(MENAFN- ProactiveInvestors) Cliffs Natural Resources () the largest U.S. iron miner rose in today’s trading after saying it will continue to explore sale options for other coal assets amid lower prices in order to focus on its core iron-ore products.
Shares advanced 4.3 percent to $8.51 at 3 p.m. in New York trimming this year’s tumble to 67 percent.
The Wilton Connecticut-based company said in a statement today that it agreed to sell its Logan County Coal assets in West Virginia to Coronado Coal II LLC for $175 million in cash along with the assumption of certain liabilities.
“This transaction is another important step in executing our strategy to transform Cliffs into a stronger pure-play U.S. iron ore supplier” chief executive officer Lourenco Goncalves said in the statement.
Cliffs said it expects to record a pre-tax loss of $375 million to $425 million on the sale of those assets in the fourth quarter.
Cliffs said today that it plans to use proceeds from the asset sale to repay debt.
The sale is expected to complete by the end of the year.
Cliffs is seeking to reshape itself as it faces declining prices for iron ore used to make steel. In October Cliffs took a $6 billion write-down mostly related to the ill-timed purchase of a Canadian iron ore mine intended to supply the then-booming Chinese steel market. Cliffs is considering closing the mine.
The company posted a loss of $5.9 billion or $38.49 per share in the third quarter compared with a profit of $104 million or 66 cents per share a year ago. Cliffs is also in a transition after a board coup this year orchestrated by activist hedge fund Casablanca Capital LP.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.