Ecolab Inc. Closes Acquisition of Microtek

Ecolab Inc. announces that it has expanded its infection prevention expertise in the healthcare industry with the purchase of Microtek Medical Holdings Inc. The Alpharetta, Ga.-based manufacturer and marketer of infection control products for healthcare and acute care facilities specializes in infection barrier equipment drapes, patient drapes, fluid control products and operating room cleanup systems. Microtek's 2006 sales were $142 million.

Microtek shareholders voted in favor of the proposed sale of the company to Ecolab. Ecolab will pay $6.30 per Microtek share for the approximately 43.7 million shares of Microtek common stock outstanding as of Nov. 9, 2007.

Commenting on the transaction, Ecolab's chairman, president and CEO, Douglas M. Baker, Jr. stated, "Microtek represents a terrific addition to the Ecolab family, and furthers our efforts to become a leader in providing comprehensive solutions to significantly reduce infections and contamination in the healthcare environment. By combining Microtek's excellent barrier product lines with our complementary strength in skin care, disinfectants and central sterile, Ecolab is now the only company that can offer system-wide solutions for healthcare facilities that help improve operational efficiencies, reduce infections, and most importantly, improve patient safety."

"Ecolab can provide the layers of protection healthcare facilities are looking for," Baker added. "Our clinically trained healthcare experts can offer healthcare facilities the latest in innovative products and technologies; integrated clinical and support services; data utilization and process improvement; training and continuing education; quality assurance testing; thought leadership; and best practices. We can help our customers clean the patient, break the vectors that could contaminate the patient, and clean the healthcare facility environment."

With sales of $5 billion and more than 13,000 sales-and-service associates, Ecolab Inc. is a global leader in cleaning, sanitizing, food safety and infection prevention products and services.

Source: Ecolab Inc.