Recently, U.S. Steel shareholders voted in favor of the proposed $14.9 billion acquisition by Japan's Nippon Steel. However, despite the overwhelming support for the deal, political opposition has been mounting. This opposition is primarily based on national security concerns, with President Joe Biden stating that U.S. Steel should remain under American ownership.
The United Steelworkers (USW) labor union has strongly criticized the acquisition, expressing concern over potential job losses. Regulators are also closely scrutinizing the deal, with the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) and the U.S. Justice Department conducting investigations. The Justice Department has reportedly opened an in-depth antitrust investigation into the takeover.
Nippon Steel has made promises to address some of the concerns raised by various stakeholders. The Japanese steelmaker has pledged not to cut jobs as a result of the acquisition, to honor all agreements between the union and U.S. Steel, and to relocate its U.S. headquarters to Pittsburgh, where U.S. Steel is currently based. Nippon Steel expressed confidence that the acquisition will benefit U.S. Steel, its stakeholders, the American steel industry, and the United States as a whole.
Despite the controversies surrounding the acquisition, Nippon Steel emerged as the winning bidder over competitors like Cleveland-Cliffs, ArcelorMittal, and Nucor. The deal is expected to close in the second or third quarter of this year. However, Bloomberg News reported that both companies now anticipate the deal to close in the second half of 2024, indicating a potential delay in the finalization of the acquisition.
The proposed acquisition of U.S. Steel by Nippon Steel has sparked significant debate and controversy. While shareholders have approved the deal, political opposition, labor union criticism, and regulatory scrutiny continue to challenge its completion. Nippon Steel's pledges and assurances aim to alleviate concerns, but the uncertain timeline for closing the deal raises further questions about the future of U.S. Steel under Japanese ownership. The coming months are crucial as stakeholders closely monitor the developments surrounding this high-profile acquisition.