Ecolab named to Forbes' list of innovative companies

Ecolab, one of the global leaders in water, hygiene and energy technologies and services, has been named to Forbes magazine's 2013 list of 'The World's Most Innovative Companies', ranking 33rd out of 100 companies on the list that will appear in the September 2 issue of Forbes. The magazine has named Ecolab to every World's Most Innovative Companies’ list since the annual ranking began in 2011.

 

"Innovation is the cornerstone of our success, and vital to achieving our purpose of making the world cleaner, safer and healthier. We are committed to finding new and better solutions for the challenges our customers face around the world," said Douglas M Baker, Jr., Chairman and CEO, Ecolab, in a press release.

 

Ecolab's more than 1,600 scientists work within a global network of 16 R&D facilities and focus on water chemistry, antimicrobial science, oil and gas process technology, and automation and dispensing solutions for the company's global customer base. In 2012, Ecolab invested $ 183 million in research and development.

 

According to Forbes, the ‘innovation premium’ used to rank companies is calculated by projecting a company's cash flows from existing businesses, anticipated growth from those businesses and the net present value (NPV) of cash flows. The NPV of cash flows from existing businesses is compared with a current capitalisation. Companies with a current market capitalisation above the NPV of cash flows have an innovation premium built into their stock. To be considered for the list, companies need seven years of public financial data and $10 billion in market capitalisation.