Enterprising Investor
3 weeks ago
Announcement of Receipt of Quarterly Royalty Report and Royalty Payment (11/01/24)
On October 30, 2024, Mesabi Trust received the quarterly royalty report of iron ore shipments out of Silver Bay, Minnesota during the quarter ended September 30, 2024 (the “Royalty Report”) from Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (“Cliffs”), the parent company of Northshore Mining Company (“Northshore”). As further explained under Item 7.01 below, the Royalty Report indicated that the Mesabi Trust received total royalty payments of $7,355,929 on or before October 30, 2024.
Item 7.01Regulation FD.
Quarterly Royalty Report and Royalty Payment Received
On October 30, 2024, the Trustees of Mesabi Trust received the Royalty Report from Cliffs, the parent company of Northshore.
As reported to Mesabi Trust by Cliffs in the Royalty Report, based on shipments of iron ore products by Northshore during the three months ended September 30, 2024, Mesabi Trust was credited with a base royalty of $4,469,814. For the three months ended September 30, 2024, Mesabi Trust was also credited with a bonus royalty in the amount of $2,718,456. Cliffs reported that no adjustments were made in the third quarter. In addition, a royalty payment of $167,659 was paid to the Mesabi Land Trust. Accordingly, the total royalty payments received by Mesabi Trust on October 30, 2024 from Cliffs were $7,355,929.
The royalties paid to Mesabi Trust are based on the volume of iron ore pellets and other products produced or shipped during the quarter and the year to date, the pricing of iron ore product sales, and the percentage of iron ore pellet production and shipments from Mesabi Trust lands rather than from non-Mesabi Trust lands. In the third calendar quarter of 2024, Cliffs credited Mesabi Trust with 972,154 tons of iron ore shipped, as compared to 1,019,311 tons shipped or produced during the third calendar quarter of 2023.
The volume of iron ore pellets (and other iron ore products) produced or shipped by Northshore varies from quarter to quarter and year to year based on a number of factors, including, among others, Cliffs’ decisions to idle Northshore operations (which occurred from May 2022 until April 2023), the requested delivery schedules of customers (including affiliates), general economic conditions in the iron ore industry, and production schedules and weather conditions on the Great Lakes. These multiple factors can result in significant variations in royalties received by Mesabi Trust (and in turn, the resulting funds available for distribution to Unitholders by Mesabi Trust) from quarter to quarter and from year to year. These variations, which can be positive or negative, cannot be predicted by the Trustees of Mesabi Trust. Based on the above factors, and as indicated by Mesabi Trust’s historical distribution payments, the royalties received by Mesabi Trust, and the distributions paid to Unitholders, if any, in any particular quarter are not necessarily indicative of royalties that will be received, or distributions that will be paid, if any, in any subsequent quarter or full year.
The Trustees of Mesabi Trust have received no specific updates concerning Cliffs’ plans with respect to Northshore iron ore operations. The last reported Cliffs’ public announcements made in April 2023 included that Northshore was then being partially restarted and would be run at less than full capacity for the remainder of 2023, and that Cliffs would continue to treat Northshore as a swing operation. With respect to calendar year 2024, Northshore has not advised Mesabi Trust of its expected shipments of iron ore products, or what percentage of 2024 shipments will be from Mesabi Trust iron ore.
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/65172/000155837024014142/msb-20241030x8k.htm
Enterprising Investor
1 month ago
Mesabi Trust Press Release (10/17/24)
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Announcement of Mesabi Trust Distribution
The Trustees of Mesabi Trust (NYSE:MSB) declared a distribution of thirty-nine cents ($0.39) per Unit of Beneficial Interest payable on November 20, 2024 to Mesabi Trust Unitholders of record at the close of business on October 30, 2024. This compares to a thirty-five cents ($0.35) per Unit distribution declared for the same period last year.
The Trustees’ announcement today of a thirty-nine cents ($0.39) per Unit distribution, as compared to the thirty-five cents ($0.35) per Unit distribution announced by the Trust at the same time last year, reflects several points. The Trust’s receipt of total royalty payments of $5,325,522 on July 30, 2024 from Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (“Cliffs”), the parent company of Northshore Mining Company (“Northshore”), was slightly higher than the total royalty payments of $5,321,510 received by the Trust from Cliffs in July 2023. The Trustees also determined that a portion of the unallocated reserve could be used for this distribution.
As previously reported, the arbitration initiated by the Trust in October 2022 concluded in June 2024. Pursuant to the AAA tribunal’s final award dated September 6, 2024, Northshore and Cliffs paid Mesabi Trust $71,185,029 on October 4, 2024. This payment satisfied the AAA panel’s unanimous award of damages (including pre-award interest) for underpayment of royalties due to the Trust in 2020, 2021 and the first four months of 2022. The distribution announced today also reflects the Trustees’ determination to hold these funds in reserve pending the expiration of procedural deadlines related to the arbitration, and an assessment of all other facts and contingencies. In the interim, the Trustees have invested the funds in appropriate interest-bearing accounts.
The Trustees have received no specific updates on Cliffs’ plans for the current year concerning Northshore iron ore operations. The Trustees’ distribution announcement today also takes into account numerous other factors, including uncertainties resulting from Cliffs’ prior announcements to increase the use of scrap iron in its vertical supply chain planning, the potential volatility in the iron ore and steel industries generally, national and global economic uncertainties, and further potential disturbances from global unrest.
Quarterly royalty payments from Cliffs and Northshore for iron ore production and shipments during the third calendar quarter, which are payable to Mesabi Trust under the royalty agreement, are due October 30, 2024, together with the quarterly royalty report. After receiving the quarterly royalty report, Mesabi Trust plans to file a summary of the quarterly royalty report with the Securities and Exchange Commission in a Current Report on Form 8-K.
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20241017799427/en/
Enterprising Investor
2 months ago
Mesabi Trust Announces Arbitration Final Award (9/10/24)
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--AAA Arbitration Final Award
As previously reported, on October 14, 2022, Mesabi Trust initiated arbitration against Northshore Mining Company (“Northshore”), the lessee/operator of the leased lands, and its parent, Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (“Cliffs”), with the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”). The Trust sought an award of damages relating to Cliffs’ and Northshore’s underpayment of royalties in 2020, 2021, and the first four months of 2022 by virtue of Cliffs’ and Northshore’s failure to use the highest priced arm’s-length iron ore pellet sale from the preceding four quarters in pricing certain pellet shipments from 2020 through the first four months of 2022. The Trust also sought declaratory relief related to the Trust’s entitlement to certain documentation and to the time when Cliffs’ and Northshore’s royalty obligations accrue.
The evidentiary hearing was completed before a panel of three arbitrators in March 2024 under the commercial rules of the AAA. Post-hearing briefs were exchanged in May 2024. Post-hearing oral arguments and final submissions were concluded in June 2024. The Trust received the final award on September 6, 2024, which unanimously awarded the Trust damages in the amount of $59,799,977 for underpaid royalties in 2020, 2021 and the first four months of 2022, plus pre-award interest in the amount of $11,288,269, calculated at the rate of 10% simple interest per annum from the date of the initial demand through September 1, 2024, and continuing to accrue until paid. Pursuant to the award, Cliffs and Northshore must pay the Trust the amounts specified in the Award by no later than October 6, 2024. The Tribunal approved the parties’ stipulated Consent Award approving the Trust’s ongoing entitlement to certain documentation related to verifying royalty calculations. The Tribunal denied the Trust’s request for declaratory relief regarding the time at which Cliffs’ and Northshore’s royalty obligations accrue.
Contacts
Mesabi Trust SHR Unit
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
904-271-2520
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240910020258/en/MESABI-TRUST-Announces-Arbitration-Final-Award
Enterprising Investor
6 months ago
Mesabi Trust Press Release (5/02/24)
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mesabi Trust (NYSE: MSB):
Receipt of Quarterly Royalty Report and Royalty Payment
On April 30, 2024, the Trustees of Mesabi Trust (NYSE: MSB) received the quarterly royalty report of iron ore shipments from Silver Bay, Minnesota during the quarter ended March 31, 2024 (the “Royalty Report”) from Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (“Cliffs”), the parent company of Northshore Mining Company (“Northshore”).
As reported to Mesabi Trust by Cliffs in the Royalty Report, based on shipments of iron ore products by Northshore during the three months ended March 31, 2024, Mesabi Trust was credited with a base royalty of $2,106,086. For the three months ended March 31, 2024, Mesabi Trust was also credited with a bonus royalty in the amount of $2,520,601. The royalty payment received by the Trust also included an increase of $279,222 as a result of positive adjustments related to prior quarters. In addition, a royalty payment of $153,738 was paid to the Mesabi Land Trust. Accordingly, the total royalty payments received by Mesabi Trust on April 30, 2024 from Cliffs were $5,059,648.
The royalties paid to Mesabi Trust are based on the volume of iron ore pellets and other products produced or shipped during the quarter and the year to date, the pricing of iron ore product sales, and the percentage of iron ore pellet production and shipments from Mesabi Trust lands rather than from non-Mesabi Trust lands. In the first calendar quarter of 2024, Cliffs credited Mesabi Trust with 1,006,692 tons of iron ore shipped, as compared to zero (0) tons shipped during the first calendar quarter of 2023. Cliffs’ Royalty Report reflected no additional third party arms-length sale transactions of iron ore pellets since reporting two low volume shipments of iron ore pellets to a single third-party customer in June 2023.
The volume of iron ore pellets (and other iron ore products) produced or shipped by Northshore varies from quarter to quarter and year to year based on a number of factors, including, among others, Cliffs’ decisions to idle Northshore operations (which occurred from May 2022 until April 2023), the requested delivery schedules of customers (including affiliates), general economic conditions in the iron ore industry, and production schedules and weather conditions on the Great Lakes. These multiple factors can result in significant variations in royalties received by Mesabi Trust (and in turn, the resulting funds available for distribution to Unitholders by Mesabi Trust) from quarter to quarter and from year to year. These variations, which can be positive or negative, cannot be predicted by the Trustees of Mesabi Trust. Based on the above factors, and as indicated by Mesabi Trust’s historical distribution payments, the royalties received by Mesabi Trust, and the distributions paid to Unitholders, if any, in any particular quarter are not necessarily indicative of royalties that will be received, or distributions that will be paid, if any, in any subsequent quarter or full year.
The Trustees of Mesabi Trust have received no specific updates concerning Cliffs’ plans with respect to Northshore iron ore operations. The last reported Cliffs’ public announcements made in April 2023 included that Northshore was then being partially restarted and would be run at less than full capacity for the remainder of 2023, and that Cliffs would continue to treat Northshore as a swing operation. With respect to calendar year 2024, Northshore has not advised Mesabi Trust of its expected shipments of iron ore products, or what percentage of 2024 shipments will be from Mesabi Trust iron ore.
Other Available Information
Mesabi Trust’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2024, which includes the audited financial statements of Mesabi Trust, was filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 24, 2024. Mesabi Trust Unitholders may obtain a hard copy of the complete audited financial statements, which is included as Exhibit 13 to Mesabi Trust’s Annual Report, free of charge upon request to Mesabi Trust’s Corporate Trustee, at:
Mesabi Trust
c/o Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, Corporate Trustee
Trust and Agency Services — GDS
1 Columbus Circle, 17th Floor New York, NY 10019
(904) 271-2520
Unitholders can also directly access the audited financial statements of Mesabi Trust by navigating to Mesabi Trust’s website at www.Mesabi-Trust.com and clicking on the Edgar Filings (SEC) link under the Menu to the right of the SEC Filings page by scrolling down to the desired Annual Report on Form 10-K under Exhibit 13 thereof, beginning on page F-1 of each such Report.
Forward-Looking Statements
This report contains certain forward-looking statements with respect to iron ore pellet production, iron ore pricing and adjustments to pricing, shipments by Northshore Mining Company (“Northshore”) during 2024, royalty (including bonus royalty) amounts, and other matters, which statements are intended to be made under the safe harbor protections of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Actual production, prices, price adjustments, and shipments of iron ore pellets, as well as actual royalty payments (including bonus royalties) could differ materially from current expectations due to inherent risks and uncertainties such as general adverse business and industry economic trends, uncertainties arising from war, terrorist events, the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and other global events, higher or lower customer demand for steel and iron ore, decisions by mine operators regarding curtailments or idling production lines or entire plants, environmental compliance uncertainties, difficulties in obtaining and renewing necessary operating permits, higher imports of steel and iron ore substitutes, processing difficulties, consolidation and restructuring in the domestic steel market, market inputs tied to indexed price adjustment factors found in some pellet supply agreements between Cliffs and some of its customers, resulting in future adjustments to royalties payable to Mesabi Trust and other factors. In addition, any future production curtailments or idling of Northshore operations, about which the Trust may have little or no prior notice, could materially adversely affect the royalty income of the Trust, as well as the resulting cash available for distribution by the Trust to Unitholders. Further, such developments could have a material adverse impact on the market price of the Trust’s Units. Although the Mesabi Trustees believe that any such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially. Additional information concerning these and other risks and uncertainties is contained in Mesabi Trust’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2024 (filed April 24, 2024). Mesabi Trust undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any of the forward-looking statements made herein to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof.
Contacts
Mesabi Trust SHR Unit
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
904-271-2520
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240502299296/en/
Enterprising Investor
7 months ago
Mesabi Trust Press Release (4/16/24)
Announcement of Mesabi Trust Distribution
The Trustees of Mesabi Trust (NYSE:MSB) declared a distribution of twenty-nine cents ($0.29) per Unit of Beneficial Interest payable on May 20, 2024 to Mesabi Trust Unitholders of record at the close of business on April 30, 2024. This compares to no distribution declared for the same period last year.
The Trustees’ announcement today of a twenty-nine cents ($0.29) per Unit distribution, as compared to no distribution announced by the Trust at the same time last year, reflects an increase in the distribution compared to the same period in the prior year, and is primarily attributable to the restart of Northshore operations in April 2023, and to an increase in the total royalties received by the Trust in January 2024, as compared to the total royalties received by the Trust in January 2023. In particular, the Trust’s receipt of total royalty payments of $6,432,434 on January 30, 2024 from Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (“Cliffs”), the parent company of Northshore Mining Company (“Northshore”), was higher than the total royalty payments of zero dollars ($0.00) received by the Trust from Cliffs in January 2023.
The distribution announced today also reflects that, until July 30, 2023, the Trust had received no royalties in the Trust’s three previous fiscal quarters, as well as the current continuing uncertainties related to previous announcements by Cliffs about its intention to continue to treat Northshore as a swing operation. Accordingly, the Trustees’ decision announced today also reflects their determination to maintain an appropriate level of reserves in order to make adequate provision to meet current and future expenses and present and future liabilities (whether fixed or contingent) that may arise in the future.
The Trustees have received no specific updates on Cliffs’ plans for the current year concerning Northshore iron ore operations. The Trustees’ distribution announcement today also takes into account numerous other factors, including uncertainties resulting from Cliffs’ prior announcements to increase the use of scrap iron in its vertical supply chain planning, the potential volatility in the iron ore and steel industries generally, national and global economic uncertainties, the cost and expense related to the Trust’s pending arbitration against Northshore and Cliffs, and further potential disturbances from global unrest.
Quarterly royalty payments from Northshore for iron ore production and shipments during the first calendar quarter, which are payable to Mesabi Trust under the royalty agreement, are due April 30, 2024, together with the quarterly royalty report. After receiving the quarterly royalty report, Mesabi Trust plans to file a summary of the quarterly royalty report with the Securities and Exchange Commission in a Current Report on Form 8-K.
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240416064125/en/
Enterprising Investor
10 months ago
Receipt of Quarterly Royalty Report and Royalty Payments from Cleveland-Cliffs Inc.(2/01/24)
On January 30, 2024, Mesabi Trust received the quarterly royalty report of iron ore production and shipments out of Silver Bay, Minnesota during the quarter ended December 31, 2023 (the “Quarterly Royalty Report”) from Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (“Cliffs”), the parent company of Northshore Mining Company (“Northshore”). As further explained under Item 7.01 below, the Quarterly Royalty Report indicated that the Mesabi Trust was paid total royalty payments of $6,432,434 on January 30, 2024, as summarized below.
Item 7.01 Regulation FD.
Quarterly Royalty Report and Royalty Payments
On January 30, 2024, the Trustees of Mesabi Trust received the Quarterly Royalty Report from Cliffs, the parent company of Northshore.
As reported to Mesabi Trust by Cliffs in the Quarterly Royalty Report, based on production and shipments of iron ore products by Northshore during the three months ended December 31, 2023, Mesabi Trust was credited with a base royalty of $3,819,821. Also, for the three months ended December 31, 2023, Mesabi Trust was credited with a bonus royalty in the amount of $2,361,242. Cliffs reported that no adjustments were applied for the quarter. In addition, a royalty payment of $251,371 was paid to the Mesabi Land Trust. Accordingly, the total royalty payments from Cliffs received on January 30, 2024 by Mesabi Trust for the three months ended December 31, 2023 were $6,432,434.
The royalties paid to Mesabi Trust are based on the volume of iron ore pellets produced for internal use or shipped for third party sales during the quarter and the year to date, the pricing of iron ore product sales, and the percentage of iron ore pellet shipments from Mesabi Trust lands rather than from non-Mesabi Trust lands. In the fourth calendar quarter of 2023, Cliffs credited Mesabi Trust with 964,129 tons shipped or produced during the quarter, as compared to negative (54,026) tons adjusted (or applied) during the fourth calendar quarter of 2022 (based on inventory surveys conducted during the quarter), when the Northshore operations were idled.
The volume of iron ore pellets (and other iron ore products) produced or shipped by Northshore varies from quarter to quarter and year to year based on a number of factors, including, among others, Cliffs’ decisions to idle Northshore operations (which occurred from May 2022 through March 2023), the requested delivery schedules of customers (including affiliates), general economic conditions in the iron ore industry, and production schedules and weather conditions on the Great Lakes. These multiple factors can result in significant variations in royalties received by Mesabi Trust (and in turn, the resulting funds available for distribution to Unitholders by Mesabi Trust) from quarter to quarter and from year to year. These variations, which can be positive or negative, cannot be predicted by the Trustees of Mesabi Trust. Based on the above factors, and as indicated by Mesabi Trust’s historical distribution payments, the royalties received by Mesabi Trust, and the distributions paid to Unitholders, if any, in any particular quarter are not necessarily indicative of royalties that will be received, or distributions that will be paid, if any, in any subsequent quarter or full year.
Cliffs’ quarterly royalty reports normally present production and shipment volumes, as well as royalty calculations, that are based on documented transactions that are reviewed by the Trustees and are based on estimated iron ore prices that are subject to change. It is possible that future negative price adjustments could offset, or even eliminate, royalties or royalty income that would otherwise be payable to Mesabi Trust in any particular quarter, or at year end, thereby potentially reducing cash available for distribution to Mesabi Trust’s Unitholders in future quarters.
The Trustees of Mesabi Trust have received no specific updates concerning Cliffs’ plans with respect to Northshore iron ore operations. The last reported Cliffs’ public announcements made in April 2023 included that Northshore was being partially restarted and would be run at less than full capacity for the remainder of last year, and that Cliffs would continue to treat Northshore as a swing operation.
Enterprising Investor
10 months ago
Announcement of Mesabi Trust Distribution (1/12/24)
The Trustees of Mesabi Trust (NYSE:MSB) declared a distribution of thirty-seven cents ($0.37) per Unit of Beneficial Interest payable on February 20, 2024 to Mesabi Trust Unitholders of record at the close of business on January 30, 2024. This compares to no distribution declared for the same period last year.
The Trustees’ announcement today of a thirty-seven cents ($0.37) per Unit distribution, as compared to no distribution announced by the Trust at the same time last year, is primarily attributable to the restart of Northshore operations in April 2023, and to an increase in the total royalties received by the Trust in October 2023, as compared to the total royalties received by the Trust in October 2022. In particular, the Trust’s receipt of total royalty payments of $5,666,254 on October 30, 2023 from Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (“Cliffs”), the parent company of Northshore Mining Company (“Northshore”), was higher than the total royalty payments of zero dollars ($0.00) received by the Trust from Cliffs in October 2022.
The distribution announced today also reflects that, until July 30, 2023, the Trust had received no royalties in the Trust’s three previous fiscal quarters, as well as the current continuing uncertainties related to previous announcements by Cliffs about its intention to continue to treat Northshore as a swing operation. Accordingly, the Trustees’ decision announced today also reflects their determination to maintain an appropriate level of reserves in order to make adequate provision to meet current and future expenses and present and future liabilities (whether fixed or contingent) that may arise in the future.
The Trustees have received no specific updates on Cliffs’ plans for the current year concerning Northshore iron ore operations. The Trustees’ distribution announcement today also takes into account numerous other factors, including uncertainties resulting from Cliffs’ prior announcements to increase the use of scrap iron in its vertical supply chain planning, the potential volatility in the iron ore and steel industries generally, national and global economic uncertainties, the cost and expense related to the Trust’s pending arbitration against Northshore and Cliffs, further potential disturbances from global unrest and the potential impacts from future outbreaks of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Quarterly royalty payments from Northshore for iron ore production and shipments during the fourth calendar quarter, which are payable to Mesabi Trust under the royalty agreement, are due January 30, 2024, together with the quarterly royalty report. After receiving the quarterly royalty report, Mesabi Trust plans to file a summary of the quarterly royalty report with the Securities and Exchange Commission in a Current Report on Form 8-K.
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240112127153/en/Mesabi-Trust-Press-Release
Enterprising Investor
1 year ago
Mesabi Trust Press Release (10/13/23)
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Announcement of Mesabi Trust Distribution
The Trustees of Mesabi Trust (NYSE:MSB) declared a distribution of thirty-five cents ($0.35) per Unit of Beneficial Interest payable on November 20, 2023 to Mesabi Trust Unitholders of record at the close of business on October 30, 2023. This compares to no distribution declared for the same period last year.
The Trustees’ announcement today of a thirty-five cents ($0.35) per Unit distribution, as compared to no distribution announced by the Trust at the same time last year, is primarily attributable to the restart of Northshore operations in April 2023, and to an increase in the total royalties received by the Trust in July 2023, as compared to the total royalties received by the Trust in July 2022. In particular, the Trust’s receipt of total royalty payments of $5,321,510 on July 30, 2023 from Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (“Cliffs”), the parent company of Northshore Mining Company (“Northshore”), was higher than the total royalty payments of $2,314,994 received by the Trust from Cliffs in July 2022. This increase in the total royalties received by the Trust in July 2023, as compared to the total royalties received in July 2022, was primarily attributable to the restart of Northshore operations.
The distribution announced today also reflects that, until July 30, 2023, the Trust had received no royalties in the Trust’s three previous fiscal quarters, as well as the current continuing uncertainties related to previous announcements by Cliffs about its plans to operate Northshore at less than full capacity for the remainder of this year, and an intention to continue to treat Northshore as a swing operation. Accordingly, the Trustees’ decision announced today also reflects their determination to maintain an appropriate level of reserves in order to make adequate provision to meet current and future expenses and present and future liabilities (whether fixed or contingent) that may arise in the future.
The Trustees have received no specific updates on Cliffs’ plans for the remainder of the current year concerning Northshore iron ore operations. The Trustees’ distribution announcement today also takes into account numerous other factors, including uncertainties resulting from Cliffs’ prior announcements to increase the use of scrap iron in its vertical supply chain planning, the potential volatility in the iron ore and steel industries generally, national and global economic uncertainties, the cost and expense related to the Trust’s pending arbitration against Northshore and Cliffs, further potential disturbances from global unrest and the potential impacts from future outbreaks of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Quarterly royalty payments from Northshore for iron ore production and shipments during the third calendar quarter, which are payable to Mesabi Trust under the royalty agreement, are due October 30, 2023, together with the quarterly royalty report. After receiving the quarterly royalty report, Mesabi Trust plans to file a summary of the quarterly royalty report with the Securities and Exchange Commission in a Current Report on Form 8-K.
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231013604091/en/Mesabi-Trust-Press-Release
Enterprising Investor
1 year ago
Background
[...]
As previously disclosed, on May 1, 2022, Cliffs idled Northshore. On July 22, 2022, Cliffs announced that it extended the idling of Northshore to at least April 2023. On April 25, 2023, Cliffs announced that “higher levels of steel production have led to the partial restart of some operations at … [its] iron ore mining and pelletizing swing facility at Northshore earlier this month.” In addition, Cliffs announced that it “…will continue to treat that facility as our swing operation. And at this time, we still do not expect to operate Northshore in full any time this year.” The Trustees of Mesabi Trust have not been provided with any additional information regarding the anticipated volume of production, stockpiling or shipping of iron ore products at the Northshore operations in Babbitt and Silver Bay, Minnesota.[...]
Comparison of Royalty Income for the Three Months Ended April 30, 2023 and April 30, 2022
[...]
As reflected in the table below, the Trust’s total royalty income for the three months ended April 30, 2023 decreased by $12,484,173 to $1,711,316 as compared to the three months ended April 30, 2022. The decrease in total royalty income is due to the idling of Northshore’s facilities during the three months ended April 30, 2023, as compared to the three months ended April 30, 2022.
Enterprising Investor
2 years ago
Northshore Mining on Iron Range open again after a year of idling (4/25/23)
By MIKE HUGHLETT, STAR TRIBUNE
Northshore Mining has partly reopened this month after being shuttered for nearly a year. However, Cleveland-Cliffs, Northshore's owner, does not expect to run the iron ore operation at full capacity in 2023.
Cleveland-Cliffs declined to disclose how many of Northshore's 450 employees were back at work. Northshore mines taconite in Babbitt and ships it by rail to Silver Bay, where it is fashioned into marble-sized balls of more than 60% iron.
Higher levels of steel production led to a "partial restart" of Northshore's operations earlier in April, Cleveland-Cliffs CEO Lourenco Goncalves said in a quarterly earnings conference call Tuesday.
However, Goncalves told stock analysts that Northshore will continue to serve as "our swing operation." That means Northshore will be used "as needed," Cliffs said in an email.
"At this time, we still do not expect to operate Northshore in full any time this year," Goncalves said.
State Sen. Grant Hauschild, DFL-Hermantown, said Tuesday he was told that Cliffs gave offers to all Northshore employees to return to work.
Wade LeBlanc, Silver Bay's mayor, said the same, and like Hauschild said some workers did not return. They had found new jobs, including at other taconite plants or railroads, LeBlanc said.
"Everybody who wanted to come back came back," LeBlanc added. "The fact that they are mining — that is good news for our community, for our schools and for everybody. It's good to see steam coming out of [the plant's] stacks."
Cleveland-based Cleveland-Cliffs is Minnesota's largest iron ore miner and one of the nation's biggest steelmakers. The company owns three of the Iron Range's six taconite operations in full and has an 85% stake in a fourth.
Cliffs idled Northshore in May 2022. At the time, the company had enough ore capacity at its other properties, and it was enmeshed in a long-running and bitter dispute over royalty payments connected to Northshore.
The dispute with Mesabi Trust, which receives royalties for ore it owns near Babbitt, does not appear to be solved. Goncalves has previously described the royalties as "absurdly high."
The current royalty agreement dates to 1989, when Cyprus Minerals bought and resurrected the shuttered Babbitt and Silver Bay assets of Reserve Mining. Cliffs purchased Cyprus Northshore in 1994 and assumed the royalty agreement.
Cleveland-Cliffs reported a first quarter net loss of $42 million, or 11 cents per share, compared with a net profit of $814 million, or $1.50 per share, for the same period a year ago. Cliffs' first quarter loss was less than the 22-cent loss forecast by analysts polled by Zacks.
Cleveland-Cliffs' first quarter revenues tallied $5.3 billion, down from $6 billion a year earlier, but $100 million above the Zacks estimate. Cliffs stock closed Tuesday at $15.27, down nearly 6%.
https://m.startribune.com/northshore-mining-on-iron-range-open-again-after-a-year-of-idling/600270008/?clmob=y&c=n&clmob=y&c=n
Enterprising Investor
2 years ago
Mesabi Trust Press Release (4/14/23)
Announcement of No Distribution
The Trustees of Mesabi Trust (NYSE:MSB) have determined that no distribution will be declared this April 2023 with respect to Units of Beneficial Interest. This compares to a distribution of One Dollar and four cents ($1.04) per Unit for the same period last year.
The Trustees’ announcement today of declaring no distribution this quarter primarily reflects the Trustees’ caution about uncertainties related to a number of factors, including principally Cleveland-Cliffs’ previously announced plans to idle Northshore Mining Company’s iron ore operations until April 2023 or maybe beyond, that recent press reports of Cliffs’ public statements were not definitive on a date or scope of a possible restart of Northshore operations, that the Trust received no royalty payments the last two fiscal quarters, that there has been no apparent iron ore production or shipping at Northshore during the most recent calendar quarter and that negative pricing adjustments, which are expected to be recognized in the last quarter of the Trust’s fiscal year ended January 31, 2023, are anticipated to increase the contract liability portion of the Trust’s unallocated reserve.
Accordingly, the Trustees’ decision announced today reflects their determination to maintain an appropriate level of reserves in order to make adequate provision to meet current and future expenses and present and future liabilities (whether fixed or contingent) that may arise in the future.
The Trustees have received no specific updates on Cliffs’ plans concerning Northshore iron ore operations. The Trustees’ determination of no distribution this quarter also takes into account numerous other factors, including uncertainties resulting from Cliffs’ prior announcements to make Northshore a swing operation as Cliffs’ Minorca operation becomes increasingly utilized, Cliffs’ increased use of scrap iron in its vertical supply chain planning, potential volatility in the iron ore and steel industries generally, national and global economic uncertainties, the cost and expense related to the Trust’s pending arbitration against Northshore and its parent, Cliffs, possible further disturbances from global unrest and the potential impacts from further outbreaks of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Quarterly royalty payments from Northshore for iron ore production and shipments during the first calendar quarter, which are payable to Mesabi Trust under the royalty agreement, are due April 30, 2023, together with the quarterly royalty report. After receiving the quarterly royalty report, Mesabi Trust plans to file a summary of the quarterly royalty report with the Securities and Exchange Commission in a Current Report on Form 8-K.
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230414005051/en/
Enterprising Investor
2 years ago
Mesabi Trust Press Release (1/12/23)
NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Announcement of No Distribution
The Trustees of Mesabi Trust (NYSE:MSB) have determined that no distribution will be declared this January 2023 with respect to Units of Beneficial Interest. This compares to a distribution of One Dollar and seventy-five cents ($1.75) per Unit for the same period last year.
The Trustees’ announcement today of declaring no distribution this quarter primarily reflects the Trustees’ caution about uncertainties arising from the July 22, 2022 announcement by Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (“Cliffs”), the parent company of Northshore Mining Company (“Northshore”), to extend the ongoing idling of Northshore operations until at least April 2023 and maybe beyond. With Northshore’s operations currently in idle mode, and no additional information being made available to the Trustees regarding the length of the idling, the Trustees’ decision reflects their determination to maintain an appropriate level of reserves in order to make adequate provision to meet current and future expenses and present and future liabilities (whether fixed or contingent) that may arise in the future.
The Trustees have received no specific updates on Cliffs’ plans concerning Northshore operations. The Trustees’ determination of no distribution this quarter also takes into account numerous other factors, including uncertainties resulting from Cliffs’ prior announcements to make Northshore a swing operation as Cliffs’ Minorca operation becomes increasingly utilized, Cliffs’ increased use of scrap iron in its vertical supply chain planning, potential volatility in the iron ore and steel industries generally, national and global economic uncertainties, the cost and expense related to the Trust’s initiation of arbitration against Northshore and its parent, Cliffs, possible further disturbances from global unrest and the potential impacts from further outbreaks of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Quarterly royalty payments from Northshore for iron ore production and shipments during the fourth calendar quarter, which are payable to Mesabi Trust under the royalty agreement, are due January 30, 2023, together with the quarterly royalty report. After receiving the quarterly royalty report, Mesabi Trust plans to file a summary of the quarterly royalty report with the Securities and Exchange Commission in a Current Report on Form 8-K.
Commencement of Arbitration
As previously disclosed by Mesabi Trust, on October 14, 2022, the Trust initiated arbitration against Northshore and its parent, Cliffs (jointly, the “Operator”), the lessee/operator of the leased lands. The arbitration proceeding was commenced with the American Arbitration Association. The Trust seeks an award of damages relating to the Operator’s underpayment of royalties in 2020, 2021, and 2022 by virtue of the Operator’s failure to use the highest price arm’s length iron ore pellet sale from the preceding four quarters in pricing internal production during the fourth quarter of 2020 through 2022. The Trust also seeks declaratory relief related to the Trust’s entitlement to certain documentation and to the time the Operator’s royalty obligation accrues on internal production.
https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230112005691/en/Mesabi-Trust-Press-Release
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