<PAGE>
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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 10-K
ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended: Commission File No.:
JANUARY 31, 1999 1-4488
--------------------
MESABI TRUST
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
NEW YORK 13-6022277
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) Identification No.)
C/O BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
CORPORATE TRUST AND AGENCY GROUP
P.O. BOX 318
CHURCH STREET STATION
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
10008-0318
(Address of principal executive offices)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:
(212) 250-6519
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
UNITS OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN MESABI TRUST
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: NONE
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant (1) has filed all reports
required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the
Registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such
filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES /X/ NO / /
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to
Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained,
to the best of Registrant's knowledge, in definitive proxy or information
statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any
amendment to this Form 10-K. /X/
As of April 26, 1999, the aggregate market value of the Units of
Beneficial Interest held by non-affiliates of the registrant, based on the
closing price as reported on the New York Stock Exchange, aggregated
approximately $42,316,007*. As of April 26, 1999, 13,120,010 Units of
Beneficial Interest were outstanding.
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* Includes approximately $49,075 representing the market value, as of
April 26, 1999, of 15,100 Units the beneficial ownership of which is
disclaimed by affiliates (see Item 12 herein).
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<PAGE>
Certain items in Parts I and II incorporate information by reference
from the Annual Report of the Trustees of Mesabi Trust to the Holders of
Certificates of Beneficial Interest for the fiscal year ended January 31, 1999,
which is annexed hereto and filed herewith as Exhibit 13.1.
PART I
ITEM 1. BUSINESS.
(a) GENERAL DEVELOPMENT OF BUSINESS.
The information under the headings "Mesabi Trust," "The Trust Estate,"
"Leasehold Royalties" and "Land Trust and Fee Royalties" set forth on pages 9
through 13 of the Annual Report of the Trustees of Mesabi Trust for the fiscal
year ended January 31, 1999 (the "Annual Report") is incorporated herein by
reference. Certain capitalized terms used below in this Part I are defined in
the Annual Report.
Mesabi Trust ("Mesabi Trust" or the "Trust"), formed pursuant to an
Agreement of Trust dated July 18, 1961 (the "Agreement of Trust"), is a trust
organized under the laws of the State of New York. Mesabi Trust holds all of the
interests formerly owned by Mesabi Iron Company, including all right, title and
interest in the Amended Assignment of Peters Lease, the Amended Assignment of
Cloquet Lease, the beneficial interest in the Mesabi Land Trust and all other
assets and property identified in the Agreement of Trust. The Amended Assignment
of Peters Lease relates to an Indenture made as of April 30, 1915 among East
Mesaba Iron Company, Dunka River Iron Company and Claude W. Peters (the
"Peters Lease") and the Amended Assignment of Cloquet Lease relates to an
Indenture made May 1, 1916 between Cloquet Lumber Company and Claude W. Peters
(the "Cloquet Lease").
The Trust will terminate twenty-one (21) years after the death of the
survivor of twenty-five (25) persons named in an exhibit to the Agreement of
Trust. The youngest person on this exhibit is now 38 years old.
(b) FINANCIAL INFORMATION ABOUT INDUSTRY SEGMENTS.
Substantially all of the Trust's revenue, operating profits and assets
relate to one business segment--iron ore mining.
(c) NARRATIVE DESCRIPTION OF BUSINESS.
The Agreement of Trust specifically prohibits the Trustees from
entering into or engaging in any business. This prohibition applies even to
business activities the Trustees deem necessary or proper for the conservation
and protection of the Trust Estate. Accordingly, the Trustees' activities in
connection with the administration of Trust assets are limited to collecting
income, paying expenses and liabilities, distributing net income and protecting
and conserving the assets held.
Pursuant to a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, which ruling
was based on the terms of the Agreement of Trust including the prohibition
against entering into any business, the Trust is not taxable as a corporation
for Federal income tax purposes. Instead, the holders of the Units of Beneficial
Interest (the "Unitholders") are considered as "owners" of the Trust and the
Trust's income is taxable directly to the Unitholders.
Leasehold royalty income constitutes the principal source of the
Trust's revenue. Royalty rates are determined in accordance with the terms of
Mesabi Trust's leases and assignments of leases. Until
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August 17, 1989, the overriding royalty was based on the quantity and iron
content of pellets shipped by Reserve Mining Company ("Reserve") from Mesabi
Trust lands, although Mesabi Trust did not receive any royalty income from May
1986 until July 1990 because Reserve filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition
and suspended its operations. On August 17, 1989, Cyprus Northshore Mining
Corporation ("Cyprus NMC") purchased substantially all of Reserve's assets,
including Reserve's interest in the Mesabi Trust lands. At the same time, Mesabi
Trust entered into certain agreements with Reserve's Chapter 11 Trustee and
Cyprus NMC (the "Amended Assignment Agreements"). The Amended Assignment
Agreements modified the method of calculating overriding royalties payable to
Mesabi Trust and transferred Reserve's interest in the Mesabi Trust lands to
Cyprus NMC. Pursuant to the Amended Assignment Agreements, overriding royalties
are determined by both the volume and selling price of iron ore products
shipped. In 1994, Cyprus NMC was sold by its parent corporation to
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. ("CCI") and renamed Northshore Mining Corporation
("Northshore"). CCI now operates Northshore as a wholly-owned subsidiary.
In its Annual Report for the year ended December 31, 1998 ("CCI's
Annual Report"), CCI, parent company of Northshore, the lessee/operator of
Mesabi Trust iron ore interests, stated that it is continuing to evaluate
whether to build a facility to produce pig iron at CCI's Northshore Mine in
Minnesota that would annually produce 700,000 metric tons of premium grade
pig iron. In the same annual report, it was stated that good progress has
been made in a number of areas on the project, but that a decision relative
to proceeding with this project has been delayed by uncertainty about market
conditions and timing of state environmental permitting. Because of the
preliminary nature of this information, the Mesabi Trustees are unable to
determine at this time how the addition of a pig iron facility (if the
project proceeds) would impact overall revenues of Mesabi Trust. As indicated
elsewhere in this report, the Trust's revenues are currently derived almost
entirely from iron ore pellet production and sales.
Mesabi Trust has no employees, but it engages independent consultants
to assist the Trustees in monitoring, among other things, the amount and sales
prices of minerals shipped by Northshore from Silver Bay, Minnesota. As noted
above, the information regarding amounts and sales prices of shipped minerals is
used to compute the royalties payable to Mesabi Trust by Northshore. Bankers
Trust Company, one of the Trustees, also performs certain administrative
functions for Mesabi Trust.
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES.
The information under the heading "The Trust Estate" set forth on page
9 of the Annual Report of the Trustees of Mesabi Trust for the fiscal year ended
January 31, 1999 is incorporated herein by reference.
The Peters Lease provides that each leasehold estate will continue
until the reserves of iron ore, taconite and other minerals or materials on the
land subject to the Peters Lease are exhausted. The Mesabi Lease terminates when
the Peters Lease terminates. The Cloquet Lease, executed in 1916, terminates in
the year 2040. If Northshore decides to terminate or surrender one or more of
these leases, it must first give Mesabi Trust at least six months' notice of its
intention to do so and, at Mesabi Trust's request, reassign all of such leases
to Mesabi Trust. If any such reassignment occurs, Northshore must transfer the
lease interests to Mesabi Trust free and clear of liens, except public highways.
In return, Mesabi Trust must assume Northshore's future obligations as lessee
under the reassigned leases.
The Trustees have neither made nor caused to be made any surveys or
test drillings to ascertain the iron ore reserves on any land subject to the
Peters Lease or the Cloquet Lease. However, initial surveys and test drillings
made by Mesabi Iron Company many years ago indicated that these lands
2
<PAGE>
contained accessible reserves of at least 1-1/2 billion tons of mineable raw
material, capable of yielding approximately 500 million tons of concentrated
product. In CCI's Annual Report, CCI estimated that there currently remains
enough ore reserve in the Peters and Cloquet Lease Lands to produce
concentrated product for 82 years of mining at current extraction rates.
Little or no commercial ore deposits exist in the Mesabi Lease Lands.
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
None.
ITEM 4. SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS.
None.
PART II
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS.
The information set forth in the section titled "Certificates of
Beneficial Interest" on page 14 of the Annual Report of the Trustees of Mesabi
Trust for the fiscal year ended January 31, 1999 is incorporated herein by
reference.
ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA.
The information set forth in the sections titled "Selected Financial
Data" and "Reserves and Distributions" on pages 2 and 14-15, respectively, of
the Annual Report of the Trustees of Mesabi Trust for the fiscal year ended
January 31, 1999 is incorporated herein by reference.
3
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ITEM 7. TRUSTEES' DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF
OPERATION.
The information set forth in the sections titled "Trustees' Discussion
and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," "Income and
Expense" and "Reserves and Distributions" on pages 2-7, 13-14 and 14-15,
respectively, of the Annual Report of the Trustees of Mesabi Trust for the
fiscal year ended January 31, 1999 is incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.
Not applicable.
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.
The financial statements, including the independent auditor's report
thereon, filed as a part of this report, are presented on pages F-1 through
F-10 and are incorporated herein by reference.
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.
None.
4
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PART III
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT.
There are no directors or executive officers of the registrant. The
Agreement of Trust provides for a Corporate Trustee and four Individual Trustees
(collectively, the "Trustees"). Generally, Trustees continue in office until
their resignation or removal. Any Trustee may be removed at any time, with or
without cause, by the holders of two-thirds in interest of the Trust
Certificates then outstanding. In the case of an Individual Trustee, a successor
is also appointed if the Individual Trustee dies, becomes incapable of acting or
is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent. In the case of the Corporate Trustee, a
successor is also appointed if a receiver of the Corporate Trustee or of its
property is appointed, or if any public officer takes charge or control of the
Corporate Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of
rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation.
The present Trustees of Mesabi Trust and their respective ages, terms
in office as Trustees, and business experience during the past five years are
set forth in the following table:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Trustee Business Experience
Name Age Since During Past Five Years
---- --- ----- ----------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Bankers Trust Company N/A 1961 Trust Company
David J. Hoffman 63 1977 Mining geologist; Until January 1988,
President of Towne Mines Exploration
Company, Inc., a privately-held mining
corporation.
Richard G. Lareau 70 1990 Partner in the law firm of Oppenheimer
Wolff & Donnelly LLP; Director of
Ceridian Corporation, Merrill
Corporation, Nash Finch Company and
Northern Technologies International
Corporation.
Ira A. Marshall, Jr. 76 1976 Private investor and self-employed
petroleum engineer; Until February
1986, Director and Vice President of
New American Fund, Inc., a closed-end
investment trust.
Norman F. Sprague III 51 1981 Private investor; Orthopedic surgeon.
</TABLE>
5
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ITEM 11. TRUSTEES' COMPENSATION.
The Agreement of Trust was amended October 25, 1982 (the "Amendment").
Pursuant to the Amendment, each Individual Trustee receives at least $20,000 in
annual compensation for services as Trustee. Each year, annual Trustee
compensation is adjusted up or down (but not below $20,000) in accordance with
changes from the November 1981 level of 295.5 (the "1981 Escalation Level") in
the All Commodities Producer Price Index (with 1967 = 100 as a base). The All
Commodities Producer Price Index is published by the U.S. Department of Labor.
The adjustment is made at the end of each fiscal year and is calculated on the
basis of the proportion between (a) the level of such index for the November
preceding the end of such fiscal year and (b) the 1981 Escalation Level.
Also pursuant to the Amendment, Bankers Trust Company, as the Corporate
Trustee, receives annual compensation in an amount equal to the greater of (i)
$20,000, or such other amount determined in accordance with the adjustments
described in the preceding paragraph, or (ii) one quarter of one percent (1/4 of
1%) of the Trust Moneys, exclusive of proceeds of sale of any part of the Trust
Estate (as such terms are defined in the Trust Agreement), received by the
Trustees and distributed to Trust Certificate Holders.
Additionally, each year the Corporate Trustee receives $62,500 (or
more, if unanimously approved by the Individual Trustees) to cover clerical and
administrative services to Mesabi Trust other than services customarily
performed by a registrar or transfer agent.
The following table sets forth the cash compensation paid to the
Trustees through January 31, 1999, for services in all capacities as Trustees to
Mesabi Trust during the fiscal year ended January 31, 1999.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
CASH COMPENSATION TABLE
(A) (B) (C)
Name Capacity in Which Served Cash Compensation
---- ------------------------ -----------------
<S> <C> <C>
Bankers Trust Company Corporate Trustee $87,517*
David J. Hoffman Individual Trustee $25,017
Richard G. Lareau Individual Trustee $25,017
Ira A. Marshall, Jr. Individual Trustee $25,017
Norman F. Sprague III Individual Trustee $25,017
</TABLE>
* Does not include $23,145 of fees and disbursements paid to Bankers Trust
Company as registrar and transfer agent of the Units.
6
<PAGE>
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND TRUSTEES.
The following table sets forth information concerning each person known
to Mesabi Trust to own beneficially more than 5% of the Trust's Units
outstanding as of April 1, 1999. Such information has been obtained from Mesabi
Trust's records and a review of statements filed with Mesabi Trust pursuant to
Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 through April 1, 1999.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name and Address Amount of Beneficial Percent of
of Beneficial Owner(s) Ownership of Units Class
---------------------- ------------------ -----
<S> <C> <C>
Appaloosa Management L.P.,
a Delaware Limited Partnership
and
David A. Tepper
26 Main Street
Chatham, New Jersey 07928 655,500(1) 4.99%
</TABLE>
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(1) According to a Schedule 13D dated May 4, 1998, filed by such
persons, which indicates that each of such persons has sole
voting power and sole dispositive power with respect to such
shares. Appaloosa Management L.P. is general partner of
Appaloosa Investment Limited Partnership I. The general partner
of Appaloosa Management L.P. is Appaloosa Partners, Inc., of
which David Tepper is the sole shareholder and President.
Appaloosa Management L.P. acts as an investment advisor to
Palomino Fund Ltd. ("PLF"). Of the 655,500 Units reported,
327,750 are owned by Appaloosa Investment Limited Partnership I
and 327,750 are owned by PLF.
The table below sets forth information as to the Units of Beneficial
Interest in Mesabi Trust beneficially owned as of March 16, 1999 by the Trustees
individually and as a group.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Amount of Beneficial Percent of
Name Ownership of Units Class
---- ------------------ -----
<S> <C> <C>
Bankers Trust Company 0 (1) 0
David J. Hoffman 38,100 (2) Less than 1%
Richard G. Lareau 13,000 Less than 1%
Ira A. Marshall, Jr. 51,000 (3) Less than 1%
Norman F. Sprague III 12,700 Less than 1%
All Trustees as a group 114,800 Less than 1%
</TABLE>
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7
<PAGE>
(1) Bankers Trust Company holds, on behalf of various customers, Units in
its Fiduciary Department in so-called "directed" accounts. Bankers
Trust Company has no voting or investment power over, and thus no
beneficial interest in, such Units.
(2) Includes 15,100 Units owned by Mr. Hoffman's wife, over which Mr.
Hoffman does not have any investment or voting power and as to which
Mr. Hoffman disclaims any beneficial ownership.
(3) These Units consist of (a) 50,000 Units owned indirectly by Mr.
Marshall through a family trust of which Mr. Marshall is the sole
trustee and (b) 1,000 Units over which Mr. Marshall has joint voting
and investment power.
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIP AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS.
Mr. Richard G. Lareau, who became a Trustee on March 7, 1990, is a
senior partner in the law firm of Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly LLP, of
Minneapolis, Minnesota. That firm has been retained by Mesabi Trust since 1961
to act with respect to matters of Minnesota law, and was retained in 1991 by the
Trustees other than Mr. Lareau to act as general counsel.
PART IV
ITEM 14. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K.
(a) 1. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS:
The following Financial Statements are incorporated in this
reporting reference from the pages noted in our Annual Agreement of
Trustees for the Year Ended January 31, 1999:
Independent Auditor's Report - page F-1
Balance Sheets as of January 31, 1999 and 1998 - page F-2
Statements of Income for the years ended January 31, 1999, 1998 and
1997 - page F-3
Statements of Unallocated Reserve and Trust Corpus for the years ended
January 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997 - page F-4
Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended January 31, 1999, 1998 and
1997 - page F-5
Notes to Financial Statements - pages F-6 through F-10
2. FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES:
None required.
8
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Schedules other than those listed above have been omitted because they
are not applicable or the required information is included in the financial
statements or notes thereto.
9
<PAGE>
3. EXHIBITS:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Item No. Item Filing Method
- -------- ---- -------------
<S> <C> <C>
3 Agreement of Trust dated as of
July 18, 1961.................. Incorporated by reference from
Exhibit 3 to Mesabi Trust's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended January 31, 1987.
3(a) Amendment to the Agreement of
Trust dated as of October 25,
1982........................... Incorporated by reference from
Exhibit 3(a) to Mesabi Trust's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended January 31, 1988.
4 Instruments defining the rights
of Trust Certificate Holders... Incorporated by reference from
Exhibit 4 to Mesabi Trust's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
year ended January 31, 1987.
10(a) Peters Lease................... Incorporated by reference from
Exhibits 10(a) - 10(d) to Mesabi
Trust's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended January
31, 1987.
10(b) Amendment Assignment of Peters
Lease.......................... Incorporated by reference from
Exhibits 10(a) - 10(d) to Mesabi
Trust's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended January
31, 1987.
10(c) Cloquet Lease.................. Incorporated by reference from
Exhibits 10(a) - 10(d) to Mesabi
Trust's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended January
31, 1987.
10(d) Assignment of Cloquet Lease.... Incorporated by reference from
Exhibits 10(a) - 10(d) to Mesabi
Trust's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended January
31, 1987.
10
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10(e) Modification of Lease and
Consent to Assignment dated
as of October 22, 1982......... Incorporated by reference from
Exhibit 10(e) to Mesabi Trust's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended January 31, 1988.
10(f) Amendment of Assignment,
Assumption and Further
Assignment of Peters Lease..... Incorporated by reference from
Exhibit A to Mesabi Trust's Report
on Form 8-K dated August 17, 1989.
10(g) Amendment of Assignment,
Assumption and Further
Assignments of Cloquet Lease... Incorporated by reference from
Exhibit B to Mesabi Trust's Report
on Form 8-K dated August 17, 1989.
13.1 Annual Report of the Trustees
of Mesabi Trust for the fiscal
year ended January 31, 1999.... Filed herewith.
27.1 Financial Data Schedule........ Filed herewith.
</TABLE>
(b) REPORTS ON FORM 8-K FILED IN THE FOURTH QUARTER:
None.
11
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
Dated: April 28, 1999
MESABI TRUST
By: Bankers Trust Company
Corporate Trustee
By: /s/ Robert Caporale
-------------------------------------------
Robert Caporale
Vice President
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the
registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.
/s/ Robert Caporale April 28, 1999
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Robert Caporale
Vice President
Bankers Trust Company
/s/ David J. Hoffman April 28, 1999
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David J. Hoffman
Individual Trustee
/s/ Richard G. Lareau April 28, 1999
- --------------------------------------------
Richard G. Lareau
Individual Trustee
/s/ Ira S. Marshall, Jr. April 28, 1999
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Ira A. Marshall, Jr.
Individual Trustee
/s/ Norman F. Sprague III April 28, 1999
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Norman F. Sprague III
Individual Trustee
12
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ANNUAL REPORT
OF THE TRUSTEES OF
MESABI TRUST
For the Year Ended January 31, 1999
ADDRESS
Mesabi Trust
c/o Bankers Trust Company
Corporate Trust and Agency Group
P.O. Box 318
Church Street Station
New York, NY 10015
Telephone - (212) 250-6519
COUNSEL
Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly LLP, General Counsel
TRANSFER AGENT
Bankers Trust Company
REGISTRAR
Bankers Trust Company
Mesabi Trust will provide, upon the written request of any certificate
holder addressed to the Trustees at the above address and without charge to such
certificate holder, a copy of Mesabi Trust's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
fiscal year ended January 31, 1999 as filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Forward-Looking Information
Certain statements contained in this document are forward-looking,
including specifically those statements estimating 1999 production or shipments.
All such forward-looking statements are based on input from the lessee/operator.
The Trust has no control over the operations and activities of the
lessee/operator except within the framework of current agreements. Actual
results could differ materially from those indicated in such statements. For
important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, see
"Important Factors Affecting Mesabi Trust," below.
1
<PAGE>
SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years ended January 31 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995
- ---------------------- ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Royalty and interest income $ 5,988,143 $ 6,860,369 $ 6,001,143 $ 4,061,228 $ 3,485,351
Trust expenses 353,386 362,373 381,534 387,180 426,655
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net income(a) $ 5,634,757 $ 6,497,996 $ 5,619,609 $ 3,674,048 $ 3,058,696
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Net income per Unit(b) $ .43 $ .50 $ .43 $ .28 $ .23
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
Distributions declared
per unit(b)(c) $ .43 $ .49 $ .42 $ .275 $ .24
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
At January 31
Total Assets $ 2,790,042 $ 4,286,758 $ 2,603,167 $ 2,286,131 $ 1,991,142
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
</TABLE>
- ----------------------
(a) The Trust, as a grantor trust, is exempt from federal and state income
taxes.
(b) Based on 13,120,010 Units of Beneficial Interest outstanding during all
years.
(c) During the fiscal year ended January 31, 1999, the Trustees distributed
$.54 per Unit (including $.265 per Unit declared in fiscal 1998 and
distributed in February 1998) and declared an additional distribution
of $.155 per Unit, payable in February 1999. During the fiscal year
ended January 31, 1998, the Trustees distributed $.37 per Unit
(including $.145 per Unit declared in fiscal 1997 and distributed in
February 1997) and declared an additional distribution of $.265 per
Unit, payable in February 1998. During the fiscal year ended January
31, 1997, the Trustees distributed $.395 per Unit (including $.12 per
Unit declared in fiscal 1995 and distributed in February 1996) and
declared an additional distribution of $.145 per Unit, payable in
February 1997. During the fiscal year ended January 31, 1996, the
Trustees distributed $.255 per Unit (including $.10 per Unit declared
in fiscal 1995 and distributed in February 1995) and declared an
additional distribution of $.12 per Unit, payable in February 1996. See
"Reserves and Distributions" on pages 13 and 14 of this Annual Report.
TRUSTEES' DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
GENERAL
Mesabi Trust ("Mesabi Trust" or the "Trust"), formed pursuant to an
Agreement of Trust dated July 18, 1961 (the "Agreement of Trust"), is a trust
organized under the laws of the State of New York. Mesabi Trust holds all of the
interests formerly owned by Mesabi Iron Company, including all right, title and
interest in the Amended Assignment of Peters Lease, the Amended Assignment of
Cloquet Lease, the beneficial interest in the Mesabi Land Trust and all other
assets and property identified in the Agreement of Trust. The Amended Assignment
of Peters Lease relates to an Indenture made as of April 30, 1915 among East
Mesaba Iron Company, Dunka River Iron Company and Claude W. Peters (the "Peters
Lease") and the Amended Assignment of Cloquet Lease relates to an Indenture
made May 1, 1916 between Cloquet Lumber Company and Claude W. Peters (the
"Cloquet Lease").
The Trust will terminate twenty-one (21) years after the death of the
survivor of twenty-five (25) persons named in an exhibit to the Agreement of
Trust. The youngest person on this exhibit is now 38 years old.
2
<PAGE>
The Agreement of Trust specifically prohibits the Trustees from
entering into or engaging in any business. This prohibition applies even to
business activities the Trustees deem necessary or proper for the preservation
and protection of the Trust Estate. Accordingly, the Trustees' activities in
connection with the administration of Trust assets are limited to collecting
income, paying expenses and liabilities, distributing net income and protecting
and conserving the assets held.
Pursuant to a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, which ruling
was based on the terms of the Agreement of Trust including the prohibition
against entering into any business, the Trust is not taxable as a corporation
for Federal income tax purposes. Instead, the holders of the Units of Beneficial
Interest (the "Unitholders") are considered as "owners" of the Trust and the
Trust's income is taxable directly to the Unitholders.
Leasehold royalty income constitutes the principal source of the
Trust's revenue. Royalty rates are determined in accordance with the terms of
Mesabi Trust's leases and assignments of leases. Three types of royalties
comprise the Trust's leasehold royalty income:
- Overriding royalties, which constitute the majority of Mesabi
Trust's royalty income, are determined by both the volume and
selling price of iron ore products shipped.
- Fee royalties, historically a smaller component of the Trust's
royalty income, are payable to Mesabi Land Trust, a Minnesota land
trust of which Mesabi Trust is the sole beneficiary ("Mesabi Land
Trust"), and are based on the amount of crude ore mined. Currently,
the fee royalty on crude ore is based on an agreed price per ton,
subject to certain indexing. Crude ore is used to produce iron ore
pellets and other products.
- Minimum advance royalties, the third type of royalty, are discussed
below.
Until August 17, 1989, the overriding royalty was based on the quantity
and iron content of pellets shipped by Reserve Mining Company ("Reserve") from
Mesabi Trust lands, although Mesabi Trust did not receive any royalty income
from May 1986 until July 1990 because Reserve filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy
petition suspended its operations.
On August 17, 1989, Cyprus Northshore Mining Corporation ("Cyprus NMC")
purchased substantially all of Reserve's assets, including Reserve's interest in
the Mesabi Trust lands. In connection with the purchase, Mesabi Trust, Reserve's
Chapter 11 trustee and Cyprus NMC entered into the Amendment of Assignment,
Assumption and Further Assignment of Peters Lease (the "Amended Assignment of
Peters Lease"), the Amendment of Assignment, Assumption and Further Assignment
of Cloquet Lease (the "Amended Assignment of Cloquet Lease") and the Assumption
and Assignment of Mesabi Lease (together with the Amended Assignment of Peters
Lease and the Amended Assignment of Cloquet Lease Assignment, the "Amended
Assignment Agreements"). The Amended Assignment Agreements modified the method
of calculating overriding royalties payable to Mesabi Trust and transferred
Reserve's interest in the Mesabi Trust lands to Cyprus NMC.
In 1994, Cyprus NMC was sold by its parent corporation to
Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. ("CCI") and renamed Northshore Mining Corporation
("Northshore"). CCI operates Northshore as a wholly-owned subsidiary.
Fee royalties payable to Mesabi Land Trust, a Minnesota land trust of
which Mesabi Trust is the sole beneficiary ("Mesabi Land Trust"), are based on
the amount of crude ore mined. Crude ore is
3
<PAGE>
used to produce iron ore pellets and other products. Under the Amended
Assignment Agreements, overriding royalties are determined by both the volume
and selling price of iron ore products sold.
With respect to the volume component of royalty calculation, Northshore
is obligated to pay Mesabi Trust base overriding royalties in varying amounts.
The volume component of overriding royalties constitutes a percentage of the
gross proceeds of iron ore products produced at Mesabi Trust lands (and to a
limited extent other lands) and shipped from Silver Bay, Minnesota. The
percentage ranges from 2-1/2% of the gross proceeds (for the first one million
tons of iron ore products so shipped annually) to 6% of the gross proceeds (for
all iron ore products in excess of 4 million tons so shipped annually).
With respect to the selling price component of overriding royalty
calculation, Northshore is obligated to pay to Mesabi Trust royalty bonuses. The
royalty bonus is a percentage of the gross proceeds of product shipped from
Silver Bay, and sold at prices above a threshold price. The threshold price is
adjusted on an annual basis for inflation and deflation (but not below $30). The
threshold price was $37.29 for calendar year 1997, was $38.21 for calendar year
1998 and is $38.22 for calendar year 1999. The royalty bonus percentage ranges
from 1/2 of 1% of the gross proceeds (on all tonnage shipped for sale at prices
between the threshold price and $2.00 above the threshold price) to 3% of the
gross proceeds (on all tonnage shipped for sale at prices $10.00 or more above
the threshold price). No royalty bonus has been paid to date.
Generally, Northshore's obligation to pay base overriding royalties and
royalty bonuses with respect to the sale of iron ore products accrues upon the
shipment of those products from Silver Bay. However, regardless of whether any
shipment has occurred, Northshore is obligated to pay to Mesabi Trust a minimum
advance royalty. Each year, the amount of the minimum advance royalty is
adjusted for inflation and deflation (but not below $500,000 per annum). Advance
royalties payable were $621,606 for calendar year 1997, were $636,935 for
calendar year 1998 and are $637,044 for calendar year 1999. Until overriding
royalties (and royalty bonuses, if any) for a particular year equal or exceed
the minimum advance royalty for the year, Northshore must make quarterly
payments of up to 25% of the minimum advance royalty for the year. Because
advance minimum royalties are essentially prepayments of base overriding and
bonus royalties earned each year, any advance minimum royalties paid in a fiscal
quarter are recouped by credits against base overriding and bonus royalties
earned in later fiscal quarters during the year. Historically, advance minimum
royalties have been paid in the first fiscal quarter and recouped in the second
fiscal quarter.
Northshore is obligated to make quarterly royalty payments in January,
April, July and October of each year. In the case of base overriding royalties
and royalty bonuses, these quarterly royalty payments are to be made whether or
not the related proceeds of sale have been received by Northshore by the time
such payments become due.
Under the relevant documents, Northshore may mine and ship iron ore
products from lands other than Mesabi Trust lands. To encourage the use of iron
ore products from Mesabi Trust lands, Mesabi Trust receives royalties on stated
percentages of iron ore shipped from Silver Bay, whether or not the iron ore
products are from Mesabi Trust lands. Mesabi Trust receives royalties at the
greater of (i) the aggregate quantity of iron ore products shipped that were
from Mesabi Trust lands, and (ii) a portion of the aggregate quantity of all
iron ore products shipped that were from any lands, such portion being 90% of
the first four million tons shipped during such year, 85% of the next two
million tons shipped during such year, and 25% of all tonnage shipped during
such year in excess of six million tons.
4
<PAGE>
Northshore has advised the trustees that total calendar year 1998
shipments may be approximately 4.2 million tons. However, it is not known what
percentage of these estimated shipments will be from Mesabi Trust lands. During
calendar years 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995 and 1994, the percentage of shipments of
iron ore products from Mesabi Trust lands was approximately 99.3%, 98.3%, 98.4%,
90.6% and 88.3%, respectively, of total shipments. Northshore has not advised
the Trust what the percentage of iron ore products it anticipates shipping from
Mesabi Trust lands.
In its Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998
("CCI's Annual Report"), CCI, parent company of Northshore, the
lessee/operator of Mesabi Trust iron ore interests, stated that it is
continuing to evaluate whether to build a facility to produce pig iron at
CCI's Northshore Mine in Minnesota that would annually produce 700,000 metric
tons of premium grade pig iron. In CCI's Annual Report, it was stated that
good progress has been made in a number of areas on the project, but that a
decision relative to proceeding with this project has been delayed by
uncertainty about market conditions and timing of state environmental
permitting. Because of the preliminary nature of this information, the Mesabi
Trustees are unable to determine at this time how the addition of a pig iron
facility (if the project proceeds) would impact overall revenues of Mesabi
Trust. As indicated elsewhere in this report, the Trust's revenues are
currently derived almost entirely from iron ore pellet production and sales.
IMPORTANT FACTORS AFFECTING MESABI TRUST
The Agreement of Trust specifically prohibits the Trustees from
entering into or engaging in any business. This prohibition applies even to
business activities the Trustees deem necessary or proper for the preservation
and protection of the Trust Estate. Accordingly, the Trustees' activities in
connection with the administration of Trust assets are limited to collecting
income, paying expenses and liabilities, distributing net income and protecting
and conserving the assets held.
Accordingly, the income of the Trust is highly dependent upon the
activities and operations of Northshore, and the terms and conditions of the
Amended Assignment Agreements. The Trust and the Trustees have no control over
the operations and activities of Northshore, except within the framework of the
Amended Assignment Agreements.
Due to winter weather, and the increasing royalty percentages based on
tonnage shipped in a calendar year, results for a particular calendar quarter
are typically not indicative of results for future quarters or the year as a
whole. Factors which can impact the results of the Trust in any quarter or year
include:
1. SHIPPING CONDITIONS IN THE GREAT LAKES. Shipping activity by Northshore is
dependent upon when the Great Lakes shipping lanes freeze for the winter
months (typically in January) and when they re-open in the spring
(typically late-March or April). Base overriding royalties to Mesabi Trust
are based on shipments made in a calendar quarter. Because there typically
is little or no shipping activity in the first calendar quarter, the Trust
typically receives only the minimum royalty for that period.
2. OPERATIONS OF NORTHSHORE. Because the primary portion of the Trust's
revenues derive from iron ore product shipped by Northshore from Silver
Bay, Northshore's processing and shipping activities directly impact the
Trust's revenues in each quarter and for each year. In turn, a myriad of
factors affect Northshore shipment volume. These factors include economic
conditions in the iron ore industry, pricing by competitors, long-term
customer contracts or arrangements by Northshore or its competitors,
availability of ore boats, production at Northshore's mining
5
<PAGE>
operations, and production at the pelletizing/processing facility. If any
pelletizing line becomes idle for any reason, production and shipments
(and, consequently, Trust income) could be adversely impacted.
3. INCREASING ROYALTIES. As described elsewhere in this Report, the royalty
percentage paid to the Trust increases as the aggregate tonnage of iron ore
products shipped, attributable to the Trust, in any calendar year
increases. Assuming a consistent sales price per ton throughout a calendar
year, shipments of iron ore product attributable to the Trust later in the
year generate a higher royalty to the Trust.
4. PERCENTAGE OF MESABI TRUST ORE. As described elsewhere in this Report,
Northshore has the ability to process and ship iron ore product from lands
other than Mesabi Trust lands. In certain circumstances, the Trust may be
entitled to royalties on those other shipments, but not in all cases. In
general, the Trust will receive higher royalties (assuming all other
factors are equal) if a higher percentage of shipments are from Mesabi
Trust lands. The percentages of shipments that came from Mesabi Trust lands
were 99.3%, 98.3%, 98.4%, 90.6% and 88.3% in calendar years 1998, 1997,
1996, 1995 and 1994, respectively.
COMPARISON OF FISCAL YEARS ENDED JANUARY 31, 1999 AND JANUARY 31, 1998
Mesabi Trust's gross income for the fiscal year ended January 31, 1999
was $5,988,143, a decrease of $872,226 (or approximately 12.7%) from the gross
income of $6,860,369 for the fiscal year ended January 31, 1998. The decrease in
gross income primarily was due to decreased pellet shipments plus a lower
average sales price per ton. Mesabi Trust's expenses of $353,386 for the fiscal
year ended January 31, 1999 decreased $8,987 (or approximately 0.02%) from
expenses of $362,373 for the fiscal year ended January 31, 1998. Total expenses,
by category, for each of the last three fiscal years is set forth under "Income
and Expense" on pages 12 and 13 of this report. Decreased income and decreased
expenses resulted in net income of $5,634,757 for the fiscal year ended January
31, 1999, a decrease of $863,239 from the net income of $6,497,996 for the
fiscal year ended January 31, 1998.
Mesabi Trust's Unallocated Reserve aggregated $712,952 at January 31,
1999, as compared with an Unallocated Reserve of $719,799 at January 31, 1998.
During the fiscal year ended January 31, 1999, the Trustees distributed $.54 per
Unit of Beneficial Interest. These distributions to Unitholders totaled
$7,084,805.
COMPARISON OF FISCAL YEARS ENDED JANUARY 31, 1998 AND JANUARY 31, 1997
Mesabi Trust's gross income for the fiscal year ended January 31, 1998
was $6,860,369, an increase of $859,226 (or approximately 14.3%) from the gross
income of $6,001,143 for the fiscal year ended January 31, 1997. The increase in
gross income primarily was due to increased pellet shipments plus a higher
average sales price per ton. Mesabi Trust's expenses of $362,373 for the fiscal
year ended January 31, 1998 decreased $19,161 (or approximately 5.0%) from
expenses of $381,534 for the fiscal year ended January 31, 1997. Total expenses,
by category, for each of the last three fiscal years is set forth under "Income
and Expense" on pages 12 and 13 of this report. Increased income and decreased
expenses resulted in net income of $6,497,996 for the fiscal year ended January
31, 1998, an increase of $878,387 from the net income of $5,619,609 for the
fiscal year ended January 31, 1997.
6
<PAGE>
Mesabi Trust's Unallocated Reserve aggregated $719,799 at January 31,
1998, as compared with an Unallocated Reserve of $650,608 at January 31, 1997.
During the fiscal year ended January 31, 1998, the Trustees distributed $.37 per
Unit of Beneficial Interest. These distributions to Unitholders totaled
$4,854,404.
IMPACT OF YEAR 2000
Computer programs have historically been written to abbreviate dates by
using two digits instead of four digits to identify a particular year. The
so-called "Year 2000 problem" is the inability of computer software or hardware
to recognize or properly process dates ending in "00" and dates after the Year
2000. Significant attention is being focused as the Year 2000 approaches on
updating or replacing such software and hardware in order to avoid system
failures, miscalculations or business interruptions that might otherwise result.
The Trustees of Mesabi Trust are taking steps we believe are necessary to insure
that this potential problem does not adversely affect the Trust. We are
continuing our as-yet incomplete assessment of the impact of the Year 2000
problem.
Because it is a trust entity and has no operations of its own, Mesabi
Trust believes that the costs and efforts it may incur to address the Year 2000
problem will not be material. The Year 2000 problem may, however, adversely
impact Mesabi Trust indirectly by affecting the businesses and operations of
parties with which the Trustees interact in the normal course of administering
the Trust (which activities, as noted elsewhere in this report, are limited to
collecting income, paying expenses and liabilities, distributing net income and
protecting and conserving the assets held). There can be no assurance that
Mesabi Trust will be able to effectively address Year 2000 issues in a
cost-efficient manner and without interruption, or that Year 2000 problems
encountered by parties with which the Trustees interact in the normal course of
administering the Trust will not adversely affect the Trust.
Mesabi Trust's state of readiness for the Year 2000, our estimated
costs associated with Year 2000 issues, the risks we face associated with Year
2000 issues and our Year 2000 contingency plans are summarized below.
STATE OF READINESS -- Mesabi Trust has no internal computer programs
or systems. Externally, Mesabi Trust has implemented a three-phase process to
assess Year 2000 compliance of systems used by parties with which the
Trustees interact in the normal course of administering the Trust, and
remediate any material non-compliance. The phases are (1) to identify the
parties with which the Trustees interact in the course of operating the Trust
and determine whether they are significant to the operation and performance
of the Trust (so-called "core parties"); (2) to contact the core parties by,
among other methods, sending them letters and questionnaires designed to
solicit information relating to the Year 2000 problem; and (3) to evaluate
the responses received from the core parties. We have completed the first two
phases of this external process. We have received and evaluated responses to
our inquiries and do not believe such responding core parties face Year 2000
compliance problems that would have a material effect on the Trust. We plan
to follow up during 1999 with those core parties who have not yet responded
to our inquiries as well as those who have indicated that their compliance
efforts are not yet entirely complete.
COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH YEAR 2000 ISSUES -- We estimate that the future
costs associated with implementing all phases of our Year 2000 assessment and
resolving any Year 2000 problems will be between $5,000 and $20,000. We believe
that these costs, assuming this estimate is accurate, would not have a material
effect on the Trust's performance. We estimate our costs to date associated with
Year 2000 issues to be less than $5,000. We anticipate that cash flow from Trust
income will be used to pay the costs to address Year 2000 issues. All Year 2000
costs are expensed as incurred.
7
<PAGE>
RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH YEAR 2000 ISSUES -- We are unaware of any
material risk to Mesabi Trust associated with Year 2000 issues at the present
time. We believe that the reasonably likely worst case Year 2000 scenario is a
decrease in the efficiency with which the Trust collects income and pays
expenses and liabilities, and a decrease in the efficiency with which the Trust
receives payments from Northshore. A decrease in efficiency would not
necessarily result in a decrease in the performance of the Trust, however,
because we believe that alternative collection methods could be arranged within
a relatively short period of time. Any disruption, however, could result in
delayed or lost revenue.
CONTINGENCY PLANS -- The Trustees' contingency plan, if one or more of
the core parties suffers a significant Year 2000 problem, is to identify
alternative vendors and service providers where practicable in an effort to
decrease the impact on Mesabi Trust. The Trustees have not yet identified such
alternative vendors and service providers. Because there is no practical
alternative to Northshore's role as lessee/operator of Mesabi Trust iron ore
interests, the contingency plan if royalty payments by Northshore are adversely
affected by a Year 2000 problem would likely include delays of distributions to
Unit holders.
8
<PAGE>
TO THE HOLDERS OF
CERTIFICATES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST IN
MESABI TRUST
MESABI TRUST
Mesabi Trust was created in 1961 upon the liquidation of Mesabi Iron
Company. The sole purpose of the Trust, as set forth in the Agreement of Trust
dated as of July 18, 1961 (the "Agreement of Trust"), is to conserve and protect
the Trust Estate and to collect and distribute the income and proceeds therefrom
to the Trust's Certificate Holders after the payment of, or provision for,
expenses and liabilities. The Agreement of Trust prohibits the Trust from
engaging in any business.
THE TRUST ESTATE
The principal assets of Mesabi Trust consist of two different interests
in certain properties in the Mesabi Iron Range: (i) Mesabi Trust's interest as
assignor in the Amended Assignment of Peters and the Amended Assignment of
Cloquet Lease, which together cover properties aggregating approximately 9,750
contiguous acres in St. Louis County, Minnesota (the "Peters Lease Lands" and
the "Cloquet Lease Lands," respectively, and collectively, the "Peters and
Cloquet Lease Lands"), and (ii) Mesabi Trust's ownership of the entire
beneficial interest in Mesabi Land Trust, which has a 20% interest as fee owner
in the Peters Lease Lands and a 100% fee ownership in certain
non-mineral-bearing lands adjacent to the Peters and Cloquet Lease Lands (the
"Mesabi Lease Lands").
The Peters and Cloquet Lease Lands are located at the eastern end of
the Mesabi Iron Range and contain low-grade iron ore known as taconite,
approximately three tons of which must be beneficiated to produce one ton of
high-grade pellets. The Trustees have not had any surveys or test drillings
performed to ascertain the iron ore reserves on the Peters and Cloquet Lease
Lands. However, initial surveys and test drillings made by Mesabi Iron
Company many years ago indicated that these lands contained accessible
taconite reserves capable of yielding approximately 500 million tons of high
grade iron ore pellets. In CCI's Annual Report, CCI estimated that there
currently remains enough ore reserve in the Peters and Cloquet Lease Lands to
produce concentrated product for 83 years of mining at current extraction
rates. The Mesabi Lease Lands provide an area for location of service roads,
supporting plants and equipment and dump sites for overburden.
Under the Amended Assignment Agreements, Northshore produces iron ore
from the Peters and Cloquet Lease Lands for the manufacture of pellets to be
sold to various users, and Mesabi Trust receives royalties on the crude ore
extracted from such Lands and the pellets produced from such crude ore.
LEASEHOLD ROYALTIES
Northshore is obligated to pay to Mesabi Trust base overriding
royalties and royalty bonuses on all pellets (and other iron ore products)
produced from the Peters and Cloquet Lease Lands ("Mesabi Ore") and shipped from
Silver Bay, Minnesota in each calendar year. The royalties are based on prices
per unit of product, volumes of product shipped and where on the escalating
scale of royalties -- 2% on the first million tons to 6% on shipments above four
million tons per year -- each shipment falls.
9
<PAGE>
Base overriding royalties are calculated on the basis of an escalating
scale of percentages of gross sales proceeds of iron ore shipped. The applicable
percentage is determined by reference to the tonnage of pellets previously
shipped in the then current calendar year, as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Applicable royalty
Tons of iron ore products (expressed as a percentage
shipped in calendar of gross sales proceeds
year within each tranche)
--------------- -----------------------
<S> <C>
one million or less 2-1/2%
more than one but not more than two million 3-1/2%
more than two but not more than three million 5%
more than three but not more than four million 5-1/2%
more than four million 6%
</TABLE>
For example, assume that no shipments of iron ore products were made
during the first calendar quarter of 1999 and further assume that pellets were
shipped from Silver Bay, Minnesota in the second and third calendar quarters of
1999 in the following tonnage quantities and rendering the following gross
proceeds:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Tonnage Gross Proceeds
------- --------------
<S> <C> <C>
2nd Quarter: 500,000 $14,000,000
3rd Quarter: 500,000 $14,000,000
1,000,000 $27,000,000
1,000,000 $26,000,000
1,000,000 $25,000,000
1,500,000 $37,500,000
</TABLE>
In this example, the base overriding royalties payable in respect of the second
and third calendar quarters of 1999 would be as follows:
<TABLE>
<S> <C> <C>
2nd Quarter: $14,000,000 x 2-1/2% ($ 350,000)
3rd Quarter: $14,000,000 x 2-1/2% ($ 350,000)
$27,000,000 x 3-1/2% ($ 945,000)
$26,000,000 x 5% ($1,300,000)
$25,000,000 x 5-1/2% ($1,375,000)
$37,500,000 x 6% ($2,250,000)
</TABLE>
Based on the same example, the percentage applicable for all iron ore products
shipped in the fourth calendar quarter of 1999 would be 6%, because more than
four million tons were shipped during the first three quarters.
The above figures are provided only to illustrate the method for calculating
base overriding royalties and do not indicate the amount of base overriding
royalties the Trustees expect Mesabi Trust to earn calendar 1999 or any other
calendar or fiscal year. Accordingly, the foregoing example illustrating the
calculation
10
<PAGE>
of base overriding royalties should not be considered a prediction of the amount
of base overriding royalties Mesabi Trust will receive.
Royalty bonuses are payable on all iron ore products sold at prices
above a threshold price (the "Adjusted Threshold Price"). The Adjusted Threshold
Price was $37.29 per ton for calendar year 1997, was $38.21 per ton for calendar
year 1998 and will be $38.22 per ton for calendar year 1999. The Adjusted
Threshold Price is subject to adjustment (but not below $30 per ton) for
inflation and deflation and is determined each year on the basis of the change
in a broad based index of inflation and deflation published quarterly by the
U.S. Department of Commerce.
The amount of royalty bonuses payable for any period is calculated on
the basis of an escalating scale of percentages of the gross sales proceeds to
Northshore of pellets sold at prices above the Adjusted Threshold Price. The
applicable percentage is determined by reference to the amount by which the
sales prices for a particular quantity of pellets exceeds the Adjusted Threshold
Price, as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Amount by which
sales price per ton
exceeds Adjusted Applicable
Threshold Price Percentage
------------------- ----------
<S> <C>
$2 or less 1/2 of 1%
more than $2 but not more than $4 1%
more than $4 but not more than $6 1-1/2%
more than $6 but not more than $8 2%
more than $8 but not more than $10 2-1/2%
more than $10 3%
</TABLE>
For example, assume an Adjusted Threshold Price of $38.22 is assumed
for calendar year 1999 and that two million tons of iron ore products were
shipped in the second calendar quarter of 1999 at the following prices:
1,000,000 tons @ $29.00/ton
300,000 tons @ $31.00/ton
300,000 tons @ $34.00/ton
100,000 tons @ $36.00/ton
100,000 tons @ $38.00/ton
100,000 tons @ $40.00/ton
50,000 tons @ $42.00/ton
50,000 tons @ $46.00/ton
11
<PAGE>
In this example, the following royalty bonuses would be payable on shipments of
iron ore products on the second calendar quarter of 1999 as follows:
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
1,000,000 tons @ $29.00/ton No bonus
300,000 tons @ $31.00/ton No bonus
300,000 tons @ $34.00/ton No bonus
100,000 tons @ $36.00/ton No bonus
100,000 tons @ $38.00/ton No bonus
100,000 tons @ $40.00/ton 1/2%
50,000 tons @ $42.00/ton 1%
50,000 tons @ $46.00/ton 2%
</TABLE>
The above figures are provided only to illustrate the method for
calculating royalty bonuses and do NOT indicate the amount of royalty bonuses,
if any, the Trustees expect Mesabi Trust to earn in calendar 1999 or any other
calendar or fiscal year. Accordingly, the foregoing example illustrating the
calculation of royalty bonuses should not be considered a prediction of the
amount, if any, of royalty bonuses Mesabi Trust will receive. In fact, no
royalty bonus has been paid to the Trust for several years.
Northshore also must pay base overriding royalties and royalty bonuses
on pellets produced from lands other than Mesabi Lease Lands ("Other Ore") to
the extent necessary to assure payment of base overriding royalties and royalty
bonuses on at least 90% of the first four million tons of pellets shipped from
Silver Bay in each calendar year, at least 85% of the next two million tons of
pellets shipped therefrom in each calendar year, and at least 25% of all tonnage
of pellets shipped therefrom in each calendar year in excess of six million
tons. Base overriding royalties and royalty bonuses payable on Other Ore can be
recouped by Northshore out of base overriding royalties and royalty bonuses paid
on Mesabi Ore. The amount of Other Ore royalties and Other Ore royalty bonuses
which can be recouped on any payment date cannot, however, exceed 20% of the
amount of Mesabi Ore royalties and royalty bonuses which are otherwise payable
on that payment date.
Northshore is obligated to pay to Mesabi Trust advance royalties in
equal quarterly installments. The advance royalty was $621,606 per annum for the
calendar year ended December 31, 1997, $636,935 for calendar year 1998 and is
$637,044 for the calendar year 1999. The amount of advance royalties payable is
subject to adjustment (but not below $500,000 per annum) for inflation and
deflation and is determined each year in the same manner as the Adjusted
Threshold Price. All payments of advance royalties are credited against payments
of base overriding royalties and royalty bonuses payable on Mesabi Ore until
fully recouped. The amount of advance royalties payable in respect of each
calendar quarter constitutes the minimum overriding royalty amount payable by
Northshore in respect of that calendar quarter.
Base overriding royalties and royalty bonuses are payable quarterly and
accrue upon shipment, whether or not the actual sales proceeds for any shipment
are received by Northshore. The amount of base overriding royalties and royalty
bonuses payable with respect to the first three quarters in any calendar year
are determined on the basis of tonnage shipped during each such calendar quarter
and the actual sales proceeds of such shipments, with an adjustment made to the
royalties payable with respect to the last quarter in any calendar year to
account for errors, adjustments and returns.
12
<PAGE>
In addition, in the event that Northshore commences mining and
production of quarry stone for shipment, Northshore must pay base overriding
royalties on all quarry stone so shipped on the basis of the same scale of
percentages used in calculating base overriding royalties payable on pellets and
other iron ore product. Northshore has not informed Mesabi Trust of any present
intention to commence mining and production of quarry stone.
LAND TRUST AND FEE ROYALTIES
Mesabi Land Trust holds a 20% interest as fee owner in the Peters Lease
Lands and a 100% interest as fee owner in the Mesabi Lease Lands as lessor of
the Mesabi Lease. Mesabi Trust holds the entire beneficial interest in Mesabi
Land Trust and is entitled to receive the net income of Mesabi Land Trust after
payment of expenses. Northshore is not obligated to pay royalties or rental to
Mesabi Land Trust as fee owner of the non-mineral bearing Mesabi Lease Lands, a
consideration having been paid in that respect at the inception of the Mesabi
Lease.
Northshore is required to pay a base royalty to the fee owners in an
amount which, at its option, is either (a) 11-2/3 CENTS per gross ton of crude
ore it mines from the Peters Lease Lands or (b) $.0056 for each 1% of metallic
iron ore natural contained in each gross ton of pellets it produces from the
Peters Lease Lands and ships. The base fee royalty rate is adjusted up or down
each quarter (but not below the base royalty specified above) by addition or
subtraction of an amount to be determined by reference to changes in Lower Lake
Mesabi Range pellet prices and the All Commodities Producer Price Index. The
adjustment factor is computed by multiplying the base fee royalty rate specified
above by a percentage that is the sum of (a) one-half of the percentage change,
if any, by which the then prevailing price per iron unit of Mesabi Range
taconite pellets delivered by rail or vessel at Lower Lake Erie ports exceeds
80.5 CENTS (the price per iron unit in effect in January 1982) plus (b) one-half
of the percentage change, if any, by which the All Commodities Producer Price
Index exceeds 295.8 (the level of the Index for December 1981).
Fee royalties aggregating $331,826 with respect to crude ore mined by
Northshore were earned by Mesabi Land Trust during the fiscal year ended January
31, 1999.
INCOME AND EXPENSE
Total income for Mesabi Trust for the fiscal year ended January 31,
1999 was $5,988,143, consisting of $48,897 in interest earned on the investment
of the Unallocated Reserve, $331,826 in fee income, $636,935 in minimum advance
royalty income, and $4,970,485 in overriding royalty income compared with
$6,860,369 in total income for the previous fiscal year. Total expenses for the
fiscal year were $353,386, compared with $362,373 in total expenses for the
previous fiscal year. There were distributions paid per Unit of Beneficial
Interest totaling 54 CENTS for the fiscal year ended January 31, 1999, compared
with distributions paid for the fiscal year ended January 31, 1998 of 37 CENTS
per Unit.
13
<PAGE>
Total expenses by categories were as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Fiscal Years ended
January 31,
---------------------------------------------
1999 1998 1997
---- ---- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Compensation of Trustees $ 125,083 $ 129,438 $ 129,742
Fees and Disbursements
Administrative 62,500 62,500 62,500
Accounting 36,302 35,734 32,815
Inspection trips, travel and
other expenses of Trustees 38,677 31,995 35,164
Legal 19,707 25,802 24,091
Mining consultant and field
representatives 16,548 15,695 16,808
Printing of annual and quarterly
reports, and letters to
certificate holders 22,421 26,726 33,227
Securities and Exchange Commission --- --- 250
Transfer Agent and Registrar 22,689 24,848 34,017
Transfer Agent miscellaneous
disbursements 9,458 9,628 12,789
Other miscellaneous expenses 1 7 131
----------- ---------- ---------
$ 353,386 $ 362,373 $ 381,534
----------- ---------- ---------
----------- ---------- ---------
</TABLE>
Pursuant to an Amendment to the Agreement of Trust (the "Amendment")
dated October 25, 1982, each Individual Trustee receives annual compensation for
services as Trustee of $20,000, adjusted up or down (but not below $20,000) in
accordance with changes from the November 1981 level of 295.5 (the "1981
Escalation Level") in the All Commodities Producer Price Index (with 1967 = 100
as a base), which is published by the U.S. Department of Labor. The adjustment
is made at the end of each fiscal year and is calculated on the basis of the
proportion between (a) the level of such index for the November preceding the
end of such fiscal year and (b) the 1981 Escalation Level.
RESERVES AND DISTRIBUTIONS
Mesabi Trust's Unallocated Reserve aggregated $712,952 at January 31,
1999, compared with an Unallocated Reserve of $719,799 at January 31, 1998. The
Trustees have determined that the Unallocated Reserve should be maintained at a
prudent level. Accordingly, although the actual amount of the Unallocated
Reserve will fluctuate from time to time, and may increase or decrease from its
current level, it is currently intended that future distributions will be highly
dependent upon royalty income as it is received and the level of Trust expenses.
The amount of future royalty income available for distribution will be subject
to the volume of iron ore product shipments and the dollar level of sales by
Northshore. Shipping activity is greatly reduced during the winter months and
economic conditions, particularly those affecting the steel industry, may
adversely affect the amount and timing of such future shipments and sales.
The Trustees will continue to monitor the economic circumstances of the
Trust to strike a responsible balance between distributions to Unitholders and
the need to maintain adequate reserves at a
14
<PAGE>
prudent level, given the unpredictable nature of the iron ore industry, the
Trust's dependence on the actions of the lessee/operator, and the fact the Trust
essentially has no other liquid assets.
Payments to Unitholders during the fiscal year ended January 31, 1998
totaled $4,854,404 and payments to Unitholders during the fiscal year ended
January 31, 1999 totaled $7,084,805.
CERTIFICATES OF BENEFICIAL INTEREST
The Certificates of Beneficial Interest are traded on the New York
Stock Exchange. During the past two fiscal years, the market ranges of the
certificates for each quarterly period and the distributions declared for such
quarterly periods were as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Fiscal Quarter Ended High Low Amount Declared Per Unit
- -------------------- ---- --- --------------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
April 30, 1997 4 3/4 4 1/4 $ -- $ --
July 31, 1997 4 5/8 3 7/8 852,801 0.065
October 31, 1997 4 1/16 3 11/16 2,099,201 0.160
January 31, 1998 4 1/4 3 5/8 3,476,803 0.265
------------- -----------
$ 6,428,805 $ 0.490
------------- -----------
------------- -----------
<CAPTION>
Fiscal Quarter Ended High Low Amount Declared Per Unit
- -------------------- ---- --- --------------- --------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
April 30, 1998 4 3/8 3 7/8 $ -- $ --
July 31, 1998 4 3/8 3 15/16 1,443,201 0.110
October 31, 1998 4 3 5/8 2,164,801 0.160
January 31, 1999 3 5/8 2 3/4 2,033,602 0.265
------------- -----------
$ 5,641,604 $ 0.535
------------- -----------
------------- -----------
</TABLE>
As of the close of business on April 26, 1999, the beneficial interest
in Mesabi Trust was represented by 13,120,010 Units registered in the names of
approximately 2,591 individuals holding of record approximately 1,653,664 Units,
and in the names of approximately 526 brokers, nominees, or fiduciaries holding
of record approximately 11,466,346 Units.
15
<PAGE>
THE TRUSTEES
The name and address of each Trustee and the principal occupation of
each individual Trustee are as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Name and Address
of Trustee Principal Occupation
-------------- --------------------
<S> <C>
Bankers Trust Company Trust Company
Corporate Trustee
Four Albany Street
New York, New York 10015
David J. Hoffman Mining geologist
Individual Trustee
P.O. Box 10444
Sedona, Arizona 86339
Richard G. Lareau Partner in the law firm of
Individual Trustee Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly LLP
Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly LLP
3400 Plaza VII
45 South Seventh Street
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402
Ira A. Marshall, Jr. Private investor; Self-employed
Individual Trustee petroleum engineer
12 Fincher Way
Rancho Mirage, California
Norman F. Sprague III Private investor; Orthopedic surgeon
Individual Trustee
11600 Wilshire Boulevard
Los Angeles, California 90025
</TABLE>
Respectfully submitted,
BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
DAVID J. HOFFMAN
RICHARD G. LAREAU
New York, New York IRA A. MARSHALL, JR.
April 26, 1999 NORMAN F. SPRAGUE III
16
<PAGE>
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT
To the Trustees
Mesabi Trust
New York, New York
We have audited the accompanying balance sheets of Mesabi Trust as of
January 31, 1999 and 1998, and the related statements of income, unallocated
reserve and trust corpus and cash flows for each of the three years in the
period ended January 31, 1999. These financial statements are the responsibility
of the Trust's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these
financial statements based on our audits.
We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present
fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Mesabi Trust as of
January 31, 1999 and 1998, and the results of its operations and its cash flows
for each of the three years in the period ended January 31, 1999, in conformity
with generally accepted accounting principles.
McGLADREY & PULLEN, LLP
/s/ McGladrey & Pullen, LLP
New York, New York
April 2, 1999
F-1
<PAGE>
MESABI TRUST
BALANCE SHEETS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
January 31,
----------------------------------
1999 1998
---- ----
<S> <C> <C>
ASSETS
Cash $ 2,115,273 $ 3,607,221
U.S. Government securities,
at amortized cost (which approximates market) 534,914 499,073
Accrued income 134,991 176,641
Prepaid insurance 4,861 3,820
----------- -----------
$ 2,790,039 $ 4,286,755
----------- -----------
Fixed property, including
intangibles, at nominal values:
Assignments of leased property:
Amended Assignment of
Peters Lease $ 1 $ 1
Assignment of Cloquet Lease 1 1
Certificate of beneficial
interest for 13,120,010 units
of Land Trust 1 1
----------- -----------
$ 3 $ 3
----------- -----------
$ 2,790,042 $ 4,286,758
----------- -----------
----------- -----------
LIABILITIES, UNALLOCATED RESERVE AND TRUST CORPUS
Liabilities:
Distribution payable $ 2,033,602 $ 3,476,803
Accrued expenses 43,485 90,153
----------- -----------
2,077,087 $ 3,566,956
Unallocated reserve 712,952 719,799
Trust Corpus 3 3
----------- -----------
$ 2,790,042 $ 4,286,758
----------- -----------
----------- -----------
</TABLE>
See Notes to Financial Statements.
F-2
<PAGE>
MESABI TRUST
STATEMENTS OF INCOME
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years ended January 31,
-------------------------------------------------
1999 1998 1997
---- ---- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C>
REVENUE
Royalties under amended
lease agreements $ 5,607,420 $ 6,491,575 $ 5,631,330
Royalties under Peters
Lease fee 331,826 326,378 328,783
Interest 48,897 42,416 41,030
----------- ----------- -----------
Total revenue $ 5,988,143 $ 6,860,369 $ 6,001,143
----------- ----------- -----------
EXPENSES
Compensation of Trustees $ 125,083 $ 129,438 $ 129,742
Corporate Trustee's
administrative fees 62,500 62,500 62,500
Professional fees and expenses:
Legal and accounting 56,009 61,536 56,906
Mining consultant and
field representatives 16,548 15,695 16,808
Transfer agent's and
registrar's fees 22,689 24,848 34,017
Other Trust expenses 70,557 68,356 81,561
----------- ----------- -----------
Total expenses $ 353,386 $ 362,373 $ 381,534
----------- ----------- -----------
Net income $ 5,634,757 $ 6,497,996 $ 5,619,609
----------- ----------- -----------
----------- ----------- -----------
Weighted average number
of units outstanding 13,120,010 13,120,010 13,120,010
----------- ----------- -----------
----------- ----------- -----------
Net income per unit $.43 $.50 $.43
---- ---- ----
---- ---- ----
</TABLE>
See Notes to Financial Statements.
F-3
<PAGE>
MESABI TRUST
STATEMENTS OF UNALLOCATED RESERVE AND TRUST CORPUS
YEARS ENDED JANUARY 31, 1999, 1998 AND 1997
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Unallocated Reserve
-------------------
Number of Trust
Units Amount Corpus
----- ------ ------
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Balance, February 1, 1996 13,120,010 $ 541,403 $ 3
------------ ------------ ------------
Net income --- 5,619,609 --
Distribution paid August 20, 1996,
$.085 per unit --- (1,115,201) ---
Distribution paid November 20, 1996,
$.19 per unit --- (2,492,802) ---
Distribution declared January 17, 1997,
paid February 20, 1997,
$.145 per unit --- (1,902,401) ---
------------ ------------ ------------
Balance, January 31, 1997 13,120,010 $ 650,608 $ 3
------------ ------------ ------------
Net income --- 6,497,996 ---
Distribution paid August 20, 1997,
$.065 per unit --- (852,801) ---
Distribution paid November 20, 1997,
$.16 per unit --- (2,099,201) ---
Distribution declared January 16, 1997,
paid February 20, 1998,
$.265 per unit --- (3,476,803) ---
------------ ------------ ------------
Balance, January 31, 1998 13,120,010 $ 719,799 $ 3
------------ ------------ ------------
Net income --- 5,634,757 ---
Distribution paid August 20, 1998,
$.11 per unit --- (1,443,201) ---
Distribution paid November 20, 1998,
$.165 per unit --- (2,164,801) ---
Distribution declared January 16, 1998,
paid February 20, 1999,
$.155 per unit --- (2,033,602) ---
------------ ------------ ------------
Balance, January 31, 1999 13,120,010 $ 712,952 $ 3
------------ ------------ ------------
</TABLE>
See Notes to Financial Statements.
F-4
<PAGE>
MESABI TRUST
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Years ended January 31,
-------------------------------------------------------
1999 1998 1997
---- ---- ----
<S> <C> <C> <C>
Cash flows from operating
activities:
Royalties received $ 5,967,132 $ 6,769,021 $ 5,855,966
Interest received 48,241 42,745 44,634
Expenses paid (386,675) (336,971) (387,065)
------------- ------------- -------------
Net cash provided
by operating activities $ 5,628,698 $ 6,474,795 $ 5,513,535
------------- ------------- -------------
Cash flows from investing
activities:
Maturities of U.S. Government
securities $ 9,009,983 $ 6,439,490 $ 6,833,132
Purchases of U.S.
Government securities (9,045,824) (4,453,578) (7,172,528)
------------- ------------- -------------
Net cash (used in) provided by
investing activities $ (35,841) $ 1,985,912 $ (339,396)
------------- ------------- -------------
Cash flows from financing
activities:
Net cash (used in) financing
activities, distributions
to unitholders $ (7,084,805) $ (4,854,404) $ (5,182,404)
------------- ------------- -------------
Net increase (decrease) in cash $ (1,491,948) $ 3,606,303 $ (8,265)
Cash, beginning of year 3,607,221 918 9,183
------------- ------------- -------------
Cash, end of year $ 2,115,273 $ 3,607,221 $ 918
------------- ------------- -------------
------------- ------------- -------------
Reconciliation of net income
to net cash provided by
operating activities:
Net income $ 5,634,757 $ 6,497,996 $ 5,619,609
Decrease (increase) in
accrued income 41,650 (63,024) 13,802
Decrease (increase) in prepaid
insurance (1,041) (175) 293
(Decrease) increase in
accrued expenses (46,668) 39,998 (5,824)
(Decrease) increase in deferred
income --- --- (114,345)
------------- ------------- -------------
Net cash provided by
operating activities $ 5,628,698 $ 6,474,795 $ 5,513,535
------------- ------------- -------------
------------- ------------- -------------
</TABLE>
See Notes to Financial Statements.
F-5
<PAGE>
MESABI TRUST
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1. Nature of Business, Organization and Significant Accounting Policies
Nature of business:
Mesabi Trust was created in 1961 upon the
liquidation of Mesabi Iron Company. The sole purpose
of the Trust, as set forth in the Agreement of Trust
dated as of July 18, 1961, is to conserve and
protect the Trust Estate and to collect and
distribute the income and proceeds therefrom to the
Trust's certificate holders after the payment of, or
provision for, expenses and liabilities. The
Agreement of Trust prohibits the Trust from engaging
in any business.
The lessee/operator of Mesabi Trust's mineral
interests is Northshore Mining Corporation (NMC), a
subsidiary of Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (CCI). CCI is
among the world's largest producers of iron ore
products. Prior to September 30, 1994, the
lessee/operator had been a subsidiary of Cyprus Amax
Minerals Company and was named Cyprus Northshore
Mining Corporation (Cyprus NMC).
Organization:
The beneficial interest in Mesabi Trust is
represented by 13,120,010 transferable units
distributed on July 27, 1961 to shareholders of
Mesabi Iron Company.
The Trust's status as a grantor trust was confirmed
by letter ruling addressed to Mesabi Iron Company
from the Internal Revenue Service in 1961. As a
grantor trust, Mesabi is exempt from Federal income
taxes and its income is taxable directly to the
Unitholders.
A summary of Mesabi Trust's significant accounting policies follows:
Investments:
The Trust invests solely in U.S. Government
securities. Management determines the appropriate
classifications of the securities at the time they
are acquired and evaluates the appropriateness of
such classifications as of each balance sheet date.
The U.S. government securities are classified as
held-to-maturity securities as the Trust has the
positive intent and ability to hold to maturity and
are stated at amortized cost.
F-6
<PAGE>
MESABI TRUST
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Note 1. Nature of Business, Organization and Significant Accounting
Policies (continued)
Revenue recognition:
Royalty income under the amended lease agreements
with NMC (Cyprus NMC through September 30, 1994) is
recognized as it is earned. Under such agreements,
royalties are earned upon shipment, regardless of
whether the actual sales proceeds for any shipment
are received by NMC.
Royalty income under the Peters Lease fee agreement
also is recognized as it is earned. Under such
agreement, however, royalties are earned (at the
option of NMC (Cyprus NMC through September 30,
1994)) either upon mining of crude ore from Peters
Lease lands or upon shipment of iron ore product
produced from Peters Lease lands.
Fixed property, including intangibles:
The Trust's fixed property, including intangibles,
is recorded at nominal values and includes the
following:
(1) The entire beneficial interest as
assignor in the Amended Peters Lease
Assignment and the Amended Cloquet Lease
Assignment covering taconite properties
in Minnesota which are leased to NMC
(Cyprus NMC through September 30, 1994).
(2) The entire beneficial interest in Mesabi
Land Trust which owns a 20% fee interest
in the lands subject to the Peters Lease
and the entire fee interest in other
properties in Minnesota.
Accounting estimates:
The preparation of financial statements in
conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of
assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent
assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements and the reported amounts of revenues and
expenses during the reporting period. Actual results
could differ from those estimates.
Fair value of financial instruments:
The carrying amounts of financial instruments
including cash, U.S. government securities,
distributions payable and accrued expenses
approximated fair value as of January 31, 1999 and
1998 because of the relative short maturity of these
instruments.
F-7
<PAGE>
Note 2. U.S. Government Securities
The amortized cost approximates market value as of January 31,
1999 and 1998. The securities are classified as
held-to-maturity and mature as follows:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
January 31, 1999 January 31, 1998
---------------- ----------------
<S> <C> <C>
Due within one year $ 132,817 $ 198,502
Due after one year through
four years 402,097 300,571
------------- -------------
$ 534,914 $ 499,073
------------- -------------
------------- -------------
</TABLE>
Note 3. Unallocated Reserve
Leasehold royalty income constitutes the principal source of
revenue to Mesabi Trust. Prior to August 17, 1989, royalties
were based on the quantity and iron content of pellets shipped
by the then lessee, Reserve Mining Company ("Reserve"), from
Mesabi Trust properties. From May 1986 until July 1990,
however, Mesabi Trust did not have any royalty income, due
principally to the filing of a Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition
by Reserve and the suspension of Reserve's operations in 1986.
On August 17, 1989, Cyprus NMC purchased substantially all of
Reserve's assets, including Reserve's interest in the Mesabi
Trust lands, and Mesabi Trust entered into agreements with
Reserve's Chapter 11 Trustee and Cyprus NMC, which modified
the method of calculating royalties payable to Mesabi Trust
and transferred the interest of Reserve in the Mesabi Trust
lands to Cyprus NMC. Royalties are now determined by both the
volume and selling price of iron ore pellets and other
products sold.
F-8
<PAGE>
On September 30, 1994, Cyprus Amax Minerals Company sold its
iron ore operations, including Cyprus NMC, to Cleveland-Cliffs
Inc. (CCI). CCI renamed the operation Northshore Mining
Corporation (NMC). CCI is among the world's largest producers
of iron ore products.
Pursuant to the amended assignment agreements, NMC (Cyprus NMC
through September 30, 1994) is obligated to pay Mesabi Trust
base overriding royalties, in varying amounts constituting a
percentage of the gross proceeds of shipments, from Silver
Bay, Minnesota, of iron ore product produced from Mesabi Trust
lands or, to a limited extent, other lands. NMC (Cyprus NMC
through September 30, 1994) is obligated to make payments of
overriding royalties on product shipments within 30 days
following the calendar quarter in which such shipments occur.
NMC (Cyprus NMC through September 30, 1994) resumed mining
operations and shipping product from Silver Bay in the second
calendar quarter of 1990, and the first payment of overriding
royalties was made in July 1990.
NMC (Cyprus NMC through September 30, 1994) also is obligated
to pay to Mesabi Trust a minimum advance royalty of $500,000
per annum, subject to adjustment for inflation and deflation
(but not below $500,000), which is credited against base
overriding royalties and royalty bonuses. NMC (Cyprus NMC
through September 30, 1994) is obligated to make quarterly
payments of the minimum advance royalty in January, April,
July and October of each year. For the calendar year ending
December 31, 1999, the minimum advance royalty is $637,044.
The minimum annual advance royalty was $636,935, $621,606 and
$610,335 for the calendar years ended December 31, 1998; 1997;
and 1996, respectively.
The unallocated reserve aggregated $712,952 at January 31,
1999, as compared with an unallocated reserve of $719,799 and
$650,608 at January 31, 1998 and 1997, respectively. During
the fiscal years ended January 31, 1999, 1998 and 1997, the
Trustees distributed cash payments totaling $7,084,805 (of
$.54 per Unit), $4,854,404 (of $.37 per Unit) and $5,182,404
(or $.395 per Unit), respectively, of beneficial interest in
Mesabi Trust. In addition, in January 1999 the Trustees
declared a distribution of $.155 per unit of beneficial
interest which was paid in February 1999.
Note 4. Summary of Quarterly Earnings (Unaudited)
The quarterly results of operations for the two years ended January 31, 1999 are
presented below:
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year ended January 31, 1999
--------------------------------------------------------------
First Second Third Fourth
Quarter Quarter Quarter Quarter
------- ------- ------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Revenue $ 499,451 $ 1,481,240 $ 2,609,768 $ 1,397,684
Expenses 69,718 97,172 72,098 114,398
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Net income $ 429,733 $ 1,384,068 $ 2,537,670 $ 1,283,286
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Net income per unit $ 0.03 $ 0.11 $ 0.19 $ 0.10
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
</TABLE>
F-9
<PAGE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Year ended January 31, 1998
-------------------------------------------------------------
First Second Third Fourth
Quarter Quarter Quarter Quarter
------- ------- ------- -------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Revenue $ 249,745 $ 1,259,552 $ 2,331,438 $ 3,019,634
Expenses 65,698 80,811 70,289 145,575
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Net income $ 184,047 $ 1,178,741 $ 2,261,149 $ 2,874,059
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Net income per unit $ 0.01 $ 0.09 $ 0.17 $ 0.22
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
</TABLE>
F-10
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<PAGE>
<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS AND THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET AND IS
QUALFIIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JAN-31-1999
<PERIOD-START> FEB-01-1998
<PERIOD-END> JAN-31-1999
<CASH> 2,115,273
<SECURITIES> 534,914
<RECEIVABLES> 4,861
<ALLOWANCES> 0
<INVENTORY> 0
<CURRENT-ASSETS> 2,790,039
<PP&E> 0
<DEPRECIATION> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,790,039
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 2,077,087
<BONDS> 0
0
0
<COMMON> 0
<OTHER-SE> 0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,790,042
<SALES> 5,607,420
<TOTAL-REVENUES> 5,988,143
<CGS> 0
<TOTAL-COSTS> 353,386
<OTHER-EXPENSES> 0
<LOSS-PROVISION> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<INCOME-PRETAX> 5,634,757
<INCOME-TAX> 0
<INCOME-CONTINUING> 5,634,757
<DISCONTINUED> 0
<EXTRAORDINARY> 0
<CHANGES> 0
<NET-INCOME> 5,634,757
<EPS-PRIMARY> .43
<EPS-DILUTED> .43
</TABLE>
