Applications for Approval of Proposed Agreements and Divestitures

The Commission has received an application from RHI AG (RHI), that relates to a December 30, 1999 agreement and consent order with the FTC concerning its acquisition of Global Industrial Technologies. The consent order requires RHI to obtain the Commission’s prior approval before changing certain agreements that are incorporated into the Order. As detailed in the application, RHI has petitioned the Commission to approve a settlement agreement dated October 19, 2001 (2001 Settlement) between North American Refractories Company (NARCO), a subsidiary of RHI, and Resco Products, Inc. (Resco) and to make the settlement part of the FTC’s decision and order in this matter. The 2001 Settlement, among other things, seeks to facilitate the implementation of an asset purchase agreement dated November 11, 1999, as amended, between NARCO and Resco, as well as a settlement agreement between NARCO and Resco dated October 27, 2000 (2000 Settlement). The 2000 Settlement has been approved by the FTC and is part of the current consent order.

The Commission is accepting public comments on the application until February 20, 2003. Comments should be sent to: Federal Trade Commission, Office of the Secretary, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20580. (Docket No. C-4005; staff contact is Daniel P. Ducore, Bureau of Competition, 202-326-2526; see press releases dated December 30, 1999 and March 23, 2001.)

The Commission has received an application for proposed divestiture from ConocoPhillips, Inc. (ConocoPhillips), pursuant to an August 30, 2002 agreement and consent order with the FTC regarding Conoco’s acquisition of Phillips Petroleum Company (Phillips). As detailed in the application, ConocoPhillips has requested Commission approval of: 1) the proposed divestiture of the Phillips Woods Cross Assets (as that term is defined in the order) to Holly Corporation (Holly) or a wholly owned subsidiary of Holly; and 2) the related agreements required by Paragraph II.C. of the FTC’s decision and order.

The Commission is accepting public comments on the proposed divestiture until February 20, 2003. Comments should be sent to: Federal Trade Commission, Office of the Secretary, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20580. (FTC File No. 021-0040, Docket No. C-4058; staff contact is Daniel P. Ducore, Bureau of Competition, 202-326-2526; see press releases dated August 30 and September 20 and 24, 2002; and January 14, 2003

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.