ECOLAB INC
DEF 14A, 1996-03-27
SOAP, DETERGENTS, CLEANG PREPARATIONS, PERFUMES, COSMETICS
Previous: EATON CORP, SC 14D1/A, 1996-03-27
Next: ECOLAB INC, 10-K405, 1996-03-27



<PAGE>
                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
 
                  Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
            the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.    )
 
    Filed by the Registrant /X/
    Filed by a Party other than the Registrant / /
 
    Check the appropriate box:
    / /  Preliminary Proxy Statement
    / /  Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
         14a-6(e)(2))
    /X/  Definitive Proxy Statement
    / /  Definitive Additional Materials
    / /  Soliciting  Material  Pursuant  to  Section  240.14a-11(c)  or  Section
         240.14a-12
                                ECOLAB INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
 
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
 
/X/  $125 per  Exchange Act  Rules 0-11(c)(1)(ii),  14a-6(i)(1), 14a-6(i)(2)  or
     Item 22(a)(2) of Schedule 14A.
/ /  $500  per  each party  to  the controversy  pursuant  to Exchange  Act Rule
     14a-6(i)(3).
/ /  Fee  computed  on   table  below   per  Exchange   Act  Rules   14a-6(i)(4)
     and 0-11.
     1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
     2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
     3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed
        pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the
        filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
     4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
     5) Total fee paid:
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
/ /  Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
/ /  Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
     0-11(a)(2)  and identify the  filing for which the  offsetting fee was paid
     previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement  number,
     or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
     1) Amount Previously Paid:
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
     2) Form, Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
     3) Filing Party:
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
     4) Date Filed:
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
   [LOGO]
                                                                     ECOLAB INC.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ecolab Center
St. Paul, Minnesota 55102
612/293-2233
 
                                                                  March 29, 1996
 
DEAR FELLOW STOCKHOLDER:
 
You  are cordially invited to join us for our Annual Meeting of Stockholders, to
be held this year at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, May 10, 1996, at the McKnight Theatre
in the Ordway Music Theatre, 345  Washington Street, St. Paul, Minnesota  55102.
The  Notice of Annual Meeting  and the Proxy Statement  that follow describe the
business to be conducted at the meeting. We urge you to read both carefully.
 
We hope you plan to attend the meeting. However, if you will not be able to join
us, we encourage you to  exercise your right as  a stockholder and vote.  Please
sign,  date and promptly  return the accompanying proxy  card using the enclosed
self-addressed envelope.
 
Sincerely,
 
/s/ ALLAN L. SCHUMAN                      /s/ MICHAEL E. SHANNON
Allan L. Schuman                          Michael E. Shannon
President and Chief Executive Officer     Chairman of the Board
 
        YOUR VOTE IS  IMPORTANT. PLEASE COMPLETE  AND RETURN   THE
                    ACCOMPANYING PROXY AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
<PAGE>
                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                            TO BE HELD MAY 10, 1996
 
TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF ECOLAB INC.:
 
The  Annual Meeting of Stockholders  of Ecolab Inc. will  be held on Friday, May
10, 1996, at 10:00 a.m. at the McKnight Theatre in the Ordway Music Theatre, 345
Washington Street, St. Paul, Minnesota 55102, for the following purposes  (which
are more fully explained in the Proxy Statement):
 
    (1) To elect five Class I Directors to a term to end at the third subsequent
       annual  meeting and one Class III Director to a term to end at the second
       subsequent annual meeting.
 
    (2) To ratify the appointment of  Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. as the  Company's
       independent accountants for the current year ending December 31, 1996.
 
    (3)  To transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting
       and any adjournment thereof.
 
The Board of Directors has fixed the close of business on March 19, 1996, as the
record date for the determination of  stockholders entitled to notice of and  to
vote at the meeting.
 
WHETHER  OR NOT YOU PLAN  TO ATTEND THE MEETING, PLEASE  MARK, DATE AND SIGN THE
ACCOMPANYING PROXY  AND RETURN  IT PROMPTLY  IN THE  ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.  IF  YOU
ATTEND  THE MEETING,  YOU MAY VOTE  YOUR SHARES  IN PERSON EVEN  THOUGH YOU HAVE
PREVIOUSLY SIGNED AND RETURNED YOUR PROXY.
 
                                           By Order of the Board of Directors
 
                                           KENNETH A. IVERSON,
                                           Vice President and Secretary
 
March 29, 1996
<PAGE>
                                  ECOLAB INC.
                    Ecolab Center, St. Paul, Minnesota 55102
 
                                PROXY STATEMENT
                         ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                                  MAY 10, 1996
 
This  Proxy Statement, which is  first being mailed to  stockholders on or about
March 29, 1996, is furnished in  connection with the solicitation of proxies  on
behalf  of  the  Board  of  Directors of  Ecolab  Inc.,  a  Delaware corporation
(hereinafter called the "Company"), from holders of Common Stock of the Company,
to be voted at the  Annual Meeting of Stockholders to  be held at 10:00 a.m.  on
Friday, May 10, 1996, and at any adjournment thereof.
 
Holders  of Common Stock of  record at the close of  business on March 19, 1996,
will be entitled to  vote at the  meeting and any  adjournment thereof. At  that
time,  the Company  had outstanding  and entitled  to vote  64,507,350 shares of
Common Stock.  Each of  such  shares is  entitled to  one  vote on  each  matter
presented at the meeting. The presence at the meeting, in person or by proxy, of
the  holders of a majority of the  issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock
entitled to vote, is required for a  quorum for the transaction of business.  In
accordance  with the  laws of  the State  of Delaware,  shares represented  by a
limited proxy  (i.e.,  a  broker  non-vote)  or  represented  by  a  proxy  with
instructions  to  abstain will  be counted  in determining  whether a  quorum is
present. However, as described  elsewhere in this  Proxy Statement, such  broker
non-votes  or abstained shares  will not be counted  for purposes of determining
the election of directors or for passage or ratification of matters submitted to
stockholders.
 
If the stockholder is a participant in the Company's Dividend Reinvestment  Plan
and/or  the Company's  Employee Stock  Purchase Plan,  the proxy  represents the
number of shares held on  account of the participant in  those plans as well  as
shares  held  of record  by the  participant. With  respect to  participants and
beneficiaries of the  Company's defined  contribution 401(k)  Savings Plan,  the
proxy  also  serves as  the  voting instruction  card  to the  plan  trustee and
represents your proportional  interest in  shares of  Common Stock  beneficially
held by the trustee.
 
Proxies  in proper  form received by  the time of  the meeting will  be voted as
specified. A stockholder giving a proxy may  revoke it at any time before it  is
exercised  by submitting a written revocation, a subsequently dated proxy, or by
attending the meeting and voting in person.
 
The Company will bear the cost  of the preparation and solicitation of  proxies,
including  the charges and expenses of  brokerage firms, banks or other nominees
for forwarding proxy material to beneficial owners. In addition to  solicitation
by  mail, proxies  may be solicited  by telephone, telegraph  or personally. The
Company has retained Georgeson & Company  Inc., Wall Street Plaza, New York,  NY
10005,  to aid in the solicitation of proxies for a fee of $8,000 plus expenses.
Proxies may also be  solicited by certain directors,  officers and employees  of
the Company without extra compensation.
 
                                       1
<PAGE>
                SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS
 
The following table sets forth information as to entities which have reported to
the  Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") or have advised the Company that
they are a "beneficial owner," as defined  by the SEC rules and regulations,  of
more than five percent of the Company's outstanding Common Stock.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    AMOUNT AND
                                                     NATURE OF
                    NAME AND ADDRESS                BENEFICIAL        PERCENT OF
CLASS              OF BENEFICIAL OWNER               OWNERSHIP         CLASS(1)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>        <C>                                     <C>                <C>
Common     Henkel KGaA                              8,137,056(2)          12.6%
           Henkelstrasse 67
           Postfach 1100
           40191 Dusseldorf 13
           Germany
Common     HC Investments, Inc.                     7,333,332(3)          11.4%
           1105 North Market Street
           Suite 1300
           Wilmington, DE 19899
Common     Southeastern Asset                       6,065,241(4)           9.4%
           Management, Inc.
           6075 Poplar Avenue
           Suite 900
           Memphis, TN 38119
Common     Trimark Investment                       4,715,800(5)           7.3%
           Management Inc.
           One First Canadian Place
           Suite 5600, P. O. Box 487
           Toronto, Ontario M5X 1E5
</TABLE>
 
(1)  The percent of class is based on the number of voting shares outstanding as
    of  March 19, 1996, and  the beneficial owner's most  recent report of share
    ownership.
 
(2)  Henkel KGaA is a partnership limited by shares organized under the laws  of
    Germany.  The Company  understands that all  voting stock of  Henkel KGaA is
    controlled by members  of the Henkel  family. Voting shares  of the  Company
    beneficially  owned by  Henkel KGaA are  subject to  an agreement containing
    certain  restrictions   pertaining   to,   among   other   things,   maximum
    shareholding,   transfer  and  voting  rights.  For  a  description  of  the
    agreement, see the  information found at  page 21 hereof  under the  heading
    "Certain Transactions."
 
(3)   HC Investments, Inc., a Delaware corporation, is an indirect, wholly-owned
    subsidiary of Henkel KGaA. Voting  shares of the Company beneficially  owned
    by  HC Investments, Inc. are bound by the terms of the agreement between the
    Company and Henkel KGaA, as described at page 21 hereof.
 
(4)  On  January 31, 1996,  Southeastern Asset Management,  Inc., an  investment
    advisor,  reported that  it had sole  dispositive authority  and sole voting
    power over  5,372,141 and  5,212,141, respectively,  of the  shares;  shared
    dispositive authority and shared voting power over 600,000 of the shares; no
    dispositive  authority over 93,100  of the shares; and  no voting power over
    253,100 of the shares.
 
(5)  Trimark Investment Management Inc., registered under the Securities Act  of
    Ontario,  Canada  and  as  sole trustee  of  certain  Ontario  mutual funds,
    informed the Company that, as of December 31, 1995, it had sole  dispositive
    authority and sole voting power over all 4,715,800 shares.
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
                        SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF MANAGEMENT
 
The  following  information  with  regard to  the  beneficial  ownership  of the
Company's Common Stock at  March 14, 1996 has  been furnished by the  respective
directors,  nominees, or executive officers or  obtained from the records of the
Company.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              PERCENT OF COMMON
                                      AMOUNT AND NATURE OF    STOCK BENEFICIALLY
      NAME OF BENEFICIAL OWNER        BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP          OWNED
<S>                                   <C>                     <C>
Allan L. Schuman                         385,170(1)(3)                *
Michael E. Shannon                       317,153(1)(2)(3)             *
John P. Spooner                           17,996(1)(3)                *
James L. McCarty                          38,477(1)(3)                *
Gerald K. Carlson                        155,699(1)(3)                *
Pierson M. Grieve                      1,268,474(1)(2)(3)             2.0%
Ruth S. Block                             11,460(3)                   *
Russell G. Cleary                         36,362(3)(4)                *
James J. Howard                            9,962(3)                   *
Joel W. Johnson                              150                      *
Jerry W. Levin                             7,822(3)                   *
Reuben F. Richards                        12,362(3)                   *
Richard L. Schall                         14,362(3)                   *
Roland Schulz                              7,059(3)                   *
Philip L. Smith                           10,562(3)                   *
Hugo Uyterhoeven                           6,902(3)                   *
Albrecht Woeste                            9,459(3)                   *
Current Directors and Executive        2,783,838(5)                   4.3%
 Officers as a Group (22 persons)
</TABLE>
 
*   Percentage of shares beneficially owned does not exceed one percent.
 
(1)  Includes the following shares held  by officers in the Ecolab Savings  Plan
    as  of the last  Plan report: Mr.  Schuman, 5,354; Mr.  Shannon, 17,111; Mr.
    Spooner, 496;  Mr. McCarty,  18,734;  Mr. Carlson,  4,862; and  Mr.  Grieve,
    29,424.
 
(2)    Includes  the following  shares  held  by members  of  the  director's or
    officer's immediate family sharing the same household: Mr. Shannon,  29,434;
    and Mr. Grieve, 18,544.
 
(3)   Includes the following shares which could be purchased by Messrs. Schuman,
    Shannon, Spooner, McCarty, Carlson and  Grieve under the Company's 1977  and
    1993 Stock Incentive Plans and, in the case of non-employee directors, under
    the  1988 and 1995 Non-Employee Director  Stock Option Plans, within 60 days
    from March  14,  1996:  Mr.  Schuman, 265,300;  Mr.  Shannon,  198,100;  Mr.
    Spooner,  7,500;  Mr. McCarty,  11,100;  Mr. Carlson,  105,750;  Mr. Grieve,
    787,000; Ms. Block, 7,600; Mr. Cleary, 7,600; Mr. Howard, 5,200; Mr.  Levin,
    3,600; Mr. Richards, 3,600; Mr. Schall, 7,600; Mr. Schulz, 2,800; Mr. Smith,
    6,800; Mr. Uyterhoeven, 4,400; Mr. Woeste, 4,400.
 
(4)   Mr. Cleary is president and director  of a charitable trust as to which he
    has investment  and  voting  power.  Four thousand  (4,000)  shares  of  the
    Company's  Common Stock are owned  by that Trust and  are reported herein as
    shares beneficially owned by  Mr. Cleary. Mr.  Cleary disclaims a  pecuniary
    interest in such shares.
 
(5)   Includes 72,211 shares held by or on behalf of family members of directors
    and executive  officers, 10,762  shares held  in trusts  over which  certain
    directors  or  executive officers  have voting  authority  and/ or  power of
    disposition, 101,770 shares held for executive officers in Company-sponsored
    employee benefit plans  as of  the last  plan reports,  1,704,850 shares  to
    which  these persons have  the right to  acquire beneficial ownership within
    sixty days of March 14, 1996, by the exercise of stock options granted under
    the Company's 1977 and 1993 Stock Incentive Plans or the 1988 and 1995  Non-
    Employee  Director Stock  Option Plans and  97,940 shares  held by executive
    officers under restricted stock awards granted under the Company's 1977  and
    1993 Stock Incentive Plans and which are subject to events of forfeiture.
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
                             ELECTION OF DIRECTORS
 
The  business and affairs of the Company are managed under the overall direction
of the Board of Directors.  To assist it in carrying  out its duties, the  Board
has   delegated   certain  authority   to   four  standing   committees:  Audit,
Compensation, Finance and Governance.
 
There were six meetings (four regular and two special) of the Board of Directors
during the year ended December 31,  1995. Each director except Messrs.  Richards
and Woeste attended at least 75 percent of Board and Committee meetings. Overall
attendance at Board and Committee meetings was 91 percent.
 
The  Audit Committee,  currently comprised  of Messrs.  Cleary, Richards, Schall
(Chairman), Uyterhoeven and  Woeste, met four  times during the  past year.  The
Committee,  which is  comprised entirely  of independent  directors, assists the
Board of Directors in  overseeing management's discharge of  its duties for  the
preparation  of  interim and  annual  financial statements  and  for maintaining
financial  control  of  operations.   Principal  responsibilities  include   (a)
oversight  of the accuracy of public  financial reports, including review of the
plan and  scope  of  the  annual  audit,  the  results  of  the  audit  and  the
independence  of the independent accountants,  (b) providing oversight assurance
that the Company has an effective system of internal controls and (c)  providing
oversight  assurance that  the Company  has effective  controls against employee
conflict of interest and  fraud and reasonably complies  with related laws.  The
Committee also recommends to the Board of Directors with regard to the retention
of the Company's independent accountants. In addition, the Committee assists the
Board  of  Directors  in overseeing  the  accounting controls  and  policies and
reporting practices of the Henkel-Ecolab  Joint Venture, an entity described  at
page  21 hereof  under the  heading "Certain  Transactions" and  whose financial
statements are filed as a part of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K.  The
Committee  meets regularly with the  Company's management and internal auditors,
and with the Company's independent accountants.
 
The Compensation Committee, currently comprised of Ms. Block and Messrs. Howard,
Levin, Schulz and  Smith (Chairman), met  four times during  the past year.  The
Committee   is  comprised  entirely  of  independent  directors.  The  principal
functions of this Committee are to review and approve (a) the Company's  overall
compensation  policy  and executive  salary  plan, (b)  the  base salary  of all
non-director corporate  officers  and  of  other  executives  meeting  specified
compensation   levels,  and   (c)  the  design,   amendment,  establishment  and
termination of  the Company's  employee benefit  plans and  related trusts.  The
Committee  also administers the  Company's stock and  cash-based incentive plans
for executives, and makes recommendations to  the Board with respect to (a)  the
base  salary and other compensation of officers of the Company who also serve as
directors,  and  (b)  the  design  and  establishment  of  long-term   executive
compensation  and executive benefit plans. To assist the Committee in the design
and review  of  executive compensation  programs,  the Board  has  selected  and
retained  an  independent compensation  consultant who  reports directly  to the
Committee. A report  by the Committee  on executive compensation  is located  on
pages 11 through 14 hereof.
 
The  Finance Committee,  currently comprised  of Ms.  Block and  Messrs. Grieve,
Richards (Chairman), Schall,  Schulz, Shannon  and Uyterhoeven,  met five  times
during  the past year. The  principal functions of this  Committee are to review
and make recommendations to  the Board concerning  (a) the financial  condition,
financial  policies and  standards, and  long-range financial  objectives of the
Company, (b) the Company's financing  requirements, including the evaluation  of
management's  proposals concerning  funding vehicles to  meet such requirements,
(c) debt limits, (d) dividends,  (e) the Company's capital expenditures  budget,
(f)  adequacy of insurance coverage and (g) the financial structure and policies
of the Henkel-Ecolab Joint Venture with particular attention to their impact  on
the   financial  condition  of   the  Company.  The   Committee  also  evaluates
acquisitions and divestitures  of businesses  from a  financial standpoint.  The
Committee  oversees a management committee which  is charged with monitoring the
performance of trust assets held in the Company's benefit plans.
 
The  Governance  Committee,  currently  comprised  of  Messrs.  Cleary,   Howard
(Chairman),  Levin, Schuman, Smith  and Woeste, met three  times during the past
year. The Governance Committee (a) reviews and recommends to the Board  policies
for  the composition  of the  Board, (b)  identifies, interviews,  evaluates and
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
recommends to the  Board prospective  director nominees, (c)  reviews and  makes
recommendations  to the Board with regard  to compensation for Board service and
the performance of individual directors, (d) reviews and recommends to the Board
changes in the Company's By-Laws, (e)  reviews and recommends to the Board  with
respect  to Board  organization, management succession  and corporate governance
issues, social  responsibility and  the Company's  environmental practices,  (f)
administers the Board's CEO evaluation and Board effectiveness review processes,
and  (g) undertakes projects which do not  fall within the jurisdiction of other
committees of the Board. Recommendations  by stockholders of potential  director
nominees may be directed to the Governance Committee in care of the Secretary of
the Company, at the Company address located at the top of page 1.
 
Under  the  Company's  Restated  Certificate  of  Incorporation,  the  number of
directors is determined exclusively by the Board. Currently, the Board has fixed
the number of directors at 13.
 
Pursuant to the agreement between the Company and Henkel KGaA described at  page
21  hereof  under  the heading  "Certain  Transactions," Henkel  is  entitled to
designate a number  of persons  to be nominated  for election  to the  Company's
Board of Directors proportionate to Henkel's shareholding in the Company rounded
to  the nearest whole  number. As of  March 19, 1996,  Henkel held approximately
24.0% of the Company's outstanding Common Stock and was accordingly entitled  to
designate  three  directors. Messrs.  Roland  Schulz, Albrecht  Woeste  and Hugo
Uyterhoeven have been appointed or elected to the Board pursuant to  designation
by Henkel.
 
The  Board of Directors is divided into three classes. The members of each class
are elected to serve a  three-year term with the terms  of office of each  class
ending in successive years.
 
The  term of Class I Directors expires with this Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
Messrs. Howard, Levin, Richards, Schall and Schulz are the nominees for election
to the Board as Class I Directors and all have previously served as directors of
the Company. Class I Directors being elected at the current Annual Meeting  will
serve  until the 1999 Annual Meeting expected to  be held in the Spring of 1999,
or until their successors  have been duly elected  and qualified. Mr. Grieve,  a
Class  III Director who has  served as director of  the Company since 1983, will
retire with  this Annual  Meeting of  Stockholders.  Mr. Joel  W. Johnson  is  a
nominee  for election to the Board as a Class III Director to replace Mr. Grieve
for a term ending with the Annual Meeting  expected to be held in the Spring  of
1998,  or until his successor  has been duly elected  and qualified. Mr. Johnson
has not previously served as a director of the Company. The remaining  directors
of  Class III  will continue in  office as will  the directors of  Class II. The
Board of Directors has no  reason to believe that any  of the named nominees  is
not available or will not serve if elected.
 
The  directors  shall be  elected  by a  plurality of  the  votes cast.  The six
director nominees  receiving the  highest vote  totals will  be elected.  Shares
represented  by proxy which contain  instructions to "withhold" voting authority
on one or more  nominees will not  affect the election  of nominees receiving  a
plurality  of the votes cast. It is intended that proxies solicited by the Board
of Directors will (unless otherwise directed)  be voted for the election of  the
six  nominees named  in this  Proxy Statement. If,  for any  reason, any nominee
becomes unavailable  for  election,  the  proxies  solicited  by  the  Board  of
Directors will be voted for such substituted nominee as is selected by the Board
of Directors, or the Board of Directors, at its option, may reduce the number of
directors to constitute the entire Board.
 
The  following information with regard to business experience has been furnished
by the respective  directors or  nominees or obtained  from the  records of  the
Company.
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
           NOMINEES FOR ELECTION TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS -- CLASS I
                            (FOR A TERM ENDING 1999)
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                  JAMES J. HOWARD, age 60.
                  Chairman  of the Board, President  and Chief Executive Officer
    [PHOTO]       of Northern States Power Company, an operating public  utility
                  primarily   engaged  in   the  generation,   transmission  and
                  distribution of electricity  and the  distribution of  natural
                  gas. Director of Ecolab since 1991. Chairman of the Governance
                  Committee   and   member   of   the   Compensation  Committee.
                  After holding various  positions with affiliates  of the  Bell
                  companies,  was, in 1983, named  President and Chief Operating
                  Officer of Ameritech,  the Chicago-based  holding company  for
                  the  Bell companies serving  Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio
                  and  Wisconsin.  Joined  Northern  States  Power  Company   as
                  President  and Chief  Executive Officer in  February, 1987 and
                  became Chairman of the Board in March, 1988. Relinquished  the
                  position  of President from July, 1990 through November, 1994.
                  Director of  Honeywell Inc.,  Northern States  Power  Company,
                  ReliaStar Financial Corp. (formerly The NWNL Companies, Inc.),
                  the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis and Walgreen Company.
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                  JERRY W. LEVIN, age 51.
                  Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Revlon, Inc., a beauty
    [PHOTO]       care  company. Director  of Ecolab  since 1992.  Member of the
                  Compensation Committee and Governance Committee.
                  Served in  a number  of senior  executive positions  with  The
                  Pillsbury  Company  from 1974  through  1989. In  1989, joined
                  MacAndrews & Forbes which  controls Revlon, Inc., The  Coleman
                  Company  and  Marvel  Inc., among  other  companies. Appointed
                  Chairman  of  Revlon  in  November,  1995,  having  served  as
                  Revlon's  President  since  1991,  and  later  Chief Executive
                  Officer. Prior  thereto was  Chairman of  Coleman, the  parent
                  company  of The Coleman Company, Inc., an outdoor recreational
                  products  company.  Director  of  Apogee  Enterprises,   Inc.,
                  Coleman Worldwide Corp., The Coleman Company, Inc., First Bank
                  System  Inc., Meridian  Sports Inc.,  Revlon, Inc.  and Revlon
                  Worldwide Corp.
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                  REUBEN F. RICHARDS, age 66.
                  Chairman  of   the  Board   of  Terra   Industries  Inc.,   an
    [PHOTO]       agribusiness.  Director of Ecolab since  1983. Chairman of the
                  Finance  Committee  and   member  of   the  Audit   Committee.
                  Chairman of the Board of Terra Industries Inc. since December,
                  1982. Served as Chief Executive Officer from December, 1982 to
                  May,  1991  and as  President from  July,  1983 to  May, 1991.
                  Chairman of the Board of Engelhard Corporation from May,  1985
                  to  December,  1994  and  Chairman  of  the  Board  of Minorco
                  (U.S.A.) Inc. since May, 1990. Also named President and  Chief
                  Executive  Officer of Minorco (U.S.A.) Inc. in February, 1994.
                  Director  of  Potlatch   Corporation  and   Santa  Fe   Energy
                  Resources, Inc.
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                  RICHARD L. SCHALL, age 66.
                  Consultant  since 1985. Retired Vice Chairman of the Board and
    [PHOTO]       Chief Administrative Officer of  Dayton Hudson Corporation,  a
                  national  retailer. Director of Ecolab since 1978. Chairman of
                  the Audit  Committee  and  member of  the  Finance  Committee.
                  Joined Dayton Hudson in 1972 as Vice President and Controller.
                  Retired  in  1985  as Chief  Administrative  Officer  and Vice
                  Chairman of  the Board,  a position  he had  held since  1977.
                  Director  of Medtronic, Inc., Meritex, First Bank System, Inc.
                  and CTL Credit Inc.
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                  ROLAND SCHULZ, age 54.
                  Executive Vice  President in  charge  of Human  Resources  and
    [PHOTO]       member  of  the Executive  Board  of Henkel  KGaA, Dusseldorf,
                  Germany, a manufacturer of  chemicals, household and  personal
                  care  products and adhesives. Director of Ecolab since August,
                  1993. Appointed  to the  Board  pursuant to  an  understanding
                  between  the Company and Henkel (see information found at page
                  5 hereof under the heading "Election of Directors"). Member of
                  the   Compensation    Committee   and    Finance    Committee.
                  Joined  Henkel  in  1972  and  held  various  operational  and
                  marketing executive  positions  in  the  Henkel  organization.
                  Appointed Vice President of Henkel KGaA in charge of personnel
                  in  1990. In 1991, named Executive Vice President and became a
                  member of the Henkel KGaA Executive Board. Director of Gothaer
                  Lebensversicherung AG, Goettingen (Life Insurance).
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
          NOMINEE FOR ELECTION TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS -- CLASS III
                            (FOR A TERM ENDING 1998)
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                  JOEL W. JOHNSON, age 52.
                  Chairman of the Board,  President and Chief Executive  Officer
    [PHOTO]       of  Hormel Foods Corporation, a processor and marketer of meat
                  and food products.
                  Following an extensive  career at  General Foods  Corporation,
                  joined  Hormel  Foods Corporation  in  1991 as  Executive Vice
                  President -- Sales & Marketing. Advanced to President in 1992,
                  Chief Operating Officer  and Chief Executive  Officer in  1993
                  and  Chairman of the  Board in 1995.  Director of Hormel Foods
                  Corporation,  The  Hormel  Foundation,  Meredith  Corporation,
                  American Meat Institute and Grocery Manufacturers Association.
                  Also  a Trustee  of Hamilton  College and  member of  Board of
                  Overseers  of  The  Carlson   School  of  Management  at   the
                  University of Minnesota.
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
         MEMBERS OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONTINUING IN OFFICE -- CLASS II
                            (FOR A TERM ENDING 1997)
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                  RUTH S. BLOCK, age 65.
                  Retired  Executive Vice President  and Chief Insurance Officer
    [PHOTO]       of The Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United  States,
                  an  insurance and investment company. Director of Ecolab since
                  1985.  Member  of  the  Compensation  Committee  and   Finance
                  Committee.
                  Joined  Equitable in 1952. Elected Executive Vice President in
                  1980; Chairman and Chief Executive  Officer of EVLICO in  1980
                  and  Chief Insurance Officer of  Equitable in 1984; retired in
                  1987. Director of Alliance Capital Mutual Funds (38 Funds) and
                  Amoco Corporation.
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                  RUSSELL G. CLEARY, age 62.
                  Chairman of the  Board and Chief  Executive Officer of  Cleary
    [PHOTO]       Management  Corporation,  a privately-held  business  and real
                  estate development corporation. Director of Ecolab since 1981.
                  Member of the  Audit Committee and  the Governance  Committee.
                  Served as Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive
                  Officer  of G. Heileman  Brewing Company, Inc.,  a producer of
                  malt beverages  and  bakery goods,  from  1971 to  1988,  when
                  Heileman  became  a  subsidiary of  Bond  Corporation Holdings
                  Ltd., a Western Australian  company. Returned to Heileman  and
                  served   as  Co-Chief  Executive  Officer  from  June  through
                  December, 1994 following  the purchase of  Heileman by  Hicks,
                  Muse,  Tate &  Furst, Inc., Dallas.  Chairman of  the Board of
                  First  State  Bancorp,  Inc.   and  Director  of  A.O.   Smith
                  Corporation.
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                  ALLAN L. SCHUMAN, age 61.
                  President  and Chief Executive Officer  of Ecolab. Director of
    [PHOTO]       Ecolab  since  1991.  Member  of  the  Governance   Committee.
                  Joined  Ecolab in 1957 and after promotions through all levels
                  of  sales   and   marketing   positions   in   the   Company's
                  Institutional    Division,    became    a    Vice   President,
                  Institutional,  Marketing  and  National  Accounts  in   1972.
                  Promoted   to  Vice  President   and  Director,  Institutional
                  Division in 1979 and to  Senior Vice President of the  Company
                  in  1984. In  1985 was named  Executive Vice  President and in
                  1988, President, Ecolab Services Group. Promoted to  President
                  and  Chief Operating Officer  of the Company  in August, 1992.
                  Named President and  Chief Executive Officer  in March,  1995.
                  Director  of  International Foodservice  Manufacturers Associ-
                  ation,  American  Marketing   Association  Services   Council,
                  Hazelden  Foundation and the Ordway  Music Theatre. Trustee of
                  the Culinary Institute of America.
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                  MICHAEL E. SHANNON, age 59.
                  Chairman of  the  Board, Chief  Financial  and  Administrative
    [PHOTO]       Officer  of Ecolab. Director  of Ecolab since  1991. Member of
                  the Finance Committee.
                  From 1975 to 1984 held various senior financial positions with
                  Republic Steel  Corporation,  including  from  1982  to  1984,
                  Executive  Vice  President  and  Chief  Financial  Officer. In
                  April, 1984  joined Ecolab  as  Executive Vice  President  and
                  Chief  Financial Officer. From December, 1984 to October, 1990
                  held the additional position  of Chief Administrative  Officer
                  and  from June,  1988 to October,  1990 was  also President of
                  ChemLawn Services  Corporation,  a former  subsidiary  of  the
                  Company,  and from October,  1990 to May,  1992 also served as
                  President of the  Residential Services Group  of the  Company.
                  Assumed  positions of  Vice Chairman  and Chief Administrative
                  Officer in  August,  1992  and named  Chairman  of  the  Board
                  effective  January 1,  1996. Trustee  of the  Minnesota Mutual
                  Life Insurance Company,  Director of  National Association  of
                  Manufacturers  and  Minnesota  Public Radio.  Chairman  of the
                  Minnesota Orchestral Association.
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
        MEMBERS OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS CONTINUING IN OFFICE -- CLASS III
                            (FOR A TERM ENDING 1998)
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                  PHILIP L. SMITH, age 62.
                  Former Chairman of  the Board, President  and Chief  Executive
    [PHOTO]       Officer  of The  Pillsbury Company.  Director of  Ecolab since
                  1989. Chairman of the Compensation Committee and member of the
                  Governance Committee.
                  Joined  General  Foods  Corporation  in  1966.  After  holding
                  various  positions with General Foods, assumed the position of
                  Chairman, President and  Chief Executive Officer  in 1987.  In
                  August, 1988 became Chairman of the Board, President and Chief
                  Executive  Officer of  The Pillsbury Company,  a position held
                  until the  acquisition  of  Pillsbury  by  Grand  Metropolitan
                  Public Limited Company in January, 1989. Director of Whirlpool
                  Corporation and U.S. Trust Corporation.
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                  HUGO UYTERHOEVEN, age 64.
                  Timken  Professor of Business  Administration, Graduate School
    [PHOTO]       of  Business  Administration,   Harvard  University.   Elected
                  pursuant  to an  understanding between the  Company and Henkel
                  (see information  found at  page 5  hereof under  the  heading
                  "Election  of  Directors").  Director  of  Ecolab  since 1992.
                  Member  of  the   Audit  Committee   and  Finance   Committee.
                  Member of the Harvard Business School Faculty since 1960 where
                  he  has served as Chairman of the Advanced Management Program,
                  Chairman of the General Management Area, and Senior  Associate
                  Dean.  Director of Bombardier Inc.,  Brown, Boveri & Co. Ltd.,
                  Ciba-Geigy AG, Harcourt General, Inc. and The Stanley Works.
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                  ALBRECHT WOESTE, age 60.
                  Owner of  R. Woeste  GmbH  & Co.  KG, Dusseldorf,  Germany,  a
    [PHOTO]       privately-held  manufacturer of  tube fittings  made of steel,
                  malleable iron  and special  castings.  Member of  the  Henkel
                  family  which  controls  Henkel KGaA,  Dusseldorf,  Germany, a
                  manufacturer  of  chemicals,   household  and  personal   care
                  products  and  adhesives  and  Chairman  of  the Shareholders'
                  Committee  and  the  Supervisory  Board  of  Henkel.   Elected
                  pursuant  to an  understanding between the  Company and Henkel
                  (see information  found at  page 5  hereof under  the  heading
                  "Election  of  Directors").  Director  of  Ecolab  since 1991.
                  Member  of  the  Audit  Committee  and  Governance  Committee.
                  Owner   of  R.  Woeste  GmbH  &  Co.  KG,  a  family  business
                  enterprise, since 1963. Named to the position of Vice Chairman
                  of the  Shareholders' Committee  of Henkel  KGaA in  1965  and
                  appointed  Chairman in 1990. Chairman of the Supervisory Board
                  of Henkel KGaA.  Member of the  Supervisory Board of  Deutsche
                  Bank   AG  and  of  ALLIANZ  Lebensversicherungs  -  AG  (Life
                  Insurance).  President  Dusseldorf  Chamber  of  Industry  and
                  Commerce.
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
                             EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
         REPORT OF THE COMPENSATION COMMITTEE ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION
 
The Compensation Committee (the "Committee") of the Company's Board of Directors
is   responsible  for  the  overall  executive  compensation  program  and  each
component. The Company's management  and an independent compensation  consultant
provide  competitive data  and assistance  to help  the Committee  carry out its
responsibilities. The Board  holds authority  to ratify certain  actions of  the
Committee.
 
The Committee reviews each executive compensation component annually to maintain
alignment with the Company's goals and philosophy.
 
PHILOSOPHY:    The  Committee  uses  compensation  to  help  communicate desired
business results to executives,  influencing them to  make decisions to  produce
those  results. The program must be  competitive to attract, retain and motivate
executives, and it must reinforce and complement sound management practices.  In
addition,  the executives' interests  must be effectively  aligned with those of
our shareholders and to  this end, the Committee  has developed executive  stock
ownership   guidelines  to  ensure  that  executives  accumulate  a  significant
ownership stake and  are vested  in maximizing  short-and long-term  shareholder
returns.
 
Each  component of the executives'  compensation is targeted at  the median of a
broad range of United States manufacturing and service companies, representing a
more broad index for comparison than the Standard & Poor's Specialized  Services
Index  represented in the performance graph on page 18. The Committee consults a
number of general industry surveys which collect a significant portion of  their
data  from the Standard & Poor's 500 Index or equivalent companies. The data are
adjusted through regression analysis to  reflect the Company's size relative  to
those companies included in the data. This size adjusted data of the "comparator
group" of companies is the information relied upon by the Committee to provide a
generally accurate representation of the relevant competitive market.
 
The  overall executive compensation program is designed to target median pay for
median Company performance. To the extent the Company's performance exceeds  the
general  industry median performance, total compensation will also exceed median
levels. Conversely, total compensation will be  less than the median if  Company
performance falls below the median performance level.
 
COMPONENTS:   The  Company's compensation  program for  executives includes four
components,  each  of  which  plays  a  specific  role  in  the  overall   total
compensation approach, including:
 
        - Base Salary;
        - Management Incentive Plan or Management Performance Incentive Plan;
        - Long-term incentives; and
        - Benefits/perquisites.
 
    BASE  SALARY:   The  Company's philosophy  is  to set  base salaries  at the
    competitive market median, as represented by the comparator group.  However,
    individual  performance  is  also  taken  into  account  in  determining any
    variations from the median. Surveys provide the data needed to determine the
    market  median  base  salary  opportunities  of  the  comparator  group  (as
    described  above). The Committee reviews the  base salary of each officer on
    an annual basis  in light of  the market data  and the officer's  individual
    performance  to determine whether an increase in base pay is appropriate. In
    1995, executive  officers'  base  salary  increases  averaged  4.9  percent,
    excluding promotional increases.
 
    As  reflected in  the Summary Compensation  Table on page  15, the Committee
    increased Mr.  Schuman's  base  salary  by 25  percent.  This  increase  was
    effective  on  March  1, 1995,  the  date  of Mr.  Schuman's  promotion from
    President and  Chief  Operating Officer  to  President and  Chief  Executive
    Officer   ("CEO").  The  median  base  pay   of  the  comparator  group  was
    significantly higher than Mr. Schuman's  base salary. The Committee did  not
    increase Mr. Schuman's base
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
    salary  to a level  equal to the  comparator group median  given his lack of
    tenure in the position, but did approve a substantial increase to bring  his
    salary closer to the market. Mr. Grieve, who was CEO until March 1, 1995 and
    who retired as Chairman of the Board on December 31, 1995, did not receive a
    base  salary increase in 1995, as his  salary was at a level consistent with
    the median base pay of the comparator group.
 
    MANAGEMENT  INCENTIVE  PLAN  (MIP)/MANAGEMENT  PERFORMANCE  INCENTIVE   PLAN
    (MPIP):    The  MIP  is  a cash-based  annual  incentive  plan  that focuses
    executives' attention on  achieving competitive annual  business goals.  The
    Committee,  with input from  management, sets specific  performance goals at
    the  beginning  of  each  year  and  communicates  them  to  the   Company's
    executives.  A mix of  corporate and business  unit goals is  used to assure
    that executives have a measure of  control over the factors affecting  their
    awards.  The  Committee  also  establishes  median  awards,  expressed  as a
    percentage of base salary, to be  paid for achieving the performance  goals.
    These  target awards  are set  by the Committee  based on  the median annual
    incentive awards paid by the comparator group and form the basis from  which
    minimum, premium, and maximum awards are determined.
 
    The MPIP is a shareholder approved plan which is essentially the same as the
    MIP.  The MPIP  was adopted  in response to  Section 162(m)  of the Internal
    Revenue Code, which disallows deductions  by public corporations of  certain
    executive compensation in excess of $1,000,000 unless the plan meets certain
    requirements.   For  1995,  Mr.  Schuman  and   Mr.  Grieve  were  the  only
    participants in this plan.
 
    Mr. Grieve, Mr. Schuman, and Mr.  Shannon, as well as other executives  with
    corporate-wide  responsibility, earn awards based  solely on the achievement
    of Earnings  Per Share  (EPS) goals.  The Committee  establishes annual  EPS
    levels  that  must be  achieved to  receive  threshold, median,  premium and
    maximum awards. Economic  projections and the  compounded annual EPS  growth
    over  five-year and ten-year periods for the Standard & Poor's 500 Index are
    the basis for the EPS goals.
 
    Executives with  business-unit responsibility  earn  MIP awards  by  meeting
    unit-specific operating income goals. As long as operating income thresholds
    are  met, other financial or  strategic factors can also  affect the size of
    the awards. The weight of  each performance measure varies between  business
    units.  In 1995, the  average weighting of the  performance measures for the
    majority of the business units was 48% operating income, 38% sales, and  10%
    cash flow. The remaining performance measures, which fluctuated more greatly
    between  units,  included  measures  such  as  capital  expenditure, selling
    expense, and inventory control.
 
    The  Committee,  in  general,  makes  awards  based  strictly  on  level  of
    achievement  against  pre-established  goals. However,  under  the  MIP, the
    Committee may, in  its sole  discretion, make awards  at a  level higher  or
    lower  than  that determined  by strict  application of  achievement against
    goals based upon such  other business criteria  as the Committee  determines
    appropriate.
 
    Awards  under the MPIP for  1995 performance were 96.67%  of base salary for
    both Mr. Schuman and Mr. Grieve. The awards were based on the Company's 1995
    EPS growth of 11.9% over 1994 pro  forma results, and were derived based  on
    the  EPS performance levels and  corresponding cash award levels established
    by the Committee  at the beginning  of the plan  year using the  methodology
    described  above. The potential cash awards  for 1995, as established by the
    Committee, ranged from a  threshold of 20%  of base salary  to a maximum  of
    120%  of base salary. Under the MPIP, the Committee is allowed only downward
    discretion in  determining the  award, and  no adjustment  was made  to  the
    awards.
 
    LONG-TERM  INCENTIVES:    The Committee  uses  grants of  stock  options and
    restricted  stock  to  deliver  a  competitive  compensation  package   that
    motivates executives to make decisions that will
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
    increase  the value of Company stock, thus providing an appropriate focus on
    the long-term  growth  of the  Company.  When executives  deliver  sustained
    superior returns to shareholders by outperforming the general industry, they
    increase their own compensation accordingly.
 
    Options  are granted with exercise prices equal  to the fair market value of
    the Company's  shares  on the  date  of grant,  providing  no value  to  the
    executive  unless the Company's  stock price increases  after the grants are
    made. The options vest at a rate of twenty-five percent annually and have an
    option term of ten years.
 
    Restricted stock  vests  in equal  installments  on the  second  and  fourth
    anniversary of the grant. The Committee uses restricted stock as a component
    of long-term executive compensation for two reasons: (1) similar to options,
    restricted  stock  aligns  executive  pay with  shareholder  value  over the
    long-term; and (2)  restricted stock grants  provide a retention  incentive,
    decreasing the likelihood of costly, disruptive executive turnover.
 
    The  Committee makes stock  incentive grants at  the median gain opportunity
    awarded to  executives in  similar  positions in  the comparator  group,  as
    computed  by  the Committee's  consultant. The  grants consist  primarily of
    stock options so  that the mix  between stock options  and restricted  stock
    reflects  competitive  market  practices.  The  mix  represents  the average
    percent of gain opportunity offered by  the comparator group in the form  of
    stock options (such percentage being granted by the Committee in the form of
    stock  options) versus  other long-term incentive  vehicles (such percentage
    being granted  by the  Committee  in the  form  of restricted  stock).  This
    results  in the Company's executives receiving  the same percentage of their
    total long-term  gain opportunity  in  stock options  as do  the  comparator
    companies, on average.
 
    In  1995, the Committee implemented a program which allowed for the granting
    of a  special stock  incentive  award recognizing  those executive  who  had
    achieved  their  targeted  ownership  levels  pursuant  to  stock  ownership
    guidelines which had been established by the Committee in 1991. The approved
    award program is  a one-time  additional stock option  and restricted  stock
    award  equal to  10% of the  executives' annual stock  option and restricted
    stock awards.  The  Committee  implemented  the  program  to  reinforce  the
    importance  of executives maintaining an ownership  stake in the Company and
    to reward and  recognize those executives  who achieve this  goal. In  1995,
    most executive officers received such a special award. In general, executive
    officers  who did not receive an award  had not been in their positions long
    enough to achieve targeted ownership levels.
 
    On March 1, 1995, the Committee  granted to Mr. Schuman options to  purchase
    200,000  shares with  an exercise  price of  $22.875 and  a restricted stock
    grant  in  the  amount  of  25,000  shares,  as  detailed  in  the   Summary
    Compensation  Table  on page  15. The  Committee  based Mr.  Schuman's stock
    incentives upon the median gain opportunity of the comparator group, as well
    as a recommendation by the independent compensation consultant on the median
    gain opportunity of long-term incentive  awards granted in the market  under
    similar  promotion  situations. The  Committee also  granted to  Mr. Schuman
    options to purchase 7,800  shares with an exercise  price of $26.8125 and  a
    restricted  stock grant in the  amount of 730 shares  on August 18, 1995 for
    Mr. Schuman's achievement of his stock ownership target. Mr. Schuman's award
    under this program was granted  at 10% of the  1995 guideline award for  the
    CEO position.
 
    On  March 1, 1995, the  Committee granted to Mr.  Grieve options to purchase
    125,000 shares with  an exercise  price of  $22.875 and  a restricted  stock
    grant in the amount of 15,000 shares. The Committee based Mr. Grieve's stock
    incentives  upon  three  factors. The  first  consideration  included median
    guidelines as viewed over the period  beginning in 1990 and ending in  1995.
    Specifically,  the Committee  provided an  annual award  which would provide
    over the period of 1990 through 1995 a cumulative total of stock  incentives
    which  would be equal to the total  of the competitive medians for each year
    over that period. Secondly, Mr.  Grieve's stock incentive included an  award
    for  achievement  of  his  stock  ownership  target.  The  final  factor  in
    determining
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
    the size of  the award was  Mr. Grieve's pending  retirement. The  Committee
    increased  the size of  the award as  described above in  recognition of Mr.
    Grieve's numerous significant accomplishments in leading the Company  during
    his tenure with the organization.
 
    SPECIAL  AWARD:    At  its  February,  1996  meeting,  the  Committee, after
    receiving  a  completed  performance  report  conducted  by  the  Governance
    Committee on Mr. Schuman's 1995 accomplishments, agreed to award Mr. Schuman
    a  one-time  recognition award  in  the amount  of  $50,000. This  award was
    granted to Mr. Schuman in recognition of the excellent work he performed  in
    connection with the 1995 management transition.
 
    BENEFITS/PERQUISITES:    Executive  benefits and  perquisites  are primarily
    attraction  and  retention  tools.  They  provide  protection  against   the
    financial  catastrophes that can result  from illness, disability and death.
    They meet basic executive needs, allowing  them to focus their attention  on
    the  Company's  business goals.  The Company  surveys  the practices  of the
    comparator group and matches its benefits and perquisites to those  provided
    by a majority of companies.
 
    CHAIRMAN  OF THE BOARD  AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER  RETIREMENT:  Pierson M.
    Grieve retired from the  Chairman of the  Board position effective  December
    31,  1995, having relinquished the Chief Executive Officer position February
    28, 1995. Mr. Grieve had served  as Chairman and CEO since 1983.  Provisions
    applicable to Mr. Grieve's retirement are described on pages 19 and 20 under
    the  section  titled  Agreements  With  Former  Chief  Executive  Officer. A
    substantial portion of Mr. Grieve's retirement provisions were factored into
    his employment agreement. The  Committee's actions taken  in respect of  Mr.
    Grieve's  retirement,  outside of  those provided  for under  his employment
    agreement, reflect competitive  practices in these  same circumstances,  and
    the  Committee's judgment as to what was appropriate and reasonable in light
    of Mr. Grieve's service,  position and contributions to  the success of  the
    Company.
 
POLICY  WITH RESPECT TO THE  $1 MILLION DEDUCTION LIMIT:   Section 162(m) of the
Internal Revenue Code generally limits corporate deduction for compensation paid
to executive officers named in the proxy statement to $1 million, unless certain
requirements are  met. The  Committee's intent  is to  operate its  compensation
programs  for  the executive  officers  subject to  the  deduction limit  so the
corporate  tax  deduction  is  maximized  on  compensation  paid.  However,  the
Committee  will do  so only  to the extent  practicable and  consistent with the
Company's overall compensation philosophy.
 
CONCLUSION:  The Committee believes  that these executive compensation  policies
and  programs serve the  interests of shareholders  and the Company effectively.
The various  pay  vehicles  utilized maintain  an  appropriate  balance  between
motivating achievement of short-term goals and strategically leading the Company
in  a direction to  provide long-term success.  We will continue  to monitor the
effectiveness of  the Company's  total compensation  program to  ensure that  it
meets the needs of the Company.
 
               Ruth S. Block                      Roland Schulz
               James J. Howard                    Philip L. Smith
               Jerry W. Levin
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
                           SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE
 
The  following table shows cash  and non-cash compensation for  each of the last
three years ended  December 31 for  the persons  who during 1995  served as  the
Company's  Chief Executive Officer and for the next four most highly compensated
executive officers who were serving in those capacities at December 31, 1995. No
other individuals served in  those capacities at any  time during the year.  All
stock  incentive figures have been adjusted to  give effect to the Company's 100
percent stock dividend paid January 18, 1994.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                  LONG TERM COMPENSATION
                                                                                 ------------------------
                                                                                          AWARDS
                                                ANNUAL COMPENSATION              ------------------------
                                      ----------------------------------------   RESTRICTED    SECURITIES
                                                                OTHER ANNUAL        STOCK      UNDERLYING       ALL OTHER
                                      SALARY(1)  BONUS(1,2)    COMPENSATION(3)   AWARD(S)(4)     OPTIONS     COMPENSATION(5)
 NAME AND PRINCIPAL POSITION    YEAR     ($)         ($)             ($)             ($)           (#)             ($)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                             <C>   <C>        <C>           <C>               <C>           <C>           <C>
Allan L. Schuman,               1995  $ 483,333   $517,200(7)      $  2,136       $597,653       200,000         $28,516
 President and Chief            1994  $ 400,000   $380,000         -0-            $109,375        50,000         $27,900
 Executive Officer(6)           1993  $ 364,900   $328,400         -0-            $ 82,175        46,800         $27,874
Michael E. Shannon,             1995  $ 380,000   $310,000         $  2,037       $108,873        39,380         $20,700
 Chairman of the Board, Chief   1994  $ 362,000   $343,900         $    277       $ 87,500        40,000         $25,677
 Financial and Administrative   1993  $ 348,300   $313,500         -0-            $ 69,200        37,400         $26,929
 Officer(6)
John P. Spooner,(8)             1995  $ 322,350   $146,700         -0-            $133,750        30,000         $14,072
 Senior Vice President --       1994  $ 168,239   $200,000(9)      $105,532       $109,375        30,000         $13,485
 Industrial                     1993     --         --              --              --            --             --
James L. McCarty,(10)           1995  $ 250,000   $165,000         $  1,296       $ 79,448        19,250         $12,450
 Senior Vice President --       1994  $ 220,000   $155,000         $    570       $ 59,063        15,200         $ 6,700
 Institutional North America    1993     --         --              --              --            --             --
Gerald K. Carlson,              1995  $ 273,300   $ 96,800         $    147       $ 58,850        13,750         $11,103
 Senior Vice President --       1994  $ 273,300   $ 95,700         $  1,561       $ 48,125        15,000         $15,570
 International                  1993  $ 256,510   $135,800         -0-            $ 43,250        20,000         $18,844
Pierson M. Grieve,              1995  $ 600,000   $580,000         $ 12,715       $346,875       125,000         $70,400
 Retired Chief Executive        1994  $ 600,000   $681,900         -0-            $306,250        70,000         $42,957
 Officer(6)                     1993  $ 575,000   $575,000         -0-              -0-           78,000         $41,575
</TABLE>
 
(1)  Includes  amounts deferred  under Section  401(k) of  the Internal  Revenue
    Code,  pursuant  to the  Company's Savings  Plan,  amounts deferred  under a
    non-qualified deferred compensation  plan maintained  by the  Company for  a
    select  group of  executives and  salary reductions  per Section  125 of the
    Internal Revenue Code.
 
(2)  Represents annual cash awards under the Company's Management Incentive Plan
    ("MIP") or, if  applicable, the Company's  Management Performance  Incentive
    Plan  ("MPIP"). The  MIP and  MPIP are  discussed at  page 12  hereof in the
    "Report of the Compensation Committee on Executive Compensation."
 
(3)  Represents payment by the Company  of: (i) certain payroll taxes under  the
    Company's  non-contributory non-qualified supplemental defined benefit plans
    referred to in the text following the  "Pension Plan Table" on page 18;  and
    (ii)  in  the case  of Mr.  Spooner,  certain relocation  expenses ($85,343)
    incurred in 1994 and  certain payroll taxes  thereon. The Company  maintains
    executive  death and supplemental long-term disability benefits for a select
    group of  executives,  which  benefits  are self-funded  and  for  which  no
    specific allocation of cost is made to any individual executive prior to the
    occurrence  of an event of death or  disability which would give rise to the
    payment of benefits.
 
(4)  Represents the  cumulative dollar value of  restricted stock awards  during
    the  calendar year based on the closing market price of the Company's Common
    Stock on the date  of grant. The recipients  receive dividends declared  on,
    and  have voting power over, the restricted  shares. The value and number of
    the aggregate  restricted stock  held  by the  named executive  officers  at
    December 31, 1995 was as follows:
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
    Mr.  Schuman,  $1,020,900 with  34,030  shares; Mr.  Shannon,  $332,100 with
    11,070 shares;  Mr.  Spooner,  $300,000 with  10,000  shares;  Mr.  McCarty,
    $210,600 with 7,020 shares; Mr. Carlson, $192,000 with 6,400 shares; and Mr.
    Grieve, $450,000 with 15,000 shares.
 
    Except  for shares  granted to Mr.  Grieve, all shares  granted during 1995,
    1994 and 1993 vest on the second  and fourth anniversary dates of the  grant
    at  the cumulative rate of 50% of  each award, based on continued employment
    of the recipient. In connection with  Mr. Grieve's retirement as an  officer
    of  the Company  on December  31, 1995,  the shares  awarded to  him in 1994
    vested on December 31, 1995 and the shares awarded to him in 1995 vested  on
    January  1, 1996. The number  of shares awarded during  1995, 1994 and 1993,
    respectively, to the  named executive  officers were:  Mr. Schuman,  25,730,
    5,000  and 3,800; Mr.  Shannon, 4,070, 4,000 and  3,200; Mr. Carlson, 2,200,
    2,200 and 2,000; and Mr. Grieve, 15,000,  14,000 and 0. Mr. McCarty and  Mr.
    Spooner were executive officers only during 1995 and 1994. In 1995 and 1994,
    respectively,  Mr. McCarty received  2,970 and 2,700  shares and Mr. Spooner
    received 5,000 and 5,000 shares.
 
    Restrictions will lapse immediately  on all restricted  stock awards in  the
    event  of a change in control of the Company. A change in control occurs if:
    (i) a person  or group  acquires 25% or  more of  the Company's  outstanding
    voting  power.  However, if  the acquisition  was approved  by the  Board of
    Directors, then  a  change  in  control occurs  at  34%  ownership.  If  the
    acquiring person, prior to becoming a 25% shareholder, has entered into (and
    is  in compliance with) a shareholder  agreement which imposes limits on the
    person's maximum shareholding,  then a  change in control  occurs only  upon
    acquisition  of 50% of the Company's voting power; (ii) during the period of
    two consecutive years, individuals who, at  the beginning of such a  period,
    were  members of the  Board, cease for  any reason to  constitute at least a
    majority thereof (unless the election or the nomination for election by  the
    Company's  stockholders of each  new director was  approved by a  vote of at
    least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who were directors at
    the beginning of the period or whose election or nomination were  previously
    so  approved); (iii) the  stockholders approve a  merger or consolidation of
    the Company  in  which  voting  securities  of  the  surviving  entity  will
    represent  less than  80% of  the Company's  voting securities  prior to the
    transaction; or  (iv) the  stockholders of  the Company  approve a  plan  of
    complete liquidation or an agreement to sell all or substantially all of the
    Company's assets (hereinafter a "Change in Control of the Company").
 
(5)   Amounts reported for 1995 represent: (i) the maximum matching contribution
    of $4,500 made by the Company to each of the named executive officers  under
    the  Company's defined contribution 401(k)  Savings Plan available generally
    to all employees; (ii) the matching contributions made or to be made by  the
    Company  on  base salary  and  bonus earned  in  respect of  1995  which the
    executive elected to defer under a non-qualified deferred compensation  plan
    maintained by the Company for a select group of executives, in the following
    amounts:  Mr. Schuman, $24,016;  Mr. Shannon, $16,200;  Mr. Spooner, $9,572;
    Mr. McCarty, $7,950; Mr. Carlson, $6,603; and Mr. Grieve, $30,900; and (iii)
    in the  case  of Mr.  Grieve,  the value  attributable  to his  Company  car
    acquired in connection with his retirement ($35,000).
 
(6)    On March  1,  1995 Mr.  Schuman replaced  Mr.  Grieve as  Chief Executive
    Officer. Mr. Grieve continued  as Chairman of the  Board until December  31.
    Mr. Shannon became Chairman of the Board on January 1, 1996.
 
(7)    Includes,  in addition  to  the  annual cash  award  under  the Company's
    incentive plans referenced in  note (2) above, a  one-time award of  $50,000
    described  at page 14 hereof  under the section titled  Special Award in the
    "Report of the Compensation Committee on Executive Compensation."
 
(8)  Mr. Spooner became an executive officer effective June 20, 1994.
 
(9)  Includes,  in addition to  the annual  cash award under  the Company's  MIP
    referenced  in note (2) above, which award was guaranteed, a $50,000 signing
    bonus.
 
(10) Mr. McCarty became an executive officer effective January 1, 1994.
 
                                       16
<PAGE>
                             OPTION GRANTS IN 1995
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                               POTENTIAL REALIZABLE VALUE AT
                                                                                               ASSUMED ANNUAL RATES OF STOCK
                                  INDIVIDUAL GRANTS                                        PRICE APPRECIATION FOR OPTION TERM(1)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           NUMBER OF       PERCENT OF
                           SECURITIES        TOTAL
                           UNDERLYING       OPTIONS
                            OPTIONS        GRANTED TO      EXERCISE OR
                           GRANTED(2)      EMPLOYEES       BASE PRICE       EXPIRATION     0%            5%              10%
         NAME                 (#)           IN 1995          ($/SH)            DATE        ($)          ($)              ($)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                        <C>             <C>             <C>              <C>            <C>       <C>              <C>
Allan L. Schuman            200,000           22.2%          $    22.875     03/01/05      -0-       $2,882,250       $7,274,250
                              7,800             .9%          $    26.8175    08/18/05      -0-       $  131,757       $  332,529
Michael E. Shannon           39,380            4.4%          $    26.8125    08/18/05      -0-       $  665,202       $1,678,843
John P. Spooner              30,000            3.3%          $    26.8125    08/18/05      -0-       $  506,756       $1,278,956
James L. McCarty             19,250            2.1%          $    26.8125    08/18/05      -0-       $  325,169       $  820,664
Gerald K. Carlson            13,750            1.5%          $    26.8125    08/18/05      -0-       $  232,263       $  586,188
Pierson M. Grieve(3)        125,000           13.9%          $    22.875     12/31/00      -0-       $  942,050       $2,129,431
</TABLE>
 
(1)  The dollar amounts under these  columns are the results of calculations  at
    the  0 percent,  5 percent  and 10  percent compounded  growth rates  set or
    permitted by the SEC for the purposes  of this table over a period equal  to
    the term of the option. These rates and amounts are not intended to forecast
    possible future price appreciation of the Company's Common Stock. No gain to
    the optionees is possible without an increase in stock price.
 
(2)   Except for  the option granted  to Mr. Grieve,  all options granted during
    1995 become  exercisable cumulatively  at the  rate of  25, 50,  75 and  100
    percent  on each  anniversary of  the date  of grant  and become exercisable
    earlier upon a Change in Control of the Company.
 
(3)  Mr. Grieve's option  became exercisable in full  upon his retirement as  an
    employee of the Company on December 31, 1995.
 
    AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN 1995 AND DECEMBER 31, 1995 OPTION VALUES
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              NUMBER OF
                                                                        SECURITIES UNDERLYING         VALUE OF UNEXERCISED
                                                                       UNEXERCISED OPTIONS AT       IN-THE-MONEY OPTIONS AT
                                                                          DECEMBER 31, 1995           DECEMBER 31, 1995(1)
                                SHARES ACQUIRED                      ---------------------------   --------------------------
                                  ON EXERCISE      VALUE REALIZED    EXERCISABLE   UNEXERCISABLE   EXERCISABLE  UNEXERCISABLE
             NAME                     (#)               ($)              (#)            (#)            ($)           ($)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                             <C>               <C>                <C>           <C>             <C>          <C>
Allan L. Schuman                    -0-                -0-             196,700        287,300      $ 2,849,913   $2,244,000
Michael E. Shannon                   57,600           $ 845,136        182,500        103,680      $ 2,682,725   $  772,349
John P. Spooner                     -0-                -0-               7,500         52,500      $    60,469   $  277,031
James L. McCarty                      9,600           $ 111,620          8,700         38,550      $    80,994   $  236,884
Gerald K. Carlson                    28,000           $ 403,830         98,150         42,600      $ 1,548,378   $  339,044
Pierson M. Grieve                   -0-                -0-             787,000        -0-          $ 9,723,563      -0-
</TABLE>
 
(1)   Represents the difference  between the fair market  value of the Company's
    Common Stock as of December 31, 1995 and the exercise price of the option.
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
               COMPARISON OF FIVE-YEAR CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN(1)
 
The graph  below  compares  the  cumulative  total  shareholder  return  on  the
Company's Common Stock for the five calendar years ended December 31, 1995, with
the  cumulative  total return  on  the S&P  500  Index and  the  S&P Specialized
Services Index (formerly known  as the S&P Commercial  Services Index) over  the
same periods (assuming the investment of $100 in the Company's Common Stock, the
S&P  500 Index and  the S&P Specialized  Services Index on  January 1, 1991, and
reinvestment of all dividends).
 
[EDGAR REPRESENTATION OF DATA POINTS USED IN PRINTED GRAPHIC]
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
            S&P 500   ECOLAB INC.    S&P SPECIALIZED SERVICES INDEX
<S>        <C>        <C>           <C>
                 100           100                               100
1991          130.47        143.38                             180.7
1992          140.41        180.78                            107.64
1993          154.56        225.55                             104.3
1994           156.6        213.77                             95.48
1995          215.45        313.24                            128.97
</TABLE>
 
(1)  Total return calculations prepared by Standard & Poor's Compustat.
 
                               PENSION PLAN TABLE
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     COMBINED ANNUAL RETIREMENT INCOME FROM THE
                                                             PLANS WITH YEARS OF SERVICE
                                      -------------------------------------------------------------------------
 AVERAGE ANNUAL EARNINGS DURING
  THE HIGHEST FIVE CONTINUOUS
   YEARS OF ELIGIBLE SERVICE          10 YEARS     15 YEARS     20 YEARS     25 YEARS     30 YEARS     35 YEARS
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                   <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>
           $  200,000                  40,000       60,000       80,000      100,000      120,000      120,000
           $  300,000                  60,000       90,000      120,000      150,000      180,000      180,000
           $  400,000                  80,000      120,000      160,000      200,000      240,000      240,000
           $  500,000                 100,000      150,000      200,000      250,000      300,000      300,000
           $  600,000                 120,000      180,000      240,000      300,000      360,000      360,000
           $  700,000                 140,000      210,000      280,000      350,000      420,000      420,000
           $  800,000                 160,000      240,000      320,000      400,000      480,000      480,000
           $  900,000                 180,000      270,000      360,000      450,000      540,000      540,000
           $1,000,000                 200,000      300,000      400,000      500,000      600,000      600,000
           $1,100,000                 220,000      330,000      440,000      550,000      660,000      660,000
           $1,200,000                 240,000      360,000      480,000      600,000      720,000      720,000
</TABLE>
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
The preceding  table  shows the  estimated  annual benefits  payable  under  the
Company's non-contributory qualified defined benefit Pension Plan, the Company's
non-contributory  non-qualified  defined  benefit Mirror  Pension  Plan  and the
Company's Supplemental Executive  Retirement Plan (based  upon a 15-year  period
certain  for the supplemental retirement benefit and a straight life annuity for
both the qualified and non-qualified  pension benefits) following retirement  at
age   65  for   sample  covered  compensation   amounts  and   lengths  of  plan
participation, without regard to vesting and offsets, if any, for benefits under
the Savings Plan or any predecessor plans and Social Security. At the end of  15
years,  payment  of amounts  attributable solely  to the  Supplemental Executive
Retirement Plan  cease. The  amounts  shown in  the  preceding table  which  are
attributable  to the Supplemental Executive Retirement  Plan would be reduced by
$7,194, which is  the amount attributable  to 50 percent  of the primary  Social
Security   annual  retirement  benefit,  based  upon  1995  maximum  levels  for
retirement in 1995 at age 65, and by annuitized amounts presumed to be paid from
the Company's  matching  contribution made  prior  to  July 1,  1995  under  the
Company's Savings Plan and a former profit-sharing plan of the Company.
 
The table does not show the additional "past service benefit" provided under the
Supplemental  Executive Retirement Plan to eligible executives who are unable to
earn the maximum supplemental benefit by  retirement at or after age 65  because
the  executive was hired by  the Company after age  35. The past service benefit
would add an additional benefit of  1 percent of the difference between  covered
compensation  at  retirement and  earnings at  the time  of joining  the Company
("first year earnings")  for each year  of service less  than 30 years.  Messrs.
Shannon,  Spooner and Grieve are currently subject to these provisions and their
first year earnings and  estimated years of service  creditable as past  service
are  as follows:  Mr. Shannon, $215,682  with 13.12 years;  Mr. Spooner $365,000
with 12.93 years; and Mr. Grieve, $250,000 with 17 years.
 
Applicable approximate covered compensation and credited years of service as  of
December   31,  1995  for  the  combined  pensions  and  supplemental  executive
retirement benefits for the individuals named in the Summary Compensation  Table
at  page 15 hereof  are as follows:  Mr. Schuman, $622,727  with 38.2 years; Mr.
Shannon, $533,647 with 11 years; Mr. Spooner, $471,872 with 1 year; Mr. McCarty,
$262,573 with 32.9 years; Mr. Carlson, $364,209 with 29.5 years; and Mr. Grieve,
$1,110,760 with 13 years.
 
Covered compensation is based on the executive officer's average annual earnings
during the five continuous  years of highest earnings.  In general, there is  no
material  variation between compensation used  to determine covered compensation
and the base salary and bonus compensation of executive officers as reported  in
the  Summary Compensation Table at page 15 hereof. Certain adjustments were made
in the calculation  of Mr. Grieve's  covered compensation, as  described in  the
following  section  under the  heading "Agreements  With Former  Chief Executive
Officer."
 
AGREEMENTS WITH FORMER CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
 
In connection  with his  retirement  on December  31,  1995, Mr.  Grieve  became
entitled  to receive an  annual normal retirement benefit  of $414,540, which is
comprised of the  regular retirement  pension benefit  for executives  described
under  the Pension Plan Table  located at page 18  hereof, increased by $71,380,
due to certain  adjustments to  his covered  compensation made  pursuant to  Mr.
Grieve's  1994 employment contract. As permitted by  the terms of the plans, Mr.
Grieve elected to receive  this benefit in an  actuarially equivalent form of  a
100  percent joint  and survivor  annuity of  $165,262 annually  and a  lump sum
payment of  $2,146,064.  In addition,  Mr.  Grieve's unvested  restricted  stock
awards  granted  in 1994  (14,000  shares) and  1995  (15,000 shares)  vested on
December 31, 1995  and January 1,  1996, respectively, and  had cumulative  fair
market  values of $420,000 and $450,000, respectively, on the applicable vesting
date. Base salary and bonus previously deferred by Mr. Grieve, and any  matching
contributions  thereon made by the Company, under the Company's qualified 401(k)
and non-qualified deferred compensation plans are  vested and payable in a  form
elected  by Mr. Grieve pursuant to the terms of those plans. As a retiree of the
Company, Mr. Grieve  is provided with  medical benefits in  accordance with  the
Company's  medical plan available generally to  all retirees of the Company. Mr.
Grieve is provided a before-tax post-retirement death benefit equal to  $750,000
under  a self-funded death benefit arrangement  for a select group of executives
of the
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
Company. In accordance with the customary  terms of employee stock options,  Mr.
Grieve  will  be entitled  to  exercise options  until  the earlier  of  (i) the
expiration of  the option  or (ii)  December 31,  1998 for  pre-1992 grants  and
December 31, 2000 for post 1991 grants.
 
The  Company has entered into a ten  year consulting arrangement with Mr. Grieve
whereby the Company will have the  continuing benefit of Mr. Grieve's  expertise
on  certain matters and his participation  in certain activities largely related
to public and community  affairs. In support thereof,  the Company will  provide
secretarial support and up to $3,000 per month in office and related expenses.
 
DIRECTOR REMUNERATION
 
The  Board's Governance Committee annually reviews the compensation policies for
its outside directors and makes a recommendation to the Board of Directors.  The
review  takes into consideration  the fact that  Board compensation should align
the interest  of  directors  with  that of  the  shareholders  and  assure  that
directors  are  adequately  and  competitively compensated  for  their  time and
effort. In terms of competitive practice,  the Committee looks at national  data
of public companies in the size range similar to that of the Company.
 
Members  of the Board of Directors who are not employees of the Company are paid
an annual retainer of $22,000 and an attendance fee of $1,000 for each Board  or
committee  meeting they attend. Committee chairs  each receive an additional fee
of $4,500  per  annum. Directors  who  are  also Company  employees  receive  no
separate remuneration for Board service.
 
Each  non-employee director participates in  the Company's Non-Employee Director
Stock-For-Retainer Plan under  which 75% of  earned annual retainer  is paid  in
Common  Stock and the remaining 25% is  paid quarterly in cash. The Common Stock
is paid as of December 31 of each year  in such number of shares as have a  fair
market  value on such date equal  to the sum of (i)  75% of that year's retainer
earned by the non-employee  director, and (ii) market  rate interest accrued  on
such  portion of the retainer from the end  of the quarter in which the retainer
was earned, through December  31. A non-employee director  who leaves the  Board
prior  to December 31 of a year will receive the unpaid retainer and interest in
cash rather than Common Stock.
 
Under a deferred compensation  plan, non-employee directors  may elect to  defer
some, or all, of the cash portion of their directors fees until a future date or
until  occurrence  of  specified events.  Amounts  deferred are  not  subject to
federal income tax until received by the participant and are commingled with the
Company's general operating funds and earn interest at market rates.
 
Following termination as a member  of the Board of  Directors for any reason,  a
non-employee  director who has  completed at least  three years of  service as a
Board member (or in the case of a deceased director, his or her beneficiary)  is
entitled  to an  annual fee equal  to the amount  paid as an  annual retainer to
active non-employee  directors  at the  date  of the  termination.  Non-employee
directors  first elected to  the Board prior  to March 1982  are entitled to the
same fee, but such fee  shall be adjusted to equal  the annual fee payable  from
time  to time to active  non-employee directors. The annual  fee in each case is
payable for a term equal to the  period of such director's service on the  Board
up  to  a maximum  of fifteen  years, and  is contingent  upon the  director not
engaging in any activity competitive to the Company's business.
 
Each non-employee director participates in a Company-provided insurance  package
which  provides $75,000 group  term life insurance  and $75,000 accidental death
and dismemberment  coverage.  Each  such  director  also  has  $50,000  accident
coverage while traveling on Company business.
 
Each  non-employee  director  participates in  the  Company's  1995 Non-Employee
Director Stock Option Plan.  Under that Plan, each  such director elected at  an
annual   meeting  of  stockholders   to  a  full   three-year  term  receives  a
non-statutory option to purchase 6,000 shares of Common Stock at the fair market
value of the Common  Stock on such  date. The option  becomes exercisable, on  a
cumulative basis, as to 2,000 shares on each of the next three subsequent annual
meetings  of stockholders. A director  elected or appointed to  less than a full
three-year term receives a pro  rated grant. In the  event a director ceases  to
serve  due  to death  or disability,  all  shares subject  to the  option become
immediately exercisable.
 
                                       20
<PAGE>
An option may be exercised for a period of ten years from grant. However, in the
event the director ceases to  be a director due to  death or disability, or  for
any other reason, the exercise period is shortened to five years from such date.
No option can be exercised after the expiration of the original term.
 
                              CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS
 
The Company and Henkel KGaA each have a 50% economic interest in a joint venture
engaged  in  industrial  and institutional  cleaning  and  sanitizing businesses
throughout Europe ("Joint Venture"). Neither  partner may transfer its  interest
without  the other's consent. Henkel  KGaA, by virtue of  a tie-breaking vote on
certain operational matters, may control the day-to-day operations of the  Joint
Venture.  Strategic decisions concerning the Joint Venture require the agreement
of the Company and  Henkel. While the Joint  Venture has its own  manufacturing,
training  and research  and development  facilities, it  also has  access to the
basic technology of both the Company and  Henkel for which it pays each  company
an equal royalty based on net sales. The Joint Venture operates on a stand alone
basis but obtains certain administrative support from Henkel and its affiliates.
The  Joint Venture may acquire  products from the Company  and Henkel as well as
from third parties.  All royalties  and prices for  administrative services  and
products are based on arm's length negotiations.
 
The  Company also holds  options, exercisable through July  11, 2001, to acquire
Henkel's interest in cleaning and sanitizing businesses in Africa, Japan,  Korea
and China at formula prices, in general, based on earnings of the businesses.
 
As  of  March 19,  1996,  Henkel and  its  affiliates owned  approximately 15.47
million shares  of the  Company's Common  Stock as  set forth  in the  table  of
Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners located on page 2 hereof.
 
Henkel's   equity  ownership  in   the  Company  is   subject  to  an  agreement
("Stockholder's Agreement") containing certain restrictions pertaining to, among
other things, maximum shareholding, transfer  and voting rights. Generally,  the
Stockholder's  Agreement terminates  on June  26, 2009.  During the  year second
preceding such date, Henkel  and the Company will  commence negotiations for  an
extension  of the  term. If  an agreement  to extend  such term  is not reached,
Henkel would have  the right, and  in certain circumstances  the obligation,  to
purchase  the Company's interest in the  Joint Venture. The purchase price shall
be paid by Henkel in Common Stock owned by it, with any excess price payable  in
cash.  If  the value  of Henkel's  Common Stock  ownership exceeds  the purchase
price, then the Company may acquire such remaining Common Stock at market value.
After any such purchase, the Stockholder's Agreement would remain in effect  for
an  additional two years. In addition, the Stockholder's Agreement provides that
if the Joint Venture is terminated or  Henkel owns less than one percent of  the
Company's  Common Stock,  the Stockholder's  Agreement will  terminate two years
after the latest of such events.
 
Pursuant to the Stockholder's Agreement, Henkel is precluded from acquiring more
than 26% of the Company's  outstanding Common Stock prior  to July 11, 2000  and
30%  thereafter or from acting,  alone or in concert  with others, to control or
influence the Company. Henkel may sell its shares of the Company's Common  Stock
under certain conditions specified in the Stockholder's Agreement subject to the
Company's  right of first  refusal. In addition,  Henkel has agreed  to vote its
shares, in  the  case  of  election  of directors  of  the  Company  or  certain
stockholder  proposals, in accordance  with the recommendation  or directions of
the Board.  In  all other  cases,  except  with respect  to  certain  "strategic
transactions,"  Henkel may  vote, at its  option, either in  accordance with the
recommendation of the Board or pro rata  in the same manner and proportion  that
votes  of the  stockholders of  the Company (other  than Henkel  and officers or
directors of the Company)  have been cast. Any  vote with respect to  "strategic
transactions"   (among   other  things,   a  disposition,   recapitalization  or
dissolution of the Company,  a change in the  Company's Restated Certificate  of
Incorporation  or  other transaction  which could  have  a material  effect upon
Henkel's  investment  in  the  Common  Stock)  may  be  cast  at  Henkel's  sole
discretion.  Henkel also is  entitled to designate nominees  for election to the
Company's Board of Directors proportionate to  the percentage of its holding  of
voting  securities in the Company (rounded to the nearest whole number). Further
information concerning Henkel directorships is found at page 5 hereof under  the
heading "Election of Directors."
 
                                       21
<PAGE>
                              COMPANY TRANSACTIONS
 
During   1995,  the  Company  sold  products  and  services  in  the  amount  of
approximately $1,199,000  to  Henkel  KGaA  or  its  affiliates,  and  purchased
products and services in the amount of approximately $4,673,000 from Henkel KGaA
or its affiliates. The sales were made at prices comparable to prices charged to
other  customers and the Company believes that the amounts paid for products and
services purchased were comparable  with prices charged  by other suppliers  for
similar products.
 
In  1991, as part of the transaction with Henkel KGaA in which the Joint Venture
was formed, the Company acquired Henkel's industrial and institutional  cleaning
and  sanitizing  businesses  in  19 countries  outside  of  Europe.  The Company
received the right,  in return for  the annual payment  of 2.5 million  Deutsche
marks  (approximately  $1,800,000),  to  have  access  to  existing  and  future
technology of Henkel which is relevant to most of the Company's businesses.  The
payment  obligation continues until 1997 and was determined through arm's length
negotiation. In addition, for  an interim period,  the businesses acquired  from
Henkel  will  obtain certain  administrative services  and products  from Henkel
until those businesses are fully  integrated by the Company. These  arrangements
were  determined through arm's  length negotiations as part  of the overall 1991
transaction with Henkel KGaA. During  1995, the 19 non-European businesses  paid
Henkel  or its  affiliates approximately $1,385,000  for administrative services
and approximately $3,063,000 for products under supply arrangements.
 
During 1995, the Company sold products  in the amount of approximately  $385,000
to  Hormel Foods Corporation of which Mr. Joel W. Johnson is the Chairman of the
Board, President and Chief  Executive Officer. These sales  were made at  prices
comparable to prices charged to other customers for similar products.
 
             RATIFICATION OF APPOINTMENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
 
Upon  the  recommendation of  its Audit  Committee, the  Board of  Directors has
appointed Coopers  & Lybrand  L.L.P.  as independent  accountants to  audit  the
consolidated  financial statements of  the Company for  the year ending December
31, 1996,  and to  perform other  appropriate audit,  accounting and  consulting
services. Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. has served as independent accountants for the
Company  since 1970. Representatives of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. are expected to
be present at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders. They will have an  opportunity
to make a statement if they desire to do so, and are expected to be available to
respond to appropriate questions.
 
Under  the  laws  of the  State  of  Delaware, stockholder  ratification  of the
appointment of independent  accountants is  not required.  However, the  Company
deems  it advisable to  submit the appointment  of Coopers &  Lybrand L.L.P. for
stockholder consideration and ratification.
 
The Board of Directors recommends a vote FOR the ratification of the appointment
of Coopers  & Lybrand  L.L.P. as  independent accountants  for the  Company.  In
accordance  with the By-Laws of the Company,  abstentions will not be counted as
votes cast for purposes of calculating votes for or against ratification of  the
appointment  of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.  Unless a contrary choice is specified,
proxies solicited by the  Board of Directors will  be voted FOR ratification  of
the appointment. If the appointment is not ratified, the Board of Directors will
reconsider the matter.
 
                                 OTHER MATTERS
 
FUTURE STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
 
Proposals  which  stockholders  intend  to  present  at  the  Annual  Meeting of
Stockholders in respect of the year  ending December 31, 1996, must be  received
by  the Company no  later than November 30,  1996 in order  to be considered for
inclusion in the Company's Proxy Statement and form of proxy.
 
Stockholder proposals should  be sent  to the Secretary  of the  Company at  the
address found at the top of page 1.
 
                                       22
<PAGE>
OTHER BUSINESS
 
As of the date of this Proxy Statement, the Board of Directors and management do
not  intend to present, and  have no knowledge that  other persons will present,
any matters at  the meeting in  addition to those  described herein. Should  any
other  matters properly  come before the  meeting which  call for a  vote of the
stockholders,  the  persons   named  in   the  accompanying   proxy  will   have
discretionary  authority to  vote all  proxies with  respect to  such matters in
accordance with their best judgment.
 
                                          By Order of the Board of Directors
 
                                          KENNETH A. IVERSON,
                                          Vice President and Secretary
March 29, 1996
 
                                       23
<PAGE>
 
[RECYCLE LOGO]        RECYCLED PAPER WITH A MINIMUM
                      OF 10% POST CONSUMER WASTE.
<PAGE>

                                 P R O X Y
        THIS PROXY IS SOLICITED ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
                                     
                                ECOLOB INC.
                                     
                      ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
                               MAY 10, 1996

The undersigned hereby appoints Allan L. Schuman and Kenneth A. Iverson,
or either of them, with full power of substitution to each as proxies to
represent the undersigned at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Ecolab
Inc., to be held at the McKnight Theater in The Ordway Music Theater, 345 
Washington Street, St. Paul, Minnesota on Friday, May 10, 1996 at 
10:00 a.m. and at any adjournment(s) thereof, and to vote all shares of 
stock which the undersigned may be entitled to vote at said meeting as 
directed below with respect to the proposals as set forth in the Proxy 
Statement, and in their discretion, upon any other matters that may properly 
come before the meeting.

Election of Directors:
Nominees: J.J. Howard, J.W. Johnson, J.W. Levin, R.F. Richards, R.L. Schall, 
          R. Schulz

YOU ARE ENCOURAGED TO SPECIFY YOUR CHOICES BY MARKING THE APPROPRIATE
BOXES, SEE REVERSE SIDE, BUT YOU NEED NOT MARK ANY BOXES IF YOU WISH TO
VOTE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS' RECOMMENDATIONS. THE
TABULATOR CANNOT VOTE YOUR SHARES UNLESS YOU SIGN AND RETURN THIS CARD.

                                                          SEE REVERSE SIDE

/X/ PLEASE MARK YOUR VOTES AS IN
    THIS EXAMPLE.

UNLESS YOU INDICATE OTHERWISE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS' RECOMMENDATIONS.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
DIRECTORS RECOMMEND A VOTE FOR ALL NOMINEES AND FOR PROPOSAL 2.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     FOR   WITHHELD
1. Election of 6 Directors.          / /     / /
   (see reverse)

For All except the following nominee(s):

- ----------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     FOR   AGAINST   ABSTAIN
2. Approval of independent           / /     / /        / /
   accountants.


Please sign name(s) exactly as printed hereon. Joint owners should each
sign. In signing as attorney, administrator, executor, guardian or
trustee, please give full title as such.


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------
 SIGNATURE(S)                                         DATE


© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission