POSCO

"South Korea's POSCO has announced readiness to invest in Iran's steel projects, the Fars News Agency reported on March 15. A number of officials from POSCO met with officials from Iran's Mobarakeh Steel Company in the Iranian city of Isfahan. Korea's export-import companies are expected to benefit as the Obama administration issued a statement on January 20 that it would temporarily lift sanctions against Iran, according to Businesskorea website. South Korea regained the right to resume the export of automobile parts and steel and import of oil from Iran, which has historically been its major supplier…The steel industry is among the beneficiaries of the ease of sanctions. Sales of steel products totaled $373 million. The market share of steel products is also 24.3 percent, nearly a quarter of the whole market. Particularly, the demand for steel plates for automobiles is expected to rise, and overall, Iran's focus on manufacturing is expected to help to increase the general demand for steel as a whole.” (Trend, “South Korea’s POSCO ready to participate in Iran’s steel projects,” 3/15/14) (http://en.trend.az/capital/business/2253357.html)

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As of August 15, 2019, the state of Iowa listed POSCO on its Iran scrutinized companies list. (https://www.ipers.org/sites/default/files/media/2017%2009%20Iran%20Prohibited%20Companies%20List%2009-30-17.pdf)

"South Korean steelmaker POSCO , minority-owned by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, has cut ties with government entities and sensitive industries in Iran such as energy and continues to trade with private firms, a letter showed... In a letter sent to U.S. pressure group United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) dated Feb. 28 and seen by Reuters, POSCO, a top global steelmaker, said it had scaled down business  with Iran. 'Certain of POSCO's subsidiaries continue to engage in transactions in Iran,' POSCO's chief legal officer Song Se-Bin wrote in the letter. 'However, these transactions involve only the civil market. Moreover, these POSCO entities engage in transactions only with Iranian entities that POSCO believes, based on its best due diligence efforts, are not owned or controlled by the Iranian government.' Song said POSCO entities had 'completed, terminated or assigned all of their activities related to the sensitive sectors of the Iranian economy - the energy, defence and nuclear sectors.' 'Although these efforts have resulted in the loss of certain projects and substantial financial losses to the POSCO entities, POSCO believes it important that it be regarded as a responsible corporate citizen.' A targeted campaign by UANI, which includes former U.S. ambassadors as well as former CIA and British intelligence chiefs on its board, has led to several foreign companies in sectors including shipping to exit Iran. UANI, which is funded by private donations and backs tougher sanctions on Tehran, had called on POSCO to cease its Iran trade. UANI chief executive Mark Wallace said it appreciated the company had taken multiple steps to reduce its Iran business. 'We continue to call, however, for POSCO to fully end its business in Iran,' said Wallace, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations.  'Given the nature of the business, the only way for POSCO to eliminate its exposure to the Iranian regime and IRGC-controlled entities is to completely pull out of the country,' he said, referring to the Revolutionary Guards, which reports directly to Iran's Supreme Leader. POSCO, which is 5.1 percent owned by Berkshire Hathaway , is the world's No.5 steelmaker by output. Buffett's business partner Charlie Munger has frequently praised POSCO as being, in his opinion, the best-run steelmaker in the world. Buffett, via his assistant, could not be immediately reached for comment. When contacted about its Iran deals, POSCO spokeswoman Jiyoung Kim said: 'POSCO and its subsidiaries stopped trades with Iranian government and state-run Iranian companies.'POSCO will abide by the law regarding U.S. sanctions on Iran, and plans to actively cooperate with U.S. policies.'... POSCO's Song said in the letter it followed strict guidelines on trading with Iran which required written confirmation from the Korea Strategic Trade Institute, which is under Seoul's economy ministry, that any investment or trading did not directly or significantly contribute to enhancing Iran's oil capabilities or involve blacklisted entities or individuals. Song said POSCO personnel would 'face disciplinary action for non-compliance' if they did not adhere to its trading policies in Iran.  'POSCO shares UANI's goal of thwarting Iran's nuclear programme,' Song said." (Reuters, "S.Korean POSCO cuts back on Iran steel business," 3/12/2013) -- "We engage in limited business activities and investments relating to Sanctions Targets, including Iran, Myanmar and Sudan . . . Our subsidiaries also engage in limited business activities and investments relating to Sanctions Targets . . . We expect to continue operations and investments relating to countries targeted by United States and European Union economic sanctions." (SEC, "Form 20-F," 4/30/12) (http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/03/12/iran-posco-trading-idUSL6N0C084C20130312) (http://searchwww.sec.gov/EDGARFSClient/jsp/EDGAR_MainAccess.jsp?search_text=Iran&startDoc=31&numResults=10&isAdv=true&stemming=true&sort=Date&formType=Form20F&fromDate=mm/dd/yyyy&toDate=mm/dd/yyyy)

"The latest development in the tug-of-war between Iran and Saudi Arabia has manifested in the kingdom blocking an investment deal by South Korea in Iran’s steel industry. South Korea’s POSCO Engineering & Construction had signed a $1.6 billion memorandum of agreement with the Iranian steelmaker, Pars Kohan Diar Parsian Steel (PKP), in May 2016, to build a steel mill incorporating POSCO’s proprietary technology in Iran’s Chabahar Free Trade-Industrial Zone." (January 23, 2018). (https://financialtribune.com/articles/economy-business-and-markets/80590/posco-steel-deal-blocked-amid-saudi-tensions)

POSCO reportedly participating in the Iran Mines & Mining Industries Summit, being held in Tehran May 31-June 1, 2015. (IMIS Website, “List of companies participating in IMIS”) (http://www.imis2015.com/index.php/list-of-companies-approved-their-participation.html)

As of May 17, 2021, Iowa's Public Employee's Retirement System lists POSCO on its Iran Scrutinized Companies List. (https://www.ipers.org/sites/default/files/IPERS%27%20Iran%20Prohibited%20Companies%202Q21.pdf)

"POSCO, a construction company in which we hold an 89.5% interest, engages in the planning, design and construction of industrial facilities in Iran."(SEC, "Form 20-F," 4/30/12) (http://searchwww.sec.gov/EDGARFSClient/jsp/EDGAR_MainAccess.jsp?search_text=Iran&startDoc=31&numResults=10&isAdv=true&stemming=true&sort=Date&formType=Form20F&fromDate=mm/dd/yyyy&toDate=mm/dd/yyyy)

POSCO is the parent company of Sungjin Geotec Co., LtdPOSCO, and Daewoo Internationalbsp;POSCO has an extensive American presence through its subsidiaries and joint ventures including POSCO America Corp., United Spiral Pipe LLCUSS-POSCO Industries (http://www.unitedagainstnucleariran.com/company/sungjin-geotec-co-ltd) (http://www.unitedagainstnucleariran.com/company/daewoo-international) (http://www.posco-america.com/) (http://www.unitedspiralpipe.com/) (http://www.ussposco.com/)

"We acquired a controlling interest in Sungjin Geotec Co., Ltd. (“Sungjin Geotec”), a manufacturer of specialized equipment used in the power and energy industries in May 2010, and we currently hold a 36.7% interest in the company. In recent years, Sungjin Geotec entered into contracts with various suppliers to supply equipment for the development of natural gas fields in Iran, including natural gas fields located in South Pars that is led by Pars Oil and Gas Company, a subsidiary of National Iranian Oil Company." (SEC, "Form 20-F," 4/30/12) (http://searchwww.sec.gov/EDGARFSClient/jsp/EDGAR_MainAccess.jsp?search_text=Iran&startDoc=31&numResults=10&isAdv=true&stemming=true&sort=Date&formType=Form20F&fromDate=mm/dd/yyyy&toDate=mm/dd/yyyy)

"Daewoo International, a global trading company in which we hold a 66.6% interest, engages in the trading of steel, raw materials and other items with Sanctions Targets, including Iran and Sudan."  (SEC, "Form 20-F," 4/30/12) (http://searchwww.sec.gov/EDGARFSClient/jsp/EDGAR_MainAccess.jsp?search_text=Iran&startDoc=31&numResults=10&isAdv=true&stemming=true&sort=Date&formType=Form20F&fromDate=mm/dd/yyyy&toDate=mm/dd/yyyy)

"Iranian Mines and Mining Industries Development and Renovation Organization (IMIDRO) welcome cooperation with South Korean POSCO (Pohang Iron and Steel Company) in implementing new steel projects in southern Iran, deputy minister said Saturday... Deputy Industries, Mines and Commerce Minister and head of IMIDRO Mehdi Karbasian made the comment in a meeting with the visiting top manger of POSCO Jin Sik Choi, further elaborating that Iran-Korea cooperation in steel field will be along the southern coasts of Iran, including in Chabahar, Bandar Abbas and Asaluyeh... The top POSCO manager said that his multinational firm is ready to assist Iran in implementing its steep plants using the modern 'Finex' technology. Jin Sik Choi said that POSCO has recently assembled a steel plant with nominal annual production capacity of two million tons and before that a steel factory with annual 1.5 million ton production, both using the Finex technology." (IRNA, "Iran welcomes South Korean cooperation in steel projects," 1/31/15) (http://www.irna.ir/en/News/81486964/)