BUSINESS services group Rentokil Initial has made a further step in its £600million disposal programme with the sale of two businesses for £118million.

The group, parent firm of Blackburn security firm Initial Shorrock, is selling its US personnel services business for £43.3million to an investment group.

And it is to sell its international container company for £75million to rival Yardbrace. The two businesses had together generated pre-tax profits of £20.8million on sales of £296million last year.

Chief executive Sir Clive Thompson said: "These sales represent a further step in our disposals of non-core activities to bring total sales proceeds to date to £488million, in line with our target of achieving proceeds of at least £600million."