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Letter to the Editor

3M 2004 Calendar Year Sales Up Nearly 10 Percent

Net income for the quarter was $720 million, or $0.91 per share, versus $619 million, or $0.77 per share, in the fourth quarter of 2003. Fourth quarter net income and earnings per-share increased 16.3 percent and 18.2 percent, respectively. This result is at the high end of previous earnings guidance of $0.90 to $0.91 per share.

"The broad-based strength of the 3M business and geographic portfolio drove our excellent performance this quarter," said W. James McNerney, Jr., 3M chairman and CEO. "This strong finish positions us well for continued growth and operational success in 2005."

The fourth-quarter results do not include any effect from the foreign dividend reinvestment provision of the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004(a) or proposed accounting rule changes related to contingently convertible debt instruments(b), since neither of the relevant rules had been finalized.

Fourth-quarter worldwide sales totaled $5.1 billion, up 7.9 percent compared to the fourth quarter of 2003. Global sales volumes increased 4.8 percent in the fourth quarter and selling prices declined 0.9 percent. Local-currency sales (which excludes the impact of currency translation) increased 8.3 percent in Consumer and Office; 7.9 percent in Safety, Security, and Protection Services; 7.0 percent in Industrial; 5.0 percent in Health Care; 4.8 percent in Transportation; and declined 0.8 percent in Display and Graphics and 7.3 percent in Electro and Communications. Currency effects increased sales by 4.0 percent.

Sales outside the United States totaled $3.1 billion in the fourth quarter, an increase of 9.5 percent versus last year's comparable quarter. Volumes increased 4.1 percent, while selling prices declined 1.2 percent. Currency translation effects increased international sales by 6.6 percent. Local-currency sales increased 3.9 percent in the combined Latin America, Africa, and Canada region, 3.7 percent in Asia Pacific, and 1.3 percent in Europe.

In the United States, sales totaled $2.0 billion, up 5.4 percent from the fourth quarter of 2003. Volumes increased 5.7 percent in the fourth quarter and selling prices declined 0.3 percent.

For the calendar year, 3M net income totaled $3.0 billion and earnings per share increased 21.4 percent to $3.75 per share, up from $2.5 billion and $3.09 per share in 2003 excluding special items(c).

2004 calendar year sales totaled $20.0 billion, a 9.8 percent increase over 2003. Sales volumes increased 6.7 percent for the year, and selling prices declined 0.7 percent. For the calendar year, local-currency sales growth was driven by increases of 10.4 percent in Display and Graphics; 9.1 percent in Industrial; 6.9 percent in Consumer and Office; and 6.6 percent in Safety, Security and Protection Services.

"Our outstanding results in recent years demonstrate the enduring strength of the 3M business model, a model that has been improved and significantly strengthened," McNerney said. "As a result, we are confident that by leveraging our multiple technology platforms, leadership positions in diverse markets, and well-integrated corporate initiatives, we will drive sustainable sales and profit growth in 2005 and beyond."

3M also provided its full-year 2005 earnings estimates. The company expects 2005 per share earnings to be in the range of $4.15 to $4.25. Full-year volume growth is expected to be between 5 and 8 percent. Included in this 2005 expectation is an approximately $.02 earnings per share decrease resulting from an anticipated change in accounting rules related to contingently convertible debt instruments. This expectation does not include any impact from accounting rule changes related to the expensing of management stock options, which 3M expects to implement July 1, 2005. The expectation also does not include a potential one-time increase in the tax provision related to possible repatriation of foreign earnings under the American Jobs Creation Act of 2004.

For the first quarter of 2005, the company expects earnings per share to be in the range of $1.00 to $1.02 and volume growth of between 5 and 7 percent.

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