Edgar Filing: AVIS BUDGET GROUP, INC.

avisbudgetgroup8k10052009.htm

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of report (Date of earliest event reported): October 5, 2009 (October 1, 2009)

Avis Budget Group, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	1-10308		06-0918165
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation)	(Commission File Number)		(IRS Employer Identification Number)

6 Sylvan Way Parsippany, NJ		07054
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)		(Zip Code)

(973) 496-4700
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

N/A
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Item 2.02

Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On October 1, 2009, a jury rendered a verdict against us in an action filed by one of our licensees for breach of contract related to our acquisition of our Budget vehicle rental business in 2002. We believe this verdict is unsupported by the evidence. As a result, we plan to petition the judge in the case to set aside the jury’s decision and award judgment to defendants or grant a new trial. If such petition is not decided in our favor before we issue our third quarter earnings information, we expect to record incremental pretax expense of at least $16 million as of September 30, 2009 to reflect the amount of this verdict. This expense is expected to be treated as unusual and therefore is not expected to change our previous public statement that the Company estimates that third quarter 2009 EBITDA will increase compared to third quarter 2008 EBITDA, in each case excluding unusual items.

Certain statements in this Current Report on Form 8-K constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Statements preceded by, followed by or that otherwise include the words "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "projects", "estimates", "plans", "may increase", "may fluctuate", “forecast” and similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as "will", "should", "would", "may" and "could" are generally forward-looking in nature and not historical facts. Any statements that refer to expectations or other characterizations of future events, circumstances or results are forward-looking statements.

Various risks that could cause future results to differ from those expressed by the forward-looking statements included in this Current Report on Form 8-K include, but are not limited to, a weaker-than-anticipated economic environment, the high level of competition in the vehicle rental industry, greater-than-expected cost increases for new vehicles, disposition of vehicles not covered by manufacturer repurchase programs, the financial condition of the manufacturers of our cars, a greater-than-anticipated downturn in airline passenger traffic, an occurrence or threat of terrorism, our ability to obtain financing for our operations, including the funding of our vehicle fleet via the asset-backed securities market and the financial condition of financial-guaranty firms that have insured a portion of our outstanding vehicle-backed debt, higher-than-expected fuel costs, fluctuations related to the mark-to-market of derivatives which hedge our exposure to exchange rates, interest rates and fuel costs, the Company’s ability to meet or amend financial covenants associated with its borrowings and the Company’s ability to accurately estimate its future results and implement its strategy for cost savings and growth, particularly in the current environment. Other unknown or unpredictable factors also could have material adverse effects on Avis Budget Group's performance or achievements. In light of these risks, uncertainties, assumptions and factors, the forward-looking events discussed in this Current Report on Form 8-K may not occur. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date stated, or if no date is stated, as of the date of this Current Report on Form 8-K. Important assumptions and other important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are specified in Avis Budget Group's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008 and our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2009 included under headings such as "Forward-Looking Statements", "Risk Factors" and "Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" and in other filings and furnishings made by the Company with the SEC from time to time. Except for the Company's ongoing obligations to disclose material information under the federal securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements, to report events or to report the occurrence of unanticipated events unless required by law.

SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereto duly authorized.

	By:	AVIS BUDGET GROUP, INC. /s/ Jean M. Sera
		Name: Jean M. Sera Title: Senior Vice President and Secretary

Date: October 5, 2009