FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                    AT
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7, 1994                                  (202) 616-2771
                                                         TDD (202) 514-1888

       VIRGIN ISLANDS LIQUOR WHOLESALER ENDS EXCLUSIONARY PRACTICES
               AFTER JUSTICE DEPARTMENT FILES ANTITRUST SUIT


   WASHINGTON, D.C. -- A Virgin Islands liquor wholesaler who
controlled about 96 percent of the Islands' liquor business today
was sued by the Justice Department's Antitrust Division for
restraining competition in the liquor market.  Simultaneously,
the Department filed a proposed settlement in which the
wholesaler, Topa Equities (V.I.) Ltd agreed to let its suppliers
deal with other wholesalers and not to interfere with the
business operations of its competitors.  
    In a suit filed in U.S. District Court in the Virgin
Islands, the Department alleged that Topa obtained the exclusive
Virgin Islands distribution rights of almost every brand of
distilled spirits in the world market, and that obtaining and
retaining these rights were contracts in restraint of trade. 
Topa has annual sales of over $24 million.  
   Anne K. Bingaman, Assistant Attorney General in charge of the
Antitrust Division, said, "The relief obtained in this decree
will help restore competition in the wholesale liquor market in
the Virgin Islands by allowing suppliers to move freely to other
wholesalers and by ensuring that Topa does not use its dominant
market position unfairly against competitors."
   The proposed settlement must be approved by the court.   
   As required by the Antitrust Procedures and Penalties Act,
the proposed consent decree, along with the Department's
competitive impact statement, will be published in the Federal
Register and any person may comment on the proposed decree by
submitting comments to the Department.  After a 60-day public
comment period the United States will reply to any public
comments and will seek entry of the decree by the court.
                                    ###

94-684