Item 1A. Risk Factors
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS (Continued)
expenses, retention of sufficiently skilled personnel to implement and operate the new systems, demands on management time, potential delays or disruptions from upgrading and consolidating our systems and other risks and costs of delays or difficulties in transitioning to outsourcing alternatives, new systems or integrating new systems into our current systems. If we fail to maintain comprehensive technology enablement and effective processes, we may be unable to support business growth expectations, and such failure could result in excessive overhead costs, high rates of transaction failures and rework, detrimental impact to customers, excessive write-offs and potential litigation, service quality issues, declining employee morale, loss of key talent and other unfavorable consequences. These risks are elevated when legacy systems and infrastructure updates are delayed or otherwise not made on a timely basis, which can result in a heightened security risk. In addition, the implementation of our technology initiatives and systems may cause disruptions in our business operations by severely degrading performance or a complete loss of service and have an adverse effect on our business and operations if not anticipated and appropriately mitigated and our competitive position may be adversely affected if we are unable to maintain systems that allow us to manage our business in a competitive manner.
The misuse or theft of information we possess, including as a result of cyber security breaches, could harm our brand, reputation or competitive position and give rise to material liabilities which may materially adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition, liquidity and cash flows.
We regularly collect, process and store non-public information about millions of individuals and businesses, including both credit and debit card information and other sensitive and confidential personal information in the normal course of our business. In addition, our customers regularly transmit sensitive and confidential information to us via the internet and through other electronic means. Despite the security measures and compliance programs we currently maintain and monitor, our facilities and systems and those of our third-party service providers may contain defects in design or manufacture or other problems that could unexpectedly compromise information security. Unauthorized parties may also attempt to gain access to our facilities or systems, or those of third parties with whom we do business, through fraud, misrepresentation, or other forms of deception. We and our service providers may not anticipate or prevent all types of attempts to obtain unauthorized access until after they have already been launched, and techniques used to obtain unauthorized access to systems change frequently and may not be known until launched against us or our third-party service providers. For example, i n recent years, many companies have been subject to high-profile security breaches that involved sophisticated and targeted attacks on the company’s infrastructure and the compromise of non-public sensitive and confidential information. These attacks were often not recognized or detected until after the disclosure of sensitive information notwithstanding the preventive and anticipative measures the companies had maintained. While we work to continuously evaluate our security throughout our business and make appropriate changes to our operating processes and improve our defenses and we implement security measures designed to safeguard our systems and data, and intend to continue implementing additional measures in the future, our implementation efforts may be incomplete or our measures may not be sufficient to maintain the confidentiality, security, or availability of the data we collect, store, and use to operate our business. Additionally, any failure to manage information privacy in compliance with applicable laws, whether as a result of our own error or the error or malfeasance of others, could result in regulatory fines and sanctions, increased litigation, prolonged negative publicity, data breaches, declining customer confidence, loss of key customers, employee liability, shareholder derivative lawsuits and other unfavorable consequences.
We may face particular data protection, data security and privacy risks in connection with the European Union's Global Data Protection Regulation and other privacy regulations.
Our business requires the secure processing and storage of personal information relating to our customers, employees, business partners and others. Strict data privacy laws regulating the collection, transmission, storage and use of employee data and consumers’ personally-identifying information are continuously evolving in the European Union, U.S. and other jurisdictions in which we operate. In particular, t he European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (the “GDPR”) imposes compliance obligations for the collection, use, retention, security, processing, transfer and deletion of personally identifiable information of individuals. In addition, countries such as the United Kingdom have implemented the GDPR through their own legislation, for example, the UK Data Protection Act of 2018. Privacy laws in the U.S. include the California Consumer Privacy Act (the “CCPA”), which expands the definition of personal information and grants, among other things, individual rights to access and delete
30
Table of Contents
HERTZ GLOBAL HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
THE HERTZ CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS (Continued)
personal information, and the right to opt out of the sale of personal information. These laws and regulations can also impose significant forfeitures and penalties for noncompliance and afford private rights of action to individuals under certain circumstances.
We actively monitor compliance with data protection and privacy-related laws and other regulations, including upcoming legislation, in the jurisdictions we operate; however, these laws are developing rapidly and may create inconsistent or conflicting requirements. Changes in the legal and regulatory environments in the areas of customer and employee privacy, data security, and cross-border data flows could have a material adverse effect on our business, primarily through the regulation of our marketing and transaction processing activities, the limitation on the types of information that we may collect, process and retain, the resulting costs of complying with such legal and regulatory requirements and potential monetary forfeitures and penalties for noncompliance, which could be significant. Such regulations also may increase our compliance and administrative burden significantly and require us to invest resources and management attention in order to update our information technology systems to meet new requirements.
RISKS RELATED TO LEGAL, REGULATORY AND TAX MATTERS
Our foreign operations expose us to risks that may materially adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition, liquidity and cash flows.
Our foreign operations generate revenue outside the U.S. Accordingly, operating in many different countries exposes us to varying risks, which include: (i) multiple, and sometimes conflicting, foreign regulatory requirements and laws that are subject to change and are often much different than the domestic laws in the U.S., including laws relating to taxes, automobile-related liability, insurance rates, insurance products, consumer privacy, data security, employment matters, cost and fee recovery, and the protection of our trademarks and other intellectual property; (ii) the effect of foreign currency translation risk, as well as limitations on our ability to repatriate income; (iii) varying tax regimes, including consequences from changes in applicable tax laws and our ability to repatriate cash from non-U.S. affiliates without adverse tax consequences; (iv) local ownership or investment requirements, as well as difficulties in obtaining financing in foreign countries for local operations; and (v) political and economic instability, natural calamities, war, and terrorism.
The effects of these risks may, individually or in the aggregate, materially adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition, liquidity and cash flows.
The recognition of previously-deferred tax gains on the disposition of revenue earning vehicles may not be fully offset by full expensing of newly-purchased revenue earning vehicles.
A material and extended reduction in vehicle purchases by our U.S. vehicle rental business, for any reason, could require us to make material cash payments for U.S. federal and state income tax liabilities. We cannot offer assurance that allowances for the full expensing of purchased revenue earning vehicles in the future will exceed previously deferred tax gains realized upon the disposition of revenue earning vehicles.
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the "TCJA") reduces the allowable expense from 100% of the acquisition costs by 20% per year beginning in 2023, fully eliminating the bonus component by 2027. This change could result in the Company being required to make future material cash tax payments on the sales of revenue earning vehicles. We cannot predict if or when legislation would be enacted in the future to allow full or partial expensing of purchased revenue earning vehicles or to allow deferral of tax gains on the dispositions of revenue earning vehicles.
Under Section 163(j) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), certain financing arrangements are not eligible for 100% expensing of the costs of the purchased vehicles. Our ability to fully expense such costs may be impacted as a result of such financing transactions.
These events may materially adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition, liquidity and cash flows.
31
Table of Contents
HERTZ GLOBAL HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
THE HERTZ CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS (Continued)
Our ability to utilize our net operating loss carryforwards (“NOLs”) may be limited as a result of our emergence from bankruptcy, a prior ownership change under Section 382 of the Code, and changes under the TCJA.
In general, Section 382 of the Code provides an annual limitation with respect to the ability of a corporation to utilize its NOLs and other tax attributes, as well as certain built-in-losses ("BILs"), against future taxable income in the event of a change in ownership. Our emergence from Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings, as well as the sale by entities affiliated with Carl Icahn on May 26, 2020, of approximately 38.9% of our then-outstanding stock, resulted in a change in ownership for purposes of Section 382 of the Code. The Company has performed an analysis of the impact of this ownership change and concluded that there should not be a material impact on U.S. federal NOLs but that there may be some restrictions on the use of NOLs at the state level under state statutes corresponding to Section 382.
Limitations imposed on our ability to use NOLs, other tax attributes and BILs to offset future taxable income may cause U.S. federal income taxes to be paid earlier than otherwise would be paid if such limitations were not in effect and could cause such NOLs and other tax attributes to expire unused. Similar rules and limitations may apply for state income tax purposes. If we experience a subsequent ownership change, it is possible that a significant portion of our tax attributes could be further limited for use to offset future taxable income.
In addition, our NOL utilization was statutorily limited under the TCJA, which limited a taxpayer’s ability to use NOLs to 80% of taxable income and disallowed the carryback of NOLs arising after 2017.
We face risks related to liabilities and insurance.
Our businesses expose us to claims for personal injury, death and property damage resulting from the use of the vehicles rented or sold by us, and for employment-related injury claims by our employees. The Company is currently a defendant in numerous actions and has received numerous claims for which actions have not yet been commenced for public liability and property damage arising from the operation of motor vehicles rented from the Company. We generally self-insure up to $10 million per occurrence globally and the Company has $200 million insurance coverage excess of retentions. There can be no assurance that we will not be exposed to uninsured liability at levels in excess of our historical levels, that liabilities in respect of existing or future claims will not exceed the level of our insurance or reserves, that we will have sufficient capital available to pay any uninsured claims or that insurance with unaffiliated carriers will continue to be available to us on economically reasonable terms or at all. See Item 1, “Business - Insurance and Risk Management” and Note 14, "Contingencies and Off-Balance Sheet Commitments," to the Notes to our consolidated financial statements included in this 2021 Annual Report under the caption Item 8, ‘‘Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.”
Environmental laws and regulations and the costs of complying with them, or any liability or obligation imposed under them, could materially adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition, liquidity and cash flows.
We are subject to federal, state, local and foreign environmental laws and regulations in connection with our operations, including with respect to the ownership and operation of tanks for the storage of petroleum products, such as gasoline, diesel fuel and motor and used oils. We cannot guarantee that the tanks will at all times remain free from leaks or that the use of these tanks will not result in significant spills or leakage. If a leak or a spill occurs, it is possible that the costs to investigate and remediate resulting impacts, as well as any associated fines, could be significant. Historically, we have indemnified various parties for the costs associated with remediating certain hazardous substance storage, recycling or disposal sites and, in some instances, for natural resource damages. Compliance with existing or future environmental laws and regulations may require material expenditures by us or otherwise have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations, liquidity or cash flows. See Item 1, ‘‘Business—Government Regulation and Environmental Matters’’ in this 2021 Annual Report.
32
Table of Contents
HERTZ GLOBAL HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
THE HERTZ CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS (Continued)
The U.S. Congress and other legislative and regulatory authorities in the U.S. and internationally have considered, and will likely continue to consider, numerous measures related to climate change and greenhouse gas emissions. Should rules establishing limitations on greenhouse gas emissions or rules imposing fees on entities deemed to be responsible for greenhouse gas emissions become effective, demand for our services could be affected, our vehicle, and/or other, costs could increase, and our business could be adversely affected.
Changes in the U.S. legal and regulatory environment that affect our operations, including laws and regulations relating to accounting principles, taxes, automobile related liability, insurance rates, insurance products, consumer privacy, data security, employment matters, licensing and franchising, used-car sales (including retail sales), cost and fee recovery and the banking and financing industry could disrupt our business, increase our expenses or otherwise have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition, liquidity and cash flows.
We are subject to a wide variety of U.S. laws and regulations and changes in the level of government regulation of our business have the potential to materially alter our business practices and materially adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition, liquidity and cash flows. Those changes may occur through new laws and regulations or changes in the interpretation of existing laws and regulations.
In addition, the current domestic and international political environment, including government shutdowns and changes to U.S. policies related to global trade and tariffs, has resulted in uncertainty surrounding the future state of the global economy. The U.S. federal government may propose additional changes to international trade agreements, tariffs, taxes, and other government rules and regulations. These regulatory changes could significantly impact our business and financial performance.
Any new, or change in existing, U.S. law and regulation with respect to optional insurance products or policies could increase our costs of compliance or make it uneconomical to offer such products, which would lead to a reduction in revenue and profitability. For further discussion regarding how changes in the regulation of insurance intermediaries may affect us, see Item 1, ‘‘Business—Insurance and Risk Management’’ in this 2021 Annual Report. If customers decline to purchase supplemental liability insurance products from us as a result of any changes in these laws or otherwise, our results of operations, financial condition, liquidity and cash flows could be materially adversely affected.
We derive revenue through rental activities of our brands under franchise and license arrangements. These arrangements are subject to various international, federal and state laws and regulations that impose limitations on our interactions with counterparties. In addition, the used-vehicle sale industry, including our network of company-operated retail vehicle sales locations, is subject to a wide range of federal, state and local laws and regulations, such as those relating to motor vehicle sales, retail installment sales and related finance and insurance matters, advertising, licensing, consumer protection and consumer privacy. Changes in these laws and regulations that impact our franchising and licensing agreements or our used-vehicle sales could adversely affect our results.
In most jurisdictions where we operate, we pass-through various expenses, including the recovery of vehicle licensing costs and airport concession fees, to our rental customers as separate charges. We believe that our expense pass-throughs, where imposed, are properly disclosed and are lawful. However, in the event of incorrect calculations or disclosures with respect to expense pass-throughs, or a successful challenge to the methodology we have used for determining our expense pass-through treatment, we could be subject to fines or other liabilities. In addition, we may in the future be subject to potential legislative, regulatory or administrative changes or actions which could limit, restrict or prohibit our ability to separately state, charge and recover vehicle licensing costs and airport concession fees, which could result in a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition, liquidity and cash flows.
Certain proposed or enacted laws and regulations with respect to the banking and finance industries, including the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (including risk retention requirements) and amendments to the SEC's rules relating to asset-backed securities, could restrict our access to certain financing
33
Table of Contents
HERTZ GLOBAL HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
THE HERTZ CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS (Continued)
arrangements and increase our financing costs, which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition, liquidity and cash flows.
We are subject to many different forms of taxation in various jurisdictions throughout the world, which could lead to disagreements with tax authorities regarding the application of tax laws.
We are subject to many forms of taxation in the jurisdictions throughout the world in which we operate, including, but not limited to, income tax, withholding tax and payroll-related taxes. Tax law and administration are extremely complex and often require us, together with our advisors, to make subjective determinations.
For example, in accordance with Section 482 of the Code and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development guidelines, we have established transfer pricing policies to govern our intercompany operations. Implementing transfer pricing policies can be extremely complex and may often require us, together with our advisors, to make subjective determinations.
Tax authorities could disagree with our determinations, which disagreements could result in lengthy legal disputes and, ultimately, the payment of substantial funds to government authorities, which could have a material adverse effect on our operations, financial condition, liquidity and cash flows.
An impairment of our goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets could have a material impact to our results of operations.
On an annual basis as of October 1, and at interim periods when circumstances require as a result of a triggering event, we test the recoverability of our goodwill and indefinite-lived intangible assets by performing an impairment analysis. An impairment is deemed to exist if the carrying value of goodwill or indefinite-lived intangible assets exceed their fair value as determined using level 3 inputs under the GAAP fair value hierarchy. The reviews of fair value involve judgment and estimates, including estimated future cash flows and earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization ("EBITDA") margins, projected revenues, royalty rates and discount rates. A significant decline in either projected revenues, projected cash flows or the weighted average cost of capital used to determine fair value could result in a material impairment charge. For details of the impairment charges incurred during the year ended December 31, 2020, see Note 5, "Goodwill and Intangible Assets, Net," to the Notes to our consolidated financial statements included in this 2021 Annual Report under the caption Item 8, "Financial Statements and Supplementary Data."
Our global business requires a compliance program to promote organizational adherence to applicable laws and regulations.
We have a compliance program designed to (i) identify applicable anti-bribery requirements (e.g., laws limiting commercial bribery and corruption), (ii) identify applicable anti-trust requirements (e.g., laws to prevent price fixing, contract rigging, market or customer allocations, etc.), (iii) interpret the application of such requirements, (iv) educate target audiences and (v) provide independent, ongoing compliance monitoring.
Our operations in many different countries increases the risk of a violation, or alleged violation, of the United States Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, the United Kingdom Bribery Act, other applicable anti-corruption laws and regulations, the economic sanction programs administered by the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control and the anti-boycott regulations administered by the U.S. Department of Commerce's Office of Anti-Boycott Compliance. The failure of our program to operate as designed can result in a failure to comply with applicable laws, which could result in significant penalties or otherwise harm the Company’s reputation and business. There can be no assurance that all of our employees, contractors and agents will comply with the Company’s policies that mandate compliance with these laws. Violations of these laws could result in legal and regulatory sanctions, increased litigation and fines, prolonged negative publicity, diminished investor confidence, declining employee morale and other unfavorable consequences, which could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations, financial condition, liquidity and cash flows.
34
Table of Contents
HERTZ GLOBAL HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
THE HERTZ CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS (Continued)
Hertz Holdings is a holding company with no operations of its own and depends on its subsidiaries for cash.
The operations of Hertz Holdings are conducted nearly entirely through its subsidiaries and its ability to generate cash to meet its debt service obligations or to pay dividends on its common stock is dependent on the earnings and the receipt of funds from its subsidiaries via dividends or intercompany loans. However, none of the subsidiaries of Hertz Holdings are obligated to make funds available to Hertz Holdings for the payment of dividends or the service of its debt. In addition, certain states' laws and the terms of certain of our debt agreements significantly restrict, or prohibit, the ability of Hertz and its subsidiaries to pay dividends, make loans or otherwise transfer assets to Hertz Holdings, including state laws that require dividends to be paid only from surplus. If Hertz Holdings does not receive cash from its subsidiaries, then Hertz Holdings' financial condition could be materially adversely affected.
RISKS RELATED TO OUR INDEBTEDNESS
Our indebtedness exposes us to various risks, which could impair our financial condition.
As of December 31, 2021, we had a total indebtedness of approximately $10.9 billion, including $7.9 billion of vehicle related debt and $3.0 billion of non-vehicle debt. A portion of our indebtedness bears interest at variable rates which exposes us to risks inherent in interest rate fluctuations and higher interest expenses in the event of increases in interest rates. See Item 7A, “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk” in this 2021 Annual Report for additional information related to interest rate risk.
Our ability to satisfy and manage our debt obligations depends on our ability to generate cash flow and on overall financial market conditions. To some extent, this is subject to prevailing economic and competitive conditions and to certain financial, business and other factors, many of which are beyond our control, which makes us more vulnerable to adverse changes in these factors. As a result, our business may not generate sufficient cash flow from operations to permit us to pay principal, premium, if any, or interest on our debt obligations. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow from operations to service our debt obligations and meet our other cash needs, we may be forced to reduce or delay capital expenditures, sell or curtail assets or operations, seek additional capital, or seek to restructure or refinance our indebtedness. If we must sell or curtail our assets or operations, it may negatively affect our ability to generate revenue. Additionally, there can be no assurance that we would be able to borrow additional amounts or refinance our current indebtedness to fund working capital, capital expenditures, debt service requirements, execution of our business strategy or acquisitions and other purposes on favorable terms.
Our reliance on asset-backed and asset-based financing arrangements to purchase vehicles subjects us to a number of risks, many of which are beyond our control.
We rely significantly on asset-backed and asset-based financing to purchase vehicles. If we are unable to refinance or replace our existing asset-backed and asset-based financing or continue to finance new vehicle acquisitions through asset-backed or asset-based financing on favorable terms, on a timely basis, or at all, then our costs of financing could increase significantly and have a material adverse effect on our liquidity, interest costs, financial condition, cash flows and results of operations.
Our asset-backed and asset-based financing capacity could be decreased, our financing costs and interest rates could be increased, or our future access to the financial markets could be limited, as a result of risks and contingencies, many of which are beyond our control, including: (i) the acceptance by credit markets of the structures and structural risks associated with our asset-backed and asset-based financing arrangements; (ii) the credit ratings provided by credit rating agencies for our asset-backed indebtedness; (iii) third parties requiring changes in the terms and structure of our asset-backed or asset-based financing arrangements, including increased credit enhancement or required cash collateral and/or other liquid reserves; (iv) the insolvency or deterioration of the financial condition of one or more of our principal vehicle manufacturers; or (v) changes in laws or regulations, including judicial review of issues of first impression, that negatively affect any of our asset-backed or asset-based financing arrangements. Although we continued to maintain access to asset-backed financing during the Chapter 11 Cases, the cost of such facilities was in excess of costs incurred by our competitors. Following our emergence from
35
Table of Contents
HERTZ GLOBAL HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
THE HERTZ CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS (Continued)
bankruptcy, the cost of asset-backed financing has returned to competitive levels, however, there can be no assurance that this competitive disadvantage will not reoccur in the future.
Our asset-backed and certain asset-based vehicle financing facilities include credit enhancement provisions that require us to provide cash or additional vehicle collateral in the event the estimated market values for the vehicles used as collateral decrease below net book values. As a result, reductions in the estimated market value of vehicles used as collateral could adversely affect our profitability and potentially lead to decreased borrowing base availability. In addition, if our ability to sell vehicles in the used vehicle marketplace were to become severely limited we may have difficulty meeting the minimum required collateral levels, and the principal under our asset-backed and certain asset-based financing arrangements may be required to be repaid sooner than anticipated with vehicle disposition proceeds and lease payments we make to our special purpose financing subsidiaries. If that were to occur, the holders of our asset-backed and certain asset-based debt may have the ability to exercise their right to direct the trustee or other secured party to foreclose on and sell vehicles to generate proceeds sufficient to repay such debt.
In certain circumstances, the proceeds of sales of vehicles that collateralize asset-backed financing arrangements could be required to be applied to the payment of principal and interest on the affected facility or series. Additionally, certain events could result in a liquidation event pursuant to which the trustee or holders of the affected asset-backed financing arrangement would be permitted to require the sale of the assets collateralizing that series. Failure by us to have proper financing and debt management processes may result in cash shortfalls and liquidity problems, emergency financing at high interest rates, violations of debt covenants, an inability to execute strategic initiatives, which may affect our liquidity and our ability to maintain sufficient levels of revenue earning vehicles to meet customer demands and could trigger cross-defaults under certain of our other financing arrangements.
Substantially all of our consolidated assets secure certain of our outstanding indebtedness, which could materially adversely affect our debt and equity holders and our business.
Substantially all of our consolidated assets, including our revenue earning vehicles, are subject to security interests or are otherwise encumbered for the lenders under our senior credit facilities, asset-backed and asset-based financing arrangements.
Because substantially all of our assets are encumbered under financing arrangements, our ability to incur additional secured indebtedness or to sell or dispose of assets to raise capital may be impaired, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial flexibility and force us to attempt to incur additional unsecured indebtedness, which may not be available to us.
We may not be able to deduct certain business interest expenses, which could have a material adverse effect on the Company.
The limitations on the deductibility of business interest expense under Section 163(j) of the Code, which was significantly modified by the TCJA and then temporarily modified by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (the “CARES Act”), could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and liquidity. Further limitations on the deductibility of interest on indebtedness may also result from an adverse determination that debt instruments should be treated as equity for tax purposes.
RISKS RELATED TO OUR OWNERSHIP OF COMMON STOCK
We cannot guarantee that our stock repurchase program will be fully consummated or that it will enhance long-term stockholder value. Stock repurchases could also increase the volatility of our stock and could diminish our liquidity.
Our Board has authorized a stock repurchase program that does not have an expiration date. The program does not obligate us to repurchase any specific dollar amount or to acquire any specific number of shares of our common stock. We cannot guarantee that the program will be fully consummated or that it will enhance long-term stockholder
36
Table of Contents
HERTZ GLOBAL HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
THE HERTZ CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS (Continued)
value. Further, stock repurchases could affect the market price of our common stock or increase its volatility and decrease our cash balances and/or our liquidity.
The market price of our common stock may be volatile.
Numerous factors, including many over which we have no control, may have a significant impact on the market price of our common stock. These risks include those described or referred to in this “Risk Factors” section and in the other documents incorporated herein by reference as well as, among other things:
• our operating and financial performance and prospects;
• sales of a substantial number of shares of our common stock in the public market, or the perception in the market that the holders of a large number of shares of common stock intend to sell;
• our ability to repay our debt;
• our access to financial and capital markets to refinance our debt or replace the existing credit facilities;
• investor perceptions of us and the industry and markets in which we operate;
• our dividend policy;
• future sales of equity or equity-related securities;
• announcements by third parties of significant claims or proceedings against us;
• issuances of new or updated research reports by security or industry analysts, or those analysts not publishing or ceasing to publish reports about us, our industry or out market;
• changes in, or results that vary from, earnings estimates or buy/sell recommendations by analysts; and
• general financial, domestic, economic and other market conditions.
In addition, stock markets experience significant price and volume fluctuations from time to time that are not related to the operating performance of particular companies. These market fluctuations may have material adverse effect on the market price of our common stock.
Anti-takeover provisions in our charter documents and under Delaware law could make an acquisition of us more difficult, limit attempts by our stockholders to replace or remove our current management and may negatively affect the market price of our common stock.
Provisions in our Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws may have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control or changes in our management, including, generally, provisions that:
• do not provide cumulative voting in the election of directors, which limits the ability of minority stockholders to elect director candidates;
• provide for a classified board of directors with three-year staggered terms, which could delay the ability of stockholders to change the membership of a majority of the Board;
• allow for removal of directors only for cause;
• allow only the Board to fill a vacancy created by the expansion of the Board or the resignation, death, retirement, disqualification or removal of a director;
• require advance notice for stockholder proposals to be brought before a meeting of stockholders, including proposed nominations of persons for election to the board of directors;
• only allow stockholder action to be taken at an annual or special meeting;
• limit the ability of stockholders to call a special meeting; and
• authorize blank check preferred stock.
These provisions may make it more difficult for stockholders to replace members of our board of directors, which is responsible for appointing the members of our management. In addition, we have elected not to be governed by Section 203 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the "DGCL"), which generally prohibits a Delaware corporation from engaging in any of a broad range of business combinations with a stockholder owning
37
Table of Contents
HERTZ GLOBAL HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
THE HERTZ CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS (Continued)
15% or more of our outstanding voting stock, unless the stockholder has held the stock for a period of at least three years.
The choice of forum provision in our Certificate of Incorporation could limit our stockholders’ ability to obtain a favorable judicial forum for disputes with us or our directors, officers or colleagues.
Our Certificate of Incorporation provides that, unless we consent in writing to an alternative forum, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware (the “Court of Chancery”) is the sole and exclusive forum for any stockholder to bring any state law claim for (1) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, (2) any action asserting a claim of a breach of fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer, employee, or agent of the Company to us or to our stockholders, (3) any action asserting a claim against us arising pursuant to the DGCL, our Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, (4) any action or proceeding as to which the DGCL confers jurisdiction on the Court of Chancery, and (5) any action asserting a claim against us that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine. In addition, the choice of forum provision provides that, unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, claims brought under the Securities Act must be brought exclusively in the federal district courts of the United States. The choice of forum provision may limit a stockholder’s ability to bring a claim in a judicial forum that it finds favorable for disputes with us or our directors, officers or other colleagues, which may discourage such lawsuits against us and our directors, officers and other colleagues. Alternatively, if a court were to find the choice of forum provision contained in our Certificate of Incorporation to be inapplicable or unenforceable in an action, we may incur additional costs associated with resolving such action in other jurisdictions, which could adversely affect our business and financial condition.
GENERAL RISK FACTORS
We may pursue strategic transactions, including acquisitions and divestitures, which could be difficult to implement, disrupt our business or change our business profile significantly.
Any future strategic acquisition or disposition of assets or a business could involve numerous risks, including: (i) potential disruption of our ongoing business and distraction of management; (ii) difficulty integrating the acquired business or segregating assets and operations to be disposed of; (iii) exposure to unknown, contingent or other liabilities, including litigation arising in connection with the acquisition or disposition or against any business we may acquire; (iv) changing our business profile in ways that could have unintended negative consequences; and (v) the failure to achieve anticipated synergies. If we enter into significant strategic transactions, the related accounting charges may affect our financial condition and results of operations, particularly in the case of an acquisition. The financing of any significant acquisition may result in changes in our capital structure, including the incurrence of additional indebtedness. A material disposition could require the amendment or refinancing of our outstanding indebtedness or a portion thereof.
Our results of operations and stock price could be adversely affected if we are unable to maintain effective internal controls.
The accuracy of our financial reporting is dependent on the effectiveness of our internal controls. We are required to provide a report from management to our shareholders on our internal control over financial reporting that includes an assessment of the effectiveness of these controls. Internal control over financial reporting has inherent limitations, including human error, the possibility that controls could be circumvented or become inadequate because of changed conditions, and fraud. Because of these inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting might not prevent or detect all misstatements or fraud. If we cannot maintain and execute adequate internal control over financial reporting or implement required new or improved controls that provide reasonable assurance of the reliability of the financial reporting and preparation of our financial statements for external use, we could suffer harm to our reputation, incur incremental compliance costs, fail to meet our public reporting requirements on a timely basis, be unable to properly report on our business and our results of operations, or be required to restate our financial statements, and our results of operations, our stock price and our ability to obtain new business could be materially adversely affected.
38
Table of Contents
HERTZ GLOBAL HOLDINGS, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
THE HERTZ CORPORATION AND SUBSIDIARIES
ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS (Continued)
A business continuity plan is necessary for our global business.
We have a business continuity plan designed to (i) identify key assets, operations and underlying threats, (ii) define and assess relevant threats (e.g., natural disasters, pandemics, terrorism, etc.) on business operations, (iii) develop and categorize action plans to minimize the impact of the identified threats and (iv) test the adequacy of our action plans. If our business continuity plan fails to operate as intended, we may experience significant business disruptions, release of confidential information, malicious corruption of data, regulatory intervention and sanctions, prolonged negative publicity, litigation and liabilities, product and service quality failures, irreparable harm to customer relationships and other unfavorable consequences which may materially adversely affect our results of operations, financial condition, liquidity and cash flows.
We participate in multiemployer pension plans and could face a significant liability if we withdraw from participation in such plans or in the event other employers in such plans withdraw or are unable to, or fail to, pay their liabilities.
In the event that we withdraw from participation in one of the multiemployer plans in which we participate, then applicable law could require us to make an additional lump-sum contribution to the plan, and we would have to reflect that as an expense in our consolidated statements of operations and as a liability on our consolidated balance sheets. Our withdrawal liability for any multiemployer plan would depend on the extent of the plan’s funding of vested benefits. If our multiemployer plans have underfunded liabilities, such underfunding may increase in the event other employers become insolvent, withdraw from the applicable plan or are unable or fail to pay their withdrawal liability. In addition, such underfunding may increase as a result of lower than expected returns on pension fund assets or other funding deficiencies. The occurrence of any of these events could have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial condition, results of operations, liquidity and cash flows. See Note 7, "Employee Retirement Benefits," to the Notes to our consolidated financial statements included in this 2021 Annual Report under the caption Item 8, ‘‘Financial Statements and Supplementary Data."
ITEM 1B. UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS
None.