Proposed Consent Agreements:

Federal Register: August 4, 2010 (Volume 75, Number 149)

Notices

Page 46940-46942

From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

DOCID:fr04au10-53

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

File No. 081 0130

Nufarm Limited; Analysis of Agreement Containing Consent Order to

Aid Public Comment

AGENCY: Federal Trade Commission.

ACTION: Proposed Consent Agreement.

SUMMARY: The consent agreement in this matter settles alleged violations of federal law prohibiting unfair or deceptive acts or practices or unfair methods of competition. The attached Analysis to

Aid Public Comment describes both the allegations in the draft complaint and the terms of the consent order -- embodied in the consent agreement -- that would settle these allegations.

DATES: Comments must be received on or before August 30, 2010.

ADDRESSES: Interested parties are invited to submit written comments electronically or in paper form. Comments should refer to ``Nufarm,

File No. 081 0130'' to facilitate the organization of comments. Please note that your comment -- including your name and your state -- will be placed on the public record of this proceeding, including on the publicly accessible FTC website, at (http://www.ftc.gov/os/ publiccomments.shtm).

Because comments will be made public, they should not include any sensitive personal information, such as an individual's Social Security

Number; date of birth; driver's license number or other state identification number, or foreign country equivalent; passport number; financial account number; or credit or debit card number. Comments also should not include any sensitive health information, such as medical records or other individually identifiable health information. In addition, comments should not include any ``[t]rade secret or any commercial or financial information which is obtained from any person and which is privileged or confidential. . . .,'' as provided in

Section 6(f) of the FTC Act, 15 U.S.C. 46(f), and Commission Rule 4.10(a)(2), 16 CFR 4.10(a)(2). Comments containing material for which confidential treatment is requested must be filed in paper form, must be clearly labeled ``Confidential,'' and must comply with FTC Rule 4.9(c), 16 CFR 4.9(c).\1\

\1\ The comment must be accompanied by an explicit request for confidential treatment, including the factual and legal basis for the request, and must identify the specific portions of the comment to be withheld from the public record. The request will be granted or denied by the Commission's General Counsel, consistent with applicable law and the public interest. See FTC Rule 4.9(c), 16 CFR 4.9(c).

Because paper mail addressed to the FTC is subject to delay due to heightened security screening, please consider submitting your comments in electronic form. Comments filed in electronic form should be submitted by using the following weblink: (https:// ftcpublic.commentworks.com/ftc/nufarm/) and following the instructions on the web-based form. To ensure that the Commission considers an electronic comment, you must file it on the web-based form at the weblink: (https://ftcpublic.commentworks.com/ftc/nufarm/). If this

Notice appears at (http://www.regulations.gov/search/index.jsp), you may also file an electronic comment through that website. The

Commission will consider all comments that regulations.gov forwards to it. You may also visit the FTC website at (http://www.ftc.gov/) to read the Notice and the news release describing it.

A comment filed in paper form should include the ``Nufarm, File No. 081 0130'' reference both in the text and on the envelope, and should be mailed or delivered to the following address: Federal Trade

Commission, Office of the Secretary, Room H-135 (Annex D), 600

Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20580. The FTC is requesting that any comment filed in paper form be sent by courier or overnight service, if possible, because U.S. postal mail in the Washington area and at the Commission is subject to delay due to heightened security precautions.

The Federal Trade Commission Act (``FTC Act'') and other laws the

Commission administers permit the collection of public comments to

Page 46941

consider and use in this proceeding as appropriate. The Commission will consider all timely and responsive public comments that it receives, whether filed in paper or electronic form. Comments received will be available to the public on the FTC website, to the extent practicable, at (http://www.ftc.gov/os/publiccomments.shtm). As a matter of discretion, the Commission makes every effort to remove home contact information for individuals from the public comments it receives before placing those comments on the FTC website. More information, including routine uses permitted by the Privacy Act, may be found in the FTC's privacy policy, at (http://www.ftc.gov/ftc/privacy.shtm).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leonard L. Gordon (212-607-2801) or

Jonathan W. Platt (212-607-2819), FTC Northeast Regional Office, 600

Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. 20580.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Pursuant to section 6(f) of the Federal

Trade Commission Act, 38 Stat. 721, 15 U.S.C. 46(f), and Sec. 2.34 the

Commission Rules of Practice, 16 CFR 2.34, notice is hereby given that the above-captioned consent agreement containing a consent order to cease and desist, having been filed with and accepted, subject to final approval, by the Commission, has been placed on the public record for a period of thirty (30) days. The following Analysis to Aid Public

Comment describes the terms of the consent agreement, and the allegations in the complaint. An electronic copy of the full text of the consent agreement package can be obtained from the FTC Home Page

(for July 28, 2010), on the World Wide Web, at (http://www.ftc.gov/os/ actions.shtm). A paper copy can be obtained from the FTC Public

Reference Room, Room 130-H, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington,

D.C. 20580, either in person or by calling (202) 326-2222.

Public comments are invited, and may be filed with the Commission in either paper or electronic form. All comments should be filed as prescribed in the ADDRESSES section above, and must be received on or before the date specified in the DATES section.

Analysis of Agreement Containing Consent Order to Aid Public Comment

1. Introduction

   The Federal Trade Commission (``Commission'') has accepted, subject to final approval, an Agreement Containing Consent Order (``Consent

   Agreement'') from Nufarm Limited (``Nufarm'' or ``Respondent'') to remedy the anticompetitive effects stemming from Nufarm's acquisition of A.H. Marks Holding Limited (``A. H. Marks''). Under the terms of the

   Consent Agreement, Nufarm is required to divest to Commission-approved buyers certain A. H. Marks assets, including regulatory permits and intellectual property, and take certain additional measures to restore competition in the markets for three phenoxy herbicide products: MCPA,

   MCPP-p, and 2,4DB.

   On March 5, 2008, Nufarm acquired A. H. Marks. Both parties held, or had access to, regulatory approvals from the United States

   Environmental Protection Agency (``EPA'') to sell MCPA, MCPP-p, and 2,4DB in the United States. The Commission's complaint alleges that the acquisition and acquisition agreement violated Section 7 of the Clayton

   Act, as amended, 15 U.S.C. Sec. 18, and Section 5 of the Federal Trade

   Commission Act (``FTC Act''), as amended, 15 U.S.C. Sec. 45, by lessening competition in the United States markets for the sale of the phenoxy herbicides: MCPA, MCPP-P, and 2,4DB.

   The Consent Agreement has been placed on the public record for thirty (30) days for receipt of comments by interested persons.

   Comments received during this period will become part of the public record. After thirty (30) days, the Commission will review the Consent

   Agreement and comments received and decide whether to withdraw from the proposed Consent Agreement, modify it, or make final the Consent

   Agreement's proposed Decision and Order.

2. The Products and Structure of the Markets

   With its acquisition of A.H. Marks, Nufarm obtained monopoly positions in the United States markets for two phenoxy herbicide markets (MCPA and MCPP-p) and reduced a third phenoxy herbicide market

   (2,4DB) to a duopoly. Phenoxy herbicides are post-emergent selective broadleaf herbicides which are designed to act on full or partially grown weeds without damaging surrounding plants. They are used widely in the turf, lawn care, and agriculture industries to eliminate existing broadleaf weeds safely and cheaply. Nufarm and A.H. Marks sold these herbicides to agricultural and turf and lawn care formulators in their raw form as ``technical'' ingredients for their formulated herbicide products. Agricultural formulators generally purchase MCPA for use on cereal crops, such as wheat and barley, and 2,4DB for peanut and alfalfa crops. Turf and lawn care formulators purchase MCPP-p for turf care products used by landscape professionals or consumers. Each of the three herbicides is a highly cost-effective herbicide for its intended use with no equivalent substitutes. More expensive herbicides are generally used as complements and combined with phenoxy herbicides such as MCPA, MCPP-p, or 2,4DB, to increase the effectiveness of formulated herbicide products.

3. Entry

   Entry into the markets for MCPA, MCPP-p and 2,4DB would not be timely, likely, or sufficient to deter or counteract the anticompetitive effects of the acquisition. In order to obtain approval to sell herbicides for use on crops, turf, or lawns in the United

   States, the Environmental Protection Agency (``EPA'') requires manufacturers to submit extensive environmental and toxicology testing data. Herbicide manufacturers often generate such data by forming industry task forces to share the costs of testing. Later entrants are often required to compensate members of the task force to obtain intellectual property rights to existing testing data by either purchasing the rights to the data or obtaining a seat on the task force. The costs associated with obtaining either the testing data or a task force seat to enter the markets for MCPA, MCPP-p, and 2,4DB are high compared to the limited potential sales revenues available to an entrant in each of these markets. Additionally, obtaining EPA approval for the manufacture and sale of each of the relevant products can take several years due to the presence of regulatory barriers. As a result, entry into each relevant market would require substantial sunk costs that would make entry unattractive. In addition, prior to the acquisition, Nufarm had entered into contracts with several of its task force members which posed barriers to entry by these firms. Therefore, the prospect of entry into the relevant markets is very limited and does not alleviate the concerns about the adverse competitive effects of the acquisition.

4. Effects of the Acquisition

   The acquisition is likely to cause significant competitive harm to consumers in the relevant U.S. markets for MCPA, MCPP-p, and 2,4DB by eliminating the direct and substantial competition between Nufarm and

   A.H. Marks. There is evidence that Nufarm acquired A.H. Marks with the expectation that it would be able to increase prices as a result of the merger. In addition, the evidence indicated that in some instances

   Nufarm may have increased its prices for the three

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   herbicides following the merger. As a result, the transaction increased the likelihood that Nufarm could unilaterally exercise market power and raise prices in each of the relevant markets.

5. Terms of the Proposed Decision and Order

   The Consent Agreement preserves competition in each of the relevant markets alleged in the complaint by requiring that Nufarm divest certain A.H. Marks assets to new entrants and take additional measures to restore competition in the markets for MCPA, MCPP-p, and 2,4DB.

   Specifically, Nufarm has agreed to sell A.H. Marks' EPA registration and task force seat for MCPA to Albaugh Inc., and A.H. Marks' EPA registration and task force seat for MCPP-p to PBI Gordon Corp. Nufarm has also agreed to modify its contractual agreements with Dow and Aceto relating to MCPA and 2.4-DB, which restricted these firms' competitive activities in the markets for MCPA and 2,4-DB. Staff has evaluated the proposed divestitures and modifications and concluded that these measures are sufficient to remedy the anticompetitive effects resulting from the transaction.

   For both MCPA and MCPP-p, the purchase of a task force seat and EPA registration will permit each divestiture purchaser to enter and compete in these markets. By acquiring A.H. Mark's task force seat and

   EPA registration, the divestiture purchasers will obtain EPA approval to distribute the herbicide in the United States and certify additional manufacturing sources of the herbicides. In addition to the task force seat and EPA registration, Nufarm is required to enter into supply agreements with each divestiture purchaser to permit these purchasers to compete with Nufarm as wholesale suppliers of the herbicides while new manufacturing sources are developed.

   With respect to MCPA, Nufarm would divest AH Mark's MCPA Task Force

   Seat and EPA registrations relating to MCPA to Albaugh. Albaugh is a qualified divestiture candidate that is uniquely situated to use the

   A.H. Marks assets and supply contract to compete with Nufarm in the market for MCPA. Albaugh is the largest privately-owned formulator of crop protection products. Albaugh is headquartered in Ankeny, Iowa and sells exclusively in the United States. Within the crop protection industry, Albaugh has extensive relationships with firms at every level of distribution. Given Albaugh's position, commitment, and experience in the MCPA market, staff believes that divestiture of A.H. Marks' MCPA assets will enable Albaugh to restore the competition lost as a result of the transaction.

   With respect to MCPP-p, Nufarm would divest A.H. Mark's MCPP-p Task

   Force Seat and EPA registrations relating to MCPP-p to PBI Gordon and enter a three-year supply arrangement. PBI Gordon, headquartered in

   Kansas City, Missouri, is a privately held company founded in 1947. PBI

   Gordon is a long-standing player in the turf care industry. Its primary business is the development, manufacture, and marketing of herbicides, pest management, and related products to the lawn, garden, professional turf, and specialty agricultural markets. It has an extensive distribution network and a wide customer base. PBI Gordon's presence in the market, combined with its expertise with herbicides, will ensure it will use the assets to compete with Nufarm in the market for MCPP-p.

   The Consent Agreement also addresses concerns regarding Nufarm's agreements with Dow and Aceto by preventing Nufarm from enforcing agreements which may limit or restrict competitive entry in the MCPA and 2,4DB markets. Pursuant to Section V of the proposed Decision and

   Order, Nufarm agreed not to enforce any provision, or otherwise take any future action, restricting competition in the manufacture or sale of MCPA, 2,4DB or MCPP-p. Nufarm's compliance with these provisions will enable Dow and Aceto to enter these respective markets, as manufacturers and/or wholesalers, and compete with Nufarm for sales.

   Equally important, Dow and Aceto will be able to use their task force seats and registrations to sponsor new entrants to the United States markets for these herbicides. The resulting entry, or threat of entry, is likely to serve as an additional competitive constraint in both the

   MCPA and 2,4DB markets. Lastly the Consent Agreement contains several other significant provisions. Section IV of the proposed Order permits

   Nufarm's customers to terminate their contracts with Nufarm with respect to the products. Section VII requires Nufarm to notify the

   Commission if it: (a) acquires any task force seat or registration with respect to the products or (b) enters into any agreements with task force members or registrants that contain non-compete, joint-marketing or other provisions restricting competition. Section VIII requires

   Nufarm to divest the MCPA and MCPP-p assets to a trustee in the event

   Nufarm fails to comply with the divestiture obligations for these assets in the proposed Order.

   The purpose of this analysis is to facilitate public comment on the proposed Decision and Order. This analysis is not intended to constitute an official interpretation of the Consent Agreement and the proposed Decision and Order.

   By direction of the Commission, Commissioner Ramirez recused.

   Donald S. Clark

   Secretary.

   FR Doc. 2010-19079 Filed 8-3-10; 7:33 am

   BILLING CODE 6750-01-S