[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 180 (Tuesday, September 17, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 58675-58676]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-23198]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Docket No. MC-F-20992]


Laidlaw Inc.--Intra-Corporate Family Transaction Exemption

    Laidlaw Inc. (Laidlaw), a noncarrier, has filed a verified notice 
of exemption under the Board's class exemption procedure at 49 CFR 
1182.9.\1\ The exempt transaction involves the transfer of issued and 
outstanding shares of stock in five motor passenger carriers from 
Laidlaw's subsidiary Laidlaw Transit Ltd. (Laidlaw Transit) \2\ to 
Laidlaw's subsidiary Greyhound Canada Transportation Corp. (Greyhound 
Canada). Additionally, after control of the five carriers has been 
transferred, Laidlaw seeks to merge Chatham into Penetang-Midland with 
Penetang-Midland as the surviving entity.
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    \1\ The Board exempted intra-corporate family transactions of 
motor carriers of passengers that do not result in significant 
operational changes, adverse changes in service levels, or a change 
in the competitive balance with carriers outside the corporate 
family in Class Exemption for Motor Passenger Intra-Corporate Family 
Transactions, STB Finance Docket No. 33685 (STB served Feb. 18, 
2000).
    \2\ Laidlaw, through Laidlaw Transit, indirectly or directly 
controls Gray Line of Vancouver Holdings, Ltd. (MC-357855), The Gray 
Line of Victoria Ltd. (MC-380234) and its subsidiary Victoria Tours 
Limited (MC-404543), Penetang-Midland Coach Lines Limited (Penetang-
Midland) (MC-139953), and J.I. DeNure (Chatham) Limited (Chatham) 
(MC-111143) all of which are Canadian motor passenger carriers 
rendering special and charter operations in the United States.
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    The transaction was expected to be consummated on August 31, 2002.
    The transaction is intended to restructure Laidlaw's organization 
by separating its special and charter operations from its school bus 
operations. Specifically, control of the five special and charter 
operations bus lines will be transferred from Laidlaw Transit, which 
will retain school bus operations, to Greyhound Canada, where 
intercity, charter and tour bus operations will be concentrated. In 
addition, the proposed merger of Chatham into Penetang-Midland is 
intended to simplify Laidlaw's corporate structure by eliminating 
overlapping management functions and reducing duplicate overhead and 
fixed costs.
    This is a transaction within a corporate family of the type 
specifically exempted from prior review and approval under 49 CFR 
1182.9. Laidlaw states that the transaction will not result in adverse 
changes in service levels, significant operational changes, or a change 
in the competitive balance with carriers outside the corporate family. 
Laidlaw also states that, because it directly or indirectly holds all 
of the stock of the affected companies, no contract or agreement will 
be entered into, except for the corporate documentation and filings 
required to effect the merger. Laidlaw further states that there will 
be no effect upon employees because all of them will be retained.
    If the verified notice contains false or misleading information, 
the Board shall summarily revoke the exemption and require divestiture. 
Petitions to revoke the exemption under 49 U.S.C. 13541(d) may be filed 
at any time. See 49 CFR 1182.9(c).
    An original and 10 copies of all pleadings, referring to STB Docket 
No. MC-F-20992, must be filed with the Surface Transportation Board, 
1925 K Street, NW., Washington, DC 20423-0001. In addition, a copy of 
each

[[Page 58676]]

pleading must be served on Fritz R. Kahn, 1920 N Street, NW., (8th 
floor), Washington, DC 20036-1601.
    Board decisions and notices are available on our Web site at 
www.stb.dot.gov.

    Decided: September 6, 2002.

    By the Board, David M. Konschnik, Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Vernon A. Williams,
Secretary.
[FR Doc. 02-23198 Filed 9-16-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-00-P