[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 234 (Friday, December 5, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 64437-64438]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-31922]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Surface Transportation Board
[STB Finance Docket No. 33506]
Coach USA, Inc.--Control Exemption--Browder Tours, Inc. and El
Expreso, Inc.
AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board, DOT.
ACTION: Notice of filing of Petition for Exemption.
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SUMMARY: Coach USA, Inc. (Coach), a noncarrier in control of 28 motor
passenger carriers at the time of filing its petition,1
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 Browder
Tours, Inc. (Browder) and El Expreso, Inc. (El Expreso), through
acquisition of all of the outstanding shares of stock of the two motor
passenger carriers.2
\1\ Coach currently controls the Nation's second largest group
of motor passenger carriers. See Coach USA, Inc.--Control
Exemption--America Charters, Ltd., STB Finance Docket No. 33393 (STB
served Oct. 3, 1997), slip op. at 1. Since the filing of the instant
petition on October 31, 1997, Coach has been authorized to acquire
control of an additional three motor passenger carriers in Coach
USA, Inc., and Leisure Time Tours--Control and Merger Exemption--Van
Nortwick Bros., Inc., The Arrow Line, Inc., and Trentway-Wager,
Inc., STB Finance Docket No. 33428 (STB served Nov. 13, 1997).
In addition to the instant petition, Coach has two other pending
petitions: Coach USA, Inc. and K-T Contract Services, Inc.--Control
and Merger Exemption--Gray Line Tours of Southern Nevada, STB
Finance Docket No. 33431 (STB served Aug. 22, 1997), in which it
seeks an exemption to acquire control of one additional motor
passenger carrier, and Coach USA, Inc.--Control Exemption--Air
Travel, Inc.; Airlines Acquisition Co., Inc.; and Transportation
Management Services, Inc., STB Finance Docket No. 33471 (STB served
Nov. 14, 1997), in which it seeks to acquire control of three
additional motor passenger carriers.
\2\ The stock of Browder and El Expreso was placed in an
independent voting trust to avoid any unlawful control pending
disposition of this proceeding.
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DATES: Comments must be filed by January 5, 1998. Petitioner may file a
reply by January 14, 1998.
ADDRESSES: Send an original and 10 copies of comments referring to STB
Finance Docket No. 33506 to: Surface Transportation Board, Office of
the Secretary, Case Control Unit, 1925 K Street, N.W., Washington, DC
20423-0001. Also, send one copy of comments to petitioner's
representatives: Betty Jo Christian and David H. Coburn, Steptoe
[[Page 64438]]
& Johnson LLP, 1330 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20036.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Joseph H. Dettmar, (202) 565-1600 [TDD
for the hearing impaired: (202) 565-1695.]
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Coach, a noncarrier, seeks an exemption to
acquire control of two motor carriers of passengers: (1) Browder Tours,
Inc. (MC-236290), a Tennessee corporation that is authorized to operate
as a common carrier of passengers in interstate commerce over irregular
routes transporting passengers in charter and special services between
points in the United States, other than Alaska and Hawaii; 3
and (2) El Expreso, Inc. (MC-244195), a Texas-based corporation that is
authorized to operate as a common carrier of passengers in interstate
commerce over regular routes transporting passengers between various
points within Texas, including points on the U.S./Mexico border, as
well as between points in several southeastern states.4
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\3\ Browder focuses on tour and charter operations in Tennessee
and nearby states.
\4\ El Expreso focuses on providing service to persons traveling
between Mexico and the United States, as well as to persons
traveling between Texas and other states.
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Coach reported, at the time it filed this petition for exemption,
that it controlled 28 motor carriers of passengers. Coach claims that
its acquisition of control of the two motor carriers through the
acquisition of their stock will not inhibit competition or reduce
transportation options available to the public. Coach asserts that the
two carriers do not compete with any Coach-owned carrier.
Petitioner also claims that the acquisition of control of the two
carriers will allow each carrier to offer improved service at lower
costs. This will be made possible by the coordination of functions,
centralized management, financial support, rationalization of
resources, and economies of scale that are anticipated from the common
control. Coach also states that all collective bargaining agreements
will be honored and that employee benefits will improve. 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 and Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.,
Washington, DC 20530.
Decided: November 25, 1997.
By the Board, Chairman Morgan and Vice Chairman Owen.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 97-31922 Filed 12-4-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-P