securities and exchange commission

Washington, D.C. 20549

__________________________

 

FORM T-1

 

Statement of Eligibility Under

The Trust Indenture Act of 1939 of a

Corporation Designated to Act as Trustee

Check if an Application to Determine Eligibility of

a Trustee Pursuant to Section 305(b)(2)

_______________________________________________________

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

(Exact name of Trustee as specified in its charter)

 

31-0841368

I.R.S. Employer Identification No.

 

800 Nicollet Mall

Minneapolis, Minnesota

 

 

55402

(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Elizabeth Thuning

U.S. Bank National Association

1350 Euclid Avenue, Suite 1100

Cleveland, Ohio 44115

(216) 623-5592

(Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)

 

Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.

(Issuer with respect to the Securities)

 

Ohio   34-1464672
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)   (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
     

 

200 Public Square, Suite 3300

Cleveland, Ohio

 

 

44114

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

 

DEBT SECURITIES

(Title of the Indenture Securities)

 

 
 

 

FORM T-1

 

Item 1.GENERAL INFORMATION.  Furnish the following information as to the Trustee.

 

a)Name and address of each examining or supervising authority to which it is subject.

Comptroller of the Currency

Washington, D.C.

 

b)Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

Yes

 

Item 2.AFFILIATIONS WITH OBLIGOR. If the obligor is an affiliate of the Trustee, describe each such affiliation.
None

 

Items 3-15Items 3-15 are not applicable because to the best of the Trustee's knowledge, the obligor is not in default under any Indenture for which the Trustee acts as Trustee.

 

Item 16.LIST OF EXHIBITS: List below all exhibits filed as a part of this statement of eligibility and qualification.

 

1.A copy of the Articles of Association of the Trustee.*

 

2.A copy of the certificate of authority of the Trustee to commence business, attached as Exhibit 2.

 

3.A copy of the certificate of authority of the Trustee to exercise corporate trust powers, attached as Exhibit 3.

 

4.A copy of the existing bylaws of the Trustee.**

 

5.A copy of each Indenture referred to in Item 4. Not applicable.

 

6.The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, attached as Exhibit 6.

 

7.Report of Condition of the Trustee as of June 30, 2012 published pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority, attached as Exhibit 7.

 

* Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 25.1 to Amendment No. 2 to registration statement on S-4, Registration Number 333-128217 filed on November 15, 2005.

 

** Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 25.1 to registration statement on S-4, Registration Number 333-166527 filed on May 5, 2010.

  

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SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the Trustee, U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement of eligibility and qualification to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Cleveland, Ohio on the 12th of February 2013.

 

  By: /s/ Elizabeth Thuning
    Elizabeth Thuning
    Vice President

 

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Exhibit 2

 

 

4
 

 

Exhibit 3

 

 

5
 

 

Exhibit 6

 

CONSENT

 

In accordance with Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the undersigned, U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION hereby consents that reports of examination of the undersigned by Federal, State, Territorial or District authorities may be furnished by such authorities to the Securities and Exchange Commission upon its request therefor.

 

Dated: February 12, 2013

 

  By: /s/ Elizabeth Thuning
    Elizabeth Thuning
    Vice President

 

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Exhibit 7

U.S. Bank National Association

Statement of Financial Condition

As of 9/30/2012

 

($000’s)

 

   9/30/2012 
Assets     
Cash and Balances Due From  $9,381,745 
Depository Institutions     
Securities   73,560,962 
Federal Funds   54,418 
Loans & Lease Financing Receivables   216,024,463 
Fixed Assets   5,197,616 
Intangible Assets   12,193,832 
Other Assets   26,214,236 
Total Assets  $342,627,272 
      
Liabilities     
Deposits  $248,628,028 
Fed Funds   4,356,963 
Treasury Demand Notes   0 
Trading Liabilities   389,944 
Other Borrowed Money   31,814,742 
Acceptances   0 
Subordinated Notes and Debentures   5,846,882 
Other Liabilities   12,415,475 
Total Liabilities  $303,452,034 
      
Equity     
Common and Preferred Stock   18,200 
Surplus   14,133,290 
Undivided Profits   22,926,251 
Minority Interest in Subsidiaries  $2,097,497 
Total Equity Capital  $39,175,238 
      
Total Liabilities and Equity Capital  $342,627,272 

 

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