[en] This study is a retrospect of the US oil companies' takeovers of US copper companies during the era of 1975-81 and the subsequent divestitures. The oil companies' management favored these takeovers for financial and diversification purposes. Failure to meet these purposes is blamed for the immediate divestitures. This assertion is considered. The additional factor of a sharp oil industry downturn and its aftermath is found to be the key in explaining the divestitures