Changes

However, the energy crisis of the 1970's would badly hurt U-Haul, as many of its independent dealers (most of whom operated gas stations) went out of business.  U-Haul would attempt to operate its own rental centers, but would expand far beyond traditional offerings (into such exotic ventures as champagne fountains and videotapes) and lose millions in the process, leading to a fight over company control between two groups of the Shoen children: one loyal to Shoen (Doc Sam, Mike, Cecilia, Mary Anna, Theresa, and Katrina) and the other loyal to Joe, who was in charge of the company (Joe, Mark, Paul, Jim, and Sophia; this group was able to sway several non-family stockholders to their side).  The sides would bring numerous lawsuits against each other, not just related to U-Haul but to matters totally unrelated to business (Joe sought to have Doc Sam's medical license revoked; in turn Doc Sam blamed Joe and Mark for hiring a hit man to murder his wife, and even had the case featured on [[Unsolved Mysteries]] -- eventually a culprit admitted to the murder, but claimed it was a botched robbery and that he had no dealings with Joe or Mark -- which led to a defamation suit against Doc Sam and Shoen), and in one instance a stockholder's meeting resulted in physical confrontation between siblings.  Ultimately the group loyal to Joe would take over control of the company; somewhere between 40-45% of the company is owned by Joe and Mark Shoen through various business interests.

However, the energy crisis of the 1970's would badly hurt U-Haul, as many of its independent dealers (most of whom operated gas stations) went out of business.  U-Haul would attempt to operate its own rental centers, but would expand far beyond traditional offerings (into such exotic ventures as champagne fountains and videotapes) and lose millions in the process, leading to a fight over company control between two groups of the Shoen children: one loyal to Shoen (Doc Sam, Mike, Cecilia, Mary Anna, Theresa, and Katrina) and the other loyal to Joe, who was in charge of the company (Joe, Mark, Paul, Jim, and Sophia; this group was able to sway several non-family stockholders to their side).  The sides would bring numerous lawsuits against each other, not just related to U-Haul but to matters totally unrelated to business (Joe sought to have Doc Sam's medical license revoked; in turn Doc Sam blamed Joe and Mark for hiring a hit man to murder his wife, and even had the case featured on [[Unsolved Mysteries]] -- eventually a culprit admitted to the murder, but claimed it was a botched robbery and that he had no dealings with Joe or Mark -- which led to a defamation suit against Doc Sam and Shoen), and in one instance a stockholder's meeting resulted in physical confrontation between siblings.  Ultimately the group loyal to Joe would take over control of the company; somewhere between 40-45% of the company is owned by Joe and Mark Shoen through various business interests.

The company operates an unusual crowdfunding site, the '''U-Haul Investors Club''', whereby investors can purchase "U-Notes" in $100 denominations.  The notes are collateralized by U-Haul assets such as trucks, trailers, and even equipment dollies and furniture pads.  The notes have no secondary market (though investors can sell to other investors privately) and are illiquid (they cannot be sold back to the company), and investing is limited to US investors only.

The company operates an unusual crowdfunding site, the '''U-Haul Investors Club''', whereby investors can purchase "U-Notes" in $100 denominations.  The notes are collateralized by U-Haul assets such as trucks, trailers, and even equipment dollies and furniture pads.  The notes have no secondary market (though investors can sell to other investors privately), are illiquid (they cannot be sold back to the company), and investing is limited to US investors only.

==References==

==References==