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UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D. C. 20549

FORM 10-Q

þ
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the quarterly period ended June 30, 2011

o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from           to
 
Commission file number: 001-34601

Essex Rental Corp.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

Delaware
 
20-5415048
 (State of Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
 
 (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
     
1110 Lake Cook Road, Suite 220
 
60089
Buffalo Grove, Illinois
 
 (ZIP Code)
 (Address of Principal Executive Offices)
   

847-215-6500
(Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code)

None
(Former Name, Former Address and Former Fiscal Year, if Changed Since Last Report)
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.
Yes þ                      No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).
Yes þ                      No ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, a non-accelerated filer, or a smaller reporting company. See the definitions of “large accelerated filer,” “accelerated filer” and “smaller reporting company” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer ¨
 
Accelerated filer þ
     
Non-accelerated filer   ¨
 
Smaller reporting company   ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes ¨                      No þ

Indicate the number of shares outstanding of each of the issuer’s classes of common stock, as of the latest practicable date.

24,428,092 shares of common stock, par value $.0001 per share, were outstanding as of the close of business on August 1, 2011.
 
 
 

 
 
ESSEX RENTAL CORP.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
  
 
Page
     
PART I. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
   
     
Item 1. Financial Statements:
  2
     
Consolidated Balance Sheets as of June 30, 2011 (Unaudited) and December 31, 2010
 
2
     
Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) for the Three and Six Months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010
 
3
     
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited) for the Six Months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010
 
4
     
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements (Unaudited)
 
5
     
Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
 
23
     
Item 3. Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
 
32
     
Item 4. Controls and Procedures
 
33
     
PART II. OTHER INFORMATION
   
     
Item 1. Legal Proceedings
 
34
     
Item 1A. Risk Factors
 
34
     
Item 2. Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds
 
34
     
Item 3. Defaults upon Senior Securities
 
34
     
Item 4. Reserved
 
34
     
Item 5. Other Information
 
34
     
Item 6. Exhibits
 
34
     
Signatures
  35
 
 
 

 
 
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q contains statements which are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements include statements regarding the intent and belief or current expectations of Essex Rental Corp. and its management team and may be identified by the use of words like "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "intend", "may", "plan", "will", "should", "seek", the negative of these terms or other comparable terminology.  Readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Essex’s expectations include, without limitation, the continued ability of Essex to successfully execute its business plan, the possibility of a change in demand for the products and services that Essex provides (through its operating subsidiaries, Essex Crane Rental Corp., Coast Crane Company and Coast Crane Ltd.), intense competition which may require us to lower prices or offer more favorable terms of sale, our reliance on third party suppliers, our indebtedness which could limit our operational and financial flexibility, global economic factors including interest rates, general economic conditions, geopolitical events and regulatory changes, our dependence on our management team and key personnel, as well as other relevant risks detailed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A and subsequent periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and available on the investor relations section of our website, www.essexrentalcorp.com. The factors listed here are not exhaustive.  Many of these uncertainties and risks are difficult to predict and beyond management’s control.  Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance, results or events.  Essex assumes no obligation to update or supplement forward-looking information in this Form 10-Q whether to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events or changes in future operating results or financial conditions, or otherwise.
 
 
1

 
 
PART I.  FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Item 1.    Financial Statements

ESSEX RENTAL CORP.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

   
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
   
(Unaudited)
       
ASSETS
           
             
CURRENT ASSETS
           
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 16,635,551     $ 3,474,314  
Accounts receivable, net of allowances for doubtful accounts and credit memos of $2,212,000 and $1,742,000, respectively
    11,922,617       12,801,772  
Other receivables
    3,836,822       4,223,435  
Deferred tax assets
    2,882,119       2,402,709  
Inventory
               
Retail equipment inventory
    5,032,612       5,386,074  
Retail spare parts, net
    1,647,728       1,882,003  
Prepaid expenses and other assets
    2,165,010       3,069,976  
TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS
    44,122,459       33,240,283  
                 
Rental equipment, net
    323,424,205       330,378,792  
Property and equipment, net
    8,467,764       8,727,456  
Spare parts inventory, net
    3,693,508       3,540,360  
Identifiable finite lived intangibles, net
    2,523,764       3,143,063  
Goodwill
    1,796,126       1,796,126  
Loan acquisition costs, net
    1,855,184       2,220,878  
                 
TOTAL ASSETS
  $ 385,883,010     $ 383,046,958  
                 
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
               
                 
CURRENT LIABILITIES
               
Accounts payable
  $ 5,775,455     $ 2,810,672  
Accrued employee compensation and benefits
    1,581,456       1,482,747  
Accrued taxes
    4,203,827       4,504,765  
Accrued interest
    656,100       436,947  
Accrued other expenses
    1,358,140       1,836,246  
Unearned rental revenue
    1,154,212       1,272,847  
Customer deposits
    1,345,171       2,320,007  
Short-term debt obligations
    673,403       783,243  
Current portion of revolving credit facility
    2,331,778       -  
Current portion of capital lease obligation
    6,954       6,718  
TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES
    19,086,496       15,454,192  
                 
LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
               
Revolving credit facilities
    208,753,069       214,959,971  
Promissory notes
    4,986,676       4,938,611  
Other long-term debt obligations
    2,188,560       2,982,920  
Deferred tax liabilities
    56,400,002       61,124,038  
Interest rate swaps
    4,190,338       5,266,586  
Capital lease obligation
    6,812       10,349  
TOTAL LONG-TERM LIABILITIES
    276,525,457       289,282,475  
                 
TOTAL LIABILITIES
    295,611,953       304,736,667  
                 
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
               
Preferred stock, $.0001 par value, Authorized 1,000,000 shares, none issued
    -       -  
Common stock, $.0001 par value, Authorized 40,000,000 shares; issued and outstanding 24,428,092 shares at June 30, 2011 and 20,472,489 shares at December 31, 2010
    2,443       2,047  
Paid in capital
    121,826,199       101,052,367  
Accumulated deficit
    (29,619,367 )     (20,431,083 )
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net of tax
    (1,938,218 )     (2,313,040 )
TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
    90,271,057       78,310,291  
                 
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
  $ 385,883,010     $ 383,046,958  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements
 
 
2

 
 
ESSEX RENTAL CORP.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
THREE AND SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2011 AND 2010
(Unaudited)

   
Three Months Ended June 30,
   
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
REVENUES
                       
Equipment rentals
  $ 10,185,995     $ 5,438,566     $ 20,552,848     $ 10,569,068  
Retail equipment sales
    3,591,291       -       7,289,655       -  
Used rental equipment sales
    1,747,249       1,782,538       2,190,775       2,792,919  
Retail parts sales
    2,546,880       -       5,463,189       -  
Transportation
    1,386,307       969,109       2,760,903       2,008,167  
Equipment repairs and maintenance
    2,886,783       855,933       5,574,305       1,983,301  
                                 
TOTAL REVENUES
    22,344,505       9,046,146       43,831,675       17,353,455  
                                 
COST OF REVENUES
                               
Salaries, payroll taxes and benefits
    2,495,507       1,296,685       4,833,527       2,649,916  
Depreciation
    5,039,234       2,901,722       10,018,733       5,754,125  
Retail equipment sales
    2,997,447       -       6,124,393       -  
Used rental equipment sales
    1,493,494       1,345,313       1,891,338       2,198,164  
Retail parts sales
    2,098,142       -       4,367,340       -  
Transportation
    1,360,799       934,387       2,653,569       1,795,942  
Equipment repairs and maintenance
    3,256,673       1,072,490       6,264,620       1,960,280  
Yard operating expenses
    562,886       341,239       1,109,855       649,476  
                                 
TOTAL COST OF REVENUES
    19,304,182       7,891,836       37,263,375       15,007,903  
                                 
GROSS PROFIT
    3,040,323       1,154,310       6,568,300       2,345,552  
                                 
Selling, general and administrative expenses
    7,161,105       2,628,330       14,539,195       5,128,427  
Other depreciation and amortization
    492,445       220,380       1,001,409       412,066  
                                 
LOSS FROM OPERATIONS
    (4,613,227 )     (1,694,400 )     (8,972,304 )     (3,194,941 )
                                 
OTHER INCOME (EXPENSES)
                               
Other income
    110,355       2,946       274,723       3,051  
Interest expense
    (2,856,904 )     (1,658,186 )     (5,721,230 )     (3,277,907 )
Foreign currency exchange gains
    (7,139 )     -       70       -  
TOTAL OTHER INCOME (EXPENSES)
    (2,753,688 )     (1,655,240 )     (5,446,437 )     (3,274,856 )
                                 
LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAXES
    (7,366,915 )     (3,349,640 )     (14,418,741 )     (6,469,797 )
                                 
PROVISION (BENEFIT) FOR INCOME TAXES
    (2,840,883 )     (1,121,115 )     (5,230,457 )     (2,253,533 )
                                 
NET LOSS
  $ (4,526,032 )   $ (2,228,525 )   $ (9,188,284 )   $ (4,216,264 )
                                 
Weighted average shares outstanding:
                               
Basic
    24,428,092       14,535,982       23,210,137       14,332,142  
Diluted
    24,428,092       14,535,982       23,210,137       14,332,142  
                                 
Loss per share:
                               
Basic
  $ (0.19 )   $ (0.15 )   $ (0.40 )   $ (0.29 )
Diluted
  $ (0.19 )   $ (0.15 )   $ (0.40 )   $ (0.29 )

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements
 
 
3

 
 
ESSEX RENTAL CORP.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 2011 AND 2010
(Unaudited)

   
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
 
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
           
Net loss
  $ (9,188,284 )   $ (4,216,264 )
Adjustments to reconcile net loss to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
               
Depreciation and amortization of tangible assets
    10,674,609       5,894,837  
Amortization of loan acquisition costs and other intangibles
    712,246       518,811  
Amortization of promissory notes discount
    48,065       -  
Gain on sale of rental equipment
    (299,437 )     (594,755 )
Deferred income taxes
    (5,162,409 )     (2,303,247 )
Share based compensation expense
    996,213       534,487  
Change in fair value of interest rate swap
    (475,861 )     -  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
               
Accounts receivable, net
    879,155       167,298  
Other receivables
    386,613       180,646  
Prepaid expenses and other assets
    904,966       (230,431 )
Retail equipment inventory
    1,384,456       -  
Spare parts inventory
    81,127       (114,999 )
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
    2,503,601       (398,194 )
Unearned rental revenue
    (118,635 )     157,453  
Customer deposits
    (974,836 )     -  
                 
NET CASH PROVIDED BY (USED IN) OPERATING ACTIVITIES
    2,351,589       (404,358 )
                 
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES
               
Purchases of rental equipment
    (4,547,026 )     (138,350 )
Purchases of property and equipment
    (739,159 )     (452,475 )
Accounts receivable from rental equipment sales
    -       107,042  
Proceeds from sale of rental equipment
    2,190,775       2,792,919  
Increase in restricted cash deposits
    -       (5,226,400 )
                 
NET CASH USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES
    (3,095,410 )     (2,917,264 )
                 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES
               
Proceeds from revolving credit facilities
    42,908,880       21,070,819  
Payments on revolving credit facilities
    (46,851,928 )     (18,428,725 )
Payments on purchase money security interest debt
    (1,916,700 )     (517,061 )
Payments on capital lease obligation
    (3,846 )     (3,846 )
Proceeds from the exercise of warrants
    19,778,015       2,356,336  
Payments to repurchase warrants
    -       (853,261 )
                 
NET CASH PROVIDED BY FINANCING ACTIVITIES
    13,914,421       3,624,262  
                 
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents
    (9,363 )     -  
                 
NET INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
    13,161,237       302,640  
                 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, BEGINNING OF PERIOD
    3,474,314       199,508  
                 
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, END OF PERIOD
  $ 16,635,551     $ 502,148  
                 
SUPPLEMENTAL SCHEDULE OF NON-CASH INVESTING / FINANCING ACTIVITIES
               
Equipment obtained through capital lease
  $ 545     $ 766  
Equipment purchased directly through short-term debt obligation
  $ 1,012,500     $ 2,560,847  
Unrealized (gain) loss on designated derivative instruments, net of tax
  $ (367,659 )   $ 1,080,893  
                 
SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF CASH FLOW INFORMATION:
               
Cash paid for interest, swaps and debt issuance costs
  $ 5,344,232     $ 3,023,210  
Cash (received) paid for income taxes
  $ (40,151 )   $ 53,972  

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements
 
 
4

 
 
ESSEX RENTAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
(Unaudited)

1.    Business and Principles of Consolidation
 
 The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Essex Rental Corp. (“Essex Rental”) and its wholly owned subsidiaries Essex Holdings, LLC ("Holdings"), Essex Crane Rental Corp. ("Essex Crane"), Essex Finance Corp. (“Essex Finance”), CC Acquisition Holding Corp. (“CC Acquisition”), Coast Crane Company, formerly known as CC Bidding Corp. (“Coast Crane” or “CC Bidding”) and Coast Crane Ltd. (“Coast Crane Ltd.”), (collectively the "Company" or "Successor").  All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.

On November 24, 2010, CC Bidding, a Delaware corporation and an indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company completed the acquisition (the “Coast Acquisition”) of substantially all of the assets of Coast Crane Company, a Delaware corporation (“Coast Liquidating Co.”).  The assets acquired in the Coast Acquisition consisted of all of the assets used by Coast Liquidating Co. in the operation of its specialty lifting solutions and crane rental services business, including cranes and related heavy lifting machinery and equipment and spare parts, inventory, accounts receivable, rights under executory contracts, other tangible and intangible assets and all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of Coast Crane Ltd., a British Columbia corporation, through which Coast Liquidating Co. conducted its operations in Canada.  Following the completion of the Coast Acquisition, CC Bidding changed its name to “Coast Crane Company” and filed trademark and tradename protection with the United States and state governments.

The Company, through its subsidiaries, Essex Crane and Coast Crane, is engaged primarily in renting lattice boom crawler cranes and attachments, tower cranes and attachments, rough terrain cranes, boom trucks and other related heavy lifting machinery and equipment to the construction industry mainly throughout the United States of America including Hawaii and Alaska, Guam and Canada for use in building and maintaining power plants, refineries, bridge and road construction, alternative energy, water treatment facilities and other industrial, commercial and infrastructure related projects.  The Company, through its subsidiary Coast Crane, is also engaged in servicing and distributing heavy lifting machinery and other construction related equipment and parts.

The accompanying financial statements of the Company include all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring adjustments) which management considers necessary for the fair presentation of the Company’s operating results, financial position and cash flows as of and for all periods presented.  Certain information and note disclosures normally included in financial statements prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) have been omitted from these unaudited financial statements in accordance with applicable rules.

The results of operations for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2011 are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the full year ending December 31, 2011.  For further information, please refer to the financial statements and notes thereto included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2010.

Acquisition of Coast Crane’s Assets

On November 12, 2010, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Washington approved an Asset Purchase Agreement (the "Coast Crane Purchase Agreement") between CC Bidding, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, and Coast Liquidating Co., a Delaware corporation pursuant to which CC Bidding agreed to purchase substantially all of the assets, including 100% of the outstanding shares of capital stock of Coast Crane Ltd., and assume certain liabilities, of Coast Liquidating Co.  Coast Liquidating Co., a leading provider of specialty lifting solutions and crane rental services on the West Coast of the United States, filed a voluntary petition for relief under the United States Bankruptcy Code on September 22, 2010 (Case Number 10-21229).  The Coast Acquisition was completed on November 24, 2010.  

The primary reasons for the Company’s acquisition of Coast Crane’s assets are as follows:
 
 
5

 
 
ESSEX RENTAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)

 
·
Broaden the Company’s product offerings to encourage customers to utilize the Company’s expanded product offerings for their heavy lifting construction equipment needs with an ability to leverage customer relationships between the operating subsidiaries while providing for cross selling opportunities;

 
·
Extend the Company’s geographic footprint to the Western and Northwestern U.S., Alaska, Hawaii, Guam and the South Pacific;

 
·
Provide new revenue streams from the distribution of new and used equipment and providing after market support and parts and services.  This diversification results in a broader mix of revenue streams which we believe allow for more consistent earnings through economic cycles; and

 
·
Provide an opportunity for the Company to obtain a significant pool of rental equipment assets in one transaction as well as a highly trained workforce with significant construction equipment expertise.

The components of the total consideration transferred of $103.2 million by CC Bidding for the purchase of Coast Crane’s assets are as follows:  This includes settlement of certain liabilities in accordance with requirements under the bankruptcy proceedings.

Cash consideration:
     
       
Cash from proceeds of common share issuance
  $ 14,190,000  
Cash from Essex Rental Corp.
    20,310,000  
Cash from proceeds from new revolving credit facility
    49,551,816  
         
Total cash transferred at close
    84,051,816  
Plus: transaction expenses paid outside of close
    1,160,501  
Less: transaction expenses
    (2,735,917 )
         
Total cash consideration
    82,476,400  
         
Liabilities assumed:
       
         
Unsecured promissory note
    5,227,000  
Canadian revolving credit facility
    2,743,160  
Purchase money security interest debt
    3,831,433  
Interest rate swap agreements
    1,600,650  
Trade payables
    5,835,000  
Accrued benefits and employee compensation
    1,494,058  
         
Total liabilities assumed per the Purchase Agreement
    20,731,301  
         
Total consideration transferred
  $ 103,207,701  
 
 
6

 
 
ESSEX RENTAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)

The allocation of total consideration transferred to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed is as follows:

Assets acquired:
     
       
Cash and cash equivalents
  $ 1,128,636  
Accounts receivable
    7,939,653  
Other receivables
    706,656  
Equipment inventory
    5,561,692  
Retail spare parts
    2,477,685  
Prepaid expenses and other assets
    1,729,032  
Rental equipment
    81,761,249  
Property and equipment
    2,433,624  
Loan acquisition costs assumed
    40,670  
Identifiable intangible assets
    2,100,000  
Goodwill
    1,796,126  
         
Total assets acquired
    107,675,023  
         
Liabilities assumed:
       
         
Other accounts payable
    2,132,635  
Accrued taxes
    356,104  
Accrued other expenses
    226,251  
Unearned revenue and customer deposits
    1,378,160  
Deferred tax liabilities
    377,692  
         
Total other liabilities assumed
    4,470,842  
         
Foreign currency exchange impact
    3,520  
         
Net assets acquired
  $ 103,207,701  

The methodology in allocating the total consideration transferred to acquire the assets of Coast Liquidating Co. of $103.2 million, to the assets acquired and liabilities assumed is as follows:  (These allocations are subject to adjustment in the twelve months following the date of acquisition based upon the discovery of information not known at the date of acquisition or refinement of estimates used in the allocation of purchase price).

 
·
The book value of other current assets, accounts payable and accrued liabilities were determined to approximate their fair value due to their short term nature;

 
·
Certain amounts related to income taxes remain subject to adjustment and will be finalized during the measurement period;

 
·
Accounts receivables were recorded at their estimated fair values based on expected collectability.  The gross contractual receivables of accounts and other receivables as of the date of acquisition were approximately $9.0 million.  Management’s best estimate of the gross accounts receivable not expected to be collected is $1.1 million;

 
·
Management estimated the fair value of new and used equipment inventory based on recent sales prices, values of similar rental equipment assets and published market values;

 
·
An experienced and qualified third party assisted in the valuation of the Company’s rental equipment and titled vehicles included in property and equipment using the cost and market approaches based in part on assumptions provided by management;

 
·
An experienced and qualified third party assisted in the valuation of intangible assets including customer relationship intangible and trademark and spare parts inventory using the income approach based in part on assumptions provided by management; and
 
 
7

 
 
ESSEX RENTAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)

 
·
The remaining excess purchase price paid over the net assets acquired was recorded as goodwill all of which will be deductible for tax purposes over a 15 year period.  Goodwill includes the value of the assembled workforce and synergies associated with the Coast Acquisition.

2.
Significant Accounting Policies

Please refer to note 2 of the notes to the consolidated financial statements in our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2010 for a complete description of our significant accounting policies.

Change in Accounting Estimates

During the three months ended March 31, 2011, the Company changed its estimate of the useful lives of certain of the types of rental equipment acquired as part of Coast Acquisition in November 2010.  The change in useful lives was reflected in our Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ending March 31, 2011 and was based on new information learned prior to filing that Form 10-Q.  The impact of this change on gross profit and net loss for the six months ended June 30, 2011 was an increase of approximately $0.5 million and a decrease of $0.3 million, respectively.  The impact on basic and diluted loss per share was a decrease of $0.01 per share for the same period.

Fair Value of Financial Instruments, Including Derivative Instruments
 
The valuation of financial instruments requires the Company to make estimates and judgments that affect the fair value of the instruments. The Company, where possible, bases the fair values of its financial instruments, including its derivative instruments, on listed market prices and third party quotes. Where these are not available, the Company bases its estimates on current instruments with similar terms and maturities or on other factors relevant to the financial instruments.

Segment Reporting

We have determined in accordance with applicable accounting guidance regarding operating segments that we have three reportable segments. We derive our revenues from three principal business activities: (1) equipment rentals; (2) equipment distribution; and (3) parts and service. These segments are based upon how we allocate resources and assess performance. See note 11 to the consolidated financial statements regarding our segment information.

Use of Estimates

The preparation of these financial statements requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect certain reported amounts and disclosures.  Accordingly, actual results could materially differ from those estimates.  Significant estimates include the allowance for doubtful accounts and credit memos, spare parts inventory obsolescence reserve, useful lives for rental equipment and property and equipment, deferred income taxes, personal property tax receivable and accrual, loss contingencies and the fair value of interest rate swaps and other financial instruments.

Recently Issued and Adopted Accounting Pronouncements

In January 2010, the FASB issued authoritative guidance that expands the required disclosures about fair value measurements. This guidance provides for new disclosures requiring the Company to (i) disclose separately the amounts of significant transfers in and out of Level 1 and Level 2 fair value measurements and describe the reasons for the transfers and (ii) present separately information about purchases, sales, issuances and settlements in the reconciliation of Level 3 fair value measurements. This guidance also provides clarification of existing disclosures requiring the Company to (i) determine each class of assets and liabilities based on the nature and risks of the investments rather than by major security type and (ii) for each class of assets and liabilities, disclose the valuation techniques and inputs used to measure fair value for both Level 2 and Level 3 fair value measurements. This guidance was effective on January 1, 2010, except for the presentation of purchases, sales, issuances and settlements in the reconciliation of Level 3 fair value measurements, which became effective on January 1, 2011. This guidance has not and is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
 
 
8

 
 
ESSEX RENTAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)

In December 2010, the FASB issued authoritative guidance regarding when to perform step 2 of the goodwill impairment test for reporting units with zero or negative carrying amounts.  The guidance modifies Step 1 of the goodwill impairment test so that for those reporting units with zero or negative carrying amounts, an entity is required to perform Step 2 of the goodwill impairment test if it is more likely than not based on an assessment of qualitative indicators that a goodwill impairment exists. In determining whether it is more likely than not that goodwill impairment exists, an entity should consider whether there are any adverse qualitative factors indicating that an impairment may exist.  This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2010.  The Company adopted this standard beginning January 1, 2011, and the adoption did not have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
 
In May 2011, the FASB issued authoritative guidance to achieve common fair value measurements and disclosure requirements in U.S. GAAP and International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”).  Some of the provisions of the new accounting guidance include requiring (1) that only nonfinancial assets should be valued based on a determination of their best use, (2) disclosure of quantitative information about unobservable inputs used in Level 3 fair value measurements and (3) disclosure of the level within the fair value hierarchy for each class of assets or liabilities not measured at fair value in the statement of financial position but for which the fair value disclosed.  This guidance is effective during interim and annual periods beginning after December 15, 2011.  The guidance is not expected to have material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
 
In June 2011, the FASB issued authoritative guidance regarding the format of disclosures of comprehensive income.  Under the new guidance, an entity has the option to present the total of comprehensive income, the components of net income, and the components of other comprehensive income either in a single continuous statement of comprehensive income or in two separate but consecutive statements. In both choices, an entity is required to present each component of net income along with total net income, each component of other comprehensive income along with a total for other comprehensive income, and a total amount for comprehensive income. This guidance eliminates the option to present the components of other comprehensive income as part of the statement of changes in stockholders' equity, but does not change the items that must be reported in other comprehensive income or when an item of other comprehensive income must be reclassified to net income.  This guidance is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2011.  This guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.

3.
Intangible Assets

Goodwill of $1,796,126 was recorded associated with the Coast Acquisition on November 24, 2010 for the excess of the total consideration transferred over the fair value of identifiable assets acquired, net of liabilities assumed.

In addition, a customer relationship intangible and trademark intangible were recorded at fair value associated with the Coast Acquisition and the 2008 acquisition of Holdings.  The fair value of the customer relationship intangible and trademark intangible related to the Coast Acquisition were $1.5 million and $0.6 million, respectively.  The following table presents the gross carrying amount, accumulated amortization and net carrying amount of the Company’s other identifiable finite lived intangible assets at June 30, 2011:

   
Gross
         
Net
 
   
Carrying
   
Accumulated
   
Carrying
 
   
Amount
   
Amortization
   
Amount
 
Other identifiable intangible assets:
                 
                   
Essex Crane customer relationship intangible
  $ 1,023,497     $ (718,653 )   $ 304,844  
Essex Crane trademark
    1,048,845       (734,924 )     313,921  
Coast Crane customer relationship intangible
    1,500,000       (125,001 )     1,374,999  
Coast Crane trademark
    600,000       (70,000 )     530,000  
    $ 4,172,342     $ (1,648,578 )   $ 2,523,764  

The following table presents the gross carrying amount, accumulated amortization and net carrying amount of the Company’s other identifiable intangible assets at December 31, 2010:
 
 
9

 
 
ESSEX RENTAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)

   
Gross
         
Net
 
   
Carrying
   
Accumulated
   
Carrying
 
   
Amount
   
Amortization
   
Amount
 
Other identifiable intangible assets:
                 
                   
Essex Crane customer relationship intangible
  $ 1,159,352     $ (632,904 )   $ 526,448  
Essex Crane trademark
    1,186,756       (647,046 )     539,710  
Coast Crane customer relationship intangible
    1,500,000       (13,095 )     1,486,905  
Coast Crane trademark
    600,000       (10,000 )     590,000  
    $ 4,446,108     $ (1,303,045 )   $ 3,143,063  

The gross carrying amount of the Essex Crane customer relationship intangible was reduced by $61,935 and $73,920 for the three months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively and $135,855 and $147,840 for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, as a result of the recognition of the tax benefit related to excess tax deductible goodwill.  The gross carrying amount of the Essex Crane trademark intangible was reduced by $61,815 and $75,389, for the three months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively and $137,911and $150,778 for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively, as a result of the recognition of the tax benefit related to excess tax deductible goodwill.

The Company’s amortization expense associated with other intangible assets was $163,127 and $130,468 for the three months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively and $345,533 and $271,353 for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

4.
Revolving Credit Facilities and Other Debt Obligations

The Company’s revolving credit facilities and other debt obligations consist of the following:

   
Principal Outstanding at
   
Weighted
     
   
June 30,
   
December 31,
   
Average Interest
 
Maturity
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
as of 6/30/2011 (1)
 
Date Ranges
 
Essex Crane revolving credit facility
  $ 157,881,738     $ 158,300,090       2.46 %
Oct-13
 
Coast Crane revolving credit facility
    50,871,331       53,909,026       5.28 %
Nov-14
 
Canadian revolving credit facility
    2,331,778       2,750,855       6.90 %
May-12
 
Unsecured promissory notes (related party)
    4,986,676       4,938,611       11.90 %
Dec-13
 
Purchase money security interest debt
    2,188,560       2,982,920       3.50 %
Sep-15
 
Purchase money security interest debt - short-term
    673,403       783,243       3.50 %
within 1 year
 
                             
Total debt obligations outstanding
  $ 218,933,486     $ 223,664,745              

(1) Weighted average interest rates exclude the impact of the Company's interest rate swaps.

Essex Crane Revolving Credit Facility
 
In conjunction with the acquisition of Holdings on October 31, 2008, Essex Crane amended its senior secured revolving line of credit facility (“Essex Crane revolving credit facility”), which permits it to borrow up to $190.0 million.  Essex Crane may borrow up to an amount equal to the sum of 85% of eligible net receivables and 75% of the net orderly liquidation value of eligible rental equipment.  The revolving credit facility is collateralized by a first priority security interest in substantially all of Essex Crane’s assets.

Borrowings under the Essex Crane revolving credit facility accrue interest at the borrower’s option of either (a) the bank’s prime rate (3.25% at June 30, 2011) plus an applicable margin or (b) a Eurodollar rate based on the rate the bank offers deposits of U.S. Dollars in the London interbank market (“LIBOR”) (0.19% at June 30, 2011) plus an applicable margin.  The Company is also required to pay a monthly commitment fee with respect to the undrawn commitments under the revolving credit facility.  At June 30, 2011 the applicable prime rate margin, euro-dollar LIBOR margin, and unused line commitment fee were 0.25%, 2.25% and 0.25%, respectively.  See Note 5 Derivatives and Hedging Activities – Interest Rate Swap Agreement for additional detail.
 
 
10

 
 
ESSEX RENTAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)

The maximum amount that could be borrowed under the revolving credit facility, net of letters of credit, interest rate swaps and other reserves was approximately $186.7 million as of June 30, 2011.  The Company’s available borrowing under the revolving credit facility is approximately $28.8 million as of June 30, 2011.  In addition, as of June 30, 2011, there was $4.0 million of available formulated collateral in excess of the maximum borrowing amount of $190.0 million.

As of June 30, 2011 and for the six months then ended, the Company was in compliance with its covenants and other provisions of the Essex Crane revolving line of credit facility.  Some of the financial covenants including a fixed charge coverage ratio and rental equipment utilization ratio do not become active unless the available borrowing falls below the $20.0 million threshold.  The Company’s available borrowing base of approximately $28.8 million well exceeded the threshold at June 30, 2011.  Any failure to be in compliance with any material provision or covenant of these agreements could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s liquidity and operations.

Coast Crane Revolving Credit Facility

On November 24, 2010, Coast Crane, formerly known as CC Bidding, and CC Acquisition Holding, the direct parent of Coast Crane, entered into a new revolving credit facility in conjunction with the Coast Acquisition (the “Coast Crane Credit Facility”).  The Coast Crane Credit Facility provides for a revolving loan and letter of credit facility in the maximum aggregate principal amount of $75.0 million with a $2.0 million aggregate principal sublimit for letters of credit.  Coast Crane may borrow, repay and reborrow under the Coast Crane Credit Facility. Coast Crane’s ability to borrow under the Coast Crane Credit Facility is subject to, among other things, a borrowing base calculated based on  the sum of (a) 85% of eligible accounts, (b) the lesser of 50% of eligible spare parts inventory and $5.0 million, (c) the lesser of 95% of the lesser of (x) the net orderly liquidation value and (y) the invoice cost, of eligible new equipment inventory and $15.0 million and (d) 85% of the net orderly liquidation value of eligible other equipment, less reserves established by the lenders and the liquidity reserve.

Interest accrues on the outstanding revolving loans under the revolving credit facility at either a per annum rate equal to (a) LIBOR plus 3.75%, with a 1.50% LIBOR floor or (b) the Base rate plus 2.75%, at Coast Crane’s election.  Coast Crane will be obligated to pay a letter of credit fee on the outstanding letter of credit accommodations based on a per annum rate of 3.75%.  Interest on the revolving loans and fees on the letter of credit accommodations will be payable monthly in arrears.  Coast Crane will also be obligated to pay an unused line fee on the amount by which the maximum credit under the revolving credit facility exceeds the aggregate amount of revolving loans and letter of credit accommodations based on a per annum rate of 0.50%.  At June 30, 2011, the applicable LIBOR rate, Base rate, and unused line commitment fee were 1.50%, 3.25% and 0.50%, respectively.

The maximum amount that could be borrowed under the Coast Crane Credit Facility, net of reserves was approximately $61.3 million as of June 30, 2011.  The Company’s available borrowing under the Coast Crane Credit Facility is approximately $10.5 million as of June 30, 2011.

 Proceeds of the first borrowing under the Coast Crane Credit Facility in the amount of $49,551,816 were used to pay part of the cash portion of the purchase price, costs, expenses and fees payable in connection with the Coast Acquisition and the negotiation and entry into the Coast Crane Credit Facility.  
 
As of June 30, 2011 and for the six months then ended, the Company was in compliance with its covenants and other provisions of the Coast Crane Credit Facility.  Some of the financial covenants including a fixed charge coverage ratio, do not become active unless the available borrowing falls below the $8.0 million threshold.  Coast Crane’s available borrowing base of approximately $10.5 million well exceeded the threshold at June 30, 2011.  Any failure to be in compliance with any material provision or covenant of these agreements could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s liquidity and operations.
 
 
11

 
 
ESSEX RENTAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)

Canadian Revolving Credit Facility

In conjunction with the Coast Acquisition, including all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of Coast Crane Ltd., the Company assumed the obligations under a Canadian revolving credit facility (the “Canadian Credit Facility”).  The principal balance assumed as of the date of the Coast Acquisition was $2,743,160.  Under the Canadian Credit Facility, Coast Crane Ltd. may borrow up to $5.0 million depending upon the availability of its borrowing base collateral, consisting of eligible trade receivables, inventories, property and equipment, and other assets located in Canada.  As of June 30, 2011, there was no additional availability under the Canadian Credit Facility.  Coast Crane Ltd.’s cash requirements are being funded by its parent companies as needed.

Interest accrues on the outstanding revolving loans under the Canadian Credit Facility at either a per annum rate equal to (a) CDOR plus 5.60% or (b) or Canadian Prime rate plus 4.25%, at Coast Crane Ltd.’s election.  Interest on the revolving loans are payable monthly in arrears.  Coast Crane will also be obligated to pay an unused line fee on the amount by which the maximum credit under the Canadian Credit Facility exceeds the aggregate amount of revolving loans based on a per annum rate of 0.25%.  At June 30, 2011 the applicable CDOR rate and unused line commitment fee were 1.30% and 0.25%, respectively.  The revolving credit facility is collateralized by a first security interest in substantially all of Coast Ltd’s assets.

Unsecured Promissory Notes

In November 2010, the Company entered into an agreement with the holders of certain Coast Crane indebtedness pursuant to which such holders agreed, in consideration of the assumption of such indebtedness by the Company, to exchange such indebtedness for one or more promissory notes issued by the Company in the aggregate principal amount of $5,227,000.  As additional consideration under the agreement, the Company agreed to issue 90,000 warrants to the holders of such indebtedness entitling the holder thereof to purchase up to 90,000 shares of Essex common stock at an exercise price of $0.01 per share, and to reimburse such holders for certain legal fees incurred in connection with the transaction.
 
In accordance with accounting guidance related to debt issued with conversion or other options, the fair value of the detachable warrants of $296,400 is recorded as a discount to the principal balance outstanding with an offset to additional paid-in capital and will be amortized on a straight-line basis over the three year life of the notes as additional interest expense which is not materially different than the effective interest method.  The unamortized balance of this discount as of June 30, 2011 was $240,324.

Interest accrues on the outstanding promissory notes at a per annum rate of 10% and is payable annually in arrears.

Purchase Money Security Interest Debt

As of June 30, 2011, the purchase money security interest debt consists of the financing of five remaining pieces of equipment.  These amortizing debt obligations were assumed by the Company in conjunction with the Coast Acquisition.  During the six months ended June 30, 2011, the Company repaid in full approximately $0.5 million of the obligations outstanding related to two pieces of equipment.  Interest accrues on the outstanding loans at LIBOR plus 3.25% and is payable monthly in arrears.  As the loans are amortizing, approximately $0.7 million of the total $2.9 million in principal payments are due prior to June 30, 2012 and as such, this amount is classified as a current liability in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets as of June 30, 2011.

During the six months ended June 30, 2011, the Company entered into a new $1.0 million debt obligation related to the financing of a new crane purchase.  The obligation was secured by the crane purchased, was set to mature in July 2016 and accrued interest at a rate of 3.99% per annum.  During the six months ended June 30, 2011, the obligation was repaid in full and the crane was sold through the Company’s retail distribution segment.
 
 
12

 
 
ESSEX RENTAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)

5.  Derivatives and Hedging Activities – Interest Rate Swap Agreements

Risk Management Objective of Using Derivatives

The Company is exposed to certain risks arising from both its business operations and economic conditions.  The Company principally manages its exposures to a wide variety of business and operational risks through management of its core business activities.  The Company manages economic risks, including interest rate, liquidity, and credit risk primarily by managing the amount, sources, and duration of its debt funding and the use of derivative financial instruments.  Specifically, the Company enters into derivative financial instruments to manage exposures that arise from business activities that result in the receipt or payment of future known and uncertain cash amounts, the value of which are determined by interest rates.  The Company’s derivative financial instruments are used to manage differences in the amount, timing, and duration of the Company’s known or expected cash receipts and its known or expected cash payments principally related to the Company’s investments and borrowings.

Cash Flow Hedges of Interest Rate Risk

The Company’s objectives in using interest rate derivatives are to add stability to interest expense and to manage its exposure to interest rate movements. To accomplish these objectives, the Company primarily uses interest rate swaps as part of its interest rate risk management strategy.  As of June 30, 2011, the Company had four interest rate swaps outstanding, which involves receipt of variable-rate amounts from counterparties in exchange for the Company making fixed-rate payments over the life of the agreements without exchange of the underlying notional amounts.

Essex Crane Interest Rate Swap

In November 2008, the Company entered into an interest rate swap agreement with the lead lender of its Essex Crane revolving credit facility to hedge its exposure to interest rate fluctuations.  The swap agreement has a notional principal amount of $100.0 million and matures in November 2012.  Under the agreement, the Company pays a 2.71% fixed interest rate plus the applicable margin under the revolving credit facility (or a total interest rate of 4.96%).  This interest rate swap is designated as a cash flow hedge.

The swap agreement established a fixed rate of interest for the Company and requires the Company or the bank to pay a settlement amount depending upon the difference between the 30 day floating LIBOR rate and the swap fixed rate of 2.71%.  The differential to be paid or received under the swap agreement has been accrued and paid as interest rates changed and such amounts were included in interest expense for the respective period.  Interest payment dates for the revolving loan were dependent upon the interest rate options selected by the Company.  Interest rates on the revolving credit facility were determined based on Wachovia’s prime rate or LIBOR rate, plus a margin depending on certain criteria in the agreement.  As of June 30, 2011, the Company had effectively fixed through 2012, from a cash flow perspective, the interest rate on approximately 63% of Essex Crane’s credit facility.  As of June 30, 2011, the interest rate on the effectively fixed portion of the credit facility was 4.96% and the interest rate on the portion of the credit facility not effectively fixed by interest rate swap contracts was 2.49%. The weighted average interest rate of the Essex Crane revolving credit facility, including the impact of the interest rate swaps was 4.06% as of June 30, 2010.

The effective portion of changes in the fair value of derivatives designated and that qualify as cash flow hedges is recorded in accumulated other comprehensive income and is subsequently reclassified into earnings in the period that the hedged forecasted transaction affects earnings. The ineffective portion of the change in fair value of the derivatives is recognized directly in earnings.  There was no hedge ineffectiveness recognized during the six months ended June 30, 2011 or 2010.

For the six months ended June 30, 2011, the change in net unrealized loss on the derivative designated as a cash flow hedge reported as a component of other accumulated comprehensive income was a decrease of $600,387 ($367,659 net of tax).  Amounts reported in accumulated other comprehensive income related to derivatives will be reclassified to interest expense as interest payments are made on the Company’s variable-rate debt.  During the twelve month period ending June 30, 2012, the Company estimates that an additional $2.4 million will be reclassified as an increase to interest expense.
 
 
13

 
 
ESSEX RENTAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)

Coast Crane Interest Rate Swaps

The Company assumed three interest rate swaps in conjunction with the Coast Acquisition.  The assumed interest rate swaps have a notional amount of $7.0 million each and expire on May 18, 2012.  Under the agreements, the Company pays fixed interest of 5.62% and receives three-month LIBOR.  The Company did not contemporaneously document the hedge designation on the date of assumption in order to qualify for hedge accounting treatment due to economic reasons and the projected inherent hedge ineffectiveness.  The changes in fair values of the assumed swaps for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011 was an unrealized gain of approximately $231,107 and $475,861, respectively and was reported as a component of other income (expenses) in its consolidated statement of operations.

The Company’s consolidated weighted average interest rate of total debt outstanding, including the impact of the interest rate swaps was 5.06% at June 30, 2011. The impact of the interest rate swaps resulted in an increase in interest expense of approximately $683,000 and $612,000 for the three months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively. The impact of the interest rate swaps resulted in an increase in interest expense of approximately $1,331,000 and $1,233,000 for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

The table below presents the fair value of the Company’s derivative financial instruments as adjusted for the risk of non-performance as well as their classification on the Balance Sheet as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010:  

       
Fair Value as of
 
   
Balance Sheet
 
June 30,
   
December 31,
 
   
Location
 
2011
   
2010
 
Derivative designated as hedging instrument
               
                 
Interest Rate Swap
 
Long-term liabilities
  $ 3,225,004     $ 3,825,391  
                     
Undesignated economic derivatives
                   
                     
Interest Rate Swaps
 
Long-term liabilities
    965,334       1,441,195  
                     
Total fair value of liability derivatives
      $ 4,190,338     $ 5,266,586  
 
 
14

 
 
ESSEX RENTAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)

The table below presents the effect of the Company’s derivative financial instruments on the Income Statement for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010.  These amounts are presented as other comprehensive income (“OCI”).
 
Derivatives in Cash Flow
Hedging Relationships
 
Amount of Gain
or (Loss)
Recognized in
OCI on
Derivative
(Effective
Portion)
 
Location of Gain
or (Loss)
Reclassified from
Accumulated OCI
into Income
(Effective Portion)
 
Amount of Gain
or (Loss)
Reclassified from
Accumulated
OCI into Income
(Effective
Portion)
 
Location of Gain or
(Loss) Recognized in
Income on Derivative
(Ineffective Portion
and Amount Excluded
from Effectiveness
Testing)
 
Amount of Gain or
(Loss) Recognized
in Income on
Derivative
(Ineffective Portion
and Amount
Excluded from
Effectiveness
Testing)
 
                       
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2011
                     
                       
Interest Rate Swap
  $ (645,202 )
Interest expense
  $ (1,245,589 )
Other income / (expense)
  $ -  
                             
For the Six Months Ended June 30, 2010
                           
                             
Interest Rate Swap
  $ (2,976,229 )
Interest expense
  $ (1,232,853 )
Other income / (expense)
  $ -  

Credit-risk-related Contingent Features

Each of the Company’s operating subsidiaries Essex Crane and Coast Crane separately have agreements with each of their derivative counterparties that contain a provision where if such subsidiary defaults on any of its indebtedness, including default where repayment of the indebtedness has not been accelerated by the lender, then such subsidiary could also be declared in default on their derivative obligations.

As of June 30, 2011, the fair value of derivatives in a net liability position, which includes accrued interest but excludes any adjustment for nonperformance risk, related to these agreements was approximately $4.3 million.  As of June 30, 2011, the Company has not posted any cash collateral related to these agreements other than a reserve against available borrowings of $3.3 million as of June 30, 2011 related to the fair values of outstanding interest rate swaps under the Essex Crane revolving credit facility.  If the Company had breached any of these provisions at June 30, 2011, it would have been required to settle its obligations under the agreements at their termination value of approximately $4.2 million.

 
5.
Fair Value

The FASB issued a statement on Fair Value Measurements which, among other things, defines fair value, establishes a consistent framework for measuring fair value and expands disclosure for each major asset and liability category measured at fair value on either a recurring or nonrecurring basis and clarifies that fair value is an exit price, representing the amount that would be received to sell an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants. As such, fair value is a market-based measurement that should be determined based on assumptions that market participants would use in pricing an asset or liability.  As a basis for considering such assumptions, the standard establishes a three-tier fair value hierarchy, which prioritizes the inputs used in measuring fair value as follows:

 
·
Level 1 - Observable inputs such as quoted prices in active markets:
 
·
Level 2- Inputs, other than the quoted prices in active markets, that are observable either directly or indirectly; and
 
·
Level 3 - Unobservable inputs in which there is little or no market data, which require the reporting entity to develop its own assumptions.
 
 
15

 
 
ESSEX RENTAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)

The Company’s interest rate swaps are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis and had a liability fair value of approximately $4.2 million and $5.3 million at June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively.  The fair value of the interest rate swaps is determined using the market standard methodology of netting the discounted future fixed cash payments and the discounted expected variable cash receipts.  The variable cash receipts are based the expectation of future interest rates derived from observed market interest rate curves.  In addition, to comply with the provisions of applicable accounting guidance related to fair value measurements, the Company's valuations also consider the impact of both its own and the respective counterparty’s non-performance risk.  In adjusting the fair value of its derivative contract for the effect of non-performance risk, the Company has considered any applicable credit enhancements.

Although the Company has determined that the majority of the inputs used to value its derivatives fall within Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy, the credit valuation adjustments associated with its derivatives utilize Level 3 inputs, such as estimates of current credit spreads to evaluate the likelihood of default by itself and its counterparties.  However, as of June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the Company has assessed the significance of the impact of the credit valuation adjustments on the overall valuation of its derivative position and has determined that the credit valuation adjustment is not significant to the overall valuation.  As a result, the Company classifies its derivative valuations in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

The following tables provide a summary of the fair value measurements at June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 for each major category of assets and liabilities measured at fair value on a recurring basis:

         
Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
 
         
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical
Assets/Liabilities
   
Significant Other
Observable
Inputs
   
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
 
Description
 
6/30/2011
   
(Level 1)
   
(Level 2)
   
(Level 3)
 
                         
Liabilities:
                       
Interest Rate Swaps
  $ 4,190,338       -     $ 4,190,338       -  

         
Fair Value Measurements at Reporting Date Using
 
         
Quoted Prices in
Active Markets for
Identical
Assets/Liabilities
   
Significant Other
Observable
Inputs
   
Significant
Unobservable
Inputs
 
Description
 
12/31/2010
   
(Level 1)
   
(Level 2)
   
(Level 3)
 
                         
Liabilities:
                       
Interest Rate Swaps
  $ 5,266,586       -     $ 5,266,586       -  

The detachable warrants issued to the holders of the unsecured promissory notes were valued using the Black-Scholes pricing model.  The model is sensitive to changes in assumptions which can materially affect the fair value estimate. The Company’s method of estimating expected volatility was based on the volatility of its outstanding shares of common stock.  The expected dividend yield was estimated based on the Company’s expected dividend rate over the term of the warrants. The expected term of the warrants was based on management’s estimate, and the risk-free interest rate is based on U.S. Treasuries with a term approximating the expected life of the warrants. The expected volatility, dividend, term and risk free interest rate used to value the warrants granted in 2010 were 60.0%, 0.0%, 3 years and 0.81%, respectively.  The Company classifies the fair value of the detachable warrants in Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy.

The fair value of the Company’s total debt obligations was approximately $219.9 million as of June 30, 2011 calculated using a discounted cash flows approach at a market rate of interest.

      The fair values of the Company’s financial instruments, other than the interest rate swap and debt obligations, including cash and cash equivalents approximate their carrying values.  The Company bases its fair values on listed market prices or third party quotes when available.  If not available, then the Company bases its estimates on instruments with similar terms and maturities.
 
 
16

 
 
ESSEX RENTAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)

7.  Earnings per Share and Comprehensive Income

The following tables set forth the computation of basic and diluted earnings per share:

   
Three Months Ended June 30,
   
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
                         
Net loss
  $ (4,526,032 )   $ (2,228,525 )   $ (9,188,284 )   $ (4,216,264 )
                                 
Weighted average shares outstanding:
                               
Basic
    24,428,092       14,535,982       23,210,137       14,332,142  
Effect of dilutive securities:
                               
Warrants
    -       -       -       -  
Options
    -       -       -       -  
Diluted
    24,428,092       14,535,982       23,210,137       14,332,142  
                                 
Basic earnings (loss) per share
  $ (0.19 )   $ (0.15 )   $ (0.40 )   $ (0.29 )
Diluted earnings (loss) per share
  $ (0.19 )   $ (0.15 )   $ (0.40 )   $ (0.29 )

Basic earnings per share ("EPS") is computed by dividing the net income by the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during the period.  Included in weighted average number of shares outstanding for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 is 632,911 shares of common stock for the effective conversion of the retained interest in Holdings into common stock of the Company.  Diluted EPS adjusts basic EPS for the effects of Warrants, Units and Options; only in the periods in which such effect is dilutive.

As part of the initial public offering in March 2007, the Company issued an Underwriter Purchase Option (“UPO”) to purchase 600,000 Units at an exercise price of $8.80 per unit.  Each unit consists of one share of the Company’s common stock and one warrant.  Each warrant entitles the holder to purchase from the Company one share of common stock.  The UPO expires on March 4, 2012.

The UPO Units that could be converted into 1,200,000 weighted average common shares for the six month periods ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 were outstanding but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the effects would be anti-dilutive.  The weighted average restricted stock outstanding that could be converted into 67,122 and 62,103 weighted average common shares for the three and six months ended June 30, 2011, respectively, were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the effects would be anti-dilutive.  Weighted average options outstanding that could be converted into 161,511 and 80,263 weighted average common shares for the three months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 and weighted average options that could be converted into 144,371 and 51,176 weighted average common shares for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the effects would be anti-dilutive.  Weighted average warrants outstanding that could be converted into 89,871 and 2,891,078 weighted average common shares for the three month periods ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 and weighted average warrants outstanding that could be converted into 404,008 and 2,345,451 weighted average common shares for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively were outstanding but were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share because the effects would be anti-dilutive.  The weighted average amount for the six months ended June 30, 2011 includes a large number of warrants that were exercised or expired on March 4, 2011 pursuant to the original terms of the warrant agreements.

As of June 30, 2011, there were 90,000 Warrants, 1,474,719 Stock Options, and the UPO for 600,000 Units (as described above) outstanding, which are exercisable at weighted average exercise prices of $0.01, $5.45, and $8.80, respectively.
 
 
17

 
 
ESSEX RENTAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)
 
Comprehensive loss was composed of the following:

   
Three Months Ended June 30,
   
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
                         
Net loss
  $ (4,526,032 )   $ (2,228,525 )   $ (9,188,284 )   $ (4,216,264 )
Other comprehensive income (loss) -
                               
Interest rate swap
    46,503       (576,686 )     367,659       (1,080,893 )
Foreign currency translation adjustments
    4,386       -       7,163       -  
                                 
Comprehensive loss
  $ (4,475,143 )   $ (2,805,211 )   $ (8,813,462 )   $ (5,297,157 )
 
8.  Income Taxes

The Company’s effective tax rates of 38.6% and 36.3% for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2011, respectively were lower than the statutory federal tax rate due to state taxes. The Company’s effective tax rates of 33.5% and 34.8% for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2010, respectively were higher than the statutory federal tax rate due to state taxes.

At June 30, 2011, the Company has unused federal net operating loss carry-forwards totaling approximately $84.6 million that begin expiring in 2021.  At June 30, 2011, the Company also has unused state net operating loss carry-forwards totaling approximately $39.7 million that expire between 2011 and 2031.  The net operating loss carry-forwards are primarily from the acquisition of Holdings.

At June 30, 2011, the Company also has unrecorded excess tax goodwill of approximately $3.9 million associated with the acquisition of Holdings.  The excess tax goodwill is amortized over the remaining four year term as a reduction to the balance in other identifiable intangibles until its balance is reduced to zero, after which it will be recorded as a benefit to the income tax provision.

In October 2010, the examination by the IRS of the Company’s tax returns for the tax years ended December 31, 2008 and 2007 concluded and resulted in no adjustments to the returns for either tax year.  The Company is also subject to periodic state examinations.

The Company had unrecognized tax benefits of approximately $0.1 million at June 30, 2011 and December 31, 2010 primarily associated with tax positions taken in a prior year.  The Company did not incur any income tax related interest expense or penalties related to uncertain tax positions during the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2011 or 2010 The Company’s recorded deferred tax assets are expected to be realized and as such, no valuation allowance was recorded as of June 30, 2011 or 2010.

9. Stock Based Compensation

The Company may issue up to 1,500,000 shares of common stock pursuant to its 2011 Long-term Incentive Plan to employees, non-employee directors and consultants of the Corporation.  Options to purchase shares of common stock are granted at its market price on the grant date and expire ten years from issuance.

The Company issued 11,467 shares of common stock under the Hyde Park Acquisition Corp. 2008 Long-term Incentive Plan during the six months ended June 30, 2010 to certain employees as compensation.  The grant price of the shares issued was $6.26 per share.  The aggregate grant date fair value of approximately $74,000 was recorded as compensation within selling, general and administrative expenses and salaries, payroll taxes and benefits with an offset recorded in additional paid in capital.  These shares, which amount to 42% of the amount of reduced cash salaries, were issued as part of a temporary salary reduction program pursuant to which our chief executive officer, members of executive management and other key managers receiving salaries elected to reduce the amount of their salaries paid in cash by 30 percent, 20 percent and 10 percent, respectively.  The shares issued pursuant to the salary reduction program vested immediately upon grant and are restricted from sale for a period of two years from the date of grant.  The voluntary temporary salary reduction program commenced in May 2009 and was terminated in November 2010.
 
 
18

 
 
ESSEX RENTAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)

On January 3, 2011, the Company granted to certain Coast Crane employees 166,943 shares of restricted common stock with an aggregate grant date fair value of $926,485.  These shares vest 50% on January 1, 2012 and 50% on January 2013 and as such, none were vested as of June 30, 2011.

On January 14, 2011, the Company granted to certain key members of management options to purchase 423,750 shares of common stock at $5.58 per share.  The weighted-average grant date fair value per share of options granted was $3.19 resulting in a grant date fair value of $1,351,763.  The stock options vest one-third annually beginning on January 1, 2012, and as such, none were vested as of June 30, 2011.  Such options will expire and no longer be exercisable after January 1, 2021.

On March 18, 2010, the Company granted to certain key members of management options to purchase 485,969 shares of common stock at $6.45 per share.  The weighted-average grant date fair value per share of options granted was $3.76 resulting in a grant date fair value of $1,827,243.  The stock options vest one-third annually beginning on January 1, 2011, and as such, 161,989 were vested as of June 30, 2011.  Such options will expire and no longer be exercisable after March 18, 2020.

On December 18, 2008, the Company granted to certain key members of management options to purchase 565,000 shares of common stock at $4.50 per share.  The weighted-average grant date fair value per share of options granted was $2.54 resulting in a grant date fair value of $1,434,671.  The stock options vest one-third annually beginning in December 2009, and as such, 376,677 and 188,333 of these options were vested and exercisable as of June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.  Such options will expire and no longer be exercisable after December 18, 2018.

No options were exercised, forfeited or expired during the six months ended June 30, 2011.  The weighted average exercise price, remaining contractual term, and the total intrinsic value of vested and exercisable options as of June 30, 2011 were $5.09, 8 years and $0.8 million, respectively.

The fair values of the stock options granted are estimated at the date of grant using the Black-Scholes option pricing model.  The model is sensitive to changes in assumptions which can materially affect the fair value estimate. The Company’s method of estimating expected volatility was based on the volatility of its peers since the Successor had only had operations for a short time as of the date of grant. The expected dividend yield was estimated based on the Company’s expected dividend rate over the term of the options. The expected term of the options was based on management’s estimate, and the risk-free interest rate is based on U.S. Treasuries with a term approximating the expected life of the options. The expected volatility, dividend, term and risk free interest rate used to value the stock options granted in 2011 were 60.0%, 0.0%, 6 years and 2.31%, respectively.  The expected volatility, dividend, term and risk free interest rate used to value the stock options granted in 2010 were 61.0%, 0.0%, 6 years and 2.79%, respectively.  The expected volatility, dividend, term and risk free interest rate used to value the stock options granted in 2008 were 61.0%, 0.0%, 6 years and 1.43%, respectively.

The Company recorded $499,558 and $996,213 of non-cash compensation expense associated with stock options and restricted shares in selling, general and administrative expenses for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2011, respectively.  The Company recorded $311,343 and $460,405 of non-cash compensation expense associated with stock options in selling, general and administrative expenses for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2010, respectively.  There was approximately $3.0 million and $2.3 million of total unrecognized compensation cost as of June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively related to non-vested stock option and restricted share awards.  The remaining cost is expected to be recognized ratably over the remaining respective vesting periods.  
 
 
19

 
 
ESSEX RENTAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)

 
10.  Common Stock and Warrants

 In May 2010, our Board of Directors approved an offer allowing warrant holders to tender their warrants for exercise on a cashless basis by exchanging their warrants for shares of the Company’s common stock.  The offer was approved in accordance with the recommendation of a committee comprised of the independent members of the Board who do not own warrants.  In June 2010, the Board of Directors extended and amended the offer.  Under the terms of the amended offer, the Board temporarily modified the terms of the Company’s outstanding warrants, to provide warrant holders with the opportunity to exercise their warrants on a cashless basis by exchanging three warrants for one share of the Company’s common stock.  The number of properly tendered warrants that would be accepted by the Company in the offer was limited to 8,000,000 warrants.  The amended offer expired on June 29, 2010.  Pursuant to the offer, a total of 7,642,674 warrants were tendered for cashless exercise.  Included in the tendered warrants were 936,840 warrants tendered by our officers and directors.  In accordance with the offer, our officers and directors participated in the offer to the same extent as other warrant holders, which was at a participation rate of 65.3%.  As a result of the exercise of warrants, 2,547,558 shares of common stock were issued in 2010.

In October 2008, our Board of Directors authorized a stock and warrant repurchase program, under which the Company may purchase, from time to time, in open market transactions at prevailing prices or through privately negotiated transactions as conditions permit, up to $12.0 million of the Company’s outstanding common stock and warrants.  Repurchases of our common stock and warrants are funded with cash flows of the business.

The Company repurchased 519,905 warrants to acquire common stock for approximately $0.9 million during the six months ended June 30, 2010.  There was approximately $9.0 million remaining available for future common stock and warrant purchases subsequent to these repurchases.  In May 2010, the Company suspended its share and warrant repurchase program in conjunction with the cashless exercise warrant offer.

On October 29, 2010, the Company entered into subscription agreements providing for the sale of an aggregate of 3,300,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.0001 per share, at a price of $4.30 per share, or $14,190,000 in the aggregate, in a private offering (the “Private Placement”). The closing of the Private Placement and issuance of shares of common stock pursuant to the subscriptions was contingent upon CC Bidding being the successful bidder for, and consummating the acquisition of, the assets of Coast Crane.  The proceeds of the offering were used to fund part of the cash portion of the purchase price for Coast Crane's assets.  The shares were issued as of the closing date of the Coast Crane Acquisition on November 24, 2010. 
  
The Company incurred issuance costs of $638,550 for placement agent services and incurred legal fees of $135,052 for legal services rendered to the Company in connection with the Private Placement.

In November 2010, in conjunction with the issuance of the unsecured promissory notes, the Company issued 90,000 warrants each entitling the holders to purchase from the Company one share of common stock at an exercise price of $0.01, which expire on December 31, 2013.    The fair value of the warrants on the issuance date was $0.3 million.  See Note 4 for further discussion.

The Company issued 3,955,603 shares of common stock upon the exercise of warrants in exchange for cash proceeds of $19,778,000 during the six months ended June 30, 2011.  The Company issued 471,258 shares of common stock upon the exercise of warrants in exchange for cash proceeds of approximately $2.4 million during the six months ended June 30, 2010.  Upon the expiration of the warrants on March 4, 2011, 103,953 unexercised warrants expired worthless.

11.  Segment Information

Historically, prior to the acquisition of our Coast Crane subsidiary in November 2010, the Company had only one operating segment.  As a result of the acquisition of Coast Crane, the Company now provides services that it had not in the past, including equipment distribution and parts and service to third parties not renting the Company’s equipment.  We have identified three reportable segments: equipment rentals, equipment distribution, and parts and service.  These segments are based upon how management of the Company allocates resources and assesses performance.  The equipment rental segment includes rental, transportation, used rental equipment sales and repairs of rental equipment.  There were no sales between segments for any of the periods presented.  Selling, general, and administrative expenses as well as all other income and expense items below gross profit are not generally allocated to our reportable segments.
 
 
20

 
 
ESSEX RENTAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)

We do not compile discrete financial information by our segments other than the information presented below.  The following table presents information about our reportable segments related to revenues and gross profit:

   
Three Months Ended June 30,
   
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
                         
Segment revenues
                       
Equipment rentals
  $ 14,606,977     $ 9,046,146     $ 27,854,403     $ 17,353,455  
Equipment distribution
    3,591,291       -       7,289,655       -  
Parts and service
    4,146,237       -       8,687,617       -  
                                 
Total revenues
  $ 22,344,505     $ 9,046,146     $ 43,831,675     $ 17,353,455  
                                 
Segment gross profit
                               
Equipment rentals
  $ 1,873,476     $ 1,154,310     $ 3,900,715     $ 2,345,552  
Equipment distribution
    378,331       -       787,583       -  
Parts and service
    788,516       -       1,880,002       -  
                                 
Total gross profit
  $ 3,040,323     $ 1,154,310     $ 6,568,300     $ 2,345,552  
 
The following table presents information about our reportable segments related to total assets:

   
June 30, 2011
   
December 31, 2010
 
             
Segment identified assets
           
             
Equipment rentals
  $ 349,794,222     $ 358,568,696  
Equipment distribution
    6,149,540       5,578,000  
Parts and service
    4,238,535       4,388,388  
Total segment identified assets
    360,182,297       368,535,084  
Non-segmented identified assets
    25,700,713       14,511,874  
                 
Total assets
  $ 385,883,010     $ 383,046,958  

The Company operates primarily in the United States.  Our sales to international customers for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2011 were 3.4% and 3.6%, respectively of total revenues for the period presented.  No one customer accounted for more than 10% of our revenues on an overall or segmented basis except as described below.  Within the equipment distribution segment, five customers individually accounted for approximately 25%, 20%, 11%, 10%, and 10% of revenues on a segmented basis.  The concentration of revenues from these customers within the equipment distribution segment is directly attributable to the large dollar value of individual transactions and the small number of individual transactions.

12.  Commitments, Contingencies and Related Party Transactions

Since December 2010, the Company occupies office space at 500 Fifth Avenue, 50th Floor, New York, NY 10110, provided by Hyde Park Real Estate LLC, an affiliate of Laurence S. Levy, our chairman of the board.  Such affiliate has agreed that it will make such office space, as well as certain office and administrative services, available to the Company, as may be required by the Company from time to time. The Company has agreed to pay such entity $7,500 per month for such services with the terms of such arrangement being reconsidered from time to time.  Prior to December 2010, the Company maintained an office at 461 Fifth Avenue, 25th Floor, New York, New York pursuant to an agreement with ProChannel Management LLC, also an affiliate of Laurence S. Levy.  The Company’s statements of operations for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 include $22,500 and $45,000, respectively of rent expense related to these agreements.

In November 2010, the Company entered into an agreement with the holders of certain Coast Crane indebtedness pursuant to which such holders agreed, in consideration of the assumption of such indebtedness by the Company, to exchange such indebtedness of $5.2 million for unsecured promissory notes issued by the Company in the aggregate principal amount of $5.2 million plus the receipt of up to 90,000 warrants to purchase Essex common stock at $0.01 per share. The unsecured promissory notes mature in December 2013.  The holders of the unsecured promissory notes are related parties to the Company as they own a significant amount of the Company’s outstanding shares of common stock.
 
 
21

 
 
ESSEX RENTAL CORP.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (Continued)
(Unaudited)
                        
The Company maintains reserves for personal property taxes.  These reserves are based on a variety of factors including: duration of rental in each county jurisdiction, tax rates, rental contract terms, customer filings, tax-exempt nature of projects or jurisdictions, statutes of limitations and potential related penalties and interest.  Additionally, most customer rental contracts contain a provision that provides that personal property taxes are an obligation to be borne by the lessee.  Where provided in the rental contract, management will invoice the customer for any personal property taxes paid by the Company.  An estimated receivable has been recorded, net of an estimated allowance in connection with this liability.  This customer receivable has been presented as other receivables in current assets while the property tax reserve has been included in accrued taxes.
 
Management estimated the gross personal property taxes liability and related contractual customer receivable of the Company to be approximately $3.7 million and $2.9 million, respectively at June 30, 2011 and approximately $4.2 million and $3.2 million, respectively at December 31, 2010.

The Company is subject to a number of claims and proceedings that generally arise in the normal conduct of business.  The Company believes that any liabilities ultimately resulting from these claims will not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows.
 
 
22

 
 
ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

The following discussion summarizes the financial position of Essex Rental Corp. and its subsidiaries as of June 30, 2011, and its results of operations for the three and six month periods ended June 30, 2011 and should be read in conjunction with (i) the unaudited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and (ii) the audited consolidated financial statements and accompanying notes to our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2010.
 
As used in this Quarterly Report, references to “the Company” or “Essex” or to “we,” “us” or “our” refer to Essex Rental Corp., together with its consolidated subsidiaries, Essex Holdings, LLC, Essex Crane Rental Corp., Essex Finance Corp., Coast Crane Company and Coast Crane Ltd., unless the context otherwise requires.

Business

Background

Essex Rental Corp. (formerly Hyde Park Acquisition Corp.) was incorporated in Delaware on August 21, 2006 as a blank check company whose objective was to effect a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition or other similar business combination with an operating business.  On March 13, 2007, we closed our initial public offering of 11,250,000 units.  Each unit that was offered had a price of $8.00 and consisted of one share of our common stock and one warrant.  Each warrant entitled the holders to purchase one share of our common stock at a price of $5.00.  On March 15, 2007, we consummated the sale of an additional 1,687,500 units which were subject to an over-allotment option granted to EarlyBirdCapital, Inc., the representatives of the underwriters for our initial public offering.  We also sold to EarlyBirdCapital, Inc., for $100, as additional compensation an option to purchase up to a total of 600,000 units at $8.80 per unit.  Laurence S. Levy, chairman of our board of directors, Edward Levy, a member of our board of directors, and Isaac Kier, one of our initial stockholders, owned a total of 2,812,500 shares of our common stock prior to our initial public offering.  These initial stockholders also purchased a total of 1,500,000 warrants from us at $1.00 per warrant in a private placement completed concurrently with our initial public offering.  The total proceeds from our initial public offering (including from our private placement of warrants and exercise of the underwriters’ over-allotment option) were $105,000,000.  Upon the closing of the offering, including the over-allotment option and the private placement of warrants, and after deducting the underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses, the total net proceeds from the offering were approximately $99,923,651.

All activity from August 21, 2006 (inception) through March 13, 2007 related to Essex Rental Corp’s formation and initial public offering.  From March 13, 2007 through October 31, 2008, our activities were limited to identifying prospective target businesses to acquire and completing a business combination.  

On October 31, 2008, we acquired Essex Crane Rental Corp., which we refer to as Essex Crane, through the acquisition of substantially all of the ownership interests of Essex Crane’s parent company, Essex Holdings, LLC, which we refer to as Holdings, and as a result, we are no longer in the development stage.

Essex Crane is a leading provider of lattice-boom crawler crane and attachment rental services and possesses one of the largest fleets of such equipment in the United States (US).  From October 31, 2008 until November 24, 2010, we conducted substantially all of our operations through Essex Crane.

In 2009, the Company formed a new subsidiary, Essex Finance Corp., to facilitate the acquisition of rental equipment.

In November 2010, we formed CC Bidding Corp (“CCBC”), a Delaware corporation and an indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of Essex Rental Corp., to facilitate the acquisition (the “Coast Acquisition”) of substantially all of the assets, and the assumption of certain liabilities, of Coast Crane Company, a Delaware corporation (“Coast Liquidating Co.”), a leading provider of specialty lifting solutions and crane rental services on the West Coast of the United States.  We completed the Coast Acquisition on November 24, 2010 as the successful bidder in a bankruptcy proceeding.   The assets acquired included all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of Coast Crane Ltd., a British Columbia corporation, through which Coast Liquidating Co. conducted its operations in Canada.  Following the closing of the Coast Acquisition, CCBC changed its name to “Coast Crane Company”. References to “Coast Crane” in this Quarterly Report mean Coast Crane Company, a Delaware corporation, formerly known as CC Bidding Corp.  For more information regarding the Coast Acquisition, see note 1 to our consolidated financial statements.
 
 
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We conduct substantially all of our operations through Essex Crane and Coast Crane.

Products and Services
 
Our principal products and services are described below.
 
Equipment Rentals    We offer for rent crawler cranes and attachments, rough terrain cranes, boom trucks, tower cranes, and other construction related rental equipment.  Most attachments are rented separately and increase either the lifting capacity or the reach capabilities of the base crawler cranes and tower cranes.  Crawler cranes are long-lived assets with actual lives of up to 50 years or more when properly maintained.  The weighted-average age of our rental equipment fleet was approximately 13 years at June 30, 2011.
 
Used Rental Equipment Sales   We routinely sell used rental equipment and invest in new equipment in order to manage the mix, composition and size of our fleet.  We also sell used equipment in response to customer demand for this equipment.  The rate at which we replace used equipment with new equipment depends on a number of factors, including changing general economic conditions, growth opportunities and the need to adjust fleet mix to meet customer requirements and demand.

Retail Equipment and Parts Sales   We routinely sell new equipment, used equipment and parts to customers in the construction industry.  The types of equipment sold are consistent with the types of equipment used in the Company’s rental fleets and include crawler cranes, tower crane, rough terrain cranes, boom trucks and other lifting equipment.  Parts sold are used by customers in similar types of lifting equipment and other heavy machinery.

Transportation Service and Other Revenue   We also offer transportation and repair and maintenance services.  Our target customers for these ancillary services are our current rental customers, customers that own their own equipment and those who purchase new and used equipment from us.

We generate revenue from a number of sources as follows:

 
· 
Equipment rentals – We rent our fleet of over 1,000 cranes and attachments and other lifting equipment to a variety of engineering and construction customers under contracts.  Crawler crane, tower crane and rough terrain crane rental agreements may have durations in excess of 18 months.  Boom trucks and other smaller equipment may be rented as frequently as daily.  The contracts typically provide for an agreed rental rate and a specified rental period.   The revenue from crane and attachment rentals is primarily driven by rental rates (which are typically higher for the more expensive cranes with heavier lifting capacities than less expensive cranes with lower lifting capacities) charged to our customers and our fleet utilization rate.  Rental revenue is recognized as earned in accordance with the terms of the relevant rental agreement on a pro rata daily basis;

 
· 
Retail equipment and part sales – We offer a variety of construction equipment products and the related parts for sale including tower cranes, boom trucks, rough terrain cranes and other lifting equipment used in the construction industry.  The revenue from equipment and parts sales is primarily driven by the level of construction activity in a particular geographic region.  Equipment sales revenue is recognized at the time ownership transfers, which is generally based on delivery and/or inspection of the equipment.  Parts sales revenue is recognized at the time of purchase.

 
· 
Used rental equipment sales revenue – In the ordinary course of business, we sell used cranes and attachments and other lifting equipment over time to optimize the combination of crane models and lifting capacities available in our fleet as we perceive market demands and opportunities.  On average, we have historically achieved sale prices for equipment in excess of the appraised value.  This is due to the long useful life of the crane and attachment fleet, the conditions prevailing in the secondary market and the high content of engineered high-strength steel included in these fleet assets.  Used rental equipment sales are recognized upon acceptance by the customer or the execution of a definitive sales agreement stipulating the date of transferring the risk of ownership.  In light of our recent acquisitions of Essex Crane and Coast Crane, the gain on sale of rental equipment will be moderated since the rental equipment has been adjusted to fair value as of the closing date, thereby reducing near-term future gain on sale;
 
 
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· 
Transportation services revenue – Transportation services revenue is derived from the management of the logistics process by which our rental equipment is transported to and from customers’ construction sites, including the contracting of third party trucking for such transportation.  Transportation revenue is earned under equipment rental agreements on a gross basis representing both the third-party provider’s fee for transportation and our fee for managing these transportation services and they are matched with the associated costs, and related costs for amounts paid to third party providers.  The key drivers of transportation revenue are crane and attachment and other lifting equipment utilization rates and average contract lengths.  Shorter average contract durations and high utilization rates generally result in higher requirements for transportation of equipment and resulting revenue.  The distance that equipment has to move between different jobsites and the type of equipment being moved (number of truckloads) are also major drivers of transportation revenue and associated costs.  Transportation revenue is recognized upon completion of the transportation of equipment; and

 
· 
Equipment repair and maintenance services revenue – While crawler cranes or attachments, tower cranes, rough terrain cranes, boom trucks or other equipment are on rent, much of the repair and maintenance work is paid for by the customer.  We perform a portion of the repair and maintenance work and recognize revenue for such services to the extent they are the customer’s responsibility.  This category of revenue also includes providing certain services while erecting the equipment during initial assembly or disassembly of the equipment at the end of the rental.  In addition, we offer repair and maintenance services to any party that owns their own equipment and requests repair and maintenance services at one of our Coast Crane service center locations.  Key drivers for repair and maintenance revenue are the utilization rates for cranes and attachments as well as jobsite operating conditions and the general construction activity in a given geographic region.  Repair and maintenance revenue is recognized as such services are performed.

The following table provides a summary of the Company’s revenue generating activities discussed above expressed as a percentage of total revenues:

   
Three Months Ended June 30,
   
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
                         
Equipment rentals
    45.6 %     60.1 %     46.9 %     60.9 %
Retail equipment sales
    16.1 %     0.0 %     16.6 %     0.0 %
Used rental equipment sales
    7.8 %     19.7 %     5.0 %     16.1 %
Retail parts sales
    11.4 %     0.0 %     12.5 %     0.0 %
Transportation
    6.2 %     10.7 %     6.3 %     11.6 %
Equipment repairs and maintenance
    12.9 %     9.5 %     12.7 %     11.4 %
 
Utilization Measurement

Essex Rental Corp. measures utilization using the method referred to as the “days” method.  Essex's management believes that this method, while it may reflect lower utilization rates than other methods used in the industry, is the most accurate method for measuring equipment utilization and correlates most closely with rental revenue.  Under this method, a real time report is generated from the ERP system for each piece of equipment on rent in a period.  The report includes the number of days each piece of equipment was on rent on a particular lease and the base monthly rental rate (excluding any overtime revenues).  The total number of days on rent of all pieces of rental equipment provides the numerator for determining utilization.  The denominator is all rental equipment assets owned times the number of days in the month.  The “days” method is the utilization measurement currently used by Essex, and Essex anticipates that the “days” method will be the primary basis for future disclosure of utilization rates for Essex’s cranes and other construction equipment offered for rent.
 
 
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The following table provides a summary of utilization rates calculated using the “days” method for the three and six months periods ended June 30, 2011 and 2010 for the equipment types owned during those periods.

   
Three Months Ended June 30,
   
Six Months Ended June 30,
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
2011
   
2010
 
Crawler Cranes
    38.6 %     35.1 %     40.7 %     32.6 %
Rough Terrain Cranes
    68.9 %     N/A       67.9 %     N/A  
Boomtrucks
    53.3 %     N/A       51.0 %     N/A  
Self-Erecting Tower Cranes
    21.5 %     N/A       19.9 %     N/A  
City & Other Tower Cranes
    43.0 %     N/A       43.1 %     N/A  
Forklifts and Other Equipment
    39.6 %     N/A       39.4 %     N/A  

Current Environment

Management believes that, in the long-term, Essex Crane’s strong niche market position and improvements in its fleet through investment in new cranes and the acquisition of Coast Crane’s assets will provide opportunity for future growth.  Management bases such belief on the assumption that, in the long-term, there will be improvements in our customers’ ability to obtain financing, including credit for infrastructure projects.  We cannot however be certain that our customers’ access to financing for infrastructure projects, including credit, will improve.

Results of Operations

Three months ended June 30, 2011 compared to the three months ended June 30, 2010

The Company had a net loss before income taxes of $7.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011 compared to a net loss before income taxes of $3.3 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010, an increase in the amount of loss of $4.1 million.  The increase in net loss is discussed in more detail below.

Business Segments

Historically, prior to the acquisition of our Coast Crane subsidiary in November 2010, the Company had only one operating segment.  As a result of the acquisition of Coast Crane, the Company now provides services that it had not in the past, including equipment distribution and parts and service to third parties not renting the Company’s equipment.  We have identified three reportable segments: equipment rentals, equipment distribution, and parts and service.  These segments are based upon how management of the Company allocates resources and assesses performance.

Revenues

Revenues for the three months ended June 30, 2011 were $22.3 million, a 147% increase compared to revenues of $9.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010.   The increase in total revenues relates to revenues generated by our Coast Crane subsidiary acquired in November 2010.  The following table provides a summary of the Company’s revenues by operating segment:

   
Three Months Ended June 30,
   
Dollar
   
Percentage
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
Increase
   
Increase
 
Segment Revenues:
                       
                         
Equipment rentals
  $ 14,606,977     $ 9,046,146     $ 5,560,831       61.5 %
Equipment distribution
    3,591,291       -       3,591,291       100.0 %
Parts and service
    4,146,237       -       4,146,237       100.0 %
                                 
Total Revenues
  $ 22,344,505     $ 9,046,146     $ 13,298,359       147.0 %
 
 
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· 
Equipment rental segment revenues, which represents 65.4% of total revenues, was $14.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011, a 61.5% increase from $9.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010.  The equipment rental segment includes rental, transportation, rental equipment repairs and used rental equipment sales.  Rental revenue, which represented 45.6% of total revenues, was $10.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011, an 87.3% increase from $5.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010.  This increase primarily relates to equipment rentals revenue generated by our Coast Crane subsidiary acquired in November 2010 of $4.8 million. Transportation revenue also increased $0.4 million for three months ended June 30, 2011 as compared to the comparable period in 2010.  Utilization for crawler cranes, as measured on a “days” basis, increased to 38.6% for the three month period ended June 30, 2011 compared to 35.1% for the same period in the prior year. Partially offsetting the increase in utilization was a decrease in average crawler crane rental rate of 6.3% to $15,347 (per crane per rental month) for the three months ended June 30, 2011 from $16,372 for the three months ended June 30, 2010.  Management does not expect a meaningful increase in average rental rates until utilization rates recover significantly. Used rental equipment sales revenue was $1.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011, a marginal decline compared to the three month period ended June 30, 2010.  These used equipment sales have presented the Company with opportunities to further enhance its combination of cranes and attachments by providing an additional cash flow source for purchasing additional new rental equipment.  During the quarter ended June 30, 2011, the Company sold fourteen pieces of rental equipment including six rough terrain cranes, one forklift, two personnel boom lifts, one scissor lift, and four boom trucks.  Three lower lifting capacity crawler cranes and attachments were sold by the Company during the three months ended June 30, 2010.  During both periods, the market provided opportunities to sell lower utilized units with lower rental rates that represented excess capacity.  During the three months ended June 30, 2011, The Company purchased twelve pieces of rental equipment, comprised of eight elevator hoists, one crawler crane, one boom truck, one scissor lift, and one rough terrain crane.
 
 
· 
Equipment distribution segment revenue, which represents 16.1% of total revenue was $3.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011 and relates to equipment distribution revenue earned by our Coast Crane subsidiary acquired in November 2010.  We did not generate revenue in our equipment distribution segment prior to the Coast Acquisition.

 
· 
Parts and service segment revenue, which represents 18.5% of total revenue, was $4.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011 and relates to parts and service revenues from our Coast Crane subsidiary acquired in November 2010.  We did not generate revenue in our parts and service segment prior to the Coast Acquisition.

Gross Profit

Gross Profit for the three months ended June 30, 2011 was $3.0 million, a 163.4% increase from gross profit of $1.2 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010.  Gross profit margin was 13.6% for the three months ended June 30, 2011, relative to 12.8% for the three months ended June 30, 2010.  The increase in gross profit relates primarily to gross profit earned by our Coast Crane subsidiary acquired in November 2010.  The following table provides a summary of the Company’s gross profit by operating segment:

   
Three Months Ended June 30,
   
Dollar
   
Percentage
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
Increase
   
Increase
 
Segment Gross Profit:
                       
                         
Equipment rentals
  $ 1,873,476     $ 1,154,310     $ 719,166       62.3 %
Equipment distribution
    378,331       -       378,331       100.0 %
Parts and service
    788,516       -       788,516       100.0 %
                                 
Total Gross Profit
  $ 3,040,323     $ 1,154,310     $ 1,886,013       163.4 %

Equipment rentals segment gross profit of $1.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011 increased $0.7 million or 62.3% as compared to the three months ended June 30, 2010.  This increase in equipment rentals gross profit was due to gross profit earned by our Coast Crane subsidiary acquired in November 2010.  Gain on the sale of used rental equipment decreased to $0.3 million (14.5% margin) for the three months ended June 30, 2011 from $0.4 million (24.5% margin) for the three months ended June 30, 2010.

Equipment distribution segment gross profit for the three months ended June 30, 2011 was $0.4 million and relates to equipment distribution gross profit earned by our Coast Crane subsidiary acquired in November 2010. We did not derive gross profit from our equipment distribution segment prior to the Coast Acquisition.
 
Parts and service segment gross profit for the three months ended June 30, 2011 was $0.8 million and relates to parts and service gross profit earned by our Coast Crane subsidiary acquired in November 2010.  We did not derive gross profit from our parts and service segment prior to the Coast Acquisition.
 
 
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Total selling, general and administrative expenses for the three months ended June 30, 2011 were $7.2 million, a $4.6 million or 172.5% increase from $2.6 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010.  The increase was related primarily to selling, general and administrative expenses incurred by our Coast Crane subsidiary acquired in November 2010 of $4.1 million.  Selling, general and administrative expenses include, legal fees, professional fees, bad debt expense, employee benefits, insurance and selling and marketing expenses.  During the three months ended June 30, 2011, the Company incurred non-recurring costs of approximately $0.4 million related to the Coast Acquisition and integration.

Interest expense increased 72.3% to $2.9 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011 from $1.7 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010.  The increase in interest expense was related primarily to interest expense incurred on additional borrowings under old facilities and new indebtedness incurred to finance the acquisition of Coast Crane’s assets in November 2010.  Interest expense for the three months ended June 30, 2011 was reduced by the decrease in fair value of undesignated interest swaps by approximately $0.2 million.

Income tax benefit was $2.8 million for the three months ended June 30, 2011 compared to a $1.1 million for the three months ended June 30, 2010.  The increase in income tax benefit is due to an increase in the pre-tax loss.  The effective tax rates were 38.6% and 33.5% for the three months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Essex had 277 full-time employees at June 30, 2011 compared to 109 full-time employees at June 30, 2010.  The increase in the number of full-time employees is related primarily to the acquisition of Coast Crane’s assets in November 2010.  Coast Crane and subsidiary employed 163 employees as of June 30, 2011.

Six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to the six months ended June 30, 2010

The Company had a net loss before income taxes of $14.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to a net loss before income taxes of $6.5 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010, an increase in the amount of loss of $7.9 million.  The increase in net loss is discussed in more detail below.

Revenues

Revenues for the six months ended June 30, 2011 were $43.8 million, a 152.6% increase compared to revenues of $17.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010.   The increase in total revenues relates to revenues generated by our Coast Crane subsidiary acquired in November 2010.  The following table provides a summary of the Company’s revenues by operating segment:

   
Six Months Ended June 30,
   
Dollar
   
Percentage
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
Increase
   
Increase
 
Segment Revenues:
                       
                         
Equipment rentals
  $ 27,854,403     $ 17,353,455     $ 10,500,948       60.5 %
Equipment distribution
    7,289,655       -       7,289,655       100.0 %
Parts and service
    8,687,617       -       8,687,617       100.0 %
                                 
Total Revenues
  $ 43,831,675     $ 17,353,455     $ 26,478,220       152.6 %
 
 
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· 
Equipment rental segment revenues, which represents 63.6% of total revenues, was $27.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011, a 60.5% increase from $17.4 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010.  The equipment rental segment includes rental, transportation, rental equipment repairs and used rental equipment sales.  Rental revenue, which represented 46.9% of total revenues, was $20.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011, a 94.5% increase from $10.6 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010.  This increase primarily relates to equipment rentals revenue generated by our Coast Crane subsidiary acquired in November 2010 of $9.1 million.  This increase was also driven by an increase in revenues attributed to the crawler crane fleet at Essex Crane of approximately $0.8 million or 7.9%.  The increase in revenues of the crawler crane fleet was primarily driven by an increase in utilization as measured on a “days” basis to 40.7% for the six months ended June 30, 2011 from 32.6% for the six months ended June 30, 2010.  This increase in crawler crane utilization was the result of moderate but steady improvement in the rental market for lattice boom crawler cranes.  Partially offsetting the increase in utilization was a decrease in average crawler crane rental rate of 9.0% to $15,432 (per crane per rental month) for the six months ended June 30, 2011 from $16,967 for the six months ended June 30, 2010.  Management does not expect a meaningful increase in average rental rates until utilization rates recover significantly.  Transportation revenue increased $0.8 million for six months ended June 30, 2011 as compared to the same period in the prior year. These increases in equipment rental revenues were partially offset by a decrease in the revenue earned from the sales of used rental equipment.  Used rental equipment sales revenue was $2.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011, a 21.6% decrease from used rental equipment sales revenue of $2.8 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010.  These used equipment sales have presented the Company with opportunities to further enhance its combination of cranes and attachments by providing an additional cash flow source for purchasing additional new rental equipment.  During the six month period ended June 30, 2011, the Company sold twenty-four pieces of rental equipment including eight rough terrain cranes, six boom trucks, six forklifts, three personnel boom lifts and one scissor lift.  Five lower lifting capacity crawler cranes and attachments were sold by the Company for the six months ended June 30, 2010.  During both periods, the market provided opportunities to sell lower utilized units with lower rental rates that represented excess capacity.  During the six months ended June 30, 2011, Essex purchased sixteen pieces of rental equipment, comprised of eight elevator hoists, four rough terrain cranes, one boom truck, one scissor lift, one new crawler crane and one used crawler crane requiring maintenance repairs;

 
· 
Equipment distribution segment revenue, which represents 16.6% of total revenue was $7.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and relates to equipment distribution revenue earned by our Coast Crane subsidiary acquired in November 2010. We did not generate revenue in our equipment distribution segment prior to the Coast Acquisition.

 
· 
Parts and service segment revenue, which represents 19.8% of total revenue, was $8.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and relates to parts and service revenues from our Coast Crane subsidiary acquired in November 2010.  We did not generate revenue in our parts and service segment prior to the Coast Acquisition.

Gross Profit

Gross Profit for the six months ended June 30, 2011 was $6.6 million, a 180.0% increase from gross profit of $2.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010.  Gross profit margin was 15.0% for the six months ended June 30, 2011, relative to 13.5% for the six months ended June 30, 2010.  The increase in gross profit relates primarily to gross profit earned by our Coast Crane subsidiary acquired in November 2010.  The following table provides a summary of the Company’s gross profit by operating segment:

   
Six Months Ended June 30,
   
Dollar
   
Percentage
 
   
2011
   
2010
   
Increase
   
Increase
 
Segment Gross Profit:
                       
                         
Equipment rentals
  $ 3,900,715     $ 2,345,552     $ 1,555,163       66.3 %
Equipment distribution
    787,583       -       787,583       100.0 %
Parts and service
    1,880,002       -       1,880,002       100.0 %
                                 
Total Gross Profit
  $ 6,568,300     $ 2,345,552     $ 4,222,748       180.0 %

Equipment rentals segment gross profit of $3.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011 increased $1.6 million or 66.3% as compared to the six months ended June 30, 2010.  This increase in equipment rentals gross profit was due to gross profit earned by our Coast Crane subsidiary acquired in November 2010. Gain on the sale of used rental equipment decreased to $0.3 million (13.7% margin) for the six months ended June 30, 2011 from $0.6 million (21.3% margin) for the six months ended June 30, 2010.
 
Equipment distribution segment gross profit for the six months ended June 30, 2011 was $0.8 million and relates to equipment distribution gross profit earned by our Coast Crane subsidiary acquired in November 2010. We did not derive gross profit from our equipment distribution segment prior to the Coast Acquisition.

Parts and service segment gross profit for the six months ended June 30, 2011 was $1.9 million and relates to parts and service gross profit earned by our Coast Crane subsidiary acquired in November 2010. We did not derive gross profit from our parts and service segment prior to the Coast Acquisition.
 
 
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Total selling, general and administrative expenses for the six months ended June 30, 2011 were $14.5 million, a $9.4 million or 183.5% increase from $5.1 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010.  The increase was related primarily to selling, general and administrative expenses incurred by our Coast Crane subsidiary acquired in November 2010 of $8.5 million.  Selling, general and administrative expenses include, legal fees, professional fees, bad debt expense, employee benefits, insurance and selling and marketing expenses.  During the six months ended June 30, 2011, the Company incurred non-recurring costs of approximately $0.9 million related to the Coast Acquisition and integration.

Interest expense increased 74.5% to $5.7 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011 from $3.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010.  The increase in interest expense was related primarily to interest expense incurred on additional borrowings under old facilities and new indebtedness incurred to finance the acquisition of Coast Crane’s assets in November 2010.  Interest expense for the six months ended June 30, 2011 was reduced by the decrease in fair value of undesignated interest swaps by approximately $0.5 million.

Income tax benefit was $5.2 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011 compared to a $2.3 million for the six months ended June 30, 2010.  The increase in income tax benefit is due to an increase in the pre-tax loss.  The effective tax rates were 36.3% and 34.8% for the six months ended June 30, 2011 and 2010, respectively.

Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
Cash flow from operating activities. The Company’s cash provided by operating activities for the six months ended June 30, 2011 was approximately $2.4 million.  This was primarily the result of net loss of $9.2 million, which, when adjusted for non-cash expense items, such as depreciation and amortization, gains on the sale of equipment, deferred income taxes, share-based compensation expense, and the change in the fair value of undesignated interest rate swaps, resulted in the use of approximately $2.7 million of cash.  The cash flows from operating activities were increased by a $1.3 million decrease in net accounts receivable, $0.9 million decrease in prepaid expenses and other assets, a $1.4 million decrease in retail equipment inventory, a $0.1 million decrease in spare parts inventory and a $2.5 million increase in accounts payable and accrued expenses.  These positive cash flows were decreased by a $0.1 million decrease in unearned rental revenue, and a $1.0 million decrease in customer deposits.

The Company’s cash used in operating activities for the six months ended June 30, 2010 was approximately $0.4 million.  This was primarily the result of net loss of $4.2 million, which, when adjusted for non-cash expense items, such as depreciation and amortization, gains on the sale of equipment, deferred income taxes and stock-based compensation expense, resulted in the use of approximately $0.2 million of cash. The cash flows from operating activities were also increased by a $0.3 million reduction in net accounts receivable and a $0.2 million increase in unearned rental revenue. These positive cash flows were reduced by a $0.2 million increase in prepaid expenses and other assets, a $0.1 million increase in spare parts inventory and a $0.4 million decrease in accounts payable and accrued expenses. The total cash used in operating activities related to working capital changes was $0.2 million.

Cash flow from investing activities.  The Company’s cash used in investing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2011 was approximately $3.1 million.  This was primarily the result of payments to acquire or improve rental equipment and property and equipment of $5.3 million.  These uses of cash were partially offset by $2.2 million in proceeds on the sale of equipment.

The Company’s cash used in investing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2010 was approximately $2.9 million.  This was primarily the result of an increase to restricted cash deposits of $5.2 million and payments to acquire or improve rental equipment and property and equipment of $0.6 million. These uses of cash were partially offset by $2.8 million in proceeds on the sale of equipment and a reduction in the amount of receivables related to rental equipment sales of $0.1 million. In addition, the Company purchased one rental equipment item for approximately $2.6 million during the six months ended June 30, 2010, which was directly funded by a new short-term debt obligation.

Cash flow from financing activities. Cash provided by financing activities was approximately $13.9 million for the six months ended June 30, 2011.  This is primarily due to proceeds received from the exercise of warrants to acquire shares of common stock of $19.8 million.  This increase in cash was partially offset by a net decrease in the amount drawn on the Company’s revolving credit facilities of $3.9 million.  Total borrowings for the six months ended June 30, 2011 under the revolving credit facilities were $42.9 million and total payments on the revolving credit facilities in the same period were $46.9 million.  The Company also used approximately $1.9 million to make scheduled principal payments and repay in full a portion of its purchase money security interest debt using proceeds from drawing on the revolving credit facilities discussed above.
 
 
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Cash provided by financing activities for the six months ended June 30, 2010 was approximately $3.6 million.  This was primarily due to a net increase in the amount drawn on the Company’s revolving credit facility of $2.6 million. Total borrowings for the six months ended June 30, 2010 under the revolving credit facility were $21.1 million and total payments on the revolving credit facility in the same period were $18.4 million. The Company also used approximately $0.5 million to make scheduled principal payments on its short-term debt obligations. In addition, the Company also used approximately $0.9 million to repurchase warrants, which was offset by proceeds received from the exercise of warrants to acquire common stock of approximately $2.4 million.

Cash Requirements Related to Operations
 
Our principal sources of liquidity have been from cash provided by operating activities and the sales of used rental fleet equipment, proceeds from the exercise of warrants for shares of common stock, proceeds from the issuance of debt, and borrowings available under our revolving credit facilities.  Our principal uses of cash have been to fund operating activities and working capital and purchases of rental fleet equipment and property and equipment.  We anticipate that the above described uses will be the principal demands on our cash in the future.

The amount of our future capital expenditures will depend on a number of factors including general economic conditions, growth prospects and the Company’s overall strategy.  Proceeds from equipment sold of $2.2 million during the six months ended June 30, 2011 were used to partially fund our capital spending on rental equipment and property and equipment of $5.3 million.  In response to changing economic conditions, we believe we have the flexibility to modify our capital expenditures by adjusting them (either up or down) to match our actual performance.  As of June 30, 2011, we had approximately $39.3 million of available borrowings under our revolving credit facilities, net of outstanding letters of credit and other reserves as well as approximately $16.6 million of cash on hand.
     
To service our debt, we will require a significant amount of cash.  Our ability to pay interest and principal on our indebtedness will depend upon our future operating performance, which will be affected by prevailing economic conditions and financial, business and other factors, some of which are beyond our control.  Based on our current level of operations, we believe our cash flow from operations, available cash and available borrowings under the revolving credit facilities will be adequate to meet our future liquidity needs for the foreseeable future.

We cannot provide absolute assurance that our future cash flow from operating activities will be sufficient to meet our long-term obligations and commitments.  If we are unable to generate sufficient cash flow from operating activities in the future to service our indebtedness and to meet our other commitments, we will be required to adopt one or more alternatives, such as refinancing or restructuring our indebtedness, selling material assets or operations or seeking to raise additional debt or equity capital.  Given current economic and market conditions, including the significant disruptions in the global capital markets, we cannot assure investors that any of these actions could be affected on a timely basis or on satisfactory terms or at all, or that these actions would enable us to continue to satisfy our capital requirements.  In addition, our existing or future debt agreements, including the indenture governing the revolving credit facilities, contain certain restrictive covenants, which may prohibit us from adopting any of these alternatives.  Our failure to comply with these covenants could result in an event of default which, if not cured or waived, could result in the accelerations of all of our debt.
 
 
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Seasonality

Although we believe our business traditionally is not materially impacted by seasonality, the demand for our rental equipment tends to be lower in the winter months.  The level of equipment rental activities are directly related to commercial, residential and industrial construction and maintenance activities.  Therefore, equipment rental performance will be correlated to the levels of current construction activities.  The severity of weather conditions can have a temporary impact on the level of construction activities.

Equipment sales cycles are also subject to some seasonality with the peak selling period during the spring season and extending through the summer.  Parts and service activities are less affected by changes in demand caused by seasonality.

Contractual Obligations
 
During the six months ended June 30, 2011, there were no material changes outside the ordinary course of our business in our long-term debt, capital lease or purchase obligations or in other long-term liabilities disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2010.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

During the six months ended June 30, 2011, there were no material changes in the off-balance sheet arrangements disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2010.

Critical Accounting Policies
 
Item 7, included in Part II of our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2010, presents the accounting policies and related estimates that we believe are the most critical to understanding our consolidated financial statements, financial condition, and results of operations and cash flows, and which require complex management judgment and assumptions, or involve uncertainties.  These include, among other things, revenue recognition, the propriety of our estimated useful life of rental equipment and property and equipment, the adequacy of the allowance for doubtful accounts, income taxes, the potential impairment of long-lived assets including intangible assets and derivative financial instruments.

Information regarding our other significant accounting policies is included in Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements in Item 8 of Part II of our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2010.

Item 3.  Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
 
Our earnings are affected by changes in interest rates due to the fact that interest on our revolving credit facilities is calculated based upon either LIBOR or Prime Rate plus an applicable margin as of June 30, 2011 for which we have an interest rate swaps to effectively fix the interest rate at 4.96% on $100.0 million of the $157.9 million of outstanding borrowings under Essex Crane’s senior secured credit facility and three undesignated interest rate swaps to effectively fix the interest rate at 5.62% on $21.0 million of the $50.9 million of outstanding borrowings under Coast Crane’s senior secured credit facility.  The weighted average interest rate in effect on all of the Company’s borrowings at June 30, 2011 was 3.39% excluding the impact of the interest rate swaps and 5.06% taking into consideration the swaps.  A 1.0% increase in the effective interest rate on our total outstanding borrowings (including our short-term debt obligations) not effectively fixed as a result of the interest rate swaps at June 30, 2011 would increase our interest expense by approximately $0.7 million on an annualized basis.

 
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Item 4.  Controls and Procedures
 
Management’s Quarterly Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in the reports that we file or submit under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required financial disclosure.

Our management, with participation of our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer (our principal executive officer and principal financial officer, respectively), have evaluated the effectiveness of our disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(f) promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) as of the end of the period covered by this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.  Disclosure controls and procedures include, without limitation, controls and procedures to provide reasonable assurance that material information required to be included in our periodic SEC reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC’s rules and forms and that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required financial disclosure.  Based on this evaluation, our principal executive officer and principal financial officer have concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures were not effective as of June 30, 2011 due to the existence of a material weakness in internal control over financial reporting related to an error in the estimate of deferred state income taxes which resulted in the restatement of certain of the Company’s historical financial results. 
 
A “material weakness” in internal control over financial reporting is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of a company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis by the company’s internal controls.
 
Although management believes that the Company’s controls in the area of accounting for income taxes related to state taxes were, and are, appropriately designed, management has concluded that the deficiency in their operational effectiveness constitutes a material weakness in internal control over financial reporting in this area.
 
For additional information regarding the restatement of certain of the Company’s historical financial results, and the material weakness indentified by management, please see “Item 9A. Controls and Procedures” in the Amendment No. 1 to our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2010.
 
Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting
    
We have implemented certain changes in our internal controls to address the material weakness in our internal controls that led to the restatement of our financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2010.  Specifically, in addition to the two levels of review currently performed by the third party accounting firm prior to management’s review, the Company has added a concurring senior level of review to be performed by the third-party accounting firm and management believes that this additional control will remediate the material weakness discussed above.
 
Except for the changes discussed above to remediate our material control weakness associated with accounting for state income taxes, there have been no changes in our internal controls over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rule 13a-15(f)) that occurred during the six month period ended June 30, 2011 that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.  Due to the Coast Crane Acquisition in November 2010, the Company is currently in the process of documenting and evaluating the internal controls related to acquired operations, but has not yet established new controls or made any changes to the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting related to Coast Crane.  The Company is in the process of implementing similar internal controls related to the acquired operations.
 
 
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PART II. OTHER INFORMATION

Item 1.  Legal Proceedings

From time to time, the Company is party to various legal actions in the normal course of our business.  We cannot estimate with certainty our ultimate legal and financial liability with respect to such pending matters.  Management believes that the Company is not party to any litigation that, if adversely determined, would have a material adverse effect on our business, financial condition, result of operations or cash flows.
 
Item 1A.  Risk Factors

Part I, Item 1A — “Risk Factors,” of our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2010, describes important factors that could materially affect our business, financial condition and/or future results and cause our operating results to differ materially from those indicated, projected or implied by forward-looking statements made in this Quarterly Report or presented elsewhere by management from time to time.  The risks described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A are not the only risks facing our Company; additional risks and uncertainties not currently known to us or that we currently deem to be immaterial also may materially adversely affect our business, financial condition and/or operating results and cause our operating results to differ materially from those indicated, projected or implied by forward-looking statements made in this Quarterly Report or presented elsewhere by management from time to time.

There have been no material changes with respect to the risk factors previously disclosed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K/A for the year ended December 31, 2010.

Item 2.  Unregistered Sales of Equity Securities and Use of Proceeds. Issuer Purchases of Equity Securities

In October 2008, the Company's board of directors authorized a stock repurchase program, under which from time to time, in open market transactions at prevailing prices or through privately negotiated transactions as conditions permit.  The Company may purchase up to $12 million of the Company's common stock and publicly-traded warrants of which approximately $9.0 million remained available at June 30, 2011.  Such repurchase plan was publicly announced on October 22, 2008.  The Company’s stock repurchase program was suspended in May 2010 in conjunction with the launching of the cashless exercise warrant offer.

Item 3.  Defaults upon Senior Securities

None.

Item 4.  Reserved

Item 5.  Other Information

None.

Item 6.  Exhibits

A. Exhibits
  
   
31.1
 
Certification of the Chief Executive Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
     
31.2
 
Certification of the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.    
     
32.1
 
Certification pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as Adopted Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
 
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SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
       
 
ESSEX RENTAL CORP.  
 
   
Dated: August 9, 2011 
By:  
/s/ Ronald Schad
   
Ronald Schad
   
Chief Executive Officer
(Principal Executive Officer)

Dated: August 9, 2011 
By 
/s/ Martin Kroll
   
Martin Kroll
   
Chief Financial Officer
(Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
 
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