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<div><a name="sFBD3A8DD19FD52BAAFF683F53B0BB676"></a></div><div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><div><br></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on </font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">April 27, 2017</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">&#32;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:right;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Registration No. 333-</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:right;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><div style="padding-left:0px;text-indent:0px;line-height:normal;padding-top:10px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;width:99.609375%;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;"><tr><td colspan="5"></td></tr><tr><td style="width:20%;"></td><td style="width:20%;"></td><td style="width:20%;"></td><td style="width:20%;"></td><td style="width:20%;"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="5" style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-top:3px double #000000;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:5px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td></tr></table></div></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:8px;text-align:center;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;background-color:#ffffff;font-weight:bold;">UNITED STATES</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">&#32;</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;background-color:#ffffff;font-weight:bold;">SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">&#32;<br></font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;background-color:#ffffff;font-weight:bold;">Washington,&#160;D.C. 20549</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:8px;text-align:center;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">________________________</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:8px;text-align:center;font-size:14pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:14pt;font-weight:bold;">FORM S-8</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;background-color:#ffffff;font-weight:bold;">REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;background-color:#ffffff;font-weight:bold;">THE</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">&#32;</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;background-color:#ffffff;font-weight:bold;">SECURITIES ACT OF 1933</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:8px;text-align:center;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">________________________</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:24pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:24pt;font-weight:bold;">Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;background-color:#ffffff;font-style:italic;">(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;background-color:#ffffff;font-style:italic;">&#32;</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:13px;text-align:center;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">________________________</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:12px;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><div style="padding-left:0px;text-indent:0px;line-height:normal;padding-top:10px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;width:624px;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;"><tr><td colspan="3"></td></tr><tr><td style="width:208px;"></td><td style="width:208px;"></td><td style="width:208px;"></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:16px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:9pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9pt;font-weight:bold;">Ohio</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:16px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:9pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:9pt;font-weight:bold;">34-1464672</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:8pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;font-style:italic;">(State or other jurisdiction of </font></div><div style="text-align:center;font-size:8pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;font-style:italic;">incorporation or organization)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:8pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;font-style:italic;">(I.R.S. Employer</font></div><div style="text-align:center;font-size:8pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;font-style:italic;">Identification Number)</font></div></td></tr></table></div></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">200 Public Square, Suite 3300</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Cleveland, Ohio 44114-2315</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:4px;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Telephone: (216) 694-5700</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:4px;text-align:center;font-size:8pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;font-style:italic;">(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant&#8217;s principal executive offices)</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:12px;text-align:center;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;font-weight:bold;">________________________</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. Amended and Restated 2015 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:12px;text-align:center;font-size:8pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;">(Full Title of the Plan)</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">James D. Graham, Esq.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">200 Public Square, Suite 3300</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Cleveland, Ohio 44114-2315 </font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">(216) 694-5700</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:8pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;">(Name and Address, and Telephone Number, including Area Code, of Agent For Service)</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:9pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:9pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><div style="padding-left:0px;text-indent:0px;line-height:normal;padding-top:10px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;width:100%;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;"><tr><td colspan="5"></td></tr><tr><td style="width:21%;"></td><td style="width:45%;"></td><td style="width:2%;"></td><td style="width:27%;"></td><td style="width:5%;"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="5" style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company.  See the definitions of &#8220;large accelerated filer,&#8221; &#8220;accelerated filer,&#8221; &#8220;smaller reporting company,&#8221; and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Large accelerated filer</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Wingdings;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">x</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Accelerated filer </font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Wingdings;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">o</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Non-accelerated filer </font></div><div style="font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Wingdings;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">o </font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Smaller reporting company</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Wingdings;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">o</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Emerging growth company</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Wingdings;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">o</font></div></td></tr><tr><td colspan="5" style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.  </font><font style="font-family:Wingdings;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">o</font></div></td></tr></table></div></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div><br></div><div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><div><br></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:16px;text-align:center;font-size:11pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:11pt;font-weight:bold;">CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><div style="padding-left:0px;text-indent:0px;line-height:normal;padding-top:10px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;width:99.609375%;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;"><tr><td colspan="5"></td></tr><tr><td style="width:20%;"></td><td style="width:20%;"></td><td style="width:20%;"></td><td style="width:20%;"></td><td style="width:20%;"></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-left:3px double #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-top:3px double #000000;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:8pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;font-weight:bold;">Title of Each Class of</font></div><div style="text-align:center;font-size:8pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;font-weight:bold;">Securities to</font></div><div style="text-align:center;font-size:8pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;font-weight:bold;">be Registered</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-left:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-top:3px double #000000;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center;font-size:8pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;font-weight:bold;">Amount to be</font></div><div style="text-align:center;font-size:8pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;font-weight:bold;">Registered</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;font-weight:bold;"><sup style="vertical-align:top;line-height:120%;font-size:5pt">(1)</sup></font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-left:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-top:3px double #000000;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center;font-size:8pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;font-weight:bold;">Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Share</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;font-weight:bold;"><sup style="vertical-align:top;line-height:120%;font-size:5pt">(2)</sup></font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-left:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-top:3px double #000000;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="text-align:center;font-size:8pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;font-weight:bold;">Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;font-weight:bold;"><sup style="vertical-align:top;line-height:120%;font-size:5pt">(2)</sup></font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-left:1px solid #000000;border-right:3px double #000000;border-top:3px double #000000;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:8pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;font-weight:bold;">Amount of Registration Fee</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;border-bottom:3px double #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-left:3px double #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:8pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;">Common Shares, $0.125 par value per share</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;border-bottom:3px double #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-left:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:8pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;">15,000,000</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;border-bottom:3px double #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-left:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:8pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;">$7.100</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;border-bottom:3px double #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-left:1px solid #000000;border-right:1px solid #000000;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:8pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;">$106,500,000.00</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;border-bottom:3px double #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-left:1px solid #000000;border-right:3px double #000000;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:8pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;">$12,343.35</font></div></td></tr></table></div></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="padding-top:16px;padding-bottom:8px;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:24px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:8pt;padding-left:0px;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;">(1)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:8pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;">Represents common shares, par value $0.125 per share (&#8220;</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;">Common Shares</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;">&#8221;), of Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. (the&#160;&#8220;</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;">Registrant</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;">&#8221;) issuable pursuant to the Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. Amended and Restated 2015 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan (the &#8220;</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;">Plan</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;">&#8221;) being registered hereon.  Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the &#8220;</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;">Securities Act</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;">&#8221;), this Registration Statement also covers such additional Common Shares as may become issuable pursuant to the anti-dilution provisions of the Plan.</font></div></td></tr></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:24px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:8pt;padding-left:0px;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;">(2)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:8pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;">Estimated solely for the purposes of determining the amount of the registration fee, pursuant to paragraphs (c) and (h) of Rule 457 under the Securities Act, on the basis of the average of the high and low sale prices of the Common Shares on the New York Stock Exchange on </font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;">April&#160;26,&#160;2017</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:8pt;">, a date that is within five business days prior to filing.</font></div></td></tr></table><div><br></div><div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div><a name="sBD31350A030C5B37BD1F8B836EF1933F"></a></div><div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><div><br></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:16px;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">EXPLANATORY NOTE</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:16px;text-align:justify;text-indent:48px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">The Registrant hereby files this Registration Statement on Form S-8 to register an additional </font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">15,000,000</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">&#32;Common Shares under the Plan for which a previously filed registration statement on Form S-8 relating to the Plan is effective.  Pursuant to General Instruction E to Form S-8, this Registration Statement incorporates by reference the contents of the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-204369) filed by the Registrant on May</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;background-color:#ffffff;font-weight:bold;">&#160;</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">21,</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;background-color:#ffffff;font-weight:bold;">&#160;</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">2015, including all attachments and exhibits thereto, except to the extent supplemented, amended or superseded by the information set forth herein.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:16px;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">PART II</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:16px;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:16px;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Item 3.  Incorporation of Documents by Reference.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:16px;text-align:justify;text-indent:48px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">The Registrant is subject to the informational and reporting requirements of Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the &#8220;</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;">Exchange Act</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">&#8221;), and, in accordance therewith, files reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the &#8220;</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-style:italic;font-weight:bold;">Commission</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">&#8221;).  The following documents, which are on file with the Commission, are incorporated into this Registration Statement by reference:</font></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="padding-bottom:16px;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:96px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;padding-left:48px;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">(a)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">The Registrant&#8217;s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 (Commission File No. 001-08944), filed with the Commission on February 9, 2017;</font></div></td></tr></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="padding-bottom:16px;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:96px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;padding-left:48px;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">(b)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">The Registrant&#8217;s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2017 (Commission File No. 001-08944), filed with the Commission on April 27, 2017;</font></div></td></tr></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="padding-bottom:16px;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:96px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;padding-left:48px;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">(c)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">The Registrant&#8217;s Current Reports on Form 8-K (Commission File No. 001-08944), filed with the Commission on February 13, 2017, February 15, 2017, February 27, 2017, February 28, 2017, March</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;background-color:#ffffff;font-weight:bold;">&#160;</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">10, 2017 and April 27, 2017; and</font></div></td></tr></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="padding-bottom:16px;font-family:Times New Roman; font-size:10pt;"><tr><td style="width:96px;"></td><td></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top"><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;padding-left:48px;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">(d)</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">The description of the Common Shares contained in the Current Report on Form 8-K/A (Commission File No. 001-08944) filed with the Commission on May 21, 2008, and all amendments and reports filed with the Commission for the purpose of updating such description.</font></div></td></tr></table><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:16px;text-align:justify;text-indent:48px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">All documents filed by the Registrant with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the effective date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment that indicates that all securities offered have been sold or that deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, will be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.  Any statement contained in any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement.  Any such statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.</font></div><div><br></div><div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><div><br></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:16px;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">Item 8. Exhibits</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:12pt;"><div style="padding-left:0px;text-indent:0px;line-height:normal;padding-top:10px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;width:99.4140625%;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;"><tr><td colspan="2" style="padding-left:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-top:4px;padding-bottom:4px;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="width:17%;"></td><td style="width:83%;"></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:middle;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;text-decoration:underline;">Exhibit Number</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:middle;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;text-decoration:underline;">Exhibit Description</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">4.1</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Third Amended Articles of Incorporation of Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. (as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Ohio on May 13, 2013 (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.'s Form 8-K (Commission No. 001-08944) on May 13, 2013 and incorporated herein by reference))</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">4.2</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Amendment to the Third Amended Articles of Incorporation of Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. (as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Ohio on April 26, 2017 (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.'s Form 8-K (Commission No. 001-08944) on April 27, 2017 and incorporated herein by reference))</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">4.3</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Regulations of Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (filed as Exhibit 3.2 to Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.'s Form 10-K (Commission No. 001-08944) for the period ended December 31, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference)</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">4.4</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Form of Common Share Certificate (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.'s Form 10-Q (Commission No. 001-08944) for the period ended September 30, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference)</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">4.5</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. Amended and Restated 2015 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.'s Form 8-K (Commission No. 001-08944) on April 27,</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;background-color:#ffffff;font-weight:bold;">&#160;</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">2017 and incorporated herein by reference)</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">5.1</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Opinion of Jones Day</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">23.1</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Consent of Deloitte &amp; Touche LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">23.2</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Consent of Jones Day (included in Exhibit 5.1)</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">24.1</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Power of Attorney</font></div></td></tr></table></div></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:16px;text-align:justify;text-indent:48px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div><br></div><div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div><a name="sD23A6673A1525902A733B390A0E202AE"></a></div><div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><div><br></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">SIGNATURES</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;text-indent:48px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Cleveland, State of Ohio, on this </font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">27</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;"><sup style="vertical-align:top;line-height:120%;font-size:6pt">th</sup></font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">&#32;day of April, 2017</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">.</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;padding-left:336px;font-size:10pt;"><div style="padding-left:0px;text-indent:0px;line-height:normal;padding-top:10px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;width:48.046875%;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;"><tr><td colspan="2"></td></tr><tr><td style="width:13%;"></td><td style="width:87%;"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">CLIFFS NATURAL RESOURCES INC.</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:53px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;height:53px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">By:</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">/s/ James D. Graham</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">James D. Graham</font></div><div style="font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary</font></div></td></tr></table></div></div><div><br></div><div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><div><br></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><div style="padding-left:0px;text-indent:0px;line-height:normal;padding-top:10px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;width:89.2578125%;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;"><tr><td colspan="3"></td></tr><tr><td style="width:43%;"></td><td style="width:9%;"></td><td style="width:48%;"></td></tr><tr><td colspan="3" style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;text-decoration:underline;">Signature</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">*</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td rowspan="2" style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">L. Goncalves</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">*</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td rowspan="2" style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer &amp; Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer)</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">T. K. Flanagan</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">*</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td rowspan="2" style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Vice President, Corporate Controller &amp; Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">R. C. Cebula</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">*</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td rowspan="2" style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Director</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">J. T. Baldwin</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">*</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td rowspan="2" style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Director</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">R. P. Fisher, Jr.</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">*</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td rowspan="2" style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Director</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">S. M. Green</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">*</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td rowspan="2" style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Director</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">J. A. Rutkowski, Jr.</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">*</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td rowspan="2" style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Director</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">E. M. Rychel</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">*</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td rowspan="2" style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Director</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">M. D. Siegal</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">*</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td rowspan="2" style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Director</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">G. Stoliar</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">*</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td rowspan="2" style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Director</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">D. C. Taylor</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td></tr></table></div></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><div style="padding-left:0px;text-indent:0px;line-height:normal;padding-top:10px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;width:91.015625%;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;"><tr><td colspan="2"></td></tr><tr><td style="width:4%;"></td><td style="width:96%;"></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">*</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">The undersigned, by signing his name hereto, does hereby sign this Registration Statement on Form S-8 on behalf of each of the officers and directors of the Registrant identified above pursuant to a Power of Attorney executed by the officers and directors identified above, which Power of Attorney is filed with this Registration Statement on Form S-8 as Exhibit 24.1.</font></div></td></tr></table></div></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><div style="padding-left:0px;text-indent:0px;line-height:normal;padding-top:10px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;width:91.796875%;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;"><tr><td colspan="4"></td></tr><tr><td style="width:11%;"></td><td style="width:42%;"></td><td style="width:5%;"></td><td style="width:42%;"></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">DATED:</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">April 27, 2017</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">By:</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;border-bottom:1px solid #000000;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">/s/ James D. Graham</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="overflow:hidden;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;">&#160;</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:bottom;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;border-top:1px solid #000000;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">James D. Graham, attorney-in-fact</font></div></td></tr></table></div></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:left;padding-left:336px;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div><br></div><div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><hr style="page-break-after:always"><div><a name="sA1EB3FC0D1F6571FAA0FE77A3053A5F9"></a></div><div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div><div><br></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:16px;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;font-weight:bold;">EXHIBIT INDEX</font></div><div style="line-height:120%;padding-bottom:16px;text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:12pt;"><div style="padding-left:0px;text-indent:0px;line-height:normal;padding-top:10px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:10pt;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;width:99.4140625%;border-collapse:collapse;text-align:left;"><tr><td colspan="2" style="padding-left:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-top:4px;padding-bottom:4px;"><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="width:17%;"></td><td style="width:83%;"></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:middle;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;text-decoration:underline;">Exhibit Number</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:middle;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;text-decoration:underline;">Exhibit Description</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">4.1</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Third Amended Articles of Incorporation of Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. (as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Ohio on May 13, 2013 (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.'s Form 8-K (Commission No. 001-08944) on May 13, 2013 and incorporated herein by reference))</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">4.2</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Amendment to the Third Amended Articles of Incorporation of Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. (as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Ohio on April 26, 2017 (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.'s Form 8-K (Commission No. 001-08944) on April 27, 2017 and incorporated herein by reference))</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">4.3</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Regulations of Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (filed as Exhibit 3.2 to Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.'s Form 10-K (Commission No. 001-08944) for the period ended December 31, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference)</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">4.4</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:justify;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Form of Common Share Certificate (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.'s Form 10-Q (Commission No. 001-08944) for the period ended September 30, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference)</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">4.5</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. Amended and Restated 2015 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.'s Form 8-K (Commission No. 001-08944) on April 27,</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:12pt;background-color:#ffffff;font-weight:bold;">&#160;</font><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">2017 and incorporated herein by reference)</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">5.1</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Opinion of Jones Day</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">23.1</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Consent of Deloitte &amp; Touche LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">23.2</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Consent of Jones Day (included in Exhibit 5.1)</font></div></td></tr><tr><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">24.1</font></div></td><td style="vertical-align:top;padding-left:2px;padding-top:2px;padding-bottom:2px;padding-right:2px;"><div style="text-align:left;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;">Power of Attorney</font></div></td></tr></table></div></div><div style="line-height:120%;text-align:center;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:Arial;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div><div><br></div><div><div style="line-height:120%;font-size:10pt;"><font style="font-family:inherit;font-size:10pt;"><br></font></div></div>	</body>
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Document
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
April 27, 2017
Registration No. 333-
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
________________________
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER
THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
________________________
Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
________________________
Ohio
34-1464672
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification Number)
200 Public Square, Suite 3300
Cleveland, Ohio 44114-2315
Telephone: (216) 694-5700
(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant's principal executive offices)
________________________
Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. Amended and Restated 2015 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan
(Full Title of the Plan)
James D. Graham, Esq.
Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary
Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.
200 Public Square, Suite 3300
Cleveland, Ohio 44114-2315
(216) 694-5700
(Name and Address, and Telephone Number, including Area Code, of Agent For Service)
Indicate by check mark whether the Registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, a smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company.  See the definitions of "large accelerated filer," "accelerated filer," "smaller reporting company," and "emerging growth company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.
Large accelerated filer
x
Accelerated filer
o
Non-accelerated filer
o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
Smaller reporting company
o
Emerging growth company
o
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 7(a)(2)(B) of the Securities Act.
o
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
Title of Each Class of
Securities to
be Registered
Amount to be
Registered
(1)
Proposed Maximum Offering Price Per Share
(2)
Proposed Maximum Aggregate Offering Price
(2)
Amount of Registration Fee
Common Shares, $0.125 par value per share
15,000,000
$7.100
$106,500,000.00
$12,343.35
(1)
Represents common shares, par value $0.125 per share ("
Common Shares
"), of Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. (the "
Registrant
") issuable pursuant to the Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. Amended and Restated 2015 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan (the "
Plan
") being registered hereon.  Pursuant to Rule 416 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "
Securities Act
"), this Registration Statement also covers such additional Common Shares as may become issuable pursuant to the anti-dilution provisions of the Plan.
(2)
Estimated solely for the purposes of determining the amount of the registration fee, pursuant to paragraphs (c) and (h) of Rule 457 under the Securities Act, on the basis of the average of the high and low sale prices of the Common Shares on the New York Stock Exchange on
April 26, 2017
, a date that is within five business days prior to filing.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
The Registrant hereby files this Registration Statement on Form S-8 to register an additional
15,000,000
Common Shares under the Plan for which a previously filed registration statement on Form S-8 relating to the Plan is effective.  Pursuant to General Instruction E to Form S-8, this Registration Statement incorporates by reference the contents of the Registration Statement on Form S-8 (Registration No. 333-204369) filed by the Registrant on May
21,
2015, including all attachments and exhibits thereto, except to the extent supplemented, amended or superseded by the information set forth herein.
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3.  Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
The Registrant is subject to the informational and reporting requirements of Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "
Exchange Act
"), and, in accordance therewith, files reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "
Commission
").  The following documents, which are on file with the Commission, are incorporated into this Registration Statement by reference:
(a)
The Registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 (Commission File No. 001-08944), filed with the Commission on February 9, 2017;
(b)
The Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2017 (Commission File No. 001-08944), filed with the Commission on April 27, 2017;
(c)
The Registrant's Current Reports on Form 8-K (Commission File No. 001-08944), filed with the Commission on February 13, 2017, February 15, 2017, February 27, 2017, February 28, 2017, March
10, 2017 and April 27, 2017; and
(d)
The description of the Common Shares contained in the Current Report on Form 8-K/A (Commission File No. 001-08944) filed with the Commission on May 21, 2008, and all amendments and reports filed with the Commission for the purpose of updating such description.
All documents filed by the Registrant with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the effective date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment that indicates that all securities offered have been sold or that deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, will be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be part hereof from the date of filing of such documents.  Any statement contained in any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein will be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Registration Statement to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement.  Any such statement so modified or superseded will not be deemed, except as modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Registration Statement.
Item 8. Exhibits
Exhibit Number
Exhibit Description
4.1
Third Amended Articles of Incorporation of Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. (as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Ohio on May 13, 2013 (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.'s Form 8-K (Commission No. 001-08944) on May 13, 2013 and incorporated herein by reference))
4.2
Amendment to the Third Amended Articles of Incorporation of Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. (as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Ohio on April 26, 2017 (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.'s Form 8-K (Commission No. 001-08944) on April 27, 2017 and incorporated herein by reference))
4.3
Regulations of Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (filed as Exhibit 3.2 to Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.'s Form 10-K (Commission No. 001-08944) for the period ended December 31, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference)
4.4
Form of Common Share Certificate (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.'s Form 10-Q (Commission No. 001-08944) for the period ended September 30, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference)
4.5
Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. Amended and Restated 2015 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.'s Form 8-K (Commission No. 001-08944) on April 27,
2017 and incorporated herein by reference)
5.1
Opinion of Jones Day
23.1
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
23.2
Consent of Jones Day (included in Exhibit 5.1)
24.1
Power of Attorney
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act, the Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Cleveland, State of Ohio, on this
27
th
day of April, 2017
.
CLIFFS NATURAL RESOURCES INC.
By:
/s/ James D. Graham
James D. Graham
Executive Vice President, Chief Legal Officer and Secretary
Signature
*
Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer (Principal Executive Officer)
L. Goncalves
*
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer (Principal Financial Officer)
T. K. Flanagan
*
Vice President, Corporate Controller & Chief Accounting Officer (Principal Accounting Officer)
R. C. Cebula
*
Director
J. T. Baldwin
*
Director
R. P. Fisher, Jr.
*
Director
S. M. Green
*
Director
J. A. Rutkowski, Jr.
*
Director
E. M. Rychel
*
Director
M. D. Siegal
*
Director
G. Stoliar
*
Director
D. C. Taylor
*
The undersigned, by signing his name hereto, does hereby sign this Registration Statement on Form S-8 on behalf of each of the officers and directors of the Registrant identified above pursuant to a Power of Attorney executed by the officers and directors identified above, which Power of Attorney is filed with this Registration Statement on Form S-8 as Exhibit 24.1.
DATED:
April 27, 2017
By:
/s/ James D. Graham
James D. Graham, attorney-in-fact
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit Number
Exhibit Description
4.1
Third Amended Articles of Incorporation of Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. (as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Ohio on May 13, 2013 (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.'s Form 8-K (Commission No. 001-08944) on May 13, 2013 and incorporated herein by reference))
4.2
Amendment to the Third Amended Articles of Incorporation of Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. (as filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Ohio on April 26, 2017 (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.'s Form 8-K (Commission No. 001-08944) on April 27, 2017 and incorporated herein by reference))
4.3
Regulations of Cleveland-Cliffs Inc. (filed as Exhibit 3.2 to Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.'s Form 10-K (Commission No. 001-08944) for the period ended December 31, 2011 and incorporated herein by reference)
4.4
Form of Common Share Certificate (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.'s Form 10-Q (Commission No. 001-08944) for the period ended September 30, 2014 and incorporated herein by reference)
4.5
Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. Amended and Restated 2015 Equity and Incentive Compensation Plan (filed as Exhibit 10.1 to Cliffs Natural Resources Inc.'s Form 8-K (Commission No. 001-08944) on April 27,
2017 and incorporated herein by reference)
5.1
Opinion of Jones Day
23.1
Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP, Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
23.2
Consent of Jones Day (included in Exhibit 5.1)
24.1
Power of Attorney