Nalco clears hurdle in merger with Ecolab

NAPERVILLE -- Nalco Holding Company said the Federal Trade Commission has ended the waiting period for its planned merger with Ecolab.

The merger agreement is subject to customary regulatory and shareholder approvals and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Minnesota-based Ecolab Inc. announced in July it was buying Nalco for about $5.4 billion in part to better position itself in the water management business.