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UPBOUND GROUP, INC. - Annual Report: 2008 (Form 10-K)

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UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-K
 
     
(Mark One)    
 
þ
  ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008
or
o
  TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
Commission File No. 0-25370
 
 
 
 
Rent-A-Center, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
     
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of
incorporation or organization)
  45-0491516
(I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)
 
5501 Headquarters Drive
Plano, Texas 75024
(Address, including zip code of registrant’s
principal executive offices)
 
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 972-801-1100
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
 
     
Title of Each Class
 
Name of Exchange on Which Registered
 
Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share
  The Nasdaq Global Select Market, Inc.
 
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act: None
 
 
 
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.  Yes þ     No o
 
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act.  Yes o     No þ
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.  Yes þ     No o
 
Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent filers pursuant to Item 405 of Regulation S-K is not contained herein, and will not be contained, to the best of registrant’s knowledge, in definitive proxy or information statements incorporated by reference in Part III of this Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K.  o
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):
 
Large accelerated filer þ Accelerated filer o Non-accelerated filer o Smaller reporting company o
(Do not check if a smaller reporting company)
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).  Yes o     No þ
 
         
Aggregate market value of the 58,202,180 shares of Common Stock held by non-affiliates of the registrant at the closing sales price as reported on The Nasdaq Global Select Market, Inc. on June 30, 2008   $ 1,197,218,843  
Number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as of the close of business on February 20, 2009:     65,986,784  
 
Documents incorporated by reference:
 
Portions of the definitive proxy statement relating to the 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Rent-A-Center, Inc. are incorporated by reference into Part III of this report.
 


 

 
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
                 
        Page
 
      Business     1  
      Risk Factors     13  
      Unresolved Staff Comments     16  
      Properties     16  
      Legal Proceedings     17  
      Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders     17  
 
PART II
      Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities     18  
      Selected Financial Data     20  
      Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations     23  
      Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk     39  
      Financial Statements and Supplementary Data     41  
      Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure     73  
      Controls and Procedures     73  
      Other Information     73  
 
PART III
      Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance     73  
      Executive Compensation     73  
      Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters     73  
      Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence     73  
      Principal Accountant Fees and Services     73  
 
PART IV
      Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules     74  
 EX-10.13
 EX-10.25
 EX-10.30
 EX-21.1
 EX-23.1
 EX-31.1
 EX-31.2
 EX-32.1
 EX-32.2


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PART I
 
Item 1.   Business.
 
Overview
 
Unless the context indicates otherwise, references to “we,” “us” and “our” refers to the consolidated business operations of Rent-A-Center, Inc., the parent, and all of its direct and indirect subsidiaries.
 
We are the largest operator in the United States rent-to-own industry with an approximate 38% market share based on store count. At December 31, 2008, we operated 3,037 company-owned stores nationwide and in Canada and Puerto Rico, including 31 retail installment sales stores under the names “Get It Now” and “Home Choice” and eight rent-to-own stores located in Canada operating under the name “Rent-A-Centre.” Our subsidiary, ColorTyme, is a national franchisor of rent-to-own stores. At December 31, 2008, ColorTyme had 222 franchised rent-to-own stores in 34 states. These franchise stores represent an additional 3% market share based on store count.
 
Our stores generally offer high quality, durable products such as major consumer electronics, appliances, computers and furniture and accessories under flexible rental purchase agreements that generally allow the customer to obtain ownership of the merchandise at the conclusion of an agreed upon rental period. The rental purchase transaction is a flexible alternative for consumers to obtain the use and enjoyment of brand name merchandise without incurring debt. Key features of the rental purchase transaction include:
 
  •  convenient payment options — in-store or over the phone;
 
  •  no long-term obligations;
 
  •  right to terminate without penalty;
 
  •  no requirement of a credit history;
 
  •  set-up and delivery included at no additional charge;
 
  •  product maintenance;
 
  •  lifetime reinstatement; and
 
  •  flexible options to obtain ownership — 90 days same as cash, early purchase options, or payment through the term of the agreement.
 
We offer well known brands such as Sony, Philips, LG, Hitachi, Toshiba and Mitsubishi home electronics, Whirlpool appliances, Toshiba, Sony, Hewlett-Packard and Dell computers and Ashley, England and Klaussner furniture. We also offer high levels of customer service, including repair, pickup and delivery, generally at no additional charge. Our customers benefit from the ability to return merchandise at any time without further obligation and make payments that build toward ownership. We estimate that approximately 75% of our business is from repeat customers.
 
We also offer financial services products, such as short term secured and unsecured loans, debit cards, check cashing, tax preparation and money transfer services, in some of our existing rent-to-own stores under the trade names “RAC Financial Services” and “Cash AdvantEdge.” As of December 31, 2008, we offered some or all of these financial services products in 351 Rent-A-Center store locations in 18 states.
 
We were incorporated in Delaware in 1986. Our principal executive offices are located at 5501 Headquarters Drive, Plano, Texas 75024. Our telephone number is (972) 801-1100 and our company website is www.rentacenter.com. We do not intend for information contained on our website to be part of this Form 10-K. We make available free of charge on or through our website our annual report on Form 10-K, our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, our current reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act as soon as reasonably practicable after we electronically file such material with, or furnish it to, the SEC. Additionally, we voluntarily will provide electronic or paper copies of our filings free of charge upon request.


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Industry Overview
 
According to the Association of Progressive Rental Organizations, the rent-to-own industry in the United States and Canada consists of approximately 8,500 stores and serves approximately 3.0 million households. We estimate that the two largest rent-to-own industry participants account for approximately 4,800 of the total number of stores, and the majority of the remainder of the industry consists of operations with fewer than 50 stores. The rent-to-own industry is highly fragmented and has experienced significant consolidation. We believe this consolidation trend in the industry will continue, presenting opportunities for us to continue to acquire additional stores or customer accounts on favorable terms.
 
The rent-to-own industry serves a highly diverse customer base. According to the Association of Progressive Rental Organizations, approximately 73% of rent-to-own customers have household incomes between $15,000 and $50,000 per year. The rent-to-own industry serves a wide variety of customers by allowing them to obtain merchandise that they might otherwise be unable to obtain due to insufficient cash resources or a lack of access to credit. The Association of Progressive Rental Organizations also estimates that 95% of customers have high school diplomas. According to an April 2000 Federal Trade Commission study, 75% of rent-to-own customers were satisfied with their experience with rent-to-own transactions. The study noted that customers gave a wide variety of reasons for their satisfaction, including “the ability to obtain merchandise they otherwise could not; the low payments; the lack of a credit check; the convenience and flexibility of the transaction; the quality of the merchandise; the quality of the maintenance, delivery, and other services; the friendliness and flexibility of the store employees; and the lack of any problems or hassles.”
 
Historical Growth
 
From 1993 to 2006, we pursued an aggressive growth strategy in which we sought to acquire underperforming rent-to-own stores to which we could apply our operating model as well as open new stores. Since March 1993, our company-owned store base has grown from 27 to 3,037 at December 31, 2008, primarily through acquisitions, including the acquisition in November 2006 of Rent-Way, Inc. (“Rent-Way”), which operated 782 stores in 34 states. During this period, we acquired over 3,600 stores, including approximately 400 of our franchised stores. These acquisitions occurred in approximately 240 separate transactions, including ten transactions where we acquired in excess of 50 stores. In addition, we strategically opened or acquired stores near market areas served by existing stores (“cannibalized”) to enhance service levels, gain incremental sales and increase market penetration.
 
The following table summarizes the store growth activity over the last three fiscal years:
 
                         
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
 
 
Stores at beginning of period
    3,081       3,406       2,760  
New store openings
    26       27       40  
Acquired stores remaining open
    5       14       646  
Closed stores(1)
                       
Merged with existing stores
    45       363       25  
Sold or closed with no surviving store
    30       3       15  
                         
Stores at end of period
    3,037       3,081       3,406  
                         
Acquired stores closed and accounts merged with existing stores
    38       36       164  
Total approximate purchase price of acquisitions
    $15.7 million       $20.1 million       $657.4 million  
 
 
(1) Substantially all of the merged, sold or closed stores in 2008 and 2007 relate to our store consolidation plans discussed below and in more detail in Note F, Restructuring, in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements on page 59.
 
Store Consolidation.  We believe our aggressive store acquisition program and our planned cannibalization resulted in over penetration in some markets. We continually evaluate every market in which we operate by reviewing operating results, competitive positioning, and growth potential. As a result of such review in December 2007, we committed to a store consolidation plan pursuant to which we closed or merged 282 stores as of December 31, 2008.


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Future Store Growth.  We continue to believe there are attractive opportunities to expand our presence in the rent-to-own industry both nationally and internationally. We plan to continue opening new stores in targeted markets and acquiring existing rent-to-own stores and store account portfolios. We will focus new market penetration in adjacent areas or regions that we believe are underserved by the rent-to-own industry. In addition, we intend to pursue our acquisition strategy of targeting under-performing and under-capitalized rent-to-own stores. We also intend to continue to critically evaluate the markets in which we operate and will close, sell or merge underperforming stores.
 
Competitive Strengths
 
We believe the following competitive strengths position us well for continued growth:
 
Geographic Footprint.  At December 31, 2008, we operated 3,037 stores nationwide and in Canada and Puerto Rico. In addition, our subsidiary, ColorTyme, franchised 222 stores in 34 states. We believe the number and location of our stores combined with the strength of our brand provides us with a unique platform from which to market additional products and services to our customer demographic. The following table shows the geographic distribution of our stores:
 
                         
    Number of Stores  
    Company
    With Financial
       
Location
  Owned     Services     Franchised  
 
Alabama
    60             5  
Alaska
    6       5       4  
Arizona
    58       6        
Arkansas
    39             1  
California
    139             5  
Colorado
    44       13       1  
Connecticut
    40             1  
Delaware
    20              
District of Columbia
    4              
Florida
    188             20  
Georgia
    88             12  
Hawaii
    11       7       5  
Idaho
    11       6       3  
Illinois
    110           8  
Indiana
    101             4  
Iowa
    27       11        
Kansas
    34       13       8  
Kentucky
    67       20       3  
Louisiana
    45             5  
Maine
    28             9  
Maryland
    65             11  
Massachusetts
    69             1  
Michigan
    104             9  
Minnesota
    4 *            
Mississippi
    35             1  
Missouri
    65       16        
Montana
    9       5        
Nebraska
    14       1        
Nevada
    23       4        
New Hampshire
    20             1  
New Jersey
    44              
New Mexico
    26       10       9  
New York
    178             3  
North Carolina
    133             15  
North Dakota
    3              
Ohio
    183       51       4  
Oklahoma
    44             6  
Oregon
    27             4  
Pennsylvania
    152             3  
Puerto Rico
    43              
Rhode Island
    16             2  
South Carolina
    67             6  
South Dakota
    4              
Tennessee
    91       37       4  
Texas
    292       113       35  
Utah
    16       8        
Vermont
    9              
Virginia
    70             11  
Washington
    44       25       3  
West Virginia
    33              
Wisconsin
    21 *            
Wyoming
    5              
Canada
    8              
                         
TOTAL
    3,037       351       222  
 
 
* Retail installment stores
 
Includes six retail installment stores


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Management Expertise.  Our management team at both the corporate and operational levels is highly experienced and motivated. Our executive management team has extensive experience in the rent-to-own industry with over 100 combined years of service with us and has demonstrated the ability to grow our business through their operational leadership and strategic vision.
 
Financial Strength.  Historically, our operations have generated strong cash flow, averaging $210.2 million in operating cash flow per year since 1998. As a result, we have been able to invest in acquisitions and new business opportunities while maintaining a strong balance sheet.
 
Collections.  The breadth of our store locations also provides us with the operational infrastructure to support our collection efforts. The ability to timely and personally contact customers through our local field personnel is critical to our ability to collect payments or regain possession of rented merchandise. In addition, we believe we have developed lasting relationships with our customers, as well as obtained extensive knowledge of our targeted customer demographic, through our collection experience.
 
Integration Experience.  We have gained significant experience in the acquisition and integration of other rent-to-own operators and believe the fragmented nature of the rent-to-own industry will result in ongoing consolidation opportunities. Acquired stores benefit from our improved product mix, sophisticated management information system, purchasing power and administrative network.
 
Strategy
 
We intend to capitalize on our competitive strengths and continue to build our position as a leading provider of products and services to cash and credit constrained consumers by focusing our strategic efforts on the following:
 
  •  enhancing the operations, revenue and profitability of our store locations;
 
  •  seeking additional distribution channels for our products and services;
 
  •  leveraging our financial strength; and
 
  •  strengthening customer relationships through community involvement.
 
Enhancing the Operations, Revenue and Profitability of Our Store Locations
 
We continually seek to improve store performance through strategies intended to produce gains in operating efficiency, revenue and profitability. For example, we continue to focus our operational personnel on prioritizing store profit growth, including increasing store revenue and managing store level operating expenses.
 
We believe we will achieve further gains in revenues and operating margins in both existing and newly acquired stores by continuing to:
 
  •  use consumer focused advertising, including direct mail, television, radio and print media, which highlights the appealing features of our services to increase store traffic and expand our customer base;
 
  •  focus on the customer experience, both in our store locations, as well as on our website;
 
  •  focus on improving the operations in our existing financial services store locations;
 
  •  respond to competitive pressures on a market by market basis with specifically tailored action plans;
 
  •  acquire customer accounts;
 
  •  expand the offering of product lines to appeal to more customers to increase the number of transactions and grow our customer base;
 
  •  evaluate other growth strategies, including the entry into additional lines of business offering products and services designed to appeal to our customer demographic;
 
  •  employ strict store-level cost control;
 
  •  analyze and evaluate store operations against key performance indicators; and
 
  •  use a revenue and profit based incentive pay plan.


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Seeking Additional Distribution Channels for Our Products and Services
 
We believe there are opportunities for us to obtain new customers through sources other than our existing rent-to-own stores. Through agreements with other retailers, we intend to offer the rent-to-own transaction to consumers who do not qualify for financing from such retailer, offering the consumer the opportunity to obtain the merchandise they want or need. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in our efforts to expand our distribution channels by entering into such agreements with other retailers, or that such operations, should they be added, will prove to be profitable.
 
Leveraging our Financial Strength
 
We believe we can leverage our financial strength by investing significantly in people, processes and technology to reduce our cost infrastructure. We are focused on lowering operating expenses through our investments in centralized inventory purchasing, centralized procurement, and enhanced information management systems. We believe the creation of a centralized inventory purchasing system will allow us to better manage our inventory at the store level while expanding availability of the most popular products. The development of an on-line procurement tool and careful review of our processes has allowed us to reduce many of our store-level expenses. We believe our financial strength allows us to pursue these and other initiatives while also making strategic use of our cash to enhance our balance sheet.
 
Strengthening Customer Relationships through Community Involvement
 
We seek to further strengthen relationships with our customers through community involvement both at the local store level and as a company through corporate donations and initiatives. We encourage the management of each of our stores to involve themselves with their respective local communities. In addition, we participate in various programs, including the following:
 
  •  Since 2002, co-workers at our headquarters facility in Plano, Texas have worked to fight hunger through the North Texas Food Bank. On a national basis, we have committed $500,000 over four years in the fight to end hunger.
 
  •  Each spring, we raise funds for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. With a donation of $1 or more, customers, co-workers and the community sign their name on a paper spring egg to hang in our stores. Since 2003, we have donated more than $1.4 million.
 
  •  In 2004, we established the Make A Difference Scholarship which provides $50,000 annually to customers, their children and our co-workers’ children who are pursuing an undergraduate degree at the college or university of their choice.
 
  •  Since 2005, we have teamed up with Boys & Girls Clubs to furnish special “RAC” Rooms to the centers that need them most. Each year, we create 20 new RAC Rooms around the country. Clubs choose the merchandise they need, including furniture, televisions, electronics and computers.
 
  •  We pledged $800,000 over four years in grants to Junior Achievement offices in communities across the U.S. as part of our commitment to promoting financial literacy in our communities. Our program with Junior Achievement assures that financial literacy programs will be taught to children in grades K-12 in schools where at least 51% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch.
 
  •  Random Acts of Caring brings unexpected gifts to people and organizations that serve others. Examples include furnishing rooms in three fire stations in New York and donating $5,000 to the FDNY Foundation, and providing Summit Academy, a school for children with special learning needs in Warren, Ohio, with six computers and two HDTV’s.


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Rent-A-Center Store Operations
 
Store Design
 
Our stores average approximately 4,700 square feet and are located primarily in strip centers. Because we utilize “just in time” inventory strategies, receiving merchandise shipments in relatively small quantities directly from vendors, we are able to dedicate approximately 75% of the store space to showroom floor, and also eliminate warehousing costs.
 
Product Selection
 
Our stores generally offer merchandise from four basic product categories: major consumer electronics, appliances, computers and furniture and accessories. Although we seek to maintain sufficient inventory in our stores to offer customers a wide variety of models, styles and brands, we generally limit inventory to prescribed levels to maintain strict inventory controls. We seek to provide a wide variety of high quality merchandise to our customers, and we emphasize high-end products from name-brand manufacturers. For the year ended December 31, 2008, consumer electronic products accounted for approximately 35% of our store rental revenue, furniture and accessories for 33% and appliances and computers for 16% each. Customers may request either new merchandise or previously rented merchandise. Previously rented merchandise is generally offered at the same weekly or monthly rental rate as is offered for new merchandise, but with an opportunity to obtain ownership of the merchandise after fewer rental payments.
 
Major consumer electronic products offered by our stores include high definition televisions, home theatre systems, video game consoles and stereos from top name-brand manufacturers such as Sony, Nintendo, Philips, LG, Hitachi, Toshiba and Mitsubishi. We offer major appliances manufactured by Whirlpool, including refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, freezers and ranges. We offer desktop and laptop computers from Toshiba, Sony, Hewlett Packard and Dell. We offer a variety of furniture products, including dining room, living room and bedroom furniture featuring a number of styles, materials and colors. We offer furniture made by Ashley, England and Klaussner and other top name-brand manufacturers. Accessories include pictures, lamps and tables and are typically rented as part of a package of items, such as a complete room of furniture. Showroom displays enable customers to visualize how the product will look in their homes and provide a showcase for accessories.
 
Rental Purchase Agreements
 
Our customers generally enter into weekly, semi-monthly or monthly rental purchase agreements, which renew automatically upon receipt of each payment. We retain title to the merchandise during the term of the rental purchase agreement. Ownership of the merchandise generally transfers to the customer if the customer has continuously renewed the rental purchase agreement for a period of seven to 30 months, depending upon the product type, or exercises a specified early purchase option. We do not conduct a formal credit investigation of each customer. We do require a potential customer to provide store management with sufficient personal information to allow us to verify their residence and sources of income. References listed by the customer are also contacted to verify the information contained in the customer’s rental purchase order form. Rental payments are generally made in the store or by telephone. We accept cash and credit or debit cards. Approximately 86% of our agreements are on a weekly term. Depending on state regulatory requirements, we may charge for the reinstatement of terminated accounts or collect a delinquent account fee, and collect loss/damage waiver fees from customers desiring product protection in case of theft or certain natural disasters. These fees are standard in the industry and may be subject to government-specified limits. Please read the section entitled “— Government Regulation.”
 
Product Turnover
 
On average, a minimum rental term of 18 months is generally required to obtain ownership of new merchandise. Approximately 25% of our initial rental purchase agreements are taken to the full term of the agreement. The average total life for each product is approximately 20 months, which includes the initial rental period, all re-rental periods and idle time in our system. To cover the relatively high operating expenses generated by greater product turnover, rental purchase agreements require higher aggregate payments than are generally charged under other types of purchase plans, such as installment purchase or credit plans.


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Customer Service
 
We generally offer same day or 24-hour delivery and installation of our merchandise at no additional cost to the customer. We provide any required service or repair without additional charge, except for damage in excess of normal wear and tear. Repair services are provided through our national network of 24 service centers, the cost of which may be reimbursed by the vendor if the item is still under factory warranty. If the product cannot be repaired at the customer’s residence, we provide a temporary replacement while the product is being repaired. Generally, the customer is fully liable for damage, loss or destruction of the merchandise, unless the customer purchases an optional loss/damage waiver covering the particular loss. Most of the products we offer are covered by a manufacturer’s warranty for varying periods which, subject to the terms of the warranty, is transferred to the customer in the event that the customer obtains ownership.
 
Collections
 
Store managers use our management information system to track collections on a daily basis. For fiscal years 2008, 2007, and 2006, the average week ending past due percentages were 6.38%, 6.43% and 6.58%, respectively. Our goal was to have no more than 5.99% of our rental agreements past due one day or more each Saturday evening in the three years. For the 2009 fiscal year, our goal remains the same at 5.99%. If a customer fails to make a rental payment when due, store personnel will attempt to contact the customer to obtain payment and reinstate the agreement, or will terminate the account and arrange to regain possession of the merchandise. We attempt to recover the rental items as soon as possible following termination or default of a rental purchase agreement, generally by the seventh day. Collection efforts are enhanced by the personal and job-related references required of customers, the personal nature of the relationships between store employees and customers and the fact that, following a period in which a customer is temporarily unable to make payments on a piece of rental merchandise and must return the merchandise, that customer generally may re-rent a piece of merchandise of similar type and age on the terms the customer enjoyed prior to that period.
 
Pursuant to the rental purchase agreements, customers who become delinquent in their rental payments and fail to return the rented merchandise are or may over time become liable for accrued rent through the date the merchandise is finally returned or the amount of the early purchase option or, if the merchandise is not returned before expiration of the original term of weeks or months to ownership under the rental purchase agreement, then the total balance of payments necessary to acquire ownership of the merchandise. If the customer does not return the merchandise or make payment, the remaining book value of the rental merchandise associated with delinquent accounts is generally charged off on or before the ninetieth day following the time the account became past due. Charge offs in our rental stores due to customer stolen merchandise, expressed as a percentage of rental store revenues, were approximately 2.5% in 2008, 2.8% in 2007 and 2.4% in 2006.
 
Management
 
We organize our network of stores geographically with multiple levels of management. At the individual store level, each store manager is responsible for customer and account relations, delivery and collection of merchandise, inventory management, staffing, training store personnel and certain marketing efforts. Two times each week, store management is required to count the store’s inventory on hand and compare the count to our accounting records, with the district manager performing a similar audit at least quarterly. In addition, our individual store managers track their daily store performance for revenue collected as compared to the projected performance of their store. Each store manager reports to a district manager within close proximity who typically oversees six to eight stores. Typically, a district manager focuses on developing the personnel in his or her district and ensuring all stores meet our quality, cleanliness and service standards. In addition, a district manager routinely audits numerous areas of the stores’ operations. A significant portion of a district manager’s and store manager’s compensation is dependent upon store revenues and profits.
 
At December 31, 2008, we had 483 district managers who, in turn, reported to 76 regional directors. Regional directors monitor the results of their entire region, with an emphasis on developing and supervising the district managers in their region. Similar to the district managers, regional directors are responsible for ascertaining whether stores are following the operational guidelines. The regional directors report to 10 division vice presidents


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located throughout the country. The regional directors and division vice presidents receive a significant amount of their compensation based on the revenue and profitability of the stores under their management.
 
Our executive management team at the home office oversees field operations, with an overall strategic focus. The executive management team directs and coordinates advertising, purchasing, financial planning and controls, employee training, personnel matters, acquisitions and new store initiatives. The centralization and coordination of such operational matters allows our store managers to focus on individual store performance. A portion of our executive management compensation is determined by the profits generated by us.
 
Management Information Systems
 
Through a licensing agreement with High Touch, Inc., we utilize an integrated management information and control system. Each store is equipped with a computer system utilizing point of sale software developed by High Touch. This system tracks individual components of revenue, each item in idle and rented inventory, total items on rent, delinquent accounts, items in service and other account information. We electronically gather each day’s activity report, which provides our executive management with access to all operating and financial information concerning any of our stores, markets or regions and generates management reports on a daily, weekly, month-to-date and year-to-date basis for each store and for every rental purchase transaction. The system enables us to track all of our merchandise and rental purchase agreements, which often include more than one unit of merchandise. In addition, our bank reconciliation system performs a daily sweep of available funds from our stores’ depository accounts into our central operating account based on a formula from bank balances that is reconciled back to the balances reported by the stores. Our system also includes extensive management software, report-generating capabilities and a virtual private network. The virtual private network allows us to communicate with the stores more effectively and efficiently. Utilizing the management information system, our executive management, division vice presidents, regional directors, district managers and store managers closely monitor the productivity of stores under their supervision according to our prescribed guidelines.
 
The integration of our management information system, developed by High Touch, with our accounting system, developed by Lawson Software, Inc., facilitates the production of our internal financial statements. These financial statements are distributed monthly to all stores, markets, regions and our executive management team for their review.
 
Purchasing and Distribution
 
Our executive management determines the general product mix in our stores based on analyses of customer rental patterns and the introduction of new products on a test basis. Individual store managers are responsible for determining the particular product selection for their store from the list of products approved by executive management. Store and district managers make specific purchasing decisions for the stores, subject to review by executive management, on our online ordering system. Additionally, we have predetermined levels of inventory allowed in each store which restrict levels of merchandise that may be purchased. All merchandise is shipped by vendors directly to each store, where it is held for rental. We do not utilize any distribution centers. These practices allow us to retain tight control over our inventory and, along with our selection of products for which consistent historical demand has been shown, reduce the number of obsolete items in our stores. The stores also have online access to determine whether other stores in their market may have merchandise available. We are currently investing in new inventory management systems and processes to enhance further our inventory management.
 
We purchase the majority of our merchandise from manufacturers, who ship directly to each store. Our largest suppliers include Whirlpool and Ashley, who accounted for approximately 14.8% and 12.6%, respectively, of merchandise purchased in 2008. No other supplier accounted for more than 10% of merchandise purchased during this period. We do not generally enter into written contracts with our suppliers that obligate us to meet certain minimum purchasing levels. Although we expect to continue relationships with our existing suppliers, we believe there are numerous sources of products available, and we do not believe that the success of our operations is dependent on any one or more of our present suppliers.


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Marketing
 
We promote the products and services in our stores through television and radio commercials, print advertisements, direct response and store signage, all of which are designed to increase our name recognition among our customers and potential customers. Our advertisements emphasize such features as product and name-brand selection, prompt delivery, price match, service at no extra cost, lifetime reinstatement and the absence of initial deposits, credit investigations or long-term obligations. In 2007, we began the “RAC Worry-Free Guaranteetm” initiative to further highlight and promote these aspects of the rent-to-own transaction. In 2008, we introduced “Credit Free Life,” an integrated campaign utilizing TV, radio, newspaper and e-mail initiatives, as well as an information microsite, to explain how a rent-to-own transaction can help consumers meet their needs without incurring debt. We believe that as the Rent-A-Center name gains familiarity and national recognition through our advertising efforts, we will continue to educate our customers and potential customers about the rent-to-own alternative to merchandise purchases as well as solidify our reputation as a leading provider of high quality branded merchandise and services.
 
Advertising expense as a percentage of store revenue for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 was approximately 2.9%, 2.8% and 2.8%, respectively. As we obtain new stores in our existing market areas, the advertising expenses of each store in the market can generally be reduced by listing all stores in the same market-wide advertisement.
 
Competition
 
The rent-to-own industry is highly competitive. According to industry sources and our estimates, the two largest industry participants account for approximately 4,800 of the 8,500 rent-to-own stores in the United States and Canada. We are the largest operator in the rent-to-own industry with 3,037 stores and 222 franchised locations as of December 31, 2008. Our stores compete with other national and regional rent-to-own businesses, as well as with rental stores that do not offer their customers a purchase option. With respect to customers desiring to purchase merchandise for cash or on credit, we also compete with retail stores. Competition is based primarily on store location, product selection and availability, customer service and rental rates and terms.
 
Seasonality
 
Our revenue mix is moderately seasonal, with the first quarter of each fiscal year generally providing higher merchandise sales than any other quarter during a fiscal year, primarily related to federal income tax refunds. Generally, our customers will more frequently exercise their early purchase option on their existing rental purchase agreements or purchase pre-leased merchandise off the showroom floor during the first quarter of each fiscal year. We expect this trend to continue in future periods. Furthermore, we tend to experience slower growth in the number of rental purchase agreements on rent in the third quarter of each fiscal year when compared to other quarters throughout the year. As a result, we would expect revenues for the third quarter of each fiscal year to remain relatively flat with the prior quarter. We expect this trend to continue in future periods unless we add significantly to our store base during the third quarter of future fiscal years as a result of new store openings or opportunistic acquisitions.
 
Retail Store Operations
 
As of December 31, 2008, we operated 31 stores utilizing a retail model which generates installment credit sales through a retail sale transaction. Twenty-three of these stores operate under the name “Get It Now” and eight stores under the name “Home Choice.” Our retail stores are located in Illinois, Minnesota and Wisconsin.
 
ColorTyme Operations
 
ColorTyme is our nationwide franchisor of rent-to-own stores. At December 31, 2008, ColorTyme franchised 222 stores in 34 states. These rent-to-own stores primarily offer high quality durable products such as home electronics, appliances, computers and furniture and accessories. During 2008, 15 new franchise locations were added, 17 were sold, of which 16 were sold to another Rent-A-Center subsidiary, and three stores closed.


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All of the ColorTyme franchised stores use ColorTyme’s trade names, service marks, trademarks and logos. All stores operate under distinctive operating procedures and standards. ColorTyme’s primary source of revenue is the sale of rental merchandise to its franchisees who, in turn, offer the merchandise to the general public for rent or purchase under a rent-to-own program. As franchisor, ColorTyme receives royalties of 2.0% to 5.0% of the franchisees’ monthly gross revenue and, generally, an initial fee up to $20,000 per new location for existing franchisees and up to $25,000 per location for new franchisees.
 
The ColorTyme franchise agreement generally requires the franchised stores to utilize specific computer hardware and software for the purpose of recording rentals, sales and other record keeping and central functions. ColorTyme retains the right to retrieve data and information from the franchised stores’ computer systems. The franchise agreements also limit the ability of the franchisees to compete with other franchisees and provides us a right of first refusal to purchase the franchise location of a ColorTyme franchisee that wishes to exit the business.
 
The franchise agreement also requires the franchised stores to exclusively offer for rent or sale only those brands, types and models of products that ColorTyme has approved. The franchised stores are required to maintain an adequate mix of inventory that consists of approved products for rent as dictated by ColorTyme policy manuals. ColorTyme negotiates purchase arrangements with various suppliers it has approved. ColorTyme’s largest suppliers are Ashley and Whirlpool, which accounted for approximately 18.5% and 11.0% of merchandise purchased by ColorTyme in 2008, respectively.
 
ColorTyme franchisees may also offer financial services, such as short term secured and unsecured loans, in addition to traditional rent-to-own products. In addition, some of ColorTyme’s franchised stores offer custom rims and tires for sale or rental under the trade names “RimTyme” or “ColorTyme Custom Wheels.” As of December 31, 2008, 42 ColorTyme stores operated by 17 separate franchisees offered financial services. Twelve ColorTyme stores operated by four separate franchisees offered tires and rims exclusively.
 
ColorTyme is a party to an agreement with Wells Fargo Foothill, Inc. (“Wells Fargo”), who provides $35.0 million in aggregate financing to qualifying franchisees of ColorTyme generally up to five times their average monthly revenues. Under the Wells Fargo agreement, upon an event of default by the franchisee under agreements governing this financing and upon the occurrence of certain other events, Wells Fargo can assign the loans and the collateral securing such loans to ColorTyme, with ColorTyme paying the outstanding debt to Wells Fargo and then succeeding to the rights of Wells Fargo under the debt agreements, including the right to foreclose on the collateral. The Wells Fargo agreement expires on September 30, 2010. An additional $20.0 million of financing is provided by Texas Capital Bank, National Association (“Texas Capital Bank”) under an agreement similar to the Wells Fargo financing. Rent-A-Center East, Inc., a subsidiary of Rent-A-Center, guarantees the obligations of ColorTyme under each of these agreements, excluding the effects of any amounts that could be recovered under collateralization provisions, up to a maximum amount of $55.0 million, of which $24.5 million was outstanding as of December 31, 2008.
 
ColorTyme has established a national advertising fund for the franchised stores, whereby ColorTyme has the right to collect up to 3% of the monthly gross revenue from each franchisee as contributions to the fund. Currently, ColorTyme has set the monthly franchisee contribution at $250 per store per month. ColorTyme directs the advertising programs of the fund, generally consisting of advertising in print, television and radio. ColorTyme also has the right to require franchisees to expend 3% of their monthly gross revenue on local advertising.
 
ColorTyme licenses the use of its trademarks and servicemarks to its franchisees under the franchise agreement. ColorTyme owns various trademarks and servicemarks, including ColorTyme®, RimTyme®, and Your Hometown ColorTyme®, that are used in connection with its operations and have been registered with the United States Patent and Trademark office. The duration of these marks is unlimited, subject to periodic renewal and continued use.
 
Some of ColorTyme’s franchisees may be in locations where they directly compete with our company-owned stores, which could negatively impact the business, financial condition and operating results of our company-owned stores.


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Financial Services Operations
 
We offer financial services products, such as short term secured and unsecured loans, debit cards, check cashing, tax preparation and money transfer services under the trade names “RAC Financial Services” and “Cash AdvantEdge” within certain of our existing Rent-A-Center store locations. As of December 31, 2008, we offered some or all of these financial services products in 351 Rent-A-Center store locations in 18 states. We intend to focus our resources on improving the operations in these existing financial services store locations and do not plan to add significantly to the number of Rent-A-Center store locations offering financial services at this time.
 
Stores offering financial services products in addition to traditional rent-to-own products generally require one to two additional employees. Management of our financial services business is integrated with our rent-to-own operations, with five financial services regional directors and 44 financial services district managers reporting to our division vice presidents.
 
Our financial services business operates in a highly competitive industry. Similar financial services products are offered by large regional or national entities, smaller independent outlets and pawnshops. Competitive factors include location, service, maximum loan amount, repayment options and fees.
 
Trademarks
 
We own various trademarks and servicemarks, including Rent-A-Center®, that are used in connection with our operations and have been registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The duration of our trademarks is unlimited, subject to periodic renewal and continued use. In addition, we have obtained trademark registrations in Canada. We believe we hold the necessary rights for protection of the trademarks and servicemarks essential to our business. The products held for rent in our stores also bear trademarks and servicemarks held by their respective manufacturers.
 
Employees
 
As of February 18, 2009, we had approximately 17,900 employees, of whom 575 are assigned to our headquarters and the remainder of whom are directly involved in the management and operation of our stores and service centers. The employees of the ColorTyme franchisees are not employed by us. While we have experienced limited union activity in the past, none of our employees are covered by a collective bargaining agreement. We believe relationships with our employees are generally good.
 
Government Regulation
 
Rental Purchase Transactions
 
State Regulation
 
Currently, 47 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have legislation regulating rental purchase transactions. We believe this existing legislation is generally favorable to us, as it defines and clarifies the various disclosures, procedures and transaction structures related to the rent-to-own business with which we must comply. With some variations in individual states, most related state legislation requires the lessor to make prescribed disclosures to customers about the rental purchase agreement and transaction, and provides time periods during which customers may reinstate agreements despite having failed to make a timely payment. Some state rental purchase laws prescribe grace periods for non-payment, prohibit or limit certain types of collection or other practices, and limit certain fees that may be charged. Nine states limit the total rental payments that can be charged. These limitations, however, generally do not become applicable unless the total rental payments required under an agreement exceed 2.0 times to 2.4 times the disclosed cash price or the retail value of the rental product.
 
Courts in each of Minnesota, which has a rental purchase statute, and Wisconsin and New Jersey, which do not have rental purchase statutes, have rendered decisions which classify rental purchase transactions as credit sales subject to consumer lending restrictions. Accordingly, in Minnesota and Wisconsin, we offer our customers an opportunity to purchase our merchandise through an installment sale transaction in our Get It Now and Home Choice stores. In New Jersey, we have modified our typical rental purchase agreements to provide disclosures, grace


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periods, and pricing that we believe conform with the retail installment sales act. We operate 25 Get It Now and Home Choice stores in Minnesota and Wisconsin, and 44 Rent-A-Center stores in New Jersey.
 
North Carolina has no rental purchase legislation. However, the retail installment sales statute in North Carolina expressly provides that lease transactions which provide for more than a nominal purchase price at the end of the agreed rental period are not credit sales under the statute. We operate 133 stores in North Carolina.
 
Legislation has been introduced in New York from time to time that would significantly amend that state’s existing rental purchase statute. Recently introduced bills would impose significant pricing restrictions in New York and, if enacted as proposed, would have a material and adverse impact on our operations in New York. While predecessors of these bills have not received widespread support from members of either body of New York’s legislature, we are unable to assure you that such adverse legislation will not be enacted in the future. We operate 178 stores in New York.
 
Federal Legislation
 
To date, no comprehensive federal legislation has been enacted regulating or otherwise impacting the rental purchase transaction. We do, however, comply with the Federal Trade Commission recommendations for disclosure in rental purchase transactions.
 
From time to time, we have supported legislation introduced in Congress that would regulate the rental purchase transaction. While both beneficial and adverse legislation may be introduced in Congress in the future, any adverse federal legislation, if enacted, could have a material and adverse effect on us.
 
There can be no assurance as to whether new or revised rental purchase laws will be enacted or whether, if enacted, the laws would not have a material and adverse effect on us.
 
Financial Services
 
Our financial services business is subject to regulation and supervision primarily at the state and federal levels. We intend to offer our financial services products only in those jurisdictions with favorable regulatory environments.
 
In those jurisdictions where we make consumer loans directly to consumers (currently all states in which we offer financial services other than Texas), we are a licensed lender where required and are subject to various state regulations regarding the terms of our short term consumer loans and our policies, procedures and operations relating to those loans. Typically, state regulations limit the amount that we may lend to any consumer and, in some cases, the number of loans or transactions that we may make to any consumer at one time or in the course of a year. These state regulations also typically restrict the amount of finance or service charges or fees that we may assess in connection with any loan or transaction and may limit a customer’s ability to renew or “rollover” a loan.
 
We operate our financial services business in Texas under the Texas Credit Services Organization law which requires that we register as a Credit Services Organization (“CSO”) with the Texas Secretary of State, pay a registration fee and post surety bonds for each location. The CSO may, for a fee, help a consumer obtain an extension of credit from an independent third-party lender. We must also comply with various disclosure requirements, which include providing the consumer with a disclosure statement and contract that detail the services to be performed by the CSO and the total cost of those services along with various other items. Additionally, the CSO must give a consumer the right to cancel the credit services agreement without penalty within 3 days after the agreement is signed.
 
We are subject to regulation in several jurisdictions in which we operate that require the registration or licensing of check cashing companies or regulate the fees that check cashing companies may impose. In some of these jurisdictions, we may be required to file fee schedules with the state or conspicuously post the fees charged for cashing checks by each branch. In some cases, we are required to meet minimum bonding or capital requirements and are subject to record-keeping requirements. We are licensed in each of the states or jurisdictions in which a license is currently required for us to operate as a check cashing company and have filed our schedule of fees with


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each of the states or other jurisdictions in which such a filing is required. To the extent those states have adopted ceilings on check cashing fees, the fees we currently charge are at or below the maximum ceiling.
 
In addition, our financial services business is subject to federal statutes and regulations such as the USA Patriot Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Truth in Lending Act, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Anti-Money Laundering Act, and similar state laws.
 
In October 2006, U.S. federal legislation was enacted which limited our ability to offer financial services to active duty military personnel beginning in October 2007. There was no significant effect on our operations due to the restriction on lending to military personnel.
 
In 2008, legislation was enacted in Ohio which revised the statutes governing the short term consumer loan product we offered there at that time. The rate caps under the revised statute made it economically unfeasible to continue offering our loan products pursuant to that statute. As a result of this adverse legislation, we began offering alternative loan products and services in Ohio under other applicable provisions of Ohio law. We cannot assure you that we will be successful in offering these alternative products and services to consumers in Ohio, or whether such alternative products and services will prove to be economically feasible. We operate 51 stores in Ohio.
 
Legislative activity with respect to the financial services industry at the state and federal level continues to be significant. Both favorable and adverse legislation has been introduced in a number of states as well as in Congress. There can be no assurance as to whether new or revised financial services laws will be enacted or whether, if enacted, the laws would not have a material and adverse effect on us.
 
Item 1A.   Risk Factors.
 
You should carefully consider the risks described below before making an investment decision. We believe these are the material risks currently facing our business. Our business, financial condition or results of operations could be materially adversely affected by these risks. The trading price of our common stock could decline due to any of these risks, and you may lose all or part of your investment. You should also refer to the other information included or incorporated by reference in this report, including our financial statements and related notes.
 
We may not be able to successfully increase revenue in our rent-to-own stores, which could cause our future earnings to grow more slowly or even decrease.
 
Our continued growth depends on our ability to increase sales in our existing rent-to-own stores. Our same store sales increased by 2.3%, 2.1% and 1.9% in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. As a result of new store openings in existing markets and because mature stores will represent an increasing proportion of our store base over time, our same store revenues in future periods may be lower than historical levels. If we are unable to increase revenue in our rent-to-own stores, our earnings may grow more slowly or even decrease.
 
If we fail to effectively manage the growth, integration and profitability of our financial services business, we may not realize the economic benefit of our financial investment in such operations.
 
We face risks associated with integrating our financial services business into our existing operations, including further development of information technology and financial reporting systems. In addition, a newly opened financial services location generally does not attain positive cash flow during its first year of operations. Also, the financial services industry is highly competitive and regulated by federal, state and local laws.
 
Our expansion into the financial services business could place a significant demand on our management and our financial and operational resources. If we are unable to effectively implement our financial services business, we may not realize the operational benefits of our investment in the financial services business that we currently expect.


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Rent-to-own transactions are regulated by law in most states. Any adverse change in these laws or the passage of adverse new laws could expose us to litigation or require us to alter our business practices.
 
As is the case with most businesses, we are subject to various governmental regulations, including specifically in our case, regulations regarding rent-to-own transactions. Currently, 47 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico have passed laws regulating rental purchase transactions and one additional state has a retail installment sales statute that excludes rent-to-own transactions from its coverage if certain criteria are met. These laws generally require certain contractual and advertising disclosures. They also provide varying levels of substantive consumer protection, such as requiring a grace period for late fees and contract reinstatement rights in the event the rental purchase agreement is terminated. The rental purchase laws of nine states limit the total amount of rentals that may be charged over the life of a rental purchase agreement. Several states also effectively regulate rental purchase transactions under other consumer protection statutes. We are currently subject to litigation alleging that we have violated some of these statutory provisions.
 
Although there is currently no comprehensive federal legislation regulating rental purchase transactions, adverse federal legislation may be enacted in the future. From time to time, legislation has been introduced in Congress seeking to regulate our business. In addition, various legislatures in the states where we currently do business may adopt new legislation or amend existing legislation that could require us to alter our business practices.
 
Financial services transactions are regulated by federal law as well as the laws of certain states. Any adverse changes in these laws or the passage of adverse new laws with respect to the financial services business could slow our growth opportunities, expose us to litigation or alter our business practices in a manner that we may deem to be unacceptable.
 
Our financial services business is subject to federal statutes and regulations such as the USA Patriot Act, the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, the Truth in Lending Act, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Anti-Money Laundering Act, and similar state laws. In addition, we are subject to various state regulations regarding the terms of our short term consumer loans and our policies, procedures and operations relating to those loans, including the fees we may charge, as well as fees we may charge in connection with our other financial services products. The failure to comply with such regulations may result in the imposition of material fines, penalties, or injunctions. Congress and/or the various legislatures in the states where we currently operate or intend to offer financial services products may adopt new legislation or amend existing legislation with respect to our financial services business that could require us to alter our business practices in a manner that we may deem to be unacceptable, which could slow our growth opportunities.
 
We may be subject to legal proceedings from time to time which seek material damages. The costs we incur in defending ourselves or associated with settling any of these proceedings, as well as a material final judgment or decree against us, could materially adversely affect our financial condition by requiring the payment of the settlement amount, a judgment or the posting of a bond.
 
In our history, we have defended class action lawsuits alleging various regulatory violations and have paid material amounts to settle such claims. We cannot assure you that we will not be the subject of similar lawsuits in the future. Significant settlement amounts or final judgments could materially and adversely affect our liquidity. The failure to pay any material judgment would be a default under our senior credit facilities and the indenture governing our outstanding subordinated notes.
 
Our debt agreements impose restrictions on us which may limit or prohibit us from engaging in certain transactions. If a default were to occur, our lenders could accelerate the amounts of debt outstanding, and holders of our secured indebtedness could force us to sell our assets to satisfy all or a part of what is owed.
 
Covenants under our senior credit facilities and the indenture governing our outstanding subordinated notes restrict our ability to pay dividends, engage in various operational matters, as well as require us to maintain specified financial ratios. Our ability to meet these financial ratios may be affected by events beyond our control. These


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restrictions could limit our ability to obtain future financing, make needed capital expenditures or other investments, repurchase our outstanding debt or equity, withstand a future downturn in our business or in the economy, dispose of operations, engage in mergers, acquire additional stores or otherwise conduct necessary corporate activities. Various transactions that we may view as important opportunities, such as specified acquisitions, are also subject to the consent of lenders under the senior credit facilities, which may be withheld or granted subject to conditions specified at the time that may affect the attractiveness or viability of the transaction.
 
If a default were to occur, the lenders under our senior credit facilities could accelerate the amounts outstanding under the credit facilities, and our other lenders could declare immediately due and payable all amounts borrowed under other instruments that contain certain provisions for cross-acceleration or cross-default. In addition, the lenders under these agreements could terminate their commitments to lend to us. If the lenders under these agreements accelerate the repayment of borrowings, we may not have sufficient liquid assets at that time to repay the amounts then outstanding under our indebtedness or be able to find additional alternative financing. Even if we could obtain additional alternative financing, the terms of the financing may not be favorable or acceptable to us.
 
The existing indebtedness under our senior credit facilities is secured by substantially all of our assets. Should a default or acceleration of this indebtedness occur, the holders of this indebtedness could sell the assets to satisfy all or a part of what is owed. Our senior credit facilities also contain certain provisions limiting our ability to modify or refinance our outstanding subordinated notes.
 
A change of control could accelerate our obligation to pay our outstanding indebtedness, and we may not have sufficient liquid assets at that time to repay these amounts.
 
Under our senior credit facilities, an event of default would result if a third party became the beneficial owner of 35.0% or more of our voting stock or upon certain changes in the constitution of Rent-A-Center’s Board of Directors. As of December 31, 2008, $721.7 million was outstanding under our senior debt.
 
Under the indenture governing our outstanding subordinated notes, in the event that a change in control occurs, we may be required to offer to purchase all of our outstanding subordinated notes at 101% of their original aggregate principal amount, plus accrued interest to the date of repurchase. A change in control also would result in an event of default under our senior credit facilities, which would allow our lenders to accelerate indebtedness owed to them.
 
If the lenders under our debt instruments accelerate these obligations, we may not have sufficient liquid assets to repay amounts outstanding under these agreements.
 
Rent-A-Center’s organizational documents and our debt instruments contain provisions that may prevent or deter another group from paying a premium over the market price to Rent-A-Center’s stockholders to acquire its stock.
 
Rent-A-Center’s organizational documents contain provisions that classify its Board of Directors, authorize its Board of Directors to issue blank check preferred stock and establish advance notice requirements on its stockholders for director nominations and actions to be taken at meetings of the stockholders. In addition, as a Delaware corporation, Rent-A-Center is subject to Section 203 of the Delaware General Corporation Law relating to business combinations. Our senior credit facilities and the indenture governing our subordinated notes each contain various change of control provisions which, in the event of a change of control, would cause a default under those provisions. These provisions and arrangements could delay, deter or prevent a merger, consolidation, tender offer or other business combination or change of control involving us that could include a premium over the market price of Rent-A-Center’s common stock that some or a majority of Rent-A-Center’s stockholders might consider to be in their best interests.
 
Rent-A-Center is a holding company and is dependent on the operations and funds of its subsidiaries.
 
Rent-A-Center is a holding company, with no revenue generating operations and no assets other than its ownership interests in its direct and indirect subsidiaries. Accordingly, Rent-A-Center is dependent on the cash flow generated by its direct and indirect operating subsidiaries and must rely on dividends or other intercompany


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transfers from its operating subsidiaries to generate the funds necessary to meet its obligations, including the obligations under the senior credit facilities and the outstanding subordinated notes. The ability of Rent-A-Center’s subsidiaries to pay dividends or make other payments to it is subject to applicable state laws. Should one or more of Rent-A-Center’s subsidiaries be unable to pay dividends or make distributions, its ability to meet its ongoing obligations could be materially and adversely impacted.
 
Our stock price is volatile, and you may not be able to recover your investment if our stock price declines.
 
The price of our common stock has been volatile and can be expected to be significantly affected by factors such as:
 
  •  quarterly variations in our results of operations, which may be impacted by, among other things, changes in same store sales, when and how many rent-to-own stores we acquire or open, and the rate at which we add financial services to our existing rent-to-own stores;
 
  •  quarterly variations in our competitors’ results of operations;
 
  •  changes in earnings estimates or buy/sell recommendations by financial analysts; and
 
  •  the stock price performance of comparable companies.
 
In addition, the stock market as a whole has experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that have affected the market price of many specialty retailers in ways that may have been unrelated to these companies’ operating performance.
 
Failure to achieve and maintain effective internal controls could have a material adverse effect on our business and stock price.
 
Effective internal controls are necessary for us to provide reliable financial reports. If we cannot provide reliable financial reports, our brand and operating results could be harmed. All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation.
 
While we continue to evaluate and improve our internal controls, we cannot be certain that these measures will ensure that we implement and maintain adequate controls over our financial processes and reporting in the future. Any failure to implement required new or improved controls, or difficulties encountered in their implementation, could harm our operating results or cause us to fail to meet our reporting obligations.
 
If we fail to maintain the adequacy of our internal controls, as such standards are modified, supplemented or amended from time to time, we may not be able to ensure that we can conclude on an ongoing basis that we have effective internal control over financial reporting in accordance with Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Failure to achieve and maintain an effective internal control environment could cause investors to lose confidence in our reported financial information, which could have a material adverse effect on our stock price.
 
Item 1B.   Unresolved Staff Comments.
 
None.
 
Item 2.   Properties.
 
We lease space for substantially all of our stores and service center locations, as well as regional offices, under operating leases expiring at various times through 2016. Most of our store leases are five year leases and contain renewal options for additional periods ranging from three to five years at rental rates adjusted according to agreed-upon formulas. Store sizes range from approximately 1,900 to 24,000 square feet, and average approximately 4,700 square feet. Approximately 75% of each store’s space is generally used for showroom space and 25% for offices and storage space.


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We own the land and building at 5501 Headquarters Drive, Plano, Texas, in which our corporate headquarters are located. The land and improvements are pledged as collateral under our senior credit facilities.
 
We believe suitable store space generally is available for lease and we would be able to relocate any of our stores without significant difficulty should we be unable to renew a particular lease. We also expect additional space is readily available at competitive rates to open new stores.
 
Item 3.   Legal Proceedings.
 
Legal Proceedings
 
From time to time, we, along with our subsidiaries, are party to various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. We account for our litigation contingencies pursuant to the provisions of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 5, Accounting for Contingencies (“SFAS No. 5”) and FASB Interpretation No. 14, Reasonable Estimation of the Amount of a Loss — An Interpretation of FASB Statement No. 5 (“FIN 14”), which require that we accrue for losses that are both probable and reasonably estimable. We expense legal fees and expenses incurred in connection with the defense of all of our litigation at the time such amounts are invoiced or otherwise made known to us.
 
As of December 31, 2008, we had accrued $11.3 million relating to probable losses for our outstanding litigation as follows (in millions):
 
         
Shafer/Johnson Matter
  $ 1.8  
California Attorney General Settlement
    9.4  
Other Litigation
    0.1  
         
Total Accrual
  $ 11.3  
         
 
We continue to monitor our litigation exposure, and will review the adequacy of our legal reserves on a quarterly basis in accordance with applicable accounting rules. Please refer to “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations — Critical Accounting Policies Involving Critical Estimates, Uncertainties or Assessments in Our Financial Statements” regarding our process for evaluating our litigation reserves. Except as described below, we are not currently a party to any material litigation and, other than as set forth above, we have not established any other reserves for our outstanding litigation.
 
California Attorney General Inquiry.  In January 2009, we paid $9.4 million in accordance with the settlement with the California Attorney General.
 
Eric Shafer, et al. v. Rent-A-Center, Inc.  We recorded a pre-tax expense of $11.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2007 related to the settlement of the Eric Shafer et al. v. Rent-A-Center, Inc. and Victor E. Johnson et al. v. Rent-A-Center, Inc., coordinated matters pending in state court in Los Angeles, California. Due to fewer class members eligible to participate in the settlement than originally estimated, as well as negotiated reductions in settlement payments to certain plaintiffs, the maximum claim amount remaining to be paid was reduced by approximately $2.4 million during the fourth quarter of 2008. We also paid settlement costs and plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees in the amount of approximately $4.4 million, and settlement payments in the aggregate amount of approximately $2.4 million during the fourth quarter of 2008. We expect to fund the maximum remaining settlement payments of approximately $1.8 million during 2009.
 
In our history, we have defended class action lawsuits alleging various regulatory violations and have paid material amounts to settle such claims. We cannot assure you that we will not be the subject of similar lawsuits in the future.
 
Item 4.   Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders.
 
None.


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PART II
 
Item 5.   Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities.
 
Our common stock has been listed on the Nasdaq Global Select Market® and its predecessors under the symbol “RCII” since January 25, 1995, the date we commenced our initial public offering. The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the high and low sales price per share of the common stock as reported.
 
                 
2008
  High     Low  
 
Fourth Quarter
  $ 22.68     $ 9.97  
Third Quarter
    26.00       18.60  
Second Quarter
    23.20       17.07  
First Quarter
    20.22       11.67  
 
                 
2007
  High     Low  
 
Fourth Quarter
  $ 18.59     $ 13.17  
Third Quarter
    27.06       16.85  
Second Quarter
    29.01       25.90  
First Quarter
    31.09       26.32  
 
As of February 20, 2009, there were approximately 51 record holders of our common stock.
 
We have not paid any cash dividends on our common stock since the time of our initial public offering. Any change in our dividend policy will be made at the discretion of our Board of Directors and will depend on a number of factors, including future earnings, capital requirements, contractual restrictions, financial condition, future prospects and any other factors our Board of Directors may deem relevant.
 
Cash dividend payments are subject to the restrictions in our senior credit facilities and the indenture governing our subordinated notes. These restrictions would not currently prohibit the payment of cash dividends. Please see the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations  Liquidity and Capital Resources — Senior Credit Facilities” on page 35 of this report for further discussion of such restrictions.
 
Under our common stock repurchase program, we are authorized to repurchase up to $500.0 million in aggregate purchase price of our common stock. As of December 31, 2008, we had repurchased a total of 19,412,750 shares of Rent-A-Center common stock for an aggregate of $457.8 million under our common stock repurchase program. For the year ended December 31, 2008, we repurchased 951,800 shares of our common stock for an aggregate purchase price of $13.4 million. In the fourth quarter of 2008, we effected the following repurchases of our common stock:
 
                                 
                      Maximum Dollar
 
                Total Number of
    Value that May Yet
 
                Shares Purchased
    Be Purchased
 
    Total Number
    Average Price
    as Part of Publicly
    Under the Plans
 
    of Shares
    Paid per Share
    Announced Plans
    or Programs
 
Period
  Purchased     (Including Fees)     or Programs     (Including Fees)  
 
October 1 through October 31
    150,000     $ 14.0456       150,000     $ 50,422,839  
November 1 through November 30
    651,800     $ 12.5574       651,800     $ 42,237,933  
December 1 through December 31
                               
                                 
Total
    801,800     $ 12.8358       801,800     $ 42,237,933  


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Stock Performance Graph
 
The following chart represents a comparison of the five year total return of our common stock to the NASDAQ Market Index and a peer group index selected by us. The peer group index consists of Aaron Rents, Inc., Family Dollar Stores, Inc., 99¢ Only Stores, Dollar Tree Stores, Inc., Dollar Financial Corp., Advance America, Cash Advance Centers, Inc., EZCORP, Inc., and Cash America International, Inc. The graph assumes $100 was invested on December 31, 2003 and dividends, if any, were reinvested for all years ending December 31.
 
(PERFORMANCE GRAPH)


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Item 6.   Selected Financial Data
 
The selected financial data presented below for the five years ended December 31, 2008 have been derived from our consolidated financial statements as audited by Grant Thornton LLP, independent registered public accounting firm. The historical financial data are qualified in their entirety by, and should be read in conjunction with, the consolidated financial statements and the notes thereto, the section entitled “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and other financial information included in this report.
 
                                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2008     2007     2006     2005     2004  
          (In thousands, except per share data)        
 
Consolidated Statements of Earnings
                                       
Revenues
                                       
Store
                                       
Rentals and fees
  $ 2,505,268     $ 2,594,061     $ 2,174,239 (7)   $ 2,084,757     $ 2,071,866  
Merchandise sales
    256,731       208,989       175,954       177,292       166,594  
Installment sales
    41,193       34,576       26,877       26,139       24,304  
Other
    42,759       25,482       15,607       7,903       3,568  
Franchise
                                       
Merchandise sales
    33,283       34,229       36,377       37,794       41,398  
Royalty income and fees
    4,938       8,784 (4)     4,854       5,222       5,525  
                                         
Total revenue
    2,884,172       2,906,121       2,433,908       2,339,107       2,313,255  
Operating expenses
                                       
Direct store expenses
                                       
Cost of rentals and fees
    572,900       574,013       476,462 (7)     452,583       450,035  
Cost of merchandise sold
    194,595       156,503       131,428       129,624       119,098  
Cost of installment sales
    16,620       13,270       11,346       10,889       10,512  
Salaries and other expenses
    1,651,805       1,684,965       1,385,437 (8)     1,358,760 (11)     1,277,926  
Franchise cost of merchandise sold
    31,705       32,733       34,862       36,319       39,472  
                                         
      2,467,625       2,461,484       2,039,535       1,988,175       1,897,043  
General and administrative expenses
    125,632       123,703       93,556       82,290       75,481  
Amortization and write-down of intangibles
    16,637       15,734       5,573       11,705 (12)     10,780  
Litigation expense (credit)
    (4,607 )(1)     62,250 (5)     73,300 (9)     (8,000 )(13)     47,000 (16)
Restructuring charge
    4,497 (2)     38,713 (6)           15,166 (14)      
                                         
Total operating expenses
    2,609,784       2,701,884       2,211,964       2,089,336       2,030,304  
                                         
Operating profit
    274,388       204,237       221,944       249,771       282,951  
Income from sale of charged off accounts
                            (7,924 )(17)
Finance charges from refinancing
                4,803 (10)           4,173  
Gain on extinguishment of debt
    (4,335 )(3)                        
Interest expense, net
    57,381       87,951       53,003       40,703       35,323  
                                         
Earnings before income taxes
    221,342       116,286       164,138       209,068       251,379  
Income tax expense
    81,718       40,018       61,046       73,330 (15)     95,524  
                                         


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Item 6.  Selected Financial Data — Continued
       
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2008     2007     2006     2005     2004  
    (In thousands, except per share data)  
 
NET EARNINGS
  $ 139,624     $ 76,268     $ 103,092     $ 135,738     $ 155,855  
                                         
Basic earnings per common share
  $ 2.10     $ 1.11     $ 1.48     $ 1.86     $ 1.99  
                                         
Diluted earnings per common share
  $ 2.08     $ 1.10     $ 1.46     $ 1.83     $ 1.94  
                                         
Consolidated Balance Sheet Data
                                       
Rental merchandise, net
  $ 819,054     $ 937,970     $ 1,056,233 (18)   $ 750,680     $ 759,111  
Intangible assets, net
    1,266,953       1,269,094       1,281,597       929,326       922,404  
Total assets
    2,496,702       2,626,943       2,740,956 (18)     1,948,664       1,967,788  
Total debt
    947,087       1,259,335       1,293,278       724,050       708,250  
Total liabilities(19)
    1,417,500       1,679,852       1,797,997 (18)     1,125,232       1,173,517  
Stockholders’ equity
    1,079,202       947,091       942,959 (18)     823,432       794,271  
Operating Data (Unaudited)
                                       
Stores open at end of period
    3,037       3,081       3,406       2,760       2,875  
Comparable store revenue growth (decrease)(20)
    2.3 %     2.1 %     1.9 %     (2.3 )%     (3.6 )%
Weighted average number of stores
    3,056       3,376       2,848       2,844       2,788  
Franchise stores open at end of period
    222       227       282       296       313  
 
 
  (1) Includes the effects of a $4.6 million in pre-tax litigation credits recorded in the fourth quarter of 2008 related to the Perez matter and the Shafer/Johnson matter
 
  (2) Includes the effects of a $4.5 million pre-tax restructuring expense as part of the store consolidation plan and other restructuring items announced December 3, 2007.
 
  (3) Includes the effects of a $4.3 million pre-tax gain on the extinguishment of debt recorded in the fourth quarter of 2008.
 
  (4) Includes the effects of a $3.9 million pre-tax benefit recorded in the third quarter of 2007 as a result of the receipt of accelerated royalty payments from franchisees in consideration of the termination of their franchise agreements.
 
  (5) Includes the effects of a $51.3 million pre-tax litigation expense recorded in the first quarter of 2007 related to the Perez matter and the effects of an $11.0 million pre-tax litigation expense recorded in the fourth quarter of 2007 related to the Shafer/Johnson matter.
 
  (6) Includes the effects of a $38.7 million pre-tax restructuring expense recorded in the fourth quarter of 2007 related to the store consolidation plan and other restructuring items announced December 3, 2007.
 
  (7) Includes the effects of adopting SAB 108, Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements (“SAB 108”), of approximately $3.1 million decrease in pre-tax revenue and $738,000 decrease in pre-tax depreciation expense related to adjustments for deferred revenue.
 
  (8) Includes the effects of adopting SFAS 123R, Share-Based Payment (“SFAS 123R”), of approximately $7.8 million of pre-tax expense related to stock options and restricted stock units granted.
 
  (9) Includes the effects of a $4.95 million pre-tax expense in the third quarter of 2006 associated with the settlement of the Burdusis/French/Corso litigation, the effects of a $10.35 million pre-tax expense in the third quarter of 2006 associated with the settlement with the California Attorney General and the effects of a $58.0 million pre-tax expense in the fourth quarter of 2006 associated with the litigation reserve with respect to the Perez case.
 
(10) Includes the effects of a $2.2 million pre-tax expense in the third quarter of 2006 and the effects of a $2.6 million pre-tax expense in the fourth quarter of 2006 for the refinancing of our senior credit facilities.
 
(11) Includes the effects of $5.2 million in charges recorded in the third and fourth quarters of 2005 as a result of Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma. These charges were primarily related to the disposal of inventory and fixed assets.
 
(12) Includes the effects of $3.7 million in goodwill impairment charges recorded in the third quarter of 2005 as result of Hurricane Katrina.
 
(13) Includes the effect of a pre-tax legal reversion of $8.0 million recorded in the first quarter of 2005 associated with the settlement of a class action lawsuit in the state of California.

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(14) Includes the effects of a $15.2 million pre-tax restructuring expense as part of the store consolidation plan announced September 6, 2005.
 
(15) Includes the effects of a $2.0 million tax audit reserve credit associated with the examination and favorable resolution of our 1998 and 1999 federal tax returns and a $3.3 million state tax reserve credit due to a change in estimate related to potential loss exposures.
 
(16) Includes the effects of a pre-tax legal settlement charge of $47.0 million recorded in the third quarter of 2004 associated with the settlement of a class action lawsuit in the state of California.
 
(17) Includes the effects of $7.9 million in pre-tax income associated with the 2004 sale of previously charged off accounts.
 
(18) Includes the effects of adopting SAB 108 of a $4.2 million increase in accounts receivable, an increase in accrued liabilities of $31.0 million, a decrease in accumulated depreciation of $6.4 million, an increase in deferred tax assets of $7.6 million and a decrease in retained earnings of $12.8 million related to adjustments for deferred revenue and a $1.0 million increase in prepaid expenses, a $1.9 million decrease in accrued liabilities, a decrease in deferred tax assets of $1.1 million and an increase in retained earnings of $1.8 million related to adjustments for property taxes.
 
(19) In accordance with the adoption of SFAS No. 150, Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Characteristics of both Liabilities and Equity (“SFAS 150”), total liabilities also includes redeemable convertible voting preferred stock for the years ended December 31, 2002 through December 31, 2005.
 
(20) Comparable store revenue growth for each period presented includes revenues only of stores open throughout the full period and the comparable prior period.


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Item 7.   Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
 
Overview
 
We are the largest operator in the United States rent-to-own industry with an approximate 38% market share based on store count. At December 31, 2008, we operated 3,037 company-owned stores nationwide and in Canada and Puerto Rico, including 31 retail installment sales stores under the names “Get It Now” and “Home Choice” and eight rent-to-own stores located in Canada under the name “Rent-A-Centre.” Our subsidiary, ColorTyme, is a national franchisor of rent-to-own stores. At December 31, 2008, ColorTyme had 222 franchised rent-to-own stores in 34 states. These franchise stores represent an additional 3% market share based on store count.
 
Our stores generally offer high quality durable products such as major consumer electronics, appliances, computers, and furniture and accessories under flexible rental purchase agreements that generally allow the customer to obtain ownership of the merchandise at the conclusion of an agreed-upon rental period. The rental purchase transaction is a flexible alternative for consumers to obtain use and enjoyment of brand name merchandise without incurring debt. Key features of the rental purchase transaction include:
 
  •  convenient payment options — in-store or over the phone;
 
  •  no long-term obligations;
 
  •  right to terminate without penalty;
 
  •  no requirement of a credit history;
 
  •  set-up and delivery included at no additional charge;
 
  •  product maintenance;
 
  •  lifetime reinstatement; and
 
  •  flexible options to obtain ownership — 90 days same as cash, early purchase options, or payment through the term of the agreement.
 
Rental payments are made generally on a weekly basis and, together with applicable fees, constitute our primary revenue source.
 
Our expenses primarily relate to merchandise costs and the operations of our stores, including salaries and benefits for our employees, occupancy expense for our leased real estate, advertising expenses, lost, damaged, or stolen merchandise, fixed asset depreciation, and corporate and other expenses.
 
From 1993 to 2006, we pursued an aggressive growth strategy in which we sought to acquire underperforming rent-to-own stores to which we could apply our operating model as well as open new stores. As a result, the acquired stores have generally experienced more significant revenue growth during the initial periods following their acquisition than in subsequent periods. Typically, a newly opened rent-to-own store is profitable on a monthly basis in the ninth to twelfth month after its initial opening. Historically, a typical store has achieved cumulative break-even profitability in 18 to 24 months after its initial opening. Total financing requirements of a typical new store approximate $500,000, with roughly 75% of that amount relating to the purchase of rental merchandise inventory. A newly opened store historically has achieved results consistent with other stores that have been operating within the system for greater than two years by the end of its third year of operation. As a result, our quarterly earnings are impacted by how many new stores we opened during a particular quarter and the quarters preceding it. Because of significant growth since our formation, our historical results of operations and period-to-period comparisons of such results and other financial data, including the rate of earnings growth, may not be meaningful or indicative of future results.
 
In addition, we strategically open or acquire stores near market areas served by existing stores (“cannibalize”) to enhance service levels, gain incremental sales and increase market penetration. This planned cannibalization may negatively impact our same store revenue and cause us to grow at a slower rate. There can be no assurance that we will open any new rent-to-own stores in the future, or as to the number, location or profitability thereof.


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We also offer financial services products, such as short term secured and unsecured loans, debit cards, check cashing, tax preparation and money transfer services, in some of our existing rent-to-own stores under the trade names “RAC Financial Services” and “Cash AdvantEdge.” As of December 31, 2008, we offered some or all of these financial services products in 351 Rent-A-Center store locations in 18 states. We intend to focus our resources on improving the operations in these existing financial services store locations and do not plan to add significantly to the number of Rent-A-Center store locations offering financial services at this time. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in our efforts to improve and expand our financial services operations or that such operations, should they be added, will prove to be profitable.
 
The following discussion focuses on our results of operations, and issues related to our liquidity and capital resources. You should read this discussion in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this report.
 
Forward-Looking Statements
 
The statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this report are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “may,” “will,” “would,” “expect,” “intend,” “could,” “estimate,” “should,” “anticipate” or “believe.” We believe the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are accurate. However, we cannot assure you that these expectations will occur. Our actual future performance could differ materially from such statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to these differences include, but are not limited to:
 
  •  uncertainties regarding the ability to open new rent-to-own stores;
 
  •  our ability to acquire additional rent-to-own stores or customer accounts on favorable terms;
 
  •  our ability to control costs and increase profitability;
 
  •  our ability to successfully add financial services locations within our existing rent-to-own stores;
 
  •  our ability to identify and successfully enter new lines of business offering products and services that appeal to our customer demographic, including our financial services products;
 
  •  our ability to enhance the performance of acquired stores;
 
  •  our ability to retain the revenue associated with acquired customer accounts;
 
  •  our ability to identify and successfully market products and services that appeal to our customer demographic;
 
  •  our ability to enter into new and collect on our rental purchase agreements;
 
  •  our ability to enter into new and collect on our short term loans;
 
  •  the passage of legislation adversely affecting the rent-to-own or financial services industries;
 
  •  our failure to comply with statutes or regulations governing the rent-to-own or financial services industries;
 
  •  interest rates;
 
  •  increases in the unemployment rate;
 
  •  economic pressures, such as high fuel and utility costs, affecting the disposable income available to our targeted consumers;
 
  •  changes in our stock price and the number of shares of common stock that we may or may not repurchase;
 
  •  changes in estimates relating to self-insurance liabilities and income tax and litigation reserves;
 
  •  changes in our effective tax rate;
 
  •  our ability to maintain an effective system of internal controls;


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  •  changes in the number of share-based compensation grants, methods used to value future share-based payments and changes in estimated forfeiture rates with respect to share-based compensation;
 
  •  the resolution of any material litigation; and
 
  •  the other risks detailed from time to time in our SEC reports.
 
Additional important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from our expectations are discussed under the section entitled “Risk Factors” and elsewhere in this report. You should not unduly rely on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this report. Except as required by law, we are not obligated to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this report or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
 
Critical Accounting Policies Involving Critical Estimates, Uncertainties or Assessments in Our Financial Statements
 
The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America requires us to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, disclosure of contingent losses and liabilities at the date of the consolidated financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. In applying accounting principles, we must often make individual estimates and assumptions regarding expected outcomes or uncertainties. Our estimates, judgments and assumptions are continually evaluated based on available information and experience. Because of the use of estimates inherent in the financial reporting process, actual results could differ from those estimates. We believe the following are areas where the degree of judgment and complexity in determining amounts recorded in our consolidated financial statements make the accounting policies critical.
 
Self-Insurance Liabilities.  We have self-insured retentions with respect to losses under our workers’ compensation, general liability and auto liability insurance policies. We establish reserves for our liabilities associated with these losses by obtaining forecasts for the ultimate expected losses and estimating amounts needed to pay losses within our self-insured retentions.
 
We continually institute procedures to manage our loss exposure and increases in health care costs associated with our insurance claims through a greater focus on the risk management function, a transitional duty program for injured workers, ongoing safety and accident prevention training, and various programs designed to minimize losses and improve our loss experience in our store locations. We make assumptions on our liabilities within our self-insured retentions using actuarial loss forecasts, company specific development factors, general industry loss development factors, and third party claim administrator loss estimates which are based on known facts surrounding individual claims. These assumptions incorporate expected increases in health care costs. Periodically, we reevaluate our estimate of liability within our self-insured retentions. At that time, we evaluate the adequacy of our accruals by comparing amounts accrued on our balance sheet for anticipated losses to our updated actuarial loss forecasts and third party claim administrator loss estimates, and make adjustments to our accruals as needed.
 
As of December 31, 2008, the amount accrued for losses within our self-insured retentions with respect to workers’ compensation, general liability and auto liability insurance was $117.9 million, as compared to $109.5 million at December 31, 2007. If any of the factors that contribute to the overall cost of insurance claims were to change, the actual amount incurred for our self-insurance liability would be directly affected. While we believe our loss prevention programs will reduce our total cost for self-insurance claims, our actual cost could be greater than the amounts currently accrued.
 
Litigation Reserves.  We are the subject of litigation in the ordinary course of our business. Historically, our litigation has involved lawsuits alleging various regulatory violations. In preparing our financial statements at a given point in time, we account for loss contingencies pursuant to the provisions of SFAS No. 5 and FIN 14, which require that we accrue for losses that are both probable and reasonably estimable.
 
Each quarter, we make estimates of our probable losses, if reasonably estimable, and record such amounts in our consolidated financial statements. These amounts represent our best estimate, or may be the minimum range of probable loss when no single best estimate is determinable. We, together with our counsel, monitor developments


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related to these legal matters and, when appropriate, adjustments are made to reflect current facts and circumstances. We expense legal fees and expenses incurred in connection with the defense of all of our litigation at the time such amounts are invoiced or otherwise made known to us.
 
Our accruals relating to probable losses for our outstanding litigation follow:
 
                 
    Year Ended December 31,  
 
  2008     2007  
    (In millions)  
 
Shafer/Johnson Matter
  $ 1.8     $ 11.0  
California Attorney General Settlement
    9.4       9.6  
Other Litigation
    0.1       1.1  
Legal Fees and Expenses
          0.2  
                 
Total Accrual
  $ 11.3     $ 21.9  
                 
 
As with most litigation, the ultimate outcome of our pending litigation is uncertain. Additional developments in our litigation or other adverse or positive developments or rulings in our litigation could affect our assumptions and, thus, our accrual. Our estimates with respect to accrual for our litigation expenses reflect our judgment as to the appropriate accounting charge at the end of a period under SFAS No. 5 and FIN 14. Factors that we consider in evaluating our litigation reserves include:
 
  •  the procedural status of the matter;
 
  •  our views and the views of our counsel as to the probability of a loss in the matter;
 
  •  the relative strength of the parties’ arguments with respect to liability and damages in the matter;
 
  •  settlement discussions, if any, between the parties;
 
  •  how we intend to defend ourselves in the matter; and
 
  •  our experience.
 
Significant factors that may cause us to increase or decrease our accrual with respect to a matter include:
 
  •  judgments or finding of liability against us in the matter by a trial court;
 
  •  the granting of, or declining to grant, a motion for class certification in the matter;
 
  •  definitive decisions by appellate courts in the requisite jurisdiction interpreting or otherwise providing guidance as to applicable law;
 
  •  favorable or unfavorable decisions as the matter progresses;
 
  •  settlements agreed to in principle by the parties in the matter, subject to court approval; and
 
  •  final settlement of the matter.
 
Income Taxes.  Our annual tax rate is affected by many factors, including the mix of our earnings, legislation and acquisitions, and is based on our income, statutory tax rates and tax planning opportunities available to us in the jurisdictions in which we operate. Tax laws are complex and subject to differing interpretations between the taxpayer and the taxing authorities. Significant judgment is required in determining our tax expense, evaluating our tax positions and evaluating uncertainties under FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes — an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 (“FIN 48”). As required by FIN 48, which we adopted January 1, 2007, we recognize the financial statement benefit of a tax position only after determining that the relevant tax authority would more likely than not sustain the position following an audit. For tax positions meeting the more-likely-than not threshold, the amount recognized in the financial statements is the largest benefit that has a greater than 50 percent likelihood of being realized upon the ultimate settlement with the relevant tax authority. We review our tax positions quarterly and adjust the balance as new information becomes available.


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Prior to 2007, we estimated our liabilities for income tax exposure by evaluating our income tax exposure based on the information available to us, and establishing reserves in accordance with the criteria for accrual under SFAS No. 5. In estimating this liability, we evaluated a number of factors in ascertaining whether we may have to pay additional taxes and interest when all examinations by taxing authorities are concluded. The actual amount accrued as a liability was based on an evaluation of the underlying facts and circumstances, a thorough analysis of the technical merits of our tax positions taken, and an assessment of the chances of us prevailing in our tax positions taken.
 
If we make changes to our accruals with respect to our self-insurance liabilities, or litigation or income tax reserves in accordance with the policies described above, these changes would impact our earnings. Increases to our accruals would reduce earnings and, similarly, reductions to our accruals would increase our earnings. A pre-tax change of $1.1 million in our estimates would result in a corresponding $0.01 change in our earnings per common share.
 
Stock-Based Compensation Expense.  We account for stock-based compensation expense under Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, Share-Based Payment (“SFAS 123R”), and recognize share-based payment awards to our employees and directors at the estimated fair value on the grant date. Determining the fair value of any share-based awards requires information about several variables including, but not limited to, expected stock volatility over the terms of the awards, expected dividend yields and the predicted employee exercise behavior. We base expected life on historical exercise and post-vesting employment-termination experience, and expected volatility on historical realized volatility trends. In addition, all stock-based compensation expense is recorded net of an estimated forfeiture rate. The forfeiture rate is based upon historical activity and is analyzed at least quarterly as actual forfeitures occur. Stock options granted during the twelve months ended December 31, 2008 were valued using the binomial method pricing model with the following assumptions for employee options: expected volatility of 33.85% to 53.58%, a risk-free interest rate of 1.62% to 3.17%, no dividend yield, and an expected life of 4.20 years. For non-employee director options, the stock options granted during the twelve months ended December 31, 2008 were valued using the binomial method pricing model with the following assumptions: expected volatility of 41.26%, a risk-free interest rate of 3.54%, no dividend yield, and an expected life of 6.90 years. During the twelve months ended December 31, 2008, we recognized $3.3 million in pre-tax compensation expense related to stock options and restricted stock units granted.
 
Based on an assessment of our accounting policies and the underlying judgments and uncertainties affecting the application of those policies, we believe our consolidated financial statements fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of our company as of, and for, the periods presented in this report. However, we do not suggest that other general risk factors, such as those discussed elsewhere in this report as well as changes in our growth objectives or performance of new or acquired stores, could not adversely impact our consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows in future periods.
 
Significant Accounting Policies
 
Our significant accounting policies are summarized below and in Note A to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this report.
 
Revenue.  Merchandise is rented to customers pursuant to rental purchase agreements which provide for weekly, semi-monthly or monthly rental terms with non-refundable rental payments. Generally, the customer has the right to acquire title either through a purchase option or through payment of all required rentals. Rental revenue and fees are recognized over the rental term and merchandise sales revenue is recognized when the customer exercises the purchase option and pays the cash price due. Cash received prior to the period in which it should be recognized is deferred and recognized according to the rental term. Revenue is accrued for uncollected amounts due based on historical collection experience. However, the total amount of the rental purchase agreement is not accrued because the customer can terminate the rental agreement at any time and we cannot enforce collection for non-payment of future rents.
 
Revenue from the sale of merchandise in our retail installment stores is recognized when the installment note is signed, the customer has taken possession of the merchandise and collectability is reasonably assured.


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The revenue from our financial services is recorded depending on the type of transaction. Fees collected on loans are recognized ratably over the term of the loan. For money orders, wire transfers, check cashing and other customer service type transactions, fee revenue is recognized at the time the service is performed.
 
Franchise Revenue.  Revenue from the sale of rental merchandise is recognized upon shipment of the merchandise to the franchisee. Franchise fee revenue is recognized upon completion of substantially all services and satisfaction of all material conditions required under the terms of the franchise agreement.
 
Depreciation of Rental Merchandise.  Depreciation of rental merchandise is included in the cost of rentals and fees on our statement of earnings. We depreciate our rental merchandise using the income forecasting method. Under the income forecasting method, merchandise held for rent is not depreciated and merchandise on rent is depreciated in the proportion of rents received to total rents provided in the rental contract, which is an activity-based method similar to the units of production method. On computers that are 24 months old or older and which have become idle, depreciation is recognized using the straight-line method for a period of at least six months, generally not to exceed an aggregate depreciation period of 30 months.
 
Cost of Merchandise Sold.  Cost of merchandise sold represents the net book value of rental merchandise at time of sale. Cost of merchandise sold also includes the cost of services offered by us, such as prepaid telephone and electric services.
 
Salaries and Other Expenses.  Salaries and other expenses include all salaries and wages paid to store level employees, together with district managers’ salaries, travel and occupancy, including any related benefits and taxes, as well as all store level general and administrative expenses and selling, advertising, insurance, occupancy, delivery, fixed asset depreciation and other operating expenses.
 
General and Administrative Expenses.  General and administrative expenses include all corporate overhead expenses related to our headquarters such as salaries, taxes and benefits, occupancy, administrative and other operating expenses.


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Results of Operations
 
The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, historical Consolidated Statements of Earnings data as a percentage of total store and franchise revenues.
 
                                                 
    Year Ended December 31,     Year Ended December 31,  
    2008     2007     2006     2008     2007     2006  
    (Company-owned stores only)     (Franchise operations only)  
 
Revenues
                                               
Rentals and fees
    88.0 %     90.6 %     90.9 %     %     %     %
Merchandise sales
    10.5       8.5       8.5       87.1       79.6       88.2  
Other/Royalty income and fees
    1.5       0.9       0.6       12.9       20.4       11.8  
                                                 
      100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %
                                                 
Operating Expenses
                                               
Direct store expenses
                                               
Cost of rentals and fees
    20.1 %     20.0 %     19.9 %     %     %     %
Cost of merchandise sold
    7.5       5.9       6.0       83.0       76.1       84.6  
Salaries and other expenses
    58.0       58.9       57.9                    
                                                 
      85.6       84.8       83.8       83.0       76.1       84.6  
General and administrative expenses
    4.3       4.3       3.9       10.3       7.8       9.1  
Amortization and write-down of intangibles
    0.6       0.5       0.2                   0.4  
Litigation expense (credit)
    (0.2 )     2.2       3.1                    
Restructuring charge
    0.2       1.4                          
                                                 
Total operating expenses
    90.5       93.2       91.0       93.3       83.9       94.1  
                                                 
Operating profit
    9.5       6.8       9.0       6.7       16.1       5.9  
Interest, net and other income
    1.9       3.1       2.4       (1.6 )     (1.6 )     (1.4 )
                                                 
Earnings before income taxes
    7.6 %     3.7 %     6.6 %     8.3 %     17.7 %     7.3 %
                                                 
 
2008 Overview
 
Highlights of our operating results for the year ended December 31, 2008 include:
 
  •  Generated $384.7 million in operating cash flow.
 
  •  Reduced outstanding indebebtedness, including our subordinated notes and senior term loans, by $312.2 million.
 
  •  Repurchased 951,800 shares of our common stock for an aggregate of $13.4 million.
 
  •  Increased same store revenues by 2.3%.
 
Comparison of the Years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007
 
Store Revenue.  Total store revenue decreased by $17.1 million, or 0.6%, to $2,846.0 million in 2008 from $2,863.1 million in 2007. The decrease in total store revenue was primarily attributable to approximately 315 fewer stores in the 2008 period, principally due to the 2007 store consolidation plan, offset by an increase in same store sales of 2.3%.
 
Same store revenues represent those revenues earned in 2,201 stores that were operated by us for each of the entire twelve month periods ended December 31, 2008 and 2007. Same store revenues increased by $43.5 million, or 2.3%, to $1,972.4 million in 2008 as compared to $1,928.9 million in 2007. This increase in same store revenues


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was primarily attributable to an increase in the average price per unit on rent and an increase in merchandise sales and financial services revenue in 2008 as compared to 2007.
 
Franchise Revenue.  Total franchise revenue decreased by $4.8 million, or 11.1%, to $38.2 million in 2008 as compared to $43.0 million in 2007. This decrease was primarily attributable to the receipt of accelerated royalty payments from five affiliated ColorTyme franchisees in consideration of the termination of their franchise agreements in 2007.
 
Cost of Rentals and Fees.  Cost of rentals and fees consists of depreciation of rental merchandise and the costs associated with our membership programs. Cost of rentals and fees for 2008 decreased by $1.1 million, or 0.2%, to $572.9 million as compared to $574.0 million in 2007. Cost of rentals and fees expressed as a percentage of store rentals and fees revenue increased slightly to 22.9% in 2008 compared to 22.1% in 2007. This percentage increase was due to an increase in promotional activity in 2008 as compared to 2007.
 
Cost of Merchandise Sold.  Cost of merchandise sold increased by $38.1 million, or 24.3%, to $194.6 million for 2008 from $156.5 million for 2007. The gross margin percent of merchandise sales decreased slightly to 24.2% in 2008 from 25.1% in 2007. This percentage decrease was primarily attributable to an increased volume of sales of prepaid services at a lower margin than our historical margins on merchandise sales, as well as increased promotional activity during the 2008 period.
 
Salaries and Other Expenses.  Salaries and other expenses decreased by $33.2 million, or 2.0%, to $1,651.8 million in 2008 as compared to $1,685.0 million in 2007. The decrease was primarily the result of a decrease in expenses associated with the decrease in our store base due to our 2007 store consolidation plan and other restructuring items. Charge offs in our rental stores due to customer stolen merchandise, expressed as a percentage of rental store revenues, were approximately 2.5% in 2008 as compared to 2.8% in 2007. Salaries and other expenses expressed as a percentage of total store revenue decreased slightly to 58.0% in 2008 from 58.9% in 2007.
 
Franchise Cost of Merchandise Sold.  Franchise cost of merchandise sold decreased by $1.0 million, or 3.1%, to $31.7 million in 2008 as compared to $32.7 million in 2007. This decrease was primarily attributable to a decrease in the number of products sold to franchisees in 2008 as compared to 2007.
 
General and Administrative Expenses.  General and administrative expenses increased by $1.9 million, or 1.6%, to $125.6 million in 2008 as compared to $123.7 million in 2007. General and administrative expenses expressed as a percent of total revenue increased slightly to 4.4% in 2008 from 4.3% in 2007.
 
Amortization and Write-Down of Intangibles.  Amortization of intangibles increased by approximately $900,000 or 5.7%, to $16.6 million for 2008 from $15.7 million for 2007. This increase was primarily attributable to the goodwill write-down for stores sold, offset by intangible assets that were fully amortized during 2008 as compared to 2007.
 
Operating Profit.  Operating profit increased by $70.2 million, or 34.3%, to $274.4 million for 2008 as compared to $204.2 million in 2007. Operating profit as a percentage of total revenue increased to 9.5% for 2008 from 7.0% for 2007. This increase was primarily attributable to the litigation charge of $62.3 million recorded in the 2007 period.
 
Interest Expense.  Interest expense decreased by $28.6 million, or 30.0%, to $66.2 million for 2008 as compared to $94.8 million in 2007. This decrease was attributable to a decrease in borrowings under our senior credit facilities in 2008 as compared to 2007, a reduction in amounts outstanding under our senior term loans and subordinated notes, and a decrease in our weighted average interest rate to 6.21% in 2008 as compared to 7.68% in 2007 due to a decrease in the Eurodollar rate in 2008 as compared to 2007.
 
Income Tax Expense.  Income tax expense increased by $41.7 million, or 104.2%, to $81.7 million in 2008 as compared to $40.0 million in 2007. This increase is attributable to an increase in earnings before taxes for 2008 as compared to 2007 and an increase in our overall effective tax rate to 36.9% for 2008 as compared to 34.4% for 2007. The 2008 increase in our overall effective tax rate is primarily attributable to a 3.7% increase in our state effective tax rate since we realized a greater benefit on our state income taxes in 2007 due to the impact of the charge related to our store consolidation plan as compared to 2008.


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Net Earnings.  Net earnings increased by $63.3 million, or 83.1%, to $139.6 million for 2008 as compared to $76.3 million in 2007. This increase was primarily attributable to an increase in operating profit, a gain on debt extinguishment and a decrease in interest expense, offset by an increase in income tax expense in 2008 as compared to 2007.
 
Comparison of the Years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006
 
Store Revenue.  Total store revenue increased by $470.4 million, or 19.7%, to $2,863.1 million in 2007 from $2,392.7 million in 2006. The increase in total store revenue was primarily attributable to incremental revenue from new stores and acquisitions, primarily the Rent-Way acquisition, and an increase in same store sales of 2.1%.
 
Same store revenues represent those revenues earned in 1,935 stores that were operated by us for each of the entire twelve month periods ended December 31, 2007 and 2006. Same store revenues increased by $35.3 million, or 2.1%, to $1,729.6 million in 2007 as compared to $1,694.3 million in 2006. This increase in same store revenues was primarily attributable to more units on rent in 2007 as compared to 2006.
 
Franchise Revenue.  Total franchise revenue increased by $1.8 million, or 4.3%, to $43.0 million in 2007 as compared to $41.2 million in 2006. This increase was primarily attributable to the receipt of accelerated royalty payments in the amount of approximately $3.9 million from five affiliated ColorTyme franchisees in consideration of the termination of their franchise agreements, offset by a decrease in the number of products sold to franchisees in 2007 as compared to 2006 due to fewer franchise stores in 2007.
 
Cost of Rentals and Fees.  Cost of rentals and fees consists of depreciation of rental merchandise and the costs associated with our membership programs. Cost of rentals and fees for 2007 increased by $97.6 million, or 20.5%, to $574.0 million as compared to $476.5 million in 2006. This increase is a result of an increase in rental revenue for 2007 as compared to 2006. Cost of rentals and fees expressed as a percentage of store rentals and fees revenue increased slightly to 22.1% in 2007 compared to 21.9% in 2006.
 
Cost of Merchandise Sold.  Cost of merchandise sold increased by $25.1 million, or 19.1%, to $156.5 million for 2007 from $131.4 million for 2006. This increase was primarily the result of approximately $13.1 million of cost of sales for prepaid telephone service offered in our stores, as well as an increase in the number of items sold during 2007 as compared to 2006. The gross margin percent of merchandise sales decreased slightly to 25.1% in 2007 from 25.3% in 2006.
 
Salaries and Other Expenses.  Salaries and other expenses increased by $299.5 million, or 21.6%, to $1,685.0 million in 2007 as compared to $1,385.4 million in 2006. The increase was primarily the result of an increase in expenses associated with the increase in our store base due to the acquisition of Rent-Way and includes increases in labor expense of $157.8 million, occupancy costs of $31.1 million, utility costs of $10.7 million, expenses relating to product deliveries of $25.2 million, communication expenses of $13.9 million and charge offs due to customer stolen merchandise of $20.3 million. Charge offs in our rental stores due to customer stolen merchandise, expressed as a percentage of rental store revenues, were approximately 2.8% in 2007 as compared to 2.4% in 2006. Salaries and other expenses expressed as a percentage of total store revenue increased slightly to 58.9% in 2007 from 57.9% in 2006.
 
Franchise Cost of Merchandise Sold.  Franchise cost of merchandise sold decreased by $2.1 million, or 6.1%, to $32.7 million in 2007 as compared to $34.9 million in 2006. This decrease was primarily attributable to a decrease in the number of products sold to franchisees in 2007 as compared to 2006 due to fewer franchise stores in 2007.
 
General and Administrative Expenses.  General and administrative expenses increased by $30.1 million, or 32.2%, to $123.7 million in 2007 as compared to $93.6 million in 2006. General and administrative expenses expressed as a percent of total revenue increased to 4.3% in 2007 from 3.8% in 2006. These increases are primarily attributable to additional personnel and related expansion at our corporate office to support growth, including our plans to expand into complementary lines of business in our rent-to-own stores.
 
Amortization and Write-Down of Intangibles.  Amortization of intangibles increased by $10.2 million or 182.3%, to $15.7 million for 2007 from $5.6 million for 2006. This increase was primarily attributable to the


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amortization of intangibles from the acquisition of Rent-Way, which were included in amortization expense for the entire twelve months ended December 31, 2007, compared to approximately 45 days in 2006.
 
Operating Profit.  Operating profit decreased by $17.7 million, or 8.0%, to $204.2 million for 2007 as compared to $221.9 million in 2006. Operating profit as a percentage of total revenue decreased to 7.0% for 2007 from 9.1% for 2006. This decrease was primarily attributable to a $38.7 million charge related to our store consolidation plan and other restructuring items, offset by a net increase in same store revenues and incremental revenue from new stores and acquisitions, primarily the Rent-Way acquisition, as discussed above.
 
Interest Expense.  Interest expense increased by $36.2 million, or 61.9%, to $94.8 million for 2007 as compared to $58.6 million in 2006. This increase was primarily attributable to an increase in senior debt outstanding relating to the Rent-Way acquisition for the full year in 2007 as compared to 45 days in 2006 and increased borrowings under our revolving credit facility in 2007 as compared to 2006.
 
Income Tax Expense.  Income tax expense decreased by $21.0 million, or 34.4%, to $40.0 million in 2007 as compared to $61.0 million in 2006. This decrease is primarily attributable to a decrease in earnings before taxes for 2007 as compared to 2006 and a decrease in our overall effective tax rate to 34.4% for 2007 as compared to 37.1% for 2006. The decrease in our overall effective tax rate was primarily attributable to the impact of the charge related to our store consolidation plan on our state income taxes.
 
Net Earnings.  Net earnings decreased by $26.8 million, or 26.0%, to $76.3 million for 2007 as compared to $103.1 million in 2006. This decrease was primarily attributable to a decrease in operating profit and an increase in interest expense, offset by a decrease in income tax expense, as discussed above.
 
Quarterly Results
 
The following table contains certain unaudited historical financial information for the quarters indicated.
 
                                 
    1st Quarter     2nd Quarter     3rd Quarter     4th Quarter  
    (In thousands, except per share data)  
 
Year ended December 31, 2008
                               
Revenues
  $ 756,636     $ 719,031     $ 708,755     $ 699,750  
Operating profit
    77,540       74,434       58,549       63,865  
Net earnings
    36,358       37,741       29,379       36,146  
Basic earnings per common share
  $ 0.55     $ 0.57     $ 0.44     $ 0.54  
Diluted earnings per common share
  $ 0.54     $ 0.56     $ 0.44     $ 0.54  
Year ended December 31, 2007
                               
Revenues
  $ 755,299     $ 724,158     $ 709,701     $ 716,963  
Operating profit
    46,155       87,024       60,575       10,483  
Net earnings(loss)
    15,103       41,251       25,275       (5,361 )
Basic earnings(loss) per common share
  $ 0.21     $ 0.59     $ 0.37     $ (0.08 )
Diluted earnings(loss) per common share
  $ 0.21     $ 0.58     $ 0.37     $ (0.08 )
Year ended December 31, 2006
                               
Revenues
  $ 606,975     $ 583,623     $ 587,184     $ 656,126  
Operating profit
    75,484       75,193       51,871       19,396  
Net earnings(loss)
    40,328       39,843       25,241       (2,320 )
Basic earnings(loss) per common share
  $ 0.58     $ 0.57     $ 0.36     $ (0.03 )
Diluted earnings(loss) per common share
  $ 0.57     $ 0.56     $ 0.36     $ (0.03 )
 


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    1st Quarter     2nd Quarter     3rd Quarter     4th Quarter  
    (As a percentage of revenues)  
 
Year ended December 31, 2008
                               
Revenues
    100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %
Operating profit
    10.2       10.4       8.3       9.1  
Net earnings
    4.8       5.2       4.1       5.2  
Year ended December 31, 2007
                               
Revenues
    100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %
Operating profit
    6.1       12.0       8.5       1.5  
Net earnings(loss)
    2.0       5.7       3.6       (0.7 )
Year ended December 31, 2006
                               
Revenues
    100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %     100.0 %
Operating profit
    12.4       12.9       8.8       3.0  
Net earnings(loss)
    6.6       6.8       4.3       (0.4 )
 
Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
Overview.  For the year ended December 31, 2008, we generated $384.7 million in operating cash flow. In addition to funding operating expenses, we used $61.9 million in cash for capital expenditures, $15.7 million in acquisitions of rent-to-own stores, $13.4 million for common stock repurchases and $307.9 million for a reduction in debt of $312.2 million. We ended the year with $87.4 million in cash and cash equivalents.
 
Analysis of Cash Flow.  Cash provided by operating activities increased by $144.3 million to $384.7 million for 2008 from $240.4 million in 2007. This increase is attributable to an increase in earnings and an increase in deferred taxes as a result of the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008 as discussed below, and changes in working capital.
 
Cash used in investing activities decreased by $46.1 million to $71.5 million for 2008 from $117.6 million in 2007. This decrease is attributable to the completion of construction of our new corporate headquarters building in 2007 and a reduction in acquisitions of businesses in 2008 as compared to 2007.
 
Cash used in financing activities increased by $205.4 million to $323.2 million for 2008 from $117.8 million used in 2007. This increase in 2008 as compared to 2007 is primarily related to payments made to reduce our outstanding debt and subordinated notes, offset by the purchase in 2008 of fewer shares of common stock.
 
Liquidity Requirements.  Our primary liquidity requirements are for debt service, rental merchandise purchases, capital expenditures, litigation expenses, including settlements or judgments, and implementation of our growth strategies, including investment in our financial services business. Our primary sources of liquidity have been cash provided by operations and borrowings. In the future, to provide any additional funds necessary for the continued pursuit of our operating and growth strategies, we may incur from time to time additional short-term or long-term bank indebtedness and may issue, in public or private transactions, equity and debt securities. The availability and attractiveness of any outside sources of financing will depend on a number of factors, some of which relate to our financial condition and performance, and some of which are beyond our control, such as prevailing interest rates and general financing and economic conditions. The global financial markets have recently experienced adverse conditions and continued volatility in the capital markets may affect our ability to access additional sources of financing. There can be no assurance that additional financing will be available, or if available, that it will be on terms we find acceptable.
 
We believe the cash flow generated from operations, together with amounts available under our senior credit facilities, will be sufficient to fund our liquidity requirements as discussed above (including mandatory principal payments) during the next twelve months. Our revolving credit facilities, including our $20.0 million line of credit at Intrust Bank, provide us with revolving loans in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding $420.0 million, of which $287.8 million was available at February 20, 2009. At February 20, 2009, we had $140.5 million in cash. To the extent we have available cash that is not necessary to fund the items listed above, we intend to make additional payments to service our existing debt, and may repurchase additional shares of our common stock or repurchase

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some of our outstanding subordinated notes. While our operating cash flow has been strong and we expect this strength to continue, our liquidity could be negatively impacted if we do not remain as profitable as we expect.
 
A change in control would result in an event of default under our senior credit facilities, which would allow our lenders to accelerate the indebtedness owed to them. In addition, if a change in control occurs, we may be required to offer to repurchase all of our outstanding subordinated notes at 101% of their principal amount, plus accrued interest to the date of repurchase. Our senior credit facilities restrict our ability to repurchase the subordinated notes, including in the event of a change in control. In the event a change in control occurs, we cannot be sure we would have enough funds to immediately pay our accelerated senior credit facility obligations and all of the subordinated notes, or that we would be able to obtain financing to do so on favorable terms, if at all.
 
Litigation.  We recorded a pre-tax expense of $11.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2007 related to the settlement of the Eric Shafer et al. v. Rent-A-Center, Inc. and Victor E. Johnson et al. v. Rent-A-Center, Inc. coordinated matters pending in state court in Los Angeles, California. Due to fewer class members eligible to participate in the settlement than originally estimated, as well as negotiated reductions in settlement payments to certain plaintiffs, the maximum claim amount remaining to be paid was reduced by approximately $2.4 million during the fourth quarter of 2008. We also paid settlement costs and plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees in the amount of approximately $4.4 million, and settlement payments in the aggregate amount of approximately $2.4 million during the fourth quarter of 2008. We expect to fund the maximum remaining settlement payments of approximately $1.8 million during 2009.
 
In January 2009, we paid $9.4 million in accordance with the settlement with the California Attorney General.
 
In our history, we have defended class action lawsuits alleging various regulatory violations and have paid material amounts to settle such claims. We cannot assure you that we will not be the subject of similar lawsuits in the future. Significant settlement amounts or final judgments could materially and adversely affect our liquidity. Please refer to Note K of our consolidated financial statements included herein.
 
Deferred Taxes.  The 2008 Stimulus Act provided for accelerated depreciation by allowing a bonus first-year depreciation deduction of 50% of the adjusted basis of qualified property placed in service during 2008. Accordingly, our cash flow benefited in 2008 from having a lower cash tax obligation which, in turn, provided additional cash flow from operations. We estimate that our 2008 operating cash flow increased by approximately $75.0 million as a result of the 2008 Stimulus Act with the associated deferral expected to begin to reverse over a three year period beginning in 2009. However, on February 17, 2009, President Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (the “2009 Recovery Act”) which extends the bonus depreciation provision of the 2008 Stimulus Act by continuing the bonus first-year depreciation deduction of 50% of the adjusted basis of qualified property placed in service during 2009. We estimate the cash tax benefit of the 2009 Recovery Act to be approximately $85.0 million, of which $55.0 million will offset the 2008 deferral that reverses in 2009, and the remaining $30.0 million will increase our 2009 operating cash flow. We estimate that at December 31, 2009 the remaining tax deferral associated with the 2008 Stimulus Act and the 2009 Recovery Act will be approximately $105.0 million of which approximately 78% will reverse in 2010 and the remainder will reverse between 2011 and 2012.
 
Rental Merchandise Purchases.  We purchased $730.0 million, $747.3 million and $759.2 million of rental merchandise during the years 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
 
Capital Expenditures.  We make capital expenditures in order to maintain our existing operations as well as for new capital assets in new and acquired stores. We spent $61.9 million, $102.0 million (which included amounts spent with respect to our new corporate headquarters location and the conversion of the acquired Rent-Way stores to the Rent-A-Center brand), and $84.4 million on capital expenditures in the years 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively, and expect to spend approximately $60.0 million in 2009.
 
Acquisitions and New Store Openings.  During 2008, we used approximately $15.7 million in cash acquiring stores and accounts in 20 separate transactions.


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The table below summarizes the store growth activity for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006.
 
                         
   
2008
   
2007
   
2006
 
 
Stores at beginning of period
    3,081       3,406       2,760  
New store openings
    26       27       40  
Acquired stores remaining open
    5       14       646  
Closed stores(1)
                       
Merged with existing stores
    45       363       25  
Sold or closed with no surviving store
    30       3       15  
                         
Stores at end of period
    3,037       3,081       3,406  
                         
Acquired stores closed and accounts merged with existing stores
    38       36       164  
Total purchase price of acquisitions
    $15.7 million       $20.1 million       $657.4 million  
 
 
(1) Substantially all of the merged, sold or closed stores in 2007 relate to our store consolidation plans discussed in more detail in Note F, Restructuring, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements on page 59.
 
The profitability of our stores tends to grow at a slower rate approximately five years from the time we open or acquire them. As a result of the increasing maturity of our store base, in order for us to show improvements in our profitability, it is important for us to increase revenue in our existing stores. We intend to accomplish such revenue growth by offering new products and services, such as our financial services products, in our existing rent-to-own stores, and by acquiring customer accounts on favorable terms. There can be no assurance that we will be successful in adding financial services products to our existing rent-to-own stores, or that such operations will be as profitable as we expect, or at all. We also cannot assure you that we will be able to acquire customer accounts on favorable terms, or at all, or that we will be able to maintain the revenue from any such acquired customer accounts at the rates we expect, or at all.
 
Senior Credit Facilities.  Our $1,322.5 million senior credit facility consists of a $197.5 million five-year term loan, with the loans thereunder being referred to by us as the “tranche A term loans,” a $725.0 million six-year term loan, with the loans thereunder being referred to by us as the “tranche B term loans,” and a $400.0 million five-year revolving credit facility. The tranche A term loans are payable in 19 consecutive quarterly installments equal to $2.5 million from December 31, 2006 through June 30, 2009, $5.0 million from September 30, 2009 through June 30, 2010 and $37.5 million from September 30, 2010 through June 30, 2011. The tranche B term loans are repayable in 23 consecutive quarterly installments equal to approximately $1.8 million from December 31, 2006 through June 30, 2011 and approximately $172.6 million from September 30, 2011 through June 30, 2012.
 
During the fourth quarter of 2008, we repurchased approximately $40.6 million in tranche B term loans for approximately $36.3 million, resulting in a gain on extinguishment of debt, net of costs, of approximately $4.3 million. We further reduced outstanding indebtedness on our senior term loans during 2008 by making approximately $84.0 million in optional prepayments.
 
The table below shows the scheduled maturity dates of our senior term loans outstanding at December 31, 2008.
 
         
Year Ending December 31,
  (In thousands)  
 
2009
  $ 21,756  
2010
    91,756  
2011
    274,728  
2012
    320,907  
         
    $ 709,147  
         


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The full amount of the revolving credit facility may be used for the issuance of letters of credit, of which $132.2 million had been utilized as of February 20, 2009. As of February 20, 2009, $267.8 million was available under our revolving facility. The revolving credit facility expires in July 2011.
 
Borrowings under our senior credit facilities bear interest at varying rates equal to the Eurodollar rate plus .75% to 1.75%, or the prime rate plus up to .75%, at our election. Interest periods range from seven days (for borrowings under the revolving credit facility only) to one, two, three or six months, at our election. The weighted average Eurodollar rate on our outstanding debt was 1.59% at December 31, 2008. The weighted average Eurodollar rate on our outstanding debt was 0.43% at February 20, 2009. The margins on the Eurodollar rate and on the prime rate, which are initially 1.75 and 0.75, respectively, may fluctuate dependent upon an increase or decrease in our consolidated leverage ratio as defined by a pricing grid included in the credit agreement. We have not entered into any interest rate protection agreements with respect to term loans under the senior credit facilities. A commitment fee equal to 0.15% to 0.50% of the unused portion of the revolving facility is payable quarterly, and fluctuates dependent upon an increase or decrease in our consolidated leverage ratio. The initial commitment fee is equal to 0.50% of the unused portion of the revolving facility.
 
Our senior credit facilities are secured by a security interest in substantially all of our tangible and intangible assets, including intellectual property. Our senior credit facilities are also secured by a pledge of the capital stock of our wholly-owned U.S. subsidiaries (other than certain specified subsidiaries).
 
Our senior credit facilities contain, without limitation, covenants that generally limit our ability to:
 
  •  incur additional debt in excess of $150.0 million at any one time outstanding;
 
  •  repurchase our capital stock and 71/2% notes and pay cash dividends in the event the pro forma senior leverage ratio is greater than 2.50x;
 
  •  incur liens or other encumbrances;
 
  •  merge, consolidate or sell substantially all our property or business;
 
  •  sell assets, other than inventory, in the ordinary course of business;
 
  •  make investments or acquisitions unless we meet financial tests and other requirements;
 
  •  make capital expenditures; or
 
  •  enter into an unrelated line of business.
 
Our senior credit facilities require us to comply with several financial covenants, including a maximum consolidated leverage ratio of no greater than 3.25:1 on or after December 31, 2008 and a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of no less than 1.35:1. The table below shows the required and actual ratios under our credit facilities calculated as of December 31, 2008:
 
                     
    Required Ratio     Actual Ratio  
 
Maximum consolidated leverage ratio
  No greater than     3.25:1       2.43:1  
Minimum fixed charge coverage ratio
  No less than     1.35:1       1.86:1  
 
These financial covenants, as well as the related components of their computation, are defined in the amended and restated credit agreement governing our senior credit facility, which is included as an exhibit to this report. In accordance with the credit agreement, the maximum consolidated leverage ratio was calculated by dividing the consolidated funded debt outstanding at December 31, 2008 ($881.7 million) by consolidated EBITDA for the twelve month period ended December 31, 2008 ($363.2 million). For purposes of the covenant calculation, (i) “consolidated funded debt” is defined as outstanding indebtedness less cash in excess of $25 million, and (ii) “consolidated EBITDA” is generally defined as consolidated net income (a) plus the sum of income taxes, interest expense, depreciation and amortization expense, extraordinary non-cash expenses or losses, and other non-cash charges, and (b) minus the sum of interest income, extraordinary income or gains, and other non-cash income.


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Consolidated EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure that is presented not as a measure of operating results, but rather as a measure used to determine covenant compliance under our senior credit facilities.
 
The minimum fixed charge coverage ratio was calculated pursuant to the credit agreement by dividing consolidated EBITDA for the twelve month period ended December 31, 2008, as adjusted for certain capital expenditures ($485.4 million), by consolidated fixed charges for the twelve month period ended December 31, 2008 ($261.6 million). For purposes of the covenant calculation, “consolidated fixed charges” is defined as the sum of interest expense, lease expense, and mandatory debt repayments.
 
Events of default under our senior credit facilities include customary events, such as a cross-acceleration provision in the event that we default on other debt. In addition, an event of default under the senior credit facility would occur if a change of control occurs. This is defined to include the case where a third party becomes the beneficial owner of 35% or more of our voting stock or certain changes in Rent-A-Center’s Board of Directors occurs. An event of default would also occur if one or more judgments were entered against us of $30.0 million or more and such judgments were not satisfied or bonded pending appeal within 30 days after entry.
 
We utilize our revolving credit facility for the issuance of letters of credit, as well as to manage normal fluctuations in operational cash flow caused by the timing of cash receipts. In that regard, we may from time to time draw funds under the revolving credit facility for general corporate purposes. The funds drawn on individual occasions have varied in amounts of up to $98.0 million, with total amounts outstanding ranging from $2.0 million up to $108.0 million. The amounts drawn are generally outstanding for a short period of time and are generally paid down as cash is received from our operating activities.
 
Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. (“Lehman”) is one of the lenders participating in our revolving credit facility. Lehman’s commitment under the $400.0 million revolving credit facility is approximately $37.3 million, all of which is unfunded. On September 15, 2008, Lehman filed for protection under Chapter 11 of the Federal Bankruptcy Code in the United States Bankruptcy Court in the Southern District of New York. We cannot be certain that Lehman will participate in any requests by us for funding under our revolving credit facility or whether another lender might assume Lehman’s commitment. We do not believe the Lehman bankruptcy will have a material adverse effect on our liquidity.
 
71/2% Senior Subordinated Notes.  On May 6, 2003, we issued $300.0 million in senior subordinated notes due 2010, bearing interest at 71/2%, pursuant to an indenture dated May 6, 2003, among Rent-A-Center, Inc., its subsidiary guarantors and The Bank of New York, as trustee. The proceeds of this offering were used to fund the repurchase and redemption of our then outstanding 11% senior subordinated notes.
 
The 2003 indenture contains covenants that limit our ability to:
 
  •  incur additional debt;
 
  •  sell assets or our subsidiaries;
 
  •  grant liens to third parties;
 
  •  pay cash dividends or repurchase stock (subject to a restricted payments basket for which $165.2 million was available for use as of December 31, 2008); and
 
  •  engage in a merger or sell substantially all of our assets.
 
Events of default under the 2003 indenture include customary events, such as a cross-acceleration provision in the event that we default in the payment of other debt due at maturity or upon acceleration for default in an amount exceeding $50.0 million, as well as in the event a judgment is entered against us in excess of $50.0 million that is not discharged, bonded or insured.
 
The 71/2% notes may be redeemed on or after May 1, 2006, at our option, in whole or in part, at a premium declining from 103.75%. The premium for the period beginning May 1, 2008 through April 30, 2009 is 101.25%. The 71/2% notes may be redeemed on or after May 1, 2009, at our option, in whole or in part, at par. The 71/2% notes


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also require that upon the occurrence of a change of control (as defined in the 2003 indenture), the holders of the notes have the right to require us to repurchase the notes at a price equal to 101% of the original aggregate principal amount, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of repurchase. This would trigger an event of default under our senior credit facilities. We are not required to maintain any financial ratios under the 2003 indenture.
 
Store Leases.  We lease space for substantially all of our stores and service center locations, as well as regional offices, under operating leases expiring at various times through 2016. Most of our store leases are five year leases and contain renewal options for additional periods ranging from three to five years at rental rates adjusted according to agreed-upon formulas.
 
ColorTyme Guarantee.  ColorTyme is a party to an agreement with Wells Fargo Foothill, Inc. (“Wells Fargo”), who provides $35.0 million in aggregate financing to qualifying franchisees of ColorTyme generally up to five times their average monthly revenues. Under the Wells Fargo agreement, upon an event of default by the franchisee under agreements governing this financing and upon the occurrence of certain other events, Wells Fargo can assign the loans and the collateral securing such loans to ColorTyme, with ColorTyme paying the outstanding debt to Wells Fargo and then succeeding to the rights of Wells Fargo under the debt agreements, including the right to foreclose on the collateral. The Wells Fargo agreement expires on September 30, 2010. An additional $20.0 million of financing is provided by Texas Capital Bank, National Association (“Texas Capital Bank”) under an agreement similar to the Wells Fargo financing. Rent-A-Center East, Inc., a subsidiary of Rent-A-Center, guarantees the obligations of ColorTyme under each of these agreements, excluding the effects of any amounts that could be recovered under collateralization provisions, up to a maximum amount of $55.0 million, of which $24.5 million was outstanding as of December 31, 2008.
 
Contractual Cash Commitments.  The table below summarizes debt, lease and other minimum cash obligations outstanding as of December 31, 2008:
 
                                         
    Payments Due by Period  
Contractual Cash Obligations
  Total     2009     2010-2011     2012-2013     Thereafter  
    (In thousands)  
 
Senior Debt (including current portion)
  $ 721,712 (1)   $ 34,321     $ 366,484     $ 320,907     $  
71/2% Senior Subordinated Notes(2)
    250,730       16,903       233,827              
Operating Leases
    493,201       172,947       227,500       86,864       5,890  
Capital Leases
    9,520       5,039       4,179       302        
                                         
Total(3)
  $ 1,475,163     $ 229,210     $ 831,990     $ 408,073     $ 5,890  
                                         
 
 
(1) Includes amounts due under the Intrust line of credit. Amount referenced does not include interest payments. Our senior credit facilities bear interest at varying rates equal to the Eurodollar rate plus .75% to 1.75% or the prime rate plus up to .75% at our election. The weighted average Eurodollar rate on our outstanding debt at December 31, 2008 was 1.59%.
 
(2) Includes interest payments of $8.5 million on each of May 1 and November 1 of each year.
 
(3) As of December 31, 2008, we have $2.1 million in uncertain tax positions, net of federal benefit. Because of the uncertainty of the amounts to be ultimately paid as well as the timing of such payments, these liabilities are not reflected in the contractual obligations table.
 
Repurchases of Outstanding Securities.  Our Board of Directors has authorized a common stock repurchase program, permitting us to purchase, from time to time, in the open market and privately negotiated transactions, up to an aggregate of $500.0 million of Rent-A-Center common stock. As of December 31, 2008, we had purchased a total of 19,412,750 shares of Rent-A-Center common stock for an aggregate of $457.8 million under this common stock repurchase program. We repurchased 801,800 shares for $10.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2008. A total of 951,800 shares were repurchased for $13.4 million in 2008. Please see “Market for Registrant’s Common Equity, Related Stockholder Matters and Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities” on page 18 of this report.
 
Economic Conditions.  Although our performance has not suffered in previous economic downturns, we cannot assure you that demand for our products, particularly in higher price ranges, will not significantly decrease in


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the event of a prolonged recession. Fluctuations in our targeted customers’ monthly disposable income or high levels of unemployment could adversely impact our results of operations.
 
2007 Store Consolidation Plan and Other Restructuring Items.  The total amount of cash used in the store consolidation plan and other restructuring items through December 31, 2008 was approximately $16.9 million, which primarily related to lease terminations. We expect to use approximately $7.4 million of cash on hand for future payments, which will primarily relate to the satisfaction of lease obligations at the stores. We expect the lease obligations will be substantially settled in twelve to eighteen months, with total completion no later than the second quarter of 2013. Please refer to Note F, Restructuring, in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements on page 59 of this report for more information on our 2007 store consolidation plan.
 
Seasonality.  Our revenue mix is moderately seasonal, with the first quarter of each fiscal year generally providing higher merchandise sales than any other quarter during a fiscal year, primarily related to federal income tax refunds. Generally, our customers will more frequently exercise their early purchase option on their existing rental purchase agreements or purchase pre-leased merchandise off the showroom floor during the first quarter of each fiscal year. We expect this trend to continue in future periods. Furthermore, we tend to experience slower growth in the number of rental purchase agreements on rent in the third quarter of each fiscal year when compared to other quarters throughout the year. As a result, we would expect revenues for the third quarter of each fiscal year to remain relatively flat with the prior quarter. We expect this trend to continue in future periods unless we add significantly to our store base during the third quarter of future fiscal years as a result of new store openings or opportunistic acquisitions.
 
Effect of New Accounting Pronouncements
 
In December 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141R, Business Combinations (“SFAS 141R”), which establishes principles and requirements for the reporting entity in a business combination, including recognition and measurement in the financial statements of the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree. This statement also establishes disclosure requirements to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination. SFAS 141R is effective for us on a prospective basis for business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or subsequent to the reporting period beginning January 1, 2009. The impact of adopting SFAS 141R will depend on the nature and terms of future acquisitions, if any.
 
In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, Fair Market Measurements (“SFAS 157”), which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures required for fair value measurements. SFAS 157 applies to other accounting pronouncements that require fair value measurements but it does not require any new fair value measurements. SFAS 157 is effective on a prospective basis for the reporting period beginning January 1, 2008. The impact of adopting SFAS 157 had no material effect on our consolidated statement of earnings, financial condition, statement of cash flows or earnings per share.
 
From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the FASB or other standards setting bodies that we adopt as of the specified effective date. Unless otherwise discussed, we believe the impact of recently issued standards that are not yet effective are either not applicable to us at this time or will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements upon adoption.
 
Item 7A.   Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures about Market Risk.
 
Interest Rate Sensitivity
 
As of December 31, 2008, we had $225.4 million in subordinated notes outstanding at a fixed interest rate of 71/2%, $709.1 million in term loans and approximately $12.6 million outstanding on our Intrust line of credit at interest rates indexed to the Eurodollar rate. The fair value of the 71/2% subordinated notes, based on the closing price at December 31, 2008, was $206.2 million. Carrying value approximates fair value for all other indebtedness.


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Market Risk
 
Market risk is the potential change in an instrument’s value caused by fluctuations in interest rates. Our primary market risk exposure is fluctuations in interest rates. Monitoring and managing this risk is a continual process carried out by our senior management. We manage our market risk based on an ongoing assessment of trends in interest rates and economic developments, giving consideration to possible effects on both total return and reported earnings. As a result of such assessment, we may enter into swap contracts or other interest rate protection agreements from time to time to mitigate this risk.
 
Interest Rate Risk
 
We hold long-term debt with variable interest rates indexed to prime or Eurodollar rates that exposes us to the risk of increased interest costs if interest rates rise. As of December 31, 2008, we have not entered into any interest rate swap agreements. The credit markets have recently experienced adverse conditions, including wide fluctuations in rates. Continuing volatility in the credit markets may increase the costs associated with our existing long-term debt. Based on our overall interest rate exposure at December 31, 2008, a hypothetical 1.0% increase or decrease in interest rates would have the effect of causing a $7.2 million additional pre-tax charge or credit to our statement of earnings.


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Item 8.   Financial Statements and Supplementary Data.
 
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
         
    Page
 
Rent-A-Center, Inc. and Subsidiaries
       
    42  
    44  
Consolidated Financial Statements
       
    45  
    46  
    47  
    48  
    49  


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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
 
Board of Directors and Stockholders
Rent-A-Center, Inc. and Subsidiaries
 
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Rent-A-Center, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the related consolidated statements of earnings, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
 
We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Rent-A-Center, Inc. and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008, in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America.
 
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), Rent-A-Center, Inc. and Subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) and our report dated February 26, 2009, expressed an unqualified opinion.
 
/s/ Grant Thornton LLP
 
Dallas, Texas
February 26, 2009


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Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
 
The Board of Directors and Stockholders
Rent-A-Center, Inc. and Subsidiaries
 
We have audited Rent-A-Center, Inc. and Subsidiaries’ (the “Company”) internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the accompanying Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Company’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.
 
We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.
 
Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not prevent or detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.
 
In our opinion, Rent-A-Center, Inc. and Subsidiaries maintained, in all material respects, effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by COSO.
 
We have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated balance sheets of the Company as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, and the related consolidated statements of earnings, stockholders’ equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2008, and our report dated February 26, 2009, expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.
 
/s/ Grant Thornton LLP
 
Dallas, Texas
February 26, 2009


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MANAGEMENT’S ANNUAL REPORT ON INTERNAL CONTROL
OVER FINANCIAL REPORTING
 
Management of the Company, including the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Company’s internal control system was designed to provide reasonable assurance to management and the Company’s board of directors regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
 
All internal control systems, no matter how well designed, have inherent limitations. A system of internal control may become inadequate over time because of changes in conditions, or deterioration in the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures. Therefore, even those systems determined to be effective can provide only reasonable assurance with respect to financial statement preparation and presentation.
 
Management assessed the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2008 using the criteria set forth by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission in Internal Control — Integrated Framework. Based on this assessment, management has concluded that, as of December 31, 2008, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting was effective to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles based on such criteria.
 
Grant Thornton LLP, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm, has issued an audit report on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. This report appears on page 43.


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Rent-A-Center, Inc. and Subsidiaries
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF EARNINGS
 
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2008     2007     2006  
    (In thousands, except per share data)  
 
Revenues
                       
Store
                       
Rentals and fees
  $ 2,505,268     $ 2,594,061     $ 2,174,239  
Merchandise sales
    256,731       208,989       175,954  
Installment sales
    41,193       34,576       26,877  
Other
    42,759       25,482       15,607  
Franchise
                       
Merchandise sales
    33,283       34,229       36,377  
Royalty income and fees
    4,938       8,784       4,854  
                         
      2,884,172       2,906,121       2,433,908  
Operating expenses
                       
Direct store expenses
                       
Cost of rentals and fees
    572,900       574,013       476,462  
Cost of merchandise sold
    194,595       156,503       131,428  
Cost of installment sales
    16,620       13,270       11,346  
Salaries and other expenses
    1,651,805       1,684,965       1,385,437  
Franchise cost of merchandise sold
    31,705       32,733       34,862  
                         
      2,467,625       2,461,484       2,039,535  
General and administrative expenses
    125,632       123,703       93,556  
Amortization and write-down of intangibles
    16,637       15,734       5,573  
Litigation expense (credit)
    (4,607 )     62,250       73,300  
Restructuring charge
    4,497       38,713        
                         
Total operating expenses
    2,609,784       2,701,884       2,211,964  
                         
Operating profit
    274,388       204,237       221,944  
Finance charges from refinancing
                4,803  
Gain on extinguishment of debt
    (4,335 )            
Interest expense
    66,241       94,778       58,559  
Interest income
    (8,860 )     (6,827 )     (5,556 )
                         
Earnings before income taxes
    221,342       116,286       164,138  
Income tax expense
    81,718       40,018       61,046  
                         
NET EARNINGS
  $ 139,624     $ 76,268     $ 103,092  
                         
Basic earnings per common share
  $ 2.10     $ 1.11     $ 1.48  
                         
Diluted earnings per common share
  $ 2.08     $ 1.10     $ 1.46  
                         
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.


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Rent-A-Center, Inc. and Subsidiaries
 
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
                 
    December 31,  
    2008     2007  
    (In thousands, except share and par value data)  
 
ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 87,382     $ 97,375  
Receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $7,256 in 2008 and $4,945 in 2007
    51,766       41,629  
Prepaid expenses and other assets
    59,217       56,384  
Rental merchandise, net 
               
On rent
    634,946       735,672  
Held for rent
    184,108       202,298  
Merchandise held for installment sale
    3,433       2,334  
Property assets, net
    208,897       222,157  
Goodwill, net
    1,265,249       1,255,163  
Other intangible assets, net
    1,704       13,931  
                 
    $ 2,496,702     $ 2,626,943  
                 
 
LIABILITIES
Accounts payable — trade
  $ 93,496     $ 100,419  
Accrued liabilities
    289,701       310,420  
Deferred income taxes
    87,216       9,678  
Senior debt
    721,712       959,335  
Subordinated notes payable
    225,375       300,000  
                 
      1,417,500       1,679,852  
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
               
 
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Common stock, $.01 par value; 250,000,000 shares authorized; 104,769,382 and 104,540,127 shares issued in 2008 and 2007, respectively
    1,047       1,045  
Additional paid-in capital
    681,067       674,032  
Retained earnings
    1,208,009       1,069,553  
Treasury stock, 38,787,849 and 37,836,049 shares at cost in 2008 and 2007, respectively
    (810,921 )     (797,539 )
                 
      1,079,202       947,091  
                 
    $ 2,496,702     $ 2,626,943  
                 
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.


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Rent-A-Center, Inc. and Subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY
For the three years ended December 31, 2008
(In thousands)
 
                                                 
                Additional
                   
    Common Stock     Paid-In
    Retained
    Treasury
       
    Shares     Amount     Capital     Earnings     Stock     Total  
 
Balance at January 1, 2006
    102,988     $ 1,030     $ 630,308     $ 890,467     $ (709,399 )   $ 812,406  
Net earnings
                      103,092             103,092  
Purchase of treasury stock (203 shares)
                (5 )           (4,691 )     (4,696 )
Exercise of stock options
    1,204       12       20,091                   20,103  
Tax benefits related to exercise of stock options
                4,291                   4,291  
Stock-based compensation
                7,792                   7,792  
Other
                (37 )     8             (29 )
                                                 
Balance at December 31, 2006
    104,192       1,042       662,440       993,567       (714,090 )     942,959  
Net earnings
                      76,268             76,268  
Purchase of treasury stock (3,832 shares)
                (99 )           (83,449 )     (83,548 )
Exercise of stock options
    348       3       5,928                   5,931  
Tax benefits related to exercise of stock options
                943                   943  
Stock-based compensation
                5,050                   5,050  
Other
                (230 )     (282 )           (512 )
                                                 
Balance at December 31, 2007
    104,540       1,045       674,032       1,069,553       (797,539 )     947,091  
Net earnings
                      139,624             139,624  
Other comprehensive income:
                                               
Foreign currency translation adjustment
                      386             386  
                                                 
Comprehensive income
                                            140,010  
                                                 
Purchase of treasury stock (952 shares)
                (24 )           (13,382 )     (13,406 )
Exercise of stock options
    229       2       3,167                   3,169  
Tax benefits related to exercise of stock options
                560                   560  
Stock-based compensation
                3,341                   3,341  
Other
                (9 )     (1,554 )           (1,563 )
                                                 
Balance at December 31, 2008
    104,769     $ 1,047     $ 681,067     $ 1,208,009     $ (810,921 )   $ 1,079,202  
                                                 
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.


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Rent-A-Center, Inc. and Subsidiaries
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2008     2007     2006  
    (In thousands)  
 
Cash flows from operating activities
                       
Net earnings
  $ 139,624     $ 76,268     $ 103,092  
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings to net cash provided by operating activities
                       
Depreciation of rental merchandise
    561,414       561,880       465,902  
Bad debt expense
    14,455       10,828       6,981  
Stock-based compensation expense
    3,341       5,050       7,792  
Depreciation of property assets
    72,683       71,279       55,651  
Loss on sale or disposal of property assets
    375       20,345        
Amortization of intangibles
    12,589       15,734       5,573  
Amortization of financing fees
    1,703       1,824       1,606  
Deferred income taxes
    77,538       11,213       (7,121 )
Financing charges from refinancing
                4,803  
Gain on extinguishment of debt
    (4,335 )            
Restructuring charge
    4,497       38,713        
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions
                       
Rental merchandise
    (438,964 )     (445,920 )     (551,968 )
Accounts receivable
    (24,572 )     (17,390 )     (7,325 )
Prepaid expenses and other assets
    (7,056 )     (6,194 )     (12,853 )
Tax benefit related to stock option exercises
    (560 )     (943 )     (4,291 )
Accounts payable — trade
    (6,924 )     (18,021 )     30,293  
Accrued liabilities
    (21,086 )     (84,286 )     89,225  
                         
Net cash provided by operating activities
    384,722       240,380       187,360  
                         
Cash flows from investing activities
                       
Purchase of property assets
    (61,931 )     (101,961 )     (84,409 )
Proceeds from sale of property assets
    6,144       4,500       1,375  
Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired
    (15,700 )     (20,112 )     (657,378 )
                         
Net cash used in investing activities
    (71,487 )     (117,573 )     (740,412 )
                         
Cash flows from financing activities
                       
Purchase of treasury stock
    (13,382 )     (83,449 )     (4,691 )
Exercise of stock options
    3,169       5,931       20,103  
Tax benefit related to stock option exercises
    560       943       4,291  
Payments on capital leases
    (5,662 )     (7,258 )     (1,162 )
Proceeds from debt
    213,050       785,555       1,378,243  
Repayments of debt
    (446,338 )     (819,498 )     (809,015 )
Repurchase of subordinated notes
    (74,625 )            
                         
Net cash provided by (used) in financing activities
    (323,228 )     (117,776 )     587,769  
                         
NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
    (9,993 )     5,031       34,717  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
    97,375       92,344       57,627  
                         
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
  $ 87,382     $ 97,375     $ 92,344  
                         
Supplemental cash flow information
                       
Cash paid during the year for:
                       
Interest
  $ 70,688     $ 89,372     $ 50,871  
Income taxes (excludes $34,656 of income taxes refunded in 2008)
  $ 20,954     $ 19,759     $ 57,873  
 
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.


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RENT-A-CENTER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
Note A — Summary of Accounting Policies and Nature of Operations
 
A summary of the significant accounting policies applied in the preparation of the accompanying consolidated financial statements follows:
 
Principles of Consolidation and Nature of Operations
 
These financial statements include the accounts of Rent-A-Center, Inc. and its direct and indirect subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Unless the context indicates otherwise, references to “Rent-A-Center” refer only to Rent-A-Center, Inc., the parent, and references to “we,” “us” and “our” refer to the consolidated business operations of Rent-A-Center and all of its direct and indirect subsidiaries.
 
At December 31, 2008, we operated 3,037 company-owned stores nationwide and in Canada and Puerto Rico, including 31 stores under the names “Get It Now” and “Home Choice” and eight rent-to-own stores located in Canada under the name “Rent-A-Centre.” Rent-A-Center’s primary operating segment consists of leasing household durable goods to customers on a rent-to-own basis. Get It Now and Home Choice offer merchandise on an installment sales basis.
 
We also offer an array of financial services in certain of our existing rent-to-own stores under the names “RAC Financial Services” and “Cash AdvantEdge.” The financial services offered include, but are not limited to, short term secured and unsecured loans, debit cards, check cashing and money transfer services. As of December 31, 2008, we offered financial services in 351 of our existing rent-to-own stores in 18 states.
 
ColorTyme, Inc., an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Rent-A-Center, is a nationwide franchisor of rent-to-own stores. At December 31, 2008, ColorTyme had 222 franchised stores operating in 34 states. ColorTyme’s primary source of revenue is the sale of rental merchandise to its franchisees, who in turn offer the merchandise to the general public for rent or purchase under a rent-to-own program. The balance of ColorTyme’s revenue is generated primarily from royalties based on franchisees’ monthly gross revenues.
 
Rental Merchandise
 
Rental merchandise is carried at cost, net of accumulated depreciation. Depreciation for merchandise is provided using the income forecasting method, which is intended to match as closely as practicable the recognition of depreciation expense with the consumption of the rental merchandise, and assumes no salvage value. The consumption of rental merchandise occurs during periods of rental and directly coincides with the receipt of rental revenue over the rental-purchase agreement period, generally seven to 30 months. Under the income forecasting method, merchandise held for rent is not depreciated and merchandise on rent is depreciated in the proportion of rents received to total rents provided in the rental contract, which is an activity-based method similar to the units of production method. However, on computers that are 24 months old or older and which have become idle, depreciation is recognized using the straight-line method for a period of at least six months, generally not to exceed an aggregate depreciation period of 30 months.
 
Rental merchandise which is damaged and inoperable, or not returned by the customer after becoming delinquent on payments, is expensed when such impairment occurs. We maintain a reserve for these expected expenses. In addition, any minor repairs made to rental merchandise are expensed at the time of the repair.
 
Cash Equivalents
 
Cash equivalents include all highly liquid investments with an original maturity of three months or less. We maintain cash and cash equivalents at several financial institutions, which at times may not be federally insured or may exceed federally insured limits. We have not experienced any losses in such accounts and believe we are not exposed to any significant credit risks on such accounts.


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RENT-A-CENTER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Revenue
 
Merchandise is rented to customers pursuant to rental purchase agreements which provide for weekly, semi-monthly or monthly rental terms with non-refundable rental payments. Generally, the customer has the right to acquire title either through a purchase option or through payment of all required rentals. Rental revenue and fees are recognized over the rental term and merchandise sales revenue is recognized when the customer exercises the purchase option and pays the cash price due. Cash received prior to the period in which it should be recognized is deferred and recognized according to the rental term. Revenue is accrued for uncollected amounts due based on historical collection experience. However, the total amount of the rental purchase agreement is not accrued because the customer can terminate the rental agreement at any time and we cannot enforce collection for non-payment of future rents.
 
Revenue from the sale of merchandise in our retail installment stores is recognized when the installment note is signed, the customer has taken possession of the merchandise and collectability is reasonably assured.
 
The revenue from our financial services is recorded depending on the type of transaction. Fees collected on loans are recognized ratably over the term of the loan. For money orders, wire transfers, check cashing and other customer service type transactions, fee revenue is recognized at the time the service is performed.
 
Receivables and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
 
The receivable associated with the sale of merchandise at our Get It Now and Home Choice stores generally consists of the sales price of the merchandise purchased and any additional fees for services the customer has chosen, less the customer’s down payment. No interest is accrued and interest income is recognized each time a customer makes a payment, generally on a monthly basis.
 
Our financial services business extends short term secured and unsecured loans. The loans are funded with our cash from operations. The amount and length of such loans may vary depending on applicable state law.
 
We have established an allowance for doubtful accounts for our installment notes and loan receivables associated with our financial services business. Our policy for determining the allowance is based on historical loss experience, as well as the results of management’s review and analysis of the payment and collection of the installment notes and loan receivables within the previous year. We believe our allowances are adequate to absorb any known or probable losses. Our policy is to charge off installment notes that are 90 days or more past due and loan receivables that are 60 days or more past due. Charge offs are applied as a reduction to the allowance for doubtful accounts and any recoveries of previously charged off balances are applied as an increase to the allowance for doubtful accounts.
 
The majority of ColorTyme’s accounts receivable relate to amounts due from franchisees. Credit is extended based on an evaluation of a franchisee’s financial condition and collateral is generally not required. Accounts receivable are due within 30 days and are stated at amounts due from franchisees net of an allowance for doubtful accounts. Accounts that are outstanding longer than the contractual payment terms are considered past due. ColorTyme determines its allowance by considering a number of factors, including the length of time trade accounts receivable are past due, ColorTyme’s previous loss history, the franchisee’s current ability to pay its obligation to ColorTyme, and the condition of the general economy and the industry as a whole. ColorTyme writes off accounts receivable that are 120 days or more past due and payments subsequently received on such receivables are credited to the allowance for doubtful accounts.
 
Property Assets and Related Depreciation
 
Furniture, equipment and vehicles are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation. Depreciation is provided over the estimated useful lives of the respective assets (generally five years) by the straight-line method. Our building is depreciated over approximately 40 years. Leasehold improvements are amortized over the useful life of the asset or the initial term of the applicable leases by the straight-line method, whichever is shorter.


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RENT-A-CENTER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
We incur repair and maintenance expenses on our vehicles and equipment. These amounts are recognized when incurred, unless such repairs significantly extend the life of the asset, in which case we amortize the cost of the repairs for the remaining life of the asset utilizing the straight-line method.
 
Intangible Assets and Amortization
 
We record goodwill when the consideration paid for an acquisition exceeds the fair value of the identifiable net tangible and identifiable intangible assets acquired. Goodwill is not subject to amortization but must be periodically evaluated for impairment. Impairment occurs when the carrying value of goodwill is not recoverable from future cash flows. We perform an assessment of goodwill for impairment at the reporting unit level annually as of December 31 of each year, or when events or circumstances indicate that impairment may have occurred. Factors which could necessitate an interim impairment assessment include a sustained decline in our stock price, prolonged negative industry or economic trends and significant underperformance relative to expected historical or projected future operating results. We assess recoverability using several methodologies, which include the present value of estimated future cash flows (income approach) and comparisons of multiples of enterprise values to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) (market approach). The analysis is based upon available information regarding expected future cash flows and discount rates. Discount rates are based upon our cost of capital. If the carrying value exceeds the discounted fair value, a second analysis is performed to measure the fair value of all assets and liabilities. If, based on the second analysis, it is determined that the fair value of the assets and liabilities is less than the carrying value, we would recognize impairment charges in an amount equal to the excess of the carrying value over fair value. There were no impairment charges recognized related to goodwill in 2008, 2007 and 2006.
 
Accounting for Impairment of Long-Lived Assets
 
We evaluate all long-lived assets, including intangible assets, excluding goodwill, for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable. Impairment is recognized when the carrying amounts of such assets cannot be recovered by the undiscounted net cash flows they will generate.
 
Foreign Currency Translation
 
The functional currency of our foreign operations is predominantly the applicable local currency. Assets and liabilities denominated in a foreign currency are translated into U.S. dollars at the current rate of exchange on the last day of the reporting period. Revenues and expenses are generally translated at a daily exchange rate and equity transactions are translated using the actual rate on the day of the transaction.
 
Other Comprehensive Income
 
Other comprehensive income is comprised exclusively of our foreign currency translation adjustment. The currency translation adjustment was approximately $386,000 at December 31, 2008.
 
Income Taxes
 
We record deferred taxes for temporary differences between the tax and financial reporting bases of assets and liabilities at the enacted tax rate expected to be in effect when taxes become payable. Income tax accounting requires management to make estimates and apply judgments to events that will be recognized in one period under rules that apply to financial reporting in a different period in our tax returns. In particular, judgment is required when estimating the value of future tax deductions, tax credits and net operating loss carryforwards (NOLs), as represented by deferred tax assets. When it is determined the recovery of all or a portion of a deferred tax asset is not likely, a valuation allowance is established. We include NOLs in the calculation of deferred tax assets. NOLs


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RENT-A-CENTER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
are utilized to the extent allowable due to the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and relevant state statutes.
 
Sales Taxes
 
In accordance with Emerging Issues Task Force Issue No. 06-3, How Taxes Collected from Customers and Remitted to Governmental Authorities Should Be Presented in the Income Statement (“EITF 06-3”), we apply the net basis for sales taxes imposed on our goods and services in our Consolidated Statements of Earnings. We are required by the applicable governmental authorities to collect and remit sales taxes. Accordingly, such amounts are charged to the customer, collected and remitted directly to the appropriate jurisdictional entity.
 
Earnings Per Common Share
 
Basic earnings per common share are based upon the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during each period presented. Diluted earnings per common share are based upon the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period, plus, if dilutive, the assumed exercise of stock options and the assumed conversion of convertible securities at the beginning of the year, or for the period outstanding during the year for current year issuances.
 
Advertising Costs
 
Costs incurred for producing and communicating advertising are expensed when incurred. Advertising expense was $82.5 million, $79.8 million, and $67.3 million in 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively.
 
Stock-Based Compensation
 
We maintain long-term incentive plans for the benefit of certain employees, consultants and directors, which are described more fully in Note L. We adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123R, Share-Based Payment (“SFAS 123R”), on a modified prospective basis beginning January 1, 2006 for stock-based compensation awards granted after that date and for unvested awards outstanding at that date. SFAS 123R requires that the measurement and recognition of share-based payment awards to our employees and directors be made at the estimated fair value on the grant date. Determining the fair value of any share-based awards requires information about several variables including, but not limited to, expected stock volatility over the terms of the awards, expected dividend yields and the predicted employee exercise behavior. We base expected life on historical exercise and post-vesting employment-termination experience, and expected volatility on historical realized volatility trends. In addition, all stock-based compensation expense is recorded net of an estimated forfeiture rate. The forfeiture rate is based upon historical activity and is analyzed at least quarterly as actual forfeitures occur.
 
Under SFAS 123R, compensation costs are recognized net of estimated forfeitures over the award’s requisite service period on a straight line basis. For the twelve months ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, in accordance with SFAS 123R, we recorded stock-based compensation expense, net of related taxes, of approximately $2.1 million, $3.3 million and $4.9 million, respectively, related to stock options and restricted stock units granted.
 
Cumulative Effect of New Accounting Principle
 
In September 2006, the SEC issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 108, Considering the Effects of Prior Year Misstatements when Quantifying Misstatements in Current Year Financial Statements (“SAB 108”). SAB 108 was issued to provide consistency in quantifying financial misstatements.
 
The methods most commonly used in practice to accumulate and quantify misstatements are referred to as the “rollover” and “iron curtain” methods. The rollover method quantifies a misstatement based on the amount of the error originating in the current year income statement. This method can result in the accumulation of errors on the


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RENT-A-CENTER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
balance sheet that may not have been material to an individual income statement but may lead to misstatement of one or more balance sheet accounts. The iron curtain method quantifies a misstatement based on the amount of the error in the balance sheet at the end of the current year. This method can result in disregarding the effects of errors in the current year income statement that result from the correction of an error existing in previously issued financial statements. We previously used the rollover method for quantifying financial statement misstatements.
 
The method established by SAB 108 to quantify misstatements is the “dual approach,” which requires quantification of financial statement misstatements under both the rollover and iron curtain methods.
 
SAB 108 was effective for us for the year ended December 31, 2006. As allowed by SAB 108, the cumulative effect of the initial application of SAB 108 was reported in the opening amounts of the assets and liabilities as of January 1, 2006, with the offsetting balance to retained earnings. We recorded an increase in accounts receivable of $4.2 million, an increase in accrued liabilities of $31.0 million, a decrease in accumulated depreciation of $6.4 million, an increase in deferred tax assets of $7.6 million and a decrease in retained earnings of $12.8 million due to adopting the dual approach in recording deferred and accrued revenue. The error arose because we were unable to specifically identify the total amount of deferred and accrued revenue due to system limitations. Prior to 2006, we recorded an estimate of the net profit effect of our cash collection pattern. We previously used the rollover method and quantified misstatements based on the amount of the error in the current year income statement. We did not consider these misstatements material to any year. The deferred and accrued revenue amounts increased with the increase in number of stores.
 
In addition, we recorded as of January 1, 2006 a $1.0 million increase in prepaid expenses, a $1.9 million decrease in accrued liabilities, a decrease in deferred tax assets of $1.1 million and an increase in retained earnings of $1.8 million related to adopting the dual approach in recording property taxes. The error arose in the calculation of the property tax accrual. We did not consider these misstatements material to any year. The time period over which the property tax adjustment arose was approximately three years.
 
Use of Estimates
 
In preparing financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America, we are required to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities, the disclosure of contingent losses and liabilities at the date of the financial statements, and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. In applying accounting principles, we must often make individual estimates and assumptions regarding expected outcomes or uncertainties. Our estimates, judgments and assumptions are continually evaluated based on available information and experience. Because of the use of estimates inherent in the financial reporting process, actual results could differ from those estimates. We believe self-insurance liabilities, litigation, tax reserves and stock-based compensation are areas where the degree of judgment and complexity in determining amounts recorded in our consolidated financial statements make the accounting policies critical.
 
New Accounting Pronouncements
 
In December 2007, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 141R, Business Combinations (“SFAS 141R”), which establishes principles and requirements for the reporting entity in a business combination, including recognition and measurement in the financial statements of the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed and any noncontrolling interest in the acquiree. This statement also establishes disclosure requirements to enable users of the financial statements to evaluate the nature and financial effects of the business combination. SFAS 141R is effective for us on a prospective basis for business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or subsequent to the reporting period beginning January 1, 2009. The impact of adopting SFAS 141R will depend on the nature and terms of future acquisitions, if any.


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RENT-A-CENTER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
In September 2006, the FASB issued Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 157, Fair Market Measurements (“SFAS 157”), which defines fair value, establishes a framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosures required for fair value measurements. SFAS 157 applies to other accounting pronouncements that require fair value measurements but it does not require any new fair value measurements. SFAS 157 is effective on a prospective basis for the reporting period beginning January 1, 2008. The impact of adopting SFAS 157 had no material effect on our consolidated statement of earnings, financial condition, statement of cash flows or earnings per share.
 
From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the FASB or other standards setting bodies that we adopt as of the specified effective date. Unless otherwise discussed, we believe the impact of recently issued standards that are not yet effective are either not applicable to us at this time or will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements upon adoption.
 
Note B — Receivables and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
 
Receivables consist of the following:
 
                 
    December 31,  
    2008     2007  
    (In thousands)  
 
Installment sales receivable
  $ 29,561     $ 24,677  
Financial services loans receivable
    19,327       12,285  
Trade and notes receivables
    10,134       9,612  
                 
Total
    59,022       46,574  
Less allowance for doubtful accounts
    (7,256 )     (4,945 )
                 
Net receivables
  $ 51,766     $ 41,629  
                 
 
Changes in our allowance for doubtful accounts are as follows:
 
                         
    December 31,  
    2008     2007     2006  
    (In thousands)  
 
Beginning balance
  $ 4,945     $ 4,026     $ 3,317  
Bad debt expense
    14,455       10,828       6,981  
Accounts written off
    (17,843 )     (20,496 )     (9,321 )
Recoveries
    5,699       10,587       3,049  
                         
Ending balance
  $ 7,256     $ 4,945     $ 4,026  
                         


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RENT-A-CENTER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
 
Note C — Merchandise Inventory
 
Rental Merchandise
 
                 
    December 31,  
    2008     2007  
    (In thousands)  
 
On rent
               
Cost
  $ 1,165,084     $ 1,296,230  
Less accumulated depreciation
    (530,138 )     (560,558 )
                 
Net book value, on rent
  $ 634,946     $ 735,672  
                 
Held for rent
               
Cost
  $ 260,649     $ 276,321  
Less accumulated depreciation
    (76,541 )     (74,023 )
                 
Net book value, held for rent
  $ 184,108     $ 202,298  
                 
 
Reconciliation of Merchandise Inventory
 
                         
    December 31,  
    2008     2007     2006  
    (In thousands)  
 
Beginning merchandise value
  $ 940,304     $ 1,058,587     $ 752,880  
Inventory additions through acquisitions
    4,890       5,544       213,010  
Purchases
    730,006       747,251       759,222  
Depreciation of rental merchandise
    (561,414 )     (561,880 )     (465,902 )
Cost of goods sold
    (175,835 )     (169,773 )     (142,774 )
Skips and stolens
    (71,780 )     (79,818 )     (59,585 )
Effects of adopting SAB 108(1)
                6,368  
Other inventory deletions(2)
    (43,684 )     (59,607 )     (4,632 )
                         
Ending merchandise value
  $ 822,487     $ 940,304     $ 1,058,587  
                         
 
 
(1) Represents adjustment to accumulated depreciation due to adopting SAB 108 in recording deferred and accrued revenue.
 
(2) Other inventory deletions include loss/damage waiver claims and unrepairable and missing merchandise, as well as acquisition write-offs.


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RENT-A-CENTER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
 
Note D — Property Assets
 
                 
    December 31,  
    2008     2007  
    (In thousands)  
 
Furniture and equipment
  $ 223,488     $ 208,492  
Transportation equipment
    34,738       43,025  
Building and leasehold improvements
    224,098       207,367  
Land and land improvements
    5,193       5,193  
Construction in progress
    10,178       4,019  
                 
      497,695       468,096  
Less accumulated depreciation
    (288,798 )     (245,939 )
                 
    $ 208,897     $ 222,157  
                 
 
Note E — Intangible Assets and Acquisitions
 
Intangibles consist of the following (in thousands):
 
                                         
          December 31,
    December 31,
 
          2008     2007  
    Avg.
    Gross
          Gross
       
    Life
    Carrying
    Accumulated
    Carrying
    Accumulated
 
    (years)     Amount     Amortization     Amount     Amortization  
 
Amortizable intangible assets Non-compete agreements
    3     $ 6,281     $ 5,957     $ 7,017     $ 5,845  
Customer relationships
    2       62,110       60,950       61,073       49,748  
Other intangibles
    3       3,264       3,044       3,264       1,830  
                                         
Total
            71,655       69,951       71,354       57,423  
Intangible assets not subject to amortization
                                       
Goodwill
            1,364,401       99,152       1,354,315       99,152  
                                         
Total intangibles
          $ 1,436,056     $ 169,103     $ 1,425,669     $ 156,575  
                                         
 
         
Aggregate Amortization Expense
       
Year ended December 31, 2008
  $ 12,589  
Year ended December 31, 2007
  $ 15,734  
Year ended December 31, 2006
  $ 5,573  


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RENT-A-CENTER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Estimated amortization expense, assuming current intangible balances and no new acquisitions, for each of the years ending December 31, is as follows:
 
                 
    Estimated
       
    Amortization Expense        
    (In thousands)        
 
2009
  $ 1,322          
2010
    348          
2011
    34          
2012
             
2013
             
                 
Total
  $ 1,704          
                 
 
Changes in the carrying amount of goodwill for the years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 are as follows:
 
                 
    2008     2007  
    (In thousands)  
 
Balance as of January 1,
  $ 1,255,163     $ 1,253,715  
Additions from acquisitions
    9,692       13,310  
Write-down of goodwill related to stores sold
    (4,048 )      
Post purchase price allocation adjustments
    4,442       (11,862 )
                 
Balance as of December 31,
  $ 1,265,249     $ 1,255,163  
                 
 
The post purchase price allocation adjustments in 2008 were primarily attributable to inventory charge-offs for unrentable or missing merchandise acquired and other items. The post purchase price allocation adjustments in 2007 were primarily attributable to the tax benefit associated with items recorded as goodwill that were deductible for tax purposes, offset by inventory charge-offs for unrentable or missing merchandise acquired in the acquisition of Rent-Way, Inc. (“Rent-Way”).


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RENT-A-CENTER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Acquisitions
 
The following table provides information concerning the acquisitions made during the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006.
 
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2008     2007     2006  
    (Dollar amounts in thousands)  
 
Number of stores acquired remaining open
    5       12       646  
Number of stores acquired that were merged with existing stores
    38       36       164  
Number of transactions
    20       19       37  
Total purchase price
  $ 15,700     $ 20,112     $ 657,378  
Amounts allocated to:
                       
Goodwill
  $ 9,692     $ 13,310     $ 331,286  
Non-compete agreements
    2       10       369  
Customer relationships
    1,091       1,210       26,433  
Other intangible assets
                3,264  
Property and other assets
    25       38       57,175  
Rental merchandise
    4,890       5,544       213,010  
Deferred income taxes
                106,022  
Liabilities assumed
                (46,164 )
Restructuring accruals
                (34,017 )
 
Rent-Way, Inc.  On November 15, 2006, we completed the acquisition of Rent-Way whereby Rent-Way became an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of Rent-A-Center. Rent-Way operated 782 stores in 34 states. The total purchase price of approximately $622.5 million included cash payments and borrowings under our senior credit facilities and direct transaction costs of approximately $7.4 million. We funded the acquisition with a $600.3 million increase in our senior credit facilities. The operating results of Rent-Way have been included in the consolidated financial statements since the acquisition date of November 15, 2006.
 
Restructuring charges were included in the purchase price allocation, which were for employment termination costs in connection with closing Rent-Way’s corporate headquarters and for reserves put into place for lease buyouts for acquired stores which were closed post acquisition in compliance with management’s pre-acquisition plans. We expect the termination costs will be completed by the second quarter of 2010 and the reserves for lease buyouts will be completed no later than the second quarter of 2012. The following table shows the changes in the accrual balance from December 31, 2006 to December 31, 2008, relating to this restructuring (in thousands):
 
         
Balance at December 31, 2006
  $ 34,017  
Adjustment to accrual
    (1,863 )
Cash activity
    (23,937 )
         
Balance at December 31, 2007
    8,217  
Adjustment to accrual
    286  
Cash activity(1)
    (6,673 )
         
Balance at December 31, 2008
  $ 1,830  
         
 
 
(1) Primarily related to lease terminations.


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RENT-A-CENTER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
 
Acquisition purchase prices are determined by evaluating the average monthly rental income of the acquired stores and applying a multiple to the total. Acquired customer relationships are amortized utilizing the straight-line method over a 24 month period, non-compete agreements are amortized using the straight-line method over the life of the agreements, other intangible assets are amortized using the straight-line method over the life of the asset and, in accordance with SFAS 142, goodwill associated with acquisitions is not amortized. The weighted average amortization period was 2.0 years for intangible assets acquired during the year ended December 31, 2008.
 
All acquisitions have been accounted for as purchases, and the operating results of the acquired stores and accounts have been included in the financial statements since their date of acquisition.
 
Note F — Restructuring
 
2007 Store Consolidation Plan and Other Restructuring Items.  On December 3, 2007, we announced our plan to close approximately 280 stores. The decision to close these stores was based on our analysis and evaluation of every market in which we operated based on operating results, competitive positioning, and growth potential. As a result, we identified 283 stores that we intended to close or merge. As of December 31, 2008, we closed or merged 282 stores. We intend to keep open one remaining store.
 
We estimated we would incur restructuring expenses related to the store consolidation plan and other restructuring items in the range of $36.0 million to $43.0 million, substantially all of which would be recorded in the fourth quarter of 2007, based on the closing date of the stores. We recorded restructuring expenses in the amount of $4.5 million for the twelve months ended December 31, 2008 and $38.7 million in the fourth quarter of 2007. The following table presents the range of estimated charges as of December 31, 2007 and the total store consolidation plan charges and other restructuring items recorded through December 31, 2008.
 
                         
                Estimated Remaining
 
    Closing Plan Estimate
          Charges
 
    As of December 31,
    Expenses Recognized
    As of December 31,
 
    2007     Through 2008     2008  
    (In thousands)  
 
Lease obligations
  $ 26,061 - $29,223     $ 25,680     $ 381 - $3,543  
Fixed asset disposals
    11,006 -  11,516       11,476       0 -     40  
Other costs
    2,468 -   6,704       6,054       0 -    650  
                         
Total
  $ 39,535 - $47,443     $ 43,210     $ 381 - $4,233  
                         
 
The following table shows the changes in the accrual balance from December 31, 2007 to December 31, 2008 relating to the store consolidation plan.
 
                                 
    Balance at
          Cash (Payments)
    Balance at
 
    December 31,
    Charges to
    Receipts or
    December 31,
 
    2007     Expense     Asset Write-Offs     2008  
    (In thousands)  
 
Lease obligations
  $ 23,152     $ 441     $ (16,236 )   $ 7,357  
Fixed asset disposals
          470       (470 )      
Other costs
          3,586       (3,586 )      
                                 
Total
  $ 23,152     $ 4,497     $ (20,292 )   $ 7,357  
                                 
 
The total amount of cash used in the store consolidation plan through December 31, 2008 was approximately $16.9 million. We expect to use approximately $7.4 million of cash on hand for future payments, which will primarily relate to the satisfaction of lease obligations at the stores. We expect the lease obligations will be substantially settled in twelve to eighteen months, with total completion no later than the second quarter of 2013.


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RENT-A-CENTER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Note G — Senior Debt
 
Our $1,322.5 million senior credit facility consists of a $197.5 million five-year term loan, with the loans thereunder being referred to by us as the “tranche A term loans,” a $725.0 million six-year term loan, with the loans thereunder being referred to by us as the “tranche B term loans,” and a $400.0 million five-year revolving credit facility. The tranche A term loans are payable in 19 consecutive quarterly installments equal to $2.5 million from December 31, 2006 through June 30, 2009, $5.0 million from September 30, 2009 through June 30, 2010 and $37.5 million from September 30, 2010 through June 30, 2011. The tranche B term loans are repayable in 23 consecutive quarterly installments equal to approximately $1.8 million from December 31, 2006 through June 30, 2011 and approximately $172.6 million from September 30, 2011 through June 30, 2012.
 
During the fourth quarter of 2008, we repurchased approximately $40.6 million in tranche B term loans for approximately $36.3 million, resulting in a gain on extinguishment of debt, net of costs, of approximately $4.3 million. We further reduced outstanding indebtedness on our senior term loans during 2008 by making approximately $84.0 million in optional prepayments.
 
The debt facilities as of December 31, 2008 and 2007 follows:
 
                                                         
          2008     2007  
    Facility
    Maximum
    Amount
    Amount
    Maximum
    Amount
    Amount
 
    Maturity     Facility     Outstanding     Available     Facility     Outstanding     Available  
    (In thousands)  
 
Senior Credit Facilities:
                                                       
Tranche A Term Loans
    2011     $ 197,500     $ 175,000     $     $ 197,500     $ 185,000     $  
Tranche B Term Loans
    2012       725,000       534,147             725,000       665,915        
Revolving Facility(1)
    2011       400,000             269,415       400,000       108,000       159,854  
                                                         
              1,322,500       709,147       269,415       1,322,500       958,915       159,854  
Other Indebtedness:
                                                       
Line of credit
            20,000       12,565       7,435       20,000       420       19,580  
                                                         
Total
          $ 1,342,500     $ 721,712     $ 276,850     $ 1,342,500     $ 959,335     $ 179,434  
                                                         
 
 
(1) At December 31, 2008 and 2007, the amounts available under the Revolving Facility were reduced by approximately $130.6 million and $132.2 million, respectively, for our outstanding letters of credit.
 
Borrowings under our senior credit facilities bear interest at varying rates equal to the Eurodollar rate plus .75% to 1.75%, or the prime rate plus up to .75%, at our election. Interest periods range from seven days (for borrowings under the revolving credit facility only) to one, two, three or six months, at our election. The weighted average Eurodollar rate on our outstanding debt was 1.59% at December 31, 2008. The weighted average Eurodollar rate on our outstanding debt was 0.43% at February 20, 2009. The margins on the Eurodollar rate and on the prime rate, which are initially 1.75 and 0.75, respectively, may fluctuate dependent upon an increase or decrease in our consolidated leverage ratio as defined by a pricing grid included in the credit agreement. We have not entered into any interest rate protection agreements with respect to term loans under the senior credit facilities. A commitment fee equal to 0.15% to 0.50% of the unused portion of the revolving facility is payable quarterly, and fluctuates dependent upon an increase or decrease in our consolidated leverage ratio. The initial commitment fee is equal to 0.50% of the unused portion of the revolving facility.
 
Our senior credit facilities are secured by a security interest in substantially all of our tangible and intangible assets, including intellectual property. Our senior credit facilities are also secured by a pledge of the capital stock of our wholly-owned U.S. subsidiaries (other than certain specified subsidiaries).


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RENT-A-CENTER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Our senior credit facilities contain, without limitation, covenants that generally limit our ability to:
 
  •  incur additional debt in excess of $150.0 million at any one time outstanding;
 
  •  repurchase our capital stock and 71/2% notes and pay cash dividends in the event the pro forma senior leverage ratio is greater than 2.50x;
 
  •  incur liens or other encumbrances;
 
  •  merge, consolidate or sell substantially all our property or business;
 
  •  sell assets, other than inventory, in the ordinary course of business;
 
  •  make investments or acquisitions unless we meet financial tests and other requirements;
 
  •  make capital expenditures; or
 
  •  enter into an unrelated line of business.
 
Our senior credit facilities require us to comply with several financial covenants, including a maximum consolidated leverage ratio of no greater than 3.25:1 on or after December 31, 2008 and a minimum fixed charge coverage ratio of no less than 1.35:1. The table below shows the required and actual ratios under our credit facilities calculated as at December 31, 2008:
 
                     
    Required Ratio     Actual Ratio  
 
Maximum consolidated leverage ratio
  No greater than     3.25:1       2.43:1  
Minimum fixed charge coverage ratio
  No less than     1.35:1       1.86:1  
 
These financial covenants, as well as the related components of their computation, are defined in the amended and restated credit agreement governing our senior credit facility, which is included as an exhibit to this report. In accordance with the credit agreement, the maximum consolidated leverage ratio was calculated by dividing the consolidated funded debt outstanding at December 31, 2008 ($881.7 million) by consolidated EBITDA for the twelve month period ended December 31, 2008 ($363.2 million). For purposes of the covenant calculation, (i) “consolidated funded debt” is defined as outstanding indebtedness less cash in excess of $25 million, and (ii) “consolidated EBITDA” is generally defined as consolidated net income (a) plus the sum of income taxes, interest expense, depreciation and amortization expense, extraordinary non-cash expenses or losses, and other non-cash charges, and (b) minus the sum of interest income, extraordinary income or gains, and other non-cash income. Consolidated EBITDA is a non-GAAP financial measure that is presented not as a measure of operating results, but rather as a measure used to determine covenant compliance under our senior credit facilities.
 
The minimum fixed charge coverage ratio was calculated pursuant to the credit agreement by dividing consolidated EBITDA for the twelve month period ended December 31, 2008, as adjusted for certain capital expenditures ($485.4 million), by consolidated fixed charges for the twelve month period ended December 31, 2008 ($261.6 million). For purposes of the covenant calculation, “consolidated fixed charges” is defined as the sum of interest expense, lease expense, and mandatory debt repayments.
 
Events of default under our senior credit facilities include customary events, such as a cross-acceleration provision in the event that we default on other debt. In addition, an event of default under the senior credit facility would occur if a change of control occurs. This is defined to include the case where a third party becomes the beneficial owner of 35% or more of our voting stock or certain changes in Rent-A-Center’s Board of Directors occurs. An event of default would also occur if one or more judgments were entered against us of $30.0 million or more and such judgments were not satisfied or bonded pending appeal within 30 days after entry.
 
We utilize our revolving credit facility for the issuance of letters of credit, as well as to manage normal fluctuations in operational cash flow caused by the timing of cash receipts. In that regard, we may from time to time draw funds under the revolving credit facility for general corporate purposes. The funds drawn on individual


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RENT-A-CENTER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
occasions have varied in amounts of up to $98.0 million, with total amounts outstanding ranging from $2.0 million up to $108.0 million. The amounts drawn are generally outstanding for a short period of time and are generally paid down as cash is received from our operating activities.
 
The table below shows the scheduled maturity dates of our senior debt outstanding at December 31, 2008.
 
         
Year Ending December 31,
     
    (In thousands)  
 
2009
  $ 34,321  
2010
    91,756  
2011
    274,728  
2012
    320,907  
         
    $ 721,712  
         
 
Note H — Subordinated Notes Payable
 
71/2% Senior Subordinated Notes.  On May 6, 2003, we issued $300.0 million in senior subordinated notes due 2010, bearing interest at 71/2%, pursuant to an indenture dated May 6, 2003, among Rent-A-Center, Inc., its subsidiary guarantors and The Bank of New York, as trustee. The proceeds of this offering were used to fund the repurchase and redemption of our then outstanding 11% senior subordinated notes.
 
The 2003 indenture contains covenants that limit our ability to:
 
  •  incur additional debt;
 
  •  sell assets or our subsidiaries;
 
  •  grant liens to third parties;
 
  •  pay cash dividends or repurchase stock (subject to a restricted payments basket for which $165.2 million was available for use as of December 31, 2008); and
 
  •  engage in a merger or sell substantially all of our assets.
 
Events of default under the 2003 indenture include customary events, such as a cross-acceleration provision in the event that we default in the payment of other debt due at maturity or upon acceleration for default in an amount exceeding $50.0 million, as well as in the event a judgment is entered against us in excess of $50.0 million that is not discharged, bonded or insured.
 
The 71/2% notes may be redeemed on or after May 1, 2006, at our option, in whole or in part, at a premium declining from 103.75%. The premium for the period beginning May 1, 2008 through April 30, 2009 is 101.25%. The 71/2% notes may be redeemed on or after May 1, 2009, at our option, in whole or in part, at par. The 71/2% notes also require that upon the occurrence of a change of control (as defined in the 2003 indenture), the holders of the notes have the right to require us to repurchase the notes at a price equal to 101% of the original aggregate principal amount, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of repurchase. This would trigger an event of default under our senior credit facilities. We are not required to maintain any financial ratios under the 2003 indenture.


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Note I — Accrued Liabilities
 
                 
    December 31,  
    2008     2007  
    (In thousands)  
 
Accrued insurance costs
  $ 126,006     $ 117,708  
Accrued litigation costs
    11,274       21,915  
Accrued compensation
    44,734       38,975  
Deferred revenue
    29,394       33,915  
Taxes other than income
    20,379       28,418  
Accrued store close plan related to Rent-Way
    1,830       4,125  
Accrued capital lease obligations
    8,214       13,435  
Accrued interest payable
    4,340       10,760  
Accrued restructuring costs
    7,357       23,152  
Accrued other
    36,173       18,017  
                 
    $ 289,701     $ 310,420  
                 
 
Note J — Income Taxes
 
The reconciliation of income tax expense at the federal statutory rate of 35% to actual tax expense is as follows:
 
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2008     2007     2006  
 
Tax at statutory rate
    35.0 %     35.0 %     35.0 %
State income taxes, net of federal benefit (expense)
    2.0 %     (1.7 )%     1.2 %
Effect of foreign operations, net of foreign tax credits
          0.5 %     (0.1 )%
Other, net
    (0.1 )%     0.6 %     1.0 %
                         
Total
    36.9 %     34.4 %     37.1 %
                         
 
The components of income tax expense are as follows:
 
                         
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2008     2007     2006  
    (In thousands)  
 
Current expense
                       
Federal
  $ 399     $ 6,179     $ 63,808  
State
    2,574       14,437       1,024  
Foreign
    1,192       1,145       752  
                         
Total current
    4,165       21,761       65,584  
                         
Deferred expense
                       
Federal
    73,015       35,808       (8,455 )
State
    4,538       (17,551 )     3,917  
                         
Total deferred
    77,553       18,257       (4,538 )
                         
Total
  $ 81,718     $ 40,018     $ 61,046  
                         


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Deferred tax assets (liabilities) consist of the following:
 
                 
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2008     2007  
    (In thousands)  
 
Deferred tax assets
               
Federal net operating loss carryforwards
  $ 47,656     $ 57,124  
State net operating loss carryforwards
    30,225       26,353  
Accrued liabilities
    39,240       43,743  
Property assets
    20,462       24,211  
Other assets including credits
    1,174       14,448  
Foreign tax credit carryforwards
    2,325       395  
                 
      141,082       166,274  
Valuation allowance
    (10,232 )     (9,320 )
Deferred tax liabilities
               
Rental merchandise
    (188,152 )     (166,008 )
Intangible assets
    (29,914 )     (624 )
                 
      (218,066 )     (166,632 )
                 
Net deferred taxes
  $ (87,216 )   $ (9,678 )
                 
 
At December 31, 2008, we had approximately $137.2 million of federal net operating loss (“NOL”) carryforwards available to offset future taxable income which expire between 2018 and 2025 and approximately $550.0 million of state NOL carryforwards that expire between 2009 and 2026. All of our federal NOLs and approximately $170.0 million of our state NOLs represent acquired NOLs and their carryforwards are subject to annual limitations for U.S. tax purposes, including Section 382 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. A valuation allowance was provided on our acquired state NOLs which are expected to expire before they can be utilized.
 
We are subject to federal, state, local and foreign income taxes. We are no longer subject to U.S. federal, state, foreign and local income tax examinations by tax authorities for years before 2001. The appeals process related to the IRS audit for the taxable years 2001 through 2003 has been completed. We have agreed with the results of the appeals process with the exception of one issue with respect to the 2003 tax year. This disputed issue arises also in our 2004 and 2005 tax years, the examination of which is currently in the appeals process as discussed below. We believe the position and supporting case law applied by the IRS are incorrectly applied to our situation and that our fact pattern is distinguishable from the IRS’ position. We intend to vigorously defend our position on the issue. The IRS has concluded its examination of our income tax returns for 2004 and 2005. We have requested a conference with the IRS Appeals Office to discuss the 2004 and 2005 proposed adjustments related to the disputed issue from our 2003 examination. The remaining 2001 through 2003, as well as the 2004 and 2005 contested adjustments have been resolved. We do not anticipate that adjustments, if any, regarding the 2003, 2004 and 2005 disputed issue will result in a material change to our consolidated statement of earnings, financial condition, statement of cash flows or earnings per share.
 
On January 1, 2007 we adopted the provisions of FASB Interpretation No. 48, Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes — an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109 (“FIN 48”). Under FIN 48, we recognize the financial statement benefit of a tax position only after determining that the relevant tax authority would more likely than not sustain the position following an audit. For tax positions meeting the more-likely-than-not threshold, the amount recognized in the financial statements is the largest benefit that has a greater than 50 percent likelihood of being realized upon ultimate settlement with the relevant tax authority. At the adoption date, we applied FIN 48 to all tax


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
positions for which the statute of limitations remained open. As a result of the implementation of FIN 48, we were not required to recognize an increase or a decrease in the liability for unrecognized tax benefits as of January 1, 2007. A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits is as follows:
 
         
    (In thousands)  
 
Balance at January 1, 2007
  $ 7,064  
Additions based on tax positions related to current year
     
Additions for tax positions of prior years
    784  
Reductions for tax positions of prior years
    (217 )
Settlements
     
         
Balance at January 1, 2008
    7,631  
Additions based on tax positions related to current year
     
Additions for tax positions of prior years
    701  
Reductions for tax positions of prior years
    (817 )
Settlements
    (5,458 )
         
Balance at December 31, 2008
  $ 2,057  
         
 
Included in the balance of unrecognized tax benefits at December 31, 2008 is $1.3 million, net of federal benefit, which, if ultimately recognized, will reduce our annual effective tax rate.
 
In adopting FIN 48 on January 1, 2007, we changed our previous method of classifying interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense to classifying interest accrued as interest expense and penalties as operating expenses. Because the transition rules of FIN 48 do not permit the retroactive restatement of prior period financial statements, our comparative financial statements for 2006 continue to reflect interest and penalties on unrecognized tax benefits as income tax expense. We recorded interest expense of approximately $300,000 for the year ended December 31, 2008. We accrued approximately $1.2 million as of December 31, 2008, for the payment of interest and penalties.
 
Note K — Commitments and Contingencies
 
Leases
 
We lease our service center and store facilities and most delivery vehicles. Certain of the store leases contain escalation clauses for increased taxes and operating expenses. Rental expense was $215.8 million, $230.4 million and $200.6 million for 2008, 2007 and 2006, respectively. Capital leases include certain transportation equipment assumed in the Rent-Way acquisition. Future minimum rental payments under operating/capital leases with remaining lease terms in excess of one year at December 31, 2008 are as follows:
 
                 
Year Ending December 31,
  Operating Leases     Capital Leases  
    (In thousands)     (In thousands)  
 
2009
  $ 172,947     $ 5,039  
2010
    134,168       3,067  
2011
    93,332       1,112  
2012
    59,484       302  
2013
    27,380        
Thereafter
    5,890        
                 
      493,201       9,520  
Less amount representing interest obligations under capital lease
          (1,306 )
                 
    $ 493,201     $ 8,214  
                 


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Our investment in equipment under capital leases are as follows:
 
                 
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2008     2007  
    (In thousands)  
 
Equipment under capital lease
  $ 25,261     $ 32,386  
Less accumulated amortization
    (17,074 )     (18,900 )
                 
Equipment under capital lease, net
  $ 8,187     $ 13,486  
                 
 
Litigation
 
From time to time, we, along with our subsidiaries, are party to various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. We account for our litigation contingencies pursuant to the provisions of SFAS No. 5 and FIN 14, which require that we accrue for losses that are both probable and reasonably estimable. We expense legal fees and expenses incurred in connection with the defense of all of our litigation at the time such amounts are invoiced or otherwise made known to us.
 
Our accruals relating to probable losses for our outstanding litigation follow:
 
                 
    Year Ended December 31,  
    2008     2007  
    (In millions)  
 
Shafer/Johnson Matter
  $ 1.8     $ 11.0  
California Attorney General Settlement
    9.4       9.6  
Other Litigation
    0.1       1.1  
Legal Fees and Expenses
          0.2  
                 
Total Accrual
  $ 11.3     $ 21.9  
                 
 
We continue to monitor our litigation exposure, and will review the adequacy of our legal reserves on a quarterly basis in accordance with applicable accounting rules. Except as described below, we are not currently a party to any material litigation and, other than as set forth above, we have not established any other reserves for our outstanding litigation.
 
California Attorney General Inquiry.  In January 2009, we paid $9.4 million in accordance with the settlement with the California Attorney General.
 
Eric Shafer, et al. v. Rent-A-Center, Inc.  We recorded a pre-tax expense of $11.0 million in the fourth quarter of 2007 related to the settlement of the Eric Shafer et al. v. Rent-A-Center, Inc. and Victor E. Johnson et al. v. Rent-A-Center, Inc. coordinated matters pending in state court in Los Angeles, California. Due to fewer class members eligible to participate in the settlement than originally estimated, as well as negotiated reductions in settlement payments to certain plaintiffs, the maximum claim amount remaining to be paid was reduced by approximately $2.4 million during the fourth quarter of 2008. We also paid settlement costs and plaintiffs’ attorneys’ fees in the amount of approximately $4.4 million, and settlement payments in the aggregate amount of approximately $2.4 million during the fourth quarter of 2008. We expect to fund the maximum remaining settlement payments of approximately $1.8 million during 2009.
 
In our history, we have defended class action lawsuits alleging various regulatory violations and have paid material amounts to settle such claims. We cannot assure you that we will not be the subject of similar lawsuits in the future.


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Guarantee
 
ColorTyme Guarantee.  ColorTyme is a party to an agreement with Wells Fargo Foothill, Inc. (“Wells Fargo”), who provides $35.0 million in aggregate financing to qualifying franchisees of ColorTyme generally up to five times their average monthly revenues. Under the Wells Fargo agreement, upon an event of default by the franchisee under agreements governing this financing and upon the occurrence of certain other events, Wells Fargo can assign the loans and the collateral securing such loans to ColorTyme, with ColorTyme paying the outstanding debt to Wells Fargo and then succeeding to the rights of Wells Fargo under the debt agreements, including the right to foreclose on the collateral. The Wells Fargo agreement expires on September 30, 2010. An additional $20.0 million of financing is provided by Texas Capital Bank, National Association (“Texas Capital Bank”) under an agreement similar to the Wells Fargo financing. Rent-A-Center East, Inc., a subsidiary of Rent-A-Center, guarantees the obligations of ColorTyme under each of these agreements, excluding the effects of any amounts that could be recovered under collateralization provisions, up to a maximum amount of $55.0 million, of which $24.5 million was outstanding as of December 31, 2008.
 
Note L — Stock-Based Compensation
 
We maintain long-term incentive plans for the benefit of certain employees, consultants and directors. Our plans consist of the Rent-A-Center, Inc. Amended and Restated Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “Prior Plan”), the Rent-A-Center, Inc. 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan (the “2006 Plan”), and the Rent-A-Center, Inc. 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (the “Equity Incentive Plan”), which are collectively known as the “Plans.”
 
The 2006 Plan authorizes the issuance of 7,000,000 shares of Rent-A-Center’s common stock that may be issued pursuant to awards granted under the 2006 Plan, of which no more than 3,500,000 shares may be issued in the form of restricted stock, deferred stock or similar forms of stock awards which have value without regard to future appreciation in value of or dividends declared on the underlying shares of common stock. In applying these limitations, the following shares will be deemed not to have been issued: (1) shares covered by the unexercised portion of an option that terminates, expires, or is canceled or settled in cash, and (2) shares that are forfeited or subject to awards that are forfeited, canceled, terminated or settled in cash. At December 31, 2008 and 2007, there are 1,589,923 and 1,350,749 shares, respectively, allocated to equity awards outstanding in the 2006 Plan.
 
We acquired the Equity Incentive Plan (formerly known as the Rent-Way, Inc. 2006 Equity Incentive Plan) in conjunction with our acquisition of Rent-Way in 2006. There were 2,468,461 shares of our common stock reserved for issuance under the Equity Incentive Plan. There were 476,783 and 389,805 shares allocated to equity awards outstanding in the Equity Incentive Plan at December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
 
Under the Prior Plan, 14,562,865 shares of Rent-A-Center’s common stock were reserved for issuance under stock options, stock appreciation rights or restricted stock grants. Options granted to our employees under the Prior Plan generally become exercisable over a period of one to four years from the date of grant and may be exercised up to a maximum of 10 years from the date of grant. Options granted to directors were immediately exercisable. There were no grants of stock appreciation rights and all equity awards were granted with fixed prices. At December 31, 2008 and 2007, there were 2,747,016 and 3,143,317 shares, respectively, allocated to equity awards outstanding under the Prior Plan. The Prior Plan was terminated on May 19, 2006, upon the approval by the stockholders of the 2006 Plan.
 
Under SFAS 123R, compensation costs are recognized net of estimated forfeitures over the award’s requisite service period on a straight line basis. For the year ended December 31, 2008 and 2007, we recorded stock-based compensation expense, net of related taxes, of approximately $2.1 million and $3.3 million, respectively, related to stock options granted and restricted stock units awarded.


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Information with respect to stock option activity related to the Plans follows. The information for the Plans is combined because the characteristics of the awards are similar.
 
                                 
          Weighted
    Weighted
       
          Average
    Average
    Aggregate
 
    Equity Awards
    Exercise
    Remaining
    Intrinsic
 
    Outstanding     Price     Contractual Life     Value  
                      (In thousands)  
 
Balance outstanding at January 1, 2008
    4,883,871     $ 21.49       6.56 years     $ 5,024  
Granted
    756,995       15.03                  
Exercised
    (229,605 )     13.82             $ 1,659  
Forfeited
    (597,539 )     23.97                  
                                 
Balance outstanding at December 31, 2008
    4,813,722     $ 20.73       6.01 years     $ 9,204  
                                 
Exercisable at December 31, 2008
    3,252,534     $ 20.02       4.81 years     $ 8,095  
 
The intrinsic value of options exercised during the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006 was $2.5 million and $10.6 million, respectively.
 
The fair value of unvested options that we expect to result in compensation expense was approximately $5.5 million with a weighted average number of years to vesting of 2.45 years at December 31, 2008. The total number of unvested options was 1,561,188 and 1,807,348, with $1.1 million intrinsic value and no intrinsic value at December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively. There were 58,860 and 53,300 restricted stock units outstanding as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
 
The weighted average fair value of unvested options at December 31, 2008 and 2007 was $3.55 and $4.34, respectively. The weighted average fair value of options forfeited during the year ended December 31, 2008 was $5.62.
 
The total number of options vested during the year ended December 31, 2008 was 710,146, with a weighted average fair value of $6.08. The total fair value of options vested during the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, was $4.3 million, $5.9 million and $10.3 million, respectively.
 
During the twelve months ended December 31, 2008, the weighted average fair values of the options granted under the Plans were calculated using the binomial method with the following assumptions:
 
     
Employee options:
   
Risk free interest rate (1.62% to 3.17%)
  Weighted average 2.43%
Expected dividend yield
 
Expected life
  4.20 years
Expected volatility (33.85% to 53.58%)
  Weighted average 42.08%
Employee stock options granted
  732,995
Weighted average grant date fair value
  $4.66
Non-employee director options:
   
Risk free interest rate
  3.54%
Expected dividend yield
 
Expected life
  6.90 years
Expected volatility
  41.26%
Non-employee director stock options granted
  24,000
Weighted average grant date fair value
  $7.02


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
During the twelve months ended December 31, 2007, the weighted average fair values of the options granted under the Plans were calculated using the binomial method with the following assumptions:
 
     
Employee options:
   
Risk free interest rate (4.66% to 4.80%)
  Weighted average 4.73%
Expected dividend yield
 
Expected life
  4.20 years
Expected volatility (30.36% to 37.90%)
  Weighted average 32.79%
Employee stock options granted
  1,581,040
Weighted average grant date fair value
  $5.17
Non-employee director options:
   
Risk free interest rate
  4.66%
Expected dividend yield
 
Expected life
  7.44 years
Expected volatility
  47.32%
Non-employee director stock options granted
  34,000
Weighted average grant date fair value
  $16.79
 
During the twelve months ended December 31, 2006, the weighted average fair values of the options granted under the Plans were calculated using the binomial method with the following assumptions:
 
     
Employee options:
   
Risk free interest rate (4.36% to 4.41%)
  Weighted average 4.39%
Expected dividend yield
 
Expected life
  4.20 years
Expected volatility (24.14% to 52.55%)
  Weighted average 33.12%
Employee stock options granted
  985,485
Weighted average grant date fair value
  $5.61
Executive option:
   
Risk free interest rate
  4.73%
Expected dividend yield
 
Expected life
  6.13 years
Expected volatility
  49.98%
Executive stock options granted
  70,000
Non-employee director options:
   
Risk free interest rate
  4.38%
Expected dividend yield
 
Expected life
  6.00 years
Expected volatility
  33.12%
Non-employee director stock options granted
  34,000
Weighted average grant date fair value
  $9.73
 
Tax benefits from stock option exercises of $560,000, $943,000 and $4.3 million, respectively, for the twelve months ended December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006 were reflected as an outflow from operating activities and an inflow from financing activities in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows.


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
The option data above does not include the 554,102 stock options, with an approximate fair value of $6.1 million, assumed as part of the purchase price for the acquisition of Rent Rite in May 2004. At December 31, 2008, the weighted average remaining contractual life of the Rent-Rite options was 1.01 years. At December 31, 2008 and 2007, the weighted average exercise price was $30.62. All of the Rent Rite options were exercisable as of December 31, 2008.
 
Note M — Deferred Compensation Plan
 
We have implemented the Rent-A-Center, Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan (the “Deferred Compensation Plan”), an unfunded, nonqualified deferred compensation plan for a select group of our key management personnel and highly compensated employees. The Deferred Compensation Plan first became available to eligible employees in July 2007, with deferral elections taking effect as of August 3, 2007.
 
The Deferred Compensation Plan allows participants to defer up to 50% of their base compensation and up to 100% of any bonus compensation. Participants may invest the amounts deferred in measurement funds that are the same funds offered as the investment options in the Rent-A-Center, Inc. 401(k) Retirement Savings Plan. We may make discretionary contributions to the Deferred Compensation Plan, which are subject to a five-year graded vesting schedule based on the participant’s years of service with us. We are obligated to pay the deferred compensation amounts in the future in accordance with the terms of the Deferred Compensation Plan. Assets and associated liabilities of the Deferred Compensation Plan are included in prepaid and other assets and accrued liabilities in our consolidated balance sheets. The deferred compensation plan liability was approximately $564,000 and $208,000 as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively.
 
Note N — Employee Benefit Plan
 
We sponsor a defined contribution pension plan under Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code for all employees who have completed at least three months of service. Employees may elect to contribute up to 50% of their eligible compensation on a pre-tax basis, subject to limitations. We may make discretionary matching contributions to the 401(k) plan. During 2008, 2007 and 2006, we made matching cash contributions of $5.3 million, $5.3 million, and $4.1 million, respectively, which represents 50% of the employees’ contributions to the 401(k) plan up to an amount not to exceed 4% of each employee’s respective compensation. Employees are permitted to elect to purchase our common stock as part of their 401(k) plan. As of December 31, 2008, 2007 and 2006, 12.0%, 7.0%, and 15.0%, respectively, of the total plan assets consisted of our common stock.
 
Note O — Fair Value of Financial Instruments
 
Our financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, receivables, payables, senior debt, and subordinated notes payable. The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, receivables and payables approximates fair value at December 31, 2008 and 2007, because of the short maturities of these instruments. Our senior debt is variable rate debt that re-prices frequently and entails no significant change in credit risk and, as a result, fair value approximates carrying value. The fair value of the subordinated notes payable is estimated based on discounted cash flow analysis using interest rates currently offered for loans with similar terms to borrowers of similar credit quality using unobservable inputs based on management’s own assumptions. At December 31, 2008, the fair value of the subordinated notes was $206.2 million, which was $19.2 million below their carrying value of $225.4 million. At December 31, 2007, the fair value of the subordinated notes was $296.3 million, which was $3.7 million below their carrying value of $300.0 million.
 
Note P — Stock Repurchase Plan
 
Our Board of Directors has authorized a common stock repurchase program, permitting us to purchase, from time to time, in the open market and privately negotiated transactions, up to an aggregate of $500.0 million of Rent-A-Center common stock. We had purchased a total of 19,412,750 shares and 18,460,950 shares of


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Rent-A-Center common stock for an aggregate of $457.8 million and $444.3 million as of December 31, 2008 and 2007, respectively, under this common stock repurchase program. We repurchased 801,800 shares for $10.3 million in the fourth quarter of 2008. A total of 951,800 shares were repurchased for $13.4 million during the year ended December 31, 2008. A total of 3,832,150 shares were repurchased for $83.4 million during the year ended December 31, 2007.
 
Note Q — Earnings Per Common Share
 
Summarized basic and diluted earnings per common share were calculated as follows:
 
                         
          Weighted Average
       
    Net Earnings     Shares     Per Share  
    (In thousands, except per share data)  
 
Year ended December 31, 2008
                       
Basic earnings per common share
  $ 139,624       66,606     $ 2.10  
Effect of dilutive stock options
          585          
                         
Diluted earnings per common share
  $ 139,624       67,191     $ 2.08  
                         
Year ended December 31, 2007
                       
Basic earnings per common share
  $ 76,268       68,706     $ 1.11  
Effect of dilutive stock options
          769          
                         
Diluted earnings per common share
  $ 76,268       69,475     $ 1.10  
                         
Year ended December 31, 2006
                       
Basic earnings per common share
  $ 103,092       69,676     $ 1.48  
Effect of dilutive stock options
          1,057          
                         
Diluted earnings per common share
  $ 103,092       70,733     $ 1.46  
                         
 
For 2008, 2007, and 2006, the number of stock options that were outstanding but not included in the computation of diluted earnings per common share because their exercise price was greater than the average market price of the common stock and, therefore anti-dilutive, was 3,100,825, 2,813,529, and 1,616,822, respectively.


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NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS — (Continued)
 
Note R — Unaudited Quarterly Data
 
Summarized quarterly financial data for 2008, 2007 and 2006 is as follows:
 
                                 
    1st Quarter     2nd Quarter     3rd Quarter     4th Quarter  
    (In thousands, except per share data)  
 
Year ended December 31, 2008
                               
Revenues
  $ 756,636     $ 719,031     $ 708,755     $ 699,750  
Gross profit
    533,733       517,329       510,022       507,268  
Operating profit
    77,540       74,434       58,549       63,865  
Net earnings
    36,358       37,741       29,379       36,146  
Basic earnings per common share
  $ 0.55     $ 0.57     $ 0.44     $ 0.54  
Diluted earnings per common share
  $ 0.54     $ 0.56     $ 0.44     $ 0.54  
Year ended December 31, 2007
                               
Revenues
  $ 755,299     $ 724,158     $ 709,701     $ 716,963  
Gross profit
    553,168       538,491       518,523       519,420  
Operating profit
    46,155       87,024       60,575       10,483  
Net earnings(loss)
    15,103       41,251       25,275       (5,361 )
Basic earnings(loss) per common share
  $ 0.21     $ 0.59     $ 0.37     $ (0.08 )
Diluted earnings(loss) per common share
  $ 0.21     $ 0.58     $ 0.37     $ (0.08 )
Year ended December 31, 2006
                               
Revenues
  $ 606,975     $ 583,623     $ 587,184     $ 656,126  
Gross profit
    436,099       430,509       432,365       480,837  
Operating profit
    75,484       75,193       51,871       19,396  
Net earnings(loss)
    40,328       39,843       25,241       (2,320 )
Basic earnings(loss) per common share
  $ 0.58     $ 0.57     $ 0.36     $ (0.03 )
Diluted earnings(loss) per common share
  $ 0.57     $ 0.56     $ 0.36     $ (0.03 )


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Item 9.   Changes in and Disagreements with Accountants on Accounting and Financial Disclosure.
 
None.
 
Item 9A.   Controls and Procedures.
 
Disclosure Controls and Procedures
 
An evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a — 15(e) and 15d — 15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) as of the end of the period covered by this annual report. Based on this evaluation, our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our Chief Financial Officer, concluded that, as of December 31, 2008, our disclosure controls and procedures were effective as defined in Rules 13a — 15(e) and 15d — 15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
 
Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting
 
Please refer to Management’s Annual Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting on page 44 of this report.
 
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
 
For the quarter ended December 31, 2008, there have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
 
Item 9B.   Other Information.
 
None.
 
PART III
 
Item 10.   Directors, Executive Officers and Corporate Governance.(*)
 
Item 11.   Executive Compensation.(*)
 
Item 12.   Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management and Related Stockholder Matters.(*)
 
Item 13.   Certain Relationships and Related Transactions, and Director Independence.(*)
 
Item 14.   Principal Accountant Fees and Services.(*)
 
 
* The information required by Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 is or will be set forth in the definitive proxy statement relating to the 2009 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Rent-A-Center, Inc., which is to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. This definitive proxy statement relates to a meeting of stockholders involving the election of directors and the portions therefrom required to be set forth in this Form 10-K by Items 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 are incorporated herein by reference pursuant to General Instruction G(3) to Form 10-K.


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PART IV
 
Item 15.   Exhibits and Financial Statement Schedules.
 
Financial Statement Schedules
 
The financial statements included in this report are listed in the Index to Financial Statements on page 41 of this report. Schedules for which provision is made in the applicable accounting regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission are either not required under the related instructions or inapplicable.
 
Exhibits
 
The exhibits required to be furnished pursuant to Item 15 are listed in the Exhibit Index filed herewith, which Exhibit Index is incorporated herein by reference.


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SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned duly authorized.
 
RENT-A-CENTER, INC.
 
  By: 
/s/  Robert D. Davis
Robert D. Davis
Executive Vice President — Finance,
Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer
 
Date: February 27, 2009
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, this report has been signed by the following persons on behalf of the registrant and in the capacities and on the date indicated.
 
             
Signature
 
Title
 
Date
 
         
/s/  Mark E. Speese

Mark E. Speese
  Chairman of the Board
and Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)
  February 27, 2009
         
/s/  Mitchell E. Fadel

Mitchell E. Fadel
  President, Chief Operating Officer and Director   February 27, 2009
         
/s/  Robert D. Davis

Robert D. Davis
  Executive Vice President — Finance, Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and
Accounting Officer)
  February 27, 2009
         
/s/  Michael J. Gade

Michael J. Gade
  Director   February 27, 2009
         
/s/  Jeffery M. Jackson

Jeffery M. Jackson
  Director   February 27, 2009
         
/s/  Kerney Laday

Kerney Laday
  Director   February 27, 2009
         
/s/  J. V. Lentell

J. V. Lentell
  Director   February 27, 2009
         
/s/  Leonard H. Roberts

Leonard H. Roberts
  Director   February 27, 2009
         
/s/  Paula Stern

Paula Stern
  Director   February 27, 2009


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INDEX TO EXHIBITS
 
         
Exhibit No.
 
Description
 
  3 .1   Certificate of Incorporation of Rent-A-Center, Inc., as amended (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated as of December 31, 2002.)
         
  3 .2   Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of Rent-A-Center, Inc., dated May 19, 2004 (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004.)
         
  3 .3   Amended and Restated Bylaws of Rent-A-Center, Inc. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated as of December 11, 2008.)
         
  4 .1   Form of Certificate evidencing Common Stock (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-4/A filed on January 13, 1999.)
         
  4 .2   Indenture, dated as of May 6, 2003, by and among Rent-A-Center, Inc., as Issuer, Rent-A-Center East, Inc., ColorTyme, Inc., Rent-A-Center West, Inc., Get It Now, LLC, Rent-A-Center Texas, L.P. and Rent-A-Center Texas, L.L.C., as Guarantors, and The Bank of New York, as Trustee (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.9 to the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2003.)
         
  4 .3   First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of December 4, 2003, between Rent-A-Center, Inc., as Issuer, the Guarantors named therein, as Guarantors, and The Bank of New York, as Trustee (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.6 to the registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2003.)
         
  4 .4   Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April 26, 2004, between Rent-A-Center, Inc., as Issuer, the Guarantors named therein, as Guarantors, and The Bank of New York, as Trustee (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.7 to the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2004.)
         
  4 .5   Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 7, 2004, between Rent-A-Center, Inc., as Issuer, the Guarantors named therein, as Guarantors, and The Bank of New York, as Trustee (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.8 to the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004.)
         
  4 .6   Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of May 14, 2004, between Rent-A-Center, Inc., as Issuer, the Guarantors named therein, as Guarantors, and The Bank of New York, as Trustee (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.9 to the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004.)
         
  4 .7   Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of June 30, 2005, between Rent-A-Center, Inc., as Issuer, the Guarantors named therein, as Guarantors, and The Bank of New York, as Trustee (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.10 to the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2005.)
         
  4 .8   Sixth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of April 17, 2006, between Rent-A-Center, Inc., as Issuer, the Guarantors named therein, as Guarantors, and The Bank of New York, as Trustee (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.10 to the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2006.)
         
  4 .9   Seventh Supplemental Indenture, dated as of October 17, 2006, between Rent-A-Center, Inc., as Issuer, the Guarantors named therein, as Guarantors, and The Bank of New York, as Trustee (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.11 to the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2006.)
         
  4 .10   Eighth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 15, 2006, between Rent-A-Center, Inc., as Issuer, the Guarantors named therein, as Guarantors, and The Bank of New York, as Trustee (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.12 to the registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.)
         
  10 .1†   Amended and Restated Rent-A-Center, Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2003.)


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Exhibit No.
 
Description
 
         
  10 .2   Amended and Restated Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, dated as of May 28, 2003, as amended and restated as of July 14, 2004, made by Rent-A-Center, Inc. and certain of its Subsidiaries in favor of JPMorgan Chase Bank, as Administrative Agent (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated July 15, 2004.)
         
  10 .3   Franchisee Financing Agreement, dated April 30, 2002, but effective as of June 28, 2002, by and between Texas Capital Bank, National Association, ColorTyme, Inc. and Rent-A-Center, Inc. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2002.)
         
  10 .4   Supplemental Letter Agreement to Franchisee Financing Agreement, dated May 26, 2003, by and between Texas Capital Bank, National Association, ColorTyme, Inc. and Rent-A-Center, Inc. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to the registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed July 11, 2003.)
         
  10 .5   First Amendment to Franchisee Financing Agreement, dated August 30, 2005, by and among Texas Capital Bank, National Association, ColorTyme, Inc. and Rent-A-Center East, Inc. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.7 to the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2005.)
         
  10 .6   Amended and Restated Franchise Financing Agreement, dated October 1, 2003, by and among Wells Fargo Foothill, Inc., ColorTyme, Inc. and Rent-A-Center East, Inc. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2003.)
         
  10 .7   First Amendment to Amended and Restated Franchisee Financing Agreement, dated December 15, 2003, by and among Wells Fargo Foothill, Inc., ColorTyme, Inc. and Rent-A-Center East, Inc. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to the registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2003.)
         
  10 .8   Second Amendment to Amended and Restated Franchisee Financing Agreement, dated as of March 1, 2004, by and among Wells Fargo Foothill, Inc., ColorTyme, Inc. and Rent-A-Center East, Inc. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2004.)
         
  10 .9   Third Amendment to Amended and Restated Franchisee Financing Agreement, dated as of September 29, 2006, by and among Wells Fargo Foothill, Inc., ColorTyme, Inc. and Rent-A-Center East, Inc. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2006.)
         
  10 .10   Fourth Amendment to Amended and Restated Franchisee Financing Agreement, dated as of December 19, 2006, by and among Wells Fargo Foothill, Inc., ColorTyme, Inc. and Rent-A-Center East, Inc. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.10 to the registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.)
         
  10 .11†   Form of Stock Option Agreement issuable to Directors pursuant to the Amended and Restated Rent-A-Center, Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to the registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004.)
         
  10 .12†   Form of Stock Option Agreement issuable to management pursuant to the Amended and Restated Rent-A-Center, Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004.)
         
  10 .13†*   Summary of Director Compensation
         
  10 .14†   Form of Stock Compensation Agreement issuable to management pursuant to the Amended and Restated Rent-A-Center, Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006.)
         
  10 .15†   Form of Long-Term Incentive Cash Award issuable to management pursuant to the Amended and Restated Rent-A-Center, Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006.)

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Exhibit No.
 
Description
 
         
  10 .16†   Form of Loyalty and Confidentiality Agreement entered into with management (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2006.)
         
  10 .17†   Rent-A-Center, Inc. 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2006.)
         
  10 .18†   Form of Stock Option Agreement issuable to management pursuant to the Rent-A-Center, Inc. 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2006.)
         
  10 .19†   Form of Stock Compensation Agreement issuable to management pursuant to the Rent-A-Center, Inc. 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to the registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.)
         
  10 .20†   Form of Long-Term Incentive Cash Award issuable to management pursuant to the Rent-A-Center, Inc. 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to the registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.)
         
  10 .21†   Rent-A-Center, Inc. 2006 Equity Incentive Plan and Amendment (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to the registrant’s Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on January 4, 2007)
         
  10 .22†   Form of Stock Option Agreement issuable to management pursuant to the Rent-A-Center, Inc. 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.)
         
  10 .23†   Form of Stock Compensation Agreement issuable to management pursuant to the Rent-A-Center, Inc. 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to the registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.)
         
  10 .24†   Form of Stock Option Agreement issuable to Directors pursuant to the Rent-A-Center, Inc. 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to the registrant’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.)
         
  10 .25†*   Form of Deferred Stock Unit Award Agreement issuable to Directors pursuant to the Rent-A-Center, Inc. 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan
         
  10 .26†   Form of Executive Transition Agreement entered into with management (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2006.)
         
  10 .27†   Employment Agreement, dated October 2, 2006, between Rent-A-Center, Inc. and Mark E. Speese (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2006.)
         
  10 .28†   Non-Qualified Stock Option Agreement, dated October 2, 2006, between Rent-A-Center, Inc. and Mark E. Speese (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2006.)
         
  10 .29†   Rent-A-Center, Inc. Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.28 to the registrant’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2007.)
         
  10 .30†*   Rent-A-Center, Inc. 401-K Plan
         
  10 .31   Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of November 15, 2006, among Rent-A-Center, Inc., the several banks and other financial institutions or entities from time to time parties thereto, Union Bank of California, N.A., as documentation agent, Lehman Commercial Paper Inc., as syndication agent, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the registrant’s Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 15, 2006.)
         
  21 .1*   Subsidiaries of Rent-A-Center, Inc.
         
  23 .1*   Consent of Grant Thornton LLP

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Exhibit No.
 
Description
 
         
  31 .1*   Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 implementing Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 by Mark E. Speese
         
  31 .2*   Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 implementing Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 by Robert D. Davis
         
  32 .1*   Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 by Mark E. Speese
         
  32 .2*   Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 by Robert D. Davis
 
 
Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement
 
* Filed herewith.

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