ECOLAB INC. — Director's Dealing 2012

Dec 8, 2012

SEC Form 4 — Statement of Changes in Beneficial Ownership

Issuer: ECOLAB INC (ECL)
CIK: 0000031462
Period of Report: 2012-12-06

Reporting Person: JOHNSON JOEL W (Director)

Non-Derivative Transactions

Date	Security	Code	Shares	Price	A/D	Holdings After	Ownership
2012-12-06	Common Stock	M	4282	$42.905	Acquired	112445.03	Direct
2012-12-06	Common Stock	F	2559	$71.775	Disposed	109886.03	Direct
2012-12-06	Common Stock	M	1627	$59.67	Acquired	111513.03	Direct
2012-12-06	Common Stock	F	1352	$71.775	Disposed	110161.03	Direct
2012-12-06	Common Stock	M	2390	$59.67	Acquired	112551.03	Direct
2012-12-06	Common Stock	F	1986	$71.775	Disposed	110755.56	Direct

Derivative Transactions

Date	Security	Exercise Price	Code	Shares	A/D	Expiration	Underlying	Ownership
2012-12-06	Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$42.905	M	4282	Disposed	2013-05-09	Common Stock (4282)	Direct
2012-12-06	Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$59.67	M	1627	Disposed	2013-05-09	Common Stock (1627)	Direct
2012-12-06	Stock Option (Right to Buy)	$59.67	M	2390	Disposed	2013-11-01	Common Stock (2390)	Direct

Footnotes

F1: Reflects the reporting person's payment of the exercise price and witholding taxes for a stock option issued in accordance with Rule 16b-3 by delivering or withholding shares of Ecolab common stock.

F2: Includes 190.53 shares acquired October 28, 2012 by dividend reinvestment under the Dividend Reinvestment Plan for shareholders of Ecolab sponsored by Computershare Trust Company, Inc.