UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 13D

(Rule 13d-101)

INFORMATION TO BE INCLUDED IN STATEMENTS FILED PURSUANT

TO § 240.13d-1(a) AND AMENDMENTS THERETO FILED PURSUANT TO

§ 240.13d-2(a)

(Amendment No. 5)¹

Rent-A-Center, Inc.

(Name of Issuer)

Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share

(Title of Class of Securities)

76009N100

(CUSIP Number)

glenn w. welling

engaged capital, llc

610 Newport Center Drive, Suite 250

Newport Beach, California 92660

(949) 734-7900

STEVE WOLOSKY

OLSHAN FROME WOLOSKY LLP

1325 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10019

(212) 451-2300

(Name, Address and Telephone Number of Person

Authorized to Receive Notices and Communications)

April 17, 2017

(Date of Event Which Requires Filing of This Statement)

If the filing person has previously filed a statement on Schedule 13G to report the acquisition that is the subject of this Schedule 13D, and is filing this schedule because of §§ 240.13d-1(e), 240.13d-1(f) or 240.13d-1(g), check the following box ¨.

Note:  Schedules filed in paper format shall include a signed original and five copies of the schedule, including all exhibits.  See § 240.13d-7 for other parties to whom copies are to be sent. 

1              The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person’s initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter disclosures provided in a prior cover page.

The information required on the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be “filed” for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (“Act”) or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes).

The following constitutes Amendment No. 5 to the Schedule 13D filed by the undersigned (“Amendment No. 5”). This Amendment No. 5 amends the Schedule 13D as specifically set forth herein.

Item 2 is hereby amended to add the following:

In connection with Engaged Capital Flagship Master’s withdrawal of William K. Butler as a nominee for election at the Issuer’s 2017 annual meeting of stockholders (the “Annual Meeting”), Mr. Butler shall cease to be a party to that certain Joint Filing and Solicitation Agreement as described in Amendment No. 2 to the Schedule 13D and shall cease to be a Reporting Person immediately upon the filing of this Amendment No. 5 to the Schedule 13D.

Item 4 is hereby amended to add the following:

On April 17, 2017, Engaged Capital Flagship Master withdrew its nomination of William K. Butler for election as a director at the Annual Meeting. To the extent that it remains the case that the terms of three (3) directors currently serving on the Issuer’s Board of Directors expire at the Annual Meeting, Engaged Capital Flagship Master will withdraw one (1) of its remaining four (4) nominees prior to the filing of its definitive proxy statement.

Item 6 is hereby amended as follows:

On March 27, 2017, that certain Consulting Agreement (as defined and described in Amendment No. 2 to the Schedule 13D) between Engaged Capital Flagship Master and Mitchell E. Fadel was terminated. 

SIGNATURES

After reasonable inquiry and to the best of his knowledge and belief, the undersigned certifies that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct.

Dated: April 17, 2017