XML 63 R22.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT

Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

9 Months Ended

Sep. 30, 2014

The interim consolidated financial statements are unaudited but, in the opinion of management, reflect all adjustments necessary for a fair statement of the Company's consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows for the periods presented. These adjustments consist of normal, recurring items. The results of operations for any interim period are not necessarily indicative of results for the full year. The interim consolidated financial statements and notes are presented as permitted by the requirements for Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

As described in 3M's Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 15, 2014 (which updated 3M's 2013 Annual Report on Form 10-K) and 3M's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the period ended March 31, 2014, effective in the first quarter of 2014, the Company transferred a product line between divisions within different business segments and made other changes within business segments in its continuing effort to improve the alignment of its businesses around markets and customers (refer to Note 13 herein). Segment information presented herein reflects the impact of these changes for all periods presented. This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the Company's consolidated financial statements and notes included in its Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 15, 2014.

Also, effective in the second quarter of 2014, within the Electronics and Energy business segment, 3M combined three existing divisions into two new divisions. A large portion of both the Electronics Markets Materials Division and the Electronic Solutions Division were combined to form the Electronics Materials Solutions Division, which focuses on semiconductor and electronics materials and assembly solutions. The Optical Systems Division, the remaining portion of the Electronic Solutions Division and a portion of the Electronics Markets Materials Division were combined to form the Display Materials and Systems Division, which focuses on delivering light, color and user interface solutions.

Foreign Currency Translation

Local currencies generally are considered the functional currencies outside the United States. Assets and liabilities for operations in local-currency environments are translated at month-end exchange rates of the period reported. Income and expense items are translated at month-end exchange rates of each applicable month. Cumulative translation adjustments are recorded as a component of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) in shareholders' equity.

Although local currencies are typically considered as the functional currencies outside the United States, under Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 830, Foreign Currency Matters, the reporting currency of a foreign entity's parent is assumed to be that entity's functional currency when the economic environment of a foreign entity is highly inflationary—generally when its cumulative inflation is approximately 100 percent or more for the three years that precede the beginning of a reporting period. 3M has a subsidiary in Venezuela with operating income representing less than 1.0 percent of 3M's consolidated operating income for 2013. 3M has determined that the cumulative inflation rate of Venezuela has exceeded, and continues to exceed, 100 percent since November 2009. Accordingly, since January 1, 2010, the financial statements of the Venezuelan subsidiary have been remeasured as if its functional currency were that of its parent.

The Venezuelan government sets official rates of exchange and conditions precedent to purchase foreign currency at these rates with local currency. Such rates and conditions are subject to change. For the periods presented through January 2013, this rate was set under the Transaction System for Foreign Currency Denominated Securities (SITME). In February 2013, the Venezuelan government announced a devaluation of its currency and the elimination of the SITME market. As a result, the official exchange rate controlled by the Commission for the Administration of Foreign Exchange (CADIVI) changed to a rate less favorable than the previous SITME rate.

In January 2014, the Venezuelan government announced that a new agency, the National Center for Foreign Commerce (CENCOEX), had assumed the previous role of CADIVI with respect to the continuation of the existing official exchange rate; significantly expanded the use of a second foreign exchange mechanism called the Complementary System for Foreign Currency Acquirement (or SICAD1); and issued exchange regulations indicating the SICAD1 rate of exchange would be used for payments related to international investments. The SICAD1 exchange mechanism, a complementary currency auction system, had previously been created for purchases of foreign currency by only certain eligible importers and tourists. The government had begun publishing the SICAD1 rate resulting from currency auctions in December 2013. In late March 2014, the Venezuelan government launched a third foreign exchange mechanism, SICAD2, which relies on U.S. dollar cash and U.S. dollar denominated bonds offered by the Venezuelan Central Bank, PDVSA (the Venezuelan national oil and gas company) and certain private companies. SICAD2 was announced as being available to all industry sectors and that its use would not be restricted as to purpose.

Since January 1, 2010, as discussed above, the financial statements of 3M's Venezuelan subsidiary have been remeasured as if its functional currency were that of its parent. For the periods presented, this remeasurement utilized the SITME rate through January 2013, the official CADIVI/CENCOEX rate beginning in February 2013, the SICAD1 rate beginning in March 2014, and the SICAD2 rate beginning in June 2014. 3M's use of SICAD1 and subsequently SICAD2 was based upon evaluation of a number of factors including, but not limited to, the exchange rate the Company's Venezuelan subsidiary may legally use to convert currency, settle transactions or pay dividends; the probability of accessing and obtaining currency by use of a particular rate or mechanism; and the Company's intent and ability to use a particular exchange mechanism. Other factors notwithstanding, the elimination of the SITME rate and use of the CADIVI/CENCOEX exchange rate beginning in February 2013, use of the SICAD1 rate beginning in March 2014, and use of the SICAD2 rate beginning in June 2014 did not have a material impact on 3M's consolidated results of operations or financial condition.

The Company continues to monitor circumstances relative to its Venezuelan subsidiary. Changes in applicable exchange rates or exchange mechanisms may continue in the future. These changes could impact the rate of exchange applicable to remeasure the Company's net monetary assets (liabilities) denominated in Venezuelan Bolivars (VEF). As of September 30, 2014, the Company had a balance of net monetary assets denominated in VEF of less than 125 million VEF and the SICAD1 and SICAD2 exchange rates were approximately 10 VEF and 50 VEF per U.S. dollar, respectively. Had 3M utilized the SICAD1 rate rather than the SICAD2 rate of exchange for remeasurement of such items as of September 30, 2014, the differential would not have had a material impact on 3M's consolidated results of operations or financial condition.

Earnings Per Share

The difference in the weighted average 3M shares outstanding for calculating basic and diluted earnings per share attributable to 3M common shareholders is a result of the dilution associated with the Company's stock-based compensation plans. Certain options outstanding under these stock-based compensation plans were not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share attributable to 3M common shareholders because they would not have had a dilutive effect (insignificant for the three months ended September 30, 2014; 1.8 million average options for the nine months ended September 30, 2014; insignificant for the three months ended September 30, 2013; and 2.6 million average options for the nine months ended September 30, 2013). The computations for basic and diluted earnings per share follow:

Earnings Per Share Computations

			Three months ended				Nine months ended
			September 30,				September 30,
(Amounts in millions, except per share amounts)			2014		2013		2014		2013
Numerator:
	Net income attributable to 3M		$	1,303	$	1,230	$	3,777	$	3,556

Denominator:
	Denominator for weighted average 3M common shares
		outstanding – basic		645.3		679.8		652.9		686.4

	Dilution associated with the Company’s stock-based
		compensation plans		12.6		12.0		12.8		11.3

	Denominator for weighted average 3M common shares
		outstanding – diluted		657.9		691.8		665.7		697.7

Earnings per share attributable to 3M common
	shareholders – basic		$	2.02	$	1.81	$	5.78	$	5.18
Earnings per share attributable to 3M common
	shareholders – diluted		$	1.98	$	1.78	$	5.67	$	5.10

- Definition

Disclosure of accounting policy for computing basic and diluted earnings or loss per share for each class of common stock and participating security. Addresses all significant policy factors, including any antidilutive items that have been excluded from the computation and takes into account stock dividends, splits and reverse splits that occur after the balance sheet date of the latest reporting period but before the issuance of the financial statements.

+ References+ Details