Document

This Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 22, 2021 (this “Supplemental Indenture” or “Guarantee”), among Cliffs Steel Inc. (the “Additional Guarantor”), Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (together with its successors and assigns, the “Company”) and U.S. Bank National Association, as Trustee and First Lien Notes Collateral Agent under the Indenture referred to below.

WHEREAS, the Company, the Guarantors, the First Lien Notes Collateral Agent and the Trustee have heretofore executed and delivered an Indenture, dated as of March 13, 2020 (as amended, supplemented, waived or otherwise modified, the “Indenture”), providing for the issuance of an aggregate principal amount of $845,000,000 of 6.75% Senior Secured Notes due 2026 of the Company (the “Notes”);

WHEREAS, Section 3.08 of the Indenture provides that, after the Issue Date, the Company is required to cause certain direct or indirect Subsidiaries of the Company to execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which such Subsidiary will unconditionally guarantee, on a joint and several basis with the other Guarantors, the full and prompt payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Notes on a secured basis; and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee and the Company are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture to amend or supplement the Indenture, without the consent of any Holder.

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Additional Guarantor, the Company and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes as follows:

Section 1.01 Defined Terms. As used in this Supplemental Indenture, terms defined in the Indenture or in the preamble or recitals hereto are used herein as therein defined. The words “herein,” “hereof” and “hereby” and other words of similar import used in this Supplemental Indenture refer to this Supplemental Indenture as a whole and not to any particular section hereof.

Section 2.01 Agreement to be Bound. The Additional Guarantor hereby becomes a party to the Indenture as a Guarantor and as such will have all of the rights and be subject to all of the obligations and agreements of a Guarantor under the Indenture. The Additional Guarantor hereby becomes a party to the Security Agreement, pursuant to the terms of such agreement, as a Grantor thereunder with the same force and effect as if originally named therein as a Grantor and as such hereby assumes all obligations and liabilities of a Grantor thereunder. The Additional Guarantor agrees to be bound by all of the provisions of the Indenture and the Collateral Documents applicable to a Guarantor and to perform all of the obligations and agreements of a Guarantor under the Indenture and the Collateral Documents.

Section 2.02 Guarantee. The Additional Guarantor agrees, on a joint and several basis with all the existing Guarantors, to fully, unconditionally and irrevocably Guarantee to each Holder of the Notes and the Trustee the Guaranteed Obligations pursuant to Article 10 of the Indenture on a secured basis.

Section 3.01 Notices. All notices and other communications to the Additional Guarantor shall be given as provided in the Indenture to the Additional Guarantor, at its address set forth below, with a copy to the Company as provided in the Indenture for notices to the Company.

Section 3.02 Parties. Nothing expressed or mentioned herein is intended or shall be construed to give any Person, other than the Company, the Additional Guarantor, Holders and the Trustee, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Supplemental Indenture or the Indenture or any provision herein or therein contained.

Section 3.04 Severability Clause. In case any provision in this Supplemental Indenture shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and such provision shall be ineffective only to the extent of such invalidity, illegality or unenforceability.

Section 3.05 Ratification of Indenture; Supplemental Indenture Part of Indenture. Except as expressly amended hereby, the Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed and all the terms, conditions and provisions thereof shall remain in full force and effect. This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every Holder of Notes heretofore or hereafter authenticated and delivered shall be bound hereby. The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation or warranty as to the validity, execution, or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or with respect to the recitals contained herein, all of which recitals are made solely by the other parties hereto.

Section 3.06 Counterparts. The parties hereto may sign one or more copies of this Supplemental Indenture in counterparts, all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

Section 3.07 Headings. The headings of the Articles and the sections in this Guarantee are for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed to alter or affect the meaning or interpretation of any provisions hereof.

Section 3.08 Execution, Delivery and Validity. The Company and the Additional Guarantor each represent and warrant to the Trustee that this Supplemental Indenture has been duly and validly executed and delivered by it and constitutes its legal, valid and binding obligation, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, except as enforcement may be limited by equitable principles or by bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership, administration, reorganization, moratorium, or similar laws relating to or limiting creditors’ rights generally.


CLIFFS STEEL INC., as a Guarantor

By:			/s/ James D. Graham
Name: James D. Graham
Title: Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer & Secretary


CLEVELAND-CLIFFS INC.

By:			/s/ Celso L. Goncalves, Jr.
Name: Celso L. Goncalves, Jr.
Title: Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer


U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee and First Lien Notes Collateral Agent

By:			/s/ William Sicking
Name: William Sicking
Title: Vice President