Markets Wired

FTC Seeks Public Comments on Petition by Dow Chemical Company to Sell Hollow Sphere Particle Business to OMNOVA Solutions, Inc.

The FTC is seeking public comments on a petition by Dow Chemical Company for approval to divest its hollow sphere particle business to OMNOVA Solutions Inc., as required by a Commission consent order issued on March 31, 2009. The FTC order was issued to resolve competitive concerns raised by the merger of Dow with Rohm & Haas, and required Dow to divest a range of assets to an FTC-approved acquirer, including its acrylic monomer, hollow sphere particle, and acrylic latex polymer businesses. To comply with parts of order, Dow has now petitioned the Commission to permit it to divest its hollow sphere particle business to OMNOVA.

The Commission is accepting public comments on the proposed divestiture until November 3, 2009. Written comments should be sent to: FTC Office of the Secretary, 600 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20580. To file a comment, please click on the following hyperlink: https://public.commentworks.com/ftc/dowchemomnovapetition/ and follow the instructions at that site. Copies of the petition can be found on the FTC’s Web site and as a link to this press release. (FTC File No. 081-0214, Docket No. C-4243; the staff contact is Daniel P. Ducore, Bureau of Competition, 202-326-2536; see press release dated January 23, 2009, at: http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2009/01/dow.shtm.)

Commission Releases Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2009-2014

The Commission has approved the Federal Trade Commission’s Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years (FY) 2009-2014. The agency updated the plan as required by the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) using guidance issued by the Office of Management and Budget. Every three years, each government agency is required to prepare and submit a strategic plan covering activities for at least the following five years. The FTC last updated its strategic plan in FY 2006.

The FY 2009-2014 strategic plan presents strategic goals, objectives, strategies, and performance measures with targets for the next five years. While the agency’s core mission of protecting consumers and maintaining competition remains the same, this latest edition reflects some important updates. International work is now captured with stand-alone objectives. Also, a new management goal has been added: “Advance agency performance through organizational, individual, and management excellence.” The plan also explains factors affecting achievement of the plan and includes an overview of the planning process and a list of the agency’s stakeholders.

The Commission vote to issue the plan was 4-0. It is available on the FTC’s Web site at http://www.ftc.gov/opp/gpra/index.htm. (FTC File No. P961201; the staff contact is Stephen A. Fisher, Financial Management Office, 202-326-2116.)

Copies of the documents mentioned in this release are available from the FTC’s Web site at http://www.ftc.gov and from the FTC’s Consumer Response Center, Room 130, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20580. Call toll-free: 1-877-FTC-HELP.

(FYI 46.2009.wpd)