Auto Rental News
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Hertz Completes Sale of Donlen to Athene Holding

Hertz received $891 million in cash for the sale of the fleet management company.

April 4, 2021
Hertz Completes Sale of Donlen to Athene Holding

Tom Callahan is president of Donlen.

Photo courtesy of Donlen.

2 min to read


Hertz Global Holdings announced on March 30 the successful completion of the sale of substantially all the assets of its wholly owned subsidiary, Donlen Corporation to Athene Holding Ltd, the companies said in a statement.

Hertz received $891 million in cash proceeds per the terms of the transaction, subject to certain adjustments post-closing based on the level of assumed indebtedness, working capital and fleet equity.

Ad Loading...

Moving forward, Athene plans to invest behind the Donlen platform to support the continued growth and strength of the business, according to the statement. Athene, an insurance holding company, has more than $200 billion of assets under management.

“We are pleased to have maximized Donlen's value and are making excellent progress on our financial and operational initiatives as we reposition Hertz for the future,” said Paul Stone, Hertz president and CEO, in the statement. “We wish the entire Donlen team continued success under Athene's ownership."

“This investment is squarely in line with our strategy of sourcing attractive, differentiated long-term investments that deliver strong and consistent returns for our growing portfolio,” said Jim Belardi, Athene chairman and CEO.

“We are thrilled to gain the confidence and support of Athene, who believes deeply in our business and our people,” said Tom Callahan, Donlen president. “Donlen will be even better positioned for the future as an industry leader with Athene's investments in our proprietary tools, data management capabilities, and our focus on exceptional customer service, and we look forward to a bright future together."

Hertz filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in May 2020.

Ad Loading...

In 2011, Hertz purchased privately-held Donlen for $250 million, assuming approximately $680 million of Donlen's outstanding fleet debt.

More Rental Operations

Richard Lowden gesturing on stage in front of a red curtain at the Gaylord Texan Resort near Dallas.
Rental Operationsby Martin RomjueJune 12, 2026

Rethink The Future To Avert A Race To The Bottom

Rental car operators heard a sobering industry message and a stern challenge at the close of the International Car Rental Show.

Read More →
John Possumato holding microphone while asking a question during a live conference session at the ICRS Show.

DriveItAway, Free2move Plan Shared Fleet Program for Independent Rental Fleet Operators

Vehicles would be placed with participating rental operations to support car renter demand and provide additional fleet capacity.

Read More →
Close-up of a Jeep Wrangler front grille and headlight with text noting Stellantis’ recall of 1.3 million Jeep vehicles worldwide over a potential fire risk tied to power steering wiring.
Fleet Acquisitionby StaffJune 10, 2026

Stellantis Recalls 1.3 Million Jeep Vehicles Worldwide Over Fire Risk

Stellantis is recalling more than 1.3 million Jeep Wrangler and Gladiator models worldwide over a fire risk linked to power steering pump wiring.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Franchisee standing with yellow U-Save branded sign in front of the rental car outlet.

Green Motion And U-Save Open Rental Operations In Guatemala

The brands will open their first rental car outlets in the country at La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City.

Read More →
An airplane parked at a gate next to large headline and bullet points about study highlights.

U.S. Business Travel Drives $623 Billion+ in Economic Impact as Spending Reaches $538 Billion

The data also underscores the industry’s strong multiplier effect across the U.S. economy, revealing that each dollar invested in business travel in 2024 generated $1.16 in GDP.

Read More →
Green and black bar graphs show May 2025 v. 2026 fleet vehicle sales into commercial, rental, and government fleet sectors.
Fleet Acquisitionby Martin RomjueJune 3, 2026

Rental Fleet Sales Skating Just Above 2025 Levels

The U.S. economy's continued growth and positive business investment are creating a favorable environment for fleet vehicle demand.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Interviewer Martin Romjue and guest Ryan Kerzner on both sides of a title page with large lettering.
Rental Operationsby Martin RomjueJune 3, 2026

Grow Your Rental Business Beyond Cars

Rental fleet operations are facing numerous evolving challenges and opportunities from AI technology to rate and revenue management, to customer service and business growth.

Read More →
An AI-imaging tunnel instantly scans a car for damages at Wenn's location in Lithuania.
Rental OperationsJune 2, 2026

Using AI to Create Clarity, Not Conflict, in Rental Car Damage

Rental companies still need people, policy, judgment, and thoughtful implementation, with operators remaining in control of the customer experience.

Read More →
Close up of a high-tech vehicle console with a remote key.
Rental OperationsJune 1, 2026

Get Ready To Roll: No Stopping Self-Driving Rental Cars

The autonomous mobility technology revolution will move at its own pace, but sooner rather than later.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Two execs hold up a sign with Southwest and CarTrawler logos

Southwest Airlines Selects CarTrawler For Its Car Rental Booking Platform

The platform is designed to allow customers to compare and book rental vehicles more easily during the travel booking process.

Read More →
Ad Loading...