COMMERCIAL SERVICES certify them as industrial, commercial or institutional specialists. Technician thoroughness is then confirmed by our National Quality Control Department’s audits. During 2000, the Company further expanded its commercial division by purchasing Johnson Wax Professional’s interest in Acurid Retail Services, L.L.C. (“A.R.S.”) A.R.S. is the joint venture created with Johnson in 1999, designed initially to provide pest elimination services to the retail marketplace. For almost 100 years, Orkin has led the industry in commercial pest control. In 1998, Orkin raised the bar by introducing its premium brand of pest elimination service, Acurid SM . Since then, Orkin has continued to expand its commercial division, increasing the number of dedicated commercial branches to 49 during 2000. These specialized branches offer insect control, fly control, rodent control, stored product pest control, and odor control to thousands  of commercial customers throughout the United States.  By offering these comprehensive services to our customers,  we are able to provide a service program to locally-owned businesses as well as national chains, in such industries as fast food, home improvement, and discount and grocery retail. Our stringent training programs for commercial technicians and our Commercial National Quality Control Department ensure that our commercial customers receive safe and highly effective treatments. These programs were  co-developed with leading universities such as Purdue and conform to the standards of the American Institute of Baking. Each technician must complete our Orkin field training as well as these additional courses before the Company can This year the Company implemented a new tightly focused direct mail  campaign designed to attract prospects in industries such as food and beverage processing,  healthcare and hospitality by  making them more aware of  Orkin’s capabilities and the  risks associated with  ineffective pest control. We  have been encouraged by  the reaction to this new customer solicitation  effort. receives, technicians can visit each residence less frequently. More frequent service or service inside the house is provided as needed or at the customer’s request. Every-other-month service better fits our customers’ busy lifestyles and increases the productivity of our pest control technicians. Pest Control Since its inception in 1901, Orkin’s relationship with the residential pest control customer has been one of the cornerstones of our success. In an effort to better service these customers, we have implemented a new alternate service offering; every-other-month service. This new initiative is the result of the availability of longer lasting materials as well as a concentration of treatment attention to the outside perimeter of the home. By expanding the comprehensiveness of services each residential customer Termite Control Termite baiting, in conjunction with directed-liquid treatments, is the Company’s newest defense against termites. It was implemented Company-wide during 2000, after being tested in select markets the previous year. This combined treatment offers the customer immediate relief from termite infestation that bait-only services often lack. Ongoing protection is provided by termite bait and monitoring stations placed in at-risk locations around the home to detect and attack termite activity at the perimeter of the home. The termites ingest the bait and share it with other termites. Orkin’s unique two-phased termite treatment has been strongly endorsed by the industry’s leading technical and scientific experts. RESIDENTIAL SERVICES Termite Activity Zones 2 Very Heavy Moderate to Heavy Slight to Moderate Slight Formosan Termites