Cleveland-Cliffs Inc has entered into an amendment to its major Pellet Sale and Purchase Agreement with International Steel Group Inc., for pellet deliveries to ISG Cleveland and ISG Indiana Harbor through 2016.
The company stated that it has been working with ISG to amend the pellet contract for several months to mitigate Cliffs' exposure to future steel price volatility. The amendment significantly raises the base price for pellets, to better reflect current market rates, and moderates the steel price sharing provision accordingly.
Starting in 2005 the base pellet price will be equal to the price under the original agreement as if certain ISG hot band steel prices equaled $400 per ton. In addition, the hot band steel price threshold at which Cliffs' pellet price will escalate has been increased to $400 per ton. Cliffs will receive approximately 75% of the benefit of steel pricing above $400 under the amendment as compared to the original agreement.
John Brinzo, chairman and CEO, said, "We are very pleased to have reached this mutually beneficial agreement with ISG. Since entering into the long-term sales agreement with ISG in 2002, the industry's landscape was changed dramatically. This amendment essentially updates the pricing mechanisms to better reflect the current environment. We have successfully decreased our exposure to potential decreases in hot band steel prices and maintained potential upside."