---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0000066740-24-000007"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "MMM"
cik: "0000066740"
company_name: "3M CO"
filed_at: "2024-01-29T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-06T16:12:09.478741+00:00"
event_type: "litigation"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.8
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.8
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# 3M elects to pay $1B cash for earplug settlement; participation exceeds 98% threshold

## Summary
- 3M amends settlement to irrevocably elect cash for the $1 billion payment option, instead of stock.
- Claimant participation on track to exceed 98% threshold by final registration date March 25, 2024.
- Total settlement remains $6.0 billion, payable 2023-2029; over 250,000 eligible claimants participating.
- Amendment revises payment time periods subject to 98% participation condition.
- MDL court ordered dismissals expected to resolve >99% of claims by registration deadline.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0000066740-24-000007
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: MMM
- cik: 0000066740
- company_name: 3M CO
- filed_at: 2024-01-29T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: litigation
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.8
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.8
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 1.01, 8.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/66740/000006674024000007/0000066740-24-000007-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/66740/000006674024000007/mmm-20240126.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000066740-24-000007
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000066740-24-000007.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0000066740-24-000007.txt

## Key facts
- Material Agreements
  3M CO amended Amendment with Aearo Technologies LLC (together with certain of its related entities, the "Aearo Entities") valued at $1 billion (effective 2024-01-26).
  - Action: amendment
  - Agreement: settlement
  - Counterparty: Aearo Technologies LLC (together with certain of its related entities, the "Aearo Entities")
  - Value: $1 billion
  - Effective: 2024-01-26
  source text: On January 26, 2024, 3M and the Aearo Entities entered into an amendment (the “Amendment”) to the settlement arrangement pursuant to which 3M has irrevocably elected to pay cash for the $1 billion in payments that, under the Settlement, could have been paid either in cash or in stock at its sole discretion.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/66740/000006674024000007/0000066740-24-000007-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.