ATLANTA, Aug 20, 2002 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Aaron Rents, Inc.
(NYSE: RNT), the nation's leader in the rental, sales and lease ownership, and
specialty retailing of residential and office furniture, consumer electronics
and home appliances and accessories, today announced that it has completed a $50
million private placement of debt through the Prudential Capital Group, an
institutional investment management business of Prudential Financial, Inc.
(NYSE: PRU).
The debt consists of 6.88% senior unsecured notes due August 2009, with interest
only payments the first two years followed by annual $10 million principal
repayments plus interest for the next five years.
"This private placement of debt provides a longer-term of debt financing than
currently exists under our bank facilities, as well as additional capital to
support the continuing growth of the Company," said R. Charles Loudermilk, Sr.,
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. "This financing, along with the $34.1
million of net proceeds from our secondary equity offering in June of this year,
puts the Company in a very strong financial position to reach its expansion
goals over the next several years," Mr. Loudermilk added.
Aaron Rents, Inc., based in Atlanta, currently has more than 650 Company-
operated and franchised stores across the United States and Puerto Rico for the
rental and sale of residential and office furniture, accessories, consumer
electronics and household appliances. The Company also manufactures furniture,
bedding and accessories at 10 facilities in four states.
Note: Forward-looking statements in this news release are based on current
expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties, and actual results may
vary materially from the expectations due to such factors as changes in general
economic conditions, competition, pricing, customer demand and other issues.
"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of
1995: Statements in this news release regarding Aaron Rents, Inc.'s business
which are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" that involve
risks and uncertainties and which could cause actual results to differ from
those contained in the forward-looking statements. For a discussion of such
risks and uncertainties see "Risk Factors" in the Company's Registration
Statement on Form S-3, file number 333-88392, filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on May 16, 2002, which discussion is incorporated herein by
this reference.
SOURCE Aaron Rents, Inc.
CONTACT: Gilbert L. Danielson, Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer of Aaron Rents, Inc., +1-404-231-0011
URL: http://www.aaronrents.com