Loxam buys Belgium's Locamachine

Loxam has acquired Belgian rental company Locamachine for an undisclosed sum. The acquisition will add five locations and revenues of €5 million to Loxam's existing 10 branch operation in the country.

Locamachine was founded in 1992 in Ghislenghien and has since opened further branches in Tournai, Charleroi, Wavre and Mons.The acquisition will strengthen Loxam's presence in the west of Belgium

The owner and managing director of Locamachine, Pascal Trenchant, will remain with the business following the acquisition, Loxam told IRN.

The company, which employs around 50 staff, stopped distributing new equipment in 2007 and focused on renting in the construction, industrial and landscaping sectors.

The acquisition will considerably strengthen Loxam's operations in the Benelux area. It has 9 general rental locations in Belgium and one modular accommodation branch.

Loxam said the acquisition would "consolidate its leadership" in Belgium and reinforce its presence in the Benelux alongside its sister companies in the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

Loxam has operations in 10 European countries, with 528 depots and revenues last year of €698 million. Earlier this year the company said its revenues had fallen by 17% in 2009 and that it expected a further like-for-like fall of around 5% in 2010.