Announced Actions for September 16, 1998

Commission action regarding applications for approval: Following a public comment period, the Commission has ruled on an application for approval of a transaction from the following:

• The Commission has voted to approve as final a consent order against Global Industrial Technologies, Inc. and the company’s subsequent divestiture application it submitted to comply with the consent order. The consent order will settle FTC charges that the Global’s acquisition of A.P. Green Industries, Inc. would lessen competition by combining the two largest domestic producers of glass-furnace silica refractories. The company will divest the A.P. Green Silica Refractories properties to Robert R. Worthen and Dennis R. Williams and to two companies controlled by them: Utah Refractories Company and Worthen and Williams, L.L.C. The Commission vote to make the consent order final and to approve the divestiture application was 4-0. (See news release dated July 30, 1998; FTC File No. 981-0173; Staff contact is Roberta S. Baruch, 202-326-2861.)

• Shell Oil Company and Texaco, Inc. have been granted permission to divest Shell’s interest in the Plantation Pipe Line Company to Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P. The divestiture was required under the terms of a final consent order with Shell and Texaco that required the companies to divest a number of assets in a number of markets to settle FTC charges that their proposed joint venture would violate federal antitrust laws. The Plantation divestiture was ordered to remedy a lessening of competition caused by the joint venture’s ownership interests in both Plantation Pipeline and the competing Colonial Pipeline. The Commission vote to approve the divestiture was 4-0. (See news releases dated September 4, 1998; June 11, 1998; April 22, 1998; December 19, 1997; Docket No. C-3803. Staff contact is Daniel P. Ducore, 202-326-2526.)

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.

• A final order against Nutrivida, Inc. and its principal, Frank Huerta, will prohibit the company from making specific claims about Cartilet, a dietary supplement comprised of shark cartilage or any other product, unless the company has reliable and scientific evidence to substantiate its claims about the health benefits, performance or effectiveness of its products. (See news release dated June 26, 1998. The Commission vote to approve the final order was 4-0. Staff contact Donald G. D’Amato, 212-264-1223.)

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 Consumer Response Center, Room 130, 6th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580; 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 202-326-2710.