Ahold, Bruno's Petition FTC on Voting Stock
WASHINGTON -- Royal Ahold and former division Bruno's Supermarkets, Inc. have petitioned the Federal Trade Commission here to reopen and modify a final decision and order dated Jan. 16, 2002, under which Ahold was permitted to acquire all of Birmingham, Ala.-based Bruno's outstanding voting stock, provided that certain conditions were met.
Among other conditions, the order requires Ahold to divest two Bi-Lo supermarkets, one in Milledgeville, Ga. and one in Sandersville, Ga., to Kroger and Winn-Dixie, respectively. Ahold also has to notify the FTC, for 10 years from the date the order became final, before purchasing any supermarkets (or supermarket interests) in Georgia's Baldwin and Washington counties.
Ahold's petition notes that in 2005 it sold all of its supermarket assets in the areas mentioned it the order and that, therefore, it no longer owns or operates any supermarket assets there. Consequently, Ahold has asked the FTC vacate the order in relation to the Netherlands-based company.
The FTC is accepting public comments on the petition until May 17. Comments should be sent to FTC, Office of the Secretary, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20580. (FTC File No. 011-0247, Docket No. C-4027; the staff contact is Elizabeth A. Piotrowski, Bureau of Competition, 202-326-2623.)
Among other conditions, the order requires Ahold to divest two Bi-Lo supermarkets, one in Milledgeville, Ga. and one in Sandersville, Ga., to Kroger and Winn-Dixie, respectively. Ahold also has to notify the FTC, for 10 years from the date the order became final, before purchasing any supermarkets (or supermarket interests) in Georgia's Baldwin and Washington counties.
Ahold's petition notes that in 2005 it sold all of its supermarket assets in the areas mentioned it the order and that, therefore, it no longer owns or operates any supermarket assets there. Consequently, Ahold has asked the FTC vacate the order in relation to the Netherlands-based company.
The FTC is accepting public comments on the petition until May 17. Comments should be sent to FTC, Office of the Secretary, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20580. (FTC File No. 011-0247, Docket No. C-4027; the staff contact is Elizabeth A. Piotrowski, Bureau of Competition, 202-326-2623.)