AUSTIN, Texas -- The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced it has reached a $160,000 settlement with Enterprise Rent-A-Car in a class-action case alleging that the company descriminated against job applicants age 40 and older.

The EEOC filed the class-action suit on behalf of 229 people, all 40 or older, who had applied and been rejected for a management trainee position at Austin-area Enterprise locations between 1997 and 2000. The settlement entitles each member of the class action about $700.

The EEOC alleged that in 1998, out of more than 1,000 applicants, Enterprise hired no one over the age of 40 for a management trainee position. The commission argued that Enterprise demonstrated a pattern of age discrimination in its hiring practices for that job position.

"Enterprise disagrees with the claims raised by the EEOC and maintains that it hires, and has always hired, individuals without regard to age or any other protected category," the company said in an issued press release.

The statement went on to add: "We are committed to providing equal opportunities to all qualified applicants and employees. While we disagree with the EEOC's claim, we view the resolution as a reinforcement of our longstanding equal-employment commitments."