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FirstCash to Acquire Ramsdens, a Leading Pawn, Retail and Financial Services Operator in the United Kingdom

FirstCash to Acquire Ramsdens, a Leading Pawn, Retail and Financial Services Operator in the United Kingdom

Expands presence in the U.K. market through the addition of 174 pawn locations with strong brand;
Further enhances FirstCash’s global leadership positioning and long-term growth platform;
Expected to be accretive to EBITDA and EPS

FirstCash Holdings, Inc., the leading international operator of more than 3,300 retail pawn stores, announced that it has reached agreement on the terms of a recommended cash acquisition of Ramsdens Holdings plc (“Ramsdens”), a leading operator of pawn stores in the United Kingdom. Under the terms of the agreement, FirstCash (through its wholly-owned U.K. subsidiary, Chess Bidco Limited) will pay cash consideration of 600 pence for each share of Ramsdens stock. In addition, Ramsdens shareholders will receive an interim cash dividend of up to 9 pence for each Ramsdens share to be paid on October 9, 2026. The total equity value, including cash consideration for the shares and the interim cash dividend, is approximately £206 million or $273 million USD based on the exchange rate as of the close of business on June 22, 2026.

The acquisition of Ramsdens, which operates 174 pawn locations across England, Scotland and Wales, expands FirstCash’s geographic footprint in the U.K. and provides enhanced scale, operating efficiencies and long-term growth opportunities in the market. This combination further builds FirstCash as the largest publicly traded pawn platform in the United States, Latin America and the United Kingdom and is expected to drive further long-term revenue and earnings growth.

Mr. Rick Wessel, Chief Executive Officer and Vice-Chairman of the Board of FirstCash, commented, “We are excited to add Ramsdens as part of the global FirstCash family. Ramsdens is a well-respected operator with a proven track record of operating successfully in the U.K. pawn market. This transaction will not only provide immediate revenue and earnings accretion to FirstCash upon closing, but also enhances our long-term growth profile through continued expansion of its industry-leading brands and platform. FirstCash looks forward to working together with the Ramsdens team to drive further long-term value for all of our customers, employees and shareholders.”

Mr. Peter Keynon, Chief Executive Officer of Ramsdens, commented, “I am exceptionally proud of Ramsdens’ transformational growth since our IPO in 2017. FirstCash is an internationally established sector leader, and I share their confidence and conviction in the outlook for Ramsdens, which is underpinned by our diversified model and established reputation for consistently doing the right thing for our customers and our fantastic people.”

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Compelling Strategic and Financial Benefits

  • Strengthens FirstCash’s position as a leading pawnbroking operator in the U.K.: Ramsdens represents a highly complementary strategic fit alongside FirstCash’s existing U.K. operations following the acquisition of H&T, creating a scaled U.K. platform with a combined network of almost 470 stores with limited location overlap between the existing footprints of H&T and Ramsdens.
  • Unlocks Further Growth and Revenue Synergies for Ramsdens: The Ramsdens platform is expected to benefit from the additional growth capital provided by FirstCash which should support increased pawn lending activities and resulting revenue growth in the existing Ramsdens stores while providing further opportunities for additional geographic expansion in the U.K.
  • Enhances Scale and Operating Leverage: The addition of the 174 Ramsdens stores increases FirstCash’s scale, operational footprint and ability to leverage efficiencies in the U.K. and across its global platform. Upon closing, FirstCash expects to have over 3,500 pawn locations worldwide.
  • Financially Compelling: The transaction is expected to drive further revenue growth and be accretive to both EBITDA and EPS, strengthening FirstCash’s financial profile and long-term shareholder value.

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