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Herc Holdings Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2017 Results and Announces Full Year Guidance for 2018

February 28, 2018 6:30 AM

BONITA SPRINGS, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Herc Holdings Inc. (NYSE: HRI) ("Herc Holdings" or the "Company") today reported financial results for the fourth quarter and full year ended December 31, 2017. Equipment rental revenue was $414.5 million and total revenues were $491.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2017, up from $356.7 million and $405.2 million, respectively, for the same period in the prior year. The Company reported net income of $214.3 million, or $7.44 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2017 compared with a net loss of $13.2 million, or $0.47 per diluted share, for the same period in the prior year. The 2017 fourth quarter included an estimated one-time net benefit of $207.1 million, or $7.19 per diluted share, associated with the enactment of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.

Fourth quarter equipment rental revenue increased 16.2%, on a 3.6% increase in average fleet at original equipment cost ("OEC"), compared to the fourth quarter of 2016. Overall pricing improved 3.0% and dollar utilization improved 360 basis points to 38.7% in the fourth quarter of 2017 over the prior-year period. Adjusted EBITDA increased 22.0% to $177.8 million in the fourth quarter, compared to $145.7 million in 2016. See page A-4 for a description of the items excluded in calculating adjusted EBITDA.

"Our strong fourth quarter and full year 2017 results reflect the ongoing implementation of our strategic initiatives," said Larry Silber, president and chief executive officer. "Growth in rental revenue benefited from a combination of strong customer demand, improved fleet mix and pricing optimization as our strategic initiatives continue to focus on urban markets and customer diversification. The traction we are gaining with our own initiatives, together with the overall health of the economy and the potential for increased infrastructure spending and other investments resulting from tax reform, increase our confidence that we are on the right track."

Fourth Quarter Highlights

Full Year 2017 Highlights

Capital Expenditures -- Fleet

Estimated Impact of U.S. Tax Reform

In December 2017, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (the "2017 Tax Act") was enacted. The legislation has a significant impact on the current tax environment in the U.S., including the reduction of the federal corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% in 2018. Subsequent to the enactment of the 2017 Tax Act, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") provided guidance on how public companies should report the effects of the 2017 Tax Act in their future SEC filings. The Company is still in the process of analyzing the 2017 Tax Act and refining its calculations, which could potentially impact the measurement of the Company's tax balances. Nevertheless, in accordance with the SEC guidance, the Company has performed an initial analysis of the 2017 Tax Act and recognized an estimated net tax benefit of $207.1 million for the year ended December 31, 2017. This benefit reflects (i) a $245.2 million benefit from the revaluation of the Company's net deferred tax liability based on a U.S. federal tax rate of 21%, partially offset by (ii) a one-time transition tax of $38.1 million on unremitted foreign earnings and profits. The Company elected to utilize current net operating loss carryforwards (“NOL’s”) in 2017 as an offset and therefore expects no cash outlay for the transition tax. Furthermore, in light of the 2017 Tax Act coupled with our remaining NOL’s, we do not anticipate that the Company will pay federal cash income taxes for at least the next five years.

Strategic Actions

In January 2018, the Company signed an agreement to sell its joint venture interests in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and is in the process of exiting its operations in the United Kingdom. These strategic actions reflect the decision to simplify the Company's business to focus primarily on growth opportunities in North America.

2018 Guidance

"Our 2018 guidance is based on forecasted strong rental market fundamentals and the positive impact of our strategic initiatives. This year's capital expenditure program reflects the typical rotation of disposal and replacement of equipment purchased approximately seven years ago, as the economy recovered from a severe recession. We plan to continue to grow and optimize our fleet allocation and customer mix to drive improvement in our dollar utilization rate. We are confident that we have the right strategy to grow and diversify our customers and revenues while improving our profitability and achieving adjusted EBITDA growth," added Silber.

Based on the Company's planning assumptions, full year 2018 guidance is as follows:

Outlook

2017 Actual

Adjusted EBITDA $620 million to $655 million $585.4 million
Net fleet capital expenditures $525 million to $575 million $341.3 million

The Company does not provide forward-looking guidance for certain financial measures on a GAAP basis because certain items contained in the GAAP measures, which may be significant, cannot be reasonably estimated, such as restructuring and restructuring related charges, special tax items, gains and losses from asset sales and the ultimate outcome of pending litigation.

Earnings Call and Webcast Information

Herc Holdings' fourth quarter 2017 earnings webcast will be held today at 8:30 a.m. U.S. Eastern Time. Interested U.S. parties may call +1-877-883-0383 and international participants should call + 1-412-902-6506, using the access code: 5192499. Please dial in at least 10 minutes before the call start time to ensure that you are connected to the call and to register your name and company.

Those who wish to listen to the live conference call and view the accompanying presentation slides should visit the Events and Presentations tab of the Investor Relations section of the Company's website at IR.HercRentals.com. The press release and presentation slides for the call will be posted to this section of the website prior to the call.

A replay of the conference call will be available via webcast on the company website at IR.HercRentals.com, where it will be archived for 90 days after the call. A telephonic replay will be available for one week. To listen to the archived call by telephone, U.S. participants should dial + 1-877-344-7529 and international participants + 1-412-317-0088 and enter the replay access code: 10115882.

About Herc Holdings Inc.

Herc Holdings Inc., which operates through its Herc Rentals Inc. subsidiary, is one of the leading equipment rental suppliers with approximately 275 locations, principally in North America. With over 50 years of experience, we are a full-line equipment rental supplier offering a broad portfolio of equipment for rent. Our classic fleet includes aerial, earthmoving, material handling, trucks and trailers, air compressors, compaction and lighting. Our equipment rental business is supported by ProSolutionsTM, our industry-specific solutions-based services, which includes pumping solutions, power generation, climate control, remediation and restoration, and studio and production equipment, and our ProContractor professional grade tools. Our product offerings and services are aimed at helping customers work more efficiently, effectively and safely. The Company has approximately 4,900 employees. Herc Holdings’ 2017 total revenues were approximately $1.75 billion. All references to “Herc Holdings” or the “Company” in this press release refer to Herc Holdings Inc. and its subsidiaries, unless otherwise indicated. For more information on Herc Holdings and its products and services, visit: www.HercRentals.com.

Certain Additional Information

In this release we refer to the following operating measures:

Basis of Presentation

The financial information included in this press release is based upon the condensed consolidated financial statements of the Company which are presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP). These financial statements and financial information represent only those operations, assets, liabilities and equity that form Herc Holdings on a stand-alone basis. As the spin-off occurred on June 30, 2016, amounts for the first half of 2016 represent carve-out financial results.

Forward-Looking Statements

This release contains statements, including those under "2018 Guidance," that are not statements of historical fact, but instead are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on these statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. There are a number of risks, uncertainties and other important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those suggested by our forward-looking statements, including:

All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by such cautionary statements. We do not undertake any obligation to release publicly any update or revision to any of the forward-looking statements.

Information Regarding Non-GAAP Financial Measures

In addition to results calculated according to accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”), the Company has provided certain information in this release which is not calculated according to GAAP (“non-GAAP”), such as adjusted EBITDA. Management uses these non-GAAP measures to evaluate operating performance and period-over-period performance of our core business without regard to potential distortions, and believes that investors will likewise find these non-GAAP measures useful in evaluating the Company’s performance. These measures are frequently used by security analysts, institutional investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of companies in our industry.

Non-GAAP measures should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for our reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP and, as calculated, may not be comparable to similarly titled measures of other companies. For the definitions of these terms, further information about management’s use of these measures as well as a reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures to the most comparable GAAP financial measures, please see the supplemental schedules that accompany this release.

HERC HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(In millions, except per share data)
Three Months Ended Years Ended
December 31, December 31,
2017 2016 2017 2016
Revenues:
Equipment rental $ 414.5 $ 356.7 $ 1,499.0 $ 1,352.7
Sales of revenue earning equipment 62.3 28.5 190.8 122.5
Sales of new equipment, parts and supplies 12.0 17.3 52.3 68.2
Service and other revenue 2.9 2.7 12.4 11.4
Total revenues 491.7 405.2 1,754.5 1,554.8
Expenses:
Direct operating 195.4 167.4 721.6 655.2
Depreciation of revenue earning equipment 95.4 95.4 378.9 350.5
Cost of sales of revenue earning equipment 57.1 32.4 192.0 144.0
Cost of sales of new equipment, parts and supplies 9.2 13.8 39.5 53.0
Selling, general and administrative 76.0 71.7 320.6 275.2
Impairment 0.4 29.7
Interest expense, net 38.2 32.1 140.0 84.2
Other income, net (1.1 ) (0.2 ) (3.4 ) (2.4 )
Total expenses 470.6 412.6 1,818.9 1,559.7
Income (loss) before income taxes 21.1 (7.4 ) (64.4 ) (4.9 )
Income tax benefit (provision) 193.2 (5.8 ) 224.7 (14.8 )
Net income (loss) $ 214.3 $ (13.2 ) $ 160.3 $ (19.7 )
Weighted average shares outstanding:
Basic 28.3 28.3 28.3 28.3
Diluted 28.8 28.3 28.6 28.3
Earnings (loss) per share:
Basic $ 7.57 $ (0.47 ) $ 5.66 $ (0.70 )
Diluted $ 7.44 $ (0.47 ) $ 5.60 $ (0.70 )

A-1

HERC HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED BALANCE SHEETS
(In millions)
December 31, December 31,
2017 2016
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents $ 41.5 $ 24.0
Restricted cash and cash equivalents 7.0
Receivables, net of allowance 386.3 293.3
Inventory 23.7 24.1
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 23.0 23.3
Total current assets 474.5 371.7
Revenue earning equipment, net 2,374.6 2,390.0
Property and equipment, net 286.3 272.0
Goodwill and intangible assets, net 374.9 394.9
Other long-term assets 38.1 34.7
Deferred tax assets 1.3 2.7
Total assets $ 3,549.7 $ 3,466.0
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current maturities of long-term debt and financing obligations $ 25.4 $ 15.7
Accounts payable 152.0 139.0
Accrued liabilities 113.3 88.2
Total current liabilities 290.7 242.9
Long-term debt, net 2,137.1 2,178.6
Financing obligations, net 112.9
Deferred taxes 462.8 694.8
Other long-term liabilities 35.8 32.0
Total liabilities 3,039.3 3,148.3
Total equity 510.4 317.7
Total liabilities and equity $ 3,549.7 $ 3,466.0

A-2

HERC HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED AND COMBINED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOW
(In millions)
Years Ended December 31,
2017 2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss) $ 160.3 $ (19.7 )
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation of revenue earning equipment 378.9 350.5
Depreciation of property and equipment 46.8 39.7
Amortization of intangible assets 4.7 5.1
Amortization of deferred debt and financing costs 6.4 5.6
Stock-based compensation charges 10.1 5.5
Impairment 29.7
Provision for receivables allowance 52.4 44.4
Deferred taxes (228.4 ) 12.3
Loss on sale of revenue earning equipment 1.2 21.5
Income from joint ventures (1.9 ) (2.3 )
Other 5.8 8.6
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Receivables (131.6 ) (59.2 )
Inventory, prepaid and other assets (2.1 ) (19.0 )
Accounts payable (10.0 ) 9.2
Accrued liabilities and other long-term liabilities 19.4 31.2
Net cash provided by operating activities 341.7 433.4
Cash flows from investing activities:
Net change in restricted cash and cash equivalents 7.0
Revenue earning equipment expenditures (501.4 ) (468.3 )
Proceeds from disposal of revenue earning equipment 160.1 115.4
Non-rental capital expenditures (74.6 ) (47.8 )
Proceeds from disposal of property and equipment 5.9 5.7
Net cash used in investing activities (403.0 ) (395.0 )
Cash flows from financing activities:
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt 1,235.0
Repayments of long-term debt (247.0 )
Proceeds from revolving lines of credit 561.9 1,791.0
Repayments on revolving lines of credit (339.2 ) (881.0 )
Proceeds from financing obligations 119.5
Net financing activities with THC and affiliates (2,139.3 )
Payment of financing obligations and debt financing costs (2.7 ) (41.5 )
Other financing activities, net (15.0 ) (2.9 )
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities 77.5 (38.7 )
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents 1.3 (0.4 )
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents during the period 17.5 (0.7 )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period 24.0 24.7
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period $ 41.5 $ 24.0
Supplemental disclosure of non-cash investing activity:
Purchases of revenue earning equipment in accounts payable $ 22.8 $ 15.1
Disposals of revenue earning equipment in accounts receivable $ 12.6 $
Non-rental capital expenditures in accounts payable $ $ 7.8

A-3

HERC HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIESSUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULESEBITDA AND ADJUSTED EBITDA RECONCILIATIONSUnaudited

EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA are not recognized terms under GAAP and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for our reported results prepared in accordance with GAAP. Further, since all companies do not use identical calculations, our definition and presentation of these measures may not be comparable to similarly titled measures reported by other companies.

EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA - EBITDA represents the sum of net income (loss), provision (benefit) for income taxes, interest expense, net, depreciation of revenue earning equipment and non-rental depreciation and amortization. Adjusted EBITDA represents EBITDA plus the sum of merger and acquisition related costs, restructuring and restructuring related charges, spin-off costs, non-cash stock-based compensation charges, loss on extinguishment of debt (which is included in interest expense, net), impairment charges, gain on the disposal of a business and certain other items. Management uses EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA to evaluate operating performance and period-over-period performance of our core business without regard to potential distortions, and believes that investors will likewise find these non-GAAP measures useful in evaluating the Company's performance. These measures are frequently used by security analysts, institutional investors and other interested parties in the evaluation of companies in our industry. However, EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA do not purport to be alternatives to net income as an indicator of operating performance. Additionally, neither measure purports to be an alternative to cash flows from operating activities as a measure of liquidity, as they do not consider certain cash requirements such as interest payments and tax payments. The reconciliation of EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA to net income (loss) is presented below:

Three Months Ended Years Ended
December 31, December 31,
2017 2016 2017 2016
Net income (loss) $ 214.3 $ (13.2 ) $ 160.3 $ (19.7 )
Income tax provision (benefit) (193.2 ) 5.8 (224.7 ) 14.8
Interest expense, net 38.2 32.1 140.0 84.2
Depreciation of revenue earning equipment 95.4 95.4 378.9 350.5
Non-rental depreciation and amortization 13.8 11.9 51.5 44.8
EBITDA 168.5 132.0 506.0 474.6
Restructuring charges (0.2 ) 0.5 1.2 4.0
Restructuring related charges(1) 0.2 4.3 2.9
Spin-Off costs 8.2 11.5 35.2 49.2
Non-cash stock-based compensation charges 2.6 1.7 10.1 5.5
Impairment 0.4 29.7
Other(2) (1.9 ) (1.1 )
Adjusted EBITDA $ 177.8 $ 145.7 $ 585.4 $ 536.2
1) Represents incremental costs incurred directly supporting restructuring initiatives.
(2) Comprised primarily of a gain on sale of real estate of $2.3 million during the three months and year ended December 31, 2017, partially offset by transaction costs of $0.3 million and $0.9 million for the three months and year ended December 31, 2017, respectively.

A-4

HERC HOLDINGS INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULES
NET REVENUE EARNING EQUIPMENT EXPENDITURES
Years Ended December 31,

(in millions)

2017 2016
Revenue earning equipment expenditures $ 501.4 $ 468.3
Proceeds from disposals of revenue earning equipment (160.1 ) (115.4 )
Net revenue earning equipment expenditures $ 341.3 $ 352.9

A-5

Herc Holdings Inc.

Paul Dickard, 239-301-1214

Vice President, Communications

[email protected]

or

Elizabeth Higashi, CFA, 239-301-1024

Vice President, Investor Relations

[email protected]

Source: Herc Holdings Inc.

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