What is the primary purpose of this 8-K filing?

The primary purpose of this 8-K filing is to provide supplemental, unaudited information regarding Caterpillar's dealer statistics for its Machinery and Engines businesses. This includes retail sales data for the three-month rolling period ending November 2009, compared to the same period in the prior year.

Are these sales figures part of Caterpillar's official financial statements?

No, the sales figures presented in this filing are based on unaudited reports provided by Caterpillar's independent dealers. They are not subject to Caterpillar's internal controls over financial reporting and are furnished as supplemental information, not as part of the audited financial statements.

What do the dealer statistics indicate about Caterpillar's business environment in late 2009?

The statistics indicate a significant and widespread downturn in retail sales for both machinery and engines. Declines were substantial across all major geographic regions for machinery and across most engine sectors. This suggests that Caterpillar's key end markets, such as construction, mining, and transportation, were experiencing considerable weakness due to adverse economic conditions at that time.

Why does Caterpillar provide this dealer sales data separately?

Caterpillar provides this data because there are time delays between when Caterpillar sells to its dealers and when dealers deliver to end-users. This supplemental information is intended to help readers better understand Caterpillar's business and the industries it serves by providing a more current, albeit unaudited, view of retail activity.

CAT 8-K: Regulation FD — Dec 18, 2009

Summary

Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) filed a Form 8-K on December 18, 2009, to provide supplemental, unaudited information regarding dealer statistics for its Machinery and Engines segments. This report focuses on retail sales of machines and engines for the three-month rolling period ending November 2009, compared to the same period in the prior year. The data, derived from independent dealer reports and presented in constant dollars, offers insight into the company's performance and the underlying industry conditions. The key takeaway from this filing is the continued significant decline in retail sales across all major marketing regions for machinery, with the "World" category showing a 45% decrease for the three months ending November 2009. The Engines segment also experienced substantial downturns, particularly in the Truck & Bus sector, which saw a 48% decline. These figures reflect the challenging economic environment at the time and suggest persistent weakness in Caterpillar's key end markets.

Key Highlights

1Caterpillar is providing supplemental, unaudited dealer statistics for November 2009.
2Retail sales of machines declined across all regions, with the global "World" market down 45% for the 3-month rolling period ending November 2009.
3The Asia/Pacific region experienced a 31% decrease in machine retail sales for November 2009.
4EAME (Europe, Africa and Middle East) saw a 53% drop in machine retail sales for the 3-month rolling period.
5Sales of Engines to retail users and OEMs also declined significantly, with the "Total" Engines segment down 36% for the 3-month rolling period ending November 2009.
6The Truck & Bus engine sector reported a substantial 48% decline in sales for November 2009.
7The company emphasizes that this data is based on unaudited reports from independent dealers and is not subject to internal controls over financial reporting.

CATERPILLAR INC 8-K Report, Regulation FD Disclosure (Dec 18, 2009)

Summary

Key Highlights

Frequently Asked Questions