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. 11)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

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)

 

May 25, 2018

(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).

 

CUSIP NO. 76009N100

  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         2,519,969  
OWNED BY   8   SHARED VOTING POWER  
EACH          
REPORTING         - 0 -  
PERSON WITH   9   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER  
         
          2,519,969  
    10   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER  
           
          - 0 -  
  11   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON  
         
        2,519,969  
  12   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES     ☐
       
           
  13   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)  
         
        4.7%  
  14   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        PN  

  

2

CUSIP NO. 76009N100

  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  
         
        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  
         
        DELAWARE  
NUMBER OF   7   SOLE VOTING POWER  
SHARES          
BENEFICIALLY         2,703,611  
OWNED BY   8   SHARED VOTING POWER  
EACH          
REPORTING         - 0 -  
PERSON WITH   9   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER  
         
          2,703,611  
    10   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER  
           
          - 0 -  
  11   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON  
         
        2,703,611  
  12   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES     ☐
       
           
  13   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)  
         
        5.1%  
  14   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        PN  

  

3

CUSIP NO. 76009N100

 

  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  
         
        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  
         
        DELAWARE  
NUMBER OF   7   SOLE VOTING POWER  
SHARES          
BENEFICIALLY         3,390,148  
OWNED BY   8   SHARED VOTING POWER  
EACH          
REPORTING         - 0 -  
PERSON WITH   9   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER  
         
          3,390,148  
    10   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER  
           
          - 0 -  
  11   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON  
         
        3,390,148  
  12   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES     ☐
       
           
  13   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)  
         
        6.3%  
  14   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        PN  

  

4

CUSIP NO. 76009N100

 

  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         2,519,969  
OWNED BY   8   SHARED VOTING POWER  
EACH          
REPORTING         - 0 -  
PERSON WITH   9   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER  
         
          2,519,969  
    10   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER  
           
          - 0 -  
  11   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON  
         
        2,519,969  
  12   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES     ☐
       
           
  13   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)  
         
        4.7%  
  14   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        PN  

  

5

CUSIP NO. 76009N100

 

  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         2,519,969  
OWNED BY   8   SHARED VOTING POWER  
EACH          
REPORTING         - 0 -  
PERSON WITH   9   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER  
         
          2,519,969  
    10   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER  
           
          - 0 -  
  11   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON  
         
        2,519,969  
  12   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES     ☐
       
           
  13   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)  
         
        4.7%  
  14   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        CO  

  

6

CUSIP NO. 76009N100

 

  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         8,983,609  
OWNED BY   8   SHARED VOTING POWER  
EACH          
REPORTING         - 0 -  
PERSON WITH   9   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER  
         
          8,983,609  
    10   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER  
           
          - 0 -  
  11   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON  
         
        8,983,609  
  12   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES     ☐
       
           
  13   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)  
         
        16.8%  
  14   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        OO  

  

7

CUSIP NO. 76009N100

 

  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         8,983,609  
OWNED BY   8   SHARED VOTING POWER  
EACH          
REPORTING         - 0 -  
PERSON WITH   9   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER  
         
          8,983,609  
    10   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER  
           
          - 0 -  
  11   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON  
         
        8,983,609  
  12   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES     ☐
       
           
  13   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)  
         
        16.8%  
  14   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        OO  

  

8

CUSIP NO. 76009N100

 

  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         8,983,609  
OWNED BY   8   SHARED VOTING POWER  
EACH          
REPORTING         - 0 -  
PERSON WITH   9   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER  
         
          8,983,609  
    10   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER  
           
          - 0 -  
  11   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON  
         
        8,983,609  
  12   CHECK BOX IF THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT IN ROW (11) EXCLUDES CERTAIN SHARES     ☐
       
           
  13   PERCENT OF CLASS REPRESENTED BY AMOUNT IN ROW (11)  
         
        16.8%  
  14   TYPE OF REPORTING PERSON  
         
        IN  

  

9

CUSIP NO. 76009N100

 

  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  
         
        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         14,265*  
OWNED BY   8   SHARED VOTING POWER  
EACH          
REPORTING         - 0 -  
PERSON WITH   9   SOLE DISPOSITIVE POWER  
         
          14,265*  
    10   SHARED DISPOSITIVE POWER  
           
          - 0 -  
  11   AGGREGATE AMOUNT BENEFICIALLY OWNED BY EACH REPORTING PERSON  
         
        14,265*  
  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  

 

 

* Consists of Shares underlying certain Director Deferred Stock Units awarded to Mr. Hetrick in his capacity as a director of the Issuer. Each Director Deferred Stock Unit represents the right to receive one Share upon the termination of Mr. Hetrick’s service as a director of the Issuer.

10

CUSIP NO. 76009N100

The following constitutes Amendment No. 11 to the Schedule 13D filed by the undersigned (“Amendment No. 11”). This Amendment No. 11 amends the Schedule 13D as specifically set forth herein.

 

Item 4.Purpose of Transaction.

Item 4 is hereby amended to add the following:

On May 25, 2018, Engaged Capital and certain of its affiliates (collectively, “Engaged”) entered into a letter agreement (the “Letter Agreement”) with the Issuer in connection with that certain Cooperation Agreement (as defined and described in Amendment No. 9 to the Schedule 13D) between Engaged and the Issuer. In accordance with the Cooperation Agreement, Engaged proposed Carol McFate to be nominated for election to the Board of Directors (the “Board”) at the 2018 annual meeting of stockholders (the “2018 Annual Meeting”) and the Board confirmed her qualifications to serve on the Board. In light of the Board’s continuing review of strategic and financial alternatives to maximize stockholder value, Engaged elected to waive, pursuant to the Letter Agreement, its right under the Cooperation Agreement to put forth Ms. McFate as a potential director nominee for election at the 2018 Annual Meeting. In exchange for the waiver, at any time prior to the termination of the Cooperation Agreement, Engaged may put forth Ms. McFate (or another individual) as a potential director nominee for election or appointment to the Board. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in the Letter Agreement affects Engaged’s rights with respect to proposing the seventh member of the Board pursuant to the Cooperation Agreement in the event that the size of the Board is increased to seven directors during the term of the Cooperation Agreement.

The foregoing description of the Letter Agreement is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Letter Agreement, which is attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 5.Interest in Securities of the Issuer.

Items 5(a) and (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 53,414,526 Shares outstanding as of April 30, 2018, 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 May 3, 2018.

As of the date hereof, Engaged Capital Flagship Master beneficially owned 2,519,969 Shares, constituting approximately 4.7% 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 2,519,969 Shares owned by Engaged Capital Flagship Master, constituting approximately 4.7% of the Shares outstanding.

As of the date hereof, Engaged Capital Co-Invest V beneficially owned 2,703,611 Shares, constituting approximately 5.1% of the Shares outstanding.

As of the date hereof, Engaged Capital Co-Invest V-A beneficially owned 3,390,148 Shares, constituting approximately 6.3% of the Shares outstanding.

As of the date hereof, 369,881 Shares were held in the Engaged Capital Account, constituting less than 1% of the Shares outstanding.

11

CUSIP NO. 76009N100

Engaged Capital, as the general partner and investment adviser of Engaged Capital Flagship Master, Engaged Capital Co-Invest V and Engaged Capital Co-Invest V-A and the investment adviser of the Engaged Capital Account, may be deemed to beneficially own the 8,983,609 Shares owned in the aggregate by Engaged Capital Flagship Master, Engaged Capital Co-Invest V and Engaged Capital Co-Invest V-A and held in the Engaged Capital Account, constituting approximately 16.8% of the Shares outstanding. Engaged Holdings, as the managing member of Engaged Capital, may be deemed to beneficially own the 8,983,609 Shares owned in the aggregate by Engaged Capital Flagship Master, Engaged Capital Co-Invest V and Engaged Capital Co-Invest V-A and held in the Engaged Capital Account, constituting approximately 16.8% 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 8,983,609 Shares owned in the aggregate by Engaged Capital Flagship Master, Engaged Capital Co-Invest V and Engaged Capital Co-Invest V-A and held in the Engaged Capital Account, constituting approximately 16.8% of the Shares outstanding.

As of the date hereof, Mr. Hetrick may be deemed to beneficially own 14,265 Shares, consisting of Director Deferred Stock Units representing the right to receive Shares upon the termination of his service as a director, constituting less than 1% of the Shares outstanding.

Each Reporting Person, as 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”), may be deemed the beneficial owner of the Shares directly owned by the other 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 of the Reporting Persons specifically disclaims beneficial ownership of the securities reported herein that he or it does not directly own.

(c)       There have been no transactions in the securities of the Issuer by the Reporting Persons during the past 60 days.

Item 6.Contracts, Arrangements, Understandings or Relationships With Respect to Securities of the Issuer.

Item 6 is hereby amended to add the following:

On May 25, 2018, Engaged and the Issuer entered into the Letter Agreement as defined and described in Item 4 above and attached as Exhibit 99.1 hereto.

Item 7.Material to be Filed as Exhibits.

Item 7 is hereby amended to add the following exhibit:

99.1Letter Agreement, dated May 25, 2018.

12

CUSIP NO. 76009N100

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: May 25, 2018 

 

  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

 

13

CUSIP NO. 76009N100

 

  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

 

14