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DOW CORNING CORPORATION AND SILICONE BREAST IMPLANTS

On May 15, 1995, after years of controversy surrounding silicone breast implants, Dow Coming Corporation (DDC)¡Xa joint venture of Dow Chemical and its parent company, Corning Incorporated¡Xfiled for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Richard Hazelton, the CEO of DCC, explained the decision: ¡§It became clear to Dow Corning that to continue our current course ultimately would make it impossible to either resolve this controversy responsibly or remain a healthy company. A Chapter 11 reorganization will bring closure and preserve underlying business.¡¨


BACKGROUND: MARKET OPPORTUNITIES, COMPETITIVE PRESSURES, INTERNAL COMPANY QUESTIONS

Dow Corning Corporation was a start-up venture between Dow Chemical and Coming in 1943. As an incubator, the goal of DCC was to create and market a new material¡Xsilicone. While the company later proved successful, with almost 10,000 employees and revenues in excess of $2 billion, it did so with the support of Dow Chemical and Coming, both loo...

Posted by: Jason Pinsky

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