PLANO, Texas (June 6, 2023) - Acima Leasing, a leading provider of lease-to-own (“LTO”) solutions for merchants and consumers and the virtual financial solutions platform of Upbound Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: UPBD), announces a multi-year agreement renewal with Big Brand Tire &amp; Service. Acima will serve as the exclusive LTO provider for Big Brand Tire &amp; Service’s 200+ locations in Arizona, California, Colorado and Nevada. Big Brand Tire &amp; Service is one of the largest tire and auto service operators in the nation.“We are thrilled to renew our exclusive partnership with Big Brand Tire &amp; Service and continue to include this renowned brand in our growing portfolio of shopping options for our customers,” said Tyler Montrone, Executive Vice President at Acima. “Acima’s proprietary technology will provide consumers with less-than-perfect credit history with a more flexible way to obtain tires and wheels through lease-purchase transactions.”“Providing complete customer satisfaction and great value for our guests is at the core of our company mission,” said Dan Hahn, CFO of Big Brand Tire &amp; Service. “We’re excited to continue our partnership with Acima because their technology and guest-focused values are aligned with our goal of delivering the highest level of satisfaction to our guests.”Acima opens the door for credit-challenged consumers to get the products they want and need through a lease-purchase transaction with flexible payments. Millions of consumers in the United States suffer from challenges obtaining traditional credit to meet their shopping needs, making lease-to-own an ideal option for both customers and retailers. Acima’s highly responsive development team makes integration simple for retailers. Acima’s focus on innovative technology empowers consumers to connect with Acima’s network of retailers across the country. Retailers that want to add lease-to-own solutions to their e-commerce or in-store checkout can learn more about Acima’s offerings at: <a href="http://www.acima.com/partner">www.acima.com/partner</a>.About Upbound Group, Inc.Upbound Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: UPBD) is an omnichannel platform company committed to elevating financial opportunity for all through innovative, inclusive, and technology-driven financial solutions that address the evolving needs and aspirations of consumers. The company’s customer-facing operating units include industry-leading brands such as Rent-A-Center® and Acima® that facilitate consumer transactions across a wide range of store-based and digital retail channels, including over 2,400 company-branded retail units across the United States, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. Upbound Group, Inc. is headquartered in Plano, Texas. For additional information about the company, please visit our website <a href="http://www.upbound.com">www.upbound.com</a>.About Big Brand Tire &amp; ServiceBig Brand Tire &amp; Service delivers high-quality tire sales and auto repair services with industry leading customer satisfaction. The company provides a comprehensive list of services, such as alignments, brakes, oil changes, suspension, and custom lifting or lowering of vehicles. Big Brand Tire &amp; Service invests in the lives and futures of its hardworking, dedicated team members. For additional information about the company, please visit our website <a href="http://www.bigbrandtire.com">www.bigbrandtire.com</a>. Upbound Group, Inc. Forward-Looking StatementsThis release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, among others, statements regarding the announced transaction with Big Brand Tire &amp; Service and other statements that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as &quot;may,&quot; &quot;will,&quot; &quot;expect,&quot; &quot;intend,&quot; &quot;could,&quot; &quot;estimate,&quot; &quot;predict,&quot; &quot;continue,&quot; “maintain,” &quot;should,&quot; &quot;anticipate,&quot; &quot;believe,&quot; or “confident,” or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology. Such forward-looking statements are based on particular assumptions that our management has made in light of its experience and its perception of expected future developments and other factors that it believes are appropriate under the circumstances, and are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause or contribute to the material and adverse differences between actual and anticipated results include, but are not limited to, future developments and results from our announced transaction with Big Brand Tire &amp; Service, and other risks detailed from time to time in the reports filed by us with the SEC, including our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, as may be updated by reports on Form 10-Q or Form 8-K filed thereafter. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. Except as required by law, we are not obligated to and do not undertake to, publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect any events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Media Contact: Veronica Alvarez281-512-6134<a href="mailto:veronica@snackbox.us">veronica@snackbox.us</a> 
Investor Contact:Upbound Group, Inc.Brendan Metrano, VP of Investor Relations972-801-1280brendan.metrano@upbound.com

Acima Named Exclusive Lease-to-Own Provider by Big Brand Tire and Service

Acima Collaborates with Big Brand &amp; Tire Service to Provide Customers with Flexible and Convenient Access to Top-Quality Tires

PLANO, Texas (May 9, 2023) -- Acima Leasing, one of the nation’s leading providers of virtual lease-to-own solutions and a business of Upbound Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:  UPBD), has surpassed a milestone of one million installs of its Acima mobile app in less than two years since its original launch. Acima’s app enables customers to easily manage their leases and payments, shop in-store or online with retail partners, see their open-to-lease amount, and easily contact customer support.“Our goal for the Acima mobile app is to provide a seamless and superior customer experience for the entire transaction - from shopping to lease application and lease management to potential ownership,” said JC Silotti, Senior Vice President of Product &amp; Customer Experience, Acima. “We always have an eye on the needs of our retail partners and we believe this impressive install milestone will further position our lease-to-own solution to increase conversion and return rates for our valued partners.”“Digital innovation at Acima and our parent company, Upbound Group, fuels financial opportunities for our retail partners and customers at this pivotal point in our economy,” said Sudeep Gautam, Executive Vice President, Chief Technology &amp; Digital Officer, Upbound Group, Inc. “The Acima mobile app is a prime example of our dedication to innovation, and the number of installs is a direct reflection of our customers finding value in our efforts.”Acima unlocks a new audience and a broader range of customers for retailers. Accelerating growth and capturing new customers is becoming increasingly important in the current economy, given that millions of U.S. consumers are credit-challenged. Acima provides financial opportunity for its retailer partners and their customers as a leading provider of tech-forward lease-to-own solutions.About Upbound Group, Inc.Upbound Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: UPBD) is an omnichannel platform company committed to elevating financial opportunity for all through innovative, inclusive, and technology-driven financial solutions that address the evolving needs and aspirations of consumers. The Company’s customer-facing operating units include industry-leading brands such as Rent-A-Center® and Acima® that facilitate consumer transactions across a wide range of store-based and digital retail channels, including over 2,400 company-branded retail units across the United States, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. Upbound Group, Inc. is headquartered in Plano, Texas. For additional information about the company, please visit our website <a href="http://www.upbound.com">www.Upbound.com</a>. Forward-Looking StatementsThis release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, among others, statements concerning the expected benefits, timing and growth opportunities from the Company’s Mobile Application. Such forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as &quot;may,&quot; &quot;will,&quot; &quot;expect,&quot; &quot;intend,&quot; &quot;could,&quot; &quot;estimate,&quot; &quot;predict,&quot; &quot;continue,&quot; “maintain,” &quot;should,&quot; &quot;anticipate,&quot; &quot;believe,&quot; or “confident,” or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology. Such forward-looking statements are based on particular assumptions that our management has made in light of its experience and its perception of expected future developments and other factors that it believes are appropriate under the circumstances, and are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause or contribute to the material and adverse differences between actual and anticipated results include, but are not limited to, consumer acceptance and utilization of the Mobile Application, and other risks detailed from time to time in the reports filed by us with the SEC, including our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, as may be updated by reports on Form 10-Q or Form 8-K filed thereafter. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. Except as required by law, we are not obligated to and do not undertake to, publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect any events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.Media Contact: Veronica Alvarez281-512-6134<a href="mailto:veronica@snackbox.us">veronica@snackbox.us</a> 
Investor Contact:Upbound Group, Inc.Brendan Metrano, VP, Investor Relations972-801-1280brendan.metrano@upbound.com

Acima Mobile App Surpasses One Million Installs

Acima’s Mobile App Puts Lease-to-Own Options at Customer Fingertips

PLANO, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr. 18, 2023-- Acima Leasing, a leading provider of lease-to-own (“LTO”) solutions for merchants and consumers and the virtual financial solutions platform of Upbound Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: UPBD), announces a new agreement with Hank’s Fine Furniture. Acima was selected as the exclusive LTO provider for Hank’s 19 locations across Arkansas, Florida, Alabama, and Texas. Hank’s Fine Furniture, founded in 1975, is one of America’s Top 100 Independent Furniture Retailers.With the addition of Acima’s cutting edge technology at Hank’s Fine Furniture, customers with less-than-perfect credit history or those who want the flexibility of Acima’s LTO offering can more easily obtain access to quality furniture, bedding and accessories through lease-purchase transactions.“Our mission and obligation to our customers has always been about dedicated service and unmatched value, and Acima’s seamless lease-to-own platform helps us deliver on that promise,” said Adam Jordan, CFO of Hank’s Fine Furniture. “Our partnership with Acima affords us the opportunity to serve more customers by providing financial flexibility.”“We are excited to welcome Hank’s Fine Furniture to our growing networks of thousands of retail partners who are giving their customers greater shopping power with Acima,” said Mike Bagull, SVP of Business Development &amp; Partnerships at Acima. “Customer centricity is a core value of both brands which makes this partnership especially meaningful.”Acima delivers best-in-class service to both customers and retailer partners. Acima’s highly responsive development team makes integration simple for retailers and its focus on innovative technology empowers customers to connect with retailers to get the durable goods they want and need.Retailers that want to add lease-to-own solutions to their e-commerce or in-store checkout can learn more about Acima’s offerings at: <a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.acima.com%2Fpartner&esheet=53382986&newsitemid=20230418005602&lan=en-US&anchor=www.acima.com%2Fpartner&index=1&md5=19435241f762b68d07cf6b6836c9a152">www.acima.com/partner</a>.About Upbound Group, Inc.Upbound Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: UPBD) is an omnichannel platform company committed to elevating financial opportunity for all through innovative, inclusive, and technology-driven financial solutions that address the evolving needs and aspirations of consumers. The Company’s customer-facing operating units include industry-leading brands such as Rent-A-Center® and Acima® that facilitate consumer transactions across a wide range of store-based and digital retail channels, including over 2,400 company-branded retail units across the United States, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. Upbound Group, Inc. is headquartered in Plano, Texas. For additional information about the Company, please visit our website <a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.upbound.com&esheet=53382986&newsitemid=20230418005602&lan=en-US&anchor=www.upbound.com&index=2&md5=ea9de7127766a7096bb8f19e9f12205d">www.upbound.com</a>.About Hank’s Fine FurnitureHank’s Fine Furniture sells high-quality furniture and home accessories in 4 states with 19 locations as one of America&#39;s Top 100 Independent Furniture Retailers. For more than 45 years, Hank’s Fine Furniture has been a one-stop shop for first-rate sofas, coffee tables, beds, dressers, electronic devices, rugs, and categorical furniture for all home styles. Known for its excellent customer service and expert experience in the industry, Hank’s Fine Furniture prides itself on its product value and low-price guarantee. Due to the experience, volume, and major distribution centers of Hank’s Fine Furniture, customers are ensured of high quality at every stage of their retail transaction. For more information on Hank’s Fine Furniture, visit <a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.hanksfurniture.com&esheet=53382986&newsitemid=20230418005602&lan=en-US&anchor=www.hanksfurniture.com&index=3&md5=81c82766b094b926865b7350e9223e98">www.hanksfurniture.com</a>.Upbound Group, Inc. Forward-Looking StatementsThis release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, among others, statements regarding the announced transaction with Hank’s Fine Furniture and other statements that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as &quot;may,&quot; &quot;will,&quot; &quot;expect,&quot; &quot;intend,&quot; &quot;could,&quot; &quot;estimate,&quot; &quot;predict,&quot; &quot;continue,&quot; “maintain,” &quot;should,&quot; &quot;anticipate,&quot; &quot;believe,&quot; or “confident,” or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology. Such forward-looking statements are based on particular assumptions that our management has made in light of its experience and its perception of expected future developments and other factors that it believes are appropriate under the circumstances, and are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause or contribute to the material and adverse differences between actual and anticipated results include, but are not limited to, future developments and results from our announced transaction with Hank’s Fine Furniture, and other risks detailed from time to time in the reports filed by us with the SEC, including our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, as may be updated by reports on Form 10-Q or Form 8-K filed thereafter. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. Except as required by law, we are not obligated to, and do not undertake to, publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect any events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.View source version on <a href="http://businesswire.com/">businesswire.com</a>: <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230418005602/en/">https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230418005602/en/</a>Media Contact:
Veronica Alvarez
281-512-6134
<a href="mailto:veronica@snackbox.us">veronica@snackbox.us</a>Investor Contact:
Upbound Group, Inc.
Brendan Metrano, VP, Investor Relations
972-801-1280
<a href="mailto:brendan.metrano@upbound.com">brendan.metrano@upbound.com</a>Source: Upbound Group, Inc.

Acima Is Exclusive Lease-to-Own Provider for Hank’s Fine Furniture

Acima Is Exclusive Lease-to-Own Provider for Hank’s Fine Furniture

PLANO, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 23, 2023-- <a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.rentacenter.com%2F&esheet=53340864&newsitemid=20230222006093&lan=en-US&anchor=Rent-A-Center%2C+Inc.&index=1&md5=39e10a7f711a4a010d3d9515f1e6ffad">Rent-A-Center, Inc.</a>, the ultimate parent entity for Rent-A-Center®, Acima® and other consumer brands, today announced it will now be known as Upbound Group, Inc. (the “Company” or “Upbound”), an omni-channel platform company that enables a broader range of consumers to access flexible financial solutions. The Company will begin to trade under the ticker NASDAQ: UPBD starting on February 27th.“Two years ago, Rent-A-Center, Inc. closed on its acquisition of Acima Holdings, almost doubling the size of the Company and dramatically changing both organizations. We are now a unified, multi-brand platform company that includes more than just the Rent-A-Center business. We are thrilled to launch Upbound, a new enterprise brand and operating structure that will better serve our business and mission. This announcement is a significant milestone in our evolution and strategic plan, as we strive to offer more inclusive financial solutions that address the changing and growing needs of consumers,” said Mitch Fadel, Chief Executive Officer, Upbound.As the corporate enterprise brand for all of the Company’s businesses, Upbound will provide strategic planning and shared services that will be leveraged across the organization to support and lead the development of innovative, inclusive, and technology-driven solutions that address the needs and aspirations of consumers. The Company will continue to go to market under its well-established operating brands, including Rent-A-Center, a 50-year-old lease-to-own retail channel with over 2,400 stores, and Acima, a leader in the third-party, virtual lease-to-own industry.“Upbound is more than a brand. It represents a new enterprise operating model to better capitalize on existing synergies and resources, execute commercial operations and cross-brand strategies, and innovate with existing and new products. Based on our experience and relationships with millions of our own customers, we have the data and analytics capabilities to offer them a broader set of financial solutions, including targeted credit and point-of-sale loan products. Upbound can help elevate our customers, providing them with greater access and a path towards financial flexibility,” concluded Mr. Fadel.For more information about Upbound, visit <a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.Upbound.com&esheet=53340864&newsitemid=20230222006093&lan=en-US&anchor=www.Upbound.com&index=2&md5=ca24df1fc5cc4efc859db4db7034cb8d">www.Upbound.com</a>.About Upbound Group, Inc.Upbound Group, Inc. (effective February 27, 2023: NASDAQ: UPBD) is an omni-channel platform company committed to elevating financial opportunity for all through innovative, inclusive, and technology-driven financial solutions that address the evolving needs and aspirations of consumers. The Company’s customer-facing operating units include industry-leading brands such as Rent-A-Center® and Acima® that facilitate consumer transactions across a wide range of store-based and digital retail channels, including over 2,400 company branded retail units across the United States, Mexico and Puerto Rico. Upbound Group, Inc. is headquartered in Plano, Texas.Forward-Looking StatementsThis release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, among others, statements regarding future growth opportunities for the Company, potential synergies across the Company’s businesses, consumer trends, future product developments and other statements that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as &quot;may,&quot; &quot;will,&quot; &quot;expect,&quot; &quot;intend,&quot; &quot;could,&quot; &quot;estimate,&quot; &quot;predict,&quot; &quot;continue,&quot; &quot;maintain,&quot; &quot;should,&quot; &quot;anticipate,&quot; &quot;believe,&quot; or &quot;confident,&quot; or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology. Such forward-looking statements are based on particular assumptions that our management has made in light of its experience and its perception of expected future developments and other factors that it believes are appropriate under the circumstances, and are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause or contribute to material and adverse differences between actual and anticipated results include, but are not limited to, the risks detailed from time to time in the reports filed by us with the SEC, including our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, as may be updated by reports on Form 10-Q or Form 8-K filed thereafter. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. Except as required by law, we are not obligated to, and do not undertake to, publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect any events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Rent-A-Center, Inc. Is Now Upbound Group, Inc., Advancing Its Mission to Elevate Financial Opportunity for All

PLANO, Texas—(BUSINESS WIRE)—November 29, 2022— <a href="http://www.acima.com/">Acima Leasing</a>, a leading provider of lease-to-own (“LTO”) services for merchants and consumers and Fintech platform of Rent-A-Center, Inc. (NASDAQ/NGS: RCII), is pleased to announce an agreement with CITY Furniture, a Florida-based home furnishings retailer. Acima was chosen as the exclusive lease-to-own platform for CITY’s e-commerce site and approximately 23 showrooms across Florida.“We are thrilled that CITY Furniture chose Acima as their exclusive lease-to-own provider to give customers flexible shopping options for their home furnishing needs,” said Mike Bagull, SVP Business Development &amp; Partnerships, Acima. “As retailers deal with the current and upcoming economic headwinds, it’s important to have a lease-to-own option in place to ensure consumers have the shopping flexibility they need during challenging times.”Acima’s proprietary technology and simple application process enable underserved consumers to shop in-store and online without any long-term debt obligations. With flexible purchase options, customers can also elect to obtain ownership whenever they’re ready.“CITY Furniture is on a mission to change the way people live through beautiful home furnishings, and Acima Leasing helps us make a positive impact on even more consumers,” said Andrew Koening, Chief Executive Officer, CITY Furniture. “We are excited to collaborate with Acima because their technology and team are aligned with our value of putting the customer first.”Retailers that want to add lease-to-own solutions to their e-commerce or in-store checkout can learn more about Acima’s offerings at: <a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.acima.com%2F&esheet=52469392&newsitemid=20210802005155&lan=en-US&anchor=www.acima.com&index=5&md5=851076fe28122a6e62e4cce4f9ff8d4f">www.acima.com/partner</a>.About Rent-A-Center, Inc.Rent-A-Center, Inc. (NASDAQ: RCII) is a leading provider of technology driven, flexible, no debt obligation leasing solutions that offer underserved consumers access to and potential ownership of high-quality durable goods that enhance the quality of life. The Company’s omni-channel model utilizes proprietary data and technology to facilitate transactions across a wide range of retail channels including its own Acima virtual lease-to-own platform, <a href="http://rentacenter.com/">Rentacenter.com</a>, e-commerce partner platforms, partner retail stores, and Rent-A-Center branded stores. For additional information about the Company, please visit our website <a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Frentacenter.com%2F&esheet=52944769&newsitemid=20221014005118&lan=en-US&anchor=Rentacenter.com&index=3&md5=44be6802d70ef27d4a8fc89f7ba7ec44">Rentacenter.com</a> or <a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Finvestor.rentacenter.com%2F&esheet=52944769&newsitemid=20221014005118&lan=en-US&anchor=Investor.rentacenter.com&index=4&md5=fc857ead9c8eaefdbc687d8f31174732">Investor.rentacenter.com</a>.About CITY FurnitureCITY Furniture, a South-Florida based, family-owned American furniture and mattress retailer and fine upholstery manufacturer and one of America’s Top 100 furniture retailers, operates over 23 showrooms from Miami through Vero Beach, and in Southwest and Central Florida. For more information, please visit <a href="https://www.cityfurniture.com/">Cityfurniture.com</a>.Rent-A-Center, Inc. Forward-Looking StatementsThis release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, among others, statements regarding the announced transaction with CITY Furniture and other statements that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as &quot;may,&quot; &quot;will,&quot; &quot;expect,&quot; &quot;intend,&quot; &quot;could,&quot; &quot;estimate,&quot; &quot;predict,&quot; &quot;continue,&quot; “maintain,” &quot;should,&quot; &quot;anticipate,&quot; &quot;believe,&quot; or “confident,” or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology. Such forward-looking statements are based on particular assumptions that our management has made in light of its experience and its perception of expected future developments and other factors that it believes are appropriate under the circumstances, and are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause or contribute to material and adverse differences between actual and anticipated results include, but are not limited to, future developments and results from our announced transaction with CITY Furniture, and other risks detailed from time to time in the reports filed by us with the SEC, including our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, as may be updated by reports on Form 10-Q or Form 8-K filed thereafter. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. Except as required by law, we are not obligated to, and do not undertake to, publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect any events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Acima Selected as Exclusive Lease-to-Own Provider of CITY Furniture

Acima and CITY Furniture partner to give customers flexible shopping options for their home furnishing needs.

PLANO, Texas—(BUSINESS WIRE)—November 15, 2022— <a href="http://www.acima.com./">Acima Leasing</a>, a leading provider of lease-to-own (“LTO”) services for merchants and consumers and Fintech platform of Rent-A-Center, Inc. (NASDAQ/NGS: RCII), is pleased to announce a multi-year agreement with Sleep Outfitters, a leading sleep solutions provider, to be the exclusive lease-to-own platform for their e-commerce site and over 120 stores in Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, and West Virginia.With the addition of Acima&#39;s LTO solutions at Sleep Outfitters, consumers from all backgrounds can more easily access America’s most iconic bedding brands: Sealy, Stearns &amp; Foster, and Tempur-Pedic.&quot;In the current economic landscape, it&#39;s more important than ever that consumers have shopping flexibility, even if their credit history is less than perfect, making access to leasing options increasingly valuable for both merchants and consumers,&quot; said Mike Bagull, SVP Business Development &amp; Partnerships, Acima. &quot;With Sleep Outfitters as a new partner, we can help more consumers obtain access to the quality bedding products they need to live a better quality of life.&quot;Retailers that want to add lease-to-own solutions to their e-commerce or in-store checkout can learn more about Acima&#39;s offerings at: <a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.acima.com%2F&esheet=52469392&newsitemid=20210802005155&lan=en-US&anchor=www.acima.com&index=5&md5=851076fe28122a6e62e4cce4f9ff8d4f">www.acima.com/partner</a>.About Rent-A-Center, Inc.Rent-A-Center, Inc. (NASDAQ: RCII) is a leading provider of technology driven, flexible, no debt obligation leasing solutions that offer underserved consumers access to and potential ownership of high-quality durable goods that enhance the quality of life. The Company’s omni-channel model utilizes proprietary data and technology to facilitate transactions across a wide range of retail channels including its own Acima virtual lease-to-own platform, <a href="http://rentacenter.com/">Rentacenter.com</a>, e-commerce partner platforms, partner retail stores, and Rent-A-Center branded stores. For additional information about the Company, please visit our website <a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Frentacenter.com%2F&esheet=52944769&newsitemid=20221014005118&lan=en-US&anchor=Rentacenter.com&index=3&md5=44be6802d70ef27d4a8fc89f7ba7ec44">Rentacenter.com</a> or <a href="https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Finvestor.rentacenter.com%2F&esheet=52944769&newsitemid=20221014005118&lan=en-US&anchor=Investor.rentacenter.com&index=4&md5=fc857ead9c8eaefdbc687d8f31174732">Investor.rentacenter.com</a>.About Sleep OutfittersSleep Outfitters is a leading sleep solutions provider, founded in 1983. Today, Sleep Outfitters employs around 400 people and operates over 120 stores in 10 states: Alabama, Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, and West Virginia. Sleep Outfitters is a Tempur Sealy company. For additional information, visit <a href="https://www.sleepoutfitters.com/">SleepOutfitters.com</a>. Rent-A-Center, Inc. Forward-Looking StatementsThis release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, among others, statements regarding the announced transaction with Sleep Outfitters and other statements that are not historical facts. Such forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as &quot;may,&quot; &quot;will,&quot; &quot;expect,&quot; &quot;intend,&quot; &quot;could,&quot; &quot;estimate,&quot; &quot;predict,&quot; &quot;continue,&quot; “maintain,” &quot;should,&quot; &quot;anticipate,&quot; &quot;believe,&quot; or “confident,” or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology. Such forward-looking statements are based on particular assumptions that our management has made in light of its experience and its perception of expected future developments and other factors that it believes are appropriate under the circumstances, and are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Factors that could cause or contribute to material and adverse differences between actual and anticipated results include, but are not limited to, future developments and results from our announced transaction with Sleep Outfitters, and other risks detailed from time to time in the reports filed by us with the SEC, including our most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, as may be updated by reports on Form 10-Q or Form 8-K filed thereafter. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this release. Except as required by law, we are not obligated to, and do not undertake to, publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect any events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.

Acima and Sleep Outfitters Partner to Bring Great Sleep to Underserved Consumers

Find out how Acima’s exclusive partnership with Sleep Outfitters will make it easier for everyone to get a good night’s sleep.

Acima Partners with Sleep Outfitters in Exclusive Agreement

PLANO, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)—April 8, 2021-- Rent-A-Center, Inc. (NASDAQ: RCII) (“Rent-A-Center” or the “Company”), an industry leading omni-channel lease-to-own provider for the cash and credit constrained customer, has been ranked by Comparably as one of the top 50 large companies across North America for Best Company Outlook, and ranked #2 among all size companies for Best Operations Team.“The top-rated companies on our Best Outlook award highlight how confident employees feel about the future success of their own organizations,” said Comparably CEO Jason Nazar.“Given the recent acquisition of Acima, and the strong growth and success of our omni-channel strategy in the Rent-A-Center business, we believe there is substantial opportunity in front of us. Our coworkers’ optimism about our future is most important and this award is further evidence that we are fulfilling our mission to improve the quality of life of our customers and coworkers,” said Rent-A-Center CEO Mitch Fadel.In Q1 2021, Comparably also measured how employees from specific departments rated their workplace experiences in nearly 20 different categories, of which Rent-A-Center won the Best Operations Team award.“Considering the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic that our coworkers in Operations have experienced, we are honored to receive this award. While we will continue to evolve our strategy, our unwavering focus on our coworkers is what will most enable our continued success,” said Anthony Blasquez, Executive Vice President of Rent-A-Center Operations.“We are excited to receive the Best Company Outlook and Best Operations Team awards, on top of receiving the Best Company Culture award last year. These awards are based solely on the sentiments expressed by our coworkers and demonstrate our commitment to continuously improving the coworker experience,” said Russell Goin, SVP and CHRO of Rent-A-Center.Rent-A-Center is proud to offer careers that provide purpose with an award-winning culture. Learn more at <a href="https://raccareers.com/">raccareers.com</a>.<h2>About Rent-A-Center, Inc.</h2>Rent-A-Center, Inc. (NASDAQ: RCII) is an industry leading omni-channel lease-to-own provider for the credit constrained customer. The Company focuses on improving the quality of life for its customers by providing access and the opportunity to obtain ownership of high-quality, durable products via small payments over time under a flexible lease-purchase agreement and no long-term debt obligation. Preferred Lease provides virtual and staffed lease-to-own solutions to retail partners in stores and online enabling our partners to grow sales by expanding their customer base utilizing our differentiated offering. The Rent-A-Center Business and Mexico segments provide lease-to-own options on prod ucts such as furniture, appliances, consumer electronics and computers in approximately 2,000 Rent-A-Center stores in the United States, Mexico and Puerto Rico, as well as on its e-commerce platform, <a href="https://www.rentacenter.com/">Rentacenter.com</a>. The Franchising segment is a national franchiser of approximately 400 franchise locations. Rent-A-Center is headquartered in Plano, Texas. For additional information about the Company, please visit our website at <a href="https://www.rentacenter.com/">Rentacenter.com</a> or <a href="https://investor.rentacenter.com/">Investor.rentacenter.com</a>.View source version on <a href="https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20201217005291/en/">businesswire.com</a>Rent-A-Center, Inc.Lynn JenkinsSr. Director – Human Resources(972) 801-1156<a href="mailto:Lynn.Jenkins@Rentacenter.com">Lynn.Jenkins@Rentacenter.com</a>Source: Rent-A-Center, Inc.
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Rent-A-Center Wins Comparably Awards for Best Company Outlook and Best Operations Team

Rent-A-Center has been ranked as one of the top 50 companies for Best Company Outlook, and ranked #2 among all size companies for Best Operations Team.

Rent-A-Center Wins Comparably Awards | Rent-A-Center

Al Bhakta of Eclipse RTO became Rent-A-Center’s largest franchisee in October when his franchise group acquired 99 corporate locations in California as part of the brand’s refranchising push, plus a 10-store development agreement was attachedall-in-all a multi-million dollar transaction.Bhakta is principal at CMG Companies, a group with investments in the multi-unit franchise space primarily in restaurants, hotels, retail and real estate. Eclipse RTO falls under that umbrella. Rent-A-Center, a lease-to-own concept offering mainly furniture and electronics, first piloted their refranchising efforts in 2015 when they sold 40 Rent-a-Centers to Shirin Kanji, whose family business history was in hotels.“Rent-A-Center provides a pretty unique way of financing for a consumer that may not have access to normally get products they need such as a washer, dryer, furniture and fridge, especially during COVID-19,” Bhakta said.Bhakta and his team began looking at the deal for 99 corporate stores in November of 2019 and signed with corporate in late February 2020. Their plans were put on hold in March due to COVID-19 and picked back up in June, closing the first week of October 2020.“We were always looking to diversify, so we were looking at fitness, health and wellness, automotive, retail, anything with a franchising unit component,” Bhakta said. “We kept coming back to Rent-A-Center.”Bhakta’s team looked into Rent-A-Center in 2014 and passed on an undisclosed deal in 2015, but stayed in touch with folks at corporate, he said.“We saw the success of franchisees who had done refranchising at Rent-A-Center corporate locations, and found deals scaled enough to make sense,” Bhakta said. “We were looking for additional franchise opportunities outside of food and beverage and hospitality, and Rent-A-Center went to the top of our list.”The deal made Al Bhakta and Eclipse RTO the largest rent-to-own franchisee globally, according to Michael Landry, vice president of franchising for Rent-A-Center. Between 2018 and 2020, Rent-A-Center refranchised 312 stores. Today, Rent-A-Center’s more than 2,000 stores are 84 percent corporate-owned and 16 percent franchisee-owned.“It’s a pretty sizeable and meaningful holding for us from a portfolio standpointit’s our second largest holding,” Bhakta added. “And obviously within the industry, it’s the largest deal Rent-A-Center has done, and we’re the largest franchisee in all of the rent-to-own businesses, so it was a sizeable deal for everyone involved.”Eclipse RTO signed a 10-store development agreement along with the 99 stores in California and plans to “help Rent-A-Center consolidate potentially some smaller mom-and-pop shops and convert them,” Bhakta said. “We&#39;re still heavily in restaurants and hospitality, it’s kind of our bread and butter and how we grew up in the business, but we’re looking for other essential services and franchising opportunities that we feel have differential service models and good operating margins in the future.”

Refranchising Deal Makes Eclipse RTO Largest Rent-A-Center Franchisee

At a time of huge digital transformation when consumers have quicker access to more products and services than ever, why be clunky if you can be seamless? So goes the thinking of <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-hogg-3148838/">Jason Hogg</a>, the recently hired executive vice president of the <a href="/">Preferred Lease</a> unit of Rent-A-Center, which is aiming to take the lease-purchase segment of the alternative credit market to the next level along with its recent <a href="https://www.pymnts.com/buy-now-pay-later/2020/lease-to-own-business-fueled-by-acima-acquisition-company-boasts-triple-digit-growth/">acquisition of Acima</a>.“When I looked at the leasing and the lease-to-own space there was a lot of room for improvement. It was still clunky,” Hogg said to PYMNTS’ Karen Webster in a recent interview.Not only were people “typing out 30 fields with their thumbs on their phone,” Hogg said, but the whole process of qualifying for and making purchases was archaic and full of friction. Essentially, it was time to build a better mousetrap that was native, accessible and fast.“So we invented it,” Hogg said. “We&#39;ve taken the [leasing purchase] experience from the countertop where folks had to go and go through this arduous process, to where now you put in the last four digits of your Social Security number, and from inception to having their lease-to-own line available to them takes as little as 38 seconds, down from 20 minutes.”<h2>Serving Consumers, Helping Businesses</h2>From a consumer standpoint, Hogg said, unlike traditional financing with installment loans or unsecured credit cards, people actually own what they buy, which can make a huge difference for customers who are often lower income, are unbanked, underbanked or have thin or no credit file.“If you stopped paying a credit card bill or stopped paying your installment loans, your credit obviously is impacted adversely. With us, you have the ability to return the item,” Hogg said. “So if you decide that because of a change in circumstances, you&#39;re unable to make the payments, you&#39;re not stuck with this debt because it&#39;s not debt, it&#39;s a lease and so we have the ability for you to return it to any one of our 3,000 Rent-A-Center locations.”However, when customers are making timely payments Preferred reports that the credit bureaus, which for some customers, may be the only credit history info they have.“It&#39;s an only-upside experience from a credit building perspective,” Hogg said.At the same time, through its growing and acquired network of partner retailers, Hogg said the leasing platform is a boon for many small local businesses, as well as national chains that drives incremental customer base and incremental revenue growth.“I would say [we provide] 15 to 20 percent incremental sales volume growth to merchants, because we are able to originate in this thin file, no file underbanked or unbanked segment where those consumers don&#39;t have access to traditional financing alternatives,” he said.<h2>Dignity And Ubiquity Of Access</h2>There’s another side of the lease to own business that Hogg said is also important to know about. “We’re treating our customers with dignity,” he said.Whether they’re in the market for a laptop in order to go to work or keep a kid connected with remote schooling, or simply trying to put new safe tires on their car, many of Preferred’s customers would not have the credit or cash on hand to make an unplanned purchase.“Why is it that a consumer has to go through this process of being declined, declined, or not having access to the same goods and services that other people do, just because they&#39;re unbanked or have a thin file or no file?” Hogg asked.Instead, the ability to make those critical purchases, with as little as $49 down, can be life changing.“Giving them that access in a seamless fashion versus having to go through 30 minutes of providing untold amounts of information and everything is important,” Hogg said. “So it&#39;s treating them with dignity and empowering them like any other consumer.”For business models like the lease-purchase or buy now pay later (<a href="https://www.pymnts.com/tracker/buy-now-pay-later-september-2020/">BNPL</a>) sector, the ubiquity of access in terms of payment options is an important differentiator. For some, that means setting up traditional monthly bank ACH or autopay options. For others, it can involve the use of prepaid cards, and in some cases, paying in cash at a retail location.<h2>Huge Opportunity</h2>Hogg said he gets a little wry smile on his face when he thinks about the potentiality to scale this lease-purchase business through an ambitious suite of services and products fueled by technology and low friction experiences that help to solve a buying problem for consumers and grows from there.“It starts with a transaction and trust, and then grows into a relationship,” he said, “and from that relationship, we&#39;re able to graduate them to products and services that will help empower them and continue to provide access.”Although the business model itself is far from new, Hogg said replacing the clunky old version with the modern seamless variety will tap into a huge market.“Our curated addressable universe that we have is over 50 million consumers,” Hogg said, and within that, what we already have our arms around today is over a hundred billion dollars in lease-to-own capacity that&#39;s pent up.”

‘Ubiquity Of Access’ Drives Growth At Rent-A-Center’s Preferred Lease Unit

<a href="https://www.rentacenter.com/">Rent-A-Center</a> is acquiring <a href="https://www.acima.com/?gclid=CjwKCAiArIH_BRB2EiwALfbH1NjA9U04NWIlpyE3_NqOxkUgHApX-t-JjTT-PEWBaROTNA08OGfH8BoCnRkQAvD_BwE">Acima Holdings</a> in a $1.65 billion deal to develop a virtual lease-to-own (LTO) platform.<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-fadel-3b2a7077/">Mitch Fadel</a>, chief executive officer at Rent-A-Center, said in a press release on Monday (Dec. 21) that Acima founder <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/aaronallred-acimacredit/">Aaron Allred</a> and his team have created a leading virtual LTO solution for retailers and consumers.“We all share a common vision to expand the virtual LTO offering across a broader set of retail partners and to meet the needs of more customers through an integrated omnichannel strategy. Acima will help us strengthen our organization, accelerate growth and increase our virtual partner base, allowing us to better serve more consumers with the flexibility of LTO,” Fadel said.He added that with Acima, Rent-A-Center will be in a position for accelerated growth and “increase our virtual partner base, allowing us to better serve more consumers with the flexibility of LTO.”The deal is $1.273 billion in cash and approximately 10.8 million shares of Rent-A-Center common stock currently valued at $377 million. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2021. Founded in 2013 in Salt Lake City, Utah, Acima operates in over 15,000 retail partner locations and eCommerce platforms. Annual revenues have grown from $97 million in 2016 to an anticipated $1.25 billion in 2020. About $225 million in adjusted Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) is expected for 2020. Salt Lake City will continue to be Acima’s headquarters, and the company will incorporate Rent-A-Center’s complementary Preferred Dynamix platform to create a frictionless LTO experience for consumers and retail partners.Upon the closing of the transaction, the current Acima management team will report to Preferred Dynamix Executive Vice President <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jason-hogg-3148838/">Jason Hogg</a>, and the combined business will be reported in the Preferred Lease segment.Earlier this year, rent-to-own (RTO) companies Rent-A-Center, Buddy’s and Aaron’s settled an antitrust case. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) alleged the companies cut deals that left customers with limited choices.

Rent-A-Center Acquires Acima For Virtual Lease-To-Own Platform

PLANO, Texas--(<a href="https://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/">BUSINESS WIRE</a>)--Rent-A-Center, Inc. (the &quot;Company&quot; or &quot;Rent-A-Center&quot;) (NASDAQ/NGS: RCII) has begun an exciting new chapter for its virtual business with the launch of a new platform to unlock shopping power and choice for underserved consumers. The new platform is from <a href="https://preferreddynamix.com/">Preferred Dynamix</a>™, a leading lease-to-own (LTO) fintech company and business of Rent-A-Center, Inc. It will include a mobile application and marketplace to empower unbanked and underbanked consumers with more financial freedom. At the same time, the platform will enable retailers and consumer brands to access an extensive customer base for LTO to drive incremental sales in this unprecedented business environment.Preferred Dynamix and its set of solutions, including the Preferred Lease arm, unlock the shopping power and choice for underserved consumers. Today, according to The Federal Reserve, more than <a href="https://www.federalreserve.gov/publications/2019-economic-well-being-of-us-households-in-2018-banking-and-credit.htm">60 million Americans</a> are considered unbanked or underbanked. These consumers do not have access to traditional financing or a trusted digital ecosystem to shop for the items they want when they want them. Preferred Dynamix’s proprietary digital platform leverages new decisioning technology and a portfolio of new lease-to-own solutions to expand the ways that consumers and retailers transact.“Throughout 2020, we have seen dramatic increases in consumer demand for frictionless, virtual retail shopping experiences,” said Mitch Fadel, Chief Executive Officer, Rent-A-Center. “The new Preferred Dynamix business is uniquely positioned to connect a significant market of potential shoppers to the retail opportunities they desire through our proprietary mobile and online LTO solutions.”<ul><li>Preferred Digital™ is the mobile application, released first in a stream of features and functions to hit the market, facilitating LTO transactions on a broad scale across participating retailers. Consumers can download the application today in Apple’s App Store or Google Play and, if eligible, get approved in as few as 30 seconds to receive access to up to $4,000 in shopping power that Preferred Dynamix will apply toward purchasing eligible consumer goods from a variety of retailers. Preferred Dynamix will then lease the selected goods to the consumers under a flexible LTO transaction.</li><li>Preferred Marketplace™, when launched, is planned to be one of the largest integrated e-commerce platforms for LTO transactions that enable consumers to select the eligible items they want from any U.S. retailers beyond Preferred Dynamix’s retail partners - and lease them from Preferred Dynamix without needing to complete the transaction on the individual retailer’s website.</li></ul>“We want to eliminate the hurdles and level the playing field for unbanked and underbanked consumers and change the relationship they have with the household, electronic, and everyday items they want most. This large segment of our society has long desired more flexibility and options when they shop but haven’t had the right digital solutions, decisioning technology, and level of shopping power that match their needs and circumstances,” said Jason Hogg, Executive Vice President, Preferred Dynamix. “Preferred Dynamix is meeting a need that will ultimately create a stronger, more trusted shopping relationship between consumer and retailer that simplifies the transactional experience for consumers, reduces the upfront risk for retailers, and allows the consumer to obtain access to the high quality desired items under a LTO transaction.”Preferred Dynamix has launched an innovation partner program to pilot the digital platform and begin collaborating to develop additional proprietary capabilities to create a more frictionless end-to-end transaction experience across channels. These retailers are increasingly looking for new mechanisms to attract previously out of reach customer segments who could not access traditional financing options. Retailers now have a digital, LTO offering to increase their sales volume in the face of declining foot traffic due to the pandemic and have a significant impact on their bottom lines. Pilot retailers include Ashley HomeStore, American Tire Distributors, Value City Furniture, Bob’s Discount Furniture, Conn’s HomePlus, Rooms To Go, and Electronic Express.&quot;At Conn’s HomePlus, we are focused on continuous improvement of the customer service experience. By teaming up with Preferred Lease and their new Preferred Dynamix platform, we can streamline the experience of both our banked and unbanked customers to receive virtual leases on our hundreds of products, from home entertainment to furniture and appliances,” said Norm Miller, Conn&#39;s Chairman and CEO. “As technology continues to evolve, we are committed to offering easy-to-access and simplified shopping solutions for all of our customers, positively impacting the communities we serve.”“At Value City Furniture, we believe everyone has the right to a well-furnished life, and we strive to offer a diverse set of financial solutions that meet the needs of all of our customers. Preferred Dynamix offers an LTO solution that a growing share of our customer’s want, and their new mobile application is making the approval process quick and easy,” said Hadley Hatch, Head of Finance Marketing, Value City Furniture. “Additionally, this new technology allows for a contactless in-store application experience, which is more imperative today than ever before. Preferred Dynamix identified this as a growing customer need and invested in the innovation necessary to address this behavioral change. As always, we truly appreciate the cutting-edge technology that Preferred Dynamix brings to our business.”For more information about the Preferred Dynamix platform, please visit <a href="https://preferreddynamix.com/">www.preferreddynamix.com</a>.

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Acima Is Exclusive Lease-to-Own Provider for Hank’s Fine Furniture

Rent-A-Center, Inc. Is Now Upbound Group, Inc., Advancing Its Mission to Elevate Financial Opportunity for All

Acima Selected as Exclusive Lease-to-Own Provider of CITY Furniture

Acima and Sleep Outfitters Partner to Bring Great Sleep to Underserved Consumers

Rent-A-Center Wins Comparably Awards for Best Company Outlook and Best Operations Team

Refranchising Deal Makes Eclipse RTO Largest Rent-A-Center Franchisee

‘Ubiquity Of Access’ Drives Growth At Rent-A-Center’s Preferred Lease Unit

Rent-A-Center Acquires Acima For Virtual Lease-To-Own Platform

Rent-A-Center Unveils New Digital Platform to Accelerate Growth as the Lease-to-Own...