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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
SCHEDULE 13D
(Rule 13d-101)
INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT
TO RULE 13d-1(a) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED PURSUANT TO
RULE 13d-2(a)
(AMENDMENT NO. 9)*
CLIFFS NATURAL RESOURCES INC.
(Name of Issuer)
COMMON SHARES (PAR VALUE $0.125 PER SHARE)
(Title of Class of Securities)
185896107
(CUSIP Number)
PHILIP FALCONE
555 MADISON AVENUE
16TH FLOOR
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10022
(Name, Address and Telephone Number of
Person Authorized to Receive Notices
and Communications)
APRIL 14, 2009
(Date of Event which Requires Filing
of This Statement)
If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report
the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this
schedule because of Rule 13d-1(e), 13d-1(f) or 13d-1(g), check the following
box [_]
Note: Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five
copies of the schedule, including all exhibits. See Rule 13d-7 for other
parties to whom copies are to be sent.
IMPORTANT NOTE: THE SECURITIES SET FORTH IN THIS REPORT ARE DIRECTLY
BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY HARBINGER CAPITAL PARTNERS MASTER FUND I, LTD. AND/OR
HARBINGER CAPITAL PARTNERS SPECIAL SITUATIONS FUND, L.P. (COLLECTIVELY, THE
"FUNDS"). ALL OTHER ENTITIES AND PERSONS ARE INCLUDED WITHIN THIS REPORT DUE TO
THEIR AFFILIATION WITH ONE OR BOTH OF THE FUNDS.
* The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's
initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities,
and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter
disclosures provided in a prior cover page.
The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be
deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act
but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the
Notes).
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CUSIP NO. 185896107 Page 2 of 13
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SCHEDULE 13D
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1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
Harbinger Capital Partners Master Fund I, Ltd.
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2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) [_]
(b) [X]
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3 SEC USE ONLY
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4 SOURCE OF FUNDS
WC
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5 CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO
ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e)
[_]
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6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Cayman Islands
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7 SOLE VOTING POWER
NUMBER OF -0-
------------------------------------------------
SHARES 8 SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY OWNED 2,544,480
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BY EACH REPORTING 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
PERSON -0-
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WITH 10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
2,544,480
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11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
2,544,480
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12 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
[_]
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13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
2.24%
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14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
CO
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CUSIP NO. 185896107 Page 3 of 13
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SCHEDULE 13D
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1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
Harbinger Capital Partners LLC
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2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) [_]
(b) [X]
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3 SEC USE ONLY
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4 SOURCE OF FUNDS
AF
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5 CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO
ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e)
[_]
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6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
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7 SOLE VOTING POWER
NUMBER OF -0-
------------------------------------------------
SHARES 8 SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY OWNED 2,544,480
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BY EACH REPORTING 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
PERSON -0-
------------------------------------------------
WITH 10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
2,544,480
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11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
2,544,480
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12 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
[_]
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13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
2.24%
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14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
CO
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CUSIP NO. 185896107 Page 4 of 13
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SCHEDULE 13D
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1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
Harbinger Capital Partners Special Situations Fund, L.P.
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2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) [_]
(b) [X]
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3 SEC USE ONLY
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4 SOURCE OF FUNDS
WC
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5 CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO
ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e)
[_]
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6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
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7 SOLE VOTING POWER
NUMBER OF -0-
------------------------------------------------
SHARES 8 SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY OWNED 2,698,276
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BY EACH REPORTING 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
PERSON -0-
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WITH 10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
2,698,276
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11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
2,698,276
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12 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
[_]
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13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
2.38%
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14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
PN
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CUSIP NO. 185896107 Page 5 of 13
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SCHEDULE 13D
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1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
Harbinger Capital Partners Special Situations GP, LLC
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2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) [_]
(b) [X]
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3 SEC USE ONLY
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4 SOURCE OF FUNDS
AF
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5 CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO
ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e)
[_]
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6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
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7 SOLE VOTING POWER
NUMBER OF -0-
------------------------------------------------
SHARES 8 SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY OWNED 2,698,276
------------------------------------------------
BY EACH REPORTING 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
PERSON -0-
------------------------------------------------
WITH 10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
2,698,276
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11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
2,698,276
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12 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
[_]
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13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
2.38%
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14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
CO
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CUSIP NO. 185896107 Page 6 of 13
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SCHEDULE 13D
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1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
Harbinger Holdings, LLC
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2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) [_]
(b) [X]
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3 SEC USE ONLY
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4 SOURCE OF FUNDS
AF
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5 CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO
ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e)
[_]
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6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
Delaware
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7 SOLE VOTING POWER
NUMBER OF -0-
------------------------------------------------
SHARES 8 SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY OWNED 5,242,756
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BY EACH REPORTING 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
PERSON -0-
------------------------------------------------
WITH 10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
5,242,756
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11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
5,242,756
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12 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
[_]
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13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
4.62%
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14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
CO
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CUSIP NO. 185896107 Page 7 of 13
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SCHEDULE 13D
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1 NAME OF REPORTING PERSONS
Philip Falcone
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2 CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP (a) [_]
(b) [X]
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3 SEC USE ONLY
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4 SOURCE OF FUNDS
AF
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5 CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO
ITEMS 2(d) or 2(e)
[_]
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6 CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
U.S.A.
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7 SOLE VOTING POWER
NUMBER OF -0-
------------------------------------------------
SHARES 8 SHARED VOTING POWER
BENEFICIALLY OWNED 5,242,756
------------------------------------------------
BY EACH REPORTING 9 SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
PERSON -0-
------------------------------------------------
WITH 10 SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
5,242,756
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11 AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
5,242,756
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12 CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES
[_]
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13 PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
4.62%
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14 TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
IN
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CUSIP NO. 185896107 Page 8 of 13
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Item 1. SECURITY AND ISSUER.
This Amendment No. 9 to Schedule 13D ("Amendment No. 9") is being filed by the
undersigned to amend the Schedule 13D filed by the Reporting Persons on July
17, 2008, as amended by Amendment No. 1 filed on August 14, 2008, Amendment No.
2 filed on January 12, 2009, Amendment No. 3 filed on January 16, 2009,
Amendment No. 4 filed on February 5, 2009, Amendment No. 5 filed on March 6,
2009, Amendment No. 6 filed on March 27, 2009, Amendment No. 7 filed on April
6, 2009 and Amendment No. 8 filed on April 13, 2009 (as amended, the "Schedule
13D"), with respect to the Common Shares, $0.125 par value per share (the
"Shares"), of Cliffs Natural Resources Inc., an Ohio corporation (the
"Issuer"). The address of the Issuer is 1100 Superior Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio
44114-2544.
Item 2. IDENTITY AND BACKGROUND.
No material change.
Item 3. SOURCE AND AMOUNT OF FUNDS OR OTHER CONSIDERATION.
Item 3 of the Schedule 13D is hereby amended and restated in its
entirety as follows:
"As of the date hereof the Master Fund may be deemed to beneficially
own 2,544,480 Shares.
As of the date hereof Harbinger LLC may be deemed to beneficially own
2,544,480 Shares.
As of the date hereof the Special Fund may be deemed to beneficially
own 2,698,276 Shares.
As of the date hereof HCPSS may be deemed to beneficially own
2,698,276 Shares.
As of the date hereof Harbinger Holdings may be deemed to beneficially
own 5,242,756 Shares.
As of the date hereof Philip Falcone may be deemed to beneficially own
5,242,756 Shares.
No borrowed funds were used to purchase the Shares, other than any borrowed
funds used for working capital purposes in the ordinary course of business."
Item 4. PURPOSE OF TRANSACTION.
Item 4 of the Schedule 13D is hereby amended and restated in its
entirety as follows:
"As of April 15, 2009, the Reporting Persons ceased to be beneficial
owners of more than 5% of the Shares."
Item 5. INTEREST IN SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER.
Item 5 of the Schedule 13D is hereby amended by deleting paragraphs
(a), (b), (c) and (e) thereof and replacing such items with the following:
"References to percentage ownerships of Shares in this Schedule 13D
are based upon the 113,527,411 Shares stated to be outstanding as of February
23, 2009 by the Issuer in the Issuer's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2008.
(a, b) As of the date hereof, the Master Fund may be deemed to be the
beneficial owner of 2,544,480 Shares, constituting 2.24% of the Shares
outstanding of the Issuer.
The Master Fund has the sole power to vote or direct the vote of 0
Shares; has the shared power to vote or direct the vote of 2,544,480 Shares;
has sole power to dispose or direct the disposition of 0 Shares; and has shared
power to dispose or direct the disposition of 2,544,480 Shares.
The Master Fund specifically disclaims beneficial ownership in the
Shares reported herein except to the extent it actually exercises voting or
dispositive power with respect to such Shares.
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CUSIP NO. 185896107 Page 9 of 13
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(a, b) As of the date hereof, Harbinger LLC may be deemed to be the
beneficial owner of 2,544,480 Shares, constituting 2.24% of the Shares
outstanding of the Issuer.
Harbinger LLC has the sole power to vote or direct the vote of 0
Shares; has the shared power to vote or direct the vote of 2,544,480 Shares;
has sole power to dispose or direct the disposition of 0 Shares; and has shared
power to dispose or direct the disposition of 2,544,480 Shares.
Harbinger LLC specifically disclaims beneficial ownership in the
Shares reported herein except to the extent it actually exercises voting or
dispositive power with respect to such Shares.
(a, b) As of the date hereof, the Special Fund may be deemed to be the
beneficial owner of 2,698,276 Shares, constituting 2.38% of the Shares
outstanding of the Issuer.
The Special Fund has the sole power to vote or direct the vote of 0
Shares; has the shared power to vote or direct the vote of 2,698,276 Shares;
has sole power to dispose or direct the disposition of 0 Shares; and has shared
power to dispose or direct the disposition of 2,698,276 Shares.
The Special Fund specifically disclaims beneficial ownership in the
Shares reported herein except to the extent it actually exercises voting or
dispositive power with respect to such Shares.
(a, b) As of the date hereof, HCPSS may be deemed to be the beneficial
owner of 2,698,276 Shares, constituting 2.38% of the Shares outstanding of the
Issuer.
HCPSS has the sole power to vote or direct the vote of 0 Shares; has
the shared power to vote or direct the vote of 2,698,276 Shares; has sole power
to dispose or direct the disposition of 0 Shares; and has shared power to
dispose or direct the disposition of 2,698,276 Shares.
HCPSS specifically disclaims beneficial ownership in the Shares
reported herein except to the extent it actually exercises voting or
dispositive power with respect to such Shares.
(a, b) As of the date hereof, Harbinger Holdings may be deemed to be
the beneficial owner of 5,242,756 Shares, constituting 4.62% of the Shares
outstanding of the Issuer.
Harbinger Holdings has the sole power to vote or direct the vote of 0
Shares; has the shared power to vote or direct the vote of 5,242,756 Shares;
has sole power to dispose or direct the disposition of 0 Shares; and has shared
power to dispose or direct the disposition of 5,242,756 Shares.
Harbinger Holdings specifically disclaims beneficial ownership in the
Shares reported herein except to the extent it actually exercises voting or
dispositive power with respect to such Shares.
(a, b) As of the date hereof, Philip Falcone may be deemed to be the
beneficial owner of 5,242,756 Shares, constituting 4.62% of the Shares
outstanding of the Issuer.
Mr. Falcone has the sole power to vote or direct the vote of 0 Shares;
has the shared power to vote or direct the vote of 5,242,756 Shares; has sole
power to dispose or direct the disposition of 0 Shares; and has shared power to
dispose or direct the disposition of 5,242,756 Shares.
Mr. Falcone specifically disclaims beneficial ownership in the Shares
reported herein except to the extent he actually exercises voting or
dispositive power with respect to such Shares.
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CUSIP NO. 185896107 Page 10 of 13
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(c) The trading dates, number of Shares purchased and sold and price
per share for all transactions in the Shares by the Reporting Persons since the
filing of Amendment No. 8 are set forth in Exhibit U.
(e) As of April 15, 2009, the Reporting Persons ceased to be
beneficial owners of more than 5% of the Shares."
Item 6. CONTRACTS, ARRANGEMENTS, UNDERSTANDINGS OR RELATIONSHIPS WITH RESPECT
TO SECURITIES OF THE ISSUER.
No material change.
Item 7. MATERIAL TO BE FILED AS EXHIBITS.
Exhibit T: Joint Filing Agreement
Exhibit U: Transactions in the Common Shares of Cliffs Natural
Resources Inc.
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CUSIP NO. 185896107 Page 11 of 13
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SIGNATURE
After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I
certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and
correct.
HARBINGER CAPITAL PARTNERS MASTER FUND I, LTD.
By: Harbinger Capital Partners LLC
By: Harbinger Holdings, LLC,
Managing Member
By: /s/ Philip Falcone
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Name: Philip Falcone
Title: Managing Member
HARBINGER CAPITAL PARTNERS LLC
By: Harbinger Holdings, LLC,
Managing Member
By: /s/ Philip Falcone
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Name: Philip Falcone
Title: Managing Member
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CUSIP NO. 185896107 Page 12 of 13
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HARBINGER CAPITAL PARTNERS SPECIAL SITUATIONS
FUND, L.P.
By: Harbinger Capital Partners Special
Situations GP, LLC
By: Harbinger Holdings, LLC, Managing Member
By: /s/ Philip Falcone
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Name: Philip Falcone
Title: Managing Member
HARBINGER CAPITAL PARTNERS SPECIAL SITUATIONS
GP, LLC
By: Harbinger Holdings, LLC, Managing Member
By: /s/ Philip Falcone
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Name: Philip Falcone
Title: Managing Member
HARBINGER HOLDINGS, LLC
By: /s/ Philip Falcone
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Name: Philip Falcone
Title: Managing Member
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CUSIP NO. 185896107 Page 13 of 13
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/s/ Philip Falcone
---------------------------------------------
Philip Falcone
April 16, 2009
Attention: Intentional misstatements or omissions of fact constitute federal
criminal violations (see 18 U.S.C. 1001)