Hertz 2014 Annual Report Download - page 108

Table of Contents
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(e) Subrogation (Damage) Receivables and the Related Allowance for Doubtful Accounts (International Car Rental) - This restatement matter
relates to estimated recoveries from third parties responsible for damages to vehicles. The historical methodologies used to estimate the
allowance accounts inappropriately used assumptions that lacked support, including using write-offs rather than collection history as a key
assumption, as well as contained formulaic errors. In addition, there were instances in which the amount recorded for the allowance was
significantly less than the amount calculated based on the methodology in place at the time. The result was an increase to pre-tax earnings of $3
million in 2013 and a reduction to pre-tax earnings of $3 million in 2012. The cumulative pre-tax misstatement was a decrease of $8 million.
(f) Accrued Salvaged Vehicles (U.S. Car Rental) - This restatement matter relates to the reserve for estimated vehicle damages incurred in the
U.S. car rental business but not reported as of period ends. The methodology used to estimate the reserve was changed without appropriate
supporting documentation and the most significant, required element of the reserve was eliminated. As part of the restatement process, the
Company has reinstated the previous methodology. Inappropriate tone at the top, among other factors, may have contributed to this restatement
matter. There was no impact to pre-tax earnings in 2013 and a reduction to pre-tax earnings of $5 million in 2012. The cumulative pre-tax
misstatement was a decrease of $5 million.
(g) Credit Card Chargebacks (U.S. and International Car Rental) - This restatement matter relates to reserves established to accrue for future credit
card chargebacks pertaining to completed revenue transactions with customers and for chargebacks received from credit card providers. The
reserves were understated in 2011, 2012 and 2013 for a variety of reasons. These reasons included (1) the Company inappropriately changed the
methodology for computing reserves established to accrue for future chargebacks in 2013 and (2) the Company erroneously excluded chargebacks
received from credit card providers from the balances used to calculate the allowance for doubtful accounts. Inappropriate tone at the top, among
other factors, may have contributed to this restatement matter. The resulting reduction to pre-tax earnings was $3 million for 2013 and $1 million
for 2012. The cumulative pre-tax misstatement was a decrease of $4 million.
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(h) Rental Equipment Refurbishment (Worldwide Equipment Rental) - This restatement matter relates to refurbishment designed to extend the
useful life of rental equipment used in the worldwide equipment rental business. At the time of refurbishment, the Company improperly reduced the
cost basis of rental equipment that was subject to useful life extension. The reduction was effected by reversing accumulated depreciation on
refurbished equipment as an offset to original cost. These adjustments to the balance sheet had no impact on pre-tax earnings in 2013 and 2012
but reduced cost and accumulated depreciation of Revenue Earning Equipment cumulatively by $31 million in 2013 and $16 million in 2012.
Inappropriate tone at the top, among other factors, may have contributed to this restatement matter.
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(i) Fixed Assets and Construction in Progress and Capitalized Software (U.S. Car Rental, Worldwide Equipment Rental and Corporate) - This
restatement matter relates to accounting for non-fleet fixed assets (e.g., leasehold improvements and property improvements) and capitalized
software expenditures. The adjustments associated with non-fleet fixed assets and capitalized software primarily relate to the Company’s
identification of (1) expenditures that were capitalized rather than expensed, (2) the failure to write off abandoned projects included in construction
in progress on a timely basis, (3) the failure to write off assets no longer in service, and (4) depreciation adjustments associated with assets that
should have been placed in service at a date that preceded the placed-in-service date, including assets that had not yet been transferred from
construction in progress to in service. Inappropriate tone at the top, among other factors, may have contributed to this restatement matter. The
resulting reduction to pre-tax earnings was $19 million for 2013 and $8 million for 2012. The cumulative pre-tax misstatement was a decrease of
$56 million.
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(j) Brazil Adjustments (International Car Rental) - This restatement matter relates to the Brazilian operations of the International Car Rental
business. Allowances for uncollectible balances were calculated using inappropriate methodologies, and certain assets, reserves for legal
expenses and litigation, and intercompany account balances were not properly supported and consequently were written off. Inappropriate tone at
the top, among other factors,
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Source: HERTZ GLOBAL HOLDINGS INC, 10-K, July 16, 2015 Powered by Morningstar® Document Research℠
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