Hertz Equipment Rental Expands in Europe Through Acquisition in France

12 November 1997
Hertz Equipment Rental Expands in Europe Through Acquisition in France

    PARK RIDGE, N.J., Nov. 12 -- Hertz Equipment Rental
Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Hertz Corporation
and the largest construction and industrial equipment rental business in the
United States with operations in France and Spain, has completed the
acquisition of Viamat, a French-based equipment rental company with annual
revenues of approximately $8 million.  Viamat, competing in the construction
and public works sector of the equipment rental market, was a wholly owned
subsidiary of Wyseplant, a major U.K. equipment rental company owned by Bovis,
a U.K. construction firm.
    With five locations in the Paris vicinity and one in Toulouse, Viamat will
be merged into Hertz Equipment Rental, bringing to nine the number of
equipment rental locations operated by Hertz in France.
    According to Jean Claude Ghiotti, General Manager for Hertz Equipment
Rental in Europe as well as Hertz' car rental operations in France, the
acquisition not only strengthens Hertz' position in France, but marks the
first stage of planned expansion of the equipment rental business in Europe.
    "This is the start of a very exciting period for Hertz Equipment Rental.
As our plan unfolds, we expect to make further acquisitions in France and
elsewhere in Europe.  We also plan to open new locations in Spain, where we
presently have two locations.  At the same time, it is our intention to grow
through our existing locations.  By leveraging the strength of the Hertz brand
and capitalizing on our experience, we intend to become a significant
competitive force in the European equipment rental market," said Ghiotti.
    Hertz Equipment Rental, in addition to its European locations, has 134
locations in the U.S.  Its parent company, The Hertz Corporation, with
worldwide headquarters in the U.S., is also the world's largest car rental
company, with over 5,500 locations in approximately 140 countries and a fleet
of 500,000 vehicles.

SOURCE  Hertz Corporation