Nalco Water

Nalco Water

Company type	Subsidiary
Industry	Water treatment, Chemical industry
Predecessor	Chicago Chemical Company, Aluminum Sales Corporation
Founded	1928
Fate	Acquired by Ecolab in 2011
Headquarters	Naperville , United States
Area served	Global (approximately 130 countries)
Key people	Daniel S. Sanders (board member)
Products	Water treatment products including Corexit
Owner	Ecolab
Number of employees	11,500+
Parent	Ecolab

Nalco Water, an Ecolab Enterprise, based in Naperville, Illinois, stands as a prominent provider of products and services aimed at enhancing water, energy, and air quality for industrial and institutional sectors. As a subsidiary of Ecolab, Nalco delivers solutions designed to lower water and energy usage, improve air standards, reduce environmental footprint, and boost operational efficiency.

The company traces its origins back to 1928 when it was established as National Aluminate Corporation through the union of Chicago Chemical Company and Aluminum Sales Corporation. Over time, it underwent multiple mergers and acquisitions, adopting the name Nalco Chemical Company in 1959. After being acquired by the French corporation Suez in 1999, it was rebranded as Ondeo Nalco Company, before becoming Nalco Holding Company in 2004. In December 2011, Ecolab finalized a $5.4 billion deal to acquire Nalco, making it a fully owned subsidiary.

Nalco Water caters to a global clientele exceeding 70,000 customers and employs more than 11,500 personnel across approximately 130 nations. Its range of products features well-known items such as Corexit, an oil dispersant notably utilized during the Deepwater Horizon spill.

History

Established in 1928 as National Aluminate Corporation through the merger of Chicago Chemical Company and Aluminum Sales Corporation, Nalco went public on the New York Stock Exchange in 1964. The firm expanded its operations by acquiring companies like Industrial Bio-Test Laboratories in 1966 and the marine division of Bull & Roberts in 1984.

After being acquired by Suez in 1999, Nalco was removed from NYSE trading and renamed Ondeo Nalco Company. In 2003, a private equity group consisting of Blackstone Group, Apollo Management LP, and Goldman Sachs Capital Partners purchased Ondeo Nalco for $4.2 billion. The company re-entered the NYSE under the name Nalco Holding Company by late 2004.

By 2007, the company’s revenues surpassed $3.9 billion. Ecolab’s strategic acquisition of Nalco in 2011 for $5.4 billion significantly expanded its global footprint and influence within the water treatment sector.

ExxonMobil ties

In 1994, Nalco Water partnered with Exxon Chemical Company to establish the joint venture Nalco Exxon Energy Chemicals L.P., targeting the oil and gas industry. By 2001, Nalco (then operating as Ondeo Nalco) strengthened its position in this market by buying out ExxonMobil’s share of the venture. Daniel S. Sanders, formerly president of Exxon Mobil Chemical Company, contributes his industry expertise as a member of Nalco’s (now Ecolab’s) board of directors.

Lobbying activity and political contributions

Nalco’s Political Action Committee has provided financial backing to various political figures including Judy Biggert (R-IL), Charles Boustany (R-LA), Dan Lipinski (D-IL), John Shimkus (R-IL), and Dick Durbin (D-IL). In 2010, Nalco Holding Company allocated $160,000 towards lobbying efforts via Ogilvy Government Relations, concentrating on matters concerning the deployment of Corexit 9500 during the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. These activities highlight Nalco’s interactions with regulatory agencies such as the U.S. House of Representatives, Senate, Department of the Interior, and EPA.

External links

• Official site of Nalco Chemical
• Information on Nalco Merger Litigation