u.s. steel merger litigation extended amid ongoing talks

Published 06/06/2025, 13:30
u.s. steel merger litigation extended amid ongoing talks

United States Steel Corporation (NYSE:X), currently trading near its 52-week high at $52.96 and commanding a market capitalization of $12 billion, and Nippon Steel North America, Inc. have agreed to extend the abeyance of their ongoing litigation with the United States government until June 13, 2025. This decision follows a motion filed by the U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday, citing ongoing discussions between the parties involved. The motion is pending court approval. According to InvestingPro analysis, U.S. Steel’s stock has shown remarkable strength, gaining over 38% in the past six months.

The litigation stems from a merger agreement signed on December 18, 2023, between U.S. Steel, Nippon Steel North America, and associated entities. The agreement proposed that U.S. Steel would merge with a subsidiary of Nippon Steel, with U.S. Steel continuing as a wholly-owned subsidiary. However, the transaction was prohibited by an order issued by President Biden on January 3, 2025, leading to a lawsuit filed by U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel challenging the decision. The company currently trades at a P/E ratio of 123, suggesting a premium valuation. For deeper insights into U.S. Steel’s valuation metrics and 12 additional exclusive ProTips, consider accessing the comprehensive research available on InvestingPro.

The lawsuit contends that the order violated constitutional due process and statutory rights and criticized the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) for not reviewing the transaction on national security grounds. In response, President Trump issued a memorandum on April 6, 2025, directing CFIUS to conduct a de novo review of the transaction.

CFIUS submitted its recommendation to President Trump on May 21, 2025. Since then, all parties have been working toward a resolution to potentially avoid further litigation. The extension of the abeyance allows additional time for these discussions to continue.

This information is based on a recent SEC filing by United States Steel Corporation. The company is registered on both the New York Stock Exchange and the Chicago Stock Exchange under the trading symbol "X." With an overall financial health score of "FAIR" and current trading levels suggesting slight overvaluation according to InvestingPro’s Fair Value model, investors seeking detailed analysis can access the comprehensive Pro Research Report, which provides expert insights on U.S. Steel and 1,400+ other top stocks.

In other recent news, U.S. Steel has been at the center of several significant developments. The company faced a downgrade from GLJ Research, with analyst Gordon Johnson lowering the stock rating from Buy to Sell. This decision stemmed from concerns over U.S. Steel’s management of its Big River asset and potential overvaluation in a proposed acquisition by Nippon Steel. Meanwhile, Jefferies also adjusted its stance, downgrading the stock to Hold but raising the price target to $55, reflecting recent market optimism following a surge in U.S. Steel’s share price. The potential acquisition by Nippon Steel has drawn attention, with reports suggesting that the U.S. government might hold a "golden share" to veto significant management decisions. The United Steelworkers union has urged President Trump to reject Nippon Steel’s bid, expressing concerns over the impact on the domestic industry despite Nippon’s promise of a $14 billion investment. Additionally, President Trump has officially doubled tariffs on steel and aluminum, which could influence U.S. Steel’s market dynamics. These developments highlight the strategic importance of U.S. Steel and the broader implications for the steel industry.

This article was generated with the support of AI and reviewed by an editor. For more information see our T&C.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers
© 2007-2025 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.