NANTES, France - Hertz Equipment Rental Corp. last month acquired the Loconergie group of companies, based here. Loconergie has 21 locations in the north and west regions of France, including Calais, Lille, Rennes, Nantes, Poitiers, and Amiens.

Terms of the acquisition, made by Hertz Equipement France S.A., were not disclosed. Loconergie grossed $32 million in 1999.

The purchase gives Hertz Equipement France more than 70 locations and makes it the second-largest rental company in the country. Hertz earlier this year purchased the Cardella Group of Equipment Rental Companies, a 10-location firm with about $9 million in 1999 revenues. Hertz has been expanding its European presence, and an acquisition of a major Spanish rental firm last year made Hertz the largest rental company in Spain.

HERC is No. 3 on the RER 100, with more than $800 million in worldwide equipment rental volume.

In other HERC news, the company recently enhanced its web site, making it possible for customers to access equipment rental rates online. Customers input their preferred location and equipment, and the site automatically calculates the availability of the equipment and the daily, weekly and monthly rental rates. HERC president Gerry Plescia said HERC is the first national rental company to publish rental rates online.