Ecolab Buys UK Contamination Control Products Company

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Ecolab Inc. announced today that it has purchased Shield Medicare Ltd., a leading European developer, manufacturer and marketer of contamination control products used in pharmaceutical, medical device and hospital clean rooms. It has sales of approximately $19 million. No further details regarding the transaction were announced.

Douglas M. Baker, Jr., Ecolab's chairman, president, and CEO, commented, "With its established position in the fast-growing clean room market, Shield will significantly enhance our European offering in healthcare and provide further product breadth as we work to help customers better meet rapidly increasing standards in pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing processes. Further, the similarities between our two companies' direct sales and service approach, emphasis on customer service and focused product innovation should result in a seamless integration and bolster our Circle the Customer growth prospects in the healthcare infection control market."

With 2005 sales of $4.5 billion, Ecolab is a leading global developer and marketer of premium cleaning, sanitizing, pest elimination, maintenance and repair products for the hospitality, foodservice, healthcare, and industrial markets.

Source: Ecolab Inc.