UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (date of earliest event reported): February 10, 2004
Commission File
Number: 1-8944
CLEVELAND-CLIFFS INC
OHIO | 34-1464672 | |
|
||
(State or other Jurisdiction | (IRS Employer | |
of Incorporation or Organization) | Identification No.) |
1100 Superior Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio | 44114-2589 | |
|
||
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) | (Zip Code) |
Registrants Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (216-694-5700)
ITEM 9. Regulation FD Disclosure. | ||||||||
SIGNATURE |
ITEM 9. Regulation FD Disclosure.
ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ Inc published a News Release on February 10, 2004 as follows:
CLIFFS COMMENTS ON 2004 PELLET PRICE
CLEVELAND, OH February 10, 2004 ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ Inc (NYSE:CLF) today commented on the recent pellet price announcement by Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (CVRD). As reported, the prices for blast furnace pellets FOB Tubarao and FOB Ponta da Maderia have increased 19.0 percent and 20.1 percent, respectively for 2004. Brazil and Canadas major iron ore producers annually negotiate and publish the price of their seaborne iron ore products. The negotiated world price for blast furnace pellets is one of several price adjustment factors included in Cliffs term sales contracts. ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ stated that if the Eastern Canadian pellet producers settle for a similar percentage price increase, the estimated effect of this one adjustment factor on Cliffs revenues per ton from iron ore sales and services for 2004 will be an average increase of approximately five percent from 2003. This would represent an improvement in operating earnings of approximately $40 million, based on an estimated 22 million tons of pellet sales for 2004.
ÐÇ¿Õ´«Ã½ Inc, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, is the largest producer of iron ore pellets in North America and sells the majority of its pellets to integrated steel companies in the United States and Canada. The Company operates six iron ore mines located in Michigan, Minnesota and Eastern Canada.
* * * * *
The statements above regarding the impact of an increase in the world price of blast furnace pellets are forward-looking statements. Actual results may differ materially from those reflected in these forward-looking statements for a number of reasons, including: price adjustment provisions in our term supply agreements that may limit our ability to match international ore contract prices; the expectations for pellet sales and mine operations may differ significantly from actual results because of changes in demand for iron ore pellets by North American integrated steel producers due to changes in steel utilization rates, operational factors, electric furnace production or imports of semi-finished or pig iron; changes in the financial condition of the Companys partners and/or customers; rejection of major contracts and/or venture agreements by customers and/or participants under provisions of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code or similar statutes in other countries; events or circumstances that could impair or adversely impact the viability of a mine and the carrying value of associated assets; problems with productivity, labor disputes, weather conditions,
fluctuations in ore grade, tons mined, changes in cost factors including energy costs, and employee benefit costs; and the effect of these various risks on the Companys liquidity and financial position.
Reference is made to the detailed explanation of the many factors and risks that may cause such predictive statements to turn out differently, as set forth in the Companys most recent Annual Report and Reports on Form 10-K, 10-Q, and the Form 8-K filed January 14, 2004 and previous news releases filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which are available publicly on Cliffs website. The information contained in this document speaks as of the date of this news release and may be superceded by subsequent events.
SIGNATURE
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.
CLEVELAND-CLIFFS INC | ||||||
By: | /s Donald J. Gallagher | |||||
Name: Donald J. Gallagher | ||||||
Title: Senior Vice President, | ||||||
Chief Financial Officer and | ||||||
Treasurer |
Dated: February 11, 2004