CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION	1. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION The unaudited consolidated financial information for the first quarter ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 reflect, in the opinion of company management, all adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the financial position, results of operations, comprehensive income (loss), equity and cash flows of Ecolab Inc. ("Ecolab" or "the Company") for the interim periods presented. Any adjustments consist of normal recurring items. The financial results for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year. The consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2017 was derived from the audited consolidated financial statements but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The unaudited consolidated financial information should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto incorporated in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. Certain amounts in prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. The reclassifications are primarily related to the adoption of new accounting standards as described further in Note 17. Except for the changes due to the adoption of the new accounting standards, the Company has consistently applied the accounting policies to all periods presented in these consolidated financial statements. With respect to the unaudited financial information of the Company for the first quarter ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 included in this Form 10-Q, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP reported that they have applied limited procedures in accordance with professional standards for a review of such information. Their separate report dated May 3, 2018 appearing herein states that they did not audit and they do not express an opinion on that unaudited 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, as amended (the "Act"), for their report on the unaudited financial information because that report is not a "report" or a "part" of a registration statement prepared or certified by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of the Act.

1. CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL INFORMATION

The unaudited consolidated financial information for the first quarter ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 reflect, in the opinion of company management, all adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the financial position, results of operations, comprehensive income (loss), equity and cash flows of Ecolab Inc. ("Ecolab" or "the Company") for the interim periods presented. Any adjustments consist of normal recurring items.

The financial results for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year. The consolidated balance sheet data as of December 31, 2017 was derived from the audited consolidated financial statements but does not include all disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. The unaudited consolidated financial information should be read in conjunction with the consolidated financial statements and notes thereto incorporated in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.

Certain amounts in prior periods have been reclassified to conform to the current period presentation. The reclassifications are primarily related to the adoption of new accounting standards as described further in Note 17. Except for the changes due to the adoption of the new accounting standards, the Company has consistently applied the accounting policies to all periods presented in these consolidated financial statements.

With respect to the unaudited financial information of the Company for the first quarter ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 included in this Form 10-Q, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP reported that they have applied limited procedures in accordance with professional standards for a review of such information. Their separate report dated May 3, 2018 appearing herein states that they did not audit and they do not express an opinion on that unaudited 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, as amended (the "Act"), for their report on the unaudited financial information because that report is not a "report" or a "part" of a registration statement prepared or certified by PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of the Act.