[Federal Register Volume 74, Number 68 (Friday, April 10, 2009)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16443-16444]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E9-7211]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Surface Transportation Board

[STB Docket No. MC-F-21032]


FirstGroup plc--Intra-Corporate Family Transaction Exemption

    FirstGroup plc (FirstGroup), 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 reorganization by 
the FirstGroup family of companies.\2\
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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 International, Inc. has changed its name to 
FirstGroup International, Inc., and instead of being a direct 
subsidiary of FirstGroup will become an indirect subsidiary, with 
two subsidiaries having interests in FMCSA-registered motor carriers 
of passengers: (1) FGI Canada Holdings Ltd., which will control 
Greyhound Canada Transportation Corp., which will be changed from an 
Ontario corporation to an Alberta unlimited liability corporation, 
and (2) First Group America Holdings, Inc., formerly Laidlaw Transit 
Holdings, Inc., which will control First Student, Inc., First 
Transit, Inc., and Greyhound Lines, Inc., which will continue to 
have control of Americanos U.S.A., LLC and Valley Transit Co., Inc.
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    The transaction is intended to reorganize the North American 
structure of FirstGroup to reduce the taxes payable by its family of 
companies and thereby to retain more of their earnings to render the 
operations of their motor carriers of passengers as safely and 
comfortably as possible.
    The transaction was expected to be consummated on March 27, 2009.
    This is a transaction within a corporate family of the type 
specifically exempted from prior review and approval under 49 CFR 
1182.9. FirstGroup 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. FirstGroup also states that (1) no contracts or agreements have 
been entered into to effect the proposed changes within the 
FirstGroup's North American structure, and (2) there will be no 
foreseeable effect upon the

[[Page 16444]]

employees of the companies involved in the restructuring.
    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-21032, must be filed with the Surface Transportation Board, 
395 E Street, SW., Washington, DC 20423-0001. In addition, a copy of 
each pleading must be served on Fritz R. Kahn, Fritz R. Kahn, P.C., 
1920 N Street, NW. (8th floor), Washington, DC 20036.
    Board decisions and notices are available on our Web site at 
www.stb.dot.gov.

    Decided: March 25, 2009.

    By the Board, Joseph H. Dettmar, Acting Director, Office of 
Proceedings.
Jeffrey Herzig,
Clearance Clerk.
 [FR Doc. E9-7211 Filed 4-9-09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P