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National Press Release

Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group Reports Results, Ends 2008 With $230 Million in Unrestricted Cash

Published 2009-02-18 07:00
By Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.

TULSA, Okla., Feb. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE: DTG) today reported results for the fourth quarter and year ended December 31, 2008. The net loss for the 2008 fourth quarter was $72.2 million, or $3.36 per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $30.6 million, or $1.45 per diluted share, for the comparable 2007 quarter. The net loss for the fourth quarter of 2008 included a loss of $0.93 per diluted share related to a decrease in fair value of derivatives, as compared to a loss of $0.57 per diluted share in last year's fourth quarter. In addition, the fourth quarter loss for 2008 included non-cash charges of $0.61 per diluted share related to the write-off of capitalized costs associated with certain information technology initiatives and substantially all the long-lived assets utilized in the Company's Canadian operations. Non-cash charges totaled $0.01 in the fourth quarter of 2007.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020412/DTGLOGO)

The Non-GAAP net loss for the 2008 fourth quarter was $39.1 million, or $1.82 loss per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $18.2 million, or $0.86 loss per diluted share for the 2007 fourth quarter. Non-GAAP net income (loss) excludes the (increase) decrease in fair value of derivatives and the non-cash charges related to the impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets, net of related tax impact. A reconciliation of non-GAAP to GAAP results is included in Table 3.

"In our third quarter press release dated November 5, 2008 we disclosed that the Company expected a significant loss during the fourth quarter. As expected, the new management team found the operating environment extremely difficult as the overall deterioration in the economy resulted in a significant decline in consumer demand, while industry-wide de-fleeting issues negatively impacted revenue per day. The combination resulted in a nine percent revenue decline on a year over year basis. On the cost side, the lack of liquidity in the retail credit market depressed demand levels at used vehicle auctions, resulting in further deterioration of vehicle residual values, driving our fleet depreciation costs above expectations and historical levels," said Scott L. Thompson, President and Chief Executive Officer.

For the quarter ended December 31, 2008, the Company's total revenue was $355.1 million, as compared to $389.2 million for the comparable 2007 period. Rental revenue for the quarter was $336.7 million, a decrease of 9.8 percent, as compared to the same period in 2007. The decline was driven by a 6.8 percent decrease in revenue per day and a 3.2 percent deterioration in rental days.

Per vehicle depreciation costs increased approximately 16.0 percent in the fourth quarter of 2008 compared to the fourth quarter of 2007 due to the decline in residual values resulting from the deterioration of the used vehicle market. The fourth quarter average fleet was down approximately 3 percent compared with last year's fourth quarter. Vehicle utilization, a measure of fleet efficiency, was 80.3 percent, consistent with last year's fourth quarter.

Full Year Results

For the year ended December 31, 2008, the net loss was $340.4 million, or $15.93 loss per diluted share. For the year ended December 31, 2007, net income was $1.2 million, or $0.05 per diluted share. The 2008 results included a $13.02 loss per diluted share related to the impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets compared to a $0.09 loss per diluted share in the 2007 results. Total revenue for the period was $1.7 billion, a decrease of 3.6 percent over the comparable period in 2007.

The non-GAAP loss per diluted share for the year ended December 31, 2008, was $1.91 compared to non-GAAP income per diluted share of $1.11 for the same time period in 2007. Non-GAAP net income (loss) excludes the (increase) decrease in fair value of derivatives and the non-cash charges related to the impairment of goodwill and long-lived assets, net of related tax impact. A reconciliation of non-GAAP to GAAP results is included in Table 3.

As of December 31, 2008, the Company had tangible net worth of approximately $185 million, or $8.56 per share.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

As of December 31, 2008, the Company had $230 million of unrestricted cash and was in full compliance with all of the financial covenants under its various financing arrangements with lenders.

The Company is continuing to work with its senior secured credit facility lenders to modify certain terms of that facility, and based on current facts and circumstances, expects to complete that amendment prior to the February 28, 2009 expiration date of the current amendment. Based on the Company's unrestricted cash available at December 31, 2008 and its current operating forecast, the Company believes it has sufficient liquidity to reduce its term debt if needed to ensure continued compliance with the leverage ratio test under the senior secured credit facility.

As part of the Company's de-leveraging of its balance sheet, the Company repaid in full both the Conduit and Liquidity vehicle financing facilities in February 2009, reducing its vehicle-related debt and restricted cash by $490 million. The Company's next scheduled debt maturity under its medium term note program will occur in the first quarter of 2010 when $400 million of those facilities begin amortizing over a six-month period.

Outlook

The Company expects 2009 will continue to be a difficult operating environment as uncertainty surrounding the timing of the U.S. economic recovery will continue to weigh on consumer confidence. At the same time, challenges with credit markets and used vehicle residuals are expected to continue to impact fleet capacity and possibly fleet costs.

Vehicle rental revenues are estimated to be down 6 to 12 percent for the full year of 2009 compared to 2008.

"The rental car industry is facing a multiple of external factors that have combined to put pressure on major aspects of our business. As we move forward in 2009, our primary objective is preservation of liquidity and enhancement of operating cash flow to ensure that we maintain maximum flexibility to address the uncertainties ahead. The new management team took a number of critical steps during its first 100 days to position the Company to meet this objective, including:

    *  instituting new revenue management initiatives to enhance revenue
    *  completing significant personnel reductions to lower future operating
       costs
    *  reducing our overall fleet size to right-size the business to expected
       demand levels
    *  extending fleet holding periods to lower finance costs and mitigate
       declines in residual values
    *  entering into a multi-year secondary supply agreement with Ford Motor
       Company to provide an alternative source of vehicles to meet our
       customer needs
    *  closing certain marginal and non-profitable locations
    *  obtaining approval from our financing sources to operate a fleet of
       100% risk vehicles, thus reducing credit exposure to automobile
       manufacturers for residual value guarantees

Reacting and adapting quickly to volatile changes in the marketplace will be key to our 2009 success. By streamlining our organization and management structure, we believe we are positioned to react effectively as conditions change," said Thompson.

The Company noted that its January 2009 revenues were consistent on a year-over-year basis due to an increase in rate per day that offset a single digit decline in rental days.

Web cast and conference call information

The Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. fourth quarter and full year 2008 earnings conference call will be held on Wednesday, February 18, 2009, at 10:00 a.m. (CST). Those interested in listening to the conference call live may access the call via Web cast at the corporate Web site, http://www.dtag.com, or by dialing 800-857-9818 (domestic) or 517-308-9296 (international) using the pass code "Dollar Thrifty." An audio replay of the conference call will be available through March 4, 2009, by calling 800-873- 2041 (domestic) or 203-369-4005 (international). The replay will also be available via the corporate Web site for one year.

About Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.

Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. is a Fortune 1000 company headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Driven by the mission "Value Every Time," the Company's brands, Dollar Rent A Car and Thrifty Car Rental, serve value- conscious travelers in over 70 countries. Dollar and Thrifty have over 700 corporate and franchised locations in the United States and Canada, operating in virtually all of the top U.S. and Canadian airport markets. The Company's approximately 6,800 employees are located mainly in North America, but global service capabilities exist through an expanding international franchise network. For additional information, visit http://www.dtag.com or the brand sites at http://www.dollar.com and http://www.thrifty.com .

This press release contains "forward-looking statements" about our expectations, plans and performance. These statements use such words as "may," "will," "expect," "believe," "intend," "should," "could," "anticipate," "estimate," "forecast," "project," "plan" and similar expressions. These statements do not guarantee future performance and Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. assumes no obligation to update them. Risks and uncertainties that could materially affect future results include the impact of persistent pricing and demand pressures, particularly in light of the continuing volatility in the global financial markets, constrained credit markets and concerns about global economic prospects, which have continued to depress consumer confidence and spending levels and could affect the ability of our customers to meet their payment obligations to us; the financial performance and prospects of our principal vehicle supplier and whether the challenges facing the U.S. automotive industry abate and, if not, whether further federal funding will be available in sufficient amounts to stabilize the industry; volatility in gasoline prices; the impact of pricing and other actions by competitors, particularly if demand deteriorates further; airline travel patterns, including further disruptions or reductions in air travel resulting from airline bankruptcies, industry consolidation, capacity reductions and pricing actions; the cost and other terms of acquiring and disposing of automobiles and the impact of current adverse conditions in the used car market on our ability to reduce our fleet capacity as and when projected by our plans; our ability to manage our fleet mix to match demand and reduce vehicle depreciation costs, particularly as we increase the level of Non- Program Vehicles (those without a guaranteed residual value) and our exposure to the used car market; our ability to obtain cost-effective financing as needed without unduly restricting operational flexibility, particularly if global economic conditions deteriorate further; our ability to comply with financial covenants or to obtain necessary amendments or waivers, and the impact of the terms of those amendments, such as potential reductions in lender commitments; our ability to manage the consequences under our financing agreements of a default by any of the Monolines that provide credit support for our asset backed financing structures; whether counterparties under our derivative instruments will continue to perform as required; whether ongoing governmental and regulatory initiatives in the United States and elsewhere to stabilize the financial markets will be successful; the effectiveness of other actions we take to manage costs and liquidity and whether further reductions in the scope of our operations will be necessary; disruptions in information and communication systems we rely on, including those relating to methods of payment; access to reservation distribution channels; the cost of regulatory compliance and the outcome of pending litigation; local market conditions where we and our franchisees do business, including whether franchisees will continue to have access to capital as needed; and the impact of natural catastrophes and terrorism. Forward-looking statements should be considered in light of information in this press release and other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").

This release includes certain non-GAAP financial measures as defined under SEC rules. As required by SEC rules, important information regarding such measures is contained on Tables 3 and 4 to this release.


                                                                      Table 1


                    Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.
                     Consolidated Statement of Operations

               (In thousands, except share and per share data)
                                  Unaudited

                                      Three months ended          As % of
                                         December 31,          Total revenues
                                    2008              2007      2008    2007
    Revenues:
      Vehicle rentals              $336,731          $373,306   94.8%   95.9%
      Other                          18,378            15,898    5.2%    4.1%
           Total revenues           355,109           389,204  100.0%  100.0%

    Costs and Expenses:
      Direct vehicle and operating  199,550           214,366   56.2%   55.1%
      Vehicle depreciation and
       lease charges, net           132,739           120,176   37.4%   30.9%
      Selling, general and
       administrative                53,453            49,006   15.1%   12.6%
      Interest expense, net          27,533            25,809    7.7%    6.6%
      Goodwill and long-lived
       asset impairment              16,678               500    4.7%    0.1%
           Total costs and
            expenses                429,953           409,857  121.1%  105.3%

    (Increase) decrease in fair
     value of derivatives            34,071            20,788    9.6%    5.3%

    Loss before income taxes       (108,915)          (41,441) (30.7%) (10.6%)

    Income tax benefit              (36,737)          (10,860) (10.4%)  (2.7%)

    Net loss                       $(72,178)         $(30,581) (20.3%)  (7.9%)

    Loss per share: (a)
      Basic                          $(3.36)           $(1.45)
      Diluted                        $(3.36)           $(1.45)

    Weighted average number
     of shares outstanding: (a)
      Basic                      21,469,360        21,109,679
      Diluted                    21,469,360        21,109,679


                                             Year ended           As % of
                                            December 31,       Total revenues
                                          2008        2007      2008    2007
    Revenues:
      Vehicle rentals                  $1,616,153  $1,676,349   95.2%   95.2%
      Other                                81,840      84,442    4.8%    4.8%
           Total revenues               1,697,993   1,760,791  100.0%  100.0%

    Costs and Expenses:
      Direct vehicle and operating        888,294     887,178   52.3%   50.4%
      Vehicle depreciation and lease
       charges, net                       539,406     477,853   31.8%   27.1%
      Selling, general and
       administrative                     213,734     230,515   12.6%   13.1%
      Interest expense, net               110,424     109,728    6.5%    6.3%
      Goodwill and long-lived asset
       impairment                         366,822       3,719   21.6%    0.2%
           Total costs and expenses     2,118,680   1,708,993  124.8%   97.1%

    (Increase) decrease in fair value
     of derivatives                        36,114      38,990    2.1%    2.2%

    Income (loss) before income taxes    (456,801)     12,808  (26.9%)   0.7%

    Income tax expense (benefit)         (116,379)     11,593   (6.9%)   0.6%

    Net income (loss)                   $(340,422)     $1,215  (20.0%)   0.1%

    Earnings (loss) per share: (a)
      Basic                               $(15.93)      $0.05
      Diluted                             $(15.93)      $0.05

    Weighted average number
     of shares outstanding: (a)
      Basic                            21,375,589  22,580,298
      Diluted                          21,375,589  23,625,612

    (a)  Because the Company incurred a loss from continuing operations during
         the fourth quarters of 2008 and 2007 and for the year ended
         December 31, 2008, outstanding stock options, performance awards and
         employee and director compensation shares deferred are anti-dilutive.
         Accordingly, basic and diluted weighted average shares outstanding
         are equal for such periods.

    Note:  Certain reclassifications have been made to the 2007 financial
    information to conform to the classifications used in 2008.


                                                                   Table 2

                    Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.
                    Selected Operating and Financial Data

                                    Three months ended        Year ended
                                     December 31, 2008     December 31, 2008

    OPERATING DATA:

    Vehicle Rental Data: (includes
     franchise acquisitions)

      Average number of vehicles
       operated                            107,654               120,309
         % change from prior year            (3.1%)                (2.6%)
      Number of rental days              7,956,066            36,879,641
         % change from prior year            (3.2%)                (0.9%)
      Vehicle utilization                    80.3%                 83.8%
         Percentage points change from
          prior year                      -0.1 p.p.              1.2 p.p.
      Average revenue per day               $42.32                $43.82
         % change from prior year            (6.8%)                (2.7%)
      Monthly average revenue per vehicle   $1,043                $1,119
         % change from prior year            (6.9%)                (1.0%)

      Average depreciable fleet            109,085               123,673
         % change from prior year            (4.6%)                (3.4%)
      Monthly average depreciation (net)
       per vehicle                            $406                  $363
         % change from prior year            16.0%                 16.7%



    FINANCIAL DATA: (in millions)
     (unaudited)

      Non-vehicle depreciation and
       amortization                             $8                   $30
      Non-vehicle interest expense               5                    17
      Non-vehicle interest income               (1)                   (4)
      Non-vehicle capital expenditures
       (excludes acquisitions)                   5                    29
      Franchise acquisitions                     1                     2
      Cash paid for (refund of) income taxes   (10)                   (9)


                         Selected Balance Sheet Data
                                (In millions)

                                                           December 31,
                                                      2008              2007
                                                           (unaudited)

       Cash and cash equivalents                      $230              $101
       Restricted cash and investments                 597               133
       Revenue-earning vehicles, net                 1,946             2,808

       Vehicle debt                                  2,310             2,408
       Non-vehicle debt (corporate debt)               178               249
       Stockholders' equity                            215               579


                        Tangible Net Worth Calculation
                (In millions, except share and per share data)

                                                           December 31,
                                                      2008              2007
                                                           (unaudited)

       Stockholders' equity                           $215              $579
       Less:  Goodwill                                 -                 281
       Less:  Intangible assets, net                    30               104
       Tangible net worth                             $185              $194

       Shares outstanding                       21,624,752        21,488,352

       Tangible net worth per share                  $8.56             $9.03


                                                                     Table 3

                    Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.
                              Non-GAAP Measures

     Non-GAAP pretax income (loss), Non-GAAP net income (loss) and Non-GAAP
     EPS exclude the impact of the (increase) decrease in fair value of
     derivatives and the impact of goodwill and long-lived asset impairments,
     net of related tax impact (as applicable), from the reported GAAP
     measure.  Due to volatility resulting from the mark-to-market treatment
     of the derivatives and the nature of the non-cash impairments, the
     Company believes non-GAAP measures provide an important assessment of
     year over year operating results.  See table below for a reconciliation
     of non-GAAP to GAAP results.

     The following table reconciles reported GAAP pretax income (loss) per the
     income statement to non-GAAP pretax income (loss):

                                     Three months ended       Year ended
                                        December 31,         December 31,
                                       2008       2007      2008      2007
                                       (in thousands)       (in thousands)

    Income (loss) before income
     taxes - as reported             $(108,915) $(41,441) $(456,801) $12,808

    (Increase) decrease in fair
     value of derivatives               34,071    20,788     36,114   38,990

    Goodwill and long-lived asset
     impairment                         16,678       500    366,822    3,719

    Pretax income (loss) - non-GAAP   $(58,166) $(20,153)  $(53,865) $55,517


     The following table reconciles reported GAAP net income (loss) per the
     income statement to non-GAAP net income (loss):

                                     Three months ended      Year ended
                                        December 31,        December 31,
                                       2008      2007      2008      2007
                                       (in thousands)      (in thousands)

    Net income (loss) - as reported  $(72,178) $(30,581) $(340,422)  $1,215

    (Increase) decrease in fair
     value of derivatives, net of
     tax                               20,070    12,106     21,271   22,813

    Goodwill and long-lived asset
     impairment, net of tax            13,058       301    278,241    2,236

    Net income (loss) - non-GAAP     $(39,050) $(18,174)  $(40,910) $26,264


     The following table reconciles reported GAAP diluted earnings (loss) per
     share ("EPS") to non-GAAP diluted EPS:

                                          Three months ended    Year ended
                                             December 31,      December 31,
                                            2008     2007      2008     2007

    EPS, diluted - as reported             $(3.36)  $(1.45)  $(15.93)  $0.05

    EPS impact of (increase) decrease in
     fair value of derivatives, net of tax   0.93     0.57      1.00    0.97

    EPS impact of goodwill and long-lived
     asset impairment, net of tax            0.61     0.01     13.02    0.09

    EPS, diluted - non-GAAP                $(1.82)  $(0.86)   $(1.91)  $1.11

     Note:  Certain reclassifications have been made to the 2007 financial
     information to conform to the classifications used in 2008.


                                                                       Table 4

                    Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.
                              Non-GAAP Measures

     Corporate Adjusted EBITDA means earnings, excluding the impact of the
     (increase) decrease in fair value of derivatives, before non-vehicle
     interest expense, income taxes, non-vehicle depreciation, amortization,
     and certain other items specified in the Company's Senior Secured Credit
     Facility.  The Company believes Corporate Adjusted EBITDA is important as
     it is utilized in the calculation of financial covenants in the Company's
     credit agreement and provides investors with a supplemental measure of
     the Company's liquidity by adjusting earnings to exclude non-cash items
     consistent with the requirements in the Company's financial covenants.
     The Company has revised its calculation of  Corporate Adjusted EBITDA for
     all periods presented to be consistent with the Company's credit
     agreement.  EBITDA is not defined under GAAP and should not be considered
     as an alternative measure of the Company's net income, operating
     performance, cash flow or liquidity.   Corporate Adjusted EBITDA amounts
     presented may not be comparable to similar measures disclosed by other
     companies.

                               Three months ended        Year ended
                                  December 31,          December 31,
                                2008       2007       2008       2007
                                 (in thousands)        (in thousands)
    Reconciliation of Net income
    (loss) to Corporate Adjusted
    EBITDA

    Net income (loss) - as
     reported                  $(72,178)  $(30,581) $(340,422)    $1,215

    (Increase) decrease in
     fair value of derivatives   34,071     20,788     36,114     38,990
    Non-vehicle interest expense  5,275      5,670     17,620     16,068
    Income tax expense
     (benefit)                  (36,737)   (10,860)  (116,379)    11,593
    Non-vehicle depreciation      6,216      5,606     22,722     21,704
    Amortization                  2,011      1,711      7,355      6,386
    Non-cash stock incentives     1,563        888      3,917      7,682
    Goodwill and long-lived
     asset impairment            16,678        500    366,822      3,719
    Asset Write-off / Other        (280)       163        -          178

    Corporate Adjusted EBITDA  $(43,381)   $(6,115)   $(2,251)  $107,535


    Reconciliation of Corporate
    Adjusted EBITDA to Cash Flows
    From Operating Activities

    Corporate Adjusted EBITDA  $(43,381)   $(6,115)   $(2,251)  $107,535

    Vehicle depreciation, net
     of gains/losses from
     disposal                   132,545    119,708    538,250    474,967
    Non-vehicle interest
     expense                     (5,275)    (5,670)   (17,620)   (16,068)
    Change in assets and
     liabilities, net of
     acquisitions, and other   (112,753)   (60,232)   (48,703)   (29,124)
         Net cash provided by
          (used in) operating
          activities           $(28,864)   $47,691   $469,676   $537,310

    Memo:
    Net cash provided by
     (used in) investing
     activities                 $196,864    $72,787  $(161,260) $(446,309)
    Net cash used in
     financing activities     $(147,566) $(209,220) $(179,805) $(181,957)

    Note:  Certain reclassifications have been made to the 2007 financial
    information to conform to the classifications used in 2008.

SOURCE Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc.



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