10-Q 1 rac10-q_q32018.htm 10-Q
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 10-Q
(Mark One)

ý | QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2018
or

¨ | TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from to
Commission File Number: 001-38047
Rent-A-Center, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware |  | 45-0491516
(State or other jurisdiction of |  | (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization) |  | Identification No.)

5501 Headquarters Drive
Plano, Texas 75024
(Address, including zip code of registrant’s
principal executive offices)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 972-801-1100
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES ý NO ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
YES ý NO ¨
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, smaller reporting company, or an emerging growth company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer,” “smaller reporting company,” and “emerging growth company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act.

Large accelerated filer | ý |  |  | Accelerated filer | ¨
Non-accelerated filer | ¨ | (Do not check if a smaller reporting company) |  | Smaller reporting company | ¨
Emerging Growth Company | ¨ |  |  |  |
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. | ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
YES ¨ NO ý
Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of October 30, 2018:

Class |  | Outstanding
Common stock, $.01 par value per share |  | 53,514,721

TABLE OF CONTENTS

|  | Page No.
PART I. | FINANCIAL INFORMATION |
Item 1. | Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements |
| Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 | 1
| Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) for the three-month and nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 | 2
| Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 | 3
| Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine-month periods ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 | 4
| Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements | 5
Item 2. | Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations | 17
Item 3. | Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk | 28
Item 4. | Controls and Procedures | 29
PART II. | OTHER INFORMATION |
Item 1. | Legal Proceedings | 30
Item 1A. | Risk Factors | 31
Item 2. | Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds | 31
Item 3. | Defaults Upon Senior Securities | 31
Item 4. | Mine Safety Disclosures | 31
Item 5. | Other Information | 31
Item 6. | Exhibits | 32
SIGNATURES |

i

Item 1. Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.
RENT-A-CENTER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
(Unaudited)

| Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine Months Ended September 30,
| 2018 |  | 2017 |  | 2018 |  | 2017
(In thousands, except per share data) |  |  |
Revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Store |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Rentals and fees | $ | 552,580 |  |  | $ | 552,194 |  |  | $ | 1,679,697 |  |  | $ | 1,723,019 |
Merchandise sales | 67,141 |  |  | 67,566 |  |  | 239,487 |  |  | 266,061 |
Installment sales | 15,681 |  |  | 17,276 |  |  | 49,459 |  |  | 51,690 |
Other | 2,140 |  |  | 2,257 |  |  | 6,995 |  |  | 7,428 |
Total store revenues | 637,542 |  |  | 639,293 |  |  | 1,975,638 |  |  | 2,048,198 |
Franchise |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Merchandise sales | 4,135 |  |  | 2,676 |  |  | 12,649 |  |  | 9,211 |
Royalty income and fees | 3,265 |  |  | 1,996 |  |  | 10,428 |  |  | 6,177 |
Total revenues | 644,942 |  |  | 643,965 |  |  | 1,998,715 |  |  | 2,063,586 |
Cost of revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Store |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cost of rentals and fees | 153,716 |  |  | 153,202 |  |  | 465,852 |  |  | 474,511 |
Cost of merchandise sold | 74,340 |  |  | 70,551 |  |  | 236,255 |  |  | 256,730 |
Cost of installment sales | 5,244 |  |  | 5,207 |  |  | 16,103 |  |  | 16,099 |
Total cost of store revenues | 233,300 |  |  | 228,960 |  |  | 718,210 |  |  | 747,340 |
Franchise cost of merchandise sold | 3,902 |  |  | 2,540 |  |  | 11,901 |  |  | 8,585 |
Total cost of revenues | 237,202 |  |  | 231,500 |  |  | 730,111 |  |  | 755,925 |
Gross profit | 407,740 |  |  | 412,465 |  |  | 1,268,604 |  |  | 1,307,661 |
Operating expenses |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Store expenses |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Labor | 168,297 |  |  | 179,643 |  |  | 513,543 |  |  | 551,197 |
Other store expenses | 149,326 |  |  | 171,995 |  |  | 492,129 |  |  | 546,485 |
General and administrative expenses | 40,818 |  |  | 43,768 |  |  | 127,480 |  |  | 130,637 |
Depreciation, amortization and impairment of intangibles | 16,946 |  |  | 18,679 |  |  | 52,274 |  |  | 55,928 |
Other charges | 6,721 |  |  | 6,825 |  |  | 40,665 |  |  | 31,580 |
Total operating expenses | 382,108 |  |  | 420,910 |  |  | 1,226,091 |  |  | 1,315,827 |
Operating profit (loss) | 25,632 |  |  | (8,445 | ) |  | 42,513 |  |  | (8,166 | )
Debt refinancing charges | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 1,936 |
Interest expense | 10,496 |  |  | 11,453 |  |  | 32,662 |  |  | 34,346 |
Interest income | (345 | ) |  | (177 | ) |  | (756 | ) |  | (492 | )
Earnings (loss) before income taxes | 15,481 |  |  | (19,721 | ) |  | 10,607 |  |  | (43,956 | )
Income tax expense (benefit) | 2,563 |  |  | (7,122 | ) |  | 3,779 |  |  | (15,785 | )
Net earnings (loss) | $ | 12,918 |  |  | $ | (12,599 | ) |  | $ | 6,828 |  |  | $ | (28,171 | )
Basic earnings (loss) per common share | $ | 0.24 |  |  | $ | (0.24 | ) |  | $ | 0.13 |  |  | $ | (0.53 | )
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share | $ | 0.24 |  |  | $ | (0.24 | ) |  | $ | 0.13 |  |  | $ | (0.53 | )
Cash dividends declared per common share | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 0.16 |

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
1

RENT-A-CENTER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (LOSS)
(Unaudited)

| Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine Months Ended September 30,
| 2018 |  | 2017 |  | 2018 |  | 2017
(In thousands) |  |  |
Net earnings (loss) | $ | 12,918 |  |  | $ | (12,599 | ) |  | $ | 6,828 |  |  | $ | (28,171 | )
Other comprehensive income (loss): |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Foreign currency translation adjustments, net of tax of $239 and $(97), and $112 and $3,530 for the three and nine months ended 2018 and 2017, respectively | 900 |  |  | (181 | ) |  | 423 |  |  | 6,555 |
Total other comprehensive income (loss) | 900 |  |  | (181 | ) |  | 423 |  |  | 6,555 |
Comprehensive income (loss) | $ | 13,818 |  |  | $ | (12,780 | ) |  | $ | 7,251 |  |  | $ | (21,616 | )

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
2

RENT-A-CENTER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

| September 30, 2018 |  | December 31, 2017
(In thousands, except share and par value data) | Unaudited |  |
ASSETS |  |  |
Cash and cash equivalents | $ | 111,008 |  |  | $ | 72,968 |
Receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $4,247 and $4,167 in 2018 and 2017, respectively | 65,197 |  |  | 69,823 |
Prepaid expenses and other assets | 67,148 |  |  | 64,577 |
Rental merchandise, net |  |  |
On rent | 634,918 |  |  | 701,803 |
Held for rent | 141,379 |  |  | 167,188 |
Merchandise held for installment sale | 3,362 |  |  | 4,025 |
Property assets, net of accumulated depreciation of $545,619 and $525,673 in 2018 and 2017, respectively | 243,121 |  |  | 282,901 |
Deferred tax asset | 28,440 |  |  | — |
Goodwill | 56,845 |  |  | 56,614 |
Other intangible assets, net | 675 |  |  | 882 |
Total assets | $ | 1,352,093 |  |  | $ | 1,420,781 |
LIABILITIES |  |  |
Accounts payable – trade | $ | 98,063 |  |  | $ | 90,352 |
Accrued liabilities | 311,277 |  |  | 298,018 |
Deferred tax liability | 119,288 |  |  | 87,081 |
Senior debt, net | — |  |  | 134,125 |
Senior notes, net | 539,719 |  |  | 538,762 |
Total liabilities | 1,068,347 |  |  | 1,148,338 |
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY |  |  |
Common stock, $.01 par value; 250,000,000 shares authorized; 109,879,035 and 109,681,559 shares issued in 2018 and 2017, respectively | 1,099 |  |  | 1,097 |
Additional paid-in capital | 836,632 |  |  | 831,271 |
Retained earnings | 804,260 |  |  | 798,743 |
Treasury stock at cost, 56,369,752 shares in 2018 and 2017 | (1,347,677 | ) |  | (1,347,677 | )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss | (10,568 | ) |  | (10,991 | )
Total stockholders' equity | 283,746 |  |  | 272,443 |
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity | $ | 1,352,093 |  |  | $ | 1,420,781 |

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
3

RENT-A-CENTER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
(Unaudited)

| Nine Months Ended September 30,
| 2018 |  | 2017
(In thousands) |
Cash flows from operating activities |  |  |
Net earnings (loss) | $ | 6,828 |  |  | $ | (28,171 | )
Adjustments to reconcile net earnings (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities |  |  |
Depreciation of rental merchandise | 461,484 |  |  | 469,483 |
Bad debt expense | 10,372 |  |  | 11,051 |
Stock-based compensation expense | 4,493 |  |  | 2,198 |
Depreciation of property assets | 51,778 |  |  | 55,156 |
Loss on sale or disposal of property assets | 2,529 |  |  | 18 |
Amortization and impairment of intangibles | 496 |  |  | 4,667 |
Amortization of financing fees | 4,074 |  |  | 3,276 |
Write-off of debt financing fees | — |  |  | 1,936 |
Deferred income taxes | 4,379 |  |  | (33,940 | )
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions |  |  |
Rental merchandise | (375,013 | ) |  | (339,278 | )
Receivables | (5,746 | ) |  | (3,560 | )
Prepaid expenses and other assets | (2,663 | ) |  | 600 |
Accounts payable – trade | 7,711 |  |  | (20,032 | )
Accrued liabilities | 13,133 |  |  | 12,040 |
Net cash provided by operating activities | 183,855 |  |  | 135,444 |
Cash flows from investing activities |  |  |
Purchase of property assets | (22,491 | ) |  | (53,528 | )
Proceeds from sale of property assets | 16,474 |  |  | 3,951 |
Acquisitions of businesses | (2,049 | ) |  | (2,241 | )
Net cash used in investing activities | (8,066 | ) |  | (51,818 | )
Cash flows from financing activities |  |  |
Exercise of stock options | 1,064 |  |  | 270 |
Shares withheld for payment of employee tax withholdings | (283 | ) |  | (225 | )
Debt issuance costs | — |  |  | (5,258 | )
Proceeds from debt | 27,060 |  |  | 216,880 |
Repayments of debt | (166,357 | ) |  | (303,498 | )
Dividends paid | — |  |  | (12,811 | )
Net cash used in financing activities | (138,516 | ) |  | (104,642 | )
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash | 767 |  |  | 1,828 |
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | 38,040 |  |  | (19,188 | )
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period | 72,968 |  |  | 95,396 |
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period | $ | 111,008 |  |  | $ | 76,208 |

See accompanying notes to condensed consolidated financial statements.
4

RENT-A-CENTER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)
Note 1 - Basis of Presentation
The interim condensed consolidated financial statements of Rent-A-Center, Inc. included herein have been prepared by us pursuant to the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”). Certain information and footnote disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") have been condensed or omitted pursuant to the SEC’s rules and regulations, although we believe the disclosures are adequate to make the information presented not misleading. We suggest these financial statements be read in conjunction with the financial statements and notes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. In our opinion, the accompanying unaudited interim financial statements contain all adjustments, consisting only of those of a normal recurring nature, necessary to present fairly our results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. The results of operations for the periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.
These financial statements include the accounts of Rent-A-Center, Inc. and its direct and indirect subsidiaries. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated. Unless the context indicates otherwise, references to “Rent-A-Center” refer only to Rent-A-Center, Inc., the parent, and references to “we,” “us” and “our” refer to the consolidated business operations of Rent-A-Center and any or all of its direct and indirect subsidiaries. We report four operating segments: Core U.S., Acceptance Now, Mexico and Franchising.
Our Core U.S. segment consists of company-owned rent-to-own stores in the United States and Puerto Rico that lease household durable goods to customers on a rent-to-own basis. We also offer merchandise on an installment sales basis in certain of our stores under the names “Get It Now” and “Home Choice.”
Our Acceptance Now segment, which operates in the United States and Puerto Rico, generally offers the rent-to-own transaction to consumers who do not qualify for financing from the traditional retailer through kiosks located within such retailers’ locations. Those kiosks can be staffed by an Acceptance Now employee (staffed locations) or employ a virtual solution where customers initiate the rent-to-own transaction online in the retailers' locations using our tablet computer and our virtual solution (direct locations).
Our Mexico segment consists of our company-owned rent-to-own stores in Mexico that lease household durable goods to customers on a rent-to-own basis.
Rent-A-Center Franchising International, Inc., an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Rent-A-Center, is a franchisor of rent-to-own stores. Our Franchising segment’s primary source of revenue is the sale of rental merchandise to its franchisees, who in turn offer the merchandise to the general public for rent or purchase under a rent-to-own transaction. The balance of our Franchising segment’s revenue is generated primarily from royalties based on franchisees’ monthly gross revenues.
Proposed Merger
On June 17, 2018, Rent-A-Center entered into a merger agreement (the “Vintage Merger Agreement”) with Vintage Rodeo Parent, LLC (“Vintage”), an affiliate of Vintage Capital Management, LLC (“Vintage Capital”), pursuant to which Vintage will, when the proposed merger is completed, acquire all of the outstanding shares of Rent-A-Center common stock for $15.00 per share in cash (collectively, the “Vintage Merger”). The Vintage Merger was approved by the Company's stockholders on September 18, 2018. As previously announced, the parties received a Second Request from the Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) in connection with the Vintage Merger. Rent-A-Center and Vintage Capital continue to cooperate fully with the FTC. The parties intend to complete the Vintage Merger as soon as practicable following receipt of regulatory clearance from the FTC and the satisfaction or waiver of other customary closing conditions. The Company currently expects the Vintage Merger, which is not subject to a financing condition, to close during the first quarter of 2019. Upon completion of the Vintage Merger, Rent-A-Center will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Vintage and Rent-A-Center’s shares of common stock will be delisted from NASDAQ and deregistered.
Newly Adopted Accounting Pronouncements
In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606), which clarifies existing accounting literature relating to how and when a company recognizes revenue. We adopted ASU 2014-09 and all related amendments beginning January 1, 2018, using the modified retrospective adoption method. We recognized the cumulative effect of initially applying the standard as an adjustment to the opening balance of retained earnings. The comparative information has not been restated and continues to be reported under the accounting standards in effect for those periods.
Under Topic 606, initial franchise fees charged to franchisees for new stores are recognized over the term of the franchise agreement, rather than when they are paid by the franchisee, upon the opening of a new location. Furthermore, franchise advertising fees are presented on a gross basis, as revenue, in the consolidated statement of operations, rather than net of operating expenses in the
5

RENT-A-CENTER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)
(Unaudited)
consolidated statement of operations. Impacts resulting from adoption were not material to the consolidated statement of operations. See descriptions of the revenues in Note 2.
The cumulative effect of the changes made to our condensed consolidated balance sheets for the adoption of Topic 606 were as follows:

| January 1, 2018 |  | Adjustments due to Topic 606 |  | December 31, 2017
(In thousands) | Unaudited
LIABILITIES |  |  |  |  |
Accrued liabilities | $ | 299,683 |  |  | $ | (1,665 | ) |  | $ | 298,018 |
Deferred tax liability | 86,727 |  |  | 354 |  |  | 87,081 |
Total liabilities | 1,149,649 |  |  | (1,311 | ) |  | 1,148,338 |
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY |  |  |  |  |
Retained earnings | $ | 797,432 |  |  | $ | 1,311 |  |  | $ | 798,743 |
Total stockholders' equity | 271,132 |  |  | 1,311 |  |  | 272,443 |

In accordance with Topic 606, the disclosure of the impact of adoption on our condensed consolidated statements of operations and condensed consolidated balance sheets for the periods ended September 30, 2018 is as follows:

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations | Three Months Ended September 30, 2018 |  | Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018
| As Reported |  | Adjustments due to Topic 606 |  | Balances without Adoption of Topic 606 |  | As Reported |  | Adjustments due to Topic 606 |  | Balances without Adoption of Topic 606
(In thousands) | Unaudited |  | Unaudited
Royalty income and fees | 3,265 |  |  | (1,129 | ) |  | 2,136 |  |  | 10,428 |  |  | (2,171 | ) |  | 8,257 |
Total revenues | 644,942 |  |  | (1,129 | ) |  | 643,813 |  |  | 1,998,715 |  |  | (2,171 | ) |  | 1,996,544 |
Gross profit | 407,740 |  |  | (1,129 | ) |  | 406,611 |  |  | 1,268,604 |  |  | (2,171 | ) |  | 1,266,433 |
Other store expenses | 149,326 |  |  | (1,068 | ) |  | 148,258 |  |  | 492,129 |  |  | (3,047 | ) |  | 489,082 |
Total operating expenses | 382,108 |  |  | (1,068 | ) |  | 381,040 |  |  | 1,226,091 |  |  | (3,047 | ) |  | 1,223,044 |
Operating profit | 25,632 |  |  | (61 | ) |  | 25,571 |  |  | 42,513 |  |  | 876 |  |  | 43,389 |
Earnings before income taxes | 15,481 |  |  | (61 | ) |  | 15,420 |  |  | 10,607 |  |  | 876 |  |  | 11,483 |
Income tax expense | 2,563 |  |  | (10 | ) |  | 2,553 |  |  | 3,779 |  |  | 53 |  |  | 3,832 |
Net earnings | 12,918 |  |  | (51 | ) |  | 12,867 |  |  | 6,828 |  |  | 823 |  |  | 7,651 |

Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets | September 30, 2018
| As Reported |  | Adjustments due to Topic 606 |  | Balances without Adoption of Topic 606
(In thousands) | Unaudited
LIABILITIES |  |  |  |  |
Accrued liabilities | $ | 311,277 |  |  | $ | (2,541 | ) |  | $ | 308,736 |
Deferred tax liability | 119,288 |  |  | 407 |  |  | 119,695 |
Total liabilities | 1,068,347 |  |  | (2,134 | ) |  | 1,066,213 |
STOCKHOLDERS’ EQUITY |  |  |  |  |
Retained earnings | $ | 804,260 |  |  | $ | 2,134 |  |  | $ | 806,394 |
Total stockholders' equity | 283,746 |  |  | 2,134 |  |  | 285,880 |

In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-15, Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Classification of Certain Cash Receipts and Cash Payments, which provides guidance on the treatment of cash receipts and cash payments for certain types of cash transactions, to eliminate diversity in practice in the presentation of the cash flow statement. Rent-A-Center adopted ASU 2016-15 beginning January 1, 2018, on a retrospective basis. The adoption of ASU 2016-15 had no impact to the financial statements as of September 30, 2018.
6

RENT-A-CENTER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)
(Unaudited)
In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-01, Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business, which introduces amendments that are intended to make the guidance in ASC 805 on the definition of a business more consistent and cost-efficient. The amendments narrow the definition of a business and provide a framework that gives entities a basis for making reasonable judgments about whether a transaction involves an asset or a business. Rent-A-Center adopted ASU 2017-01 beginning January 1, 2018, using the prospective approach. The adoption of ASU 2017-01 had an immaterial impact to the financial statements as of September 30, 2018.
In May 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-09, Compensation—Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting, which clarifies which changes to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award require an entity to apply modification accounting. Under the new guidance, modification accounting is required if the fair value, vesting conditions or classification (equity or liability) of the new award are different from the original award immediately before the original award is modified. Rent-A-Center adopted ASU 2017-09 beginning January 1, 2018, on a prospective basis. The adoption of ASU 2017-09 had no impact to the financial statements as of September 30, 2018.
Note 2 - Revenues
The following table disaggregates our revenue for the periods ended September 30, 2018:

| Three Months Ended September 30, 2018
| Core U.S. |  | Acceptance Now |  | Mexico |  | Franchising |  | Consolidated
(In thousands) | Unaudited
Store |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Rentals and fees | $ | 403,483 |  |  | $ | 137,061 |  |  | $ | 12,036 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 552,580 |
Merchandise sales | 30,135 |  |  | 36,264 |  |  | 742 |  |  | — |  |  | 67,141 |
Installment sales | 15,681 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 15,681 |
Other | 2,021 |  |  | 113 |  |  | 6 |  |  | — |  |  | 2,140 |
Total store revenues | 451,320 |  |  | 173,438 |  |  | 12,784 |  |  | — |  |  | 637,542 |
Franchise |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Merchandise sales | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 4,135 |  |  | 4,135 |
Royalty income and fees | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 3,265 |  |  | 3,265 |
Total revenues | $ | 451,320 |  |  | $ | 173,438 |  |  | $ | 12,784 |  |  | $ | 7,400 |  |  | $ | 644,942 |

| Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018
| Core U.S. |  | Acceptance Now |  | Mexico |  | Franchising |  | Consolidated
(In thousands) | Unaudited
Store |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Rentals and fees | $ | 1,226,233 |  |  | $ | 418,684 |  |  | $ | 34,780 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 1,679,697 |
Merchandise sales | 106,828 |  |  | 130,347 |  |  | 2,312 |  |  | — |  |  | 239,487 |
Installment sales | 49,459 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 49,459 |
Other | 6,561 |  |  | 404 |  |  | 30 |  |  | — |  |  | 6,995 |
Total store revenues | 1,389,081 |  |  | 549,435 |  |  | 37,122 |  |  | — |  |  | 1,975,638 |
Franchise |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Merchandise sales | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 12,649 |  |  | 12,649 |
Royalty income and fees | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 10,428 |  |  | 10,428 |
Total revenues | $ | 1,389,081 |  |  | $ | 549,435 |  |  | $ | 37,122 |  |  | $ | 23,077 |  |  | $ | 1,998,715 |

Rental-Purchase Agreements
Core U.S., Acceptance Now, and Mexico
Rentals and Fees. Merchandise is leased to customers pursuant to rental purchase agreements which provide for weekly, semi-monthly or monthly rental terms with non-refundable rental payments. At the expiration of each rental term customers renew the rental agreement by pre-paying for the next rental term. Generally, the customer has the right to acquire title of the merchandise either through a purchase option or through payment of all required rental terms. Customers can terminate the agreement at the
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NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)
(Unaudited)
end of any rental term without penalty. Therefore rental transactions are accounted for as operating leases and rental revenue is recognized over the rental term. Cash received for rental payments, including processing fees, prior to the period in which it should be recognized is deferred and recognized according to the rental term. Revenue related to various payment, reinstatement or late fees are recognized when paid by the customer at the point service is provided. Rental merchandise is depreciated using the income forecasting method and is recognized in cost of sales over the rental term. We offer additional product plans along with our rental agreements which provide customers with liability protection against significant damage or loss of a product, and club membership benefits, including various discount programs and product service and replacement benefits in the event merchandise is damaged or lost. Customers renew product plans in conjunction with their rental term renewals, and can cancel the plans at any time. Revenue for product plans is recognized over the term of the plan. Costs incurred related to product plans are primarily recognized in cost of sales. At September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, we had $39.4 million and $41.1 million, respectively, in deferred revenue included in accrued liabilities related to our rental purchase agreements.
Revenue from contracts with customers
Core U.S., Acceptance Now, and Mexico
Merchandise Sales. Merchandise sales include payments received for the exercise of the early purchase option offered through our rental purchase agreements or merchandise sold through point of sale transactions. Revenue for merchandise sales is recognized when payment is received and ownership of the merchandise passes to the customer. The remaining net value of merchandise sold is recorded to cost of sales at the time of the transaction.
Installment Sales. Revenue from the sale of merchandise in our retail installment stores is recognized when the installment note is signed and control of the merchandise has passed to the customer. The cost of merchandise sold through installment agreements is recognized in cost of sales at the time of the transaction. We offer extended service plans with our installment agreements which are administered by third parties and provide customers with product service maintenance beyond the term of the installment agreement. Payments received for extended service plans are deferred and recognized, net of related costs, when the installment payment plan is complete and the service plan goes into effect. Customers can cancel extended service plans at any time during the installment agreement and receive a refund for payments previously made towards the plan. At September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, we had $2.8 million and $3.0 million, respectively, in deferred revenue included in accrued liabilities related to other product plans.
Other. Other revenue primarily consists of external maintenance and repair services provided by the Company’s service department, in addition to other miscellaneous product plans offered to our rental and installment customers. The Company’s service department is a licensed warranty service provider and performs service maintenance and merchandise repair for qualified warranty guarantees, on behalf of merchandise vendors. In addition, we provide external maintenance and repair services for our franchisees, and other external businesses and individual customers. Revenue for warranty services is recognized when service is complete and a claim has been submitted to the original vendor issuing the warranty guarantee. Revenue for external repair and maintenance services are recognized when services provided are complete and the customer has been billed. Costs incurred for repair services are recognized as incurred in labor and other store expenses. Revenue for other product plans is recognized in accordance with the terms of the applicable plan agreement.
Franchising
Merchandise Sales. Revenue from the sale of rental merchandise is recognized upon shipment of the merchandise to the franchisee.
Royalty Income and Fees. Franchise royalties, including franchisee contributions to corporate advertising funds, represent sales-based royalties calculated as a percentage of gross rental payments and sales. Royalty revenue is recognized as rental payments and sales occur. Franchise fees are initial fees charged to franchisees for new or converted franchise stores. Franchise fee revenue is recognized on a straight-line basis over the term of the franchise agreement. At September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, we had $2.7 million and $1.7 million, respectively, in deferred revenue included in accrued liabilities related to franchise fees.
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NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)
(Unaudited)
Note 3 - Receivables and Allowance for Doubtful Accounts
Receivables consist of the following:

(In thousands) | September 30, 2018 |  | December 31, 2017
Installment sales receivable | $ | 51,477 |  |  | $ | 55,516 |
Trade and notes receivables | 17,967 |  |  | 18,474 |
Total receivables | 69,444 |  |  | 73,990 |
Less allowance for doubtful accounts | (4,247 | ) |  | (4,167 | )
Total receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts | $ | 65,197 |  |  | $ | 69,823 |

The allowance for doubtful accounts related to installment sales receivable was $3.0 million and $3.6 million at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively. The allowance for doubtful accounts related to trade and notes receivable was $1.2 million and $0.6 million at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively.
Changes in our allowance for doubtful accounts are as follows:

(In thousands) | September 30, 2018 |  | December 31, 2017
Beginning allowance for doubtful accounts | $ | 4,167 |  |  | $ | 3,593 |
Bad debt expense | 10,372 |  |  | 15,702 |
Accounts written off | (10,740 | ) |  | (15,791 | )
Recoveries | 448 |  |  | 663 |
Ending allowance for doubtful accounts | $ | 4,247 |  |  | $ | 4,167 |

Note 4 - Senior Debt
We are party to a Credit Agreement with Bank of America, N.A., BBVA Compass Bank, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., and SunTrust Bank, as syndication agents, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (the "Agent"), and the several lenders from time to time parties thereto, dated March 19, 2014, as amended on February 1, 2016, September 30, 2016, March 31, 2017, and June 6, 2017 (the “Fourth Amendment”) and as so amended, (the "Credit Agreement"). The Credit Agreement currently provides a senior credit facility consisting of $225 million in term loans (the "Term Loans") and a $350 million revolving credit facility (the "Revolving Facility").
During the third quarter of 2018 the outstanding Terms Loans were repaid in full. Therefore there were no outstanding borrowings under the Term Loans or Revolving Facility at September 30, 2018 and $48.6 million and $85.0 million outstanding at December 31, 2017, respectively. Total unamortized debt issuance costs reported in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017 were $2.1 million and $5.2 million, respectively. The Revolving Facility has a scheduled maturity of March 19, 2019. We also utilize the Revolving Facility for the issuance of letters of credit. As of September 30, 2018, we have issued letters of credit in the aggregate amount of $92.2 million. In the event the Vintage Merger is not completed prior to the maturation of the Revolving Facility, we will need to refinance our Revolving Facility.
Borrowings under the Revolving Facility bear interest at varying rates equal to either the Eurodollar rate plus 1.50% to 3.00%, or the prime rate plus 0.50% to 2.00% (ABR), at our election. The margins on the Eurodollar loans and on the ABR loans for borrowings under the Revolving Facility, which were 2.75% and 1.75%, respectively, at September 30, 2018, fluctuate based upon an increase or decrease in our Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio as defined by a pricing grid included in the Credit Agreement. A commitment fee equal to 0.30% to 0.50% of the unused portion of the Revolving Facility is payable quarterly, and fluctuates dependent upon an increase or decrease in our Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio. The commitment fee for the third quarter of 2018 was $1.1 million and was equal to 0.50% of the unused portion of the Revolving Facility.
The aggregate outstanding amounts (including after any draw request) under the Revolving Facility may not exceed the Borrowing Base. The Borrowing Base is tied to the Eligible Installment Sales Accounts, Inventory and Eligible Rental Contracts, reduced by Reserves and the Term Loan Reserve, as defined in the Credit Agreement. We provide to the Agent information necessary to calculate the Borrowing Base within 30 days of the end of each calendar month, unless the remaining availability of the Revolving Facility is less than 20% of the maximum borrowing capacity of the Revolving Facility or $60 million, in which case we must provide weekly information.
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NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)
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Our borrowings under the Credit Agreement are, subject to certain exceptions, secured by a security interest in substantially all of our tangible and intangible assets, including intellectual property, and are also secured by a pledge of the capital stock of our U.S. subsidiaries.
Subject to a number of exceptions, the Credit Agreement contains, without limitation, covenants that generally limit our ability and the ability of our subsidiaries to:

• | incur additional debt;

• | pay cash dividends in excess of $15 million annually when the Consolidated Total Leverage Ratio is greater than 3:75:1;

• | incur liens or other encumbrances;

• | merge, consolidate or sell substantially all property or business;

• | sell, lease or otherwise transfer assets (if not in the ordinary course of business, limited in any fiscal year to an amount equal to 5% of Consolidated Total Assets as of the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year);

• | make investments or acquisitions (unless they meet financial tests and other requirements); or

• | enter into an unrelated line of business;

• | guarantee obligations of Foreign Subsidiaries in excess of $10 million at any time; and

• | exceed an aggregate outstanding amount of $10 million in indebtedness, including Capital Lease Obligations, mortgage financings and purchase money obligations that are secured by Liens permitted under the Credit Agreement.

In addition, we are prohibited from repurchasing our common stock or 6.625% and 4.75% Senior Notes for the remaining term of the Credit Agreement.
The Credit Agreement permits us to increase the amount of the Term Loans and/or the Revolving Facility from time to time on up to three occasions, in an aggregate amount of no more than $100 million. We may request an Incremental Revolving Loan or Incremental Term Loan, provided that at the time of such request, we are not in default, have obtained the consent of the administrative agent and the lenders providing such increase, and after giving effect thereto, (i) the Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio on a pro forma basis is no less than 1.10:1, (ii) the Total Revolving Extensions of Credit do not exceed the Borrowing Base, and (iii) if the request occurs during a Minimum Availability Period, the Availability must be more than the Availability Threshold Amount.
The Credit Agreement permits the Agent, in its sole discretion, to make loans to us that it deems necessary or desirable (i) to preserve or protect the Collateral, (ii) to enhance the likelihood of, or maximize the amount of, repayment of the Loans and other Obligations, or (iii) to pay any other amount chargeable to or required to be paid by us pursuant to the terms of the Credit Agreement. The aggregate amount of such Protective Advances outstanding at any time may not exceed $35 million.
In connection with entering into the Fourth Amendment to the Credit Agreement, we recorded a write-down of previously unamortized debt issuance costs of approximately $1.9 million in the second quarter of 2017. In addition, we paid arrangement and amendment fees to the Agent and the lenders that provided their consent to the Amendment of approximately $5.3 million, which were capitalized in the second quarter of 2017 and are amortized to interest expense over the remaining term of the agreement.
The Credit Agreement requires us to comply with a Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage ratio of no less than 1.10:1. Breach of this covenant shall result in a Minimum Availability Period, which requires us to maintain $50.0 million of excess availability on the Revolving Facility.
The table below shows the required and actual ratios under the Credit Agreement calculated as of September 30, 2018:

| Required Ratio |  | Actual Ratio
Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio | No less than |  | 1.10:1 |  | 2.03:1

The actual Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage ratio was calculated pursuant to the Credit Agreement by dividing the sum of consolidated EBITDA minus Unfinanced Capital Expenditures minus the excess (to the extent positive) of (i) expenses for income taxes paid in cash minus (ii) cash income tax refunds received for the 12-month period ending September 30, 2018 ($92.5 million), by consolidated fixed charges for the 12-month period ending September 30, 2018 ($45.5 million). For purposes of the calculation, “consolidated fixed charges” is defined as the sum of consolidated interest expense and scheduled principal payments on indebtedness actually made during such period. The actual Consolidated Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio of 2.03:1 as of September 30, 2018 was above the minimum requirement of 1.10:1 under the Credit Agreement. Availability under our Revolving Facility was $247.3 million at September 30, 2018.
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NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)
(Unaudited)
Events of default under the Credit Agreement include customary events, such as a cross-acceleration provision in the event that we default on other debt. In addition, an event of default under the Credit Agreement would occur if a change of control occurs. This is defined to include the case where a third party becomes the beneficial owner of 35% or more of our voting stock or a majority of Rent-A-Center’s Board of Directors are not Continuing Directors (all of the current members of our Board of Directors are Continuing Directors under the terms of the Credit Agreement). An event of default would also occur if one or more judgments were entered against us of $50.0 million or more and such judgments were not satisfied or bonded pending appeal within 30 days after entry.
In addition to the Revolving Facility discussed above, we maintain a $12.5 million unsecured, revolving line of credit with INTRUST Bank, N.A. to facilitate cash management. As of September 30, 2018, we had no outstanding borrowings against this line of credit and $5.7 million outstanding at December 31, 2017.
Liquidity
As described above, our Revolving Facility is scheduled to mature in March 2019. Our primary liquidity requirements are for rental merchandise purchases. Other capital requirements include expenditures for property assets and debt service. Our primary sources of liquidity have been cash provided by operations. We utilize our Revolving Facility for the issuance of letters of credit, as well as to manage normal fluctuations in operational cash flow caused by the timing of cash receipts. In that regard, we may from time to time draw funds under the Revolving Facility for general corporate purposes. Amounts are drawn as needed due to the timing of cash flows and are generally paid down as cash is generated by our operating activities.
In the event the Vintage Merger is not completed prior to the maturation of the Revolving Facility, we will need to refinance our Revolving Facility. We are evaluating refinancing options for our Credit Agreement, including amending and extending our current Revolving Facility with our existing lenders, or obtaining other sources of financing. We expect to obtain refinancing of our Revolving Facility, if required. We believe cash flow generated from operations, together with availability under our Credit Agreement for the remainder of its term, will be sufficient to fund our operations during the next 12 months.
Note 5 - Senior Notes
On November 2, 2010, we issued $300 million in senior unsecured notes due November 2020, bearing interest at 6.625%, pursuant to an indenture dated November 2, 2010, among Rent-A-Center, Inc., its subsidiary guarantors and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, as trustee. A portion of the proceeds of this offering were used to repay approximately $200.0 million of outstanding term debt under our Prior Credit Agreement. The remaining net proceeds were used to repurchase shares of our common stock. The principal amount of the 6.625% notes outstanding as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, was $292.7 million, reduced by $1.3 million and $1.8 million of unamortized issuance costs, respectively.
On May 2, 2013, we issued $250 million in senior unsecured notes due May 2021, bearing interest at 4.75%, pursuant to an indenture dated May 2, 2013, among Rent-A-Center, Inc., its subsidiary guarantors and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, as trustee. A portion of the proceeds of this offering were used to repurchase shares of our common stock under a $200.0 million accelerated stock buyback program. The remaining net proceeds were used to repay outstanding revolving debt under our Prior Credit Agreement. The principal amount of the 4.75% notes outstanding as of September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, was $250.0 million, reduced by $1.7 million and $2.1 million of unamortized issuance costs, respectively.
The indentures governing the 6.625% notes and the 4.75% notes are substantially similar. Each indenture contains covenants that limit our ability to:

• | incur additional debt;

• | sell assets or our subsidiaries;

• | grant liens to third parties;

• | pay cash dividends or repurchase stock when total leverage is greater than 2.50:1 (subject to an exception for cash dividends in an amount not to exceed $20 million annually); and

• | engage in a merger or sell substantially all of our assets.

Events of default under each indenture include customary events, such as a cross-acceleration provision in the event that we default in the payment of other debt due at maturity or upon acceleration for default in an amount exceeding $50.0 million, as well as in the event a judgment is entered against us in excess of $50.0 million that is not discharged, bonded or insured.
The 6.625% notes may be redeemed on or after November 15, 2015, at our option, in whole or in part, at a premium declining from 103.313% (the current premium is 101.104%). The 6.625% notes may be redeemed on or after November 15, 2018, at our option, in whole or in part, at par. The 6.625% notes also require that upon the occurrence of a change of control (as defined in the 2010 indenture), the holders of the notes have the right to require us to repurchase the notes at a price equal to 101% of the
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NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)
(Unaudited)
original aggregate principal amount, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of repurchase. We expect to exercise our option to redeem the 6.625% notes in connection with the closing of the Vintage Merger.
The 4.75% notes may be redeemed on or after May 1, 2016, at our option, in whole or in part, at a premium declining from 103.563% (the current premium is 101.188%). The 4.75% notes may be redeemed on or after May 1, 2019, at our option, in whole or in part, at par. The 4.75% notes also require that upon the occurrence of a change of control (as defined in the 2013 indenture), the holders of the notes have the right to require us to repurchase the notes at a price equal to 101% of the original aggregate principal amount, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of repurchase. We expect to exercise our option to redeem the 4.75% notes in connection with the closing of the Vintage Merger.
Any mandatory repurchase of the 6.625% notes and/or the 4.75% notes would trigger an event of default under our Credit Agreement. We are not required to maintain any financial ratios under either of the indentures.
Rent-A-Center and its subsidiary guarantors have fully, jointly and severally, and unconditionally guaranteed the obligations of Rent-A-Center with respect to the 6.625% notes and the 4.75% notes. Rent-A-Center has no independent assets or operations, and each subsidiary guarantor is 100% owned directly or indirectly by Rent-A-Center. The only direct or indirect subsidiaries of Rent-A-Center that are not guarantors are minor subsidiaries. There are no restrictions on the ability of any of the subsidiary guarantors to transfer funds to Rent-A-Center in the form of loans, advances or dividends, except as provided by applicable law.
Note 6 - Fair Value
We follow a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which classifies the inputs used in measuring fair values, in determining the fair value of our non-financial assets and non-financial liabilities, which consist primarily of goodwill. These tiers include: Level 1, defined as observable inputs such as quoted prices for identical instruments in active markets; Level 2, defined as inputs other than quoted prices in active markets that are either directly or indirectly observable; and Level 3, defined as unobservable inputs in which little or no market data exists, therefore requiring an entity to develop its own assumptions. There were no changes in the methods and assumptions used in measuring fair value during the period.
At September 30, 2018, our financial instruments include cash and cash equivalents, receivables, payables and senior notes. The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, receivables and payables approximates fair value at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017, because of the short maturities of these instruments.
The fair value of our senior notes is based on Level 1 inputs and was as follows at September 30, 2018 and December 31, 2017:

| September 30, 2018 |  | December 31, 2017
(in thousands) | Carrying Value |  | Fair Value |  | Difference |  | Carrying Value |  | Fair Value |  | Difference
6.625% senior notes | $ | 292,740 |  |  | $ | 291,276 |  |  | $ | (1,464 | ) |  | $ | 292,740 |  |  | $ | 278,835 |  |  | $ | (13,905 | )
4.75% senior notes | 250,000 |  |  | 252,950 |  |  | 2,950 |  |  | 250,000 |  |  | 237,500 |  |  | (12,500 | )
Total senior notes | $ | 542,740 |  |  | $ | 544,226 |  |  | $ | 1,486 |  |  | $ | 542,740 |  |  | $ | 516,335 |  |  | $ | (26,405 | )

Note 7 - Other Charges
2018 Cost Savings Initiatives. During the first nine months of 2018, we began execution of multiple cost savings initiatives, including reductions in overhead and supply chain, resulting in pre-tax charges of $6.8 million in contract termination fees, $7.0 million in severance and other payroll-related costs, $1.9 million in legal and advisory fees, $1.1 million in other miscellaneous shutdown costs, $0.9 million in lease obligation costs, $0.4 million related to the write-down of capitalized software, and $0.1 million in disposal of fixed assets.
Store Consolidation Plan. During the first nine months of 2018, we closed 129 Core U.S. stores and 9 locations in Mexico, resulting in pre-tax charges of $10.5 million, consisting of $7.9 million in lease obligation costs, $1.5 million in disposal of fixed assets, $0.9 million in other miscellaneous shutdown costs, and $0.2 million in severance and other payroll-related cost.
Discontinuation of IT Software Projects. During the first half of 2018, we discontinued certain IT software projects and as a result incurred pre-tax charges of $1.9 million, related to the write-down of capitalized assets.
Effects of 2018 Hurricane. During the third quarter of 2018, Hurricane Florence caused damage in North Carolina and South Carolina, resulting in pre-tax expenses of approximately $0.2 million for inventory losses, store repair costs, fixed asset write-offs, and employee assistance. At this time, we are unable to estimate the full extent of losses incurred due to the damage caused by Hurricane Florence, however, we do not ultimately expect the losses to be material to our financial statements.
Acceptance Now Store Closures. During the first six months of 2017, we closed 319 Acceptance Now manned locations and 9 Acceptance Now direct locations, related to the hhgregg bankruptcy and liquidation plan and the Conn's referral contract termination.
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NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)
(Unaudited)
These closures resulted in pre-tax charges of $16.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017, consisting primarily of rental merchandise losses, disposal of fixed assets, and other miscellaneous labor and shutdown costs. In addition, we recorded a pre-tax impairment charge of $3.9 million to our intangible assets, for our discontinued vendor relationship.
Corporate Cost Rationalization. During the first nine months of 2017, we executed a head count reduction that impacted approximately 10% of our field support center workforce. This resulted in pre-tax charges for severance and other payroll-related costs of approximately $3.4 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017.
Effects of 2017 Hurricanes. During the third quarter of 2017, Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria caused significant damage in the continental United States and surrounding areas, including Texas, Florida, and Puerto Rico, resulting in pre-tax expenses of approximately $1.9 million in the third quarter of 2017 for inventory losses, store repair costs, fixed asset write-offs, and employee assistance. Approximately $1.7 million of these pre-tax expenses related to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma, while the remaining $0.2 million related to employee assistance payments for Hurricane Maria.
Activity with respect to other charges for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 is summarized in the below table:

(in thousands) | Accrued Charges at December 31, 2017 |  | Charges & Adjustments |  | Payments |  | Accrued Charges at September 30, 2018
Cash charges: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Labor reduction costs | $ | 1,674 |  |  | $ | 7,168 |  |  | $ | (6,411 | ) |  | $ | 2,431 |
Lease obligation costs | 2,105 |  |  | 9,303 |  |  | (5,564 | ) |  | 5,844 |
Contract termination costs | — |  |  | 6,750 |  |  | (6,750 | ) |  | — |
Other miscellaneous | — |  |  | 2,165 |  |  | (2,165 | ) |  | — |
Total cash charges | $ | 3,779 |  |  | 25,386 |  |  | $ | (20,890 | ) |  | $ | 8,275 |
Non-cash charges: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Rental merchandise recoveries |  |  | (484 | ) |  |  |  |
Asset impairments |  |  | 3,771 |  |  |  |  |
Other(1) |  |  | 11,992 |  |  |  |  |
Total other charges |  |  | $ | 40,665 |  |  |  |  |

(1) Other primarily includes incremental legal and advisory fees related to our strategic review process and the Vintage Merger Agreement, partially offset by insurance claims recoveries related to 2017 hurricanes.
Note 8 - Segment Information
The operating segments reported below are the segments for which separate financial information is available and for which segment results are evaluated by the chief operating decision makers. Our operating segments are organized based on factors including, but not limited to, type of business transactions, geographic location and store ownership. All operating segments offer merchandise from four basic product categories: consumer electronics, appliances, computers, furniture and accessories. Our Core U.S. and Franchising segments also offer smartphones.
Segment information for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 is as follows:

| Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands) | 2018 |  | 2017 |  | 2018 |  | 2017
Revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Core U.S. | $ | 451,320 |  |  | $ | 442,763 |  |  | $ | 1,389,081 |  |  | $ | 1,390,687 |
Acceptance Now | 173,438 |  |  | 184,293 |  |  | 549,435 |  |  | 622,160 |
Mexico | 12,784 |  |  | 12,237 |  |  | 37,122 |  |  | 35,351 |
Franchising | 7,400 |  |  | 4,672 |  |  | 23,077 |  |  | 15,388 |
Total revenues | $ | 644,942 |  |  | $ | 643,965 |  |  | $ | 1,998,715 |  |  | $ | 2,063,586 |

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NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)
(Unaudited)

| Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands) | 2018 |  | 2017 |  | 2018 |  | 2017
Gross profit |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Core U.S. | $ | 313,771 |  |  | $ | 309,779 |  |  | $ | 975,231 |  |  | $ | 965,739 |
Acceptance Now | 81,586 |  |  | 92,088 |  |  | 256,441 |  |  | 310,451 |
Mexico | 8,885 |  |  | 8,466 |  |  | 25,756 |  |  | 24,668 |
Franchising | 3,498 |  |  | 2,132 |  |  | 11,176 |  |  | 6,803 |
Total gross profit | $ | 407,740 |  |  | $ | 412,465 |  |  | $ | 1,268,604 |  |  | $ | 1,307,661 |

Beginning in 2018, we implemented an intercompany book value adjustment charge for all rental merchandise transfers from Acceptance Now locations to Core U.S. stores. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, book value adjustments on intercompany rental merchandise transfers were $2.9 million and $9.3 million, respectively, resulting in a corresponding increase in gross profit for the Core U.S. and decrease in gross profit for Acceptance Now.

| Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands) | 2018 |  | 2017 |  | 2018 |  | 2017
Operating profit (loss) |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Core U.S. | $ | 43,221 |  |  | $ | 23,859 |  |  | $ | 115,135 |  |  | $ | 79,241 |
Acceptance Now | 26,278 |  |  | 10,379 |  |  | 70,865 |  |  | 49,595 |
Mexico | 922 |  |  | (242 | ) |  | 2,306 |  |  | (122 | )
Franchising | 522 |  |  | 1,032 |  |  | 3,687 |  |  | 3,565 |
Total segments | 70,943 |  |  | 35,028 |  |  | 191,993 |  |  | 132,279 |
Corporate | (45,311 | ) |  | (43,473 | ) |  | (149,480 | ) |  | (140,445 | )
Total operating profit (loss) | $ | 25,632 |  |  | $ | (8,445 | ) |  | $ | 42,513 |  |  | $ | (8,166 | )

Beginning in 2018, we implemented an intercompany book value adjustment charge for all rental merchandise transfers from Acceptance Now locations to Core U.S. stores. For the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, book value adjustments for inventory charge-offs related to intercompany rental merchandise transfers were $0.5 million and $1.7 million, respectively, resulting in a corresponding increase in operating profit for the Core U.S. and decrease in operating profit for Acceptance Now.

| Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands) | 2018 |  | 2017 |  | 2018 |  | 2017
Depreciation, amortization and impairment of intangibles |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Core U.S. | $ | 6,216 |  |  | $ | 7,725 |  |  | $ | 19,482 |  |  | $ | 23,715 |
Acceptance Now | 421 |  |  | 568 |  |  | 1,288 |  |  | 1,983 |
Mexico | 222 |  |  | 496 |  |  | 839 |  |  | 1,549 |
Franchising | 45 |  |  | 45 |  |  | 133 |  |  | 133 |
Total segments | 6,904 |  |  | 8,834 |  |  | 21,742 |  |  | 27,380 |
Corporate | 10,042 |  |  | 9,845 |  |  | 30,532 |  |  | 28,548 |
Total depreciation, amortization and impairment of intangibles | $ | 16,946 |  |  | $ | 18,679 |  |  | $ | 52,274 |  |  | $ | 55,928 |

We recorded an impairment of intangibles of $3.9 million in the Acceptance Now segment during the first quarter of 2017 that is not included in the table above. The impairment charge was recorded to Other Charges in the Condensed Consolidated Statement of Operations.
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RENT-A-CENTER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)
(Unaudited)

| Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands) | 2018 |  | 2017 |  | 2018 |  | 2017
Capital expenditures |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Core U.S. | $ | 3,586 |  |  | $ | 6,625 |  |  | $ | 12,801 |  |  | $ | 21,333 |
Acceptance Now | 76 |  |  | 430 |  |  | 156 |  |  | 1,525 |
Mexico | 113 |  |  | 56 |  |  | 151 |  |  | 103 |
Total segments | 3,775 |  |  | 7,111 |  |  | 13,108 |  |  | 22,961 |
Corporate | 3,021 |  |  | 6,258 |  |  | 9,383 |  |  | 30,567 |
Total capital expenditures | $ | 6,796 |  |  | $ | 13,369 |  |  | $ | 22,491 |  |  | $ | 53,528 |

(in thousands) | September 30, 2018 |  | December 31, 2017
On rent rental merchandise, net |  |  |
Core U.S. | $ | 378,221 |  |  | $ | 408,993 |
Acceptance Now | 241,044 |  |  | 278,443 |
Mexico | 15,653 |  |  | 14,367 |
Total on rent rental merchandise, net | $ | 634,918 |  |  | $ | 701,803 |

(in thousands) | September 30, 2018 |  | December 31, 2017
Held for rent rental merchandise, net |  |  |
Core U.S. | $ | 134,759 |  |  | $ | 156,039 |
Acceptance Now | 1,290 |  |  | 4,940 |
Mexico | 5,330 |  |  | 6,209 |
Total held for rent rental merchandise, net | $ | 141,379 |  |  | $ | 167,188 |

(in thousands) | September 30, 2018 |  | December 31, 2017
Assets by segment |  |  |
Core U.S. | $ | 709,074 |  |  | $ | 776,296 |
Acceptance Now | 306,553 |  |  | 350,970 |
Mexico | 30,747 |  |  | 33,529 |
Franchising | 3,899 |  |  | 3,802 |
Total segments | 1,050,273 |  |  | 1,164,597 |
Corporate | 301,820 |  |  | 256,184 |
Total assets | $ | 1,352,093 |  |  | $ | 1,420,781 |

Note 9 - Stock-Based Compensation
We recognized $1.5 million and $1.1 million in pre-tax compensation expense related to stock options and restricted stock units during the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively, and $4.5 million and $2.2 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Stock compensation expense recognized during the nine months ended September 30, 2017 was impacted by the reversal of unvested stock compensation in the first quarter of 2017 for stock awards previously granted to former executives. During the nine months ended September 30, 2018, we granted approximately 554,000 stock options, 673,000 market-based performance restricted stock units and 490,000 time-vesting restricted stock units. The stock options granted were valued using a Black-Scholes pricing model with the following assumptions: an expected volatility of 44.97% to 56.01%, a risk-free interest rate of 2.07% to 2.78%, no expected dividend yield, and an expected term of 3.50 to 5.75 years. The weighted-average exercise price of the options granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was $9.06 and the weighted-average grant-date fair value was $3.97. Performance-based restricted stock units are valued using a Monte Carlo simulation. Time-vesting restricted stock units are valued using the closing price on the trading day immediately preceding the day of the grant. The weighted-average grant date fair value of the market-based performance and time-vesting restricted stock units granted during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was $9.03 and $8.58, respectively.
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RENT-A-CENTER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
NOTES TO CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS - (Continued)
(Unaudited)
Note 10 - Contingencies
From time to time, the Company, along with our subsidiaries, is party to various legal proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. We reserve for loss contingencies that are both probable and reasonably estimable. We regularly monitor developments related to these legal proceedings, and review the adequacy of our legal reserves on a quarterly basis. We do not expect these losses to have a material impact on our condensed consolidated financial statements if and when such losses are incurred.
We are subject to unclaimed property audits by states in the ordinary course of business. The property subject to review in this audit process included unclaimed wages, vendor payments and customer refunds. State escheat laws generally require entities to report and remit abandoned and unclaimed property to the state. Failure to timely report and remit the property can result in assessments that could include interest and penalties, in addition to the payment of the escheat liability itself. We routinely remit escheat payments to states in compliance with applicable escheat laws.
Assuming completion of the Vintage Merger, we expect to pay estimated financial advisory fees of approximately $15 million.
Alan Hall, et. al. v. Rent-A-Center, Inc., et. al.; James DePalma, et. al. v. Rent-A-Center, Inc., et. al. On December 23, 2016, a putative class action was filed against us and certain of our former officers by Alan Hall in Federal court in Sherman, Texas. The complaint alleges that the defendants violated Section 10(b) and/or Section 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by issuing false and misleading statements and omitting material facts regarding our business, including implementation of our point-of-sale system, operations and prospects during the period covered by the complaint. The complaint purports to be brought on behalf of all purchasers of our common stock from July 27, 2015 through October 10, 2016, and seeks damages in unspecified amounts and costs, fees, and expenses. A complaint filed by James DePalma also in Sherman, Texas alleging similar claims was consolidated by the court into the Hall matter. On October 19, 2017, the magistrate judge entered a recommendation to deny our motion to dismiss the complaint to the district judge who will decide the issue. We filed our objections to the magistrate's recommendation on November 2, 2017. On December 14, 2017, the district judge issued an order adopting the magistrate's report and denying our motion to dismiss the complaint. The parties have subsequently agreed to settle this matter for $11 million pursuant to a Settlement Term Sheet dated October 8, 2018. The settlement is in the documentation process and is subject to approval by the court. The settlement will be fully funded by insurance.
Note 11 - Loss Per Common Share
Summarized basic and diluted earnings per common share were calculated as follows:

| Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands, except per share data) | 2018 |  | 2017 |  | 2018 |  | 2017
Numerator: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Net earnings (loss) | $ | 12,918 |  |  | $ | (12,599 | ) |  | $ | 6,828 |  |  | $ | (28,171 | )
Denominator: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Weighted-average shares outstanding | 53,508 |  |  | 53,306 |  |  | 53,455 |  |  | 53,272 |
Effect of dilutive stock awards(1) | 1,404 |  |  | — |  |  | 946 |  |  | — |
Weighted-average dilutive shares | 54,912 |  |  | 53,306 |  |  | 54,401 |  |  | 53,272 |
Basic earnings (loss) per common share | $ | 0.24 |  |  | $ | (0.24 | ) |  | $ | 0.13 |  |  | $ | (0.53 | )
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share | $ | 0.24 |  |  | $ | (0.24 | ) |  | $ | 0.13 |  |  | $ | (0.53 | )
Anti-dilutive securities excluded from diluted loss per common share: |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Anti-dilutive restricted share units | — |  |  | 635 |  |  | — |  |  | 635 |
Anti-dilutive performance share units | 211 |  |  | 784 |  |  | 211 |  |  | 784 |
Anti-dilutive stock options | 1,417 |  |  | 3,103 |  |  | 1,672 |  |  | 3,103 |

(1) | There was no dilutive effect to the loss per common share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017 due to the net loss incurred for respective periods.

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RENT-A-CENTER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q includes “forward-looking” statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including statements with respect to the pending Vintage Merger, the benefits of the pending transaction, and the anticipated timing and consummation of the pending Vintage Merger. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. They often include words such as “believes,” “expects,” “anticipates,” “estimates,” “intends,” “plans,” “seeks” or words of similar meaning, or future or conditional verbs, such as “will,” “should,” “could,” “may,” “aims,” “intends,” or “projects.” A forward-looking statement is neither a prediction nor a guarantee of future events or circumstances, and those future events or circumstances may not occur. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. These forward-looking statements are based on currently available operating, financial and competitive information and are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Our actual future results and trends may differ materially depending on a variety of factors, including, but not limited to, the risks and uncertainties discussed under “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.” Given these risks and uncertainties, you should not rely on forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results. Any or all of the forward-looking statements contained in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and any other public statement made by us, including by our management, may turn out to be incorrect. We are including this cautionary note to make applicable and take advantage of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 for forward-looking statements. We expressly disclaim any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions or otherwise. Factors that could cause or contribute to these differences include, but are not limited to:

• | the general strength of the economy and other economic conditions affecting consumer preferences and spending;

• | factors affecting the disposable income available to our current and potential customers;

• | changes in the unemployment rate;

• | the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstances that could give rise to the termination of the Vintage Merger Agreement;

• | the inability to complete the Vintage Merger due to failure to satisfy conditions necessary for completion of the merger, including that a governmental entity may prohibit, delay or refuse to grant approval for the consummation of the transaction;

• | risks regarding the failure of Vintage to obtain the necessary debt and/or equity financing to complete the Vintage Merger;

• | risks relating to operations of the business and our financial results if the Vintage Merger Agreement is terminated;

• | risks related to disruption of management’s attention from our ongoing business operations due to the pending Vintage Merger;

• | the effect of the pendency or consummation of the Vintage Merger on our relationships with third parties, including our employees, franchisees, customers, suppliers, business partners and vendors, which make it more difficult to maintain business and operations relationships, and negatively impact the operating results of the four core business segments and business generally;

• | the risk that certain approvals or consents will not be received in a timely manner or that the Vintage Merger will not be consummated in a timely manner;

• | capital market conditions, including availability of funding sources for us and Vintage;

• | changes in our credit ratings;

• | the risk of stockholder litigation in connection with the Vintage Merger, and the impact of any adverse legal judgments, fines, penalties, injunctions or settlements thereof;

• | difficulties encountered in improving the financial and operational performance of our business segments;

• | our ability to refinance our Revolving Facility expiring in early 2019 on favorable terms, if at all;

• | risks associated with pricing changes and strategies being deployed in our businesses;

• | our ability to continue to realize benefits from our initiatives regarding cost-savings and other EBITDA enhancements, efficiencies and working capital improvements;

• | our ability to continue to effectively operate and execute our strategic initiatives;

• | our ability to execute our franchise strategy;

• | failure to manage our store labor and other store expenses;

• | disruptions caused by the operation of our store information management system;

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RENT-A-CENTER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

• | our transition to more-readily scalable, "cloud-based" solutions;

• | our ability to develop and successfully implement digital or E-commerce capabilities, including mobile applications;

• | disruptions in our supply chain;

• | limitations of, or disruptions in, our distribution network, and the impact, effects and results of the changes we have made and are making to our distribution methods;

• | rapid inflation or deflation in the prices of our products;

• | our available cash flow;

• | our ability to identify and successfully market products and services that appeal to our customer demographic;

• | consumer preferences and perceptions of our brands;

• | our ability to execute and the effectiveness of a store consolidation, including our ability to retain the revenue from customer accounts merged into another store location as a result of a store consolidation;

• | our ability to retain the revenue associated with acquired customer accounts and enhance the performance of acquired stores;

• | our ability to enter into new and collect on our rental or lease purchase agreements;

• | the passage of legislation adversely affecting the Rent-to-Own industry;

• | our compliance with applicable statutes or regulations governing our transactions;

• | changes in interest rates;

• | changes in tariff policies;

• | adverse changes in the economic conditions of the industries, countries or markets that we serve;

• | information technology and data security costs;

• | the impact of any breaches in data security or other disturbances to our information technology and other networks and our ability to protect the integrity and security of individually identifiable data of our customers and employees;

• | changes in estimates relating to self-insurance liabilities and income tax and litigation reserves;

• | changes in our effective tax rate;

• | fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates;

• | our ability to maintain an effective system of internal controls;

• | the resolution of our litigation; and

• | the other risks detailed from time to time in our reports furnished or filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Additional important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from our expectations are discussed under the section “Risk Factors” in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017, and elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. You should not unduly rely on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Except as required by law, we are not obligated to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.
Our Business
We are one of the largest rent-to-own operators in North America, focused on improving the quality of life for our customers by providing them the opportunity to obtain ownership of high-quality durable products, such as consumer electronics, appliances, computers (including tablets), smartphones, and furniture (including accessories), under flexible rental purchase agreements with no long-term obligation. We were incorporated in the State of Delaware in 1986.
Our Strategy
Our strategy focuses on several improvement areas including a significant cost savings plan, a more targeted value proposition, and a refranchising program.

• | We have implemented significant cost savings opportunities across the business in the areas of overhead, supply chain and other store expenses.

• | The updated value proposition in the Core U.S. is intended to improve traffic trends with a balanced approach of competitively pricing elastic categories while capturing more margin in inelastic categories.

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RENT-A-CENTER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

• | Within Acceptance NOW, the value proposition centers around improved return on investment through a shorter payback period and higher ownership levels.

• | Refranchising certain brick and mortar locations will enable us to maintain and grow our presence while using proceeds to pay down debt.

Recent Developments
Effects of Hurricanes. In September and October 2018, Hurricanes Florence and Michael caused significant damage in the continental United States, primarily including North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, and Alabama. We incurred charges during the third quarter of 2018 as a result of the damage and displacement caused by Hurricane Florence, including inventory losses, store repairs, employee assistance, and fixed asset write-offs. Storm related costs are included in other charges for the respective segment as discussed in Note 7 to the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements. We continue to assess the full impact of damage caused by these storms and expect additional charges to be recorded in the fourth quarter of 2018, however, we do not ultimately expect the losses to be material to our financial statements.
Proposed Merger. On June 17, 2018, Rent-A-Center entered into a merger agreement (the “Vintage Merger Agreement”) with Vintage Rodeo Parent, LLC (“Vintage”), an affiliate of Vintage Capital Management, LLC (“Vintage Capital”), pursuant to which Vintage Capital will, when the proposed merger is completed, acquire all of the outstanding shares of Rent-A-Center common stock for $15.00 per share in cash (collectively, the “Vintage Merger”). The Vintage Merger was approved by the Company's stockholders on September 18, 2018. As previously announced, the parties received a Second Request from the Federal Trade Commission ("FTC") in connection with the Vintage Merger. Rent-A-Center and Vintage Capital continue to cooperate fully with the FTC. The parties intend to complete the Vintage Merger as soon as practicable following receipt of regulatory clearance from the FTC and the satisfaction or waiver of other customary closing conditions. Rent-A-Center currently expects the Vintage Merger, which is not subject to a financing condition, to close during the first quarter of 2019. Upon completion of the Vintage Merger, Rent-A-Center will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Vintage and Rent-A-Center’s shares of common stock will be delisted from NASDAQ and deregistered.
Results of Operations
The following discussion focuses on our results of operations and issues related to our liquidity and capital resources. You should read this discussion in conjunction with the condensed consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.
Overview
During the first nine months of 2018, we experienced a decline in revenues and gross profit driven primarily by reductions in our store base for the Core U.S. and Acceptance Now segments, and impacts related to the aftermath of the 2017 hurricanes, partially offset by increases in same store sales. Operating profit, however, increased during the first nine months of 2018, primarily due to cost savings initiatives, including reductions in overhead and supply chain, and lower rental merchandise losses.
Revenues in our Core U.S. segment decreased approximately $1.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, primarily due to rationalization of our Core U.S. store base and impacts from the aftermath of the 2017 hurricanes, partially offset by increases in same store sales. Gross profit as a percentage of revenue increased 0.8% primarily due to the intercompany book value adjustment of Acceptance Now returned product transferred to Core U.S. stores. Operating profit increased $35.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 primarily due to decreases of $13.1 million and $23.8 million in labor and other store expenses, respectively.
The Acceptance Now segment revenues decreased by approximately $72.7 million or 11.7%, primarily due to closures for Conn's and hhgregg, and impacts related to the aftermath of the 2017 hurricanes, partially offset by increases in same store sales. Gross profit as a percent of revenue decreased 3.2% primarily due to the intercompany book value adjustment of Acceptance Now returned product transferred to Core U.S. stores, and the new value proposition enhancements. Operating profit as a percent of revenue increased 4.9% primarily due to lower rental merchandise losses.
Operating profit for the Mexico segment as a percentage of revenue increased by 6.5% for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, driven primarily by lower rental merchandise losses.
Cash flow from operations was $183.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. We paid down debt by $139.3 million during the first nine months of the year, ending the period with $111.0 million of cash and cash equivalents and no outstanding borrowings under our Term Loans or Revolving Facility.
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RENT-A-CENTER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
The following table is a reference for the discussion that follows.

| Three Months Ended |  |  |  |  |  | Nine Months Ended |  |  |  |
| September 30, |  | Change |  | September 30, |  | Change
(dollar amounts in thousands) | 2018 |  | 2017 |  | $ |  | % |  | 2018 |  | 2017 |  | $ |  | %
Revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Store |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Rentals and fees | $ | 552,580 |  |  | $ | 552,194 |  |  | $ | 386 |  |  | 0.1 | % |  | $ | 1,679,697 |  |  | $ | 1,723,019 |  |  | $ | (43,322 | ) |  | (2.5 | )%
Merchandise sales | 67,141 |  |  | 67,566 |  |  | (425 | ) |  | (0.6 | )% |  | 239,487 |  |  | 266,061 |  |  | (26,574 | ) |  | (10.0 | )%
Installment sales | 15,681 |  |  | 17,276 |  |  | (1,595 | ) |  | (9.2 | )% |  | 49,459 |  |  | 51,690 |  |  | (2,231 | ) |  | (4.3 | )%
Other | 2,140 |  |  | 2,257 |  |  | (117 | ) |  | (5.2 | )% |  | 6,995 |  |  | 7,428 |  |  | (433 | ) |  | (5.8 | )%
Total store revenue | 637,542 |  |  | 639,293 |  |  | (1,751 | ) |  | (0.3 | )% |  | 1,975,638 |  |  | 2,048,198 |  |  | (72,560 | ) |  | (3.5 | )%
Franchise |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Merchandise sales | 4,135 |  |  | 2,676 |  |  | 1,459 |  |  | 54.5 | % |  | 12,649 |  |  | 9,211 |  |  | 3,438 |  |  | 37.3 | %
Royalty income and fees | 3,265 |  |  | 1,996 |  |  | 1,269 |  |  | 63.6 | % |  | 10,428 |  |  | 6,177 |  |  | 4,251 |  |  | 68.8 | %
Total revenues | 644,942 |  |  | 643,965 |  |  | 977 |  |  | 0.2 | % |  | 1,998,715 |  |  | 2,063,586 |  |  | (64,871 | ) |  | (3.1 | )%
Cost of revenues |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Store |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Cost of rentals and fees | 153,716 |  |  | 153,202 |  |  | 514 |  |  | 0.3 | % |  | 465,852 |  |  | 474,511 |  |  | (8,659 | ) |  | (1.8 | )%
Cost of merchandise sold | 74,340 |  |  | 70,551 |  |  | 3,789 |  |  | 5.4 | % |  | 236,255 |  |  | 256,730 |  |  | (20,475 | ) |  | (8.0 | )%
Cost of installment sales | 5,244 |  |  | 5,207 |  |  | 37 |  |  | 0.7 | % |  | 16,103 |  |  | 16,099 |  |  | 4 |  |  | — | %
Total cost of store revenues | 233,300 |  |  | 228,960 |  |  | 4,340 |  |  | 1.9 | % |  | 718,210 |  |  | 747,340 |  |  | (29,130 | ) |  | (3.9 | )%
Franchise cost of merchandise sold | 3,902 |  |  | 2,540 |  |  | 1,362 |  |  | 53.6 | % |  | 11,901 |  |  | 8,585 |  |  | 3,316 |  |  | 38.6 | %
Total cost of revenues | 237,202 |  |  | 231,500 |  |  | 5,702 |  |  | 2.5 | % |  | 730,111 |  |  | 755,925 |  |  | (25,814 | ) |  | (3.4 | )%
Gross profit | 407,740 |  |  | 412,465 |  |  | (4,725 | ) |  | (1.1 | )% |  | 1,268,604 |  |  | 1,307,661 |  |  | (39,057 | ) |  | (3.0 | )%
Operating expenses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Store expenses |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Labor | 168,297 |  |  | 179,643 |  |  | (11,346 | ) |  | (6.3 | )% |  | 513,543 |  |  | 551,197 |  |  | (37,654 | ) |  | (6.8 | )%
Other store expenses | 149,326 |  |  | 171,995 |  |  | (22,669 | ) |  | (13.2 | )% |  | 492,129 |  |  | 546,485 |  |  | (54,356 | ) |  | (9.9 | )%
General and administrative expenses | 40,818 |  |  | 43,768 |  |  | (2,950 | ) |  | (6.7 | )% |  | 127,480 |  |  | 130,637 |  |  | (3,157 | ) |  | (2.4 | )%
Depreciation, amortization and impairment of intangibles | 16,946 |  |  | 18,679 |  |  | (1,733 | ) |  | (9.3 | )% |  | 52,274 |  |  | 55,928 |  |  | (3,654 | ) |  | (6.5 | )%
Other charges | 6,721 |  |  | 6,825 |  |  | (104 | ) |  | (1.5 | )% |  | 40,665 |  |  | 31,580 |  |  | 9,085 |  |  | 28.8 | %
Total operating expenses | 382,108 |  |  | 420,910 |  |  | (38,802 | ) |  | (9.2 | )% |  | 1,226,091 |  |  | 1,315,827 |  |  | (89,736 | ) |  | (6.8 | )%
Operating profit (loss) | 25,632 |  |  | (8,445 | ) |  | 34,077 |  |  | 403.5 | % |  | 42,513 |  |  | (8,166 | ) |  | 50,679 |  |  | 620.6 | %
Debt refinancing charges | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — | % |  | — |  |  | 1,936 |  |  | (1,936 | ) |  | (100.0 | )%
Interest, net | 10,151 |  |  | 11,276 |  |  | (1,125 | ) |  | (10.0 | )% |  | 31,906 |  |  | 33,854 |  |  | (1,948 | ) |  | (5.8 | )%
Earnings (loss) before income taxes | 15,481 |  |  | (19,721 | ) |  | 35,202 |  |  | 178.5 | % |  | 10,607 |  |  | (43,956 | ) |  | 54,563 |  |  | 124.1 | %
Income tax expense (benefit) | 2,563 |  |  | (7,122 | ) |  | 9,685 |  |  | 136.0 | % |  | 3,779 |  |  | (15,785 | ) |  | 19,564 |  |  | 123.9 | %
Net earnings (loss) | $ | 12,918 |  |  | $ | (12,599 | ) |  | $ | 25,517 |  |  | 202.5 | % |  | $ | 6,828 |  |  | $ | (28,171 | ) |  | $ | 34,999 |  |  | 124.2 | %

Three Months Ended September 30, 2018, compared to Three Months Ended September 30, 2017
Store Revenue. Total store revenue decreased by $1.8 million, or 0.3%, to $637.5 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018, from $639.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2017. This was primarily due to decrease of $10.9 million
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RENT-A-CENTER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
in the Acceptance Now segment, partially offset by a an increase of approximately $8.6 million in the Core U.S. segment, as discussed further in the segment performance section below.
Same store revenue is reported on a constant currency basis and generally represents revenue earned in 2,262 locations that were operated by us for 13 months or more, excluding any store that receives a certain level of customer accounts from another store. Receiving stores will be eligible for inclusion in the same store sales base in the twenty-fourth full month following the customer account transfers. In addition, due to the severity of the 2017 hurricane impacts, we instituted a change to the same store sales store selection criteria to exclude stores in those geographically impacted regions for 18 months. Same store revenues increased by $22.1 million, or 5.7%, to $412.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018, as compared to $390.2 million in 2017. The increase in same store revenues was primarily attributable to an increase in the Core U.S. segment, as discussed further in the segment performance section below.
Cost of Rentals and Fees. Cost of rentals and fees consists primarily of depreciation of rental merchandise. Cost of rentals and fees for the three months ended September 30, 2018, increased by $0.5 million, or 0.3%, to $153.7 million as compared to $153.2 million in 2017. This increase in cost of rentals and fees was primarily attributable to an increase of $2.9 million in the Acceptance Now segment, partially offset by a decrease of $2.6 million in the Core U.S. segment. Cost of rentals and fees expressed as a percentage of rentals and fees revenue increased to 27.8% for the three months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to 27.7% in 2017.
Cost of Merchandise Sold. Cost of merchandise sold increased by $3.7 million, or 5.4%, to $74.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018, from $70.6 million in 2017, primarily attributable to an increase of $7.1 million in the Core U.S. segment, partially offset by a decrease of $3.3 million in the Acceptance Now segment. The gross margin percent of merchandise sales decreased to (10.7)% for the three months ended September 30, 2018, from (4.4)% in 2017.
Gross Profit. Gross profit decreased by $4.8 million, or 1.1%, to $407.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018, from $412.5 million in 2017, due primarily to a decrease of $10.5 million in the Acceptance Now segment, offset by an increase of $4.0 million in the Core U.S. segment, as discussed further in the segment performance section below. Gross profit as a percentage of total revenue decreased to 63.2% for the three months ended September 30, 2018, as compared to 64.1% in 2017.
Store Labor. Store labor decreased by $11.3 million, or 6.3%, to $168.3 million, for the three months ended September 30, 2018, as compared to $179.6 million in 2017, primarily attributable to decreases of $6.5 million and $4.9 million in the Acceptance Now and Core U.S. segments, respectively, primarily as a result of the closure of our Acceptance Now collection centers and a lower Core U.S. store base. Store labor expressed as a percentage of total store revenue was 26.4% for the three months ended September 30, 2018, as compared to 28.1% in 2017.
Other Store Expenses. Other store expenses decreased by $22.7 million, or 13.2%, to $149.3 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018, as compared to $172.0 million in 2017, primarily attributable to decreases of $13.0 million and $9.8 million in the Acceptance Now and Core U.S. segment, respectively, as a result of lower customer stolen merchandise losses for Acceptance Now and a lower Core U.S. store base. Other store expenses expressed as a percentage of total store revenue were 23.4% for the three months ended September 30, 2018, compared to 26.9% in 2017.
General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses decreased by $3.0 million, or 6.7%, to $40.8 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018, as compared to $43.8 million in 2017, primarily due to cost savings initiatives, partially offset by higher incentive compensation. General and administrative expenses expressed as a percentage of total revenue were 6.3% for the three months ended September 30, 2018, compared to 6.8% in 2017.
Other Charges. Other charges decreased by $0.1 million, or 1.5%, to $6.7 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018, as compared to $6.8 million in 2017. Other charges for the three months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 primarily related to incremental legal and advisory fees, Core U.S. store closures, cost savings initiatives, including reductions in overhead and supply chain, hurricane damages, and Acceptance Now closures in 2017.
Operating Profit (Loss). Operating results increased by $34.0 million, to a profit of $25.6 million for the three months ended September 30, 2018, as compared to a loss of $8.4 million in 2017, primarily due to increases of $19.4 million and $15.9 million in the Core U.S. and Acceptance Now segments, respectively, as discussed further in the segment performance sections below. Operating results expressed as a percentage of total revenue was 4.0% for the three months ended September 30, 2018, compared to (1.3)% in 2017, primarily due to the increases in gross profit for the Core U.S. and decreases in store labor, other store expenses, and general and administrative expenses described above.
Income Tax. Income tax expense for the three months ended September 30, 2018 was $2.6 million, as compared to income tax benefit of $7.1 million in 2017. The effective tax rate was 16.6% for the three months ended September 30, 2018, compared to 36.1% in 2017. The change in effective tax rate was primarily due to the reduction of the U.S. federal statutory tax rate from 35% to 21% in 2018 as a result of the Tax Cut and Jobs Act (the "Tax Act").
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Nine Months Ended September 30, 2018, compared to Nine Months Ended September 30, 2017
Store Revenue. Total store revenue decreased by $72.6 million, or 3.5%, to $1,975.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, from $2,048.2 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2017. This was primarily due to decreases of approximately $72.7 million and $1.6 million in the Acceptance Now and Core U.S. segments, respectively, as discussed further in the segment performance section below.
Same store revenue is reported on a constant currency basis and generally represents revenue earned in 2,544 locations that were operated by us for 13 months or more, excluding any store that receives a certain level of customer accounts from another store (acquisition or merger). Receiving stores will be eligible for inclusion in the same store sales base in the twenty-fourth full month following the customer account transfers. In addition, due to the severity of the 2017 hurricane impacts, we instituted a change to the same store sales store selection criteria to exclude stores in those geographically impacted regions for 18 months. Same store revenues increased by $39.5 million, or 3.3%, to $1,229.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, as compared to $1,190.1 million in 2017. The increase in same store revenues was primarily attributable to an increase in the Core U.S. segment, as discussed further in the segment performance section below.
Cost of Rentals and Fees. Cost of rentals and fees consists primarily of depreciation of rental merchandise. Cost of rentals and fees for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, decreased by $8.6 million, or 1.8%, to $465.9 million as compared to $474.5 million in 2017. This decrease in cost of rentals and fees was primarily attributable to decreases of $7.5 million and $1.8 million in the Core U.S. and Acceptance Now segments, respectively. Cost of rentals and fees expressed as a percentage of rentals and fees revenue increased to 27.7% for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 as compared to 27.5% in 2017.
Cost of Merchandise Sold. Cost of merchandise sold decreased by $20.4 million, or 8.0%, to $236.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, from $256.7 million in 2017, primarily attributable to decreases of $16.9 million and $3.6 million in the Acceptance Now and Core U.S. segments, respectively. The gross margin percent of merchandise sales decreased to 1.3% for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, from 3.5% in 2017.
Gross Profit. Gross profit decreased by $39.1 million, or 3.0%, to $1,268.6 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, from $1,307.7 million in 2017, due primarily to a decrease of $54.0 million in the Acceptance Now segment, partially offset by increases of $9.5 million and $4.4 million in the Core U.S. and Franchising segments, respectively, as discussed further in the segment performance section below. Gross profit as a percentage of total revenue increased to 63.5% for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, as compared to 63.4% in 2017.
Store Labor. Store labor decreased by $37.7 million, or 6.8%, to $513.5 million, for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, as compared to $551.2 million in 2017, primarily attributable to decreases of $25.0 million and $13.1 million in the Acceptance Now and Core U.S. segments, respectively, primarily as a result of the closure of our Acceptance Now collection centers and a lower Core U.S. store base. Store labor expressed as a percentage of total store revenue was 26.0% for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, as compared to 26.9% in 2017.
Other Store Expenses. Other store expenses decreased by $54.4 million, or 9.9%, to $492.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, as compared to $546.5 million in 2017, primarily attributable to a decrease of $31.6 million and $23.8 million in the Acceptance Now and Core U.S. segments, respectively, as a result of lower customer stolen merchandise losses for Acceptance Now and lower Core U.S. store base. Other store expenses expressed as a percentage of total store revenue were 24.9% for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, compared to 26.7% in 2017.
General and Administrative Expenses. General and administrative expenses decreased by $3.1 million, or 2.4%, to $127.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, as compared to $130.6 million in 2017. General and administrative expenses expressed as a percentage of total revenue were 6.4% for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, compared to 6.3% in 2017.
Other Charges. Other charges increased by $9.1 million, or 28.8%, to $40.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, as compared to $31.6 million in 2017. Other charges for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017 primarily related to cost savings initiatives, including reductions in overhead and supply chain, incremental legal and advisory fees, Core U.S. store closures, hurricane damages, and reductions in our field support center and Acceptance Now closures in 2017.
Operating Profit. Operating profit increased by $50.7 million, to $42.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, as compared to operating loss of $8.2 million in 2017, primarily due to increases of 35.9 million and 21.3 million in the Core U.S. and Acceptance Now segment, respectively, as discussed further in the segment performance sections below. Operating profit expressed as a percentage of total revenue was 2.1% for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, compared to (0.4)% in 2017, primarily due to the increases in gross profit for the Core U.S. and decreases in store labor, other store expenses, and general and administrative expenses described above. Excluding other charges, operating profit was $83.2 million, or 4.2% of revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, compared to $23.4 million, or 1.1% of revenue for the comparable period of 2017.
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Income Tax. Income tax expense for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 was $3.8 million, as compared to an income tax benefit of $15.8 million in 2017. The effective tax rate was 35.6% for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, compared to 35.9% in 2017.
Segment Performance
Core U.S. segment

| Three Months Ended |  |  |  |  |  | Nine Months Ended |  |  |  |
| September 30, |  | Change |  | September 30, |  | Change
(dollar amounts in thousands) | 2018 |  | 2017 |  | $ |  | % |  | 2018 |  | 2017 |  | $ |  | %
Revenues | $ | 451,320 |  |  | $ | 442,763 |  |  | $ | 8,557 |  |  | 1.9 | % |  | $ | 1,389,081 |  |  | $ | 1,390,687 |  |  | $ | (1,606 | ) |  | (0.1 | )%
Gross profit | 313,771 |  |  | 309,779 |  |  | 3,992 |  |  | 1.3 | % |  | 975,231 |  |  | 965,739 |  |  | 9,492 |  |  | 1.0 | %
Operating profit | 43,221 |  |  | 23,859 |  |  | 19,362 |  |  | 81.2 | % |  | 115,135 |  |  | 79,241 |  |  | 35,894 |  |  | 45.3 | %
Change in same store revenue |  |  |  |  |  |  | 5.2 | % |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 2.9 | %
Stores in same store revenue calculation |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,665 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 1,897

Revenues. The increase in revenue for the three months ended September 30, 2018 was driven primarily by an increase in rentals and fees revenue of $7.6 million, as compared to 2017. This increase is primarily due to increases in same store sales. The decrease in revenue for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, compared to 2017, was primarily due to decreases in merchandise sales and installment sales of $4.8 million and $2.2 million, respectively, partially offset by an increase in rentals and fees revenue of $5.6 million. These decreases were primarily due to rationalization of our Core U.S. store base, partially offset by increases in same store sales.
Gross Profit. Gross profit increased for the three months ended September 30, 2018, as compared to 2017, primarily due to the increase in revenue described above, partially offset by an increase in cost of merchandise sold of $7.1 million. Gross profit increased for the nine months ended September 30, 2018 primarily due to the increase in rentals and fees revenue described above, in addition to a decrease in cost of rentals and fees of $7.5 million, as compared to 2017. Gross profit as a percentage of segment revenues increased to 70.2% for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, as compared to 69.4% for the respective period in 2017, primarily due to the intercompany book value adjustment for Acceptance Now returned product transferred to Core U.S. stores.
Operating Profit. Operating profit as a percentage of segment revenues was 9.6% and 8.3% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively, compared to 5.4% and 5.7% for the respective periods in 2017, primarily due to decreases in store labor and other store expenses of $14.7 million and $33.9 million, respectively, partially offset by higher merchandise losses. Declines in store labor and other store expenses were driven primarily by lower store count. Charge-offs in our Core U.S. rent-to-own stores due to customer stolen merchandise, expressed as a percentage of Core U.S. rent-to-own revenues, were approximately 3.5% and 3.2% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively, compared to 2.4% and 2.7% for the respective periods in 2017. Charge-offs in our Core U.S. rent-to-own stores due to other merchandise losses, expressed as a percentage of Core U.S. rent-to-own revenues, were approximately 1.6% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, compared to 2.0% and 1.9% for the respective periods in 2017. Other merchandise losses include unrepairable and missing merchandise, and loss/damage waiver claims.
Acceptance Now segment

| Three Months Ended |  |  |  |  |  | Nine Months Ended |  |  |  |
| September 30, |  | Change |  | September 30, |  | Change
(dollar amounts in thousands) | 2018 |  | 2017 |  | $ |  | % |  | 2018 |  | 2017 |  | $ |  | %
Revenues | $ | 173,438 |  |  | $ | 184,293 |  |  | $ | (10,855 | ) |  | (5.9 | )% |  | $ | 549,435 |  |  | $ | 622,160 |  |  | $ | (72,725 | ) |  | (11.7 | )%
Gross profit | 81,586 |  |  | 92,088 |  |  | (10,502 | ) |  | (11.4 | )% |  | 256,441 |  |  | 310,451 |  |  | (54,010 | ) |  | (17.4 | )%
Operating profit | 26,278 |  |  | 10,379 |  |  | 15,899 |  |  | 153.2 | % |  | 70,865 |  |  | 49,595 |  |  | 21,270 |  |  | 42.9 | %
Change in same store revenue |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6.7 | % |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 4.6 | %
Stores in same store revenue calculation |  |  |  |  |  |  | 489 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 539

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RENT-A-CENTER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Revenues. The decrease in revenue for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, was driven primarily by store closures for Conn's and hhgregg, in addition to impacts from the aftermath of the hurricanes in 2017, partially offset by increases in same store sales.
Gross Profit. Gross profit decreased for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, compared to 2017, primarily due to the decrease in revenue described above. Gross profit as a percentage of segment revenues decreased to 47.0% and 46.7% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, compared to 50.0% and 49.9% for the respective periods in 2017, primarily due to the intercompany book value adjustment of Acceptance Now returned product transferred to Core U.S. stores, and the new value proposition enhancements.
Operating Profit. Operating profit increased by 153.2% and 42.9% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively, as compared to 2017. The increase in operating profit for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 was primarily due to decreases in labor and other store expenses driven by the closure of our collection centers, decreased rental merchandise losses, and a decrease in charges incurred for store closures in 2017. Charge-offs in our Acceptance Now locations due to customer stolen merchandise, expressed as a percentage of revenues, were approximately 8.3% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively, compared to 12.5% and 12.0% for the respective periods in 2017. Charge-offs in our Acceptance Now locations due to other merchandise losses, expressed as a percentage of revenues, were approximately 0.9% and 0.8% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively, compared to 1.2% and 1.1% for the respective periods in 2017.
Mexico segment

| Three Months Ended |  |  |  |  |  | Nine Months Ended |  |  |  |
| September 30, |  | Change |  | September 30, |  | Change
(dollar amounts in thousands) | 2018 |  | 2017 |  | $ |  | % |  | 2018 |  | 2017 |  | $ |  | %
Revenues | $ | 12,784 |  |  | $ | 12,237 |  |  | $ | 547 |  |  | 4.5 | % |  | $ | 37,122 |  |  | $ | 35,351 |  |  | $ | 1,771 |  |  | 5.0 | %
Gross profit | 8,885 |  |  | 8,466 |  |  | 419 |  |  | 4.9 | % |  | 25,756 |  |  | 24,668 |  |  | 1,088 |  |  | 4.4 | %
Operating profit | 922 |  |  | (242 | ) |  | 1,164 |  |  | 481.0 | % |  | 2,306 |  |  | (122 | ) |  | 2,428 |  |  | 1,990.2 | %
Change in same store revenue |  |  |  |  |  |  | 12.8 | % |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 6.8 | %
Stores in same store revenue calculation |  |  |  |  |  |  | 108 |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 108 |

Revenues. Revenues for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 were negatively impacted by exchange rate fluctuations of approximately $0.8 million and $0.3 million, respectively, as compared to the same periods in 2017. On a constant currency basis, revenues for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 increased approximately $1.3 million and $2.1 million, respectively.
Gross Profit. Gross profit for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 was negatively impacted by approximately $0.6 million and $0.2 million, respectively, due to exchange rate fluctuations as compared to the same periods in 2017. On a constant currency basis, gross profit increased by approximately $1.0 million and $1.3 million for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively, compared to the same periods in 2017. Gross profit as a percentage of segment revenues was 69.5% and 69.4% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively, compared to 69.2% and 69.8% for the respective periods in 2017.
Operating Profit. Operating profit for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 was minimally impacted by exchange rate fluctuations compared to 2017. Operating profit as a percentage of segment revenues increased to 7.2% and 6.2% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively, from (2.0)% and (0.3)% for the respective period in 2017, driven primarily by lower rental merchandise losses.
Franchising segment

| Three Months Ended |  |  |  |  |  | Nine Months Ended |  |  |  |
| September 30, |  | Change |  | September 30, |  | Change
(dollar amounts in thousands) | 2018 |  | 2017 |  | $ |  | % |  | 2018 |  | 2017 |  | $ |  | %
Revenues | $ | 7,400 |  |  | $ | 4,672 |  |  | $ | 2,728 |  |  | 58.4 | % |  | $ | 23,077 |  |  | $ | 15,388 |  |  | $ | 7,689 |  |  | 50.0 | %
Gross profit | 3,498 |  |  | 2,132 |  |  | 1,366 |  |  | 64.1 | % |  | 11,176 |  |  | 6,803 |  |  | 4,373 |  |  | 64.3 | %
Operating profit | 522 |  |  | 1,032 |  |  | (510 | ) |  | (49.4 | )% |  | 3,687 |  |  | 3,565 |  |  | 122 |  |  | 3.4 | %

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Revenues. Revenues increased for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the respective periods in 2017, primarily due to a change in accounting for franchise advertising fees as a result of the adoption of ASC 606 and an increase in merchandise sales driven by higher store count. During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 franchise advertising fees are presented on a gross basis, as revenue, in the consolidated statement of operations, rather than net of operating expenses in the consolidated statement of operations, as they are presented in the three and nine months ended September 30, 2017.
Gross Profit. Gross profit as a percentage of segment revenues increased to 47.3% and 48.4% for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018, respectively, from 45.6% and 44.2% for the respective periods in 2017, primarily due to the change in accounting for franchise advertising fees described above.
Operating Profit. Operating profit as a percentage of segment revenues decreased for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2018 to 7.1% and 16.0%, respectively, compared to 22.1% and 23.2% for the respective periods in 2017.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
Overview. For the nine months ended September 30, 2018, we generated $183.9 million in operating cash flow. We paid down debt by $139.3 million from cash generated from operations, used cash in the amount of $22.5 million for capital expenditures, and also had proceeds from the sale of property assets of $16.5 million, ending the six-month period with $111.0 million of cash and cash equivalents.
Analysis of Cash Flow. Cash provided by operating activities increased $48.5 million to $183.9 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, from $135.4 million in 2017. This was primarily attributable to the improvement in net earnings during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 compared to the same period in 2017, and receipt of our 2017 tax refund of approximately $10.6 million.
Cash used in investing activities decreased approximately $43.7 million to $8.1 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, from $51.8 million in 2017, due primarily to a decrease in capital expenditures and an increase in proceeds from the sale of property assets.
Cash used in financing activities was $138.5 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, compared to $104.6 million in 2017, an increase of $33.9 million, primarily driven by our net reduction in debt of $139.3 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, as compared to a net decrease in debt of $86.6 million for the comparable period in 2017, offset by dividend and debt issuance payments of $12.8 million and 5.3 million during the nine months ended September 30, 2017.
Liquidity Requirements. Our primary liquidity requirements are for rental merchandise purchases. Other capital requirements include expenditures for property assets and debt service. Our primary sources of liquidity have been cash provided by operations. Should we require additional funding sources, we maintain revolving credit facilities, including a $12.5 million line of credit at INTRUST Bank, N.A. We utilize our Revolving Facility for the issuance of letters of credit, as well as to manage normal fluctuations in operational cash flow caused by the timing of cash receipts. In that regard, we may from time to time draw funds under the Revolving Facility for general corporate purposes. Amounts are drawn as needed due to the timing of cash flows and are generally paid down as cash is generated by our operating activities. Our Revolving Facility is scheduled to mature in March 2019. In the event the Vintage Merger is not completed prior to the maturation of the Revolving Facility, we will need to refinance our Revolving Facility.
We believe the cash flow generated from operations, together with amounts available under our Credit Agreement for the remainder of its term, will be sufficient to fund our liquidity requirements during the next 12 months. While our operating cash flow has been strong and we expect this strength to continue, our liquidity could be negatively impacted if we do not remain as profitable as we expect. At October 30, 2018, we had $110.1 million in cash on hand, and $247.3 million available under our Revolving Facility at September 30, 2018. We expect to redeem the 6.625% and 4.75% senior notes in connection with the closing of the Vintage Merger.
The availability and attractiveness of any outside sources of financing will depend on a number of factors, some of which relate to our financial condition and performance, and some of which are beyond our control, such as prevailing interest rates and general financing and economic conditions. There can be no assurance that additional financing will be available, or if available, that it will be on terms we find acceptable.
Deferred Taxes. Certain federal tax legislation enacted during the period 2009 to 2014 permitted bonus first-year depreciation deductions ranging from 50% to 100% of the adjusted basis of qualified property placed in service during such years. The depreciation benefits associated with these tax acts are now reversing. The Protecting Americans from Tax Hikes Act of 2015 ("PATH") extended the 50% bonus depreciation to 2015 and through September 26, 2017, when it was updated by the Tax Act. The Tax Act allows 100% bonus depreciation for certain property placed in service between September 27, 2017 and December 31, 2022, at which point it will begin to phase out. The PATH act and the Tax Act resulted in an estimated benefit of $184 million
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for us in 2017. We estimate the remaining tax deferral associated with these acts is approximately $140 million at September 30, 2018, of which approximately 77%, or $108 million, will reverse in 2018, and the majority of the remainder will reverse between 2019 and 2020.
Tax Act. We expect that the Tax Act will generate cash tax savings to the Company of approximately $200 million over the next 3 years, mainly due to the decrease in the tax rate and the initial acceleration of depreciation. This deferral of tax due to acceleration of depreciation will cause additional cash taxes in the future as the deferral reverses.
Merchandise Losses. Merchandise losses consist of the following:

| Three Months Ended September 30, |  | Nine Months Ended September 30,
(in thousands) | 2018 |  | 2017 |  | 2018 |  | 2017
Customer stolen merchandise | $ | 32,613 |  |  | $ | 36,950 |  |  | $ | 97,223 |  |  | $ | 120,245 |
Other merchandise losses (1) | 8,404 |  |  | 10,899 |  |  | 26,258 |  |  | 32,380 |
Total merchandise losses | $ | 41,017 |  |  | $ | 47,849 |  |  | $ | 123,481 |  |  | $ | 152,625 |

(1) | Other merchandise losses include unrepairable and missing merchandise, and loss/damage waiver claims.

Capital Expenditures. We make capital expenditures in order to maintain our existing operations as well as for new capital assets in new and acquired stores, and investment in information technology. We spent $22.5 million and $53.5 million on capital expenditures during the nine months ended September 30, 2018 and 2017, respectively. The decrease in capital expenditures for the nine months ended September 30, 2018, compared to the respective period in 2017, is primarily due to certain cash payments in the prior year, related to information technology investments, in addition to our current strategic initiatives to reduce capital spending within certain areas of the business.
Acquisitions and New Location Openings. During the first nine months of 2018, we acquired seven new locations and customer accounts for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $2.0 million in seven transactions.
The table below summarizes the location activity for the nine-month period ended September 30, 2018.

| Core U.S. |  | Acceptance Now Staffed |  | Acceptance Now Direct |  | Mexico |  | Franchising |  | Total
Locations at beginning of period | 2,381 |  |  | 1,106 |  |  | 125 |  |  | 131 |  |  | 225 |  |  | 3,968 |
New location openings | — |  |  | 99 |  |  | 7 |  |  | — |  |  | 4 |  |  | 110 |
Acquired locations remaining open | 1 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 32 |  |  | 33 |
Conversions | — |  |  | (3 | ) |  | 3 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |
Closed locations |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Merged with existing locations | (129 | ) |  | (95 | ) |  | (16 | ) |  | (8 | ) |  | — |  |  | (248 | )
Sold or closed with no surviving location | (48 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | (1 | ) |  | (16 | ) |  | (65 | )
Locations at end of period | 2,205 |  |  | 1,107 |  |  | 119 |  |  | 122 |  |  | 245 |  |  | 3,798 |
Acquired locations closed and accounts merged with existing locations | 6 |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | — |  |  | 6 |
Total approximate purchase price of acquired stores (in millions) | $ | 2.0 |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | — |  |  | $ | 2.0 |

Senior Debt. As discussed in Note 4 to the condensed consolidated financial statements, the Credit Agreement includes a five-year $350.0 million Revolving Facility, which is scheduled to mature in March 2019. We may use $150 million of the Revolving Facility for the issuance of letters of credit, of which $92 million had been so utilized as of October 30, 2018.
Senior Notes. See descriptions of the senior notes in Note 5 to the condensed consolidated financial statements.
Store Leases. We lease space for all of our Core U.S. and Mexico stores and certain support facilities under operating leases expiring at various times through 2023. Most of our store leases are five year leases and contain renewal options for additional periods ranging from three to five years at rental rates adjusted according to agreed-upon formulas.
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RENT-A-CENTER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
Contractual Cash Commitments. The table below summarizes debt, lease and other minimum cash obligations outstanding as of September 30, 2018:

| Payments Due by Period
(in thousands) | Total |  | 2018 |  | 2019-2020 |  | 2021-2022 |  | Thereafter
6.625% Senior Notes(1) | 341,225 |  |  | 9,697 |  |  | 331,528 |  |  | — |  |  | — |
4.75% Senior Notes(2) | 285,625 |  |  | 5,937 |  |  | 23,750 |  |  | 255,938 |  |  | — |
Operating Leases | 428,856 |  |  | 38,669 |  |  | 254,791 |  |  | 120,537 |  |  | 14,859 |
Total(3) | $ | 1,055,706 |  |  | $ | 54,303 |  |  | $ | 610,069 |  |  | $ | 376,475 |  |  | $ | 14,859 |

(1) | Includes interest payments of $9.7 million on each May 15 and November 15 of each year.

(2) | Includes interest payments of $5.9 million on each May 1 and November 1 of each year.

(3) | As of September 30, 2018, we have recorded $36.9 million in uncertain tax positions. Because of the uncertainty of the amounts to be ultimately paid as well as the timing of such payments, uncertain tax positions are not reflected in the contractual obligations table.

Seasonality. Our revenue mix is moderately seasonal, with the first quarter of each fiscal year generally providing higher merchandise sales than any other quarter during a fiscal year, primarily related to the receipt of federal income tax refunds by our customers. Generally, our customers will more frequently exercise the early purchase option on their existing rental purchase agreements or purchase pre-leased merchandise off the showroom floor during the first quarter of each fiscal year. Furthermore, we tend to experience slower growth in the number of rental purchase agreements in the third quarter of each fiscal year when compared to other quarters throughout the year. We expect these trends to continue in the future.
New Accounting Pronouncements
In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which replaces existing accounting literature relating to the classification of, and accounting for, leases. Under ASU 2016-02, a company must recognize for all leases (with the exception of leases with terms less than 12 months) a liability representing a lessee's obligation to make lease payments arising from a lease, and a right-of-use asset representing the lessee's right to use, or control the use of, a specified asset for the lease term. Lessor accounting is largely unchanged, with certain improvements to align lessor accounting with the lessee accounting model and Topic 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. In January 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-01, Lease (Topic 841): Land Easement Practical Expedient for Transition to Topic 842, which amends ASU 2016-02 to add two practical expedients. The changes allow companies to elect a simplified transition approach, and provides lessors with an option related to how lease and other related revenues are presented and disclosed. In July 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-10, Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases, and ASU 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842): Target Improvements, which makes certain technical corrections and amends Topic 842. These amendments allow entities to report comparative periods under ASC 840 and includes an optional practical expedient for lessors that eliminates the requirement to separate certain lease and non-lease components. The adoption of these ASU's will be required for us beginning January 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted.
The company's rent-to-own agreements will fall within the scope of ASU 2016-02, however, we do not expect adoption of the new standard to significantly affect the timing of revenue recognition for our rental contracts. As a lessee, the new standard will also affect a substantial portion of our real estate, vehicle, and other equipment lease contracts. Upon adoption we will recognize a right-to-use asset and lease liability for the majority of these operating lease contracts within the consolidated balance sheet. We are still in the process of quantifying the expected impact to the consolidated balance sheet upon adoption, however, we do not expect significant impacts to our consolidated statement of operations or statement of cash flows. We are also still in the process of evaluating available adoption practical expedients, but we do intend to elect ASU 2018-10 to report comparative periods under ASC 840. We do not expect to early adopt these standards.
In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU 2017-04, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment, which simplifies the subsequent measurement of goodwill by eliminating the hypothetical purchase price allocation and instead using the difference between the carrying amount and the fair value of the reporting unit. The adoption of ASU 2017-04 will be required for us on a prospective basis beginning January 1, 2020, with early adoption permitted. We are currently in the process of determining our adoption date and what impact the adoption of this ASU will have on our financial statements.
In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-02, Income Statement - Reporting Comprehensive income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, which allows a company to reclassify to retained earnings the disproportionate income tax effects of the Tax Act on items with accumulated other comprehensive income that the FASB refers to as having been stranded in accumulated other comprehensive income. The adoption of ASU 2018-02 will be required for us beginning January 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted. We do not intend to exercise the option to reclassify stranded tax effects within accumulated other comprehensive income in each period in which the effect of the change in the U.S. federal corporate income tax rate in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (or portion thereof) is recorded.
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In March 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-05, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Amendments to SEC Paragraphs Pursuant to SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 ("SAB 118") (SEC Update), which amends paragraphs in ASC 740, Income Taxes, to reflect SAB 118, which provides guidance for companies that are not able to complete their accounting for the income tax effects of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act in the period of enactment. The Tax Act, enacted on December 22, 2017 significantly changes existing U.S. tax law and includes numerous provisions that affect our business, such as reducing the U.S. federal corporate tax rate from 35% to 21%, effective January 1, 2018 and bonus depreciation that allows for full expensing of qualified property. The adoption of ASU 2018-05 will be required for us beginning January 1, 2019, with early adoption permitted. At December 31, 2017, we had not completed our accounting for the tax effects of enactment of the Act; however, in certain cases, as described below, we made reasonable estimates of the effects and recorded provisional amounts. We recognized an income tax benefit of $76.5 million in the year ended December 31, 2017 associated with the revaluation of our net deferred tax liability. Our provisional estimate of the one-time transition tax resulted in $0.7 million additional tax expense. We also recorded a federal provisional benefit of $9.7 million based on our intent to fully expense all qualifying expenditures. As of September 30, 2018, we have not completed the analysis for all of the tax effects of the Tax Act and have not recorded any additional adjustments to the amounts recorded at year end of 2017. Our provisional estimates on Global Intangible Low Taxed Income (“GILTI”), Foreign Derived Intangible Income (“FDII”), Base Erosion and Anti-Abuse Tax (“BEAT”), and IRC Section 163(j) interest limitation do not impact our effective tax rate for the nine months ended September 30, 2018. We will continue to make and refine our calculations as additional analysis is completed.
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-13, Fair Value Measurement (Topic 820): Disclosure Framework - Changes to the Disclosure Requirements for Fair Value Measurement, which removes, modifies, and adds certain disclosure requirements in ASC 820, to improve the effectiveness of the fair value measurement disclosures. The adoption of ASU 2018-13 will be required for us beginning January 1, 2020, with early adoption permitted. We are currently in the process of determining our adoption date and what impact the adoption of this ASU will have on our financial statements.
In August 2018, the FASB issued ASU 2018-15, Intangibles - Goodwill and Other - Internal-Use Software (Subtopic 350-40); Customer's Accounting for Implementation Costs Incurred in a Cloud Computing Arrangement, which requires implementation costs incurred by customers in cloud computing arrangements (CCAs) to be deferred and recognized over the term of the arrangement, if those costs would be capitalized by the customer in a software licensing agreement under the internal-use software guidance in ASC 350-40. The adoption of ASU 2018-15 will be required for us beginning January 1, 2020, with early adoption permitted. We are currently in the process of determining our adoption date and what impact the adoption of this ASU will have on our financial statements.
From time to time, new accounting pronouncements are issued by the FASB or other standards setting bodies that we adopt as of the specified effective date. Unless otherwise discussed, we believe the impact of any other recently issued standards that are not yet effective are either not applicable to us at this time or will not have a material impact on our consolidated financial statements upon adoption.
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk.
Interest Rate Sensitivity
As of September 30, 2018, we had $292.7 million in senior notes outstanding at a fixed interest rate of 6.625%, and $250.0 million in senior notes outstanding at a fixed interest rate of 4.75%. The fair value of the 6.625% senior notes, based on the closing price at September 30, 2018, was $291.3 million. The fair value of the 4.75% senior notes, based on the closing price at September 30, 2018, was $253.0 million.
Market Risk
Market risk is the potential change in an instrument’s value caused by fluctuations in interest rates. Our primary market risk exposure is fluctuations in interest rates. Monitoring and managing this risk is a continual process carried out by our senior management. We manage our market risk based on an ongoing assessment of trends in interest rates and economic developments, giving consideration to possible effects on both total return and reported earnings. As a result of such assessment, we may enter into swap contracts or other interest rate protection agreements from time to time to mitigate this risk.
Interest Rate Risk
Interest rates on borrowings under our Credit Agreement are variable, indexed to prime or Eurodollar rates that expose us to the risk of increased interest costs if interest rates rise. As of September 30, 2018, we did not have any outstanding borrowings under our Revolving Facility and no outstanding Term Loans.
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Foreign Currency Translation
We are exposed to market risk from foreign exchange rate fluctuations of the Mexican peso to the U.S. dollar as the financial position and operating results of our stores in Mexico are translated into U.S. dollars for consolidation. Resulting translation adjustments are recorded as a separate component of stockholders’ equity.
Item 4. Controls and Procedures.
Disclosure controls and procedures. In accordance with Rule 13a-15(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, an evaluation was performed under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and interim Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a–15(e) and 15d–15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q. Based on this evaluation, our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and our interim Chief Financial Officer, concluded that, as of September 30, 2018, our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a–15(e) and 15d–15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) were effective.
Changes in internal controls over financial reporting. For the quarter ended September 30, 2018, there have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that, in the aggregate, have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.
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PART II – Other Information
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
Alan Hall, et. al. v. Rent-A-Center, Inc., et. al.; James DePalma, et. al. v. Rent-A-Center, Inc., et. al. On December 23, 2016, a putative class action was filed against us and certain of our former officers by Alan Hall in federal court in Sherman, Texas. The complaint alleges that the defendants violated Section 10(b) and/or Section 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and Rule 10b-5 promulgated thereunder by issuing false and misleading statements and omitting material facts regarding our business, including implementation of our point-of-sale system, operations and prospects during the period covered by the complaint. The complaint purports to be brought on behalf of all purchasers of our common stock from July 27, 2015 through October 10, 2016, and seeks damages in unspecified amounts and costs, fees, and expenses. A complaint filed by James DePalma also in Sherman, Texas alleging similar claims was consolidated by the court into the Hall matter. On October 19, 2017, the magistrate judge entered a recommendation to deny our motion to dismiss the complaint to the district judge who will decide the issue. We filed our objections to the magistrate's recommendation on November 2, 2017. On December 14, 2017, the district judge issued an order adopting the magistrate's report and denying our motion to dismiss the complaint. The parties have subsequently agreed to settle this matter for $11 million pursuant to a Settlement Term Sheet dated October 8, 2018. The settlement is in the documentation process and is subject to approval by the court. The settlement will be fully funded by insurance.
Kevin Paul, derivatively and on behalf of Rent-A-Center, Inc. v. Robert D. Davis et. al.; Sheila Coleman, derivatively and on behalf of Rent-A-Center, Inc. v. Robert D. Davis et. al.; Michael Downing, derivatively and on behalf of Rent-A-Center, Inc. v. Mark E. Speese et. al. On March 15 and 16, 2017, substantially similar shareholder derivative suits were filed against certain current and former officers and directors and, nominally, against us, in state court in Dallas County, Texas. Another substantially similar shareholder derivative suit was filed against certain current and former officers and directors and, nominally, against us, in state court in Collin County, Texas on May 8, 2017. All three of the cases have been consolidated in state court in Dallas County, Texas. The lawsuits allege that the defendants breached their fiduciary duties owed to Rent-A-Center and otherwise mismanaged the affairs of the company as it concerns public statements made related to our point-of-sale system, operational results of our Acceptance Now segment, and our revenues and profitability. The petitions in these suits claim damages in unspecified amounts; seek an order directing the Company to make various changes to corporate governance and internal procedures, including putting forth a shareholder vote on various governance matters; restitution from the individual defendants; and cost, fees and expenses. The closing of the proposed merger between Rent-A-Center and Vintage Capital will result in the stockholders losing standing to pursue these claims. Accordingly, the plaintiffs voluntarily withdrew these complaints in August 2018.
Arnaud van der Gracht de Rommerswael, derivatively and on behalf of Rent-A-Center, Inc. v. Mark Speese et. al. On April 3, 2017, another shareholder derivative suit was filed against certain current and former officers and directors, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., and, nominally, against us, in Federal court in Sherman, Texas. The complaint alleges that the defendants breached their fiduciary duties owed to Rent-A-Center and otherwise mismanaged the affairs of the company as it concerns (i) public statements made related to the rollout of our point-of-sale system; (ii) compensation paid to Guy Constant and Robert Davis surrounding their resignations; and (iii) change-of-control language in certain debt agreements, which the suit alleges impacts shareholders’ willingness to vote for a slate of directors nominated by Engaged Capital Flagship Master Fund, LP. (“Engaged Capital”). The complaint claims damages in unspecified amounts, disgorgement of benefits from alleged breaches of duty by the individual defendants; an order declaring that certain language in the debt agreements is unenforceable; an order enjoining the lender defendants from enforcing certain provisions in the debt agreements; an order directing the Company’s board to approve Engaged Capital’s slate of directors; an order directing the Company to make unspecified changes to corporate governance and internal procedures; and costs, fees, and expenses.
In response to the motion to dismiss filed by the defendants on April 25, 2017, the plaintiff amended his complaint on May 9, 2017 and on May 19, 2017. The amended complaint alleges breach of fiduciary duty, unjust enrichment and waste of corporate assets related to alleged acts for the purposes of entrenching board members, including the approval of change-of-control language in certain debt agreements, the implementation of the point-of-sale system, and the severance compensation paid to Guy Constant and Robert Davis.
On July 10, 2017, the plaintiff’s claims against JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. were dismissed.
On October 12, 2017, the court issued an order requiring plaintiffs to re-plead the claims related to our point-of-sale system, and denying the motion to dismiss with respect to the waste and entrenchment claims. The plaintiffs failed to re-plead the claims related to our point-of-sale system.
The closing of the proposed merger between Rent-A-Center and Vintage Capital will result in the stockholders losing standing to pursue these claims. Accordingly, the plaintiffs voluntarily withdrew these complaints in August 2018.
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Blair v. Rent-A-Center, Inc. This matter is a state-wide class action complaint originally filed on March 13, 2017 in the Federal District Court for the Northern District of California. The complaint alleges various claims, including that our cash sales and total rent to own prices exceed the pricing permitted under the Karnette Rental-Purchase Act. In addition, the plaintiffs allege that we fail to give customers a fully executed rental agreement and that all such rental agreements that were issued to customers unsigned are void under the law. The plaintiffs are seeking statutory damages under the Karnette Rental-Purchase Act which range from $100 - $1,000 per violation, injunctive relief, and attorney’s fees. We believe that these claims are without merit and intend to vigorously defend ourselves. However, we cannot assure you that we will be found to have no liability in this matter.
Litigation Relating to the Vintage Merger. Four putative class action complaints have been filed in connection with the pending Vintage Merger. On August 2, 2018, plaintiff Shiva Stein filed a lawsuit captioned Stein v. Rent-A-Center, Inc., et al., No. 1:18-cv-01152-RGA, against Rent-A-Center and members of the Rent-A-Center Board in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. On August 3, 2018, plaintiff Ken Herz filed a lawsuit captioned Herz v. Rent-A-Center, Inc., et al., No. 1:18-cv-01162-RGA, against Rent-A-Center and members of the Rent-A-Center Board in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. On August 8, 2018, plaintiff Charles Robitaille filed a lawsuit captioned Robitaille v. Rent-A-Center, Inc., et al., No. 1:18-cv-01204-RGA, against Rent-A-Center and members of the Rent-A-Center Board in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware. On August 23, 2018, plaintiff Michael Downing filed a lawsuit captioned Downing v. Rent-A-Center, Inc., et al., No. 1:18-cv-01299-LPS, against Rent-A-Center and members of the Rent-A-Center Board in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware (collectively, the “Merger Litigation”). All four lawsuits allege violations of Sections 14(a) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, and SEC Rule 14a-9, for alleged material misstatements or omissions in connection with the pending Vintage Merger transaction. All four complaints include demands for, among other things, an order enjoining defendants from closing the pending Vintage Merger absent certain disclosures of information identified in the complaints.
Rent-A-Center believes that the claims asserted in the Merger Litigation are without merit and that no supplemental disclosure is required under applicable law. However, in order to avoid the risk of the Merger Litigation delaying or adversely affecting the pending Vintage Merger and to minimize the costs, risks and uncertainties inherent in litigation, and without admitting any liability or wrongdoing, Rent-A-Center voluntarily supplemented the definitive proxy statement it filed with the SEC on August 15, 2018 in connection with pending Vintage Merger in a Current Report on Form 8-K filed by Rent-A-Center with the SEC on September 11, 2018. The plaintiffs in the Merger Litigation have each subsequently filed a Notice of Voluntary Dismissal dismissing the pending lawsuits without prejudice.
Item 1A. Risk Factors
There have been no material changes to the risk factors disclosed in Item 1A of Part 1, "Risk Factors," in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
None.
Item 3. Defaults Upon Senior Securities
None.
Item 4. Mine Safety Disclosures
Not applicable.
Item 5. Other Information
None.
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Item 6. Exhibits.

Exhibit No. | Description
2.1 | Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of June 17, 2018, by and among Rent-A-Center, Inc., Vintage Rodeo Parent, LLC and Vintage Rodeo Acquisition, Inc. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to the registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated as of June 17, 2018.)
3.1 | Certificate of Incorporation of Rent-A-Center, Inc., as amended (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated as of December 31, 2002.)
3.2 | Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Incorporation of Rent-A-Center, Inc., dated May 19, 2004 (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to the registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2004.)
3.3 | Amended and Restated Bylaws of Rent-A-Center, Inc. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated as of September 28, 2011.)
3.4 | Certificate of Designations of Series D Preferred Stock of Rent-A-Center, Inc. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated as of March 29, 2017.)
4.1 | Form of Certificate evidencing Common Stock (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the registrant's Current Report on Form 10-Q dated as of March 31, 2017.)
4.2 | Indenture, dated as of November 2, 2010, by and among Rent-A-Center, Inc., as Issuer, the Guarantors named therein, as Guarantors, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated as of November 2, 2010.)
4.3 | Indenture, dated as of May 2, 2013, by and among Rent-A-Center, Inc., as Issuer, the Guarantors named therein, as Guarantors, and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A., as Trustee (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated as of May 2, 2013.)
4.4 | Rights Agreement, dated as of March 28, 2017, between Rent-A-Center, Inc. and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as Rights Agent (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to the registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated as of March 25, 2017.)
10.1† | Amended and Restated Rent-A-Center, Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2003.)
10.2 | Guarantee and Collateral Agreement, dated March 19, 2014, by and among Rent-A-Center, Inc., its subsidiaries named as guarantors therein and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. as Administrative Agent (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 19, 2014.)
10.3† | Form of Stock Option Agreement issuable to Directors pursuant to the Amended and Restated Rent-A-Center, Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to the registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004.)
10.4† | Form of Stock Option Agreement issuable to management pursuant to the Amended and Restated Rent-A-Center, Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.21 to the registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004.)
10.5† | Summary of Director Compensation (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to the registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.)
10.6† | Form of Stock Compensation Agreement issuable to management pursuant to the Amended and Restated Rent-A-Center, Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.15 to the registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005.)
10.7† | Form of Long-Term Incentive Cash Award issuable to management pursuant to the Amended and Restated Rent-A-Center, Inc. Long-Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.16 to the registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2005.)
10.8† | Form of Loyalty and Confidentiality Agreement entered into with management (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.14 to the registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.)
10.9† | Rent-A-Center, Inc. 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.17 to the registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2006.)

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10.10† | Form of Stock Option Agreement issuable to management pursuant to the Rent-A-Center, Inc. 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to the registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2006.)
10.11† | Form of Stock Compensation Agreement issuable to management pursuant to the Rent-A-Center, Inc. 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.19 to the registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.)
10.12† | Form of Long-Term Incentive Cash Award issuable to management pursuant to the Rent-A-Center, Inc. 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.20 to the registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.)
10.13† | Rent-A-Center, Inc. 2006 Equity Incentive Plan and Amendment (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.5 to the registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed with the SEC on January 4, 2007.)
10.14† | Form of Stock Option Agreement issuable to management pursuant to the Rent-A-Center, Inc. 2006 Equity Incentive Plan (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.22 to the registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.)
10.15† | Form of Stock Compensation Agreement issuable to management pursuant to the Rent-A-Center, Inc. 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to the registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.)
10.16† | Form of Stock Option Agreement issuable to Directors pursuant to the Rent-A-Center, Inc. 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to the registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.)
10.17† | Form of Deferred Stock Unit Award Agreement issuable to Directors pursuant to the Rent-A-Center, Inc. 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to the registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.)
10.18† | Form of Executive Transition Agreement entered into with management (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.24 to the registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended August 31, 2016.)
10.19† | Rent-A-Center, Inc. 2016 Long-Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.36 to the registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2016.)
10.20† | Rent-A-Center, Inc. Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.28 to the registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2007.)
10.21† | Rent-A-Center, Inc. 401-K Plan (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.30 to the registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008.)
10.22 | Credit Agreement, dated as of March 19, 2014, among Rent-A-Center, Inc., the several lenders from time to time parties thereto, Bank of America, N.A., BBVA Compass Bank, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A. and Suntrust Bank, as syndication agents, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the Registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated as of March 19, 2014.)
10.23† | Rent-A-Center East, Inc. Retirement Savings Plan for Puerto Rico Employees (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1 to the registrant's Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed January 28, 2011.)
10.24 | First Amendment to Franchisee Financing Agreement between ColorTyme Finance, Inc. and Citibank, N.A., dated as of July 25, 2012 (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.32 to the registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2012.)
10.25 | Master Confirmation Agreement, dated as of May 2, 2013, between Rent-A-Center, Inc. and Goldman Sachs & Co. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated as of May 2, 2013.)
10.26 | Second Amendment to Franchisee Financing Agreement between ColorTyme Finance, Inc. and Citibank, N.A., dated as of August 30, 2013 (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.34 to the registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2013.)
10.27 | Third Amendment to Franchisee Financing Agreement between ColorTyme Finance, Inc. and Citibank, N.A., dated as of May 1, 2014 (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.33 to the registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2014.)

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10.28 | Waiver and Fourth Amendment to Franchisee Financing Agreement between ColorTyme Finance, Inc. and Citibank, N.A., dated as of September 1, 2014 (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.34 to the registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2014.)
10.29 | First Amendment to the Credit Agreement, dated February 1, 2016, between the Company, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, the other agents party thereto and the lenders party thereto (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated as of February 1, 2016.)
10.30† | Form of Stock Option Agreement issuable to management pursuant to the Rent-A-Center, Inc. 2016 Long-Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.37 to the registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2016.)
10.31† | Form of Stock Compensation Agreement (RSU) issuable to management pursuant to the Rent-A-Center, Inc. 2016 Long-Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.38 to the registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2016.)
10.32† | Form of Stock Compensation Agreement (PSU) issuable to management pursuant to the Rent-A-Center, Inc. 2016 Long-Term Incentive Plan (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.39 to the registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2016.)
10.33 | Second Amendment to the Credit Agreement, dated effective as of September 30, 2016, between the Company, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, the other agents party thereto and the lenders party thereto (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated as of October 4, 2016.)
10.34† | Separation Agreement and Release of Claims, dated as of January 9, 2017, between Robert D. Davis and Rent-A-Center, Inc. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.2 to the registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated as of January 9, 2017.)
10.35 | Third Amendment and Waiver to the Credit Agreement, dated effective as of May 1, 2017, between the Company, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, the other agents party thereto and the lenders party thereto (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated as of May 1, 2017.)
10.36 | Fourth Amendment to the Credit Agreement (including Amended and Restated Guarantee and Collateral Agreement), dated as of June 6, 2017, between the Company, JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, the other agents party thereto and the lenders party thereto (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated as of June 6, 2017.)
10.37 | Cooperation Agreement, dated February 5, 2018, by and among Rent-A-Center, Inc., Engaged Capital Flagship Master Fund, LP, Engaged Capital Co-Invest V, LP, Engaged Capital Co-Invest V-A, LP, Engaged Capital Holdings, LLC and Glenn W. Welling (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated as of February 5, 2018.)
10.38† | CEO Employment Agreement, dated December 30, 2017, between Mitchell E. Fadel and Rent-A-Center, Inc. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated as of April 3, 2018.)
10.39 | Letter Agreement, dated May 25, 2018, by and among Rent-A-Center, Inc., Engaged Capital Flagship Master Fund, LP, Engaged Capital Co-Invest V, LP, Engaged Capital Co-Invest V-A, LP, Engaged Capital Flagship Fund, LP, Engaged Capital Flagship Fund, Ltd., Engaged Capital, LLC, Engaged Capital Holdings, LLC and Glenn W. Welling (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to the registrant's Current Report on Form 8-K dated as of May 25, 2018.)
18.1 | Preferability letter regarding change in accounting principle (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 18.1 to the registrant's Quarterly Report on the Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2014).
21.1 | Subsidiaries of Rent-A-Center, Inc. (Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 21.1 to the registrant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016.)
31.1* | Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 implementing Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 by Mitchell E. Fadel
31.2* | Certification pursuant to Rule 13a-14(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 implementing Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 by Maureen B. Short
32.1* | Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 by Mitchell E. Fadel

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RENT-A-CENTER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

32.2* | Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350 as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 by Maureen B. Short
101.INS* | XBRL Instance Document
101.SCH* | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Schema Document
101.CAL* | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Calculation Linkbase Document
101.DEF* | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Definition Linkbase Document
101.LAB* | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Label Linkbase Document
101.PRE* | XBRL Taxonomy Extension Presentation Linkbase Document

† | Management contract or compensatory plan or arrangement.
* | Filed herewith.

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RENT-A-CENTER, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

| RENT-A-CENTER, INC.
| By: | /S/ MAUREEN B. SHORT
|  | Maureen B. Short
|  | Interim Chief Financial Officer

Date: November 6, 2018
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