The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) agreed to the deal oncondition that two of Benckiser's brands, Scrub Free and Delicare, are sold to Princeton, N.J.-headquartered Church & Dwight Co. Inc., maker of the Arm & Hammer line of consumer products.

The merger announced back in July was approved by Benckiser shareholders in August and by European competition authorities in September.

The FTC said Reckitt & Colman, as well as Benckiser, were US leaders in hard-surface bathroom cleaners, with their respective brands of Lysol and Scrub Free.The two companies also dominated in the area of fine fabricwash products, with Benckiser's Delicare and Reckitt & Colman's Woolite, the commission noted.

"By requiring these divestitures, consumers will be servedthrough continued competition, increased innovation and lower priceswhen purchasing products in these highly concentrated markets," FTC competition director Richard Parker said in a statement.