ServiceMaster Division Sells Remaining Subsidiaries of European Terminix Business to Ecolab Inc.

The ServiceMaster Company announced that it has sold the remaining subsidiaries of its Terminix European pest control and property services operations to Ecolab Inc. (NYSE: ECL). Included in the sale are operations in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

"This transaction reaffirms our commitment to focus on expanding our domestic business where we see the greatest potential for growth," said Jonathan Ward, Chairman and CEO of ServiceMaster. "Our belief in the strength and viability in the pest control industry is evident by our recent actions to expand Terminix in both the home and business markets in the United States."

ServiceMaster currently provides outsourcing services for more than 11.5 million residential and commercial customers, with combined customer level revenue of approximately $5.1 billion. The core service capabilities of the Company include lawn care and landscape maintenance, termite and pest control, plumbing, heating and air conditioning services, cleaning, furniture repair and home warranty.

These services are provided through a network of over 5,400 company-owned and franchised service centers and business units operating under leading brands which include Terminix, TruGreen ChemLawn, TruGreen LandCare, American Residential Services, Rescue Rooter, American Mechanical Services, ServiceMaster Clean, American Home Shield, AmeriSpec, Merry Maids, Furniture Medic and The ServiceMaster Home Service Center.