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DOW JONES NEWSWIRES


Cliffs Natural Resources Inc. (CLF) has obtained Industry Canada approval for
its acquisition of Consolidated Thompson Iron Mines Ltd. (CLM.T), a Montreal-
based mining company focused on iron ore.


Cliffs first announced the proposed C$4.9 billion all-cash transaction in
January.


It said Canadian Industry Minister Tony Clement gave his approval under the
Investment Canada Act on the basis that the transaction is likely to be of net
benefit to Canada. Cliffs still needs approval from the Chinese Ministry of
Commerce to close the acquisition. Subject to the Chinese approval and certain
other conditions, Cliffs anticipates closing the acquisition early in the second
quarter of 2011.


China-based steelmaker Wuhan Iron & Steel Co. owns about 19% of Consolidated
Thompson.


Canada's Clement is currently reviewing the controversial merger between TMX
Group Inc. (X.T) and London Stock Exchange Group PLC (LSE.LN) under the same
Investment Canada Act, as well as a deal between Encana Corp. (ECA) and
PetroChina Co. (PTR) to develop hard-to-reach natural-gas reserves.


Last year, he made the controversial decision to reject BHP Billiton Ltd.'s (
BHP) takeover of Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan (POT).


-By Carolyn King, Dow Jones Newswires; 416-306-2100; carolyn.m.king@
dowjones.com



(END) Dow Jones Newswires
04-12-11 1707ET
Copyright (c) 2011 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.