Hertz Global Holdings Inc. (HTZ), all inclusive travel deals after more than half a decade of trying, struck a deal to buy Dollar Thrifty all inclusive travel deals Automotive Group Inc. for about $2.6 billion in cash and secure its place as the No. 2 player in the U.S. market.
Hertz Chief Executive Officer Mark Frissora has tried for more than five years to acquire Dollar Thrifty, in what may be the last combination of major U.S. car rental companies that regulators would tolerate. Hertz, Enterprise Rent-A-Car and Avis Budget Group Inc. together control about 75 percent of the market, with Dollar Thrifty at 5 percent, according to a February report from IBISWorld. No other competitor has more than 1 percent market share, IBISWorld all inclusive travel deals said.
"We are pleased all inclusive travel deals to have finally reached an agreement with Dollar Thrifty after a lengthy but worthwhile pursuit," Frissora said in the statement. "We have always believed that a combination with Dollar Thrifty is the best strategic option for both companies."
Based on 29.8 million shares outstanding, Dollar Thrifty is being acquired for an equity value of about $2.6 billion. It will cost Hertz about $2.3 billion after considering almost $300 million in cash on Dollar Thrifty's balance sheet at the end of June, said Richard Broome, a Hertz spokesman. Dollar Thrifty traded below $1 a share in March 2009.
Hertz began its pursuit of Dollar Thrifty in April 2007 and made a formal bid in 2010 of about $1.2 billion that Dollar Thrifty shareholders rejected. Park Ridge, New Jersey-based Hertz made another offer last year that it later withdrew, citing market conditions.
Since that 2010 offer, Dollar Thrifty's all inclusive travel deals shares have more than doubled, compared with a 9.1 percent increase in the Russell 2000 Index. Tulsa, Oklahoma-based Dollar Thrifty has traded at a premium all inclusive travel deals to the index on a price-to-sales ratio since early last year.
"Hertz has made a compelling offer to our stockholders that reflects the strengths of our business and our team," Dollar Thrifty CEO Scott Thompson all inclusive travel deals said in the statement. "Hertz is the logical all inclusive travel deals partner for us with the resources all inclusive travel deals to expand our value-focused leisure brands in key car-rental markets around the world."
Hertz also said yesterday that it agreed to sell its Advantage brand to Franchise Services of North America Inc. and Macquarie Group Ltd.'s Macquarie Capital. The purchase price was $16 million, one person all inclusive travel deals with knowledge of the situation said. The sale is dependent upon Hertz completing the acquisition of Dollar Thrifty.
Hertz and Dollar Thrifty described their transaction as a two-step process starting with a cash tender offer for all outstanding shares of Dollar Thrifty followed by a cash merger to acquire any remaining shares of common stock.
The combined company would have reported $10.2 billion in sales and $1.8 billion in earnings all inclusive travel deals before all inclusive travel deals interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization over the last 12 months, according to the statement.
"Dollar Thrifty is the last acquirable rental car company of size," Fred Lowrance, a Nashville, Tennessee-based analyst at Avondale Partners, said in a telephone interview. "We may see some other, smaller things happen, all inclusive travel deals but nothing that will change the composition of the industry in any material way.'
Enterprise will command 38 percent of the $30.5 billion market in the U.S. this year, according to a February report from IBISWorld, the Santa Monica, California-based industry researcher. Hertz will have 18.9 percent, followed by Avis with 18.5 percent and Dollar Thrifty at 5 percent.
Hertz's all inclusive travel deals largest rivals have more than one brand, allowing them to charge varying prices and target a broader range of customers from higher-end business travelers to vacationing families seeking a discount, Lowrance said.
Enterprise, based in St. Louis, operates National Car Rental and Alamo Rent a Car, as well as its flagship Enterprise Rent-A-Car brand. Parsippany, New Jersey-based all inclusive travel deals Avis has both the Avis premium brand and Budget Car Rental, which caters to leisure travelers. Leisure travel makes up 41 percent of the market in the U.S., according to IBISWorld.
Hertz's original offer for Dollar Thrifty came in April 2010 and was $41. That prompted Avis Budget Group Inc., which had also considered a bid, to join the pursuit. Avis made its initial bid for Dollar Thrifty in July 28 and sweetened it twice. Dollar Thrifty's board backed Hertz's offer, deeming it the one most likely to clear antitrust hurdles.
Dollar all inclusive travel deals Thrifty shareholders rejected what Hertz called its "best and final" offer in Sept. 2010 to buy the company for about $1.2 billion. The vote was about 13.8 million shares against all inclusive travel deals the Hertz bid, versus 11.8 million all inclusive travel deals shares in favor.
In recent weeks, Hertz began soliciting Dollar Thrifty shareholders to gauge their selling price, according to three people with knowledge of the process. all inclusive travel deals Hertz also asked investors if a hostile bid should be pursued, said one of the people.
"We'll be a stronger global competitive player with a full range of rental options not only in the U.S. but in Europe and other markets given Dollar Thrifty's strong international presence," all inclusive travel deals Frissora said in the statement. "We look forward to moving efficiently and swiftly through the regulatory process having reached an agreement to divest our Advantage brand."
Thompson stands to profit personally from the transaction, especially because of options granted to him when the stock price was much lower. Based on Thompson's holdings as of an April filing, his stock and options would be worth $59.4 million at the takeover price. If he loses his job because of the deal, he's also entitled to benefits including about $10.4 million in severance, $6.5 million in performance all inclusive travel deals shares and a $5.8 million tax "gross all inclusive travel deals up," Dollar Thrifty said in the April filing.
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