3M sold a laboratory facility located in Suwon, Korea.



In 2006, gains on sale of businesses, net of restructuring and other items, increased operating income by $523 million and net income by $438 million, or $0.57 per diluted share. 2006 included net benefits from gains related to the sale of certain portions of 3M’s branded pharmaceuticals business ($1.074 billion pre-tax, $674 million after-tax) and favorable income tax adjustments ($149 million), which were partially offset by restructuring actions ($403 million pre-tax, $257 million after-tax), acquired in-process research and development expenses ($95 million pre-tax and after-tax), settlement costs of an antitrust class action ($40 million pre-tax, $25 million after-tax), and environmental obligations related to the pharmaceuticals business ($13 million pre-tax, $8 million after-tax). These items, except the settlement costs and environmental obligations, are discussed in more detail in Note 2 (Acquisitions and Divestitures), Note 4 (Restructuring Actions and Exit Activities) and Note 8 (Income Taxes). Concerning settlement costs, the Company recorded $40 million in 2006 with respect to a settlement in principle related to the antitrust class action brought on behalf of direct purchasers who did not purchase private label tape. Concerning environmental obligations, the Company increased its reserves by $13 million during 2006 for estimated environmental remediation costs at a European pharmaceutical plant.

 

RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

 

Net Sales:

  

In 2008, local-currency sales growth of 1.4 percent was led by the Safety, Security and Protection Services; Health Care; and Industrial and Transportation segments. Acquisitions increased 2008 sales by 3.3 percent, led by the April 2008 acquisition of Aearo. In 2007, local-currency sales growth of 7.3 percent was led by the Health Care; Safety, Security and Protection Services; Industrial and Transportation and Consumer and Office segments. Acquisitions increased 2007 sales by 2.4 percent, led by the August 2006 acquisition of Security Printing and Systems Limited and the late 2006 acquisitions of Softmed Systems Inc. and Biotrace International PLC. Refer to both the “Performance by Business Segment” and “Performance by Geographic Area” sections for additional discussion of sales change.

 

Operating Expenses:

  

As discussed in the preceding overview section, in 2008 the combination of restructuring actions, exit activities and a loss on sale of businesses, partially offset by a gain on sale of real estate, decreased operating income by $269 million, or 1.1 percent of net sales. In 2007, the gain on sale of businesses and real estate, net of environmental liability charges, restructuring and exit activities, benefited 2007 operating income by $681 million, or 2.8 percent of net sales. In 2006, the gain on sale of businesses, net of restructuring and other items, benefited 2006 operating income by $523 million, or 2.2 percent of net sales. The following tables summarize these items by operating expense category. Items included in the “Other” category of the table for 2006 are acquired in-process research and development expenses