Rent-A-Center now operates 3,535 company-owned stores, 4 times as many company owned locations as Aaron's Sales & Lease Ownership, the number two player in the sector, and 19 times more than easyhome, now North America's third largest rental purchase company.

Rent-A-Center (RCII) has completed the acquisition of Rent-Way. Rent-Way operates approximately 782 rent-to-own stores in 34 states. As a result of the completion of the acquisition, Rent-Way is now a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of Rent-A-Center.

Rent A Center first announced the $567 million acquisition in August (see story).

The Hart Scott Rodino waiting period expired on September 13, 2006, allowing the merger to proceed without fear of government interference due to antitrust concerns (see story).

Rent-A-Center now operates 3,535 company-owned stores, 4 times as many company owned locations as Aaron's Sales & Lease Ownership, the number two player in the sector, and 19 times more than easyhome, now North America's third largest rental purchase company.

As of September 30th, 2006, Aaron's Sales and Lease Ownership had 791 Company-operated stores and 411 franchised stores, as well as 13 RIMCO stores. In addition, the Company operated 59 corporate furnishings stores. The total number of stores open at the end of September was 1,274. easyhome Ltd., operates 186 stores in Canada.

Rent-A-Center also announced today the completion of the previously announced refinancing of its senior secured debt. The new $1.3 Billion senior credit facility will be used to finance the acquisition of all of the outstanding capital stock of Rent-Way, repay the outstanding indebtedness of Rent-Way, and pay transaction expenses.