PARK RIDGE, N.J. -Hertz Equipment Rental Corp. added to its presence in France by acquiring the Cardella Group of Equipment Rental Companies, a 10-location firm with about $9 million in 1999 revenues. Terms of the transaction, made by Hertz France S.A., were not disclosed.

Olivier Guiraud, country manager for Hertz France, said the acquisition "strategically increases Hertz Equip-ment's presence in southeast Franceand underscores our commitment to growing our French network, now totaling 50 locations." Hertz France is now the third-largest equipment rental company in France, company officials said.

In addition to three branches in Marseilles, Cardella has outlets in Avignon, Beziers, Montpellier, Narbonne, Perpignan, Sete and Toulon.

Hertz Equipment Rental Corp. now has about 350 locations in North America and Europe.