MOLINE, Ill.- Talks between the American Rental Association and the Rental Industry Association on possible trade show cooperation are off once again, ARA chairman of the board Richard Paquette told RER.

"We met [recently] and discussed the possibility of the ARA purchasing or taking over the RIA trade show," Paquette said. "We were about ready to send an accountant to California to evaluate the financial aspect when RIA sent us a non-disclosure, non-compete document to sign that was unacceptable in our eyes because it would have involved personal liability to ARA volunteer officers. After further contemplation, we determined it was not in the best interests of ARA and possibly RIA to pursue the purchase."

Paquette added, however, that ARA's door remained open to cooperate with RIA on other projects.

Meanwhile, RIA president Tony Beringer told RER that his association may propose different language that could keep the possibility of a deal alive.