• March 20, 2007

ServiceMaster Co. has agreed to be acquired by investment group Clayton, Dubilier & Rice, Inc. for $5.5 billion, including assumption of ServiceMaster debt.

ServiceMaster currently serves residential and commercial customers through a network of 5,500-plus company-owned and franchised locations. The company's brands include TruGreen, TruGreen LandCare, Terminix, American Home Shield, InStar Services Group, ServiceMaster Clean, Merry Maids, Furniture Medic and AmeriSpec.

CD&R led a group of investors in the purchase of Hertz from Ford in 2005. The firm's investments have also included Kinko's, which was sold to FedEx in 2004; Culligan International; and Scotts.