Tag: Competition

Consent order preserves competition in the production and sale of certain refractory products and hot surface igniters. The order permits the acquisition of The Carborundum Company but requires divestiture of Carborundum's Monofrax fused cast refractories business in New York, its hot surface igniter business in Puerto Rico, and its silicon carbide refractories business in New Jersey to Commission approved acquirers.

Separate final consent orders settle charges that the acquisitions of Eckerd Corporation and 190 Rite Aid stores in North and South Carolina would give J.C. Penney a dominant position in four metropolitan areas and increase its ability to raise prices for the sale of pharmacy services to third party payers. The orders require the divestitures of 34 Thrifty drug stores and 127 Rite Aid drug stores.

Final order preserves competition in the production and sale of opaque contact lenses. The order permits the acquisition of Pilkington Barnes Hind International, Inc. but requires the divestiture of the opaque contact lens business within four months to a Commission approved acquirer.

Consent order settles charges that the acquisition of gas gathering assets from ANR Pipeline Company would reduce competition for natural gas gathering services in five Oklahoma counties. The order permits the acquisition but requires the divestiture of 160 miles of pipeline system in the Anadarko Basin within 30 days to a Commission-approved buyer.

Order settles charges that the acquisition of National Medical Care, Inc. would combine two significant producers of HD concentrate used in hemodialysis treatment. The order requires the divestiture of the Lewisberry, Pennsylvania hemodialysis concentrate plant to Di-Chem, Inc. or other Commission-approved buyer.

Consent order settles charges that the acquisition of The Stop & Shop Companies, Inc. would substantially reduce supermarket competition in 14 communities in New England. The order requires the divestiture of 30 supermarkets within 30 days to buyers who would operate the stores in competition with Ahold's "Edwards" supermarket chain.

Consent order settles charges that New Balance fixed and controlled the resale prices of its shoes in an effort to raise retail prices for its athletic footwear.  According to the complaint, New Balance entered into agreements with some of its retailers to restrict price competition, and threatened to terminate or suspend shipments to retailers who did not abide by the pricing restrictions.