[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 243 (Wednesday, December 18, 2013)]
[Notices]
[Pages 76711-76712]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2013-30092]
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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Surface Transportation Board
[Docket No. MCF 21057]
Royal City Charter Coach Lines Ltd.--Acquisition of Control--
Quick Coach Lines Ltd. d/b/a Quick Shuttle Service
AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board, DOT.
ACTION: Notice Tentatively Authorizing Finance Transaction.
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SUMMARY: On November 18, 2013, Royal City Charter Coach Lines Ltd.
(Royal, or Applicant) filed an application under 49 U.S.C. 14303 for
approval of its acquisition of control of Quick Coach Lines Ltd. d/b/a
Quick Shuttle Service (Quick). The Board is tentatively approving and
authorizing the transaction, and, if no opposing comments are timely
filed, this notice will be the final Board action. Persons wishing to
oppose the application must follow the rules at 49 CFR 1182.5 and
1182.8.
DATES: Comments must be filed by February 3, 2014. Applicants may file
a reply by February 18, 2014. If no comments are filed by February 3,
2014, this notice shall be effective on February 4, 2014.
ADDRESSES: Send an original and 10 copies of any comments referring to
Docket No. MCF 21057 to: Surface Transportation Board, 395 E Street
SW., Washington, DC 20423-0001. In addition, send copies of comments to
Applicant's representative: Stephen Flott, Flott & Co. PC, P.O. Box
17655, Arlington, VA 22216-7655.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jonathon Binet, (202) 245-0368.
Federal Information Relay Service (FIRS) for the hearing impaired: 1-
800-877-8339.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Applicant is a noncarrier holding company
based in British Columbia, Canada. Applicant states that it currently
controls a group of companies operating approximately 85 motor coaches,
primarily in British Columbia and Alberta, Canada, and in Washington
State, and employing approximately 160 people. In 2012, these companies
generated more than $17 million in gross revenue. Royal currently owns
50% of the stock in Quick, but has no interest in any other federally
regulated motor carriers. 461233 BC Ltd. (Seller) currently owns the
other 50% of Quick's stock and approached Royal to sell Royal its
shares.
Seller is a noncarrier company based in British Columbia. Seller's
current ownership of Quick, and its wholly owned subsidiary Quick Coach
Lines USA Inc. (Quick USA), represents its only interest in federally
regulated motor carriers.
Applicant states that Quick provides charter, scheduled, commuter,
and special services to the traveling public in Washington State. Quick
holds authority from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
(FMCSA) as a motor carrier of passengers (MC-205116).
Quick USA is a wholly owned subsidiary of Quick. When Royal
acquires control of Quick, it will also obtain control of Quick USA.
Quick USA is currently inactive and does not provide any motor
passenger services. It
[[Page 76712]]
holds, however, authority from the FMCSA as a motor carrier of
passengers (MC-299860).
Under the proposed transaction, Applicant seeks permission to
acquire all of Seller's shares of Quick. Royal will then own 100
percent of Quick's shares and 100 percent of the shares of its wholly
owned subsidiary, Quick USA. Applicant and Seller have entered into an
agreement that is scheduled to close no later than December 1, 2013,
subject to Board approval and other conditions.
Under 49 U.S.C. 14303(b), the Board must approve and authorize a
transaction that it finds consistent with the public interest, taking
into consideration at least: (1) The effect of the proposed transaction
on the adequacy of transportation to the public; (2) the total fixed
charges that result; and (3) the interest of affected carrier
employees. Applicant has submitted information, as required by 49 CFR
1182.2, including the information to demonstrate that the proposed
transaction is consistent with the public interest under 49 U.S.C.
14303(b), and a statement that annual aggregate gross operating
revenues of the carriers involved exceeded $2 million. See 49 U.S.C.
14303(g).
With respect to the effect of the transaction on the adequacy of
transportation to the public, Applicant states that the proposed
acquisition would have no adverse impact because the acquisition will
not materially alter the service levels, result in any operational
changes, or alter the competitive balance of motor passenger carriers
in Washington State. Applicant anticipates operating the businesses of
Quick and Quick USA in essentially the same manner in which they are
currently being conducted. With respect to fixed charges, Applicant
anticipates that the proposed transaction would have no adverse effect
on total fixed charges. Applicant states that the transaction would not
adversely affect the interests of Quick employees. All of the qualified
employees would continue their employment following the acquisition.
On the basis of the application, the Board finds that the proposed
acquisition is consistent with the public interest and should be
tentatively approved and authorized because the proposed transaction
does not impact the adequacy of transportation to the public, would
have no adverse effect on total fixed charges, and would not adversely
affect the interests of Quick employees. If any opposing comments are
timely filed, these findings will be deemed vacated, and, unless a
final decision can be made on the record as developed, a procedural
schedule will be adopted to reconsider the application. See 49 CFR
1182.6(c). If no opposing comments are filed by the expiration of the
comment period, this notice will take effect automatically and will be
the final Board action.
Board decisions and notices are available on our Web site at
``WWW.STB.DOT.GOV''.
This decision will not significantly affect either the quality of
the human environment or the conservation of energy resources.
It is ordered:
1. The proposed transaction is approved and authorized, subject to
the filing of opposing comments.
2. If opposing comments are timely filed, the findings made in this
notice will be deemed vacated.
3. This notice will be effective February 4, 2014, unless opposing
comments are filed by February 3, 2014.
4. A copy of this notice will be served on: (1) U.S. Department of
Transportation, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, 1200 New
Jersey Avenue SE., Washington, DC 20590; (2) the U.S. Department of
Justice, Antitrust Division, 10th Street & Pennsylvania Avenue NW.,
Washington, DC 20530; and (3) the U.S. Department of Transportation,
Office of the General Counsel, 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE., Washington,
DC 20590.
Decided: December 13, 2013.
By the Board, Chairman Elliott, Vice Chairman Begeman, and
Commissioner Mulvey.
Jeffrey Herzig,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2013-30092 Filed 12-17-13; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4915-01-P