Hertz (the car rental guys) filed for bankruptcy last night. Here's your 90 second catch-up [Thread]
You just got back from Vegas with a bad credit score and possibly Chlamydia. How do you get home?
If you answered "Uber". It's one reason these companies are being hammered. 2/3rds of car rental revenues come from airports.
Company is $19bn in debt, which also really.... Hertz
If you answered "Uber". It's one reason these companies are being hammered. 2/3rds of car rental revenues come from airports.
Company is $19bn in debt, which also really.... Hertz
US companies usually buy the cars & them sell them once they're done. In Europe, they buy the cars BUT with the right to sell them back to the manufacturer at a locked-in price in the future.
Which one seems like the less risky option?
Exactly - the European model
Which one seems like the less risky option?
Exactly - the European model
Now Hertz needs to sell its cars to pay off its debt. How many cars? Around half a million cars.
(I know you got anxiety reading this. It's a mess)
If they dump all 500k into the market at once, car prices will tank. So they will try and sell around 30k cars a month.
(I know you got anxiety reading this. It's a mess)
If they dump all 500k into the market at once, car prices will tank. So they will try and sell around 30k cars a month.
Hertz also owns Dollar & Thrifty car rental. They bought the business in 2012 for $2.3bn (terrible deal)
Hertz refused to increase their offer for Thrifty stock in 2008 ($2/ share)
Hertz ended up paying $72 four years later. Most people believe they could have scored it at $54
Hertz refused to increase their offer for Thrifty stock in 2008 ($2/ share)
Hertz ended up paying $72 four years later. Most people believe they could have scored it at $54
Besides completely overpaying for Dollar & Thrifty. Hertz also had a series of accounting issues. They paid SEC fines and had to restate 3 years of financial info.
The company turned around and sued 4 of its senior exec for $200m in damages.
The company turned around and sued 4 of its senior exec for $200m in damages.
Carl Icahn, who is valued at just under $17bn, owns roughly 40% of Hertz. Wait? Why doesn't he save the business?
Billionaires aren't fond of burning their own cash to save dying businesses.
Remember Richard Branson crying for help to save Virgin a few weeks ago?
Billionaires aren't fond of burning their own cash to save dying businesses.
Remember Richard Branson crying for help to save Virgin a few weeks ago?
"In chaos, lies opportunity"
Enter Apollo Global, a private equity firm known for betting on bankruptcies. They started buying up insurance contracts (credit default swaps) on Hertz debt a few months ago.
As bankruptcy risk increases, the value of the insurance goes up.
Enter Apollo Global, a private equity firm known for betting on bankruptcies. They started buying up insurance contracts (credit default swaps) on Hertz debt a few months ago.
As bankruptcy risk increases, the value of the insurance goes up.
Should government always intervene distressed companies? Short answer - No.
Usually debt holders and creditors get paid out first. Employees get settled (with protected benefits).
Bailouts are used to "rescue" already wealthy investors, hedge funds and large shareholders
[END]
Usually debt holders and creditors get paid out first. Employees get settled (with protected benefits).
Bailouts are used to "rescue" already wealthy investors, hedge funds and large shareholders
[END]
@chamath nailed it on CNBC a few weeks ago
Some of the US firms that recently filed for bankruptcy.
