FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                         ATR
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8, 1994                        (202) 514-2007
                                               TDD (202) 514-1888

  DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FILES ANTITRUST SUIT, PROPOSED CONSENT
  DECREE IN MERGER OF TWO ATLANTA OUTDOOR ADVERTISING COMPANIES


     WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Department of Justice's Antitrust
Division today filed a suit to block the merger of the two
largest outdoor advertising firms in Atlanta, Georgia.  At the
same time, the parties filed a proposed consent decree to settle
the suit.
     The suit was filed in U.S. District Court in Atlanta against
Outdoor Systems Inc., Atlanta's second largest outdoor
advertising firm, which proposes to acquire Capitol Outdoor
Advertising Inc., the largest outdoor advertising firm in
Atlanta.  Outdoor Systems has about 24 percent of all billboards,
while Capitol has about 39 percent of all billboards in the
Atlanta area.  
      Outdoor advertising, which includes all forms of billboard
advertising, is approximately a $40 million market in the Atlanta
area.  
     "Outdoor's acquisition of its major rival would
substantially reduce competition in the outdoor advertising
industry by creating a firm with about 63 percent of all
billboards in the Atlanta area," said Anne K. Bingaman, Assistant
Attorney General in charge of the Antitrust Division.  "If the
transaction were to go forward the resulting firm would be able
to raise advertising fees to outdoor advertising consumers."  
     Under the proposed consent decree, Outdoor Systems would be
required to divest its existing outdoor advertising business in
Atlanta.  It would then operate Capitol's Atlanta business.
     Bingaman noted that the proposed consent decree will
preserve free and open competition in the outdoor advertising
industry in the Atlanta area.   
     As required by the Tunney Act, the proposed consent decree
and the Department's competitive impact statement will be
published in the Federal Register.  Any person may comment on the
proposed decree by submitting their comments to the Department. 
After the 60-day public comment period, the United States will
reply to any public comments and will seek entry of the decree by
the court.
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