UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
SCHEDULE 14A
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Filed by the Registrant x |
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Filed by a Party other than the Registrant ¨ |
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Check the appropriate box: |
¨ |
Preliminary Proxy Statement |
¨ |
Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2)) |
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Definitive Proxy Statement |
¨ |
Definitive Additional Materials |
x |
Soliciting Material under §240.14a-12 |
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United
States Steel Corporation |
(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter) |
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(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant) |
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Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box): |
x |
No fee required. |
¨ |
Fee paid previously with preliminary materials. |
¨ |
Fee computed on table in exhibit required by Item 25(b) per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) and 0-11 |
The
following materials were posted by United States Steel Corporation on social media platform X
on December 18, 2023.
The Future of U. S. Steel
Dear Colleagues,
I’m pleased to be writing you with some
exciting news about the future of U. S. Steel. As you know, in August, our Board began a robust and comprehensive strategic alternatives
review process to explore all options for the Company. As a culmination of this process, today we announced that U. S. Steel agreed to
be acquired by Nippon Steel (NSC), moving forward together as the ‘Best Steelmaker with World-Leading Capabilities.
I’d like to take a moment to express
how pleased I am by what our team has accomplished – and your dedication to strengthening our company and to the progress we have
made toward advancing our Best for All® strategy. We believe this transaction represents the best path forward for our business and
all our stakeholders, including our employees. With NSC, we are confident that U. S. Steel will be able to achieve new levels of excellence
as part of a larger, more diversified organization with access to global innovations.
I’m
sure that this announcement will generate questions, so we have put together a brief video about what
this means. We also encourage you to visit our transaction website which includes additional information about the transaction.
By way of background, NSC is a global steel
manufacturer based in Tokyo, Japan, employing approximately 100,000 people worldwide and with a presence in 15 additional countries, including
the United States, India, Thailand, Brazil and many others. NSC’s corporate philosophy is to pursue world-leading technologies and
manufacturing capabilities, and to contribute to society by providing excellent products and services, all which we believe is well-aligned
with our very own Best for All® strategy. Importantly, I have met with leaders from NSC and they all have great respect for the team
and share our unwavering commitment to safety, innovation and serving customers. We are confident that with NSC, we will be well-positioned
for long-term growth and a stronger future, while we continue delivering the differentiated and sustainable solutions our customers have
come to expect from us.
It is important to recognize that our announcement
today is just the first step. We expect the transaction to close in the second or third quarter of calendar year 2024, subject to approval
by U. S. Steel shareholders, receipt of customary regulatory approvals, and other customary closing conditions. Until the transaction
is completed, we will continue to operate as two separate companies and there will be no changes to our business or operating structure
as a result of today’s announcement. As we move forward, we are counting on all of you to remain focused on your day-to-day roles
and responsibilities, most importantly safety.
On behalf of the Board and management team,
I want to thank you for your dedication and commitment to U. S. Steel. We hope you share in our excitement for all that’s to come.
Now, let’s get back to work … safely.
Best,
Dave
Contacts:
| · | Questions
about external events and speaking engagements – USSteelCommunications@USS.com |
| · | Media
Inquiries – Tara Carraro (Media@uss.com) |
| · | Customer
Inquiries – Ken Jaycox (KJaycox@uss.com) / Dan Brown (BRS) (drbrown@uss.com) |
| · | Investor
/ Analyst Inquiries – Emily Chieng (ECchieng@uss.com) |
| · | Elected
Official Inquiries – Todd Young (TDYoung@uss.com) |
| · | USW
Inquiries – Karl Kocsis (KGKocsis@uss.com) |
| · | HR
Inquiries – (HRSTEELCenter@uss.com) |
| · | Supplier
Inquiries – John Foody (JMFoodyJr@uss.com) |
| · | USSK
Inquiries – Jim Bruno (JEBruno@sk.uss.com) |
Additional Information and Where to Find It
This communication relates to the proposed transaction between the
United States Steel Corporation (the “Company”) and NSC. In connection with the proposed transaction, the Company will file
relevant materials with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including the Company’s proxy
statement on Schedule 14A (the “Proxy Statement”). The information in the preliminary Proxy Statement will not be complete
and may be changed. The definitive Proxy Statement will be delivered to stockholders of the Company. The Company may also file other documents
with the SEC regarding the proposed transaction. This communication is not a substitute for the Proxy Statement or for any other document
that may be filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction. The proposed transaction will be submitted to the Company’s
stockholders for their consideration. BEFORE MAKING ANY VOTING DECISION, THE COMPANY’S STOCKHOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ ALL RELEVANT
DOCUMENTS FILED OR TO BE FILED WITH THE SEC, INCLUDING THE PROXY STATEMENT, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS TO THOSE DOCUMENTS,
CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY IF AND WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY, NSC
AND THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION.
The Company’s stockholders will
be able to obtain free copies of the preliminary Proxy Statement and the definitive Proxy Statement (in each case, if and when available),
as well as other documents containing important information about the Company, NSC and the proposed transaction once such documents are
filed with the SEC, without charge, at the SEC’s website (www.sec.gov). Copies of the Proxy Statement and the other
documents filed with the SEC by the Company can also be obtained, without charge, by directing a request to United States Steel Corporation,
600 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15219, Attention: Corporate Secretary; telephone412-433-1121, or from the Company’s
website www.ussteel.com.
Participants in the Solicitation
NSC, the Company and their directors, and certain of their executive
officers and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the Company’s stockholders in respect
of the proposed transaction. Information regarding the directors and executive officers of the Company who may, under the rules of
the SEC, be deemed participants in the solicitation of the Company’s stockholders in connection with the proposed transaction, including
a description of their direct or indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be set forth in the Proxy Statement when
it is filed with the SEC. Information about these persons is included in each company’s annual proxy statement and in other documents
subsequently filed with the SEC, and will be included in the Proxy Statement when filed. Free copies of the Proxy Statement and such other
materials may be obtained as described in the preceding paragraph.
Forward-Looking Statements
This communication contains information regarding the Company and NSC
that may constitute “forward-looking statements,” as that term is defined under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act
of 1995 and other securities laws, that are subject to risks and uncertainties. We intend the forward-looking statements to be covered
by the safe harbor provisions for forward-looking statements in those sections. Generally, we have identified such forward-looking statements
by using the words “believe,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,”
“project,” “target,” “forecast,” “aim,” “should,” “plan,” “goal,”
“future,” “will,” “may” and similar expressions or by using future dates in connection with any discussion
of, among other things, statements expressing general views about future operating or financial results, operating or financial performance,
trends, events or developments that we expect or anticipate will occur in the future, anticipated cost savings, potential capital and
operational cash improvements and changes in the global economic environment, as well as statements regarding the proposed transaction,
including the timing of the completion of the transaction. However, the absence of these words or similar expressions does not mean that
a statement is not forward-looking. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts, but instead represent
only the Company’s beliefs regarding future goals, plans and expectations about our prospects for the future and other events, many
of which, by their nature, are inherently uncertain and outside of the Company’s or NSC’s control. It is possible that the
Company’s or NSC’s actual results and financial condition may differ, possibly materially, from the anticipated results and
financial condition indicated in these forward-looking statements. Management of the Company or NSC, as applicable, believes that these
forward-looking statements are reasonable as of the time made. However, caution should be taken not to place undue reliance on any such
forward-looking statements because such statements speak only as of the date when made. In addition, forward looking statements are subject
to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's or NSC’s historical experience
and our present expectations or projections. Risks and uncertainties include without limitation: the ability of the parties
to consummate the proposed transaction on a timely basis or at all; the timing, receipt and terms and conditions of any required governmental
and regulatory approvals of the proposed transaction that could cause the parties to terminate the definitive agreement and plan of merger
relating to the proposed transaction (the “Merger Agreement”); the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances
that could give rise to the termination of the Merger Agreement; the possibility that the Company’s stockholders may not approve
the proposed transaction; the risks and uncertainties related to securing the necessary stockholder approval; the risk that the parties
to the Merger Agreement may not be able to satisfy the conditions to the proposed transaction in a timely manner or at all; risks related
to disruption of management time from ongoing business operations due to the proposed transaction; certain restrictions during the pendency
of the proposed transaction that may impact the Company’s ability to pursue certain business opportunities or strategic transactions;
the risk that any announcements relating to the proposed transaction could have adverse effects on the market price of the Company’s
common stock or NSC’s common stock or American Depositary Receipts; the risk of any unexpected costs or expenses resulting from
the proposed transaction; the risk of any litigation relating to the proposed transaction; and the risk that the proposed transaction
and its announcement could have an adverse effect on the ability of the Company or NSC to retain customers and retain and hire key personnel
and maintain relationships with customers, suppliers, employees, stockholders and other business relationships and on its operating results
and business generally; and the risk the pending proposed transaction could distract management of the Company. The Company directs readers
to its Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30,
2023, and the other documents it files with the SEC for other risks associated with the Company’s future performance. These documents
contain and identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking
statements. Risks related to NSC’s forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, changes in regional and global macroeconomic
conditions, particularly in Japan, China and the United States; excess capacity and oversupply in the steel industry; unfair trade and
pricing practices in NSC’s regional markets; the possibility of low steel prices or excess iron ore supply; the possibility of significant
increases in market prices of essential raw materials; the possibility of depreciation of the value of the Japanese yen against the U.S.
dollar and other major foreign currencies; the loss of market share to substitute materials; NSC’s ability to reduce costs and improve
operating efficiency; the possibility of not completing planned alliances, acquisitions or investments, or such alliances, acquisitions
or investments not having the anticipated results; natural disasters and accidents or unpredictable events which may disrupt NSC’s
supply chain as well as other events that may negatively impact NSC’s business activities; risks relating to CO2 emissions and NSC’s
challenge for carbon neutrality; the economic, political, social and legal uncertainty of doing business in emerging economies; the possibility
of incurring expenses resulting from any defects in our products or incurring additional costs and reputational harm due to product defects
of other steel manufacturers; the possibility that we may be unable to protect our intellectual property rights or face intellectual property
infringement claims by third parties; changes in laws and regulations of countries where we operate, including trade laws and tariffs,
as well a tax, environmental, health and safety laws; and the possibility of damage to our reputation and business due to data breaches
and data theft. All information in this communication is as of the date above. Neither the Company nor NSC undertakes any duty to update
any forward-looking statement to conform the statement to actual results or changes in the Company’s or NSC’s expectations
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
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