Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

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. This Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q should be read in conjunction with the Company’s consolidated financial statements and notes included in its 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

As described in the “New Accounting Pronouncements” section, the Company adopted Accounting Standards Update (ASU) No. 2017-07, Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost, effective January 1, 2018 on a retrospective basis. This ASU changed how 3M presents net periodic benefit cost within its consolidated statement of income, as reflected in the table that follows. The financial information presented herein reflects these impacts for all periods presented.


Three months ended March 31, 2017	Previously
(Millions)	Reported		Revised		Change

Net Sales	$	7,685	$	7,685	$	—
Operating expenses
Cost of sales		3,869		3,882		13
Selling, general and administrative expenses		1,600		1,614		14
Research, development and related expenses		471		476		5
Gain on sale of businesses		(29)		(29)		—
Total operating expenses		5,911		5,943		32
Operating income	$	1,774	$	1,742	$	(32)

Other expense (income), net	$	37	$	5	$	(32)

Income before income taxes	$	1,737	$	1,737	$	—

In addition, as described in Note 16, effective in the first quarter of 2018, the Company changed its business segment reporting in its continuing effort to improve the alignment of businesses around markets and customers. These changes included the consolidation of customer account activity within international countries (expanding dual credit reporting) and the centralization of manufacturing and supply chain technology platforms. The Company began reporting comparative results under this new structure with the filing of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

In the second quarter of 2018, the Company plans to update its financial information and disclosure in its 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K via a Current Report on Form 8-K to reflect the retrospective application of ASU No. 2017-07 and the preceding business segment reporting changes.

Changes to Significant Accounting Policies

The following accounting policies have been updated since the Company’s 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K.

Revenue (sales) recognition: As described in the “New Accounting Pronouncements” section, 3M adopted ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, and other related ASUs on January 1, 2018 using the modified retrospective transition approach. The Company’s accounting policy with respect to revenue recognition and additional disclosure relative to this ASU are included in Note 2.

Investments: As described in the “New Accounting Pronouncements” section, 3M adopted ASU No. 2016-01, Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities, effective January 1, 2018. As a result, all equity securities that do not result in consolidation and are not accounted for under the equity method are measured at fair value with changes therein reflected in net income. 3M utilizes the measurement alternative for equity investments that do not have readily determinable fair values and measures these investments at cost less impairment plus or minus observable price changes in orderly transactions. Further, the change in balance of these securities for the three months ended March 31, 2018 was not considered material for additional disclosure.

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.

3M has a subsidiary in Venezuela, the financial statements of which are remeasured as if its functional currency were that of its parent because Venezuela’s economic environment is considered highly inflationary. The operating income of this subsidiary is immaterial as a percent of 3M’s consolidated operating income for 2018. The Venezuelan government sets official rates of exchange and conditions precedent to purchase foreign currency at these rates with local currency. The government has also operated various expanded secondary currency exchange mechanisms that have been eliminated and replaced from time to time. Such rates and conditions have been and continue to be subject to change. For the periods presented, the financial statements of 3M’s Venezuelan subsidiary were remeasured utilizing the rate associated with the secondary auction mechanism, Tipo de Cambio Complementario (DICOM), or its predecessor. During the same periods, the Venezuelan government’s official exchange was Tipo de Cambio Protegido (DIPRO), or its predecessor, until its discontinuance in the first quarter of 2018.

Note 1 in 3M’s 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K provides additional information the Company considers in determining the exchange rate used relative to its Venezuelan subsidiary as well as factors which could lead to its deconsolidation. The Company continues to monitor these circumstances. 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 March 31, 2018, the Company had a balance of net monetary assets denominated in VEF of less than 20 billion VEF and the DIPRO exchange rate was approximately 49,000 VEF per U.S. dollar. A need to deconsolidate the Company’s Venezuelan subsidiary’s operations may result from a lack of exchangeability of VEF-denominated cash coupled with an acute degradation in the ability to make key operational decisions due to government regulations in Venezuela. Based upon a review of factors as of March 31, 2018, the Company continues to consolidate its Venezuelan subsidiary. As of March 31, 2018, the balance of accumulated other comprehensive loss associated with this subsidiary was approximately $145 million, and the amount of intercompany receivables due from this subsidiary and its equity balance were not significant.

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 (1.9 million average options for the three months ended March 31, 2018; 3.2 million average options for the three months ended March 31, 2017). The computations for basic and diluted earnings per share follow:

Earnings Per Share Computations


	Three months ended
	March 31,
(Amounts in millions, except per share amounts)	2018		2017
Numerator:
Net income attributable to 3M	$	602	$	1,323

Denominator:
Denominator for weighted average 3M common shares outstanding – basic		596.2		598.1
Dilution associated with the Company’s stock-based compensation plans		16.5		13.9
Denominator for weighted average 3M common shares outstanding – diluted		612.7		612.0

Earnings per share attributable to 3M common shareholders – basic	$	1.01	$	2.21
Earnings per share attributable to 3M common shareholders – diluted	$	0.98	$	2.16

New Accounting Pronouncements

See the Company’s 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K for a more detailed discussion of the standards in the tables that follow, except for those pronouncements issued subsequent to the most recent Form 10-K filing date for which separate, more detailed discussion is provided below.


Standards Adopted During the Current Fiscal Year
Standard	Relevant Description	Effective Date for 3M	Impact and Other Matters
ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (as amended by ASU Nos. 2015-14, 2016-08, 2016-10, 2016-12, and 2016-20) and related ASU No. 2017-10, Determining the Customer of the Operation Services	Provides a single comprehensive model to be used in the accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and supersedes most previous revenue recognition guidance, including industry-specific guidance. Core principle is that an entity should recognize revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods or services. Requires disclosures about the nature, amount, timing, and uncertainty of revenue and cash flows arising from contracts with customers. Specifies the accounting for some costs to obtain or fulfill a contract with a customer.	January 1, 2018	See Note 2 for detailed discussion and disclosures. Adopted using a modified retrospective approach. January 1, 2018 balance of retained earnings was increased by less than $2 million.
ASU No. 2016-01, Recognition and Measurement of Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities	Requires investments in equity securities in an entity that do not result in consolidation and are not accounted for under the equity method to be measured at fair value with changes therein reflected in net income. Simplifies the impairment assessment and allows for a fair value measurement alternative for equity investments without a readily determinable fair value. Eliminates the previous cost method of accounting for certain equity securities that did not have readily determinable fair values.	January 1, 2018	Measurement alternative adopted prospectively. See the preceding “Changes to Significant Accounting Policies” section for impact.
ASU No. 2016-16, Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory	Exempts income tax accounting that requires companies to defer the income tax effects of certain intercompany transactions only for intercompany inventory transactions. The exception no longer applies to intercompany sales and transfers of other assets (e.g., intangible assets).	January 1, 2018	Adopted using a modified retrospective approach. January 1, 2018 balance of retained earnings was decreased by less than $2 million.
ASU No. 2017-01, Clarifying the Definition of a Business	Narrows the previous definition of a business and provides a framework for evaluating whether a transaction should be accounted for as an acquisition (or disposal) of assets or a business.	January 1, 2018	Adopted prospectively with no immediate impact. Fewer sets of transferred assets and activities are expected to be considered businesses.




Standards Adopted During the Current Fiscal Year (continued)
Standard	Relevant Description	Effective Date for 3M	Impact and Other Matters
ASU No. 2017-05, Clarifying the Scope of Asset Derecognition Guidance and Accounting for Partial Sales of Nonfinancial Assets	Largely impacts the sale of nonfinancial assets (such as real estate and intellectual property) that do not constitute a business, when the purchaser is not a customer. Seller applies certain recognition and measurement principles of ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, even though the purchaser is not a customer.	January 1, 2018	Adopted coincident with the adoption of ASU No. 2014-09 with no material impact.
ASU No. 2017-07, Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost	Changes previous classification of net periodic defined benefit pension and postretirement benefit costs within operating expenses. Requires that only the service cost component of net periodic benefit cost be included in operating expenses and that only the service cost component is eligible for capitalization into assets such as inventory. Specifies that other net periodic benefit costs components (such as interest, expected return on plan assets, prior service cost amortization and actuarial gain/loss amortization) would be reported outside of operating income.	January 1, 2018	Adopted on a retrospective basis. No impact on previously reported income before income taxes and net income attributable to 3M. However, non-service cost components of net periodic benefit costs in prior periods have been reclassified from operating expenses and are now reported outside of operating income within other expense (income), net. See the “Basis of Presentation” section above for impact of this ASU’s adoption on prior period income statement amounts. Prospective impact on costs capitalized into assets was not material.
ASU No. 2017-09, Scope of Modification Accounting	Provides that fewer changes to the terms of share-based payment awards will require accounting under the modification model (which generally would have required additional compensation cost).	January 1, 2018	Adopted prospectively with no immediate impact. 3M does not typically make changes to the terms or conditions of its issued share-based payments.


Standards Issued and Not Yet Adopted
Standard	Relevant Description	Effective Date for 3M	Impact and Other Matters
ASU No. 2016-02, Leases	Introduces a lessee model that requires entities to recognize assets and liabilities for most leases, but recognize expenses on their income statements in a manner similar to current accounting. This ASU does not make fundamental changes to existing lessor accounting.	January 1, 2019	Requires modified retrospective transition applied to earliest period presented 3M is currently assessing this ASU’s impact.
ASU No. 2016-13, Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments	Introduces an approach, based on expected losses, to estimate credit losses on certain types of financial instruments and modifies the impairment model for available-for-sale debt securities. Amends the current other-than-temporary impairment model for available-for-sale debt securities. For such securities with unrealized losses, entities will still consider if a portion of any impairment is related only to credit losses and therefore recognized as a reduction in income.	January 1, 2020	Required to make a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is adopted. 3M is currently assessing this ASU’s impact.
ASU No. 2017-08, Premium Amortization on Purchased Callable Debt Securities	Shortens the amortization period to the earliest call date for the premium related to certain callable debt securities that have explicit, noncontingent call features and are callable at a fixed price and preset date.	January 1, 2019	3M’s marketable security portfolio includes limited instances of callable debt securities held at a premium. 3M does not expect this ASU to have a material impact.

Standards Issued and Not Yet Adopted (continued)
Standard	Relevant Description	Effective Date for 3M	Impact and Other Matters
ASU No. 2017-11, (Part I) Accounting for Certain Financial Instruments with Down Round Features, (Part II) Replacement of the Indefinite Deferral for Mandatorily Redeemable Financial Instruments of Certain Nonpublic Entities and Certain Mandatorily Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests with a Scope Exception	Amends (1) the classification of financial instruments with down-round features as liabilities or equity by revising certain guidance relative to evaluating if they must be accounted for as derivative instruments and (2) the guidance on recognition and measurement of freestanding equity-classified instruments.	January 1, 2019	No financial instruments with down-round features have been issued. 3M does not expect this ASU to have a material impact.
ASU No. 2017-12, Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities	Amends existing guidance to simplify application of hedge accounting in certain situations and allow companies to better align their hedge accounting with risk management activities. Simplifies related accounting by eliminating requirement to separately measure and report hedge ineffectiveness. Expands an entity’s ability to hedge nonfinancial and financial risk components.	January 1, 2019	Required to make a cumulative-effect adjustment to retained earnings as of the beginning of the first reporting period in which the guidance is adopted. 3M is currently assessing this ASU’s impact.

Relevant New Standards Issued Subsequent to Most Recent Annual Report

In February 2018, the FASB issued ASU No. 2018-02, Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, which permits entities to reclassify, to retained earnings, the one-time income tax effects stranded in accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) arising from the change in the U.S. federal corporate tax rate as a result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. An entity that elects to make this reclassification must consider all items in AOCI that have tax effects stranded as a result of the tax rate change, and must disclose the reclassification of these tax effects as well as the entity’s policy for releasing income tax effects from AOCI. The ASU may be applied either retrospectively or as of the beginning of the period of adoption. For 3M, the ASU is effective January 1, 2019. While this ASU will have no impact on 3M’s results of operations, the Company is currently assessing this standard’s impact on its consolidated financial condition.