Date: Thu, 18 Dec 1997 07:40:13 GMT Server: Apache/1.2.4 Ben-SSL/1.11 Last-Modified: Thu, 02 Oct 1997 19:46:00 GMT ETag: "3e9e5-fdf-3433f9f8" Content-Length: 4063 Accept-Ranges: bytes Connection: close Content-Type: text/html ECOLAB: Investor Relations <BODY BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" LINK="#0000FF" ALINK="#000000" VLINK="#006600"> <CENTER> <TABLE WIDTH="600" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="0" CELLSPACING="0"> <TR> <TD WIDTH=600 COLSPAN=3><A HREF="../maps/navigation.map"><IMG SRC="../images/ii_b.gif" BORDER="0" WIDTH="600" HEIGHT="34" ALT="Top Navigation" ISMAP></A></TD> </TR> <TR> <TD WIDTH=123 VALIGN=TOP> <A HREF="http://www.shareholder.com/visitors/stock_quote.cfm?&price=1&graph=1&months=36&header=1&footer=1&companyID=ECL"><IMG SRC="../images/d_s.gif" BORDER="0" WIDTH="123" HEIGHT="36" ALT="Side Navigation" HSPACE=3></A><BR> <A HREF="D5.htm"><IMG SRC="../images/d5_s.gif" BORDER="0" WIDTH="123" HEIGHT="46" ALT="Side Navigation" HSPACE=3></A><BR> <A HREF="D1.htm"><IMG SRC="../images/d1_s.gif" BORDER="0" WIDTH="123" HEIGHT="46" ALT="Side Navigation" HSPACE=3></A><BR> <A HREF="D2.htm"><IMG SRC="../images/d2_s.gif" BORDER="0" WIDTH="123" HEIGHT="46" ALT="Side Navigation" HSPACE=3></A><BR> <A HREF="D3.htm"><IMG SRC="../images/d3_s.gif" BORDER="0" WIDTH="123" HEIGHT="66" ALT="Side Navigation" HSPACE=3></A><BR></TD> <TD WIDTH="90" VALIGN="TOP"><IMG SRC="../images/d_p.gif" BORDER="0" WIDTH="90" HEIGHT="147" ALT="Side Image"></TD><TD WIDTH="387" VALIGN="TOP"><IMG SRC="../images/d_p2.gif" BORDER="0" WIDTH="192" HEIGHT="95" ALT="ECOLAB Logo"> <TABLE WIDTH="387" BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="20" CELLSPACING="0"> <TR> <TD> <IMG SRC="../images/d_t.gif" BORDER="0" WIDTH="257" HEIGHT="32" ALT="Investor Relations"> <P><BR><BR> <FONT SIZE="+1"><B>Financial objectives</B><BR> <LI>15% earnings per share growth<BR> <LI>20% return on beginning equity<BR> <LI>Investment grade balance sheet</FONT> <P> Ecolab is deeply committed to improving its shareholder value. Year after year, we aggressively pursue our long-term profitability and growth objectives with the goal of providing our shareholders consistent, reliable, above-average earnings growth. <P> In our investor section, you'll find our <A HREF="D3_set.htm"><B><I>Annual Report</I></B></A> and all the information you need regarding our financial performance. Included are our prior year <A HREF="D2.htm"><B><I>financial statements</I></B></A> and <A HREF="D1.htm"><B><I>stock information</I></B></A>. <!-- and management's <A HREF="D3.htm"><B><I>shareholder letter</I></B></A> summarizing our 1995 results. --> <P> <TABLE WIDTH=367 BORDER=0 CELLPADDING=0 CELLSPACING=0> <TR> <TD COLSPAN=2> The following firms are among those that have recently provided research coverage on Ecolab:<BR><BR> </TD> </TR> <TR> <TD VALIGN=TOP> CS First Boston<BR> Dain Bosworth<BR> Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette<BR> Ernst<BR> Goldman Sachs<BR> Ingalls & Snyder<BR> Merrill Lynch </TD> <TD VALIGN=TOP> Morgan Stanley<BR> Paine Webber<BR> Piper Jaffray<BR> Schroder Wertheim<BR> Standard & Poor's<BR> Value Line </TD> </TR> </TABLE> <P> <B>For recorded news and financial information, call 1-800-FACT-ECL (1-800-322-8325)</B><BR> Alaska, Hawaii, and international callers may dial (402) 573-9859. <P> <CENTER> <B> <FONT SIZE="-1"> <A HREF="../index.htm" TARGET="_top">home</A> <IMG SRC="../images/bull.gif"> <A HREF="../who/index.htm" TARGET="_top">who we are</A> <IMG SRC="../images/bull.gif"> <A HREF="../what/index.htm" TARGET="_top">what we do</A> <BR> <A HREF="../career/index.htm" TARGET="_top">career opportunities</A> <IMG SRC="../images/bull.gif"> investor information <IMG SRC="../images/bull.gif"> <A HREF="../news/index.htm" TARGET="_top">news</A> </FONT> </B> <BR> <HR NOSHADE WIDTH="150"> <B> <FONT SIZE="-1"> <A HREF="../copy.htm">&#169;</A></FONT> <FONT SIZE="-1">1997 Ecolab Inc.</FONT> </B> </CENTER> </TD> </TR> </TABLE> </TD> </TR> </TABLE> </CENTER> </BODY>