The two steel makers are seeking to revive Nippon Steel’s $14 billion takeover of U.S. Steel after it was blocked by the Biden administration.

The long United States Steel saga has suddenly become a matter of urgency. Boss David Burritt is fighting to salvage a $15 billion sale to Nippon Steel . Rival bidder Cleveland-Cliffs wants another shot at a takeover.

Ancora Holdings Group, with $10 billion in assets, reported acquiring a 0.18% stake in the Pittsburgh company. It said Monday that U.S. Steel CEO David Burritt and the company’s board have prioritized a sale to Nippon because they stand to receive more than $100 million if it goes forward.

Ancora Holdings, a Mayfield Heights-based institutional asset management company and private wealth advisor, is calling on U.S. Steel to drop its merger agreement with Japanese-owned Nippon Steel, end its litigation against the federal government seeking to keep the deal alive and oust its Chief Executive.

U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel filed a separate lawsuit in the U.S. Court of Appeals in Washington, D.C., against the Biden administration to overturn the order and force a new review that could potentially lead to the deal. The Pittsburgh suit against Cliffs and McCall doesn't have any bearing on that decision.

Kestenbaum, currently the CEO of private equity firm Bedrock Industries Group, is known as a turnaround artist. At one time known for an attempted bid for the National Football League’s Carolina Panthers, the Brooklyn-born native is highly regarded in the steel industry.

Ancora Holdings Group said the board of U.S. Steel and its CEO have prioritized the sale to Nippon because they stand to profit if it goes forward.

Activist investor Ancora Holdings is waging a proxy battle at U.S. Steel and wants the company to turn the page from its failed marriage with Nippon Steel. Ancora unveiled a plan that would rally shareholders around a plan to oust U.

Nucor may be interested in acquiring parts of U.S. Steel if the $14.9 billion deal for Nippon Steel to purchase U.S. Steel falls through.

Led by Jim Chadwick, Ancora has focused on campaigns at industrial and transportation companies. In recent years, it has secured board seats at Berry Global Group Inc. and Norfolk Southern Corp. In 2024, Ancora won three seats in its proxy battle at Norfolk Southern.

Activist investor Ancora has nominated nine candidates to U.S. Steel's board of directors, as it looks to oust company CEO David Burritt and push the American steelmaker to back out of a $14.9 billion merger deal with Japan's Nippon Steel.

Activist investor Ancora Holdings is preparing a proxy battle against U.S. Steel to replace its leadership and shift its strategy following the failed $14 billion merger with Nippon Steel Corp (TYO:5401),