The FTC dropped its antitrust case against BAT Industries.

The decision by the Federal Trade Commission upheld a 1983 ruling by an administrative law judge. The 1980 FTC complaint had charged that the firm’s acquisition of Appleton Papers from NCR Corp. would substantially lessen domestic competition in the manufacture of chemical carbonless paper. BAT’s purchase of Appleton for $299 million made it the world’s largest producer of the product, accounting for more than 40% of the market, the FTC complaint said.