3M 2010 Annual Report Download - page 37

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For the year ended December 31, 2010, the Company recognized total consolidated pre-tax pension and
postretirement expense (after settlements, curtailments and special termination benefits) of $322 million, up from
$223 million in 2009. Pension and postretirement expense (before settlements, curtailments and special termination
benefits) is anticipated to increase to approximately $535 million in 2011, an increase of $213 million compared to
2010. For the pension plans, holding all other factors constant, a 0.25 percentage point increase/decrease in the
expected long-term rate of return on plan assets would decrease/increase 2011 pension expense by approximately
$27 million for U.S. pension plans and approximately $11 million for international pension plans. Also, holding all
other factors constant, a 0.25 percentage point increase in the discount rate used to measure plan liabilities would
decrease 2011 pension expense by approximately $30 million for U.S. pension plans and approximately $10 million
for international pension plans. In addition, a 0.25 percentage point decrease in the discount rate used to measure
plan liabilities would increase 2011 pension expense by approximately $31 million for U.S. pension plans and
approximately $20 million for international pension plans.
Asset Impairments:
As of December 31, 2010, net property, plant and equipment totaled $7.3 billion and net identifiable intangible assets
totaled $1.8 billion. Management makes estimates and assumptions in preparing the consolidated financial
statements for which actual results will emerge over long periods of time. This includes the recoverability of long-lived
assets employed in the business, including assets of acquired businesses. These estimates and assumptions are
closely monitored by management and periodically adjusted as circumstances warrant. For instance, expected asset
lives may be shortened or an impairment recorded based on a change in the expected use of the asset or
performance of the related asset group. Impairments recorded in 2009 and 2008 related to restructuring actions and
other exit activities are discussed in Note 4.
In June 2009, 3M’s Security Systems Division (within the Safety, Security and Protection Services business
segment) was notified that the UK government decided to award the production of its passports to a competitor upon
the expiration of 3M’s existing UK passport contracts in October 2010. As a result of this event, in June 2009, 3M
tested the long lived assets associated with the UK passport activity for recoverability and also reassessed their
remaining useful lives. In addition, 3M tested goodwill for impairment at the reporting unit (Security Systems Division)
level. The result of the June 2009 test of recoverability of long lived assets associated with the UK passport activity
indicated that the asset grouping’s carrying amount of approximately $54 million (before impairment) exceeded the
remaining expected cash flows. Accordingly, 3M recorded a non-cash impairment charge of approximately $13
million in the second quarter of 2009 to write these assets down to their fair value. In addition, accelerated
depreciation/amortization was taken over the period June 2009 through the date of expiration of the contract based
on a reassessment of the remaining expected useful life of these assets.
3M goodwill totaled approximately $6.8 billion as of December 31, 2010. 3M’s annual goodwill impairment testing is
performed in the fourth quarter of each year, using September 30 net book values. Impairment testing for goodwill is
done at a reporting unit level, with all goodwill assigned to a reporting unit. Reporting units are one level below the
business segment level (3M has six business segments at December 31, 2010), but can be combined when
reporting units within the same segment have similar economic characteristics. At 3M, reporting units generally
correspond to a division. 3M did not combine any of its reporting units for impairment testing.
An impairment loss generally would be recognized when the carrying amount of the reporting unit’s net assets
exceeds the estimated fair value of the reporting unit. The estimated fair value of a reporting unit is determined using
earnings for the reporting unit multiplied by a price/earnings ratio for comparable industry groups, or by using a
discounted cash flow analysis. 3M typically uses the price/earnings ratio approach for stable and growing businesses
that have a long history and track record of generating positive operating income and cash flows. 3M uses the
discounted cash flow approach for start-up, loss position and declining businesses, but also uses discounted cash
flow as an additional tool for businesses that may be growing at a slower rate than planned due to economic or other
conditions.
As discussed in Note 17 to the Consolidated Financial Statements, effective in the first quarter of 2010, 3M made
certain product moves between its business segments. For those changes that resulted in reporting unit changes, the
Company applied the relative fair value method to determine the impact to reporting units. During the first quarter of
2010, the Company completed its assessment of any potential goodwill impairment for reporting units impacted by
this new structure and determined that no impairment existed. The discussion that follows relates to the separate
fourth quarter 2010 annual impairment test and is in the context of the segment structure that existed at that time.