Ecologic Transportation, Inc. EGCT
As you know, Ecologic is in the process of acquiring a household name in the car rental business: ACE Rent A Car. While well known, ACE was a private company, and will have a corresponding stock for the first time in its 46-year history, in the form of EGCT.
We want to take a look back at some of the historical data relating to other rental car companies position in the market, to see what the future might bring for ACE, once it is publicly traded.
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HERTZ Car Rentals
As we can see on the chart below, back in 2009, Hertz traded as low as 1.55; by mid-2011 it had hit a high of 17.64 (1038% gained). Today the stock closed at 14.42, 830% higher than the ’09 low.
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U-Haul
U-Haul’s low in 2009 came at 21.89. This year’s 52-week high touched 126.14. (+476%), while today’s closing price came in at 104.66, 392% greater than its four-year low.
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Dollar Thrifty
As we look at the chart of Dollar Thrifty Automotive, we can see the low of .60 back in March of ’09, all the way to its recent and all-time high of 87.70. That was just reached on August 30th, for a mid-boggling increase of 14,516% in just four years time.
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Avis/Budget Rentals
Avis reached its bottom at .34, peaking at 19.49 (+5632%) in ’11. It is currently sitting at 16.86 (+4859%).
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After seeing the potential of stocks in the auto rental marketplace, we are very excited about the potential of EGCT, following this huge pending acquisition. Perhaps one of the key points of interest lies in ACE’s focus on the industry niche of green hybrid rentals. ACE is a trusted name, and we fully expect to see great things in the future for EGCT, especially granted the fact that ACE’s existing management team has committed to staying on with the company for at least two years following the completion of the acquisition.
At its current price in the low .30’s, EGCT is priced similarly to the lows of the companies we discussed above, and if the addition of ACE lends even a fraction of that kind of growth, we feel it is worth taking a serious look for the short, medium and long term.
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Take a look at the press release from today regarding financing measures taking place in preparation for the ACE acquisition:
Ecologic Transportation, Inc. Announces Investment Banking Agreements for $20,000,000 in Acquisition Financing and $30,000,000 in a Firm Commitment Public Offering
SANTA MONICA, Calif., Sept. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — Ecologic Transportation, Inc., (OTC:QB–EGCT) announced today it has signed two investment banking agreements with a leading New York-based investment banking firm to assist in sourcing capital. The investment banking firm was founded in 1925, is one of the oldest in the United States, a member of the New York Stock Exchange and a full-service broker-dealer employing over 500 people. The firm manages two Morningstar- rated funds with over $2.8 Billion of retail accounts, nearly 100 registered representatives and 20 investment advisors in six offices.
Under the first agreement, the Company has retained the investment banking firm as its exclusive placement agent and financial advisor in connection with acquisition financing of up to $20,000,000 in debt. The Company must meet various terms and conditions, which it believes are reasonable and attainable.
The second agreement anticipates a public offering of $30,000,000 on a firm commitment basis. The planned public offering is subject to the Company’s successful acquisition of ACE Rent A Car, Inc., the Chicago, Illinois based car rental business.
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