Monarch Ventures Inc.--Acquisition of Control--Quick Coach Lines Ltd. and Vancouver Tours and Transit Ltd. D/B/A Charter Bus Lines of British Columbia

Topics:  Charter Bus Lines of British Columbia, Quick Coach Lines, Vancouver Tours and Transit

Kenyatta Clay
Surface Transportation Board
20 December 2016

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 244 (Tuesday, December 20, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 92938-92939]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-30489]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD

[Docket No. MCF 21074]


Monarch Ventures Inc.--Acquisition of Control--Quick Coach Lines 
Ltd. and Vancouver Tours and Transit Ltd. D/B/A Charter Bus Lines of 
British Columbia

AGENCY: Surface Transportation Board.

ACTION: Notice Tentatively Approving and Authorizing Finance 
Transaction.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: On November 21, 2016, Monarch Ventures Inc. (Monarch), a 
noncarrier, filed an application under 49 U.S.C. 14303 for Monarch to 
acquire from Royal City Charter Coach Lines Ltd. (Royal), a noncarrier, 
control of the assets and business operations of Quick Coach Lines Ltd. 
(QCL) and Vancouver Tours and Transit Ltd. d/b/a Charter Bus Lines of 
British Columbia (VTT). 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 6, 2017. Monarch may file a 
reply by February 20, 2017. If no opposing comments are filed by 
February 6, 2017, this notice shall be effective February 7, 2017.

ADDRESSES: Send an original and 10 copies of any comments referring to 
Docket No. MCF 21074 to: Surface Transportation Board, 395 E Street 
SW., Washington, DC 20423-0001. In addition, send one copy of comments 
to Monarch's representative: Stephen P. Flott, Flott & Co. PC, P.O. Box 
17655, Arlington, VA 22216.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Amy Ziehm (202) 245-0391. Federal 
Information Relay Service (FIRS) for the hearing impaired: 1-800-877-
8339.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Monarch, a noncarrier, owns and controls 
100% of

[[Page 92939]]

Traxx Transportation Ltd. (Traxx), a passenger carrier operating in 
Western Canada and the Western United States (MC-215048). Royal, a 
noncarrier, owns and controls 100% of QCL, a passenger carrier 
operating between various points in southern British Columbia, Seattle, 
and SeaTac Airport (MC-205116). Royal also owns and controls 100% of 
VTT, a passenger carrier operating in western Canada, as well as the 
western United States (MC-108204).\1\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ Monarch states that VTT is a passenger carrier pursuant to 
MC-212649. (See Appl. 3.) However, the record indicates that VTT 
holds a federally issued operating authority under MC-108204. (See 
Appl., Ex. B, VTT Company Snapshot & Ex. C, VTT Licensing & 
Insurance.)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Monarch states that, under the proposed transaction, QCL, VTT, and 
Traxx would be owned by 1997553 Alberta Ltd. (Alberta Ltd.), a 
noncarrier, of which Monarch would own 77.2% of the shares and Royal 
would own 22.8%. Monarch states that Alberta Ltd. would acquire 100% of 
the shares (including all of the assets, vehicles, and business 
operations) of QCL, VTT, and Traxx. Upon completion of the transaction, 
Monarch would (indirectly) control QCL and VTT and would continue to 
(indirectly) control Traxx through its control of Alberta Ltd. Under 
the transaction, Monarch states that the principals of Royal would be 
the principal managers of QCL, VTT, and Traxx, with the goals of 
increasing revenues through enhanced marketing, investment in new 
products, and selected strategic acquisitions and increasing 
profitability of all three carriers through operational improvements.
    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. Monarch has submitted the information required by 49 CFR 
1182.2, including information to demonstrate that the proposed 
transaction is consistent with the public interest under 49 U.S.C. 
14303(b) and a statement that the aggregate gross operating revenues of 
QCL and VTT exceeded $2 million for the preceding 12-month period. See 
49 U.S.C. 14303(g).\2\
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ Applicants with gross operating revenues exceeding $2 
million are required to meet the requirements of 49 CFR 
1182.2(a)(5).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Monarch asserts that the transaction would have no adverse impact 
on the adequacy of transportation services available to the public. 
Monarch states that Royal's management team would continue to run the 
operations of QCL and VTT and that Monarch intends to continue the 
businesses of QCL, VTT, and Traxx essentially in the same manner in 
which they are now being conducted. Monarch states that the proposed 
transaction would have no effect on total fixed charges. Further, 
Monarch states that no employees would be adversely affected by the 
proposed transaction, as there would be no change in the day-to-day 
operations of QCL and VTT.
    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. 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.
    This action is categorically excluded from environmental review 
under 49 CFR 1105.6(c).
    Board decisions and notices are available on our Web site at 
``WWW.STB.GOV.''
    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 as having been vacated.
    3. This notice will be effective February 7, 2017, unless opposing 
comments are filed by February 6, 2017.
    4. A copy of this notice will be served on: (1) The 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, 2016.

    By the Board, Chairman Elliott, Vice Chairman Miller, and 
Commissioner Begeman.
Kenyatta Clay,
Clearance Clerk.
[FR Doc. 2016-30489 Filed 12-19-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4915-01-P