The Company’s primary sources of liquidity are cash generated from operations, secured vehicle financing, the Revolving Credit Facility (hereinafter defined) and insurance bonds. Cash generated by operating activities of $126.5 million for the three months ended March 31, 2007 was primarily the result of net income, adjusted for depreciation and a reduction in outstanding vehicle manufacturers’ receivables. The liquidity necessary for purchasing vehicles is primarily obtained from secured vehicle financing, most of which is proceeds from sale of asset backed notes, sales proceeds from disposal of used vehicles and cash generated by operating activities. The asset backed notes require varying levels of credit enhancement or overcollateralization, which are provided by a combination of cash, vehicles and letters of credit. These letters of credit are provided under the Company’s Revolving Credit Facility.
The Company believes that its cash generated from operations, availability under its Revolving Credit Facility, insurance bonding programs and secured vehicle financing programs are adequate to meet its liquidity requirements for the foreseeable future. A significant portion of the secured vehicle financing consists of asset backed notes. The Company generally issues additional notes each year to replace maturing notes and provide for growth in its fleet. The Company believes the asset backed note market continues to be a viable source of vehicle financing.
Cash used in investing activities was $54.8 million. The principal use of cash in investing activities was the purchase of revenue-earning vehicles, which totaled $1.4 billion, partially offset by $1.1 billion in proceeds from the sale of used revenue-earning vehicles. The Company’s need for cash to finance vehicles is seasonal and typically peaks in the second and third quarters of the year when fleet levels build to meet seasonal rental demand. Restricted cash at March 31, 2007 decreased $279.6 million from the previous year, including $283.6 million used for vehicle financing partially offset by interest income earned on restricted cash and investments of $4.0 million. The Company expects to continue to fund its revenue-earning vehicles with cash provided from operations and increased secured vehicle financing. The Company also used cash for non-vehicle capital expenditures of $11.8 million. These expenditures consist primarily of airport facility improvements for the Company’s rental locations and investments in information technology equipment and systems. The Company also used $20.0 million of cash, net of assets acquired and liabilities assumed, for franchisee acquisitions. These expenditures were financed with cash provided from operations.
Cash used in financing activities was $79.1 million primarily due to the maturity of asset backed notes totaling $187.5 million and a payoff of debt assumed in a recent franchise acquisition of $14.1 million, including $13.3 million of vehicle related debt and $0.8 million of non-vehicle related debt, partially offset by a $124.8 million net increase in commercial paper.
The Company has significant requirements to maintain letters of credit and surety bonds to support its insurance programs and airport concession commitments. At March 31, 2007, the Company had $72.6 million in letters of credit, including $61.5 million in letters of credit noted under the Revolving Credit Facility, and $36.8 million in surety bonds to secure these obligations.
The asset backed note program at March 31, 2007 was comprised of $1.63 billion in asset backed notes with maturities ranging from 2007 to 2011. Borrowings under the asset backed notes are secured by eligible vehicle collateral and bear interest at fixed rates ranging from 3.64% to 5.27% including certain floating rate notes swapped to fixed rates.
On March 26, 2007, the Company extended its Variable Funding Note Purchase Facility (the “Conduit Facility”) for a three-month period with a capacity of $425 million. The Conduit Facility is expected to be renewed for a 364-day period in June 2007.
Commercial Paper Program and Liquidity Facility
On March 26, 2007, the Company extended its Commercial Paper Program for a three-month period at a maximum capacity of $649 million backed by a three-month extension of the Liquidity Facility in the amount of $560 million. The Commercial Paper Program and Liquidity Facility are both expected to be renewed for a 364-day period in June 2007. At March 31, 2007, the Company had $303.8 million in commercial paper outstanding under the Commercial Paper Program.
Vehicle Debt and Obligations
Vehicle manufacturer and bank lines of credit provided $312.0 million in capacity at March 31, 2007. The Company had $218.8 million in borrowings outstanding under these lines at March 31, 2007. All lines of credit are collateralized by the related vehicles.
The Company finances its Canadian vehicle fleet through a fleet securitization program. Under this program, DTG Canada can obtain vehicle financing up to CND $300 million funded through a bank commercial paper conduit which expires May 31, 2010. At March 31, 2007, DTG Canada had approximately CND $123.4 million (US $106.9 million) funded under this program.
Revolving Credit Facility
The Company has a $300 million five-year, senior secured, revolving credit facility (the "Revolving Credit Facility") that expires on April 1, 2009. The Revolving Credit Facility permits letter of credit usage up to $300 million and working capital borrowing up to $100 million. The availability of funds under the Revolving Credit Facility is subject to the Company’s compliance with certain covenants, including a covenant that sets the maximum amount the Company can spend annually on the acquisition of non-vehicle capital assets, and certain financial covenants including a maximum leverage ratio, a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio and a limitation on cash dividends and share repurchases. On February 12, 2007, the Company entered into a waiver agreement to the Revolving Credit Facility due to the Company’s prior announcement regarding non-reliance on previously issued financial statements. The Company filed an amended Form 10-K for 2005 and an amended Form 10-Q for each quarter of 2006 on February 26, 2007 to restate its financial statements. As of March 31, 2007, the Company is in compliance with all covenants. The Company had letters of credit outstanding under the Revolving Credit Facility of approximately $162.0 million and no working capital borrowings at March 31, 2007.
New Accounting Standards
For a discussion on new accounting standards refer to Note 15 of the Notes to condensed consolidated financial statements in Item 1 – Financial Statements.
ITEM 3. | QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK |
The following information about the Company’s market sensitive financial instruments constitutes a “forward-looking” statement. The Company’s primary market risk exposure is changing interest rates, primarily in the United States. The Company manages interest rates through use of a combination of fixed and floating rate debt and interest rate swap agreements. All items described are non-trading and are stated in U.S. dollars. Because a portion of the Company’s debt is denominated in Canadian dollars, its carrying value is impacted by exchange rate fluctuations. However, this foreign currency risk is mitigated by the underlying collateral which is the Canadian fleet. The fair value of the interest rate swaps is calculated using projected market interest rates over the term of the related debt instruments as provided by the counter parties.
Based on the Company’s level of floating rate debt (excluding notes with floating interest rates swapped into fixed rates) at March 31, 2007, a 50 basis point fluctuation in interest rates would have an approximate $5 million impact on the Company’s expected pretax income on an annual basis. This impact on pretax income would be reduced by earnings from cash and cash equivalents and restricted cash and investments, which are invested on a short-term basis and subject to fluctuations in interest rates. At March 31, 2007, cash and cash equivalents totaled $184.5 million and restricted cash and investments totaled $110.2 million. The Company estimates that, for 2007, approximately 35% of its average debt will bear interest at floating rates.
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At March 31, 2007, there were no significant changes in the Company’s quantitative disclosures about market risk compared to December 31, 2006, which is included under Item 7A of the Company’s most recent Form 10-K.
ITEM 4. | CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES |
a) | Disclosure Controls and Procedures |
The Company maintains a set of disclosure controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules and forms. The disclosure controls and procedures are also designed with the objective of ensuring such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including the Chief Executive Officer (“CEO”) and Chief Financial Officer (“CFO”), as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosures. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that disclosure controls and procedures, no matter how well conceived and operated, can provide only reasonable, not absolute, assurance that the objectives of the disclosure controls and procedures are met. Additionally, in designing the disclosure controls and procedures, the Company’s management was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible disclosure controls and procedures.
As required by SEC Rule 13a-15(b), the Company carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of the Company’s management, including the CEO and CFO, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures as of the end of the quarter covered by this report. Based on that evaluation, the CEO and CFO have concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and procedures are effective at the reasonable assurance level as of the end of the quarter covered by this report.
b) | Changes in Internal Control Over Financial Reporting |
Commencing on October 1, 2006, a range of the IT services of the Company have been outsourced to EDS, including applications development and maintenance, network, workplace and storage management, back-up and recovery and mid-range hosting services. With the outsourcing of such a pervasive area of control, the Company believes that it is reasonably likely to materially affect the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting. The Company believes it has taken the necessary steps for its internal control environment to remain effective.
PART II - OTHER INFORMATION
Various legal actions, claims and governmental inquiries and proceedings are pending or may be instituted or asserted in the future against the Company and its subsidiaries. Litigation is subject to many uncertainties, and the outcome of the individual litigated matters is not predictable with assurance. It is possible that certain of the actions, claims, inquiries or proceedings could be decided unfavorably to the Company or the subsidiaries involved. Although the final resolution of any such matters could have a material effect on the Company's consolidated operating results for a particular reporting period in which an adjustment of the estimated liability is recorded, the Company believes that any resulting liability should not materially affect its consolidated financial position.
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All risk factors disclosed in Item 1A of our most recent Form 10-K are still appropriate. However, we are modifying the language in one risk factor as follows to include the discussion of recent developments in the vehicle rental industry:
Highly Competitive Nature of the Vehicle Rental Industry
There is intense competition in the vehicle rental industry, especially on price and service. The Internet has increased brand exposure and gives more details on rental prices to consumers and increases price competition. The vehicle rental industry primarily consists of eight major brands, all of which compete strongly for rental customers. Recent announcements regarding possible changes in vehicle rental industry ownership creates additional uncertainty within the vehicle rental industry. A significant increase in industry capacity or a reduction in overall demand could adversely affect our ability to maintain or increase rental rates or market share.
ITEM 2. | UNREGISTERED SALES OF EQUITY SECURITIES AND USE OF PROCEEDS |
a) | Recent Sales of Unregistered Securities |
c) | Purchases of Equity Securities by the Issuer and Affiliated Purchasers |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | Total Number of | | | Approximate | |
| | | | | | | | | Shares Purchased | | | Dollar Value of | |
| | | Total Number | | | Average | | | as Part of Publicly | | | Shares that May Yet | |
| | | of Shares | | | Price Paid | | | Announced Plans | | | Be Purchased under | |
Period | | | Purchased | | | Per Share | | | or Programs | | | the Plans or Programs | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
January 1, 2007 - January 31, 2007 | | | | - | | | $ | - | | | | - | | | $ | 188,692,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
February 1, 2007 - February 28, 2007 | | | | - | | | $ | - | | | | - | | | $ | 188,692,000 | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
March 1, 2007 - March 31, 2007 | | | | - | | | $ | - | | | | - | | | $ | 188,692,000 | |
| | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Total | | | | - | | | | | | | | - | | | | | |
| | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | |
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In February 2006, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a $300 million share repurchase program to replace the existing $100 million share repurchase program of which $44.7 million had been used to repurchase shares. The Company did not repurchase shares during the three months ended March 31, 2007. Since inception of the share repurchase programs, the Company has repurchased 4,110,500 shares of common stock at an average price of $37.96 per share totaling approximately $156.0 million, all of which were made in open market transactions. At March 31, 2007, the $300 million share repurchase program has $188.7 million of remaining authorization through December 31, 2008.
4.162 | Consent, Waiver and Third Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of February 12, 2007 among Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc., DTG Operations, Inc., Thrifty Rent-A-Car System, Inc., Various Financial Institutions named therein, and Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch |
4.163 | Amended and Restated Base Indenture dated as of February 14, 2007 between Rental Car Finance Corp. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas |
4.164 | Second Amended and Restated Series 1998-1 Supplement dated as of February 14, 2007 between Rental Car Finance Corp. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas |
4.165 | Amended and Restated Series 2000-1 Supplement dated as of February 14, 2007 between Rental Car Finance Corp. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas |
4.166 | Amendment No. 3 to Series 2003-1 Supplement dated as of February 14, 2007 between Rental Car Finance Corp. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas |
4.167 | Amendment No. 2 to Series 2004-1 Supplement dated as of February 14, 2007 between Rental Car Finance Corp. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas |
4.168 | Amendment No. 1 to Series 2005-1 Supplement dated as of February 14, 2007 between Rental Car Finance Corp. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas |
4.169 | Amendment No. 1 to Series 2006-1 Supplement dated as of February 14, 2007 between Rental Car Finance Corp. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas |
4.170 | Second Amended and Restated Master Collateral Agency Agreement dated as of February 14, 2007 among Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc., Rental Car Finance Corp., DTG Operations, Inc. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas |
4.171 | Amended and Restated Master Motor Vehicle Lease and Servicing Agreement (Group II) dated as of February 14, 2007 among Rental Car Finance Corp., DTG Operations, Inc., Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas |
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4.172 | Amended and Restated Master Motor Vehicle Lease and Servicing Agreement (Group III) dated as of February 14, 2007 among Rental Car Finance Corp., DTG Operations, Inc., Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas |
4.173 | Amended and Restated Master Motor Vehicle Lease and Servicing Agreement (Group IV) dated as of February 14, 2007 among Rental Car Finance Corp., DTG Operations, Inc., Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas |
4.174 | Consent and Waiver Agreement dated as of February 14, 2007 among Rental Car Finance Corp., Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc., DTG Operations, Inc., Dollar Thrifty Funding Corp., Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, ABN AMRO Bank N.V., BNP Paribas, Deutsche Bank AG, New York Branch, Dresdner Bank AG, JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd., The Bank of Nova Scotia, Working Capital Management Co., LP, Credit Suisse, acting through its New York Branch, Bank of Montreal, The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., New York Branch, Comerica Bank, Credit Industriel et Commercial, KeyBank National Association, Landesbank Hessen-Thuringen Girozentrale, Wells Fargo Bank, MBIA Insurance Corporation, Ambac Assurance Corporation, XL Capital Assurance Inc. |
10.141 | Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. Summary of Non-employee Directors’ Compensation Effective 2007 Until Further Modified |
10.142 | Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. 2006 Incentive Compensation Plan Award as Amended February 1, 2007 |
15.27 | Letter from Deloitte & Touche LLP regarding interim financial information |
31.41 | Certification by the Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
31.42 | Certification by the Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
32.41 | Certification by the Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
32.42 | Certification by the Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
| DOLLAR THRIFTY AUTOMOTIVE GROUP, INC. |
May 7, 2007 | By: | /s/ GARY L. PAXTON |
| President, Chief Executive Officer and Principal |
May 7, 2007 | By: | /s/ STEVEN B. HILDEBRAND |
| Senior Executive Vice President, Chief Financial |
| Officer, Principal Financial Officer and Principal |
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INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Exhibit Number | Description |
4.162 | Consent, Waiver and Third Amendment to Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement dated as of February 12, 2007 among Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc., DTG Operations, Inc., Thrifty Rent-A-Car System, Inc., Various Financial Institutions named therein, and Credit Suisse, Cayman Islands Branch |
4.163 | Amended and Restated Base Indenture dated as of February 14, 2007 between Rental Car Finance Corp. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas |
4.164 | Second Amended and Restated Series 1998-1 Supplement dated as of February 14, 2007 between Rental Car Finance Corp. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas |
4.165 | Amended and Restated Series 2000-1 Supplement dated as of February 14, 2007 between Rental Car Finance Corp. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas |
4.166 | Amendment No. 3 to Series 2003-1 Supplement dated as of February 14, 2007 between Rental Car Finance Corp. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas |
4.167 | Amendment No. 2 to Series 2004-1 Supplement dated as of February 14, 2007 between Rental Car Finance Corp. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas |
4.168 | Amendment No. 1 to Series 2005-1 Supplement dated as of February 14, 2007 between Rental Car Finance Corp. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas |
4.169 | Amendment No. 1 to Series 2006-1 Supplement dated as of February 14, 2007 between Rental Car Finance Corp. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas |
4.170 | Second Amended and Restated Master Collateral Agency Agreement dated as of February 14, 2007 among Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc., Rental Car Finance Corp., DTG Operations, Inc. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas |
4.171 | Amended and Restated Master Motor Vehicle Lease and Servicing Agreement (Group II) dated as of February 14, 2007 among Rental Car Finance Corp., DTG Operations, Inc., Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas |
4.172 | Amended and Restated Master Motor Vehicle Lease and Servicing Agreement (Group III) dated as of February 14, 2007 among Rental Car Finance Corp., DTG Operations, Inc., Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas |
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4.173 | Amended and Restated Master Motor Vehicle Lease and Servicing Agreement (Group IV) dated as of February 14, 2007 among Rental Car Finance Corp., DTG Operations, Inc., Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. and Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas |
4.174 | Consent and Waiver Agreement dated as of February 14, 2007 among Rental Car Finance Corp., Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc., DTG Operations, Inc., Dollar Thrifty Funding Corp., Deutsche Bank Trust Company Americas, ABN AMRO Bank N.V., BNP Paribas, Deutsche Bank AG, New York Branch, Dresdner Bank AG, JPMorgan Chase Bank, National Association, Mizuho Corporate Bank, Ltd., The Bank of Nova Scotia, Working Capital Management Co., LP, Credit Suisse, acting through its New York Branch, Bank of Montreal, The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., New York Branch, Comerica Bank, Credit Industriel et Commercial, KeyBank National Association, Landesbank Hessen-Thuringen Girozentrale, Wells Fargo Bank, MBIA Insurance Corporation, Ambac Assurance Corporation, XL Capital Assurance Inc. |
10.141 | Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. Summary of Non-employee Directors’ Compensation Effective 2007 Until Further Modified |
10.142 | Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. 2006 Incentive Compensation Plan Award as Amended February 1, 2007 |
15.27 | Letter from Deloitte & Touche LLP regarding interim financial information |
31.41 | Certification by the Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
31.42 | Certification by the Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
32.41 | Certification by the Chief Executive Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
32.42 | Certification by the Chief Financial Officer Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 |
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