U. S. Steel Reports on Pension Fund Contribution, Fourth Quarter 2003 Charge and Other Business Matters

    PITTSBURGH, Jan. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- United States Steel
Corporation (NYSE: X) announced today that in late December it completed the
voluntary contribution of timber cutting rights, which were valued at
$59 million by an independent appraisal, to its defined benefit pension plan.
As a result, the company will record a pre-tax gain of approximately $55
million in the fourth quarter of 2003 to reflect the excess of the fair value
of the contributed assets over their net book value. In addition, U. S. Steel
voluntarily contributed $16 million in cash to its defined benefit pension
plan, bringing total 2003 contributions to $75 million.
In other company matters, U. S. Steel stated that it will record pre-tax
equity-based compensation expense of approximately $69 million in the fourth
quarter of 2003 primarily for outstanding stock appreciation rights. This
charge is principally due to the increase in the company's common stock price
in the fourth quarter of 2003 from $18.38 to $35.02 per share. These stock
appreciation rights were issued over the last ten years and allow the holders
to receive cash and/or common stock equal to the excess of the fair market
value of shares of common stock over the option price. In accordance with FASB
Interpretation No. 28 Accounting for Stock Appreciation Rights and Other
Variable Stock Option or Award Plans, stock appreciation rights are accounted
for on a mark-to-market basis.
The company also reported that the Federal Trade Commission and the
Department of Justice Antitrust division have granted early termination of the
waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act, concerning its potential
acquisition of Rouge Steel's 50 percent interest in Double Eagle Steel Coating
Company. The early termination clears the way for U. S. Steel to pursue the
purchase free of antitrust considerations.
On matters affecting its coking operations, U. S. Steel noted that one of
its major suppliers of coking coal to the Clairton Coke Works (Clairton) has
declared force majeure under a coal supply agreement and, at this time, the
company has been unable to consistently purchase the quantity and quality of
coking coal necessary to support full coke operations. As a result, U. S.
Steel has been compelled to reduce coke operations and declare force majeure
under its coke sales agreements from Clairton, and shipments from Clairton
have temporarily and proportionally been reduced for both internal and
external customers of coke until the situation can be resolved. U. S. Steel is
attempting to replace this lost volume of coking coal from other sources at
current market prices, which are higher than the contract price from the
original supplier.
Regarding the company's consolidation and cost-cutting efforts, U. S.
Steel Chairman and CEO, Thomas J. Usher said, "We expect to achieve our goal
of more than $400 million in annual repeatable costs savings by the end of
2004. We have achieved our targeted domestic plant workforce reductions, made
significant progress integrating the assets acquired from National into our
operations and are implementing our domestic administrative cost reduction
programs."
"Steel prices continue to recover reflecting increased demand as the
domestic economy improves. Imports have declined due in part to the relative
value of the dollar, significant increases in ocean freight and an improved
demand for steel globally. Most of our mini-mill competitors have initiated
scrap surcharges as costs for all raw materials continue to escalate. We will
continue to aggressively pursue price increases as market conditions warrant,"
Usher added.
With recent increases in global demand for steelmaking raw materials,
prices and related transportation costs are increasing for commodities such as
coking coal, coke, iron ore and scrap. Future results will be affected by
market prices for, and availability of, these purchased commodities; however,
U. S. Steel's balanced domestic raw materials position and limited dependence
on steel scrap should mitigate the effects and improve the competitive
position of U. S. Steel's domestic operations. In the United States, U. S.
Steel purchases all of its coking coal requirements and a portion of its scrap
requirements, but is self-sufficient in iron ore and is a net seller of coke.
In Europe, U. S. Steel purchases all of its coking coal and iron ore
requirements and a modest portion of its coke and scrap requirements.
This release contains forward-looking statements with respect to
production and shipments, National acquisition synergies, cost-cutting
efforts, workforce reductions, administrative cost reductions, global market
conditions, prices and raw material costs. Some factors, among others, that
could affect 2004 production and shipments include availability and price of
coking coal and plant operating performance. Factors that may affect expected
National acquisition synergies, cost-cutting efforts, workforce reductions,
and administrative cost reductions include management's ability to
successfully integrate National's operations while implementing its cost
reduction strategy. In accordance with "safe harbor" provisions of the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, cautionary statements identifying
important factors, but not necessarily all factors, that could cause actual
results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking
statements have been included in the Form 10-K of U. S. Steel for the year
ended December 31, 2002, and in subsequent filings for U. S. Steel.
For more information about U. S. Steel visit http://www.ussteel.com .

SOURCE United States Steel Corporation