Nalco completes merger deal with Ecolab

Nalco has announced the completion of its merger with Ecolab, after receiving all relevant approvals.

The deal, which was announced in July 2011, received clearance from Nalco shareholders last week and subsequently passed its final regulatory hurdle after being rubber-stamped by the Chinese Ministry of Commerce.

Ecolab announced the official completion of the merger on December 1st, thus creating a new global leader in the fields of cleaning, sanitising and water management.

It is hoped that by combining Nalco's expertise in water and energy services and Ecolab's food, beverage and healthcare sector presence, the merged entity will be able to achieve accelerated growth and enhanced profitability.

The newly combined organisation is projected to achieve annual revenues of around $11 billion (7.02 billion pounds).

J Erik Fyrwald, Nalco's chairman, president and chief executive officer, said in July: "This is a strategically and financially compelling transaction that brings together two highly complementary businesses."