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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 SCHEDULE 13G Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Initial Filing)* Rent-A-Center, Inc. ------------------- (Name of Issuer) Common Stock ------------ (Title of Class of Securities) 76009N100 --------- (CUSIP Number) SEPTEMBER 30, 1999 (Date of Event Which Requires Filing of this Statement) Check the appropriate box to designate the rule pursuant to which this schedule is filed: (X) Rule 13d-1(b) ( ) Rule 13d-1(c) ( ) Rule 13d-1(d) * 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 the disclosures provided in a prior cover page. The information required in 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). (Continued on following page(s)) CUSIP NO. 76009N100 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) Name of Reporting Person SAFECO Common Stock Trust S.S. or I.R.S. Identifica- tion No. of Above Person - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) Check the Appropriate Box (a) if a Member of a Group ----------------------------------- (See Instructions) (b) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) SEC Use Only - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) Citizenship or Place of State of Delaware Organization - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of (5) Sole Voting Shares Bene- Power 0 ficially Owned by --------------------------------------------------------------- Reporting (6) Shared Voting 2,015,350 Person With Power --------------------------------------------------------------- (7) Sole Dispositive Power 0 --------------------------------------------------------------- (8) Shared Dispositive 2,015,350 Power - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) Aggregate Amount Beneficially 2,015,350 Owned by Reporting Person - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row 9 8.3% - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) Type of Reporting Person IV (See Instructions) CUSIP NO. 76009N100 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) Name of Reporting Person SAFECO Asset Management S.S. or I.R.S. Identifica- Company tion No. of Above Person - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) Check the Appropriate Box (a) if a Member of a Group ----------------------------------- (See Instructions) (b) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) SEC Use Only - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) Citizenship or Place of State of Washington Organization - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of (5) Sole Voting Shares Bene- Power 0 ficially Owned by --------------------------------------------------------------- Reporting (6) Shared Voting Person With Power 2,643,650 --------------------------------------------------------------- (7) Sole Disposi- tive Power 0 --------------------------------------------------------------- (8) Shared Dispositive Power 2,643,650 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) Aggregate Amount Bene- 2,643,650(1) ficially Owned by Reporting Person - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row 9 10.9% - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) Type of Reporting Person IA (See Instructions) - -------------------------------- (1) The Reporting Person disclaims any beneficial ownership of the shares reported on this joint 13G. The reported shares are owned beneficially by registered investment companies for which the Reporting Person serves as an adviser, and include the shares reported in this joint 13G by SAFECO Common Stock Trust. CUSIP NO. 76009N100 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1) Name of Reporting Person SAFECO Corporation S.S. or I.R.S. Identifica- tion No. of Above Person - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2) Check the Appropriate Box (a) if a Member of a Group ----------------------------------- (See Instructions) (b) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 3) SEC Use Only - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 4) Citizenship or Place of Organization State of Washington - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Number of (5) Sole Voting Shares Bene- Power 0 ficially Owned by --------------------------------------------------------------- Reporting (6) Shared Voting Person With Power 2,643,650 --------------------------------------------------------------- (7) Sole Disposi- tive Power 0 --------------------------------------------------------------- (8) Shared Dispositive Power 2,643,650 - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 9) Aggregate Amount Beneficially 2,643,650(2) Owned by Reporting Person - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 10) Check if the Aggregate Amount in Row (9) Excludes Certain Shares (See Instructions) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 11) Percent of Class Represented by Amount in Row 9 10.9% - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12) Type of Reporting Person HC (See Instructions) - ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -------------------------------- (2) The Reporting Person disclaims any beneficial ownership of the shares reported on this joint 13G. The reported shares are owned beneficially by registered investment companies for which a subsidiary of the Reporting Person serves as adviser, and include the shares reported in this joint 13G by SAFECO Common Stock Trust. CUSIP NO. 76009N100 Item 1(a). Name of Issuer: See front cover Item 1(b). Address of Issuer Principal Executive Offices: 13800 Montfort Drive, Suite 300 Dallas, Texas 75240 Item 2(a). Name of Person(s) Filing: See Item 1 on cover page (pp 2-4). Item 2(b). Address of Principal Business Office or, If None, Residence: SAFECO Common Stock Trust: 10865 Willows Road NE, Redmond, WA 98052 SAFECO Corporation: SAFECO Plaza, Seattle, WA 98185 SAFECO Asset Management Company: 601 Union Street, Suite 2500, Seattle, WA 98101 Item 2(c). Citizenship: See Item 4 on cover page (pp 2-4). Item 2(d). Title of Class of Securities: See front cover page. Item 2(e). CUSIP Number: See front cover page. Item 3. If this statement is filed pursuant to Rules 13d-1(b) or 13d-2(b) or (c), check whether the persons filing are: (a) ( )Broker or Dealer registered under Section 15 of the Act. (b) ( )Bank as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of the Act. (c) ( )Insurance Company as defined in Section 3(a)(19) of the Act. (d) (X)Investment Company registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act of 1940. (e) (X)Investment Advisor registered under Section 203 of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. (f) ( )Employee Benefit Plan, Pension Fund which is subject to provisions of Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 or Endowment Fund; see Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(F). (g) (X)Parent Holding Company in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b) (ii)(G). (h) ( )Savings Association as defined in Section 3(b) of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act. (i) ( )Church Plan that is excluded from the definition of an investment company under Section 3(c)(14) of the Investment Company Act of 1940. (j) ( )Group, in accordance with Rule 13d-1(b)(1)(ii)(H). CUSIP NO. 76009N100 Item 4. Ownership: Items (a) through (c): See items 1 and 5-11 of the cover pages (pp 2-4). SAFECO Asset Management Company and SAFECO Corporation expressly declare that the filing of this statement on Schedule 13G shall not be construed as an admission that they are, for the purposes of Section 13(d) or 13(g) of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the beneficial owners of any securities covered by this statement. Each of such companies is filing this statement because it is considered an indirect beneficial owner of such securities based on its ownership or control of one or more investment companies which directly own such shares. Item 5. Ownership of 5% or Less of a Class: Not applicable. Item 6. Ownership of More than 5% on Behalf of Another Person: Not applicable. Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary Which Acquired the Security Being Reported on by the Parent Holding Company. SAFECO Asset Management Company is the subsidiary on which SAFECO Corporation is reporting as the parent holding company. SAFECO Asset Management Company is an investment adviser as specified in Item 12 on the cover page (p. 3), and reported shares are owned beneficially by registered investment companies for which SAFECO Asset Management Company serves as investment adviser. Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group. Not applicable. Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group. Not applicable. Item 10. Certification. By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired and are held in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired and are not held for the purpose of or with the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of such securities and were not acquired and are not held in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having that purpose or effect. CUSIP NO. 76009N100 Exhibits. The statement required by Rule 13d-1(f) is attached as Exhibit A. Signature. After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. Date: October 8, 1999 SAFECO Corporation By /s/ Ronald L. Spaulding ------------------------------- Ronald L. Spaulding, Treasurer SAFECO Common Stock Trust By /s/ Ronald L. Spaulding ------------------------------- Ronald L. Spaulding, Treasurer SAFECO Asset Management Company By /s/ Neal A. Fuller ------------------------------- Neal A. Fuller, Secretary CUSIP NO. 76009N100 EXHIBIT A Agreement for filing Schedule 13-G. Pursuant to the requirements of Regulation 13d-1(d), SAFECO Corporation, SAFECO Asset Management Company, and SAFECO Common Stock Trust each agree that Schedule 13-G filed by them with regard to Rent-A-Center, Inc.'s common stock is filed on behalf of each of them. Date: October 8, 1999 SAFECO Corporation By /s/ Ronald L. Spaulding ------------------------------- Ronald L. Spaulding, Treasurer SAFECO Common Stock Trust By /s/ Ronald L. Spaulding ------------------------------- Ronald L. Spaulding, Treasurer SAFECO Asset Management Company By /s/ Neal A. Fuller ------------------------------- Neal A. Fuller, Secretary