Learn More: Hertz Posts Net Loss of $1.7B in 2020
Hertz Gets $4.2B Purchase Bid in Plan to Exit Bankruptcy
The buyers, Knighthead Capital Management and Certares Management, would take at least a majority share and as much as 100% of the company. The proposed plan would pay in full all of Hertz's existing first- and second-lien debt and provide a 70% cash recovery to general unsecured creditors.

Last year, Hertz bidders Knighthead and Certares created an investment fund that looks to capitalize on an expected rebound in travel companies disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.
Photo courtesy of Hertz.
Two investment firms, Knighthead Capital Management and Certares Management, have agreed to pay a combined $4.2 billion to buy Hertz Global Holdings, according to a statement by Hertz.
The agreement, announced on March 2, would have the buyers take at least a majority share and as much of as 100% of the company. The proposal entails a new $1 billion first-lien financing, a new $1.5 billion revolving credit facility, and a new asset-backed securitization facility to finance Hertz's U.S. vehicle fleet, which will provide the financial restructuring needed to emerge from Chapter 11 in early to mid-summer.
Under the plan, Knighthead and Certares would take control of Hertz when it exits Chapter 11. The final value of the deal is dependent on how much existing lenders participate in the financing.
Last year, Knighthead and Certares created an investment fund that looks to capitalize on an expected rebound in travel companies disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.
The plan still needs the approval of the bankruptcy court. A hearing to approve the terms of the plan is scheduled for April 16.
If confirmed, the proposed plan would provide for the payment in cash in full of all of Hertz's existing first- and second-lien debt and all administrative and priority claims, including the obligations owed under Hertz's $1.65 billion debtor-in-possession facility. It would also result in a 70% cash recovery to general unsecured creditors, who have the option to elect to take a portion of their recovery in the form of common equity in reorganized Hertz.
In addition, certain obligations of Hertz's international businesses, which are not in Chapter 11, are planned to be restructured by mutual agreement of the parties.
More Rental Operations

Sixt Revenue Tops $2.4 Billion in First Half of 2026
Sixt’s first-half revenue surpassed $2.4 billion for the first time as demand outpaced fleet growth, lifting utilization and earnings despite weaker consumer sentiment in North America.
Read More →
In Memoriam: Bobby Klyce, Avis Licensee Legend
The longtime Birmingham Avis operator and 2018 Auto Rental News Impact Award recipient was remembered as an advocate for independent licensees and the broader car rental industry.
Read More →How to Build Custom Fleet Tools With AI and Vibe Coding [Webinar]
A new Automotive Fleet webinar explores how fleet managers are using AI and vibe coding to automate routine work and create simple operational tools without traditional programming skills.
Read More →
Car Rental Rates Forecast to Rise 3.6% in 2026 Before Easing in 2027
Car rental rates are projected to rise less than airfares and hotel rates in 2026, then become the only major travel category forecast to decline in 2027, according to projections from GBTA and ALTOUR.
Read More →
Avis Cuts Fleet as Summer Demand Trails Expectations
Avis Budget Group increased second-quarter earnings despite lower Americas revenue and softer-than-expected summer demand. The company also expanded Avis First and advanced its autonomous fleet operations with Waymo.
Read More →
Why Bookings Are Only the Start of the Rental Day
A reservation captures demand. The operating test is whether the business can keep the customer, vehicle, commercial terms, and next action aligned until the rental is closed.
Read More →
This Is the Oldest Car Rental Advertisement You’ll Ever See
This ad for Saunders Drive it Yourself, believed to be the first car rental company in the U.S., was found in an Omaha phone book from 1926.
Read More →
The Desk Upsell Is Costing Operators More Than it Earns
Counter upsells generate revenue, but they can also slow transactions, erode trust, and cost repeat business. Fully inclusive pricing may offer operators a better path to long-term value.
Read More →
U-Save Expands Indian Ocean Presence with New Master Franchise for Mauritius
The franchise has been acquired by Mauritian travel entrepreneur Umarfarooq Omarjee, an established figure in the island's tourism and mobility sector.
Read More →
Global Carsharing Fleet Projected to Reach 768,000 Vehicles By 2030
A new Berg Insight forecast outlines several business models driving the projected growth in public carsharing worldwide through 2029.
Read More →
