ALRENCO INC
10-Q, 1998-05-13
EQUIPMENT RENTAL & LEASING, NEC
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<PAGE>   1
                UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D. C. 20549

                                   FORM 10-Q

                  QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15(d)
                    OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

     ---------------------------------------------------------------------

                 For the quarterly period ended March 31, 1998

                         Commission File Number 0-27490

                                 ALRENCO, INC.

             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

            Indiana                                   35-1480655
(State or other jurisdiction of                      (I.R.S. Employer
incorporation or organization)                      Identification No.)

                                714 E. Kimbrough
                               Mesquite, TX 75149
                                 (972) 288-9327

                   (Address, including zip code and telephone
                   number, including area code of registrant's
                          principal executive offices)

                                      NONE
                     (Former name, former address and former
                    fiscal year if changed since last report)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was
required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing
requirements for the past 90 days. Yes X     No
                                      -----    -----

The number of shares outstanding of the issuer's common stock, as of the close
of business May 11, 1998: 16,975,271






<PAGE>   2



                                 ALRENCO, INC.

                                     INDEX

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


PART I. Financial Information                                                           Page No.
<S>                                                                                     <C>
     Item 1. Financial Statements

           Consolidated Balance Sheets as
                   of December 31, 1997 and March 31, 1998                                  3

           Consolidated Statements of Operations for
                   the three months ended March 31, 1997 and 1998                           4

           Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the
                   three months ended March 31, 1997 and 1998                               5

           Notes to Condensed Financial Statements                                          6

           Item 2. Management's Discussion and Analysis of
                   Financial Condition and Results of Operations                            7

Part II. Other Information

     Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
    
     Item 5. Other Information

     Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K

</TABLE>

SIGNATURES



<PAGE>   3


                         PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
                                      
Item 1. Financial Statements

                         ALRENCO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES

                          Consolidated Balance Sheets
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                               December 31,        March 31,
                                                                   1997              1998
                                                                                 (Unaudited)
                                   ASSETS                      -------------    -------------

<S>                                                            <C>              <C>
Cash and cash equivalents                                       $  3,569,132     $  6,627,968
Rental merchandise, net                                           97,260,578       97,733,238
Prepaid expenses and other assets                                  6,342,919        6,831,905
Deferred income taxes                                              6,135,051        6,135,051
Property and equipment, net                                       15,038,978       15,936,327
Notes receivable                                                     243,535          191,891
Income tax receivable                                              2,429,249        2,417,669
Intangible assets, net                                            92,541,249       90,628,694
                                                               -------------    -------------
              Total assets                                      $223,560,691    $ 226,502,743
                                                               =============    =============
                     LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

Accounts payable, trade                                        $  18,701,265    $  20,035,323
Accrued liabilities                                               12,393,040       13,260,513
Deferred income taxes                                              1,293,919        1,293,919
Notes payable                                                     48,161,872       55,768,192
                                                               -------------    -------------
              Total liabilities                                   80,550,096       90,357,947
                                                               -------------    -------------

Commitments and contingencies

Stockholders' equity:
    Preferred stock, no par; 10,000,000 shares
       authorized; none issued or outstanding                           --                --
    Common stock, no par; 75,000,000 shares
        authorized; 16,957,119 and 16,973,448 shares
        issued and outstanding in 1997 and 1998,
        respectively                                             149,385,777      149,599,883
    Unamortized stock awards                                        (987,810)              --
    Accumulated deficit                                           (5,387,372)     (13,455,087)
                                                               -------------    -------------
              Total stockholders' equity                         143,010,595      136,144,796
                                                               -------------    -------------
              Total liabilities and stockholders' equity       $ 223,560,691    $ 226,502,743
                                                               =============    =============

</TABLE>

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.




<PAGE>   4


                                      
                        ALRENCO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
               Consolidated Statements of Earnings (Unaudited)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     For the Three Months Ended
                                                              March 31,
                                                    ----------------------------
                                                         1997           1998
                                                    ----------------------------
<S>                                                 <C>             <C>         
Revenue:
    Rental and fee revenue                          $ 50,971,556    $ 61,861,953
    Cash sales and other revenue                       2,373,929       3,680,907
                                                    ------------    ------------
             Total revenue                            53,345,485      65,542,860
                                                    ------------    ------------
Operating expenses:
    Direct store expenses:
        Depreciation and disposition of rental
             merchandise                              15,188,513      19,134,206
        Other                                         27,755,884      35,811,566
                                                    ------------    ------------
                                                      42,944,397      54,945,772
    Corporate expenses                                 5,340,527       5,671,274
    Cost of business combinations                        402,731      11,044,613
    Name change expense                                       --         407,575
    Amortization of intangibles                        2,793,436       1,939,355
                                                    ------------    ------------
             Total operating expenses                 51,481,091      74,008,589
                                                    ------------    ------------
             Operating income (loss)                   1,864,394      (8,465,729)
    Other income (expense):
        Interest expense                                (422,895)     (1,096,842)
        Interest income                                  120,223          73,981
        Other non-operating income (expense), net        (59,321)          5,605
                                                    ------------    ------------
             Income (loss) before income taxes         1,502,401      (9,482,985)
Income tax expense (benefit)                           1,183,353      (1,415,270)
                                                    ------------    ------------
             Net income (loss)                      $    319,048    $ (8,067,715)
                                                    ============    ============
Pro forma information:
    Pro forma income                                $    319,048   
    Pro forma income tax benefit                        (213,835)  
                                                    ------------    
    Pro forma net income                            $    532,883   
                                                    ============
Pro forma net income and net loss per share
    Basic                                           $        .03    $       (.48)
                                                    ============    ============
    Diluted                                         $        .03    $       (.48)
                                                    ============    ============
Weighted average shares outstanding
    Basic                                             16,919,357      16,961,462
                                                    ============    ============
    Diluted                                           17,056,564      16,961,462
                                                    ============    ============
</TABLE>


        The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.
                                                                 



<PAGE>   5



                        ALRENCO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
              Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                               For the Three Months Ended
                                                                        March 31,
                                                            ----------------------------------
                                                                1997                  1998
                                                            -----------          -------------
<S>                                                         <C>                  <C>      
Cash flows from operating activities:
   Net income (loss)                                        $   319,048          $ (8,067,715)
   Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net 
             cash provided by (used in) operating
             activities:
             Loss on sale of property and equipment              59,321               169,612
             Depreciation and disposition of rental
                 merchandise                                 15,188,513            19,134,206
             Amortization of intangibles and stock
                 awards                                       2,793,436             2,927,165
             Depreciation of property and equipment             713,597               893,625
             Deferred income taxes                             (184,582)                   --
   Changes in operating assets and liabilities,
             net of effects of acquisitions of
             businesses:
             Purchase of rental merchandise                 (16,484,308)          (19,232,179)
             Accounts payable and accrued expenses              963,897             2,201,531
             Prepaid expenses and other assets               (1,433,808)             (488,986)
             Income taxes receivable                            665,385                11,580
                                                           ------------          ------------
                    Net cash provided by (used in)
                        operating activities                  2,600,499            (2,451,161)
                                                           ------------          ------------
Cash flows from investing activities:
   Purchase of property and equipment                        (1,182,970)           (1,943,533)
   Proceeds from sale of property and equipment                  52,536                67,834
   Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired         (33,606,004)             (486,374)
   Payments received on notes receivable                      1,058,689                51,644
                                                           ------------          ------------
               Net cash used in investing activities        (33,677,749)           (2,310,429)
                                                           ------------          ------------
Cash flows from financing activities:
   Purchase of common stock from dissenters                    (265,679)                   --
   Proceeds from stock options                                   39,088               214,106
   Net repayment of old revolving credit facilities                  --           (45,725,592)
   Net borrowings under old revolving credit
       facilities                                            10,116,807             4,036,307
   Net borrowings under new revolving credit
       facilities                                                    --            50,000,000
   Payments on notes payable and capital leases                      --              (704,395)
</TABLE>



<PAGE>   6

<TABLE>

<S>                                                                        <C>                  <C>         
    Distributions to S corporation shareholders                                 (76,616)                 -- 
                                                                            -----------          ---------- 
                  Net cash provided by financing                                                            
                        activities                                            9,813,600           7,820,426 
                                                                            -----------          ---------- 
Net increase (decrease) in cash                                             (21,263,650)          3,058,836 
Cash at beginning of period                                                  35,745,989           3,569,132 
                                                                            -----------          ---------- 
Cash at end of period                                                       $14,482,339          $6,627,968 
                                                                            ===========          ========== 
</TABLE>

        The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.



<PAGE>   7



                         ALRENCO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
             Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)

1. BASIS OF PRESENTATION. The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial 
   statements of Alrenco, Inc. (the "Company") have been prepared in accordance
   with generally accepted accounting principles for interim financial
   information and with the instructions to Rule 10-01 of Regulation S-X.
   Accordingly, they do not include all the information and footnotes required
   by generally accepted accounting principles for complete financial
   statements. In the opinion of the Company, the accompanying unaudited
   consolidated financial statements contain all adjustments (consisting of
   only normal recurring accruals) necessary to present fairly the financial
   position of the Company as of March 31, 1998, the results of operations for
   the three month periods ended March 31, 1997 and 1998, and the statements of
   cash flows for the three month periods ended March 31, 1997 and 1998. The
   results of operations for the three months ended March 31, 1998 are not
   necessarily indicative of the operating results for the full year. These
   interim financial statements should be read in conjunction with the Form
   10-K for the year ended December 31, 1997, including the financial
   statements and notes contained therein, filed with the Securities and
   Exchange Commission and the financial statements included in Part II, Item 5
   of this quarterly report on Form 10-Q.

2. ACQUISITIONS

      During the quarter ended March 31, 1997, the Company purchased 72 rental-
   purchase stores and 7 rental-purchase portfolios for $33.6 million which were
   accounted for as purchases. During the quarter ended March 31, 1998, the
   Company purchased 1 store which had not been opened, 1 store which was an
   operating location and 1 store portfolio for approximately $0.5 million.

      The above acquisitions have been accounted for as purchases, as defined
   by APB 16 and, accordingly, the operating results of the acquired businesses
   have been included in the results of operations since their respective
   acquisition dates. The purchase prices have been allocated as follows:


   <TABLE>
   <CAPTION>

                                                March 31, 1997     March 31, 1998
                                                --------------     --------------
   <S>                                          <C>                <C>
   Rental merchandise                            $ 9,966,564        $   374,687
   Property and equipment                          1,671,705             84,920
   Intangible assets                              28,968,152             26,767
   Other assets                                      207,175                 --
   Accounts payable and accrued expenses            (937,620)                --
   Notes payable assumed                          (1,169,972)                --
   Notes payable issued                           (5,100,000)                --
                                                 -----------       ------------   
            Cash paid, net of cash acquired      $33,606,004        $   486,374
                                                 ===========       ============

   </TABLE>

      The following summary, prepared on an unaudited pro forma basis, presents
   the results of operations (i) as if the above transactions had been purchased
   as of the beginning of the year of acquisition and (ii) to include the effect
   of adjustments for amortization of intangibles, interest, income taxes and
   weighted average shares outstanding:



   <TABLE>
   <CAPTION>

                                               Unaudited Pro Forma  
                                              Results of Operations
                                               Three Months Ended   
                                                 March 31, 1997       
                                              ---------------------
   <S>                                        <C>
   Revenue                                           $54,445,485
   Pro forma net income                              $   540,883
   Pro forma net income per share:
        Basic                                        $       .03
        Diluted                                      $       .03

   </TABLE>

      The results of operations for the stores acquired in 1998 have been
   excluded since the amounts are immaterial.

      The unaudited pro forma financial information is presented for
   informational purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of operating
   results that would have occurred had the acquisitions been consummated as of
   the above dates, nor are they necessarily indicative of future operating
   results.

   3. EARNINGS PER SHARE

      On December 31, 1997, the Company adopted provisions of Statement of
   Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 128, "Earnings Per Share." In
   accordance with SFAS 128, the Company computes basic pro forma net income and
   net loss based on the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding
   during each period presented. Diluted pro forma net income and net loss per
   share is computed based on the weighted-average number of common shares plus
   the dilutive effect of all potential dilutive securities, principally stock
   options and convertible notes, outstanding during each period presented. All
   prior period year pro forma net income and net income per share amounts have
   been restated to comply with the provisions of SFAS No. 128.

      Diluted pro forma net income for the three months ended March 31, 1997
   includes 137,207 weighted-average number of shares issuable upon exercise of
   stock option but excludes the effect of certain convertible notes, if
   converted, given these securities increase net income and would be
   antidilutive. Diluted net loss for the quarter ended March 31, 1998 excludes
   the effect of the weighted-average number of shares issuable upon exercise of
   stock options and the effect of convertible notes, if converted, given these
   securities decrease net loss and would be antidilutive.

   4. NOTES PAYABLE

      On February 26, 1998, immediately following the merger of RTO, Inc. with
   and into the Company (the "RTO Merger") the Company entered into a new
   revolving credit facility (the "Comerica Credit Agreement") with Comerica
   Bank, as lender and agent for certain other lenders, which provides for a
   $50,000,000 secured three-year credit facility. The Comerica Credit Agreement
   replaced the existing credit agreements of Alrenco, Inc. and RTO, Inc. The
   Comerica Credit Agreement provides for interest rates based on a base rate
   (as defined), the agent's prime rate or the federal funds rate plus 100 basic
   points, or a "Eurodollar Rate", plus an applicable margin. Under the Comerica
   Credit Agreement, the Company has the option, provided that certain
   conditions are met, to obtain an increase in the amount available under the
   Comerica Credit Agreement up to an aggregate amount of $100 million. The
   Comerica Credit Agreement is collateralized by substantially all assets of
   the Company and by a pledge of the stock of the Company's subsidiaries.

      On April 1, 1998, borrowings available under the Comerica Credit
   Agreement were increased to $60,000,000.

   5. RECLASSIFICATIONS

      Certain reclassifications were made to the prior period financial
   statements to conform with the current period presentation.

   6. STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

      Excluded from the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows for the three
   months ended March 31, 1997 is the issuance of common stock to settle notes
   payable totalling $587,500 to certain shareholders. There were no noncash
   activities for the three months ended March 31, 1998.

   7. ADOPTION OF NEW ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENT

      The Company adopted Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 130
   "Reporting Comprehensive Income" ("SFAS No. 130") for its fiscal year ending
   December 31, 1998. SFAS No. 130 requires the Company to display an amount
   representing the total comprehensive income for the period in the financial
   statements which is displayed with the same prominence as other financial
   statements. The Company has no items of other comprehensive income in any
   period presented and therefore is not required to report comprehensive
   income.
   
<PAGE>   8

                                 ALRENCO, INC.

                     Management's Discussion and Analysis of
                  Financial Condition and Results of Operations

GENERAL

On February 26, 1998, Alrenco, Inc. (the "Company") completed its merger (the
"RTO Merger") with RTO, Inc. ("RTO"), pursuant to which RTO merged with and into
the Company. In connection with the RTO Merger, the corporate offices of the
Company were closed and relocated from Indiana to Texas by mid-March 1998. Costs
related to the RTO Merger and the relocation of the Alrenco office are included
in Costs of Business Combinations.

At March 31, 1998 the Company operated 440 stores. During the quarter ended
March 31, 1998 the Company acquired 1 store location, purchased 1 rental
portfolio and opened 14 new store locations. The Company also sold 1 store
and merged 6 stores into existing locations. During the quarter ended 
March 31, 1997, the Company opened 5 new stores, purchased 7 rental
portfolios and purchased 80 stores. At March 31, 1997, the Company operated
383 stores.

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

         Revenue. Revenue for the quarter ended March 31, 1998 increased 
$12.2 million or 23% to $65.5 million from $53.3 million for the comparable
quarter in 1997. Same store revenue during the first quarter of 1998 increased
$3.6 million or 7.1% to $53.9 million from $50.3 million for the same quarter
last year. New stores opened in 1997 contributed $2.7 million to the increase
from the quarter ended March 31, 1997. Revenues from 1997 purchase acquisitions
increased $5.9 million from $2.9 million for the quarter ended March 31, 1997 to
$8.8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 1998. Revenues for the first
quarter 1998 increased $4.0 million or 6.5% from $61.5 million for the quarter
ended December 31, 1997.

         Depreciation and Disposition of Rental Merchandise. Depreciation and
disposition of rental merchandise increased $3.9 million or 26.0% to $19.1
million for the quarter ended March 31, 1998 from $15.2 million for the
comparable period in 1997. The increase in depreciation and disposition of
rental merchandise is primarily derived from (i) $2.0 million from existing
stores, (ii) $1.0 million from 1997 purchase acquisitions and (iii) $822,000
from new stores opened in 1997. As a percentage of revenues, depreciation and
disposition of rental merchandise for the first quarter of 1998 increased
slightly to 29.2% from 28.5% for the comparable quarter in 1997. As a
percentage of revenues, depreciation and disposition of rental merchandise for
the quarter ended March 31, 1998 decreased 2.0% from 31.2% for the quarter
ended December 31, 1997 primarily due to the 6.5% increase in revenues in 1998
from the fourth quarter in 1997.

         Other Direct Store Expenses. Other direct store expenses increased $8.1
million or 29.0% to $35.8 million for the quarter ended March 31, 1998 from
$27.8 million for the comparable period in 1997. The increase in other direct
store expenses is primarily attributable to (i) $2.3 million increased cost
from the 1997 new store openings, (ii) $1.4 million increase in costs from the
1997 purchase acquisitions, (iii) $500,000 from the 1998 new store openings and
$3.9 million from the Company's existing stores. As a percentage of revenues,
other direct store expenses increased 2.6% from 52.0% in 1997 to 54.6% in 1998.

         Corporate Expenses. Corporate expenses increased $331,000 or 6.2% to
$5.7 million for the first quarter in 1998 from $5.3 million for the comparable
period in 1997. The increase is a result of the increase in staff and
facilities necessary to administer the 1997 purchase and pooling acquisitions
and the RTO Merger offset by cost savings realized from closing and merging the
redundant corporate offices of the 1997 pooling acquisitions. As a percentage
of revenues, corporate expenses decreased to 8.7% in 1998 from 10.0% in 1997.

         Cost of Business Combinations. Cost of business combinations for the
quarter ended March 31, 1998 increased $10.6 million to $11.0 million from
$403,000 for the comparable period in 1997. In 1998, cost of business
combinations are attributable to costs associated



<PAGE>   9
with the RTO Merger. The RTO Merger costs included (i) investment banker fees,
proxy preparation, printing and other professional fees; (ii) employee severance
and other costs associated with relocating the corporate headquarters from
Indiana to Texas; (iii) costs related to closing and merging stores in same
markets following the RTO Merger; (iv) amortization expense of stock awards 
which vested fully upon the RTO Merger and (v) costs associated with terminating
certain leases. Cost of business combinations in 1997 were incurred in
connection with 7 pooling combinations acquired by RTO during the first quarter
of 1997.

         Name Change Expenses. During the quarter ended December 31, 1997, prior
to its merger with the Company, RTO initiated a program to change the name of
its stores to "HomeChoice Lease or Own" from the various trade names it
acquired in its 1996 and 1997 purchase and pooling acquisitions. The Company
incurred $408,000 during the quarter ended March 31, 1998 in connection with
the program. The Company expects these expenses to continue through the
remainder of 1998.

         Amortization of Intangibles. Amortization of intangibles decreased
$854,000 to $1.9 million in 1998 from $2.8 million in 1997. As a percentage of
revenues, amortization of intangibles decreased from 5.2% in 1997 to 3.0% in
1998. This decrease is attributable to the reduced amortization expense of  
the 1996 and 1997 purchase acquisitions primarily for customer rental agreements
which are amortized on an accelerated method over a life of 18 months.

         Net Income (Loss). Net income (loss) for the quarter ended March 31, 
1998 decreased $8.4 million from net income of $300,000 for the quarter ended
March 31, 1997 to a net loss of $8.1 million for the quarter ended March 31,
1998 principally due to increased cost of business combinations and name change
expenses. Net loss attributable to new store openings increased $450,000 to
$550,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 1998 from net losses of $100,000
during the comparable period in 1997.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

         The Company's primary requirements for capital consist of the
acquisition of existing stores (including the retirement of any assumed
indebtedness), the opening of the new stores, the purchase of additional rental
merchandise for new store openings and replacement of rental merchandise which
has been sold, charged-off, rented to term or is no longer suitable for rent.

         Historically, the Company's growth has been financed through internally
generated working capital, borrowings under loan agreements and issuances of
common stock. During the three months ended March 31, 1997 and 1998, the Company
did not issue any common stock for purposes of capital.

         The Company expects to open 50 new stores during 1998, including
fourteen stores opened during the three months ended March 31, 1998. New stores
opened in 1998 are expected to operate at a loss for a period of six to nine
months from their respective openings. Acquired stores may also be unprofitable
when acquired or may become unprofitable during the period of acquisition due to
disruptions in their business operations caused by the acquisition. Some stores
acquired as part of an acquisition of a larger group of stores may be closed
because they are unprofitable. The operating results of the new and acquired
stores may also suffer because of disruptions associated with integrating their
operations into the existing operations of the Company. Because of these
factors,the growth of the Company's business through new store openings and
acquisitions of existing stores is likely to affect the Company's results of
operations and financial condition. Such factors may also cause results to vary
from quarter to quarter and may cause the market price of Common Stock to
fluctuate substantially.

         On February 26, 1998, immediately following the RTO Merger, the Company
entered into a revolving credit facility with Comerica Bank as lender and agent
for certain other lenders (the "Comerica Credit Agreement") which provides for a
$50,000,000 secured three-year credit facility. Under the Comerica Credit
Agreement, the Company has the option, provided that certain conditions are
met, to increase the amount available under the Comerica Credit Agreement to
$100 million. On April 1, 1998, the Company entered into an agreement to
increase the amount of the revolving line of credit under the Comerica Credit
Agreement to $60 million. While management of the Company does not believe that
the $60 million currently available under the Comerica Credit Agreement along
with the Company's current internal working capital will be sufficient to fully
meet all of the Company's capital requirements, management believes that the
Company will be able to meet the conditions required to increase the amount
available under the Comerica Credit Agreement to $100 million. In the opinion
of management, this additional available credit will allow the Company to fully
meet all of its capital requirements. If, for some reason, the Company does not
meet the conditions required to increase the amount of credit available under
the Comerica Credit Agreement and is unable to generate additional capital
through borrowing or other means, the Company may not be able to fully pursue
its strategic plan.


<PAGE>   10



                                 ALRENCO, INC.

                           PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 4. Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders

         On February 26, 1998, a special meeting of the Company's shareholders
was convened for the purpose of considering the Agreement and Plan of Merger
(the "Merger Agreement"), dated September 28, 1997, as amended, between the
Company and RTO. In addition to providing for the merger of RTO with and into
the Company, the Merger Agreement also provided that George D. Johnson, Jr.,
Michael D. Walts, Billy W. White, Sr., Edward W. Phifer, III, and John S. Rainey
would serve as the directors of the combined company. The Merger Agreement also
provided for the amendment and restatement of the Company's articles of
incorporation and bylaws. The Merger Agreement was approved by the Company's
shareholders by a vote of 4,802,474 votes in favor, 6,690 votes opposed and
5,029 votes abstaining.

Item 5. Other Information.

      Item 5 information included in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q of
Alrenco, Inc. (the "Company") includes the following information not previously
disclosed on Form 8-K which is not otherwise required by this Form:

     (a)     Resignation of Billy W. White as President of the Company

      On May 1, 1998, Billy W. White, Sr. resigned from his position as
President of the Company. On the same date James G. Steckart, Chief Operating
Officer of the Company, was elected to succeed Mr. White as President of the
Company. Mr. White will continue as Chief Executive Officer and a director of 
the Company.

     (b)     Comerica Bank Credit Agreement 

      On April 1, 1998, the Company signed the Amended and Restated Revolving
Credit Agreement with Comerica Bank, as agent, and Bank One, Texas, N.A., as
co-agent ("the Credit Agreement"). The Credit Agreement increased the
Company's revolving line of credit, to $60 million from $50 million.

     (c)      Restated Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company which
account for the RTO Merger, and related Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations for the years ended December 31,
1995, 1996 and 1997. The RTO Merger was accounted for as a pooling of interests
under Accounting Principals Board Opinion No. 16 ("APB 16"), and the
consolidated financial statements of the Company have been prepared to give
retroactive effect to the RTO Merger.

                      MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS
                OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
     The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with
the consolidated financial statements of the Company, and the accompanying notes
thereto included elsewhere in this report.
 
GENERAL
 
     On February 26, 1998, the Company merged (the "RTO Merger") with RTO, Inc.
("RTO") in the RTO Merger. Alrenco began operations in 1980 and RTO began
operations in 1996. Prior to the RTO Merger, the management of both the Company
and RTO grew their operations through diverse strategies which are described
below.
 
     Alrenco Acquisitions. The Company grew primarily through the opening of new
stores from its inception in 1980 through 1990. During the period from 1990 to
1993, management focused its efforts on improving the performance of the
Company's stores and, as a result, the Company increased its revenue from $16.3
million to $22.3 million. During the same period, operating profit increased
from $908,000 to $2.0 million and net earnings increased from $119,000 to $1.0
million.
 
     In 1994, the Company acquired 18 rental-purchase stores (the "1994 Alrenco
Acquisition"). The purchase price for the stores was $3.5 million, all of which
was borrowed under the Company's then existing bank loan agreement (the "Loan
Agreement").
 
     In September 1995, the Company acquired 15 stores (the "1995 Alrenco
Acquisition"). The purchase price for the stores was $5.9 million, all of which
was borrowed under the Loan Agreement.
 
     In 1996, the Company acquired 75 stores (the "1996 Alrenco Acquisitions")
in 23 separate transactions, for an aggregate purchase price of $25 million. The
Company utilized borrowings under the Loan Agreement and the Company's cash
reserves to fund these acquisitions.
 
     In 1997, the Company acquired 54 stores and 13 rental-purchase portfolios
in 19 separate transactions for an aggregate purchase price of $25.5 million
(the "1997 Alrenco Acquisitions"). The Company purchased the stores through
borrowings under the Loan Agreement and use of cash reserves.
 
     On February 26, 1998, the Company acquired 275 stores as a result of the
RTO Merger. The Merger Agreement provided that each of the 120,960 outstanding
shares of RTO Common Stock was to be converted into the right to receive 89.795
shares of Common Stock. As a result of the RTO Merger, the Company now operates
275 stores formerly operated by RTO.
 
     RTO Acquisitions.  RTO was incorporated on June 20, 1996 and since that
time has aggressively sought to establish its store base through multiple
significant store acquisitions, new store openings and smaller store
acquisitions.
 

<PAGE>   11

     In July and August of 1996, RTO purchased 109 stores (the "1996 RTO
Purchase Acquisitions") in two separate transactions which included the purchase
of Action TV & Appliance Rental, Inc.'s ("Action") 102 store chain (the "Action
Acquisition"). The 1996 RTO Purchase Acquisitions were accounted for under
"purchase" accounting as defined by Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 16
("APB 16"). During 1997, RTO purchased, in transactions accounted for as
purchases, an additional 73 stores in a series of transactions for cash, notes
payable and convertible debt (the "1997 RTO Purchase Acquisitions"). Finally,
during the last three months of 1996 and the year ended December 31, 1997, RTO
acquired 59 stores in transactions accounted for as pooling-of-interests (the
"1996 RTO Pooling Acquisitions" and the "1997 RTO Pooling Acquisitions" and,
collectively with the 1996 RTO Purchase Acquisitions and the 1997 RTO Purchase
Acquisitions, the "RTO Acquisitions").
 
     RTO New Store Openings.  During the year ended December 31, 1997, RTO
opened 34 new stores. From January 1, 1998 until March 25, 1998, RTO opened
eight additional stores. Management of the Company expects to open 50 new stores
during 1998, including the eight stores opened to date.
 
     Operating Results of New and Acquired Stores.  New stores are expected to
operate at a loss for a period of six to nine months after opening. Acquired
stores may also be unprofitable when acquired or may become unprofitable during
the period of acquisition due to disruptions in their business operations caused
by the acquisition. Some stores acquired as part of an acquisition of a larger
group of stores may be closed because they are unprofitable. The operating
results of new and acquired stores may also suffer because of disruptions
associated with integrating their operations into the existing operations of the
Company. Because of these factors, the growth of the Company's business through
new store openings and acquisitions of existing stores is likely to affect the
Company's results of operations and financial condition. Such factors may also
cause results to vary from quarter to quarter and may cause the market price of
Common Stock to fluctuate substantially.
 
CERTAIN COMPONENTS OF NET EARNINGS
 
     
     Total Revenue.  The Company collects non-refundable rental payments and
fees in advance, generally on a weekly basis. This revenue is recognized as
collected over the rental term. Rental-purchase agreements include a discounted
early purchase option. Amounts received upon sales of merchandise pursuant to
these options and upon the sale of used merchandise are recognized as revenue
when the merchandise is sold.
 
     Depreciation and Disposition of Rental Merchandise.  Rental merchandise is
carried at the lower of cost or net realizable value. Depreciation is provided
using the income forecasting method or straight-line method over a period
designed to approximate the income forecasting method. The income forecasting
method is designed to match as closely as practicable the recognition of
depreciation expense with the consumption of the rental merchandise. The
consumption of rental merchandise occurs during periods of rental and directly
coincides with the receipt of rental revenue over the rental-purchase agreement
period, generally 18 to 24 months. Under the income forecasting method,
merchandise held for rent is not depreciated, and merchandise on rent is
depreciated in the proportion of rents received to total rents required to
obtain ownership as provided in the rental agreement. The income forecasting
method is an activity-based method similar to the units of production method.
Disposition of rental merchandise represents the expensing of the remaining
carrying value of rental merchandise sold, charged off or rented until owned by
the customer. Rental merchandise acquired by the Company prior to January 1,
1995 was being depreciated by the straight-line method over various estimated
useful lives, primarily 21 months. For rental merchandise acquired after January
1, 1995, the Company adopted the income forecasting method of depreciation. The
effect of the change in accounting method was to increase Alrenco's net earnings
by approximately $470,000 for the year ended December 31, 1995. Effective
January 1, 1997, RTO and its new subsidiaries elected to depreciate all
additions to rental merchandise acquired subsequent to December 31, 1996 using
the income forecasting method and make other conforming changes to the estimate
of depreciation expense. These changes were made to more accurately match
revenues and expenses. The impact of these changes on the results of operations
for the year ended December 31, 1997 decreased net loss by approximately
$400,000.

<PAGE>   12
     Other Direct Store Expenses.  Other direct store expenses include salaries,
wages and related expenses paid to all store level, regional management and
service department employees, store-level occupancy costs, advertising cost and
other direct store-level expenses, including general and administrative
expenses, delivery and collection expenses and non-rental depreciation.
 
     Corporate Expenses.  Corporate expenses include all overhead expenses
related to corporate and division offices such as salaries, taxes and benefits,
occupancy, training, travel expenses and certain performance bonuses to regional
managers and store personnel. Regional costs are included in "Direct Store
Expenses."
 
     Amortization of Intangibles.  Amortization of intangibles consists
primarily of the amortization of rental-purchase agreements, noncompetition
agreements and the excess of purchase price over the fair market value of
acquired assets.
 
     Income Tax Expense.  Income taxes are determined by use of the liability
method in which deferred income taxes are provided for temporary differences
between the financial reporting and income tax basis of assets and liabilities
using the income tax rates under existing legislation expected to be in effect
at the date such temporary differences are expected to reverse.
 
     Since certain of RTO's business combinations involved companies which were
nontaxable enterprises, unaudited pro forma tax expense (benefit) has been
presented for the nontaxable enterprises as if they had been taxable enterprises
for periods prior to consummation.
 
RESULTS OF OPERATIONS -- CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS OF THE COMPANY
 
     The consolidated financial statements reflect the financial position and 
results of operations of the 1996 Alrenco Acquisitions, the 1996 RTO Purchase
Acquisitions and the 1997 RTO Purchase Acquisitions from their respective dates
of acquisition through 1997, consistent with the requirements of APB 16 for
purchase acquisitions. In addition, the consolidated financial statements
reflect the financial position and results of operations of the 1996 RTO
Pooling Acquisitions and the 1997 RTO Pooling Acquisitions as though the
Company and the 1996 RTO Pooling Acquisitions and the 1997 RTO Pooling
Acquisitions had operated as a single business for all periods required to be
presented consistent with the requirements of APB 16 for pooling-of-interests
acquisitions.
 
     Acquisitions accounted for as pooling-of-interests transactions, as
compared to acquisitions accounted for as purchases, generally require a longer
period of time to consummate. During the period between the time that the
Company reaches an agreement in principle to purchase a business and the
consummation of the transaction, the operations of such business are still under
the control of the seller. Any failure of the seller to operate the business in
accordance with sound business practices may adversely affect the operating
results of such business.
 
     The operating results of certain of the 1996 RTO Pooling Acquisitions and
the 1997 RTO Pooling Acquisitions declined substantially during the last half of
1996 and the first half of 1997. Management believes that this decline is
attributable primarily to a failure of these businesses to properly replenish
rental merchandise while the acquisitions of the businesses were pending, which
resulted in the businesses not having adequate inventories during the fourth
quarter of 1996 and the first quarter of 1997. The failure of such businesses to
have adequate inventories of rental merchandise during such periods, together
with other factors relating to the operations of these businesses outside the
control of RTO, resulted in a substantial decline in revenues and net income of
these businesses for the years ended December 31, 1996 and 1997.
 
     Management of the Company continues to believe that the 1996 RTO Pooling
Acquisitions and the 1997 RTO Pooling Acquisitions can be operated profitably.
The 1996 RTO Pooling Acquisitions and the 1997 RTO Pooling Acquisitions were
managed by diverse management teams with significant differences in (i) goals
and objectives relating to profitability, (ii) access to capital resources,
(iii) operating philosophies and strategies, and (iv) compensation programs.
Management has taken steps to replenish inventories at these businesses and to
implement operational controls, compensation plans and other systems designed to
improve the performance of these businesses. As a result of these steps, results
of operations of the 1996 RTO Pooling Acquisitions and the 1997 RTO Pooling
Acquisitions improved significantly during the third and fourth quarters of
1997.
 
<PAGE>   13
 
     The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, certain
consolidated Statement of Operations data as a percentage of revenue.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                 YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                                --------------------------
                                                                 1995      1996      1997
                                                                ------    ------    ------
<S>                                                             <C>       <C>       <C>
Rental and fee revenue......................................     96.7%     97.6%     96.7%
Cash sales and other revenue................................      3.3       2.4       3.3
                                                                -----     -----     -----
          Total revenue.....................................    100.0     100.0     100.0
                                                                -----     -----     -----
Depreciation and disposition of rental merchandise..........     32.3      29.5      29.1
Other direct store expenses.................................     51.6      54.4      55.4
                                                                -----     -----     -----
          Total direct store expenses.......................     83.9      83.9      84.5
Corporate expenses..........................................     10.3       8.6      11.3
Cost of business combinations...............................       --       1.4       0.3
Name change expenses........................................       --        --       0.3
Amortization of intangibles.................................      0.7       3.2       4.3
Key executive signing bonuses...............................       --       1.2       0.2
                                                                -----     -----     -----
          Total operating expenses..........................     94.9      98.3     100.9
                                                                -----     -----     -----
          Operating income (loss)...........................      5.1       1.7      (0.9)
Other income (expense):
  Interest expense..........................................     (3.2)     (1.3)     (1.1)
  Interest income...........................................      0.1       0.5       0.1
  Other non-operating income (expense), net.................      0.3       0.3      (0.1)
  Gain on sale of stores....................................      1.4       0.6       0.4
                                                                -----     -----     -----
          Income (loss) before income taxes and
            extraordinary item..............................      3.7       1.8      (1.6)
Income tax expense..........................................      1.2       0.9       0.1
                                                                -----     -----     -----
          Income (loss) before extraordinary item...........      2.5       0.9      (1.7)
Extraordinary item, net of income tax expense...............      4.3        --        --
                                                                -----     -----     -----
          Net income (loss).................................      6.8       0.9      (1.7)
                                                                =====     =====     =====
</TABLE>
 
 Comparison of Years Ended December 31, 1997 and 1996
 
     Revenue.  Revenue increased $106.8 million, or 86%, to $231.0 million for
the year ended December 31, 1997 from $124.2 million for the comparable period
in 1996. Revenue increased by approximately $105.7 million, or 99.0% of the
total increase, primarily as a result of the inclusion of revenue from the 1997
Alrenco Acquisitions and the 1997 RTO Purchase Acquisitions from the respective
dates of acquisition, and the inclusion of revenue of the 1996 Alrenco
Acquisitions and 1996 RTO Purchase Acquisitions for the full year in 1997.
During 1997, RTO opened 34 new stores generating $2.7 million, or 2.5%, of the
total increase in revenues from 1996 to 1997. The aforementioned revenue
increases were offset in part by a $2.2 million decrease in revenue from the
1996 RTO Pooling Acquisitions and the 1997 RTO Pooling Acquisitions. See
"-- General -- RTO Acquisitions."
 
     Depreciation and Disposition of Rental Merchandise.  Depreciation and
disposition of rental merchandise expense increased $30.7 million, or 83.9%, to
$67.3 million for the year ended December 31, 1997 from $36.6 million for the
comparable period in 1996. As a percentage of total revenue, depreciation and
disposition of rental merchandise decreased slightly from 29.5% in 1996 to 29.1%
in 1997 primarily due to (i) lower rental merchandise costs as a percentage of
revenue during 1997, due to the failure of certain of the 1996 RTO Pooling
Acquisitions and 1997 RTO Pooling Acquisitions to replenish rental merchandise
during the last quarter of 1996 and the first quarter of 1997 which affects
depreciation expenses because depreciation expense as a percentage of rental
revenue is generally lower for the rental of used merchandise as compared to new
merchandise, (ii) reducing, in accordance with policies of RTO, the percentage
of total revenues contributed by cash sales and other revenue (gross margins are
significantly lower on cash sales relative to margins generated on the rental of
merchandise) for certain of the 1996 RTO Pooling Acquisitions and 1997 RTO
<PAGE>   14
 
Pooling Acquisitions, (iii) increasing, during the year ended 1997, the revenue
generated as a multiple of rental merchandise cost for certain of the 1996 RTO
Pooling Acquisitions and 1997 RTO Pooling Acquisitions in order to conform the
pricing policies of such acquisitions to RTO's pricing policies, and (iv)
electing to depreciate all additions to rental merchandise acquired subsequent
to December 31, 1996 using the income forecasting method and other conforming
changes resulting in a nonrecurring decrease in depreciation expense.
Depreciation and disposition expense in 1997 as a percentage of total revenue
also decreased slightly partially as a result of a more aggressive pricing
strategy used by one of the 1997 RTO Purchase Acquisitions, thereby producing
greater revenues as a multiple of rental merchandise cost. The decreases
described above were offset by the increase in depreciation of rental
merchandise as a percentage of total revenue of Alrenco to 23.8% from 21.9% for
the year ended December 31, 1996, primarily as a result of price and term
discounting in the second, third and fourth quarters of 1997. The factors
contributing to the decline in depreciation of rental merchandise as a
percentage of revenue described in (i) and (iv) above are nonrecurring in nature
and caused depreciation and disposition of rental merchandise as a percentage of
revenue to decrease to a level lower than that which management for the company
believes is sustainable.
 
     Other Direct Store Expenses.  Other direct store expenses increased $60.4
million, or 89.3%, to $128.0 million for the year ended December 31, 1997 from
$67.6 million for the comparable period in 1996. As a percentage of revenue,
other direct store expenses rose from 54.5% in 1996 to 55.4% in 1997. The
increase in direct store expenses as a percentage of revenue is attributable to
(i) $4.7 million of expenses related to the 34 new stores opened in 1997, (ii) a
higher percentage of expenses for the 1996 RTO Purchase Acquisitions and the
1997 RTO Purchase Acquisitions, and (iii) a higher percentage of expenses for
the 1996 RTO Pooling Acquisitions and the 1997 RTO Pooling Acquisitions for the
reasons discussed under "-- Results of Operations" above, offset by a decrease
in other direct store expenses as a percentage of revenue for the Alrenco Stores
due to increased revenue from the stores acquired in the 1996 Alrenco
Acquisitions and the 1997 Alrenco Acquisitions.
 
     Corporate Expenses.  Corporate expenses increased $15.4 million, or 144%,
to $26.1 million for the year ended December 31, 1997 from $10.7 million for the
comparable period in 1996. The increase is attributable to (i) the inclusion of
expenses related to the 1996 RTO Purchase Acquisitions and the 1996 Alrenco
Acquisitions for the full year in 1997 and (ii) an increase in RTO and Alrenco's
staff to accommodate the increased stores managed by the Company in 1997 as a
result of the integration of stores acquired in the RTO Acquisitions, the 1996
Alrenco Acquisitions and the 1997 Alrenco Acquisitions. As a percentage of
revenue, corporate expenses increased to 11.3% from 8.6% for the comparable
period in 1996. This percentage increase was due primarily to the duplication of
certain corporate expenses during the transition periods subsequent to the
integration of the 1996 RTO Pooling Acquisitions and the 1997 RTO Pooling
Acquisitions and prior to the closing of the RTO Merger offset by advertising
and vendor co-op reimbursements received by Alrenco in the third quarter.
 
     Name Change Expenses.  Following the consummation of the 1996 RTO Pooling
Acquisitions and the 1997 RTO Pooling Acquisitions and the 1996 RTO Purchase
Acquisitions and the 1997 RTO Purchase Acquisitions, the management of RTO
launched a program to change the name of all its stores from the various trade
names acquired to "HomeChoice Lease or Own." RTO incurred nonrecurring costs
totaling $743,000 for items such as expensing the net carrying value of replaced
old signs and branded supplies at 165 of its 267 stores, as well as expensing
new vehicle decals, consistent with prior accounting policies, for 600 of its
750 vehicles. Name change expenses are expected to continue in 1998 for the
conversion of the remaining RTO stores and the conversion of a majority of the
Alrenco stores.
 
     Amortization of Intangibles.  Amortization of intangibles increased $5.9
million, or 147.5%, to $9.9 million in 1997 from $4.0 million in 1996, and as a
percentage of revenue, amortization of intangibles increased to 4.3% for 1997
from 3.2% for the comparable period in 1996. This increase was primarily
attributable to the amortization of noncompetition agreements, customer rental
agreements and goodwill from the 1996 RTO Purchase Acquisitions and the 1997 RTO
Purchase Acquisitions and the 1996 Alrenco Acquisitions and the 1997 Alrenco
Acquisitions.
 
<PAGE>   15
 
     Gain on Sale of Assets.  In August 1997, Alrenco sold eight marginally
performing stores in two separate transactions for an aggregate purchase price
of $3.0 million in cash. Net gain on these transactions was $950,400.
 
     Net Income (Loss).  Net income decreased $5.2 million, or 472.7% to a loss
of $4.1 million for the year ended December 31, 1997, from an income of $1.1
million for the comparable period in 1996, and as a percentage of revenue, net
income decreased to a negative 1.7% from a positive .9% for the comparable
period in 1996. These decreases occurred primarily as a result of higher
amortization of intangibles, operating losses attributable to the 34 new stores
opened by RTO during the year ended December 31, 1997, expenses related to the
Company's store name change program initiated in 1997, and increased corporate
expenses related to integration of the RTO Acquisitions, the 1996 Alrenco
Acquisitions and the 1997 Alrenco Acquisitions. The decrease in net income for
1997 is partially offset by lower business combination costs and related key
executive signing bonuses expensed in 1997 as compared to those expensed in
1996.
 
  Comparison of Years Ended December 31, 1996 and 1995
 
     Revenue.  Revenue increased $46.7 million, or 60.3%, to $124.2 million for
the year ended December 31, 1996, from $77.5 million in 1995. Revenue from
Alrenco's same store operations accounted for $1.3 million of the increase, and
the addition of revenue from the 1995 Alrenco Acquisition and the 1996 Alrenco
Acquisitions accounted for $25.0 million of the increase for the year. The
increase in Alrenco's same store revenue for the period was mainly attributable
to improved performance of the stores acquired in the 1994 Alrenco Acquisition
and the 1995 Alrenco Acquisition, an increase in the number of items on rent and
in revenue earned per item on rent, and improved collections. The remainder of
the increase consisted of the addition of revenue of $25.2 million from the 1996
RTO Purchase Acquisitions, offset in part by a $4.6 million decrease in revenue
resulting from the sale by RTO of thirteen stores in September 1995 and four
stores in September 1996. RTO's same store revenue (not including the results of
stores sold, closed, opened or bought during the periods) for the 1996 RTO
Pooling Acquisitions and 1997 RTO Pooling Acquisitions decreased by $1.5
million, or 4.5%, compared to 1995 due to the reasons discussed above. Revenue
from new stores acquired in 1995 and opened on various dates in 1995 and 1996
increased by $1.3 million.
 
     Depreciation and disposition of rental merchandise.  Depreciation and
disposition of rental merchandise increased $11.5 million, or 46.0%, to $36.6
million for the year ended December 31, 1996 from $25.1 million in 1995,
primarily as a result of the addition of depreciation and disposition expense of
the 1996 Alrenco Acquisitions and the 1996 RTO Purchase Acquisitions from their
respective dates of acquisition and the inclusion of depreciation and
disposition expense of the 1995 Alrenco Acquisitions for a full year, offset in
part by a $2.4 million decrease in depreciation and disposition expense for the
1996 RTO Pooling Acquisitions and the 1997 RTO Pooling Acquisitions. As a
percentage of revenue, depreciation and disposition of rental merchandise
expense decreased 2.9% from 32.3% in 1996 to 29.5% in the comparable period in
1996 partly as a continuing result of the changes in Alrenco's depreciation
method for new inventory additions. In addition, the decrease was a result of
(i) a reduction in the percentage of total RTO revenues contributed by cash
sales and other revenue (gross margins are significantly lower on cash sales
relative to margins generated on the rental merchandise) as a result of the
Action Acquisition, which had lower cash sales and other revenues as a
percentage of total revenues and (ii) the use of Action of a more aggressive
pricing strategy, thereby producing greater revenues as a multiple of rental
merchandise cost.
 
     Other Direct Store Expenses.  Other direct store expenses increased $27.6
million, or 69.0%, to $67.6 million for the year ended December 31, 1996 from
$40.0 million in 1995, primarily as a result of the 1996 RTO Purchase
Acquisitions and the 1996 Alrenco Acquisitions from their respective dates of
acquisition and the inclusion of other direct store expenses of the 1995 Alrenco
Acquisition for a full year. As a percentage of revenue, other direct store
expenses increased 2.8% from 51.6% in 1995 to 54.4% in the comparable period in
1996. The increase in other direct store expense as a percentage of revenue
resulted from: (i) higher other direct store expenses of the 1996 Alrenco
Acquisitions and the 1996 RTO Purchase Acquisitions, (ii) higher other direct
store expenses as a percentage of revenue for the 1996 RTO Pooling Acquisitions
and 1997 RTO Pooling Acquisitions attributable to the reasons discussed above
in "-- Depreciation and Disposition of Rental Merchandise," and (iii) higher
proportionate direct store expenses associated with six new locations opened by
RTO on various dates in 1995 and 1996.       
<PAGE>   16
 
     Corporate Expenses.  For the year ended December 31, 1996, corporate
expenses increased $2.7 million, or 33.8%, to $10.7 million from $8.0 million
for the year ended December 31, 1995, primarily as a result of the inclusion of
corporate expenses for the 1996 RTO Purchase Acquisitions and the hiring of
additional corporate and administrative personnel to support the 1996 Alrenco
Acquisitions and future store acquisitions. As a percentage of revenue,
corporate expenses decreased to 8.6% for the year ended December 31, 1996 from
10.3% for the year ended December 31, 1995 primarily as a result of increased
revenue from stores acquired by Alrenco in 1996, greater operating efficiencies
achieved through higher rental revenue and lower corporate expenses as a
percentage of revenue for the 1996 RTO Purchase Acquisitions, partially offset
by higher corporate expenses as a percentage of revenue for the 1996 RTO Pooling
Acquisitions and the 1997 RTO Pooling Acquisitions.
 
     Amortization of Intangibles.  Amortization of intangibles increased $3.4
million to $4.0 million for the year ended December 31, 1996, from $569,000
in 1995. This increase was attributable to intangible assets created by the
1995 Alrenco Acquisition, the 1996 Alrenco Acquisitions and the 1996 RTO
Purchase Acquisitions. As a percentage of revenue, amortization of intangibles
increased to 3.2% for the year ended December 31, 1996, from 0.7% in 1995 for
the same reasons.
 
     Interest Income.  Interest income increased $610,000 to $645,000 for the
year ended December 31, 1996 from $35,000 in 1995, primarily as a result of the
short term investment of excess proceeds from the issuance of common stock of
RTO, net of amounts required for completing the 1996 RTO Purchase Acquisitions
and the investment of the cash proceeds of the public offerings of Common Stock
by Alrenco.
 
     Interest Expense.  Interest expense decreased $0.9 million, or 36.0%, to
$1.6 million for the year ended December 31, 1996, from $2.5 million in 1995. As
a percentage of revenue, interest expense decreased to 1.3% for the year ended
December 31, 1996, from 3.2% in 1995, primarily as a result of (i) using the
capital raised by the public offerings of Common Stock to repay all then
outstanding indebtedness under the Loan Agreement, (ii) the use of proceeds from
the issuance of common stock of RTO to reduce the debt of the 1996 RTO Purchase
Acquisitions and the 1996 RTO Pooling Acquisitions and (iii) the forgiveness of
$2.9 million of RTO's debt of one of the 1997 RTO Pooling Acquisitions and $0.4
million of related accrued interest by a secured lender in 1995.
 
     Net Income.  Net earnings decreased $4.2 million, or 79.2%, to $1.1 million
for the year ended December 31, 1996, from $5.3 million in 1995, primarily as a
result of (i) costs of RTO's business combinations of $1.7 million, (ii)
nonrecurring key executive signing bonus expense of $1.5 million related to the
retention of key employees in the 1996 RTO Purchase Acquisitions, (iii) an
increase of amortization of intangibles in the amount of $2.5 million as a
result of the amortization of noncompetition agreements, customer rental
agreements and goodwill from the 1996 Alrenco Acquisitions and the 1996 RTO
Purchase Acquisitions, (iv) the increase of other direct store expenses in the
amount of $.8 million from the opening of six new RTO locations on various dates
in 1995 and 1996, (v) the decrease in same store revenue of $1.5 million for the
1996 RTO Pooling Acquisitions and the 1997 RTO Pooling Acquisitions; offset by
(vi) increased revenues and operating margins in 1996 for the stores acquired in
the 1994 Alrenco Acquisition and the 1995 Alrenco Acquisition. As a percentage
of revenue, net earnings decreased to 0.9% for the year ended December 31, 1996,
from 6.8% in 1995.

<PAGE>   17
     ALRENCO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

                      REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

Board of Directors and Shareholders
Alrenco, Inc.

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Alrenco, Inc.
and subsidiaries (the "Company") as of December 31, 1996 and 1997, and the
related consolidated statements of operations, stockholders' equity (deficit)
and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31,
1997, after restatement for the 1998 pooling of interests with RTO, Inc.
("RTO") described in Note 1. These consolidated financial statements are the
responsibility of the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an
opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits. We did
not audit the financial statements of Alrenco, Inc. ("Alrenco") prior to the
combination with RTO, which statements reflect total assets constituting 37% and
40% of the restated total assets as of December 31, 1996 and 1997, respectively,
and total revenues constituting 48%, 51%, and 44% of the restated totals for the
years ended December 31, 1995, 1996, and 1997, respectively. The contribution of
Alrenco represented net income of $3,663,378 and $3,586,304 for the years ended
December 31, 1996 and 1997, respectively, compared to a restated consolidated
net income of $1,097,558 for the year ended December 31, 1996 and a restated
consolidated net loss of $4,117,594 for the year ended December 31, 1997. The
contribution of Alrenco to consolidated net income represented 24% of the
restated totals for the year ended December 31, 1995. Those financial statements
were audited by other auditors whose report has been furnished to us, and our
opinion, insofar as it relates to the amounts included for Alrenco, is based
solely on the report of the other auditors.

We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of
material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence
supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit
also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant
estimates made by management as well as evaluating the overall financial
statement presentation. We believe that our audits and the report of the other
auditors provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, based on our audits and the report of the other auditors, the
consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all
material aspects, the consolidated financial position of the Company at
December 31, 1996 and 1997, and the consolidated results of their operations
and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December
31, 1997, in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.


                                                  COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P.

Spartanburg, South Carolina
March 3, 1998




<PAGE>   18
               REPORT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
Board of Directors
Alrenco, Inc.
 
     We have audited, prior to the restatement for the 1998 pooling of interests
with RTO, Inc., the balance sheets of Alrenco, Inc. as of December 31, 1997 and
1996, and the related statements of earnings, stockholders' equity, and cash
flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1997, which
are not presented herein. These financial statements are the responsibility of
the Company's management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these
financial statements based on our audits.
 
     We conducted our audits in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes
assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by
management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
 
     In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly,
in all material respects, the financial position of Alrenco, Inc. as of December
31, 1997 and 1996, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for each
of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1997, in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles.
 
                                          GRANT THORNTON LLP
 
Dallas Texas
January 30, 1998
<PAGE>   19
 
                         ALRENCO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                         CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                     DECEMBER 31,
                                                              ---------------------------
                                                                  1996           1997
                                                              ------------   ------------
<S>                                                           <C>            <C>
                                         ASSETS
Cash and cash equivalents...................................  $ 35,745,989   $  3,569,132
Rental merchandise, net.....................................    58,723,990     97,260,578
Prepaid expenses and other assets...........................     2,827,461      6,342,919
Deferred income taxes.......................................     3,044,867      6,135,051
Property and equipment, net.................................     9,481,081     15,038,978
Notes receivable............................................     1,252,857        243,535
Income tax receivable.......................................            --      2,429,249
Intangible assets, net......................................    58,054,831     92,541,249
                                                              ------------   ------------
          Total assets......................................  $169,131,076   $223,560,691
                                                              ============   ============
 
                          LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Accounts payable, trade.....................................  $  8,305,964   $ 18,701,265
Accrued liabilities.........................................     7,175,931     12,393,040
Deferred income taxes.......................................       532,580      1,293,919
Notes payable...............................................     6,772,269     48,161,872
                                                              ------------   ------------
          Total liabilities.................................    22,786,744     80,550,096
                                                              ------------   ------------
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders' equity:
  Preferred stock, no par; 10,000,000 shares authorized;
     none issued or outstanding.............................            --             --
  Common stock, no par; 75,000,000 shares authorized;
     16,903,197 and 16,957,119 shares issued and outstanding
     in 1996 and 1997, respectively.........................   148,719,632    149,385,777
  Unamortized value of stock awards.........................    (1,182,138)      (987,810)
  Accumulated deficit.......................................    (1,193,162)    (5,387,372)
                                                              ------------   ------------
          Total stockholders' equity........................   146,344,332    143,010,595
                                                              ------------   ------------
          Total liabilities and stockholders' equity........  $169,131,076   $223,560,691
                                                              ============   ============
</TABLE>
 
       The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated
                             financial statements.
<PAGE>   20
 
                         ALRENCO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                    CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                        -----------------------------------------
                                                           1995           1996           1997
                                                        -----------   ------------   ------------
<S>                                                     <C>           <C>            <C>
Revenue:
  Rental and fee revenue..............................  $74,990,274   $121,145,016   $223,289,934
  Cash sales and other revenue........................    2,538,450      3,016,344      7,678,665
                                                        -----------   ------------   ------------
          Total revenue...............................   77,528,724    124,161,360    230,968,599
                                                        -----------   ------------   ------------
Operating expenses:
  Direct store expenses:
     Depreciation and disposition of rental
       merchandise....................................   25,054,452     36,581,109     67,257,744
     Other............................................   39,966,441     67,599,707    127,964,749
                                                        -----------   ------------   ------------
                                                         65,020,893    104,180,816    195,222,493
  Corporate expenses..................................    7,988,273     10,710,565     26,139,960
  Cost of business combinations.......................           --      1,743,433        934,717
  Name change expenses................................           --             --        742,541
  Amortization of intangibles.........................      568,386      3,982,093      9,902,303
  Key executive signing bonuses.......................           --      1,485,641        400,119
                                                        -----------   ------------   ------------
          Total operating expenses....................   73,577,552    122,102,548    233,342,133
                                                        -----------   ------------   ------------
          Operating income (loss).....................    3,951,172      2,058,812     (2,373,534)
Other income (expense):
  Interest expense....................................   (2,467,652)    (1,571,808)    (2,512,015)
  Interest income.....................................       35,415        645,291        218,118
  Other non-operating income (expense), net...........      261,537        403,255       (163,957)
  Gain on sale of stores..............................    1,048,923        750,800        950,366
                                                        -----------   ------------   ------------
          Income (loss) before income taxes and
            extraordinary item........................    2,829,395      2,286,350     (3,881,022)
Income tax expense....................................      877,177      1,188,792        236,572
                                                        -----------   ------------   ------------
          Income (loss) before extraordinary item.....    1,952,218      1,097,558     (4,117,594)
Extraordinary item, net of income tax expense.........    3,335,851             --             --
                                                        -----------   ------------   ------------
          Net income (loss)...........................  $ 5,288,069   $  1,097,558   $ (4,117,594)
                                                        ===========   ============   ============
Pro forma information (unaudited):
  Income (loss) before extraordinary item.............  $ 1,952,218   $  1,097,558   $ (4,117,594)
  Pro forma income tax expense (benefit)..............      290,000        200,674       (213,835)
                                                        -----------   ------------   ------------
          Pro forma income (loss) before extraordinary
            item......................................    1,662,218        896,884     (3,903,759)
  Extraordinary item, net of income tax expense.......    3,335,851             --             --
                                                        -----------   ------------   ------------
          Pro forma net income (loss).................  $ 4,998,069   $    896,884   $ (3,903,759)
                                                        ===========   ============   ============
Pro forma income (loss) before extraordinary item per
  share
  Basic...............................................  $       .37   $        .09   $       (.23)
  Diluted.............................................          .37            .09           (.23)
Extraordinary item per share
  Basic...............................................          .74             --             --
  Diluted.............................................          .74             --             --
Pro forma net income (loss) per share
  Basic...............................................         1.11            .09           (.23)
  Diluted.............................................         1.11            .09           (.23)
</TABLE>
 
       The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated
                             financial statements.
 
<PAGE>   21
 
                         ALRENCO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
          CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY (DEFICIT)
                  FOR THE THREE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                             COMMON STOCK          UNAMORTIZED
                       -------------------------     VALUE OF     ACCUMULATED   UNREALIZED
                         SHARES        AMOUNT      STOCK AWARDS     DEFICIT        GAIN         TOTAL
                       ----------   ------------   ------------   -----------   ----------   ------------
<S>                    <C>          <C>            <C>            <C>           <C>          <C>
December 31, 1994....   4,377,994   $  3,945,184   $        --    $(4,826,135)   $ 30,097    $   (850,854)
Issuance of common
  stock..............      63,485        483,281            --             --          --         483,281
Contributions of
  capital............          --         45,498            --             --          --          45,498
Distributions to S
  corporation
  shareholders.......          --             --            --     (1,486,943)         --      (1,486,943)
Net change in
  unrealized gains,
  net of tax of
  $21,283............          --             --            --             --     (30,097)        (30,097)
Net income...........          --             --            --      5,288,069          --       5,288,069
                       ----------   ------------   -----------    -----------    --------    ------------
December 31, 1995....   4,441,479      4,473,963            --     (1,025,009)         --       3,448,954
Issuance of common
  stock..............  12,356,118    142,336,038            --             --          --     142,336,038
Restricted stock
  awards.............     105,000      1,470,000    (1,470,000)            --          --              --
Exercise of stock
  options............         600          8,400            --             --          --           8,400
Amortization of stock
  awards.............          --             --       287,862             --          --         287,862
Contributions of
  capital............          --        431,231            --             --          --         431,231
Distributions to S
  corporation
  shareholders.......          --             --            --     (1,265,711)         --      (1,265,711)
Net income...........          --             --            --      1,097,558          --       1,097,558
                       ----------   ------------   -----------    -----------    --------    ------------
December 31, 1996....  16,903,197    148,719,632    (1,182,138)    (1,193,162)         --     146,344,332
Issuance of common
  stock..............      49,567        690,000            --             --          --         690,000
Exercise of stock
  options............      21,416        241,824            --             --          --         241,824
Amortization of stock
  awards.............          --             --       194,328             --          --         194,328
Purchase and
  retirement of
  common stock from
  dissenters.........     (17,061)      (265,679)           --             --          --        (265,679)
Distributions to S
  corporation
  shareholders.......          --             --            --        (76,616)         --         (76,616)
Net loss.............          --             --            --     (4,117,594)         --      (4,117,594)
                       ----------   ------------   -----------    -----------    --------    ------------
December 31, 1997....  16,957,119   $149,385,777   $  (987,810)   $(5,387,372)   $     --    $143,010,595
                       ==========   ============   ===========    ===========    ========    ============
</TABLE>
 
       The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated
                             financial statements.
 
<PAGE>   22
 
                         ALRENCO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                     CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                              ------------------------------------------
                                                                  1995           1996           1997
                                                              ------------   ------------   ------------
<S>                                                           <C>            <C>            <C>
Cash flows from operating activities:
  Net income (loss).........................................  $  5,288,069   $  1,097,558   $ (4,117,594)
  Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash
    provided by (used in) operating activities:
    Extraordinary gain......................................    (3,335,851)            --             --
    Loss on sale of property and equipment..................       183,225        157,743        229,148
    Gain on sale of stores..................................    (1,048,923)      (750,800)      (950,366)
    Depreciation and disposition of rental merchandise......    25,054,452     36,581,109     67,257,744
    Amortization of intangibles.............................       570,034      3,985,279      9,902,303
    Depreciation of property and equipment..................     1,275,954      1,874,180      3,096,386
    Deferred income taxes...................................        71,845     (1,437,643)    (2,306,428)
    Amortization of stock awards............................            --        287,862        194,328
    Gain on sale of investments.............................       (99,930)            --             --
  Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of
    effects of acquisitions of businesses and dispositions
    of stores:
    Purchase of rental merchandise..........................   (25,530,026)   (47,384,827)   (90,366,228)
    Accounts payable and accrued expenses...................     1,297,974      3,148,167     13,781,844
    Other assets............................................      (663,999)       218,068     (3,829,116)
    Income taxes payable....................................       164,766         38,566     (1,570,689)
                                                              ------------   ------------   ------------
         Net cash provided by (used in) operating
           activities.......................................     3,227,590     (2,184,738)    (8,678,668)
                                                              ------------   ------------   ------------
Cash flows from investing activities:
  Purchase of property and equipment........................    (1,070,066)    (3,036,474)    (9,251,093)
  Proceeds from sale of property and equipment..............       244,389         71,468      2,844,612
  Purchase of investments...................................       (58,581)            --             --
  Proceeds from sale of investments.........................       542,501             --             --
  Acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired..........    (7,205,060)   (74,502,919)   (50,628,896)
  Dispositions of stores, net of cash sold..................     2,700,000      1,043,058      3,031,691
  Amounts advanced on notes receivable......................      (114,425)      (336,225)            --
  Payments received on notes receivable.....................        67,179         98,261      1,098,246
  Increase in loan to stockholder...........................        (7,466)        (7,252)        (7,018)
                                                              ------------   ------------   ------------
         Net cash used in investing activities..............    (4,901,529)   (76,670,083)   (52,912,458)
                                                              ------------   ------------   ------------
Cash flows from financing activities:
  Purchase of common stock from dissenters..................            --             --       (265,679)
  Proceeds from issuance of common stock....................       483,281    142,336,038             --
  Proceeds from stock options...............................            --          8,400        241,824
  Proceeds from notes payable...............................     6,925,654      2,393,150     58,305,102
  Payments on notes payable and capital leases..............    (4,350,105)   (29,778,248)   (28,790,362)
  Payments for deferred loan fees...........................       (16,090)            --             --
  Contributions of capital..................................        45,498         51,610             --
  Distributions to S corporation shareholders...............    (1,328,012)    (1,520,151)       (76,616)
                                                              ------------   ------------   ------------
         Net cash provided by financing activities..........     1,760,226    113,490,799     29,414,269
                                                              ------------   ------------   ------------
Net increase (decrease) in cash.............................        86,287     34,635,978    (32,176,857)
Cash at beginning of period.................................     1,023,724      1,110,011     35,745,989
                                                              ------------   ------------   ------------
Cash at end of period.......................................  $  1,110,011   $ 35,745,989   $  3,569,132
                                                              ============   ============   ============
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
  Cash paid for:
    Interest................................................  $  2,867,380   $  1,676,893   $  2,295,982
                                                              ============   ============   ============
    Income taxes............................................  $    683,074   $  2,615,322   $  4,886,911
                                                              ============   ============   ============
</TABLE>
 
  The accompanying notes are an integral part of the consolidated financial
                                  statements.
 
<PAGE>   23
 
                         ALRENCO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
                  NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
1. ORGANIZATION, OPERATIONS AND BASIS OF PRESENTATION
 
     On February 26, 1998, RTO, Inc. ("RTO") merged with and into Alrenco, Inc.
("Alrenco"), with Alrenco being the surviving corporation in the merger (the
"RTO Merger"). These consolidated financial statements of Alrenco have been
prepared to give retroactive effect to the RTO Merger on February 26, 1998. 
 
               
     These consolidated financial statements include the combination of Alrenco
and RTO, the Purchase Acquisitions and the Pooling Acquisitions (as described in
Note 3) (collectively referred to as the "Company") as required by Accounting
Principles Board Opinion Number 16 ("APB 16").
 
     The Company develops, acquires, owns and operates a chain of stores that
rents durable household products such as consumer electronics, appliances,
furniture, jewelry and home furnishing accessories under cancelable
rental-purchase agreements renewable on a weekly or monthly basis. At December
31, 1997, the Company operated 432 stores in 23 states (see Note 3).
 
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
 
PRINCIPLES OF CONSOLIDATION
 
     The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of
the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiaries. All material intercompany
accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
 
RENTAL MERCHANDISE
 
     Rental merchandise is carried at the lower of cost or net realizable value.
Depreciation is provided using the income forecasting method or straight-line
method over a period designed to approximate the income forecasting method. The
income forecasting method is designed to match as closely as practicable the
recognition of depreciation expense with the consumption of the rental
merchandise. The consumption of rental merchandise occurs during periods of
rental and directly coincides with the receipt of rental revenue over the
rental-purchase agreement period, generally 18 to 24 months. Under the income
forecasting method, merchandise held for rent is not depreciated, and
merchandise on rent is depreciated in the proportion of rents received to total
rents required to obtain ownership as provided in the rental-purchase agreement.
The income forecasting method is an activity-based method similar to the units
of production method.
 
     Rental merchandise acquired prior to January 1, 1995 by Alrenco, is being
depreciated by the straight-line method over various estimated useful lives,
primarily 21 months. The range of the various estimated useful lives is
generally one to three years. The Company adopted the income forecasting method
because management believes that it provides a more systematic and rational
allocation of the cost of rental merchandise to operations as its useful life
expires. The effect of the change in accounting method was to increase pro forma
net income and pro forma net income per basic and diluted share by approximately
$470,000 and $0.10, respectively, for the year ended December 31, 1995.
 
     Effective January 1, 1997, RTO and its new subsidiaries elected to
depreciate all additions to rental merchandise acquired subsequent to December
31, 1996 using the income forecasting method and make other conforming changes
to the estimate of depreciation expense. These changes were made to more
accurately match revenues and expenses. The impact of these changes on the
results of operations for the year ended
 
<PAGE>   24
                         ALRENCO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
          NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES -- (CONTINUED)
December 31, 1997 was to decrease pro forma net loss by approximately $400,000
or $.02 per basic and diluted share.
 
RENTAL REVENUE
 
     Merchandise is rented to customers pursuant to rental-purchase agreements,
which provide for predominantly weekly rental terms with non-refundable rental
payments. Rental revenue is recognized as collected, since at the time of
collection the rental merchandise has been placed in service and costs of
installation and delivery have been incurred. Generally, the customer has the
right to acquire title through either a purchase option or through payment of
all rentals required to obtain ownership as provided in the rental-purchase
agreement. The customers may terminate rental-purchase agreements at any time,
and if terminated, the rental merchandise is returned to the Company. A
provision is made for estimated losses of rental merchandise damaged or not
returned by customers.
 
PERVASIVENESS OF ESTIMATES
 
     The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles requires management to make estimates and
assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and
disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial
statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the
reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.
 
CONCENTRATION OF CREDIT RISKS
 
     The Company maintained deposits and a money market mutual fund account
totaling $35,745,989 and $3,569,132 at December 31, 1996 and 1997, respectively,
with several financial institutions. Deposits in excess of $100,000 and mutual
funds are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.
 
     During 1996, the Company invested excess funds in a money market mutual
fund account with a bank. As of December 31, 1996, the market value of the
securities approximates the carrying amount of $25,000,000.
 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
 
     Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on hand and on deposit and highly
liquid instruments with maturities of three months or less when purchased. The
carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents is the estimated fair value at
December 31, 1996 and 1997.
 
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT AND RELATED DEPRECIATION
 
     Property and equipment are stated at cost. Expenditures for repairs and
maintenance are charged to expense as incurred and additions and improvements
that significantly extend the lives of depreciable assets are capitalized. Upon
sale or other retirement of depreciable property, the cost and accumulated
depreciation are removed from the related accounts and any gain or loss is
reflected in the results of operations. Depreciation of furniture and fixtures,
signs and vehicles is provided over the estimated useful lives of the respective
assets on a straight-line and an accelerated bases. Leasehold improvements are
amortized over the shorter of the useful life of the asset or the term of the
lease and renewal period, if applicable.
 
<PAGE>   25
                         ALRENCO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
          NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES -- (CONTINUED)
IMPAIRMENT OF LONG-LIVED ASSETS AND LONG-LIVED ASSETS TO BE DISPOSED OF
 
     The Company continually evaluates the propriety of the carrying value of
property and equipment, goodwill and other intangible assets based on the
estimated future undiscounted cash flows of the related investment, as well as
the amortization period to determine whether current events and circumstances
warrant adjustments to carrying value and/or revised estimates of useful lives.
At this time, the Company believes that no significant impairment of the
long-lived assets has occurred and that no reduction of the estimated useful
lives is warranted.
 
INCOME TAXES
 
     Income taxes for the Company are determined by use of the liability method
in which deferred income taxes are provided for temporary differences between
the financial reporting and income tax basis of assets and liabilities using the
income tax rates under existing legislation expected to be in effect at the date
such temporary differences are expected to reverse.
 
     Since certain of the business combinations accounted for as
poolings-of-interests as defined by APB 16 (see Note 3) involved companies which
were nontaxable enterprises prior to acquisition by the Company (e.g. S
Corporations), unaudited pro forma income tax expense (benefit) has been
presented for the nontaxable enterprises as if they had been a taxable
enterprise for all periods presented. Deferred tax assets and liabilities for
the tax effects of temporary differences for the nontaxable enterprises were
established through an adjustment to income tax expense (benefit) during the
period that the combinations were consummated (see Note 11).
 
ADVERTISING COSTS
 
     Advertising costs amounting to $4,839,000, $7,534,000 and $13,413,000 for
the years ended December 31, 1995, 1996, and 1997, respectively, are expensed as
incurred.
 
PRO FORMA INCOME (LOSS) PER SHARE
 
     On December 31, 1997, the Company adopted provisions of Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 128, "Earnings Per Share." In
accordance with SFAS 128, the Company computes basic pro forma income per share
based on the weighted-average number of common shares outstanding during each
period presented. Diluted pro forma income per share is computed based on the
weighted average number of common shares plus the dilutive effect of all
potential dilutive securities, principally stock options and convertible notes,
outstanding during each period presented. All prior year pro forma income per
share amounts have been restated to comply with the provisions of SFAS 128.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        1995                              1996                               1997
                           -------------------------------   -------------------------------   ---------------------------------
                           PRO FORMA                 PER     PRO FORMA                 PER      PRO FORMA                  PER
                              NET                   SHARE       NET                   SHARE        NET                    SHARE
                             INCOME      SHARES     AMOUNT    INCOME       SHARES     AMOUNT      LOSS         SHARES     AMOUNT
                           ----------   ---------   ------   ---------   ----------   ------   -----------   ----------   ------
<S>                        <C>          <C>         <C>      <C>         <C>          <C>      <C>           <C>          <C>
Basic income per common
  share..................  $1,662,218   4,516,936    $.37    $896,884    10,219,487    $.09    $(3,903,759)  16,940,945   $(.23)
                                                     ====                              ====                               =====
Effect of dilutive
  options................          --          --                  --        42,353                     --      176,197
                           ----------   ---------            --------    ----------            -----------   ----------
Diluted income per common
  share..................  $1,662,218   4,516,936    $.37    $896,884    10,261,840    $.09     (3,903,759)  17,117,142   $(.23)
                           ==========   =========    ====    ========    ==========    ====    ===========   ==========   =====
</TABLE>
 
     Diluted income (loss) per share for the year ended December 31, 1997
presented above, as well as for all quarters in 1997 (see Note 14), excludes the
effect of the convertible notes, if converted, given these securities increase
net income or decrease net loss and would be antidilutive.
 
<PAGE>   26
                         ALRENCO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
          NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES -- (CONTINUED)
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION
 
     Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123 ("SFAS 123"),
"Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation" encourages, but does not require
companies to record compensation cost for stock-based employee compensation
plans at fair value. The Company has chosen to account for stock-based
compensation using the intrinsic value method prescribed in Accounting
Principles Board Opinion No. 25 ("APB 25"), "Accounting for Stock Issued to
Employees" and related Interpretations. Accordingly, compensation cost for stock
options is measured as the excess, if any, of the quoted market price of the
Company's stock at the date of the grant over the amount an employee must pay to
acquire the stock.
 
FAIR VALUE OF FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
 
     The Company's financial instruments consist of cash and debt whose carrying
value approximates fair value at December 31, 1996 and 1997.
 
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
 
     Excluded from the consolidated statements of cash flows was the effect of
the following noncash activities. During the year ended December 31, 1997, the
Company issued common stock to settle notes payable totaling $690,000 to certain
stockholders. Additionally, in connection with certain Purchase Acquisitions,
the Company issued a total of $7,100,000 of notes payable to individuals.
 
RECENT ACCOUNTING STANDARDS
 
     During June 1997, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued SFAS No.
130 "Reporting Comprehensive Income" and SFAS No. 131 "Disclosures About
Segments of an Enterprise and Related Information". Preliminary analysis of
these new standards by the Company indicates that the standards will not have a
material impact on the Company. The standards are effective for financial
statements for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 1997.
 
RECLASSIFICATIONS
 
     Certain reclassifications were made to prior year balances to conform to
the 1997 presentation.
 
3. ACQUISITIONS
 
     During 1995, the Company purchased 16 rental-purchase stores for
$7,205,060, which were accounted for as a purchase. The operating results of
these acquired stores are included in the operating results of the Company since
the dates of acquisition.
 
     The Company purchased all of the issued and outstanding common stock of
Action TV & Appliance Rental, Inc. ("Action"), a 102 store chain, effective
August 1, 1996 for cash of approximately $45,300,000 and $2,600,000 for
noncompetition agreements. The Company purchased 14 stores from a company doing
business as Easy Rentals on March 1, 1996 for cash of approximately $6,500,000.
On August 1, 1996, the Company completed the acquisition of 14 stores for cash
of approximately $5,600,000. During 1996, the Company also acquired 55 stores in
22 unrelated transactions for an aggregate cash purchase price of approximately
$14,500,000.
 
     On January 2, 1997, the Company completed the acquisition of 28 stores
located in 4 states from Fastway Rentals, Inc. for an aggregate purchase price
of $11,900,000. The Company purchased the assets of 27 rent-to-own stores from
B&L Concepts, Inc. ("B&L") on January 6, 1997 for total consideration of
approximately $13,800,000 consisting of cash of approximately $10,800,000 and a
$3,000,000 convertible note (see Note 9).
<PAGE>   27
                         ALRENCO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
          NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
3. ACQUISITIONS -- (CONTINUED)
Additionally, during 1997, the Company acquired 72 stores in 9 unrelated
transactions for an aggregate purchase price of approximately $32,000,000
consisting of cash of $27,900,000 and notes totaling $4,100,000 (see Note 9).
 
     The above acquisitions (collectively referred to as the "Purchase
Acquisitions") have been accounted for as purchases, as defined by APB 16 and,
accordingly, the operating results of the acquired businesses have been included
in the results of operations since their respective acquisition dates. The
purchase prices have been allocated as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   DECEMBER 31,
                                                            ---------------------------
                                                                1996           1997
                                                            ------------   ------------
<S>                                                         <C>            <C>
Rental merchandise........................................  $ 27,048,141   $ 17,210,537
Property and equipment....................................     4,580,086      2,358,771
Intangible assets.........................................    56,711,492     44,515,140
Other assets..............................................     3,967,194        890,000
Accounts payable and accrued expenses.....................    (3,886,758)    (1,755,398)
Notes payable assumed.....................................   (13,917,236)    (5,151,794)
Notes payable issued......................................            --     (7,100,000)
Income tax liability......................................            --       (338,360)
                                                            ------------   ------------
          Cash paid, net of cash acquired.................  $ 74,502,919   $ 50,628,896
                                                            ============   ============
</TABLE>
 
     The following summary, prepared on an unaudited pro forma basis, presents
the results of operations (i) as if the above acquisitions had been purchased as
of the beginning of the year of acquisition and the beginning of the year for
the immediately preceding period, (ii) as if the initial capitalization of RTO
had occurred on January 1, 1995, and (iii) to include the effect of adjustments
of (i) and (ii) for amortization of intangibles, interest, income taxes and the
weighted average shares outstanding.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       UNAUDITED PRO FORMA RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
                                                                YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                       ------------------------------------------
                                                           1995           1996           1997
                                                       ------------   ------------   ------------
<S>                                                    <C>            <C>            <C>
Revenue..............................................  $162,027,916   $230,622,179   $242,713,286
Pro forma income (loss) before extraordinary item....     3,103,527     (1,968,597)    (5,441,486)
Pro forma net income (loss)..........................     6,439,378     (1,968,597)    (5,441,486)
Pro forma income (loss) before extraordinary item per
  share:
  Basic..............................................  $        .22   $       (.12)  $       (.32)
  Diluted............................................           .22           (.12)          (.32)
Pro forma net income (loss) per share
  Basic..............................................  $        .46   $       (.12)  $       (.32)
  Diluted............................................           .46           (.12)          (.32)
</TABLE>
 
     The unaudited pro forma financial information is presented for
informational purposes only and is not necessarily indicative of operating
results that would have occurred had the acquisitions been consummated as of the
above dates, nor are they necessarily indicative of future operating results.
 
<PAGE>   28
                         ALRENCO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
          NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
3. ACQUISITIONS -- (CONTINUED)
     The Company entered into definitive agreements to merge with various
entities, which were consummated during 1996, 1997 and 1998 (the "Pooling
Acquisitions"). Under the terms of each merger agreement, shares of common stock
of each entity were multiplied by an exchange ratio and exchanged for shares of
the Company's common stock. A summary of each merger follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   SHARES OF
                                                                                    COMPANY
POOLING ACQUISITIONS                                           DATE OF MERGER     STOCK ISSUED
- --------------------                                          -----------------   ------------
<S>                                                           <C>                 <C>
Home Choice, Inc. ("Home Choice")...........................  October 31, 1996         23,885
Yam's, Inc. ("Yam's").......................................  November 1, 1996        342,837
ARTO, Inc. ("ARTO").........................................  February 28, 1997       186,774
National TV Rental, Inc. ("National").......................  February 28, 1997       188,659
Seajay Group ("Seajay").....................................  February 28, 1997       179,500
Showtyme Group ("Showtyme").................................  February 28, 1997       214,520
ABC Group ("ABC")...........................................   March 11, 1997         170,611
Discount Centers of America, Inc. ("Discount")..............    May 12, 1997           98,415
The Hut Co. ("Hut").........................................    May 13, 1997           37,714
RTO, Inc. ("RTO")...........................................  February 26, 1998    12,280,316
</TABLE>
 
     The Pooling Acquisitions were accounted for as pooling of interests.
Separate unaudited results of the pooled entities prior to each date of the
merger for the years ended December 31, 1995, 1996 and 1997 are as follows
(unaudited):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                         YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                -----------------------------------------
                                                   1995           1996           1997
                                                -----------   ------------   ------------
<S>                                             <C>           <C>            <C>
Total revenue:
  Alrenco.....................................  $37,575,639   $ 63,855,808   $102,598,240
  RTO.........................................           --     25,157,509    123,250,308
  Home Choice.................................      319,772        834,748             --
  Yam's.......................................    4,844,923      4,535,581             --
  ARTO........................................    3,811,243      4,153,355        684,753
  National....................................    7,260,425      6,378,971        850,086
  Seajay......................................   11,661,143      7,406,567      1,218,752
  Showtyme....................................    4,627,591      4,346,450        632,548
  ABC.........................................    3,239,992      3,451,139        550,938
  Discount....................................    2,369,852      2,385,037        742,969
  Hut.........................................    1,818,144      1,656,195        440,005
                                                -----------   ------------   ------------
  Combined....................................  $77,528,724   $124,161,360   $230,968,599
                                                ===========   ============   ============
</TABLE>
 
<PAGE>   29
                         ALRENCO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
          NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
3. ACQUISITIONS -- (CONTINUED)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          1995                       1996                        1997
                                 -----------------------   -------------------------   -------------------------
                                   ACTUAL     PRO FORMA      ACTUAL       PRO FORMA      ACTUAL       PRO FORMA
                                 ----------   ----------   -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------
<S>                              <C>          <C>          <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>
Net income (loss):
  Alrenco......................  $1,266,592   $1,266,592   $ 3,663,378   $ 3,663,378   $ 3,586,304   $ 3,586,304
  RTO..........................          --           --    (3,175,692)   (3,141,549)   (8,735,940)   (8,593,384)
  Home Choice..................    (221,073)    (135,695)     (129,993)      (79,790)           --            --
  Yam's........................      59,313       59,313       (17,711)      (17,711)           --            --
  ARTO.........................     316,396      194,204       367,532       225,591         9,636         9,636
  National.....................      (6,232)      (3,825)      204,135       125,298       (74,480)      (52,813)
  Seajay (including
    extraordinary item of
    $3,335,851 in 1995)........   3,385,544    3,385,544       220,813       220,813       (34,204)      (34,204)
  Showtyme.....................     579,037      355,413       211,647       129,909        (2,776)       (3,577)
  ABC..........................      82,779       50,810       (45,303)      (27,807)      (76,500)      (26,087)
  Discount.....................     (11,041)     (11,041)      (99,064)      (99,064)      (45,335)      (45,335)
  Hut..........................    (161,409)    (161,409)      (57,826)      (57,826)       (6,299)       (6,299)
  Conforming adjustments.......      (1,837)      (1,837)      (44,358)      (44,358)    1,262,000     1,262,000
                                 ----------   ----------   -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------
  Combined.....................  $5,288,069   $4,998,069   $ 1,097,558   $   896,884   $(4,117,594)  $(3,903,759)
                                 ==========   ==========   ===========   ===========   ===========   ===========
</TABLE>
 
     Conforming adjustments relate to conforming amortization policies, net of
the related tax benefit.
 
4. SALE OF STORES
 
     During 1997, the Company sold eight stores for $3,031,691. In connection
with the transaction, the Company sold assets with a net book value of
$2,081,325, received cash of $3,031,691 and recorded a gain of $950,366.
 
     During 1996, the Company sold four stores for $1,410,700. In connection
with the transaction, the Company sold assets with a net book value of $659,900,
received $1,043,058 in cash and $367,642 to repay a portion of its debt, and
recorded a gain of $750,800.
 
     During 1995, the Company sold thirteen stores for $2,700,000. In connection
with the transaction, the Company sold assets with a net book value of
$1,651,077, received $2,700,000 in cash and recorded a gain of $1,048,923.
 
5. RENTAL MERCHANDISE
 
     Cost and accumulated depreciation of rental merchandise consist of the
following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    DECEMBER 31,
                                                             --------------------------
                                                                1996           1997
                                                             -----------   ------------
<S>                                                          <C>           <C>
Cost.......................................................  $85,888,698   $145,740,577
Less accumulated depreciation..............................   27,164,708     48,479,999
                                                             -----------   ------------
          Rental merchandise, net..........................  $58,723,990   $ 97,260,578
                                                             ===========   ============
</TABLE>
 
<PAGE>   30
                         ALRENCO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
          NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
6. PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT
 
     Property and equipment consist of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                      DECEMBER 31,
                                                  DEPRECIATION  -------------------------
                                                     PERIOD        1996          1997
                                                  ------------  -----------   -----------
<S>                                               <C>           <C>           <C>
Buildings.......................................    20 years    $   445,539   $   601,679
Furniture and equipment.........................   3-7 years     10,420,777    12,254,503
Leasehold improvements..........................   3-10 years     5,579,886     9,160,747
                                                                -----------   -----------
                                                                 16,446,202    22,016,929
Less: accumulated depreciation and
  amortization..................................                  7,080,548     7,093,378
                                                                -----------   -----------
                                                                  9,365,654    14,923,551
Land............................................                    115,427       115,427
                                                                -----------   -----------
          Property and equipment, net...........                $ 9,481,081   $15,038,978
                                                                ===========   ===========
</TABLE>
 
7. INTANGIBLE ASSETS
 
     Intangible assets consist of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    DECEMBER 31,
                                                AMORTIZATION  -------------------------
                                                   PERIOD        1996          1997
                                                ------------  -----------   -----------
<S>                                             <C>           <C>           <C>
Customer rental agreements....................  15-24 months  $ 3,071,317   $ 4,942,970
Noncompetition agreements.....................   2-10 years     4,566,300     7,783,006
Goodwill......................................  10-30 years    55,450,179    94,527,708
                                                              -----------   -----------
                                                               63,087,796   107,253,684
Less: accumulated amortization................                  5,032,965    14,712,435
                                                              -----------   -----------
          Intangible assets, net..............                $58,054,831   $92,541,249
                                                              ===========   ===========
</TABLE>
 
     Customer rental agreements represent the fair value of active customer
agreements of acquired stores at the acquisition date and are amortized in
proportion to and over the period of related estimated rental income on an
accelerated basis. The noncompetition agreements are amortized on the
straight-line and accelerated methods. Goodwill is amortized on the
straight-line method.
 
8. ACCRUED LIABILITIES
 
     Accrued liabilities consist of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    DECEMBER 31,
                                                              ------------------------
                                                                 1996         1997
                                                              ----------   -----------
<S>                                                           <C>          <C>
Salaries, wages, taxes and benefits.........................  $2,621,062   $ 4,596,457
Property taxes..............................................     220,124       454,779
Sales and use taxes payable.................................     773,264     1,810,134
Professional and advisory fees..............................     884,207     1,142,297
Bonuses.....................................................     468,842       974,421
Interest....................................................      94,668       254,803
Other.......................................................   2,113,764     3,160,149
                                                              ----------   -----------
          Accrued liabilities...............................  $7,175,931   $12,393,040
                                                              ==========   ===========
</TABLE>
 
<PAGE>   31
                         ALRENCO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
          NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
9. NOTES PAYABLE
 
     Notes payable consists of the following:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    DECEMBER 31,
                                                              ------------------------
                                                                 1996         1997
                                                              ----------   -----------
<S>                                                           <C>          <C>
Note payable to individuals with an interest rate of 9.25%
  payable in equal annual installments of $700,000 plus
  accrued interest through January 3, 1999..................  $       --   $ 1,400,000
Convertible note payable to individuals with an interest
  rate of 6% payable quarterly with the principal due in
  January 1999..............................................          --     3,000,000
Convertible note payable to individuals with an interest
  rate of 6% payable quarterly with the principal due May
  30, 1999..................................................          --     2,000,000
Revolving credit facilities with lenders with variable
  interest rates and fixed rates as discussed below.........   1,317,593    41,689,285
Notes payable to banks......................................   3,119,987            --
Notes payable to affiliates.................................   1,670,811            --
Notes payable to individuals with interest rates at 10% and
  20%; payments ranging from $1,822 to interest only; some
  maturing on May 2002 and others no stated maturity date...     105,156        72,587
Equipment notes payable.....................................     200,520            --
Vehicle notes payable.......................................      85,399            --
Capital lease obligations...................................     272,803            --
                                                              ----------   -----------
          Notes payable.....................................  $6,772,269   $48,161,872
                                                              ==========   ===========
</TABLE>
 
     The Company had two revolving credit facilities at December 31, 1997. The
first facility (the "First Facility") was a variable interest rate based on
LIBOR (5.75% at December 31, 1997) plus 2.5% and matures on October 1, 1998. The
First Facility provided for maximum borrowings of $21 million. Borrowings under
the First Facility were also limited based on multiples of average monthly
receipts and rental income, as defined by the First Facility. At December 31,
1997, the Company had no additional borrowings available under the First
Facility. The weighted average interest rate was 8.05% and 8.23% at December 31,
1996 and 1997, respectively.
 
     The second facility (the "Second Facility") provided for maximum borrowings
of $30,000,000 and carried a three-year term scheduled to expire in 2000 with an
interest rate equal to prime (8.5% at December 31, 1997) minus  1/2% or LIBOR
plus 2 1/4%, at the election of the Company. Under the terms of the Second
Facility, the Company was required to pay a commitment fee of .125% per annum on
the unused portion of the Second Facility. As of December 31, 1997, $20,689,285
was outstanding under the Second Facility. The weighted average interest rate
was 10.1% and 8.7% at December 31, 1996 and 1997, respectively.
 
     The First and Second Facilities were collateralized by substantially all of
the Company's assets. The First and Second Facilities restricted the Company's
ability to pay dividends to a percentage of annual income, required the Company
to maintain minimum levels of tangible net worth, as defined, subjected the
Company to a maximum ratio of total liabilities to tangible net worth, limit
liabilities and capital expenditures, and required certain interest coverage
ratios. As of December 31, 1997, the Company was in violation of a financial
covenant under the Second Facility, which has been subsequently waived by the
bank. In February 1998, the Company entered into a new revolving credit facility
which replaced the First and Second Facilities. See Note 15 -- "Subsequent
Event."
 
     On January 6, 1997 and May 28, 1997, the Company issued two notes in the
amounts of $3,000,000 and $2,000,000, respectively, in connection with the
acquisitions of B&L and Instant Rent to Own, Inc. (see
 
<PAGE>   32
                         ALRENCO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
          NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
9. NOTES PAYABLE -- (CONTINUED)
Note 3). Upon certain events these notes are convertible into common stock of
the Company at a conversion rate of $13.92 per share, which will be adjusted for
stock splits, dividends, or recapitalizations of the Company.
 
     Aggregate maturities of notes payable at December 31, 1997 were as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                           <C>
1998........................................................  $42,403,016
1999........................................................    5,715,001
2000........................................................       16,387
2001........................................................       17,902
2002........................................................        9,566
                                                              -----------
                                                              $48,161,872
                                                              ===========
</TABLE>
 
10. STOCK OPTION PLAN
 
     On November 8, 1995, Alrenco approved a stock incentive plan ("Alrenco
Plan") under which 450,000 common shares were reserved. Under the Alrenco Plan,
the Company was entitled to grant its employees incentive stock options or
nonqualified stock options to purchase a specified number of shares of common
stock at a price not less than fair market value on the date of grant and for a
term not to exceed 10 years. In addition to the stock options, the Company was
entitled to grant stock appreciation rights ("SAR"), restricted stock awards and
options to directors. SARs and options to directors were required to be granted
at a minimum of fair market value at the date of grant and restricted stock
awards at a price to be determined by the Board of Directors' compensation
committee. Directors who are not involved in day-to-day management of the
Company were initially entitled to a grant of 5,000 shares and on each of their
next five anniversaries, an automatic 1,000 share grant. On January 23, 1996,
the Company granted 105,000 shares of restricted stock to two key employees
which vest at the earlier of a change in control or at the end of seven years.
As a result of the merger with RTO, these shares automatically vested on
February 26, 1998. At December 31, 1997, there were 179,205 shares reserved for
issuance under the Alrenco Plan.
 
     RTO adopted the 1996 Employee Stock Option Plan (the "RTO Plan") to attract
and retain employees. Under the RTO Plan, RTO was entitled to grant options to
purchase a total of not more that 1,027,973 shares of common stock, subject to
anti-dilution and other adjustment provisions provided, however, that the
maximum number of shares subject to all options granted to an individual under
the Plan would not exceed 50% of the shares of common stock authorized for
issuance. No options could be granted under the RTO Plan after the tenth
anniversary of the RTO Plan. The options vest over a four-year period and expire
on the tenth anniversary following the date of grant.
 
     In August 1996, the compensation committee of RTO granted under the RTO
Plan, ten-year options to purchase common stock at an exercise price of $11.14
per share to numerous employees of RTO. Additional options have been granted
subsequent to this initial grant to employees joining RTO through acquisitions
or recruitment at exercise prices per share ranging from $11.14 to $15.59. The
option exercise price was equal to the fair market value of the stock on the
date of grant, as determined by the Board of Directors.
 
     RTO also adopted the 1996 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors (the
"Director's Plan") that provided for the granting to non-employee directors of
stock options to purchase up to 448,975 shares of the Company's common stock.
During 1997, the Company granted options to purchase 59,085 shares at exercise
prices per share ranging from $15.59 to $16.37. These options vest six months
after the date of grant. No options were issued under the Director's Plan in
1996 and no options were exercised during 1996 and 1997. At December 31, 1997,
50,644 options were exercisable under the Director's Plan at a weighted-average
exercise price of $15.59 per share.
 
<PAGE>   33
                         ALRENCO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
          NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
10. STOCK OPTION PLAN -- (CONTINUED)
     On January 1, 1996, the Company adopted SFAS No. 123, "Accounting for Stock
Based Compensation" ("SFAS 123"). As permitted by SFAS 123, the Company has
chosen to apply APB Opinion No. 25, "Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees"
("APB 25") and related Interpretations in accounting for its Plans. Accordingly,
no compensation cost has been recognized for options granted under the Plans.
Had compensation cost for the Company's Plans been determined based on fair
value at the grant dates for awards under the Plans consistent with the method
outlined in SFAS 123, the Company's pro forma net income (loss) and pro forma
net income (loss) per share would have been the amounts indicated below for the
years ended December 31, 1996 and 1997. The Plans had not been adopted during
the year ended December 31, 1995.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    FOR THE YEAR ENDED       FOR THE YEAR ENDED
                                                    DECEMBER 31, 1996         DECEMBER 31, 1997
                                                   --------------------   -------------------------
                                                      AS      SFAS 123        AS         SFAS 123
                                                   REPORTED   PRO FORMA    REPORTED      PRO FORMA
                                                   --------   ---------   -----------   -----------
<S>                                                <C>        <C>         <C>           <C>
Pro forma net income (loss)......................  $896,884    $46,595    $(3,903,759)  $(6,288,774)
Pro forma basic net income (loss) per share......       .09        .00           (.23)         (.37)
Pro forma diluted net income (loss) per share....       .09        .00           (.23)         (.37)
</TABLE>
 
     The fair value of each option grant is estimated on the date of grant using
the Black-Scholes option-pricing model using the following assumptions for
grants in 1996 and 1997:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      FOR THE YEAR ENDED   FOR THE YEAR ENDED
                                                         DECEMBER 31,         DECEMBER 31,
                                                             1996                 1997
                                                      ------------------   ------------------
<S>                                                   <C>                  <C>
Expected dividend rate..............................                0%                   0%
Volatility rate.....................................         0% to 40%            0% to 40%
Risk-free interest rate.............................    5.75% to 6.30%       5.75% to 6.00%
Expected life.......................................    5.5 to 6 years       5.0 to 6 years
</TABLE>
 
     A summary of the status of the Plan as of December 31, 1996 and 1997, and
changes during the periods are presented below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                          WEIGHTED
                                                                          AVERAGE
                                                                          EXERCISE
                                                               SHARES      PRICE
                                                              ---------   --------
<S>                                                           <C>         <C>
Outstanding as of January 1, 1996...........................         --    $   --
  Granted...................................................    730,052     11.64
  Exercised.................................................       (600)    14.00
  Forfeited.................................................    (27,159)    11.18
                                                              ---------    ------
Outstanding as of December 31, 1996.........................    702,293     11.66
  Granted...................................................    630,016     14.72
  Exercised.................................................    (21,416)    11.29
  Forfeited.................................................   (177,647)    12.70
                                                              ---------    ------
Outstanding as of December 31, 1997.........................  1,133,246    $13.19
                                                              =========    ======
</TABLE>
 
<PAGE>   34
                         ALRENCO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
          NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
10. STOCK OPTION PLAN -- (CONTINUED)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                          WEIGHTED
                                                                          AVERAGE
                                                                          EXERCISE
                                                               SHARES      PRICE
                                                              ---------   --------
<S>                                                           <C>         <C>
Options exercisable at December 31, 1996....................     66,645
                                                              =========
Options exercisable at December 31, 1997....................    210,909
                                                              =========
Weighted average fair value of options granted during the
  year ended December 31, 1996..............................  $    3.21
                                                              =========
Weighted average fair value of options granted during the
  year ended December 31, 1997..............................  $    5.32
                                                              =========
</TABLE>
 
     The following table summarizes information about the Plan's stock options
at December 31, 1996 and 1997:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   OPTIONS OUTSTANDING
                                                              ------------------------------
                                                                               WEIGHTED -
                                                                                AVERAGE
                                                                NUMBER         REMAINING
EXERCISE PRICE                                                OUTSTANDING   CONTRACTUAL LIFE
- --------------                                                -----------   ----------------
<S>                                                           <C>           <C>
December 31, 1996
  $11.14....................................................     573,072       9.64 years
   13.92....................................................      27,926       9.89 years
   14.00....................................................     101,295       9.00 years
                                                               ---------
                                                                 702,293
                                                               =========
December 31, 1997
  $10.38....................................................       4,500       9.80 years
   10.81....................................................       3,000       9.80 years
   11.14....................................................     522,607       8.64 years
   13.92....................................................     133,076       9.01 years
   14.00....................................................      86,729       8.00 years
   15.59....................................................     374,894       8.92 years
   16.37....................................................       8,440       9.94 years
                                                               ---------
                                                               1,133,246
                                                               =========
</TABLE>
 
     Effective September 30, 1995, the Company rescinded existing deferred
compensation plans. Despite the rescission, the Company agreed to compensate the
executives for amounts accrued under the plans through September 30, 1995.
Compensation recognized under the deferred compensation plans was $119,603 for
the year ended December 31, 1995.
 
<PAGE>   35
                         ALRENCO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
          NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
11. INCOME TAXES
 
     The income tax expense (benefit) is comprised of the following components:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                    ------------------------------------
                                                      1995        1996          1997
                                                    --------   -----------   -----------
<S>                                                 <C>        <C>           <C>
Current:
  Federal.........................................  $622,758   $ 1,962,036   $ 1,985,961
  State...........................................   182,574       664,399       557,039
                                                    --------   -----------   -----------
          Total current...........................   805,332     2,626,435     2,543,000
Deferred..........................................    71,845    (1,437,643)   (2,306,428)
                                                    --------   -----------   -----------
          Total...................................  $877,177   $ 1,188,792   $   236,572
                                                    ========   ===========   ===========
</TABLE>
 
     Significant components of the Company's deferred income taxes are as
follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   DECEMBER 31,
                                                              -----------------------
                                                                 1996         1997
                                                              ----------   ----------
<S>                                                           <C>          <C>
Deferred tax assets:
  Net operating loss carry-forwards.........................  $1,272,439   $2,087,720
  Rental merchandise........................................     556,615      738,739
  Property and equipment....................................     282,000      405,891
  Intangibles...............................................     454,000    2,002,625
  Deferred compensation.....................................      34,644        5,072
  Tax credits...............................................     414,581      263,316
  Other.....................................................     121,151      435,846
  Accrued expenses..........................................          --      286,405
  Valuation allowance.......................................     (90,563)     (90,563)
                                                              ----------   ----------
          Net deferred tax assets...........................   3,044,867    6,135,051
                                                              ----------   ----------
Deferred tax liabilities:
  Intangible assets.........................................     518,580           --
  Rental merchandise........................................          --      955,511
  Fixed assets..............................................          --      194,605
  Other.....................................................      14,000      143,803
                                                              ----------   ----------
     Deferred tax liabilities...............................     532,580    1,293,919
                                                              ----------   ----------
                                                              $2,512,287   $4,841,132
                                                              ==========   ==========
</TABLE>
 
     In 1996, a net deferred tax asset of approximately $400,000 was established
upon the acquisition of Action for the difference in the tax and book basis of
the net assets acquired. In 1997, a net deferred tax asset of $22,417 was
established for one of the Purchase Acquisition for the difference in the tax
and book basis of the net assets acquired as of the date of acquisition.
 
     As of December 31, 1997, the Company has a total of $6,900,000 of net
operating loss carry-forwards for federal tax purposes, expiring 2007 and 2010.
The utilization may be subject to limitations under IRC Section 382.
Additionally, as of December 31, 1997, the Company had approximately $119,000 in
general business credit carry-forwards which expire, if unused, beginning in the
year 2000 and alternative minimum tax credits of approximately $145,000 which
are not subject to expiration. These credit carry-forwards relate to one of the
Purchase Acquisitions and utilization of these credits is limited to
approximately $118,000 per year.
 
     Realization of the net deferred tax asset is dependent on generating
sufficient taxable income prior to expiration of the carry-forwards. Although
realization is not assured, management believes it is more likely
 
<PAGE>   36
                         ALRENCO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
          NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
11. INCOME TAXES -- (CONTINUED)
than not that all of the net deferred tax asset will be realized. The amount of
deferred tax asset considered realizable, however, could be reduced in the near
term if estimates of future taxable income during the carryforward period are
reduced.
 
     The income tax expense (benefit) reconciled to the tax computed at the
statutory Federal rate (34%) is as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                    ------------------------------------
                                                      1995         1996         1997
                                                    ---------   ----------   -----------
<S>                                                 <C>         <C>          <C>
Federal income tax at the statutory rate..........  $ 961,994   $  777,359   $(1,319,547)
State income tax..................................    193,651      267,932        (6,122)
Nondeductible goodwill amortization and
  acquisitions cost...............................        283      272,177     1,057,802
Income from Subchapter S corporations, net........   (290,000)    (200,674)      213,835
Other.............................................     11,249       71,998       290,604
                                                    ---------   ----------   -----------
                                                    $ 877,177   $1,188,792   $   236,572
                                                    =========   ==========   ===========
</TABLE>
 
12. BENEFIT PLANS
 
     The Company has a defined contribution profit sharing plan covering
substantially all employees. The plan provides for Company contributions to be
determined annually by the Board of Directors. The Company contributed $50,000
and $120,000 to the plan during 1996 and 1997, respectively.
 
     The Company also has two qualified tax deferred retirement savings plans
under the provisions of Section 401(k) of the Internal Revenue Code. The plans
cover all full-time employees who have completed six months of service with the
Company. Under the first plan, the Company matches the first 4% of an eligible
employee's elective contributions. Additional contributions are made at the
discretion of the Board of Directors. The second plan calls for the Company to
match 25% of the first 6% of eligible employees' elective contributions. The
Company contributed approximately $135,000 and $338,000 to the Plans for 1996
and 1997, respectively.
 
13. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
 
     The Company leases its office and store facilities and transportation
equipment under operating leases expiring in various years through 2010. Rental
expense was $4,241,000, $8,846,200 and $15,907,118 for the years ended December
31, 1995, 1996 and 1997, respectively. Future minimum rental payments under
operating leases with remaining noncancelable terms in excess of one year at
December 31, 1997 are as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                           <C>
1998........................................................  $17,390,088
1999........................................................   13,822,487
2000........................................................    9,046,179
2001........................................................    5,370,666
2002........................................................    2,374,380
Thereafter..................................................    1,809,171
                                                              -----------
                                                              $49,812,971
                                                              ===========
</TABLE>
 
     The Company leases its corporate office space from the Company's chief
executive officer, president, director and shareholder of the Company. Rental
expense pursuant to the lease was $86,250 and $207,000, for
 
<PAGE>   37
                         ALRENCO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
          NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
13. COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES -- (CONTINUED)
the years ended December 31, 1996 and 1997, respectively. The Company also
leases office space from a corporation owned by a shareholder and director of
the Company. Rental expense pursuant to the lease was $94,800, $126,010 and
$122,040, respectively, for each of the three years in the period ended December
31, 1997.
 
     The Company from time to time on an as needed basis charters an airplane
from a company owned by one of its stockholders. Fees charged during the year
ended December 31, 1996 and 1997 under this arrangement were $106,650 and
$120,870, respectively.
 
     The Company is involved in various legal actions arising in the normal
course of business. Management is of the opinion that their outcome will not
have a material adverse effect on the Company's financial position or results of
operations.
 
     The Internal Revenue Service has completed an examination of Alrenco's
Federal income tax returns for the years 1992 through 1995. The Company was
assessed additional taxes of approximately $680,000, related principally to the
Company's method of depreciation on rental merchandise and excess compensation
paid for those years. The Company has paid approximately $167,000 of this
assessment in January 1998 related to the excess compensation portion of the
assessment, and is contesting the remaining amounts related to depreciation on
rental merchandise. Management has analyzed the outstanding matter with tax
advisors and believes it has meritorious defenses to the remaining assessments.
The Company believes that any additional amounts assessed will not have a
material effect on the Company's financial position or results of operations.
 
14. UNAUDITED QUARTERLY DATA
 
     Summarized quarterly proforma financial data for 1996 and 1997 (in
thousands, except for per share amounts) is as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             1ST QUARTER   2ND QUARTER   3RD QUARTER   4TH QUARTER
                                             -----------   -----------   -----------   -----------
<S>                                          <C>           <C>           <C>           <C>
Year ended December 31, 1996:
  Revenue..................................    $21,843       $23,721       $35,857       $42,740
                                               =======       =======       =======       =======
  Operating income (loss)..................    $ 2,162       $ 2,034       $   288       $(2,425)
                                               =======       =======       =======       =======
  Pro forma net income (loss)..............    $ 1,107       $ 1,105       $   239       $(1,554)
                                               =======       =======       =======       =======
  Pro forma net income (loss) per share
     Basic.................................    $   .20       $   .19       $   .02       $  (.09)
                                               =======       =======       =======       =======
     Diluted...............................    $   .20       $   .19       $   .02       $  (.09)
                                               =======       =======       =======       =======
Year ended December 31, 1997:
  Revenue..................................    $53,345       $56,807       $59,274       $61,542
                                               =======       =======       =======       =======
  Operating income (loss)..................    $ 1,864       $ 2,365       $   (51)      $(6,551)
                                               =======       =======       =======       =======
  Pro forma net income (loss)..............    $   753       $   666       $  (181)      $(5,142)
                                               =======       =======       =======       =======
  Pro forma net income (loss) per share
     Basic.................................    $   .04       $   .04       $  (.01)      $  (.30)
                                               =======       =======       =======       =======
     Diluted...............................    $   .04       $   .04       $  (.01)      $  (.30)
                                               =======       =======       =======       =======
</TABLE>
 
<PAGE>   38
                         ALRENCO, INC. AND SUBSIDIARIES
 
          NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS -- (CONTINUED)
 
15. SUBSEQUENT EVENT
 
     On February 26, 1998, immediately following the RTO Merger, the Company
entered into a new revolving credit facility (the "Comerica Credit Agreement")
with Comerica Bank, as lender and as agent for certain other lenders, which
provides for a $50,000,000 secured three-year credit facility. The Comerica
Credit Agreement replaces the existing credit agreements described in Note 9.
The Comerica Credit Agreement provides for interest rates based on a base rate
(as defined), the agent's prime rate, or the federal funds rate plus 100 basic
points, or a "Eurodollar Rate", plus an applicable margin. Under the Comerica
Credit Agreement, the Company has the option, provided that certain conditions
are met, to obtain an increase in the amount available under the Comerica Credit
Agreement up to an aggregate amount of $100 million. The Comerica Credit
Agreement is collateralized by substantially all assets of the Company and by a
pledge of the stock of the Company's subsidiaries.


<PAGE>   39
Item 6. Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K.

    (a) Exhibits 

     Exhibit 
     Numbers                      Description of Exhibits 
    
     2.1     -  Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of September 28, 1997,
                by and between Alrenco, Inc. and RTO, Inc., as amended
                (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2 to Alrenco,
                Inc.'s Current Report of Form 8-K filed on October 9, 1997
                (File No.0-27490) and to Exhibit 2.1 to Alrenco, Inc.'s Current
                Report on Form 8-K filed on March 5, 1998 (File No. 0-27490))

     2.2     -  Stock Purchase Agreement dated July 31, 1996 by and between
                RTO, Inc. and Action TV and Appliance Rental, Inc.
                (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to Alrenco,
                Inc.'s Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed on March 6,
                1998 (File No. 333-47521))

     2.3     -  Asset Purchase Agreement dated January 7, 1997 among Action
                Rent-to-Own of Florida, Inc., B&L Concepts, Inc., Bill Ogle and
                Larry Sutton (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.3
                to Alrenco, Inc.'s Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed on
                March 6, 1998 (File No. 333-47521))

     3.1     -  Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Alrenco,
                Inc.(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to
                Alrenco, Inc.'s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 5, 1998)

     3.3     -  Amended and Restated Code of Bylaws of Alrenco, Inc.
                (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Alrenco, 
                Inc.'s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 1998)

     4.1     -  Specimen Stock Certificate (incorporated Herein by reference to
                exhibits filed with Alrenco, Inc.'s Registration Statement on
                Form S-1 (File No. 33-99438) filed under the Securities Act of
                1933)

     10.1    -  Noncompetition and Consulting Agreement between Alrenco, Inc.
                and Michael D. Walts dated February 26, 1998 (incorporated
                herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Alrenco, Inc.'s Current
                Report on Form 8-K filed on March 5, 1998)

     10.2    -  Revolving Credit Agreement dated February 26, 1998 between
                Alrenco, Inc. and Comerica Bank (incorporated herein by 
                reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Alrenco, Inc.'s Current Report on
                Form 8-K filed on March 5, 1998)

     10.3    -  Guaranty Agreement dated as of February 26, 1998 (incorporated
                herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Alrenco, Inc.'s Current
                Report on Form 8-K filed on March 5, 1998)

     10.4    -  Security Agreement dated February 26, 1998 (incorporated herein
                by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to Alrenco, Inc.'s Current Report
                on Form 8-K filed on March 5, 1998)

     10.5    -  Pledge Agreement of Alrenco, Inc. dated as of February 26, 1998
                (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to Alrenco
                Inc.'s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 5, 1998.)

     10.6    -  Pledge Agreement of RTO Holding Co., Inc. dated February
                26, 1998 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to
                Alrenco, Inc.'s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March
                5, 1998)

     10.7    -  Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of
                April 1, 1998 with Comerica Bank, as agent, and Bank One,
                Texas, N.A. as co-agent (filed as part of this report)

     10.9    -  RTO, Inc. 1996 Employee Stock Option Plan (incorporated herein
                by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to Alrenco, Inc.'s Registration
                Statement on Form S-4 filed on March 6, 1998 (File No.
                333-47521))

     10.10   -  RTO, Inc. 1996 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors
                (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to Alrenco,
                Inc.'s Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed on March 6,
                1998 (File No. 333-47521))

     10.11   -  Lease Agreement dated January 1, 1993 by and between Billy W.
                White d/b/a White Property Co. #2 and Action TV & Appliance
                Rental, Inc. as amended (incorporated herein by reference to
                Exhibit 10.16 to Alrenco, Inc.'s Registration Statement on Form
                S-4 filed on March 6, 1998 (File No. 333-47521))

     10.12   -  Lease Agreement dated June 1, 1992 by and between Bill White
                and Action TV & Appliance Rental, Inc. (incorporated herein by
                reference to Exhibit 10.17 to Alrenco, Inc.'s Registration
                Statement on Form S-4 filed on March 6, 1998 (File No.
                333-47521))

     10.13   -  Shopping Center Lease dated May 1, 1996 by and between White
                Property Co. No. 2, Ltd. and Action TV & Appliance Rental, Inc.
                (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to Alrenco,
                Inc.'s Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed on March 6,
                1998 (File No. 333-47521))

     10.14   -  Aircraft Dry Lease dated April 8, 1997 by and between Wyoming
                Associates, Inc. and RTO, Inc. (incorporated herein by
                reference to Exhibit 10.19 to Alrenco, Inc.'s Registration
                Statement on Form S-4 filed on March 6, 1998 (File No.
                333-47521))

     10.15   -  Aircraft Dry Lease dated April 8, 1997 by and between Wyoming
                Associates, Inc. and RTO, Inc. (incorporated herein by
                reference to Exhibit 10.20 to Alrenco, Inc.'s Registration
                Statement on Form S-4 filed on March 6, 1998 (File No.
                333-47521))

     23.1    -  Consent of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. (filed as part of this 
                report)

     23.2    -  Consent of Grant Thornton LLP (filed as part of this report)

     27.1    -  Financial Data Schedules

     27.2   -   Restated Financial Data Schedules for the years ended December
                31, 1995, 1996 and 1997 and for the quarter ended March 31,
                1997 reflecting the merger of Alrenco, Inc. and RTO, Inc.

     99.1    -  Press Release dated April 30,1998 announcing 
                Billy W. White Sr.'s resignation as President of the Company 
                (filed as part of this report)

     (b)   Reports on Form 8-K
    
           The following reports on form 8-K were filed during the fiscal
           quarter ended March 31, 1998:

              (i) Current Report on Form 8-K dated February 6, 1998 reporting
financial results for the fiscal quarter and year ended December 31, 1997.

              (ii) Current Report on Form 8-K dated March 5, 1998 reporting
completion of the merger of the Company and RTO (the "RTO Merger") and the
change in the Company's certifying accountant resulting from the RTO Merger. In
addition, the Company reported the execution of a credit agreement between the
Company and Comerica Bank, as agent. This report contained the following
financial statements: (i) Supplemental Consolidated Financial Statements of
Alrenco, Inc., (ii) Consolidated Financial Statements of RTO, Inc., (iii)
Financial Statements of Action TV & Appliance Rental, Inc.; (iv) Financial
Statements of B&L Concepts, Inc.; and (v) pro forma financial statements
reflecting the pro forma combined financial data of the Company and RTO, Inc.
assuming consummation of the RTO Merger.


<PAGE>   40


SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on behalf of the
undersigned thereto duly authorized.

Date: May 8, 1998

                                          ALRENCO, INC.
                                          -------------
                                          (Registrant)



                                          /s/ K. David Belt
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          K. David Belt, Chief Financial Officer
                                          (Principal Financial Officer and duly
                                          authorized signatory)
<PAGE>   41
                               INDEX TO EXHIBITS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


  EXHIBIT 
   NUMBERS      DESCRIPTION
  --------      ----------- 
    <S>         <C>
     2.1     -  Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of September 28, 1997,
                by and between Alrenco, Inc. and RTO, Inc., as amended
                (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2 to Alrenco,
                Inc.'s Current Report of Form 8-K filed on October 9, 1997
                (File No.0-27490) and to Exhibit 2.1 to Alrenco, Inc.'s Current
                Report on Form 8-K filed on March 5, 1998 (File No. 0-27490))

     2.2     -  Stock Purchase Agreement dated July 31, 1996 by and between
                RTO, Inc. and Action TV and Appliance Rental, Inc.
                (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.2 to Alrenco,
                Inc.'s Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed on March 6,
                1998 (File No. 333-47521))

     2.3     -  Asset Purchase Agreement dated January 7, 1997 among Action
                Rent-to-Own of Florida, Inc., B&L Concepts, Inc., Bill Ogle and
                Larry Sutton (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2.3
                to Alrenco, Inc.'s Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed on
                March 6, 1998 (File No. 333-47521))

     3.1     -  Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation of Alrenco,
                Inc.(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to
                Alrenco, Inc.'s Current Report on Form 8-K filed March 5, 1998)

     3.3     -  Amended and Restated Code of Bylaws of Alrenco, Inc.
                (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 3.2 to Alrenco, 
                Inc.'s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 1998)

     4.1     -  Specimen Stock Certificate (incorporated Herein by reference to
                exhibits filed with Alrenco, Inc.'s Registration Statement on
                Form S-1 (File No. 33-99438) filed under the Securities Act of
                1933)

     10.1    -  Noncompetition and Consulting Agreement between Alrenco, Inc.
                and Michael D. Walts dated February 26, 1998 (incorporated
                herein by reference to Exhibit 10.1 to Alrenco, Inc.'s Current
                Report on Form 8-K filed on March 5, 1998)

     10.2    -  Revolving Credit Agreement dated February 26, 1998 between
                Alrenco, Inc. and Comerica Bank (incorporated herein by 
                reference to Exhibit 10.2 to Alrenco, Inc.'s Current Report on
                Form 8-K filed on March 5, 1998)

     10.3    -  Guaranty Agreement dated as of February 26, 1998 (incorporated
                herein by reference to Exhibit 10.3 to Alrenco, Inc.'s Current
                Report on Form 8-K filed on March 5, 1998)

     10.4    -  Security Agreement dated February 26, 1998 (incorporated herein
                by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to Alrenco, Inc.'s Current Report
                on Form 8-K filed on March 5, 1998)

     10.5    -  Pledge Agreement of Alrenco, Inc. dated as of February 26, 1998
                (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to Alrenco
                Inc.'s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March 5, 1998.)

     10.6    -  Pledge Agreement of RTO Holding Co., Inc. dated February
                26, 1998 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to
                Alrenco, Inc.'s Current Report on Form 8-K filed on March
                5, 1998)

     10.7    -  Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of
                April 1, 1998 with Comerica Bank, as agent, and Bank One,
                Texas, N.A. as co-agent (filed as part of this report)

     10.9    -  RTO, Inc. 1996 Employee Stock Option Plan (incorporated herein
                by reference to Exhibit 10.12 to Alrenco, Inc.'s Registration
                Statement on Form S-4 filed on March 6, 1998 (File No.
                333-47521))

     10.10   -  RTO, Inc. 1996 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors
                (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.13 to Alrenco,
                Inc.'s Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed on March 6,
                1998 (File No. 333-47521))

     10.11   -  Lease Agreement dated January 1, 1993 by and between Billy W.
                White d/b/a White Property Co. #2 and Action TV & Appliance
                Rental, Inc. as amended (incorporated herein by reference to
                Exhibit 10.16 to Alrenco, Inc.'s Registration Statement on Form
                S-4 filed on March 6, 1998 (File No. 333-47521))

     10.12   -  Lease Agreement dated June 1, 1992 by and between Bill White
                and Action TV & Appliance Rental, Inc. (incorporated herein by
                reference to Exhibit 10.17 to Alrenco, Inc.'s Registration
                Statement on Form S-4 filed on March 6, 1998 (File No.
                333-47521))

     10.13   -  Shopping Center Lease dated May 1, 1996 by and between White
                Property Co. No. 2, Ltd. and Action TV & Appliance Rental, Inc.
                (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 10.18 to Alrenco,
                Inc.'s Registration Statement on Form S-4 filed on March 6,
                1998 (File No. 333-47521))

     10.14   -  Aircraft Dry Lease dated April 8, 1997 by and between Wyoming
                Associates, Inc. and RTO, Inc. (incorporated herein by
                reference to Exhibit 10.19 to Alrenco, Inc.'s Registration
                Statement on Form S-4 filed on March 6, 1998 (File No.
                333-47521))

     10.15   -  Aircraft Dry Lease dated April 8, 1997 by and between Wyoming
                Associates, Inc. and RTO, Inc. (incorporated herein by
                reference to Exhibit 10.20 to Alrenco, Inc.'s Registration
                Statement on Form S-4 filed on March 6, 1998 (File No.
                333-47521))

     23.1    -  Consent of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. (filed as part of this 
                report)

     23.2    -  Consent of Grant Thornton LLP (filed as part of this report)

     27.1    -  Financial Data Schedules

     27.2    -  Restated Financial Data Schedules for the years ended December
                31, 1995, 1996 and 1997 and for the quarter ended March 31,
                1997 reflecting the merger of Alrenco, Inc. and RTO, Inc.

     99.1    -  Press Release dated April 30,1998 announcing Billy W. White 
                Sr.'s resignation as President of the Company (filed as part
                of this report)
</TABLE>


<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 10.7

                                                                  EXECUTION COPY
                                                                         4/01/98





                                 ALRENCO, INC.

                AMENDED AND RESTATED REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT

                           DATED AS OF APRIL 1, 1998

                            COMERICA BANK, AS AGENT

                       BANK ONE, TEXAS, N.A. AS CO-AGENT
<PAGE>   2
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                             Page
                                                                                             ----
<S>      <C>                                                                                 <C>
1.       DEFINITIONS                                                                           1
                                                                                            
2.       REVOLVING CREDIT                                                                     20
         2.1     Revolving Credit Commitment                                                  20
         2.2     Accrual of Interest and Maturit                                              20
         2.3     Requests for Advances and Requests for Refundings and Conversions of       
                 Revolving Credit Advances                                                    21
         2.4     Disbursement of Revolving Credit Advances                                    23
         2.5     Prime-based Advance in Absence of Election or Upon Default                   24
         2.6     Revolving Credit Commitment Fee                                              24
         2.7     Reduction of Indebtedness; Revolving Credit Aggregate Commitment             25
         2.8     Optional Reduction or Termination of Revolving Credit Aggregate            
                 Commitment                                                                   25
         2.9     Extension of Revolving Credit Maturity Date                                  26
         2.10    Optional Increase in Commitment                                              26
                                                                                            
3.       LETTERS OF CREDIT                                                                    28
         3.1     Letters of Credit                                                            28
         3.2     Conditions to Issuance                                                       29
         3.3     Notice                                                                       30
         3.4     Letter of Credit Fees                                                        30
         3.5     Other Letter of Credit Fees                                                  31
         3.6     Draws and Demands for Payment Under Letters of Credit                        31
         3.7     Obligations Irrevocable                                                      33
         3.8     Risk Under Letters of Credit                                                 34
         3.9     Indemnification                                                              35
         3.10    Right of Reimbursement                                                       36
                                                                                            
4.       SWING LINE CREDIT                                                                    37
         4.1     Swing Line Advances                                                          37
         4.2     Accrual of Interest; Margin Adjustments                                      37
         4.3     Requests for Swing Line Advances                                             37
         4.4     Disbursement of Swing Line Advances                                          39
         4.5     Refunding of or Participation Interest in Swing Line Advances                39
                                                                                            
5.       MARGIN ADJUSTMENTS; INTEREST PAYMENTS                                                41
         5.1     Margin Adjustments                                                           41
         5.2     Prime-based Interest Payments                                                41
         5.3     Eurocurrency-based Interest Payments                                         42
         5.4     Quoted Rate Advance Interest Payments                                        42
</TABLE>
        
        
        
        
        
        
<PAGE>   3
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS                          
                                  (Continued)                             
<TABLE>                                                                   
<CAPTION>                                                                 
                                                                                             Page
                                                                                             ----
<S>      <C>                                                                                 <C>
         5.5     Interest Payments on Conversions                                             42
         5.6     Interest on Default                                                          43
         5.7     Prepayment                                                                   43
                                                                                            
6.       CONDITIONS                                                                           43
         6.1     Execution of Notes and this Agreement                                        44
         6.2     Corporate Authority                                                          44
         6.3     Collateral Documents and Guaranties                                          45
         6.4     Insurance                                                                    45
         6.5     Compliance with Certain Documents and Agreements                             45
         6.6     Merger Documents                                                             45
         6.7     Opinion of Counsel                                                           46
         6.8     Company's Certificate                                                        46
         6.9     Payment of Fees                                                              46
         6.10    Other Documents and Instruments                                              46
         6.11    Continuing Conditions                                                        46
                                                                                            
7.       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES                                                       47
         7.1     Corporate Authority                                                          47
         7.2     Due Authorization - Company                                                  47
         7.3     Due Authorization - Guarantors                                               47
         7.4     Liens                                                                        48
         7.5     Taxes                                                                        48
         7.6     No Defaults                                                                  48
         7.7     Enforceability of Agreement and Loan Documents -- Company                    48
         7.8     Enforceability of Loan Documents -- Guarantors                               48
         7.9     Compliance with Laws                                                         48
         7.10    Non-contravention -- Company                                                 49
         7.11    Non-contravention -- Guarantors                                              49
         7.12    No Litigation                                                                49
         7.13    Consents, Approvals and Filings, Etc                                         50
         7.14    Agreements Affecting Financial Condition                                     50
         7.15    No Investment Company or Margin Stock                                        50
         7.16    ERISA                                                                        50
         7.17    Conditions Affecting Business or Properties                                  51
         7.18    Environmental and Safety Matters                                             51
         7.19    Subsidiaries                                                                 51
         7.20    Accuracy of Information                                                      51
         7.21    No Change in Requirements of Laws                                            52
                                                                                            
8.       AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS                                                                52
         8.1     Financial Statements                                                         52
         8.2     Certificates; Other Information                                              53
         8.3     Payment of Obligations                                                       55
         8.4     Conduct of Business and Maintenance of Existence                             55
</TABLE>  
          
          
          
          
          
          
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<S>      <C>                                                                                 <C>
         8.5     Maintenance of Property; Insurance                                           55
         8.6     Inspection of Property; Books and Records, Discussions                       55
         8.7     Notices                                                                      56
         8.8     Hazardous Material Laws                                                      57
         8.9     Minimum Tangible Net Worth                                                   58
         8.10    Positive Net Income                                                          58
         8.11    Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio                                                  58
         8.12    Leverage Ratio                                                               58
         8.13    Taxes                                                                        58
         8.14    Governmental and Other Approvals                                             58
         8.15    Compliance with ERISA                                                        58
         8.16    ERISA Notices                                                                58
         8.17    Offices                                                                      59
         8.18    Security                                                                     60
         8.19    Performance of Contract Duties, Defense of Collateral                        60
         8.20    Possessory Perfection in Contract Collateral                                 60
         8.21    Use of Proceeds                                                              60
         8.22    Future Subsidiaries                                                          60
         8.23    Royalty Payments on Licenses and Trademarks                                  61
         8.24    Further Assurances                                                           61
                                                                                            
9.       NEGATIVE COVENANTS                                                                   61
         9.1     Limitation on Debt                                                           61
         9.2     Limitation on Liens                                                          62
         9.3     Limitation on Guarantee Obligations                                          63
         9.4     Acquisitions                                                                 63
         9.5     Limitation on Mergers, or Sale of Assets                                     63
         9.6     Dividends                                                                    64
         9.7     Limitation on Capital Expenditures                                           64
         9.8     Limitation on Investments, Loans and Advances                                65
         9.9     Transactions with Affiliates                                                 65
         9.10    Sale and Leaseback                                                           66
         9.11    Limitation on Negative Pledge Clauses                                        66
         9.12    Prepayment of Debts                                                          66
                                                                                            
10.      DEFAULTS                                                                             66
         10.1    Events of Default                                                            66
         10.2    Exercise of Remedies                                                         68
         10.3    Rights Cumulative                                                            69
         10.4    Waiver by Company of Certain Laws                                            69
         10.5    Waiver of Defaults                                                           69
         10.6    Set Off                                                                      69
                                                                                            
11.      PAYMENTS, RECOVERIES AND COLLECTIONS                                                 70
         11.1    Payment Procedure                                                            70
         11.2    Application of Proceeds of Collateral                                        71
         11.3    Pro-rata Recovery                                                            71
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<S>      <C>                                                                                 <C>
12.      CHANGES IN LAW OR CIRCUMSTANCES; INCREASED COSTS                                     72
         12.1    Reimbursement of Prepayment Costs                                            72
         12.2    Agent's Eurocurrency Lending Office                                          72
         12.3    Circumstances Affecting Eurocurrency-based Rate Availability                 73
         12.4    Laws Affecting Eurocurrency-based Advance Availability                       73
         12.5    Increased Cost of Eurocurrency-based Advances                                73
         12.6    Indemnity                                                                    74
         12.7    Other Increased Costs                                                        75
         12.8    Substitution of Banks                                                        75
                                                                                            
13.      AGENT                                                                                77
         13.1    Appointment of Agent                                                         77
         13.2    Deposit Account with Agent                                                   77
         13.3    Scope of Agent's Duties                                                      77
         13.4    Successor Agent                                                              78
         13.5    Agent in its Individual Capacity                                             78
         13.6    Credit Decisions                                                             79
         13.7    Agent's Fees                                                                 79
         13.8    Authority of Agent to Enforce Notes and This Agreement                       79
         13.9    Indemnification                                                              79
         13.10   Knowledge of Default                                                         80
         13.11   Agent's Authorization; Action by Banks                                       80
         13.12   Enforcement Actions by the Agent                                             80
         13.13   Managers and Lead Managers                                                   81
                                                                                            
14.      MISCELLANEOUS                                                                        81
         14.1    Accounting Principles                                                        81
         14.2    Consent to Jurisdiction                                                      81
         14.3    Law of Michigan                                                              81
         14.4    Interest                                                                     82
         14.5    Closing Costs and Other Costs; Indemnification                               82
         14.6    Notices                                                                      83
         14.7    Further Action                                                               84
         14.8    Successors and Assigns; Participations; Assignments                          84
         14.9    Indulgence                                                                   87
         14.10   Counterparts                                                                 87
         14.11   Amendment and Waiver                                                         87
         14.12   Confidentiality                                                              88
         14.13   Withholding Taxes                                                            88
         14.14   Taxes and Fees                                                               88
         14.15   WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL                                                         89
         14.16   Interest                                                                     89
         14.17   Complete Agreement; Conflicts                                                90
         14.18   Severability                                                                 90
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         <S>     <C>                                                                         <C>
         14.19   Table of Contents and Headings                                               90
         14.20   Construction of Certain Provisions                                           90
         14.21   Independence of Covenants                                                    90
         14.22   Reliance on and Survival of Various Provisions                               90
         14.23   Amendment and Restatement                                                    91
</TABLE>





<PAGE>   7




SCHEDULES

         Schedule 1.1         Applicable L/C Fee Percentage, Applicable
                              Revolving Commitment Fee Percentage and
                              Eurocurrency Margins
         Schedule 1.2         Percentages
         Schedule 2           Insurance Deposits
         Schedule 6.2         Good Standing Certificates
         Schedule 6.3(b)      List of Jurisdictions in which UCC Financing
                              Statements will be filed
         Schedule 7.9         Consumer Credit Laws
         Schedule 7.12        Litigation
         Schedule 7.16        Pension Plans
         Schedule 7.17        Conditions Affecting Business
         Schedule 7.18        Environmental Matters
         Schedule 7.19        Subsidiaries
         Schedule 7.20        Contingent Obligations
         Schedule 9.1         Indebtedness
         Schedule 9.2         Liens
         Schedule 9.3         Permitted Guarantees



EXHIBITS

         Exhibit A            Form of Request for Revolving Credit Advance
         Exhibit B            Form of Revolving Credit Note
         Exhibit C            Form of Notice of Letters of Credit
         Exhibit D            Form of Request for Swing Line Advance
         Exhibit E            Form of Swing Line Note
         Exhibit F            Form of Swing Line Participation Certificate
         Exhibit G            Form of New Bank Addendum
         Exhibit H            Form of Covenant Compliance Report
         Exhibit I            Form of Assignment Agreement
         Exhibit J            Form of Guaranty (including Exhibit "A" - Joinder
                              Agreement) Company
         Exhibit K            Form of Borrowing Base Certificate
         Exhibit L            Form of Security Agreement
         Exhibit M            Form of Pledge Agreement
         Exhibit N            Form of Intercompany Note
         Exhibit O            Store Listings



<PAGE>   8
            ALRENCO AMENDED AND RESTATED REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT



         THIS ALRENCO AMENDED AND RESTATED REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT
("Agreement") is made as of the 1st day of April, 1998, by and among Comerica
Bank-Texas and the other financial institutions from time to time parties
hereto as lenders of the Revolving Credit (individually, "Revolving Credit
Bank", and collectively "Revolving Credit Banks"), Comerica Bank-Texas, as
lender of the Swing Line Credit ("Swing Line Bank" and together with Revolving
Credit Banks, individually, a "Bank" and any or all collectively referred to as
the "Banks"), Comerica Bank, as agent for the Banks (in such capacity,
"Agent"), and Alrenco, Inc., an Indiana corporation ("Company").

         A.      Company has requested that the Banks amend, renew and/or
extend to it revolving credit and letters of credit as previously extended to
Company by the Banks under that certain Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of
February 26, 1998, by and among Company, Agent and the Banks (the "Prior Credit
Agreement") on the terms and conditions set forth herein.

         B.      The Banks are prepared to extend such credit as aforesaid, by
amendment and renewal (but not in novation) of the Prior Credit Agreement, but
only upon the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement.

         NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the covenants contained herein,
Company, the Banks and Agent agree as follows:

         COMPANY, AGENT AND BANKS AGREE:

1.       DEFINITIONS

         For the purposes of this Agreement the following terms will have the
following meanings:

         "Account Party(ies)" shall mean, with respect to any Letter of Credit,
the account party (which shall be Company or RTO Operating, with the
countersignature of the Company) named in an application to the Issuing Bank
for the issuance of such Letter of Credit.

         "Action Rent-to-Own" shall mean Action Rent-to-Own Holdings of South
Carolina, Inc., a South Carolina corporation.

         "Advance(s)" shall mean Revolving Credit Advance(s) and Swing Line
Advance(s).

         "Affected Lender" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 12.8.

         "Affiliate" shall mean, with respect to any Person, any other Person
or group acting in concert in respect of the first Person that, directly or
indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by,
or is under common control with such first Person.
<PAGE>   9
For purposes of this definition, "control" (including, with correlative
meanings, the terms "controlled by" and "under common control with"), as used
with respect to any Person or group of Persons, shall mean the possession,
directly or indirectly, of the power to direct or cause the direction of
management and policies of such Person, whether through the ownership of voting
securities or by contract or otherwise. Unless otherwise specified to the
contrary herein, or the context requires otherwise, Affiliate shall refer to
the Company's Affiliates.

         "Agent" shall mean Comerica Bank, in its capacity as agent for the
Banks hereunder, or any successor agent appointed in accordance with Section
13.4 hereof.

         "Agent's Fees" shall mean those agency, and other fees and expenses
required to be paid by Company to Agent under Section 13.7 hereof.

         "Alternate Base Rate" shall mean, for any day, an interest rate per
annum equal to the Federal Funds Effective Rate in effect on such day, plus one
percent (1%).

         "Applicable Commitment Fee Percentage" shall mean as of any date of
determination thereof, the applicable percentage used to calculate the
Revolving Credit Commitment Fee due and payable hereunder, determined (based
upon the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio) by reference to the appropriate columns
in the pricing matrix attached to this Agreement as Schedule 1.1.

         "Applicable L/C Fee Percentage" shall mean, as of any date of
determination thereof, the applicable percentage used to calculate the Letter
of Credit Fees due and payable hereunder, determined (based upon the Fixed
Charge Coverage Ratio) by reference to the appropriate columns in the pricing
matrix attached to this Agreement as Schedule 1.1.

         "Applicable Interest Rate" shall mean (i) in respect of a Revolving
Credit Advance, the Eurocurrency-based Rate or the Prime-based Rate, applicable
to such Advance (in the case of a Eurocurrency-based Advance, for the relevant
Interest Period), and (ii) in respect of a Swing Line Advance, the Prime-based
Rate or the Quoted Rate, applicable to such Advance, for the relevant Interest
Period, as selected by Company from time to time subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement.

         "Asset Sale" shall mean the sale, transfer or other disposition by the
Company or any Subsidiary of any asset to any Person, other than sales,
transfers or other dispositions of inventory in the ordinary course of
business.

         "ATRO" shall mean ATRO, Inc., formerly known as RTO Trademark Company,
Inc., a South Carolina corporation.

         "Average Receipts" shall mean, as of any date of determination, an
amount calculated by taking the sum of the highest two of the immediately
preceding three calendar months' Rental Receipts, dividing such sum by two, and
multiplying the quotient by four. For the purposes of this definition, "Rental
Receipts" shall mean, as of any date of determination, the amount of gross
rental payments (including the amount of each such payment allocated to
liability damage waiver, club fees, delivery, reinstatement and late fees, but
excluding amounts allocated to any sales tax, early payouts and cash sales)
received by the Company or any Subsidiary in collected





                                       2
<PAGE>   10
funds from the related Obligor under any Rental Contract; and shall include
rental payments received under any Rental Contracts originated by a Person
prior to the time such Person became a Subsidiary of the Company (so long as
such Person is a Subsidiary on the applicable date of determination) and under
any Rental Contracts acquired by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company,
in either case pursuant to a Permitted Acquisition (though such rental payments
were not received by the Company or such Subsidiary).

         "Banks" shall mean Comerica Bank-Texas ("Comerica-Texas") and such
other financial institutions from time to time parties hereto as lenders and
shall include the Revolving Credit Banks, the Swing Line Bank, the Issuing Bank
and any assignee which becomes a Bank pursuant to Section 14.8 hereof.

         "Borrowing Base" shall mean, as of any date of determination, the
lesser of the (a) Average Receipts, (b) 50% of the Rental Income Value and (c)
100% of Original Cost.

         "Borrowing Base Certificate" shall mean a borrowing base certificate,
substantially in the form of Exhibit K, with appropriate insertions and
executed by a Responsible Officer.

         "Business Day" shall mean any day on which commercial banks are open
for domestic and international business in Detroit, London and New York.

         "Capital Expenditures" shall mean, without duplication, any amounts
accrued in respect of a period in respect of any purchase or other acquisition
for value of fixed or capital assets; provided that, in no event shall Capital
Expenditures include amounts expended in respect of normal repair and
maintenance of plant facilities, machinery, fixtures and other like capital
assets utilized in the ordinary conduct of business (to the extent such amounts
would not be capitalized in preparing a balance sheet determined in accordance
with GAAP).

         "Collateral" shall mean all property or rights in which a security
interest, mortgage, lien or other encumbrance for the benefit of the Banks is
or has been granted or arises or has arisen, under or in connection with this
Agreement, the other Loan Documents, or otherwise.

         "Commonly Controlled Entity" shall mean an entity, whether or not
incorporated, which is under common control with the Company within the meaning
of Section 4001 of ERISA or which is part of a group which includes the Company
and which is treated as a single employer under Section 414 of the Internal
Revenue Code.

         "Company" is defined in the Preamble.

         "Consumer Credit Laws" shall mean the requirements of all applicable
federal, state and local laws, ordinances, codes, rules, regulations  and
guidelines (including consent decrees and administrative orders) relating to
consumer credit and protection or the rent-to-own industry, including without
limitation, usury laws, the Federal Truth-in- Lending Act, the Equal Credit
Opportunity Act, the Fair Credit Billing Act, the Fair Credit Reporting Act,
the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Federal Trade Commission Act, the
Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, Federal Reserve Board Regulations B, M and Z, state
adaptations of the National Consumer Act and of the Uniform Consumer Credit
Code, and laws regarding unfair and deceptive practices, and any and all other
Consumer Credit Laws regarding the ability of a Person to charge interest





                                       3
<PAGE>   11
or a time price differential at a certain rate, and any equal credit
opportunity, discrimination and other disclosure laws and any other consumer
credit or equal opportunity disclosure.

         "Contractual Obligation" shall mean as to any Person, any provision of
any security issued by such Person or of any agreement, instrument or other
undertaking to which such Person is a party or by which it or any of its
property is bound.

         "Covenant Compliance Report" shall mean the report to be furnished by
Company to the Agent pursuant to Section 8.2(b) hereof, in the form of attached
Exhibit H and certified by a Responsible Officer, in which report Company shall
set forth, among other things, detailed calculations and the resultant ratios
or financial tests with respect to the financial covenants contained in
Sections 8.9 through 8.12 and Sections 9.6 and 9.8 of this Agreement.

         "Debt" shall mean, as of any applicable date of determination, all
items of indebtedness, obligation or liability of a Person, whether matured or
unmatured, liquidated or unliquidated, direct or indirect, absolute or
contingent, joint or several, that should be classified as liabilities in
accordance with GAAP, including without limitation, any items so classified on
a balance sheet or the accompanying footnotes and any reimbursement obligations
in respect of letters of credit, obligations in respect of bankers acceptances,
payment obligations, if any, under interest rate protection agreements
(including without limitation interest rate swaps and similar agreements), and
currency swaps and hedges and similar agreements; provided, however that for
purposes of calculating the aggregate Debt of such Person and its Subsidiaries
(if any), the direct and indirect and absolute and contingent obligations of
such Person (whether direct or contingent) shall be determined without
duplication.

         "De Minimis Matters" shall mean environmental or other matters, the
existence of which and any liability which may result therefrom, would not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material
adverse effect on the financial condition or businesses of the Company and its
Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) or on the ability of the Company and
Subsidiaries (taken as a whole) to pay their debts, as such debts become due.

         "Default" shall mean any event which with the giving of notice or the
passage of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default under this
Agreement.

         "Dollars" and the sign "$" shall mean lawful money of the United
States of America.

         "EBITDAR" of any Person shall mean, for any period, the sum of (a) Net
Income for such period (without giving effect to (i) any one-time cash charges
in an aggregate amount not to exceed $10,000,000 and any one-time non-cash
charges in an aggregate amount not to exceed $1,000,000 arising from the Merger
and (ii) any one-time cash charges in an aggregate amount not to exceed
$2,000,000 for the four fiscal quarters then ending arising from any
acquisition and/or mergers other than the Merger, in each case without netting
the amount of any taxes attributable thereto) plus (b) to the extent deducted
in the computation of such Net Income, (i) all amounts treated as expenses for
depreciation of fixed assets, amortization of intangible assets and interest
paid or payable on the Debt of such Person for such period, (ii) all accrued
taxes on or measured by income and (iii) the amount of all Rental Expenses,
determined in each case in accordance with GAAP.





                                       4
<PAGE>   12
         "Effective Date" shall mean the date on which all the conditions
precedent set forth in Sections 6.1 through 6.10 have been satisfied.

         "Eligible Rental Contract" shall mean a Rental Contract which has been
included in a Borrowing Base Certificate to determine the Borrowing Base and as
to which Rental Contract the following is true and accurate as of the time it
was utilized to determine the Borrowing Base and as of the time the Company has
requested an Advance to be based in part thereon:


                 1.0.1.       it is substantially in the form of the current
form of rental contract for the rental of goods with option to purchase
approved for use in each state in which such contract is intended to be used as
customized to meet the legal requirements of each such state by the Association
of Progressive Rental Organizations or is otherwise in compliance with
applicable state law; and


                 1.0.2.       it (and the interest of Company or the applicable
Subsidiary thereunder) has not been sold, transferred or otherwise assigned or
encumbered by the Company or such Subsidiary to any Person, other than to the
Banks as security for the Indebtedness hereunder; and


                 1.0.3.       the related Obligor thereunder is not an
Affiliate of the Company; and


                 1.0.4.       as of the last day in the calendar month
referenced in such Borrowing Base Certificate, the Rental Contract remains in
full force and effect and it is a valid, binding and enforceable obligation of
such Obligor; and


                 1.0.5.       it complied at the time it was originated or
made, and is currently in compliance in all respects, with all applicable laws,
rules and regulations, including any Consumer Credit Laws; and


                 1.0.6.       subject to repair or replacement thereof by the
Company or the applicable Subsidiary in accordance with its obligations under
the applicable Rental Contract, the goods covered by the applicable Rental
Contract have been delivered to the related Obligor and, on the date of
delivery, satisfied all warranties, expressed or implied, made or deemed to be
made to such Obligor; and





                                       5
<PAGE>   13
                 1.0.7.       the Company or the applicable Subsidiary owns the
goods free and clear of all liens or encumbrances, except the security interest
granted by Company or such Subsidiary, as the case may be, to the Banks and
except for Liens permitted by Section 9.2 hereof.

         "ERISA" shall mean the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as amended, or any successor act or code and the regulations in effect
from time to time thereunder.

         "ERISA Affiliate" shall mean each trade or business (whether or not
incorporated) which is part of a group which includes the Company and would be
treated as a single employer under Section 414(b) or (c) of the Internal
Revenue Code.

         "Eurocurrency-based Advance" shall mean a Revolving Credit Advance
which bears interest at the Eurocurrency- based Rate.

         "Eurocurrency-based Rate" shall mean, with respect to any
Eurocurrency-Interest Period, the per annum interest rate which is equal to the
sum of the Margin plus the quotient of:

         (A)     the per annum interest rate at which deposits in eurodollars
                 are offered to Agent's Eurocurrency Lending Office by other
                 prime banks in the eurodollar market in an amount comparable
                 to the relevant Eurocurrency-based Advance and for a period
                 equal to the relevant Eurocurrency-Interest Period at
                 approximately 11:00 a.m. Detroit time two (2) Business Days
                 prior to the first day of such Eurocurrency-Interest Period,
                 divided by

         (B)     an amount equal to one minus the stated maximum rate
                 (expressed as a decimal) of all reserve requirements
                 (including, without limitation, any marginal, emergency,
                 supplemental, special or other reserves) that is specified on
                 the first day of such Eurocurrency-Interest Period by the
                 Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or any
                 successor agency thereto) for determining the maximum reserve
                 requirement with respect to eurodollar funding (currently
                 referred to as "eurocurrency liabilities" in Regulation D of
                 such Board) maintained by a member bank of such System,

all as conclusively determined (absent manifest error) by the Agent, such sum
to be rounded upward, if necessary, to the nearest whole multiple of 1/16th of
1%.

         "Eurocurrency-Interest Period" shall mean the Interest Period
applicable to a Eurocurrency-based Advance.

         "Eurocurrency Lending Office" shall mean, (a) with respect to the
Agent, Agent's office located at Grand Cayman, British West Indies or such
other branch or branches of Agent, domestic or foreign, as it may hereafter
designate as a Eurocurrency Lending Office by notice to Company and the Banks,
and (b) as to each of the Banks, its office, branch or affiliate located at its
address set forth on the signature pages hereof (or identified thereon as a
Eurocurrency Lending Office), or at such other office, branch or affiliate of
such Bank as it may hereafter designate as its Eurocurrency Lending Office by
notice to Company and Agent.





                                       6
<PAGE>   14
         "Event of Default" shall mean each of the Events of Default specified
in Section 10.1 hereof.

         "Federal Funds Effective Rate" shall mean, for any day, a fluctuating
interest rate per annum equal to the weighted average of the rates on overnight
Federal funds transactions with members of the Federal Reserve System arranged
by Federal funds brokers, as published for such day (or, if such day is not a
Business Day, for the next preceding Business Day) by the Federal Reserve Bank
of New York, or, if such rate is not so published for any day which is a
Business Day, the average of the quotations for such day on such transactions
received by Agent from three Federal funds brokers of recognized standing
selected by it, all as conclusively determined by the Agent, such sum to be
rounded upward, if necessary, to the nearest whole multiple of 1/16th of 1%.

         "Fees" shall mean the Revolving Credit Commitment Fee, the Letter of
Credit Fees, the Agent's Fees, and the other fees and charges payable by
Company to the Banks or Agent hereunder.

         "Financing Lease" shall mean, as applied to any Person, any lease of
any personal property the discounted present value of the rental obligations of
such Person as lessee under which, in conformity with GAAP, is required to be
capitalized on the balance sheet of that Person, and shall exclude any
Operating Leases.

         "Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio" shall mean as of any date of
determination, a ratio (i) the numerator of which shall be equal to the sum of
EBITDAR for the preceding four fiscal quarters then ending, and (ii) the
denominator of which shall be Fixed Charges.

         "Fixed Charges" of any Person shall mean, for any date of
determination for the preceding four fiscal quarters then ending, the sum,
without duplication, of (i) all interest expense paid or payable during such
period on the Total Debt of such Person plus (ii) the amount of all Rental
Expenses of such Person during such period, all determined in accordance with
GAAP plus (iii) all cash dividends paid by Company pursuant to Section 9.6
hereof.

         "Funded Debt" shall mean as of any applicable date of determination,
all Debt of a Person for borrowed money (but excluding Debt of such Person to
its Subsidiaries, Debt of Subsidiaries of such Person to such Person or to
other Subsidiaries, trade payables, accruals and deferred income taxes) or
which has been incurred in connection with the acquisition of assets (including
the acquisition of assets in connection with the Merger) in each case
determined on a consolidated basis and in accordance with GAAP.

         "GAAP" shall mean generally accepted accounting principles in the
United States of America, as in effect on the date hereof, consistently
applied.

         "Governmental Obligations" means noncallable direct general
obligations of the United States of America or obligations the payment of
principal of and interest on which is unconditionally guaranteed by the United
States of America.





                                       7
<PAGE>   15
         "Guarantor(s)" shall mean (a) as of the Effective Date, RTO Operating,
RTO Holding, ATRO and Action Rent-To-Own and (b) thereafter, each of the
entities referred to in clause (a) and each other Subsidiary which from time to
time guaranties the obligations of the Company hereunder and under the other
Loan Documents.

         "Guaranty" shall mean the Guaranty made by each of the Guarantors in
favor of the Agent for the ratable benefit of the Banks in connection with the
Prior Credit Agreement (or to be made by execution of a Joinder Agreement
substantially in the form of the Joinder Agreement attached as "Exhibit A" to
such Guaranty), as amended or otherwise modified from time to time.

         "Guarantee Obligation" shall mean as to any Person (the "guaranteeing
person") (a) any obligation of the guaranteeing person or (b) any obligation of
another Person (including, without limitation, any bank under any letter of
credit), the creation of which was induced by a reimbursement, counter
indemnity or similar obligation issued by the guaranteeing person, in either
case guaranteeing or in effect guaranteeing any Debt, leases, dividends or
other obligations (the "primary obligations") of any other third Person (the
"primary obligor") in any manner, whether directly or indirectly, including,
without limitation, any obligation of the guaranteeing person, whether or not
contingent, (i) to purchase any such primary obligation or any property
constituting direct or indirect security therefor, (ii) to advance or supply
funds (1) for the purchase or payment of any such primary obligation or (2) to
maintain working capital or equity capital of the primary obligor or otherwise
to maintain the net worth or solvency of the primary obligor, (iii) to purchase
property, securities or services primarily for the purpose of assuring the
owner of any such primary obligation of the ability of the primary obligor to
make payment of such primary obligation or (iv) otherwise to assure or hold
harmless the owner of any such primary obligation against loss in respect
thereof; provided, however, that the term Guarantee Obligation shall not
include endorsements of instruments for deposit or collection in the ordinary
course of business.  The amount of any Guarantee Obligation of any guaranteeing
person shall be deemed to be the lower of (a) an amount equal to the stated or
determinable amount of the primary obligation in respect of which such
Guarantee Obligation is made and (b) the maximum amount for which such
guaranteeing person may be liable pursuant to the terms of the instrument
embodying such Guarantee Obligation, unless such primary obligation and the
maximum amount for which such guaranteeing person may be liable are not stated
or determinable, in which case the amount of such Guarantee Obligation shall be
such guaranteeing person's maximum reasonably anticipated liability in respect
thereof as determined by the Company in good faith.

         "Hazardous Material" shall mean and include any hazardous, toxic or
dangerous waste, substance or material defined as such in (or for purposes of)
the Hazardous Material Laws.

         "Hazardous Material Law(s)" shall mean all laws, codes, ordinances,
rules, regulations, orders, decrees and directives issued by any federal,
state, provincial, local, foreign or other governmental or quasi-governmental
authority or body (or any agency, instrumentality or political subdivision
thereof) pertaining to any hazardous, toxic or dangerous waste, substance or
material on or about any facilities owned, leased or operated by Company or any
of its Subsidiaries, or any portion thereof including, without limitation,
those relating to soil, surface, subsurface ground water conditions and the
condition of the ambient air; and any state and local laws and regulations
pertaining to any hazardous, toxic or dangerous waste, substance or material
and/or asbestos; any so-called "superfund" or "superlien" law; and any other
federal, state,





                                       8
<PAGE>   16
provincial, foreign or local statute, law, ordinance, code, rule, regulation,
order or decree regulating, relating to, or imposing liability or standards of
conduct concerning, any hazardous, toxic or dangerous waste, substance or
material, as now or at any time hereafter in effect.

         "Hereof", "hereto", "hereunder" and similar terms shall refer to this
Agreement and not to any particular paragraph or provision of this Agreement.

         "Indebtedness" shall mean all indebtedness and liabilities (including
without limitation interest, fees and other charges) arising under this
Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents, whether direct or indirect,
absolute or contingent, of Company or any Guarantor to any of the Banks or to
the Agent, in any manner and at any time, whether evidenced by the Notes,
arising under any Guaranty, or any of the other Loan Documents, due or
hereafter to become due, now owing or that may hereafter be incurred by Company
or any Guarantor to, any of the Banks or by Agent, and any judgments that may
hereafter be rendered on such indebtedness or any part thereof, with interest
according to the rates and terms specified, or as provided by law, and any and
all consolidations, amendments, renewals, replacements, substitutions or
extensions of any of the foregoing; provided, however that for purposes of
calculating the Indebtedness outstanding  under the Notes or any of the other
Loan Documents, the direct and indirect and absolute and contingent obligations
of the Company and the Guarantors (whether direct or contingent) shall be
determined without duplication.

         "Intercompany Loan" shall mean any loan (or advance in the nature of a
loan) by the Company to any Guarantor or by any Guarantor to another Guarantor
provided, however that each such loan or advance is subordinated in right of
payment and priority to the Indebtedness on terms and conditions satisfactory
to Agent and the Banks; and provided further however that, all such loans shall
be evidenced by Intercompany Notes (originals of which shall have been
delivered to Agent), which notes shall be pledged to the Agent for the benefit
of the Banks as security for the Indebtedness hereunder.

         "Intercompany Loans, Advances or Investments" shall mean any
Intercompany Loan and any advance or investment by the Company or any Guarantor
(including without limitation any guaranty of obligations or indebtedness to
third parties) to or in any 100% Subsidiary.

         "Intercompany Note" shall mean an Intercompany Note evidencing
Intercompany Loans substantially in the form of Exhibit N, and otherwise on
terms and conditions satisfactory to the Agent and the Banks.

         "Interest Period" shall mean (a) with respect to a Eurocurrency-based
Advance, one (1), two (2), three (3), six (6) or twelve (12) months (or any
lesser or greater number of days agreed to in advance by Company, Agent and the
Revolving Credit Banks) as selected by Company pursuant to Section 2.3,
provided, however, that any Eurocurrency- Interest Period which commences on
the last Business Day of a calendar month (or on any day for which there is no
numerically corresponding day in the appropriate subsequent calendar month)
shall end on the last Business Day of the appropriate subsequent calendar month
and (b) with respect to a Swing Line Advance, shall mean a period of one (1) to
thirty (30) days agreed to in advance by Company and the Swing Line Bank as
selected by Company pursuant to Section 4.3.  Each Interest Period which would
otherwise end on a day which is not a Business Day shall end on the





                                       9
<PAGE>   17
next succeeding Business Day or, if such next succeeding Business Day falls in
the next succeeding calendar month, on the next preceding Business Day, and no
Interest Period which would end after the Revolving Credit Maturity Date shall
be permitted with respect to any Advance.

         "Internal Revenue Code" shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended from time to time, and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

         "Investment" shall mean, when used with respect to any Person, (a) any
loan, investment or advance made by such Person to any other Person (including,
without limitation, any contingent obligation) in respect of any capital stock,
Debt, obligation or liability of such other Person and (b) any other investment
made by such Person (however acquired) in stock or other ownership interests in
any other Person, including, without limitation, any investment made in
exchange for the issuance of shares of stock of such Person.

         "Issuing Bank" shall mean Comerica Bank-Texas in its capacity as
issuer of one or more Letters of Credit hereunder.

         "Issuing Office" shall mean Issuing Bank's office located at 8850
Boedeker St., Dallas, Texas 75225 or such other office as Issuing Bank shall
designate as its Issuing Office.

         "Joinder Agreement" shall mean a joinder agreement in the form
attached as "Exhibit A" to the form of the Guaranty (Exhibit J to this
Agreement), to be executed and delivered by any Person required to be a
Guarantor pursuant to Section 8.22 of this Agreement.

         "Letter(s) of Credit" shall mean any standby letters of credit issued
by Issuing Bank at the request of or for the account of an Account Party or
Account Parties pursuant to Article 3 hereof.

         "Letter of Credit Agreement" shall mean, in respect of each Letter of
Credit, the application and related documentation satisfactory to the Issuing
Bank of an Account Party or Account Parties requesting Issuing Bank to issue
such Letter of Credit, as amended from time to time.

         "Letter of Credit Fees" shall mean the fees payable to Agent for the
accounts of the Banks in connection with Letters of Credit pursuant to Section
3.4 hereof.

         "Letter of Credit Maximum Amount" shall mean as of any date of
determination the lesser of:

         (a)     Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000); or

         (b)     the difference between (A) the lesser of (x) the Revolving
                 Credit Aggregate Commitment as of such date, and (y) the
                 Borrowing Base as of such date, MINUS (B) the aggregate
                 principal amount of Advances outstanding as of such date.

         "Letter of Credit Obligations" shall mean at any date of
determination, the sum of (a) the aggregate undrawn amount of all Letters of
Credit then outstanding, (b) the aggregate face





                                       10
<PAGE>   18
amount of all Letters of Credit requested but not yet issued as of such date
and (c) the aggregate amount of Reimbursement Obligations which have not been
reimbursed by the Company as of such date.

         "Letter of Credit Payment" shall mean any amount paid or required to
be paid by the Issuing Bank in its capacity hereunder as issuer of a Letter of
Credit as a result of a draft or other demand for payment under any Letter of
Credit.

         "Leverage Ratio" shall mean as of the last day of any computation
period, the ratio of (a) Total Debt as of such day to (b) the sum of Total Debt
plus Total Shareholders' Equity as of such day.

         "Lien" shall mean any pledge, assignment, hypothecation, mortgage,
security interest, deposit arrangement, option, trust receipt, conditional sale
or title retaining contract, sale and leaseback transaction, financing
statement or comparable notice or other filing or recording, Financing Lease,
subordination or any claim or right, or any other type of lien, charge,
encumbrance, preferential or priority arrangement or other claim or right,
whether based on common law or statute.

         "Loan Documents" shall mean, collectively, this Agreement, the Notes,
the Letter of Credit Agreements, the Security Agreement, the Pledge Agreement,
the Guaranty(ies) and any other documents, certificates, instruments or
agreements executed pursuant to or in connection with any such document or this
Agreement, as such documents may be amended or otherwise modified from time to
time.

         "Majority Banks" shall mean at any time Banks holding 66-2/3% of the
aggregate principal amount of the Indebtedness then outstanding under the Notes
(provided that, for purposes of determining Majority Banks hereunder,
Indebtedness outstanding under the Swing Line Notes shall be allocated among
the Banks based upon their respective Percentages), or, if no Indebtedness is
then outstanding, Banks holding 66-2/3% of the Percentages; provided, however
that at any time there are only two Banks party to this Agreement, "Majority
Banks" shall mean all Banks.

         "Margin" shall mean, as of any date of determination thereof, the
applicable interest rate margin determined in accordance with the provisions of
Section 5.1 hereof (based upon the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio) by reference to
the appropriate columns in the pricing matrix attached to this Agreement as
Schedule 1.1.

         "Material Adverse Effect" shall mean a material adverse effect on (a)
the business, operations, property, or financial condition of the Company and
its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (b) the ability of the Company to perform
its obligations under this Agreement, the Notes or any other Loan Document to
which it is a party, or (c) the validity or enforceability of this Agreement,
any of the Notes or any of the other Loan Documents or the rights or remedies
of the Agent or the Banks hereunder or thereunder.

         "Merger" shall mean the merger of RTO into the Company pursuant to and
in accordance with the Merger Documents.





                                       11
<PAGE>   19
         "Merger Documents" shall mean the Agreement and Plan of Merger by and
between the Company and RTO dated as of September 28, 1997, as amended and the
Articles of Merger and Certificate of Merger issued by the secretary of state
of Indiana and Delaware, respectively.

         "Multiemployer Plan" shall mean a Pension Plan which is a
multiemployer plan as defined in Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA.

         "Net Income" shall mean the net income (or loss) of a Person for any
period determined in accordance with GAAP.

         "New Bank Addendum" shall mean an Addendum, substantially in the form
of Exhibit G hereto, to be executed and delivered by each Bank becoming a party
to this Agreement pursuant to Section 2.10 hereof.

         "New Equity" shall mean capital stock or other equity interests issued
and sold on or after the Effective Date by the Company, excluding capital stock
issued by the Company as part of the total acquisition consideration paid in
connection with a Permitted Acquisition.

         "Notes" shall mean the Revolving Credit Notes and the Swing Line Note.

         "Obligor" shall mean the Person obligated for the payment of rent and
other sums under any Rental Contract; and "related Obligor" shall, when used
with respect to any Rental Contract, mean the Person so obligated thereunder.

         "Operating Lease" shall mean any lease other than a Financing Lease
and shall include, without limitation, any store leases.

         "Original Cost" shall mean as of any date of determination, the
original cost of goods which are or may hereafter be subject to a Rental
Contract and which goods, as of the date of determination, satisfy (if such
goods are, as of such date subject to a Rental Contract), or would satisfy (if
such goods are not, as of such date, subject to a Rental Contract)  all
warranties, expressed or implied, made or deemed to be made to an Obligor under
a Rental Contract, and which goods are owned by the Company or such Subsidiary,
subject to the security interest granted by Company or the applicable
Subsidiary pursuant to the Loan Documents,  free and clear of all liens or
encumbrances.

         "PBGC" shall mean the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation under
ERISA, or any successor corporation

         "Pension Plan" shall mean each employee pension benefit plan, as
defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA, of the Company or an ERISA Affiliate but only
to the extent such Pension Plan is subject to ERISA, as provided in Section 4
of ERISA, and is subject to Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code and
Section 302 of ERISA.

         "Percentage" shall mean, with respect to any Bank, its percentage
share, as set forth on Schedule 1.2 hereto, of the Revolving Credit Aggregate
Commitment and Letters of Credit, as





                                       12
<PAGE>   20
the context indicates, as such Exhibit may be revised from time to time by
Agent in accordance with provisions of Section 14.8.

         "Permitted Acquisition" shall mean any acquisition by the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries of assets, businesses or business interests or shares
of stock or other ownership interests of or in any Person, conducted while no
Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing hereunder (both
before and after giving effect thereto) which, in the case of an acquisition
pursuant to clause (c) hereof, is approved in writing by the Majority Banks
prior to its consummation and is otherwise conducted in accordance with the
following requirements:

         (a)     Such acquisition is of a business or Person engaged in the
rent-to-own business;

         (b)     The board of directors (or other Person(s) exercising similar
functions) of the seller of the assets or issuer of the shares of stock or
other ownership interests being acquired shall not have disapproved such
transaction or recommended that such transaction be disapproved;

         (c)     in the event that the value of such proposed new acquisition,
computed on the basis of total acquisition consideration paid or incurred, or
to be paid or incurred, by the Company or its Subsidiaries with respect
thereto, including all indebtedness which is assumed or to which such assets,
businesses or business or ownership interests or shares, or any Person so
acquired, is subject,

                 (i)          shall be greater than or equal to Fifteen Million
         Dollars ($15,000,000), determined as of the date of such acquisition,
         excluding from the calculation of the value of such acquisition the
         value of any common shares transferred as a part of such acquisition,
         or

                 (ii)         shall be greater than or equal to Fifty Million
         Dollars ($50,000,000), determined as of the date of such acquisition,
         including in the calculation of the value of such acquisition the
         value of  any common shares transferred as a part of such acquisition,
         or

                 (iii)        when combined with the value of all other
         acquisitions conducted as Permitted Acquisitions in same fiscal year
         shall be greater than or equal to One Hundred Million Dollars
         ($100,000,000), determined as of the date of such acquisition,
         including in the calculation of the aggregate value of all such
         acquisitions, the value of any common shares transferred as a part of
         such acquisitions,

then not less than thirty (30) nor more than ninety (90) days prior to the date
each such proposed acquisition is scheduled to be consummated, the Company
provides written notice thereof to Agent, accompanied by (A) draft of the
letter of intent and, when available, all material documents pertaining to such
proposed acquisition, (B) detail setting forth the acquisition price with
supporting documentation and historical financial information (including income
statement, balance sheet and cash flows) covering at least three complete
fiscal years of the acquisition target prior to the effective date of the
acquisition or the entire credit history of the acquisition target, whichever
period is shorter (provided, however, that, if the financial information
referred





                                       13
<PAGE>   21
to in this subparagraph (B) is not available, Company shall furnish Agent with
financial information otherwise reasonably satisfactory to the Majority Banks,
and (C) Pro Forma Projected Financial Information, whereupon Agent shall
promptly notify each of the Banks of its receipt thereof and upon the written
request of any Bank distribute copies of all notices and other materials
received from Company under this clause (c) to each Bank;

         (d)     in the event that the value of such proposed new acquisition,
computed on the basis of total acquisition consideration paid or incurred, or
to be paid or incurred, by the Company or its Subsidiaries with respect
thereto, including all indebtedness which is assumed or to which such assets,
businesses or business or ownership interests or shares, or any Person so
acquired, is subject, but excluding the value of any common shares transferred
as a part of such acquisition is less than Fifteen Million Dollars
($15,000,000) determined as of the date of such acquisition, then not less than
ten (10) Business Days after date each such proposed acquisition has been
consummated, the Company provides written notice thereof to Agent (with
certified copies of all material documents pertaining to such acquisition),
whereupon Agent shall promptly notify each of the Banks of its receipt thereof
and upon the written request of any Bank distribute copies of all notices and
other materials received from Company under this clause (d) to each Bank;

         (e)     on the date of any such acquisition, all necessary or
appropriate governmental, quasi-governmental, agency, regulatory or similar
approvals of applicable jurisdictions (or the respective agencies,
instrumentalities or political subdivisions, as applicable, of such
jurisdictions) and all necessary or appropriate non-governmental and other
third-party approvals (other than landlord consents for stores purchased in
connection with the acquisition) which, in each case, are material to such
acquisition have been obtained and are in effect, and the Company and its
Subsidiaries are in full compliance therewith, and all necessary or appropriate
declarations, registrations or other filings with any court, governmental or
regulatory authority, securities exchange or any other person have been made;
and

         (f)     within thirty (30) days after any such acquisition has been
completed, the Company shall deliver to the Agent executed copies of all
material documents pertaining to such acquisition and the Company, its
Subsidiaries and any of the other business entities involved in such
acquisition,  as required by Section 8.22 hereof, shall execute or cause to be
executed, and provide or cause to be provided to Agent, for the Banks, any Loan
Documents required by such Section 8.22.

         "Permitted Guarantees" shall mean those guaranties listed on 
Schedule 9.3

         "Permitted Investments" shall mean

                 (a)          Governmental Obligations;

                 (b)          Obligations of a state of the United States, the
         District of Columbia or any possession of the United States, or any
         political subdivision thereof, which are described in Section 103(a)
         of the Internal Revenue Code and are graded in any of the highest 3
         major grades as determined by at least one nationally recognized
         rating agency; or secured, as to payments of principal and interest,
         by a letter of credit provided by a





                                       14
<PAGE>   22
         financial institution or insurance provided by a bond insurance
         company which itself or its debt is rated in the highest 3 major
         grades as determined by at least one nationally recognized rating
         agency;

                 (c)          Banker's acceptances, commercial accounts,
         certificates of deposit, or depository receipts issued by a Bank or a
         bank, trust company, savings and loan association, savings bank or
         other financial institution whose deposits are insured by the Federal
         Deposit Insurance Corporation and whose reported capital and surplus
         equal at least $500,000,000;

                 (d)          commercial paper with a minimum rating of "A-1"
         (or better) by S&P or "P-1" (or better) by Moody's, full faith and
         credit direct obligations of the United States of America,
         certificates of deposit, and other short term investments (each of a
         duration of one year or less), maintained by the Company or any of its
         Subsidiaries consistent with the present investment practices of such
         parties (as classified in the current financial statements of such
         parties);

                 (e)          Secured repurchase agreements against obligations
         itemized in paragraph (a) above, and executed by a bank or trust
         company or by members of the association of primary dealers or other
         recognized dealers in United States government securities, the market
         value of which must be maintained at levels at least equal to the
         amounts advanced and repurchase agreements entered into with
         counterparties having ratings in either of the highest two rating
         categories by Moody's or S&P, or the highest rating category by Fitch
         Investor Services, Duff & Phelps or Thompson Bank Watch and providing
         for underlying securities to be held by a third party;

                 (f)          Any fund or other pooling arrangement which
         exclusively purchases and holds the investments itemized in (a)
         through (e) above; and

                 (g)          Commercial accounts maintained at a bank, trust
         company, savings and loan association, savings bank or other financial
         institution whose deposits are federally insured, which accounts are
         maintained in the ordinary course of RTO Operating's business with an
         individual maximum daily balance not to exceed $35,000.

         "Permitted Liens" shall mean:

                 (a)          Liens for taxes not yet due or which are being
         contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings, provided that
         adequate reserves with respect thereto are maintained on the books of
         the Company in conformity with GAAP;

                 (b)          carriers', warehousemen's, mechanics',
         materialmen's, repairmen's, landlord's liens or other like Liens
         arising in the ordinary course of business which are not overdue for a
         period of more than 60 days or which are being contested in good faith
         by appropriate proceedings;





                                       15
<PAGE>   23
                 (c)          pledges or deposits in connection with workers'
         compensation, unemployment insurance and other social security
         legislation, and deposits securing liability to insurance carriers
         under insurance or self-insurance arrangements (which deposits are
         listed on Schedule 2);

                 (d)          deposits to secure (i) the performance of bids,
         trade contracts (other than for borrowed money), statutory
         obligations, surety and appeal bonds, performance bonds and other
         obligations of a like nature in an aggregate amount not to exceed
         $100,000 at any one time or (ii) the performance of leases permitted
         hereunder, in each case given or incurred on terms, in amounts and
         otherwise in the ordinary course of business; and

                 (e)          easements, rights-of-way, restrictions and other
         similar encumbrances incurred in the ordinary course of business
         which, in the aggregate, are not substantial in amount and which do
         not in any case materially detract from the value of the property
         subject thereto or materially interfere with the ordinary conduct of
         the business of the Company.

         "Person" shall mean a natural person, corporation, limited liability
company, partnership, limited liability partnership, trust, incorporated or
unincorporated organization, joint venture, joint stock company, or a
government or any agency or political subdivision thereof or other entity of
any kind.

         "Pledge Agreements" shall mean the Pledge Agreements executed and
delivered by the Company and RTO Holding in favor of the Agent in connection
with the Prior Credit Agreement or any pledge agreement to be executed and
delivered pursuant to Section 8.22 hereof substantially in the form of such
Pledge Agreements previously delivered by the Company and its Subsidiaries, as
amended or otherwise modified from time to time.

         "Prime-based Advance" shall mean an Advance which bears interest at
the Prime-based Rate.

         "Prime-based Rate" shall mean, for any day, that rate of interest
which is equal to the greater of (i) the Prime Rate, or (ii) the Alternate Base
Rate.

         "Prime Rate" shall mean the per annum rate of interest announced by
the Agent, at its main office from time to time as its "prime rate" (it being
acknowledged that such announced rate may not necessarily be the lowest rate
charged by the Agent, to any of its customers), which Prime Rate shall change
simultaneously with any change in such announced rate.

         "Prior Credit Agreement" is defined in the Recitals.

         "Pro Forma Projected Financial Information" shall mean, as to any
proposed acquisition, a statement executed by a Responsible Officer of the
Company (supported by reasonable detail) setting forth the total consideration
to be paid or incurred in connection with the proposed acquisition and, pro
forma combined projected financial information for the Company and its
consolidated Subsidiaries and the acquisition target (if applicable),
consisting of projected





                                       16
<PAGE>   24
balance sheets as of the proposed effective date of the acquisition or the
closing date and as of the end of at least the next succeeding two (2) fiscal
years of Company following the acquisition and projected statements of income
for each of those years, including sufficient detail to permit calculation of
the amounts and the financial covenants described in Sections 8.9 through 8.12
hereof, as projected as of the effective date of the acquisition and for those
fiscal years and accompanied by (i) a statement setting forth a calculation of
the ratios and amounts so described, (ii) a statement in reasonable detail
specifying all material assumptions underlying the projections and (iii) such
other information as the Majority Banks shall reasonably request.

         "Prohibited Transaction" shall mean any transaction involving a
Pension Plan which constitutes a "prohibited transaction" as defined in ERISA
Section 406 and for which no statutory or administrative exemption applies
under ERISA Section 408, to the extent applicable to the GCC or any ERISA
Affiliate.

         "Purchasing Lender" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 12.8.

         "Quoted Rate" shall mean the rate of interest per annum offered by the
Swing Line Bank in its sole discretion with respect to a Swing Line Advance.

         "Quoted Rate Advance" means any Swing Line Advance which bears 
interest at the Quoted Rate.

         "Rating Agency" shall mean Moody's Investor Services, Standard and
Poor's Ratings Group or any other nationally recognized statistical rating
organization which is acceptable to the Agent.

         "Reimbursement Obligation(s)" shall mean the obligation of an Account
Party or Account Parties under each Letter of Credit Agreement to reimburse the
Issuing Bank for each payment made by the Issuing Bank under the Letter of
Credit issued pursuant to such Letter of Credit Agreement, together with all
other sums, fees, charges and amounts which may be owing to the Issuing Bank
under such Letter of Credit Agreement.

         "Rental Contract(s)" shall mean a rental purchase contract,
originated by Company or a Subsidiary of the Company and a related Obligor for
the rental of goods, whether such contract is now existing or hereafter
arising, and which Rental Contract provides by its terms that if the Obligor
continuously renews such contract for a set period (set forth in each such
contract), or if the Obligor exercises a specified early purchase option, the
title to such rental goods will be transferred to the Obligor at the end of
such period, or upon exercise of such purchase option.

         "Rental Expense" shall mean with respect to any Person for any period,
the aggregate rental obligations of such Person paid or required to be paid in
respect of such period under Operating Leases, excluding vehicle leases in the
ordinary course of business, (net of income from sub-leases thereof, but
including taxes, insurance, maintenance and similar obligations under such
leases), whether or not such obligations are reflected as liabilities or
commitments on a balance sheet of such Person.

         "Rental Income Value" shall mean, as of any date of determination, the
value of the rental payments remaining on all Eligible Rental Contracts,
assuming such Eligible Rental Contract





                                       17
<PAGE>   25
will be continuously renewed by the related Obligor until title to the goods
rented thereunder has transferred to such Obligor.

         "Request for Revolving Credit Advance" shall mean a Request for
Revolving Credit Advance issued by Company under Section 2.3 of this Agreement
in the form annexed hereto as Exhibit A, as amended or otherwise modified.

         "Request for Swing Line Advance" shall mean a Request for Swing Line
Advance issued by Company under Section 4.3 of this Agreement in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit D, as amended or otherwise modified.

         "Requirement of Law" shall mean as to any Person, the certificate of
incorporation and bylaws, the partnership agreement or other organizational or
governing documents of such Person and any law, treaty, rule or regulation or
determination of an arbitration or a court or other Governmental Authority, in
each case applicable to or binding upon such Person or any of its property or
to which such Person or any of its property is subject.

         "Responsible Officer" shall mean the chief executive officer, chief
financial officer, or the president of the Company, or any other officer having
substantially the same authority and responsibility; or with respect to
compliance with financial covenants, the chief financial officer, the treasurer
or the vice president of finance of the Company, or any other officer having
substantially the same authority and responsibility.

         "Revolving Credit" shall mean the revolving credit loan to be advanced
to the Company by the Revolving Credit Banks pursuant to Article 2 hereof, in
an aggregate amount (subject to the terms hereof), not to exceed, at any one
time outstanding, the Revolving Credit Aggregate Commitment.

         "Revolving Credit Advance" shall mean a borrowing requested by Company
and made by Revolving Credit Banks under Section 2.1 of this Agreement,
including without limitation any readvance, refunding or conversion of such
borrowing pursuant to Section 2.3 hereof and any advance in respect of a Letter
of Credit under Section 3.6 hereof, and shall include, as applicable, a
Eurocurrency-based Advance and/or Prime-based Advance.

         "Revolving Credit Aggregate Commitment" shall mean Sixty Million
Dollars ($60,000,000) subject to the increase of the Revolving Credit Aggregate
Commitment, pursuant to Section 2.10 hereof, by an amount up to the amount of
the Revolving Credit Optional Increase and subject to reduction or termination
pursuant to Section 2.8 or 10.2 hereof.

         "Revolving Credit Banks" shall mean Comerica Bank-Texas, Bank One,
Texas, N.A. and such other financial institutions from time to time parties
hereto as lenders of the Revolving Credit.

         "Revolving Credit Commitment Fee" shall mean the fees payable to Agent
for distribution to the Revolving Credit Banks pursuant to Section 2.6 hereof.





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<PAGE>   26
         "Revolving Credit Maturity Date" shall mean the earlier to occur of
(i) February 26, 2001 as such date may be extended from time to time pursuant
to Section 2.9 hereof, and (ii) the date on which the Revolving Credit
Aggregate Commitment shall be terminated pursuant to Section 2.8 or Section
10.2 hereof.

         "Revolving Credit Notes" shall mean the revolving credit notes
described in Section 2.1 hereof, made by Company to each of the Revolving
Credit Banks in the form annexed to this agreement as Exhibit B, as such notes
may be amended or supplemented from time to time, and any other notes issued in
substitution, replacement or renewal thereof from time to time.

         "Revolving Credit Optional Increase" shall mean an amount up to Forty
Million Dollars ($40,000,000).

         "RTO" shall mean RTO, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

         "RTO Holding" shall mean RTO Holding Co., Inc., a Delaware
corporation.

         "RTO Operating" shall mean RTO Operating, Inc., a Delaware
corporation.

         "Security Agreement" shall mean the Security Agreement (including the
Trademark Agreement which shall be executed concurrently therewith) executed
and delivered by the Company and each Guarantor in favor of the Agent in
connection with the Prior Agreement, or to be executed and delivered pursuant
to Section 8.22 hereof , as amended or otherwise modified from time to time.

         "Subsidiary(ies)" shall mean any other corporation, association, joint
stock company, business trust limited liability company or any other business
entity of which more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding voting stock,
share capital, membership or other interests, as the case may be, is owned
either directly or indirectly by any Person or one or more of its Subsidiaries,
or the management of which is otherwise controlled, directly, or indirectly
through one or more intermediaries, or both, by any Person and/or its
Subsidiaries. Unless otherwise specified to the contrary herein,
Subsidiary(ies) shall refer to the Company's Subsidiary(ies).

         "Swing Line Advance" shall mean a borrowing made by Swing Line Bank to
Company pursuant to Section 4.1 hereof.

         "Swing Line Commitment" shall mean Three Million Dollars ($3,000,000),
subject to termination pursuant to Section 10.2 hereof.

         "Swing Line Credit" shall mean the revolving credit loan to be
advanced to the Company by the Swing Line Bank pursuant to Article 4 hereof, in
an aggregate amount (subject to the terms hereof), not to exceed, at any one
time outstanding, the amount set forth in Section 4.1.

         "Swing Line Bank" shall mean Comerica Bank-Texas, in its capacity as
lender under Article 4 of this Agreement, and its successors and assigns.





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<PAGE>   27
         "Swing Line Note" shall mean the swing line note described in Section
4.1 hereof, made by Company to Swing Line Bank in the form annexed hereto as
Exhibit E, as such Note may be amended or supplemented from time to time, and
any notes issued in substitution, replacement or renewal thereof from time to
time.

         "Tangible Net Worth" shall mean, as of any applicable date of
determination, the difference between (i) net book value of all assets of the
Company (other than patents, patent rights, trademarks, trade names,
franchises, copyrights, licenses, goodwill and similar intangible assets),
minus (ii) all Debt of Company, in each case as reflected on the balance sheet
of the Company's most recently filed Form 10-Q or Form 10-K.

         "Total Debt" shall mean, without duplication, the sum of (i) all
Funded Debt plus (ii) the amount of all Financing Leases, plus (iii) all
Guarantee Obligations (but excluding the Permitted Guarantees), of the Company
and its Subsidiaries in each case determined in accordance with GAAP.

         "Total Shareholders Equity" shall mean the total of shareholders'
equity (including capital stock, additional paid-in capital and retained
earnings after deducting treasury stock) of the Company, as determined in
accordance with GAAP.

         "Uniform Commercial Code" shall mean the Uniform Commercial Code of
any applicable state, and, unless specified otherwise the Uniform Commercial
Code as in effect in the State of Michigan.

2.       REVOLVING CREDIT

         2.1.    REVOLVING CREDIT COMMITMENT. Subject to the terms and
conditions of this Agreement (including Section 2.3 hereof), each Revolving
Credit Bank severally and for itself alone agrees to make Advances of the
Revolving Credit to Company from time to time on any Business Day during the
period from the Effective Date hereof until (but excluding) the Revolving
Credit Maturity Date in an aggregate amount not to exceed at any one time
outstanding each such Revolving Credit Bank's Percentage of the Revolving
Credit Aggregate Commitment. All of such Advances hereunder shall be evidenced
by the Revolving Credit Notes, under which advances, repayments and readvances
may be made, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

         2.2.    ACCRUAL OF INTEREST AND MATURITY. (a) The Revolving Credit
Notes, and all principal and interest outstanding thereunder, shall mature and
become due and payable in full on the Revolving Credit Maturity Date, and each
Advance evidenced by the Revolving Credit Notes from time to time outstanding
hereunder shall, from and after the date of such Advance, bear interest at its
Applicable Interest Rate. The amount and date of each Revolving Credit Advance,
its Applicable Interest Rate, its Interest Period, and the amount and date of
any repayment shall be noted on Agent's records, which records may be kept
electronically and which will be conclusive evidence thereof, absent manifest
error; provided, however, that any failure by the Agent to record any such
information shall not relieve Company of its





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<PAGE>   28
obligation to repay the outstanding principal amount of such Advance, all
interest accrued thereon and any amount payable with respect thereto in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Loan Documents.

         2.3.    REQUESTS FOR ADVANCES AND REQUESTS FOR REFUNDINGS AND
CONVERSIONS OF REVOLVING CREDIT ADVANCES. Company may request a Revolving
Credit Advance, refund any Revolving Credit Advance in the same type of
Revolving Credit Advance or convert any Revolving Credit Advance to any other
type of Revolving Credit Advance only after delivery to Agent of a Request for
Revolving Credit Advance executed by a person authorized by the Company to make
such requests on behalf of Company subject to the following and to the
remaining provisions hereof:

                 2.3.1.       each such Request for Revolving Credit Advance
shall set forth the information required on the Request for Revolving Credit
Advance including without limitation:

                              2.3.1.1.     the proposed date of Revolving
                                  Credit Advance, which must be a Business Day;

                              2.3.1.2.     whether the Revolving Credit Advance
                                  is a refunding or conversion of an
                                  outstanding Revolving Credit Advance; and

                              2.3.1.3.     whether such Revolving Credit
                                  Advance is to be a Prime-based Advance or a
                                  Eurocurrency-based Advance, and, except in
                                  the case of a Prime-based Advance, the
                                  Interest Period applicable thereto;

                 2.3.2.       each such Request for Revolving Credit Advance
shall be delivered to Agent by 11:00 a.m.  (Detroit time) three (3) Business
Days prior to the proposed date of Revolving Credit Advance, except in the case
of a Prime-based Advance, for which the Request for Revolving Credit Advance
must be delivered by 10 a.m. (Detroit time) on such proposed date;

                 2.3.3.       the principal amount of such requested Revolving
Credit Advance, plus the principal amount of all other Advances then
outstanding hereunder, plus the Letter of Credit Obligations, less the
principal amount of any outstanding Swing Line Advance or Revolving Credit
Advance to be refunded by the requested Revolving Credit Advance shall not
exceed the lesser of the then applicable (i) Revolving Credit Aggregate
Commitment and (ii) Borrowing Base;

                 2.3.4.       in the case of a Prime-based Advance, the
principal amount of the initial funding of such Advance, as opposed to any
refunding or conversion thereof, shall be at least Two Million Dollars
($2,000,000) and (y) in the case of a Eurocurrency-based Advance, the





                                       21
<PAGE>   29
principal amount of such Advance, plus the amount of any other outstanding
Indebtedness under this Agreement to be then combined therewith having the same
Interest Period shall be at least Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000) and at any
one time there shall not be in effect more than six (6) Interest Periods with
respect to the Revolving Credit;

                 2.3.5.       each Request for Revolving Credit Advance shall
constitute and include a certification by the Company as of the date thereof
that:

                              2.3.5.1.     both before and after the Revolving
                                  Credit Advance, the obligations of the
                                  Company and the Guarantors set forth in this
                                  Agreement and the other Loan Documents, as
                                  applicable, are valid, binding and
                                  enforceable obligations of such parties;

                              2.3.5.2.     to the best knowledge of Company all
                                  conditions to Advances of the Revolving
                                  Credit have been satisfied;

                              2.3.5.3.     there is no Default or Event of
                                  Default in existence, and none will exist
                                  upon the making of the Advance;

                              2.3.5.4.     the representations and warranties
                                  contained in this Agreement and the other
                                  Loan Documents (except, in the case of
                                  refundings or conversions of outstanding
                                  Advances, the representations set forth in
                                  Sections 7.13 and 7.20) are true and correct
                                  in all material respects and shall be true
                                  and correct in all material respects as of
                                  and immediately after the making of the
                                  Advance; and

                              2.3.5.5.     the execution of such Revolving
                                  Credit Advance will not violate the material
                                  terms and conditions of any material
                                  contract, agreement or other borrowing of
                                  Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

                 2.3.6.       Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, during
the period beginning on the Effective Date and ending on a date which is the
earlier to occur of 180 days after the Effective Date and the activation by the
Company of the entire Revolving Credit Optional Increase pursuant to Section
2.10 (or such lesser number of days to which the Agent, in its sole discretion,
may agree) thereafter and unless the Agent shall agree otherwise, (i) any
Advance carried at the Eurocurrency-based Rate shall have an Interest Period of
one month (or a lesser number of days, as agreed to in Advance by the Company,
the Agent and the Banks), (ii) upon the completion of any such Advance, there
shall be no more than one (1) such Interest Period in effect for all Revolving
Credit Advances and (iii) all such Interest Periods shall end on the same day
of the month.

Agent, acting on behalf of the Banks, may, at its option, lend under this
Section 2 upon the telephone request of an authorized officer of Company and,
in the event Agent makes any such





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<PAGE>   30
Advance upon a telephone request, the requesting officer shall, if so requested
by Agent, fax to Agent, on the same day as such telephone request, a Request
for Revolving Credit Advance. Company hereby authorizes Agent to disburse
Advances under this Section 2 pursuant to the telephone instructions of any
person purporting to be a person identified by name on a written list of
persons authorized by the Company to make Requests for Advance on behalf of the
Company.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company acknowledges that Company
shall bear all risk of loss resulting from disbursements made upon any
telephone request. Each telephone request for an Advance shall constitute a
certification of the matters set forth in the Request for Revolving Credit
Advance form as of the date of such requested Advance.

         2.4.    DISBURSEMENT OF REVOLVING CREDIT ADVANCES.

                 2.4.1.       Upon receiving any Request for a Revolving Credit
Advance from Company under Section 2.3 hereof, Agent shall promptly notify each
Revolving Credit Bank by wire, telecopy, telex or by telephone (confirmed by
wire, telecopy or telex) of the amount of such Revolving Credit Advance to be
made and the date such Advance is to be made by said Revolving Credit Bank
pursuant to its Percentage of the Revolving Credit Advance. Unless such
Revolving Credit Bank's commitment to make Revolving Credit Advances hereunder
shall have been suspended or terminated in accordance with this Agreement, each
Revolving Credit Bank shall send the amount of its Percentage of the Advance in
same day funds in Dollars to Agent at the office of Agent located at One
Detroit Center, 500 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, Michigan 48226-3289 not later
than 3:00 p.m. (Detroit time) on the date of such Advance.

                 2.4.2.       Subject to submission of a Request for Revolving
Credit Advance delivered in accordance with Section 2.3 hereof by Company
without exceptions noted in the compliance certification therein and to the
other terms and conditions hereof, Agent shall make available to Company the
aggregate of the amounts so received by it from the Revolving Credit Banks
under this Section 2.4, in like funds, not later than 4:00 p.m. (Detroit time)
on the date of such Revolving Credit Advance by credit to an account of Company
maintained with Agent or to such other account or third party as Company may
reasonably direct.

                 2.4.3.       Unless Agent shall have been notified by any
Revolving Credit Bank prior to the date of any proposed Revolving Credit
Advance that such Revolving Credit Bank does not intend to make available to
Agent such Revolving Credit Bank's Percentage of the Revolving Credit Advance,
Agent may assume that such Revolving Credit Bank has made such amount available
to Agent on such date, as aforesaid and may, in its sole discretion and without
obligation to do so, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to
Company a corresponding amount. If such amount is not in fact made available to
Agent by such Revolving Credit Bank in accordance with Section 2.4(a), as
aforesaid, Agent shall be entitled to recover such amount on demand from such
Revolving Credit Bank. If such Revolving Credit Bank does not pay such amount
forthwith upon Agent's demand therefor, the Agent shall promptly notify
Company, and Company shall pay such amount to Agent. Agent shall also be
entitled to recover from such Revolving Credit Bank or from Company, as the
case may be but without duplication,





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<PAGE>   31
interest on such amount in respect of each day from the date such amount was
made available by Agent to Company to the date such amount is recovered by
Agent, at a rate per annum equal to:

                              2.4.3.1.     in the case of such Revolving Credit
                                  Bank, the Federal Funds Effective Rate for
                                  the first two (2) Business Days such amount
                                  remains unpaid and at the rate of interest
                                  applicable to the Revolving Credit Advances
                                  thereafter; or

                              2.4.3.2.     in the case of Company, the rate of
                                  interest then applicable to the Revolving
                                  Credit Advance.

         The obligation of any Revolving Credit Bank to make any Revolving
         Credit Advance hereunder shall not be affected by the failure of any
         other Revolving Credit Bank to make any Revolving Credit Advance
         hereunder, and no Bank shall have any liability to the Company, the
         Agent, any other Bank, or any other party for another Bank's failure
         to make any loan or Revolving Credit Advance hereunder.

         2.5.    PRIME-BASED ADVANCE IN ABSENCE OF ELECTION OR UPON DEFAULT.
If, as to any outstanding Eurocurrency- based Advance, Agent has not received
payment on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto, or does not
receive a timely Request for Revolving Credit Advance meeting the requirements
of Section 2.3 hereof with respect to the refunding or conversion of such
Advance, or, subject to Section 5.6 hereof, if on such day a Default or Event
of Default shall exist, the principal amount thereof which is not then prepaid
shall be converted automatically to a Prime-based Advance and the Agent shall
thereafter promptly notify Company of said action.

         2.6.    REVOLVING CREDIT COMMITMENT FEE. From the Effective Date to
the Revolving Credit Maturity Date, the Company shall pay to the Agent on
behalf of Banks a Revolving Credit Commitment Fee quarterly in arrears
commencing April 1, 1998 (in respect of the prior calendar quarter or portion
thereof), and on the first day of each Fiscal Quarter thereafter. The Revolving
Credit Commitment Fee shall be the sum of the Applicable Commitment Fee
Percentage times the daily average amount by which the Revolving Credit
Aggregate Commitment then applicable under Section 2.6 hereof exceeds the sum
of (i) the aggregate principal amount of Revolving Credit Advances outstanding
during such period, (ii) the Letter of Credit Obligations during such period,
and (iii) the aggregate principal amount of Swing Line Advances outstanding
during such period, in each case determined on a daily basis.  The Revolving
Credit Commitment Fee shall be computed on the basis of a year of three hundred
sixty (360) days and assessed for the actual number of days elapsed.  Whenever
any payment of the Revolving Credit Commitment Fee shall be due on a day which
is not a Business Day, the date for payment thereof shall be extended to the
next Business Day. Upon receipt of such payment, Agent shall make prompt
payment to each Bank of its share of the Revolving Credit Commitment Fee based
upon its respective Percentage. It is expressly understood that the Revolving
Credit Commitment Fees described in this Section are not refundable under any
circumstances.





                                       24
<PAGE>   32
         2.7.    REDUCTION OF INDEBTEDNESS; REVOLVING CREDIT AGGREGATE
COMMITMENT. (a) If at any time and for any reason the aggregate principal
amount of Swing Line Advances and Revolving Credit Advances hereunder to
Company, plus the Letter of Credit Obligations which shall be outstanding at
such time, shall exceed the lesser of the then applicable (i) Revolving Credit
Aggregate Commitment then in effect or (ii) the Borrowing Base, Company shall
immediately reduce any pending request for an Advance on such day by the amount
of such excess and, to the extent any excess remains thereafter, immediately
repay an amount of the Indebtedness equal to such excess and, to the extent
such Indebtedness consists of Letter of Credit Obligations, provide cash
collateral on the basis set forth in Section 10.2 hereof. Company acknowledges
that, in connection with any repayment required hereunder, it shall also be
responsible for the reimbursement of any prepayment or other costs required
under Section 12.1 hereof; provided, however, that Company shall, in order to
reduce any such prepayment costs and expenses, first prepay such portion of the
Indebtedness then carried as a Prime-based Advance, if any.

         (b)     Immediately upon receipt by the Company or any Subsidiary of
any net cash proceeds from any Asset Sale, the Company shall prepay the
principal amount of Advances outstanding on such day by the amount of such net
cash proceeds.  To the extent that, on the date any mandatory reduction of
outstanding Advances under this Section 2.7 is due, the outstanding Advances
are being carried being carried, in whole or in part, at the Eurocurrency-based
Rate and no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the
Company shall first repay Advances being carried at the Prime-based rate, and
then the Company may deposit the amount of such mandatory repayment in a cash
collateral account to be held by the Agent, for and on behalf of the Banks
(which shall be an interest-bearing account), on such terms and conditions as
are reasonably acceptable to Agent and the Majority Banks. Subject to the terms
and conditions of  said cash collateral account, sums on deposit in said cash
collateral account shall be applied (until exhausted) to reduce the principal
balance of the Eurocurrency-based Advances on the last day of each Interest
Period attributable to such Eurocurrency-based Advances.

         2.8.    OPTIONAL REDUCTION OR TERMINATION OF REVOLVING CREDIT
AGGREGATE COMMITMENT. The Company may, upon at least five (5) Business Days'
prior written notice to Agent, permanently reduce the Revolving Credit
Aggregate Commitment in whole at any time, or in part from time to time,
without premium or penalty, provided that: (i) each partial reduction of the
Revolving Credit Aggregate Commitment shall be in an aggregate amount equal to
at least Five Million Dollars ($5,000,000) or a larger integral multiple of One
Million Dollars ($1,000,000); (ii) each reduction shall be accompanied by the
payment of the Revolving Credit Commitment Fee, if any, accrued to the date of
such reduction; (iii) the Company shall prepay in accordance with the terms
hereof the amount, if any, by which the sum of the aggregate unpaid principal
amount of Swing Line Advances and Revolving Credit Advances, plus the Letter of
Credit Obligations, exceeds the lesser of (1) the then applicable Revolving
Credit Aggregate Commitment, taking into account the aforesaid reductions
thereof, together with accrued but unpaid interest on the principal amount of
such prepaid Advances to the date of prepayment and (2) Borrowing Base; and
(iv) no reduction shall reduce the amount of the Revolving Credit Aggregate
Commitment to an amount which is less than the Letter of Credit Obligations at
such time.  Reductions of the Revolving Credit Aggregate Commitment and any
accompanying prepayments of the Revolving Credit Notes shall be distributed by
Agent to each Revolving Credit Bank in accordance with such Bank's





                                       25
<PAGE>   33
Percentage thereof, and will not be available for reinstatement by or readvance
to the Company and any accompanying prepayments of the Swing Line Notes shall
be distributed by Agent to the Swing Line Bank and will not be available for
reinstatement by or readvance to the Company. Any reductions of the Revolving
Credit Aggregate Commitment hereunder shall reduce each Revolving Credit Bank's
portion thereof proportionately (based upon the applicable Percentages), and
shall be permanent and irrevocable. Any payments made pursuant to this Section
shall be applied first to outstanding Prime-based Advances under the Revolving
Credit, next to Swing Line Advances which bear interest at the Prime-based
Rate, next to Quoted Rate Advances and then to Eurocurrency-based Advances.
Company acknowledges that, in connection with any repayment required hereunder,
it shall also be responsible for the reimbursement of any prepayment or other
costs required under Section 12.1 hereof; provided, however, that Company
shall, in order to reduce any such prepayment costs and expenses, first prepay
such portion of the Indebtedness then carried as a Prime-based Advance, if any.

         2.9.    EXTENSION OF REVOLVING CREDIT MATURITY DATE. (a) Provided that
no Default or Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, Company may, by
written notice to Agent (with sufficient copies for each Bank) (which notice
shall be irrevocable and which shall not be deemed effective unless actually
received by Agent) prior to 60 days prior to Anniversary Date of fiscal years
1999 and/or 2000, as the case may be, request that the Banks extend the then
applicable Revolving Credit Maturity Date to a date that is one year later than
the Revolving Credit Maturity Date then in effect (each such request, a
"Request").  Each Bank shall, not later than thirty (30) calendar days
following the date of its receipt of the Request, give written notice to the
Agent stating whether such Bank is willing to extend the Revolving Credit
Maturity Date as requested.  If Agent has received the aforesaid written
approvals of such Request from each of the Banks, then, effective upon the date
of Agent's receipt of all such written approvals from the Banks, as aforesaid,
the Revolving Credit Maturity Date shall be so extended for an additional one
year period, the term Revolving Credit Maturity Date shall mean such extended
date and Agent shall promptly notify the Company that such extension has
occurred. In no event however, shall the Revolving Credit Maturity Date be
extended beyond February 26, 2003.

                 (b)          If (i) any Bank gives the Agent written notice
that it is unwilling to extend the Revolving Credit Maturity Date as requested
or (ii) any Bank fails to provide written approval to Agent of such a Request
within thirty (30) calendar days of the date of such Bank's receipt of the
Request, then (w) the Banks shall be deemed to have declined to extend the
Revolving Credit Maturity Date, (x) the then-current Revolving Credit Maturity
Date shall remain in effect (with no further right on the part of Company to
request extensions thereof under this Section 2.9), and (y) the commitments of
the Banks to make Advances of the Revolving Credit hereunder shall terminate on
the Revolving Credit Maturity Date then in effect, and Agent shall promptly
notify Company thereof.

         2.10.   OPTIONAL INCREASE IN COMMITMENT.  Provided that no Default or
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, and provided that the Company
has not previously elected to reduce or terminate the Revolving Credit
Aggregate Commitment under Section 2.8 hereof, the Company may request up to
two increases in the Revolving Credit Aggregate Commitment in an aggregate
amount for such increases not to exceed the Revolving Credit





                                       26
<PAGE>   34
Optional Increase, subject, in each case, to Section 12.1 hereof and to the
satisfaction concurrently with or prior to the date of each such request of the
following conditions:

                 2.10.1.      the Company shall have delivered to the Agent at
any time during the period beginning on the Effective Date and expiring one
hundred eighty (180) days after the Effective Date a written request for such
increase, specifying the amount of Revolving Credit Optional Increase thereby
requested (each such request, a "Request for Increase"); provided, however that
in the event the Company has previously delivered a Request for Increase
pursuant to this Section 2.10, the Company may not deliver a subsequent Request
for Increase  until all the conditions to effectiveness of such first Request
for Increase have been fully satisfied hereunder;

                 2.10.2.      a lender or lenders acceptable to the Company and
the Agent (the "New Bank(s)") shall have become a party to this Agreement by
executing and delivering a New Bank Addendum for a minimum amount for each such
New Bank of Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000) and an aggregate amount for all
such New Banks of that portion of the Revolving Credit Optional Increase,
taking into account the amount of any prior increase in the Revolving Credit
Aggregate Commitment pursuant to this Section 2.10), covered by the applicable
request, provided, however that each New Bank shall remit to the Agent funds in
an amount equal to its Percentage (after giving effect to this Section 2.10) of
all Advances of the Revolving Credit then outstanding, such sums to be
reallocated among and paid to  the existing Banks based upon the new
Percentages as determined below;

                 2.10.3.      The Company shall have paid to the Agent for
distribution to the existing Banks, as applicable, all interest, fees
(including the Revolving Credit Commitment Fee) and other amounts, if any,
accrued to the effective date of such increase and any breakage fees
attributable to the reduction (prior to the last day of the applicable Interest
Period) of any outstanding Eurocurrency-based Advances, calculated on the basis
set forth in Section 12.1 hereof as though Company has prepaid such Advances;

                 2.10.4.      The Company shall have executed and delivered to
the Agent new Revolving Credit Notes payable to each of the New Banks in the
face amount of each such New Bank's Percentage of the Revolving Credit
Aggregate Commitment (after giving effect to this Section 2.10) and, if
applicable, renewal and replacement Revolving Credit Notes payable to each of
each of the existing Banks in the face amount of each such Bank's Percentage of
the Revolving Credit Aggregate Commitment (after giving effect to this Section
2.10), each of such Revolving Credit Notes to be substantially in the form of
Exhibit B hereto and dated as of the effective date of such increase (with
appropriate insertions relevant to such notes and acceptable to the applicable
Bank (including the New Banks));

                 2.10.5.      Except as disclosed pursuant to Section 7.20,
there shall have been no material adverse change in the condition (financial or
otherwise), properties, business, results or operations of Company or any of
its Subsidiaries, from the condition shown in the financial





                                       27
<PAGE>   35
information delivered to Agent on or before the Effective Date; nor shall any
omission, inconsistency, inaccuracy, or any change in presentation or
accounting standards which renders such financial statements materially
misleading have been determined by Agent to exist; and

                 2.10.6.      Such other amendments, acknowledgments,
supplemental legal opinions, consents, instruments, any registrations, if any,
shall have been executed and delivered and/or obtained by Company with respect
to the Collateral as required by Agent, in its reasonable discretion.

Promptly on or after the date on which all of the conditions to such Request
for Increase set forth above have been satisfied, Agent shall notify the
Company and each of the Banks of the amount of the Revolving Credit Aggregate
Commitment as increased pursuant this Section 2.10 and the date on which such
increase has become effective and shall prepare and distribute to Company and
each of the Banks (including the New Banks) a revised Schedule 1.2 to this
Agreement setting forth the applicable new Percentages of the Banks (including
the New Bank), taking into account such increase and assignments (if any).

3.       LETTERS OF CREDIT

         3.1.    LETTERS OF CREDIT. Subject to the terms and conditions of this
Agreement, Issuing Bank shall through its Issuing Office, at any time and from
time to time from and after the date hereof until thirty (30) days prior to the
Revolving Credit Maturity Date, upon the written request of an Account Party
accompanied by a duly executed Letter of Credit Agreement, and such other
documentation related to the requested Letter of Credit as the Issuing Bank may
reasonably require, issue Letters of Credit for the account of such Account
Party, in an aggregate amount for all Letters of Credit issued hereunder at any
one time outstanding not to exceed the Letter of Credit Maximum Amount.  Each
Letter of Credit shall be in a minimum face amount of Fifty Thousand Dollars
($50,000) and each Letter of Credit (including any renewal thereof) shall
expire not later than ten (10) Business Days prior to the Revolving Credit
Maturity Date in effect on the date of issuance thereof. The submission of all
applications and the issuance of each Letter of Credit hereunder shall be
subject in all respects to the Uniform Customs and Practices for Documenting
Credits of the International Chamber of Commerce, 1993 Revisions, ICC
Publication No. 500. Each Application for Letter of Credit shall have noted on
the first page thereof, or shall be deemed to have noted thereon:

                 "Note: This application is entered into in accordance with
         that certain Alrenco, Inc. Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of
         February 26, 1998, as amended or otherwise modified from time to time
         (the "Credit Agreement") among the Banks signatory thereto, Comerica
         Bank, as Agent for the Banks and Alrenco, Inc., and in the event of a
         conflict between this application and the Credit Agreement, the terms
         and conditions of the Credit Agreement shall govern."





                                       28
<PAGE>   36
         3.2.    CONDITIONS TO ISSUANCE. No Letter of Credit shall be issued at
the request and for the account of any Account Party unless, as of the date of
issuance of such Letter of Credit:

                 3.2.1.       the face amount of the Letter of Credit requested
plus the Letter of Credit Obligations outstanding on such date does not exceed
the Letter of Credit Maximum Amount;

                 3.2.2.       the obligations of Company and the Guarantors set
forth in this Agreement and the other Loan Documents are valid, binding and
enforceable obligations of Company and each of the Guarantors and the valid,
binding and enforceable nature of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents
has not been disputed by Company or any of the Guarantors;

                 3.2.3.       both immediately before and immediately after
issuance of the Letter of Credit requested, no Default or Event of Default
exists;

                 3.2.4.       the representations and warranties contained in
this Agreement and the other Loan Documents are true in all material respects
as if made on such date;

                 3.2.5.       the execution of the Letter of Credit Agreement
with respect to the Letter of Credit requested will not violate the terms and
conditions of any material contract, agreement or other borrowing of Company or
any Guarantor;

                 3.2.6.       the Account Party requesting the Letter of Credit
shall have delivered to Issuing Bank at its Issuing Office (with a copy sent by
Account Party to the Agent), not less than five (5) Business Days prior to the
requested date for issuance (or such shorter time as the Issuing Bank, in its
sole discretion, may permit), the Letter of Credit Agreement related thereto,
together with such other documents and materials as may be required pursuant to
the terms thereof, and the terms of the proposed Letter of Credit shall be
satisfactory to Issuing Bank and its Issuing Office;

                 3.2.7.       no order, judgment or decree of any court,
arbitrator or governmental authority shall purport by its terms to enjoin or
restrain Issuing Bank from issuing the requested Letter of Credit, or any Bank
from taking an assignment of its Percentage thereof pursuant to Section 3.6
hereof, and no law, rule, regulation, request or directive (whether or not
having the force of law) shall prohibit or request that Issuing Bank refrain
from issuing, or any Bank refrain from taking an assignment of its Percentage
of, the Letter of Credit requested or letters of credit generally;





                                       29
<PAGE>   37
                 3.2.8.       there shall have been no introduction of or
change in the interpretation of any law or regulation that would make it
unlawful or unduly burdensome for the Issuing Bank to issue or for any Bank to
take an assignment of its Percentage of the requested Letter of Credit, no
declaration of a general banking moratorium by banking authorities in the
United States, Michigan or the respective jurisdictions in which the Banks, the
applicable Account Party and the beneficiary of the requested Letter of Credit
are located (each a "Banking Authority"), and no establishment of any new
material restrictions by any Banking Authority on transactions involving
letters of credit or on banks materially affecting the issuance of letters of
credit by banks; and

                 3.2.9.       Issuing Bank shall have received the facing fee
required in connection with the issuance of such Letter of Credit pursuant to
Section 3.4(b) hereof.

Each Letter of Credit Agreement submitted to Issuing Bank pursuant hereto shall
constitute the certification by the Company and the Account Party of the
matters set forth in this Section 3.2 (a) through (e). The Issuing Bank shall
be entitled to rely on such certification without any duty of inquiry.

         3.3.    NOTICE.  The Issuing Bank will deliver to the Agent,
concurrently or promptly following its delivery of any Letter of Credit, a true
and complete copy of each Letter of Credit.  Promptly upon its receipt thereof,
Agent shall give notice, substantially in the form attached as Exhibit C, to
each Revolving Credit Bank of the issuance of each Letter of Credit, specifying
the amount thereof and the amount of such Bank's Percentage thereof.

         3.4.    LETTER OF CREDIT FEES. Company shall pay to the Agent for
distribution to the Issuing Bank and the Revolving Credit Banks in accordance
with the Percentages, Letter of Credit Fees as follows:

                 3.4.1.       A per annum Letter of Credit Fee with respect to
the undrawn amount of each Letter of Credit issued pursuant hereto in the
amount of the Applicable L/C Fee Percentage (determined with reference to
Schedule 1.1 of this Agreement), exclusive of the facing fee to be paid to
Issuing Bank under Section 3.4(b) hereof.

                 3.4.2.       A facing fee of one eighth percentage point
(1/8%) per annum on the undrawn amount of each Letter of Credit to be paid by
the Company to the Issuing Bank for its own account.

                 3.4.3.       If any change in any law or regulation or in the
interpretation thereof by any court or administrative or governmental authority
charged with the administration thereof shall either (i) impose, modify or
cause to be deemed applicable any reserve, special deposit, limitation or
similar requirement against letters of credit issued by or participated in, or
assets





                                       30
<PAGE>   38
held by, or deposits in or for the account of, Issuing Bank or any Bank or (ii)
impose on Issuing Bank or any of the Banks any other condition regarding this
Agreement or the Letters of Credit, and the result of any event referred to in
clause (i) or (ii) above shall be to increase in an amount deemed material by
Issuing Bank or such Bank the cost or expense to Issuing Bank or the Banks of
issuing or maintaining or participating in any of the Letters of Credit (which
increase in cost or expense shall be determined by the Issuing Bank's or such
Bank's reasonable allocation of the aggregate of such cost increases and
expense resulting from such events), then, upon demand by the Issuing Bank or
such Bank, as the case may be, the Company shall, within thirty days following
demand for payment, pay to Issuing Bank or such Bank, as the case may be, from
time to time as specified by the Issuing Bank or such Bank, additional amounts
which shall be sufficient to compensate the Issuing Bank or such Bank for such
increased cost and expense, together with interest on each such amount from
thirty days after the date demanded until payment in full thereof at the
Prime-based Rate. A certificate as to such increased cost or expense incurred
by the Issuing Bank or such Bank, as the case may be, as a result of any event
mentioned in clause (i) or (ii) above, shall be promptly submitted to the
Company and shall be conclusive evidence, absent manifest error, as to the
amount thereof.

                 3.4.4.       All payments by the Company to the Agent for
distribution to the Issuing Bank or the Revolving Credit Banks under this
Section 3.4 shall be made in Dollars and in immediately available funds at the
principal office of the Agent or such other office of the Agent as may be
designated from time to time by written notice to the Company by the Agent. The
fees described in clause (a) above shall be nonrefundable under all
circumstances and shall be payable annually in advance (or such lesser period,
if applicable, for Letters of Credit issued with stated expiration dates of
less than one year) upon the issuance of each such Letter of Credit, and shall
be calculated on the basis of a 360 day year and assessed for the actual number
of days from the date of the issuance thereof to the stated expiration thereof.

         3.5.    OTHER LETTER OF CREDIT FEES. In connection with the Letters of
Credit, and in addition to the Letter of Credit Fees, the Company and the
applicable Account Party shall pay, for the sole account of the Issuing Bank,
standard documentation, administration, payment and cancellation charges
assessed by Issuing Bank or its Issuing Office, at the times, in the amounts
and on the terms set forth or to be set forth from time to time in the standard
fee schedule of Issuing Office in effect from time to time.

         3.6.    DRAWS AND DEMANDS FOR PAYMENT UNDER LETTERS OF CREDIT.

                 3.6.1.       The Company and each applicable Account Party
agree to pay to the Agent for the account of the Issuing Bank, on the day on
which the Issuing Bank shall honor a draft or other demand for payment
presented or made under any Letter of Credit, an amount equal to the amount
paid by the Issuing Bank in respect of such draft or other demand under such
Letter of Credit and all reasonable expenses paid or incurred by the Issuing
Bank relative thereto.  Unless the Company or the applicable Account Party
shall have made such payment to the Agent for the account of the Issuing Bank
on such day, upon each such payment by the Issuing Bank,





                                       31
<PAGE>   39
the Agent shall be deemed to have disbursed to the Company, and the Company
shall be deemed to have elected to substitute for its Reimbursement Obligation,
a Prime-based Advance from the Banks in an amount equal to the amount so paid
by the Issuing Bank in respect of such draft or other demand under such Letter
of Credit. Such Prime-based Advance shall be disbursed notwithstanding any
failure to satisfy any conditions for disbursement of any Advance set forth in
Article 2 hereof and, to the extent of the Prime-based Advance so disbursed,
the Reimbursement Obligation of the Company or the applicable Account Party to
the Agent under this Section 3.6 shall be deemed satisfied.

                 3.6.2.       If the Issuing Bank shall honor a draft or other
demand for payment presented or made under any Letter of Credit, the Issuing
Bank shall provide notice thereof to the Company and the applicable Account
Party on the date such draft or demand is honored, and to each Revolving Credit
Bank on such date unless the Company or applicable Account Party shall have
satisfied its Reimbursement Obligation under Section 3.6(a) by payment to the
Agent on such date. The Issuing Bank shall further use reasonable efforts to
provide notice to the Company or applicable Account Party prior to honoring any
such draft or other demand for payment, but such notice, or the failure to
provide such notice, shall not affect the rights or obligations of the Issuing
Bank with respect to any Letter of Credit or the rights and obligations of the
parties hereto, including without limitation the obligations of the Company or
applicable Account Party under Section 3.6(a) hereof.

                 3.6.3.       Upon issuance by the Issuing Bank of each Letter
of Credit hereunder, each Revolving Credit Bank shall automatically acquire a
pro rata risk participation interest in such Letter of Credit and related
Letter of Credit Payment based on its respective Percentage. Each Revolving
Credit Bank, on the date a draft or demand under any Letter of Credit is
honored, shall make its Percentage share of the amount paid by the Issuing
Bank, and not reimbursed by the Company or applicable Account Party by payment
to the Agent on such day, available in immediately available funds at the
principal office of the Agent for the account of the Issuing Bank. If and to
the extent such Bank shall not have made such pro rata portion available to the
Agent, such Bank, the Company and the applicable Account Party severally agree
to pay to the Issuing Bank forthwith on demand such amount together with
interest thereon, for each day from the date such amount was paid by the
Issuing Bank until such amount is so made available to the Agent for the
account of the Issuing Bank at a per annum rate equal to the interest rate
applicable during such period to the related Advance disbursed under Section
3.6(a) in respect of the Reimbursement Obligation of the Company and the
applicable Account Party. If such Bank shall pay such amount to the Agent for
the account of the Issuing Bank together with such interest, such amount so
paid shall constitute a Prime-based Advance by such Bank disbursed in respect
of the Reimbursement Obligation of the Company or applicable Account Party
under Section 3.6(a) for purposes of this Agreement, effective as of the date
such amount was paid by the Issuing Bank. The failure of any Revolving Credit
Bank to make its pro rata portion of any such amount paid by the Issuing Bank
available to the Agent for the account of the Issuing Bank shall not relieve
any other Revolving Credit Bank of its obligation to make available its pro
rata portion of such amount, but no Bank shall be responsible for failure of
any other Bank to make such pro rata portion available to the Agent for the
account Issuing Bank.





                                       32
<PAGE>   40
Notwithstanding the foregoing however, no Bank shall acquire a pro rata risk
participation in a Letter of Credit or related Letter of Credit Payment if the
Issuing Bank was notified prior to the issuance thereof that the Agent had
received written notice from a Bank specifically stating that such Bank
believed that one or more of the conditions precedent to the issuance of
Letters of Credit were not be satisfied and, in fact, such conditions precedent
were not satisfied at the time of the issuance of such Letter of Credit;
provided, however that each Bank shall acquire a pro rata risk participation in
such Letter of Credit and the related Letter of Credit Payment upon the earlier
of occur of (x) the date on which the Bank notifies the Agent that such prior
notice is withdrawn and (y) the date on which all conditions precedent to the
issuing of such Letter of Credit have been satisfied (or waived by the Majority
Banks or all Banks, as applicable).

                 3.6.4.       Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to
require or authorize any Bank other than the Issuing Bank to issue any Letter
of Credit, it being recognized that the Issuing Bank shall be the sole issuer
of Letters of Credit under this Agreement.

         3.7.    OBLIGATIONS IRREVOCABLE. The obligations of Company and any
Account Party to make payments to Agent for the account of the Issuing Bank or
of the Revolving Credit Banks with respect to Reimbursement Obligations under
Section 3.6 hereof, shall be unconditional and irrevocable and not subject to
any qualification or exception whatsoever, including, without limitation:

                 3.7.1.       Any lack of validity or enforceability of any
Letter of Credit or any documentation relating to any Letter of Credit or to
any transaction related in any way to such Letter of Credit (the "Letter of
Credit Documents");

                 3.7.2.       Any amendment, modification, waiver, consent, or
any substitution, exchange or release of or failure to perfect any interest in
collateral or security, with respect to any of the Letter of Credit Documents;

                 3.7.3.       The existence of any claim, setoff, defense or
other right which the Company or any Account Party may have at any time against
any beneficiary or any transferee of any Letter of Credit (or any persons or
entities for whom any such beneficiary or any such transferee may be acting),
the Agent, the Issuing Bank or any other Bank or any other person or entity,
whether in connection with any of the Letter of Credit Documents, the
transactions contemplated herein or therein or any unrelated transactions;

                 3.7.4.       Any draft or other statement or document
presented under any Letter of Credit proving to be forged, fraudulent or
invalid in any respect or any statement therein being untrue or inaccurate in
any respect;





                                       33
<PAGE>   41
                 3.7.5.       Any failure, omission, delay or lack on the part
of the Agent, the Issuing Bank or any other Bank or any party to any of the
Letter of Credit Documents to enforce, assert or exercise any right, power or
remedy conferred upon the Agent, the Issuing Bank, any other Bank or any such
party under this Agreement, any of the Loan Documents or any of the Letter of
Credit Documents, or any other acts or omissions on the part of the Agent, the
Issuing Bank, any other Bank or any such party; or

                 3.7.6.       Any other event or circumstance that would, in
the absence of this Section 3.7, result in the release or discharge by
operation of law or otherwise of Company or any Account Party from the
performance or observance of any obligation, covenant or agreement contained in
Section 3.6.

No setoff, counterclaim, reduction or diminution of any obligation or any
defense of any kind or nature which Company or any Account Party has or may
have against the beneficiary of any Letter of Credit shall be available
hereunder to Company or any Account Party against the Agent, the Issuing Bank
or any other Bank. Nothing contained in this Section 3.7 shall be deemed to
prevent Company or the Account Parties, after satisfaction in full of the
absolute and unconditional obligations of Company and the Account Parties
hereunder, from asserting in a separate action any claim, defense, set off or
other right which they (or any of them) may have against Agent, the Issuing
Bank or any Bank.

         3.8.    RISK UNDER LETTERS OF CREDIT. (a) In the handling of Letters
of Credit and any security therefor, or any documents or instruments given in
connection therewith, and notwithstanding the granting of risk participation
hereunder, the Issuing Bank shall have the sole right to take or refrain from
taking any and all actions under or upon the Letters of Credit.

                 (b)          Subject to other terms and conditions of this
         Agreement, Issuing Bank shall issue the Letters of Credit and shall
         hold the documents related thereto in its own name and shall make all
         collections thereunder and otherwise administer the Letters of Credit
         in accordance with Issuing Bank's regularly established practices and
         procedures and, Issuing Bank will have no further obligation with
         respect thereto. In the administration of Letters of Credit, Issuing
         Bank shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted on the advice
         of counsel, accountants, appraisers or other experts selected by
         Issuing Bank with due care and Issuing Bank may rely upon any notice,
         communication, certificate or other statement from Company, any
         Account Party, beneficiaries of Letters of Credit, or any other Person
         which Issuing Bank believes to be authentic.  Issuing Bank, will, upon
         request, furnish the Banks with copies of Letter of Credit Agreements,
         Letters of Credit and documents related thereto.

                 (c)          In connection with the issuance and
         administration of Letters of Credit and the assignments hereunder,
         Issuing Bank makes no representation and shall, subject to Section 3.7
         hereof, have no responsibility with respect to (i) the obligations of
         Company or any Account Party or, the validity, sufficiency or
         enforceability of any document or instrument given in connection
         therewith, (ii) the financial condition of, any





                                       34
<PAGE>   42
         representations made by, or any act or omission of Company, the
         applicable Account Party or any other Person, or (iii) any failure or
         delay in exercising any rights or powers possessed by Issuing Bank in
         its capacity as issuer of Letters of Credit, in the absence of its
         gross negligence or willful misconduct. Each of the Banks expressly
         acknowledge that they have made and will continue to make their own
         evaluations of Company's creditworthiness without reliance on any
         representation of Issuing Bank or Issuing Bank's officers, agents and
         employees.

                 (d)          If at any time Agent or the Issuing Bank shall
         recover any part of any unreimbursed amount for any draw or other
         demand for payment under a Letter of Credit, or any interest thereon,
         Agent or the Issuing Bank, as the case may be, shall receive same for
         the pro rata benefit of the Banks in accordance with their respective
         Percentage interests therein and shall promptly deliver to each
         Revolving Credit Bank its share thereof, less such Bank's pro rata
         share of the costs of such recovery, including court costs and
         attorney's fees. If at any time any Revolving Credit Bank shall
         receive from any source whatsoever any payment on any such
         unreimbursed amount or interest thereon in excess of such Bank's
         Percentage share of such payment, such Bank will promptly pay over
         such excess to Agent, for redistribution in accordance with this
         Agreement.

         3.9.    INDEMNIFICATION. (a) The Company and each Account Party hereby
indemnifies and agrees to hold harmless the Banks, the Issuing Bank and the
Agent, and their respective officers, directors, employees and agents, from and
against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs or expenses of
any kind or nature whatsoever which the Banks, the Issuing Bank or the Agent or
any such Person may incur or which may be claimed against any of them by reason
of or in connection with any Letter of Credit, and none of the Issuing Bank,
any Bank or the Agent or any of their respective officers, directors, employees
or agents shall be liable or responsible for: (i) the use which may be made of
any Letter of Credit or for any acts or omissions of any beneficiary in
connection therewith; (ii) the validity, sufficiency or genuineness of
documents or of any endorsement thereon, even if such documents should in fact
prove to be in any or all respects invalid, insufficient, fraudulent or forged;
(iii) payment by the Issuing Bank to the beneficiary under any Letter of Credit
against presentation of documents which do not comply with the terms of any
Letter of Credit; (iv) any error, omission, interruption or delay in
transmission, dispatch or delivery of any message or advice, however
transmitted, in connection with any Letter of Credit; or (v) any other event or
circumstance whatsoever arising in connection with any Letter of Credit;
provided, however

                 (X) Company and Account Parties shall not be required to
         indemnify the Issuing Bank, the other Banks and the Agent and such
         other Persons from and against any such claims, damages, losses,
         liabilities, costs or expenses, and

                 (Y) the Issuing Bank shall be liable to the Company and the
         Account Parties to the extent, but only to the extent, of any direct,
         as opposed to consequential or incidental, damages suffered by Company
         and the Account Parties

which were caused by (A) the Issuing Bank's wrongful dishonor of any Letter of
Credit after the presentation to it by the beneficiary thereunder of a draft or
other demand for payment and other





                                       35
<PAGE>   43
documentation strictly complying with the terms and conditions of such Letter
of Credit, or (B)  the Issuing Bank's payment to the beneficiary under any
Letter of Credit to the extent, but only to the extent, that such payment
constitutes gross negligence or wilful misconduct of the Issuing Bank (as
determined by a court of competent jurisdiction by final and nonappealable
judgment).

         (b)     It is understood that in making any payment under a Letter of
Credit the Issuing Bank will rely on documents presented to it under such
Letter of Credit as to any and all matters set forth therein without further
investigation and regardless of any notice or information to the contrary.  In
furtherance of the foregoing and without limiting the generality thereof, the
parties agree that, with respect to documents presented which appear on their
face to be in substantial compliance with the terms of a Letter of Credit, the
Issuing Bank may, in its sole discretion, either accept and make payment upon
such documents without responsibility for further investigation, regardless of
any notice or information to the contrary, or refuse to accept and make payment
upon such documents if such documents are not in strict compliance with the
terms of such Letter of Credit.  It is further acknowledged and agreed that
Company or an Account Party may have rights against the beneficiary or others
in connection with any Letter of Credit with respect to which the Banks are
alleged to be liable and it shall be a condition of the assertion of any
liability of the Banks under this Section that Company or applicable Account
Party shall contemporaneously pursue all remedies in respect of the alleged
loss against such beneficiary and any other parties obligated or liable in
connection with such Letter of Credit and any related transactions.

         3.10.   RIGHT OF REIMBURSEMENT.  Each Revolving Credit Bank agrees to
reimburse the Issuing Bank on demand (by payment to the Agent for the account
of the Issuing Bank), pro rata in accordance with their Percentages, any
amounts required to be paid by the Company or any Account Party under Section
3.9 hereof (such amounts determined as of the time that the applicable
unreimbursed expense or indemnity payment is sought), to the extent the Company
or such Account Party fails to pay such amounts when due.





                                       36
<PAGE>   44
4.       SWING LINE CREDIT

         4.1.    SWING LINE ADVANCES. The Swing Line Bank shall, on the terms
and subject to the conditions hereinafter set forth (including Section 4.3),
make one or more advances (each such advance being a "Swing Line Advance") to
Company from time to time on any Business Day during the period from the date
hereof to (but excluding) the Revolving Credit Maturity Date in an aggregate
amount not to exceed the Swing Line Commitment at any time outstanding;
provided, however, that after giving effect to all Swing Line Advances and all
Revolving Credit Advances requested to be made on such date, the sum of the
aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Advances and Letter of Credit
Obligations shall not exceed the lesser of the then applicable (a) Revolving
Credit Aggregate Commitment and (b) Borrowing Base. All Swing Line Advances
shall be evidenced by the Swing Line Note, under which advances, repayments and
readvances may be made, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.
Each Swing Line Advance shall mature and the principal amount thereof shall be
due and payable by Company on the last day of the Interest Period applicable
thereto. In no event whatsoever shall any outstanding Swing Line Advance be
deemed to reduce, modify or affect any Bank's commitment to make Revolving
Credit Advances based upon its Percentage.

         4.2.    ACCRUAL OF INTEREST; MARGIN ADJUSTMENTS. Each Swing Line
Advance shall, from time to time after the date of such Advance, bear interest
at its Applicable Interest Rate. The amount and date of each Swing Line
Advance, its Applicable Interest Rate, its Interest Period, and the amount and
date of any repayment shall be noted on Agent's records, which records will be
conclusive evidence thereof, absent manifest error; provided, however, that any
failure by the Agent to record any such information shall not relieve Company
of its obligation to repay the outstanding principal amount of such Advance,
all interest accrued thereon and any amount payable with respect thereto in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement and the Loan Documents.

         4.3.    REQUESTS FOR SWING LINE ADVANCES. Company may request a Swing
Line Advance only after delivery to Swing Line Bank of a Request for Swing Line
Advance executed by a person authorized by the Company to make such requests on
behalf of Company, subject to the following and to the remaining provisions
hereof:

                 4.3.1.       each such Request for Swing Line Advance shall
set forth the information required on the Request for Swing Line Advance
including without limitation:

                              4.3.1.1.     the proposed date of Swing Line
                                  Advance, which must be a Business Day;

                              4.3.1.2.     whether such Swing Line Advance is
                                  to be a Prime-based Advance or Quoted Rate
                                  Advance; and





                                       37
<PAGE>   45
                              4.3.1.3.     the duration of the Interest Period 
                                  applicable thereto;

                 4.3.2.       each such Request for Swing Line Advance shall be
delivered to Swing Line Bank by 12:00 p.m. (Detroit time) on the proposed date
of the Swing Line Advance;

                 4.3.3.       the principal amount of such requested Swing Line
Advance, plus the principal amount of all other Advances then outstanding
hereunder, plus the Letter of Credit Obligations, shall not exceed the lesser
of the then applicable (i) Revolving Credit Aggregate Commitment and (ii)
Borrowing Base;

                 4.3.4.       the principal amount of such Swing Line Advance
shall be at least Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000) or any larger amount
in multiples of One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000);

                 4.3.5.       each Request for Swing Line Advance, once
delivered to Swing Line Bank, shall not be revocable by Company, and shall
constitute a certification by the Company as of the date thereof that:

                              4.3.5.1.     both before and after the Swing Line
                                  Advance, the obligations of the Company and
                                  the Guarantors set forth in this Agreement
                                  and the other Loan Documents, as applicable,
                                  are valid, binding and enforceable
                                  obligations of such parties;


                              4.3.5.2.     to the best knowledge of Company all
                                  conditions to Advances have been satisfied;

                              4.3.5.3.     there is no Default or Event of
                                  Default in existence, and none shall exist
                                  upon the making of the Swing Line Advance;
                                  and

                              4.3.5.4.     the representations and warranties
                                  contained in this Agreement and the Loan
                                  Documents are true and correct in all
                                  material respects and shall be true and
                                  correct in all material respects as of and
                                  immediately after the making of the Swing
                                  Line Advance.

Swing Line Bank shall promptly deliver to Agent by telecopier a copy of any
Request for Swing Line Advance received.

         Swing Line Bank, may, at its option, lend under this Section 4 upon
the telephone request of an authorized officer of Company and, in the event
Swing Line Bank makes any such Advance upon a telephone request, the requesting
officer shall, if so requested by Swing Line Bank, fax to Swing Line Bank, on
the same day as such telephone request, a Request for Swing Line





                                       38
<PAGE>   46
Advance. Company hereby authorizes Swing Line Bank to disburse Advances under
this Section 4 pursuant to the telephone instructions of any person purporting
to be a person identified by name on a written list of persons authorized by
the Company to make Requests for Advance on behalf of the Company.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company acknowledges that Company shall bear
all risk of loss resulting from disbursements made upon any telephone request.
Each telephone request for an Advance shall constitute a certification of the
matters set forth in the Request for Swing Line Advance form as of the date of
such requested Advance.

         4.4.    DISBURSEMENT OF SWING LINE ADVANCES. Subject to submission of
an executed Request for Swing Line Advance by Company without exceptions noted
in the compliance certification therein and to the other terms and conditions
hereof, Swing Line Bank shall make available to Company the amount so
requested, in same day funds, not later than 4:00 p.m. (Detroit time) on the
date of such Swing Line Advance by credit to an account of Company maintained
with Swing Line Bank or to such other account or third party as Company may
reasonably direct. Swing Line Bank shall promptly notify Agent of any Swing
Line Advance by telephone, telex or telecopier.

         4.5.    REFUNDING OF OR PARTICIPATION INTEREST IN SWING LINE ADVANCES.

                 4.5.1.       The Swing Line Bank, at any time in its sole and
absolute discretion, may on behalf of the Company (which hereby irrevocably
directs the Swing Line Bank to act on its behalf) request each Revolving Credit
Bank (including the Swing Line Bank in its capacity as a Revolving Credit Bank)
to make a Prime-based Advance of the Revolving Credit in an amount equal to
such Revolving Credit Bank's Percentage of the principal amount of the Swing
Line Advances (the "Refunded Swing Line Advances") outstanding on the date such
notice is given; provided that (i) at any time as there shall be a Swing Line
Advance outstanding for more than thirty days, or the aggregate outstanding
principal amount of all Swing Line Advances exceeds the Swing Line Commitment,
then the Agent shall, on behalf of the Company (which hereby irrevocably
directs the Agent to act on its behalf), promptly request each Revolving Credit
Bank (including the Swing Line Bank) to make a Revolving Credit Advance in an
amount equal to such Revolving Credit Bank's Percentage of the principal amount
of such outstanding Swing Line Advance, (ii) Swing Line Advances may be prepaid
by the Company in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.7 or Section 12.1
hereof and (iii) Quoted Rate Advances which are converted to Revolving Credit
Advances at the request of the Swing Line Bank at a time when no Default or
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing shall not be subject to Section
5.7 and no losses, costs or expenses may be assessed by the Swing Line Bank
against the Company or the other Banks as a consequence of any such conversion
covered by this clause (iii). Unless any of the events described in Section
10.1(j) shall have occurred (in which event the procedures of paragraph (b) of
this Section 4.5 shall apply) and regardless of whether the conditions
precedent set forth in this Agreement to the making of a Revolving Credit
Advance are then satisfied, each Revolving Credit Bank shall make the proceeds
of its Revolving Credit Advance available to the Agent for the ratable benefit
of the Swing Line Bank at the office of the Agent specified in Section 2.4(a)
prior to 11:00 a.m. Detroit time, in funds immediately available on the
Business





                                       39
<PAGE>   47
Day next succeeding the date such notice is given. The proceeds of such
Revolving Credit Advances shall be immediately applied to repay the Refunded
Swing Line Advances.

                 4.5.2.       If, prior to the making of a Revolving Credit
Advance pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 4.5, one of the events
described in Section 10.1(j) shall have occurred, each Revolving Credit Bank
will, on the date such Revolving Credit Advance was to have been made, purchase
from the Swing Line Bank an undivided participating interest in the Refunded
Swing Line Advance in an amount equal to its Percentage of such Refunded Swing
Line Advance.  Each Bank will immediately transfer to the Agent, in immediately
available funds, the amount of its participation and upon receipt thereof the
Agent will deliver to such Bank a Swing Line Bank Participation Certificate in
the form of Exhibit F dated the date of receipt of such funds and in such
amount.

                 4.5.3.       Each Bank's obligation to make Revolving Credit
Advances and to purchase participation interests in accordance with clauses (a)
and (b) above shall be absolute and unconditional and shall not be affected by
any circumstance, including, without limitation, (i) any setoff, counterclaim,
recoupment, defense or other right which such Bank may have against Swing Line
Bank, the Company or any other Person for any reason whatsoever; (ii) the
occurrence or continuance of any Default or Event of Default; (iii) any adverse
change in the condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company or any other
Person; (iv) any breach of this Agreement by the Company or any other Person;
(v) any inability of the Company to satisfy the conditions precedent to
borrowing set forth in this Agreement on the date upon which such participating
interest is to be purchased or (vi) any other circumstance, happening or event
whatsoever, whether or not similar to any of the foregoing. If any Bank does
not make available to the Agent the amount required pursuant to clause (a) or
(b) above, as the case may be, the Agent shall be entitled to recover such
amount on demand from such Bank, together with interest thereon for each day
from the date of non-payment until such amount is paid in full at the Federal
Funds Effective Rate for the first two Business Days and at the Alternate Base
Rate thereafter.

         Notwithstanding the foregoing however, no Bank shall be required to
make any Revolving Credit Advance to refund a Swing Line Advance or to purchase
a participation in a Swing Line Advance if prior to the making of such Swing
Line Advance by the Swing Line Bank, the Agent received written notice from a
Bank specifically stating that such Bank believed that one or more of the
conditions precedent to the making of Swing Line Advance(s) had not been met
and, in fact, such conditions precedent were not satisfied at the time of the
making of such Advance; provided, however that the obligation of  the Banks to
make such Revolving Credit Advance or purchase a participation in such Swing
Line Advance shall be acquired upon the earlier of occur of (x) the date on
which the Bank notifies the Agent that such prior notice is withdrawn and (y)
the date of which all conditions precedent to the making of such Swing Line
Advance have been satisfied (or waived by the Majority Banks or all Banks, as
applicable).





                                       40
<PAGE>   48
5.       MARGIN ADJUSTMENTS; INTEREST PAYMENTS

         5.1.    MARGIN ADJUSTMENTS. Adjustments in the Margin applicable to
Eurocurrency-based Advances, the Applicable Commitment Fee Percentage and the
Applicable L/C Fee Percentage, each based upon the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio,
shall be implemented on a quarterly basis as follows:

                 5.1.1.       Such adjustments shall be given prospective
effect only, effective (i) as to the Applicable Commitment Fee Percentage and
the Applicable L/C Fee Percentage, upon the required date of delivery of the
financial statements under Sections 8.1(a) and 8.1(b) hereunder, in each case
establishing applicability of the appropriate adjustment, and (ii) as to each
Eurocurrency-based Advance outstanding hereunder, effective upon the expiration
of the applicable Interest Period(s), if any, in effect on the date of the
delivery of such financial statements, in each case with no retroactivity or
claw-back. In the event Company fails timely to deliver the financial
statements required under Section 8.1(a) or 8.1(b), then from the date delivery
of such financial statements was required until such financial statements are
delivered, the margins and fee percentages shall be those set forth under the
Level IV Column of the pricing matrix attached to this Agreement as Schedule
1.1.

                 5.1.2.       With respect to Eurocurrency-based Advances
outstanding hereunder, an adjustment hereunder, after becoming effective, shall
remain in effect only through the end of the applicable Interest Period(s) for
such Eurocurrency-based Advances if any; provided, however, that upon any
change in the Margin level then in effect, as aforesaid, or the occurrence of
any other event which under the terms hereof causes such adjustment no longer
to be applicable, then any such subsequent adjustment or no adjustment, as the
case may be, shall be effective (and said pricing shall thereby be adjusted up
or down, as applicable) with the commencement of each Interest Period following
such change or event, all in accordance with the preceding subparagraph.


                 5.1.3.       Such Margin adjustments under this Section 5.1
shall be made irrespective of, and in addition to, any other interest rate
adjustments hereunder.

                 5.1.4.       Notwithstanding the foregoing however, from the
date hereof until the required date of delivery under Section 8.1(b) of the
Company's financial statements for the fiscal quarter ending June 30, 1998, the
margins and fee percentages shall be those set forth under the Level III column
of the pricing matrix attached to this Agreement as Schedule 1.1.

         5.2.    PRIME-BASED INTEREST PAYMENTS. Interest on the unpaid balance
of all Prime-based Advances from time to time outstanding shall accrue from the
date of such Advances to the Revolving Credit Maturity Date (and until paid),
at a per annum interest rate equal to the





                                       41
<PAGE>   49
Prime-based Rate, and shall be payable in immediately available funds quarterly
commencing on the first day of the calendar quarter next succeeding the
calendar quarter during which the initial Advance is made and on the first day
of each calendar quarter thereafter. Interest accruing at the Prime-based Rate
shall be computed on the basis of a 360 day year and assessed for the actual
number of days elapsed, and in such computation effect shall be given to any
change in the interest rate resulting from a change in the Prime-based Rate on
the date of such change in the Prime-based Rate.

         5.3.    EUROCURRENCY-BASED INTEREST PAYMENTS. Interest on each
Eurocurrency-based Advance having a related Eurocurrency-Interest Period of 3
months or less shall accrue at its Eurocurrency-based Rate and shall be payable
in immediately available funds on the last day of the Interest Period
applicable thereto. Interest shall be payable in immediately available funds on
each Eurocurrency-based Advance outstanding from time to time having a
Eurocurrency- Interest Period of 6 months or longer, at intervals of 3 months
after the first day of the applicable Interest Period, and shall also be
payable on the last day of the Interest Period applicable thereto. Interest
accruing at the Eurocurrency-based Rate shall be computed on the basis of a 360
day year and assessed for the actual number of days elapsed from the first day
of the Interest Period applicable thereto to, but not including, the last day
thereof.

         5.4.    QUOTED RATE ADVANCE INTEREST PAYMENTS. Interest on each Quoted
Rate Advance shall accrue at its Quoted Rate and shall be payable in
immediately available funds on the last day of the Interest Period applicable
thereto.  Interest accruing at the Quoted Rate shall be computed on the basis
of a 360 day year and assessed for the actual number of days elapsed from the
first day of the Interest Period applicable thereto to, but not including the
last day thereof.

         5.5.    INTEREST PAYMENTS ON CONVERSIONS. Notwithstanding anything to
the contrary in Sections 5.2 and 5.3, all accrued and unpaid interest on any
Revolving Credit Advance refunded or converted pursuant to Section 2.3 hereof
shall be due and payable in full on the date such Advance is refunded or
converted.





                                       42
<PAGE>   50
         5.6.    INTEREST ON DEFAULT. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary
set forth in Sections 5.2, 5.3 and 5.4, in the event and so long as any Event
of Default shall exist under this Agreement, interest shall be payable daily on
the principal amount of all Advances from time to time outstanding (and, to the
extent delinquent, on all other monetary obligations of Company hereunder and
under the other Loan Documents) at a per annum rate equal to the Applicable
Interest Rate (and, with respect to Eurocurrency-based Advances calculated on
the basis of the maximum Margins) in respect of each such Advance, plus, in the
case of Eurocurrency-based Advances and Quoted Rate Advances, two percent (2%)
per annum for the remainder of the then existing Interest Period, if any, and
at all other such times and for all Prime-based Advances, at a per annum rate
equal to the Prime-based Rate, plus two percent (2%).

         5.7.    PREPAYMENT. Company may prepay all or part of the outstanding
balance of any Prime-based Advance(s) at any time, provided that the amount of
any partial prepayment shall be at least Five Hundred Thousand Dollars
($500,000) and the aggregate balance of Prime-based Advance(s) remaining
outstanding, if any, under the Revolving Credit Notes shall be at least One
Million Dollars ($1,000,000) and the aggregate amount outstanding under all
Swing Line Advances shall be at least Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000).
Company may prepay all or part of any Eurocurrency-based Advance (subject to
not less than three (3) Business Days' notice to Agent) only on the last day of
the Interest Period applicable thereto, provided that the amount of any such
partial prepayment shall be at least Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000),
and the unpaid portion of such Advance which is refunded or converted under
Section 2.7 shall be at least Two Million Dollars ($2,000,000). Company may
prepay Quoted Rate Advances only on the last day of the Interest Period
applicable thereto. Any prepayment made in accordance with this Section shall
be without premium, penalty or prejudice to the right to reborrow under the
terms of this Agreement. Any other prepayment of all or any portion of the
Revolving Credit, whether by acceleration, mandatory or required prepayment or
otherwise, shall be subject to Section 12.1 hereof, but otherwise without
premium, penalty or prejudice.  All prepayments of Revolving Credit Advances
shall be made to the Agent for distribution ratably to the Banks in accordance
with their Percentages.

6.       CONDITIONS

         The obligations of Banks to make Advances and of the Issuing Bank to
issue Letters of Credit pursuant to this Agreement are subject to the following
conditions; provided, however that Sections 6.1 through 6.10 below shall only
apply to the initial Advances, Letters of Credit or loans hereunder:





                                       43
<PAGE>   51
         6.1.    EXECUTION OF NOTES AND THIS AGREEMENT. Company shall have
executed and delivered to Agent for the account of each Bank, the Revolving
Credit Notes, the Swing Line Note, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents
to which it is a party (including all schedules, exhibits, certificates,
opinions, financial statements and other documents to be delivered pursuant
hereto), and such Notes, this Agreement and the other Loan Documents shall be
in full force and effect.

         6.2.    CORPORATE AUTHORITY. Agent shall have received, with a
counterpart thereof for each Bank:


                 6.2.1.       In connection with the Company, a certificate of
Responsible Officer as to:

                              6.2.1.1.     resolutions of the board of
                                  directors of the Company evidencing approval
                                  of the transactions contemplated by this
                                  Agreement and the Notes and authorizing the
                                  execution and delivery thereof and the
                                  borrowing of Advances and the requesting of
                                  Letters of Credit hereunder,

                              6.2.1.2.     the incumbency and signature of the
                                  officers of the Company executing any Loan
                                  Document,

                              6.2.1.3.     a certificate of good standing or
                                  continued existence (or the equivalent
                                  thereof) from the State of Indiana, and from
                                  every state or other jurisdiction listed on
                                  Schedule 6.2 hereof, if issued by such
                                  jurisdiction, subject to the limitations (as
                                  to qualification and authorization to do
                                  business) contained in Section 7.1; and

                              6.2.1.4.     copies of Company's articles of
                                  incorporation and bylaws and/or other
                                  constitutional documents as in effect on the
                                  Effective Date;

                 6.2.2.       in connection with each Guarantor, a certificate
from an authorized officer of such Guarantor as to:

                              6.2.2.1.     resolutions of the board of
                                  directors of such Guarantor evidencing
                                  approval of the transactions contemplated by
                                  the Loan Documents to which such Guarantor is
                                  a party and authorizing the execution and
                                  delivery thereof,

                              6.2.2.2.     the incumbency and signature of the
                                  officers of such Guarantor executing any Loan
                                  Document to which such Guarantor is a party,





                                       44
<PAGE>   52
                              6.2.2.3.     a certificate of good standing from 
                                  the state or other jurisdiction of such
                                  Guarantor's incorporation, and from every
                                  state or other jurisdiction in which such
                                  Guarantor is qualified to do business, if
                                  issued by such jurisdiction, subject to the
                                  limitations (as to qualification and
                                  authorization to do business) contained in
                                  Section 7.1, hereof, and
        
                              6.2.2.4.     copies of such Guarantor's articles
                                  of incorporation and bylaws and/or other
                                  constitutional documents as in effect on the
                                  Effective Date.

         6.3.    COLLATERAL DOCUMENTS AND GUARANTIES. The Agent shall have
received a Reaffirmation of Certain Loan Documents (which shall reaffirm
certain loan documents executed and delivered in connection with the Prior
Credit Agreement including the Pledge Agreements, the Security Agreement and
the Guaranty) executed and delivered by each of the Company, RTO Operating, RTO
Holding, ATRO and Action-Rent-to-Own.

         6.4.    INSURANCE. The Agent shall have received evidence satisfactory
to it that the Company has obtained the insurance policies required by Section
8.5 hereof and that such insurance policies are in full force and effect.

         6.5.    COMPLIANCE WITH CERTAIN DOCUMENTS AND AGREEMENTS. The Company
and each Guarantor (and any of their respective Subsidiaries or Affiliates)
shall have each performed and complied in all material respects with all
agreements and conditions contained in this Agreement, other Loan Documents, or
any agreement or other document executed thereunder and required to be
performed or complied with by each of them (as of the applicable date) and none
of such parties shall be in material default in the performance or compliance
with any of the terms or provisions hereof or thereof.

         6.6.    MERGER DOCUMENTS.  The Merger shall have become effective
pursuant to the Merger Documents and the Agent shall have received executed
copies of the Merger Documents, the Bill of Sale, the Assignment, Assumption
Agreement (trademarks/service marks) and Assignment and Assumption Agreement
(all intangibles other than real property leases and trademarks/service marks)
and Assignment and Assumption Agreement (real property), in each case certified
as a true and correct copy as in effect on such date by a Responsible Officer
of the Company.





                                       45
<PAGE>   53
         6.7.    OPINION OF COUNSEL. Company and each Guarantor shall furnish
Agent prior to the initial Advance under this Agreement, and with signed copies
for each Bank, opinions of counsel to the Company and such Guarantor, dated the
date hereof, and covering such matters as reasonably required by and otherwise
reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Agent and each of the
Banks.

         6.8.    COMPANY'S CERTIFICATE. The Agent shall have received, with a
signed counterpart for each Bank, a certificate of a Responsible Officer of
Company dated the date of the making of Advances hereunder, stating that to the
best of his or her knowledge after due inquiry, (a) the conditions of
paragraphs 6.1, 6.3, 6.4, 6.5 and 6.6 hereof have been fully satisfied; (b) the
representations and warranties made by Company, each Guarantor or any other
party to any of the Loan Documents (excluding the Agent and Banks) in this
Agreement or any of the Loan Documents, and the representations and warranties
of any of the foregoing which are contained in any certificate, document or
financial or other statement furnished at any time hereunder or thereunder or
in connection herewith or therewith shall have been true and correct in all
material respects when made and shall be true and correct in all material
respects on and as of the Effective Date; and (c) no Default or Event of
Default shall have occurred and be continuing, and, except as previously
disclosed to Agent and Banks in writing, there shall have been no material
adverse change in the financial condition, properties, business, results or
operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole from December
31, 1997 to the date of the making of the first borrowing hereunder.

         6.9.    PAYMENT OF FEES. Company shall have paid to the Agent all
fees, costs and expenses required hereunder to be paid to Agent upon execution
of this Agreement.

         6.10.   OTHER DOCUMENTS AND INSTRUMENTS. The Agent shall have
received, with a photocopy for each Bank, such other instruments and documents
as each of the Banks may reasonably request in connection with the making of
Advances or issuance of Letters of Credit hereunder, and all such instruments
and documents shall be satisfactory in form and substance to Agent and each
Bank.

         6.11.   CONTINUING CONDITIONS. The obligations of the Banks to make
Advances (including the initial Advance) and the obligation of the Issuing Bank
to issue Letters of Credit (including the initial Letter of Credit) under this
Agreement shall be subject to the continuing conditions that:

                 6.11.1.      No Default or Event of Default shall exist as of
the date of the Advance or the request for the Letter of Credit; and





                                       46
<PAGE>   54
                 6.11.2.      Each of the representations and warranties
contained in this Agreement and in each of the other Loan Documents shall be
true and correct in all material respects as of the date of the Advance or
Letter of Credit.

7.       REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

         Company represents and warrants that as of the Effective Date:

         7.1.    CORPORATE AUTHORITY. Company is a corporation duly organized
and existing in good standing under the laws of the State of Indiana, each
Guarantor is a corporation or other business entity duly organized and existing
in good standing under the laws of the state of its incorporation; each other
Subsidiary is duly organized and existing in good standing under the laws of
the state of its incorporation; and each of the Company and each of its
Subsidiaries is duly qualified and authorized to do business as a foreign
corporation in each jurisdiction where the character of its assets or the
nature of its activities makes such qualification necessary and where failure
to be so qualified would have a material adverse effect on their respective
businesses.

         7.2.    DUE AUTHORIZATION - COMPANY. Execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement, the Merger Documents, the other Loan Documents
and any other documents and instruments required under or in connection with
this Agreement or the other Loan Documents (or to be so executed and
delivered), and the issuance of the Notes by Company are within its corporate
powers, have been duly authorized, are not in contravention of law or the terms
of the Company's organizational documents and, except as have been previously
obtained or as referred to in Section 7.13, below, do not require the consent
or approval, material to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and
the other Loan Documents, of any governmental body, agency or authority.

         7.3.    DUE AUTHORIZATION - GUARANTORS. Execution, delivery and
performance of the Guaranty, the other Loan Documents to which it is a party
and any other documents and instruments required of Guarantors under or in
connection with this Agreement and the other Loan Documents (or to be so
executed and delivered) are within the partnership or corporate powers of each
such Guarantor, have been duly authorized, are not in contravention of law or
the terms of such Guarantor's organizational documents, and, except as have
been previously obtained (or as referred to in Section 7.13 below), do not
require the consent or approval, material to the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, of any governmental body, agency
or authority not previously obtained.





                                       47
<PAGE>   55
         7.4.    LIENS. There are no security interests in, liens, mortgages,
or other encumbrances on and no financing statements on file with respect to
any of the property owned by Company or any of its Guarantors except for Liens
permitted pursuant to Section 9.2.

         7.5.    TAXES. Company and each of its Guarantors has filed on or
before their respective due dates or within the applicable grace periods, all
federal, and material state and foreign tax returns which are required to be
filed or has obtained extensions for filing such tax returns and is not
delinquent in filing such returns in accordance with such extensions and has
paid all taxes which have become due pursuant to those returns or pursuant to
any assessments received by any such party, as the case may be, to the extent
such taxes have become due, except to the extent such tax payments are being
actively contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and with respect to
which adequate provision has been made on the books of Company or such
Guarantor as may be required by GAAP.

         7.6.    NO DEFAULTS. There exists no material default under the
provisions of any instrument evidencing any indebtedness for borrowed money of
the Company or any of its Guarantors which is permitted hereunder or of any
agreement relating thereto.

         7.7.    ENFORCEABILITY OF AGREEMENT AND LOAN DOCUMENTS -- COMPANY.
This Agreement, each of the other Loan Documents to which Company is a party,
and all other certificates, agreements and documents executed and delivered by
Company under or in connection herewith or therewith have each been duly
executed and delivered by its duly authorized officers and constitute the valid
and binding obligations of Company, enforceable in accordance with their
respective terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by applicable
bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or
similar laws affecting the enforcement of creditor's rights, generally and by
general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered
in a proceeding in law or equity).

         7.8.    ENFORCEABILITY OF LOAN DOCUMENTS -- GUARANTORS. The Loan
Documents to which each of the Guarantors is a party, and all certificates,
documents and agreements executed in connection therewith by the Guarantors
have each been duly executed and delivered by the duly authorized officers of
the Guarantors and constitute the valid and binding obligations of such
Guarantors, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms, except as
enforcement thereof may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, reorganization,
insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or similar laws affecting the
enforcement of creditor's rights, generally and by general principles of equity
(regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in law or
equity).

         7.9.    COMPLIANCE WITH LAWS. Except as disclosed on Schedule 7.9,
each of the Company and each of its Guarantors has complied with all applicable
federal, state and local laws, ordinances, codes, rules, regulations and
guidelines (including consent decrees and administrative orders) including
without limitation, all Consumer Credit Laws in effect from





                                       48
<PAGE>   56
time to time, except to the extent that failure to comply therewith would not
materially interfere with the conduct of the business of Company and its
Guarantors taken as a whole, or would not have a Material Adverse Effect;
except for such matters as are not likely to have a Material Adverse Effect,
and except as set forth in Schedule 7.9 hereof, and without limiting the
generality of Section 7.12, there is no pending or threatened, litigation,
action, proceeding or controversy affecting the Company or any of its
Guarantors, and no pending or threatened complaint, notice or inquiry to the
Company or any of its Guarantors, regarding potential liability of the Company
or any of its Guarantors, or any officer, director, agent or employee of the
Company or any Guarantor under or arising from any Consumer Credit Law; and, to
the knowledge of the Company, no facts or situation exists that could form the
basis for any such litigation, action, proceeding, controversy, complaint,
notice or inquiry.

         7.10.   NON-CONTRAVENTION -- COMPANY. The execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and any other
documents and instruments required under or in connection with this Agreement
by Company are not in contravention of the terms of any indenture, agreement or
undertaking to which Company or any of its Guarantors is a party or by which
its or their properties are bound or affected where such violation would
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         7.11.   NON-CONTRAVENTION -- GUARANTORS. The execution, delivery and
performance of those Loan Documents signed by the Guarantors, and any other
documents and instruments required under or in connection with this Agreement
by the Guarantors are not in contravention of the terms of any indenture,
agreement or undertaking to which any Guarantor or Company is a party or by
which it or its properties are bound or affected where such violation would
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         7.12.   NO LITIGATION. Except for De Minimis Matters or as set forth
on Schedule 7.12 hereof, there is no suit, action, proceeding, including,
without limitation, any bankruptcy proceeding, or governmental investigation
pending against or to the knowledge of Company, affecting Company or any
Guarantor (other than any suit, action or proceeding in which Company or such
Guarantor is the plaintiff and in which no counterclaim or cross-claim against
Company or such Guarantor has been filed), nor is Company or any of its
Guarantors or any of its or their officers or directors, as the case may be,
subject to any suit, action, proceeding or governmental investigation as a
result of which any such officer or director is or may be entitled to
indemnification by Company or a Guarantor, as applicable, which suits, if
resolved adversely to Company or any of its Guarantors, are reasonably likely
to have a Material Adverse Effect.  Except as set forth on Schedule 7.12, there
is not outstanding against Company or any Guarantor any judgment, decree,
injunction, rule, or order of any court, government, department, commission,
agency, instrumentality or arbitrator nor is Company or any Guarantor in
violation of any applicable law, regulation, ordinance, order, injunction,
decree or requirement of any governmental body or court where such violation
would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.





                                       49
<PAGE>   57
         7.13.   CONSENTS, APPROVALS AND FILINGS, ETC. Except as have been
previously obtained, no authorization, consent, approval, license,
qualification or formal exemption from, nor any filing, declaration or
registration with, any court, governmental agency or regulatory authority or
any securities exchange or any other person or party (whether or not
governmental) is required in connection with the execution, delivery and
performance: (i) by Company of this Agreement, any of the other Loan Documents
to which it is a party, or any other documents or instruments to be executed
and or delivered by Company in connection therewith or herewith; (ii) by any
Guarantor, of any of the other Loan Documents to which such Guarantor is a
party, or (iii) by Company or any of the Guarantors, of the liens, pledges,
mortgages, security interests or other encumbrances granted, conveyed or
otherwise established (or to be granted, conveyed or otherwise established) by
or under this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, except for such filings to
be made concurrently herewith as are required by the Security Agreement to
perfect liens in favor of the Agent. All such authorizations, consents,
approvals, licenses, qualifications, exemptions, filings, declarations and
registrations which have previously been obtained or made, as the case may be,
are in full force and effect and are not the subject of any attack, or to the
knowledge of Company threatened attack (in any material respect) by appeal or
direct proceeding or otherwise.

         7.14.   AGREEMENTS AFFECTING FINANCIAL CONDITION. Neither the Company
nor any of its Guarantors is party to any agreement or instrument or subject to
any charter or other corporate restriction which materially adversely affects
the financial condition or operations of the Company and its Guarantors (taken
as a whole).

         7.15.   NO INVESTMENT COMPANY OR MARGIN STOCK. Neither the Company nor
any of its Guarantors is an "investment company" within the meaning of the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. Neither the Company nor any of its
Guarantors is engaged principally, or as one of its important activities,
directly or indirectly, in the business of extending credit for the purpose of
purchasing or carrying margin stock. None of the proceeds of any of the
Advances will be used by the Company or any of its Guarantors to purchase or
carry margin stock or will be made available by the Company or any of its
Guarantors in any manner to any other Person to enable or assist such Person in
purchasing or carrying margin stock. Terms for which meanings are provided in
Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or any
regulations substituted therefor, as from time to time in effect, are used in
this paragraph with such meanings.

         7.16.   ERISA. Except as set forth in Schedule 7.16, neither the
Company nor any ERISA Affiliate maintains or contributes to any Pension Plan.
As of the Effective Date, (a) with respect to any Pension Plan for which the
Company or any ERISA Affiliate is the administrator or plan sponsor as defined
in ERISA Section 3(16)(A) and (B), there is no accumulated funding deficiency
as defined in ERISA Section 302(a)(2), or any existing material liability owed
to the PBGC under ERISA Sections 4062, 4063 or 4064, nor has any "reportable
event" or any "prohibited transaction" as defined in ERISA, occurred; and (b)
all such Pension Plans are in material compliance with the requirements of the
Internal Revenue Code and ERISA.  As to any Multiemployer Plan, neither the
Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has had a complete or partial withdrawal from
any Multiemployer Plan which has





                                       50
<PAGE>   58
resulted or could reasonably be expected to result in a material liability
under ERISA and neither the Company nor any ERISA Affiliate has actual
knowledge of or has received notice of reorganization under ERISA Section 4242
or notice of plan insolvency under ERISA Section 4245(e).

         7.17.   CONDITIONS AFFECTING BUSINESS OR PROPERTIES. Except as
disclosed in Schedule 7.17, neither the respective businesses nor the
properties of Company or any of its Guarantors is affected by any fire,
explosion, accident, strike, lockout or other dispute, drought, storm, hail,
earthquake, embargo, Act of God or other casualty (not covered by insurance),
which materially adversely affects, or if such event or condition were to
continue for more than ten (10) additional days would reasonably be expected to
materially adversely affect, any such businesses or properties of Company and
its Guarantors (taken as a whole).

         7.18.   ENVIRONMENTAL AND SAFETY MATTERS.  Except as set forth in
Schedule 7.18 and except for such matters as are not likely to have a Material
Adverse Effect:

                 (a)          all facilities and property (including underlying
         groundwater) owned or leased by the Company or any of its Guarantors,
         have been, and continue to be, owned or leased by the Company and the
         Guarantors in material compliance with all Hazardous Material Laws;

                 (b)          to the best knowledge of the Company, there have
         been no past, and there are no pending or threatened

                                  (i)      claims, complaints, notices or
                 requests for information received by the Company or any of its
                 Guarantors with respect to any alleged violation of any
                 Hazardous Material Law, or

                                  (ii)     complaints, notices or inquiries to
                 the Company or any of its Guarantors regarding potential
                 liability under any Hazardous Material Law; and

                 (c)          no conditions exist at, on or under any property
         now or previously owned or leased by the Company or any of its
         Guarantors which, with the passage of time, or the giving of notice or
         both, would give rise to liability under any Hazardous Material Law.

         7.19.   SUBSIDIARIES. The Company has no Subsidiaries, except as
disclosed on Schedule 7.19 hereto.

         7.20.   ACCURACY OF INFORMATION. (a) Except to the extent the
preparation of such financial statements are affected by "pooling of interests"
in connection with acquisitions, each of the Company's financial statements
previously furnished to Agent and the Banks on or after February 1, 1997 has
been prepared in accordance with GAAP and is complete and





                                       51
<PAGE>   59
correct in all material respects and fairly presents (subject to year-end
adjustments in the case of interim statements) the financial condition of
Company and the results of its operations for the periods covered thereby.

                 (b)          Since December 31, 1997 through the Effective
Date, except as previously disclosed in writing to the Agent and the Banks,
there has been no material adverse change in the financial condition of Company
or its Guarantors taken as a whole; to the best knowledge of Company, neither
Company nor any of its Guarantors has any contingent obligations (including any
liability for taxes) not disclosed by or reserved against in the December 31,
1997 balance sheets, as applicable, except as set forth on Schedule 7.20
hereof, and at the present time there are no unrealized or anticipated losses
from any present commitment of Company or any of its Guarantors which in the
aggregate is likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.

         7.21.   NO CHANGE IN REQUIREMENTS OF LAWS.  Except as disclosed in
Schedule 7.21 hereof, there has been no introduction of or change in any
Consumer Credit Laws or any other applicable federal, state, or local laws,
ordinances, codes, rules, regulations and guidelines (such as the enactment of
any proposed regulation of rental purchase transactions as credit sales subject
to interest rate limitations and other consumer lending restrictions) which
would have a Material Adverse Effect.

8.       AFFIRMATIVE COVENANTS

         Company covenants and agrees that it will, and, as applicable, cause
each of its Guarantors to, until the Revolving Credit Maturity Date and
thereafter until expiration of all Letters of Credit and final payment in full
of the Indebtedness and the performance by the Company of all other obligations
under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents:

         8.1.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. Furnish to the Agent with sufficient
copies for each Bank:

                 (a)          as soon as available, but in any event within 120
         days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company a copy of the
         audited consolidated and consolidating financial statements of the
         Company as at the end of such year and the related audited statements
         of income, accumulated earnings, cash flows and balance sheets for
         such year, setting forth in each case in comparative form the figures
         for the previous year, certified by a nationally recognized certified
         public accountant satisfactory to the Agent and the Banks as being
         fairly stated in all material respects; and

                 (b)          as soon as available, but in any event not later
         than 50 days after the end of each of the first three quarterly
         periods and 60 days after the end of the fourth quarterly period of
         each fiscal year of the Company, the unaudited consolidated and
         consolidating financial statements of the Company as at the end of
         such quarter and the related unaudited statements of income,
         accumulated earnings, cash flows and balance





                                       52
<PAGE>   60
         sheets of the Company for the portion of the fiscal year through the
         end of such quarter, setting forth in each case in comparative form
         the figures for the previous year, certified by a Responsible Officer
         as being fairly stated in all material respects.

all such financial statements to be complete and correct in all material
respects and to be prepared in reasonable detail and in accordance with GAAP
applied consistently throughout the periods reflected therein and with prior
periods (except as approved by such officer and disclosed therein), provided
however that the quarterly financial statements delivered hereunder will not be
required to include footnotes and will be subject to year-end adjustments.

         8.2.    CERTIFICATES; OTHER INFORMATION.  Furnish to the Agent with
sufficient copies for each Bank:

                 8.2.1.       as soon as available, but in any event not later
than 20 days after the end of each calendar month,


                              8.2.1.1.     a Borrowing Base Certificate
                                  executed by a Responsible Officer,
                                  substantially in the form attached hereto as
                                  Exhibit K; and


                              8.2.1.2.     a "BOR Report" (reporting the total
                                  number of rental units under Rental Contract
                                  as of the end of such calendar month); and

                              8.2.1.3.     a "Reconciliation Report" (showing
                                  the number of stores opened, closed and/or
                                  acquired during such calendar month; and for
                                  any stores which are opened or acquired
                                  during such calendar month, the address
                                  (including the county) of each such store);
                                  and

                              8.2.1.4.     an "Idle Inventory Report" (showing
                                  the amount of inventory not under Rental
                                  Contract as of the end of such calendar
                                  month); and

                              8.2.1.5.     a "Delinquency Report" (showing the
                                  percentage of Rental Contracts one day or
                                  more past due as of the last Saturday of such
                                  calendar month);

                 8.2.2.       as soon as available, but in any event not later
than 50 days after the end of each fiscal quarter a Covenant Compliance Report
executed by a Responsible Officer, substantially in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit H;

                 8.2.3.       not later than 120 days following the end of each
fiscal year of the Company, a copy of the projections by the Company of the
balance sheets, operating budget and





                                       53
<PAGE>   61
cash flow budget of the Company and its Subsidiaries, covering, on a quarterly
basis, the three year period following the last day of the fiscal year then
ending, such projections to be accompanied by a certificate of a Responsible
Officer to the effect that such projections have been prepared on the basis of
sound financial planning practice and that such Officer has no reason to
believe they are incorrect or misleading in any material respect;

                 8.2.4.       "Same Store Sales Report": (x) deliver together
with the financial statements to be delivered pursuant to Sections 8.1(a) and
8.1(b) hereof, which for all stores opened for 24 months or longer as of the
end of the fiscal quarter then ending, compares sales for the quarter then
ending with sales for the same quarter ending 12 months earlier) and (y)
deliver together with the annual financial statements to be delivered pursuant
to Section 8.1(a) hereof, which for all stores owned as of the last day of the
fiscal year then ending which were also owned as of the last day of the
immediately preceding fiscal year, compares annual revenues as for such stores
as of the last day of the fiscal year then ending with annual revenues for such
stores as of the last day of the immediately preceding fiscal year.

                 8.2.5.       not later than 60 days following the end of each
fiscal quarter of the Company, a schedule of pending litigation of the Company
in which the amount in controversy exceeds $500,000, in form satisfactory to
the Agent and in reasonable detail (including the amount in controversy),
certified as to accuracy by a Responsible Officer to the best of such
Responsible Officer's knowledge;


                 8.2.6.       as soon as available, the Company's 10-Q and 10-K
Reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and in any
event, with respect to the 10-Q Report, within sixty (60) days of the end of
each of the Company's fiscal quarters, and with respect to the 10-K Report,
within 120 days after and as of the end of each of Company's fiscal years, and,
as soon as available, copies of all other documents filed by the Company with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (other than any registration statement
and prospectus included therein relating to an employee benefit plan and filed
on Form S-8 or any successor form) and copies of any orders in any proceedings
to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party issued by any governmental
agency;

                 8.2.7.       promptly as issued, all press releases, notices
to shareholders and all other material written communications transmitted to
the general public or to the trade or industry in which the Company is engaged;
and

                 8.2.8.       promptly, such additional financial and other
information, or other reports as any Bank may from time to time reasonably
request.





                                       54
<PAGE>   62
         8.3.    PAYMENT OF OBLIGATIONS.  Pay, discharge or otherwise satisfy
at or before maturity or before they become delinquent, as the case may be, all
of its material obligations of whatever nature, except where the amount or
validity thereof is currently being contested in good faith by appropriate
proceedings and reserves in conformity with GAAP with respect thereto have been
provided on the books of the Company.

         8.4.    CONDUCT OF BUSINESS AND MAINTENANCE OF EXISTENCE. Each of the
Company and each Guarantor shall:

                 (a)          continue to engage primarily in the business (or
         in the franchising of such business) as now conducted by it and
         preserve, renew and keep in full force and effect its existence;

                 (b)          take all reasonable action to maintain all
         rights, privileges and franchises necessary or desirable in the normal
         conduct of its business except as otherwise permitted pursuant to
         Section 9.4; and

                 (c)          comply with all Contractual Obligations and
         Requirements of Law, except to the extent that failure to comply
         therewith could not, in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have
         a Material Adverse Effect.

         8.5.    MAINTENANCE OF PROPERTY; INSURANCE.  The Company will
maintain, cause to be maintained or cause each Guarantor to maintain with
responsible insurance companies insurance with respect to the Collateral, its
or their properties and business, against such casualties and contingencies and
of such types and in such amounts as is customary in the case of similar
businesses, and will furnish to the Agent prior the initial Advance, and upon
reasonable request by any Bank at reasonable intervals thereafter, a
certificate of a Responsible Officer, as well as independent evidence of
coverage, setting forth the nature and extent of all insurance policies
maintained by the Company or any Guarantor in accordance with this Section.
The Company shall give immediate written notice to the Banks and to the
insurers of any significant loss or damage to the Collateral or other property
to be insured and shall promptly file proofs of loss with such insurers.

         8.6.    INSPECTION OF PROPERTY; BOOKS AND RECORDS, DISCUSSIONS.
Permit Agent and each Bank, through their authorized attorneys, accountants and
representatives (a) to examine Company's and each Guarantor's books, accounts,
records, ledgers and assets and properties of every kind and description
(including without limitation, all promissory notes, security agreements,
customer applications, vehicle title certificates, chattel paper, Uniform
Commercial Code filings) wherever located at all reasonable times during normal
business hours, upon oral or written request of Agent or such Bank, and (b) at
any time and from time to time at the request of the Majority Banks, to conduct
full or partial collateral audits, provided, however that prior to the
occurrence and continuance of any Event of Default, the Company shall be
required to reimburse the Agent and the Banks for all reasonable costs and
expenses of no more than one full collateral audit per year and after the
occurrence and during the continuance of an Event of Default, the Company shall
be required to reimburse





                                       55
<PAGE>   63
the Agent and the Banks for all reasonable costs and expenses of all collateral
audits; and permit Agent and each Bank or their authorized representatives, at
reasonable times and intervals, to visit all of their respective offices,
discuss their respective financial matters with their respective officers and
independent certified public accountants, and, by this provision, Company
authorizes such accountants to discuss the finances and affairs of Company and
its Guarantors (provided that Company is given an opportunity to participate in
such discussions) and examine any of its or their books and other corporate
records.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, all information furnished to the Agent
or the Banks hereunder shall be subject to the undertaking of the banks set
forth in Section 14.12 hereof.

         8.7.    NOTICES.  Promptly give notice to the Agent of:

                 (a)          the occurrence of any Default or Event of Default
         of which the Company has knowledge;

                 (b)          any (i) default or event of default under any
         Contractual Obligation of the Company or any Guarantor or (ii)
         litigation, investigation or proceeding which may exist at any time
         between the Company or any Guarantor and any Governmental Authority,
         which in either case, if not cured or if adversely determined, as the
         case may be, would have a Material Adverse Effect;

                 (c)          the following events, as soon as possible and in
         any event within 30 days after the Company knows or has reason to know
         thereof: (i) the occurrence or expected occurrence of any "reportable
         event" as defined in ERISA with respect to any Pension Plan, or any
         withdrawal from or the termination, reorganization or insolvency of
         any Multiemployer Plan or (ii) the institution of proceedings or the
         taking of any other action by the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation
         or the Company or any Commonly Controlled Entity or any Multiemployer
         Plan with respect to the withdrawal from or the terminating,
         reorganization or insolvency of any Pension Plan;

                 (d)          after the effectiveness thereof, any material
         amendment, supplement or other modification of (i) the Company's
         management information system which permits the daily tracking of each
         store's rental and collection activity, or (ii) the Company's
         accounting policies regarding its Rental Contracts;

                 (e)          a material adverse change in the business,
         operations, property, or financial condition of the Company; and

                 (f)          promptly furnish to the Agent notice as to (i)
         any development related to the business or financial condition of the
         Company, its Affiliates or Guarantors, which would have or has a
         Material Adverse Effect and (ii) any material and adverse litigation
         or investigation to which the Company, any Affiliate or any Guarantor
         is a party; and

                 (g)          in the event that the Company or any Subsidiary
         shall open any new retail location (other than those listed on Exhibit
         O hereof), execute and deliver to the Agent all such amendments,
         supplements and other modifications to this Agreement and





                                       56
<PAGE>   64
         the other Loan Documents together with signed (or pre-signed)
         financing statements and all other instruments of further assurance
         required by the Agent or the Majority Banks, and will take such other
         actions as the Agent or the Majority Banks reasonably request and deem
         necessary or advisable in order for Agent to perfect its security
         interest in the Collateral located at such new retail location.

                 (h)          any introduction of or change in any Consumer
         Credit Laws or any other applicable federal, state, or local laws,
         ordinances, codes, rules, regulations and guidelines (such as the
         enactment of any proposed regulation of rental purchase transactions
         as credit sales subject to interest rate limitations and other
         consumer lending restrictions) which would have a Material Adverse
         Effect.

Each notice pursuant to this Section shall be accompanied by a statement of a
Responsible Officer setting forth details of the occurrence referred to therein
and stating what action the Company proposes to take with respect thereto.

         8.8.    HAZARDOUS MATERIAL LAWS.

                 (a)          Use and operate all of its facilities and
         properties in material compliance with all material Hazardous Material
         Laws, keep all necessary permits, approvals, certificates, licenses
         and other authorizations relating to environmental matters in effect
         and remain in material compliance therewith, and handle all Hazardous
         Materials in material compliance with all applicable Hazardous
         Material Laws;

                 (b)          Promptly notify Agent and provide copies upon
         receipt of all written claims, complaints, notices or inquiries
         received by the Company of a material nature relating to its
         facilities and properties or compliance with Hazardous Material Laws,
         and shall promptly cure and have dismissed with prejudice to the
         satisfaction of the Majority Banks any actions and proceedings
         relating to compliance with Hazardous Material Laws to which the
         Company is named as a party; and





                                       57
<PAGE>   65
                 (c)          Provide such information and certifications which
         any Bank may reasonably request from time to time to evidence
         compliance with this Section 8.8.

         8.9.    MINIMUM TANGIBLE NET WORTH. Maintain at all times a minimum
Tangible Net Worth of $25,000,000 plus 50% of Net Income (if positive) earned
in each fiscal quarter beginning with the quarter ending March 31, 1998 plus
100% of the proceeds of the issuance of any New Equity (net of reasonable and
customary costs and expenses of issuance) during such fiscal quarter.

         8.10.   POSITIVE NET INCOME.  Maintain as of the end of each fiscal
quarter beginning with the quarter ending March 31, 1998, Net Income (exclusive
of any tax benefit resulting from a loss carry forward or otherwise, plus to
the extent deducted in the computation of such Net Income, all accrued taxes on
or measured by income, and without giving effect, but without duplication, to
one-time cash charges in an aggregate amount not to exceed $10,000,000 and any
one- time non-cash charges in an aggregate amount not to exceed $1,000,000
arising from the Merger for the first two fiscal quarters ending after the
Merger, as such charges were given effect prior to giving effect to any taxes
on or measured by income) greater than zero.

         8.11.   FIXED CHARGE COVERAGE RATIO. Maintain a Fixed Charge Coverage
Ratio of not less than the ratio set forth below during the applicable period
set forth below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
          ---------------------------------------------------------
                   Quarter(s) Ending                    Ratio
          ---------------------------------------------------------
          <S>                                           <C>
          March 31, 1998                                1.50 to 1.0
          ---------------------------------------------------------
          June 30, 1998                                 1.75 to 1.0
          ---------------------------------------------------------
          September 30, 1998                            1.85 to 1.0
          ---------------------------------------------------------
          December 31, 1998 and March 31, 1999          2.00 to 1.0
          ---------------------------------------------------------
          June 30, 1999 through March 31, 2000          2.25 to 1.0
          ---------------------------------------------------------
          June 30, 2000 and thereafter                  2.35 to 1.0
          ---------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>

         8.12.   LEVERAGE RATIO. Maintain, as of the end of each fiscal
quarter, a Leverage Ratio of not more than 0.50 : 1.0.

         8.13.   TAXES. Pay and discharge all taxes and other governmental
charges, and all material contractual obligations calling for the payment of
money, before the same shall become overdue, unless and to the extent only that
such payment is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and is
reserved for, as required by GAAP on its balance sheet, or where the failure to
pay any such matter could not have a Material Adverse Effect.

         8.14.   GOVERNMENTAL AND OTHER APPROVALS. Apply for, obtain and/or
maintain in effect, as applicable, all authorizations, consents, approvals,
licenses, qualifications, exemptions, filings, declarations and registrations
(whether with any court, governmental agency, regulatory authority, securities
exchange or otherwise) which are necessary in connection with the execution,
delivery and performance: (i) by Company, of this Agreement, the Loan
Documents, or any other documents or instruments to be executed and/or
delivered by Company in connection therewith or herewith; and (ii) by each of
the Guarantors, of the Loan Documents to which it is a party.

         8.15.   COMPLIANCE WITH ERISA. With respect to any Pension Plan for
which the Company or any ERISA Affiliate is the plan sponsor or administrator
as defined in ERISA Section 3(16)(A) and (B), materially comply with the
requirements imposed by ERISA as presently in effect or hereafter promulgated,
including but not limited to, the minimum funding requirements of any Pension
Plan.

         8.16.   ERISA NOTICES.  Promptly notify the Agent upon the occurrence
of any of the following events:





                                       58
<PAGE>   66
                 (a)          the termination of any Pension Plan subject to
         Subtitle C of Title IV of ERISA;

                 (b)          the appointment of a trustee by a United States
         District Court to administer any Pension Plan subject to Title IV of
         ERISA;

                 (c)          the commencement by the Pension Benefit Guaranty
         Corporation, or any successor thereto, of any proceeding to terminate
         any Pension Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA;

                 (d)          the failure of the Company or any ERISA Affiliate
         to make any payment in respect of any Pension Plan required under
         Section 412 of the Internal Revenue Code;

                 (e)          the withdrawal of the Company or any ERISA
         Affiliate from any multiemployer plan (as defined in Section 3(37) of
         ERISA; or

                 (f)          the occurrence of a "reportable event" which is
         required to be reported by the Company under Section 4043 of ERISA or
         a "prohibited transaction" as defined in Section 406 of ERISA or
         Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code which is likely to have a
         Material Adverse Effect.

         8.17.   OFFICES.  The Company agrees that it will and will cause each
of the Guarantors to operate each of its offices as a licensed location in the
jurisdiction requiring such license in conformity with all such licensing and
other laws applicable to the origination of Rental Contracts, Sales Finance
Agency Acts, or any other law regulating the rent-to-own industry if failure to
do so would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. To the
extent the Company does not have a license for each location, and such failure
could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, it will
immediately procure a license or advise the Agent of the reason that it is
exempt from such licensing requirement or that no such licensing requirement
exists in the jurisdiction of such location.





                                       59
<PAGE>   67
         8.18.   SECURITY.  The Company hereby agrees to take such actions as
the Majority Banks may from time to time reasonably request to establish and
maintain first perfected security interests in and Liens on all of its
Collateral.

         8.19.   PERFORMANCE OF CONTRACT DUTIES, DEFENSE OF COLLATERAL.  The
Company warrants that it has performed, and covenants and agrees that it will
continue to perform, in all material respects its duties and obligations under
each Rental Contract.  The Company covenants to defend the Collateral from any
Liens other than Liens permitted by Section 9.2.

         8.20.   POSSESSORY PERFECTION IN CONTRACT COLLATERAL.  The Company
covenants that it will, beginning no later than the date 60 days after the
Effective Date, cause RTO Operating to prominently stamp or mark (or cause to
be so stamped or marked) each original Rental Contract originated on or after
such date with the legend set forth below:

                 "RTO Operating, Inc. has collaterally assigned its rights in
                 this Rental Contract to Comerica Bank as agent for itself and
                 certain other Banks."

         8.21.   USE OF PROCEEDS.  The initial Advances made to the Company
shall be used by Company (i) to pay the costs and expenses of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement which are due and payable on the closing date,
and (ii) for the payment of any monies due in connection with the assignment of
the Prior Credit Agreement to the Agent and the Banks; proceeds of any
subsequent Advances made hereunder shall be used by Company solely for the
general business purposes including without limitation working capital and to
finance Permitted Acquisitions. Company shall not use any portion of the
proceeds of any such advances for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any
"margin stock" (as defined in Regulation G of the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System) in any manner which violates the provisions of
Regulation G, T, U or X of said Board of Governors or for any other purpose in
violation of (x) any applicable statute or regulation or (y) the terms and
conditions of this Agreement.

         8.22.   FUTURE SUBSIDIARIES.  With respect to each Person which
becomes a Subsidiary of the Company subsequent to the Effective Date, within
sixty (60) days of the date such new Subsidiary is created or acquired (but in
any event before any payments under the Rental Contracts owned by such
Subsidiary shall be included in the Borrowing Base),

                 (a)          (X) cause such Subsidiary to execute and deliver
         to Agent, for and on behalf of each of the Banks, (i) a Joinder
         Agreement whereby such Subsidiary becomes obligated as a Guarantor
         under the Guaranty and (ii) a Security Agreement, and (Y) shall
         execute, or cause to be executed, and deliver to the Agent a stock
         pledge encumbering  100% of the share capital of each such Subsidiary;
         or

                 (b)          merge, or cause such Subsidiary to enter into a
         merger with RTO Operating, so long as RTO Operating is the surviving
         corporation;





                                       60
<PAGE>   68
together in each case with such supporting documentation, including without
limitation financing statements, stock certificates and stock powers (in the
case of clause (a) hereof) or certificates of merger (in the case of clause (b)
hereof) and in either case, corporate resolutions and other authority
documents, certificates and opinions of counsel, all as reasonably required by
the Agent and the Majority Banks.

         8.23.   ROYALTY PAYMENTS ON LICENSES AND TRADEMARKS. So long as no
Default or Event of Default has occurred and is  continuing, and subject to
Section 9.9 hereof, any Guarantor may make royalty payments or pay licensing
fees to ATRO under royalty agreements or licensing agreements in an aggregate
amount for all such payments by all Guarantors not to exceed in any year 3% of
gross revenues of RTO Operating as shown on the financial statements delivered
under Section 8.1 hereof.

         8.24.   FURTHER ASSURANCES. Execute and deliver or cause to be
executed and delivered to Agent within a reasonable time following Agent's
request, and at the Company's expense, such other documents or instruments as
Agent may reasonably require to effectuate more fully the purposes of this
Agreement or the other Loan Documents.

9.       NEGATIVE COVENANTS

         Company covenants and agrees that, until the Revolving Credit Maturity
Date and thereafter until expiration of all Letters of Credit and final payment
in full of the Indebtedness and the performance by Company and the Guarantors
of all other obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents it
will not, and will not permit any of the Subsidiaries, to:

         9.1.    LIMITATION ON DEBT.  Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist
any Debt, except:

                 (a)          Indebtedness in respect of the Notes, the Letters
         of Credit and other obligations of the Company or any Guarantor under
         this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to which it is a party;

                 (b)          any Debt set forth in Schedule 9.1 attached
         hereto and any renewals or refinancing of such Debt in amounts not
         exceeding the scheduled amounts (less any required amortization
         according to the terms thereof), on substantially the same terms and
         otherwise in compliance with this Agreement;

                 (c)          Debt of the Company or RTO Operating incurred to
         finance the acquisition of motor vehicles (whether pursuant to a loan
         or a Financing Lease) in an aggregate principal amount not exceeding
         $5,000,000 at any time outstanding and other Debt of the Company or
         RTO Operating incurred to finance the acquisition of fixed or capital
         assets other than motor vehicles (whether pursuant to a loan or a
         Financing Lease)





                                       61
<PAGE>   69
         in an aggregate amount not exceeding $1,000,000 at any time
         outstanding, and any renewals or refinancing of such Debt in amounts
         not exceeding the scheduled amounts (less any required amortization
         according to the terms thereof), on substantially the same terms and
         otherwise in compliance with this Agreement;

                 (d)          Debt of the Company or RTO Operating in
         connection with non-competition agreements or signing bonus entered
         into by the Company or RTO Operating in connection with Permitted
         Acquisitions, in an aggregate amount not exceeding $3,000,000 at any
         one time;

                 (e)          Debt in respect of taxes, assessments or
         governmental charges to the extent that payment thereof shall not at
         the time be required to be made in accordance with Section 8.13;

                 (f)          current unsecured trade, utility or
         nonextraordinary accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of
         Company's or such Guarantor's businesses;

                 (g)          Intercompany Loans from the Company to RTO
         Operating but only to the extent permitted under the other applicable
         terms and limitations of this Agreement, including but not limited to
         Section 9.8 hereof;

                 (h)          Intercompany Loans from the Company to RTO
         Holding but only to the extent such loans are immediately readvanced
         to RTO Operating pursuant to the terms of the applicable Intercompany
         Note and otherwise as permitted under the other applicable terms and
         limitations of this Agreement, including but not limited to Section
         9.8 hereof;

                 (i)          intercompany loans from the Company or any
         Guarantor to any Subsidiary but only to the extent permitted under the
         applicable terms and limitations of this Agreement, including but not
         limited to Section 9.8 hereof; and

                 (j)          additional Debt of the Company or RTO Operating
         not exceeding $5,000,000 in aggregate principal amount at any one time
         outstanding, provided that only the principal component of obligations
         shall be considered in calculating such $5,000,000 amount.

         9.2.    LIMITATION ON LIENS.  Create, incur, assume or suffer to exist
any Lien upon any of its property, assets or revenues, whether now owned or
hereafter acquired, except for:

                 (a)          Permitted Liens;

                 (b)          Liens securing Debt permitted by Section 9.1(c)
         incurred to finance the acquisition of fixed or capital assets,
         provided that (i) such Liens shall be created substantially
         simultaneously with the acquisition of such motor vehicles, or fixed
         or capital assets, (ii) such Liens do not at any time encumber any
         property other than the property financed by such Debt, (iii) the
         amount of Debt secured thereby is not increased





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         and (iv) the principal amount of Debt secured by any such Lien shall
         at no time exceed 100% of the original purchase price of such
         property;

                 (c)          any Lien securing indebtedness assumed pursuant
         to a Permitted Acquisition, provided that such Lien is limited to the
         property so acquired, and was not entered into, extended or renewed in
         contemplation of such acquisition;

                 (d)          Liens in favor of Agent, as security for the
         Indebtedness; and

                 (e)          Liens securing Debt under any Intercompany Loans;

                 (f)          other Liens, existing on the Effective Date, set
         forth on Schedule 9.2.

         9.3.    LIMITATION ON GUARANTEE OBLIGATIONS.  Create, incur, assume or
suffer to exist any Guarantee Obligation except the Guaranties or the Permitted
Guarantees.

         9.4.    ACQUISITIONS.  Other than Permitted Acquisitions and except as
permitted pursuant to Section 9.7 hereof, purchase or otherwise acquire or
become obligated for the purchase of all or substantially all or any material
portion of the assets or business interests of any Person, firm or corporation,
or any shares of stock (or other ownership interests) of any corporation,
trusteeship or association, or any business or going concern, or in any other
manner effectuate or attempt to effectuate an expansion of present business by
acquisition.

         9.5.    LIMITATION ON MERGERS, OR SALE OF ASSETS.  Other than the
Merger and except as permitted under Section 9.4 hereof, enter into any merger
or consolidation or convey, sell, lease, assign, transfer or otherwise dispose
of any of its property, business or assets (including, without limitation,
receivables and leasehold interests), whether now owned or hereafter acquired,
except:

                 (a)          inventory leased or sold pursuant to Rental
         Contracts in the ordinary course of business;

                 (b)          obsolete or worn out property, property no longer
         useful in the conduct of Company's business or property from closed
         offices, in each case disposed of in the ordinary course of business;

                 (c)          the merger of the Company into a special purpose
         Delaware corporation by way of reincorporation so long as (x) the
         Company gives forty-five days prior written notice of such
         reincorporation to the Agent and the Banks, (y)  the surviving entity
         assumes in writing all of the obligations of the Company pursuant to
         this Agreement on terms and conditions satisfactory to the Agent and
         the Banks and (z) the surviving entity delivers authority documents,
         opinions, documents evidencing the merger, financing statements,
         replacement notes and such other documents as shall be required by the
         Agent and the Banks in connection therewith;





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                 (d)          the merger of any Subsidiary (other than RTO
         Operating) with and into the Company or RTO Operating, so long as the
         Company (if the Company is a party to such merger) or RTO Operating
         (if RTO Operating is a party to the merger)is the surviving
         corporation;

                 (e)          Asset Sales (other than Asset Sales otherwise
         permitted by this Section 9.5); provided however that in each case
         (X)  the sales price is at least equal to the fair market value of the
         assets sold or otherwise disposed of and the transfer is on terms and
         conditions satisfactory to the Agent and the Banks, (Y) promptly but
         in any event no more than three (3) days following the date of such
         Asset Sale, after giving effect to such sale, the Company shall
         deliver, or cause to be delivered,  a Borrowing Base Certificate
         executed by a Responsible Officer, (Z)  immediately upon receipt by
         the Company or such Subsidiary of the proceeds of such Asset Sale,
         then pursuant to Section 2.7 hereof, the Company shall prepay any
         outstanding Advances by the amount of such proceeds (net of any
         reasonable direct expenses of sale); and

                 (f)          the sale, transfer or other disposition of other
         property in an amount not to exceed and aggregate amount of $1,000,000
         disposed of during any fiscal year of the Company;

provided that, with respect to the merger, sale, transfer or other disposition
of assets pursuant to clauses (c),  (d), (e) or (f) above, no Default or Event
of Default shall have occurred and be continuing (both before and after giving
effect thereto).

         9.6.    DIVIDENDS.  Declare or pay any dividends on or make any other
distribution with respect to any shares of its capital stock or other equity
interests (other than dividends or similar distributions payable solely in
common stock or membership interests), whether by reduction of stockholders'
equity or otherwise or permit any Subsidiary to make any such distributions,
except for:

                 (a)          dividends and other distributions by Subsidiaries
         of the Company to Company; and

                 (b)          so long as the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio is
         greater than or equal to 4.0:1 (both before and after giving effect
         thereto), cash dividends by the Company;

provided that, with respect to the payment of dividends or other distributions
under clauses (a) or (b), above no Default or Event of Default has occurred and
is continuing at the time such dividends or other distributions are declared
and at the time such dividends or other distributions are paid.

         9.7.    LIMITATION ON CAPITAL EXPENDITURES.  Except in connection with
the Merger, make or commit to make (by way of the acquisition of securities of
a Person or otherwise) any expenditure in respect of the purchase or other
acquisition of fixed or capital assets (excluding





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any such asset acquired in connection with normal replacement and maintenance
programs properly charged to current operations) except for:

                 (a)          Permitted Acquisitions permitted by Section 9.4,
         to the extent assets are acquired which constitute Capital
         Expenditures; and

                 (b)          expenditures in the ordinary course of business
         not exceeding, in the aggregate for the Company and its Subsidiaries
         (i) during fiscal year 1998, $6,000,000 and (ii) during any fiscal
         year thereafter, $3,000,000.

         9.8.    LIMITATION ON INVESTMENTS, LOANS AND ADVANCES.  Make any
advance, loan, extension of credit or capital contribution to, or purchase any
stock, bonds, notes, debentures or other securities, of or any assets
constituting a business unit of, or make any other investment in, any Person,
except:

                 (a)          Permitted Investments;

                 (b)          extensions of trade credit in the ordinary course
         of business;

                 (c)          loans and advances to officers and employees of
         the Company for travel and entertainment in the ordinary course of
         business in an aggregate amount, not to exceed $200,000 at any one
         time outstanding, and advances to employees for the purposes of
         purchasing for personal use items otherwise classified as inventory,
         in an aggregate amount for all such advances not to exceed $300,000 at
         any one time;

                 (d)          Permitted Acquisitions permitted pursuant to 
         Section 9.4; and

                 (e)          Intercompany Loans, Advances and Investments  by
         the Company to RTO Operating or to RTO Holding;

                 (f)          Intercompany Loan, Advances and Investments by
         RTO Holding to RTO Operating, or by RTO Operating to RTO Holding; and

                 (g)          loans, advances and investments by the Company
         or any Guarantor in any Subsidiary other than RTO Holding and RTO
         Operating in an aggregate outstanding  amount not to exceed $500,000
         at any time.

In valuing any Investments for the purpose of applying the limitations set
forth in this Section 9.8 (except as otherwise expressly provided herein), such
Investment shall be taken at the original cost thereof, without allowance for
any subsequent write-offs or appreciation or depreciation, but less any amount
repaid or recovered on account of capital or principal.

         9.9.    TRANSACTIONS WITH AFFILIATES.  Enter into any transaction,
including, without limitation, any purchase, sale, lease or exchange of
property or the rendering of any service, with any Affiliate of the Company
unless such transaction is otherwise permitted under this





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Agreement, is in the ordinary course of the Company's or such Guarantor's
business and is upon fair and reasonable terms no less favorable to the Company
or such Guarantor than it would obtain in a comparable arms length transaction
with a Person not a Guarantor.

         9.10.   SALE AND LEASEBACK.  Except as permitted by Section 9.1(c),
and except in connection with any property acquired pursuant to a Permitted
Acquisition, enter into any arrangement with any Person providing for the
leasing by the Company or any Guarantor of real or personal property which has
been or is to be sold or transferred by the Company or such Guarantor to such
Person or to any other Person to whom funds have been or are to be advanced by
such Person on the security of such property or rental obligations of the
Company or such Guarantor, as the case may be.

         9.11.   LIMITATION ON NEGATIVE PLEDGE CLAUSES.  Except for the Loan
Documents and any other agreements, documents or instruments pursuant to which
Liens not prohibited by the terms of this Agreement are created, entered into,
or allowed to exist, enter into any agreement, document or instrument which
would restrict or prevent Company and its Guarantors from granting Agent on
behalf of Banks liens upon, security interests in and pledges of their
respective assets which are senior in priority to all other Liens.

         9.12.   PREPAYMENT OF DEBTS. Except in connection with Debt assumed in
connection with a Permitted Acquisition, prepay, purchase, redeem or defease
any Debt for money borrowed or any capital leases excluding, subject to the
terms hereof, the Indebtedness, and excluding paydowns from time to time of
permitted working capital facilities or other revolving debt and mandatory
payments, prepayments or redemptions for which Company or any Guarantor is
obligated as of the date hereof.

10.      DEFAULTS

         10.1.   EVENTS OF DEFAULT.  The occurrence of any of the following
events shall constitute an Event of Default hereunder:

                 (a)          non-payment when due of (i) the principal or
         interest under any of the Notes issued hereunder in accordance with
         the terms thereof, (ii) any Reimbursement Obligation, or (iii) any
         Fees, and in the case of interest payments and Fees, continuance
         thereof for three (3) Business Days;

                 (b)          non-payment of any money by Company under this
         Agreement or by Company or any Guarantor under any of the Loan
         Documents, other than as set forth in subsection (a), above within ten
         (10) Business Days after notice from Agent that the same is due and
         payable;





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                 (c)          default in the observance or performance of any
         of the conditions, covenants or agreements of Company set forth in
         Sections 2.7, 3.6, 8.1, 8.2, 8.4(a), 8.6, 8.7, 8.9 through 8.12, 8.20,
         or 9 (in its entirety);

                 (d)          default in the observance or performance of any
         of the other conditions, covenants or agreements set forth in this
         Agreement by Company and continuance thereof for a period of thirty
         (30) consecutive days;

                 (e)          any representation or warranty made by Company or
         any Guarantor herein or in any instrument submitted pursuant hereto or
         by any other party (other than the Agent or any Bank) to the Loan
         Documents proves untrue or misleading in any material adverse respect
         when made;

                 (f)          default in the observance or performance of or
         failure to comply with any of the conditions, covenants or agreements
         of Company or any Guarantor set forth in any of the other Loan
         Documents, and the continuance thereof beyond any period of grace or
         cure specified in any such document;

                 (g)          default (i) in the payment of any indebtedness
         for borrowed money (other than Indebtedness hereunder) of Company or
         any Guarantor in excess of Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000) in
         the aggregate when due (whether by acceleration or otherwise) and
         continuance thereof beyond any applicable period of cure or (ii)
         failure to comply with the terms of any other obligation of Company or
         any Guarantor with respect to any indebtedness for borrowed money
         (other than Indebtedness hereunder) in excess of Five Hundred Thousand
         Dollars ($500,000) in the aggregate, which with the giving of notice
         or passage of time or both would permit the holder or holders thereto
         to accelerate such other indebtedness for borrowed money or terminate
         its commitment thereunder, as applicable;

                 (h)          the rendering of any judgment(s) for the payment
         of money in excess of the sum of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000)
         individually or in the aggregate against Company or any Guarantor, and
         such judgments shall remain unpaid, unvacated, unbonded or unstayed by
         appeal or otherwise for a period of forty five (45) consecutive days,
         except as covered by adequate insurance with a reputable carrier and
         an action is pending in which an active defense is being made with
         respect thereto;

                 (i)          (i) the Company or any ERISA Affiliate shall
         engage in any Prohibited Transaction involving any Pension Plan or
         (ii) any event described in Section 7.16 shall occur or (iii) the
         Company or any ERISA Affiliate shall, or in the reasonable opinion of
         the Majority Banks is likely to, incur any liability in connection
         with a withdrawal from, or the insolvency, or reorganization of, a
         Multiemployer Plan and in each case in clauses (i) through (iii)
         above, (x) a period of sixty (60) days, or more, has elapsed from the
         occurrence of such event or condition and (y) such event or condition,
         together with all other such events or conditions, if any, could
         reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect;





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<PAGE>   75
                 (j)          a receiver, liquidator, custodian or trustee of
         the Company or any Guarantor, or of all or any part of the property of
         the Company or any Guarantor, shall be appointed by court order and
         such order shall remain in effect for more than sixty (60) days, or an
         order for relief shall be entered with respect to the Company or any
         Guarantor, or the Company or any Guarantor shall be adjudicated a
         bankrupt or insolvent; or any of the property of the Company or any
         Guarantor shall be sequestered by court order and such order shall
         remain in effect for more than sixty (60) days; or a petition shall be
         filed against the Company or any Guarantor under any bankruptcy,
         reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, readjustment of debt,
         dissolution or liquidation law of any jurisdiction, whether now or
         hereafter in effect, and shall not be dismissed within sixty (60) days
         after such filing; or the Company or any Guarantor shall file a
         petition in voluntary bankruptcy or seeking relief under any provision
         of any bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency,
         readjustment of debt, dissolution or liquidation law of any
         jurisdiction, whether now or hereafter in effect, or shall consent to
         the filing of any petition against it under any such law; or the
         Company or any Guarantor shall make an assignment for the benefit of
         its creditors, or shall admit in writing its inability, or shall fail,
         to pay its debts generally as they become due, or shall consent to the
         appointment of a receiver, liquidator or trustee of the Company or any
         Guarantor or of all or any part of the property of the Company or any
         Guarantor.

                 (k)          there shall be any change for any reason
         whatsoever in the management of Company which shall in the reasonable
         judgment of the Majority Banks adversely affect future prospects for
         the successful operation of Company; or

                 (l)          any provision of any Guaranty, the Pledge
         Agreement or the Security Agreement shall at any time for any reason
         cease to be valid and binding and enforceable against the Company or
         any of the Guarantors, as applicable, or the validity, binding effect
         or enforceability thereof shall be contested by any Person, or the
         Company or any of the Guarantors shall deny that it has any or further
         liability or obligation under the Guaranty, the Pledge Agreement or
         the Security Agreement, as the case may be, or the Guaranty, the
         Pledge Agreement or the Security Agreement, as the case may be, shall
         be terminated, invalidated, revoked or set aside or in any way cease
         to give or provide to the Banks and the Agent the benefits purported
         to be created thereby.

         10.2.   EXERCISE OF REMEDIES. If an Event of Default has occurred and
is continuing hereunder: (a) the Agent shall, upon being directed to do so by
the Majority Banks, declare the Revolving Credit Aggregate Commitment
terminated; (b) the Agent shall, upon being directed to do so by the Majority
Banks, declare the entire unpaid principal Indebtedness, including the Notes,
immediately due and payable, without presentment, notice or demand, all of
which are hereby expressly waived by Company; (c) upon the occurrence of any
Event of Default specified in subsection 10.1(j), above, and notwithstanding
the lack of any declaration by Agent under preceding clause (b), the entire
unpaid principal Indebtedness, including the Notes, shall become automatically
and immediately due and payable, and the Revolving Credit Aggregate Commitment
shall be automatically and immediately terminated; (d) the Agent shall, upon
being directed to do so by the Majority Banks, demand immediate delivery of
cash collateral, and the Company and each Account Party agrees to deliver such
cash collateral upon demand, in an amount equal to the maximum amount that may
be available to be drawn





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at any time prior to the stated expiry of all outstanding Letters of Credit,
and (e) the Agent shall, if directed to do so by the Majority Banks or the
Banks, as applicable (subject to the terms hereof), exercise any remedy
permitted by this Agreement, the Loan Documents or law.

         10.3.   RIGHTS CUMULATIVE. No delay or failure of Agent and/or Banks
in exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall affect such right,
power or privilege, nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude
any further exercise thereof, or the exercise of any other power, right or
privilege. The rights of Agent and Banks under this Agreement are cumulative
and not exclusive of any right or remedies which Banks would otherwise have.

         10.4.   WAIVER BY COMPANY OF CERTAIN LAWS. To the extent permitted by
applicable law, Company hereby agrees to waive, and does hereby absolutely and
irrevocably waive and relinquish the benefit and advantage of any valuation,
stay, appraisement, extension or redemption laws now existing or which may
hereafter exist, which, but for this provision, might be applicable to any sale
made under the judgment, order or decree of any court, on any claim for
interest on the Notes, or any security interest or mortgage contemplated by or
granted under or in connection with this Agreement. These waivers have been
voluntarily given, with full knowledge of the consequences thereof.

         10.5.   WAIVER OF DEFAULTS. No Event of Default shall be waived by the
Banks except in a writing signed by an officer of the Agent in accordance with
Section 14.11 hereof. No single or partial exercise of any right, power or
privilege hereunder, nor any delay in the exercise thereof, shall preclude
other or further exercise of their rights by Agent or the Banks. No waiver of
any Event of Default shall extend to any other or further Event of Default. No
forbearance on the part of the Agent or the Banks in enforcing any of their
rights shall constitute a waiver of any of their rights. Company expressly
agrees that this Section may not be waived or modified by the Banks or Agent by
course of performance, estoppel or otherwise.

         10.6.   SET OFF.

         Upon the occurrence and during the continuance of any Event of
Default, each Bank may at any time and from time to time, without notice to the
Company but subject to the provisions of Section 11.3 hereof, (any requirement
for such notice being expressly waived by the Company) set off and apply
against any and all of the obligations of the Company now or hereafter existing
under this Agreement, whether owing to such Bank or any other Bank or the
Agent, any and all deposits (general or special, time or demand, provisional or
final) at any time held and other indebtedness at any time owing by such Bank
to or for the credit or the account of the Company and any property of the
Company from time to time in possession of such Bank, irrespective of whether
or not such deposits held or indebtedness owing by such Bank may be contingent
and unmatured and regardless of whether any Collateral then held by Agent or
any Bank is adequate to cover the Indebtedness. Promptly following any such
setoff, such Bank shall give written notice to Agent and to Company of the
occurrence thereof. The Company hereby grants to the Banks and the Agent a lien
on and security interest in all such deposits, indebtedness and





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property as collateral security for the payment and performance of all of the
obligations of the Company under this Agreement. The rights of each Bank under
this Section 10.6 are in addition to the other rights and remedies (including,
without limitation, other rights of setoff) which such Bank may have.

11.      PAYMENTS, RECOVERIES AND COLLECTIONS

         11.1.   PAYMENT PROCEDURE.

                 (a)          All payments by Company of principal of, or
         interest on, the Notes, or of Fees, shall be made without setoff or
         counterclaim on the date specified for payment under this Agreement
         not later than 12:00 noon (Detroit time) in immediately available
         funds to Agent, for the ratable account of the Banks, at Agent's
         office located at One Detroit Center, Detroit, Michigan 48226-3289,
         (care of Agent's Eurocurrency Lending Office, for Eurocurrency-based
         Advances). Upon receipt by the Agent of each such payment, the Agent
         shall make prompt payment in like funds received to each Bank as
         appropriate, or, in respect of Eurocurrency-based Advances, to such
         Bank's Eurocurrency Lending Office.

                 (b)          Unless the Agent shall have been notified by
         Company prior to the date on which any payment to be made by Company
         is due that Company does not intend to remit such payment, the Agent
         may, in its sole discretion and without obligation to do so, assume
         that the Company has remitted such payment when so due and the Agent
         may, in reliance upon such assumption, make available to each Bank on
         such payment date an amount equal to such Bank's share of such assumed
         payment. If Company has not in fact remitted such payment to the Agent
         each Bank shall forthwith on demand repay to the Agent the amount of
         such assumed payment made available or transferred to such Bank,
         together with the interest thereon, in respect of each day from and
         including the date such amount was made available by the Agent to such
         Bank to the date such amount is repaid to the Agent at a rate per
         annum equal to (i) for Prime-based Advances, the Federal Funds
         Effective Rate (daily average), as the same may vary from time to
         time, and (ii) with respect to Eurocurrency-based Advances, Agent's
         aggregate marginal cost (including the cost of maintaining any
         required reserves or deposit insurance and of any fees, penalties,
         overdraft charges or other costs or expenses incurred by Agent) of
         carrying such amount.

                 (c)          Subject to the definition of Interest Period,
         whenever any payment to be made hereunder shall otherwise be due on a
         day which is not a Business Day, such payment shall be made on the
         next succeeding Business Day and such extension of time shall be
         included in computing interest, if any, in connection with such
         payment.

                 (d)          All payments to be made by the Company under this
         Agreement or any of the Notes (including without limitation payments
         under the Swing Line Note) shall be made without set-off or
         counterclaim, as aforesaid, and without deduction for or on account of
         any present or future withholding or other taxes of any nature imposed
         by any governmental authority or of any political subdivision thereof
         or any federation or





                                       70
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         organization of which such governmental authority may at the time of
         payment be a member, unless Company is compelled by law to make
         payment subject to such tax. In such event, Company shall:

                              (i)  pay to the Agent for Agent's own account
                                   and/or, as the case may be, for the account
                                   of the Banks (and, in the case of Advances
                                   of the Swing Line, pay to the Swing Line
                                   Bank which funded such Advances) such
                                   additional amounts as may be necessary to
                                   ensure that the Agent and/or such Bank or
                                   Banks receive a net amount equal to the full
                                   amount which would have been receivable had
                                   payment not been made subject to such tax;
                                   and

                              (ii) remit such tax to the relevant taxing
                                   authorities according to applicable law, and
                                   send to the Agent or the applicable Bank
                                   (including the Swing Line Bank) or Banks, as
                                   the case may be, such certificates or
                                   certified copy receipts as the Agent or such
                                   Bank or Banks shall reasonably require as
                                   proof of the payment by the Company, of any
                                   such taxes payable by the Company.

         As used herein, the terms "tax", "taxes" and "taxation" include all
existing taxes, levies, imposts, duties, charges, fees, deductions and
withholdings and any restrictions or conditions resulting in a charge together
with interest thereon and fines and penalties with respect thereto which may be
imposed by reason of any violation or default with respect to the law regarding
such tax, assessed as a result of or in connection with the transactions
hereunder, or the payment and or receipt of funds hereunder, or the payment or
delivery of funds into or out of any jurisdiction other than the United States
(whether assessed against Company, Agent or any of the Banks).

         11.2.   APPLICATION OF PROCEEDS OF COLLATERAL. Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Agreement, after an Event of Default, the
proceeds of any Collateral, together with any offsets, voluntary payments by
Company or any Guarantor or others and any other sums received or collected in
respect of the Indebtedness, shall be applied, first, to the Notes and the
Reimbursement Obligations (if any) on a pro rata basis (or in such order and
manner as determined by the Majority Banks; subject, however, to the applicable
Percentages of the loans held by each of the Banks), next, to any other
Indebtedness on a pro rata basis, and then, if there is any excess, to Company
or the applicable Guarantor, as the case may be. The application of such
proceeds and other sums to the Revolving Credit Notes and the Reimbursement
Obligations (if any) shall be based on each Bank's Percentage of the aggregate
of the loans.

         11.3.   PRO-RATA RECOVERY.  If any Bank shall obtain any payment or
other recovery (whether voluntary, involuntary, by application of offset or
otherwise) on account of principal of, or interest on, any of the Indebtedness
in excess of its pro rata share of payments then or thereafter obtained by all
Banks upon principal of and interest on all Indebtedness, such Bank shall
purchase from the other Banks such participations in the Revolving Credit Notes
and/or Reimbursement Obligation held by them as shall be necessary to cause
such purchasing Bank





                                       71
<PAGE>   79
to share the excess payment or other recovery ratably in accordance with the
Percentage with each of them; provided, however, that if all or any portion of
the excess payment or other recovery is thereafter recovered from such
purchasing holder, the purchase shall be rescinded and the purchase price
restored to the extent of such recovery, but without interest.

12.      CHANGES IN LAW OR CIRCUMSTANCES; INCREASED COSTS

         12.1.   REIMBURSEMENT OF PREPAYMENT COSTS. If Company makes any
payment of principal with respect to any Eurocurrency-based Advance or Quoted
Rate Advance on any day other than the last day of the Interest Period
applicable thereto (whether voluntarily, by acceleration, or otherwise), or if
Company fails to borrow any Eurocurrency-based Advance or Quoted Rate Advance
after notice has been given by Company to Agent in accordance with the terms
hereof requesting such Advance, or if Company fails to make any payment of
principal or interest in respect of a Eurocurrency- based Advance or Quoted
Rate Advance when due, then Company shall reimburse Agent and Banks, as the
case may be on demand for any resulting loss, cost or expense incurred by Agent
and Banks, as the case may be as a result thereof, including, without
limitation, any such loss, cost or expense incurred in obtaining, liquidating,
employing or redeploying deposits from third parties, whether or not Agent and
Banks, as the case may be shall have funded or committed to fund such Advance.
Such amount payable by Company to Agent and Banks, as the case may be may
include, without limitation, an amount equal to the excess, if any, of (a) the
amount of interest which would have accrued on the amount so prepaid, or not so
borrowed, refunded or converted, for the period from the date of such
prepayment or of such failure to borrow, refund or convert, through the last
day of the relevant Interest Period, at the applicable rate of interest for
said Advance(s) provided under this Agreement, over (b) the amount of interest
(as reasonably determined by Agent and Banks, as the case may be) which would
have accrued to Agent and Banks, as the case may be on such amount by placing
such amount on deposit for a comparable period with leading banks in the
interbank eurodollar market.  Calculation of any amounts payable to any Bank
under this paragraph shall be made as though such Bank shall have actually
funded or committed to fund the relevant Advance through the purchase of an
underlying deposit in an amount equal to the amount of such Advance and having
a maturity comparable to the relevant Interest Period; provided, however, that
any Bank may fund any Eurocurrency-based Advance or Quoted Rate Advance, as the
case may be in any manner it deems fit and the foregoing assumptions shall be
utilized only for the purpose of the calculation of amounts payable under this
paragraph. Upon the written request of Company, Agent and Banks shall deliver
to Company a certificate setting forth the basis for determining such losses,
costs and expenses, which certificate shall be conclusively presumed correct,
absent manifest error.

         12.2.   AGENT'S EUROCURRENCY LENDING OFFICE. For any Advance to which
the Eurocurrency-based Rate is applicable, if Agent shall designate a
Eurocurrency Lending Office which maintains books separate from those of the
rest of Agent, Agent shall have the option of maintaining and carrying the
relevant Advance on the books of such Eurocurrency Lending Office.





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         12.3.   CIRCUMSTANCES AFFECTING EUROCURRENCY-BASED RATE AVAILABILITY.
If with respect to any Interest Period, Agent or the Banks (after consultation
with Agent) shall determine that, by reason of circumstances affecting the
interbank markets generally, deposits in eurodollars in the applicable amounts
are not being offered to the Agent for such Interest Period, then Agent shall
forthwith give notice thereof to the Company. Thereafter, until Agent notifies
Company that such circumstances no longer exist, the obligation of the Banks to
make Eurocurrency-based Advances, and the right of Company to convert an
Advance to or refund an Advance as a Eurocurrency-based Advance shall be
suspended, and the Company shall repay in full (or cause to be repaid in full)
the then outstanding principal amount of each such Eurocurrency-based Advance
covered hereby together with accrued interest thereon, any amounts payable (but
not yet paid) under Section 12.1, hereof, and all other amounts payable
hereunder on the last day of the then current Interest Period applicable to
such Advance. Upon the date for repayment as aforesaid and unless Company
notifies Agent to the contrary within two (2) Business Days after receiving a
notice from Agent pursuant to this Section, such outstanding principal amount
shall be converted to a Prime-based Advance as of the last day of such Interest
Period.

         12.4.   LAWS AFFECTING EUROCURRENCY-BASED ADVANCE AVAILABILITY. In the
event that any applicable law, rule or regulation (whether domestic or foreign)
now or hereafter in effect and whether or not currently applicable to any Bank
or the Agent or any interpretation or administration thereof by any
governmental authority charged with the interpretation or administration
thereof, or compliance by the Agent or any of the Banks (or any of their
respective Eurocurrency Lending Offices) with any request or directive (whether
or not having the force of law) of any such authority, shall make it unlawful
or impossible for any of the Banks (or any of their respective Eurocurrency
Lending Offices) to honor its obligations hereunder to make or maintain any
Advance with interest at the Eurocurrency-based Rate, such Bank or the Agent
shall forthwith give notice thereof to Company and the Agent. Thereafter the
Agent shall so notify Company and the right of Company to convert an Advance or
refund an Advance as a Eurocurrency-based Advance, shall be suspended and
thereafter Company may select as Applicable Interest Rates only those which
remain available and which are permitted to be selected hereunder, and if any
of the Banks may not lawfully continue to maintain an Advance to the end of the
then current Interest Period applicable thereto as a Eurocurrency-based
Advance, Company shall immediately prepay such Advance, together with interest
to the date of payment, and any amounts payable under Sections 12.1 or 12.6
with respect to such prepayment and the applicable Advance shall immediately be
converted to a Prime-based Advance and the Prime-based Rate shall be applicable
thereto.

         12.5.   INCREASED COST OF EUROCURRENCY-BASED ADVANCES. In the event
that any change in applicable law, rule or regulation (whether domestic or
foreign) now or hereafter in effect and whether or not currently applicable to
any Bank or the Agent or any interpretation or administration thereof by any
governmental authority, central bank or comparable agency charged with the
interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by Agent or any of the
Banks (or any of their respective Eurocurrency Lending Offices) with any
request or directive (whether or not having the force of law) made by any such
authority, central bank or comparable agency after the date hereof:





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                 (a)          shall subject the Agent or any of the Banks (or
         any of their respective Eurocurrency Lending Offices) to any tax, duty
         or other charge with respect to any Advance or any Note or shall
         change the basis of taxation of payments to the Agent or any of the
         Banks (or any of their respective Eurocurrency Lending Offices) of the
         principal of or interest on any Advance or any Note or any other
         amounts due under this Agreement in respect thereof (except for
         changes in the rate of tax on the overall net income or revenues of
         the Agent or of any of the Banks (or any of their respective
         Eurocurrency Lending Offices) imposed by the United States of America
         or the jurisdiction in which such Bank's principal executive office is
         located); or

                 (b)          shall impose, modify or deem applicable any
         reserve (including, without limitation, any imposed by the Board of
         Governors of the Federal Reserve System), special deposit or similar
         requirement against assets of, deposits with or for the account of, or
         credit extended by the Agent or any of the Banks (or any of their
         respective Eurocurrency Lending Offices) or shall impose on the Agent
         or any of the Banks (or any of their respective Eurocurrency Lending
         Offices) or the interbank markets any other condition affecting any
         Advance or any of the Notes;

and the result of any of the foregoing is to increase the costs to the Agent or
any of the Banks of making, funding or maintaining any part of the Indebtedness
hereunder as a Eurocurrency-based Advance or to reduce the amount of any sum
received or receivable by the Agent or any of the Banks under this Agreement or
under the Notes in respect of a Eurocurrency-based Advance then Agent or such
Bank, as the case may be, shall promptly notify the Company of such fact and
demand compensation therefor and, within fifteen (15) days after such notice,
Company agrees to pay to Agent or such Bank such additional amount or amounts
as will compensate Agent or such Bank or Banks for such increased cost or
reduction. A certificate of Agent or such Bank setting forth the basis for
determining such additional amount or amounts necessary to compensate such Bank
or Banks shall accompany such demand for payment and shall be conclusively
presumed to be correct save for manifest error.

         For purposes of this Section, a change in law, rule, regulation,
interpretation, administration, request or directive shall include, without
limitation, any change made or which becomes effective on the basis of a law,
rule, regulation, interpretation, administration, request or directive
presently in force, the effective date of which change is delayed by the terms
of such law, rule, regulation, interpretation, administration, request or
directive.

         12.6.   INDEMNITY. The Company will indemnify Agent and each of the
Banks against any loss or expense which may arise or be attributable to the
Agent's and each Bank's obtaining, liquidating or employing deposits or other
funds acquired to effect, fund or maintain the Advances (a) as a consequence of
any failure by the Company to make any payment when due of any amount due
hereunder in connection with a Eurocurrency-based Advance, (b) due to any
failure of the Company to borrow on a date specified therefor in a Request for
Revolving Credit Advance or (c) due to any payment or prepayment of any
Eurocurrency-based Advance on a date other than the last day of the Interest
Period for such Revolving Credit Advance, whether required by another provision
of this Agreement or otherwise. The Agent's and each Bank's (as applicable)
calculations of any such loss or





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expense shall be furnished to the Company and shall be conclusively presumed
correct, absent manifest error.

         12.7.   OTHER INCREASED COSTS. In the event that after the date hereof
the adoption of or any change in any applicable law, treaty, rule or regulation
(whether domestic or foreign) now or hereafter in effect and whether or not
presently applicable to any Bank or Agent, or any interpretation or
administration thereof by any governmental authority charged with the
interpretation or administration thereof, or compliance by any Bank or Agent
with any guideline, request or directive of any such authority (whether or not
having the force of law), including any risk based capital guidelines, affects
or would affect the amount of capital required or expected to be maintained by
such Bank or Agent (or any corporation controlling such Bank or Agent) and such
Bank or Agent, as the case may be, determines that the amount of such capital
is increased by or based upon the existence of such Bank's or Agent's
obligations or Advances hereunder and such increase has the effect of reducing
the rate of return on such Bank's or Agent's (or such controlling
corporation's) capital as a consequence of such obligations or Advances
hereunder to a level below that which such Bank or Agent (or such controlling
corporation) could have achieved but for such circumstances (taking into
consideration its policies with respect to capital adequacy) by an amount
deemed by such Bank or Agent to be material (collectively, "Increased Costs"),
then Agent or such Bank shall notify the Company, and thereafter the Company
shall pay to such Bank or Agent, as the case may be, from time to time, upon
request by such Bank or Agent, additional amounts sufficient to compensate such
Bank or Agent (or such controlling corporation) for any increase in the amount
of capital and reduced rate of return which such Bank or Agent reasonably
determines to be allocable to the existence of such Bank's or Agent's
obligations or Advances hereunder;  provided, however that the Company shall
not be obligated to reimburse any Bank for any Increased Costs pursuant to this
Section 12.7 unless such Bank notifies Company and the Agent within 180 days
after such affected Bank has obtained actual knowledge of such Increased Costs
(but in any event within 365 days after such affected Bank is required to
comply with the applicable change in law).  A statement as to the amount of
such compensation, prepared in good faith and in reasonable detail by such Bank
or Agent, as the case may be, shall be submitted by such Bank or by Agent to
the Company, reasonably promptly after becoming aware of any event described in
this Section 12.7 and shall be conclusive, absent manifest error in
computation.

         12.8.   SUBSTITUTION OF BANKS. If (i) the obligation of any Bank to
make Eurocurrency-based Advances has been suspended pursuant to Section 12.3 or
Section 12.4 or (ii) any Bank has demanded compensation under Section 12.5 (in
each case, an "Affected Lender"), then Company shall have the right, with the
assistance of the Agent, to seek a substitute lender or lenders (which may be
one or more of the Banks (the "Purchasing Lender" or "Purchasing Lenders") to
purchase the Revolving Credit Note and assume the commitment (including without
limitation its participations in Swing Line Advances and Letters of Credit)
under this Agreement of such Affected Lender. The Affected Lender shall be
obligated to sell its Revolving Credit Note and assign its commitment to such
Purchasing Lender or Purchasing Lenders within fifteen days after receiving
notice from Company requiring it to do so, at an aggregate price equal to the
outstanding principal amount thereof plus unpaid interest accrued thereon up to
but excluding the date of the sale. In connection with any such sale, and as a
condition





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thereof, Company shall pay to the Affected Lender all fees accrued for its
account hereunder to but excluding the date of such sale, plus, if demanded by
the Affected Lender at least two Business Days prior to such sale, (i) the
amount of any compensation which would be due to the Affected Lender under
Section 12.1 if Company has prepaid the outstanding Eurocurrency-based Advances
of the Affected Lender on the date of such sale and (ii) any additional
compensation accrued for its account under Section 12.5 to but excluding said
date. Upon such sale, the Purchasing Lender or Purchasing Lenders shall assume
the Affected Lender's commitment and the Affected Lender shall be released from
its obligations hereunder to a corresponding extent. If any Purchasing Lender is
not already one of the Banks, the Affected Lender, as assignor, such Purchasing
Lender, as assignee, Company and the Agent, with the subscribed consent of the
Swing Line Bank shall enter into an Assignment Agreement pursuant to Section
14.8 hereof, whereupon such Purchasing Lender shall be a Bank party to this
Agreement, shall be deemed to be an assignee hereunder and shall have all the
rights and obligations of a Bank with a Percentage equal to its ratable share of
the Revolving Credit Aggregate Commitment of the Affected Lender. In connection
with any assignment pursuant to this Section 12.8, Company or the Purchasing
Lender shall pay to the Agent the administrative fee for processing such
assignment referred to in Section 14.8. Upon the consummation of any sale
pursuant to this Section 12.8, the Affected Lender, the Agent and Company shall
make appropriate arrangements so that, if required, each Purchasing Lender
receives a new Revolving Credit Note.





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13.      AGENT

         13.1.   APPOINTMENT OF AGENT. Each Bank and the holder of each Note
irrevocably appoints and authorizes the Agent to act on behalf of such Bank or
holder under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents and to exercise such
powers hereunder and thereunder as are specifically delegated to Agent by the
terms hereof and thereof, together with such powers as may be reasonably
incidental thereto, including without limitation the power to execute or
authorize the execution of financing or similar statements or notices, and
other documents. In performing its functions and duties under this Agreement,
the Agent shall act solely as agent of the Banks and does not assume and shall
not be deemed to have assumed any obligation towards or relationship of agency
or trust with or for Company. Each Bank agrees (which agreement shall survive
any termination of this Agreement) to reimburse Agent for all reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses (including house and outside attorneys' fees and
disbursements) incurred by Agent hereunder or in connection herewith or with an
Event of Default or in enforcing the obligations of Company under this
Agreement or the other Loan Documents or any other instrument executed pursuant
hereto, and for which Agent is not reimbursed by Company, pro rata according to
such Bank's Percentage, but excluding any such expense resulting from Agent's
gross negligence or wilful misconduct.  Agent shall not be required to take any
action under the Loan Documents, or to prosecute or defend any suit in respect
of the Loan Documents, unless indemnified to its satisfaction by the Banks
against loss, costs, liability and expense (excluding liability resulting from
its gross negligence or wilful misconduct). If any indemnity furnished to Agent
shall become impaired, it may call for additional indemnity and cease to do the
acts indemnified against until such additional indemnity is given.

         13.2.   DEPOSIT ACCOUNT WITH AGENT. Company hereby authorizes Agent,
in Agent's sole discretion, to charge its general deposit account(s), if any,
maintained with Agent for the amount of any principal, interest, or other
amounts or costs due under this Agreement when the same become due and payable
under the terms of this Agreement or the Notes.

         13.3.   SCOPE OF AGENT'S DUTIES. The Agent shall have no duties or
responsibilities except those expressly set forth herein, and shall not, by
reason of this Agreement or otherwise, have a fiduciary relationship with any
Bank (and no implied covenants or other obligations shall be read into this
Agreement against the Agent). None of Agent, its Affiliates nor any of their
respective directors, officers, employees or agents shall be liable to any Bank
for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it or them under this Agreement
or any document executed pursuant hereto, or in connection herewith or
therewith with the consent or at the request of the Majority Banks (or all of
the Banks for those acts requiring consent of all of the Banks) (except for its
or their own wilful misconduct or gross negligence), nor be responsible for or
have any duties to ascertain, inquire into or verify (a) any recitals or
warranties made by the Company, or any Subsidiary or Affiliate of the Company,
or any officer thereof contained herein or therein, (b) the effectiveness,
enforceability, validity or due execution of this Agreement or any document
executed pursuant hereto or any security thereunder, (c) the performance by
Company of its obligations hereunder or thereunder, or (d) the satisfaction of
any condition hereunder or thereunder, including without limitation the





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<PAGE>   85
making of any Advance or the issuance of any Letter of Credit. Agent and its
Affiliates shall be entitled to rely upon any certificate, notice, document or
other communication (including any cable, telegraph, telex, facsimile
transmission or oral communication) believed by it to be genuine and correct
and to have been sent or given by or on behalf of a proper person. Agent may
treat the payee of any Note as the holder thereof. Agent may employ agents and
may consult with legal counsel (who may be counsel for Company), independent
public accountants and other experts selected by it and shall not be liable to
the Banks (except as to money or property received by them or their authorized
agents), for the negligence or misconduct of any such agent selected by it with
reasonable care or for any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good
faith in accordance with the advice of such counsel, accountants or experts.

         13.4.   SUCCESSOR AGENT. Agent may resign as such at any time upon at
least 30 days prior notice to Company and all Banks.  If Agent at any time
shall resign or if the office of Agent shall become vacant for any other
reason, Majority Banks shall, by written instrument,  appoint successor
agent(s) satisfactory to such Majority Banks, and, so long as no Default or
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, to Company. Such successor
agent shall thereupon become the Agent hereunder, as applicable, and shall be
entitled to receive from the prior Agent such documents of transfer and
assignment as such successor Agent may reasonably request. Any such successor
Agent shall be a commercial bank organized under the laws of the United States
or any state thereof and shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least
$500,000,000. If a successor is not so appointed or does not accept such
appointment before the resigning Agent's resignation becomes effective, the
resigning Agent may appoint a temporary successor to act until such appointment
by the Majority Banks is made and accepted or if no such temporary successor is
appointed as provided above by the resigning Agent, the Majority Banks shall
thereafter perform all of the duties of the resigning Agent hereunder until
such appointment by the Majority Banks is made and accepted. Such successor
Agent shall succeed to all of the rights and obligations of the resigning Agent
as if originally named. The resigning Agent shall duly assign, transfer and
deliver to such successor Agent all moneys at the time held by the resigning
Agent hereunder after deducting therefrom its expenses for which it is entitled
to be reimbursed. Upon such succession of any such successor Agent, the
resigning agent shall be discharged from its duties and obligations hereunder,
except for its gross negligence or wilful misconduct arising prior to its
resignation hereunder, and the provisions of this Article 13 shall continue in
effect for the benefit of the resigning Agent in respect of any actions taken
or omitted to be taken by it while it was acting as Agent.

         13.5.   AGENT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY. Comerica Bank, its
Affiliates and their respective successors and assigns, shall have the same
rights and powers hereunder as any other Bank and may exercise or refrain from
exercising the same as though Comerica Bank were not the Agent. Comerica Bank
and its Affiliates may (without having to account therefor to any Bank) accept
deposits from, lend money to, and generally engage in any kind of banking,
trust, financial advisory or other business with Company (or its Subsidiaries)
as if Comerica Bank were not acting as Agent hereunder, and may accept fees and
other consideration therefor without having to account for the same to the
Banks.





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         13.6.   CREDIT DECISIONS. Each Bank acknowledges that it has,
independently of Agent and each other Bank and based on the financial
statements of Company and such other documents, information and investigations
as it has deemed appropriate, made its own credit decision to extend credit
hereunder from time to time. Each Bank also acknowledges that it will,
independently of Agent and each other Bank and based on such other documents,
information and investigations as it shall deem appropriate at any time,
continue to make its own credit decisions as to exercising or not exercising
from time to time any rights and privileges available to it under this
Agreement or any document executed pursuant hereto.

         13.7.   AGENT'S FEES. Company shall pay to Agent the annual agency fee
and such other fees and charges in the amounts and at the times set forth in
the letter agreement between Company and Agent dated December 9, 1997, as such
letter may be amended or restated from time to time. The Agent's Fees described
in this Section 13.7 shall not be refundable under any circumstances.

         13.8.   AUTHORITY OF AGENT TO ENFORCE NOTES AND THIS AGREEMENT. Each
Bank, subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, authorizes the
Agent with full power and authority as attorney-in-fact to institute and
maintain actions, suits or proceedings for the collection and enforcement of
the Notes and to file such proofs of debt or other documents as may be
necessary to have the claims of the Banks allowed in any proceeding relative to
Company, or any of its Subsidiaries, or their respective creditors or affecting
their respective properties, and to take such other actions which Agent
considers to be necessary or desirable for the protection, collection and
enforcement of the Notes, this Agreement or the other Loan Documents.

         13.9.   INDEMNIFICATION. The Banks agree to indemnify the Agent and
its Affiliates (to the extent not reimbursed by Company, but without limiting
any obligation of Company to make such reimbursement), ratably according to
their respective Percentages, from and against any and all claims, damages,
losses, liabilities, costs or expenses of any kind or nature whatsoever
(including, without limitation, fees and disbursements of counsel) which may be
imposed on, incurred by, or asserted against the Agent and its Affiliates in
any way relating to or arising out of this Agreement, any of the other Loan
Documents or the transactions contemplated hereby or any action taken or
omitted by the Agent and its Affiliates under this Agreement or any of the Loan
Documents; provided, however, that no Bank shall be liable for any portion of
such claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs or expenses resulting from the
Agent's or its Affiliates's gross negligence or willful misconduct.  Without
limitation of the foregoing, each Bank agrees to reimburse the Agent and its
Affiliates promptly upon demand for its ratable share of any out-of-pocket
expenses (including, without limitation, fees and expenses of counsel) incurred
by the Agent and its Affiliates in connection with the preparation, execution,
delivery, administration, modification, amendment or enforcement (whether
through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) of, or legal advice in
respect of rights or responsibilities under, this Agreement or any of the other
Loan Documents, to the extent that the Agent and its Affiliates is not
reimbursed for such expenses by Company, but without limiting the obligation of
Company to make such reimbursement.  Each Bank agrees to reimburse the Agent
and its Affiliates promptly upon demand for its ratable share of any amounts
owing to the Agent and its Affiliates by the Banks pursuant to this Section,
provided





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that, if the Agent or its Affiliates is subsequently reimbursed by the Company
for such amounts, it shall refund to the Banks on a pro rata basis the amount
of any excess reimbursement. If the indemnity furnished to the Agent and its
Affiliates under this Section shall, in the judgment of the Agent, be
insufficient or become impaired, the Agent may call for additional indemnity
from the Banks and cease, or not commence, to take any action until such
additional indemnity is furnished.

      13.10.     KNOWLEDGE OF DEFAULT. It is expressly understood and agreed
that the Agent shall be entitled to assume that no Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing, unless the officers of the Agent immediately
responsible for matters concerning this Agreement shall have been notified in a
writing specifying such Event of Default and stating that such notice is a
"notice of default" by a Bank or by Company. Upon receiving such a notice, the
Agent shall promptly notify each Bank of such Event of Default and provide each
Bank with a copy of such notice and, shall endeavor to provide such notice to
the Banks within three (3) Business Days (but without any liability whatsoever
in the event of its failure to do so). Agent shall also furnish the Banks,
promptly upon receipt, with copies of all other notices or other information
required to be provided by Company hereunder.

      13.11.     AGENT'S AUTHORIZATION; ACTION BY BANKS. Except as otherwise
expressly provided herein, whenever the Agent is authorized and empowered
hereunder on behalf of the Banks to give any approval or consent, or to make
any request, or to take any other action on behalf of the Banks (including
without limitation the exercise of any right or remedy hereunder or under the
other Loan Documents), the Agent shall be required to give such approval or
consent, or to make such request or to take such other action only when so
requested in writing by the Majority Banks or the Banks, as applicable
hereunder. Action that may be taken by Majority Banks or all of the Banks, as
the case may be (as provided for hereunder) may be taken (i) pursuant to a vote
at a meeting (which may be held by telephone conference call) as to which all
of the Banks have been given reasonable advance notice, or (ii) pursuant to the
written consent of the requisite Percentages of the Banks as required
hereunder, provided that all of the Banks are given reasonable advance notice
of the requests for such consent.

      13.12.     ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS BY THE AGENT. Except as otherwise
expressly provided under this Agreement or in any of the other Loan Documents
and subject to the terms hereof, Agent will take such action, assert such
rights and pursue such remedies under this Agreement and the other Loan
Documents as the Majority Banks or all of the Banks, as the case may be (as
provided for hereunder), shall direct; provided, however, that the Agent shall
not be required to act or omit to act if, in the judgment of the Agent, such
action or omission may expose the Agent to personal liability or is contrary to
this Agreement, any of the Loan Documents or applicable law. Except as
expressly provided above or elsewhere in this Agreement or the other Loan
Documents, no Bank (other than the Agent, acting in its capacity as agent)
shall be entitled to take any enforcement action of any kind under any of the
Loan Documents.





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<PAGE>   88
      13.13.     CO-AGENT.  Bank One, Texas, N.A. has been designated by the
Company as "Co-Agent" under this Agreement.  Other than its rights, powers,
obligations, liabilities, responsibilities,  remedies and duties as a Bank
hereunder, Co- Agent shall have no administrative, collateral or other rights,
powers, obligations, liabilities, responsibilities or duties hereunder,
provided, however, that Co-Agent shall be entitled to the benefits afforded to
the Agent under Sections 13.5 and 13.6 hereof.

14.   MISCELLANEOUS

      14.1.      ACCOUNTING PRINCIPLES. Where the character or amount of any
asset or liability or item of income or expense is required to be determined or
any consolidation or other accounting computation is required to be made for
the purposes of this Agreement, it shall be done, unless otherwise specified
herein, in accordance with GAAP. Furthermore, all financial statements required
to be delivered hereunder shall be prepared in accordance with GAAP.

      14.2.      CONSENT TO JURISDICTION. Company, Agent and Banks hereby
irrevocably submit to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any United States
Federal Court or Michigan state court sitting in Detroit, Michigan or Texas
state court sitting in Dallas County, Texas in any action or proceeding arising
out of or relating to this Agreement or any of the Loan Documents and Company,
Agent and Banks hereby irrevocably agree that all claims in respect of such
action or proceeding may be heard and determined in any such United States
Federal Court or Michigan state court or Texas state court. Company irrevocably
consents to the service of any and all process in any such action or proceeding
brought in any court in or of the State of Michigan or the State of Texas by
the delivery of copies of such process to Company at its address specified on
the signature page hereto or by certified mail directed to such address or such
other address as may be designated by Company in a notice to the other parties
that complies as to delivery with the terms of Section 14.6. Nothing in this
Section shall affect the right of the Banks and the Agent to serve process in
any other manner permitted by law or limit the right of the Banks or the Agent
(or any of them) to bring any such action or proceeding against Company or any
Guarantor or any of its or their property in the courts with subject matter
jurisdiction of any other jurisdiction. Company hereby irrevocably waives any
objection to the laying of venue of any such suit or proceeding in the above
described courts.

      14.3.      LAW OF MICHIGAN. This Agreement and the Notes have been
delivered at Detroit, Michigan, and shall be governed by and construed and
enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Michigan (without regard
to its conflict of laws provisions). Whenever possible each provision of this
Agreement shall be interpreted in such manner as to be effective and valid
under applicable law, but if any provision of this Agreement shall be
prohibited by or invalid under applicable law, such provision shall be
ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or invalidity, without
invalidating the remainder of such provision or the remaining provisions of
this Agreement.





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<PAGE>   89
      14.4.      INTEREST. In the event the obligation of Company to pay
interest on the principal balance of the Notes is or becomes in excess of the
maximum interest rate which Company is permitted by law to contract or agree to
pay, giving due consideration to the execution date of this Agreement, then, in
that event, the rate of interest applicable with respect to such Bank's
Percentage shall be deemed to be immediately reduced to such maximum rate and
all previous payments in excess of the maximum rate shall be deemed to have
been payments in reduction of principal and not of interest.

      14.5.      CLOSING COSTS AND OTHER COSTS; INDEMNIFICATION. (a) Company
agrees to pay, or reimburse the Agent for payment of, on demand (i) all
reasonable closing costs and expenses, including, by way of description and not
limitation, house and outside attorney fees (but without duplication of fees
and expenses for the same services provided to the same party) and advances,
appraisal and accounting fees, and lien search fees incurred by Agent in
connection with the commitment, consummation and closing of the loans
contemplated hereby or in connection with the administration of this Agreement
or any amendment, refinancing or restructuring of the credit arrangements
provided under this Agreement, (ii) all stamp and other taxes and fees payable
or determined to be payable in connection with the execution, delivery, filing,
recording or amendment of this Agreement and the Loan Documents and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, and any and all
liabilities with respect to or resulting from any delay in paying or omitting
to pay such taxes or fees, (iii) in connection with any Default or Event of
Default, all reasonable costs and expenses of the Agent or any of the Banks
(including reasonable fees and expenses of house and outside counsel (but
without duplication of fees and expenses for the same services) and whether
incurred through negotiations, legal proceedings or otherwise) in connection
with the amendment, waiver or enforcement of this Agreement, or the Loan
Documents or in connection with any refinancing or restructuring of the credit
arrangements provided under this Agreement and (iv) all reasonable costs and
expenses of the Agent or any of the Banks (including reasonable fees and
expenses of house and outside counsel (but without duplication of fees and
expenses for the same services) in connection with any action or proceeding
relating to a court order, injunction or other process or decree restraining or
seeking to restrain the Agent or any of the Banks from paying any amount under,
or otherwise relating in any way to, any Letter of Credit and any and all costs
and expenses which any of them may incur relative to any payment under any
Letter of Credit. At Agent's option, all of said amounts required to be paid by
Company, if not paid when due, may be charged by Agent as a Prime-based Advance
against the Indebtedness.

         (b)     Company agrees to indemnify and save Agent and each of the
Banks harmless from all loss, cost, damage, liability or expenses, including
reasonable house and outside attorneys' fees and disbursements (but without
duplication of fees and expenses for the same services), incurred by Agent and
the Banks by reason of an Event of Default, or enforcing the obligations of
Company or any Guarantor under this Agreement or any of the other Loan
Documents or in the prosecution or defense of any action or proceeding
concerning any matter growing out of or connected with this Agreement or any of
the Loan Documents, excluding, however, any loss, cost, damage, liability or
expenses arising solely as a result of the gross negligence or willful
misconduct of the party seeking to be indemnified under this Section 14.5(b).





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<PAGE>   90
         (c)     Company agrees to defend, indemnify and hold harmless Agent
and each of the Banks, and their respective employees, agents, officers and
directors from and against any and all claims, demands, penalties, fines,
liabilities, settlements, damages, costs or expenses of whatever kind or nature
arising out of or related to (i) the presence, disposal, release or threatened
release of any Hazardous Materials on, from or affecting any premises owned or
occupied by Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (ii) any personal injury
(including wrongful death) or property damage (real or personal) arising out of
or related to such Hazardous Materials, (iii) any lawsuit or other proceeding
brought or threatened, settlement reached or governmental order or decree
relating to such Hazardous Materials, (iv) the cost of removal of all Hazardous
Materials from all or any portion of any premises owned by Company or its
Subsidiaries, (v) the taking of necessary precautions to protect against the
release of Hazardous Materials on or affecting any premises owned by Company or
any of its Subsidiaries, (vi) complying with all Hazardous Material Laws and/or
(vii) any violation of Hazardous Material Laws, including without limitation,
reasonable attorneys and consultants fees, investigation and laboratory fees,
environmental studies required by Agent or any Bank in connection with the
violation of Hazardous Material Laws (whether before or after the occurrence of
any Default or Event of Default hereunder), court costs and litigation
expenses, excluding however, those arising as a result of its or their gross
negligence or willful misconduct. The obligations of Company under this Section
14.5(c) shall be in addition to any and all other obligations and liabilities
the Company may have to Agent or any of the Banks at common law or pursuant to
any other agreement.

         (d)     For all purposes of this Agreement, to the extent permitted by
applicable law, the Company shall not assert, and the Company hereby waives,
any claims against the Agent, the Issuing Bank, any of the Banks, and their
respective officers, directors, employees and agents, on any theory of
liability, for special, indirect, consequential or punitive damages (as opposed
to direct or actual damages) arising out of, or in connection with, or as a
result of, this Agreement, any other Loan Document, or any agreement or
instrument contemplated hereby or any Advance or Letter of Credit or the use of
the proceeds thereof.

      14.6.      NOTICES. Except as expressly provided otherwise in this
Agreement, all notices and other communications provided to any party hereto
under this Agreement or any other Loan Document shall be in writing and shall
be given by personal delivery, by mail, by reputable overnight courier, by
telex or by facsimile and addressed or delivered to it at its address set forth
on the signature pages hereof or at such other address as may be designated by
such party in a notice to the other parties that complies as to delivery with
the terms of this Section 14.6. Any notice, if personally delivered or if
mailed and properly addressed with postage prepaid and sent by registered or
certified mail, shall be deemed given when received or when delivery is
refused; any notice, if given to a reputable overnight courier and properly
addressed, shall be deemed given 2 Business Days after the date on which it was
sent, unless it is actually received sooner by the named addressee; and any
notice, if transmitted by telex or facsimile, shall be deemed given when
received (answer back confirmed in the case of telexes and receipt confirmed in
the case of telecopies). Agent may, but, except as specifically provided
herein, shall not be required to, take any action on the basis of any notice
given to it by telephone, but the giver of any such notice shall promptly
confirm such notice in writing or by telex or facsimile, and such notice will
not be deemed to have been received until such confirmation is deemed received
in accordance with the provisions of this Section set forth





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<PAGE>   91
above. If such telephonic notice conflicts with any such confirmation, the
terms of such telephonic notice shall control.

      14.7.      FURTHER ACTION. Company, from time to time, upon written
request of Agent will make, execute, acknowledge and deliver or cause to be
made, executed, acknowledged and delivered, all such further and additional
instruments, and take all such further action as may reasonably be required to
carry out the intent and purpose of this Agreement or the Loan Documents, and
to provide for Advances under and payment of the Notes, according to the intent
and purpose herein and therein expressed.

      14.8.      SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS; PARTICIPATIONS; ASSIGNMENTS.

         (a)     This Agreement shall be binding upon and shall inure to the
benefit of Company and the Banks and their respective successors and assigns.

         (b)     The foregoing shall not authorize any assignment by Company,
of its rights or duties hereunder, and no such assignment shall be made (or
effective) without the prior written approval of the Banks.

         (c)     The Company and Agent acknowledge that each of the Banks may
at any time and from time to time, subject to the terms and conditions hereof,
assign or grant participations in such Bank's rights and obligations hereunder
and under the other Loan Documents to any commercial bank, savings and loan
association, insurance company, pension fund, mutual fund, commercial finance
company or other similar financial institution, the identity of which
institution is approved by Company and Agent, such approval not to be
unreasonably withheld or delayed; provided, however, that (i) the approval of
Company shall not be required upon the occurrence and during the continuance of
a Default or Event of Default, and (ii) the approval of Company and Agent shall
not be required for any such sale, transfer, assignment or participation to the
Affiliate of an assigning Bank, any other Bank or any Federal Reserve Bank. The
Company authorizes each Bank to disclose to any prospective assignee or
participant, once approved by Company and Agent, any and all financial
information in such Bank's possession concerning the Company which has been
delivered to such Bank pursuant to this Agreement; provided that each such
prospective participant shall execute a confidentiality agreement consistent
with the terms of Section 14.12 hereof.

         (d)     Each assignment by a Bank of any portion of its rights and
obligations hereunder and under the other Loan Documents shall be made pursuant
to an Assignment Agreement substantially (as determined by Agent) in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit I (with appropriate insertions acceptable to Agent)
and shall be subject to the terms and conditions hereof, and to the following
restrictions:


                 14.8.0.1.        each assignment shall cover all of the Notes
                          issued by Company hereunder to the assigning Bank
                          (and not any particular note or notes), and





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<PAGE>   92
                          shall be for a fixed and not varying percentage 
                          thereof, with the same percentage applicable to each 
                          such Note;


                 14.8.0.2.        each assignment shall be in a minimum amount
                          of the lesser of (X) Ten  Million Dollars
                          ($10,000,000) or such lesser amount to which the
                          Company and the Agent may consent and (Y) the entire
                          remaining amount of assigning Bank's interest in the
                          Revolving Credit (and participations in any
                          outstanding Letters of Credit);  provided however
                          that, after giving effect to any assignment pursuant
                          to this Section 14.8(d), in no event shall the entire
                          remaining amount (if any) of assigning Bank's
                          interest in the Revolving Credit (and participations
                          in any outstanding Letters of Credit) be less than
                          $10,000,000;


                 14.8.0.3.        no assignment shall violate any "blue sky" or
                          other securities law of any jurisdiction or shall
                          require the Company, or any other Person to file a
                          registration statement or similar application with
                          the United States Securities and Exchange Commission
                          (or similar state regulatory body) or to qualify
                          under the "blue sky" or other securities laws of any
                          jurisdiction; and


                 14.8.0.4.        no assignment shall be effective unless Agent
                          has received from the assignee (or from the assigning
                          Bank) an assignment fee of $3,500 for each such
                          assignment.

In connection with any assignment, Company and Agent shall be entitled to
continue to deal solely and directly with the assigning Bank in connection with
the interest so assigned until (x) the Agent shall have received a notice of
assignment duly executed by the assigning Bank and an Assignment Agreement
(with respect thereto) duly executed by the assigning Bank and each assignee;
and (y) the assigning Bank shall have delivered to the Agent the original of
each Note held by the assigning Bank under this Agreement.  From and after the
date on which the Agent shall notify Company and the assigning Bank that the
foregoing conditions shall have been satisfied and all consents (if any)
required shall have been given, the assignee thereunder shall be deemed to be a
party to this Agreement. To the extent that rights and obligations hereunder
shall have been assigned to such assignee as provided in such notice of
assignment (and Assignment Agreement), such assignee shall have the rights and
obligations of a Bank under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents
(including without limitation the right to receive fees payable hereunder in
respect of the period following such assignment). In addition, the assigning
Bank, to the extent that rights and obligations hereunder shall have been
assigned by it as provided in such notice of assignment (and Assignment
Agreement), but not otherwise, shall relinquish its rights and be released from
its obligations under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

Within five (5) Business Days following Company's receipt of notice from the
Agent that Agent has accepted and executed a notice of assignment and the duly
executed Assignment Agreement, Company shall, to the extent applicable, execute
and deliver to the Agent in exchange for any





                                       85
<PAGE>   93
surrendered Note, new Note(s) payable to the order of the assignee in an amount
equal to the amount assigned to it pursuant to such notice of assignment (and
Assignment Agreement), and with respect to the portion of the Indebtedness
retained by the assigning Bank, to the extent applicable, new Note(s) payable
to the order of the assigning Bank in an amount equal to the amount retained by
such Bank hereunder shall be executed and delivered by the Company.  Agent, the
Banks and the Company acknowledge and agree that any such new Note(s) shall be
given in renewal and replacement of the surrendered Notes and shall not effect
or constitute a novation or discharge of the Indebtedness evidenced by any
surrendered Note, and each such new Note may contain a provision confirming
such agreement. In addition, promptly following receipt of such Notes, Agent
shall prepare and distribute to Company and each of the Banks a revised
Schedule 1.2 to this Agreement setting forth the applicable new Percentages of
the Banks (including the assignee Bank), taking into account such assignment.

         (e)     Each Bank agrees that any participation agreement permitted
hereunder shall comply with all applicable laws and shall be subject to the
following restrictions (which shall be set forth in the applicable
Participation Agreement):

                 (i)      such Bank shall remain the holder of its Notes
                          hereunder, notwithstanding any such participation;

                 (ii)     except as expressly set forth in this Section 14.8(e)
                          with respect to rights of setoff and the benefits of
                          Section 12 hereof, a participant shall have no direct
                          rights or remedies hereunder;
                 (iii)    a participant shall not reassign or transfer, or
                          grant any sub-participations in its participation
                          interest hereunder or any part thereof; and

                 (iv)     such Bank shall retain the sole right and
                          responsibility to enforce the obligations of the
                          Company relating to the Notes and the other Loan
                          Documents, including, without limitation, the right
                          to proceed against any Guaranties, or cause Agent to
                          do so (subject to the terms and conditions hereof),
                          and the right to approve any amendment, modification
                          or waiver of any provision of this Agreement without
                          the consent of the participant, except in the case of
                          participations granted to an Affiliate of such Lender
                          and except for those matters covered by Section
                          14.11(a) through (e) and (h) hereof (provided that a
                          participant may exercise approval rights over such
                          matters only on an indirect basis, acting through
                          such Bank, and Company, Agent and the other Banks may
                          continue to deal directly with such Bank in
                          connection with such Bank's rights and duties
                          hereunder).

Company agrees that each participant shall be deemed to have the right of
setoff under Section 10.6 hereof in respect of its participation interest in
amounts owing under this Agreement and the other Loan Documents to the same
extent as if the Indebtedness were owing directly to it as a Bank under this
Agreement, shall be subject to the pro rata recovery provisions of Section 11.3
hereof and shall be entitled to the benefits of Section 12 hereof. The amount,
terms and conditions of any participation shall be as set forth in the
participation agreement between the issuing Bank and the Person purchasing such
participation, and none of the Company, the Agent and the other Banks shall
have any responsibility or obligation with respect thereto, or to any





                                       86
<PAGE>   94
Person to whom any such participation may be issued.  No such participation
shall relieve any issuing Bank of any of its obligations under this Agreement
or any of the other Loan Documents, and all actions hereunder shall be
conducted as if no such participation had been granted.

         (f)     Nothing in this Agreement, the Notes or the other Loan
Documents, expressed or implied, is intended to or shall confer on any Person
other than the respective parties hereto and thereto and their successors and
assignees and participants permitted hereunder and thereunder any benefit or
any legal or equitable right, remedy or other claim under this Agreement, the
Notes or the other Loan Documents.

      14.9.      INDULGENCE. No delay or failure of Agent and the Banks in
exercising any right, power or privilege hereunder shall affect such right,
power or privilege nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude
any further exercise thereof, nor the exercise of any other right, power or
privilege. The rights of Agent and the Banks hereunder are cumulative and are
not exclusive of any rights or remedies which Agent and the Banks would
otherwise have.

      14.10.     COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in several
counterparts, and each executed copy shall constitute an original instrument,
but such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same
instrument.

      14.11.     AMENDMENT AND WAIVER. No amendment or waiver of any provision
of this Agreement or any other Loan Document, nor consent to any departure by
Company or any Guarantor therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the
same shall be in writing and signed by the Majority Banks (or by the Agent at
the written request of the Majority Banks) or, if this Agreement expressly so
requires with respect to the subject matter thereof, by all Banks (and, with
respect to any amendments to this Agreement or the other Loan Documents, by
Company or the Guarantors which are signatories thereto), and then such waiver
or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the
specific purpose for which given; provided, however, that no amendment, waiver
or consent shall, unless in writing and signed by all the Banks, do any of the
following: (a) increase any Bank's commitments hereunder, (b) reduce the
principal of, or interest on, the Notes or any Fees or other amounts payable
hereunder, (c) postpone any date fixed for any payment of principal of, or
interest on, the Notes or any Fees or other amounts payable hereunder, (d)
waive any Event of Default specified in Sections 10.1(a) or (b) hereof, (e)
except as expressly permitted hereunder, or under the Security Agreement,
release or defer the granting or perfecting of a lien or security interest in
any Collateral or release any guaranty or similar undertaking provided by any
Person, except as shall be otherwise expressly permitted in this Agreement or
any other Loan Document, provided however that Agent shall be entitled to
release any Collateral which the Company or any Guarantor is permitted to sell
or transfer under the terms of this Agreement or the other Loan Documents
without notice to or any further action or consent of the Banks (f) terminate
or modify any indemnity provided to the Banks hereunder or under the other Loan
Documents, except as shall be otherwise expressly provided in this Agreement or
any other Loan Document, (g) take any action which requires the approval or
consent of all Banks pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or any other Loan
Document, (h) change the aggregate unpaid principal amount of the Notes which
shall be required for the Banks or any





                                       87
<PAGE>   95
of them to take any action under this Agreement or any Loan Document or (i)
change the definition of "Majority Banks" or this Section 14.11; provided
further, that no amendment, waiver or consent shall, unless in writing signed
by the Swing Line Bank do any of the following: (x) reduce the principal of, or
interest on, the Swing Line Note or (y) postpone any date fixed for any payment
of principal of, or interest on, the Swing Line Note; and provided further,
however, that no amendment, waiver, or consent shall, unless in writing and
signed by the Agent in addition to all the Banks, affect the rights or duties
of the Agent under this Agreement or any other Loan Document. All references in
this Agreement to "Banks" or "the Banks" shall refer to all Banks, unless
expressly stated to refer to Majority Banks.

      14.12.     CONFIDENTIALITY. Each Bank agrees that it will not disclose
without the prior consent of Company (other than to its employees, its
Guarantors, another Bank or to its auditors or counsel) any information with
respect to Company, which is furnished pursuant to this Agreement or any of the
other Loan Documents; provided that any Bank may disclose any such information
(a) as has become generally available to the public or has been lawfully
obtained by such Bank from any third party under no duty of confidentiality to
Company, (b) as may be required or appropriate in any report, statement or
testimony submitted to, or in respect to any inquiry, by, any municipal, state
or federal regulatory body having or claiming to have jurisdiction over such
Bank, including the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System of the
United States, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency or the Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation or similar organizations (whether in the United
States or elsewhere) or their successors, (c) as may be required or appropriate
in respect to any summons or subpoena or in connection with any litigation, (d)
in order to comply with any law, order, regulation or ruling applicable to such
Bank, and (e) to any permitted transferee or assignee or to any approved
participant of, or with respect to, the Notes, as aforesaid.

      14.13.     WITHHOLDING TAXES. If any Bank is not incorporated under the
laws of the United States or a state thereof, such Bank shall promptly deliver
to the Agent two executed copies of (i) Internal Revenue Service Form 1001
specifying the applicable tax treaty between the United States and the
jurisdiction of such Bank's domicile which provides for the exemption from
withholding on interest payments to such Bank, (ii) Internal Revenue Service
Form 4224 evidencing that the income to be received by such Bank hereunder is
effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United
States or (iii) other evidence satisfactory to the Agent and Company that such
Bank is exempt from United States income tax withholding with respect to such
income. Such Bank shall amend or supplement any such form or evidence as
required to insure that it is accurate, complete and non-misleading at all
times. Promptly upon notice from the Agent of any determination by the Internal
Revenue Service that any payments previously made to such Bank hereunder were
subject to United States income tax withholding when made, such Bank shall pay
to the Agent the excess of the aggregate amount required to be withheld from
such payments over the aggregate amount actually withheld by the Agent.

      14.14.     TAXES AND FEES. Should any tax (other than as a result of a
Bank's failure to comply with Section 14.13 or a tax based upon the net income
or capitalization of any Bank or the Agent by any jurisdiction where a Bank or
Agent is located), recording or filing fee





                                       88
<PAGE>   96
become payable in respect of this Agreement or any of the other Loan Documents
or any amendment, modification or supplement hereof or thereof, the Company
agrees to pay the same, together with any interest or penalties thereon arising
from the Company's act or omission, and agrees to hold the Agent and the Banks
harmless with respect thereto.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing
contained in this Section 14.14 shall affect or reduce the rights of any Bank
or the Agent under Section 12.7 hereof.

      14.15.     WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. THE BANKS, THE AGENT AND THE COMPANY
AFTER CONSULTING OR HAVING HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONSULT WITH COUNSEL,
KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND INTENTIONALLY WAIVE ANY RIGHT ANY OF THEM MAY HAVE
TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LITIGATION BASED UPON OR ARISING OUT OF THIS
AGREEMENT OR ANY RELATED INSTRUMENT OR AGREEMENT OR ANY OF THE TRANSACTIONS
CONTEMPLATED BY THIS AGREEMENT OR ANY COURSE OF CONDUCT, DEALING, STATEMENTS
(WHETHER ORAL OR WRITTEN) OR ACTION OF ANY OF THEM. NEITHER THE BANKS, THE
AGENT, NOR COMPANY SHALL SEEK TO CONSOLIDATE, BY COUNTERCLAIM OR OTHERWISE, ANY
SUCH ACTION IN WHICH A JURY TRIAL HAS BEEN WAIVED WITH ANY OTHER ACTION IN
WHICH A JURY TRIAL CANNOT BE OR HAS NOT BEEN WAIVED. THESE PROVISIONS SHALL NOT
BE DEEMED TO HAVE BEEN MODIFIED IN ANY RESPECT OR RELINQUISHED BY THE BANKS AND
THE AGENT OR COMPANY EXCEPT BY A WRITTEN INSTRUMENT EXECUTED BY ALL OF THEM.

      14.16.     INTEREST.  It is the intention of the parties hereto that each
Bank and the Agent shall conform to usury laws applicable to them, if any.
Accordingly, if the transactions with any Bank or Agent contemplated hereby
would be usurious under such applicable laws, then, notwithstanding anything to
the contrary in the Notes or Loan Documents payable to such Bank, this
Agreement or any other agreement entered into in connection with or as security
for or guaranteeing this Agreement or the Indebtedness, it is agreed as
follows: (i) the aggregate of all consideration which constitutes interest
under applicable law that is contracted for, taken, reserved, charged or
received by such Bank under the Notes payable to such Bank, this Agreement, the
Loan Documents or under any other agreement entered into in connection with or
as security for or guaranteeing this Agreement or such Notes or Loan Documents
shall under no circumstances exceed the maximum amount allowed by such
applicable law, and any excess shall be credited automatically, if theretofore
paid, on the principal amount of the Indebtedness owed to such Bank or, if no
Indebtedness to such Bank is outstanding, shall be refunded to Company by such
Bank, and (ii) in the event that the maturity of any such Note or other
Indebtedness is accelerated or in the event of any required or permitted
prepayment, then such consideration that constitutes interest under law
applicable to such Bank may never include more than the maximum amount allowed
by such applicable law and excess interest, if any, to such Bank shall be
cancelled automatically as of the date of such acceleration or prepayment and,
if theretofore paid, shall be credited by such Bank on the principal amount of
the Indebtedness owed to such Bank by the Company or, if no Indebtedness to
such Bank is then outstanding, shall be refunded by such Bank to the Company.
Without limiting any provision of the Notes or Loan Documents, if for any
reason Texas law is applicable to this Agreement or any Note, it is expressly
agreed that Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. art. 5069, Ch. 15, as amended (which
regulates certain revolving credit loan





                                       89
<PAGE>   97
accounts and revolving triparty accounts) shall not apply to this Agreement,
such Note, such Loan Documents, the Loans or any transaction contemplated
hereby, and unless changed in accordance with law, the rate ceiling applicable
to any Indebtedness to which Texas law is applicable under Texas law shall be
the indicated (weekly) rate ceiling from time to time in effect as provided in
Tex. Rev. Civ. Stat. Ann. 5069-1.04, as amended.

      14.17.     COMPLETE AGREEMENT; CONFLICTS. This Agreement, the Notes, any
Requests for Revolving Credit Advance and Requests for Swing Line Advance
hereunder, and the other Loan Documents contain the entire agreement of the
parties hereto, superseding all prior agreements, discussions and
understandings relating to the subject matter hereof, and none of the parties
shall be bound by anything not expressed in writing. In the event of any
conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the other Loan Documents, this
Agreement shall govern.

      14.18.     SEVERABILITY. In case any one or more of the obligations of
Company under this Agreement, the Notes or any of the other Loan Documents
shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, the validity,
legality and enforceability of the remaining obligations of Company shall not
in any way be affected or impaired thereby, and such invalidity, illegality or
unenforceability in one jurisdiction shall not affect the validity, legality or
enforceability of the obligations of Company under this Agreement, the Notes or
any of the other Loan Documents in any other jurisdiction.

      14.19.     TABLE OF CONTENTS AND HEADINGS. The table of contents and the
headings of the various subdivisions hereof are for convenience of reference
only and shall in no way modify or affect any of the terms or provisions
hereof.

      14.20.     CONSTRUCTION OF CERTAIN PROVISIONS. If any provision of this
Agreement or any of the Loan Documents refers to any action to be taken by any
Person, or which such Person is prohibited from taking, such provision shall be
applicable whether such action is taken directly or indirectly by such Person,
whether or not expressly specified in such provision.

      14.21.     INDEPENDENCE OF COVENANTS. Each covenant hereunder shall be
given independent effect (subject to any exceptions stated in such covenant) so
that if a particular action or condition is not permitted by any such covenant
(taking into account any such stated exception), the fact that it would be
permitted by an exception to, or would be otherwise within the limitations of,
another covenant shall not avoid the occurrence of a Default or an Event of
Default.

      14.22.     RELIANCE ON AND SURVIVAL OF VARIOUS PROVISIONS. All terms,
covenants, agreements, representations and warranties of Company or any party
to any of the Loan Documents made herein or in any of the Loan Documents or in
any certificate, report,





                                       90
<PAGE>   98
financial statement or other document furnished by or on behalf of Company or
any Guarantor in connection with this Agreement or any of the Loan Documents
shall be deemed to have been relied upon by the Banks, notwithstanding any
investigation heretofore or hereafter made by any Bank or on such Bank's
behalf, and those covenants and agreements of Company set forth in Section 12.6
hereof (together with any other indemnities of Company or any Guarantor
contained elsewhere in this Agreement or in any of the other Loan Documents)
and of Banks set forth in Section 13.9 hereof shall survive the repayment in
full of the Indebtedness and the termination of the Revolving Credit Aggregate
Commitment.

      14.23.     AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT.  This Agreement constitutes an
amendment and restatement of the Prior Credit Agreement, which Prior Credit
Agreement is fully superseded and amended and restated in its entirety hereby;
provided, however, that the Indebtedness governed by the Prior Credit Agreement
shall remain outstanding and in full force and effect and provided further that
this Agreement does not constitute a novation of such Indebtedness.

                                   *   *   *

                    [Signatures follow on succeeding pages]





                                       91
<PAGE>   99
      WITNESS the due execution hereof as of the day and year first above
written.


COMERICA BANK,                             ALRENCO, INC.
  as Agent



By:                                      By:                                 
   ------------------------------           ------------------------------------
Its: Vice President                      Its: President
One Detroit Center                       714 East Kimbrough
500 Woodward Avenue                      Mesquite, Texas 75149
9th Floor MC 3289                        Attention: Chief Financial Officer
Detroit, Michigan 48226                  Telephone: (972) 288-9327
Attention: Valerie Kin                   Facsimile No. (972) 288-7753
Telephone: (313) 222-9133                Copy to: General Counsel (same address)
Facsimile No. (313) 222-9434               
                                           
                                           
SWING LINE BANK:                         COMERICA BANK - TEXAS
                                           
                                           
                                           
                                         By:  
                                            ------------------------------------
Eurocurrency Lending Office:               
Comerica Bank                            Its: Vice President
One Detroit Center                       8850 Boedeker St.
500 Woodward Ave.                        Dallas, Texas 75225
9th Floor MC 3289                        Attention: Reed Allton
Detroit, Michigan 48226                  Telephone: (214) 890-5367
Attention: Sandra Fields                 Facsimile No. (214) 890-5186
Telephone No. (313) 222-5265
Facsimile No. (313) 222-9434





                                       92
<PAGE>   100
REVOLVING CREDIT BANKS:                  COMERICA BANK - TEXAS



                                         By:
                                            -----------------------------------
Eurocurrency Lending Office:
Comerica Bank                            Its: Vice President
One Detroit Center                       8850 Boedeker St.
500 Woodward Ave.                        Dallas, Texas 75225
9th Floor MC 3289                        Attention: Reed Allton
Detroit, Michigan 48226                  Telephone: (214) 890-5367
Attention: Sandra Fields                 Facsimile No. (214) 890-5186
Telephone No. (313) 222-5265
Facsimile No. (313) 222-9434

                                         BANK ONE, TEXAS, N.A.


                                         By:                                   
                                            -----------------------------------
                                         Its:                                  
                                             ----------------------------------


SIGNATURE PAGE                                              AMENDED AND RESTATED
                                                      REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT

                                       93
<PAGE>   101
                             SCHEDULES AND EXHIBITS
                                       TO
           ALRENCO, INC. REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT (SEE WPD 0035705)


SCHEDULES

         Schedule 1.1         Applicable L/C Fee Percentage, Applicable
                              Revolving Commitment Fee Percentage and
                              Eurocurrency Margins
         Schedule 1.2         Percentages
         Schedule 2           Insurance Deposits
         Schedule 6.2         Good Standing Certificates
         Schedule 6.3(b)      List of Jurisdictions in which UCC Financing
                              Statements will be filed
         Schedule 7.9         Consumer Credit Laws
         Schedule 7.12        Litigation
         Schedule 7.16        Pension Plans
         Schedule 7.17        Conditions at Closing Affecting Business
         Schedule 7.18        Environmental Matters
         Schedule 7.19        Subsidiaries
         Schedule 7.20        Contingent Obligations
         Schedule 7.21        Changes in Requirements of Laws
         Schedule 9.1         Indebtedness
         Schedule 9.2         Existing Liens
         Schedule 9.3         Permitted Guarantees


EXHIBITS

         Exhibit A            Form of Request for Revolving Credit Advance
         Exhibit B            Form of Revolving Credit Note
         Exhibit C            Form of Notice of Letters of Credit
         Exhibit D            Form of Request for Swing Line Advance
         Exhibit E            Form of Swing Line Note
         Exhibit F            Form of Swing Line Participation Certificate
         Exhibit G            New Bank Addendum
         Exhibit H            Form of Covenant Compliance Report
         Exhibit I            Form of Assignment Agreement
         Exhibit K            Form of Borrowing Base Certificate
         Exhibit N            Intercompany Note
         Exhibit O            Store Listings
         Exhibit P            Reaffirmation of Certain Loan Documents






<PAGE>   102
                                  SCHEDULE 1.1

                           APPLICABLE FEE PERCENTAGE
                            AND EUROCURRENCY MARGINS


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
========================================================================================================
BASIS FOR PRICING             LEVEL I             LEVEL II           LEVEL III*            LEVEL IV
========================================================================================================
<S>                      <C>                   <C>                <C>                  <C>
Fixed Charge                                   > or = 2.8 : 1     > or = 2.25 : 1      < or = 2.25 : 1.0
Coverage Ratio           > or = 4.0 : 1.0            but                 but
                                                 < 4.0 : 1            < 2.8 : 1
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commitment Fee                 0.30%               0.375%              0.425%                0.50%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eurocurrency Margin            1.10%                1.25%               1.40%                1.65%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Letter of Credit Fee           1.10%                1.25%               1.40%                1.65%
========================================================================================================
</TABLE>




* Initial Level


SIGNATURE PAGE                                              AMENDED AND RESTATED
                                                      REVOLVING CREDIT AGREEMENT
<PAGE>   103
                                  SCHEDULE 1.2

                          PERCENTAGES AND ALLOCATIONS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                Bank                         Percentage          Allocation
        <S>                                 <C>                 <C>
        Comerica Bank-Texas                 58.333333333%       $35,000,000
        Bank One, Texas, N.A.               41.666666667%        25,000,000
                                           -------------        -----------
                              Total:       100.000000000%       $60,000,000
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   104
                                   SCHEDULE 2

                               INSURANCE DEPOSITS


<TABLE>
<S>                                                    <C>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------
Insurance Deposits:                                    
- ------------------------------------------------------------------

- ------------------------------------------------------------------
Risk Management- Workers Comp                          $  8,000.00
- ------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       
- ------------------------------------------------------------------
Hartford Ins. Co.- Workers Comp                        $ 64,169.00
- ------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       
- ------------------------------------------------------------------
Risk Management-General Liability & Auto               $ 20,000.00
- ------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       
- ------------------------------------------------------------------
American Comm-Health Insurance                         $ 40,248.02
- ------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                       
- ------------------------------------------------------------------
Total                                                  $132,417.02
- ------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   105
                                  SCHEDULE 6.2

                      REQUIRED GOOD STANDING CERTIFICATES


                                     Texas
<PAGE>   106
                                SCHEDULE 6.3(b)

                  LIST OF JURISDICTIONS IN WHICH UCC FINANCING
                            STATEMENTS WILL BE FILED


                          [To be provided by Comerica]
<PAGE>   107
                                  SCHEDULE 7.9

                              CONSUMER CREDIT LAWS


Terry D. Smith and Mary Myles v. Alrenco, Inc. et. al., class action lawsuit
filed in the Circuit Court of Montgomery County, Alabama, Civil Action No.
CV-98-45-R, alleging breach of contract and fraud in charging late fee.

Matilda Johnson v. Alrenco, Inc. et. al., class action lawsuit filed in the
Circuit Court of Montgomery County, Alabama, Civil Action No. CV-98-508-G,
alleging unjust enrichment and fraud in charging late fee.

<PAGE>   108
                                 SCHEDULE 7.12

                                   LITIGATION


Crystal Angerstein v. RTO, Inc. (formerly d/b/a Action Rent to Own), Cause No.
97-11497, filed in the 261st Judicial District Court of Travis County, Texas,
alleging sexual harassment and hostile work environment.

Rolland John Keener v. RTO Operating, Inc. et. al., Case No. 98-1014-E, filed
in the 148th Judicial District Court of Nueces County, Texas, alleging wrongful
termination and defamation.

McAllen Independent School District v. Seajay Investment Group, Inc. et. al.,
Case No. T-241-98-C, filed in the 139th Judicial District Court of Hidalgo
County, Texas, alleging nonpayment of taxes.

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ("EEOC") Charge No. 270970406 filed
with the New Orleans, Louisiana Division of the EEOC by Jimmy Fletcher, a
former employee of RTO, alleging discrimination on the basis of disability.

EEOC Charge No. 270980418 filed with the New Orleans, Louisiana District Office
of the EEOC, by Henry A. Sidney, a former employee of RTO, alleging
discrimination on the basis of race.

EEOC Charge No. 39098033 filed with the Albuquerque, New Mexico EEOC office by
Aaron Walters, alleging sex discrimination.

EEOC Charge No. 31980477 filed with the Oklahoma City, Oklahoma EEOC office by
Jennifer Brigance, alleging sex discrimination.

Connie Knight and Jeffery Knight v. Alrenco, Inc. and Dan Maughon, Case No.
1-97-CV-3564, filed in U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia -
Atlanta Division, alleging sexual harassment.

Nathan Hirschberg v. Alrenco, Inc., Case No. 96-25349-CA, filed in Dade County,
Florida Circuit Court, alleging personal injuries suffered while employee.

B & H Rentals, Inc. v. Alrenco, Inc., Case No. LKA970570, filed in Sixteenth
Judicial Court Kane County, Illinois, alleging conversion of accounts
receivable.

Norle Investments, Inc. v. Alrenco, Inc. et. al., Case No. 49DOZ9801CP000109,
filed in Marion Superior Court, Indiana, alleging breach of contract for not
providing insurance coverage for landlord's store which was destroyed by fire.

Terry D. Smith and Mary Myles v. Alrenco, Inc. et. al., class action lawsuit
filed in the Circuit Court of Montgomery County, Alabama, Civil Action No.
CV-98-45-R, alleging breach of contract and fraud in charging late fee.
<PAGE>   109
Matilda Johnson v. Alrenco, Inc. et. al., class action lawsuit filed in the
Circuit Court of Montgomery County, Alabama, Civil Action No. CV-98-508-G,
alleging unjust enrichment and fraud in charging late fee.

EEOC Charge filed with the Miami, Florida Office of the EEOC, by William
McWeeney, a former employee of Alrenco, Inc., alleging discrimination on the
basis of race and age.

EEOC Charge filed with the Miami, Florida Office of the EEOC, by Robert Taft, a
former employee of Alrenco, Inc., alleging discrimination on the basis of race
and sex.

EEOC Charge filed with the Indianapolis, Indiana Office of the EEOC, by Maurice
D. Kindle, alleging discrimination on the basis of sex.

EEOC Charge filed with the Montgomery, Alabama Office of the EEOC, by Queenie
J. Everage, alleging sexual harassment.

EEOC Charge filed with the Montgomery, Alabama Office of the EEOC, by Kathy S.
Phillips, alleging race and sex discrimination.

Matters being handled by insurance carriers.
<PAGE>   110
                                 SCHEDULE 7.16

                   PENSION PLANS SUBJECT TO TITLE IV OF ERISA


ALRENCO, INC.:

         Life, AD&D, and Medical Insurance Plan
         American Community Mutual Life Ins. Co.
         Group # 2185

         Short Term Disability Plan
         (Self-Administered)

         Section 125 Plan
         (Self-Administered)

         Voluntary Term Life and AD & D Insurance Plan
         Medical Life Insurance Company
         Master Policy #ML2200

         Dental Insurance
         Medical Life Insurance Company
         Policy # G3299

         Long Term Disability Insurance Plan
         Reliance Standard Life Insurance Co.
         Policy #LTD-67885

         401(k) Salary Reduction Plan
         Lincoln National Life Insurance Co.

RTO, INC./RTO OPERATING, INC.:

         Life and AD&D Insurance, Medical and Dental Plan
         Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Co.
         Policy # 52893

         Long Term Disability Insurance Plan
         Liberty Life Assurance Company of Boston
         Policy # 09-419313

         401(k) and Profit Sharing Plan
         Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co.
         Contract # SF-6945

         Section 125 Plan
         (Self-Administered)
<PAGE>   111
ACQUIRED WITH INSTANT RENT-TO-OWN, INC.:

         401(k) Plan
         Pan-American Life Insurance Co.
         Contract #  GA-95045

ACQUIRED WITH B & L CONCEPTS, INC. (ACTION RENT TO OWN OR FLORIDA, INC.):

         401(k) Plan
         Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co.
         Trustee - Frontier Trust Co.
         Administered by:  BISYS Plan Services
         Client No. 003209

ACQUIRED WITH HUT COMPANY:

         Profit Sharing Plan
         Administered by:  Commerce Bank, St. Louis, Mo.

STOCK OPTION PLANS:

         Alrenco, Inc. 1995 Stock Incentive Plan
         Alrenco, Inc. 1998 Stock Incentive Plan
         RTO, Inc. 1996 Employee Stock Option Plan
         RTO, Inc. 1996 Stock Option Plan for Non-Employee Directors
<PAGE>   112
                                 SCHEDULE 7.17

                    MATTERS EFFECTING BUSINESS OR PROPERTIES


Norle Investments, Inc. v. Alrenco, Inc. et. al., Case No. 49DOZ9801CP000109,
filed in Marion Superior Court, Indiana, alleging breach of contract for not
providing insurance coverage for landlord's store which was destroyed by fire.
<PAGE>   113
                                 SCHEDULE 7.18

                        ENVIRONMENTAL AND SAFETY MATTERS


With respect to the property located at 765 North Church Street, Spartanburg,
South Carolina, certain environmental reports have been prepared and tests
conducted, including but not limited to, a Phase I Environmental Site
Assessment, a Contaminated Soil Excavation Report, a Soil Removal Report, an
Underground Storage Tank Assessment and a Limited Asbestos Evaluation.  These
tests and reports were prepared by or under the supervision of S&ME, Inc. of
Spartanburg, South Carolina.  With respect to the property located at 1600 and
1604 S. Main Street, Little Rock, Arkansas, an Asbestos Survey & Assessment was
conducted and a related report prepared by TERRANEXT, Toxicology & Health
Related Sciences Division of Little Rock, Arkansas.
<PAGE>   114
                                 SCHEDULE 7.19

                                  SUBSIDIARIES


RTO Holding Co., Inc.

Action Rent-To-Own Holdings of South Carolina, Inc.

RTO Operating, Inc.

ATRO, Inc.
<PAGE>   115
                                 SCHEDULE 7.20

                             CONTINGENT OBLIGATIONS


Two Letters of Credit for a total undrawn amount of approximately $850,000.00.
<PAGE>   116
                                 SCHEDULE 7.21

                        CHANGES IN REQUIREMENTS OF LAWS


The following is as of the Effective Date:

Forty-eight states have adopted legislation regulating rental-purchase
transactions.  Of those states, 45 require companies to provide certain
disclosures to customers regarding the terms of the rental-purchase
transaction.  North Carolina, Wisconsin and Minnesota regulate rental-purchase
transactions as credit sales subject to consumer lending restrictions.  North
Carolina and Minnesota subject the transactions to interest rate or finance
charge limitations.  In addition, recent court decisions in New Jersey have
created a legal environment in that state which is prohibitive to
rental-purchase transactions.  The Company operates in North Carolina, but does
not operate in the other three states.  Twenty-two of the 23 states in which
the Company operates impose some type of disclosure requirements, either in
advertising or in the rental-purchase agreement, or both.  The regulations in
these states also distinguish rental- purchase transactions from credit sales.
The management of the Company believes that the operations of the Company are
in material compliance with applicable state rental-purchase laws.  Although
certain proposed federal regulations are under consideration, no federal
legislation has been enacted regulating rental-purchase transactions.  As of
the Effective Date, two bills have been introduced in Congress that would
regulate the rental-purchase industry.  One of the bills is supported by the
Association of Progressive Rental Organizations ("APRO") and the Company does
not believe that this bill, if enacted, would have a material adverse effect
upon the Company's operations.  The other bill would regulate rental-purchase
transactions as credit sales, and if enacted, could have a Material Adverse
Effect.
<PAGE>   117
                                  SCHEDULE 9.1

                                  INDEBTEDNESS


Two Letters of Credit for a total undrawn amount of approximately $850,000.00.

Debt assumed in the acquisition of Seajay Investment Group, Inc. in connection
with real property in Killeen, Texas.

Convertible Promissory Note, dated January 7, 1997, wherein RTO, Inc. (Maker)
promises to pay to B&L Concepts, Inc.  (Holder), the original principal sum of
$3,000,000.

Convertible Promissory Note, dated May 30, 1997, wherein RTO, Inc. (Maker)
promises to pay to Wayne Sutton (Holder), the original principal sum of
$2,000,000.

Debt described in Noncompetition Agreement, dated January 3, 1997, between RTO,
Inc. and Esther M. Pyle.

Debt described in Noncompetition Agreement, dated January 3, 1997, between RTO,
Inc. and David E. Pyle.

Debt described in Noncompetition Agreement, dated January 3, 1997, between RTO,
Inc. and Stephen L. Hardy.

Debt described in Noncompetition Agreement, dated January 3, 1997, between RTO,
Inc. and Tina M. Hardy.

Debt described in Noncompetition Agreement, dated January 3, 1997, between RTO,
Inc. and Rita P. Wallace.

Debt described in Noncompetition Agreement, dated January 3, 1997, between RTO,
Inc. and Randy D. Brasher.

Debt described in Noncompetition Agreement, dated January 3, 1997, between RTO,
Inc. and David H. Pyle.
<PAGE>   118
                                  SCHEDULE 9.2

                                     LIENS


Comerica Bank-Texas liens.

Associates Leasing.

Landlord liens under leases.
<PAGE>   119
                                  SCHEDULE 9.3

                              PERMITTED GUARANTEES


                                     None.
<PAGE>   120
                                   EXHIBIT A


                      REQUEST FOR REVOLVING CREDIT ADVANCE


                         No._______________       Dated:

                           To:  Comerica Bank - Agent

Re:      Alrenco Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement by and among
         Comerica Bank, as Agent, the lenders from time to time parties thereto
         (collectively, "Banks"), and Alrenco, Inc. ("Company") dated as of
         April 1, 1998, (as amended from time to time, the "Agreement").


         Pursuant to the Agreement, the Company requests an Advance from Banks
as follows:

         A.      Date of Advance:

         B.      Amount of Advance:

                 $


                      Comerica Bank Account No. ____________________________

                      Other: _______________________________________________ 

                             _______________________________________________

         C.      Type of Activity:

                 1.   Advance
                 2.   Refunding
                        of a Revolving Credit Advance
                        of a Swing Line Advance
                 3.   Conversion

         D.      Interest Rate:

                 1.   Prime-based Rate
                 2.   Eurocurrency-based Rate

         E.      Interest Period (for Eurocurrency-based Advances only):
<PAGE>   121
                 1.   One (1) Month
                 2.   Two (2) Months
                 3.   Three (3) Months
                 4.   Six (6) Months
                 5.   Twelve (12) Months

 F.       Availability:

          1.      Principal amount of requested Advance (new           $
                  money only):                                

          2.      Principal amount of all Revolving Advances           $
                  outstanding on the date of this Request:
                  
          3.      Principal amount of all Swing Line Advances          $
                  outstanding on the date of this Request:

          4.      Aggregate undrawn portion of Letters of Credit       $
                  outstanding on the date of this Request: 

          5.      Aggregate face amount of all Letters of Credit       $
                  requested but not yet issued on the date of this
                  Request:

          6.      Sum of Items 2 through 5:                            $

          7.      Revolving Credit Aggregate Commitment in effect      $
                  on the date of this Request:

          8.      Borrowing Base as of the most recently delivered     $
                  certificate:

          9.      Lesser of Items 7 and 8:                             $

          10.     Item 9 minus Item 6 (Availability): Item 1 must      $
                  be less than Item 10


<PAGE>   122
         The Company certifies to the matters specified in Section 2.3(e) of
the Agreement.

                                        ALRENCO, INC.


                                        By:
                                           
       

                                        Its: 
                                             

Agent Approval:
<PAGE>   123
                                   EXHIBIT B


                             REVOLVING CREDIT NOTE

$______________                                             ______________, 1998


         On the Revolving Credit Maturity Date, FOR VALUE RECEIVED, Alrenco,
Inc., an Indiana corporation ("Company") promises to pay to the order of
[insert Bank] ("Bank") at Detroit, Michigan, in care of Agent, in lawful money
of the United States of America, the sum of [Insert Amount derived from
Percentages] Dollars ($____________), or so much of said sum as may from time
to time have been advanced and then be outstanding hereunder pursuant to the
Alrenco Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of April 1,
1998, made by and among the Company, certain banks, including the Bank, and
Comerica Bank as Agent for such banks, as the same may be amended from time to
time (the "Agreement"), together with interest thereon as hereinafter set
forth.

         Each of the Advances made hereunder shall bear interest at the
Applicable Interest Rate from time to time applicable thereto under the
Agreement or as otherwise determined thereunder, and interest shall be
computed, assessed and payable as set forth in the Agreement.

         This Note is a note under which advances (including refundings and
conversions), repayments and readvances may be made from time to time, but only
in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Agreement. This Note
evidences borrowings under, is subject to, is secured in accordance with, and
may be accelerated or matured under, the terms of the Agreement, to which
reference is hereby made. Definitions and terms of the Agreement are hereby
incorporated by reference herein.

         This Note shall be interpreted and the rights of the parties hereunder
shall be determined under the laws of, and enforceable in, the State of
Michigan (without regard to its conflict of laws principles).

         Company hereby waives presentment for payment, demand, protest and
notice of dishonor and nonpayment of this Note and agrees that no obligation
hereunder shall be discharged by reason of any extension, indulgence, release,
or forbearance granted by any holder of this Note to any party now or hereafter
liable hereon or any present or subsequent owner of any property, real or
personal, which is now or hereafter security for this Note.
<PAGE>   124
         Nothing herein shall limit any right granted Bank by any other
instrument or by law.


                                        ALRENCO, INC.



                                        By:

                                        Its:
<PAGE>   125
                                   EXHIBIT C

                            LETTER OF CREDIT NOTICE


TO:      Members of the Bank Group

RE:      Issuance of Letter of Credit pursuant to Article 3 of the Alrenco
         Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement (as amended or
         otherwise modified from time to time, "Agreement") dated April 1, 1998
         among Alrenco, Inc. ("Company"), Agent and the Banks.


         On ______________________, 19__,(1) Issuing Bank, in accordance with
Article 3 of the Agreement, issued its Letter of Credit number ______________,
in favor of ____________________(2) for the account of Company [and
______________ ________________].(3) The face amount of such Letter of Credit is
$____________. The amount of each Bank's participation in the Letter of Credit
is as follows:(4)

         Comerica Bank            $
         Comerica Bank-Texas      $

         This notification is delivered this ___ day of ___________, 19___,
pursuant to Section 3.3 of the Agreement.  Except as otherwise defined,
capitalized terms used herein have the meanings given them in the Agreement.


                                        Signed:

                                        COMERICA BANK, as Agent


                                        By:                   


                                        Its:                  





- ------------

(1) Date of Issuance
(2) Beneficiary
(3) Other Account Party (i.e. Affiliate of Company), if any
(4) Amounts based on Percentages
<PAGE>   126
                                   EXHIBIT D


                         REQUEST FOR SWING LINE ADVANCE


No.________________       Dated:


To:      Comerica Bank-Texas, Swing Line Bank

Re:      Alrenco Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement by and among
         Comerica Bank, as Agent, the lenders from time to time parties thereto
         (collectively, "Banks"), and Alrenco, Inc. ("Company") dated as of
         April 1, 1998 (as amended from time to time, the "Agreement").


         Pursuant to the Agreement, the Company requests a Swing Line Advance
from the Swing Line Bank as follows:

         A.      Date of Advance:

         B.      Amount of Advance:

                 $


                      Comerica Bank Account No. ______________________________

                      Other: _________________________________________________

                             _________________________________________________

         C.      Interest Rate:

                 1.   Prime-based Rate
                 2.   Quoted Rate

         D.      Interest Period:

                 1.   _______ days(1)





- -------------

(1) Insert up to 30 days.
<PAGE>   127
 E.       Availability:

 1.       Principal amount of requested Advance (new money only):      $


 2.       Principal amount of all Revolving Advances outstanding       $
          on the date of this Request:

 3.       Principal amount of all Swing Line Advances outstanding      $
          on the date of this Request:


 4.       Aggregate undrawn portion of Letters of Credit               $
          outstanding on the date of this Request:


 5.       Aggregate face amount of all Letters of Credit requested     $
          but not yet issued on the date of this Request:

 6.       Sum of Items 2 through 5:                                    $


 7.       Revolving Credit Aggregate Commitment in effect on the       $
          date of this Request:

 8.       Borrowing Base as of the most recently delivered             $
          certificate:


 9.       Lesser of Items 7 and 8:                                     $

 10.      Item 9 minus Item 6 (Availability): Item 1 must be           $
          less than Item 10


         The Company certifies to the matters specified in Section 4.3(e) of
the Agreement.


                                        ALRENCO, INC.

                                        
                                        By:
                                           

                                        Its:




Swing Line Bank Approval:
<PAGE>   128
                                   EXHIBIT E

                                SWING LINE NOTE

$3,000,000                                                         April 1, 1998


         On the Revolving Credit Maturity Date, FOR VALUE RECEIVED, Alrenco,
Inc., an Indiana  corporation ("Company") promises to pay to the order of
Comerica Bank-Texas ("Bank") at 500 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, Michigan, in care
of Agent, in lawful money of the United States of America, the sum of Three
Million Dollars ($3,000,000), or so much of said sum as may from time to time
have been advanced and then be outstanding hereunder pursuant to Article 4 of
the Alrenco Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of April
1, 1998, executed by and among the Company, certain banks, including the Bank,
and Comerica Bank as Agent for such banks, as the same may be amended from time
to time (the "Agreement"), together with interest thereon as hereinafter set
forth.

         The unpaid principal indebtedness from time to time outstanding under
this Note shall be due and payable on the last day of the Interest Period
applicable thereto or as otherwise set forth in the Agreement, provided that no
Swing Line Advance may mature or be payable on a day later than the Revolving
Credit Maturity Date.

         Each of the Swing Line Advances made hereunder shall bear interest at
the Prime-based Rate or the Quoted Rate from time to time applicable thereto
under the Agreement or as otherwise determined thereunder, and interest shall
be computed, assessed and payable as set forth in the Agreement.

         This Note is a note under which advances, repayments and readvances
may be made from time to time, but only in accordance with the terms and
conditions of the Agreement. This Note evidences borrowings under, is subject
to, is secured in accordance with, and may be accelerated or matured under, the
terms of the Agreement, to which reference is hereby made. Definitions and
terms of the Agreement are hereby incorporated by reference herein.

         This Note shall be interpreted and the rights of the parties hereunder
shall be determined under the laws of, and enforceable in, the State of
Michigan (without regard to its conflict of laws provisions).

         Company hereby waives presentment for payment, demand, protest and
notice of dishonor and nonpayment of this Note and agrees that no obligation
hereunder shall be discharged by reason of any extension, indulgence, release,
or forbearance granted by any holder of this Note to any party now or hereafter
liable hereon or any present or subsequent owner of any property, real or
personal, which is now or hereafter security for this Note.
<PAGE>   129
         Nothing herein shall limit any right granted Bank by any other
instrument or by law.


                                        ALRENCO, INC.



                                        By:


                                        Its:
<PAGE>   130
                                   EXHIBIT F


                                    FORM OF
                   SWING LINE LOAN PARTICIPATION CERTIFICATE


                                                        __________________, 19__


[Name of Bank]

_________________________

_________________________


Ladies and Gentlemen:

         Pursuant to Section 4.5(b) of the Alrenco Amended and Restated
Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of April 1, 1998, among Alrenco, Inc., the
Banks named therein and Comerica Bank, as Agent, the undersigned hereby
acknowledges receipt from you of $___________________ as payment for a
participating interest in the following Swing Line Loan:

         Date of Swing Line Loan:________________________________

         Principal Amount of Swing Line Loan:____________________

The participation evidenced by this certificate shall be subject to the terms
and conditions of the Revolving Credit Agreement including without limitation
Section 4.5(b) thereof.



                                        Very truly yours,

                                        COMERICA BANK, as Agent


                                        By:___________________________________

                                        Its:__________________________________
<PAGE>   131
                                   EXHIBIT G

                          [FORM OF NEW BANK ADDENDUM]


         NEW BANK ADDENDUM, dated____________, to the Alrenco Amended and
Restated Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of April 1, 1998 (as amended or
otherwise modified from time to time, the "Credit Agreement"), among Alrenco,
Inc.  ("Company"), each of the financial institutions party thereto
(collectively, the "Banks") and Comerica Bank, as Agent for the Banks.


                              W I T N E S S E T H:


         WHEREAS, the Credit Agreement provides in Section 2.10 thereof that
any financial institution, although not originally a party thereto, may become
a party to the Credit Agreement with the consent of the Company and the Agent
by executing and delivering to the Agent a New Bank Addendum to the Credit
Agreement in substantially the form of this new bank addendum; and

         WHEREAS, the undersigned was not an original party to the Credit
Agreement but now desires to become a party thereto;

         NOW, THEREFORE, the undersigned hereby agrees as follows:

         The New Bank hereby confirms that it has received a copy of the Credit
Agreement and the exhibits and schedules referred to therein, and all other
Loan Documents which it considers necessary, together with copies of the other
documents which were required to be delivered under the Credit Agreement as a
condition to the making of the loans thereunder.  The New Bank acknowledges and
agrees that it: (a) has made and will continue to make such inquiries and has
taken and will take such care on its own behalf as would have been the case had
its commitment been granted and its loans been made directly by such New Bank
to the Company without the intervention of the Agent or any other Bank; and (b)
has made and will continue to make, independently and without reliance upon the
Agent or any other Bank, and based on such documents and information as it has
deemed appropriate, its own credit analysis and decisions relating to the
Credit Agreement.  The New Bank further acknowledges and agrees that the Agent
has not made any representations or warranties about the creditworthiness of
the Company or any other party to the Credit Agreement or any other of the Loan
Documents, or with respect to the legality, validity, sufficiency or
enforceability of the Credit Agreement, or any other of the Loan Documents.

         New Bank represents and warrants that it is a Person to which
assignments are permitted pursuant to Sections 14.8(c) and (d) of the Credit
Agreement.
<PAGE>   132
         Except as otherwise provided in the Credit Agreement, effective as of
the Effective Date (as defined below):

         (a)     the New Bank (i) shall be deemed automatically to have become
                 a party to the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents,
                 and to have all the rights and obligations of a party to the
                 Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents, as if it were
                 an original signatory; and (ii) agrees to be bound by the
                 terms and conditions set forth in the Credit Agreement and the
                 other Loan Documents as if it were an original signatory
                 thereto; and

         (b)     the New Bank shall be a Bank  and its Percentage of the
                 Revolving Credit shall be as set forth in the attached revised
                 Schedule 1.2 (Percentages).

         As used herein, the term "Effective Date" means the date on which all
of the following have occurred or have been completed, as reasonably determined
by the Agent:

         (1)     the Company shall have paid to the Agent,  all interest, fees
                 (including the Revolving Credit Commitment Fee) and other
                 amounts, if any, accrued to the Effective Date for which
                 reimbursement is then owing under the Credit Agreement;

         (2)     New Bank shall have remitted to the Agent funds in an amount
                 equal to its Percentage of all Advances of the Revolving
                 Credit outstanding as of the Effective Date;  and

         (3)     the Company shall have executed and delivered to the Agent for
                 the New Bank, new  Revolving Credit Notes payable to such New
                 Bank in the face amount of such New  Bank's Percentage of the
                 Revolving Credit Aggregate Commitment (after giving effect to
                 this New Bank Addendum, and any other New Bank Addendum
                 executed  concurrently herewith).

         The Agent shall notify the New Bank, along with Company, of the
Effective Date.

         The New Bank hereby advises the Agent of the following administrative
details with respect to the assigned loans:

                 (A)          Address for Notices:

                              Institution Name:

                              Address:

                              Attention:

                              Telephone:

                              Facsimile:
<PAGE>   133
                 (B)          Payment Instructions:


         Terms defined in the Credit Agreement and not otherwise defined herein
shall have their defined meanings when used herein.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this New Bank Addendum
to be executed and delivered by a duly authorized officer on the date first
above written.


                                        [INSERT NAME OF BANK]


                                        By:____________________________________

                                        Title:_________________________________



Accepted this _______ of

___________________, 199___.

ALRENCO, INC.


By: _______________________________________

Title: ____________________________________


Accepted this ____ of

__________________, 199___.

COMERICA BANK, as Agent


By: _______________________________________

Title: ____________________________________
<PAGE>   134
                                   EXHIBIT H

                           COVENANT COMPLIANCE REPORT


To:      Comerica Bank, as Agent

         Re:     Alrenco Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement dated
                 as of April 1, 1998 (as amended or otherwise modified from
                 time to time, the "Agreement")


         This Covenant Compliance and Interest Rate Adjustment Report
("Report") is furnished pursuant to Section 8.2 of the Agreement and sets forth
various information as of _____________, 19__ (the "Computation Date").

         1.      Minimum Tangible Net Worth, Section 8.9. On the Computation
Date, the Tangible Net Worth which is required to be not less than $25,000,000
plus  50% of Net Income (if positive) earned in each fiscal quarter beginning
with the quarter ending March 31, 1998 plus 100% of the proceeds of the
issuance of any New Equity (net of reasonable and customary costs and expenses
of issuance) during such fiscal quarter was ___________ as computed in the
supporting documents attached hereto as Schedule 1.

         2.      Positive Net Income, Section 8.10. On the Computation Date,
Net Income (exclusive of any tax benefit resulting from a loss carry forward or
otherwise, plus to the extent deducted in the computation of some Net Income,
all accrued taxes on or measured by income, and without giving effect, but
without duplication, to (x) one-time cash charges in an aggregate amount not to
exceed $8,000,000 any one-time non-cash charges in an aggregate amount not to
exceed $1,000,000 arising from the Merger for the first two fiscal quarters
ending after the Merger or (y) to any one-time cash charges in an aggregate
amount not to exceed $2,000,000 for the four fiscal quarters then ending
arising from any acquisition and/or mergers other than the Merger, in either
case as such charges were given effect prior to giving effect to any taxes on
or measured by income) greater than zero, was $______________ as computed in
the supporting documents attached hereto as Schedule 2.

         3.      Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, Section 8.11. On the Computation
Date, the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio, which is required to be not less than
___ to 1.0 was ___________ as computed in the supporting documents attached as
Schedule 3.

         4.      Leverage Ratio, Section 8.12. On the Computation Date, the
Leverage Ratio which is required to be not more than 0.50 to 1.0 was
______________ as computed in the supporting documents attached hereto as
Schedule 4.
<PAGE>   135
         5.      Eurocurrency Margin. The aggregate applicable Margin which
shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of Section 5.1 of the
Agreement and which is based on the Fixed Charge Coverage Ratio on the
Computation Date is _______________________ percent (_____%).

         6.      Limitation on Debt, Section 9.1. On the Computation Date:

                              (a) Clause (c)(i): The aggregate principal amount
                 of Debt of the Company or a Guarantor incurred to finance the
                 acquisition of motor vehicles (whether pursuant to a loan or a
                 Financing Lease) which shall not exceed $5,000,000 at any time
                 outstanding, and any renewals or refinancings thereof, was
                 $________, as set forth in Schedule 6(a);

                              (b) Clause (c)(ii): The aggregate amount of Debt
                 of the Company or a Guarantor incurred to finance the
                 acquisition of fixed or capital assets other than motor
                 vehicles (whether pursuant to a loan or a Financing Lease)
                 which shall not exceed $1,000,000 at any time outstanding, and
                 any renewals or refinancings thereof, was $_________ as set
                 forth in Schedule 6(b);

                              (c) Clause (d): The aggregate amount of Debt of
                 the Company or a Guarantor arising in connection with
                 non-competition agreements entered into by the Company or such
                 Guarantor in connection with Permitted Acquisitions (as
                 defined by the Agreement), which shall not exceed $3,000,000
                 at any one time, was $________ as set forth in Schedule 6(c);

                              (d) Clause (j): The aggregate principal amount of
                 "additional Debt" pursuant to Section 9.1(g) of the Agreement,
                 which shall not exceed $5,000,000 at any one time outstanding,
                 provided that only the principal component of obligations
                 shall be considered in calculating such amount, was
                 $_________.

         7.      Limitation on Mergers or Sale of Assets, Section 9.5. On the
Computation Date, "other property" disposed of pursuant to Section 9.5(e) of
the Agreement, which shall not exceed $1,000, 000 during any fiscal year of the
Company, was $__________.

         8.      Limitation on Capital Expenditures, Section 9.7. On the
Computation Date, the aggregate amount of capital expenditures pursuant to
Section 9.7(b) of the Agreement, which shall not exceed $6,000,000 for the
Company during fiscal year 1998 and $3,000,000 during any fiscal year
thereafter any fiscal year of the Company, was $ __________.

         9.      Limitation on Investments, Loans and Advances, Section 9.8. On
the Computation Date

                              (a) Clause (c): the aggregate amount of loans and
                 advances to officers and employees of the Company for travel
                 and entertainment in the ordinary course of business, which
                 shall not exceed $200,000 at any one time outstanding, was
                 $___________ and the aggregate amount of advances to employees
                 to purchase inventory for personal use, which shall not exceed
                 $300,000 at any one time outstanding, was $____________;
<PAGE>   136
                              (b) Clause (g): loans, advances or investments by
                 Company or any Guarantor in any Subsidiary (other than RTO
                 Holding or RTO Operating) which shall not exceed $500,000 at
                 any one time outstanding was $____________;

         The undersigned officer of Company hereby certifies that:

         A.      All of the information set forth in this Report (and in any
Schedule attached hereto) is true and correct in all material respects.

         B.      As of the Computation Date, the Company and its Subsidiaries
has observed and performed all of its covenants and other agreements contained
in the Agreement and in the Notes and any other Loan Documents to be observed,
performed and satisfied by them.

         C.      He/she has reviewed the Agreement and this Report is based on
an examination sufficient to assure that this Report is accurate.

         D.      Attached hereto as Exhibit D are the Same Store Reports as
required under the Credit Agreement.

         E.      Except as stated in Schedule D hereto (which shall describe
any existing Default or Event of Default and the notice and period of existence
thereof and any action taken with respect thereto or contemplated to be taken
by Company), no Default or Event of Default, has occurred and is continuing on
the date of this Report.

         Capitalized terms used in this Report and in the schedules hereto,
unless specifically defined to the contrary, have the meanings given to them in
the Agreement.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Company has caused this Report to be executed and
delivered by its duly authorized officer this ______ day of __________________,
19__.


                                        ALRENCO, INC.


                                        By:___________________________________

                                        Its:__________________________________
<PAGE>   137
                                   EXHIBIT I

                                    FORM OF
                              ASSIGNMENT AGREEMENT

                                                       Date: 

To:      ALRENCO, INC.

             and

         COMERICA BANK, AS AGENT ("Agent")

Re:      Alrenco Amended and Restated Revolving Credit Agreement dated as of
         April 1, 1998 (as amended or otherwise modified from time to time, the
         "Credit Agreement"), among Alrenco, Inc. ("Company"), Agent and
         certain Banks

Gentlemen and Ladies:

         Reference is made to Section 14.8(c), (d) and (e) of the Credit
Agreement. Unless otherwise defined herein or the context otherwise requires,
all initially capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the
meanings specified in the Credit Agreement.

         This Agreement constitutes notice to each of you of the proposed
assignment and delegation by  [insert assignor Bank]    (the "Assignor") to
[insert proposed assignee]   (the "Assignee"), and the Assignor hereby sells
and assigns to the Assignee, and the Assignee hereby purchases and assumes from
the Assignor, a    % undivided interest in each of Assignor's rights and
obligations under the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents such that,
after giving effect to the foregoing assignment and assumption, [and the other
assignments by Assignor to ___________ on the date hereof,] the Assignee's
interest in the Revolving Credit (and participation in any outstanding Letters
of Credit) shall equal $__________________  and the Assignee's Percentage shall
equal ___%.

         Assignor does hereby irrevocably sell, assign and transfer to Assignee
without recourse to the Assignor and the Assignee does hereby irrevocably
purchase and assume from the Assignor without recourse to the Assignor,
effective as of the "Effective Date" (as hereafter defined) _______% of
Assignor's right, title and interest in, to and under the Assignor's Note, the
Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents.

         The Assignor hereby instructs the Agent to make all payments from and
including the Effective Date hereof in respect of the interest assigned hereby,
directly to the Assignee. The Assignor and the Assignee agree that all interest
and fees accrued up to, but not including, the Effective Date of the assignment
and delegation being made hereby are the property of the
<PAGE>   138
Assignor, and not the Assignee. The Assignee agrees that, upon receipt of any
such interest or fees accrued up to the Effective Date, the Assignee will
promptly remit the same to the Assignor.

         The Assignee hereby confirms that it has received a copy of the Credit
Agreement and the exhibits and schedules referred to therein, and all other
Loan Documents which it considers necessary, together with copies of the other
documents which were required to be delivered under the Credit Agreement as a
condition to the making of the loans thereunder.  The Assignee acknowledges and
agrees that it: (a) legally authorized to enter into this Assignment Agreement;
(b) has made and will continue to make such inquiries and has taken and will
take such care on its own behalf as would have been the case had its Percentage
been granted and its loans been made directly by such Assignee to the Company
without the intervention of the Agent, the Assignor or any other Bank; and (c)
has made and will continue to make, independently and without reliance upon the
Agent, the Assignor or any other Bank, and based on such documents and
information as it has deemed appropriate, its own credit analysis and decisions
relating to the Credit Agreement.  The Assignee further acknowledges and agrees
that neither the Agent, nor the Assignor has made any representations or
warranties about the creditworthiness of the Company or any other party to the
Credit Agreement or any other of the Loan Documents, or with respect to the
legality, validity, sufficiency or enforceability of the Credit Agreement, or
any other of the Loan Documents. This assignment shall be made without recourse
to or warranty by the Assignor, except as set forth herein.

         Assignee represents and warrants that it is a Person to which
assignments are permitted pursuant to Section 14.8(c) of the Credit Agreement.

         Assignor represents and warrants, as of the Effective Date, that it is
the legal and beneficial owner of the interest being assigned and delegated by
it hereunder and that such interest is free and clear of any pledge,
encumbrance or other adverse claim or interest created by Assignor.

         Except as otherwise provided in the Credit Agreement, effective as of
the Effective Date:

         (a)     the Assignee: (i) shall be deemed automatically to have become
                 a party to the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents,
                 to have assumed all of the Assignor's obligations thereunder
                 to the extent of the percentage of Assignor's rights and
                 obligations assigned to Assignee pursuant to this Assignment
                 Agreement, and to have all the rights and obligations of a
                 party to the Credit Agreement and the other Loan Documents, as
                 if it were an original signatory thereto to the extent
                 specified in the second paragraph hereof; and (ii) agrees to
                 be bound by the terms and conditions set forth in the Credit
                 Agreement and the other Loan Documents as if it were an
                 original signatory thereto; and

         (b)     the Assignor's obligations under the Credit Agreement and the
                 other Loan Documents shall be reduced by the percentage
                 assigned to Assignee pursuant to this Assignment Agreement.

         As used herein, the term "Effective Date" means the date on which all
of the following have occurred or have been completed, as reasonably determined
by the Agent:
<PAGE>   139
         (1)     the delivery to the Agent of an original of this Assignment
                 Agreement executed by the Assignor and the Assignee;

         (2)     the payment to the Agent, of all accrued fees, expenses and
                 other items for which reimbursement is then owing under the
                 Credit Agreement;

         (3)     the payment to the Agent of the $3,500 processing fee referred
                 to in Section 14.8(d) (iv) of the Credit Agreement; and

         (4)     all other restrictions and items noted in Sections 14.8(c),
                 (d) and (e) of the Credit Agreement have been satisfied.

The Agent shall notify the Assignor, the Assignee and the Company of the
Effective Date.

         On the Effective Date, the Assignee shall pay to the Assignor an
amount equal to the outstanding principal amount of the indebtedness owed to it
by the Company under the Credit Agreement in respect of the interest being
assigned hereby.

         The obligations of the Assignor and the Assignee hereunder are
conditioned upon (i) the approval of the Company and the Agent (as required
under the Credit Agreement) to the assignment evidenced hereby which approval
shall be evidenced by their due execution of this Assignment Agreement and (ii)
the Agent's satisfaction that the restrictions and items noted in Section
14.8(c) and (d) of the Agreement have been satisfied (waived pursuant to this
Assignment Agreement).

         The Assignee hereby advises each of you of the following
administrative details with respect to the assigned loans:

                 (A)          Address for Notices:

                              Institution Name:

                              Address:
<PAGE>   140
                              Attention:

                              Telephone:

                              Facsimile:

                 (B)          Payment Instructions:

                 (C)          Proposed effective date of assignment.

         The Assignee has delivered to the Agent (or is delivering to the Agent
concurrently herewith) the tax forms referred to in Section 14.13 of the Credit
Agreement, other forms reasonably requested by the Agent, and the original of
each Note held by the Assignor under the Credit Agreement.

         Please evidence your consent to and acceptance of the proposed
assignment and delegation set forth herein by signing and returning
counterparts hereof to the Assignor and the Assignee.

                                        [ASSIGNOR]


                                        By: 
                                        
                                        Its:
                                        
<PAGE>   141
                                        [ASSIGNEE]


                                        By:
                                           
                                        Its:
                                            


ACCEPTED AND CONSENTED TO
this ___ day of ________, 199_


COMERICA BANK, Agent



By:

Its:


ALRENCO, INC.


By:

Its:

[This form of Assignment Agreement (including footnotes) is subject in all
respects to the terms and conditions of the Credit Agreement which shall govern
in the event of any inconsistencies or omissions.]
<PAGE>   142
                                  EXHIBIT K
                                ALRENCO, INC.
                          BORROWING BASE CERTIFICATE
                               FOR MONTH ENDED:


Comerica Bank, as Agent
  and the Banks parties to the
  Credit Agreement referred to below
500 Woodward Avenue
Detroit, Michigan  48226

         This Borrowing Base Certificate ("Certificate") is furnished pursuant
to Section 8.2 of the Amended and Restated Alrenco Revolving Credit Agreement
dated as of April 1, 1998, as amended from time to time, and sets forth various
information as of _____________, 19__ (the "Computation Date").

         A.      The Borrowing Base for the calendar month _________ is
calculated as follows:

 1.       Average Receipts

          (a)     Rental Receipts for calendar month immediately      $
                  preceding the Computation Date:

          (b)     Rental Receipts for calendar month immediately      $
                  preceding the calendar month in item 1(a):

          (c)     Rental Receipts for calendar month immediately      $
                  preceding the calendar month in item 1(b):

          (d)     Sum of the highest two items of the above items     $
                  1(a), 1(b) and 1(c):

          (e)     Item 1(d) divided by 2 and multiplied by 4          $
                  (Average Receipts)

 2.       Rental Income Value

          (a)     Value of all Rental Contracts                       $

          (b)     Value of all Eligible Rental Contracts              $

          (c)     50% of Item 2(b) (Rental Income Value)              $

 3.       100% of Original Cost determined on a consolidated 
          basis.

 4.       The lesser of Items 1(e), 2(c) and 3 (Borrowing Base):      $


<PAGE>   143
         B.      Attached hereto as Exhibit A is the BOR Report for the
                 calendar month ending on the Computation Date.

         C.      Attached hereto as Exhibit B is the Reconciliation Report for
                 the calendar month ending on the Computation Date.

         D.      Attached hereto as Exhibit C is the Idle Inventory Report for
                 the calendar month ending on the Computation Date.

         E.      Attached hereto as Exhibit D is the Delinquency Report as of
                 the last Saturday in the Calendar month ending on the
                 Computation Date.

         The undersigned officer of the Company hereby certifies that:

         (a)     All of the information set forth in this Certificate (and in
any Exhibit attached hereto) is true and correct in all material respects.

         (b)     As of the Computation Date, the Company and its Subsidiaries
has observed and performed all of its covenants and other agreements contained
in the Credit Agreement and in the Notes and any other Loan Documents to be
observed, performed and satisfied by them.

         (c)     He/she has reviewed the Credit Agreement and this Certificate
is based on an examination sufficient to assure that this Certificate is
accurate.

         (d)     Except as stated in Schedule 1 hereto (which shall describe
any existing Default or Event of Default and the notice and period of existence
thereof and any action taken with respect thereto or contemplated to be taken
by the Company), no Default or Event of Default, has occurred and is continuing
on the date of this Certificate.

         Capitalized terms used in this Certificate and in the schedules
hereto, unless specifically defined to the contrary, have the meanings given to
them in the Agreement.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Certificate to be
executed and delivered by its duly authorized officer this ______ day of
__________________, 19__.


                                        ALRENCO, INC.


                                        By:___________________________________

                                        Its:__________________________________
<PAGE>   144
                                   EXHIBIT N

                           FORM OF INTERCOMPANY NOTE

                                (See attached.)





<PAGE>   145
                                   EXHIBIT O

                                 STORE LISTINGS

                              [Company to Provide]





                                                                  SIGNATURE PAGE
                                         REAFFIRMATION OF CERTAIN LOAN DOCUMENTS
<PAGE>   146
                                   EXHIBIT P

                FORM OF REAFFIRMATION OF CERTAIN LOAN DOCUMENTS

         This Reaffirmation of Loan Documents dated as of April 1, 1998 (this
"Reaffirmation") executed by Alrenco, Inc., an Indiana corporation (the
"Company"), RTO Operating, Inc., a Delaware corporation ("RTO Operating"), RTO
Holding Co., Inc., a Delaware corporation ("RTO Holding"), ATRO, Inc., a South
Carolina corporation ("ATRO") and Action Rent-to- Own Holdings of South
Carolina, Inc., a South Carolina corporation ("Action Rent-to Own" and together
with RTO Operating, RTO Holding and ATRO, the "Guarantors") reaffirms the
following documents, each dated as of February 26, 1998 and each executed in
favor of the Agent for and on behalf of the Banks (collectively, the
"Reaffirmed Loan Documents"):


(a)      the Guaranty executed by each of the Guarantors;

(b)      the Pledge Agreement executed by the Company;

(c)      the Pledge Agreement executed by RTO Holding;

(d)      the Security Agreement executed by the Company and each of the
         Guarantors; and

(e)      the Agreement (Trademark) executed by RTO Operating and ATRO.

         0.5.1.      Each of the undersigned acknowledges that the Company, 
the Banks and the Agent have executed the Amended and Restated Revolving Credit
Agreement dated as of April 1, 1998 (as amended or otherwise modified from time
to time, the "Amended and Restated Credit Agreement"). Capitalized terms not
otherwise defined herein will have the meanings given in the Amended and
Restated Credit Agreement.

         0.5.2.      Each of the undersigned hereby ratifies and confirms its 
obligations under the Reaffirmed Loan Documents to which such undersigned is a
party and agrees that such Reaffirmed Loan Documents remain in full force and
effect after giving effect to the effectiveness of the Amended and Restated
Credit Agreement and that, upon such effectiveness, all references in such
Reaffirmed Loan Documents to the "Credit Agreement" or the "Notes" issued
thereunder shall be references to the Amended and Restated Credit Agreement and
the Notes issued thereunder.

         0.5.3.      This Reaffirmation may be signed in counterparts and by 
the various parties on separate counterparts.  This Reaffirmation shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of, and be
enforceable in, the State of Michigan.  This Reaffirmation shall be binding upon
the undersigned, the Banks and the Agent and their respective successors and
assigns.  This Reaffirmation shall be effective as of the date hereof.

                    [SIGNATURES FOLLOW ON SUCCEEDING PAGE]





<PAGE>   147
         WITNESS, the due execution hereof as of the date and year first above
written.


                                   ALRENCO, INC., an Indiana corporation


                                   By:__________________________________________
                                                                               
                                   Its:_________________________________________



                                   RTO OPERATING, INC., a Delaware corporation


                                   By:__________________________________________
                                                                               
                                   Its:_________________________________________



                                   RTO HOLDING CO., INC., a Delaware corporation


                                   By:__________________________________________
                                                                               
                                   Its:_________________________________________



                                   ATRO, INC., a South Carolina corporation


                                   By:__________________________________________
                                                                               
                                   Its:_________________________________________



                                   ACTION RENT-TO-OWN HOLDINGS OF SOUTH 
                                   CAROLINA, INC., a South Carolina corporation


                                   By:__________________________________________
                                                                               
                                   Its:_________________________________________





                                                                  SIGNATURE PAGE
                                         REAFFIRMATION OF CERTAIN LOAN DOCUMENTS
<PAGE>   148
                                    GUARANTY


                   [SEE EXHIBIT J TO PRIOR CREDIT AGREEMENT]





                                                                  SIGNATURE PAGE
                                         REAFFIRMATION OF CERTAIN LOAN DOCUMENTS
<PAGE>   149
                               SECURITY AGREEMENT


                   [SEE EXHIBIT L TO PRIOR CREDIT AGREEMENT]





<PAGE>   150



                               PLEDGE AGREEMENTS


             [SEE EXHIBITS M-1 AND M-2 TO PRIOR CREDIT AGREEMENT:
                               PLEDGE AGREEMENT]










<PAGE>   1
                                                                  EXHIBIT 23.1


                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statement of
Alrenco, Inc. on Form S-8 (File No. 333-08915) of our report dated March 3,
1998, on our audits of the consolidated financial statements of Alrenco, Inc.
and subsidiaries, after restatement for the 1998 pooling of interests with RTO,
Inc. as described in Note 1 to those financial statements, as of December 31,
1997 and 1996, and for the three years in the period ended December 31, 1997,
which report is included in this March 31, 1998 Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.


/s/ COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P.
- ----------------------------
Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.


Spartanburg, South Carolina
May 12, 1998

<PAGE>   1

                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.2

              CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS

We have issued our report dated January 30, 1998, accompanying the consolidated
financial statements of Alrenco, Inc. and Subsidiaries, after restatement for
the 1998 pooling of interests with RTO, Inc., included in the Quarterly Report
of Alrenco, Inc., on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1998. We hereby
consent to the incorporation by reference of said report in the Registration
Statement of Alrenco, Inc., on Form S-8 (File No. 333-08915, effective July 26,
1996).


/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP
- --------------------------
    Grant Thornton LLP

Dallas Texas
May 12, 1998

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1998
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1998
<CASH>                                       6,627,968
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                        0
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0
<INVENTORY>                                 97,733,238
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0
<PP&E>                                      15,936,327
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             226,502,743
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       33,295,836
<BONDS>                                              0
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                   149,599,883
<OTHER-SE>                                (13,455,087)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               226,502,743
<SALES>                                     65,542,860
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            65,542,860
<CGS>                                       19,134,206
<TOTAL-COSTS>                               54,945,772
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                            19,062,817
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                           1,096,842
<INCOME-PRETAX>                            (9,482,985)
<INCOME-TAX>                               (1,415,270)
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                        (8,067,715)
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                               (8,067,715)
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    (.48)
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    (.48)
        

</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
RESTATED FOR MERGER BETWEEN ALRENCO, INC. AND RIO, INC.
<RESTATED> 
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   YEAR                   YEAR                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997             JAN-01-1997             JAN-01-1996             JAN-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997             DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1995
<CASH>                                      14,482,339               3,569,132              35,745,989               1,110,011
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                       0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                        0                       0                       0                       0
<ALLOWANCES>                                         0                       0                       0                       0
<INVENTORY>                                 69,986,349              97,260,578              58,723,990              21,742,162
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                     0                       0                       0                       0
<PP&E>                                       9,481,081              22,132,356              16,561,269               9,787,742
<DEPRECIATION>                                       0               7,093,378               7,080,548               5,821,458
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             187,329,542             223,560,691               9,481,081              35,196,995
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                       16,848,195              31,094,305              15,481,895               8,683,837
<BONDS>                                              0                       0                       0                       0
                                0                       0                       0                       0
                                          0                       0                       0                       0
<COMMON>                                   149,081,541             149,385,777             148,719,632               4,473,963
<OTHER-SE>                                 (2,084,286)             (6,375,182)             (2,375,300)             (1,025,009)
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>               187,329,542             223,560,691             169,131,076              35,196,995
<SALES>                                     53,345,485             230,968,599             124,161,360              77,528,724
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            53,345,485             230,968,599             124,161,360              77,528,724
<CGS>                                       15,188,513              67,257,744              36,581,109              25,054,452
<TOTAL-COSTS>                               42,944,397             195,222,493             104,180,816              65,020,893
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                             8,536,694              38,119,640              17,921,732               8,556,659
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0                       0                       0                       0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             422,895               2,512,015               1,571,808               2,467,652
<INCOME-PRETAX>                              1,502,401             (3,881,022)               2,286,350               2,829,395
<INCOME-TAX>                                   969,518                  22,737               1,389,466               1,167,177
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                            532,883             (3,903,754)                 896,884               1,662,218
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0               3,335,851
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                   532,883             (3,903,759)                 896,884               4,998,069
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                      .03                   (.23)                     .09                    1.11
<EPS-DILUTED>                                      .03                   (.23)                     .09                    1.11
        

</TABLE>

<PAGE>   1
                                                                    Exhibit 99.1

ALRENCO, INC.
714 E. KIMBROUGH
MESQUITE, TEXAS 75149                                               NEWS RELEASE

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                          Contact:  K. David Belt
                                                         Chief Financial Officer
                                                         972-882-3126

                                                         Patricia Disbrow
                                                         Investor Relations
                                                         972-882-3148

                     ALRENCO NAMES JAMES STECKART PRESIDENT
                         -----------------------------
                   BILL WHITE REMAINS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

MESQUITE, TX (April 30, 1998) - Alrenco, Inc. (Nasdaq/NM:RNCO), the third
largest lease-purchase operator in the U.S., today announced that James G.
Steckart has been named president of the Company, effective May 1, in addition
to his role as chief operating officer. Mr. Steckart succeeds former president
Bill White, Sr., who will remain chief executive officer. Mr. White will focus
his efforts on long-term growth strategies for the Company.

     "As chief executive officer, my role will focus on identifying strategic
acquisitions and economic opportunities, capitalizing on my experience and
relationships within the industry," said Mr. White. "As president, Jim will
lead our strategic vision and command the critical day-to-day execution
necessary to assure our continued rapid growth and profitability."

     George D. Johnson, Jr., chairman, said, "With the merger of RTO and
Alrenco, our focus on operations is more important than ever. Jim's additional
responsibilities as president recognize the contribution he had made as chief
operating officer and reinforce the importance of a strong operating team. With
Bill White as chief executive officer and Jim in the dual role of president and
chief operating officer, we have the strongest management team in the
lease-purchase industry today."

     Mr. Steckart, 50, a recognized industry veteran, leads Alrenco with
impressive industry experience including senior management and operations
positions with Comcoa, a publicly traded Rent-A-Center franchise, and with
Thorn America's Rent-A-Center.

     Alrenco, Inc. operates 450 rental-purchase stores in 23 states in the U.S.
primarily under the trade name HomeChoice Lease or Own. The Company offers
renewable lease-purchase agreements for brand name consumer electronics,
appliances, and furniture.

                                    --END--




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