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Shareholders Elect Directors, Ratify Amendments at 3M Annual Meeting

9 May 2000

Shareholders Elect Directors, Ratify Amendments at 3M Annual Meeting

    ST. PAUL, Minn., May 9 3M shareholders today
elected four directors to the company's Board of Directors, and ratified
independent auditors and approved amendments to the company's Restated
Certificate of Incorporation.  The voting took place at the 3M Annual Meeting
of Stockholders, at RiverCentre, St. Paul.

    Elected to the Board of Directors for terms ending in 2003 were:
    -- Linda G. Alvarado, president and CEO, Alvarado Construction, Inc.
    -- Edward M. Liddy, chairman, president and CEO, The Allstate Corp.,
       parent of Allstate Insurance Co.

    Re-elected to the Board of Directors for terms ending in 2003 were:
    -- Ronald O. Baukol, executive vice president, 3M International
       Operations.
    -- Aulana L. Peters, partner, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, LLP, a law firm.

    Shareholders also ratified the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
as 3M's independent auditors and approved amendments to the company's Restated
Certificate of Incorporation.

    Approved amendments:
    -- Increased the number of common shares authorized for issuance to
       1.5 billion shares.
    -- Changed the par value of 3M common stock to $0.01 per share, in order
       to reduce the cost of state filing fees.  The change has no impact on
       the value of the stock.

    3M Chairman and CEO, L.D. DeSimone, told more than 4,000 stockholders at
the meeting that the company performed well in 1999 and is poised for
continued growth.
    "Innovation remains the driving force of our growth," DeSimone said.
"We've invested more than $1 billion in research and development in each of
the past three years.  More than 1,700 patents were issued to 3M in the same
period."
    3M products that serve the "new economy" are driving faster growth and
high-quality returns, DeSimone said.  Some of 3M's fastest-growing products
include flexible electronic circuits, fiber optic components for
telecommunications, and optical films for flat panel displays.
    "Our traditional businesses are also adapting to the needs of the new
economy," DeSimone said.  Traditional product lines providing solutions to
fast-growing markets include microstructured abrasives for silicon wafer
finishing, adhesives that conduct electricity and custom tapes used in
electronic devices.
    DeSimone noted that 3M's "largest single opportunity" is a new family of
immune response modifiers.  The first product based on this technology, Aldara
(imiquimod) Cream 5%, has become a leading treatment for genital warts.
Clinical trials on three new indications are under way.  "This family of drugs
represents an enormous potential breakthrough in medicine and a multibillion
dollar opportunity for 3M over the next five to 10 years," he said.
    3M is taking advantage of e-business to drive growth as well.  "The
Internet provides us new opportunities to redefine and reinforce customer
relationships, and to leverage our tremendous brand strength," DeSimone said.
    DeSimone also thanked employees for their contributions to the company's
solid results.  "I'm especially impressed with the ability of 3Mers to stay
true to their values, to do the right thing, even when faced with considerable
challenges," he said.

    Forward-Looking Statements
    Certain portions of this news release that do not relate to historical
financial information constitute forward-looking statements.  These
forward-looking statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties.
Actual future results and trends may differ materially from historical results
or those expected depending on a variety of factors, including: (1) worldwide
economic conditions; (2) foreign exchange rates and fluctuations in those
rates; (3) the timing and acceptance of new product offerings; (4) raw
materials, including shortages and increases in the costs of key raw
materials; and (5) legal proceedings.