Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Group revenues increased by 3.1% to $3,360,000,000 with organic growth of 1.6% [2][8] - Group adjusted profit before tax (PBT) was $418,000,000, and the operating margin was 15.2%, down 120 basis points year-on-year [2][9] - Cash flow conversion was strong at 93%, exceeding the guidance of 80% [9][19] - Net debt to adjusted EBITDA ratio stood at 2.8 times, slightly up from the year-end [9][21] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - North America revenue increased by 2% to $2,106,000,000, with organic growth of 1.1% [10][12] - International revenue rose by 5.1% to $1,251,000,000, with organic growth of 2.7% [13][14] - Pest Control organic growth was strong at 3.8%, while Hygiene and Well-being grew at 1.1% [14][15] - Adjusted operating profit for North America decreased by 7.3% to $356,000,000, reflecting cost inflation and lower volumes [10][11] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - North America accounted for 63% of group revenues, with pest control making up 81% of that segment [31][32] - The international region represented 37% of group revenues, with strong performance in Europe and Asia [30][31] - The pest control market is projected to grow at a CAGR of around 6.2% over the next ten years, reaching approximately $50,000,000,000 by 2034 [28][29] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focusing on improving customer retention, pricing, and new customer contracts to drive contract portfolio growth [27][36] - Plans to optimize satellite branches and increase their number to around 150 by year-end [5][43] - The divestment of the French workwear operations is expected to enhance cash generation and focus on core pest control and hygiene sectors [17][22] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed confidence in the long-term growth of the pest control market, driven by factors such as urbanization and increased hygiene standards [28][29] - The company is optimistic about improving lead flow and sales performance in the second half of the year, following positive trends in June [25][72] - Management acknowledged the challenges in contract revenue growth but emphasized ongoing efforts to enhance customer retention and pricing strategies [36][37] Other Important Information - The company acquired eight businesses with combined revenues of approximately $18,000,000 in the year prior to purchase [11][16] - The sale of the French workwear business is expected to complete by late Q3 or early Q4, with net cash proceeds of approximately €370,000,000 [17][18] - The predictive churn model is being developed to identify at-risk customers and improve retention efforts [73][74] Q&A Session Summary Question: Discussion on termite provision claims and future changes - Management indicated that the increase in termite provision is based on recent experiences, with costs for settling claims up by 9% [54][55] - Future provisions may vary based on the cost per claim, which remains volatile [55] Question: Insights on quarterly growth rates and lead flow - Management noted improvements in lead flow in June but did not provide specific insights on July performance [56] Question: Clarification on digital and organic lead generation - Management confirmed a shift in marketing spend from paid to organic channels, resulting in improved lead performance [60][61] Question: One-off jobs growth slowdown - Management acknowledged variability in one-off job revenues and emphasized the focus on improving contract sales [64] Question: Confidence in brand investments and funding - Management expressed confidence in reallocating marketing spend to support brand investments without needing additional funding [82][88] Question: Clarification on cost savings and integration timelines - Management clarified that while the path to $100,000,000 in cost savings remains, not all branches may be fully integrated by 2026 [91][92]