First, obtain 10-K of Hertz for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020. Find the auditor’s report that
includes a discussion of the substantial doubt about the company’s ability to continue as a going
concern.
The textbook (and the slides) explains that, auditors may issue a) an unqualified opinion with
an explanatory paragraph or b) a disclaimer of opinion when the company has high going-
concern uncertainties. Which type of report did Ernst and Young, Hertz’s auditor, issue
for the 2020 financial statements?
Not only auditors but companies themselves are required to evaluate whether there is
substantial doubt about an entity’s ability to continue as a going concern and provide related
footnote disclosures (ASC 205-40: “Presentation of Financial Statements—Going Concern”).
Find Hertz’s footnote disclosure related to ‘going concern’ in the notes to the financial
statements, and describe the difference of information provided by Hertz from the
auditor(EY)’s discussion on going-concern uncertainties.
