Business Description

Upbound Group, Inc. Unless the context indicates otherwise, references to “we,” “us”, “our”, and the “Company” refer to the consolidated business operations of Upbound Group, Inc., the parent, and any or all of its direct and indirect subsidiaries. For any references in this document to Note A through Note U, refer to the Notes to consolidated financial statements in Item 8 included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K. We are a technology and data-driven leader in accessible and inclusive financial solutions that address the evolving needs and aspirations of underserved consumers. Through our Acima and Rent-A-Center segments, we are a leading lease-to-own provider with operations in the United States, Puerto Rico and Mexico. We provide a critical service for underserved consumers by providing them with access to, and the opportunity to obtain ownership of, high-quality, name brand durable products under a flexible lease-purchase agreement with no long-term debt obligation. Our Acima segment offers lease-to-own solutions through retailers in stores and online enabling such retailers to grow sales by expanding their customer base utilizing our differentiated offering and allowing customers to access our flexible lease-to-own solutions at thousands of retailers and to lease a wide range of durable products. Through our Rent-A-Center segment, we provide a fully integrated customer experience through our e-commerce platform and brick and mortar presence. On January 31, 2025, we completed the acquisition of Brigit, a holistic financial health technology company that has helped millions of customers improve their financial health and literacy, find ways to earn and save money, access their earned wages before their regularly scheduled payday, build their credit through savings and protect themselves from identity theft. Its mission is to help customers build a better financial future. See Note B in our consolidated financial statements included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K for additional information. We were incorporated in the State of Delaware in 1986, and our common stock is traded on The Nasdaq Stock Market under the ticker symbol “ UPBD. ” Our principal executive offices are located at 5501 Headquarters Drive, Plano, Texas 75024. Our telephone number is (972) 801-1100 and our company website is www.upbound.com. Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference into this Annual Report on Form 10-K. The Lease Purchase Transaction The lease purchase transaction is a flexible alternative that provides freedom for consumers who wish to obtain use and enjoyment of brand name merchandise with no long-term obligation and without having to pay the full price up front. Our customer has the right, but is not obligated, to acquire title to the merchandise either through an early purchase option or through payment of all lease renewals that would be required to obtain ownership. The unit economics of the lease purchase transaction vary depending on the length of time customers take to obtain ownership of the product or whether the customer chooses to return the product without obtaining ownership. If a customer elects an early purchase option within a designated period of time following the initial lease, such as 90 or 120 days, a customer generally pays the retail price of the product plus a premium to the cost. Other lease-to-own transactions involve the customer leasing our merchandise through all optional lease renewal terms required to obtain ownership of the merchandise at the conclusion of the final lease renewal term. A customer may also elect to obtain ownership any time after the initial lease period, but prior to the completion of all lease renewals otherwise required to obtain ownership. Due to the longer lease period as a result of completing all lease renewals, along with the other benefits that are part of the lease-to-own transaction, obtaining ownership through payment of all lease renewals involves a higher total cost compared to the cost of the general retail price of the product if it was purchased upfront. Customers primarily take ownership of the merchandise through early purchase options, where the customer elects to make a lump-sum payment at a discounted purchase price prior to the final lease renewal. In the Rent-A-Center segment, the product is often rented more than one time before a customer ultimately obtains ownership.…