A 3M executive says the $50 million investment is part of a "five-year strategy for China to increase annual sales 15 to 20 percent." The Maplewood-based manufacturer plans to develop new technology and products for the China market -- 3M's biggest overseas market.

The 3M Co. is suing one of its former law firms for switching sides – to aid in a suit against 3M that claims the company damaged the environment. The company is citing "betrayal" motivated by "greed" of the national firm Covington & Burling LLP, which is now helping the Minnesota attorney general in a suit against 3M.

Maplewood-based 3M Co. has agreed to pay $110 million in cash to buy Federal Signal Technologies Group, which focuses on electronic toll collection and parking management software services.

After 10 years at Maplewood-based 3M, Mauro Porcini will now focus on expanding Pepsi's 12 biggest brands, Fast Company reports. At 3M, Porcini had a role in designing office supplies, health care products and built a sought-after design team. Porcini joins PepsiCo on July 2.

The Pioneer Press reports the departing CEO is joining Arle Capital LLP in his native Great Britain.

The law firm handling a Minnesota suit against 3M has been ordered off the case because of a conflict of interest. The firm has previously represented 3M. The judge's ruling is a blow to the state's case involving chemicals formerly made by 3M that turned up in rivers, lakes, and groundwater.

Both 3M and Cogent deny any wrong doing, but have agreed to pay $1.9 million to shareholders and their attorneys. Bloomberg reports the investors claim Cogent CEO Ming Hsieh favored 3M to collect a retention bonus. The Maplewood-based company paid about $943 million in 2010 for Cogent.

Kansas officials say they won't pay 3M the remaining $4 million the state owes on its $25 million contract until the Maplewood-based vendor fixes the state's new $40 million motor vehicle system. Among the issues, the Topeka Capital-Journal reports the new software didn't convert more than 70,000 records correctly and counties continue to report other problems three months after the May launch.