UK-based pest control firm Rentokil Initial announced on Wednesday that it has agreed to sell its French workwear, flat linen, and clean room operations to private equity firm H.I.G. Capital.
The transaction values the business at approximately €410 million (around $464 million).
The move aligns with Rentokil’s strategy to focus on its core services, positioning the company more clearly as a dedicated pest control and hygiene & wellbeing provider. This comes after its $6.7 billion acquisition of Terminix in 2021, which cemented Rentokil as the leading pest control provider in the United States.
Rentokil expects to receive net cash proceeds of about €370 million from the sale. These funds will be used to reduce debt and support future acquisitions.
The French workwear division accounted for roughly 6% of Rentokil’s total revenue in 2024. Photo by Wikimedia commons.