United Statesv.Computer Associates International, Inc.; Proposed Final Judgment and Competitive Impact Statement

Notice is hereby given pursuant to the Antitrust Procedures and Penalties Act, 15 U.S.C. 16(b)-(h), that a proposed Final Judgment and Competitive Impact Statement have been filed with the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in United States of America v. Computer Associates International, Inc. and Platinum technology International, inc., Civil Action No. 1:01CV02062 (GK). On September 28, 2001, the United States filed a Complaint alleging that the Defendants' conduct surrounding the acquisition of Platinum technology International, inc. by Computer Associates International, Inc. (CA) violated Section 1 of the Sherman Act (15 U.S.C. 1) and section 7a of the Clayton Act (15 U.S.C. 18(a)), commonly known as the Hart-Scott-Rodino (“HSR”) Act. The Complaint alleges that the Defendants violated Section 1 of the Sherman Act by entering into an agreement that restricted Platinum's ability to offer price discounts to customers during the time period before they consummated their merger. The proposed Final Judgment enjoins CA and future merger partners from engaging in similar conduct. The proposed Final Judgment also requires that the Defendants pay a civil penalty to resolve the HSR Act violation. The civil penalty component of the proposed Final Judgment is not open to public comment. Copies of the Complaint, proposed Final Judgment and Competitive Impact Statement are available for inspection at the Department of Justice in Washington, DC, in Room 200, 325 Seventh Street, NW., on the Department of Justice Web site at http://www.usdoj.gov/atr,, and at the Office of the Clerk of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, 333 Constitution Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20001.

Public comment is invited within 60 days of the date of this notice. Such comments, and responses thereto, will be published in the Federal Register and filed with the Court. Comments should be directed to Renata B. Hesse, Chief, Networks & Technology Section, Antitrust Division, U.S. Department of Justice, 600 E Street, NW., Suite 9500, Washington, DC 20530 (telephone (202) 307-6200).

United States District Court for the District of Columbia

United States of America, Plaintiff, v. Computer Associates International, Inc. and Platinum Technology International, Inc., Defendants

Stipulation and Order

It is hereby stipulated by and between the undersigned parties, through their respective counsel, as follows:

1. The Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of plaintiff's Complaint alleging defendants Computer Associates International, Inc. (“CA”) and Platinum technology International, inc. (“Platinum”) violated section 1 of the Sherman Act (15 U.S.C. 1) and Section 7A of the Clayton Act (15 U.S.C. 18(a)), and over each of the parties hereto, and venue of this action is proper in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia. The defendants authorize Richard L. Rosen, Esq. of Arnold & Porter to accept service of all process in this matter on their behalf.

2. The parties stipulate that a Final Judgment in the form hereto attached may be filed and entered by the Court, upon the motion of any party or upon the Court's own motion, at any time after compliance with the requirements of the Antitrust Procedure and Penalties Act (15 U.S.C. 16), and without further notice to any party or other proceedings, provided that Plaintiff has not withdrawn its consent, which it may do at any time before the entry of the proposed Final Judgment by serving notice thereof on defendants and by filing that notice with the Court.

3. CA shall abide by and comply with the provisions of the proposed Final Judgment pending entry of the Final Judgment by the Court, or until expiration of time for all appeals of any Court ruling declining entry of the proposed Final Judgment, and shall, from the date of the signing of this Stipulation by the parties, comply with all the terms and provisions of the proposed Final Judgment as though they were in full force and effect as an order of the Court.

4. The Stipulation shall apply with equal force and effect to any amended proposed Final Judgment agreed upon in writing by the parties and submitted to the Court.

5. In the event that Plaintiff withdraws its consent, as provided in paragraph 2 above, or in the event that the proposed Final Judgment is not entered pursuant to this Stipulation, the time has expired for all appeals of any Court ruling declining entry of the proposed Final Judgment, and the Court has not otherwise ordered continued compliance with the terms and provisions of the proposed Final Judgment, then the parties are released from all further obligations under this Stipulation, and the making of this Stipulation shall be without prejudice to any party in this or any other proceeding.

6. The parties' execution of this Stipulation and entry of the Final Judgment settles, discharges, and releases any and all claims of the plaintiff for civil penalties against:

(a) Defendant CA, its directors, officers, employees, and agents, for failure to comply with the waiting period requirements of § 7A of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. 18(a), arising from the acquisition of Platinum by CA; and

(b) Defendant Platinum, its directors, officers, employees and agents, for failure to comply with the waiting period requirements of § 7A of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. 18(a), arising from the acquisition of Platinum by CA.

Respectfully submitted,

For Plaintiff, United States of America.

James J. Tierney (D.C. Bar No. 434610),

U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust Division, Networks & Technology Section, 600 E Street, NW., Suite 9500, Washington, DC 20530, Tel: (202) 307-0797, Fax: (202) 616-8544.

Dated: April 23, 2002.

For Defendants, Computer Associates International, Inc. and Platinum Technology International, Inc.

Richard L. Rosen (D.C. Bar No. 307231),

Arnold & Porter, 555 Twelfth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20004-1206, Tel: (202) 942-5499, Fax: (202) 942-5999.

Order

The Court having considered the parties' Joint Motion for Entry of Stipulation and Order, and upon consent of the parties,

It is hereby ordered that defendants shall abide by and comply with all terms and provisions of the proposed Final Judgment pending compliance with the requirements of the Antitrust Procedures and Penalties Act, 15 U.S.C. 16.

Dated:

United States District Court Judge

Parties Entitled to Notice of Entry of Order

Counsel for the United States

Renata B. Hesse, Esq.

James J. Tierney, Esq.

U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust Division, Networks & Technology Section, 600 E Street, N.W., Suite 9500, Washington, D.C. 20530, Tel: (202) 307-0797, Fax: (202) 616-8544

Counsel for Computer Associates International, Inc. and Platinum technology International, inc.

Richard L. Rosen, Esq.

Arnold & Porter, 555 Twelfth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20004-1206, Tel: (202) 942-5499, Fax: (202) 942-5999

United States District Court for the District of Columbia

United States of America, Plaintiff, v. Computer Associates International, Inc.; and Platinum Technology International, Inc., Defendants

Final Judgment

Whereas, Plaintiff United States of America filed its Complaint on September 28, 2001, alleging that Defendants Computer Associates International, Inc. (“CA”) and Platinum technology International, inc. (“Platinum”) violated Section 1 of the Sherman Act (15 U.S.C. 1), and Section 7A of the Clayton Act (15 U.S.C. 18(a)), commonly known as the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 (the “HSR Act”), and Plaintiff and Defendants, 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 any admission by, any party regarding any such issue of fact or law;

And whereas Defendant CA agrees to be bound by the provisions of this Final Judgment pending its approval by the Court;

Now, therefore, before any testimony is taken, and without trial or adjudication of any issue of fact or law, and upon the consent of the parties, it is ordered, adjudged and decreed:

I. Jurisdiction

This Court has jurisdiction over the subject matter of and each of the parties to this action. The Complaint states claims upon which relief may be granted against Defendants under Section 1 of the Sherman Act (15 U.S.C. 1), and section 7A of the Clayton Act (15 U.S.C. 18a).

II. Definitions

As used in this Final Judgment:

(A) “Agreement” means any agreement, understanding or plan, formal or informal, written or unwritten.

(B) “Bid” means any bid, offer, or proposal, formal or informal, written or unwritten, to sell, lease, license, or otherwise supply any product or service, including, but not limited to, any such bid, offer, or proposal to renew, extend or otherwise revise any existing contract to provide any product or service.

(C) “Bid information” means all information relating to any bid, including the names of prospective customers and the prices, terms or other conditions of sale.

(D) “CA” means Defendant Computer Associates International, Inc., and its parents, subsidiaries (including Platinum technology International, inc.), successors and assigns, directors, officers, managers, agents, and employees, and any other person acting for, on behalf of, or under the control of them.

(E) “Person” or “party” means any individual, partnership, firm, corporation, association, or other legal or business entity.

(F) “Pre-consummation period” means the period of time between the signing of an agreement to acquire, directly or indirectly, any voting securities or assets of another person, and the earlier of the expiration or termination of the waiting period under the HSR Act or the closing of the acquisition transaction.

III. Applicability

This Final Judgment applies to CA, including each of its directors, officers, managers, agents, employees, parents, subsidiaries, successors and assigns, and to all other persons in active concert or participation with any of them who have received actual notice of this Final Judgment by personal service or otherwise.

IV. Prohibited Conduct

CA is enjoined, directly or indirectly, from entering into, maintaining or enforcing any agreement with an acquiring or to-be-acquired person that, during the pre-consummation period:

(A) establishes any price or discount for any product or service of the other party to be purchased, used or re-sold in the United States.

(B) grants to one party to the transaction the right to negotiate, approve or reject any bid or customer contract for any product or service of the other party to be purchased, used or re-sold in the United States; and

(C) requires a party to provide bid information to the other party for any product or service to be purchased, used or re-sold in the United States.

V. Permitted Conduct

Nothing in Section IV shall prohibit CA and another party to a contemplated or proposed acquisition from:

(A) Agreeing that the to-be acquired person during the pre-consummation period shall continue to operate in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices;

(B) conditioning the transaction on a requirement that the to-be acquired person during the pre-consummation period not engage in conduct that would cause a material adverse change in the business;

(C) agreeing that the to-be acquired person during the pre-consummation period shall not offer or enter into any contract that grants any person enhanced rights or refunds upon the change of control of the to-be acquired person:

(D) agreeing that either party may conduct reasonable and customary due diligence prior to closing the transaction, and conducting such due diligence. However, if CA and the other party are competitors for any service or product that is the subject of any pending bids, a party may obtain pending bid information of the other party for purposes of due diligence only to the extent that bids are material to the understanding of the future earnings and prospects of the other party and only pursuant to a non-disclosure agreement. This non-disclosure agreement must limit use of the information to conducting due diligence and must also prohibit disclosure of any such information to any employee of the party receiving the information who is directly involved in the marketing, pricing or sales of any product or service that is the subject of the pending bids;

(E) submitting a joint bid to a customer where the joint bid would be lawful in the absence of the planned acquisition; and

(F) entering into an agreement where CA and the other party to the transaction are or would be in a buyer/seller relationship and the agreement would be lawful in the absence of the planned acquisition.

VI. Compliance

(A) CA shall maintain an antitrust compliance program which shall include designating, within thirty (30) days of entry of this order, an Antitrust Compliance Officer with responsibility for achieving compliance with this Final Judgment. The Antitrust Compliance Officer shall, on a continuing basis, supervise the review of current and proposed activities to ensure compliance with this Final Judgment. The Antitrust Compliance Officer shall be responsible for accomplishing the following activities:

(1) distributing within forty-five (45) days of entry of this Final Judgment, a copy of this Final Judgment to each current officer an director, and each employee, agent or other person who has responsibility for or authority over mergers and acquisitions.

(2) distributing in a timely manner a copy of this Final Judgment to any officer, director, employee or agent who succeeds to a position described in Section VI(A)(1);

(3) obtaining within forty-five (45) days from the entry of this Final judgment, and annually thereafter, and retaining for the duration of this Final Judgment, a written certification from each person designated in Sections VI(A)(1) & (2) that he or she: (a) Has received, read, understands, and agrees to abide by the terms of this Final Judgment; (b) understands that failure to comply with this Final Judgment may result in conviction for criminal contempt of court; and (c) is not aware of any violation of the Final Judgment; and

(4) providing a copy of this Final Judgment to each merger partner before the initial exchange of a letter of intent, definitive agreement or other agreement of merger.

(B) Within sixty (60) days of entry of this Final Judgment, CA shall certify to Plaintiff that it has (1) designated an Antitrust Compliance Officer, specifying his or her name, business address and telephone number; and (2) distributed the Final Judgment in accordance with Section VI(A)(1).

(C) For the term of this Final Judgment, on or before its anniversary date, CA shall file with Plaintiff an annual statement as to the fact and manner of its compliance with the provisions of Sections IV and VI.

(D) If any CA director or officer or the Antitrust Compliance Officer learns of any violation of this Final Judgment, CA shall within three (3) business days take appropriate action to terminate or modify the activity so as to assure compliance with this Final Judgment, and shall notify the Plaintiff of any such violation within ten (10) business days.

VII. Plaintiffs Access and Inspection

(A) For the purpose of determining or securing compliance with this Final Judgment, and subject to any legally recognized privilege, duly authorized representatives of the United States Department of Justice shall, upon written request of a duly authorized representatives of the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Antitrust Division, and on reasonable notice to CA, be permitted:

(1) Access during CA's office hours to inspect and copy or at Plaintiff's option, to require CA to provide copies of all records and documents in its possession or control relating to any matters contained in this Final Judgment; and

(2) to interview, either informally or on the record, CA's directors, officers, employees, agents or other persons, who may have their individual counsel present, relating to any matters contained in this Final Judgment. The interviews shall be subject to the reasonable convenience of the interviewee and without restraint or interference by CA.

(B) Upon written request of a duly authorized representative of the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Antitrust Division, CA 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 Plaintiff 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 CA to Plaintiff, CA represents and identifies in writing the material in any such information or documented to which a claim of protection may be asserted under Rule 26(c)(7) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure, and CA marks each pertinent page of such material, Subject to claim of protection under Rule 26(c)(7) of the Federal Rules of Procedure,'' then the United States shall give ten (10) calendar days' notice prior to divulging such material in any legal proceeding (other than a grand jury proceeding) to which CA is not a party.

VIII. Civil Penalty

Judgment is hereby entered in this matter in favor of Plaintiff, United States of America, and against Defendants, CA and Platinum, and, pursuant to Section 7A(g)(1) of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. 18a(g)(1), the Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996, Pub. L. 104-134, Sec. 31001(s) (amending the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act of 1990, 28 U.S.C. 2461), and Federal Trade Commission Rule 1.98, 16 CFR 1.98.61 FR 54549 (Oct. 21, 1996), Defendants are hereby ordered jointly and severally to pay a civil penalty in the amount of six hundred and thirty eight thousand United States dollars (US $638,000). Payment shall be made by wire transfer of funds to the United States Treasury through the Treasury Financial Communications System or by cashier's check made payable to the Treasury of the United States and delivered to Chief, FOIA Unit, Antitrust Division, Department of Justice, Liberty Place, 325 7th Street, NW., Suite 200, Washington, DC 20530. Defendants shall pay the full amount of the civil penalties within thirty (30) days of the entry of this Final Judgment.

In the event of a default in payment, interest at the rate of eighteen (18) percent per annum shall accrue thereon from the date of the default to the date of payment. The portion of the Final Judgment requiring the payment of civil penalties for violation of section 7A of the Clayton Act is not subject to the Antitrust Procedures and Penalties Act (“APPA”), 15 U.S.C. 16(b)-(h)).

IX. Retention of Jurisdiction

This court retains jurisdiction to enable any party to this Final Judgment to apply to this Court at any time for such further orders and directions as may be necessary or appropriate to carry out or construe this Final Judgment, to modify or terminate any of its provisions, to enforce compliance, and to punish any violations of its provisions.

X. Expiration of Final Judgment

Unless extended by this Court, this Final Judgment shall expire ten years from the date of its entry.

XI. Costs

Each party shall bear its own costs of this action.

XII. Public Interest Determination

Entry of this Final Judgment is in the public interest.

Dated:

Court approval subject to the Antitrust Procedures and Penalties Act, 15 United States 16.

United States District Judge

Parties Entitled to Notice of Entry of Order

Counsel for the United States

Renata B. Hesse, Esq.,

James J. Tierney, Esq.,

U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust Division, Networks and Technology Section, 600 E Street, NW., Suite 9500, Washington, DC 20530, Tel: 202/307-0797, Fax: 202/616-8544.

Counsel for Computer Associates International, Inc. and Platinum technology International, inc.

Richard L. Rosen, Esq.,

Arnold & Porter, 555 Twelfth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20004-1206, Tel: 202/942-5499, Fax: 202/942-5999.

United States District Court for the District of Columbia

United States of America, Plaintiff, v. Computer Associates International, Inc.; and Platinum Technology International, inc., Defendants

Competitive Impact Statement

The United States, pursuant to the Antitrust Procedures and Penalties Act (“APPA”), 15 U.S.C. 16(b)-(h), files this Competitive Impact Statement to set forth the information necessary to enable the Court and the public to evaluate the proposed Final Judgment that would resolve the allegations in the civil antitrust suit filed by the United States on September 28, 2001.

I. Nature and Purpose of This Proceeding

The United States filed a two-count Complaint against Computer Associates International, Inc. (“CA”) and Platinum technology International, inc. (“Platinum”) related to the Defendants' conduct surrounding CA's $3.5 billion acquisition of Platinum. Count One alleges that the Defendants entered into an agreement that illegally restrained trade in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act, 15 U.S.C. 1. Prior to their merger, CA and Platinum aggressively competed in numerous software markets. The Complaint alleges that, under the Merger Agreement, Platinum could not, without CA's prior written approval, offer customers discounts greater than 20% off list prices. During the time between the signing of the Merger Agreement and the closing of the merger (the “pre-consummation period”), Platinum's sales representatives were required to submit pre-approval forms to CA which contained competitively sensitive information about Platinum's customers and its prospective bids for new business. The pre-approval forms were sent to a CA Divisional Vice President located at Platinum's Illinois headquarters where he exercised the authority to approve or reject proposed Platinum customer contracts seeking discounts greater than 20% off list prices. The agreement to limit discounts and the Defendants' actions to effectuate their agreement chilled Platinum's ability to compete against CA and had the effect of denying Platinum's and CA's customers the benefits of free and open competition. The Complaint asks the Court to declare the agreement to be unlawful and seeks an injunction to prevent CA from entering into similar agreements in the future.

In Count Two, the United States alleges that the Defendants violated Title II of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvement Act of 1976 (“HSR Act”), 15 U.S.C. 18a, which requires merging parties in certain instances to file pre-acquisition Notification and Report Forms with the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) and Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) and observe a mandatory waiting period before acquiring any voting securities or assets of to the to-be-acquired person. The fundamental purpose of the HSR waiting period is to prevent the merging parties from combining during the pendency of an antitrust review, thereby ensuring that they remain separate and independent actors. The Defendants' Merger Agreement and pre-consummation conduct altered their status as separate and independent economic actors by transferring to CA control of substantial aspects of Platinum's business. In addition to discounts, CA exercised approval authority over other terms and conditions of Platinum's customer contracts and over Platinum's ability to offer consulting services at a fixed price and year 2000 (“Y2K”) remediation consulting services. Further exercising its control over Platinum during the pre-consummation period, CA obtained competitively sensitive bid information and made decisions about Platinum's recognition of revenue and participation at industry trade shows. The Complaint seeks a civil penalty for violation of the HSR Act.

After this suit was filed, the United States and Defendants reached a proposed settlement that eliminates the need for a trial in this case. The proposed Final Judgment remedies the Section 1 violation by prohibiting CA in future acquisitions from agreeing on prices, approving customer contracts, and misusing competitively sensitive bid information. CA and Platinum would also agree to pay a $638,000 civil penalty to resolve the HSR Act violation.

The United States and Defendants have stipulated that the proposed Final Judgment may be entered after compliance with the APPA, unless the United States first withdraws its consent. Entry of the proposed Final Judgment would terminate this action, except that this Court would retain jurisdiction to construe, modify or enforce the provisions of the proposed Final Judgment and to punish violations thereof. Entry of judgment would not constitute evidence against, or an admission by, any party with respect to any issue of fact or law involved in the case and is conditioned upon the Court's finding that entry is in the public interest.

II. Description of the Events Giving Rise to the Alleged Violation of the Antitrust Laws

A. Background

1. The Defendants and the Merger Investigation

CA is a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business in Islandia, New York. CA develops, markets, and supports software products for a variety of computers and operating systems, including systems management software for computers that use IBM's OS/390, VSE and VM operating systems (“mainframe computers”). Systems management software products are used to help manage, control, or enhance the performance of mainframe computers. CA, in its 1998 fiscal year, reported revenues in excess of $4.7 billion.

Platinum was a Delaware corporation with its principal place of business in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois. Platinum, like CA, was a leading vendor of mainframe systems management software products. In addition to its software business, Platinum offered computer consulting services, including Y2K remediation services. In its fiscal year 1998, Platinum reported revenues of about $968 million.

Prior to March 1999, Platinum aggressively competed with CA in the development and sale of numerous software products, including mainframe systems management software products. On March 29, 1999, CA and Platinum announced the Merger Agreement, pursuant to which CA would purchase all issued and outstanding shares of Platinum through a $3.5 billion cash tender offer. Thereafter, CA and Platinum filed the pre-acquisition Notification and Report Forms required by the HSR Act.

After reviewing the parties' HSR filings, DOJ opened an investigation that led to the filing of a Complaint on May 25, 1999, alleging that CA's proposed acquisition of Platinum would eliminate substantial competition and result in higher prices in certain mainframe systems management software markets. See United States versus Computer Associates International Inc., et al. (D.D.C. 99-01318 (GK)). Simultaneously with the filing of the Complaint, the parties reached an agreement that allowed CA and Platinum to go forward with the merger, provided that CA sell certain Platinum mainframe systems management software products and related assets. The HSR waiting period expired on May 25, 1999. Three days later, CA announced that it had accepted for payment all validly tendered Platinum shares and the Defendants thereafter consummated the merger. Platinum survived the merger and is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of CA.

2. CA and Platinum Agreed That CA Would Approve Certain Platinum Customer Contracts

Section 5.1 of CA's Merger Agreement with Platinum, titled “Conduct of Business,” sets forth numerous covenants made by Platinum as part of the agreement to be acquired regarding how it would conduct its business during the pre-consummation period. One provision, commonly found in merger agreements, required Platinum to carry on its business “in the ordinary course in substantially the same manner as heretofore conducted.” The Merger Agreement, however, also contained provisions not normally found in merger agreements that severely restricted Platinum's ability to engage in business as a competitive entity independent of CA's control. Section 5.1(j) prohibited Platinum, without the prior written approval of CA, from:

enter[ing] into any agreement pursuant to which [Platinum] will provide services for a term of more than 30 days at a fixed or capped price; . . . enter[ing] into any customer sale or license agreement with non-standards terms or at discounts from list prices in excess of 20%; . . . [and] enter[ing] into or amend[ing] any contract to provide for “year 2000” remediation services.

CA retained the right to be the “sole arbiter” of whether to grant exceptions to these conduct of business restrictions. In its May 14, 1999, SEC 10-Q filing, Platinum conceded that the Merger Agreement placed Platinum substantially under CA's operational control, stating:

Also, the merger agreement imposes extremely tight restrictions on [Platinum's] ability to take various actions and to conduct its business without Computer Associates' consent. These restrictions could have a severe detrimental effect on [Platinum's] business.

Platinum 10-Q (5/14/99). CA further entered into consulting and non-compete agreements with Platinum's Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, and Chief Operating Officer that included provisions providing that each may be held personally liable if Platinum failed to comply with the competitive restrictions of Section 5.1(j) of the Merger Agreement.

Platinum changed its ordinary customer contract approval procedures to ensure that the company operated in accordance with the limitation imposed by Section 5.1(j) of the Merger Agreement and that any exceptions were approved by CA. Under the new procedures, Platinum sales representatives were required to complete contract pre-approval forms. The forms identified the customer, the products or services offered, list price, discount, and a justification for the discount. Platinum sales representatives were required to attach supporting documents such as the proposed contract or statement of work. The forms also contained a section for CA to note its approval.

For proposed contracts that did not conform to the business restrictions imposed by Section 5.1(j) of the Merger Agreement (for example, a contract proposing a discount greater than 20%), the Platinum sales representatives were required to submit the pre-approval forms and supporting documents to a contract review and approval team located at Platinum's Illinois headquarters. The team was composed of two Platinum employees and a CA Division Vice President. The CA Vice President had final authority to approve or reject the contract or request additional information from the Platinum sales force. On several occasions, the CA Vice President consulted with other CA executives before approving or rejecting a proposed contract. CA exercised control over Platinum's customer contract process through this approval authority. Platinum maintained a database to track contracts in the pre-approval process which contained competitively sensitive information relating to customer-specific proposals and noted whether CA had approved or rejected the contract. CA had access to this database.

3. CA Exercised Operational Control Over Platinum's Ability to Price Its Products and Services and Set Other Terms and Conditions of Sale

CA, during the HSR waiting period, took operational control over Platinum's ability to price its products and services, set other terms and conditions of sale, enter into fixed-price contracts over 30 days, and offer Y2K remediation services.

Discounts: Before the merger announcement, Platinum routinely gave software discounts over 20%, and discounts up to 80% were not uncommon. Platinum also commonly discounted consulting services more than 20%. After implementation of the new discounting restrictions and contract approval procedures, some Platinum sales representatives modified their normal discounting practices and kept discounts below the levels on which CA and Platinum had agreed, including bids where the sales representative would have otherwise recommended, and Platinum would likely have approved, discounts above the agreed-upon levels. Other Platinum sales representatives submitted, under the newly established process, proposed contracts seeking discounts greater than 20%. However, these requests were subject to review and approval by CA. In some cases, where CA found the justification given to support an exception was insufficient, CA requested further explanation or required the offer to be modified before granting approval.

Other Contract Terms: Prior to the merger announcement, Platinum often deviated from the terms in its standard contract and accepted non-standard terms, such as terms proposed by customers. Under the Merger Agreement, Platinum was prohibited from offering non-standard terms without CA approval. After the merger announcement, CA approved some contracts containing non-standard terms and returned others to the sales representative for revision before granting approval.

Fixed-Price Contracts: Prior to the merger announcement, Platinum offered to provide consulting services for more than 30 days for a fixed price where Platinum performed a particular task for the stated price and assumed the risk of any cost overruns. The Merger Agreement prohibited Platinum from entering into consulting services contracts with fixed prices of more than 30 days in length. Although the Merger Agreement allowed fixed-price contracts shorter than 30 days, Platinum sales representatives were notified that no fixed-price contracts could be presented to customers without CA approval. Subsequently, all computer consulting service contracts, including fixed-price contracts, were submitted to CA for approval. CA approved many, but not all, computer consulting contracts that were submitted for its review.

Y2K Remediation Services: The Merger Agreement prevented Platinum from offering Y2K services without CA's prior written approval. Almost all new Y2K remediation activities ceased after the merger announcement. CA, however, reviewed all Y2K remediation proposals pending at the time of the merger announcement and a handful of proposals submitted after March 29. CA approved some Y2K remediation contracts and rejected others.

4. Other Indicia CA Exercised Operational Control Over Platinum's Business

Finally, CA, during the pre-consummation period, had sufficient control over Platinum's operations that it was able to change Platinum's method of booking revenues and reversed revenues previously recognized for customer contracts. CA even exercised approval authority over Platinum's participation at industry trade shows by canceling Platinum's participation at a trade show where Platinum would have presented its products and sought future business.

B. The Defendants' Agreement To Limit Platinum's Discounts Violated Section 1 of the Sherman Act

The Complaint alleges that the Merger Agreement and the Defendants' pre-consummation conduct had the effect of lessening or eliminating competition between CA and Platinum in the sale of certain software products in violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act. Section 1 of the Sherman Act prohibits any “contract, combination or conspiracy” that is “in restraint of trade.” The pendency of a proposed merger does not excuse the merging parties of their obligations to compete independently. Thus, pending consummation, activities by one party to control or affect decisions of another with regard to price, output or other competitively significant matter may violate Section 1.

At the time of the tender offer, CA and Platinum were substantial competitors in numerous software markets. Under the Merger Agreement, CA and Platinum agreed that Platinum would not offer discounts greater than 20% off list prices for its software products unless CA approved the discount. In furtherance of this agreement, CA installed one of its Vice Presidents at Platinum's headquarters to review Platinum's proposed customer contracts and exercise authority to approve or reject proposed contracts offering discounts greater than 20%. CA also obtained prospective, customer-specific information regarding Platinum's bids, including the name of the customer, products and services offered, list price, discount, and the justification for any discount. Platinum placed no limits with respect to CA's use of this information. CA used this information to monitor Platinum's adherence to the Merger Agreement's limitation on discounts and to exercise its authority to approve or reject any proposed contract that offered discounts over 20%. The Defendants' conduct had the effect of lessening or eliminating competition between them in the sale of various software products.

The Defendants' agreement to limit Platinum's right to independently set the price for its software products and their actions to effectuate this agreement were extraordinary and not reasonably ancillary to any legitimate goal of the transaction.

C. CA's Exercise of Operational Control Over Platinum Violated the HSR Act

The Complaint asserts that the Defendants' pre-consummation conduct also violated the HSR Act. The United States does not believe that the payment of civil penalties under the HSR Act is subject to the Administrative Procedures and Penalties Act (“APPA”). Consequently, the civil penalties component of the proposed Final Judgment is not open to public comment. Although the civil penalty component of the Final Judgment is not open to public comment, it is appropriate in this case to use the Competitive Impact Statement to explain our views regarding CA's and Platinum's violation of the HSR Act.

1. The Purpose of the HSR Act

Prior to enactment of the HSR Act, the DOJ and FTC often investigated anticompetitive “midnight mergers” that had been consummated with no public notice. The merged entity thereafter had the incentive to delay litigation so that substantial time elapsed before adjudication and attempted relief. During this extended time, consumers were harmed by the reduction in competition between the acquiring and acquired firms and, if after adjudication, the court found that the merger was illegal, effective relief was difficult to achieve. The HSR Act was designed to strengthen antitrust enforcement by preventing the consummation of large mergers before they were investigated by the enforcement agencies. In particular, the HSR Act prohibits certain acquiring parties from consummating a merger before a prescribed waiting period expires. The HSR waiting period remedies the problem of “midnight mergers” by keeping the parties separate, thereby preserving their status as independent economic actors during the antitrust investigation. The legislative history of the HSR Act makes this plain. Congress was concerned that competition existing before the merger should be maintained to the extent possible pending review by the antitrust enforcement agencies and the court. Consistent with this purpose, an acquiring person may not, after signing a merger agreement, exercise operational or management control of the to-be-acquired person's business.

2. The Merger Agreement and Defendants' Pre-Consummation Actions Violated the HSR Act by Altering Their Status as Separate Economic Actors

Merger agreements typically contain “interim covenants” limiting the to-be-acquired person's operations during the pre-consummation period. The Merger Agreement between CA and Platinum contained a covenant typically found in most merger agreements that Platinum would continue to operate its business in the ordinary course of business. Such “ordinary course” provisions do not violate the HSR Act.

The Merger Agreement also contained many other customary covenants, including Platinum's agreement that it would not, without the prior written approval of CA: (1) Declare or pay dividends or distributions of its stock; (2) issue, sell, pledge, or encumber its securities; (3) amend its organizational documents; (4) acquire or agree to acquire other businesses; (5) mortgage or encumber its intellectual property or other material assets outside the ordinary course; (6) make or agree to make large new capital expenditures; (7) make material tax elections or compromise material tax liabilities; (8) pay, discharge or satisfy any claims or liabilities outside the ordinary course; and (9) commence lawsuits other than routine collection of bills. The purpose of these standard provisions is to prevent a to-be-acquired person from taking actions that could seriously impair the value of what the acquiring firm had agreed to buy. While these customary provisions limited Platinum's ability to make certain business decisions without CA's consent, they were also reasonable and necessary to protect the value of the transaction and did not constitute the HSR Act violation.

The Merger Agreement, however, did not stop with these customary covenants, but went further to impose extraordinary conduct of business limitations enabling CA to exercise operational control over significant aspects of Platinum's business. These restrictions and CA's exercise of operational control went far beyond ordinary and reasonable pre-consummation covenants and constituted a violation of the HSR Act. In the pre-merger context, an acquiring person may not exercise operational control of the to-be-acquired person's business. This is what CA did in this case.

Platinum, immediately upon executing the Merger Agreement, transferred to CA operational control of substantial aspects of its business, including the right to set prices and other terms of customer contracts, enter into certain consulting services contracts, account for revenues, and participate at trade shows. To ensure compliance with the Merger Agreement's business restrictions, Platinum's CEO, COO, and CFO were personally liable if the restrictions were not observed. Moreover, a CA Divisional Vice President occupied an office at Platinum's Illinois headquarters where he reviewed proposed Platinum customer contracts and exercised authority to approve or reject contracts. In effect, the decision-making authority with respect to these business activities resided with CA's management, not Platinum's. Further exercising its operational control, CA obtained Platinum's competitively sensitive customer information without any restriction as to its use by CA or its dissemination within CA. This conduct demonstrates that CA and Platinum did not adhere to the requirement of the HSR Act that they remain separate and independent economic entities during the waiting period.

Both CA and Platinum were in violation of the HSR Act from March 29, 1999, the date on which the Merger Agreement was executed, through May 25, 1999, the day on which CA, Platinum, and DOJ agreed to a consent decree resolving DOJ's antitrust concerns.

III. Explanation of the Proposed Final Judgment

The proposed Final Judgment contains two forms of relief: (1) Injunctive provisions intended to prevent recurrence of the violation of Section 1 of the Sherman Act alleged in the Complaint; and (2) a monetary civil penalty from CA and Platinum for the violation of the HSR Act.

A. Sherman Act Relief

The proposed Final Judgment sets forth the conduct that CA is prohibited from engaging in, certain conduct that CA may engage in without violating the Final Judgment, a compliance program CA must follow, and procedures available to the United States to determine and ensure compliance with the Final Judgment. Section X provides that these provisions will expire ten years after entry of the Final Judgment.

1. Prohibited Conduct

Section IV of the proposed Final Judgment sets forth the substantive injunctive provisions and is designed to prevent the recurrence of the alleged Sherman Act Section 1 violation. Thus, Section IV(A) prohibits CA and a merger partner from agreeing to establish the price of any product or services offered in the United States to any customer during the preconsummation period. The proposed Final Judgment also would prevent the repetition of the conduct CA employed to facilitate its agreement with Platinum to establish prices. Specifically, Section IV(B) prohibits CA from entering into an agreement to review, approve or reject customer contracts during the pre-consummation period, and Section IV(C) prohibits CA from entering into an agreement that requires a party to provide bid information to another party.

2. Permitted Conduct

Section V of the proposed Final Judgment identifies certain agreements and conduct that are not prohibited by the Judgment. Sections V(A), and (B) and (C) authorize the use of certain “interim covenants” that are either typically found in merger agreements or are not likely to restrict competition. Section V(A) permits the use of a provision that requires the to-be-acquired person to operate its business in the ordinary course consistent with past practices. Section V(B) permits the use of material adverse change provisions which give the acquiring person certain rights in the event there is a material adverse change in the to-be-acquired person's business. These are customary provisions found in most merger agreements and are intended to protect the value of the transaction and prevent the to-be-acquired person from wasting assets. Under Section V(C), CA would be able to prevent a to-be-acquired person from offering customers during the pre-consummation period enhanced rights or refunds of any nature upon a change of control of the to-be-acquired firm. For example, CA could prohibit a to-be-acquired person from offering a full refund of all license and maintenance fees if CA consummates the merger. The use of such a provision is not likely to restrict competition.

Section V(D) recognizes a narrow exception to the prohibition in Section IV(C) concerning CA's access to customs bid information. As a general rule, in a merger between competitors one merging party should not obtain another party's prospective, customer-specific bid information prior to consummation of the transaction. Access to such information raises significant antitrust risks because it could be used to reduce competition during the pre-consummation period or after if the transaction is subsequently abandoned or blocked. There may be situations, however, where a merging party has a legitimate business need for certain bid information prior to closing. For example, during the due diligence process a party may need information regarding pending contracts in the pipeline to properly value the business or to assess the future growth of the business. To reduce antitrust exposure where bid information is necessary for due diligence purposes, merging parties generally consult with counsel about the specifics of their particular situation and adopt a variety of safeguards. Such safeguards may include employing an independent agent to collect the information and present the information in an aggregated or other form that shields customer-specific and other competitively sensitive information. In addition, a non-disclosure agreement is often use to limit use of any bid information for due diligence purposes. In some cases, merging parties opt not to receive bid information, and instead use other mechanisms to adjust the value after closing.

Under Section V(D), CA may obtain pending bid information of the other party for due diligence purposes only to the extent that the bids are material to the understanding of the future earnings and prospects of the other party and only pursuant to an appropriate non-disclosure agreement. This non-disclosure agreement must ensure that CA employees who receive material bid information do not use the information to harm competition. Material bid information may only be provided to CA employees who have a legitimate need for the information, such as employees with due diligence responsibilities or who are responsible for negotiating the transaction. In addition, material bid information may not be provided to CA employees who are directly involved in the marketing, pricing or sale of competing products. Thus, the information may not be provided directly or indirectly to any CA employee involved in day-to-day sales or marketing activities or otherwise use in the sales process. With respect to non-material bids, CA may not obtain such information except where necessary for due diligence purposes and where the information is collected by an independent agent, subject to appropriate use and confidentiality limitations.

This limited access to bid information is consistent with the relief sought in the Complaint. The Complaint alleged that CA collected and use Platinum's bid information in furtherance of its agreement to limit Platinum's discounts. The Complaint did not address the situation where CA had a legitimate need for material bid information and where such information was provided subject to appropriate limitations and confidentiality protections.

Finally, Sections V(E) and (F) clarify that the proposed Final Judgment does not prohibit CA from entering into certain price agreements or engaging in certain joint activities that would have been lawful independent of the proposed merger. Section V(D) permits price agreements in the context of an otherwise lawful joint bid situation, and Section V(E) permits price agreements in an otherwise lawful distribution relationship.

3. Compliance

Sections VI and VII of the proposed Final Judgment set forth various compliance procedures. Section VI sets up an affirmative compliance program directed toward ensuring CA's compliance with the limitations imposed by the proposed Final Judgment. The compliance program includes the designation of a compliance officer who is required to distribute a copy of the Final Judgment to each present and succeeding director, officer, employee and agent with responsibility for mergers and acquisitions, brief each such person regarding compliance with the Final Judgment, and obtain certifications from each such person that they have received a copy of the Final Judgment and understanding their obligations under the Judgment. In addition, the compliance officer must provide a copy of the Final Judgment to a potential merger partner before the initial exchange of a letter of intent, definitive agreement or other agreement of merger. Section VI of the proposed Final Judgment further requires the compliance officer to certify to the United States that it is in compliance and report any violations of the Final Judgment.

To facilitate monitoring CA's compliance with the Final Judgment, Section VII grants DOJ access, upon reasonable notice, to CA's records and documents relating to matters contained in the Final Judgment. CA must also make its personnel available for interviews or depositions regarding such matters. In addition, upon request, CA must prepare written reports relating to matters contained in the Final Judgment.

These provisions are fully adequate to prevent recurrence of the type of illegal conduct alleged in the Complaint. The proposed Final Judgment should ensure that CA in future mergers or acquisitions will not enter into agreements to limit price competition during the preconsummation period. Consequently, customers will receive the benefits of free and open competition.

B. Civil Penalties

Under section (g)(1) of the HSR Act, 15 U.S.C. 18a(g)(1), any person who fails to comply with the Act shall be liable to the United States for a civil penalty of not more than $11,000 for each day during which such person is in violation of the Act. As the Stipulation and proposed Final Judgment indicate, Defendants have agreed to pay civil penalties totaling $638,000 within 30 days of entry of the Final Judgment. While the United States was prepared to seek civil penalties totaling $1,267,000 at trial, the uncertainties inherent in any litigation led to acceptance of $638,000 as an appropriate civil penalty for settlement purposes. Moreover, this civil penalty should be sufficient to deter CA and other acquiring persons from exercising operational control over a to-be-acquired person during the HSR waiting period.

IV. Remedies Available to Potential Private Litigants

Section 4 of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. 15, provides that any person who has been injured as a result of conduct prohibited by the antitrust laws may bring suit in federal district court to recover three times the damages the person has suffered, as well as the costs of bringing a lawsuit and reasonable attorneys fees. Entry of the proposed Final Judgment will neither impair nor assist the bringing of any private antitrust damage action. Under the provisions of section 5(a) of the Clayton Act, 15 U.S.C. 16(a), the proposed Final Judgment has no effect as prima facie evidence in any subsequent private lawsuit that may be brought against defendants.

V. Procedures Available for Modification of the Proposed Final Judgment

The United States and Defendants have stipulated that the proposed Final Judgment may be entered by this Court after compliance with the provisions of the APPA, provided that the United States has not withdrawn its consent. The APPA conditions entry of the decree upon this Court's determination that the injunction portion of the proposed Final Judgment is in the public interest.

The APPA provides a period of a least sixty (60) days preceding the effective date of the proposed Final Judgment within which any person may submit to the United States written comments regarding the proposed Sherman Act injunction contained in the Final Judgment. Any person who wishes to comment should do so within sixty (60) days of the date of publication of this Competitive Impact Statement in the Federal Register. The United States will evaluate and respond to the comments. All comments will be given due consideration by DOJ, which remains free to withdraw its consent to the proposed Final Judgment at any time prior to entry. The comments and the response of the United States will be filed with this Court and published in the Federal Register. Written comments should be submitted to:

Renata B. Hesse, Chief, Networks and Technology Section, United States Department of Justice, Antitrust Division, 600 E. Street, NW., Suite 9500, Washington, DC 20530.

The proposed Final Judgment provides that this Court retains jurisdiction over this action, and the parties may apply to this Court for any order necessary or appropriate for the modification, interpretation, or enforcement of the Final Judgment.

VI. Alternatives to the Proposed Final Judgment

The United States considered, as an alternative to the proposed Final Judgment, a full trial on the merits against Defendants. The United States is satisfied, however, that a trial would not result in further injunctive relief than is contained in the proposed Final Judgment. Moreover, the proposed injunctive relief and payment of civil penalties are sufficient to achieve the primary objective of the litigation—deterring CA and any potential merger partner from entering into agreements on price and from failing to comply with the waiting period requirements of the HSR Act.

VII. Standard of Review Under the APPA for Proposed Final Judgment

The APPA requires that injunctions of anticompetitive conduct contained in proposed consent judgments in antitrust cases brought by United States be subject to a sixty (60) day comment period, after which the court shall determine whether entry of the proposed Final Judgment is “in the public interest.” In making that determination, the court may consider—

(1) The competitive impact of such judgment, including termination of alleged violations, provisions for enforcement and modification, duration or relief sought, anticipated effects of alternative remedies actually considered, and any other considerations bearing upon the adequacy of such judgment;

(2) the impact of entry of such judgment upon the public generally and individuals alleging specific injury from the violations set forth in the complaint including consideration of the public benefit, if any, to be derived from a determination of the issues at trial.

15 U.S.C. 16(e) (emphasis added). As the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia has held, the APPA permits a court to consider, among other things, the relationship between the remedy secured and the specific allegations set forth in the Government's Complaint, whether the decree is sufficiently clear, whether enforcement mechanisms are sufficient, and whether the decree may positively harm third parties. See United States v. Microsoft Corp., 56 F.3d 1448, 1458-62 (D.C. Cir. 1995).

In conducting this inquiry, “the Court is nowhere compelled to go to trial or to engage in extended proceedings which might have the effect of vitiating the benefits of prompt and less costly settlement through the consent decree process.” Rather,

absent a showing of corrupt failure of the government to discharge its duty, the Court, in making its public interest finding, should . . . carefully consider the explanations of the government in the competitive impact statement and its responses to comments in order to determine whether those explanations are reasonable under the circumstances.

Accordingly, with respect to the adequacy of the relief secured by the decree, a court may not “engage in an unrestricted evaluation of what relief would best serve the public.” United States v. BNS, Inc., 858 F.2d 456, 462-63 (9th Cir. 1988), quoting United States v. Bechtel Corp., 648 F.2d 660, 666 (9th Cir.), cert. denied, 454 U.S. 1083 (1981); see also Microsoft, 56 F.3d at 1458. Precedent requires that

[t]he balancing of competing social and political interests affected by a proposed antitrust consent decree must be left, in the first instance, to the discretion of the Attorney General. The court's role in protecting the public interest is one of insuring that the government has not breached its duty to the public in consenting to the decree. The court is required to determine not whether a particular decree is the one that will best serve society, but whether the settlement is “within the reaches of the public interest.” More elaborate requirements might undermine the effectiveness of antitrust enforcement by consent decree.

The proposed Final Judgment, therefore, should not be reviewed under a standard of whether it is certain to eliminate every anticompetitive effect of a particular practice or whether it mandates certainty of free competition in the future. Court approval of a final judgment requires a standard more flexible and less strict than the standard required for a finding of liability. A “proposed decree must be approved even if it falls short of the remedy the court would impose on it own, as long as it falls within the range of acceptability or is ‘within the reaches of public interest.’ ”

Moreover, the Court's role under the APPA is limited to reviewing the remedy in relationship to the violations that the United States alleges in its Complaint, and does not authorize the Court to “construct [its] own hypothetical case and then evaluate the decree against that case.” Microsoft, 56 F.3d at 1459. Since the “court's authority to review the decree depends entirely on the government's exercising its prosecutorial discretion by bringing a case in the first place,” it follows that the Court “is only authorized to review the decree itself,” and not to “effectively redraft the complaint” to inquire into other matters that the United States might have but did not pursue. Id.

III. Determinative Documents

There are no determinative materials or documents within the meaning of the APPA that were considered by the United States in formulating the proposed Final Judgment.

Dated: April 23, 2002.

 Respectfully submitted,

Renata B. Hesse, N. Scott Sacks, James J. Tierney (D.C. Bar#434610), Jessica N. Butler-Arkow, David E. Blake-Thomas, Larissa Ng Tan,

Attorneys, U.S. Department of Justice, Antitrust Division, Networks and Technology Section, 600 E Street, NW., Suite 9500, Washington, DC 20530, 202/307-0797.

Certificate of Service

I hereby certify that a copy of the foregoing Competitive Impact Statement was hand delivered this 23rd day of April 2002, to: Counsel for Computer Associates International, Inc. and Platinum technology International, inc.

Richard L. Rosen, Esquire, Arnold & Porter, 555 Twelfth Street, NW., Washington, DC 20004-1206, Fax: 202/547-5999.