United Rentals of Canada, a wholly owned subsidiary of United Rentals, has signed a definitive purchase agreement to acquire the business and substantially all the assets of Ontario Laser Rentals, a leader in trench safety equipment rentals in the province of Ontario. The completion of the acquisition is subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain conditions in the agreement.

Ontario Laser Rentals Ltd. has locations in Etobicoke — in the greater Toronto area — and Ottawa, and recently expanded to Montreal. The company has been operating for about 40 years, renting a wide range of trench safety systems and heavy equipment related to underground construction, including excavators, slide rails, trench boxes and road plates.

“The acquisition of Ontario Laser is an important expansion of our trench safety leadership position in North America,” said Paul McDonnell, senior vice president, United Rentals Trench Safety, Power & HVAC. “Ontario Laser is an excellent strategic fit for us, both in terms of its market base and its alignment with our cooperative approach to customer service.”

Based in Greenwich, Conn., United Rentals is No. 1 on the RER 100.