Sale of US Plant Hire Business to Ashtead Group

Rentokil Initial PLC
20 April 2000


         RENTOKIL INITIAL SELLS US PLANT HIRE BUSINESS
               TO ASHTEAD GROUP FOR £320 MILLION
                               
Rentokil Initial announces that it has reached agreement  with
Ashtead to sell its US plant hire business to Ashtead for £320
million.

The  price will be payable as to £186 million in cash and £134
million  in  5.25 per cent. eight-year notes convertible  into
89.3  million  Ashtead shares at 150 pence a share.   For  the
first  year  the  notes  are  not  convertible  and  carry  no
interest.   On full conversion the notes would represent  21.7
per  cent.  of Ashtead's current share capital (as  enlarged).
The  sale is subject to approval by Ashtead's shareholders and
regulatory approval.

Rentokil  Initial currently intends to retain the  convertible
notes  as  an  investment.  The cash  proceeds  will  be  used
together  with  the  proceeds  of  other  disposals  and  bank
facilities  for  Rentokil  Initial's  current  share  buy-back
programme.

Rentokil  Initial's US plant hire business has 60 branches  in
22 states renting out and selling access, scaffolding and more
general plant and equipment.  The business is being sold on  a
cash  and debt-free basis.  In 1999 it had turnover of US $376
million  (£237 million), operating profits (including  central
allocations) of US $60 million (£38 million), earnings  before
interest,  tax  and  depreciation  of  US  $114  million  (£72
million) and, at the end of 1999, it had net operating  assets
of US $356 million (£224 million).

On  a  fully taxed basis the price represents a p/e  ratio  of
14.0 times.

Sir Clive Thompson, Rentokil Initial's Chief Executive, said:

'This  represents  an  excellent  sale  for  us  and  also  an
excellent  acquisition  for Ashtead  as  it  enables  them  to
combine  their  own  strongly growing  US  business  with  our
larger, good quality business to produce a total business  for
Ashtead with a strong position in the US market.

This  disposal, together with the sale of our US  distribution
business  in  January,  keeps us in line  for  total  disposal
proceeds for our non-core businesses to exceed £600 million.'


Enquiries

Rentokil Initial plc                       Tel:  [phone]
Sir Clive Thompson, Chief Executive
Christopher Pearce, Group Finance Director