Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies (Policy)

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Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies (Policy)
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2012
Basis Of Presentation And Significant Accounting Policies [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, contain 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 months ended March 31, 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:

 

                 

        Name        

       Location           Ownership Interest             Operation    

 Northshore

    Minnesota     100.0 %    Iron Ore

 United Taconite

    Minnesota     100.0 %    Iron Ore

 Wabush

    Labrador/Quebec, Canada     100.0 %    Iron Ore

 Bloom Lake

    Quebec, Canada     75.0 %    Iron Ore

 Tilden

    Michigan     85.0 %    Iron Ore

 Empire

    Michigan     79.0 %    Iron Ore

 Koolyanobbing

    Western Australia     100.0 %    Iron Ore

 Pinnacle

    West Virginia     100.0 %    Coal

 Oak Grove

    Alabama     100.0 %    Coal

 CLCC

    West Virginia     100.0 %    Coal

Intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated upon consolidation.
Investments In 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 March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011. Parentheses indicate a net liability.

 

                         
               (In Millions)  

Investment    

    Classification            Interest
  Percentage   		     March 31,
2012 		       December 31,  
2011 		 

Amapá

    Investments in ventures    30    $         492.5           $ 498.6     

AusQuest

    Investments in ventures    30      3.5           3.7     

Cockatoo

    Other liabilities    50      (13.9)          (15.0)    

Hibbing

    Other liabilities    23      (4.4)          (6.8)    

Other

    Investments in ventures           34.9           24.3     
              

 

 

     

 

 

  
                 $ 512.6           $ 504.8     
              

 

 

     

 

 

  

 

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 impact of the immaterial error in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Operations for the three months ended March 31, 2011 would have resulted in an increase in Income from Continuing Operations of $8.4 million and a decrease in Net Income Attributable to Cliffs Shareholders of $37.5 million or $0.28 to basic and diluted earnings per common share. These adjustments should be considered when comparing the operating results for the three months ended March 31, 2012 to the reported results for the three months ended March 31, 2011, as such adjustments are not reflected in the operating results reported for the three months ended March 31, 2011.

Discontinued Operations

Discontinued Operations

On September 27, 2011, we announced our plans to cease and dispose of the operations at the renewaFUEL biomass production facility in Michigan. As we continued to successfully grow our core iron ore mining business, the decision to sell our interest in the renewaFUEL operations was made to allow our management focus and allocation of capital resources to be deployed where we believe we can have the most impact for our stakeholders. 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 $0.1 million as Loss From Discontinued Operations in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Operations for the period ended March 31, 2012. This compares to losses of $0.4 million for the period ended March 31, 2011.
Reportable Segments

Reportable Segments

As a result of the acquisition of Consolidated Thompson in May 2011, we revised the number of our operating and reportable segments as determined under ASC 280. Our Company's primary operations are organized and managed according to product category and geographic location and now include: U.S. Iron Ore, Eastern Canadian Iron Ore, North American Coal, Asia Pacific Iron Ore, Asia Pacific Coal, Latin American Iron Ore, Ferroalloys and our Global Exploration Group. Our historical presentation of segment information consisted of three reportable segments: North American Iron Ore, North American Coal and Asia Pacific Iron Ore. Our restated presentation consists of four reportable segments: U.S. Iron Ore, Eastern Canadian Iron Ore, North American Coal and Asia Pacific Iron Ore. The amounts disclosed in NOTE 2 – SEGMENT REPORTING reflect this restatement.
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. Due to continued market movement away from historical benchmark prices and the evolution of customer supply agreements to meet the requirements of the market, there have been changes in our significant accounting policies from those disclosed therein. The significant accounting policies requiring updates have been included within the disclosures below.