DuPont, Chemours and Corteva Reach Agreement to Resolve PFAS-Related Claims in North Carolina

DuPont, Chemours and Corteva will pay $455 million over 15 years to settle North Carolina PFAS-related claims and satisfy future MOU escrow funding.

Rhea-AI Summary

DuPont (DD)/b) announced on September 10, 2026 that, together with Chemours and Corteva, it has agreed to a settlement, payable over 15 years, to resolve PFAS‑related litigations with the State of North Carolina and 11 local entities excluded from the 2024 U.S. Public Water System Class Settlement.

The net present value of the settlement is approximately $355 million, shared among the three companies. DuPont’s pre‑tax present‑value share is about $126 million, 44% of which is to be reimbursed by Qnity Electronics and is described as materially covered by existing accruals. Of the total, $18 million is attributed to alleged PFAS contamination unrelated to the Fayetteville Works site. The companies also state that combined New Jersey and North Carolina settlements will satisfy their future escrow funding obligations under a 2021 Memorandum of Understanding.

Positive

• $455 million settlement provides long-term resolution of specified North Carolina PFAS-related claims over 15 years
• Settlement valued at $355 million NPV across the three companies, giving clearer liability quantification
• DuPont’s $126 million NPV share is described as materially covered by existing accruals
• 44% of DuPont’s settlement share is expected to be reimbursed by Qnity Electronics
• Aggregate New Jersey and North Carolina settlements will eliminate future MOU escrow contributions, including the one otherwise due September 2026

Negative

• Total cash settlement obligation of $455 million over 15 years for DuPont, Chemours and Corteva
• DuPont faces a pre-tax present-value cost of approximately $126 million despite reimbursement and accrual coverage

News Explained

Payments are scheduled to begin within 30 days, while the covered North Carolina litigations still await dismissals.

DuPont, Chemours and Corteva have entered into a North Carolina settlement agreement that sets $455 million of payments over 15 years, with payments beginning within 30 days of execution.

The agreement is not yet fully completed: its terms remain subject to entry of dismissals in the covered litigations.

The companies say aggregate New Jersey and North Carolina settlement payments will satisfy required future obligations under their 2021 MOU, including escrow replenishment and the contribution otherwise due in September 2026.

For MOU valuation, the parties will treat the settlement and potential future settlements as if paid in equal annual installments over 25 years and discounted at 8 percent.

Market Context

At the pre-headline snapshot, DD closed at $127.92 with a -2.59% 24-hour move; the settlement was an...

Analysis

At the pre-headline snapshot, DD closed at $127.92 with a -2.59% 24-hour move; the settlement was announced before any reaction could be measured.

Key Figures

Settlement payment net present value: $355 million Total settlement payments: $455 million DuPont share: $126 million +4 more

Settlement payment net present value

$355 million

Shared by DuPont, Chemours and Corteva over 15 years

Total settlement payments

$455 million

Paid over 15 years beginning within 30 days of execution

DuPont share

$126 million

Pre-tax present value; materially covered by existing accruals

Qnity reimbursement

44%

Portion of DuPont's share to be reimbursed by Qnity Electronics

Unrelated PFAS contamination

$18 million

Attributed to contamination unrelated to Fayetteville Works

AFFF-attributed amount

No more than $14.4 million

Approximately 3% of the total settlement amount

MOU discount rate

8 percent

Used to calculate qualified spend for potential future settlements

Key Terms

pfas, aqueous film forming foam, net present value, discount rate, +1 more

5 terms

pfas technical

"relating to PFAS and other historical discharges from Fayetteville Works"

PFAS are a group of human-made chemicals used in many everyday products, such as non-stick cookware, water-repellent clothing, and food packaging, because they resist heat, water, and grease. They are often called "forever chemicals" because they do not break down easily in the environment or the human body, potentially leading to health concerns. For investors, the presence of PFAS-related risks can impact companies’ reputations, legal liabilities, and future costs.

aqueous film forming foam technical

"including from the use of aqueous film forming foam ("AFFF")"

Aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) is a liquid firefighting agent that spreads across flammable liquid surfaces to smother and cool fires, like putting a breathable blanket over a spill to stop flames. It matters to investors because many formulations contain long-lasting chemicals linked to environmental contamination and health risks, creating potential cleanup costs, legal liabilities, regulatory bans, and shifts in demand toward safer alternatives.

net present value financial

"Settlement payments over 15 years, with a net present value"

Net present value is a way to measure the value of a future amount of money today. It considers how money available in the future is worth less than money now because of potential earning opportunities or inflation. Investors use it to decide whether an investment is worthwhile, aiming for projects with positive net present value, meaning they are expected to generate more value than they cost.

discount rate financial

"discounted using an 8 percent discount rate for purposes of calculating"

A discount rate is the percentage used to convert future cash flows or earnings into today’s dollars, reflecting how much less a future dollar is worth compared with a dollar now. Think of it like a “time penalty” or the interest rate you require to wait: higher discount rates shrink future values, lowering valuations and making investments look less attractive, so investors use it to compare and price companies and projects.

View in glossary

mou financial

"the 2021 Memorandum of Understanding between the parties ("MOU")"

A memorandum of understanding (MOU) is a written agreement that outlines the basic terms and shared intentions between parties before a formal contract is drawn up. Think of it as a detailed handshake that signals commitment to work together; for investors it matters because an MOU can indicate a likely future deal, partnership or transaction that could affect a company’s strategy, revenues or risks, even though it often lacks full legal force.

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• Resolves litigations brought by the State of North Carolina and 11 local entities relating to PFAS and other historical discharges from Fayetteville Works, as well as the State's claims of PFAS contamination unrelated to that site, including from the use of aqueous film forming foam ("AFFF").
• Settlement payments over 15 years, with a net present value of approximately $355 million to be shared by DuPont, Chemours and Corteva.  
• The pre-tax present value of DuPont's share is approximately $126 million, of which 44% shall be reimbursed by Qnity Electronics, and is materially covered by existing accruals.

WILMINGTON, Del., Sept. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- DuPont (NYSE: DD) today announced that, together with The Chemours Company ("Chemours"), and Corteva Inc. and its subsidiary EIDP Inc. (formerly known as E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company and together with its parent, Corteva Inc., referred to as "Corteva"), it has entered into a settlement (the "Settlement") with the State of North Carolina and 11 local entities* in the vicinity of the Company's Fayetteville Works facility that were excluded from the U.S. Public Water System Class Settlement approved in 2024.

The Settlement resolves litigations brought by the State and the settling local entities relating to PFAS and other historical discharges from Fayetteville Works, as well as the State's claims of PFAS contamination unrelated to that site, including from the use of AFFF.

Settlement payments will total $455 million over a 15-year period beginning within 30 days of the execution date of the Settlement Agreement. Of the total settlement amount, $18 million is attributed to alleged PFAS contamination unrelated to Fayetteville Works, of which no more than $14.4 million, approximately 3%, can be ascribed to AFFF.

The terms of the Settlement, including a further description of claims released and not released, are set forth in the Settlement Agreement, which remains subject to entry of dismissals of the covered litigations.

DuPont, Chemours, and Corteva have also worked together to reach certain understandings concerning the 2021 Memorandum of Understanding between the parties ("MOU"), including the valuation of the Settlement and potential future settlements at net present value as if payable in equal annual installments over 25 years and discounted using an 8 percent discount rate for purposes of calculating qualified spend.  In addition, since the companies' aggregate New Jersey and North Carolina settlement payments will qualify for withdrawal from the companies' MOU escrow account and exceed their required future MOU escrow contributions, including escrow replenishment obligations, these contributions will be considered satisfied by such settlement payments, including the contribution otherwise due in September 2026.

^{* The 11 local entities are Bladen County, Brunswick County, Columbus County, Cumberland County, New Hanover County, Robeson County, Sampson County, Town of Wrightsville Beach, City of Lumberton, Village of Bald Head Island, and Lower Cape Fear Water and Sewer Authority.}

About DuPont

DuPont (NYSE: DD) is a global innovation leader, providing advanced solutions that help transform industries and improve everyday life across our key markets of healthcare, water, construction, and industrial. More information about the company, its businesses and solutions can be found at www.dupont.com. Investors can access information included on the Investor Relations section of the website at investors.dupont.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This communication contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the federal securities laws, including Section 27A of the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and expectations of future events that may not be accurate or realized and often contain words such as "expect," "anticipate," "intend," "plan," "believe," "seek," "see," "will," "would," "estimate", "target," similar expressions, and variations or negatives of these words. Forward-looking statements by their nature address matters that are, to different degrees, uncertain, such as statements about expected performance and impact of the cost sharing arrangement by and between DuPont, Chemours and Corteva related to future eligible PFAS liabilities. Factors that could cause or contribute to these differences include, but are not limited to: the achievement, terms and conditions of final agreements related to the cost sharing arrangement; the outcome of any pending or future litigation related to PFAS, including personal injury claims and natural resource damages claims; the extent and cost of ongoing remediation obligations and potential future remediation obligations; changes in laws and regulations applicable to PFAS chemicals; the performance by each of the parties of their respective obligations under the cost sharing arrangement. Unlisted factors may present significant additional obstacles to the realization of forward-looking statements. Further lists and descriptions of risks and uncertainties can be found in DuPont's annual report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, and DuPont's subsequent reports on Form 10-Q and other filings, the contents of which are not incorporated by reference into, nor do they form part of, this communication. Consequences of material differences in results as compared with those anticipated in the forward-looking statements could include, among other things, business disruption, operational problems, financial loss, legal liability to third parties and similar risks, any of which could have a material adverse effect on DuPont's consolidated financial condition, results of operations, credit rating or liquidity. DuPont assumes no obligation to publicly provide revisions or updates to any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise, should circumstances change, except as otherwise required by securities and other applicable laws.

DuPont^TM and all products, unless otherwise noted, denoted with ^TM, ^SM or ® are trademarks, service marks or registered trademarks of affiliates of DuPont de Nemours, Inc.

 

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SOURCE DuPont

FAQ

Which entities are included in the North Carolina PFAS-related settlement?

The settlement covers the State of North Carolina and 11 local entities near the Fayetteville Works facility that were excluded from the 2024 U.S. Public Water System Class Settlement. These are Bladen, Brunswick, Columbus, Cumberland, New Hanover, Robeson and Sampson counties, the Town of Wrightsville Beach, the City of Lumberton, the Village of Bald Head Island, and the Lower Cape Fear Water and Sewer Authority.

How are the settlement payments structured and when do they begin?

Settlement payments totaling $455 million are scheduled over a 15-year period. Payments are set to begin within 30 days of the execution date of the Settlement Agreement.

What portion of the settlement is tied to PFAS claims unrelated to Fayetteville Works and to AFFF?

Of the total settlement, $18 million is attributed to alleged PFAS contamination unrelated to the Fayetteville Works site. No more than $14.4 million, approximately 3% of the total settlement amount, can be ascribed to aqueous film forming foam (AFFF).

How does the settlement interact with the 2021 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) among DuPont, Chemours and Corteva?

The companies have agreed that this settlement and potential future settlements will be valued at net present value as if payable in equal annual installments over 25 years, discounted at 8% for calculating qualified spend under the MOU. The companies state that combined New Jersey and North Carolina settlement payments will qualify for withdrawal from the MOU escrow account and exceed their required future escrow contributions, so those contributions, including the one otherwise due in September 2026, will be considered satisfied.

Are all litigations immediately dismissed as a result of this agreement?

The settlement is intended to resolve the covered litigations, but the agreement is described as remaining subject to entry of dismissals of those litigations. The Settlement Agreement itself sets out which claims are released and which are not.