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UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
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FORM
8-K
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Current
Report
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Pursuant
to
Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
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Date
of
Report:
December 13, 2006
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CATERPILLAR
INC.
(Exact
name
of registrant as specified in its charter)
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Delaware
(State
or
other jurisdiction of incorporation)
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1-768
(Commission
File Number)
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37-0602744
(IRS
Employer
Identification No.)
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100
NE Adams Street, Peoria, Illinois
(Address
of
principal executive offices)
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61629
(Zip
Code)
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Registrant's
telephone number, including area code:
(309) 675-1000
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Former
name
or former address, if changed since last report: N/A
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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:
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o
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Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17
CFR
230.425)
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o
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Soliciting
material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
230.425)
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o
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Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17
CFR
240.14d-2(b))
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o
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Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17
CFR
240.13e-4(c))
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Page
1
Item
8.01.
Other Events
The
following
statement was released by Caterpillar Inc. on December 13, 2006. The furnishing
of these materials is not intended to constitute a representation that such
furnishing is required by Regulation FD or that the materials include material
investor information that is not otherwise publicly available. In addition,
the
Registrant does not assume any obligation to update such information in the
future.
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*
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* * * *
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December
13,
2006
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Caterpillar
Inc. Maintains Dividend Rate
PEORIA,
Ill. -
Underlining
the
company’s strong financial performance, the Board of Directors of Caterpillar
Inc.
(NYSE: CAT) today declared a quarterly cash dividend of 30 cents ($0.30) per
share on its common stock, payable February
20,
2007,
to stockholders of record at the close of business January
22,
2007.
Caterpillar
stockholders have benefited from the company’s strong financial performance,
with the quarterly dividend increasing 71 percent over the past five years
and
tripling over the past 10 years. The 30 cent dividend maintains the rate for
the
previous quarter and is 20 percent higher than a year ago.
“The
Caterpillar
story is a positive one and has enabled the company to pay attractive dividends
which reflect our commitment to rewarding stockholders,” said Caterpillar
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Jim Owens. “This will be the fourth
consecutive year of double digit profit growth and the third consecutive year
of
record sales and profit. Caterpillar stockholders expect a good return on their
investment, and we’re proud that the company’s continued profitable growth and
earnings stability have delivered on that expectation.”
For
more than 80
years, Caterpillar Inc. has been making progress possible and driving positive
and sustainable change on every continent. With 2005 sales and revenues of
$36.339 billion, Caterpillar is the world’s leading manufacturer of construction
and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines
and a wide and growing offering of related services. More information is
available at http://www.cat.com.
SAFE
HARBOR
Certain
statements
in this release relate to future events and expectations and as such constitute
forward-looking statements involving known and unknown factors that may cause
actual results of Caterpillar Inc. to be different from those expressed or
implied in the forward-looking statements. In this context, words such as "will"
and "expect" or other similar words and phrases often identify forward-looking
statements made on behalf of Caterpillar. It is important to note that actual
results of the company may differ materially from those described or implied
in
such forward-looking statements based on a number of factors and uncertainties,
including, but not limited to, changes in economic conditions, currency exchange
rates or political stability; market acceptance of the company's products and
services; significant changes in the competitive environment; changes in law,
regulations and tax rates; and other general economic, business and financing
conditions and factors described in more detail in the company's filings with
the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Form 10-Q filed with
the
Securities and Exchange Commission on November 2, 2006. We do not undertake
to
update our forward-looking statements.
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2
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SIGNATURES
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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.
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CATERPILLAR
INC.
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December
13,
2006
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By:
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/s/
James
B. Buda
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James
B.
Buda
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Vice
President
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Page
3