form8k_4q08results.htm
 
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C.  20549
 
 
FORM 8-K
Current Report
 
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
 
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 23, 2009
 
CATERPILLAR INC.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
Delaware
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
 
1-768
(Commission File Number)
 
37-0602744
(IRS Employer Identification No.)
100 NE Adams Street, Peoria, Illinois
(Address of principal executive offices)
 
61629
(Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (309) 675-1000
 
Former name or former address, if changed since last report:  N/A
 
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
 
 
o
 
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
       
 
o
 
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 230.425)
       
 
o
 
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
       
 
o
 
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
       
 
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Item 1.01.
Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

Amendment of Credit Facilities

On January 23, 2009, Caterpillar Inc. (“Company”) amended the following three credit agreements and their related local currency addendums (collectively, the “Credit Facilities”):

(1)  
The credit agreement dated as of September 18, 2008 (the “364-Day Facility”) entered into by and among the Company, Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation (“CFSC”) and Caterpillar Finance Corporation (“CFC”), certain financial institutions named therein (the “364 Day Facility Banks”), The Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. (as Japan local currency agent and bank), and Citibank, N.A. (“Citibank”) (as agent) for an unsecured aggregate revolving credit facility of up to US$2.2525 billion and its related local currency addendum, which were originally disclosed in the Company’s Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) on September 23, 2008 (“2008 Form 8-K”) and are hereby incorporated herein by reference;

(2)  
The five-year credit agreement dated September 20, 2007 (“2007 Facility”) entered into by and among the same parties provided in the description of the 364-Day Facility for an unsecured aggregate revolving credit facility of up to US$1.625 billion and its related local currency addendum, originally filed with the SEC via the Company’s Form 8-K on September 25, 2007 (the “2007 Form 8-K”) and amended by the terms disclosed under Items 1.01(b) and 2.03(b) of the 2008 Form 8-K, which, together with the related exhibits, are hereby incorporated herein by reference; and

(3)  
The five-year credit agreement dated September 21, 2006 (“2006 Facility” and together with the 2007 Facility, the “Five Year Facilities”) entered into by and among the Company, CFSC and Caterpillar International Finance Limited (f/k/a Caterpillar International Finance p.l.c.) (“CIF” together with the Company, CFSC and CFC, the “Borrowers”), certain financial institutions named therein (the “2006 Facility Banks” together with the 364-Day Facility Banks, the “Banks”), The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. (as Japan local currency agent and Japan local currency bank), Citibank International p.l.c. (as local currency agent) and Citibank (as agent)  for an unsecured aggregate revolving credit facility up to US$2.975 billion and its two related local currency addendums, originally filed with the SEC via the Company’s Form 8-K on September 26, 2006 (“2006 Form 8-K”) and amended by the terms disclosed under Items 1.01(b) and 2.03(b) of the 2008 Form 8-K, which, together with the related exhibits, are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

The Credit Facilities are used primarily as the Borrowers’ commercial paper backstop, and none of the Borrowers have drawn any amounts under the Credit Facilities.

The amendments to the Credit Facilities increase the upper range of interest rates applicable to certain amounts that may be drawn by the Borrowers under the Credit Facilities by approximately 1.0% to 1.5%. The Borrowers agreed to the above described amendments in consideration of the Banks’ consent to (i) the Company’s consolidated net worth of $6.087 billion as of December 31, 2008, which, due to, among other things, a $3.4 billion charge to the “other comprehensive income” in the Company’s balance sheet for the year ended December 31, 2008, fell below the level stipulated in the Credit Facilities, and (ii) CFSC’s interest coverage ratio of 0.97 as of December 31, 2008, which, due to, among other things, the deteriorating economic conditions in the quarter ended December 31, 2008,  was at a level below that stipulated in the Credit Facilities.

The foregoing description of the amendments to the Credit Facilities is a summary and is qualified in its entirety by the terms and provisions of Amendment No. 1 to the 364-Day Facility, Amendment No. 2 to the 2007 Facility; Amendment No. 4 to the 2006 Facility, Amendment No. 1 to 2007 Japan Local Currency Addendum, Amendment No. 1 to 2006 Japan Local Currency Addendum and Amendment No. 1 to 2006 Local Currency Addendum, respectively, filed as Exhibits 99.1, 99.2, 99.3, 99.4, 99.5, and 99.6 to this report and incorporated herein by reference.

Some of the Banks, as well as certain of their respective affiliates, have performed, and may in the future perform, for the Borrowers and their subsidiaries, various commercial banking, investment banking, underwriting and other financial advisory services, for which they have received, and will receive, customary fees and expenses.
 
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Item 2.02.
Results of Operations and Financial Condition.

On January 26, 2009, Caterpillar Inc. issued a press release reporting financial results for the year and fourth quarter ended December 31, 2008 (furnished hereunder as Exhibit 99.7).


Item 2.03.
Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.

The information set forth under Item 1.01 of this report is hereby incorporated into the Item 2.03 by reference.


Item 9.01.
Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d)
Exhibits:
 
 
Amendment No. 1 to the 364-Day Credit Agreement
     
 
Amendment No. 2 to the 2007 Five-Year Credit Agreement
     
 
Amendment No. 4 to the 2006 Five Year Credit Agreement
     
 
Amendment No. 1 to 2007 Japan Local Currency Addendum
     
 
Amendment No. 1 to 2006 Japan Local Currency Addendum
     
 
Amendment No. 1 to 2006 Local Currency Addendum
     
 
4th Quarter 2008 Results Press Release dated January 26, 2009
     


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SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 
 
CATERPILLAR INC.
   
   
January 26, 2009
By:
/s/ James B. Buda
   
James B. Buda
   
Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary

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