Strong Q3 Revenue Growth from Rentokil Initial

Rentokil Initial has reported an on-going revenue increase of 11.8 per cent (4.1 per cent organic) for the third quarter of 2018, buoyed by further acquisitions and improvements in the French workwear market.

Summary

Pest Control grew by 11.4% (5.3% Organic and 5.7% adjusting for Puerto Rico), with good performances being delivered across both Growth and Emerging markets. The business enjoyed favourable weather conditions across Europe and the UK which has supported stronger jobbing revenues. North America grew Ongoing Revenue by 12.1% (4.6% Organic and 5.3% adjusting for Puerto Rico).

Hygiene revenues increased by 22.0% (2.8% Organic) reflecting continued progress from initiatives to drive Organic growth and the contribution from the acquisitions of Cannon Hygiene Services and CWS Italy. Ongoing Revenue in our Protect & Enhance markets grew by 0.7% (0.7% Organic) reflecting improvements in France Workwear and Ambius. Ongoing market weakness continued to impact the performance of our UK Property Care business in the third quarter, albeit this was at an improved rate of decline compared to H1.

M&A

The company acquired 16 businesses (14 in Pest Control, one in Hygiene and one in Ambius) across all our regions in Q3 with annualised revenues of £39.0m. For the year to 30 September 2018 we have acquired a total of 39 businesses (34 in Pest Control, four in Hygiene and one in Ambius) primarily in Emerging and Growth markets. Annualised revenues of the businesses acquired so far in 2018 totalled £156.3m in the year prior to purchase. Our M&A pipeline going into Q4 and 2019 remains strong.

Commenting on the results, Andy Ransom, Rentokil Initial Chief Executive, said:

"I am pleased with the performance of the group in the third quarter. We continue to successfully deploy our market-leading innovations and digital applications to our customers and to execute our value-creating M&A programme, and we remain on track to meet expectations for the full year."

Notes

1 Ongoing Revenue represents the performance of the continuing operations of the Group (including acquisitions) after removing the effect of disposed or closed businesses.

2 Organic Revenue represents the growth in Ongoing Revenue excluding the effect of businesses acquired during the year. Acquired businesses are included in organic measures in the year following acquisition, and the comparative period is adjusted to include an estimated full year performance for growth calculations.

AER - actual exchange rates; CER - constant 2016 exchange rates