10-K 1 form10k123107.htm

 


 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

____________________

 

FORM 10-K

 

x

ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007

OR

 

o

TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

For the transition period from ________________ to ________________

 

Commission file number 1-13647

____________________

 

DOLLAR THRIFTY AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

     
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation or organization)
  73-1356520
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

 

5330 East 31st Street, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74135

(Address of principal executive offices and zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (918) 660-7700

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

     
Title of each class:
Common Stock, $.01 par value


  Name of each exchange on which registered:
New York Stock Exchange


 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known  seasoned issuer, as defined in  Rule 405 of the Securities  Act:   Yes  X     No      

 

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Act:   Yes        No  X   

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days:   Yes  X     No      

 

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K:          

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of "large accelerated filer", "accelerated filer", and "smaller reporting company" in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act (Check one):

 

     Large accelerated filer  X       Accelerated filer          Non-accelerated filer          Smaller reporting company      

 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Act):   Yes        No  X   

 

The aggregate market value of the voting and non-voting common equity held by non-affiliates of the registrant as of June 30, 2007, the last business day of the registrant’s most recently completed second fiscal quarter, based on the closing price of the stock on the New York Stock Exchange on such date was $951,595,565.

 

The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s Common Stock as of February 22, 2008 was 21,491,085.

 

DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE

 

Portions of the definitive Proxy Statement for the Annual Meeting of Stockholders to be held on May 15, 2008 are incorporated by reference in Part III.

 


 

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DOLLAR THRIFTY AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC.
FORM 10-K

TABLE OF CONTENTS

PART I  

ITEM 1.     BUSINESS 4

ITEM 1A.   RISK FACTORS 16

ITEM 1B.   UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS 21

ITEM 2.     PROPERTIES 21

ITEM 3.     LEGAL PROCEEDINGS 22

ITEM 4.     SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS 23

PART II  

ITEM 5.     MARKET FOR REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED  
          STOCKHOLDER MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES 23

ITEM 6.     SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA 26

ITEM 7.     MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL  
          CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATION 28

ITEM 7A.   QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES  
          ABOUT MARKET RISK 42

ITEM 8.     FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA 44

ITEM 9.     CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS  
          ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE 78

ITEM 9A.   CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES 78

ITEM 9B.   OTHER INFORMATION 80

PART III  

ITEM 10.    DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND  
          CORPORATE GOVERNANCE 80

ITEM 11.    EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION 80

ITEM 12.    SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS  
          AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS 80

ITEM 13.    CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS  
          AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE 80

ITEM 14.    PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES 80

 

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PART IV  

ITEM 15.    EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES 81

SIGNATURES 100

INDEX TO EXHIBITS 101

 

 

 

FACTORS AFFECTING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

 

 

Some of the statements contained herein under “Business” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation” may constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Although Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. believes such forward-looking statements are based upon reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and certain factors could cause results to differ materially from current expectations. These factors include: price and product competition; access to reservation distribution channels; economic and competitive conditions in markets and countries where the companies’ customers reside and where the companies and their franchisees operate; natural hazards or catastrophes; incidents of terrorism; airline travel patterns; changes in capital availability or cost; changes in liquidity; costs and other terms related to the acquisition and disposition of automobiles; systems or communications failures; costs of conducting business and changes in structure or operations; and certain regulatory and environmental matters and litigation risks. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties, among others, materialize, actual results could vary from those estimated, anticipated or projected. Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. undertakes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events or changes to future operating results over time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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PART I

 

ITEM 1.

BUSINESS

 

Company Overview

 

General

 

Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“DTG”), owns DTG Operations, Inc. (“DTG Operations”), Dollar Rent A Car, Inc. and Thrifty, Inc. Thrifty, Inc. owns Thrifty Rent-A-Car System, Inc. and Thrifty Car Sales, Inc. (“Thrifty Car Sales”). Thrifty Rent-A-Car System, Inc. owns Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group Canada Inc. (“DTG Canada”). DTG operates under a corporate structure that combines the management of operations and administrative functions for both the Dollar and Thrifty brands. DTG Operations operates company-owned stores under the Dollar brand and the Thrifty brand, provides vehicle leasing to franchisees, operates reservation centers for both brands and conducts sales and marketing activities for both brands. Thrifty Rent-A-Car System, Inc. and Dollar Rent A Car, Inc. conduct franchising activities for their respective brands. Thrifty Car Sales operates a franchised retail used car sales network. The Company has two additional subsidiaries, Rental Car Finance Corp. (“RCFC”) and Dollar Thrifty Funding Corp., which are special purpose financing entities and have been appropriately consolidated in the financial statements of the Company. Dollar Rent A Car, Inc., the Dollar brand and DTG Operations operating under the Dollar brand are individually and collectively referred to hereafter as “Dollar”. Thrifty, Inc., Thrifty Rent-A-Car System, Inc., Thrifty Car Sales, the Thrifty brand and DTG Operations operating under the Thrifty brand are individually and collectively referred to hereafter as “Thrifty”. DTG, Dollar and Thrifty and each of their subsidiaries are individually or collectively referred to herein as the “Company”, as the context may require. Dollar and Thrifty and their respective independent franchisees operate the Dollar and Thrifty vehicle rental systems. The Dollar and Thrifty brands represent a value-priced rental vehicle generally appealing to leisure customers, including foreign tourists, and to small businesses, government business and independent business travelers. As of December 31, 2007, Dollar and Thrifty had 831 locations in the United States and Canada of which 466 were company-owned stores and 365 were locations operated by franchisees. While Dollar and Thrifty have franchisees in countries outside the United States and Canada, revenues from these franchisees have not been material to results of operations of the Company.

 

In the United States, Dollar's main focus is operating company-owned stores located in major airports, and it derives substantial revenues from leisure and tour package rentals. Thrifty focuses on serving both the airport and local markets operating through a network of company-owned stores and franchisees. Dollar and Thrifty currently derive the majority of their U.S. revenues from providing rental vehicles and services directly to rental customers. Consequently, Dollar and Thrifty incur the costs of operating company-owned stores, and their revenues are directly affected by changes in rental demand and pricing.

 

The Company is the successor to Pentastar Transportation Group, Inc., which was formed in 1989 to acquire and operate the rental car subsidiaries of Chrysler LLC, formerly known as DaimlerChrysler Corporation (such entity and its subsidiaries and members of its affiliated group are hereinafter referred to as “Chrysler”). DTG Operations, formerly known as Dollar Rent A Car Systems, Inc., was incorporated in 1965. Thrifty Rent-A-Car System, Inc. was incorporated in 1950 and Dollar Rent A Car, Inc. was incorporated in December 2002. Thrifty, Inc. was incorporated in December 1998.

 

Available Information

 

The Company makes available free of charge on or through its Internet Web site its annual report on Form 10-K, quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, current reports on Form 8-K and all amendments to such reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 as soon as reasonably practicable after such material has been electronically filed with, or furnished to, the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). The Company’s Internet address is http://www.dtag.com. The SEC also maintains a Web site that contains all of the Company’s filings at http://www.sec.gov.

 

The Company has a code of business conduct, which is available on the Company’s Web site under the heading, “About DTG”. The Company’s Board of Directors has adopted a corporate governance policy and Board committee charters, which are updated periodically and can be found on the Company’s Web site under the heading, “Corporate Governance”. A copy of the code of business conduct, the corporate

 

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governance policy and the charters are available upon request to the Company’s headquarters as listed on the front of this Form 10-K, attention “Investor Relations” department.

 

The annual Chief Executive Officer certification required by the New York Stock Exchange Listed Company Manual was submitted to the New York Stock Exchange on May 18, 2007.

 

Industry Overview

 

The U.S. daily car rental industry has two principal markets: the airport market and the local market. Vehicle rental companies that focus on the airport market rent primarily to business and leisure travelers. Companies focusing on the local market rent primarily to persons who need a vehicle periodically for personal or business use or who require a temporary replacement vehicle. Rental companies also sell used vehicles and ancillary products such as refueling services and loss damage waivers to vehicle renters.

 

Vehicle rental companies typically incur substantial debt to finance their rental fleets. They also have historically acquired a significant portion of their fleets under manufacturer residual value programs where the vehicle manufacturers repurchase or guarantee the resale value of Program Vehicles (hereinafter defined) at particular times in the future. This allows a rental company to determine in advance this important component of its cost structure. However, most vehicle rental companies increased their level of Non-Program Vehicles (hereinafter defined) which historically had lower fleet costs because of reduced availability of Program Vehicles. Increasing the level of Non-Program Vehicles in the fleet increases the vehicle rental company’s dependence on the used car market.

 

The rental car industry has further consolidated ownership of the top eight brands which are now owned by four companies. Three of the companies are publicly held: Dollar and Thrifty operated by the Company; Avis and Budget operated by Avis Budget Group, Inc.; and Hertz operated by Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. The remaining three brands of Alamo, National and Enterprise are operating subsidiaries of Enterprise Rent-A-Car Company, which is privately held.

 

Seasonality

 

The Company’s business is subject to seasonal variations in customer demand, with the summer vacation period representing the peak season for vehicle rentals. This general seasonal variation in demand, along with more localized changes in demand, causes the Company to vary its fleet size over the course of the year. To accommodate increased demand in the summer vacation periods, the Company increases its available fleet and staff and as demand declines, the fleet and staff are decreased accordingly. Certain operating expenses, such as minimum concession fees, rent, insurance and administrative overhead represent fixed costs and cannot be adjusted for seasonal increases or decreases in demand. In 2007, the Company’s average monthly fleet size ranged from a low of approximately 98,000 vehicles in the first quarter to a high of approximately 147,000 vehicles in the third quarter.

 

The Company

 

The Company has two value rental car brands, Dollar and Thrifty, with a strategy to operate company-owned stores in the top 75 airport markets and in key leisure destinations in the United States. In 2007, the Company continued to expand its focus to include local market stores. In the United States, the Dollar and Thrifty brands remain separate, but operate corporately under a single management structure and share vehicles, back-office employees and facilities, where possible. The Company also operates company-owned stores in seven of the eight largest airport markets in Canada under DTG Canada. In Canada, the company-owned stores are primarily co-branded.

 

The Company also offers franchise opportunities in smaller markets in the United States and Canada and in all international markets so that franchisees can operate under the Dollar or Thrifty trademarks or dual franchise and operate both brands in one market.

 

 

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Summary Operating Data of the Company

                                   
              Year Ended December 31,  
             
 
              2007     2006     2005  
             
   
   
 
              (in thousands)  
Revenues:
                       
Revenue from U.S. and
Canada company-owned
stores
  $ 1,694,064     $ 1,549,727     $ 1,387,751  
Revenue from franchisees
and other
    66,727       110,950       119,803  
             
   
   
 
 
Total revenues
  $ 1,760,791     $ 1,660,677     $ 1,507,554  
             
   
   
 
 
                       
              As of December 31,  
             
 
              2007     2006     2005  
             
   
   
 
Rental locations:
                       
U.S. and Canada company-
owned stores
    466       407       369  
U.S. and Canada franchisee
locations
    365       429       483  
 
                       
Franchisees agreements:
                       
U.S. and Canada
    234       224       231  
International
    117       110       116  

 

Dollar and Thrifty Brands

 

Dollar

 

Dollar’s main focus is serving the airport vehicle rental market, which is comprised of business and leisure travelers. The majority of its locations are on or near airport facilities. At December 31, 2007, Dollar had 111 company-owned and franchised in-terminal airport locations in the United States. Dollar operates primarily through company-owned stores in the United States and Canada, and also licenses to independent franchisees which operate as a part of the Dollar brand system in the United States, Canada and abroad. Dollar operates company-owned stores in seven of the eight largest airport markets of Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, Halifax, Edmonton and Vancouver. Dollar has continued to expand its company-owned stores in the United States by acquiring franchisee operations in key markets.

 

As of December 31, 2007, Dollar’s vehicle rental system included 359 locations in the United States and Canada, consisting of 213 company-owned stores and 146 franchisee locations. Dollar’s total rental revenue generated by company-owned stores was $981 million for the year ended December 31, 2007.

 

Thrifty

 

Thrifty has shifted to operating more company-owned stores by acquiring franchisee locations in key markets. Thrifty continued to acquire franchisee locations during 2007; however, the majority of the acquisition opportunities are now completed. Thrifty U.S. company-owned locations increased to 195 at December 31, 2007 from 152 at December 31, 2006. Thrifty’s U.S. company-owned stores and its franchisees derive approximately 80% of their combined rental revenues from the airport market and approximately 20% from the local market. Thrifty’s approach of serving both the airport and local markets allows many of its franchisees and company-owned stores to have multiple locations to improve fleet utilization and profit margins by moving vehicles among locations to better address demand between these markets. At December 31, 2007, Thrifty had 115 company-owned and franchised in-terminal airport locations in the United States.

 

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As of December 31, 2007, Thrifty’s vehicle rental system included 472 rental locations in the United States and Canada, consisting of 253 company-owned stores and 219 franchisee locations. Thrifty’s total rental revenue generated by company-owned stores was $695 million for the year ended December 31, 2007.

 

Corporate Operations

 

United States

 

The Company’s operating model for U.S. Dollar and Thrifty company-owned stores includes generally maintaining separate airport counters, bussing, reservations, marketing and all other customer contact activities, while using a single management team for both brands. In addition, this operating model includes sharing vehicles, back-office employees and service facilities, where possible.

 

As of December 31, 2007, the Company operates the Dollar brand in 58 and the Thrifty brand in 59 of the top 75 airport markets in the United States and operates both brands in 50 of these top 75 airport markets. During 2007, the Company added the Thrifty brand in six of the top 75 airport markets by acquiring franchisee locations.

 

Canada

 

The Company operates in Canada through DTG Canada. The Company currently operates corporate stores in seven of the eight largest airport markets in Canada, which includes Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, Halifax, Edmonton and Vancouver. The majority of the markets are operated under the Company’s co-branding strategy in Canada where both the Dollar and Thrifty brands are represented at one shared location.

 

Franchise Acquisition Program

 

The Company continues to evaluate both Dollar and Thrifty franchise operations in the top 75 U.S. airport markets and other key leisure markets. In 2007, the Company continued this strategy by acquiring the Thrifty franchise operations in sixteen U.S. markets: Seattle, Washington; Portland, Oregon; Pittsburgh, Allentown, Harrisburg, and Erie, Pennsylvania; Burlington, Vermont; Louisville, Kentucky; Knoxville, Tennessee; Providence, Rhode Island; Kansas City and Springfield, Missouri; Wichita, Kansas; Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska; and Des Moines, Iowa and the Dollar franchise operations in two U.S. markets: Allentown, Pennsylvania and Wichita, Kansas. Dollar and Thrifty generally have the right of first refusal on the sale of a franchise operation.

 

Tour Rentals

 

Vehicle rentals by customers of foreign and U.S. tour operators generated approximately $189 million or 11.3% of the Company’s rental revenues for the year ended December 31, 2007. These rentals are usually part of tour packages that can also include air travel and hotel accommodations. No single tour operator account generated in excess of 2% of the Company’s 2007 rental revenues.

 

Other

 

As of December 31, 2007, the Company had 156 vehicle rental concessions for company-owned stores at 102 airports in the United States. Its payments for these concessions are usually based upon a specified percentage of airport-generated revenue, subject to a minimum annual fee, and typically include fixed rent for terminal counters or other leased properties and facilities. A growing number of larger airports are building consolidated airport rental car facilities to eliminate congestion at the airport which also facilitates additional growth for the rental car industry.

 

 

 

 

 

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Summary of Corporate Operations Data

                                   
              Year Ended December 31,  
             
 
              2007     2006     2005  
             
   
   
 
              (in thousands)  
Rental revenues:
                       
United States - Dollar
  $ 964,416     $ 910,434     $ 856,284  
United States - Thrifty
    621,043       540,947       447,535  
             
   
   
 
 
   Total U.S. rental revenues
    1,585,459       1,451,381       1,303,819  
 
                       
Canada - Dollar and Thrifty     90,890       87,292       76,353  
             
   
   
 
 
   Total rental revenues
    1,676,349       1,538,673       1,380,172  
 
                       
Other     17,715       11,054       7,579  
             
   
   
 
 
   Total revenues from U.S. and
      Canadian Corporate Operations
  $ 1,694,064     $ 1,549,727     $ 1,387,751  
             
   
   
 
 
                       
              As of December 31,  
             
 
              2007     2006     2005  
             
   
   
 
Rental locations (U.S. and Canada):
                       
Dollar
    213       200       187  
Thrifty
    253       207       182  
             
   
   
 
 
   Total corporate rental locations
    466       407       369  
             
   
   
 

 

Franchising

 

United States and Canada

 

Both Dollar and Thrifty sell U.S. franchises on an exclusive basis for specific geographic areas, generally outside the top 75 U.S. airport markets. Most franchisees are located at or near airports that generate a lower volume of vehicle rentals than the airports served by company-owned stores. In Canada, Dollar and Thrifty sell franchises in markets generally outside the top eight airport markets.

 

Dollar and Thrifty offer franchisees the opportunity to dual franchise in smaller U.S. and Canadian markets. That is, one franchisee can operate both the Dollar and the Thrifty brand, thus allowing them to generate more business in their market while leveraging fixed costs.

 

Dollar and Thrifty license to franchisees the use of their respective brand service marks in the vehicle rental and leasing and parking businesses. Franchisees of Dollar and Thrifty pay an initial franchise fee generally based on the population, number of airline passengers, total airport vehicle rental revenues and the level of any other vehicle rental activity in the franchised territory, as well as other factors. Dollar and Thrifty offer their respective franchisees a wide range of products and services which may not be easily or cost effectively available from other sources.

 

System Fees in the U.S.

 

Dollar - In addition to an initial franchise fee, each Dollar U.S. franchisee is generally required to pay a system fee equal to 8% of airport rental revenue and 6% for suburban operations.

 

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Thrifty - In addition to the initial franchise fee, each Thrifty U.S. franchisee pays an administrative fee, which is generally 3% of base rental revenue, excluding ancillary products and an advertising fee ranging from 2.5% to 4.5% of base rental revenue to a separate advertising fund managed by the Company. Beginning in 2008, Thrifty U.S. franchisees will pay a fee generally ranging from 5.5% to 8.0% of base rental revenue as the separate advertising fund has been eliminated.

 

System Fees in Canada

 

All Dollar and Thrifty Canadian franchisees whether operating a single-brand or co-brand location pay a monthly fee generally equal to 8% of rental revenue.

 

Franchisee Services and Products

 

Dollar and Thrifty provide their U.S. and Canadian franchisees a wide range of products and services, including vehicle leasing, reservations, marketing programs and assistance, branded supplies, image and standards, training, rental rate management analysis and customer satisfaction programs. Additionally, Dollar and Thrifty offer their respective franchisees centralized corporate account and tour billing and travel agent commission payments.

 

Summary of U.S. and Canada Franchise Operations Data

                                   
              As of December 31,  
             
 
              2007     2006     2005  
             
   
   
 
Franchisee locations:
                       
   Dollar
    146       158       165  
   Thrifty
    219       271       318  
             
   
   
 
      Total franchisee locations
    365       429       483  
             
   
   
 
 
                       

 

International

 

Dollar and Thrifty offer master franchises outside the United States and Canada, generally on a countrywide basis. Each master franchisee is permitted to operate within its franchised territory directly or through subfranchisees. At December 31, 2007, exclusive of the United States and Canada, Dollar had franchised locations in 52 countries and Thrifty had franchised locations in 66 countries. These locations are in Latin America, Europe, the Middle East, and the Asia-Pacific regions. The Company offers franchisees the opportunity to license the rights to operate either the Dollar or the Thrifty brand or both brands in certain markets on a dual franchise or co-brand basis. Revenue generated by the Company from franchised operations outside the United States and Canada totaled $10.1 million in 2007, comprised primarily of system, reservation and advertising fees.

 

Thrifty Car Sales

 

In December 1998, Thrifty Car Sales was formed to operate a franchise system, “Thrifty Car Sales”. Thrifty Car Sales provides an opportunity to qualified candidates including independent and franchised dealers to enhance or expand their used car operations under a well-recognized national brand name. In addition to the use of the brand name, dealers have access to a variety of products and services offered by Thrifty Car Sales. These products and services include participation in a full service business development center, a nationally supported Internet strategy and website, operational and marketing support, vehicle supply services, customized retail and wholesale financing programs as well as national accounts and supplies programs. As of December 31, 2007, Thrifty Car Sales had 41 franchise locations in operation.

 

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Other Services

 

Parking Services. Airport parking operations are a natural complement to vehicle rental operations. The Company encourages its franchisees that have near-airport locations to add this ancillary business and the Company operates some corporate parking operations as well. In 2007, the Company expanded is parking operations including new locations in Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon.

 

Supplies and National Account Programs. The Company makes bulk purchases of items used by its franchisees, which it sells to franchisees at prices that are often lower than they could obtain on their own. The Company also negotiates national account programs to allow its franchisees to take advantage of volume discounts for many materials or services used for operations such as tires, glass replacement, long distance telephone service and overnight mail.

 

Supplemental Equipment and Optional Products – Dollar and Thrifty rent global positioning system (GPS) equipment, ski racks, infant and child seats and other supplemental equipment, sell pre-paid gasoline and, subject to availability and applicable local law, make available loss damage waivers and insurance products related to the vehicle rental. New products available in 2007 include: roadside emergency benefit programs, RoadSafe and TripSaver, and Rent-a-Toll for electronic toll payments. Also in 2007, Dollar introduced the “Style Series”, which is a high end line of vehicles offered in select leisure locations around the United States.

 

Reservations

 

The Internet is the primary source of reservations for the Company. For the year ended December 31, 2007, approximately 74% of the Company’s total non-tour reservations came through the Internet, increasing from approximately 68% in 2006. The Company’s Internet Web sites (dollar.com and thrifty.com) provided approximately 42% of total non-tour reservations. During 2007, 32% of non-tour reservations were provided from third party Internet sites with no individual third party site providing in excess of 8% of total non-tour reservations. The remaining non-tour reservations were primarily provided by the reservation call centers and travel agents. In early 2007, the Company outsourced a portion of its call center operations to PRC, a global leader in the operation of outsourced call centers. The Company still maintains some call center operations at its Tahlequah, Oklahoma facility. Dollar and Thrifty reservation systems are linked to all major airline reservation systems and through such systems to travel agencies in the United States, Canada and abroad.

 

Marketing

 

Dollar and Thrifty are positioned as value car rental companies in the travel industry, providing on-airport convenience with low rates on quality vehicles. Customers who rent from Dollar and Thrifty are cost-conscious leisure, government and business travelers who want to save money on car rentals without compromising fundamental car rental products or services.

 

Dollar and Thrifty acquire these value-oriented customers through a multi-faceted marketing approach that involves traditional and Internet advertising, Internet search marketing, sales teams, strategic marketing partners, and investments in traditional and emerging distribution channels. Each of these disciplines has a specific focus on selected customer segment opportunities.

 

In the United States, Thrifty’s national advertising and marketing expenses have been paid out of an advertising fund managed by a national advertising committee consisting of representatives of Thrifty franchisees and certain members of Company management through 2007. In 2008, Thrifty’s national advertising will no longer be managed by a national advertising committee and will be managed by the Company.

 

Strategic Marketing Partners

 

Dollar and Thrifty have aligned themselves with certain strategic marketing partners to facilitate the growth of their business.

 

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Dollar has strong relationships with many significant international tour operators who specialize in inbound tour packages to the United States, as well as domestic tour operators who generate inbound business to Hawaii, Florida and other leisure destinations.

 

Major travel agents and consortia operate under preferred supplier agreements with Dollar and Thrifty. Under these preferred agreements, Dollar and Thrifty provide these travel agency groups additional commissions or additional benefits in return for their featuring Dollar and Thrifty in their advertising or giving Dollar and Thrifty a priority in their reservation systems. In general, these arrangements are not exclusive to Dollar and Thrifty.

 

Both Dollar and Thrifty have also developed strategic partnerships with certain hotels, credit card companies, and with most U. S. airlines through participation in the airline’s frequent flyer programs. In addition, Dollar and Thrifty actively participate with our partner airlines in their respective branded Web sites.

 

Internet Marketing and Distribution Channels

 

Dollar and Thrifty focus on Internet advertising and marketing, which continues to be the most cost-efficient means of reaching travel customers. Dollar and Thrifty promote their respective brands via Internet banner advertising, keywords and rate guarantees to encourage travelers to book reservations on dollar.com and thrifty.com. In addition, Dollar and Thrifty both continue to make technology investments in their respective Web sites, dollar.com and thrifty.com, to provide enhancements to best meet their customer’s changing travel needs.

 

In 2007, Dollar launched a new version of dollar.com which enhanced many of the features that individuals rely upon to rent cars online. Leading the way is a new reservation process that allows customers to see the entire fleet inventory at a given location on a given date. Because of this addition, consumers are now able to easily upgrade to a larger vehicle. Additionally, an enhanced search function simplifies the effort of finding one of our many domestic and international locations, identifying specific fleet offerings per location, searching for specials, and/or gaining greater awareness about the city or country you are visiting. Another significant enhancement within the new version of dollar.com is a simplified method of enrolling in “Dollar Express”, which requires only a single step enrollment form. In 2008, thrifty.com will see similar updates and changes.

 

Dollar and Thrifty are among the leading car rental companies in direct-connect technology, which bypasses global distribution systems and reduces reservation costs. Dollar and Thrifty have entered into direct-connect relationships with certain airline and other travel partners.

 

In addition, Dollar and Thrifty are featured with numerous national online booking agents where customers frequently shop for travel services and are in regular discussions with owners of other emerging travel channels to secure inclusion of the Dollar and Thrifty brands in those channels.

 

Dollar and Thrifty have made filings under the intellectual property laws of jurisdictions in which their respective franchisees operate, including the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, to protect the names, logos and designs identified with Dollar and Thrifty. These marks are important for customer brand awareness and selection of Dollar and Thrifty for vehicle rental and for dollar.com and thrifty.com for reservation services.

 

Customer Service

 

The Company’s commitment to delivering consistent customer service is a key element of our strategy. At its headquarters and in company-owned stores, the Company has programs involving customer satisfaction training and team-based problem solving, especially as it relates to improving customer service. The Company’s customer service centers measure customer satisfaction, track service quality trends, respond to customer inquiries and provide recommendations to senior management and vehicle rental location supervisors. The Company conducts initial and ongoing training for headquarters, company-owned store and franchisee employees, using professional trainers, performance coaches and computer-based training programs.

 

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Information Systems

 

The Company depends upon a number of core information systems to operate its business, primarily its counter automation, reservations, fleet and revenue management systems. The counter automation system in company-owned stores processes rental transactions, facilitates the sale of additional products and services and facilitates the monitoring of its fleet and financial assets. The Company also relies on a revenue management system which is designed to enable the Company to better determine rental demand based on historical reservation patterns and adjust its rental rates accordingly.

 

The Company partners with Electronic Data Systems Corporation and EDS Information Systems, L.L.C. (collectively, “EDS”), wherein EDS provides the majority of the Company’s information technology (“IT”) services, including applications development and maintenance, network, workplace and storage management, back-up and recovery and mid-range hosting services. EDS is a leading global IT service company that manages and monitors the majority of the Company’s data network and its daily information processing. The Company’s counter automation, reservations, revenue management, Internet Web sites and fleet processing systems are housed in a secure underground EDS facility in Oklahoma designed to withstand disasters.

 

U.S. franchisees receiving a certain volume of reservations are required to use an approved automated counter system. In addition to providing an electronic data link with the Company’s worldwide reservations centers, the automated counter system produces rental agreements and provides the Company and its franchisees with customer and vehicle inventory information as well as financial and operating reports.

 

Fleet Acquisition and Management

 

Vehicle Supply

 

For the 2007 model year, Chrysler vehicles represented approximately 88% of the total U.S. fleet purchases by DTG Operations. DTG Operations also purchases vehicles from other automotive manufacturers. The Company expects that for the 2008 model year, Chrysler vehicles will continue to represent a substantial majority of the total U.S. fleet of DTG Operations.

 

Automotive manufacturers’ residual value programs limit the Company’s residual value risk. Under these programs, the manufacturer either guarantees the aggregate depreciated value upon resale of covered vehicles of a given model year, as is generally the case under Chrysler’s program, or agrees to repurchase vehicles at specified prices during established repurchase periods. In either case, the manufacturer’s obligation is subject to certain conditions relating to the vehicle’s age, physical condition and mileage. Vehicles purchased by vehicle rental companies under these programs are referred to as “Program Vehicles.” Vehicles not purchased under these programs and for which rental companies therefore bear residual value risk are referred to herein as “Non-Program Vehicles.” The Company believes that a majority of vehicles owned by the U.S. vehicle rental industry are Non-Program Vehicles.

 

Chrysler, the Company’s primary supplier, sets the terms of its residual value program before the start of each model year. The terms include monthly depreciation rates, minimum and maximum holding periods and mileages, model mix requirements, and vehicle condition and other return requirements. The residual value program enables DTG Operations to limit its residual value risk with respect to Program Vehicles because Chrysler agrees to reimburse DTG Operations for any difference between the aggregate gross auction sale price of the Program Vehicles for the particular model year and the vehicles’ aggregate predetermined residual value. Under the program, DTG Operations must sell the Program Vehicles in closed auctions to Chrysler dealers. DTG Operations is reimbursed under the program for certain transportation, auction-related and interest costs.

 

 

 

 

 

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DTG Operations also purchases Non-Program Vehicles, for which it bears the full residual value risk because the vehicles are not covered by any manufacturer’s residual value program. It does so when required by manufacturers in connection with the purchase of Program Vehicles or when it believes there is an opportunity to lower its fleet costs or to fill model and class niches not available through residual value programs. Chrysler, which is the main provider of Non-Program Vehicles to DTG Operations, does not set any terms or conditions on the resale of Non-Program Vehicles other than requiring minimum holding periods. For 2007, approximately 45% of all vehicles acquired by DTG Operations were Non-Program Vehicles.

 

Vehicle depreciation is the largest single cost element in the Company’s operations; therefore, the Company’s operating results are materially affected by the depreciation rates and other purchase terms provided under Chrysler’s residual value program, the residual values on Non-Program Vehicles and the level of purchase or promotion incentives. Residual value programs enable Dollar and Thrifty to determine their depreciation expense on Program Vehicles in advance. The percentage of vehicles acquired under Chrysler and other manufacturers’ residual value programs in the future will depend upon several factors, including the availability and cost of these programs. During 2007, vehicle manufacturers continued to reduce vehicle supply to the rental car industry and increased industry vehicle costs by continuing to increase Program Vehicle depreciation rates and reduce incentives. The Company has received substantial payments under residual value programs over the past several years. See Note 6 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. In addition, the Company is impacted by the residual value of Non-Program Vehicles which depends on such factors as the general level of pricing in the automotive industry for both new and used vehicles.

 

Dollar and Thrifty entered into U.S. vehicle supply agreements with Chrysler, which commenced with the 1997 model year. In September 2006, the Vehicle Supply Agreement (the “VSA”) was amended to enable the Company to acquire vehicles through the 2011 model year. Under the VSA, Chrysler has agreed to make specified volumes of Chrysler vehicles available for use by company-owned stores or for fleet leasing programs. Dollar and Thrifty will promote Chrysler vehicles exclusively in their advertising and other promotional materials and Chrysler has agreed to make various promotional payments to the Company. These payments are material to the Company’s results of operations. See Note 6 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

The VSA provides that the Company will purchase at least 75% of its vehicles from Chrysler until a certain minimum level is reached, of which 80% will be Program Vehicles and 20% will be Non-Program Vehicles. Historically, the Company has acquired additional Chrysler vehicles which may have been Program Vehicles or Non-Program Vehicles. Also from time to time, the Company has converted vehicles originally acquired as Program Vehicles to Non-Program Vehicles on an opportunistic basis in an effort to lower overall vehicle depreciation costs. While Chrysler has the sole discretion to set the specific terms and conditions of its residual value program for a model year, it has agreed in the VSA to offer programs to the Company that, taken as a whole, are competitive with a residual value program Ford or General Motors makes generally available to domestic vehicle rental companies.

Vehicle Remarketing

 

DTG Operations generally holds vehicles in rental service from seven to nine months. The length of service is determined by taking into account seasonal rental demand and the average monthly mileage accumulation. Most vehicles must be removed from service before they reach 30,000 miles to avoid excess mileage penalties under Chrysler’s residual value program. DTG Operations must bear the risk on the resale of Program Vehicles that cannot be returned. DTG Operations remarketed 65% of its Non-Program Vehicles through auctions and 35% directly to used car dealers, wholesalers and its franchisees during the year ended December 31, 2007.

 

Fleet Management

 

During the third quarter of 2007, the Company began implementing new fleet optimization software (the “Pros Fleet Management Software”) from PROS Holdings, Inc., a leading provider of pricing and revenue optimization software. The Pros Fleet Management Software will allow the Company to improve fleet planning and efficiencies in its vehicle acquisition and remarketing efforts.

 

 

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Vehicle Financing

 

The Company requires a substantial amount of debt to finance the purchase of vehicles used in its rental and leasing fleets. The Company primarily utilizes asset backed medium term notes and commercial paper programs to finance its vehicles. Under these programs, the Company is required to provide collateral at different levels for Program Vehicles and Non-Program Vehicles. The Company also uses bank lines of credit and vehicle manufacturer lines of credit to finance the remainder of its vehicles. See Note 10 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Fleet Leasing Programs

 

DTG Operations makes fleet leasing programs available to Dollar and Thrifty U.S. franchisees for each new model year. The terms of its fleet leasing programs generally mirror the requirements of various manufacturers’ residual value programs with respect to model mix, order and delivery, vehicle maintenance and returns, but also include Non-Program Vehicles. Dollar and Thrifty monitor the creditworthiness and operating performance of franchisees participating in the fleet leasing programs and periodically audit franchisees’ leased fleets. For the year ended December 31, 2007, approximately 2% of the Company’s total revenue was derived from vehicle leasing programs.

 

U.S. Fleet Data

                                   
              Year Ended December 31,  
             
 
              2007     2006     2005  
             
   
   
 
DTG
                       
Average number of vehicles leased to
franchisees
    4,309       8,836       11,230  
             
   
   
 
Average number of vehicles in
combined fleets of franchisees
    22,696       29,095       34,277  
Average number of vehicles in combined
fleets of company-owned stores
    117,488       113,762       107,344  
             
   
   
 
Total
    140,184       142,857       141,621  
             
   
   
 

 

Competition

 

There is intense competition in the vehicle rental industry on the basis of price, service levels, vehicle quality, vehicle availability and the convenience and condition of rental locations. Dollar and Thrifty and their franchisees operate mainly in the U.S. airport market, relying on leisure, tour and small business customers. Dollar and Thrifty and their franchisees’ principal competitors are Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz and National.

 

The Canadian vehicle rental markets are also intensely competitive. Most of the Canadian market is operated either directly or through franchisees of the major U.S. vehicle rental companies, including Alamo, Avis, Budget, Enterprise, Hertz and National, as well as Dollar and Thrifty.

 

Insurance

 

The Company is subject to third-party bodily injury liability and property damage claims resulting from accidents involving its rental vehicles. In 2005, the Company retained the risk of loss in various amounts up to $2.0 million on a per occurrence basis for public liability and property damage claims, plus a self-insured corridor of $1.0 million per occurrence for losses in excess of $2.0 million with an aggregate limit of $3.0 million for losses within this corridor. Beginning in March 2006 and continuing in 2007, the Company retained risk of loss up to $4.0 million per occurrence for public liability and property damage claims, plus a self-insured corridor of $1.0 million per occurrence for losses in excess of $4.0 million with an aggregate limit of $7.0 million for losses within this corridor. The Company maintains insurance coverages at certain amounts in excess of its retained risk. The Company retains the risk of loss on supplemental liability insurance sold to vehicle rental customers.

 

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In 2005, the Company retained the risk of loss for general and garage liability insurance coverage in various amounts up to $2.0 million and maintained insurance at certain amounts in excess of $2.0 million. Beginning in March 2006 and continuing in 2007, the Company retained risk of loss to up to $5.0 million for general and garage liability. The Company retains the risk of loss for any catastrophic and comprehensive damage to its vehicles. In addition, the Company carries workers' compensation coverage with retentions in various amounts up to $500,000. The Company also carries excess liability and directors' and officers' liability insurance coverage.

 

Provisions for bodily injury liability and property damage liability on self-insured claims and for supplemental liability insurance claims (collectively referred to as “Vehicle Insurance Reserves”) are made by charges to expense based upon periodic actuarial evaluations of estimated ultimate liabilities on reported and unreported claims. As of December 31, 2007, the Company’s reserve for Vehicle Insurance Reserves was approximately $110.0 million. The Company’s obligations to pay insurance related losses and indemnify the insurance carriers for fronted policies are collateralized by surety bonds and letters of credit. As of December 31, 2007, these letters of credit and surety bonds totaled approximately $59.0 million and $9.0 million, respectively.

 

The Company also maintains various letters of credit and surety bonds to secure performance under airport concession agreements and other obligations which totaled approximately $10.0 million and $31.0 million, respectively, as of December 31, 2007.

 

Regulation

 

Loss Damage Waivers

 

Loss damage waivers relieve customers from financial responsibility for vehicle damage. Legislation affecting the sale of loss damage waivers has been adopted in 25 states. These laws typically require notice to customers that the loss damage waiver may duplicate their own coverage or may not be necessary, limit customer responsibility for damage to the vehicle or cap the price charged for loss damage waivers. Adoption of national or additional state legislation affecting or limiting the sale, or capping the rates, of loss damage waivers could result in the loss of this revenue and could increase costs to Dollar, Thrifty and their franchisees.

 

Franchising Regulation

 

As franchisors, Dollar and Thrifty are subject to federal, state and foreign laws regulating various aspects of franchise operations and sales. These laws impose registration and disclosure requirements on franchisors in the offer and sale of franchises and, in certain states, also apply substantive standards to the relationship between the franchisor and the franchisee, including those pertaining to default, termination and nonrenewal of franchises.

 

Other Matters

 

Certain states previously made vehicle owners (including vehicle rental companies) vicariously liable for the actions of any person lawfully driving an owned vehicle, regardless of fault. Until August 10, 2005, when a change in the vicarious liability law was imposed, some of these states, primarily New York, did not limit this liability. With the passage of the federal "Highway Bill", unlimited vicarious liability for vehicle rental and leasing companies has been removed, thus, limiting exposure to state minimum financial responsibility amounts. Vehicle rental companies are also subject to various federal, state and local consumer protection laws and regulations including those relating to advertising and disclosure of charges to customers.

 

Dollar and Thrifty are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to taxing and licensing of vehicles, franchise sales, franchise relationships, vehicle liability, used vehicle sales, insurance, telecommunications, vehicle rental transactions, environmental protection, privacy and labor matters. The Company believes that Dollar’s and Thrifty’s practices and procedures are in substantial compliance with federal, state and local laws and is not aware of any material expenditures necessary to meet legal or regulatory requirements. Nevertheless, considering the nature and scope of Dollar’s and Thrifty’s businesses, it is possible that regulatory compliance problems could be encountered in the future.

 

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Environmental Matters

 

The principal environmental regulatory requirements applicable to Dollar and Thrifty operations relate to the ownership, storage or use of petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel fuel and new and used motor oil; the treatment or discharge of waste waters; and the generation, storage, transportation and off-site treatment or disposal of waste materials. Dollar and Thrifty own 10 and lease 143 locations where petroleum products are stored in underground or above-ground tanks. For owned and leased properties, Dollar and Thrifty have programs designed to maintain compliance with applicable technical and operational requirements, including leak detection testing of underground storage tanks, and to provide financial assurance for remediation of spills or releases.

 

The historical and current uses of the Dollar and Thrifty facilities may have resulted in spills or releases of various hazardous materials or wastes or petroleum products ("Hazardous Substances") that now, or in the future, could require remediation. The Company also may be subject to requirements related to remediation of Hazardous Substances that have been released into the environment at properties it owns or operates, or owned or operated in the past, or at properties to which it sends, or has sent, Hazardous Substances for treatment or disposal. Such remediation requirements generally are imposed without regard to fault, and liability for any required environmental remediation can be substantial.

 

Dollar and Thrifty may be eligible for reimbursement or payment of remediation costs associated with releases from registered underground storage tanks in states that have established funds to assist in the payment of such remediation costs. Subject to certain deductibles, the availability of funds, the compliance status of the tanks and the nature of the release, these tank funds may be available to Dollar and Thrifty for use in remediating releases from their tank systems.

 

At certain facilities, Dollar and Thrifty presently are investigating or remediating soil or groundwater contamination. Based on currently available information, the Company does not believe that the costs associated with environmental investigation or remediation will be material. However, additional contamination could be identified or occur in the future.

 

The use of automobiles and other vehicles is subject to various governmental requirements designed to limit environmental damage, including that caused by emissions and noise. Generally, these requirements are met by the manufacturer except, on occasion, equipment failure requiring repair by the Company.

 

Environmental legislation and regulations and related administrative policies have changed rapidly in recent years. There is a risk that governmental environmental requirements, or enforcement thereof, may become more stringent in the future and that the Company may be subject to additional legal proceedings at other locations brought by government agencies or private parties for environmental matters. In addition, with respect to cleanup of contamination, additional locations at which wastes generated by the Company may have been released or disposed, and of which the Company is currently unaware, may in the future become the subject of cleanup for which the Company may be liable, in whole or part. Accordingly, while the Company believes that it is in substantial compliance with applicable requirements of environmental laws, there can be no assurance that the Company’s future environmental liabilities will not be material to the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations or cash flows.

 

Employees

 

As of December 31, 2007, the Company employed a total of approximately 8,500 full-time and part-time employees. Approximately 232 of the Company’s employees were subject to collective bargaining agreements as of December 31, 2007. The Company believes its relationship with its employees is good.

 

ITEM 1A.

RISK FACTORS

 

Expanding upon the factors discussed in the Forward-Looking Statements section provided at the beginning of this Annual Report on Form 10-K, the following are important factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statements that we made. In addition, not all risks and uncertainties are described below. Risks that we do not know about could arise and issues we now view as minor could become more important. If we are unable to

 

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adequately respond to any of these risks, our financial condition and results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

 

Economic Conditions

 

Our results are affected by general economic conditions in the United States and Canada. A poor economy has historically led to a decline in both business and leisure travel and to lower demand for rental vehicles resulting in lower industry revenues. We have the flexibility to reduce our rental fleet size in the event of an unexpected reduction in rental demand, which partially offsets the related reduction in revenues. The remarketing of vehicles for which we retain the used car market value risk will be subject to prevailing market prices.

 

Highly Competitive Nature of the Vehicle Rental Industry

 

There is intense competition in the vehicle rental industry, especially on price and service. The Internet has increased brand exposure and gives more details on rental prices to consumers and increases price competition. The vehicle rental industry primarily consists of eight major brands, all of which compete strongly for rental customers. A significant increase in industry capacity or a reduction in overall demand could adversely affect our ability to maintain or increase rental rates or market share.

 

Seasonality

 

Our business is subject to seasonal variations in customer demand, with the summer vacation period representing the peak season for vehicle rentals. In 2007, the third quarter accounted for over 29% of our vehicle rental revenues and over 45% of our operating income, while the second quarter accounted for over 25% of our vehicle rental revenues and over 27% of our operating income. Any event that disrupts rental activity, fleet supply, or industry fleet capacity during these quarters could have a disproportionately material adverse effect on our liquidity, our cash flows and/or our results of operations.

 

Dependence on Air Travel

 

We get approximately 90% of our rental revenues from airport locations and airport arriving customers. The number of airline passengers has a significant impact on our business. Mergers and acquisitions in the airline industry and airline restructuring through bankruptcy may cause airlines to reduce flight schedules which could adversely impact the number of airline passengers. A significant reduction in airline passengers or any event that significantly disrupts air travel could negatively impact our results.

 

Concentration in Leisure Destinations

 

We have a significant presence in key leisure destinations and earn a large portion of our revenue from these markets. Rental revenue from Florida, Hawaii, California and Nevada represented approximately 55% of our total rental revenue in 2007. Reductions in leisure travel to these destinations resulting from natural disasters, terrorist acts, general economic conditions or other factors would have a material impact on our results.

 

Vehicle Supply and Residual Value Programs

 

Our vehicle supply agreement with Chrysler extends through model year 2011 and we generally purchase 80% to 90% of our vehicles from Chrysler. Under the vehicle supply agreement, we must purchase 75% of our vehicles from Chrysler up to certain targeted volumes and Chrysler has agreed to provide us certain minimum volumes of vehicles. The vehicle supply agreement also requires that 80% of the vehicles at the initial targeted volumes be vehicles covered by a manufacturer program that guarantees the value of the vehicle at the time of sale and 20% of the vehicles be vehicles not covered by a manufacturer program. We have historically acquired more than 75% of our vehicles from Chrysler and annually we evaluate our mix of Program and Non-Program Vehicles. Residual value programs enable us to determine depreciation expense, which is our largest single cost element, on Program Vehicles in advance.

 

Our annual vehicle purchase requirements generally exceed the amounts that Chrysler has agreed to provide under the vehicle supply agreement. We are actively pursuing other vehicle manufacturers to further diversify our vehicle supply in the future to reduce our dependence on a single supplier. For the

 

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2007 model year, Chrysler vehicles represented about 88% of the Company’s U.S. fleet purchases. A material diversification of our supplier base may be difficult in an environment where manufacturers are reducing overall supply to the rental car industry.

 

Vehicle manufacturers, including Chrysler, have reduced vehicle supply to the rental car industry and have significantly increased industry vehicle costs for the past few years by increasing Program Vehicle depreciation rates and lowering incentives. The failure of any of the major vehicle manufacturers to sell enough vehicles to the industry could adversely affect our results. Furthermore, if the vehicle manufacturers change the size or terms of their residual value programs, we could experience increased residual value risk or increased depreciation rates on Program Vehicles that could be material to our results of operations and could adversely affect our ability to finance our vehicles.

 

Additionally, if Chrysler defaults on its residual value program for any reason, we could be left with a material unpaid balance from Chrysler with respect to Program Vehicles that were sold for an amount less than the guaranteed residual value or for incentive and reimbursement payments that were not paid. If Chrysler fails to maintain financial viability, we could have difficulty in acquiring the level of fleet purchases we require each year to maintain our vehicle fleet and Chrysler may not be able to provide a vehicle financing facility.

 

Risk in Vehicle Remarketing

 

We have retained the used car market value risk on approximately 45% of our vehicles in 2007 and plan to increase this percentage in 2008. The depreciation costs for these vehicles are highly dependent on used car prices at the time of sale. A significant decline in used car prices related to the vehicles we are selling would have a significant adverse impact on our results.

 

Operating more risk vehicles (vehicles not guaranteed by a vehicle manufacturer) could have a negative impact on the vehicle utilization if we are unable or elect not to sell those vehicles in periods of weaker rental demand.

 

Like-Kind Exchange Program

 

We use a like-kind exchange program for our vehicles where we dispose of our vehicles and acquire replacement vehicles in such a way that we defer the gain on these dispositions for tax purposes. The use of this like-kind exchange program has allowed us to defer a material amount of federal and state income taxes beginning in 2002. In order to get the benefit of the deferral of the gains on disposal of our vehicles, we must acquire replacement vehicles within a specified time frame. Therefore, a downsizing of our fleet or a reduction in vehicle purchases could result in a reduced amount of gain deferrals and increased payments of federal and state cash income taxes, after considering the effect of net operating loss carryforwards.

 

Customer Surcharges

 

In almost every state, we recover various costs associated with the title and registration of our vehicles and, where permitted, the concession cost imposed by airport authorities or the owners and/or operators of the premises from which our vehicles are rented. Consistent with industry-wide business practices, we separately state these additional surcharges in our rental agreements and invoices and disclose the existence of these surcharges to customers together with an estimated total price, inclusive of these surcharges, in all distribution channels. This standard practice complies with the Federal Trade Commission Act and has been upheld by several courts. However, there are several legislative proposals in certain states which, if enacted, would define which surcharges are permissible and establish calculation formulas which may differ from the manner in which we set our surcharges. Enactment of any of these proposals could restrict our ability to recover all of the surcharges we currently charge and may have a material adverse impact on our results of operations.

 

Fuel Costs

 

Limitations in fuel supplies and significant increases in fuel prices could have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations and cash flows, either by directly discouraging customers from

 

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renting cars, causing a decline in airline passenger traffic, or increasing our operating costs, if these increased costs cannot be passed through to our customers.

 

Third Party Internet Sites

 

The Internet has had a significant impact on the way travel companies get reservations. For 2007, we received 74% of our non-tour reservations from the Internet, with 42% coming from our own Internet Web sites, dollar.com and thrifty.com. The remaining portion of non-tour reservations derived from the Internet were provided by third party Internet sites. No single third party Internet site provides more than 8% of our non-tour reservations.

 

Future changes in the way travel is sold over the Internet or changes in our relationship with third party Internet sites could result in reduced reservations from one or more of these sites and less revenue.

 

Liability Insurance Risk

 

We are exposed to claims for personal injury, death and property damage resulting from accidents involving our rental customers and the use of our cars. Beginning in March 2006 and continuing in 2007, we maintain the level of self-insurance of $4.0 million per occurrence, plus a self-insured corridor of $1.0 million per occurrence for losses in excess of $4.0 million with an aggregate limit of $7.0 million for this corridor, and maintain the level of self-insurance for general and garage liability of $5.0 million. We maintain insurance coverage for liability claims above these self-insurance levels. We self-insure for all losses on supplemental liability insurance policies sold to vehicle rental customers. A significant change in amount and frequency of uninsured liability claims could negatively impact our results.

 

Litigation Relating to the Constitutionality of the Removal of Vicarious Liability

 

The federal Highway Bill removed unlimited vicarious liability for vehicle rental and leasing companies, limiting exposure to state minimum financial responsibility amounts. Before vicarious liability was removed, the owner of a vehicle in certain states would be liable for acts by vehicle drivers even though the vehicle owner was not directly responsible. This federal law supersedes all state laws on vicarious liability for automobile lessors. Since the Highway Bill became law, its constitutionality has been challenged in some state courts, including subsequent appeals. If these provisions of the Highway Bill were overturned, we would be subject to significant exposure to insurance liabilities and higher insurance costs, which would materially impact our results.

 

Environmental Regulations

 

We are subject to numerous environmental regulatory requirements related to the ownership, storage or use of petroleum products such as gasoline, diesel fuel and new and used motor oil; the treatment or discharge of waste waters; and the generation, storage, transportation and off-site treatment or disposal of waste materials. We have made, and expect to continue to make, expenditures to comply with environmental laws and regulations. These expenditures may be material to our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. We have designed programs to maintain compliance with applicable technical and operational requirements, including leak detection testing of underground storage tanks, and to provide financial assurance for remediation of spills or releases. However, we cannot be certain that our programs will guarantee compliance with all regulations to which we are subject.

 

Environmental legislation and regulations and related administrative policies have changed rapidly in recent years. There is a risk that governmental environmental requirements, or enforcement thereof, may become more stringent in the future and that we may be subject to additional legal proceedings brought by government agencies or private parties for environmental matters. In addition, there may be additional locations of which we are currently unaware at which wastes generated by us may have been released or disposed. In the future, these locations may become the subject of cleanup for which we may be liable, in whole or part. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that the Company’s future environmental liabilities will not be material to the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations or cash flows.

 

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Vehicle Financing and Capital Market Access

 

We depend on the capital markets for financing our vehicles using primarily asset backed medium term note programs. We use cash and letters of credit under our bank loan facility to provide more collateral for these asset backed medium term note programs. Collateral requirements vary depending on whether the vehicles are covered by manufacturer guaranteed residual value programs and the credit strength of the manufacturer. Collateral requirements are lower for vehicles covered by manufacturer guaranteed residual value programs when the manufacturer also maintains an investment grade credit rating. Adverse changes to the credit ratings of the related manufacturers have materially increased the amount of collateral required to finance our vehicle fleet.

 

Recent volatility in the credit markets and the downgrade or risk of downgrade of the bond insurers for the asset backed medium term note programs (the “Monolines”) has limited the access to the asset backed medium term note market. We do not expect to need to access this market in 2008, but continued disruption in the asset backed medium term note market could materially impact our ability to finance and increase the cost of financing vehicles in the future. A bankruptcy filing by one or more of the Monolines could result in accelerating the payoff schedule of a portion or all of our asset backed medium term notes.

 

We also depend on the bank market to support our asset backed commercial paper vehicle financing programs and other bank vehicle financing facilities. We also utilize a vehicle line from Chrysler’s finance affiliate. If we are unable to renew or maintain these commitments, we may not have sufficient financing for vehicles in 2008.

 

Maintenance of Financial Covenants

 

Our agreements with the Monolines have a minimum net worth covenant and interest coverage covenant. We are in compliance with all covenants at December 31, 2007. We will amend the minimum net worth covenant in these agreements to exclude the impact of any potential write-down of our goodwill; or, if not amended, a violation of this covenant can be avoided by providing additional credit enhancement. See the risk factor, “Potential for Goodwill Impairment” in this risk factor section.

 

Our agreements for our asset backed commercial paper programs also have a minimum net worth covenant and interest coverage covenant. We are in compliance with these covenants at December 31, 2007. We expect to modify the minimum net worth covenant in these agreements to exclude the impact of any potential goodwill write-down.

 

Our bank revolving credit agreement, term debt and bank and vehicle manufacturer lines of credit require that our corporate debt to corporate EBITDA ratio is maintained within certain limits as defined in the credit agreements. We are in compliance with this covenant at December 31, 2007. Based on our projected levels of corporate debt and corporate EBITDA in 2008, we expect to remain within the required ratios. Because of the volatility in the economy and in our industry generally, there is a risk that our corporate EBITDA could fall below the level required to maintain compliance with this covenant.

 

Interest Rates

 

We incur a large amount of debt to purchase vehicles. While the majority of this debt bears interest at fixed rates due to our interest rate swap agreements, a portion of this debt bears interest at short-term floating rates. Therefore, we are exposed to increases in interest rates. The amount of our financing costs affects the amount we must charge our customers to be profitable. Increased interest rates could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations if we are unable to pass increased financing costs through to our customers or if we lose customers to competitors due to increased rental rates resulting from an increase in our financing costs.

 

Outsourcing Arrangements

 

We have an agreement with EDS to handle the majority of our IT services. If EDS fails to meet our required IT needs due to a lack of technical ability or financial condition or otherwise, we may suffer a loss of business functionality and productivity, which would adversely affect our results. Additionally, if there is a disruption in our relationship with EDS, we may not be able to secure another IT supplier to adequately meet our IT needs on acceptable terms, which could result in performance issues and a significant increase in costs.

 

We have an agreement with PRC to handle a portion of the calls to reserve a car for rental on a future date and to answer questions or handle issues while the renter has our car. If PRC fails to meet our required reservation needs due to lack of qualified personnel or financial condition or otherwise, we may suffer a loss of business which would adversely affect our results. Additionally, if there is a disruption in

 

- 20 -

our relationship with PRC, we may not be able to secure another supplier to adequately meet our reservation needs on acceptable terms, which could result in loss of customers and a decrease in revenues.

 

Communication Networks and Centralized Information Systems

 

We heavily rely on information systems to conduct our business specifically in the areas of reservations, rental transaction processing, fleet management and accounting. We have centralized information systems in disaster resistant facilities maintained by EDS in Tulsa, Oklahoma and we rely on communication service providers to link our system with the business locations these systems serve. A failure of a major system, or a major disruption of communications between the system and the locations it serves, could cause a loss of reservations, slow the rental transaction processing, interfere with our ability to manage our fleet and otherwise materially adversely affect our ability to manage our business effectively. Our systems back-up plans, continuity plans and insurance programs are designed to mitigate such a risk, but not to eliminate it.

 

In addition, because our systems contain personal information about our customers, our failure to maintain the security of the data we hold, whether the result of our own error or that of others, could harm our reputation or give rise to legal liabilities resulting in a material adverse effect on our results of operations or cash flows.

 

Stock price fluctuation

 

We cannot predict the prices at which our common stock will trade. The market price of our common stock may fluctuate widely, depending upon numerous factors, many of which are beyond our control. These factors include but are not limited to: our quarterly or annual earnings or others in the rental car industry; actual or anticipated fluctuations in our operating results; announcements by us or our competitors of significant acquisitions or dispositions; changes in earnings estimates by analysts or our ability to meet those estimates; changes in accounting standards, principles or interpretations; overall market fluctuations and general economic conditions. Stock markets in general have experienced volatility. These broad fluctuations may adversely affect the trading price of our common stock.

 

Potential for Goodwill Impairment

 

A significant decline in our stock price could be an indication that our goodwill is impaired. We will continue to monitor and test for potential impairment of goodwill and may be required to write down a portion or all of the approximately $280 million of goodwill on our books if a determination were made that goodwill is impaired.

 

ITEM 1B.

UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

 

None.

 

ITEM 2.

PROPERTIES

 

The Company owns its headquarters located at 5330 East 31st Street, Tulsa, Oklahoma. This location is a three building office complex that houses the headquarters for Dollar and Thrifty. These buildings and the related improvements were mortgaged to Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (“Deutsche Bank”), as administrative agent for a syndicate of banks in June 2007. The mortgage was executed in connection with the Senior Secured Credit Facilities (hereinafter defined), which replaced a former revolving credit facility, as described in “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation - Liquidity and Capital Resources”.

 

In connection with the Senior Secured Credit Facilities, the Company also executed mortgages in favor of Deutsche Bank encumbering its real property located in Tampa, Las Vegas, Ft. Lauderdale, Dallas, Houston and Salt Lake City.

 

The Company owns or leases real property used for company-owned stores and office facilities, and in some cases owns real property that is leased to franchisees or other third parties. As of December 31, 2007, the Company’s company-owned operations were carried on at 466 locations in the United States and Canada, the majority of which are leased. Dollar and Thrifty each operate company-owned stores

 

- 21 -

under concession agreements with various governmental authorities charged with the operation of airports. Concession agreements for airport locations, which are usually competitively bid, are important for securing air traveler business.

 

ITEM 3.

LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

 

On July 20, 2007, a purported class action lawsuit was filed against DTG Operations, Inc. and the Company in the Superior Court for Los Angeles County, California by Marquis Smith, on his behalf and on behalf of all others similarly situated, seeking to recover amounts alleging overcharges to California renters for loss damage waivers on complimentary upgrade rentals and for the issuance of a permanent injunction. The Company intends to vigorously defend this matter.

 

On September 23, 2007, a purported class action was filed against the Company and DTG Operations, Inc., et al., by Maria Albayero, individually and on behalf of all similarly situated employees in California, in the Superior Court for Orange County, California. This lawsuit is an action for alleged violations of wage and hour laws including not providing and/or compensating for missed meal and rest periods, failure to reimburse uniform maintenance, as well as other things. The suit seeks payment of wages, damages, penalties and injunctive relief. The Company intends to vigorously defend this matter.

 

On November 14, 2007, a purported class action was filed against the Company, by Michael Shames and Gary Gramkow, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, in the Southern District Court of California. This lawsuit is an action claiming that the pass through of the California Trade and Tourism Commission and Airport Concession Fees authorized by legislation effective in January 2007 constitute antitrust violations of the Sherman Act and the California Unfair Competition Act. The suit seeks injunctive and equitable relief to stop the pass through, restitution, damages and fees. The Company intends to vigorously defend this matter.

 

On December 13, 2007 and December 14, 2007, purported class actions were filed against the Company, by Thomas Comisky and Isabel Cohen, respectively, individually and on behalf of all others similarly situated, in the Central District Court of California. These lawsuits are actions claiming a violation of rights guaranteed under the Free Speech and Free Association Clauses by compelling out-of-state visitors to subsidize the Passenger Car Rental Tourism Assessment Program, that the Program violates the Interstate Commerce Clause of the US Constitution by limiting the assessment to airport locations renting to out-of-state travelers and a violation of the California Constitution by not maintaining segregated accounts for the pass through funds. These suits seek injunctive relief to stop the pass through, a refund of all assessments, damages and fees. The Company intends to vigorously defend these matters.

 

As these cases are in the early stages of the legal process, and given the inherent uncertainties of litigation, the ultimate outcome cannot be predicted at this time, nor can the amount of ultimate loss, if any, be reasonably estimated.

 

Various other legal actions, claims and governmental inquiries and proceedings are pending or may be instituted or asserted in the future against the Company. Litigation is subject to many uncertainties, and the outcome of the individual litigated matters is not predictable with assurance. It is possible that certain of the actions, claims, inquiries or proceedings could be decided unfavorably to the Company. Although the final resolution of any such matters could have a material effect on the Company's consolidated operating results for the particular reporting period in which an adjustment of the estimated liability is recorded, the Company believes that any resulting liability should not materially affect its consolidated financial position.

 

 

 

 

 

- 22 -

Table of Contents

ITEM 4.

SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

 

No matters were submitted to a vote of security holders during the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2007.

 

PART II

 

ITEM 5.

MARKET FOR REGISTRANT’S COMMON EQUITY, RELATED STOCKHOLDER

MATTERS AND ISSUER PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES

 

The Company’s common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the trading symbol “DTG.” The high and low closing sales prices for the Common Stock for each quarterly period during 2007 and 2006 were as follows:

 

                                       
          First
Quarter
    Second
Quarter
    Third
Quarter
    Fourth
Quarter
 
         
   
   
   
 
 
                                 
   
2007
                               
                                       
   
High
  $ 53.00     $ 50.97     $ 41.50     $ 36.95  
                                       
   
Low
  $ 44.70     $ 39.85     $ 28.42     $ 23.27  
                                       
                                       
   
2006
                               
                                       
   
High
  $ 46.00     $ 50.00     $ 45.83     $ 46.53  
                                       
   
Low
  $ 36.98     $ 42.70     $ 39.06     $ 39.19  
                                       
                                       

 

The 21,491,085 shares of Common Stock outstanding at February 22, 2008 were held by approximately 4,914 registered and beneficial stockholders of record.The Company has not paid cash dividends since completion of its initial public offering in December 1997. The Company intends to reinvest its earnings in its business and therefore does not anticipate paying any cash dividends in the foreseeable future.

 

On June 15, 2007, the Company entered into $600 million in new senior secured credit facilities (the “Senior Secured Credit Facilities”) comprised of a $350 million revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”) and a $250 million term loan (the “Term Loan”) to replace its former revolving credit facility. Under the terms of the Revolving Credit Facility, restrictions are imposed by the lenders on the payment of cash dividends and share repurchases. During the term of such agreement, which expires June 15, 2013, share repurchases and dividends are permitted at the lesser of specified monetary levels or percentages of cash flow. See “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation – Liquidity and Capital Resources”.

 

Equity Compensation Plan Information

 

The following table sets forth certain information for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007 with respect to the Amended and Restated Long-Term Incentive Plan and Director Equity Plan (“LTIP”) under which Common Stock of the Company is authorized for issuance:

 

 

 

 

 

 

- 23 -

   Plan Category
 
   
 
Number of Securities
to be Issued Upon
Exercise of Outstanding
Options, Warrants and Rights   
(a)
 
 
Weighted-Average
Exercise Price of
Outstanding Options,
   Warrants and Rights   
(b)
Number of Securities
Remaining Available for
Future Issuance Under
Equity Compensation
Plans (Excluding
   Securities in Column (a))
(c)

     
Equity compensation plans                    
approved by security holders           464,999        $17.49     271,210  
     
Equity compensation plans not    
approved by security holders           None     None     None  

 

   
Total           464,999     $17.49         271,210 (1)  

 

   

(1)

At December 31, 2007, total common stock authorized for issuance was 1,756,834 shares, which included 464,999 unexercised option rights and 1,020,625 Performance Shares, assuming a maximum 200% target payout for all nonvested Performance Shares. The Performance Shares ultimately issued will likely be less (refer to Note 13 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.) The remaining common stock available for future issuance at December 31, 2007 is 271,210 shares.

 

Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers

                                     
     
 
 
 
Period
     
 
Total Number
of Shares
Purchased
     
 
 
Average
Price Paid
Per Share
    Total Number of
Shares Purchased
as Part of Publicly
Announced Plans
or Programs
    Approximate
Dollar Value of
Shares that May Yet
Be Purchased under
the Plans or Programs
 
                                   
October 1, 2007 -
October 31, 2007
        328,300     $ 34.91       328,300     $ 117,149,000  
                                   
November 1, 2007 -
November 30, 2007
        -     $ -       -     $ 117,149,000  
                                   
December 1, 2007 -
December 31, 2007
        -     $ -       -     $ 117,149,000  
     
             
       
Total         328,300               328,300          
     
             
       

 

On February 9, 2006, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had authorized a $300 million share repurchase program to replace the $100 million program of which $44.7 million had been used to repurchase shares. In 2007, the Company repurchased 2,304,406 shares of common stock at an average price of $31.05 per share totaling $71.5 million. Since inception of the share repurchase programs through December 31, 2007, the Company has used $227.6 million to repurchase shares. All share repurchases were made in open market transactions. This $300 million share repurchase program has $117.1 million of remaining authorization that extends through December 31, 2008.

 

Covenant restrictions under the Company’s Revolving Credit Facility limit the annual amount of share repurchases and the Company’s ability to repurchase shares based on existing cash balances.

 

Due to weak economic and industry conditions, the Company has currently suspended repurchasing shares under its share repurchase program.

 

- 24 -

Performance Graph

 

The following graph compares the cumulative total stockholder return on DTG common stock with the Hemscott Industry Group 761 – Rental & Leasing Services and the Russell 2000 Index. The Hemscott Industry Group 761 – Rental & Leasing Services is a published index of 25 stocks including DTG, which covers companies that rent or lease various durable goods to the commercial and consumer market including cars and trucks, medical and industrial equipment, appliances, tools and other miscellaneous goods.

 

The results are based on an assumed $100 invested on December 31, 2002, and reinvestment of dividends through December 31, 2007.

 

 


 


 

 

- 25 -

ITEM 6.

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 

Selected Consolidated Financial Data of the Company 

 

 The selected consolidated financial data was derived from the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company. The system-wide data and company-owned stores data were derived from Company records.

                                                   
              Year Ended December 31,  
             
 
              2007     2006     2005     2004     2003  
             
   
   
   
   
 
Statements of Income:
                                       
 
(in thousands except per share amounts)
                                       
 
                                       
Revenues:
                                       
 
Vehicle rentals
  $ 1,676,349     $ 1,538,673     $ 1,380,172     $ 1,255,890     $ 994,647  
 
Other
    84,442       122,004       127,382       147,957       213,765  
             
   
   
   
   
 
   
Total revenues
    1,760,791       1,660,677       1,507,554       1,403,847       1,208,412  
             
   
   
   
   
 
Costs and expenses:
                                 
 
Direct vehicle and operating
    887,178       827,440       787,714       692,803       484,787  
 
Vehicle depreciation and lease
charges, net
    477,853       380,005       294,757       316,199       407,509  
 
Selling, general and
administrative
    234,234       259,474       236,055       223,109       189,575  
 
Interest expense, net
    109,728       95,974       88,208       90,868       89,296  
             
   
   
   
   
 
   
Total costs and expenses
    1,708,993       1,562,893       1,406,734       1,322,979       1,171,167  
             
   
   
   
   
 
(Increase) decrease in fair value of derivatives
    38,990       9,363       (29,725 )     (24,265 )     (8,902 )
             
   
   
   
   
 
Income before income taxes
    12,808       88,421       130,545       105,133       46,147  
 
Income tax expense
    11,593       36,729       54,190       42,390       20,451  
             
   
   
   
   
 
Income before cumulative effect of
a change in accounting principle
    1,215       51,692       76,355       62,743       25,696  
 
                                       
Cumulative effect of a change in
accounting principle
    -       -       -       3,730       -  
             
   
   
   
   
 
Net income
  $ 1,215     $ 51,692     $ 76,355     $ 66,473     $ 25,696  
             
   
   
   
   
 
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE:
                                 
 
Income before cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle
  $ 0.05     $ 2.14     $ 3.04     $ 2.51     $ 1.05  
 
Cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle
    -       -       -       0.15       -  
             
   
   
   
   
 
 
Net income
  $ 0.05     $ 2.14     $ 3.04     $ 2.66     $ 1.05  
             
   
   
   
   
 
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE:
                                 
 
Income before cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle
  $ 0.05     $ 2.04     $ 2.89     $ 2.39     $ 1.01  
 
Cumulative effect of a change in accounting principle
    -       -       -       0.14       -  
             
   
   
   
   
 
 
Net income
  $ 0.05     $ 2.04     $ 2.89     $ 2.53     $ 1.01  
             
   
   
   
   
 

- 26 -

                                                   
              Year Ended December 31,  
             
 
              2007     2006     2005     2004     2003  
             
   
   
   
   
 
Balance Sheet Data:
                                       
 
(in thousands)
                                       
 
                                       
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 101,025     $ 191,981     $ 274,299     $ 204,453     $ 192,006  
Restricted cash and investments
  $ 132,945     $ 389,794     $ 785,290     $ 455,215     $ 536,547  
Revenue-earning vehicles, net
  $ 2,808,354     $ 2,623,719     $ 2,202,890     $ 2,256,905     $ 2,126,862  
Total assets
  $ 3,891,452     $ 4,011,498     $ 3,986,784     $ 3,604,977     $ 3,396,270  
Total debt
  $ 2,656,562     $ 2,744,284     $ 2,724,952     $ 2,500,426     $ 2,442,162  
Stockholders' equity
  $ 578,865     $ 647,700     $ 690,428     $ 608,743     $ 537,849  
 
                                       
 
                                       
U. S. and Canada
                                       
 
                                       
System-wide Data:
                                       
 
                                       
Rental locations:
                                         
 
Company-owned stores
    466       407       369       352       310  
 
Franchisee locations
    365       429       483       507       513  
             
   
   
   
   
 
   
Total rental locations
    831       836       852       859       823  
             
   
   
   
   
 
 
Average number of vehicles operated
during the period by company-owned
stores and franchisees
  148,180       151,100       149,659       147,239       136,757  
 
Peak number of vehicles operated
during the period by company-owned
stores and franchisees
  178,415       185,317       183,291       179,304       167,755  
 
Company-owned Stores Data:
                                       
 
                                         
Vehicle rental data:
                                       
Average number of vehicles operated
    123,484       119,648       113,002       102,159       80,302  
Number of rental days
    37,231,340       36,642,026       34,909,560       31,831,062       24,654,084  
Vehicle utilization
    82.6 %     83.9 %     84.6 %     85.1 %     84.1 %
Average revenue per day
  $ 45.03     $ 41.99     $ 39.54     $ 39.46     $ 40.34  
Monthly average revenue per vehicle
  $ 1,131     $ 1,072     $ 1,018     $ 1,024     $ 1,032  
 
Vehicle leasing data:
                                       
Average number of vehicles leased
    5,384       9,886       12,269       17,519       26,917  
Average monthly lease revenue per unit
  $ 555     $ 479     $ 431     $ 383     $ 447  

 

- 27 -

ITEM 7.

MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION

AND RESULTS OF OPERATION

 

Overview

 

The Company operates two value rental car brands, Dollar and Thrifty. The majority of its customers pick up their vehicles at airport locations. Both brands are value priced and the Company seeks to be the industry’s low cost provider. Leisure customers typically rent vehicles for longer periods than business customers, on average, providing lower transaction costs. The Company believes its vehicle utilization is consistently higher than that of its competitors.

 

Both Dollar and Thrifty operate through a network of company-owned stores and franchisees. The majority of the Company’s revenue is generated from renting vehicles to customers through company-owned stores, with lesser amounts generated through parking income, vehicle leasing, royalty fees and services provided to franchisees.

 

In 2007, the Company’s revenues were positively impacted by a 7.2% increase in revenue per day and franchise acquisitions. In addition, total rental day volume increased 1.6% with growth driven by franchise acquisitions. Airline passenger enplanements, an important driver for airport rental car demand, increased slightly in 2007.

 

During 2007, the Company had higher vehicle depreciation expenses due to higher average depreciation rates resulting from vehicle manufacturers increasing industry vehicle costs. These increases in vehicle depreciation expense were partially mitigated by a higher mix of lower cost Non-Program Vehicles.

 

The Company continued to benefit from lower vehicle-related insurance costs in 2007 resulting from favorable developments in claims history and to the benefits of the change in the vicarious liability laws in 2005.

 

Additionally, during 2007 the Company implemented various cost savings initiatives, including outsourcing the reservation call center, implementing the Pros Fleet Management Software and streamlining of the organizational structure, to reduce costs going forward.

 

The Company uses mark-to-market accounting for the majority of its interest rate swap agreements. This accounting treatment results in significant volatility to the Company’s operating results but does not impact cash flow. In 2007, the change in fair value of these interest rate swap agreements was a decrease of $39.0 million compared to a decrease of $9.4 million in 2006.

 

The Company continues to make significant progress in its long term strategy to operate both brands as corporate stores in the top 75 U.S. airport markets, the top eight Canadian airport markets and in other key leisure destinations, and to operate through franchisees in the smaller markets and in markets outside the U.S. and Canada. During 2007, the Company acquired franchise operations for Dollar and Thrifty in 16 U.S. markets and rental day volume increased approximately 5.3% in company-owned stores as a result of these acquisitions. The Company generally expects to continue to fund all remaining franchisee acquisitions with cash from operations.

 

The Company’s profitability is primarily a function of the volume and pricing of rental transactions, utilization of the vehicles and vehicle depreciation costs including used car market pricing. Significant changes in the purchase or sales price of vehicles or interest rates can also have a significant effect on the Company’s profitability, depending on the ability of the Company to adjust pricing and lease rates for these changes. The Company’s business requires significant expenditures for vehicles and, consequently, requires substantial liquidity to finance such expenditures.

 

The Company expects its ongoing cash flow to exceed cash required to operate the business. In 2007, the Company repurchased 2,304,406 shares for a total of $71.5 million. The Company has repurchased 6,414,906 shares at a cost of $227.6 million since announcing the share repurchase program in July 2003. The share repurchase program extends through December 31, 2008. Due to weak economic and industry conditions, the Company has currently suspended repurchasing shares under its share repurchase program.

 

- 28 -

 

Results of Operations

 

The following table sets forth the percentage of total revenues in the Company’s consolidated statements of income:

 

                                   
              Year Ended December 31,
             
              2007   2006   2005
             
 
 
Revenues:
                       
 
Vehicle rentals
    95.2 %     92.7 %     91.6 %
 
Other
    4.8       7.3       8.4  
             
 
 
   
Total revenues
    100.0       100.0       100.0  
             
 
 
                 
Costs and expenses:
                       
 
Direct vehicle and operating
    50.4       49.8       52.3  
 
Vehicle depreciation and lease charges, net
    27.1       22.9       19.6  
 
Selling, general and administrative
    13.3       15.6       15.6  
 
Interest expense, net
    6.3       5.8       5.8  
             
 
 
   
Total costs and expenses
    97.1       94.1       93.3  
             
 
 
 
(Increase) decrease in fair value of derivatives
    2.2       0.6       (2.0 )
             
 
 
Income before income taxes
    0.7       5.3       8.7  
                 
Income tax expense
    0.6       2.2       3.6  
             
 
 
Net income
    0.1 %     3.1 %     5.1 %
             
 
 

 

The Company’s revenues consist of:

 

Vehicle rental revenue generated from renting vehicles to customers through company-owned stores, and

 

Other revenue generated from leasing vehicles to franchisees, continuing franchise fees and providing services to franchisees, parking income and miscellaneous sources.

 

The Company’s expenses consist of:

 

Direct vehicle and operating expense related to the rental of revenue-earning vehicles to customers and the leasing of vehicles to franchisees,

 

Vehicle depreciation and lease charges net of gains and losses on vehicle disposal and payments received on manufacturer promotional and incentive programs,

 

Selling, general and administrative expense, which primarily includes headquarters personnel expenses, advertising and marketing expenses, most IT expenses and administrative expenses, and

 

Interest expense, net which includes interest expense on vehicle related debt and non-vehicle debt, net of interest earned on restricted and unrestricted cash.

 

The Company’s (increase) decrease in fair value of derivatives consists of the changes in the fair market value of its interest rate swap agreements that did not qualify for hedge accounting treatment.

 

 

- 29 -

Year Ended December 31, 2007 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2006

 

Operating Results

 

The Company had income before income taxes of $12.8 million for 2007 as compared to $88.4 million in 2006.

 

Revenues

                                           
                          $ Increase/     % Increase/  
              2007     2006     (decrease)     (decrease)  
             
   
   
   
              (in millions)  
 
                               
 
Vehicle rentals
  $ 1,676.4     $ 1,538.7     $ 137.7       8.9 %
 
Other
    84.4       122.0       (37.6 )     (30.8 %)
             
   
   
   
 
   Total revenues
  $ 1,760.8     $ 1,660.7     $ 100.1       6.0 %
             
   
   
   
 
                               
 
Vehicle rental metrics:
                               
 
Number of rental days (including
franchise acquisitions)
    37,231,340       36,642,026       589,314       1.6 %
 
Number of rental days (excluding
franchise acquisitions)
    35,290,629       36,642,026       (1,351,397 )     (3.7 %)
 
Average revenue per day
  $ 45.03     $ 41.99     $ 3.04       7.2 %
 
                               
 
Vehicle leasing metrics:
                               
 
Average number of vehicles leased
    5,384       9,886       (4,502 )     (45.5 %)
 
Average monthly lease revenue per unit
  $ 555     $ 479     $ 76       15.9 %

 

Vehicle rental revenue increased 8.9% due to a 7.2% increase in revenue per day totaling $113.1 million coupled with a 1.6% increase in rental days totaling $24.6 million. Rental days grew by 5.3% due to 2006 franchisee acquisitions, 2007 franchisee acquisitions and greenfield locations that had not yet annualized, but decreased 3.7% on a same store basis.

 

Other revenue decreased $37.6 million. This decrease was due to a $30.1 million decline in vehicle leasing revenue and fees and services revenue primarily due to the shift of several locations from franchised operations to corporate operations. Additionally, there was a decrease in the market value of investments in the Company’s deferred compensation and retirement plans of $13.9 million. The revenue relating to the deferred compensation and retirement plans is attributable to the mark to market valuation of the corresponding investments and is offset in selling, general and administrative expenses and, therefore, has no impact on net income. These decreases in other revenue were partially offset by an increase in parking revenues of $5.7 million.

 

- 30 -

Expenses

                                           
                                        $ Increase/     % Increase/  
                  2007            2006        (decrease)     (decrease)  
             
   
   
   
              (in millions)  
 
                               
 
Direct vehicle and operating
  $ 887.2     $ 827.4     $ 59.8       7.2 %
 
Vehicle depreciation and lease charges, net
    477.9       380.0       97.9       25.7 %
 
Selling, general and administrative
    234.2       259.5       (25.3 )     (9.7 %)
 
Interest expense, net of interest income
    109.7       96.0       13.7       14.3 %
             
   
   
   
 
   Total expenses
  $ 1,709.0     $ 1,562.9     $ 146.1       9.3 %
             
   
   
   
 
                               
 
(Increase) decrease in fair value of derivatives
  $ 39.0     $ 9.4     $ (29.6 )     (316.4 %)

 

Direct vehicle and operating expense increased $59.8 million, primarily due to higher fleet and transaction levels coupled with higher costs per transaction. As a percent of revenue, direct vehicle and operating expenses were 50.4% in 2007, compared to 49.8% in 2006.

 

The increase in direct vehicle and operating expense in 2007 primarily resulted from the following:

 

 

Ø

Facility and airport concession expenses increased $21.9 million. This increase resulted from increases in concession fees of $15.2 million, which are primarily based on a percentage of revenue generated from the airport facility, and increases in rent expense of $6.7 million.

 

 

Ø

Commission expenses increased $12.4 million, which are primarily based on increased revenue and relate to fees charged by travel agents, third party Internet sites and credit card companies.

 

 

Ø

Personnel related expenses increased $9.9 million. Salary expenses increased approximately $7.4 million due to higher compensation costs per employee and $5.3 million due to an increase in the number of employees. In addition to the salary expense increases, costs related to group health insurance increased $1.6 million. These increases were partially offset by a reduction in incentive compensation expense of $4.8 million.

 

 

Ø

Vehicle related costs increased $9.1 million. This increase resulted primarily from an increase in gasoline expense of $5.6 million, which is generally recovered in revenue from customers, and an increase in net vehicle damage of $2.4 million. All other fleet related expenses increased $1.1 million.

 

Net vehicle depreciation and lease charges increased $97.9 million. As a percent of revenue, net vehicle depreciation expense and lease charges were 27.1% in 2007, compared to 22.9% in 2006.

 

The increase in net vehicle depreciation and lease charges in 2007 resulted from the following:

 

 

Ø

Vehicle depreciation expense increased $106.4 million, resulting primarily from a 27.7% increase in the average depreciation rate. The increase in the depreciation rate was primarily the result of an increase in depreciation rates on Program and Non-Program Vehicles, partially offset by a higher mix of Non-Program Vehicles, which historically have lower depreciation rates.

 

 

Ø

Net vehicle gains on the disposal of Non-Program Vehicles, which reduce vehicle depreciation and lease charges, increased $4.3 million. This increase resulted primarily from a higher average gain per unit.

 

 

Ø

Leasing charges, for vehicles leased from third parties, decreased $4.2 million due to a decrease in the average number of vehicles leased, partially offset by an increase in the average lease rate.

 

- 31 -

Selling, general and administrative expenses for 2007 decreased $25.3 million. As a percent of revenue, selling, general and administrative expenses were 13.3% in 2007 compared to 15.6% in 2006.

 

The decrease in selling, general and administrative expenses in 2007 resulted from the following:

 

 

Ø

Personnel related expenses decreased $41.5 million due to lower personnel costs of $26.3 million, principally related to IT employees outsourced in October 2006, a $11.0 million decrease in incentive compensation expense, a $3.5 million decrease in performance share expense and a $0.7 million reduction in group health insurance. The decrease in performance share expense in 2007 related to a non-recurring 2006 change in estimate for the final calculation of the vested 2003 performance share awards paid in 2006 as well as declining results compared to performance targets for 2007 compared to 2006.

 

 

Ø

The market value of investments in the Company’s deferred compensation and retirement plans decreased $13.9 million, which is offset in other revenue and, therefore, did not impact net income.

 

 

Ø

Transition costs relating to the outsourcing of IT and call center operations decreased $2.2 million, including salary related expenses.

 

 

Ø

Sales and marketing expense decreased $1.4 million due primarily to decreased Internet-related spending and other marketing related costs.

 

 

Ø

IT related expenses increased $27.3 million due to the outsourcing of IT services to EDS.

 

 

Ø

Software expenses increased $3.7 million primarily due to a write off of software made obsolete by the Pros Fleet Management Software the Company began implementing in the third quarter of 2007.

 

Net interest expense increased $13.7 million in 2007 primarily due to higher interest rates, higher average debt, lower cash balances, and a $1.4 million write off of unamortized deferred financing fees related to the retired revolving credit facility. These increases were partially offset by an increase in interest reimbursements relating to vehicle programs. As a percent of revenue, net interest expense was 6.3% in 2007 compared to 5.8% in 2006.

 

The change in fair value of the Company’s interest rate swap agreements was a decrease of $39.0 million in 2007 compared to a decrease of $9.4 million in 2006 resulting in a year over year decrease of $29.6 million.

 

The income tax provision for 2007 was $11.6 million. The effective income tax rate was 90.5% for 2007 compared to 41.5% for 2006. The increase in the effective tax rate was due primarily to lower U.S. pretax earnings in relationship to Canadian pretax losses. The Company reports taxable income for the U.S. and Canada in separate tax jurisdictions and establishes provisions separately for each jurisdiction. On a separate, domestic basis, the U.S. effective tax rate approximates the statutory tax rate including the effect of state income taxes and the impact of establishing valuation allowances for net operating losses that could expire. However, no income tax benefit was recorded for Canadian losses in 2007 or 2006, thus, increasing the consolidated effective tax rate compared to the U.S. effective tax rate.

 

Year Ended December 31, 2006 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2005

 

Operating Results

 

The Company had income before income taxes of $88.4 million for 2006 as compared to $130.5 million in 2005.

 

- 32 -

Revenues

                                           
                          $ Increase/     % Increase/  
              2006     2005     (decrease)     (decrease)  
             
   
   
   
              (in millions)  
 
                               
 
Vehicle rentals
  $ 1,538.7     $ 1,380.2     $ 158.5       11.5 %
 
Other
    122.0       127.4       (5.4 )     (4.2 %)
             
   
   
   
 
   Total revenues
  $ 1,660.7     $ 1,507.6     $ 153.1       10.2 %
             
   
   
   
 
                               
 
Vehicle rental metrics:
                               
 
Number of rental days (including
franchise acquisitions)
    36,642,026       34,909,560       1,732,466       5.0 %
 
Number of rental days (excluding
franchise acquisitions)
    35,280,054       34,909,560       370,494       1.1 %
 
Average revenue per day
  $ 41.99     $ 39.54     $ 2.45       6.2 %
 
                               
 
Vehicle leasing metrics:
                               
 
Average number of vehicles leased
    9,886       12,269       (2,383 )     (19.4 %)
 
Average monthly lease revenue per unit
  $ 479     $ 431     $ 48       11.1 %

 

 

Vehicle rental revenue increased 11.5% due to a 6.2% increase in revenue per day totaling $90.0 million coupled with a 5.0% increase in rental days totaling $68.5 million. Rental days grew by 3.9% due to 2005 franchisee acquisitions, 2006 franchisee acquisitions and greenfield locations that had not yet annualized, and by 1.1% from same store growth.

 

Other revenue decreased $5.4 million. This decrease was due to a $9.3 million decline in vehicle leasing revenue and fees and services revenue primarily due to the shift of several locations from franchised operations to corporate operations. This decrease in other revenue was partially offset by an increase of $2.6 million in parking revenues and an increase of $2.1 million in the market value of the investments in the Company’s deferred compensation and retirement plans. The revenue related to the market value of investments is attributable to the mark- to-market valuation of the corresponding investments and is offset in selling, general and administrative expenses and, therefore, has no impact on net income.

 

Expenses

                                           
                                        $ Increase/     % Increase/  
                  2006            2005        (decrease)     (decrease)  
             
   
   
   
              (in millions)  
 
                               
 
Direct vehicle and operating
  $ 827.4     $ 787.7     $ 39.7       5.0 %
 
Vehicle depreciation and lease charges, net
    380.0       294.8       85.2       28.9 %
 
Selling, general and administrative
    259.5       236.0       23.5       9.9 %
 
Interest expense, net of interest income
    96.0       88.2       7.8       8.8 %
             
   
   
   
 
   Total expenses
  $ 1,562.9     $ 1,406.7     $ 156.2       11.1 %
             
   
   
   
 
                               
 
(Increase) decrease in fair value of derivatives
  $ 9.4     $ (29.7 )   $ (39.1 )     (131.5 %)

 

Direct vehicle and operating expense increased $39.7 million, primarily due to higher fleet and transaction levels and to cost increases. As a percent of revenue, direct vehicle and operating expenses were 49.8% in 2006, compared to 52.3% in 2005.

 

The increase in direct vehicle and operating expense in 2006 primarily resulted from the following:

 

- 33 -

 

Ø

Personnel related expenses increased $19.8 million. Salary expenses increased approximately $11.8 million due to higher compensation costs per employee and $10.8 million due to an increase in the number of employees, partially offset by a reduction of $3.1 million related to costs of group health insurance.

 

 

Ø

Airport concession expenses increased $13.3 million, which are paid to airports and are primarily based on a percentage of revenue generated from the airport facility.

 

 

Ø

Commission expenses increased $13.2 million, which are primarily based on increased revenue and relate to fees charged by travel agents, third party Internet sites and credit card companies.

 

 

Ø

Vehicle related costs decreased $12.5 million. This decrease resulted primarily from a decrease in vehicle insurance expense of $18.0 million related to lower accrual rates in 2006 resulting from the change in vicarious liability laws and to favorable adjustments to insurance reserves. The favorable adjustments to insurance reserves resulted from favorable developments in claims history. In addition to the decrease in vehicle insurance expense, expenses related to vehicle damage decreased $4.3 million. These decreases in expenses were partially offset by an increase in gasoline expense of $10.4 million, which is generally recovered in revenue from customers.

 

Net vehicle depreciation and lease charges increased $85.2 million. As a percent of revenue, net vehicle depreciation expense and lease charges were 22.9% in 2006, compared to 19.6% in 2005.

 

The increase in net vehicle depreciation and lease charges in 2006 resulted from the following:

 

 

Ø

Vehicle depreciation expense increased $60.7 million, resulting primarily from a 13.9% increase in the average depreciation rate, coupled with a 4.1% increase in depreciable fleet. The increase in the depreciation rate was primarily the result of an increase in depreciation rates on Program and Non-Program Vehicles, partially offset by a higher mix of Non-Program Vehicles.

 

 

Ø

Net vehicle gains on the disposal of Non-Program Vehicles, which reduce vehicle depreciation and lease charges, decreased $26.9 million. This decrease resulted from a lower average gain per unit, partially offset by an increase in the number of units sold.

 

 

Ø

Leasing charges, for vehicles leased from third parties, decreased $2.4 million due to a decrease in the average number of vehicles leased.

 

Selling, general and administrative expenses for 2006 increased $23.5 million, resulting from a $20.2 million increase in general and administrative expenses and a $3.3 million increase in sales and marketing expenses. As a percent of revenue, selling, general and administrative expenses were 15.6% in 2006 and 2005.

 

The increase in selling, general and administrative expenses in 2006 resulted from the following:

 

 

Ø

IT related expenses increased $10.6 million due to the outsourcing of IT services to EDS. These costs include base contract fees of $7.7 million and an increase in contract labor of $2.9 million.

 

 

Ø

Transition costs relating to the outsourcing of IT services were $6.9 million, including salary related expenses.

 

 

Ø

Sales and marketing expense increased $3.3 million due primarily to increased Internet-related spending and other marketing related costs.

 

 

Ø

Professional fees increased $3.2 million due to costs of $1.9 million related to a review of strategic alternatives and $1.3 million related to higher consulting costs related to review of outsourcing alternatives.

 

 

Ø

Separation costs relating to the elimination of certain positions from the organizational structure were $2.4 million.

 

- 34 -

 

Ø

The market value of investments in the Company’s deferred compensation and retirement plans increased $2.1 million, which is offset in other revenue and, therefore, did not impact net income.

 

 

Ø

Personnel related expenses decreased $1.1 million due primarily to lower personnel costs of approximately $6.2 million, which was primarily related to IT employees outsourced in October 2006 and a $1.5 million reduction in group health insurance. These reductions in personnel related costs were partially offset by a $6.6 million increase in performance share expense. The increase in performance share expense included $2.2 million related to a change in estimate for the final calculation of the vested 2003 performance share awards paid in 2006, $2.9 million for higher costs related to the 2006 performance share awards and $1.5 million to reflect current performance estimates.

 

Net interest expense increased $7.8 million in 2006 primarily due to higher average vehicle debt and higher interest rates, partially offset by higher interest rates on cash invested and to an increase in the rate received on interest reimbursements relating to vehicle programs. As a percent of revenue, net interest expense was 5.8% in 2006 and 2005.

 

The change in fair value of the Company’s interest rate swap agreements was a decrease of $9.4 million in 2006 compared to an increase of ($29.7) million in 2005 resulting in a year over year decrease of $39.1 million.

 

The income tax provision for 2006 was $36.7 million. The effective income tax rate was 41.5% for 2006 and 2005. The Company reports taxable income for the U.S. and Canada in separate tax jurisdictions and establishes provisions separately for each jurisdiction. On a separate, domestic basis, the U.S. effective tax rate approximates the statutory tax rate including the effect of state income taxes. However, no income tax benefit was recorded for Canadian losses in 2006 or 2005, thus, increasing the consolidated effective tax rate compared to the U.S. effective tax rate.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

The Company’s primary uses of liquidity are for the purchase of vehicles for its rental and leasing fleets, non-vehicle capital expenditures, franchisee acquisitions and for working capital. The Company uses both cash and letters of credit to support asset backed vehicle financing programs. The Company also uses letters of credit or insurance bonds to secure certain commitments related to airport concession agreements, insurance programs, and for other purposes.

 

The Company’s primary sources of liquidity are cash generated from operations, secured vehicle financing, the Senior Secured Credit Facilities and insurance bonds. Cash generated by operating activities of $537.3 million for 2007 is primarily the result of net income, adjusted for depreciation and the change in fair value of derivatives. The liquidity necessary for purchasing vehicles is primarily obtained from secured vehicle financing, most of which is proceeds from sale of asset backed medium term notes and asset backed commercial paper programs, sales proceeds from disposal of used vehicles and cash generated by operating activities. The asset backed medium term notes and commercial paper programs require varying levels of credit enhancement or overcollateralization, which are provided by a combination of cash, vehicles, letters of credit and proceeds from the Term Loan. These letters of credit are provided under the Company’s Revolving Credit Facility.

 

The Company believes that its cash generated from operations, availability under its Revolving Credit Facility, insurance bonding programs, proceeds from its Term Loan and secured vehicle financing programs are adequate to meet its liquidity requirements for the foreseeable future. A significant portion of the secured vehicle financing is available through the asset backed commercial paper programs and bank facilities, which are 364-day commitments that are renewable annually. The successful annual renewal of these facilities along with the Company’s existing asset backed medium term notes and other secured vehicle financing facilities are expected to be sufficient to meet 2008 vehicle financing requirements. The asset backed medium term notes have varying maturities through 2012. The Company generally issues additional asset backed medium term notes each year to increase or replace maturing vehicle financing capacity. Recent volatility in the credit markets and the downgrading or risk of downgrading of the Monolines has limited access to this market in 2008. The Company has experienced increases in the level of credit enhancement or additional collateral required for new asset backed medium term notes, the Commercial Paper Program and the Conduit Facility. The Company expects additional increases in the level of credit enhancement for the Commercial Paper Program and Conduit

 

- 35 -

Facility when renewed in 2008. These increased enhancement and collateral requirements have reduced the liquidity available for other corporate purposes. The Company believes it has sufficient resources to meet these credit enhancement requirements.

 

Cash used in investing activities was $446.3 million. The principal use of cash in investing activities was the purchase of revenue-earning vehicles, which totaled $4.0 billion. This use of cash was primarily offset by $3.4 billion in proceeds from the sale of used revenue-earning vehicles. The Company’s need for cash to finance vehicles is seasonal and typically peaks in the second and third quarters of the year when fleet levels build to meet seasonal rental demand. Fleet levels are the lowest in the first and fourth quarters when rental demand is at a seasonal low. Restricted cash at December 31, 2007 decreased $256.8 million from the previous year, including $270.8 million used for vehicle financing partially offset by interest income earned on restricted cash and investments of $14.0 million. The Company expects to continue to fund its revenue-earning vehicles with cash provided from operations and increased secured vehicle financing. The Company also used cash for non-vehicle capital expenditures of $40.6 million. These expenditures consist primarily of airport facility improvements for the Company’s rental locations and investments in IT equipment and systems. The Company estimates non-vehicle capital expenditures to be approximately $40 million in 2008 as a result of increased airport facility projects and more significant upgrades in IT equipment and systems. In addition, the Company used cash for franchise acquisitions of $30.3 million in 2007 and will continue to pursue the acquisition of certain franchise operations, subject to Revolving Credit Facility restrictions. Future franchisee acquisition expenditures are expected to be financed with available cash and cash to be provided from future operations.

 

Cash used in financing activities was $182.0 million primarily due to a decrease of $413.0 million under the Conduit Facility (hereinafter defined), the maturity of asset backed medium term notes totaling $312.5 million, a net decrease in the issuance of commercial paper totaling $153.1 million and share repurchases totaling $71.5 million. Cash used in financing activities was partially offset by the issuance of $500 million in asset backed medium term notes in May 2007, the proceeds of the $250 million Term Loan (hereinafter defined) in June 2007, and an increase of $42.1 million in other existing bank vehicle lines of credit.

 

The Company utilizes a like-kind exchange program for its vehicles whereby tax basis gains on disposal of eligible revenue-earning vehicles are deferred (the “Like-Kind Exchange Program”). To qualify for Like-Kind Exchange Program treatment, the Company exchanges (through a qualified intermediary) vehicles being disposed of with vehicles being purchased allowing the Company to carry-over the tax basis of vehicles sold to replacement vehicles, with certain adjustments. The Like-Kind Exchange Program has resulted in a material deferral of federal and state income taxes for fiscal years beginning in 2002 and extending through the year ended December 31, 2007. The benefit of the deferral is dependent on timely reinvestment of vehicle disposition proceeds in replacement vehicles; therefore, a downsizing of the Company’s fleet or reduced vehicle purchases could result in reduced deferrals and increased payments of federal and state cash income taxes, after considering the effect of net operating loss carryforwards. The Like-Kind Exchange Program has historically increased the amount of cash and investments restricted for the purchase of replacement vehicles, especially during seasonally reduced fleet periods. At December 31, 2007, restricted cash and investments totaled $132.9 million and are restricted for the acquisition of revenue-earning vehicles and other specified uses as defined under asset backed financing programs, the Canadian fleet securitization partnership program and the Like-Kind Exchange Program. The majority of the restricted cash and investments balance is normally utilized in the second and third quarters for seasonal purchases.

 

In February 2008, President Bush signed the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 into law which includes a provision allowing bonus depreciation on certain assets, including vehicles, acquired in 2008. The Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 will increase the amount of tax basis depreciation that can be claimed on the Company’s federal and on some state tax returns.

 

Share Repurchase Program

 

On February 9, 2006, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had authorized a $300 million share repurchase program, which will extend through December 31, 2008, to replace the $100 million program of which $44.7 million had been used to repurchase shares. In 2007, the Company repurchased 2,304,406 shares of common stock at an average price of $31.05 per share totaling $71.5 million. Since inception of the share repurchase programs through December 31, 2007, the Company has repurchased 6,414,906 shares of common stock at an average price of $35.48 per share totaling approximately $227.6 million, all of which were made in open market transactions. At December 31, 2007, the $300 million share repurchase program had $117.1 million of remaining authorization that extends through December 31, 2008.

 

- 36 -

To augment its share repurchase program, the Company has used trading plans in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Rule 10b5-1”). Rule 10b5-1 trading plans allow repurchases of the Company’s common stock during black-out periods by establishing a prearranged written plan to buy a specified number of shares of the Company’s common stock over a set period of time. Due to weak economic and industry conditions, the Company has currently suspended repurchasing shares under its share repurchase program.

 

Contractual Obligations and Commitments

 

The Company has various contractual commitments primarily related to asset backed medium term notes, commercial paper and short-term borrowings outstanding for vehicle purchases, a non-vehicle related term loan, airport concession fee and operating lease commitments related to airport and other facilities, technology contracts, and vehicle purchases. The Company expects to fund these commitments with cash generated from operations, sales proceeds from disposal of used vehicles, the renewal of its 364-day bank facilities and continuation of asset backed note issuances as existing medium term notes mature. The following table provides details regarding the Company’s contractual cash obligations and other commercial commitments subsequent to December 31, 2007:

                                                   
              Payments due or commitment expiration by period

(in thousands)
 
             
     2008     
   
2009-2010
   
2011-2012
    Beyond
     2012     
   
     Total     
 
             
   
   
   
   
 
Contractual cash obligations:
                                       
 
Asset backed medium term notes (1)
  $ 582,079     $ 638,817     $ 1,041,321     $ -     $ 2,262,217  
 
Commercial paper outstanding (1)
    27,294       -       -       -       27,294  
 
Other short-term borrowings (1)
    406,626       -       -       -       406,626  
             
   
   
   
   
 
   
Subtotal - Vehicle debt and obligations
    1,015,999       638,817       1,041,321       -       2,696,137  
             
   
   
   
   
 
 
Term Loan
    19,449       38,383       37,699       260,325       355,856  
             
   
   
   
   
 
   
Subtotal - Non-vehicle debt
    19,449       38,383       37,699       260,325       355,856  
             
   
   
   
   
 
 
Total debt and other obligations
    1,035,448       677,200       1,079,020       260,325       3,051,993  
             
   
   
   
   
 
 
Operating lease commitments
    44,258       60,225       34,152       87,760       226,395  
 
Airport concession fee commitments
    75,306       103,452       64,280       114,613       357,651  
 
Vehicle purchase commitments
    843,848       -       -       -       843,848  
 
Other commitments
    34,624       53,742       22,510       -       110,875  
             
   
   
   
   
 
   
Total contractual cash obligations
  $ 2,033,484     $ 894,619     $ 1,199,962     $ 462,698     $ 4,590,763  
             
   
   
   
   
 
Other commercial commitments:
                                       
   
Letters of credit
  $ 111,521     $ 73,755     $ -     $ -     $ 185,276  
             
   
   
   
   
 

 

(1) Further discussion of asset backed medium term notes, commercial paper outstanding and short-term borrowings is below and in Note 10 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements. Amounts include both principal and interest payments. Amounts exclude related discounts, where applicable.

 

The Company also has self-insured liabilities related to third-party bodily injury and property damage claims totaling $110 million that are not included in the contractual obligations and commitments table above. See Note 17 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Asset Backed Medium Term Notes

 

The asset backed medium term note program is comprised of $2.0 billion in asset backed medium term notes with maturities ranging from 2008 to 2012. Borrowings under the asset backed medium term notes are secured by eligible vehicle collateral and bear interest at fixed rates ranging from 4.20% to 5.27% including certain floating rate notes swapped to fixed rates. The Company has maturities of medium term notes totaling $500 million in 2008 and no additional maturities until 2010. The Company typically accesses the medium term note market each year to replace maturing notes; however, the Company does not expect to need to access this market in 2008. Proceeds from the asset backed medium term notes that are temporarily not utilized for financing vehicles and certain related receivables are maintained in restricted cash and investment accounts, which were approximately $95.3 million at December 31, 2007.

 

- 37 -

 

On May 23, 2007, RCFC issued $500 million of five-year asset backed medium term notes (the “2007 Series Notes”) to replace maturing asset backed medium term notes and provide for growth in the Company’s fleet. The 2007 Series Notes consist of $500 million floating rate notes at LIBOR plus 0.14%. In conjunction with the issuance of the 2007 Series Notes, the Company also entered into interest rate swap agreements to convert this floating rate debt to fixed rate debt at a 5.16% interest rate.

 

The asset backed medium term note programs each contain a minimum net worth covenant and an interest coverage covenant in the Monoline agreements. The Company is in compliance with these covenants at December 31, 2007. The Company will amend the existing minimum net worth covenant in the Monoline agreements to exclude the impact of any potential goodwill write-down; or, if not amended, a violation of this covenant can be avoided by providing additional credit enhancement.

 

Conduit Facility

 

On June 25, 2007, the Company renewed its Variable Funding Note Purchase Facility (the “Conduit Facility”) for another 364-day period. Proceeds are used for financing of vehicle purchases and for a periodic refinancing of asset backed notes. The Conduit Facility generally bears interest at market-based commercial paper rates and is renewed annually. At December 31, 2007, the Company had $12.0 million outstanding under the Conduit Facility.

 

The Conduit Facility contains a minimum net worth covenant and an interest coverage covenant. The Company is in compliance with these covenants at December 31, 2007. The Company expects to modify the existing minimum net worth covenant upon renewal of the Conduit Facility to exclude the impact of any potential goodwill write-down.

 

Commercial Paper Program and Liquidity Facility

 

At December 31, 2007, the Company’s commercial paper program (the “Commercial Paper Program”) had a maximum capacity of $545 million supported by a $460 million, 364-day liquidity facility (the “Liquidity Facility”). Borrowings under the Commercial Paper Program are secured by eligible vehicle collateral and bear interest at market-based commercial paper rates. At December 31, 2007, the Company had $25.9 million in commercial paper outstanding under the Commercial Paper Program. The Commercial Paper Program and the Liquidity Facility are renewable annually.

 

The Commercial Paper Program contains a minimum net worth covenant and an interest coverage covenant. The Company is in compliance with these covenants at December 31, 2007. The Company expects to modify the existing minimum net worth covenant upon renewal of the Commercial Paper Program to exclude the impact of any potential goodwill write-down.

 

Vehicle Debt and Obligations

 

The Company finances its Canadian vehicle fleet through a fleet securitization program. Under this program, DTG Canada can obtain vehicle financing up to CND$300 million funded through a bank commercial paper conduit which expires May 31, 2010. At December 31, 2007, DTG Canada had approximately CND$134.7 million (US$135.5 million) funded under this program. The Canadian fleet securitization program contains a tangible net worth covenant and DTG Canada was in compliance with this covenant at December 31, 2007.

 

Vehicle manufacturer and bank lines of credit provided $312 million in capacity at December 31, 2007. Borrowings of $234.5 million were outstanding under these lines at December 31, 2007. These lines of credit are secured by the vehicles financed under these facilities and are primarily renewable annually. The Company expects to continue using these sources of vehicle financing in 2008 and future years. The vehicle manufacturer and bank lines of credit contain a leverage ratio covenant which requires that the Company’s corporate debt to corporate EBITDA be maintained within certain limits as defined in the respective agreements. The Company is in compliance with this covenant at December 31, 2007.

 

Senior Secured Credit Facilities

 

On June 15, 2007, the Company entered into $600 million in new Senior Secured Credit Facilities comprised of a $350 million Revolving Credit Facility and a $250 million Term Loan. The Senior Secured Credit Facilities contain certain financial and other covenants, including a covenant that sets the

 

- 38 -

maximum amount the Company can spend annually on the acquisition of non-vehicle capital assets, a maximum leverage ratio and a limitation on cash dividends and share repurchases, and are collateralized by a first priority lien on substantially all material non-vehicle assets of the Company. As of December 31, 2007, the Company is in compliance with all covenants.

 

The Revolving Credit Facility, which replaced the Company’s former $300 million revolving credit facility, expires on June 15, 2013, and will be used to provide working capital borrowings and letters of credit. Interest rates on loans under the Revolving Credit Facility are, at the option of the Company, based on either prime rates, which are payable quarterly, or Eurodollar rates, which are payable based on an elected interest period of one, two, three or six months. The Revolving Credit Facility permits the combination of letter of credit usage and working capital borrowing up to $350 million with no sublimits on either. The Company had letters of credit outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility of approximately $172.3 million and no working capital borrowings at December 31, 2007.

 

The Term Loan expires on June 15, 2014, and was used to repay asset backed vehicle debt, thereby providing additional credit enhancement to the vehicle financing facilities. The Term Loan allows the Company greater flexibility to finance Non-Program Vehicles and vehicle purchases from non-investment grade manufacturers. The Term Loan requires minimum quarterly principal payments which began in September 2007, but depending on the level of excess cash flows and other factors, the required principal payments may be increased. At December 31, 2007, the Company had $248.8 million outstanding under the Term Loan.

 

Debt Servicing Requirements

 

The Company will continue to have substantial debt and debt service requirements under its financing arrangements. As of December 31, 2007, the Company’s total consolidated debt and other obligations were approximately $2.7 billion, of which $2.4 billion was secured debt for the purchase of vehicles. The majority of the Company’s vehicle debt is issued by special purpose finance entities as described herein all of which are fully consolidated into the Company’s financial statements. The Company has scheduled annual principal payments for vehicle debt of approximately $900 million in 2008, including the annual renewal of its 364-day credit facilities, and $500 million per year from 2010 through 2012. The Company has minimal scheduled annual principal payments relating to its Term Loan through 2013 with the remaining lump sum due in 2014.

 

The Company intends to use cash generated from operations and from the sale of vehicles for debt service and, subject to restrictions under its debt instruments, to make capital investments. The Company has historically repaid its debt and funded its capital investments (aside from growth in its rental fleet) with cash provided from operations and from the sale of vehicles. The Company has funded growth in its vehicle fleet by incurring additional secured vehicle debt and with cash generated from operations. The Company expects to incur additional debt from time to time to the extent permitted under the terms of its debt instruments.

 

The Company has significant requirements for bonds and letters of credit to support its insurance programs and airport concession obligations. At December 31, 2007, various insurance companies had $39.9 million in surety bonds and various banks had $68.9 million in letters of credit to secure these obligations. At December 31, 2007, these surety bonds and letters of credit had not been drawn upon.

 

Interest Rate Risk

 

The Company’s results of operations depend significantly on prevailing levels of interest rates because of the large amount of debt it incurs to purchase vehicles. In addition, the Company is exposed to increases in interest rates because a portion of its debt bears interest at floating rates. The Company estimates that, in 2008, approximately 40% of its average debt will bear interest at floating rates. The amount of the Company’s financing costs affects the amount the Company must charge its customers to be profitable. See Note 10 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Inflation

 

The increased acquisition cost of vehicles is the primary inflationary factor affecting the Company. Many of the Company’s other operating expenses are also expected to increase with inflation. Management

 

- 39 -

does not expect that the effect of inflation on the Company’s overall operating costs will be greater for the Company than for its competitors.

 

Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates

 

As with most companies, the Company must exercise judgment due to the level of subjectivity used in estimating certain costs included in its results of operations. The more significant items include:

 

Vehicle insurance reserves – The Company does self-insure or retain a portion of the exposure for losses related to bodily injury and property damage liability claims along with the risk retained for the supplemental liability insurance program. The obligation for Vehicle Insurance Reserves represents an estimate of both reported accident claims not yet paid and claims incurred but not yet reported, up to the Company’s risk retention level. The Company records expense related to Vehicle Insurance Reserves on a monthly basis based on rental volume in relation to historical accident claim experience and trends, projections of ultimate losses, expenses, premiums and administrative costs. Management monitors the adequacy of the liability and monthly accrual rates based on actuarial analysis of the development of the claim reserves, the accident claim history and rental volume. Since the ultimate disposition of the claims is uncertain, the likelihood of materially different results is possible. However, the potential volatility of these estimates is reduced due to the frequency of actuarial reviews and significant historical data available for similar claims.

 

Vehicle depreciation expense – The Company generally purchases 50% to 60% of its vehicles as Program Vehicles for which residual values are determined by depreciation rates that are established and guaranteed by the manufacturers. The remaining 40% to 50% of the Company’s vehicles are purchased without the benefit of a manufacturer residual value guaranty program. For these Non-Program Vehicles, the Company must estimate what the residual values of these vehicles will be at the expected time of disposal to determine monthly depreciation rates by reviewing the projected market value for the vehicles at expected date of disposition as well as the overall outlook for the used car market. The Company continually evaluates estimated residual values. Differences between actual residual values and those estimated by the Company result in a gain or loss on disposal and are recorded as an adjustment to depreciation expense. The average life of the Non-Program Vehicles is seven to nine months. Many factors affect the market value of used cars including increasing use of incentives by automobile manufacturers for new vehicles, limited or excess supply of used vehicles and overall economic conditions. The likelihood that the Company’s estimates could materially change is possible due to the volatility of the used car market. A one percent change in the expected residual value of Non-Program Vehicles sold during 2007 would have impacted vehicle depreciation expense, net by $8.2 million.

Income taxes – The Company estimates its consolidated effective state income tax rate using a process that estimates state income taxes by entity and by tax jurisdiction. Changes in the Company’s operations in these tax jurisdictions may have a material impact on the Company’s effective state income tax rate and deferred state income tax assets and liabilities. Additionally, the Company records deferred income tax assets and liabilities based on the temporary differences between the financial reporting basis and the tax basis of the Company’s assets and liabilities by applying enacted statutory tax rates that management believes will be applicable to future years for these differences. Changes in tax laws and rates in future periods may materially affect the amount of recorded deferred tax assets and liabilities. The Company also utilizes a like-kind exchange program to defer tax basis gains on disposal of eligible revenue-earning vehicles. This program requires the Company to make material estimates related to future fleet activity. The Company’s income tax returns are periodically examined by various tax authorities who may challenge the Company’s tax positions. While the Company believes its tax positions are more likely than not supportable by tax rulings, interpretations, precedents or administrative practices, there may be instances in which the Company may not succeed in defending a position being examined. Resulting adjustments could have a material impact on the Company’s financial position or results of operations.

Share-based payment plans – The Company has share-based compensation plans under which the Company grants performance shares, non-qualified option rights and restricted stock to key

 

- 40 -

employees and non-employee directors. The Company’s performance share awards contain both a performance condition and a market condition. As discussed more fully in Note 13 to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted SFAS No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS No. 123(R)”) using the modified prospective application transition method. Under SFAS No. 123(R), the Company uses the closing market price of the Company’s common shares on the date of grant to estimate the fair value of the nonvested stock awards and performance based performance shares, and uses a lattice-based option valuation model to estimate the fair value of market based performance shares. The lattice-based option valuation model requires the input of somewhat subjective assumptions, including expected stock price volatility, term, risk-free interest rate and dividend yield. The Company relies on observations of historical volatility trends of the Company and its peers (defined as the Russell 2000 Index), as determined by an independent third party, to determine expected volatility. In determining the expected term, the Company observes the actual terms of prior grants and the actual vesting schedule of the grant. The risk-free interest rate is the actual U.S. Treasury zero-coupon rate for bonds matching the expected term of the award on the date of grant. The expected dividend yield was estimated based on the Company’s current dividend yield, and adjusted for anticipated future changes. The number of performance shares ultimately earned will range from zero to 200% of the target award, depending on the Company’s achievement of the performance and market conditions. Estimates of achievement of market conditions are incorporated into the determination of the performance shares’ fair value at the beginning of the performance period. At the end of each reporting period, the Company must estimate whether the performance conditions will be achieved in order to determine the value of the performance shares awarded. In making this determination, the Company has observed actual past performance of the Company.       

Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets with Indefinite Lives – The Company reviews the carrying value of its goodwill and other intangible assets with indefinite lives as required by SFAS No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets”. In performing this review, the Company is required to make an assessment of fair value for its goodwill and other intangible assets. In determining this fair value, the Company utilizes various assumptions, including projections of future cash flows. A change in these underlying assumptions will cause a change in the results of the tests and, as such, could cause the fair value of goodwill and other intangible assets to be less than the respective carrying amount. In such an event, the Company would be required to record an impairment charge, which would impact its results of operations. The Company reviews the carrying value of goodwill and other intangible assets for impairment annually in the second quarter, unless circumstances exist that indicate impairment may have occurred, which requires more frequent testing. At December 31, 2007, the Company’s stock price had decreased substantially which reduced the Company’s market capitalization. Based on this decline, the Company completed an impairment assessment of goodwill and other intangible assets noting no impairment existed. The Company will continue to monitor its goodwill and other intangible assets for impairment on a more frequent basis. At December 31, 2007, the carrying value of the Company’s goodwill was $281 million and the carrying value of the Company’s reacquired franchise rights (an indefinite-lived intangible asset) was $69 million.

 

New Accounting Standards

For a discussion on new accounting standards refer to Note 2 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements.

Outlook for 2008

 

The U.S. travel industry faces uncertainty in 2008 due to concerns about the strength of the economy and the impact on consumer spending. The airline industry reported weak domestic airline passenger traffic in December 2007 and January 2008. The Company expects the operating environment to remain challenging through at least the first half of 2008.

 

Fleet capacity for the rental car industry exceeded consumer demand in December 2007 and January 2008 resulting in weak industry pricing on leisure and discretionary rentals. The industry appears to be adjusting fleet capacity to better match consumer demand and year over year rental pricing trends are

 

- 41 -

improving in February and March of 2008. The Company expects to be able to increase rental pricing as the industry tightens overall fleet capacity to match consumer demand.

 

The automobile auctions are reporting weaker pricing on used cars which is increasing industry fleet costs and extending the length of time required to reduce overall industry capacity. The Company expects 2008 per unit vehicle depreciation costs to increase about 10 percent depending on used car market pricing. The Company expects vehicle cost increases will be greater in the first half of the year while absorbing the recent decline in used car prices.

 

In the third quarter of 2007, the Company began implementing Pros Fleet Management Software, which will allow the Company to improve fleet planning and efficiencies in its vehicle acquisition and remarketing efforts along with controlling vehicle costs. The Company expects to begin realizing cost savings from this implementation in 2008 and realize the full benefits in 2009.

 

The Company will benefit from cost savings initiatives implemented in 2007 and is implementing additional cost savings initiatives to reduce certain operating and administrative costs in 2008 as well as taking other actions to preserve liquidity in 2008.

 

The Company will continue to monitor developments in the bank and capital markets and believes that its peak vehicle financing needs for 2008 can be managed through the annual renewal of its existing Conduit Facility and Commercial Paper Program. The Company expects increases in the level of credit enhancement for the Commercial Paper Program and Conduit Facility when renewed in 2008. While the medium term asset backed note market has been volatile, the Company will not need to enter that market in 2008, despite $500 million of maturities during the year. The Company has no additional maturities of asset backed medium term notes until 2010.

 

ITEM 7A.

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

 

The table below provides information about the Company’s market sensitive financial instruments and constitutes a “forward-looking statement.” The Company’s primary market risk exposure is changing interest rates, primarily in the United States. The Company manages interest rates through use of a combination of fixed and floating rate debt and interest rate swap agreements (see Note 11 of Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements). All items described are non-trading and are stated in U.S. dollars. Because a portion of the Company’s debt is denominated in Canadian dollars, its carrying value is impacted by exchange rate fluctuations. However, this foreign currency risk is mitigated by the underlying collateral which is the Canadian fleet. The fair value and average receive rate of the interest rate swaps is calculated using projected market interest rates over the term of the related debt instruments as provided by the counter parties.

 

 

- 42 -

                                                                           
 
Expected Maturity Dates
as of December 31, 2007
   
 
2008
     
 
2009
     
 
2010
     
 
2011
     
 
2012
     
 
There-
after
     
 
Total
    Fair Value
December 31,
2007
 

 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
(in thousands)                
               
Debt:
                                                               
               
Vehicle debt and obligations -
floating rates (1)
  $ 772,454     $ -     $ 390,000     $ 500,000     $ 500,000     $ -     $ 2,162,454     $ 1,990,667  
               
Weighted average interest rates
    5.12%       -       4.41%       4.83%       5.08%       -                  
               
Vehicle debt and obligations -
fixed rates
  $ -     $ -     $ 110,000     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ 110,000     $ 101,856  
               
Weighted average interest rates
    -       -       4.59%       -       -       -                  
               
Vehicle debt and obligations -
Canadian dollar denominated
  $ 135,512     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ 135,512     $ 135,512  
               
Weighted average interest rates
    5.98%       -       -       -       -       -                  
               
Non-vehicle debt - term loan
  $ 2,500     $ 2,500     $ 2,500     $ 2,500     $ 2,500     $ 236,250     $ 248,750     $ 237,556  
               
Weighted average interest rates
    5.88%       5.49%       6.04%       6.42%       6.67%       6.86%                  
               
Interest Rate Swaps:
                                                               
               
Variable to Fixed
  $ 500,000     $ -     $ 390,000     $ 500,000     $ 500,000     $ -     $ 1,890,000     $ 1,937,825  
   Average pay rate
    4.20%       -       4.89%       5.27%       5.16%       -                  
   Average receive rate
    3.88%       -       4.04%       4.42%       4.67%       -                  
   
(1)  Floating rate vehicle debt and obligations include the $500 million Series 2004 Notes, $290 million relating to the Series 2005 Notes, the $600 million
                 Series 2006 Notes and the $500 million Series 2007 Notes swapped from floating interest rates to fixed interest rates.
 
   
 
Expected Maturity Dates
as of December 31, 2006
   
 
2007
     
 
2008
     
 
2009
     
 
2010
     
 
2011
     
 
Total
    Fair Value
December 31,
2006
 

 
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
(in thousands)                
               
Debt:
                                                       
               
Vehicle debt and obligations -
floating rates (1)
  $   1,138,491     $   500,000     $   -     $   390,000     $   500,000     $ 2,528,491     $ 2,527,154  
               
Weighted average interest rates
    6.02%       5.34%       -       5.26%       5.39%                  
               
Vehicle debt and obligations -
fixed rates
  $ -     $ -     $ -     $ 110,000     $ -     $ 110,000     $ 107,794  
               
Weighted average interest rates
    -       -       -       4.59%       -                  
               
Vehicle debt and obligations -
Canadian dollar denominated
  $ 107,130     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ -     $ 107,130     $ 107,130  
               
Weighted average interest rates
    4.63%       -       -       -       -                  
               
Interest Rate Swaps:
                                                       
               
Variable to Fixed
  $ 312,500     $ 500,000     $ -     $ 390,000     $ 500,000     $ 1,702,500     $ 1,690,960  
   Average pay rate
    3.64%       4.20%       -       4.89%       5.27%                  
   Average receive rate
    5.25%       4.87%       -       4.89%       4.98%                  
   
(1)  Floating rate vehicle debt and obligations include the $313 million Series 2003 Notes, the $500 million Series 2004 Notes, $290 million
                 relating to the Series 2005 Notes and the $600 million Series 2006 Notes swapped from floating interest rates to fixed interest rates.
 

 

Interest rate sensitivity – Based on the Company’s level of floating rate debt (excluding notes with floating interest rates swapped to effectively fixed interest rates) at December 31, 2007, a 50 basis point fluctuation in short-term interest rates would have an approximate $3 million impact on the Company’s expected pretax income.

 

- 43 -

 

ITEM 8.

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

 

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of

Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.:

 

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the related consolidated statements of income, stockholders’ equity and comprehensive income, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2007.  Our audits also included the financial statement schedule listed in the Index at Item 15.  These financial statements and financial statement schedule are the responsibility of the Company’s management.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the financial statements and financial statement schedule based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.  We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, such consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2007, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.  Also, in our opinion, such financial statement schedule, when considered in relation to the basic consolidated financial statements taken as a whole, presents fairly, in all material respects, the information set forth therein.

As discussed in Note 2 to the consolidated financial statements, the Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123(R), Share-Based Payment, on January 1, 2006.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated February 29, 2008 expressed an unqualified opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Tulsa, Oklahoma

February 29, 2008

 

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DOLLAR THRIFTY AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2007, 2006 AND 2005
(In Thousands Except Per Share Data)

                                   
              2007     2006     2005  
REVENUES:
                       
 
Vehicle rentals
  $ 1,676,349     $ 1,538,673     $ 1,380,172  
 
Other
    84,442       122,004       127,382  
             
   
   
 
   
Total revenues
    1,760,791       1,660,677       1,507,554  
             
   
   
 
COSTS AND EXPENSES:
                       
 
Direct vehicle and operating
    887,178       827,440       787,714  
 
Vehicle depreciation and lease charges, net
    477,853       380,005       294,757  
 
Selling, general and administrative
    234,234       259,474       236,055  
 
Interest expense, net of interest income of
$24,250, $29,387 and $18,388
    109,728       95,974       88,208  
             
   
   
 
   
Total costs and expenses
    1,708,993       1,562,893       1,406,734  
             
   
   
 
 
(Increase) decrease in fair value of derivatives
    38,990       9,363       (29,725 )
             
   
   
 
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES
    12,808       88,421       130,545  
                 
INCOME TAX EXPENSE
    11,593       36,729       54,190  
             
   
   
 
NET INCOME
  $ 1,215     $ 51,692     $ 76,355  
             
   
   
 
BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE
  $ 0.05     $ 2.14     $ 3.04  
             
   
   
 
DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE
  $ 0.05     $ 2.04     $ 2.89  
             
   
   
 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

- 45 -

DOLLAR THRIFTY AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
DECEMBER 31, 2007 AND 2006
(In Thousands Except Share and Per Share Data)

                           
                       
              2007     2006  
ASSETS
               
                       
  Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 101,025     $ 191,981  
  Restricted cash and investments
    132,945       389,794  
  Receivables, net
    238,127       242,349  
  Prepaid expenses and other assets
    92,163       98,020  
  Revenue-earning vehicles, net
    2,808,354       2,623,719  
  Property and equipment, net
    122,303       116,787  
  Income taxes receivable
    11,334       2,585  
  Intangible assets, net
    103,777       66,160  
  Goodwill
    281,424       280,103  
             
   
 
         
 
  $ 3,891,452     $ 4,011,498  
             
   
 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
               
 
LIABILITIES:
               
  Accounts payable
  $ 80,537     $ 65,251  
  Accrued liabilities
    198,042       183,887  
  Deferred income tax liability
    267,412       266,455  
  Vehicle insurance reserves
    110,034       103,921  
  Debt and other obligations
    2,656,562       2,744,284  
             
   
 
       
Total liabilities
      3,312,587       3,363,798  
             
   
 
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
               
 
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY:
               
  Preferred stock, $.01 par value:
  Authorized 10,000,000 shares; none outstanding
    -       -  
  Common stock, $.01 par value:
  Authorized 50,000,000 shares;
  27,903,258 and 27,594,867 issued, respectively, and
  21,488,352 and 23,484,367 outstanding, respectively
    278       275  
  Additional capital
    799,449       791,452  
  Retained earnings
    8,511       7,782  
  Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)
    (1,804 )     4,217  
  Treasury stock, at cost (6,414,906 and 4,110,500 shares, respectively)
    (227,569 )     (156,026 )
             
   
 
       
Total stockholders’ equity
      578,865       647,700  
             
   
 
         
 
  $ 3,891,452     $ 4,011,498  
             
   
 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

- 46 -

DOLLAR THRIFTY AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY AND COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2007, 2006 AND 2005
(In Thousands Except Share and Per Share Data)

                                                                         
             
Common Stock
            $.01 Par Value            
 

Additional
    Retained
Earnings
(Accumulated
    Accumulated
Other
Comprehensive
   

   Treasury Stock    
 
Total
Stockholders'
 
 
  Shares   Amount     Capital     Deficit)     Income (Loss)     Shares     Amount     Equity  
 
                                             
BALANCE, JANUARY 1, 2005
    25,910,030   $ 259     $ 748,261     $ (120,265 )   $ 2,694       (870,300 )   $ (22,206 )   $ 608,743  
 
Issuance of common shares for
director compensation
  1,214     -       42       -       -       -       -       42  
 
Stock option transactions, including
tax benefit
  978,831     10       21,544       -       -       -       -       21,554  
 
Purchase of common stock for the treasury
  -     -       -       -       -       (681,300 )     (22,512 )     (22,512 )
 
Performance share incentive plan
  -     -       3,699       -       -       -       -       3,699  
 
  Issuance of common stock in settlement
of vested performance shares
   28,268     -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
 
Restricted stock for director
compensation
  -     -       844       -       -       -       -       844  
 
  Issuance of common shares
  3,500     -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
 
Comprehensive income:
                                                           
   
Net income
  -     -       -       76,355       -       -       -       76,355  
   
Foreign currency translation
  -     -       -       -       1,703       -       -       1,703  
 
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
Total comprehensive income
  -     -       -       76,355       1,703       -       -       78,058  
 
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 2005
    26,921,843     269       774,390       (43,910 )     4,397       (1,551,600 )     (44,718 )     690,428  
 
Issuance of common shares for
director compensation
  1,716     -       78       -       -       -       -       78  
 
Stock option transactions
  426,442     4       7,395       -       -       -       -       7,399  
 
Purchase of common stock for the treasury
  -     -       -       -       -       (2,558,900 )     (111,308 )     (111,308 )
 
Performance share incentive plan
  -     -       8,541       -       -       -       -       8,541  
 
  Issuance of common stock in settlement
of vested performance shares
   237,866     2       -       -       -       -       -       2  
 
Restricted stock for director
compensation
  -     -       1,048       -       -       -       -       1,048  
 
  Issuance of common shares
  7,000     -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
 
Comprehensive income:
                                                           
   
Net income
  -     -       -       51,692       -       -       -       51,692  
   
Foreign currency translation
  -     -       -       -       (180 )     -       -       (180 )
 
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
Total comprehensive income
  -     -       -       51,692       (180 )     -       -       51,512  
 
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 2006
    27,594,867     275       791,452       7,782       4,217       (4,110,500 )     (156,026 )     647,700  
 
Issuance of common shares for
director compensation
  38,148     -       573       -       -       -       -       573  
 
Stock option transactions
  61,865     1       1,093       -       -       -       -       1,094  
 
Purchase of common stock for the treasury
  -     -       -       -       -       (2,304,406 )     (71,543 )     (71,543 )
 
Performance share incentive plan
  -     -       5,317       -       -       -       -       5,317  
 
  Issuance of common stock in settlement
of vested performance shares
   201,665     2       -       -       -       -       -       2  
 
Restricted stock for director
compensation
  -     -       1,014       -       -       -       -       1,014  
 
  Issuance of common shares
  6,713     -       -       -       -       -       -       -  
 
Comprehensive income:
                                                           
   
Net income
  -     -       -       1,215       -       -       -       1,215  
   
Cumulative effect of adopting
FIN No. 48
                        (486 )                             (486 )
   
Interest rate swap
                                (11,978 )                     (11,978 )
   
Foreign currency translation
  -     -       -       -       5,957       -       -       5,957  
 
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
Total comprehensive income
  -     -       -       729       (6,021 )     -       -       (5,292 )
 
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
BALANCE, DECEMBER 31, 2007
    27,903,258   $ 278     $ 799,449     $ 8,511     $ (1,804 )     (6,414,906 )   $ (227,569 )   $ 578,865  
 
 
 
   
   
   
   
   
   
 

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

- 47 -

DOLLAR THRIFTY AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2007, 2006 AND 2005
(In Thousands)

                                       
                  2007     2006     2005  
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
                       
 
Net income
$ 1,215     $ 51,692     $ 76,355  
 
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by
operating activities:
                     
   
Depreciation:
                     
     
Vehicle depreciation
  493,712       387,350       326,632  
     
Non-vehicle depreciation
  21,704       20,343       20,709  
     
Net gains from disposition of revenue-earning vehicles
  (18,745 )     (14,491 )     (41,431 )
     
Amortization
  6,386       6,410       6,088  
     
Write-off of software
  3,831       -       -  
     
Interest income earned on restricted cash and investments
  (13,975 )     (16,896 )     (11,045 )
     
Performance share incentive and restricted stock plan
  7,682       11,130       4,543  
     
Net losses from sale of property and equipment
  66       63       51  
     
Provision for losses on receivables
  1,022       415       4,334  
     
Deferred income taxes
  7,977       30,693       42,940  
     
(Increase) decrease in fair value of derivatives
  38,990       9,363       (29,725 )
   
Change in assets and liabilities, net of acquisitions:
                     
     
Income taxes payable/receivable
  (8,577 )     (10,792 )     11,964  
     
Receivables
  (9,478 )     (29,927 )     (11,522 )
     
Prepaid expenses and other assets
  16,167       6,546       6,068  
     
Accounts payable
  13,194       (8,930 )     8,320  
     
Accrued liabilities
  (34,226 )     15,956       12,880  
     
Vehicle insurance reserves
  6,113       3,308       12,437  
     
Other
  4,252       (342 )     1,422  
             
   
   
 
     
Net cash provided by operating activities
  537,310       461,891       441,020  
             
   
   
 
 
                       
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
                       
 
Revenue-earning vehicles:
                     
     
Purchases
  (4,019,775 )     (4,182,123 )     (3,919,650 )
     
Proceeds from sales
  3,372,366       3,387,672       3,687,368  
 
Net change in restricted cash and investments
  270,824       412,392       (319,030 )
 
Property, equipment and software:
                     
     
Purchases
  (40,647 )     (35,814 )     (31,766 )
     
Proceeds from sales
  1,215       32       3,282  
 
Acquisition of businesses, net of cash acquired
  (30,292 )     (34,475 )     (5,224 )
             
   
   
 
     
Net cash used in investing activities
  (446,309 )     (452,316 )     (585,020 )
             
   
   
 
 
                       
     
 
                  (Continued)  

 

- 48 -

 

 

DOLLAR THRIFTY AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2007, 2006 AND 2005
(In Thousands)

                                       
                  2007     2006     2005  
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
                       
 
Debt and other obligations:
                     
     
Proceeds from vehicle debt and other obligations
  3,650,743       6,619,828       5,450,924  
     
Payments of vehicle debt and other obligations
  (3,987,224 )     (6,600,505 )     (5,226,403 )
     
Proceeds from non-vehicle
  250,000       -       -  
     
Payments of non-vehicle debt
  (1,250 )     -       -  
     
Payments of debt assumed through acquisition
  (14,092 )     -       -  
 
Issuance of common shares
  1,669       7,479       17,016  
 
Purchase of common stock for the treasury
  (71,543 )     (111,308 )     (22,512 )
 
Financing issue costs
  (10,260 )     (7,387 )     (5,179 )
             
   
   
 
     
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
  (181,957 )     (91,893 )     213,846  
             
   
   
 
CHANGE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
    (90,956 )     (82,318 )     69,846  
 
                       
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS:
                       
 
Beginning of year
  191,981       274,299       204,453  
             
   
   
 
 
End of year
$ 101,025     $ 191,981     $ 274,299  
             
   
   
 
 
                       
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
                       
 
Cash paid for/(refund of):
                     
     
Income taxes to (from) taxing authorities
$ 12,396     $ 15,246     $ (751 )
             
   
   
 
     
Interest
$ 128,779     $ 118,886     $ 99,450  
             
   
   
 
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURES OF NONCASH ACTIVITIES:
                       
 
Issuance of common stock for director compensation
$ 573     $ 78     $ 42  
             
   
   
 
 
Receivables from capital lease of vehicles to franchisees
$ -     $ 917     $ 1,106  
             
   
   
 
 
Purchases of property, equipment and software included
in accounts payable
$ 4,632     $ 2,752     $ 5,187  
             
   
   
 
 
                       
 
 
                  (Concluded)  

See notes to consolidated financial statements.

 

- 49 -

DOLLAR THRIFTY AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2007, 2006 AND 2005

1.

BASIS OF PRESENTATION

Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. (“DTG”) is the successor to Pentastar Transportation Group, Inc. Prior to December 23, 1997, DTG was a wholly owned subsidiary of Chrysler LLC, formerly known as DaimlerChrysler Corporation (such entity and its subsidiaries and members of its affiliated group are hereinafter referred to as “Chrysler”). On December 23, 1997, DTG completed an initial public offering of all its outstanding common stock owned by Chrysler together with additional shares issued by DTG.

The Company operates under a corporate structure that combines the management of operations and administrative functions for both the Dollar and Thrifty brands. Management makes business and operating decisions on an overall company basis. Financial results are no longer available by brand.

DTG’s significant wholly owned subsidiaries include DTG Operations, Inc., Dollar Rent A Car, Inc., Thrifty, Inc., Rental Car Finance Corp. (“RCFC”) and Dollar Thrifty Funding Corp. (“DTFC”). Thrifty, Inc. is the parent company to Thrifty Car Sales, Inc. and Thrifty Rent-A-Car System, Inc., which is the parent company to Thrifty Rent-A-Car System, Inc. National Advertising Committee (“Thrifty National Ad”) and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group Canada Inc. (“DTG Canada”). Thrifty National Ad was terminated effective January 1, 2008. DTG Canada has a partnership agreement with an unrelated bank’s conduit, which included the creation of a limited partnership, TCL Funding Limited Partnership, which is appropriately consolidated with DTG and subsidiaries. RCFC and DTFC are special purpose financing entities, which were formed in 1995 and 1998, respectively, and are appropriately consolidated with DTG and subsidiaries. RCFC and DTFC are each separate legal entities whose assets are not available to satisfy any claims of creditors of DTG or any of its other subsidiaries. The term the “Company” is used to refer to DTG and subsidiaries, individually or collectively, as the context may require. Dollar Rent A Car, Inc., the Dollar brand and DTG Operations, Inc. operating under the Dollar brand are individually and collectively referred to hereinafter as “Dollar”. Thrifty, Inc., Thrifty Rent-A-Car System, Inc., Thrifty Car Sales, Inc., the Thrifty brand and DTG Operations, Inc. operating under the Thrifty brand are individually and collectively referred to hereinafter as “Thrifty”. Intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

2.

SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Nature of Business – The Company operates in the United States and Canada and, through its Dollar and Thrifty brands, is primarily engaged in the business of the daily rental of vehicles to business and leisure customers through company-owned stores. The Company also leases vehicles to franchisees for use in the daily vehicle rental business, sells vehicle rental franchises worldwide and provides sales and marketing, reservations, data processing systems, insurance and other services to franchisees. RCFC and DTFC provide vehicle financing to the Company.

Estimates – The preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts and disclosures in the consolidated financial statements. Actual results could differ materially from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents – Cash and cash equivalents include cash on hand and on deposit, including highly liquid investments with initial maturities of three months or less.

Restricted Cash and Investments – Restricted cash and investments are restricted for the acquisition of vehicles and other specified uses under the rental car asset backed note indenture

 

- 50 -

and other agreements (Note 10). A portion of these funds is restricted due to the like-kind exchange tax program for deferred tax gains on eligible vehicle remarketing. These funds are primarily held in a highly rated money market fund with investments primarily in government and corporate obligations with a dollar-weighted average maturity not to exceed 60 days, as permitted by the indenture. Restricted cash and investments are excluded from cash and cash equivalents. Interest earned on restricted cash and investments was $13,975,000, $16,896,000 and $11,045,000, for 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively, and remains in restricted cash and investments.

Allowance for Doubtful Accounts – An allowance for doubtful accounts is generally established during the period in which receivables are recorded. The allowance is maintained at a level deemed appropriate based on loss experience and other factors affecting collectibility.

Financing Issue Costs – Financing issue costs related to vehicle debt and the Senior Secured Credit Facilities are deferred and amortized to interest expense over the term of the related debt using the effective interest method.

Revenue-Earning Vehicles – Revenue-earning vehicles are stated at cost, net of related discounts. The Company generally purchases 50% to 60% of its vehicles for which residual values are determined by depreciation rates that are established and guaranteed by the manufacturers (“Program Vehicles”). The remaining 40% to 50% of the Company’s vehicles are purchased without the benefit of a manufacturer residual value guaranty program (“Non-Program Vehicles”). Also, the Company may convert vehicles originally acquired as Program Vehicles to Non-Program Vehicles on an opportunistic basis to lower vehicle depreciation costs. For these Non-Program Vehicles, the Company must estimate what the residual values of these vehicles will be at the expected time of disposal to determine monthly depreciation rates. The Company continually evaluates estimated residual values. Differences between actual residual values and those estimated by the Company result in a gain or loss on disposal and are recorded as an adjustment to depreciation expense. The average holding term for vehicles is seven to nine months.

Property and Equipment – Property and equipment are recorded at cost and are depreciated or amortized using principally the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the related assets. Estimated useful lives range from ten to thirty years for buildings and improvements and three to seven years for furniture and equipment. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the estimated useful lives of the related assets or leases, whichever is shorter.

Intangible Assets – Software and other intangible assets are recorded at cost and amortized using the straight-line method primarily over five years. The remaining useful life of all intangible assets is evaluated annually to assess whether events and circumstances warrant a revision to the remaining amortization period.

Reacquired franchise rights, established upon reacquiring a previously franchised location, are not amortized as they have an indefinite life, rather they are tested annually for impairment in accordance with Emerging Issues Task Force ("EITF") No. 04-1, "Accounting for Preexisting Relationships between the Parties to a Business Combination" ("EITF No. 04-1") (Note 8).

Goodwill – The excess of acquisition costs over the fair value of net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets,” goodwill is no longer amortized but instead is tested for impairment at least annually (Note 9).

Long–Lived Assets – The Company reviews the value of long-lived assets, including software and other intangible assets, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of an asset may not be recoverable based upon estimated future cash flows.

Accounts Payable – Book overdrafts of $16,333,000 and $21,491,000 are included in accounts payable at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

 

- 51 -

Derivative Instruments – The Company uses SFAS No. 133 “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”, as amended (“SFAS No. 133”), which requires that all derivatives be recorded on the balance sheet as either assets or liabilities measured at their fair value, and that changes in the derivatives’ fair value be recognized currently in earnings unless specific hedge accounting criteria are met. Beginning in 2001 and continuing through 2006, the Company entered into interest rate swap agreements. These interest rate swap agreements do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment under SFAS No. 133; therefore, the changes in the interest rate swap agreements’ fair values have been recognized as an (increase) decrease in fair value of derivatives in the consolidated statement of income. In May 2007, the Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement related to the 2007 Series notes (hereinafter defined) which constitutes a cash flow hedge and qualifies for hedge accounting treatment under SFAS No. 133, utilizing the “long-haul” method (Note 11).

Vehicle Insurance Reserves – Provisions for public liability and property damage and supplemental liability insurance (“SLI”) on self-insured claims are made by charges primarily to direct vehicle and operating expense. Accruals for such charges are based upon actuarially determined evaluations of estimated ultimate liabilities on reported and unreported claims, prepared on at least an annual basis. Historical data related to the amount and timing of payments for self-insured claims is utilized in preparing the actuarial evaluations. The accrual for public liability and property damage claims is discounted based upon the actuarially determined estimated timing of payments to be made in the future. Management reviews the actual timing of payments as compared with the annual actuarial estimate of timing of payments and has determined that there have been no material differences in the timing of payments for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2007. Because of less predictability, self-insured reserves for SLI are not discounted.

Foreign Currency Translation – Foreign assets and liabilities are translated using the exchange rate in effect at the balance sheet date, and results of operations are translated using an average rate for the period. Translation adjustments are accumulated and reported as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income.

Revenue Recognition – Revenues from vehicle rentals are recognized as earned on a daily basis under the related rental contracts with customers. Revenues from leasing vehicles to franchisees are principally under operating leases with fixed monthly payments and are recognized as earned over the lease terms. Revenues from fees and services include providing sales and marketing, reservations, information systems and other services to franchisees. Revenues from these services are generally based on a percentage of franchisee rental revenue or upon providing reservations and are recognized as earned on a monthly basis. Initial franchise fees, which are recorded to other revenues, are recognized upon substantial completion of all material services and conditions of the franchise sale, which coincides with the date of sale and commencement of operations by the franchisee.

Advertising Costs – Advertising costs are primarily expensed as incurred. The Company incurred advertising expense of $34,111,000, $37,584,000 and $35,269,000, for 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

Environmental Costs – The Company’s operations include the storage of gasoline in underground storage tanks at certain company-owned stores. Liabilities incurred in connection with the remediation of accidental fuel discharges are recorded when it is probable that obligations have been incurred and the amounts can be reasonably estimated.

Contingent Rent – The Company recognizes contingent rent expense associated with certain airport concession agreements monthly as incurred since the Company’s achievement of the annual targeted qualifying revenues is probable.

Income Taxes – U.S. operating results are included in the Company’s consolidated U.S. income tax returns. The Company has provided for income taxes on its separate taxable income or loss and other tax attributes. Deferred income taxes are provided for the temporary differences between the

 

- 52 -

financial reporting basis and the tax basis of the Company’s assets and liabilities. A valuation allowance is recorded for deferred income tax assets when management determines it is more likely than not that such assets will not be realized. The Company has established a valuation allowance related to DTG Canada and a portion of the Company’s state net operating losses.

Earnings Per Share – Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) is computed by dividing net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period. Diluted EPS is based on the combined weighted average number of common shares and common share equivalents outstanding which include, where appropriate, the assumed exercise of options. In computing diluted EPS, the Company has utilized the treasury stock method.

Stock-Based Compensation – The Company previously adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation,” ("SFAS No. 123") changing from the intrinsic value-based method to the fair value-based method of accounting for stock-based compensation, and elected the prospective treatment option, which requires recognition as compensation expense for all future employee awards granted, modified or settled as allowed under SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation – Transition and Disclosure” ("SFAS No. 148"), an amendment of SFAS No. 123. The Company adopted SFAS No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment,” (“SFAS No. 123(R)”) as required on January 1, 2006 (See "New Accounting Standards").

 

All performance share and restricted stock awards are accounted for using the fair value-based method in accordance with SFAS No. 123 and SFAS No. 123(R) for the 2007, 2006 and 2005 periods. The Company did not issue stock options in 2007, 2006 or 2005.

New Accounting Standards – As discussed in Note 13, in December 2004, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment” (“SFAS No.123(R)”), which eliminates the intrinsic value measurement method of accounting in Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees," and generally requires measuring the cost of the employee services received in exchange for an award of equity instruments based on the fair value of the award on the date of the grant. The standard requires grant date fair value to be estimated using either an option-pricing model that is consistent with the terms of the award or a market observed price, if such a price exists. Such costs must be recognized over the period during which an employee is required to provide service in exchange for the award. The standard also requires estimating the number of instruments that will ultimately be issued, rather than accounting for forfeitures as they occur. The Company adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 123(R) on January 1, 2006 using the “modified prospective” method. Under the “modified prospective” method, compensation cost is recognized in the financial statements beginning with the effective date, based on the requirements of SFAS No. 123(R) for all share-based payments granted after that date, and based on the requirements of SFAS No. 123 for all unvested awards granted prior to the effective date of SFAS No. 123(R). The Company had previously adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (“SFAS No. 123”) beginning January 1, 2003 changing from the intrinsic value-based method to the fair value-based method of accounting for stock-based compensation and electing the prospective treatment option, which required recognition as compensation expense for all future employee awards granted, modified or settled as allowed under SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation – Transition and Disclosure,” an amendment of SFAS No. 123. Thus, the adoption of SFAS 123(R) did not have a material effect on the consolidated financial statements of the Company.

Under SFAS No. 123, the Company used the closing market price of the Company’s common shares on the date of grant to estimate the fair value of restricted stock and performance shares. No options were granted after January 1, 2003. As discussed more fully in Note 13, upon adoption of SFAS No. 123(R), the Company continued to utilize the closing market price of the Company’s common shares on the date of grant to estimate the fair value of restricted stock and the performance based portion of performance share awards. The Company began to utilize a lattice-based option valuation model to estimate the fair value of the market condition based portion of performance share awards, as management believes this model is more flexible than the Black-Scholes model, as it allows for more estimated inputs that can be varied throughout the term of the award.

 

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At December 31, 2007, the total compensation cost related to nonvested performance share awards not yet recognized is estimated at approximately $6,400,000 depending upon the Company’s performance against targets specified in the performance share agreement. This estimated compensation cost is expected to be recognized over the weighted-average period of 1.7 years.

On November 10, 2005, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) No. FAS 123(R)-3 “Transition Election Related to Accounting for the Tax Effects of Share-Based Payment Awards” (“FSP No. 123(R)-3”). As discussed in Note 13, the Company adopted the alternative transition method provided in FSP No. 123(R)-3 for calculating the tax effects of stock-based compensation pursuant to SFAS No. 123(R) effective January 1, 2006. The alternative transition method allows the use of a simplified method to establish the beginning balance of the additional paid-in capital pool (“APIC pool”) related to the tax effects of stock-based compensation, and to determine the subsequent impact on the APIC pool and consolidated statements of cash flows of the tax effects of stock-based compensation awards that are outstanding upon adoption of SFAS No. 123(R). The adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In June 2006, the FASB ratified the consensus reached by the EITF in EITF Issue No. 06-3, “How Taxes Collected from Customers and Remitted to Governmental Authorities Should Be Presented in the Income Statement (That Is, Gross versus Net Presentation)” (“EITF No. 06-3”). The EITF reached a consensus that the presentation of the types of taxes included in the scope of EITF No. 06-3 on either a gross or a net basis is an accounting policy decision that should be disclosed. The Company reports revenues net of these taxes in its consolidated statements of income.

In June 2006, the FASB issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes” (“FIN No. 48”), an interpretation of SFAS No. 109, “Accounting for Income Taxes”. FIN No. 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes by prescribing a recognition threshold for tax positions taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. FIN No. 48 is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2006. The Company adopted the provisions of FIN No. 48 as required on January 1, 2007. The adoption of FIN No. 48 had no material liability for unrecognized tax benefits, no material adjustments to the Company’s opening financial position were required and thus, no material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In September 2006, the FASB issued SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements” (“SFAS No. 157”), which is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. This statement defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands the related disclosure requirements. The Company adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 157 as required on January 1, 2008, except for nonfinancial assets and nonfinancial liabilities that are subject to delayed adoption. The Company is currently evaluating the impact SFAS No. 157 will have on its consolidated financial position and results of operations.

In September 2006, the Staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108, “Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements” (“SAB No. 108”).  SAB No. 108 provides guidance on the consideration of the effects of prior year misstatements in quantifying current year misstatements for the purpose of determining whether the current year’s financial statements are materially misstated. SAB No. 108 is effective for fiscal years ending after November 15, 2006. The Company adopted the provisions of SAB No. 108 as of December 31, 2006, as required. Adoption of SAB No. 108 did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, “The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities – including an amendment of FASB Statement No. 115” (“SFAS No. 159”). This statement permits entities to make an irrevocable election to measure certain financial instruments and other assets and liabilities at fair value on an instrument-by-instrument basis. Unrealized gains and losses on items for which the fair value option has been elected should be recognized in earnings at each subsequent reporting date. SFAS No. 159 is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007. The Company adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 159 as required on January 1, 2008 and is currently evaluating the impact SFAS No. 159 will have on its consolidated financial position and results of operations.

 

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In May 2007, the FASB issued FASB Staff Position (“FSP”) No. FIN 48-1, “Definition of Settlement in FASB Interpretation No. 48” (“FSP No. FIN 48-1”). This FSP amends FIN No. 48 to provide guidance on how an enterprise should determine whether a tax position is effectively settled for the purpose of recognizing previously unrecognized tax benefits under FIN No. 48. The Company applied the provisions of FSP No. FIN 48-1 upon the initial adoption of FIN No. 48 on January 1, 2007, as required. The application of this FSP did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial position or results of operations.

In December 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 141(R), “Business Combinations” (“SFAS No. 141(R)”) and SFAS No. 160, “Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Financial Statements – an amendment of ARB No. 51” (“SFAS No. 160”) which are both effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2008. SFAS No. 141(R) requires the acquirer to recognize assets and liabilities and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree at the acquisition date at fair value and requires the acquirer in a step-acquisition to recognize the identifiable assets and liabilities at the full amounts of their fair value. SFAS No. 160 amends ARB No. 51 to establish accounting and reporting standards for the noncontrolling interest in a subsidiary and the deconsolidation of a subsidiary and changes the layout of the consolidated income statement and classifies noncontrolling interests as equity in the consolidated balance sheet. The Company plans to adopt the provisions of SFAS No. 141(R) and SFAS No. 160 as required on January 1, 2009. The Company is currently evaluating the impact SFAS No. 141(R) and SFAS No. 160 will have on its consolidated financial position and results of operations.

3.

EARNINGS PER SHARE

The computation of weighted average common and common equivalent shares used in the calculation of basic and diluted EPS is shown below:

                                       
                Year Ended December 31,  
               
 
                  2007     2006     2005  
                (In Thousands, Except Share and Per Share Data)
 
 
     
Net Income
    $ 1,215     $ 51,692     $ 76,355  
                 
   
   
 
     
Basic EPS:
                         
       
Weighted average common shares
      22,580,298       24,195,933       25,120,617  
                 
   
   
 
     
Basic EPS
    $ 0.05     $ 2.14     $ 3.04  
                 
   
   
 
     
Diluted EPS:
                         
       
Weighted average common shares
      22,580,298       24,195,933       25,120,617  
                                       
     
Shares contingently issuable:
                         
       
Stock options
      168,075       264,098       351,260  
       
Performance awards
      283,161       419,313       613,616  
       
Employee compensation shares deferred
      414,518       270,085       181,747  
       
Director compensation shares deferred
      179,560       169,370       138,230  
                 
   
   
 
     
Shares applicable to diluted
      23,625,612       25,318,799       26,405,470  
                 
   
   
 
     
Diluted EPS
    $ 0.05     $ 2.04     $ 2.89  
                 
   
   
 

 

At December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, all options to purchase shares of common stock were included in the computation of diluted EPS because no exercise price was greater than the average market price of the common shares.

 

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4.

ACQUISITIONS

In 2007, the Company added seven locations by acquiring its former franchisee in Seattle, Washington and Portland, Oregon. The Company also acquired certain assets and assumed certain liabilities relating to 29 locations from former franchisees in Pittsburgh, Middletown/Harrisburg, Allentown and Erie, Pennsylvania; McAllen, Texas; Burlington, Vermont; Knoxville, Tennessee; Louisville, Kentucky; Providence, Rhode Island; Kansas City and Springfield, Missouri; Wichita, Kansas; Omaha and Lincoln, Nebraska; and Des Moines, Iowa for the Thrifty brand and in Allentown, Pennsylvania and Wichita, Kansas for the Dollar brand. During 2006, the Company acquired certain assets and assumed certain liabilities relating to 35 locations from former franchisees in Little Rock, Arkansas; Providence, Rhode Island; Cincinnati, Columbus and Dayton, Ohio; Milwaukee and Madison, Wisconsin; Pensacola, Florida; Phoenix, Arizona; Reno, Nevada; El Paso and San Antonio, Texas for the Thrifty brand and in Nashville, Tennessee; Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Oklahoma; Minneapolis, Minnesota; Madison, Wisconsin; and El Paso, Texas for the Dollar brand. During 2005, the Company acquired certain assets and assumed certain liabilities relating to 12 locations from former franchisees in Jacksonville, Melbourne and Cape Canaveral, Florida; San Jose, California; Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Louisiana and Albuquerque and Santa Fe, New Mexico for the Thrifty brand. Total cash paid, net of cash acquired, for these acquisitions was $30,292,000, $34,475,000 and $5,224,000 in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

Beginning January 1, 2005, the Company adopted the provisions of EITF No. 04-1. EITF No. 04-1 affirms that a business combination between two parties that have a preexisting relationship should be accounted for as a multiple element transaction. This includes determining how the cost of the combination should be allocated after considering the assets and liabilities that existed between the parties prior to the combination. Adoption of EITF No. 04-1 impacted the way in which the Company accounts for certain business combination transactions through establishing identifiable intangibles, other than goodwill, such as reacquired franchise rights through the Company’s acquisitions of franchisee operations. At December 31, 2007, the Company had recognized an unamortized intangible asset for reacquired franchise rights totaling $69,201,000 (Note 8).

The Company recognized $147,000 in goodwill related to acquisition transactions during 2007 and did not recognize any goodwill related to acquisition transactions during 2006 or 2005. Reacquired franchise rights and a portion of goodwill are both deductible for tax purposes. The Company may have an adjustment or subsequent settlement to the purchase price of an acquisition affecting the recorded amount of goodwill or reacquired franchise rights and the allocation of the purchase price. Historically, these purchase price adjustments have not been material. Each of the acquisitions has been accounted for using the purchase method of accounting and operating results of the acquirees from the dates of acquisition are included in the consolidated statements of income of the Company. Acquisitions made in each year are not material individually or collectively to amounts presented for each of the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005.

 

 

 

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5.

RECEIVABLES

Receivables consist of the following:

                         
            December 31,  
           
 
            2007       2006  
            (In Thousands)
 
 
                       
   
Trade accounts receivable
  $ 109,833     $ 114,492  
   
Due from Chrysler
    95,023       95,223  
   
Car sales receivable
    22,125       19,384  
   
Other vehicle manufacturer receivables
    15,809       7,781  
   
Fair value of interest rate swap
    1,078       14,271  
   
Notes receivable
    250       1,159  
 
 
 

   

 
   
 
    244,118       252,310  
   
Less allowance for doubtful accounts
    (5,991 )     (9,961 )
 
 
 

   

 
       
 
$ 238,127     $ 242,349  
 
 
 

   

 

 

Trade accounts and notes receivable include primarily amounts due from rental customers, franchisees and tour operators arising from billings under standard credit terms for services provided in the normal course of business. Notes receivable are generally issued to certain franchisees at current market interest rates with varying maturities and are generally guaranteed by franchisees.

Due from Chrysler is comprised primarily of amounts due under various guaranteed residual, buyback, incentive and promotion programs, which are paid according to contract terms and are generally received within 60 days.

Car sales receivable include primarily amounts due from car sale auctions for the sale of both Program and Non-Program Vehicles.

Other vehicle manufacturer receivables include primarily amounts due under guaranteed residual, buyback and incentive programs, which are paid according to contract terms and are generally received within 60 days.

Fair value of interest rate swap represents the fair market value on interest rate swap agreements (Note 11).

6.

REVENUE–EARNING VEHICLES

Revenue-earning vehicles consist of the following:

                         
            December 31,  
           
 
            2007       2006  
            (In Thousands)
 
 
                       
   
Revenue-earning vehicles
  $ 3,085,649     $ 2,834,060  
   
Less accumulated depreciation
    (277,295 )     (210,341 )
 
 
 

   

 
       
 
$ 2,808,354     $ 2,623,719  
 
 
 

   

 

 

Dollar and Thrifty entered into U.S. vehicle supply agreements (the “VSA”) with Chrysler, which commenced with the 1997 model year. The VSA provides that the Company will purchase at least 75% of its vehicles from Chrysler until a certain minimum level is reached, of which 80% will be Program Vehicles and 20% will be Non-Program. In September 2006, the VSA was amended to enable the Company to acquire vehicles through the 2011 model year. Under the terms of the VSA,

 

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Dollar and Thrifty will advertise and promote Chrysler products exclusively, and the Company will receive promotional payments from Chrysler for each model year. Purchases of revenue–earning vehicles from Chrysler were $3,426,078,000, $3,714,080,000 and $3,454,082,000 during 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

Vehicle acquisition terms provide for guaranteed residual values in the U.S. or buybacks in Canada on the majority of vehicles, under specified conditions. Guaranteed residual and buyback payments provide the Company sufficient proceeds on disposition of revenue-earning vehicles to realize the carrying value of these vehicles. Payments received are included in proceeds from sales of revenue-earning vehicles and applied against the related receivables reflected in Due from Chrysler within Receivables, net on the balance sheet (Note 5). Additionally, the Company receives other incentives primarily related to the disposal of revenue-earning vehicles, which amounts have been reflected as offsets to vehicle depreciation expense in the consolidated statements of income. Promotional payments received under the VSA are recognized as a reduction of the cost of the vehicles when acquired. The Company also receives interest reimbursement for Program Vehicles while at auction and for certain delivery related interest costs, which amounts are reflected as offsets in interest expense, net. The aggregate amount of payments recognized from Chrysler for guaranteed residual value program payments, promotional payments, interest reimbursement and other incentives, other than recovery costs, totaled $771,485,000, $784,595,000 and $842,071,000 in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively, of which a substantial portion of the payments relate to the Company’s guaranteed residual value program and are included in Due from Chrysler within Receivables, net on the consolidated balance sheet. Buyback payments received from the Canadian subsidiary of Chrysler were $133,144,000, $172,191,000 and $154,029,000 in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively, and are included in Due from Chrysler within Receivables, net on the consolidated balance sheet.

Additionally, the Company acquires both Program and Non-Program Vehicles from other manufacturers. Rent expense for vehicles leased from other vehicle manufacturers and third parties under operating leases was $2,886,000, $7,146,000 and $9,556,000 for 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively, and is included in vehicle depreciation and lease charges, net. Amounts due over the next five years for vehicles under operating leases with terms greater than one year total $1,163,000 and are payable as $966,000 in 2008, $197,000 in 2009 and no amounts due in 2010, 2011, or 2012.

7.

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT

Major classes of property and equipment consist of the following:

                         
            December 31,  
           
 
            2007       2006  
            (In Thousands)
 
 
   
Land
  $ 12,240     $ 13,028  
   
Buildings and improvements
    22,575       20,078  
   
Furniture and equipment
    93,905       87,407  
   
Leasehold improvements
    129,542       114,899  
   
Construction in progress
    13,876       12,620  
 
 
 

   

 
   
 
    272,138       248,032  
   
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization
    (149,835 )     (131,245 )
 
 
 

   

 
       
 
$ 122,303     $ 116,787  
 
 
 

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

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8.

INTANGIBLE ASSETS

                         
            December 31,  
           
 
            2007       2006  
            (In Thousands)
 
 
   
Amortized intangible assets
               
   
   Software and other intangible assets
  $ 77,888     $ 65,521  
   
   Less accumulated amortization
    (43,312 )     (36,997 )
 
 
 

   

 
       
 
  34,576       28,524  
   
 
               
   
Unamortized intangible assets
               
   
   Reacquired franchise rights
    69,201       37,636  
 
 
 

   

 
   
Total intangible assets
  $ 103,777     $ 66,160  
 
 
 

   

 

 

 

 

 

During 2007, the Company wrote off $3.7 million of software, of which $3.2 million was made obsolete by the new Pros Fleet Management Software and $0.5 million related to software no longer in use. The $3.7 million is reflected in selling, general and administrative expense on the consolidated statement of income.

As discussed in Note 4, the Company adopted the provisions of EITF No. 04-1 on January 1, 2005. In applying the provisions of EITF No. 04-1 to the acquisitions completed subsequent to January 1, 2005, the Company established an unamortized separately identifiable intangible asset, referred to as reacquired franchise rights. Intangible assets with indefinite useful lives, such as reacquired franchise rights, are not amortized, but are subject to impairment testing annually, or more frequently if events and circumstances indicate there may be an impairment. Historically, the Company has elected to perform the annual impairment test on the indefinite lived intangible assets during the fourth quarter of each year, unless circumstances arise that require more frequent testing. However, in 2007, the Company changed this election to the second quarter and performed the annual impairment test of each reacquired franchise right and concluded no impairment was indicated. Additionally, in December 2007 based on weak economic conditions and lower than anticipated operating results, the Company reassessed its reacquired franchise rights for impairment and concluded as of December 31, 2007, that no impairment existed. The Company intends to perform its annual impairment test on reacquired franchise rights during the second quarter of each year, unless circumstances arise that require more frequent testing.

Intangible assets with finite useful lives are amortized over their respective useful lives. The aggregate amortization expense recognized for the software and other intangible assets subject to amortization was $6,386,000, $6,410,000 and $6,088,000 for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The estimated aggregate amortization expense for assets existing at December 31, 2007 for each of the next five years is as follows: $7,700,000, $8,400,000, $6,700,000, $5,500,000 and $4,300,000.

9.

GOODWILL

The Company has elected to perform the annual impairment test on goodwill during the second quarter of each year, unless circumstances arise that require more frequent testing. During the second quarter of 2007, the Company completed the annual impairment test of goodwill and concluded goodwill was not impaired.

In December 2007, the Company’s stock price fell below its book value indicating a triggering event to reassess goodwill for impairment. The Company performed an updated assessment of goodwill impairment as of December 31, 2007, including applying a reasonable control premium to the Company’s market value and a discounted cash flow analysis, and concluded that goodwill was not impaired. The Company will continue to assess goodwill on a quarterly basis through 2008 to test for potential impairment.

 

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The changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, are as follows:

                         
                         
            December 31,  
           
 
            2007       2006  
            (In Thousands)
 
 
   
Beginning balance
  $ 280,103     $ 280,122  
             
 
 
   
  Goodwill through acquisitions during the year
    147       -  
   
  Effect of change in rates used for
foreign currency translation
    1,174       (19 )
 
 
 

   

 
   
Ending balance
  $ 281,424     $ 280,103  
 
 
 

   

 

 

10.

DEBT AND OTHER OBLIGATIONS

Vehicle debt and obligations consist of the following (in thousands):

                           
              December 31,  
             
 
              2007       2006  
   
 
               
     
Vehicle debt and other obligations
               
     
Asset backed medium term notes
               
       
2007 Series notes
  $ 500,000     $ -  
       
2006 Series notes
    600,000       600,000  
       
2005 Series notes
    400,000       400,000  
       
2004 Series notes
    500,000       500,000  
       
2003 Series notes
    -       312,500  
 
 
   

   

 
         
 
  2,000,000       1,812,500  
        Discounts on asset backed medium term notes     (23 )     (32 )
 
 
   

   

 
          Asset backed medium term notes, net of discount     1,999,977       1,812,468  
     
Conduit Facility
    12,000       425,000  
     
Commercial paper, net of discount of $131 and $1,305
    25,851       178,951  
     
Other vehicle debt
    234,472       220,735  
     
Limited partner interest in limited partnership
    135,512       107,130  
 
 
   

   

 
       
Total vehicle debt and other obligations
    2,407,812       2,744,284  
 
 
   

   

 
     
 
               
     
Non-vehicle debt
               
     
Term Loan
    248,750       -  
 
 
   

   

 
       
Total non-vehicle debt
    248,750       -  
 
 
   

   

 
     
Total debt and other obligations
  $ 2,656,562     $ 2,744,284  
 
 
   

   

 

 

Asset Backed Medium Term Notes are comprised of rental car asset backed medium term notes issued by RCFC in May 2007 (the “2007 Series notes”), March 2006 (the “2006 Series notes”), April 2005 (the “2005 Series notes”), May 2004 (the “2004 Series notes”) and March 2003 (the “2003 Series notes”).

The 2007 Series notes are floating rate notes that were converted to a fixed rate of 5.16% by entering into interest rate swap agreements (Note 11) in conjunction with the issuance of the notes.

 

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The 2006 Series notes are floating rate notes that were converted to a fixed rate of 5.27% by entering into interest rate swap agreements (Note 11) in conjunction with the issuance of the notes.

The 2005 Series notes are comprised of $110 million 4.59% fixed rate notes and $290 million of floating rate notes. In conjunction with the issuance of the 2005 Series notes, the Company also entered into interest rate swap agreements (Note 11) to convert $190 million of the floating rate debt to fixed rate debt at a 4.58% interest rate. Additionally, in December 2006, the Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement to convert the remaining $100 million of the floating rate debt to fixed rate debt at a 5.09% interest rate.

The 2004 Series notes are floating rate notes that were converted to a fixed rate of 4.20% by entering into interest rate swap agreements (Note 11) in conjunction with the issuance of the notes.

The 2003 Series notes are floating rate notes that were converted to a fixed rate of 3.64% by entering into an interest rate swap agreement (Note 11) in conjunction with the issuance of the notes. During 2007, the 2003 Series notes were paid in full.

The assets of RCFC, including revenue-earning vehicles related to the asset backed medium term notes, restricted cash and investments, and certain receivables related to revenue-earning vehicles are available to satisfy the claims of its creditors. Dollar and Thrifty lease vehicles from RCFC under the terms of a master lease and servicing agreement. The asset backed medium term note indentures also provide for additional credit enhancement through over collateralization of the vehicle fleet, cash or letters of credit and maintenance of a liquidity reserve. RCFC is in compliance with the terms of the indentures.

The asset backed medium term note programs are covered by bond insurers (the “Monolines”) and each contain a minimum net worth covenant and an interest coverage covenant. The Company is in compliance with these covenants at December 31, 2007. The Company will amend the existing minimum net worth covenant in the Monoline agreements to exclude the impact of any potential goodwill write-down; or, if not amended, a violation of this covenant can be avoided by providing additional credit enhancement.

The asset backed medium term notes mature from 2008 through 2012 and are generally subject to repurchase by the Company on any payment date subject to a prepayment penalty.

Conduit Facility – On June 25, 2007, the asset backed Variable Funding Note Purchase Facility (the “Conduit”) was renewed for another 364-day period at a capacity of $300,000,000. Proceeds are used for financing of vehicle purchases and for periodic refinancing of asset backed notes. The Conduit generally bears interest at market-based commercial paper rates (5.86% and 5.72% at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively). The Company had $12,000,000 and $425,000,000 outstanding under the Conduit at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

The Conduit contains a minimum net worth covenant and an interest coverage covenant. The Company is in compliance with these covenants at December 31, 2007. The Company expects to modify the existing minimum net worth covenant upon renewal of the Conduit to exclude the impact of any potential goodwill write-down.

Commercial Paper – On June 25, 2007, the commercial paper program (the “Commercial Paper Program”), representing $545,000,000 of borrowing capacity as a part of the existing asset backed note program, was renewed for another 364-day period. Concurrently with the establishment of the Commercial Paper Program, DTFC also entered into a 364-day, $460,000,000 liquidity facility (the “Liquidity Facility”) to support the Commercial Paper Program. Proceeds are used for financing of vehicle purchases and for periodic refinancing of asset backed notes. The Liquidity Facility provides the Commercial Paper Program with an alternative source of funding if DTFC is unable to refinance maturing commercial paper by issuing new commercial paper. Commercial paper bears interest at rates ranging from 4.95% to 5.32% at December 31, 2007 and 5.33% to 5.38% at December 31, 2006 and matured within 30 days of December 31, 2007.

 

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The Commercial Paper Program contains a minimum net worth covenant and an interest coverage covenant. The Company is in compliance with these covenants at December 31, 2007. The Company expects to modify the existing minimum net worth covenant upon renewal of the Commercial Paper Program to exclude the impact of any potential goodwill write-down.

Other Vehicle Debt includes various lines of credit that are collateralized by the related vehicles, including up to $150,000,000 from vehicle manufacturers at December 31, 2007, and $162,000,000 in capacity from various banks at December 31, 2007. These lines of credit bear interest at varying rates based on LIBOR, prime or commercial paper rates. The weighted average variable interest rate for these lines of credit was 6.75% and 7.29% at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. These lines of credit are primarily renewable annually.

The vehicle manufacturer and bank lines of credit contain a leverage ratio covenant which requires that the Company’s corporate debt to corporate EBITDA be maintained within certain limits as defined in the respective agreements. The Company is in compliance with this covenant at December 31, 2007.

Limited Partner Interest in Limited Partnership – DTG Canada has a partnership agreement (the “Partnership Agreement”) with an unrelated bank’s conduit (the “Limited Partner”). This transaction included the creation of a limited partnership (TCL Funding Limited Partnership, the “Partnership”). DTG Canada is the General Partner of the Partnership. The purpose of the Partnership is to facilitate financing of Canadian vehicles. The Partnership Agreement of the Partnership expires on May 31, 2010. The Limited Partner has committed to funding CND$300,000,000 (approximately US$302,000,000 at December 31, 2007), which is funded through issuance and sale of notes in the Canadian commercial paper market.

DTG Canada, as General Partner, is allocated the remainder of the Partnership net income after distribution of the income share of the Limited Partner. The income share of the Limited Partner, which amounted to $7,850,000, $6,718,000 and $4,219,000 for the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively, is included in interest expense. Due to the nature of the relationship between DTG Canada and the Partnership, the accounts of the Partnership are appropriately consolidated with the Company. The Partnership Agreement requires the maintenance of certain letters of credit and contains various restrictive covenants, including a tangible net worth covenant. DTG Canada was in compliance with all such covenants and requirements at December 31, 2007.

Senior Secured Credit Facilities – On June 15, 2007, the Company entered into $600,000,000 in new senior secured credit facilities (the “Senior Secured Credit Facilities”) comprised of a $350,000,000 revolving credit facility (the “Revolving Credit Facility”) and a $250,000,000 term loan (the “Term Loan”). The Senior Secured Credit Facilities contain certain financial and other covenants, including a covenant that sets the maximum amount the Company can spend annually on the acquisition of non-vehicle capital assets, a maximum leverage ratio and a limitation on cash dividends and share repurchases, and are collateralized by a first priority lien on substantially all material non-vehicle assets of the Company. As of December 31, 2007, the Company is in compliance with all covenants.

The Revolving Credit Facility, which replaced the Company’s former $300,000,000 revolving credit facility, expires on June 15, 2013, and will be used to provide working capital borrowings and letters of credit. As of December 31, 2007, the Company is required to pay a 0.375% commitment fee on the unused available line, a 2.00% letter of credit fee on the aggregate amount of outstanding letters of credit and a 0.125% letter of credit issuance fee. Interest rates on loans under the Revolving Credit Facility are, at the option of the Company, based on either prime rates, which are payable quarterly, or Eurodollar rates, which are payable based on an elected interest period of one, two, three or six months. The Revolving Credit Facility permits the combination of letter of credit usage and working capital borrowing up to $350,000,000 with no sublimits on either. The Company had letters of credit of approximately $172,340,000 and $156,566,000 and no working capital borrowings outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility or its predecessor facility at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively.

 

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The Term Loan expires on June 15, 2014, and was used to repay asset backed vehicle debt, thereby providing additional credit enhancement to the vehicle financing facilities. The Term Loan allows the Company greater flexibility to finance Non-Program Vehicles and vehicle purchases from non-investment grade manufacturers. The Term Loan requires minimum quarterly principal payments which began in September 2007, but depending on the level of excess cash flows and other factors, the required principal payments may be increased. At December 31, 2007, the Company had $248,750,000 outstanding under the Term Loan.

Expected repayments of debt and other obligations outstanding at December 31, 2007 are as follows:

                                                       
          2008     2009     2010     2011     2012     Thereafter  
          (In Thousands)
 
 
 
                                                 
     
Asset backed medium term notes
$ 500,000     $               -     $ 500,000     $ 500,000     $ 500,000     $ -  
     
Conduit Facility
  12,000       -       -       -       -       -  
     
Commercial paper
  25,982       -       -       -       -       -  
     
Other vehicle debt
  234,472       -       -       -       -       -  
     
Limited partner interest
  135,512       -       -       -       -       -  
     
Term Loan
  2,500       2,500       2,500       2,500       2,500       236,250  
         
   
   
   
   
   
 
     
     Total
$ 910,466     $ 2,500     $ 502,500     $ 502,500     $ 502,500     $ 236,250  
         
   
   
   
   
   
 

 

11.

DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

The Company is exposed to market risks, such as changes in interest rates. Consequently, the Company manages the financial exposure as part of its risk management program, by striving to reduce the potentially adverse effects that the volatility of the financial markets may have on the Company’s operating results. The Company has used interest rate swap agreements, for each related new asset backed medium term note issuance in 2003 through 2007, to effectively convert variable interest rates on a total of $1.9 billion in asset backed medium term notes to fixed interest rates. These swaps have termination dates through July 2012. The Company reflects these swaps on its balance sheet at fair market value, which totaled approximately $47,825,000 at December 31, 2007, comprised of liabilities, included in accrued liabilities, of approximately $48,903,000 and assets, included in receivables, of approximately $1,078,000. At December 31, 2006, these swaps totaled $11,540,000 comprised of assets, included in receivables, of approximately $14,271,000, and liabilities, included in accrued liabilities, of approximately $2,731,000.

The interest rate swap agreements related to the asset backed medium term note issuances in 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 do not qualify for hedge accounting treatment under SFAS No. 133, “Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities”, as amended (“SFAS No. 133”); therefore, the change in the interest rate swap agreements’ fair values must be recognized as an (increase) decrease in fair value of derivatives in the consolidated statement of income. For the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, the Company recorded the related change in the fair value of the swap agreements of $38,990,000 and $9,363,000, respectively, as a net decrease in fair value of derivatives in its consolidated statements of income.

The interest rate swap agreement entered into in May 2007 related to the 2007 asset backed medium term note issuance (“2007 Swap”) constitutes a cash flow hedge and satisfies the criteria for hedge accounting under the “long-haul” method. Related to the 2007 Swap, the Company recorded a loss of $11,978,000, which is net of income taxes, in total comprehensive income for the year ended December 31, 2007. Deferred gains and losses are recognized in earnings as an adjustment to interest expense over the same period in which the related interest payments being hedged are recognized in earnings. Based on projected market interest rates, the Company estimates that approximately $2,900,000 of net deferred loss related to the 2007 Swap will be reclassified into earnings within the next twelve months.

 

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12.

STOCKHOLDERS’ RIGHTS PLAN

On July 23, 1998, the Company adopted a stockholders’ rights plan. The rights were issued on August 3, 1998, to stockholders of record on that date, and will expire on August 3, 2008, unless earlier redeemed, exchanged or amended by the Board of Directors.

The plan provides for the issuance of one right for each outstanding share of the Company’s common stock. Upon the acquisition by a person or group of 15% or more of the Company’s outstanding common stock, the rights generally will become exercisable and allow the stockholder, other than the acquiring person or group, to ultimately acquire common stock and the related voting rights at a steeply discounted price.

The plan also includes an exchange option after the rights become exercisable. The Board of Directors may effect an exchange of part or all of the rights, other than rights that have become void, for shares of the Company’s common stock for each right. The Board of Directors may redeem all rights for $.01 per right, generally at any time prior to the rights becoming exercisable.

The issuance of the rights had no dilutive effect on the number of common shares outstanding and did not affect EPS.

13.

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS INCLUDING SHARE-BASED PAYMENT PLANS

Employee Benefit Plans

The Company sponsors a retirement savings plan that incorporates the salary reduction provisions of Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code and covers substantially all employees of the Company meeting specific age and length of service requirements. The Company matches the employee’s contribution up to 6% of the employee’s eligible compensation in cash, subject to statutory limitations. Effective February 1, 2006, the Company no longer offers its Company stock as an investment option in the retirement savings plan for future contributions or transfers. Contributions expensed by the Company totaled $5,411,000, $6,071,000 and $5,718,000 in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

Included in accrued liabilities at December 31, 2007 and 2006 is $2,771,000 and $2,368,000, respectively, for employee health claims which are self-insured by the Company. The accrual includes amounts for incurred and incurred but not reported claims. The Company expensed $23,052,000, $20,995,000, and $24,943,000 for self-insured health claims incurred in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

The Company has bonus and profit sharing plans for all employees based on Company performance. For the year ended December 31, 2007, the Company fell short of the stated performance objectives, consequently, no expense related to these plans was recorded. Expense related to these plans was $13,584,000 and $14,163,000 in 2006 and 2005, respectively.

Deferred Compensation and Retirement Plans

The Company has deferred compensation and retirement plans, which are defined contribution plans that provide key executives with the opportunity to defer compensation, including related investment income. Under the deferred compensation plan, the Company contributes up to 7% of participant cash compensation. The Company also contributes annually to the retirement plan. However, on December 2, 2004, the Company discontinued the retirement plan for any new key executives. Any such new key executives will instead receive a contribution to the deferred compensation plan of 15% of participant cash compensation.

Participants become fully vested in the Company contribution under both the deferred compensation and retirement plans after five years of service. The total of participant deferrals in the deferred compensation and retirement plans, which are reflected in accrued liabilities, was $21,447,000 and $40,720,000 as of December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Expense related to these plans for

 

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contributions made by the Company totaled $2,067,000, $2,384,000 and $2,766,000 in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

Share-Based Payment Plans

 

Effective January 1, 2006, the Company adopted the provisions of SFAS No. 123(R) using the modified prospective application transition method. SFAS No. 123(R) revises SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation” (“SFAS No. 123”). The Company previously adopted the fair value based method of recording stock options consistent with SFAS No. 123 and accounted for the change in accounting principle using the prospective method in accordance with SFAS No. 148, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation – Transition and Disclosure”, an amendment of SFAS No. 123. Under the prospective method, the Company expensed all stock-based compensation granted since January 1, 2003 over the vesting period based on the fair value at the date of grant. The fair value recognition provisions of SFAS No. 123 and SFAS No. 123(R) are materially consistent; therefore, the adoption of SFAS No. 123(R) did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated statements of financial condition, results of operations or cash flows.

SFAS No. 123(R) requires the Company to estimate forfeitures in calculating the expense relating to share-based compensation as opposed to recognizing these forfeitures and the corresponding reduction in expense as they occur, as was allowed under SFAS No. 123.

Long-Term Incentive Plan

 

The Company has a long-term incentive plan (“LTIP”) for employees and non-employee directors under which the Human Resources and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Committee”) is authorized to provide for grants in the form of incentive option rights, non-qualified option rights, tandem appreciation rights, free-standing appreciation rights, restricted stock, restricted stock units, performance shares, performance units and other awards to key employee and non-employee directors that may be payable or related to common stock or factors that may influence the value of common stock. The Company’s policy is to issue shares of remaining authorized common stock to satisfy option exercises and grants under the LTIP. At December 31, 2007, the Company’s common stock authorized for issuance under the LTIP was 1,756,834 shares. The Company has 271,210 shares available for future LTIP awards at December 31, 2007 after reserving for the maximum potential shares that could be awarded under existing LTIP grants.

 

The Company recognized compensation costs of $7,682,000, $11,130,000 and $4,543,000 during 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively, related to LTIP awards. The total income tax benefit recognized in the income statement for share-based compensation payments was $3,107,000, $4,220,000 and $1,719,000 for 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively.

 

Option Rights Plan – Under the LTIP, the Committee may grant non-qualified option rights to key employees and non-employee directors. The exercise prices for non-qualified option rights are equal to the fair market value of the Company’s common stock at the date of grant, except for the initial grant, which was made at the initial public offering price. The non-qualified option rights vest in three equal annual installments commencing on the first anniversary of the grant date and have a term not exceeding ten years from the date of grant. The maximum number of shares for which option rights may be granted under the LTIP to any participant during any calendar year is 285,000.

 

The following table sets forth the non-qualified option rights activity for non-qualified option rights under the LTIP for the periods indicated:

 

 

 

 

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Number of
Shares
(In Thousands)
     
Weighted
Average
Exercise
Price
    Weighted
Average
Remaining
Contractual
Term
     
Aggregate
Intrinsic
Value
(In Thousands)
 
 
 
                               
   
Outstanding at December 31, 2004
    1,939     $ 17.39       4.84     $ 24,844  
   
 
                               
   
Granted
    -       -                  
   
Exercised
    (979 )     17.35                  
   
Canceled
    (4 )     15.64                  
 
 
 

   

   

   

 
   
Outstanding at December 31, 2005
    956       17.44       4.53       17,816  
   
 
                               
   
Granted
    -       -                  
   
Exercised
    (426 )     17.35                  
   
Canceled
    (3 )     16.66                  
 
 
 

   

   

   

 
   
Outstanding at December 31, 2006
    527       17.51       3.56       14,804  
   
 
                               
   
Granted
    -       -                  
   
Exercised
    (62 )     17.67                  
   
Canceled
    -       -                  
 
 
 

   

   

   

 
   
Outstanding at December 31, 2007
    465     $ 17.49       2.63     $ 2,883  
 
 
 

   

   

   

 
   
Options exercisable at:
                           
     
December 31, 2007
    465     $ 17.49       2.63     $ 2,883  
     
December 31, 2006
    527     $ 17.51       3.56     $ 14,804  
     
December 31, 2005
    956     $ 17.44       4.53     $ 17,816  

 

The total intrinsic value of options exercised during 2007, 2006 and 2005 was $1,383,000, $11,450,000, and $15,263,000, respectively. Total cash received for non-qualified option rights exercised during 2007, 2006 and 2005 totaled $1,093,000, $7,400,000 and $16,979,000, respectively. The Company deems a tax benefit to be realized under SFAS No. 123(R) when the benefit provides incremental benefit by reducing current taxes payable that it otherwise would have had to pay absent the share-based compensation deduction (the “with-and-without” approach). Under this approach, share-based compensation deductions are, effectively, always considered last to be realized. Due to significant net operating losses for income tax purposes, the Company did not realize any tax benefits from option exercises during 2007, 2006 or 2005.

 

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The following table summarizes information regarding fixed non-qualified option rights that were outstanding at December 31, 2007:

                                                             
                    Options Outstanding   Options Exercisable    
                   
 
   
                          Weighted-Average     Weighted-           Weighted-    
    Range of             Number     Remaining     Average     Number     Average    
    Exercise             Outstanding     Contractual Life     Exercise     Exercisable     Exercise    
    Prices             (In Thousands)     (In Years)     Price     (In Thousands)     Price    
                                                           
    $10.50 - $17.6875                 145       2.91     $ 12.08       145     $ 12.08    
                                                           
    $19.1875 - $19.375                 264       2.40       19.31       264       19.31    
                                                           
    $21.1875 - $23.90                 56       2.95       22.91       56       22.91    
                 

   

   

   

   

   
    $10.50 - $23.90                 465       2.63     $ 17.49       465     $ 17.49    
                 

   

   

   

   

   

 

Performance Shares – Performance shares are granted to Company officers and certain key employees. The awards granted in 2007, 2006 and 2005 established a target number of shares that generally vest at the end of a three year requisite service period following the grant-date. The number of performance shares ultimately earned will range from zero to 200% of the target award, depending on the level of corporate performance over each of the three years, which is considered the performance period. Values of the performance shares earned will be recognized as compensation expense over the period the shares are earned. The maximum amount for which performance shares may be granted under the LTIP during any year to any participant is 160,000 common shares. The Company recognized compensation costs of $6,668,000, $10,082,000 and $3,699,000 in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively for performance shares.

 

For the awards granted in 2007 and 2006, the expense related to performance shares is based on a market based condition as defined in SFAS No. 123(R) for 50% of the target award and on defined performance indicators for the other 50% of the target award. The grant-date fair value for the performance indicator portion of the award was based on the closing market price of the Company’s common shares at the date of grant. The market condition based portion of the award was estimated on the date of grant using a lattice-based option valuation model and the assumptions noted in the following table:

                                             
                        2007     2006  
                       
   
 
   
Weighted-average expected life (in years)
                      3       3  
   
Expected price volatility
                      28.10 %     30.50 %
   
Risk-free interest rate
                      4.88 %     4.54 %

 

The target awards granted in 2005 were valued at the closing market price of the Company’s common shares at the date of grant.

 

To arrive at the assumptions used to estimate the fair value of the Company’s market condition based performance shares, as noted in the table above, the Company relies on observations of historical trends, actual results and anticipated future changes. To determine expected volatility, the Company examines historical volatility trends of the Company and its peers (defined as the Russell 2000 Index), as determined by an independent third party. In determining the expected term, the Company observes the actual terms of prior grants and the actual vesting schedule of the grant. The risk-free interest rate is the actual U.S. Treasury zero-coupon rate for bonds matching the expected term of the award on the date of grant. The expected dividend yield was estimated based on the Company’s current dividend yield, and adjusted for anticipated future changes.

Performance shares earned are delivered based upon vesting of the grant, provided the grantee is then employed by the Company. For instances of retirement, involuntary termination without cause, disability or death, performance share awards vest on a pro-rata basis at 100% of target, but will not be issued until the end of the performance period or earlier, if needed to comply with the Internal

 

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Revenue Code Section 409A. Any performance share installments not earned at the end of the requisite service period are forfeited. In January 2007, the 2004 grant of performance shares earned from January 1, 2004 through December 31, 2006, net of forfeitures, totaling approximately 230,000 shares vested, were settled through the issuance of approximately 202,000 shares of common stock totaling approximately $5,800,000, and approximately 28,000 shares were used for net settlement to offset taxes totaling approximately $900,000. In June 2006, the 2003 grant of performance shares earned from January 1, 2003 through December 31, 2005, net of forfeitures, totaling approximately 273,000 shares vested, were settled through the issuance of approximately 238,000 shares of common stock totaling approximately $3,900,000, and approximately 35,000 shares were used for net settlement to offset taxes totaling approximately $500,000. On January 31, 2005, the remaining portion of the 2002 grant of performance shares earned in 2002, net of forfeitures, totaling approximately 28,000 shares were settled through the issuance of common stock totaling approximately $638,000. Substantially all of these shares were directed to the deferred compensation plan by the Company at the request and for the benefit of the employees.

The following table presents the status of the Company’s nonvested performance shares for the periods indicated:

                         
     
 
 
Nonvested Shares
   
Shares
(In Thousands)
    Weighted-Average
Grant-Date
Fair Value
 
 
 
               
   
Nonvested at January 1, 2005
    569     $ 21.22  
   
 
               
   
Granted
    248       36.13  
   
Vested
    -       -  
   
Forfeited
    (3 )     22.63  
 
 
 

   

 
   
Nonvested at December 31, 2005
    814       26.16  
   
 
               
   
Granted
    214       45.80  
   
Vested
    (273 )     16.31  
   
Forfeited
    (53 )     23.45  
 
 
 

   

 
   
Nonvested at December 31, 2006
    702       35.67  
   
 
               
   
Granted
    152       55.94  
   
Vested
    (230 )     28.89  
   
Forfeited
    (102 )     35.34  
 
 
 

   

 
   
Nonvested at December 31, 2007
    522     $ 44.69  
 
 
 

   

 

 

At December 31, 2007, the total compensation cost related to nonvested performance share awards not yet recognized is estimated at approximately $6,400,000, depending upon the Company’s performance against targets specified in the performance share agreement. This estimated compensation cost is expected to be recognized over the weighted-average period of 1.7 years. Values of the performance shares earned will be recognized as compensation expense over the requisite service period. The total intrinsic value of vested and issued performance shares during 2007, 2006 and 2005 was $9,504,000, $10,514,000 and $638,000, respectively.

 

Restricted Stock Units – Under the LTIP, the Committee may grant restricted stock units to key employees and non-employee directors. In 2007, 2006 and 2005, non-employee directors were granted 21,610, 27,511 and 24,500 restricted stock units, respectively, which vested on December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively. The Company recognized compensation costs of $1,014,000, $1,048,000 and $844,000 in 2007, 2006 and 2005, respectively, for restricted stock units. The Committee generally grants restricted stock units to non-employee directors. These grants generally vest at the end of the fiscal year in which the grants were made. For the awards

 

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granted in 2007, 2006 and 2005, the grant-date fair value of the award was based on the closing market price of the Company’s common shares at the date of grant.

The following table presents the status of the Company’s nonvested restricted stock units for the periods indicated:

                         
     
 
 
Nonvested Shares
   
Shares
(In Thousands)
    Weighted-Average
Grant-Date
Fair Value
 
 
 
               
   
Nonvested at January 1, 2005
    -     $ -  
   
 
               
   
Granted
    25       34.45  
   
Vested
    (25 )     34.45  
   
Forfeited
    -       -  
 
 
 

   

 
   
Nonvested at December 31, 2005
    -       -  
   
 
               
   
Granted
    28       38.06  
   
Vested
    (28 )     38.06  
   
Forfeited
    -       -  
 
 
 

   

 
   
Nonvested at December 31, 2006
    -       -  
   
 
               
   
Granted
    22       46.90  
   
Vested
    (22 )     46.90  
   
Forfeited
    -       -  
 
 
 

   

 
   
Nonvested at December 31, 2007
    -     $ -  
 
 
 

   

 

 

14.

SHARE REPURCHASE PROGRAM

 

In July 2003, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had authorized spending up to $30 million to repurchase the Company’s shares of common stock over a two-year period in the open market or in privately negotiated transactions. In December 2004, the Company expanded the share repurchase program by authorizing spending up to $100 million for share repurchases through December 2006. In February 2006, the Company announced that its Board of Directors had authorized a $300 million share repurchase program to replace the existing $100 million program.

In 2007, the Company repurchased 2,304,406 shares of common stock at an average price of $31.05 per share totaling $71,543,000. In 2006, the Company repurchased 2,558,900 shares of common stock at an average price of $43.50 per share totaling $111,308,000. Since inception of the share repurchase programs, the Company has repurchased 6,414,906 shares of common stock at an average price of $35.48 per share totaling approximately $227,569,000, all of which were made in open market transactions. At December 31, 2007, the $300 million share repurchase program had $117,149,000 of remaining authorization that extends through December 31, 2008.

Due to weak economic and industry conditions, the Company has currently suspended repurchasing shares under its share repurchase program.

 

 

- 69 -

 

 

15.

INCOME TAXES

Income tax expense consists of the following:

                                       
                  Year Ended December 31,  
                 
 
                2007     2006     2005  
                  (In Thousands)  
   
Current:
                               
     
Federal
        $ 2,979     $ 3,786     $ 10,000  
     
State and local
          124       179       826  
     
Foreign
          513       2,071       424  
                 
   
   
 
     
 
          3,616       6,036       11,250  
   
 
                               
   
Deferred:
                               
     
Federal
          3,287       27,217       35,100  
     
State and local
          4,690       3,476       7,840  
                 
   
   
 
     
 
          7,977       30,693       42,940  
                 
   
   
 
     
 
        $ 11,593     $ 36,729     $ 54,190  
                 
   
   
 
   
 
                             
 
     Deferred tax assets and liabilities consist of the following:
   
 
                             
                          December 31,  
                         
 
                          2007       2006  
                          (In Thousands)  
   
Deferred tax assets:
                             
     
Vehicle insurance reserves
                $ 39,263     $ 38,633  
     
Allowance for doubtful accounts and notes receivable
                  2,087       4,063  
     
Other accrued liabilities
                  41,548       55,283  
     
Federal and state NOL carryforwards
                  143,568       168,243  
     
Interest rate swap
                  19,715       -  
     
AMT credit carryforward
                  16,718       13,786  
     
Canadian NOL carryforwards
                  19,880       17,700  
     
Canadian depreciation
                  526       489  
     
Other Canadian temporary differences
                  6       -  
 
 
                 

   

 
       
 
                283,311       298,197  
     
Valuation allowance
                  (23,186 )     (18,572 )
 
 
                 

   

 
     
     Total
                $ 260,125     $ 279,625  
 
 
                 

   

 
   
Deferred tax liabilities:
                             
     
Depreciation
                $ 501,115     $ 521,808  
     
Interest rate swap
                  -       4,727  
     
Other Canadian temporary differences
                  -       836  
     
Other
                  26,422       18,709  
 
 
                 

   

 
     
     Total
                $ 527,537     $ 546,080  
 
 
                 

   

 

 

For the year ended December 31, 2007, the change in the net deferred tax liabilities constituted $7,977,000 of deferred tax expense, ($7,700,000) of other comprehensive income that relates to the interest rate swap and foreign currency translation and approximately $700,000 related to the stock acquisition of a former franchisee.

 

- 70 -

 

The Company has net operating loss carryforwards available in certain states to offset future state taxable income. At December 31, 2007, the Company has federal net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $365,000,000 available to offset future taxable income in the U.S., which expire beginning in 2023 through 2024. A valuation allowance of approximately $2,800,000 and $1,200,000 existed at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, for state net operating losses. At December 31, 2007, DTG Canada has net operating loss carryforwards of approximately $70,000,000 available to offset future taxable income in Canada, which expire beginning in 2008 through 2027. Valuation allowances have been established for the total estimated future tax effect of the Canadian net operating losses and other deferred tax assets.

The Company’s effective tax rate differs from the maximum U.S. statutory income tax rate. The following summary reconciles taxes at the maximum U.S. statutory rate with recorded taxes:

                                                                 
                    Year Ended December 31,
                   
                    2007   2006   2005
                   
 
 
   
 
        Amount       Percent      Amount          Percent   Amount       Percent
                    (Amounts in Thousands)
                 
   
Tax expense computed at the
maximum U.S. statutory rate
        $ 4,483       35.0 %   $ 30,947       35.0 %   $ 45,691       35.0 %
   
Difference resulting from:
                             
     
State and local taxes, net of
federal income tax benefit
          3,130       24.4 %     2,528       2.9 %     5,631       4.3 %
     
Foreign losses
          3,617       28.2 %     1,614       1.8 %     1,892       1.4 %
     
Foreign taxes
          275       2.2 %     1,345       1.5 %     424       0.4 %
     
Other
          88       0.7 %     295       0.3 %     552       0.4 %
 
       

   

   

   

   

   

 
       
Total
      $ 11,593       90.5 %   $ 36,729       41.5 %   $ 54,190       41.5 %
 
       

   

   

   

   

   

 

 

Effective January 1, 2007, the Company adopted the provisions of FIN No. 48. Upon adoption of FIN No. 48 and as of December 31, 2007, the Company had no material liability for unrecognized tax benefits and no material adjustments to the Company’s opening financial position were required. There are no material tax positions for which it is reasonably possible that unrecognized tax benefits will significantly change in the twelve months subsequent to December 31, 2007.

The Company files income tax returns in the U.S. federal and various state, local and foreign jurisdictions. In the Company’s significant tax jurisdictions, the tax years 2004 through 2006 are subject to examination by federal taxing authorities and the tax years 2002 through 2006 are subject to examination by state and foreign taxing authorities.

The Company accrues interest and penalties on underpayment of income taxes related to unrecognized tax benefits as a component of income tax expense in the condensed consolidated statement of income. No amounts were recognized for interest and penalties upon adoption of FIN No. 48 or during the year ended December 31, 2007.

16.

CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISK AND FAIR VALUE INFORMATION

Financial instruments which potentially subject the Company to concentrations of credit risk consist principally of cash and cash equivalents, restricted cash and investments, interest rate swaps, Chrysler receivables and trade receivables. The Company limits its exposure on cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and investments by investing in highly rated funds and short-term time deposits with a diverse group of high quality financial institutions. The Company’s exposure relating to interest rate swaps is mitigated by diversifying the financial instruments among various counterparties, which consist of major financial institutions. Receivables from Chrysler, the Company's primary vehicle supplier, consist primarily of amounts due under guaranteed residual, buyback, incentive and promotion programs. The Company’s financial condition and results of operations would be materially adversely affected if Chrysler were unable to meet its obligations to the Company. Concentrations of credit risk with respect to trade receivables are limited due to the

 

- 71 -

large number of customers comprising the Company’s customer base and their dispersion across different geographic areas. Additionally, the Company limits its exposure to credit risk through performing credit reviews and monitoring the financial strength of its significant accounts.

The following estimated fair values of financial instruments have been determined by the Company using available market information and valuation methodologies.

Cash and Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Investments, Receivables, Accounts Payable, Accrued Liabilities and Vehicle Insurance Reserves – The carrying amounts of these items are a reasonable estimate of their fair value.

Debt and Other Obligations – At December 31, 2007, the fair value of the asset backed medium term notes with fixed interest rates of $101,856,000 was less than the carrying value of $110,000,000 by approximately $8,144,000. Additionally, the fair value of debt with variable interest rates of $2,363,735,000 was less than the carrying value of $2,546,716,000 by approximately $182,981,000.

Letters of Credit and Surety Bonds – The letters of credit and surety bonds of $185,276,000 and $39,929,000, respectively, have no fair value as they support the Company's corporate operations and are not anticipated to be drawn upon.

Foreign Currency Translation Risk – A portion of the Company’s debt is denominated in Canadian dollars, thus, its carrying value is impacted by exchange rate fluctuations. However, this foreign currency risk is mitigated by the underlying collateral, which is represented by the Canadian fleet.

17.

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

Concessions and Operating Leases

The Company has certain concession agreements principally with airports throughout the United States and Canada. Typically, these agreements provide airport terminal counter space in return for a minimum rent. In many cases, the Company’s subsidiaries are also obligated to pay insurance and maintenance costs and additional rents generally based on revenues earned at the location. Certain of the airport locations are operated by franchisees who are obligated to make the required rent and concession fee payments under the terms of their franchise arrangements with the Company’s subsidiaries.

The Company’s subsidiaries operate from various leased premises under operating leases with terms up to 25 years. Some of the leases contain renewal options.

Expenses incurred under operating leases and concessions were as follows:

                                             
                      Year Ended December 31,  
                     
 
                      2007   2006   2005  
                      (In Thousands)  
                         
   
Rent
            $ 49,270     $ 42,493     $ 42,092  
   
Concession expenses:
                                 
     
Minimum fees
              87,416       70,656       67,426  
     
Contingent fees
              49,493       51,021       40,932  
                     
 
 
 
     
 
              186,179       164,170       150,450  
                                             
   
Less sublease rental income
              (1,011 )     (867 )     (940 )
                     
 
 
 
       
Total
            $  185,168     $ 163,303     $ 149,510  
                     
 
 
 

 

 

 

- 72 -

Future minimum rentals and fees under noncancelable operating leases and the Company’s obligations for minimum airport concession fees at December 31, 2007 are presented in the following table:

                                       
                Company-Owned
Stores
Concession Fees
   
  Operating  
Leases
   

     Total     
 
               
 
            (In Thousands)
 
 
   
2008
          $ 75,306     $ 44,258     $ 119,564  
   
2009
            58,414       34,639       93,053  
   
2010
            45,038       25,586       70,624  
   
2011
            34,910       19,969       54,879  
   
2012
            29,370       14,183       43,553  
   
Thereafter
            114,613       87,760       202,373  
                 
   
   
 
   
 
            357,651       226,395       584,046  
   
Less sublease rental income
            -       (1,652 )     (1,652 )
                 
   
   
 
   
 
          $ 357,651     $ 224,743     $ 582,394  
                 
   
   
 

 

Vehicle Insurance Reserves

The Company is self insured for a portion of vehicle insurance claims. In general, the Company retained the risk for the first $2,000,000 of loss per occurrence for public liability and property damage claims, including third-party bodily injury and property damage, in 2004 and 2005, plus a self-insured corridor of $1,000,000 per occurrence for losses in excess of $2,000,000 with an aggregate limit of $3,000,000 for losses within this corridor. Beginning in March 2006 and continuing in 2007, the Company retained risk of loss up to $4,000,000 per occurrence for public liability and property damage claims, including third-party bodily injury and property damage, plus a self-insured corridor of $1,000,000 per occurrence for losses in excess of $4,000,000 with an aggregate limit of $7,000,000 for losses within this corridor. In February 2008, the Company increased its retained risk of loss up to $5,000,000 per occurrence for public liability and property damage claims, including third-party bodily injury and property damage. The Company maintains insurance for losses above these levels.

The Company continues to retain the risk of loss on supplemental liability insurance (“SLI”) policies sold to vehicle rental customers.

The accrual for Vehicle Insurance Reserves includes amounts for incurred and incurred but not reported losses. Such liabilities are necessarily based on actuarially determined estimates and management believes that the amounts accrued are adequate. At December 31, 2007 and 2006, the public liability and property damage amounts have been discounted at 3.0% and 4.7%(assumed risk free rate), respectively, based upon the actuarially determined estimated timing of payments to be made in future years. Discounting resulted in reducing the accrual for public liability and property damage by $3,351,000 and $5,720,000 at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively. SLI amounts are not discounted. Estimated future payments of Vehicle Insurance Reserves as of December 31, 2007 are as follows (in thousands):

 

 

- 73 -

                                       
   
2008
                          $ 35,008  
   
2009
                            16,905  
   
2010
                            11,373  
   
2011
                            6,793  
   
2012
                            3,617  
   
Thereafter
                            2,397  
                                 
 
   
Aggregate undiscounted public liability and property damage
                    76,093  
   
Effect of discounting
                            (3,351 )
                                 
 
   
Public liability and property damage, net of discount
                            72,742  
   
Supplemental liability insurance
                            37,292  
                                 
 
   
Total vehicle insurance reserves
                          $ 110,034  
                                 
 

 

Contingencies

The Company is a defendant in several class action lawsuits in California. The lawsuits allege that the Company violated wage and hour laws, including not providing meal and rest breaks, failure to reimburse uniform maintenance and failure to pay overtime wages and retaliation, that the Company overcharged customers for certain damage waivers, that the pass through of the California trade and tourism commission and airport concession fees violate antitrust laws and various other rights and laws by compelling out-of-state visitors to subsidize the passenger car rental tourism assessment program. The Company intends to vigorously defend these matters. As these cases are in the early stages of the legal process, and given the inherent uncertainties of litigation, the Company cannot predict the ultimate outcome or reasonably estimate the amount of ultimate loss that may arise from these lawsuits.

Various other claims and legal proceedings have been asserted or instituted against the Company, including some purporting to be class actions, and some which demand large monetary damages or other relief which could result in significant expenditures. Litigation is subject to many uncertainties and the outcome of individual matters is not predictable with assurance. The Company is also subject to potential liability related to environmental matters. The Company establishes reserves for litigation and environmental matters when the loss is probable and reasonably estimable. It is reasonably possible that the final resolution of some of these matters may require the Company to make expenditures, in excess of established reserves, over an extended period of time and in a range of amounts that cannot be reasonably estimated. The term “reasonably possible” is used herein to mean that the chance of a future transaction or event occurring is more than remote but less than likely. Although the final resolution of any such matters could have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated operating results for the particular reporting period in which an adjustment of the estimated liability is recorded, the Company believes that any resulting liability should not materially affect its consolidated financial position.

Other

The Company is party to a data processing services agreement which requires annual payments totaling approximately $31,000,000 for 2008, $30,000,000 for 2009 and $23,000,000 for 2010 and 2011. The Company also has a telecommunications contract which will require annual payments totaling $2,000,000 for 2008 and $1,000,000 for 2009. Additionally, the Company has software and hardware maintenance agreements which require annual payments totaling approximately $1,000,000 for 2008.

In addition to the letters of credit described in Note 10, the Company had letters of credit totaling $12,936,000 and $10,992,000 at December 31, 2007 and 2006, respectively, which are primarily used to support its insurance programs and airport concession obligations in Canada. The Company may also provide guarantees on behalf of franchisees to support compliance with airport concession bids. Non-performance of the obligation by the franchisee would trigger the obligation of the Company. At December 31, 2007, there were no such guarantees on behalf of franchisees.

 

- 74 -

At December 31, 2007, the Company had outstanding vehicle purchase commitments of approximately $843,848,000.

18.

BUSINESS SEGMENTS

The Company’s corporate operating structure, is based on a functional structure and combines the management of operations and administrative functions for both the Dollar and Thrifty brands. Consistent with this structure, management makes business and operating decisions on an overall company basis. The Company no longer reports Dollar and Thrifty as operating segments. Financial results are not available by brand.

Included in the consolidated financial statements are the following amounts relating to geographic locations:

                                       
                  Year Ended December 31,  
                 
 
                2007     2006     2005  
                  (In Thousands)  
 
                                 
   
Revenues:
                               
     
United States
        $ 1,646,420     $ 1,552,902     $ 1,413,541  
     
Foreign countries
          114,371       107,775       94,013  
                 
   
   
 
   
 
          $ 1,760,791     $ 1,660,677     $ 1,507,554  
                 
   
   
 
 
                                 
   
Long-lived assets:
                               
     
United States
        $ 115,654     $ 111,134     $ 103,686  
     
Foreign countries
          6,649       5,653       4,376  
                 
   
   
 
   
 
          $ 122,303     $ 116,787     $ 108,062  
                 
   
   
 

 

 

 

 

Revenues are attributed to geographic regions based on the location of the transaction. Long-lived assets represent property and equipment.

 

- 75 -

19.

SELECTED QUARTERLY FINANCIAL DATA (UNAUDITED)

A summary of the quarterly operating results during 2007 and 2006 follows:

                                                     
  Year Ended
December 31, 2007
  First
Quarter
    Second
Quarter
    Third
Quarter
    Fourth
Quarter
    2007
Total
 
 
 
                (In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)  
                   
 
Revenues
  $ 397,963     $ 451,604     $ 522,020     $ 389,204     $ 1,760,791  
 
Operating income
  $ 37,942     $ 44,712     $ 73,716     $ 5,156     $ 161,526  
 
Net income (loss)
  $ 5,162     $ 15,321     $ 11,313     $ (30,581 )   $ 1,215  
 
Earnings (loss) per share
                                       
 
   Basic
  $ 0.22     $ 0.66     $ 0.50     $ (1.45 )   $ 0.05  
 
   Diluted
  $ 0.21     $ 0.63     $ 0.48     $ (1.45 )   $ 0.05  
 
 
                   
                   
  Year Ended
December 31, 2006
  First
Quarter
    Second
Quarter
    Third
Quarter
    Fourth
Quarter
    2006
Total
 
 
 
                (In Thousands Except Per Share Amounts)  
                   
 
Revenues
  $ 360,562     $ 422,574     $ 484,707     $ 392,834     $ 1,660,677  
 
Operating income
  $ 47,455     $ 58,271     $ 62,695     $ 25,337     $ 193,758  
 
Net income (loss)
  $ 21,806     $ 26,655     $ 5,884     $ (2,653 )   $ 51,692  
 
Earnings (loss) per share
                                       
 
   Basic
  $ 0.87     $ 1.09     $ 0.25     $ (0.11 )   $ 2.14  
 
   Diluted
  $ 0.84     $ 1.04     $ 0.24     $ (0.11 )   $ 2.04  
 
 
                   
                   

 

Operating income in the table above represents pretax income before interest and (increase) decrease in fair value of derivatives.

 

******

 

- 76 -

SCHEDULE II

DOLLAR THRIFTY AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

 

VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS

YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2007, 2006 AND 2005

                                       
          Balance at     Additions           Balance at  
          Beginning     Charged to           End of  
          of Year     Income     Deductions     Year  
          (In Thousands)  
 
                                 
   
2007
                               
                                       
   
Allowance for doubtful accounts
  $ 9,961     $ 1,022     $ (4,992 )   $ 5,991  
         
   
   
   
 
   
Vehicle insurance reserves
  $ 103,921     $ 51,794     $ (45,681 )   $ 110,034  
         
   
   
   
 
   
Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets
  $ 18,572     $ 4,614     $ -     $ 23,186  
         
   
   
   
 
   
2006
                               
                                       
   
Allowance for doubtful accounts
  $ 20,606     $ 415     $ (11,060 )   $ 9,961  
         
   
   
   
 
   
Vehicle insurance reserves
  $ 100,613     $ 53,855     $ (50,547 )   $ 103,921  
         
   
   
   
 
   
Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets
  $ 17,452     $ 1,120     $ -     $ 18,572  
         
   
   
   
 
   
2005
                               
                                       
   
Allowance for doubtful accounts
  $ 16,143     $ 4,334     $ 129     $ 20,606  
         
   
   
   
 
   
Public liability and propery damage
  $ 88,176     $ 56,049     $ (43,612 )   $ 100,613  
         
   
   
   
 
   
Valuation allowance for deferred tax assets
  $ 14,027     $ 3,425     $ -     $ 17,452  
         
   
   
   
 

 

 

- 77 -

 

 

 

ITEM 9.

CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS

 

ON ACCOUNTING AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

 

None.

 

ITEM 9A.

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

 

Disclosure Controls and Procedures

 

The Company maintains a set of disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules and forms. The disclosure controls and procedures are also designed with the objective of ensuring such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that disclosure controls and procedures, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the disclosure controls and procedures are met. Additionally, in designing the disclosure controls and procedures, the Company’s management was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible disclosure controls and procedures.

 

As required by SEC Rule 13a-15(b), the Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the CEO and CFO, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the period covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the CEO and CFO have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective at the reasonable assurance level as of the end of the period covered by this report.

 

Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

The management of the Company is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting. The internal control system was designed to provide reasonable assurance to the Company’s management and board of directors regarding the preparation and fair presentation of published financial statements.

 

All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation.

 

The Company’s management assessed the effectiveness of the internal controls over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007. In making this assessment, the Company used the criteria for effective internal control over financial reporting set forth in Internal Control – Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on management’s assessment, management asserts that as of December 31, 2007, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective based on those criteria.

 

Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting

 

There has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13(a)-15(f) and 15(d)-15(f) under the Exchange Act during the last fiscal quarter that has materially affected or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

 

- 78 -

 

Attestation Report of the Registered Public Accounting Firm

 

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

To the Board of Directors and Stockholders of

Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.:

 

We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. and subsidiaries (the “Company”) as of December 31, 2007, based on criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.  The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control Over Financial Reporting.  Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects.  Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances.  We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the company’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by the company’s board of directors, management, and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.  A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of the inherent limitations of internal control over financial reporting, including the possibility of collusion or improper management override of controls, material misstatements due to error or fraud may not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.  Also, projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that the controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

In our opinion, the Company maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule as of and for the year ended December 31, 2007 of the Company and our report dated February 29, 2008 expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements and financial statement schedule.

 

/s/ DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP

Tulsa, Oklahoma

February 29, 2008

 

- 79 -

ITEM 9B.

OTHER INFORMATION

 

 

None.

 

PART III

 

ITEM 10.

DIRECTORS, EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

 

Reference is made to the information appearing under the captions “Biographical Information Regarding Director Nominees and Named Executive Officers”, “Independence, Meetings, Committees and Compensation of the Board of Directors - Audit Committee”, “Section 16(a) Beneficial Ownership Reporting Compliance” and “Code of Ethics” in the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement which will be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A promulgated by the SEC not later than 120 days after the end of the Company’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

ITEM 11.

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

 

Reference is made to the information appearing under the captions “Independence, Meetings, Committees and Compensation of the Board of Directors - Compensation,” and “Executive Compensation” in the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement which will be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A promulgated by the SEC not later than 120 days after the end of the Company’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

ITEM 12.

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER MATTERS

 

Reference is made to the information appearing under the caption “Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners, Directors, Director Nominees and Executive Officers” in the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement which will be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A promulgated by the SEC not later than 120 days after the end of the Company’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

ITEM 13.

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS AND DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

 

Reference is made to the information appearing under the caption “Independence, Meetings, Committees and Compensation of the Board of Directors - Independence” in the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement which will be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A promulgated by the SEC not later than 120 days after the end of the Company’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

ITEM 14.

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

 

Reference is made to the information appearing under “Proposal No. 2 – Appointment of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm” in the Company’s definitive Proxy Statement which will be filed pursuant to Regulation 14A promulgated by the SEC not later than 120 days after the end of the Company’s fiscal year ended December 31, 2007, and is incorporated herein by reference.

 

 

- 80 -

PART IV

 

ITEM 15.

EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES

 

(a)

Documents filed as a part of this report

 

 

(1)

All Financial Statements. The response to this portion of Item 15 is submitted as a separate section herein under Part II, Item 8 - Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.

 

 

(2)

Financial Statement Schedules. Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts - Years Ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 is set forth under Part II, Item 8 - Financial Statements and Supplementary Data. All other schedules are omitted because they are not applicable or the information is shown in the financial statements or notes thereto.

 

 

(3)

Index of Exhibits

 

 

Exhibit No.

Description

 

 

3.1

Certificate of Incorporation of DTG, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended, Registration No. 333-39661, which became effective December 16, 1997*

 

3.2

Third Amended and Restated By-Laws of DTG, which were approved by the DTG Board of Directors on January 31, 2008, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed February 6, 2008, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.1

Form of Certificate of Common Stock, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended, Registration No. 333-39661, which became effective December 16, 1997*

 

4.14

Note Purchase Agreement dated as of March 4, 1998 among Rental Car Finance Corp., Dollar Thrifty Funding Corp. and Credit Suisse First Boston, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed March 16, 1998, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.15

Liquidity Agreement dated as of March 4, 1998 among Dollar Thrifty Funding Corp., Certain Financial Institutions and Credit Suisse First Boston, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed March 16, 1998, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.16

Depositary Agreement dated as of March 4, 1998 between Dollar Thrifty Funding Corp. and Bankers Trust Company, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed March 16, 1998, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.17

Collateral Agreement dated as of March 4, 1998 among Dollar Thrifty Funding Corp., Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation and Bankers Trust Company, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed March 16, 1998, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.18

Dealer Agreement dated as of March 4, 1998 among Dollar Thrifty Funding Corp., DTG, Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation and Chase Securities Inc., filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed March 16, 1998, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

 

 

- 81 -

 

4.19

Rights Agreement (including a Form of Certificate of Designation of Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock as Exhibit A thereto, a Form of Right Certificate as Exhibit B thereto and a Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Stock as Exhibit C thereto) dated as of July 23, 1998 between DTG and Harris Trust and Savings Bank, as Rights Agent, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed July 24, 1998, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.27

Amendment No. 3 to Liquidity Agreement dated as of February 18, 2000 among Dollar Thrifty Funding Corp., certain financial institutions, as the Liquidity Lenders, and Credit Suisse First Boston, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2000, filed May 10, 2000, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.35

Note Purchase Agreement dated as of December 15, 2000 among Rental Car Finance Corp., DTG, the Conduit Purchasers from time to time party thereto, the Committed Purchasers from time to time party thereto, the Managing Agents from time to time party thereto and Bank One, NA, as Administrative Agent, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000, filed March 13, 2001, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.36

Enhancement Letter of Credit Application and Agreement dated as of December 15, 2000 among Dollar, Thrifty, DTG, Rental Car Finance Corp. and Credit Suisse First Boston, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000, filed March 13, 2001, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.39

Amendment No. 4 to Liquidity Agreement dated as of February 28, 2001 among Dollar Thrifty Funding Corp., certain financial institutions, as the Liquidity Lenders, and Credit Suisse First Boston, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2001, filed May 11, 2001, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.46

Master Exchange and Trust Agreement dated as of July 23, 2001 among Rental Car Finance Corp., Dollar, Thrifty, Chicago Deferred Exchange Corporation, VEXCO, LLC and The Chicago Trust Company, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2001, filed November 13, 2001, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.57

Amendment No. 2 to Note Purchase Agreement dated as of January 31, 2002 among Rental Car Finance Corp., DTG, the Conduit Purchasers parties thereto, the Committed Purchasers parties thereto, the Managing Agents parties thereto, and Bank One, NA, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2002, filed May 10, 2002, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.62

Amendment No. 5 to Liquidity Agreement dated as of February 26, 2002 among Dollar Thrifty Funding Corp., certain financial institutions, as the Liquidity Lenders, and Credit Suisse First Boston, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2002, filed May 10, 2002, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

 

 

- 82 -

 

4.64

Amendment No. 3 to Note Purchase Agreement dated as of April 16, 2002 among Rental Car Finance Corp., DTG, the Conduit Purchasers parties thereto, the Committed Purchasers parties thereto, the Managing Agents parties thereto, and Bank One, NA, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2002, filed August 13, 2002, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.66

Amended and Restated Collateral Assignment of Exchange Agreement dated as of April 16, 2002 by and among Rental Car Finance Corp., Dollar, Thrifty, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, formerly known as Bankers Trust Company, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2002, filed August 13, 2002, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.70

Amended and Restated Collateral Assignment of Exchange Agreement dated as of June 4, 2002 by and among Rental Car Finance Corp., Dollar, Thrifty, and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, formerly known as Bankers Trust Company, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2002, filed August 13, 2002, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.78

Notice of Additional Ownership Group Becoming Party to Note Purchase Agreement from Rental Car Finance Corp. dated as of August 15, 2002, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2002, filed November 12, 2002, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.79

Addendum to Note Purchase Agreement dated as of August 15, 2002 among ABN AMRO Bank N.V., Amsterdam Funding Corporation, Rental Car Finance Corp. and Bank One, NA, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2002, filed November 12, 2002, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.85

Amendment No. 4 to Note Purchase Agreement dated as of December 12, 2002 among Rental Car Finance Corp., DTG, the Conduit Purchasers parties thereto, the Committed Purchasers parties thereto, the Managing Agents parties thereto, and The Bank of Nova Scotia, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, filed March 18, 2003, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.94

Amendment No. 6 to Liquidity Agreement dated as of February 24, 2003 among Dollar Thrifty Funding Corp., certain financial institutions, as the Liquidity Lenders, and Credit Suisse First Boston, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2003, filed May 14, 2003, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.97

Amendment No. 5 to Note Purchase Agreement dated as of March 18, 2003 among Rental Car Finance Corp., DTG, the Conduit Purchasers parties thereto, the Committed Purchasers parties thereto, the Managing Agents parties thereto, and The Bank of Nova Scotia, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2003, filed May 14, 2003, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.107

Amendment No. 6 to Note Purchase Agreement dated as of December 10, 2003 among Rental Car Finance Corp., DTG, the Conduit Purchasers parties thereto, the Committed Purchasers parties thereto, the Managing Agents parties thereto, and The Bank of Nova Scotia, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2003, filed March 12, 2004, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

 

- 83 -

 

4.110

Amendment No. 7 to Liquidity Agreement dated as of February 20, 2004 among Dollar Thrifty Funding Corp., certain financial institutions, as the Liquidity Lenders, and Credit Suisse First Boston, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2004, filed May 7, 2004, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.111

Amendment No. 7 to Note Purchase Agreement dated as of March 24, 2004 among Rental Car Finance Corp., DTG, the Conduit Purchasers parties thereto, the Committed Purchasers parties thereto, the Managing Agents parties thereto, and Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein Securities LLC, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2004, filed August 6, 2004, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.115

Amendment No. 8 to Liquidity Agreement dated as of March 24, 2004 among Dollar Thrifty Funding Corp., certain financial institutions, as the Liquidity Lenders, and Credit Suisse First Boston, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2004, filed August 6, 2004, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.117

Amendment and Assignment Agreement dated as of April 1, 2004 among DTG, DTG Operations, Inc., formerly known as Dollar Rent A Car Systems, Inc., Thrifty, Various Financial Institutions named therein, Credit Suisse First Boston, The Bank of Nova Scotia and Dresdner Bank AG, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2004, filed August 6, 2004, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.119

Series 2004-1 Supplement dated as of May 5, 2004 between Rental Car Finance Corp. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2004, filed August 6, 2004, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.120

Note Purchase Agreement dated as of April 29, 2004 among Rental Car Finance Corp., Credit Suisse First Boston LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein Securities LLC, J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. and ABN AMRO Incorporated, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2004, filed August 6, 2004, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.131

Amendment No. 8 to Note Purchase Agreement dated as of March 22, 2005 among Rental Car Finance Corp., Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc., the Conduit Purchasers parties thereto, the Committed Purchasers parties thereto, the Managing Agents parties thereto, and Dresdner Wasserstein Securities LLC, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG's Form 8-K, filed March 28, 2005, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.135

Amendment No. 9 to Liquidity Agreement dated as of March 22, 2005 among Dollar Thrifty Funding Corp., certain financial institutions, as the Liquidity Lenders, and Credit Suisse First Boston, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG's Form 8-K, filed March 28, 2005, Commission No. 1-13647*

 

4.139

Amendment No. 1 to Series 2004-1 Supplement dated as of March 24, 2005 between Rental Car Finance Corp. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG's Form 8-K, filed March 30, 2005, Commission No. 1-13647*

 

 

- 84 -

 

4.140

Note Purchase Agreement dated as of April 14, 2005 among Rental Car Finance Corp., Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., ABN AMRO Incorporated, Credit Suisse First Boston LLC, Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein Securities LLC, and Scotia Capital (USA) Inc., filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG's Form 8-K, filed April 18, 2005, Commission No. 1-13647*

 

4.141

Series 2005-1 Supplement dated as of April 21, 2005 between Rental Car Finance Corp. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG's Form 8-K, filed April 26, 2005, Commission No. 1-13647*

 

4.143

Financial Guaranty Insurance Policy No. CA01914A issued by XL Capital Assurance Inc. to Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas for the benefit of the Series 2005-1 Noteholders, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG's Form 8-K, filed April 26, 2005, Commission No. 1-13647*

 

4.144

Amendment No. 9 to Note Purchase Agreement dated as of February 1, 2006 among Rental Car Finance Corp., Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc., the Conduit Purchasers parties thereto, the Committed Purchasers parties thereto, the Managing Agents parties thereto, and Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein Securities LLC, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG's Form 8-K, filed February 7, 2006, Commission No. 1-13647*

 

4.147

Note Purchase Agreement dated as of March 23, 2006 among Rental Car Finance Corp., Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., ABN AMRO Incorporated, BNP Paribas Securities Corp., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein Securities LLC, and Scotia Capital (USA) Inc., filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG's Form 8-K, filed March 29, 2006, Commission No. 1-13647*

 

4.148

Amendment No. 10 to Note Purchase Agreement dated as of March 17, 2006 among Rental Car Finance Corp., Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc., the Conduit Purchasers parties thereto, the Committed Purchasers parties thereto, the Managing Agents parties thereto, and Dresdner Kleinwort Wasserstein Securities LLC, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG's Form 8-K, filed April 3, 2006, Commission No. 1-13647*

 

4.151

Amendment No. 10 to Liquidity Agreement dated as of March 17, 2006 among Dollar Thrifty Funding Corp., certain financial institutions, as the Liquidity Lenders, and Credit Suisse, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG's Form 8-K, filed April 3, 2006, Commission No. 1-13647*

 

4.153

Series 2006-1 Supplement dated as of March 28, 2006 between Rental Car Finance Corp. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG's Form 8-K, filed April 3, 2006, Commission No. 1-13647*

 

4.156

Collateral Assignment of Exchange Agreement dated as of March 28, 2006 among Rental Car Finance Corp., DTG Operations, Inc. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG's Form 8-K, filed April 3, 2006, Commission No. 1-13647*

 

4.158

Note Guaranty Insurance Policy No. AB0981BE issued by Ambac Assurance Corporation to Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas for the benefit of the Series 2006-1 Noteholders, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG's Form 8-K, filed April 3, 2006, Commission No. 1-13647*

 

 

 

- 85 -

 

4.159

Amendment No. 11 to Note Purchase Agreement dated as of March 20, 2007 among Rental Car Finance Corp., Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc., the Conduit Purchasers parties thereto, the Committed Purchasers parties thereto, the Managing Agents parties thereto, and Dresdner Kleinwort Securities LLC, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed March 30, 2007, Commission No. 1-13647*

 

4.161

Amendment No. 11 to Liquidity Agreement dated as of March 20, 2007 among Dollar Thrifty Funding Corp., certain financial institutions, as the Liquidity Lenders, and Credit Suisse, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed March 30, 2007, Commission No. 1-13647*

 

4.163

Amended and Restated Base Indenture dated as of February 14, 2007 between Rental Car Finance Corp. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2007, filed May 8, 2007, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.164

Second Amended and Restated Series 1998-1 Supplement dated as of February 14, 2007 between Rental Car Finance Corp. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2007, filed May 8, 2007, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.165

Amended and Restated Series 2000-1 Supplement dated as of February 14, 2007 between Rental Car Finance Corp. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2007, filed May 8, 2007, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.167

Amendment No. 2 to Series 2004-1 Supplement dated as of February 14, 2007 between Rental Car Finance Corp. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2007, filed May 8, 2007, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.168

Amendment No. 1 to Series 2005-1 Supplement dated as of February 14, 2007 between Rental Car Finance Corp. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2007, filed May 8, 2007, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.169

Amendment No. 1 to Series 2006-1 Supplement dated as of February 14, 2007 between Rental Car Finance Corp. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2007, filed May 8, 2007, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.170

Second Amended and Restated Master Collateral Agency Agreement dated as of February 14, 2007 among Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc., Rental Car Finance Corp., DTG Operations, Inc. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2007, filed May 8, 2007, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

 

 

- 86 -

 

4.171

Amended and Restated Master Motor Vehicle Lease and Servicing Agreement (Group II) dated as of February 14, 2007 among Rental Car Finance Corp., DTG Operations, Inc., Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2007, filed May 8, 2007, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.172

Amended and Restated Master Motor Vehicle Lease and Servicing Agreement (Group III) dated as of February 14, 2007 among Rental Car Finance Corp., DTG Operations, Inc., Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2007, filed May 8, 2007, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.173

Amended and Restated Master Motor Vehicle Lease and Servicing Agreement (Group IV) dated as of February 14, 2007 among Rental Car Finance Corp., DTG Operations, Inc., Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2007, filed May 8, 2007, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.175

Note Purchase Agreement dated as of May 15, 2007 among Rental Car Finance Corp., Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc., Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities Inc., ABN AMRO Incorporated, BNP Paribas Securities Corp., Dresdner Kleinwort Securities LLC, and Scotia Capital (USA) Inc., filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed May 18, 2007, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.176

Series 2007-1 Supplement dated as of May 23, 2007 between Rental Car Finance Corp. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed May 29, 2007, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.178

Financial Guaranty Insurance Policy No. 07030024 issued by Financial Guaranty Insurance Company to Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas for the benefit of the Series 2007-1 Noteholders, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed May 29, 2007, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.179

CP Enhancement Letter of Credit Application and Agreement dated as of June 15, 2007 among Dollar Thrifty Funding Corp., DTG Operations, Inc., Rental Car Finance Corp., Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (Series 1998-1), filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed June 20, 2007, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.180

Enhancement Letter of Credit Application and Agreement dated as of June 15, 2007 among DTG Operations, Inc., Rental Car Finance Corp., Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (Series 2000-1), filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed June 20, 2007, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.181

Enhancement Letter of Credit Application and Agreement dated as of June 15, 2007 among DTG Operations, Inc., Rental Car Finance Corp., Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (Series 2004-1), filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed June 20, 2007, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

 

 

- 87 -

 

4.182

Enhancement Letter of Credit Application and Agreement dated as of June 15, 2007 among DTG Operations, Inc., Rental Car Finance Corp., Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (Series 2005-1), filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed June 20, 2007, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.183

Enhancement Letter of Credit Application and Agreement dated as of June 15, 2007 among DTG Operations, Inc., Rental Car Finance Corp., Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (Series 2006-1), filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed June 20, 2007, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.184

Enhancement Letter of Credit Application and Agreement dated as of June 15, 2007 among DTG Operations, Inc., Rental Car Finance Corp., Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas (Series 2007-1), filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed June 20, 2007, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.185

Amendment No. 12 to Note Purchase Agreement dated as of June 19, 2007 among Rental Car Finance Corp., Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc., the Conduit Purchasers parties thereto, the Committed Purchasers parties thereto, the Managing Agents parties thereto, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed June 27, 2007, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.186

Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Series 2000-1 Supplement dated as of June 19, 2007 among Rental Car Finance Corp., DTG Operations, Inc., Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc., Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, The Bank of Nova Scotia, ABN AMRO Bank N.V., JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, BNP Paribas, New York Branch, Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd. and Working Capital Management Co., LP, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed June 27, 2007, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.187

Extension Agreement dated as of June 19, 2007 among Dollar Thrifty Funding Corp., certain financial institutions, as the Liquidity Lenders, Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed June 27, 2007, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.188

 

Amendment No. 12 to Liquidity Agreement dated as of June 19, 2007 among Dollar Thrifty Funding Corp., certain financial institutions, as the Liquidity Lenders, Credit Suisse and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed June 27, 2007, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.189

Amendment No. 1 to Second Amended and Restated Series 1998-1 Supplement dated as of June 19, 2007 among Rental Car Finance Corp., DTG Operations, Inc., Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc., Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, and Dollar Thrifty Funding Corp., filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed June 27, 2007, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

 

 

- 88 -

 

4.190

Amendment No. 1 dated as of June 19, 2007 to Amended and Restated Master Motor Vehicle Lease and Servicing Agreement (Group II) among Rental Car Finance Corp., DTG Operations, Inc. and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc., filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed June 27, 2007, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.191

Amendment No. 2 to Series 2006-1 Supplement dated as of May 23, 2007 between Rental Car Finance Corp. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2007, filed August 7, 2007, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

4.192

Amendment No. 1 dated as of May 22, 2007 to Amended and Restated Master Motor Vehicle Lease and Servicing Agreement (Group IV) among Rental Car Finance Corp., DTG Operations, Inc. and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc., filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2007, filed August 7, 2007, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

5.1

Opinion of Hall, Estill, Hardwick, Gable, Golden & Nelson, P.C. regarding the legality of the Common Stock being registered, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form S-8, Registration No. 333-79603, filed May 28, 1999*

 

5.2

Opinion of Hall, Estill, Hardwick, Gable, Golden & Nelson, P.C. regarding the legality of the Common Stock being registered, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form S-8, Registration No. 333-50800, filed November 28, 2000*

 

5.3

Opinion of Hall, Estill, Hardwick, Gable, Golden & Nelson, P.C. regarding the legality of the Common Stock being registered, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG's Form S-8, Registration No. 333-128714, filed September 30, 2005*

 

5.4

Opinion of Hall, Estill, Hardwick, Gable, Golden & Nelson, P.C. regarding the legality of the Common Stock being registered, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG's Form S-8, Registration No. 333-136611, filed August 14, 2006*

 

10.5

Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. Retirement Plan, as adopted by the Company effective December 5, 1998 (the instrument filed herewith replaces the instrument previously filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998, filed March 19, 1999), filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2001, filed August 13, 2001, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.8

Pentastar Transportation Group, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended, Registration No. 333-39661, which became effective December 16, 1997*

 

10.10

Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended, Registration No. 333-39661, which became effective December 16, 1997*

 

10.13

Amendment to Long-Term Incentive Plan dated as of September 29, 1998, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form S-8, Registration No. 333-79603, filed May 28, 1999*

 

 

- 89 -

 

10.14

Amendment to Deferred Compensation Plan dated as of September 29, 1998, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form S-8, Registration No. 333-33144, filed March 23, 2000*

 

10.15

Second Amendment to Deferred Compensation Plan dated as of September 23, 1999, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form S-8, Registration No. 333-33144, filed March 23, 2000*

 

10.16

Third Amendment to Deferred Compensation Plan dated as of January 14, 2000, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form S-8, Registration No. 333-33144, filed March 23, 2000*

 

10.17

First Amendment to Retirement Plan dated as of September 23, 1999, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form S-8, Registration No. 333-33146, filed March 23, 2000*

 

10.18

Second Amendment to Retirement Plan dated as of January 14, 2000, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form S-8, Registration No. 333-33146, filed March 23, 2000*

 

10.19

Second Amendment to Long-Term Incentive Plan dated as of May 25, 2000, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2000, filed August 9, 2000, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.22

Adoption, Consent and Third Amendment to Retirement Plan dated as of July 1, 2000, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2000, filed November 13, 2000, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.29

Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc., Executive Option Plan effective June 1, 2002, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2002, filed August 13, 2002, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.30

Vehicle Supply Agreement dated as of October 31, 2002 between DaimlerChrysler Motors Company, LLC and DTG, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2002, filed March 18, 2003, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.34

Employment Continuation Agreement dated as of April 21, 2004 between DTG and Gary L. Paxton, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2004, filed August 6, 2004, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.35

Amended and Restated Employment Continuation Plan for Key Employees of Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc., which became effective April 21, 2004, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2004, filed August 6, 2004, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.36

Letter agreement dated as of July 16, 2004 amending the Vehicle Supply Agreement between DaimlerChrysler Motors Company, LLC and DTG, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2004, filed August 6, 2004, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

 

 

- 90 -

 

10.38

Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan under the Bank of Oklahoma N.A. Defined Contribution Prototype Plan & Trust, as adopted by the Company pursuant to the Adoption Agreement (Exhibit 10.39), filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2004, filed November 4, 2004, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.39

Adoption Agreement #005 Nonstandardized 401(k) Profit Sharing Plan, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2004, filed November 4, 2004, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.40

Unanimous Consent to Action of the Human Resources and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. Taken in Lieu of Special Meeting effective December 2, 2004 regarding the Fourth Amendment to Retirement Plan dated December 2, 2004, with amendment attached, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed December 8, 2004, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.41

Unanimous Consent to Action of the Human Resources and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. Taken in Lieu of Special Meeting effective December 2, 2004 regarding the amendment to the Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan under the Bank of Oklahoma N.A. Defined Contribution Prototype Plan & Trust dated January 1, 2005, with amendment attached, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed December 8, 2004, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.54

Amended and Restated Long-Term Incentive Plan and Director Equity Plan dated as of March 23, 2005 and Adopted by Shareholders on May 20, 2005, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed May 25, 2005, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.55

Form of Performance Shares Grant Agreement between Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. and the applicable employee, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed May 25, 2005, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.56

Form of Restricted Stock Units Grant Agreement between Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. and the applicable director, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed May 25, 2005, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.57

Indemnification Agreement dated as of May 20, 2005 between Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. and Molly Shi Boren, non-employee director, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed May 25, 2005, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.58

Indemnification Agreement dated as of May 20, 2005 between Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. and Thomas P. Capo, non-employee director, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed May 25, 2005, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.59

Indemnification Agreement dated as of May 20, 2005 between Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. and Maryann N. Keller, non-employee director, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed May 25, 2005, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

 

 

- 91 -

 

10.60

Indemnification Agreement dated as of May 20, 2005 between Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. and Edward C. Lumley, non-employee director, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed May 25, 2005, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.61

Indemnification Agreement dated as of May 20, 2005 between Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. and John C. Pope, non-employee director, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed May 25, 2005, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.62

Indemnification Agreement dated as of May 20, 2005 between Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. and John P. Tierney, non-employee director, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed May 25, 2005, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.63

Indemnification Agreement dated as of May 20, 2005 between Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. and Edward L. Wax, non-employee director, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed May 25, 2005, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.64

Indemnification Agreement dated as of May 20, 2005 between Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. and Gary L. Paxton, President, Chief Executive Officer and director, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed May 25, 2005, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.65

Indemnification Agreement dated as of May 20, 2005 between Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. and Steven B. Hildebrand, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed May 25, 2005, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.66

Indemnification Agreement dated as of May 20, 2005 between Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. and Donald M. Himelfarb, Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed May 25, 2005, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.67

Indemnification Agreement dated as of May 20, 2005 between Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. and R. Scott Anderson, Senior Executive Vice President, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed May 25, 2005, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.68

Indemnification Agreement dated as of May 20, 2005 between Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. and John J. Foley, Senior Executive Vice President, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed May 25, 2005, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.69

Indemnification Agreement dated as of May 20, 2005 between Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. and David W. Sparkman, Executive Vice President, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed May 25, 2005, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.70

Indemnification Agreement dated as of May 20, 2005 between Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. and Vicki J. Vaniman, Executive Vice President and General Counsel, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed May 25, 2005, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

 

 

- 92 -

 

10.71

Indemnification Agreement dated as of May 20, 2005 between Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. and Pamela S. Peck, Vice President and Treasurer, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed May 25, 2005, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.78

Letter agreement effective as of September 15, 2005 extending the Vehicle Supply Agreement between DaimlerChrysler Motors Company, LLC and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc., filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG's Form 8-K, filed September 20, 2005, Commission File No. 1-13647*
 

10.82

Notice of Election Regarding Payment of Director’s Fees (As Amended and Restated) dated December 2, 2005 executed by Maryann N. Keller, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG's Form 8-K, filed December 8, 2005, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.86

Notice of Election Regarding Payment of Director’s Fees (As Amended and Restated) dated December 2, 2005 executed by Edward L. Wax, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG's Form 8-K, filed December 8, 2005, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.97

Unanimous Consent to Action of the Human Resources and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. Taken in Lieu of Special Meeting effective February 1, 2006 regarding the amendment and restatement of Appendix C to the Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan, with Appendix C attached, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed February 7, 2006, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.98

First Amendment to Amended and Restated Long-Term Incentive Plan and Director Equity Plan effective as of February 1, 2006, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed February 7, 2006, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.100

Form of Performance Share Grant Agreement between Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. and the applicable employee, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed February 7, 2006, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.102

Amendment Number 1 to Amended and Restated Employment Continuation Plan for Key Employees of Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc., which became effective September 28, 2005, filed as exhibit 10.80 with DTG's Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2005, filed November 4, 2005, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.103

Fifth Amendment to Retirement Plan approved by the Human Resources and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. on December 1, 2005, effective as of January 1, 2005*

 

10.104

Fourth Amendment to Deferred Compensation Plan approved by the Human Resources and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. on December 1, 2005, effective as of January 1, 2005*

 

10.105

First Amendment to Executive Option Plan approved by the Human Resources and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. on December 1, 2005, effective as of January 1, 2005*

 

 

 

- 93 -

 

10.106

Indemnification Agreement dated as of March 22, 2006 between Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. and Richard W. Neu, non-employee director, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed March 27, 2006, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.107

Roth 401(k) Amendment effective as of March 1, 2006 for the Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2006, filed May 5, 2006, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.119

Mandatory Retirement Policy approved by the Human Resources and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. on July 26, 2006, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed August 1, 2006, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.120

Retirement and Separation Agreement by and between Donald M. Himelfarb and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. effective and enforceable on August 28, 2006, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed September 1, 2006, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.122

Letter agreement effective as of September 8, 2006 extending the Vehicle Supply Agreement between DaimlerChrysler Motors Company, LLC and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc., filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed September 14, 2006, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.123

Second Amended and Restated Data Processing Services Agreement dated as of August 1, 2006 by and among Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc., Electronic Data Systems Corporation and EDS Information Services L.L.C., filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2006, filed November 8, 2006, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.124

Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. 2007 Incentive Compensation Plan, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed February 6, 2007, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.125

Form of Performance Shares Grant Agreement between the Company and the applicable employee, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed February 6, 2007, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.126

First Amendment to Employment Continuation Agreement dated as of February 1, 2007 between the Company and Gary L. Paxton, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed February 6, 2007, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.127

Amendment Number 2 to Amended and Restated Employment Continuation Plan for Key Employees of Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. dated as of February 1, 2007, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed February 6, 2007, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

 

 

- 94 -

 

10.128

Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Long-Term Incentive Plan and Director Equity Plan approved by the Human Resources and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. on February 1, 2007, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed February 6, 2007, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.129

Fifth Amendment to Deferred Compensation Plan approved by the Human Resources and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. on February 1, 2007, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed February 6, 2007, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.130

Sixth Amendment to Retirement Plan approved by the Human Resources and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. on February 1, 2007, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed February 6, 2007, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.143

Credit Agreement dated as of June 15, 2007 among Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, as the borrower, various financial institutions as are or may become parties thereto, Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, as the administrative agent, The Bank of Nova Scotia, as the syndication agent, and Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. and The Bank of Nova Scotia as the joint lead arrangers and joint bookrunners, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 8-K, filed June 20, 2007, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.144

 

 

 

 

 

Deferral Agreement regarding 2007 annual incentive compensation plan dated June 29, 2007 between Gary L. Paxton and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc., filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2007, filed August 7, 2007, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.145

Deferral Agreement regarding 2007 annual incentive compensation plan dated June 29, 2007 between Steven B. Hildebrand and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc., filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2007, filed August 7, 2007, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.146

Deferral Agreement regarding 2007 annual incentive compensation plan dated June 29, 2007 between R. Scott Anderson and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc., filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2007, filed August 7, 2007, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.147

Deferral Agreement regarding 2007 annual incentive compensation plan dated June 29, 2007 between John J. Foley and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc., filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2007, filed August 7, 2007, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

 

 

- 95 -

 

10.148

 

 

 

 

Deferral Agreement regarding 2007 annual incentive compensation plan dated June 29, 2007 between Yves Boyer and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc., filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2007, filed August 7, 2007, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.149

Deferral Agreement regarding 2005 performance share plan award dated June 29, 2007 between Gary L. Paxton and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc., filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2007, filed August 7, 2007, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.150

Deferral Agreement regarding 2005 performance share plan award dated June 29, 2007 between Steven B. Hildebrand and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc., filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2007, filed August 7, 2007, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.151

Deferral Agreement regarding 2005 performance share plan award dated June 29, 2007 between R. Scott Anderson and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc., filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2007, filed August 7, 2007, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.152

Deferral Agreement regarding 2005 performance share plan award dated June 29, 2007 between John J. Foley and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc., filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2007, filed August 7, 2007, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.153

Deferral Agreement regarding 2005 performance share plan award dated June 29, 2007 between Yves Boyer and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc., filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended June 30, 2007, filed August 7, 2007, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.154

Sixth Amendment to Deferred Compensation Plan approved by the Human Resources and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. on September 26, 2007, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2007, filed November 7, 2007, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.155

Seventh Amendment to Retirement Plan approved by the Human Resources and Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors of Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. on September 26, 2007, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2007, filed November 7, 2007, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.156

Notice of Election Regarding Payment of Director’s Fees dated September 26, 2007 executed by Molly Shi Boren, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2007, filed November 7, 2007, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

10.157

Notice of Election Regarding Payment of Director’s Fees dated September 26, 2007 executed by Edward C. Lumley, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2007, filed November 7, 2007, Commission File No. 1-13647*

 

 

 

- 96 -

 

10.161

Deferred Compensation Plan Payment Modification – Pre-2005 elections dated December 31, 2007 between Gary L. Paxton and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.**

 

10.162

Deferred Compensation Plan Payment Modification – Pre-2005 elections dated December 31, 2007 between Steven B. Hildebrand and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.**

 

10.163

Deferred Compensation Plan Payment Modification – Pre-2005 elections dated December 31, 2007 between R. Scott Anderson and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.**

 

10.164

Deferred Compensation Plan Payment Modification – Pre-2005 elections dated December 31, 2007 between John J. Foley and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.**

 

10.165

Deferred Compensation Plan Payment Modification – Post-2004 elections dated December 31, 2007 between Gary L. Paxton and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.**

 

10.166

Deferred Compensation Plan Payment Modification – Post-2004 elections dated December 31, 2007 between Steven B. Hildebrand and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.**

 

10.167

Deferred Compensation Plan Payment Modification – Post-2004 elections dated December 31, 2007 between R. Scott Anderson and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.**

 

10.168

Deferred Compensation Plan Payment Modification – Post-2004 elections dated December 31, 2007 between John J. Foley and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.**

 

10.169

Deferred Compensation Plan Employee Enrollment Form – Salary dated December 31, 2007 between Gary L. Paxton and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.**

 

10.170

Deferred Compensation Plan Employee Enrollment Form – Salary dated December 31, 2007 between Steven B. Hildebrand and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.**

 

10.171

Deferred Compensation Plan Employee Enrollment Form – Salary dated December 31, 2007 between R. Scott Anderson and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.**

 

10.172

Deferred Compensation Plan Employee Enrollment Form – Salary dated December 31, 2007 between John J. Foley and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.**

 

10.173

2007 Retirement Plan Employee Enrollment Form – Retirement Contribution dated December 31, 2007 between Gary L. Paxton and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.**

 

10.174

2007 Retirement Plan Employee Enrollment Form – Retirement Contribution dated December 31, 2007 between Steven B. Hildebrand and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.**

 

 

 

- 97 -

 

10.175

2007 Retirement Plan Employee Enrollment Form – Retirement Contribution dated December 31, 2007 between R. Scott Anderson and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.**

 

10.176

2007 Retirement Plan Employee Enrollment Form – Retirement Contribution dated December 31, 2007 between John J. Foley and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.**

 

10.177

Amendment to Notice of Election Regarding Payment of Director’s Fees (Earned and Deferred through December 31, 2007) dated December 31, 2007 executed by Thomas P. Capo**

 

10.178

Amendment to Notice of Election Regarding Payment of Director’s Fees (Earned and Deferred through December 31, 2007) dated December 26, 2007 executed by Richard W. Neu**

 

10.179

Amendment to Notice of Election Regarding Payment of Director’s Fees (Earned and Deferred through December 31, 2007) dated December 31, 2007 executed by John C. Pope**

 

10.180

Consent to Action in Lieu of Meeting of the Board of Directors of Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. effective January 1, 2008 regarding the amendment to the Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan under the Bank of Oklahoma N.A. Defined Contribution Prototype Plan and Trust dated November 29, 2007**

 

10.181

Amendment to Notice of Election Regarding Payment of Director’s Fees for Calendar Year 2008 dated December 31, 2007 executed by Thomas P. Capo**

 

10.182

Amendment to Notice of Election Regarding Payment of Director’s Fees for Calendar Year 2008 dated December 27, 2007 executed by Maryann N. Keller**

 

10.183

Amendment to Notice of Election Regarding Payment of Director’s Fees for Calendar Year 2008 dated December 28, 2007 executed by Edward C. Lumley**

 

10.184

Amendment to Notice of Election Regarding Payment of Director’s Fees for Calendar Year 2008 dated December 26, 2007 executed by Richard W. Neu**

 

10.185

Amendment to Notice of Election Regarding Payment of Director’s Fees for Calendar Year 2008 dated December 20, 2007 executed by John C. Pope**

 

10.186

Amendment to Notice of Election Regarding Payment of Director’s Fees for Calendar Year 2008 dated December 29, 2007 executed by Edward L. Wax**

 

10.187

Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. Summary of Non-employee Director’s Compensation Effective January 1, 2008 Until Further Modified**

 

21

Subsidiaries of DTG**

 

23.2

Consent of Debevoise & Plimpton (included in Exhibit 5), filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended, Registration No. 333-39661, which became effective December 16, 1997*

 

 

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23.3

Consent of Donovan Leisure Newton & Irvine LLP, filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Registration Statement on Form S-1, as amended, Registration No. 333-39661, which became effective December 16, 1997*

 

23.5

Consent of Hall, Estill, Hardwick, Gable, Golden & Nelson, P.C. (included in Exhibit 5.1), filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form S-8, Registration No. 333-79603, filed May 28, 1999*

 

23.13

Consent of Hall, Estill, Hardwick, Gable, Golden & Nelson, P.C. (included in Exhibit 5.2), filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form S-8, Registration No. 333-50800, filed November 28, 2000*

 

23.26

Consent of Hall, Estill, Hardwick, Gable, Golden & Nelson, P.C. (included in Exhibit 5.3), filed as the same numbered exhibit with DTG’s Form S-8, Registration No. 333-128714, filed September 30, 2005*

 

23.34

Consent of Tullius Taylor Sartain & Sartain LLP regarding Registration Statement on Form S-8, Registration No. 333-89189, filed as the same numbered exhibit with Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan’s Form 11-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, filed June 26, 2007*

 

23.35

Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP regarding DTG’s Forms S-8, Registration No. 333-79603, Registration No. 333-89189, Registration No. 333-33144, Registration No. 333-33146, Registration No. 333-50800 and Registration No. 333-128714**

 

31.47

Certification by the Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002**

 

31.48

Certification by the Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002**

 

32.47

Certification by the Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002**

 

32.48

Certification by the Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002**

 

___________

 

*

Incorporated by reference

**

Filed herewith

 

 

 

(b)

Filed Exhibits

 

 

The response to this item is submitted as a separate section of this report.

 

 

 

 

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SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

 

Date:

February 29, 2008

DOLLAR THRIFTY AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC.

 

 

By: /s/ GARY L. PAXTON

 

Name: Gary L. Paxton

 

Title:

President and Principal Executive Officer

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed below by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

 

Name

Title

Date

 

/s/ GARY L. PAXTON

Gary L. Paxton

Chief Executive Officer

President

and Director

 

February 29, 2008

/s/ STEVEN B. HILDEBRAND

Steven B. Hildebrand

Senior Executive Vice President

Principal Financial Officer

Principal Accounting Officer

and Chief Financial Officer

 

February 29, 2008

/s/ THOMAS P. CAPO

Thomas P. Capo

Chairman of the Board

and Director

 

February 29, 2008

/s/ MOLLY S. BOREN

Molly S. Boren

Director

 

February 29, 2008

/s/ MARYANN N. KELLER

Maryann N. Keller

 

Director

February 29, 2008

/s/ EDWARD C. LUMLEY

Edward C. Lumley

 

Director

February 29, 2008

/s/ RICHARD W. NEU

Richard W. Neu

Director

February 29, 2008

/s/ JOHN C. POPE

John C. Pope

Director

February 29, 2008

/s/ EDWARD L. WAX

Edward L. Wax

Director

February 29, 2008

 

 

 

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit Number

Description

 

 

10.161

Deferred Compensation Plan Payment Modification – Pre-2005 elections dated December 31, 2007 between Gary L. Paxton and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.

 

10.162

Deferred Compensation Plan Payment Modification – Pre-2005 elections dated December 31, 2007 between Steven B. Hildebrand and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.

 

10.163

Deferred Compensation Plan Payment Modification – Pre-2005 elections dated December 31, 2007 between R. Scott Anderson and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.

 

10.164

Deferred Compensation Plan Payment Modification – Pre-2005 elections dated December 31, 2007 between John J. Foley and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.

 

10.165

Deferred Compensation Plan Payment Modification – Post-2004 elections dated December 31, 2007 between Gary L. Paxton and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.

 

10.166

Deferred Compensation Plan Payment Modification – Post-2004 elections dated December 31, 2007 between Steven B. Hildebrand and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.

 

10.167

Deferred Compensation Plan Payment Modification – Post-2004 elections dated December 31, 2007 between R. Scott Anderson and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.

 

10.168

Deferred Compensation Plan Payment Modification – Post-2004 elections dated December 31, 2007 between John J. Foley and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.

 

10.169

Deferred Compensation Plan Employee Enrollment Form – Salary dated December 31, 2007 between Gary L. Paxton and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.

 

10.170

Deferred Compensation Plan Employee Enrollment Form – Salary dated December 31, 2007 between Steven B. Hildebrand and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.

 

10.171

Deferred Compensation Plan Employee Enrollment Form – Salary dated December 31, 2007 between R. Scott Anderson and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.

 

10.172

Deferred Compensation Plan Employee Enrollment Form – Salary dated December 31, 2007 between John J. Foley and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.

 

10.173

2007 Retirement Plan Employee Enrollment Form – Retirement Contribution dated December 31, 2007 between Gary L. Paxton and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.

 

 

 

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10.174

2007 Retirement Plan Employee Enrollment Form – Retirement Contribution dated December 31, 2007 between Steven B. Hildebrand and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.

 

10.175

2007 Retirement Plan Employee Enrollment Form – Retirement Contribution dated December 31, 2007 between R. Scott Anderson and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.

 

10.176

2007 Retirement Plan Employee Enrollment Form – Retirement Contribution dated December 31, 2007 between John J. Foley and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.

 

10.177

Amendment to Notice of Election Regarding Payment of Director’s Fees (Earned and Deferred through December 31, 2007) dated December 31, 2007 executed by Thomas P. Capo

 

10.178

Amendment to Notice of Election Regarding Payment of Director’s Fees (Earned and Deferred through December 31, 2007) dated December 26, 2007 executed by Richard W. Neu

 

10.179

Amendment to Notice of Election Regarding Payment of Director’s Fees (Earned and Deferred through December 31, 2007) dated December 31, 2007 executed by John C. Pope

 

10.180

Consent to Action in Lieu of Meeting of the Board of Directors of Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. effective January 1, 2008 regarding the amendment to the Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan under the Bank of Oklahoma N.A. Defined Contribution Prototype Plan and Trust dated November 29, 2007

 

10.181

Amendment to Notice of Election Regarding Payment of Director’s Fees for Calendar Year 2008 dated December 31, 2007 executed by Thomas P. Capo

 

10.182

Amendment to Notice of Election Regarding Payment of Director’s Fees for Calendar Year 2008 dated December 27, 2007 executed by Maryann N. Keller

 

10.183

Amendment to Notice of Election Regarding Payment of Director’s Fees for Calendar Year 2008 dated December 28, 2007 executed by Edward C. Lumley

 

10.184

Amendment to Notice of Election Regarding Payment of Director’s Fees for Calendar Year 2008 dated December 26, 2007 executed by Richard W. Neu

 

10.185

Amendment to Notice of Election Regarding Payment of Director’s Fees for Calendar Year 2008 dated December 20, 2007 executed by John C. Pope

 

10.186

Amendment to Notice of Election Regarding Payment of Director’s Fees for Calendar Year 2008 dated December 29, 2007 executed by Edward L. Wax

 

10.187

Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. Summary of Non-employee Director’s Compensation Effective January 1, 2008 Until Further Modified

 

21

Subsidiaries of DTG

 

 

 

- 102 -

 

23.35

Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP regarding DTG’s Forms S-8, Registration No. 333-79603, Registration No. 333-89189, Registration No. 333-33144, Registration No. 333-33146, Registration No. 333-50800 and Registration No. 333-128714

 

31.47

Certification by the Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

31.48

Certification by the Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

32.47

Certification by the Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

32.48

Certification by the Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

 

 

 

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