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Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Stock Compensation Plans

v2.4.0.6
Stock Compensation Plans
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Stock Compensation Plans [Abstract] Ìý
Stock Compensation Plans

NOTE 11 — STOCK COMPENSATION PLANS

At December 31, 2011, we have two share-based compensation plans, which are described below. The compensation cost that has been charged against income for those plans was $15.9 million, $15.5 million and $12.2 million in 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively, which primarily was recorded in Selling, general and administrative expenses in the Statements of Consolidated Operations. The total income tax benefit recognized in the Statements of Consolidated Operations for share-based compensation arrangements was $5.6 million, $5.4 million and $4.3 million for 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. Cash flows resulting from the tax benefits for tax deductions in excess of the compensation expense are classified as financing cash flows. Accordingly, we classified $4.5 million, $3.3 million and $3.5 million in excess tax benefits as cash from financing activities rather than cash from operating activities on our Statements of Consolidated Cash Flows for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively.

Employees' Plans

On May 11, 2010, our shareholders approved and adopted an amendment and restatement of the ICE Plan to increase the authorized number of shares available for issuance under the plan and to provide an annual limitation on the number of shares available to grant to any one participant in any fiscal year ofÌý500,000 common shares. As of December 31, 2011, our ICE Plan authorized up toÌý11,000,000 of our common shares to be issued as stock options, SARs, restricted shares, restricted share units, retention units, deferred shares and performance shares or performance units. Any of the foregoing awards may be made subject to attainment of performance goals over a performance period of one or more years. Each stock option and SAR will reduce the common shares available under the ICE Plan by one common share. Each other award will reduce the common shares available under the ICE Plan by two common shares. The performance shares and performance share units are intended to meet the requirements of section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code for deduction.

Ìý

For the outstanding plan year agreements, each performance share or performance share unit, if earned, entitles the holder to receive a number of common shares, or cash based on Cliffs' common share price on the date of vesting, within the range between a threshold and maximum number of 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 Committee of the Board of Directors. The restricted share units and retention units are subject to continued employment, will vest at the end of the performance period for the performance shares and performance share units, or at a different vesting period specified by the Compensation Committee, and are payable in shares or cash for the 2009, 2010 and 2011 plan years at a time determined by the Compensation Committee at its discretion.

The performance share grants vest over a period of three years and are intended to be paid out in common shares. Performance is measured on the basis of two factors: 1) relative TSR for the period, as measured against a predetermined peer group of mining and metals companies, and 2) three-year cumulative free cash flow. The final payout for the 2011 to 2013 performance period varies from zero toÌý200 percent of the original grant, compared to the 2009 and 2010 plan year agreements where the maximum payout isÌý150 percent of the performance shares awarded.

Upon the occurrence of a change in control, all performance shares, restricted share units, restricted stock and retention units granted to a participant will vest and become nonforfeitable and will be paid out in cash.

Following is a summary of our Performance Share Award Agreements currently outstanding:

Ìý

Performance

Share

Plan Year

ÌýÌý Performance
Shares
Outstanding
Ìý Ìý ForfeituresÌý(1) Ìý ÌýÌý Grant Date Ìý ÌýÌý Performance Period Ìý

2011

ÌýÌý Ìý 169,632 ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý 18,848 ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý MarchÌý8,Ìý2011 ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý 1/1/2011-12/31/2013 ÌýÌý

2011

ÌýÌý Ìý 2,090 ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý —ÌýÌý ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý April 14, 2011 ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý 1/1/2011-12/31/2013 ÌýÌý

2011

ÌýÌý Ìý 1,290 ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý —ÌýÌý ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý MayÌý2, 2011 ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý 1/1/2011-12/31/2013 ÌýÌý

2010

ÌýÌý Ìý 209,853 ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý 23,317 ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý March 8, 2010 ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý 1/1/2010-12/31/2012 ÌýÌý

2010

ÌýÌý Ìý 12,480 (2)Ìý Ìý Ìý —ÌýÌý ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý March 8, 2010 ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý 1/1/2010-12/31/2012 ÌýÌý

2010

ÌýÌý Ìý 480 ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý —ÌýÌý ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý April 6, 2010 ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý 1/1/2010-12/31/2012 ÌýÌý

2010

ÌýÌý Ìý 590 ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý —ÌýÌý ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý April 12, 2010 ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý 1/1/2010-12/31/2012 ÌýÌý

2010

ÌýÌý Ìý 2,130 ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý —ÌýÌý ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý April 26, 2010 ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý 1/1/2010-12/31/2012 ÌýÌý

2010

ÌýÌý Ìý 12,080 ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý —ÌýÌý ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý May 3, 2010 ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý 1/1/2010-12/31/2012 ÌýÌý

2010

ÌýÌý Ìý 550 ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý —ÌýÌý ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý June 14, 2010 ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý 1/1/2010-12/31/2012 ÌýÌý

2010

ÌýÌý Ìý 670 ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý —ÌýÌý ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý August 16,Ìý2010 ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý 1/1/2010-12/31/2012 ÌýÌý

2009

ÌýÌý Ìý 372,881 ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý 22,089 ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý March 9, 2009 ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý 1/1/2009-12/31/2011 ÌýÌý

2009

ÌýÌý Ìý 3,825 ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý —ÌýÌý ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý August 31,Ìý2009 ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý 1/1/2009-12/31/2011 ÌýÌý

2009

ÌýÌý Ìý 44,673 (2)Ìý Ìý Ìý —ÌýÌý ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý DecemberÌý17,Ìý2009 ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý 1/1/2009-12/31/2011 ÌýÌý

(1) The 2011 and 2010 awards are based on assumed forfeitures. The 2009 awards reflect actual forfeitures.

Ìý

(2) Represents the target payout as of December 31, 2011 related to the 67,009 shares awarded on December 17, 2009 and the 18,720 shares awarded on March 8, 2010 based upon the Compensation Committee's ability to exercise negative discretion. For accounting purposes, a grant date has not yet been determined for these awards.

Throughout 2011, the Committee approved grants under our shareholder-approved ICE Plan for the performance period of 2011 to 2013. A total ofÌý307,940 shares were granted, consisting of performance shares, restricted share units, and restricted stock.

The performance shares awarded under the ICE Plan to the Company's Chief Executive Officer on December 17, 2009 and March 8, 2010 ofÌý67,009 shares andÌý18,720 shares, respectively, met the aggregate value-added performance objective under the award terms as of December 31, 2010. The number of shares paid out under these particular awards at the end of each incentive period will be determined by the Compensation Committee based upon the achievement of certain other performance factors evaluated solely at the Compensation Committee's discretion and may be reduced from the 67,009 shares and 18,720 shares granted. Based on the Compensation Committee's ability to exercise negative discretion, the targeted payout for the awards wasÌý44,673 shares andÌý12,480 shares, respectively, as of December 31, 2011. These other performance factors are in addition to the aggregate value-added performance objective. As a result of this uncertainty, a grant date has not yet been determined for this award for purposes of measuring and recognizing compensation cost.

Nonemployee Directors

The Directors' Plan authorizes us to issue up toÌý800,000 common shares to nonemployee Directors. Under the Share Ownership Guidelines in effect for 2011, or Guidelines, a Director is required by the end of five years from date of election or September 1, 2010, whichever is later, to hold common shares with a market value of at least $250,000. If, as of December 1 annually, the nonemployee Director does not meet the Guidelines, the nonemployee Director must take a portion of the annual retainer in common shares with a market value of $24,000 ("Required Retainer") until such time as the nonemployee Director reaches the ownership required by the Guidelines. Once the nonemployee Director meets the Guidelines, the nonemployee Director may elect to receive the Required Retainer in cash.

The Directors' Plan also provides for an Annual Equity Grant or Equity Grant. The Equity Grant is awarded at our annual meeting each year to all nonemployee Directors elected or re-elected by the shareholders. The value of the Equity Grant is payable in restricted shares with a three-year vesting period from the date of grant. The closing market price of our common shares on our annual meeting date is divided into the Equity Grant to determine the number of restricted shares awarded. Effective April 1, 2011, nonemployee Directors receive an annual retainer fee of $60,000 and effective May 17, 2011, an annual equity award of $80,000. In July 2009, the Directors' annual retainer fee was reduced byÌý10 percent in conjunction with the Company's compensation reductions across the organization. Such reductions were reinstated to their previous levels effective January 1, 2010. The Directors' Plan offers the nonemployee Director the opportunity to defer all or a portion of the Directors' annual retainer, chair retainers, meeting fees, and the Equity Grant into the Directors' Plan. A Director who is 69 or older at the Equity Grant date will receive common shares with no restrictions.

For the last three years, Equity Grant shares have been awarded to elected or re-elected Directors as follows:

Ìý

Year of Grant

ÌýÌý Unrestricted
Equity
Grant
Shares
Ìý ÌýÌý Restricted
Equity
Grant
Shares
Ìý ÌýÌý Deferred
Equity
Grant
Shares
Ìý

2009

ÌýÌý Ìý 7,788 ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý 15,118 ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý 2,596 ÌýÌý

2010

ÌýÌý Ìý 3,963 ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý 7,926 ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý 1,321 ÌýÌý

2011

ÌýÌý Ìý 1,850 ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý 6,475 ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý 1,850 ÌýÌý

Other Information

We adopted the fair value recognition provisions of ASC 718 effective January 1, 2006 using the modified prospective transition method. The following table summarizes the share-based compensation expense that we recorded for continuing operations in 2011, 2010 and 2009:

Ìý

Ìý ÌýÌý (InÌýMillions,ÌýexceptÌý per
shareÌýamount)
Ìý
Ìý ÌýÌý 2011 Ìý Ìý 2010 Ìý Ìý 2009 Ìý

Cost of goods sold and operating expenses

ÌýÌý $ 2.7 ÌýÌý Ìý $ 2.8 ÌýÌý Ìý $ 1.2 ÌýÌý

Selling, general and administrative expenses

ÌýÌý Ìý 13.2 ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý 12.7 ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý 11.0 ÌýÌý

Reduction of operating income from continuing operations before income taxes and equity income (loss) from ventures

ÌýÌý Ìý 15.9 ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý 15.5 ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý 12.2 ÌýÌý

Income tax benefit

ÌýÌý Ìý (5.6 )Ìý Ìý Ìý (5.4 )Ìý Ìý Ìý (4.3 )Ìý
ÌýÌý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Reduction of net income attributable to Cliffs shareholders

ÌýÌý $ 10.3 ÌýÌý Ìý $ 10.1 ÌýÌý Ìý $ 7.9 ÌýÌý
ÌýÌý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Reduction of earnings per share attributable to Cliffs shareholders:

ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý

Basic

ÌýÌý $ 0.07 ÌýÌý Ìý $ 0.07 ÌýÌý Ìý $ 0.06 ÌýÌý
ÌýÌý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Diluted

ÌýÌý $ 0.07 ÌýÌý Ìý $ 0.07 ÌýÌý Ìý $ 0.06 ÌýÌý
ÌýÌý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

Determination of Fair Value

The fair value of each 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 its 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 three plan year agreements. We estimated 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 plans.

The following assumptions were utilized to estimate the fair value for the 2011 performance share grants:

Ìý

Period (1)

ÌýÌý Grant Date
MarketÌýPrice
ÌýÌý Average
Expected
Term
(Years)
Ìý ÌýÌý Expected
Volatility
Ìý Ìý Risk-Free
Interest
Rate
Ìý Ìý Dividend
Yield
Ìý Ìý FairÌýValue ÌýÌý Fair Value
(Percent of
Grant Date
MarketÌýPrice)
Ìý

First Quarter

ÌýÌý $96.70 ÌýÌý Ìý 2.81 ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý 94.4 %Ìý Ìý Ìý 1.17 %Ìý Ìý Ìý 0.58 %Ìý Ìý $77.90 ÌýÌý Ìý 80.60 %Ìý

Second Quarter

ÌýÌý $93.85 ÌýÌý Ìý 2.81 ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý 94.4 %Ìý Ìý Ìý 1.17 %Ìý Ìý Ìý 0.58 %Ìý Ìý $75.64 ÌýÌý Ìý 80.60 %Ìý

The fair value of the restricted share units is determined based on the closing price of the Company's common shares on the grant date. The restricted share units granted under the ICE Plan vest over a period of three years.

Ìý

Stock options, restricted stock, deferred stock allocation and performance share activity under our long-term equity plans and Directors' Plans are as follows:

Ìý

Ìý ÌýÌý 2011 Ìý ÌýÌý 2010 Ìý ÌýÌý 2009 Ìý
Ìý ÌýÌý Shares Ìý Ìý Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
Ìý ÌýÌý Shares Ìý Ìý Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
Ìý ÌýÌý Shares Ìý Ìý Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
Ìý

Stock options:

ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý

Options outstanding at beginning of year

ÌýÌý Ìý —ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý —ÌýÌý ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý —ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý —ÌýÌý ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý 2,500 ÌýÌý Ìý $ 5.42 ÌýÌý

Granted during the year

ÌýÌý Ìý —ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý —ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý —ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý

Exercised

ÌýÌý Ìý —ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý —ÌýÌý ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý —ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý —ÌýÌý ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý (2,500 )Ìý Ìý Ìý 5.42 ÌýÌý

Cancelled or expired

ÌýÌý Ìý —ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý —ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý —ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý
ÌýÌý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý Ìý ÌýÌý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý Ìý ÌýÌý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý Ìý

Options outstanding at end of year

ÌýÌý Ìý —ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý —ÌýÌý ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý —ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý —ÌýÌý ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý —ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý —ÌýÌý ÌýÌý

Options exercisable at end of year

ÌýÌý Ìý —ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý —ÌýÌý ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý —ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý —ÌýÌý ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý —ÌýÌý ÌýÌý Ìý Ìý —ÌýÌý ÌýÌý

Restricted awards:

ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý

Outstanding and restricted at beginning of year

ÌýÌý Ìý 371,712 ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý 290,702 ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý 315,684 ÌýÌý Ìý

Granted during the year

ÌýÌý Ìý 125,059 ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý 133,666 ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý 184,904 ÌýÌý Ìý

Vested

ÌýÌý Ìý (61,330 )Ìý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý (50,156 )Ìý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý (201,486 )Ìý Ìý

Cancelled

ÌýÌý Ìý (10,275 )Ìý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý (2,500 )Ìý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý (8,400 )Ìý Ìý
ÌýÌý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý Ìý ÌýÌý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý Ìý ÌýÌý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý Ìý

Outstanding and restricted at end of year

ÌýÌý Ìý 425,166 ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý 371,712 ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý 290,702 ÌýÌý Ìý

Performance shares:

ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý

Outstanding at beginning of year

ÌýÌý Ìý 843,238 ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý 823,393 ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý 594,115 ÌýÌý Ìý

Granted during the year (1)

ÌýÌý Ìý 263,816 ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý 376,524 ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý 555,046 ÌýÌý Ìý

Issued (2)

ÌýÌý Ìý (215,870 )Ìý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý (343,321 )Ìý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý (312,336 )Ìý Ìý

Forfeited/cancelled

ÌýÌý Ìý (13,749 )Ìý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý (13,358 )Ìý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý (13,432 )Ìý Ìý
ÌýÌý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý Ìý ÌýÌý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý Ìý ÌýÌý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý Ìý

Outstanding at end of year

ÌýÌý Ìý 877,435 ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý 843,238 ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý 823,393 ÌýÌý Ìý

Vested or expected to vest as of DecemberÌý31, 2011

ÌýÌý Ìý 833,224 ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý

Directors' retainer and voluntary shares:

ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý

Outstanding at beginning of year

ÌýÌý Ìý 2,509 ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý 4,596 ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý 2,183 ÌýÌý Ìý

Granted during the year

ÌýÌý Ìý 1,815 ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý 2,075 ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý 4,602 ÌýÌý Ìý

Vested

ÌýÌý Ìý (1,713 )Ìý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý (4,162 )Ìý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý (2,189 )Ìý Ìý
ÌýÌý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý Ìý ÌýÌý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý Ìý ÌýÌý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý Ìý

Outstanding at end of year

ÌýÌý Ìý 2,611 ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý 2,509 ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý 4,596 ÌýÌý Ìý

Reserved for future grants or awards at end of year:

ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý

Employee plans

ÌýÌý Ìý 6,760,871 ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý

Directors' plans

ÌýÌý Ìý 115,189 ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý
ÌýÌý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý

Total

ÌýÌý Ìý 6,876,060 ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý
ÌýÌý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý ÌýÌý Ìý

Ìý

Ìý

A summary of our outstanding share-based awards as of December 31, 2011 is shown below:

Ìý

Ìý ÌýÌý Shares Ìý Ìý Weighted
Average
GrantÌýDate
Fair Value
Ìý

Outstanding, beginning of year

ÌýÌý Ìý 1,217,459 ÌýÌý Ìý $ 26.03 ÌýÌý

Granted

ÌýÌý Ìý 390,690 ÌýÌý Ìý $ 88.60 ÌýÌý

Vested

ÌýÌý Ìý (278,913 )Ìý Ìý $ 42.73 ÌýÌý

Forfeited/expired

ÌýÌý Ìý (24,024 )Ìý Ìý $ 61.61 ÌýÌý
ÌýÌý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý Ìý

Outstanding, end of year

ÌýÌý Ìý 1,305,212 ÌýÌý Ìý $ 43.19 ÌýÌý
ÌýÌý

Ìý

Ìý

Ìý Ìý

The total compensation cost related to outstanding awards not yet recognized is $26.0 million at December 31, 2011. The weighted average remaining period for the awards outstanding at December 31, 2011 is approximatelyÌý2.0 years.