EX-99.1 2 rac2017q3-exhibit991.htm EXHIBIT 99.1 Wdesk | Exhibit
Exhibit 99.1
For Immediate Release:
RENT-A-CENTER, INC. REPORTS THIRD QUARTER 2017 RESULTS
Sequential Improvements Highlight Progress on Strategic Plan
__________________________________________________________
Plano, Texas, October 30, 2017 - Rent-A-Center, Inc. (the "Company") (NASDAQ/NGS: RCII) today announced results for the quarter ended September 30, 2017.
“We continue to make progress in executing on important aspects of our strategic plan, while recognizing there is still work to be done to restore growth and improve profitability,” said Mark Speese, Chief Executive Officer of Rent-A-Center. “During the seasonally lower third quarter, we again delivered sequential improvements in same store sales in both the Core U.S. and Acceptance Now businesses. In addition, we continued to improve the fundamentals of our agreement portfolio in the Core U.S. business by refining and enhancing the operating model and are in the early phases of repositioning the Acceptance Now business for profitable growth.”
Mr. Speese continued, "During the third quarter, our results were impacted by unprecedented hurricane activity, which will disrupt business in the near term. Our immediate concern has been the safety of our coworkers and customers and we remain committed to caring for those in need.”
Progress on Strategic Plan
During the third quarter of 2017, Rent-A-Center continued to see improving fundamentals in the Core U.S. segment. Within the Core U.S. segment, the improved inventory assortment is becoming a larger portion of the portfolio, driving increases in the monthly rate of new agreements. The Company continues to empower store level coworkers to attract and retain talent by modifying pay ranges and encouraging the shift to full time hours.
In the Acceptance NOW segment, the Company implemented several decision engine enhancements aimed at improving ownership and decreasing losses. Additionally, the Company undertook a full assessment of partner relationships and several actions were taken to improve profitability and service levels.
•
Core U.S. same store sales for the quarter improved sequentially by 510 basis points
•
Acceptance Now same store sales for the quarter improved sequentially by 120 basis points
•
The year over year change in merchandise on rent improved sequentially by 350 basis points, in the Core
•
Average monthly rate of new agreements for September improved by 14.9 percent versus prior year
•
Higher end product comprised approximately 70 percent of product received in stores across major categories for the quarter
•
Annualized co-worker turnover for September improved 22.0 percentage points versus prior year
•
Optimized several locations as part of the Acceptance NOW retailer partner assessment
Consolidated Overview
Explanations of performance are excluding special items and compared to the prior year unless otherwise noted.
On a consolidated basis, total revenues were $644.0 million versus $693.9 million in the third quarter of last year. Consolidated same store sales improved 430 basis points versus the second quarter of 2017 due to the progress made on executing the Company’s initiatives. Net loss and diluted loss per share, on a GAAP basis, were $12.6 million and $0.24 compared to net earnings and earnings per share of $6.2 million and $0.12 in the third quarter of last year.
Excluding special items, the Company’s diluted loss per share was $0.15 and the Company generated $17.1 million in adjusted EBITDA in the third quarter. Adjusted EBITDA as a percent of revenue decreased 170 basis points versus the second quarter.
For the nine months ended September 30, 2017, the Company generated $135.4 million of cash from operations and ended the third quarter with $76.2 million of cash and cash equivalents.
Hurricane Related Expenses
The Company recorded a pre-tax expense of approximately $1.7 million related to the damage caused by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma. The costs relate primarily to inventory losses, store remediation efforts and employee assistance.

1

The Company recorded a $0.2 million expense related to Hurricane Maria and expects to have a more complete assessment in the fourth quarter. The costs associated with Hurricane Maria are related to employee assistance in the Puerto Rico area in the third quarter.
Segment Operating Performance
CORE U.S. third quarter revenues of $442.8 million decreased 8.1 percent primarily due to lower same store sales, the rationalization of the Core U.S. store base in the prior year and the hurricane impact. Gross profit as a percent of total revenue versus prior year decreased 120 basis points due to targeted pricing actions implemented to right size the inventory mix and changes from the new value proposition. Gross profit as a percent of total revenue improved versus the second quarter by 40 basis points. Labor decreased $3.8 million versus prior year driven primarily by lower store count. Other store expenses decreased $27.4 million driven by lower skip/stolen losses, lower store count and lower advertising expenses.
ACCEPTANCE NOW third quarter revenues of $184.3 million decreased 5.2 percent primarily due to closures of the Company's Conn’s and HHGregg locations as well as the impact from the recent hurricanes, which was partially offset by a same store sales increase of 7.9 percent. Gross profit as a percent of total revenue versus prior year decreased 300 basis points primarily due to lower gross profit on merchandise sales resulting from a focused effort to encourage ownership and reduce returned product.  Labor, as a percent of store revenue, improved 20 basis points versus prior year due to efforts to improve store level profitability. Other store expenses, as a percent of store revenue, increased by 320 basis points primarily driven by higher skip/stolen losses which increased by 240 basis points and sales deleverage.
MEXICO third quarter revenues decreased 1.7 percent primarily due to lower same store sales offset by a stronger Mexican peso. Gross profit as a percent of total revenue versus prior year decreased 220 basis points driven by lower rental sales gross margin partially offset by higher merchandise sales gross margin due to pricing initiatives.
FRANCHISING third quarter revenues decreased 10.5 percent due to a lower amount of merchandise sold to the Company’s franchise partners and operating profit was $1.0 million.
CORPORATE operating expenses increased $2.5 million compared to the prior year primarily driven by project expenses related to strategic initiatives, higher depreciation expense due to recent technology investments and higher legal expenses.
SAME STORE SALES
(Unaudited)
Table 1
 
 
Period
 
Core U.S.
 
Acceptance Now
 
Mexico
 
Total
Three Months Ended September 30, 2017 (1)
 
(5.1
)%
 
7.9
 %
 
(6.2
)%
 
(3.1
)%
Three Months Ended June 30, 2017
 
(10.2
)%
 
6.7
 %
 
(6.9
)%
 
(7.4
)%
Three Months Ended September 30, 2016
 
(11.9
)%
 
(0.3
)%
 
10.1
 %
 
(8.1
)%
Note : Same store sale methodology - Same store sales generally represents revenue earned in stores that were operated by us for 13 months or more and are reported on a constant currency basis. The Company excludes from the same store sales base any store that receives a certain level of customer accounts from closed stores or acquisitions. The receiving store will be eligible for inclusion in the same store sales base in the 24th full month following account transfer.
(1) Given the severity of the recent natural disasters, the Company instituted a change to the same store sales store selection starting in the month of September, excluding geographically impacted regions for 18 months.
 

2

KEY OPERATING METRICS
(Unaudited)
Table 2
 
Same Store Sales
 
Delinquencies
 
Annualized Co-worker Turnover
 
Average Monthly Rate of New Agreements
Segment
 
Change vs 2016 (%)
 
2017
 
Sequential Change (BPS)
 
2017
 
Change vs 2016 (PPT)
 
Change vs
2016 (%)
Core U.S.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
July
 
(5.7
)%
 
7.5
%
 
40

 
86.3
%
 
(19.9
)
 
9.0
%
August
 
(5.3
)%
 
7.2
%
 
(30
)
 
87.9
%
 
(21.5
)
 
13.0
%
September
 
(4.2
)%
 
6.9
%
 
(30
)
 
86.6
%
 
(22.0
)
 
14.9
%
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Acceptance Now
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
July
 
7.1
 %
 
9.0
%
 
90

 
 
 
 
 
 
August
 
8.6
 %
 
10.3
%
 
130

 
 
 
 
 
 
September
 
8.1
 %
 
11.2
%
 
90

 
 
 
 
 
 
Note: In the Core U.S. segment delinquencies represent the percent of customer agreements greater than 7 days past due. In the Acceptance Now segment delinquencies represent the percent of customer agreements greater than 32 days past due. In the Core U.S., the Company instituted an operational change charging off late-stage delinquent customers earlier in the month which benefited the delinquencies numbers in September by approximately 40 basis points.
Non-GAAP Reconciliation
To supplement the Company's financial results presented on a GAAP basis, Rent-A-Center uses the non-GAAP measures ("special items”) indicated in Table 3 below, which primarily excludes charges in the third quarter of 2017 for the closure of Acceptance Now locations, reductions at our field support center, damage caused by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria, litigation settlements, and incremental legal and advisory fees. Gains or charges related to store closures will generally recur with the occurrence of these events in the future. The presentation of these financial measures is not in accordance with, or an alternative for, accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and should be read in conjunction with the Company's consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. Rent-A-Center management believes that excluding special items from the GAAP financial results provides investors a clearer perspective of the Company's ongoing operating performance and a more relevant comparison to prior period results. 
Please see the Company's earnings press release dated July 26, 2017 for additional information related to non-GAAP diluted loss per share excluding special items used to calculate the sequential improvements contained in this press release.
Reconciliation of net (loss) earnings to net (loss) earnings excluding special items:
Table 3
Three Months Ended
 
Three Months Ended
 
September 30, 2017
 
September 30, 2016
(in thousands, except per share data)
Amount
 
Per Share
 
Amount
 
Per Share
Net (loss) earnings
$
(12,599
)
 
$
(0.24
)
 
$
6,181

 
$
0.12

Special items, net of taxes:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other charges (1)
4,456

 
0.09

 
820

 
0.01

Discrete income tax items
—

 
—

 
(1,092
)
 
(0.02
)
Net (loss) earnings excluding special items
$
(8,143
)
 
$
(0.15
)
 
$
5,909

 
$
0.11

(1) Other charges for the three months ended September 30, 2017 and 2016 primarily includes charges, net of tax, related to the closure of Acceptance Now locations, reductions at the field support center, hurricane damage, and incremental legal and advisory fees, offset by a litigation settlement. Charges related to store closures are primarily comprised of losses on rental merchandise, lease obligation costs, employee severance, asset disposals, and miscellaneous costs incurred as a result of the closure.
2017 Outlook
The Company is not providing annual guidance as it relates to revenue or diluted earnings per share for 2017. In an effort to enhance transparency regarding the Company’s results and turnaround efforts, the Company has shifted to monthly reporting of key operating metrics (Table 2). The Company believes these changes will provide the investment community meaningful insight into the progress the Company is making on its turnaround.

3


Webcast Information
Rent-A-Center, Inc. will host a conference call to discuss the third quarter results, guidance and other operational matters on Tuesday morning, October 31, 2017, at 8:30 a.m. ET. For a live webcast of the call, visit http://investor.rentacenter.com. Certain financial and other statistical information that will be discussed during the conference call will also be provided on the same website. Residents of the United States and Canada can listen to the call by dialing (800) 399-0012. International participants can access the call by dialing (404) 665-9632. 
About Rent-A-Center, Inc.
A rent-to-own industry leader, Plano, Texas-based, Rent-A-Center, Inc., is focused on improving the quality of life for its customers by providing them the opportunity to obtain ownership of high-quality, durable products such as consumer electronics, appliances, computers, furniture and accessories, under flexible rental purchase agreements with no long-term obligation. The Company owns and operates approximately 2,500 stores in the United States, Mexico, Canada and Puerto Rico, and approximately 1,300 Acceptance Now kiosk locations in the United States and Puerto Rico. Rent-A-Center Franchising International, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, is a national franchiser of approximately 230 rent-to-own stores operating under the trade names of "Rent-A-Center", "ColorTyme", and "RimTyme". For additional information about the Company, please visit our website at www.rentacenter.com.
Forward Looking Statements
This press release and the guidance above contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "expect," "intend," "could," "estimate," "should," "anticipate," "believe," or “confident,” or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are accurate. However, there can be no assurance that such expectations will occur. The Company's actual future performance could differ materially from such statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to: the general strength of the economy and other economic conditions affecting consumer preferences and spending; factors affecting the disposable income available to the Company's current and potential customers; changes in the unemployment rate; uncertainties concerning the outcome, impact, effects and results of the Company’s exploration of its strategic and financial alternatives; difficulties encountered in improving the financial and operational performance of the Company's business segments; the Company's chief executive officer and chief financial officer transitions, including the Company's ability to effectively operate and execute its strategies during the interim period and difficulties or delays in identifying and/or attracting a permanent chief financial officer with the required level of experience and expertise; failure to manage the Company's store labor and other store expenses; the Company’s ability to develop and successfully execute strategic initiatives; disruptions caused by the operation of the Company's store information management system, and its transition to more-readily scalable, “cloud-based” solutions; the Company's ability to develop and successfully implement digital or E-commerce capabilities, including mobile applications; disruptions in the Company's supply chain; limitations of, or disruptions in, the Company's distribution network; rapid inflation or deflation in the prices of the Company's products; the Company's ability to execute and the effectiveness of a store consolidation, including the Company's ability to retain the revenue from customer accounts merged into another store location as a result of a store consolidation; the Company's available cash flow; the Company's ability to identify and successfully market products and services that appeal to its customer demographic; consumer preferences and perceptions of the Company's brand; uncertainties regarding the ability to open new locations; the Company's ability to acquire additional stores or customer accounts on favorable terms; the Company's ability to control costs and increase profitability; the Company's ability to retain the revenue associated with acquired customer accounts and enhance the performance of acquired stores; the Company's ability to enter into new and

4


collect on its rental or lease purchase agreements; the passage of legislation adversely affecting the Rent-to-Own industry; the Company's compliance with applicable statutes or regulations governing its transactions; changes in interest rates; adverse changes in the economic conditions of the industries, countries or markets that the Company serves; information technology and data security costs; the impact of any breaches in data security or other disturbances to the Company's information technology and other networks and the Company's ability to protect the integrity and security of individually identifiable data of its customers and employees; changes in the Company's stock price, the number of shares of common stock that it may or may not repurchase, and the Company’s dividend policy and any changes thereto, if any; changes in estimates relating to self-insurance liabilities and income tax and litigation reserves; changes in the Company's effective tax rate; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; the Company's ability to maintain an effective system of internal controls; the resolution of the Company's litigation; and the other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports, including but not limited to, its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 2017 and June 30, 2017. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, the Company is not obligated to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect the events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Investors:
Rent-A-Center, Inc.
Maureen Short
Interim Chief Financial Officer
972-801-1899
maureen.short@rentacenter.com
or
Media:
Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher
Kelly Sullivan / James Golden / Matt Gross / Aura Reinhard
212-355-4449

5


Rent-A-Center, Inc. and Subsidiaries
Please see the Company's earnings press release dated July 26, 2017 for the non-GAAP reconciliation of consolidated adjusted EBITDA in the prior quarterly period which was used to calculate the sequential improvements contained in this press release.
STATEMENT OF EARNINGS (LOSS) HIGHLIGHTS - UNAUDITED
Table 4
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
 
2017
 
2017
 
2016
 
2016
 
 
Before
 
After
 
Before
 
After
 
 
Special Items
 
Special Items
 
Special Items
 
Special Items
 
 
(Non-GAAP
 
(GAAP
 
(Non-GAAP
 
(GAAP
 
     (In thousands, except per share data)
Earnings)
 
Earnings)
 
Earnings)
 
Earnings)
 
Total revenues
$
643,965

 
$
643,965

 
$
693,877

 
$
693,877

 
Operating (loss) profit
(1,620
)
(1) 
(8,445
)
 
17,656

(2) 
16,700

 
Net (loss) earnings
(8,143
)
(1) 
(12,599
)
 
5,909

(2)(3) 
6,181

 
Diluted (loss) earnings per common share
$
(0.15
)
(1) 
$
(0.24
)
 
$
0.11

(2)(3) 
$
0.12

 
Adjusted EBITDA
$
17,059

 
$
17,059

 
$
37,654

 
$
37,654

 
Reconciliation to Adjusted EBITDA:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(Loss) earnings before income taxes
$
(12,896
)
(1) 
$
(19,721
)
 
$
6,087

(2) 
$
5,131

 
Add back:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Other charges
—

 
6,825

 
—

 
956

 
Interest expense, net
11,276

 
11,276

 
11,569

 
11,569

 
Depreciation, amortization and impairment of intangibles
18,679

 
18,679

 
19,998

 
19,998

 
Adjusted EBITDA
$
17,059

 
$
17,059

 
$
37,654

 
$
37,654

 
(1) Excludes the effects of approximately $6.8 million of pre-tax charges primarily related to the closure of Acceptance Now locations, reductions at the field support center, hurricane damages, and incremental legal and advisory fees, offset by litigation settlements. These charges reduced net earnings and net earnings per diluted share for the three months ended September 30, 2017, by approximately $4.5 million and $0.09, respectively.
(2) Excludes the effects of $1.0 million of pre-tax charges primarily related to the closure of Core U.S. stores and Acceptance Now locations. These charges reduced net earnings and net earnings per diluted share for the three months ended September 30, 2016, by approximately $0.8 million and $0.01, respectively.
(3) Excludes the effects of $1.1 million of discrete income tax adjustments that increased net earnings per diluted share by $0.02.

SELECTED BALANCE SHEET HIGHLIGHTS - UNAUDITED
Table 5
September 30,
 
     (In thousands)
2017
 
2016
 
Cash and cash equivalents
$
76,208

 
$
130,305

 
Receivables, net
62,293

 
59,200

 
Prepaid expenses and other assets
54,384

 
57,624

 
Rental merchandise, net
 
 
 
 
On rent
670,417

 
754,529

 
Held for rent
199,768

 
215,901

 
Goodwill
56,380

 
206,755

 
Total assets
1,430,317

 
1,748,806

 
 
 
 
 
 
Senior debt, net
$
98,954

 
$
187,761

 
Senior notes, net
538,440

 
537,161

 
Total liabilities
1,193,081

 
1,329,637

(1) 
Stockholders' equity
237,236

 
419,169

(1) 
(1) Total liabilities and stockholders' equity for the third quarter of fiscal year 2016 are revised for the correction of a deferred tax error associated with our goodwill impairment reported in the fourth quarter of 2015 as discussed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.

6


Rent-A-Center, Inc. and Subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS (LOSS) - UNAUDITED
Table 6
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
(In thousands, except per share data)
2017
 
2016
 
Revenues
 
 
 
 
Store
 
 
 
 
Rentals and fees
$
552,194

 
$
595,179

 
Merchandise sales
67,566

 
73,219

 
Installment sales
17,276

 
17,626

 
Other
2,257

 
2,633

 
Total store revenues
639,293

 
688,657

 
Franchise
 
 
 
 
Merchandise sales
2,676

 
3,113

 
Royalty income and fees
1,996

 
2,107

 
Total revenues
643,965

 
693,877

 
Cost of revenues
 
 
 
 
Store
 
 
 
 
Cost of rentals and fees
153,202

 
159,454

 
Cost of merchandise sold
70,551

 
68,684

 
Cost of installment sales
5,207

 
5,553

 
Total cost of store revenues
228,960

 
233,691

 
Franchise cost of merchandise sold
2,540

 
2,960

 
Total cost of revenues
231,500

 
236,651

 
Gross profit
412,465

 
457,226

 
Operating expenses
 
 
 
 
Store expenses
 
 
 
 
Labor
179,643

 
186,289

 
Other store expenses
171,995

 
195,096

 
General and administrative expenses
43,768

 
38,187

 
Depreciation, amortization and impairment of intangibles
18,679

 
19,998

 
Other charges
6,825

(1) 
956

(2) 
Total operating expenses
420,910

 
440,526

 
Operating (loss) profit
(8,445
)
 
16,700

 
Interest expense
11,453

 
11,710

 
Interest income
(177
)
 
(141
)
 
(Loss) earnings before income taxes
(19,721
)
 
5,131

 
Income tax benefit
(7,122
)
 
(1,050
)
(3) 
Net (loss) earnings
$
(12,599
)
 
$
6,181

 
Basic weighted average shares
53,306

 
53,155

 
Basic (loss) earnings per common share
$
(0.24
)
 
$
0.12

 
Diluted weighted average shares
53,306

 
53,454

 
Diluted (loss) earnings per common share
$
(0.24
)
 
$
0.12

 
(1) Includes approximately $6.8 million of pre-tax charges primarily related to the closure of Acceptance Now locations, reductions at the field support center, hurricane damages, and incremental legal and advisory fees.
(2) Includes $1.0 million of pre-tax charges primarily related to the closure of Core U.S. stores and Acceptance Now locations.
(3) Includes ($1.1) million of discrete income tax adjustments.




7


Rent-A-Center, Inc. and Subsidiaries

SEGMENT INFORMATION HIGHLIGHTS - UNAUDITED
Table 7
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
     (In thousands)
2017
 
2016
 
Revenues
 
 
 
 
Core U.S.
$
442,763

 
$
481,805

 
Acceptance Now
184,293

 
194,398

 
Mexico
12,237

 
12,454

 
Franchising
4,672

 
5,220

 
Total revenues
$
643,965

 
$
693,877

 
Table 8
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
     (In thousands)
2017
 
2016
 
Gross profit
 
 
 
 
Core U.S.
$
309,779

 
$
343,071

 
Acceptance Now
92,088

 
102,998

 
Mexico
8,466

 
8,897

 
Franchising
2,132

 
2,260

 
Total gross profit
$
412,465

 
$
457,226

 
Table 9
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
     (In thousands)
2017
 
2016
 
Operating profit
 
 
 
 
Core U.S.
$
23,859

(1) 
$
26,058

(4) 
Acceptance Now
10,379

(2) 
29,592

(5) 
Mexico
(242
)
 
235

 
Franchising
1,032

 
1,430

 
Total segments
35,028

 
57,315

 
Corporate
(43,473
)
(3) 
(40,615
)
 
Total operating (loss) profit
$
(8,445
)
 
$
16,700

 
(1) Includes approximately $1.3 million of pre-tax charges primarily related to hurricane damages.
(2) Includes approximately $4.6 million of pre-tax charges primarily related to the closure of Acceptance Now locations and hurricane damages.
(3) Includes approximately $0.3 million of pre-tax charges related to reductions at the field support center and incremental legal and advisory fees, partially offset by a litigation claims settlement.
(4) Includes $0.8 million of pre-tax charges primarily related to the closure of Core U.S. stores.
(5) Includes $0.2 million of pre-tax charges related to the closure of Acceptance Now locations.
Table 10
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
     (In thousands)
2017
 
2016
 
Depreciation, amortization and impairment of intangibles
 
 
 
 
Core U.S.
$
7,725

 
$
9,495

 
Acceptance Now
568

 
815

 
Mexico
496

 
746

 
Franchising
45

 
44

 
Total segments
8,834

 
11,100

 
Corporate
9,845

 
8,898

 
Total depreciation, amortization and impairment of intangibles
$
18,679

 
$
19,998

 


8


Table 11
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
     (In thousands)
2017
 
2016
 
Capital expenditures
 
 
 
 
Core U.S.
$
6,625

 
$
3,864

 
Acceptance Now
430

 
860

 
Mexico
56

 
36

 
Total segments
7,111

 
4,760

 
Corporate
6,258

 
13,895

 
Total capital expenditures
$
13,369

 
$
18,655

 
Table 12
On Rent at September 30,
 
Held for Rent at September 30,
 
     (In thousands)
2017
 
2016
 
2017
 
2016
 
Rental merchandise, net
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Core U.S.
$
364,656

 
$
413,955

 
$
189,029

 
$
202,738

 
Acceptance Now
292,247

 
326,553

 
5,897

 
6,689

 
Mexico
13,514

 
14,021

 
4,842

 
6,474

 
Total rental merchandise, net
$
670,417

 
$
754,529

 
$
199,768

 
$
215,901

 
Table 13
September 30,
 
     (In thousands)
2017
 
2016
 
Assets
 
 
 
 
Core U.S.
$
793,036

 
$
1,000,572

 
Acceptance Now
363,212

 
403,305

 
Mexico
33,062

 
32,166

 
Franchising
3,094

 
1,732

 
Total segments
1,192,404

 
1,437,775

 
Corporate
237,913

 
311,031

 
Total assets
$
1,430,317

 
$
1,748,806

 

9

Rent-A-Center, Inc. and Subsidiaries

LOCATION ACTIVITY - UNAUDITED
Table 14
Three Months Ended September 30, 2017
 
Core U.S.
 
Acceptance Now Staffed
 
Acceptance Now Direct
 
Mexico
 
Franchising
 
Total
Locations at beginning of period
2,437

 
1,189

 
106

 
131

 
228

 
4,091

New location openings
—

 
63

 
6

 
—

 
—

 
69

Acquired locations remaining open
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

Conversions
—

 
(10
)
 
10

 
—

 
—

 
—

Closed locations
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Merged with existing locations
(20
)
 
(66
)
 
(46
)
 
—

 
—

 
(132
)
Sold or closed with no surviving location
(11
)
 
(1
)
 
—

 
—

 
(1
)
 
(13
)
Locations at end of period
2,406

 
1,175

 
76

 
131

 
227

 
4,015

Acquired locations closed and accounts merged with existing locations
5

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
5

Table 15
Three Months Ended September 30, 2016
 
Core U.S.
 
Acceptance Now Staffed
 
Acceptance Now Direct
 
Mexico
 
Franchising
 
Total
Locations at beginning of period
2,478

 
1,374

 
545

 
129

 
228

 
4,754

New location openings
—

 
35

 
3

 
1

 
—

 
39

Acquired locations remaining open
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
5

 
5

Conversions
—

 
2

 
(3
)
 

 
—

 
(1
)
Closed locations
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Merged with existing locations
(3
)
 
(38
)
 
—

 
—

 
(1
)
 
(42
)
Sold or closed with no surviving location
(6
)
 
—

 
(50
)
 
—

 
(1
)
 
(57
)
Locations at end of period
2,469

 
1,373

 
495

 
130

 
231

 
4,698

Acquired locations closed and accounts merged with existing locations
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—

 
—





10