9810386 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
In the Matter of NINE WEST GROUP INC., a corporation. The Federal Trade Commission having initiated an investigation of certain acts and practices of Nine West Group Inc., hereinafter sometimes referred to as Respondent, and Respondent having been furnished thereafter with a copy of a draft of Complaint that the Northeast Regional Office presented to the Commission for its consideration and which, if issued by the Commission, would charge Respondent with violations of Section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act, as amended, 15 U.S.C. § 45; and Respondent, its attorneys, and counsel for the Commission having thereafter executed an Agreement Containing Consent Order ("Consent Agreement"), containing an admission by Respondent of all the jurisdictional facts set forth in the aforesaid draft of Complaint, a statement that the signing of said Consent Agreement is for settlement purposes only and does not constitute an admission by Respondent that the law has been violated as alleged in such Complaint, or that the facts as alleged in such Complaint, other than jurisdictional facts, are true, 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 Respondent has violated the said Act, and that a 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 thirty (30) days for the receipt and consideration of public comments, now in further conformity with the procedure described in Commission Rule 2.34, 16 C.F.R. § 2.34, the Commission hereby makes the following jurisdictional findings and issues the following Order:
ORDER I. IT IS ORDERED that for the purpose of this order, the following definitions shall apply:
II. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Nine West, directly or indirectly, or through any corporation, subsidiary, division or other device, in connection with the manufacturing, offering for sale, sale or distribution of any Nine West Products in or into the United States of America in or affecting "commerce," as defined by the Federal Trade Commission Act, forthwith cease and desist from:
PROVIDED that nothing in this order shall prohibit Nine West from announcing resale prices in advance and unilaterally refusing to deal with those who fail to comply. PROVIDED FURTHER that nothing in this order shall prohibit Nine West from establishing and maintaining cooperative advertising programs that include conditions as to the prices at which dealers offer Nine West Products, so long as such advertising programs are not a part of a resale price maintenance scheme and do not otherwise violate this order. III. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, for a period of five (5) years from the date on which this order becomes final, Nine West shall clearly and conspicuously state the following on any list, advertising, book, catalogue, or promotional material where it has suggested any resale price for any Nine West Products to any dealer:
IV. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, within thirty (30) days after the date on which this order becomes final, Nine West shall mail by first class mail the letter attached as Exhibit A, together with a copy of this order, to each director, officer, dealer, distributor, agent, and sales representative engaged in the sale of any Nine West Products in or into the United States of America. V. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, for a period of two (2) years after the date on which this order becomes final, Nine West shall mail by first class mail the letter attached as Exhibit A, together with a copy of this order, to each new director, officer, dealer, distributor, agent, and sales representative engaged in the sale of any Nine West Products in or into the United States of America, within ninety (90) days of the commencement of such person's employment or affiliation with Nine West. VI. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Nine West shall notify the Commission at least thirty (30) days prior to any proposed changes in Nine West such as dissolution, assignment or sale resulting in the emergence of a successor corporation, or the creation or dissolution of subsidiaries or any other change in the corporation which may affect compliance obligations arising out of the order. VII. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, within sixty (60) days after the date this order becomes final, and at such other times as the Commission or its staff shall request, Nine West shall file with the Commission a verified written report setting forth in detail the manner and form in which Nine West has complied and is complying with this order. VIII. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this order shall terminate on April 11, 2020. By the Commission. Donald S. Clark SEAL: ISSUED: April 11, 2000 |