Hertz Global Holdings has acquired 1st Call Studio Equipment from RoadSafe Holdings. Based in Sylmar, Calif., 1st Call services clients in film and television production throughout the United States, and has offices in Hollywood on the Universal Studios Hollywood lot, Albuquerque Studios Lot and in Louisiana.
1st Call was originally founded in 1999 by National Equipment Services and was known as NES Studio Rentals until it was acquired by RoadSafe.
“The global entertainment and media industry is an estimated $1.8 trillion business,” said Hertz Equipment Rental Corp. president Gerry Plescia. “The integration of 1st Call into Hertz Entertainment Services provides the company with a dedicated presence in Hollywood, while expanding our reach to new geographical regions including Albuquerque and Louisiana. Hertz has dedicated the resources needed to successfully cater to the entertainment industry and we’re confident our one-stop-shopping solution marrying cars and equipment will be as popular in California as it is in New York.”
1st Call Studio Equipment rents booms, scissorlifts, forklifts, light towers, and other items to production companies working on feature films, episodic television shows, reality shows, commercials and music videos.
“Hertz is actively seeking growth opportunities for our Entertainment Services business, which provides one-stop equipment and car rental solutions for media production companies,” said Mark Frissora, Hertz chairman and CEO. “With the 1st Call acquisition, Hertz’ initial foray into the Southern California entertainment industry, we both expand our footprint in the entertainment business, and generate a significant revenue growth opportunity for the company.”
The acquired business had revenues of about $8 million in 2009. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
“The sale of 1st Call to Hertz is a tremendous opportunity for 1st Call to reach their full potential,” said RoadSafe Traffic Systems president and CEO Michael Catalonello. “Frankly, we couldn’t have found a better organization than Hertz as the new owners.”
Based in Park Ridge, N.J., HERC is No. 4 on the RER 100.
