<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><oembed><version><![CDATA[1.0]]></version><provider_name><![CDATA[Glenn Chan&#039;s Random Notes on Investing]]></provider_name><provider_url><![CDATA[https://glennchan.wordpress.com]]></provider_url><author_name><![CDATA[GlennC]]></author_name><author_url><![CDATA[https://glennchan.wordpress.com/author/glennchan/]]></author_url><title><![CDATA[Cliffs: I&#8217;m impressed by the new&nbsp;CEO]]></title><type><![CDATA[link]]></type><html><![CDATA[<p>In the past, I have repeatedly criticized Cliffs as the company has done a lot of things that it should not have done.  The new CEO (Gary Halverson) is here and he is cleaning house.</p>
<ul>
<li>The Ring of Fire chromite mine is cancelled and halted &#8220;indefinitely&#8221; (<a href="http://ir.cliffsnaturalresources.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=808798">Nov 2013</a>).  This is smart because the project isn&#8217;t close to being economic.</li>
<li>Phase II of the Bloom Lake expansion has been put on hold &#8220;indefinitely&#8221; (<a href="http://ir.cliffsnaturalresources.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=824965">Feb 11 2014</a>).  This is smart because the expansion project is risky and very marginal.</li>
<li>Halverson is <a href="http://ir.cliffsnaturalresources.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=821425">willing to talk to activist shareholders</a>.</li>
<li>Halverson strikes me as open and honest with shareholders.</li>
</ul>
<p>If I was any good at predicting commodity prices, I would seriously investigate a long position in Cliffs.  Unfortunately I am terrible at predicting commodity prices.</p>
<p><em>*Disclosure:  No position in CLF.</em></p>
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