Announced Actions for August 30, 1996

The Federal Trade Commission today announced the following actions. Unless otherwise noted, the FTC staff contact is Dan Ducore, 202-326-2526.

Applications for prior approval of transactions: The FTC has received an application for prior approval of a divestiture from the following. The FTC is seeking public comments on the application for 30 days, until Sept. 30.

• Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corporation, of Nashville, Tennessee, has applied for FTC approval to divest Denton Community Hospital in Denton, Texas, to NetCare Health Systems, Inc., also based in Nashville, or to any of NetCare’s subsidiaries. This divestiture is one of seven required under a 1995 consent order settling FTC charges over Columbia/HCA’s acquisition of Healthtrust, Inc., and is intended to restore competition allegedly injured by the merger. (See April 21, 1995 news release regarding the consent order; Docket No. C-3619).

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

• The Geon Company, of Avon Lake, Ohio, has petitioned the FTC to reopen and modify a 1989 order against B.F. Goodrich Company to delete a requirement that Goodrich and its successors and assigns obtain Commission approval before acquiring certain vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) assets or businesses. The order settled charges that Goodrich’s acquisition of the VCM business of Diamond Shamrock Corporation violated antitrust law. At the time, Goodrich’s VCM business was conducted by its Geon Vinyl Division, but the business became a part of the now-separate company, Geon Company. Goodrich is no longer in the VCM business, the petition states. (Docket No. 9159)

Consent agreements given final approval: Following a public comment period, the Commission has made final consent agreements with the following entities. The Commission action makes the orders binding on the respondents.

• Ford Motor Company, of Dearborn, Michigan, and its advertising agency, Young & Rubicam, Inc., of New York City, settling charges that they made false claims about the extent to which Ford’s MicronAir Filtration System can remove air pollutants from its automobile passenger cabins. The order prohibits them from making broad pollution- removal claims for this or any similar system, and requires them to have substantiation for certain other air filter efficacy claims. (See April 9, 1996 news release for more details regarding the consent agreement; Docket Nos. Ford -- C-3679, Young & Rubicam -- C-3680; Commission votes to approve them as final were 5-0 on Aug. 22, 1996.) FTC staff contact is Linda K. Badger or Jeffrey Klurfeld, FTC San Francisco Regional Office, 415-356-5270.

Comments on the application and petition should be addressed to the FTC, Office of the Secretary, 6th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580. Copies of the documents referenced above are available from the FTC’s Public Reference Branch, Room 130, at the same address; 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. FTC news releases and other materials also are available on the Internet at the FTC’s World Wide Web site at: http://www.ftc.gov

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