QuickLinks -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document

As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 17, 2004

Registration No. 333-           


U.S. SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933


ECOLAB INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware   41-0231510
(State or Other Jurisdiction of
Incorporation or Organization)
  (I.R.S. Employer
Identification No.)

370 Wabasha Street North
St. Paul, Minnesota

 


55102
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

ECOLAB INC. 2002 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
(Full Title of the Plan)


Lawrence T. Bell, Esq.
Senior Vice President,
General Counsel and Secretary
Ecolab Inc.
370 Wabasha Street North
St. Paul, Minnesota 55102
(651) 293-2125
(Name, address and telephone number,
including area code, of agent for service)


Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public:
Immediately upon the filing of this registration statement


CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE


Title of securities
to be registered

  Amount to be
registered(1)(2)

  Proposed maximum
offering price per
unit(3)

  Proposed maximum
aggregate offering
price(3)

  Amount of
registration
fee(4)


Common stock, par value $1.00 per share(5)   1,405,378   $28.29   $39,758,143.62   $5,037.36

(1)
All of the 1,405,378 shares of common stock listed in the "Amount to be registered" column were part of the 12,000,000 shares (as adjusted for a 2 for 1 stock split on June 6, 2003) previously registered by Ecolab Inc. on Form S-8 (File No. 333-79449) on May 27, 1999 in connection with the Ecolab Inc. 1997 Stock Incentive Plan (the "1997 Plan").

(2)
In addition, pursuant to Rule 416(a) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, this Registration Statement also covers an indeterminate number of additional shares of common stock to be offered or sold as a result of the anti-dilution provisions of the employee benefit plan described in this Registration Statement.

(3)
Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee in accordance with Rule 457(h)(1) and (c) under the Securities Act, based upon the average of the high and low sale prices of the registrant's common stock on May 12, 2004, as reported on the Consolidated Transaction Reporting System of the New York Stock Exchange.

(4)
Of the $70,629.38 registration fee previously paid in connection with the above-referenced Registration Statement for the 1997 Plan, $5,037.36 is hereby applied pursuant to Rule 457(p) under the Securities Act to offset the filing fees due hereunder.

(5)
Each share of common stock includes one-quarter share of a preferred stock purchase right.


EXPLANATORY NOTE

(All share amounts stated in the paragraph below have been adjusted for a 2 for 1 stock split on June 6, 2003.)

        On May 27, 1999, a total of 12,000,000 shares of the common stock (with preferred stock purchase rights) of Ecolab Inc. ("Ecolab") were registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") by a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-79449) in connection with the Ecolab Inc. 1997 Stock Incentive Plan (the "1997 Plan"). On February 22, 2002, the Board of Directors of Ecolab adopted the Ecolab Inc. 2002 Stock Incentive Plan (the "2002 Plan"). The Board reserved a maximum of 12,000,000 shares of common stock for issuance under the 2002 Plan, plus any shares of common stock which, as of the May 10, 2002 effective date of the 2002 Plan, were reserved for issuance under the 1997 Plan and are not thereafter issued and would otherwise have been available under the 1997 Plan. On August 9, 2002, a Registration Statement on Form S-8 (File No. 333-97927) was filed by Ecolab to (a) register 12,000,000 "new" shares for the 2002 Plan and (b) register 2,200,000 shares that were remaining and unissued under the 1997 Plan as of the effective date.

        Subsequent to the effective date, an additional 1,405,378 shares of Ecolab common stock previously reserved for issuance under the 1997 Plan have become available for the 2002 Plan. Pursuant to Instruction E to Form S-8, these 1,405,378 shares are hereby registered this new Registration Statement on Form S-8 in connection with the 2002 Plan.

        Additional shares under the 1997 Plan may become available in the future, and may also be registered for issuance under the 2002 Plan pursuant to subsequent Registration Statements.

1



PART I

INFORMATION REQUIRED
IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS

        The documents containing the information specified in Part I of Form S-8 have been or will be sent or given to participants as specified by Rule 428(b)(1) under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act).

2



PART II

INFORMATION REQUIRED
IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT

Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.

Incorporation by Reference

        The following documents filed by Ecolab (File No. 1-9328) with the SEC are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement:

        All documents filed by Ecolab with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Registration Statement and prior to the filing of a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered pursuant to this Registration Statement have been sold or that deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, will be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be a part of this Registration Statement from the date of filing of these documents.

Experts

        The financial statements incorporated in this Registration Statement by reference to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2003 have been so incorporated in reliance on the report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent accountants, given on the authority of said firm as experts in auditing and accounting.

Independent Accountants

        With respect to the unaudited consolidated financial information of Ecolab Inc. for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2004 and 2003, incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP reported that they have applied limited procedures in accordance with professional standards for a review of such information. However, their separate report dated April 22, 2004 incorporated by reference herein, states that they did not audit and they do not express an opinion on that unaudited consolidated financial information. Accordingly, the degree of reliance on their report on such information should be restricted in light of the limited nature of the review procedures applied. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP is not subject to the liability provisions of Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933 for their report on the unaudited financial information because that

3


report is not a "report" or a "part" of the registration statement prepared or certified by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of the Act.


Item 4. Description of Securities.

        Not applicable. Ecolab's common stock and preferred stock purchase rights to be offered and sold pursuant to this registration statement are registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act.


Item 5. Interests of Named Experts and Counsel.

        Not applicable.


Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.

        Subsection (a) of Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware empowers a corporation to indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation), by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe such person's conduct was unlawful.

        Subsection (b) of Section 145 empowers a corporation to indemnify any person who was or is a party or threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person acted in any of the capacities set forth above, against expenses actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if such person acted under similar standards, except that no indemnification may be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which the action or suit was brought shall determine that, despite the adjudication of liability, the person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for the expenses which the court shall deem proper.

        Section 145 further provides that, to the extent a director or officer of a corporation has been successful in the defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in subsections (a) and (b) or in the defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, the person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred in connection therewith; that indemnification provided for by Section 145 shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which the indemnified party may be entitled; and that the scope of indemnification extends to directors, officers, employees or agents of a constituent corporation absorbed in a consolidation or merger and persons serving in that capacity at the request of the constituent corporation for another. Section 145 also empowers the corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of a director or officer of the corporation against any liability asserted against or incurred by the person in any such capacity or arising out of the person's status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify the person against such liabilities under Section 145, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

        Article V of Ecolab's By-Laws provides for indemnification of Ecolab's officers and directors to the full extent allowed by Delaware law.

4


        In addition, Article IV of Ecolab's Restated Certificate of Incorporation provides that Ecolab's directors do not have personal liability to Ecolab or its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of their fiduciary duty as directors, except (1) for a breach of the duty of loyalty, (2) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or knowing violation of the law, (3) for willful or negligent violations of certain provisions under the General Corporation Law of Delaware imposing certain requirements with respect to stock repurchases, redemptions and dividends, or (4) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. Subject to these exceptions, under Article IV, directors do not have any personal liability to Ecolab or its stockholders for any violation of their fiduciary duty.

        Ecolab has directors and officers liability insurance which protects each director or officer from certain claims and suits, including stockholder derivative suits, even where the director may be determined to not be entitled to indemnification under the General Corporation Law of Delaware and claims and suits arising under the Securities Act. The policy may also afford coverage under circumstances where the facts do not justify a finding that the director or officer acted in good faith and in a manner that was in or not opposed to the best interests of Ecolab.

        Ecolab has entered into indemnification agreements with each of its directors. These indemnification agreements provide for the prompt indemnification "to the fullest extent permitted by law" and for the prompt advancement of expenses, including attorneys' fees and other costs, expenses and obligations paid or incurred in connection with investigating, defending, being a witness or participating in (including on appeal) any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding related to the fact that the director is or was a director, officer, employee, trustee, agent or fiduciary of Ecolab or is or was serving at the request of Ecolab as a director, officer, employee, trustee, agent or fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, employee benefit plan trust or other enterprise, or by reason of anything done or not done by a director in any such capacity. The indemnification agreements further provide that Ecolab has the burden of proving that a director is not entitled to indemnification in any particular case.

        The foregoing represents a summary of the general effect of the General Corporation Law of Delaware, Ecolab's By-Laws and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, Ecolab's directors and officers liability insurance coverage and the indemnification agreements for purposes of general description only.


Item 7. Exemptions from Registration Claimed.

        Not applicable. No securities are to be re-offered or resold pursuant to this registration statement.


Item 8. Exhibits.

        The following is a complete list of exhibits filed or incorporated by reference as part of this registration statement:

Exhibit No.

  Description


5.1

 

Opinion and Consent of Timothy P. Dordell (filed herewith electronically).

15.1

 

Letter Regarding Unaudited Interim Financial Information (filed herewith electronically).

23.1

 

Consent of Independent Accountants (filed herewith electronically).

23.2

 

Consent of Timothy P. Dordell (included in Exhibit 5.1).

24.1

 

Powers of Attorney (filed herewith electronically).

5



Item 9. Undertakings.

6


7



SIGNATURES

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the requirements of filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of St. Paul, State of Minnesota, on May 17, 2004.

    ECOLAB INC.

 

 

By:

 

/s/Allan L. Schuman
Allan L. Schuman
Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer

        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this registration statement has been signed on May 17, 2004 by the following persons in the capacities indicated.

Signature

  Title


/s/Allan L. Schuman
Allan L. Schuman

 

Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer (principal executive officer) and Director

/s/Steven L. Fritze
Steven L. Fritze

 

Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (principal financial officer)

/s/Daniel J. Schmechel
Daniel J. Schmechel

 

Vice President and Controller (principal accounting officer)

/s/Timothy P. Dordell
Timothy P. Dordell, as attorney-in-fact for Douglas M. Baker, Jr., Les S. Biller, Richard U. De Schutter, Jerry A. Grundhofer, Stefan Hamelmann, James J. Howard, William L. Jews, Joel W. Johnson, Jochen Krautter, Ulrich Lehner, Jerry W. Levin, Robert L. Lumpkins and Beth M. Pritchard.

 

Directors

8



ECOLAB INC.
REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8

INDEX TO EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.

  Item

  Method of Filing

5.1   Opinion and Consent of Timothy P. Dordell   Filed herewith electronically.

15.1

 

Letter Regarding Unaudited Interim Financial Information

 

Filed herewith electronically.

23.1

 

Consent of Independent Accountants

 

Filed herewith electronically.

23.2

 

Consent of Timothy P. Dordell

 

Included in Exhibit 5.1.

24.1

 

Powers of Attorney

 

Filed herewith electronically.



QuickLinks

EXPLANATORY NOTE
PART I INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE SECTION 10(a) PROSPECTUS
PART II INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
SIGNATURES
ECOLAB INC. REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-8 INDEX TO EXHIBITS