CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Sunbelt Rentals last month announced that it acquired Fast Rentals, a St. Petersburg, Fla., general rental center. The new Sunbelt Rentals branch further extends Sunbelt's presence in the Florida Gulf area, including its August acquisition of Commercial Surroundings in Venice.

This is Sunbelt's 16^th branch acquired in the current fiscal year. It follows previous acquisitions in Tennessee, California, Indiana, Florida and Nevada, and greenfield openings in Phoenix, Houston, Maryland, Chicago and Las Vegas to total 21 new branches opened or acquired in the current financial year, bringing the number of Sunbelt's locations to 207.

“The Fast Rentals location has a great location and a well-established customer base, which made it a smart fit for Sunbelt's expansion in the Gulf,” said Cliff Miller, Sunbelt Rentals' president and CEO. “We'll add to their equipment inventory in the coming months, helping Sunbelt better serve existing and new customers as Sunbelt continues to cluster its general tool, construction equipment and specialty rental businesses throughout the Sarasota, Tampa, Oldsmar and Fort Myers markets.”

Based in Charlotte, N.C., Sunbelt Rentals is No. 4 on the RER 100.