Summary: In response to a congressional request, GAO: (1) surveyed Federal agency officials, principal mineral industry representatives, and other industry experts to obtain their views and perceptions on the causes and effects of takeovers of independent mining companies by oil companies, other domestic conglomerates, and foreign enterprises; and (2) searched and surveyed literature to identify major Federal and nongovernmental studies of changing ownership trends in the U.S. mineral industry. GAO also reviewed available statistical information on mergers and acquisitions involving the metal mining and metal processing industries.
Although data problems associated with determining the ownership of the minerals industry exist, several trends have potential Federal policy implications. These include the loss of independent mineral and mining concerns to conglomerates, including oil company ownership, and the growing level of foreign investment in the minerals industry. Measuring the impact of these trends is extremely difficult. However, an ongoing Bureau of Mines study hopes to accumulate relevant data to assess the motives spurring minerals industry acquisitions and to gain an indication of the possible effects on industry performance. Current industry and expert opinions on the effects are subjective and varied. Further, concerns over the potential negative impacts are countered by arguments against interfering with the existing market forces. In short, there are potential benefits inherent in ownership trends as well as reasons for concern. Foreign investment in the mineral industry, although small in absolute terms, is more concentrated than in the rest of U.S. industry, and appears to be growing. No analysis on the effects of this investment on the industry has been done.
