U.S. Steel Chair & CEO John Surma, "a Penguins season ticket holder and longtime fan, has acquired a $2 million stake in the team," according to Belko & Boselovic of the PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE. Penguins President & CEO David Morehouse said, "We think it's great to have another local investor. He's a pillar in the Pittsburgh community and a longtime supporter." Morehouse would not give details about how the investment came about, but he said the Penguins "receive periodic interest in investing in the team because of its success, popularity and business standing." The team "had not accepted a new investor since 1999, when Mario Lemieux and Ron Burkle bought the team." Surma, a friend of Lemieux, "becomes one of 21 minority investors in the ownership group," while Lemieux and Burkle remain majority owners. Morehouse stressed that Surma's investment in the Penguins is "not an indication the team is in any kind of financial trouble or for sale." A source indicated that the team "decided to offer up to $29 million in stock in the event that it wanted to pursue other investors at some point." However, Morehouse said the Penguins "are not looking for any additional investors" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 9/29).
