History Rentokil Initial

1 history

1.1 british ratin
1.2 rentokil group plc
1.3 rentokil initial plc
1.4 recent history

history

the company founded in 1925 harold maxwell-lefroy, professor of entomology @ imperial college, london, had been investigating ways kill death watch beetles had infested westminster hall, next door houses of parliament. lefroy , assistant produced anti-woodworm fluid called ento-kill fluids ( ento coming latin name insect). in 1925 tried register name entokill, due existing trademarks, had choose rentokil instead, became name of company, rentokil ltd. on 14 october 1925, lefroy killed in laboratory when experiment produced poisonous fumes. assistant, elizabeth eades, took on running of company.

british ratin

british ratin established in 1927 pest control company danish owner sophus berendsen a/s, company used bacillus developed danish scientist george neumann control rats , mice. demand pest control services began extending beyond rodent control insect control. british ratin made first acquisition, chelsea insecticides ltd in 1940. in 1957 british ratin acquired rentokil, combined businesses continued use rentokil name, becoming rentokil laboratories ltd. in 1960.

rentokil group plc

rentokil group plc listed on london stock exchange in 1969. sophus berendsen a/s retained 50% holding in group until late 1990s. many years rentokil initial achieved growth of circa 20% each year under leadership of ceo, sir clive thompson: during period rentokil initial voted britain s admired company.

rentokil initial plc

in 1996, company became rentokil initial following hostile takeover of larger competitor bet plc, acquisition included initial laundry , washroom services (founded in 1903). initial name originated every towel marked customer s initials, ensured customers received own towels.

recent history

thompson relinquished ceo role james wilde, thompson taking chairman role, in january 2003. thompson , wilde both left company in 2004, when leadership transferred brian mcgowan chairman (appointed in 2004) , doug flynn ceo (appointed in 2005) made number of structural changes company, including closure of main offices @ felcourt, relocating them belgrave house, victoria, central london , city place, gatwick. presided on succession of profit warnings, result of problematic integration of 2006 acquisition of target express existing city link business.

the rentokil tropical plants business, had expanded international brand through acquisition of numerous smaller plant rental companies around world, rebranded ambius.

in 2006, company decided close uk initial laundry business; predominantly due ageing property , plant business operated (which had been part of bet acquisition) , high cost of modernisation. year, company bought out ademco security group , planned expand across asia. sold company in 2010.

in 2007, company left ftse100 index.

rentokil strengthened foothold in u.s. residential pest control market in 2006 when acquired reading, pennsylvania-based j.c. ehrlich co, inc., fourth largest , largest privately held pest control company in us. in 2007, rentokil sold initial fire, electronic security , manned guarding businesses – known shorrock – united technologies corporation. however, in 2010, rentokil initial acquired knightsbridge guarding ltd , perception llp re-enter manned security / reception staffing business, compliment existing cleaning, washroom, ambius , pest control businesses integrated solution.

in march 2008 company came under leadership of chairman john mcadam , ceo alan brown, had respectively served ceo , cfo @ ici: pair famous breakup , sale of ici akzo nobel.

in february 2011, company acquired fumigation & pest control, water treatment & hygiene , fire safety & prevention businesses of santia, formerly connaught plc, £5.6m.

in 2012, rentokil acquired western exterminator company, usd99.6m, extending services east coast of usa, making rentokil third largest pest control company in usa.

the city link division had continued loss making, , although losses had reduced following major management / structural changes, company disposed of in april 2013, better capital plc £1.

on 1 august 2013, company announced ceo alan brown stepping down , replaced andy ransom on 1 october. andy ransom had been md of company s west region.

on 28 february 2014, company sold facilities management business £250m interserve.

on 16 december 2016, company announced future joint venture cws-boco international gmbh.

in q1 2017, company announced joint venture pci of india create largest pest control company in india. in total acquired 12 companies in first 3 months, including allgood , heron pest control in usa.

on 21 april 2017, rentokil awarded queen s award enterprise 2017.