Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. Reports Fourth-Quarter and Full-Year 2016 Results

CLEVELAND, Feb. 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. (NYSE: CLF) today reported fourth-quarter and full-year results for the period ended December 31, 2016.

Fourth-quarter 2016 consolidated revenues of $754 million increased 58 percent from the prior year's fourth-quarter revenues of $476 million. As a result of increased volumes sold, cost of goods sold increased by 32 percent to $573 million compared to $433 million reported in the fourth quarter of 2015.

For the fourth quarter of 2016, the Company recorded net income of $81 million compared to a net loss of $58 million recorded in the prior-year quarter. The Company recorded net income attributable to Cliffs' common shareholders of $79 million, compared to a net loss attributable to Cliffs' common shareholders of $60 million recorded in the fourth quarter of 2015.

For the fourth-quarter of 2016, adjusted EBITDA¹ was $174 million, compared to $76 million in the fourth quarter of 2015.

Full-Year Consolidated Results
Full-year 2016 consolidated revenues of $2.1 billion increased 5 percent from the prior year's revenues of $2.0 billion. Cost of goods sold decreased by 3 percent to $1.7 billion compared to $1.8 billion reported in 2015.

For the full-year 2016, the Company recorded net income of $199 million compared to a net loss of $748 million recorded in the prior year. The Company recorded full-year net income attributable to Cliffs' common shareholders of $174 million, compared to a net loss attributable to Cliffs' common shareholders of $788 million, recorded in 2015.

For the full-year 2016, adjusted EBITDA¹ was $374 million, compared to $293 million in 2015.

Lourenco Goncalves, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer, said: "2016 was the year in which we finalized the execution of the operational, commercial and financial actions necessary to ensure Cliffs will have a great future. Among the actions accomplished last year are several new sales agreements entered with clients, including the renewal of our long-term supply contract with our largest customer, and a number of capital markets transactions that were successfully executed to reduce debt and extend our maturity runway." Mr. Goncalves added: "Despite the undeniable fact that the underlying business environment was far from ideal during almost all of 2016, the environmentally compliant and safety oriented performance of the Cliffs teams in the United States and in Australia resulted in a very profitable year with strong cash flow generation." Mr. Goncalves concluded: "We are excited about Cliffs and about our future. A much more favorable business environment in the U.S. and a newly adopted rational behavior in the international iron ore market support the work we have done internally in our company. With a much lower debt profile and extended maturities, and several new and more favorable commercial agreements that we put in place in 2016, we expect Cliffs to deliver strong and sustainable results in 2017."

Reporting Matters
Given that the Company anticipates running its mines at full capacity going forward, Cliffs will provide more simplified disclosures with respect to reporting operating cost performance at its two business units. Accordingly, the Company will no longer separate cash cost of goods sold and operating expense rate into "cash production cost per ton" and "non-production cash cost per ton." Idle cost was a significant component of non-production cash cost in 2015 and 2016.

U.S. Iron Ore pellet sales volume in the fourth quarter of 2016 was 6.9 million long tons, a 53 percent increase when compared with 4.5 million long tons sold in the fourth quarter of 2015. The increase was a result of improved steel market conditions driving increased pellet demand and new customer arrangements  in 2016.

Cash cost of goods sold and operating expense rate² in U.S. Iron Ore was $52.80 per long ton, down 8 percent from $57.19 per long ton in the prior year's fourth quarter. The decrease was driven by the absence of idle costs and a supplies inventory write-off that were incurred in the prior-year quarter, as well as a favorable asset retirement obligation adjustment.

Fourth-quarter 2016 Asia Pacific Iron Ore sales volume of 2.9 million metric tons increased 1 percent from the prior-year quarter due primarily to the size of vessel shipments.

Cash cost of goods sold and operating expense rate² in Asia Pacific Iron Ore was $36.40 per metric ton in the fourth quarter of 2016, an 8 percent increase from $33.70 in the prior-year quarter. The increase was attributable to higher royalties and an unfavorable exchange rate compared to the prior-year quarter. The change was also driven by increased mining and haulage costs as market conditions allowed the operating footprint to expand.

Other Income Statement Items
Cliffs' fourth-quarter 2016 SG&A expenses were $36 million. This represents a 29 percent increase when compared to the fourth-quarter 2015 expenses of $28 million. The increase was driven primarily by higher incentive compensation due to stronger results. The increase was also driven by spending related to the research and development of alternative iron products, which is classified as SG&A.

Cliffs' net interest expense during the fourth quarter was $44 million, a 27 percent decrease when compared to the fourth-quarter 2015 expense of $60 million, as a result of numerous liability management activities executed by the Company during 2016. The Company noted that of the $44 million expense, $36 million was a cash expense and the remainder is considered non-cash.

Debt and Cash Flow
Total debt at the end of the fourth quarter of 2016 was $2.2 billion, versus $2.7 billion at the end of the fourth quarter of 2015. Fourth quarter cash and cash equivalents totaled $323 million, compared to $285 million at the end of the fourth quarter of 2015.

At the end of the fourth quarter of 2016, Cliffs had net debt³ of $1.8 billion, compared to $2.4 billion of net debt³ at the end of the fourth quarter of 2015.

Capital expenditures during the quarter were $23 million, in line with the prior-year quarter. Full-year 2016 capital expenditures were $69 million, a 15 percent reduction compared to $81 million in the prior year.

Cliffs also reported depreciation, depletion and amortization of $27 million in the fourth quarter of 2016.

Outlook
In 2017, Cliffs expects to generate $510 million of net income and $850 million of adjusted EBITDA¹. This expectation is based on the assumption that iron ore and steel prices will average levels consistent with the full month of January throughout 2017. In future quarters, Cliffs anticipates continuing to update 2017 net income and adjusted EBITDA¹ guidance.

Segment Outlook
Consistent with the SEC's recent guidance on the presentation of non-GAAP financial measures, the Company will be taking a more robust approach to reconciling its non-GAAP measures.  Cliffs will begin providing guidance for cost of goods sold and operating expense rate including freight and venture partner's cost reimbursements, which have offsetting amounts in revenue and have no impact on sales margin. In the 2017 outlook summary below, a reconciliation to cash costs of goods sold and operating expense rate² is provided for Cliffs' two business segments, consistent with how guidance was previously shown.

U.S. Iron Ore Outlook (Long Tons)
As previously disclosed, for 2017, Cliffs expects full-year sales and production volumes of approximately 19 million long tons from its U.S. Iron Ore business. This compares to 18.2 million long tons of sales and 16.0 million long tons of production in 2016.

Cliffs' full-year 2017 U.S. Iron Ore cash cost of goods sold and operating expense² expectation is $55 - $60 per long ton, which compares to $56 per long ton for the full-year 2016.

Asia Pacific Iron Ore Outlook (Metric Tons, F.O.B. the port)
Cliffs' full-year 2017 Asia Pacific Iron Ore expected sales and production volume is approximately 11.5 million tons. The product mix is expected to contain 50 percent lump ore and 50 percent fines.

Based on a full-year average exchange rate of $0.75 U.S. Dollar to Australian Dollar, Cliffs' full-year 2017 cash cost of goods sold and operating expense² expectation is $34 - $39 per metric ton, which compares to $34 per metric ton for the full-year 2016. The increase in range is attributable to higher expected royalties and increased mining and haulage costs as market conditions have allowed the operating footprint to expand.

SG&A Expenses and Other Expectations
Full-year 2017 SG&A expenses are expected to be approximately $100 million, an $18 million reduction from the full-year 2016 expense. Cliffs also notes that of the $100 million expectation, approximately $25 million is considered non-cash.

The Company's full-year 2017 interest expense is expected to be approximately $175 million, compared to $201 million recorded in 2016. Consolidated full-year 2017 depreciation, depletion and amortization is expected to be approximately $100 million.

Capital Budget Update
Cliffs expects full-year 2017 capital expenditures to be $105 million, which includes approximately $40 million related to the completion of the Mustang Project at the United Taconite mine.

Conference Call Information
Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. will host a conference call this morning, February 9, 2017, at 10 a.m. ET. The call will be broadcast live and archived on Cliffs' website:  www.cliffsnaturalresources.com.

About Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.
Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. is a leading mining and natural resources company. Founded in 1847, Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. is recognized as the largest and oldest independent iron ore mining company in the United States.  The Company is a major supplier of iron ore pellets to the North American steel industry from its mines and pellet plants located in Michigan and Minnesota. Cliffs also operates an iron ore mining complex in Western Australia. Driven by the core values of safety, social, environmental and capital stewardship, Cliffs' employees endeavor to provide all stakeholders operating and financial transparency.

Forward-Looking Statements
This release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws.  As a general matter, forward-looking statements relate to anticipated trends and expectations rather than historical matters.  Forward-looking statements are subject to uncertainties and factors relating to Cliffs' operations and business environment that are difficult to predict and may be beyond our control.  Such uncertainties and factors may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements.  These statements speak only as of the date of this release, and we undertake no ongoing obligation, other than that imposed by law, to update these statements.  Uncertainties and risk factors that could affect Cliffs' future performance and cause results to differ from the forward-looking statements in this release include, but are not limited to: 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; our ability to successfully identify and consummate any strategic investments or development projects; 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; 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 I – Item 1A. Risk Factors of our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2015.  You are urged to carefully consider these risk factors.

FINANCIAL TABLES FOLLOW

¹ CLIFFS NATURAL RESOURCES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION - EBITDA AND ADJUSTED EBITDA RESULTS

In addition to the consolidated financial statements presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP, the Company has presented EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA on both a consolidated basis and on a segment basis, which are non-GAAP financial measures that management uses in evaluating operating performance. The presentation of these measures is not intended to be considered in isolation from, as a substitute for, or as superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The presentation of these measures may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. A reconciliation of these consolidated measures to their most directly comparable GAAP measures is provided in the table below.

² CLIFFS NATURAL RESOURCES INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NON-GAAP RECONCILIATION EXPLANATIONS

The Company presents 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.  Cliffs believes the 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 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 U.S. 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 measure to our consolidated financial statements for the three months and years ended December 31, 2016 and 2015.

³ NET DEBT RECONCILIATION

Net debt is a non-GAAP financial measure that management uses in evaluating financial position. The presentation of this measure is not intended to be considered in isolation from, as a substitute for, or as superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The presentation of this measure may be different from non-GAAP financial measures used by other companies. Net debt is defined as long-term debt plus the current portion of short term debt, less cash and cash equivalents and undiscounted interest. A reconciliation of this measure to its most directly comparable GAAP measure is provided in the table below.

SOURCE Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.

Related Links

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