ANAE Anti-Trust Statement

ANY AGREEMENT AS TO PRICE AMONG COMPETITORS IS A VIOLATION OF THE SHERMAN ACT, REGARDLESS OF THE REASONABLENESS OF THE PRICE SET OR WHETHER THE AGREEMENT IS TO RAISE, LOWER, PEG, OR STABILIZE PRICE LEVELS. IT FOLLOWS THAT ANY DISCUSSION OF PRICE OR PRICE LEVELS AT “ANAE†MEETINGS IS NOT PERMITTED. AN “ANAE†MEETING IS ANY MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OR ANY OTHER GROUP OF MEMBERS CONVENED BY “ANAE†TO CONDUCT “ANAE†BUSINESS. IT DOES NOT INCLUDE TRADE OR VENDOR EXHIBITS OR SHOWS THAT MAY BE ARRANGED IN CONJUNCTION WITH AN “ANAE†MEETING. THIS INCLUDES ANY DISCUSSION OF PRICES OF PRODUCTS, SUPPLIES, OR SERVICE. SIMILARILY, THERE MUST BE NO DISCUSSION OF ANY ELEMENTS OF COMPANY OPERATIONS, WHICH MIGHT INFLUENCE PRICE, SUCH AS:

A. COMPANY COSTS OF OPERATIONS, SUPPLIES, OR SERVICES;

B. ALLOWANCES OR DISCOUNTS;

C. TERMS OF SALE;

D. MARGINS;

E. PLANS OF INDIVIDUAL COMPANIES CONCERNING PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION, OR MARKETING OF PARTICULAR PRODUCTS; AND

F. CHANGES IN INDUSTRY PRODUCTION, CAPACITY, OR INVENTORIES, EXCEPT HISTORICAL DATA.

ANY AGREEMENT NOT TO COMPETE AMONG BUSINESS FIRMS ALSO VIOLATES THE ANTITRUST LAWS. ACCORDINGLY, NO DISCUSSION OF DIVISION OF TERRITORIES OR CUSTOMERS OR LIMITATION ON NATURE OF BUSINESS, MAY BE HELD AT ANY “ANAE†MEETING. JOINT REFUSALS TO DEAL (BOYCOTTS) ARE LIKEWISE UNLAWFUL, AND NO DISCUSSIONS RELATED TO THIS PRACTICE ARE PERMITTED. INCLUDED WITHIN THIS PROHIBITION ARE ANY DISCUSSIONS OF BLACK LISTS AND ANY UNFAVORABLE REPORTS INVOLVING PARTICULAR SUPPLIERS.