Enterprise buying up National/Alamo licensees

[FailingEnterpriseAdmin]

From Auto Rental News

Auto Rental News

Enterprise Buys Phoenix-Based Licensee

February 21, 2008

The Taylor Family of St. Louis, which owns the National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car businesses, has purchased Phoenix-based Steward Ventures, Inc., the companies reports.

Privately held Steward Ventures was the largest single U.S. licensee of the National and Alamo brands in terms of revenue and fleet size. Financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.
Steward Ventures operated at four airport rental locations: Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, Scottsdale Municipal Airport, Phoenix-Mesa-Gateway Airport and Mesa Falcon Field. In addition, it operated four other locations throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area – the third largest car rental market in the United States. The operation was founded in 1946 and has a staff of approximately 300 employees.
Steward also was the second National and Alamo licensee to be purchased by the Taylor Family this month. On Feb. 8, the Taylors acquired Eatman Leasing, a licensee which operated in Wilmington, Jacksonville, Newbern and Rocky Mount, N.C.

[FailingEnterpriseAdmin]

Originally Posted by FailingEnterpriseAdmin

From Auto Rental News

Auto Rental News

Enterprise Buys Phoenix-Based Licensee

February 21, 2008

The Taylor Family of St. Louis, which owns the National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car businesses, has purchased Phoenix-based Steward Ventures, Inc., the companies reports.

Privately held Steward Ventures was the largest single U.S. licensee of the National and Alamo brands in terms of revenue and fleet size. Financial terms of the transaction have not been disclosed.
Steward Ventures operated at four airport rental locations: Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, Scottsdale Municipal Airport, Phoenix-Mesa-Gateway Airport and Mesa Falcon Field. In addition, it operated four other locations throughout the Phoenix metropolitan area – the third largest car rental market in the United States. The operation was founded in 1946 and has a staff of approximately 300 employees.
Steward also was the second National and Alamo licensee to be purchased by the Taylor Family this month. On Feb. 8, the Taylors acquired Eatman Leasing, a licensee which operated in Wilmington, Jacksonville, Newbern and Rocky Mount, N.C.

Any rumors about what's going on here? Enterprise just trying to bring all the branches in-house in order to get better control over them?

[SoonToBeFree]

Originally Posted by FailingEnterpriseAdmin

Any rumors about what's going on here? Enterprise just trying to bring all the branches in-house in order to get better control over them?

Probably - their licenses haven't run out and ERAC has to honor them - but they can't control them as completely as they can if they own them. And, if they own them, there's no license to contend with (or non-ERAC business procedures to have to honor). They don't like any opposition in the ranks and licensees are loose cannons who can call many of their own shots. There is no free-thinking allowed under the Big Green. They tell people that they train them to manage their own business - but they don't. Everything must conform to the standards set by St. Louis and if you venture out on your own, making decisions they didn't pre-approve, you will be reeled in and/or summarily dismissed. By buying out these licensees, they now have that power over them.

Of course, I could be wrong....but somehow, I don't think I am.