NOTE 1 - BASIS OF PRESENTATION AND SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with SEC rules and regulations and, in the opinion of management, include all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) necessary to present fairly the financial position, results of operations, comprehensive loss and cash flows for the periods presented. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and accompanying notes. Management bases its estimates on various assumptions and historical experience, which are believed to be reasonable; however, due to the inherent nature of estimates, actual results may differ significantly due to changed conditions or assumptions. The results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 2019 are not necessarily indicative of results to be expected for the year ending December 31, 2019 or any other future period. These unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements should be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018.

As more fully described in the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2018, in 2018 we committed to a course of action leading to the permanent closure of the Asia Pacific Iron Ore mining operations and, as planned, completed our final shipment in June 2018. Factors considered in this decision included increasingly discounted prices for lower-iron-content ore and the quality of the remaining iron ore reserves.

During 2018, we sold all of the assets of our Asia Pacific Iron Ore business through a series of sales to third parties. As a result of our planned exit, management determined that our Asia Pacific Iron Ore operating segment met the criteria to be classified as held for sale and a discontinued operation under ASC Topic 205, Presentation of Financial Statements. As such, all Asia Pacific Iron Ore operating segment results are classified within discontinued operations. Refer to NOTE 14 - DISCONTINUED OPERATIONS for further information.

We have two reportable segments - the Mining and Pelletizing segment and the Metallics segment. Unless otherwise noted, discussion of our business and results of operations in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q refers to our continuing operations.

Basis of Consolidation

The unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements include our accounts and the accounts of our wholly-owned subsidiaries, including the following operations as of March 31, 2019:



Name	Location	Business Segment	Status of Operations
Northshore	Minnesota	Mining and Pelletizing	Active
United Taconite	Minnesota	Mining and Pelletizing	Active
Tilden	Michigan	Mining and Pelletizing	Active
Empire	Michigan	Mining and Pelletizing	Indefinitely Idled
Toledo HBI	Ohio	Metallics	Construction Stage

Intercompany transactions and balances are eliminated upon consolidation.

Equity Method Investments

Our 23% ownership interest in Hibbing is recorded as an equity method investment. As of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018, our investment in Hibbing was $10.8 million and $15.4 million, respectively, classified as Other liabilities in the Statements of Unaudited Condensed Consolidated Financial Position.

Significant Accounting Policies

A detailed description of our significant accounting policies can be found in the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2018 included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the SEC. There have been no material changes in our significant accounting policies and estimates from those disclosed therein.