Initial City Link

Rentokil Initial PLC 25 October 2005 25 October 2005 Rentokil Initial's parcels business plans to cease franchising Rentokil Initial has today announced that its parcels delivery business Initial City Link will, over a period of time, cease to operate on a franchised basis. This is another important step forward in Rentokil Initial's development. The change will return full control of Initial City Link to the Company and should deliver better returns for our shareholders while maintaining or improving service to Initial City Link's customers. Franchisees, who collectively have an estimated annual profit of £5 million, will be offered a fair price for their businesses and will be given plenty of time to plan the transition. The franchise model used by Initial City Link has been in place since the early 1990's largely unchanged and the franchisees have played an important part in its growth. However, thanks to recent investment in franchisor sales and marketing and a renewed focus on personnel, better growth is being experienced in Initial City Link's controlled and operated branches than in those of the franchisees. When combined with the opportunity to develop the business and address the increasingly complex demands of customers, a decision to move towards owning the network makes strong commercial sense. Following consultation with individual franchisees, Initial City Link plans to make offers to purchase their businesses over a period of time. Franchisees' employees will be invited to join the Rentokil Initial group. Initial City Link has 70 franchise territories of which it already controls and operates 25. Initial City Link will be working closely with its franchisees to ensure a smooth transfer of service for customers. The changes planned should ultimately result in Initial City Link customers experiencing an enhanced service. Enquiries: John Sunnucks, Gill Ackers; Brunswick Group LLP 020 7404 5959 Charles Grimaldi, Rentokil Initial plc 01342 833022 NOTES FOR EDITORS Initial City Link Initial City Link is one of the leading parcel delivery companies in the UK. It specialises in premium next day parcel delivery and has outgrown the market every year for the last ten years. In 2004, Initial City Link's turnover was £223 million and profit £31.3 million. Sales in the franchise network not owned by Initial City Link amounted to £197 million last year. Initial City Link already employs 2,179 people across the country and on average delivers 854,000 parcels a week to businesses and households across the country. Rentokil Initial Rentokil Initial is one of the largest business services companies in the world, operating in all the major economies of Europe, North America, Asia Pacific and Africa. The company has some 90,000 employees providing a range of support services in over 40 countries where the 'Rentokil' and 'Initial' brands have come to represent innovation, deep expertise and consistent quality of service. Services include pest control, tropical plants, hygiene services, facilities services, electronic security and parcels delivery. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
UK 100