News Releases for December 1996
December 31, 1996
- For Your Information: DECEMBER 31, 1996
Announced Actions for December 31, 1996
The FTC has approved the application of NGC Corporation, of Houston, Texas, to divest its 80 percent interest in the Mont Belvieu I natural gas liquids fractionation facility in Mont Belvieu, Texas, to Koch Hydrocarbon Company, a division of Koch Industries, Inc. based in Wichita, Kansas.
December 30, 1996
- FOR RELEASE: DECEMBER 30, 1996
Phillilps Petroleum To Divest Parts of Gas Pipeline System in Oklahoma To Resolve FTC Competition Concerns over ANR Acquisition
Phillips Petroleum Company has agreed to divest approximately 160 miles of its natural gas pipeline system in Oklahoma as part of a settlement with the Federal Trade Commission over the firm’s acquisition of gas-gathering assets from ANR Pipeline Company.
December 27, 1996
- For Your Information: DECEMBER 27, 1996
Announced Actions for December 27, 1996
The consent agreement with Class Rings, Inc., and Castle Harlan Partners II, L.P., both of New York City, and Town & Country Corporation, of Chelsea, Massachusetts, settles charges that Class Rings’ purchase of the commemorative rings businesses of Town & Country and CJC Holdings, Inc. (based in Austin, Texas) would violate federal antitrust laws by combining the number two and number three firms in the market, giving the merged firm nearly 45 percent of the market for all class rings sold and more than 90 percent of the market for class rings sold in retail stores.
December 26, 1996
- FOR RELEASE: DECEMBER 26, 1996
FTC Negotiates Settlement To Keep Cereal Prices Competitive
Pact with General Mills over Ralcorp Acquisition
to Eliminate Barriers to Private Label Rival for Chex Brands
December 23, 1996
- FOR RELEASE: DECEMBER 23, 1996
Rules for Clothing Care Label Instructions To Change
FTC to Allow Care Symbols, Boosting International Trade Goals, But Will Require Accompanying Written Instructions for 18 Months
- FOR RELEASE: DECEMBER 23, 1996
FTC Seeks Public Comment on Proposed Amendments to Wool and Fur Products Labeling Rules
The Federal Trade Commission is seeking public comment on proposed amendments to streamline the Wool and Fur Rules.
- FOR RELEASE: DECEMBER 23, 1996
Mattel To Pay Penalty for Violating Federal Rule
FTC Charges Company Failed to Make Timely Deliveries or Prompt Refunds For Sale of Barbie Collectible Dolls
- For Your Information: DECEMBER 23, 1996
FTC Granted Freightliner Corporation an Exemption from the FTC's Franchise Rule
The Federal Trade Commission has granted the request of Freightliner Corporation for an exemption from the FTC's Franchise Rule with regard to the company's sale of truck dealership franchises.
December 20, 1996
- For Your Information: DECEMBER 20, 1996
Announced Actions for December 20, 1996
Applications for approval of transactions: The FTC has received an application for approval of a transaction from the following entity. The FTC is seeking public comments on the application for 30 days, until Jan. 21.
December 19, 1996
- FOR RELEASE: DECEMBER 19, 1996
FTC Decision in Baxter/Immuno Acquisition To Preserve Competition in two Markets for Plasma Products
The Federal Trade Commission announced today that it had resolved antitrust concerns raised by the proposed $463 million acquisition of Immuno International AG (“Immuno”) by Baxter International Inc. (“Baxter”).
- FOR RELEASE: DECEMBER 18, 1996
FTC Halts Fraudulent Internatioal Call Scheme
Alleges Defendants Enticed Consumers to Make Lengthy Calls
to International Numbers with Vacation Sweepstakes Offer
December 17, 1996
- FOR RELEASE: DECEMBER 17, 1996
FTC Accord in Ciba-Geigy/Sandoz Merger To Prevent Slowdown in Gene Therapy Development & Preserve Competition in Corn Herbicides, Flea-Control Markets
The Federal Trade Commission said today it has reached a settlement agreement with the parties to the $63 billion merger of the Swiss pharmaceutical giants Ciba-Geigy Limited and Sandoz Ltd. that is designed to protect competition for the development and commercialization of gene therapy treatments.
- FOR RELEASE: DECEMBER 17, 1996
Private Settlement To Add $1.3 Million to Redress Coffer in FTC Project Telesweep Case
The Federal Trade Commission today announced a settlement agreement between Rowe International, Inc., the manufacturer of the popcorn vending machines sold by the defendants sued by the FTC in 1995 as part of Project Telesweep -- a nationwide crackdown on business opportunity fraud -- and the court- appointed receiver for the corporate defendants in that case. As part of the settlement, Rowe has agreed to pay at least $1.3 million to be used as redress for the purchasers of the Worldwide Marketing/Hollywood Pop business opportunity venture.
- FOR RELEASE: DECEMBER 17, 1996
USA Channel Systems, Inc. and Two-Way Systems, Inc. Settle FTC Charges over Hight-Tech Investment Claims
The Federal Trade Commission has negotiated settlements in two cases against companies that vastly overstated to consumers the risk and profit potential investment value of federally-issued Federal Communications Commission (FCC) paging licenses, among other misrepresentations.
- For Your Information: DECEMBER 17, 1996
Announced Actions for December 17, 1996
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 Jan. 14, 1997. Staff contact is Dan Ducore, 202-326-2526, unless otherwise indicated.
December 16, 1996
- FOR RELEASE: DECEMBER 16, 1996
California Couple Involved in Credit Repair Scheme Agrees To Post Performance Bond and Pay Consumer Redress To Settle the Charges
A California couple sued by the Federal Trade Commission over their role in an allegedly deceptive credit repair scheme has agreed to post a $250,000 performance bond before engaging in, or assisting others in, any telemarketing activities in the future.
December 13, 1996
- FOR RELEASE: DECEMBER 13, 1996
FTC Settlement in Paging License Application case to Net Nearly $200,000 in Consumer Redress
The Federal Trade Commission announced today that Bell Connections, Inc. and four individuals, defendants in a case the FTC filed in federal district court in Los Angeles last January as part of “Project Roadblock,” have signed a settlement that would result in a redress fund totaling nearly $200,000 for consumers victimized by their Federal Communications Commission (FCC) paging license application scheme.
- For Your Information: DECEMBER 13, 1996
Announced Actions for December 13, 1996
Consent agreements given final approval: Following a public comment period, the Commission has made final a consent agreement with the following entity. The Commission action makes the consent order binding on the respondent.
December 12, 1996
- FOR RELEASE: DECEMBER 12, 1996
Federal-State Surfing Catches a Wave of Potential Internet Scams; Over 500 Pyramid Operations Put on Notice
Four federal agencies and 70 state and local law enforcement officials from 24 states have notified operators of over 500 websites that they may be promoting illegal pyramid schemes in violation of state and federal laws. - For Your Information: DECEMBER 12, 1996
Additional Defendant Added in Home-Based Computer Business Settlement
Jeannette L. Douglass of Sheridan, Indiana, has agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that potential earnings and profit claims made by the Computer Business Services, Inc. were false and misleading.
December 11, 1996
- FOR RELEASE: DECEMBER 11, 1996
Settlement in FTC Job Services Case Would Bar Defendant from Job Placement Field
A Franklin, New Hampshire, woman charged by the Federal Trade Commission earlier this year with deceptively marketing employment services as a telemarketer for a “job placement” firm, has agreed to stay out of the job placement business permanently as part of a settlement she has signed to end the FTC litigation against her.
December 10, 1996
- FOR RELEASE: DECEMBER 10, 1996
FTC Settlements with Credit Repair Operators Net $5,000 for Redress, Strong Injunctions, Disclosures for Future Customers
The Federal Trade Commission has negotiated settlements to end its litigation against two southern California men, Walter D. Channels and James Martin Coose, in connection with the allegedly fraudulent credit repair telemarketing operation they ran in 1995 and 1996.
December 9, 1996
- FOR RELEASE: DECEMBER 9, 1996
J.C. Penney To Divest 161 Drug Stores in the Caorlinas To Settle FTC Antitrust Charges over Acqusitions of Eckard and Certain Rite Aid Stores
The Federal Trade Commission said today that J.C. Penney Company, Inc., the parent company of Thrift Drug, Inc., has agreed to divest a total of 161 drug stores in North and South Carolina by March 1997 to maintain a level of competition that otherwise would have been injured as a result of Penney’s acquisitions of Eckerd Corporation and 190 Rite Aid stores in these two states.
- FOR RELEASE: DECEMBER 9, 1996
FTC Freezes Ad Claims for Thawing Trays; Pulls the Plug on Ad Claims for Thermo-Electric Coolers
FTC Consumer Alert Offers Food for "Thaw-T" About Kitchen Gadgets
- FOR RELEASE: DECEMBER 9, 1996
Operators of Telemarketing Recovery Room Agree To Settle FTC Charges Brought in "Project Jackpot" Sweep
A telemarketing "recovery room" operation in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and its principals, have agreed to settle federal charges that they falsely claimed that they would recover a substantial portion of the money that consumers had previously lost in prize promotion or other scams perpetrated by fraudulent telemarketers.
- For Your Information: DECEMBER 9, 1996
FTC Staff Has Advised the Southwest Florida Oral Surgery Associates (SFOSA) Its Proposal To Form a "Cooperative" Does Not Appear To Violate the Antitrust Laws.
The Federal Trade Commission staff has advised the Southwest Florida Oral Surgery Associates (SFOSA) that its proposal to form a "Cooperative" for the purpose of jointly marketing their services to employers, managed care plans and other payers does not appear to violate the antitrust laws.
December 6, 1996
- FOR RELEASE: DECEMBER 6, 1996
Las Vegas Telefunder Charged in Deceptive Recovery-Room Scheme To Solicit Charitable Donations Agrees To Settle FTC Charges
Thadow, Inc., and its president, defendants named in a 1995 Federal Trade Commission lawsuit, have agreed to pay $130,000 to be used for consumer redress, as part of a settlement resolving charges arising from their role in an allegedly fraudulent "telefunding scheme."
- For Your Information: DECEMBER 6, 1996
Announced Actions for December 6, 1996
Applications for approval of transactions: The FTC has received an application for approval for a transaction from the following. The FTC is seeking public comments on the application for 30 days, until Jan 6, 1997.
December 5, 1996
- FOR RELEASE: DECEMBER 5, 1996
Boeing Company To Settle Charges in Rockwell Acquisition
The Boeing Company will settle Federal Trade Commission charges that its $3.025 billion acquisition of Rockwell International Corporation's Aerospace and Defense business would violate antitrust laws.
- FOR RELEASE: DECEMBER 5, 1996
Dwight's EnergyData To Grant Perpetual License to Production and Well History Data
Dwight’s EnergyData, Inc. (Dwight’s), the largest supplier of U.S. gas and oil production data, has agreed to license its data to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that its merger with a major competitor could create a monopoly for production and well history data, in violation of federal antitrust laws.
- FOR RELEASE: DECEMBER 5, 1996
Advertisers of "The Stimulator" Pain Device Settle FTC Charges
Natural Innovations, Inc., company president Dr. William S. Gandee, and World Media T.V., Inc., have agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges stemming from the advertising and sale of "The Stimulator," a purported pain relief device widely advertised in an infomercial titled "Saying No To Pain."
- For Your Information: DECEMBER 5, 1996
"Collision Damage Waiver" Insurance May Benefit Consumers
The staff of the Federal Trade Commission has told the Illinois House of Representatives that a bill under consideration to repeal Illinois' ban on car rental firms offering "collision damage waiver" (CDW) insurance could benefit consumers and lower car rental rates in Illinois.
December 3, 1996
- For Your Information: DECEMBER 3, 1996
Announced Actions for December 3, 1996
Commission action regarding applications for prior approval: Following a public comment period, the FTC has ruled on applications from the following:
- FOR RELEASE: DECEMBER 3, 1996
FTC To Distribute Nearly $338,000 to Victims of High-Tech Fraud Following Settlement: Funds to be Retrieved from Bahamas
Commission action regarding applications for prior approval: Following a public comment period, the FTC has ruled on applications from the following:
Rev. Tuesday, December 31, 1996