EDGAR 10-K Filing

Company CIK: 1163302
Filing Year: 2022
Filename: 1163302_10-K_2022_0001163302-22-000021.json

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ITEM 1. BUSINESS
Item 1. BUSINESS
United States Steel Corporation, with operations in the U.S. and Central Europe, is transforming itself into a customer-centric, world-competitive, Best for AllSM steelmaker by investing in the competitive advantages that differentiate us from our competitors. We are executing on our strategy by investing where we have distinct cost and capability advantages so that we are a superior steel solutions provider for our customers. By offering the sustainable steels that our customers are increasingly demanding, we aim to achieve world-competitive positioning in strategic, high-margin end markets, and deliver high-quality, value-added products and innovative solutions utilizing a lower carbon footprint than previously available through the traditional integrated steelmaking model.
During 2021 U. S. Steel had annual raw steel production capability of 26.2 million net tons (21.2 million tons in North America and 5.0 million tons in Europe). In December 2021, U. S. Steel permanently idled the steelmaking operations at Great Lakes Works, which reduced the Company's overall and North American annual raw steel production capability by 3.8 million net tons. U. S. Steel performs a wide range of applied research, development and technical support functions at facilities in Pennsylvania, Michigan, Texas and Slovakia. U. S. Steel supplies customers throughout the world primarily in the automotive, construction, consumer (packaging and appliance), electrical, industrial equipment, service center/distribution, structural tubing and energy (oil country tubular goods (OCTG) and line pipe) markets. According to the worldsteel Association’s latest published statistics, in 2020 U. S. Steel was the third largest steel producer in the United States and the thirty-eighth largest steel producer in the world. U. S. Steel is a Delaware corporation established in 1901.
Acquisitions and Dispositions
On January 15, 2021, U. S. Steel purchased the remaining equity interest in Big River Steel. On July 28, 2021, the Company sold 100% of the equity interests in Transtar, its short-line railroad.
Segments
U. S. Steel has four reportable segments: North American Flat-Rolled (Flat-Rolled), Mini Mill, U. S. Steel Europe (USSE), and Tubular Products (Tubular). The Mini Mill segment reflects the full ownership of Big River Steel after January 15, 2021, and a new mill under construction in Osceola, Arkansas. Prior to the acquisition, the minority interest equity earnings of Big River Steel were included in the Other category. The Tubular segment includes the electric arc furnace at our Fairfield Tubular Operations in Fairfield, Alabama. The Other category includes results of our real estate business, the previously held equity method investment in Big River Steel, and our former railroad business.
Flat-Rolled
The Flat-Rolled segment includes the operating results of U. S. Steel’s integrated steel plants and equity investees in North America involved in the production of slabs, strip mill plates, sheets and tin mill products, as well as all iron ore and coke production facilities in the United States. These operations primarily serve North American customers in the automotive, appliance, construction, container, transportation and service center markets.
During 2021 Flat-Rolled had aggregate annual raw steel production capability of 17.0 million tons produced at our Gary Works, Mon Valley Works, Great Lakes Works and Granite City Works facilities. In December 2021, U. S. Steel permanently idled the steelmaking operations at Great Lakes Works, which reduced the Company's overall annual raw steel production capability by 3.8 million net tons. Raw steel production was 9.9 million tons in 2021, 9.3 million tons in 2020 and 11.4 million tons in 2019. Raw steel production averaged 58 percent of capability in 2021, 55 percent of capability in 2020 and 67 percent of capability in 2019.
Mini Mill
The Mini Mill segment includes the operating results of U. S. Steel's Big River Steel facility in North America and a new mill under construction in Osceola, Arkansas. The Mini Mill segment produces hot-rolled, cold-rolled and coated sheets and electrical. This operation primarily serves North American customers in the automotive, appliance, construction, container, transportation and service center markets.
Mini Mill has aggregate annual raw steel production capability of 3.3 million tons produced at our Big River Steel facility. Raw steel production was 2.7 million tons in 2021. Raw steel production averaged 81 percent of capability in 2021.
European Operations
The USSE segment includes the operating results of U. S. Steel Košice (USSK), U. S. Steel’s integrated steel plant and coke production facilities in Slovakia, and its subsidiaries. USSE conducts its business mainly in Central and Western Europe and primarily serves customers in the European transportation (including automotive), construction, container, appliance, electrical,
service center, conversion and oil, gas and petrochemical markets. USSE produces and sells slabs, strip mill plate, sheet, tin mill products and spiral welded pipe.
USSE has annual raw steel production capability of 5.0 million tons. USSE’s raw steel production was 4.9 million tons in 2021, 3.4 million tons in 2020, and 3.9 million tons in 2019. USSE’s raw steel production averaged 99 percent of capability in 2021, 67 percent of capability in 2020 and 78 percent of capability in 2019.
Tubular
The Tubular segment includes the operating results of U. S. Steel’s tubular production facilities and an equity investee in the United States. These operations produce and sell seamless and electric resistance welded (ERW) steel casing and tubing (commonly known as OCTG), and standard and line pipe and mechanical tubing and primarily serve customers in the oil, gas and petrochemical markets. The Tubular segment has annual raw steel production capability of 900 thousand tons. Raw steel production was 464 thousand tons in 2021 and 16 thousand tons in 2020. Raw steel production averaged 52 percent of capability in 2021 and 7 percent of capability in 2020. Tubular has total production capability of 1.9 million tons. In 2020, Tubular indefinitely idled the Lone Star Tubular Operations and Lorain Tubular Operations thereby effectively reducing on-line tubular production capacity by 790 thousand and 380 thousand tons, respectively. U. S. Steel Tubular Products, Inc. (USSTP), a wholly owned subsidiary of U. S. Steel, continues to design and develop a range of premium and semi-premium connections to address our customers' needs.
For further information, see "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Steel Shipments by Market and Segment
The following table, except where noted in Footnote 1 below, does not include shipments to end customers by joint ventures and other equity investees of U. S. Steel. Shipments of materials to these entities are included in the “Further Conversion - Joint Ventures” market classification. No single customer accounted for more than 10 percent of gross annual revenue for the three consecutive years ended December 31, 2021.
(Thousands of Tons) Flat-Rolled Mini Mill USSE Tubular Total
Major Market - 2021
Steel Service Centers 1,539 1,121 995 - 3,655
Further Conversion - Trade Customers 1,701 684 314 - 2,699
- Joint Ventures (1)
490 - - - 490
Transportation and Automotive (1)
2,355 17 590 - 2,962
Construction and Construction Products 1,224 282 1,346 18 2,870
Containers and Packaging 942 17 449 - 1,408
Appliances and Electrical Equipment 570 109 266 - 945
Oil, Gas and Petrochemicals - - 8 426 434
All Other 197 - 334 - 531
TOTAL 9,018 2,230 4,302 444 15,994
Major Market - 2020
Steel Service Centers 1,450 - 690 - 2,140
Further Conversion - Trade Customers 2,063 - 202 - 2,265
- Joint Ventures (1)
415 - - - 415
Transportation and Automotive (1)
2,012 - 517 - 2,529
Construction and Construction Products 1,261 - 775 34 2,070
Containers and Packaging 913 - 435 - 1,348
Appliances and Electrical Equipment 497 - 194 - 691
Oil, Gas and Petrochemicals - - 5 430 435
All Other 100 - 223 - 323
TOTAL 8,711 - 3,041 464 12,216
Major Market - 2019
Steel Service Centers 1,902 - 740 - 2,642
Further Conversion - Trade Customers 2,823 - 214 - 3,037
- Joint Ventures (1)
819 - - - 819
Transportation and Automotive (1)
2,620 - 676 - 3,296
Construction and Construction Products 1,076 - 1,048 44 2,168
Containers and Packaging 652 - 440 - 1,092
Appliances and Electrical Equipment 570 - 220 - 790
Oil, Gas and Petrochemicals - - - 725 725
All Other 238 - 252 - 490
TOTAL 10,700 - 3,590 769 15,059
(1) PRO-TEC automotive substrate shipments are included in the Transportation and Automotive category.
Steel Industry Background and Competition
The global steel industry is cyclical, highly competitive and has historically been characterized by global overcapacity.
U. S. Steel's competitive position may be affected by, among other things, differences among U. S. Steel's and its competitors' cost structure, labor costs, environmental remediation and compliance costs, global capacity, achievement of innovations in new technologies and sustainable products and the existence and magnitude of government subsidies provided to competitors.
U. S. Steel competes with many North American and international steel producers. Competitors include 1) integrated producers, which use iron ore and coke as the primary raw materials for steel production, 2) EAF producers, which primarily use steel scrap and other iron-bearing feedstocks as raw materials and 3) slab re-rollers, who purchase mostly imported, but some domestic, semi-finished products and convert them into sheet products. In addition, other materials, such as aluminum, plastics and composites, compete with steel in several applications. According to worldsteel Association, global steel production in 2021 grew compared to 2020, increasing by 4% or approximately 70 million metric tons to 1.951 billion metric tons. Steel production generally increased across the world, with the global increase being driven collectively by countries outside of the top five steel producing countries. Among the top five steel producing countries, production increased in India, the United States, Japan and Russia. This growth was partially offset however by China, which decreased crude steel production by 32 million metric tons, or 3%, from 2020. The top five steel producing countries accounted for 72% of the world's steel production in 2021, and China was the only major steel producing country to have decreased production during 2021.
See "International Trade" below for a discussion of global overcapacity and the Company's efforts to mitigate the competitive impact.
EAF producers typically require lower capital expenditures for construction and operation of facilities and may have lower total employment costs; however, these competitive advantages may be minimized or eliminated by the cost of scrap when scrap prices are high. Some EAF producers utilize thin slab casting technology to produce flat-rolled products and are increasingly able to compete directly with integrated producers in many flat-rolled product applications previously produced only by integrated steelmakers. Slab re-rollers do not incur the cost of melting steel; their input costs are largely driven by the market price of slabs.
U. S. Steel provides defined benefit pension and/or other post-employment benefits to approximately 70,000 current employees, retirees and their beneficiaries. Many of our competitors do not have comparable retiree obligations. Participation in U. S. Steel's main defined benefit pension plan was closed to new entrants on July 1, 2003 and benefit accruals for all non-represented participants were frozen effective December 31, 2015. Participation in U. S. Steel’s retiree medical and life insurance programs for United Steelworkers (USW)-represented employees were closed to employees hired or rehired (except in limited circumstances) on or after January 1, 2016. Retiree medical and life insurance benefits for non-represented employees were eliminated for those who retired after December 31, 2017.
We believe that our major North American and many European integrated steel competitors are confronted with substantially similar environmental regulatory conditions and therefore do not believe that our relative position with regard to such competitors will be materially affected by the impact of environmental laws and regulations. However, if future regulations do not recognize that the integrated steel process involves a series of chemical reactions involving carbon that create carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions without linking these emissions to steel scrap as well, the competitive position of our integrated operations will be adversely impacted compared to mini mills. Our competitive position compared to producers in developing nations such as China, Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, Brazil and India, will be harmed unless such nations require commensurate reductions in CO2 emissions or there are policies to adjust for the carbon emissions disparities. Competing materials such as plastics may not be similarly impacted. The specific impact on each competitor will vary depending on a number of factors, including the age and location of its operating facilities and its production methods. U. S. Steel is also responsible for remediation costs related to former and present operating locations and disposal of environmentally sensitive materials. Many of our competitors, including North American producers, or their successors, that have been the subject of bankruptcy relief have no or substantially lower liabilities for such environmental remediation matters.
In 2022, we expect additional steelmaking capacity will enter the domestic steel market as competitors' growth projects come on-line in North America throughout the year.
Business Strategy
We are executing on our customer-centric Best for All strategy to advance a more secure, sustainable future for U. S. Steel and its stakeholders. Our strategy is focused on product and process innovation by investing where we have distinct cost or capability competitive advantages. We are expanding our competitive advantages in low-cost iron ore, mini mill steelmaking, and world-class finishing assets with innovative solutions and commercial acumen. These competitive advantages are built on a foundation of research, innovation and deep customer relationships. In executing our strategy, we aim to enhance our earnings profile, deliver long-term cash flow through industry cycles and reduce our capital and carbon intensity. By offering the product capabilities, including the more sustainable steels (steels made with lower greenhouse gas emissions) our customers are increasingly demanding, we can achieve more competitive positioning in strategic, high-margin end markets, and deliver high-quality, sustainable, value-added products and innovative solutions.
Our strategy is informed by our critical success factors, which are the bedrock of the Best for All strategy: (1) Move Down the Cost Curve; (2) Win in Strategic Markets; and (3) Move Up the Talent Curve. We are investing in new technologies to improve our cost position and increase our capabilities, including our mini mill steelmaking and best-in-class finishing capabilities. We will focus on strategic markets, where there is the greatest opportunity to provide differentiated, innovative and value-added solutions that will help our customers succeed. We know that to accomplish our objectives, we also need to move up the talent curve. We are investing in our employees and providing the training and resources they need to succeed. This will help us reinforce a culture where accountability, fairness and respect are foundational, and high performance and inclusion in all its forms are valued and celebrated.
U. S. Steel will continue to evaluate potential strategic and organizational opportunities, which may include the acquisition, divestiture or consolidation of assets. Given the cyclicality of our industry, we are focused on strategically deploying our capital in order to invest in areas consistent with the execution of our Best for All strategy and are considering various possibilities, including exiting lines of business and the sale of certain assets, that we believe would ultimately result in greater stockholder value. The Company will pursue opportunities based on its long-term strategy, and what the Board of Directors determines to be in the best interests of the Company's stockholders at the time.
Strategic Projects, Technology Investments and Operating Configuration Adjustments
2021 was a strategically transformational year as we move towards Best for All. On January 15, 2021, we completed the acquisition of Big River Steel, which increased our annual raw steel production capability by 3.3 million net tons. In addition, we commenced construction on a non-grain oriented (NGO) electrical steel line at Big River Steel in August 2021. We expect this $450 million investment to make Big River Steel a leader in NGO electric steels by delivering product capabilities in this growing market. The 200,000 ton NGO electrical steel line is expected to deliver first coil in September 2023 and be available to meet the growing electric vehicle demand expected in North America over the coming years.
In the third quarter 2021, the Company began construction on a 325,000 ton galvaneal/galvalume line at Big River Steel. This $280 million investment is expected to grow the Company’s best-in-class finishing capabilities, by expanding the Company’s presence in value-added construction applications and enhancing Big River Steel’s product mix.
On January 11, 2022, we announced Osceola, Arkansas as the site of a new highly sustainable and technologically advanced steel mill. The planned mini mill is expected to have 3 million tons per year of steelmaking capability, and will combine two state-of-the-art EAFs with differentiated steelmaking and finishing technology, including our already purchased endless casting and rolling equipment. The Company is working with the same technical advisors and engineers who were instrumental in the successful construction of the facilities at Big River Steel. The continued adoption of mini mill technology will expand our ability to produce the next generation of highly profitable proprietary sustainable steel solutions, including Advanced High Strength Steels.
As the Company advances and expands its mini mill capability, it seeks to become better, not bigger and will adjust its footprint accordingly by re-evaluating non-core and less efficient capabilities. In December 2021, the Company permanently idled the steelmaking operations at its Great Lakes Works facility. The coil finishing process continues to operate and the iron making process at Great Lakes Works remains idled for an indefinite period of time.
On July 28, 2021, we continued the transition to Best for All by monetizing non-core assets with the sale of Transtar, our wholly owned short-line railroad, while concurrently entering into a long-term rail services agreement with the purchaser of Transtar.
Commercial Strategy
Our commercial strategy is focused on providing customer-centric solutions with differentiated and value-added steel products, which includes advanced high strength steels such as our newer grades of GEN3 steel, coated sheets for the automotive and appliance industries, electrical steel sheets for the manufacture of motors and electrical equipment, both bare and prepainted galvanized and Galvalume® sheets for construction, heavy gauge hot rolled coils used in the production of construction and agricultural-related heavy machinery as well as skelp for line pipe used for energy transmission, tin mill products for the packaging industry and OCTG pipe, connections, accessories and rig site services for use in drilling for oil and gas. In addition,
our portfolio of customers serve a variety of different traditional and emerging industries meeting the needs of numerous markets.
Throughout 2021, the Company integrated the commercial teams from United States Steel and Big River Steel into a single, customer-focused commercial team to better serve our customers and leverage the collective footprint of our legacy and mini mill capabilities. The aligned commercial structure allows us to increase our relationships with customers, provide seamless customer access to application and product engineering, and to be nimble and more responsive in the marketplace.
U. S. Steel is committed to leveraging our Best for All strategy to develop and commercialize low-carbon footprint and advanced high-strength steels for our current and future customers. Over the next five years, U. S. Steel plans to develop and commercialize numerous differentiated grades of low-carbon footprint, high rate of recycled-content steels, providing compelling new options for customers in automotive, appliance, industrial equipment, construction, renewable energy and other markets to enhance the sustainability of their products. For example, in April 2021, we announced a new sustainable steel product line, verdeXTM, which is produced with up to 70% less greenhouse gas emissions compared to similar products produced through integrated steelmaking. In addition, we are collaborating with Norfolk Southern Corporation and The Greenbrier Companies, Inc. on a new, sustainable high-strength steel railcar designed to extend the useful life of each gondola and increase freight capacity.
We are responsive to our customers' changing needs by developing new steel products and uses for steel that meet their evolving markets and regulatory demands. We have research centers in Munhall, Pennsylvania, Košice, Slovakia, and Houston, Texas, as well as a technology center in Troy, Michigan. The focus of these centers is to engineer new products and to co-create innovative solutions that meet our customers' toughest challenges to reduce carbon emissions, increase strength, improve longevity and serve the needs of their customers.
For automotive customers leveraging advanced high strength steels, we commissioned a first of its kind GEN3 hot dipped galvanize line at our PRO-TEC Coating Company (PRO-TEC) joint venture in 2020, and have embedded application engineers at original equipment manufacturers to demonstrate how to best utilize the high strength, highly formable, cost effective material in body design to meet passenger safety requirements while significantly reducing weight to meet future vehicle fuel efficiency standards.
In our tubular markets, we continue development of premium and semi-premium tubular connections designed for our customers that operate in challenging drilling environments. These connections optimize well construction activities and provide outstanding sealing capabilities for onshore and offshore oil and gas drilling in North America. An example is the USS-TALON HTQ™, which was introduced in 2020 for customers that are constructing onshore natural gas and oil wells with long laterals requiring best-in-class torque capacity and optimized well-bore clearances.
Commercial Sales of Product
U. S. Steel characterizes sales as contract sales if sold pursuant to an agreement with a defined volume and pricing and a duration of longer than three months, and as spot if sold without a defined volume and pricing agreement, typically three months or less. In 2021, approximately 73 percent, 81 percent, 49 percent and 48 percent of sales by Flat-Rolled, Mini Mill, USSE and Tubular, respectively, were contract sales. Some contract pricing agreements include fixed prices while others are adjusted periodically based upon published prices of steel products or cost components.
Human Capital Management
At U. S. Steel, we are focused on attracting and retaining the top talent needed to support our strategic transformation and meet our customers’ evolving needs as a sustainable steel solutions provider. The support and development of our people is foundational to achieving our Best for All strategy. We refer to this strategic talent pillar as “Moving Up the Talent Curve.”
Our focus on people extends to our current and future employees. We aim to have an engaged and diverse workforce to promote new ideas and innovation, reflect the communities where we operate, and deliver exceptional customer service. We seek to build an inclusive environment where people feel free to bring their whole selves to work. To achieve the Best for All strategy, we must have the “Best from All.”
Approximate Active Employees as of December 31, 2021
North America 15,590
Slovakia 8,950
Total 24,540
Ethics & Compliance
Our culture is based on our S.T.E.E.L. Principles: Safety First; Trust and Respect; Environmental Stewardship; Excellence and Accountability; and Lawful and Ethical Conduct. We expect our employees and members of our board of directors to take
personal responsibility to “do what’s right,” and our Code of Ethical Business Conduct serves as the foundation for the actions of our employees and directors. To further ensure that employees understand the Company’s expectations and all applicable rules, we provide formal ethics and compliance training to our employees and have frequent communication with information about key compliance topics, which include messages from senior management underscoring the importance of doing business with integrity. Employees also receive summaries of current events that demonstrate the need to do business lawfully that include reminders of the company’s expectations for all employees. In addition, through our annual policy certification process, employees and directors certify their ongoing compliance with our Code of Ethical Business Conduct.
Employee Health & Safety
At U. S. Steel, we have a long-standing commitment to the safety and health of every person who works in our facilities. Every employee deserves to return home safely at the end of every day, and we are working to eliminate all injuries and incidents. In addition, the psychological safety of all employees is important to us. We have combined physical safety and psychological safety into the construct of 360° safety. Ensuring a safe workplace also improves productivity, quality, reliability and financial performance. By making safety and health a personal responsibility, our employees are making a daily commitment to follow safe work practices, look out for the safety of co-workers and ensure safe working conditions for everyone. A “Safety First” mindset is as essential to our success as the tools and technologies we rely on to do business. This past year, we relied on our strong safety culture to ensure the health and safety of our employees during the COVID-19 pandemic, as described below.
Our objective is to attain a sustainable zero harm culture supported by leadership and owned by an engaged and highly skilled workforce, empowered with the capabilities and resources needed to assess, reduce, and eliminate workplace risks and hazards. In support of these objectives, we have developed an enhanced Safety Management System, initiated new safety communication methods and enhanced contractor safety processes. One of our most important safety protocols is our fatality prevention audit program. These proactive assessments of the processes and protocols we have in place, and adherence to them, to avoid fatalities and severe injuries are conducted annually at the enterprise level and more frequently at each of our facilities. We assess our safety performance through a variety of lagging and leading indicators, including OSHA Days Away From Work (DAFW). This measurement allows us to evaluate the frequency of injuries sustained at our facilities requiring an employee to stay at home for more than one day. U. S. Steel has achieved record-safety performance in this measurement in the last several years, routinely achieving performance better than industry benchmarks.
For 2021, we had a corporate DAFW rate of 0.06, which is 0.64 better than the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Iron and Steel benchmark DAFW rate of 0.70.
The health and safety of our workforce remains our top priority as we continue to monitor the spread of the coronavirus pandemic across the globe. Building on the steps we took at the onset of the pandemic in 2020, some of the measures we implemented in 2021 included:
•Issuing regular communications and videos, including preventive tips;
•Providing employees with protective equipment, masks, and sanitizing and cleaning supplies and enhanced cleaning frequency; and
•Hosting vaccination clinics at our facilities, offering our employees convenient access to the COVID-19 vaccine.
Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion
Attracting, developing, and retaining a workforce of talented, diverse people is essential to having high-performing teams that drive results for our Company’s stakeholders. As part of our commitment to cultivating a culture of caring, we have inclusive benefits available for our U.S. non-represented workforce, including expanded parental leave, back-up dependent care, infertility coverage, gender reassignment coverage and healthcare continuation for the families of employees who suffered work-related or military service fatalities. In 2021, U. S. Steel again earned a 100 percent score on the Human Rights Campaign’s annual Corporate Equality Index in recognition of our comprehensive benefits, non-discrimination policies and inclusive culture support. We also support several employee resource groups (ERGs) to enhance employee engagement, promote a culture of belonging, foster diversity in the workplace, and raise awareness related to issues of identity and intersectionality. Our ERGs also provide training and education, mentorship and networking opportunities for their members.
Talent Attraction, Development and Retention
We believe that attraction, development and retention of talent is essential to our success, especially in today’s environment. We offer internship programs, partner with universities, community colleges, and technical schools; and collaborate with community employment centers and economic development nonprofit organizations to build strong and diverse internal and external sources for potential employees.
Once at U. S. Steel, we seek to provide opportunities for continuous learning and development. All of our employees at a director-level and above have a formal professional development plan that is assessed at least annually. In addition, we proactively monitor our attrition rates and take targeted actions to ensure our highest potential and performing employees are motivated to remain with the Company. Over the past five years, our regrettable voluntary turnover rate has been at or below 5 percent.
We offer a competitive total rewards package of compensation and benefits that we regularly evaluate and benchmark across the manufacturing industry to ensure that we position U. S. Steel as an employer of choice.
At the onset of the pandemic in early 2020, we quickly transitioned our corporate and administrative employees, approximately 10% of our workforce, to a work-from-home environment. We’ve invested in technology to maintain this virtual community and found that our employees are more productive and have more flexibility and autonomy in managing their workload in a way that best fits their situation. We plan to maintain a virtual / hybrid working option for these employees in order to promote workplace flexibility and attract and retain highly qualified employees across the country.
Labor Relations
Approximately 80% of our employees in North America and Slovakia are covered by collective bargaining agreements. We work closely with union representatives to provide safe and productive workplaces that enable our employees to deliver high-quality products and meet the needs of our customers. Our partnership with the United Steelworkers includes not only a commitment to safety programs, but also a common approach to combating the unfairly traded imports that threaten our industry, our company, and ultimately the jobs of our employees.
Capital Structure, Liquidity and Capital Allocation
Our Best for All strategy's primary financial goal is to enhance stockholder value by utilizing our capital structure, liquidity and enhanced capital allocation priorities to advance the Company's strategic objectives, generate long-term value, and reward stockholders. Our cash deployment strategy is aligned with our corporate strategy and includes: executing on strategic projects and portfolio moves; maintaining a strong balance sheet and a healthy pension plan; and delivering sustainable growth with a focus on core values such as safety and environmental stewardship and rewarding stockholders for the continued progress we make. Cash deployment is also performed with a customer-centric focus on improving safety, quality, delivery and cost.
Our liquidity supports our ability to satisfy short-term obligations, fund working capital requirements, and provides a foundation to execute key strategic priorities. We are focused on maintaining a strong balance sheet and may proactively refinance or repay our debt from time to time to protect our capital structure from unforeseen external events and re-financing risks.
In 2021, we undertook several steps to support these goals.
We transformed our balance sheet and enhanced the Company's financial flexibility by repaying approximately $3.1 billion in debt.
We designated our three global syndicated revolving credit facilities as Sustainability Linked Loans to incorporate our sustainability related goals and values into our global syndicated revolving credit facilities:
•On July 23, 2021, Big River Steel entered into an amendment to its senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility (Big River Steel ABL Facility), which extended the maturity by 5 years and added sustainability targets related to carbon reduction, safety performance and facility certification by ResponsibleSteel™. The Big River Steel ABL Facility provides for borrowings for working capital and general corporate purposes in an amount equal to the lesser of (a) $350 million and (b) a borrowing base calculated based on specified percentages of eligible accounts receivables and inventory, subject to certain adjustments and reserves. The Big River Steel ABL Facility matures on July 23, 2026.
•On July 23, 2021, U. S. Steel amended the Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Facility Agreement (Credit Facility Agreement) to include targets related to carbon reduction, safety performance and facility certification by ResponsibleSteel™. In addition to the new sustainability link, the Credit Facility Agreement was amended to reduce the facility size to $1.75 billion from $2 billion, which supports the Company’s current footprint and is consistent with its efforts to optimize its global liquidity position.
•On September 29, 2021, USSK entered into a €300 million (approximately $340 million) unsecured sustainability linked credit agreement (USSK Credit Agreement), replacing the previous €460 million credit facility agreement. The USSK Credit Agreement matures in 5 years and contains sustainability targets related to carbon reduction, safety performance and facility certification by ResponsibleSteel™.
We ended 2021 with $4.971 billion of total liquidity.
In the fourth quarter of 2021, we announced enhancements to our capital allocation strategy as we pursue a more balanced plan that rewards stockholders for the continued progress we are making towards our Best for All future. Enhancements made to our capital allocation strategy in October 2021 include:
•Reinstating the Company’s $0.05/share quarterly dividend, beginning in the fourth quarter 2021
•Authorizing a $300 million stock repurchase program
As of January 31, the Company has repurchased approximately $203 million of common stock, and there is approximately $597 million remaining under its stock repurchase program.
In January 2022, the Board of Directors expanded the repurchase authorization by $500 million.
Facilities and Locations as of December 31, 2021
Flat-Rolled
The operating results of all U. S. Steel's integrated steel and sheet plants, coke and iron ore operations and ore and sheet production joint ventures are included in Flat-Rolled. Also, included within Flat-Rolled is a research and technology center located in Munhall, Pennsylvania, (near Pittsburgh) and a technology center in Troy, Michigan. The research and technology center carries out a wide range of applied research, development and technical support functions. The technology center brings automotive sales, service, distribution and logistics services, product technology and applications research into one location and much of U. S. Steel’s work in developing new grades of steel to meet the demands of automakers for high-strength, light-weight and formable materials is carried out at this location.
Flat-Rolled Operations Table
Operations, (Property Location) Annual Production Capability Principal Products and/or Services
Gary Works, (Gary, Indiana)
7.5 million tons of raw steel strip mill plate in coil; hot-rolled, cold-rolled and coated sheets; and tin mill products
Midwest, (Portage, Indiana)
finishing facility hot-rolled, cold-rolled and coated sheets; tin mill products; and electrical lamination sheets
East Chicago Tin (a), (Portage, Indiana)
finishing facility tin mill products
Great Lakes Works (b),
(Ecorse, River Rouge and Dearborn, Michigan)
finishing facility cold-rolled and coated sheets; and tin mill products
Mon Valley Works (c):
Edgar Thompson, (Braddock, Pennsylvania),
Irvin, (West Mifflin, Pennsylvania), Fairless, (Fairless Hills, Pennsylvania), and
Clairton, (Clairton, Pennsylvania)
2.9 million tons of raw steel and 4.3 million tons of coke hot-rolled, cold-rolled and coated sheets; and coke and coke by-products
Granite City Works (d), (Granite City, Illinois)
2.8 million tons of raw steel slabs and hot-rolled, cold-rolled and coated sheets
Granite City Works, (Granite City, Illinois);
Gateway Energy and Coke Company LLC (Gateway)
coke supply agreement not applicable
USS-UPI, LLC (UPI)(e), (Pittsburg, California)
finishing facility cold-rolled and coated sheets; tin mill products
Fairfield Works, (Fairfield, Alabama)
finishing facility coated sheets
Minnesota Ore Operations: Minntac, (Mt. Iron, Minnesota) and Keetac, (Keewatin, Minnesota)
22.4 million tons of iron ore pellets iron ore pellets
(a) In the fourth quarter of 2019, East Chicago Tin was indefinitely idled.
(b) The iron and steelmaking production facilities were indefinitely idled in March and June of 2020, respectively. In December 2021, U. S. Steel permanently idled the steelmaking operations at Great Lakes Works, including the Basic Oxygen Process (BOP), caster and hot strip mill rolling facility. Great Lakes Works' pickle line, cold mill and CGL continue to operate, while the DESCO and electrolytic galvanizing lines are indefinitely idled.
(c) From time to time, we may swap coke with other domestic steel producers or sell on the open market. Coke by-products are sold to the chemicals and raw materials industries.
(d) In March 2020, one of the blast furnaces at Granite City Works was indefinitely idled.
(e) In February 2020, UPI was added with the purchase of the remaining 50% ownership interest from POSCO.
Joint Ventures Within Flat-Rolled
U. S. Steel participates in a number of joint ventures that are included in Flat-Rolled, most of which are conducted through subsidiaries. All of these joint ventures are accounted for under the equity method. The significant joint ventures and other investments are described below.
Joint Ventures (a) Within Flat-Rolled Table
Joint Venture, (Property Location) U. S. Steel's Ownership Percentage Annual Production Capability
Hibbing Taconite Company (Hibbing); (Hibbing, Minnesota)
14.7% 9 million tons of which U. S. Steel's share is 1.3 million tons
PRO-TEC Coating Company (PRO-TEC), (Leipsic, Ohio)
50.0% 2.0 million tons (b)
Double G Coatings Company (Double G) (c); Jackson, Mississippi
50.0% 315 thousand tons
Worthington Specialty Processing (Worthington), (Jackson and Taylor, Michigan)
49.0% 890 thousand tons
Chrome Deposit Corporation (CDC), (six locations near major steel plants)
50.0% not applicable
(a) See further information about our equity investees in Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
(b) U. S. Steel's domestic production facilities supply PRO-TEC with cold-rolled sheets and U. S. Steel markets all of PRO-TEC's products.
(c) Each partner supplies its own steel to Double G and markets what is processed by Double G.
Mini Mill
The operations of Big River Steel are included in Mini Mill. Big River Steel, located in Osceola, Arkansas, is an EAF sheet steel production facility.
Mini Mill Operations Table
Operations, (Property Location) Annual Production Capability Principal Products and/or Services
Big River Steel, (Osceola, Arkansas)
3.3 million tons of raw steel hot-rolled, cold-rolled and coated sheets; and electrical steels
USSE
USSE operates in Košice, Slovakia an integrated facility and a research laboratory, which, in conjunction with our Research and Technology Center, supports efforts in coke making, electrical steels, and design and instrumentation.
USSE Operations Table
Operations, (Property Location) Annual Production Capability Principal Products and/or Services
U. S. Steel Košice, (Košice, Slovakia)
5.0 million tons of raw steel coke; slabs; strip mill plate: hot, cold and coated sheets; tin mill products; and spiral welded pipe
Tubular
Tubular manufactures seamless and welded OCTG, standard pipe, line pipe and mechanical tubing.
Tubular Operations Table
Operations, (Property Location) Production Capability Principal Products and Services
Fairfield Tubular Operations (a), (Fairfield, Alabama)
0.9 million tons of raw steel (b) and 750 thousand tons of tubular
seamless tubular pipe
Lorain Tubular Operations (c), (Lorain, Ohio)
380 thousand tons of tubular seamless tubular pipe
Lone Star Tubular (d), (Lone Star, Texas)
#1 electric-weld pipe mill (EWPM) 400 thousand tons and #2 EWPM 380 thousand tons of tubular welded tubular pipe
Wheeling Machine Products (e), (Pine Bluff, Arkansas and Hughes Springs, Texas)
not applicable tubular couplings
Offshore Operations, (Houston, Texas)
not applicable tubular threading, inspection, accessories and storage services and premium connections
Tubular Processing (f), (Houston, Texas)
not applicable tubular processing
(a) The EAF commenced operation in October 2020.
(b) Based on the rounds caster capacity which is its constraining production unit.
(c) In April 2020, the Lorain Tubular Operations was temporarily idled for an indefinite period of time.
(d) In April 2020, Lone Star Tubular Operations was temporarily idled for an indefinite period of time
(e) In April 2020, the Wheeling Machine Products at Hughes Springs, Texas was temporarily idled for an indefinite period of time.
(f) Tubular Processing has been temporarily idled since 2015.
Joint Ventures (a) Within Tubular Table
Operations, (Property Location) U. S. Steel's Ownership Percentage Production Capability Principal Products and/or Services
Patriot Premium Threading Services, (Midland, Texas)
50% not applicable Tubular threading, accessories and premium connections
(a) See further information about our equity investees in Note 12 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Other
U. S. Steel’s Other category includes the operating results relating to our real estate operations, the previously held equity method investment in Big River Steel, and our former railroad business. The Company owns approximately 45,000 acres of real estate assets, either held for development or managed, in Alabama, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania.
Raw Materials and Energy
As an integrated producer, U. S. Steel’s primary raw materials are iron units in the form of iron ore pellets and sinter ore, carbon units in the form of coal and coke (which is produced from coking coal) and steel scrap. As an EAF producer, our primary raw material is scrap. U. S. Steel’s raw materials supply strategy consists of acquiring and expanding captive sources of certain primary raw materials and entering into flexible supply contracts for certain other raw materials at competitive market prices which are subject to fluctuations based on market conditions at the time.
The amounts of such raw materials needed to produce a ton of steel will fluctuate based upon the specifications of the final steel products, the quality of raw materials and, to a lesser extent, differences among steel producing equipment. In broad terms, the Company's integrated steel process consumes approximately 1.4 tons of coal to produce one ton of coke and then it consumes approximately 0.3 tons of coke, 0.3 tons of steel scrap (approximately 60 percent of which is internally generated) and 1.3 tons of iron ore pellets to produce one ton of raw steel. At normal operating levels, we also consume approximately 6 mmbtu’s of natural gas per ton produced. Generally, the Company's mini mill operations consumes approximately 0.8 tons of steel scrap, 0.3 tons of pig iron, and 0.1 tons of HBI to produce one ton of raw steel. In addition, the mini mill operations consume approximately 0.6 MKWH of electricity per ton of raw steel produced. While we believe that these estimated consumption amounts are useful for planning purposes, and are presented to give a general sense of raw material and energy consumption related to steel production, substantial variations may occur.
Iron Ore
(a) Includes our share of production from Hibbing through December 31, 2020 and Tilden Mining Company, L.C. (Tilden) to September 29, 2017. U. S. Steel's ownership interest in Tilden was sold on September 29, 2017.
The iron ore facilities at Minntac and Keetac contain approximately 900 million short tons of indicated resources and probable reserves and our share of recoverable reserves at the Hibbing joint venture is approximately 5 million short tons. Refer to Supplementary Information on Mineral Reserves Other than Oil and Gas in Item 8 of this Form 10-K for additional information. Recoverable reserves are defined as the tons of product that can be used internally or delivered to a customer after considering mining and beneficiation or preparation losses. Minntac and Keetac’s annual capability and our share of annual capability for the Hibbing joint venture total approximately 24 million tons. We have iron ore pellet production capability that exceeds our steelmaking capability in the U.S.
We sold iron ore pellets in 2021, 2020 and 2019 to third parties. The Company has agreements to supply iron ore pellets to third-party customers over the next several years.
Substantially all of USSE’s iron ore requirements are purchased from outside sources, primarily Russian and Ukrainian mining companies. Prices are determined in long-term contracts with strategic suppliers or as spot prices negotiated monthly or quarterly. USSE also has received iron ore from U. S. Steel’s iron ore facilities in North America. We believe that supplies of iron ore adequate to meet USSE’s needs are available at competitive market prices.
Coking Coal
All of U. S. Steel’s coal requirements for our cokemaking facilities are purchased from outside sources. Pricing for Flat-Rolled's coking coal contracts are typically negotiated on a yearly basis, and from time to time we have entered into multi-year agreements for a portion of our coking coal requirements.
Prices for European contracts are negotiated quarterly, annually or determined as index-based prices.
We believe that supplies of coking coal adequate to meet our needs are available from outside sources at competitive market prices. The main source of coking coal for Flat-Rolled is the United States, and sources for USSE include Poland, the Czech Republic, Russia, Ukraine, Canada, Mozambique and the United States.
Coke
In North America, the Flat-Rolled segment operates a cokemaking facility at the Clairton Plant of Mon Valley Works. At our Granite City Works, we have a 15-year coke supply agreement with Gateway that expires on December 31, 2024. Blast furnace injection of coal, and self-generated coke oven gas is also used to reduce coke usage.
With Flat-Rolled’s cokemaking facilities and the Gateway long-term supply agreement, it has the capability to be nearly self-sufficient with respect to its annual coke requirements at normal operating levels. Coke from time to time has been purchased from, sold to, or swapped with suppliers and other end-users to adjust for production needs and reduce transportation costs.
In Europe, the USSE segment operates cokemaking facilities at USSK. While USSE is self-sufficient for coke at normal operating levels, it periodically purchases coke from Polish and Czech coke producers to meet production needs. Volume and price are negotiated quarterly.
Steel Scrap and Other Materials
We believe that supplies of steel scrap and alloys that are adequate to meet our needs are readily available from outside sources at competitive market prices for the Flat-Rolled, Mini Mill, and USSE segments. Generally, approximately 55 percent of our steel scrap requirements were internally generated through normal operations for these segments.
Limestone
All of Flat-Rolled’s limestone requirements and USSE's lime and limestone requirements are purchased from outside sources. We believe that supplies of limestone and lime adequate to meet our needs are readily available from outside sources at competitive market prices.
Zinc and Tin
We believe that supplies of zinc and tin required to fulfill the requirements for Flat-Rolled, Mini Mill, and USSE are available from outside sources at competitive market prices. For Flat-Rolled and Mini Mill the main sources of zinc are Canada, Mexico, and the United States and the main sources of tin are Bolivia, Brazil, and Peru. For USSE, the main sources of zinc are Finland, Netherlands, Germany, Poland and Slovakia and the main sources of tin are Bolivia, Indonesia, Peru and China.
During 2021, Flat-Rolled protected approximately 40% and 50% of its operation's zinc and tin purchases, respectively, with financial swap derivatives to manage exposure to zinc and tin price fluctuations. During 2021, USSE protected approximately 12% of its operation's zinc purchases with forward physical contracts to manage our exposure to zinc price fluctuations and protected approximately 41% of its operation's tin purchases with financial swaps to manage our exposure to tin price fluctuations. For further information, see Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Natural Gas
All of U. S. Steel’s natural gas requirements are purchased from outside sources.
We believe that adequate supplies to meet Flat-Rolled’s, Mini Mill's, and Tubular's needs are available at competitive market prices. For 2021, approximately 66 percent of our natural gas purchases in Flat-Rolled were based on bids solicited on a monthly basis from various vendors; the remainder were made daily or with term agreements.
We believe that adequate natural gas supplies to meet USSE’s needs are available at competitive market prices. During 2021, we routinely executed fixed-price forward physical purchase contracts for natural gas to partially manage our exposure to natural gas price increases. For 2021, approximately 48 percent of our natural gas purchases in USSE were made with fixed-price forward physical purchase contracts; the remainder were based on bids solicited on a quarterly or monthly basis from various vendors.
Both Flat-Rolled and USSE use self-generated coke oven and blast furnace gas to reduce consumption of natural gas. USSE also captures and consumes converter gas from its four steelmaking vessels.
Industrial Gases
U. S. Steel purchases industrial gas in the U.S. under long-term contracts with various suppliers. USSE owns and operates its own industrial gas facility, but also may purchase industrial gases from time to time from third parties.
International Trade
U. S. Steel continues to face import competition, much of which is unfairly traded, supported by foreign governments, and fueled by massive global steel overcapacity, currently estimated to be over 400 million metric tons per year-more than four times the entire U.S. steel market and over thirteen times total U.S. steel imports. These imports and overcapacity, impact the Company’s operational and financial performance. U. S. Steel continues to lead efforts to address these challenges that threaten the Company, our workers, our stockholders, and our country’s national and economic security.
As of the date of this filing, pursuant to a series of Presidential Proclamations issued in accordance with Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, U.S. imports of certain steel products are subject to a 25 percent tariff, except: (1) imports from Argentina, Brazil, and South Korea, which are subject to restrictive quotas; (2) imports from the European Union (EU) that are melted and poured in the EU, within quarterly tariff-rate quota (TRQ) limits; (3) imports from Canada and Mexico, which are not subject to tariffs or quotas, but tariffs could be re-imposed on surging product groups after consultations; and (4) imports from Australia, which are not subject to tariffs, quotas, or an anti-surge mechanism.
The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) is managing a process in which U.S. companies may request and/or oppose temporary product exclusions from the Section 232 tariffs and quotas. Over 312,000 exclusions have been requested for steel products. U. S. Steel opposes exclusion requests for imported products that are the same as, or substitutes for, products manufactured by U. S. Steel.
Multiple legal challenges to the Section 232 action continue before the U.S. Court of International Trade (CIT), the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit (CAFC), and the Supreme Court of the United States. U.S. courts have consistently rejected constitutional and statutory challenges to the initial Section 232 action and overall product exclusion process. Multiple countries have challenged the Section 232 action at the World Trade Organization (WTO), imposed retaliatory tariffs, and/or acted to safeguard their domestic steel industries from increased steel imports. In turn, the United States has challenged the retaliation at the WTO.
In October 2021, the United States and EU announced agreements to replace the Section 232 tariffs with a TRQ, extend certain EU product exclusions, eliminate the EU’s Section 232 retaliation on U.S. imports, suspend WTO disputes related to the Section 232 action, and commit to negotiate a global arrangement on steel overcapacity and carbon intensity within two years. Effective January 1, 2022, the TRQ allows certain quantities of products made from steel melted and poured in the EU to enter the United States Section 232 tariff-free, with quantities that exceed the quota still subject to 25 percent tariffs. In December 2021, the United States began consultations with Japan regarding the Section 232 action and global overcapacity.
Since its implementation in March 2018, the Section 232 action has supported the U.S. steel industry’s and U. S. Steel’s investments in advanced steel production capabilities, technology, and skills, thereby strengthening U.S. national and economic security. The Company continues to actively defend the Section 232 action.
In February 2019, the European Commission (EC) implemented a definitive safeguard on global steel imports in the form of TRQs. The TRQs, which impose 25 percent tariffs on steel imports that exceed the TRQ limit, are currently effective through June 2024. In December 2021, the EC initiated its third periodic review of this safeguard, which will consider the impact of the agreement to replace U.S. Section 232 tariffs with a TRQ for certain EU steel products and may result in adjustments to the safeguard TRQ limits.
Antidumping duties (AD) and countervailing duties (CVD or antisubsidy duties) apply in addition to the Section 232 tariffs and quotas and the EC’s safeguard, and AD/CVD orders will continue beyond the Section 232 action and the EC’s safeguard. Thus, U. S. Steel continues to actively defend and maintain the 60 U.S. AD/CVD orders and 12 EU AD/CVD orders covering U. S. Steel products in multiple proceedings before the DOC, U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC), CIT, CAFC, the EC and European courts, and the WTO.
Between April and August 2021, the United States imposed six new AD/CVD orders on imports of seamless pipe from Czechia, Korea, Russia, and Ukraine, setting duties ranging from 6 to 258 percent. This year, DOC also made two final affirmative AD/CVD circumvention determinations, concluding: (1) that corrosion-resistant steel (CORE) from Malaysia made from Chinese and Taiwanese substrate circumvents AD/CVD orders on CORE from China and Taiwan and (2) that oil country tubular goods (OCTG) from Brunei and the Philippines made from Chinese hot-rolled steel (HRS) circumvent the existing AD/CVD orders on OCTG from China. In October 2021, DOC initiated new AD/CVD investigations on imports of OCTG from Argentina, Mexico, Korea, and Russia that are expected to conclude in the second half of 2022. The ITC is conducting five-year "sunset" reviews of AD/CVD orders on HRS, cold-rolled steel (CRS), and CORE from twelve countries, with decisions expected in the second half of 2022.
In Europe, the EC imposed an AD order on EU imports of HRS from Turkey, effective July 2021. The EC also initiated AD investigations of EU imports of hot-dipped galvanized steel from Turkey and Russia in June 2021, with final determinations expected in the third quarter of 2022. The EC is currently conducting five year “expiry” (sunset) reviews of AD/CVD orders on CRS from China and Russia, which are expected to conclude in the second half of 2022.
Additional tariffs of 7.5 to 25 percent continue to apply to certain U.S. imports from China, including certain raw materials used in steel production, semi-finished and finished steel products, and downstream steel products, pursuant to Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974.
The Global Forum on Steel Excess Capacity, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Steel Committee, and trilateral negotiations between the United States, EU and Japan continue to address steel overcapacity.
U. S. Steel will continue to execute a broad, global strategy to maximize opportunities and navigate challenges presented by imports, global steel overcapacity, and international trade law and policy developments.
Environmental Stewardship
U. S. Steel is committed to effective environmental stewardship. We have implemented and continue to develop business practices that are designed to reduce negative environmental impacts. We believe part of being a good corporate citizen requires a dedicated focus on how our industry affects the environment. U. S. Steel's environmental expenditures totaled $302 million in 2021, $278 million in 2020 and $376 million in 2019. Overall, environmental compliance expenditures represent approximately 2 percent of U. S. Steel’s total costs and expenses in 2021, 2020 and 2019. For further information, see “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Environmental Matters.” We have taken the actions described below in furtherance of that goal.
We continue to work on the promotion of cost-effective environmental strategies by supporting the development of appropriate air, water and waste laws and regulations at the local, state, national and international levels. We are committed to reducing our emissions and are investigating, creating and implementing innovative, best practice solutions throughout our operations to improve our environmental performance and to manage and reduce energy consumption.
U. S. Steel recycled 5.3 million tons and 3.0 million tons of purchased and produced steel scrap in 2021 and 2020, respectively. Because of steel’s physical properties, our products can be recycled at the end of their useful life without loss of quality, contributing to steel’s high recycling rate and affordability.
Many of our major production facilities have Environmental Management Systems that are certified to the ISO 14001 Standard. This standard, published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), provides the framework for the measurement and improvement of environmental impacts of the certified facility.
In 2019, and in each succeeding year since, we published the Clairton Operating and Environmental Report related to our Clairton Plant of Mon Valley Works. While U. S. Steel agreed to publish an annual report as part of the 2019 Allegheny County Health Department Settlement Order and Agreement, we took the opportunity to enhance the report by including detailed descriptions of our operations, our safety and environmental performance and community involvement in order to provide easily accessible information for the public. The Report details battery combustion stack and fugitive emission performance at Clairton and Clairton's continued commitment to environmental stewardship. In 2021, we published a similar report for the Edgar Thomson facility.
By using the blast furnace and coke oven gas generated in our cokemaking and steelmaking activities to power our facilities, we avoided consuming natural gas and other fuels from 2019 through 2021 equivalent to the amount it would take to heat more than 3.2 million households each year. In 2021, we recycled approximately 2.2 million tons of blast furnace slag, 85 thousand tons of Basic Oxygen Process steel slag, and 16 thousand tons of electric arc furnace slag by selling it for use as aggregate and in highway construction.
Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions
In 2019, the Company announced its commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions intensity across its global footprint by 20 percent, as measured by the rate of CO2 equivalents emitted per ton of finished steel shipped, by 2030 based on 2018 baseline
levels. Then, in 2021, the Company announced its goal to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, as measured by the rate of CO2 equivalents emitted per ton of finished steel shipped. The Company has provided information on paths to achieve this goal on its website. These targets will apply to U. S. Steel’s global operations.
U. S. Steel plans to achieve its greenhouse gas emissions intensity reduction goals through the execution of multiple initiatives. These include the use of EAF steelmaking technology at U. S. Steel’s Fairfield Works and at Big River Steel, the first LEED-certified steel mill in the nation. EAF steelmaking relies on scrap recycling to produce new steel products, leveraging the ability to continuously recycle steel. Further carbon intensity reductions are expected to come from the implementation of ongoing energy efficiency measures, continued use of renewable energy sources and other process improvements to be developed.
The carbon intensity reduction targets reflect our continued commitment to improvement in production efficiency and the manufacture of products that are environmentally friendly. In addition to a commitment to reduce its own greenhouse gas emissions intensity, U. S. Steel is committed to helping its customers achieve their environmental goals. Our industry-leading XG3™ advanced high-strength steel enables automakers to manufacture lighter weight vehicles that meet federal Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards with reduced carbon emissions. As part of our innovation efforts, we continue to look at new steelmaking technologies so that we can produce green steels and further reduce carbon emissions.
Environmental Matters, Litigation and Contingencies
Some of U. S. Steel’s facilities were in operation before 1900. Although the Company believes that its environmental practices have either led the industry or at least been consistent with prevailing industry practices, hazardous materials have been and may continue to be released at current or former operating sites or delivered to sites operated by third parties.
Our U.S. facilities are subject to environmental laws applicable in the U.S., including the Clean Air Act (CAA), the Clean Water Act (CWA), the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), as well as state and local laws and regulations.
U. S. Steel has incurred and will continue to incur substantial capital, operating, and maintenance and remediation expenditures as a result of environmental laws and regulations, related to release of hazardous materials, which in recent years have been mainly for process changes to meet CAA obligations and similar obligations in Europe.
EU Environmental Requirements and Slovak Operations
Phase IV of the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) commenced on January 1, 2021 and will finish on December 31, 2030. The EU ETS is a component of the European Union's policy to combat climate change and is the world's largest carbon market. The EU ETS operates on a cap and trade principle, and our operations in USSE are required to participate. The European Commission issued final approval of the Slovak National Allocation table in July 2021. The Slovak Ministry of Environment, after consent from the European Commission, allocated free allowances to USSE in December 2021. The final volume was reduced to reflect USSE production cuts in 2019 and 2020. In the fourth quarter of 2020 USSE started purchasing EUA for the Phase IV period. As of December 31, 2021, we have purchased approximately 4 million EUA totaling €176 million (approximately $199 million) to fully cover the estimated 2021 shortfall and 1.1 million EUA totaling €68 million (approximately $77 million) to cover the expected 2022 shortfall of emission allowances.
The EU's Industrial Emissions Directive requires implementation of EU determined best available techniques (BAT) for Iron and Steel production to reduce environmental impacts as well as compliance with BAT associated emission levels. Total capital expenditures for projects to comply with or go beyond BAT requirements were €138 million (approximately $156 million) over the actual program period. These costs were partially offset by the EU funding received and may be mitigated over the next measurement periods if USSK complies with certain financial covenants, which are assessed annually. USSK complied with these covenants as of December 31, 2021. If we are unable to meet these covenants in the future, USSK might be required to provide additional collateral (e.g., bank guarantee) to secure 50 percent of the EU funding received.
For further discussion of laws applicable in Slovakia and the EU and their impact on USSE, see Note 26 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, “Contingencies and Commitments, Environmental Matters, EU Environmental Requirements.”
New and Emerging Environmental Regulations
United States and European Greenhouse Gas Emissions Regulations
Future compliance with CO2 emission requirements may include substantial costs for emission allowances, restriction of production and higher prices for coking coal, natural gas and electricity generated by carbon-based systems. Because we cannot predict what requirements ultimately will be imposed in the U.S. and Europe, it is difficult to estimate the likely impact on U. S. Steel, but it could be substantial. On March 28, 2017, President Trump signed Executive Order 13783 instructing the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) to review the Clean Power Plan (CPP). As a result, in June 2019, the U.S. EPA published a final rule, the “Affordable Clean Energy (ACE) Rule” that replaced the CPP. Twenty-three states, the District of Columbia, and seven municipalities are challenging the CPP repeal and ACE rule in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. A coalition of 21 states has intervened in the litigation in support of the U.S. EPA. Various other public interest organizations, industry groups, and Members of Congress are also participating in the litigation. On January 19, 2021, the District
of Columbia Circuit vacated and remanded the ACE to the U.S. EPA, while the CPP remains stayed. It is unclear as to how the Biden administration will proceed with the remand. Any impacts to our operations as a result of any future greenhouse gas regulations are not estimable at this time since the matter is unsettled. In any case, to the extent expenditures associated with any greenhouse gas regulation, as with all costs, are not ultimately reflected in the prices of U. S. Steel's products and services, operating results will be reduced.
The Phase IV EU ETS period spans 2021-2030 and began on January 1, 2021. The Phase IV period is divided into two sub periods (2021-2025 and 2026-2030), rules for the first subperiod are finalized, however we expect that rules for the second subperiod may be more stringent than those for the first subperiod. Currently, the overall EU target is a 40 percent reduction of 1990 emissions by 2030. Free allocation of CO2 allowances for the first subperiod is based on reduced benchmark values which were published in the first quarter of 2021 and historical levels of production from 2014-2018. Allocations to individual installations may be adjusted annually to reflect relevant increases and decreases in production. The threshold for adjustments is set at 15 percent and will be assessed on the basis of a rolling average of two precedent years. Production data verified by an external auditor in March 2021 shows that USSE missed the 15 percent threshold in 2019-20; therefore, the free allocation for 2021 was decreased accordingly. Additionally, lower production in 2019 and 2020 will have an impact on the future free allocation for 2026-2030, where the updated historical production average for years 2019-2023 will be assessed. Once approved, the rules may impact subperiod 2026-2030.
In order to achieve the EU political goal of carbon emissions neutrality by 2050, on July 14, 2021, the European Commission released a package of legislative proposals called Fit for 55. The proposals contain significant changes to current EU ETS functions and requirements, including: a new carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM) to impose carbon fees on EU imports, further reduction of free CO2 allowance allocation to heavy industry and measures to strengthen the supply of carbon allowances. The proposals are subject to the EU legislative process and we cannot predict their future impact at this time.
United States - Air
The CAA imposes stringent limits on air emissions with a federally mandated operating permit program and civil and criminal enforcement sanctions. The CAA requires, among other things, the regulation of hazardous air pollutants through the development and promulgation of National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) and Maximum Achievable Control Technology (MACT) Standards. The U.S. EPA has developed various industry-specific MACT standards pursuant to this requirement. The CAA requires the U.S. EPA to promulgate regulations establishing emission standards for each category of Hazardous Air Pollutants. The U.S. EPA also must conduct risk assessments on each source category that is already subject to MACT standards and determine if additional standards are needed to reduce residual risks.
While our operations are subject to several different categories of NESHAP and MACT standards, the principal impact of these standards on U. S. Steel's operations includes those that are specific to coke making, iron making, steel making and iron ore processing.
On July 13, 2020, the U.S. EPA published a Residual Risk and Technology Review (RTR) rule for the Integrated Iron and Steel MACT category in the Federal Register. Based on the results of the U.S. EPA’s risk review, the agency determined that risks due to emissions of air toxics from the Integrated Iron and Steel category are acceptable and that the current regulations provided an ample margin of safety to protect public health. Under the technology review, the U.S. EPA determined that there are no developments in practices, processes or control technologies that necessitate revision of the standards. In September 2020, several petitions for review of the rule, including those filed by the Company, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI), Clean Air Council and others, were filed with the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. The cases were consolidated and are being held in abeyance while the U.S. EPA reviews and responds to administrative petitions for review. For the Taconite Iron Ore Processing category, based on the results of the U.S. EPA's risk review, the agency promulgated a final rule on July 28, 2020, in which the U.S. EPA determined that risks from emissions of air toxics from this source category are acceptable and that the existing standards provide an ample margin of safety. Furthermore, under the technology review, the agency identified no cost-effective developments in controls, practices, or processes to achieve further emissions reductions. Based upon our analysis of the proposed taconite rule, the Company does not expect any material impact as a result of the rule. However, petitions for review of the rule were filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, in which the Company and AISI intervened. Because the U.S. EPA has not completed its review of the Coke MACT regulations, any impacts related to the U.S. EPA’s review of the coke standards cannot be estimated at this time.
On March 12, 2018, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), along with other petitioners, submitted a CAA Section 126(b) petition to the U.S. EPA. In the petition, the DEC asserts that stationary sources from the following nine states are interfering with attainment or maintenance of the 2008 and 2015 ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) in New York: Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. DEC is requesting the U.S. EPA to require sources of nitrogen oxides in the nine states to reduce such emissions. In a final rule published in the October 18, 2019 Federal Register, the U.S. EPA denied the petition. On October 29, 2019, New York, New Jersey, and the City of New York petitioned the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit for review of the U.S. EPA’s denial of the petition. In July 2020, the Court vacated the U.S. EPA’s determination and remanded it back to the U.S. EPA to reconsider the 126(b) petition in a manner consistent with the Court’s opinion. At this time, since the U.S. EPA’s decision after its reconsideration is unknown, the impacts of any reconsideration are indeterminable and inestimable.
The CAA also requires the U.S. EPA to develop and implement NAAQS for criteria pollutants, which include, among others, particulate matter (PM) - consisting of PM10 and PM2.5, lead, carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide (SO2), and ozone.
In October 2015, the U.S. EPA lowered the NAAQS for ozone from 75 parts per billion (ppb) to 70 ppb. On November 6, 2017, the U.S. EPA designated most areas in which we operate as attainment with the 2015 standard. In a separate ruling, on June 4, 2018, the U.S. EPA designated other areas in which we operate as “marginal nonattainment” with the 2015 ozone standard. On December 6, 2018, the U.S. EPA published a final rule regarding implementation of the 2015 ozone standard. Because no state regulatory or permitting actions to bring the ozone nonattainment areas into attainment have yet to be proposed or developed for U. S. Steel facilities, the operational and financial impact of the ozone NAAQS cannot be reasonably estimated at this time. On December 31, 2020, the U.S. EPA published a final rule pursuant to its statutorily required review of NAAQS that retains the ozone NAAQS at 70 ppb. In January 2021, New York, along with several states and non-governmental organizations filed petitions for judicial review of the action with the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Several other states and industry trade groups intervened in support of the U. S. EPA’s action. The case remains before the Court.
On December 14, 2012, the U.S. EPA lowered the annual standard for PM2.5 from 15 micrograms per cubic meter (ug/m3) to 12 ug/m3, and retained the PM2.5 24-hour and PM10 NAAQS rules. In December 2014, the U.S. EPA designated some areas in which U. S. Steel operates as nonattainment with the 2012 annual PM2.5 standard. On April 6, 2018, the U.S. EPA published a notice that Pennsylvania, California and Idaho failed to submit a State Implementation Plan (SIP) to demonstrate attainment with the 2012 fine particulate standard by the deadline established by the CAA. As a result of the notice, Pennsylvania, a state in which we operate, was required to submit a SIP to the U.S. EPA no later than November 7, 2019 to avoid sanctions. On April 29, 2019, the ACHD published a draft SIP for the Allegheny County nonattainment area which demonstrates that all of Allegheny County will meet its reasonable further progress requirements and be in attainment with the 2012 PM2.5 annual and 24-hour NAAQS by December 31, 2021 with the existing controls that are in place. On September 12, 2019, the Allegheny County Board of Health unanimously approved the draft SIP. The draft SIP was then sent to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PADEP). PADEP submitted the SIP to the U.S. EPA for approval on November 1, 2019. To date, the U.S. EPA has not taken action on PADEP’s submittal. On December 18, 2020, the U.S. EPA published a final rule pursuant to its statutorily required review of NAAQS that retains the existing PM2.5 standards without revision. In early 2021, several states and non-governmental organizations filed petitions for judicial review of the action with the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Several industry trade groups intervened in support of the U.S. EPA’s action. The case remains before the Court.
On January 26, 2021, ACHD announced that for the first time in history all eight air quality monitors in Allegheny County met the federal air quality standards including particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10).
Environmental Remediation
For further discussion of relevant environmental matters, including environmental remediation obligations, see "Item 3. Legal Proceedings, Environmental Proceedings."
Property, Plant and Equipment Additions
For property, plant and equipment additions, including finance leases, see “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations - Financial Condition, Liquidity and Capital Resources” and Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Available Information
U. S. Steel’s Internet address is www.ussteel.com. We post our Annual Report on Form 10-K, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, our proxy statement, our current reports on Form 8-K, amendments to those reports and our interactive data files to our website free of charge as soon as reasonably practicable after such reports are filed, or furnished to, with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). We also post all press releases and earnings releases to our website.
All other filings with the SEC are available via a direct link on the U. S. Steel website to the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov.
Also available on the U. S. Steel website are U. S. Steel’s Corporate Governance Principles, Code of Ethical Business Conduct and the charters of the Audit Committee, the Compensation & Organization Committee and the Corporate Governance & Sustainability Committee of the Board of Directors. These documents and the Annual Report on Form 10-K and proxy statement are also available in print to any stockholder who requests them. Such requests should be sent to the Office of the Corporate Secretary, United States Steel Corporation, 600 Grant Street, Suite 1844, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15219-2800 (telephone: 412-433-1121).
U. S. Steel does not incorporate into this document the contents of any website or the documents referred to in the immediately preceding paragraphs.
Other Information
Information on net sales, depreciation, capital expenditures, earnings (loss) before interest and income taxes and assets by reportable segment and for business in the Other category and on net sales and assets by geographic area are set forth in Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
For significant operating data for U. S. Steel for each of the last five years, see “Five-Year Operating Summary (Unaudited)” within this document.

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ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
Item 1A. RISK FACTORS
Strategic Risk Factors
Our Investments in new technologies and products may not be fully successful.
Execution of our Best for AllSM strategy depends, in part, on the success of a number of investments we have made and plan to make in new technologies and products. All of our investments are expected to drive stockholder value creation and deliver an enhanced business model that delivers cost and/or capability differentiation for our stakeholders. Our Best for All strategy is centered around adding mini mill capabilities, including through the construction of a mini mill facility in Osceola, Arkansas, non-grain oriented steel line at Big River Steel, a galvanizing construction line at Big River Steel and marketing of our new verdeXTM product line and new advanced high strength steel XG3TM products, which are completed at our PRO-TEC joint venture. Additionally, as with any significant construction project like the construction of the new mini mill in Osceola, Arkansas, we may be subject to changing market conditions and demand for our completed projects, delays and cost overruns, work stoppages, labor shortages, engineering issues, weather interferences, supply chain delays, changes required by governmental authorities, delays or the inability to acquire required permits or licenses, the ability to finance the projects or disruption of existing operations, any of which could have an adverse impact on our operational and financial results. Furthermore, new product development or modification is costly, may be restricted by regulatory requirements, involves significant research, development, time, expense and human capital and may not necessarily result in the successful commercialization of new products, or new technologies may not perform as intended or expected. Unsuccessful execution of these strategic projects, underperformance of any of these assets or failure of new products to gain market acceptance could adversely affect our business, results of operations and financial condition and may limit the benefits of our stockholder value creation strategy.
From time to time, we engage in acquisitions, divestitures and joint ventures and may encounter difficulties in integrating and separating these businesses and therefore we may not realize the anticipated benefits.
We seek growth through strategic acquisitions as well as evaluate our portfolio for potential divestitures to optimize our business footprint and portfolio. The success of these transactions will depend on our ability to integrate or separate, as applicable, assets and personnel in these transactions and to cooperate with our strategic partners. We may encounter difficulties in integrating acquisitions with our operations as well as separating divested businesses, and in managing strategic investments. Furthermore, we may not realize the degree, or timing, of benefits we anticipate when we first enter into a transaction.
Additionally, we seek opportunities to monetize non-core and excess iron assets, including through real estate sales, third party agreements and option agreements. These opportunities may not materialize or generate the financial benefits expected. For example, Stelco Inc. holds an option (Option) to acquire an undivided 25 percent interest in a to-be-formed entity that will own the Company’s current iron ore mine located in Mt. Iron, Minnesota. There is a possibility that Stelco may not exercise its Option in the anticipated timeframe or at all. If the proposed joint venture with Stelco is not successful, fails to provide the benefits we expect, or is not created at all, we may in the future have more iron ore than we need to support the business. Additionally, the existence of the Option may deter future potential opportunities to monetize the iron ore assets. Any of the foregoing could adversely affect our business and results of operations.
Operational Risk Factors
The outbreak of COVID-19 has had, and could continue to have, an adverse impact on the Company’s results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
The global pandemic resulting from the novel coronavirus designated as COVID-19 has had a significant impact on economies, businesses and individuals around the world. Governments around the world have made efforts to contain the virus, including: border closings and other significant travel restrictions; mandatory stay-at-home and work-from-home orders; mandatory business closures; public gathering limitations; and prolonged quarantines. We have also taken actions to protect our employees and to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, including embracing guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on physical distancing, good hygiene, limitations on employee travel and in-person meetings, and changes to employee work arrangements including remote work arrangements where appropriate. Evolving government plans around the world to institute vaccination and/or testing requirements as well as various related state and local directives or challenges, may cause disruptions to operations, and result in labor shortages and unforeseen costs, including increased compliance costs, which could negatively affect our results. Evolving standards and judicial and regulatory interpretations may impede U. S. Steel’s ability to fully comply with applicable legal requirements.
These actions have and may continue to impact our employees, customers and suppliers, and future developments could cause further disruptions to our business, including significant disruptions to commerce, lower consumer demand for goods and services and general uncertainty regarding the near-term and long-term impact of the COVID-19 virus on the domestic and international economy and on public health. These developments and other consequences of the outbreak have materially adversely impacted the Company's results of operations, financial condition and cash flows in the past and could have similar adverse impacts in the future.
The Company may be susceptible to increase litigation related to, among other things, the financial impacts of the pandemic on its business, its ability to meet contractual obligations due to the pandemic, employment practices or policies adopted during the health crisis or in response to laws, regulations, or directives, or litigation related to individuals contracting COVID-19 as result of alleged exposures on Company premises.
The impact of the COVID-19 outbreak may also have the effect of exacerbating many of the other risks described herein.
Our operational footprint, unplanned equipment outages and other unforeseen disruptions may adversely impact our results of operations.
U. S. Steel has adjusted its operating configuration in response to market conditions, including the COVID-19 pandemic, oil and gas industry disruption, global overcapacity and unfairly traded imports, and to optimize capability and cost performance, by idling and restarting production at certain facilities. Due to our operational footprint, the Company may not be able to respond in an efficient manner to fully realize the benefits from changing market conditions that are favorable to integrated steel producers or most efficiently mitigate the negative impacts of such changes.
Our steel production depends on the operation of critical structures and pieces of equipment, such as blast furnaces, electric arc furnaces, steel shops, casters, hot strip mills and various structures and operations, including information technology systems, that support them, as well as finishing lines at our facilities and certain of our joint ventures. While we invested in operational and reliability enhancements to our assets through the asset revitalization program, launched in 2017, and continue to implement initiatives focused on proactive maintenance of key machinery and equipment at our production facilities, we may experience prolonged periods of reduced production and increased maintenance and repair costs due to equipment failures at our facilities or those of our key suppliers.
It is also possible that operations may be disrupted due to other unforeseen circumstances such as power outages, explosions, fires, floods, pandemics, terrorism, accidents, severe weather conditions, and changes in U.S., European Union and other foreign tariffs, free trade agreements, trade regulations, laws, and policies. We are also exposed to similar risks involving major customers and suppliers such as force majeure events of raw materials suppliers that have occurred and may occur in the future. Availability of raw materials and delivery of products to customers could be affected by logistical disruptions, such as shortages of barges, ocean vessels, rail cars or trucks, or unavailability of rail lines or of the locks on the Great Lakes or other bodies of water. To the extent that lost production could not be compensated for at unaffected facilities and depending on the length of the outage, our sales and our unit production costs could be adversely affected.
U. S. Steel continues to incur costs when production capacity is idled or costs to idle facilities.
From time to time, we have indefinitely or permanently idled certain of our assets or facilities and may decide to do so in the future. Our decisions concerning which facilities to operate and at what levels are made based upon market conditions, our customers’ orders for products as well as the capabilities and cost performance of our locations. We may concentrate production operations at several plant locations and not operate others, and as a result we will incur idle facility costs or impairment charges.
U. S. Steel has been and continues to be adversely affected by unfairly traded imports and global overcapacity, which may cause downward pricing pressure, lost sales and revenue, market share, decreased production, investment, and profitability.
Currently, global steel production capacity significantly exceeds global steel demand, which adversely affects U.S. and global steel prices. Global overcapacity continues to result in high levels of dumped and subsidized steel imports into the markets we serve. Domestic and international trade laws provide mechanisms to address the injury caused by such imports to domestic industries. Excessive steel imports have resulted and may continue to result in downward pricing pressure and lost sales and revenue, which adversely impacts our business, operations, financial condition and cash flows.
Although U. S. Steel currently benefits from 60 U.S. antidumping duty (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD or anti-subsidy duty) orders and 12 European Union (EU) AD/CVD orders, petitions for trade relief are not always successful or effective. When implemented, such relief is generally subject to periodic reviews and challenges, which can result in revocation of AD/CVD
orders or reduction of effective duty rates. There can be no assurance that any relief will be obtained or continued in the future or that such relief will adequately combat unfairly traded imports.
In the United States, AD/CVD investigations on imports of oil country tubular goods from Argentina, Mexico, Korea, and Russia and five year “sunset” reviews of AD/CVD orders on hot-rolled, cold-rolled, and corrosion-resistant steel from twelve countries are expected to conclude in the second half of 2022. In the EU, AD investigations on imports of hot-dipped galvanized steel from Russia and Turkey will also conclude in 2022.
Through a series of Presidential Proclamations pursuant to Section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962, U.S. imports of certain steel products are subject to a 25 percent tariff, except: (1) imports from Argentina, Brazil, and South Korea, which are subject to restrictive quotas; (2) imports from the EU that are melted and poured in the EU, within quarterly tarrif-rate quota (TRQ) limits; (3) imports from Canada and Mexico, which are not subject to tariffs or quotas, but tariffs could be re-imposed on surging product groups after consultations; and (4) imports from Australia, which is not subject to tariffs, quotas, or an anti-surge mechanism. The Section 232 national security action on steel imports currently provides U. S. Steel and other domestic steel producers critical relief from imports. With no scheduled end date, the future coverage and duration of the Section 232 action is not known. Further, the U.S. government may negotiate alternatives to the Section 232 tariffs for certain countries, similar to its recent TRQ agreement with the EU. The Section 232 action on aluminum and steel imports, potential Section 232 action on other products, and recent and potential additional U.S. import tariffs imposed under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 have resulted in the possibility of tariffs being applied to materials and/or items we purchase from subject countries or regions as part of our manufacturing process and may result in additional, retaliatory action by foreign governments on U.S. exports of a range of products, including products produced by our customers.
In February 2019, the European Commission (EC) implemented a definitive safeguard on global steel imports in the form of TRQs. The TRQs, which impose 25 percent tarriffs on steel imports that exceed the TRQ limit, are currently effective through June 2024. In December 2021, the EC initiated its third periodic review of this safeguard, which will consider the impact of the agreement to replace U.S. Section 232 tarriffs with a TRQ for certain EU steel products and may result in adjustments to the safeguard TRQ limits.
All of the above factors present a degree of uncertainty to our financial and operational performance, our customers, and overall economic conditions, all of which could impact steel demand and our performance. Faced with significant import competition and overcapacity in various markets, we will continue to evaluate potential strategic and organizational opportunities, which may include exiting lines of business and the sale of certain assets, temporary shutdowns or closures of facilities.
The steel industry, as well as the industries of our customers and suppliers upon whom we are reliant, is highly cyclical, which may have an adverse effect on our results of operations.
Steel consumption is highly cyclical and generally follows economic and industrial conditions both worldwide and in regional markets. Price fluctuations are impacted by the timing, magnitude and duration of these cycles, and are difficult to predict. This volatility makes it difficult to balance the procurement of raw materials and energy with global steel prices, our steel production and customer product demand. U. S. Steel has implemented strategic initiatives to produce more stable and consistent results, even during periods of economic and market downturns, but this may not be enough to mitigate the effect that the volatility inherent in the steel industry has on our results of operations.
Additionally, our business is reliant on certain other industries that are cyclical in nature. We sell to the automotive, service center, converter, energy and appliance and construction-related industries. Some of these industries exhibit a great deal of sensitivity to general economic conditions and may also face meaningful fluctuations in demand based on a number of factors outside of our control, including regulatory factors, supply chain disruptions, economic conditions, and raw material and energy costs. As a result, downturns or volatility in any of the markets we serve could adversely affect our financial position, results of operations and cash flows.
We face increased competition from alternative materials and risks concerning innovation, new technologies, products and increasing customer requirements.
As a result of increasingly stringent regulatory requirements and increased market and technological changes driven by broader trends such as decarbonization and electrification efforts in response to climate change, designers, engineers and industrial manufacturers, especially those in the automotive industry, are increasing their use of lighter weight, less carbon intense and alternative materials, such as aluminum, composites, plastics, and carbon fiber. Use of such materials could reduce the demand for steel products, which may reduce our profitability and cash flow.
Additionally, technologies such as direct iron reduction, oxygen-coal injection and experimental technologies such as molten oxide electrolysis and hydrogen flash smelting may be more cost effective than our current production methods. However, we may not have sufficient capital to invest in such technologies and may incur difficulties adapting and fully integrating these
technologies into our existing operations. We may also encounter production restrictions, or not realize the cost benefit from such capital intensive technology adaptations to our current production processes.
Limited availability, or volatility in prices of raw materials, scrap and energy may constrain operating levels and reduce profit margins.
U. S. Steel and other steel producers have periodically faced problems obtaining sufficient raw materials and energy in a timely manner due to delays, defaults, severe weather conditions, or force majeure events, shortages or transportation problems (such as shortages of barges, ore vessels, rail cars or trucks, or disruption of rail lines, waterways, or natural gas transmission lines), resulting in production curtailments. As a result, we may be exposed to risks concerning pricing and availability of raw materials and energy resources from third parties as well as logistics constraints moving our own raw materials and scrap to our plants. USSE purchases substantially all of its iron ore and coking coal requirements from outside sources. Any curtailments or escalated costs may further reduce profit margins.
U. S. Steel has agreed, and may continue to agree, to purchase raw materials and energy at prices that have been, and may be, above future market prices or in greater volumes than required in the future. Additionally, any future decreases in iron ore, scrap, natural gas, electricity and oil prices may place downward pressure on steel prices. If steel prices decline, our profit margins on indexed contracts and spot business could be reduced.
Changes in the global economic environment, prolonged periods of slow economic growth, and global instability and actual and threatened geopolitical conflict, could have an adverse effect on our industry and business, as well as those of our customers and suppliers.
Overall economic conditions in the U.S. and globally, including Europe, such as the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, significantly impact our business. Periods of economic downturn or continued uncertainty could result in difficulty increasing or maintaining our level of sales or profitability and we may experience an adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
Our U.S. operations are subject to economic conditions, including credit and capital market conditions, and political factors in the U.S., which if changed could negatively affect our results of operations, cash flows and liquidity. Political factors include, but are not limited to, changes to tax laws and regulations resulting in increased income tax liability, inflation, increased regulation, limitations on exports of energy and raw materials, and trade remedies. Actions taken by the U.S. government could affect our results of operations, cash flows and liquidity.
USSE is subject to economic conditions and political factors associated with the EU, Slovakia and neighboring countries, and the euro currency. Changes in any of these economic conditions or political factors could negatively affect our results of operations, cash flows and liquidity. Political factors include, but are not limited to, taxation, nationalization, inflation, government instability, regional conflict, civil unrest, increased regulation and quotas, tariffs, sanctions and other market-distorting measures. Escalating tensions along the Russia-Ukraine border may disrupt our operations and could negatively affect our results of operations, cash flows and liquidity. USSE purchases natural gas from suppliers in the EU who purchase a significant portion of their supply from Russia. USSE purchases a significant portion of its iron ore and coal from suppliers based in Russia and Ukraine.
Additionally, we are also exposed to risks associated with the business success and creditworthiness of our suppliers and customers. If our customers or suppliers are negatively impacted by a slowdown in economic markets, we may face the reduction, delay or cancellation of customer orders, delays or interruptions of the supply of raw materials, and bankruptcy of customers or suppliers. The occurrence of any of these events may adversely affect our business, results of operations, financial condition and cash flows.
Shortages of skilled labor, increased labor costs, or our failure to attract and retain other highly qualified personnel in the future could disrupt our operations and adversely affect our financial results.
We depend on skilled labor for the manufacture of our products. Some of our facilities are located in areas where demand for skilled labor often exceeds supply. Shortages of some types of skilled labor, such as electricians and qualified maintenance technicians, could restrict our ability to maintain or increase production rates, lead to production inefficiencies and increase our labor costs. Our shift to the Best for All strategy would also require a set of job skills that is different from our prior needs. Our continued success depends on the active participation of our key employees. We have recently observed an overall tightening and increasingly competitive labor market. The competitive nature of the labor markets in which we operate, the cyclical nature of the steel industry and the resulting employment needs increase our risk of not being able to recruit, train and retain the employees we require at efficient costs and on reasonable terms, and could lead to increased costs, such as increased overtime to meet demand and increased wage rates to attract and retain employees. Many companies, including U. S. Steel, have had employee lay-offs as a result of reduced business activities in an industry downturn. The loss of our key people or our inability to attract new key employees could adversely affect our operations. Additionally, layoffs or other adverse actions could result in an adverse relationship with our workforce or third-party labor providers. If we are unable to recruit, train and retain adequate
numbers of qualified employees and third-party labor providers on a timely basis or at a reasonable cost or on reasonable terms, our business and results of operations could be adversely affected. Additionally, an overall labor shortage, lack of skilled labor, increased turnover or labor inflation caused by COVID-19 or as a result of general macroeconomic factors that affect our customers or suppliers could have a material adverse impact on the company’s operations, results of operations, liquidity or cash flows.
Our 2018 Labor Agreements with the USW contain provisions that may impact certain business activities.
Our 2018 Labor Agreements with the USW contain provisions that grant the USW a limited right to bid on the Company’s sale of a facility (or sale of a controlling interest in an entity owning a facility) covered by the 2018 Labor Agreements, excluding public equity offerings and/or the transfer of assets between U. S. Steel and its wholly owned subsidiaries. These agreements also require a minimum level of capital expenditures (subject to approval of the Board of Directors) to maintain the competitive status of the covered facilities, and place certain limited restrictions on our ability to replace product produced at a covered facility with product produced at other than Company facilities or affiliates or U.S. or Canadian facilities with employee protections similar to the protections found in the 2018 Labor Agreements when the Company is operating covered facilities below capacity. The provisions in the 2018 Labor Agreements, as well as current or future proposed legislation or regulations, could favorably or unfavorably impact certain business activities including pricing, operating costs, margins, and/or our competitiveness in the marketplace.
The 2018 Labor Agreements covering most USW represented employees have a termination date of September 1, 2022 and to the extent that successor agreements or extensions are not agreed upon as of this date, there exists a potential risk of labor disruption at covered plants.
A failure of our information technology infrastructure and cybersecurity threats may adversely affect our business operations.
Despite efforts to protect confidential business information, personal data of employees and contractors, and the control systems of manufacturing plants, U. S. Steel systems and those of our third-party service providers have been and may be subject to cyber-attacks or system breaches. System breaches can lead to theft, unauthorized disclosure, modification or destruction of proprietary business data, personally identifiable information (PII), or other sensitive information, to defective products, production downtime and damage to production assets, and the inaccessibility of key systems, with a resulting impact to our reputation, competitiveness and operations. We have experienced cybersecurity attacks that have resulted in unauthorized persons gaining access to our information technology systems and networks, and we could in the future experience similar attacks. To date, no cybersecurity attack has had a material impact on our financial condition, results of operations or liquidity.
While the Company continually works to safeguard our systems and mitigate potential risks, there can be no assurance that such actions will be sufficient to prevent cyber-attacks or security breaches or mitigate all potential risks to our systems, networks and data, particularly with the recent proliferation of ransomware attacks around the world. The potential consequences of a material cybersecurity attack include reputational damage, investigations and/or adverse proceedings with government regulators or enforcement agencies, litigation with third parties, disruption to our systems, unauthorized release of confidential, personally identifiable, or otherwise protected information, corruption of data, diminution in the value of our investment in research, development and engineering, and increased cybersecurity protection and remediation costs, which in turn could adversely affect our competitiveness, results of operations and financial condition. The amount of insurance coverage we maintain may be inadequate to cover claims or liabilities resulting from a cybersecurity attack.
We depend on third parties for transportation services and increases in costs or the availability of transportation may adversely affect our business and operations.
Our business depends on the transportation of a large number of products, both domestically and internationally. We rely primarily on third parties, including the recently divested Transtar business, for transportation of the products we manufacture as well as delivery of our raw materials. Any increase in the cost of the transportation of our raw materials or products, as a result of increases in fuel or labor costs, higher demand for logistics services, consolidation in the transportation industry or otherwise, may adversely affect our results of operations as we may not be able to pass such cost increases on to our customers.
If any of these providers were to fail to deliver raw materials to us in a timely manner, we may be unable to manufacture and deliver our products in response to customer demand. In addition, if any of these third parties were to cease operations or cease doing business with us, we may be unable to replace them at a reasonable cost.
In addition, such failure of a third-party transportation provider could harm our reputation, negatively affect our customer relationships and have a material adverse effect on our financial position and results of operations.
Financial Risk Factors
Our business and execution of our strategy require substantial expenditures for capital investments, debt service obligations, operating leases and maintenance that we may be unable to fund, which may require other actions to satisfy our obligations under our debt.
We have approximately $3.9 billion of total debt (see Note 17 to the Consolidated Financial Statements). If our cash flows and capital resources are insufficient to fund our planned capital expenditures or debt service obligations, we may face substantial liquidity problems and may be forced to reduce or delay investments and capital expenditures, terminate strategic projects, or to dispose of material assets or operations or issue additional debt or equity. We may not be able to take such actions, if necessary, on commercially reasonable terms or at all. The Credit Facility Agreement, the documents governing the USSK Credit Facilities, the documents governing the Big River Steel credit facility and Big River Steel notes, and the indentures governing our existing senior unsecured notes may restrict our ability to dispose of assets and may also restrict our ability to raise debt or equity capital to be used to repay other debt when it becomes due. We may not be able to consummate those dispositions or to obtain proceeds in an amount sufficient to meet any debt service obligations then due. Our inability to generate sufficient cash flows to satisfy our debt obligations, or to refinance our indebtedness on commercially reasonable terms or at all, would materially and adversely affect our financial position and results or operations and may place us at a competitive disadvantage with competitors who may have less indebtedness and other obligations or greater access to financing.
Our ability to service or refinance our debt or fund investments and capital expenditures required to maintain or expand our business operations depends on our financial condition and operating performance, which are subject to prevailing economic and competitive conditions and to certain financial, business, legislative, regulatory and other factors beyond our control, such as the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain disruptions such as the chip supply shortage in the automotive industry. We may not be able to maintain a level of cash flows from operating activities sufficient to permit us to satisfy our liquidity needs. In addition, the availability under certain of our debt instruments may be limited if we do not meet certain financial covenants. Furthermore, the agreements governing the BRS ABL Facility and other outstanding indebtedness of Big River Steel LLC and its subsidiaries limit their ability, subject to certain exceptions, to pay dividends or distributions or make other restricted payments, such that we may not be able to access the cash generated by these recently acquired subsidiaries to fund our other expenditures.
If we cannot make scheduled payments on our debt, we will be in default and holders of our senior unsecured notes could declare all outstanding principal and interest to be due and payable, the lenders under the Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, the USSK Credit Facilities, and the Export Credit Facility could terminate their commitments to loan money, accelerate full repayment of any or all amounts outstanding (which may result in the cross acceleration of certain of our other debt obligations) and the lenders could foreclose against the assets securing their borrowings and we could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation. All of these events would materially and adversely affect our financial position and results of operations.
Furthermore, ratings agencies could downgrade our ratings either due to factors specific to our business, a prolonged cyclical downturn in the steel industry, macroeconomic trends such as global or regional recessions and trends in credit and capital markets more generally. Our credit ratings were downgraded in 2020 by three credit ratings agencies, all citing among other things, the uncertainty in duration and impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on our business. During 2021, Moody's and S&P upgraded U. S. Steel and Big River Steel's credit ratings, while Fitch upgraded U. S. Steel’s credit ratings. Ratings agencies also may lower, suspend or withdraw ratings on the outstanding securities of U. S. Steel or Big River Steel. Any lowering, suspension or withdrawal of such ratings may have an adverse effect on the market prices of such securities.
Any decline in our operating results or downgrades in our credit ratings may make raising capital or entering into any business transaction more difficult, lead to reductions in the availability of credit or increased cost of credit, adversely affect the terms of future borrowings, may limit our ability to take advantage of potential business opportunities, and lead to reductions in the availability of credit.
We have significant retiree health care, retiree life insurance and pension plan costs, which may negatively affect our results of operations and cash flows.
We maintain retiree health care and life insurance and defined benefit pension plans covering many of our domestic employees and former employees upon their retirement. Some of these benefit plans are not fully funded, and thus will require cash funding in future years. Minimum contributions to domestic qualified pension plans (other than contributions to the Steelworkers Pension Trust (SPT) described below) are regulated under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) and the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA).
The level of cash funding for our defined benefit pension plans in future years depends upon various factors, including voluntary contributions that we may make, future pension plan asset performance, actual interest rates under the law, the impact of business acquisitions or divestitures, union negotiated benefit changes and future government regulations, many of which are not within our control. In addition, assets held by the trusts for our pension plan and our trust for retiree health care and life insurance benefits are subject to the risks, uncertainties and variability of the financial markets. Future funding requirements could also be materially affected by differences between expected and actual returns on plan assets, actuarial data and
assumptions relating to plan participants, the discount rate used to measure the pension obligations and changes to regulatory funding requirements. See "Item 7. Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and Note 18 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion of assumptions and further information associated with these benefit plans.
U. S. Steel contributes to a domestic multiemployer defined benefit pension plan, the SPT, for USW-represented employees formerly employed by National Steel and represented employees hired after May 2003. We have legal requirements for future funding of this plan should the SPT become significantly underfunded or we decide to withdraw from the plan. Either of these scenarios may negatively impact our future cash flows. The 2018 Labor Agreements increased the contribution rate for most steelworker employees. Collectively bargained company contributions to the plan could increase further as a result of future changes agreed to by the Company and the USW.
The accounting treatment of equity method investments and other long-lived assets could result in future asset impairments, which would reduce our earnings.
We periodically test our equity method investments and other long-lived assets to determine whether their estimated fair value is less than their value recorded on our balance sheet. The results of this testing for potential impairment may be adversely affected by uncertain market conditions for the global steel industry and general economic conditions. If we determine that the fair value of any of these assets is less than the value recorded on our balance sheet, and, in the case of equity method investments the decline is other than temporary, we would likely incur a non-cash impairment loss that would negatively impact our results of operations. We have incurred asset impairment charges in recent years, including during the year ended December 31, 2021, and there can be no assurances that continued market dynamics or other factors may not result in future impairment charges.
We are subject to foreign currency risks, which may negatively impact our profitability and cash flows.
The financial condition and results of operations of USSE are reported in euros and then translated into U.S. dollars at the applicable exchange rate for inclusion in our financial statements. The appreciation of the U.S. dollar against the euro negatively affects our Consolidated Results of Operations. International cash requirements have been and in the future may be funded by intercompany loans, which may create intercompany monetary assets and liabilities in currencies other than the functional currencies of the entities involved, which can have a non-cash impact on income when they are remeasured at the end of each period. Procurement of equipment of announced strategic projects may be denominated in foreign currencies, which could adversely affect the costs of these projects.
In addition, foreign producers, including foreign producers of subsidized or unfairly traded steel with foreign currency denominated costs may gain additional competitive advantages or target our home markets if the U.S. dollar or euro exchange rates strengthen relative to those producers' currencies. Volatility in the markets and exchange rates for foreign currencies and contracts in foreign currencies could have a significant impact on our reported financial results and condition.
Financial regulatory frameworks introduced by U.S. and EU regulators may limit our financial flexibility or increase our costs.
We use swaps, forward contracts and similar agreements to mitigate our exposure to volatility, which entails a variety of risks. The Commodity Future Trading Commission’s Dodd Frank and the EU’s European Market Infrastructure Regulation and other government agencies' regulatory frameworks can limit the Company’s ability to hedge interest rate, foreign exchange (FX), or commodity pricing exposures, which could expose us to increased economic risk. These frameworks may introduce additional compliance costs or liquidity requirements. Some counterparties may cease hedging as a result of increased regulatory cost burdens, which in turn may reduce U. S. Steel’s ability to hedge its interest rate, FX, or commodity exposures.
We are a party to various legal proceedings, the resolution of which could negatively affect our profitability and cash flows in a particular period.
We are involved at any given time in various litigation matters, including administrative and regulatory proceedings, governmental investigations, environmental matters, and commercial disputes. Our profitability and cash flows in a particular period could be negatively affected by an adverse ruling or settlement in any legal proceeding or investigation. While we believe that we have taken appropriate actions to mitigate and reduce these risks, due to the nature of our operations, these risks will continue to exist and additional legal proceedings or investigations may arise from time to time.
Additionally, we may be subject to product liability claims that may have an adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. Events such as well failures, line pipe leaks, blowouts, bursts, fires and product recalls could result in claims that our products or services were defective and caused death, personal injury, property damage or environmental pollution. The insurance we maintain may not be adequate, available to protect us in the event of a claim, or its coverage may be limited, canceled or otherwise terminated, or the amount of our insurance may be less than the related impact on our enterprise value after a loss. We establish reserves based on our assessment of contingencies, including contingencies for claims asserted against us in connection with litigation, arbitrations and environmental issues. Adverse developments in litigation, arbitrations,
environmental issues or other legal proceedings may affect our assessment and estimates of the loss contingency recorded as a reserve and require us to make payments in excess of our reserves, which could negatively affect our operations, financial results and cash flows. See "Item 3. Legal Proceedings" and Note 26 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.
Regulatory Risk Factors
Compliance with existing and new environmental regulations, environmental permitting and approval requirements may result in delays or other adverse impacts on planned projects, our results of operations and cash flows.
Steel producers in the U.S., along with their customers and suppliers, are subject to numerous federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment. These laws and regulations concern the generation, storage, transportation, disposal, emission or discharge of pollutants, contaminants and hazardous substances into the environment, the reporting of such matters, and the general protection of public health and safety, natural resources, wildlife and the environment. Steel producers in the EU are subject to similar laws. These laws and regulations continue to evolve and are becoming increasingly stringent. The ultimate impact of complying with such laws and regulations is not always clearly known or determinable because regulations under some of these laws have not yet been promulgated or are undergoing revision. Additionally, compliance with certain of these laws and regulations, such as the CAA and similar state and local requirements, governing air emissions, could result in substantially increased capital requirements and operating costs and could change the equipment or facilities we operate. Compliance with current or future regulations could entail substantial costs for emission-based systems and could have a negative impact on our results of operations and cash flows. Failure to comply with the requirements may result in administrative, civil and criminal penalties, revocation of permits to conduct business or construct certain facilities, substantial fines or sanctions, enforcement actions (including orders limiting our operations or requiring corrective measures), natural resource damages claims, cleanup and closure costs, and third-party claims for property damage and personal injury as a result of violations of, or liabilities under, environmental laws, regulations, codes and common law. The amount and timing of environmental expenditures is difficult to predict, and, in some cases, liability may be imposed without regard to contribution or to whether we knew of, or caused, the release of hazardous substances.
In addition, the Company must obtain, maintain and comply with numerous permits, leases, approvals, consents and certificates from various governmental authorities in connection with the construction and operation of new production facilities or modifications to existing facilities. In connection with such activities, the Company may need to make significant capital and operating expenditures to detect, repair and/or control air emissions, to control water discharges or to perform certain corrective actions to meet the conditions of the permits issued pursuant to applicable environmental laws and regulations.
There can be no assurance that future approvals, licenses and permits will be granted or that we will be able to maintain and renew the approvals, licenses and permits we currently hold. Failure to do so could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and cash flows. Furthermore, compliance with the environmental permitting and approval requirements may be costly and time consuming and could result in delays or other adverse impacts on planned projects, our results of operations and cash flows.
We have significant environmental remediation costs that negatively affect our results of operations and cash flows.
Some of U. S. Steel's current and former facilities were in operation before many federal and state environmental regulations were in place. Hazardous materials associated with those facilities have been and may continue to be encountered at current or former operating sites or delivered to sites operated by third parties.
U. S. Steel is involved in numerous remediation projects at currently operating facilities, facilities that have been closed or sold to unrelated parties and other sites where material generated by U. S. Steel was deposited. In addition, there are numerous other former operating or disposal sites that could become subject to remediation, which may negatively affect our results of operations and cash flows.
Reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from steelmaking operations to comply with new regulations as well as stakeholder expectations and mitigate potential physical impacts of climate change could significantly increase costs to manufacture future materials or reduce the amount of materials being manufactured.
Iron and steel producers around the world are facing mounting pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from operations. The majority of greenhouse gas emissions from the production of iron and steel are caused by the combustion of fossil fuels, the use of electrical energy, and the use of coal, lime, and iron ore as feedstock. The two main production processes are the integrated route of blast furnace ironmaking in combination with basic oxygen furnace steelmaking (BOF) and the alternative route of electric arc furnace steelmaking. Both routes generate greenhouse gas emissions with the latter process, involving the electric arc melting of a majority of steel scrap, generating less than half that, or less, of the traditional integrated steelmaking process. Federal, state and local governmental agencies within the United States may introduce regulatory changes in response to the potential impacts of climate change, including the introduction of carbon emissions limitations or trading mechanisms. Any
such regulation regarding climate change and GHG emissions could impose significant costs on our operations and on the operations of our customers and suppliers, including increased energy, capital equipment, emissions controls, environmental monitoring and reporting and other costs in order to comply with current or future laws or regulations concerning climate change and GHG emissions. Any adopted future climate change and GHG regulations could negatively impact our ability, and that of our customers and suppliers, to compete with companies situated in areas not subject to or not complying with such limitations. Inconsistency of regulations may also change the attractiveness of the locations of some of the Company's assets and investments. In addition, changes in certain environmental regulations, including those that may impose output limitations or higher costs associated with climate change or greenhouse gas emissions, could substantially increase the cost of manufacturing and raw materials to us and other steel producers.
Additionally, the European Union has established aggressive CO2 reduction targets of 40% by 2030, against a 1990 baseline, and full carbon neutrality by 2050. As part of the European Green Deal the Commission proposed in September 2020 to raise the 2030 reduction target to at least 55% compared to 1990. The new target has yet to be endorsed by the European Parliament. An emission trading system (ETS) was established to encourage compliance with set emissions reduction targets. These aggressive targets require drastic measures within the steel industry to comply. The transition to EAF technology, as well as incremental gains in energy reduction, use of renewable energy and continued asset and process improvements (including EAF steelmaking), are expected to reduce our GHG footprint. However, the development of breakthrough technologies is likely required to continue the path of low to no carbon footprint in the steel industry. Implementation of new technologies will most likely require significant amounts of capital and an abundant source of low-cost hydrogen and/or green power, most likely leading to an increase in the cost of future steelmaking. In addition, the cost of emission allowances is forecast to increase, along with the number of allowances decreasing in the next several years. The price of CO2 emission allowances was 80 euro per metric ton as of December 31, 2021 and forecasts call for potential price increase to 100 euro per metric ton.
The physical impacts of climate change may also have a material adverse effect on our costs and operations. Climate change may be associated with increased occurrence of extreme weather conditions, which could include, among other things, increased risk of flooding, potential heat stress at facilities, and other natural disasters that may lead to supply chain and operational disruptions. Damage resulting from such extreme weather conditions may not be fully insured.
Reduced access to or increased cost of capital may occur as financial institutions and investors also increase expectations related to environmental, social and governance matters.
New and changing data privacy laws and cross-border transfer requirements could have a negative impact on our business and operations.
Our business depends on the processing and transfer of data between our affiliated entities, to and from our business partners, and with third-party service providers, which may be subject to data privacy laws and cross-border transfer restrictions. In North America and Europe, new legislation and changes to the requirements or applicability of existing laws, as well as evolving standards and judicial and regulatory interpretations of such laws, may impact U. S. Steel’s ability to effectively process and transfer data both within the United States and across borders in support of our business operations and/or keep pace with specific requirements regarding safeguarding and handling personal information. While U. S. Steel takes steps to comply with these legal requirements, non-compliance could lead to possible administrative, civil, or criminal liability, as well as reputational harm to the Company and its employees. The costs of compliance with privacy laws such as the GDPR and the potential for fines and penalties in the event of a breach may have a negative impact on our business and operations.

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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
See Item 1. Business, Facilities and Locations for listings of U. S. Steel’s main properties, their locations and their products and services.
U. S. Steel and its predecessors have owned their properties for many years with no material adverse title claims asserted. In the case of Great Lakes Works, Granite City Works, the Midwest Plant and Keetac iron ore operations, U. S. Steel or its subsidiaries are the beneficiaries of bankruptcy laws and orders providing that properties are held free and clear of past liens and liabilities. In addition, U. S. Steel or its predecessors obtained title insurance, local counsel opinions or similar protections when significant properties were initially acquired or since acquisition.
At the Midwest Plant in Indiana, U. S. Steel has a supply agreement for various utility services with a company that owns a cogeneration facility located on U. S. Steel property. The Midwest Plant agreement expires in 2028.
U. S. Steel leases its headquarters office space in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
For property, plant and equipment additions, including finance leases, see “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, Liquidity and Capital Resources” and Note 13 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Mining Properties
Summary Overview of Mining Operations
U. S. Steel operates two surface iron ore mining complexes in Minnesota consisting of the Minntac Mine and Pellet Plant and the Keetac Mine and Pellet Plant, which are wholly owned by the Company. As of December 31, 2021, U. S. Steel owns a minority interest in the iron ore mining assets of Hibbing Taconite Company.
The following table provides a summary of the net book value of the land and PP&E at the Minntac and Keetac mines as of December 31, 2021:
Gross Accumulated Net Book
(in millions) Value Depreciation Value
Minntac Mine and Pellet Plant
Land $ 28 $ - $ 28
Other property, plant and equipment 1,501 1,204 297
Total 1,529 1,204 325
Keetac Mine and Pellet Plant
Land 8 - 8
Other property, plant and equipment 255 178 77
Total $ 263 $ 178 $ 85
The following table provides a summary of our mineral production by mining complex for each reportable period:
Production
(Millions of short tons) 2021 2020 2019
Iron ore pellets:
Minnesota, USA
Minntac Mine and Pellet Plant 16.1 14.1 14.4
Keetac Mine and Pellet Plant 6.0 2.0 5.8
Hibbing Taconite Company (1)
1.3 0.9 1.2
Total 23.4 17.0 21.4
(1) Represents U. S. Steel's proportionate share of production as these investments are unconsolidated equity affiliates.
In accordance with Regulation S-K, Items 1300-1305, we engaged DRA Global and Barr Engineering Co. to provide feasibility studies and technical report summaries for our material mining operations at Minntac and Keetac. The majority shareholders of the Hibbing Taconite Company separately engaged qualified persons to perform the same procedures at the Hibbing Taconite Mine. Accordingly, the figures below for the Hibbing Taconite Mine were provided by the majority shareholders using the reports provided by the qualified persons. The tables showing resources and reserves by mining property were prepared using the results of the procedures performed by the qualified persons designated by each organization, which have no affiliation with or interest in our material mining properties.
Minntac Mine and Pellet Plant
The Minntac Mine and Pellet Plant is located in Mountain Iron, Minnesota and is wholly owned and operated by U. S. Steel. On April 30, 2020, the Company granted Stelco Inc. (Stelco) a purchase option to acquire a 25 percent interest in the Minntac mining operations. The option can be exercised at any time before January 31, 2027. For more information regarding the purchase option, please see Note 20. The Minntac Mine has 25,420 acres of surface rights. The surface mine in the production stage whereby taconite iron ore is mined using the Truck-Shovel method. The mine is approximately 54 years old and has been operated by U. S. Steel since 1967. For discussions regarding encumbrances, violations, fines, etc. related to the Minntac Mine, see Item 3. Legal Proceedings.
The following table provides details of our iron ore resources and reserves at Minntac for the year ended December 31, 2021. Resources below are stated exclusive of reserves.
Minntac Mine and Pellet Plant
Amount Grades/Qualities Cut-off Grades Metallurgical Recovery
(Millions of short tons) 2021 MagFe% Concentrate Silica % Min MagFe % Max Concentrate Silica % Weight Recovery %
Measured mineral resources - - - - - -
Indicated mineral resources 251.0 18.20 5.51 14.00 10.00 23.65
Measured + indicated mineral resources 251.0 18.20 5.51 14.00 10.00 23.65
Inferred mineral resources 149.1 18.05 6.27 14.00 10.00 22.50
Proven mineral reserves - - - - - -
Probable mineral reserves 281.2 19.29 5.59 14.00 10.00 25.11
Total mineral reserves 281.2 19.29 5.59 14.00 10.00 25.11
Keetac Mine and Pellet Plant
The Keetac Mine and Pellet Plant is located in Keewatin, Minnesota and is wholly owned and operated by U. S. Steel. The Keetac Mine has 18,020 acres of surface rights. The surface mine is in the production stage whereby taconite iron ore is mined using the Truck-Shovel method. The mine is approximately 54 years old and has been operated by U. S. Steel since 2003, when it was acquired as part of the Company's purchase of National Steel Corporation. For discussions regarding encumbrances, violations, fines, etc. related to the Keetac Mine, see Item 3. Legal Proceedings.
The following table provides details of our iron ore resources and reserves at Keetac for the year ended December 31, 2021. Resources below are stated exclusive of reserves.
Keetac Mine and Pellet Plant
Amount Grades/Qualities Cut-off Grades Metallurgical Recovery
(Millions of short tons) 2021 MagFe% Concentrate Silica % Min MagFe % Max Concentrate Silica % Weight Recovery %
Measured mineral resources - - - - - -
Indicated mineral resources 192.9 18.93 3.40 14.00 9.00 27.34
Measured + indicated mineral resources 192.9 18.93 3.40 14.00 9.00 27.34
Inferred mineral resources 160.5 18.83 3.81 14.00 9.00 27.30
Proven mineral reserves - - - - - -
Probable mineral reserves 185.2 19.29 3.57 14.00 9.00 20.97
Total mineral reserves 185.2 19.29 3.57 14.00 9.00 20.97
Hibbing Taconite Mine
U. S. Steel maintains a minority interest in the Hibbing Taconite Mine, which is majority-owned by Cleveland-Cliffs, Inc. and located in Hibbing, Minnesota. The Hibbing Mine has 30,760 acres of surface rights, of which 1,150 acres are associated with mineral leases. The majority of the mineral rights are leased. 6,640 acres of mineral leases are expiring between 2022 and 2056. The taconite iron ore mine is currently in the production stage.
The following table provides details of our proportionate share of iron ore resources and reserves at Hibbing for the year ended December 31, 2021. Resources below are stated exclusive of reserves.
Hibbing Taconite Company (1)
Amount Grades/Qualities
(Millions of short tons) 2021 MagFe%
Measured mineral resources 0.4 19.20
Indicated mineral resources - 18.70
Measured + indicated mineral resources 0.4 19.20
Inferred mineral resources - -
Proven mineral reserves 4.2 18.70
Probable mineral reserves 0.4 18.70
Total mineral reserves 4.6 18.70
(1) Represents U. S. Steel’s proportionate share of proven and probable reserves and production as these investments are unconsolidated equity affiliates
Internal Controls
U. S. Steel estimates its iron ore resources and reserves using exploration drill holes, physical inspections, sampling, laboratory testing, 3-D computer models, economic pit analysis and fully-developed pit designs for its operating mines. Estimates for our share of unconsolidated equity affiliates are based upon information supplied by the joint ventures. Refer to sections 2 and 3 of the technical report summaries filed as Exhibit 96.1 for further details.

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ITEM 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
Item 3. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS
General Litigation
On June 8, 2021, JSW Steel (USA) Inc. and JSW Steel USA Ohio, Inc. (collectively, JSW), U.S. based subsidiaries of Indian steelmaker JSW Steel filed suit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas against Nucor, U. S. Steel, AK Steel Holding Group, and Cleveland-Cliffs (collectively, the Defendants) alleging that the Defendants operated as a cartel and formed a conspiracy to boycott JSW from obtaining semi-finished steel slabs. JSW alleges that the Defendants acted in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act and the Clayton Act (federal antitrust), and violation of the Texas Free Enterprise and Antitrust Act. JSW also alleges that the Defendants formed a civil conspiracy in violation of Texas common law, and that the Defendants tortiously interfered with JSW’s business relationships. The basis for JSW’s allegations relate to the Defendants participation in the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Section 232 process, including Defendants’ support of the enactment of the President’s Section 232 proclamation, statements made by the Defendants after the enactment of Section 232, and Defendants’ participation in the Section 232 exclusion process. Plaintiffs seek monetary damages including $45 million for payment of Section 232 tariffs and unspecified amounts for financial penalties, termination fees and lost profits as well as other damages. U. S. Steel, along with the other Defendants, filed a Motion to Dismiss the case on August 17, 2021 which remains pending. The Company is vigorously defending the matter.
On January 22, 2021, NLMK Pennsylvania, LLC and NLMK Indiana, LLC (NLMK) filed a Complaint in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania against the Company. The Complaint alleges that the Company made misrepresentations to the U.S. Department of Commerce regarding NLMK’s requests to be excluded from tariffs assessed on steel slabs imported into the United States pursuant to the March 2018 Section 232 Presidential Order imposing tariffs. NLMK claims over $100 million in compensatory and other damages. The Company removed the claim to the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania on February 25, 2021. U. S. Steel subsequently filed a Motion to Dismiss the case on August 30, 2021 which remains pending. The Company is vigorously defending the matter.
On April 11, 2017, there was a process waste-water release at our Midwest Plant (Midwest) in Portage, Indiana, that impacted a water outfall that discharges to Burns Waterway near Lake Michigan. The Company has since implemented substantial operational, process and notification improvements at Midwest. In January of 2018, The Surfrider Foundation and the City of Chicago initiated suits in the Northern District of Indiana alleging Clean Water Act (CWA) and permit violations at Midwest. On April 2, 2018, the U.S. EPA and the State of Indiana initiated a separate action against the Company and lodged a Consent Decree negotiated between U. S. Steel and the relevant governmental agencies consisting of all material terms to resolve the CWA and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) violations at the Midwest Plant. A public comment period for the Consent Decree ensued. The suits that the Surfrider Foundation and the City of Chicago filed are currently stayed. The Surfrider Foundation and the City of Chicago also filed motions, which were granted, to intervene in the Consent Decree case. The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) filed a revised Consent Decree and a motion with the court to enter the Consent Decree as final on November 20, 2019. Surfrider Foundation, City of Chicago and other non-governmental organizations filed objections to the revised Consent Decree. The DOJ and U. S. Steel made filings in support of the revised Consent Decree. On August 31, 2021, the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana issued an Opinion and Order entering the
Consent Decree. The Company filed a Motion to Lift the Stay in the citizen suits as well as Motions to Dismiss the suits on December 15, 2021 which remains pending. The Company is vigorously defending the matter.
On October 2, 2017, an Amended Shareholder Class Action Complaint was filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania consolidating previously filed actions. Separately, five related shareholder derivative lawsuits were filed in State and Federal courts in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and the Delaware Court of Chancery. The underlying consolidated class action lawsuit alleges that U. S. Steel, certain current and former officers, an upper-level manager of the Company and the financial underwriters who participated in the August 2016 secondary public offering of the Company's common stock (collectively, Defendants) violated federal securities laws in making false statements and/or failing to discover and disclose material information regarding the financial condition of the Company. The lawsuit claims that this conduct caused a prospective class of plaintiffs to sustain damages during the period from January 27, 2016 to April 25, 2017 as a result of the prospective class purchasing the Company's common stock at artificially inflated prices and/or suffering losses when the price of the common stock dropped. The derivative lawsuits generally make the same allegations against the same officers and also allege that certain current and former members of the Board of Directors failed to exercise appropriate control and oversight over the Company and were unjustly compensated. The plaintiffs seek to recover losses that were allegedly sustained. The class action Defendants moved to dismiss plaintiffs’ claims. On September 29, 2018 the Court ruled on those motions granting them in part and denying them in part. On March 18, 2019, the plaintiffs withdrew the claims against the Defendants related to the 2016 secondary offering. As a result, the underwriters are no longer parties to the case. On December 31, 2019, the Court granted Plaintiffs' motion to certify the proceeding as a class action. The Company's appeal of that decision has been denied by the Third Circuit Court of Appeals and the class has been notified. Discovery has concluded and the Company and individual defendants continue vigorously defending the remaining claims.
Asbestos Litigation
See Note 26 to our Consolidated Financial Statements, Contingencies and Commitments for a description of our asbestos litigation.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROCEEDINGS
The following is a summary of the proceedings of U. S. Steel that were pending or contemplated as of December 31, 2021, under federal and state environmental laws, and which U. S. Steel reasonably believes may result in monetary sanctions of at least $1 million (the threshold chosen by U. S. Steel as permitted by Item 103 of Regulation S-K promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended). Information about specific sites where U. S. Steel is or has been engaged in significant clean up or remediation activities is also summarized below. Except as described herein, it is not possible to accurately predict the ultimate outcome of these matters.
CERCLA Remediation Sites
Claims under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) have been raised with respect to the cleanup of various waste disposal and other sites. Under CERCLA, potentially responsible parties (PRPs) for a site include current owners and operators, past owners and operators at the time of disposal, persons who arranged for disposal of a hazardous substance at a site, and persons who transported a hazardous substance to a site. CERCLA imposes strict and joint and several liabilities. Because of various factors, including the ambiguity of the regulations, the difficulty of identifying the responsible parties for any particular site, the complexity of determining the relative liability among them, the uncertainty as to the most desirable remediation techniques, and the amount of damages and cleanup costs and the time period during which such costs may be incurred, we are unable to reasonably estimate U. S. Steel’s ultimate liabilities under CERCLA.
As of December 31, 2021, U. S. Steel has received information requests or been identified as a PRP at a total of four CERCLA sites, three of which have liabilities that have not been resolved. Based on currently available information, which is in many cases preliminary and incomplete, management believes that U. S. Steel’s liability for CERCLA cleanup and remediation costs at the other site will be over $5 million as described below.
Duluth Works
The former U. S. Steel Duluth Works site was placed on the National Priorities List under CERCLA in 1983 and on the State of Minnesota’s Superfund list in 1984. Liability for environmental remediation at the site is governed by a Response Order by Consent executed with the MPCA in 1985 and a Record of Decision signed by MPCA in 1989. U. S. Steel has partnered with the Great Lakes National Program Office (GLNPO) of the U.S. EPA Region 5 to address contaminated sediments in the St. Louis River Estuary and several other Operable Units that could impact the Estuary if not addressed. An amendment to the Project Agreement between U. S. Steel and GLNPO was executed during the second quarter of 2018 to recognize the initial costs associated with implementing the first two phases of the proposed remedial plan at the site.
Remediation contracts were issued by both USS and GLNPO for the first phase of the remedial work at the site during the fourth quarter of 2020. USS and GLNPO have also contracted for the second phase of work at the site which will extend through early 2022. The final phase of the remedial design has been defined and another amendment to the Project Agreement between U. S. Steel and GLNPO was executed in December 2021. USS' portion of additional, design, oversight costs, and implementation of all
three phases of the preferred remedial alternative on the upland property and Estuary are currently estimated as of December 31, 2021 at approximately $59 million.
Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA) and Other Remediation Sites
U. S. Steel may be liable for remediation costs under other environmental statutes, both federal and state, or where private parties are seeking to impose liability on U. S. Steel for remediation costs through discussions or litigation. There are nine such sites where remediation is being sought involving amounts in excess of $1 million. Based on currently available information, which is in many cases preliminary and incomplete, management believes that liability for cleanup and remediation costs in connection with five sites may involve remediation costs between $1 million and $5 million per site and four sites are estimated to or could have, costs for remediation, investigation, restoration or compensation in excess of $5 million per site.
For more information on the status of remediation activities at U. S. Steel’s significant sites, see the discussions below.
Gary Works
On October 23, 1998, the U.S. EPA issued a final Administrative Order on Consent (Order) addressing Corrective Action for Solid Waste Management Units (SWMU) throughout Gary Works. This Order requires U. S. Steel to perform a RCRA Facility Investigation (RFI), a Corrective Measures Study (CMS) and Corrective Measure Implementation. Evaluations are underway at six groundwater areas on the east side of the facility. An Interim Stabilization Measure work plan has been approved by the U.S. EPA for one of the six areas and a contractor has recently completed installation and startup of the remedial system. Until the remaining Phase I work and Phase II field investigations are completed, it is not possible to assess what additional expenditures will be necessary for Corrective Action projects at Gary Works. In total, the accrued liability for Corrective Action projects is approximately $24 million as of December 31, 2021, based on our current estimate of known remaining costs.
Geneva Works
At U. S. Steel’s former Geneva Works, liability for environmental remediation, including the closure of three hazardous waste impoundments and facility-wide corrective action, has been allocated between U. S. Steel and the current property owner pursuant to an agreement and a permit issued by the Utah Department of Environmental Quality (UDEQ). Having completed the investigation on a majority of the remaining areas identified in the permit, U. S. Steel had determined the most effective means to address the majority of impacted materials was to manage those materials in a previously approved on-site Corrective Action Management Unit (CAMU). U. S. Steel awarded a contract for the implementation of the CAMU project during the fourth quarter of 2018. Construction, waste stabilization and placement along with closure of the CAMU were substantially completed in the fourth quarter of 2020. U. S. Steel has an accrued liability of approximately $19 million as of December 31, 2021, for our estimated share of the remaining costs of remediation at the site.
USS-UPI LLC (UPI)
In February 2020, U. S. Steel purchased the remaining 50 percent interest in USS-POSCO Industries, a former joint venture that is located in Pittsburg, California between subsidiaries of U. S. Steel and POSCO, now known as USS-UPI, LLC. Prior to formation of the joint venture, UPI's facilities were previously owned and operated solely by U. S. Steel which assumed responsibility for the existing environmental conditions. U. S. Steel continues to monitor the impacts of the remedial plan implemented in 2016 to address groundwater impacts from trichloroethylene at SWMU 4. Evaluations continue for the SWMUs known as the Northern Boundary Group and it is likely that corrective measures will be required, but it is not possible at this time to define a scope or estimate costs for what may be required by the California Department of Toxic Substances Control. As such, there has been no material change in the status of the project during the twelve months ended December 31, 2021. As of December 31, 2021, approximately $1 million has been accrued for ongoing environmental studies, investigations and remedy monitoring. Significant additional costs associated with this site are possible and are referenced in Note 26 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, Contingencies and Commitments, Environmental Matters, Remediation Projects, Projects with Ongoing Study and Scope Development. See Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details regarding U. S. Steel's purchase of UPI.
Cherryvale, KS Zinc
In April 2003, U. S. Steel and Salomon Smith Barney Holdings, Inc. (SSB) entered into a Consent Order with the Kansas Department of Health & Environment (KDHE) concerning a former zinc smelting operation in Cherryvale, Kansas. Remediation of the site proper was essentially completed in 2007. The Consent Order was amended on May 3, 2013, to require investigation (but not remediation) of potential contamination beyond the boundary of the former zinc smelting operation. On November 22, 2016, KDHE approved a State Cooperative Final Agency Decision Statement that identified the remedy selected to address potential contamination beyond the boundary of the former zinc smelting site. The Removal Action Design Plan was approved during the second quarter of 2018. The Waste Deposition Area design and the Interim Risk Management Plan (which includes institutional controls) were approved by KDHE during the fourth quarter of 2018. An amended consent order for remediation was signed in May 2019 and a remediation contract was executed in June 2019. Remediation work is now underway and is projected
to continue through 2022. U. S. Steel has an accrued liability of approximately $3 million as of December 31, 2021, for our estimated share of the cost of remediation.
Fairfield Works
A consent decree was signed by U. S. Steel, the U.S EPA and the U.S. Department of Justice and filed with the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama (United States of America v. USX Corporation) in December 1997. In accordance with the consent decree, U. S. Steel initiated a RCRA corrective action program at the Fairfield Works facility. The Alabama Department of Environmental Management, with the approval of the U.S. EPA, assumed primary responsibility for regulation and oversight of the RCRA corrective action program at Fairfield Works. While work continues on different aspects of the program, there has been no material change in the status of the project during the twelve months ended December 31, 2021. In total, the accrued liability for remaining work under the Corrective Action Program, was approximately $229,000 at December 31, 2021. Significant additional costs associated with this site are possible and are referenced in Note 26 to the Consolidated Financial Statements “Contingencies and Commitments, Environmental Matters, Remediation Projects, Projects with Ongoing Study and Scope Development.”
Air Related Matters
Great Lakes Works
In June 2010, the U.S. EPA significantly lowered the primary (NAAQS) for SO2 from 140 ppb on a 24-hour basis to an hourly standard of 75 ppb. Based upon the 2009-2011 ambient air monitoring data, the U.S. EPA designated the area in which Great Lakes Works is located as nonattainment with the 2010 SO2 NAAQS.
As a result, pursuant to the CAA, the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) was required to submit a SIP to the U.S. EPA that demonstrates that the entire nonattainment area (and not just the monitor) would be in attainment by October 2018 by using conservative air dispersion modeling. To develop the SIP, U. S. Steel met with EGLE on multiple occasions and had offered reduction plans to EGLE but the parties could not agree to a plan. EGLE, instead promulgated Rule 430 which was solely directed at U. S. Steel. The Company challenged Rule 430 before the Michigan Court of Claims who by Order dated October 4, 2017, granted the Company’s motion for summary disposition voiding Rule 430 finding that it violated rule-making provisions of the Michigan Administrative Procedures Act and Michigan Constitution. Since Rule 430 has been invalidated and EGLE's SIP has not been approved, the U.S. EPA has indicated that it would promulgate a Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) pursuant to its obligations and authority under the CAA. Because development of the FIP is in the early stages, the impacts of the nonattainment designation to the Company are not estimable at this time.
Granite City Works
In October 2015, Granite City Works received a Violation Notice from Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) in which the IEPA alleges that U. S. Steel violated the emission limits for nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds from the Basic Oxygen Furnace Electrostatic Precipitator Stack. In addition, the IEPA alleges that U. S. Steel exceeded its natural gas usage limit at its CoGeneration Boiler. U. S. Steel responded to the notice and is currently discussing resolution of the matter with IEPA.
Although discussions with IEPA regarding the foregoing alleged violations are ongoing and the resolution of these matters is uncertain at this time, it is not anticipated that the result of those discussions will be material to U. S. Steel.
Minnesota Ore Operations
On February 6, 2013, the U.S. EPA published a FIP that applies to taconite facilities in Minnesota. The FIP establishes and requires emission limits and the use of low NOx reduction technology on indurating furnaces as Best Available Retrofit Technology (BART). While U. S. Steel installed low NOx burners on three furnaces at Minntac and is currently obligated to install low NOx burners on the two other furnaces at Minntac pursuant to existing agreements and permits, the rule would require the installation of a low NOx burner on the one furnace at Keetac for which U. S. Steel did not have an otherwise existing obligation. U. S. Steel estimates expenditures associated with the installation of low NOx burners of as much as $25 million to $30 million. In 2013, U. S. Steel filed a petition for administrative reconsideration to the U.S. EPA and a petition for judicial review of the 2013 FIP and denial of the Minnesota SIP to the Eighth Circuit. In April 2016, the U.S. EPA promulgated a revised FIP with the same substantive requirements for U. S. Steel. In June 2016, U. S. Steel filed a petition for administrative reconsideration of the 2016 FIP to the U.S. EPA and a petition for judicial review of the 2016 FIP before the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. While the proceedings regarding the petition for judicial review of the 2013 FIP remained stayed, oral arguments regarding the petition for judicial review of the 2016 FIP were heard by the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals on November 15, 2017. Thus, both petitions for judicial review remain with the Eighth Circuit. On December 4, 2017, the U.S. EPA published a notification in the Federal Register in which the U.S. EPA denied U. S. Steel’s administrative petitions for reconsideration and stay of the 2013 FIP and 2016 FIP. On February 1, 2018, U. S. Steel filed a petition for judicial review of the U.S. EPA’s denial of the administrative petitions for reconsideration to the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. The U.S. EPA and U. S. Steel reached a settlement regarding the five indurating lines at Minntac. After proposing a revised FIP and responding to public comments, on March 2, 2021, the
U.S. EPA promulgated a final revised FIP incorporating the conditions and limits for Minntac to which the parties agreed. U. S. Steel and the U.S. EPA continue to negotiate resolution for Keetac.
Mon Valley Works
On November 9, 2017, the U.S. EPA Region III and the Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) jointly issued a Notice of Violation (NOV) regarding the Company’s Edgar Thomson facility in Braddock, PA. In addition, on November 20, 2017, ACHD issued a separate, but related NOV to the Company regarding the Edgar Thomson facility. In the NOVs, based upon their inspections and review of documents collected throughout the last two years, the agencies allege that the Company has violated the CAA by exceeding the allowable visible emission standards from certain operations during isolated events. In addition, the agencies allege that the Company has violated certain maintenance, reporting, and recordkeeping requirements. U. S. Steel met with the U.S. EPA Region III and ACHD several times. ACHD, the U.S. EPA Region III and U. S. Steel continue to negotiate a potential resolution of the matter.
On December 24, 2018, U. S. Steel's Clairton Plant experienced a fire, affecting portions of the facility involved in desulfurization of the coke oven gas generated during the coking process. With the desulfurization process out of operation as a result of the of the fire, U. S. Steel was not able to certify compliance with Clairton Plant’s Title V permit levels for sulfur emissions. U. S. Steel promptly notified ACHD, which has regulatory jurisdiction for the Title V permit, and updated the ACHD regularly on efforts to mitigate any potential environmental impacts until the desulfurization process was returned to normal operations. Of the approximately 2,400 hours between the date of the fire and April 4, 2019, when the Company resumed desulfurization, there were ten intermittent hours where average SO2 emissions exceeded the hourly NAAQS for SO2 at the Allegheny County regional air quality monitors located in Liberty and North Braddock boroughs which are near U. S. Steel's Mon Valley Works facilities. On February 13, 2019, PennEnvironment and Clean Air Council, both environmental, non-governmental organizations, sent U. S. Steel a 60-day notice of intent to sue letter pursuant to the CAA. The letter alleged Title V permit violations at the Clairton, Irvin, and Edgar Thomson facilities as a result of the December 24, 2018 Clairton Plant fire. The 60-day notice letter also alleged that the violations caused adverse public health and welfare impacts to the communities surrounding the Clairton, Irvin, and Edgar Thomson facilities. PennEnvironment and Clean Air Council subsequently filed a Complaint in Federal Court in the Western District of Pennsylvania on April 29, 2019 to which U. S. Steel has responded. On May 3, 2019, ACHD filed a motion to intervene in the lawsuit which was granted by the Court. On June 25, 2019, ACHD filed its Complaint in Intervention, seeking injunctive relief and civil penalties regarding the alleged Permit violations following the December 24, 2018 fire. Fact and Expert discovery has been completed, and pre-trial motion briefing has been submitted to the Court.
Water Related Matters
On February 7, 2020, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) issued an Amended Notice of Violation and Proposed Agreed Order related to alleged NPDES permit water discharge violations at our Midwest Plant (Midwest) in Portage, Indiana during the period of November 2018 through December 2019 unrelated to the violations resolved in the Consent Decree. On May 11, 2021, IDEM and U. S. Steel entered into an Agreed Order where U. S. Steel agreed to taking corrective actions, a civil penalty, a Supplemental Environmental Project, and stipulated penalties for future violations.

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ITEM 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
Item 4. MINE SAFETY DISCLOSURE
The information concerning mine safety violations and other regulatory matters required by Section 1503(a) of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and Item 104 of Regulation S-K is included in Exhibit 95 to this Form 10-K.
INFORMATION ABOUT OUR EXECUTIVE OFFICERS
The executive officers of U. S. Steel and their ages as of February 1, 2022, are as follows:
Name Age Title Executive Officer
Since
Christine S. Breves 65 Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer April 27, 2017
Daniel R. Brown 49 Senior Vice President - Advanced Technology Steelmaking & Chief Operating Officer - Big River Steel Works February 1, 2022
James E. Bruno 56 Senior Vice President - European Solutions and President - USSK December 1, 2014
Scott D. Buckiso 54 Senior Vice President and Chief Manufacturing Officer North American Flat-Rolled May 31, 2015
David B. Burritt 66 President & Chief Executive Officer September 1, 2013
Richard L. Fruehauf 54 Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy & Sustainability Officer March 1, 2019
Manpreet S. Grewal 42 Vice President & Controller March 30, 2020
Duane D. Holloway 49 Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Chief Ethics & Compliance Officer April 16, 2018
Kenneth E. Jaycox 54 Senior Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer September 28, 2020
A. Barry Melnkovic 64 Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer March 1, 2018
Ms. Breves and Messrs. Brown, Bruno, Buckiso, Burritt and Fruehauf have held responsible management or professional positions with U. S. Steel or its subsidiaries for more than the past five years. Prior to joining U. S. Steel in 2020 Mr. Jaycox served as Vice President, Transformation at Sysco Corporation where during his seven-year tenure, he progressed through a series of executive responsibilities including transformation, sales development and support, and revenue management. Prior to joining U. S. Steel in 2020 Mr. Grewal served as vice president, business finance, controller, and chief accounting officer at Covanta since February 2017. Prior to Covanta, Mr. Grewal spent fourteen years at Johnson Controls Incorporated (formerly Tyco International) in increasingly responsible roles, including internal audit, accounting, controllership, and financial planning and analysis. Prior to joining U. S. Steel in 2018, Mr. Holloway served as executive vice president and general counsel at Ascena Retail Group Inc. During his time at Ascena, Mr. Holloway served as global chief legal, compliance, sustainability and diversity officer. Prior to his work at Ascena, Mr. Holloway served as vice president and deputy general counsel for CoreLogic Inc., the leading global residential property information, analytics and data-enabled solutions provider. Prior to joining U. S. Steel in 2017, Mr. Melnkovic served as executive vice president and chief human capital officer, labor relations, diversity and lean enterprise solutions for National Railroad Passenger Corporation / Amtrak.
PART II

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ITEM 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY
Item 5. MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES
Common Stock Information
The principal market on which United States Steel Corporation (U. S. Steel) common stock is traded is the New York Stock Exchange, where the common stock trades under trading symbol "X". U. S. Steel common stock is also traded on the Chicago Stock Exchange under the symbol "X".
As of February 7, 2022, there were 11,092 registered holders of U. S. Steel common stock.
The Board of Directors currently intends to declare and pay dividends on shares of U. S. Steel common stock based on the financial condition and results of operations of U. S. Steel out of legally available funds and in accordance with the requirements set forth by applicable law. Quarterly dividends were declared by U. S. Steel in 2021 in the amount of $0.01 per share in the first, second and third quarters and $0.05 per share in the fourth quarter. Quarterly dividends were declared by U. S. Steel in 2020 in the amount of $0.01 per share.
Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and the Affiliated Purchasers
On October 25, 2021, the Board of Directors authorized a $300 million stock repurchase program. Approximately $150 million of common stock was repurchased in 2021, as shown below. On January 24, 2022, the Board of Directors authorized an additional $500 million under the stock repurchase program. Approximately $53 million of common stock was repurchased in January 2022, and there is currently approximately $597 million remaining under the current authorizations.
Share repurchase activity under the Company's stock repurchase program during the three months ended December 31, 2021 was as follows:
Period Total Number of Shares Purchased Average Price Paid per Share Total Number of Shares Purchased as Part of Publicly Announced Plans or Programs Approximate Dollar Value of Shares that May Yet Be Purchased Under the Plans or Programs in effect at December 31, 2021 (a)
October 1 - 31, 2021 - $ - - $ -
November 1 - 30, 2021 - $ - - $ -
December 1 - 31, 2021 6,556,855 $ 22.867 6,556,855 $ 150,000,000
Quarter ended December 31, 2021 6,556,855 $ 22.867 6,556,855 $ 150,000,000
(a) On October 25, 2021, the Board of Directors authorized a stock repurchase program to repurchase up to $300 million of our outstanding common stock at the discretion of management. The Company’s stock repurchase program does not obligate it to acquire any specific number of shares. Under this program, the shares will be purchased from time to time at prevailing market prices, through open market or privately negotiated transactions, depending upon market conditions.
Stockholder Return Performance
The graph below compares the yearly change in cumulative total stockholder return of our common stock with the cumulative total return of the Standard & Poor’s (S&P) 500 Stock Index and the S&P 600 Steel Index.
Comparison of Cumulative Total Return
on $100 Invested in U. S. Steel Stock on December 31, 2016
vs
S&P 500 and S&P 600 Steel Index
For information on securities authorized for issuance under our equity compensation plans, see "Item 12. Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters."
Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities
U. S. Steel had no sales of unregistered equity securities during the period covered by this report.

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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. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
The following discussion should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated Financial Statements and related notes that appear elsewhere in this document. Please refer to Item 7 of our 2020 Form 10-K for further discussion and analysis of our 2019 financial condition and results of operations.
Overview
Following a challenging 2020 where our business was significantly, adversely impacted by pandemic-related customer slowdown, in 2021, we rebounded sharply, and adeptly responded to significantly increased demand from customers, resuming and accelerating production. Steel prices rose significantly for much of 2021 and demand remained high. Increased earnings in 2021 allowed us to repay a meaningful amount of debt, and strengthen the balance sheet to enable strategic capital investment in furtherance of our Best for AllSM strategy.
U. S. Steel's results in 2021 benefited from significantly improved business conditions compared to the previous year's COVID-19 pandemic induced market challenges in each of the Company's four reportable segments:
•North American Flat-Rolled (Flat-Rolled): Flat-Rolled results improved due to higher steel demand across most industries as consumer demand recovered during the first full year of COVID-19 recovery, pushing both spot and contract prices higher throughout much of the year.
•Mini Mill: Mini Mill results were added in the first quarter of 2021 with the acquisition of Big River Steel on January 15, 2021.
•U. S. Steel Europe (USSE): USSE results improved due to stronger performance of the manufacturing and construction sectors and higher selling prices though continued high levels of imports persist.
•Tubular Products (Tubular): Tubular results improved from the realized benefits of rounds being in-sourced from our electric arc furnace and the steady increase of drilling activity even though continued high levels of tubular imports persist.
Critical Accounting Estimates
Management’s discussion and analysis of U. S. Steel’s financial condition and results of operations is based upon U. S. Steel’s financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting standards generally accepted in the United States (U.S. GAAP). The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at year-end and the reported amount of revenues and expenses during the year. Management regularly evaluates these estimates, including those related to employee benefits liabilities and assets held in trust relating to such liabilities; the carrying value of property, plant and equipment; intangible assets; valuation allowances for receivables, inventories and deferred income tax assets; liabilities for deferred income taxes; potential tax deficiencies; environmental obligations; potential litigation claims and settlements and put and call option assets and liabilities. Management’s estimates are based on historical experience, current business and market conditions, and various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ materially from current expectations under different assumptions or conditions.
Management believes that the following are the more significant judgments and estimates used in the preparation of the financial statements.
Goodwill and intangible assets - Goodwill represents the excess of the cost over the fair value of acquired identifiable tangible and intangible assets and liabilities assumed from businesses acquired. Goodwill and intangible assets deemed to have indefinite lives are not amortized, but are subject to impairment testing annually, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate the asset might be impaired. Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level annually in the fourth quarter.
The goodwill impairment test compares carrying values of the reporting units to their estimated fair values. If the carrying value exceeds the fair value then the carrying value is reduced to fair value. In developing our estimates for the fair value of our reporting units and unamortized intangible assets, significant judgment is required in the determination of the appropriateness of
using a qualitative assessment or quantitative assessment. For the quantitative assessments that are performed, fair value is primarily based on the income approach using a discounted cash flow method, which have significant assumptions including sales growth rates, projected earnings, terminal growth rates and discount rates. Such assumptions are subject to variability from year to year and are directly impacted by, among other things, global market conditions.
Our mini mill reporting unit holds the goodwill recognized as a result of the Company's acquisition of Big River Steel, and is our only reporting unit that has a significant amount of goodwill. This goodwill is primarily attributable to Big River Steel's operational abilities, workforce and the anticipated benefits from their recent expansion. Finite-lived intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives and are tested for impairment when events occur that indicate that the net book value will not be recovered over future cash flows.
The evaluation of impairment involves using either a qualitative or quantitative approach as outlined in Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 350, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other. U. S. Steel completed its annual goodwill impairment evaluation using a qualitative analysis during the fourth quarter of 2021 and determined there was no indication of impairment.
If business conditions deteriorate or other factors have an adverse effect on our qualitative and quantitative estimates, inclusive of discounted future cash flows or assumed growth rates, or if we experience a sustained decline in our market capitalization, future assessments of goodwill for impairment may result in impairment charges.
Intangible assets with indefinite lives are also subject to at least annual impairment testing, which compares the fair value of the intangible assets with their carrying amounts. U. S. Steel has determined that certain of its acquired intangible assets have indefinite useful lives. These assets are also reviewed for impairment annually in the fourth quarter and whenever events or circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. U. S. Steel completed its evaluation of its indefinite lived water rights and other indefinite lived intangible assets during 2021 and determined there was no indication of impairment.
Identifiable intangible assets with finite lives are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives and are reviewed for impairment whenever events or circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. During the fourth quarter of 2021, U. S. Steel completed a review of its identifiable intangible assets with finite lives and determined that the assets were not impaired.
Business combinations - We account for business combinations under the acquisition method of accounting in accordance with ASC Topic 805, Business Combinations, which requires an allocation of the consideration we paid to the identifiable assets, intangible assets and liabilities based on the estimated fair values as of the closing date of the acquisition. The excess of the fair value of the purchase price over the fair values of these identifiable assets, intangible assets and liabilities is recorded as goodwill.
Purchased intangibles are initially recognized at fair value and amortized over their useful lives unless those lives are determined to be indefinite. The valuation of acquired assets will impact future operating results. The fair value of identifiable intangible assets is determined using an income approach on an individual asset basis. Specifically, we use the multi-period excess earnings method to estimate the fair value of the customer relationships intangible asset. Determining the fair value of the customer relationships intangible asset involves significant judgements and assumptions, including expected realized price, base year metallic costs, contributory asset charges, and customer attrition rate.
Inventories - Inventories are carried at the lower of cost or market for last-in, first-out (LIFO), moving average and first-in, first-out (FIFO) method inventories. The predominant method of inventory costing for Flat-Rolled and Tubular is LIFO. The Mini Mill segment uses a moving average costing method to account for semi-finished and finished products and FIFO for raw materials. FIFO is the predominant inventory costing method used by the USSE segment. The LIFO method of inventory costing was used on 46 percent and 59 percent of consolidated inventories at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively. Since the LIFO inventory valuation methodology is an annual calculation, interim estimates of the annual LIFO valuation are required. We recognize the effects of the LIFO inventory valuation method on an interim basis by estimating the year-end inventory amounts. The projections of annual LIFO inventory amounts are updated quarterly. Changes in U.S. GAAP rules or tax law, such as the elimination of the LIFO method of accounting for inventories, could negatively affect our profitability and cash flow.
Pensions and Other Benefits - The recording of net periodic benefit costs for defined benefit pensions and Other Benefits is based on, among other things, assumptions of the expected annual return on plan assets, discount rate, mortality, escalation or other changes in retiree health care costs and plan participation levels. Changes in the assumptions or differences between actual and expected changes in the present value of liabilities or assets of U. S. Steel’s plans could cause net periodic benefit costs to increase or decrease materially from year to year as discussed below.
U. S. Steel’s investment strategy for its U.S. pension and Other Benefits plan assets provides for a diversified mix of high quality bonds, public equities and selected smaller investments in private equities, private credit, timber and mineral interests. For its U.S. pension, U. S. Steel has a target allocation for plan assets of 50 percent in corporate bonds, government bonds and mortgage, private credit, and asset-backed securities. The balance is invested in equity securities, timber, private equity and real estate partnerships. U. S. Steel believes that returns on equities over the long term will be higher than returns from fixed-income securities as actual historical returns from U. S. Steel’s trusts have shown. Returns on bonds tend to offset some of the short-term volatility of stocks. Both equity and fixed-income investments are made across a broad range of industries and companies
(both domestic and foreign) to provide protection against the impact of volatility in any single industry as well as company specific developments. U. S. Steel will use a 6.90 percent assumed rate of return on assets for the development of net periodic cost for the main defined benefit pension plan in 2022. Actual returns since the inception of the plan have exceeded this 6.90 percent rate and while recent annual returns have been volatile, it is U. S. Steel’s expectation that rates will achieve this level in future periods.
On November 8, 2021, U. S. Steel entered into a commitment agreement with Banner Life Insurance Company and William Penn Life Insurance Company of New York (the “Insurers”) and State Street Global Advisors Trust Company, as independent fiduciary to the United States Steel Corporation Plan for Employee Pension Benefits (Revision of 2003), where U. S. Steel will purchase group annuity contracts that will transfer approximately $284 million of its pension plan obligations to the Insurers. The purchase of the group annuity contracts will be funded directly by the assets of the pension plan. The purchase results in the transfer of administrative and benefit-paying responsibilities for approximately 17,800 U.S. retirees and beneficiaries to the Insurers. The Insurers will begin paying benefits for certain retirees and beneficiaries in the Plan on January 1, 2022. There will be no change to the pension benefits for any retirees and beneficiaries as a result of the transaction. As a result of the transaction, the Corporation recognized a non-cash pension settlement charge of approximately $93 million.
For its Other Benefits plan, U. S. Steel is employing a liability driven investment strategy. The plan assets are allocated to match the plan cash flows with maturing investments. To achieve this strategy, U. S. Steel has a target allocation for plan assets of 72 percent in fixed income and private credit. The balance is primarily invested in equity securities, timber, private equity and real estate partnerships. U. S. Steel will use a 4.50 percent assumed rate of return on assets for the development of net periodic cost for its Other Benefit plans for 2022. The 2022 assumed rate of return was updated after a review of capital market forecasted returns based on target allocations. As a result, the expected asset return for 2022 was increased to 4.50 percent from the rate of return used for 2021 domestic net periodic benefit cost of 4.25 percent.
The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets is applied to the market value of assets as of the beginning of the period less expected benefit payments and considering any planned contributions.
To determine the discount rate used to measure our pension and Other Benefit obligations for U.S. plans we utilize a bond matching approach to select specific bonds that would satisfy our projected benefit payments. At December 31, 2021, the weighted average discount rate used for our pension and Other Benefit obligations was determined to be 3.01 percent and 3.11 percent, respectively, compared to the weighted average discount rate used of 2.72 percent and 2.80 percent, respectively, at December 31, 2020. The discount rate reflects the current rate at which we estimate the pension and Other Benefits liabilities could be effectively settled at the measurement date.
U. S. Steel reviews its actual historical rate experience and expectations of future health care cost trends to determine the escalation of per capita health care costs under U. S. Steel’s benefit plans. Approximately three quarters of our costs for the domestic United Steelworkers (USW) participants’ retiree health benefits in the Company’s main domestic benefit plan are limited to a per capita dollar maximum calculation based on 2006 base year actual costs incurred under the main U. S. Steel benefit plan for USW participants (cost cap). The full effect of the cost cap is expected to be realized around 2028. After 2028, the Company’s costs for a majority of USW retirees and their dependents are expected to remain fixed and as a result, the cost impact of health care escalation for the Company is projected to be limited for this group (See Note 18 to the Consolidated Financial Statements). For measurement of its domestic retiree medical plans where health care cost escalation is applicable, U. S. Steel has assumed an initial escalation rate of 5.75 percent for 2022. This rate is assumed to decrease gradually to an ultimate rate of 4.50 percent in 2029 and remain at that level thereafter.
Net periodic pension benefit cost (credit), including multiemployer plans, is expected to total approximately $(7) million in 2022 compared to $199 million in 2021. Excluding settlement and special termination losses totaling $135 million in 2021, the decrease in net periodic pension benefit cost to credit in 2022 is primarily due to 2021 decreases in amortized losses and service costs. Net periodic other benefit (credit) in 2022 is expected to be approximately $(114) million, compared to $(53) million in 2021. The expected improvement in the 2022 net periodic other benefit (credit) is primarily due to increases in amortized gains and expected return on assets.
The table below projects the incremental effect of a hypothetical one percentage point change in significant assumptions used in determining the funded status and net periodic benefit cost for pension and other benefits:
Hypothetical Rate Change Increase (Decrease)
(In millions) 1% (1)%
Expected return on plan assets
Incremental (decrease) increase in:
Net periodic pension and other benefits costs for 2022 $ (72) $ 72
Discount rate
Incremental (decrease) increase in:
Net periodic pension and other benefits costs for 2022 $ (29) $ 13
Pension & other benefits obligations at December 31, 2021 $ (622) $ 744
Changes in the assumptions for expected annual return on plan assets and the discount rate used for accounting purposes do not impact the funding calculations used to derive minimum funding requirements for the pension plan. However, the discount rate required for minimum funding purposes is also based on corporate bond related indices and as such, the same general sensitivity concepts as above can be applied to increases or decreases to the funding obligations of the plans assuming the same hypothetical rate changes. (See Note 18 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for a discussion regarding legislation enacted in March of 2021 that impacts the discount rate used for funding purposes.) For further cash flow discussion see “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations, Liquidity and Capital Resources.”
Long-lived assets - U. S. Steel evaluates long-lived assets, primarily property, plant and equipment for impairment whenever changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts of those productive assets exceed their recoverable amount as determined by the asset group's projected undiscounted cash flows. We evaluate the impairment of long-lived assets at the asset group level. Our primary asset groups are Flat-Rolled, Mini Mill, U. S. Steel Europe (USSE), welded tubular, and seamless tubular.
In December of 2021, U. S. Steel decided to permanently idle the steelmaking assets at Great Lakes Works, which had been indefinitely idled since 2020, resulting in an impairment of $128 million for property, plant and equipment. The ironmaking process and the related assets at Great Lakes Works remain indefinitely idled.
For the period ended March 31, 2020, the steep decline in oil prices that resulted from market oversupply and declining demand was considered a triggering event for the welded tubular and seamless tubular asset groups. A quantitative analysis was completed for both asset groups and a $263 million impairment, consisting of an impairment of $196 million for property, plant and equipment and $67 million for intangible assets was recorded for the welded tubular asset group while no impairment was indicated for the seamless tubular asset group. There were no other triggering events that required an impairment evaluation of our long-lived asset groups during the year-ended December 31, 2020.
Taxes - U. S. Steel records a valuation allowance to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that is more likely than not to be realized. A valuation allowance is recorded if, based on the weight of all available positive and negative evidence, it is more likely than not that some portion, or all, of a deferred tax asset will not be realized. Each quarter U. S. Steel analyzes the likelihood that our deferred tax assets will be realized.
At June 30, 2021, U. S. Steel determined, based upon weighing all positive and negative evidence, that a full valuation allowance for the domestic deferred tax assets was no longer required. Accordingly, we reversed all of the domestic valuation allowance except for a portion of the domestic valuation allowance related to certain state net operating losses and state tax credits. During the year ended December 31, 2021, we realized a non-cash net benefit of $715 million related to the valuation allowance release, which was partially offset by the addition of a valuation allowance of $82 million, the majority of which relates to an unused capital loss generated in the fourth quarter of 2021. In the future, if we determine that it is more likely than not that we will be able to realize all or a portion of our deferred tax assets, the valuation allowance will be reduced, and we will record a non-cash net benefit to earnings.
At December 31, 2020, after weighing all the positive and negative evidence available to the Company, U. S. Steel determined that it was still more likely than not that the net domestic deferred tax asset (excluding a portion of a deferred tax liability with an indefinite life) may not be realized. As a result, U. S. Steel recorded a $229 million non-cash charge to tax expense.
At the end of both 2021 and 2020, U. S. Steel did not have any undistributed foreign earnings and profits for which U.S. deferred taxes have not been provided.
For further information on income taxes see Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Environmental remediation - U. S. Steel has been identified as a potentially responsible party (PRP) at four sites under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 (CERCLA) as of December 31, 2021. Of these, there are three sites where information requests have been received or there are other indications that U. S. Steel may
be a PRP under CERCLA, but where sufficient information is not presently available to confirm the existence of liability or to make a reasonable estimate with respect to any potential liabilities. There are also nine additional sites where U. S. Steel may be liable for remediation costs in excess of $1 million under other environmental statutes, both federal and state, or where private parties are seeking to impose liability on U. S. Steel for remediation costs through discussions or litigation. At many of these sites, U. S. Steel is one of a number of parties involved and the total cost of remediation, as well as U. S. Steel’s share, is frequently dependent upon the outcome of ongoing investigations and remedial studies. U. S. Steel accrues for environmental remediation activities when the responsibility to remediate is probable and the amount of associated costs is reasonably determinable. As environmental remediation matters proceed toward ultimate resolution or as remediation obligations arise, charges in excess of those previously accrued may be required.
U. S. Steel's accrual for environmental liabilities for U.S. and international facilities as of December 31, 2021 and 2020 was $158 million and $146 million, respectively. These amounts exclude liabilities related to asset retirement obligations, disclosed in Note 19 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
U. S. Steel is the subject of, or a party to, a number of pending or threatened legal actions, contingencies and commitments involving a variety of matters, including laws and regulations relating to the environment. The ultimate resolution of these contingencies could, individually or in the aggregate, be material to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
For discussion of relevant environmental items, see “Part I. Item 3. Legal Proceedings-Environmental Proceedings.”
Segments
U. S. Steel has four reportable segments: North American Flat-Rolled (Flat-Rolled), Mini Mill, U. S. Steel Europe (USSE) and Tubular Products (Tubular). For further description of segment operations and information see Item 1 Segments and Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, respectively.
Net Sales
Net Sales by Segment
Net sales by segment for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020 are set forth in the following table:
Years Ended December 31,
(Dollars in millions, excluding intersegment sales) 2021 2020 %
Change
Flat-Rolled Products (Flat-Rolled) $ 12,180 $ 7,071 72 %
Mini Mill (a)
3,008 - n/a
U. S. Steel Europe (USSE) 4,262 1,967 117 %
Tubular Products (Tubular) 789 639 23 %
Total sales from reportable segments $ 20,239 $ 9,677 109 %
Other 36 64 (44) %
Net sales $ 20,275 $ 9,741 108 %
(a) Mini Mill segment added after January 15, 2021 with the purchase of the remaining equity interest in Big River Steel.
Management’s analysis of the percentage change in net sales for U. S. Steel’s reportable business segments is set forth in the following table:
Year Ended December 31, 2021 versus Year Ended December 31, 2020
Steel Products(a)
Volume Price Mix FX(b)
Other(c)
Net
Change
Flat-Rolled 3 % 58 % 1 % - % 10 % 72 %
Mini Mill n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a
USSE 40 % 75 % (4) % 6 % - % 117 %
Tubular (4) % 24 % 4 % - % (1) % 23 %
(a) Excludes intersegment sales.
(b) Foreign currency translation effects.
(c) Primarily sales of raw materials and coke making by-products.
Net sales for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021 compared to the same period in 2020 were $20,275 million and $9,741 million, respectively.
•For the Flat-Rolled segment the increase in sales primarily resulted from higher average realized prices ($454 per ton) across all products and increased shipments (307 thousand tons) primarily for cold-rolled products.
•For the USSE segment the increase in sales primarily resulted from higher average realized prices ($340 per net ton) and increased shipments (1,261 thousand tons) across most products.
•For the Tubular segment the increase in sales primarily resulted from higher average realized prices ($425 per net ton) for seamless products.
Operating Expenses
Union profit-sharing costs
Year Ended December 31,
(Dollars in millions) 2021 2020
Allocated to segment results $ 430 $ -
Profit-based amounts are calculated and paid on a quarterly basis as a percentage of consolidated earnings (loss) before interest and income taxes based on 7.5 percent of profit between $10 and $50 per ton and 15 percent of profit above $50 per ton.
The amounts above represent profit-sharing amounts paid to active USW-represented employees and are included in cost of sales on the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
Net periodic pension and other benefits costs
Pension and other benefit costs (other than service cost) are reflected within net interest and other financial costs and the service cost component is reflected within cost of sales in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Defined benefit and multiemployer pension plan costs included in cost of sales totaled $128 million in 2021 and $127 million in 2020.
Other benefit service cost included in cost of sales totaled $11 million in 2021 and $12 million in 2020.
Costs related to defined contribution plans totaled $45 million in 2021 and $22 million in 2020. The increase in 2021 from the prior year primarily resulted from the suspension of the Company's contributions for salaried defined contribution plans for a portion of 2020.
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Selling, general and administrative expenses were $426 million in 2021 and $277 million in 2020. The increase in 2021 from the prior year primarily resulted from the addition of Big River Steel with the purchase of its remaining equity interest and increased profit based payments.
Operating configuration adjustments
The Company also adjusted its operating configuration in response to global overcapacity, unfair trade practices and increases in domestic demand as a result of tariffs on imports by indefinitely and temporarily idling and then re-starting production at certain
of its facilities. U. S. Steel will continue to adjust its operating configuration in order to maximize its strategy of providing Best for All profitable steel solutions for all stakeholders.
Idled Operations
In December 2019, U. S. Steel announced that it would indefinitely idle a significant portion of Great Lakes Works due to market conditions including continued high levels of imports. The Company began idling the iron and steelmaking facilities in March 2020 and the hot strip mill rolling facility in June 2020. In December 2021, the Company permanently idled the steelmaking operations at Great Lakes Works, resulting in a non-cash impairment of $128 million. The carrying value of the remaining Great Lakes Works indefinitely idled facilities was approximately $160 million as of December 31, 2021.
In 2020, we took actions to adjust our footprint by idling certain operations to better align production with customer demand and respond to the impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic. The operations that were initially idled in 2020 and remained idle as of December 31, 2021 included:
•Blast Furnace A at Granite City Works
•Lone Star Tubular Operations
•Lorain Tubular Operations
•Wheeling Machine Products coupling production facility at Hughes Springs, Texas
As of December 31, 2021 the carrying value of the idled fixed assets for facilities noted above was: Granite City Works Blast Furnace A, $60 million; Lone Star Tubular Operations, $5 million; Lorain Tubular Operations, $70 million and Wheeling Machine Product's production facility, immaterial.
Depreciation, depletion and amortization
Depreciation, depletion and amortization expenses were $791 million in 2021 and $643 million in 2020. The increase in 2021 from the prior year is primarily due to the acquisition of Big River Steel.
Earnings from investees
Earnings from investees was $170 million in 2021 versus loss from investees of $117 million in 2020. The increase in 2021 from the prior year is primarily due to current year earnings from our PRO-TEC joint venture and prior year losses from our investment in Big River Steel.
Restructuring and Other Charges
During 2021, the Company recorded restructuring and other charges of $128 million, which consists of charges of $29 million for Great Lakes Works, charges of approximately $89 million related to the planned sale of a component within the Flat-Rolled segment and $10 million for environmental related charges at other facilities.
Charges for restructuring and ongoing cost reduction initiatives are recorded in the period U. S. Steel commits to a restructuring or cost reduction plan, or executes specific actions contemplated by the plan and all criteria for liability recognition have been met. Charges related to restructuring and cost reductions are reported in restructuring and other charges in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
Earnings (loss) before interest and income taxes by segment (a)
Year Ended December 31,
(Dollars in Millions) 2021 2020
Flat-Rolled $ 2,630 $ (596)
Mini Mill (a)
1,206 $ -
USSE 975 9
Tubular 1 (179)
Total earnings (loss) from reportable segments 4,812 (766)
Other $ (11) (39)
Segment earnings (loss) before interest and income taxes 4,801 (805)
Other items not allocated to segments:
Restructuring and other charges (b)
(128) (138)
Asset impairment charges (c)
(273) (287)
Big River Steel - acquisition-related items (35) (3)
Losses (gains) on assets sold & previously held investments 118 170
Gain on sale of Transtar (d)
506 -
Environmental remediation charge (43) -
Other items - (12)
Total earnings (loss) before interest and income taxes $ 4,946 $ (1,075)
(a) See Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for reconciliations and other disclosures required by ASC Topic 280, Segment Reporting.
(b) Included in restructuring and other charges on the Consolidated Statements of Operations. See Note 25 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.
(c) See Note 1 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.
(d) See Note 5 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.
Gross Margin by Segment Year Ended December 31,
2021 2020
Flat-Rolled 27 % 1 %
Mini Mill 47 % - %
USSE 26 % 7 %
Tubular 7 % (20) %
Segment results for Flat-Rolled
Year ended December 31, %
Change
2021 2020
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes ($ millions) $ 2,630 $ (596) nm
Gross margin 27 % 1 % 26 %
Raw steel production (mnt) 9,881 9,313 6 %
Capability utilization 58 % 55 % 3 %
Steel shipments (mnt) 9,018 8,711 4 %
Average realized steel price per ton $ 1,172 $ 718 63 %
The Flat-Rolled segment had earnings of $2,630 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to a loss of $596 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. Despite low priced imports Flat-Rolled results for 2021 compared to 2020 increased primarily due to:
•increased average realized prices (approximately $4,025 million)
•increased shipments (approximately $20 million)
•increased mining sales (approximately $265 million)
•increased coke sales (approximately $75 million),
this change was partially offset by:
•higher raw material costs (approximately $240 million)
•increased operating costs (approximately $55 million)
•higher energy costs (approximately $85 million)
•increased substrate purchases (approximately $80 million)
•higher other costs, primarily variable compensation (approximately $700 million).
Gross margin for 2021 as compared to 2020 increased primarily as a result of higher average realized prices.
Segment results for Mini Mill (a)
Year ended December 31, %
Change
2021 2020
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes ($ millions) $ 1,206 $ - n/a
Gross margin 47 % - % n/a
Raw steel production (mnt) 2,688 - n/a
Capability utilization 81 % - % n/a
Steel shipments (mnt) 2,230 - n/a
Average realized steel price per ton $ 1,314 $ - n/a
(a) Mini Mill segment added after January 15, 2021 with the purchase of the remaining equity interest in Big River Steel.
Segment results for USSE
Year ended December 31, %
Change
2021 2020
Earnings before interest and taxes ($ millions) $ 975 $ 9 nm
Gross margin 26 % 7 % 19 %
Raw steel production (mnt) 4,931 3,366 46 %
Capability utilization 99 % 67 % 32 %
Steel shipments (mnt) 4,302 3,041 41 %
Average realized steel price per ton $ 966 $ 626 54 %
The USSE segment had earnings of $975 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to earnings of $9 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. The increase in USSE results in 2021 compared to 2020 was primarily due to:
•increased average realized prices (approximately $1,440 million)
•increased shipments, including volume efficiencies (approximately $160 million)
•strengthening of the Euro versus the U.S. dollar (approximately $50 million),
these changes were partially offset by:
•higher raw material costs (approximately $575 million)
•increased operating costs (approximately $40 million)
•higher energy costs (approximately $45 million)
•higher other costs, primarily variable compensation accruals (approximately $25 million).
Gross margin for 2021 as compared to 2020 increased primarily as a result of higher average realized prices and sales volume.
Segment results for Tubular
Year ended December 31, %
Change
2021 2020
Earnings (loss) before interest and taxes ($ millions) $ 1 $ (179) nm
Gross margin 7 % (20) % 27 %
Raw steel production (mnt) 464 16 2,800 %
Capability utilization 52 % 7 % 45 %
Steel shipments (mnt) 444 464 (4) %
Average realized steel price per ton $ 1,696 $ 1,271 33 %
The Tubular segment had earnings of $1 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to a loss of $179 million for the year ended December 31, 2020. Despite low price imports Tubular results in 2021 as compared to 2020 increased primarily due to:
•increased average realized prices (approximately $180 million)
•lower operating costs, including operating efficiencies (approximately $35 million)
•lower other costs, primarily idled plant carrying costs, (approximately $30 million),
these changes were partially offset by:
•higher raw material costs (approximately $30 million)
•higher energy costs (approximately $25 million)
•increased operating costs (approximately $10 million)
Gross margin for 2021 as compared to 2020 increased primarily as a result of significantly higher average realized prices and positive cost improvements from the new EAF and plant idlings.
Results for Other
The Other category had a loss of $11 million for the year ended December 31, 2021 compared to loss of $39 million for the year ended December 31, 2020.
Net Interest and Other Financial Costs
Year Ended December 31,
(Dollars in millions) 2021 2020
Interest expense 313 280
Interest income (4) (7)
Loss on debt extinguishment 292 -
Other financial costs (benefits) 46 (16)
Net periodic benefit income (45) (25)
Net interest and other financial costs $ 602 $ 232
Net interest and other financial costs increased in 2021 compared to 2020 primarily from the loss on debt extinguishment from our significant reduction of debt and from the increase in other financial costs as a result of the elimination in the current year of the favorable impacts from Big River Steel (BRS) put and call option mark-to-market impacts that appeared in the prior year. The exercise of the U. S. Steel Call Option on December 8, 2020 legally extinguished the Big River Steel put and call options. For additional information on U. S. Steel indebtedness see Note 17 to the Consolidated Financial Statements
For additional information on U. S. Steel’s foreign currency exchange activity see Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements and Item 7A. "Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk - Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk.”
Income Tax
The income tax expense for the year ended December 31, 2021 was $170 million compared to an income tax benefit of $142 million in 2020.
At June 30, 2021, U. S. Steel determined, based upon weighing all positive and negative evidence available to the Company, that a full valuation allowance for the domestic deferred tax assets was no longer required. Accordingly, we reversed all of the domestic valuation allowance except for a portion of the domestic valuation allowance related to certain state net operating losses and state tax credits. That determination was based, in part, on U. S. Steel’s cumulative income from the past three years and projections of income in future years.
As of December 31, 2021, the valuation allowance release resulted in a $715 million non-cash net benefit, which was partially offset by the addition of a valuation allowance of $82 million, the majority of which relates to an unused capital loss generated in the fourth quarter of 2021.
The tax benefit for 2020 includes a $138 million benefit related to recording a loss from continuing operations and income from other comprehensive income categories.
For further information on income taxes see Note 11 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Net earnings/(loss) attributable to U. S. Steel
Net earnings attributable to U. S. Steel in 2021 was $4,174 million compared to net loss of $1,165 million in 2020. The changes primarily reflected the factors discussed above.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Cash Flows and Capital Requirements
Net Cash Provided by Operating Activities
Net cash provided by operating activities was $4,090 million in 2021 compared to $138 million in 2020. The increase in 2021 compared to 2020 was primarily due to stronger financial results, partially offset by changes in working capital. Changes in working capital can vary significantly depending on factors such as the timing of inventory production and purchases, which is affected by the length of our business cycles as well as our captive raw materials position, customer payments of accounts receivable and payments to vendors in the regular course of business.
Our cash conversion cycle improved by 1 day in the fourth quarter of 2021 from the fourth quarter of 2020 as shown below:
Cash Conversion Cycle 2021 2020
$ millions Days $ millions Days
Accounts receivable, net (a)
$ 2,089 37 $ 994 38
+ Inventories (b)
$ 2,210 51 $ 1,402 54
- Accounts Payable and Other Accrued Liabilities (c)
$ 2,684 65 $ 1,861 68
= Cash Conversion Cycle (d)
23 24
(a) Calculated as Average Accounts Receivable, net divided by total Net Sales multiplied by the number of days in the period.
(b) Calculated as Average Inventory divided by total Cost of Sales multiplied by the number of days in the period.
(c) Calculated as Average Accounts Payable and Other Accrued Liabilities less bank checks outstanding and other current liabilities divided by total Cost of Sales multiplied by the number of days in the period.
(d) Calculated as Accounts Receivable Days plus Inventory Days less Accounts Payable Days.
The cash conversion cycle is a non-generally accepted accounting principles (non-GAAP) financial measure. We believe the cash conversion cycle is a useful measure in providing investors with information regarding our cash management performance and is a widely accepted measure of working capital management efficiency. The cash conversion cycle should not be considered in isolation or as an alternative to other GAAP metrics as an indicator of performance.
The last-in, first-out (LIFO) inventory method is the predominant method of inventory costing for our Flat-Rolled and Tubular segments. The first-in, first-out (FIFO) and moving average methods are the predominant inventory costing methods for our Mini Mill segment and the FIFO method is the predominant inventory costing method for our USSE segment. In the U.S., management monitors the inventory realizability by comparing the LIFO cost of inventory with the replacement cost of inventory. To the extent the replacement cost (i.e., market value) of inventory is lower than the LIFO cost of inventory, management will write the inventory down. As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the replacement cost of the inventory was higher by approximately $896 million and $848 million, respectively.
Net cash provided by operating activities for 2021 and 2020 reflects employee benefits payments as shown in the following table.
Benefits Payments for Employees
Year Ended December 31,
(Dollars in millions) 2021 2020
Other employee benefits payments not funded by trusts $ 46 $ 46
Payments to a multiemployer pension plan 75 76
Pension related payments not funded by trusts 11 7
Reductions in cash flows from operating activities $ 132 $ 129
Net Cash Used in Investing Activities
Net cash used in investing activities was $840 million in 2021 compared to $563 million in 2020. The increase in 2021 compared to 2020 was primarily due to increased capital expenditures and the acquisition of Big River Steel partially offset by proceeds from the sale of Transtar.
Capital expenditures in 2021 were $863 million compared to $725 million in 2020.
Total capital expenditures for 2021 were $863 million. Flat-Rolled capital expenditures were $422 million and included spending for Endless Casting and Rolling, Gary Hot Strip Mill upgrades, mining equipment, and various other infrastructure, environmental and strategic projects. Mini Mill capital expenditures were $331 million and primarily included spending for Phase II expansion. Mini Mill segment capital expenditures include $144 million of capital expenditures for a new mill under construction in Osceola, Arkansas. USSE capital expenditures of $57 million consisted of spending for BF Stove, Degasser improvements, Dynamo line and various other infrastructure and environmental projects. Tubular capital expenditures were $51 million and included spending for the Fairfield Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) project, and various other infrastructure and environmental projects.
Net Cash used in Financing Activities
Net cash used in financing activities was $2,747 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021 compared to net cash provided by financing activities of $1,581 million for the same period in 2020. The net cash used in financing activities for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021 was primarily due to the repayment of debt and common stock repurchases, partially offset by the issuance of common stock.
Debt Financing
In 2021, U. S. Steel made payments of debt and redemption premiums of approximately $3.4 billion. The following is a summary of debt repayments for our Senior Secured Notes, Senior Notes and other debt obligations made during the twelve months ended December 31, 2021:
Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2021
Debt Instrument (in Millions) Date Debt Extinguished
Arkansas Teacher Retirement System Notes Payable Fourth quarter 2021 $ 106
Environmental Revenue Bonds (U. S. Steel) Fourth quarter 2021 70
Finance leases and all other obligations (e)
Fourth quarter 2021 46
6.250% Senior Notes due 2026 (d)
Fourth quarter 2021 230
6.250% Senior Notes due 2026 (a)
Third quarter 2021 370
6.875% Senior Notes due 2025 (a)
Third quarter 2021 718
6.625% 2029 Senior Secured Notes (a)
Third quarter 2021 180
6.250% Senior Notes due 2026 Second quarter 2021 18
6.875% Senior Notes due 2025 Second quarter 2021 14
12.000% 2025 Senior Secured Notes (b)
First quarter 2021 1,056
6.875% Senior Notes due 2025 First quarter 2021 18
6.250% Senior Notes due 2026 First quarter 2021 32
Environmental Revenue Bonds (U. S. Steel) First quarter 2021 89
Export-Import Credit Agreement (c)
First quarter 2021 180
Total $ 3,127
(a) During the three months ended September 30, 2021, there were redemption premiums paid of $28 million and a net gain of $5 million for the write-off of unamortized acquisition-related fair value adjustment, discounts, and debt issuance costs as a result of these debt repayments.
(b) There were redemption premiums and unamortized discount and debt issuance write-offs of approximately $181 million and $71 million, respectively related to the repayment.
(c) Export-Import Credit Agreement was terminated in the first quarter of 2021. There were approximately $3 million in non-cash debt extinguishment costs associated with the repayment.
(d) There were redemption premiums and unamortized discount and debt issuance write-offs of approximately $7 million and $2 million, respectively, related to the repayment.
(e) Includes BRS Mortgage, Fairfield Caster Lease, and BRS Stonebriar Financing; extinguishment costs associated with this debt was immaterial.
Certain of our credit facilities, including the Credit Facility Agreement, the Big River Steel ABL Facility, the USSK Credit Agreement and the Export Credit Agreement, contain standard terms and conditions including customary material adverse change clauses. If a material adverse change was to occur, our ability to fund future operating and capital requirements could be negatively impacted.
We assumed additional indebtedness in connection with the acquisition of Big River Steel on January 15, 2021. Most of Big River Steel’s prior financing arrangements were secured transactions, with many of the assets of BRS Intermediate Holdings LLC, Big River Steel LLC and BRS Finance Corp. used as collateral. Until we repay the debt owed under these debt arrangements, including the 2029 Senior Secured Notes with $720 million outstanding as of December 31, 2021, we will remain subject to the restrictive terms of these borrowings. See Note 17 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details.
We use surety bonds, trusts and letters of credit to provide financial assurance for certain transactions and business activities. The use of some forms of financial assurance and cash collateral have a negative impact on liquidity. U. S. Steel has committed $216 million of liquidity sources for financial assurance purposes as of December 31, 2021. Increases in certain of these commitments which use collateral are reflected within cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash on the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.
The maximum guarantees of the indebtedness of unconsolidated entities of U. S. Steel totaled $7 million at December 31, 2021. If any default related to the guaranteed indebtedness occurs, U. S. Steel has access to its interest in the assets of the investees to reduce its potential losses under the guarantees.
We may from time to time seek to retire or repurchase our outstanding long-term debt through open market purchases, privately negotiated transactions, exchange transactions, redemptions or otherwise. Such purchases or exchanges, if any, will depend on prevailing market conditions, our liquidity requirements, and other factors and may be commenced or suspended at any time. The amounts involved may be material. See Note 17 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details regarding U. S. Steel's debt.
Share Repurchases
On October 25, 2021, the Board of Directors authorized stock repurchase programs under which up to $300 million of the Company's outstanding common stock may be acquired at the discretion of management. In January 2022, the Board of Directors expanded the repurchase authorization by $500 million. During 2021, U. S. Steel repurchased $150 million of common stock under the stock repurchase program. Approximately $53 million of common stock was repurchased in January 2022. See Note 27 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, “Common Stock Issued and Repurchased” for further details.
Issuances of Stock
In February 2021, U. S. Steel issued 48.3 million shares of common stock for net proceeds of approximately $790 million.
Capital Requirements
Our major cash requirements in 2022 are expected to be for capital expenditures, including strategic priorities, employee benefits and operating costs, which includes purchases of raw materials. We ended 2021 with $2,522 million of cash and cash equivalents and $4,971 million of total liquidity. Available cash is left on deposit with financial institutions or invested in highly liquid securities with parties we believe to be creditworthy.
Capital expenditures for 2022 are expected to total approximately $2.3 billion which are focused largely on strategic projects, as well as continued reinvestment in our equipment to improve our operating reliability and efficiency, and product quality and cost by focusing on investments in our Flat-Rolled and Mini Mill segments.
U. S. Steel’s contractual commitments to acquire property, plant and equipment at December 31, 2021, totaled $1,483 million.
Liquidity
The following table summarizes U. S. Steel’s liquidity as of December 31, 2021:
(Dollars in millions)
Cash and cash equivalents $ 2,522
Amount available under Credit Facility Agreement 1,746
Amount available under Big River Steel - Revolving Line of Credit 350
Amounts available under USSK Credit Agreement and USSK Credit Facility 353
Total estimated liquidity $ 4,971
As of December 31, 2021, $330 million of the total cash and cash equivalents was held by our foreign subsidiaries. Substantially all of the liquidity attributable to our foreign subsidiaries can be accessed without the imposition of income taxes as a result of the election effective December 31, 2013 to liquidate for U.S. income tax purposes a foreign subsidiary that holds most of our international operations.
We expect that our estimated liquidity requirements will consist primarily of our 2022 planned strategic and sustaining capital expenditures, working capital requirements, interest expense, and operating costs and employee benefits for our operations after taking into account the footprint actions and cost reductions at our plants and headquarters. Our available liquidity at December 31, 2021 consists principally of our cash and cash equivalents and available borrowings under the Credit Facility Agreement, Big River Steel ABL Facility, USSK Credit Agreement and the USSK Credit Facility. Management continues to evaluate market conditions in our industry and our global liquidity position, and may consider additional actions to further strengthen our balance sheet and optimize liquidity, including but not limited to the repayment or refinancing of outstanding debt and the incurrence of additional debt to opportunistically finance strategic projects. The company may also return excess liquidity to shareholders through share repurchases and dividends from time to time if deemed appropriate by management.
U. S. Steel management believes that U. S. Steel’s liquidity will be adequate to satisfy our obligations for the foreseeable future, including obligations to complete currently authorized capital spending programs. Future requirements for U. S. Steel’s business needs, including the funding of acquisitions and capital expenditures, scheduled debt maturities, repurchase of debt, share buybacks, dividends, contributions to employee benefit plans, and any amounts that may ultimately be paid in connection with contingencies, are expected to be funded by a combination of internally generated funds (including asset sales), proceeds from the sale of stock, borrowings, refinancings and other external financing sources. The following table summarizes the Company's contractual obligations at December 31, 2021, and the effect such obligations are expected to have on our liquidity and cash flows in future periods.
(Dollars in millions)
Payments Due by Period
Contractual Obligations Total 2022 2023
through
2024 2025 through
2026 Beyond
Debt (including interest) and finance leases(a)
$ 6,832 $ 264 $ 592 $ 849 $ 5,127
Operating leases(b)
223 68 86 47 22
Contractual purchase commitments(c)
8,073 5,887 903 579 704
Capital commitments(d)
1,483 1,118 365 - -
Environmental commitments(d)
158 65 - - 93
Steelworkers Pension Trust(e)
380 74 151 155 -
Employee related benefits(f)
211 44 85 82 -
Total contractual obligations $ 17,360 $ 7,520 $ 2,182 $ 1,712 $ 5,946
(a) See Note 17 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
(b) See Note 24 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
(c) Reflects estimated contractual purchase commitments under purchase orders and “take or pay” arrangements. “Take or pay” arrangements are primarily for purchases of gases and certain energy and utility services.
(d) See Note 26 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
(e) While it is difficult to make a prediction of cash requirements beyond the term of the 2018 Labor Agreements with the USW, which expire on September 1, 2022, projected amounts shown through 2025 assume the contribution rate per hour included in the 2018 Labor Agreements.
(f) The amounts reflect corporate cash outlays for expected benefit payments to be paid by the Company. (See Note 18 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.) The accuracy of this forecast of future cash flows depends on future medical health care escalation rates and restrictions related to our trusts for retiree healthcare and life insurance (VEBA) that impact the timing of the use of trust assets. Projected amounts have been reduced to reflect withdrawals from the USW VEBA trust available under its agreements with the USW. Due to these factors, it is not possible to reliably estimate cash requirements beyond five years and actual amounts experienced may differ significantly from those shown.
Other Commercial Commitments
The following table summarizes U. S. Steel’s commercial commitments at December 31, 2021, and the effect such commitments could have on our liquidity and cash flows in future periods.
(Dollars in millions)
Scheduled Reductions by Period
Commercial Commitments Total 2022 2023
through
2024 2025
through
2026 Beyond
Standby letters of credit(a)
$ 58 $ 40 $ 5 $ - $ 13 (b)
Surety bonds(a)
103 - - - 103 (b)
Funded Trusts(a)
55 - - - 55 (b)
Total commercial commitments $ 216 $ 40 $ 5 $ - $ 171
(a)Reflects a commitment or guarantee for which future cash outflow is not considered likely.
(b)Timing of potential cash outflows is not determinable.
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
U. S. Steel has invested in several joint ventures that are reported as equity investments. Several of these investments involved a transfer of assets in exchange for an equity interest. U. S. Steel has supply arrangements with several of these joint ventures.
U. S. Steel’s other off-balance sheet arrangements include guarantees, indemnifications, unconditional purchase obligations, surety bonds, trusts and letters of credit disclosed in Note 26 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Derivative Instruments
See “Item 7A. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” for discussion of derivative instruments and associated market risk for U. S. Steel.
Environmental Matters
U. S. Steel’s environmental expenditures were as follows:
(Dollars in millions)
2021 2020 2019
North America:
Capital $ 27 $ 36 $ 96
Compliance
Operating & maintenance 201 188 213
Remediation(a)
57 37 22
Total North America $ 285 $ 261 $ 331
USSE:
Capital $ - $ 6 $ 27
Compliance
Operating & maintenance 10 6 10
Remediation(a)
7 5 8
Total USSE $ 17 $ 17 $ 45
Total U. S. Steel $ 302 $ 278 $ 376
(a) These amounts include spending charged against remediation reserves, net of recoveries where permissible, but do not include non-cash provisions recorded for environmental remediation.
U. S. Steel’s environmental capital expenditures accounted for 3 percent of total capital expenditures in 2021 and 6 percent in 2020 and 10 percent in 2019.
Environmental compliance expenditures represented 2 percent of U. S. Steel's total costs and expenses in 2021, 2020 and 2019. Remediation spending during 2019 through 2021 was mainly related to remediation activities at former and present operating locations.
For discussion of other relevant environmental items see “Part I, Item 3. Legal Proceedings - Environmental Proceedings.”
The following table shows activity with respect to environmental remediation liabilities for the years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020. These amounts exclude liabilities related to asset retirement obligations accounted for in accordance with ASC Topic 410. See Note 19 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
(Dollars in millions) 2021 2020
Beginning Balance $ 146 $ 186
Plus: Additions 43 7
Less: Obligations settled (31) (47)
Ending Balance $ 158 $ 146
New or expanded environmental requirements, which could increase U. S. Steel’s environmental costs, may arise in the future. U. S. Steel intends to comply with all legal requirements regarding the environment, but since many of them are not fixed or presently determinable (even under existing legislation) and may be affected by future legislation, it is not possible to predict accurately the ultimate cost of compliance, including remediation costs which may be incurred and penalties which may be imposed. U. S. Steel’s environmental capital expenditures are expected to be approximately $65 million in 2022, $4 million of which is related to projects at USSE. U. S. Steel's environmental expenditures for 2022 for operating and maintenance and for remediation projects are expected to be approximately $202 million and $74 million, respectively, of which approximately $12 million and $9 million for operating and maintenance and remediation, respectively, is related to USSE. Although, the outcome of pending environmental matters are not estimable at this time, it is reasonably possible that U. S. Steel's environmental capital and operating and maintenance expenditures could materially increase as a result of the future resolution of these matters. Predictions of future environmental expenditures beyond 2022 can only be broad-based estimates, which have varied, and will continue to vary, due to the ongoing evolution of specific regulatory requirements, the possible imposition of more stringent requirements and the availability of new technologies to remediate sites, among other factors.
Accounting Standards
See Notes 2 and 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements in Part II Item 8 of this Form 10-K.

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ITEM 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
Item 7A. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
U. S. Steel is exposed to certain risks related to its ongoing business operations, including financial, market, political, and economic risks. The following discussion provides information regarding U. S. Steel’s exposure to the risks of changing foreign currency exchange rates, commodity prices and interest rates.
U. S. Steel may enter into derivative financial instrument transactions in order to manage or reduce these market risks. The use of derivative instruments is subject to our corporate governance policies. These instruments are used solely to mitigate market exposure and are not used for trading or speculative purposes.
U. S. Steel may elect to use hedge accounting for certain commodity or currency transactions. For those transactions, the impact of the hedging instrument will be recognized in other comprehensive income until the transaction is settled. Once the transaction is settled, the effect of the hedged item will be recognized in income. For further information regarding derivative instruments see Notes 1 and 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk
U. S. Steel is subject to the risk of price fluctuations due to the effects of exchange rates on revenues and operating costs, firm commitments for capital expenditures and existing assets or liabilities denominated in currencies other than the U.S. dollar, particularly the euro. U. S. Steel historically has made limited use of forward currency contracts to manage exposure to certain currency price fluctuations. U. S. Steel elected cash flow hedge accounting for euro foreign exchange forwards prospectively effective July 1, 2019. Foreign currency derivative instruments entered into prior to July 1, 2019, were marked-to-market and the resulting gains or losses recognized in the current period in net interest and other financial costs until those contracts matured in July 2020. U. S. Steel had no material open euro forward sales contracts for U.S. dollars that were subject to mark-to-market accounting as of December 31, 2021.
The fair value of our derivatives is determined using Level 2 inputs, which are defined as “significant other observable” inputs. The inputs used include quotes from counterparties that are corroborated with market sources.
Volatility in the foreign currency markets could have significant implications for U. S. Steel as a result of foreign currency transaction effects. Future foreign currency impacts will depend upon changes in currencies and the extent to which we engage in derivatives transactions. For additional information on U. S. Steel’s foreign currency exchange activity, see Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Commodity Price Risk and Related Risks
In the normal course of our business, U. S. Steel is exposed to market risk or price fluctuations related to the purchase, production or sale of steel products. U. S. Steel is also exposed to price risk related to the purchase, production or sale of coal, coke, natural gas, steel scrap, iron ore and pellets, and zinc, tin and other nonferrous metals used as raw materials. U. S. Steel is also subject to market price risk for the purchase of a portion of its electricity at certain facilities. See Note 16 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for further details on U. S. Steel’s derivatives.
U. S. Steel’s market risk strategy has generally been to obtain competitive prices for our products and services and allow operating results to reflect market price movements dictated by supply and demand; however, from time to time U. S. Steel has made forward physical purchases to manage exposure to price risk related to the purchases of natural gas and certain non-ferrous metals used in the production process. As of December 31, 2021, U. S. Steel, through U. S. Steel Europe, had $7 million forward buy contracts for zinc. There were no forward buy contracts for natural gas or any of the other significant raw materials used in the domestic production process.
Interest Rate Risk
U. S. Steel is subject to the effects of interest rate fluctuations on the fair value of certain of our non-derivative financial instruments. A sensitivity analysis of the projected incremental effect of a hypothetical 10 percent increase/decrease in year-end 2021 and 2020 interest rates on the fair value of U. S. Steel’s non-derivative financial instruments is provided in the following table:
(Dollars in millions) 2021 2020
Non-Derivative Financial Instruments(a)
Fair Value(b)
Change in
Fair Value(c)
Fair Value(b)
Change in
Fair Value(c)
Financial liabilities:
Debt(d)(e)
$ 4,379 $ 143 $ 5,323 $ 141
(a)Fair values of cash and cash equivalents, current accounts and notes receivable, accounts payable, bank checks outstanding and accrued interest approximate carrying value and are relatively insensitive to changes in interest rates due to the short-term maturity of the instruments. Accordingly, these instruments are excluded from the table.
(b)See Note 20 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for carrying value of instruments.
(c)Reflects, by class of financial instrument, the estimated incremental effect of a hypothetical 10 percent change in interest rates at December 31, 2021, and 2020, on the fair value of U. S. Steel’s non-derivative financial instruments. For financial liabilities, this assumes a 10 percent decrease in the weighted average yield to maturity of U. S. Steel’s long-term debt at December 31, 2021, and December 31, 2020.
(d)Excludes finance lease obligations.
(e)Fair value was determined using Level 2 inputs which were derived from quoted market prices and is based on the yield on public debt where available or current borrowing rates available for financings with similar terms and maturities.
U. S. Steel’s sensitivity to interest rate declines and corresponding increases in the fair value of our debt portfolio would unfavorably affect our results and cash flows only to the extent that we elected to repurchase or otherwise retire all or a portion of our fixed-rate debt portfolio at prices above carrying value.

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ITEM 8. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
Item 8. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA
The information required by this item is set forth in our Consolidated Financial Statement contained in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. Specific financial statements can be found at the page listed below:
PAGE
MANAGEMENT'S REPORT TO STOCKHOLDERS
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM (PCAOB ID 238)
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2021, 2020 AND 2019
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS) FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2021, 2020 AND 2019
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AS OF DECEMBER 31, 2021 AND 2020
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2021, 2020 AND 2019
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2021, 2020 AND 2019
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
SUPPLEMENTARY DATA (UNAUDITED)
MANAGEMENT’S REPORT TO STOCKHOLDERS
February 11, 2022
To the Stockholders of United States Steel Corporation:
Financial Statements and Practices
The accompanying consolidated financial statements of United States Steel Corporation are the responsibility of and have been prepared by United States Steel Corporation in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. They necessarily include some amounts that are based on our best judgments and estimates. United States Steel Corporation’s financial information displayed in other sections of this report is consistent with these financial statements.
United States Steel Corporation seeks to assure the objectivity and integrity of its financial records by careful selection of its managers, by organizational arrangements that provide an appropriate division of responsibility and by communication programs aimed at assuring that its policies, procedures and methods are understood throughout the organization.
United States Steel Corporation has a comprehensive, formalized system of internal controls designed to provide reasonable assurance that assets are safeguarded, that financial records are reliable and that information required to be disclosed in reports filed with or submitted to the Securities and Exchange Commission is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the required time limits. Appropriate management monitors the system for compliance and evaluates it for effectiveness, and the independent registered public accounting firm measures its effectiveness and recommends possible improvements thereto.
The Board of Directors exercises its oversight role in the area of financial reporting and internal control over financial reporting through its Audit Committee. This committee, composed solely of independent directors, regularly meets (jointly and separately) with the independent registered public accounting firm, management, internal audit and other executives to monitor the proper discharge by each of their responsibilities relative to internal control over financial reporting and United States Steel Corporation’s financial statements.
Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
United States Steel Corporation’s management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting, as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f). Under the supervision and with the participation of United States Steel Corporation’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, United States Steel Corporation conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of its internal control over financial reporting based on the framework in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. On January 15, 2021, the Company acquired the remaining ownership interest in Big River Steel Holdings LLC. As the acquisition occurred in January 2021, the scope of the Company's assessment of the design and operating effectiveness of U. S. Steel’s internal control over financial reporting for the year ended December 31, 2021 excluded this acquired business. The total assets and total revenues excluded from our assessment represented approximately 19% and 15%, respectively, of U. S. Steel's consolidated total assets and total revenue as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021. This exclusion is in accordance with the SEC's staff guidance that an assessment of a recently acquired business may be omitted from the scope of the Company's evaluation of the effectiveness of its internal controls in the year of acquisition. This acquired business will be included in management’s assessment of the effectiveness of our internal controls over financial reporting as of December 31, 2022.
Based on this evaluation, United States Steel Corporation’s management concluded that United States Steel Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting was effective as of December 31, 2021.
The effectiveness of United States Steel Corporation’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021 has been audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as stated in their report which is included herein.
/S/ DAVID B. BURRITT /S/ CHRISTINE S. BREVES
David B. Burritt Christine S. Breves
President and
Chief Executive Officer Senior Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
/S/ MANPREET S. GREWAL
Manpreet S. Grewal
Vice President, Controller
& Chief Accounting Officer
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of United States Steel Corporation
Opinions on the Financial Statements and Internal Control over Financial Reporting
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of United States Steel Corporation and its subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the related consolidated statements of operations, of comprehensive income (loss), of stockholders’ equity and of cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021, including the related notes and financial statement schedule listed in the index appearing under Item 15(a)(2) (collectively referred to as the “consolidated financial statements”). We also have audited the Company's internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO).
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Company as of December 31, 2021 and 2020, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2021 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. Also in our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, based on criteria established in Internal Control - Integrated Framework (2013) issued by the COSO.
Basis for Opinions
The Company's management is responsible for these consolidated financial statements, for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting, and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Report to Stockholders on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express opinions on the Company’s consolidated financial statements and on the Company's internal control over financial reporting based on our audits. We are a public accounting firm registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (PCAOB) and are required to be independent with respect to the Company in accordance with the U.S. federal securities laws and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and the PCAOB.
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audits to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud, and whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.
Our audits of the consolidated financial statements included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to error or fraud, and performing procedures that respond to those risks. Such procedures included examining, on a test basis, evidence regarding the amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Our audits also included evaluating the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the consolidated financial statements. Our audit of internal control over financial reporting included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, and testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk. Our audits also included performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinions.
As described in Management’s Report to Stockholders on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting, management has excluded Big River Steel Holdings LLC (“Big River Steel”) from its assessment of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2021, because it was acquired by the Company in a purchase business combination during 2021. We have also excluded Big River Steel from our audit of internal control over financial reporting. Big River Steel is a wholly-owned subsidiary whose total assets and total revenues excluded from management’s assessment and our audit of internal control over financial reporting represent approximately 19% and 15%, respectively, of the related consolidated financial statement amounts as of and for the year ended December 31, 2021.
Definition and Limitations of Internal Control over Financial Reporting
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (iii) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
Critical Audit Matters
The critical audit matter communicated below is a matter arising from the current period audit of the consolidated financial statements that was communicated or required to be communicated to the audit committee and that (i) relates to accounts or disclosures that are material to the consolidated financial statements and (ii) involved our especially challenging, subjective, or complex judgments. The communication of critical audit matters does not alter in any way our opinion on the consolidated financial statements, taken as a whole, and we are not, by communicating the critical audit matter below, providing a separate opinion on the critical audit matter or on the accounts or disclosures to which it relates.
Acquisition of Big River Steel - Valuation of Customer Relationship Intangible Asset
As described in Note 5 to the consolidated financial statements, on January 15, 2021, the Company purchased the remaining equity interest in Big River Steel for approximately $625 million. Using step acquisition accounting, the Company increased the value of its previously held equity investment to its fair value of $770 million. As a result of the acquisition, an intangible asset for customer relationships of approximately $413 million was recorded. As disclosed by management, management used the multi-period excess earnings method to estimate the fair value of the customer relationship intangible asset. Determining the fair value of the customer relationship intangible asset involves significant judgments and assumptions, including expected realized price, base year metallic costs, contributory asset charges, and customer attrition rate.
The principal considerations for our determination that performing procedures relating to the valuation of the customer relationship intangible asset recognized in connection with the acquisition of Big River Steel is a critical audit matter are (i) the significant judgment by management when determining the fair value of the customer relationship intangible asset; (ii) a high degree of auditor judgment, subjectivity, and effort in performing procedures and evaluating management's significant assumptions related to the expected realized price, base year metallic costs, contributory asset charges, and customer attrition rate; and (iii) the audit effort involved the use of professionals with specialized skill and knowledge.
Addressing the matter involved performing procedures and evaluating audit evidence in connection with forming our overall opinion on the consolidated financial statements. These procedures included testing the effectiveness of controls relating to acquisition accounting, including controls over management's valuation of the acquired customer relationship intangible asset and controls over the development of significant assumptions related to the expected realized price, base year metallic costs, contributory asset charges, and customer attrition rate. These procedures also included, among others, (i) reading the purchase agreement; (ii) testing management's process for estimating the fair value of the customer relationship intangible asset; (iii) evaluating the appropriateness of the multi-period excess earnings method; (iv) evaluating the reasonableness of the significant assumptions used by management related to the expected realized price, base year metallic costs, contributory asset charges, and customer attrition rate. Evaluating management's assumptions related to the expected realized price, base year metallic costs, contributory asset charges, and customer attrition rate involved evaluating whether the assumptions were reasonable considering (i) the current and past performance of Big River Steel; (ii) consistency with external market and industry data; and (iii) testing the completeness and accuracy of underlying data used in the method. Professionals with specialized skill and knowledge were used to assist in evaluating the appropriateness of the Company’s valuation method and evaluating the appropriateness of the customer attrition rate assumption.
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
February 11, 2022
We have served as the Company’s auditor since 1903.
UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
Year Ended December 31,
(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts) 2021 2020 2019
Net sales:
Net sales $ 18,964 $ 8,765 $ 11,506
Net sales to related parties (Note 23)
1,311 976 1,431
Total (Note 6) 20,275 9,741 12,937
Operating expenses (income):
Cost of sales (excludes items shown below) 14,533 9,555 12,082
Selling, general and administrative expenses 426 277 289
Depreciation, depletion and amortization (Notes 13 and 14) 791 643 616
(Earnings) loss from investees (Note 12) (170) 117 (79)
Gain on sale of Transtar (Note 5) (506) - -
Asset impairment charges (Note 1) 273 263 -
Restructuring and other charges (Note 25) 128 138 275
Gain on equity investee transactions (Note 12) (111) (31) -
Net gains on sale of assets (7) (149) (1)
Other (gains) losses, net (28) 3 (15)
Total 15,329 10,816 13,167
Earnings (loss) before interest and income taxes 4,946 (1,075) (230)
Interest expense 313 280 142
Interest income (4) (7) (17)
Loss on debt extinguishment (Note 7) 292 - -
Other financial costs (benefits) 46 (16) 6
Net periodic benefit (income) cost (45) (25) 91
Net interest and other financial costs (Note 7) 602 232 222
Earnings (loss) before income taxes 4,344 (1,307) (452)
Income tax expense (benefit) (Note 11) 170 (142) 178
Net earnings (loss) 4,174 (1,165) (630)
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests - - -
Net earnings (loss) attributable to United States Steel Corporation $ 4,174 $ (1,165) $ (630)
Earnings (loss) per common share (Note 8)
Earnings (loss) per share attributable to United States Steel Corporation stockholders:
- Basic $ 15.77 $ (5.92) $ (3.67)
- Diluted $ 14.88 $ (5.92) $ (3.67)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.
UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
Year Ended December 31,
(Dollars in millions) 2021 2020 2019
Net earnings (loss) $ 4,174 $ (1,165) $ (630)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Changes in foreign currency translation adjustments (a)
(78) 68 (22)
Changes in pension and other employee benefit accounts (a)
433 385 573
Changes in derivative financial instruments (a)
23 (22) (3)
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax 378 431 548
Comprehensive income (loss) including noncontrolling interest 4,552 (734) (82)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest - - -
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to United States Steel Corporation $ 4,552 $ (734) $ (82)
(a) Related income tax (provision) benefit
Foreign currency translation adjustments $ 32 $ (16) $ 6
Pension and other benefits adjustments (147) (123) (191)
Derivative adjustments (6) 4 1
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.
UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
December 31,
(Dollars in millions) 2021 2020
Assets
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents (Note 9) $ 2,522 $ 1,985
Receivables, less allowance of $44 and $34
1,968 914
Receivables from related parties (Note 23) 121 80
Inventories (Note 10) 2,210 1,402
Other current assets 331 51
Total current assets 7,152 4,432
Long-term restricted cash (Note 9) 76 130
Investments and long-term receivables, less allowance of $4 and $5 (Note 12)
694 1,177
Operating lease assets (Note 24) 185 214
Property, plant and equipment, net (Note 13) 7,254 5,444
Intangibles, net (Note 14) 519 129
Deferred income tax benefits (Note 11) 32 22
Goodwill (Note 14) 920 4
Other noncurrent assets 984 507
Total assets $ 17,816 $ 12,059
Liabilities
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities $ 2,809 $ 1,779
Accounts payable to related parties (Note 23) 99 105
Payroll and benefits payable 425 308
Accrued taxes 365 154
Accrued interest 68 59
Current operating lease liabilities (Note 24) 58 59
Short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt (Note 17) 28 192
Total current liabilities 3,852 2,656
Noncurrent operating lease liabilities (Note 24) 136 163
Long-term debt, less unamortized discount and debt issuance costs (Note 17) 3,863 4,695
Employee benefits (Note 18) 235 322
Deferred income tax liabilities (Note 11) 122 11
Deferred credits and other noncurrent liabilities 505 333
Total liabilities 8,713 8,180
Contingencies and commitments (Note 26)
Stockholders’ Equity
Common stock issued - 279,522,227 and 229,105,589 shares issued (par value $1 per share, authorized 400,000,000 shares) (Note 8)
280 229
Treasury stock, at cost (15,708,839 shares and 8,673,131 shares)
(334) (175)
Additional paid-in capital 5,199 4,402
Retained earnings (accumulated deficit) 3,534 (623)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) (Note 21) 331 (47)
Total United States Steel Corporation stockholders’ equity 9,010 3,786
Noncontrolling interests 93 93
Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity $ 17,816 $ 12,059
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.
UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Year Ended December 31,
(Dollars in millions) 2021 2020 2019
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
Operating activities:
Net earnings (loss) $ 4,174 $ (1,165) $ (630)
Adjustments to reconcile net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation, depletion and amortization (Notes 13 and 14) 791 643 616
Gain on sale of Transtar (Note 5) (506) - -
Asset impairment charges (Note 1) 273 263 -
Gain on equity investee transactions (Note 12) (111) (31) -
Restructuring and other charges (Note 25) 128 138 275
Loss on debt extinguishment (Note 7) 292 - -
Pensions and other post-employment benefits 15 (21) 101
Deferred income taxes (Note 11) (52) (130) 202
Net gain on sale of assets (7) (149) (1)
Equity investees (earnings) loss, net of distributions received (168) 117 (74)
Changes in:
Current receivables (955) 98 453
Inventories (677) 506 296
Current accounts payable and accrued expenses 783 (29) (473)
Income taxes receivable/payable 161 20 13
All other, net (51) (122) (96)
Net cash provided by operating activities 4,090 138 682
Investing activities:
Capital expenditures (863) (725) (1,252)
Acquisition of Big River Steel, net of cash acquired (Note 5) (625) - -
Investment in Big River Steel - (9) (710)
Proceeds from sale of Transtar (Note 5) 627 - -
Proceeds from sale of assets 26 167 4
Proceeds from sale of ownership interests in equity investees - 8 -
Other investing activities (5) (4) -
Net cash used in investing activities (840) (563) (1,958)
Financing activities:
Issuance of short-term debt, net of financing costs (Note 17) - 240 -
Repayment of short-term debt (Note 17) (180) (70) -
Revolving credit facilities - borrowings, net of financing costs 50 1,402 860
Revolving credit facilities - repayments (911) (1,621) (100)
Issuance of long-term debt, net of financing costs (Note 17) 864 1,148 702
Repayment of long-term debt (Note 17) (3,183) (13) (155)
Net proceeds from public offering of common stock (Note 27) 790 410 -
Proceeds from Stelco Option Agreement, net of financing costs - 94 -
Common stock repurchased (Note 27) (150) - (88)
Other financing activities (27) (9) (42)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (2,747) 1,581 1,177
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash (21) 23 (2)
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash 482 1,179 (101)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year (Note 9) 2,118 939 1,040
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of year (Note 9) $ 2,600 $ 2,118 $ 939
See Note 22 for supplemental cash flow information.
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.
UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Dollars in Millions Shares in Thousands
2021 2020 2019 2021 2020 2019
Common stock:
Balance at beginning of year $ 229 $ 179 $ 177 229,106 178,555 177,386
Common stock issued 51 50 2 50,416 50,551 1,169
Balance at end of year $ 280 $ 229 $ 179 279,522 229,106 178,555
Treasury stock:
Balance at beginning of year $ (175) $ (173) $ (78) (8,673) (8,509) (2,858)
Common stock repurchased (150) - (88) (6,557) - (5,289)
Common stock (repurchased) reissued for employee/non-employee director stock plans (9) (2) (7) (479) (164) (362)
Balance at end of year $ (334) $ (175) $ (173) (15,709) (8,673) (8,509)
Additional paid-in capital:
Balance at beginning of year $ 4,402 $ 4,020 $ 3,917
Dividends on common stock (5) (6) -
Common stock issued 742 360 -
Issuance of conversion option in 2026 Senior Convertible Notes, net of tax - - 77
Employee stock plans 60 28 26
Balance at end of year $ 5,199 $ 4,402 $ 4,020
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.
UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
(Continued)
Comprehensive (Loss) Income
(Dollars in millions) 2021 2020 2019 2021 2020 2019
Retained earnings:
Balance at beginning of year $ (623) $ 544 $ 1,212
Net earnings (loss) attributable to United States Steel Corporation 4,174 (1,165) (630) $ 4,174 $ (1,165) $ (630)
Dividends on common stock (18) (2) (35)
Other 1 - (3)
Balance at end of year $ 3,534 $ (623) $ 544
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss):
Pension and other benefit adjustments (Note 18):
Balance at beginning of year $ (458) $ (843) $ (1,416)
Changes during year, net of taxes (a)
433 360 580 433 360 580
Changes during year, equity investee net of taxes (a)
- 25 (7) - 25 (7)
Balance at end of year $ (25) $ (458) $ (843)
Foreign currency translation adjustments:
Balance at beginning of year $ 449 $ 381 $ 403
Changes during year, net of taxes (a)
(78) 68 (22) (78) 68 (22)
Balance at end of year $ 371 $ 449 $ 381
Derivative financial instruments:
Balance at beginning of year $ (38) $ (16) $ (13)
Changes during year, net of taxes (a)
23 (22) (3) 23 (22) (3)
Balance at end of year $ (15) $ (38) $ (16)
Total balances at end of year $ 331 $ (47) $ (478)
Total stockholders’ equity $ 9,010 $ 3,786 $ 4,092
Noncontrolling interests:
Balance at beginning of year $ 93 $ 1 $ 1
Stelco Option Agreement - 93 -
Other - (1) -
Net loss - - - - - -
Balance at end of year $ 93 $ 93 $ 1
Total comprehensive income (loss) $ 4,552 $ (734) $ (82)
(a) Related income tax benefit (provision):
Foreign currency translation adjustments $ 32 $ (16) $ 6
Pension and other benefits adjustments (147) (123) (191)
Derivative adjustments (6) 4 1
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these Consolidated Financial Statements.
1. Nature of Business and Significant Accounting Policies
Nature of Business
U. S. Steel produces and sells steel products, including flat-rolled and tubular products, in North America and Europe. Operations in the United States also include iron ore and coke production facilities and real estate operations. Operations in Europe also include coke production facilities.
Significant Accounting Policies
Principles applied in consolidation
These financial statements include the accounts of U. S. Steel and its majority-owned subsidiaries. Additionally, variable interest entities for which U. S. Steel is the primary beneficiary are included in the Consolidated Financial Statements, and their impacts are either partially or completely offset by noncontrolling interests. Intercompany accounts, transactions and profits have been eliminated in consolidation.
Investments in entities over which U. S. Steel has significant influence are accounted for using the equity method of accounting and are carried at U. S. Steel’s share of net assets plus loans, advances and our share of earnings less distributions.
Earnings or loss from investees includes U. S. Steel’s share of earnings or loss from equity method investments (and any amortization of basis differences), which are generally recorded a month in arrears.
Use of estimates
Generally accepted accounting principles require management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at year-end and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the year. Significant items subject to such estimates and assumptions include the carrying value of property, plant and equipment; intangible assets; the fair value of assets or liabilities acquired in a business combination; valuation allowances for receivables, inventories and deferred income tax assets and liabilities; environmental liabilities; liabilities for potential tax deficiencies; potential litigation claims and settlements; assets and obligations related to employee benefits; put and call option and contingent forward purchase commitment assets and liabilities and restructuring and other charges. Actual results could differ materially from the estimates and assumptions used.
The preparation of the financial statements includes an assessment of certain accounting matters using all available information including consideration of forecasted financial information in context with other information reasonably available to us. However, our future assessment of current expectations, including consideration of the unknown future impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, could result in material impacts to our consolidated financial statements in future reporting periods. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature unless disclosed otherwise.
Sales recognition
Sales are recognized when U. S. Steel's performance obligations are satisfied. Generally, U. S. Steel’s performance obligations are satisfied, control of our products is transferred, and revenue is recognized at a single point in time, when title transfers to our customer for product shipped or when services are provided. Revenues are recorded net of any sales incentives. Shipping and other transportation costs charged to customers are treated as fulfillment activities and are recorded in both revenue and cost of sales at the time control is transferred to the customer. See Note 6 for further details on U. S. Steel’s revenue.
Inventories
Inventories are carried at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Fixed costs related to abnormal production capacity are expensed in the period incurred rather than capitalized into inventory.
LIFO (last-in, first-out) is the predominant method of inventory costing for inventories held by the Flat-Rolled and Tubular segments. The Mini Mill segment uses a moving average costing method to account for semi-finished and finished products and FIFO (first-in, first-out) to account for raw materials. FIFO is the predominant method used by the USSE segment. The LIFO method of inventory costing was used on 46 percent and 59 percent of consolidated inventories at December 31, 2021, and 2020, respectively.
Derivative instruments
From time to time, U. S. Steel may use fixed price forward physical purchase contracts to partially manage our exposure to price risk. Generally, forward physical purchase contracts qualify for the normal purchase normal sales exclusion in Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 815, Derivatives and Hedging, and are not subject to mark-to-market accounting. U. S. Steel also uses derivatives such as commodity-based financial swaps and foreign currency exchange forward contracts to manage its exposure to purchase and sale price fluctuations and foreign currency exchange rate risk. The USSE and Flat-Rolled segments elect hedge accounting for some of their derivatives. Under hedge accounting, fluctuations in the value of the derivative are recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (AOCI) until the
associated underlying is recognized in earnings. When the associated underlying is recognized in earnings, the value of the derivative is reclassified to earnings from AOCI. The Mini Mill segment has not elected hedge accounting. Therefore, the changes in fair value of the Mini Mill segment's foreign exchange forwards, as well as fair value changes for other derivatives where hedge accounting has not been elected, are recognized immediately in earnings. See Note 16 for further details on U. S. Steel’s derivatives.
Financial Instruments
U. S. Steel's purchase of a 49.9% equity ownership interest in Big River Steel on October 31, 2019, included certain call and put options. U. S. Steel marked those options to fair value each reporting period using a Monte Carlo simulation which is considered a Level 3 valuation technique. Level 3 valuation techniques include inputs to the valuation methodology that are considered unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement. On December 8, 2020, U. S. Steel exercised its call option to purchase the remaining interest in Big River Steel. When the U. S. Steel call option was exercised, the options were legally extinguished and a contingent forward purchase commitment was recorded for the value of the unsettled commitment to purchase the remaining interest in Big River Steel. The contingent forward purchase commitment was removed with the close of the Big River Steel purchase which occurred on January 15, 2021. See Note 5 for further details.
Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant and equipment is carried at cost less accumulated depreciation and is depreciated on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets.
Depletion of mineral properties is based on rates which are expected to amortize cost over the estimated tonnage of minerals to be removed.
When property, plant and equipment is sold or otherwise disposed of, any gains or losses are reflected in income. If a loss on disposal is expected, such losses are recognized when the assets are reclassified as assets held for sale or when impaired as part of an asset group’s impairment.
Asset Impairment
U. S. Steel evaluates impairment of its property, plant and equipment whenever circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. We evaluate the impairment of long-lived assets at the asset group level. Our asset groups are Flat-Rolled, mini mill, welded tubular, seamless tubular and U. S. Steel Europe (USSE). Asset impairments are recognized when the carrying value of an asset group exceeds its recoverable amount as determined by the asset group's aggregate projected undiscounted cash flows.
In December 2021, the Company permanently idled the steel making process at Great Lakes Works, which had been idled on an indefinite basis during 2020. As a result of this decision, the Company recognized charges of approximately $128 million for the write-off of the BOP, steel casting and hot strip mill related fixed assets. In addition, in October 2021, equipment at Gary Works related to steel production intended for petroleum conveying pipe were written-off resulting in a charge of approximately $88 million.
In May 2019, U. S. Steel announced that it planned to construct a new endless casting and rolling facility at its Edgar Thomson Plant in Braddock, Pennsylvania, and a cogeneration facility at its Clairton Plant in Clairton, Pennsylvania, both part of the Company's Mon Valley Works. The Company purchased certain equipment for this project before delaying groundbreaking in March 2020 in response to COVID-19. In April 2021, the Company determined not to pursue this project, re-evaluated the use of the already purchased equipment, and subsequently transferred suitable equipment to the Mini Mill segment to be used on the planned, three-million-ton mini mill flat-rolled facility to be constructed. Total impairments of $56 million were recognized for this project in 2021.
For the period ended March 31, 2020, the steep decline in oil prices that resulted from market oversupply and declining demand was considered a triggering event for the welded tubular and seamless tubular asset groups. A quantitative analysis was completed for both asset groups and a $263 million impairment, consisting of an impairment of $196 million for property, plant and equipment and $67 million for intangible assets was recorded for the welded tubular asset group while no impairment was indicated for the seamless tubular asset group. There were no other triggering events that required an impairment evaluation of our long-lived asset groups during the years-ended December 31, 2020, and December 31, 2021.
During 2019, the challenging steel market environment in the U.S. that led to the idling of certain Flat-Rolled facilities, the challenging steel market in Europe that led to the temporary idling of a blast furnace and significant headcount reductions at USSE, and recent losses in the welded tubular asset group were considered triggering events for those asset groups, respectively. U. S. Steel completed a quantitative analysis of its long-lived assets for these asset groups and determined that the assets were not impaired. There were no triggering events for seamless tubular in 2019.
Goodwill and identifiable intangible assets
Goodwill represents the excess of the cost over the fair value of acquired identifiable tangible and intangible assets and liabilities assumed from businesses acquired. Goodwill and intangible assets deemed to have indefinite lives are not amortized, but are subject to impairment testing annually, or more frequently if events or changes in circumstances indicate the asset might be impaired. Goodwill is tested for impairment at the reporting unit level annually in the fourth quarter. The goodwill impairment test compares carrying values of the reporting units to their estimated fair values. If the carrying value exceeds the fair value then the carrying value is reduced to fair value. In developing our estimates for the fair value of our reporting units and unamortized intangible assets, significant judgment is required in the determination of the appropriateness of using a qualitative assessment or quantitative assessment. The qualitative assessment is an evaluation of factors, including reporting unit specific operating results as well as industry, market and general economic conditions, to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. For the quantitative assessments that are performed, fair value is primarily based on the income approach using a discounted cash flow method, which have significant assumptions including sales growth rates, projected earnings, terminal growth rates and discount rates. Such assumptions are subject to variability from year to year and are directly impacted by, among other things, global market conditions. Our Mini Mill reporting unit holds the goodwill recognized as a result of the Company's acquisition of Big River Steel, and is our only reporting unit that has a significant amount of goodwill. This goodwill is primarily attributable to Big River Steel's operational abilities, workforce and the anticipated benefits from their recent expansion. The Company performed its annual impairment test in the fourth quarter of 2021 by completing a qualitative assessment.
Finite-lived intangible assets are amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives and are tested for impairment when events occur that indicate that the net book value will not be recovered over future cash flows. Intangible assets with indefinite lives are also subject to at least annual impairment testing, which compares the fair value of the intangible assets with their carrying amounts. U. S. Steel has determined that certain of its acquired intangible assets have indefinite useful lives. These assets are also reviewed for impairment annually in the fourth quarter and whenever events or circumstances indicate the carrying value may not be recoverable. U. S. Steel completed its evaluation of its indefinite lived water rights and other indefinite lived intangible assets during 2021 and determined there was no indication of impairment.
Environmental remediation
Environmental expenditures are capitalized if the costs mitigate or prevent future contamination or if the costs improve existing assets’ environmental safety or efficiency. U. S. Steel provides for remediation costs and penalties when the responsibility to remediate is probable and the amount of associated costs is reasonably estimable. The timing of remediation accruals typically coincides with completion of studies defining the scope of work to be undertaken or when it is probable that a formal plan of action will be approved by the oversight agency. Remediation liabilities are accrued based on estimates of believed environmental exposure and are discounted if the amount and timing of the cash disbursements are readily determinable.
Asset retirement obligations
Asset retirement obligations (AROs) are initially recorded at fair value and are capitalized as part of the cost of the related long-lived asset and depreciated in accordance with U. S. Steel’s depreciation policies for property, plant and equipment. The fair value of the obligation is determined as the discounted value of expected future cash flows. Accretion expense is recorded each month to increase this discounted obligation over time. Certain AROs related to disposal costs of the majority of assets at our integrated steel facilities are not recorded because they have an indeterminate settlement date. These AROs will be initially recognized in the period in which sufficient information exists to estimate their fair value. See Note 19 for further details on U. S. Steel's AROs.
Pensions and other post-employment benefits
U. S. Steel has defined contribution or multi-employer arrangements for pension benefits for more than three-quarters of its employees in the United States and defined benefit pension plans covering the remaining employees. For hires before January 1, 2016, U. S. Steel has defined benefit retiree health care and life insurance plans (Other Benefits) that cover its represented employees in North America upon their retirement. Government-sponsored programs into which U. S. Steel makes required contributions cover the majority of U. S. Steel’s European employees. For more details regarding pension and other post-employment benefits see Note 18 of the Consolidated Financial Statements.
The pension and Other Benefits obligations and the related net periodic benefit costs are based on, among other things, assumptions regarding the discount rate, estimated return on plan assets, salary increases, the projected mortality of participants and the current level and future escalation of health care costs. Additionally, U. S. Steel recognizes an obligation to provide post-employment benefits for disability-related claims covering indemnity and medical payments for certain employees in North America. The obligation for these claims and the related periodic costs are measured using actuarial techniques and assumptions. Actuarial gains and losses occur when actual experience differs from any of the many assumptions used to value the benefit plans, or when assumptions change. For pension and Other Benefits, the Company recognizes into income on an annual basis a portion of unrecognized actuarial net gains or losses that exceed 10 percent of the larger of projected benefit obligations or plan assets (the corridor). These unrecognized amounts in excess of the corridor are amortized over the plan participants' average life expectancy or average future service,
depending on the demographics of the plan. Unrecognized actuarial net gains and losses for disability-related claims are immediately recognized into income.
Deferred taxes
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. The realization of deferred tax assets is assessed quarterly based on several interrelated factors. These factors include U. S. Steel’s expectation to generate sufficient future taxable income and the projected time period over which these deferred tax assets will be realized. U. S. Steel records a valuation allowance when necessary to reduce deferred tax assets to the amount that will more likely than not be realized. See Note 11 for further details of deferred taxes.
2. New Accounting Standards
In August 2020, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2020-06, Accounting for Convertible Instruments and Contracts in an Entity’s Own Equity (ASU 2020-06). ASU 2020-06 simplifies the accounting for certain financial instruments with characteristics of liabilities and equity, including convertible instruments and contracts on an entity’s own equity. ASU 2020-06 requires entities to provide expanded disclosures about the terms and features of convertible instruments and amends certain guidance in ASC 260 on the computation of EPS for convertible instruments and contracts on an entity’s own equity. ASU 2020-06 is effective for public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption of all amendments in the same period permitted.
ASU 2020-06 requires entities to use the If-Converted Method for calculating diluted earnings per share, retiring the previous alternative calculation of the Treasury Stock Method for calculating diluted earnings per share for convertible instruments. U. S. Steel has historically reported diluted earnings per share using the Treasury Stock Method. For the full years ended December 31, 2019, and 2020, there will be no impact from the adoption of this ASU due to the cumulative net loss position for each year. For the full year ended December 31, 2021, earnings per share under the Treasury Stock method was calculated to be $14.88 per share. Under the If-Converted method, earnings per share for the full year ended December 31, 2021, will be $14.17 per share. This decrease of $0.71 per share reflects a five percent change as a result of implementing the ASU.
In October 2021, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2021-08, Accounting for Contract Assets and Contract Liabilities from Contracts with Customers (ASU 2021-08). ASU 2021-08 requires that an entity recognize and measure contract assets and contract liabilities acquired in a business combination in accordance with Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. ASU 2021-08 is effective to public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022, and interim periods within those fiscal years, with early adoption of all amendments in the same period permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of the ASU but does not believe it will have a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.
In November 2021, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2021-10, Disclosures by Business Entities about Government Assistance (ASU 2021-10). ASU 2021-10 provides expanded disclosure requirements for business entities that account for a transaction with a government by applying a grant or contribution accounting model by analogy. ASU 2021-10 is effective to public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, with early application permitted. The Company is currently assessing the impact of the ASU, and at this time does not believe it will have a material impact on its Consolidated Financial Statements.
3. Recently Adopted Accounting Standards
In December 2019, the FASB issued ASU 2019-12, Income Taxes (Topic 740) - Simplifying the Accounting for Income Taxes (ASU 2019-12). ASU 2019-12 simplifies accounting for income taxes by removing certain exceptions from the general principles in Topic 740 including elimination of the exception to the incremental approach for intraperiod tax allocation when there is a loss from continuing operations and income or a gain from other items such as other comprehensive income. U. S. Steel adopted this guidance on January 1, 2021. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.
In March 2020, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update 2020-04, Facilitation of the Effects of Reference Rate Reform on Financial Reporting (ASU 2020-04). ASU 2020-04 provides optional exceptions for applying generally accepted accounting principles to modifications of contracts, hedging relationships, and other transactions that reference LIBOR or another rate that will be discontinued by reference rate reform if certain criteria are met. The guidance is effective beginning on March 12, 2020 and the amendments will be applied prospectively through December 31, 2022. U. S. Steel adopted this guidance during 2020. The adoption of this guidance did not have a material impact on the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements.
In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-13, Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments (ASU 2016-13), which adds an impairment model that is based on expected losses
rather than incurred losses. U. S. Steel's significant financial instruments which are valued at cost are trade receivables (receivables). U. S. Steel's receivables carry standard industry terms and are categorized in two receivable pools, U.S. and U. S. Steel Europe (USSE). Both pools use customer specific risk ratings based on customer financial metrics, past payment experience and other factors and qualitatively consider economic conditions to assess the level of allowance for doubtful accounts. USSE mitigates credit risk for approximately 79 percent of its receivables balance using credit insurance, letters of credit, bank guarantees, prepayments or other collateral. ASU 2016-13 was effective for public companies for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, including interim reporting periods. U. S. Steel adopted this standard effective January 1, 2020. The impact of adoption was not material to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
U. S. Steel's adoption of the following ASU's did not have a material impact on U. S. Steel's financial position, results of operations or cash flows:
Effective Date ASU Description
January 1, 2019 2018-07 Compensation - Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvements to Nonemployee Share-Based Payment Accounting
January 1, 2019 2018-15 Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal Use Software (Subtopic 350-40): Customer's Accounting for Implementation Costs in a Cloud Computing Arrangement That is a Service Contract
4. Segment Information
U. S. Steel has four reportable segments: North American Flat-Rolled (Flat-Rolled), Mini Mill, USSE and Tubular Products (Tubular). The results of our real estate business, the previously held equity method investment in Big River Steel, and of our former railroad businesses are combined and disclosed in the Other category. The majority of U. S. Steel's customers are located in North America and Europe. No single customer accounted for more than 10 percent of gross annual revenues.
The Flat-Rolled segment includes the operating results of U. S. Steel’s integrated steel plants and equity investees in the United States involved in the production of slabs, strip mill plates, sheets and tin mill products, as well as all iron ore and coke production facilities in the United States. These operations primarily serve North American customers in the service center, conversion, transportation (including automotive), construction, container, and appliance and electrical markets.
The Mini Mill segment reflects the acquisition of Big River Steel after the purchase of the remaining equity interest on January 15, 2021 (see Note 5 for further details) and a new mill under construction in Osceola, Arkansas. As of December 31, 2021, the Mini Mill segment includes the operating results of U. S. Steel’s two electric arc furnace steel plant in Osceola, Arkansas involved in the production of sheets and electrical products and a new mill under construction in Osceola, Arkansas. These operations primarily serve North American customers in the service center, conversion, transportation (including automotive), construction, container, and appliance and electrical markets.
The USSE segment includes the operating results of U. S. Steel Košice (USSK), U. S. Steel’s integrated steel plant and coke production facilities in Slovakia, and its subsidiaries. USSE conducts its business mainly in Central and Western Europe and primarily serves customers in the European transportation (including automotive), construction, container, appliance, electrical, service center, conversion and oil, gas and petrochemical markets. USSE produces and sells slabs, strip mill plate, sheet, tin mill products and spiral welded pipe.
The Tubular segment includes the operating results of U. S. Steel’s tubular production facilities and an equity investee in the United States. These operations produce and sell seamless and electric resistance welded (welded) steel casing and tubing (commonly known as oil country tubular goods or OCTG), standard and line pipe and mechanical tubing and primarily serve customers in the oil, gas and petrochemical markets. The Tubular segment includes the electric arc furnace at our Fairfield Tubular Operations in Fairfield, Alabama.
The chief operating decision maker evaluates performance and determines resource allocations based on a number of factors, the primary measure being earnings (loss) before interest and income taxes. Earnings (loss) before interest and income taxes for reportable segments and the Other category does not include net interest and other financial costs (income), income taxes, and certain other items that management believes are not indicative of future results.
The accounting principles applied at the operating segment level in determining earnings (loss) before interest and income taxes are generally the same as those applied at the consolidated financial statement level. Intersegment sales and transfers are accounted for at market-based prices and are eliminated at the corporate consolidation level. Corporate-level selling, general and administrative expenses and costs related to certain former businesses are allocated to the reportable segments and Other based on measures of activity that management believes are reasonable.
The results of segment operations are as follows:
(In millions) Customer
Sales Intersegment
Sales Net
Sales Earnings (loss)
from
investees Earnings (loss) before Interest and Income Taxes Depreciation,
depletion &
amortization Capital
expenditures
Flat-Rolled $ 12,180 $ 178 $ 12,358 $ 150 $ 2,630 $ 491 $ 422
Mini Mill (a)
3,008 508 3,516 - 1,206 151 331
USSE 4,262 4 4,266 - 975 98 57
Tubular 789 20 809 14 1 46 51
Total reportable segments 20,239 710 20,949 164 4,812 786 861
Other 36 65 101 6 (11) 5 2
Reconciling Items and Eliminations - (775) (775) - 145 - -
Total $ 20,275 $ - $ 20,275 $ 170 $ 4,946 $ 791 $ 863
Flat-Rolled $ 7,071 $ 208 $ 7,279 $ (9) $ (596) $ 496 $ 484
USSE 1,967 3 1,970 - 9 97 79
Tubular 639 7 646 4 (179) 39 159
Total reportable segments 9,677 218 9,895 (5) (766) 632 722
Other 64 98 162 (94) (39) 11 3
Reconciling Items and Eliminations - (316) (316) (18) (270) - -
Total $ 9,741 $ - $ 9,741 $ (117) $ (1,075) $ 643 $ 725
Flat-Rolled $ 9,279 $ 281 $ 9,560 $ 84 $ 196 $ 456 $ 943
USSE 2,417 3 2,420 - (57) 92 153
Tubular 1,188 3 1,191 5 (67) 46 145
Total reportable segments 12,884 287 13,171 89 72 594 1,241
Other 53 115 168 (10) 23 22 11
Reconciling Items and Eliminations - (402) (402) - (325) - -
Total $ 12,937 $ - $ 12,937 $ 79 $ (230) $ 616 $ 1,252
(a)Includes capital expenditures related to a new mill under construction in Osceola, Arkansas of $144 million in 2021.
A summary of total assets by segment is as follows:
December 31,
(In millions) 2021 2020
Flat-Rolled $ 7,337 $ 7,099
Mini Mill (a)
4,715 -
USSE 6,111 5,502
Tubular
1,054 887
Total reportable segments
$ 19,217 $ 13,488
Other $ 88 $ 911
Corporate, reconciling items, and eliminations (b)
(1,489) (2,340)
Total assets
$ 17,816 $ 12,059
(a)Includes assets of $347 million related to a new mill under construction in Osceola, Arkansas.
(b)The majority of Corporate, reconciling items, and eliminations total assets is comprised of cash and the elimination of intersegment amounts.
The detail of reconciling items to consolidated earnings (loss) before interest and income taxes is as follows:
(In millions) 2021 2020 2019
Items not allocated to segments:
Restructuring and other charges (Note 25) (128) (138) (275)
Asset impairment charges (273) (287) -
Big River Steel - acquisition-related items (35) (3) -
Losses (gains) on assets sold & previously held investments 118 170 -
Gain on sale of Transtar (Note 5) 506 - -
Environmental remediation charges (43) - -
Other items - (12) (50)
Total reconciling items $ 145 $ (270) $ (325)
Geographic Area:
The information below summarizes external sales, property, plant and equipment and equity method investments based on the location of the operating segment to which they relate.
(In millions) Year External
Sales Assets
North America 2021 $ 16,013 $ 7,034 (a)
2020 7,774 5,590 (a)
2019 10,520 5,772 (a)
Europe 2021 4,262 880
2020 1,967 993
2019 2,417 947
Total 2021 20,275 7,914
2020 9,741 6,583
2019 12,937 6,719
(a)Assets with a book value of $7,034 million, $5,590 million and $5,772 million were located in the United States at December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
5. Acquisitions and Disposition
Big River Steel Acquisition
On January 15, 2021, U. S. Steel purchased the remaining equity interest in Big River Steel for approximately $625 million in cash net of $36 million and $62 million in cash and restricted cash received, respectively, and the assumption of liabilities of approximately $50 million. There were acquisition related costs of approximately $9 million during the twelve months ended December 31, 2021.
Prior to the closing of the acquisition on January 15, 2021, U. S. Steel accounted for its 49.9% equity interest in Big River Steel under the equity method as control and risk of loss were shared among the joint venture members. Using step acquisition accounting the Company increased the value of its previously held equity investment to its fair value of $770 million which resulted in a gain of approximately $111 million. The fair value of the previously held equity investment was determined using Level 3 valuation techniques, including the significant factors and assumptions used to value Big River Steel disclosed below. The gain was recorded in gain on equity investee transactions in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
The acquisition has been accounted for in accordance with ASC 805, Business combinations. There were step-ups to fair value of approximately $308 million, $194 million and $24 million for property, plant and equipment, debt and inventory, respectively. An intangible asset for customer relationships and goodwill of approximately $413 million and $916 million were also recorded, respectively. Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price over the fair market value of the net assets. Goodwill is primarily attributable to Big River Steel's operational abilities, workforce and the anticipated benefits from their recent expansion and is expected to be tax deductible. The inventory step-up was fully amortized as of March 31, 2021, the intangible asset will be amortized over a 22-year period and the debt step-up will be amortized over the contractual life of the underlying debt. See Note 14 for further details.
The value of Big River Steel was determined using Level 3 valuation techniques. Level 3 valuation techniques include inputs to the valuation methodology that are considered unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement. A significant factor in determining the equity value was the discounted forecasted cash flows of Big River Steel. Forecasted cash flows are primarily impacted by the forecasted market price of steel and metallic inputs as well as the expected timing of significant capital expenditures. The model utilized a risk adjusted discount rate of 11.0% and a terminal growth rate of 2%.
The following table presents the allocation of the aggregate purchase price based on estimated fair values:
(in millions)
Assets Acquired:
Receivables $ 166
Receivables with U. S. Steel (1)
Inventories 184
Other current assets 16
Property, plant and equipment 2,188
Intangibles 413
Goodwill 916
Other noncurrent assets 19
Total Assets Acquired $ 4,001
Liabilities Assumed:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities $ 224
Payroll and benefits payable 27
Accrued taxes 9
Accrued interest 33
Short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt 29
Long-term debt 1,997
Deferred income tax liabilities 26
Deferred credits and other long-term liabilities 211
Total Liabilities Assumed $ 2,556
Fair value of previously held investment in Big River Steel $ 770
Purchase price, including assumed liabilities and net of cash acquired 675
Difference in assets acquired and liabilities assumed $ 1,445
(1) The transaction to purchase Big River Steel included receivables for payments made by Big River Steel on behalf of U. S. Steel for retention bonuses of $22 million that impacted the previously held equity investment and for U. S. Steel liabilities assumed in the purchase of approximately $50 million. In addition, there were assumed receivables of approximately $27 million for steel substrate sales from Big River Steel to U. S. Steel. The receivables with U. S. Steel eliminate in consolidation with offsetting intercompany payables from U. S. Steel.
The following unaudited pro forma information for U. S. Steel includes the results of the Big River Steel acquisition as if it had been consummated on January 1, 2020. The unaudited pro forma information is based on historical information and is adjusted for amortization of the intangible asset, property, plant and equipment and debt fair value step-ups discussed above. Non-recurring acquisition related items included in the 2020 period include $111 million for the gain on previously held equity investment, $9 million in acquisition related costs and $24 million in inventory step-up amortization related to the purchase of the remaining interest in Big River Steel. In addition, costs for non-recurring retention bonuses of $44 million that occurred in January 2021 prior to the purchase of the remaining equity interest are included in the 2020 period. The pro forma information does not include any anticipated cost savings or other effects of the integration of Big River Steel. Accordingly, the unaudited pro forma information does not necessarily reflect the actual results that would have occurred, nor is it necessarily indicative of future results of operations. Pro forma adjustments were not tax-effected in 2020 as U. S. Steel had a full valuation allowance on its domestic deferred tax assets.
Years Ended December 31,
(in millions) 2021 2020
Net sales $ 20,347 $ 10,694
Net earnings (loss) $ 4,103 $ (1,260)
Transtar Disposition
On July 28, 2021, U. S. Steel completed the sale of 100 percent of its equity interests in its wholly-owned short-line railroad, Transtar, LLC (Transtar) to an affiliate of Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors, LLC. The Company
received net cash proceeds of $627 million, subject to certain customary adjustments as set forth in the Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, and recognized a pretax gain of approximately $506 million in 2021. In connection with the closing of the transaction, the Company entered into certain ancillary agreements including a railway services agreement, providing for continued rail services for its Gary and Mon Valley Works facilities, and a transition services agreement. Because Transtar does not represent a significant component of U. S. Steel's business and does not constitute a reportable business segment, its results through the date of disposition are reported in the Other category. See Note 4 for further details.
Other Transactions
In December 2021, the Company entered into an agreement to sell certain assets related to a component of its flat-roll business. As a result of this commitment, the Company recognized restructuring related charges of $89 million during the fourth quarter 2021. These charges are expected to be paid out on a long-term basis. This transaction is expected to result in a gain upon closure, which is subject to customary closing conditions.
USS-UPI, LLC (UPI) (formerly known as USS-POSCO Industries)
On February 29, 2020, U. S. Steel purchased the remaining 50% ownership interest in USS-POSCO Industries, (now USS-UPI, LLC, (UPI) for $3 million, net of cash received of $2 million. There was an assumption of accounts payable owed to U. S. Steel for prior sales of steel substrate of $135 million associated with the purchase that was reflected as a reduction in receivables from related parties on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2020.
Using step acquisition accounting U. S. Steel increased the value of the Company's previously held equity investment to its fair value of $5 million which resulted in a gain of approximately $25 million. The gain was recorded in gain on equity investee transactions in the Consolidated Statement of Operations.
Receivables of $44 million, inventories of $96 million, accounts payable and accrued liabilities of $19 million, current portion of long-term debt of $55 million and payroll and employee benefits liabilities of $78 million were recorded with the acquisition. Property, plant and equipment of $97 million which included a fair value step-up of $47 million and an intangible asset of $54 million were also recorded on the Company's Consolidated Balance Sheet. The intangible asset, which will be amortized over ten years, arises from a land lease contract, under which a certain portion of payment owed to UPI is realized in the form of deductions from electricity costs.
6. Revenue
Revenue is generated primarily from contracts to produce, ship and deliver steel products, and to a lesser extent, raw materials sales such as iron ore pellets and coke by-products and railroad services. Generally, U. S. Steel’s performance obligations are satisfied and revenue is recognized when title transfers to our customer for product shipped or services are provided. Revenues are recorded net of any sales incentives. Shipping and other transportation costs charged to customers are treated as fulfillment activities and are recorded in both revenue and cost of sales at the time control is transferred to the customer. Costs related to obtaining sales contracts are incidental and are expensed when incurred. Because customers are invoiced at the time title transfers and U. S. Steel’s right to consideration is unconditional at that time, U. S. Steel does not maintain contract asset balances. Additionally, U. S. Steel does not maintain contract liability balances, as performance obligations are satisfied prior to customer payment for product. U. S. Steel offers industry standard payment terms.
The following table disaggregates our revenue by product for each of our reportable business segments for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively:
Net Sales by Product (in millions):
Year Ended December 31, 2021
Flat-Rolled Mini Mill (a)
USSE Tubular Other Total
Semi-finished 12 - 126 - - 138
Hot-rolled sheets 2,592 1,744 2,149 - - 6,485
Cold-rolled sheets 3,785 526 448 - - 4,759
Coated sheets 4,408 732 1,376 - - 6,516
Tubular products - - 58 781 - 839
All Other (b)
1,383 6 105 8 36 1,538
Total $ 12,180 $ 3,008 $ 4,262 $ 789 $ 36 $ 20,275
(a) Mini Mill segment added after January 15, 2021 with the purchase of the remaining equity interest in Big River Steel.
(b) Consists primarily of sales of raw materials and coke making by-products
Year Ended December 31, 2020
Flat-Rolled USSE Tubular Other Total
Semi-finished 94 2 - - 96
Hot-rolled sheets 1,273 793 - - 2,066
Cold-rolled sheets 2,102 164 - - 2,266
Coated sheets 2,990 904 - - 3,894
Tubular products - 40 621 - 661
All Other (a)
612 64 18 64 758
Total $ 7,071 $ 1,967 $ 639 $ 64 $ 9,741
(a) Consists primarily of sales of raw materials and coke making by-products
Year Ended December 31, 2019
Flat-Rolled USSE Tubular Other Total
Semi-finished $ 305 $ 11 $ - $ - $ 316
Hot-rolled sheets 2,504 997 - - 3,501
Cold-rolled sheets 2,512 283 - - 2,795
Coated sheets 2,993 1,006 - - 3,999
Tubular products - 40 1,166 - 1,206
All Other (a)
965 80 22 53 1,120
Total $ 9,279 $ 2,417 $ 1,188 $ 53 $ 12,937
(a) Consists primarily of sales of raw materials and coke making by-products
7. Net Interest and Other Financial Costs
(In millions) 2021 2020 2019
Interest income:
Interest income $ (4) $ (7) $ (17)
Interest expense and other financial costs:
Interest incurred 342 306 162
Less interest capitalized 29 26 20
Total interest expense 313 280 142
Loss on debt extinguishment (a)
292 - -
Net periodic benefit (income) costs (other than service cost) (45) (25) 91
Foreign currency net gain (b)
17 (15) (17)
Financial costs on:
Amended Credit Agreement 6 3 5
USSK credit facilities 4 2 1
Other (c)
5 (21) 10
Amortization of discounts and deferred financing costs 14 15 7
Total other financial costs 46 (16) 6
Net interest and other financial costs $ 602 $ 232 $ 222
(a)Represents a net pretax charge of $292 million during 2021 related to the repayments of the Export-Import Credit Agreement, 2025 Senior Secured Notes, 2025 Senior Notes, 2026 Senior Notes, 2029 Senior Secured Notes, Credit Facility Agreement and Environmental Revenue Bonds.
(b)The functional currency for USSE is the euro. Foreign currency net gain is a result of transactions denominated in currencies other than the euro.
(c)2020 and 2019 include a $(39) million and $7 million change in fair value of certain call and put options, respectively, related to U. S. Steel's purchase of its 49.9% ownership interest in Big River Steel during 2019. See Note 5 and Note 20 for further details.
8. Earnings (Loss) and Dividends Per Common Share
Earnings (Loss) per Share Attributable to United States Steel Corporation Stockholders
Basic earnings (loss) per common share is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period.
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share assumes the exercise of stock options, the vesting of restricted stock units and performance awards, provided in each case the effect is dilutive. The "treasury stock" method is used to calculate the dilutive effect of the Senior Convertible Notes due in 2026 (due to our current intent and policy, among other factors, to settle the principal amount of the 2026 Senior Convertible Notes in cash upon conversion).
The computations for basic and diluted earnings (loss) per common share from continuing operations are as follows:
(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts) 2021 2020 2019
Net earnings (loss) attributable to United States Steel Corporation stockholders $ 4,174 $ (1,165) $ (630)
Weighted-average shares outstanding (in thousands):
Basic 264,667 196,721 171,418
Effect of convertible notes 11,126 - -
Effect of stock options, restricted stock units and performance awards 4,651 - -
Adjusted weighted-average shares outstanding, diluted 280,444 196,721 171,418
Basic earnings (loss) per common share $ 15.77 $ (5.92) $ (3.67)
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share $ 14.88 $ (5.92) $ (3.67)
The following table summarizes the securities that were antidilutive, and therefore, were not included in the computation of diluted earnings (loss) per common share:
(In thousands) 2021 2020 2019
Securities granted under the 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended and restated 1,185 6,780 4,459
Securities convertible under the Senior Convertible Notes - - 650
Total 1,185 6,780 5,109
Dividends Paid per Share
Quarterly dividends on common stock were one cent per share in the first, second and third quarters and five cents per share in the fourth quarter in 2021. Quarterly dividends on common stock were one cent per share for each quarter in 2020 and five cents per share each quarter in 2019.
9. Cash, Cash Equivalents and Restricted Cash
The following table provides a reconciliation of cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash reported within U. S. Steel's Consolidated Balance Sheets that sum to the total of the same amounts shown in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows:
December 31,
(In millions) 2021 2020 2019
Cash and cash equivalents $ 2,522 $ 1,985 $ 749
Restricted cash in other current assets 2 3 2
Long-term restricted cash 76 130 188
Total cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash $ 2,600 $ 2,118 $ 939
Amounts included in restricted cash represent cash balances which are legally or contractually restricted, primarily for electric arc furnace construction, environmental and other capital projects, collateral for open cash flow hedge positions and insurance purposes.
10. Inventories
(In millions) December 31, 2021 December 31, 2020
Raw materials $ 713 $ 416
Semi-finished products 1,056 633
Finished products 388 300
Supplies and sundry items 53 53
Total $ 2,210 $ 1,402
Current acquisition costs were estimated to exceed the above inventory values at December 31 by $896 million in 2021 and $848 million in 2020. As a result of the liquidation of LIFO inventories, cost of sales decreased and earnings before interest and income taxes increased by $11 million, $5 million and $28 million in 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
11. Income Taxes
Components of earnings (loss) before income taxes:
(In millions) 2021 2020 2019
United States $ 3,400 $ (1,303) $ (381)
Foreign 944 (4) (71)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes $ 4,344 $ (1,307) $ (452)
At the end of both 2021 and 2020, U. S. Steel does not have any undistributed foreign earnings and profits for which U.S. deferred taxes have not been provided.
Income tax provision (benefit):
2021 2020 2019
(In millions) Current Deferred Total Current Deferred Total Current Deferred Total
Federal $ (7) $ 8 $ 1 $ (10) $ (95) $ (105) $ (18) $ 196 $ 178
State and local 50 (71) (21) (3) (24) (27) - 23 23
Foreign 179 11 190 1 (11) (10) (6) (17) (23)
Total $ 222 $ (52) $ 170 $ (12) $ (130) $ (142) $ (24) $ 202 $ 178
A reconciliation of the federal statutory tax rate of 21 percent to total provision (benefit) follows:
(In millions) 2021 2020 2019
Statutory rate applied to earnings (loss) before income taxes $ 912 $ (275) $ (95)
Valuation allowance (633) 367 334
Tax accounting benefit related to increase in OCI - (138) -
Excess percentage depletion (66) (31) (46)
Capital loss generated (139) - -
State and local income taxes after federal income tax effects 83 (47) (36)
Effects of foreign operations 191 (10) (23)
U.S. impact of foreign operations 4 1 25
Impact of tax credits (173) (18) 5
Adjustment of prior years' federal income taxes (5) 12 7
Other (4) (3) 7
Total provision (benefit) $ 170 $ (142) $ 178
Included in the 2021 provision is a benefit of $715 million related to the reversal of a portion of the valuation allowance recorded against the Company’s net domestic deferred tax asset, partially offset by the addition of a valuation allowance of $82 million, the majority of which relates to an unused capital loss carryforward.
The 2020 tax benefit includes a $138 million benefit related to recording a loss from continuing operations and income from other comprehensive income categories and expense of $13 million for an updated estimate to tax reserves related to an unrecognized tax benefit. Due to the full valuation allowance on our domestic deferred tax assets, the tax benefit in 2020 does not reflect any additional tax benefit for domestic pretax losses.
In 2019, the tax benefit differs from the domestic statutory rate of 21 percent primarily due to the fact that it does not reflect any tax benefit in the U.S. as a valuation allowance was recorded against the Company's net domestic deferred tax asset (excluding a portion of a deferred tax liability related to an asset with an indefinite life, as well as a deferred tax asset related to refundable Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) credits).
Deferred taxes
Deferred tax assets and liabilities resulted from the following:
December 31,
(In millions) 2021 2020
Deferred tax assets:
Federal tax loss carryforwards (no expiration) $ 20 $ 269
Federal tax loss carryforwards (expiring in 2035 through 2037) - 174
Federal capital loss carryforwards (expiring 2026) 66 -
State tax credit carryforwards (expiring in 2022 through 2030) 11 16
State tax loss carryforwards (expiring in 2022 through 2040) 150 182
State capital loss carryforwards (expiring in 2026 through 2036)
16 -
General business credit carryforwards (expiring in 2027 through 2041) 94 103
Foreign tax loss and credit carryforwards (expiring in 2022 through 2031) 244 171
Employee benefits - 71
Contingencies and accrued liabilities 78 52
Operating lease liabilities 47 51
Section 59(e) amortization 15 27
Receivables, payables and debt 33 -
Inventory - 21
Other temporary differences 34 46
Valuation allowance (162) (796)
Total deferred tax assets 646 387
Deferred tax liabilities:
Property, plant and equipment 379 244
Operating right-of-use assets 45 49
Investments in subsidiaries and equity investees 121 23
Inventory 112 -
Employee benefits 70 -
Receivables, payables and debt 6 22
Indefinite-lived intangible assets - 19
Other temporary differences 3 19
Total deferred tax liabilities 736 376
Net deferred tax (liability) asset $ (90) $ 11
U. S. Steel recognizes deferred tax assets and liabilities for the estimated future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax basis. The realization of deferred tax assets is assessed quarterly based on several interrelated factors. These factors include U. S. Steel’s expectation to generate sufficient future taxable income and the projected time period over which these deferred tax assets will be realized.
Each quarter U. S. Steel analyzes the likelihood that our deferred tax assets will be realized. A valuation allowance is recorded if, based on the weight of all available positive and negative evidence, it is more likely than not that some portion, or all, of a deferred tax asset will not be realized.
At June 30, 2021, U. S. Steel determined, based upon weighing all positive and negative evidence, that a full valuation allowance for the domestic deferred tax assets was no longer required. Accordingly, we reversed all of the domestic valuation allowance except for a portion of the domestic valuation allowance related to certain state net operating losses and state tax credits.
During the year ended December 31, 2021, we realized a non-cash net benefit of $715 million related to the valuation allowance release, which was partially offset by the addition of a valuation allowance of $82 million, the majority of which relates to an unused capital loss generated in the fourth quarter of 2021.
At December 31, 2021, the net domestic deferred tax liability was $88 million, net of an established valuation allowance of $159 million. At December 31, 2020, the net domestic deferred tax liability was $7 million, net of an established valuation allowance of $793 million.
At December 31, 2021, the net foreign deferred tax liability was $2 million, net of an established valuation allowance of $3 million. At December 31, 2020, the net foreign deferred tax asset was $18 million, net of an established valuation allowance
of $3 million. The net foreign deferred tax asset will fluctuate as the value of the U.S. dollar changes with respect to the euro.
U. S. Steel will continue to monitor the realizability of its deferred tax assets on a quarterly basis. In the future, if we determine that realization is more likely than not for a deferred tax asset with a valuation allowance, the related valuation allowance will be reduced, and we will record a non-cash benefit to earnings.
Unrecognized tax benefits
Unrecognized tax benefits are the differences between a tax position taken, or expected to be taken, in a tax return and the benefit recognized for accounting purposes pursuant to the guidance in ASC Topic 740 on income taxes. The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits was $3 million, $16 million and $3 million as of December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that, if recognized, would affect the effective tax rate was $2 million and $15 million as of December 31, 2021, and 2020, respectively.
U. S. Steel records interest related to uncertain tax positions as a part of net interest and other financial costs in the Consolidated Statements of Operations. Any penalties are recognized as part of selling, general and administrative expenses. U. S. Steel had accrued liabilities of $2 million for interest and penalties related to uncertain tax positions as of both December 31, 2021, and 2020.
A tabular reconciliation of unrecognized tax benefits follows:
(In millions) 2021 2020 2019
Unrecognized tax benefits, beginning of year $ 16 $ 3 $ 35
Increases - tax positions taken in prior years - 13 -
Decreases - tax positions taken in prior years (13) - -
Settlements - - (32)
Lapse of statute of limitations - - -
Unrecognized tax benefits, end of year $ 3 $ 16 $ 3
Tax years subject to examination
Below is a summary of the tax years open to examination by major tax jurisdiction:
U.S. Federal - 2017 and forward
U.S. States - 2015 and forward
Slovakia - 2011 and forward
Status of Internal Revenue Service (IRS) examinations
The IRS audit of U. S. Steel’s 2017-2018 federal consolidated tax returns began in 2020 and is ongoing. The IRS completed its audit of the Company's 2014-2016 tax returns in 2020.
12. Investments, Long-Term Receivables and Equity Investee Transactions
December 31,
(In millions) 2021 2020
Equity method investments $ 660 $ 1,140
Receivables due after one year, less allowance of $4 and $5
31 34
Other 3 3
Total $ 694 $ 1,177
Summarized financial information of all investees accounted for by the equity method of accounting is as follows (amounts represent 100% of investee financial information):
(In millions) 2021 2020 2019
Income data - year ended December 31:
Net Sales $ 2,229 $ 2,485 $ 2,528
Operating income 376 12 253
Net earnings 346 (124) 235
Balance sheet date - December 31:
Current Assets $ 744 $ 960 $ 1,144
Noncurrent Assets 1,084 3,101 2,976
Current liabilities 293 419 573
Noncurrent Liabilities 529 3,063 2,542
U. S. Steel's portion of the income (loss) from investees reflected on the Consolidated Statements of Operations was $170 million, $(117) million and $79 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
All of our significant investees are located in the U.S. Investees accounted for using the equity method include:
Investee December 31, 2021 Interest
Chrome Deposit Corporation 50 %
Daniel Ross Bridge, LLC 50 %
Double G Coatings Company, Inc. 50 %
Hibbing Development Company 24.1 %
Hibbing Taconite Company(a) 14.7 %
Patriot Premium Threading Services, LLC 50 %
PRO-TEC Coating Company, LLC 50 %
Strategic Investment Fund Partners II(b)
5.2 %
Worthington Specialty Processing 49 %
(a)Hibbing Taconite Company (Hibbing) is an unincorporated joint venture that is owned, in part, by Hibbing Development Company (HDC), which is accounted for using the equity method. Through HDC we are able to influence the activities of HTC, and as such, its activities are accounted for using the equity method.
(b)Strategic Investment Fund Partners II is a limited partnership and in accordance with ASC Topic 323, the financial activities are accounted for using the equity method.
In 2020, we recognized pre-tax gains on equity investee transactions of approximately $6 million on the sale of our 49 percent ownership interest in Feralloy Processing Company and $25 million for the step-up to fair value of our previously held investment in UPI.
Dividends or partnership distributions received from equity investees were $2 million in 2021. There were none received in 2020 and $5 million received in 2019, respectively.
U. S. Steel evaluates impairment of its equity method investments whenever circumstances indicate that a decline in value below carrying value is other than temporary. Under these circumstances, we would adjust the investment down to its estimated fair value, which then becomes its new carrying value.
We supply substrate to certain of our equity method investees and from time to time will extend the payment terms for their trade receivables. For discussion of transactions and related receivable and payable balances between U. S. Steel and its investees, see Note 23.
13. Property, Plant and Equipment
December 31,
(In millions) Useful Lives 2021 2020
Land and depletable property - $ 213 $ 237
Buildings 35-40 years
1,558 1,154
Machinery and equipment
Steel producing 2-30 years
15,968 14,417
Transportation 3-40 years
- 282
Other 5-30 years
94 92
Information technology 5-6 years
798 796
Assets under finance lease 5-15 years
160 113
Construction in process - 885 613
Total 19,676 17,704
Less accumulated depreciation and depletion 12,422 12,260
Net $ 7,254 $ 5,444
Amounts in accumulated depreciation and depletion for assets acquired under finance leases were $59 million and $40 million at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
14. Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Intangible assets are being amortized on a straight-line basis over their estimated useful lives and are detailed below:
As of December 31, 2021 As of December 31, 2020
(In millions) Useful
Lives Gross
Carrying
Amount Accumulated
Amortization Net
Amount Gross
Carrying
Amount Accumulated Impairment Accumulated
Amortization Net
Amount
Customer relationships 22 Years
$ 413 $ 18 $ 395 $ 132 $ 55 $ 77 $ -
Patents 5-15 Years
17 11 6 22 7 10 5
Energy Contract 2 Years
54 11 43 54 - 5 49
Other 4-15 Years
- - - 14 5 9 -
Total amortizable intangible assets $ 484 $ 40 $ 444 $ 222 $ 67 $ 101 $ 54
Amortization expense was $26 million and $8 million for years ended December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively. We expect approximately $142 million in annual amortization expense through 2026 and approximately $301 million in remaining amortization expense thereafter.
The carrying amount of acquired water rights with indefinite lives as of December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 totaled $75 million.
Below is a summary of goodwill by segment for the twelve months ended December 31, 2021:
(In millions) Flat-Rolled Mini Mill USSE Tubular Total
Balance at December 31, 2020 $ - $ - $ 4 $ - $ 4
Additions - 916 - - 916
Balance at December 31, 2021 $ - $ 916 $ 4 $ - $ 920
15. Stock-Based Compensation Plans
U. S. Steel has outstanding stock-based compensation awards that were granted by the Compensation & Organization Committee of the Board of Directors (the Committee), or its designee, under the 2005 Stock Incentive Plan (the 2005 Plan) and the 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended and restated (the Omnibus Plan) (collectively the Plans). On April 26, 2016, the Company's stockholders approved the Omnibus Plan and authorized the Company to issue up to 7,200,000 shares of U. S. Steel common stock under the Omnibus Plan. The Company's stockholders authorized the issuance of an additional 6,300,000 shares under the Omnibus Plan on April 25, 2017, an additional 4,700,000 shares under the Omnibus Plan on April 28, 2020 and an additional 14,500,000 shares under the Omnibus Plan on April 27, 2021. While awards that were previously granted under the 2005 Plan remain outstanding, all future awards will be granted under the Omnibus Plan. As of December 31, 2021, there were 13,295,999 shares available for future grants under the Omnibus
Plan. Generally, a share issued under the Omnibus Plan pursuant to an award other than a stock option will reduce the number of shares available under the Stock Plan by 1.78 shares. Shares related to awards under either plan (i) that are forfeited, (ii) that terminate without shares having been issued or (iii) for which payment is made in cash or property other than shares, are again available for awards under the Omnibus Plan. Shares delivered to U. S. Steel or withheld for purposes of satisfying the exercise price or tax withholding obligations are not available for future awards. The purpose of the Plans is to attract, retain and motivate employees and non-employee directors of outstanding ability, and to align their interests with those of the stockholders of U. S. Steel. The Committee administers the Plans, and under the Omnibus Plan may make grants of stock options, restricted stock units (RSUs), performance awards, and other stock-based awards.
The following table summarizes the total stock-based compensation awards granted during the years 2021, 2020 and 2019:
Stock Options Restricted Stock Units TSR Performance Awards ROCE Performance Awards (a) Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units
2021 171,000 1,891,481 306,930 485,900 676,954
2020 - 2,640,690 671,390 - -
2019 - 1,005,500 210,520 527,470 -
(a) The ROCE awards granted in 2020 are not shown in the table because they were granted in cash.
Stock-based compensation expense
The following table summarizes the total compensation expense recognized for stock-based compensation awards:
(In millions, except per share amounts) Year Ended December 31, 2021 Year Ended December 31, 2020 Year Ended December 31, 2019
Stock-based compensation expense recognized:
Cost of sales $ 14 $ 8 $ 9
Selling, general and administrative expenses 41 18 17
Decrease in net income 55 26 26
Decrease in basic earnings per share 0.21 0.13 0.15
Decrease in diluted earnings per share 0.20 0.13 0.15
As of December 31, 2021, total future compensation cost related to nonvested stock-based compensation arrangements was $53 million and the average period over which this cost is expected to be recognized is approximately 14 months.
Stock options
Compensation expense for stock options is recorded over the vesting period based on the fair value on the date of grant, as calculated by U. S. Steel using the Black-Scholes model and the assumptions listed below. Awards generally vest ratably over a three-year service period and have a term of ten years. Stock options are generally issued at the average market price of the underlying stock on the date of the grant. Upon exercise of stock options, shares of U. S. Steel stock are issued from treasury stock or from authorized, but unissued common stock. There were 171,000 performance-based stock options granted in 2021. There were no stock options granted in 2020 and 2019.
The expected annual dividends per share are based on the latest annualized dividend rate at the date of grant; the expected life in years is determined primarily from historical stock option exercise data; the expected volatility is based on the historical volatility of U. S. Steel stock; and the risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury strip rate for the expected life of the option.
The 171,000 performance-based stock options granted in December 2021 do not become vested and exercisable until the Company's 20-trading day average closing stock price meets or exceeds the following stock price hurdles during the seven-year period beginning on the grant date, as follows:
20-trading day Average Closing Stock Price Achievement During 7-Year Period Beginning on Grant Date
Percentage of Performance-Based Stock Options Exercisable
$ 35.00 33.33 %
$ 45.00 33.33 %
$ 55.00 33.34 %
The following table shows a summary of the status and activity of stock options for the year ended December 31, 2021:
Shares Weighted-
Average
Exercise Price
(per share) Weighted-
Average
Remaining
Contractual Term
(in years) Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
(in millions)
Outstanding at January 1, 2021 2,046,236 $ 25.98
Granted 171,000 $ 23.47
Exercised (378,522) $ 17.56
Forfeited or expired (178,950) $ 47.53
Outstanding at December 31, 2021 1,659,764 $ 25.31 3.51 $ 4
Exercisable at December 31, 2021 1,488,764 $ 25.53 3.11 $ 3
Exercisable and expected to vest at December 31, 2021 1,659,764 $ 25.31 3.11 $ 4
The aggregate intrinsic value in the table above represents the total pretax intrinsic value (difference between our closing stock price on the last trading day of 2021 and the exercise price, multiplied by the number of in-the-money options). Intrinsic value changes are a function of the fair market value of our stock.
The total intrinsic value of stock options exercised (i.e., the difference between the market price at exercise and the price paid by the employee to exercise the option) was $3 million during the year ended December 31, 2021 and immaterial during the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019. The total amount of cash received by U. S. Steel from the exercise of options was $7 million during the year ended December 31, 2021 and immaterial during the year ended December 31, 2020. The related net tax benefit realized from the exercise of these options was immaterial in 2021 and 2020.
Stock awards
Compensation expense for nonvested stock awards is recorded over the vesting period based on the fair value at the date of grant.
RSUs awarded as part of annual grants generally vest ratably over three years. Their fair value is the average market price of the underlying common stock on the date of grant. RSUs granted in connection with new-hire or retention awards generally cliff vest three years from the date of the grant.
Total shareholder return (TSR) performance awards may vest at varying levels at the end of a three-year performance period if U. S. Steel’s total shareholder return compared to the total shareholder return of a peer group of companies meets performance criteria during the three-year performance period. TSR is calculated as follows: 20 percent for each year in the three-year performance period and 40 percent for the full three-year period. TSR performance awards may vest and payout 50 percent at the threshold level, 100 percent at the target level and 200 percent at the maximum level for payouts. Payment for performance in between the threshold percentages will be interpolated. The fair value of the performance awards is calculated using a Monte-Carlo simulation.
Performance awards based on the return on capital employed (ROCE) metric were granted in equity in 2021 and 2019, and in cash in 2020. ROCE awards granted will be measured on a weighted average basis of the Company’s consolidated worldwide earnings (loss) before interest and income taxes, as adjusted, divided by consolidated worldwide capital employed, as adjusted, over a three year period.
For outstanding ROCE-based equity awards, weighted average ROCE is calculated based on the ROCE achieved in the first, second and third years of the performance period, weighted at 20 percent, 30 percent and 50 percent, respectively. The ROCE awards will payout 50 percent at the threshold level, 100 percent at the target level and 200 percent at the maximum level. Payouts for performance in between the threshold percentages will be interpolated.
Compensation expense associated with the ROCE awards will be contingent based upon the achievement of the specified ROCE performance goals and will be adjusted on a quarterly basis to reflect the probability of achieving the ROCE metric.
ROCE performance awards may vest at the end of a three-year performance period contingent upon meeting ROCE performance goals approved by the Committee. The fair value of the ROCE performance awards is the average market price of the underlying common stock on the date of grant.
In 2021, special performance-based restricted stock unit awards (PSUs) were granted to members of the Company’s executive leadership team. Shares are earned based on the achievement of certain pre-set quantitative performance criteria during the four-year performance period, January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2025. Shares may vest following the expiration of the Performance Period if the Company satisfies the performance criteria.
The Chief Executive Officer was granted PSUs that vest with the following, equally weighted, performance metrics: (i) EBITDA margin expansion, (ii) greenhouse gas emissions intensity reduction, (iii) asset portfolio optimization, (iv) leverage metrics and (v) corporate relative valuation. Other members of the executive leadership team were granted PSUs that vest with performance criteria related to: (i) on time and on budget completion of the second mini mill (30% of the grant), (ii) EBITDA margin expansion (40% of the grant) and (iii) greenhouse gas emissions intensity reduction (30% of the grant).
For the PSU awards, a payout is achievable at threshold (50% of target), target (100% of target) or maximum (200% of target) performance achievement. Payout amounts will be interpolated between the threshold, target and maximum amounts.
The following table shows a summary of the performance awards outstanding as of December 31, 2021, and their fair market value on the respective grant date:
Performance Period Fair Value
(in millions) Minimum
Shares Target
Shares Maximum
Shares
2021 - 2023 $ 30 - 1,458,144 2,916,288
2020 - 2022 $ 5 - 641,005 1,282,010
2019 - 2021 $ 16 - 615,477 1,230,954
The following table shows a summary of the status and activity of nonvested stock awards for the year ended December 31, 2021:
Restricted
Stock Units TSR Performance
Awards (a)
ROCE Performance
Awards (a)
Performance-Based Restricted Stock Units (a)
Total Weighted-
Average
Grant-Date
Fair Value
Nonvested at January 1, 2021 3,515,725 918,564 666,736 - 5,101,025 $ 16.85
Granted 1,891,481 306,930 485,900 676,954 3,361,265 20.24
Vested (1,517,986) - - - (1,517,986) 19.01
Performance adjustment factor (b)
- (69,483) (211,230) - (280,713) 47.83
Forfeited or expired (189,531) (34,308) (25,437) - (249,276) 14.43
Nonvested at December 31, 2021 3,699,689 1,121,703 915,969 676,954 6,414,315 $ 16.85
(a)The number of shares shown for the performance awards is based on the target number of share awards.
(b)Consists of adjustments to vested performance awards to reflect actual performance. The adjustments were required since the original grants of the awards were at 100 percent of the targeted amounts and the awards vested at less than target.
The following table presents information on RSUs and performance awards granted:
2021 2020 2019
Number of awards granted 3,361,265 3,312,080 1,743,490
Weighted-average grant-date fair value per share $ 20.24 $ 8.69 $ 24.46
During the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019, the total fair value of shares vested was $29 million, $16 million, and $21 million, respectively.
16. Derivative Instruments
U. S. Steel is exposed to foreign currency exchange rate risks in our European operations. USSE’s revenues are primarily in euros and costs are primarily in euros and U.S. dollars (USD). U. S. Steel uses foreign exchange forward sales contracts (foreign exchange forwards) with maturities no longer than 12 months to exchange euros for USD to manage our currency requirements and exposure to foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations. Derivative instruments are required to be recognized at fair value in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. U. S. Steel did not designate euro foreign exchange forwards entered into prior to July 1, 2019, as hedges; therefore, changes in their fair value were recognized immediately in the Consolidated Statements of Operations (mark-to-market accounting). For those contracts, U. S. Steel recognized changes in fair value immediately through earnings until all of the contracts matured in July 2020. The USSE and Flat-Rolled segments use hedge accounting for their foreign exchange forwards. The Mini Mill segment has not elected hedge accounting; therefore, the changes in the fair value of their foreign exchange forwards are recognized immediately in the Consolidated Statements of Operations (mark-to-market accounting).
U. S. Steel may use fixed-price forward physical purchase contracts to partially manage our exposure to price risk related to the purchases of natural gas, zinc and tin used in the production process. Generally, forward physical purchase contracts qualify for the normal purchase and normal sales exceptions described in ASC Topic 815 and are not subject to mark-to-market accounting. U. S. Steel also uses financial swaps to protect from the commodity price risk associated with purchases of natural gas, zinc, tin, electricity, and iron ore pellets (commodity purchase swaps). We elected cash flow hedge accounting for domestic commodity purchase swaps for natural gas, zinc, tin, iron ore pellets and use mark-to-market accounting for electricity swaps and for commodity purchase swaps used in our European operations.
In accordance with the guidance in ASC Topic 820 on fair value measurements and disclosures, the fair value of our foreign exchange forwards, commodity purchase swaps and sales swaps was determined using Level 2 inputs, which are defined as "significant other observable" inputs. The inputs used are from market sources that aggregate data based upon market transactions.
The table below shows the outstanding swap quantities used to hedge forecasted purchases and sales as of December 31, 2021, and December 31, 2020:
Hedge Contracts Classification December 31, 2021 December 31, 2020
Natural gas (in mmbtus) Commodity purchase swaps 40,498,000 38,801,400
Tin (in metric tons) Commodity purchase swaps 1,648 812
Zinc (in metric tons) Commodity purchase swaps 7,167 25,361
Electricity (in megawatt hours) Commodity purchase swaps 810,720 760,320
Iron ore pellets (in metric tons) Commodity purchase swaps 30,000 -
Iron ore pellets (in metric tons) Zero-cost collars 1,296,000 -
Hot-rolled coils (in tons) Sales swaps 157,120 120,000
Foreign currency (in millions of euros) Foreign exchange forwards €308 €242
Foreign currency (in millions of dollars) Foreign exchange forwards $2 -
The following summarizes the fair value amounts included in our Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 2021, and December 31, 2020:
(In millions) Designated as Hedging Instruments Balance Sheet Location December 31, 2021 December 31, 2020
Sales swaps Accounts receivable $ 10 $ -
Sales swaps Accounts payable 30 26
Sales swaps Investments and long-term receivables 1 -
Commodity purchase swaps Accounts receivable 17 5
Commodity purchase swaps Accounts payable 29 10
Commodity purchase swaps Investments and long-term receivables 1 -
Commodity purchase swaps Other long-term liabilities 4 -
Foreign exchange forwards Accounts receivable 15 -
Foreign exchange forwards Accounts payable - 18
Not Designated as Hedging Instruments
Commodity purchase swaps Accounts receivable 5 -
Commodity purchase swaps Investments and long-term receivables 5 1
The table below summarizes the effect of hedge accounting on AOCI and amounts reclassified from AOCI into earnings for 2021, 2020, and 2019:
(Loss) Gain on Derivatives in AOCI Amount of (Loss) Gain Recognized in Income
(In millions) 2021 2020 2019 Location of Reclassification from AOCI (a)
2021 2020 2019
Sales swaps $ 7 $ (26) $ 1 Net sales $ (170) $ - $ (1)
Commodity purchase swaps (11) 17 (6) Cost of sales (b)
57 (24) (19)
Foreign exchange forwards 33 (17) 1 Cost of sales (3) (7) (1)
(a) The earnings impact of our hedging instruments substantially offsets the earnings impact of the related hedged items resulting in immaterial ineffectiveness.
(b) Costs for commodity purchase swaps are recognized in cost of sales as products are sold.
The table below summarizes the impact of derivative activity where hedge accounting has not been elected on our Consolidated Statements of Operations for 2021, 2020 and 2019:
Amount of (Loss) Gain Recognized in Income
(In millions) Consolidated Statement of Operations Location 2021 2020 2019
Commodity purchase swaps Cost of sales 19 (1) -
Foreign exchange forwards Other financial costs 2 - 17
At current contract values, $3 million in AOCI as of December 31, 2021 will be recognized as an decrease in cost of sales over the next year and $20 million in AOCI as of December 31, 2021, will be recognized as a decrease in net sales over the next year. The maximum derivative contract duration for commodity purchase swaps is 13 months, the maximum duration for sales swaps is 13 months and the maximum derivative contract duration for commodity purchase swaps where hedge accounting was not elected is 25 months.
17. Debt
December 31,
(In millions) Issuer/Borrower Interest
Rates % Maturity 2021 2020
2037 Senior Notes U. S. Steel 6.650 2037 $ 350 $ 350
2029 Senior Secured Notes Big River Steel 6.625 2029 720 -
2029 Senior Notes U. S. Steel 6.875 2029 750 -
2026 Senior Notes U. S. Steel 6.250 2026 - 650
2026 Senior Convertible Notes U. S. Steel 5.000 2026 350 350
2025 Senior Notes U. S. Steel 6.875 2025 - 750
2025 Senior Secured Notes U. S. Steel 12.000 2025 - 1,056
Arkansas Teacher Retirement System Notes Payable Big River Steel 5.500 - 7.750
2023 - -
Export-Import Credit Agreement U. S. Steel Variable 2021 - 180
Environmental Revenue Bonds U. S. Steel 4.125 - 6.750
2024 - 2050 647 717
Environmental Revenue Bonds Big River Steel 4.500- 4.750
2049 752 -
Finance leases and all other obligations U. S. Steel Various 2021-2029 67 81
Finance leases and all other obligations Big River Steel Various 2021-2031 122 -
ECA Credit Agreement U. S. Steel Variable 2031 136 113
Credit Facility Agreement U. S. Steel Variable 2024 - 500
Big River Steel ABL Facility Big River Steel Variable 2026 - -
USSK Credit Agreement U. S. Steel Kosice Variable 2026 - 368
USSK credit facilities U. S. Steel Kosice Variable 2024 - -
Total debt 3,894 5,115
Less unamortized discount, premium and debt issuance costs 3 228
Less short-term debt, long-term debt due within one year, and short-term issuance costs 28 192
Long-term debt $ 3,863 $ 4,695
The following is a summary of debt repayments made during the twelve months ended December 31, 2021:
Twelve Months Ended December 31, 2021
Debt Instrument (in Millions) Date Debt Extinguished
Arkansas Teacher Retirement System Notes Payable Fourth quarter 2021 106
Environmental Revenue Bonds (U. S. Steel) Fourth quarter 2021 70
Finance leases and all other obligations (e)
Fourth quarter 2021 46
6.250% Senior Notes due 2026 (d)
Fourth quarter 2021 230
6.250% Senior Notes due 2026 (a)
Third quarter 2021 370
6.875% Senior Notes due 2025 (a)
Third quarter 2021 718
6.625% 2029 Senior Secured Notes (a)
Third quarter 2021 180
6.250% Senior Notes due 2026
Second quarter 2021 18
6.875% Senior Notes due 2025
Second quarter 2021 14
12.000% 2025 Senior Secured Notes (b)
First quarter 2021 1,056
6.875% Senior Notes due 2025
First quarter 2021 18
6.250% Senior Notes due 2026
First quarter 2021 32
Environmental Revenue Bonds (U. S. Steel) First quarter 2021 89
Export-Import Credit Agreement (c)
First quarter 2021 180
Total $ 3,127
(a) During the three months ended September 30, 2021, there were redemption premiums paid of $28 million and a net gain of $5 million for the write-off of unamortized acquisition-related fair value adjustment, discounts, and debt issuance costs as a result of these debt repayments.
(b) There were redemption premiums and unamortized discount and debt issuance write-offs of approximately $181 million and $71 million, respectively related to the repayment.
(c) Export-Import Credit Agreement was terminated in the first quarter of 2021. There were approximately $3 million in non-cash debt extinguishment costs associated with the repayment.
(d) There were redemption premiums and unamortized discount and debt issuance write-offs of approximately $7 million and $2 million, respectively, related to the repayment.
(e) Includes BRS Mortgage, Fairfield Caster Lease, and BRS Stonebriar Financing; extinguishment costs associated with this debt were immaterial.
2029 Senior Notes
On February 11, 2021, U. S. Steel issued $750 million aggregate principal amount of 6.875% Senior Notes due 2029 (2029 Senior Notes). U. S. Steel received net proceeds of approximately $739 million after fees of approximately $11 million related to underwriting and third-party expenses. The net proceeds from the issuance of the 2029 Senior Notes, together with the proceeds of our recent common stock issuance were used to redeem all of our outstanding 2025 Senior Secured Notes. The 2029 Senior Notes will pay interest semi-annually in arrears on March 1 and September 1 of each year beginning on September 1, 2021, and will mature on March 1, 2029, unless earlier redeemed or repurchased.
On and after March 1, 2024, the Company may redeem the 2029 Senior Notes at its option, at any time in whole or from time to time in part, at the redemption prices (expressed in percentages of principal amount) listed below, plus accrued and unpaid interest on the 2029 Senior Notes, if any, to, but excluding, the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on March 1 of each of the years indicated below.
Year Redemption Price
2024 103.438 %
2025 101.719 %
2026 and thereafter 100.000 %
At any time prior to March 1, 2024, U. S. Steel may also redeem the 2029 Senior Notes, at our option, in whole or in part, or from time to time, at a price equal to 100 percent of the principal amount of the 2029 Senior Notes to be redeemed plus a "make-whole" premium set forth in the indenture and accrued and unpaid interest, if any.
At any time prior to March 1, 2024 we may also purchase up to 35% of the original aggregate principal amount of the 2029 Senior Notes at 106.875%, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, up to, but excluding the applicable date of redemption, with proceeds from equity offerings.
Similar to our other senior notes, the indenture governing the 2029 Senior Notes restricts our ability to create certain liens, to enter into sale leaseback transactions and to consolidate, merge, transfer or sell all, or substantially all of our assets. It also contains provisions requiring that U. S. Steel make an offer to purchase the 2029 Senior Notes from holders upon a change of control under certain specified circumstances, as well as other customary provisions.
2029 Senior Secured Notes
On September 18, 2020, Big River Steel's indirect subsidiaries, Big River Steel LLC and BRS Finance Corp. (Issuers), issued $900 million in aggregate principal amount of 6.625% Senior Secured Notes (Green Bonds) (2029 Senior Secured Notes). The 2029 Senior Secured Notes pay interest semi-annually in arrears on January 31 and July 31 of each year and will mature on January 31, 2029, unless earlier redeemed or repurchased.
On and after September 15, 2023, the Issuers may redeem the 2029 Senior Secured Notes at their option, at any time in whole or from time to time in part, at the redemption prices (expressed in percentages of principal amount) listed below, plus accrued and unpaid interest on the Notes, if any, to, but excluding, the applicable redemption date, if redeemed during the twelve-month period beginning on September 15 of each of the years indicated below.
Year Redemption Price
2023 103.313 %
2024 101.656 %
2025 and thereafter 100.000 %
At any time prior to September 15, 2023, the Issuers may at their option on one or more occasions redeem up to $90 million of the Notes during each twelve-month period commencing with September 18, 2020 at a redemption price of 103.00% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest.
The obligations under the 2029 Senior Secured Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, on a secured basis by the Issuers’ parent company, BRS Intermediate Holdings LLC (BRS Intermediate), which is a direct subsidiary of Big River Steel, and by all future direct and indirect wholly owned domestic subsidiaries of the Issuers. Additionally, the 2029 Senior Secured Notes and related guarantees are secured by (i) first priority liens on most of the tangible and intangible assets of the Issuers and the guarantors and all of the equity interests of the Issuers held by BRS Intermediate (shared in equal priority with each other pari passu lien secured party) (ii) and second priority liens on accounts receivable, inventory and certain other related assets of the Issuers and the guarantors (shared in equal priority with each other pari passu lien secured party).
If the Issuers or BRS Intermediate experience specified change in control events, the Issuers must make an offer to purchase the 2029 Senior Secured Notes. If the Issuers sell assets under specified circumstances, the Issuers must make an offer to purchase the 2029 Senior Secured Notes at a price equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount plus accrued and unpaid interest. The Indenture also limits the ability of the Issuers and their restricted subsidiaries to: incur or guarantee additional indebtedness; pay dividends and make other restricted payments; make investments; consummate certain asset sales; engage in transactions with affiliates; grant or assume liens; and consolidate, merge or transfer all or substantially all of their assets. The Indenture also includes other customary events of default.
Big River Steel Environmental Revenue Bonds - Series 2019
On May 31, 2019, Arkansas Development Finance Authority (ADFA) issued $487 million of tax-exempt bonds and loaned 100% of the proceeds to Big River Steel LLC under a bond financing agreement to finance the expansion of Big River Steel's electric arc furnace steel mill and fund the issuance cost of the bonds (2019 ADFA Bonds). The 2019 ADFA Bonds accrue interest at the rate of 4.50% per annum payable semiannually on March 1 and September 1 of each year with a final maturity of September 1, 2049.
The 2019 ADFA Bonds are subject to optional redemption during the periods and at the redemption prices shown below plus, in each case, accrued interest.
Year Redemption Price
September 1, 2026 to August 31, 2027 103.000 %
September 1, 2027 to August 31, 2028 102.000 %
September 1, 2028 to August 31, 2029 101.000 %
On and after September 1, 2029 100.000 %
Prior to September 1, 2026, the 2019 ADFA Bonds are not redeemable.
The 2019 ADFA Bonds are fully and unconditionally guaranteed on a senior secured basis, jointly and severally, by BRS Intermediate, BRS Finance Corp. and all future direct and indirect wholly owned domestic subsidiaries of Big River Steel LLC, and secured by first priority liens on most of the tangible and intangible assets and second priority liens on accounts receivable, inventory and certain other related assets of BRS Intermediate.
The 2019 ADFA Bonds are subject to certain mandatory sinking fund redemption provisions beginning in 2040, as well as extraordinary mandatory redemption, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued interest to the date fixed for redemption, from surplus funds at the earlier of the completion of the tax-exempt project or expiration of a certain period for construction financings, and upon an event of taxability. The 2019 ADFA Bonds are subject to substantially similar asset sale offer and change of control offer provisions, affirmative and negative covenants, events of default and remedies as the Indenture governing the 2029 Senior Secured Notes.
Big River Steel Environmental Revenue Bonds - Series 2020
On September 10, 2020, ADFA issued $265 million of tax-exempt bonds with a green bond designation and loaned 100% of the proceeds to Big River Steel LLC under a bond financing agreement to finance or refinance the expansion of Big River Steel's electric arc furnace steel mill and fund the issuance cost of the bonds (2020 ADFA Bonds). The 2020 ADFA Bonds accrue interest at 4.75% per annum payable semi-annually on March 1 and September 1 of each year with final maturity on September 1, 2049.
The 2020 ADFA Bonds are subject to optional redemption during the periods and at the redemption prices shown below, plus, in each case accrued interest.
Year Redemption Price
September 1, 2027 to August 31, 2028 103.000 %
September 1, 2028 to August 31, 2029 102.000 %
September 1, 2029 to August 31, 2030 101.000 %
On and after September 1, 2030 100.000 %
At any time prior to September 1, 2027, Big River Steel LLC may also redeem the 2020 ADFA Bonds, at its option, in whole or in part, or from time to time, at a price equal to 100 percent of the principal amount of the 2020 ADFA Bonds to be redeemed plus a "make-whole" premium set forth in the indenture and accrued and unpaid interest to the date fixed for redemption.
The 2020 ADFA Bonds are fully and unconditionally guaranteed, jointly and severally, on a secured basis by certain of Big River Steel's subsidiaries and subject to first priority liens and second priority liens on certain Big River Steel collateral.
The 2020 ADFA Bonds are subject to substantially similar asset sale offer and change of control offer provisions, affirmative and negative covenants, events of default and remedies as the Indenture governing the 2029 Senior Secured Notes.
Arkansas Teacher Retirement System Notes Payable
Big River Steel entered into three financing agreements with the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System during 2018 and 2019. The interest rates on the notes range from 5.50% to 7.75% at present. Interest on these agreements may be paid-in-kind through the respective dates of maturity and therefore requires no interim debt service by Big River Steel prior to the date of maturity or early repayment, as the case may be. One such agreement has the benefit of a pledge of future income streams generated through an anticipated monetization of recycling tax credits provided by the State of Arkansas in conjunction with the expansion of Big River Steel. Big River Steel may prepay amounts owed under these agreements at any time without penalty. During the fourth quarter of 2021, Big River Steel repaid all of the financing agreements with the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System. The principal amount was approximately $106 million in aggregate. As of December 31, 2021, there are no outstanding balances for these financing agreements.
Big River Steel - Sustainability Linked ABL Facility
On July 23, 2021, Big River Steel entered into an amendment to its senior secured asset-based revolving credit facility (Big River Steel ABL Facility), which extended the maturity by five years and added sustainability targets related to carbon reduction, safety performance and facility certification by ResponsibleSteel™.
The Big River Steel ABL Facility is secured by first-priority liens on accounts receivable and inventory and certain other assets and second priority liens on most tangible and intangible assets of Big River Steel in each case subject to permitted liens.
The Big River Steel ABL Facility provides for borrowings for working capital and general corporate purposes in an amount equal up to the lesser of (a) $350 million and (b) a borrowing base calculated based on specified percentages of eligible accounts receivables and inventory, subject to certain adjustments and reserves. The Big River Steel ABL Facility matures on July 23, 2026. There were no outstanding borrowings at December 31, 2021. Availability under the Big River Steel ABL Facility, pursuant to the available borrowing base was $350 million at December 31, 2021.
The Big River Steel ABL Facility provides for borrowings at interest rates based on defined, short-term market rates plus a spread based on availability. The Big River Steel ABL Facility also requires a commitment fee on the unused portion of the Big River Steel ABL Facility, determined quarterly based on Big River Steel LLC's utilization levels.
Big River Steel LLC must maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio of at least 1.00 to 1.00 for the most recent twelve consecutive months when availability under the Big River Steel ABL Facility is less than the greater of ten percent of the borrowing base availability and $13 million. Based on the most recent four quarters as of December 31, 2021, Big River Steel would have met the fixed charge coverage ratio test. The Big River Steel ABL Facility includes affirmative and negative covenants that are customary for facilities of this type. The Big River Steel ABL Facility also includes customary events of default.
U. S. Steel - Sustainability Linked Credit Facility Agreement
The Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Facility Agreement (Credit Facility Agreement) was amended on July 23, 2021 to include targets related to carbon reduction, safety performance and facility certification by ResponsibleSteel™. In addition to the new sustainability link, the Credit Facility Agreement was amended to reduce the facility size to $1.75 billion from $2 billion, which supports the Company’s current footprint and helps optimize its global liquidity position.
As of December 31, 2021, there were approximately $4 million of letters of credit issued, and no loans drawn under the Credit Facility Agreement. The availability under the Credit Facility Agreement was $1.746 billion as of December 31, 2021. U. S. Steel must maintain a fixed charge coverage ratio of at least 1.00 to 1.00 for the most recent four consecutive quarters when availability under the Credit Facility Agreement is less than the greater of ten percent of the total aggregate commitments and $175 million. Based on the most recent four quarters as of December 31, 2021, the Company would have met the fixed charge coverage ratio test.
U. S. Steel Košice (USSK) Credit Facilities
On September 29, 2021, USSK entered into a €300 million (approximately $340 million) unsecured sustainability linked credit agreement (USSK Credit Agreement), replacing the previous €460 million credit facility agreement. The USSK Credit Agreement matures in 5 years and contains sustainability targets related to carbon reduction, safety performance and facility certification by ResponsibleSteel™. At December 31, 2021, USSK had no borrowings under the USSK Credit Agreement.
At December 31, 2021, USSK had no borrowings under its €20 million credit facility (approximately $23 million) (USSK Credit Facility) and the availability was approximately $13 million due to approximately $9 million of customs and other guarantees outstanding.
Debt Maturities - Aggregate maturities of debt are as follows (in millions):
2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 Later
Years Total
$ 28 $ 48 $ 88 $ 14 $ 500 $ 3,217 $ 3,895
18. Pensions and Other Benefits
U. S. Steel has defined contribution or multi-employer retirement benefits for more than three-quarters of its employees in the United States and non-contributory defined benefit pension plans covering the remaining employees. Benefits under the defined benefit pension plans are based upon years of service and final average pensionable earnings, with a minimum benefit based upon years of service. In addition, pension benefits for most non-represented employees under these plans are based upon a percent of total career pensionable earnings. Effective December 31, 2015, non-represented participants in the defined benefit plan no longer accrue additional benefits under the plan. For those non-represented employees without defined benefit coverage (defined benefit pension plan was closed to new participants in 2003) and those for which the defined benefit plan was frozen, the Company also provides in the defined contribution plans (401(k) plans) a retirement account benefit based on salary and attained age. Most non-represented employees also participate in the 401(k) plans whereby the Company matches a certain percentage of salary based on the amount contributed by the participant. At December 31, 2021, more than two-thirds of U. S. Steel’s represented employees in the United States are covered by the Steelworkers Pension Trust (SPT), a multi-employer pension plan, to which U. S. Steel contributes on the basis of a fixed dollar amount for each hour worked.
On November 8, 2021, U. S. Steel entered into a commitment agreement with Banner Life Insurance Company and William Penn Life Insurance Company of New York (the “Insurers”) and State Street Global Advisors Trust Company, as independent fiduciary to the United States Steel Corporation Plan for Employee Pension Benefits (Revision of 2003), where U. S. Steel will purchase group annuity contracts that will transfer approximately $284 million of its pension plan obligations to the Insurers. The purchase of the group annuity contracts will be funded directly by the assets of the pension plan. The purchase results in the transfer of administrative and benefit-paying responsibilities for approximately 17,800 U.S. retirees and beneficiaries to the Insurers. The Insurers will begin paying benefits for certain retirees and beneficiaries in the Plan on January 1, 2022. There will be no change to the pension benefits for any retirees and beneficiaries as a result of the transaction. As a result of the transaction, the Corporation recognized a non-cash pension settlement charge of
approximately $93 million. This amount was reclassified to earnings through net Interest and other financial costs from accumulated other comprehensive loss.
In addition during 2021, the Company recorded termination charges of approximately $34 million in pensions and $17 million in other benefits related to the planned sale of a component within the flat-roll segment. These amounts were recorded to earnings through restructuring and other costs.
In February of 2020, U. S. Steel acquired the remaining 50% ownership of its joint venture with USS/POSCO Industries (UPI) and its associated benefit plans. Upon acquisition, UPI's defined benefit pension and other benefit liability was estimated on a net basis at $8 million and $55 million, respectively.
On November 13, 2018, the USW ratified successor four year Collective Bargaining Agreements with U. S. Steel and its U. S. Steel Tubular Products, Inc. subsidiary (the 2018 Labor Agreements). The 2018 Labor Agreements were effective as of September 1, 2018 and expire on September 1, 2022. As a result of the 2018 Labor Agreements, the defined benefit pension liability increased $26 million after considering higher wages on final average pay formulas and higher flat rate minimum multipliers.
U. S. Steel’s defined benefit retiree health care and life insurance plans (Other Benefits) cover the majority of its represented employees in the United States upon their retirement. Health care benefits are provided for Medicare and pre-Medicare retirees, with Medicare retirees largely enrolled in Medicare Advantage Plans. Both are subject to various cost sharing features, and in most cases domestically, an employer cap on total costs. The Other Benefits plan was closed to represented employees hired or rehired under certain conditions on or after January 1, 2016.
Per an amendment effective June 30, 2014 to the retiree medical and retiree life insurance plan, benefits for non-represented employees who retired after December 31, 2017 were eliminated.
The majority of U. S. Steel’s European employees are covered by government-sponsored programs into which U. S. Steel makes required contributions. Also, U. S. Steel sponsors defined benefit plans for most European employees covering benefit payments due to employees upon their retirement, some of which are government mandated. These same employees receive service awards throughout their careers based on stipulated service and, in some cases, age and service.
U. S. Steel uses a December 31 measurement date for its plans and may have an interim measurement date if significant events occur. Details relating to pension benefits and Other Benefits are below.
Pension Benefits Other Benefits
(In millions) 2021 2020 2021 2020
Change in benefit obligations
Benefit obligations at January 1 $ 6,186 $ 5,822 $ 1,841 $ 1,876
Service cost 53 51 11 12
Interest cost 163 193 50 63
UPI acquisition - 246 - 56
Actuarial losses (gains) (202) 400 (171) (23)
Exchange rate loss (3) 3 - -
Settlements, curtailments and termination benefits (358) 4 19 4
Benefits paid (417) (533) (130) (147)
Benefit obligations at December 31 $ 5,422 $ 6,186 $ 1,620 $ 1,841
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan at January 1 $ 6,035 $ 5,406 $ 2,111 $ 2,025
Actual return on plan assets 394 922 70 219
UPI acquisition - 238 - 1
Asset reversion - - (4) (38)
Employer contributions - - 2 1
Settlements (380) - - -
Benefits paid from plan assets (417) (531) (85) (97)
Fair value of plan assets at December 31 $ 5,632 $ 6,035 $ 2,094 $ 2,111
Funded status of plans at December 31 210 (151) 474 270
For Pension Benefits, the largest contributor to the actuarial gain in 2021 was the increase in the discount rate from 2.72% at December 31, 2020 to 3.01% at December 31, 2021. In 2020, the largest contributor of actuarial loss was the decrease in the discount rate from 3.35% at December 31, 2019 to 2.72% at December 31, 2020. This loss was partially offset by a change in mortality assumptions.
For Other Benefits, the largest contributor to the actuarial gain in 2021 was attributable to reductions in future health care costs and the increase in the discount rate from 2.80% at December 31, 2020 to 3.11% at December 31, 2021. In 2020, the largest contributor of actuarial gain was attributable to reductions in future health care costs. The gain was partially offset by a decrease in the discount rate from 3.43% at December 31, 2019 to 2.80% at December 31, 2020.
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive loss:
(In millions) 12/31/2020 Amortization Activity 12/31/2021
Pensions
Prior Service Cost $ 14 $ (2) $ - $ 12
Actuarial Losses 1,764 (231) (237) 1,296
Other Benefits
Prior Service Credit (103) 29 - (74)
Actuarial Gains (556) 23 (160) (693)
As of December 31, 2021 and 2020, the following amounts were recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheet:
Pension Benefits Other Benefits
(In millions) 2021 2020 2021 2020
Noncurrent assets (a)
252 12 535 326
Current liabilities (1) (9) (3) (4)
Noncurrent liabilities (41) (154) (59) (52)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (b)
1,308 1,778 (767) (659)
Net amount recognized $ 1,518 $ 1,627 $ (294) $ (389)
(a) Included in noncurrent assets for Other Benefits are $41 million of expected retiree medical and life insurance payments for the next twelve months.
(b) Accumulated other comprehensive loss effects associated with accounting for pensions and other benefits in accordance with ASC Topic 715 at December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020, respectively, are reflected net of tax of $531 million and $678 million respectively, on the Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity.
The Accumulated Benefit Obligation (ABO) for all defined benefit pension plans was $5,274 million and $5,979 million at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
December 31,
(In millions) 2021 2020
Information for pension plans with an accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets:
Aggregate accumulated benefit obligations (ABO) $ (294) $ (5,979)
Aggregate projected benefit obligations (PBO) (309) (6,186)
Aggregate fair value of plan assets 268 6,035
The aggregate PBO in excess of plan assets reflected above is included in the payroll and benefits payable and employee benefits lines on the Consolidated Balance Sheet.
Following are the details of net periodic benefit costs related to Pension and Other Benefits:
Pension Benefits Other Benefits
(In millions) 2021 2020 2019 2021 2020 2019
Components of net periodic benefit cost (credits):
Service cost $ 53 $ 51 $ 44 $ 11 $ 12 $ 13
Interest cost 163 193 237 50 63 91
Expected return on plan assets (361) (333) (324) (81) (80) (79)
Amortization - prior service costs (credits) 2 2 2 (29) (6) 29
- actuarial losses (gains) 132 145 132 (23) (16) 3
Net periodic benefit cost, excluding below (11) 58 91 (72) (27) 57
Multiemployer plans (a)
75 76 77 - - -
Settlement, termination and curtailment losses 135 11 11 19 4 -
Net periodic benefit cost (credits) $ 199 $ 145 $ 179 $ (53) $ (23) $ 57
(a) Primarily represents pension expense for the SPT covering USW employees hired from National Steel Corporation and new USW employees hired after May 21, 2003.
Net periodic benefit (credits) for pensions and Other Benefits is projected to be approximately $(7) million and approximately $(114) million, respectively, in 2022. The pension cost projection includes approximately $74 million of contributions to the SPT.
Weighted average assumptions used to determine the benefit obligation at December 31 and net periodic benefit cost for the year ended December 31 are detailed below.
Pension Benefits Other Benefits
2021 2020 2021 2020
U.S. and Europe U.S. and Europe U.S. U.S.
Actuarial assumptions used to determine benefit obligations at December 31:
Discount rate 3.01 % 2.72 % 3.11 % 2.80 %
Increase in compensation rate 2.60 % 2.62 % N/A N/A
Pension Benefits Other Benefits
2021 2020 2019 2021 2020 2019
U.S. and Europe U.S. and Europe U.S. and Europe U.S. U.S. U.S.
Actuarial assumptions used to determine net periodic benefit cost for the year ended December 31:
Discount rate 2.72 % 3.35 % 4.41 % 2.80 % 3.42 % 4.47 %
Expected annual return on plan assets 6.82 % 6.47 % 6.50 % 4.25 % 4.25 % 4.25 %
Increase in compensation rate 2.60 % 2.62 % 2.60 % N/A N/A N/A
The discount rate reflects the current rate at which the pension and Other Benefit liabilities could be effectively settled at the measurement date. In 2017, we refined our discount rate determination process for our U.S. plans by using a bond matching approach to select specific bonds that would satisfy our projected benefit payments. We believe the bond matching approach more closely reflects the process we would employ to settle our pension and other benefits obligations. For our European pension plan, the discount rate is determined using data published by European Central Bank and underlying data provided by EuroMTS Ltd. The discount rate assumptions are updated annually.
2021 2020
Assumed health care cost trend rates at December 31: U.S. U.S.
Health care cost trend rate assumed for next year 5.75% 6.50%
Rate to which the cost trend rate is assumed to decline (the ultimate trend rate) 4.50% 4.50%
Year that the rate reaches the ultimate trend rate 2029 2029
U. S. Steel reviews its actual historical rate experience and expectations of future health care cost trends to determine the escalation of per capita health care costs under U. S. Steel’s benefit plans. About three quarters of our costs for the domestic USW participants’ retiree health benefits in the Company’s main domestic benefit plan are limited to a per capita dollar maximum calculation based on 2006 base year actual costs incurred under the main U. S. Steel benefit plan for USW participants (cost cap). The full effect of the cost cap is expected to be realized around 2028. After 2028, the Company’s costs for a majority of USW retirees and their dependents are expected to remain fixed and as a result, the cost impact of health care escalation for the Company is projected to be limited for this group.
Plan Assets
ASC Topic 820 establishes a single definition of fair value, creates a three-tier hierarchy as a framework for measuring fair value based on inputs used to value the Plan's investments, and requires additional disclosure about fair value. The hierarchy gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (level 1) and the lowest priority to unobservable inputs (level 3). The three levels of the fair value hierarchy are summarized below:
•Level 1 - Inputs to the valuation methodology are unadjusted quoted prices for identical assets or liabilities in active markets that the Plan has the ability to access.
•Level 2 - Inputs to the valuation methodology include:
◦Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities in active markets;
◦Quoted prices for identical or similar assets or liabilities in inactive markets;
◦Inputs other than quoted prices that are observable for the asset or liability;
◦Inputs that are derived principally from or corroborated by observable market data by correlation or other means
If the asset or liability has a specified (contractual) term, the level 2 input must be observable for substantially the full term of the asset or liability.
•Level 3 - Inputs to the valuation methodology are unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement.
An instrument’s level is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Valuation techniques maximize the use of relevant observable inputs and minimize the use of unobservable inputs. The following is a description of the valuation methodologies used for assets measured at fair value. There have been no changes in the methodologies used at December 31, 2021 and 2020.
Short-term investments are valued at amortized cost which approximates fair value due to the short-term maturity of the instruments. Equity securities - U.S. & International are valued at the closing price reported on the active exchange on which the individual securities are traded. U.S. and Non U.S. government bonds are valued using pricing models maximizing the use of observable inputs for similar securities. Corporate U.S. & Non U.S. bonds are also valued using pricing models maximizing the use of observable inputs for similar securities, which includes basing value on yields currently available on comparable securities of issuers with similar credit ratings. When quoted prices are not available for identical or similar bonds, the bond is valued under a discounted cash flow approach that maximizes observable inputs, such as current yields of similar instruments, but includes adjustments for certain risks that may not be observable, such as credit and liquidity risks. Mortgage and asset-backed securities are valued using quotes from a broker dealer. Private equities and real estate are valued using information provided by external managers for each individual investment held in the fund or using NAV (net asset value) as a practical expedient. Timberland investments are valued at their appraised value. Mineral Interests and other alternatives are valued at the present value of estimated future cash flows discounted at estimated market rates for assets of similar quality and duration.
The fair value of U. S. Steel's pension plan assets by asset category at December 31 were as follows (in millions):
2021 2020
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 measured at NAV (a)
Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 measured at NAV (a)
Total
Asset Category
Equity
U. S. companies $ 433 $ - $ - $ - $ 433 $ 306 $ - $ - $ - $ 306
International companies 183 - - - 183 177 - - - 177
Total equity 616 - - - 616 483 - - - 483
Fixed Income
Corporate Bonds - U.S. - 1,405 - - 1,405 - 1,514 - - 1,514
Corporate Bonds - Non-U.S. - 251 - - 251 - 252 - - 252
U.S. government and agencies - 426 - - 426 - 202 - - 202
Non-U.S. government - 78 - - 78 - 97 - - 97
Mortgage and asset-backed securities - 1 - - 1 - 213 - - 213
Total fixed income - 2,161 - - 2,161 - 2,278 - - 2,278
Alternatives
Timberlands - - - 268 268 - - 269 - 269
Mineral Interests and other alternatives - - 22 9 31 - - 19 - 19
Private equity - - - 259 259 - - - 231 231
Real estate - - 32 187 219 - - 36 205 241
Total alternatives - - 54 723 777 - - 324 436 760
Commingled Funds - - - 1,964 1,964 - - - 2,289 2,289
Short-Term Investments 117 - - - 117 173 - - - 173
Other (b)
(3) - - - (3) 52 - - - 52
Total assets at fair value $ 730 $ 2,161 $ 54 $ 2,687 $ 5,632 $ 708 $ 2,278 $ 324 $ 2,725 $ 6,035
(a)In accordance with ASC Topic 820, certain investments that were measured at net asset value per share (or its equivalent) have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy.
(b)Includes cash, accrued income, and miscellaneous payables.
The following table sets forth a summary of changes in the fair value of U. S. Steel’s Pension plan Level 3 assets for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020:
Level 3 assets only
(In millions) 2021 2020
Balance at beginning of period $ 324 $ 317
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3 (269) -
Actual return on plan assets:
Realized gain 3 2
Net unrealized loss 2 (9)
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements:
Purchases 24 17
Sales (30) (3)
Balance at end of period $ 54 $ 324
The fair value of U. S. Steel's Other Benefits plan assets by asset category at December 31 were as follows (in millions):
2021 2020
Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 measured at NAV (a)
Total Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 measured at NAV (a)
Total
Asset Category
Equity
U. S. companies $ 186 $ - $ - $ - $ 186 $ 77 $ - $ - $ - $ 77
International companies 97 - - - 97 27 - - - 27
Total equity 283 - - - 283 104 - - - 104
Fixed Income
Corporate Bonds - U.S. - 718 - - 718 - 1,121 - - 1,121
Corporate Bonds - Non-U.S. - 191 - - 191 - 231 - - 231
U.S. government and agencies - 198 - - 198 - 365 - - 365
Non-U.S. government - 17 - - 17 - 9 - - 9
Mortgage and asset-backed securities - 9 - - 9 - 31 - - 31
Total fixed income - 1,133 - - 1,133 - 1,757 - - 1,757
Alternatives
Timberlands - - - 35 35 - - 35 - 35
Other alternatives - - 39 2 41 - - - - -
Private equity - - - 59 59 - - - 48 48
Real estate - - - 26 26 - - - 29 29
Total alternatives - - 39 122 161 - - 35 77 112
Commingled Funds - - - 434 434 - - - - -
Short-Term Investments 71 - - - 71 102 - - - 102
Other (b)
12 - - - 12 36 - - - 36
Total assets at fair value $ 366 $ 1,133 $ 39 $ 556 $ 2,094 $ 242 $ 1,757 $ 35 $ 77 $ 2,111
(a)In accordance with ASC Topic 820, certain investments that were measured at net asset value per share (or its equivalent) have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy.
(b)Includes cash, accrued income, and miscellaneous payables.
The following table sets forth a summary of changes in the fair value of U. S. Steel’s Other Benefits plan Level 3 assets for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020:
Level 3 assets only
(In millions) 2021 2020
Balance at beginning of period $ 35 $ 35
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3 (35) -
Actual return on plan assets:
Realized gain - -
Net unrealized loss 1 -
Purchases, sales, issuances and settlements:
Purchases 39 2
Sales (1) (2)
Balance at end of period $ 39 $ 35
U. S. Steel’s investment strategy for its U.S. pension and Other Benefits plan assets provides for a diversified mix of high quality bonds, public equities and selected smaller investments in private equities, private credit, timber and mineral interests. For its U.S. pension, U. S. Steel has a target allocation for plan assets of 50 percent in corporate bonds, government bonds and mortgage, private credit, and asset-backed securities. The balance is invested in equity securities, timber, private equity and real estate partnerships. U. S. Steel believes that returns on equities over the long term will be higher than returns from fixed-income securities as actual historical returns from U. S. Steel’s trusts have shown. Returns on bonds tend to offset some of the short-term volatility of stocks. Both equity and fixed-income investments are made across a broad range of industries and companies (both domestic and foreign) to provide protection against the impact of volatility in any single industry as well as company specific developments. U. S. Steel will use a 6.90 percent assumed rate of return on assets for the development of net periodic cost for the main defined benefit pension plan in 2022. Actual returns since the inception of the plan have exceeded this 6.90 percent rate and while recent annual returns have been volatile, it is U. S. Steel’s expectation that rates will achieve this level in future periods.
The UPI investment strategy for its pension plan is to minimize the volatility of the value of pension assets relative to obligations and to ensure assets are sufficient to pay plan benefits. To achieve this strategy, UPI has a liability driven allocation of 60 percent in fixed income with the balance primarily invested in return seeking U.S. and global equity. UPI will use a 5.35 percent assumed rate of return on assets for the development of net periodic cost for the UPI defined benefit pension plan in 2022.
For its Other Benefits plan, U. S. Steel is employing a liability driven investment strategy. The plan assets are allocated to match the plan cash flows with maturing investments. To achieve this strategy, U. S. Steel has a target allocation for plan assets of 72 percent in fixed income and private credit. The balance is primarily invested in equity securities, timber, private equity and real estate partnerships. U. S. Steel will use a 4.50 percent assumed rate of return on assets for the development of net periodic cost for its Other Benefit plans for 2022. The 2022 assumed rate of return was updated after a review of capital market forecasted returns based on target allocations. As a result, the expected asset return for 2022 was increased to 4.50 percent from the rate of return used for 2021 domestic net periodic benefit cost of 4.25 percent.
Steelworkers Pension Trust
For most bargaining unit employees participating in the SPT, U. S. Steel contributed to the SPT a fixed dollar amount for each hour worked of $3.35 through December 31, 2020. SPT contributions per hour worked increased to $3.50 effective January 1, 2021. U. S. Steel’s contributions to the SPT represented greater than 5% of the total combined contributions of all employers participating in the plan for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019.
Participation in a multi-employer pension plan agreed to under the terms of a collective bargaining agreement differ from a traditional qualified single employer defined benefit pension plan. The SPT shares risks associated with the plan in the following respects:
a. Contributions to the SPT by U. S. Steel may be used to provide benefits to employees of other participating employers;
b. If a participating employer stops contributing to the SPT, the unfunded obligations of the plan may be borne by the remaining participating employers;
c. If U. S. Steel chooses to stop participating in the SPT, U. S. Steel may be required to pay an amount based on the underfunded status of the plan, referred to as a withdrawal liability.
On March 21, 2011 the Board of Trustees of the SPT elected funding relief which has the effect of decreasing the amount of required minimum contributions in near-term years, but will increase the minimum funding requirements during later plan years. As a result of the election of funding relief, the SPT’s zone funding under the Pension Protection Act may be impacted.
In addition to the funding relief election, the Board of Trustees also elected a special amortization rule, which allows the SPT to separately amortize investment losses incurred during the SPT’s December 31, 2008 plan year-end over a 29 year period, whereas they were previously required to be amortized over a 15 year period.
U. S. Steel’s participation in the SPT for the annual periods ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019 is outlined in the table below.
Employer
Identification
Number/
Pension Plan
Number Pension
Protection
Act Zone
Status as of
December 31 (a)
FIP/RP Status
Pending/Implemented(b)
U.S. Steel
Contributions
(in millions) Surcharge
Imposed(c)
Expiration Date
of Collective
Bargaining
Agreement
Pension Fund 2021 2020 2021 2020 2019 2021 2020
Steelworkers Pension Trust 23-6648508/499 Green Green No $ 75 $ 76 $ 77 No No September 1, 2022
(a)The zone status is based on information that U. S. Steel received from the plan and is certified by the plan’s actuary. Among other factors, plans in the green zone are at least 80 percent funded, while plans in the yellow zone are less than 80 percent funded and plans in the red zone are less than 65 percent funded.
(b)Indicates if a financial improvement plan (FIP) or a rehabilitation plan (RP) is either pending or has been implemented.
(c)Indicates whether there were charges to U. S. Steel from the plan.
Cash Flows
The following information is in addition to the contributions to the SPT noted in the table above.
Employer Contributions - U. S. Steel did not make any voluntary or mandatory contributions to the U. S. Steel Retirement Plan Trust in 2021 or 2020. The U. S. Steel Retirement Plan Trust is the funding vehicle for the Company's main defined benefit pension plan.
For pension plans not funded by trusts, U. S. Steel made $11 million, $7 million and $8 million of pension payments not funded by trusts in 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Cash payments totaling $46 million, $46 million and $45 million were made for other post-employment benefit payments not funded by trusts in 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. In 2021, 2020 and 2019, U. S. Steel continued to use assets from our VEBA trust for represented retiree health care and life insurance benefits to pay USW post-employment benefit claims.
Estimated Future Benefit Payments - The following benefit payments, which reflect expected future service as appropriate, are expected to be paid from U. S. Steel’s defined benefit plans:
(In millions) Pension
Benefits Other
Benefits
2022 $ 407 $ 135
2023 397 130
2024 427 127
2025 378 127
2026 368 126
Years 2027 - 2029 1,690 562
Defined contribution plans
U. S. Steel also contributes to several defined contribution plans for its salaried employees. Effective January 1, 2016, all non-represented salaried employees in North America receive pension benefits in the form of a separate retirement account through a defined contribution plan with contribution percentages based upon age, for which company contributions totaled $20 million, $10 million and $23 million in 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. U. S. Steel’s matching contributions to salaried employees’ defined contribution plans, which are 100 percent of the employees’ contributions up to six percent of their eligible salary, totaled $18 million, $8 million and $18 million in 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. U. S. Steel also maintains non-qualified defined contribution plans to provide benefits which are otherwise limited by the Internal Revenue Code for qualified plans. U. S. Steel’s contributions under these defined contribution plans totaled $1 million, $1 million, and $1 million in 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Most represented employees are eligible to participate in a defined contribution plan where there is no company match on savings except for certain Tubular hourly employees. Effective with the 2015 Labor Agreement, represented hires on or after January 1, 2016 are eligible for a $0.50 per hour savings account contribution. As a result of the 2018 Labor Agreements, the savings account contribution for each hour worked will increase to $0.55 effective January 1, 2019, $0.60 effective January 1, 2020, and $0.65 effective January 1, 2021. These Company contributions for represented employees totaled $4 million, $4 million and $3 million in 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Other post-employment benefits
The Company provides benefits to former or inactive employees after employment but before retirement. Certain benefits including workers’ compensation and black lung benefits represent material obligations to the Company and under the guidance for nonretirement post-employment benefits, have historically been treated as accrued benefit obligations. Liabilities for these benefits recorded at December 31, 2021, totaled $110 million as compared to $115 million at December 31, 2020. Liability amounts were developed assuming a discount rate of 2.87% and 2.54% at December 31, 2021 and 2020. Net periodic benefit cost for these benefits is projected to be $15 million in 2022 compared to $17 million in 2021 and $20 million in 2020.
Pension Funding
In March 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA - H.R. 1319) further extended the pension relief interest rate corridor used to measure defined benefit pension obligations for calculating minimum annual contributions. The new interest rate formula results in higher interest rates for minimum funding calculations as compared to prior law over the next few years, which will improve the funded status of our main defined benefit pension plan and reduce minimum required contributions.
U. S. Steel will monitor the funded status of the plan to determine when voluntary contributions may be prudent in order to mitigate potentially larger mandatory contributions in later years.
19. Asset Retirement Obligations
U. S. Steel’s asset retirement obligations (AROs) primarily relate to mine, landfill closure and post-closure costs. The following table reflects changes in the carrying values of AROs for the years ended December 31, 2021 and 2020:
December 31,
(In millions) 2021 2020
Balance at beginning of year $ 60 $ 58
Additional obligations incurred 3 5
Obligations settled (7) (7)
Change in estimate of obligations (1) -
Foreign currency translation effects (1) 1
Accretion expense 12 3
Balance at end of period $ 66 $ 60
Certain AROs related to disposal costs of the majority of fixed assets at our integrated steel facilities have not been recorded because they have an indeterminate settlement date. These AROs will be initially recognized in the period in which sufficient information exists to estimate their fair value.
20. Fair Value of Financial Instruments
The carrying value of cash and cash equivalents, current accounts and notes receivable, accounts payable and accrued interest included in the Consolidated Balance Sheet approximate fair value. See Note 16 for disclosure of U. S. Steel’s derivative instruments, which are accounted for at fair value on a recurring basis.
Stelco Option for Minntac Mine Interest
On April 30, 2020, the Company entered into an Option Agreement with Stelco, Inc. (Stelco), that grants Stelco the option to purchase a 25 percent interest (the Option Interest) in a to-be-formed entity (the Joint Venture) that will own the Company’s current iron ore mine located in Mt. Iron, Minnesota (the Minntac Mine). As consideration for the option, Stelco paid the Company an aggregate amount of $100 million in five $20 million installments during the year-ended December 31, 2020 which are recorded net of transaction costs in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. In the event Stelco exercises the option, Stelco will contribute an additional $500 million to the Joint Venture, which amount shall be remitted solely to U. S. Steel in the form of a one-time special distribution, and the parties will engage in good faith negotiations to finalize the master agreement (pursuant to which Stelco will acquire the Option Interest) and the limited liability company agreement of the Joint Venture.
The following table summarizes U. S. Steel’s financial assets and liabilities that were not carried at fair value at December 31, 2021 and 2020.
December 31, 2021 December 31, 2020
(In millions) Fair Value Carrying
Amount Fair Value Carrying
Amount
Financial liabilities:
Short-term and long-term debt (a)
$ 4,379 $ 3,702 $ 5,323 $ 4,806
(a)Excludes finance lease obligations.
The fair value of long-term debt was determined using Level 2 inputs which were derived from quoted market prices.
Fair value of the financial assets and liabilities disclosed herein is not necessarily representative of the amount that could be realized or settled, nor does the fair value amount consider the tax consequences of realization or settlement.
Financial guarantees are U. S. Steel’s only unrecognized financial instrument. For details relating to financial guarantees see Note 26.
21. Reclassifications from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (AOCI)
(In millions) Pension and
Other Benefit
Items Foreign
Currency
Items Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Derivatives Total
Balance at December 31, 2019 $ (843) $ 381 $ (16) $ (478)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications 271 68 (49) 290
Amounts reclassified from AOCI (a)
114 - 27 141
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss) 385 68 (22) 431
Balance at December 31, 2020 $ (458) $ 449 $ (38) $ (47)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications 297 (78) (56) 163
Amounts reclassified from AOCI (a)
136 - 79 215
Net current-period other comprehensive income (loss) 433 (78) 23 378
Balance at December 31, 2021 $ (25) $ 371 $ (15) $ 331
(a)See table below for further details.
(In millions) (a)
Amount reclassified from AOCI
Details about AOCI components 2021 2020 2019
Amortization of pension and other benefit items
Prior service costs (a)
$ (27) $ (4) $ 31
Actuarial losses (a)
109 129 135
Settlements, termination and curtailment gains (a)
100 2 3
UPI purchase accounting adjustment - 23 -
Total pensions and other benefits items 182 150 169
Derivative reclassifications to Consolidated Statements of Operations 105 32 22
Total before tax 287 182 191
Tax provision (72) (41) (48)
Net of tax $ 215 $ 141 $ 143
(a)These AOCI components are included in the computation of net periodic benefit cost (see Note 18 for additional details).
22. Supplemental Cash Flow Information
Year Ended December 31,
(In millions) 2021 2020 2019
Net cash (used in) provided by operating activities included:
Interest and other financial costs paid (net of amount capitalized) $ (319) $ (248) $ (151)
Income taxes (paid) refunded $ (75) $ 45 $ 38
Non-cash investing and financing activities:
Change in accrued capital expenditures $ 40 $ (121) $ (70)
U. S. Steel common stock issued for employee/non-employee director stock plans $ 28 $ 19 $ 19
Capital expenditures funded by finance lease borrowings $ 18 $ 31 $ 46
Export Credit Agreement (ECA) financing $ 23 $ 34 $ -
Big River Steel put and call options (a)
$ - $ - $ 21
(a)The Big River Steel put and call options amount represents the excess of the Class B Common Put Option and the Class B Common Call Option liabilities over the U. S. Steel Call Option asset from U. S. Steel's acquisition of its 49.9% ownership interest in Big River Steel on October 31, 2019. The exercise of the U. S. Steel Call Option on December 8, 2020 legally extinguished the remaining Big River Steel put and call options. See Note 7 for further details. U. S. Steel completed the purchase of the remaining interest in Big River Steel on January 15, 2021. See Note 5 for further details.
23. Transactions with Related Parties
Related party sales and service transactions are primarily related to equity investees and were $1,311 million, $976 million and $1,431 million in 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Accounts payable to related parties include balances due to PRO-TEC Coating Company (PRO-TEC) of $98 million and $86 million at December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively for invoicing and receivables collection services provided by U. S. Steel on PRO-TEC's behalf. U. S. Steel, as PRO-TEC’s exclusive sales agent, is responsible for credit risk related to those receivables. U. S. Steel also provides PRO-TEC marketing, selling and customer service functions. Payables to other related parties totaled $1 million and $19 million for the periods ending December 31, 2021 and 2020, respectively.
Purchases from related parties for outside processing services provided by equity investees amounted to $38 million, $90 million and $31 million during 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively. Purchases of iron ore pellets from related parties amounted to $111 million, $78 million and $104 million for the years ended December 31, 2021, 2020 and 2019, respectively.
Upon the acquisition of Big River Steel on January 15, 2021, there were related party payables of approximately $27 million for steel substrate sales from Big River Steel to U. S. Steel. After the acquisition, the related party payables became intercompany payables that are eliminated in consolidation.
Upon the acquisition of UPI on February 29, 2020 there were $135 million of related party receivables for prior sales of steel substrate from U. S. Steel to UPI. After the acquisition, the related party receivables became intercompany receivables that are eliminated in consolidation.
24. Leases
Operating lease assets consist primarily of office space, heavy mobile equipment used in our mining operations and facilities and equipment under operating service agreements for electricity generation and scrap processing. We also have operating lease assets for light mobile equipment and information technology assets. The Company also has short term leases related to transportation services for which we apply the short-term lease exception. Significant finance leases primarily consist of heavy mobile equipment used in our mining operations (see Note 17 for further details). Variable lease payments are primarily related to operating service agreements where payment is solely dependent on consumption of certain services, such as raw material and by-product processing. Most long-term leases include renewal options and, in certain leases, purchase options. Generally, we are not reasonably certain that these options will be exercised. We have residual value guarantees under certain light mobile equipment leases. There is no impact to our leased assets for residual value guarantees as the potential loss is not probable (see “Other Contingencies” in Note 26 for further details). We do not have material restrictive covenants associated with our leases or material amounts of sublease income. From time to time, U. S. Steel may enter into arrangements for the construction or purchase of an asset and then enter into a financing arrangement to lease the asset. U. S. Steel recognizes leased assets and liabilities under these arrangements when it obtains control of the asset.
The following table summarizes the lease amounts included in our Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2021.
(In millions) Balance Sheet Location December 31, 2021 December 31, 2020
Assets
Operating Operating lease assets (a)
$ 185 $ 214
Finance Property, plant and equipment (b)
101 73
Total Lease Assets $ 286 $ 287
Liabilities
Current
Operating Current operating lease liabilities $ 58 $ 59
Finance Current portion of long-term debt 16 16
Non-Current
Operating Noncurrent operating lease liabilities 136 163
Finance Long-term debt less unamortized discount and issue costs 76 65
Total Lease Liabilities $ 286 $ 303
(a) Operating lease assets are recorded net of accumulated amortization of $128 million and $96 million as of December 31, 2021, and December 31, 2020, respectively.
(b) Finance lease assets are recorded net of accumulated depreciation of $59 million and $40 million as of December 31, 2021, and December 31, 2020, respectively.
The following table summarizes lease costs included in our Consolidated Statement of Operations for the years ended December 31, 2021, December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019.
(In millions) Classification Year Ended December 31, 2021 Year Ended December 31, 2020 Year Ended December 31, 2019
Operating Lease Cost (a)
Cost of sales $ 69 $ 67 $ 81
Operating Lease Cost Selling, general and administrative expenses 14 14 11
Finance Lease Cost
Amortization Depreciation, depletion and amortization 21 14 7
Interest Interest expense 9 4 3
Total Lease Cost $ 113 $ 99 $ 102
(a) Operating lease cost recorded in cost of sales includes $11 million, $7 million and $15 million of variable lease cost for the years ended December 31, 2021, December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. An immaterial amount of variable lease cost was included in cost of sales and selling, general and administrative expenses for the years ended December 31, 2021, December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019, respectively. $1 million of short-term lease cost is included in cost of sales and selling, general and administrative expenses for both of the years ended December 31, 2021, and December 31, 2020. An immaterial amount of short-term lease cost is included in cost of sales and selling, general and administrative expenses for the year ended December 31, 2019.
Lease liability maturities as of December 31, 2021, are shown below.
(In millions) Operating Finance Total
2022 $ 68 $ 20 $ 88
2023 48 20 68
2024 38 18 56
2025 28 15 43
2026 19 12 31
After 2026 22 18 40
Total Lease Payments $ 223 $ 103 $ 326
Less: Interest 29 11 40
Present value of lease liabilities $ 194 $ 92 $ 286
Lease terms and discount rates are shown below.
December 31, 2021
Weighted average lease term
Finance 5 years
Operating 4 years
Weighted average discount rate
Finance 4.16 %
Operating 6.56 %
Supplemental cash flow information related to leases is as follows:
(In millions) Year Ended December 31, 2021 Year Ended December 31, 2020 Year Ended December 31, 2019
Cash paid for amounts included in the measurement of lease liabilities:
Operating cash flows from operating leases $ 70 $ 71 $ 72
Operating cash flows from finance leases 9 4 3
Financing cash flows from finance leases 30 13 7
Right-of-use assets exchanged for lease liabilities:
Operating leases 40 41 53
Finance leases 18 31 46
25. Restructuring and Other Charges
During 2021, the Company recorded restructuring and other charges of $128 million, which consists of charges of $29 million for Great Lakes Works, charges of approximately $89 million related to the planned sale of a component within the Flat-Rolled segment and environmental-related charges at other facilities of $10 million. Cash payments were made related to severance and exit costs of approximately $58 million.
During 2020, the Company recorded restructuring and other charges of $138 million, which consists of charges of $66 million for the indefinite idling of a significant portion of Great Lakes Works, and our Keetac mining operations which was restarted in the fourth quarter, $25 million for the indefinite idling of Lorain Tubular Operations and Lone Star Tubular Operations, and $15 million and $32 million for employee benefit costs related to Company-wide headcount reductions and headcount reductions under a voluntary early retirement program offered at USSK, respectively. Cash payments were made related to severance and exit costs of approximately $169 million. A portion of these cash payments, approximately $38 million, were funded by the postretirement benefit trust (VEBA) per an agreement with the United Steelworkers of America.
During 2019, U. S. Steel recorded restructuring and other charges of $275 million, which consists of charges of $25 million at USSK for headcount reductions and plant exit costs, $227 million for the indefinite idling of our East Chicago Tin operations, our finishing facility in Dearborn, Michigan, and the intended indefinite idling of a significant portion of Great Lakes Works and $23 million for Company-wide headcount reductions. Cash payments were made related to severance and exit costs of $35 million.
Charges for restructuring and ongoing cost reduction initiatives are recorded in the period U. S. Steel commits to a restructuring or cost reduction plan, or executes specific actions contemplated by the plan and all criteria for liability recognition have been met. Charges related to the restructuring and cost reductions are reported in restructuring and other charges in the Consolidated Statements of Operations.
The activity in the accrued balances incurred in relation to restructuring during the years ended December 31, 2021, and December 31, 2020, were as follows:
(in millions) Employee Related Costs Exit Costs Non-cash Charges Total
Balance at December 31, 2019 $ 87 $ 125 $ - $ 212
Additional charges 81 53 4 $ 138
Cash payments/utilization (117) (52) (4) (173)
Balance at December 31, 2020 $ 51 $ 126 $ - $ 177
Additional charges 76 51 1 128
Cash payments/utilization(a)
(36) (28) (1) (65)
Balance at December 31, 2021 $ 91 $ 149 $ - $ 240
(a)$7 million of payments were made from the pension fund trust assets in the Employee Related Cost column.
Accrued liabilities for restructuring and other cost reduction programs are included in the following balance sheet lines:
(in millions) December 31, 2021 December 31, 2020
Accounts payable $ 34 $ 34
Payroll and benefits payable 2 29
Employee benefits 88 22
Deferred credits and other noncurrent liabilities 116 92
Total $ 240 $ 177
26. Contingencies and Commitments
U. S. Steel is the subject of, or party to, a number of pending or threatened legal actions, contingencies and commitments involving a variety of matters, including laws and regulations relating to the environment. Certain of these matters are discussed below. The ultimate resolution of these contingencies could, individually or in the aggregate, be material to the Consolidated Financial Statements. However, management believes that U. S. Steel will remain a viable and competitive enterprise even though it is possible that these contingencies could be resolved unfavorably.
U. S. Steel accrues for estimated costs related to existing lawsuits, claims and proceedings when it is probable that it will incur these costs in the future and the costs are reasonably estimable.
Asbestos matters - As of December 31, 2021, U. S. Steel was a defendant in approximately 915 active cases involving approximately 2,505 plaintiffs. The vast majority of these cases involve multiple defendants. About 1,545, or approximately 61 percent, of these plaintiff claims are currently pending in jurisdictions which permit filings with massive numbers of plaintiffs. At December 31, 2020, U. S. Steel was a defendant in approximately 855 cases involving approximately 2,445 plaintiffs. Based upon U. S. Steel’s experience in such cases, it believes that the actual number of plaintiffs who ultimately assert claims against U. S. Steel will likely be a small fraction of the total number of plaintiffs.
The following table shows the number of asbestos claims in the current year and the prior two years:
Period ended Opening
Number
of Claims Claims
Dismissed,
Settled
and Resolved New
Claims Closing
Number
of Claims
December 31, 2019 2,320 195 265 2,390
December 31, 2020 2,390 240 295 2,445
December 31, 2021 2,445 198 258 2,505
The amount U. S. Steel accrues for pending asbestos claims is not material to U. S. Steel’s financial condition. However, U. S. Steel is unable to estimate the ultimate outcome of asbestos-related claims due to a number of uncertainties, including: (1) the rates at which new claims are filed, (2) the number of and effect of bankruptcies of other companies traditionally defending asbestos claims, (3) uncertainties associated with the variations in the litigation process from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, (4) uncertainties regarding the facts, circumstances and disease process with each claim, and (5) any new legislation enacted to address asbestos-related claims.
Further, U. S. Steel does not believe that an accrual for unasserted claims is required. At any given reporting date, it is probable that there are unasserted claims that will be filed against the Company in the future. The Company engages an outside valuation consultant to assist in assessing its ability to estimate an accrual for unasserted claims. This assessment is based on the Company's settlement experience, including recent claims trends. This analysis focuses on settlements made over the last several years as these claims are likely to best represent future claim characteristics. After review by the valuation consultant and U. S. Steel management, it was determined that the Company could not estimate an accrual for unasserted claims.
Despite these uncertainties, management believes that the ultimate resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on U. S. Steel’s financial condition.
Environmental Matters - U. S. Steel is subject to federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations relating to the environment. These laws generally provide for control of pollutants released into the environment and require responsible parties to undertake remediation of hazardous waste disposal sites. Penalties may be imposed for noncompliance. Changes in accrued liabilities for remediation activities where U. S. Steel is identified as a named party are summarized in the following table:
Year Ended December 31,
(In millions) 2021 2020
Beginning of period $ 146 $ 186
Accruals for environmental remediation deemed probable and reasonably estimable 43 7
Obligations settled (31) (47)
End of period $ 158 $ 146
Accrued liabilities for remediation activities are included in the following Consolidated Balance Sheet lines:
(In millions) December 31, 2021 December 31, 2020
Accounts payable $ 65 $ 43
Deferred credits and other noncurrent liabilities 93 103
Total $ 158 $ 146
Expenses related to remediation are recorded in cost of sales and were $47 million for the year ended December 31, 2021. Expenses for the years ended December 31, 2020 and December 31, 2019 were immaterial. It is not currently possible to estimate the ultimate amount of all remediation costs that might be incurred or the penalties that may be imposed. Due to uncertainties inherent in remediation projects and the associated liabilities, it is reasonably possible that total remediation costs for active matters may exceed the accrued liabilities by as much as 15 to 30 percent.
Remediation Projects
U. S. Steel is involved in environmental remediation projects at or adjacent to several current and former U. S. Steel facilities and other locations that are in various stages of completion ranging from initial characterization through post-closure monitoring. Based on the anticipated scope and degree of uncertainty of projects, we categorize projects as follows:
(1) Projects with Ongoing Study and Scope Development - Projects which are still in the development phase. For these projects, the extent of remediation that may be required is not yet known, the remediation methods and plans are not yet developed, and/or cost estimates cannot be determined. Therefore, significant costs, in addition to the accrued liabilities for these projects, are reasonably possible. There are four environmental remediation projects where additional costs for completion are not currently estimable, but could be material. These projects are at Fairfield Works, Lorain Tubular, USS-UPI LLC (UPI) formerly known as USS-POSCO Industries and the former steelmaking plant at Joliet, Illinois. As of December 31, 2021, accrued liabilities for these projects totaled $1 million for the costs of studies, investigations, interim measures, design and/or remediation. It is reasonably possible that additional liabilities associated with future requirements regarding studies, investigations, design and remediation for these projects could be as much as $22 million to $36 million.
(2) Significant Projects with Defined Scope - Projects with significant accrued liabilities with a defined scope. As of December 31, 2021, there are three significant projects with defined scope greater than or equal to $5 million each, with a total accrued liability of $102 million. These projects are: Gary Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) (accrued liability of $24 million), Duluth Works (accrued liability of $59 million) and the former Geneva facility (accrued liability of $19 million).
(3) Other Projects with a Defined Scope - Projects with relatively small accrued liabilities for which we believe that, while additional costs are possible, they are not likely to be significant, and also include those projects for which we do not yet possess sufficient information to estimate potential costs to U. S. Steel. There are three other environmental remediation projects which each had an accrued liability of between $1 million and $5 million. The total accrued liability for these projects at December 31, 2021 was $6 million. These projects have progressed through a significant portion of the design phase and material additional costs are not expected.
The remaining environmental remediation projects each have an accrued liability of less than $1 million each. The total accrued liability for these projects at December 31, 2021 was approximately $5 million. The Company does not foresee material additional liabilities for any of these sites.
Post-Closure Costs - Accrued liabilities for post-closure site monitoring and other costs at various closed landfills totaled $24 million at December 31, 2021 and were based on known scopes of work.
Administrative and Legal Costs - As of December 31, 2021, U. S. Steel had an accrued liability of $10 million for administrative and legal costs related to environmental remediation projects. These accrued liabilities were based on projected administrative and legal costs for the next three years and do not change significantly from year to year.
Capital Expenditures - For a number of years, U. S. Steel has made substantial capital expenditures to comply with various regulations, laws, and other requirements relating to the environment. Such capital expenditures totaled $27 million and $42 million In 2021 and 2020, respectively. U. S. Steel anticipates making additional such expenditures in the future, which may be material; however, the exact amounts and timing of such expenditures are uncertain because of the continuing evolution of specific regulatory requirements.
EU Environmental Requirements - Phase IV of the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) commenced on January 1, 2021 and will finish on December 31, 2030. The European Commission issued final approval of the Slovak National Allocation table in July 2021. The Slovak Ministry of Environment, after consent from the European Commission, allocated free allowances to USSE in December 2021. The final volume was reduced to reflect USSE production cuts in 2019 and 2020. In the fourth quarter of 2020 USSE started purchasing European Union Allowances (EUA) for the Phase IV period. As of December 31, 2021, we have purchased approximately 4.0 million EUA totaling €176 million (approximately $199 million) to fully cover the estimated 2021 shortfall and 1.1 million EUA totaling €68 million (approximately $77 million) to cover the expected 2022 shortfall of emission allowances.
The EU's Industrial Emissions Directive requires implementation of EU determined best available techniques (BAT) for Iron and Steel production to reduce environmental impacts as well as compliance with BAT associated emission levels. Total capital expenditures for projects to comply with or go beyond BAT requirements is €138 million (approximately $156 million) over the actual program period. These costs were partially offset by the EU funding received and may be mitigated over the next measurement periods if USSK complies with certain financial covenants, which are assessed annually. USSK complied with these covenants as of December 31, 2021. If we are unable to meet these covenants in the future, USSK might be required to provide additional collateral (e.g. bank guarantee) to secure 50 percent of the EU funding received.
Environmental indemnifications - Throughout its history, U. S. Steel has sold numerous properties and businesses and many of these sales included indemnifications and cost sharing agreements related to the assets that were divested. The amount of potential environmental liability associated with these transactions and properties is not estimable due to the nature and extent of the unknown conditions related to the properties divested and deconsolidated. Aside from the environmental liabilities already recorded as a result of these transactions due to specific environmental remediation activities and cases (included in the $158 million of accrued liabilities for remediation discussed above), there are no other known probable and estimable environmental liabilities related to these transactions.
Guarantees - The maximum guarantees of the indebtedness of unconsolidated entities of U. S. Steel totaled $7 million at December 31, 2021.
Other contingencies - Under certain operating lease agreements covering various equipment, U. S. Steel has the option to renew the lease or to purchase the equipment at the end of the lease term. If U. S. Steel does not exercise the purchase option by the end of the lease term, U. S. Steel guarantees a residual value of the equipment as determined at the lease inception date (totaling approximately $13 million at December 31, 2021). No liability has been recorded for these guarantees as the potential loss is not probable.
Insurance - U. S. Steel maintains insurance for certain property damage, equipment, business interruption and general liability exposures; however, insurance is applicable only after certain deductibles and retainages. U. S. Steel is self-insured for certain other exposures including workers’ compensation (where permitted by law) and auto liability. Liabilities are recorded for workers’ compensation and personal injury obligations. Other costs resulting from losses under deductible or retainage amounts or not otherwise covered by insurance are charged against income upon occurrence.
U. S. Steel uses surety bonds, trusts and letters of credit to provide whole or partial financial assurance for certain obligations such as workers’ compensation. The total amount of active surety bonds, trusts and letters of credit being used for financial assurance purposes was approximately $216 million as of December 31, 2021, which reflects U. S. Steel’s maximum exposure under these financial guarantees, but not its total exposure for the underlying obligations. A significant portion of our trust arrangements and letters of credit are collateralized by the Credit Facility Agreement. The remaining trust arrangements and letters of credit are collateralized by restricted cash. Restricted cash, which is recorded in other current and noncurrent assets, totaled $78 million and $133 million at December 31, 2021 and December 31, 2020 respectively.
Capital Commitments - At December 31, 2021, U. S. Steel’s contractual commitments to acquire property, plant and equipment totaled $1,483 million.
Contractual Purchase Commitments - U. S. Steel is obligated to make payments under contractual purchase commitments, including unconditional purchase obligations. Payments for contracts with remaining terms in excess of one year are summarized below (in millions):
2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 Later years Total
$513 $568 $334 $329 $251 $705 $2,700
The majority of U. S. Steel’s unconditional purchase obligations relate to the supply of industrial gases, and certain energy and utility services with terms ranging from two to 15 years. Unconditional purchase obligations also include coke and steam purchase commitments related to a coke supply agreement with Gateway Energy & Coke Company LLC (Gateway) under which Gateway is obligated to supply a minimum volume of the expected targeted annual production of the heat recovery coke plant, and U. S. Steel is obligated to purchase the coke from Gateway at the contract price. As of December 31, 2021, if U. S. Steel were to terminate the agreement, it may be obligated to pay in excess of $78 million.
Total payments relating to unconditional purchase obligations were approximately $767 million in 2021, $553 million in 2020 and $653 million in 2019.
27. Common Stock Issued and Repurchased
On October 28, 2021, U. S. Steel announced a common stock repurchase program that allowed for the repurchase of up to $300 million of its outstanding common stock from time to time in the open market or privately negotiated transactions. U. S. Steel repurchased 6,556,855 shares of common stock for approximately $150 million under this program during 2021.
In February 2021, U. S. Steel issued 48.3 million shares of common stock for net proceeds of approximately $790 million.
In June 2020, U. S. Steel issued 50 million shares of common stock for net proceeds of approximately $410 million.
In November 2018, U. S. Steel announced a common stock repurchase program that allowed for the repurchase of up to $300 million of its outstanding common stock from time to time in the open market or privately negotiated transactions through 2020 at the discretion of management. U. S. Steel repurchased 5,289,475 shares of common stock for approximately $88 million under this program during 2019. In December 2019, the Board of Directors terminated the authorization for the common stock repurchase program.
28. Subsequent Event
On January 24, 2022, the Board of Directors authorized a $500 million increase to its stock repurchase program under which it may acquire shares of the Company's outstanding common stock at the discretion of management. The shares will be purchased from time to time at prevailing market prices, through open market or privately negotiated transactions, depending upon the market conditions. Under the program, the purchases will be funded from cash on hand, and the repurchased shares will be held as treasury shares.
FIVE-YEAR OPERATING SUMMARY (Unaudited)
(Thousands of tons, unless otherwise noted) 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017
Raw Steel Production
Gary, IN 5,664 4,675 4,974 5,958 5,755
Great Lakes, MI - 328 1,964 2,369 2,592
Mon Valley, PA 2,668 2,552 2,331 2,640 2,473
Granite City, IL 1,549 1,758 2,140 926 -
Total Flat-Rolled facilities 9,881 9,313 11,409 11,893 10,820
Mini Mill facility 2,688 - - - -
U. S. Steel Košice 4,931 3,366 3,903 5,023 5,091
Tubular facility 464 16 - - -
Total 17,964 12,695 15,312 16,916 15,911
Raw Steel Capability
Flat-Rolled 13,200 17,000 17,000 17,000 17,000
Mini Mill 3,300 - - - -
USSE 5,000 5,000 5,000 5,000 5,000
Tubular (c)
900 900 - - -
Total 22,400 22,900 22,000 22,000 22,000
Production as % of total capability:
Flat-Rolled 58 % 55 % 67 % 70 % 64 %
Mini Mill 81 % - % - % - % - %
USSE 99 % 67 % 78 % 100 % 102 %
Tubular (c)
52 % 7 % - % - % - %
Coke Production
Flat-Rolled 3,848 2,557 3,485 3,718 3,416
USSE 1,548 1,116 1,328 1,514 1,497
Total 5,396 3,673 4,813 5,232 4,913
Iron Ore Pellet Production (a)
Total 23,369 16,981 21,450 23,054 23,246
Steel Shipments by Segment (b)
Flat-Rolled 9,018 8,711 10,700 10,510 9,887
Mini Mill 2,230 - - - -
USSE 4,302 3,041 3,590 4,457 4,585
Tubular 444 464 769 780 688
Total steel shipments 15,994 12,216 15,059 15,747 15,160
Average Realized Price (dollars per net ton)
Flat-Rolled $ 1,172 $ 718 $ 753 $ 811 $ 726
Mini Mill $ 1,314 $ - $ - $ - $ -
USSE $ 966 $ 626 $ 652 $ 693 $ 622
Tubular $ 1,696 $ 1,271 $ 1,450 $ 1,483 $ 1,253
(a)Includes our share of production from Hibbing and Tilden. As a result of the sale of our ownership interest, iron ore pellet production amounts do not include Tilden after September 29, 2017.
(b)Does not include intersegment shipments or shipments by joint ventures and other equity investees of U. S. Steel. Includes shipments from U. S. Steel to joint ventures and equity investees of substrate materials, primarily hot-rolled and cold-rolled sheets.
(c)The Fairfield Electric Arc Furnace commenced operation in October 2020. The 2020 production as a % of total capability amount is based on an October 1, 2020 start date.
FIVE-YEAR OPERATING SUMMARY (Unaudited) (Continued)
(Thousands of net tons) 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017
Steel Shipments by Market - North American Facilities (a) (c)
Steel service centers 2,660 1,450 1,902 1,904 1,953
Further conversion:
Trade customers 2,385 2,063 2,823 2,273 1,738
Joint ventures (b)
490 415 819 810 715
Transportation and automotive (b)
2,372 2,012 2,620 2,874 2,982
Construction and construction products 1,524 1,295 1,120 991 951
Containers and packaging 959 913 652 768 715
Appliances and electrical equipment 679 497 570 599 594
Oil, gas and petrochemicals 426 430 725 742 647
All other 197 100 238 329 280
Total 11,692 9,175 11,469 11,290 10,575
Steel Shipments by Market - USSE
Steel service centers 995 690 740 799 761
Further conversion:
Trade customers 314 202 214 287 284
Transportation and automotive 590 517 676 728 708
Construction and construction products 1,346 775 1,048 1,637 1,831
Containers and packaging 449 435 440 439 438
Appliances and electrical equipment 266 194 220 261 247
Oil, gas and petrochemicals 8 5 - 11 10
All other 334 223 252 295 306
Total 4,302 3,041 3,590 4,457 4,585
(a)Does not include shipments by joint ventures and other equity investees of U. S. Steel, but instead reflects the shipments of substrate materials, primarily hot-rolled and cold-rolled sheets, to those entities.
(b)PRO-TEC automotive substrate shipments are included in the Transportation and Automotive category.
(c)Shipments previously reported in 2018 and 2017 as Exports have been reclassified to one of the other categories to which they relate.
FIVE-YEAR FINANCIAL SUMMARY (Unaudited) (Continued)
(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts) 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017
Net sales by segment:
Flat-Rolled $ 12,358 $ 7,279 $ 9,560 $ 9,912 $ 8,491
Mini Mill $ 3,516 $ - $ - $ - $ -
USSE 4,266 1,970 2,420 3,228 2,974
Tubular 809 646 1,191 1,236 945
Total reportable segments $ 20,949 $ 9,895 $ 13,171 $ 14,376 $ 12,410
Other 101 162 168 186 179
Intersegment sales (775) (316) (402) (384) (339)
Total $ 20,275 $ 9,741 $ 12,937 $ 14,178 $ 12,250
Segment earnings (loss) before interest and income taxes:
Flat-Rolled $ 2,630 $ (596) $ 196 $ 883 $ 375
Mini Mill $ 1,206 $ - $ - $ - $ -
USSE 975 9 (57) 359 327
Tubular 1 (179) (67) (58) (99)
Total reportable segments $ 4,812 $ (766) $ 72 $ 1,184 $ 603
Other (11) (39) 23 55 44
Items not allocated to segments (b)
145 (270) (325) (115) 22
Total (loss) earnings before interest and income taxes (a)
$ 4,946 $ (1,075) $ (230) $ 1,124 $ 669
Net interest and other financial costs (a)
602 232 222 312 368
Income tax provision expense (benefit) 170 (142) 178 (303) (86)
Net (loss) earnings attributable to United States Steel Corporation $ 4,174 $ (1,165) $ (630) $ 1,115 $ 387
Per common share:
- Basic $ 15.77 $ (5.92) $ (3.67) $ 6.31 $ 2.21
- Diluted $ 14.88 $ (5.92) $ (3.67) $ 6.25 $ 2.19
(a)Amount has been adjusted to include $61 million in 2017 of postretirement benefit expense (other than service cost) related to the retrospective presentation change of net periodic benefit cost of our defined benefit pension and other post-employment benefits as a result of the adoption of Accounting Standards Update 2017-07, Compensation - Retirement Benefits on January 1, 2018.
(b)See Note 4 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

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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
None.

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ITEM 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Item 9A. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
Conclusions Regarding the Effectiveness of Disclosure Controls and Procedures
Under the supervision and with the participation of U. S. Steel’s management, including the chief executive officer and chief financial officer, U. S. Steel conducted an evaluation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as such term is defined under Rule 13a-15(e) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act). Based on this evaluation, U. S. Steel’s chief executive officer and chief financial officer concluded that U. S. Steel’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective as of the end of the period covered by this annual report.
Management’s Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
See “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data - Management’s Reports to Stockholders - Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.”
Attestation Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
See “Item 8. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data - Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm.”
Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting
There have not been any changes in U. S. Steel’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the fourth quarter of 2021 which have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, U. S. Steel’s internal control over financial reporting.

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ITEM 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
Item 9B. OTHER INFORMATION
None.

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ITEM 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Item 10. DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Information concerning the directors of U. S. Steel required by this item is incorporated and made part hereof by reference to the material appearing under the heading “Election of Directors” in U. S. Steel’s Proxy Statement for the 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, which will be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, pursuant to Regulation 14A, no later than 120 days after the end of the fiscal year. Information concerning the Audit Committee and its financial expert required by this item is incorporated and made part hereof by reference to the material appearing under the heading “Corporate Governance - Board Committees - Audit” in U. S. Steel’s Proxy Statement for the 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Information regarding the Nominating Committee required by this item is incorporated and made part hereof by reference to the material appearing under the heading “Corporate Governance - Board Committees - Corporate Governance & Sustainability” in U. S. Steel’s Proxy Statement for the 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Information regarding the ability of stockholders to communicate with the Board of Directors is incorporated and made part hereof by reference to the material appearing under the heading “Corporate Governance - Commitment to Stockholder Engagement - Communications from Stockholders and Interested Parties” in U. S. Steel’s Proxy Statement for the 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Information regarding compliance with Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act required by this item is incorporated and made part hereof by reference to the material appearing under the heading “Delinquent Section 16(a) Reports” in U. S. Steel’s Proxy Statement for the 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders. Information concerning the executive officers of U. S. Steel is contained in Part I of this Form 10-K under the caption “Information about our Executive Officers.”
U. S. Steel has adopted a Code of Ethical Business Conduct that applies to all of our directors and officers, including our principal executive officer, principal financial officer, principal accounting officer or controller, or persons performing similar functions. U. S. Steel will provide a copy of this code free of charge upon request. To obtain a copy, contact the Office of the Corporate Secretary, United States Steel Corporation, 600 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15219-2800 (telephone: 412-433-1121). The Code of Ethical Business Conduct is also available through the Company’s website at www.ussteel.com. U. S. Steel does not intend to incorporate the contents of our website into this Annual Report on Form 10-K.

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ITEM 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Item 11. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
Information required by this item is incorporated and made part hereof by reference to the material appearing under the heading “Compensation & Organization Committee Report” in U. S. Steel’s Proxy Statement for the 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

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ITEM 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
Item 12. SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS
Equity Compensation Plan Information
Plan Category (1) Number of securities
to be issued upon
exercise of outstanding
options, warrants and
rights (2) Weighted-average
exercise price of
outstanding options,
warrants and rights (3) Number of securities
remaining available for
future issuance under
equity compensation
plans excluding
securities reflected in
Column (1) (b)
Equity compensation plans approved by security holders (a)
11,337,288 $25.31 13,329,554
Equity compensation plans not approved by security holders(c)
- (one for one) -
Total 11,337,288 - 13,329,554
(a)The numbers in columns (1) and (2) of this row contemplate all shares that could potentially be issued as a result of outstanding grants under the 2005 Stock Incentive Plan and the 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended and restated as of December 31, 2021. (For more information, see Note 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Column (1) includes (i) 548,583 shares of common stock that could be issued for the Common Stock Units outstanding under the Deferred Compensation Program for Non-Employee Directors and (ii) 5,429,252 shares that could be issued for the 2,714,626 performance awards outstanding under the Long-Term Incentive Compensation Program (a program under the 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended and restated). The calculation in column (2) does not include the Common Stock Units since the weighted average exercise price for Common Stock Units is one for one; that is, one share of common stock will be given in exchange for each unit of such phantom stock accumulated through the date of the director’s retirement. Also, the calculation in column (2) does not include the performance awards since the shares issued for performance awards can range from zero for one to two for one; that is, performance awards may result in up to 5,429,252 of common stock being issued (two for one), or some lesser number of shares (including zero shares of common stock issued), depending upon the Corporation’s common stock performance versus that of a peer group of companies or the Corporation's return on capital employed performance over a performance period.
(b)Represents shares available under the 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended and restated.
(c)At December 31, 2021, U. S. Steel had no securities remaining for future issuance under equity compensation plans that had not been approved by security holders. Column (1) represents Common Stock Units that were issued pursuant to the Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors prior to its being amended to make it a program under the 2005 Stock Incentive Plan and 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended and restated. The weighted average exercise price for Common Stock Units in column (2) is one for one; that is, one share of common stock will be given in exchange for each unit of phantom stock upon the director’s retirement from the Board of Directors. All future grants under this amended plan/program will count as shares issued under to the 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended and restated, a stockholder approved plan.
Other information required by this item is incorporated and made part hereof by reference to the material appearing under the headings “Stock Ownership of Directors and Executive Officers” and “Stock Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners” in U. S. Steel’s Proxy Statement for the 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

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ITEM 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS
Item 13. CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS, AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE
Information required by this item is incorporated and made part hereof by reference to the material appearing under the headings “Corporate Governance - Respect to Related Person Transactions Policy” and “Corporate Governance - Director Independence” in U. S. Steel’s Proxy Statement for the 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

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ITEM 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTING FEES AND SERVICES
Item 14. PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES
Information required by this item is incorporated and made part hereof by reference to the material appearing under the heading “Audit Fees” in U. S. Steel’s Proxy Statement for the 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
PART IV

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ITEM 15. EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
Item 15. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULE
A. Documents Filed as Part of the Report
1. Financial Statements and Supplementary Data
Financial Statements filed as part of this report are included in “Item 8 - Financial Statements and Supplementary Data” list on page 61.
2. Financial Statement Schedules
“Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts and Reserves" for years ended December 31, 2021, 2020, and 2019 is included on page 107. All other schedules are omitted because they are not applicable or the required information is contained in the applicable financial statements or notes thereto.
B. Exhibits
Exhibit No.
2. Plan of acquisition, reorganization, arrangement, liquidation or succession
(a) Call Option Equity Purchase Agreement, by and among U. S. Steel Holdco LLC, Big River Steel Holdings LLC, Pinnacle Mountain Holding Company III, LLC and Consolidated Steel Equity Investors, LLC, dated as of December 15, 2020.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to United States Steel Corporation's Form 8-K filed on December 18, 2020, Commission File Number 1-16811.
3. Articles of Incorporation and By-Laws
(a) Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of United States Steel Corporation, dated April 25, 2017
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to United States Steel Corporation's Form 8-K filed on April 28, 2017, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(b) Amended and Restated By-Laws of United States Steel Corporation, dated as of October 26, 2021.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to United States Steel Corporation's Form 8-K filed on October 28, 2021, Commission File Number 1-16811.
4. Instruments Defining the Rights of Security Holders, Including Indentures
(a) Indenture between United States Steel Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon (f/k/a The Bank of New York, dated as of May 21, 2007.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 8-K filed on May 22, 2007, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(b) First Supplemental Indenture between United States Steel Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon(f/k/a The Bank of New York, dated as of May 21, 2007).
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 8-K filed on May 22, 2007, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(c) Tenth Supplemental Indenture between United States Steel Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon, dated as of February 11, 2021.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 8-K filed on February 11, 2021, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(d) Indenture by and between United States Steel Corporation and The Bank of New York Mellon, dated as of October 21, 2019.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 8-K filed on October 21, 2019, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(e) Indenture among Big River Steel LLC, BRS Finance Corp., BRS Intermediate Holdings LLC, each Guarantor that may become party thereto and U.S. Bank National Association, dated as of September 18, 2020.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 8-K filed on January 19, 2021, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(f) Description of Securities.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-K filed on February 14, 2020, Commission File Number 1-16811.
Certain long-term debt instruments are omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(4)(iii) of Regulation S-K. U. S. Steel agrees to furnish to the Commission on request a copy of any instrument defining the rights of holders of long-term debt of U. S. Steel and of any subsidiary for which consolidated or unconsolidated financial statements are required to be filed.
10. Material Contracts
(a) Recapitalization and Equity Purchase Agreement by and among U. S. Steel Holdco LLC, BRS Stock Holdco LLC, Big River Steel Holdings LLC, the Equityholders of Big River Steel Corp. and Big River Steel Holdings LLC and United States Steel Corporation, dated as of September 30, 2019.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 8-K filed on October 1, 2019, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(b) Purchase and Sale Agreement by and among U. S. Steel Holdco LLC, United States Steel Corporation and TPG Growth II BDH, L.P, dated as of September 30, 2019.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 8-K filed on October 1, 2019, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(c) Option Agreement by and between United States Steel Corporation and Stelco Inc., dated as of April 30, 2020. on and Stelco.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 8-K filed on April 30, 2020, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(d) Underwriting Agreement by and between United States Steel Corporation and Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC on behalf of the several Underwriters, dated February 8, 2021.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.1 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 8-K filed on February 11, 2021, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(e) Membership Interest Purchase Agreement by and between United States Steel Corporation and Percy Acquisition LLC, dated June 7, 2021.**
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 8-K filed on June 8, 2021, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(f) Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement among United States Steel Corporation, the Lenders party thereto, the LC Issuing Banks party thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., dated as of October 25, 2019.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 8-K filed on October 28, 2019, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(g) Amendment No. 1 to Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, Second Amended and Restated Security Agreement and Second Amended and Restated Subsidiary Security Agreement, dated September 30, 2020.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 8-K filed on October 2, 2020, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(h) Amendment No. 2 to Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated March 26, 2021.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-Q filed on April 30, 2021, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(i) Amendment No. 3 to Fifth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated July 23, 2021.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-Q filed on July 30, 2021, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(j) Second Amended and Restated Borrower Security Agreement between United States Steel Corporation and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., dated as of October 25, 2019.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 8-K filed on October 28, 2019, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(k) Second Amended and Restated Subsidiary Security Agreement between the Subsidiary Guarantors and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., dated as of October 25, 2019.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 8-K filed on October 28, 2019, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(l) Agreement of Sale between United States Steel Corporation and The Industrial Development Board of the City of Hoover, dated as of October 1, 2019.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 8-K filed on October 28, 2019, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(m) Loan Agreement between United States Steel Corporation and the Allegheny County Industrial Development Authority, dated as of October 1, 2019.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 8-K filed on October 28, 2019, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(n) Credit Agreement, dated December 10, 2019, by and among United States Steel Corporation, KfW IPEX-Bank GMBH, as Mandated Lead Arranger and ECA Structuring Bank, KfW IPEX-Bank as Facility Agent, KfW IPEX-Bank as ECA Agent, and the financial institutions listed therein as lenders, and other parties party thereto from time to time
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-K filed on February 14, 2020, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(o) First Amendment to the Credit Agreement among United States Steel Corporation and KFW IPEX-BANK GMBH, dated as of November 17, 2020.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-K filed on February 12, 2021, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(p) Agreement of Sale between United States Steel Corporation and The Industrial Development Board of the City of Hoover regarding $63,400,000 million 6.375% Environmental Improvement Revenue Bonds, Series 2020 (United States Steel Corporation Project), dated as of November 1, 2020.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 8-K filed on November 24, 2020, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(q) Loan Agreement dated between United States Steel Corporation and the Indiana Finance Authority regarding $33,300,000 Indiana Finance Authority Environmental Improvement Revenue Bonds, Series 2020A (United States Steel Corporation Project) and Indiana Finance Authority Environmental Improvement Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series 2020B (United States Steel Corporation Project), dated as of November 1, 2020.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 8-K filed on November 24, 2020, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(r) First Amendment to ABL Credit Agreement by and among Big River Steel LLC, BRS Intermediate Holdings LLC, Goldman Sachs Bank USA and each lender party thereto, dated as of September 10, 2020.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 8-K filed on January 19, 2021, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(s) Second Amendment to ABL Credit Agreement by and among Big River Steel LLC, BRS Intermediate Holdings LLC, Goldman Sachs Bank USA and each lender party thereto, dated as of July 23, 2021.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-Q filed on July 30, 2021, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(t) Bond Financing Agreement between Arkansas Development Finance Authority and each of Big River Steel LLC, BRS Finance Corp. and BRS Intermediate Holdings LLC relating to $265 million Arkansas Development Finance Authority Industrial Development Revenue Bonds (Big River Steel Project), Tax-Exempt Series 2020 (Green Bonds), dated as of September 10, 2020.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2.1 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 8-K filed on January 19, 2021, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(u) Definitions Annex relating to Arkansas Development Finance Authority Industrial Development Revenue Bonds (Big River Steel Project), Tax-Exempt Series 2020 (Green Bonds), dated as of September 10, 2020.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2.2 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 8-K filed on January 19, 2021, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(v) Bond Financing Agreement between Arkansas Development Finance Authority and each of Big River Steel LLC, BRS Finance Corp. and BRS Intermediate Holdings LLC relating to $487 million Arkansas Development Finance Authority Industrial Development Revenue Bonds (Big River Steel Project), Series 2019, dated as of May 31, 2019.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3.1 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 8-K filed on January 19, 2021, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(w) Definitions Annex relating to Arkansas Development Finance Authority Industrial Development Revenue Bonds (Big River Steel Project), Series 2019, dated as of May 31, 2019.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3.2 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 8-K filed on January 19, 2021, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(x) EUR 300,000,000 Unsecured Sustainability Linked Revolving Credit Facility Agreement among U. S. Steel Košice, s.r.o., and Commerzbank Aktiengesellschaft, ING Bank N.V., Komerèní banka, a.s., Slovenská sporiteåòa, a.s., Unicredit Bank Czech Republic and Slovakia , a.s., Ceskoslovenská Obchodná Banka, a.s., and Citibank Europe plc, dated September 29, 2021.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 8-K filed on October 1, 2021, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(y) United States Steel Corporation 2005 Stock Incentive Plan, Effective April 26, 2005.*
Incorporated by reference to Appendix B to United States Steel Corporation’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on March 11, 2005, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(z) United States Steel Corporation 2005 Stock Incentive Plan, Amended and Restated Effective April 27, 2010.*
Incorporated by reference to Appendix A to United States Steel Corporation’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on March 12, 2010, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(aa) United States Steel Corporation 2005 Stock Incentive Plan, Amended and Restated Effective April 29, 2014.*
Incorporated by reference to Appendix A to United States Steel Corporation’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on March 14, 2014, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(bb) Form of Stock Option Grant under the Long-Term Incentive Compensation Program, a program under the United States Steel Corporation 2005 Stock Incentive Plan.*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(x) to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-K filed on February 27, 2007, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(cc) Form of Performance Award Grant Agreement under the Long-Term Incentive Compensation Program, a program under the United States Steel Corporation 2005 Stock Incentive Plan.*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-Q filed on April 26, 2011, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(dd) Form of Stock Option Grant Agreement under the Long-Term Incentive Compensation Program, a program under the United States Steel Corporation 2005 Stock Incentive Plan.*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-Q filed on April 26, 2011, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(ee) Form of Restricted Stock Unit Retention Grant Agreement under the Long-Term Incentive Compensation Program, a program under the United States Steel Corporation 2005 Stock Incentive Plan.*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-Q filed on April 26, 2011, Commission File Number 1-16811
(ff) Form of Restricted Stock Unit Annual Grant Agreement under the Long-Term Incentive Compensation Program, a program under the United States Steel Corporation 2005 Stock Incentive Plan.*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-Q filed on April 26, 2011, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(gg) Form of Retention Performance Award Grant Agreement under the Long-Term Incentive Compensation Program, a program under the United States Steel Corporation 2005 Stock Incentive Plan.*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 8-K filed on July 2, 2012, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(hh) Form of Non-Qualified Stock Option Grant Agreement under the Long-Term Incentive Compensation Program, a program under the United States Steel Corporation 2005 Stock Incentive Plan.*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-Q filed on April 29, 2015, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(ii) Administrative Regulations for the Long-Term Incentive Compensation Program under the United States Steel Corporation 2005 Stock Incentive Plan, Amended and Restated Effective May 28, 2013.*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 8-K filed on May 30, 2013, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(jj) Administrative Regulations for the Long-Term Incentive Compensation Program under the United States Steel Corporation 2005 Stock Incentive Plan, Amended and Restated Effective February 25, 2014.*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 8-K filed on March 3, 2014, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(kk) Administrative Procedures for the Long-Term Incentive Compensation Program under the United States Steel Corporation 2005 Stock Incentive Plan, as Amended and Restated, and under the United States Steel Corporation 2010 Annual Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended February 24, 2015.*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-Q filed on April 29, 2015, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(ll) Administrative Procedures for the Long-Term Incentive Compensation Program under the United States Steel Corporation 2005 Stock Incentive Plan, as Amended and Restated, and under the United States Steel Corporation Annual Incentive Compensation Plan, Effective February 22, 2016.*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(kk) to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-K filed on February 29, 2016, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(mm) United States Steel Corporation Deferred Compensation Program for Non-Employee Directors, a program under the 2005 Stock Incentive Plan, effective as of November 29, 2005.*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(d) to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-K filed on February 28, 2012, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(nn) United States Steel Corporation 2010 Annual Incentive Compensation Plan, Effective April 27, 2010.*
Incorporated by reference to Appendix B to United States Steel Corporation’s Definitive Proxy Statement on Schedule 14A filed on March 12, 2010, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(oo) Form of Incentive Award Agreement under the United States Steel Corporation 2010 Annual Incentive Compensation Plan.*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-Q filed on April 29, 2015, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(pp) Administrative Regulations for the Executive Management Annual Incentive Compensation Program under the United States Steel Corporation 2010 Annual Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended January 27, 2014.*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 8-K filed on January 31, 2014, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(qq) Administrative Procedures for the Executive Management Annual Incentive Compensation Program under the United States Steel Corporation 2010 Annual Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended January 27, 2015*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-Q filed on April 29, 2015, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(rr) Administrative Procedures for the Executive Management Annual Incentive Compensation Program under the United States Steel Corporation 2010 Annual Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended February 22, 2016.*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(ll) to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-K filed on February 29, 2016, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(ss) Administrative Procedures for the Executive Management Annual Incentive Compensation Program under the United States Steel Corporation 2010 Annual Incentive Compensation Plan, as amended November 1, 2016.*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-Q filed on November 2, 2016, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(tt) United States Steel Corporation Supplemental Thrift Program, Amended and Restated Effective July 31, 2013.*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-Q filed on October 29, 2013, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(uu) United States Steel Corporation Supplemental Thrift Program, Amended and Restated Effective November 1, 2016.*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-Q filed on November 2, 2016, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(vv) United States Steel Corporation Supplemental Thrift Program, Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2019.*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-Q filed on May 3, 2019, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(ww) United States Steel Corporation Non Tax-Qualified Retirement Account Program, Amended and Restated Effective November 13, 2013.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10(dd) to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-K filed on February 25, 2014, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(xx) United States Steel Corporation Non Tax-Qualified Retirement Account Program, Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2016.*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-Q filed on November 2, 2016, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(yy) United States Steel Corporation Non Tax-Qualified Retirement Account Program, Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2019.*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-Q filed on May 3, 2019, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(zz) United States Steel Corporation Non Tax-Qualified Pension Plan, Amended and Restated Effective December 31, 2015.*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 8-K filed on August 21, 2015, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(aaa) United States Steel Corporation Executive Management Supplemental Pension Program, Amended and Restated Effective December 31, 2015.*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 8-K filed on August 21, 2015, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(bbb) United States Steel Corporation Supplemental Retirement Account Program, Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2016.*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-Q filed on November 4, 2015, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(ccc) United States Steel Corporation Supplemental Retirement Account Program, Amended and Restated Effective January 1, 2019.*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-Q filed on May 3, 2019, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(ddd) United States Steel Corporation Change in Control Severance Plan, Effective January 1, 2016.*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 8-K filed on November 6, 2015, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(eee) United States Steel Corporation Change in Control Severance Plan, Amended and Restated Effective July 28, 2020*.
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 8-K filed on July 30, 2020, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(fff) United States Steel Corporation Executive Severance Plan, Effective December 14, 2021.*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 8-K filed on December 20, 2021, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(ggg) United States Steel Corporation 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, Effective April 26, 2016.*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-Q filed on April 27, 2016, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(hhh) First Amendment to United States Steel Corporation 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, Effective February 28, 2017.*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-Q filed on April 26, 2017, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(iii) United States Steel Corporation 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, Amended and Restated Effective April 28, 2020*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 8-K filed on May 1, 2020, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(jjj) United States Steel Corporation 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, Amended and Restated Effective April 27, 2021.*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-Q filed on April 30, 2021, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(kkk) Form of United States Steel Corporation 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan Restricted Stock Unit Grant Agreement (Retention Grant)*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-Q filed on July 27, 2016, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(lll) Form of United States Steel Corporation 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan Restricted Stock Unit Grant Agreement (Annual Grant)*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-Q filed on July 27, 2016, Commission File Number 1-16811
(mmm) Form of United States Steel Corporation 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan (Stock Option Grant).*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-Q filed on July 27, 2016, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(nnn) Form of United States Steel Corporation 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan Restricted Stock Unit Grant Agreement (Annual Grant).*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-Q filed on April 27, 2018, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(ooo) Form of United States Steel Corporation 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan Restricted Stock Unit Grant Agreement (Retention Grant).*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-Q filed on April 27, 2018, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(ppp) Form of United States Steel Corporation 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan Performance Share Award Grant Agreement (TSR Grant).*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-Q filed on April 27, 2018, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(qqq) Form of United States Steel Corporation 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan Performance Share Award Grant Agreement (ROCE Grant).*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-Q filed on April 27, 2018, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(rrr) Form of United States Steel Corporation 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan Performance Share Award Grant Agreement (TSR Grant).*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-Q filed on May 3, 2019, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(sss) Form of United States Steel Corporation 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan Performance Cash Award Grant Agreement (ROCE Grant).*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-Q filed on May 1, 2020, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(ttt) Form of United States Steel Corporation 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan Restricted Stock Unit Grant Agreement (Retention Grant).*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-Q filed on May 1, 2020, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(uuu) Form of United States Steel Corporation 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan Performance Share Award Grant Agreement (2021 Grants).*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-Q filed on April 30, 2021, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(vvv) Form of United States Steel Corporation 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan Performance Cash Award Grant Agreement (2021 Grants).*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-Q filed on April 30, 2021, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(www) Form of United States Steel Corporation 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan Restricted Stock Unit Grant Agreement (2021 Grants).*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-Q filed on April 30, 2021, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(xxx) Form of United States Steel Corporation 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan Retention Restricted Stock Unit Grant Agreement (2021 Grants).*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-Q filed on April 30, 2021, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(yyy) Form of United States Steel Corporation 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan TSR Performance Share Award Grant Agreement (2021 Grants).*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.8 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-Q filed on April 30, 2021, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(zzz) Administrative Procedures for the Executive Management Annual Compensation Incentive Program under the United States Steel Corporation 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, Effective February 27, 2018.*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-Q filed on April 27, 2018, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(aaaa) Administrative Procedures for the Executive Management Annual Incentive Compensation Plan under the United States Steel Corporation 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, Effective February 26, 2019.*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-Q filed on May 3, 2019, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(bbbb) Administrative Procedures for the Executive Management Annual Incentive Compensation Plan under the United States Steel Corporation 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, Effective February 25, 2020.*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-Q filed on May 1, 2020, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(cccc) Administrative Procedures for the Executive Management Annual Incentive Compensation Plan under the United States Steel Corporation 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, Effective February 23, 2021.*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-Q filed on April 30, 2021, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(dddd) United States Steel Corporation Deferred Compensation Program for Non-Employee Directors, a program under the United States Steel Corporation 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan, effective as of July 26, 2016, as amended on October 30, 2018.*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-K filed on February 15, 2019, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(eeee) United States Steel Corporation Deferred Compensation Program for Non-Employee Directors, a program under the United States Steel Corporation 2016 Omnibus Incentive Plan, effective as of July 26, 2016, as amended on October 28, 2019.*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-K filed on February 14, 2020, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(ffff) United States Steel Corporation Non-Employee Director Stock Program of the 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, Effective November 1, 2019.*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-K filed on February 14, 2020, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(gggg) Letter Agreement between Scott D. Buckiso and United States Steel Corporation, dated July 30, 2020.*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-K filed on February 12, 2021, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(hhhh) Separation Agreement and Release by and between Kevin P. Bradley and United Stated Steel Corporation, dated October 7, 2019.*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-K filed on February 14, 2020, Commission File Number 1-16811.
(iiii) Separation Agreement and Release by and between Douglas R. Matthews and United States Steel Corporation, dated December 24, 2020.*
Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 10-K filed on February 12, 2021, Commission File Number 1-16811.
10.1 Commitment Agreement by and among United States Steel Corporation, Banner Life Insurance Company, William Penn Life Insurance Company of New York and State Street Global Advisors Trust Company, dated November 9, 2021.**
10.2 ABL Credit Agreement by and among Big River Steel LLC, BRS Intermediate Holdings LLC, Goldman Sachs Bank USA and each lender party thereto, dated as of August 23, 2017.**
10.3 Supplemental Agreement No. 9 between U. S. Steel Košice, s.r.o. and ING Bank N.V., dated December 3, 2021.
10.4 Form of United States Steel Corporation 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan Performance Share Award Grant Agreement (2021 SVP Performance Awards)* **
10.5 Form of United States Steel Corporation 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan Performance Share Award Grant Agreement (2021 CEO Performance Award)* **
10.6 Form of United States Steel Corporation 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan Performance Non-Qualified Stock Option Grant Agreement (2021 CEO PSO)* **
10.7 United States Steel Corporation Deferred Compensation Program for Non-Employee Directors, a program under the United States Steel Corporation 2016 Omnibus Incentive Compensation Plan, Effective January 1, 2022.*
10.8 United States Steel Corporation Non-Employee Director Compensation Policy, Effective as of January 1, 2022.*
10.9 Form of Offer Letter to Kenneth E. Jaycox Jr., dated September 19, 2020.*
21. List of Subsidiaries
23. Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
24. Powers of Attorney
31.1. Certification of Chief Executive Officer required by Rules 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2. Certification of Chief Financial Officer required by Rules 13a-14(a) or 15d-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.1. Certification of Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
32.2. Certification of Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
95. Mine Safety Disclosure required under Section 1503 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act
96.1 Technical Report Summary relating to the Minntac and Keetac iron ore mines, dated February 9, 2022.
101. The following financial information from United States Steel Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 formatted in Inline XBRL (Extensible Business Reporting Language) includes: (i) the Consolidated Statement of Operations, (ii) the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income (Loss), (iii) the Consolidated Balance Sheet, (iv) the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows, and (v) Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
104. Cover Page Interactive Data File (formatted as Inline XBRL and contained in Exhibit 101)
* Indicates management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
** Schedules and exhibits have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(b)(2) of Regulation S-K. The Corporation hereby undertakes to furnish supplemental copies of the omitted schedules and exhibits upon request by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
SCHEDULE II - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS AND RESERVES
YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2021, 2020 AND 2019
(Millions of Dollars)
Additions Deductions
Description Balance at
Beginning
of Period Charged to
Costs and
Expenses Charged
to Other
Accounts Charged to
Costs and
Expenses Charged
to Other
Accounts Balance
at End
of Period
Year ended December 31, 2021:
Reserves deducted in the balance sheet from the assets to which they apply:
Allowance for doubtful accounts $ 34 $ 16 $ 4 $ - $ 10 $ 44
Investments and long-term receivables reserve 5 - - - 1 4
Deferred tax valuation allowance:
Domestic 793 86 25 745 - 159
Foreign 3 - - - - 3
Year ended December 31, 2020:
Reserves deducted in the balance sheet from the assets to which they apply:
Allowance for doubtful accounts $ 28 $ 6 $ 2 $ - $ 2 $ 34
Investments and long-term receivables reserve 5 - 3 - 3 5
Deferred tax valuation allowance:
Domestic 560 240 2 - 9 793
Foreign 3 - - - - 3
Year ended December 31, 2019:
Reserves deducted in the balance sheet from the assets to which they apply:
Allowance for doubtful accounts $ 29 $ - $ - $ - $ 1 $ 28
Investments and long-term receivables reserve 5 - - - - 5
Deferred tax valuation allowance:
Domestic 211 349 - - - 560
Foreign 3 - - - - 3