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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 22, 1997
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ECOLAB INC.
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 1-9328 41-0231510
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(State or other jurisdiction (Commission (IRS Employer
of incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)
Ecolab Center, 370 N. Wabasha, St. Paul, Minnesota 55102
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, include area code: 612-293-2233
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(Not applicable)
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(Former name or former address, if changed from last report.)
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Item 5. OTHER EVENTS.
On August 22, 1997, Ecolab Inc. (the "Corporation") announced that an
Australian subsidiary of the Corporation has acquired a 14.9% stake in Gibson
Chemical Industries Limited of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia ("Gibson").
Gibson is a manufacturer and marketer of cleaning and sanitizing products for
the institutional, healthcare and industrial markets.
A copy of the News Release issued by the Corporation on August 22, 1997 is
attached as Exhibit (99).
Item 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.
(c) Exhibits
(99) Ecolab News Release dated August 22, 1997.
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
ECOLAB INC.
By: /s/Kenneth A. Iverson
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Kenneth A. Iverson
Vice President and Secretary
Date: August 22, 1997
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EXHIBIT INDEX
EXHIBIT NO. DESCRIPTION METHOD OF FILING
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(99) Ecolab News Release Filed herewith electronically
dated August 22, 1997.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Michael J. Monahan 612-293-2809 (Tel)
612-225-3123 (Fax)
ECOLAB ACQUIRES EQUITY POSITION IN AUSTRALIAN CHEMICAL COMPANY
ST. PAUL, Minn., August 22, 1997: Ecolab Inc. announced it has acquired
14.9 percent of the outstanding common shares of Gibson Chemical Industries
Limited, located in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Gibson is a manufacturer
and marketer of cleaning and sanitizing products, primarily for the Australian
and New Zealand institutional, healthcare and industrial markets, with fiscal
1996 sales of US$122 million. The shares were acquired in open market and
private transactions by an Australian subsidiary of Ecolab at prices between
AU$7.10 and AU$8.00 per share. Ecolab is evaluating the possibility of
acquiring additional shares of Gibson.
Ecolab is the leading global developer and marketer of premium cleaning,
sanitizing, maintenance and pest elimination products and services for the
hospitality, institutional and industrial markets. For the year ended
December 31, 1996, Ecolab reported sales of $1.5 billion; including European
joint venture sales of $0.9 billion, Ecolab's global sales coverage was $2.4
billion. Ecolab shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange and the
Pacific Exchange under the symbol ECL.
Ecolab news releases and other investor information are available on the
Internet at www.ecolab.com; and by telephone at 1-800-FACT-ECL.
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