**GAO-09-608**                      Published: May 20, 2009. Publicly Released: May 20, 2009.                  

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## Highlights

Foreign investors in U.S. companies or assets include individuals, companies, and government entities. One type of foreign investor that has been increasingly active in world markets is sovereign wealth funds (SWF), government-controlled funds that seek to invest in other countries. As the activities of these funds have grown they have been praised as providing valuable capital to world markets, but questions have been raised about their lack of transparency and the potential impact of their investments on recipient countries. GAO's second report on SWFs reviews (1) U.S. laws that specifically affect foreign investment, including that by SWFs, in the United States and (2) processes agencies use to enforce them. GAO reviewed policy statements, treaties, and U.S. laws, and interviewed and obtained information from agencies responsible for enforcing these laws. GAO also interviewed legal experts and organizations that track state foreign investment issues.

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## Topics

International Affairs

Federal lawFinancial managementForeign corporationsForeign governmentsForeign investments in USFunds managementIndependent regulatory commissionsInternational relationsInternational tradeInvestments abroadLending institutionsProcurementReporting requirementsPolicies and procedures