Hertz seeks bankruptcy loan after share sale falls through

Hertz Global Holdings Inc. is seeking debtor-in-possession financing more than two months after filing for Chapter 11 protection after its unusual attempt to raise money selling potentially worthless shares fell through.

The bankrupt rental-car giant said in a regulatory filing Monday it is looking for new sources of cash with the travel business in a deep slump and proceeds from the sale of its cars going to pay off creditors. Hertz raised just $29 million (U.S.) from selling its stock before questioning by Securities and Exchange Commission officials led the company to terminate plans to offer as much as $500 million.

Hertz had sought to avoid raising funds while it negotiated a debt restructuring with asset-backed securities holders, but the deterioration in its core rental business and uncertainty ahead leaves it with few options. The company’s revenue fell 67 per cent in the second quarter, leading to an $847 million loss.

With $1.4 billion in cash on hand, Hertz said in the filing its continued ability to finance operations depends on a recovery in demand in key markets and an extension from creditors of waivers on payments for its cars in continental Europe and the U.K.

Without an extension beyond Sept. 30, Hertz must start making payments on its European fleet, which is owned by investors who hold its asset-backed securities. Hertz already has reached an agreement allowing it to use much of its U.S. fleet with a commitment to pay securities holders $108 million a month from July until the end of the year. To do that, Hertz plans to shrink its U.S. fleet by at least another 182,000 vehicles after selling off 100,000 cars in June and July.

In the second quarter, Hertz lost $587 million in earnings before interest and taxes and its per-share loss of $3.51 far exceeded a consensus estimate for a loss of $2.33 a share. Revenue fell to $832 million.