PARK RIDGE, NJ -- 06/25/09 --
Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: HTZ)
-- Company forecasts positive Q2/FY 2009 Corporate EBITDA, adjusted pre-
tax income and adjusted diluted earnings per share
-- Demand stabilizes in U.S. and Europe car rental with improving advance
summer reservation outlook
-- Equipment rental business expected to exceed $100 million Corporate
EBITDA and 40% margin in Q2; 40%+ margin expected to be maintained
throughout 2009
-- Incremental, annualized 2009 cost savings estimate increased $70
million, to $570 million
Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: HTZ) (with its subsidiaries, the
"Company" or "we") today announced guidance for second quarter and
full-year 2009 revenues, Corporate EBITDA(1), adjusted pre-tax income(2)
and adjusted diluted earnings per share(3)(4).
For the second quarter 2009, the Company forecasts worldwide revenues in
the range of $1.70 to $1.75 billion, Corporate EBITDA in the range of $260
million to $270 million, adjusted pre-tax income in the range of $65 to $70
million and adjusted diluted earnings per share in the range of $0.09 to
$0.10. For the full-year 2009, the Company forecasts worldwide revenues
in the range of $6.7 to $7.0 billion, Corporate EBITDA in the range of $900
million to $935 million, adjusted pre-tax income in the range of $100 to
$120 million and adjusted diluted earnings per share in the range of $0.12
to $0.15.
Mark P. Frissora, the Company's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said,
"We are able to resume earnings guidance for the current quarter and full
year for several reasons. Our car rental demand in the U.S. and Europe has
stabilized and we are experiencing better-than-anticipated summer peak
reservation build in both markets. We are adding fleet as a result.
Additionally, we anticipate no significant long-term financial impact from
the GM and Chrysler bankruptcies, and we are increasing our estimate of
incremental, annualized cost savings in 2009 by $70 million, to $570
million. These positive developments are offset partially by further,
modest weakening in equipment rental demand and pricing, although we
believe HERC will continue to generate strong Corporate EBITDA throughout
the year."
The Company cited the following data as leading indicators of improving
performance, compared with the fourth quarter of 2008 and the first quarter
of 2009:
-- We forecast U.S. car rental transaction days will improve year-over-
year to (11.4%) in the second quarter, compared with (13.4%) in the first
quarter. The Company forecasts a single-digit transaction day decrease in
Q3. Similar trends are expected in Europe.
-- Our car rental reservation build in the U.S. has improved for 9
consecutive weeks and for 7 consecutive weeks in our European car rental
market. At this time, our reservation build in Europe is positive, year-
over-year, for July and August.
-- Our average car rental fleets for Q2 are forecasted to be 14.6% lower
year-over-year in the U.S. and 17.3% lower in Europe. We believe that our
car rental fleet levels are aligned with demand due to fleet efficiency
improvements.
-- Our U.S. fleet utilization is forecasted to improve, year-over-year,
320 bps to 73% in Q2 and European fleet utilization is forecasted to
improve 330 bps to 72%. The Company forecasts additional, significant
utilization improvements in Q3 and for full year 2009, compared with the
same periods last year.
-- Our worldwide equipment rental business is expected to generate Q2
Corporate EBITDA exceeding $100 million. The Company continues to expect
the Corporate EBITDA margin of the equipment rental business will exceed
40% for Q2 and full year 2009.
The Company will update annual guidance on a quarterly basis consistent
with past practice. Additional details regarding Hertz's revenue,
Corporate EBITDA, adjusted pre-tax income and adjusted diluted earnings per
share guidance will be provided during the Company's investor presentation
webcast scheduled for 1:30 PM (EDT) this afternoon, June 25, 2009, which
can be accessed from the Investor Relations section of our website,
www.hertz.com/investorrelations, and on the Company's second quarter 2009
earnings conference call currently scheduled for July 29, 2009.
ABOUT HERTZ
The Hertz Corporation ("Hertz"), a subsidiary of the Company, operates the
world's largest general use car rental brand, from approximately 8,000
locations in 145 countries worldwide. Hertz is the number one airport car
rental brand in the U.S. and at 42 major airports in Europe, operating both
corporate and licensee locations in cities and airports in North America,
Europe, Latin America, Australia and New Zealand. In addition, Hertz has
licensee locations in cities and airports in Africa, Asia, and the Middle
East. Product and service initiatives such as Hertz #1 Club Gold®,
NeverLost® customized, onboard navigation systems, SIRIUS Satellite
Radio®, and unique cars and SUVs offered through Hertz's Prestige, Fun
and Green Collections, set Hertz apart from the competition. In 2008, Hertz
launched Connect by Hertz, entering the global car sharing market in
London, New York City and Paris. Hertz also operates one of the world's
largest equipment rental businesses, Hertz Equipment Rental Corporation,
offering a diverse line of equipment, including tools and supplies, as well
as new and used equipment for sale, to customers ranging from major
industrial companies to local contractors and consumers from approximately
330 branches in the United States, Canada, China, France and Spain.
CAUTIONARY NOTE CONCERNING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
Certain statements contained in this press release include "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995. You should not place undue reliance on these statements.
Forward-looking statements include information concerning the Company's
forecasts, outlook, anticipated revenues, results of operations and
implementation of productivity and efficiency initiatives, including
targeted job reductions, and the anticipated savings and restructuring
charges expected to be realized or incurred in connection therewith. These
statements often include words such as "believe," "expect," "project,"
"anticipate," "intend," "plan," "estimate," "seek," "will," "may,"
"should," "forecast" or similar expressions. These statements are based on
certain assumptions that the Company has made in light of its experience in
the industry as well as its perceptions of historical trends, current
conditions, expected future developments and other factors that the Company
believes are appropriate in these circumstances. As you read this press
release, you should understand that these statements are not guarantees of
performance or results. They involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions.
Many factors could affect the Company's actual results and its ability to
implement its cost savings and efficiency initiatives successfully, and
could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those
expressed in the forward-looking statements. Some important factors
include: the Company's operations; economic performance; financial
condition; management forecasts; efficiencies, cost savings and
opportunities to increase productivity and profitability; income and
margins; liquidity and availability of additional or continued fleet
financing including as a result of the financial instability of the
entities providing credit support; the financial instability of the
manufacturers of our vehicles: anticipated growth; economies of scale; the
economy; future economic performance; the Company's ability to maintain
profitability during adverse economic cycles, potential tangible and
intangible asset impairment charges and unfavorable external events
(including war, terrorist acts, natural disasters and epidemic disease);
future acquisitions and dispositions; litigation; potential and contingent
liabilities; management's plans; taxes; and refinancing of existing debt.
In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking
statements contained in this press release might not prove to be accurate
and you should not place undue reliance upon them. All forward-looking
statements attributable to the Company or persons acting on the Company's
behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing
cautionary statements. All such statements speak only as of the date made,
and the Company undertakes no obligation to update or revise publicly any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future
events or otherwise.
The Company cautions you therefore that you should not rely unduly on these
forward-looking statements. You should understand the risks and
uncertainties discussed in "Risk Factors" and elsewhere in the Company's
2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2008, as filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission,
or the "SEC," on March 3, 2009, could affect the Company's future results
and the outcome of its implementation of its cost savings and efficiency
initiatives, and could cause those results or other outcomes to differ
materially from those expressed or implied in the Company's forward-looking
statements.
(1) Corporate EBITDA is calculated as consolidated net income before net
interest expense (other than interest expense relating to certain car
rental fleet financing), consolidated income taxes, consolidated
depreciation (other than depreciation related to the car rental fleet) and
amortization and before certain non-cash expenses and charges and
extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring gains or losses.
(2) Adjusted pre-tax income is calculated as income before income taxes and
noncontrolling interest plus non-cash purchase accounting charges, non-cash
debt charges relating to the amortization of debt financing costs and debt
discounts and certain one-time charges and non-operational items.
(3) Adjusted diluted earnings per share is calculated as adjusted net
income (which is equal to adjusted pre-tax income less a provision for
income taxes derived utilizing a normalized income tax rate of 34% in 2009)
divided by the number of diluted shares expected to be outstanding for the
year ended December 31, 2009 (407.7 million in 2009).
(4) Management believes that Corporate EBITDA, adjusted pre-tax income and
adjusted diluted earnings per share are useful in measuring the comparable
results of the Company period-over-period. The GAAP measures most directly
comparable to Corporate EBITDA, adjusted
pre-tax income and adjusted diluted earnings per share are cash flows from
operating activities,
pre-tax income and diluted earnings per share. Because of the
forward-looking nature of the Company's forecasted Corporate EBITDA,
adjusted pre-tax income and adjusted diluted earnings per share, specific
quantifications of the amounts that would be required to reconcile
forecasted cash flows from operating activities, pre-tax income and diluted
earnings per share to forecasted Corporate EBITDA, adjusted
pre-tax income and adjusted diluted earnings per share are not available.
The Company believes that there is a degree of volatility with respect to
certain of the Company's GAAP measures, primarily related to fair value
accounting for its financial assets (which includes the Company's
derivative financial instruments), its income tax reporting and certain
adjustments made in order to arrive at the relevant non-GAAP measures,
which preclude the Company from providing accurate forecasted GAAP to
non-GAAP reconciliations. Based on the above, the Company believes that
providing estimates of the amounts that would be required to reconcile the
range of the non-GAAP Corporate EBITDA, adjusted pre-tax income and
adjusted diluted earnings per share to forecasted pre-tax income and
earnings per share would imply a degree of precision that could be
confusing or misleading to investors for the reasons identified above.