this is what michaelo was basically tippingCLEVELAND—May 21,...

this is what michaelo was basically tipping

CLEVELAND—May 21, 2008—Cleveland-Cliffs Inc (NYSE: CLF) today announced that the Board of Directors of Portman Limited (ASX: PMM), an Australian iron ore producer majority owned by Cliffs, has authorized a tender offer to repurchase up to 16.5 million shares, or 9.39% of its common stock. Cliffs currently owns more than 80% of the approximately 176 million shares outstanding in Portman and has indicated it will not participate in the tender buy-back.

Certain shareholders of record on June 3, 2008, will be permitted to participate in the voluntary tender offer. Excluded foreign persons, including shareholders residing in the U.S. and U.S. persons, will not be eligible to participate in the buy‑back.

Eligible shareholders may offer to sell some or all of their shareholdings at a fixed-price discount of 14% to the volume weighted average price of Portman shares traded on ASX during the five trading days after this announcement. The tender period will close on June 24, 2008. To the extent tenders are received for the buy‑back in excess of 9.39% of Portman's outstanding shares, a scale-back process will be applied.

The program, if fully executed, would increase Cliffs' ownership position to approximately 89%.