COVINA, Calif.- Hertz Equipment Rental Corp. has acquired two-location A-1 Equipment Rentals, based here, in a deal that was finalized Jan. 1.

Former owner Chet Fortney told RER that all of A-1's employees have been retained by HERC, an important factor in his decision to sell to the Park Ridge, N.J.-based rental chain.

The acquisition gives HERC a regional platform to establish a strong presence in the fast-growing San Gabriel Valley area east of Los Angeles. HERC also has a branch in nearby Riverside and picks up A-1's Glendora branch in the deal.

Fortney will continue to own and operate A-1 Party Rentals in Covina and plans to expand that company to a second location.

HERC is the nation's second largest equipment rental company.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina - Continuing its international expansion, Fresno, Calif.-based Horizon High Reach & Equipment opened its first venture in the Latin America market last week with the launching of Horizon High Reach Argentina.

Shaun Flanagan, who served as president of Horizon before going on to develop the company's international efforts, told RER that the new operation has more than 40 machines, many of which are already on rent. Flanagan said more than 100 units will be arriving shortly. HHRA's first branch is in Gran Bourg, a Buenos Aires suburb.

Horizon High Reach, which opened its European operations in Dublin in the fall of 1999, also has an Australia-based sister company called Instant Access, with branches in New Zealand and South Korea and will soon be expanding to Singapore and other Asian countries.

Santiago Araya is country manager for HHRA , Sergio Collazo is branch manager, and Juan Mujica is service manager.

Horizon specializes in aerial work platforms and extended reach forklifts. Its North America operation is No. 20 on the RER 100.