UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

(Mark One)

 

  [X] QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 2007

Or

 

  [    ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from                      to                     .

LOGO

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

1-16811

 

25-1897152

(State or other   (Commission   (IRS Employer
jurisdiction of   File Number)   Identification No.)
incorporation)    

 

600 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA

 

15219-2800

(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

(412) 433-1121

(Registrant’s telephone number,

including area code)

 


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. Yes Ö  No    

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).

 

Large accelerated filer  Ö.   Accelerated filer        Non-accelerated filer     

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act).

Yes      No Ö 

Common stock outstanding at October 29, 2007 – 118,118,071 shares

 


INDEX

 

              Page

PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

  
  Item 1.    Financial Statements:   
     Consolidated Statement of Operations (Unaudited)    1
     Consolidated Balance Sheet (Unaudited)    2
     Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows (Unaudited)    3
     Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)    4
 

Item 2.

  

Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

   26
  Item 3.    Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk    41
  Item 4.    Controls and Procedures    43
     Supplemental Statistics (Unaudited)    44
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION   
  Item 1.    Legal Proceedings    45
  Item 1A.    Risk Factors    50
  Item 2.    Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds    53
  Item 6.    Exhibits    54

SIGNATURE

   55

WEB SITE POSTING

   55


PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Item 1. Financial Statements:

UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS

(Unaudited)

 

     Third Quarter Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
(Dollars in millions, except per share amounts)    2007     2006     2007     2006  

Net sales:

        

Net sales

   $ 4,058     $ 3,865     $ 11,506     $ 11,243  

Net sales to related parties

     296       241       832       698  
                                

Total

     4,354       4,106       12,338       11,941  
                                

Operating expenses (income):

        

Cost of sales (excludes items shown below)

     3,749       3,308       10,523       9,745  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

     134       144       411       458  

Depreciation, depletion and amortization (Note 8)

     124       113       353       339  

Income from investees

     (7 )     (19 )     (19 )     (39 )

Net gains on disposal of assets

     (7 )     -       (20 )     (2 )

Other loss (income), net

     1       (1 )     (7 )     (4 )
                                

Total

     3,994       3,545       11,241       10,497  
                                

Income from operations

     360       561       1,097       1,444  

Net interest and other financial costs (Note 9)

     22       7       61       37  
                                

Income before income taxes and minority interests

     338       554       1,036       1,407  

Income tax provision (Note 10)

     68       136       187       317  

Minority interests

     1       1       5       13  
                                

Net income

     269       417       844       1,077  

Dividends on preferred stock

     -       -       -       (8 )
                                

Net income applicable to common stock

   $ 269     $ 417     $ 844     $ 1,069  

Income per common share (Note 11):

                                

Net income per share:

        

- Basic

   $ 2.28     $ 3.44     $ 7.15     $ 9.39  

- Diluted

   $ 2.27     $ 3.42     $ 7.10     $ 8.67  

Weighted average shares, in thousands:

        

- Basic

     118,086       121,270       118,183       113,764  

- Diluted

     118,755       121,964       118,896       124,226  

Dividends paid per share

   $ 0.20     $ 0.15     $ 0.60     $ 0.40  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

1


UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

 

(Dollars in millions)    (Unaudited)
September 30,
2007
    December 31,
2006
 

Assets

    

Current assets:

    

Cash and cash equivalents

   $ 1,403     $ 1,422  

Receivables, less allowance of $43 and $58 (Note 15)

     2,168       1,681  

Receivables from related parties (Note 17)

     141       118  

Inventories (Note 12)

     1,826       1,604  

Deferred income tax benefits (Note 10)

     318       362  

Other current assets

     29       9  
                

Total current assets

     5,885       5,196  

Investments and long-term receivables, less allowance of $6 and $6

     315       336  

Property, plant and equipment - net (Note 8)

     4,809       4,429  

Prepaid pensions

     531       330  

Deferred income tax benefits (Note 10)

     9       103  

Intangibles - net (Note 4 and Note 8)

     231       -  

Goodwill (Note 4)

     1,155       -  

Assets held for sale (Note 5)

     190       -  

Other noncurrent assets

     187       192  
                

Total assets

   $ 13,312     $ 10,586  

Liabilities

    

Current liabilities:

    

Accounts payable

   $ 1,577     $ 1,254  

Accounts payable to related parties (Note 17)

     79       59  

Bank checks outstanding

     127       66  

Payroll and benefits payable

     1,100       1,028  

Accrued taxes (Note 10)

     145       182  

Accrued interest

     68       31  

Short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt
(Note 13)

     68       82  
                

Total current liabilities

     3,164       2,702  

Long-term debt (Note 13)

     2,103       943  

Employee benefits

     2,111       2,174  

Deferred income tax liabilities (Note 10)

     128       -  

Deferred credits and other liabilities

     420       364  
                

Total liabilities

     7,926       6,183  
                

Contingencies and commitments (Note 18)

    

Minority interests

     34       38  

Stockholders’ Equity:

    

Common stock (123,785,911 and 123,785,911 shares issued)
(Note 11)

     124       124  

Treasury stock, at cost (5,622,307 and 5,240,810 shares)

     (373 )     (317 )

Additional paid-in capital

     2,951       2,942  

Retained earnings

     3,672       2,902  

Accumulated other comprehensive loss (Note 16)

     (1,022 )     (1,286 )
                

Total stockholders’ equity

     5,352       4,365  
                

Total liabilities and stockholders’ equity

   $ 13,312     $ 10,586  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

2


UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

(Unaudited)

 

     Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
 
(Dollars in millions)    2007     2006  

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

    

Operating activities:

    

Net income

   $ 844     $ 1,077  

Adjustments to reconcile to net cash provided by operating activities:

    

Depreciation, depletion and amortization

     353       339  

Provision for doubtful accounts

     (14 )     2  

Pensions and other postretirement benefits

     (182 )     (199 )

Minority interests

     5       13  

Deferred income taxes

     113       124  

Net gains on disposal of assets

     (20 )     (2 )

Distributions received, net of equity investees income

     17       (2 )

Changes in:

    

Current receivables - sold

     40       -  

- repurchased

     (40 )     -  

- operating turnover

     (300 )     (335 )

Inventories

     243       (180 )

Current accounts payable and accrued expenses

     216       211  

Foreign currency translation

     125       57  

All other, net

     (46 )     (70 )
                

Net cash provided by operating activities

     1,354       1,035  
                

Investing activities:

    

Capital expenditures

     (460 )     (397 )

Acquisition of Lone Star Technologies, Inc.

     (1,990 )     -  

Disposal of assets

     27       6  

Restricted cash, net

     4       6  

Investments, net

     (2 )     -  
                

Net cash used in investing activities

     (2,421 )     (385 )
                

Financing activities:

    

Issuance of long-term debt, net of financing costs

     1,583       -  

Repayment of long-term debt

     (458 )     (277 )

Common stock issued

     15       16  

Common stock repurchased

     (87 )     (396 )

Distribution to minority interest owners

     (9 )     (15 )

Dividends paid

     (71 )     (54 )

Change in bank checks outstanding

     61       5  

Excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation

     8       2  
                

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

     1,042       (719 )
                

Effect of exchange rate changes on cash

     6       -  
                

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

     (19 )     (69 )

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

     1,422       1,479  
                

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

   $ 1,403     $ 1,410  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 

3


Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

 

1. Basis of Presentation

United States Steel Corporation (U. S. Steel) produces and sells steel mill products, including flat-rolled and tubular, in North America and Central Europe. Operations in North America also include iron ore mining and processing to supply steel producing units; real estate management and development; and transportation services.

The year-end consolidated balance sheet data was derived from audited statements but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The other information in these financial statements is unaudited but, in the opinion of management, reflects all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the periods covered. All such adjustments are of a normal recurring nature unless disclosed otherwise. These financial statements, including notes, have been prepared in accordance with the applicable rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and do not include all of the information and disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America for complete financial statements. Additional information is contained in the United States Steel Corporation Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

 

2. New Accounting Standards

In June 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) ratified Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) issue number 06-11, Accounting for Income Tax Benefits of Dividends on Share-Based Payment Awards (EITF 06-11). EITF 06-11 requires that tax benefits generated by dividends paid during the vesting period on certain equity-classified, share-based compensation awards be classified as additional paid-in capital and included in a pool of excess tax benefits available to absorb tax deficiencies from share-based payment awards. EITF 06-11 is effective as of January 1, 2008. U. S. Steel expects the effect of adopting EITF 06-11 to be immaterial to its financial statements.

In March 2007, the FASB ratified EITF issue number 06-10, “Accounting for Collateral Assignment Split-Dollar Life Insurance Arrangements” (EITF 06-10). EITF 06-10 requires an employer to recognize a liability for the postretirement benefit provided by a collateral assignment split-dollar life insurance arrangement in accordance with either FASB Statement No. 106, “Employers’ Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions,” or Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 12, “Omnibus Opinion – 1967”, if the employer has agreed to maintain a life insurance policy during the employee’s retirement or provide the employee with a death benefit. EITF 06-10 also stipulates that an employer should recognize and measure an asset based on the nature and substance of the collateral assignment split-dollar life insurance arrangement. EITF 06-10 is effective as of January 1, 2008. U. S. Steel has collateral assignment split-dollar life insurance arrangements within the scope of EITF 06-10 for a small number of employees and we are in the process of evaluating the financial impact of adopting EITF 06-10.

In February 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (FAS) No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities – Including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115” (FAS 159). This Statement permits entities to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value and report unrealized gains and losses on these instruments in earnings. FAS 159 is effective as of January 1, 2008. U. S. Steel does not expect any material financial statement implications relating to the adoption of this Statement.

 

4


In September 2006, the FASB issued FAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements.” This Statement defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. The Statement applies under other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements and, accordingly, does not require any new fair value measurements. This Statement is effective as of January 1, 2008. U. S. Steel does not expect any material financial statement implications relating to the adoption of this Statement.

 

3. Segment Information

U. S. Steel has three reportable segments: Flat-rolled Products (Flat-rolled), U. S. Steel Europe (USSE), and Tubular Products (Tubular). The Tubular segment includes seamless and welded tubular products, the latter of which are primarily produced by facilities acquired from Lone Star Technologies, Inc. (Lone Star) on June 14, 2007, as discussed in Note 4. The results of several operating segments that do not constitute reportable segments are combined and disclosed in the Other Businesses category.

The chief operating decision maker evaluates performance and determines resource allocations based on a number of factors, the primary measure being income from operations. Income from operations for reportable segments and Other Businesses does not include net interest and other financial costs, the income tax provision, benefit expenses for current retirees and certain other items that management believes are not indicative of future results. Information on segment assets is not disclosed, as the chief operating decision maker does not review it.

The accounting principles applied at the operating segment level in determining income from operations are generally the same as those applied at the consolidated financial statement level. The transfer value for steel rounds from Flat-rolled to Tubular and the transfer value for domestic iron ore pellets from Other Businesses to Flat-rolled are set at the beginning of each year based on expected total production costs and may be adjusted quarterly if actual production costs warrant. The transfer value for hot rolled bands to the welded tubular facilities acquired from Lone Star and all other 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 Businesses based on measures of activity that management believes are reasonable.

 

5


The results of segment operations for the third quarter of 2007 and 2006 are:

 

(In millions)

Third Quarter 2007

   Customer
Sales
   Intersegment
Sales
    Net
Sales
    Income
from
investees
   Income
from
operations
 

Flat-rolled

   $ 2,439    $ 132     $ 2,571     $ 6    $ 170  

USSE

     1,167      -       1,167       1      152  

Tubular

     637      -       637       -      74  
                                      

Total reportable segments

     4,243      132       4,375       7      396  

Other Businesses

     111      305       416       -      37  

Reconciling Items

     -      (437 )     (437 )     -      (73 )

Total

   $ 4,354    $ -     $ 4,354     $ 7    $ 360  
Third Quarter 2006                                  

Flat-rolled

   $ 2,545    $ 108     $ 2,653     $ 18    $ 230  

USSE

     1,036      -       1,036       1      219  

Tubular

     455      -       455       -      164  
                                      

Total reportable segments

     4,036      108       4,144       19      613  

Other Businesses

     70      289       359       -      39  

Reconciling Items

     -      (397 )     (397 )     -      (91 )

Total

   $ 4,106    $ -     $ 4,106     $ 19    $ 561  

The results of segment operations for the first nine months of 2007 and 2006 are:

 

(In millions)

First Nine Months 2007

   Customer
Sales
   Intersegment
Sales
    Net
Sales
    Income
from
investees
    Income
from
operations
 

Flat-rolled

   $ 7,137    $ 301     $ 7,438     $ 16     $ 337  

USSE

     3,566      -       3,566       1       602  

Tubular

     1,398      -       1,398       3       273  
                                       

Total reportable segments

     12,101      301       12,402       20       1,212  

Other Businesses

     237      762       999       (1 )     40  

Reconciling Items

     -      (1,063 )     (1,063 )     -       (155 )

Total

   $ 12,338    $ -     $ 12,338     $ 19     $ 1,097  
First Nine Months 2006                                   

Flat-rolled

   $ 7,452    $ 349     $ 7,801     $ 38     $ 569  

USSE

     2,893      9       2,902       1       532  

Tubular

     1,384      -       1,384       -       487  
                                       

Total reportable segments

     11,729      358       12,087       39       1,588  

Other Businesses

     212      765       977       -       72  

Reconciling Items

     -      (1,123 )     (1,123 )     -       (216 )

Total

   $ 11,941    $ -     $ 11,941     $ 39     $ 1,444  

 

6


The following is a schedule of reconciling items to income from operations:

 

     Third Quarter Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
(In millions)        2007             2006             2007             2006      

Items not allocated to segments:

        

Retiree benefit expenses

   $ (46 )   $ (70 )   $ (128 )   $ (190 )

Other items not allocated to segments:

        

Tubular inventory transition effects (a)

     (27 )     -       (27 )     -  

Workforce reduction charges (Note 7)

     -       (21 )     -       (21 )

Asset impairment (Note 8)

     -       -       -       (5 )
                                

Total other items not allocated to segments

     (27 )     (21 )     (27 )     (26 )
                                

Total reconciling items

   $ (73 )   $ (91 )   $ (155 )   $ (216 )
 

(a)

Charge reflecting the effects of conforming certain inventories acquired from Lone Star to our unified business model and the impact of selling acquired inventory, which had been recorded at fair value.

 

4. Acquisitions

Stelco Inc.

On August 26, 2007, U. S. Steel and Stelco Inc., (Stelco) announced that they had entered into a definitive agreement under which U. S. Steel would acquire Stelco for $38.50 (Canadian) per share in cash.

Stelco, one of Canada’s largest steel producers, operates two integrated steel plants in Ontario, Canada. Stelco produces a variety of steel products for customers in the automotive, steel service center, and pipe and tubular industries within North America.

The transaction, valued at approximately $1.2 billion for the stock purchase and approximately $750 million for the retirement of debt, is expected to close by the end of October, 2007. Stelco’s shareholders have approved the transaction, the required regulatory approvals have been obtained, and in accordance with the requirements for a plan of arrangement under Canadian law, we are awaiting the approval of the Ontario Superior Court of Justice.

In connection with the acquisition, U. S. Steel has reached agreement with the Canadian and Ontario governments that, among other things, provide for U. S. Steel to guarantee Stelco’s pension funding obligations under a pension agreement entered into by Stelco and the Province of Ontario, and to make a voluntary contribution of $32.5 million (Canadian) to Stelco’s main pension plans at closing. In addition, we committed to the Canadian government to make capital investments over the next five years of at least $200 million (Canadian).

Lone Star Technologies, Inc.

On June 14, 2007, U. S. Steel acquired all of the outstanding shares of Lone Star for $2,050 million ($67.50 per share).

The results of operations for Lone Star are included in U. S. Steel’s consolidated statement of operations as of the date of the acquisition. Lone Star is being reported as part of U. S. Steel’s Tubular segment.

 

7


Lone Star manufactures welded oil country tubular goods (OCTG), standard and line pipe and tubular couplings, and is a provider of finishing services. The acquisition has strengthened U. S. Steel’s position as a premier supplier of tubular products for the energy sector. It is also anticipated that it will generate annual, sustainable synergies, with the full impact to be realized by the end of 2008. The synergies are anticipated through steel sourcing and processing, as well as through overhead cost reductions and the leveraging of best practices.

The total purchase price of $1,990 million reflects the $2,050 million share purchase, net of cash acquired of $71 million, and including direct acquisition costs of $11 million. The acquisition was recorded by allocating the cost of the assets acquired, including intangible assets, and liabilities assumed, based on their estimated fair values at the date of acquisition. The excess of the cost of the acquisition over the net amounts assigned to the fair value of the assets acquired and the liabilities assumed is recorded as goodwill. The amount allocated to goodwill reflects the benefit U. S. Steel expects to realize from expanding our Tubular operations and from running our Flat-rolled segment at higher operating rates. Approximately $330 million of goodwill has been allocated to Flat-rolled. The balance of the goodwill has been allocated to the OCTG and standard and line pipe, tubular coupling, and finishing services businesses acquired from Lone Star.

The acquisition has been accounted for in accordance with FAS 141, “Business Combinations.” The following table presents the preliminary allocation of the aggregate purchase price based on estimated fair values:

 

      (In millions)

Assets Acquired:

  

Receivables

   $ 129

Inventories

     429

Other current assets

     12

Property, plant & equipment

     361

Identifiable intangible assets

     232

Goodwill

     1,155

Other noncurrent assets

     50
      

Total Assets

     2,368
      

Liabilities Assumed:

  

Accounts payable

     151

Payroll and benefits payable

     30

Other current liabilities

     21

Employee benefits

     35

Deferred income tax liabilities

     132

Other noncurrent liabilities

     9
      

Total Liabilities

     378
      

Purchase price – net of cash acquired

   $ 1,990
      

In evaluating the fair value of inventory acquired, it was determined that the preliminary allocation of the purchase price to inventory, as presented in the quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2007, should be reduced by approximately $120 million, as a result of determining that the quality of the acquired inventory was not satisfactory for it to be used for its intended purpose. The amount presented above reflects the fair value of the inventory acquired. U. S. Steel is continuing to conform accounting policies and procedures and evaluate assets and liabilities assumed. The results of this process may lead to further adjustments to the purchase price allocation presented above (See Note 18).

 

8


In the third quarter 2007, U. S. Steel management completed an assessment of the electric arc furnaces and rolling mill facilities that had been used by Lone Star to produce hot rolled bands. As a result of this assessment, operations at the electric arc furnaces and the rolling mill facilities have been permanently discontinued. This resulted in a decrease in acquired Property, plant & equipment of approximately $100 million from the preliminary allocation presented in the quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2007. The employment of approximately 200 employees was terminated in connection with these activities.

The adjustments discussed above also resulted in a decrease in Deferred income tax liabilities of approximately $90 million and an increase in Goodwill of approximately $130 million from the preliminary allocation presented in the quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the period ended June 30, 2007.

Goodwill is not deductible for tax purposes. The Identifiable intangible assets, principally water rights and customer relationships, are not deductible for tax purposes. Customer relationships of approximately $130 million will be subject to amortization for book purposes over a period of approximately 20 years. It was determined that water rights of approximately $75 million have an indefinite life. Goodwill and Intangible assets with an indefinite life will be subject to impairment testing on an annual basis in accordance with FAS 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.” Other identifiable intangible assets will be amortized over a weighted-average period of approximately 13 years.

The following unaudited pro forma information for U. S. Steel includes the results of the Lone Star acquisition as if it had been consummated at the beginning of the periods presented. The unaudited pro forma data is based on historical information and does not include anticipated cost savings or other effects of the integration of Lone Star. Accordingly, the unaudited pro forma data does not necessarily reflect the actual results that would have occurred, nor is it necessarily indicative of future results of operations. Pro forma adjustments are tax-effected at the Company’s statutory tax rate.

 

     Third Quarter Ended
September 30,
   Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(In millions, except per share amounts)    2007    2006    2007    2006

Net sales

   $ 4,354    $ 4,435    $ 12,915    $ 12,963

Net income

     286      422      845      1,132

Net income per share:

           

- Basic

   $ 2.42    $ 3.48    $ 7.15    $ 9.95

- Diluted

   $ 2.41    $ 3.46    $ 7.10    $ 9.11

 

5. Divestiture

On September 26, 2007, U. S. Steel and Canadian National Railway Company (CN) announced that they had entered into an agreement under which CN will acquire the majority of the operating assets of Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway Company (EJ&E) for $300 million. Under the agreement, U. S. Steel will retain railroad assets, equipment, and employees that support the Gary Works complex in northwest Indiana. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board, and closing is anticipated in mid-2008. As of September 30, 2007, the assets of EJ&E that are to be sold, which consist primarily of property, plant and equipment, have been classified as held for sale in accordance with FAS No. 144, “Accounting for Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets.”

 

9


6. Stock-Based Compensation Plans

U. S. Steel has outstanding stock-based compensation awards that were granted under several stock-based employee compensation plans and are more fully described in Note 12 of the United States Steel Corporation 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K. Effective January 1, 2006, U. S. Steel adopted the fair value recognition provisions of FAS No. 123R, “Share-Based Payments,” (FAS 123(R)). FAS 123(R) requires that the cost resulting from all stock-based payments be recognized based on the grant date fair value of the award. U. S. Steel recognized stock-based compensation expense in the amount of $3 million and $7 million in the third quarter 2006 and 2007, respectively, and $11 million and $16 million in the first nine months 2006 and 2007, respectively.

The Compensation & Organization Committee of the Board of Directors (the Compensation Committee) has made grants of stock-based awards under a stockholder approved stock incentive plan (the Plan). Recent grants have consisted of stock options, restricted stock and performance stock awards. The following table is a general summary of the awards made under the Plan.

 

     2007 Grants(a)    May 2006 Grant
Grant Details    Shares(b)    Fair
Value(c)
   Shares(b)    Fair
Value(d)

Stock Options

   234,930    $ 44.55    344,490    $ 27.05

Restricted Stock

   162,445    $ 108.68    229,380    $ 65.40

Performance Shares(e)

   62,800    $ 139.74    95,400    $ 63.74
 

(a)

In addition to the annual grant made in May 2007, additional grants were made in July 2007 primarily as a result of the Lone Star acquisition.

 

(b)

The share amounts shown in this table do not reflect an estimate for forfeitures.

 

(c)

Weighted average per share amounts

 

(d)

Per share amounts

 

(e)

The number of Performance Shares shown represents the target value of the award.

In addition to the above grants, retention grants of restricted stock with a fair value of $4 million were awarded in July 2007, primarily as a result of the Lone Star acquisition. These grants vest at the end of three years.

Restricted stock awards vest ratably over three years. The fair value of the restricted stock awards is the market price of the underlying common stock on the date of grant.

Performance stock awards vest at the end of a three-year performance period as a function of U. S. Steel’s total shareholder return compared to the total shareholder returns of peer companies over the three-year performance period. Performance stock awards can vest at between zero and 200 percent of the target award. The fair value of the performance stock awards is calculated using a Monte-Carlo simulation.

As of September 30, 2007, total future compensation expense related to nonvested stock-based compensation arrangements was $43 million, and the weighted average period over which this cost is expected to be recognized is approximately 1.4 years.

In accordance with FAS 123(R), 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. The stock option awards vest ratably over a three-year service period and have a term of ten years.

 

10


Black-Scholes Assumptions    2007 Grants     May 2006 Grant  

Grant date price per share of option award

   $ 99.52 - 109.32     $ 65.40  

Expected annual dividends per share, at grant date

   $ 0.80     $ 0.60  

Expected life in years

     5       5  

Expected volatility

     43 %     43 %

Risk-free interest rate

     4.5% - 4.6 %     4.8 %

Grant date fair value per share of unvested option awards as calculated from above

   $ 40.76 - 44.90     $ 27.05  

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.

 

7. Pensions and Other Benefits

The following table reflects components of net periodic benefit cost for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006:

 

    

Pension

Benefits

   

Other

Benefits

 
(In millions)        2007             2006             2007             2006      

Service cost

   $ 25     $ 24     $ 3     $ 3  

Interest cost

     101       102       40       37  

Expected return on plan assets

     (143 )     (140 )     (13 )     (10 )

Amortization of prior service cost

     6       15       (8 )     (11 )

Amortization of net loss

     32       39       10       9  
                                

Net periodic benefit cost, excluding below

     21       40       32       28  

Multiemployer plans

     8       8       -       -  

Settlement, termination and curtailment losses

     3       11       -       -  
                                

Net periodic benefit cost

   $ 32     $ 59     $ 32     $ 28  

The following table reflects components of net periodic benefit cost for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006:

 

    

Pension

Benefits

   

Other

Benefits

 
(In millions)        2007             2006             2007             2006      

Service cost

   $ 73     $ 73     $ 10     $ 10  

Interest cost

     301       306       118       111  

Expected return on plan assets

     (426 )     (419 )     (39 )     (32 )

Amortization of prior service cost

     18       46       (25 )     (34 )

Amortization of net loss

     96       115       30       28  
                                

Net periodic benefit cost, excluding below

     62       121       94       83  

Multiemployer plans

     22       22       -       -  

Settlement loss and termination benefits

     4       11       -       -  
                                

Net periodic benefit cost

   $ 88     $ 154     $ 94     $ 83  

 

11


During the third quarter of 2006, approximately 1,800 U. S. Steel Balkan (USSB) employees (or 23 percent of the workforce) accepted a severance or voluntary early retirement plan (VERP). Employee severance and net employee benefit charges of $21 million (including $12 million in settlement, termination and curtailment losses) were recorded for these employees in 2006. Of this expense, $4 million was recorded in selling, general, and administrative expenses and $17 million was recorded in cost of sales. As of March 31, 2007, all employees included in the VERP had left the company and $24 million of cash payments had been made.

In conjunction with the VERP that was begun in the third quarter 2006, USSB retained the option to eliminate additional positions. The program was complete as of June 30, 2007 and approximately 500 employees had left the company under the second phase of the program. Employee severance and net employee benefit charges of $7 million (including $1 million of termination losses) were recognized in the first half of 2007. Of this expense, $2 million was recorded in selling, general, and administrative expenses, $5 million was recorded in cost of sales and cash payments of $7 million had been made.

Employer Contributions

As of September 30, 2007, U. S. Steel has made $140 million of voluntary cash contributions to its main defined benefit pension plan, $5 million in cash contributions to several smaller defined benefit pension plans, cash payments of $16 million to other plans and cash payments of $22 million to the Steelworkers Pension Trust. U. S. Steel’s Board of Directors has authorized additional voluntary contributions to U. S. Steel’s trusts for pensions and health care of up to $160 million through the end of 2008.

As of September 30, 2007, $10 million in cash contributions had been made to other postretirement plans and cash payments of $173 million had been made for other postretirement benefit payments not funded by trusts.

Company contributions to defined contribution plans totaled $6 million and $6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and $18 million and $16 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

 

8. Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization

U. S. Steel records depreciation on a modified straight-line method for steel-related assets located in the United States, that are not associated with the operations acquired from Lone Star, based upon raw steel production levels. Applying modification factors decreased expenses by $7 million and $4 million for the third quarter 2007 and 2006, respectively, and by $33 million and $13 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively, when compared to a straight-line calculation. Straight-line depreciation is used by USSE and the businesses acquired from Lone Star.

Accumulated depreciation and depletion totaled $8,053 million and $7,768 million at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively. Accumulated amortization, calculated on a straight-line basis, totaled $4 million at September 30, 2007.

A charge of $5 million was recorded in depreciation, depletion and amortization on the statement of operations in the first quarter 2006. This was the result of an impairment review completed in accordance with FAS No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets” due to the potential sale of a small wholly owned German subsidiary of U. S. Steel Kosice (USSK), that was subsequently sold in the fourth quarter 2006.

 

12


9. Net Interest and Other Financial Costs

Net interest and other financial costs include foreign currency gains and losses as a result of transactions denominated in currencies other than the functional currencies of U. S. Steel’s operations. During the third quarter 2007, net foreign currency gains of $4 million were recorded in net interest and other financial costs, compared with net gains of $6 million in the third quarter of 2006. For the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, net foreign currency gains of $6 million and $7 million, respectively, were recorded in net interest and other financial costs.

Net interest and other financial costs for the second quarter 2007 include a charge of $23 million for the premium and write-off of debt issue costs related to the full redemption of the 9.75% Senior Notes. In the first quarter 2007, a $3 million charge was incurred to write off debt issue costs related to the full redemption of the Senior Quarterly Income Debt Securities. See Note 13.

 

10. Income Taxes

On January 1, 2007, U. S. Steel adopted FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes – an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” (FIN 48). As a result of the implementation of FIN 48, U. S. Steel recognized an increase of approximately $3 million in the liability for uncertain tax positions, which was accounted for as a reduction to the January 1, 2007 balance of retained earnings.

The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits was $55 million and $44 million as of September 30, 2007 and January 1, 2007, respectively. If these unrecognized tax benefits were recognized, the annual effective tax rate would decrease by approximately three percentage points. 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 FIN 48.

U. S. Steel records interest related to uncertain tax positions as a part of net interest and other financial costs in the Statement of Operations. Any penalties are recognized as part of selling, general and administrative expenses. As of September 30, 2007 and January 1, 2007, U. S. Steel had accrued liabilities of $5 million and $2 million, respectively, for interest related to uncertain tax positions. U. S. Steel currently does not have a liability for tax penalties.

Provision for taxes

The income tax provision in the first nine months of 2007 reflects an estimated annual effective tax rate of 17 percent, excluding $13 million of discrete items. This estimated annual effective rate requires management to make its best estimate of annual pretax income for the year. During the year, management regularly updates forecast estimates based on changes in various factors such as prices, shipments, product mix, plant operating performance and cost estimates, including labor, raw materials, energy and pension and other postretirement benefits. To the extent that actual pretax results for domestic and foreign income in 2007 vary from forecast estimates applied at the end of the most recent interim period, the actual tax provision recognized in 2007 could be materially different from the forecast annual tax provision as of the end of the third quarter.

Taxes on Foreign Income

The Slovak Income Tax Act provides an income tax credit which is available to USSK if certain conditions are met. In order to claim the tax credit in any year, 60 percent of USSK’s sales must be export sales and USSK must reinvest the tax credits claimed in qualifying capital expenditures during the year in which the credit is claimed and the following four years. The provisions of the

 

13


Slovak Income Tax Act permit USSK to claim a tax credit of 100 percent of USSK’s tax liability for the years 2000 through 2004 and 50 percent of the current statutory rate of 19 percent for the years 2005 through 2009. The Slovak tax authority has confirmed that USSK has fulfilled all of the necessary conditions for claiming the tax credit for the years 2000 through 2005. As a result of conditions imposed when Slovakia joined the European Union (EU) that were amended by a 2004 settlement with the EU, the total tax credit granted to USSK for the period 2000 through 2009 is limited to $430 million. Based on the credits previously used and forecasts of future taxable income, management anticipates fully utilizing the remaining credits in 2008. Additionally, the conditions for claiming the tax credit also limit USSK’s annual production of flat-rolled products and its sale of flat-rolled products into the EU. Management does not believe the production and sales limits are materially burdensome, and they will expire at the end of 2009, if not before. USSK’s income tax returns for the years 2005 and 2006 are currently under audit by the Slovak Tax Authorities. During 2006 and in the first nine months of 2007, a current income tax provision was recorded for USSK because the tax credit is limited to 50 percent of the statutory rate.

Tax years subject to Examination

Below is a summary of the tax years open to examination by major tax jurisdiction:

U.S. Federal – 2004 and forward*

U.S. States – 2002 and forward

Slovakia – 2000 and forward

Serbia – 2003 and forward

*Lone Star has open tax years for its U.S. federal returns dating back to 1988 due to the presence of net operating loss (NOL) carryforwards.

Status of IRS Examinations

The 2002-2003 IRS audit of U. S. Steel’s tax returns was completed in the second quarter of 2006 and agreement was reached with the IRS on the proposed adjustments. There was no material impact on income taxes or interest resulting from the settlement of this audit. NOLs generated in the years 2002 and 2003 were carried forward and fully utilized in U. S. Steel’s 2004 and 2005 tax returns, which are currently under examination by the IRS. These NOLs are subject to review as part of that examination.

Deferred taxes

As of September 30, 2007, the net domestic deferred tax asset was $182 million compared to $446 million at December 31, 2006, and is primarily attributable to employee benefit liabilities not yet deducted for tax purposes. Based on factors such as the length of time over which the deduction for employee benefit liabilities will be claimed on tax returns, the current law provisions which permit loss carryforwards for an extended period, and U. S. Steel’s demonstrated ability to utilize the entire amount of tax deductions and tax attributes over previous business cycles, management fully expects to realize tax benefits for the entire amount of these recorded tax assets.

As of September 30, 2007, the amount of net foreign deferred tax assets recorded was $17 million, net of an established valuation allowance of $119 million. As of December 31, 2006, the amount of net foreign deferred tax assets recorded was $19 million, net of an established valuation allowance of $90 million. Net foreign deferred tax assets will fluctuate as the value of the U.S. dollar changes with respect to the euro, the Slovak koruna and the Serbian dinar. A full valuation allowance of $105 million is provided for the Serbian deferred tax assets which mainly consist of investment tax credits. Although investment tax credits can be carried forward for up to ten years, it is expected that future years’ investment tax credits, which are required to be used first, will completely offset future income taxes.

 

14


11. Preferred and Common Shares, Income Per Common Share

Preferred Share Conversion

The Series B Preferred shares were converted into approximately 16 million shares of U. S. Steel common stock on June 15, 2006. Preferred stock dividends reduced retained earnings by $4 million in the first quarter 2006. Since this conversion, no preferred shares remain outstanding.

Common Stock Repurchase Program

U. S. Steel has repurchased common stock from time to time in the open market. During the third quarter and first nine months of 2007, 285,000 and 894,900 shares of common stock were repurchased for $28 million and $87 million, respectively. At September 30, 2007, 6,756,300 shares remained authorized to be repurchased. During 2006, U. S. Steel repurchased 7,247,600 shares of common stock for $442 million under this program.

Income Per Common Share

Basic net income per common share was calculated by adjusting net income for dividend requirements of preferred stock and is based on the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the quarter.

Diluted net income per common share assumes the exercise of stock options, the vesting of restricted stock and the conversion of preferred stock, provided in each case the effect is dilutive. For the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2007, 668,780 shares and 713,167 shares of common stock, respectively, related to stock options and restricted stock, have been included in the computation of diluted net income because their effect was dilutive. For the third quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2006, 694,167 shares and 10,462,390 shares of common stock, respectively, related to stock options, restricted stock and the conversion of preferred stock have been included in the calculation of diluted net income. Net income in 2006 was not adjusted for preferred stock dividend requirements since their conversion was assumed.

Dividends Paid Per Share

The dividend rate for the first three quarters of 2007 was 20 cents per common share. The dividend rate was 15 cents per common share for the third quarter and second quarter 2006 and 10 cents per common share for the first quarter 2006.

 

12. Inventories

Inventories are carried at the lower of cost or market. The first-in, first-out method is the predominant method of inventory costing for USSE. The last-in, first-out (LIFO) method is the predominant method of inventory costing for inventories in the United States. At September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, the LIFO method accounted for 63 percent and 67 percent of total inventory values, respectively.

 

(In millions)    September 30,
2007
   December 31,
2006

Raw materials

   $ 418    $ 560

Semi-finished products

     784      597

Finished products

     517      368

Supplies and sundry items

     107      79
             

Total

   $ 1,826    $ 1,604

Current acquisition costs were estimated to exceed these inventory values by $850 million at September 30, 2007 and by $900 million at December 31, 2006. Cost of sales was reduced by

 

15


$10 million in the third quarter 2007 and was increased by $6 million in the third quarter 2006 and reduced by $23 million and $2 million in the first nine months of 2007 and 2006, respectively, as a result of liquidations of LIFO inventories.

Inventory includes $74 million and $65 million of land held for residential or commercial development as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively.

U. S. Steel has coke swap agreements with other steel manufacturers designed to reduce transportation costs. The coke swaps are recorded at cost in accordance with APB 29, “Accounting for Nonmonetary Transactions” and FAS No. 153, “Exchanges of Nonmonetary Assets.” U. S. Steel shipped approximately 610,000 tons and received approximately 660,000 tons of coke under the swap agreements during the first nine months of 2007. U. S. Steel shipped approximately 195,000 tons and received approximately 170,000 tons of coke under the swap agreements during 2006. There was no income statement impact related to these swaps.

 

13. Debt

 

(In millions)    Interest
Rates %
   Maturity    September 30,
2007
   Dec. 31,
2006

Senior Notes

   6.65    2037    $ 350    $ -

Senior Notes

   6.05    2017      450      -

Senior Notes

   5.65    2013      300      -

Senior Notes

   9.75    2010      -      378

Senior Notes

   10.75    2008      20      20

Senior Quarterly Income Debt Securities

   10    2031      -      49

Five-year Term Loan

   Variable    2008  –  2012      500      -

Environmental Revenue Bonds

   4.75 - 6.25    2009  –  2033      458      458

Fairfield Caster Lease

      2007  –  2012      54      60

Other capital leases and all other obligations

      2007  –  2014      42      60

Credit Agreement, $750 million

   Variable    2012      -      -

USSK credit facilities, 60 million ($85 and $79 million)

   Variable    2009      -      -

USSB credit facility, 25 million ($35 and $33 million)

   Variable    2008      -      -
                   

Total

           2,174      1,025

Less unamortized discount

           3      -

Less short-term debt and long-term debt due within one year

           68      82
                   

Long-term debt

             $ 2,103    $ 943

U. S. Steel redeemed the Senior Quarterly Income Debt Securities (Quarterly Debt Securities) on January 2, 2007 at 100 percent of the principal amount together with accrued, but unpaid interest at the redemption date.

On May 11, 2007, U. S. Steel entered into an unsecured five-year $750 million Credit Agreement (Credit Agreement). The Credit Agreement provides for borrowings at interest rates based on defined, short-term, market rates and has an interest rate coverage ratio and a leverage ratio covenant and other customary terms and conditions including limitations on liens and mergers. The Credit Agreement expires in 2012 and replaced U. S. Steel’s $600 million revolving credit facility that was secured by inventory (the Inventory Facility).

 

16


On May 21, 2007, U. S. Steel issued a total of $1,100 million of senior notes consisting of $350 million at 6.65% due 2037, $450 million at 6.05% due 2017, and $300 million at 5.65% due 2013, collectively, the Senior Notes. Interest is payable semi-annually on June 1 and December 1 of each year, beginning on December 1, 2007. The Senior Notes were issued under U. S. Steel’s shelf registration statement and were not listed on any national securities exchange. Proceeds from the sale of the Senior Notes were used to finance a portion of the Lone Star acquisition (see Note 4) and to redeem the 9.75% Senior Notes due 2010, as discussed below. The Senior Notes restrict our ability to create certain liens, enter into sale leaseback transactions, and to consolidate, merge or transfer all, or substantially all, of our assets.

On June 11, 2007, U. S. Steel entered into a $500 million five-year term loan (the five-year Term Loan). Proceeds from the five-year Term Loan were used to finance a portion of the Lone Star acquisition (see Note 4). On each anniversary date a mandatory principal payment of $25 million is due. Interest on the five-year Term Loan is based on defined, short-term market rates and is due at least quarterly. The agreement for the five-year Term Loan contains the same financial covenants and limitations as the Credit Agreement.

On June 20, 2007, U. S. Steel redeemed $378 million principal amount of the 9.75% Senior Notes, at 104.875% of the principal amount, plus accrued interest. In conjunction with this redemption and the termination of the Inventory Facility, U. S. Steel has decreased the restrictive nature of the covenants and events of default to which we are subject. (See Note 9 for net interest and other financial costs associated with this redemption.)

On October 12, 2007, U. S. Steel entered into a $500 million three-year term loan (the three-year Term Loan) and a $400 million one-year term loan (the one-year Term Loan) that will be fully drawn upon to partially fund the acquisition of Stelco (see Note 4). The three-year Term Loan requires a $50 million and $100 million principal repayment on the first and second anniversary dates, respectively. Interest on the term loans is based on defined, short-term market rates and is due quarterly. The agreements for the Term Loans contain the same financial covenants and limitations as the Credit Agreement.

At September 30, 2007, in the event of a change in control of U. S. Steel, debt obligations totaling $1,100 million may be declared immediately due and payable, and if certain conditions are met an additional $500 million may also be due and payable. In such event, U. S. Steel may also be required to either repurchase the leased Fairfield slab caster for $71 million or provide a letter of credit to secure the remaining obligation. The one-year Term Loan and the three-year Term Loan entered into on October 12, 2007 also contain change of control provisions

U. S. Steel was in compliance with all of its debt covenants at September 30, 2007.

 

14. Asset Retirement Obligations

U. S. Steel’s asset retirement obligations primarily relate to mine and landfill closure and post-closure costs. The following table reflects changes in the carrying values of asset retirement obligations:

 

(In millions)    September 30,
2007
   December 31,
2006

Balance at beginning of year

   $ 33    $ 27

Foreign currency translation effects

     1      3

Accretion expense

     3      3
             

Balance at end of period

   $ 37    $ 33

 

17


Certain asset retirement obligations related to disposal costs of fixed assets at our steel facilities have not been recorded because they have an indeterminate settlement date. These asset retirement obligations will be initially recognized in the period in which sufficient information exists to estimate their fair value.

 

15. Variable Interest Entities

In accordance with Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 46 (revised December 2003), “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities, an interpretation of ARB No. 51” (FIN 46R), U. S. Steel consolidates the following entities.

Clairton 1314B Partnership

U. S. Steel is the sole general partner and there are two unaffiliated limited partners of the Clairton 1314B Partnership (1314B Partnership), which owns two of the twelve coke batteries at Clairton Works. Because U. S. Steel is the primary beneficiary of this entity, U. S. Steel consolidates this partnership in its financial results. U. S. Steel is responsible for purchasing, operations and sales of coke and coke by-products. U. S. Steel has a commitment to fund operating cash shortfalls of the 1314B Partnership of up to $150 million. Additionally, U. S. Steel, under certain circumstances, is required to indemnify the limited partners if the partnership product sales prior to 2003 fail to qualify for credits under Section 29 of the Internal Revenue Code. Furthermore, U. S. Steel, under certain circumstances, has indemnified the 1314B Partnership for environmental obligations. See Note 18 for further discussion of commitments related to the 1314B Partnership.

Blackbird Acquisition Inc.

Blackbird Acquisition Inc. (Blackbird) is an entity established to facilitate the purchase and sale of certain fixed assets. U. S. Steel has no ownership interest in Blackbird. At September 30, 2007, there were no assets or liabilities consolidated through Blackbird.

U. S. Steel Receivables, LLC

U. S. Steel has a receivables purchase program. Trade accounts receivable are sold, on a daily basis without recourse, to U. S. Steel Receivables, LLC (USSR), a wholly owned consolidated special purpose entity. USSR can then sell revolving interests in the receivables to certain commercial paper conduits. On June 20, 2007, $40 million of accounts receivable were sold to conduits. As of June 30, 2007, these receivables had been repurchased. At September 30, 2007 $500 million was available under this facility. The Receivables Purchase Agreement expires on September 25, 2010, and does not require annual commitment extensions.

Daniel Ross Bridge, LLC

Daniel Ross Bridge, LLC (DRB) was established for the development of a 1,600 acre master-planned community in Hoover, Alabama. DRB manages the development and marketing of the property. The consolidation of DRB increased income from operations by $1 million for the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2007.

Chicago Lakeside Development, LLC

Chicago Lakeside Development, LLC (CLD) was established in 2006 to develop 275 acres of land that U. S. Steel owns in Chicago, Illinois. During the predevelopment phase of the project (expected to last approximately eighteen months), CLD will investigate the feasibility of the project and plan the development. U. S. Steel will contribute approximately 45 percent of the costs incurred during this phase. If CLD proceeds with the development, U. S. Steel will contribute its land to the entity for development. During the quarter and nine months ended September 30, 2007, the consolidation of CLD reduced income from operations by $3 million and $6 million, respectively, which was partially offset by minority interests of $2 million and $3 million, respectively.

 

18


16. Comprehensive Income

The following table reflects the components of comprehensive income:

 

     Third Quarter Ended
September 30,
   Nine Months Ended
September 30,
(In millions)        2007            2006            2007            2006    

Net income

   $ 269    $ 417    $ 844    $ 1,077

Changes in foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax

     142      31      195      217

Changes in employee benefit accounts, net of tax

     26      -      70      -
                           

Comprehensive income

   $ 437    $ 448    $ 1,109    $ 1,294

 

17. Related Party Transactions

Net sales to related parties and receivables from related parties primarily reflect sales of steel products, transportation services and fees for providing various management and other support services to equity and other related parties. Generally, transactions are conducted under long-term market-based contractual arrangements. Related party sales and service transactions were $296 million and $241 million for the quarters ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and $832 million and $698 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Sales to related parties were conducted under terms comparable to those with unrelated parties.

Purchases from equity investees for outside processing services amounted to $18 million and $11 million for the quarters ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and $35 million and $30 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

Accounts payable to related parties include balances due PRO-TEC Coating Company (PRO-TEC) of $72 million and $57 million at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively, for invoicing and receivables collection services provided by U. S. Steel. 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 equity investees totaled $7 million and $2 million at September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006, respectively.

 

18. 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 in this note. 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.

Asbestos matters As of September 30, 2007, U. S. Steel was a defendant in approximately 300 active cases involving approximately 3,050 plaintiffs, including cases involving the businesses

 

19


acquired from Lone Star. At December 31, 2006, U. S. Steel was a defendant in approximately 300 active cases involving approximately 3,700 plaintiffs. Many of these cases involve multiple defendants (typically from fifty to more than one hundred). Almost 2,750, or approximately 90 percent, of these claims are currently pending in jurisdictions which permit filings with massive numbers of 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. During the third quarter of 2007, U. S. Steel paid approximately $1 million in settlements. These settlements, along with review of case docket information for certain states, and voluntary and involuntary dismissals, resulted in the disposition of approximately 200 claims. New case filings added approximately 150 claims. During 2006, U. S. Steel paid approximately $8 million in settlements. These settlements, along with review of case docket information for certain states, and voluntary and involuntary dismissals, resulted in the disposition of approximately 5,150 claims. New case filings added approximately 450 claims.

Historically, these claims against U. S. Steel fall into three major groups: (1) claims made under certain federal and general maritime laws by employees of former operations of U. S. Steel; (2) claims made by persons who allegedly were exposed to asbestos at U. S. Steel facilities (referred to as “premises claims”); and (3) claims made by industrial workers allegedly exposed to products formerly manufactured by U. S. Steel. While U. S. Steel has excess casualty insurance, these policies have multi-million dollar self-insured retentions. To date, U. S. Steel has not received any payments under these policies relating to asbestos claims. In most cases, this excess casualty insurance is the only insurance applicable to asbestos claims.

These asbestos cases allege a variety of respiratory and other diseases based on alleged exposure to asbestos. U. S. Steel is currently a defendant in cases in which a total of approximately 165 plaintiffs allege that they are suffering from mesothelioma. The potential for damages against defendants may be greater in cases in which the plaintiffs can prove mesothelioma. In many such cases in which claims have been asserted against U. S. Steel, the plaintiffs have been unable to establish any causal relationship to U. S. Steel or its products or premises. In addition, in many asbestos cases, the plaintiffs have been unable to demonstrate that they have suffered any identifiable injury or compensable loss at all; that any injuries that they have incurred did in fact result from alleged exposure to asbestos; or that such alleged exposure was in any way related to U. S. Steel or its products or premises.

The amount U. S. Steel has accrued for pending asbestos claims is not material to U. S. Steel’s financial position. U. S. Steel does not accrue for unasserted asbestos claims because it believes it is not possible to determine whether any loss is probable with respect to such claims or even to estimate the amount or range of any possible losses. Among the reasons that U. S. Steel cannot reasonably estimate the number and nature of claims against it is that the vast majority of pending claims against it allege so-called “premises” liability-based exposure on U. S. Steel’s current or former premises. These claims are made by an indeterminable number of people such as truck drivers, railroad workers, salespersons, contractors and their employees, government inspectors, customers, visitors and even trespassers.

It is not possible to predict the ultimate outcome of asbestos-related lawsuits, claims and proceedings due to the unpredictable nature of personal injury litigation. Despite this uncertainty, and although our results of operations and cash flows for a given period could be adversely affected by asbestos-related lawsuits, claims and proceedings, management believes that the ultimate resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on U. S. Steel’s financial condition. Among the factors considered in reaching this conclusion are: (1) that U. S. Steel has been subject to a total of approximately 34,000 asbestos claims over the past 15 years that have been administratively dismissed or are inactive due to the failure of the plaintiffs to

 

20


present any medical evidence supporting their claims; (2) that over the last several years, the total number of pending claims has generally declined; (3) that it has been many years since U. S. Steel employed maritime workers or manufactured or sold asbestos containing products; and (4) U. S. Steel’s history of trial outcomes, settlements and dismissals.

Environmental MattersU. 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. Accrued liabilities for remediation activities, excluding Lone Star which is discussed below, totaled $145 million at September 30, 2007, of which $18 million was classified as current, and $140 million at December 31, 2006, of which $18 million was classified as current. Expenses related to remediation are recorded in cost of sales and totaled $15 million, and $3 million for the quarters ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and $22 million and $14 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006, respectively. It is not presently 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 possible that total remediation costs for active matters may exceed the accrued liabilities by as much as 20 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 are those projects for which material additional costs are reasonably possible.

(2) Significant Projects with Defined Scope are those projects with significant accrued liabilities, a defined scope and little likelihood of material additional costs.

(3) Other Projects are those projects with relatively small accrued liabilities for which we believe that, while additional costs are possible, they are not likely to be material, and those projects for which we do not yet possess sufficient information to form a judgment about potential costs.

Projects with Ongoing Study and Scope Development – There are five environmental remediation projects where reasonably possible additional costs for completion are not currently estimable, but could be material. These projects are three Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) programs, including one at Fairfield Works, one at Lorain Tubular, and one at the Fairless Plant, a voluntary remediation at the former steel making plant at Joliet, Illinois, and one state Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) program at the Duluth St. Louis Estuary and Upland Project. As of September 30, 2007, accrued liabilities for these projects totaled $2 million for the costs of studies, investigations, interim measures, remediation and/or design. Additional liabilities associated with future requirements regarding studies, investigations, design and remediation for these projects may prove insignificant or could range in the aggregate up to $25 million. The scope of the Duluth project, depending on agency negotiations, could become defined in 2007. The scope of the Gary Works West Grand Calumet Lagoon Project and one of the Fairfield Works RCRA programs were defined in the third quarter 2007.

 

21


Significant Projects with Defined Scope – As of September 30, 2007, a total of $68 million was accrued for the West Grand Calumet Lagoon and other projects at or related to Gary Works, as well as the Municipal Industrial & Disposal Company (MIDC) CERCLA site in Elizabeth, PA, where the scope of the work required is well developed. These Gary Works projects include the other RCRA program projects, Natural Resource Damages (NRD) claims, completion of projects for the Grand Calumet River and the related Corrective Action Management Unit (CAMU), and closure costs for three hazardous waste disposal sites and one solid waste disposal site. These RCRA program projects are in the final study stage and data currently indicates that any further required remediation, beyond that which has been accrued, should not be material. The NRD claims have been resolved by final settlement orders and payment schedules are determined. The Grand Calumet River and the related CAMU project are essentially complete, except for currently accrued liabilities for costs associated with additional dredging, CAMU maintenance and wastewater treatment. A Closure Permit application has been submitted for the hazardous waste sites, that also address the one solid waste site, and there has been no meaningful agency action on the application. A plan for Corrective Measures for the West Grand Calumet Lagoon has been prepared and will be submitted for approval. Investigation and studies and the remedial design have been completed for the MIDC project. U. S. Steel does not expect material additional costs related to these projects.

At U. S. Steel’s former Geneva Works, liability for environmental remediation, including for the closure of three hazardous waste impoundments and facility-wide corrective action, has been allocated between U. S. Steel and Geneva Steel Company pursuant to an asset sales agreement and a permit issued by Utah Department of Environmental Quality. In December 2005, a third party purchased the Geneva site and assumed Geneva Steel’s rights and obligations under the asset sales agreement and the permit pursuant to a bankruptcy court order. U. S. Steel has reviewed environmental data concerning the project, has developed work plans, is conducting field investigations and has begun remediation on some areas of the site for which U. S. Steel has responsibility. U. S. Steel had an accrued liability of $22 million as of September 30, 2007 for its share of the remaining costs of remediation.

Other Projects – There are seven 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 September 30, 2007 was $16 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 had an accrued liability of less than $1 million, including a Fairfield Works RCRA program that was defined in the third quarter 2007. The total accrued liability for these projects at September 30, 2007 was $9 million. We do 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 $17 million at September 30, 2007 and were based on known scopes of work.

Administrative and Legal Costs – As of September 30, 2007, U. S. Steel had an accrued liability of $6 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 bring existing facilities into compliance with various laws relating to the environment. In the first nine months of 2007 and 2006, such capital expenditures totaled

 

22


$46 million and $60 million, respectively. U. S. Steel anticipates making additional such expenditures in the future; however, the exact amounts and timing of such expenditures are uncertain because of the continuing evolution of specific regulatory requirements.

Lone Star Obligations – With the acquisition of Lone Star, we assumed responsibility for a number of environmental liabilities at Lone Star facilities. At September 30, 2007 these obligations totaled approximately $9 million, of which $2 million was classified as current, and are in addition to the amounts for U. S. Steel already discussed. We are currently in the process of evaluating each liability and we may make adjustments to the amounts accrued in conjunction with the preliminary purchase price allocation. It is anticipated that our evaluation will be completed by December 31, 2007.

Kyoto Protocol and CO2 Emissions – As a result of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the European Commission (EC) has established CO2 limits for every EU member state. In 2004, the EC approved a national allocation plan, for the period 2005 through 2007, (NAP I) that reduced Slovakia’s originally proposed CO2 allocation by approximately 14 percent, and following that decision the Slovak Ministry of the Environment (Ministry) imposed an 8 percent reduction to the amount of CO2 allowances originally requested by USSK. Subsequently, USSK filed legal actions against the EC and the Ministry challenging these reductions. USSK is purchasing CO2 allowances needed to cover its anticipated shortfall for the remainder of the NAP l allocation period. Based on the value of purchased credits and current market value of CO2 allowances remaining to be purchased, a short-term other liability of $2 million was recognized on the balance sheet as of September 30, 2007. At December 31, 2006, the long-term liability was $7 million. On November 29, 2006, the EC issued a decision that Slovakia would be granted 25 percent fewer CO2 allowances than were requested in Slovakia’s second CO2 trading period, 2008-2012 (NAP II). Both Slovakia and USSK have filed legal actions against the EC to challenge this decision. In early October 2007, the Court of First Instance of the European Communities dismissed on the basis of inadmissibility both of the cases USSK had brought to challenge the reduction by the European Commission of Slovakia’s total allowances in the NAP I and NAP II trading periods. USSK is studying these decisions to determine its response. The Ministry has not yet made an allocation of Slovakia’s CO2 allowances to companies within Slovakia for the NAP II period, but has publicized a draft of an allocation plan that would award USSK more annual allowances than were awarded to USSK under the Slovak NAP I plan.

While ratification of the Kyoto Protocol in the United States has not occurred, there remains the possibility that limitations on greenhouse gases may be imposed. The impact of any such limitations on U. S. Steel’s domestic operations cannot be estimated at this time.

Environmental and other indemnificationsThroughout 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 sold. These indemnifications and cost sharing agreements have related to the condition of the property, the approved use, certain representations and warranties, matters of title and environmental matters. While most of these provisions have not dealt with environmental issues, there have been transactions in which U. S. Steel indemnified the buyer for non-compliance with past, current and future environmental laws related to existing conditions. Most recent indemnifications and cost sharing agreements are of a limited nature only applying to non-compliance with past and/or current laws. Some indemnifications and cost sharing agreements only run for a specified period of time after the transactions close and others run indefinitely. In addition, current owners of property formerly owned by U. S. Steel may have common law claims and contribution rights against U. S. Steel for environmental matters. The amount of potential environmental liability associated with these

 

23


transactions is not estimable due to the nature and extent of the unknown conditions related to the properties sold. Aside from the environmental liabilities already recorded as a result of these transactions due to specific environmental remediation activities cases (included in the $145 million of accrued liabilities for remediation already discussed), there are no other known environmental liabilities related to these transactions.

Guarantees – The guarantee of the liabilities of an unconsolidated entity of U. S. Steel totaled $2 million at September 30, 2007. In the event that any default related to the guaranteed liabilities occurs, U. S. Steel has access to its interest in the assets of the investee to reduce its potential losses under the guarantee.

Contingencies related to Separation from MarathonU. S. Steel separated from Marathon Oil Corporation (Marathon) on December 31, 2001 (the Separation). In the event of the bankruptcy of Marathon, certain of U. S. Steel’s operating lease obligations in the amount of $32 million as of September 30, 2007 may be declared immediately due and payable. Further, $522 million related to Environmental Revenue bonds and various capital lease obligations may also be declared immediately due and payable.

Contingencies related to Lone Star Acquisition – Prior to the acquisition, Lone Star had an agreement with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) under which Lone Star agreed to pay to FDIC amounts equal to certain tax benefits arising from the utilization of tax loss carryovers and other tax attributes associated with a bank formerly owned by Lone Star. We are currently evaluating our obligations relative to this agreement, and the purchase price allocation presented in Note 4 may change as a result of our analysis. It is anticipated that our evaluation will be completed by December 31, 2007.

Other contingenciesUnder 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 $22 million at September 30, 2007). No liability has been recorded for these guarantees as either management believes that the potential recovery of value from the equipment when sold is greater than the residual value guarantee, or the potential loss is not probable and/or estimable.

1314B PartnershipSee description of the partnership in Note 15. U. S. Steel has a commitment to fund operating cash shortfalls of the partnership of up to $150 million. Additionally, U. S. Steel, under certain circumstances, is required to indemnify the limited partners if the partnership product sales prior to 2003 fail to qualify for the credit under Section 29 of the Internal Revenue Code. This indemnity will effectively survive until the expiration of the applicable statute of limitations. The maximum potential amount of this indemnity obligation at September 30, 2007, including interest and tax gross-up, is approximately $650 million. Furthermore, U. S. Steel under certain circumstances has indemnified the partnership for environmental obligations. The maximum potential amount of this indemnity obligation is not estimable. Management believes that the $150 million deferred gain related to the partnership, which is recorded in deferred credits and other liabilities, is sufficient to cover exposure under these commitments and indemnifications.

Self-insuranceU. S. Steel is self-insured for certain exposures including workers’ compensation, auto liability and general liability, as well as property damage and business interruption, within specified deductible and retainage levels. Certain equipment that is leased by

U. S. Steel is also self-insured within specified deductible and retainage levels. Liabilities are

 

24


recorded for workers’ compensation and personal injury obligations. Other costs resulting from self-insured losses 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 $125 million and $124 million as of September 30, 2007, and December 31, 2006, respectively, which reflects U. S. Steel’s maximum exposure under these financial guarantees, but not its total exposure for the underlying obligations. Most of the trust arrangements and letters of credit are collateralized by restricted cash that is recorded in other noncurrent assets.

CommitmentsAt September 30, 2007, U. S. Steel’s contract commitments to acquire property, plant and equipment totaled $166 million.

 

19. Subsequent Event

In October 2007 USSK announced a voluntary early retirement program. Those employees who elect to participate in the program will terminate their employment prior to the end of 2008. Associated charges are expected to be recognized in the fourth quarter 2007.

 

25


Item 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Certain sections of Management’s Discussion and Analysis include forward-looking statements concerning trends or events potentially affecting the businesses of United States Steel Corporation (U. S. Steel). These statements typically contain words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “estimates,” “expects,” “intends” or similar words indicating that future outcomes are not known with certainty and are subject to risk factors that could cause these outcomes to differ significantly from those projected. In accordance with “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, these statements are accompanied by cautionary language identifying important factors, though not necessarily all such factors that could cause future outcomes to differ materially from those set forth in forward-looking statements. For discussion of risk factors affecting the businesses of U. S. Steel, see Item 1A. Risk Factors and “Supplementary Data – Disclosures About Forward-Looking Statements” in U. S. Steel’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 and Item 1A. Risk Factors in this Form 10-Q. References in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q to “U. S. Steel”, “the Company”, “we”, “us” and “our” refer to U. S. Steel and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise indicated by the context.

On June 14, 2007, U. S. Steel acquired all of the outstanding shares of Lone Star Technologies, Inc. (Lone Star), a domestic manufacturer of high-quality welded oil country tubular goods (OCTG), standard and line pipe and tubular couplings, and a provider of finishing services. See Note 4 to Financial Statements for information regarding the acquisition. The results of operations for Lone Star are included in our Tubular segment from the date of the acquisition. The facilities that were acquired include Lone Star Steel Company, a manufacturer of oilfield tubular products, standard and line pipe and specialty tubing products; Wheeling Machine Products, Inc. and Wheeling Machine Products of Texas, Inc., suppliers of couplings used to connect individual sections of oilfield casing and tubing; Delta Tubular Processing, a provider of thermal treating and end-finishing services for oilfield production tubing; Delta Tubular International, a provider of high-quality threading, inspection and storage services to the OCTG market; Bellville Tube Company, L.P., an OCTG manufacturer; and Fintube Technologies, Inc., a manufacturer of specialty tubular products used in heat recovery technology applications. Lone Star also has a 50 percent ownership interest in Apolo Mecanica e Estruturas LTDA, a Brazilian supplier of welded casing, tubing, line pipe and other tubular products.

The acquisition of Lone Star increased our annual North American tubular manufacturing capability to 2.8 million tons.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Net sales by segment for the third quarter and first nine months of 2007 and 2006 are set forth in the following table:

 

   

Quarter

Ended

September 30,

 

%

Change

   

Nine Months
Ended

September 30,

 

%

Change

 
(Dollars in millions, excluding intersegment sales)   2007   2006     2007   2006  

Flat-rolled

  $ 2,439   $ 2,545   -4 %   $ 7,137   $ 7,452   -4 %

USSE

    1,167     1,036   13 %     3,566     2,893   23 %

Tubular

    637     455   40 %     1,398     1,384   1 %
                           

Total sales from reportable segments

    4,243     4,036   5 %     12,101     11,729   3 %

Other Businesses

    111     70   59 %     237     212   12 %
                           

Net sales

  $ 4,354   $ 4,106   6 %   $ 12,338   $ 11,941   3 %

 

26


Management’s analysis of the percentage change in net sales for U. S. Steel’s reportable business segments for the quarter ended September 30, 2007 versus the quarter ended September 30, 2006 is set forth in the following table:

Quarter Ended September 30, 2007 versus Quarter Ended September 30, 2006

 

     Steel Products Sales (a)    

Coke &

Other
Sales

 

       
      Volume     Price     Mix     FX (b)       Net Change  

Flat-rolled

   -2 %   1 %   -2 %   0 %   -1 %   -4 %

USSE

   -4 %   5 %   3 %   6 %   3 %   13 %

Tubular

   48 %   -5 %   -2 %   0 %   -1 %   40 %
 

(a)

Excludes intersegment sales

 

(b)

Foreign currency effects

Net sales were $4,354 million in the third quarter of 2007, compared with $4,106 million in the same quarter last year. The decrease in sales for the Flat-rolled segment primarily reflected decreased shipments of sheet products and a less favorable product mix. The increase in sales for the European segment was primarily due to favorable currency effects, higher average realized prices and a more favorable product mix, partially offset by lower shipments. Including the currency effects, average realized prices increased $98 per ton from the third quarter of 2006. The increase in sales for the Tubular segment resulted mainly from increased shipments as a result of the Lone Star acquisition, partially offset by lower average realized prices.

Management’s analysis of the percentage change in net sales for U. S. Steel’s reportable business segments for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 versus the nine months ended September 30, 2006 is set forth in the following table:

Nine Months Ended September 30, 2007 versus Nine Months Ended September 30, 2006

 

     Steel Products Sales (a)    

Coke &

Other
Sales

 

       
      Volume     Price     Mix     FX (b)       Net Change  

Flat-rolled

   -6 %   8 %   -6 %   0 %   0 %   -4 %

USSE

   0 %   11 %   2 %   7 %   3 %   23 %

Tubular

   6 %   -1 %   -4 %   0 %   0 %   1 %
 

(a)

Excludes intersegment sales

 

(b)

Foreign currency effects

Net sales were $12,338 million in the first nine months of 2007, compared with $11,941 million in the same period last year. Sales for the Flat-rolled segment were down mainly on lower shipments of sheet products and a less favorable product mix, partially offset by higher average realized prices (up $18 per ton). Sales for USSE increased mainly as a result of higher average realized prices and favorable currency effects. Including the currency effects, average realized prices increased $121 per ton from the first nine months of 2006. Tubular sales were up slightly due primarily to increased shipments, partially offset by an unfavorable change in product mix.

Operating expenses

Total operating expenses as a percent of sales were 92 percent in the third quarter of 2007, compared to 86 percent in the third quarter of 2006. Total operating expenses as a percent of sales were 91 percent in the first nine months of 2007, compared to 88 percent in the first nine months of 2006.

 

27


The increases in both periods primarily reflected higher raw material and repair and maintenance costs. The change in the year-to-date period also reflected reduced operating efficiencies as a result of lower domestic raw steel production.

Profit-based union payments

Results for the third quarter and first nine months of 2007 and 2006 included costs related to profit-based payments pursuant to the provisions of the 2003 labor agreement negotiated with the United Steelworkers (USW), and to payments pursuant to agreements with other unions. All of these costs are included in cost of sales on the statement of operations.

 

     Third Quarter
Ended
September 30,
   %
Change
    Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
   %
Change
 
(Dollars in millions)    2007    2006      2007    2006   

Allocated to segment results

   $ 36    $ 53    -32 %   $ 100    $ 129    -22 %

Retiree benefit expenses

     29      41    -29 %     84      105    -20 %
                                

Total

   $ 65    $ 94    -31 %   $ 184    $ 234    -21 %

Profit-based payment amounts per the agreement with the USW are calculated as percentages of consolidated income from operations after special items (as defined in the agreement) and are: (1) to be used to assist retirees from National Steel with health care costs, based on between 6 percent and 7.5 percent of profit; and (2) paid as profit sharing to active union employees based on 7.5 percent of profit between $10 and $50 per ton and 10 percent of profit above $50 per ton.

Pension and other benefit costs

Defined benefit and multiemployer pension plan costs totaled $32 million in the third quarter of 2007, compared to $59 million in the third quarter of 2006. Defined benefit and multiemployer pension plan costs totaled $88 million in the first nine months of 2007, compared to $154 million in the same period of 2006. The reductions in both periods were due to the completion of the amortization of prior service costs for a 1992 contract amendment, the transfer of certain surviving spouse liabilities to retired life (included in other benefits), and better than expected asset investment performance in 2006, which resulted in lower pension expense in 2007. Costs related to defined contribution plans totaled $6 million and $18 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2007, respectively, compared to $6 million and $16 million in last year’s third quarter and first nine months, respectively.

Other benefit costs totaled $32 million and $94 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2007, respectively, compared to $28 million and $83 million in the comparable periods last year.

Selling, general and administrative expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $134 million in the third quarter of 2007, compared to $144 million in the third quarter of 2006. Selling, general and administrative expenses were $411 million in the first nine months of 2007, compared to $458 million in the first nine months of 2006. The decreases in both periods were primarily due to lower pension expense as discussed above.

 

28


Income from operations by segment for the third quarter and first nine months of 2007 and 2006 is set forth in the following table:

 

     Quarter Ended
September 30,
    %
Change
    Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
   

%

Change

 
(Dollars in millions)    2007     2006       2007     2006    

Flat-rolled

   $ 170     $ 230     -26 %   $ 337     $ 569     -41 %

USSE

     152       219     -31 %     602       532     13 %

Tubular

     74       164     -55 %     273       487     -44 %
                                    

Total income from reportable segments

     396       613     -35 %     1,212       1,588     -24 %

Other Businesses

     37       39     -5 %     40       72     -44 %
                                    

Segment income from operations

     433       652     -34 %     1,252       1,660     -25 %

Retiree benefit expenses

     (46 )     (70 )   -34 %     (128 )     (190 )   -33 %

Other items not allocated to segments:

            

Tubular inventory transition effects

     (27 )     -         (27 )     -    

Workforce reduction charges

     -       (21 )       -       (21 )  

Asset impairment charge

     -       -         -       (5 )  
                                    

Total income from operations

   $ 360     $ 561     -36 %   $ 1,097     $ 1,444     -24 %

Segment results for Flat-rolled

 

     Quarter Ended
September 30,
    %
Change
    Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
   

%

Change

 
      2007     2006       2007     2006    

Income from operations ($ millions)

   $ 170     $ 230     -26 %   $ 337     $ 569     -41 %

Raw steel production (mnt)

     4,328       4,359     -1 %     12,157       13,085     -7 %

Capability utilization

     88.5 %     89.1 %   -1 %     83.8 %     90.2 %   -7 %

Steel shipments (mnt)

     3,601       3,695     -3 %     10,388       11,102     -6 %

Average realized steel price per ton

   $ 643     $ 651     -1 %   $ 648     $ 630     3 %

The decrease in third quarter 2007 Flat-rolled income from operations as compared to third quarter 2006 resulted mainly from higher raw material and repair and maintenance costs, partially offset by lower accruals for profit-based payments. The decrease in first nine months 2007 income from operations as compared to the same period in 2006 was mainly due to higher raw material, repair and maintenance and outage costs; reduced operating efficiencies; and decreased shipments. These were partially offset by increased average realized prices.

Segment results for USSE

 

     Quarter Ended
September 30,
    %
Change
    Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
   

%

Change

 
      2007     2006       2007     2006    

Income from operations ($ millions)

   $ 152     $ 219     -31 %   $ 602     $ 532     13 %

Raw steel production (mnt)

     1,661       1,734     -4 %     5,325       5,290     1 %

Capability utilization

     88.7 %     92.7 %   -4 %     95.9 %     95.3 %   1 %

Steel shipments (mnt)

     1,486       1,552     -4 %     4,754       4,712     1 %

Average realized steel price per ton

   $ 738     $ 640     15 %   $ 710     $ 589     21 %

 

29


The decrease in USSE income from operations in the third quarter of 2007 as compared to the third quarter of 2006 was primarily due to higher raw material and energy costs, net unfavorable currency effects, lower shipments and increased outage and related costs, partially offset by increased average realized prices. The improvement in income from operations for the nine-month period resulted mainly from increased average realized prices, partially offset by higher raw material and energy costs, net unfavorable currency effects and increased outage and related costs.

Segment results for Tubular

 

     Quarter Ended
September 30,
   %
Change
    Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
  

%

Change

 
      2007    2006      2007    2006   

Income from operations ($ millions)

   $ 74    $ 164    -55 %   $ 273    $ 487    -44 %

Steel shipments (mnt)

     473      303    56 %     1,008      920    10 %

Average realized steel price per ton

   $ 1,282    $ 1,491    -14 %   $ 1,350    $ 1,492    -10 %

The decreases in Tubular income from operations in the third quarter and first nine months of 2007 as compared to the same periods of 2006 mainly resulted from lower average realized prices and lower shipments of seamless products.

Results for Other Businesses

Other Businesses generated income of $37 million in the third quarter of 2007, compared to $39 million in the third quarter of 2006. Income from Other Businesses for the first nine months of 2007 was $40 million, compared with income of $72 million in the first nine months of 2006. The decrease in the nine month period was mainly due to lower results for iron ore operations as a result of repair outages and longer-term mine development expense, partially offset by improved results for real estate operations.

Items not allocated to segments

Tubular inventory transition effects of $27 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2007 reflected the effects of conforming certain inventories acquired from Lone Star to our unified business model, and the impact of selling acquired inventory, which had been recorded at fair value.

Workforce reduction charges of $21 million in the third quarter and first nine months of 2006 reflected employee severance and net benefit charges related to a voluntary workforce reduction program at USSB.

In the first quarter of 2006, an impairment review was completed in accordance with Statement of Accounting Financial Standards (FAS) No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets” due to the potential sale of a small wholly owned German subsidiary of U. S. Steel Kosice (USSK), which was subsequently sold in the fourth quarter of 2006. As a result, an asset impairment charge of $5 million was recorded in depreciation, depletion and amortization on the statement of operations.

 

30


Net interest and other financial costs

 

     Quarter Ended
September 30,
    %
Change
    Nine Months
Ended
September 30,
   

%

Change

 
(Dollars in millions)    2007     2006       2007     2006    

Interest and other financial costs

   $ 37     $ 30     23 %   $ 87     $ 93     -6 %

Interest income

     (11 )     (17 )   -35 %     (46 )     (49 )   -6 %

Foreign currency (gains) losses

     (4 )     (6 )       (6 )     (7 )  

Charge from early extinguishment of debt

     -       -         26       -    
                                    

Total

   $ 22     $ 7     214 %   $ 61     $ 37     65 %

In the first nine months of 2007, net interest and other financial costs included pre-tax charges of $26 million related to the early redemption of our outstanding 9 3/4% Senior Notes due 2010 in June 2007, and the early redemption of our 10% Senior Quarterly Income Debt Securities in January 2007. Interest and other financial costs in both 2007 periods reflected additional interest expense resulting from the issuance on May 21, 2007 of $300 million principal amount of 5.65% Senior Notes due 2013, $450 million principal amount of 6.05% Senior Notes due 2017 and $350 million principal amount of 6.65% Senior Notes due 2037, and our entry into a $500 million term loan on June 11, 2007. These were partially offset by the absence of interest expense related to most of our 10 3/4% Senior Notes that we purchased in December 2006, our 10% Senior Quarterly Income Debt Securities that we redeemed in January 2007 and our 9 3/4% Senior Notes that we redeemed in June 2007. The changes also reflected decreased interest income.

The provision for income taxes in the third quarter and first nine months of 2007 was $68 million and $187 million, compared to $136 million and $317 million in the respective periods in 2006. The income tax provision in the first nine months of 2007 reflects an estimated annual effective tax rate of 17 percent, excluding $13 million of discrete items. Our effective tax rate is being favorably influenced by the relative earnings projected for the year from our European versus domestic operations.

During 2007 and 2006, a current tax provision was recorded for USSK because the provisions of the Slovak Income Tax Act permit USSK to claim a tax credit of 50 percent of the current statutory rate of 19 percent for the years 2005 through 2009, compared to a 100 percent credit in previous years. As a result of conditions imposed when Slovakia joined the European Union (EU) that were amended by a 2004 settlement with the EU, the total tax credit granted to USSK for the period 2000 through 2009 is limited to $430 million. Based on the credits previously used and forecasts of future taxable income, management anticipates fully utilizing the remaining credits in 2008. It is expected that this will cause a higher effective tax rate in 2008 and subsequent years.

As of September 30, 2007, U. S. Steel had a net domestic deferred tax asset of $182 million. At September 30, 2007, the amount of net foreign deferred tax assets recorded was $17 million, net of an established valuation allowance of $119 million. Net foreign deferred tax assets will fluctuate as the value of the U.S. dollar changes with respect to the euro, the Slovak koruna and the Serbian dinar. A full valuation allowance of $105 million is provided for the Serbian deferred tax assets, which mainly consist of investment tax credits. Although investment tax credits can be carried forward for up to ten years, it is expected that future year investment tax credits, which are required to be used first, will completely offset future income taxes.

For further information on income taxes see Note 10 to Financial Statements.

 

31


U. S. Steel’s net income was $269 million in the third quarter of 2007, compared to $417 million in the third quarter of 2006. Net income in the first nine months of 2007 was $844 million, compared to $1,077 million in the same period last year. The reductions primarily reflected the factors discussed above.

BALANCE SHEET

See Note 4 to Financial Statements for the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed as a result of the Lone Star acquisition.

Receivables increased by $510 million from year-end 2006 mainly due to higher shipments in the third quarter of 2007 compared to the fourth quarter of 2006, and the Lone Star acquisition.

Inventories, property, plant and equipment and deferred income tax liabilities increased from year-end 2006 primarily as a result of the Lone Star acquisition.

Intangible assets of $231 million primarily consist of water rights and customer relationships acquired with Lone Star.

Goodwill of $1,155 million reflects the difference between the Lone Star purchase price of $1,990 million and the fair value of the net assets acquired.

Assets held for sale consist primarily of railroad operating land, track and equipment related to the potential sale of the majority of the operating assets of Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway Company to Canadian National Railway Company. See Note 5 to Financial Statements.

Payroll and benefits payable included a $430 million payable that will be used to assist National retirees with health care costs. This liability increased by $85 million during the first nine months of 2007 and remains outstanding because the associated trust arrangement has not been established.

The $343 million increase in accounts payable from December 31, 2006 mainly reflected increased production volumes and higher raw material costs compared to the fourth quarter of 2006, as well as the Lone Star acquisition.

Long-term debt increased by $1,160 million from year-end 2006. On May 21, 2007, U. S. Steel issued $300 million principal amount of 5.65% Senior Notes due 2013, $450 million principal amount of 6.05% Senior Notes due 2017 and $350 million principal amount of 6.65% Senior Notes due 2037. In addition, on June 11, 2007, U. S. Steel entered into a $500 million term loan. These were partially offset by the early redemption on June 20, 2007 of $378 million of 9 3/4% Senior Notes due 2010 and the early redemption on January 2, 2007 of $49 million of 10% Senior Quarterly Income Debt Securities due 2031.

CASH FLOW

Net cash provided from operating activities was $1,354 million for the first nine months of 2007, compared with $1,035 million in the same period last year. Cash from operating activities in the first nine months of 2007 was reduced by $140 million of voluntary contributions to our main defined benefit pension plan. Cash from operating activities in the first nine months of 2006 was reduced by a $140 million voluntary contribution to our main defined benefit pension plan and a $50 million voluntary contribution to our trust for retiree health and life insurance. U. S. Steel’s Board of Directors has authorized additional voluntary contributions of up to $160 million to our trusts for pensions and health care by the end of 2008.

 

32


Capital expenditures in the first nine months of 2007 were $460 million, compared with $397 million in the same period in 2006. Flat-rolled expenditures were $240 million and included spending for coke oven thru-wall repairs and development related to an enterprise resource planning system. USSE expenditures of $129 million included spending at USSK for an air emission reduction project and a new automotive galvanizing line, and spending at USSB for the reline of the No. 2 blast furnace. Construction of the new galvanizing line was completed in February 2007 and we are in the process of ramping it up to full capacity. Expenditures of $78 million for Other Businesses included spending for open pit mining equipment.

U. S. Steel’s contract commitments to acquire property, plant and equipment at September 30, 2007, totaled $166 million.

Capital expenditures for 2007 are expected to be approximately $725 million.

Acquisition of Lone Star Technologies reflected $2,050 million paid at closing, net of cash acquired of $71 million, and $11 million of transaction costs.

Issuance of Long-term debt resulted from the issuance of $300 million principal amount of 5.65% Senior Notes due 2013, $450 million principal amount of 6.05% Senior Notes due 2017 and $350 million principal amount of 6.65% Senior Notes due 2037, and our entry into a $500 million term loan.

Repayment of debt in the first nine months of 2007 primarily reflected the early redemption of our 9 3/4% Senior Notes due 2010 and the early redemption of our 10% Senior Quarterly Income Debt Securities due 2031.

Common stock repurchased in the first nine months of 2007 totaled approximately 895,000 shares.

Dividends paid in the first nine months of 2007 were $71 million, compared with $54 million in the same period in 2006. Payments in the first nine months of 2007 reflected quarterly dividend rates of 20 cents per common share. Payments in the first nine months of 2006 reflected quarterly dividend rates of 10 cents per common share for the March payment and 15 cents per common share for the June and September payments. Dividends paid in 2006 also reflected a quarterly dividend of $0.875 per share for the 7% Series B Mandatory Convertible Preferred Shares, which were converted into U. S. Steel common stock on June 15, 2006.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

U. S. Steel has a $500 million Second Amended and Restated Receivables Purchase Agreement dated as of September 27, 2006 (RPA) with The Bank of Nova Scotia as collateral agent and other financial institutions that expires in September 2010. For further information regarding the RPA, see the discussion in the “Liquidity” section of U. S. Steel’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006. As of September 30, 2007, U. S. Steel had more than $500 million of eligible receivables, none of which were sold.

U. S. Steel had a revolving credit facility that provided for borrowings of up to $600 million secured by all domestic inventory and related assets (Inventory Facility), including receivables other than those sold under the RPA. On May 11, 2007, we replaced the Inventory Facility with a $750 million unsecured five-year revolving credit facility with a group of lenders and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as administrative agent (Credit Facility). The Credit Facility has an interest coverage ratio (consolidated earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) to consolidated interest

 

33


expense) covenant of 2:1 and a leverage ratio (consolidated debt to consolidated EBITDA) covenant of 3.25:1, and other customary terms and conditions, including limitations on liens and mergers. As of September 30, 2007, we had no borrowings against this facility.

At September 30, 2007, USSK had no borrowings against its 40 million and 20 million credit facilities (which approximated $85 million), but had $5 million of customs and other guarantees outstanding, reducing availability to $80 million. Both facilities expire in December 2009.

At September 30, 2007, USSB had no borrowings against its 25 million facility (which approximated $35 million), which is secured by its inventory of finished and semi-finished goods and expires September 28, 2008.

On May 21, 2007, we consummated the issuance and sale of $300 million principal amount of 5.65% Senior Notes due 2013, $450 million principal amount of 6.05% Senior Notes due 2017 and $350 million principal amount of 6.65% Senior Notes due 2037 (collectively, the “Senior Notes”). These Senior Notes contain covenants restricting our ability to create liens and engage in sale-leasebacks and requiring the purchase of the Senior Notes upon a change of control under specified circumstances, as well as other customary provisions. For further detail regarding the Senior Notes, see Note 13 to Financial Statements and U. S. Steel’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on May 22, 2007.

On June 11, 2007, U. S. Steel entered into an unsecured $500 million five-year term loan agreement (five-year Loan Agreement) with a group of lenders and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as Administrative Agent. The five-year Loan Agreement contains the same financial covenants and limitations as the Credit Facility, as well as mandatory principal repayments of $25 million per year. As of September 30, 2007, $500 million was outstanding under the five-year Loan Agreement. For further details regarding the five-year Loan Agreement, see Note 13 to Financial Statements and U. S. Steel’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on June 11, 2007.

We were in compliance with all of our debt covenants at September 30, 2007.

On June 20, 2007, we redeemed all of our outstanding 9 3/4% Senior Notes due 2010 (9 3/4% Notes). The aggregate principal amount of the 9 3/4% Notes issued and outstanding was $378 million. The redemption price for each of the 9 3/4% Notes was $1,048.75 plus accrued interest to, but excluding, June 20, 2007. We incurred a $23 million pre-tax charge for the premium and unamortized issuance costs.

We funded the acquisition of Lone Star and the redemption of the 9 3/4% Notes with available cash, proceeds from the Senior Notes offering, the $500 million term loan and receivables sold under the RPA.

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 collateral have a negative impact on liquidity. We have committed $107 million of liquidity sources for financial assurance purposes as of September 30, 2007. We expect an increase of approximately $15 million upon completion of the acquisition of Stelco Inc. (Stelco).

In the event of the bankruptcy of Marathon Oil Corporation, obligations of $522 million relating to Environmental Revenue Bonds and two capital leases, as well as $32 million relating to an operating lease, may be declared immediately due and payable.

As of September 30, 2007, we had accrued $462 million, including interest payable, which will be used to assist retirees from National Steel with health care costs. This liability remains outstanding because the associated trust arrangement has not been established.

 

34


The following table summarizes U. S. Steel’s liquidity as of September 30, 2007:

(Dollars in millions)


 

Cash and cash equivalents (a)

   $ 1,386

Amount available under Receivables Purchase Agreement

     500

Amount available under $750 Million Credit Facility

     750

Amounts available under USSK credit facilities

     80

Amounts available under USSB credit facilities

     35
      

Total estimated liquidity

   $ 2,751

 


(a)

Excludes $17 million of cash primarily related to the Clairton1314B Partnership because it is not available for U. S. Steel's use.

Our liquidity at September 30, 2007 increased by $143 million from December 31, 2006, primarily as a result of increased availability under our credit facilities.

On August 26, 2007, U. S. Steel and Stelco entered into a definitive agreement pursuant to which U. S. Steel will acquire all of the outstanding shares of Stelco for $38.50 (Canadian) in cash per share, for an aggregate value of approximately $1.2 billion (U.S.). Shareholders owning more than 76 percent of Stelco’s outstanding shares, including Tricap Management Limited, Sunrise Partners Limited Partnership, Appaloosa Management L.P. and Rodney Mott, the CEO of Stelco, have entered into agreements with U. S. Steel irrevocably committing to support the transaction. Upon consummation of the transaction, Stelco will be a wholly owned subsidiary of U. S. Steel.

On October 12, 2007, U. S. Steel entered into a $500 million three-year term loan agreement (the three-year Loan Agreement) and a $400 million one-year term loan agreement that will be fully drawn upon to partially fund the acquisition of Stelco. The three-year Loan Agreement requires a $50 million and a $100 million principal repayment on the first and second anniversary dates, respectively. Interest on these term loans is based on defined, short-term market rates and is due quarterly. These agreements contain the same financial covenants and limitations as the Credit Facility discussed above.

U. S. Steel intends to pay for the acquisition and retire the majority of Stelco’s existing debt ($750 million (U.S.) as of September 30, 2007) through a combination of cash on hand, utilization of existing liquidity facilities and proceeds under the two new term loan agreements described above.

On September 26, 2007, U. S. Steel and Canadian National Railway Company (CN) announced that they had entered into an agreement under which CN will acquire the majority of the operating assets of Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway Company for $300 million. Under the agreement, U. S. Steel will retain railroad assets, equipment, and employees that support the Gary Works complex in northwest Indiana. The transaction is subject to regulatory approval by the U.S. Surface Transportation Board, and closing is anticipated in mid-2008.

U. S. Steel management believes that U. S. Steel’s liquidity will be adequate to satisfy its 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, contributions to employee benefit plans, and any amounts that may ultimately be paid in connection with contingencies, are expected to be financed by a combination of internally generated funds (including asset sales), proceeds from the sale of stock, borrowings, refinancings and other external financing sources. This opinion is a forward-looking statement based upon currently available information. To the extent that operating cash flow is

 

35


materially lower than current levels or external financing sources are not available on terms competitive with those currently available, including increases in interest rates, future liquidity may be adversely affected.

Off-balance Sheet Arrangements

U. S. Steel did not enter into any new off-balance sheet arrangements during the first nine months of 2007.

ENVIRONMENTAL MATTERS, LITIGATION AND CONTINGENCIES

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. In recent years, these expenditures have been mainly for process changes in order to meet Clean Air Act obligations and similar obligations in Europe, although ongoing compliance costs have also been significant. To the extent that these expenditures, as with all costs, are not ultimately reflected in the prices of our products and services, operating results will be reduced. U. S. Steel believes that our major domestic and many European integrated steel competitors are confronted by substantially similar conditions and thus does not believe that our relative position with regard to such competitors is materially affected by the impact of environmental laws and regulations. However, the costs and operating restrictions necessary for compliance with environmental laws and regulations may have an adverse effect on our competitive position with regard to domestic mini-mills, some foreign steel producers and producers of materials which compete with steel, all of which may not be required to incur equivalent costs in their operations. In addition, the specific impact on each competitor may 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 our prior disposal of environmentally sensitive materials. Most of our competitors do not have similar historic liabilities.

Our U.S. facilities are subject to the U.S. environmental standards, including the Clean Air Act, the Clean Water Act, the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, as well as state and local laws and regulations.

USSK is subject to the environmental laws of Slovakia and the European Union (EU). There are no legal proceedings pending against USSK involving environmental matters. USSK has a current compliance project for a primary dedusting system at Steel Shop No. 2 to meet air emission standards for particulates. The Slovak government has established November 30, 2007 as the deadline for USSK to meet compliance standards at Steel Shop No. 2, and USSK anticipates meeting the standards prior to the deadline.

As a result of the 1997 Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the European Commission (EC) has established CO2 limits for every EU member state. In 2004, the EC approved a national allocation plan for the period 2005 through 2007 (NAP I) that reduced Slovakia’s originally proposed CO2 allocation by approximately 14 percent, and following that decision the Slovak Ministry of the Environment (Ministry) imposed an 8 percent reduction to the amount of CO2 allowances originally requested by USSK. Subsequently, USSK filed legal actions against the EC and the Ministry challenging these reductions. USSK is purchasing CO2 allowances needed to cover its anticipated shortfall for the remainder of the NAP l allocation period. Based on the value of purchased credits and current market value of CO2 allowances remaining to be purchased, a current other liability of $2 million is recognized on the balance sheet as of September 30, 2007. At December 31, 2006, the long-term liability was $7 million. On November 29, 2006, the EC issued a decision that Slovakia would be granted 25 percent fewer CO2 allowances than were requested in

 

36


Slovakia’s second CO2 trading period, 2008-2012 (NAP II). Both Slovakia and USSK have filed legal actions against the EC to challenge this decision. In early October 2007, the Court of First Instance of the European Communities dismissed on the basis of inadmissibility both of the cases USSK had brought to challenge the reduction by the European Commission of Slovakia’s total allowances in the NAP I and NAP II trading periods. USSK is studying these decisions to determine its response. The Ministry has not yet made an allocation of Slovakia’s CO2 allowances to companies within Slovakia for the NAP II period, but has publicized a draft of an allocation plan that would award USSK more annual allowances than were awarded to USSK in the Slovak NAP I plan. The potential financial and/or operational impacts of NAP II are not currently determinable.

While ratification of the Kyoto Protocol in the U.S. has not occurred, there remains the possibility that limitations on greenhouse gases may be imposed. The impact of any such limitations on our domestic operations cannot be estimated at this time.

USSB is subject to the environmental laws of Serbia. Under the terms of the acquisition, USSB will be responsible for only those costs and liabilities associated with environmental events occurring subsequent to the completion of an environmental baseline study, which was completed in June 2004 and submitted to the Government of Serbia.

U. S. Steel has been notified that it is a potentially responsible party (PRP) at 23 sites under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA) as of September 30, 2007. In addition, there are 13 sites related to U. S. Steel where we have received information requests or other indications that we may be a PRP under CERCLA but where sufficient information is not presently available to confirm the existence of liability or make any judgment as to the amount thereof. There are also 43 additional sites related to U. S. Steel where remediation is being sought under other environmental statutes, both federal and state, or where private parties are seeking remediation 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 thereof, is frequently dependent upon the outcome of 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 additional remediation obligations arise, charges in excess of those previously accrued may be required. See Note 18 to Financial Statements.

For discussion of relevant environmental items, see “Part II. Other Information—Item 1. Legal Proceedings—Environmental Proceedings.”

During the third quarter of 2007, U. S. Steel accrued $15 million for environmental matters for domestic and foreign facilities. The total accrual for such liabilities at September 30, 2007 was $145 million, excluding liabilities for Lone Star as discussed below. These amounts exclude liabilities related to asset retirement obligations under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 143.

With the acquisition of Lone Star, we assumed responsibility for a number of environmental liabilities at Lone Star facilities. At September 30, 2007 these obligations totaled approximately $9 million, of which $2 million was classified as current. We are currently in the process of evaluating each liability and we may make adjustments to the amounts accrued in conjunction with the purchase price allocation. It is anticipated that our evaluation will be completed by December 31, 2007.

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

 

37


aggregate, be material to the U. S. Steel 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 to U. S. Steel.

OUTLOOK

We expect a decline in overall results for the fourth quarter mainly due to normal seasonal effects and several scheduled blast furnace outages. North American flat-rolled inventories and imports are at relatively low levels and over time the weaker U.S. currency should favor many of our steel-consuming customers. In Europe, steel consumption remains healthy; however, high imports, particularly from China, and high service center inventories are resulting in some pressure on spot prices and order rates.

For Flat-rolled, fourth quarter results are expected to decrease from the third quarter due primarily to lower shipments and higher raw material, outage and modernization-related costs. Prices are expected to remain in line with the third quarter.

Fourth quarter results are expected to decrease for U. S. Steel Europe (USSE). Prices and shipments are expected to remain comparable to the third quarter levels and costs are expected to increase slightly. Two planned blast furnace outages will continue to limit raw steel production.

In conjunction with efforts to increase productivity, we are commencing a voluntary early retirement program at U. S. Steel Kosice (USSK), which we anticipate will generate substantial future cost savings. We will not know the employee response to this program and the amount of the resulting fourth quarter charge until later this year.

Fourth quarter results for Tubular are expected to be consistent with third quarter results as average realized prices and costs are expected to improve and shipments should decrease, due primarily to continued high inventory levels and year-end seasonal effects.

Concerning Stelco, the Stelco shareholders have approved the transaction, required regulatory approvals have been obtained, and we expect to complete this transaction by the end of October. Results for Stelco will be included in our Flat-rolled segment as of the date of acquisition, and the above fourth quarter outlook does not include the Stelco operations.

This outlook contains forward-looking statements with respect to the acquisition of Stelco, market conditions, operating costs, shipments, prices and a voluntary early retirement program at USSK. Risks and uncertainties regarding the closing of the Stelco transaction include the approval of the Plan of Arrangement by the Ontario Superior Court of Justice. Some factors, among others, that could affect market conditions, costs, shipments and prices for both domestic operations and USSE include global product demand, prices and mix; global and company steel production levels; plant operating performance; the timing and completion of blast furnace and other facility projects; natural gas and electricity prices and usage; raw materials and transportation availability and prices; the impact of fixed prices in energy and raw materials contracts (many of which have terms of one year or longer) as compared to shorter-term contracts and spot prices of steel products; changes in environmental, tax and other laws; employee strikes; energy outages or curtailments; and U.S. and global economic performance and political developments. Domestic steel shipments and prices could be affected by import levels and actions taken by the U.S. Government and its agencies. Economic conditions and political factors in Europe that may affect USSE’s results include, but are not limited to, taxation, nationalization, inflation, currency fluctuations, increased regulation, export quotas, tariffs, and other protectionist measures. Factors that may affect the cost savings expected to result from the early retirement program at USSK include employee response to the program. In accordance with “safe

 

38


harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, cautionary statements identifying important factors, but not necessarily all factors, that could cause actual results to differ materially from those set forth in the forward-looking statements have been included in the Form 10-K of U. S. Steel for the year ended December 31, 2006, and in subsequent filings for U. S. Steel.

INTERNATIONAL TRADE

The U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) and the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) recently completed their five-year “sunset reviews” of existing trade relief pertaining to Seamless Pipe, Oil Country Tubular Goods (OCTG) and Hot-Rolled Products (Hot-Rolled). The pipe orders were imposed in 1995 and the Hot-Rolled orders were imposed in 2001.

The seamless pipe proceeding involved anti-dumping orders against product from Argentina, Brazil and Germany. On April 19, 2007, the ITC voted to maintain the order against Germany, but revoked the other orders.

The OCTG proceeding involved antidumping orders against product from Argentina, Italy, Japan, Korea, and Mexico. On May 31, 2007, the ITC revoked all of the OCTG orders.

The Hot-Rolled proceeding involved anti-dumping orders against product from Argentina, China, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Romania, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand and Ukraine; and countervailing duty orders against product from Argentina, India, Indonesia, South Africa and Thailand. On October 10, 2007, the ITC voted to maintain the orders against China, India, Indonesia, Taiwan, Thailand and Ukraine, but revoked the other orders. The hot-rolled order against the Netherlands was revoked by the DOC in April 2007 as part of its implementation of the World Trade Organization’s decision against the practice of zeroing. This revocation is being appealed.

The DOC and the ITC are currently conducting five-year sunset reviews of other existing trade relief of interest to U. S. Steel: Welded Large Diameter Line Pipe (Line Pipe), as well as a new investigation covering Standard and Structural Welded Pipe.

The Line Pipe proceeding involves antidumping orders against Japan and Mexico. These orders were imposed in December 2001 and February 2002, respectively. On October 2, 2007, the ITC voted to maintain the order against Japan, but revoked the order against Mexico.

The Standard and Structural Welded Pipe investigation is the result of anti-dumping and countervailing duty petitions filed against China by six welded producers and the United Steelworkers on June 7, 2007. On July 20, 2007, the ITC voted in the affirmative that there is a reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is materially injured or threatened with injury by reason of imports of this product from China. The DOC is scheduled to announce preliminary countervailing and anti-dumping determinations by November 5, 2007 and November 14, 2007, respectively. The current schedule provides for a final injury determination by the ITC in March 2008.

On October 29, 2007, the European Confederation of Iron and Steel Industries filed anti-dumping complaints in the European Union against China, South Korea and Taiwan concerning stainless steel cold-rolled flat products and against China concerning hot-dipped metallic coated sheet and strip products.

We cannot predict the impact of these rulings on future levels of imported steel or on our financial results. We expect to continue to experience high levels of competition from imports and will continue to monitor imports closely and file anti-dumping and countervailing duty petitions if unfairly traded imports adversely impact, or threaten to adversely impact, financial results.

 

39


ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

In June 2007, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) ratified Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF) issue number 06-11, Accounting for Income Tax Benefits of Dividends on Share-Based Payment Awards (EITF 06-11). EITF 06-11 requires that tax benefits generated by dividends paid during the vesting period on certain equity-classified, share-based compensation awards be classified as additional paid-in capital and included in a pool of excess tax benefits available to absorb tax deficiencies from share-based payment awards. EITF 06-11 is effective as of January 1, 2008. U. S. Steel expects the effect of adopting EITF 06-11 to be immaterial to its financial statements.

In March 2007, the FASB ratified EITF issue number 06-10, “Accounting for Collateral Assignment Split-Dollar Life Insurance Arrangements” (EITF 06-10). EITF 06-10 requires an employer to recognize a liability for the postretirement benefit provided by a collateral assignment split-dollar life insurance arrangement in accordance with either FASB Statement No. 106, “Employers’ Accounting for Postretirement Benefits Other Than Pensions,” or Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 12, “Omnibus Opinion – 1967”, if the employer has agreed to maintain a life insurance policy during the employee’s retirement or provide the employee with a death benefit. EITF 06-10 also stipulates that an employer should recognize and measure an asset based on the nature and substance of the collateral assignment split-dollar life insurance arrangement. EITF 06-10 is effective as of January 1, 2008. U. S. Steel has collateral assignment split-dollar life insurance arrangements within the scope of EITF 06-10 for a small number of employees and we are in the process of evaluating the financial impact of adopting EITF 06-10.

In February 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (FAS) No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities – Including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115” (FAS 159). This Statement permits entities to choose to measure many financial instruments and certain other items at fair value and report unrealized gains and losses on these instruments in earnings. FAS 159 is effective as of January 1, 2008. U. S. Steel does not expect any material financial statement implications relating to the adoption of this Statement.

In September 2006, the FASB issued FAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements.” This Statement defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value in generally accepted accounting principles, and expands disclosures about fair value measurements. The Statement applies under other accounting pronouncements that require or permit fair value measurements and, accordingly, does not require any new fair value measurements. This Statement is effective as of January 1, 2008. U. S. Steel does not expect any material financial statement implications relating to the adoption of this Statement.

 

40


Item 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

COMMODITY PRICE RISK AND RELATED RISK

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’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, U. S. Steel has made forward physical purchases to manage exposure to fluctuations in the purchase of natural gas and certain non-ferrous metals.

INTEREST RATE RISK

U. S. Steel is subject to the effects of interest rate fluctuations on certain of its non-derivative financial instruments. A sensitivity analysis of the projected incremental effect of a hypothetical 10 percent increase/decrease in September 30, 2007 interest rates on the fair value of the U. S. Steel’s non-derivative financial assets/liabilities is provided in the following table:

 

(Dollars in millions)    Fair
Value
   Incremental
Increase in
Fair
Value (b)

Non-Derivative Financial Instruments (a)

             

Financial assets:

     

Investments and long-term receivables

   $ 7    $ -

Financial liabilities:

     

Long-term debt (c) (d)

   $ 2,032    $ 85

 

 

(a)

Fair values of cash and cash equivalents, receivables, notes payable, accounts payable 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)

Reflects the estimated incremental effect of a hypothetical 10 percent increase/decrease in interest rates at September 30, 2007, on the fair value of U. S. Steel’s non-derivative financial assets/liabilities. 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 September 30, 2007.

 

(c)

Includes amounts due within one year and excludes capital leases.

 

(d)

Fair value was based on market prices where available, or estimated borrowing rates for financings with similar maturities.

At September 30, 2007, U. S. Steel’s portfolio of long-term debt was comprised primarily of fixed-rate instruments. Therefore, the fair value of the portfolio is relatively sensitive to effects of interest rate fluctuations. This sensitivity is illustrated by the $85 million increase in the fair value of long-term debt assuming a hypothetical 10 percent decrease in interest rates. However, U. S. Steel’s sensitivity to decreases in interest rates and corresponding increases in the fair value of its debt portfolio would unfavorably affect U. S. Steel’s results and cash flows only to the extent that U. S. Steel elected to repurchase or otherwise retire all or a portion of its fixed-rate debt portfolio at prices above carrying value.

 

41


FOREIGN CURRENCY EXCHANGE RATE RISK

U. S. Steel, primarily through U. S. Steel Europe, 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 U.S. dollars, in particular the euro, the Slovak koruna and the Serbian dinar. U. S. Steel has not generally used derivative instruments to manage this risk. However, U. S. Steel has made limited use of forward currency contracts to manage exposure to certain currency price fluctuations. At September 30, 2007, U. S. Steel had open euro forward sale contracts for both U.S. dollars (total notional value of approximately $26 million) and Slovak koruna (total notional value of approximately $71 million). A 10 percent increase in the September 30, 2007 euro forward rates would result in a $9 million charge to income.

In addition, at September 30, 2007, U. S. Steel had open U.S. dollar currency contracts for Canadian dollars with a total notional value of $200 million. A 10 percent increase in the September 30, 2007 U.S. dollar currency rates would result in a $17 million charge to income.

SAFE HARBOR

U. S. Steel’s Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk include forward-looking statements with respect to management’s opinion about risks associated with U. S. Steel’s use of derivative instruments. These statements are based on certain assumptions with respect to market prices, industry supply and demand for steel products and certain raw materials, and foreign exchange rates. To the extent that these assumptions prove to be inaccurate, future outcomes with respect to U. S. Steel’s hedging programs may differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements.

 

42


Item 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

EVALUATION OF DISCLOSURE CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

U. S. Steel has evaluated the effectiveness of the design and operation of its disclosure controls and procedures as of September 30, 2007. These disclosure controls and procedures are the controls and other procedures that were designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in reports that are filed with or submitted to the SEC is: (1) accumulated and communicated to management, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures and (2) recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in applicable law and regulations. Based on this evaluation, the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that, as of September 30, 2007, U. S. Steel’s disclosure controls and procedures were effective.

CHANGES IN INTERNAL CONTROL OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING

As a result of our acquisition of Lone Star Technologies, Inc. (Lone Star) in June 2007, our internal control over financial reporting now includes the operations of the businesses acquired from Lone Star. These controls will be incorporated into our Section 404 assessment for 2007. There have not been any other changes in U. S. Steel’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the fiscal quarter covered by this quarterly report, which have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, U. S. Steel’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

43


UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION

SUPPLEMENTAL STATISTICS (Unaudited)

 

     Quarter Ended
September 30,
    Nine Months Ended
September 30,
 
(Dollars in millions)    2007     2006         2007             2006      

INCOME FROM OPERATIONS

        

Flat-rolled

   $ 170     $ 230     $ 337     $ 569  

U. S. Steel Europe

     152       219       602       532  

Tubular

     74       164       273       487  

Other Businesses

     37       39       40       72  
                                

Segment Income from Operations

     433       652       1,252       1,660  

Retiree benefit expenses

     (46 )     (70 )     (128 )     (190 )

Other items not allocated to segments:

        

Tubular inventory transition effects

     (27 )     -       (27 )     -  

Workforce reduction charges

     -       (21 )     -       (21 )

Asset impairment charge

     -       -       -       (5 )
                                

Total Income from Operations

   $ 360     $ 561     $ 1,097     $ 1,444  

CAPITAL EXPENDITURES

        

Flat-rolled

   $ 121     $ 46     $ 240     $ 147  

U. S. Steel Europe

     52       67       129       162  

Tubular

     10       1       13       2  

Other Businesses

     27       32       78       86  
                                

Total

   $ 210     $ 146     $ 460     $ 397  

OPERATING STATISTICS

        

Average realized price: ($/net ton)(a)

        

Flat-rolled

   $ 643     $ 651     $ 648     $ 630  

U. S. Steel Europe

     738       640       710       589  

Tubular

     1,282       1,491       1,350       1,492  

Steel Shipments: (a)(b)

        

Flat-rolled

     3,601       3,695       10,388       11,102  

U. S. Steel Europe

     1,486       1,552       4,754       4,712  

Tubular

     473       303       1,008       920  
                                

Total Steel Shipments

     5,560       5,550       16,150       16,734  

Raw Steel-Production: (b)

        

Flat-rolled

     4,328       4,359       12,157       13,085  

U. S. Steel Europe

     1,661       1,734       5,325       5,290  

Tubular (c)

     46       -       62       -  

Raw Steel-Capability Utilization: (d)

        

Flat-rolled

     88.5 %     89.1 %     83.8 %     90.2 %

U. S. Steel Europe

     88.7 %     92.7 %     95.9 %     95.3 %

Domestic iron ore production (b)

     5,323       5,953       15,167       16,919  

Domestic coke production (b)(e)

     1,382       1,446       4,047       4,421  

(a)

Excludes intersegment transfers.

(b)

Thousands of net tons.

(c)

The hot end at the Texas Operations was permanently idled in September 2007.

(d)

Based on annual raw steel production capability for Flat-rolled of 19.4 million net tons and annual raw steel production capability for U. S. Steel Europe of 7.4 million net tons.

(e)

Includes the 1314B Partnership.

 

44


PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1. LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

ENVIRONMENTAL PROCEEDINGS

Gary Works

On January 26, 1998, pursuant to an action filed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Indiana titled United States of America v. USX, U. S. Steel entered into a consent decree with EPA which resolved alleged violations of the Clean Water Act National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permit at Gary Works and provides for a sediment remediation project for a section of the Grand Calumet River that runs through Gary Works. As of September 30, 2007, project costs have amounted to $57 million. In January 2007, U. S. Steel commenced additional dredging. The cost to complete this dredging is estimated to be $4.1 million. The Corrective Action Management Unit (CAMU) will remain available to receive dredged materials from the Grand Calumet River and could be used for containment of approved material from other corrective measures conducted at Gary Works pursuant to the Administrative Order on Consent for corrective action. CAMU maintenance and wastewater treatment costs are anticipated to be an additional $1.8 million through December 2011. In 1998, U. S. Steel also entered into a consent decree with the public trustees, which resolves liability for natural resource damages on the same section of the Grand Calumet River. U. S. Steel will pay the public trustees $1.0 million at the end of the sediment remediation project for ecological monitoring costs. In addition, U. S. Steel is obligated to perform, and has initiated, ecological restoration in this section of the Grand Calumet River. The costs required to complete the ecological restoration work are estimated to be $1.0 million. In total, the accrued liability for the above projects based on the estimated remaining costs was $7.8 million at September 30, 2007.

At Gary Works, U. S. Steel has agreed to close three hazardous waste disposal sites, D5, T2, and D2 combined with a portion of the Refuse Area, where a solid waste disposal unit overlaps with the hazardous waste disposal unit. The sites are located on plant property. U. S. Steel has submitted a revised closure plan to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management for D2 and the known tar areas of the Refuse Area. U. S. Steel has proposed that the remainder of the Refuse Area be addressed as a solid waste management unit (SWMU) under corrective action. The related accrued liability for estimated costs to close each of the hazardous waste sites and perform groundwater monitoring is $6.2 million for D5, $4.4 million for T2 and $10.7 million for D2 including a portion of the Refuse Area, at September 30, 2007.

On October 23, 1998, EPA issued a final Administrative Order on Consent addressing Corrective Action for SWMUs throughout Gary Works. This order requires U. S. Steel to perform a Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) Facility Investigation (RFI) and a Corrective Measure Study (CMS) at Gary Works. Reports of field investigation findings for Phase I work plans have been submitted to EPA. Two Phase II RFI work plans have been submitted to EPA for approval. Four self-implementing interim measures have been completed. Through September 30, 2007, U. S. Steel had spent approximately $24.9 million for the studies, work plans, field investigations and self-implementing interim measures. U. S. Steel continues implementation of one self-implementing interim measure. U. S. Steel has submitted a proposal to EPA seeking approval for perimeter groundwater monitoring and has completed an investigation of sediments in the West Grand Calumet Lagoon. The costs to complete the Phase I work and implement the field investigations for the submitted Phase II work plans, the anticipated perimeter groundwater monitoring, development of a work plan for further investigation of soil issues in the East End Solid Waste Management Area and implementation of the self-implementing interim measure are estimated to be $3.7 million. U. S. Steel has submitted a

 

45


proposal to EPA seeking approval to implement Corrective Measures necessary to address soil contamination at Gary Works. U. S. Steel is preparing a proposal for a corrective measure to address sediments in the West Grand Calumet Lagoon, and will submit the proposal to EPA for review and approval. Additionally, U. S. Steel has removed a number of abandoned drums previously discovered in the West Grand Calumet Lagoon, disposed of the materials at the CAMU and is prepared to remove remaining drums recently identified. U. S. Steel estimates the minimum cost of the Corrective Measures for soil contamination, sediments in the West Grand Calumet Lagoon and additional drum removal to be approximately $3.8 million. Closure costs for the CAMU are estimated to be an additional $6.1 million. Until the remaining Phase I work and Phase II field investigations are completed, it is impossible to assess what additional expenditures will be necessary for Corrective Action projects at Gary Works. In total, the accrued liability for the above projects was $13.7 million at September 30, 2007, based on the estimated remaining costs.

Clairton

U. S. Steel and Allegheny County Health Department (ACHD) entered into a Consent Order on June 1, 2007 to address compliance with the stack opacity limit at the pushing emission control baghouse for B Battery. The order, which includes a compliance plan, requires the replacement of all 76 thru-walls on B Battery. U. S. Steel has paid a civil penalty in the amount of $395,900 into the County Clean Air Fund; and agreed to complete a Supplemental Environmental Project (SEP) to control dust from plant roadways valued at $70,000.

Fairless Plant

In January 1992, U. S. Steel commenced negotiations with EPA regarding the terms of an Administrative Order on consent, pursuant to RCRA, under which U. S. Steel would perform a RFI and a CMS at our Fairless Plant. A Phase I RFI report was submitted during the third quarter of 1997. A Phase II/III RFI will be submitted following EPA approval of the Phase I report. While the RFI/CMS will determine whether there is a need for, and the scope of, any remedial activities at the Fairless Plant, U. S. Steel continues to maintain interim measures at the Fairless Plant and has completed investigation activities on specific parcels. No remedial activities are contemplated as a result of the investigations of these parcels. The cost to U. S. Steel to continue to maintain the interim measures and develop a Phase II/III RFI Work Plan is estimated to be $519,000, and was recorded as an accrued liability as of September 30, 2007. It is reasonably possible that additional costs of $25 million may be incurred at this site in combination with a voluntary remediation at the former steelmaking plant at Joliet, Illinois, a RCRA project at Fairfield Works, the RCRA program at Lorain Tubular and the project at Duluth Works.

Fairfield Works

A consent decree was signed by U. S. Steel, EPA and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and filed with the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama (United States of America v. USX Corporation) on December 11, 1997, under which U. S. Steel paid a civil penalty of $1.0 million, completed two SEPs at a cost of $1.75 million and initiated a RCRA corrective action program at the facility. The Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM) assumed primary responsibility for regulation and oversight of the RCRA corrective action program at Fairfield Works, with the approval of EPA. The first Phase I RFI work plan was approved and field sampling for the work plan was completed in 2004. U. S. Steel submitted a Phase I RFI Report to ADEM in February 2005. ADEM approved the Phase I RFI Report and requested a Phase II RFI work plan. The remaining cost to develop and implement the Phase II RFI work plan is estimated to be $736,000, and was recorded

 

46


as an accrued liability as of September 30, 2007. U. S. Steel has completed the investigation and remediation of Lower Opossum Creek under a joint agreement with Beazer, Inc., whereby U. S. Steel has agreed to pay 30 percent of the costs. U. S. Steel’s remaining share of the costs for sediment remediation is $210,000. In January 1999, ADEM included the former Ensley facility site in Fairfield Corrective Action. Based on results from our Phase I facility investigation of Ensley, U. S. Steel has identified approximately two acres of land at the former coke plant for remediation. The estimated cost of $845,000 to remediate this area and close Ensley was recorded as a liability as of September 30, 2007. While U. S. Steel does not possess information necessary to estimate reasonably possible additional costs at this site, they may range from insignificant to substantial. In total, the accrued liability for the projects described above was $1.8 million at September 30, 2007, based on estimated remaining costs. It is reasonably possible that additional costs of $25 million may be incurred at these sites in combination with a voluntary remediation at the former steelmaking plant at Joliet, Illinois, the RCRA project at the Fairless Plant, the RCRA program at Lorain Tubular and the project at Duluth Works.

Great Lakes Works

On January 6, 2006, Great Lakes Works received a proposed administrative consent order from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) that alleged violations of NPDES permits at the facility. On February 13, 2007, MDEQ and U. S. Steel agreed to a revised Administrative Consent Order that resolves this matter. As required by the Administrative Consent Order, U. S. Steel has paid a civil penalty of $300,000 and has reimbursed MDEQ $50,000 in costs; and the Order identifies certain compliance actions that address the alleged violations. Great Lakes Works has initiated work on some of these compliance actions, has completed some, and is committed to submitting plans or recommending options to MDEQ for others, in conformance with the schedule specified in the Order. One of the compliance actions addresses three river basins along the Detroit River and U. S. Steel has completed the proposed corrective measure to remove historic basin sediments from these areas. As of September 30, 2007, $1.8 million has been spent on the project, and a liability of $1.1 million has been recorded for estimated costs to complete the river basin project. Another compliance action includes modifications to the Cold Mill Wastewater Treatment Plant where U. S. Steel has agreed to rehabilitate four clarifiers and two wastewater conveyance pipelines, upgrade the computer control system and evaluate other potential improvements of this system. Some elements of this project have been completed at a cost of $1.4 million and U. S. Steel anticipates that it could spend an additional $9.2 million, most of which will be capitalized. Costs to complete the remaining compliance actions are presently not determinable.

Duluth Works

At the former Duluth Works in Minnesota, U. S. Steel spent a total of approximately $13.8 million for cleanup and agency oversight costs through September 30, 2007. The Duluth Works was listed by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency under the Minnesota Environmental Response and Liability Act on its Permanent List of Priorities. EPA has consolidated and included the Duluth Works site with the St. Louis River and Interlake sites on EPA’s National Priorities List. The Duluth Works cleanup has proceeded since 1989. U. S. Steel is currently finalizing an engineering study of the estuary sediments. The method and extent of remediation at this site is presently unknown, therefore, future costs are indeterminable. Study and oversight costs are currently estimated at $274,000, and were recorded as a liability as of September 30, 2007. These costs include risk assessment, sampling, inspections and analytical work, and development of a work plan and cost estimate to implement EPA five-year review recommendations. It is reasonably possible that additional costs of $25 million may be incurred at this site in combination with a voluntary remediation at the former steelmaking plant at Joliet, Illinois, a RCRA project at Fairfield Works, the RCRA program at Lorain Tubular and the RCRA project at the Fairless Plant.

 

47


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 Geneva Steel Company pursuant to an asset sales agreement and a permit issued by Utah Department of Environmental Quality. In December 2005, a third party purchased the Geneva site and assumed Geneva Steel Company’s rights and obligations under the asset sales agreement and the permit pursuant to a bankruptcy court order. U. S. Steel has reviewed environmental data concerning the site gathered by itself and third parties, has commenced the development and implementation of work plans that are necessary to conduct field investigations and has begun remediation on some areas of the site for which U. S. Steel has responsibility. U. S. Steel has recorded a liability of $22.3 million as of September 30, 2007, for our estimated share of the remaining costs of remediation.

Other

On December 20, 2002, U. S. Steel received a letter from the Kansas Department of Health & Environment (KDHE) requesting U. S. Steel’s cooperation in cleaning up the National Zinc site located in Cherryvale, Kansas, a former zinc smelter operated by Edgar Zinc from 1898 to 1931. In April 2003, U. S. Steel and Salomon Smith Barney Holdings, Inc. (SSB), entered into a consent order to conduct an investigation and develop remediation alternatives. In 2004, a remedial action design report was submitted to and approved by KDHE. U. S. Steel anticipates that our 50 percent share of the costs necessary to complete the preferred remedy will be approximately $2.7 million. In 2005, KDHE and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service asserted a claim against U. S. Steel and SSB (now called CitiGroup Global Market Holdings, Inc.) for natural resource damages at the site and nearby creek. On March 23, 2007, U. S. Steel signed a consent decree that will settle this claim for a cash payment and U. S. Steel’s share is $247,875. On August 17, 2006, both parties received a demand from the DOJ for approximately $1.7 million for past costs incurred by EPA in cleaning up the site and surrounding residential yards, U. S. Steel’s share being 50 percent of the claim for past costs. U. S. Steel and CitiGroup signed an agreement to extend until November 30, 2007 the date by which an action on the claim must be filed with the court.

On August 20, 2007, EPA issued a General Notice of Potential Liability with respect to the Joliet (Lockport) Coke site. EPA has asserted that previous operations at the plant site resulted in soil contamination. U. S. Steel is preparing a written reply to the notice. U. S. Steel estimates that the costs of investigating conditions at the site could be $40,000.

In January of 2004, U. S. Steel received notice of a claim from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) and notice of claims from citizens of a cap failure at the Dayton Landfill. U. S. Steel, Lubrizol and Exxon (the Group) are the largest PRP’s at the site and have agreed to equally share costs at the site, making U. S. Steel’s share 33 1/3 percent. Phase I soil/waste and groundwater sampling was completed in December of 2006. There is currently ongoing investigation of the site and the Group is preparing an Affected Property Assessment Report to be submitted to TCEQ. Through September 30, 2007, U. S. Steel has contributed $431,000 to the costs of investigations of site conditions. Costs of site remediation are not presently estimable.

ASBESTOS LITIGATION

U. S. Steel is a defendant in approximately 300 active cases involving approximately 3,050 plaintiffs (claims), including cases involving the businesses acquired from Lone Star. At December 31, 2006, U. S. Steel was a defendant in approximately 300 active cases involving approximately 3,700 plaintiffs. Almost 2,750, or approximately 90 percent, of these claims are currently pending in jurisdictions which

 

48


permit filings with massive numbers of plaintiffs. Of these claims, over 1,500 are pending in Mississippi and over 1,100 are pending in Texas. 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. Mississippi and Texas have amended their laws to curtail mass filings. As a consequence, the approximately 450 claims filed last year name either a single individual or a handful of individuals.

Historically, these claims against U. S. Steel fall into three major groups: (1) claims made under certain federal and general maritime laws by employees of the Great Lakes Fleet or Intercoastal Fleet, former operations of U. S. Steel; (2) claims made by persons who allegedly were exposed to asbestos at U. S. Steel facilities (referred to as “premises claims”); and (3) claims made by industrial workers allegedly exposed to products formerly manufactured by U. S. Steel. Most claims filed over the last several years have been premises claims. While U. S. Steel has excess casualty insurance, these policies have multi-million dollar self-insured retentions. To date, U. S. Steel has not received any payments under these policies relating to asbestos claims. In most cases, this excess casualty insurance is the only insurance applicable to asbestos claims. One Lone Star subsidiary has insurance coverage.

These asbestos cases allege a variety of respiratory and other diseases based on alleged exposure to asbestos. U. S. Steel is currently a defendant in cases in which a total of approximately 165 plaintiffs allege that they are suffering from mesothelioma. The potential for damages against defendants may be greater in cases in which the plaintiffs can prove mesothelioma. In many such cases in which claims have been asserted against U. S. Steel, the plaintiffs have been unable to establish any causal relationship to U. S. Steel or our products or premises. In addition, in many asbestos cases, the plaintiffs have been unable to demonstrate that they have suffered any identifiable injury or compensable loss at all; that any injuries that they have incurred did in fact result from alleged exposure to asbestos; or that such alleged exposure was in any way related to U. S. Steel or our products or premises.

In every asbestos case in which U. S. Steel is named as a party, the complaints are filed against numerous named defendants and generally do not contain allegations regarding specific monetary damages sought. To the extent that any specific amount of damages is sought, the amount applies to claims against all named defendants and in no case is there any allegation of monetary damages against U. S. Steel. Historically, approximately 89 percent of the cases against U. S. Steel did not specify any damage amount or stated that the damages sought exceeded the amount required to establish jurisdiction of the court in which the case was filed. (Jurisdictional amounts generally range from $25,000 to $75,000.) U. S. Steel does not consider the amount of damages alleged, if any, in a complaint to be relevant in assessing our potential exposure to asbestos liabilities. The ultimate outcome of any claim depends upon a myriad of legal and factual issues, including whether the plaintiff can prove actual disease, if any; actual exposure, if any, to U. S. Steel products; or the duration of exposure to asbestos, if any, on U. S. Steel’s premises. U. S. Steel has noted over the years that the form of complaint including its allegations, if any, concerning damages often depends upon the form of complaint filed by particular law firms and attorneys. Often the same damage allegation will be in multiple complaints regardless of the number of plaintiffs, the number of defendants, or any specific diseases or conditions alleged.

U. S. Steel aggressively pursues grounds for the dismissal of U. S. Steel from pending cases and litigates cases to verdict where we believe litigation is appropriate. U. S. Steel also makes efforts to settle appropriate cases, especially mesothelioma cases, for reasonable, and frequently nominal, amounts.

 

49


Lone Star and its subsidiaries are defendants in 25 cases involving approximately 50 claimants. These cases are included in the table set forth below.

The following table shows activity with respect to asbestos litigation:

 

Period ended    Opening
Number
of Claims
   Claims
Dismissed,
Settled
and Resolved
   New Claims (a)    Closing
Number
of Claims
   Amounts
Paid to
Resolve
Claims
(in millions)

December 31, 2004

   14,800    5,300    1,500    11,000    $ 14.6

December 31, 2005

   11,000    3,800    1,200    8,400    $ 11.0

December 31, 2006

   8,400    5,150    450    3,700    $ 8.0

September 30, 2007

   3,700    1,150    500    3,050    $ 6.4
 

(a)

Includes claims involving the businesses acquired from Lone Star.

The amount U. S. Steel has accrued for pending asbestos claims is not material to U. S. Steel’s financial position. U. S. Steel does not accrue for unasserted asbestos claims because we believe it is not possible to determine whether any loss is probable with respect to such claims or even to estimate the amount or range of any possible losses. Among the reasons that U. S. Steel cannot reasonably estimate the number and nature of claims against us is that the vast majority of pending claims allege so-called “premises” liability based exposure on U. S. Steel’s current or former premises. These claims are made by an indeterminable number of people such as truck drivers, railroad workers, salespersons, contractors and their employees, government inspectors, customers, visitors and even trespassers.

It is not possible to predict the ultimate outcome of asbestos-related lawsuits, claims and proceedings due to the unpredictable nature of personal injury litigation. Despite this uncertainty, and although U. S. Steel’s results of operations and cash flows for a given period could be adversely affected by asbestos-related lawsuits, claims and proceedings, management believes that the ultimate resolution of these matters will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial condition. Among the factors considered in reaching this conclusion are: (1) that U. S. Steel has been subject to a total of approximately 34,000 asbestos claims over the past 15 years ended December 31, 2006 that have been administratively dismissed or are inactive due to the failure of the plaintiffs to present any medical evidence supporting their claims; (2) that over the last several years, the total number of pending claims has declined; (3) that it has been many years since U. S. Steel employed maritime workers or manufactured or sold asbestos containing products; and (4) U. S. Steel’s history of trial outcomes, settlements and dismissals, including matters in Madison County, Illinois, where U. S. Steel lost a significant verdict in 2003. U. S. Steel has not seen any material differences in subsequent settlements in Madison County or elsewhere since that verdict and management believes that the possibility of other such aberrational verdicts is remote, although not impossible.

The foregoing statements of belief are forward-looking statements. Predictions as to the outcome of pending litigation are subject to substantial uncertainties with respect to (among other things) factual and judicial determinations, and actual results could differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements.

Item 1A. RISK FACTORS

The following are updates to the risk factors reported in U. S. Steel’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

 

50


The terms of our indebtedness contain restrictive provisions that may limit our flexibility.

During the second quarter of 2007, we entered into 5-year revolving credit and term loan facilities in the amount of $750 million and $500 million, respectively. These facilities include an interest coverage ratio (consolidated EBITDA to consolidated interest expense) covenant of 2:1 and a leverage ratio (consolidated debt to consolidated EBITDA) covenant of 3.25:1. During the second quarter of 2007, we also issued $1.1 billion of senior notes consisting of $300 million of 5.65% Senior Notes due 2013, $450 million of 6.05% Senior Notes due 2017 and $350 million of 6.65% Senior Notes due 2037. These senior notes contain covenants restricting our ability to create liens and engage in sale-leasebacks and requiring the purchase of the Senior Notes upon a change of control under specified circumstances, as well as other customary provisions. Compliance with these covenants will depend upon future operating results and other factors that are at least partially outside of our control. These covenants may affect our ability to operate our business and may limit our ability to take advantage of potential business opportunities.

Our business requires substantial expenditures for debt service, contingent obligations, capital investment, operating leases and maintenance that we may be unable to fund.

Primarily as a result of the Lone Star acquisition, our long-term debt increased from $943 million at December 31, 2006 to $2,103 million at September 30, 2007.

Our operations are capital intensive. For the five-year period ended December 31, 2006, total capital expenditures were $2.5 billion. Going forward the inclusion of the former Lone Star facilities will increase our capital expenditure requirements. At December 31, 2006, our contract commitments to acquire property, plant and equipment totaled $186 million and we were obligated to make aggregate lease payments of $270 million under operating leases.

In addition to capital expenditures and lease payments, we spend significant amounts for maintenance of raw material, raw steel and steel-finishing production facilities, including periodic relines or rebuilds of our seventeen blast furnaces.

As of December 31, 2006, we had contingent obligations consisting of indemnity obligations under active surety bonds, trusts and letters of credit totaling approximately $124 million, guarantees of approximately $2 million of indebtedness for unconsolidated entities and contractual purchase commitments under purchase orders and “take or pay” arrangements of approximately $2.9 billion. As the general partner of the Clairton 1314B Partnership, we are obligated to fund cash shortfalls incurred by that partnership but may withdraw as the general partner if we are required to fund in excess of $150 million in operating cash shortfalls.

Our business may not generate sufficient operating cash flow, or external financing sources may not be available in amounts sufficient, to enable us to service or refinance our indebtedness or to fund other liquidity needs. We intend indefinitely to reinvest undistributed foreign earnings overseas; however, if we need to repatriate funds in the future to satisfy our liquidity needs, the tax consequences would reduce income and cash flow.

There are risks associated with the Lone Star acquisition.

The Lone Star acquisition was premised upon the achievement of a number of synergies that may not be obtained. Factors that may affect expected synergies from the Lone Star acquisition include management’s ability to successfully integrate Lone Star’s operations; reactions of customers and joint venture and alliance partners; operating levels in the Tubular segment; and expansions or acquisitions by major tubular competitors.

 

51


The Lone Star acquisition increased our tubular operations capacity over 50 percent. This increases our exposure to customers in the oil and gas industry. Tubular customers include distributors, independent drillers and small oil companies that in the past have often experienced financial difficulties during cyclical downturns in their industry.

 

52


Item 2. UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS

U. S. Steel had no sales of unregistered securities during the period covered by this report.

ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

The following table contains information about purchases by U. S. Steel of its equity securities during the period covered by this report.

 

Period    Total Number
of Shares
Purchased
   Average Price
Paid per Share
   Total Number
of Shares
Purchased
as Part of
Publicly
Announced
Plans or
Programs
   Maximum
Number of
Shares that May
Yet Be
Purchased
Under the Plans
or Programs

July 1-31, 2007

   105,000    $ 110.30    105,000    6,936,300

August 1-31, 2007

   85,000    $ 87.41    85,000    6,851,300

September 1-30, 2007

   95,000    $ 95.24    95,000    6,756,300

 

53


Item 6. EXHIBITS

 

3.1    Amended and Restated By-Laws of United States Steel Corporation. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 8-K filed on September 28, 2007, Commission File Number 1-16811.
4.1    Three-year Term Loan Agreement dated as of October 12, 2007 among United States Steel Corporation, the Lenders party hereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 8-K filed on October 16, 2007, Commission File Number 1-16811.
4.2    One-year Term Loan Agreement dated as of October 12, 2007 among United States Steel Corporation, the Lenders party hereto and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as Administrative Agent. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 8-K filed on October 16, 2007, Commission File Number 1-16811.
10.1    Arrangement Agreement dated as of August 26, 2007 by and among United States Steel Corporation, 1344973 Alberta ULC and Stelco Inc. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 8-K filed on August 30, 2007, Commission File Number 1-16811.
10.2    Form of Support Agreement by and among United States Steel Corporation, 1344973 Alberta ULC and certain stockholders of Stelco Inc. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 8-K filed on August 30, 2007, Commission File Number 1-16811.
10.3    Plan of Arrangement regarding Stelco Inc. Incorporated by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to United States Steel Corporation’s Form 8-K filed on September 26, 2007, Commission File Number 1-16811.
12.1    Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends
12.2    Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
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

 

54


SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned chief accounting officer thereunto duly authorized.

 

UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION
By  

/s/ Larry G. Schultz

 

Larry G. Schultz

 

Vice President and Controller

October 30, 2007

WEB SITE POSTING

This Form 10-Q will be posted on the U. S. Steel web site, www.ussteel.com, within a few days of its filing.

 

55