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Acquisition
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2022
Business Combinations [Abstract]  
Acquisition
5.    Acquisitions and Dispositions

Big River Steel Acquisition
On January 15, 2021, U. S. Steel purchased the remaining equity interest in Big River Steel for approximately $625 million in cash net of $36 million and $62 million in cash and restricted cash received, respectively, and the assumption of liabilities of approximately $50 million. There were acquisition related costs of approximately $9 million recorded in 2021.

Prior to the closing of the acquisition on January 15, 2021, U. S. Steel accounted for its 49.9% equity interest in Big River Steel under the equity method as control and risk of loss were shared among the partnership members. Using step acquisition accounting the Company increased the value of its previously held equity investment to its fair value of $770 million which resulted in a gain of approximately $111 million. The gain was recorded in gain on equity investee transactions in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations.

The acquisition has been accounted for in accordance with ASC 805, Business combinations. There were step-ups to fair value of approximately $308 million, $194 million and $24 million for property, plant and equipment, debt and inventory, respectively. An intangible asset for customer relationships and goodwill of approximately $413 million and $916 million were also recorded, respectively. Goodwill represents the excess of purchase price over the fair market value of the net assets. Goodwill is primarily attributable to Big River Steel's operational abilities, workforce and the anticipated benefits from their recent expansion and will be partially tax deductible. The inventory step-up was fully amortized as of March 31, 2021, the intangible asset will be amortized over a 22-year period and the debt step-up will be amortized over the contractual life of the underlying debt. See Note 15 for further details.

The value of Big River Steel was determined using Level 3 valuation techniques. Level 3 valuation techniques include inputs to the valuation methodology that are considered unobservable and significant to the fair value measurement. A significant factor in determining the equity value was the discounted forecasted cash flows of Big River Steel. Forecasted cash flows are primarily impacted by the forecasted market price of steel and metallic inputs as well as the expected timing of significant capital expenditures. The model utilized a risk adjusted discount rate of 11.0% and a terminal growth rate of 2%.

The following table presents the allocation of the aggregate purchase price based on estimated fair values:

(in millions)
Assets Acquired:
Receivables$166 
Receivables with U. S. Steel (1)
99 
Inventories184 
Other current assets16 
Property, plant and equipment2,188 
Intangibles413 
Goodwill916 
Other noncurrent assets19 
Total Assets Acquired$4,001 
Liabilities Assumed:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities$224 
Payroll and benefits payable27 
Accrued taxes
Accrued interest33 
Short-term debt and current maturities of long-term debt29 
Long-term debt1,997 
Deferred income tax liabilities26 
Deferred credits and other long-term liabilities211 
Total Liabilities Assumed$2,556 
Fair value of previously held investment in Big River Steel$770 
Purchase price, including assumed liabilities and net of cash acquired675 
Difference in assets acquired and liabilities assumed$1,445 
(1) The transaction to purchase Big River Steel included receivables for payments made by Big River Steel on behalf of U. S. Steel for retention bonuses of $22 million that impacted the previously held equity investment and for U. S. Steel liabilities assumed in the purchase of approximately $50 million. In addition, there were assumed receivables of approximately $27 million for steel substrate sales from Big River Steel to U. S. Steel. The receivables with U. S. Steel eliminate in consolidation with offsetting intercompany payables from U. S. Steel.

The following unaudited pro forma information for U. S. Steel includes the results of the Big River Steel acquisition as if it had been consummated on January 1, 2020. The unaudited pro forma information is based on historical information and is adjusted for amortization of the intangible asset, property, plant and equipment and debt fair value step-ups discussed above. Non-recurring acquisition related items included in the 2020 period include $111 million for the gain on previously held equity investment, $9 million in acquisition related costs and $24 million in inventory step-up amortization related to the purchase of the remaining interest in Big River Steel. In addition, costs for non-recurring retention bonuses of $44 million that occurred in January 2021 prior to the purchase of the remaining equity interest are included in the 2020 period. The pro forma information does not include any anticipated cost savings or other effects of the integration of Big River Steel. Accordingly, the unaudited pro forma information does not necessarily reflect the actual results that would have occurred, nor is it necessarily indicative of future results of operations. Pro forma adjustments were not tax-effected in 2020 as U. S. Steel had a full valuation allowance on its domestic deferred tax assets.

Three Months Ended March 31,
(in millions)20212020
Net sales$3,736 $2,994 
Net earnings (loss)$18 $(367)

Transtar Disposition
On July 28, 2021, U. S. Steel completed the sale of 100 percent of its equity interests in its wholly-owned short-line railroad, Transtar, LLC (Transtar) to an affiliate of Fortress Transportation and Infrastructure Investors, LLC. The Company received net cash proceeds of $627 million, subject to certain customary adjustments as set forth in the Membership Interest Purchase Agreement, and recognized a pretax gain of approximately $506 million in 2021. In connection with the closing of the transaction, the Company entered into certain ancillary agreements including a railway services agreement, providing for continued rail services for its Gary and Mon Valley Works facilities, and a transition services agreement. Because Transtar does not represent a significant component of U. S. Steel's business and does not constitute a reportable business segment, its results through the date of disposition are reported in the Other category. See Note 4 for further details.

Other Transactions
In December 2021, the Company entered into an agreement to sell certain assets related to a component of its flat-roll business. As a result of this commitment, the Company has recognized a total of $106 million in restructuring-related charges during the fourth quarter 2021 and first quarter 2022. These charges are expected to be paid out on a long-term basis. This transaction is expected to result in a gain upon closure, which is subject to customary closing conditions.