3M completes sale of rights to Neoplast™ and Neobun™ brands and related assets in Thailand and certain other Southeast Asia countries

ST. PAUL, Minn., Oct. 3, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- 3M (NYSE: MMM) today announced that it has completed the sale of its rights to the Neoplast™ and Neobun™ brands and related assets in Thailand and certain other Southeast Asia countries to Selic Corp Public Company Limited (Selic), a company focusing on bonding innovation serving various industries. The sale included related manufacturing assets of the Ladlumkaew, Thailand, facility.

Neoplast and Neobun products, sold primarily in Thailand and Southeast Asia, were part of the Skin Health & Wellness business with 3M. The portfolios included sports and medical tapes, bandages and medicated products for the consumer and health care industry.

3M's active portfolio management strategy is focused on leveraging the strengths of 3M to create the greatest value for customers and delivering strong returns for shareholders. As part of ongoing strategic portfolio management, 3M has decided to exit these brands and prioritize other areas in the business, with a continued focus on Asia markets. Recent examples of 3M's portfolio management include the separation of the Food Safety business, the announced spin off of the Health Care business, and the acquisition of technology assets of LeanTec for the automotive aftermarket segment in the United States and Canada.

Selic has indicated that it intends to establish operations at the facility, including employment of interested site employees, to scale up production of Neoplast and Neobun brands and further product development for its medical device business. 

The sale will not have a material impact on 3M's financial results.

This news release contains forward-looking information about 3M's financial results and estimates and business prospects that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. You can identify these statements by the use of words such as "anticipate," "estimate," "expect," "aim," "project," "intend," "plan," "believe," "will," "should," "could," "target," "forecast" and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of future operating or financial performance or business plans or prospects. Among the factors that could cause actual results to differ materially are the following: (1) worldwide economic, political, regulatory, capital markets and other external conditions and other factors beyond the Company's control, including natural and other disasters or climate change affecting the operations of the Company or its customers and suppliers; (2) risks related to public health crises such as the global pandemic associated with the coronavirus (COVID-19); (3) foreign currency exchange rates and fluctuations in those rates; (4) liabilities related to certain fluorochemicals, including lawsuits concerning various PFAS-related products and chemistries, and claims and governmental regulatory proceedings and inquiries related to PFAS in a variety of jurisdictions; (5) legal proceedings, including significant developments that could occur in the legal and regulatory proceedings described in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended Dec. 31, 2021, as updated by the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 26, 2022, and any subsequent quarterly reports on Form 10-Q (the "Reports"); (6) competitive conditions and customer preferences; (7) the timing and market acceptance of new product offerings; (8) the availability and cost of purchased components, compounds, raw materials and energy (including oil and natural gas and their derivatives) due to shortages, increased demand or supply interruptions (including those caused by natural and other disasters and other events); (9) unanticipated problems or delays with the phased implementation of a global enterprise resource planning (ERP) system, or security breaches and other disruptions to the Company's information technology infrastructure; (10) the impact of acquisitions, strategic alliances, divestitures, and other unusual events resulting from portfolio management actions and other evolving business strategies, and possible organizational restructuring; (11) operational execution, including scenarios where the Company generates fewer productivity improvements than estimated; (12) financial market risks that may affect the Company's funding obligations under defined benefit pension and postretirement plans; (13) the Company's credit ratings and its cost of capital; (14) tax-related external conditions, including changes in tax rates, laws or regulations; (15) matters relating to the proposed spin-off of the Company's Health Care business, including whether the transaction will be completed, or if completed, will be on the expected terms; the risk that the expected benefits will not be realized; the risk that the costs or dis-synergies will exceed the anticipated amounts; the ability to satisfy the various closing conditions; potential business disruption; the diversion of management time; the impact of the transaction (or its pendency) on the Company's ability to retain talent; potential impacts on the Company's relationships with its customers, suppliers, employees, regulators and other counterparties; the ability to realize the desired tax treatment (including whether an Internal Revenue Service private letter ruling will be sought or obtained); the risk that any consents or approvals required will not be obtained; risks associated with financings that may be undertaken and indebtedness that may be incurred in connection with the transaction; and (16) matters relating to the voluntary chapter 11 proceedings of the Company's subsidiary Aearo Technologies and certain of its affiliates (the "Aearo Entities"), including legal risks related to the chapter 11 proceedings; potential impacts to the Company's reputation and its relationships with customers, suppliers, employees, regulators and other counterparties and community members; potential impacts to the Company's liquidity or results of operations, including risks related to the amount that will be necessary to fully and finally resolve all of the Company's obligations to make payments to resolve such claims under the terms of its funding and indemnification agreement with the Aearo Entities; and the Aearo Entities' ability to navigate the chapter 11 proceedings to obtain approval and consummation of a plan of reorganization.

3M (NYSE: MMM) believes science helps create a brighter world for everyone. By unlocking the power of people, ideas and science to reimagine what's possible, our global team uniquely addresses the opportunities and challenges of our customers, communities, and planet. Learn how we're working to improve lives and make what's next at 3M.com/news or on Twitter at @3M or @3MNews.

3M Media Contact:
Jennifer Ehrlich, 651-733-8805 or [email protected]

3M Investor Contacts:
Bruce Jermeland, 651-733-1807
Diane Farrow, 612-202-2449

SOURCE 3M