UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported) March 10, 2010

 

 

Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

 

 

Ohio   1-8944   34-1464672

(State or Other Jurisdiction

of Incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

200 Public Square, Cleveland, Ohio   44114-2315
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code 216-694-5700

 

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 


Item 8.01. Other Events.

Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. (the “Company”) is filing herewith the following exhibits to its Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-165376):

 

  1. Underwriting Agreement, dated as of March 10, 2010, by and among the Company and Banc of America Securities LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., acting as representatives of the several underwriters named therein.

 

  2. Form of First Supplemental Indenture relating to the Company’s 5.900% Notes due 2020.

 

  3. Opinion of Jones Day.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

  (d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description

1.1   Underwriting Agreement, dated as of March 10, 2010, by and among the Company and Banc of America Securities LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., acting as representatives of the several underwriters named therein.
4.2   Form of First Supplemental Indenture relating to the Company’s 5.900% Notes due 2020.
5.1   Opinion of Jones Day.
23.1   Consent of Jones Day (included in Exhibit 5.1).


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

CLIFFS NATURAL RESOURCES INC.
By:  

/s/ George W. Hawk, Jr.

Name:   George W. Hawk, Jr.
Title:   General Counsel and Secretary

Date: March 16, 2010


Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit
Number

 

Description

1.1   Underwriting Agreement, dated as of March 10, 2010, by and among the Company and Banc of America Securities LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., acting as representatives of the several underwriters named therein.
4.2   Form of First Supplemental Indenture relating to the Company’s 5.900% Notes due 2020.
5.1   Opinion of Jones Day.
23.1   Consent of Jones Day (included in Exhibit 5.1).

Exhibit 1.1

CLIFFS NATURAL RESOURCES INC.

$400,000,000

5.900% Senior Notes due 2020

Underwriting Agreement

March 10, 2010

Banc of America Securities LLC

J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.

As Representatives of the

several Underwriters listed

in Schedule 1 hereto

c/o Banc of America Securities LLC

One Bryant Park

New York, New York 10036

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Cliffs Natural Resources Inc., an Ohio corporation (the “ Company ”), proposes to issue and sell to the several Underwriters listed in Schedule 1 hereto (the “ Underwriters ”), for whom you are acting as representatives (the “ Representatives ”), the respective amounts set forth in Schedule 1 of an aggregate principal amount of $400,000,000 of the Company’s 5.900% Senior Notes due 2020 (the “ Securities ”). The Securities will be issued pursuant to an Indenture to be dated as of March 17, 2010 (the “ Base Indenture ”) between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”), as supplemented by a supplemental indenture to be dated as of March 17, 2010 (the “ Supplemental Indenture ” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “ Indenture ”), between the Company and the Trustee.

The Company hereby confirms its agreement with the several Underwriters concerning the purchase and sale of the Securities, as follows:

1. Registration Statement . The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “ Commission ”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “ Securities Act ”), a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-165376), including a base prospectus (the “ Base Prospectus ”), relating to the debt securities to be issued from time to time by the Company. Such registration statement, as amended, including the information, if any, deemed pursuant to Rule 430A or 430B under the Securities Act to be part of the registration statement at the time of its effectiveness (“ Rule 430 Information ”), is referred to herein as the “ Registration Statement .” Any preliminary prospectus supplement describing the offering of the Securities that is used prior to the filing of the Prospectus (as defined below), together with the Base Prospectus, is called a “ Preliminary Prospectus ,” and the term “ Prospectus ” means the final prospectus supplement to the Base Prospectus that describes the offering of the Securities in the form first used (or made available upon request of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act) in connection with confirmation of sales of the Securities. Any reference in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act, as of the effective date of the Registration Statement or the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, and any reference to “amend”, “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or


the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents filed after such date under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “ Exchange Act ”) that are deemed to be incorporated by reference therein. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

At or prior to the Applicable Time (as defined below), the Company had prepared the following information (collectively with the pricing information set forth on Annex D, the “ Pricing Disclosure Package ”): a Preliminary Prospectus dated March 10, 2010 and each “ free-writing prospectus ” (as defined pursuant to Rule 405 under the Securities Act) listed in section a. on Annex D hereto.

Applicable Time ” means 1:30 P.M., New York City time, on March 10, 2010.

2. Purchase of the Securities by the Underwriters .

(a) The Company agrees to issue and sell the Securities to the several Underwriters as provided in this Agreement, and each Underwriter, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements set forth herein and subject to the conditions set forth herein, agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company the respective principal amount of Securities set forth opposite such Underwriter’s name in Schedule 1 hereto at a purchase price equal to 98.777% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued interest, if any, from March 17, 2010 to the Closing Date (as defined below).

(b) The Company understands that the Underwriters intend to make a public offering of the Securities as soon after the effectiveness of this Agreement as in the judgment of the Representatives is advisable, and initially to offer the Securities on the terms set forth in the Prospectus. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters may offer and sell Securities to or through any affiliate of an Underwriter.

(c) Payment for the Securities shall be made by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the account specified by the Company to the Representatives in the case of the Underwritten Securities, at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on March 17, 2010, or at such other time on the same or such other date, not later than the fifth business day thereafter, as the Representatives and the Company may agree upon in writing. The time and date of such payment for the Securities is referred to herein as the “ Closing Date.

Payment for the Securities to be purchased on the Closing Date, shall be made against delivery to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters of the Securities to be purchased on such date with any transfer taxes payable in connection with the sale of such Securities duly paid by the Company. Delivery of one or more global notes representing the Securities (collectively, the “ Global Note ”) shall be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company (“ DTC ”) unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct. The Global Note will be made available for inspection and packaging by the Representatives at the office of DTC or its designated custodian not later than 1:00 P.M., New York City time, on the business day prior to the Closing Date.

(d) The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters are acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length contractual counterparty to the Company with respect to the offering of Securities contemplated hereby (including in connection with determining the terms of the offering) and not as a financial advisor or a fiduciary to, or an agent of, the Company or any other person. Additionally, neither the Representatives nor any other Underwriter is advising the Company or any other person as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting or regulatory matters in any jurisdiction. The Company shall consult with its own advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible for making


its own independent investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Underwriters shall have no responsibility or liability to the Company with respect thereto. Any review by the Underwriters of the Company, the transactions contemplated hereby or other matters relating to such transactions will be performed solely for the benefit of the Underwriters and shall not be on behalf of the Company.

3. Representations and Warranties of the Company . The Company represents and warrants to each Underwriter that:

(a) Preliminary Prospectus. No order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus has been issued by the Commission, and each Preliminary Prospectus included in the Pricing Disclosure Package, at the time of filing thereof, complied in all material respects with the Securities Act and did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation and warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in any Preliminary Prospectus, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.

(b) Pricing Disclosure Package . The Pricing Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time did not, and as of the Closing Date, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation and warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in such Pricing Disclosure Package, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.

(c) Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. Other than the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company (including its agents and representatives, other than the Underwriters in their capacity as such) has not prepared, used, authorized, approved or referred to and will not prepare, use, authorize, approve or refer to any “written communication” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) that constitutes an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the Securities (each such communication by the Company or its agents and representatives (other than a communication referred to in clause (i) below) an “ Issuer Free Writing Prospectus ”) other than (i) any document not constituting a prospectus pursuant to Section 2(a)(10)(a) of the Securities Act or Rule 134 under the Securities Act or (ii) the documents listed on Annex D hereto, each electronic road show and any other written communications approved in writing in advance by the Representatives. Each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus complied in all material respects with the Securities Act, has been or will be (within the time period specified in Rule 433) filed in accordance with the Securities Act (to the extent required thereby) and, when taken together with the Preliminary Prospectus accompanying, or delivered prior to delivery of, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, did not, and as of the Closing Date, when taken together with any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus delivered prior to such date, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no


representation and warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or Preliminary Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or Preliminary Prospectus, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.

(d) Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Registration Statement is an “automatic shelf registration statement” as defined under Rule 405 of the Securities Act that has been filed with the Commission not earlier than three years prior to the date hereof; and no notice of objection of the Commission to the use of such registration statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act has been received by the Company. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued by the Commission, and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act against the Company or related to the offering of the Securities has been initiated or threatened by the Commission; as of the applicable effective date of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, the Registration Statement and any such post-effective amendment complied and will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Trust Indenture Act”), and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and as of the date of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto and as of the Closing Date, the Prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation and warranty with respect to (i) that part of the Registration Statement that constitutes the Statement of Eligibility and Qualification (Form T-1) of the Trustee under the Trust Indenture Act or (ii) any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.

(e) Incorporated Documents. The documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package, when they were filed with the Commission conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act, and none of such documents contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Pricing Disclosure Package, when such documents are filed with the Commission, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

(f) Financial Statements. The financial statements (including the related notes thereto) of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as


applicable, and present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and their results of operations and cash flows for the periods specified; except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby, and any supporting schedules included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement present fairly, in all material respects, the information required to be stated therein; and the other financial information included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus has been derived from the accounting records of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and presents fairly in all material respects the information shown thereby.

(g) No Material Adverse Change. Since the date of the most recent financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (i) there has not been (A) any material change in the capital stock (other than the issuance of common shares upon exercise or settlement of equity awards described as outstanding in, and the grant of options and other equity awards under existing equity compensation plans described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus), short-term debt or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or (B) any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, set aside for payment, paid or made by the Company on any class of capital stock (other than regular dividends on the common shares), or (C) any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the business, properties, financial position or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; and (ii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has entered into any transaction or agreement (whether or not in the ordinary course of business) that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; and (iii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained any loss or interference with its business that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole and that is either from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor disturbance or dispute or any action, order or decree of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except in each case as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(h) Organization and Good Standing. The Company and each of its subsidiaries that, as of December 31, 2009, was a “significant subsidiary” (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X) of the Company as listed on Annex A (each, a “ Significant Subsidiary ”) have been duly organized and are validly existing and in good standing under the laws of their respective jurisdictions of organization, are duly qualified to do business and are in good standing in each jurisdiction in which their respective ownership or lease of property or the conduct of their respective businesses requires such qualification, and have all power and authority necessary to own or hold their respective properties and to conduct the businesses in which they are engaged, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing or have such power or authority would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the business, properties, financial position or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole (a “ Material Adverse Effect ”). The Company does not have any “significant subsidiaries” (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X) as of December 31, 2009 other than those listed on Annex A.


(i) Capitalization. The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; all the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and are not subject to any pre-emptive or similar rights; except as described in or expressly contemplated by the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, including, without limitation equity awards under the Company’s equity compensation plans, there are no outstanding rights (including, without limitation, pre-emptive rights), warrants or options to acquire, or instruments convertible into or exchangeable for, any shares of capital stock or other equity interest in the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, or any contract, commitment, agreement, understanding or arrangement of any kind relating to the issuance of any capital stock of the Company or any such subsidiary, any such convertible or exchangeable securities or any such rights, warrants or options; the capital stock of the Company conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and all the outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests of each wholly-owned Significant Subsidiary have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of any lien, charge, encumbrance, security interest, restriction on voting or transfer or any other claim of any third party (“ Lien ”).

(j) Due Authorization. The Company has full right, power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement, the Securities and the Indenture (collectively, the “ Transaction Documents ”) and to perform its obligations hereunder and thereunder; and all action required to be taken for the due and proper authorization, execution and delivery of each of the Transaction Documents and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby has been duly and validly taken.

(k) Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

(l) The Indenture. The Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act. The Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company and, when executed and delivered by the Company and the Trustee, assuming due authorization by the Trustee, will constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally or by general equitable principles, regardless of whether such enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law (collectively, the “ Enforceability Exceptions ”).

(m) The Securities. The Securities have been duly authorized for issuance and sale to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement and, at the Closing Date, will have been duly executed by the Company and, when authenticated by the Trustee, issued and delivered in the manner provided for in the Indenture and delivered against payment of the consideration set forth herein, will be valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject to the Enforceability Exceptions, and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.

(n) Description of the Transaction Documents . The statements in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, insofar as they as they summarize provisions of the Transaction Documents, fairly summarize the applicable provisions of the Transaction Documents in all material respects.


(o) No Violation or Default. Neither the Company nor any Significant Subsidiary is (i) in violation of its charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents; (ii) in default in the performance or observance of any term, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any Significant Subsidiary is a party or by which the Company or any Significant Subsidiary is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary is subject; or (iii) in violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for any such default or violation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(p) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of each of the Transaction Documents, the issuance and sale of the Securities and compliance by the Company with the terms thereof and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any Significant Subsidiary is a party or by which the Company or any Significant Subsidiary is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary is subject, (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or (iii) result in the violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or any of their properties, except, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii) above, for any such conflict, breach, violation or default that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

(q) No Consents Required. No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of, or filing with, any governmental agency or body or any court is required in connection with the execution, delivery or performance by the Company of each of the Transaction Documents, or in connection with the issuance or sale of the Securities by the Company to the Underwriters, and compliance by the Company with the terms thereof and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, except for such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders and registrations or qualifications as have been obtained by the Company and, except (i) for the registration of the Securities under the Securities Act, (ii) for the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, (iii) periodic and other reporting requirements under the Exchange Act or (iv) as may be required under state securities or “blue sky” laws.

(r) Legal Proceedings. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no legal, governmental or regulatory investigations, actions, suits or proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or may be a party or to which any property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or may be the subject that, individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and to the Company’s knowledge, no such investigations, actions, suits or proceedings are threatened or, to the knowledge of the Company, contemplated by any governmental or regulatory authority; and (i) there are no current or pending legal, governmental or regulatory actions, suits or proceedings that are required under the Securities Act to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus that are


not so described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and (ii) there are no contracts or other documents that are required under the Securities Act to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus that are not so filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(s) Independent Accountants . Deloitte & Touche LLP, who have audited certain financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries is, to the knowledge of the Company, an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries within the applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and as required by the Securities Act.

(t) Title to Real and Personal Property . Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company and the Significant Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to, or have valid rights to lease or otherwise use, all items of real and personal property and assets that are material to the respective businesses of the Company and its subsidiaries, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects of title except those that (i) do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and its subsidiaries or (ii) could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(u) Title to Intellectual Property . Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (i) the Company and its subsidiaries own or possess adequate rights to use all patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark registrations, service mark registrations, copyrights, trade secrets, know-how and other intellectual property necessary for the conduct of their respective businesses as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and (ii) the conduct of their respective businesses as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus does not conflict with any such rights of others, except in each case (i) and (ii) as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company and its subsidiaries have not received any notice of any claim of infringement, misappropriation or conflict with any such rights of others in connection with its patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights and know-how, which would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

(v) No Undisclosed Relationships . No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company or any of its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, shareholders, customers or suppliers of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, on the other, that is required by the Securities Act to be described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and that is not so described in such documents and in the Pricing Disclosure Package.

(w) Investment Company Act . The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, will not be required to register as an “investment company” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.

(x) Taxes. The Company and its subsidiaries have paid all federal, state, local and foreign taxes and filed all tax returns required to be paid or filed through the date hereof, except where the failure to pay or file such taxes would not reasonably be expected to have a Material


Adverse Effect; and except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there is no tax deficiency that has been asserted against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets, except for any deficiency that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(y) Licenses and Permits. The Company and the Significant Subsidiaries possess all adequate licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations issued by, and have made all declarations and filings with, the appropriate governmental or regulatory authorities that are necessary for the ownership or lease of their respective properties to conduct their respective businesses as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except where the failure to possess would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any Significant Subsidiary has received notice of any revocation or modification of any such licenses, certificates, permits or authorization or has any reason to believe that any such license, certificates, permits and other authorization will not be renewed in the ordinary course, except where the failure to possess would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

(z) No Labor Disputes. No labor disturbance by or dispute with employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is contemplated or threatened, and to the Company’s knowledge, there is no existing or imminent labor disturbance by, or dispute with, the employees of any of its or its subsidiaries’ principal suppliers, contractors or customers, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(aa) Compliance with and Liability under Environmental Laws. (i) Except as described in the Registration Statement, Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or except for any such matter, as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its subsidiaries (a) are in compliance with any and all applicable federal, state, local and foreign laws, rules, regulations, requirements, decisions, judgments, decrees, orders and the common law relating to pollution or the protection of the environment, natural resources or human health or safety, including those relating to the generation, storage, treatment, use, handling, transportation, Release or threat of Release of Hazardous Materials (collectively, “ Environmental Laws ”), (b) have received and are in compliance with all permits, licenses, certificates or other authorizations or approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses, (c) have not received notice of any actual or potential liability under or relating to, or actual or potential violation of, any Environmental Laws, including for the investigation or remediation of any Release or threat of Release of Hazardous Materials, and have no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in any such notice, (d) are not conducting or paying for, in whole or in part, any investigation, remediation or other corrective action pursuant to any Environmental Law at any location, (e) have not agreed to assume, undertake or provide indemnification for any liability of any other person under any Environmental Law, including any obligation for cleanup or remedial action and (f) are not a party to any order, decree or agreement that imposes any obligation or liability under any Environmental Law, and (ii) except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no costs or liabilities associated with Environmental Laws of or relating to the Company or its subsidiaries, except for any such matter, as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (iii) except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (a) there are no


proceedings that are pending, or that are known to be contemplated, against the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any Environmental Laws in which a governmental entity is also a party, other than such proceedings regarding which it is reasonably believed no monetary sanctions of $100,000 or more will be imposed, (b) the Company and its subsidiaries are not aware of any facts or issues regarding compliance with Environmental Laws, or liabilities or other obligations under Environmental Laws, including the Release or threat of Release of Hazardous Materials, that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (c) none of the Company nor any of its subsidiaries anticipates material capital expenditures relating to any Environmental Laws. No property of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary is subject to any Lien under any Environmental Law.

(bb) Hazardous Materials . Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there has been no storage, generation, transportation, use, handling, treatment, Release or threat of Release of Hazardous Materials by, relating to or caused by the Company or any Significant Subsidiary (or, to the knowledge of the Company and its subsidiaries, any other entity (including any predecessor) for whose acts or omissions the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or could reasonably be expected to be liable) at, on, under or from any property or facility now or previously owned, operated or leased by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or at, on, under or from any other property or facility, in violation of any Environmental Laws or in a manner or amount or to a location that could reasonably be expected to result in any liability under any Environmental Law, except for any violation or liability which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. “ Hazardous Materials ” means any material, chemical, substance ,waste, pollutant, contaminant, compound, mixture, or constituent thereof, in any form or amount, including petroleum (including crude oil or any fraction thereof) and petroleum products, natural gas liquids, asbestos and asbestos containing materials, naturally occurring radioactive materials, brine, and drilling mud, regulated or which can give rise to liability under any Environmental Law. “ Release ” means any spilling, leaking, seepage, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, disposing, depositing, dispersing, or migrating in, into or through the environment, or in, into from or through any building or structure.

(cc) Compliance with ERISA. (i) Each employee benefit plan, within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ ERISA ”), that is subject to ERISA and is sponsored by the Company or any member of its “ Controlled Group ” (defined as any organization which is a member of a controlled group of corporations within the meaning of Section 414(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “ Code ”)), for which the Company or any member of its “Controlled Group” would have any liability (each, a “ Plan ”) has been maintained in compliance with its terms and the requirements of any applicable statutes, orders, rules and regulations, including but not limited to ERISA and the Code, except for noncompliance that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) no prohibited transaction, within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, has occurred with respect to any Plan excluding transactions effected pursuant to a statutory or administrative exemption that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (iii) for each Plan that is subject to the funding rules of Section 412 of the Code or Sections 303, 304 and 305 of ERISA, the minimum funding standard of Section 412 of the Code or Sections 303, 304 and 305 of ERISA, as applicable, has been satisfied (without taking into account any waiver thereof or extension of any amortization period) and is reasonably expected to be satisfied in the future (without taking into account any waiver thereof or extension of any amortization period); (iv) except as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the fair market value of the assets of each Plan exceeds the present value of all


benefits accrued under such Plan (determined based on those assumptions used to fund such Plan) as of the relevant date or dates described in Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; (v) with respect to any Plan, no “reportable event” (within the meaning of Section 4043(c) of ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur that either has resulted, or could reasonably be expected to result, in material liability under Title IV of ERISA to the Company or its subsidiaries; (vi) neither the Company nor any member of the Controlled Group has incurred, nor reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA (other than for premiums owed to the PBGC, in the ordinary course and without default) in respect of a Plan); and (vii) there is no pending audit or investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Department of Labor, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any other governmental agency or any foreign regulatory agency with respect to any Plan that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as described in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, none of the following events has occurred or is reasonably likely to occur: (x) a material increase in the aggregate amount of contributions required to be made to all Plans by the Company or its subsidiaries in the current fiscal year of the Company and its subsidiaries compared to the amount of such contributions made in the Company and its subsidiaries’ most recently completed fiscal year; or (y) a material increase in the Company and its subsidiaries’ “benefit obligations” (as reported in the financial statements (including the related notes thereto) of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries) compared to the amount of such obligations in the Company and its subsidiaries’ most recently completed fiscal year.

(dd) Disclosure Controls . The Company (including its consolidated subsidiaries) maintains a system of “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act) that complies with the requirements of the Exchange Act and that has been designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, including controls and procedures designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Company and its subsidiaries have carried out evaluations of the effectiveness of their disclosure controls and procedures as required by Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act.

(ee) Accounting Controls. The Company (including its consolidated subsidiaries) maintains a system of “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that complies with the requirements of the Exchange Act and have been designed by, or under the supervision of, the Company’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, including, but not limited to, internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no material weaknesses in the Company’s internal controls. The Company’s auditors and the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company have been advised of: (i) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which have adversely affected or are reasonably likely to adversely affect the


Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

(ff) Insurance. The Company and its Significant Subsidiaries have insurance covering their respective properties, operations, personnel and businesses, including business interruption insurance, which insurance, in the Company’s reasonable belief, is in amounts and insures against such losses and risks as are adequate to protect the Company and its subsidiaries and their respective businesses; and neither the Company nor any of its Significant Subsidiaries has (i) received notice from any insurer or agent of such insurer that material capital improvements or other expenditures are required or necessary to be made in order to continue such insurance or (ii) any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage at reasonable cost from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business.

(gg) No Unlawful Payments. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee from corporate funds; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977; or (iv) made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment.

(hh) Compliance with Money Laundering Laws . The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and for the past three years have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “ Money Laundering Laws ”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

(ii) Compliance with OFAC. None of the Company, any of its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“ OFAC ”); and the Company will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the offering of the Securities hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

(jj) No Restrictions on Subsidiaries . No wholly-owned Significant Subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, under any agreement or other instrument to which it is a party or is subject, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such Significant Subsidiary’s capital stock, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such Significant Subsidiary’s properties or assets to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company, other than as set forth in that certain Facility Agreement, dated April 20, 2007,


between Portman Limited, Portman Iron Ore Limited, Cliffs Asia Pacific Iron Ore Management Pty Ltd and National Australia Bank Limited, as amended and restated by a Supplemental Deed - Facility Agreement among the same parties dated June 23, 2008, as further amended by the Amending Deed - Facility Agreement dated February 10, 2009, as the same have been, and may further be, amended, modified, supplemented or restated from time to time.

(kk) No Broker’s Fees. Except as disclosed in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company and any person that would give rise to a valid claim against the Company or any Underwriter for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or like payment in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities.

(ll) No Registration Rights . No person has the right to require the Company or any of its subsidiaries to register any securities for sale under the Securities Act by reason of the filing of the Registration Statement with the Commission or the issuance and sale of the Securities.

(mm) No Stabilization. The Company has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Securities.

(nn) Margin Rules . The application of the proceeds received by the Company from the issuance, sale and delivery of the Securities as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus will not violate Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or any other regulation of such Board of Governors.

(oo) Forward-Looking Statements. No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith.

(pp) Statistical and Market Data. Nothing has come to the attention of the Company that has caused the Company to believe that the statistical and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus is not based on or derived from sources that the Company believes are reliable and accurate in all material respects.

(qq) Sarbanes-Oxley Act . There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or, to the knowledge of the Company, any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply in all material respects with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith (the “ Sarbanes-Oxley Act ”), including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications.

(rr) Status under the Securities Act . At the time of filing the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the earliest time thereafter that the Company or any offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) under the Securities Act) of the Securities and at the date hereof, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act. At the time of filing the Registration Statement, the Company was a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.


4. Further Agreements of the Company . The Company covenants and agrees with each Underwriter that:

(a) Required Filings. The Company will file the final Prospectus with the Commission within the time periods specified by Rule 424(b) and Rule 430A or 430B under the Securities Act, as applicable, will file any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Securities Act; will file promptly all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of the Prospectus and for the remainder of the Prospectus Delivery Period (as defined below); and will furnish copies of the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (to the extent not previously delivered) to the Underwriters in New York City prior to 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement in such quantities as the Representatives may reasonably request. The Company will pay the registration fee for this offering within the time period required by Rule 456(b)(1) under the Securities Act (without giving effect to the proviso therein) and in any event prior to the Closing Date.

(b) Delivery of Copies. The Company will deliver, without charge, to each Underwriter (A) a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (without exhibits) and (B) during the Prospectus Delivery Period, as many copies of the Prospectus (including all amendments and supplements thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus) as the Representatives may reasonably request. As used herein, the term “Prospectus Delivery Period” means such period of time after the first date of the public offering of the Securities as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters a prospectus relating to the Securities is required by law to be delivered (or required to be delivered but for Rule 172 under the Securities Act) in connection with sales of the Securities by any Underwriter or dealer.

(c) Amendments or Supplements, Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. During the Prospectus Delivery Period, before preparing, using, authorizing, approving, referring to or filing any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and before filing any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, whether before or after the time that the Registration Statement becomes effective, the Company will furnish to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters a copy of the proposed Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, amendment or supplement for review and will not prepare, use, authorize, approve, refer to or file any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Representatives reasonably object, provided, however, that with respect to any amendment or supplement through incorporation by reference of any report filed under the Exchange Act, the Company shall only be required to provided a copy of the proposed report prior to such filing without awaiting any objection from the Representatives.

(d) Notice to the Representatives. The Company will advise the Representatives promptly, and confirm such advice in writing, (i) when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective; (ii) when any supplement to the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment to the Prospectus has been filed; (iii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or the receipt of any comments from the Commission relating to the Registration Statement or any other request by the Commission for any additional information; (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, any of the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or the initiation or threatening of any


proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act; (v) of the occurrence of any event within the Prospectus Delivery Period as a result of which the Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package or any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading; and (vi) of the receipt by the Company of any notice of objection of the Commission to the use of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act; and (vii) of the receipt by the Company of any notice with respect to any suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offer and sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and the Company will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, any of the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or suspending any such qualification of the Securities and, if any such order is issued, will obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof.

(e) Ongoing Compliance. (1) If during the Prospectus Delivery Period (i) any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with law, the Company will immediately notify the Underwriters thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to paragraph (c) above, file with the Commission and furnish to the Underwriters and to such dealers as the Representatives may designate such amendments or supplements to the Prospectus as may be necessary so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus will comply with law and (2) if at any time prior to the Closing Date (i) any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Pricing Disclosure Package as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Pricing Disclosure Package is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Pricing Disclosure Package to comply with law, the Company will immediately notify the Underwriters thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to paragraph (c) above, file with the Commission (to the extent required) and furnish to the Underwriters and to such dealers as the Representatives may designate such amendments or supplements to the Pricing Disclosure Package as may be necessary so that the statements in the Pricing Disclosure Package as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Pricing Disclosure Package is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Pricing Disclosure Package will comply with law.

(f) Blue Sky Compliance. The Company will qualify the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives shall reasonably request and will continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for distribution of the Securities; provided that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or other entity or as a dealer in securities in any such jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (ii) file any general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not otherwise so subject.


(g) Earning Statement. The Company will make generally available to its security holders and the Representatives as soon as practicable an earning statement that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 of the Commission promulgated thereunder covering a period of at least twelve months beginning with the first fiscal quarter of the Company occurring after the “effective date” (as defined in Rule 158) of the Registration Statement.

(h) Clear Market. During the period from the date hereof through and including the Closing Date, the Company will not without the prior written consent of the Representatives, offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any debt securities issued or guaranteed by the Company and having a tenor of more than one year.

(i) Use of Proceeds. The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities substantially as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the heading “Use of proceeds”.

(j) No Stabilization. The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Securities.).

(k) Reports. During the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company will furnish to the Representatives, as soon as they are available, copies of all reports or other communications (financial or other) furnished to holders of the Securities, and copies of any reports and financial statements furnished to or filed with the Commission or any national securities exchange or automatic quotation system; provided the Company will be deemed to have furnished such reports and financial statements to the Representatives to the extent they are filed on the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system.

(l) Record Retention . The Company will, pursuant to reasonable procedures developed in good faith, retain copies of each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 433 under the Securities Act.

5. Certain Agreements of the Underwriters . Each Underwriter hereby represents and agrees that:

(a) It has not used, authorized use of, referred to or participated in the planning for use of, and will not use, authorize use of, refer to or participate in the planning for use of, any “free writing prospectus”, as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act (which term includes use of any written information furnished to the Commission by the Company and not incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement and any press release issued by the Company) other than (i) a free writing prospectus that contains no “issuer information” (as defined in Rule 433(h)(2) under the Securities Act) that was not included (including through incorporation by reference) in the Preliminary Prospectus or a previously filed Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, (ii) any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed on Annex D or prepared pursuant to Section 3(c) or Section 4(c) above (including any electronic road show), or (iii) any free writing prospectus prepared by such underwriter and approved by the Company in advance in writing (each such free writing prospectus referred to in clauses (i) or (iii), an “Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus”).

(b) It has not and will not, without the prior written consent of the Company, use any free writing prospectus that contains the final terms of the Securities unless such terms have


previously been included in a free writing prospectus filed with the Commission provided that Underwriters may use a term sheet substantially in the form of Annex E hereto without the consent of the Company; provided further that any Underwriter using such term sheet shall notify the Company, and provide a copy of such term sheet to the Company, prior to, or substantially concurrently with, the first use of such term sheet.

(c) It is not subject to any pending proceeding under Section 8A of the Securities Act with respect to the offering (and will promptly notify the Company if any such proceeding against it is initiated during the Prospectus Delivery Period).

6. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations. The obligation of each Underwriter to purchase the Underwritten Securities on the Closing Date, as provided herein is subject to the performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:

(a) Registration Compliance; No Stop Order. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall be in effect, and no proceeding for such purpose, pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) or pursuant to Section 8A under the Securities Act shall be pending before or threatened by the Commission; the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been timely filed with the Commission under the Securities Act (in the case of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Securities Act) and in accordance with Section 4(a) hereof; and all requests by the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of the Representatives.

(b) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Company contained herein shall be true and correct on the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date; and the statements of the Company and its officers made in any certificates delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date.

(c) No Downgrade. Subsequent to the earlier of (A) the Applicable Time and (B) the execution and delivery of this Agreement, if there are any debt securities or preferred stock of, or guaranteed by, the Company or any of its subsidiaries that are rated by a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,” as such term is defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act, (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded any such debt securities or preferred stock and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, or has changed its outlook with respect to, its rating of any such debt securities or preferred stock (other than an announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading).

(d) No Material Adverse Change. No event or condition of a type described in Section 3(g) hereof shall have occurred or shall exist, which event or condition is not described in the Pricing Disclosure Package (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the Prospectus (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the effect of which in the judgment of the Representatives makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Securities on the Closing Date, on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

(e) Officer’s Certificate. The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date, a certificate of the chief financial officer or chief accounting officer of the Company and one additional senior executive officer of the Company who is satisfactory to the Representatives (i) confirming that such officers have carefully reviewed the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and, to the knowledge of such


officers, the representations set forth in Sections 3(b) and 3(d) hereof are true and correct, (ii) confirming that the other representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct and that the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date and (iii) to the effect set forth in paragraphs (a), (c) and (d) above.

(f) Comfort Letters. On the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date, Deloitte & Touche LLP shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Company, letters, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, containing statements and information of the type customarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; provided, that the letter delivered on the Closing Date, shall use a “cut-off” date no more than three business days prior to such Closing Date.

(g) Opinion and 10b-5 Statement of Counsel for the Company. (i) Jones Day, counsel for the Company, shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Company, their written opinion and 10b-5 statement, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect set forth in Annex B hereto, and (ii) George W. Hawk, Jr., General Counsel and Secretary for the Company, shall have furnished to the Representatives his written opinion, dated the Closing Date, and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect set forth in Annex C hereto.

(h) Opinion and 10b-5 Statement of Counsel for the Underwriters. The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date, an opinion and 10b-5 statement of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, with respect to such matters as the Representatives may reasonably request, and such counsel shall have received such documents and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.

(i) No Legal Impediment to Issuance. No action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any federal, state or foreign governmental or regulatory authority that would, as of the Closing Date prevent the issuance or sale of the Securities; and no injunction or order of any federal, state or foreign court shall have been issued that would, as of the Closing Date prevent the issuance or sale of the Securities.

(j) Good Standing . The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date satisfactory evidence of the good standing of the Company in the State of Ohio and of each Significant Subsidiary organized in the United States of America or any state thereof evidence of the good standing of such Significant Subsidiary in the jurisdiction of its organization, in each case in writing or any standard form of telecommunication from the appropriate governmental authorities of such jurisdictions.

(k) Additional Documents. On or prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives such further certificates and documents as the Representatives may reasonably request.


All opinions, letters, certificates and evidence mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters.

7. Indemnification and Contribution .

(a) Indemnification of the Underwriters. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted, as such fees and expenses are incurred), joint or several, that arise out of, or are based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, not misleading, (ii) or any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act or any Pricing Disclosure Package (including any Pricing Disclosure Package that has subsequently been amended), or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in subsection (b) below.

(b) Indemnification of the Company. Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in paragraph (a) above, but only with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Pricing Disclosure Package, it being understood and agreed upon that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the following information in the Prospectus furnished on behalf of each Underwriter: the concession and reallowance figures appearing in the third paragraph under the caption “Underwriting” and the information contained in the seventh paragraph under the caption “Underwriting.”

(c) Notice and Procedures. If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any person in respect of which indemnification may be sought pursuant to either paragraph (a) or (b) above, such person (the “ Indemnified Person ”) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnification may be sought (the “ Indemnifying Person ”) in writing; provided that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under paragraph (a) or (b) above except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided , further , that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an Indemnified Person otherwise than under paragraph (a) or (b) above. If any such


proceeding shall be brought or asserted against an Indemnified Person and it shall have notified the Indemnifying Person thereof, the Indemnifying Person shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person (who shall not, without the consent of the Indemnified Person, be counsel to the Indemnifying Person) to represent the Indemnified Person in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel related to such proceeding, as incurred. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed to the contrary; (ii) the Indemnifying Person has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person; (iii) the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the Indemnifying Person; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interest between them. It is understood and agreed that the Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall be paid or reimbursed as they are incurred. Any such separate firm for any Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and any control persons of such Underwriter shall be designated in writing by the Representatives and any such separate firm for the Company, its directors, its officers who signed the Registration Statement and any control persons of the Company shall be designated in writing by the Company. The Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an Indemnified Person shall have requested that an Indemnifying Person reimburse the Indemnified Person for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by this paragraph, the Indemnifying Person shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by the Indemnifying Person of such request and (ii) the Indemnifying Person shall not have reimbursed the Indemnified Person in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement, unless such failure to reimburse the Indemnified Person is based on a dispute with a good faith basis as to either the obligation of the Indemnifying Person arising under this Section 7 to indemnify the Indemnified Person or the amount of such obligation and the Indemnifying Party shall have notified the Indemnified Party of such good faith dispute prior to the date of such settlement. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the written consent of the Indemnified Person, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party and indemnification could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement (x) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (y) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person.

(d) Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in paragraphs (a) and (b) above is unavailable to an Indemnified Person or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, from the offering of the Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other,


in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds (before deducting expenses) received by the Company from the sale of the Securities and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters in connection therewith, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate offering price of the Securities. The relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

(e) Limitation on Liability. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (d) above. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph (d) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, in no event shall an Underwriter be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriter with respect to the offering of the Securities exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 7 are several in proportion to their respective purchase obligations hereunder and not joint.

(f) Non-Exclusive Remedies. The remedies provided for in this Section 7 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Person at law or in equity.

8. Effectiveness of Agreement . This Agreement shall become effective upon the execution and delivery hereof by the parties hereto.

9. Termination . This Agreement may be terminated in the absolute discretion of the Representatives, by notice to the Company, if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date (i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on or by any of the New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq Stock Market; (ii) trading of any securities issued or guaranteed by the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by federal or New York State authorities; or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis, either within or outside the United States, that, in the judgment of the Representatives, is material and adverse and makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Securities on the Closing Date, on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.


10. Defaulting Underwriter .

(a) If, on the Closing Date, any Underwriter defaults on its obligation to purchase the Securities that it has agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, the non-defaulting Underwriters may in their discretion arrange for the purchase of such Securities by other persons satisfactory to the Company on the terms contained in this Agreement. If, within 36 hours after any such default by any Underwriter, the non-defaulting Underwriters do not arrange for the purchase of such Securities, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of 36 hours within which to procure other persons satisfactory to the non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase such Securities on such terms. If other persons become obligated or agree to purchase the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter, either the non-defaulting Underwriters or the Company may postpone the Closing Date, for up to five full business days in order to effect any changes that in the opinion of counsel for the Company or counsel for the Underwriters may be necessary in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or in any other document or arrangement, and the Company agrees to promptly prepare any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus that effects any such changes. As used in this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” includes, for all purposes of this Agreement unless the context otherwise requires, any person not listed in Schedule 1 hereto that, pursuant to this Section 10, purchases Securities that a defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed to purchase.

(b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters and the Company as provided in paragraph (a) above, the aggregate principal amount of such Securities that remains unpurchased does not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of all the Securities, then the Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the principal amount of Securities that such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder on such date plus such Underwriter’s pro rata share (based on the principal amount of Securities that such Underwriter agreed to purchase on such date) of the Securities of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made.

(c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters and the Company as provided in paragraph (a) above, the aggregate principal amount of such Securities that remains unpurchased on the Closing Date exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of all the Securities or if the Company shall not exercise the right described in paragraph (b) above, then this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of the non-defaulting Underwriters. Any termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 10 shall be without liability on the part of the Company, except that the Company will continue to be liable for the payment of expenses as set forth in Section 11 hereof and except that the provisions of Section 7 hereof shall not terminate and shall remain in effect.

(d) Nothing contained herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of any liability it may have to the Company or any non-defaulting Underwriter for damages caused by its default.

11. Payment of Expenses .

(a) Whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company will pay or cause to be paid all costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder, including without limitation, (i) the costs incident to the authorization, issuance, sale, preparation and delivery of the Securities and any taxes payable in that connection; (ii) the costs incident to the preparation, printing and filing under the Securities Act of the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (including all exhibits, amendments and supplements thereto) and


the distribution thereof; (iii) the costs of reproducing and distributing this Agreement; (iv) the fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel and independent accountants; (v) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the registration or qualification of the Securities under the state or foreign securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may designate and the preparation, printing and distribution of a Blue Sky Memorandum (including the related fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters up to $5,000); (vi) the cost of preparing stock certificates; (vii) the costs and charges of any transfer agent and any registrar; and (viii) all expenses incurred by the Company in connection with any “road show” presentation to potential investors.

(b) If (i) this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 9, (ii) the Company for any reason fails to tender the Securities for delivery to the Underwriters or (iii) the Underwriters decline to purchase the Securities for any reason permitted under this Agreement, the Company agrees to reimburse the Underwriters for all out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of their counsel) reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in connection with this Agreement and the offering contemplated hereby.

12. Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement . This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers and directors and any controlling persons referred to in Section 7 hereof. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any other person any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision contained herein. No purchaser of Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor merely by reason of such purchase.

13. Survival . The respective indemnities, rights of contribution, representations, warranties and agreements of the Company and the Underwriters contained in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of the Company or the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement or any certificate delivered pursuant hereto shall survive the delivery of and payment for the Securities and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any termination of this Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of the Company or the Underwriters.

14. Certain Defined Terms . For purposes of this Agreement, (a) except where otherwise expressly provided, the term “affiliate” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act; (b) the term “business day” means any day other than a day on which banks are permitted or required to be closed in New York City; and (c) the term “subsidiary” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

15. Miscellaneous .

(a) Authority of Banc of America Securities LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. Any action by the Underwriters hereunder may be taken by Banc of America Securities LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. on behalf of the Underwriters, and any such action taken by Banc of America Securities LLC or J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. shall be binding upon the Underwriters.

(b) Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted and confirmed by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be given to the Representatives c/o J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., 270 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017 (Fax: (212) 834-6081), Attention: High Grade Syndicate Desk and c/o Banc of America Securities LLC, One Bryant Park, New York, NY 10036 (fax: (212) 901-7881)), Attention: High Grade Debt Capital Markets Transaction Management/Legal. Notices to the Company shall be given to it at Cliffs Natural Resources Inc., 200 Public Square, Cleveland, Ohio 44114, Attention: General Counsel.


(c) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made and to be performed in such state.

(d) Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts (which may include counterparts delivered by any standard form of telecommunication), each of which shall be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

(e) Amendments or Waivers. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, nor any consent or approval to any departure therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the parties hereto.

(f) Headings. The headings herein are included for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.


If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please indicate your acceptance of this Agreement by signing in the space provided below.

 

Very truly yours,
CLIFFS NATURAL RESOURCES INC.
By:  

/s/ Laurie Brlas

  Name:   Laurie Brlas
  Title:   Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer


Accepted: March 10, 2010

BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC

J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.

For themselves and on behalf of the several Underwriters listed in Schedule 1 hereto.
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
By:  

/s/ Laurie Campbell

  Name:   Laurie Campbell
  Title:   Managing Director
J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.
By:  

/s/ Maria Sramek

  Name:   Maria Sramek
  Title:   Executive Director


Schedule 1

 

Underwriter

   Aggregate Principal
Amount of Securities
to be
Purchased

Banc of America Securities LLC

   $ 152,000,000

J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.

     152,000,000

Fifth Third Securities, Inc.

     24,000,000

KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc.

     24,000,000

PNC Capital Markets LLC

     24,000,000

RBS Securities Inc.

     24,000,000
      

Total

   $ 400,000,000
      


Annex A

SIGNIFICANT SUBSIDIARIES

Northshore Mining Company

United Taconite LLC

Pinnacle Mining Company LLC

Oak Grove Resources LLC

Tilden Mining Company L.C.

Cliffs TIOP, Inc.

Cliffs Asia Pacific Iron Ore Holdings Pty Ltd


Annex D

 

a. Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses included in the Pricing Disclosure Package

 

   

Final Term Sheet dated March 10, 2010

 

b. Other Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses not included in the Pricing Disclosure Package

 

   

Electronic (Netroadshow) road show of the Company relating to the offering of the Senior Notes dated March 10, 2010


Annex E

CLIFFS NATURAL RESOURCES INC.

Pricing Term Sheet

$400,000,000 5.900% Notes due 2020

 

Issuer:    Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.
Size:    $400,000,000
Maturity:    March 15, 2020
Coupon (Interest Rate):    5.900%
Yield to Maturity:    5.977%
Spread to Benchmark Treasury:    T+225 bps
Benchmark Treasury:    3.625% due February 15, 2020
Benchmark Treasury Price and Yield:    99-05 / 3.727%
Interest Payment Dates:    March 15 and September 15, commencing September 15, 2010
Redemption Provision:    T+35 bps
Price to Public:    99.427%
Settlement Date:    T+5; March 17, 2010
CUSIP / ISIN    18683K AA9 / US18683KAA97
Ratings*:    Baa3 (stable) by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. / BBB- (stable) by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services
Joint Book-Running Managers   

Banc of America Securities LLC

J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.

Co-Managers   

Fifth Third Securities, Inc

KeyBanc Capital Markets Inc.

PNC Capital Markets LLC

RBS Securities Inc.

 

* Note: A securities rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time.

The issuer has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the SEC for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement and other documents the issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the issuer and this offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC Web site at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, Banc of America Securities LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. can arrange to send you the prospectus if you request it by calling Banc of America Securities LLC at 1-800-294-1322, or calling J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. collect at 1-212-834-4533.

Exhibit 4.2

CLIFFS NATURAL RESOURCES INC.

5.900% Notes due 2020

First Supplemental Indenture

Dated as of March 17, 2010

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

as Trustee


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

     P AGE
ARTICLE 1   
S COPE OF S UPPLEMENTAL I NDENTURE ; G ENERAL   
Section 1.01.   Scope of Supplemental Indenture; General    2
Section 1.02.   Terms of Notes    2
ARTICLE 2   
C ERTAIN D EFINITIONS   
Section 2.01.   Certain Definitions    3
Section 2.02.   Rules of Construction    8
ARTICLE 3   
C OVENANTS   
Section 3.01.   Change of Control Triggering Event.    9
Section 3.02.   Restrictions on Liens.    9
Section 3.03.   Restrictions on Sale and Leaseback Transactions    11
Section 3.04.   Applicability of Covenants Contained in the Base Indenture    12
ARTICLE 4   
T HE N OTES   
Section 4.01.   Form of Notes    12
Section 4.02.   Depositary    12
ARTICLE 5   
R EDEMPTION   
Section 5.01.   Optional Redemption    12
Section 5.02.   Applicability of Sections of the Base Indenture    13
ARTICLE 6   
D EFEASANCE   
Section 6.01.   Defeasance    13

 

i


ARTICLE 7   
M ISCELLANEOUS   
Section 7.01.   GOVERNING LAW    13
Section 7.02.   Recitals    13
EXHIBIT:     
A.   Form of Note   

 

ii


FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE dated as of March 17, 2010 (“ First Supplemental Indenture ”) to the Indenture dated as of March 17, 2010 (the “ Base Indenture ” and as supplemented by this First Supplemental Indenture, the “ Indenture ”), is by and among CLIFF NATURAL RESOURCES INC., an Ohio corporation (the “ Company ”), and U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as trustee (as defined in the Indenture, the “ Trustee ”).

RECITALS:

Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other parties and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of Notes (as defined herein):

WHEREAS, the Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of the Base Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of the Company’s debentures, notes, or other debt instruments (as defined in the Indenture, the “ Securities ”), to be issued in one or more series, as in the Indenture provided;

WHEREAS, the Company desires and has requested the Trustee to join them in the execution and delivery of this First Supplemental Indenture in order to establish and provide for the issuance by the Company of a series of Securities designated as its 5.900% Notes due 2020 (the “ Notes ”), on the terms set forth herein;

WHEREAS, the Company now wishes to issue Notes in an initial aggregate principal amount of $400,000,000;

WHEREAS, Section 9.1 of the Base Indenture permits the Company and the Trustee to amend or supplement the Base Indenture to establish the form and terms of any series of Securities without the consent of any Securityholder;

WHEREAS, the conditions set forth in the Indenture for the execution and delivery of this First Supplemental Indenture have been complied with; and

WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this First Supplemental Indenture a valid agreement of the Company and the Trustee, in accordance with its terms, and a valid amendment of, and supplement to, the Base Indenture have been done;

NOW, THEREFORE, THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

In consideration of the premises and the purchase and acceptance of the Notes by the Holders thereof and the Company mutually covenant and agree with the Trustee, for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes, that the Base Indenture is supplemented and amended, to the extent expressed herein, as follows:


ARTICLE 1

S COPE OF S UPPLEMENTAL I NDENTURE ; G ENERAL

Section 1.01. Scope of Supplemental Indenture; General. This First Supplemental Indenture supplements and, to the extent inconsistent therewith, replaces the provisions of the Base Indenture, to which provisions reference is hereby made.

The changes, modifications and supplements to the Base Indenture effected by this First Supplemental Indenture shall be applicable only with respect to, and govern the terms of, the Notes (which shall be initially in the aggregate principal amount of $400,000,000) and shall not apply to any other Securities that have been or may be issued under the Indenture unless a supplemental indenture with respect to such other Securities specifically incorporates such changes, modifications and supplements. Pursuant to this First Supplemental Indenture, there is hereby created and designated a series of Securities under the Indenture entitled “5.900% Notes due 2020.” The Notes shall be in the form of Exhibit A hereto, the terms of which are incorporated herein by reference.

All Notes issued under this First Supplemental Indenture shall vote and consent together on all matters as one class, including without limitation on waivers and amendments, and no Holder of Notes will have the right to vote or consent as a separate class from other Holders on any matter except matters which affect such Holder only.

Section 1.02 . Terms of Notes. The information applicable to the Notes required pursuant to Section 2.2 of the Base Indenture is as follows:

(1) the title of the Notes is “5.900 % Senior Notes due 2020”;

(2) the Notes will be issued to the underwriters at a price of 98.777 % of the principal amount, resulting in total net proceeds to the Company of $395,108,000; the price to the public will be 99.427% of the principal amount; and 100% of the principal amount will be payable upon declaration of acceleration or maturity;

(3) the initial aggregate principal amount of the Notes is $400,000,000;

(4) principal will be payable as set forth in the form of Note;

(5) the rate of interest and interest payment and record dates are as set forth in the form of Note;

(6) as set forth in the form of Note;

(7) the Notes will be subject to optional redemption as set forth in Article 5 below;

(8) not applicable;

 

2


(9) not applicable;

(10) the Notes will be issuable in minimum denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000;

(11) the Notes shall be issuable as Global Securities and the provisions of Section 2.15 of the Indenture shall apply to the Notes;

(12) not applicable;

(13) the Notes shall be issuable in Dollars;

(14) payment of the principal and interest on the Notes shall be made in Dollars;

(15) not applicable;

(16) not applicable;

(17) not applicable;

(18) not applicable;

(19) the provisions of Article 3 herein setting forth Covenants shall be applicable to the Notes;

(20) as set forth elsewhere herein;

(21) not applicable;

(22) not applicable;

(23) the Notes shall be senior debt securities; and

(24) U.S. Bank National Association initially shall serve as the Trustee and Registrar and Paying Agent with respect to the Notes;

ARTICLE 2

C ERTAIN D EFINITIONS

Section 2.01. Certain Definitions. The following definitions shall apply to the Notes. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Base Indenture.

 

3


Attributable Debt ” means the present value (discounted at the rate of interest implicit in the terms of the lease) of the obligation of a lessee for net rental payments during the remaining term of any lease (including any period for which such lease has been extended or may, at the option of the lessor, be extended).

“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following after the date of issuance of the Notes:

(a) the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and the Company’s Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any “person” or “group” (as those terms are used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) other than to the Company or one of the Company’s Subsidiaries;

(b) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” or “group” (as those terms are used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act, it being agreed that an employee of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries for whom shares are held under an employee stock ownership, employee retirement, employee savings or similar plan and whose shares are voted in accordance with the instructions of such employee shall not be a member of a “group” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) solely because such employee’s shares are held by a trustee under said plan) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of Voting Stock representing more than 50% of the voting power of the Company’s outstanding Voting Stock or of the Voting Stock of any of the Company’s direct or indirect parent companies;

(c) the Company consolidates with, or merges with or into, any Person, or any Person consolidates with, or merge with or into, the Company, in any such event pursuant to a transaction in which any of the Company’s outstanding Voting Stock or Voting Stock of such other Person is converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction where the Company’s Voting Stock outstanding immediately prior to such transaction constitutes, or is converted into or exchanged for, Voting Stock representing at least a majority of the voting power of the Voting Stock of the surviving Person immediately after giving effect to such transaction;

(d) the first day on which the majority of the members of the Board of Directors or the board of directors of any of the Company’s direct or indirect parent companies are not Continuing Directors; or

(e) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction will not be deemed to involve a Change of Control solely because the Company becomes a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of a

 

4


holding company if the direct or indirect Holders of the Voting Stock of such holding company immediately following that transaction are substantially the same as the Holders of the Company’s Voting Stock immediately prior to that transaction.

Change of Control Offer ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.01 of this First Supplemental Indenture.

Change of Control Offer Payment ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.01 of this First Supplemental Indenture.

Change of Control Payment Date ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 3.01 of this First Supplemental Indenture.

Change of Control Triggering Event ” means with respect to the Notes, (i) the rating of such Notes is lowered by each of the Rating Agencies on any date during the period (the “ Trigger Period ”) commencing on the earlier of (a) the occurrence of a Change of Control and (b) the first public announcement by the Company of any Change of Control (or pending Change of Control), and ending 60 days following consummation of such Change of Control (which Trigger Period will be extended following consummation of a Change of Control for so long as any of the Rating Agencies has publicly announced that it is considering a possible ratings change), and (ii) such Notes are rated below Investment Grade by each of the Rating Agencies on any day during the Trigger Period; provided that a Change of Control Trigger Event will not be deemed to have occurred in respect of a particular Change of Control if each Rating Agency making the reduction in rating does not publicly announce or confirm or inform the Trustee at the Company’s request that the reduction was the result, in whole or in part, of any event or circumstance comprised of or arising as a result of, or in respect of, the Change of Control.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Change of Control Triggering Event will be deemed to have occurred in connection with any particular Change of Control unless and until such Change of Control has actually been consummated.

Comparable Treasury Issue ” means the United States Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the Notes.

Comparable Treasury Price ” means, with respect to any redemption date, (1) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest of such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (2) if the Company obtains fewer than six such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all Quotations obtained.

Consolidated Net Tangible Assets ” means the aggregate amount of assets (less applicable reserves and other properly deductible items) after deducting therefrom (a) all current

 

5


liabilities (excluding any indebtedness for money borrowed having a maturity of less than 12 months from the date of the most recent consolidated balance sheet of the Company but which by its terms is renewable or extendable beyond 12 months from such date at the option of the borrower) and (b) all goodwill, trade names, patents, unamortized debt discount and expense and any other like intangibles, all as set forth on the most recent consolidated balance sheet of the Company and computed in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.

Continuing Director ” means, as of any date of determination, any member of the applicable board of directors who: (1) was a member of such board of directors on the date of issuance of the Notes or (2) was nominated for election, elected or appointed to such board of directors with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such board of directors at the time of such nomination, election or appointment (either by a specific vote or by approval of a proxy statement in which such member was named as a nominee for election as a director).

Debt ” means indebtedness for money borrowed that in accordance with applicable generally accepted accounting principles would be reflected on the balance sheet of the obligor as a liability as of the date on which Debt is to be determined.

Domestic Subsidiary ” means a Subsidiary that owns or leases any Principal Property except a Subsidiary (a) that transacts any substantial portion of its business and regularly maintains any substantial portion of its fixed assets outside of the United States or (b) that is engaged primarily in financing the operation of the Company or the Company’s Subsidiaries, or both, outside the United States.

DTC ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.02 of this First Supplemental Indenture.

Event of Default ” means any event specified as such in Section 6.1 of the Base Indenture.

Exchange Act ” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

Global Note ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.01 of this First Supplemental Indenture.

Global Note Holder ” has the meaning ascribed to such term in Section 4.02 of this First Supplemental Indenture.

 

6


Independent Investment Banker ” means one of the Reference Treasury Dealers appointed by the Company.

Investment Grade ” means a rating of Baa3 or better by Moody’s (or its equivalent under any successor rating category of Moody’s) and a rating of BBB- or better by S&P (or its equivalent under any successor rating category of S&P), and the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any replacement rating agency or rating agencies selected by the Company under the circumstances permitting the Company to select a replacement agency and in the manner for selecting a replacement agency, in each case as set forth in the definition of “Rating Agency.”

Issue Date ” means March 17, 2010.

Liens ” means any mortgage, pledge, lien or other encumbrance.

Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., a subsidiary of Moody’s Corporation, and its successors.

Notes ” has the meaning ascribed to it in the preamble of this First Supplemental Indenture.

Person ” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, business trust, association, joint-stock company, joint venture, trust, incorporated or unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

Primary Treasury Dealer ” means a primary U.S. government securities dealer in the United States.

Principal Property ” means a single manufacturing or processing plant, warehouse distribution facility or office owned or leased by the Company or a Domestic Subsidiary which has a net book value in excess of 5% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets other than a plant, warehouse, office, or portion thereof which, in the opinion of the Company’s Board of Directors, is not of material importance to the business conducted by the Company and its Subsidiaries as an entirety.

Rating Agency ” means each of Moody’s and S&P; provided , that if any of Moody’s or S&P ceases to provide rating services to issuers or investors, the Company may appoint another “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Rule 15c3-1(c)(2)(vi)(F) under the Exchange Act as a replacement for such Rating Agency.

Reference Treasury Dealer ” means each of Banc of America Securities LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., their respective successors and two other nationally recognized investment banking firms that are Primary Treasury Dealers specified from time to time by the Company, except that if any of the foregoing ceases to be a Primary Treasury Dealer, the

 

7


Company shall designate as a substitute another nationally recognized investment banking firm that is a Primary Treasury Dealer.

Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations ” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the Company, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Company by such Reference Treasury Dealer as of 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on the third business day preceding such redemption date.

S&P ” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and its successors.

Subsidiary ” means any corporation, partnership or other legal entity (a) the accounts of which are consolidated with the Company in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and (b) of which, in the case of a corporation, more than 50% of the outstanding voting stock is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more other Subsidiaries, or by the Company and one or more other Subsidiaries or, in the case of any partnership or other legal entity, more than 50% of the ordinary equity capital interests is, at the time, directly or indirectly owned or controlled by the Company or by one or more of the Subsidiaries or by the Company and one or more of the Subsidiaries.

Treasury Rate ” means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity (computed as of the third business day immediately preceding such redemption date) of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date.

Voting Stock ” of any specified Person as of any date means the capital stock of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote generally in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person.

Section 2.02 . Rules of Construction. Unless the context otherwise requires or except as otherwise expressly provided, the term “interest” in this Indenture shall be construed to include additional interest, if any.

ARTICLE 3

C OVENANTS

The following covenants shall apply in addition to the covenants set forth in the Indenture:

 

8


Section 3.01. Change of Control Triggering Event .

(a) Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event, unless the Company has exercised its right to redeem the Notes pursuant to Section 5.01, by giving irrevocable notice to the Trustee in accordance with the Indenture, each Holder of Notes shall have the right to require the Company to purchase all or a portion of such Holder’s Notes pursuant to the offer described in this Section 3.01 (the “ Change of Control Offer ”), at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase (the “ Change of Control Payment ”), subject to the rights of Holders of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date.

(b) Unless the Company has exercised its right to redeem the Notes, within 30 days following the date upon which the Change of Control Triggering Event occurred with respect to the Notes or, at the Company’s option, prior to any Change of Control but after the public announcement of the pending Change of Control, the Company shall be required to send, by first class mail, a notice to each Holder of Notes, with a copy to the Trustee, which notice shall govern the terms of the Change of Control Offer. Such notice shall state, among other things, the purchase date, which must be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed, other than as may be required by law (the “ Change of Control Payment Date ”). The notice, if mailed prior to the date of consummation of the Change of Control, shall state that the Change of Control Offer is conditioned on the Change of Control being consummated on or prior to the Change of Control Payment Date.

(c) On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company shall, to the extent lawful:

(i) accept or cause a third party to accept for payment all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer;

(ii) deposit or cause a third party to deposit with the paying agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered; and

(iii) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions of Notes being repurchased and that all conditions precedent to the Change of Control Offer and to the repurchase by the Company of Notes pursuant to the Change of Control Offer have been complied with.

(d) The Company shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer if a third party makes such an offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for such an offer made by the Company and such third party purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer.

Section 3.02. Restrictions on Liens .

 

9


(a) The Company will not, nor will it permit any Domestic Subsidiary to, incur, issue, assume or guarantee any Debt secured by a Lien upon any Principal Property or on any shares of stock or indebtedness of any Domestic Subsidiary (whether such Principal Property, shares of stock or indebtedness is now owned or hereafter acquired) without in any such case effectively providing that the Notes (together with, if the Company shall so determine, any other indebtedness of or guaranteed by the Company or such Domestic Subsidiary ranking equally with the Notes then existing or thereafter created) shall be secured equally and ratably with such Debt.

(b) The restrictions set forth in paragraph (a) in this Section 3.02 shall not apply to:

(i) Liens on property, shares of stock or indebtedness of or guaranteed by any Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Domestic Subsidiary;

(ii) Liens on property existing at the time of acquisition thereof, or to secure the payment of all or part of the purchase or construction price of property, or to secure Debt incurred or guaranteed for the purpose of financing all or part of the purchase or construction price of property or the cost of improvements on property, which Debt is incurred or guaranteed prior to, at the time of, or within 180 days after the later of such acquisition or completion of such improvements or construction or commencement of commercial operation of the property;

(iii) Liens in favor of the Company or any Subsidiary;

(iv) Liens on property of a Person existing at the time such Person is merged into or consolidated with the Company or a Domestic Subsidiary or at the time of a purchase, lease or other acquisition of the property of a Person as an entirety or substantially as an entirety by the Company or a Domestic Subsidiary;

(v) Liens on the property of the Company or that of a Domestic Subsidiary in favor of the United States of America or any State thereof, or any political subdivision thereof, or in favor of any other country, or any political subdivision thereof, to secure certain payments pursuant to any contract or statute or to secure any indebtedness incurred or guaranteed for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price or the cost of construction of the property subject to such Liens (including, but not limited to, Liens incurred in connection with pollution control industrial revenue bond or similar financing);

(vi) Liens imposed by law, for example mechanics’, workmen’s, repairmen’s or other similar Liens arising in the ordinary course of business;

(vii) pledges or deposits under workmen’s compensation or similar legislation or in certain other circumstances;

 

10


(viii) Liens in connection with legal proceedings;

(ix) Liens for taxes or assessments or governmental charges or levies not yet due or delinquent, of which can thereafter be paid without penalty, or which are being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings;

(x) Liens consisting of restrictions on the use of real property that do not interfere materially with the property’s use;

(xi) Liens existing on the date of the Indenture; and

(xii) any refinancing, extension, renewal or replacement (or successive refinancings, extensions, renewals or replacements), in whole or in part, of any Lien referred to in any of the foregoing clauses.

(c) Notwithstanding the above, the Company and any one or more of its Subsidiaries may, without securing the Notes, incur, issue, assume or guarantee secured Debt which would otherwise be subject to the foregoing restrictions, provided that after giving effect thereto the aggregate amount of Debt which would otherwise be subject to the foregoing restrictions then outstanding (not including secured Debt permitted under the foregoing exceptions) plus Attributable Debt relating to sale and leaseback transactions (as described below) does not exceed 15% of the Company’s Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.

Section 3.03. Restrictions on Sale and Leaseback Transactions

(a) The Company shall not, nor shall it permit any Domestic Subsidiary to enter into a sale and leaseback transaction of any Principal Property (whether now owned or hereafter acquired), unless

(i) the Company or such Domestic Subsidiary would be entitled under the Indenture, to issue, assume or guarantee Debt secured by a Lien upon such Principal Property at least equal in amount to the Attributable Debt in respect of such transaction without equally and ratably securing the Notes, provided that , such Attributable Debt shall thereupon be deemed to be Debt subject to the provisions of Section 3.02 or

(ii) within 180 days, an amount in cash equal to such Attributable Debt is applied to the retirement of Funded Debt (debt that matures at or is extendible or renewable at the option of the obligor to a date more than twelve months after the date of the creation of such Debt) ranking pari passu with the Notes, an amount not less than the greater of (i) the net proceeds of the sale of the Principal Property leased pursuant to the arrangement or (ii) the fair market value of the Principal Property so leased.

(b) The restrictions set forth in paragraph (a) in this Section 3.03 shall not apply to:

 

11


(i) a sale and leaseback transaction between the Company and a Domestic Subsidiary or between Domestic Subsidiaries, or that involves the taking back of a lease for a period of less than three years, or

(ii) if, at the time of the sale and leaseback transaction, after giving effect to the transaction, the total discounted net amount of rent required to be paid during the remaining term of any lease relating to sale and leaseback transactions (other than transactions permitted by the previous bullet points) plus all outstanding secured Debt pursuant to Section 3.02 above, does not exceed 15% of the Company’s Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.

Section 3.04 . Applicability of Covenants Contained in the Base Indenture. Each of the agreements and covenants of the Company contained in Article Four of the Base Indenture shall apply to the Notes.

ARTICLE 4

T HE N OTES

Section 4.01 . Form of Notes. The Notes will initially be issued in the form of one or more Global Securities substantially in the form of Annex A attached hereto (the “ Global Note ”).

Section 4.02 . Depositary. The Depositary for the Global Note will initially be The Depositary Trust Company (“ DTC ”) and the Global Note will be deposited with, or on behalf of, the Trustee as custodian for DTC and registered in the name of DTC or a nominee of DTC (such nominee being referred to herein as the “ Global Note Holder ”).

ARTICLE 5

R EDEMPTION

Section 5.01 . Optional Redemption. The Notes will be redeemable, at the option of the Company, at any time and from time to time, in whole or in part, on not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice mailed to the Holders of the Notes, with a copy provided to the Trustee. The Notes will be redeemable at a redemption price, to be calculated by the Company, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption, equal to the greater of:

(a) 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed; and

(b) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the Notes to be redeemed (not including interest accrued to the date of redemption), discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 35 basis points, plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes to be redeemed to the date of redemption.

 

12


Section 5.02 . Applicability of Sections of the Base Indenture. The provisions of Article III of the Base Indenture in respect of the Notes shall apply to any optional redemption of the Notes except when such provisions conflict with the foregoing.

ARTICLE 6

D EFEASANCE

Section 6.01 . Defeasance. If the Company shall effect a defeasance of the Notes pursuant to Article VIII of the Base Indenture, the Company shall cease to have any obligation to comply with the covenants set forth in Article 3 hereof.

ARTICLE 7

M ISCELLANEOUS

Section 7.01 . GOVERNING LAW. THIS FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE AND THE NOTES WILL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO ITS PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW.

Section 7.02 . Recitals. The recitals contained herein shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for their correctness

 

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SIGNATURES

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this First Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed, all as of the date first above written.

 

CLIFFS NATURAL RESOURCES INC.
By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as

    Trustee

By:  

 

  Name:
  Title:


EXHIBIT A

SPECIMEN

[FACE OF NOTE]

THIS CERTIFICATE IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE DEPOSITORY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED IN THE INDENTURE, THIS CERTIFICATE MAY BE TRANSFERRED, IN WHOLE BUT NOT IN PART, ONLY TO ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY OR TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY OR TO A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITORY.

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION (“DTC” OR THE “DEPOSITORY”), TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR IN SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO. OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC), ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INSOMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

CLIFFS NATURAL RESOURCES INC.

$400,000,000

 

5.900% Senior Note due 2020

 

No.: 1    CUSIP No.: 18683K AA9

CLIFFS NATURAL RESOURCES INC., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of Ohio (herein called the “ Company ”, which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or registered assigns, the principal sum of $400,000,000 on March 15, 2020, unless earlier redeemed as herein provided, and to pay interest thereon from March 17, 2010 or from the most recent interest payment date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually on March 15 and September 15 in each year, commencing September 15, 2010, at the rate of 5.900% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment.


The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any interest payment date will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Note is registered at the close of business on the March 1 or September 1 preceding the relevant interest payment date, except that interest payable at maturity shall be paid to the same Persons to whom principal of this Note is payable. Interest will be computed on this Note on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

Payment of the principal of and interest on this Note shall be made at the office or agency of the Trustee maintained for that purpose in St. Paul, Minnesota, in such currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided, however, for so long as the Notes are represented in global form by one or more Global Securities, all payments of principal of and interest shall be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the Depository or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the Global Security representing such Notes.

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.


I N W ITNESS W HEREOF , the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

 

CLIFFS NATURAL RESOURCES INC.
By:    
  Name:  
  Title:  

Dated:


CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

This is one of the Securities of the Series designated therein issued under the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,

    as Trustee

By:    
  Name:  
  Title:  


[Form of Reverse of Note]

This Note is one of the duly authorized securities of the Company (herein called the “ Notes ”) issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture dated as of March 17, 2010 (the “ Base Indenture ”), as amended by a First Supplemental Indenture dated as of March 17, 2010 (the “ First Supplemental Indenture ” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “ Indenture ”), between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (herein called the “ Trustee ,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture with respect to the series of Notes represented hereby), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes and of the terms upon which the Notes are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Note is a Global Note representing the Company’s 5.900% Senior Notes due 2020 in the aggregate principal amount of $400,000,000.

The amount of interest payable on any interest payment date shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. In the event that any date on which interest is payable on this Note is not a Business Day, then payment of interest payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay) with the same force and effect as if made on such interest payment date.

The Company may, at its option, at any time and from time to time, in whole or in part, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days’ prior notice mailed to each Holder of Notes to be redeemed at his address as it appears in the register, on any date prior to their stated maturity at a redemption price, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of redemption, equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of such Notes to be redeemed and (ii) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest on the Notes to be redeemed (not including interest accrued to the date of redemption), discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 35 basis points, plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes to be redeemed to the date of redemption.

Comparable Treasury Issue ” means the United States Treasury security selected by an Independent Investment Banker that would be utilized, at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining term of the Notes.


Comparable Treasury Price ” means, with respect to any redemption date, (1) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest of such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (2) if the Company obtains fewer than six such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all Quotations obtained.

Primary Treasury Dealer ” means a primary U.S. government securities dealer in the United States.

Reference Treasury Dealer ” means each of Banc of America Securities LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., their respective successors and two other nationally recognized investment banking firms that are Primary Treasury Dealers specified from time to time by the Company, except that if any of the foregoing ceases to be a Primary Treasury Dealer, the Company shall designate as a substitute another nationally recognized investment banking firm that is a Primary Treasury Dealer.

Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations ” means, with respect to each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined by the Company, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Company by such Reference Treasury Dealer as of 3:30 p.m., New York City time, on the third business day preceding such redemption date.

Treasury Rate ” means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity (computed as of the third business day immediately preceding such redemption date) of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date.

On and after any redemption date, interest will cease to accrue on the Notes called for redemption. Prior to any redemption date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on the Notes to be redeemed on such date. If the Company is redeeming less than all of the Notes, the Trustee shall select the Notes to be redeemed by such method as the Trustee deems fair and appropriate in accordance with methods generally used at the time of selection by fiduciaries in similar circumstances.

In the event of redemption of this Note in part only, a new Note or Notes of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.


Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control Triggering Event, unless the Company has exercised its right to redeem the Notes as described above by giving irrevocable notice to the trustee in accordance with the Indenture, each Holder of Notes shall have the right to require the Company to purchase all or a portion of such Holder’s Notes pursuant to the offer described below (the “ Change of Control Offer ”), at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase (the “ Change of Control Payment ”), subject to the rights of Holders of Notes on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date.

Unless the Company has exercised its right to redeem the Notes, within 30 days following the date upon which the Change of Control Triggering Event occurred with respect to the Notes or, at the Company’s option, prior to any Change of Control but after the public announcement of the pending Change of Control, the Company shall be required to send, by first class mail, a notice to each Holder of Notes, with a copy to the Trustee, which notice shall govern the terms of the Change of Control Offer. Such notice shall state, among other things, the purchase date, which must be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed, other than as may be required by law (the “ Change of Control Payment Date ”). The notice, if mailed prior to the date of consummation of the Change of Control, shall state that the Change of Control Offer is conditioned on the Change of Control being consummated on or prior to the Change of Control Payment Date.

On the Change of Control Payment Date, the Company shall, to the extent lawful: (i) accept or cause a third party to accept for payment all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer; (ii) deposit or cause a third party to deposit with the paying agent an amount equal to the Change of Control Payment in respect of all Notes or portions of Notes properly tendered; and (iii) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the Notes properly accepted together with an Officers’ Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of Notes or portions of Notes being repurchased and that all conditions precedent to the Change of Control Offer and to the repurchase by the Company of Notes pursuant to the Change of Control Offer have been complied with.

The Company shall not be required to make a Change of Control Offer if a third party makes such an offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for such an offer made by the Company and such third party purchases all Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer.

The Company will comply in all material respects with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”), and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the purchase of the Notes as a result of a Change of Control Triggering Event. To the extent


that the provisions of any such securities laws or regulations conflict with the Change of Control Offer provisions of the Notes, the Company will comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and will not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the Change of Control Offer provisions of the Notes by virtue of such conflict.

“Change of Control” means the occurrence of any of the following after the date of issuance of the Notes:

(a) the direct or indirect sale, lease, transfer, conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation), in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company and the Company’s Subsidiaries taken as a whole to any “person” or “group” (as those terms are used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) other than to the Company or one of the Company’s Subsidiaries;

(b) the consummation of any transaction (including, without limitation, any merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any “person” or “group” (as those terms are used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act, it being agreed that an employee of the Company or any of the Company’s Subsidiaries for whom shares are held under an employee stock ownership, employee retirement, employee savings or similar plan and whose shares are voted in accordance with the instructions of such employee shall not be a member of a “group” (as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) solely because such employee’s shares are held by a trustee under said plan) becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of Voting Stock representing more than 50% of the voting power of the Company’s outstanding Voting Stock or of the Voting Stock of any of the Company’s direct or indirect parent companies;

(c) the Company consolidates with, or merges with or into, any Person, or any Person consolidates with, or merge with or into, the Company, in any such event pursuant to a transaction in which any of the Company’s outstanding Voting Stock or Voting Stock of such other Person is converted into or exchanged for cash, securities or other property, other than any such transaction where the Company’s Voting Stock outstanding immediately prior to such transaction constitutes, or is converted into or exchanged for, Voting Stock representing at least a majority of the voting power of the Voting Stock of the surviving Person immediately after giving effect to such transaction;

(d) the first day on which the majority of the members of the Board of Directors or the board of directors of any of the Company’s direct or indirect parent companies are not Continuing Directors; or


(e) the adoption of a plan relating to the liquidation or dissolution of the Company.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, a transaction will not be deemed to involve a Change of Control solely because the Company becomes a direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of a holding company if the direct or indirect Holders of the Voting Stock of such holding company immediately following that transaction are substantially the same as the Holders of the Company’s Voting Stock immediately prior to that transaction.

Change of Control Triggering Event ” means with respect to the Notes, (i) the rating of such Notes is lowered by each of the Rating Agencies on any date during the period (the “ Trigger Period ”) commencing on the earlier of (a) the occurrence of a Change of Control and (b) the first public announcement by the Company of any Change of Control (or pending Change of Control), and ending 60 days following consummation of such Change of Control (which Trigger Period will be extended following consummation of a Change of Control for so long as any of the Rating Agencies has publicly announced that it is considering a possible ratings change), and (ii) such Notes are rated below Investment Grade by each of the Rating Agencies on any day during the Trigger Period; provided that a Change of Control Trigger Event will not be deemed to have occurred in respect of a particular Change of Control if each Rating Agency making the reduction in rating does not publicly announce or confirm or inform the trustee at the Company’s request that the reduction was the result, in whole or in part, of any event or circumstance comprised of or arising as a result of, or in respect of, the Change of Control.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Change of Control Triggering Event will be deemed to have occurred in connection with any particular Change of Control unless and until such Change of Control has actually been consummated.

Continuing Director ” means, as of any date of determination, any member of the applicable board of directors who: (1) was a member of such board of directors on the date of issuance of the Notes or (2) was nominated for election, elected or appointed to such board of directors with the approval of a majority of the Continuing Directors who were members of such board of directors at the time of such nomination, election or appointment (either by a specific vote or by approval of a proxy statement in which such member was named as a nominee for election as a director).

Investment Grade ” means a rating of Baa3 or better by Moody’s (or its equivalent under any successor rating category of Moody’s) and a rating of BBB- or better by S&P (or its equivalent under any successor rating category of S&P), and the equivalent investment grade credit rating from any replacement rating agency or rating agencies selected by the Company under the circumstances permitting the Company to select a replacement agency and in the manner for selecting a replacement agency, in each case as set forth in the definition of “Rating Agency.”


Moody’s ” means Moody’s Investors Service, Inc., a subsidiary of Moody’s Corporation, and its successors.

Person ” means any individual, corporation, partnership, limited liability company, business trust, association, joint-stock company, joint venture, trust, incorporated or unincorporated organization or government or any agency or political subdivision thereof.

Rating Agency ” means each of Moody’s and S&P; provided , that if any of Moody’s or S&P ceases to provide rating services to issuers or investors, the Company may appoint another “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” within the meaning of Rule 15c3-1(c)(2)(vi)(F) under the Exchange Act as a replacement for such Rating Agency.

S&P ” means Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services, a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and its successors.

Voting Stock ” of any specified Person as of any date means the capital stock of such Person that is at the time entitled to vote generally in the election of the Board of Directors of such Person.

The indebtedness evidenced by this Note is, to the extent provided in the Indenture, senior and unsecured and will rank equal in right of payment to all other existing and future senior unsecured obligations of the Company.

The Notes are initially limited to $400,000,000 aggregate principal amount. The Company may, from time to time, without notice or the consent of the Holders hereof, create and issue additional securities ranking equally and ratably with the Notes of this series in all respects (other than the issue price, the date of the issuance (other than the issue price, the date of issuance, the payment of interest accruing prior to the issue date of such additional Notes and the first payment of interest following the issue date of such additional Notes), provided that such Notes must be part of the same issue as the Notes initially issued for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Any such additional Notes shall be consolidated and form a single series with the Notes initially issued, including for purposes of voting and redemptions.

The Notes are not entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund.


The Indenture imposes certain limitations on the ability of the Company to, among other things, merge or consolidate with any other Person, and requires that the Company comply with certain further covenants, such as Restriction on Liens and Restriction on Sale and Leaseback Transactions, as further described in the Indenture, all of which are applicable to this Note. All such covenants and limitations are subject to a number of important qualifications and exceptions. The Company must report periodically to the Trustee on compliance with the covenants in the Indenture.

The Indenture contains provisions for the defeasance at any time of (a) the entire indebtedness of the Company on this Note and (b) certain restrictive covenants and the related Defaults and Events of Default, upon compliance by the Company with certain conditions set forth therein, which provisions apply to this Note.

If an Event of Default with respect to Notes of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Notes of this series may (subject to the conditions set forth in the Indenture) be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.

The Indenture contains provisions permitting, with certain exceptions therein provided, the Company and the Trustee, without the consent of any of the Holders of the outstanding Notes, to modify and amend the Indenture for the purpose of, among other things, cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency.

The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding Notes, on behalf of all of the Holders of all Notes, to waive a Default or Event of Default with respect to the Notes and its consequences, except a Default or Event of Default in the payment of the principal of or interest on any of the Notes or in respect of a covenant or other provision which, under the terms of the Indenture, cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each outstanding Note. Any such consent or waiver by the registered Holder of this Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Note and of any Note issued in exchange for or in place hereof (whether by registration of transfer or otherwise), irrespective of whether or not any notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Note.

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this Note at the times, place and rate, and in the currency, herein prescribed.

As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Note is registrable in the Registrar’s books, upon surrender of this Note for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and interest on this Note are payable, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form


satisfactory to the Company and the Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or the Holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.

The Notes of this series are issuable only in registered form in denominations of $2,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Notes of this Series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Notes of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

No service charge shall be made to a Holder for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

Prior to due presentment of this Note for registration of transfer, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Note is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this Note be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

This Note shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of the State of New York.

All terms used in this Note which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

Exhibit 5.1

JONES DAY

NORTH POINT • 901 LAKESIDE AVENUE • CLEVELAND, OHIO 44114-1190

TELEPHONE: (216) 586-3939 • FACSIMILE: (216) 579-0212

March 16, 2010

Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.

200 Public Square

Cleveland, Ohio 44114-2315

 

Re:  

$400,000,000 Aggregate Principal Amount of 5.900% Senior Notes due 2020 of Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. Offered Through Underwriters

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We are acting as counsel for Cliffs Natural Resources Inc., an Ohio corporation (the “ Company ”), in connection with the issuance and sale of $400,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.900% Senior Notes due 2020 of the Company (the “ Senior Notes ”), pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, dated as of March 10, 2010 (the “ Underwriting Agreement ”), entered into by and among the Company and Banc of America Securities LLC and J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., acting as representatives of the several underwriters named therein (collectively, the “ Underwriters ”). The Senior Notes will be issued pursuant to an indenture (the “ Base Indenture ”) to be entered into between the the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “ Trustee ”), as amended and supplemented by the first supplemental indenture (the “ First Supplemental Indenture ”) to be entered into between the Company and the Trustee (the Base Indenture, as so amended and supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, the “ Indenture ”).

In connection with the opinion expressed herein, we have examined such documents, records and matters of law as we have deemed relevant or necessary for purposes of such opinion. Based on the foregoing, and subject to the further limitations, qualifications and assumptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that the Senior Notes, when they are executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with the Indenture and issued and delivered to the Underwriters against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company.

For purposes of the opinion expressed herein, we have assumed that (i) the definitive terms of the Senior Notes will be established in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and (ii) the Trustee has authorized, executed and delivered the Indenture and the Indenture is the valid, binding and enforceable obligation of the Trustee.


JONES DAY

Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.

March 16, 2010

Page 2

 

The opinion expressed herein is limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent transfer and fraudulent conveyance, voidable preference, moratorium or other similar laws and related regulations and judicial doctrines from time to time in effect relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, and by general equitable principles and public policy considerations, whether such principles and considerations are considered in a proceeding at law or at equity.

The opinion expressed herein is limited to the laws of the State of New York and the laws of the State of Ohio, as currently in effect, and we express no opinion as to the effect of the laws of any other jurisdiction.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K dated the date hereof filed by the Company and incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement on Form S-3, as amended (Registration No. 333-165376) (the “ Registration Statement ”), filed by the Company to effect the registration of the Senior Notes under the Securities Act of 1933 (the “ Act ”) and to the reference to Jones Day under the caption “Legal Matters” in the prospectus constituting a part of such Registration Statement. In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit that we are included in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder.

 

Very truly yours,

/s/ Jones Day