Announced Actions for December 12, 1997

Petitions to reopen and modify or set aside orders: The FTC has received a petition from the following entity seeking changes in, or termination of, an FTC order. The FTC is seeking public comments on the newly-received petition for 30 days, until January 13, 1998.

• Reckitt & Colman plc has petitioned the FTC to reopen and modify consent orders issued in 1990 and 1995. The firm is petitioning to remove a requirement that it obtain the prior approval of the Commission for acquisitions in the carpet deodorizer and rug-cleaning products businesses in the United States, or, in the alternative, replace it with a prior notice provision. Reckitt & Colman plc, based in London, does business in the United States through its wholly- owned subsidiary, Reckitt & Colman, Inc., of Wayne, New Jersey. The 1990 consent order settled allegations that Reckitt’s acquisition of assets of American Home Products could lessen competition in the manufacture and sale of rug-cleaning products. The 1995 consent agreement settled allegations that Reckitt’s acquisition of L&F Products, Inc. would substantially reduce competition in the U.S. market for carpet deodorizer products. (See news releases dated October 23, 1990; April 6, 1995; June 2, 1995; and August 22, 1995, for more details regarding the consent orders; Dockets No. C-3571 and C-3306.) Staff contact is Daniel Ducore, 202-326- 2526.

Comments on the petition should be addressed to the FTC, Office of the Secretary, 6th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20580. Copies of the documents referenced above are available from the FTC’s Consumer Response Center, Room 130, at the same address; 202-326-3128; TTY for the hearing impaired 1-866-653-4261. To find out the latest news as it is announced, call the FTC NewsPhone recording at 326- 2710. FTC news releases and other materials also are available on the Internet at the FTC World Wide Web site at: http//www.ftc.gov (no period).