COMPANY TOWN ANNEX

FTC Clears Sale of QVC Shopping Channel: Two of the nation’s largest cable companies received permission from federal regulators to acquire QVC Inc., which runs a cable television shopping channel, for $1.42 billion. The Federal Trade Commission voted 4-0 to close an investigation into the transaction, announced in July. The move frees Tele-Communications Inc., the nation’s largest cable company, to increase its 23% stake in QVC to about 43%. Comcast Corp., ranked No. 4, will raise its stake to 57% from 16%. The companies are expected to close the deal on Monday, officials said. TCI controls QVC’s closest competitor, Home Shopping Network Inc. Both shopping services are widely carried on TCI and Comcast systems.