0000000000-05-002470.txt : 20110520
0000000000-05-002470.hdr.sgml : 20110520
20050113163225
ACCESSION NUMBER: 0000000000-05-002470
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE: UPLOAD
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT: 1
FILED AS OF DATE: 20050113
FILED FOR:
COMPANY DATA:
COMPANY CONFORMED NAME: PIONEER RAILCORP
CENTRAL INDEX KEY: 0000796374
STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION: RAILROADS, LINE-HAUL OPERATING [4011]
IRS NUMBER: 371161316
STATE OF INCORPORATION: IA
FISCAL YEAR END: 1231
FILING VALUES:
FORM TYPE: UPLOAD
BUSINESS ADDRESS:
STREET 1: 1318 S JOHANSON ROAD
CITY: PEORIA
STATE: IL
ZIP: 61607
BUSINESS PHONE: 3093096971
MAIL ADDRESS:
STREET 1: 1318 S JOHANSON RD
CITY: PEORIA
STATE: IL
ZIP: 61607
FORMER COMPANY:
FORMER CONFORMED NAME: PIONEER RAILROAD CO INC /IA/
DATE OF NAME CHANGE: 19920331
LETTER
1
filename1.txt
Postal Code 20549-0405
December 10, 2004
via facsimile and U.S. mail
J. Michael Carr
Chief Executive Officer and President
Pioneer Railcorp
1318 South Johanson Road
Peoria, Illinois 61607
Re: Pioneer Railcorp
Schedule 13E-3 filed November 9, 2004
File no. 5-47260
Preliminary Schedule 14A filed November 9, 2004
File no. 1-12072
Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003
File no. 1-12072
Filed March 18, 2003
Dear Mr. Carr:
We have reviewed your filings and have the following
comments.
Where indicated, we think you should revise your documents in
response to these comments. If you disagree, we will consider
your
explanation as to why our comment is inapplicable or a revision is
unnecessary. Please be as detailed as necessary in your
explanation.
In some of our comments, we may ask you to provide us with
supplemental information so we may better understand your
disclosure.
After reviewing this information, we may or may not raise
additional
comments.
Please understand that the purpose of our review process is
to
assist you in your compliance with the applicable disclosure
requirements and to enhance the overall disclosure in your filing.
We look forward to working with you in these respects. We welcome
any questions you may have about our comments or on any other
aspect
of our review. Feel free to call us at the telephone numbers
listed
at the end of this letter.
Schedule13E-3
General
1. We note that you identify Pioneer Railcorp and Pioneer Merger
Corporation as the only filing persons. Please advise us why you
believe that Mr. Brenkman should not be added as a filing person
on
the Schedule 13E-3, as he appears to be an affiliate engaged in
this
going private transaction. For help in making this determination,
please review Section II.D.3 of our Current Issues Outline,
publicly
available at our website at www.sec.gov.
Alternatively, please revise to include him as a filing person on
the
Schedule 13E-3. Please note that an added filing person must
individually comply with the filing, dissemination and disclosure
requirements of Schedule 13E-3. Therefore, you will need to
revise
the disclosure to include all of the information required by
Schedule
13E-3 and its instructions for any filing person added in response
to
this comment. For example, include a statement as to whether the
person believes the Rule 13E-3 transaction to be fair to
unaffiliated
security holders and an analysis of the material factors upon
which
he relied in reaching such a conclusion. See Item 8 of Schedule
13E-
3, Item 1014 of Regulation M-A and Question and Answer No. 5 of
Exchange Act Release No. 34-17719 (April 13, 1981).
Preliminary Proxy Materials
General
2. Please provide updated interim financial and pro forma
information
pursuant to Item 1010 of Regulation M-A.
3. It appears that the electronically filed proxy statement is
missing the front cover page of Schedule 14A. Please revise.
Refer
to Schedule 14A.
4. Please expand the legend required by Rule 13e-3(e)(1)(iii) to
make
clear that any representation contrary to the legend is a criminal
offense.
Letter to Shareholders
5. Please clearly state, as you indicate on page 28, that
shareholders wishing to exercise their appraisal rights under Iowa
law must, before a shareholder vote on the merger, deliver to
Pioneer
Railcorp written notice of his or her intent to demand payment for
shares when and if the merger is effectuated; and either abstain
from
voting on, or vote against the merger. Also, please provide a
cross
reference to the section of the proxy where you provide a complete
description of the rights of appraisal under Iowa law.
6. Here, and elsewhere in the filing, you should consider
indicating
the total dollar value of the offer.
Important Notices, page 5
7. We advise you to move this section to another section of the
proxy
statement, preferably after you explain the most material aspects
of
the going private transaction. For example, this disclosure
should
appear after the questions and answers section.
8. We do not understand why you advise shareholders that by
accepting
receipt of the proxy statement, they agree not to permit any
reproduction or distribution of its contents in whole or in part.
9. Please delete the third paragraph of this section. Security
holders are entitled to rely upon the document.
Table of Contents, page 6
10. Please also list the appendices to the proxy in the table of
contents.
Summary Term Sheet, page 7
11. The summary term sheet should "briefly" describe the material
terms of the transaction in bullet point format. See Item 1001 of
Regulation M-A. Further revise your information to provide a
clear
presentation of information that is material to investors. For
example, your "overview of the merger" section repeats the terms
of
the transaction that you describe under "purpose, structure and
effects of the merger." You repeat that holders of fewer than
2,000
shares will receive $2.85 per share and holders of 2,000 or more
shares will continue to represent one share of Pioneer Railcorp
common stock after the merger. Please revise to avoid such
redundancy. Refer to Part II.F.2.a of SEC Release No. 33-7760
(October 22, 1999) for a discussion of the items that should be
discussed in the summary term sheet.
12. Please revise the summary term sheet so that it appears in
bullet
point format. See Item 1001 of Regulation M-A.
13. Revise the summary term sheet to disclose the number and
percentage of outstanding shares held by unaffiliated security
holders that must be voted in favor of the merger in order to
approve
the transaction.
Recommendation of the Board of Directors, page 8
14. Item 1014(a) of Regulation M-A requires that each filing
person
make a fairness determination with respect to the unaffiliated
shareholders. We note your disclosure indicating that the board
of
directors believes the transaction is fair to all Pioneer Railcorp
security holders, including those not affiliated with Pioneer
Railcorp." Revise the disclosure throughout the document to
clarify
that the fairness determinations have been made with respect to
unaffiliated shareholders alone. See also, for example, page 17.
Also, include a fairness discussion for unaffiliated shareholders
who
will retain an interest in the company and those unaffiliated
shareholders who will not. See Item 1014(a) of Regulation M-A and
Question and Answer No. 19 in Exchange Act Release No. 34-17719
(April 13, 1981). Please revise as necessary.
15. Your disclosure on the bottom of page 15 indicates that Mr.
Brenkman did not participate in the Board`s determination. Please
revise here and throughout the document to reflect Mr. Brenkman`s
abstention.
Conditions to the merger, page 9
16. Please update disclosure to indicate the current status of
your
plans to finance the merger with a $5 million loan from National
City
Bank as discussed at page 26. Indicate here that financing is not
yet assured. Confirm to us that when the financing is complete,
you
will file the relevant agreements as exhibits to your document.
How was the Cash Price Determined.
Questions and Answers About the Special Meeting and the Merger,
page
11
17. We note that proxies solicited for this meeting will be valid
even if the meeting is postponed or adjourned. Advise us whether
the
company will use discretionary authority to vote proxies voted in
favor of the merger in favor of adjourning the meeting to solicit
additional proxies. Please note that the ability to adjourn a
meeting to solicit additional proxies is not a matter incidental
to
the conduct of the meeting. See Rule 14a-4. To the extent that
you
wish to vote the proxies in this way, you must provide another
voting
box on the proxy card so shareholders may decide whether to grant
a
proxy to vote in favor of adjournment for the solicitation of
additional votes.
18. Revise the Q&A on page 12 and the disclosure on page 19 to
disclose that the valuation report is filed as an exhibit to the
Schedule 13E-3 and is available on EDGAR. File the valuation
report
as an exhibit to the Schedule 13E-3 as required by Item 1016(c) of
Regulation M-A. Clarify whether the valuation report is the
report
summarized on pages 19-22. If not, revise the document to
summarize
the report as required by Item 1015(b)(6) of Regulation M-A.
Special Factors, page 13
19. Clarify how you will treat those who hold shares in street or
nominee name in the merger. Will you look through the nominee and
cash out each shareholder who holds fewer than 2000 shares, or
will
you conduct the transaction at the record holder level? It
appears
from page 18 that the determination will be made at the record
holder
level. If true, revise to clarify and highlight that security
holders who hold their shares in street name and hold fewer than
2000
shares will be unable to predict whether they will be cashed out
in
the merger unless they take action to become holders of record.
Background of the merger proposal, page 13
20. Clarify the board`s reasons for soliciting the transaction at
this time. Given your statement that "[t]hese and other SEC
registration related costs have been increasing over the years"
and
that Sarbanes-Oxley was enacted nearly two years ago, please
revise
to explain why you seek to undertake the going private transaction
at
this time, rather than other times in your operating history. See
Item 1013(c) of Regulation M-A.
21. Each presentation, discussion, or report held with or
presented
by an outside party that is materially related to the Rule 13e-3
transaction, whether oral or written, is a separate report that
requires a reasonably detailed description meeting the
requirements
of Item 1015 of Regulation M-A. This requirement applies to both
preliminary and final reports. Revise to summarize any and all
presentations made by Donnelly Penman or other third parties
during
your evaluation of the transaction and file any written materials,
as
exhibits to the Schedule 13E-3 pursuant to Item 9 of Schedule 13E-
3
and Item 1016(c) of Regulation M-A. Please summarize the
alternative
structures associated with the transaction that were discussed at
the
meeting. For each Item 9 report, disclose the date of the
contact,
the names of the parties in attendance, the identification of the
persons who initiated the contact, a summary of the dialogue and
the
information exchange and the basis of any views expressed. Among
other items, the written materials include analyses, talking
papers,
drafts, summaries or outlines.
Summarize any discussions that management had with Donnelly Penman
in
connection with the advice it sought concerning financial terms of
the transaction and any meetings or discussions that the advisor
had
with senior management during the course of discussions described
on
pages 15 and 16. We note that Donnelly Penman conducted several
meetings with senior management in preparation for its report
titled
Pioneer Railcorp Valuation as of June 30, 2004. Please revise as
necessary.
22. To the extent possible, please quantify the estimated costs
associated with undertaking the alternative methods of going
private
you discuss on page 14.
23. We note that you chose a merger structure over a reverse stock
split, in part, because you will be able to cash out warrant
holders
in a merger. Revise this section to disclose who holds these
warrants. Also disclose what would happen to the warrants in a
reverse stock split. In addition, we note that almost half of Mr.
Brenkman`s 40.22% beneficial ownership is attributable to
warrants.
We also note the number of warrants held by other board members.
Revise the fairness section to clarify what consideration the
board
and each filing person gave to this fact in considering the
fairness
of this transaction with respect to each group of unaffiliated
security holders. Also revise to disclose, with respect to each
filing person, the extent to which the ability to cash out warrant
holders is a reason for structuring the transaction in this way,
as
required by Item 1013(b) of Regulation M-A. Finally, quantify the
payments each director and filing person will receive as a result
of
cashing out warrants and explain what consideration the board and
other filing persons gave to these payments in reaching their
fairness determinations. Clarify whether any members of the
special
committee hold warrants.
24. Expand your discussion of the background of the merger to
describe all meetings, negotiations, contacts, etc. among board
members and management. Identify the participants in and
initiator
of each meeting or contact. Disclose the date of each meeting or
contact and revise your discussion of meetings to describe the
content of those discussions to give readers a better sense of the
background. Please note that while the following list is not
intended to be exhaustive, the points noted below provide examples
of
disclosure that should be revised to disclose the following:
- who first proposed the possibility of going private and the date
on
which this occurred
- the date when management contacted Donnelly Penman for advice
concerning the financial terms of the transaction
- identify all persons present at each meeting
- identify the members of "management" who engaged in the various
actions describe here
- the substance of the discussions between board members on
whether
outside financing would be required to fund the repurchase of the
securities in a going private transaction
- identify the members of the special committee
- include a discussion of the questions posed by the board when
Donnelly Penman presented its valuation report
- when the special committee approved and recommended the proposed
merger
- when Mr. Brenkman decided and announced that he felt it would be
inappropriate to participate in the board`s decision regarding
pricing considerations and approval of the transaction
- when and who participated in the discussions regarding the terms
of
the proposed Agreement and Plan of Merger
- explain the number of factors considered by the board in
unanimously approving the merger agreement and merger
- clarify whether Mr. Brenkman was present for the board`s vote
even
though he abstained
25. From the disclosure, it is unclear if the board or Donnelly
Penman first initiated the discussion on the consideration that
shareholders would receive. Please revise to clarify who
initiated
selecting the proposed price of $2.85 per share to shareholders
receiving cash and $0.85 per warrant to be paid to warrant
holders.
We also note your disclosure on page 19 that Donnelly Penman did
not
recommend the amount of consideration to be paid in the going
private
transaction. Also, disclose to explain the bases on which the
board
selected the merger consideration.
26. Please clarify in the proxy statement when Donnelly Penman
summarized the valuation report for the board. Was it at the
September 20, 2004 meeting? Did a representative from Howard and
Howard make a presentation at the same meeting? Please revise to
clarify.
Structure of the merger, page 17
27. To the extent individual affiliates of Pioneer Railcorp are
included as filers on the Schedule 13E-3 (see comment no. 1
above),
provide the disclosure regarding net book value and net earnings
required by Instruction 3 to Item 1013 of Regulation M-A.
Financial fairness, page 18
28. Clarify who managed the relationship with the financial
advisor.
In the background section, you state that they were hired by the
special committee, but here you state that the "board imposed no
limitations" on the financial advisor.
29. Clarify whether any portion of the financial advisor`s fee is
contingent upon the success of the transaction.
30. We suggest that you take each analysis to the next step. In
other words, discuss what a range of numbers you disclose means
and
how they impact or relate to the determination that the
transaction
is fair. For each analysis, please explain what each of the
calculations in the analysis mean. What are they intended to
show?
Recent trading analysis, page 19
31. Expand disclosure to briefly discuss the periods analyzed by
Donnelly Penman and why. Currently, you provide only the prices
as
of September 9, 2004.
32. We note that Donnelly Penman considered the future prospects
and
forecasted earnings trends of Pioneer Railcorp in rendering its
fairness opinion. For example, Donnelly Penman prepared a
discounted
cash flow analysis estimating debt-free after tax cash flows that
Pioneer might produce from January 1, 2004 through December 31,
2008.
In this regard, disclose all of the forecasts that management
provided to Donnelly Penman. In addition, please disclose and
quantify the material assumptions underlying the financial
projections the advisor developed and included in its analysis.
Recommendation of our board of directors, page 22
33. Each filing person must include a statement as to whether it
believes that the Rule 13e-3 transaction is procedurally and
substantively fair to each group of unaffiliated security holders
and
an analysis of the factors upon which each relied in reaching a
conclusion. See Item 8 to Schedule 13E-3 and Q&A No. 5 of
Exchange
Act Release No. 34-17719 (April 13, 1981). Please revise to
specifically address both substantive and procedural fairness to
each
group of unaffiliated shareholders for each filing person on the
Schedule 13E-3.
34. We note that the board`s recommendation references the
financial
advisor`s findings as the bases for the board`s fairness
determination. Please clarify here that the board has adopted the
analyses of the financial advisor.
35. The factors listed in Instruction 2 to Item 1014 are those
generally considered relevant in addressing the substantive
fairness
of a Rule 13e-3 transaction and should be discussed. To the
extent
any such factors were not considered or deemed relevant in the
context of this particular transaction, that fact may be important
for shareholders in assessing the transaction and the company`s
fairness determination. See Exchange Act Release No. 17719 (April
13, 1981). Please note that the Board`s adoption of Donnelly
Penman`s fairness determination may not be sufficient as their
analysis does not appear to have addressed each of the Instruction
2
factors.
36. Revise to clarify what consideration each filing person gave
to
the fact that management and the board, rather than the special
committee, determined the structure of and procedural safeguards
necessary for this transaction.
37. Please revise to discuss the procedural safeguards set forth
in
Item 1014(d)-(e).
38. Revise to explain the basis for the Board`s belief as to the
procedural fairness to unaffiliated shareholders notwithstanding
the
absence of the procedural safeguards identified in Items 1014(c)
and
1014(f).
39. Revise to clarify what consideration the board gave to the
fact
that one of the adverse effects of the merger will be that
unaffiliated shareholders will be required to surrender their
shares
involuntarily in exchange for a cash price determined by the board
and that shareholders will not have the right as a result of the
reverse stock split to liquidate their shares at a time and for a
price of their choosing. Also clarify the board`s consideration
of
the fact that the company will no longer be subject to the
provisions
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act or the liability provisions of the
Exchange
Act and that officers of the company will no longer be required to
certify the accuracy of its financial statements.
40. Each filing person must disclose every reason for the
particular
structure of the transaction. We note the positive factors
discussed
on page 23 regarding the income tax treatment of the transaction.
It
appears that the beneficial tax consequence that the company`s
officers and directors will not be taxed on this transaction may
have
been one reason for this transaction structure. If so, revise to
disclose this fact as required by Item 1013(b) of Regulation M-A.
Position of Pioneer Merger Corporation, page 24
41. Please consider the above comments relating to the findings of
the Pioneer Railcorp board that are applicable to the fairness
discussion of Pioneer Merger Corporation. Make corresponding
revisions to the disclosure here. For example, Pioneer Merger
Corporation needs to specifically state its belief as to
procedural
and substantive fairness to each group of unaffiliated
shareholders.
Interests of Certain Persons in the Merger, page 25
42. Revise this section to clarify the difference between
"ownership"
and "beneficial ownership."
Financing of the Merger, page 26
43. We note that you do not have committed financing in place.
Please ensure that you revise this disclosure to provide the
information required pursuant to Item 1007(d) of Regulation M-A
when
you secure such financing arrangements. In the alternative, if
financing is not assured, you are required to include the
information
required by Item 14(c)(1) of Schedule 14A in this filing for
Pioneer
Merger Corporation. See Instruction 2 to Item 14 of Schedule 14A.
Material U.S. federal income tax consequences of the merger, page
30
44. Revise to provide further information regarding the tax
consequences to holders who are cashed out in the merger. For
example, provide additional detail regarding the Section 302
tests.
Backup withholding, page 31
45. Please revise to eliminate the statement that "this discussion
is
only intended to provide you with a general summary and is not
intended to be a complete analysis or description of all potential
U.S. federal income tax consequences of the merger." We believe
this
statement might suggest that your shareholders may not rely on the
description of material tax consequences included in your proxy
statement and you are required to disclose the material tax
consequences. Similarly, revise to delete your statement that the
discussion "summarizes" the material tax consequences.
46. Discuss the federal tax consequences of the Rule 13e-3
transaction on each filing party. See Item 1013(d) of Regulation
M-
A.
Pro Forma Effect of the Merger, page 31
47. Your pro forma earnings per share for the six months ended
June
30, 2004 does not agree to the pro forma earnings per share amount
disclosed on the face of your pro forma consolidated income
statements for the six-month ended June 30, 2004 on page 45 of the
document. Please correct this discrepancy.
Pro Forma Consolidated Financial Statements, page 42
48. Although you are a small business issuer, some of our
following
comments cite Regulation S-X as Instruction 2 of Item 310 in
Regulation S-B refers registrants to the guidance in Article 11 of
Regulation S-X to the extent pro forma presentation requirements.
49. We were unable to recompute the amount of $1,339,500 related
to
the 480,000 shares cashed out in the merger. Please
supplementally
tell us how you calculated this amount or revise as appropriate.
50. You state that you have incurred or will incur $219,700 in
costs
and expenses relating to the merger, and the pro forma financial
statements include an adjustment for these incremental costs. In
addition to being directly attributable to the merger, the pro
forma
adjustments must also be factually supportable and expected to
have a
continuing impact such that the pro forma statements of operations
should be indicative of the ongoing entity. Refer to Rule 11-
02(b)(6) of Regulation S-X. In this regard, it appears these
costs
are nonrecurring without a continuing impact. Please revise your
annual and interim pro forma financial consolidated income
statements
to exclude this adjustment, as these charges should solely be
disclosed separately in the notes without adjustment to the pro
forma
income statements. Refer to the guidance in Rule 11-02(b)(5) of
Regulation S-X.
51. You state that you anticipate cost savings of $150,000 as a
result of the merger. To the extent that these costs are a
directly
attributable to no longer being a public company (e.g. fees
related
to accounting, legal, printing, SEC fees, etc) and are significant
to
your results of operations, you should specifically include the
reduction of these costs as an adjustment to your pro forma
statement
of operations as they give effect to the merger and are indicative
of
the ongoing entity. Be advised these amounts must also be
factually
supportable. Please revise your annual and interim pro forma
income
statements as appropriate.
52. Please reference the pro forma adjustments on the face of your
consolidated balance sheet and income statement to the footnotes,
which clearly explain the assumptions involved in the determining
the
amount.
Pro Forma Consolidated Balance Sheet, page 43
53. We note that you have included pro forma adjustments that
increase cash and accrued liabilities by $132,070 and $127,426,
respectively, on the face of the consolidated balance sheet.
However, it is unclear from your footnote how these pro forma
adjustments related to the merger transaction and what assumptions
are involved. Please advise and also tell us how you determined
or
calculated theses amounts. Similarly clarify in your footnotes.
Pro Forma Consolidated Income Statement for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 2003, page 44
Pro Forma Consolidated Income Statement for the six months ended
June
30, 2004, page 45
54. You include pro forma adjustments for interest expense and
provision for income taxes on both your pro forma consolidated
income
statement for the year ended December 31, 2003 and the six months
ended June 30, 2004. Please tell us and clarify in your footnotes
the assumptions involved and specifically how these amounts were
calculated or determined. In this regard, it appears the annual
interest expense on the $5,000,000 borrowing at 6% interest rate
would be $300,000. Also, please note that the guidance in
Instruction 7 to Rule 11-02(b) of Regulation S-X provides that tax
adjustments normally should be calculation at the statutory rates.
Please revise accordingly.
55. Please disclose in the footnotes to the pro forma consolidated
financial statements your pro forma EPS calculation for both the
fiscal year ended December 31, 2003 and six months ended June 30,
2004, and reference the EPS amounts included on the face of your
income statements to the respective pro forma EPS calculation. In
addition, please disclose the number of shares used to compute the
per share amounts on the face of the pro forma consolidated income
statement. Refer to guidance in Rule 11-02(b)(7) of Regulation S-
X.
Documents incorporated by reference, page 46
56. We note that you have incorporated by reference the
information
required by Item 14(c)(2) of Schedule 14A. Please note that this
information may be incorporated by reference into the filing to
the
same extent as would be permitted by Form S-4. See Item 14(e)(1)
of
Schedule 14A and Part C, Item 15 of Form S-4. However, it does
not
appear that your public float is sufficient and, therefore, you
are
probably not eligible to incorporate by reference. Please revise
your disclosure to remove your reference to incorporation by
reference and to include any disclosure that you were
incorporating
into the document by reference to the Form 10-K or advise us why
you
believe you can incorporate by reference.
57. If you continue to elect to incorporate the financial
information
by reference after reviewing the preceding comment, then provide
at
least the summary information required by Item 1010(c) of
Regulation
M-A, including the ratio of earnings to fixed charges and book
value
per share. For guidance, see Instruction 1 to Item 13 of Schedule
13E-3.
58. Advise us of the authority on which you rely to incorporate by
reference any additional documents that you may file with the SEC
between the date of this document and the date of the special
meeting
or revise the disclosure to indicate that you will specifically
amend
the Schedule 13E-3 and Schedule 14A to include the information if
filed to the extent required to fulfill your disclosure
obligation.
Other
59. In connection with responding to our comments, please provide,
in
writing, a statement from the each filing person acknowledging
that
* the company is responsible for the adequacy and accuracy of the
disclosure in the filings;
* staff comments or changes to disclosure in response to staff
comments in the filings reviewed by the staff do not foreclose the
Commission from taking any action with respect to the filing; and
* the company may not assert staff comments as a defense in any
proceeding initiated by the Commission or any person under the
federal securities laws of the United States.
In addition, please be advised that the Division of Enforcement
has
access to all information you provide to the staff of the Division
of
Corporation Finance in our review of your filing or in response to
our comments on your filing.
Form 10-KSB for fiscal year ended December 31, 2003
60. Confirm supplementally that future Form 10K-SB filings will be
signed by your principal executive officer and your controller or
principal accounting officer. Refer to General Instruction C to
Form
10-KSB.
Closing Comments
Please file an amended Schedule 13E-3 and Schedule 14A in
response to these comments. Mark the amendments so that the
revisions, including those made not in response to staff comment,
are
clear and distinguishable from the text of earlier submissions.
See
Rule 310 of Regulation S-T. In addition, please furnish a cover
letter that keys your responses to our comments and provide any
supplemental information we requested. This comment letter should
be
filed on EDGAR as correspondence. If you believe complying with a
comment is not appropriate, tell us why in your letter. You
should
be aware that we might have additional comments based on your
responses.
We urge all persons who are responsible for the accuracy and
adequacy of the disclosure in the filings reviewed by the staff to
be
certain that they have provided all information investors require.
Since the company and its management are in possession of all
facts
relating to a company`s disclosure, they are responsible for the
accuracy and adequacy of the disclosures they have made.
Please direct any questions regarding the accounting comments
to
Jean Yu, Staff Accountant, at (202) 824-5421, or in her absence,
to
Linda Cvrkel, Branch Chief - Accountant, at (202) 942-1936. For
questions on other comments, please contact Johanna Vega Losert,
Attorney-Advisor, at (202) 942-2931, or Susan Guerrier, Attorney-
Advisor at (202) 942-1965. You may also reach me at (202) 942-
2920.
Sincerely,
Michael Pressman
Special Counsel
Office of Mergers and
Acquisitions
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Pioneer Railcorp
December 10, 2004
Page 1
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549-0405
DIVISION OF
CORPORATION FINANCE