9810345
B255403
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
BEFORE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
- COMMISSIONERS:
- Robert Pitofsky, Chairman
- Sheila F. Anthony
- Mozelle W. Thompson
- Orson Swindle
In the Matter of
The British Petroleum Company p.l.c.,a corporation,
Amoco Corporation,a corporation, and
BP Amoco p.l.c., a corporation.
Docket No. C-3868
Decision and Order
The Federal Trade Commission ("Commission") having initiated an investigation
of the proposed merger between The British Petroleum Company p.l.c. ("BP") and
Amoco Corporation ("Amoco"), which merger resulted in Amoco becoming a direct,
wholly owned subsidiary of BP Amoco p.l.c. ("BP Amoco") (collectively
"Respondents"), and Respondents having been furnished with a copy of a draft
complaint that the Bureau of Competition proposed to present to the Commission for its
consideration, and which, if issued by the Commission, would charge Respondents with
violations of Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, as amended, 15 U.S.C.
§ 45, and Section 7 of the Clayton Act, as amended, 15 U.S.C. § 18; and
Respondents, their attorneys, and counsel for the Commission having thereafter executed
an agreement containing a consent order, an admission by Respondents of all the
jurisdictional facts set forth in the aforesaid draft of complaint, a statement that the
signing of said agreement is for settlement purposes only and does not constitute an
admission by Respondents that the law has been violated as alleged in such complaint, and
waivers and other provisions as required by the Commission's Rules; and
The Commission having thereafter considered the matter and having determined that it
had reason to believe that the Respondents have violated the said Acts, and that complaint
should issue stating its charges in that respect, and having thereupon accepted the
executed consent agreement and placed such agreement on the public record for a period of
sixty (60) days, now in further conformity with the procedure prescribed in Section 2.34
of its Rules, the Commission hereby issues its complaint, makes the following
jurisdictional findings and enters the following Order:
1. Respondent BP was a corporation organized, existing and doing business under and by
virtue of the laws of England and Wales, with its office and principal place of business
located at Brittannic House, 1 Finsbury Circus, London EC2M 7BA, England. BP was renamed
BP Amoco p.l.c.
2. Respondent Amoco was a corporation organized, existing and doing business under and
by virtue of the laws of the State of Indiana, with its office and principal place of
business located at 200 East Randolph Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60601. Amoco was renamed BP
Amoco Corporation, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of BP Amoco.
3. Respondent BP Amoco is a corporation organized, existing and doing business under
and by virtue of the laws of England and Wales, with its office and principal place of
business located at Brittannic House, 1 Finsbury Circus, London EC2M 7BA, England.
4. The Federal Trade Commission has jurisdiction of the subject matter of this
proceeding and of the Respondents, and the proceeding is in the public interest.
ORDER
I.
IT IS ORDERED that, as used in this order, the following definitions
shall apply:
- "Amoco" means Amoco Corporation, its directors, officers, employees, agents,
representatives, predecessors, successors, and assigns; its joint ventures, subsidiaries,
divisions, groups and affiliates controlled by Amoco Corporation, and the respective
directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives, successors, and assigns of each.
- "BP" means The British Petroleum Company p.l.c., its directors, officers,
employees, agents, representatives, predecessors, successors, and assigns; its joint
ventures, subsidiaries, divisions, groups and affiliates controlled by The British
Petroleum Company p.l.c., and the respective directors, officers, employees, agents,
representatives, successors, and assigns of each.
- "BP Amoco" means BP Amoco p.l.c., its directors, officers, employees, agents,
representatives, predecessors, successors, and assigns; its joint ventures, subsidiaries,
divisions, groups and affiliates controlled by BP Amoco p.l.c., and the respective
directors, officers, employees, agents, representatives, successors, and assigns of each.
- "Amoco Branded Seller" means any person (other than BP or Amoco) that has, by
virtue of contract or agreement with Amoco in effect at the time Respondents execute the
agreement containing consent order, the right to sell gasoline using Amoco's brand name at
Retail Sites located in any Branded Seller Metropolitan Area, or to resell gasoline to any
such person. "Amoco Branded Seller" does not include Retail Sites leased from
Amoco except for sites leased from Amoco by Amoco Two Party Dealers.
- "Amoco Retail Divestiture Assets" means all Retail Assets owned by Amoco or
leased by Amoco from another person located in the following Metropolitan Areas:
Tallahassee, Florida and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. "Amoco Retail Divestiture
Assets" do not include Retail Sites leased from Amoco by Amoco Two Party Dealers.
- "Amoco Two Party Dealer" means a person that directly or indirectly owns or
leases from a lessor other than Amoco a Retail Site in a Branded Seller Metropolitan Area
and that has leased to Amoco and directly or indirectly leased back from Amoco the Retail
Site.
- "Amoco Two Party Dealer Lease" means all leases, deeds, contracts, rights and
obligations associated with the lease of a Retail Site by any person to Amoco and the
lease of that Retail Site back to such person or an affiliate of such person.
- "BP Branded Seller" means any person (other than BP or Amoco) that has, by
virtue of contract or agreement with BP in effect at the time Respondents execute the
agreement containing consent order, the right to sell gasoline using BP's brand name at
Retail Sites located in any Branded Seller Metropolitan Area, or to resell gasoline to any
such person, except that "BP Branded Seller" does not include Retail Sites
leased from BP.
- "BP Retail Divestiture Assets" means all Retail Assets owned by BP or leased
by BP from another person located in the following Metropolitan Areas: Charleston, South
Carolina; Charlotte, North Carolina; Columbia, South Carolina; Jackson, Tennessee;
Memphis, Tennessee; and Savannah, Georgia.
- "Branded Fuels" means motor gasoline purchased by a person for resale under a
trade name owned by another person.
- "Branded Seller Metropolitan Area" means (1) each of the following
Metropolitan Areas: Albany, Georgia; Athens, Georgia; Birmingham, Alabama; Charleston,
South Carolina; Charlotte, North Carolina; Charlottesville, Virginia; Clarksville,
Tennessee; Cleveland, Ohio; Columbia, South Carolina; Columbus, Georgia;
Cumberland, Maryland; Dothan, Alabama; Fayetteville, North Carolina; Florence, Alabama;
Goldsboro, North Carolina; Hattiesburg, Mississippi; Hickory, North Carolina; Jackson,
Tennessee; Memphis, Tennessee; Mobile, Alabama; Myrtle Beach, South Carolina; Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania; Raleigh, North Carolina; Rocky Mount, North Carolina; Savannah, Georgia;
Sumter, South Carolina; Tallahassee, Florida; Toledo, Ohio; and Youngstown, Ohio; and
(2) the city of Meridian, Mississippi and the counties of Kemper, Lauderdale, and
Newton, Mississippi.
- "Commission" means the Federal Trade Commission.
- "Deed Restriction" means any obligation that would prevent or inhibit the
owner of a Retail Site (or the owner's tenant) from selling motor fuels at that Retail
Site other than a brand licensed from Respondents.
- "Existing Supply Agreement" means each franchise agreement, supply contract,
image agreement, jobber outlet incentive program contract, Amoco Two Party Dealer Lease,
and all related agreements between Respondents and any BP Branded Seller or Amoco Branded
Seller relating to such person's right or obligation to sell or resell gasoline using BP's
brand name or Amoco's brand name at a Retail Site in a Branded Seller Metropolitan Area.
- "Long Term Lease" means a lease the terms of which allow Respondents to divest
to the acquirer of Retail Assets a right to occupy those Retail Assets for ten (10) years
or longer from the date on which the order becomes final, and where such divestiture is
not subject to landlord approval or, if subject to such approval, Respondents have
obtained the necessary approval prior to the divestiture. "Long Term Lease" does
not include a leasehold interest in which any Respondent is a lessor.
- "Merger" means the proposed merger of Amoco and BP.
- "Metropolitan Area" means any Metropolitan Statistical Area or Consolidated
Metropolitan Statistical Area as defined by the U.S. Office of Management and Budget as of
June 30, 1998.
- "Ohio Metropolitan Area" means each of the following Metropolitan Areas:
Toledo, Ohio, and Youngstown, Ohio.
- "Ohio Retail Divestiture Assets" means a package of Retail Assets, to be
identified by Respondents but approved by the Commission, (i) that includes individual
Retail Sites with aggregate sales of 40 million gallons of gasoline in Youngstown, Ohio
during 1997, and aggregate sales of 14 million gallons of gasoline in Toledo, Ohio during
1997; (ii) each of which complies with all 1998 and 1999 environmental requirements for
underground storage tanks; and (iii) for each of which Respondents can convey fee
ownership or a Long Term Lease.
- "Option Effective Date" means a date identified by the Amoco Branded Seller or
BP Branded Seller that is not later than sixty (60) days after Respondents' receipt of a
written notice from an Amoco Branded Seller or BP Branded Seller pursuant to Paragraph
IV.A.1.
- "Option Period" means, for each BP Branded Seller or Amoco Branded Seller, a
sixty (60) day period commencing upon the date on which such person receives the written
notification specified in Paragraph IV.A of this Order; except that, if this Order is made
final on or after April 20, 1999, the Option Period shall end on June 30, 1999.
- "Person" means any individual, partnership, association, company or
corporation.
- "Respondents" means BP Amoco, Amoco and BP, individually and collectively.
- "Retail Assets" means, for each Retail Site, all assets, tangible or
intangible, that are used at the Retail Site, including but not limited to all permits and
contracts, and all assets relating to all ancillary businesses (such as automobile
mechanical service, convenience stores, restaurants, and car washes) located at each
Retail Site. Respondents shall make good faith diligent efforts to obtain all third-party
approvals necessary to convey all licenses, permits, consents and ancillary businesses
with each Retail Site. Retail Assets do not include Respondents' proprietary trademarks,
trade names, logos, trade dress, identification signs, additized product inventory,
petroleum franchise agreements, petroleum product supply agreements, credit card
agreements, satellite-based or centralized credit card processing equipment not
incorporated in gasoline dispensers, or systemwide software and databases.
- "Retail Divestiture Assets" means the Amoco Retail Divestiture Assets and the
BP Retail Divestiture Assets.
- "Retail Site" means a business establishment from which gasoline is sold to
the general public.
- "Terminaling" means the services performed by a facility that provides
temporary storage of gasoline received from a pipeline or marine vessel, and the
redelivery of gasoline from storage tanks into tank trucks or transport trailers.
- "Terminal Assets" means all assets, tangible and intangible, relating to
Terminaling at the Terminaling facilities owned by Amoco (including but not limited to
real property, tanks, loading racks, offices, buildings, warehouses, equipment, machinery,
fixtures, tools, spare parts, licenses, permits, and other property used for Terminaling)
at the following locations: Aurora, Ohio; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Jacksonville, Florida;
Knoxville, Tennessee; Meridian, Mississippi; Mobile, Alabama; Montgomery, Alabama; North
Augusta, South Carolina; and Spartanburg, South Carolina.
- "Terminated Retail Site" means a Retail Site as to which an Amoco Branded
Seller or BP Branded Seller has exercised the option to cancel an Existing Supply
Agreement pursuant to Paragraph IV of this order.
II.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that:
A. Respondents shall divest, absolutely and in good faith, the Terminal Assets to
Williams Energy Ventures, Inc., in accordance with the Purchase and Sale Agreement dated
October 29, 1998 between Amoco Oil Company and Williams Energy Ventures, Inc., no later
than:
(1) ten (10) days after the date on which the Merger is consummated, or
(2) thirty (30) days after the date on which Respondents sign the agreement containing
consent order, whichever is later. Provided, however, that if Respondents
have divested the Terminal Assets to Williams Energy Ventures, Inc. prior to the date the
order becomes final, and if, at the time the Commission determines to make the order
final, the Commission notifies Respondents that Williams Energy Ventures, Inc., is not an
acceptable buyer of the Terminal Assets or that the manner in which the divestiture was
accomplished is not acceptable, then Respondents shall immediately rescind the transaction
with Williams Energy Ventures, Inc., and shall divest the Terminal Assets within six
months from the date the Order becomes final, absolutely and in good faith, at no minimum
price, to an acquirer that receives the prior approval of the Commission and only in a
manner that receives the prior approval of the Commission.
B. Pending divestiture of the Terminal Assets, Respondents shall take such actions as
are necessary to maintain the viability and marketability of the Terminal Assets and to
prevent the destruction, removal, wasting, deterioration or impairment of any of the
Terminal Assets except for ordinary wear and tear that does not affect the viability and
marketability of the Terminal Assets.
C. Respondents shall comply with all terms of the Purchase and Sale Agreement dated
October 29, 1998, between Amoco Oil Company and Williams Energy Ventures, Inc., for the
Terminal Assets, and such agreement is incorporated by reference into this order and made
a part hereof as Confidential Appendix B. Any failure by Respondents to comply with the
requirements of such agreement shall constitute a failure to comply with this order.
D. The purpose of this Paragraph II is to ensure the continuation of the Terminal
Assets as ongoing, viable enterprises engaged in the Terminaling of gasoline and other
petroleum products, and to remedy the lessening of competition resulting from the Merger
in Terminaling markets as alleged in the Commission's complaint.
III.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that:
- Respondents shall divest, at no minimum price, absolutely and in good faith, within six
months from the date Respondents execute the agreement containing consent order, the
Retail Divestiture Assets.
- Upon divestiture, Respondents shall cancel all existing dealer leases, dealer loans,
building incentive agreements, and related dealer agreements between Respondents and their
lessee dealers applicable to the divested Retail Sites.
- For each Metropolitan Area identified in Paragraphs I.E. and I.I., Respondents shall
divest the Retail Divestiture Assets in such Metropolitan Area to a single acquirer that
receives the prior approval of the Commission and only in a manner that receives the prior
approval of the Commission.
- Pending divestiture of the Retail Divestiture Assets, Respondents shall take such
actions as are necessary to maintain the viability and marketability of the assets and to
prevent the destruction, removal, wasting, deterioration, or impairment of any of such
assets except for ordinary wear and tear. Respondents shall continue at least at their
scheduled pace all capital projects involving the assets that were ongoing, planned, or
approved as of the date the agreement containing consent order is signed by Respondents,
and otherwise shall maintain the Retail Divestiture Assets at least at the same standards
and on the same schedule as Respondents have been maintaining them until the date of
divestiture. Respondents shall not remove or degrade the brand identification at the
Retail Divestiture Assets, until the divestiture of the assets is completed.
- The purpose of this Paragraph III is to ensure the continued use of these assets in the
same business in which they were engaged at the time of the proposed Merger, and to remedy
the lessening of competition in the sale of gasoline in each of the Metropolitan Areas
identified in Paragraphs I.E. and I.I. resulting from the proposed Merger as alleged in
the Commission's complaint.
IV.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that:
A. Within ten days from the date this order becomes final, Respondents shall provide
written notification to each BP Branded Seller and each Amoco Branded Seller, giving each
such person the option to cancel, without penalty, that portion of any Existing Supply
Agreement with BP or Amoco that applies to any Terminated Retail Site, upon the following
terms and conditions:
1. Such option to cancel may be exercised by delivering written notice to BP or Amoco
during the Option Period. Each such written notice shall identify by address each Retail
Site within any Branded Seller Metropolitan Area as to which the BP Branded Seller or
Amoco Branded Seller intends to exercise such option, and the Option Effective Date for
each such Retail Site. The exercise of such option shall become effective on the Option
Effective Date.
2. Respondents shall release each BP Branded Seller or Amoco Branded Seller from all
debts, loans, Deed Restrictions, obligations or responsibilities, attributable to
Terminated Retail Sites, except for amounts owed for fuels actually received and for the
unamortized portion of any debt identified in Confidential Appendix C, on the condition
that such BP Branded Seller or Amoco Branded Seller notifies Amoco or BP in writing within
the Option Period that such BP Branded Seller or Amoco Branded Seller (a) intends to
cease purchasing Branded Fuels from Respondents for resale at such Terminated Retail Site,
(b) intends to continue to purchase gasoline for resale at such Terminated Retail
Site, but (c) will not purchase Branded Fuels for resale as Branded Fuels at such
Terminated Retail Site from any person that has a market share of more than 20% in such
Branded Seller Metropolitan Area, as measured by the 1998 annual market share estimates
published by NPD Group, Inc.
3. For a period of two years from the Option Effective Date, Respondents shall not sell
Branded Fuels for resale as Branded Fuels at Terminated Retail Sites. For a period of two
years from the date upon which respondents receive the notice specified in Paragraph
IV.A.1, Respondents shall not solicit or engage in any discussions or negotiations to sell
Branded Fuels to the Amoco Branded Seller or BP Branded Seller for resale as Branded Fuels
at any Terminated Retail Site.
B. The purpose of this Paragraph IV is to prevent Respondents from enforcing agreements
that may deter or impede existing sellers of BP or Amoco gasoline in Branded Seller
Metropolitan Areas from switching wholesale suppliers of fuels for resale at Terminated
Retail Sites, and to remedy the lessening of competition resulting from the Merger in
gasoline markets as alleged in the Commission's complaint.
V.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that:
A. Unless BP Branded Sellers or Amoco Branded Sellers that in 1998 had total yearly
sales of at least 40 million gallons of gasoline in the Youngstown, Ohio Metropolitan Area
and 14 million gallons of gasoline in the Toledo, Ohio Metropolitan Area cease purchasing
Branded Fuels from Respondents by the end of the Option Period or by June 30, 1999,
whichever is later, Respondents, within twelve (12) months from the date Respondents
execute the agreement containing consent order, shall divest, at no minimum price,
absolutely and in good faith, the Ohio Retail Divestiture Assets.
B. Respondents shall divest the Ohio Retail Divestiture Assets in each Ohio
Metropolitan Area to a single acquirer that receives the prior approval of the Commission
and only in a manner that receives the prior approval of the Commission.
C. Pending divestiture of the Ohio Retail Divestiture Assets, Respondents shall take
such actions as are necessary to maintain the viability and marketability of all Retail
Assets that might be included as part of the Ohio Retail Divestiture Assets, and to
prevent the destruction, removal, wasting, deterioration, or impairment of any of such
assets except for ordinary wear and tear. Respondents shall continue at least at their
scheduled pace all capital projects involving any Retail Assets that might be included as
part of the Ohio Retail Divestiture Assets that were ongoing, planned, or approved as of
the date the agreement containing consent order is signed by Respondents, and otherwise
shall maintain such assets at least at the same standards and on the same schedule as
Respondents have been maintaining them until the date of divestiture. Respondents shall
not remove or degrade the brand identification at any Retail Assets that might be included
as part of the Ohio Retail Divestiture Assets, until the divestiture of the assets is
completed.
D. The purpose of this Paragraph V is to ensure the continued use of these assets in
the same business in which they were engaged at the time of the proposed Merger, and to
remedy the lessening of competition in the sale of gasoline in Toledo and Youngstown,
Ohio, resulting from the proposed Merger as alleged in the Commission's complaint.
VI.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that:
A. If Respondents have not divested, absolutely and in good faith, the
Terminal Assets pursuant to Paragraph II. of this order, the Retail Divestiture Assets
pursuant to Paragraph III. of this order, and the Ohio Retail Divestiture Assets pursuant
to Paragraph V. of this order, the Commission may appoint a trustee or trustees to divest
the Terminal Assets, the Retail Divestiture Assets, or the Ohio Retail Divestiture Assets.
The trustee shall divest the Terminal Assets, the Retail Divestiture Assets, or the Ohio
Retail Divestiture Assets at no minimum price, to an acquirer that receives the prior
approval of the Commission, and in a manner that receives the prior approval of the
Commission.
B. In the event that the Commission or the Attorney General brings an
action pursuant to § 5(l) of the Federal Trade Commission Act, 15 U.S.C.
§ 45(l), or any other statute enforced by the Commission, Respondents shall
consent to the appointment of a trustee or trustees in such action. Neither the
appointment of a trustee nor a decision not to appoint a trustee under this Paragraph
shall preclude the Commission or the Attorney General from seeking civil penalties or any
other relief available, including a court-appointed trustee or trustees, pursuant to
§ 5(l) of the Federal Trade Commission Act, or any other statute enforced
by the Commission, for any failure by the Respondents to comply with this order.
C. If any trustee is appointed by the Commission or a court pursuant to
the terms of this order, Respondents shall consent to the following terms and conditions
regarding the trustee's powers, duties, authority, and responsibilities:
1. The Commission shall select the trustee, subject to the consent of
Respondents, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The trustee shall be a
person with experience and expertise in acquisitions and divestitures. If Respondents have
not opposed, in writing, including the reasons for opposing, the selection of the proposed
trustee, within ten (10) days after notice by the staff of the Commission to Respondents
of the identity of the proposed trustee, Respondents shall be deemed to have consented to
the selection of the proposed trustee.
2. Subject to the prior approval of the Commission, the trustee shall have
the exclusive power and authority to divest the Terminal Assets, the Retail Divestiture
Assets, or the Ohio Retail Divestiture Assets.
3. Within ten (10) days after appointment of the trustee, Respondents
shall execute a trust agreement that, subject to the prior approval of the Commission and,
in the case of a court-appointed trustee, of the court, transfers to the trustee all
rights and powers necessary to permit the trustee to divest the Terminal Assets, the
Retail Divestiture Assets, or the Ohio Retail Divestiture Assets.
4. The trustee shall have twelve (12) months from the date the Commission
approves the trust agreement described in Paragraph IV.C.3. to accomplish the divestiture,
which shall be subject to the prior approval of the Commission. If, however, at the end of
the twelve-month period, the trustee has submitted a plan of divestiture or believes that
divestiture can be achieved within a reasonable time, the divestiture period may be
extended by the Commission, or, in the case of a court-appointed trustee, by the court;
provided, however, the Commission may extend this period only two (2) times.
5. The trustee shall have full and complete access to the personnel,
books, records and facilities related to the Terminal Assets, the Retail Divestiture
Assets, or the Ohio Retail Divestiture Assets, or to any other relevant information, as
the trustee may request. Respondents shall develop such financial or other information as
such trustee may request and shall cooperate with the trustee. Respondents shall take no
action to interfere with or impede the trustee's accomplishment of the divestiture. Any
delays in the divestiture caused by Respondents shall extend the time for divestiture
under this Paragraph in an amount equal to the delay, as determined by the Commission or,
for a court-appointed trustee, by the court.
6. The trustee shall use his or her best efforts to negotiate the most
favorable price and terms available in each contract that is submitted to the Commission,
subject to Respondents' absolute and unconditional obligation to divest expeditiously at
no minimum price. The divestiture shall be made in the manner and to the acquirer or
acquirers as set out in Paragraphs II., III., and V. of this order, provided, however, if
the trustee receives bona fide offers from more than one acquiring entity, and if the
Commission determines to approve more than one such acquiring entity, the trustee shall
divest to the acquiring entity or entities selected by Respondents from among those
approved by the Commission, provided further, however, that Respondents shall select such
entity within five (5) days of receiving notification of the Commission's approval.
7. The trustee shall serve, without bond or other security, at the cost
and expense of Respondents, on such reasonable and customary terms and conditions as the
Commission or a court may set. The trustee shall have the authority to employ, at the cost
and expense of Respondents, such consultants, accountants, attorneys, investment bankers,
business brokers, appraisers, and other representatives and assistants as are necessary to
carry out the trustee's duties and responsibilities. The trustee shall account for all
monies derived from the divestitures and all expenses incurred. After approval by the
Commission and, in the case of a court-appointed trustee, by the court, of the account of
the trustee, including fees for his or her services, all remaining monies shall be paid at
the direction of the Respondents, and the trustee's power shall be terminated. The
trustee's compensation shall be based at least in significant part on a commission
arrangement contingent on the trustee's divesting the Terminal Assets, the Retail
Divestiture Assets, or the Ohio Retail Divestiture Assets.
8. Respondents shall indemnify the trustee and hold the trustee harmless
against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, or expenses arising out of, or in
connection with, the performance of the trustee's duties, including all reasonable fees of
counsel and other expenses incurred in connection with the preparation for, or defense of
any claim, whether or not resulting in any liability, except to the extent that such
liabilities, losses, damages, claims, or expenses result from misfeasance, gross
negligence, willful or wanton acts, or bad faith by the trustee.
9. If the trustee ceases to act or fails to act diligently, a substitute
trustee shall be appointed in the same manner as provided in Paragraph VI.A. of this
order.
10. The Commission or, in the case of a court-appointed trustee, the
court, may on its own initiative or at the request of the trustee issue such additional
orders or directions as may be necessary or appropriate to accomplish the divestitures
required by this order.
11. Except as otherwise provided in this order, the trustee shall have no
obligation or authority to operate or maintain the assets to be divested.
12. The trustee shall report in writing to Respondents and the Commission
every sixty (60) days concerning the trustee's efforts to accomplish the divestitures.
VII.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, for a period of ten (10)
years from the date this order becomes final, Respondents shall not, without providing
advance written notification to the Commission, directly or indirectly, through
subsidiaries, partnerships, joint ventures, or otherwise, acquire :
A. 1. any stock, share capital, equity, partnership, membership or other
interest in any concern, corporate or non-corporate, engaged, at the time of such
acquisition or within the year preceding such acquisition, in providing Terminaling
services and located in any of the counties in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi,
Ohio, South Carolina or Tennessee, listed on Appendix A hereto, or
2. any assets used or previously used (and still suitable for use) in
providing Terminaling services and located in any of the counties in Alabama, Florida,
Georgia, Mississippi, Ohio, South Carolina or Tennessee listed on Appendix A hereto, or
B. 1. any stock, share capital, equity, partnership, membership or other
interest in any concern, corporate or non-corporate, engaged, at the time of such
acquisition or within the year preceding such acquisition, in the sale of gasoline in any
Branded Seller Metropolitan Area, or
2. any assets used or previously used (and still suitable for use) in the
sale of gasoline in any Branded Seller Metropolitan Area for which the aggregate purchase
price exceeds $10 million.
Said notification shall be given on the Notification and Report Form set
forth in the Appendix to Part 803 of Title 16 of the Code of Federal Regulations as
amended (hereinafter referred to as "the Notification"), and shall be prepared
and transmitted in accordance with the requirements of that part, except that no filing
fee will be required for any such notification, notification shall be filed with the
Secretary of the Commission, notification need not be made to the United States Department
of Justice, and notification is required only of Respondents and not of any other party to
the transaction. Respondents shall provide the Notification to the Commission at least
thirty (30) days prior to consummating the transaction (hereinafter referred to as the
"first waiting period"). If, within the first waiting period, representatives of
the Commission make a written request for additional information or documentary material
(within the meaning of 16 C.F.R. § 803.20), Respondents shall not consummate the
transaction until twenty (20) days after submitting such additional information or
documentary material. Early termination of the waiting periods in this Paragraph may be
requested and, where appropriate, granted by letter from the Bureau of Competition.
Provided, however, that prior notification shall not be required by this Paragraph for a
transaction for which notification is required to be made, and has been made, pursuant to
Section 7A of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. § 18a.
VIII.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED THAT:
A. Within thirty (30) days from the date this order becomes final and
every thirty (30) days thereafter until Respondents have fully complied with the
provisions of Paragraphs II, III, IV and V of this order, Respondents shall submit to the
Commission a verified written report setting forth in detail the manner and form in which
they intend to comply, are complying, and have complied with Paragraphs II, III, IV and V
of this order. Respondents shall include in their compliance reports, among other things
that are required from time to time, a full description of the efforts being made to
comply with Paragraphs II, III, IV and V of this order, including a description of all
substantive contacts or negotiations for the divestitures and the identity of all parties
contacted. Respondents shall include in their compliance reports copies of all written
communications to and from such parties, all internal memoranda, and all reports and
recommendations concerning divestitures.
B. One (1) year from the date this order becomes final, annually for the
next nine (9) years on the anniversary of the date this order becomes final, and at other
times as the Commission may require, Respondents shall file a verified written report with
the Commission setting forth in detail the manner and form in which they have complied and
are complying with each provision of this order.
IX.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that:
A. Respondents shall notify the Commission at least thirty (30) days prior
to any proposed change in the corporate Respondents such as dissolution, assignment, sale
resulting in the emergence of a successor corporation, or the creation or dissolution of
subsidiaries or any other change in the corporation that may affect compliance obligations
arising out of the order.
B. Upon consummation of the Merger, Respondents shall cause the merged
entity to be bound by the terms of this order.
X.
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, for the purpose of
determining or securing compliance with this order, upon written request, Respondents
shall permit any duly authorized representative of the Commission:
A. Access, during office hours and in the presence of counsel, to all
facilities and access to inspect and copy all books, ledgers, accounts, correspondence,
memoranda and other records and documents in the possession or under the control of
Respondents relating to any matters contained in this order; and
B. Upon five days' notice to Respondents and without restraint or
interference from it, to interview officers, directors, or employees of Respondents.
By the Commission.
Donald S. Clark
Secretary
SEAL:
ISSUED: April 19, 1999
Alabama Counties Autauga
Baldwin
Bibb
Bullock
Butler
Cherokee
Chilton
Choctaw
Clarke
Coosa
Crenshaw
Dallas
De Kalb
Elmore
Escambia
Greene
Jackson
Lee
Lowndes
Macon
Marengo
Mobile
Monroe
Montgomery
Perry
Pickens
Pike
Shelby
Sumter
Tallapoosa
Washington
Wilcox |
Florida Counties Baker
Bradford
Clay
Duval
Escambia
Nassau
Putnam
Santa Rosa
St. Johns
Union |
Georgia Counties Bartow
Brantley
Burke
Camden
Catoosa
Charlton
Chattooga
Columbia
Dade
Elbert
Fannin
Floyd
Franklin
Gilmer
Glascock
Glynn
Gordon
Habersham
Hart
Jefferson
Jenkins
Lincoln
Madison
McDuffie
Murray
Oglethorpe
Pickens
Rabun
Richmond
Screven
Stephens
Taliaferro
Walker
Warren
Whitfield
Wilkes |
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Mississippi Counties Clarke
George
Greene
Harrison
Jackson
Jasper
Jones
Kemper
Lauderdale
Leake
Neshoba
Newton
Noxubee
Perry
Scott
Smith
Stone
Wayne
Winston |
Ohio Counties Ashland
Ashtabula
Belmont
Carroll
Columbiana
Coshocton
Crawford
Cuyahoga
Erie
Geauga
Guernsey
Harrison
Holmes
Huron
Jefferson
Knox
Lake
Lorain
Mahoning
Medina
Muskingum
Ottawa
Portage
Richland
Sandusky
Seneca
Stark
Summit
Trumbull
Tuscarawas
Wayne |
South Carolina Counties Abbeville
Aiken
Allendale
Anderson
Bamberg
Barnwell
Cherokee
Chester
Edgefield
Fairfield
Greenville
Greenwood
Laurens
Lexington
McCormick
Newberry
Oconee
Orangeburg
Pickens
Saluda
Spartanburg
Union
York |
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Tennessee Counties Anderson
Bledsoe
Blount
Bradley
Campbell
Claiborne
Cocke
Coffee
Cumberland
Fentress
Franklin
Grainger
Greene
Grundy
Hamblen
Hamilton
Hancock
Hawkins
Jefferson
Knox
Loudon
Marion
McMinn
Meigs
Monroe
Morgan
Polk
Rhea
Roane
Scott
Sequatchie
Sevier
Union
Van Buren
Warren |
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