ServiceMaster 3Q Earnings Up

Downers Grove, IL, November 3, 2005—ServiceMaster reported third quarter earnings from continuing operations of $81.6 million, or $0.25 a diluted share, compared with $67.7 million, or 23 cents a diluted share, a year earlier. The company met analysts expectations. The company’s Other Operations segment reported third quarter revenues of $45 million, up 5% compared to the prior year. For the nine months, the segment reported revenues of $130 million, a 7% increase. The ServiceMaster Clean and Merry Maids franchise operations, which are in the Other Operations segment, reported combined revenue increases of 6% and 8% in the quarter and nine months, respectively, driven by strong internal growth in residential maid service, continued solid results in disaster restoration and improvements in commercial cleaning.