has historically taken with respect to Cliffs&#8217; stock.  As a result of these statements, Cliffs has already instructed its outside legal counsel to pursue appropriate legal action against all parties involved.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;text-indent:48px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div><br></div><div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div><a name="s44273ad5018047a894e8e0d5826e3cf1"></a></div><div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><div><br></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">SIGNATURES</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-top:12px;text-indent:48px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">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 hereunto duly authorized.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><div style="padding-left:0px;text-indent:0px;line-height:normal;padding-top:10px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;width:96.2890625%;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;"><tr><td colspan="4"></td></tr><tr><td style="width:6%;"></td><td style="width:40%;"></td><td style="width:5%;"></td><td style="width:49%;"></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:20px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:20px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:20px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:20px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td colspan="2" style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:20px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:20px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:20px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:20px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Date:</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">May 4, 2017</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:right;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">By:</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">/s/ James D. Graham</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Name: James D. Graham</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;padding-left:42px;text-indent:-42px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Title:    Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer &amp; Secretary</font></div></td></tr></table></div></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div><br></div><div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div>	</body>
</html>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
