Final Judgment
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
FINAL JUDGMENT WHEREAS, plaintiff, the United States of America ("United States"), filed its Complaint on June 27, 2001, plaintiff and defendants, The Thomson Corporation ("Thomson"), Harcourt General, Inc. ("Harcourt"), and Reed Elsevier Inc. ("Reed Elsevier"), by their respective attorneys, have consented to the entry of this Final Judgment without trial or adjudication of any issue of fact or law, and without this Final Judgment constituting any evidence against or admission by any party regarding any issue of fact or law; AND WHEREAS, defendants agree to be bound by the provisions of this Final Judgment pending its approval by the Court; AND WHEREAS, the essence of this Final Judgment is the prompt and certain divestiture of certain rights or assets by defendants to assure that competition is not substantially lessened; AND WHEREAS, plaintiff requires defendants to make certain divestitures for the purpose of remedying the loss of competition alleged in the Complaint; AND WHEREAS, defendants have represented to the United States that the divestitures required below can and will be made and that defendants will later raise no claim of hardship or difficulty as grounds for asking the Court to modify any of the divestiture provisions contained below; NOW THEREFORE, before any testimony is taken, without trial or adjudication of any issue of fact or law, and upon consent of the parties, it is ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED: I. JurisdictionThe Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of and each of the parties to this action. The Complaint states a claim upon which relief may be granted against defendants under Section 7 of the Clayton Act, as amended (15 U.S.C. § 18). II.Definitions As used in this Final Judgment: A. "Acquirer" or "Acquirers" means the entity or entities to whom defendants divest any of the Divestiture Assets. B. "AIMS Business" means Harcourt's Agency Information Management Services business, which provides assistance to state agencies, departments, or other such organizations in the management of the state licensing process, including: 1. All tangible assets that are used exclusively for the AIMS Business, including research and development activities, all networking equipment, tooling and fixed assets, personal property, inventory, office furniture, materials, supplies, and other tangible property, and all assets used exclusively in connection with the AIMS Business; all licenses, permits and authorizations issued by any governmental organization relating exclusively to the AIMS Business; all contracts, teaming arrangements, agreements, leases, commitments, certifications, and understandings relating exclusively to the AIMS Business, including supply agreements; all customer lists, contracts, accounts, and credit records or similar records of all sales and potential sales by the AIMS Business; all sales support and promotional materials, advertising materials and production, sales, and marketing files relating exclusively to the AIMS Business; all repair and performance records, and all other records relating exclusively to the AIMS Business; 2. All intangible assets that are used exclusively in the AIMS Business and are used in the development, production, servicing, sale, administration, assessment, and dissemination of tests and test results including, but not limited to, all patents, licenses and sublicenses, intellectual property, copyrights, trademarks, trade names, service marks, service names, but no corporate trademarks or trade names of Thomson or Harcourt; technical information; computer software and related documentation; know-how, trade secrets, drawings, blueprints, designs, design protocols, specifications for materials, specifications for parts and devices; all research data concerning historic and current research and development relating exclusively to the AIMS Business including, but not limited to the designs of experiments, and the results of successful and unsuccessful designs and experiments; quality assurance and control procedures; design tools and simulation capability; and all manuals and technical information defendants provide to those employees, customers, suppliers, agents or licensees exclusively devoted to the AIMS Business. C. "ASI" means all of the assets of defendant Harcourt's wholly-owned subsidiary Assessment Systems, Inc., a Pennsylvania corporation with its headquarters in Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania, excluding Harcourt's AIMS Business and State Testing Business, as defined in this Final Judgment, but including the following: 1. All tangible assets that comprise ASI, including research and development activities, all fixed, mobile, and other testing centers listed in Exhibit B, any accompanying property rights in real estate or equipment used in any of those testing centers, all networking equipment, tooling and fixed assets, personal property, inventory, office furniture, materials, supplies, and other tangible property, and all assets used exclusively in connection with ASI; all licenses, permits and authorizations issued by any governmental organization relating to ASI; all contracts, teaming arrangements, agreements, leases, commitments, certifications, and understandings relating to ASI, including supply agreements; all customer lists, contracts, accounts, and credit records or similar records of all sales and potential sales by ASI; all sales support and promotional materials, advertising materials and production, sales, and marketing files relating to ASI; all repair and performance records, and all other records relating to ASI; 2. All intangible assets used in the development, production, servicing, sale, administration, assessment, and dissemination of tests and test results including, but not limited to, all patents, licenses and sublicenses, intellectual property, copyrights, trademarks, trade names, service marks, service names, but no corporate trademarks or trade names of Thomson or Harcourt; technical information; computer software and related documentation including, but not limited to, test drivers, scheduling software, and the OMEGA, EXPro, and REG2000 software platforms; know-how, trade secrets, drawings, blueprints, designs, design protocols, specifications for materials, specifications for parts and devices; all research data concerning historic and current research and development relating to ASI including, but not limited to, all test item banks, psychometric data, statistical reports of test results, designs of computer-based examinations and testing centers, and the designs of experiments, and the results of successful and unsuccessful designs and experiments; quality assurance and control procedures, including all security measures used in the development, administration, and assessment of computer-based tests and the reporting of exam results; design tools and simulation capability; and all manuals and technical information defendants provide to their own employees, customers, suppliers, agents or licensees. D. "College Textbook Products" means all of the college textbooks identified on Exhibit A attached hereto. Each College Textbook Product also includes all ancillary educational materials offered for sale or under development by any subsidiary or division of the defendants that are designed to be specific to a textbook product identified in Exhibit A, including teacher editions, workbooks, notebooks, charts, audio, video, software, any CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, Internet and broadcast components, teacher support and staff development materials, and any other materials in any form, format or media, and also includes: 1. All tangible assets that comprise the College Textbook Products, including research and development activities; all original and digital artwork, film plates, and other reproductive materials relating to the College Textbook Products including, but not limited to, all manuscripts, illustrations, any other content, and any revisions or revision plans thereof in print or digital form; all licenses, permits and authorizations issued by any governmental organization relating to the College Textbook Products; all contracts, teaming arrangements, agreements, commitments, certifications, and understandings relating to the College Textbook Products including, but not limited to, author permissions and other similar agreements, supply and distribution agreements; all customer lists, contracts, accounts, and credit records, or similar records of all sales and potential sales of the College Textbook Products; all sales support and promotional materials, advertising materials, and production, sales and marketing files relating to the College Textbook Products; at the Acquirer(s)' option, computers and other tangible assets used primarily for the production of the College Textbook Products; and all performance and all other records relating to the College Textbook Products; 2. All intangible assets used in the development, production, servicing, marketing, and sale of the College Textbook Products including, but not limited to, all patents, licenses and sublicenses, intellectual property, copyrights, trademarks (registered and unregistered), trade names, service marks, service names, including all titles of existing products comprising the College Textbook Products, but no corporate trademarks or trade names of Thomson or Harcourt; all technical information, computer software and related documentation, know-how, trade secrets, drawings, blueprints, designs, design protocols, specifications for materials, specifications for parts and devices, safety procedures for the handling of materials and substances, quality assurance and control procedures, all manuals and technical information defendants provide to their own employees, customers, suppliers, agents or licensees; and all research data concerning historic and current research and development efforts relating to the College Textbook Products, including, but not limited to designs of experiments, and the results of successful and unsuccessful designs and experiments. Defendants shall use their best efforts to facilitate the assignment to the Acquirer(s) of any of the above that defendants presently hold or use pursuant to a licence or any other agreement. E. "Complete ASI Assets" means ASI, the AIMS Business, and the State Testing Business, as defined in this Final Judgment. F. "Divestiture Assets" means the College Textbook Products and the Complete ASI Assets, as defined in this Final Judgment. G. "Harcourt" means defendant Harcourt General, Inc., a Delaware corporation with its headquarters in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, its successors and assigns, and its subsidiaries, divisions, groups, affiliates, partnerships and joint ventures, and their directors, officers, managers, agents, and employees. H. "Reed Elsevier" means defendant Reed Elsevier Inc., a Massachusetts corporation with its headquarters in Newton, Massachusetts, its successors and assigns, and subsidiaries, divisions, groups, affiliates, partnerships and joint ventures, and their directors, officers, managers, agents, and employees. I. "Retained Products" means any product offered for sale or in development by defendants as of the date of the filing of the Complaint in this matter that are not Divestiture Assets. J. "State Testing Business" means only those contracts, agreements, or other understandings between Harcourt and any entity for the development, delivery, or administration of any licensing examinations to any state agencies or departments that are in effect as of the date of the filing of the Complaint in this matter, including 1. All tangible assets that are used exclusively for the State Testing Business, including research and development activities, all networking equipment, tooling and fixed assets, personal property, office furniture, materials, supplies, and other tangible property, and all assets used exclusively in connection with the State Testing Business, including supply agreements; all customer lists, contracts, accounts, and credit records or similar records of all sales and potential sales relating exclusively to the State Testing Business; all sales support and promotional materials, advertising materials and production, sales, and marketing files relating exclusively to the State Testing Business; and 2. All intangible assets that are used exclusively in the State Testing Business and are used in the development, production, servicing, sale and assessment of tests and test results including, but not limited to, all patents, licenses and sublicenses, intellectual property, copyrights, trademarks, trade names, service marks, service names, but no corporate trademarks or trade names of Thomson or Harcourt; technical information; computer software and related documentation; know-how, trade secrets, drawings, blueprints, designs, design protocols, specifications for materials, specifications for parts and devices; all research data concerning historic and current research and development relating exclusively to the State Testing Business including, but not limited to, all item banks, psychometric data, test development resources, statistical reports of test results, designs of computer-based examinations, the designs of experiments, and the results of successful and unsuccessful designs and experiments; quality assurance and control procedures; design tools and simulation capability; and all manuals and technical information defendants provide to those employees, customers, suppliers, agents or licensees exclusively devoted to the State Testing Business. Provided, however that, to the extent that any of these assets are also employed in the delivery or administration of any tests that are the subject of these contracts, such assets shall not be deemed to be part of the State Testing Business. K. "Thomson" means defendant The Thomson Corporation, a foreign corporation with its headquarters in Toronto, Ontario, its successors and assigns, and its subsidiaries, divisions, groups, affiliates, partnerships and joint ventures, and their directors, officers, managers, agents, and employees. III. A. This Final Judgment applies to Thomson, Harcourt, and Reed Elsevier, as defined above, and all other persons in active concert or participation with any of them who receive actual notice of this Final Judgment by personal service or otherwise. B. Defendant Thomson shall require, as a condition of the sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of their assets or of lesser business units that include the Divestiture Assets, that the purchaser agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Final Judgment, provided, however, that defendant Thomson need not obtain such an agreement from the Acquirer(s). IV. Divestitures A. Defendants are ordered and directed, within one hundred and twenty (120) calendar days after the filing of the Complaint in this matter, or five (5) days after notice of the entry of this Final Judgment by the Court, whichever is later, to divest the College Textbook Products in a manner consistent with this Final Judgment to an Acquirer or Acquirers acceptable to the United States in its sole discretion. The United States, in its sole discretion, may agree to one extension of time of up to thirty (30) calendar days, and shall notify the Court in such circumstances. Defendants agree to use their best efforts to divest the College Textbook Products as expeditiously as possible. B. Defendants are ordered and directed, within one hundred and twenty (120) calendar days after the filing of the Complaint in this matter, or five (5) days after notice of the entry of this Final Judgment by the Court, whichever is later, to divest in accordance with the procedures set forth in this paragraph, either ASI or the Complete ASI Assets to an Acquirer or Acquirers acceptable to the United States in its sole discretion. The United States, in its sole discretion, may agree to up to two extensions of this time period of up to thirty (30) calendar days each, and shall notify the Court in such circumstances. Defendants shall invite bids for both: (1) ASI, as defined in this Final Judgment, as well as (2) the Complete ASI Assets, as defined in this Final Judgment. Defendants shall permit all Acquirers to make an offer to purchase either or both ASI or the Complete ASI Assets. Defendants agree to use their best efforts to accomplish such divestitures as expeditiously as possible. C. In accomplishing the divestitures ordered by this Final Judgment, defendants promptly shall make known, by usual and customary means, the availability of the Divestiture Assets. Defendants shall inform any person making inquiry regarding a possible purchase of the Divestiture Assets that they are being divested pursuant to this Final Judgment and provide that person with a copy of this Final Judgment. Defendants shall offer to furnish to all prospective Acquirers, subject to customary confidentiality assurances, all information and documents relating to the Divestiture Assets customarily provided in a due diligence process except such information or documents subject to the attorney-client or work-product privileges. Defendants shall make such information available to the United States at the same time that such information is made available to any other person. D. Defendants shall provide the Acquirer(s) and the United States information relating to the personnel responsible for the editorial content of any College Textbook Product identified in Exhibit A to enable the Acquirer(s) to make offers of employment. In addition, defendants shall provide the Acquirer(s) and the United States information relating to all personnel of ASI or the Complete ASI Assets, as appropriate, including employees, agents, consultants, and independent contractors, to enable the Acquirer(s) to make offers of employment. Defendants shall not interfere with any negotiations by the Acquirer(s) to employ any defendant employee whose primary responsibility is for the editorial content of any College Textbook Product listed in Exhibit A, nor interfere with any negotiations by the Acquirer(s) to employ any employee, agent, consultant, or independent contractor of ASI or the Complete ASI Assets, as appropriate. E. Defendants shall permit prospective Acquirers of the Divestiture Assets to have reasonable access to personnel responsible for the editorial content of any College Textbook Product identified in Exhibit A and to all personnel of the Complete ASI Assets. Defendants shall permit prospective Acquirers of ASI to make inspections of the physical facilities of ASI, and to have access to any and all environmental, zoning, and other permit documents and information of ASI. Further, defendants shall permit prospective Acquirers of the Complete ASI Assets to make inspections of the physical facilities of the Complete ASI Assets, and to have access to any and all environmental, zoning, and other permit documents and information of the Complete ASI Assets. Defendants shall also permit prospective Acquirers of the Divestiture Assets to have reasonable access to any and all financial, operational, or other documents and information related to the Divestiture Assets that are customarily provided as part of a due diligence process. F. Defendants shall warrant to all Acquirers of the Divestiture Assets that each asset will be operational on the date of sale. Defendants Reed Elsevier and Harcourt shall make the warrants required under this provision to Thomson at the time of the sale by Reed Elsevier to Thomson of the Harcourt assets identified in Paragraph 10 of the Complaint filed in this matter, and shall thereafter have no further obligations under this provision. G. Defendants shall take no action that will impede in any way the permitting, publication, marketing, sale, development, administration, operation, or divestiture of the Divestiture Assets. H. Defendants shall warrant to the Acquirer(s) of the Divestiture Assets that there are no material defects in the environmental, zoning, or other permits pertaining to the operation of each asset, and that following the sale of the Divestiture Assets, defendants will not undertake, directly or indirectly, any challenges to the environmental, zoning, or other permits relating to the operation of the Divestiture Assets. Defendants Reed Elsevier and Harcourt shall make the warrants required under this provision to Thomson at the time of the sale by Reed Elsevier to Thomson of the Harcourt assets identified in Paragraph 10 of the Complaint filed in this matter, and shall thereafter have no further obligations under this provision. I. Defendant Thomson shall retain the right to use any College Textbook Product listed on Exhibit A to the extent necessary to fulfill the terms of agreements, in effect as of the date this Final Judgment is filed with the Court, with purchasers of the product lines listed on Exhibit A. The Acquirer of any College Textbook Product listed on Exhibit A shall grant defendant Thomson a royalty-free license to continue to use that College Textbook Product to the extent necessary to fulfill the terms of such existing agreements. The Acquirer of any College Textbook Product that defendants currently use, in whole or in part, in any Retained Product, shall grant to defendant Thomson a royalty-free license to continue to use the College Textbook Product to the same extent in the production or sale of the Retained Product. J. At the option of the Acquirer(s) of ASI and upon commercially reasonable terms, defendant Thomson shall contract with the Acquirer(s) to allow the Acquirer(s) to provide the delivery and administration of the State Testing Business. Such contractual arrangement between defendant Thomson and Acquirer(s) shall continue for the for the duration of the terms of each state contract, agreement or other understanding included in the State Testing Business. The Acquirer(s) of ASI shall grant to defendant Thomson a royalty-free license to any patents, licenses, or other intellectual property divested pursuant to Section IV. B of this Final Judgment to the extent that such intellectual property is used in the AIMS Business or the State Testing Business as of the date of the filing of the Complaint in this matter. This paragraph shall not apply in the event that defendant Thomson divests the Complete ASI Assets. K. Unless the United States otherwise consents in writing, the divestitures pursuant to Section IV, or by trustee appointed pursuant to Section V, of this Final Judgment, shall include the entire Divestiture Assets, and shall be accomplished in such a way as to satisfy the United States, in its sole discretion, that the Divestiture Assets can and will be used by the Acquirer(s) of the College Textbook Products as part of a viable, ongoing college textbook publishing business and by the Acquirer of ASI or the Complete ASI Assets as part of a viable, ongoing computer-based testing business. Divestiture of the Divestiture Assets may be made to one or more Acquirers, provided that in each instance it is demonstrated to the sole satisfaction of the United States that the Divestiture Assets will remain viable and that the divestiture of such assets will remedy the competitive harm alleged in the Complaint. The divestitures, whether pursuant to Section IV or Section V of this Final Judgment, (1) shall be made to an Acquirer (or Acquirers), that, in the United States's sole judgment, has the intent and capability (including the necessary managerial, operational, technical and financial capability) of competing effectively in the business of college textbook publishing in the case of the Acquirer(s) of the College Textbook Products and in the business of computer-based testing in the case of the Acquirer(s) of ASI or the Complete ASI Assets; and (2) shall be accomplished so as to satisfy the United States, in its sole discretion, that none of the terms of any agreement between an Acquirer (or Acquirers) and Thomson, Harcourt, and/or Reed Elsevier give Thomson, Harcourt, and/or Reed Elsevier the ability unreasonably to raise the Acquirer's or (Acquirers') costs, to lower the Acquirer's or (Acquirers') efficiency, or otherwise to interfere in the ability of the Acquirer(s) to compete effectively. A. If defendant Thomson has not divested the College Textbook Products and either ASI or the Complete ASI Assets within the time periods specified in Sections IV.A and B of this Final Judgment, defendant Thomson shall notify the United States of that fact in writing. Upon application of the United States, the Court shall appoint a trustee selected by the United States and approved by the Court to effect the divestitures of the College Textbook Products and the Complete ASI Assets, which are defined herein as the Divestiture Assets. Upon appointment, the trustee may only sell the Complete ASI Assets. B. After the appointment of a trustee becomes effective, only the trustee shall have the right to sell the Divestiture Assets. Upon notice to defendant Thomson, the trustee shall have the power and authority to accomplish the divestitures to an Acquirer (or Acquirers) acceptable to the United States at such price and on such terms as are then obtainable upon reasonable effort by the trustee, subject to the provisions of Sections IV, V, and VI of this Final Judgment, and shall have such other powers as the Court deems appropriate. Subject to Section V. D of this Final Judgment, the trustee may hire, at the cost and expense of defendant Thomson, any investment bankers, attorneys, or other agents, who shall be solely accountable to the trustee and are reasonably necessary in the trustee's judgment to assist in the divestitures. C. Defendants shall not object to a sale by the trustee on any ground other than the trustee's malfeasance. Any such objections must be conveyed in writing to the United States and the trustee within ten (10) calendar days after the trustee has provided the notice required under Section VI of this Final Judgment. D. The trustee shall serve at the cost and expense of defendant Thomson on such terms and conditions as the United States approves, and shall account for all monies derived from the sale of the assets sold by the trustee and all costs and expenses so incurred. After approval by the Court of the trustee's accounting, including fees for its services and those of any professionals and agents retained by the trustee, all remaining money shall be paid to defendant Thomson and the trust shall then be terminated. The compensation of the trustee and any professionals and agents retained by the trustee shall be reasonable in light of the value of the Divestiture Assets and based on a fee arrangement providing the trustee with an incentive based on the price and terms of the divestitures and the speed with which they are accomplished, but timeliness is paramount. E. Defendants Thomson and Harcourt shall use their best efforts to assist the trustee in accomplishing the required divestitures. The trustee and any consultants, accountants, attorneys, and other persons retained by the trustee shall have full and complete access to the personnel, books, records, and facilities of the businesses to be divested, and defendants Thomson and Harcourt shall develop financial and other information relevant to such businesses as the trustee may reasonably request, subject to reasonable protection for trade secret or other confidential research, development, or commercial information. Defendants shall take no action to interfere with or impede the trustee's accomplishment of the divestitures. F. After its appointment, the trustee shall file monthly reports with the United States and the Court setting forth the trustee's efforts to accomplish the divestitures ordered under this Final Judgment. To the extent that such reports contain information that the trustee deems confidential, such reports shall not be filed in the public docket of the Court. Such reports shall include the name, address, and telephone number of each person who, during the preceding month, made an offer to acquire, expressed an interest in acquiring, entered into negotiations to acquire, or was contacted or made an inquiry about acquiring, any interest in the Divestiture Assets, and shall describe in detail each contact with any such person. The trustee shall maintain full records of all efforts made to divest the Divestiture Assets. G. If the trustee has not accomplished such divestitures within six (6) months after its appointment, the trustee shall promptly file with the Court a report setting forth: (1) the trustee's efforts to accomplish the required divestitures; (2) the reasons, in the trustee's judgment, why the required divestitures have not been accomplished; and (3) the trustee's recommendations. To the extent that such reports contain information that the trustee deems confidential, such reports shall not be filed in the public docket of the Court. The trustee shall at the same time furnish such report to the United States who shall have the right to make additional recommendations consistent with the purpose of the trust. The Court thereafter shall enter such orders as it shall deem appropriate to carry out the purpose of the Final Judgment which may, if necessary, include extending the trust and the term of the trustee's appointment by a period requested by the United States. VI. Notice of Proposed DivestituresA. Within two (2) business days following the execution of a definitive divestiture agreement, defendant Thomson or the trustee, whichever is then responsible for effecting the divestitures required herein, shall notify the United States of any proposed divestitures required by Section IV or V of this Final Judgment. If the trustee is responsible, it shall similarly notify defendant Thomson. The notice shall set forth the details of the proposed divestitures and list the name, address, and telephone number of each person not previously identified who offered or expressed an interest in or desire to acquire any ownership interest in any of the Divestiture Assets, together with full details of the same. B. Within fifteen (15) calendar days of receipt by the United States of such notice, the United States may request from defendant Thomson and Harcourt, the proposed Acquirer(s), any other third party, or the trustee, if applicable, additional information concerning the proposed divestitures, the proposed Acquirer(s), and any other potential Acquirer. Defendants Thomson and Harcourt and the trustee shall furnish any additional information requested within fifteen (15) calendar days of the receipt of the request, unless the parties shall otherwise agree. C. Within thirty (30) calendar days after receipt of the notice or within twenty (20) calendar days after the United States has been provided the additional information requested from defendants, the proposed Acquirer(s), any third party, and the trustee, whichever is later, the United States shall provide written notice to defendant Thomson and the trustee, if there is one, stating whether or not it objects to the proposed divestitures. If the United States provides written notice that it does not object, the divestitures may be consummated, subject only to defendants' limited right to object to the sale under Section V. C of this Final Judgment. Absent written notice that the United States does not object to the proposed Acquirer(s) or upon objection by the United States, a divestiture proposed under Section IV or Section V shall not be consummated. Upon objection by defendants under Section V. C, a divestiture proposed under Section V shall not be consummated unless approved by the Court. VII.Financing Defendants shall not finance all or any part of any purchase made pursuant to Section IV or V of this Final Judgment. VIII. Hold SeparateUntil the divestitures required by this Final Judgment have been accomplished, defendants shall take all steps necessary to comply with the Hold Separate Stipulation and Order entered by the Court. Defendants shall take no action that would jeopardize the divestitures ordered by the Court. IX. AffidavitsA. Within twenty (20) calendar days of the filing of the Complaint in this matter, and every thirty (30) calendar days thereafter until the divestitures have been completed under Section IV or V, defendants shall deliver to the United States an affidavit as to the fact and manner of their compliance with Section IV or V of this Final Judgment. Each such affidavit shall include the name, address, and telephone number of each person who, during the preceding thirty (30) days, made an offer to acquire, expressed an interest in acquiring, entered into negotiations to acquire, or was contacted or made an inquiry about acquiring, any interest in any of the Divestiture Assets, and shall describe in detail each contact with any such person during that period. Each such affidavit shall also include a description of the efforts defendants have taken to solicit buyers for the Divestiture Assets, and to provide required information to prospective purchasers, including the limitations, if any, on such information. Assuming the information set forth in the affidavit is true and complete, any objection by the United States to information provided by defendants, including limitations on information, shall be made within fourteen (14) days of receipt of such affidavit. B. Within twenty (20) calendar days of the filing of the Complaint in this matter, each defendant shall deliver to the United States an affidavit that describes in reasonable detail all actions that have been taken and all steps such defendant has implemented on an ongoing basis to comply with Section VIII of this Final Judgment. Each defendant shall deliver to the United States an affidavit describing any changes to the efforts and actions outlined in such defendant's earlier affidavits filed pursuant to this section within fifteen (15) calendar days after the change is implemented. C. Defendants shall keep all records of all efforts made to preserve and divest the Divestiture Assets until one year after such divestiture has been completed. D. Defendant Reed Elsevier's obligations under paragraphs A. and B. of this Section shall cease upon completion of its sale to Thomson of the Harcourt assets identified in Paragraph 10 of the Complaint filed in this matter. X. Compliance InspectionA. For the purposes of determining or securing compliance with this Final Judgment, or of determining whether the Final Judgment should be modified or vacated, and subject to any legally recognized privilege, from time to time duly authorized representatives of the United States Department of Justice, including consultants and other persons retained by the United States, shall, upon written request of a duly authorized representative of the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Antitrust Division, and on reasonable notice to defendants, be permitted: (1) access during defendants' office hours to inspect and copy or, at plaintiff's option, to require defendants to provide copies of, all books, ledgers, accounts, records and documents in the possession, custody, or control of defendants, relating to any matters contained in this Final Judgment; and (2) to interview, either informally or on the record, defendants' officers, employees, or agents, who may have their individual counsel present, regarding such matters. The interviews shall be subject to the reasonable convenience of the interviewee and without restraint or interference by defendants. B. Upon the written request of a duly authorized representative of the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Antitrust Division, defendants shall submit written reports, under oath if requested, relating to any of the matters contained in this Final Judgment as may be requested. C. No information or documents obtained by the means provided in this section shall be divulged by the United States to any person other than an authorized representative of the executive branch of the United States, except in the course of legal proceedings to which the United States is a party (including grand jury proceedings), or for the purpose of securing compliance with this Final Judgment, or as otherwise required by law. D. If at the time information or documents are furnished by a defendant to the United States, such defendant represents and identifies in writing the material in any such information or documents to which a claim of protection may be asserted under Rule 26(c)(7) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and such defendant marks each pertinent page of such material, "Subject to claim of protection under Rule 26(c)(7) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure," then the United States shall give such defendant ten (10) calendar days notice prior to divulging such material in any legal proceeding (other than a grand jury proceeding). XI. No Reacquisition Defendant Thomson may not reacquire any part of the Divestiture Assets during the term of this Final Judgment. XII. Retention of Jurisdiction The Court retains jurisdiction to enable any party to this Final Judgment to apply to the Court at any time for further orders and directions as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out or construe this Final Judgment, to modify any of its provisions, to enforce compliance, and to punish violations of its provisions. XIII. Expiration of Final JudgmentUnless the Court grants an extension, this Final Judgment shall expire ten years from the date of its entry. XIV. Public Interest Determination Having considered the Competitive Impact Statement filed by the United States, as well as the applicable case law, the Court concludes that entry of this Final Judgment is in the public interest for the following reasons. The proposed Final Judgment is designed to maintain the present level of competition in both the college textbook publishing market and the computer-based testing market. This result will be accomplished by replacing the competitor, which would be eliminated as a result of the merger between the Thomson Corporation and Harcort General, Inc., with one or more new acquirers of the assets in issue which would be equally effective. In this fashion, competition will be maintained, and therefore the interest of the public will be served.
EXHIBIT A
Locations of Assessment Systems, Inc. Testing Centers
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