Breakfast Briefing // Chicago

Abbott Labs faces federal suit Abbott Laboratories Inc. may besued by the Federal Trade Commission for paying two other companiesto delay generic drugs that would compete with an Abbott hypertensiontreatment, people familiar with the FTC's review said. Abbott'sagreements with Novartis AG's Geneva Pharmaceuticals generic drugunit and Ivax Corp.'s Zenith Goldline Pharmaceuticals are among ahandful of similar arrangements under scrutiny at the FTC. Abbottspokeswoman Rhonda Luniak said the company is "unaware that the FTChas made a decision." A Geneva spokeswoman also said the companyhadn't been informed of any pending action, and a spokeswoman forIvax wasn't available to comment. Separately, Abbott said its boardadopted a "poison pill" plan to ward off hostile takeovers, fearingPfizer Inc.'s unsolicited bid for Warner-Lambert Co. could bring moreunfriendly offers in the health products industry. The plan wouldtake effect if a hostile suitor buys 10 percent or more of thecompany. It would make a takeover prohibitively expensive by allowingexisting shareholders to buy discounted shares. Comdisco buys intoInLight Comdisco Inc., the Rosemont technology services company, hasmade an equity investment in InLight Inc., an Evanston developer ofmultimedia and Internet-based education programs for medicalpatients. InLight's programs cover hundreds of common medicalconditions, diagnostic tests and treatments. Medical professionalscan customize programs to help their patients. On the Internet,InLight runs thePatientPage.com, which gives patients access topersonal Web pages featuring educational material and a personalizedhealth library, a chat room and other services. Comdisco issupporting InLight with broadband networks, Web hosting and otherservices. Comdisco did not reveal the terms of its investment.Telenisus buys local company Telenisus Corp., the Rolling Meadows e-business services provider, has acquired Tri-Stage Inc., the DownersGrove provider of computer services to Fortune 500 companies. Termswere not disclosed. Telenisus has 20 employees, and Tri-Stage has 24.Sara Lee names financial officer Cary D. McMillan, former managingpartner of Arthur Andersen's Chicago office, on Wednesday becamechief financial and administrative officer of Sara Lee Corp. TheChicago company's board of directors is expected to name McMillan,41, to the additional posts of executive vice president and member ofthe board when it meets Dec. 13. McMillan succeeds Judith A.Sprieser, 46, who will become the chief executive officer of the SaraLee Foods and Foodservice lines of business on July 1, 2001. Duringthe transition period, Sprieser will coordinate and manage Sara Lee'se-commerce activities. McMillan is no relation to Sara Lee ChiefOperating Officer C. Steven McMillan. `Gold Seal' for ABC Auto PartsBlue Island-based ABC Auto Parts & Sales Inc. received the AutomotiveRecyclers Association's Gold Seal Certified Automotive Recyclerdesignation. The privately held recycler met 27 operationalguidelines, including written product guarantees for customers andaccurate descriptions of recycled original equipment manufacturerparts, and submitted a video of operations. Gold Seal is the highestcertification category. Fed's Midwest index falters Citing cuts insteel and auto production, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago saidWednesday that its Midwest Manufacturing Index fell 0.8 percent inSeptember to 131.7. The index is a monthly estimate of manufacturingoutput in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan and Wisconsin. The Fedsaid revised data show the index hit a high of 132.7 in August.