Announced Actions for January 4, 2002

Following a public comment period, the Commission has approved a proposed transaction by Unified Western Grocers, Inc. (Unified) concerning the December 2000 FTC consent order regarding the merger of Albertson's, Inc. and American Stores Company. The order required the divestiture of 144 supermarkets nationwide. Pursuant to Paragraph VI.B., Unified, formerly Certified Grocers of California, Ltd., applied for FTC approval to transfer SavMax Store No. 309, currently operating under the "SavMax" trade name and located at 1375 N. Citrus Ave., Covina, California, to Super Center Concepts, Inc., d/b/a Superior Super Warehouse Stores.

The Commission vote to approve the transaction was 5-0. (Docket No. C-3986; staff contact is Daniel P. Ducore, Bureau of Competition, 202-326-2526; see press releases dated June 22, 1999; July 28, 1999; August 2, 1999; September 19, 2000; December 8, 2000; July 27, 2001; September 18, 2001 and October 30, 2001.)

The Commission has approved an application by CVS Corporation (CVS) requesting approval of a proposed acquisition pursuant to a 1994 FTC consent order concerning the merger of Revco D.S., Inc. (Revco) and Hook-SupeRx, Inc. (HSI). CVS's purchase of Revco in 1997, makes it subject to the provisions of the Revco/HSI consent order. Under the terms of the Commission's order in the Revco/HSI matter, Revco and its successors are prohibited for 10 years from the date the order became final from acquiring (without Commission approval) any "stock, share capital, equity, leasehold, or other interest in any concern . . . presently engaged in . . . the business of selling prescription drugs at retail drug stores located in [Covington, Virginia]." In its application, CVS requested approval to purchase certain assets of the Horizon Pharmacies, Inc. (Horizon) store in Covington.

The Commission vote to approve the application was 5-0. (Docket No. C-3540; staff contact is Daniel P. Ducore, Bureau of Competition, 202-326-2526; see press releases dated June 15, July 15, November 4, and December 19, 1994; March 17, 1995; February 8 and April 17, April 24, and November 1, 1996; May 30 and August 15, 1997; March 27, 1998; and December 11, 2001.)

Commission approval of stipulated final judgment in a bankruptcy court action:

The Commission has approved the filing of a stipulated judgment in a bankruptcy court action concerning Mega Systems and Jeffrey Salberg. The judgment resolves charges that the defendants failed to obey a 1998 FTC order requiring them to pay $500,000 in consumer redress after settling an earlier Commission complaint that ad claims made for their health-care products were false or unsubstantiated. Under the terms of the settlement, the Commission will receive $30,000 now and share in any distribution of assets at the conclusion of the bankruptcy case. Mega Systems and Salberg were based in Lansing, Illinois.

The Commission vote to approve the stipulated judgment settling the action was 5-0. (FTC File No. X990038; staff contact is Karen Dodge, FTC Midwest Region, 312-960-5608; see press releases dated January 13, June 19, and December 15, 1998.)

Commission approval of final consent order:

Following a public comment period, the Commission has approved a final consent order concerning the merger of Chevron Corp. and Texaco, Inc. The vote to approve the final order was 4-0, with Chairman Timothy J. Muris recused and Commissioners Sheila F. Anthony and Mozelle W. Thompson issuing a joint separate statement that can be found on the FTC's Web site as a link to this press release. (FTC File No. 011-0011, Docket No C-4023; staff contact is Phillip L. Broyles, Bureau of Competition, 202-326-2805; see press release dated September 7, 2001.)

Copies of the documents mentioned in this release are available from the FTC's Web site at http://www.ftc.gov and also from the FTC's Consumer Response Center, Room 130, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580. Call toll-free: 1-877-FTC-HELP.