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BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (Policies)
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Sep. 30, 2012
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| Organization, Consolidation and Presentation of Financial Statements [Abstract] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Basis Of Consolidation |
The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with SEC rules and regulations and in the opinion of management, include all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly, the financial position, results of operations, comprehensive income and cash flows for the periods presented. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Management bases its estimates on various assumptions and historical experience, which are believed to be reasonable; however, due to the inherent nature of estimates, actual results may differ significantly due to changed conditions or assumptions. The results of operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2012 are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the year ended December 31, 2012 or any other future period. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2011.
The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include our accounts and the accounts of our wholly owned and majority-owned subsidiaries, including the following operations:
Intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated upon consolidation.
Also included in our consolidated results are Cliffs Chromite Ontario Inc. and Cliffs Chromite Far North Inc., which have a 100 percent interest in the Black Label and Black Thor chromite deposits and a 70 percent interest in the Big Daddy chromite deposit, respectively, all located in Northern Ontario, Canada.
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| Investments In Unconsolidated Ventures |
The following table presents the detail of our investments in unconsolidated ventures and where those investments are classified in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011. Parentheses indicate a net liability.
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| Immaterial Errors |
Immaterial Errors
In September 2011, we noted an error in the accounting for the 21 percent noncontrolling interest in the Empire mine. In accordance with applicable GAAP, management quantitatively and qualitatively evaluated the materiality of the error and determined the error to be immaterial to the quarterly reports previously filed for the periods ended March 31, 2011 and June 30, 2011 and also immaterial for the quarterly report for the period ended September 30, 2011. Accordingly, all of the resulting adjustments were recorded prospectively in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011 and the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position as of September 30, 2011. The adjustment to record the noncontrolling interest related to the Empire mining venture of $84.0 million resulted in an increase to Income from Continuing Operations of $16.1 million, as a result of reductions in income tax expenses and a decrease to Net Income Attributable to Cliffs Shareholders of $67.9 million in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011. The adjustments resulted in a decrease to basic and diluted earnings per common share of $0.47 per common share and $0.49 and $0.48 per common share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, respectively. In addition, Retained Earnings was decreased by $67.9 million and Noncontrolling Interest was increased by $84.0 million in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position as of September 30, 2011.
In addition to the noncontrolling interest adjustment, the application of consolidation accounting for the Empire partnership arrangement also resulted in several financial statement line item reclassifications in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011. Under the captive cost company accounting, we historically recorded the reimbursements for our venture partners' cost through Freight and venture partners' cost reimbursements, with a corresponding offset in Cost of goods sold and operating expenses in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Operations. Accordingly, we reclassified $46.0 million of revenues from Freight and venture partners' cost reimbursements to Product revenues in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011. We also reclassified $54.1 million related to the ArcelorMittal price re-opener settlement recorded during the first quarter of 2011 from Cost of goods sold and operating expenses to Product revenues in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011.
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| Discontinued Operations |
Discontinued Operations
On July 10, 2012, we entered into a definitive share and asset sale agreement to sell our 45 percent economic interest in the Sonoma joint venture coal mine located in Queensland, Australia. The assets to be sold include our interests in the Sonoma mine along with our ownership of the affiliated washplant. Upon completion of the transaction, anticipated to close during the fourth quarter of 2012, we expect to collect approximately AUD $141.0 million in cash proceeds. As of September 30, 2012, we have reported the assets and related liabilities of the Sonoma operations as Assets held for sale and Liabilities held for sale in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 and reflected the results of operations as discontinued operations in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Operations for all periods presented. The Sonoma operations historically were reported as the Asia Pacific Coal operating segment. Refer to NOTE 7 - DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS for additional information.
On September 27, 2011, we announced our plans to cease and dispose of the operations at the renewaFUEL biomass production facility in Michigan. On January 4, 2012, we entered into an agreement to sell the renewaFUEL assets to RNFL Acquisition, LLC. The results of operations of the renewaFUEL operations are reflected as discontinued operations in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements for all periods presented. We recorded a loss of $0.1 million as Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Operations for the nine months ended September 30, 2012. This compares to losses of $17.5 million and $18.7 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, which included a $16.7 million impairment charge, taken to write the renewaFUEL assets down to fair value.
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| Significant Accounting Policies |
Significant Accounting Policies
A detailed description of our significant accounting policies can be found in the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2011, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC. There have been changes in our significant accounting policies from those disclosed therein. As disclosed in the March 31, 2012 Form 10-Q, the following significant accounting policies have been included within the disclosures below.
Revenue Recognition and Cost of Goods Sold and Operating Expenses
U.S. Iron Ore, Eastern Canadian Iron Ore and Asia Pacific Iron Ore
We sell our products pursuant to comprehensive supply agreements negotiated and executed with our customers. Revenue is recognized from a sale when persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, the price is fixed or determinable, the product is delivered in accordance with F.O.B. terms, title and risk of loss have transferred to the customer in accordance with the specified provisions of each supply agreement and collection of the sales price reasonably is assured. Our U.S. Iron Ore, Eastern Canadian Iron Ore and Asia Pacific Iron Ore supply agreements provide that title and risk of loss transfer to the customer either upon loading of the vessel, shipment or, as is the case with some of our U.S. Iron Ore supply agreements, when payment is received. Under certain term supply agreements, we ship the product to ports on the lower Great Lakes or to the customers’ facilities prior to the transfer of title. Our rationale for shipping iron ore products to certain customers and retaining title until payment is received for these products is to minimize credit risk exposure.
Iron ore sales are recorded at a sales price specified in the relevant supply agreements resulting in revenue and a receivable at the time of sale. Upon revenue recognition for provisionally priced sales, a freestanding derivative is created for the difference between the sales price used and expected future settlement price. The derivative, which does not qualify for hedge accounting, is adjusted to fair value through Product revenues as a revenue adjustment each reporting period based upon current market data and forward-looking estimates determined by management until the final sales price is determined. The principal risks associated with recognition of sales on a provisional basis include iron ore price fluctuations between the date initially recorded and the date of final settlement. For revenue recognition, we estimate the future settlement rate; however, if significant changes in iron ore prices occur between the provisional pricing date and the final settlement date, we might be required to either return a portion of the sales proceeds received or bill for the additional sales proceeds due based on the provisional sales price. Refer to NOTE 3 - DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES for further information.
In addition, certain supply agreements with one customer include provisions for supplemental revenue or refunds based on the customer’s annual steel pricing for the year the product is consumed in the customer’s blast furnaces. We account for this provision as a derivative instrument at the time of sale and record this provision at fair value until the year the product is consumed and the amounts are settled as an adjustment to revenue. Refer to NOTE 3 - DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES for further information.
Revenue from product sales also includes reimbursement for freight charges paid on behalf of customers in Freight and venture partners' cost reimbursements separate from Product revenues. Revenue is recognized for the expected reimbursement of services when the services are performed.
Cost of goods sold and operating expenses represents all direct and indirect costs and expenses applicable to the sales and revenues of our mining operations. Operating expenses within this line item primarily represent the portion of the Tilden mining venture costs for which we do not own; that is, the costs attributable to the share of the mine’s production owned by the other joint venture partner in the Tilden mine. The mining venture functions as a captive cost company; it supplies product only to its owners effectively on a cost basis. Accordingly, the noncontrolling interests’ revenue amounts are stated at cost of production and are offset by an equal amount included in Cost of goods sold and operating expenses resulting in no sales margin reflected in the noncontrolling partner participant. As we are responsible for product fulfillment, we act as a principal in the transaction and, accordingly, record revenue under these arrangements on a gross basis.
Where we have joint ownership of a mine, our contracts entitle us to receive royalties and/or management fees, which we earn as the pellets are produced.
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| Recent Accounting Pronouncements |
Recent Accounting Pronouncements
In May 2011, the FASB amended the guidance on fair value as a result of the joint efforts by the FASB and the IASB to develop a single, converged fair value framework. The amended fair value framework provides guidance on how to measure fair value and on what disclosures to provide about fair value measurements. The significant amendments to the fair value measurement guidance and the new disclosure requirements include: (1) the highest and best use and valuation premise for non-financial assets; (2) the application to financial assets and financial liabilities with offsetting positions in market risks or counterparty credit risks; (3) premiums or discounts in fair value measurement; (4) fair value of an instrument classified in a reporting entity’s shareholders’ equity; (5) for Level 3 measurements, a quantitative disclosure of the unobservable inputs and assumptions used in the measurement, a description of the valuation process in place and a narrative description of the sensitivity of the fair value to changes in the unobservable inputs and interrelationships between those inputs; and (6) the level in the fair value hierarchy of items that are not measured at fair value in the Statement of Financial Position but whose fair value must be disclosed. The new guidance is effective for interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011. We adopted the amended guidance as of January 1, 2012. Refer to NOTE 9 - FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS for further information.
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