Milnot Holding Corp

H.J. Heinz Co. abandoned plans to acquire Milnot Holding Corp., the maker of Beech-Nut baby food, hours after a federal appeals court decision cast serious doubt on whether the deal could overcome the objections of antitrust authorities. A three-judge appeals panel had imposed a preliminary injunction to block the deal, saying that Federal Trade Commission investigators had shown that competition would be "lessened substantially" in the $800-million-a-year U.S.

H.J. Heinz Co. abandoned plans to acquire Milnot Holding Corp., the maker of Beech-Nut baby food, hours after a federal appeals court decision cast serious doubt on whether the deal could overcome the objections of antitrust authorities. A three-judge appeals panel had imposed a preliminary injunction to block the deal, saying that Federal Trade Commission investigators had shown that competition would be "lessened substantially" in the $800-million-a-year U.S.

The Federal Trade Commission said Friday that it authorized its staff to go to court to block H.J. Heinz Co.'s purchase of closely held Milnot Holding Corp., maker of Beech-Nut baby food, saying the deal would stifle competition.

The Federal Trade Commission said Friday that it authorized its staff to go to court to block H.J. Heinz Co.'s purchase of closely held Milnot Holding Corp., maker of Beech-Nut baby food, saying the deal would stifle competition.

1. Jobless Rate Eases: The unemployment rate edged back down to 4% in June as the nation's private-sector employers added 206,000 jobs, demonstrating slower but still-solid growth in the U.S. economy. The Labor Department report delivered strong testimony that the economy is heading into the so-called soft landing of moderate, low-inflation expansion sought by the Federal Reserve.