UNITED
STATES OF AMERICA
BEFORE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
- COMMISSIONERS:
- Robert Pitofsky, Chairman
- Mary L. Azcuenaga
- Roscoe B. Starek, III
- Sheila F. Anthony
In the Matter of
Automatic Data
Processing, Inc., a
corporation.
DECISION AND ORDER
Docket No. 9282
The Commission having heretofore issued its complaint
charging the respondent named in the caption hereof with
violation of Section 5 of the Â鶹´«Ã½ Trade Commission
Act, as amended, and Section 7 of the Clayton Act, as
amended, and the respondent having been served with a
copy of that complaint, together with a notice of
contemplated relief; and
The respondent, its attorney, and counsel for the
Commission having thereafter executed an agreement
containing a consent order, and admission by the
respondent of all of the jurisdictional facts set forth
in the complaint, a statement that the signing of said
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 Secretary of the Commission having thereafter
withdrawn this matter from adjudication in accordance
with § 3.25(b) of its Rules; and
The Commission having considered the matter and having
thereupon accepted the executed consent agreement and
placed such agreement on the public record for a period
of sixty (60) days, and having duly considered the
comments filed thereafter by interested persons pursuant
to § 3.25(f) of its Rules, now in further
conformity with the procedure prescribed in
§ 3.25(f) of its Rules, the Commission hereby makes
the following jurisdictional findings and enters the
following order:
- 1. Respondent Automatic Data Processing, Inc. is
a corporation organized, existing and doing
business under and by virtue of the laws of the
State of Delaware with its office and principal
place of business located at One ADP Boulevard,
Roseland, New Jersey 07068.
-
- 2. The Â鶹´«Ã½ Trade Commission has jurisdiction
of the subject matter of this proceeding and of
respondent, and the proceeding is in the public
interest.
ORDER
I
IT IS ORDERED that, as used in this
Order, the following definitions shall apply:
- A. "Respondent" or "ADP"
means Automatic Data Processing, Inc., its
directors, officers, employees, agents and
representatives, predecessors, successors and
assigns; its subsidiaries, divisions, groups and
affiliates controlled by ADP, and the respective
directors, officers, employees, agents, and
representatives, successors, and assigns of each.
-
- B. "Parts Services" means the Parts
Services Division of ADP Claims Solutions Group,
Inc., a subsidiary of ADP.
-
- C. "Commission" means the Â鶹´«Ã½ Trade
Commission.
-
- D. "Acquisition" means the April 1,
1995, acquisition by ADP of assets from AutoInfo,
Inc., including salvage yard management systems,
communications systems and networks, automotive
interchange, inventory data collection contracts
and other assets.
-
- E. The "AutoInfo Assets" means the
AutoInfo Interchange, the AutoInfo YMS, the
AutoInfo Communication Systems, AutoInfo Parts
Locator and the ARA Database Collector, and a
non-exclusive, paid-up license to all research
and development, by or for Parts Services, since
April 1, 1995, through the date of divestiture
for any new yard management system or
communication system.
-
- F. The "Hollander Interchange" means
the numeric indexing system developed, maintained
and sold or licensed originally by Hollander,
Inc. and subsequently by ADP and used to identify
automotive parts and assemblies and their ability
to be interchanged and includes all updates
prepared by or for ADP up to the date of
divestiture pursuant to Paragraph II or Paragraph
III of this Order, including but not limited to
any interchange developed or updated by ADP since
the Acquisition from then-existing Hollander
Interchange and AutoInfo Interchange data.
-
- G. The "AutoInfo Interchange" means the
numeric indexing system owned by ADP, but
previously developed, maintained and sold by
AutoInfo, used to identify automotive parts and
assemblies and their ability to be interchanged
and includes all updates to the AutoInfo
Interchange prepared by or for AutoInfo up to the
date of the Acquisition or by or for ADP up to
the date of divestiture pursuant to Paragraph II
or Paragraph III of this Order, and includes
supplier and service contracts, research and
development, and other tangible and intangible
assets used in the development and maintenance of
the AutoInfo Interchange.
-
- H. "AutoInfo YMS" means Checkmate,
Checkmate Jr., Classic, the BidPad, PartPad,
accounting and management modules, and any other
salvage yard management systems developed,
maintained, sold or licensed by AutoInfo, Inc.,
and subsequently by ADP, including source codes,
application program interfaces, data formats and
communication protocols, customer, supplier and
service contracts, goodwill, research and
development, and other tangible and intangible
assets relating thereto.
-
- I. "AutoInfo Communication Systems"
means the ORION, ORION/RTS, AutoMatch,
AutoXchange, and ORION Exchange communication
systems used for the buying and selling of used
auto parts and assemblies, including source
codes, application program interfaces, data
formats and communication protocols, customer,
supplier and service contracts, goodwill,
research and development and other tangible and
intangible assets relating thereto, and
Respondent's rights and obligations with respect
to current and former subscribers to CalQwik.
-
- J. "ARA" means the Automotive Recyclers
Association.
-
- K. "ARA Database Agreement" means the
February 27, 1996, "Amended and Restated
Agreement Regarding the ARA International
Database by and between Automotive Recyclers
Association and ADP Claims Solutions Group,
Inc." and any addenda thereto.
-
- L. "ARA Database Collector" means the
rights and obligations to act as the manager and
operator of the Automotive Recyclers Association
International Database pursuant to the ARA
Database Agreement.
-
- M. "Compass" means the Compass
Communications Network, the group of voice
communication, data, and buying networks to the
automobile salvage industry formerly owned by
AutoInfo, and customer, supplier and service
contracts, goodwill, research and development and
other tangible and intangible assets used in the
development, maintenance, sale or licensing of
the Compass communication systems.
-
- N. "AutoInfo Parts Locator" means the
AutoInfo Parts Locator, a computerized on-line
telephone service that is offered to the
automobile casualty insurance industry, which
uses ORION/RTS, and software that provides access
to the ORION/RTS database, customer, supplier and
service contracts, customer lists, goodwill,
research and development and other tangible and
intangible assets used in the development,
maintenance, sale or licensing of the AutoInfo
Parts Locator.
-
- O. "HYMS" means the Hollander Yard
Management System, originally developed,
maintained and sold or licensed by Hollander,
Inc., and subsequently developed, maintained and
sold or licensed by ADP.
-
- P. "EDEN" means the Electronic Data
Exchange Network, a communications and database
inventory-search system used by salvage yards for
the buying and selling of used automobile parts
and assemblies.
-
- Q. "Trustee Assets" means the AutoInfo
Assets and Compass.
-
- R. "Acquirer" means the acquirer or
acquirers of the AutoInfo Assets pursuant to
Paragraph II or the Trustee Assets pursuant to
Paragraph III of this Order.
II
A. Respondent shall divest, absolutely and in good
faith, (1) within one hundred fifty (150) days after the
date the Agreement Containing Consent Order is accepted
for public comment by the Commission, or (2) within sixty
(60) days after the date on which this Order becomes
final, whichever date is later, the AutoInfo Assets as an
on-going business to the Acquirer at the time of
divestiture. Respondent shall divest the AutoInfo Assets
only to an acquirer or acquirers that receive the prior
approval of the Commission and only in a manner that
receives the prior approval of the Commission. The
purpose of the divestiture of the AutoInfo Assets is to
maintain the AutoInfo Assets as on-going businesses, to
continue use of the AutoInfo Assets in the same
businesses in which the AutoInfo Assets were engaged at
the time of the Acquisition in competition with ADP, and
to remedy the lessening of competition resulting from the
Acquisition as alleged in the Commission's complaint.
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, Respondent may, in lieu of
divesting its rights as the ARA Database Collector to an
Acquirer pursuant to this Paragraph II.A. and in
satisfaction of its obligations to divest its rights as
the ARA Database Collector under this Paragraph II.A.,
terminate in accordance with all of the provisions
specified in the ARA Database Agreement its role as the
ARA Database Collector.
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, Respondent shall grant to any
entity that becomes the ARA Database Collector, if such
entity is not the Acquirer, a royalty-free license to the
Hollander Interchange to use solely for purposes of
collecting and transmitting data and managing and
operating a database for the ARA pursuant to a data
collection agreement with the ARA.
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, Respondent may retain a
non-exclusive, paid-up license to the AutoInfo
Interchange as of the date of the divestiture, excluding
supplier and service contracts, research and development,
and other tangible and intangible assets used in the
development and maintenance of the AutoInfo Interchange.
B. Pending divestiture of the AutoInfo Assets,
Respondent shall take such actions as are necessary to
maintain the viability, competitiveness and marketability
of the AutoInfo Assets and the Trustee Assets and to
prevent the destruction, removal, wasting, deterioration,
or impairment of any of the AutoInfo Assets and the
Trustee Assets except for ordinary wear and tear.
C. Respondent shall comply with the terms of the Asset
Maintenance Agreement, which is attached hereto and
incorporated herein.
III
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that:
A. If Respondent has not divested the AutoInfo Assets
pursuant to and within the time required by Paragraph
II.A., the Commission may appoint a trustee to divest the
Trustee Assets. The trustee shall have all rights and
powers necessary to permit the trustee to effect the
divestiture of the Trustee Assets in order to assure the
viability, competitiveness, and marketability of the
Trustee Assets and to accomplish the remedial purposes of
this Order. In the event that the Commission or the
Attorney General brings an action pursuant to § 5(l)
of the Â鶹´«Ã½ Trade Commission Act, 15 U.S.C.
§ 45(l), or any other statute enforced by
the Commission, Respondent shall consent to the
appointment of a trustee 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 to it, including
a court-appointed trustee, pursuant to § 5(l)
of the Â鶹´«Ã½ Trade Commission Act, or any other statute
enforced by the Commission, for any failure by the
Respondent to comply with this Order.
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, the trustee may, at his or her
option and in satisfaction of his or her obligations
under this Paragraph III.A., require ADP to terminate its
role as the ARA Database Collector pursuant to the ARA
Database Agreement.
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, Respondent shall grant to any
entity that becomes the ARA Database Collector, if such
entity is not the Acquirer, a royalty-free license to the
Hollander Interchange to use solely for purposes of
collecting and transmitting data and managing and
operating a database for the ARA pursuant to a data
collection agreement with the ARA.
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, Respondent may retain a
non-exclusive, paid-up license to the AutoInfo
Interchange as of the date of the divestiture, excluding
supplier and service contracts, research and development,
and other tangible and intangible assets used in the
development and maintenance of the AutoInfo Interchange.
B. If a trustee is appointed by the Commission or a
court pursuant to this Order, Respondent 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 Respondent, which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The
trustee shall be a person with experience and
expertise in acquisitions and divestitures. If
Respondent has not opposed, in writing, including
the reasons for opposing, the selection of any
proposed trustee within ten (10) days after
written notice by the staff of the Commission to
Respondent of the identity of any proposed
trustee, Respondent 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 Trustee Assets.
-
- 3. Within ten (10) days after appointment of the
trustee, Respondent 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 effect the divestiture
required by this Order.
-
- 4. The trustee shall have twelve (12) months from
the date the Commission approves the trust
agreement described in Paragraph III.B.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 Trustee Assets and to
any other relevant information, as the trustee
may request. Respondent shall develop such
financial or other information as such trustee
may reasonably request and shall cooperate with
the trustee. Respondent shall take no action to
interfere with or impede the trustee's
accomplishment of the divestitures. Any delays in
divestiture caused by Respondent 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 Respondent's absolute
and unconditional obligation to divest at no
minimum price. The divestiture shall be made in
the manner and to the acquirer or acquirers as
set out in Paragraph II 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
Respondent from among those approved by the
Commission.
-
- 7. The trustee shall serve, without bond or other
security, at the cost and expense of Respondent,
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 Respondent, 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 divestiture 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 Respondent, 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 Trustee
Assets.
-
- 8. Respondent 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 III.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
divestiture required by this Order.
-
- 11. In the event that the Trustee determines that
he or she is unable to divest the Trustee Assets
in a manner consistent with the Commission's
purpose in Paragraph II, the trustee may divest
additional ancillary assets of Respondent related
to the Trustee Assets and effect such
arrangements as are necessary to satisfy the
requirements of the Order.
-
- 12. The trustee shall have no obligation or
authority to operate or maintain the Trustee
Assets.
-
- 13. The trustee shall report in writing to
Respondent and the Commission every thirty (30)
days concerning the trustee's efforts to
accomplish divestiture.
IV
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Respondent
shall:
- Grant to the Acquirer, at the time of the
divestiture, a paid-up, perpetual, non-exclusive
license, with no continuing royalties and with
unlimited rights to sub-license, to the Hollander
Interchange and to each update of the Hollander
Interchange, including but not limited to (alpha)
and (beta) releases of any updates, prepared by
or for Respondent for a period of three (3) years
starting at the date of divestiture, or for such
longer period and on such terms as may be agreed
by the Acquirer and Respondent, and the right to
use the name "Hollander Interchange" in
reference to the Hollander Interchange and
updates prepared by or for the Respondent
pursuant to this Paragraph IV.A. Respondent shall
provide such updates to the Acquirer no later
than when it first provides each such update to
its salvage yard customers; and
- Provide to the Acquirer, at the time of the
divestiture, a copy of, and non-exclusive license
to, all computer programs and databases, and a
list of and sources for all information, used by
Respondent to update the Hollander Interchange.
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, Respondent may include in the
license entered pursuant to this Paragraph IV a provision
preventing or limiting the Acquirer from reproducing and
selling the copyright protected format of Respondent's
printed, book form of the Hollander Interchange, but
Respondent shall not otherwise restrict the Acquirer from
producing and selling the Hollander Interchange in any
form, including in printed, book form.
V
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Respondent
shall, for a period of twelve (12) months from the date
of the divestiture pursuant to Paragraph II or Paragraph
III of this Order, allow, without penalty, any customer
who entered into a contract for HYMS or EDEN between
April 1, 1995 and the date of divestiture, to switch from
HYMS to an AutoInfo YMS or any yard management system
licensed or sold by the Acquirer and/or switch from EDEN
to the AutoInfo Communication Systems or to any
communications systems licensed or sold by the Acquirer.
VI
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that:
- A. Respondent shall not prevent, prohibit or
restrict or threaten to prevent, prohibit or
restrict any person who was employed by
Respondent in Parts Services, or formerly by
AutoInfo, Inc., at any time since January 1,
1995, from working for the Acquirer and shall
cooperate with the Acquirer in effecting transfer
to the Acquirer of any such employee who chooses
to transfer to the Acquirer. Respondent shall not
offer any incentive to any such employees to
decline employment with the Acquirer or to accept
other employment by ADP; and shall remove any
non-compete or confidentiality restrictions with
respect to employment of such employees by the
Acquirer. Respondent shall pay, for the benefit
of such employees transferring to the Acquirer,
accrued bonuses, vested pensions and other
accrued benefits.
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, Respondent may match or exceed the
Acquirer's terms for employment offered by the Acquirer
to Respondent's employees who were not employees of
AutoInfo, Inc. as of January 1, 1995.
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, nothing in this Paragraph shall
restrict Respondent from protecting or asserting
Respondent's attorney client or work product privileges.
- B. For a period of twelve (12) months following
the date of divestiture pursuant to Paragraph II
or Paragraph III, upon reasonable notice from the
Acquirer, Respondent shall provide, at reasonable
times and levels, such personnel, information,
technical assistance, advice and training to the
Acquirer as are necessary to transfer the
AutoInfo Assets or the Trustee Assets, as
applicable, and to facilitate the Acquirer in
developing, maintaining and conducting the
AutoInfo Assets as viable, on-going businesses.
Such assistance shall include reasonable
consultation with knowledgeable employees of ADP
to satisfy the Acquirer's management that its
personnel are appropriately trained to the extent
ADP has the ability to do so after the
divestiture is complete. Respondent shall not
charge the Acquirer a rate more than its own
direct cost for providing such assistance.
-
- C. No later than the date of the execution of a
divestiture agreement between Respondent and the
proposed Acquirer, Respondent shall provide the
proposed Acquirer with a complete list of all
non-clerical employees of ADP who have been
involved in the development, production,
distribution, or sale of the Hollander
Interchange, and of the AutoInfo Assets or of the
Trustee Assets at any time during the period from
January 1, 1994, until the date of the
divestiture agreement. Such list shall state each
such individual's name, position, address and
telephone number. If the person is no longer
employed by Respondent, Respondent shall provide
all such information as it has available.
-
- D. Respondent shall make available to any person,
on whose behalf Respondent has filed an
application to divest, for inspection, the
personnel files and other documentation relating
to the individuals identified in Paragraph VI.C.
of this Order to the extent permissible under
applicable laws and with the permission of such
individuals. For a period of six (6) months
following the divestiture, Respondent shall
further provide the Acquirer with an opportunity
to interview such individuals identified in
Paragraph VI.C. of this Order and negotiate
employment with any of them.
- E. For a period of one (1) year commencing on the
date of any individual's employment by the
Acquirer pursuant to this Paragraph VI,
Respondent shall not offer employment to such
individual, unless such individual is no longer
employed by the Acquirer.
VII
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, for a
period of ten (10) years following the date of
divestiture, Respondent shall not prohibit, prevent or
restrict, or threaten to prohibit, prevent, restrict or
enforce any contractual arrangements that have the effect
of prohibiting, preventing, or restricting any customer
or licensee of the Hollander Interchange from accessing,
connecting with, or communicating data through, the
products of the Acquirer or its licensees, or the ARA
Data Collector, including but not limited to the AutoInfo
Communication Systems or any communication system
licensed or sold by the Acquirer or its licensees, the
AutoInfo YMS or any yard management systems licensed or
sold by the Acquirer or its licensees, or data collection
systems provided by the Acquirer or its licensees.
Respondent shall provide to the Acquirer, for use by
Acquirer and its licensees, specifications and
information reasonably necessary for the Acquirer and its
licensees to create interfaces with Respondent's yard
management and communications systems and a paid-up,
perpetual, non-exclusive license to the Acquirer and its
licensees to use the Hollander Interchange and future
updates of the Hollander Interchange in connection with
collecting or searching inventory data.
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, nothing in this Paragraph VII shall
require Respondent to extend to the Acquirer or its
licensees rights to sell or distribute updates of the
Hollander Interchange other than the rights specified in
Paragraphs II or IV.A. of this Order.
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, nothing in this Paragraph VII shall
require Respondent to create or modify application
program interfaces or to alter Respondent's existing
products.
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, nothing in this Paragraph VII shall
prohibit the Respondent from restricting transmission of
Hollander Interchange numbers to persons other than the
Acquirer or its licensees.
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, nothing in this Paragraph VII shall
require Respondent to repair any customer's HYMS or EDEN
product in the event such product's functionality is
damaged by the use of any product of the Acquirer or its
licensees.
VIII
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that:
A. For a period of ten (10) years from the date of the
divestiture of the AutoInfo Assets or the Trustee Assets,
Respondent shall not, without the prior approval of the
Commission, directly or indirectly, through subsidiaries,
partnerships, or otherwise, acquire all or any part of
the AutoInfo Assets, if divested pursuant to Paragraph
II, or Trustee Assets, if divested pursuant to Paragraph
III; and
B. For a period of ten (10) years from the date this
Order becomes final, Respondent shall not, without prior
notification to the Commission, directly or indirectly:
- 1. Acquire any stock, share capital, equity, or
other interest in any concern, corporate or
non-corporate, engaged in the development or sale
of yard management systems or communications
systems used by automobile salvage yards within
the year preceding such acquisition; provided,
however, that an acquisition of such stock, share
capital, equity or other interest will be exempt
from the requirements of this paragraph if it is
solely for the purpose of investment and
Respondent will hold no more than five (5)
percent of the shares of any class of security;
or
-
- 2. Acquire any assets used or previously used
(and still suitable for use) in the development
or sale of yard management systems or
communications systems used by automobile salvage
yards provided, however, that such an acquisition
will be exempt from the requirements of this
paragraph if the purchase price is less than
$1,500,000 (one million five hundred thousand
dollars).
The prior notifications required by this paragraph
shall be given on the Notification and Report Form set
forth in the Appendix to Part 803 of Title 16 of the
Code of Â鶹´«Ã½ Regulations as amended (hereinafter
referred to as "the Notification"), and shall
be prepared, transmitted and kept confidential 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 and a copy shall be delivered
to the Bureau of Competition; notification need not be
made to the United States Department of Justice; and
notification is required only of Respondent and not of
any other party to the transaction. Respondent shall
provide the Notification to the Commission at least
thirty (30) days prior to the consummation of any such
transaction (hereinafter referred to as the "initial
waiting period"). If, within the initial waiting
period, the Commission or its staff makes a written
request for additional information and documentary
material, Respondent shall not consummate the transaction
until at least twenty (20) days after complying with such
request for additional information and documentary
material. Early termination of the waiting periods in
this paragraph may, where appropriate, be granted by
letter from the Bureau of Competition. Notwithstanding,
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.
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that this Paragraph VIII shall not
apply to the acquisition of products or services in the
ordinary course of business.
IX
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that:
A. Within thirty (30) days after the date this Order
becomes final and every thirty (30) days thereafter until
Respondent has fully complied with the provisions of
Paragraphs II or III of this Order, Respondent shall
submit to the Commission a verified written report
setting forth in detail the manner and form in which it
intends to comply, is complying, and has complied with
Paragraphs II and III of this Order. Respondent shall
include in its 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
and III of the Order, including a description of all
substantive contacts or negotiations for the divestiture
and the identity of all parties contacted. Respondent
shall include in its compliance reports copies of all
written communications to and from such parties, all
internal memoranda, and all reports and recommendations
concerning divestiture.
B. One year (1) from the date of the divestiture of
the AutoInfo Assets pursuant to Paragraph II or the
Trustee Assets pursuant to Paragraph III, and annually
thereafter until the obligations of Paragraph VIII have
expired, and at other times as the Commission may
require, Respondent shall file a verified written report
with the Commission setting forth in detail the manner
and form in which it has complied and is complying with
Paragraphs IV, V, VI, VII and VIII of this Order.
X
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that Respondent
shall notify the Commission at least thirty (30) days
prior to any proposed change in the corporate structure
or status of Respondent 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.
XI
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that, for the
purpose of determining or securing compliance with this
Order, Respondent shall permit any duly authorized
representative of the Commission:
A. Access, during office hours and in the presence of
counsel, to inspect and copy all books, ledgers,
accounts, correspondence, memoranda and other records and
documents in the possession or under the control of
Respondent relating to any matters contained in this
Order; and
B. Upon five days' notice to Respondent and without
restraint or interference from it, to interview officers,
directors, or employees of Respondent.
XII
IT IS FURTHER ORDERED that this Order
shall terminate on October 20, 2017.
By the Commission.
Donald S. Clark
Secretary
ISSUED: October 20, 1997
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