Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, November 4, 1994                   TAG: 9411040088
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: A-12   EDITION: METRO  
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

IN BUSINESS

WASHINGTON - The Justice Department tentatively agreed Thursday to a request by General Electric Co. to end a 1911 court order that requires GE to sell incandescent light bulbs only under its own name.

The department's antitrust division cited technological advances and changes in antitrust law for its decision. It reserved the right to reverse its view, however, for up to 10 days after the close of a 60-day period during which the public can comment on the proposed lifting of the consent decree.

The decree, which applies to GE and several other companies, also barred them from fixing prices, misusing patents, entering into certain types of exclusive contracts or tying arrangements and engaging in predatory pricing.

The order resolved a complaint charging that GE tried to monopolize the incandescent lamp industry by secretly purchasing many of its competitors, fixing prices and allocating the market with remaining competitors.

- Associated Press

Briefly ...

Branch & Associates Inc., a Roanoke general contractor, has received construction contracts for foundations, concrete slabs and utility work at Volvo GM Heavy Truck's expansion of its factory in Dublin. The three contracts are valued at more than $3 million and involve placing 12,000 cubic yards of concrete in foundations and slabs and installing 16,000 square feet of precast concrete walls. The project is to be completed in December.

Health Care Management Services Inc., a geriatric-care company specializing in services to adults with medical and psychiatric illnesses, has begun business in Roanoke. It is operated by Ronald Long and Jim Moore, licensed clinical social workers. The company can be reached by calling 982-2463.

Automotive Industries Inc., a Rochester Hills, Mich.-based manufacturer of interior trim and molded plastic components for the U.S. and European auto industries, said its ASAA Technologies division, including a plant in Lebanon in Russell County, will operate under the parent company's name. The change is intended to unify the company's 18 facilities. The Lebanon operation employs 500 producing interior door tim panels.

Memo: ***CORRECTION***