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ServicemasterSweepsUpHousecleaning
Service
July07,1988 | ByPamelaSherrod.

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Thelifestylesofworkingcouplesandsingleshavemadehouseholdhelpabig
business,atrendthatledWednesdaytothe$25millionbuyoutofthenation`s
leadingfranchiserofprofessionalmaidandcleaningservicesbyDownersGrove
basedServiceMasterCo.
ServiceMasterreportedthatitwillbeginitssweepinthehousecleaningbusiness
withtheacquisitionofMerryMaidsInc.for$20million,plusacontractual
paymentof$5million.
TermsofthepurchaseincludeaprovisionformanagementofOmahabased
MerryMaidstoparticipateinaminorityportionoftheownershipofthenewly
formedMerryMaidsPartnership.FounderDallenPetersonwouldremainactive
inmanagingtheoperation.
``We`vedeveloped,overtheyears,aservicenetworkthattouchestheresidential
customer,``saidC.WilliamPollard,presidentandchiefexecutiveofficerof
ServiceMaster.``MerryMaids,withits370licenseesin44states,providesalink
totheservicewealreadyhaveinplace.
ServiceMaster,knownbestforitsindustrialcleaningbusiness,starteditsown
housecleaningservicelastfall.Officialsatthecompanysoonrealizedtherewasa
greaterneedfortheserviceandbeganlookingforanacquisition.
ServiceMaster`smaidservicebusinesshadapproximately30licenseesatthe
beginningofthisyear.WiththeMerryMaidsacquisition,therewillbemorethan
400licenseesintheUnitedStates.
``We`renotonanacquisitionbinge,``Pollardsaid.``Ourstrategyistomakean
acquisitionwhenitfits.Westartedlookingaboutayearago.``
TheacquisitionbringsServiceMasterdeeperintothehomeserviceindustry,which
hasgrownmorethan20percentannuallyforthelastfewyearsandisestimated
tobea$10billionayearbusiness.
Petersonsaidtheacquisitionprovidesnewopportunitiesforgrowthfor
management,employeesandMerryMaidfranchiseowners.
Peterson,withhiswife,Glennis,foundedMerryMaidsin1980.Theystartedthe
businessfromtheirhomeinOmahaandwerethefirstcleaningteam.

PetersonsaidMerryMaids`businesshasgrownbyabout35percent.Hesaid
customersarewillingtopayforthehouseholdchorestheydon`thavetimetodo.
MerryMaids`annualrevenueisestimatedat$38million.
``BeforeServiceMaster,Iwasnotinterestedinsellingthecompany,``
Petersonsaid.``Ihadinquiriesbuthaddeclinedfurtherdiscussions.With
ServiceMaster,Ifeltasynergyandthoughtamarriage,ifyouwill,ofthetwo
companieswasright.``
ServiceMaster`splansforthenewlyformedMerryMaidsPartnershiparealready
underway.IthopestomakeamarkinthehousecleaningbusinessoutsidetheU.S.
ThefirstMerryMaidstraineesfromGreatBritainwillbeintrainingat
ServiceMastertheweekofJuly18.
IntheChicagoarea,theyellowandgreenuniformswiththeMerryMaidslogocan
befoundinBarrington,Lisle,Wheaton,Schaumburg,ClarendonHills,TinleyPark
andWestChicago.
ServiceMasterservesmorethan2millioncustomersinNorthAmericawith
cleaning,lawncare,termiteandpestcontrolservicesandhasnetworksinJapan,
BritainandotherEuropeancountries.ServiceMasteralsoprovidesmanagement
servicestothehealthcare,educationandindustrialmarkets.

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