U.S. Steel said on Tuesday that activist investor Ancora Holdings, which previously attempted to undermine the planned merger with Japan's Nippon Steel, has "flip-flopped" and now claims to support the transaction.
In connection with the proposed deal, Ancora has recently unveiled a plan that could deliver a cash offer of $75 per share. But the investor, which owns less than a 1% stake in the company, said that it has no intention of standing in the way of the $55-per-share Nippon deal.
Pittsburgh-based U.S. Steel called Ancora's "last-minute plan" inconsistent and said, "If Ancora now believes their plan would deliver $75+ per share, why are they suddenly also supporting a $55 per share cash deal with Nippon Steel?"
Separately, Ancora on Monday called on U.S. Steel's board to delay its annual stockholders meeting until after June 18. The meeting is scheduled to take place on May 6.
The move comes after President Donald Trump directed the Committee on Foreign Investment to conduct and complete a new review of the transaction within 45 days.
Ancora launched a boardroom challenge at U.S. Steel early this year and has nominated nine candidates to the company's board as it looks to oust the company's CEO, David Burritt.
U.S. Steel said in a statement on Tuesday that shareholders of the company should vote for all 10 director nominees standing for election and "discard any materials sent by Ancora."
Ancora did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment late Tuesday.
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