Announced Actions for November 20, 1998

Applications for approval of transactions: The FTC has received an application for approval of a transaction from the following. The FTC is seeking public comments on the application for 30 days, until December 21, 1998.

• Supervalu Inc. has submitted an application to divest two stores in Casper, Wyoming, to Tidyman's LLC. The stores, former Buttrey Store No. 3872 located at 2101 East 12th Street and former Buttrey Store No. 3878 located at 4075 Cy Avenue, were acquired by Supervalu as part of an agreement the FTC negotiated with Albertson's Inc. that settles FTC charges that Albertson's acquisition of Buttrey would violate antitrust laws by substantially lessening supermarket competition in Montana and Wyoming. Under the terms of that agreement, Supervalu was required to obtain FTC approval before selling the stores any time within three years after it acquired the stores. Supervalu has also requested that the FTC waive the comment period on its application or reduce the comment period to 15 days. If the FTC reduces the comment period as requested by Supervalu, the comment period will instead end on December 7, 1998. (See news release dated September 22, 1998; FTC File No. 981-0134; Staff contact is Daniel P. Ducore, 202-326-2526.)

Comments on Supervalu's application should be addressed to the FTC, Office of the Secretary, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580. Copies of the documents referenced above are available from the FTC's Consumer Response Center, Room 130, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C.; 202-FTC-HELP (202-382-4357); TDD for the hearing impaired 1-866-653-4261. To find out the latest news as it is announced, call the FTC NewsPhone recording at 202-326-2710.