Announced Actions for November 4, 1998

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 December 3, 1998.

• Alleghany Corporation has submitted a petition requesting that the FTC reopen and modify a 1991 consent order to reflect "... Alleghany's recent divestiture of its title insurance and real estate related services business ..." Comments on the petition should be addressed to the FTC, Office of the Secretary, 6th and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580. (Docket No. C-3335. 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 consent order with Royal Dutch Shell and Exxon has been made final. The order will settle the FTC's charges that their proposed joint venture to develop, manufacture, and sell viscosity index improver -- an essential motor oil additive -- would reduce competition and violate federal antitrust laws. Under the terms of the order, Exxon will sell its viscosity index improver business to Chevron Chemical Company LLC or another Commission-approved buyer. The Commission vote to made the order final was 4-0. (See news release dated August 20, 1998; FTC File No. 971 0007; Staff contact is Philip M. Eisenstat, 202-326-2769.)

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.