TRIB mailed ballots to all members Friday asking for a Yes or No vote on "forming an alliance" with AVB. The ballot does not contain an option for considering the RentDirect or MEGA proposals.

The Rental Industry Buying Group (TRIB), is asking it's members to approve a merger with Associated Volume Buyers (AVB).

Over the past several months, TRIB directors have heard merger proposals from AVB, RentDirect and MEGA. TRIB Board members reportedly met in Atlanta this week to compare proposals and make final recommendations.

TRIB mailed ballots to all members Friday asking for a Yes or No vote on "forming an alliance" with AVB. The ballot does not contain an option for considering the RentDirect or MEGA proposals. It is unclear whether other ballots, representing other merger proposals, will be mailed if the AVB merger fails to pass.

Sources cite "autonomy" for TRIB's Board as the deciding factor in the Board's AVB merger recommendation. Part of AVB's proposal, obtained by RTO Online, reads "TRIB would continue to operate autonomously with it's Board of Directors and staff as TRIB sees fit." 

TRIB's annual tradeshow is scheduled for May 17-20 in Cincinnati, Ohio. The May show will be held as planned, but it is unclear from the proposal how long TRIB would be allowed to hold a separate tradeshow in addition to AVB's two annual shows. The proposal states, "AVB Inc. will do everything in it's power to make sure that the TRIB Spring Show continues to be a viable part of the TRIB program." Sources familiar with other AVB mergers state it would be "highly unusual" for a division to be completely autonomous long term.

AVB's proposal also states that TRIB would manage "the total RTO business for AVB". Presumably this means management of Home Rental Source (HRS), AVB's rental purchase division. AVB formed HRS in 2001 but never aggressively pursued the RTO business. As a result, the group is thought to have only a handful of rent to own members.

Sources who have seen both the AVB and RentDirect proposals say RentDirect offered TRIB virtually the same package, excluding the separate tradeshow. "RentDirect even offered to change their name to TRIB," said the source. RentDirect, a division of Nationwide Marketing Group, has gained over 100 member RTO companies in the past 12 months. This competition is seen as driving TRIB's need to merge with a larger group.

RTO Online attempted to contact several TRIB executives Saturday. None were immediately available for comment.