Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

STOCK COMPENSATION PLANS

v2.4.0.6
STOCK COMPENSATION PLANS
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2012
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]  
STOCK COMPENSATION PLANS
NOTE 14 - STOCK COMPENSATION PLANS
At December 31, 2012, we have two share-based compensation plans, which are described below. The compensation cost that has been charged against income for those plans was $20.6 million, $15.9 million and $15.5 million in 2012, 2011 and 2010, 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 $7.2 million, $5.6 million and $5.4 million for 2012, 2011 and 2010, 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 $12.7 million, $4.5 million and $3.3 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, 2012, 2011 and 2010, 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 of 500,000 common shares. As of December 31, 2011, our ICE Plan authorized up to 11,000,000 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.
For the outstanding ICE Plan award agreements, each performance share, if earned, entitles the holder to receive a number of common shares or cash within the range between a threshold and maximum number of our common shares, with the actual number of common shares earned dependent upon whether the Company achieves certain objectives and performance goals as established by the Committee. The performance share or unit grants vest over a period of three years and are intended to be paid out in common shares or cash in certain circumstances. Performance for the 2010 to 2012 performance period and 2011 to 2013 performance period is measured on the basis of two factors: 1) relative TSR for the period and 2) three-year cumulative free cash flow. The relative TSR for the 2010 to 2012 performance period is measured against a predetermined peer group of mining and metals companies and for the 2011 to 2013 performance period is measured against the constituents of the S&P Metals and Mining ETF Index on the last day of trading of the incentive period. Performance for the 2012 to 2014 performance period is measured only on the basis of relative TSR for the period and measured against the constituents of the S&P Metals and Mining ETF Index on the last day of trading of the incentive period. The final payout for the 2010 to 2012 performance period will vary from zero to 150 percent of the original grant. The final payouts for the 2011 to 2013 performance period and the 2012 to 2014 performance period will vary from zero to 200 percent of the original grant. The restricted share units are subject to continued employment, are retention based, will vest at the end of the respective performance period for the performance shares, and are payable in common shares or cash in certain circumstances at a time determined by the Committee at its discretion.
Upon the occurrence of a change in control, all performance shares, restricted share units, restricted stock, performance units 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:
Performance
Share
Plan Year
 
Performance
Shares
Outstanding
 
 
 
Forfeitures (1)
 
Grant Date
 
Performance Period
2012
 
278,856

 
 
 
30,984

 
March 12, 2012
 
1/1/2012 - 12/31/2014
2011
 
169,442

 
 
 
18,829

 
March 8, 2011
 
1/1/2011 - 12/31/2013
2011
 
2,090

 
 
 
—

 
April 14, 2011
 
1/1/2011 - 12/31/2013
2011
 
1,290

 
 
 
—

 
May 2, 2011
 
1/1/2011 - 12/31/2013
2010
 
219,056

 
 
 
14,114

 
March 8, 2010
 
1/1/2010 - 12/31/2012
2010
 
12,480

 
(2)
 
—

 
March 8, 2010
 
12/31/2009 - 12/31/2013
2010
 
590

 
 
 
—

 
April 12, 2010
 
1/1/2010 - 12/31/2012
2010
 
2,130

 
 
 
—

 
April 26, 2010
 
1/1/2010 - 12/31/2012
2010
 
12,080

 
 
 
—

 
May 3, 2010
 
1/1/2010 - 12/31/2012
2010
 
550

 
 
 
—

 
June 14, 2010
 
1/1/2010 - 12/31/2012
2010
 
670

 
 
 
—

 
August 16, 2010
 
1/1/2010 - 12/31/2012
2009
 
44,673

 
(2)
 
—

 
December 17, 2009
 
12/31/2009 - 12/31/2013
                                         
(1)
The 2012 and 2011 awards are based on assumed forfeitures. The 2010 awards reflect actual forfeitures.
(2)
Represents the target payout as of December 31, 2012 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 value has not yet been determined for these awards.
On March 12, 2012, the Compensation and Organization Committee (“Committee”) of the Board of Directors approved a grant under our shareholder-approved ICE Plan for the performance period 2012 – 2014. A total of 426,610 shares were granted under the award, consisting of 312,540 performance shares and 114,070 restricted share units.
The performance shares awarded under the ICE Plan to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer on December 17, 2009 and March 8, 2010 of 67,009 shares and 18,720 shares 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 award was 44,673 shares and 12,480 shares, respectively, as of December 31, 2012. 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.
The ICE Plan was terminated on May 8, 2012 and no shares will be issued from the ICE Plan after this date. Upon termination of the ICE Plan, all awards previously granted under the ICE Plan shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with the terms of the award.
Our Board of Directors approved the new 2012 Equity Plan on March 13, 2012 and our shareholders approved it on May 8, 2012, effective as of March 13, 2012. The new 2012 Equity Plan replaced the ICE Plan. The maximum number of shares that may be issued under the 2012 Equity Plan is 6,000,000. A total of 23,575 shares were granted under the 2012 Equity Plan as of December 31, 2012.
Nonemployee Directors
The Directors’ Plan authorizes us to issue up to 800,000 common shares to nonemployee Directors. Under the Share Ownership Guidelines in effect for 2012, 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 fee 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. In 2010, the nonemployee Directors received an annual retainer fee of $50,000. Effective April 1, 2011, they became entitled to receive an annual retainer fee of $60,000.
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 and a pro-rata amount is awarded to new directors upon their appointment. 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. In 2010, nonemployee directors each received Equity Grants of $75,000. This amount was increased to $80,000 effective May 17, 2011 and was increased again effective May 8, 2012 to $85,000. The Directors’ Plan offers the nonemployee Director the opportunity to defer all or a portion of the Directors’ annual retainer fee, committee chair retainers, meeting fees and the Equity Grant into the Directors’ Plan. A nonemployee 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 nonemployee Directors as follows:
Year of Grant
Unrestricted
Equity
Grant
Shares
 
Restricted
Equity
Grant
Shares
 
Deferred
Equity
Grant
Shares
2010
3,963

 
7,926

 
1,321

2011
1,850

 
6,475

 
1,850

2012
1,498

 
8,988

 
2,996


Other Information
The following table summarizes the share-based compensation expense that we recorded for continuing operations in 2012, 2011 and 2010:
 
(In Millions, except  per
share amount)
 
2012
 
2011
 
2010
Cost of goods sold and operating expenses
$
4.0

 
$
2.7

 
$
2.8

Selling, general and administrative expenses
16.6

 
13.2

 
12.7

Reduction of operating income from continuing operations before income
    taxes and equity income (loss) from ventures
20.6

 
15.9

 
15.5

Income tax benefit
(7.2
)
 
(5.6
)
 
(5.4
)
Reduction of net income attributable to Cliffs shareholders
$
13.4

 
$
10.3

 
$
10.1

Reduction of earnings per share attributable to Cliffs shareholders:
 
 
 
 
 
Basic
$
0.09

 
$
0.07

 
$
0.07

Diluted
$
0.09

 
$
0.07

 
$
0.07


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 our 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 estimate 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 2012 performance share grants:
Grant Date
Grant Date Market Price
 
Average Expected Term (Years)
 
Expected Volatility
 
Risk-Free Interest Rate
 
Dividend Yield
 
Fair Value
 
Fair Value (Percent of Grant Date Market Price)
March 12, 2012
$
63.62

 
2.80
 
56.0%
 
0.45%
 
3.93%
 
$
77.78

 
122.26%

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 either the ICE Plan or 2012 Equity Plan vest over a period of three years.
Restricted stock, deferred stock allocation and performance share activity under our long-term equity plans and Directors’ Plans are as follows:
 
2012
 
2011
 
2010
 
Shares
 
Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
 
Shares
 
Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
 
Shares
 
Weighted-
Average
Exercise
Price
Restricted awards:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Outstanding and restricted at beginning of year
425,166

 
 
 
371,712

 
 
 
290,702

 
 
Granted during the year
151,869

 
 
 
125,059

 
 
 
133,666

 
 
Vested
(161,741
)
 
 
 
(61,330
)
 
 
 
(50,156
)
 
 
Cancelled
(21,507
)
 
 
 
(10,275
)
 
 
 
(2,500
)
 
 
Outstanding and restricted at end of year
393,787

 
 
 
425,166

 
 
 
371,712

 
 
Performance shares:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Outstanding at beginning of year
877,435

 
 
 
843,238

 
 
 
823,393

 
 
Granted during the year (1)
501,346

 
 
 
263,816

 
 
 
376,524

 
 
Issued (2)
(574,518
)
 
 
 
(215,870
)
 
 
 
(343,321
)
 
 
Forfeited/cancelled
(31,779
)
 
 
 
(13,749
)
 
 
 
(13,358
)
 
 
Outstanding at end of year
772,484

 
 
 
877,435

 
 
 
843,238

 
 
Vested or expected to vest as of
    December 31, 2012
743,907

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Directors’ retainer and voluntary shares:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Outstanding at beginning of year
2,611

 
 
 
2,509

 
 
 
4,596

 
 
Granted during the year
1,823

 
 
 
1,815

 
 
 
2,075

 
 
Vested
(1,554
)
 
 
 
(1,713
)
 
 
 
(4,162
)
 
 
Outstanding at end of year
2,880

 
 
 
2,611

 
 
 
2,509

 
 
Reserved for future grants or awards at end
    of year:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Employee plans
11,568,719

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Directors’ plans
94,848

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total
11,663,567

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

                                         
(1)
The shares granted during the year include 191,506 shares, 71,956 shares and 114,371 shares for each year presented, respectively, related to the 50 percent payout associated with the prior-year pool as actual payout exceeded target.
(2)
For each year presented, the shares vested on December 31, 2011, December 31, 2010 and December 31, 2009, respectively, and were valued on February 13, 2012, February 14, 2011 and February 19, 2010, respectively.
A summary of our outstanding share-based awards as of December 31, 2012 is shown below:
 
Shares
 
Weighted
Average
Grant Date
Fair Value
Outstanding, beginning of year
1,305,212

 

$43.19

Granted
655,038

 

$68.85

Vested
(737,813
)
 

$11.70

Forfeited/expired
(53,286
)
 

$76.44

Outstanding, end of year
1,169,151

 

$61.81


The total compensation cost related to outstanding awards not yet recognized is $28.0 million at December 31, 2012. The weighted average remaining period for the awards outstanding at December 31, 2012 is approximately 1.9 years.