EX-99.2 3 a08-27725_1ex99d2.htm EX-99.2

Exhibit 99.2

 

Non-GAAP Measures: Definitions and Use/Importance

 

On December 21, 2005 (“Closing Date”) an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Hertz Global Holdings, Inc. (“Hertz Holdings”) acquired all of The Hertz Corporation’s (“Hertz”) common stock from Ford Holdings LLC (“Ford Holdings”) pursuant to a Stock Purchase Agreement, dated as of September 12, 2005, among Ford Motor Company (“Ford”), Ford Holdings and Hertz Holdings (previously known as CCMG Holdings, Inc.). As a result of this transaction, investment funds associated with or designated by Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, Inc., The Carlyle Group and Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity (collectively, the “Sponsors”), owned all of the common stock of Hertz Holdings. After giving effect to the initial public offering of the common stock of Hertz Holdings in November 2006 and a secondary offering in June 2007, the Sponsors now own approximately 55% of the common stock of Hertz Holdings. We refer to the acquisition of all of Hertz’s common stock as the “Acquisition.” We refer to the Acquisition, together with related transactions entered into to finance the cash consideration for the Acquisition, to refinance certain of our existing indebtedness and to pay related transaction fees and expenses, as the “Transactions.” The term “GAAP” refers to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.

 

Definitions of non-GAAP financial and other measures utilized in Hertz Holdings’ November 5, 2008 Press Release are set forth below. Also set forth below is a summary of the reasons why management of Hertz Holdings and Hertz believe that presentation of the non-GAAP financial measures included in the Press Release provide useful information regarding Hertz Holdings’ and Hertz’s financial condition and results of operations and additional purposes, if any, for which management of Hertz Holdings and Hertz utilize the non-GAAP financial measures.

 

1. Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation and Amortization (“EBITDA”) and Corporate EBITDA

 

We present EBITDA and Corporate EBITDA to provide investors with supplemental measures of our operating performance and liquidity and, in the case of Corporate EBITDA, information utilized in the calculation of the financial covenants under Hertz’s senior credit facilities. EBITDA is defined as consolidated net income before net interest expense, consolidated income taxes and consolidated depreciation and amortization. Corporate EBITDA differs from the term “EBITDA” as it is commonly used. Corporate EBITDA means “EBITDA” as that term is defined under Hertz’s senior credit facilities, which is generally consolidated net income before net interest expense (other than interest expense relating to certain car rental fleet financing), consolidated income taxes, consolidated depreciation (other than depreciation related to the car rental fleet) and amortization and before certain other items, in each case as more fully defined in the agreements governing Hertz’s senior credit facilities. The other items excluded in this calculation include, but are not limited to: non-cash expenses and charges; extraordinary, unusual or non-recurring gains or losses; gains or losses associated with the sale or write-down of assets not in the ordinary course of business; and earnings to the extent of cash dividends or distributions paid from non-controlled affiliates. Further, the covenants in Hertz’s senior credit facilities are calculated using Corporate EBITDA for the most recent four fiscal quarters as a whole. As a result, the measure can be disproportionately affected by a particularly strong or weak quarter. Further, it may not be comparable to the measure for any subsequent four-quarter period or for any complete fiscal year.

 

Management uses EBITDA and Corporate EBITDA as performance and cash flow metrics for internal monitoring and planning purposes, including the preparation of our annual operating budget and monthly operating reviews, as well as to facilitate analysis of investment decisions. In addition, both metrics are important to allow us to evaluate profitability and make performance trend comparisons between us and our competitors. Further, we believe EBITDA and Corporate EBITDA are frequently used by securities analysts, investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of companies in our industries.

 

EBITDA is also used by management and investors to evaluate our operating performance exclusive of financing costs and depreciation policies. Further, because we have two business segments that are financed differently and have different underlying depreciation characteristics, EBITDA enables investors to isolate the effects on profitability of operating metrics such as revenue, operating expenses and selling, general and administrative expenses. In addition to its use to monitor performance trends, EBITDA provides a comparative metric to management and investors that is consistent across companies with different capital structures and depreciation policies. This enables management and investors to compare our performance on a consolidated basis and on a segment basis to that of our peers. In addition, our management uses consolidated EBITDA as a proxy for cash flow available to finance fleet expenditures and the costs of our capital structure on a day-to-day basis so that we can more easily monitor our cash flows when a full statement of cash flows is not available.

 


 

Corporate EBITDA also serves as an important measure of our performance. Corporate EBITDA for our car rental segment enables us to assess our operating performance inclusive of fleet management performance, depreciation assumptions and the cost of financing our fleet. In addition, Corporate EBITDA for our car rental segment allows us to compare our performance, inclusive of fleet mix and financing decisions, to the performance of our competitors. Since most of our competitors utilize asset-backed fleet debt to finance fleet acquisitions, this measure is relevant for evaluating our operating efficiency inclusive of our fleet acquisition and utilization. For our equipment rental segment, Corporate EBITDA provides an appropriate measure of performance because the investment in our equipment fleet is longer-term in nature than for our car rental segment and therefore Corporate EBITDA allows management to assess operating performance exclusive of interim changes in depreciation assumptions. Further, unlike our car rental segment, our equipment rental fleet is not financed through separate securitization-based fleet financing facilities, but rather through our corporate debt. Corporate EBITDA for our equipment rental segment is a key measure used to make investment decisions because it enables us to evaluate return on investments. For both segments, Corporate EBITDA provides a relevant profitability metric for use in comparison of our performance against our public peers, many of whom publicly disclose a comparable metric. In addition, we believe that investors, analysts and rating agencies consider EBITDA and Corporate EBITDA useful in measuring our ability to meet our debt service obligations and make capital expenditures. Several of Hertz’s material debt covenants are based on financial ratios utilizing Corporate EBITDA and non-compliance with those covenants could result in the requirement to immediately repay all amounts outstanding under those agreements, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial position and cash flows.

 

EBITDA and Corporate EBITDA are not recognized measurements under GAAP. When evaluating our operating performance or liquidity, investors should not consider EBITDA and Corporate EBITDA in isolation of, or as a substitute for, measures of our financial performance and liquidity as determined in accordance with GAAP, such as net income, operating income or net cash provided by operating activities. EBITDA and Corporate EBITDA may have material limitations as performance measures because they exclude items that are necessary elements of our costs and operations. Because other companies may calculate EBITDA and Corporate EBITDA differently than we do, EBITDA may not be, and Corporate EBITDA as presented is not, comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

 

Borrowings under Hertz’s senior credit facilities are a key source of our liquidity. Hertz’s ability to borrow under these senior credit facilities depends upon, among other things, the maintenance of a sufficient borrowing base and compliance with the financial ratio covenants based on Corporate EBITDA set forth in the credit agreements for Hertz’s senior credit facilities. Hertz’s senior term loan facility requires it to maintain a specified consolidated leverage ratio and a consolidated interest expense coverage ratio based on Corporate EBITDA, while its senior asset-based loan facility requires that a specified consolidated leverage ratio and consolidated fixed charge coverage ratio be maintained for periods during which there is less than $200 million of available borrowing capacity under the senior asset-based loan facility. These financial covenants became applicable to Hertz beginning September 30, 2006, reflecting the four quarter period ending thereon. Failure to comply with these financial ratio covenants would result in a default under the credit agreements for Hertz’s senior credit facilities and, absent a waiver or an amendment from the lenders, permit the acceleration of all outstanding borrowings under the senior credit facilities. As of September 30, 2008, we performed the calculations associated with the above noted financial covenants and determined that Hertz is in compliance with such covenants.

 

2. Adjusted Pre-Tax Income

 

Adjusted pre-tax income is calculated as income before income taxes and minority interest plus non-cash purchase accounting charges, non-cash debt charges relating to the amortization of debt financing costs and debt discounts and certain one-time charges and non-operational items. Adjusted pre-tax income is important to management because it allows management to assess operational performance of our business, exclusive of the items mentioned above.  It also allows management to assess the performance of the entire business on the same basis as the segment measure of profitability.  Management believes that it is important to investors for the same reasons it is important to management and because it allows them to assess the operational performance of the Company on the same basis that management uses internally.

 


 

3. Adjusted Net Income

 

Adjusted net income is calculated as adjusted pre-tax income less a provision for income taxes derived utilizing a normalized income tax rate and minority interest. The normalized income tax rate is management’s estimate of our long-term tax rate.  Adjusted net income is important to management and investors because it represents our operational performance exclusive of the effects of purchase accounting, non-cash debt charges, one-time charges and items that are not operational in nature or comparable to those of our competitors.

 

4. Adjusted Diluted Earnings Per Share

 

Adjusted diluted earnings per share is calculated as adjusted net income divided by, for 2008, the actual diluted weighted average number of shares outstanding for the year ended December 31, 2007, and for 2007, the pro forma post-IPO number of shares outstanding. Adjusted diluted earnings per share is important to management and investors because it represents a measure of our operational performance exclusive of the effects of purchase accounting adjustments, non-cash debt charges, one-time charges and items that are not operational in nature or comparable to those of our competitors. Utilizing the pro forma post-IPO number of shares outstanding in 2007 is important to management and investors because it represents a measure of our earnings per share as if the effects of the initial public offering were applicable to all periods in 2007.

 

5. Transaction Days

 

Transaction days represent the total number of days that vehicles were on rent in a given period.

 

6. Car Rental Rate Revenue and Rental Rate Revenue Per Transaction Day

 

Car rental rate revenue consists of all revenue, net of discounts, associated with the rental of cars including charges for optional insurance products, but excluding revenue derived from fueling and concession and other expense pass-throughs, NeverLost units in the U.S. and certain ancillary revenue. Rental rate revenue per transaction day is calculated as total rental rate revenue, divided by the total number of transaction days, with all periods adjusted to eliminate the effect of fluctuations in foreign currency. Our management believes eliminating the effect of fluctuations in foreign currency is appropriate so as not to affect the comparability of underlying trends. This statistic is important to management and investors as it represents the best measurement of the changes in underlying pricing in the car rental business and encompasses the elements in car rental pricing that management has the ability to control.  The optional insurance products are packaged within certain negotiated corporate, government and membership programs and within certain retail rates being charged.  Based upon these existing programs and rate packages, management believes that these optional insurance products should be consistently included in the daily pricing of car rental transactions.  On the other hand, non-rental rate revenue items such as refueling and concession pass-through expense items are driven by factors beyond the control of management (i.e. the price of fuel and the concession fees charged by airports).   Additionally, NeverLost units are an option revenue product which management does not consider to be part of their daily pricing of car rental transactions.

 

7. Equipment Rental and Rental Related Revenue

 

Equipment rental and rental related revenue consists of all revenue, net of discounts, associated with the rental of equipment including charges for delivery, loss damage waivers and fueling, but excluding revenue arising from the sale of equipment, parts and supplies and certain other ancillary revenue. Rental and rental related revenue is adjusted in all periods to eliminate the effect of fluctuations in foreign currency. Our management believes eliminating the effect of fluctuations in foreign currency is appropriate so as not to affect the comparability of underlying trends. This statistic is important to our management and to investors as it is utilized in the measurement of rental revenue generated per dollar invested in fleet on an annualized basis and is comparable with the reporting of other industry participants.

 


 

8. Same Store Revenue Growth

 

Same store revenue growth represents the change in the current period total same store revenue over the prior period total same store revenue as a percentage of the prior period. The same store revenue amounts are adjusted in all periods to eliminate the effect of fluctuations in foreign currency. Our management believes eliminating the effect of fluctuations in foreign currency is appropriate so as not to affect the comparability of underlying trends.

 

9. Unlevered Pre-Tax Cash Flow

 

Unlevered pre-tax cash flow is calculated as Corporate EBITDA less equipment rental fleet depreciation including gain (loss) on sale, non-fleet capital expenditures, net of non-fleet disposals, plus changes in working capital (accounts receivable, inventories, prepaid expenses, accounts payable and accrued liabilities), and changes in other assets and liabilities (including public liability and property damage, U.S. pension liability, other assets and liabilities, equity and minority interest). Unlevered pre-tax cash flow is important to management and investors as it represents funds available to pay corporate interest and taxes and to grow our fleet or reduce debt.

 

10. Levered After-Tax Cash Flow Before Fleet Growth

 

Levered after-tax cash flow before fleet growth is calculated as Unlevered Pre-Tax Cash Flow less corporate net cash interest and corporate cash taxes. Levered after-tax cash flow before fleet growth is important to management and investors as it represents the funds available to grow our fleet or reduce our debt.

 

11. Corporate Net Cash Interest (used in the calculation of Levered After-Tax Cash Flow Before Fleet Growth)

 

Corporate net cash interest represents total interest expense, net of total interest income, less car rental fleet interest expense, net of car rental fleet interest income, and non-cash corporate interest charges. Non-cash corporate interest charges represent the amortization of corporate debt financing costs and corporate debt discounts. Corporate net cash interest helps management and investors measure the ongoing costs of financing the business exclusive of the costs associated with the fleet financing.

 

12. Corporate Cash Taxes (used in the calculation of Levered After-Tax Cash Flow Before Fleet Growth)

 

Corporate cash taxes represents cash paid by the Company during the period for income taxes.

 

13. Levered After-Tax Cash Flow After Fleet Growth

 

Levered after-tax cash flow after fleet growth is calculated as Levered After-Tax Cash Flow Before Fleet Growth less equipment rental fleet growth capital expenditures and less gross car rental fleet growth capital expenditures plus car rental fleet financing. Levered after-tax cash flow after fleet growth is important to management and investors as it represents the funds available for the reduction of corporate debt.

 

14. Net Corporate Debt

 

Net corporate debt is calculated as total debt excluding fleet debt less cash and equivalents and short-term investments, if any, and corporate restricted cash.  Corporate debt consists of senior notes issued prior to the Acquisition; borrowings under our Senior Term Facility; borrowings under our Senior ABL Facility; our Senior Notes; our Senior Subordinated Notes; and certain other indebtedness of our domestic and foreign subsidiaries. Net Corporate Debt is important to management, investors and ratings agencies as it helps measure our leverage. Net Corporate Debt also assists in the evaluation of our ability to service our non-fleet-related debt without reference to the expense associated with the fleet debt, which is fully collateralized by assets not available to lenders under the non-fleet debt facilities.

 


 

15. Net Fleet Debt

 

Net fleet debt is calculated as total fleet debt less restricted cash associated with fleet debt.  Fleet debt consists of our U.S. ABS Fleet Debt, the Fleet Financing Facility, obligations incurred under our International Fleet Debt Facilities, capital lease financings relating to revenue earning equipment that are outside the International Fleet Debt Facilities, the International ABS Fleet Financing Facility, the Belgian Fleet Financing Facility, the Brazilian Fleet Financing Facility, the Canadian Fleet Financing Facility, the U.K. Leveraged Financing and the pre-Acquisition ABS Notes. This measure is important to management, investors and ratings agencies as it helps measure our leverage.

 

16. Corporate Restricted Cash (used in the calculation of Net Corporate Debt)

 

Total restricted cash includes cash and equivalents that are not readily available for our normal disbursements. Total restricted cash and equivalents are restricted for the purchase of revenue earning vehicles and other specified uses under our Fleet Debt facilities, our like-kind exchange programs and to satisfy certain of our self insurance regulatory reserve requirements. Corporate restricted cash is calculated as total restricted cash less restricted cash associated with fleet debt.

 

17. Restricted Cash Associated with Fleet Debt (used in the calculation of Net Fleet Debt and Corporate Restricted Cash)

 

Restricted cash associated with fleet debt is restricted for the purchase of revenue earning vehicles and other specified uses under our Fleet Debt facilities and our car rental like-kind exchange program.

 

18. Total Net Cash Flow

 

Total net cash flow is calculated as the change in the cash and equivalents, restricted cash and debt balances, adjusted for the effects of foreign currency.  Total net cash flow is important to management and investors as it represents funds available to grow our fleet or reduce our debt.