The Home Depot, Atlanta, has reached an agreement to partner with Compact Power Equipment Centers, LLC (CPEC), Fort Mill, SC, which will result in CPEC acquiring and managing large towable fleets of rental equipment in more than 100 select locations of The Home Depot. The Home Depot will maintain management of its Tool Rental Centers. CPEC and its sister company, Compact Power Services, LLC (CPS), have secured financing for the initiative from three U.S. private equity groups.

Boxer Equipment, the company's affiliated brand, is not part of the transaction. Boxer and its manufacturing partner, Mertz Manufacturing, LLC will remain a separate entity with a continued focus on growing its dealer network both domestic and international. Mertz manufacturing produces both the Boxer brand of equipment as well as specialized equipment for oil field applications.

Compact Power Services already maintains small machinery for such companies as Wal-Mart and Best Buy and will expand its service business through the partnership with The Home Depot. The newly formed rental and mobile service combination will operate under separate management from the manufacturing and distribution business.