FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  January 3, 1991


          COURT COMPLAINT CHARGES GENERAL CINEMA CORP.
            VIOLATED PREMERGER NOTIFICATION LAWS IN 
             ACQUISITION OF CADBURY SCHWEPPES STOCK


     General Cinema Corp. did not comply with federal premerger
notification requirements when it acquired stock in Cadbury
Schweppes p.l.c., the government has charged.  At the Federal Trade
Commission's request, the Department of Justice authorized Federal
Trade Commission attorneys to file a complaint in federal court
today.

     The complaint charges that General Cinema violated the
premerger reporting provisions of the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act.  The
HSR Act requires companies to notify the FTC and Department of
Justice, and to observe a waiting period, before making certain
acquisitions.

     The complaint alleges that General Cinema began acquiring
Cadbury Schweppes' stock in early September 1986, and that later
that same month, its accumulated holdings of the stock exceeded
the $15 million threshold that normally triggers the HSR
notification and waiting period requirements.  

     General Cinema was required, under the HSR Act, to file a
report and observe a waiting period, according to the complaint. 
General Cinema failed to comply with the requirements, the
complaint charges.  General Cinema eventually filed an HSR
notification on January 26, 1987, and the waiting period expired
February 25.  According to the complaint, General Cinema remained
in violation of the HSR Act from September 11, 1986, to February
25, 1987.

     Under the HSR Act, any person that fails to file an HSR report
and observe a waiting period shall be liable for a penalty of up
to $10,000 a day.  The complaint asks the court to order General
Cinema to pay the maximum civil penalty allowed by law.
     
     The complaint was filed January 3, 1991, in the U.S. District
Court for the District of Columbia.


                             (More)
eneral Cinema, based in Chestnut Hill, Mass., is a major
motion picture exhibitor and department store retailer.  During the
period that it was acquiring stock in Cadbury Schweppes, General
Cinema was also in the carbonated soft drink industry.  Cadbury
Schweppes, based in London, England, is an international
manufacturer and supplier of confectionery and soft drink
concentrate products.

     Copies of the complaint are available from the FTC's Public
Reference Branch, Room 130, 6th St. and Pennsylvania Ave. N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20580; 202-326-2222; TTY 202-326-2502

                             # # # 

MEDIA CONTACT:      Susan Ticknor, Office of Public Affairs, 
                    202-326-2181

STAFF CONTACT:      Joseph Brownman, Bureau of Competition,
                    202-326-2605



(FTC File No. 871 0047)


(Civil Action No. 91-0008)




(GenCin)