Alcide Stockholders Common Stock Exchange Ratio.

REDMOND, Wash. -- Alcide Corporation (Nasdaq:ALCD) announced today that the anticipated exchange ratio associated with its acquisition by Ecolab Inc. is 0.6744, meaning that Alcide stockholders will receive 0.6744 shares of Ecolab common stock for each share of Alcide common stock they hold. As provided in the merger agreement between Ecolab and Alcide, the exchange ratio will equal $21.00 divided by the average closing price per share of Ecolab common stock on the New York Stock Exchange for each of the ten consecutive trading days ending five trading days prior to the closing date of the merger. The anticipated exchange ratio assumes, and Alcide expects, that the merger will close on July 30, 2004, the date of the special meeting of Alcide stockholders. If the closing is delayed for any reason, then the exchange ratio would be calculated based on the actual closing date.

About Alcide

Alcide Corporation develops and markets unique biocidal products based on its patented technology. Alcide currently sells anti-infective products to the animal health market, disinfecting products to medical industries and SANOVA antimicrobial to the food processing industries. Its shares are traded on the NASDAQ under the symbol ALCD.