For the second time in five months, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a Big Oil industry merger on the condition that the founder of the acquired company not be allowed on the buyer's board of directors.

The FTC on Monday said it was giving antitrust clearance to San Ramon, California-based Chevron's plan announced a year ago to buy New York City-based Hess Corp. for $53 billion, with Chevron winning over the agency by promising to keep Hess CEO John Hess off its board.