SEC Form SC 13D filed by Rent-A-Center Inc.

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13D

(Rule 13d-101)

INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT

TO § 240.13d-1(a) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED PURSUANT TO

§ 240.13d-2(a)

(Amendment No. )¹

Rent-A-Center, Inc.

(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share

(Title of Class of Securities)

76009N100

(CUSIP Number)

GLENN W. WELLING

ENGAGED CAPITAL, LLC

610 Newport Center Drive, Suite 250

Newport Beach, California 92660

(949) 734-7900

STEVE WOLOSKY

RYAN NEBEL

OLSHAN FROME WOLOSKY LLP

1325 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10019

(212) 451-2300

(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person

Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

November 29, 2022

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of This Statement)

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of §§ 240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g), check the following box ¨.

Note:  Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits.  See § 240.13d-7 for other parties to whom copies are to be sent.

1              The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

* Includes 43,041 Shares (as defined in Item 1) underlying certain Director Deferred Stock Units awarded to Mr. Hetrick in his capacity as a director of the Issuer, each of which represents the right to receive one Share upon the termination of Mr. Hetrick’s service as a director of the Issuer.

The following constitutes the Schedule 13D filed by the undersigned (the “Schedule 13D”).

This statement relates to the common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Shares”), of Rent-A-Center, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Issuer”). The address of the principal executive offices of the Issuer is 5501 Headquarters Drive, Plano, Texas 75024.

(a)       This statement is filed by:

Each of the foregoing is referred to as a “Reporting Person” and collectively as the “Reporting Persons.” Each of the Reporting Persons is party to that certain Joint Filing Agreement, as further described in Item 6. Accordingly, the Reporting Persons are hereby filing a joint Schedule 13D.

Set forth on Schedule A annexed hereto (“Schedule A”) is the name and present principal occupation or employment, principal business address and citizenship of the executive officers and directors of Engaged Capital Offshore. To the best of the Reporting Persons’ knowledge, except as otherwise set forth herein, none of the persons listed on Schedule A beneficially owns any securities of the Issuer or is a party to any contract, agreement or understanding required to be disclosed herein.

(b)       The address of the principal office of each of Engaged Capital Flagship Master and Engaged Capital Offshore is c/o Conyers Trust Company (Cayman) Limited, Cricket Square, Hutchins Drive, P.O. Box 2681, Grand Cayman KY1-1111, Cayman Islands. The address of the principal office of each of Engaged Capital Co-Invest V-B, Engaged Capital Fund, Engaged Capital, Engaged Holdings and Messrs. Welling and Hetrick is 610 Newport Center Drive, Suite 250, Newport Beach, California 92660.

(c)       The principal business of each of Engaged Capital Flagship Master and Engaged Capital Co-Invest V-B is investing in securities. Each of Engaged Capital Fund and Engaged Capital Offshore is a private investment partnership that serves as a feeder fund of Engaged Capital Flagship Master. Engaged Capital is a registered investment advisor and serves as the investment adviser to each of Engaged Capital Flagship Master, Engaged Capital Co-Invest V-B, Engaged Capital Fund, Engaged Capital Offshore and the Engaged Capital Account. Engaged Capital is also the general partner of each of Engaged Capital Flagship Master, Engaged Capital Co-Invest V-B and Engaged Capital Fund. Engaged Holdings serves as the managing member of Engaged Capital. Mr. Welling is the Founder and CIO of Engaged Capital, the sole member of Engaged Holdings and a director of Engaged Capital Offshore. Mr. Hetrick is the Director of Research at Engaged Capital and a member of the board of directors of the Issuer.

(d)       No Reporting Person, nor any person listed on Schedule A, has, during the last five years, been convicted in a criminal proceeding (excluding traffic violations or similar misdemeanors).

(e)       No Reporting Person, nor any person listed on Schedule A, has, during the last five years, been party to a civil proceeding of a judicial or administrative body of competent jurisdiction and as a result of such proceeding was or is subject to a judgment, decree or final order enjoining future violations of, or prohibiting or mandating activities subject to, federal or state securities laws or finding any violation with respect to such laws.

(f)       Engaged Capital Flagship Master and Engaged Capital Offshore are organized under the laws of the Cayman Islands. Engaged Capital Co-Invest V-B, Engaged Capital Fund, Engaged Capital and Engaged Holdings are organized under the laws of the State of Delaware. Messrs. Welling and Hetrick are citizens of the United States of America 

The Shares purchased by each of Engaged Capital Flagship Master and Engaged Capital Co-Invest V-B and held in the Engaged Capital Account were purchased with working capital (which may, at any given time, include margin loans made by brokerage firms in the ordinary course of business). The aggregate purchase price of the 2,389,167 Shares beneficially owned by Engaged Capital Flagship Master is approximately $45,272,690, including brokerage commissions. The aggregate purchase price of the 1,024,506 Shares beneficially owned by Engaged Capital Co-Invest V-B is approximately $23,961,911, including brokerage commissions. The aggregate purchase price of the 190,543 Shares held in the Engaged Capital Account is approximately $3,284,759, including brokerage commissions.

Other than the 43,041 Director Deferred Stock Units awarded to Mr. Hetrick in his capacity as a director of the Issuer (each of which represents the right to receive one Share upon the termination of Mr. Hetrick’s service as a director of the Issuer), the Shares directly owned by Mr. Hetrick were purchased with personal funds. The aggregate purchase price of the 28,725 Shares purchased by Mr. Hetrick is approximately $986,455, excluding brokerage commissions.

The Reporting Persons purchased the Shares based on the Reporting Persons’ belief that the Shares, when purchased, were undervalued and represented an attractive investment opportunity. Depending upon overall market conditions, other investment opportunities available to the Reporting Persons and the availability of Shares at prices that would make the purchase or sale of Shares desirable, the Reporting Persons may endeavor to increase or decrease their position in the Issuer through, among other things, the purchase or sale of Shares on the open market or in private transactions, including through a trading plan created under Rule 10b5-1(c) or otherwise, on such terms and at such times as the Reporting Persons may deem advisable.

Except in Mr. Hetrick’s capacity as a director of the Issuer, no Reporting Person has any present plan or proposal which would relate to or result in any of the matters set forth in subparagraphs (a) - (j) of Item 4 of Schedule 13D except as set forth herein or such as would occur upon or in connection with completion of, or following, any of the actions discussed herein; however, the Reporting Persons, at any time and from time to time, may review, reconsider and change their intention with respect to any and all matters referred to in Item 4.

(a)       The aggregate percentage of Shares reported owned by each person named herein is based upon 55,670,048 Shares outstanding as of October 26, 2022, which is the total number of Shares outstanding as reported in the Issuer’s quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 3, 2022.

As of the date hereof, Engaged Capital Flagship Master beneficially owned 2,389,167 Shares, constituting approximately 4.3% of the Shares outstanding. Each of Engaged Capital Fund and Engaged Capital Offshore, as feeder funds of Engaged Capital Flagship Master, may be deemed to beneficially own the 2,389,167 Shares owned by Engaged Capital Flagship Master, constituting approximately 4.3% of the Shares outstanding.

As of the date hereof, Engaged Capital Co-Invest V-B beneficially owned 1,024,506 Shares, constituting approximately 1.8% of the Shares outstanding.

As of the date hereof, 190,543 Shares were held in the Engaged Capital Account, constituting less than 1% of the Shares outstanding.

Engaged Capital, as the general partner and investment adviser of Engaged Capital Flagship Master and Engaged Capital Co-Invest V-B and the investment adviser of the Engaged Capital Account, may be deemed to beneficially own the 3,604,216 Shares owned in the aggregate by Engaged Capital Flagship Master and Engaged Capital Co-Invest V-B and held in the Engaged Capital Account, constituting approximately 6.5% of the Shares outstanding. Engaged Holdings, as the managing member of Engaged Capital, may be deemed to beneficially own the 3,604,216 Shares owned in the aggregate by Engaged Capital Flagship Master and Engaged Capital Co-Invest V-B and held in the Engaged Capital Account, constituting approximately 6.5% of the Shares outstanding. Mr. Welling, as the Founder and CIO of Engaged Capital and sole member of Engaged Holdings, may be deemed to beneficially own the 3,604,216 Shares owned in the aggregate by Engaged Capital Flagship Master and Engaged Capital Co-Invest V-B and held in the Engaged Capital Account, constituting approximately 6.5% of the Shares outstanding.

As of the date hereof, Mr. Hetrick may be deemed to beneficially own 71,766 Shares, including 43,041 Director Deferred Stock Units (each of which represents the right to receive one Share upon the termination of Mr. Hetrick’s service as a director of the Issuer), constituting less than 1% of the Shares outstanding.

The filing of this Schedule 13D shall not be deemed an admission that the Reporting Persons are, for purposes of Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the beneficial owners of any securities of the Issuer he or it does not directly own. Each of the Reporting Persons specifically disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities reported herein that he or it does not directly own.

(b)       By virtue of their respective positions with Engaged Capital Flagship Master, each of Engaged Capital Fund, Engaged Capital Offshore, Engaged Capital, Engaged Holdings and Mr. Welling may be deemed to have sole power to vote and dispose of the Shares reported owned by Engaged Capital Flagship Master.

By virtue of their respective positions with Engaged Capital Co-Invest V-B, each of Engaged Capital, Engaged Holdings and Mr. Welling may be deemed to have sole power to vote and dispose of the Shares reported owned by Engaged Capital Co-Invest V-B.

By virtue of their respective positions with the Engaged Capital Account, each of Engaged Capital, Engaged Holdings and Mr. Welling may be deemed to have sole power to vote and dispose of the Shares held in the Engaged Capital Account.

Mr. Hetrick has the sole power to vote and dispose of the Shares beneficially owned by him.

(c)       Schedule B annexed hereto lists all transactions in securities of the Issuer by the Reporting Persons during the past 60 days. All of such transactions were effected in the open market unless otherwise noted therein.

(d)       No person other than the Reporting Persons is known to have the right to receive, or the power to direct the receipt of dividends from, or proceeds from the sale of, the Shares.

(e)       Not applicable.

On December 9, 2022, the Reporting Persons entered into a Joint Filing Agreement in which the Reporting Persons agreed to the joint filing on behalf of each of them of statements on Schedule 13D with respect to the securities of the Issuer to the extent required by applicable law. The Joint Filing Agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Mr. Hetrick has been awarded an aggregate of 43,041 Director Deferred Stock Units in his capacity as a director of the Issuer (each of which represents the right to receive one Share upon the termination of Mr. Hetrick’s service as a director of the Issuer).

Other than as described herein, there are no contracts, arrangements, understandings or relationships among the Reporting Persons, or between the Reporting Persons and any other person, with respect to the securities of the Issuer.

SIGNATURES

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of his knowledge and belief, the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

Dated: December 9, 2022

SCHEDULE A

Directors and Officers of Engaged Capital Flagship Fund, Ltd.

^*Mr. Welling is a Reporting Person and, as such, the information with respect to Mr. Welling called for by the Schedule 13D is set forth therein.

SCHEDULE B

Transactions in Securities of the Issuer During the Past 60 Days

ENGAGED CAPITAL FLAGSHIP MASTER FUND, LP

ENGAGED CAPITAL CO-INVEST V-B, LP

ENGAGED CAPITAL, LLC

(Through the Engaged Capital Account)

CHRISTOPHER B. HETRICK

^# Awarded by the Issuer in connection with Mr. Hetrick’s service as a director of the Issuer.