Filing Details

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. 15)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)

 

August 21, 2020

(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).

	1		NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
				Engaged Capital Flagship Master Fund, LP
	2		CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP															(a) ☒
																		(b) ☐
	3		SEC USE ONLY
	4		SOURCE OF FUNDS
				WC
	5		CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)															☐
	6		CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
				CAYMAN ISLANDS
NUMBER OF				7		SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY							2,691,680
OWNED BY				8		SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH
REPORTING							- 0 -
PERSON WITH				9		SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
							2,691,680
				10		SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
	11		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
				2,691,680
	12		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES															☐
	13		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
				5.0%
	14		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
				PN

  

	1		NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
				Engaged Capital Co-Invest V, LP
	2		CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP															(a) ☐
																		(b) ☒
	3		SEC USE ONLY
	4		SOURCE OF FUNDS
	5		CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)															☐
	6		CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
				DELAWARE
NUMBER OF				7		SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY							- 0 -
OWNED BY				8		SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH
REPORTING							- 0 -
PERSON WITH				9		SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
				10		SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
	11		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
				- 0 -
	12		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES															☐
	13		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
				0%
	14		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
				PN

  

 

	1		NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
				Engaged Capital Co-Invest V-A, LP
	2		CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP															(a) ☐
																		(b) ☒
	3		SEC USE ONLY
	4		SOURCE OF FUNDS
	5		CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)															☐
	6		CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
				DELAWARE
NUMBER OF				7		SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY							- 0 -
OWNED BY				8		SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH
REPORTING							- 0 -
PERSON WITH				9		SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
				10		SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
	11		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
				- 0 -
	12		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES															☐
	13		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
				0%
	14		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
				PN

  

 

	1		NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
				Engaged Capital Flagship Fund, LP
	2		CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP															(a) ☒
																		(b) ☐
	3		SEC USE ONLY
	4		SOURCE OF FUNDS
				OO
	5		CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)															☐
	6		CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
				DELAWARE
NUMBER OF				7		SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY							2,691,680
OWNED BY				8		SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH
REPORTING							- 0 -
PERSON WITH				9		SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
							2,691,680
				10		SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
	11		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
				2,691,680
	12		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES															☐
	13		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
				5.0%
	14		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
				PN

  

 

	1		NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
				Engaged Capital Flagship Fund, Ltd.
	2		CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP															(a) ☒
																		(b) ☐
	3		SEC USE ONLY
	4		SOURCE OF FUNDS
				OO
	5		CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)															☐
	6		CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
				CAYMAN ISLANDS
NUMBER OF				7		SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY							2,691,680
OWNED BY				8		SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH
REPORTING							- 0 -
PERSON WITH				9		SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
							2,691,680
				10		SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
	11		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
				2,691,680
	12		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES															☐
	13		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
				5.0%
	14		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
				CO

  

 

	1		NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
				Engaged Capital, LLC
	2		CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP															(a) ☒
																		(b) ☐
	3		SEC USE ONLY
	4		SOURCE OF FUNDS
				OO
	5		CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)															☐
	6		CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
				DELAWARE
NUMBER OF				7		SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY							2,918,609
OWNED BY				8		SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH
REPORTING							- 0 -
PERSON WITH				9		SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
							2,918,609
				10		SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
	11		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
				2,918,609
	12		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES															☐
	13		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
				5.4%
	14		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
				OO

  

 

	1		NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
				Engaged Capital Holdings, LLC
	2		CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP															(a) ☒
																		(b) ☐
	3		SEC USE ONLY
	4		SOURCE OF FUNDS
				OO
	5		CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)															☐
	6		CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
				DELAWARE
NUMBER OF				7		SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY							2,918,609
OWNED BY				8		SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH
REPORTING							- 0 -
PERSON WITH				9		SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
							2,918,609
				10		SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
	11		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
				2,918,609
	12		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES															☐
	13		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
				5.4%
	14		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
				OO

  

 

	1		NAME OF REPORTING PERSON
				Glenn W. Welling
	2		CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP															(a) ☒
																		(b) ☐
	3		SEC USE ONLY
	4		SOURCE OF FUNDS
				OO
	5		CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)															☐
	6		CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION
				USA
NUMBER OF				7		SOLE VOTING POWER
SHARES
BENEFICIALLY							2,918,609
OWNED BY				8		SHARED VOTING POWER
EACH
REPORTING							- 0 -
PERSON WITH				9		SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER
							2,918,609
				10		SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER
							- 0 -
	11		AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON
				2,918,609
	12		CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES															☐
	13		PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)
				5.4%
	14		TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON
				IN

  

 

1

NAME OF REPORTING PERSON

Christopher B. Hetrick

2

CHECK THE APPROPRIATE BOX IF A MEMBER OF A GROUP

(a) ☒

(b) ☐

3

SEC USE ONLY

4

SOURCE OF FUNDS

PF, OO

5

CHECK BOX IF DISCLOSURE OF LEGAL PROCEEDINGS IS REQUIRED PURSUANT TO ITEM 2(d) OR 2(e)

☐

6

CITIZENSHIP OR PLACE OF ORGANIZATION

USA

NUMBER OF

7

SOLE VOTING POWER

SHARES

BENEFICIALLY

42,414*

OWNED BY

8

SHARED VOTING POWER

EACH

REPORTING

- 0 -

PERSON WITH

9

SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER

42,414*

10

SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER

- 0 -

11

AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON

42,414*

12

CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES

☐

13

PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)

Less than 1%*

14

TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON

IN

  

* Includes 28,689 Shares 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 Amendment No. 15 to the Schedule 13D filed by the undersigned (“Amendment No. 15”). This Amendment No. 15 amends the Schedule 13D as specifically set forth herein.

Item 2.

Identity and Background.

Item 2 is hereby amended to add the following:

Following the transactions reported in Item 5(c) below, Engaged Capital Co-Invest V and Engaged Capital Co-Invest V-A no longer beneficially own any Shares and shall cease to be Reporting Persons immediately upon the filing of this Amendment No. 15. The remaining Reporting Persons will continue filing statements on Schedule 13D with respect to their beneficial ownership of securities of the Issuer to the extent required by applicable law. Each of the remaining Reporting Persons is party to the Joint Filing Agreement, as further described in Item 6.

Item 3.

Source and Amount of Funds or Other Consideration.

Item 3 is hereby amended and restated to read as follows:

The Shares purchased by Engaged Capital Flagship Master 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 2,691,680 Shares beneficially owned by Engaged Capital Flagship Master is approximately $44,442,911, including brokerage commissions. The aggregate purchase price of the 226,929 Shares held in the Engaged Capital Account is approximately $3,387,761, including brokerage commissions.

Other than the 28,689 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 13,725 Shares purchased by Mr. Hetrick is approximately $318,955, excluding brokerage commissions.

Item 4.

Purpose of Transaction.

Item 4 is hereby amended to add the following:

The sale of Shares reported herein is related to the wind down of two dedicated co-investment funds, Engaged Capital Co-Invest V and Engaged Capital Co-Invest V-A, and is not an indication of the Reporting Persons’ view on the future prospects of the Issuer. Mr. Hetrick, an employee of Engaged Capital, continues to serve as a director of the Issuer, and the Issuer remains the largest position in Engaged Capital Flagship Master’s portfolio.

Item 5.

Interest in Securities of the Issuer.

Items 5(a) - (c) are hereby amended and restated to read as follows:

(a)       The aggregate percentage of Shares reported owned by each person named herein is based upon 53,825,727 Shares outstanding as of July 29, 2020, 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 August 6, 2020.

As of the date hereof, Engaged Capital Flagship Master beneficially owned 2,691,680 Shares, constituting approximately 5.0% 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 2,691,680 Shares owned by Engaged Capital Flagship Master, constituting approximately 5.0% of the Shares outstanding.

As of the date hereof, Engaged Capital Co-Invest V did not beneficially own any Shares, constituting 0% of the Shares outstanding.

As of the date hereof, Engaged Capital Co-Invest V-A did not beneficially own any Shares, constituting 0% of the Shares outstanding.

As of the date hereof, 226,929 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 the investment adviser of the Engaged Capital Account, may be deemed to beneficially own the 2,918,609 Shares owned in the aggregate by Engaged Capital Flagship Master and held in the Engaged Capital Account, constituting approximately 5.4% of the Shares outstanding. Engaged Holdings, as the managing member of Engaged Capital, may be deemed to beneficially own the 2,918,609 Shares owned in the aggregate by Engaged Capital Flagship Master and held in the Engaged Capital Account, constituting approximately 5.4% 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 2,918,609 Shares owned in the aggregate by Engaged Capital Flagship Master and held in the Engaged Capital Account, constituting approximately 5.4% of the Shares outstanding.

As of the date hereof, Mr. Hetrick may be deemed to beneficially own 42,414 Shares, including 28,689 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.

Each Reporting Person may be deemed to be a member of a “group” with the other Reporting Persons for the purposes of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and such group may be deemed to beneficially own the Shares owned in the aggregate by all of the Reporting Persons. 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 Exchange Act, the beneficial owners of any securities of the Issuer he or it does not directly own. Each Reporting Person disclaims beneficial ownership of the Shares 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 as beneficially owned by Engaged Capital Flagship Master.

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 directly beneficially owned by him.

(c)       The transactions in the securities of the Issuer by the Reporting Persons during the past 60 days are set forth herein. All of such transactions were effected in the open market unless otherwise noted and took place on August 21, 2020. Engaged Capital Co-Invest V sold 1,135,439 Shares at a price of 30.8200 per Share. Pursuant to an internal transfer of Shares, Engaged Capital Co-Invest V sold 227,901 Shares to Engaged Capital Flagship Master and 16,541 Shares to the Engaged Capital Account at a price of $31.0000 per Share. Engaged Capital Co-Invest V-A sold 1,164,561Shares at a price of 30.8200 per Share. Pursuant to an internal transfer of Shares, Engaged Capital Co-Invest V-A sold 420,219 Shares to Engaged Capital Flagship Master and 30,498 Shares to the Engaged Capital Account at a price of $31.0000 per Share. Engaged Capital Co-Invest V-A distributed 115,000 Shares to Engaged Capital as part of an incentive fee, and then Engaged Capital distributed 30,000 Shares to Mr. Welling and 85,000 Shares to Mr. Hetrick, each of whom donated the Shares received as a bona fide gift for charitable purposes. Engaged Capital Flagship Master sold certain cash-settled total return swaps, Nomura Global Financial Products Inc. as the counterparty, referencing an aggregate of 1,600,000 notional Shares with a reference price of $20.0272 per notional Share and maturity date of February 28, 2022. The Engaged Capital Account sold certain cash-settled total return swaps, Nomura Global Financial Products Inc. as the counterparty, referencing an aggregate of 68,810 notional Shares with a reference price of $23.5569 per notional Share and maturity date of February 28, 2022.

Item 6.

Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships With Respect to Securities of the Issuer.

Item 6 is hereby amended to add the following:

Following the transactions reported herein, as of August 21, 2020, the Reporting Persons are no longer subject to any cash-settled total return swap agreements with respect to securities of the Issuer.

On August 25, 2020, the Reporting Persons entered into a Joint Filing Agreement in which the Reporting Persons who will remain Reporting Persons subsequent to this Amendment No. 15 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. A copy of this agreement is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 7.

Material to be Filed as Exhibits.

Item 7 is hereby amended to add the following exhibit:

99.1

Joint Filing Agreement, dated August 25, 2020.

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: August 25, 2020

 

	Engaged Capital Flagship Master Fund, LP
	By:	Engaged Capital, LLC General Partner
	By:	/s/ Glenn W. Welling
		Name:	Glenn W. Welling
		Title:	Founder and Chief Investment Officer

 

 

	Engaged Capital Co-Invest V, LP
	By:	Engaged Capital, LLC General Partner
	By:	/s/ Glenn W. Welling
		Name:	Glenn W. Welling
		Title:	Founder and Chief Investment Officer

 

 

	Engaged Capital Co-Invest V-A, LP
	By:	Engaged Capital, LLC General Partner
	By:	/s/ Glenn W. Welling
		Name:	Glenn W. Welling
		Title:	Founder and Chief Investment Officer

 

 

	Engaged Capital Flagship Fund, LP
	By:	Engaged Capital, LLC General Partner
	By:	/s/ Glenn W. Welling
		Name:	Glenn W. Welling
		Title:	Founder and Chief Investment Officer

 

 

	Engaged Capital Flagship Fund, Ltd.
	By:	/s/ Glenn W. Welling
		Name:	Glenn W. Welling
		Title:	Director

 

 

	Engaged Capital, LLC
	By:	/s/ Glenn W. Welling
		Name:	Glenn W. Welling
		Title:	Founder and Chief Investment Officer

 

 

	Engaged Capital Holdings, LLC
	By:	/s/ Glenn W. Welling
		Name:	Glenn W. Welling
		Title:	Sole Member

 

 

	/s/ Glenn W. Welling
	Glenn W. Welling

 

 

	/s/ Christopher B. Hetrick
	Christopher B. Hetrick