Commission action regarding applications for approval:
The Commission vote to approve the transactions was 4-0, with Commissioner Thomas B. Leary recused. (FTC File No. 991-0077; Docket No. C-3907; staff contact is Daniel P. Ducore, 202-326-2526; see press release dated November 30, 1999.)
Consent agreements given final approval:
The Commission vote to accept the consent as final was 3-2, with Commissioners Orson Swindle and Thomas B. Leary dissenting and issuing a separate statement. The majority, which included Chairman Robert Pitofsky and Commissioners Sheila Anthony and Mozelle W. Thompson, also issued a separate statement responding to the dissenting Commissioners. Both statements are summarized in the original press release related to this matter and included as links to that document. (FTC File No. 961-0050; staff contact is Michael E. Antalics, Deputy Director, Bureau of Competition, 202-326-2821; see press release dated March 8, 2000.)
Commission extension of divestiture time period:
The divestiture of these assets was consummated on September 25, 1998, and was intended to maintain competition in the sale of reagents used to test for drug abuse by employees. The assets to be divested included both intellectual property and manufacturing assets related to this technology. The order required Microgenics to secure all necessary FDA approvals regarding this technology within one year of the date of the consent. The Commission previously approved a six-month extension to that period and the period during which Roche was required to supply certain material to Microgenics. This extension grants Microgenics three more months to complete the FDA approval process. The Commission vote to extend the time period was 4-0, with Commissioner Thomas B. Leary not participating. (FTC Docket No. C-3809; staff contact is Daniel P. Ducore, 202-326-2526; see press releases dated August 7, February 25, and September 23, 1998; Docket No. C-3809.)
Commission extension of public comment periods:
Commission approval of consent in settlement of court action:
Under the terms of the settlement, they will be prohibited from violating the Commission's Franchise and Business Opportunities Rule and Telemarketing Sales Rule in the future, from misrepresenting the potential profits of any business opportunity, and will be required to post a $1 million performance bond before engaging in telemarketing or the sale of a business venture. The settlement, reached as part of the FTC's Operation Trade Name Game, also includes a suspended judgment for the full amount of consumer injury, over $2.75 million, provided that the Anand's each pay $60,000 over a three-year payment schedule.
The Commission vote to approve the settlement was 5-0. It was filed with the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas and signed by the judge on February 3, 2000. It was entered on the docket on February 4, 2000. (FTC File No. X970065; staff contact is James E. Elliott, Dallas Regional Office, 214-979-9373.)
Copies of the documents mentioned in this release are available from the FTC's web site at http://www.ftc.gov and also from the FTC's Consumer Response Center, Room 130, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20580; toll free: 877-FTC-HELP (877-382-4357); TDD 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.