2023
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 11-K
(Mark One)
[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the Fiscal Year Ended December 31, 2023
OR
[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 15(d) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the transition period from to
Commission file number 333-151438
USS 401(k) Plan for USW-Represented Employees
(Full title of the Plan)
United States Steel Corporation
600 Grant Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2800
(Name of issuer of securities held pursuant to plan and
the address of its principal executive offices)
USS 401(k) Plan for USW-Represented Employees
Index to Financial Statements and Supplementary Information
December 31, 2023, and 2022
Page(s)
| | | | | |
| Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm | |
| Financial Statements | |
Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits at December 31, 2023 and 2022 | |
Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits for the year ended December 31, 2023 | |
| Notes to Financial Statements | |
| |
| Supplemental Schedule | |
Schedule H, line 4i - Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) at December 31, 2023 | |
Note: Other schedules required by Section 2520.103-10 of the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under ERISA have been omitted as they are not applicable.
The Corporation
United States Steel Corporation is a Delaware corporation. It has executive offices at 600 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2800. The terms "Corporation," "Company," "U. S. Steel" and "United States Steel" when used herein refer to United States Steel Corporation or United States Steel Corporation and subsidiaries as required by the context. The term "Plan" when used herein refers to USS 401(k) Plan for USW-Represented Employees.
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
To the Administrator and Plan Participants of USS 401(k) Plan for USW-Represented Employees
Opinion on the Financial Statements
We have audited the accompanying statements of net assets available for benefits of USS 401(k) Plan for USW-Represented Employees (the “Plan”) as of December 31, 2023 and 2022 and the related statement of changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2023, including the related notes (collectively referred to as the “financial statements”). In our opinion, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the net assets available for benefits of the Plan as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, and the changes in net assets available for benefits for the year ended December 31, 2023 in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
Basis for Opinion
These financial statements are the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Plan’s financial statements 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 Plan 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 of these financial statements in accordance with the standards of the PCAOB. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement, whether due to error or fraud.
Our audits included performing procedures to assess the risks of material misstatement of the 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 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 financial statements. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
Supplemental Information
The supplemental schedule of Form 5500, Schedule H, Line 4i – Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year) as of December 31, 2023 has been subjected to audit procedures performed in conjunction with the audit of the Plan’s financial statements. The supplemental schedule is the responsibility of the Plan’s management. Our audit procedures included determining whether the supplemental schedule reconciles to the financial statements or the underlying accounting and other records, as applicable, and performing procedures to test the completeness and accuracy of the information presented in the supplemental schedule. In forming our opinion on the supplemental schedule, we evaluated whether the supplemental schedule, including its form and content, is presented in conformity with the Department of Labor’s Rules and Regulations for Reporting and Disclosure under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974. In our opinion, the supplemental schedule is fairly stated, in all material respects, in relation to the financial statements as a whole.
/s/PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
June 28, 2024
We have served as the Plan’s auditor since 1993.
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, PricewaterhouseCoopers Center, 301 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
T: (412) 355 6000, www.pwc.com/us
USS 401(K) PLAN FOR USW-REPRESENTED EMPLOYEES
Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits
($ in thousands)
| | | | | | | | |
| December 31, |
| 2023 | 2022 |
| Assets | | |
| Investments: | | |
| Investments at fair value (see Notes 9 & 11) | $ | 1,232.088 | | $ | 1,031.365 | |
| Guaranteed income account, at contract value (see note 12) | 11,165 | | — | |
| Total Investments | 1,243,253 | | 1,031,365 | |
| Receivables: | | |
| Participant loans (see Note 10) | 32,372 | | 27,590 | |
| Investment sales | 458 | | 11 | |
| Total receivables | 32,830 | | 27,601 | |
| Net assets available for benefits | $ | 1,276,083 | | $ | 1,058,966 | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits
($ in thousands)
| | | | | | |
| Year Ended December 31, | |
| December 31, 2023 | |
| Additions | | |
| Gain on investments: | | |
| Interest | $ | 5,950 | | |
| Dividends | 10,110 | | |
| Net appreciation in fair value of investments | 222,627 | | |
| Total gain on investments | 238,687 | | |
| | |
| Contributions Received from: | | |
| Employers (see Note 1) | 6,217 | | |
| Participants (including rollovers) | 65,045 | | |
| Total contributions | 71,262 | | |
| Total additions | 309,949 | | |
| | |
| Deductions | | |
| Benefit payments directly to participants or beneficiaries | 119,481 | | |
| Administration expenses | 968 | | |
| Total deductions | 120,449 | | |
| | |
| Net increase in net assets before transfers | 189,500 | | |
| | |
| Net transfers to the plan (see Note 4) | 27,617 | | |
| | |
| Net increase in net assets | 217,117 | | |
| | |
| Net assets available for benefits: | | |
| Beginning of year | 1,058,966 | | |
| End of year | $ | 1,276,083 | | |
| | |
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements.
USS 401(K) PLAN FOR USW-REPRESENTED EMPLOYEES
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2023 and 2022
1.Plan description - The following description provides general information regarding the USS 401(k) Plan for USW-Represented Employees (the Plan), a defined contribution plan. The Plan covers full-time employees of United States Steel Corporation (USS or Plan Sponsor) and certain employing companies (collectively, “Company”) who are covered by a collective bargaining agreement that adopts the Plan and who have completed at least six months of continuous service.
The Plan is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (ERISA). For a more complete description of the Plan, participants should refer to the Summary Plan Description, which is available from the United States Steel and Carnegie Pension Fund (the Plan Administrator). This plan description describes the provisions that are generally applicable; some provisions may vary for participants or eligible employees impacted by a recent plan merger. See Note 3 for details.
a.Contributions - The Plan receives (1) participant contributions (a) as pre-tax savings and/or Roth 401(k) savings and/or (b) rollover contributions, and (2) for certain bargaining units, employer contributions, as non-contributory defined contribution Retirement Account contributions and/or Retiree Health Care Account contributions. Each component of contributions is described in further detail below. Participants may contribute from 1 percent to 40 percent (in whole percentages) of regular compensation as pre-tax contributions and/or Roth 401(k) contributions (18 percent if the participant is a highly compensated employee) and, in 10 percent increments, up to 100 percent of bonus type payments, as defined by the Plan. (see Note 3 for rules applicable to USS-UPI, LLC (UPI) employees). Other qualified plan limits include:
| | | | | | | | |
| 2023 | 2022 |
| Dollar Limit on IRC Sec. 401(k) pre-tax contributions | $ | 22,500 | | $ | 20,500 | |
| Dollar Limit on IRC Sec. 414(v) catch-up contributions | $ | 7,500 | | $ | 6,500 | |
| Dollar Limit on IRC Sec. 415(c) contributions | $ | 66,000 | | $ | 61,000 | |
| Maximum covered compensation {IRC 401(a)(17)} | $ | 330,000 | | $ | 305,000 | |
| Highly Compensated Employee Threshold {414(g)(1)(B)} | $ | 150,000 | | $ | 135,000 | |
For one bargaining unit, effective in May 2019, the Plan has an auto-enrollment feature where eligible employees are automatically enrolled in the Plan at a pre-tax contribution percentage of 3 percent of regular compensation per pay period, unless they select a different pre-tax contribution percentage amount or make an affirmative election not to contribute to the Plan. Additionally, the Plan has an auto-escalation feature for this bargaining unit where the initial 3 percent pre-tax contribution percentage will automatically increase by 1 percent on the enrollment anniversary date each year until the contribution percentage reaches 6 percent. Participants may, at any time, change their contribution percentage or suspend any future deductions from their pay. During 2023, the auto-enrollment feature (but not auto-escalation) was extended to most of the remaining bargaining units.
The Plan has an auto-escalation feature where participants can elect to have their pre-tax contribution percentage (or Roth 401(k) contribution percentage if no pre-tax contributions are elected) increased annually by 1 percent to 10 percent on a date chosen by the participant. The percentage increase amount is applied each year on the chosen date until the Plan’s contribution limit is reached. Participants may, at any time, change their percentage increase amount or opt out of participation in this feature.
Employee savings in increments of 1 percent may be invested among the investment options offered under the Plan. All investments are participant directed.
Plan participants at certain bargaining units participate in a non-contributory defined contribution Retirement Account under the Plan (in amounts provided in the applicable bargaining agreement) with a vesting requirement of two years of service (subject to exceptions). Plan participants hired on or after January 1, 2016, including certain rehired employees at certain bargaining units, participate in a non-contributory defined contribution Retiree Health Care Account under the Plan (in amounts provided for in the applicable bargaining agreement). (see Note 3 for rules applicable to UPI employees).
Eligible participants may contribute amounts representing the direct rollover of pre-tax funds from a tax-qualified retirement plan sponsored by any of the active employee’s preceding employers (or a conduit IRA containing solely the proceeds and earnings of such lump sum distribution) and from the United States Steel Corporation Plan for Employee Pension Benefits.
Separate investment elections may be made for Employee Contributions (Before-Tax Contributions, Roth 401(k) Contributions, Catch-Up Contributions, and Roth 401(k) Catch-Up Contributions), Retirement Account Contributions, Retiree Health Care Account Contributions, and Rollover or Roth 401(k) Rollover Contributions, if applicable. (see Note
USS 401(K) PLAN FOR USW-REPRESENTED EMPLOYEES
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2023 and 2022
3 for rules applicable to USS-UPI, LLC (UPI) employees). All contributions are deposited in the trust as soon as practical following the close of each payroll period or Bonus Type Payment processing. Monies deposited are reinvested by Fidelity Management Trust Company (the "Trustee”) in the investment options specified.
Employees of the Company in a group designated by (1) the International Union of the United Steelworkers, or (2) the applicable International Union of the other Participating Unions, as Officers and Committee Members of Local Unions of the Participating Unions, are eligible to participate with respect to earnings they receive from services performed for the Local Union, subject to the Plan rules. (see Note 3 for rules applicable to UPI employees).
b. Payments of benefits - Pre-tax savings and earnings thereon and Roth 401(k) savings and earnings thereon are available only for withdrawal at termination of employment or age 59½, except under certain financial hardship conditions. Rollover withdrawals are permitted at any time. Terminated employees with a vested account balance of more than $1,000 (including any unpaid loan balance) may defer distribution until age 70½ (age 72 if the participant was born after June 30, 1949, and age 73 if the participant reached age 72 after December 31, 2022). Vested company contributions and earnings are available for withdrawal upon vesting. A participant who terminates employment for any reason, and who, on the effective date of termination, had two or more years continuous service, is entitled to receive his or her entire account balance, including (for certain bargaining units) all Retirement Account contributions. A participant who terminates employment for any reason with less than two years continuous service will forfeit nonvested Retirement Account contributions (if applicable to the bargaining unit) unless termination is by reason of permanent layoff, total and permanent disability, or death. Forfeiture occurs as of the date on which the participant (i) receives a distribution of the entire vested portion of his or her account under the Plan, or (ii), if earlier, the date when five consecutive one-year breaks in continuous service occurs.
c. Forfeited accounts - Any forfeited nonvested company contributions ($40 thousand in 2023 and $129 thousand in 2022) from the Retirement Account contributions (and earnings thereon) are accumulated in an account and may be applied to reduce any subsequent company contributions required under the Plan or administrative expenses of the Plan. In both 2023 and 2022, company contributions were reduced by $0.1 million from forfeited nonvested accounts.
d. Participant accounts - Investment elections and percentage of savings elections may be changed at any time. Investments in 1 percent increments may be transferred daily. Transfer requests made before the time the market closes on a day stock markets are open are processed after markets close that same day. All other transfer requests are processed after markets close on the next day that the stock markets are open. Transfers are permitted daily but may be subject to fund specific restrictions and limited by other pending transfers.
In addition, Fidelity implemented an excessive trading policy in the mutual funds it offers under the Plan that also applied to certain non-Fidelity funds at the request of the applicable fund manager or plan sponsor. Final regulations under ERISA section 408(b)(2) requires Fidelity to disclose to participants the following information: 1) a description of any compensation that will be charged directly against the amount invested in connection with the acquisition, sale, transfer of, or withdrawal from an investment; 2) a description of the annual operating expenses if the return is not fixed; and 3) a description of any ongoing expenses in addition to annual operating expenses.
All or part of the taxable portion of a lump-sum distribution from the United States Steel Corporation Plan for Employee Pension Benefits (Revision of 2003) may be rolled over into an eligible participant’s account within 60 days following receipt of the distribution, subject to the terms and conditions set forth by the Plan Administrator. Eligible participants may also roll over assets from the tax-qualified retirement plans of any of their previous employers (or from a conduit IRA solely containing such assets and earnings). Participants may roll over a lump-sum distribution from a designated Roth account under a qualified 401(k) plan sponsored by any of the employee's previous employers, but only via direct rollover. Rollovers into the Plan for 2023 and 2022 totaled $1.6 million and $1.9 million, of which $0.2 million and $0.6 million were transferred from the United States Steel Corporation Plan for Employee Pension Benefits, respectively.
e. Notes receivable from participants - Participants may borrow from their account the lesser of up to 50 percent of their account balance (other than the Retirement Account and the Retiree Health Care Account) or $50,000 with a maximum of two loans outstanding at a time. Interest will be fixed for the duration of the loan at the prime rate (obtained from Reuters) in effect at the time the loan is entered into plus one percent, with the rate set each quarter. The loans are secured by the balance in the participant’s account. The loans bear interest at rates that range from 4.25 to 10.00 percent on loans outstanding December 31, 2023 and 2022. Prepayment of the entire outstanding loan can be made at any time without penalty. When payments are not timely received, the loan amount outstanding at that time becomes subject to taxation. Loans are recorded at net realizable value in the financial statements. Principal and interest are paid ratably through payroll deductions and/or manual loan repayments. Loans are recorded at net realizable value in the financial statements.
f. Investment options - Participants should refer to the Summary Plan Description for details on the investment options offered by the Plan.
USS 401(K) PLAN FOR USW-REPRESENTED EMPLOYEES
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2023 and 2022
2. Accounting policies:
a.Basis of accounting - Financial statements are prepared under the accrual method of accounting in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (US GAAP).
b.Use of estimates - The preparation of the financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amount of assets, liabilities, and changes therein, and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
c.Investment valuation - The Plan’s investments are stated at fair value as defined by Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) Topic 820, Fair Value Measurement (see Note 11).
d.Net appreciation/depreciation - The Plan presents in the accompanying Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits the net appreciation/depreciation in the fair value of its investments which consists of the net realized gains or losses and the net unrealized appreciation or depreciation on those investments.
e.Investments by the trustee - Fidelity Management Trust Company (the Trustee) invests any monies received with respect to any investment option in the appropriate shares, units or other investments as soon as practicable. Purchases and sales of securities are recorded on a trade-date basis.
f.Administrative expenses - Plan administrative costs may include legal, accounting, trustee, recordkeeping, and other administrative fees and expenses associated with maintaining the Plan. An annual administrative fee of $35 covers the Plan’s recordkeeping costs. The administrative fee is deducted in quarterly increments ($8.75 per quarter) from all participant accounts.
For one investment option, a quarterly revenue credit is allocated to accounts if held during the prior quarter. Revenue credits may help reduce overall net cost to invest and represent the allocation of a portion of the revenue associated with the option based in part on a Participant's average daily balance in the fund.
g.Payment of benefits - Benefits are recorded when paid.
h.Income recognition - Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Dividends are recorded on the ex-dividend date.
i.Participant loans - Notes receivable from participants is measured at their unpaid principal balances plus any accrued but unpaid interest. Interest income is recorded on the accrual basis. Loans in default are classified as benefit payments to participants based upon the terms of the Plan.
j.Excess contributions payable - Amounts payable to participants for contributions in excess of amounts allowed by the IRS are recorded as a liability with a corresponding reduction to contributions.
k.Subsequent events - The Plan has evaluated subsequent events through June 28, 2024, the date on which the financial statements were available to be issued.
On December 29, 2022, the SECURE 2.0 Act was signed into law. It includes mandatory and optional provisions impacting defined contribution plans. Key provisions that may affect plan participants in the future include increasing the age for Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs). Applicable provisions outlined in the SECURE 2.0 Act will be adopted if elected and/or required. Plan amendments for these changes are not yet required. The deadline for adopting plan amendments has been extended, most recently by IRS Notice 2024-2.
Effective May 1, 2024, as soon as administratively practicable following the closing of the pending transaction with Nippon Steel, the balance of the U. S. Steel Stock Fund, which includes cash received in the transaction, will be transferred to the applicable default Investment Option, and the U. S. Steel Stock Fund will cease to exist.
3. Plan amendments - Effective November 1, 2023, United States Steel Corporation accepted sponsorship of the United Steel Workers of America (USWA) Savings Program – UPI 401(k) Plan (“UPI Plan”) and merged the UPI Plan into the Plan. The Plan was amended to designate employees of USS-UPI, LLC (“UPI”) as eligible under the Plan and reflect various provisions applicable only to eligible UPI employees or balances from the UPI Plan that were transferred in the merger. For example, for eligible employees of UPI, the Plan was amended to provide that Roth and Roth Catch-Up Contributions and annual increase program provisions do not apply, the maximum contribution percentage will follow the UPI Plan, pre-merger UPI Plan service was preserved, Retiree Health Care Account provisions for UPI employees follow the UPI Plan, catch-up contributions are permitted using procedures and maximums established by the Plan Administrator, and local unions representing employees of UPI are excluded from contributions on union earnings, Provisions relating to beneficiary designations for transferred balances were adopted. The repayment schedule of transferred home loans from the UPI Plan
USS 401(K) PLAN FOR USW-REPRESENTED EMPLOYEES
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2023 and 2022
was preserved. Frozen sources were added for Match and After-Tax (due to transfers from UPI non-union plan). Transferred account balances were invested based on Participant election; if no election, subject to the default options established in the transaction.
Effective November 1, 2023, the Plan was amended to expand permitted reasons for a hardship withdrawal to include FEMA disasters, allow hardship withdrawals on account of certain expenses for a primary beneficiary under the Plan, and for a technical clarification.
Effective April 1, 2023, the Plan was amended to reflect the terms of a bargaining agreement between U. S. Steel Oilwell Services, LLC (“USSOS”) and the United Steelworkers (USW) applicable to Offshore Operations - Houston (OOH) employees.
Effective February 16, 2023, the Plan was amended to authorize automatic enrollment for eligible Bricklayers on the Regular Layoff and Recall List, and Laborers on the Permanent Seniority List.
Effective January 1, 2023, except as otherwise noted, the Plan was amended to clarify the name of the default investment options and remove obsolete language, and to adopt specific language reflecting recent collective bargaining agreements with the USW, Bricklayers, and Laborers to address auto-enrollment and the Retiree Health Care Account.
Effective January 1, 2023 (unless otherwise stated), the Plan was amended to comply with collective bargaining agreements between United States Steel Corporation and the 1) USW, 2) Bricklayers and Allied Craftworkers International Union Local #8, and 3) Laborers’ International Union of North America Local 397, and for a miscellaneous technical clarification.
4.Net transfers from and into the Plan - Net transfers to the plan totaled approximately $27.6 million in 2023 and were primarily related to the transfer of assets from the United Steel Workers of America (USWA) Savings Program – UPI 401(k) Plan. Net transfers from the Plan totaled approximately $76 thousand in 2022 and were primarily related to voluntary direct plan transfers to the United States Steel Corporation Savings Fund Plan for Salaried Employees for former union employees who were transferred to eligible salaried positions.
5.Employer-related investments - Participant directed purchases and sales of United States Steel Corporation Common Stock in accordance with provisions of the Plan are permitted under ERISA.
6.Tax status - The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has determined and informed the Plan Sponsor by letter dated September 16, 2013 that the Plan, as amended and restated including amendments through January 29, 2013, continues to qualify under §401(a) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) of 1986, as amended. The Plan has been amended after the amendments considered by the IRS in conjunction with its issuance of the September 16, 2013 determination letter. The Plan Sponsor and Tax Counsel for the Plan believe the Plan is designed and is currently being operated in compliance with the applicable requirements of the IRC and therefore, believe that the Plan is qualified, and the related trust is tax-exempt under §501(a) of the IRC of 1986, as amended.
US GAAP requires plan management to evaluate tax positions taken by the Plan and recognize a tax liability (or asset) if the Plan has taken an uncertain position that more likely than not would not be sustained upon examination by the IRS. The Plan Sponsor has analyzed the tax positions taken by the Plan, and has concluded that as of December 31, 2023 and 2022, there were no uncertain positions taken or expected to be taken that would require recognition of a liability (or asset) or disclosure in the financial statements. The Plan is subject to routine audits by taxing jurisdictions; however, there are currently no active audits in progress for any tax periods. The Plan Sponsor believes it is no longer subject to examinations by the IRS for years prior to 2020.
7.Plan termination - The Plan can be amended, changed or terminated subject to the provisions of the collective bargaining agreement. However, in the event of Plan termination, the net value of the assets of the Plan shall be allocated among the participants and beneficiaries of the Plan in compliance with ERISA, and participants whose bargaining agreement provides for a Retirement Account would become 100 percent vested in their Retirement Account contributions.
8. Risks and uncertainties - Investments are exposed to various risks, such as interest rate, market and credit risks. Due to the level of risk associated with these investments and the level of uncertainty related to changes in the value of these investments, it is at least reasonably possible that changes in the near term could materially affect participants’ account balances and the amounts reported in the Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefits and the Statement of Changes in Net Assets Available for Benefits.
9. Stable value common collective trust - The Plan invests in stable value common collective trust, the Fidelity Managed Income Portfolio II - Class 3 (MIP II). MIP II is managed by the Trustee and invests in assets (typically fixed-income securities or bond funds and may include derivative instruments such as futures contracts and swap agreements), enters into “wrap” contracts issued by third parties, and invests in cash equivalents represented by shares in money market funds. The Plan's investment in MIP II is presented at the net asset value of units of a bank collective trust. The net asset value, as provided by the Trustee, is based on the fair value of the underlying investments held by MIP II less its liabilities.
USS 401(K) PLAN FOR USW-REPRESENTED EMPLOYEES
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2023 and 2022
As an investment option in the Plan, there are no restrictions on redemptions for this fund. If the Plan were to initiate a full redemption of the collective trust, then the investment adviser reserves the right to temporarily delay withdrawal from the trust in order to ensure that securities liquidations will be carried out in an orderly business manner. There are no unfunded commitments related to this investment.
10. Related party and party-in-Interest transactions - Certain investments of the Plan are mutual funds and common collective trusts managed by Fidelity Investments. Fidelity is the Trustee as defined by the Plan and, therefore, these transactions qualify as party-in-interest transactions. Fees paid by the Plan for the investment management services amounted to approximately $1.0 million and $1.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2023 and 2022, respectively.
One investment option available to participants is United States Steel Corporation Common Stock, stock of the Plan sponsor. Thus, transactions related to this investment option qualify as party-in-interest transactions (see Note 5). Dividends received for 2023 were approximately $0.5 million. Purchases and sales for 2023 were approximately $23.5 million and $69.3 million, respectively. The total realized and unrealized gains during 2023 were approximately $19.9 million and $36.5 million, respectively.
The Plan also holds notes receivable totaling $32.4 million in 2023 and $27.6 million in 2022, respectively, representing participant loans that qualify as party-in-interest transactions.
11. Fair value measurement - 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.
The Plan’s assets are classified as follows:
| | |
| Level 1 |
| Interest-bearing cash |
| Common Stock |
| Mutual Funds |
An instrument’s level is based on the lowest level of any input that is significant to the fair value measurement. Interest-bearing cash is an investment in a short-term money market fund that is valued at $1 per share, which approximates fair value. Common stock is valued at the closing price reported on the active market on which the individual securities are traded. Mutual funds are valued at the daily closing price as reported by the fund. Mutual funds held by the Plan are open-ended mutual funds that are registered with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. These funds are required to publish their daily net asset value and to transact at that price. The mutual funds held by the Plan are deemed to be actively traded.
Common collective trusts are valued at net asset value of units of the bank collective trust. Refer to Note 9 for a description of the stable value common collective trust. The net asset value is used as a practical expedient to estimate fair value. This practical expedient would not be used if it is determined to be probable that the fund will sell the investment for an amount different from the reported net asset value. Participant transactions (purchases and sales) may occur daily. If the Plan initiates a full redemption of the collective trust, the issuer reserves the right to require 12 months’ notification in order to ensure that securities liquidations will be carried out in an orderly business manner.
USS 401(K) PLAN FOR USW-REPRESENTED EMPLOYEES
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2023 and 2022
The preceding valuation methods described may produce a fair value calculation that may not be indicative of net realizable value or reflective of future fair values. Furthermore, although the Plan believes its valuation methods are appropriate and consistent with other market participants, the use of different methodologies or assumptions to determine the fair value of certain financial instruments could result in a different fair value measurement at the reporting date.
There were no Level 2 or 3 assets at December 31, 2023 or December 31, 2022.
There were no transfers to or from Level 3 during the year ended December 31, 2023.
The following is a summary of the Plan’s assets carried at fair value:
| | | | | | | | |
Investments at Fair Value at December 31, 2023 |
| ($ in thousands) |
| Asset Classes | Total | Quoted Prices
(Level 1) |
|
| Interest-bearing cash | $ | 40,795 | | $ | 40,795 | |
| Common stock | 79,540 | | 79,540 | |
| Mutual Funds | 170,704 | | 170,704 | |
| Total assets in the fair value hierarchy | $ | 291,039 | | $ | 291,039 | |
Investments measured at net asset value (a) | 941,049 | | |
| Investments at fair value | $ | 1,232,088 | | |
| | | | | | | | |
Investments at Fair Value at December 31, 2022 |
| ($ in thousands) |
| Asset Classes | Total | Quoted Prices
(Level 1) |
|
| Interest-bearing cash | $ | 29,775 | | $ | 29,775 | |
| Common stock | 68,523 | | 68,523 | |
| Mutual Funds | 143,359 | | 143,359 | |
| Total assets in the fair value hierarchy | $ | 241,657 | | $ | 241,657 | |
Investments measured at net asset value (a) | 789,708 | | |
| Investments at fair value | $ | 1,031,365 | | |
(a)In accordance with Subtopic 820-10, certain investments that were measured at net asset value per share (or its equivalent) have not been classified in the fair value hierarchy. The fair value amounts presented in this table are intended to permit reconciliation of the fair value hierarchy to the line items presented in the Statements of Net Assets Available for Benefit. These investments represent holdings in common collective trusts and group annuities.
12.Guaranteed Income Account - The Plan has the Prudential Guaranteed income fund, a fully benefit-responsive guaranteed income account with the contributions in a general account. The account is credited with earnings on the underlying investments and charged for participant withdrawals and administrative expenses. The contract issuer is contractually obligated to repay the principal and specified interest rate that is guaranteed to the Plan. Interest is credited on contract balances using a “single portfolio rate” approach. Under this methodology, a single interest rate is applied to all contributions made to the fund, regardless of the timing of those contributions. The guaranteed minimum interest rate under the contract is 1.50%.
Interest crediting rates are reviewed on a semiannual basis for resetting. Key factors that could influence future average interest crediting rates include, but are not limited to: participant-directed cash flows; changes in interest rates; total return performance of the securities underlying the contract; or default or credit failure of any of the securities held by the fund.
USS 401(K) PLAN FOR USW-REPRESENTED EMPLOYEES
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2023 and 2022
Because the guaranteed income account is fully benefit responsive, contract value is the relevant measurement attribute for that portion of net assets available for benefits attributable to the guaranteed income account. Contract value, as reported to the Plan by Empower, represents contributions made under the contract, plus earnings, less participant withdrawals and administrative expenses. Participants may ordinarily direct the withdrawal or transfer of all or a portion of their investment at contract value.
Generally, there are not any events that could limit the ability of a plan participant to transact at contract value. In addition, there are not any events that allow the issuer to terminate the contract or that require the plan administrator to settle at an amount different than contract value.
USS 401(K) PLAN FOR USW-REPRESENTED EMPLOYEES
EIN 25-1897152/PN 029
Schedule H, Line 4i - Schedule of Assets (Held at End of Year)
December 31, 2023
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| (a) | (b) | (c) | (e) |
| Identity of Issue, Borrower, Lessor or Similar Party | Description of Investment, Including Maturity Date, Rate of Interest, Collateral, Par or Maturity Value | Current Value |
| * | U. S. Steel Stock Fund - Common Stock | Employer-related security | $ | 79,523,213 | |
| * | U. S. Steel Stock Fund - Stock Purchase Account | Employer-related security | 16,940 | |
| * | Fidelity® Real Estate Investment Portfolio | Mutual fund | 11,264,011 | |
| Morgan Stanley Institutional Fund, Inc. International Equity Portfolio Class R6 | Mutual fund | 24,540,702 | |
| Vanguard WindsorTM II Fund - AdmiralTM Shares | Mutual fund | 25,906,114 | |
| Vanguard ExplorerTM Fund - AdmiralTM Shares | Mutual fund | 22,791,951 | |
| Janus Henderson Enterprise Fund Class N | Mutual fund | 76,872,816 | |
| Dodge & Cox Income Fund Class X | Mutual Fund | 9,328,639 | |
| ** | Prudential Guaranteed Income Fund | Guaranteed Income Account | 11,165,132 | |
| * | Fidelity Freedom® Index Income Commingled Pool Class T | Common/Collective Trust | 995,119 | |
| * | Fidelity® Low-Priced Stock Commingled Pool Class A | Common/Collective Trust | 32,089,310 | |
| * | Fidelity Freedom® Index 2005 Commingled Pool Class T | Common/Collective Trust | 1,024,508 | |
| * | Fidelity Freedom® Index 2010 Commingled Pool Class T | Common/Collective Trust | 1,733,284 | |
| * | Fidelity Freedom® Index 2015 Commingled Pool Class T | Common/Collective Trust | 8,364,248 | |
| * | Fidelity Freedom® Index 2020 Commingled Pool Class T | Common/Collective Trust | 25,020,847 | |
| * | Fidelity Freedom® Index 2025 Commingled Pool Class T | Common/Collective Trust | 35,431,732 | |
| * | Fidelity Freedom® Index 2030 Commingled Pool Class T | Common/Collective Trust | 52,351,419 | |
| * | Fidelity Freedom® Index 2035 Commingled Pool Class T | Common/Collective Trust | 44,765,729 | |
| * | Fidelity Freedom® Index 2040 Commingled Pool Class T | Common/Collective Trust | 45,797,199 | |
| * | Fidelity Freedom® Index 2045 Commingled Pool Class T | Common/Collective Trust | 34,465,521 | |
| * | Fidelity Freedom® Index 2050 Commingled Pool Class T | Common/Collective Trust | 25,326,090 | |
| * | Fidelity Freedom® Index 2055 Commingled Pool Class T | Common/Collective Trust | 15,245,921 | |
| * | Fidelity Freedom® Index 2060 Commingled Pool Class T | Common/Collective Trust | 8,444,101 | |
| * | Fidelity Freedom® Index 2065 Commingled Pool Class T | Common/Collective Trust | 3,429,258 | |
| State Street U.S. Bond Index Securities Lending Series Fund Class XIV | Common/Collective Trust | 38,442,789 | |
| * | Fidelity® Contrafund® Commingled Pool Class A | Common/Collective Trust | 198,849,760 | |
| State Street S&P 500® Index Securities Lending Series Fund Class II | Common/Collective Trust | 218,438,602 | |
| State Street U.S. Inflation Protected Bond Index Securities Lending Series Fund Class II | Common/Collective Trust | 7,273,066 | |
| State Street Global All Cap Equity Ex-U.S. Index Securities Lending Series Fund Class II | Common/Collective Trust | 10,537,240 | |
| State Street Russell Small/Mid Cap® Index Securities Lending Series Fund Class II | Common/Collective Trust | 4,747,018 | |
| * | Fidelity Managed Income Portfolio II - Class 3 | Common/Collective Trust | 128,275,866 | |
| Vanguard Treasury Money Market Fund Investor Shares | Interest-bearing cash | 40,795,258 | |
| * | Participant Loans | Maturity dates of 0 - 5 years with interest rates ranging from 4.25% to 10.00% | 32,371,502 | |
| Total Assets at 12/31/23 | | $ | 1,275,624,905 | |
| * Party-in-interest | | |
| ** Contains investments transferred in-kind from the United Steel Workers of America (USWA) Savings Program - UPI 401(k) Plan | | |
| All investments are participant directed. |
USS 401(K) PLAN FOR USW-REPRESENTED EMPLOYEES
Index to Exhibits
The following exhibit is filed as part of this Form 11-K.
| | | | | | | | |
| Exhibit Number | | Exhibit Description |
| | Consent of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP |
| | |
| | |
| | |
SIGNATURES
THE PLAN. Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the administrator of the USS 401(k) Plan for USW-Represented Employee has duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Pittsburgh, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on June 28, 2024.
UNITED STATES STEEL AND CARNEGIE PENSION FUND, AS PLAN ADMINISTRATOR
| | | | | |
| By: | /s/ Joseph A. Wyse |
| Joseph A. Wyse, |
| Comptroller |
