EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 65172
Filing Year: 2025
Filename: 65172_10-K_2025_0001558370-25-005426.json

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
ITEM 1. BUSINESS.
(a) General Development of Business.
The information under the headings “Trustees’ Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “The Trust Estate,” “Leasehold Royalties,” and “Land Trust and Fee Royalties” in the Annual Report of the Trustees of Mesabi Trust for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2025, filed as Exhibit 13 to this Form 10-K (the “Annual Report”) is incorporated herein by reference.
(b) Financial Information About Segments.
Substantially all of the revenue, operating profits and assets of Mesabi Trust (“Mesabi Trust” or the “Trust”) relate to one business segment-iron ore mining.
(c) Narrative Description of Business.
The information under the headings “Overview,” “Overview of the Trust’s Royalty Structure,” “Trustees’ Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “The Trust Estate,” “Leasehold Royalties” and “Description of the Mineral Properties” in the Annual Report is incorporated herein by reference.
(d) Financial Information About Geographical Areas.
All of the Trust’s revenues are derived from the assets of the Trust, information of which is set forth under the headings “The Trust Estate” and “Description of the Mineral Properties” of the Annual Report. The information under the heading “Selected Financial Data” in the Annual Report is incorporated herein by reference.
(e) Availability of Reports on Registrant’s Website.
The information on the cover page of the Annual Report is incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS.
The information under the heading “Risk Factors” in the Annual Report is incorporated by reference.

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ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS.
None.

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ITEM 2. PROPERTIES
ITEM 2. PROPERTIES.
The information under the heading “The Trust Estate,” “Duration of the Trust Estate,” “History of the Trust’s Acquisition of the Trust Estate,” and “Description of the Mineral Properties and Northshore’s Mining Operations,” in the Annual Report is incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS.
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.

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ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURES.
Not applicable.
PART II

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ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY
ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED UNITHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES.
The information under the headings “Unallocated Reserve” and “Certificates of Beneficial Interest” in the Annual Report is incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 6. SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
ITEM 6. RESERVED

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ITEM 7. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
ITEM 7. TRUSTEES’ DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.
The information under the headings “Trustees’ Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “Leasehold Royalties,” “Trust Expenses,” and “Unallocated Reserve” in the Annual Report is incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.
Not applicable.

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA.
The financial statements, including the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm’s report thereon, filed as a part of this Form 10-K, are presented on pages through and are incorporated herein by reference.

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ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS
ITEM 9. CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE.
During the last two fiscal years, Mesabi Trust has had no disagreements with its accountants on accounting and financial disclosure. As disclosed previously, on May 1, 2023, Baker Tilly US, LLP notified the Trustees of Mesabi Trust that it will not stand for re-appointment as the independent registered public accounting firm of Mesabi Trust. On June 21, 2023, Mesabi Trust engaged Boulay, PLLP as its independent registered public accountant to audit Mesabi Trust’s financial statements.

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ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES.
Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Trust maintains a system of disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Trust in the reports that it furnishes or files under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission. Due to the pass-through nature of the Trust, the Trust’s disclosure controls and procedures include controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by Mesabi Trust is received from Cliffs and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Northshore. In order to help ensure the accuracy and completeness of the information required to be disclosed in the Trust’s periodic and current reports, the Trust engages certified public accountants, geological consultants, engineering firms, and attorneys. These professionals hired by the Trust advise the Trust in its review and compilation of the information in this Form 10-K and the other periodic reports filed by the Trust with the SEC.
As part of their evaluation of Mesabi Trust’s disclosure controls and procedures, the Trustees rely on quarterly shipment and royalty calculations provided by Northshore and Cliffs. Because Northshore has declined to provide a written certification attesting to whether Northshore has established disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls sufficient to enable it to verify that the information furnished to the Trustees is accurate and complete, the Trustees also rely on (a) an annual certification from Northshore and Cliffs, certifying as to the accuracy of the royalty calculations, and (b) the related due diligence review performed by the Trust’s accountants. In addition, Mesabi Trust’s consultants review the schedule of leasehold royalties payable, and shipping and sales reports provided by Northshore against production and shipment reports prepared by Eveleth Fee Office, Inc., an independent consultant to Mesabi Trust (“Eveleth Fee Office”). Eveleth Fee Office performs inspections of the Northshore mine and its pelletizing operations, observes production and shipping activities, gathers production and shipping information from Northshore and prepares monthly production and shipment reports for the Trustees. Furthermore, as part of its engagement by Mesabi Trust, Eveleth Fee Office also attends Northshore’s calibration and testing of its crude ore scales and boat loader scales which are conducted on a periodic basis.
As of the end of the period covered by this report, the Trustees carried out an evaluation of Mesabi Trust’s disclosure controls and procedures. Based on this evaluation, the Trustees have concluded that such disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
Trustees’ Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. The Trustees’ Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting is set forth on page of the Annual Report. This Annual Report on Form
10-K does not include, and is not required to include, an attestation report of our independent registered public accounting firm on internal control over financial reporting based on an exemption from such rules related to the Trust’s status as a smaller reporting company and non-accelerated filer.
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting. To the knowledge of the Trustees there were no changes in the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the Trust’s last fiscal quarter that has materially affected, or is likely to materially affect, the Trust’s internal control over financial reporting. The Trustees note for purposes of clarification that they have no authority over, and make no statement concerning, the internal controls of Northshore or Cliffs.

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ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION.
Rule 10b5-1 Plan and Non-Rule 10b5-1 Trading Arrangement Adoptions, Terminations, and Modifications. During the three months ended January 31, 2025, none of the Trustees adopted or terminated a “Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement” or “non-Rule 10b5-1 trading arrangement,” as each term is defined in Item 408 of SEC Regulation S-K.

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ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE.
The Agreement of Trust dated July 18, 1961, as amended by the Amendment to the Agreement of Trust dated as of October 25, 1982 (the “Agreement of Trust”) provides for a Corporate Trustee and four individual Trustees (collectively, the “Trustees”). The Trust does not have, nor does the Agreement of Trust provide for officers, a board of directors or any committees. Generally, the 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 Certificates of Beneficial Interest in the Trust (the “Trust Certificates”) then outstanding. In the case of an individual Trustee, a successor is 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 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. Successor Trustees can only be appointed by the holders of a majority in interest of the Trust Certificates then outstanding. Because such appointments are not made on a regular or periodic basis, the Trust does not have a standing nominating committee or a policy in place for the recommendation and nomination of successor Trustees.
The Trust’s activities are limited to collecting income, paying expenses and liabilities, distributing net income to the holders of Trust Certificates (the “Unitholders”) after the payment of, or provision for, such expenses and liabilities, and protecting and conserving the assets held. The Trustees have adopted a Code of Ethics that applies to the Trustees. A copy of the Code of Ethics is incorporated by reference in Exhibit 14 of this Form 10-K. We intend to disclose any amendments to and any waivers from a provision of our Code of Ethics on our website within four business days following such amendment or waiver.
Because the Trust does not have directors, officers, or employees, it has not adopted insider trading policies and procedures governing the purchase, sale, and/or dispositions of Trust securities by such persons.
The Trust has not designated a separate audit committee comprised of independent committee members relying on an exemption provided by Rule 10A-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. As such, the Trustees have not designated an “audit committee financial expert.” The Trustees collectively perform the functions of an audit committee.
To carry out the Trustees’ duties under the Agreement of Trust, the Trustees meet on at least a quarterly basis to discuss information and circumstances relevant to the Trust. The Trustees also conduct telephone conferences from time to time between the quarterly meetings to address developments that require more timely attention. The Trustees held 12 meetings either in person or via teleconference in fiscal 2025. All of the Trustees attended at least 75% of the sum of all Trustee meetings held in fiscal 2025.
In the third quarter of each year, the Trustees also conduct an annual inspection trip in which they personally visit and tour Northshore’s mining operations and plant facilities located near Babbitt and in Silver Bay, Minnesota, respectively. During the inspection trip, the Trustees meet with and interview Northshore personnel with respect to Northshore’s current operations, changes in operations, mining plans, capital equipment and facilities.
Because Mesabi Trustees are appointed until they resign or are removed, at the time of nomination the Trustees believe that it is necessary for each Trustee to possess many qualities and skills. Set forth below are the present Trustees’ principal occupations and directorships held with other public corporations during
the past five years, or longer as material, their ages and the year each of the Trustees was first elected as a Trustee of the Trust.
Robert C. Berglund
Age: 78
Year Appointed and elected as Individual Trustee: 2009
Retired Vice President and General Manager, Cleveland-Cliffs Inc.
Mr. Berglund has extensive experience in the mining industry. He retired from his position as Vice President and General Manager of Northshore Mining Company in 2003 after spending thirty-five years in mining production and operations management with Cliffs. Mr. Berglund joined Cliffs after graduating from Penn State University in 1968 with a B.S. in Mining Engineering. From 1968 until 2003, Mr. Berglund worked onsite at various mines owned and operated by Cliffs across North America.
James A. Ehrenberg
Age: 82
Year Appointed and elected as Individual Trustee: 2006
Retired Vice President, U.S. Bank, N.A.
Mr. Ehrenberg has extensive experience serving as corporate trustee. Before retiring from his position as Senior Vice President of U.S. Bank, N.A. Mr. Ehrenberg spent nearly forty years in the corporate trust department of U.S. Bank, N.A. and its predecessor, First Trust Company of Saint Paul. From 1983 until April 2005, Mr. Ehrenberg was directly responsible for providing corporate trustee services to the Mesabi Land Trust of which Mesabi Trust is the sole trust certificate holder.
Michael P. Mlinar
Age: 71
Year Appointed and elected as Individual Trustee: 2014
Retired Vice President of North American Iron Ore Initiatives, Cleveland-Cliffs Inc.
Mr. Mlinar, appointed and elected as a Mesabi Trustee in 2014, retired from his position as Vice President of North American Iron Ore Initiatives in 2013 after spending thirty-six years in mining production and operations management. Mr. Mlinar was General Manager at five different Cliffs’ subsidiaries: Tilden, Empire, Hibbing Taconite, United Taconite and Northshore Mining, and then was Integration Lead for the Bloom Lake Mine. In 2011, Mr. Mlinar became a Vice President of North American Iron Ore Initiatives.
Robin M. Radke
Age: 54
Year Appointed and elected as Individual Trustee: 2019
Attorney with Fredrikson & Byron, P.A.
Ms. Radke is an attorney with Fredrikson & Byron, P.A. and has more than twenty-five years of business and legal experience, including over twenty years in private and in-house legal practice. Before joining Fredrikson in June 2023, she was general counsel and chief compliance officer of Merced Capital, L.P., a privately held registered investment adviser, where she worked from 2014 to January 2023. Prior to Merced, Ms. Radke was an attorney
with Oppenheimer Wolff & Donnelly LLP (now Fox Rothschild LLP) for eleven years where her work included advising the Trust on securities reporting, internal controls and general matters. Ms. Radke’s legal practice included advising clients regarding a wide spectrum of industries, including financial services, lending, real estate, energy and shipping. In addition, she has experience in securities law and general corporate law.
The Trust believes that each of the individual Trustees has a diversified background and extensive financial, business and industry specific expertise that make them an important resource in the oversight of the Trust’s affairs. There are no family relationships among any of the Individual Trustees.

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ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION.
Compensation Discussion and Analysis
The Trust does not have a board of directors, executive officers or any employees. The compensation paid to the Trustees is governed by the Amendment to the Agreement of Trust dated October 25, 1982, as amended (the “Amendment”). The Amendment does not provide for any stock awards, option awards, non-equity incentive plan compensation, change in pension value, nonqualified deferred compensation earnings or any other compensation. The Trust does not have severance agreements nor does it provide post-retirement benefits to the Trustees. Accordingly, all such tables have been omitted from the Annual Report.
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, Bureau of Labor Statistics. 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. Any action to modify or otherwise vary the compensation of the individual Trustees as provided by the Amendment must be approved by the affirmative vote of 66 2/3% in interest of the Trust Certificates then outstanding. Each of the individual Trustees received total compensation of $51,331 during fiscal 2025.
Under the Amendment, the Corporate Trustee receives annual compensation for services as a Trustee 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 Agreement of Trust), received by the Trustees and distributed to Unitholders. The compensation paid to Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, for services as Corporate Trustee of the Trust, under this first prong of this compensation formula was $51,331 pursuant to the Amendment.
Additionally, each year the Corporate Trustee receives $62,500 to cover clerical and administrative services to Mesabi Trust, other than services customarily performed by a registrar or transfer agent for which the Corporate Trustee is paid additional service fees. The Corporate Trustee earned $113,830 in cash compensation for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2025, inclusive of the $62,500 administrative fee. The Corporate Trustee also received $4,471 for its services as registrar and transfer agent for the year ended January 31, 2025. Accordingly, the Corporate Trustee earned $118,301 in total compensation for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2025.
Under the Amendment, the Individual Trustees may, in extraordinary circumstances, pay additional compensation to the Corporate Trustee. The decision to pay such compensation must be unanimously approved by the Individual Trustees. The Corporate Trustee did not receive any compensation for extraordinary services with respect to the fiscal year ended January 31, 2025.
Trustees’ Compensation Report
The Trustees have not designated a compensation committee and are not required to do so by applicable law or regulation. The Trustees, as a group, have reviewed and discussed the Compensation Discussion and Analysis (“CD&A”) and based on such review and discussion have recommended that the CD&A be included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2025.
MESABI TRUST
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
Robert C. Berglund
James A. Ehrenberg
Michael P. Mlinar
Robin M. Radke
Trustee Compensation
Summary Compensation Table
The table below summarizes the total compensation earned by each of the Individual Trustees and the Corporate Trustee in the fiscal year ended January 31, 2025.
Nonqualified
Non-Equity
Deferred
Trustee
Stock
Option
Incentive Plan
Compensation
All Other
Fiscal
Fees Earned
Awards
Awards
Compensation
Earnings
Compensation
Total
Name and principal position
Year
($)
($)
($)
($)
($)
($)
($)
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, Corporate Trustee
$
113,830
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
4,471
(1)
$
118,301
$
113,912
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
4,693
(1)
$
118,605
Robert C. Berglund, Trustee
$
51,331
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
$
51,331
$
51,413
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
$
51,413
James A. Ehrenberg, Trustee
$
51,331
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
$
51,331
$
51,413
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
$
51,413
Michael P. Mlinar, Trustee
$
51,331
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
$
51,331
$
51,413
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
$
51,413
Robin Radke, Trustee
$
51,331
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
$
51,331
$
51,413
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
$
51,413
(1) Represents fees and disbursements paid to Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas for its services as registrar and transfer agent of the Units.

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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND TRUSTEES.
The table below is based on information that has been obtained from Mesabi Trust’s records and a review of statements of beneficial ownership filed with Mesabi Trust pursuant to Rule 13d-1 or Rule 13d-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and sets forth information as to the Units of Beneficial Interest in Mesabi Trust beneficially owned as of April 24, 2025 by (i) each person known by Mesabi Trust to beneficially own more than 5% of the outstanding Units of Beneficial Interest in Mesabi Trust, and (ii) the Trustees individually and as a group. Except as otherwise indicated and subject to applicable community property laws, each Trustee has sole voting and investment powers with respect to the securities listed. There were no Certificates of Beneficial Interest of Mesabi Trust pledged by the Trustees as of January 31, 2025. The Trust does not have any compensation plans under which securities of the Trust are authorized for issuance.
Amount and
Nature of Beneficial
Percent of
Title of Class
Name and Address of Beneficial Owner (1)
Ownership
Class
Units
Horizon Kinetics Asset Management LLC
470 Park Avenue South
8th Floor South
New York, NY 10016
2,843,010
(2)
21.7%
Units
ValueWorks LLC
One World Trade Center
Suite 84-G
New York, NY 10007
824,397
(3)
6.3%
Units
Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas
**
Units
Robert C. Berglund
2,000
**
Units
James A. Ehrenberg
3,000
(4)
**
Units
Michael P. Mlinar
4,499
(5)
**
Units
Robin M. Radke
**
Units
All Trustees as a group
10,094
**
** Less than 1%
(1) The address for each beneficial owner is c/o Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas Corporate Trustee, 1 Columbus Circle, Mail Stop: NYC01-1710, New York, New York 10019.
(2) Based on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on February 13, 2025, Horizon Kinetics Asset Management LLC beneficially owns 2,843,010 Units and has sole voting and dispositive power over these Units.
(3) Based on a Schedule 13G/A filed with the SEC on November 13, 2024, ValueWorks LLC beneficially owns 824,397 Units and shares voting and dispositive power over these Units. Charles Lemonides is the Managing Member of ValueWorks, LLC, Mr. Lemonides has shared voting and dispositive power with respect to 824,397 Units. Mr. Lemonides disclaims beneficial ownership of the Units reported in this table except to the extent of his pecuniary interest therein.
(4) All Units are held by James A. Ehrenberg and Donna Jean Ehrenberg Revocable Trust Dated September 12, 2012. Mr. and Mrs. Ehrenberg, as the trustees of the revocable trust, share the investment and voting power over all of those Units.
(5) All shares are held jointly with Mr. Mlinar’s spouse.

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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE.
Related Person Transaction Policy
During the fiscal year ended January 31, 2025, the Trustees met on at least a quarterly basis and reviewed and approved or ratified certain transactions that occurred during each of the prior fiscal quarters. In connection with their review of the Trust’s transactions, the Trustees consider whether there have been any related person transactions. In determining whether to approve a related person transaction, the Trustees consider the following factors, in addition to any other factors they deem necessary or appropriate:
● whether the transaction is expressly permitted by the Agreement of Trust;
● whether the terms are fair to the Trust;
● whether the transaction is material to the Trust;
● the role of the related person in arranging the related person transaction;
● the structure of the related person transaction; and
● the interests of all related persons in the related person transaction.
The Trust maintains a written related person transaction approval policy, which sets forth the Trust’s policies and procedures for the review, approval or ratification of any transaction required to be reported in Mesabi Trust’s filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The policy applies to any financial transaction, arrangement or relationship or any series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships in which Mesabi Trust is a participant and in which a related person has a direct or indirect interest.
Certain types of transactions, which would otherwise require review, are pre-approved by the Trustees in accordance with the policy. These types of transactions include, for example, (i) transactions, when aggregated with the amount of all other transactions between the related person and the Trust, that involve less than $120,000 in a fiscal year; (ii) transactions where the interest of the related person arises only by way of a directorship or minority stake in another organization that is a party to the transaction; (iii) transactions with a related person involving services as a bank depositary of funds, transfer agent, registrar, trustee under a trust indenture, or similar services; and (iv) a transaction that is specifically contemplated by provisions of the Agreement of Trust.
Based on their review of the Trust’s transactions during the fiscal years ended January 31, 2025 and 2024, the Trustees concluded that there were no related person transactions required to be disclosed in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Pass-Through Royalty Trust Exemptions
Because of its legal structure and character as a pass-through royalty trust, the Trust is exempt from Rule 10A-3 of the Securities Exchange Act and the Corporate Governance Standards set forth in Section 303A of the New York Stock Exchange’s Listed Company Manual.

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ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES.
(a) Audit Fees.
The aggregate fees related to fiscal 2025 for professional services rendered by Boulay, PLLP (“Boulay”) for the audit of the Trust’s annual financial statements for fiscal year 2025 and review of the financial statements included in the Trust’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q of fiscal year 2025 were $92,023.
The aggregate fees related to fiscal 2024 for professional services rendered by Boulay, PLLP (“Boulay”) for the audit of the Trust’s annual financial statements for fiscal year 2024 and review of the financial statements included in the Trust’s quarterly reports on Form 10-Q for the second and third quarters of fiscal year 2024 were $80,523.
The aggregate fees related to fiscal 2024 for professional services rendered by Baker Tilly US, LLP (“Baker Tilly”) for the review of the financial statements included in the Trust’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the first quarter of fiscal 2024 and for services related to the transition of auditors during fiscal 2024 were $69,034.
(b) Audit-Related Fees.
No fees were paid to Boulay or Baker Tilly for assurance and related services that were not reasonably related to the performance of the audit or review of the Trust’s financial statements for fiscal 2025 or fiscal 2024.
(c) Tax Fees.
No fees were paid to Boulay or Baker Tilly for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning for Mesabi Trust for fiscal 2025 or fiscal 2024.
(d) All Other Fees.
No other fees were paid to Boulay or Baker Tilly for services provided to Mesabi Trust, other than those described in item (a), for fiscal 2025 or fiscal 2024.
Before an independent registered public accounting firm is engaged to perform audit and review services for the Trust, the Trustees approve the engagement. The Trustees approved 100% of all services provided by Boulay and Baker Tilly during fiscal 2025 and fiscal 2024.
PART IV

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ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
ITEM 15. EXHIBIT AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.
(a) 1. Financial Statements:
The following Financial Statements are incorporated in this Report by reference from the following pages of the Annual Report:
Trustees’ Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
Page
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
Page
Balance Sheets as of January 31, 2025 and 2024
Page
Statements of Income for the years ended January 31, 2025 and 2024
Page
Statements of Unallocated Reserve and Trust Corpus for the years ended January 31, 2025 and 2024
Page
Statements of Cash Flows for the years ended January 31, 2025 and 2024
Page
Notes to Financial Statements
Pages -
(a) 3. Exhibits:
Item
No.
Item
Filing Method
3 and 4(b)
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. (filed on paper - hyperlink is not required pursuant to Rule 105 of Regulation S-T)
3(a) and 4(c)
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. (filed on paper - hyperlink is not required pursuant to Rule 105 of Regulation S-T)
4(a)
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. (filed on paper - hyperlink is not required pursuant to Rule 105 of Regulation S-T)
4(d)
Description of Mesabi Trust’s Securities.
Filed herewith.
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. (filed on paper - hyperlink is not required pursuant to Rule 105 of Regulation S-T)
10(b)
Amendment of 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. (filed on paper - hyperlink is not required pursuant to Rule 105 of Regulation S-T)
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. (filed on paper - hyperlink is not required pursuant to Rule 105 of Regulation S-T)
Item
No.
Item
Filing Method
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. (filed on paper - hyperlink is not required pursuant to Rule 105 of Regulation S-T)
10(e)
Modification of Lease, made as of January 23, 1946
Incorporated by reference from Exhibits 10(e) to Mesabi Trust’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2015.
10(f)
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. (filed on paper - hyperlink is not required pursuant to Rule 105 of Regulation S-T)
10(g)
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. (filed on paper - hyperlink is not required pursuant to Rule 105 of Regulation S-T)
10(h)
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. (filed on paper - hyperlink is not required pursuant to Rule 105 of Regulation S-T)
10(i)*
Summary Description of Trustees’ Compensation
Filed herewith.
Annual Report of the Trustees of Mesabi Trust for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2025
Filed herewith.
Trustees Code of Ethics
Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 14 to Mesabi Trust’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2004.
Certification of Corporate Trustee of Mesabi Trust pursuant to Rule 13a-14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as adopted pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Filed herewith.
Item
No.
Item
Filing Method
Certification of Corporate Trustee of Mesabi Trust pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
Filed herewith.
Mesabi Trust Incentive Based Award Recovery Policy
Incorporated by reference from Exhibit 97 to Mesabi Trust’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended January 31, 2024.
101.INS
Inline XBRL Instance Document
Filed herewith.
101.SCH
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema
Filed herewith.
101.CAL
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase
Filed herewith.
101.LAB
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase
Filed herewith.
101.PRE
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase
Filed herewith.
101.DEF
Inline XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase
Filed herewith.
Cover Page Interactive Data File
Embedded within the Inline XBRL document and contained in Exhibit 101
* Indicates a compensatory plan or arrangement.