[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 100 (Friday, May 23, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 28531-28532]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-13634]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Surface Transportation Board
[STB Finance Docket No. 33393]
Coach USA, Inc.--Control Exemption--America Charters, Ltd.
AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board.
ACTION: Notice of filing of petition for exemption.
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SUMMARY: Coach USA, Inc. (Coach), a noncarrier that controls 27 motor
passenger carriers, seeks an exemption, under 49 U.S.C. 13541, from the
prior approval requirements of 49 U.S.C. 14303(a)(5), to acquire
control of America Charters, Ltd. (America Charters), a motor passenger
carrier.
DATES: Comments must be filed by June 23, 1997. Petitioner may file a
reply by July 2, 1997.
ADDRESSES: Send an original and 10 copies of comments referring to STB
Finance Docket No. 33393 to: Surface Transportation Board, Office of
the Secretary, Case Control Unit, 1925 K Street, N.W., Washington, DC
20423-
[[Page 28532]]
0001. Also, send one copy of comments to petitioner's representatives:
Betty Jo Christian and David H. Coburn, Steptoe & Johnson LLP, 1330
Connecticut Ave., N.W., Washington, DC 20036.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Beryl Gordon, (202) 565-1600. [TDD for
the hearing impaired: (202) 565-1695.]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Coach seeks an exemption to acquire stock
control over America Charters (MC-153814), a motor passenger carrier
that operates in interstate and intrastate commerce.1 Coach
states that America Charters, which provides exclusively charter and
special bus services, has a relatively small market share in the
markets in which it operates.
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\1\ The stock of America Charters was placed in an independent
voting trust to avoid any unlawful control pending disposition of
this proceeding.
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Coach currently controls 27 motor passenger carriers.2
Coach states that America Charters does not compete with any of the bus
companies controlled by Coach and, therefore, that its acquisition of
control of America Charters will have no significant impact on
competition.
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\2\ In Notre Capital Ventures II, LLC and Coach USA, Inc.--
Control Exemption--Arrow Stage Lines, Inc.; Cape Transit Corp.;
Community Coach, Inc.; Community Transit Lines, Inc.; Grosvenor Bus
Lines, Inc.; H.A.M.L. Corp.; Leisure Time Tours; Suburban Management
Corp.; Suburban Trails, Inc.; and Suburban Transit Corp., STB
Finance Docket No. 32876 (Sub-No. 1) (STB served May 3, 1996), Coach
was exempted from the prior approval requirements of 49 U.S.C.
14303(a)(4) to acquire control of Arrow Stage Lines, Inc. (MC-
29592), Cape Transit Corp. (MC-161678), Community Coach, Inc. (MC-
76022), Community Transit Lines, Inc. (MC-145548), Grosvenor Bus
Lines, Inc. (MC-157317), H.A.M.L. Corp. (MC-194792), Leisure Time
Tours (MC-142011), Surburban Management Corp. (MC-264527), Surburban
Trails, Inc. (MC-149081), and Surburban Transit Corp. (MC-115116).
In Coach USA, Inc.--Control Exemption--American Sightseeing
Tours, Inc.; California Charters, Inc.; Texas Bus Lines, Inc.; Gulf
Coast Transportation, Inc.; and K-T Contract Services, Inc., STB
Finance Docket No. 33073 (STB served Nov. 8, 1996), Coach was
exempted from the prior approval requirements of 49 U.S.C.
14303(a)(5) to acquire control of American Sightseeing Tours, Inc.,
d/b/a ASTI (MC-252353), California Charters, Inc. (MC-241211), Texas
Bus Lines, Inc. (MC-37640), Gulf Coast Transportation, Inc., d/b/a
Gray Line Tours of Houston (MC-201397), and K-T Contract Services,
Inc. (MC-218583).
In Coach USA, Inc.--Control Exemption--Progressive
Transportation, Inc.; Powder River Transportation Services, Inc.;
Worthen Van Service, Inc.; and PCSTC, Inc., STB Finance Docket No.
33343 (STB served May 15, 1997), Coach was exempted from the prior
approval requirements of 49 U.S.C. 14303(a)(5) to acquire control of
Progressive Transportation Services, Inc. (MC-247074), Powder River
Transportation Services, Inc. (MC-161531), Worthen Van Service, Inc.
(MC-142573), and PCSTC, Inc., d/b/a Pacific Coast Sightseeing/Gray
Line of Anaheim-Los Angeles (MC-184852).
In Coach USA, Inc.--Control Exemption--Airport Bus of
Bakersfield; Antelope Valley Bus, Inc.; Desert Stage Lines, Inc.;
Bayou City Coaches, Inc.; Kerrville Bus Company, Inc.; Red & Tan
Charter, Inc.; Red & Tan Tours, Inc.; and Rockland Coaches, Inc.,
STB Finance Docket No. 33377 (STB served May 15, 1977), Coach was
exempted from the prior approval requirements of 49 U.S.C.
14303(a)(5) to acquire control of Airport Bus of Bakersfield (MC-
163191), Antelope Valley Bus, Inc. (MC-125057), Desert Stage Lines,
Inc. (MC-140919), Bayou City Coaches, Inc. (MC-245246), Kerrville
Bus Company, Inc. (MC-27530), Red & Tan Charter, Inc. (MC-204842),
Red and Tan Tours (MC-162174), and Rockland Coaches, Inc. (MC-
29890).
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Following the acquisition of control, America Charters will
continue to operate under its own name and in the same basic manner as
before. Coach states that it will provide certain services to America
Charters, including legal and accounting functions and coordinated
purchasing services. In addition, Coach states that it will facilitate
vehicle sharing arrangements and provide coordinated driver training
services. Coach projects the annual efficiency savings generated by the
proposed acquisition of control of America Charters to be $125,000,
representing primarily interest, insurance and vehicle equipment cost
savings. Over the long term, Coach states that it will provide
centralized marketing and reservation services for the bus firms that
it controls, thereby further enhancing the benefits resulting from the
transaction. Coach submits that all collective bargaining agreements
will be honored, that employee benefits will improve, and that no
change in management personnel is planned. Additional information may
be obtained from petitioner's representatives.
A copy of this notice will be served on the Department of Justice,
Antitrust Division, 10th Street & Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.,
Washington, DC 20530.
Decided: May 15, 1997.
By the Board, Chairman Morgan and Vice Chairman Owen.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary
[FR Doc. 97-13634 Filed 5-22-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-P
