Contingencies and Off-Balance Sheet Commitments | Contingencies and Off-Balance Sheet Commitments Legal Proceedings Self-Insured Liabilities The Company is currently a defendant in numerous actions and has received numerous claims on which actions have not yet commenced for self-insured liabilities arising from the operation of motor vehicles rented from the Company. The obligation for self-insured liabilities on self-insured U.S. and international vehicles, as stated in the accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated balance sheets, represents an estimate for both reported accident claims not yet paid and claims incurred but not yet reported. The related liabilities are recorded on an undiscounted basis and are based on rental volume and actuarial evaluations of historical accident claim experience and trends, as well as future projections of ultimate losses, expenses, premiums and administrative costs. As of March 31, 2024 and December 31, 2023, the Company's liability recorded for self-insured liabilities was $473 million and $471 million, of which $334 million and $336 million relates to liabilities incurred by the Company's Americas RAC operations, respectively. The Company believes that its analysis is based on the most relevant information available, combined with reasonable assumptions. The liability is subject to significant uncertainties. The adequacy of the liability is monitored quarterly based on evolving accident claim history and insurance related state legislation changes. If the Company's estimates change or if actual results differ from these assumptions, the amount of the recorded liability is adjusted to reflect these results. Loss Contingencies From time to time the Company is a party to various legal proceedings, typically involving operational issues common to the vehicle rental business. The Company has summarized below the material legal proceedings to which the Company was a party during the three months ended March 31, 2024 or the period after March 31, 2024, but before the filing of this Quarterly Report. Make-Whole and Post-Petition Interest Claims - On July 1, 2021, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., in its capacity as indenture trustee of (1) 6.250% Unsecured Notes due 2022 (the "2022 Notes"), (2) 5.500% Unsecured Notes due 2024 (the "2024 Notes"), (3) 7.125% Unsecured Notes due 2026 (the "2026 Notes"), and (4) 6.000% Unsecured Notes due 2028 (the "2028 Notes") issued by The Hertz Corporation (collectively, the “Unsecured Notes”), filed a complaint (the “Complaint”) against The Hertz Corporation and multiple direct and indirect subsidiaries thereof (collectively referred to in this summary as “Defendants”). The filing of the Complaint initiated the adversary proceeding captioned Wells Fargo Bank, National Association v. The Hertz Corporation, et al. in the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, Adv. Pro. No. 21-50995 (MFW). The Complaint seeks a declaratory judgment that the holders of the Unsecured Notes are entitled to payment of certain redemption premiums and post- petition interest that they assert total approximately $272 million or, in the alternative, are entitled to payment of post-petition interest at a contractual rate that they assert totals approximately $125 million. The Complaint also asserts the right to pre-judgment interest from July 1, 2021, to the date of any judgment. On December 22, 2021, the Bankruptcy Court dismissed Wells Fargo’s claims with respect to (i) the redemption premium allegedly owed on the 2022 and 2024 Notes and (ii) post-petition interest at the contract rate. On November 9, 2022, the Bankruptcy Court ruled that the make-whole premium is the same as unmatured interest and is disallowed under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code, granting summary judgment in the Defendants’ favor. The Bankruptcy Court certified the matter directly to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit (the “Third Circuit”) and, on January 25, 2023, the Third Circuit accepted Wells Fargo’s appeal. The Third Circuit held an oral argument for this appeal on October 25, 2023 and the parties are awaiting the Third Circuit's decision. The Company cannot predict the ultimate outcome or timing of this litigation, however, an adverse ruling by the Third Circuit, followed by an entry of judgement against Hertz by the Bankruptcy Court, could have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Claims Related to Alleged False Arrests - A group of claims involving allegations that the police detained or arrested individuals in error after the Company reported rental cars as stolen were previously advanced against the Company. These claims first arose from actions allegedly taken by the Company prior to its emergence from bankruptcy reorganization; some claims alleged post-emergence behavior by the Company. These claims have been the subject of press coverage and the Company has received government inquiries on the matter. The Company has policies to help ensure the proper treatment of its customers and to seek to protect itself against the theft of its services or assets, and has taken significant steps to modernize and update those policies. In December 2022, the Company entered into settlement agreements with 364 claimants in full and final resolutions of their claims for an aggregated amount of approximately $168 million (the "Settlement"), all of which amount was paid by the Company during December 2022. The Settlement resolved nearly all of the false arrest-related claims being advanced in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware, Adv. Pro. No. 20-11247 (MFW) and state court in Delaware (captioned Flannery, et al. v. Hertz Global Holdings, Inc., et al., C.A. No. N22C-07-100 and Okoasia, et al. v. Hertz Global Holdings, Inc., et al., C.A. No. N22C-09-531 ). Also as a result of the Settlements, state court matters pending in Pennsylvania, captioned Lovelace, et al. v. Hertz Global Holdings, Inc., et al., Case No. 220801729 , and in Florida, captioned Lizasoain, et al. v. Hertz Global Holdings, Inc., et al., Case No. 2022-015316-CA-1, were dismissed with prejudice. The Company continues to vigorously defend itself and believes that the ultimate resolution of any remaining claims will not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition, results of operations or cash flows. Relatedly, in May 2022, the Company filed a complaint against several of its insurers seeking a determination of its rights under its commercial general liability, and directors and officers liability, insurance policies for these alleged claims in a declaratory judgment action pending in Delaware Superior Court, Hertz Global Holdings, Inc., et al. v. ACE American Insurance Co., et al., C.A. No. N22C-05-130 MMJ (CCLD) . On June 30, 2023, Hertz entered into a confidential settlement with ACE American Insurance Company. The case is ongoing against the remaining insurers. Share Repurchase Program Litigation - On May 11, 2023, Angelo Cascia, a purported stockholder of Hertz Global, filed a putative class and derivative lawsuit in the Delaware Court of Chancery ("the Court") against certain current directors of Hertz Global, Knighthead Capital Management, LLC, Certares Opportunities LLC, and CK Amarillo LP. The claims in the complaint relate to the Company’s share repurchase programs approved in November 2021 and June 2022. Among other allegations, the plaintiff claims Board members breached their fiduciary duties in approving these share repurchase programs, and that Knighthead, Certares, and CK Amarillo were unjustly enriched because they gained a majority stake in Hertz Global as a result of share repurchases. Defendants’ motion to dismiss the complaint was filed on July 24, 2023. On March 11, 2024, the Court held a hearing on the motion to dismiss. On April 11, 2024, the Court stayed consideration of the pending motion to dismiss at the request of the parties to enable them to finalize a resolution of the matter. The Company has established reserves for matters where the Company believes that losses are probable and can be reasonably estimated. Other than the aggregate reserve established for claims for self-insured liabilities, none of those reserves are material. For matters where the Company has not established a reserve, the ultimate outcome or resolution cannot be predicted at this time, or the amount of ultimate loss, if any, cannot be reasonably estimated. These matters are 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 any of its subsidiaries involved. Accordingly, it is possible that an adverse outcome from such a proceeding could exceed the amount accrued in an amount that could be material to the Company's consolidated financial condition, results of operations or cash flows in any particular reporting period. Indemnification Obligations In the ordinary course of business, the Company has executed contracts involving indemnification obligations customary in the relevant industry and indemnifications specific to a transaction such as the sale of a business. These indemnification obligations might include claims relating to the following: environmental matters; intellectual property rights; governmental regulations and employment-related matters; customer, supplier and other commercial contractual relationships and financial matters. Specifically, the Company has indemnified various parties for the costs associated with remediating numerous hazardous substance storage, recycling or disposal sites in many states and, in some instances, for natural resource damages. The amount of any such expenses or related natural resource damages for which the Company may be held responsible could be substantial. In addition, Hertz entered into customary indemnification agreements with Hertz Holdings and certain of the Company's stockholders and their affiliates pursuant to which Hertz Holdings and Hertz will indemnify those entities and their respective affiliates, directors, officers, partners, members, employees, agents, representatives and controlling persons, against certain liabilities arising out of performance of a consulting agreement with Hertz Holdings and each of such entities and certain other claims and liabilities, including liabilities arising out of financing arrangements or securities offerings. The Company has entered into customary indemnification agreements with each of its directors and certain of its officers. Performance under these indemnification obligations would generally be triggered by a breach of terms of the contract or by a third-party claim. In connection with the separation of the car rental business in 2016, the Company executed an agreement with Herc Holdings Inc. that contains mutual indemnification clauses and a customary indemnification provision with respect to liability arising out of or resulting from assumed legal matters. The Company regularly evaluates the probability of having to incur costs associated with these indemnification obligations and has accrued for expected losses that are probable and estimable. |