Hertz Lbo
Appendix VI: Hertz Corp. Case Study
Overview: The Hertz buyout is one of the largest private equity deals. It drew criticism in the media and from union members, after the company’s new owners paid themselves $1.3 billion in dividends not long after the transaction closed and ultimately financed the payments by selling stock to the public. The company has realized hundreds of millions of dollars in improved financial results annually, but also has cut thousands of jobs as it has sought to make operations more efficient. Figure 7 provides an overview of the LBO transaction, including a time line of key events. Background: Hertz says it is the world’s largest general use car rental company, with approximately 8,100 locations in about 145 countries. Hertz also operates an equipment rental company with about 380 locations worldwide, although car rentals accounted for 80 percent of 2007 revenues. Ford Motor Co. had purchased an ownership stake in Hertz in 1987 and purchased the company outright in 1994. CD&R executives said that the firm emphasizes making operational improvements in companies it acquires. The firm has long had an interest in multilocation service businesses, they said, as evidenced by investments including Kinko’s and ServiceMaster. The Carlyle Group is one of the biggest private equity firms and says it has demonstrated expertise in the automotive and transportation sectors. Its investments include Dunkin’ Brands, AMC Entertainment, Inc., and Grand Vehicle Works, which provides products and services to truck fleets and recreational vehicle users. Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity is the private equity arm of Merrill Lynch & Co. The acquisition: In 2000, CD&R began exploring acquisition targets in the car rental industry. It analyzed a number of firms before targeting Hertz because of its industry-leading position. In addition to having strong brand recognition, Hertz was the leader in airport rentals, and its equipment rental division provided
Overview: The Hertz buyout is one of the largest private equity deals. It drew criticism in the media and from union members, after the company’s new owners paid themselves $1.3 billion in dividends not long after the transaction closed and ultimately financed the payments by selling stock to the public. The company has realized hundreds of millions of dollars in improved financial results annually, but also has cut thousands of jobs as it has sought to make operations more efficient. Figure 7 provides an overview of the LBO transaction, including a time line of key events. Background: Hertz says it is the world’s largest general use car rental company, with approximately 8,100 locations in about 145 countries. Hertz also operates an equipment rental company with about 380 locations worldwide, although car rentals accounted for 80 percent of 2007 revenues. Ford Motor Co. had purchased an ownership stake in Hertz in 1987 and purchased the company outright in 1994. CD&R executives said that the firm emphasizes making operational improvements in companies it acquires. The firm has long had an interest in multilocation service businesses, they said, as evidenced by investments including Kinko’s and ServiceMaster. The Carlyle Group is one of the biggest private equity firms and says it has demonstrated expertise in the automotive and transportation sectors. Its investments include Dunkin’ Brands, AMC Entertainment, Inc., and Grand Vehicle Works, which provides products and services to truck fleets and recreational vehicle users. Merrill Lynch Global Private Equity is the private equity arm of Merrill Lynch & Co. The acquisition: In 2000, CD&R began exploring acquisition targets in the car rental industry. It analyzed a number of firms before targeting Hertz because of its industry-leading position. In addition to having strong brand recognition, Hertz was the leader in airport rentals, and its equipment rental division provided