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                                  SCHEDULE 14A
                                 (RULE 14A-101)

                    INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT

                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
          PROXY STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 14(A) OF THE SECURITIES
                    EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934 (AMENDMENT NO.   )

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                                                    Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[ ]  Definitive Proxy Statement
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[X]  Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12



                          Birmingham Steel Corporation
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                (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

                      The United Company Shareholder Group
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    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

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For immediate release

           BIRMINGHAM STEEL CORPORATION SHAREHOLDER GROUP FILES PROXY


Bristol, VA--(August 24, 1999)--A concerned group of Birmingham Steel (NYSE:BIR)
shareholders today filed a preliminary proxy statement with the SEC seeking to
replace Birmingham Steel's Board of Directors and name John Correnti as Chairman
and CEO at the annual meeting of shareholders to be held in October. The United
Company Shareholder Group includes long-term shareholders and represents
2,309,303 shares of Birmingham stock, or approximately 7.8 percent of shares
outstanding.

     A slate of nine directors proposed by The United Company Shareholder Group
(the "Group) is led by Mr. John D. Correnti, slated as Chairman and CEO of
Birmingham Steel, who was most recently Vice Chairman, President and Chief
Executive Officer of Nucor Corporation, Charlotte, North Carolina.

     According to the proxy filing, Birmingham Steel's stock has over the last
two years provided lower than forecast earnings and underperformed both the
S&P500 stock index and an index of peer group companies.

     On August 18, Birmingham Steel announced a restructuring program which will
delay and impact the fourth quarter earnings release.

     As stated in the filing, the Group does not believe that the performance of
current management evidences an ability to manage the present organization and
thus complete a restructuring. At issue is which Board and CEO can restore the
value of the Birmingham Steel stock and repair relationships with Birmingham
Steel's shareholders, customers, employees and suppliers.

     Birmingham Steel has not as yet filed its proxy for the annual shareholder
meeting nor issued its results for the fourth quarter, which ended June 30.

     The United Company Shareholder Group is a group of concerned Birmingham
Steel shareholders with a principal address in Bristol, Virginia. Birmingham
Steel operates in the mini-mill sector of the steel industry and conducts
operations at facilities located across the United States.

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for further information, contact the Group at (205) 458-5357