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Justice Department Monopolization: Venice
Justice Department Monopolization: Venice
History
The Aluminum Company of America" became the firm's new name in 1907.
In 1938, the Justice Department charged Alcoa with illegal monopolization, and
demanded that the company be dissolved.
In 2004, Alcoa's specialty chemicals business was sold to two private equity firms led
by Rhne Group for an enterprise value of $342, which included the assumption of
debt and other unfunded obligations
In 2005 Alcoa acquired two major production facilities in Russia, at Samara and
Belaya Kalitva
2006, Alcoa relocated its top executives from Pittsburgh to New York City
On July 16, 2012, Alcoa announced that it will take over full ownership and operation
of Evermore Recycling and make it part of Alcoa's Global Packaging group.
In June 2013, Alcoa announced it would permanently close its Fusina primary
aluminium smelter, in Venice where production had been curtailed since June 2010.
On January 9, 2014 it was reported that Alcoa had reached a settlement with the U.S.
Securities and Exchange Commission and the Department of Justice over charges of
bribing Bahraini officials.
Case summary
Alcoa invention and patented lead alcoa to produce aluminum at much lower cost
than competitors
this firm controlled most domestic and many international sources of bauxite ore
Alcoa faced some competition from foreign producers, but U.S. established high
tariffs on aluminum imports
during WWI, when foreign competitors were unable to effectively produce and sell in
other countries, Alcoa became an exporter
between WWI and WWII, Alcoa remained only aluminum smelter (producer) in U.S.
due to its technological advantages and economies of scale
aluminum was used to produce planes and other manufactured products for the war
effort.
during WWII, government financed new plants that were built and run by Alcoa and
encouraged development of other aluminum producers
break up
at end of WWII in 1945, U.S. Supreme Court ruled Alcoa monopoly should be broken
up
government-financed Alcoa plants sold at low prices to Reynolds Metals Company &
Permanente Metals Corporation (owned by Henry Kaiser) creating oligopoly by 1950
o Alcoa: 50.9% of all sales
o Reynolds: 30.9%
o Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation (renamed Permanente Metals):
18.2%
Pratical application
Public utilities
water
gas
electric power
mail delivery
Monopolist
o A single supplier of a good or service for which there is no close
substitute
o The monopolist therefore constitutes the entire industry
Barriers to entry
Economies of scale
Economies of scale
o
The largest firm can produce at the lowest average total cost
Natural Monopoly
o
One firm can produce at a lower average cost than can be achieved
by multiple firm The Cost Curves That Might Lead to a Natural
Monopoly
Examples include
Electrical utilities
Patents
Tariffs
Regulation
Intellectual property
Alcoa scaled up primary operations rapidly during period of aluminum process patent
control
Secured exclusive contracts with suppliers of scarce inputs: hydro, bauxite, etc.
By the time the US entered the war, 90% of Alcoas production was used in military
applications.
By 1918, the New Kensington works was producing mess kits, canteens and helmets,
instead of cooking utensils. Aluminum became regulated like other strategic materials
and prices remained low.
As the war ended, Alcoa found itself with excess capacity, a huge decline in demand,
and a return of imports. Price controls were lifted and the expansion of aluminum
spilled over into civilian uses.
Patent problem-
Patent disputes arose between the Cowles brothers and Hall. Cowles had started using
Halls process without licensing, and had acquired rights to the Bradley patents for the
electric arc process they employed. After suits and countersuits, Cowles and Hall
settled by Pittsburgh Reduction Company licensing the Bradley patents through 1909,
and Cowles agreeing to purchase 146,000 pounds of aluminum annually at ten cents
off the list price.
World war 2
the government believed that the shortage was due to Alcoa having a monopoly in US
primary aluminum production.
Alcoa received negative publicity for failing to anticipate war production needs.
Alcoas monopoly was cited as the principal reason.
After the war was over, the US canceled Alcoas plant leases and most plants were
sold to Kaiser and Reynolds, at or below the cost to build them and Alcoa was
required to license the technology necessary to run them. The only plant Alcoa was
permitted to keep was the Cressona extrusion plant.
The country was left with an oligopoly of four major companies Alcoa, Aluminium
Limited, which was to become Alcan, Reynolds and Kaiser. In 1947, Alcoa petitioned
for a ruling that it no longer monopolizes the market, but the ruling was rejected and
the Justice Department retained jurisdiction over Alcoa until 1957.
solution
With astounding speed, Alcoa met the war time challenge. In three years, Alcoa built
over 20 plants: 8 smelters, 11 fabricating plants, 4 refineries, and operated them for
the government.
Total investments in the industry during World War II rose to $672 million, of which
$474 million were Alcoa investments. Employment rose from 26,179 in 1939 to
95,044 by 1944.
Prior to the war, Alcoa concentrated on production. The war brought the realization
that product improvements would be necessary.
After World War I, as power resources in the US became increasingly expensive,
Alcoa expanded. Alcoa entered the bidding for developments in Canada by James B.
Duke.
By 1928, Alcoa had over half of the world capacity in primary aluminum: 90,000
metric tons in the US, 45,000 in Canada and 15,000 in Europe, but managing overseas
operations presented problems.
On June 4, 1928, Alcoa divested its ownership/interest in 34 companies worldwide
and transferred them to Aluminium Limited of Canada.