B. Riley Participates in $1.4 Billion Rent-A-Center Acquisition

B. Riley Financial Inc. has partnered with Vintage Capital Management to acquire Rent-A-Center Inc, the Woodland Hills financial firm announced Monday. B. Riley, its subsidiary Great American Capital Partners LLC, Vintage Capital and Guggenheim Corporate Funding will provide debt and equity commitments to finance around $1.1 billion of the nearly $1.4 billion deal. The firm will also serve as a financial advisor to Vintage Capital during the transaction. “B. Riley will play multiple roles in this investment, including significant involvement in the equity, debt and management company going forward,” said Chief Executive Bryant Riley said in a statement. Rent-A-Center, based in Plano, Texas, rents and sells appliances, electronics and furniture. It operates about 2,400 stores in North America.