MESABI TRUST

AAA Arbitration Final Award and Payment

As previously reported, the arbitration initiated by the Trust in October 2022 concluded in June 2024.

The Trust sought an award of damages relating to Cleveland-Cliffs Inc.’s (“Cliffs”) and Northshore Mining Company’s (“Northshore”) underpayment of royalties in 2020, 2021, and the first four months of 2022 by virtue of Cliffs’ and Northshore’s failure to use the highest priced arms’-length iron ore pellet sale from the preceding four quarters in pricing certain pellet shipments from 2020 through the first four months of 2022. The Trust also sought declaratory relief related to the Trust’s entitlement to certain documentation and to the time when Cliffs’ and Northshore’s royalty obligations accrue.

The Trust received the final award from the AAA tribunal on September 6, 2024, which unanimously awarded the Trust damages in the amount of $59,799,977 for underpaid royalties in 2020, 2021 and the first four months of 2022, plus pre-award interest in the amount of $11,288,269, calculated at the rate of 10% simple interest per annum from the date of the initial demand through September 6, 2024. Pursuant to the award, Cliffs and Northshore were required to pay the Trust the amounts specified in the Award by no later than October 6, 2024. The Tribunal approved the parties’ stipulated Consent Award approving the Trust’s

ongoing entitlement to certain documentation related to verifying royalty calculations. The Tribunal denied the Trust’s request for declaratory relief regarding the time at which Cliffs’ and Northshore’s royalty obligations accrue.

Pursuant to the AAA tribunal’s final award dated September 6, 2024, Northshore and Cliffs paid Mesabi Trust $71,185,029 on October 4, 2024. This payment satisfied the AAA panel’s unanimous award of damages (including pre-award interest) for underpayment of royalties due to the Trust in 2020, 2021 and the first four months of 2022.

Mesabi filed a petition to confirm the award in New York County Supreme Court on January 16, 2025 (Court File No. 650311/2025). The court issued a decision and order confirming the award on March 7, 2025. A redacted copy of the confirmation of the final AAA Award can be found at Document No. 25 in the New York State Courts Electronic Filing System (New York County Supreme Court) at the following internet address: https://iapps.courts.state.ny.us/nyscef/CaseSearch. The information included on the website is not a part of, nor incorporated by reference into, this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

The distribution announced by Mesabi Trust on October 17, 2024 included information that the Trustees determined to hold these AAA award funds received on October 4, 2024 in reserve pending the expiration of procedural deadlines related to the arbitration, and an assessment of all other facts and contingencies.