S-4 1 ds4.htm FORM S-4 Form S-4

As Filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 3, 2007

Registration Statement No. 333-                


UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 


FORM S-4

REGISTRATION STATEMENT

UNDER

THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933

 


AVIS BUDGET GROUP, INC.

*And the Issuers and additional Guarantors listed below

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 


 

Delaware   7510   06-0918165
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  (Primary Standard Industrial
Classification Code Number)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

6 Sylvan Way

Parsippany, NJ 07054

(973) 496-4700

(Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of registrant’s principal executive offices)

David B. Wyshner

Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

Avis Budget Group, Inc.

6 Sylvan Way

Parsippany, NJ 07054

(973) 496-4700

(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)

 


Copies of all communications to:

Gregory A. Fernicola, Esq.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP

4 Times Square

New York, New York 10036

(212) 735-3000

(212) 735-2000 (facsimile)

 


Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as practicable after this registration statement becomes effective.

If the securities being registered on this form are being offered in connection with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance with General Instruction G, check the following box.  ¨

If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

If this form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(d) under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same offering.  ¨

 


CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE


Title of Each Class of

Securities to be Registered

   Amount
to Be
Registered
   Proposed Maximum
Offering Price
Per Unit
    Proposed Maximum
Aggregate Offering
Price(1)
  

Amount of

Registration
Fee

Floating Rate Senior Notes Due 2014

   $ 250,000,000    100 %   $ 250,000,000    $ 7,675.00

7.625% Senior Notes Due 2014

   $ 375,000,000    100 %   $ 375,000,000    $ 11,512.50

7.75% Senior Notes Due 2016

   $ 375,000,000    100 %   $ 375,000,000    $ 11,512.50

Guarantees related to the Floating Rate Senior Notes Due 2014, the 7.625% Senior Notes Due 2014 and the 7.75% Senior Notes Due 2016

     N/A    N/A       N/A      N/A(2)

Total

   $ 1,000,000,000    100 %   $ 1,000,000,000    $ 30,700

(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(f) promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
(2) Pursuant to Rule 457(n) under the Securities Act of 1933, no separate registration fee will be paid in respect of the guarantees.

The Registrants hereby amend this registration statement on such date or dates as may be necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrants shall file a further amendment which specifically states that this registration statement shall thereafter become effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until this registration statement shall become effective on such date as the Securities and Exchange Commission, acting pursuant to Section 8(a), may determine.

 



TABLE OF ADDITIONAL REGISTRANTS

 

Name of Additional Registrant*

   State or Other
Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or
Formation
   Primary Standard
Industrial
Classification
Code Number
   I.R.S Employer
Identification
Number

Issuers

        

Avis Budget Car Rental, LLC

   Delaware    7510    22-3475741

Avis Budget Finance, Inc.

   Delaware    7510    20-4542671

Guarantors

        

Avis Budget Holdings, LLC

   Delaware    7510    20-4542614

Avis Asia and Pacific, Limited

   Delaware    7510    11-2850373

Avis Car Rental Group, LLC

   Delaware    7510    22-2732926

Avis Caribbean, Limited

   Delaware    7510    11-2850374

Avis Enterprises, Inc.

   Delaware    7510    11-2631886

Avis Group Holdings, LLC

   Delaware    7510    11-3347585

Avis International, Ltd.

   Delaware    7510    11-2411667

Avis Leasing Corporation

   Delaware    7510    11-3102377

Avis Rent A Car System, LLC

   Delaware    7510    11-1998661

PF Claims Management, Ltd.

   Delaware    7510    11-2850723

AB Car Rental Services Inc. (f/k/a Cendant Car Rental Operations Support, Inc.)

   Delaware    7510    20-0447089

Wizard Co., Inc.

   Delaware    7510    11-2814383

ARACS LLC

   Delaware    7510    22-3834931

Avis Operations, LLC

   Delaware    7510    22-3846340

BGI Leasing, Inc.

   Delaware    7510    68-0515335

Budget Rent A Car System, Inc.

   Delaware    7510    42-1553246

Budget Truck Rental LLC

   Delaware    7510    20-3251037

* Addresses and telephone numbers of principal executive offices are the same as those of Avis Budget Group, Inc.

 


The information in this prospectus is not complete and may be changed. These securities may not be sold until the registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is effective. This prospectus is not an offer to sell, and it is not soliciting an offer to buy, these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale thereof is not permitted.

 

Subject to Completion, Dated April 3, 2007

PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS

AVIS BUDGET GROUP, INC.

and Certain of its Subsidiaries, as Guarantors

AVIS BUDGET CAR RENTAL, LLC

and

AVIS BUDGET FINANCE, INC.,

as Issuers

OFFER TO EXCHANGE

$250 million aggregate principal amount of Floating Rate Senior Notes due 2014 CUSIP Nos. 053773AG2 and U05375AC1, ISIN Nos. US053773AG22 and USU05375AC13 (which we refer to as the “Floating Rate Restricted Notes”)

for

$250 million aggregate principal amount of Floating Rate Senior Notes due 2014 (which we refer to as the “Floating Rate Exchange Notes” and, together with the Floating Rate Restricted Notes, the “Floating Rate Notes”) which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”),

$375 million aggregate principal amount of 7.625% Senior Notes due 2014 CUSIP Nos. 053773AA5 and U05375AA5, ISIN Nos. US053773AA51 and USU05375AA56 (which we refer to as the “7.625% Restricted Notes”)

for

$375 million aggregate principal amount of 7.625% Senior Notes due 2014 (which we refer to as the “7.625% Exchange Notes” and, together with the 7.625% Restricted Notes, the “7.625% Notes”) which have been registered under the Securities Act,

and

$375 million aggregate principal amount of 7.75% Senior Notes due 2016 CUSIP Nos. 053773AB3 and U05375AB3, ISIN Nos. US053773AB35 and USU05375AB30 (which we refer to as the “7.75% Restricted Notes”)

for

$375 million aggregate principal amount of 7.75% Senior Notes due 2016 (which we refer to as the “7.75% Exchange Notes” and, together with the 7.75% Restricted Notes, the “7.75% Notes”) which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933.

We refer to the Floating Rate Exchange Notes, the 7.625% Exchange Notes and the 7.75% Exchange Notes collectively as the Exchange Notes; to the Floating Rate Restricted Notes, the 7.625% Restricted Notes and the 7.75% Restricted Notes collectively as the Restricted Notes; and to the Exchange Notes and the Restricted Notes collectively as the “notes.”

The exchange offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on                     , 2007, unless we extend the exchange offer in our sole and absolute discretion.

Terms of the exchange offer:

 

   

We will exchange Exchange Notes for all outstanding Restricted Notes that are validly tendered and not withdrawn prior to the expiration or termination of the exchange offer.

 

   

You may withdraw tenders of Restricted Notes at any time prior to the expiration or termination of the exchange offer.

 

   

The terms of the Exchange Notes are substantially identical to those of the outstanding Restricted Notes, except that the transfer restrictions, registration rights and additional interest provisions relating to the Restricted Notes do not apply to the Exchange Notes.

 

   

The exchange of Restricted Notes for Exchange Notes will not be a taxable transaction for United States federal income tax purposes, but you should see the discussion under the caption “Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations” for more information.

 

   

We will not receive any proceeds from the exchange offer.

 

   

We issued the Restricted Notes in a transaction not requiring registration under the Securities Act and, as a result, their transfer is restricted. We are making the exchange offer to satisfy your registration rights, as a holder of the Restricted Notes.

Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Notes for its own account pursuant to the exchange offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Notes. By so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an “underwriter” within the meaning of the Securities Act. This prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of Exchange Notes received in exchange for Restricted Notes where such Restricted Notes were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. We have agreed that, for a period of up to 180 days after the closing of this exchange offer, we will make this prospectus available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. See “Plan of Distribution”.

There is no established trading market for the Exchange Notes, although the Restricted Notes currently trade on the PORTAL Market.

See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 13 for a discussion of risks you should consider prior to tendering your outstanding Restricted Notes for exchange.

Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the adequacy or accuracy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

The date of this prospectus is                     , 2007.


TABLE OF CONTENTS

      Page

Summary

   1

Summary Description of the Exchange Offer

   5

Consequences of Not Exchanging Restricted Notes

   9

Summary Description of the Exchange Notes

   10

Risk Factors

   13

Forward-Looking Statements

   23

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

   24

Selected Historical Financial Information

   25

Management’s Discussion and Analysis Of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

   27

Business

   46

Management

   64

Executive Compensation

   68

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners

   94

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

   96

Description of Other Indebtedness

   102

The Exchange Offer

   110

Description of the Exchange Notes

   118

Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations

   170

Plan of Distribution

   171

Legal Matters

   172

Experts

   172

Available Information

   172

Index to Financial Statements

   F-1

 

i


SUMMARY

This summary highlights the information contained elsewhere in this prospectus. Because this is only a summary, it does not contain all of the information that may be important to you. For a more complete understanding of this exchange offer, we encourage you to read this entire prospectus. You should read the following summary together with the more detailed information and consolidated financial statements and the notes to those statements included elsewhere in this prospectus.

Except as expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, the “Company”, “Avis Budget”, “Avis Budget Group”, “we”, “our” or “us” refers to Avis Budget Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation, and its subsidiaries, “Avis Budget Car Rental” or “ABCR” refers to Avis Budget Car Rental, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and its subsidiaries, the companies that comprise our vehicle rental operations, “Issuers” refers to ABCR and Avis Budget Finance, Inc., a Delaware corporation, “Subsidiary Guarantors” refers to certain of ABCR’s subsidiaries that guarantee the notes, “Parent Guarantor” refers to ABCR’s direct parent company, Avis Budget Holdings, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, and “Guarantors” refers to the Avis Budget Group, the Parent Guarantor and the Subsidiary Guarantors. “Avis” and “Budget” refer to our Avis and Budget operations, respectively, and exclude the operations of Avis Europe and its affiliates, as further discussed below.

Our Company

We operate two of the most recognized brands in the global vehicle rental industry through Avis Rent A Car System, LLC (“Avis”) and Budget Rent A Car System, Inc. (“Budget”). Avis is a leading rental car supplier to the premium commercial and leisure segments of the travel industry and Budget is a leading rental car supplier to the price-conscious segments of the industry. We believe we are the largest general-use vehicle rental operator in each of North America, Australia, New Zealand and certain other regions we serve, based on total revenue. We maintain the leading share of airport car rental revenue and we believe we operate the second largest consumer truck rental business in the United States based on available information.

Our car rental operations generate significant benefits from operating two distinctive brands that target different industry segments but share the same fleet, maintenance facilities, systems, technology and administrative infrastructure. We believe that Avis and Budget both enjoy complementary demand patterns with mid-week commercial demand balanced by weekend leisure demand. For 2006, our vehicle rental operations generated revenues of $5,628 million. The Avis, Budget and Budget Truck brands accounted for approximately 61%, 31% and 8% of our vehicle rental revenue, respectively, in 2006.

Our operations have an extended global reach that includes approximately 6,700 car and truck rental locations in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, the Caribbean and parts of the Pacific region. On average, our rental fleet totaled more than 410,000 vehicles, and we completed more than 28 million vehicle rental transactions worldwide in 2006. Domestically, we derived approximately 81% of our nearly $4.0 billion in car rental revenue from on-airport locations in 2006 and approximately 19% of our domestic car rental revenue from off-airport locations, which we refer to as the local rental segment. In 2006, we significantly expanded our presence in the local segment and plan to continue this expansion in 2007. We rent our fleet of approximately 30,500 Budget trucks through a network of approximately 2,400 dealer operated, 210 company operated and 100 franchisee operated locations throughout the continental United States. We also license the use of the Avis and Budget trademarks to multiple licensees in areas in which we do not operate. The Avis and/or Budget vehicle rental systems in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia are operated at approximately 3,700 locations by subsidiaries and sub-licensees of an independent third party primarily under virtually royalty-free trademark license agreements.

 

 

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Following the completion of the Cendant Separation, discussed in detail below, we categorize our operations in three operating segments: domestic car rental, consisting of our Avis and Budget U.S. car rental operations; international car rental, consisting of our international Avis and Budget car rental operations; and truck rental, consisting of our Budget truck rental operations. In 2006:

 

   

our domestic car rental business generated approximately 89 million rental days and time and mileage revenue per day of $40.01 with an average rental fleet of approximately 329,350 vehicles;

 

   

our international car rental business generated approximately 14 million rental days and time and mileage revenue per day of $39.61 with an average rental fleet of 53,310 vehicles; and

 

   

our truck rental business generated approximately 4.6 million rental days and time and mileage revenue per day of $86.28 with an average rental fleet of approximately 30,500 trucks.

For 2007, our objective is to enhance growth, profitability and our position as a leader in the vehicle rental industry. We expect to achieve our goals by focusing our efforts on the following core strategic initiatives:

 

   

Optimizing Our Two-Brand Strategy. We plan to continue to position our two distinct and well-recognized brands to capture different segments of customer demand. With Avis as a premium brand preferred by corporate and upscale leisure travelers and Budget as a value brand preferred by cost-conscious travelers, we believe we are able to target a broad range of demand, particularly since the two brands share the same operational and administrative infrastructure while providing differentiated though consistently high levels of customer service. We aim to provide products, service and pricing, and to maintain marketing affiliations and corporate account contracts, which complement each brand’s positioning. In addition, we use various marketing channels as appropriate to each of our brands and seek to continue to grow the volume of reservations that we generate through our avis.com and budget.com websites, which are among our least-expensive sources of advance bookings.

 

   

Expanding Our Revenue Sources. We plan to expand the revenues we generate from sources beyond on-airport time and mileage rental fees. We seek to grow off-airport revenue for Avis and Budget by opening new locations and continuing our effort to identify and attract local demand. In particular, we plan to increase our revenues in the insurance replacement sector, in which we have historically had a more limited presence, and we have formed a dedicated local sales team to expand our insurance replacement, local truck rental and off-airport general-use rental volumes. Separately, we look to expand our revenue sources by offering additional products and services to existing on- and off-airport customers, including additional insurance coverages and insurance-related and ancillary products and services, such as our recently launched Where2 GPS navigation product.

 

   

Capturing Incremental Profit Opportunities. We plan to continue our focus on yield management and pricing optimization, rigorous cost controls and fleet diversification. We are developing technology that will allow us to strengthen our yield management and we have put in place technology to tailor our product/price offerings to specific customer segments. Specifically, we plan to continue to expand our technology that allows Avis and Budget to target customers with rates and prices based on past shopping and rental behavior. With respect to fleet diversification, in an effort to mitigate expected increases in fleet costs, we are seeking to adjust our relationships with vehicle manufacturers by moving to a more balanced multi-supplier model, increasing the risk-vehicle portion of our fleet, lengthening the average hold period, and reducing the average vehicle size and number of options. In addition, we believe the expansion of our revenue sources (discussed above) will permit us to generate incremental profits from our customer base, while at the same time enhancing their vehicle rental experience.

In 2006, we made considerable progress vis-à-vis our strategic objectives. We retained approximately 98% of our commercial contracts at Avis and Budget and, we believe, generated more U.S. rental car reservations

 

 

2


through our own websites than any other company. Budget entered into a marketing alliance with AARP, which is a long-time Avis marketing partner, and grew its award-winning small business program. We opened approximately 200 new off-airport locations in 2006, and off-airport revenues represented 19% of our domestic car rental revenues. We are now an “approved” or “preferred” provider for customers of a majority of the largest auto insurance companies in the United States. In 2006, we began offering Where2 GPS navigation system units. In the area of cost management, we have reduced our reliance on individual suppliers, such that our largest fleet supplier in 2007 is expected to represent only 38% of our vehicle purchases, versus 53% in 2005. We are utilizing sophisticated yield-management technology to optimize our pricing, and we continue to analyze and streamline our operations to gain efficiencies. And, most importantly, our more than 30,000 employees continue to provide reliable, high-quality vehicle rental services that foster customer satisfaction and customer loyalty.

Company History and Cendant Separation

We were created through a merger with HFS Incorporated in December 1997 with the resultant corporation being renamed Cendant Corporation. On August 23, 2006, Cendant completed the separation (the “Cendant Separation”) into four separate companies, one for each of its former Real Estate Services businesses (Realogy Corporation), its former Hospitality Services (including Timeshare Resorts) businesses (Wyndham Worldwide Corporation), its former Travel Distribution Services businesses (Travelport) and its Vehicle Rental businesses (Cendant, now Avis Budget Group). The separation was effected through the pro rata distributions of all of the shares of common stock of Realogy Corporation and Wyndham Worldwide Corporation and the sale of Travelport to an affiliate of The Blackstone Group. In connection with the Cendant Separation, we entered into certain agreements with Realogy, Wyndham and Travelport governing our relationships following the separation, including the assumption by Realogy and Wyndham of 62.5% and 37.5%, respectively, of certain contingent and other liabilities of Cendant. In connection with the Cendant Separation, we also entered into various commercial arrangements with Realogy, Wyndham and Travelport. Following completion of the Cendant Separation, Cendant changed its name to Avis Budget Group, Inc. and our common stock began to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CAR.” With the completion of the Cendant Separation, Avis Budget Group’s operations consist of two of the most recognized brands in the global vehicle rental industry through Avis Budget Car Rental, LLC, the parent of Avis Rent A Car System, LLC, Budget Rent A Car System, Inc. and Budget Truck Rental, LLC.

 

 

3


Ownership Structure

The following diagram depicts the current ownership structure of our company:

LOGO

Avis Budget Group, Inc. is a Delaware corporation. Avis Budget Car Rental, LLC is a Delaware limited liability company. Avis Budget Finance, Inc. is a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Avis Budget Car Rental, LLC that was formed to serve as co-issuer of the notes. Avis Budget Finance, Inc. does not have any material assets.

Our principal executive offices are located at 6 Sylvan Way, Parsippany, New Jersey 07054 and the telephone number at that address is (973) 496-4700. Our website is www.avisbudgetgroup.com, and the web sites of Avis and Budget are www.avis.com and www.budget.com, respectively. The foregoing Internet websites are inactive textual references only, meaning that the information contained on the websites is not a part of this prospectus and is not incorporated in this prospectus by reference.

 

 

4


SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER

On April 19, 2006, the Issuers completed the private offering of $250 million aggregate principal amount of Floating Rate Senior Notes due 2014, $375 million aggregate principal amount of 7.625% Senior Notes due 2014 and $375 million aggregate principal amount of 7.75% Senior Notes due 2016, which we refer to collectively as the “Restricted Notes”. As part of that offering, the Issuers, the Parent Guarantor and the Subsidiary Guarantors entered into a registration rights agreement with the initial purchasers of those Restricted Notes, and on February 9, 2007, Avis Budget Group executed a counterpart and became a party to that registration rights agreement. In the registration rights agreement, we agreed, among other things, to deliver a prospectus to you and to complete an exchange offer for the Restricted Notes. Below is a summary of the exchange offer.

 

Restricted Notes

$250 million principal amount of Floating Rate Senior Notes due 2014, $375 million principal amount of 7.625% Senior Notes due 2014 and $375 million principal amount of 7.75% Senior Notes due 2016.

 

Exchange Notes

$250 million principal amount of Floating Rate Senior Notes due 2014, $375 million principal amount of 7.625% Senior Notes due 2014 and $375 million principal amount of 7.75% Senior Notes due 2016, the issuance of each of which has been registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). The form and terms of each series of Exchange Notes are identical in all material respects to those of the applicable Restricted Notes, except that the transfer restrictions, registration rights and additional interest provisions relating to the Restricted Notes do not apply to the Exchange Notes.

 

Exchange Offer

We are offering to issue up to

(i) $250 million principal amount of the Floating Rate Exchange Notes, in exchange for a like principal amount of the Floating Rate Restricted Notes,

(ii) $375 million principal amount of the 7.625% Exchange Notes, in exchange for a like principal amount of the 7.625% Restricted Notes,

and

(iii) $375 million principal amount of the 7.75% Exchange Notes, in exchange for a like principal amount of the 7.75% Restricted Notes,

to satisfy our obligations under the registration rights agreement.

 

Expiration Date; Tenders

The exchange offer will expire at 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on         , 2007, unless extended in our sole and absolute discretion. By tendering your Restricted Notes, you represent to us that:

 

   

you are not our “affiliate,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act;

 

   

you are not engaged in, and do not intend to engage in, and have no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in, a distribution of the Exchange Notes;

 

 

5


   

you are acquiring the Exchange Notes in your ordinary course of business; and

 

   

if you are a broker-dealer, you will receive the Exchange Notes for your own account in exchange for Restricted Notes that were acquired by you as a result of your market-making or other trading activities and that you will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of the Exchange Notes you receive. For further information regarding resales of the Exchange Notes by participating broker-dealers, see the discussion under the caption “Plan of Distribution.”

 

Withdrawal

You may withdraw any Restricted Notes tendered in the exchange offer at any time prior to 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on         , 2007.

 

Conditions to the Exchange Offer

The exchange offer is subject to customary conditions, which we may waive. See the discussion below under the caption “The Exchange Offer — Conditions to the Exchange Offer” for more information regarding the conditions to the exchange offer.

 

Procedures for Tendering the Restricted Notes

Except as described in the section titled “The Exchange Offer — Procedures for Tendering Restricted Notes,” a tendering holder must, on or prior to the expiration date, transmit an agent’s message to the exchange agent at the address listed in this prospectus. In order for your tender to be considered valid, the exchange agent must receive a confirmation of book entry transfer of your Restricted Notes into the exchange agent’s account at The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) prior to the expiration or termination of the exchange offer.

 

Special Procedures for Beneficial Owners

If you are a beneficial owner whose Restricted Notes are registered in the name of a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee, and you wish to tender your Restricted Notes in the exchange offer, you should promptly contact the person in whose name the Restricted Notes are registered and instruct that person to tender on your behalf. Any registered holder that is a participant in DTC’s book-entry transfer facility system may make book-entry delivery of the Restricted Notes by causing DTC to transfer the Restricted Notes into the exchange agent’s account.

 

Use of Proceeds

We will not receive any proceeds from the exchange offer.

 

Exchange Agent

The Bank of Nova Scotia Trust Company of New York is the exchange agent for the exchange offer. You can find the address and telephone number of the exchange agent below under the caption “The Exchange Offer — Exchange Agent.”

 

Resales

Based on interpretations by the staff of the SEC, as detailed in a series of no-action letters issued to third parties, we believe that the Exchange Notes issued in the exchange offer may be offered for

 

 

6


 

resale, resold or otherwise transferred by you without compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act as long as:

 

   

you are acquiring the Exchange Notes in the ordinary course of your business;

 

   

you are not participating, do not intend to participate and have no arrangement or understanding with any person to participate, in a distribution of the Exchange Notes; and

 

   

you are not an affiliate of ours.

If you are an affiliate of ours, are engaged in or intend to engage in or have any arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution of the Exchange Notes:

 

   

you cannot rely on the applicable interpretations of the staff of the SEC;

 

   

you will not be entitled to participate in the exchange offer; and

 

   

you must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale transaction.

See the discussion below under the caption “The Exchange Offer —Consequences of Exchanging or Failing to Exchange Restricted Notes” for more information.

 

Broker-Dealer

Each broker or dealer that receives Exchange Notes for its own account in exchange for Restricted Notes that were acquired as a result of market-making or other trading activities must acknowledge that it will comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any offer to resell or other transfer of the Exchange Notes issued in the exchange offer, including the delivery of a prospectus that contains information with respect to any selling holder required by the Securities Act in connection with any resale of the Exchange Notes.

Furthermore, any broker-dealer that acquired any of its Restricted Notes directly from us:

 

   

may not rely on the applicable interpretation of the staff of the SEC’s position contained in Exxon Capital Holdings Corp., SEC no-action letter (April 13, 1988), Morgan, Stanley & Co. Inc., SEC no-action letter (June 5, 1991) and Shearman & Sterling, SEC no-action letter (July 2, 1993); and

 

   

must also be named as a selling bondholder in connection with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act relating to any resale transaction.

 

 

7


This prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of Exchange Notes received in exchange for Restricted Notes which were received by such broker-dealer as a result of market making activities or other trading activities. We have agreed that for a period of not less than 180 days after the consummation of the exchange offer, we will make this prospectus available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. See “Plan of Distribution” for more information.

 

Registration Rights Agreement

When the Restricted Notes were issued in April 2006, the Issuers, the Parent Guarantor and the Subsidiary Guarantors entered into a registration rights agreement with the initial purchasers of the Restricted Notes, and on February 9, 2007, Avis Budget Group executed a counterpart and became a party to that registration rights agreement. Under the terms of the registration rights agreement, we agreed to use our reasonable best efforts to:

 

   

file with the SEC and cause to become effective a registration statement relating to an offer to exchange the Restricted Notes for the Exchange Notes;

 

   

keep the exchange offer open for not less than 20 business days (or longer if required by applicable law) after the date of notice thereof is mailed to the holders of the Restricted Notes; and

 

   

complete the exchange offer within 405 days of the issue date of the Restricted Notes.

If we do not complete the exchange offer (or, if required, the shelf registration statement described below is not declared effective) on or before the date that is 405 days after the issuance of the Restricted Notes, subject to certain exceptions, or if we fail to meet certain other conditions described under “Description of the Exchange Notes – Additional Interest,” the interest rate borne by the Restricted Notes will increase at a rate of 0.25% per annum every 90 days (but shall not exceed 0.50% per annum) until the condition which gave rise to the additional interest is cured.

Under some circumstances set forth in the registration rights agreement, holders of Restricted Notes, including certain holders who are not permitted to participate in the exchange offer, may require us to file and cause to become effective, a shelf registration statement covering resales of the Restricted Notes by these holders.

A copy of the registration rights agreement is as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus forms a part. See “Description of the Exchange Notes — Registration Rights.”

 

 

8


CONSEQUENCES OF NOT EXCHANGING RESTRICTED NOTES

If you do not exchange your Restricted Notes in the exchange offer, your Restricted Notes will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer currently applicable to the Restricted Notes. In general, you may offer or sell your Restricted Notes only:

 

   

if they are registered under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws;

 

   

if they are offered or sold under an exemption from registration under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws; or

 

   

if they are offered or sold in a transaction not subject to the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws.

We do not currently intend to register the Restricted Notes under the Securities Act. Under some circumstances, however, holders of the Restricted Notes, including holders who are not permitted to participate in the exchange offer or who may not freely resell Exchange Notes received in the exchange offer, may require us to file, and to cause to become effective, a shelf registration statement covering resales of Restricted Notes by these holders. For more information regarding the consequences of not tendering your Restricted Notes and our obligation to file a shelf registration statement, see “The Exchange Offer — Consequences of Exchanging or Failing to Exchange Restricted Notes” and “Description of the Exchange Notes — Registration Rights.”

 

 

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SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE EXCHANGE NOTES

The summary below describes the principal terms of the Exchange Notes. Certain of the terms and conditions described below are subject to important limitations and exceptions. The “Description of the Exchange Notes” section of this prospectus contains a more detailed description of the terms and conditions of the Exchange Notes. As used in this “Summary Description of the Exchange Notes” section, except as expressly indicated or unless the context otherwise requires, the “Company”, “ABCR”, “we”, “us” or “our” means Avis Budget Car Rental, LLC.

 

Issuers

Avis Budget Car Rental, LLC and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Avis Budget Finance, Inc. The Issuers will be jointly and severally liable for all obligations under the Exchange Notes.

Securities

 

Floating Rate Exchange Notes

$250,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Floating Rate Senior Notes due 2014 which will bear interest at a rate per annum equal to LIBOR (as defined) plus 2.50%.

 

7.625% Exchange Notes

$375,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 7.625% Senior Notes due 2014.

 

7.75% Exchange Notes

$375,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 7.75% Senior Notes due 2016.

 

Maturity

The Floating Rate Exchange Notes: May 15, 2014.

The 7.625% Exchange Notes: May 15, 2014.

The 7.75% Exchange Notes: May 15, 2016.

 

Interest payment dates

The Floating Rate Exchange Notes: February 15, May 15, August 15 and November 15 of each year.

The 7.625% Exchange Notes: May 15 and November 15 of each year.

The 7.75% Exchange Notes: May 15 and November 15 of each year.

 

Optional redemption

We may redeem some or all of the Floating Rate Notes at any time on or after May 15, 2008; some or all of the 7.625% Notes on or after May 15, 2010; and some or all of the 7.75% Notes on or after May 15, 2011 at the redemption prices set forth in this prospectus, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the redemption date.

At any time prior to May 15, 2008 for the Floating Rate Notes and prior to May 15, 2009 for the 7.625% Notes and the 7.75% Notes, we may also redeem up to 35% of the original aggregate principal amount of the applicable series of notes using the proceeds of one or more equity offerings at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount thereof) of 100% plus the applicable rate of interest per annum on the date on which notice of redemption is given for the Floating Rate Notes, 107.625% for the 7.625% Notes and 107.75% for the 7.75% Notes, in each case together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the redemption date.

 

 

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Mandatory offers to purchase

The occurrence of a change of control will be a triggering event requiring us to offer to purchase all or a portion of the notes at a price equal to 101% of their principal amount, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the date of repurchase.

Certain asset dispositions will be triggering events which may require us to use the proceeds from those asset dispositions to make an offer to purchase the notes at 100% of their principal amount, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but not including, the date of purchase, if such proceeds are not otherwise used within the time periods specified herein to, among other things, repay indebtedness of our company or any Restricted Subsidiary, as defined in the indenture governing the notes, (other than disqualified stock or any subordinated obligations of our company or any guarantor), repay indebtedness under our senior credit facility (with a corresponding reduction in commitment) or invest in additional assets related to our business.

 

Guarantees

The Exchange Notes will be guaranteed on a senior unsecured basis by our indirect parent company, Avis Budget Group, Inc., our direct parent company, Avis Budget Holdings, LLC, and all of our existing and future direct and indirect domestic subsidiaries that guarantee our senior credit facility.

 

Ranking

The Exchange Notes will be unsecured senior indebtedness of the Issuers, rank equally in right of payment with all existing and future senior indebtedness of the Issuers, and be senior in right of payment to all existing and future subordinated obligations of the Issuers.

 

Covenants

The indenture governing the notes contains covenants that, among other things, restrict our ability and the ability of our restricted subsidiaries to:

 

   

incur, assume or guarantee additional indebtedness;

 

   

pay dividends or redeem or repurchase capital stock;

 

   

make other restricted payments;

 

   

incur liens;

 

   

redeem debt that is junior in right of payment to the notes;

 

   

sell or otherwise dispose of assets, including capital stock of subsidiaries;

 

   

enter into mergers or consolidations;

 

   

enter into transactions with affiliates; and

 

   

enter into new lines of business.

These covenants will be subject to a number of important exceptions and qualifications. For more details, see “Description of the Exchange Notes”.

 

 

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Risk Factors

You should carefully consider all of the information contained in this prospectus prior to participating in the exchange offer. In particular, we urge you to carefully consider the information set forth under “Risk Factors” beginning on page 13, for a discussion of risks and uncertainties relating to us, our subsidiaries, our business, the exchange offer and holding the Exchange Notes.

 

 

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RISK FACTORS

Participating in the exchange offer involves a number of risks. You should consider carefully the following information about these risks, together with the other information included in this prospectus before tendering your Restricted Notes in the exchange offer. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to us, or that we currently deem immaterial, may also impair our business operations. We cannot assure you that any of the events discussed in the risk factors below will not occur. If they do, our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially and adversely affected.

Risks Related to the Exchange Offer and Holding the Exchange Notes

We have a substantial amount of debt, which could impair our financial condition and adversely affect our ability to react to changes in our business and fulfill our obligations under the notes.

As of December 31, 2006, our total debt was approximately $7.1 billion and we had approximately $1.2 billion of available borrowing capacity under ABCR’s senior secured credit facility.

Our substantial indebtedness could have important consequences to you, including:

 

   

making it more difficult for us to satisfy our obligations with respect to the notes;

 

   

limiting our ability to borrow additional amounts to fund working capital, capital expenditures, debt service requirements, execution of our business strategy, acquisitions and other purposes;

 

   

requiring us to dedicate a substantial portion of our cash flow from operations to pay principal and interest on our debt, which would reduce the funds available to us for other purposes;

 

   

making us more vulnerable to adverse changes in general economic, industry and competitive conditions, in government regulation and in our business by limiting our flexibility in planning for, and making it more difficult for us to react quickly to, changing conditions; and

 

   

exposing us to risks inherent in interest rate fluctuations because some of our borrowings are at variable rates of interest, which could result in higher interest expenses in the event of increases in interest rates.

See “Description of Other Indebtedness” and “Description of the Exchange Notes”.

Despite our current indebtedness levels, we may still be able to incur substantially more debt. This could further exacerbate the risks associated with our substantial indebtedness.

Subject to specified limitations, the indenture governing the notes limits, but does not prohibit, us from incurring additional indebtedness in the future. As of December 31, 2006, ABCR’s senior secured credit facility provided us commitments for additional borrowings of up to $1.2 billion, in the aggregate. All of those borrowings would be secured and the lenders under ABCR’s senior secured credit facility would have a prior claim to the assets that secure such indebtedness. The subsidiaries that guarantee the notes also are guarantors under ABCR’s senior secured credit facility. In addition, if we incur any additional unsecured indebtedness that ranks equally with the notes, the holders of that debt will be entitled to share ratably with you in any proceeds distributed in connection with any insolvency, liquidation, reorganization, dissolution or other winding-up of us. If new debt is added to our current debt levels, the risks described above in the previous risk factor could intensify. See “Description of the Exchange Notes” and “Description of Other Indebtedness”.

 

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Restrictive covenants in agreements and instruments governing our debt, including the indenture governing the notes, may adversely affect our ability to operate our business.

The indenture governing the notes and the agreement governing ABCR’s senior secured credit facility contain, and our future debt instruments may contain, various provisions that limit our ability to, among other things:

 

   

incur additional debt;

 

   

provide guarantees in respect of obligations of other persons;

 

   

issue redeemable stock and preferred stock;

 

   

pay dividends or distributions or redeem or repurchase capital stock;

 

   

prepay, redeem or repurchase debt;

 

   

make loans, investments and capital expenditures;

 

   

incur liens;

 

   

make distributions from our subsidiaries;

 

   

sell assets and capital stock of our subsidiaries; and

 

   

consolidate or merge with or into, or sell substantially all of our assets to, another person.

The notes and the guarantees are unsecured and effectively rank behind our existing and future secured creditors to the extent of the value of the collateral securing their claims, including lenders under ABCR’s senior secured credit facility, and holders of the guarantors’ existing and future secured indebtedness have a prior claim on our assets that secure such indebtedness.

Holders of our secured indebtedness have claims that are prior to your claims as holders of the notes to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness. The Issuers, the Parent Guarantor and the Subsidiary Guarantors are party to a senior secured credit facility, which is secured by a significant portion of our assets, including a pledge of all of ABCR’s capital stock and the capital stock of all of ABCR’s direct and indirect subsidiaries (limited, in the case of foreign subsidiaries, to 66% of the capital stock of the first tier foreign subsidiaries and excluding securitization subsidiaries). In the event of any distribution or payment of our assets in any foreclosure, dissolution, winding-up, liquidation, reorganization or other bankruptcy proceeding, holders of our secured indebtedness will have prior claim to our assets that constitute their collateral. Holders of the notes will participate ratably with all holders of our unsecured indebtedness that is deemed to be of the same class as the notes. In that event, because the notes and the guarantees will not be secured by any of our assets, it is possible that our remaining assets might be insufficient to satisfy your claims in full.

In addition, the restrictive covenants in ABCR’s senior secured credit facility requires ABCR to maintain specified financial ratios and satisfy other financial condition tests. Our ability to meet those financial ratios and tests can be affected by events beyond our control, and we may be unable to meet those tests. A breach of any of these covenants could result in a default under ABCR’s senior secured credit facility. Upon the occurrence of an event of default under ABCR’s senior secured credit facility, the lenders could elect to declare all amounts outstanding under ABCR’s senior secured credit facility to be immediately due and payable and terminate all commitments to extend further credit. If we were unable to repay those amounts, the lenders under ABCR’s senior secured credit facility could proceed against the collateral granted to them to secure that indebtedness.

As of December 31, 2006, the aggregate amount of our secured indebtedness, on a consolidated basis, was approximately $6.1 billion, and approximately $1.2 billion was available for additional borrowing under ABCR’s senior secured credit facility. We will be permitted to borrow substantial additional secured indebtedness in the future under the terms of the indenture governing the notes. See “Description of the Exchange Notes”.

 

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We will require a significant amount of cash to service all of our indebtedness, including the notes, and our ability to generate sufficient cash depends on many factors, some of which are beyond our control.

Our ability to make payments on and refinance our debt, including the notes, will depend on our ability to generate cash flow in the future. To some extent, this is subject to prevailing economic and competitive conditions and to certain financial, business and other factors, some of which are beyond our control. Our business may not generate cash flow from operations at levels sufficient to permit us to pay principal, premium, if any, and interest on our indebtedness, and our cash needs may increase. If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow from operations to service our debt and meet our other cash needs, we may be forced to reduce or delay capital expenditures, sell assets or operations, seek additional capital or restructure or refinance our indebtedness, including the notes. We may not be able to take any of these actions. We may not be able to refinance our debt or sell additional debt or equity securities or our assets on favorable terms, if at all, particularly because of our anticipated high levels of debt and the restrictions imposed by the agreement governing ABCR’s senior secured credit facility and the indenture governing the notes on our ability to incur additional debt and use the proceeds from asset sales. If we must sell our assets, it may negatively affect our ability to generate revenue. The inability to obtain additional financing could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and on our ability to meet our obligations to you under the notes.

If we cannot make scheduled payments on our debt, we would be in default and, as a result:

 

   

our debt holders could declare all outstanding principal and interest to be due and payable;

 

   

the lenders under ABCR’s senior secured credit facility could terminate their commitments to lend us money and foreclose against the assets securing their borrowings; and

 

   

we could be forced into bankruptcy or liquidation, which could result in you losing your investment in the notes.

We may not be able to repurchase the notes upon a change of control.

Upon the occurrence of specific kinds of change of control events, ABCR will be required to offer to repurchase all outstanding notes at 101% of their principal amount, plus any accrued and unpaid interest. ABCR may not be able to repurchase the notes upon a change of control because ABCR may not have sufficient funds. Further, ABCR may be contractually restricted under the terms of its senior secured credit facility or other future senior indebtedness from repurchasing all of the notes tendered by holders upon a change of control. Accordingly, ABCR may not be able to satisfy its obligations to purchase your notes unless ACRR is able to refinance or obtain waivers underits senior secured credit facility. ABCR’s failure to repurchase the notes upon a change of control would cause a default under the indenture and a cross-default under ABCR’s senior secured credit facility.

Federal and state statutes could allow courts, under specific circumstances, to void the guarantees and require note holders to return payments received from the guarantors.

Under the federal bankruptcy law and comparable provisions of state fraudulent transfer laws, a guarantee could be voided or claims in respect of a guarantee could be subordinated to all other debts of the applicable guarantor if, among other things, the guarantor, at the time it incurred the indebtedness evidenced by its guarantee received less than reasonably equivalent value or fair consideration for the incurrence of such guarantee and either:

 

   

was insolvent or rendered insolvent by reason of such incurrence;

 

   

was engaged or about to engage in a business or transaction for which the guarantor’s remaining assets constituted unreasonably small capital; or

 

   

intended to incur, or believed that it would incur, debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature.

 

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In addition, any payment by that guarantor pursuant to its guarantee could be voided and required to be returned to the guarantor or to a fund for the benefit of the creditors of the guarantor.

The measures of insolvency for purposes of these fraudulent transfer laws will vary depending upon the law applied in any proceeding to determine whether a fraudulent transfer has occurred. Generally, a guarantor would be considered insolvent if, at the relevant time, the sum of its debts and other liabilities, including contingent liabilities, was greater than the sum of its assets at a fair valuation, and a guarantor that generally was not then paying its debts as they became due would be presumed to be insolvent.

There is no public market for the Exchange Notes, and we do not know if a market will ever develop or, if a market does develop, whether it will be sustained.

The Exchange Notes are a new issue of securities for which there is no existing trading market. Accordingly, we cannot assure you that a liquid market will develop for the Exchange Notes, that you will be able to sell your Exchange Notes at a particular time or that the prices that you receive when you sell the Exchange Notes will be favorable.

We do not intend to apply for listing or quotation of any series of bonds on any securities exchange or stock market, although our Restricted Notes trade on the PORTAL Market. The liquidity of any market for the Exchange Notes will depend on a number of factors, including:

 

   

the number of holders of Exchange Notes;

 

   

our operating performance and financial condition;

 

   

our ability to complete the offer to exchange the Restricted Notes for the Exchange Notes;

 

   

the market for similar securities;

 

   

the interest of securities dealers in making a market in the Exchange Notes; and

 

   

prevailing interest rates.

Holders of Restricted Notes who fail to exchange their Restricted Notes in the exchange offer will continue to be subject to restrictions on transfer.

If you do not exchange your Restricted Notes for Exchange Notes in the exchange offer, you will continue to be subject to the restrictions on transfer applicable to the Restricted Notes. The restrictions on transfer of your Restricted Notes arise because we issued the Restricted Notes under exemptions from, or in transactions not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws. In general, you may only offer or sell the Restricted Notes if they are registered under the Securities Act and applicable state securities laws, or offered and sold under an exemption from these requirements. We do not plan to register the Restricted Notes under the Securities Act. For further information regarding the consequences of tendering your Restricted Notes in the exchange offer, see the discussion below under the caption “The Exchange Offer — Consequences of Exchanging or Failing to Exchange Restricted Notes.”

You must comply with the exchange offer procedures in order to receive new, freely tradable Exchange Notes.

Delivery of Exchange Notes in exchange for Restricted Notes tendered and accepted for exchange pursuant to the exchange offer will be made only after timely receipt by the exchange agent of book-entry transfer of Restricted Notes into the exchange agent’s account at DTC, as depositary, including an agent’s message (as defined herein). We are not required to notify you of defects or irregularities in tenders of Restricted Notes for exchange. Restricted Notes that are not tendered or that are tendered but we do not accept for exchange will, following consummation of the exchange offer, continue to be subject to the existing transfer restrictions under the Securities Act and, upon consummation of the exchange offer, certain registration and other rights under the registration rights agreement will terminate. See “The Exchange Offer — Procedures for Tendering Restricted Notes” and “The Exchange Offer — Consequences of Exchanging or Failing to Exchange Restricted Notes.”

 

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Some holders who exchange their Restricted Notes may be deemed to be underwriters, and these holders will be required to comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements in connection with any resale transaction.

If you exchange your Restricted Notes in the exchange offer for the purpose of participating in a distribution of the Exchange Notes, you may be deemed to have received restricted securities and, if so, will be required to comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale transaction.

Risks Related to our Business

The high level of competition in the vehicle rental industry may lead to reduced rental volumes, downward pricing or an inability to increase our prices, which could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations.

The vehicle rental industry in which we operate is highly competitive. We believe that price is one of the primary competitive factors in the vehicle rental industry. Our competitors, some of whom may have access to substantial capital, may seek to compete aggressively on the basis of pricing. To the extent that we match competitors’ downward pricing, it could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations. To the extent that we do not match or remain within a reasonable competitive margin of our competitors’ pricing, it could also have a material adverse impact on our results of operations, as we may lose rental volume. The Internet has increased pricing transparency among vehicle rental companies by enabling cost-conscious customers to more easily obtain and compare the rates available from various vehicle rental companies for any given rental. This transparency may increase the prevalence and intensity of price competition in the future.

We face risks of increased fleet costs, both generally and due to the possibility that automobile manufacturers could change or cease their repurchase or guaranteed depreciation programs.

Fleet costs represented approximately 27% of our aggregate expenses for 2006 and can vary from year to year based on the prices at which we are able to purchase and dispose of rental vehicles. For 2006 and 2005, approximately 88% and 95%, respectively, of the rental cars purchased for our domestic car fleet were the subject of agreements requiring automobile manufacturers to repurchase them or guarantee the depreciation rate for a specified period of time. We refer to cars subject to such agreements as “program cars.” Under these repurchase and guaranteed depreciation programs, automobile manufacturers agree to repurchase cars at a specified price during a specified time period or guarantee the rate of depreciation for a specified period of time, typically subject to certain car condition and mileage requirements. Repurchase and guaranteed depreciation programs, therefore, enable us to determine, in advance, our depreciation expense, which is a significant cost factor in our car rental operations. Repurchase and guaranteed depreciation programs also limit the risk to us that the market value of a car, at the time of its disposition, will be less than its estimated residual (or depreciated) value.

Automobile manufacturers may not continue to sell cars to us subject to repurchase or guaranteed depreciation programs at all or on terms consistent with past practice. In addition, we intend to reduce the number of program cars we purchase to mitigate anticipated increases in fleet costs. Should any such decrease in the percentage of our car rental fleet subject to repurchase or guaranteed depreciation programs occur, we would expect to bear increased risk relating to the residual market value of our car rental fleet and the depreciation of rental vehicles, each of which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition. The overall cost of cars subject to repurchase or guaranteed depreciation programs could also increase if the manufacturers were to make changes to these programs, particularly if such changes were to result in a decrease in the repurchase price or guaranteed depreciation without a corresponding decrease to the original purchase price. Repurchase or guaranteed depreciation programs also generally provide us with flexibility to reduce the size of our fleet rapidly in response to an economic downturn or changes in demand by returning cars

 

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sooner than originally expected. This flexibility may be reduced in the future to the extent the percentage of program cars in our car rental fleet decreases or this feature of repurchase or guaranteed depreciation programs is altered.

During 2006, approximately 74% of the cars acquired for our U.S. car rental fleet were manufactured by either General Motors Corporation or Ford Motor Company. A default on any repurchase or guaranteed depreciation agreement, particularly with respect to GM or Ford, might leave us with a substantial unpaid claim against the manufacturer with respect to program cars that were either (a) sold for an amount less than the amount guaranteed under the applicable agreement or (b) sold and returned to the car manufacturer but for which we were not paid, as well as potential additional expenses if the prices at which we were able to dispose of program cars were less than the specified prices under the repurchase or guaranteed depreciation program. Any increased risk with respect to the likelihood of these defaults or a decline in the results of operations or financial condition of the manufacturers of the cars we purchase could also impact our ability to finance the purchase of cars to maintain our car rental fleet.

The relative strength of the used vehicle marketplace materially impacts the costs of our rental cars and trucks not covered by repurchase or guaranteed depreciation programs or trade-in agreements. We currently sell these used vehicles through auctions, third party resellers and other channels. These markets may not produce stable used vehicle pricing in the future. Based on the number of used trucks and non-program cars produced by our rental operations annually, and our intent to increase this number, any downturn in the used vehicle marketplace could have a material impact on our fleet holding costs and profitability.

Our car rental business is dependent on airline passenger traffic, and disruptions in travel patterns could harm our business.

In 2006, we generated approximately 81% of our domestic car rental revenue from our corporate owned on-airport locations. As a result, a decline in airline passenger traffic could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations. Events that affect air travel could include economic downturns, work stoppages, military conflicts, terrorist incidents or threats, pandemic diseases, natural disasters or the response of governments to any of these events. We also face increased costs of maintaining our positions on-airport through increased competitive bidding and minimum airport guarantees.

We are dependent on third party distribution channels, and the success of our business depends in significant part on these relationships.

The operators of third party distribution channels, through which we generate approximately 44% of our domestic reservations, generally can cancel or modify their agreements with us upon relatively short notice. Changes in our pricing agreements, commission schedules or arrangements with third party distribution channels, the termination of any of our relationships or a reduction in the transaction volume of such channels could have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition and results of operations. Most of these reservations are made in connection with GDS (Amadeus, Galileo, Sabre and Worldspan), which aggregate reservations from various sources. Our largest third party source of reservations (other than from GDS) in 2006 was responsible for less than 2% of our domestic reservations.

Our business is seasonal, and a disruption in rental activity during our peak season could materially adversely affect our results of operations.

In our business, the third quarter of the year has historically been our strongest quarter due to the increased level of leisure travel and household moving activity. In 2006, the third quarter accounted for approximately 28% of our vehicle rental revenue and 36% of ABCR’s income before income taxes. Any occurrence that disrupts rental activity during the third quarter could have a disproportionately material adverse effect on our liquidity and/or our results of operations.

 

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An increase in interest rates would increase the cost of servicing our debt and could reduce our profitability.

A significant amount of our borrowings, primarily our seasonal borrowings, bear interest at variable rates and expose us to interest rate risk. If interest rates increase, whether because of an increase in market interest rates or an increase in our own cost of borrowing, our debt service obligations for our variable rate indebtedness would increase even though the amount of borrowings remained the same, and our net income could be materially adversely affected. As of December 31, 2006, our total outstanding debt of approximately $7.1 billion included interest rate sensitive debt of approximately $500 million (either by its original terms or through the use of interest rate derivatives), which had a weighted average interest rate of approximately 6% per annum. During our seasonal borrowing peak in 2006, outstanding interest rate sensitive debt totaled approximately $1.5 billion, with a weighted average interest rate of approximately 6% per annum.

We face risks arising from our heavy reliance on communications networks and centralized information systems.

We rely heavily on information systems, including our reservation system, to accept reservations, process rental and sales transactions, manage our fleet of vehicles, account for our activities and otherwise conduct our business. We have centralized our information systems, and we rely on communications services providers to link our systems with the business locations these systems serve. A failure of a major system, or a major disruption of communications between the system and the locations it serves, could cause a loss of reservations, interfere with our ability to manage our fleet, slow rental and sales processes and otherwise materially adversely affect our ability to manage our business effectively. Our systems’ business continuity plans and insurance programs are designed to mitigate such a risk, not eliminate it.

In addition, because our systems contain personally identifiable non-public information about millions of individuals and businesses, our failure to maintain the security of the data we hold, whether the result of our own error or the malfeasance of others, could harm our reputation or give rise to legal liabilities leading to lower revenue, increased costs and other material adverse effects on our results of operations.

We face risks related to liability and insurance.

Our businesses expose us to claims for personal injury, death and property damage related to the use of our vehicles and for workers’ compensation claims and other employment-related claims by our employees. We may become exposed to uninsured liability at levels in excess of our historical levels resulting from unusually high losses or otherwise. In addition, liabilities in respect of existing or future claims may exceed the level of our reserves and/or our insurance, and we may not have sufficient capital available to pay any uninsured claims. Furthermore, insurance with unaffiliated carriers may not continue to be available to us on economically reasonable terms or at all.

Environmental regulations could subject us to liability for fines or damages.

We are subject to federal, state, local and foreign environmental laws and regulations in connection with our operations, including, among other things, with respect to the ownership and operation of tanks for the storage of petroleum products, such as gasoline, diesel fuel and motor and waste oils. We have established a compliance program for our tank systems that is intended to ensure that the tanks are properly registered with the state or other jurisdiction in which the tanks are located and have been either replaced or upgraded to meet applicable leak detection and spill, overfill, corrosion protection and vapor recovery requirements. These tank systems may not at all times remain free from undetected leaks, and the use of these tanks may result in significant spills.

We have made, and will continue to make, expenditures to comply with environmental laws and regulations, including, among others, expenditures for the cleanup of contamination at our owned and leased properties, as well as contamination at other locations at which our wastes have reportedly been identified. Our compliance

 

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with existing or future environmental laws and regulations may, however, require material expenditures by us or otherwise have a material adverse effect on our consolidated financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

Changes in the U.S. and foreign legal and regulatory environment that affect our operations, including laws and regulations relating to the insurance products we sell, consumer privacy, data security, automobile-related liability and insurance rates, could disrupt our business, increase our expenses or otherwise have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

We are subject to a wide variety of laws and regulations in the United States and the other countries and jurisdictions in which we operate, and changes in the level of government regulation of our business have the potential to materially alter our business practices or our profitability. Depending on the jurisdiction, those changes may come about through new legislation, the issuance of new laws and regulations or changes in the interpretation of existing laws and regulations by a court, regulatory body or governmental official.

The optional insurance products, including, but not limited to, supplemental liability insurance, personal accident insurance and personal effects protection, offered to renters providing various insurance coverages in our domestic vehicle rental operations are regulated under state laws governing the licensing of such products. In our international car rental operations, our offering of optional products providing insurance coverage historically has not been regulated.

Any changes in U.S. or foreign law that change our operating requirements with respect to optional insurance products could increase our costs of compliance or make it uneconomical to offer such products, which would lead to a reduction in revenue. If customers decline to purchase supplemental liability insurance products through us as a result of any changes in these laws or otherwise, our results of operations could be materially adversely affected.

In almost every state, we recover various costs associated with the title and registration of our vehicles. In addition, where permitted, we also recover the concession cost imposed by an airport authority or the owner and/or operator of the premises from which our vehicle is rented. Our long standing business practice has been to separately state these additional surcharges in our rental agreements and invoices and disclose the existence of these surcharges to consumers together with an estimated total price, inclusive of these surcharges, in all distribution channels. This standard practice comports with the Federal Trade Commission Act and has been upheld by several courts. However, there are several legislative proposals which, if enacted, would define which surcharges are permissible and establish calculation formulas which may differ from the manner in which we set our surcharges. We cannot assure you that if any of these proposals were to be enacted there will not be an adverse impact or limitation on our ability to recover all of the surcharges we currently charge.

We may be held responsible by third parties, regulators or courts for the actions of, or failures to act by, our licensees, which exposes us to possible fines, other liabilities and bad publicity.

Our car and truck rental licensee locations, which include both franchisees and dealers, are independently owned and operated. Our agreements with our licensees require that they comply with all laws and regulations applicable to their businesses, including our internal policies and standards. Under these licensee agreements, licensees retain control over the employment and management of all personnel. Third parties, regulators or courts may seek to hold us responsible for the actions of, or failures to act by, our licensees. Although we maintain the right to monitor the operations of licensees and have the ability to terminate licensee agreements for failure to adhere to contracted operational standards, we are unlikely to detect all problems. Moreover, there are occasions when our and our licensees’ activities may not be clearly distinguishable. It is our policy to vigorously seek to be dismissed from any such claims and to pursue indemnity for any adverse decisions. Failure to comply with laws and regulations by our licensees may expose us to liability and damages that may adversely affect our business.

 

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Significant increases in fuel costs or limitations in fuel supplies could harm our business.

We could be adversely affected by limitations in fuel supplies or significant increases in fuel prices. A severe or protracted disruption in fuel supplies or significant increases in fuel prices could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations, either by directly discouraging consumers from renting cars and trucks or by causing a decline in airline passenger traffic.

Risks Related to the Separation

We have little recent operating history as a stand-alone vehicle rental company.

The financial information included in this prospectus does not reflect the financial condition, results of operations or cash flows we would have achieved as a stand-alone vehicle rental company during the periods presented or those that we will achieve in the future. This is primarily a result of the following factors:

 

   

Prior to the completion of the Cendant Separation, the vehicle rental business was operated by Cendant as part of its broader corporate organization, rather than as an independent company. Cendant or one of its affiliates performed various corporate functions for our vehicle rental business, including, but not limited to, tax administration, certain governance functions (including compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and internal audit) and external reporting. Our financial results for all periods other than fourth quarter 2006 for our operating segments reflect allocations of corporate expenses from Cendant for these and similar functions. These allocations may be more or less than the comparable expenses we would have incurred had we operated as a stand-alone vehicle rental company during those periods.

 

   

Generally, prior to completion of the Cendant Separation, working capital requirements and capital for general corporate purposes for the vehicle rental business, including acquisitions and capital expenditures, were historically satisfied as part of the corporate-wide cash management policies of Cendant’s broader corporate organization. With the completion of the Cendant Separation, we will not have access to the cash generated by the businesses of Realogy, Wyndham Worldwide or Travelport in order to finance our working capital or other cash requirements (except for obligations of these entities to make payments to us for certain specified items). Without access to the cash generated by these companies, we may need to obtain additional financing from banks, or through public offerings or private placements of debt or equity securities, strategic relationships or other arrangements.

 

   

With the completion of the Cendant Separation, the cost of capital for our business may be higher than our cost of capital prior to the completion of the Cendant Separation.

 

   

While we have entered into short-term transition agreements that govern certain commercial and other relationships among us, Realogy, Wyndham Worldwide and Travelport, those temporary arrangements may not capture the benefits (including economies of scope and scale in customer and vendor relationships) our business has enjoyed as a result of being integrated with those companies. The loss of these benefits could have an adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.

 

   

Other significant changes may occur in our cost structure, management, financing and business operations as a result of our operating as a company separate from Realogy, Wyndham Worldwide and Travelport.

We may be unable to make, on a timely or cost-effective basis, the changes necessary to operate now that the Cendant Separation is complete, and we may experience increased costs as a result of the Cendant Separation.

Realogy, Wyndham Worldwide and Travelport are contractually obligated to provide to us only those services specified in the transition services agreement and the other agreements we entered into with them in connection with the separation. We may be unable to replace, in a timely manner or on comparable terms, the services that Realogy, Wyndham Worldwide or Travelport previously provided to us that are not specified in the

 

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transition services agreement or the other agreements. In addition, if Realogy, Wyndham Worldwide or Travelport do not continue to perform effectively the transition services and other services that are called for under the transition services agreement and the other agreements, we may not be able to operate our business effectively and our profitability may decline. Furthermore, after the expiration of the transition services and other agreements, we may be unable to replace, in a timely manner or on comparable terms, the services specified in such agreements.

Our agreements with Realogy, Wyndham Worldwide and Travelport may not reflect terms that would have resulted from arm’s-length negotiations among unaffiliated parties.

The agreements related to the separation, including the Separation and Distribution Agreement, Tax Sharing Agreement, Transition Services Agreement and other agreements, were not the result of arm’s-length negotiations and thus may not reflect terms that would have resulted from arm’s-length negotiations among unaffiliated parties. Such terms include, among other things, those related to allocation of assets, liabilities, rights, indemnifications and other obligations among the companies.

We are relying on Realogy, Wyndham Worldwide and Travelport to fulfill their obligations under the Separation and Distribution Agreement and other agreements.

Pursuant to the Separation and Distribution Agreement, Realogy and Wyndham Worldwide are responsible for 62.5% and 37.5%, respectively of certain contingent and other of our corporate liabilities including those relating to unresolved tax and legal matters. More specifically, Realogy and Wyndham Worldwide have generally assumed and are responsible for the payment of their allocated percentage of (i) all taxes imposed on us and certain of our subsidiaries and (ii) certain of our contingent and other corporate liabilities and/or our subsidiaries to the extent incurred prior to August 23, 2006. These contingent and other corporate liabilities include liabilities relating to (i) Cendant’s terminated or divested businesses, including among others, the former PHH and Marketing Services (Affinion) businesses, (ii) liabilities relating to the Travelport sale, if any, (iii) the Securities Action and related litigation (for a further description of these litigation matters, see “Legal Proceedings”) and (iv) generally any actions with respect to the Cendant Separation or the distributions brought by any third party. If any party responsible for such liabilities were to default in its payment, when due, of any such assumed obligations, each non-defaulting party, including us, would be required to pay an equal portion of the amounts in default.

Moreover, the Separation and Distribution Agreement provides for cross-indemnities designed to place financial responsibility of certain liabilities and other obligations with the proper company. Any failure by Realogy, Wyndham Worldwide or Travelport to pay any of their assumed liabilities when due or to indemnify us when required may cause a material adverse affect on our results of operations.

 

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FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

The forward-looking statements contained herein are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on various facts and were derived utilizing numerous important assumptions and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include the information concerning our future financial performance, business strategy, projected plans and objectives. Statements preceded by, followed by or that otherwise include the words “believes”, “expects”, “anticipates”, “intends”, “projects”, “estimates”, “plans”, “may increase”, “may fluctuate” and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as “will”, “should”, “would”, “may” and “could” are generally forward-looking in nature and not historical facts. You should understand that the following important factors and assumptions could affect our future results and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in such forward-looking statements:

 

   

the high level of competition in the vehicle rental industry and the impact such competition may have on pricing and rental volume;

 

   

an increase in the cost of new vehicles;

 

   

a decrease in our ability to acquire or dispose of cars generally through repurchase or guaranteed depreciation programs and/or dispose of vehicles through sales of vehicles in the used car market;

 

   

a decline in the results of operations or financial condition of the manufacturers of our cars;

 

   

a downturn in airline passenger traffic in the United States or in the other international locations in which we operate;

 

   

an occurrence or threat of terrorism, pandemic disease, natural disasters or military conflict in the markets in which we operate;

 

   

our dependence on third-party distribution channels;

 

   

a disruption or decline in rental activity, particularly during our peak season or in key market segments;

 

   

a disruption in our ability to obtain financing for our operations, including the funding of our vehicle fleet via the asset-backed securities and lending market;

 

   

a significant increase in interest rates or in borrowing costs;

 

   

our failure to increase or decrease appropriately the size of our fleet due to the seasonal nature of our business;

 

   

our ability to accurately estimate our future results;

 

   

our ability to implement our strategy for growth;

 

   

a major disruption in our communication or centralized information networks;

 

   

our failure or inability to comply with regulations or any changes in regulations;

 

   

our failure or inability to make the changes necessary to operate effectively now that we operate independently from the former real estate, hospitality and travel distribution businesses following the separation of those businesses from us during third quarter 2006, when we were known as Cendant Corporation;

 

   

other business, economic, competitive, governmental, regulatory, political or technological factors affecting our operations, pricing or services;

 

   

risks inherent in the restructuring of the operations of Budget Truck Rental;

 

   

risks inherent in the separation and related transactions, including risks related to our new borrowings, and costs of the separation; and

 

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the terms of agreements among the separated companies, including the allocations of assets and liabilities, including contingent liabilities and guarantees, commercial arrangements and the performance of each of the separated companies’ obligations under these agreements.

Other factors and assumptions not identified above, including those described under “Risk Factors”, were also involved in the derivation of these forward-looking statements, and the failure of such other assumptions to be realized, as well as other factors, may also cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Most of these factors are difficult to predict accurately and are generally beyond our control.

You should consider the areas of risk described above, as well as those described under “Risk Factors”, in connection with any forward-looking statements that may be made by us and our businesses generally. Except for our ongoing obligations to disclose material information under the federal securities laws, we undertake no obligation to release any revisions to any forward-looking statements, to report events or to report the occurrence of unanticipated events unless required by law. For any forward-looking statements contained in any document, we claim the protection of the safe harbor for forward-looking statements contained in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.

USE OF PROCEEDS

We will not receive any proceeds from the exchange offer. Any Restricted Notes that are properly tendered and exchanged pursuant to the exchange offer will be retired and cancelled.

RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

The following table sets forth our ratio of earnings to fixed charges on a historical basis for the periods indicated.

 

      For the Year Ended December 31,
     2002    2003    2004    2005    2006

Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges

   —      —      1.01x    —      —  

For the purpose of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, earnings consist of income (loss) before provision for income taxes and before adjustment for losses from equity investments plus fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of interest expense on all indebtedness (including amortization of deferred financing costs) and the portion of operating lease rental expense that is representative of the interest factor. For the years ended December 31, 2002, 2003, 2005 and 2006, earnings were less than fixed charges by $375,000,000, $263,000,000, $62,000,000 and $677,000,000, respectively.

 

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SELECTED HISTORICAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION

The selected historical consolidated financial data and other statistical data presented below should be read in conjunction with our Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included elsewhere in this prospectus.

 

SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

 

     At or For the Year Ended December 31,  
     2006     2005     2004    2003     2002  
     (In millions, except per share data)  

Results of Operations

           

Net revenues

   $ 5,689     $ 5,400     $ 4,820    $ 4,682     $ 3,015  
                                       

Income (loss) from continuing operations

   $ (451 )   $ (11 )   $ 71    $ (149 )   $ (241 )

Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax

     (1,479 )     1,637       2,020      1,558       1,012  

Cumulative effect of accounting changes, net of tax

     (64 )     (8 )     —        (329 )     —    
                                       

Net income (loss)

   $ (1,994 )   $ 1,618     $ 2,091    $ 1,080     $ 771  
                                       

Per Share Data

           

Income (loss) from continuing operations:

           

Basic

   $ (4.48 )   $ (0.10 )   $ 0.69    $ (1.46 )   $ (2.37 )

Diluted

     (4.48 )     (0.10 )     0.67      (1.46 )     (2.37 )

Income (loss) from discontinued operations:

           

Basic

   $ (14.71 )   $ 15.74     $ 19.60    $ 15.32     $ 9.94  

Diluted

     (14.71 )     15.74       18.99      15.32       9.94  

Cumulative effect of accounting changes:

           

Basic

   $ (0.63 )   $ (0.08 )   $ —      $ (3.24 )   $ —    

Diluted

     (0.63 )     (0.08 )     —        (3.24 )     —    

Net income (loss):

           

Basic

   $ (19.82 )   $ 15.56     $ 20.29    $ 10.62     $ 7.57  

Diluted

     (19.82 )     15.56       19.66      10.62       7.57  

Cash dividends declared(a)

   $ 1.10     $ 4.00     $ 3.20    $ —       $ —    

Financial Position

           

Total assets

   $ 13,271     $ 34,493     $ 42,698    $ 39,551     $ 36,337  

Assets of discontinued operations

     —         20,512       29,452      27,232       24,469  

Assets under vehicle programs

     7,700       8,500       7,072      6,485       6,379  

Long-term debt, including current portion

     1,842       3,508       4,234      5,900       6,396  

Debt under vehicle programs(b)

     5,270       7,909       6,727      6,295       6,138  

Stockholders’ equity

     2,443       11,342       12,464      9,946       9,167  

(a) Cash dividends declared have been adjusted to reflect the 1-for-10 reverse stock split of our common stock, which became effective in September 2006. See Note 1 to our Consolidated Financial Statements.
(b) Includes related-party debt due to Avis Budget Rental Car Funding (AESOP) LLC. See Note 15 to our Consolidated Financial Statements.

In presenting the financial data above in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, we are required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported. See “Critical Accounting Policies” included elsewhere herein for a detailed discussion of the accounting policies that we believe require subjective and complex judgments that could potentially affect reported results.

 

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Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax, includes the after tax results of the following disposed businesses for all periods presented (through their dates of disposition): (i) Travelport, which we sold in August 2006, (ii) Realogy and Wyndham, which were spun-off on July 31, 2006, (iii) our former Marketing Services division, which we sold in October 2005, (iv) Wright Express Corporation, which we sold in February 2005, (v) our former mortgage, fleet leasing and appraisal businesses, which were included in the spin-off of PHH Corporation on January 31, 2005, (vi) Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc., which we sold in June 2004, and (vii) National Car Parks (“NCP”), which we sold in May 2002. Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax, also includes the after tax losses on the sale of Travelport and the spin-offs of Realogy and Wyndham in 2006, the after tax gains on the sale of our Marketing Services division and Wright Express in 2005, the after tax loss on the spin-off of PHH in 2005, the after tax gain on the sale of Jackson Hewitt in 2004 and the after tax loss on disposal of NCP in 2002. See Note 3 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for more detailed information regarding these discontinued operations.

During 2006, we recorded $10 million of restructuring charges related to restructuring initiatives within our Truck Rental and Domestic Car Rental segments. In 2005, we recorded $26 million of restructuring and transaction-related charges as a result of restructuring activities undertaken following the spin-off of PHH Corporation and the initial public offering of Wright Express Corporation. See Note 9 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for a detailed description of such charges.

During 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003 and 2002, we incurred $40 million, $35 million, $(28) million, $11 million and $103 million, respectively, for litigation and related costs (credits) primarily in connection with the 1998 discovery of accounting irregularities in the former business units of CUC International, Inc. The amount in 2004 includes a $55 million credit recorded in connection with previously established liabilities for severance and other termination benefits for which we no longer believe we are liable.

During 2003, we consolidated a number of entities pursuant to Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 46, “Consolidation of Variable Interest Entities,” and/or as a result of amendments to the underlying structures of certain of the facilities we used to securitize assets. See Notes 2 and 15 to the Consolidated Financial Statements for more information.

 

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion and analysis of our financial condition and results of operations should be read together with the section titled “Business” and our Consolidated Financial Statements and accompanying notes included elsewhere in this prospectus. Unless otherwise noted, all dollar amounts are in millions and those relating to our results of operations are presented before taxes.

Following the distributions of the shares of Realogy Corporation and Wyndham Worldwide Corporation to our stockholders on July 31, 2006 and the sale of Travelport, Inc. on August 23, 2006, which are further described below, we changed our name to Avis Budget Group, Inc. Our continuing operations consist primarily of our Avis Budget Car Rental, LLC subsidiary, the parent company of the companies that comprise our vehicle rental operations, which provide car and truck rentals and ancillary services to businesses and consumers in the United States and internationally.

We operate in the following business segments:

 

   

Domestic Car Rental — provides car rentals and ancillary products and services in the United States.

 

   

International Car Rental — provides car rentals and ancillary products and services primarily in Canada, Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

 

   

Truck Rental — provides truck rentals and related services to consumers and light commercial users in the United States.

Our revenues are derived principally from car and truck rentals in our company-owned operations and include (i) time and mileage (“T&M”) fees charged to our customers for vehicle rentals, (ii) reimbursement from our customers for certain operating expenses we incur, including gasoline and vehicle licensing fees, as well as airport concession fees, which we pay in exchange for the right to operate at airports and other locations, and (iii) sales of loss damage waivers and insurance, and rentals of navigation units and other items in conjunction with vehicle rentals. We also earn royalty revenue from our franchisees in conjunction with their vehicle rental transactions.

Car rental volumes are closely associated with the travel industry, particularly airline passenger volumes, or enplanements. Because, we operate primarily in the United States and generate a significant portion of our revenue from our on-airport operations, we expect that our ability to generate revenue growth will be somewhat dependent on increases in domestic enplanements. We have also experienced significant per-unit fleet cost increases on model-year 2006 and 2007 vehicles, which have negatively impacted our margins. Accordingly, our ability to achieve profit margins consistent with prior periods remains dependent on our ability to successfully reflect corresponding changes in our pricing programs.

Our vehicle rental operations are seasonal. Historically, the third quarter of the year has been our strongest quarter due to the increased level of leisure travel and household moving activity. Any occurrence that disrupts rental activity during the third quarter could have a disproportionately material adverse effect on our results of operations. We have a predominantly variable cost structure and routinely adjust the size and, therefore, the cost of our rental fleet in response to fluctuations in demand. However, certain expenses, such as rent, are fixed and cannot be reduced in response to seasonal fluctuations in our operations.

We believe that the following trends, among others, may affect and/or have impacted our financial condition and results of operations:

 

   

Domestic enplanements, which remained relatively flat compared to 2005, but are expected to increase modestly in 2007, assuming there are no major disruptions in travel;

 

   

Rising per-unit car fleet costs, which we began to experience in 2005 and anticipate will continue with model-year 2007 vehicles;

 

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Pricing increases, which we instituted throughout 2006 in response to rising fleet costs and intend to continue to pursue, where appropriate; and

 

   

Our continued expansion in off-airport, or local market segments, including insurance replacement rentals.

In 2004 and 2005, we undertook a strategic realignment to simplify our business model through exiting non-core businesses or businesses that produced volatility to our earnings inconsistent with our business model and the remainder of our core businesses. We began this strategic realignment by completing the initial public offering of Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc. in June 2004. We completed the spin-off of our former mortgage, fleet leasing and appraisal businesses in a tax-free distribution of the common stock of PHH Corporation to our stockholders in January 2005. In February 2005, we completed the initial public offering of Wright Express Corporation, raising $964 million of cash. In October 2005, we completed the sale of our Marketing Services division, which was comprised of our former individual membership and loyalty/insurance marketing businesses, for approximately $1.7 billion of cash (approximately $1.8 billion of gross proceeds), representing the culmination of our 2004 and 2005 strategic realignment.

Following this strategic realignment, our management team and Board of Directors, with the aid of financial and legal advisors, performed a comprehensive review of the growth opportunities and estimated market valuations for each of our core businesses. As a result of this review, from October 2005 to July 2006, our Board of Directors approved a plan to separate Cendant into four independent companies:

 

   

Realogy Corporation — encompasses our former Realogy segment, which is now presented as a discontinued operation.

 

   

Wyndham Worldwide Corporation — encompasses our former Hospitality Services and Timeshare Resorts segments, which are now presented as discontinued operations.

 

   

Travelport, Inc. — encompasses our former Travel Distribution Services segment, which is now presented as a discontinued operation.

 

   

Avis Budget Group, Inc. — encompasses our vehicle rental operations.

On July 31, 2006, we completed the spin-offs of Realogy Corporation and Wyndham Worldwide Corporation in tax-free distributions of one share each of Realogy and Wyndham common stock for every four and five shares, respectively, of then outstanding Cendant common stock held on July 21, 2006. On August 1, 2006, Realogy and Wyndham stock began regular-way trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbols “H” and “WYN,” respectively. Prior to the completion of the spin-offs, we received special cash dividends of $2,225 million and $1,360 million from Realogy and Wyndham, respectively, and utilized such proceeds to fund a portion of the repayment of our outstanding debt, as discussed below. On August 23, 2006, we completed the sale of Travelport for proceeds of approximately $4.1 billion, net of closing adjustments, of which approximately $1.8 billion was used to repay indebtedness of Travelport. Pursuant to the Separation and Distribution Agreement, during third quarter 2006, we distributed $1,423 million and $760 million of such proceeds to Realogy and Wyndham, respectively. In connection with executing our plan, we incurred costs of $574 million and $15 million during 2006 and 2005, respectively. These costs consist primarily of legal, accounting, other professional and consulting fees and various employee costs, and for 2006 include costs associated with the retirement of corporate debt.

In connection with our execution of the separation plan, we repaid certain corporate and other debt and entered into new financing arrangements, including (i) the completion of $1,875 million of fixed and floating rate financing by Avis Budget Car Rental (ii) the establishment of a $1.5 billion revolving credit facility by Avis Budget Car Rental (iii) the completion of a tender offer for $2.6 billion of our corporate debt by repurchasing approximately $2.5 billion outstanding aggregate principal amount of our 6 1/4% notes due in January 2008 and March 2010, 7 3/8% notes due in January 2013 and 7 1/8% notes due in March 2015 and the subsequent redemption of the untendered portion of such debt and (iv) the repayment of aggregate principal of $950 million

 

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due in August 2006 under our 6 7/8% and 4.89% notes. As a result of the spin-offs of Realogy and Wyndham, we repaid outstanding borrowings of $560 million (including $265 million which was recorded within discontinued operations) and $600 million under our former $2.0 billion revolving credit facility and asset-linked facility, respectively, and terminated these facilities during July 2006.

In connection with the separation, we entered into a separation agreement, tax sharing agreement and transition services agreement with Realogy, Wyndham and Travelport.

On August 29, 2006, our stockholders approved certain amendments to our Certificate of Incorporation, including a change in our name from Cendant Corporation to Avis Budget Group, Inc. and a 1-for-10 reverse stock split of our common stock, each of which became effective on the New York Stock Exchange at the opening of the market on September 5, 2006 and, at that time, our ticker symbol changed to ‘‘CAR’’.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

Discussed below are our consolidated results of operations and the results of operations for each of our reportable segments. Generally accepted accounting principles require us to segregate and report as discontinued operations, for all periods presented, the account balances and activities of Jackson Hewitt, PHH, Wright Express, our former Marketing Services division, Realogy, Wyndham and Travelport. Previously, we could not classify our former mortgage business as a discontinued operation due to Realogy's participation in a mortgage origination venture that was established with PHH in connection with our January 2005 spin-off of PHH. However, due to the spin-off of Realogy on July 31, 2006, this business is classified as a discontinued operation.

We measure performance using the following key operating statistics: (i) rental days, which represents the total number of days (or portion thereof) a vehicle was rented, and (ii) T&M revenue per rental day, which represents the average daily revenue we earned from rental and mileage fees charged to our customers. Our car rental operating statistics (rental days and T&M revenue per rental day) are all calculated based on the actual usage of the vehicle during a 24-hour period. We believe that this methodology, while conservative, provides our management with the most relevant statistics in order to manage the business. Our calculation may not be comparable to other companies’ calculation of similarly-titled statistics.

The reportable segments presented below represent our operating segments for which separate financial information is available and is utilized on a regular basis by our chief operating decision maker to assess performance and to allocate resources. In identifying our reportable segments, we also consider the nature of services provided by our operating segments. Management evaluates the operating results of each of our reportable segments based upon revenue and “EBITDA,” which we define as income from continuing operations before non-vehicle related depreciation and amortization, non-vehicle related interest and income taxes. Our presentation of EBITDA may not be comparable to similarly-titled measures used by other companies.

Year Ended December 31, 2006 vs. Year Ended December 31, 2005

Our consolidated results of operations comprised the following:

 

     2006     2005     Change  

Net revenues

   $ 5,689     $ 5,400     $ 289  

Total expenses

     6,366       5,462       904  
                        

Loss before income taxes

     (677 )     (62 )     (615 )

Benefit from income taxes

     (226 )     (51 )     (175 )
                        

Loss from continuing operations

     (451 )     (11 )     (440 )

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

     478       1,088       (610 )

Gain (loss) on disposal of discontinued operations, net of tax

     (1,957 )     549       (2,506 )

Cumulative effect of accounting changes, net of tax

     (64 )     (8 )     (56 )
                        

Net income (loss)

   $ (1,994 )   $ 1,618     $ (3,612 )
                        

 

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During 2006, our total revenues increased $289 million (5%) principally due to a 5% increase in T&M revenue reflecting a 2% increase in rental days and a 5% increase in T&M revenue per day within our car rental operations, partially offset by a 14% reduction in truck rental days. Total expenses increased $904 million (17%) principally reflecting separation-related charges of $574 million we incurred during 2006 and increased fleet depreciation and lease charges of $178 million resulting from higher per unit fleet costs and a larger car rental fleet. The separation charges relate primarily to the early extinguishment of debt, stock-based compensation, severance and retention and legal, accounting, and other professional fees. The year-over-year increase in total expenses also reflects (i) increases in operating costs associated with increased car rental volume and fleet size, including vehicle maintenance and damage costs, commissions and shuttling costs, and (ii) incremental expenses representing inflationary increases in rent, salaries and wages and other costs. Interest expense related to corporate debt increased $64 million primarily due to the absence in 2006 of a $73 million reversal of accrued interest during first quarter 2005 associated with the resolution of amounts due under a litigation settlement reached in 1999. We also incurred $101 million of incremental corporate interest expense related to $1,875 million of borrowings by Avis Budget Car Rental in second quarter 2006, which was substantially offset by a reduction in corporate interest expense resulting from the repayment of approximately $3.5 billion of corporate debt in third quarter 2006. As a result of these items, as well as a $175 million increase in our benefit from income taxes, our loss from continuing operations increased $440 million. Our effective tax rate for continuing operations was a benefit of 33.4% and 82.3% for 2006 and 2005, respectively. The 2005 rate was higher due to the favorable resolution of prior years’ examination matters and state taxes. Selling, general and administrative expenses include unallocated corporate expenses related to the discontinued operations treatment of our former subsidiaries. We will not incur the majority of these corporate costs going forward.

Income from discontinued operations decreased $610 million, which primarily reflects (i) a decrease of $745 million in net income generated by Realogy and Wyndham in 2006 compared to 2005 (these businesses were included in our 2006 results through July 31, 2006, the date of disposition, but were included in our results for the full year ended December 31, 2005) and (ii) the absence in 2006 of net income of $53 million related to our former Marketing Services division (this business was disposed in fourth quarter 2005). These decreases were partially offset by (i) an increase of $160 million in net income generated by Travelport during 2006, which reflects the absence in 2006 of a $425 million pretax impairment charge recorded in 2005, partially offset by the inclusion of this business in our 2006 results through August 23, 2006, the date of disposition, but for the full year ended December 31, 2005 and (ii) the absence of a $24 million loss incurred by PHH in 2005.

The net loss we recognized on the disposal of discontinued operations increased approximately $2.5 billion year-over-year, which reflects (i) a $1.8 billion loss on the disposal of Travelport in 2006, (ii) $112 million of costs we incurred in connection with the spin-offs of Realogy and Wyndham and (iii) the absence of a net gain on disposals of $549 million in 2005, which includes a $581 million gain on the sale of our former Marketing Services division and a $253 million gain recognized primarily in connection with the initial public offering of Wright Express, partially offset by a $285 million charge related to the spin-off of PHH.

During 2006, we recorded non-cash charges of $103 million ($64 million, after tax) to reflect the cumulative effect of accounting changes as a result of our adoption of (i) SFAS No. 152, “Accounting for Real Estate Time-Sharing Transactions,” and American Institute of Certified Public Accountants’ Statement of Position No. 04-2, “Accounting for Real Estate Time-Sharing Transactions’’ on January 1, 2006, which resulted in a non-cash charge of $65 million after tax, and (ii) SFAS No. 123R, ‘‘Share-Based Payment,’’ on January 1, 2006, which resulted in a non-cash credit of $1 million after tax. In addition, during 2005, we recorded a $14 million ($8 million, after tax) non-cash charge to reflect the cumulative effect of accounting change as a result of our adoption of FASB Interpretation No. 47, “Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations.”

As a result of the above-mentioned items, which arose from the dramatic change in composition of our operations effected over 2005 and 2006, net income decreased approximately $3.6 billion.

 

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Following is a more detailed discussion of the results of each of our reportable segments:

 

     Revenues     EBITDA  
     2006    2005    %
Change
    2006     2005     %
Change
 

Domestic Car Rental

   $ 4,395    $ 4,109    7 %   $ 214     $ 225     (5 )%

International Car Rental

     761      661    15       111       111      

Truck Rental

     472      546    (14 )     45       103     (56 )
                                  

Total Reportable Segments

     5,628      5,316    6       370       439     (16 )

Corporate and Other(a)

     61      84    (27 )     (393 )     (213 )  
                                  

Total Company

   $ 5,689    $ 5,400    5       (23 )     226    
                      

Less: Non-vehicle related depreciation and amortization

             105       116    

  Interest expense related to corporate debt, net(b)

             549       172    
                          

Loss before income taxes

           $ (677 )   $ (62 )  
                          

(a) Includes unallocated corporate overhead, the elimination of transactions between segments and the results of operations of certain non-strategic businesses.
(b) The 2006 amount includes a $313 million charge related to the early extinguishment of corporate debt. The 2005 amount includes a credit resulting from the reversal of $73 million of accrued interest associated with the resolution of amounts due under a litigation settlement reached in 1999.

Domestic Car Rental

Revenues increased $286 million (7%) while EBITDA decreased $11 million (5%) in 2006 compared with 2005. We achieved higher car rental pricing in 2006 compared to 2005, but EBITDA margin comparisons were negatively impacted by higher fleet costs.

The revenue increase of $286 million was comprised of a $222 million (7%) increase in T&M revenue and a $64 million (8%) increase in ancillary revenues. The increase in T&M revenue was principally driven by a 1% increase in the number of days a car was rented and a 6% increase in T&M revenue per day. We expect to realize continuing year-over-year price increases into 2007 as we seek to offset the impact of higher fleet costs and interest rates, which we began to experience in the second half of 2005. Fleet depreciation and lease charges increased $122 million (12%) in 2006 primarily due to (i) an increase of 1% in the average size of our domestic rental fleet and (ii) increased per unit fleet costs for model year 2007 and 2006 vehicles compared, respectively, to model year 2006 and 2005 vehicles. We incurred $5 million more vehicle-related interest expense during 2006 compared to 2005, primarily due to a decrease in intercompany interest income. The impact of rising interest rates was substantially offset by the reduction in vehicle related debt in April 2006 with the proceeds from our new corporate borrowings. Interest expense related to such corporate debt is not included in EBITDA, whereas interest related to vehicle-backed debt is included in EBITDA.

The $64 million increase in ancillary revenues was due primarily to (i) a $27 million increase in counter sales of insurance and other items, (ii) a $24 million increase in airport concession and vehicle licensing revenues, which was offset in EBITDA by higher airport concession and vehicle licensing expenses remitted to airport and other regulatory authorities, and (iii) a $13 million increase in gasoline revenues, which was offset in EBITDA by $24 million of additional gasoline costs. EBITDA from our domestic car rental operations also reflects (i) $87 million of additional expenses primarily associated with increased car rental volume and fleet size, including vehicle maintenance and damage costs, (ii) $43 million of incremental expenses primarily representing inflationary increases in rent, salaries and wages and other costs, (iii) $28 million of incremental agency-operator and credit card commission expense associated with increased T&M revenue and (iv) $19 million of separation-related charges we incurred during 2006 primarily related to accelerated vesting of stock-based compensation awards. Such activity was partially offset by (i) a $26 million decrease in public

 

31


liability and property damage costs reflecting more favorable claims experience, (ii) the absence of $12 million of expenses relating to damages caused by the hurricanes experienced in the Gulf Coast in September 2005, (iii) a $10 million reduction in incentive compensation expenses and (iv) the absence of $10 million of litigation expense incurred in 2005 resulting from the settlement of a dispute.

International Car Rental

Revenues increased $100 million (15%) while EBITDA was unchanged in 2006 compared with 2005, primarily reflecting growth in rental day volume and the impact on our 2006 results of franchisees acquired during or subsequent to 2005, as discussed below. Our EBITDA margins were negatively impacted by higher fleet and interest costs.

The revenue increase of $100 million was comprised of a $69 million (14%) increase in car rental T&M revenue and a $31 million (18%) increase in ancillary revenues. The increase in T&M revenue was principally driven by a 13% increase in the number of days a car was rented (which includes 4% organic growth) and a 2% increase in T&M revenue per day. The favorable effect of incremental T&M revenues was partially offset in EBITDA by $35 million (24%) of increased fleet depreciation and lease charges resulting from an increase of 13% in the average size of our international rental fleet and increased per-unit fleet costs. We incurred $10 million more vehicle-related interest expense during 2006 compared to 2005, primarily due to increased interest rates.

The $31 million increase in ancillary revenues was due primarily to (i) a $16 million increase in counter sales of insurance and other items, (ii) an $11 million increase in airport concession and vehicle licensing revenues, the majority of which was offset in EBITDA by higher airport concession and vehicle licensing expenses remitted to airport and other regulatory authorities, and (iii) a $4 million increase in gasoline revenues, which was partially offset in EBITDA by $1 million of additional gasoline costs. EBITDA also reflects (i) $20 million of higher operating expenses primarily due to increased car rental volume and fleet size, including vehicle maintenance and damage costs, (ii) $20 million of incremental expenses primarily representing inflationary increases in rent, salaries and wages and other costs and (iii) $7 million of incremental agency-operator and credit card commission expense associated with increased T&M revenue. The increases discussed above also include (i) $55 million of revenue and $1 million of EBITDA losses resulting from our acquisitions of international franchisees during or subsequent to 2005 and (ii) a $12 million increase in revenue related to favorable foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations, which was substantially offset in EBITDA by the opposite impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations on expenses.

Truck Rental

Revenues and EBITDA declined $74 million (14%) and $58 million (56%), respectively, for 2006 compared with 2005, primarily reflecting lower rental day volume and lower T&M revenue per day. EBITDA was also impacted by higher fleet costs.

Substantially all of the revenue decrease of $74 million was due to a decrease in T&M revenue, which reflected a 14% reduction in rental days and a 2% decrease in T&M revenue per day. The 14% reduction in rental days reflected declines primarily in commercial volumes and a 5% reduction in the average size of our rental fleet. Despite the reduction in the average size of our truck rental fleet, reflecting our efforts to focus on newer and more efficient trucks, we incurred $23 million (23%) of incremental fleet depreciation, interest and lease charges primarily due to higher per-unit fleet costs. EBITDA was also unfavorably impacted by the absence of a $13 million credit relating to a refinement made during 2005 in how we estimate repair and refurbishment costs of our truck fleet. During 2006, we recorded $3 million of separation-related charges, including debt termination and other costs. These items were partially offset by (i) a $31 million decrease in operating expenses primarily due to operating a smaller and more efficient fleet and reduced rental volumes, (ii) a $13 million decrease in our public liability and property damage costs as a result of more favorable claims experience and a reduction in

 

32


rental days, (iii) a decrease of $12 million in credit card and other commission expense partially associated with decreased T&M revenue and (iv) the absence of a $5 million restructuring charge recorded in 2005, which represented costs incurred in connection with the closure of a reservation center and unprofitable rental locations, which was more than offset by an $8 million charge in 2006 principally related to the closure of the Budget Truck Rental headquarters and other facilities and reductions in staff.

Corporate and Other

Revenues decreased $23 million and the EBITDA loss increased from $213 million in 2005 to $393 million in 2006.

Revenues and EBITDA were unfavorably impacted in 2006 by the absence of an $18 million realized gain on the sale of Homestore stock in 2005. Revenues were also impacted by a $12 million reduction in earnings on a credit card marketing program under which we earned fees based on a percentage of credit card spending through the date of the separation.

EBITDA was also unfavorably impacted year-over-year by a $182 million increase in general and administrative costs in 2006, including separation-related charges, unallocated corporate expenses and executive salaries. These increases were partially offset by a $32 million decrease in incentive compensation costs in 2006, and the absence in 2006 of $19 million of restructuring charges recorded during 2005.

Year Ended December 31, 2005 vs. Year Ended December 31, 2004

Our consolidated results of operations comprised the following:

 

     2005     2004     Change  

Net revenues

   $ 5,400     $ 4,820     $ 580  

Total expenses

     5,462       4,813       649  
                        

Income (loss) before income taxes

     (62 )     7       (69 )

Benefit from income taxes

     (51 )     (64 )     13  
                        

Income (loss) from continuing operations

     (11 )     71       (82 )

Income from discontinued operations, net of tax

     1,088       1,822       (734 )

Gain on disposal of discontinued operations, net of tax

     549       198       351  

Cumulative effect of accounting change, net of tax

     (8 )     —         (8 )
                        

Net income

   $ 1,618     $ 2,091     $ (473 )
                        

During 2005, our total revenues increased $580 million (12%) principally due to an 11% increase in T&M revenue reflecting a 14% increase in domestic rental days and a 17% increase in international rental days. Total expenses increased $649 million (13%) principally reflecting (i) $306 million of additional vehicle related operating expenses primarily associated with increased car rental volume and fleet size, including vehicle maintenance and damage costs, commissions and shuttling costs and (ii) $250 million of additional vehicle depreciation and lease charges, as well as $65 million of additional vehicle interest expense, both primarily resulting from an increase of 15% in the average size of our domestic and international car rental fleets and, in the case of vehicle depreciation, reductions to manufacturer incentives received on our domestic car rental fleet. As a result of these items, as well as a $13 million decrease in our benefit from income taxes, our income from continuing operations decreased $82 million. The benefit from income taxes for 2005 and 2004 reflects the favorable resolution of prior years’ examination matters.

Income from discontinued operations decreased $734 million, which primarily reflects (i) a decrease of $291 million in net income generated by Travelport which reflects a $425 million impairment charge recorded during 2005 partially offset by increased revenue, (ii) a decrease of $259 million in net income generated by our

 

33


Marketing Services division, which principally reflects the reversal of a tax valuation allowance of $121 million in January 2004, and (iii) a decrease of $131 million in net income generated by PHH (this business was included in our 2005 results through January 31, 2005, the date of disposition, but was included in our results for all of 2004).

The net gain we recognized on the disposal of discontinued operations increased $351 million year-over-year, which includes a $581 million gain recognized in connection with the sale of our former Marketing Services division during 2005 and a $253 million gain recognized during 2005 in connection with the initial public offering of Wright Express, partially offset by (i) a $281 million non-cash impairment charge and $4 million of transaction costs relating to the PHH spin-off and (ii) the absence of a $198 million gain recognized in connection with the June 2004 sale of Jackson Hewitt. In 2005, we also recorded a $14 million ($8 million, after tax) non-cash charge to reflect the cumulative effect of accounting change as a result of our adoption of FASB Interpretation No. 47, “Accounting for Conditional Asset Retirement Obligations” in fourth quarter 2005.

As a result of the above-mentioned items, net income decreased $473 million.

Following is a more detailed discussion of the results of each of our reportable segments:

 

     Revenues     EBITDA  
     2005    2004    %
Change
    2005     2004     %
Change
 

Domestic Car Rental

   $ 4,109    $ 3,658    12 %   $ 225     $ 265     (15 )%

International Car Rental

     661      534    24       111       97     14  

Truck Rental

     546      517    6       103       105     (2 )
                                  

Total Reportable Segments

     5,316      4,709    13       439       467     (6 )

Corporate and Other(a)

     84      111    (24 )     (213 )     (76 )  
                                  

Total Company

   $ 5,400    $ 4,820    12       226       391    
                      

Less: Non-vehicle related depreciation and amortization

             116       115    

  Interest expense related to corporate debt, net(b)

             172       269    
                          

Income (loss) before income taxes

           $ (62 )   $ 7    
                          

(a) Includes unallocated corporate overhead, the elimination of transactions between segments and the results of operations of certain non-strategic businesses.
(b) The 2005 amount includes a credit resulting from the reversal of $73 million of accrued interest associated with the resolution of amounts due under a litigation settlement reached in 1999.

Domestic Car Rental

Revenues increased $451 million (12%) while EBITDA decreased $40 million (15%) in 2005 compared with 2004, primarily reflecting growth in rental day volume offset by both reduced T&M revenue per rental day and higher fleet costs.

The revenue increase of $451 million was comprised of a $339 million (11%) increase in T&M revenue and a $112 million (18%) increase in ancillary revenues. The increase in T&M revenues was principally driven by a 14% increase in rental days, partially offset by a 3% decrease in T&M revenue per day. The increase in rental days reflects, in part, our strategic decision to implement more competitive pricing in the second half of 2004. This program was continued into the first half of 2005 when we instituted a price increase in response to rising fleet costs. Accordingly, T&M revenue per day decreased 3% during 2005 when compared with 2004 as a whole, but year-over-year price comparisons strengthened over the course of 2005. Fleet depreciation, interest and lease charges increased $226 million (21%) in 2005 primarily due to (i) an increase of 14% in the average size of our

 

34


domestic rental fleet and (ii) reductions to manufacturer incentives received on our 2005 model year rental car fleet (which was utilized during 2005) as compared with those received on our 2004 model year rental car fleet (which was utilized during 2004). We also incurred $181 million of additional expenses primarily associated with increased car rental volume and fleet size, including vehicle maintenance and damage costs, commissions and shuttling costs.

The $112 million increase in ancillary revenues was due primarily to (i) a $48 million increase in airport concession and vehicle licensing revenues, which was more than offset in EBITDA by $51 million of higher airport concession and vehicle licensing expenses remitted to airport and other regulatory authorities, (ii) a $35 million increase in counter sales of insurance and other items, and (iii) a $29 million increase in gasoline revenues, which was more than offset in EBITDA by $39 million of higher gasoline costs.

EBITDA from our domestic car rental operations also reflects $28 million of incremental interest income earned on intercompany balances with our corporate parent, which was forgiven in connection with the separation, partially offset by (i) $12 million of incremental expenses relating to the estimated damages caused by the hurricanes experienced in the Gulf Coast in 2005 and (ii) $10 million of additional litigation expense resulting from the settlement of a dispute.

International Car Rental

Revenues and EBITDA increased $127 million (24%) and $14 million (14%), respectively, in 2005 compared with 2004, primarily reflecting growth in rental day volume.

The revenue increase of $127 million was comprised of an $86 million (22%) increase in T&M revenue and a $41 million (29%) increase in ancillary revenues. The increase in T&M revenues was principally driven by a 17% increase in rental days and a 4% increase in T&M revenue per day. The favorable effect of incremental T&M revenues was partially offset in EBITDA by $49 million (45%) of increased fleet depreciation, interest and lease charges principally resulting from an increase of 21% in the average size of our international rental fleet to support increased demand. We also incurred $48 million of additional expenses primarily associated with increased car rental volume and fleet size, including vehicle maintenance and damage costs, commissions and shuttling costs.

The $41 million increase in ancillary revenues was due primarily to (i) a $24 million increase in counter sales of insurance and other items, (ii) a $12 million increase in airport concession and vehicle licensing revenues, substantially all of which are remitted to airport and other regulatory authorities thereby having a minimal impact on EBITDA, and (iii) a $5 million increase in gasoline revenues, which was more than offset in EBITDA by $6 million of higher gasoline costs.

The increases discussed above include $46 million of revenue and $1 million of EBITDA losses resulting from our acquisitions of international franchisees during 2005, as well as the effect of favorable foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations of $28 million, which was largely offset in EBITDA by the opposite impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations on expenses.

Truck Rental

Revenues increased $29 million (6%), while EBITDA decreased $2 million (2%) in 2005 compared with 2004.

The revenue increase of $29 million was comprised of an $18 million (4%) increase in T&M revenue and an $11 million (16%) increase in counter sales of insurance and other items. The increase in T&M revenues was principally driven by a 3% increase in T&M revenue per day and a modest increase in rental days. The favorable effect of incremental T&M revenues was more than offset in EBITDA by $39 million of increased fleet

 

35


depreciation, interest and lease charges principally resulting from an increase of 10% in the average size of our truck rental fleet and higher per unit fleet costs.

EBITDA from our truck rental operations also reflects (i) $6 million of additional dealer commission expense associated with increased T&M revenue, as discussed above and (ii) $5 million of restructuring costs, representing facility, employee relocation and severance costs incurred in connection with the closure of a reservation center and unprofitable Budget truck rental locations. These increases were partially offset by (i) a $13 million credit relating to a refinement made during 2005 in how we estimate repair and refurbishment costs of our truck fleet and (ii) a $7 million decrease in our self-insurance reserve for public liability and property damage costs as a result of more favorable claims experience.

Corporate and Other

Revenues decreased $27 million and the EBITDA loss increased from $76 million in 2004 to $213 million in 2005.

Revenues and EBITDA were unfavorably impacted in 2005 by a $22 million reduction to realized gains on the sale of Homestore stock during 2005 compared with 2004 and a $13 million reduction in earnings on a credit card marketing program under which we earned fees based on a percentage of credit card spending. Such amounts were partially offset by a $5 million increase in revenues earned in 2005 under agreements where we provided certain transitional administrative services to businesses we recently sold or distributed (including Jackson Hewitt, PHH and our former Marketing Services division).

EBITDA was further unfavorably impacted year-over-year by (i) the absence of a $55 million credit recorded in 2004 in connection with previously established liabilities for severance and other termination benefits for which we no longer believed we were liable, (ii) $15 million in expenses recorded during 2005 in connection with our separation plan and (iii) a credit of $12 million in 2004 relating to the termination of a lease on more favorable terms than originally estimated.

FINANCIAL CONDITION, LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

We present separately the financial data of our vehicle programs. These programs are distinct from our other activities as the assets are generally funded through the issuance of debt that is collateralized by such assets. Assets under vehicle programs are funded through borrowings under asset-backed funding or other similar arrangements. The income generated by these assets is used, in part, to repay the principal and interest associated with the debt. Cash inflows and outflows relating to the generation or acquisition of such assets and the principal debt repayment or financing of such assets are classified as activities of our vehicle programs. We believe it is appropriate to segregate the financial data of our vehicle programs because, ultimately, the source of repayment of such debt is the realization of such assets.

Financial Condition

 

     2006    2005    Change  

Total assets exclusive of assets under vehicle programs

   $ 5,571    $ 25,993    $ (20,422 )

Total liabilities exclusive of liabilities under vehicle programs

     4,149      13,889      (9,740 )

Assets under vehicle programs

     7,700      8,500      (800 )

Liabilities under vehicle programs

     6,679      9,262      (2,583 )

Stockholders’ equity

     2,443      11,342      (8,899 )

Total assets exclusive of assets under vehicle programs decreased approximately $20.4 billion, principally due to (i) a $20.5 billion decrease in assets of discontinued operations due to our completion of the spin-offs of

 

36


Realogy and Wyndham on July 31, 2006 and the sale of Travelport on August 23, 2006 (see Note 1 to our Consolidated Financial Statements), (ii) a $402 million decrease in deferred income taxes primarily due to utilization of our net operating loss carryforwards and a decrease in certain tax items as a result of the separation during 2006, and (iii) a decrease of $374 million in cash and cash equivalents (see “Liquidity and Capital Resources Cash Flows” for a detailed discussion). These decreases were partially offset by an $868 million increase in other current and other non-current assets primarily attributable to receivables recorded in third quarter 2006 related to certain contingent and other corporate liabilities assumed by Realogy and Wyndham in connection with the separation.

Total liabilities exclusive of liabilities under vehicle programs decreased approximately $9.7 billion, principally due to (i) a $7.3 billion decrease in liabilities of discontinued operations due to the spin-offs of Realogy and Wyndham and the sale of Travelport, discussed above, (ii) the retirement of approximately $3.5 billion of corporate debt during third quarter 2006, in connection with the execution of our separation plan, (iii) a $256 million decrease in income taxes payable, and (iv) a $242 million decrease in litigation-related accruals primarily resulting from the settlement of a litigation matter related to claims made by the purchaser of a business sold by Avis prior to our acquisition of that company in 2001 and the settlement of a matter related to our former Marketing Services division. These decreases were partially offset by the issuance of $1,000 million of fixed and floating rate notes and completion of an $875 million term loan by Avis Budget Car Rental in April 2006 (see “Liquidity and Capital Resources — Debt and Financing Arrangements” for a detailed account of the change in our long-term debt).

Assets under vehicle programs decreased $800 million primarily due to (i) a $460 million decrease in vehicles principally within our Domestic Car Rental operation and (ii) a $326 million decrease in amounts due from vehicle manufacturers primarily associated with a reduction in the size of our rental fleet and growth in the portion of our rental fleet that is not subject to manufacturer repurchase and guaranteed depreciation agreements. During 2006, we also instituted a change in the manner in which we return certain vehicles to manufacturers under repurchase and guaranteed depreciation agreements, which reduced the duration between the sale of a vehicle and the receipt of related cash.

Liabilities under vehicle programs decreased approximately $2.6 billion, reflecting (i) the repayment of vehicle-backed debt with substantially all of the net proceeds from the issuance of fixed and floating rate notes and term loan borrowings, discussed above, and (ii) a decrease in outstanding borrowings within our Domestic Car Rental segment, reflecting a decrease in our rental fleet at December 31, 2006 compared to December 31, 2005, as discussed above.

Stockholders’ equity decreased approximately $8.9 billion primarily due to (i) the $7.0 billion dividend of the aggregate equity of Realogy and Wyndham to our stockholders and (ii) a net loss of approximately $2.0 billion (including charges of approximately $1.8 billion related to the sale of Travelport and separation costs) in 2006. We also repurchased $243 million of common stock and paid cash dividends of $107 million during 2006. These decreases were partially offset by a $163 million increase to stockholders’ equity primarily related to the accelerated vesting of restricted stock units during 2006 in connection with the separation.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our principal sources of liquidity are cash on hand and our ability to generate cash through operations and financing activities, including available funding arrangements and committed credit facilities, each of which is discussed below.

 

37


Cash Flows

At December 31, 2006, we had $172 million of cash on hand, a decrease of $374 million from $546 million at December 31, 2005. The following table summarizes such decrease:

 

     Year Ended December 31,  
     2006     2005     Change  

Cash provided by (used in):

      

Operating activities

   $ 252     $ 1,000     $ (748 )

Investing activities

     3,293       27       3,266  

Financing activities

     (4,704 )     (1,001 )     (3,703 )

Effects of exchange rate changes

     2       —         2  

Cash provided by discontinued operations

     783       357       426  
                        

Net change in cash and cash equivalents

   $ (374 )   $ 383     $ (757 )
                        

During 2006, we generated $748 million less cash from operating activities in comparison to 2005. This change principally reflects (i) a decrease in operating results in 2006, primarily due to our separation, (ii) a $262 million decrease related to income taxes and (iii) greater working capital requirements.

We generated approximately $3.3 billion more cash from investing activities during 2006 compared with 2005. This change is primarily due to (i) an increase of approximately $1.9 billion related to payments received on vehicles repurchased by manufacturers partially offset by a $134 million increase in vehicles purchased and (ii) a $1.4 billion increase in cash proceeds from dispositions of businesses, net of transaction-related payments, which reflects net proceeds of approximately $4.1 billion we received in connection with the sale of Travelport in 2006, partially offset by $1.7 billion and $964 million in proceeds related to the disposition of our former Marketing Services division and the initial public offering of Wright Express in 2005, respectively. These increases were partially offset by a $95 million payment made during 2006 associated with a litigation matter. During 2007, we expect to utilize at least $4.7 billion of cash to purchase rental vehicles, which will primarily be funded with proceeds received on the sale of rental vehicles to manufacturers under our repurchase or guaranteed depreciation agreements, as well as borrowings under our vehicle-backed debt programs. We anticipate aggregate capital expenditure investments for 2007 to approximate $75 million to $85 million.

We used approximately $3.7 billion more cash in financing activities in 2006 compared to 2005. Such change principally reflects (i) a $3.8 billion decrease in net borrowings to fund the acquisition of vehicles, consistent with the reduction in net vehicle purchases discussed above and (ii) the utilization of $3.6 billion to repay corporate debt previously issued by Cendant, partially offset by proceeds received in connection with the issuance of $1,875 million of fixed and floating rate notes in April 2006. These incremental cash outflows were partially offset by (i) a reduction in cash utilized for net repurchases of common stock and dividend payments of $863 million and $310 million, respectively, and (ii) the absence of $650 million of cash used to repay short-term borrowings during 2005.

 

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Debt And Financing Arrangements

At December 31, 2006, we had approximately $7.1 billion of indebtedness (including corporate indebtedness of approximately $1.8 billion and debt under vehicle programs of approximately $5.3 billion).

Corporate indebtedness consisted of:

 

    

Maturity
Date

   As of
December 31,
       
        2006    2005     Change  

Corporate debt:

          

6 7/8% notes(a)

   —      $ —      $ 850     $ (850 )

4.89% notes(a)

   —        —        100       (100 )

6 1/4% notes(a)

   —        —        798       (798 )

6 1/4% notes(a)

   —        —        349       (349 )

7 3/8% notes(a)

   —        —        1,192       (1,192 )

7 1/8% notes(a)

   —        —        250       (250 )

Revolver borrowings(b)

        —        7       (7 )

Net hedging losses(c)

        —        (47 )     47  
                          
        —        3,499       (3,499 )

Avis Budget Car Rental corporate debt:

          

Floating rate term loan(d)

   April 2012      838      —         838  

Floating rate notes(d)

   May 2014      250      —         250  

7 5/8% notes(d)

   May 2014      375      —         375  

7 3/4% notes(d)

   May 2016      375      —         375  
                          
        1,838      —         1,838  

Other

        4      9       (5 )
                          
      $ 1,842    $ 3,508     $ (1,666 )
                          

(a)

During third quarter 2006, we repaid an aggregate principal amount of $950 million due in August 2006 under the 6 7/8% and 4.89% notes. In connection with the execution of our separation plan, during July 2006, we completed a tender offer for $2.6 billion of our corporate debt by redeeming approximately $2.5 billion aggregate principal amount of our 6 1/4% notes due in January 2008 and March 2010, 7 3/8% notes due in January 2013 and 7 1/8% notes due in March 2015 for cash of approximately $2.9 billion, including accrued interest. We redeemed the remaining portion of such corporate debt in third quarter 2006. In connection with such debt extinguishment, we recorded a pretax charge of $313 million during third quarter 2006.

(b) Outstanding borrowings at December 31, 2005 do not include $350 million of borrowings for which our former Travelport subsidiary was the primary obligor. This amount is included within liabilities of discontinued operations on our Consolidated Balance Sheet at December 31, 2005.
(c) As of December 31, 2005, the balance represents $153 million of net mark-to-market adjustments on current interest rate hedges, partially offset by $106 million of net gains resulting from the termination of interest rate hedges. As discussed above, we repaid all of the outstanding debt associated with these derivatives and retired all such derivatives during third quarter 2006.
(d) In connection with the execution of our separation plan, Avis Budget Car Rental borrowed $1,875 million in April 2006, which consisted of (i) $1 billion of unsecured fixed and floating rate notes and (ii) an $875 million secured floating rate term loan under a credit facility. The floating rate term loan and floating rate notes bear interest at three month LIBOR plus 125 basis points and three month LIBOR plus 250 basis points, respectively. We swapped a substantial portion of this floating rate indebtedness to fixed rate exposure in 2006 through the use of interest rate derivatives.

 

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The following table summarizes the components of our debt under vehicle programs (including related party debt due to Avis Budget Rental Car Funding (AESOP) LLC):

 

     As of December 31,       
     2006    2005    Change  

Avis Budget Rental Car Funding(a)

   $ 4,511    $ 6,957    $ (2,446 )

Budget Truck financing:

        

HFS Truck Funding program(b)

     —        149      (149 )

Budget Truck Funding program(b)

     135      —        135  

Capital leases(c)

     257      370      (113 )

Other(d)

     367      433      (66 )
                      
   $ 5,270    $ 7,909    $ (2,639 )
                      

(a) The change in the balance at December 31, 2006 principally reflects the payment of vehicle backed notes with a portion of the proceeds from the $1,875 million of fixed and floating rate financings completed by Avis Budget Car Rental in April 2006 and a decrease in required financing, due to a decrease in the size of our domestic fleet.
(b) We terminated the HFS Truck Funding program in November 2006, at which time remaining obligations thereunder were repaid. The Budget Truck Funding program was established to finance the acquisition of a portion of our truck rental fleet.
(c) The change in the balance at December 31, 2006 reflects a decrease in the utilization of capital lease arrangements to finance the acquisition of our truck rental fleet.
(d) The change in the balance at December 31, 2006 primarily reflects decreased borrowings under our bank loan and commercial paper conduit facilities supporting the fleet of our international operations.

The following table provides the contractual maturities for our corporate debt and our debt under vehicle programs (including related party debt due to Avis Budget Rental Car Funding) at December 31, 2006:

 

     Corporate
Debt
   Debt Under
Vehicle
Programs

Due in 2007

   $ 29    $ 891

Due in 2008

     9      1,850

Due in 2009

     9      590

Due in 2010

     9      1,036

Due in 2011

     9      600

Thereafter

     1,777      303
             
   $ 1,842    $ 5,270
             

At December 31, 2006, we had approximately $3.8 billion of available funding under our various financing arrangements (comprised of approximately $1.2 billion of availability at the corporate level and approximately $2.6 billion available for use in our vehicle programs). As of December 31, 2006, the committed credit facilities available to us and/or our subsidiaries at the corporate or Avis Budget Car Rental level included:

 

     Total
Capacity
   Outstanding
Borrowings
   Letters of
Credit Issued
   Available
Capacity

$1.5 billion revolving credit facility(a)

   $ 1,500    $ —      $ 284    $ 1,216

Letter of credit facility(b)

     303      —        295      8

(a) This secured revolving credit facility was entered into by Avis Budget Car Rental in April 2006, has a five year term and currently bears interest at one month LIBOR plus 125 basis points.
(b) Final maturity date is July 2010.

 

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The following table presents available funding under our debt arrangements related to our vehicle programs at December 31, 2006.

 

     Total
Capacity(a)
   Outstanding
Borrowings
   Available
Capacity

Debt due to Avis Budget Rental Car Funding(b)

   $ 6,286    $ 4,511    $ 1,775

Budget Truck Financing:

        

Budget Truck Funding program(c)

     200      135      65

Capital leases(d)

     257      257      —  

Other(e)

     1,104      367      737
                    
   $ 7,847    $ 5,270    $ 2,577
                    

(a) Capacity is subject to maintaining sufficient assets to collateralize debt.
(b) The outstanding debt is collateralized by approximately $6.6 billion of underlying vehicles (the majority of which are subject to manufacturer repurchase or guaranteed depreciation agreements) and related assets.
(c) The outstanding debt is collateralized by approximately $136 million of underlying vehicles and related assets.
(d) In connection with these capital leases, there are corresponding unamortized assets of $247 million classified within vehicles, net on our Consolidated Balance Sheet as of December 31, 2006.
(e) The outstanding debt is collateralized by $726 million of vehicles and related assets.

The significant terms for our outstanding debt instruments, credit facilities and available funding arrangements as of December 31, 2006 can be found in Notes 14 and 15 to our Consolidated Financial Statements.

LIQUIDITY RISK

We believe that access to our existing financing arrangements is sufficient to meet liquidity requirements for the foreseeable future.

Our liquidity position may be negatively affected by unfavorable conditions in the vehicle rental industry. Additionally, our liquidity as it relates to vehicle programs could be adversely affected by (i) the deterioration in the performance of the underlying assets of such programs or (ii) increased costs associated with the principal financing program for our vehicle rental subsidiaries if General Motors Corporation or Ford Motor Company is not able to honor its obligations to repurchase or guarantee the depreciation on the related vehicles. Access to our credit facilities may be limited if we were to fail to meet certain financial ratios or other requirements.

Additionally, we monitor the maintenance of required financial ratios and, as of December 31, 2006, we were in compliance with all financial covenants under our credit facilities.

 

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CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS

The following table summarizes our future contractual obligations as of December 31, 2006:

 

     2007    2008    2009    2010    2011    Thereafter    Total

Long-term debt, including current portion(a)

   $ 29    $ 9    $ 9    $ 9    $ 9    $ 1,777    $ 1,842

Asset-backed debt under programs(b)

     891      1,850      590      1,036      600      303      5,270

Operating leases

     393      302      208      147      102      635      1,787

Commitments to purchase vehicles(c)

     4,736      3,244      —        —        —        —        7,980

Other purchase commitments(d)

     31      —        —        —        —        —        31
                                                
   $ 6,080    $ 5,405    $ 807    $ 1,192    $ 711    $ 2,715    $ 16,910
                                                

(a) Consists primarily of borrowings of Avis Budget Car Rental including $1,000 million of fixed and floating rate senior notes and $838 million outstanding under a secured floating rate term loan.
(b) Represents debt under vehicle programs (including related party debt due to Avis Budget Rental Car Funding), which was issued to support the purchase of vehicles.
(c) Primarily represents commitments to purchase vehicles from either General Motors Corporation or Ford Motor Company. These commitments are subject to the vehicle manufacturers’ satisfying their obligations under the repurchase and guaranteed depreciation agreements. The purchase of such vehicles is financed through the issuance of debt under vehicle programs in addition to cash received upon the sale of vehicles primarily under repurchase and guaranteed depreciation agreements (see Note 15 to our Consolidated Financial Statements).
(d) Primarily represents commitments under service contracts for information technology and telecommunications.

The above table does not include future cash payments related to interest expense or any potential amount of future payments that we may be required to make under standard guarantees and indemnifications that we have entered into in the ordinary course of business. For more information regarding guarantees and indemnifications, see Note 16 to our Consolidated Financial Statements.

ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Critical Accounting Policies

In presenting our financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, we are required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported therein. Several of the estimates and assumptions we are required to make relate to matters that are inherently uncertain as they pertain to future events and/or events that are outside of our control. If there is a significant unfavorable change to current conditions, it could result in a material adverse impact to our consolidated results of operations, financial position and liquidity. We believe that the estimates and assumptions we used when preparing our financial statements were the most appropriate at that time. Presented below are those accounting policies that we believe require subjective and complex judgments that could potentially affect reported results. However, our businesses operate in environments where we are paid a fee for a service performed, and therefore the results of the majority of our recurring operations are recorded in our financial statements using accounting policies that are not particularly subjective, nor complex.

Goodwill and Other Indefinite-lived Intangible Assets. We have reviewed the carrying value of our goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets as required by Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (“SFAS”) No. 142, “Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets.” In performing this review, we are required to make an assessment of fair value for our goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets. When determining fair value, we utilize various assumptions, including projections of future cash flows. A change in these underlying assumptions will cause a change in the results of the tests and, as such, could cause the fair value to be less than

 

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the respective carrying amount. In such event, we would then be required to record a charge, which would impact earnings. We review the carrying value of goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets for impairment annually, or more frequently if circumstances indicate impairment may have occurred.

The aggregate carrying value of our goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets was approximately $2.2 billion and $666 million, respectively, at December 31, 2006.

Our goodwill and other indefinite-lived intangible assets are allocated among three reporting units. Accordingly, it is difficult to quantify the impact of an adverse change in financial results and related cash flows, as such change may be isolated to one of our reporting units or spread across our entire organization. In either case, the magnitude of any impairment to goodwill or other indefinite-lived intangible assets resulting from adverse changes cannot be estimated. However, our businesses are concentrated in one industry and, as a result, an adverse change in the vehicle rental industry will impact our consolidated results and may result in impairment of our goodwill or other indefinite-lived intangible assets.

Income Taxes. We recognize deferred tax assets and liabilities based on the differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of assets and liabilities. We regularly review our deferred tax assets to assess their potential realization and establish a valuation allowance for portions of such assets that we believe will not be ultimately realized. In performing this review, we make estimates and assumptions regarding projected future taxable income, the expected timing of the reversals of existing temporary differences and the implementation of tax planning strategies. A change in these assumptions could cause an increase or decrease to our valuation allowance resulting in an increase or decrease in our effective tax rate, which could materially impact our results of operations. Additionally, our income tax returns are periodically examined by various tax authorities. We establish reserves for tax treatments when, despite our belief that the treatments are fully supportable, certain treatments are likely to be challenged and where we may not succeed in defending our position. We adjust our reserves upon the closing of a tax audit, which in some cases can occur several years following the related transaction or the filing of the tax return under examination, or upon the occurrence of other changes in facts and circumstances that indicate an adjustment may be necessary (including subsequent rulings and interpretations by tax authorities or court decisions on similar matters). Changes to the reserves related to matters for which we are not indemnified by Realogy and Wyndham could materially impact our results of operations.

See Notes 2 and 10 to our Consolidated Financial Statements for more information regarding income taxes.

Financial Instruments. We estimate fair values for each of our financial instruments, including derivative instruments. Most of these financial instruments are not publicly traded on an organized exchange. In the absence of quoted market prices, we must develop an estimate of fair value using dealer quotes, present value cash flow models, option pricing models or other conventional valuation methods, as appropriate. The use of these fair value techniques involves significant judgments and assumptions, including estimates of future interest rate levels based on interest rate yield curves, volatility factors, and an estimation of the timing of future cash flows. The use of different assumptions may have a material effect on the estimated fair value amounts recorded in the financial statements, which are disclosed in Note 20 to our Consolidated Financial Statements. In addition, hedge accounting requires that at the beginning of each hedge period, we justify an expectation that the relationship between the changes in fair value of derivatives designated as hedges compared to changes in the fair value of the underlying hedged items will be highly effective. This effectiveness assessment, which is performed at least quarterly, involves an estimation of changes in fair value resulting from changes in interest rates, as well as the probability of the occurrence of transactions for cash flow hedges. The use of different assumptions and changing market conditions may impact the results of the effectiveness assessment and ultimately the timing of when changes in derivative fair values and the underlying hedged items are recorded in earnings. See “Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk” for a discussion of the effect of hypothetical changes to these assumptions.

 

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Public Liability, Property Damage and Other Insurance Liabilities, Net. Insurance liabilities on our Consolidated Balance Sheets include additional liability insurance, personal effects protection insurance, public liability, property damage and personal accident insurance claims for which we are self insured. We estimate the required liability of such claims on an undiscounted basis utilizing an actuarial method that is based upon various assumptions which include, but are not limited to, our historical loss experience and projected loss development factors. The required liability is also subject to adjustment in the future based upon changes in claims experience, including changes in the number of incidents (frequency) and changes in the ultimate cost per incident (severity).

Changes in Accounting Policies

During 2006, we adopted the following standards as a result of the issuance of new accounting pronouncements:

 

   

SAB No. 108, “Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements”

 

   

SFAS No. 158, “Employers’ Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans”

 

   

SFAS No. 152, “Accounting for Real Estate Time-Sharing Transactions” and Statement of Position No. 04-2, “Accounting for Real Estate Time-Sharing Transactions”

 

   

SFAS No. 123R, “Share-Based Payment”

We will adopt the following recently issued standards as required:

 

   

SFAS No. 157, “Fair Value Measurements”

 

   

FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes”

For detailed information regarding any of these pronouncements and the impact thereof on our business, see Note 2 to our Consolidated Financial Statements.

Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk

We use various financial instruments, particularly swap contracts, futures and options contracts to manage and reduce the interest rate risk related specifically to our debt. Foreign currency forwards are also used to manage and reduce the foreign currency exchange rate risk associated with our foreign currency denominated receivables and forecasted royalties, forecasted earnings of foreign subsidiaries and other transactions. We also use derivative commodity instruments to manage and reduce the risk of changing unleaded gasoline prices.

We are exclusively an end user of these instruments, which are commonly referred to as derivatives. We do not engage in trading, market-making or other speculative activities in the derivatives markets. More detailed information about these financial instruments is provided in Note 20 — Financial Instruments to our Consolidated Financial Statements.

Our principal market exposures are interest, foreign currency rate and commodity risks.

 

   

Our primary interest rate exposure at December 31, 2006 was to interest rate fluctuations in the United States, specifically LIBOR and commercial paper interest rates due to their impact on variable rate borrowings and other interest rate sensitive liabilities. We anticipate that LIBOR and commercial paper rates will remain a primary market risk exposure for the foreseeable future.

 

   

We have foreign currency rate exposure to exchange rate fluctuations worldwide and particularly with respect to the British pound, Canadian dollar, Australian dollar and the New Zealand dollar. We

 

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anticipate that such foreign currency exchange rate risk will remain a market risk exposure for the foreseeable future.

 

   

We have commodity price exposure related to fluctuations in the price of unleaded gasoline. We anticipate that such commodity risk will remain a market risk exposure for the foreseeable future.

We assess our market risk based on changes in interest and foreign currency exchange rates utilizing a sensitivity analysis. The sensitivity analysis measures the potential impact in earnings, fair values and cash flows based on a hypothetical 10% change (increase and decrease) in interest and currency rates.

We use a duration-based model in determining the impact of interest rate shifts on our debt portfolio and interest rate derivative portfolios. The primary assumption used in this model is that a 10% increase or decrease in the benchmark interest rate produces a parallel shift in the yield curve across all maturities.

Our total market risk is influenced by a wide variety of factors including the volatility present within the markets and the liquidity of the markets. There are certain limitations inherent in the sensitivity analyses presented. While probably the most meaningful analysis, these “shock tests” are constrained by several factors, including the necessity to conduct the analysis based on a single point in time and the inability to include the complex market reactions that normally would arise from the market shifts modeled.

We used December 31, 2006, 2005 and 2004 market rates on outstanding financial instruments to perform the sensitivity analyses separately for each of our market risk exposures. The estimates are based on the market risk sensitive portfolios described in the preceding paragraphs and assume instantaneous, parallel shifts in interest rate yield curves and exchange rates.

We have determined that the impact of a 10% change in interest and foreign currency exchange rates and prices on our earnings, fair values and cash flows would not be material. While these results may be used as benchmarks, they should not be viewed as forecasts.

 

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BUSINESS

We operate two of the most recognized brands in the global vehicle rental industry through Avis and Budget. Avis is a leading rental car supplier to the premium commercial and leisure segments of the travel industry and Budget is a leading rental car supplier to the price-conscious segments of the industry. We believe we are the largest general-use vehicle rental operator in each of North America, Australia, New Zealand and certain other regions we serve, based on total revenue. We maintain the leading share of airport car rental revenue and we believe we operate the second largest consumer truck rental business in the United States based on available information.

Our car rental operations generate significant benefits from operating two distinctive brands that target different industry segments but share the same fleet, maintenance facilities, systems, technology and administrative infrastructure. We believe that Avis and Budget both enjoy complementary demand patterns with mid-week commercial demand balanced by weekend leisure demand. For 2006, our vehicle rental operations generated revenues of $5,628 million. The Avis, Budget and Budget Truck brands accounted for approximately 61%, 31% and 8% of our vehicle rental revenue, respectively, in 2006.

Our operations have an extended global reach that includes approximately 6,700 car and truck rental locations in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America, the Caribbean and parts of the Pacific region. On average, our rental fleet totaled more than 410,000 vehicles, and we completed more than 28 million vehicle rental transactions worldwide in 2006. Domestically, we derived approximately 81% of our nearly $4.0 billion in car rental revenue from on-airport locations in 2006 and approximately 19% of our domestic car rental revenue from off-airport locations, which we refer to as the local rental segment. In 2006, we significantly expanded our presence in the local segment and plan to continue this expansion in 2007. We rent our fleet of approximately 30,500 Budget trucks through a network of approximately 2,400 dealer operated, 210 company operated and 100 franchisee operated locations throughout the continental United States. We also license the use of the Avis and Budget trademarks to multiple licensees in areas in which we do not operate. The Avis and/or Budget vehicle rental systems in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia are operated at approximately 3,700 locations by subsidiaries and sub-licensees of an independent third party primarily under virtually royalty-free trademark license agreements.

Following the completion of the Cendant Separation, discussed in detail below, we categorize our operations in three operating segments: domestic car rental, consisting of our Avis and Budget U.S. car rental operations; international car rental, consisting of our international Avis and Budget car rental operations; and truck rental, consisting of our Budget truck rental operations. In 2006:

 

   

our domestic car rental business generated approximately 89 million rental days and time and mileage revenue per day of $40.01 with an average rental fleet of approximately 329,350 vehicles;

 

   

our international car rental business generated approximately 14 million rental days and time and mileage revenue per day of $39.61 with an average rental fleet of approximately 53,310 vehicles; and

 

   

our truck rental business generated approximately 4.6 million rental days and time and mileage revenue per day of $86.28 with an average rental fleet of approximately 30,500 trucks.

 

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For 2007, our objective is to enhance growth, profitability and our position as a leader in the vehicle rental industry. We expect to achieve our goals by focusing our efforts on the following core strategic initiatives:

 

   

Optimizing Our Two-Brand Strategy. We plan to continue to position our two distinct and well-recognized brands to capture different segments of customer demand. With Avis as a premium brand preferred by corporate and upscale leisure travelers and Budget as a value brand preferred by cost-conscious travelers, we believe we are able to target a broad range of demand, particularly since the two brands share the same operational and administrative infrastructure while providing differentiated though consistently high levels of customer service. We aim to provide products, service and pricing, and to maintain marketing affiliations and corporate account contracts, which complement each brand’s positioning. In addition, we use various marketing channels as appropriate to each of our brands and seek to continue to grow the volume of reservations that we generate through our avis.com and budget.com websites, which are among our least-expensive sources of advance bookings.

 

   

Expanding Our Revenue Sources. We plan to expand the revenues we generate from sources beyond on-airport time and mileage rental fees. We seek to grow off-airport revenue for Avis and Budget by opening new locations and continuing our effort to identify and attract local demand. In particular, we plan to increase our revenues in the insurance replacement sector, in which we have historically had a more limited presence, and we have formed a dedicated local sales team to expand our insurance replacement, local truck rental and off-airport general-use rental volumes. Separately, we look to expand our revenue sources by offering additional products and services to existing on- and off-airport customers, including additional insurance coverages and insurance-related and ancillary products and services, such as our recently launched Where2 GPS navigation product.

 

   

Capturing Incremental Profit Opportunities. We plan to continue our focus on yield management and pricing optimization, rigorous cost controls and fleet diversification. We are developing technology that will allow us to strengthen our yield management and we have put in place technology to tailor our product/price offerings to specific customer segments. Specifically, we plan to continue to expand our technology that allows Avis and Budget to target customers with rates and prices based on past shopping and rental behavior. With respect to fleet diversification, in an effort to mitigate expected increases in fleet costs, we are seeking to adjust our relationships with vehicle manufacturers by moving to a more balanced multi-supplier model, increasing the risk-vehicle portion of our fleet, lengthening the average hold period, and reducing the average vehicle size and number of options. In addition, we believe the expansion of our revenue sources (discussed above) will permit us to generate incremental profits from our customer base, while at the same time enhancing their vehicle rental experience.

In 2006, we made considerable progress vis-à-vis our strategic objectives. We retained approximately 98% of our commercial contracts at Avis and Budget and, we believe, generated more U.S. rental car reservations through our own websites than any other company. Budget entered into a marketing alliance with AARP, which is a long-time Avis marketing partner, and grew its award-winning small business program. We opened approximately 200 new off-airport locations in 2006, and off-airport revenues represented 19% of our domestic car rental revenues. We are now an “approved” or “preferred” provider for customers of a majority of the largest auto insurance companies in the United States. In 2006, we began offering Where2 GPS navigation system units. In the area of cost management, we have reduced our reliance on individual suppliers, such that our largest fleet supplier in 2007 is expected to represent only 38% of our vehicle purchases, versus 53% in 2005. We are utilizing sophisticated yield-management technology to optimize our pricing, and we continue to analyze and streamline our operations to gain efficiencies. And, most importantly, our more than 30,000 employees continue to provide reliable, high-quality vehicle rental services that foster customer satisfaction and customer loyalty.

* * *

 

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Company History — Cendant Separation

We were created through a merger with HFS Incorporated in December 1997 with the resultant corporation being renamed Cendant Corporation. On August 23, 2006, Cendant completed the separation (the “Cendant Separation”) into four separate companies, one for each of its former Real Estate Services businesses (Realogy Corporation), its former Hospitality Services (including Timeshare Resorts) businesses (Wyndham Worldwide Corporation), its former Travel Distribution Services businesses (Travelport) and its Vehicle Rental businesses (Cendant, now Avis Budget Group). The separation was effected through the pro rata distributions of all of the shares of common stock of Realogy Corporation and Wyndham Worldwide Corporation and the sale of Travelport to an affiliate of The Blackstone Group. In connection with the Cendant Separation, we entered into certain agreements with Realogy, Wyndham and Travelport governing our relationships following the separation, including the assumption by Realogy and Wyndham of 62.5% and 37.5%, respectively, of certain contingent and other liabilities of Cendant. In connection with the Cendant Separation, we also entered into various commercial arrangements with Realogy, Wyndham and Travelport. Following completion of the Cendant Separation, Cendant changed its name to Avis Budget Group, Inc. and our common stock began to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “CAR.” With the completion of the Cendant Separation, Avis Budget Group’s operations consist of two of the most recognized brands in the global vehicle rental industry through Avis Budget Car Rental, LLC, the parent of Avis Rent A Car System, LLC, Budget Rent A Car System, Inc. and Budget Truck Rental, LLC.

Founded in 1946, Avis is believed to be the first company to rent cars from airport locations. Avis expanded its geographic reach throughout the United States in the 1950s and 1960s. In 1963, Avis introduced its award winning “We try harder” advertising campaign, which is considered one of the top ten advertising campaigns of all time by Advertising Age magazine. Budget was founded in 1958. The company name was chosen to appeal to the “budget-minded” or “value-conscious” vehicle rental customer. Avis possesses a long history of using proprietary information technology systems in its business, and its established, but continually updated Wizard System remains the backbone of our operations. Cendant acquired the Avis brand in 1996, Avis’ capital stock in 2001, and the Budget brand and substantially all of the domestic and certain international assets of Budget’s predecessor in 2002.

In addition to our vehicle rental operations, we continue to manage the transition of certain legacy items which remain following the completion of the Cendant Separation. Management of these items, which includes certain Cendant corporate contingent liabilities and assets and provision of certain transition services such as payroll, accounts receivable, telecommunications and information technology, is conducted through our subsidiary, Cendant Finance Holding Company, LLC and Avis Budget.

 

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The following diagram reflects the current ownership structure of our company.

LOGO

Car rental business

Operations — Avis

We operate or franchise approximately 2,100 of the approximately 5,000 rental locations that comprise the Avis car rental system (the “Avis System”), which represents one of the largest car rental systems in the world, based on total revenue and number of locations, and encompasses locations at most of the largest airports and cities in the United States and internationally. The Avis System in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia is primarily operated under royalty-free license agreements with Avis Europe Holdings, Limited (“Avis Europe”), an independent third party, and is comprised of approximately 2,900 company operated and sub-licensee locations.

We own and operate approximately 1,300 Avis car rental locations in both the on-airport and local rental segments in North America, Australia, New Zealand, Latin America and the Caribbean. For 2006, Avis generated total revenue of approximately $3.4 billion, of which approximately 85% (or $2.9 billion) was derived from U.S. operations. In addition, we franchise the Avis System to independent business owners in approximately 850 locations throughout the United States, Canada, Latin America, Australia, New Zealand and parts of the Pacific region. In 2006, approximately 95% of the Avis System total domestic revenue was generated by our locations and the remainder was generated by locations operated by franchisees. Franchisees generally pay royalty fees to us based either on total time and mileage charges or total revenue.

 

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In 2006, Avis derived approximately 60% and 40% of its domestic time and mileage revenue from commercial and leisure customers, respectively, and 82% and 18% of its domestic revenue from customers renting at airports and locally, respectively. Customers who rent locally often rent in order to temporarily replace their cars when their own cars are not available either due to accidents or otherwise. We are focused on increasing the amount of revenue we generate locally for both Avis and Budget.

The Avis brand provides high-quality car rental services at price points generally above non-branded and value-branded national car rental companies. We offer Avis customers a variety of premium services, including:

 

   

Avis Preferred, a counter bypass program, which is available at major airport locations;

 

   

Avis Where2, a navigation system with real-time traffic alerts, including weather delays, construction tie-ups and traffic snarls, which suggests alternative routes and features Bluetooth hands-free calling, MP3 playback capability as well as directions in multiple languages;

 

   

Avis Cool Cars, a new line of fun-to-drive vehicles, which include the Cadillac CTS, Volvo S60 and Hummer H3;

 

   

Roving Rapid Return program, which permits customers who are returning vehicles to obtain a printed charge record at the vehicle as it is being returned;

 

   

Avis Cares, a program which provides customers with area-specific driver safety information, the latest child safety seats (available for rent), local information and driving maps;

 

   

Avis Access, a full range of special products and services for drivers and passengers with disabilities; and

 

   

Avis Interactive, a proprietary management tool that allows select corporate clients to easily view and analyze their rental activity via the Internet through account analysis and activity reports, allowing these clients to better manage their travel budgets and monitor employee compliance with applicable travel procedures.

Operations — Budget

The Budget vehicle rental system (the “Budget System”) is one of the largest car rental systems in the world, based on total revenue and number of locations. We operate or franchise approximately 1,900 of the approximately 2,700 car rental locations in the Budget System, including locations at most of the largest airports and cities in the United States and certain other regions. The Budget System in Europe, Africa and the Middle East is operated under a royalty-free trademark license agreement with an independent third party, which is an affiliate of Avis Europe and is comprised of approximately 800 additional company operated and sub-licensee locations.

We own and operate approximately 700 Budget car rental locations in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, Australia and New Zealand. For the year ending December 31, 2006, our Budget car rental operations generated total revenue of approximately $1.7 billion, of which 88% (or $1.5 billion) was derived from U.S. operations. We also franchise the Budget System to independent business owners who operate approximately 1,100 locations throughout the United States, Canada, Latin America, the Caribbean and parts of the Asia Pacific region. In 2006, approximately 88% of the Budget System domestic total revenue was generated by our locations with the remainder generated by locations operated by independent franchisees. Independent franchisees generally pay royalty fees to us based on gross rental revenue. In 2006, Budget derived 28% and 72% of its domestic time and mileage car rental revenue from commercial and leisure customers, respectively, and 79% and 21% of its domestic car rental revenue from customers renting at airports and locally, respectively.

Budget is a leading rental car supplier to the price-conscious segments of the industry. Budget offers Fastbreak, an expedited rental service for frequent travelers. Budget also offers the Budget Small Business

 

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Program, a program targeting the needs of small businesses. The Budget Small Business Program was named “Best Car Rental Value” by Entrepreneur Magazine in their 2006 Business Travel Awards. Budget also offers its own branded version of the Avis Where2 GPS navigation product described above.

Reservations

Customers can make Avis and Budget reservations through our Avis and Budget websites at avis.com and budget.com, through our reservation centers toll-free at 1-888-777-AVIS and 1-800-BUDGET7, respectively, through online travel portals, through selected partners including many major airlines utilizing direct connect technology, through their travel agent or by calling a location directly. Travel agents can access our reservation systems through all major global distribution systems and can obtain information with respect to rental locations, vehicle availability and applicable rate structures through these systems.

Marketing

Avis and Budget support their premium and value brand positions through a range of marketing channels and campaigns, including traditional media, such as television, radio and print advertising, as well as Internet and direct marketing. Avis focuses its marketing around its industry-leading customer loyalty and its award-winning “We try harder” campaign. Budget builds its marketing around retail advertising, key partnerships and new media, including extensive online advertising and its second-annual Internet-only “blog” campaign recognized by Yahoo! Finance, Adrants and Brandweek.

We maintain strong links to the travel industry. Avis and Budget offer customers the ability to earn frequent traveler points with most major airlines’ frequent traveler programs. Avis and Budget are also affiliated with the frequency programs of major hotel companies, including Hilton Hotels Corporation, Hyatt Corporation, Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. and Wyndham Worldwide. These arrangements provide incentives to program participants and cooperative marketing opportunities including call transfer programs and online links with various partners’ websites. Avis has an agreement with Wyndham’s lodging brands whereby lodging customers making reservations by telephone may be transferred to Avis if they desire to rent a vehicle.

In 2006, approximately 79% of domestic vehicle rental transactions from our owned and operated Avis locations in the United States were generated by travelers who rented from Avis under contracts between Avis and the travelers’ employers or through membership in an organization with whom Avis has a contractual affiliation (such as AARP). Avis also has marketing relationships with American Express Company and Sears, Roebuck and Co., through which we are able to provide customers of these companies with incentives to rent from Avis. Avis licensees also have the option to participate in these affiliations. For commercial and leisure travelers that are unaffiliated with any of the employers or organizations that we contract with, Avis solicits business through media, direct mail, email and Internet advertising. Avis conducts various loyalty programs through direct marketing campaigns, including Avis Preferred, which allows customers to bypass the counter, and Preferred Select, which offers upgrades and other incentives to our best customers. As a result of these programs, Avis has been ranked as the top rental car brand for customer loyalty for eight consecutive years by a leading third party research firm. Travel agents are also able to participate in the Avis travel agent reward program, Club Red.

Similarly, Budget offers “Unlimited Budget”, a loyalty incentive program for travel agents which had approximately 17,600 travel agents actively enrolled as of December 31, 2006. Budget also has contractual arrangements with American Express Company and other organizations which offer members of these groups incentives to rent from Budget. In connection with its focus on price-conscious customers, Budget primarily relies on retail advertising, including Internet advertising, and on value pricing to drive customers to our Budget website, Budget call centers and other distribution channels. Budget also offers proprietary marketing programs such as Fastbreak, an expedited rental service for frequent renters.

 

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Our international Avis and Budget operations maintain close relationships with the travel industry through participation in several non-U.S. based airline frequent traveler programs, such as those operated by Air Canada and Qantas Airways Limited, as well as participation in Avis Europe’s programs with British Airways Plc, Deutsche Lufthansa AG and other carriers.

Franchising

Of the approximately 2,100 Avis and approximately 1,900 Budget car rental locations we operated and/or franchised at December 31, 2006, approximately 40% and 60%, respectively, were owned and operated by franchisees. Revenue derived from our car rental franchisees in 2006 totaled approximately $36 million. Franchised locations range from large operations at major airport locations to franchise territories encompassing an entire country to relatively small operations in suburban locations. Fleets of our franchisees range from fleets in excess of 3,000 vehicles to fleets of fewer than 50 vehicles. Franchises provide us with a source of high margin revenue as there are relatively limited additional fixed costs associated with fees paid by franchisees to us. Although franchises represent approximately half of the locations that we own and franchise, they represent only approximately 7% of total domestic revenue generated by the Avis and Budget Systems, as the average franchise operation is significantly smaller than the average owned location.

We enjoy good relationships with our franchisees and meet regularly with them at regional, national and international meetings. Our relationships with Avis and/or Budget franchisees are governed by franchise agreements that grant the franchisees the right to operate Avis and/or Budget vehicle rental businesses in certain exclusive territories. These franchise agreements impose obligations on the franchisee regarding the operations of each franchise and restrict the franchisee’s ability to transfer its franchise agreement and the franchisee’s capital stock. Each franchisee is required to adhere to our system standards for each brand as updated and supplemented by our policy bulletins, brand manuals and service programs. We maintain the right to monitor the operations of franchisees and, when applicable, can declare a franchise to be in default under its franchise agreements, which may or may not be curable. We can terminate these franchise agreements for certain defaults, including failure to pay franchise fees and failure to adhere to our operational standards.

In general, the franchise agreements grant the franchisees the exclusive right to operate an Avis and/or Budget car and truck rental business in a particular geographic area. Under agreements that predate our ownership of Avis or Budget, a limited number of franchisees in the United States are also separately franchised exclusively to sell used cars under the Avis and/or Budget brand. Our current franchise agreements provide for a 20-year term. Certain existing franchise agreements provide for renewal terms for no additional fee so long as the franchisee is not in default. Upon renewal, the terms and conditions of the franchise agreement may generally be amended from those contained in the expiring franchise agreements, while language in certain older franchise agreements may limit our ability to do so. The car rental royalty fee payable to us under franchise agreements is generally 5% to 7.5% of gross rental revenue but certain franchisees of each brand, both internationally and domestically, have franchise agreements with different royalty fee structures.

Pursuant to their franchise agreements, some franchisees must meet certain requirements relating to the number of rental offices in their franchised territory, the number of vehicles available for rental and the amount of their advertising and promotional expenditures. In general, each franchise agreement provides that the franchisee must not engage in any other vehicle rental business within the franchised territory during the term of such agreement and, in the Budget franchise agreement, for 12 months thereafter. Upon termination of a franchise, the franchisee is also prohibited from using the Avis or Budget name and related marks in any business.

Other revenue

In addition to revenue from vehicle rentals and franchisee royalties, we generate revenue from Avis and Budget customers through the sale and/or rental of optional products and services such as supplemental

 

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equipment (for example, child seats and ski racks), loss damage waivers, additional/supplemental liability insurance, personal accident/effects insurance, fuel service options, fuel service charges, and products and services as described above, such as rentals of Where2 GPS navigation units. In 2006, approximately 4% of our vehicle operations revenue was generated by the sale of loss damage waivers, by which we agree to relieve a customer from financial responsibility arising from vehicle damage incurred during the rental period, if the customer has not breached the rental agreement.

Websites

Avis and Budget have strong brand presence on the Internet through their websites, avis.com and budget.com, as well as third party websites. A steadily increasing number of Avis and Budget vehicle rental customers obtain rate, location and fleet information and then reserve their rentals directly on these websites. Direct bookings via our websites incur less cost per transaction than bookings made through our voice reservation agents or through third party distribution systems. Therefore, the trend toward Internet bookings is generating cost savings for us. In addition, both Avis and Budget have agreements to promote their car rental services with major Internet portals and have a strong advertising presence on various search engines. Over 49% of Budget’s 2006 domestic reservations were derived from bookings over the Internet, with 30% of reservations derived from bookings on budget.com. Over 28% of Avis’ domestic reservations were derived from bookings over the Internet, with 22% derived from bookings on avis.com. In 2006, avis.com reservations grew by 11% and budget.com reservations grew by 8% over the prior year. The websites described above are inactive textual references only, meaning that the information contained on the websites is not a part of this prospectus and is not incorporated in this prospectus by reference.

The Wizard System

We own the Wizard System, our worldwide reservations, rentals, data processing and information management system. The Wizard System enables us to process over a million incoming customer inquiries each day, providing our customers with accurate and timely information about our locations, rental rates and vehicle availability, as well as the ability to place or modify reservations. Additionally, the Wizard System is linked to all major travel distribution networks worldwide and provides real-time processing for travel agents, travel industry partners (such as airlines), corporate travel departments and individual consumers through our websites or calls to our reservation agents. The Wizard System also provides personal profile information to our reservation and rental agents to better service our customers. Among the principal features of the Wizard System are:

 

   

“Roving Rapid Return”, which permits customers who are returning vehicles to obtain completed charge records from wireless-connected “Roving Rapid Return” agents who complete and deliver the charge record at the vehicle as it is being returned;

 

   

“Preferred Service”, Avis’ expedited rental service that provides enrolled customers with a printed Preferred Service rental record in their pre-assigned vehicle and a fast, convenient check-out;

 

   

“Fastbreak”, Budget’s expedited rental service which allows for a faster processing of rentals and service for enrolled customers;

 

   

“Wizard on Wheels”, which enables us to assign vehicles and complete rental agreements while customers are being transported to the rental vehicle;

 

   

“Flight Arrival Notification”, a system that alerts rental locations when flights have arrived so that vehicles can be assigned and paperwork prepared automatically;

 

   

“Avis Link”, which automatically identifies when a customer with a profile on record is entitled to special rental rates and conditions, and therefore sharply reduces the number of instances in which we inadvertently fail to give Avis renters the benefits of negotiated rate arrangements to which they are entitled;

 

   

“Credit Card Link”, which allows both brands to verify all major credit cards in a real-time connection during the rental processing;

 

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interactive interfaces through third party computerized reservation systems such as Galileo and Sabre;

 

   

“Avis Interactive”, which allows select corporate clients to easily view and analyze their rental activity via the Internet through account analysis and activity reports, allowing these clients to better manage their travel budgets and monitor employee compliance with applicable travel policies;

 

   

“Direct Connect”, a service offered to business to business partners that allows them to easily connect their electronic systems to the Wizard System, for either brand, and to obtain rate, location and fleet information as well as book reservations for their customers; and

 

   

operations management programs that, among other things, enable field personnel to manage which vehicles will be rented next.

We also use data supplied from the Wizard System and airline reservation systems in certain proprietary information management systems to maintain centralized control of major business processes such as fleet acquisition and logistics, sales to corporate accounts and determination of rental rates. The principal components of the systems we employ include:

 

   

Fleet planning model. We have created a comprehensive decision tool to develop fleet plans and schedules for the acquisition and disposition of our fleet, along with fleet age, mix, mileage and cost reports based upon these plans and schedules. This tool allows management to monitor and change fleet volume and composition on a daily basis and to optimize our fleet plan based on estimated business levels and available repurchase and guaranteed depreciation programs.

 

   

Yield management. We have created a yield management system which is designed to enhance profits by providing greater control of vehicle availability and rate availability changes at our rental locations. The system monitors and forecasts supply and demand to support our efforts to optimize volume and rate at each location. Integrated into this yield management system is a fleet distribution module that takes into consideration the costs as well as the potential benefits associated with distributing vehicles to various rental locations within a geographic area to accommodate rental demand at these locations. The fleet distribution module makes specific recommendations for movement of vehicles between locations.

 

   

Pricing decision support system. Pricing in the vehicle rental industry is highly competitive and complex. To improve our ability to respond to rental rate changes in the marketplace, we have developed sophisticated systems to gather and report competitive industry rental rate changes every day. The system, using data from third party reservation systems as its source of information, automatically scans rate movements and reports significant changes to a staff of pricing analysts for evaluation. The system greatly enhances our ability to gather and respond to rate changes in the marketplace.

 

   

Business mix model. We have developed a strategic planning model to evaluate the discrete segments of our business relative to each other. The model considers revenue and costs to determine the potential margin contribution of each discrete segment. The model develops business mix and fleet optimization recommendations by using data from our financial systems, the Wizard System and the fleet and revenue management systems along with management’s objectives and targets.

 

   

Customer profitability model. We have developed a sophisticated model which analyzes a corporate customer’s rental pattern to estimate the fleet costs, operations costs and division overhead expenses associated with that customer’s vehicle rentals. We use this profitability model to determine the financial merit of individual corporate contracts.

 

   

Enterprise data warehouse. We have developed a sophisticated and comprehensive electronic data storage and retrieval system which retains information related to various aspects of our business. This data warehouse allows us to take advantage of comprehensive management reports, query capability and easy access to data for strategic decision making for both brands.

 

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Sales and marketing systems. We have developed a sophisticated system of online data screens which enables our sales force to analyze key account information of our corporate customers including historical and current rental activity, revenue and booking sources, top renting locations, rate usage categories and customer satisfaction data. We use this information, which is updated weekly and captured on a country-by-country basis, to determine opportunities for revenue growth, profitability and improvement.

 

   

Interactive adjustments. We have developed a multi-linked customer data system which allows us to easily retrieve pertinent customer information and make needed adjustments online for superior customer service. This data system links with other accounting systems to handle any charge card transactions automatically.

Fleet

General. We maintain a single fleet of vehicles for Avis and Budget. We rent a wide variety of vehicles, including luxury and specialty vehicles. Our fleet consists primarily of vehicles from the current and immediately preceding model year. Rentals are generally made on a daily, weekly or monthly basis. Rental charges are computed on the basis of the length of the rental or, in some cases, on the length of the rental plus a mileage charge. Rates vary at different locations depending on the type of vehicle rented, the local marketplace and competitive and cost factors. Most rentals are made utilizing rate plans under which the customer is responsible for gasoline used during the rental. We also generally offer our customers the convenience of leaving a rented vehicle at a location in a city other than the one in which it was rented, although, consistent with industry practices, a drop-off charge or special intercity rate may be imposed. We facilitate one-way car rentals between corporate-owned and franchised locations in the United States that enable us to operate as an integrated network of locations.

Vehicle purchasing. We participate in a variety of vehicle purchase programs with major domestic and foreign vehicle manufacturers. General Motors is the featured supplier for Avis, and Ford is the featured supplier for Budget. During 2006, approximately 42%, 32% and 12% of the cars acquired for our U.S. car rental fleet were manufactured by General Motors, Ford and Chrysler, respectively, compared to 53%, 28% and 8%, respectively, in 2005. During 2006, we also purchased Toyota, Hyundai, Suzuki, Nissan, Kia and Subaru vehicles. The decrease in the portion of our fleet sourced from General Motors, and the number of other vehicle manufacturers from which we purchased vehicles in 2006 is reflective of our efforts to diversify our fleet, which we expect to continue in 2007. The substantial majority of vehicles used in our rental car business are purchased through our principal U.S. vehicle financing, which is an asset-backed facility.

Vehicle disposition. We generally hold a vehicle in our domestic fleet for a term of four to twelve months. For 2006 and 2005, approximately 88% and 95%, respectively, of the rental cars purchased for our domestic car fleet were the subject of agreements requiring automobile manufacturers to repurchase them or guarantee our rate of depreciation during a specified period of time. Cars subject to these agreements are sometimes referred to as “program vehicles” or “program cars” and cars not subject to these agreements are sometimes referred to as “risk cars” or “risk vehicles”. The programs in which we participate currently require that the program vehicles be maintained in our fleet for a minimum number of months (typically four to twelve months) and impose return conditions, including those related to mileage and condition. At the time of return to the manufacturer, we receive the price guaranteed at the time of purchase and are thus protected from fluctuations in the prices of previously-owned vehicles in the wholesale market at the time of disposition. The future percentages of program vehicles in our fleet will be dependent on the availability and attractiveness of manufacturers’ repurchase and guaranteed depreciation programs, over which we have no control, and we expect percentages for 2007 to be lower than 2006 as we acquire more risk vehicles in order to mitigate the anticipated increased cost of program vehicles. We dispose of our risk vehicles largely through automobile auctions.

Of the approximately 445,000 cars from our rental car fleet that we sold in 2006, we sold approximately 88% back to the manufacturers pursuant to repurchase or guaranteed depreciation programs and the rest through

 

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third party channels such as wholesale auctions. In 2007, we expect the percentage of cars sold back to the manufacturers to decrease as we acquire more risk vehicles.

Utilization and seasonality. Our car rental business is subject to seasonal variations in customer demand, with the summer vacation period representing the peak season. The general seasonal variation in demand, along with more localized changes in demand at each of our locations, causes us to vary our fleet size over the course of the year. For 2006, our average monthly fleet size in the U.S. ranged from a low of approximately 297,000 vehicles in December to a high of approximately 366,000 vehicles in July. Domestic fleet utilization for 2006, which is based on the number of rental days (or portion thereof) that vehicles are rented compared to the total amount of time that vehicles are available for rent, ranged from 67% in December to 78% in August and averaged 75% for 2006. Our calculation of utilization may not be comparable to other companies’ calculation of similarly titled statistics.

Maintenance. We place a strong emphasis on vehicle maintenance since quick and proper repairs are critical to fleet utilization. To accomplish this task we employ a full-time National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (“ASE”) fully certified technician instructor at our headquarters. This instructor has developed a specialized training program for our 410 technicians who operate in approximately 100 maintenance and damage repair centers for both Avis and Budget. The technicians/instructors also maintain strong relationships with General Motors and Ford. We use advanced diagnostic equipment, including General Motors’ “Techline” and “Tech 2” diagnostic computers and Ford’s PDS diagnostic system. Our technician training department also prepares its own technical service bulletins that can be retrieved electronically at all of our repair locations. Approximately 89% of our technicians are ASE certified.

Customer service

Our commitment to delivering a consistently high level of customer service is a critical element of our success and strategy. Each year, our internal quality auditors conduct approximately 1,000 unannounced reviews of locations to measure service levels by location. We identify specific areas of achievement and opportunity from these assessments. We address areas of improvement on a system-wide level and develop standard methods and measures. The major focus areas of these assessments include (i) vehicle condition and availability; (ii) customer interaction, including helpfulness and courtesy; and (iii) location image. In addition, we utilize a toll-free “800” number and a dedicated customer service email address to allow customers of both Avis and Budget to report problems directly to our customer relations department. Location associates and managers also receive training and are empowered to resolve virtually all customer issues at the location level. We prepare weekly and monthly reports on the types and number of complaints received for use in conjunction with the customer satisfaction reports by location management as feedback of customer service delivery. Finally, we conduct daily location-specific customer satisfaction tracking by sending web-based surveys to recent customers of our top volume locations.

Airport concession fees

In general, concession fees for on-airport locations are based on a percentage of total commissionable revenue (as defined by each airport authority), subject to minimum annual guaranteed amounts. Concessions are typically awarded by airport authorities every three to five years based upon competitive bids. Our concession agreements with the various airport authorities generally impose certain minimum operating requirements, provide for relocation in the event of future construction and provide for abatement of the minimum annual guarantee in the event of extended low passenger volume.

Competition

The car rental industry is characterized by intense price and service competition. Competition in the U.S. vehicle rental operations business is based primarily upon price, reliability, vehicle availability, national

 

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distribution, usability of booking systems, ease of rental and return and other elements of customer service. In addition, competition is influenced strongly by advertising, marketing and brand reputation. We compete primarily with the following car rental companies: Hertz Global Holdings, Inc., Vanguard Car Rental USA Group, which operates the National Car Rental and Alamo brands, Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group and Enterprise Rent-A-Car Company.

Truck rental business

Operations

Budget’s truck rental business is one of the largest local and one-way truck rental businesses in the United States. The Budget truck rental business has a combined fleet of approximately 30,500 trucks, with a median truck age of less than two years old, which are rented through a network of approximately 2,400 dealers, 210 company operated and 100 licensee operated locations throughout the continental United States. The Budget truck rental business serves both the consumer and light commercial sectors. The consumer sector consists primarily of individuals who rent trucks to move household goods on either a one-way or local basis. The light commercial sector consists of a wide range of businesses that rent light- to medium-duty trucks, which we define as trucks having a gross vehicle weight of less than 26,000 pounds, for a variety of commercial applications. In 2006, the Budget truck rental business generated total revenue of approximately $472 million.

We primarily advertise in “yellow pages” telephone directories to promote our truck rental business to potential customers. Budget truck rental customers can make reservations through the Budget truck rental reservation center toll-free at 1-800-GO-BUDGET, through our Budget truck rental website at budgettruck.com or by calling a location directly. In addition, we have established online affiliations with websites like moving.com to reach our targeted audience. Budget truck rental reservations may also be made through the budget.com website.

During 2006, we announced plans to close the headquarters of our truck rental operations in Denver and integrate Denver-based operations into existing car rental facilities during first quarter 2007. In connection with this restructuring, we eliminated certain positions and significantly reduced separate senior management for our truck rental operations.

Distribution

Budget’s truck rental business is offered through a national network, which included approximately 2,400 dealers as of December 31, 2006. These independent dealers are primarily self-storage facilities, rental centers, hardware stores, service stations and other similar service retailers. In addition to the dealers’ principal businesses, the dealers rent our light- and medium-duty trucks to consumers and to our commercial accounts and are responsible for collecting payments on our behalf. The dealers receive a commission on all truck rentals and ancillary equipment rentals. Generally, dealership agreements may be terminated by either party upon 30 to 90 days’ prior written notice.

Competition

The truck rental industry is characterized by intense price and service competition. We compete with a large number of truck rental companies throughout the country, including U-Haul International, Inc., Penske Truck Leasing Corporation, Ryder System, Inc., Enterprise Rent-A-Car Company and many others.

Seasonality

Our truck rental operations are subject to seasonal demand patterns, with generally higher levels of demand occurring during the late spring and summer months when most self moves occur, with the third quarter typically being our busiest quarter. Generally, December is also a strong month due to increased retail sales activity and package deliveries.

 

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Ancillary products and insurance coverage

We supplement our daily truck rental revenue by offering customers a range of ancillary optional products. We rent automobile towing equipment and other moving accessories such as hand trucks, furniture pads and moving supplies. We also make available to customers a range of optional liability-limiting products and coverages such as physical damage waivers, automobile towing protection, personal accident and cargo insurance and supplemental liability insurance. These ancillary products enhance our appeal to consumers by offering customers “one-stop” moving services.

Insurance coverage

We generally assume the risk of our liability to third parties arising from vehicle rental services in the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, for up to $1 million per occurrence, through a combination of self-insurance, insurance coverage provided by one of our domestic subsidiaries and insurance coverage secured from one or more unaffiliated domestic insurance carriers. We retain the exposure for up to $9 million per occurrence, in excess of the previously described $1 million level, through an unaffiliated fronting carrier who is reinsured by our offshore captive insurance company, Constellation Reinsurance Co., Ltd. We also purchase additional excess insurance coverage from a combination of unaffiliated excess carriers.

We insure the risk of liability to third parties in Argentina, Australia and New Zealand through a combination of unaffiliated carriers and our affiliates. These carriers provide coverage supplemental to minimum local requirements.

Trademarks and intellectual property

The service marks “Avis” and “Budget”, related marks incorporating the words “Avis” or “Budget”, and related logos and marks such as “We try harder” are material to our vehicle rental business. Our subsidiaries and franchisees actively use these marks. All of the material marks used by the Avis and Budget Systems are registered (or have applications pending for registration) with the United States Patent and Trademark Office as well as all countries worldwide where Avis and Budget have operations. Our subsidiaries own the marks, patents and other intellectual property, including the Wizard System, used in our business.

Discontinued Operations

Following the formal approval by our Board of Directors of a disposition plan for the former Cendant Travel Distribution Services businesses and completion of the Cendant Separation, we classified the former Real Estate Services, Hospitality Services, Timeshare Resorts and Travel Distribution Services businesses as discontinued operations. Set forth below is a brief description of the businesses that were classified as discontinued operations during 2006. The former mortgage business, which was distributed in 2005, was also classified as a discontinued operation in 2006 following completion of the Cendant Separation as such business could not be classified as a discontinued operation in 2005 when originally distributed due to participation by the former Real Estate Services business in a mortgage origination venture established with PHH in connection with the distribution of that business.

Real Estate Services Businesses. Realogy Corporation, which holds the assets and liabilities associated with the former Real Estate Services businesses, is one of the preeminent providers of real estate and relocation services in the world. Realogy is a franchisor of five of the most recognized brands in the real estate industry; owns and operates a full-service real estate brokerage business; offers a broad range of employee relocation services; and offers title and settlement services, assisting with the closing of real estate transactions. In the first quarter of 2006 (prior to the completion of the Cendant Separation), we changed the name of our Real Estate Services segment to Realogy.

Hospitality Services and Timeshare Resorts Businesses. Wyndham Worldwide Corporation, which holds the assets and liabilities associated with the former Hospitality Services and Timeshare Resorts businesses, is one

 

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of the preeminent providers of hospitality products and services in the world. Wyndham franchises hotels and provides property management services; provides vacation exchange products and services to developers, managers and owners of intervals of vacation ownership interests and markets vacation rental properties; and markets and sells vacation ownership interests and provides consumer financing in connection with the purchase by individuals of vacation ownership interests.

Both Realogy and Wyndham were distributed to our stockholders on July 31, 2006 as part of the Cendant Separation through a pro rata dividend of all of the common stock of each company to Cendant stockholders at the close of business on the record date of the distributions.

Travel Distribution Services Businesses. Travelport, which holds the assets and liabilities associated with the former Travel Distribution Services businesses, provides a highly effective worldwide system for the distribution of travel and travel-related products and services. Travelport focuses on electronic travel distribution services that connect travel suppliers to travel agencies, and it owns and operates several industry-leading online travel agencies. On August 23, 2006, we completed the sale of Travelport.

FINANCIAL DATA OF SEGMENTS AND GEOGRAPHIC AREAS

Financial data for our segments and geographic areas are reported in Note 21 — Segment Information to our Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere herein.

REGULATION

We are subject to federal, state and local laws and regulations, including those relating to taxing and licensing of vehicles, franchising, consumer credit, environmental protection, insurance, privacy and labor matters.

Environmental

The principal environmental regulatory requirements applicable to our vehicle rental operations relate to the ownership or use of tanks for the storage of petroleum products, such as gasoline, diesel fuel and waste oils; the treatment or discharge of waste waters; and the generation, storage, transportation and off-site treatment or disposal of solid or liquid wastes. We operate approximately 440 Avis and Budget locations at which petroleum products are stored in underground or above ground tanks. We have instituted an environmental compliance program designed to ensure that these tanks are in compliance with applicable technical and operational requirements, including the replacement and upgrade of underground tanks to comply with the December 1998 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency upgrade mandate and periodic testing and leak monitoring of underground storage tanks. We believe that the locations where we currently operate are in compliance, in all material respects, with such regulatory requirements.

We may also be subject to requirements related to the remediation of, or the liability for remediation of, substances that have been released into the environment at properties owned or operated by us or at properties to which we send substances for treatment or disposal. Such remediation requirements may be imposed without regard to fault and liability for environmental remediation can be substantial.

We may be eligible for reimbursement or payment of remediation costs associated with future releases from regulated underground storage tanks and have established funds to assist in the payment of remediation costs for releases from certain registered underground tanks. Subject to certain deductibles, the availability of funds, compliance status of the tanks and the nature of the release, these tank funds may be available to us for use in remediating future releases from our tank systems.

 

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Loss damage waivers

A traditional revenue source for the vehicle rental industry has been the sale of loss damage waivers, by which rental companies agree to relieve a customer from financial responsibility arising from vehicle damage incurred during the rental period if there has been no breach of the rental agreement. Approximately 4% of our revenue during 2006 was generated by the sale of loss damage waivers. To date, 24 states have enacted legislation which requires disclosure to each customer at the time of rental that damage to the rented vehicle may be covered by the customer’s personal automobile insurance and that loss damage waivers may not be necessary. In addition, New York permits the sale of loss damage waivers at a capped rate per day based on the vehicle manufacturer’s suggested retail price. Illinois, Nevada and California have similar statutes, which establish the daily rate that can be charged for loss damage waivers.

Insurance

As a result of our reinsurance of the optional insurance coverages that we offer through unaffiliated third party insurance companies as well as other insurance obligations, we are subject to regulation under the insurance statutes, including insurance holding company statutes, of the jurisdictions in which our insurance company subsidiaries are domiciled. These regulations vary from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, but generally require insurance holding companies and insurers that are subsidiaries of insurance holding companies to register and file certain reports, including information concerning their capital structure, ownership, financial condition and general business operations with the regulatory authority of the applicable jurisdiction, and require prior regulatory agency approval of changes in control of an insurer and intra-corporate transfers of assets within the holding company structure. Such insurance statutes may also require that we obtain limited licenses to sell optional insurance coverage to our customers at the time of rental.

Franchise regulation

The sale of franchises is regulated by various state laws, as well as by the Federal Trade Commission (the “FTC”). The FTC requires that franchisors make extensive disclosure to prospective franchisees but does not require registration. A number of states require registration or disclosure in connection with franchise offers and sales. In addition, several states have “franchise relationship laws” or “business opportunity laws” that limit the ability of the franchisor to terminate franchise agreements or to withhold consent to the renewal or transfer of these agreements. Although our franchising operations have not been materially adversely affected by such existing regulations, we cannot predict the effect of any future federal, state or local legislation or regulation.

Privacy

Laws in some countries and jurisdictions limit the types of information we may collect about individuals with whom we deal or propose to deal, as well as how we collect, retain and use the information that we are permitted to collect. The centralized nature of our information systems requires the routine flow of information about customers and potential customers across national borders, particularly into the United States. If this flow of information were to become illegal, or subject to onerous restrictions, our ability to serve our customers could be seriously impaired for an extended period of time.

EMPLOYEES

As of December 31, 2006, we employed approximately 30,000 employees, of which approximately 11,000 people were employed on a part-time basis. Approximately 27% of our employees are covered by collective bargaining agreements. We believe our employee relations are satisfactory. We have never experienced a large-scale work stoppage.

 

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PROPERTIES

Our principal executive offices are located at leased offices at 6 Sylvan Way, Parsippany, New Jersey 07054 pursuant to a lease expiring in 2023. Additional corporate functions are also conducted at leased offices at 10 Sylvan Way and One Campus Drive in Parsippany, New Jersey pursuant to leases expiring in 2011 and 2007, respectively. We also own a facility in Virginia Beach, Virginia, which serves as a satellite administrative facility for our car rental operations. Office space is also leased in Orlando, Florida; Englewood, Colorado; Wichita Falls, Texas; Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Fredericton, Canada pursuant to leases expiring in 2007, 2010, 2010, 2010, and 2011, respectively. These locations primarily provide operational services for both brands, including call center operations. The Budget office at Redding, California was closed in 2005 and is currently vacant and is subject to a lease expiring in 2011. In addition, there are approximately 20 other leased office locations in the United States for administrative activities, regional sales and operations activities.

We lease or have vehicle rental concessions for both the Avis and Budget brands at locations throughout the world. Avis operates approximately 750 locations in the United States and approximately 310 locations outside the United States. Of those locations, approximately 230 in the United States and approximately 120 outside the United States are at airports. Budget operates at approximately 590 locations in the United States of which approximately 140 are at airports. Budget also operates at approximately 180 locations outside the United States of which approximately 60 are at airports. Typically, an airport receives a percentage of vehicle rental revenue, with a guaranteed minimum. Because there is a limit to the number of vehicle rental locations in an airport, vehicle rental companies frequently bid for the available locations, usually on the basis of the size of the guaranteed minimums.

We believe that our properties are sufficient to meet our present needs and we do not anticipate any difficulty in securing additional space, as needed, on acceptable terms.

LITIGATION

Vehicle Rental Business

We, along with our subsidiaries, are involved, from time to time, in legal proceedings in the ordinary course of business, including the cases described below.

On August 8, 2006, Ludwig v. Avis Rent A Car System, Inc. and Farrell v. Budget Rent A Car System, Inc. were commenced in the Superior Court of California in and for Los Angeles on behalf of plaintiffs and all others similarly situated claiming violations of California Civil Code Section 1936 and unlawful, unfair or fraudulent business practices under California Business and Professions Code Section 17203. In both cases, plaintiffs seek class certification, general and compensatory damages, attorneys’ fees and seek that Avis and Budget, respectively, be enjoined from future conduct constituting violations of Civil Code Section 1936. Section 1936 of the California Civil Code establishes the additional daily rates which a rental car company may charge for the optional loss damage waiver product based on the manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) of the vehicle in 2002 with Consumer Price Index increases to the MSRP commencing January 1, 2003. Plaintiffs contend that the amount of the daily charge imposed for certain classes of vehicles exceeds the amount set forth in the statute based on the vehicle cost. No class certification hearing has been scheduled or heard by the court.

Avis has been named as a defendant in two putative class actions (Esquivel v. Avis, commenced January 24, 2004 in the 214th Judicial District of Nueces County, Texas, and Stafford v. Avis, commenced February 16, 2005 in the District Court in and for Creek County, State of Oklahoma) and Budget has been named as a defendant in one putative class action (Ramon v. Budget, commenced April 21, 2006 in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey). Each case alleges that the Company’s use and collection of the fuel service charge (“FSC”), pursuant to its rental agreements, constitutes an illegal penalty and is therefore a breach of the rental agreements between the Company and the putative class members and is unconscionable under the relevant state Uniform Commercial Code. The cases assert other causes of action such as fraudulent misrepresentation, unjust

 

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enrichment, unfair trade practice under the Oklahoma Consumer Protection Act, and violation of New Jersey’s Consumer Fraud Act. The putative class in each case comprises: in Esquivel, all Texas residents who were charged an FSC by Avis or its licensee in Texas after February 6, 2000; in Stafford, all persons who were charged an FSC by Avis, or alternatively, all Oklahoma residents who were charged an FSC by Avis; and in Ramon, all persons who were charged an FSC by Budget. In each case, the plaintiff seeks an unspecified amount of compensatory damages, with the return of all FSC paid or the difference between the FSC and the Company’s actual costs, disgorgement of unearned profits, attorneys’ fees and costs. In the Esquivel matter, discovery is ongoing and a hearing on the plaintiff’s motion for class certification that was scheduled for December 2006 has been adjourned and is likely to be rescheduled for April 2007. No class certification hearing has been scheduled or heard by the Court in the Stafford case. In February 2007, the Court granted our motion to dismiss the complaint in its entirety in the Ramon case, without prejudice.

On October 27, 2006, plaintiffs Giuseppe Demarte and Mona Self filed a complaint against Budget Truck Rental, LLC (“BTR”) in the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Los Angeles. The complaint alleges causes of action for unlawful business practices in violation of California Business & Professions Code Section 17200, et seq., and conversion, relating to BTR’s refueling practices and procedures. The complaint is asserted as a putative class action on behalf of “all persons who, within the four years preceding the filing of the Complaint, have entered into a truck rental agreement with Budget Truck Rental in California that provided for a refueling fee and who paid that fee, or have paid for fuel in connection with that rental agreement based on the amount of fuel measured by the rented truck’s fuel gauge, or have returned the rented truck to Budget with more fuel in the tank than at the initiation of the rental.” On December 29, 2006, BTR filed an answer to plaintiffs’ complaint. On March 6, 2007, the Court conducted a case management conference, at which time the Court set a deadline of July 5, 2007 for the parties to complete a private mediation. The Court also scheduled a final status conference for October 18, 2007, and set a trial date of October 29, 2007.

Corporate Litigation

Pursuant to the Separation and Distribution Agreement dated as of July 27, 2006 among the Company, Realogy Corporation, Wyndham Worldwide Corporation and Travelport, Realogy has assumed 62.5% and Wyndham Worldwide has assumed 37.5% of certain contingent and other corporate liabilities (and related costs and expenses) of the Company or its subsidiaries which are not primarily related to any of the respective businesses of Realogy, Wyndham Worldwide, Travelport and/or the Company’s vehicle rental operations, in each case incurred or allegedly incurred on or prior to the date of the separation of Travelport from the Company. Such litigation includes the litigation described below.

After the April 15, 1998 announcement of the discovery of accounting irregularities in the former CUC International, Inc. (“CUC”) business units, and prior to the filing of this prospectus, approximately 70 lawsuits claiming to be class actions and other proceedings were commenced against the Company and other defendants, of which a number of lawsuits have been settled. Approximately five lawsuits remain unresolved in addition to the matter described below.

In Re Cendant Corporation Litigation, Master File No. 98-1664 (WHW) (D.N.J.) (the “Securities Action”), is a consolidated class action brought on behalf of all persons who acquired securities of Cendant and CUC, except PRIDES securities, between May 31, 1995 and August 28, 1998. Named as defendants are the Company; 28 current and former officers and directors of Cendant, CUC and HFS Incorporated; and Ernst & Young LLP, CUC’s former independent accounting firm.

The Amended and Consolidated Class Action Complaint in the Securities Action alleges that, among other things, the lead plaintiffs and members of the class were damaged when they acquired securities of Cendant and CUC because, as a result of accounting irregularities, Cendant’s and CUC’s previously issued financial statements were materially false and misleading, and the allegedly false and misleading financial statements caused the prices of Cendant’s and CUC’s securities to be inflated artificially.

On December 7, 1999, we announced that we had reached an agreement to settle claims made by class members in the Securities Action for approximately $2,850 million in cash plus 50 percent of any net recovery

 

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we receive from Ernst & Young as a result of our cross-claims against Ernst & Young as described below. This settlement received all necessary court approvals and was fully funded on May 24, 2002.

On January 25, 1999, we asserted cross-claims against Ernst & Young that alleged that Ernst & Young failed to follow professional standards to discover and recklessly disregarded the accounting irregularities and is therefore liable to us for damages in unspecified amounts. The cross-claims assert claims for breaches of Ernst & Young’s audit agreements with us, negligence, breaches of fiduciary duty, fraud and contribution. On July 18, 2000, we filed amended cross-claims against Ernst & Young asserting the same claims.

On March 26, 1999, Ernst & Young filed cross-claims against us and certain of our present and former officers and directors that alleged that any failure by Ernst & Young to discover the accounting irregularities was caused by misrepresentations and omissions made to Ernst & Young in the course of its audits and other reviews of our financial statements. Ernst & Young’s cross-claims assert claims for breach of contract, fraud, fraudulent inducement, negligent misrepresentation and contribution. Damages in unspecified amounts are sought for the costs to Ernst & Young associated with defending the various shareholder lawsuits, lost business it claims is attributable to Ernst & Young’s association with us, and for harm to Ernst & Young’s reputation. On June 4, 2001, Ernst & Young filed amended cross-claims against us asserting the same claims.

Realogy, Wyndham Worldwide and Travelport have assumed under the Separation Agreement certain contingent and other corporate liabilities (and related costs and expenses), which are primarily related to each of their respective businesses.

 

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MANAGEMENT

The following presents information with respect to Avis Budget Group’s directors and executive officers, as of December 31, 2006. Directors serve for a term of one year expiring at the 2007 annual meeting of stockholders or until their successors are duly elected and qualified. All executive officers are appointed at the annual meeting or interim meetings of the Board of Directors of the Company. Each executive officer is appointed by the Board to hold office until his or her successor is duly appointed and qualified.

Directors and Executive Officers

 

Name

   Age   

Title

Ronald L. Nelson

   54    Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer and Director

F. Robert Salerno

   55    President, Chief Operating Officer and Director

Leonard S. Coleman

   58    Presiding Director, Chairman of the Corporate Governance Committee

Sheli Z. Rosenberg

   65    Director; Chairman of the Compensation Committee

Stender E. Sweeney

   68    Director; Chairman of the Audit Committee

Mary C. Choksi

   56    Director

Martin L. Edelman

   65    Director

Lynn Krominga

   56    Director

David B. Wyshner

   39    Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer

John T. McClain

   45    Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer

Mark J. Servodidio

   41    Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resource Officer

W. Scott Deaver

   55    Executive Vice President, Strategy

Larry De Shon

   47    Executive Vice President of Operations

Karen C. Sclafani

   55    Executive Vice President and General Counsel

Patric T. Siniscalchi

   57    Executive Vice President and General Manager, International Operations

Ronald L. Nelson

Mr. Nelson has been Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since August 2006 and Director since April 2003. Mr. Nelson was Chief Financial Officer from May 2003 until August 2006 and President from October 2004 to August 2006. Mr. Nelson was also Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Company’s Vehicle Rental business from January 2006 to August 2006. From December 2005 to April 2006, Mr. Nelson was Interim Chief Executive Officer of the Company’s Travel Distribution Division. From April 2003 to May 2003, Mr. Nelson was Senior Executive Vice President, Finance. From November 1994 until March 2003, Mr. Nelson was Co-Chief Operating Officer of DreamWorks SKG. Prior thereto, he was Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and a Director at Paramount Communications, Inc., formerly Gulf & Western Industries, Inc.

F. Robert Salerno

Mr. Salerno has been President, Chief Operating Officer and a Director of the Company since August 2006. Mr. Salerno has been Chief Executive Officer of Avis Budget Car Rental, LLC since April 2004. He was previously President and Chief Operating Officer of Cendant Car Rental Group, Inc. from November 2002 until April 2004 and was President and Chief Operating Officer of Avis from 1996 through November 2002. In 1995, he was named Executive Vice President of Operations and in July 1990, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Avis.

Leonard S. Coleman

Mr. Coleman has been a Director since December 1997, Presiding Director at executive sessions of the Board since February 2003 and Chairman of the Corporate Governance Committee since August 2006. Mr. Coleman was a Director of HFS from April 1997 until December 1997. From 1999 to December 2005,

 

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Mr. Coleman was a Senior Advisor to Major League Baseball. Mr. Coleman was President of The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs from 1994 to 1999, having previously served since 1992 as Executive Director, Market Development of Major League Baseball. Mr. Coleman is a Director of the following corporations which file reports pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”): Omnicom Group Inc., H.J. Heinz Company, Churchill Downs Inc. and Electronic Arts Inc.

Sheli Z. Rosenberg

Ms. Rosenberg has been a Director since April 2000 and Chairman of the Compensation Committee since August 2006. From January 2000 to September 2003, Ms. Rosenberg served as Vice Chairwoman of Equity Group Investments, Inc., a privately held investment company. From October 1994 to December 1999, Ms. Rosenberg was President and Chief Executive Officer of Equity Group Investments, Inc. Ms. Rosenberg serves as a Director of the following companies which file reports pursuant to the Exchange Act: CVS Corporation, Equity Life Style Properties, Inc., Equity Residential Properties Trust and Ventas, Inc.

Stender E. Sweeney

Mr. Sweeney has been a Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee since August 2006. Mr. Sweeney has been a financial advisor and equity investor in several privately held enterprises since 1998. In 1997, Mr. Sweeney served in a senior financial and operating capacity for a joint venture between DreamWorks SKG and Pacific Data Images. From 1995 to 1996, Mr. Sweeney was the Chief Executive Officer and a Director of Vehicle Information Network, a database management and marketing company. From 1994 to 1995, Mr. Sweeney was the Chief Financial Officer and Principal of The Onyx Group, a shopping center development and management company. From 1968 to 1994, Mr. Sweeney served in various positions at The Times Mirror Company, the last eight years as Vice President, Finance. Mr. Sweeney serves on the board of the Payden & Rygel Investment Group, which files reports pursuant to the Exchange Act.

Mary C. Choksi

Ms. Choksi has been a Director since March 2007. Ms. Choksi has been Managing Director of Strategic Investment Partners, Inc. and Emerging Markets Investors Corporation (investment management firms) since 1987.

Martin L. Edelman

Mr. Edelman has been a Director since December 1997 and was a Director of HFS from November 1993 until December 1997. Mr. Edelman has been Of Counsel to Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker, LLP, a New York City law firm, since June 2000. Mr. Edelman was a partner with Battle Fowler, which merged with Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker, from 1972 through 1993 and was Of Counsel to Battle Fowler from 1994 until June 2000. Mr. Edelman also serves as a Director of the following corporations that file reports pursuant to the Exchange Act: Capital Trust, Ashford Hospitality Trust, Inc and Realogy Corporation. See “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions.”

Lynn Krominga

Ms. Krominga has been a Director since October 2006. Ms. Krominga is an attorney and business executive. Most recently, since 1999, Ms. Krominga has been a Consultant to private equity and venture capital firms and to start-up and early stage technology companies. From 1981-1999, Ms. Krominga held various senior executive and legal offices at Revlon, including President, Licensing Division from 1992-98. Prior to that, Ms. Krominga was an attorney at American Express and at Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton.

 

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David B. Wyshner

Mr. Wyshner has been Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer since August 2006. Mr. Wyshner was Executive Vice President and Treasurer of the Company from January 2004 to August 2006. Mr. Wyshner was named Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer of the Company’s Travel Content Division, which included the Company’s vehicle rental business of Avis and Budget, in July 2005. From 1999 until January 2004, Mr. Wyshner was employed in various roles at the Company, including serving as Executive Vice President for Finance, Planning and Development. Prior to joining the Company, Mr. Wyshner was a Vice President in Merrill Lynch & Co.’s investment banking division, specializing in corporate finance and mergers and acquisitions.

John T. McClain

Mr. McClain has been Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer since July 2006. Mr. McClain was Senior Vice President, Finance and Corporate Controller of the Company from September 1999 to July 2006. From May 1998 to September 1999, Mr. McClain was Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer of Sirius Satellite Radio. Previously, Mr. McClain was Assistant Controller and Director of Accounting of ITT Corporation. Prior to joining ITT Corporation, McClain was an audit manager with Arthur Andersen & Co.

Mark J. Servodidio

Mr. Servodidio has been Executive Vice President, Chief Human Resource Officer since April 2006. Mr. Servodidio was Executive Vice President, Human Resources for Avis Budget Car Rental, LLC from November 2002 to April 2006. He joined Avis in April 2001 as Senior Vice President, Human Resources. Prior to joining Avis, Mr. Servodidio was with Kraft Foods, Inc. (formerly Nabisco) from 1996 to 2001 where he was most recently head of Human Resources for Nabisco’s sales and supply chain unit. Prior thereto, he served in various leadership roles at PepsiCo, Inc.

W. Scott Deaver

Mr. Deaver has been Executive Vice President, Strategy since September 2006. Over the past ten years, Mr. Deaver has served in a variety of roles with the Company and HFS. Mr. Deaver was Executive Vice President, Marketing for Avis Budget Car Rental, LLC from March 2001 to September 2006. He has also served as Chief Marketing Officer for move.com, an online real estate and home services portal launched by the Company, and as Senior Vice President of corporate marketing of the Company.

Larry De Shon

Mr. De Shon has been Executive Vice President of Operations since October 2006. From November 2002 to June, 2006, Mr. De Shon was Senior Vice President of airport operations at United Airlines. Mr. DeShon began his twenty eight year career with the United Airlines as a customer service representative and advanced to hold a number of positions of increasing responsibility during his tenure.

Karen C. Sclafani

Ms. Sclafani has been Executive Vice President and General Counsel since April 2006. Ms. Sclafani was Executive Vice President Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of Avis Budget Car Rental, LLC from November 2002 to April 2006 and became Executive Vice President on April 3, 2006. Ms. Sclafani was previously Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Avis since August 1998. Prior to being appointed General Counsel, Ms. Sclafani served as Vice President and Deputy General Counsel and in various other capacities in Avis’ legal department. Before joining Avis, she was a corporate associate with the law firm Mudge, Rose, Guthrie and Alexander in New York City.

 

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Patric T. Siniscalchi

Mr. Siniscalchi has been Executive Vice President and General Manager, International Operations since August 2006. Mr. Siniscalchi was Senior Vice President, International Operations for Avis Budget Car Rental, LLC from November 2002 to August 2006. Mr. Siniscalchi joined Avis in 1971 and advanced to hold a number of positions of increasing responsibility during his tenure.

Director Independence

Each year, our Board of Directors reviews all commercial and charitable relationships of each director to evaluate such director’s independence pursuant to Rule 303A.2 of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) Listed Company Manual and our own director independence criteria, which can be accessed on our website at www.avisbudgetgroup.com. In conducting its review, the Board of Directors considers a number of factors, including the director’s and his or her immediate family members’ relationships with the Company and its subsidiaries, affiliates, executive officers and auditors; their relationships with foundations, universities and other non-profit organizations to which the Company has made a certain level of contributions during the past three years; and whether such director or his or her immediate family members have, during the past three years, been part of an “interlocking directorate” in which an executive officer of the Company served on the compensation (or equivalent) committee of another company that employs such director or his or her immediate family member as an executive officer.

After evaluating the factors described above, the Board of Directors has affirmatively determined that five of our current directors are independent under the corporate governance listing standards of the NYSE and our own director independence criteria. Our independent directors are currently Leonard S. Coleman, Mary C. Choksi, Lynn Krominga, Sheli Z. Rosenberg and Stender E. Sweeney. In addition, prior to the Cendant Separation, the following former directors of Cendant Corporation who served as directors during the last fiscal year were independent during their respective tenures, based upon the corporate governance listing standards of the NYSE and our own director independence criteria: Myra Biblowit, George Herrera, Louise MacBain, Cheryl Mills, Brian Mulroney, Robert Nederlander, Robert Pittman, Pauline Richards and Robert Smith.

In connection with its determination that Ms. Choksi is independent, the Board of Directors considered the relationship between Strategic Investment Partners, where Ms. Choksi is a Managing Director, and the clients of such firm that provide services to the Company. In connection with its determination that Mr. Mulroney was independent, the Board of Directors considered the fact that Mr. Mulroney was a Senior Partner of Ogilvy Renault, a Montreal-based law firm, and that Ogilvy Renault represented the Company in certain matters in 2006. Amounts paid by the Company to Ogilvy Renault in 2006 were less than $120,000 and constituted less than 1% of Ogilvy Renault’s gross revenues for such year.

We also maintain a Corporate Governance Committee, a Compensation Committee and an Audit Committee, and all of the directors serving on such committees are independent, based upon the corporate governance listing standards of the NYSE and our own director independence criteria.

 

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EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

Compensation Discussion and Analysis

Compensation Philosophy

We believe that attracting, retaining and incentivizing the best possible management are critical to the success of our business. Our compensation philosophy reflects this belief. We seek to populate our management ranks, and particularly our executive-level positions, with persons with outstanding capabilities, strong commitment to our business and a drive to add value. Our compensation policies and practices are intended to reward individuals for the application of their capabilities for the benefit of our Company. We do this with an intense focus on performance, an awareness of competitive practices and competing alternatives for management talent, an understanding that there can be trade-offs among various objectives and unintended consequences due to factors outside of management’s control, and a belief that discretion and judgment are required to address compensation issues appropriately.

Background — Cendant Separation

During the course of 2006, our company underwent a transformation that included the disposition of former businesses that together represented approximately 70% of our revenue for 2005, as then reported. As a result, on August 23, 2006, following the consummation of the separation, nearly all of our executive officers, including our former Chief Executive Officer, Henry R. Silverman, ceased to provide services to our company in any capacity and new executive officers were appointed. In addition, only four of our then current directors continued to serve on our Board of Directors following completion of the separation and hence the Compensation Committee, which was comprised of Mr. Smith (Chairman) and Mses. Biblowit and Rosenberg (the “Cendant Compensation Committee”), was reconstituted and now consists of Mses. Rosenberg (Chair) and Krominga, and Mr. Coleman (the “Avis Budget Compensation Committee” or the “Compensation Committee”).

Due to the number of complex transactions and arrangements which were required to complete the Cendant Separation, our senior corporate management was required to assume significant additional responsibilities. These transactions and arrangements included the spin-offs of two large companies (Realogy and Wyndham), the sale of another large company (Travelport), numerous new financing transactions, amendments to existing financing arrangements, agreements governing relationships among the separated entities following the separation, transition services and tax sharing arrangements, and internal reorganizations. In connection with the completion of the Cendant Separation, certain members of Cendant’s senior management became part of senior management of Avis Budget, Realogy, Wyndham and Travelport, while others did not. In recognition of the commitment and focus necessary to complete the Cendant Separation and to transform our company from a real estate and travel services company to a pure-play vehicle rental services company, severance or retention payments were made to certain members of senior management (including certain of our named executive officers) and certain previously granted equity awards were canceled while others vested on an accelerated basis.

Given its size and complexity, Cendant had a distinct and separate executive compensation policy compared to Avis Budget’s policy, although the material elements and many of the objectives of the two policies are similar. As is generally the case with Avis Budget, the objectives of Cendant’s program included aligning the interests of executive officers with long-term interests of stockholders; providing highly-competitive levels of compensation conditioned, in large part, on the attainment of specific performance targets and/or stock price appreciation; and attracting, motivating and retaining excellent executive talent for the benefit of stockholders. The Cendant Compensation Committee recognized that by attracting and retaining outstanding management talent and by promoting a culture of energy, entrepreneurialism, competitiveness and dedication to facilitate the attainment of annual growth and profitability targets, the interests of Cendant and its stockholders were best served. The material elements of Cendant’s executive compensation program included base salary, annual profit sharing bonus and long-term equity incentive awards. Cendant from time to time engaged the services of compensation consultant Frederick W. Cook & Company to advise on market rates of compensation for similarly

 

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situated executive officers and to gain a deeper understanding of competition in local and global labor markets to assure that Cendant’s compensation was competitive and provided appropriate incentive and retention value. Frederick W. Cook & Company provided advice regarding our current CEO’s 2006 compensation and employment agreement. Avis Budget has engaged PayCraft Consulting as its compensation consultant as further discussed below.

Differences between Cendant and Avis Budget

The most significant difference between the Cendant and Avis Budget executive compensation policies is that Avis Budget targets a lower amount of total compensation for named executive officers compared to Cendant. This difference is driven largely by the competitive compensation levels at comparable companies, which have been selected based on the revenue size of Avis Budget rather than Cendant. In recognition of the transformation of Cendant, now Avis Budget, to a smaller and less complex entity, the Avis Budget Compensation Committee has taken measures to substantially reduce the aggregate amount of compensation to be paid to the Avis Budget named executive officers and directors compared to Cendant’s named executive officers and directors. For example:

 

   

base salary and target bonus ($1 million and 150% of base salary) for Avis Budget’s current Chief Executive Officer are approximately 70% and 88% lower, respectively, versus base salary and bonus paid to Cendant’s Chief Executive Officer for 2005 ($3.3 million and $12.3 million);

 

   

average base salaries for the other current Avis Budget Group named executive officers ($472,500) are approximately 38% lower than base salaries paid to Cendant’s other named executive officers in 2005 ($762,500);

 

   

the Avis Budget Compensation Committee has approved fewer perquisites and benefits to be offered to the Avis Budget named executive officers compared to those offered to the Cendant named executive officers prior to the separation; and

 

   

the Avis Budget Governance Committee approved decreases to director compensation following completion of the Cendant Separation, including a decrease in the annual retainer of approximately 22% compared to Cendant’s annual retainer.

We estimate that, in 2007, compensation for our five named executive officers and directors in the aggregate will represent less than one-half of one percent of our expenses.

Executive Compensation Program Objectives

As stated above, the objectives of the Avis Budget compensation program remain relatively unchanged from Cendant’s compensation program. The primary objectives of our executive compensation programs are to:

 

   

facilitate the attraction and retention of key executive talent critical to our long-term success,

 

   

tie a significant portion of executives’ compensation to the performance of our company, including both short- and long-term performance, and

 

   

align compensation with stockholder interests.

 

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Components of the Executive Compensation Program

The key components of our executive compensation program and their primary objectives are as follows:

 

Pay Component    Objectives

Base Salary

  

•        Primary reward for execution of job responsibilities:

 

•        Reflects the scope of job responsibilities

•        Reflects consistent, strong individual performance over time

•        Reflects competitive compensation compared to comparable companies

Annual Cash Incentives

  

•        Primary reward for annual results:

 

•        Company, department, and individual results

•        Measured against quantitative and qualitative goals; primarily tied to financial measures

•        Places a significant portion of named executive officers pay “at risk” based on annual results

Long-term Incentives (Equity)

  

•        Primary reward for long-term results:

 

•        Company stock price performance determines how much the executive can earn

•        Alignment with stockholder interests

•        Provides Avis Budget with a strong long-term retention strategy

Other Benefits/Perquisites

  

•        Competitive and industry-specific rewards:

 

•        Attract and retain top talent through industry-specific and competitive benefits and perquisites

Process for Determining Level and Mix of Executive Compensation

To meet our executive compensation objectives as outlined above, the target amount of total direct compensation (which is comprised of base salary, target annual cash incentives and target long-term incentives) and the amount of total direct compensation actually earned should be both competitive and consistent with company performance.

To ensure competitive target total direct compensation, we conduct an annual review of total direct compensation provided at companies of comparable revenue size. Data are obtained from several published national surveys and compiled by PayCraft Consulting, our compensation consultant. These surveys present compensation data for over 1,000 companies sized according to revenue, assets and number of employees. Based upon advice of our compensation consultant, we believe generally that revenue is the most appropriate measure by which to select comparable companies for purposes of benchmarking our target total direct compensation although, for certain positions, we also consider the size and complexity of our balance sheet.

Data for total cash compensation (which is limited to base salary and target annual cash incentives) and total direct compensation for senior executive positions are collected to benchmark total cash compensation and total direct compensation paid to our executives. In each case we target the 50th and 75th percentile, respectively. These data are also considered to develop the weighting for the different components of compensation. After reviewing survey data, we also consider other factors such as individual performance, particularly if that performance exceeds expectations, increased responsibilities or expanded position scope and our ability to replace the individual, to determine the appropriate target total direct compensation for each individual executive position. In establishing our perquisites and benefits and stock ownership guidelines, we considered, based upon

 

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advice of our compensation consultant, relevant data of a peer group, which for 2006 was comprised of approximately ten public companies of comparable revenue size in the car rental, airline, hospitality and specialty retail industries, because survey data do not typically provide detailed information with respect to these items. We have chosen this peer group because we believe that these companies operate in a like manner to Avis Budget, in most cases operate in the travel industry and in general compete for talent with the same skill set. At targeted levels of performance, as much as 80% of total direct compensation at the senior executive level is represented by variable pay (which consists of target annual cash incentives and target long-term incentives) so as to align compensation with stockholder value. The proportion of variable pay versus base salary, and therefore the amount of target total direct compensation at risk, varies by level in the organization. Where executives have the most opportunity to impact financial and operational performance of Avis Budget, a greater portion of total direct compensation is represented by variable pay, especially long-term incentives.

Overall, our outside consultant has determined that:

 

   

target total direct compensation is competitive;

 

   

base salaries are generally at the median of comparable companies;

 

   

target annual cash incentives are slightly above the median of comparable companies; and

 

   

target long-term incentives are between the median and the 75th percentile of comparable companies.

The variation from our targeted benchmarks is due to our desire to manage the dilutive effect of our long-term incentives on our outstanding shares by shifting a portion of total direct compensation from long-term compensation to annual cash incentives. Over time, we expect that our target annual cash incentives will be closer to the median of comparable companies than is currently the case and that our target long-term incentives will be closer to the 75th percentile.

Process for Determining Compensation Delivered and the Impact of Performance

Base Salaries

The salaries of named executive officers currently employed by us are reviewed on an annual basis as well as at the time of a promotion or other change in responsibility. Increases in salary are based on an evaluation of the individual’s performance against pre-established objectives. Merit increases, if warranted, typically occur in late March each year.

2006 Base Salary Decisions

Each of the five Avis Budget named executive officers who are currently employed received merit increases to their base salaries in 2006 and all of these named executive officers, other than our Chief Accounting Officer, received an increase to reflect either a change in position as a result of the Cendant Separation or the assumption of public company responsibilities.

2007 Base Salary Decisions

No merit increases are expected to base salaries in 2007 for our Chief Executive Officer; President; and Chief Financial Officer. A merit increase of 3.5% was awarded in the first quarter of 2007 for the other two Avis Budget named executive officers.

 

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Annual Incentive Awards

2006 Annual Incentive Decisions

Cendant Retention Program

In 2005, in connection with the Cendant Separation, the Cendant Compensation Committee approved implementation of certain retention programs in order to provide financial incentives for key employees to remain with Cendant through the separation and to assure Cendant’s continuing business operations during the separation process. These programs included both cash bonuses that would be paid to designated key employees so long as those employees remained employed until the completion of both of the Realogy and Wyndham distributions. Designated employees included those individuals who were expected to lose their jobs in connection with the Cendant Separation, but primarily included individuals whose position, duties and responsibilities were deemed critical to continuing business operations while at the same time incurring additional duties and responsibilities relating to separating the various companies.

Under this program, the Cendant Compensation Committee approved the payment of retention bonuses to certain of our named executive officers. In the case of our current Chief Executive Officer and our current Chief Financial Officer who were previously the President and Chief Financial Officer, and the Treasurer, respectively, of Cendant, in addition to ensuring their continued focus and attention during the separation process, these retention bonuses also represented compensation for assuming their additional Avis Budget responsibilities (in addition to their existing responsibilities) on or prior to January 1, 2006. In the case of our current Chief Executive Officer, the retention bonus also represented compensation for assuming additional responsibilities as interim chief executive officer of Cendant’s Travel Distribution business through May 2006 and entering into non-competition arrangements with the separated companies. As part of this retention program, the Cendant Compensation Committee approved revisions to the outstanding equity awards for all current employees as follows: (i) all outstanding equity awards that would vest subject to the attainment of “above-target” performance goals would terminate and (ii) all other outstanding equity awards would vest on August 15, 2006.

2006 Annual Incentive Awards

Cendant named executive officers were entitled to annual performance bonuses based upon the terms of their respective employment agreements, with bonus targets for each such officer, other than Cendant’s Chief Executive Officer, equal to 200% of earned base salary in the applicable fiscal year. Cendant’s Chief Executive Officer’s bonus target was based on a formula comprised of two components which were subject to Cendant’s attainment of performance goals relating to its average growth in adjusted diluted earnings per share and pre-tax income as defined in his employment agreement in effect prior to the separation.

Bonus payments for Cendant named executive officers, other than Cendant’s Chief Executive Officer, were subject to the approval of the Cendant Compensation Committee and based upon the performance of the Company and/or the applicable business units managed by the officer, as well as such other performance criteria determined by the Company in connection its overall strategic plans. Performance was measured against pre-established performance goals and the officer’s individual performance subjectively determined by Cendant’s Chief Executive Officer. Those officers who became executive officers solely following the Cendant Separation were generally entitled to annual performance bonuses on a similar basis, although the targets were lower.

In connection with this past practice and as a result of the Cendant Separation, the Avis Budget Compensation Committee discussed and approved in the first quarter of 2007 discretionary bonus payouts for the five Avis Budget named executive officers who are currently employed. These bonuses represent (i) approximately 25% of the 2006 annual incentive target for our current Chief Executive Officer (based on a 200% target prior to the separation and 150% following the separation) and (ii) 50% of the 2006 annual incentive target for each of our other Avis Budget named executive officers (calculated on a similar pro rated basis as for

 

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our Chief Executive Officer). In determining these discretionary bonus payouts, the Avis Budget Compensation Committee considered the 2006 performance of our vehicle rental business, the additional duties assumed by the Avis Budget named executive officers to establish Avis Budget as a stand-alone public vehicle rental company and the number of legacy issues that required attention following the completion of the separation, and for our Chief Executive Officer, compensation attributable to pre-separation services paid during 2006. For our President and Chief Operating Officer, this discretionary bonus represented the only bonus paid for his service in 2006.

2007 Annual Incentive Plan Decisions

Each of our currently active named executive officers is eligible to earn an annual performance incentive under the 2007 Management Incentive Plan (“2007 MIP”). In the first quarter of 2007, when the Board reviewed our business plan, the Compensation Committee reviewed and approved the financial criteria and targets required to achieve the targeted levels of incentive payout under the 2007 MIP. These financial criteria and targets are consistent with the criteria and targets used in setting the business plan for our domestic and international vehicle rental operations. At the same time, incentive targets were established by the Compensation Committee for each participant in the plan and expressed as a percentage of base salary earned.

Management provided the Compensation Committee with the financial criteria and targets used to determine the level of payouts under the 2007 MIP and management’s rationale as to why these targets are appropriate. The Compensation Committee reviewed the criteria and targets with our compensation consultant and management and approved the threshold, target and maximum levels of financial performance under the plan and the potential payouts at those levels of performance. The Compensation Committee and we believe these financial targets are rigorous but reasonably attainable. The threshold, target and maximum payout levels for each of our named executive officers are set forth below:

 

Executive

   Incentive Thresholds
(% of Base Salary Earned)
    Incentive Targets
(% of Base Salary Earned)
    Incentive Maximums
(% of Base Salary Earned)
 

Chief Executive Officer

   75 %   150 %   225 %

President and Chief Operating Officer

   50 %   100 %   150 %

Chief Financial Officer

   50 %   100 %   150 %

Chief Human Resource Officer

   37.5 %   75 %   112.5 %

Chief Accounting Officer

   22.5 %   45 %   67.5 %

Actual awards under the 2007 Management Incentive Plan are based on the following components, with the following weightings:

 

   

Pre-Tax Margin, which is defined as pre-tax income excluding any separation, restructuring or unusual items, divided by revenue (30%);

 

   

Return on Invested Capital (ROIC), which is defined as pretax income, excluding any separation, restructuring or unusual items, plus gross interest expense divided by average stockholders’ equity plus corporate debt (30%);

 

   

Total Revenue (15%); and

 

   

Discretionary (25%).

By combining these measures, we believe the 2007 MIP emphasizes the importance of balancing growth and profitability. Each component of the 2007 MIP (other than the discretionary component) provides for a threshold payout of 50% (assuming minimum financial performance is attained) and a maximum target payout of 150%. The discretionary component allows for a payout of 0% to 150% and is based on the individual achievement of departmental and organizational objectives set by the Chief Executive Officer or by the Board in the case of the Chief Executive Officer.

 

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Long-term Incentive Plan

Introduction

The Long-term Incentive Plan is designed to link executive rewards with stockholder value over time as well as to promote long-term retention. Prior years’ grants have included stock-settled stock appreciation rights (“SSARs”), restricted stock units (“RSUs”) and, prior to the Cendant Separation, stock options.

Annually, the Compensation Committee approves the total dollar amount of long-term incentives to be granted, individual grants to employees, and the type of equity to be granted. The following factors are reviewed each year to determine the appropriate type of equity to be granted: desired risk/reward ratio, retention risk, potential dilution from equity plans, projected expense and, as described above, practices at comparable companies.

2006 Long-term Incentive Decisions

On May 2, 2006, the Cendant Compensation Committee approved the grant of incentive awards to Avis Budget employees at the director level and above (other than our current Chief Executive Officer). Time-vesting Restricted Stock Units were chosen as the primary equity compensation vehicle because of their higher retentive value, recognizing the greater retention risk due to the uncertainty created by the Cendant Separation, and to provide the management team with a significant stake in the long-term future of Avis Budget. On May 2, 2006, the Cendant Compensation Committee also approved grants of performance-based incentive awards to our current President and our current Chief Financial Officer to be split equally between SSARs and performance-based RSUs and on June 26, 2006 the same performance-based incentive awards were approved for our current Chief Executive Officer. The performance-based RSUs will vest subject to attainment of pre-established financial performance goals, which are based on the compound annual growth rate in earnings before income taxes (75% weighting) and growth in off-airport revenue (25% weighting). Earnings before income taxes is defined to be income before income taxes from continuing operations, excluding separation costs, accounting changes and the impact of significant corporate transactions.

Vesting of these awards is as follows:

 

Type of Award

  

Executives Receiving Award

  

Vesting

Time-Based RSUs

   All named executive officers other than Chief Executive Officer    25% per year, subject to continued employment

Performance-Based RSUs

   Chief Executive Officer    50% on July 31, 2008 and two equal installments on July 31, 2009 and 2010, subject to attainment of pre-established performance goals

Performance-Based RSUs

  

President

Chief Financial Officer

   July 31, 2009, subject to attainment of pre-established performance goals

SSARS

   Chief Executive Officer    25% per year, subject to continued employment

SSARS

  

President

Chief Financial Officer

   July 31, 2009, subject to continued employment

The awards described above represent the total equity awards granted by Avis Budget to any named executive officer in 2006. Cendant named executive officers who would not be employed with us following the separation did not receive an Avis Budget equity award in 2006.

In connection with valuing the grants of equity awards, it is our policy to use, as the grant or strike price for any stock-based compensation vehicle, the closing price of our stock on the date the Compensation Committee

 

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approves the equity grant except in circumstances where, upon the advice of counsel, our Compensation Committee determines that a separate date should be used, in which case the Compensation Committee, upon advice of counsel, shall determine that date. The Compensation Committee approves awards solely at pre-established quarterly meetings.

2007 Long-term Incentive Decisions

On January 31, 2007, the Avis Budget Compensation Committee approved a grant of incentive awards to Avis Budget employees at the director level and above. For our Chief Executive Officer, the award consists entirely of performance-based RSUs; for our President and our Chief Financial Officer, the award consists of 65% performance-based RSUs and 35% time-based RSUs; for our Chief Human Resource Officer, the award consists of 50% performance-based RSUs and 50% time-based RSUs; and for our Chief Accounting Officer, the award consists of 30% performance-based RSUs and 70% time-based RSUs. The performance-based RSUs will vest, subject to attainment of pre-established financial performance goals based on earnings before income taxes per share, EBIT return on capital and EBITDA margin attainment. These financial measures were selected based on the Company’s long-term strategy for profitability and margin enhancement. The time-based RSUs will vest ratably over four years, subject to the holders’ continued employment with us. The following number of shares were granted to our Chief Executive Officer, our President, our Chief Financial Officer, our Chief Human Resource Officer and our Chief Accounting Officer, respectively: 77,399, 98,685, 65,790, 32,895 and 11,610. In determining the amount of each award, the Avis Budget Compensation Committee considered our compensation philosophy discussed above, the additional duties assumed by the Avis Budget named executive officers to establish Avis Budget as a stand-alone public vehicle rental company and the number of legacy issues that required attention following the completion of the separation, and for our Chief Executive Officer, compensation attributable to pre-separation services paid during 2006.

Executive Stock Ownership Guidelines

Executive stock ownership guidelines for Cendant required senior officers to acquire and hold designated levels of Cendant common stock. Under these guidelines the named executive officers were required to own Cendant common stock with a value equal to six times base salary for the Chief Executive Officer and three times base salary for the other named executive officers by October 2007. The Avis Budget Compensation Committee reviewed these guidelines and adopted revised executive stock ownership guidelines in the first quarter of 2007 to continue Cendant’s policy of encouraging executives to acquire a significant level of direct ownership. The revised ownership guidelines are intended to be consistent with competitive practice, and realistic given the level of cash and equity compensation.

Under these revised guidelines, the Chief Executive Officer is required to retain 100%, and other named executive officers who report to the Chief Executive Officer are required to retain a minimum of 50% of the net shares (net of exercise price and taxes) upon the exercise of stock options or stock appreciation rights or the vesting of restricted stock awards until reaching specified ownership thresholds of four times base salary for our Chief Executive Officer, two times base salary for our President and our Chief Financial Officer and one times base salary for all other named executive officers who directly report to our Chief Executive Officer. Given the mandatory hold provision until thresholds are obtained, we have removed the deadline for achieving those thresholds. Stock ownership is defined to include stock owned by the executive directly (due to personal purchases of stock in the open market), stock owned indirectly through the Company’s savings plan, unrestricted (i.e., vested) stock awards or units, and the “in-the-money” value of vested stock options and stock appreciation rights. Following attainment of ownership thresholds our named executive officers will be required to hold 50% of the net shares obtained upon the vesting of any equity award for one year.

Employment and Change of Control Agreements; Severance Arrangements

For many years, Cendant had followed the practice of entering into a written employment agreement with its Chief Executive Officer and those who reported to him directly, including Cendant’s President and Chief Financial Officer. Consistent with this practice, we entered into an employment agreement with our current Chief

 

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Executive Officer; President; and Chief Financial Officer in 2006 in connection with the completion of the Cendant Separation. These agreements allow us, among other things, to obtain post-employment non-competition covenants from these executive officers. A detailed description of these employment agreements is set forth under the heading “Employment Agreements and Other Arrangements”.

We consider it essential to the best interests of our stockholders to foster the continued employment of key management personnel. Thus, we have also entered into severance agreements with the two Avis Budget named executive officers who do not have written employment agreements. In these agreements, the Company seeks to provide appropriate protections to members of management that are consistent with prevailing market practices.

The benefits that would be received by the Avis Budget named executive officers in the event of termination without cause or a change in control are set forth under the heading “Termination, Severance and Change of Control Arrangements”.

Perquisites and Benefits

Recognizing that Avis Budget Group is a smaller and less complex company than Cendant, the Avis Budget Compensation Committee has taken steps to ensure that the material elements of the Avis Budget compensation program are appropriate. In addition to lower target total direct compensation previously discussed, the Avis Budget Compensation Committee also made several changes to reduce the number of perquisites and benefits available to Avis Budget named executive officers compared to the Cendant named executive officers. Effective January 1, 2007, we have eliminated the executive life insurance benefit formerly provided to our Chief Executive Officer; the VIP medical expense reimbursement plan; and the medical expense reimbursement plan. In addition, we eliminated, effective upon completion of the Cendant Separation, the car and driver provided to our former Chief Executive Officer and reduced personal use of the company aircraft.

Therefore, as of January 1, 2007, our perquisites consist primarily of financial planning services, auto use and personal use of company aircraft services (limited to our Chief Executive Officer; our President; and our Chief Financial Officer). We will continue to review our compensation and benefit programs to ensure that we remain competitive with comparable companies and are able to attract and retain highly qualified senior executives.

Pre-and Post-Separation Compensation Tables

Named Executive Officers

Following this Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation information for 2006 is set forth for our named executive officers who are as follows:

 

   

Mr. Silverman, Cendant’s former Principal Executive Officer, who ceased to serve in any capacity with Avis Budget following the completion of the Cendant Separation. All amounts described below for Mr. Silverman represent compensation for his role as Chief Executive Officer of Cendant prior to the separation. For 2005, Cendant generated approximately $18 billion in revenue and until the separation operated significant real estate, hospitality and travel distribution businesses in addition to the vehicle rental business. All amounts described in the tables and disclosure that follow this Compensation Discussion and Analysis for Mr. Silverman also represent all of the obligations owing to Mr. Silverman under any arrangement with us.

 

   

Mr. Nelson, our Principal Executive Officer and Cendant’s former President and Principal Financial Officer. Mr. Nelson ceased to serve as Cendant’s Principal Financial Officer and became our Principal Executive Officer upon completion of the Separation.

 

   

Mr. Wyshner, our Principal Financial Officer, who prior to the Cendant Separation was Executive Vice President and Treasurer of Cendant.

 

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Messrs. Salerno, McClain and Servodidio, our three most highly compensated Avis Budget Group executive officers as of December 31, 2006 other than Messrs. Nelson and Wyshner.

 

   

Messrs. Buckman and Holmes, two additional individuals who served as executive officers during 2006, and ceased to serve in any capacity with Avis Budget following completion of the Cendant Separation. Their total 2006 compensation would otherwise have made them one of the three most highly compensated executives (other than Messrs. Silverman, Nelson and Wyshner) for 2006.

Compensation Information

The compensation information included following this Compensation Discussion and Analysis is presented on a combined basis for service attributable to both the periods during 2006 that preceded and followed the Cendant Separation. The tables set forth immediately below divide into pre-separation (i.e. Cendant) named executive officers and post-separation (i.e. Avis Budget) named executive officers. The tables also present compensation information for each named executive officer for service attributable to pre- and post-separation periods, as applicable. All of this compensation is further described below in the compensation tables following this Compensation Discussion and Analysis and is presented on a combined basis.

We believe it is important to provide this supplemental information to illustrate the portion of compensation presented that is attributable to services provided by each named executive officer (in such capacity) to Cendant, a real estate and travel services company with reported revenue of over $18 billion in 2005 and Avis Budget, a pure-play vehicle rental services company with reported revenue in 2006 of approximately $5.6 billion. We also believe it is important to provide this supplemental information given the different policies and Compensation Committee membership for Avis Budget and Cendant as described above at the beginning of this Compensation Discussion and Analysis.

Pre-Separation Compensation

 

Name and Principal Position

  Period   Salary
($)
  Bonus
($)
  Stock
Awards
  Option
Awards
  Change in
Pension Value
and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($)
  All Other
Comp
($)
  Total
($)

Silverman, Henry R.
Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Cendant

  Pre-*
Separation
2006
  1,916,539   0   0   0   0   62,711,338   64,627,877

Nelson, Ronald L.
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Avis Budget/Former President and Chief Financial Officer, Cendant

  Pre-
Separation
2006
  439,904   4,096,233   5,936,728   0   0   3,095,459   13,568,324

Buckman, James E.
Former Vice Chairman and General Counsel, Cendant

  Pre-
Separation
2006
  442,837   135,328   2,366,985   0   0   7,730,852   10,676,002

Holmes, Stephen P.
Former Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Travel Content Division, Cendant

  Pre-
Separation
2006
  439,904   80,128   3,579,431   0   0   1,599,108   5,698,571

* January 1, 2006–August 23, 2006

 

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Post Separation Compensation

 

Name and Principal Position

  Period   Salary
($)
  Bonus
($)
  Stock
Awards
  Option
Awards
  Change in
Pension Value
and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings
($)
  All Other
Comp
($)
  Total
($)

Mr. Nelson

  Post-*
Separation
2006
  423,077   395,434   444,444   400,000   0   69,959   1,732,914

Wyshner, David B.
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer

  Post-
Separation
2006
  222,115   245,673   435,897   102,564   0   46,861   1,053,110

Salerno, F. Robert
President & Chief Operating Officer

  Post-
Separation
2006
  296,154   330,435   705,128   205,128   4,314   56,762   1,597,921

McClain, John T.
Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer

  Post-
Separation
2006
  133,269   115,977   100,000   0   0   22,535   371,781

Servodidio, Mark
Executive Vice President & Chief Human Resource Officer

  Post-
Separation
2006
  148,077   172,341   166,667   0   0   20,954   508,039

* August 23, 2006–December 31, 2006

 

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Summary Compensation Table

The following table summarizes the total compensation of all of our named executive officers for 2006.

 

Name and Principal
Position(a)

  Year   Salary
($)(b)
  Bonus
($)(c)
  Stock
Awards
($)(d)
  Option
Awards
($)(e)
  Non-Equity
Incentive Plan
Compensation
($)
 

Change in
Pension Value
and
Nonqualified
Deferred
Compensation
Earnings

($)(f)

 

All Other
Comp

($)(g)

  Total
($)

Silverman, Henry R.
Former Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Cendant

  2006   1,916,539   0   0   0   0   0   62,711,338   64,627,877

Nelson, Ronald L.
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Avis Budget/Former President and Chief Financial Officer, Cendant

  2006   862,981   4,491,667   6,381,172   400,000   0   0   3,165,418   15,301,238

Wyshner, David B.
Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer & Treasurer

  2006   491,346   793,681   1,364,874   102,564   0   0   89,728   2,842,193

Salerno, F. Robert
President & Chief Operating Officer

  2006   660,871   330,435   1,961,443   205,128   0   10,353   90,778   3,259,008

McClain, John T.
Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer

  2006   313,154   315,977   574,246   0   0   0   48,539   1,251,916

Servodidio, Mark
Executive Vice President & Chief Human Resource Officer

  2006   333,167   172,341   667,562   0   0   0   35,814   1,208,884

Buckman, James E.
Former Vice Chairman and General Counsel, Cendant

  2006   442,837   135,328   2,366,985   0   0   0   7,730,852   10,676,002

Holmes, Stephen P.
Former Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Travel Content Division, Cendant

  2006   439,904   80,128   3,579,431   0   0   0   1,599,108   5,698,571

(a) As discussed in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, prior to the completion of the Cendant Separation, Mr. Nelson served as the President and Chief Financial Officer and a Director of Cendant and the other Avis Budget named executive officers served in various other capacities at Cendant and/or its vehicle rental business.
(b) Base salaries for 2007 were approved by the Avis Budget Compensation Committee in first quarter 2007 as follows: $1,000,000, $525,000, $700,000, $315,000 and $350,000 for Messrs. Nelson, Wyshner, Salerno, McClain and Servodidio, respectively, which represent no increase over salaries for such persons as of the date of the completion of the Cendant Separation, other than an increase of 3.5% for Messrs. McClain and Servodidio. Salary includes amounts deferred under the Cendant Corporation 2006 Deferred Compensation Plan as follows: Mr. Nelson, $51,779; Mr. Wyshner, $29,481; Mr. Salerno, $39,652; and Mr. McClain, $18,789. This plan was replaced with the Avis Budget Group, Inc. 2006 Deferred Compensation Plan following the Cendant Separation.
(c)

Bonus amounts include discretionary payouts as discussed in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis. Bonus amounts for Mr. Nelson, Mr. Wyshner, Mr. Servodidio and Mr. McClain also include special bonuses for their roles in the execution of the transactions necessary to complete the Cendant Separation and the assumption of additional duties related to the vehicle rental business

 

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while continuing their Cendant responsibilities and, in Mr. Nelson’s case, acting as Chief Executive Officer of Travelport until May 2006. These bonuses totaled $4,000,000 for Mr. Nelson, $500,000 for Mr. Wyshner, $200,000 for Mr. McClain and $60,000 for Mr. Servodidio. Bonus amounts also include deferrals under the Cendant Corporation Deferred Compensation Plan as follows: Mr. Nelson, $197,717; Mr. Salerno, $19,826; Mr. Wyshner, $14,740; Mr. McClain, $3,959; and Mr. Servodidio, $10,340. The bonus amount also includes a special bonus of $96,233 for Mr. Nelson and $135,328 for Mr. Buckman and $80,128 for Mr. Holmes paid in the first quarter of 2006 under the Executive Officer Supplemental Life Insurance Program. This program has been eliminated, effective January 1, 2007. Bonus amounts also include a discretionary cash payment of $48,008 for Mr. Wyshner and $50,000 for Mr. McClain.

(d) Represents the amount expensed in 2006 in connection with stock awards under SFAS No. 123R. Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are included in Note 18 to our audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 1, 2007 (“2006 Form 10-K”).
(e) Represents the amount expensed in 2006 in connection with option awards under SFAS No. 123R. Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are included in Note 18 to our audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006, included in our 2006 Form 10-K.
(f) For Mr. Salerno, the reported change in pension value during the year represents the sum of the increased value accumulated in the Avis Rent A Car System Pension Plan and the Avis Rent A Car System Retirement Equalization Benefit Plan.
(g) All Other Compensation includes the personal benefits and perquisites presented in the tables below.

2006 All Other Compensation Table

 

Name

  Year   Tax
Reimbursements
($)(a)
  Deferred
Compensation
Plan
Contributions
($)(b)
  Medical
Expense
Reimbursement
Plan ($)(c)
  Severance
and Other
Benefits
($)(d)
  Perquisites
($)(e)
  Total All
Other
Compensation
($)

Mr. Silverman

  2006   95   83,769   2,800   62,534,206   90,468   62,711,338

Mr. Nelson

  2006   13,074   75,505   4,800   3,000,000   72,039   3,165,418

Mr. Wyshner

  2006   12,762   44,221   720   N/A   32,025   89,728

Mr. Salerno

  2006   1,999   59,478   720   N/A   28,581   90,778

Mr. McClain

  2006   5,690   22,748   720   N/A   19,381   48,539

Mr. Servodidio

  2006   755   21,340   720   N/A   12,999   35,814

Mr. Buckman

  2006   12,941   26,394   4,800   7,635,195   51,522   7,730,852

Mr. Holmes

  2006   11,351   22,875   2,800   1,502,495   59,587   1,599,108

(a) Represents tax payments made on behalf of each named executive officer relating to the provision of financial services disclosed in footnote (b) to the 2006 Perquisites Table below for Mr. Nelson, $7,384; Mr. Salerno, $1,900; Mr. Wyshner, $1,619; Mr. McClain $644; Mr. Servodidio, $674; and Mr. Holmes, $3,663. Also includes tax payments relating to the car leases disclosed in footnote (e) to the 2006 Perquisites Table below for Mr. Nelson, $5,615; Mr. Wyshner, $11,076; Mr. McClain, $4,965; Mr. Buckman, $12,829 and Mr. Holmes $7,583. The total tax reimbursements for each of the named executive officers also include tax payments for nominal company gifts.
(b) Represents Company matching contributions to a non-qualified deferred compensation plan maintained by the Company for the benefit of certain of our officers selected by our Compensation Committee. Under this plan, participants are permitted to defer compensation under the terms of the plan as approved by the Compensation Committee. Amounts deferred by participants, as well as any matching contributions made by the Company, are contributed to a rabbi trust established for the purpose of holding plan assets. Participants may allocate deferrals to one or more deemed investments under the plan, which may include a deemed investment in the Company’s common stock. Matching contributions may be subject to such vesting provisions as determined from time to time; however, all of a participant’s accounts under this plan will become fully vested in the event of a change in control (as defined in the officer deferred compensation plan) or in the event that the participant’s service with us terminates as a result of death or disability. A participant in this plan may elect a single lump-sum payment of his or her account, or may elect payments over time; however, the participant’s entire account balance will be paid in a single lump sum following a change in control. For Mr. Servodidio, the defined contribution Plan match contributions include $11,000 of match under the qualified company-sponsored 401(K) saving plan.
(c) The Medical Expenses Reimbursement Plan (MERP) is an employer plan that reimburses a select group of executives for medical expenses related to an annual physical examination, up to a $750 annual maximum, directly from employer funds. For the 2006 plan year, Mr. Salerno, Mr. Wyshner, Mr. McClain and Mr. Servodidio were the named executive officers eligible for the MERP. Under the plan, premiums paid on behalf of Mr. Salerno ($720), Mr. Wyshner ($720), Mr. McClain ($720) and Mr. Servodidio ($720) totaled $2,880. The plan has been eliminated, effective January 1, 2007. The VIP Medical Expense Reimbursement Plan (“VIP MERP”) is an employer plan that reimburses a select group of senior executives (and their dependents) for previously unreimbursed medical expenses, up to a $7,500 annual maximum, through a policy of health or accident insurance. For the 2006 plan year, Mr. Silverman, Mr. Nelson, Mr. Buckman and Mr. Holmes were the named executive officers eligible for the VIP MERP. Under the plan, premiums paid on behalf of Mr. Silverman ($2,800), Mr. Nelson ($4,800), Mr. Buckman ($4,800) and Mr. Holmes ($2,800) totaled $15,200. The plan has been eliminated effective January 1, 2007.
(d)

For Mr. Silverman, amount represents payments under his June 2006 Employment Agreement in connection with his termination with Cendant upon completion of the Cendant Separation as follows: a lump sum cash payment of $21,661,254, which is an amount equal to

 

80


 

the net present value of the product of (x) the sum of (1) his base salary plus (2) his annual bonus for 2005 multiplied by (y) the number of full and partial years remaining in the employment term under Mr. Silverman’s Cendant Employment Agreement through December 31, 2007; and a pro rata annual bonus for 2006 (based upon his bonus for the preceding fiscal year) in an amount of $6,600,000. In connection with a settlement with respect to split-dollar insurance policies maintained by Cendant on Mr. Silverman’s life, a payment of $14,570,158 was made to the insurance companies which was necessary to fund the policies. The settlement was designed to maintain the same overall cost to Cendant, on a present value basis, as compared to its costs under the existing split-dollar arrangements. In connection with this settlement, pursuant to the existing split-dollar arrangement, in January 2007, we made a payment to Mr. Silverman of $15,122,409, which is excluded from the amount as such payment represents the amount necessary for Mr. Silverman or his assignee to purchase the policies from us at that time and such amount was immediately returned to us as the purchase price of the policy. In settlement of our on-going obligation to make annual bonus payments to Mr. Silverman under the split-dollar insurance policies, such amount also includes a cash payment to Mr. Silverman in January 2007 of $19,202,794. We also paid $500,000 to reimburse Mr. Silverman for all legal fees incurred by him in connection with the settlement and the negotiation of an employment agreement with Realogy.

For Mr. Nelson, amount includes $3,000,000 paid pursuant to agreements between Mr. Nelson and Realogy, Wyndham Worldwide and Travelport which contained non-competition covenants.

For Mr. Buckman, amount represents $7,625,000 in severance benefits under his employment agreement in effect prior to the Cendant Separation in connection with the termination of Mr. Buckman’s employment upon completion of the Cendant Separation and $10,195 in connection with a premium on a $5 million insurance policy.

For Mr. Holmes amount represents $2,495 in connection with a premium for a term life insurance policy and a bonus of $1,500,000 for his role in the execution of the transactions necessary to complete the Cendant Separation.

(e) Represents the 2006 perquisites presented in the table below.

2006 Perquisites Table

 

Name

   Year    Personal Use of
Company
Aircraft
($)(a)
   Financial
Services
($)(b)
   Car and/or Car
and Driver
($)(c)
   Charitable
Contributions
($)(d)
   Total 2006
Perquisites
($)(e)

Mr. Silverman

   2006    47,742    0    42,604    0    90,468

Mr. Nelson

   2006    32,137    10,000    19,780    10,000    72,039

Mr. Wyshner

   2006    0    9,250    22,603    N/A    32,025

Mr. Salerno

   2006    12,637    9,750    6,000    N/A    28,581

Mr. McClain

   2006    N/A    6,513    12,659    N/A    19,381

Mr. Servodidio

   2006    N/A    6,790    6,000    N/A    12,999

Mr. Buckman

   2006    32,789    0    18,611    N/A    51,522

Mr. Holmes

   2006    22,634    5,833    10,948    20,000    59,587

(a) Represents personal use of the Cendant company aircraft in the amount of $47,742 for Mr. Silverman, $32,137 for Mr. Nelson, $32,789 for Mr. Buckman and $22,634 for Mr. Holmes, calculated based on the incremental cost to the Company for fuel, trip-related maintenance, crew travel expenses, on-board catering, landing fees, trip-related hangar/parking costs and smaller variables costs. Since the aircraft was used primarily for business travel, fixed costs that do not change based on usage, such as pilots’ salaries, the purchase costs for the company aircraft, and the cost of maintenance not related to trips were not included.

After the Cendant Separation, Avis Budget replaced the company aircraft with leased jet services through NetJet. Under the revised Company Aircraft Policy, Mr. Nelson may use the NetJet services for personal use for a maximum of 16 hours per year. Our President and Chief Operating Officer and our Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer may also use the NetJet services for personal use, at the discretion of Mr. Nelson, for a maximum of 10 hours per year. The incremental cost of personal use of the NetJet services will be calculated based on the flight specific direct operating costs, including standard fuel, maintenance, catering, and landing fees, and miscellaneous fees such as variable fuel surcharge as applicable, international fees for travel outside the U.S., and a 7.5% Federal Excise Tax. Since the aircraft is used primarily for business travel, fixed costs that do not change based on usage, such as pilot salaries, training, hangaring, insurance, and services support will not be included. Only Mr. Salerno used the NetJet services in 2006.

(b) For Mr. Nelson and Mr. Holmes, represents reimbursement for financial services provided by an approved vendor up to a maximum annual reimbursement of $10,000. For the other named executive officers, represents the actual costs we incurred for financial services provided under the AYCO Financial Services program. These services include tax return preparation, financial planning and estate planning.
(c) Represents the cost of a company-provided car under a car lease program with our former PHH subsidiary, including the car lease, insurance, and standard maintenance or incremental cost to the Company for demonstration automobiles provided by our automobile vendors which may be used for business and personal use and are part of a vehicle evaluation program. For our former chief executive officer, also represents car and driver provided, however such perquisite is no longer provided.
(d) Represents discretionary matching contribution made by The Avis Budget Charitable Foundation.
(e) Also includes cost to the company for a nominal company gift.

 

81


2006 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table

 

Name*

  Grant
Date
  Approval
Date
  Estimated Future Payouts
Under Non-Equity Incentive
Plan Awards
  Estimated Future Payouts
Under Equity Incentive
Plan Awards
  All Other
Stock
Awards
Number
of Shares
of Stock
or Units
(#)(c)
  All Other
Option
Awards
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Options
(#)(d)
  Exercise
or Base
Price of
Options
Awards
($/SH)
  Grant
Date Fair
Value of
Stock and
Option
Awards
($)
      Threshold
($)(a)
  Target
($)(a)
  Maximum
($)(a)
  Threshold
(#)(b)
  Target
(#)(b)
  Maximum
(#)(b)
       

Mr. Nelson

  8/1/2006   6/26/06                 337,079   24.40   3,000,000
  8/1/2006   6/26/06   N/A   N/A   N/A   0   122,951   N/A         3,000,000

Mr. Wyshner

  8/1/2006   5/2/06                 54,348   24.40   500,000
  8/1/2006   5/2/06               81,967       2,000,000
  8/1/2006   5/2/06   N/A   N/A   N/A   0   20,492   N/A         500,000

Mr. Salerno

  8/1/2006   5/2/06                 108,696   24.40   1,000,000
  8/1/2006   5/2/06               122,951       3,000,000
  8/1/2006   5/2/06   N/A   N/A   N/A   0   40,984   N/A         1,000,000

Mr. McClain

  8/1/2006   5/2/06   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   24,590   N/A   N/A   600,000

Mr. Servodidio

  8/1/2006   5/2/06   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   N/A   40,984   N/A   N/A   1,000,000

* Messrs. Silverman, Buckman and Holmes did not receive any equity awards from us in 2006.
(a) A discussion of 2006 annual performance bonuses is included in the Compensation Discussion and Analysis.
(b) For Mr. Nelson vest one-half on July 31, 2008 and the other half in two equal installments on July 31, 2009 and 2010 and for Messrs. Salerno and Wyshner vest on July 31, 2009, subject to attainment of performance goals. For more information regarding these awards, including the applicable performance goals, please see “Compensation Discussion and Analysis — Long Term Incentive Plan — 2006 Long-Term Incentive Decisions.” The number of RSUs granted to each eligible employee was determined by dividing the award amount by the closing price of our stock on the date of grant, which was the first day of trading following the distributions of Realogy and Wyndham.
(c) Represents awards of time-vested RSUs which will vest in equal installments on each of the first four anniversaries of May 2, 2006, subject to continued employment. The number of RSUs granted to each eligible employee was determined by dividing the award amount by the closing price of our stock on the date of grant, which was the first day of trading following the distributions of Realogy and Wyndham.
(d) Represents SSARs which for Mr. Nelson will vest in equal installments on each of the first four anniversaries of July 31, 2006 subject to continued employment. The SSARs for Mr. Salerno and Mr. Wyshner will vest on July 31, 2009, subject to continued employment. Upon vesting each executive will have the right, until the seventh anniversary of the grant date, to receive an amount, in common stock, equal to the excess of the fair market value of a share of common stock on the date of exercise over the exercise price of the SSAR. Per the terms of the individual grant awards, the exercise price of the stock-settled stock appreciation rights was based on the closing price of the stock on the date of grant, which was the first day of trading following the distributions of Realogy and Wyndham.

 

82


2006 Outstanding Equity Awards at Fiscal Year-End Table

 

NAME

  OPTION AWARDS   STOCK AWARDS
  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#) Exercisable(a)
  Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercised
Options
(#) Unexercisable(b)
  Equity Incentive
Plan Awards:
Number of
Securities
Underlying
Unexercisable
Unearned
Options
(#)
  Options
Exercise
Price
($)(c)
  Options
Expiration
Date(d)
  Number of
Shares Or
Units of
Stock that
Have Not
Vested
(#)(e)
  Market
Value of
Shares Or
Units of
Stock that
Have Not
Vested
($)(f)
  Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Number of
Unearned
Shares,
Units Or
Other
Rights
That Have
Not
Vested
(#)(g)
  Equity
Incentive
Plan
Awards:
Market Or
Payout
Value of
Unearned
Shares, Units
Or Other
Rights That
Have Not
Vested
($)(g)

Mr. Silverman(h)

  105,077       28.771   4/30/2007        

Mr. Silverman

  395,965       14.1158   4/30/2007        

Mr. Silverman

  791,930       28.771   12/17/2007        

Mr. Silverman

  312,747       25.7141   4/21/2009        

Mr. Silverman

  312,747       31.792   1/13/2010        

Mr. Silverman

  625,494       13.5404   1/3/2011        

Mr. Nelson

                122,951   2,666,807

Mr. Nelson(i)

  104,249       18.8163   4/14/2013        

Mr. Nelson

    337,079     24.40   8/1/2013        

Mr. Wyshner

            81,967   1,777,864   20,492   444,471

Mr. Wyshner(j)

  15,637       26.2536   2/10/2009        

Mr. Wyshner

  11,467       31.792   1/13/2010        

Mr. Wyshner

  170       13.5404   1/3/2011        

Mr. Wyshner

  13,511       27.4044   1/22/2012        

Mr. Wyshner

  2,871       33.2593   6/3/2014        

Mr. Wyshner

  3,104       30.0385   4/26/2015        

Mr. Wyshner

    54,348     24.40   8/1/2013        

Mr. Salerno

            122,951   2,666,807   40,984   888,943

Mr. Salerno(k)

  18,244       18.845   3/1/2011        

Mr. Salerno

  36,487       27.4044   1/22/2012        

Mr. Salerno

    108,696     24.40   8/1/2013        

Mr. McClain(l)

  15,637       25.8040   9/27/2009        

Mr. McClain

  7,819       31.792   1/13/2010        

Mr. McClain

  1,433       13.5404   1/3/2011        

Mr. McClain

  7,506       27.4044   1/22/2012        

Mr. McClain

            24,590   533,357    

Mr. Servodidio

            40,984   888,943    

Mr. Servodidio(m)

  8,444       22.9938   4/19/2011        

Mr. Servodidio

  5,004       27.4044   1/22/2012        

Mr. Buckman(n)

  5,149       14.1158   4/30/2007        

Mr. Buckman

  37,742       14.1158   12/17/2007        

Mr. Buckman

  24,286       28.771   12/17/2007        

Mr. Buckman

  32,163       28.771   10/14/2008        

Mr. Buckman

  62,549       25.7141   4/21/2009        

Mr. Buckman

  52,515       31.792   1/13/2010        

Mr. Buckman

  104,249       13.5405   1/3/2011        

Mr. Buckman

  31,275       27.4044   1/22/2012        

Mr. Holmes(o)

  9,415       14.1158   4/30/2007        

Mr. Holmes

  35,136       14.1158   12/17/2007        

Mr. Holmes

  21,680       28.771   12/17/2007        

Mr. Holmes

  33,466       28.771   10/14/2008        

Mr. Holmes

  62,549       25.7141   4/21/2009        

Mr. Holmes

  52,515       31.792   1/13/2010        

Mr. Holmes

  104,249       13.5404   1/3/2011        

Mr. Holmes

  18,243       27.4044   1/22/2012        

 

83



(a) Represents fully vested currently exercisable stock options. As a result of the Cendant Separation, the Cendant Compensation Committee approved the accelerated vesting of all outstanding stock options following the spin-off of Wyndham and Realogy.
(b) Represents SSARS which for Mr. Nelson will vest in equal installments on each of the first four anniversaries of July 31, 2006, subject to continued employment. The SSARS for Messrs. Salerno and Wyshner will vest on July 31, 2009, subject to continued employment. For additional information, please see footnote (d) of the 2006 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table for terms of these awards.
(c) Represents the fair-market value on the date of the grant as approved by the Cendant Compensation Committee. The original price was adjusted on July 31, the date of the Realogy and Wyndham spin-offs. The price was then subsequently adjusted in connection with the 1-for-10 reverse stock split of Avis Budget common stock.
(d) Represents the expiration date of the stock option grant, subject to continued employment with Avis Budget, Realogy or Wyndham, as applicable.
(e) Represents awards of time-vested RSUs. Terms of these awards are disclosed in footnote (c) to the 2006 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table.
(f) Values are based on the closing price of our common stock on December 29, 2006 of $21.69.
(g) Represents performance-based RSUs. For additional information, see footnote (b) to 2006 Grants of Plan-Based Awards Table. Values are based on the closing price of our common stock on December 29, 2006 of $21.69.
(h) In connection with the Cendant Separation, Mr. Silverman received Realogy and Wyndham stock options as follows, all of which are currently exercisable. The number of securities underlying unexercised Realogy options are: 262,691, 989,912, 1,979,824, 781,866, 781,867 and 1,563,734, with exercise prices of $31.61, $15.51, $31.61, $25.25, $34.93, $14.88, respectively, and expiration dates of April 30, 2007, April 30, 2007, December 17, 2007, April 21, 2009, January 13, 2010 and January 3, 2011, respectively. The number of securities underlying unexercised Wyndham options are: 210,153, 791,929, 1,583,859, 625,493, 625,494 and 1,250,986, with exercise prices of $42.03, $20.62, $42.03, $37.56, $46.44, $19.78, respectively, and expiration dates of April 30, 2007, April 30, 2007, December 17, 2007, April 21, 2009, January 13, 2010 and January 3, 2011, respectively.
(i) In connection with the Cendant Separation, Mr. Nelson received Realogy and Wyndham stock options as follows, all of which are currently exercisable. The number of securities underlying unexercised Realogy options are 260,622, with an exercise price of $20.67, and an expiration date of April 14, 2013. The number of securities underlying unexercised Wyndham options are 208,497, with an exercise price of $27.48, and an expiration date of April 14, 2013.
(j) In connection with the Cendant Separation, Mr. Wyshner received Realogy and Wyndham stock options as follows, all of which are currently exercisable. The number of securities underlying unexercised Realogy options are: 39,093, 28,668, 424, 33,776, 7,176, and 7,758, with exercise prices of $28.84, $34.93, $14.88, $30.11, $36.54, $33.00, respectively, and expiration dates of February 10, 2009, January 13, 2010, January 3, 2011, January 22, 2012, June 3, 2014 and April 26, 2015, respectively. The number of securities underlying unexercised Wyndham options are: 31,274, 22,934, 339, 27,021, 5,741, and 6,207, with exercise prices of $38.35, $46.44, $19.78, $40.03, $48.58, $43.88, respectively, and expiration dates of February 10, 2009, January 13, 2010, January 3, 2011, January 22, 2012, June 3, 2014 and April 26, 2015, respectively.
(k) In connection with the Cendant Separation, Mr. Salerno received Realogy and Wyndham stock options as follows, all of which are currently exercisable. The number of securities underlying unexercised Realogy options are: 45,608 and 91,217, with exercise prices of $20.70 and 30.11, respectively, and expiration dates of March 1, 2011 and January 22, 2012, respectively. The number of securities underlying unexercised Wyndham options are: 36,487 and 72,974, with exercise prices of $27.53 and $40.03, respectively, and expiration dates of March 1, 2011 and January 22, 2012, respectively.
(l) In connection with the Cendant Separation, Mr. McClain received Realogy and Wyndham stock options as follows, all of which are currently exercisable. The number of securities underlying unexercised Realogy options are: 39,093, 19,546, 3,583 and 18,764, with exercise prices of $28.35, $34.93, $14.88 and $30.11, respectively, and expiration dates of September 27, 2009, January 13, 2010, January 3, 2011 and January 22, 2012, respectively. The number of securities underlying unexercised Wyndham options are: 31,274, 15,637, 2,866 and 15,011, with exercise prices of $37.69, $46.44, $19.78 and $40.03, respectively, and expiration dates of September 27, 2009, January 13, 2010, January 3, 2011 and January 22, 2012, respectively.
(m) In connection with the Cendant Separation, Mr. Servodidio received Realogy and Wyndham stock options as follows, all of which are currently exercisable. The number of securities underlying unexercised Realogy options are: 21,110 and 12,509, with exercise prices of $25.26 and $30.11, respectively, and expiration dates of April 19, 2011 and January 22, 2012, respectively. The number of securities underlying unexercised Wyndham options are: 16,888 and 10,007, with exercise prices of $33.59 and 40.03, respectively, and expiration dates of April 19, 2011 and January 22, 2012, respectively.
(n) In connection with the Cendant Separation, Mr. Buckman received Realogy and Wyndham stock options as follows, all of which are currently exercisable. The number of securities underlying unexercised Realogy options are: 12,871, 60,715, 94,354, 80,406, 156,373, 131,288, 260,622 and 78,186, with exercise prices of $15.51, $31.61, $15.51, $31.61,$28.25, $34.93, $14.88, $30.11, respectively, and expiration dates of April 30, 2007, December 17, 2007, December 17, 2007, October 14, 2008, April 21, 2009, January 13, 2010, January 3, 2011, and January 22, 2012, respectively. The number of securities underlying unexercised Wyndham options are: 10,297, 48,572, 75,483, 64,325, 125,098, 105,030, 208,498 and 62,549, with exercise prices of $20.62, $42.03, $20.62, $42.03, $37.56, $46.44, $19.78, and $40.03, respectively, and expiration dates of April 30, 2007, December 17, 2007, December 17, 2007, October 14, 2008, April 21, 2009, January 13, 2010, January 3, 2011, and January 22, 2012, respectively.
(o)

In connection with the Cendant Separation, Mr. Holmes received Realogy and Wyndham stock options as follows, all of which are currently exercisable. The number of securities underlying unexercised Realogy options are: 54,200, 83,664, 87,839, 23,536, 156,373, 131,288, 260,622 and 45,608, with exercise prices of $31.61, $31.61, $15.51, $15.51, $28.25, $34.93, $14.88, $30.11, respectively, and expiration dates of December 17, 2007, October 14, 2008, December 17, 2007, April 30, 2007, April 21, 2009, January 13,

 

84


 

2010, January 3, 2011, and January 22, 2012, respectively. The number of securities underlying unexercised Wyndham options are: 43,360, 66,931, 70,271, 18,829, 125,098, 105,030, 208,498, and 36,486, with exercise prices of $42.03, $42.03, $20.62, $20.62, $37.56, $46.44, $19.78, and $40.03, respectively, and expiration dates of December 17, 2007, October 14, 2008, December 17, 2007, April 30, 2007, April 21, 2009, January 13, 2010, January 3, 2011, and January 22, 2012, respectively.

2006 Option Exercises and Stock Vested Table

 

    Option Awards   Stock Awards

Name*

  Number of
Shares Acquired
on Exercise
(#)
    Value Realized
on Exercise
($)
  Number of
Avis Budget
Shares Acquired
on Vesting
(#)(a)
  Number of
Realogy Shares
Acquired on
Vesting
(#)(b)
  Number of
Wyndham Shares
Acquired on
Vesting
(#)(c)
  Value Realized
on Vesting
($)(d)

Mr. Nelson

  —         —     26,767   66,918   53,534   3,465,006

Mr. Wyshner

  —         —     4,794   9,823   7,858   654,232

Mr. Salerno

  —         —     8,847   19,237   15,390   1,190,241

Mr. McClain

  —         —     3,336   7,260   5,808   448,722

Mr. Servodidio

  —         —     3,520   7,671   6,136   473,213

Mr. Buckman

  —         —     16,043   35,787   28,629   2,144,243

Mr. Holmes

  250,520 (e)   $ 2,003,516   24,080   54,197   43,357   3,210,747

* Mr. Silverman did not exercise any options or have any restricted stock units outstanding during 2006.
(a) In April 2003, each named executive officer (“NEO”) was granted time-vested restricted stock units relating to shares of Cendant Common Stock. Up to one-quarter of the units were to vest in each of the four successive years following the grant date. In addition, in April 2005 and April 2004, each NEO was granted performance-vesting restricted stock units relating to shares of Cendant Common Stock. Upon the vesting of a unit, the NEO was to become entitled to receive a share of Cendant Common Stock. Up to one-eighth of the units were to vest in each of the four successive years following the grant date as long as Cendant attained specific pre-established performance goals for each fiscal year. The performance goals for these units were to be based upon the “total unit growth” of the Cendant Common stock in relation to the average historic “total stockholder return” of the S&P 500 (“total unit growth” is comprised of earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization plus cash flow generation). In addition, the other 4/8ths (or one-half) of the units could have vested at the end of the fourth year based upon the extent to which Cendant attained cumulative four year pre-established performance goals that were set based on the top-quartile average historic “total shareholder return” of the S&P 500. This half of the grant was considered “above target” and the first half of each grant considered “at target”. Upon the vesting of a unit the NEO was to become entitled to receive a share of Cendant Common Stock.

As a result of the Cendant Separation, the Cendant Compensation Committee approved the accelerated vesting of all “at target” grants for the 2004 and 2005 grants and the final tranche of the 2003 grant following the second spin-off. The Realogy and Wyndham distributions occurred on July 31, 2006 and the accelerated vesting occurred on August 15, 2006. All “above target” awards were canceled prior to the completion of the Cendant Separation. In addition, all accrued cash dividends accrued from the date of grant were paid in connection with such vesting.

As a result, Mr. Nelson received 19,970 units relating to his “at target” 2005 award and gave up the remaining 19,970 units related to the “above target” RSUs. Similarly he received 6,797 units relating to his “at target” 2004 award and gave up the remaining 9,063 units related to the “above target” RSUs. Mr. Salerno received 3,994 units relating to his “at target” 2005 award and gave up the remaining 3,994 units related to the “above target” RSUs. Similarly he received 2,549 units relating to his “at target” 2004 award and gave up the remaining 3,399 units related to the “above target” RSUs. Mr. Wyshner received 2,097 units relating to his “at target” 2005 award and gave up the remaining 2,097 units related to the “above target” RSUs. Similarly he received 969 units relating to his “at target” 2004 award and gave up the remaining 1,291 units related to the “above target” RSUs. Mr. Servodidio received 1,598 units relating to his “at target” 2005 award and gave up the remaining 1,598 units related to the “above target” RSUs. Similarly he received 1,020 units relating to his “at target” 2004 award and gave up the remaining 1,359 units related to the “above target” RSUs. Mr. McClain received 1,623 units relating to his “at target” 2005 award and gave up the remaining 1,623 units related to the “above target” RSUs. Similarly he received 850 units relating to his “at target” 2004 award and gave up the remaining 1,133 units related to the “above target” RSUs. Mr. Buckman received 7,489 units relating to his “at target” 2005 award and gave up the remaining 7,489 units related to the “above target” RSUs. Similarly he received 5,098 units relating to his “at target” 2004 award and gave up the remaining 6,797 units related to the “above target” RSUs. Mr. Holmes received 12,481 units relating to his “at target” 2005 award and gave up the remaining 12,481 units related to the “above target” RSUs. Similarly he received 6,797 units related to his “at target” 2004 award and gave up the remaining 9,063 shares related to the “above-target” RSUs.

(b) Represents the number of shares of Realogy common stock acquired upon the vesting described in footnote (a) above.
(c) Represents the number of shares of Wyndham common stock acquired upon the vesting described in footnote (a) above,
(d) Represents the aggregate value of the shares of Avis Budget Group, Realogy and Wyndham described in footnotes (a), (b) and (c) above upon vesting.
(e) Represents shares vested without giving effect to the one-for-ten reverse stock split.

 

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2006 Pension Benefits Table

 

Name

 

Plan Name(a)

 

Number of Years of
Credited Service (#)(a)

 

Present Value of
Accumulated
Benefit ($)(a)

 

Payments During
Last Fiscal Year ($)

Mr. Salerno

  Avis Rent A Car System, Inc. Pension Plan   24 years, 7 months as of 12/31/06   285,850   —  

Mr. Salerno

  Avis Rent A Car System, Inc. Retirement Equalization Benefit Plan   24 years, 7 months as of 12/31/06   368,639   —  

(a) Avis froze its qualified and non-qualified defined benefit pension plans to new participation and future benefit accruals as of December 31, 1998. Mr. Salerno is the only Named Executive Office who participated in these plans. Prior to December 31, 1998 Mr. Salerno earned the right to receive certain benefits upon retirement at the retirement age of 65 or upon early retirement on or after age 55. For a discussion of the calculation of retirement benefits, please see Note 19 to our audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 included in our 2006 Form 10-K.

2006 Nonqualified Deferred Compensation Table

 

Name

   Executive
Contributions
in Last FY
($)(a)
   Registrant
Contributions
in Last FY
($)(b)
   Aggregate
Earnings in
Last FY
($)(c)
    Aggregate
Withdrawals /
Distributions
($)(d)
   Aggregate
Balance at
Last FYE
($)(e)

Mr. Silverman

   83,769    83,769    207,215     —      —  

Mr. Nelson

   249,496    75,505    177,215     —      5,851,837

Mr. Salerno

   59,478    59,478    (3,896 )   —      536,628

Mr. Wyshner

   44,221    44,221    5,710     19,371    484,797

Mr. McClain

   22,748    22,748    5,234     —      414,336

Mr. Servodidio

   6,740    6,740    (93 )   —      81,896

Mr. Buckman

   26,394    26,394    (25,356 )   —      2,377,668

Mr. Holmes

   22,875    22,875    22,510     —      —  

(a) Amounts shown are included in the Salary and Bonus columns in the Summary Compensation Table as individually identified in footnotes (b) and (c) to the table. Under the deferred compensation plan, participants can elect to defer a maximum of 80% of base salary and 98% of annual bonus. The agreements between participants and the Company must provide that the deferrals under the plan are (1) irrevocable; (2) agreed to before the compensation is earned; and (3) for a specified length of time.
(b) Participant deferrals are matched dollar-for-dollar by the Company up to 6% of base salary and 6% of annual bonus.
(c) All participant deferrals and matching contributions are immediately vested and are held in a grantor trust. Under this arrangement, the Company takes no tax deduction, and the beneficiaries pay no tax on contributions to the trust until they start receiving their money. Although funds are potentially subject to the employer’s creditors, they are inaccessible to present and future management. Participants may allocate deferrals to one or more of a variety of investment options including Company stock.
(d) A participant in this plan may elect to receive payment in the form of a single lump sum or in annual installments over a period of up to 10 years; all account balances will be paid in a single lump sum upon change of control of the Company. In December 2002, Mr. Wyshner elected to have his 2003 plan year amounts distributed to him in five equal annual installments, beginning in January 2005.
(e) Total trust assets accumulated for all periods of plan participation through the end of 2006. The aggregate balance is the sum of all participant and registrant contributions and investment in earnings less any withdrawals or distributions. Amounts for Mr. Silverman and Mr. Holmes have been assumed by Realogy and Wyndham, respectively.

Employment Agreements and Other Arrangements

In connection with the Cendant Separation, we entered into agreements with Messrs. Silverman and Buckman. Mr. Silverman’s agreement sets forth the terms with respect to the severance payments described above in the Summary Compensation Table. We have no obligation to provide Mr. Silverman with post-separation benefits under his original employment agreement as such benefits were assumed by Realogy, and we believe we have satisfied all of our payment obligations to Mr. Silverman under his agreement. Mr. Buckman’s agreement provided

 

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for the payment of severance as described above in the Summary Compensation Table and in accordance with Mr. Buckman’s employment agreement with us. We are required to provide Mr. Buckman with post-separation benefits under his employment agreement. Mr. Holmes’s employment agreement with us was terminated and he entered into an agreement with Wyndham in connection with his role as Chief Executive Officer of Wyndham.

Each Avis Budget named executive officer is employed by us pursuant to a written agreement of employment or has a severance agreement.

Ronald L. Nelson

Mr. Nelson’s employment agreement has a term ending on the third anniversary of the effective date; provided, that such term will automatically extend for one additional year unless we or Mr. Nelson provides notice to the other party of non-renewal at least six months prior to such third anniversary. Pursuant to our by-laws, our Board of Directors may terminate Mr. Nelson’s employment at any time. Upon expiration of the employment agreement, Mr. Nelson will be an employee at will unless the agreement is renewed or a new agreement is executed.

In addition to providing for a minimum base salary of $1 million and employee benefit plans generally available to our executive officers, Mr. Nelson’s agreement provides for an annual incentive award with a target amount equal to 150% of his base salary, subject to attainment of performance goals, and grants of long-term incentive awards, upon such terms and conditions as determined by our Board of Directors or Compensation Committee. Mr. Nelson’s agreement provides that if his employment with us is terminated by us without “cause” or due to a “constructive discharge” (each term as defined in Mr. Nelson’s agreement), he will be entitled to a lump sum payment equal to 299% of the sum of his then-current base salary plus his then-current target annual bonus. In addition, in this event, all of Mr. Nelson’s then-outstanding equity awards will become fully vested (and any stock options and stock appreciation rights granted on or after the distribution date will remain exercisable until the earlier of three years following his termination of employment and the original expiration date of such awards).

Options granted prior to the separation remain exercisable in accordance with Mr. Nelson’s prior agreement with us. Mr. Nelson’s employment agreement also provides him and his dependents with medical benefits through his age 75. The employment agreement provides Mr. Nelson with the right to claim a constructive discharge if, among other things, he is not the Chief Executive Officer and our most senior executive officer, or does not report directly to the Board of Directors; we notify Mr. Nelson that we will not extend the term of the employment agreement for an additional fourth year or, following the expiration of the employment agreement, we do not offer to extend the agreement for a period of at least two but no more than four years on substantially similar terms; there occurs a “corporate transaction” (as defined in Mr. Nelson’s agreement); or we fail to nominate Mr. Nelson to be a member of our Board of Directors. Mr. Nelson’s agreement provides for post-termination non-competition and non-solicitation covenants which will last for two years following Mr. Nelson’s employment with us. Mr. Nelson has a right pursuant to his employment agreement to be reimbursed from the company for any “golden parachute” excise tax, including taxes on any reimbursement, subject to limitations described in his employment agreement.

F. Robert Salerno

Mr. Salerno’s employment agreement has a term ending on the third anniversary of the effective date; provided that such term will automatically extend for one additional year unless we or Mr. Salerno provides notice to the other party of non-renewal at least six months prior to such third anniversary.

In addition to providing for a minimum base salary of $700,000 and employee benefit plans generally available to our executive officers, Mr. Salerno’s agreement provides for an annual incentive award with a target amount equal to 100% of his base salary, subject to attainment of performance goals, and grants of long-term

 

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incentive awards, upon such terms and conditions as determined by our Board of Directors or Compensation Committee. Mr. Salerno’s agreement provides that if his employment with us is terminated by us without “cause” or due to a “constructive discharge” (each term as defined in Mr. Salerno’s agreement), he will be entitled to a lump sum payment equal to 299% of the sum of his then-current base salary plus his then-current target annual bonus. In addition, in this event, all of Mr. Salerno’s then-outstanding equity awards will become fully vested (and any stock options and stock appreciation rights granted on or after July 28, 2006 will remain exercisable until the earlier of three years following his termination of employment and the original expiration date of such awards).

The employment agreement provides Mr. Salerno with the right to claim a constructive discharge if, among other things, he is not the Chief Executive Officer following a “corporate transaction” (as such term is defined in Mr. Salerno’s employment agreement). Mr. Salerno’s agreement will provide for post-termination non-competition and non-solicitation covenants which will last for two years following Mr. Salerno’s employment with us. Mr. Salerno has a right pursuant to his employment agreement to be reimbursed from the company for any “golden parachute” excise tax, including taxes on any reimbursement, subject to limitations described in his employment agreement.

David B. Wyshner

Mr. Wyshner’s employment agreement has a term ending on the third anniversary of the effective date; provided that such term will automatically extend for one additional year unless we or Mr. Wyshner provides notice to the other party of non-renewal at least six months prior to such third anniversary.

In addition to providing for a minimum base salary of $525,000 and employee benefit plans generally available to our executive officers, Mr. Wyshner’s agreement provides for an annual incentive award with a target amount equal to 100% of his base salary, subject to attainment of performance goals, and grants of long-term incentive awards, upon such terms and conditions as determined by our Board of Directors or Compensation Committee. Mr. Wyshner’s agreement provides that if his employment with us is terminated by us without “cause” or due to a “constructive discharge” (each term as defined in Mr. Wyshner’s agreement), he will be entitled to a lump sum payment equal to 299% of the sum of his then-current base salary plus his then-current target annual bonus. In addition, in this event, all of Mr. Wyshner’s then-outstanding equity awards will become fully vested (and any stock options and stock appreciation rights granted on or after July 28, 2006 will remain exercisable until the earlier of three years following his termination of employment and the original expiration date of such awards).

The employment agreement provides Mr. Wyshner with the right to claim a constructive discharge if, among other things, he is not the most senior financial officer of the Company or there occurs a “corporate transaction” (as such term is defined in Mr. Wyshner’s employment agreement). Mr. Wyshner’s agreement will provide for post-termination non-competition and non-solicitation covenants which will last for two years following Mr. Wyshner’s employment with us. Mr. Wyshner has a right pursuant to his employment agreement to be reimbursed from the company for any “golden parachute” excise tax, including taxes on any reimbursement, subject to limitations described in his employment agreement.

Mark Servodidio

Mr. Servodidio’s severance agreement provides that if his employment is terminated by us other than “for cause” (as defined in Mr. Servodidio’s severance agreement), disability or death, he will receive a lump-sum severance payout equal to 200% of his base salary plus target incentive bonus and perquisites to include car usage, financial planning and health coverage for a period of 24 months. Severance is subject to and contingent upon execution of a separation agreement containing a release of claims against the Company and non-competition covenants. The agreement also provides for a lump sum cash payment for the ratable portion of stock-based awards which would have been expensed in accordance with their original vesting schedule by the one-year anniversary of termination of employment.

 

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John T. McClain

Pursuant to an agreement with us, Mr. McClain is our Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer and has additional responsibility for overseeing several functions associated with our legacy as the former parent company of Realogy, Wyndham and Travelport. Over time, it is likely that the scope of this position will diminish as legacy activities subside. In the event that the Company and Mr. McClain do not, between September 1, 2007 and December 31, 2007, identify mutually acceptable opportunities for Mr. McClain to take on new or additional responsibilities and/or continue handling existing responsibilities, or in the event that Mr. McClain is terminated without cause prior to December 31, 2007, Mr. McClain will be eligible to initiate severance with 30 days notice provided Mr. McClain executes an agreement and general release in a form acceptable to us.

Mr. McClain’s severance is comprised of (a) a lump-sum payment of two times current base salary plus the pro-rated portion of the annual target incentive award, (b) post-termination exercisability of stock options for three years, (c) a lump sum in cash for the ratable portion of Mr. McClain’s 2006 stock-based award, which would have been expensed in accordance with its original vesting schedule by the first anniversary of Mr. McClain’s termination of employment and (d) a lump sum in cash for the ratable portion of any subsequent stock-based award, which would have been expensed in accordance with its original vesting schedule by the date of Mr. McClain’s termination of employment. From and after the date of Mr. McClain’s termination of employment, we will provide Mr. McClain and his family continued coverage under our group health plans for a period of 12 months. This severance is not applicable if Mr. McClain is terminated for cause.

 

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Termination, Severance and Change of Control Arrangements

The table below shows the potential severance payments for each named executive officer. All payments are contingent on the executive’s termination of employment and the identified triggering events.

 

Name and Triggering Event(a)

   Lump Sum
Severance
Payment
($)(b)
   Accelerated
Vesting of
Stock-based
Awards
($)(c)
  

Continuation
of Benefits and
Perquisites

($)(d)

  

Excise Tax
and Gross-
Up

($)(e)

Mr. Nelson

           

Resignation or Termination by Company for Cause

   0    0    222,703   

Termination due to Death or Disability

   0    2,666,807    222,703   

Termination by Company without Cause or due to Constructive Discharge

   7,475,000    2,666,807    222,703   

Change of Control Transaction and Termination by Company without Cause or due to Constructive Discharge

   7,475,000    2,666,807    222,703    2,992,216

Mr. Wyshner

           

Resignation or Termination by Company for Cause

   0    0    0   

Termination due to Death or Disability

   0    1,926,021    70,512   

Termination by Company without Cause or due to Constructive Discharge

   3,139,000    1,926,021    70,512   

Change of Control Transaction and Termination by Company without Cause or due to Constructive Discharge

   3,139,000    2,222,336    70,512    0

Mr. Salerno

           

Resignation or Termination by Company for Cause

   0    0    0   

Termination due to Death or Disability

   0    2,963,122    59,908   

Termination by Company without Cause or due to Constructive Discharge

   4,186,000    2,963,122    59,908   

Change of Control Transaction and Termination by Company without Cause or due to Constructive Discharge

   4,186,000    3,555,750    59,908    0

Mr. Servodidio

           

Resignation or Termination by Company for Cause

   0    0    0   

Termination by Company without Cause

   1,225,000    222,236    36,791   

Change of Control Transaction and Termination by Company without Cause

   1,225,000    888,943    36,791    N/A

Mr. McClain

           

Resignation or Termination by Company for Cause

   0    0    0   

Termination by Company without Cause

   913,500    133,339    16,993   

Change of Control Transaction and Termination by Company without Cause

   913,500    533,357    16,993    N/A

(a) Messrs. Silverman, Buckman and Holmes are not entitled to any additional severance payments. “Without Cause Termination” and “Constructive Discharge” are defined in each individual agreement. Mr. Nelson’s agreement was filed as an exhibit to our 8-K filing on June 30, 2006. Agreements for Mr. Salerno and Mr. Wyshner were filed as exhibits to our 8-K filing on November 11, 2006. Agreements for Mr. McClain and Mr. Servodidio were filed as exhibits to our 2006 Form 10-K.
(b) The lump sum severance benefits were calculated based on each executive’s base salary and target annual incentive as of December 31, 2006 and a multiplier of 299% or 200% as per the terms of each agreement.
(c) The value of accelerated vesting of stock-based awards was calculated assuming vesting was accelerated as of December 31, 2006 and based on the closing price of our stock ($21.69) on December 29, 2006.
(d) For Mr. Nelson, reflects the continuation of benefit and perquisite plans he participates in as of December 31, 2006 until age 75. For the other named executive officers, other than Mr. McClain, reflects 24 months of continued health, dental and car benefits. For Mr. McClain reflects 12 months of continued health and dental benefits.
(e) Estimated assuming change of control transaction and termination of employment occurred on December 31, 2006 at a stock price of $21.69 and reflecting an assigned value attributable to Mr. Nelson’s future noncompetition obligation. We estimate that the amount would be reduced to zero if the same transaction were analyzed as occurring on January 1, 2007 rather than December 31, 2006.

 

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Director Compensation Table

The first table below shows the compensation provided to our current non-employee directors for 2006. The second table below shows the compensation provided during the first eight months of 2006 to our former non-employee directors who served as directors of Cendant during 2006 solely until completion of the separation.

Current Directors

 

Name*

  

Fees Earned
or Paid In
Cash for
Service
Prior to
Cendant
Separation

($)(a)

   Fees Earned
or Paid In
Cash for
Service
Following
Cendant
Separation
($)(a)
  

Stock
Awards
for Service
Prior to
Cendant
Separation

($)(b)

   Stock
Awards
for Service
Following
Cendant
Separation
($)(b)
   All Other
Comp
($)
    Total
($)

Coleman, Leonard S.

   79,184    27,083    47,492    102,083    7,330 (c)(d)   263,172

Edelman, Martin L.

   72,858    24,250    44,485    99,250    42,430 (c)   283,273

Rosenberg, Sheli Z.

   84,530    —      51,481    126,667    12,484 (c)(d)   275,162

Sweeney, Stender E.

   —      —      —      128,629    5,000 (d)   133,629

Krominga, Lynn

   —      12,157    —      87,157    —       99,314

* Mary Choksi did not serve as a director in 2006.

Former Directors

 

Name

   Fees Earned
or Paid In
Cash
($)(a)
   Stock
Awards
($)(b)
   All Other
Comp
($)
   

Total

($)

Biblowit, Myra J.

   72,932    43,742    1,208 (c)   117,882

Herrera, George

   68,764    41,247    —       110,011

MacBain, Louise T. Blouin

   66,688    39,991    —       106,679

Mills, Cheryl D.

   78,345    46,989    10,000 (d)   135,334

Mulroney, Brian

   28,000    84,000    30,007 (c)(d)   142,007

Nederlander, Robert E.

   72,943    43,738    146,735 (c)   263,416

Pittman, Robert W.

   26,667    84,000    12,947 (c)   123,614

Richards, Pauline D.E.

   79,192    47,485    —       126,677

Smith, Robert F.

   85,439    51,241    170,276 (c)(d)   306,956

(a) A full description of all fees paid to Avis Budget Group directors is provided below. The cash portion of fees paid represents: 50% of the annual retainer and 50% of committee chair and membership stipends together with the deferred cash payment described at the end of footnote (b) below.
(b)

The stock awards represent: 50% of the retainer and 50% of committee chair and membership stipends, which are paid quarterly in deferred Common Stock, and a new director grant awarded to the current directors upon completion of the Cendant Separation, in the case of Messrs. Coleman and Edelman and Ms. Rosenberg and on the first day of service for Mr. Sweeney and Ms. Krominga. Amounts set forth represent the amount expensed in 2006 under SFAS No. 123R. Assumptions used in the calculation of these amounts are included in Note 18 to our audited financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 included in our 2006 Form 10-K. The number of shares of Common Stock to be received pursuant to the common stock portion of the retainer or any other compensation to be paid in the form of Common Stock is equal to the value of the compensation being paid in the form of Common Stock, divided by the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant. Each share of deferred Common Stock entitles the Non-Employee Director to receive one share of Common Stock immediately following such director’s retirement or termination of service from the Board for any reason. The Non-Employee Directors may not sell or receive value from any shares of deferred Common Stock prior to such termination of service. Directors may elect to receive more than 50% of their retainer and stipends in deferred Common

 

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Stock. Ms. Rosenberg and Mr. Sweeney have elected as of August 23, 2006 to receive all of their compensation in deferred Common Stock. Messrs. Mulroney and Pittman made such election for all of 2006. Directors may be permitted to receive value from shares deferred in excess of 50% of their retainer and stipends. The stock portion of the final payment of fees to Cendant directors immediately prior to the Cendant Separation was made in the form of deferred cash for administrative purposes.

(c) Represents premiums for term life insurance coverage. Following completion of the Cendant Separation, the Company no longer provides this program.
(d) Represents discretionary matching contributions available through The Avis Budget Charitable Foundation (formerly known as The Cendant Charitable Foundation). For the former directors who received such contribution and Ms. Rosenberg, represents $10,000, and for Messrs. Sweeney and Coleman represents $5,000.

The table below shows the Director Compensation provided to non-employee directors prior to the completion of the Cendant Separation as members of the Cendant Board and Director Compensation provided for the members of the Avis Budget Board after completion of the Cendant Separation. While the Cendant Board reduced director compensation effective upon completion of the separation, after completing a competitive review of director compensation provided at companies of comparable size to Avis Budget in the vehicle rental and other industries, the Avis Budget Board further reduced such compensation and adopted the Director Compensation shown in the table below for 2007, retroactive to the completion of the separation (other than with respect to the vesting terms of the one-time new director grant).

 

      Annual Compensation
Prior to the Cendant
Separation($)(a)(b)
    Annual Compensation
Following the Cendant
Separation($)(a)(b)
 

Annual Director Retainer(c)

   160,000     125,000  

One-Time New Director Equity Grant(d)

   75,000     75,000  

Audit Committee Chair

   30,000     20,000  

Audit Committee Member

   20,000     10,000  

Compensation Committee Chair

   25,000     15,000  

Compensation Committee Member

   10,000     7,500  

Corporate Governance Committee Chair

   15,000     10,000  

Corporate Governance Committee Member

   8,000     5,000  

Executive Committee Member

   10,000     8,000  

Presiding Director Stipend

   20,000     20,000  
   Life Insurance (e)  

Other Benefits

   10,000 (f)   5,000 (f)

(a) Members of the Board of Directors who are also officers or employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries do not receive compensation for serving as directors (other than travel-related expenses for meetings held outside of the Company’s headquarters).
(b) The committee chair stipends and all committee membership stipends are paid 50% in cash and 50% in deferred Common Stock. Directors may elect to receive more than 50% of such stipends in deferred Common Stock.
(c) The annual retainer is paid on a quarterly basis. The retainer is paid equally 50% in cash and 50% in shares of deferred Common Stock. A director may elect to receive the entire retainer in the form of deferred Common Stock. The number of shares of Common Stock to be received pursuant to the common stock portion of the retainer or any other compensation to be paid in the form of Common Stock is equal to the value of the compensation being paid in the form of Common Stock, divided by the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date of grant. Each share of deferred Common Stock entitles the Non-Employee Director to receive one share of Common Stock immediately following such Director’s retirement or termination of service from the Board for any reason. The Non-Employee Directors may not sell or receive value from any shares of deferred Common Stock prior to such termination of service.

 

92


(d) The grant is to be made in the form of deferred Common Stock. The number of shares granted is equal to $75,000 divided by the fair market value of a share of Common Stock as of the close of business on the date of the grant. Persons serving as Non-Employee Directors at the time of the completion of the Cendant Separation received their grant as of the first trading day following completion of the Cendant Separation. Future grants will be provided to directors newly appointed to the Board. Effective as of January 1, 2007, grants awarded after January 1, 2007 will vest ratably over three years, or in the event of a change in control, but Directors may not sell or receive value from the shares until termination from the Board.
(e) The Company provided $100,000 of term life insurance coverage for each Non-Employee Director. In addition, the Company provided each director with the ability to obtain life insurance in the amount of $1 million on his or her life. Certain, but not all, directors participated in this program. Upon the death of such director while still in office, the Company would donate an aggregate of $1 million to one or more charitable organizations that such director served or supported. Following completion of the Cendant Separation, the Company no longer provides this program.
(f) Represents discretionary matching contributions available through The Avis Budget Charitable Foundation.

Compensation Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation

Our Compensation Committee is composed entirely of independent directors and administers the Company’s executive compensation policies and programs. Sheli Z. Rosenberg (Chairman) and Leonard Coleman and Lynn Krominga have served as members of our Compensation Committee since August 23, 2006. Lynn Krominga has served as a member of our Compensation Committee since January 30, 2007. From August 23, 2006 through January 30, 2007, Martin Edelman was also a member of the Compensation Committee. From January 1, 2006 through August 23, 2006, the Compensation Committee was comprised of Robert Smith (Chairman), Myra Biblowit and Ms. Rosenberg. None of such Directors were officers or employees of the Company or any of the Company’s subsidiaries or had any relationship requiring disclosure by the Company under Item 404 of the SEC’s Regulation S-K during 2006 or before, except for Mr. Edelman. Mr. Edelman is Of Counsel to Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker, LLP, a New York City law firm (successor to Battle Fowler). Paul, Hastings represented the Company in certain matters in 2006. It is expected that Paul, Hastings will continue to represent the Company in connection with certain matters from time to time in the future. Amounts paid by the Company to Paul, Hastings in 2006 constituted less than 1% of Paul, Hastings’ gross revenue for such year.

 

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SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS

The following table sets forth information regarding beneficial ownership of Avis Budget Group, Inc. as of March 3, 2007 by (i) each person who is known by us to own beneficially more than 5% of Avis Budget Group’s Common Stock, (ii) each of Avis Budget Group’s directors and each of its executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table above, and (iii) all of its directors and current executive officers as a group. The information set forth on the following table also includes those shares of Avis Budget Group’s Common Stock beneficially owned by each of its former executive officers named in the Summary Compensation Table above. Avis Budget Group owns 100% of the equity interests of Avis Budget Operations, LLC, which in turn owns 100% of the equity interests of Avis Budget Holdings, LLC, which in turn owns 100% of the equity interests of Avis Budget Car Rental, LLC. Avis Budget Car Rental, LLC owns 100% of the common stock of Avis Budget Finance, Inc., the co-issuer of the Exchange Notes.

 

Name of Beneficial Owner

   Total Amount of
Shares Beneficially
Owned (1)
   Percent of
Common Stock
Owned (2)
   Of the Total
Number of Shares
Beneficially
Owned, Shares
which May be
Acquired within
60 days (3)

Principal Stockholders:

        

Hotchkis and Wiley Capital Management, LLC(4)

   7,664,983    7.558    —  

Neuberger Berman Inc.(5)

   5,758,336    5.678    —  

Barclays Global Investors, N.A.(6)

   5,734,977    5.654    —  

Directors and Current Named Executive Officers:

        

Ronald L. Nelson(7)

   149,786    *    104,249

Leonard S. Coleman(8)

   46,160    *    46,160

Martin L. Edelman(9)

   38,817    *    38,517

Lynn Krominga(10)

   5,024    *    5,024

Sheli Z. Rosenberg(11)

   22,925    *    19,710

F. Robert Salerno(12)

   91,947    *    85,468

Stender E. Sweeney(13)

   7,376    *    7,276

Mary C. Choksi(14)

   203    *    203

John T. McClain

   41,283    *    38,542

Mark J. Servodidio

   25,848    *    23,694

David B. Wyshner

   70,687    *    67,251

All Directors and Current Executive Officers as a group (15 persons)

   557,829    *    488,776

Former Executive Officers who are Named Executive Officers:

        

Henry R. Silverman

   3,467,743    3.34    2,543,960

Stephen P. Holmes(15)

   395,402    *    337,253

James E. Buckman(16)

   329,912    *    307,037

* Amount represents less than 1% of outstanding Common Stock.
(1) Shares beneficially owned include direct and indirect ownership of shares, stock options and restricted stock units that are currently vested or will become vested within 60 days of March 3, 2007, including vested awards and deferred shares under a deferred compensation plan.
(2) Based on 101,419,861 shares of Common Stock outstanding on March 3, 2007.
(3) Includes Vested Awards and Deferred Shares.
(4)

Reflects beneficial ownership of 7,664,983 shares of Common Stock by Hotchkis and Wiley Capital Management, LLC (“Hotchkis and Wiley”), as derived solely from information reported in a Schedule 13G under the Exchange Act filed by Hotchkis and Wiley with the SEC on February 14, 2007. Such Schedule

 

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13G indicates that Hotchkis and Wiley has sole voting power over 6,149,222 of the shares and no voting power over 1,515,761 of the shares. The principal business address for Hotchkis and Wiley Capital Management, LLC is 725 S. Figueroa Street, 39th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90017. Information is based upon the assumption that Hotchkis and Wiley holds 7,664,983 shares of Common Stock as of March 3, 2007.

(5) Reflects beneficial ownership of 5,758,336 shares of Common Stock by Neuberger Berman Inc. and Neuberger Berman, LLC (together, “Neuberger Berman”), as derived solely from information reported in a Schedule 13G under the Exchange Act filed by Neuberger Berman with the SEC on February 13, 2007. Such Schedule 13G indicates that Neuberger Berman has sole voting power over 4,683,856 of the shares, shared voting power over 17,930 and no voting power over 1,056,550 of the shares. The principal business address for Neuberger Berman Inc. is 605 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10158. Information is based upon the assumption that Neuberger Berman holds 5,758,336 shares of Common Stock as of March 3, 2007.
(6) Reflects beneficial ownership of 5,734,977 shares of Common Stock by Barclays Global Investors, N.A. and its affiliated entities (“Barclays”), as derived solely from information reported in a Schedule 13G under the Exchange Act filed by Barclays with the SEC on January 23, 2007. Such Schedule 13G indicates that Barclays has sole voting power over 5,064,912 of the shares and no voting power over 670,065 of the shares. The principal business address for Barclays Global Investors, N.A. is 45 Fremont Street, San Francisco, CA 94015. Information is based upon the assumption that Barclays holds 5,734,977 shares of Common Stock as of March 3, 2007.
(7) Includes 18,067 deferred shares.
(8) Includes 8,614 deferred shares.
(9) Includes 8,285 deferred shares.
(10) Represents deferred shares.
(11) Includes 9,457 deferred shares.
(12) Includes 3,648 deferred shares.
(13) Includes 7,276 deferred shares.
(14) Represents deferred shares.
(15) Includes 18,127 shares held in a non-qualified deferred compensation plan, 11,000 shares held by trust and 1,697 held by children.
(16) Includes 13,536 shares held in a non-qualified deferred compensation plan and 1,610 shares held by the James E. Buckman IRA.

 

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CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

Mr. Edelman is Of Counsel to Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker, LLP, a New York City law firm (successor to Battle Fowler). Paul, Hastings represented us in certain matters in 2006, 2005 and 2004. It is expected that Paul, Hastings will continue to represent us in connection with certain Cendant contingent liability matters that are currently being handled by Paul, Hastings and certain other matters from time to time in the future related to our vehicle rental operations, however, we do not expect Paul, Hastings to be paid more than $120,000 per year for vehicle rental-related matters in the future. Amounts paid by us to Paul, Hastings in 2006, 2005 and 2004 constituted less than 1% of Paul, Hastings’ gross revenue for each such year.

Certain affiliates of Barclays Global Investors, N.A. (collectively, “Barclays”), a 5.7% stockholder of Avis Budget Group based on a Schedule 13G filed by Barclays in January 2007 and 101,419,861 shares of Avis Budget Group common stock outstanding on March 3, 2007, have performed, and may in the future perform, various commercial banking, investment banking and other financial advisory services for us for which they have received, and will receive, customary fees and expenses. Fees paid to Barclays by us in 2006, 2005 and 2004 were approximately $4.7 million, $5 million and $5.8 million, respectively, including interest and letter of credit fees paid to Barclays under our credit facilities.

Policy and Procedures with Respect to Related Person Transactions

The Company recognizes that transactions with related persons can present potential or actual conflicts of interest and create the appearance that Company decisions are based on considerations other than the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. Accordingly, as a general matter, it is the Company’s preference to avoid such transactions. Nevertheless, the Company recognizes that there are situations in which transactions with related persons may be in, or may not be inconsistent with, the best interests of the Company and its stockholders. Therefore, the Company has adopted written procedures for the review, approval or ratification of transactions with related persons. The Company’s policy has been approved by the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors, and the Audit Committee will review and may amend this policy from time to time. For the purposes of this policy, a "Related Person Transaction" is a transaction, arrangement or relationship (or any series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships) in which the Company (including any of its subsidiaries) was, is or will be a participant, and in which any related person had, has or will have a direct or indirect interest.

Under our policy, Related Person Transactions that are identified as such prior to the consummation thereof or amendment thereto shall be consummated or amended only if proper notice of the facts and circumstances of such transaction has been given to the General Counsel and Corporate Compliance Officer and the Secretary of the Company. If such notice has been given, the Secretary will then assess whether the proposed transaction is a Related Person Transaction for purposes of the policy. If it is determined that the proposed transaction is a Related Person Transaction and the amount involved exceeds $120,000, the proposed Related Person Transaction will be submitted to the Audit Committee or, under certain circumstances, to the Chair of the Audit Committee (the "Chair"). The Audit Committee or the Chair will then consider all of the relevant facts and circumstances available to the Audit Committee or the Chair, provided that no member of the Audit Committee will participate in any review, consideration or approval of any Related Person Transaction with respect to which such member or any of his or her immediate family members is the related person. The Audit Committee or the Chair will approve only those Related Person Transactions that are in, or are not inconsistent with, the best interests of the Company and its stockholders, as the Committee or the Chair determines in good faith, and the Committee or the Chair, as applicable, will convey its decision to the General Counsel and Corporate Compliance Officer, who shall then convey the decision to the appropriate persons within the Company.

In the event the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or General Counsel and Corporate Compliance Officer becomes aware of a Related Person Transaction for which the amount involved exceeds $120,000 that has not been previously approved or previously ratified under this policy, the transaction will be submitted to the Audit Committee or Chair. If the transaction is pending or ongoing, the Audit Committee or the Chair will consider all the relevant facts and circumstances available to the Audit Committee of the Chair

 

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and shall evaluate all options, including but not limited to ratification, amendment or termination of the Related Person Transaction. If the transaction is completed, the Audit Committee or the Chair will evaluate the transaction to determine if rescission of the transaction and/or any other action is appropriate, and shall request that the General Counsel evaluate the Company’s controls and procedures to ascertain the reason the transaction was not submitted to the Committee or the Chair for prior approval and whether any changes to these procedures are recommended.

At the Audit Committee’s first meeting of each fiscal year, the Audit Committee will review any previously approved or ratified Related Person Transactions that remain ongoing and have a remaining term of more than six months or remaining amounts payable to or receivable from the Company of more than $60,000 and will determine if it is in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to continue, modify or terminate the Related Person Transaction.

Other than non-discretionary contributions made pursuant to the Company’s matching contribution program for employees and directors, proposed charitable contributions, or pledges of charitable contributions, in excess of $1,000, in the aggregate, by the Company to a charitable or non-profit organization identified by any related person as one in which such person is actively involved in fund-raising or otherwise serves as a director, trustee or in a similar capacity (a “Related Charity”) shall be subject to prior review and approval by the Audit Committee or, under certain circumstances, by the Chair. In addition, each “named executive officer” (as defined by SEC rules) shall report to the Secretary, and the Secretary shall consolidate the information and report to the Audit Committee, on a quarterly basis, charitable contributions in excess of $1,000, in the aggregate, by the Company’s named executive officers and their spouses to charitable or non-profit organizations identified as a Related Charity.

No immediate family member of a director or executive officer shall be hired as an employee (other than as a temporary intern, if approved by the General Counsel and Corporate Compliance Officer) of the Company unless the employment arrangement is approved by the Audit Committee or, under certain circumstances, by the Chair. In the event a person becomes a director or executive officer of the Company and an immediate family member of such person is already an employee of the Company, no material change in the terms of employment, including compensation, may be made without the prior approval of the Audit Committee (except, if the immediate family member is himself or herself an executive officer of the Company, any proposed change in the terms of employment shall be reviewed and approved in the same manner as other executive officer compensatory arrangements).

SEPARATION PLAN

As of the close of business on July 31, 2006, Cendant completed the distribution to its stockholders of all of its shares of common stock of Realogy Corporation, then a wholly owned subsidiary of Cendant that holds directly or indirectly the assets and liabilities of Cendant’s former Real Estate Services businesses, and of Wyndham Worldwide Corporation, then a wholly owned subsidiary of Cendant that holds directly or indirectly the assets and liabilities of Cendant’s Hospitality Services (including Timeshare Resorts) businesses.

On August 23, 2006, Cendant completed the sale of its Travelport business that represented Cendant’s former Travel Distribution Services businesses for net proceeds of approximately $4.1 billion, of which approximately $1.8 billion was used to repay indebtedness of Travelport. Pursuant to the Separation and Distribution Agreement among the Separating Businesses (as defined below), during third quarter 2006, Cendant distributed approximately $1.4 billion and $760 million of such proceeds to Realogy and Wyndham, respectively.

Following the completion of the Cendant Separation, on August 29, 2006, our stockholders approved a change in our name from Cendant Corporation to Avis Budget Group, Inc. and a 1-for-10 reverse stock split of our common stock, each of which became effective on the New York Stock Exchange at the opening of the market on September 5, 2006 and, at that time, our ticker symbol changed to “CAR”.

 

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Separation Related Transactions

In connection with the Cendant Separation, on July 27, 2006, we entered into a series of agreements to formalize our business arrangements with Realogy, Wyndham Worldwide and Travelport (the “Separated Businesses”).

Separation and Distribution Agreement

The Separation and Distribution Agreement sets forth agreements among the Company and the Separated Businesses regarding the principal transactions necessary to separate those businesses from the Company. It also sets forth other agreements that govern certain aspects of the ongoing relationships among the Company and the Separated Businesses after the completion of the Cendant Separation.

The Separation and Distribution Agreement identifies assets to be transferred, liabilities to be assumed and contracts to be assigned to each of the Separated Businesses and the Company as part of the separation of the Company into four companies, and describes when and how these transfers, assumptions and assignments will occur, although many of the transfers, assumptions and assignments may have occurred prior to the parties’ entering into the Separation and Distribution Agreement. In particular, the Separation and Distribution Agreement provides that, subject to the terms and conditions contained in the Separation and Distribution Agreement:

 

   

All of the assets and liabilities (including whether accrued, contingent or otherwise) primarily related to the businesses and operations of the Company’s Real Estate Services segment will be retained by or transferred to Realogy or one of its subsidiaries;

 

   

All of the assets and liabilities (including whether accrued, contingent or otherwise) primarily related to the businesses and operations of the Company’s Hospitality Services (including Timeshare Resorts) segments will be retained by or transferred to Wyndham Worldwide or one of its subsidiaries;

 

   

All of the assets and liabilities (including whether accrued, contingent or otherwise) primarily related to the businesses and operations of the Company’s Travel Distribution Services segment will be retained by or transferred to Travelport or one of its subsidiaries;

 

   

All of the assets and liabilities (including whether accrued, contingent or otherwise) primarily related to the businesses and operations of the Company’s Vehicle Rental segment will be retained by or transferred to the Company or one of its subsidiaries;

 

   

Liabilities (including whether accrued, contingent or otherwise) related to, arising out of