Rent-A-Center, Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Year End 2015 Results

February 1, 2016 at 4:49 PM EST

Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2015 EPS Increased Excluding Special Items

The Company Recognizes Non-Cash Goodwill Impairment Charge

Board Declares Quarterly Dividend of $0.08

PLANO, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 1, 2016-- Rent-A-Center, Inc. (the "Company") (NASDAQ/NGS: RCII) today announced results for the quarter and year ended December 31, 2015.

Notable Items for the Quarter

GAAP Basis

Diluted loss per share was $17.20 compared to earnings of $0.48 for the fourth quarter of 2014. For the full year 2015, diluted loss per share was $16.34 compared to earnings of $1.81 in the prior year. These losses were the result of the impairment of goodwill described below
The Company's annual goodwill impairment testing performed in the fourth quarter resulted in the recognition of a $1,170.0 million goodwill impairment. The impairment is a non-cash charge and does not affect liquidity or debt covenants

Excluding Special Items (see non-GAAP reconciliation below)

Diluted earnings per share increased to $0.54 compared to $0.51 for the fourth quarter of 2014. For the full year 2015, diluted earnings per share increased to $2.03 compared to $1.96 in the prior year
Consolidated total revenues decreased 0.4 percent to $793.8 million and same store sales increased 1.7 percent
Acceptance Now same store sales increased 13.7 percent as the Company begins to lap the 90 day option pricing changes
Core U.S. same store sales decreased by 2.2 percent as the Company has fully lapped the introduction of the smartphone category. Core U.S. same store sales is driven by declines in the computer and tablets category and headwinds in oil affected markets, partially offset by increases in furniture, consumer electronics, and appliances
The Company’s operating profit as a percent of total revenues increased to 6.7 percent, a 40 basis point improvement over the prior year
For the full year 2015, the Company generated $230.5 million of cash from operations, capital expenditures totaled $80.9 million, and the Company ended the year with $60.4 million of cash and cash equivalents
The Company reduced its outstanding debt balance by $74.4 million in 2015 compared to prior year and total debt was $968.4 million as of December 31, 2015
The Board of Directors has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.08 per share payable on April 21, 2016, to common stockholders of record as of the close of business on April 4, 2016

"Earnings per share for the fourth quarter and the full year 2015, excluding special items, were higher year over year," stated Mr. Robert D. Davis, Chief Executive Officer of Rent-A-Center, Inc. "Same store sales and profitability trends in our Core business improved in 2015. We delivered double digit same store sales and unit growth in our Acceptance Now business, and Acceptance Now gross margins improved sequentially in Q4, demonstrating our focus on profitable growth. There continue to be additional opportunities to unlock further growth in the business and we are committed to improving operational execution and driving toward higher performance.”

“Our results are not where we want them to be, however, the Rent-A-Center team has made significant progress on a number of fronts. We are now two years into our multi-year transformation and we are making the necessary changes to improve our profitability to drive the long-term success of Rent-A-Center. Our goals continue to be delivering improved profitability in our Core rent-to-own business, maximizing the Acceptance Now revenue growth and profit opportunity, and optimizing our Mexico business,” Mr. Davis concluded.

Goodwill Write-Down

Testing of goodwill for impairment at the reporting unit level is performed annually, and this testing resulted in the recognition of a $1,170.0 million impairment of goodwill in the Core U.S. business. Substantially all of this goodwill was created as a result of the acquisition growth strategy pursued during the period between 1993 and 2006.

The Company recently obtained an amendment to its credit agreement enabling the Company to make up to $20 million per year in dividend payments when total leverage is between 2.5x and 3.75x. As of December 31, 2015, the Company's total leverage ratio was approximately 3.1x.

The Board of Directors has declared a quarterly dividend of $0.08 per share payable on April 21, 2016, to common stockholders of record as of the close of business on April 4, 2016.

Quarterly Operating Performance

Explanations of performance are excluding special items and compared to the prior year unless otherwise noted.

ACCEPTANCE NOW fourth quarter revenues of $196.9 million increased 16.0 percent driven by same store sales growth, the growth in 90 day option pricing, and an increase in the number of locations. Gross profit as a percent of total revenue increased sequentially by 180 basis points, but declined versus prior year due to lower gross profit margin on merchandise sales and a higher mix of merchandise sales primarily due to the popularity of the 90 day option pricing. Labor and other store expenses, as a percent of store revenue, were positively impacted by improved leverage in the business. Acceptance Now operating profit increased $2.0 million.

CORE U.S. fourth quarter revenues of $573.8 million decreased 4.5 percent year over year primarily due to the continued rationalization of our Core U.S. store base and lower same store sales. Gross profit as a percent of total revenue was negatively impacted by lower gross profit margin on merchandise sales. Labor, as a percent of store revenue, was positively impacted by improved labor productivity, the flexible labor initiative, and lower incentive compensation. Other store expenses, as a percent of store revenue, were negatively impacted by higher advertising expenses, partially offset by lower losses and lower gas prices.

MEXICO fourth quarter revenues decreased 23.3 percent driven by currency fluctuations and store closures, however, operating losses improved by $3.6 million.

FRANCHISING fourth quarter revenues increased 11.7 percent and operating profit increased by $0.7 million.

Same Store Sales (Unaudited)

Table 1	2015								2014
	Core		Acceptance						Core		Acceptance
Period	U.S.		Now		Mexico		Total		U.S.		Now		Mexico		Total
Three months ended December 31,	(2.2	)%	13.7	%	4.4	%	1.7	%	(0.6	)%	28.4	%	17.0	%	4.7	%
Year ended December 31,	0.1	%	25.8	%	9.6	%	5.7	%	(4.0	)%	25.5	%	19.7	%	1.2	%

Note: Same store sales are reported on a constant currency basis beginning in 2015.

Non-GAAP Reconciliation

To supplement the Company's financial results presented on a GAAP basis, Rent-A-Center uses the non-GAAP measures ("special items”) indicated in Tables 2 and 3 below, which exclude charges in 2015 for goodwill impairment in the Core U.S. segment, the write-down of smartphones, the loss on the sale of Core U.S. and Canada stores, restructuring charges related to the closure of Core U.S. and Mexico stores, start-up expenses related to our sourcing and distribution initiative and discrete adjustments to tax reserves. Reported amounts for the prior period have been conformed to the current period presentation. Gains or charges related to sales of stores, store closures, and discrete adjustments to tax reserves will generally recur with the occurrence of these events in the future. The presentation of these financial measures is not in accordance with, or an alternative for, accounting principles generally accepted in the United States and should be read in conjunction with the Company's consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. Rent-A-Center management believes that excluding special items from the GAAP financial results provides investors a clearer perspective of the Company's ongoing operating performance and a more relevant comparison to prior period results.

Reconciliation of net earnings (loss) to net earnings excluding special items (in thousands, except per share data):

Table 2	Three Months Ended December 31, 2015						Three Months Ended December 31, 2014
	Amount			Per Share			Amount			Per Share
Net earnings (loss)	$	(912,981	)	$	(17.20	)	$	25,550		$	0.48
Special items:
Goodwill impairment and other charges, net of taxes		936,897			17.65			1,473			0.03
Revenue adjustment, net of taxes		—			—			471			0.01
Vendor settlement charge, net of taxes		—			—			189			—
Discrete income tax charges		4,553			0.09			(672	)		(0.01	)
Net earnings excluding special items	$	28,469		$	0.54		$	27,011		$	0.51

Table 3	Year Ended December 31, 2015						Year Ended December 31, 2014
	Amount			Per Share			Amount			Per Share
Net earnings (loss)	$	(866,628	)	$	(16.34	)	$	96,422		$	1.81
Special items, net of taxes:
Goodwill impairment and other charges, net of taxes		968,035			18.26			9,641			0.18
Revenue adjustment, net of taxes		—			—			400			0.01
Vendor settlement credit, net of taxes		—			—			(4,630	)		(0.08	)
Finance charges from refinancing, net of taxes		—			—			2,853			0.05
Discrete income tax charges		6,020			0.11			(672	)		(0.01	)
Net earnings excluding special items	$	107,427		$	2.03		$	104,014		$	1.96

2016 Outlook

The Company expects to deliver growth in earnings per share assuming:
- Core U.S. revenue down 4.0% to 6.0% driven by same store sales decline of 1.0% to 3.0% and the impact of store rationalization efforts
- Acceptance Now revenue of $850 to $900 million
The Company expects to deliver improved operating profit margin, EBITDA, and free cash flow in both the Core U.S. and Acceptance Now

Guidance Policy

Rent-A-Center, Inc. provides annual guidance as it relates to diluted earnings per share and will only provide updates if there is a material change versus the original guidance. The Company believes providing diluted earnings per share guidance provides investors the appropriate insight into the Company’s ongoing operating performance. Management will not discuss intra-period sales or other key operating results not yet reported as the limited data may not accurately reflect the final results of the period or quarter referenced. Guidance does not include the potential impact of any repurchases of common stock the Company may make, or the potential impact of acquisitions or dispositions that may be completed or occur after February 1, 2016, unless otherwise noted.

Webcast Information

Rent-A-Center, Inc. will host a conference call to discuss the fourth quarter results, guidance and other operational matters on Tuesday morning, February 2, 2016, at 8:30 a.m. ET. For a live webcast of the call, visit http://investor.rentacenter.com. Certain financial and other statistical information that will be discussed during the conference call will also be provided on the same website.

About Rent-A-Center, Inc.

A rent-to-own industry leader, Plano, TX-based, Rent-A-Center, Inc., is focused on improving the quality of life for its customers by providing them the opportunity to obtain ownership of high-quality, durable products such as consumer electronics, appliances, computers, furniture and accessories, and smartphones, under flexible rental purchase agreements with no long-term obligation. The Company owns and operates approximately 2,815 stores in the United States, Mexico, Canada and Puerto Rico, and approximately 1,975 Acceptance Now locations in the United States and Puerto Rico. Rent-A-Center Franchising International, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, is a national franchiser of approximately 225 rent-to-own stores operating under the trade names of "Rent-A-Center," "ColorTyme," and "RimTyme." For additional information about the Company, please visit our website at www.rentacenter.com.

Forward-Looking Statement

This press release and the guidance above contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Such forward-looking statements generally can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may," "will," "expect," "intend," "could," "estimate," "should," "anticipate," or "believe," or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are accurate. However, there can be no assurance that such expectations will occur. The Company's actual future performance could differ materially from such statements. Factors that could cause or contribute to such 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 the Company's current and potential customers; changes in the unemployment rate; difficulties encountered in improving the financial and operational performance of our business segments; failure to manage the Company's store labor and other store expenses; the Company’s ability to develop and successfully execute strategic initiatives; the Company's ability to successfully implement its new store information management system; the Company’s ability to successfully market smartphones and related services to its customers; the Company's ability to develop and successfully implement virtual or e-commerce capabilities; failure to achieve the anticipated profitability enhancements from the changes to the 90 day option pricing program and the development of dedicated commercial sales capabilities; disruptions in our supply chain; limitations of, or disruptions in, our distribution network; rapid inflation or deflation in the prices of the Company's products; the Company's ability to execute and the effectiveness of a store consolidation, including the Company's ability to retain the revenue from customer accounts merged into another store location as a result of a store consolidation; the Company's available cash flow; the Company's ability to identify and successfully market products and services that appeal to its customer demographic; consumer preferences and perceptions of the Company's brand; uncertainties regarding the ability to open new locations; the Company's ability to acquire additional stores or customer accounts on favorable terms; the Company's ability to control costs and increase profitability; the Company's ability to retain the revenue associated with acquired customer accounts and enhance the performance of acquired stores; the Company's ability to enter into new and collect on its rental or lease purchase agreements; the passage of legislation adversely affecting the rent-to-own industry; the Company's compliance with applicable statutes or regulations governing its transactions; changes in interest rates; adverse changes in the economic conditions of the industries, countries or markets that the Company serves; information technology and data security costs; the impact of any breaches in data security or other disturbances to the Company's information technology and other networks and the Company's ability to protect the integrity and security of individually identifiable data of its customers and employees; changes in the Company's stock price, the number of shares of common stock that it may or may not repurchase, and future dividends, if any; changes in estimates relating to self-insurance liabilities and income tax and litigation reserves; changes in the Company's effective tax rate; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; the Company's ability to maintain an effective system of internal controls; the resolution of the Company's litigation; and the other risks detailed from time to time in the Company's SEC reports, including but not limited to, its annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2015, and its quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2015. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, the Company is not obligated to publicly release any revisions to these forward-looking statements to reflect the events or circumstances after the date of this press release or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events.



Rent-A-Center, Inc. and Subsidiaries

STATEMENT OF EARNINGS HIGHLIGHTS - UNAUDITED

Table 4	Three Months Ended December 31,
	2015			2015			2014			2014
(In thousands, except per share data)	Before			After			Before			After
	Special Items			Special Items			Special Items			Special Items
	(Non-GAAP			(GAAP			(Non-GAAP			(GAAP
	Earnings)			Earnings)			Earnings)			Earnings)
Total Revenues	$	793,833		$	793,833		$	797,124	⁽²⁾	$	796,534
Operating Profit (Loss)		53,459	⁽¹⁾		(1,120,752	)		50,634	⁽²⁾		47,694
Net Earnings (Loss)		28,469	⁽¹⁾		(912,981	)		27,011	⁽²⁾		25,550
Diluted Earnings (Loss) per Common Share	$	0.54	⁽¹⁾	$	(17.20	)	$	0.51	⁽²⁾	$	0.48
Adjusted EBITDA	$	74,039		$	74,039		$	73,370		$	73,370

Reconciliation to Adjusted EBITDA:

Earnings (Loss) Before Income Taxes	$	41,453	⁽¹⁾	$	(1,132,758	)	$	38,235	⁽²⁾	$	35,295
Add back:
Revenue adjustment		—			—			—			590
Other charges and (credits)		—			—			—			236
Goodwill impairment charge		—			1,170,000			—			—
Other charges		—			4,211			—			2,114
Interest expense, net		12,006			12,006			12,399			12,399
Depreciation, amortization and write-down of intangibles		20,580			20,580			22,736			22,736
Adjusted EBITDA	$	74,039		$	74,039		$	73,370		$	73,370

⁽¹⁾		Excludes the effects of a $1,170.0 million pre-tax goodwill impairment charge in the Core U.S. segment, a $2.2 million pre-tax loss on the sale of Core U.S. stores and a $2.0 million pre-tax restructuring charge. These charges reduced net loss and diluted loss per share for the three months ended December 31, 2015, by approximately $941.5 million and $17.74, respectively. Net loss also excludes $4.6 million of discrete income tax adjustments to reserves that reduced diluted earnings per share by $0.09.
⁽²⁾		Excludes the effects of a $1.8 million pre-tax loss on the sale of stores in the Core U.S. segment, a $0.2 million pre-tax vendor settlement charge, $0.3 million of pre-tax restructuring charges and a $0.6 million pre-tax reduction of revenue due to consumer refunds as a result of an operating system programming error. These charges reduced net earnings and net diluted earnings per share for the three months ended December 31, 2014, by approximately $2.1 million and $0.04, respectively. Net earnings also excludes $0.7 million of discrete income tax adjustments to reserves that increased diluted earnings per share by $0.01.



Table 5	Twelve Months Ended December 31,
	2015			2015			2014			2014
(In thousands, except per share data)	Before			After			Before			After
	Special Items			Special Items			Special Items			Special Items
	(Non-GAAP			(GAAP			(Non-GAAP			(GAAP
	Earnings)			Earnings)			Earnings)			Earnings)
Total Revenues	$	3,278,420		$	3,278,420		$	3,158,386	⁽⁴⁾	$	3,157,796
Operating Profit (Loss)		217,461	⁽³⁾		(1,007,888	)		201,450	⁽⁴⁾		193,462
Net Earnings (Loss)		107,427	⁽³⁾		(866,628	)		104,014	⁽⁴⁾		96,422
Diluted Earnings (Loss) per Common Share	$	2.03	⁽³⁾	$	(16.34	)	$	1.96	⁽⁴⁾	$	1.81
Adjusted EBITDA	$	298,181		$	298,181		$	284,618		$	284,618

Reconciliation to Adjusted EBITDA:

Earnings (Loss) Before Income Taxes	$	168,769	⁽³⁾	$	(1,056,580	)	$	154,554	⁽⁴⁾	$	142,353
Add back (subtract):
Revenue adjustment		—			—			—			590
Other charges and (credits)		—			34,698			—			(6,836	)
Goodwill impairment charge		—			1,170,000			—			—
Other charges		—			20,651			—			14,234
Finance charges from refinancing		—			—			—			4,213
Interest expense, net		48,692			48,692			46,896			46,896
Depreciation, amortization and write-down of intangibles		80,720			80,720			83,168			83,168
Adjusted EBITDA	$	298,181		$	298,181		$	284,618		$	284,618

⁽³⁾		Excludes the effects of a $1,170.0 million pre-tax goodwill impairment charge in the Core U.S. segment, a $34.7 million pre-tax write-down of smartphones, a $7.5 million pre-tax loss on the sale of Core U.S. and Canada stores, a $7.2 million pre-tax charge related to the closure of Core U.S. and Mexico stores, $2.8 million of pre-tax charges for start-up and warehouse closure expenses related to our sourcing and distribution initiative, a $2.0 million pre-tax restructuring charge and $1.1 million of losses for other store sales and closures. These charges reduced net loss and net diluted loss per share for the twelve months ended December 31, 2015, by approximately $968.0 million and $18.26, respectively. Net loss also excludes $6.0 million of discrete income tax adjustments to reserves that reduced diluted earnings per share by $0.11.
⁽⁴⁾		Excludes the effects of a $6.8 million pre-tax vendor settlement credit, $7.9 million of pre-tax restructuring charges, a $4.6 million pre-tax impairment charge, a $1.8 million pre-tax loss on the sale of stores in the Core U.S. segment, a $0.6 million pre-tax reduction of revenue due to consumer refunds as a result of an operating system programming error and a $4.2 million pre-tax refinancing charge. These charges reduced net earnings and diluted earnings per share for the twelve months ended December 31, 2014, by approximately $7.6 million and $0.15, respectively. Net earnings also excludes $0.7 million of discrete income tax adjustments to reserves that increased diluted earnings per share by $0.01.



SELECTED BALANCE SHEET HIGHLIGHTS - UNAUDITED

Table 6	December 31,
	2015		2014
(In thousands)
Cash and Cash Equivalents	$	60,363	$	46,126
Receivables, net		69,320		65,492
Prepaid Expenses and Other Assets		171,347		206,150
Rental Merchandise, net
On Rent		907,625		960,414
Held for Rent		228,847		277,442
Goodwill		206,122		1,370,459
Total Assets	$	1,987,008	$	3,271,197

Senior Debt	$	425,633	$	492,813
Senior Notes		542,740		550,000
Total Liabilities		1,516,526		1,881,802
Stockholders' Equity	$	470,482	$	1,389,395



Rent-A-Center, Inc. and Subsidiaries

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - UNAUDITED

Table 7	Three Months Ended December 31,								Year Ended December 31,
	2015				2014				2015				2014
(In thousands, except per share data)
Revenues
Store
Rentals and fees	$	682,397			$	697,550		⁽⁴⁾	$	2,781,315			$	2,745,828		⁽⁴⁾
Merchandise sales		76,742				63,900				377,240				290,048
Installment sales		22,038				22,236				76,238				75,889
Other		4,527				5,573				19,158				19,949
Total store revenues		785,704				789,259				3,253,951				3,131,714
Franchise
Merchandise sales		5,555				5,591				15,577				19,236
Royalty income and fees		2,574				1,684				8,892				6,846
Total revenues		793,833				796,534				3,278,420				3,157,796
Cost of revenues
Store
Cost of rentals and fees		180,088				180,738				728,706				704,595
Cost of merchandise sold		74,568				57,221				356,696				231,520
Cost of installment sales		7,552				8,056				25,677				26,084
Total cost of store revenues		262,208				246,015				1,111,079				962,199
Other charges and (credits)		—				236				34,698		⁽⁶⁾		(6,836	)	⁽⁹⁾
Franchise cost of merchandise sold		5,250				5,252				14,534				18,070
Total cost of revenues		267,458				251,503				1,160,311				973,433
Gross profit		526,375				545,031				2,118,109				2,184,363
Operating expenses
Store expenses
Labor		211,198				222,099				854,610				888,929
Other store expenses		202,499				212,904				833,914				842,254
General and administrative expenses		38,639				37,484				166,102				162,316
Depreciation, amortization and write-down of intangibles		20,580				22,736				80,720				83,168
Goodwill impairment charge		1,170,000		⁽¹⁾		—				1,170,000		⁽¹⁾		—
Other charges		4,211		⁽²⁾		2,114		⁽⁵⁾		20,651		⁽⁷⁾		14,234		⁽¹⁰⁾
Total operating expenses		1,647,127				497,337				3,125,997				1,990,901
Operating profit (loss)		(1,120,752	)			47,694				(1,007,888	)			193,462
Finance charges from refinancing		—				—				—				4,213
Interest expense		12,115				12,665				49,326				47,843
Interest income		(109	)			(266	)			(634	)			(947	)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes		(1,132,758	)			35,295				(1,056,580	)			142,353
Income tax expense (benefit)		(219,777	)	⁽³⁾		9,745				(189,952	)	⁽⁸⁾		45,931
NET EARNINGS (LOSS)	$	(912,981	)		$	25,550			$	(866,628	)		$	96,422
Basic weighted average shares		53,069				52,917				53,050				52,850
Basic earnings (loss) per common share	$	(17.20	)		$	0.48			$	(16.34	)		$	1.82
Diluted weighted average shares		53,069				53,294				53,050				53,126
Diluted earnings (loss) per common share	$	(17.20	)		$	0.48			$	(16.34	)		$	1.81

⁽¹⁾		Includes a $1,170.0 million goodwill impairment charge in the Core U.S. segment.
⁽²⁾		Includes a $2.2 million loss on the sale of Core U.S. stores and a $2.0 million restructuring charge.
⁽³⁾		Includes $4.6 million of discrete adjustments to income tax reserves.
⁽⁴⁾		Includes a $0.6 million reduction of revenue due to consumer refunds as a result of an operating system programming error.
⁽⁵⁾		Includes a $1.8 million loss on the sale of stores in the Core U.S. segment and $0.3 million of restructuring charges.
⁽⁶⁾		Includes a $34.7 million write-down of smartphones.
⁽⁷⁾		Includes a $7.5 million loss on the sale of Core U.S. and Canada stores, a $7.2 million charge related to the closure of Core U.S. and Mexico stores, $2.8 million of charges for start-up and warehouse closure expenses related to our sourcing and distribution initiative, a $2.0 million restructuring charge and $1.1 million of losses for other store sales and closures.
⁽⁸⁾		Includes $6.0 million of discrete adjustments to income tax reserves.
⁽⁹⁾		Includes a $6.8 million vendor settlement credit.
⁽¹⁰⁾		Includes $7.9 million of restructuring charges, a $4.6 million impairment charge and a $1.8 million loss on the sale of stores in the Core U.S. segment.



Rent-A-Center, Inc. and Subsidiaries

SEGMENT INFORMATION HIGHLIGHTS - UNAUDITED

Table 8	Three Months Ended December 31,					Year Ended December 31,
	2015		2014			2015		2014
Revenues
Core U.S.	$	573,768	$	600,515		$	2,371,823	$	2,414,659
Acceptance Now		196,932		169,188	⁽¹⁾		818,325		644,853	⁽¹⁾
Mexico		15,004		19,556			63,803		72,202
Franchising		8,129		7,275			24,469		26,082
Total revenues	$	793,833	$	796,534		$	3,278,420	$	3,157,796

⁽¹⁾

Includes a $0.6 million reduction of revenue due to consumer refunds as a result of an operating system programming error.



Table 9	Three Months Ended December 31,					Year Ended December 31,
	2015		2014			2015			2014
Gross profit
Core U.S.	$	407,876	$	432,294		$	1,644,840	⁽³⁾	$	1,753,269	⁽⁴⁾
Acceptance Now		105,787		97,375	⁽²⁾		420,980			372,012	⁽²⁾
Mexico		9,833		13,339			42,354			51,070
Franchising		2,879		2,023			9,935			8,012
Total gross profit	$	526,375	$	545,031		$	2,118,109		$	2,184,363

⁽²⁾		Includes a $0.6 million reduction of revenue due to consumer refunds as a result of an operating system programming error.
⁽³⁾		Includes a $34.7 million write-down of smartphones.
⁽⁴⁾		Includes a $6.8 million vendor settlement credit.



Table 10	Three Months Ended December 31,								Year Ended December 31,
	2015				2014				2015				2014
Operating profit (loss)
Core U.S.	$	(1,109,418	)	⁽⁵⁾	$	67,864		⁽⁷⁾	$	(959,447	)	⁽⁹⁾	$	264,967		⁽¹¹⁾
Acceptance Now		28,842				26,203		⁽⁸⁾		123,971				112,918		⁽⁸⁾
Mexico		(1,157	)			(5,033	)			(14,149	)	⁽¹⁰⁾		(21,961	)
Franchising		1,789				1,104				5,793				3,295
Total segment operating profit (loss)		(1,079,944	)			90,138				(843,832	)			359,219
Corporate		(40,808	)	⁽⁶⁾		(42,444	)			(164,056	)	⁽⁶⁾		(165,757	)	⁽¹²⁾
Total operating profit (loss)	$	(1,120,752	)		$	47,694			$	(1,007,888	)		$	193,462

⁽⁵⁾		Includes a $1,170.0 million goodwill impairment charge and a $2.2 million loss on the sale of Core U.S. stores.
⁽⁶⁾		Includes a $2.0 million restructuring charge.
⁽⁷⁾		Includes a $1.8 million loss on the sale of stores and $0.3 million of restructuring charges.
⁽⁸⁾		Includes a $0.6 million reduction of revenue due to consumer refunds as a result of an operating system programming error.
⁽⁹⁾		Includes a $1,170.0 million goodwill impairment charge, a $7.5 million loss on the sale of Core U.S. and Canada stores, a $4.2 million charge related to the closure of Core U.S. stores, $2.8 million of charges for start-up and warehouse closure expenses related to our sourcing and distribution initiative and $1.1 million of losses for other store sales and closures.
⁽¹⁰⁾		Includes a $3.0 million charge related to the closure of stores.
⁽¹¹⁾		Includes a $6.8 million vendor settlement credit, a $4.9 million restructuring charge, a $1.8 million loss on the sale of stores and a $0.6 million reduction of revenue due to consumer refunds as a result of an operating system programming error.
⁽¹²⁾		Includes a $4.6 million impairment charge and a $2.8 million restructuring charge.



Table 11	Three Months Ended December 31,				Year Ended December 31,
	2015		2014		2015		2014
Depreciation, amortization and write-down of intangibles
Core U.S.	$	11,560	$	15,317	$	49,137	$	57,324
Acceptance Now		946		897		3,334		2,917
Mexico		1,109		1,641		5,160		6,683
Franchising		45		49		185		184
Total segments		13,660		17,904		57,816		67,108
Corporate		6,920		4,832		22,904		16,060
Total depreciation, amortization and write-down of intangibles	$	20,580	$	22,736	$	80,720	$	83,168

During the fourth quarter of 2015, we recorded a goodwill impairment charge of $1,170.0 million in the Core U.S. segment, not included in the table above.


Table 12	Three Months Ended December 31,				Year Ended December 31,
	2015		2014		2015		2014
Capital expenditures
Core U.S.	$	11,408	$	7,900	$	23,805	$	31,228
Acceptance Now		724		1,302		2,473		3,833
Mexico		70		238		204		4,164
Franchising		—		—		—		—
Total segments		12,202		9,440		26,482		39,225
Corporate		7,543		12,612		54,388		44,560
Total capital expenditures	$	19,745	$	22,052	$	80,870	$	83,785


Table 13	On Rent at December 31,				Held for Rent at December 31,
	2015		2014		2015		2014

Rental merchandise, net
Core U.S.	$	540,004	$	593,945	$	215,327	$	264,211
Acceptance Now		350,046		345,703		5,000		4,897
Mexico		17,575		20,766		8,520		8,334
Total rental merchandise, net	$	907,625	$	960,414	$	228,847	$	277,442


Table 14	December 31,
	2015		2014
Assets
Core U.S.	$	1,240,593	$	2,519,770
Acceptance Now		426,827		420,660
Mexico		38,898		59,841
Franchising		2,723		2,604
Total segments		1,709,041		3,002,875
Corporate		277,967		268,322
Total assets	$	1,987,008	$	3,271,197



Rent-A-Center, Inc. and Subsidiaries

LOCATION ACTIVITY - UNAUDITED

Table 15	Three Months Ended December 31, 2015
			Acceptance Now		Acceptance Now
	Core U.S.		Staffed		Direct	Mexico	Franchising	Total
Locations at beginning of period	2,697		1,468		223	143	207	4,738
New location openings	—		30		286	—	3	319
Acquired locations remaining open	—		—		—	—	—	—
Conversions	(18	)	(25	)	25	—	18	—
Closed locations
Merged with existing locations	2		29		—	—	—	31
Sold or closed with no surviving location	5		—		2	—	1	8
Locations at end of period	2,672		1,444		532	143	227	5,018
Acquired locations closed and accounts merged with existing locations	6		—		—	—	—	6


Table 16	Three Months Ended December 31, 2014
			Acceptance Now		Acceptance Now
	Core U.S.		Staffed		Direct	Mexico	Franchising	Total
Locations at beginning of period	2,841		1,359		—	176	188	4,564
New location openings	—		69		—	1	7	77
Acquired locations remaining open	4		—		—	—	—	4
Conversions	—		—		—	—	—	—
Closed locations
Merged with existing locations	—		22		—	—	—	22
Sold or closed with no surviving location	21		—		—	—	8	29
Locations at end of period	2,824		1,406		—	177	187	4,594
Acquired locations closed and accounts merged with existing locations	6		—		—	—	—	6


Table 17	Year Ended December 31, 2015
			Acceptance Now		Acceptance Now
	Core U.S.		Staffed		Direct	Mexico	Franchising	Total
Locations at beginning of period	2,824		1,406		—	177	187	4,594
New location openings	—		161		505	—	11	677
Acquired locations remaining open	5		—		—	—	—	5
Conversions	(40	)	(29	)	29	—	40	—
Closed locations
Merged with existing locations	83		94		—	34	—	211
Sold or closed with no surviving location	34		—		2	—	11	47
Locations at end of period	2,672		1,444		532	143	227	5,018
Acquired locations closed and accounts merged with existing locations	34		—		—	—	—	34


Table 18	Year Ended December 31, 2014
			Acceptance Now		Acceptance Now
	Core U.S.		Staffed		Direct	Mexico	Franchising	Total
Locations at beginning of period	3,010		1,325		—	151	179	4,665
New location openings	10		209		—	31	30	280
Acquired locations remaining open	6		—		—	—	—	6
Closed locations
Merged with existing locations	163		127		—	5	—	295
Sold or closed with no surviving location	39		1		—	—	22	62
Locations at end of period	2,824		1,406		—	177	187	4,594
Acquired locations closed and accounts merged with existing locations	13		—		—	—	—	13

View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160201006340/en/

Source: Rent-A-Center, Inc.

Rent-A-Center, Inc.
Maureen Short, 972-801-1899
Senior Vice President - Finance, Investor Relations and Treasury
maureen.short@rentacenter.com