3M announced on 3 November 2026 a broad resolution of personal injury claims over PFAS, the so-called forever chemicals, in the aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) multidistrict litigation in South Carolina. It commits a nominal $7.35bn before tax over nine years, which 3M puts at a present value of $5.8bn. The amount includes a $680m reserve fund.
The agreement addresses about 99% of current personal injury claims inside and outside the multidistrict litigation, and 115,000 to 120,000 plaintiffs are eligible to take part. Payments are back-loaded: $50m falls in 2026, nothing in 2027 and about 20% in the last two years, with payments running to 2034. Some payments depend on how many plaintiffs join. 3M says it will continue to defend itself in court if agreed terms are not met. Remaining and future claims will go through separate settlement mechanisms, and an expected court order will set evidence and timing requirements for future claimants.
3M will take a $5.8bn pre-tax charge in the fourth quarter of 2026 and says this does not change its 2026 guidance. The release does not mention insurance recoveries. Chairman and CEO William Brown said the settlement "substantially reduces litigation uncertainty".
Reuters, in a report carried by Carrier Management, noted that 3M did not admit liability and that the company had completed its exit from PFAS manufacturing by the end of 2025. The deal is separate from 3M's 2023 settlement with US public water systems. DuPont, Corteva and Chemours also face PFAS lawsuits, the report said.
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3M ↗Company · 3 Nov 2026
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