US Steel (NYSE:X) said Monday it is still committed to pursuing a sale to Nippon Steel (OTCPK:NPSCY) (OTCPK:NISTF), saying "our stockholders will not be well served by turning over control of the company to Ancora.

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.

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.