Announced Actions for January 16, 1998

Commission action regarding petitions to reopen and modify or set aside orders. Following a public comment period, the FTC has ruled on a petition from the following:

• The Commission has agreed to modify an order with Montedison SPA. The FTC's action eliminates the prior approval provision in the order and substitutes a limited prior notice provision for certain acquisitions. The 1995 order with the company required Montedison and the Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies to divest Shell's U.S. polypropylene business to settle charges that the formation of Montell Polyolefins, a $6 billion joint venture between the companies, could substantially reduce competition in several polypropylene and polypropylene-related production and licensing markets, and reduce U.S. export sales. (See news release dated June 1, 1995; Docket No. C-3580; Commission vote to approve the petition was 3-0, with Commissioner Mozelle W. Thompson and Commissioner Orson Swindle not participating.) Staff contact is Daniel P. Ducore, 202-326-2526.

Copies of the documents referenced above are available from the FTC's web site at http://www.ftc.gov and also from the FTC's Public Reference Branch, Room 130, 6th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580; 202-326-2222; 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 202-326-2710.