UNITED STATES

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)  September 8, 2011

ECOLAB INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code  1-800-232-6522

(Not applicable)

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

x          Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

o            Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

o            Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CRF 240.13e-4(c))

Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

On September 8, 2011, Ecolab Inc. (“Ecolab”) entered into (i) a $2.0 billion unsecured 364-day revolving credit facility that matures in September 2012 (the “364-Day Facility”), among the lenders party thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., as co-syndication agents, and (ii) a $1.5 billion unsecured 5-year revolving credit facility that matures in September 2016 (the “5-Year Facility”, and together with the 364-Day Facility, the “Senior Credit Facilities”), among the lenders party thereto, the issuing banks party thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent and swing line bank, and Citibank, N.A., JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., as co-syndication agents.

The 5-Year Facility replaces Ecolab’s $600 million 5-year revolving multicurrency credit facility, dated as of September 29, 1993 and amended and restated as of June 1, 2006, which was to expire on June 1, 2012 and was terminated on September 8, 2011 (the “Terminated Agreement”). 

The Senior Credit Facilities will be used for general corporate purposes, including, without limitation, share repurchases; the repayment of other indebtedness; acquisitions, including in connection with the funding of Ecolab’s previously announced merger with Nalco Holding Company; and support of commercial paper issuances.

Borrowings under the Senior Credit Facilities bear interest, at Ecolab’s option, at (i) for dollar-denominated loans only under the 5-Year Facility, the base rate (which is equal to the highest of (a) the Bank of America, N.A. prime rate, (b) the federal funds rate plus 0.50% and (c) one-month LIBOR plus 1.0%) plus an applicable margin or (ii) LIBOR plus an applicable margin.

The 5-Year Facility includes a $75 million letter of credit subfacility and a $50 million swing line loan subfacility.  In connection with the 5-Year Facility, Ecolab must pay (i) a facility fee at a rate per annum which may range from 0.08% to 0.25% of the average daily commitment of each lender and (ii) a fee on each issued and outstanding letter of credit at a rate per annum which may range from 0.67% to 1.25% of the average daily undrawn amount of each letter of credit.  The applicable rates for these fees will be determined based on Ecolab’s credit rating, as described in the 5-Year Facility.

In addition, Ecolab must pay a facility fee for the 364-Day Facility at a rate per annum which may range from 0.06% to 0.225% of the average daily commitment of each lender.  The applicable rates for this fee will be determined based on Ecolab’s credit rating, as described in the 364-Day Facility.  Provided certain conditions are met and at Ecolab’s option, the outstanding principal amount of loans under the 364-Day Facility on the maturity date may be converted to a term loan which will be due in a single payment up to 12 months from the maturity date.  Ecolab will pay a fee equal to 1.0% of the outstanding principal amount of loans under the 364-Day Facility that are converted into a term loan.

The Senior Credit Facilities contain financial covenants that require Ecolab to maintain a minimum interest expense coverage ratio.  The Senior Credit Facilities also contain customary conditions to funding, events of default, affirmative covenants and negative covenants, including restrictions on liens and subsidiary indebtedness.

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In the ordinary course of their respective businesses, one or more of the lenders under the Senior Credit Facilities, or their affiliates, have or may have various relationships with Ecolab and its subsidiaries involving the provision of financial services, including cash management, investment banking and trust services, for which they received, or will receive, customary fees and expenses.

The foregoing description is not intended to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Senior Credit Facilities, which is incorporated herein by reference and attached as Exhibits 10.1 and 10.2 hereto.

Item 1.02. Termination of a Material Definitive Agreement.

The information set forth above under Item 1.01 regarding the Terminated Agreement is hereby incorporated by reference into this Item 1.02.

Item 2.03. Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

The information set forth above under Item 1.01 is hereby incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.

Item 8.01    Other Information.

On September 8, 2011, Ecolab issued a press release announcing entry into the Senior Credit Facilities.  A copy of Ecolab’s press release is filed as Exhibit 99.1 hereto.

Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This communication contains certain statements relating to future events and our intentions, beliefs, expectations and predictions for the future which are forward-looking statements as that term is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words or phrases such as “will likely result,” “are expected to,” “will continue,” “is anticipated,” “we believe,” “we expect,” “estimate,” “project,” “may,” “will,” “intend,” “plan,” “believe,” “target,” “forecast” (including the negative or variations thereof) or similar terminology used in connection with any discussion of future plans, actions or events generally identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding uses of funds available under our credit facilities, our plans with respect to share repurchases, benefits of the Nalco merger, integration plans and expected synergies, the expected timing of completion of the merger, and anticipated future financial and operating performance and results, including estimates for growth. These statements are based on the current expectations of management of Ecolab and Nalco, as applicable. There are a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements included in this communication. These risks and uncertainties include (i) the risk that the stockholders of Nalco may not adopt the merger agreement, (ii) the risk that the stockholders of Ecolab may not approve the issuance of Ecolab common stock to Nalco stockholders in the merger, (iii) the risk that the companies may be unable to obtain regulatory approvals required for the merger, or that required regulatory approvals may delay the merger or result in the imposition of conditions that could have a material adverse effect on the combined company or cause the companies to abandon the merger, (iv) the risk that the conditions to the closing of the merger may not be satisfied, (v) the risk that a material adverse change, event or occurrence may affect Ecolab or Nalco prior to the closing of the merger and may delay the merger or cause the companies to abandon the merger, (vi) the risk that an unsolicited offer by another company to acquire shares or assets of Ecolab or Nalco could interfere with or prevent the merger, (vii) problems that may arise in successfully integrating the businesses of the companies, which may result in the combined company not operating as effectively and efficiently as expected,

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(viii) the possibility that the merger may involve unexpected costs, unexpected liabilities or unexpected delays, (ix) the risk that the credit ratings of the combined company or its subsidiaries may be different from what the companies currently expect, (x) the risk that the businesses of the companies may suffer as a result of uncertainty surrounding the merger and (xi) the risk that disruptions from the transaction will harm relationships with customers, employees and suppliers.

Other unknown or unpredictable factors could also have material adverse effects on future results, performance or achievements of Ecolab, Nalco and the combined company. For a further discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties applicable to the respective businesses of Ecolab and Nalco, see the Annual Reports on Form 10-K of Ecolab and Nalco for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2010 and the companies’ other public filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”). These risks, as well as other risks associated with the merger, are more fully discussed in the joint proxy statement/prospectus included in the Registration Statement on Form S-4 that Ecolab filed with the SEC on August 31, 2011 in connection with the merger. In light of these risks, uncertainties, assumptions and factors, the forward-looking events discussed in this communication may not occur. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this communication. Neither Ecolab nor Nalco undertakes, and each of them expressly disclaims, any duty to update any forward-looking statement whether as a result of new information, future events or changes in their respective expectations, except as required by law.

Additional Information and Where to Find it

Ecolab filed with the SEC on August 31, 2011 a registration statement on Form S-4 that includes a joint proxy statement of Ecolab and Nalco and that also constitutes a prospectus of Ecolab relating to the proposed transaction. WE URGE INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION about Ecolab, Nalco and the proposed merger. Investors and security holders may obtain these materials and other documents filed with the SEC free of charge at the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov. In addition, copies of the registration statement and joint proxy statement/prospectus may be obtained free of charge by accessing Ecolab’s website at www.ecolab.com by clicking on the “Investor” link and then clicking on the “SEC Filings” link or by writing Ecolab at 370 Wabasha Street North, Saint Paul, Minnesota, 55102, Attention: Corporate Secretary or by accessing Nalco’s website at www.nalco.com by clicking on the “Investors” link and then clicking on the “SEC Filings” link or by writing Nalco at 1601 West Diehl Road, Naperville, Illinois 60563, Attention: Corporate Secretary and security holders may also read and copy any reports, statements and other information filed by Ecolab or Nalco with the SEC, at the SEC public reference room at 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 or visit the SEC’s website for further information on its public reference room.

Participants in the Merger Solicitation

Ecolab, Nalco and certain of their respective directors, executive officers and other members of management and employees may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies in respect of the proposed transaction. Information regarding Ecolab’s directors and executive officers is available

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in its proxy statement filed with the SEC by Ecolab on March 18, 2011 in connection with its 2011 annual meeting of stockholders, and information regarding Nalco’s directors and executive officers is available in its proxy statement filed with the SEC by Nalco on March 14, 2011 in connection with its 2011 annual meeting of stockholders. Other information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is contained in the registration statement and joint proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials filed by Ecolab and Nalco with the SEC.

Non-Solicitation

This communication does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)          Exhibits.

10.1                              $2.0 billion 364-Day Revolving Credit Facility, dated as of September 8, 2011, among Ecolab Inc., the lenders party thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent, and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A., Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., as co-syndication agents.

10.2                              $1.5 billion 5-Year Revolving Credit Facility, dated as of September 8, 2011, among Ecolab Inc., the lenders party thereto, the issuing banks party thereto, Bank of America, N.A., as administrative agent and swing line bank, and Citibank, N.A., JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. and The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd., as co-syndication agents.

99.1                              Press release dated September 8, 2011.

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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.

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EXHIBIT INDEX

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