Ecolab closed on the sale of its global surgical solutions business to Medline for total consideration of approximately $950 million in cash. With Ecolab’s strong balance sheet, the proceeds from this transaction enhance the company’s ability to invest in attractive growth opportunities and return capital to shareholders. Therefore, the company announced its intent to repurchase up to an additional $500 million of Ecolab stock during the second half of 2024.

Ecolab will continue to serve hospitals through its infection prevention and instrument reprocessing businesses. Infection prevention provides environmental hygiene programs to reduce hospital acquired infections. Instrument reprocessing provides cleaning and sterilization solutions for instruments, which fits well with Ecolab’s growth model as it combines a technological anchor with proprietary consumables and service.

The company expects to repurchase the shares in the open market; in privately negotiated transactions from time to time, depending on market conditions; and through purchases made in accordance with Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Ecolab had approximately 285 million shares outstanding on June 30, 2024. The expected repurchases would be pursuant to the previously announced February 2015 and November 2022 share repurchase authorizations by Ecolab’s Board of Directors.