Sunbelt Rentals closes 50 locations at Lowe’s

Sunbelt Rentals, the Fort Mills, S.C., equipment and tool rental company, has closed 50 of its “underperforming” facilities at Lowe’s stores, according to an article in Rental Equipment Register. The company has agreed to extend the leases on 40 remaining locations until October 2012.

Sunbelt Rentals became partners with Lowe’s when it acquired rival company NationsRent in September 2006 in a deal valued at more than $1 billion. At the time, NationsRent operated 100 rental centers at Lowe’s stores nationwide.

Lowe’s began testing NationsRent centers in six stores in May 2000. By February 2002, that number was extended to 42 locations in eight states.